The following article was written by antique expert, Mark Moran.
I like to tell people it was an idea whose time had come.
Lucky me, I’m the one who had it.
After nearly 40 years as a writer and editor, I came home one day in 2011 without a job. My position as senior editor in the books division at Krause Publications in Iola, Wisconsin, had been eliminated in a cost-cutting move. I had written more than 25 books on myriad antique/collectible categories, and edited many more titles, but the market for antique guides had been steadily shrinking. Like many others in print media in the 21st century, I was a casualty of a changing market.
A big part of my job at Krause was answering questions from folks who would call-in asking what their vase was worth or what artist painted their picture or what era their table was from. These people didn’t need an elaborate certified appraisal. They just wanted to know the truth about history and value. They wanted an objective voice, beyond family lore and legend.
I had been asked to do a lunch-and-learn presentation at the local library and at an antique shop near my home when I lived in Minnesota. These were well-received, but hardly the kind of thing one could rely on for a steady income, right?
Still, it seemed to me there was an untapped market for an informal antique appraisal service. One that was hands-on, not conducted by phone, Internet or email. Libraries and historical societies seemed like the best resources, since they are always looking for new programming ideas.
My program would be a mix of entertainment and education. This was appraisal-as-theater. As such, I wanted to make sure that folks could find humor, anecdotes, tales from the road, and just have a lot of fun.
I established and refined some ground rules: I made clear the categories I felt I could appraise, as well as those I could not. I figured a program with three 1-hour sessions would be a workable format. I came up with a fee for the event, one that I thought the hosts could afford and would allow me to make a decent living.
I started emailing libraries and historical societies in Wisconsin. The initial response was tepid, a collective, “Meh.” However, I kept at it in that long, stay-at-home summer of 2011.
What I needed was a steady job. What I got was an endless adventure.
My first event booking came from the Waushara County Historical & Genealogical Society in Wautoma Wisconsin. It would be held at their offices—a former sheriff’s residence and jail—on August 13, 2011.
From that humble beginning, word began to spread—especially among libraries—and more bookings started to fill the calendar. Requests for programs came from Illinois, Iowa, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Minnesota wasn’t far behind, and eventually hosts in Indiana got on-board.
To be honest, it became a thrilling challenge to walk into a room with dozens of objects I’ve never seen before and try to enlighten the owners about their histories.
At its peak, I was booking 140 events a year and putting 30,000 miles on my car annually. Inadvertently, I had come up with a winning formula:
With a 40-item appraisal event, spending 4 minutes on each item works out to 160 minutes, or 2 hours and 40 minutes, plus two 10-minute breaks for me. Total: 3 hours.
I asked each person what they knew about the object and how they acquired it. Then I explained its history or intended use, details about the maker or country/region of origin, the era when it was made, and any design influences. Then I noted any condition issues, how this affects value, and suggested how they can have an object repaired or restored, if desired. Finally, I gave my opinion of value and tried to answer questions about how they might sell it, if that was their goal.
As much as I’d like to sometimes, I never offered to buy or arrange a sale on a commission. And I think that’s what made the events so popular. Folks knew there was no ulterior motive and my programs were not a shopping trip. I wasn’t there to pick up a bargain to turn around and sell it.
I discovered that everyone has something they wonder about. It might be a family heirloom, a gift from a friend, an impulse buy at a garage sale, or a treasure uncovered at the local flea market.
To my surprise, I learned over the years that most folks don’t care what a treasure is worth. They just want to know the true history, use, and origin.
And I think that has been my most satisfying discovery.
So, if you’d like to be a part of this antique-oriented experience, I’d invite you to register for Extra/Ordinary: Antique Appraisals with Mark Moran event at Manitowoc Public Library. All the collectibles action will be taking place in the Balkansky Community Room on Saturday, February 22, from 11 AM-2 PM. It’s important to note, however, that registration is required. You can sign up starting on Thursday, February 6, at 5 PM. Register for your time slot by calling 920-686-3010 or by stopping at MPL’s Main Service Desk. Head to www.manitowoclibrary.org/event/extraordinary-2025 for a fill list of the objects that are included for appraisal—as well as the ones that are excluded.
I hope that you’ll be able to join me. I can’t wait to see what you’d like to learn about!