Deer Creek Shoppes along with Anne Stratton held an antique appraisal night at Maple Crest Senior Living Village on Thursday, April 14.

There were 15 items appraised that evening ranging from a flow blue lamp, and other ceramics, to quilts, silver, pictures, toys and textiles.

Some of the items were very unique, including:

* a Bavarian cut glass ruby red vase,
* an old pottery piggy bank,
* a World War I Military outfit,
* a five-claw Japanese garden seat, and a feather stuffed quilt that was hand stitched and pieced circa 1870-1890.

Appraisals went anywhere from $30 to $450 for different items. Antique china and glassware seem to be making a comeback in popularity for collecting.

Stratton has been appraising antiques for over 53 years. She regularly visits 7 fairs over the summer to appraise people's treasures.

She says that things are classified as "antique" if it is 100 years or older. It is called "vintage" if it is between 50 and 99 years old and a "collectible" if it is from 1950 to the present.

Stratton recommends keeping antiques in the family and passing on "treasures" to loved ones while you are still living. Tell them the story, its history and its value.

Just marking the bottom of something with a child or grandchild's name guarantees nothing. Once a person dies, it becomes part of the "estate."

For more information about antiques, call Deer Creek Shoppes at 419-358-7467.