Craven Hall Hosts Antique Appraisal Night

Warminster got a little taste of it's own antiques roadshow Friday night at Craven Hall in Warminster. Hopefuls waited in line with old and unique items.

Barry S. Slosberg, auctioneer and appraiser, has been evaluating items at Craven Hall's Antique Appraisal Night for more than 10 years. A Warminster native now residing in Center City, Slosberg is a fourth generation appraiser and has been an auctioneer since 1976.

And, if you were in the Hatboro-Horsham school district before 1984 you might have had Slosberg as your music teacher. He taught there from 1968-1984.

Mary Beth and Chris of Southampton brought a few items to be appraised by Slosberg, including a mantle clock, gun powder flasks, a ring and a blue pitcher.

“Many people have told me the pitcher could be valuable,” said Mary Beth. She also had a ring, thought to be a 'scarab' ring that was passed down through generations.

Chris' items were also generational hand-me-downs.

Now, on to the appraising. Some good news – some not-so-good.

Chris found out her clock was called a “Renaissance Revival Shelf Clock," from the 1880s Victorian Era. Unfortunately, in today's market, Slosberg estimated its value at only $100. Not too valuable monetarily, but definitely in sentiment.

Slosberg said one of her two brass gun powder flasks should be investigated further and may have great value. He said it was used in the old black powder rifles from the early 1800s.

Eric Haag of Warminster found his item at a thrift store and paid $150 for it.

Called a “French Rococo Candelabra,” from the late 1700s, Slosberg valued it at $1,000. Not a bad investment. If he had the pair, said Slosberg, the value would have more than doubled. Haag said he has no plans to sell it.

Slosberg was also excited to see the next item, a “Gone With The Wind” lamp with its original shade, brought in by Hatboro resident Wade Ayers. The lamp had a place to fill with fluid or oil and was made of iron and brass. Hand painted with stenciled flowers, Slosberg estimated the time period of this piece to be 1880-1900s. Two years ago, said Slosberg, at auction, the lamp would have brought in up to $350 but today, between $100 and $150.

Another unique item was an engineers tool from Germany called a “Transit.” The patent was listed as 1900. Made of bronze, Slosberg said he had never seen one of this high quality.

Other items appraised included books, watches, framed art work, large character mugs, antique checkers set and photographs.

Proceeds from this annual event are used to operate and maintain Craven Hall, which is located on the corner of Street and Newtown Roads in Warminster and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

For more information, see their website at: www.cravenhall.org.

To contact appraiser and auctioneer, Barry S. Slosberg, Inc., visit his website at: www.bssauction.com