Harrison Appraisals, LLC

We’ll be taping Season 12 of MPT’s “Chesapeake Collectibles” this weekend at the Irene and Edward H. Kaplan Studio in Owings Mills, Maryland. A couple busy days ahead.

Looking forward to seeing everyone’s treasures and hope to see you there!

This 18th century delftware tankard with pewter lid comes from a Maryland estate we are currently appraising. Delft or faience is actually tin-glazed earthenware that was popular in the Netherlands, England and America from the 17th century until the mid-18th century. This tankard, which stands approximately 9 ½ inches high, is most probably Dutch or English. Its basic blue and white color palette with hand-painted floral decorations resembles European porcelain and is typical of the period. There is also an applied strap handle and hinged pewter lid with an orb-shaped thumb rest. The lid is decorated further with the owner’s initials and the date “1786.”

There are a few condition issues. Hairlines can be seen around the tankard’s cylindrical form and a few chips are visible on the base. However, these bits of “honest ware” are evidence of the object’s age and attest to its years of service and use.

We recently completed an insurance appraisal of this hand-painted, German-made, porcelain allegorical group for a Maryland client. Dating to circa 1880-1890 and based on Apollo and the Nine Muses, the group depicts the Greek god of prophecy, oracles, music, song and poetry playing the lira da braccio before the Castalian spring. Apollo is inspired by the nine muses—protectors of the arts in Ancient Greece—who interact around him. Although the group is unmarked, its detail, craftsmanship and near mint condition make it a truly desirable objet d’art.

It’s time for our big announcement. Robert will be hosting a one-hour documentary for Maryland Public Television called “Chesapeake Collectibles: Behind the Scenes.”

The documentary takes viewers behind the scenes of MPT’s popular collectibles show and offers them a unique view of how the program is made. You’ll hear from the producers, technicians, fans and appraisers who’ve made Chesapeake Collectibles a 10-year success. Robert will also be interviewed during the premier as part of MPT’s annual pledge night.

“Chesapeake Collectibles: Behind the Scenes” will air Monday, June 10 at 7:30 p.m. on MPT. And as you’re watching the show, be sure to look for Andrea during the breaks. She’ll be handling the phones that night.

It’s been a while since we posted. That’s because we had a very busy spring that’s taken us across three states and back. In fact, Robert is working on an American Brilliant Period cut glass collection on the first day of a large estate assignment we just accepted. There is a little bit of everything here, so we‘ll be working in lots of different areas.

We also have an important announcement coming later this month. Be sure to watch for updates in the next two weeks.

This restored circa 1880 pastoral landscape by the American artist George Innes (1825-1894) was part of a large fine art appraisal we just completed. It is one of three Innes landscapes in the collection and the best of the group by far.

Often called the “father of American landscape painting,” George Innes was greatly influenced by both the Hudson River and Barbizon schools of painting. This oil on canvas laid down on board depicts a figure with horse and cart walking along a country lane toward the viewer. A cottage, believed to be located near the artist’s home in Montclair, New Jersey, can be seen among the trees in the background. Identified by the late Dr. Maurice H. Goldblatt as being from the artist’s “Middle Period,” Inness’ works from this time evoke the peaceful coexistence of agrarian life and industrialization that formed the basis of a post-Civil War philosophy the artist called “peace and plenty.”

The work measures 22 inches high x 24 inches wide and is signed by the artist at lower right. In our opinion, it is a magnificent painting that has been professionally restored making it a great addition to any art collection.

Tonight, on an all new episode of Chesapeake Collectibles, Robert will appraise a late 19th century "Black Forest" figural humidor.

Will the value be high or low? Tune-in to MPT at 7:30 p.m. to find out.

This United States Naval officer’s bicorn hat has seen better days, but it’s been in the family of the original owner since the mid-19th century. The naval officer who owned and wore this hat was a Maryland medical officer stationed at the United States Naval Academy.

Made of knapped beaver skin with gilt ribbon, a regulation U.S. Naval button, black cockade and gold bullion tassels at each end, the hat was a uniform requirement for commissioned officers until the 1940s. We discovered this bicorn hat during a recent estate appraisal.

Join us tonight for an all new episode of Chesapeake Collectibles. Robert will be appraising an 18th century wrought iron “Betty Lamp” with Pennsylvania German decorations.

Betty Lamps were a primary source of lighting in Colonial American homes. They burned both animal fat and fish oil decades before the use of whale oil and kerosene; however, the lamps were dirty and smoked excessively. See what makes this lamp truly unique.

Be sure to watch Chesapeake Collectibles tonight at 7:30 p.m. on Maryland Public Television.

An all new season of Chesapeake Collectibles premieres tonight on Maryland Public Television at 7:30 p.m. Tonight’s episode will feature Robert’s appraisal of a 19th century monumental French shelf clock.

Be sure to tune in to see why it took two appraisers to lift this clock into place prior to taping.

Andrea’s working on a large sterling silver collection from Baltimore County. The object she’s examining is a circa 1733-34 George II sterling tankard by London silversmith Richard Burcombe.

At some point in its existence, the tankard was converted to a pitcher and a spout was added. It measures 8 ½ inches high x 5 inches in diameter at the base and still retains its original domed lid, crooked handle, thumb rest and circular base. There is also a full set of hallmarks on both the lid and side of the vessel.

During the 18th century, tankards were commonly used as everyday drinking mugs in English and American taverns. However, the fine craftsmanship and ornamental appeal of these utilitarian receptacles have elevated them to objects of art.

Congratulations to our principal & senior appraiser, Robert Harrison, for successfully completing another professional requalification exam.

Accredited members of the International Society of Appraisers (ISA) must requalify every five years to maintain their professional credentials. This includes completing a three day professional standards and methodology course. A seven hour Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal (USPAP) course is also required every two years to maintain compliance. In addition, published articles and lectures must be factored into the process. The requirements are grueling, but well worth it.

Once again, congratulations Robert! We like to stay current.

This deeply carved oak chest is a bottle box or campaign Tantalus dating to the late 18th century. Appointed with a carved and hinged lid and compartmented interior, the chest comes with six liquor bottles and two stemmed glasses. The glassware is hand blown and stenciled with hand applied gilding.

Such chests were commonly used by 18th and 19th century military officers and civilians whose travels always included ample amounts of alcoholic refreshments. The acanthus leaf, heraldic shield and confrontational bird carvings suggest a Continental or English provenance. There is also a cast brass bale handle on the lid.

We discovered this chest in a Baltimore County estate earlier this month tucked away in a basement where it had been stored for decades.

Tomorrow marks the 160th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address.

We celebrate the dedication ceremonies at the National Cemetery with this famous Mathew Brady ambrotype of President Abraham Lincoln delivering his Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863.

The Woodsboro Historical Society’s Appraisal Fair was held Saturday in the historic town of Woodsboro in Frederick County, Maryland. We started early and ended late as visitors queued up to share their stories of important family heirlooms.

We saw a variety of objects. Two of the more interesting finds included a circa 1797 surveyor’s compass by Fredericktown clockmaker Frederick Heisely (1759-1843) and a GAR roster owned by Second Lieutenant John H. Missemer of Co. G, 151st Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. The 151st Pennsylvania fought at both Chancellorsville and Gettysburg during the Civil War.

The feedback we received made it all worthwhile. Thanks to R. Steele Michael of the Woodsboro Historical Society for chairing the event and to Andrea Harrison for coordinating the logistics and keeping the lines moving all day. Thanks too to Jim Callear who appraised silver, coins and everything else that came his way.

We’ll be appearing at the Woodsboro Historical Society’s “Antique Appraisal Fair” this Saturday, September 30 from 1 to 4 pm. The fair will be held at the Woodsboro American Legion Post 282, 101 West Elizabeth Street, Woodsboro, Maryland 21798.

We only appear at a few community events each year, so we’re looking forward to seeing everyone at the Historical Society’s Appraisal Fair. Space is limited and tickets are required.

For more information, call the Historical Society at 301-524-5167 or visit our website at www.harrisonappraisals.com

This set of twelve Coin silver spoons was made by Philadelphia silversmith Nicholas LeHuray, Jr. (1797-1846). A jeweler and clockmaker as well as a silversmith, LeHuray worked out of his shop located at 172 N 2nd Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania circa 1821 to 1846.

This set of spoons was made in the “fiddle back” form, a style popular in the first half of the 19th century. The backs of the handles are stamped with LeHuray’s name in a saw-tooth cartouche and his pseudo-hallmark of an American eagle facing left. Each spoon is handmade and measures 5 ¾ inches long. The knops, or handle tips, are monogrammed “MB” in free hand script.

We recently came across this set of spoons in northeastern Maryland where they are part of an insurance appraisal of family heirlooms dating to the first decades the 19th century.

We were back in Emmitsburg, Maryland last week assisting staff at a local museum with the identification of a set of six circa 1820 Baltimore painted “Fancy” chairs. Although the set has been repainted and two of the six chairs have sustained damage, we were excited to be able to help date and identify such an important grouping of regional side chairs. The staff informs us the chairs will be scheduled for restoration sometime in the future.

Recently, we had the pleasure of appraising this circa 1970 dining table by designer Paul Evans (1931-1987). Made in the Brutalist style with tempered glass top and a cast bronze “stalagmite” base, the table measures 29 ¼” high x 96” long x 48” deep. A great addition to any Mid-century Modern collection.

In auction parlance, a “sleeper” is a lot that goes unnoticed during the sale preview but surprises everyone when it sells for a remarkably high price on the day of the sale. That is exactly what happened at the Devin Moisan Summer Sale in Epping, New Hampshire on July 15 & 16.

A circa 1974 Chinese inside painted s***f bottle in clear amethyst glass by Wang-Xisan (b.1938) sold for $19,375, more than twenty times its pre-sale estimate. Founder of the Ji School of Inside Painting, a technique of painting inside glass s***f bottles using hooked writing brushes, Wang-Xisan is considered by some to be the “greatest master” of the art.

You can read the whole story of the Moisan sale in Rick Russack’s review in the July edition of “Antiques and The Arts Weekly.”

We trust everyone is enjoying their summer, in spite of the heat. Our firm has been busy the last few months, but we wanted to share this rare Early Georgian sterling silver basket that is part of an old Maryland collection.

Made by the London firm of Samuel Herbert & Company in 1751-1752, it has allover pierced designs of quatrefoils, feathers, C-scrolls and acanthus leaves. The basket has a gadrooned rim and bowed swing handle decorated with C-scroll supports and acanthus leaf terminals. A cartouche with an engraved family crest is also positioned in the handle’s center. Four lion’s mask legs terminating in claw-and-ball feet support the basket, which measures 11 inches high x 13 ¾ inches long x 12 ½ inches deep. Total weight = 47.58 ozt.

We were pleased to find this piece in a truly remarkable collection of similar sterling masterworks.

Season 11 of “Chesapeake Collectibles” is a wrap! We had a great weekend seeing hundreds of antiques and decorative arts from across the Chesapeake region. It was fun seeing so many longtime fans of the program as well as the first-timers who drove more than 100 miles in some cases to be part of the show.

And something new has been added this year. Several of the “Chesapeake Collectibles” appraisers taped intros and closings to the program that will air throughout the season. Robert shot his intro on Sunday afternoon. Our photo credit goes to Andrea who volunteered again this year assisting appraisers and guests navigate the MPT studio.

Thanks again to the entire MPT crew, staff and all the volunteers who helped make the show a success.

A great pair of late 19th century French Belle Époque posters from painter and lithographer Jules Chéret (French, 1836-1932). Often called the “the father of the women’s liberation movement,” Chéret pioneered the art of poster production in his native Paris. Each of Chéret’s theatrical posters focused on a “modern” woman engaged in dancing, skating, smoking and other free-spirited activities thought by some to be scandalous in their time. In fact, Chéret’s poster women became so popular with the public that they were dubbed “Chérettes.”

We appraised this pair of Chéret posters in Maryland earlier this week. Titled “PALAIS DE GLACE/CHAMPS-ELYSÉES (1894)” and “LIBRAIRE ED. SAGOT/AFFICHES-ESTAMPE (1891)” respectively, they are excellent examples of large scale public posters from France’s “beautiful age.”

Just three days to go! Packing for the taping of Maryland Public Television’s “Chesapeake Collectibles” Season 11.

Hope to see you at the Irene and Edward H. Kaplan Studio in Owings Mills this weekend.

As the sole heir of your parent’s estate, you may wonder if it's even necessary to have their assets appraised. The short answer is yes. Our latest blog explores the importance of appraising your parent's estate, regardless of your status as the sole heir. It also explains some of the pitfalls that may await you if you ignore this important step in the probate process.

Click: https://harrisonappraisals.com/the-importance-of-appraising-your-parents-estate-even-if-you-are-the-sole-heir/ to learn more.