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Sunday, May 17, 2009

One Woman Road Show Stops At Providence HallSue Armstrong Thompson


Ever wondered the value of the figurine given to you by your great grandmother or that piece of jewelry that has been handed down from generation to generation? Then the Appraisal Fair during the Heritage Festival is a great opportunity to find out.

The Heritage Festival’s Antiques Appraisal Fair is set for Saturday, May 30 at Providence Hall located on the Public Square in Lawrenceburg, TN.


For the past six years Sue Armstrong Thompson has been featured at various Antique Appraisal Fairs throughout Tennessee and the Southeast including events for the Tennessee Backroads and the Jack Daniels Distillery to name a few. She has joined the Heritage Festival this year to benefit Lawrenceburg Mainstreet, a non-profit organization.

Similar to the popular PBS “Antiques Road Show” program, this appraisal fair is open to the public and will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Guests are invited to bring their antiques to learn its value. The cost is $15 for the appraisal of one item, $20 for two items or $25 for three items. There is a maximum of three allowed at a time.

Thompson never knows what she might see at a fair given Middle Tennessee’s wide range of nationalities and heritages.

“I never know what I’m going to see, and it's always just as exciting for me as it is for the guests because I may get to see a Tiffany lamp, a complete Civil War uniform or a missing treasure that the antique world would be enamored with,” Thompson said. “In previous fairs in Lynchburg, Shelbyville and Hohenwald, I've looked at everything from a Grand Ole Opry member's 25-piece guitar collection to antique Russian enameled silver.”

Those attending are limited to three items and proper care in transporting them is encouraged.

“Many times people have a tendency to pack breakable items poorly.” Sue Thompson said. “We encourage guests to carefully pack breakables or items that could be damaged in transport. 

“It's difficult to appraise furniture based on a photograph. Some general information can be provided based on photographs, but it's best to personally inspect the carpentry, design, patina, craftsmanship and possible damage,” she said.

Sue Thompson has been appraising antiques for more than 40 years and her expertise is wide ranging from textiles, fabrics and dolls to antique porcelain and fine art. All items are welcome except for coins and stamps.

For those looking to sell their items during these tough economic times, that is not a service provided at this fair. “Many antique owners are surfacing who are in a position to sell their antiques or collectibles,” Thompson said. “We strongly caution against working with ‘antique appraisers’ who also handle the sale of the piece. This is a conflict of interest whereby the seller may be given a deflated appraisal in order that the appraiser can possibly buy the item from the seller at a grossly reduced rate. We have very strict guidelines and will not handle the sale of an item if we appraise it. That way, the seller gets accurate advice and knows how to set the price of the item through a dealer, e-Bay or consignment shop.”

Sue Armstrong Thompson is often called the “One Woman Road Show,” as she has conducted numerous antique appraisal fairs for many years. As an independent appraiser, she has been involved in the art and antiques appraisal business for more than 45 years. She has been retained to do appraisals throughout the U.S., England and Germany. In the past, she has also been an art instructor in the Western Pacific Islands of Guam and Saipan.

Her international work and travel have enabled her to understand art on a global level. She is a noted antiquarian who works as a consultant to individuals and corporations and lectures on the subject of collecting as investment. She is avid collector of American furniture and decorative arts.

 

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