Judy Steele
lives in North Platte and conducts night classes at North Platte Community
College. She also presents seminars and writes a column for the North
Platte Telegraph. She previously owned an antique store and is still
active as a dealer. She can be contacted at judysteele@nebi.com.
This older butternut
china hutch or kitchen cabinet is a primitive-type piece of furniture. It
is probably dated around the late 1800s or early 1900s.
Treasures
of a lifetime Anitques and Collectibles
Have you ever wondered where your favorite little toy from yesterday was
made? Or maybe you have a teddy bear from Grandma's day and you would like
to know its age. Maybe you would like to know what it might be worth for
insurance purposes.
It is important for you to know the vintage of the beautiful porcelain doll
lying in the trunk in the attic or the replacement value of a gorgeous round,
oak pedestal table with matching pressed-back chairs.
I realize family heirlooms can never be replaced and I could never determine
a cash value of some items because of sentimental reasons, but sometimes
we need to know actual values for business purposes and for estate settlements.
Have you ever studied a certain wall in your kitchen or maybe a shelf in
your china hutch filled with beautiful treasures and then turned your back
to it and tried to write down everything you can remember on that wall or
in the hutch?
It is almost impossible to remember everything. This is only one of the
many reasons why I remind people to take lots of photos either with a digital,
still, or video camera and compile as much information as you possibly can
about each and every little or big treasure you have in your possession.
You never know when you might need that information the most.
Also, make sure you give a copy to a friend or relative in another town
and put a copy in your safe deposit box as well.
Most people want to know how to date their items. A true antique must be
100 years old or older, whereas a collectible can be anything made yesterday
and is on the market today.
There are a lot of reproductions so you must be careful when purchasing
items. Don't be afraid of asking questions. Try to find out as much as you
possibly can at the time of purchase.
When you receive heirlooms from other family members, try to write down
as much information as you possibly can for future reference. Believe me,
any data you can collect will be a worthwhile cause, not only for personal
reasons but for financial reasons as well.
I've been in the antique business for more than 30 years now and I've been
asked lots of questions regarding history, condition and maintenance of
many treasured heirlooms.
If you enjoy collecting Desert Rose Franciscan dinnerware or Watt Pottery
(shown in the photo), it is important to display them and use them every
day. If you have a collection of stoneware or children's toys, have them
out where others can enjoy them with you.
In other words, it doesn't matter what you might collect; just make sure
you take time out to enjoy them. Why have a collection if it has to be boxed
up and stored away for years at a time? If room or space becomes a problem,
you can always rotate your collections.
I enjoy doing seminars. It is absolutely fascinating what questions or items
may be brought in for identification or appraisals. I am especially excited
when I see the younger crowd taking an interest in our older items. They
will be the next generation to pass on family heirlooms and I feel an urgency
to keep them informed as to what values are doing in the antique market
today.
When hunting for your favorite treasures, be sure to check out your local
antique shops/malls, flea markets, estate sales, tag sales, etc. You never
know when you might run across just the absolutely perfect item to add to
your collection.
Remember, antiques -- like memories -- last forever.
NPTraveler
Spotlight
North Platte Traveler Magazine is proud to present our Spotlight features
for the Spring/Summer 2003 issue.
Home
Remedies
is Billie Lee Snyder Thornburgs recently released second book "Bertie
and Me and Miles, too. "Home Remedies", provides a small
taste of the delights in store for you.
Emergency!
What would
you do..?
we all dread the unknown, what to do, who to call. Our second Spotlight
focuses on these issues. Emergency! will be a continuing series,
Filled with pictures,
facts and history of a time gone by, you will find this book fascinating,
informative, insightful and funny! Billie's charm and personality
shine through on every page. Ordering information is provided or visit
the Old 101
Press Publishing Company for more information. Full story
featuring the
expertise that local officials and personnel can provide. Whether
traveling alone or with others, an emergency can be even more frightening
when away from home and all that is familiar. However, help is available
in North Platte to ease some of that fear and anguish. Full story
NPTSummer 2003 Issue
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