Turner Hall of Monroe

Trinket or Treasure?

Trinket or Treasure? II
Fun antique appraisal event
Saturday, February 20, 2016; 1 - 4 pm

FREE for Turner Hall members; $15 for non-members; onlookers - no charge!

REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Click here for a for a printable form.

Are you a fan of PBS' Antiques Roadshow? Got an old Swiss artifact, family heirloom, flea market find, or some other treasured or unique item that you've always wondered what it might be worth?

Mark Moran, Antiques Appraiser

Turner Hall of Monroe's Swiss Heritage Series is pleased to welcome back antiques expert Mark F. Moran of Mark F. Moran Appraisals of Iola, Wisconsin for a second Trinket or Treasure, a fun appraisal event for antiques and collectibles. Anyone is invited to come and have an item appraised, but PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Registrants will be assigned a time for the appraisal, although everyone is welcome to sit in on any or all of the appraisals for no charge.

Appraisals are by reservation only, with a limit of two items per person. Note the list below for items that are accepted/not accepted. This event is FREE for members of Turner Hall who are current on 2016 dues, and $15 per item for non-members. Please click here for a printable, mail-in registration form to make your reservation. Don't wait; only 40 items total can be accepted.

Opinions of value are informal, and may not be used for insurance or charitable donations, which require a certified appraisal.

Another added perk, while here, Mark will do home visits within 10 miles of Turner Hall for $75/hour. This works well for big things, fragile things, or a lot of things! Contact him directly for a home visit by calling (715) 281-5060 or e-mail moranm1953@gmail.com

Formerly senior editor of Antiques and Collectibles Books for Krause Publications in Iola, WI, Mark has also been a contributing editor for Antique Trader magazine. He has served as editor of Antique Review East magazine; as producer of Atlantique City, an antique show held in Atlantic City, N.J.; as editorial director of F+W Media's Antiques Group; and also as a guest expert on PBS’ Antiques Roadshow.

Mark is the author or co-author of more than 25 books on antiques and collectibles, including three editions of the 800-page annual Warman's Antiques & Collectibles. He bought and sold antiques for more than 30 years, specializing in vintage folk art, Americana, and fine art. He has been active as an appraiser of antiques and fine art for more than 20 years.

For more information on Mark and the events he conducts, visit Mark F. Moran Appraisals.

Categories of objects for appraisal may include:

  • Fine art, including paintings, drawings, prints and statuary.
  • Furniture (photos of large peices may be sent in advance).
  • Ceramics, including figural pottery, vases, dishes, kitchenware and stoneware.
  • Glassware, including lighting, marbles and souvenir items.
  • Vintage photographs, including snapshots, tintypes, ambrotypes and daguerreotypes.
  • Advertising, including posters, lithographed tin, paper and figural objects.
  • Folk art, including carvings, quilts, weathervanes, windmill weights and "outsider" art.
  • Assorted toys, including dolls (bisque, composition and plastic), windups and mechanical banks.
  • Metalware, including iron, bronze, brass, pot metal, silver, silver plate.
  • Clocks, including mantel, hanging and figural; also pocket and wristwatches.
  • Costume jewelry, including brooches, bracelets, earrings.
  • Musical Instruments, including string, wind and reed instruments.
  • Books
  • Sporting Memorabilia

EXCLUDED items include:

  • All weapons, including swords and knives (though folding knives with advertising are accepted)
  • Traps, like leg-hold
  • Nazi memorabilia
  • Coins and paper money
  • Beanie Babies
  • Fine jewelry, including precious gems.

Questions about objects not covered here can be submitted to Mark in advance to determine if they are appropriate. Suggested categories for advance inquiry include, but are not limited to: Oriental, Native American and other tribal objects (African, Oceanic); ancient artifacts (Egyptian and other early cultures); fossils and minerals; automotive items; nautical and military-related objects; sports memorabilia (including baseball cards); records; antique tools and technological objects (typewriters, cameras, assorted machinery or instruments for scientific measure, like sextants, telescopes, microscopes, etc.).

More information on Turner Hall's Swiss Heritage Series is available here.