Curiosities, but few finds, at antiques appraisal

Mystic - Sue Billing carefully unwrapped a box for trinkets and handed it to the appraiser.

Tom Gray opened the blue lid and examined the inside.

"This is early 20th century, not very expensive," said Gray, who specializes in accessories, military items and other antiques. "Nineteenth century brings in money. This is worth $75 to $100."

Billing, of Gales Ferry, said the box had been "collecting dust" in her home for years and she was curious to see if it was worth anything. She and her husband, Paul, attended the Mystic River Historical Society's annual Appraisal Day on Saturday at the Mystic Congregational Church.

"We love watching 'Antiques Roadshow,' " she said, referring to the PBS series on antiques and collecting. "It's spring and we're trying to clean out the house, and I like to look around at what everyone else is bringing too."

People entered the parish hall carrying paintings, pottery, figurines, stamps, swords and other collectibles. Many received the same news that Billing did, that their treasures were worth a couple of hundred dollars at most.

"I didn't find the big one," Sally Halsey, of Mystic, said as she walked away from the appraiser, who had told her her framed cross-stitch was worth $100 or less.

But Gray, of North Stonington, said there were a few finds of the day. A man brought in five miniature carvings of geese and ducks by Cape Cod artist A. E. Crowell, valued at $1,500 to $5,000 each.

A woman showed Gray a Middle Eastern bracelet made of electrum, an alloy of gold and silver. Gray told the woman he would research the bracelet since he is not an expert in antiquities. If the bracelet is original, Gray estimates that it would have been made between 500 and 700 B.C.

"It's about the most unusual thing I've come across in a long time," he said.

Next to Gray sat Richard Fawcett, of Uncasville, who specializes in stamps and books.

He reviewed a few stamp collections but found nothing rare.

"It has been a quiet day, philatelically speaking," he said.

Fawcett and Gray were joined by specialists in porcelain, pottery and glassware, art and American artifacts.

The Appraisal Day was a fundraiser for the Mystic River Historical Society, a nonprofit organization that aims to preserve and promote the history of the Mystic River area.