Trace Marshall, left, listens to advice from antiques appraiser J.T. Thompson about the old marbles he found in his grandfather's basement. Center, Sue Thopson gives tips on preservation to another guest at the antique seminar held Saturday at the Antiques, Arts and Collectibles Mall on the square. (T-G Photo by Mary Reeves) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"People are going into their attics, looking for items to sell," said J.T. Thompson, a professional antiques appraiser from Franklin. "It's a buyer's market."

J.T. and his mother, Sue Armstrong Thompson of Lewisburg, also an appraiser, were at The Antique Mall on the square Saturday for an antique seminar and appraisal, the second such seminar this year.

"There were supposed to be three of them," said owner Carolyn Price. "The first one was snowed out, so we combined the three seminars into two and this is the second one."

The feedback for the classes, which are free, has been so good, Price wants to have them quarterly. The Thompsons, she said, always come to the store's anniversary in October for appraisals only, but this year she hopes to add another seminar along with it.

Questions at Saturday's session ranged from toys to glass, from books to bangles, and from buying to selling.

Tolbert, an artist who has donated several paintings to Roots and Wings, explains his work to the boutique's owner Ruth Yates at the grand opening Saturday. It was a busy day at the antique mall on the square, with an antique seminar on one side and Roots and Wings' grand opening on the other. Some of Tolbert's paintings wee given as door prizes. Others will be sold and the proceeds used to buy medical alert buttons for those who can't afford them. (T-G Photo by Mary Reeves) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Selling was the main focus of the Thomsons' seminar.

"Because of the economy, people are liquidating," said J.T. "There are different means of liquidating."

J.T. explained that a hardship liquidation or sale, as termed by the Internal Revenue Service, is where the owner of the antique is forced to sell to meet immediate money demands. When that happens, he said, "You're going to have to sacrifice some value.

"If you have the luxury of waiting," J.T. went on, "you can find that one buyer."

Other sale terms he referenced were orderly liquidation, where there is an auction of the items, sold for tax purposes, and "fair market value," when neither the buyer nor the seller are compelled to buy or sell, and enter into an agreement.

The Thompsons also discussed the pros and cons of auctions, and warned their audience of the drawbacks.

"They will call it 'your auction,' said Sue. "You will pay for the advertising, the labor, the chairs, the auctioneer, the tent ...'

She said auctions worked well for those who do not want to have to deal with handling the sale themselves and also need to liquidate quickly.

J.T. recommended auction houses, where there is still a commission to be paid to the auctioneer, but no overhead, such as the labor, chairs and other fees. But even auction houses, such as Christies or Sotheby's, have their drawbacks. Some have minimums -- the item for sale can not be valued at less at $10,000 if it's going on the block at one of the big houses, and the seller is required to pay the storage, moving and insurance fees until the item is sold.

Another difference between auction sales and fair market value sales, he said, was the end price,

"Auctions are basically selling at wholesale price," said J.T. "Other options, like estate sales, yard sales, antique stores, are at retail prices."

That could be changing, though, thanks to the Internet and programs such as Antiques Roadshow, which are educating more people about the potential values of their belongings.

"More and more people are learning about the auctions. It used to be the dealers and collectors went to the auction houses. Now, others have figured it out, too," said J.T.

After the seminar, the Thompsons offered their appraisals of several items brought to them, including a box of marbles.

"They were my grandfather's," said Trace Marshall, who was there with his mother, Brenda. "I found them in the basement."

The grade-schooler was excited when he found out the marbles were worth about $100 and listened carefully as J.T. explained how to store them without chipping the glass.

"Are you going to go out and sell them?" J.T. asked.

"No!" Trace said, carefully placing them back in his box. "At least, not yet ..."

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WHAT'S HOT

What's hot in the antiques and collectibles market these days, according to Antiques Roadshow Insider at pbs.com:

Furniture

Victorian

Clocks

Sterling

Jade

Florida art

Early Texas Art

Early California art

Harley Davidson

Precious Moments

baseball cards

Swarovski crystal

Rolex

Mont Blanc

Cartier

Chanel

diamonds

maritime art and antiques

Tiffany glass

Art Deco glass

Steuben glass

Old Fenton

Roseville

Red Wing

McCoy