The most enjoyed and anticipated Chula Vista Genealogical Society meeting of the year is the November meeting when we have member sharing. For three of the past four years, we have had Georgie Stillman, ASA, a professional appraiser of heirlooms, artifacts and ephemera, review and evaluate items brought in by the members to share. Georgie is an expert in appraising silver, china, glassware, furniture, artworks, quilts and samplers, many dolls and other collectibles.
Today, we had about 30 people at our meeting, and Georgie worked her "magic" on us once again. For each item, the member shared what they thought the heirloom was, and the provenance of the heirloom. Then Georgie told the member and the audience about the article's origin, materials, manufacture, marks, probable customer status, and an approximate value.
We had ten CVGS members bring their heirlooms for discussion and appraisal, including:
* Gary B. presented a large framed picture made from cutouts from seed catalogs and other paper pictures, all pasted down overlapping each other. Georgie thought that this was really unique, and was probably made in the 1880's, based on the frame.
* Ann S. brought a Seth Thomas mantle clock, which Georgie thought was from the 1880 to 1910 time frame.
* Virginia T. had a green carnival glass vase, which was probably created in the 1950's.
* Susan Z. displayed a wedding dress from her husband's grandmother. Georgie said it was a muslin dress from the 1890 to 1910 period.
* Susi P showed a small art deco pottery piece from her New England ancestors, and Georgie said it was a Hull piece.
* Nancy S. presented a 4th edition "American Woman Cookbook" from 1941.
* Bobbie L. showed her Bavarian glass bell, which Georgie said was pressed glass from the 1920-1930 time frame.
* Phyllis L. had 7 different hand-painted china salad plates - which Georgie dated to the 1890 to 1920 time frame.
* Terry S. showed a small hand-painted clay pitcher which Georgie said she had never seen in that form. She thought it might be Hungarian.
* Joan showed her husband's grandfather's shaving mug, and Georgie said it was from Pennsylvania in the early 1900's.
Obviously, I didn't take notes on everything Georgie said about each item - she often talked for 5 to 8 minutes about each item. I tried to take photographs of each presenter and their article with Georgie - and I'll post the ones that come out well in a later post on the Chula Vista Genealogy Cafe blog..
Georgie's style is informal, enthusiastic and interesting - she really enjoys seeing these types of heirlooms, artifacts and "stuff" because they are, in the main, from middle-class homes from the Victorian era and later. She is used to appraising high-end items for collectors and estates. It is fascinating to see an expert appraiser at work - the words seem to flow effortlessly and I am awestruck by the expertise and knowledge level.
It was a great society program.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024.
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