Attic Treasures
Collector Inspector : Episode CTI-110 -- More Projects »
In an attic, there's potential treasure anywhere you look. If you get lucky, you'll find a treasure to take downstairs and enjoy. Catherine Mour's house is filled with objects she's acquired from attics. Collector Inspector Harry Rinker pays a visit to see these rescued relics.
Mour found these paintings in the attic of her home. The man was a local iron entrepreneur and the woman was his daughter, Gwendolyn. They were painted in 1842 by a deaf-mute artist named J. Carlin. Carlin traveled from home to home, painting pictures in exchange for room and board. Mour learned about the artist by contacting the Smithsonian Institution. Rinker suggested she try doing more research by writing to the Decorative Arts Photographic Collection, in care of the Winature Museum in Winature, Delaware. Rinker values the paintings at $3,500 to $4,000 for the pair. If restored, the value would be even higher.
This sewing machine was also found in the attic. Mour's aunts were garment factory workers, and they toted this home from a factory. It's in working order and Rinker thinks it would have many values to collectors and decorators. He values it from $100 to $145.
Here's a hat that was found in a big steamer trunk. The story goes that this is what the little girls used to wear in Mour's mother-in-law's family when they went sleigh riding. Rinker suggests if displaying it on a table, place rumpled white paper inside so there's not a lot of pressure on the fabric. To display it hanging up, reinforce the back with a little bit of paper to protect the fabric from the hook. For cleaning, use a very soft feather duster.
This old ice sled was found in the garage attic of Mour's childhood home. It's art deco in style, and Rinker dates it to the 1920s. It features a cartoon character from that era as well. It's in very nice condition and worth $150 to $200.
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