here's a crazy idea -- could we field a virtual antique appraisal for DU?

[grasswire]

Or at least a "what is this thing" event?

All of us love research. And everybody's got something in the house they would like to take to Antiques Roadshow but never get there.

Of course, we would have to make sure everyone understood that this is a collaborative volunteer effort, with possibility of error.

What think ye?

[Longhorn]

1. I like the idea!

We've had a few threads along those lines and I thought they were fascinating. I have some things from my grandmothers that I'd like to find out more about. There's certainly a lot of expertise on this board! :hi:

[Vinca]

2. I haven't taken a photo yet, but this weekend I found one of the weirdest

things ever in my years on the hunt. I think it's a German fairing trinket box. It's ceramic and looks like a turtle with a woman's face. You take off the lid (the turtle's shell) and there is the woman's bare behind and legs. The only mark is an incised "Germany" on the bottom. The only thing I've found on the 'net is a question by another person who found a similar item, but no answers.

[Whoa_Nelly]

4. Here's one on eBay

http://cgi.ebay.com/Circa-1891-1920-German-Naughty-Bisque-Trinket-Box_W0QQitemZ230220708132QQihZ013QQcategoryZ151738QQcmdZViewItem


Selling for $249

What did you pay for it?

[Vinca]

5. Holy moley! That's very similar to mine. Actually, if you took away

the little bear, it would be identical. Mine is in absolutely perfect condition. WOW!! I paid $2.00. Thanks for finding that! First online appraisal a success.

[sufrommich]

3. Sounds like fun! nt

[eleny]

6. I'd like to take part

I've had a very odd vase that my dad bought at an estate sale in our old neighborhood back maybe around 1970. An elderly neighbor passed away and dad bought the vase since it was so odd. It's Asian but I don't know much about it. I'll take photos as soon as we have a sunny day.

But I'm happy to help, too, if I can.

[yy4me]

7. It would be fun, I'll pitch in if I can help.

Maybe we can all learn something from this. Furniture is my thing but I have some knowledge of silver and jewelry.

[Whoa_Nelly]

8. Am up for it!

Love researching! Have a lot of reference and price guide books from US pottery to silver to US silver to Japanese ceramics to...
Anyway...a lot!

Seems most of us who post here have references and great links, so having a virtual appraisal would be fun! :hi:

[grasswire]

9. so how could we structure this for convenience in thread reading?

And how could we best attract other DU-ers to bring in their puzzling items?

[sandnsea]

10. One idea

We could pin a thread at the top. The only thing that would be in that thread would be the item and the identification.

If we wanted to discuss the item, ask questions, post possible leads, etc., we could start another thread for that.

That way we would have one clean reference thread for everybody's benefit, and maybe weekly or monthly threads to discuss the current "appraisals".

Maybe we could have a quarterly fundraising auction that would also promote the appraisals. Even I have odds and ends that I wouldn't mind donating.

[democraticinsurgent]

11. Happy to be a part of it

...i can help with vinyl records, cd's and music memorabilia

[Stinky The Clown]

12. I know a lot about a little and a little about a lot.