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Sponsored by Klaff's and People’s United Bank, the LMMM Antiques Appraisal Weekend will feature world-renowned appraisers specializing in a wide variety of antiques and collectibles including jewelry, watches, silver, fine art, furniture, books and documents, coins, pottery and China, sports memorabilia, toys and more. Media sponsors include Connecticut Cottages & Gardens, The Hour and Cox Radio. Last year, more than 1,200 people attended the LMMM Antiques Appraisal Weekend, but the museum is expecting an even larger crowd on October 3rd and 4th, given the remarkable line-up of experts and the ever-growing popularity of online auctions and hit TV shows such as the Antiques Roadshow. The event will be co-chaired by LMMM Trustee Joe Passero of Norwalk and LMMM Trustee and interior designer Linda Fontaine of Weston. “This is an exciting and unique opportunity for antiques enthusiasts, amateur collectors and treasure hunters,” said Mr. Passero, “as some of the world’s leading experts will be gathered at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum to offer their evaluations.” Donating their time and expertise to the Mansion will be Betteridge’s CFO and Director of the Watch Group Mike Manjos, Director of Estate Jewelry Simon Teakle and Warren Lagerloef, Senior Sales Professional and Senior Appraiser, John Reznikoff, President and Owner of University Archives, Christine Downing of C. Downing Auctions, Peter Curran, Kevin McClellan, Jan Lee, Mary Lou Logan, Skip Rooney, President and Founder of Golf-Art/Crossways Gallery, Evelyn Phillips, Gil Rodriguez, Owner of Gilann Books and Braswell Galleries, among others. “The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum is an ideal venue for this event,” said co-chair Linda Fontaine, “as an interior designer and collector for many years, I find the Mansion’s magnificent 19th century furnishings and beautiful period rooms truly inspiring and inviting.” Fairfield County residents and visitors will be invited to bring their family heirlooms and collectibles to the Mansion for an immediate and expert evaluation. Appraisals will range from $15 for a small or medium size item, to $30 for large antiques such as furniture, (maximum of three appraisals). All proceeds will benefit the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum. A graduate gemologist with a diploma from the National Association of Goldsmiths, Betteridge’s Director of Estate Jewelry Simon Teakle is an internationally recognized expert in the jewelry industry. Mr. Teakle became Head of Christie’s Jewelry Department in the United States in 1991 and during his tenure, spearheaded the sales of many of the most notable gemstones and private collections in recent years including jewelry from HRH Salimah Aga Khan, the Rockefeller Sapphire, jewelry belonging to Eva Peron, the $12 million sale of Doris Duke’s jewelry and the exhibition and sale of Elizabeth Taylor’s. Betteridge’s CFO and Director of the Watch Group Mike Manjos studied finance and accounting in college. “Being a numbers geek helps out in really unusual and unexpected ways,” said Mr. Manjos, “knowing both current and historical model numbers for the brands that we carry, as well as knowing both current and historical pricing is invaluable in both buying and selling.” Warren Lagerloef’s passions are far-ranging. He loves fine pearls and has a particular expertise for designing pearl jewelry. Moreover, Warren’s creative sensibilities and flair for fashion and color have made him Betteridge’s unofficial in-house jewelry designer. His artistry is evident in the watercolor renderings he creates for his clients, whether he designs a new piece of jewelry or updates a family heirloom. John Reznikoff, President and Owner of University Archives based in Westport, CT, is a world-renowned authority on rare documents and manuscripts. He has been a president of the International Autograph Dealers Association, an expert for the United States Department of Justice on one of the largest civil actions ever filed against the Government and an authenticator and consultant on PBS’ History Detectives. Mr. Reznikoff has been featured in hundreds of publications worldwide including The New Times, Smithsonian, Millionaire and Newsweek from 1985 to present. He has also appeared on many TV shows including Good Morning America, Extra and Court TV. Christine Downing grew up in the antiques business, courtesy of an aunt in the business, and has been buying and selling antiques and attending shows since early childhood. She held her first tag sale at the age of nine and hasn’t looked back since. Ms. Downing owns and operates C. Downing Auctions at 4 Taft St in Norwalk. C. Downing Auctions offers antique and specialty auctions every four to six weeks and provides antique and collectible appraisals. She has appeared on HGTV’s hit show Cash in the Attic as the antiques’ appraiser and on HGTV’s satellite radio station, discussing various aspects of collecting antiques and collectibles. Peter Curran of Wilton, CT, is a longtime member of the Appraisers Association of America. He is a graduate of The Rhode Island School of Design and holds a MPS from New York University. Curran grew up in the business, (his mother was a well-respected art curator and antiques dealer) and he has been involved in all major antique shows around the United States. Curran has often appeared on PBS’s hit TV show, Antiques Roadshow and has owned and operated antique shops in various locations in New York and New England. The value of objects he has appraised in his career has ranged from worthless to $30 million for a single item and over $120 million for a collection. For the past three decades, Kevin McClellan has been a significant fixture in the business of appraising antiques. After working for Fairfield County Estate Liquidators for six years, Mr. McClellan opened Kevin McClellan Appraiser and Auctioneer in 1983 and established himself as a reliable source of verifiable valuation services for bank trust departments, estate and divorce attorneys, local historical societies and individuals. Designated by the American Society of Appraisers as a senior appraiser of personal property in 1988, Mr. McClellan has testified as an expert witness in court cases and has worked on some of the oldest family estates in Fairfield County, many dating back to the early 18th century. Mr. McClellan currently works as a expert appraiser for Hiden Galleries, Genesis Antiques and Greenwich Living Design Center. He lives in Norwalk, CT. Jan Lee founded Sinotique in 1992, a gallery located in the heart of Chinatown and featuring classical Chinese antiques, African sculpture, natural wood forms and contemporary art. Mr. Lee has been an exhibitor at antiques shows in the Hamptons, Connecticut and New York for over fifteen years. When Mr. Lee is not in his Chinatown gallery or his three-story DUMBO Brooklyn location which houses a contemporary art gallery, a warehouse and his woodworking shop, he is attending antiques shows and writing features for Connecticut Cottages and Gardens Magazine and the Sinotique blog. Jan also designs and manufactures his own line of furniture. A sought-after antique doll and toy expert, Mary Lou Logan started her own doll collection when she was a child. She is currently the Doll and Toy Curator at the Wilton Historical Society and has assembled one of the largest toy exhibits in the state of Connecticut. Ms. Logan has also managed and repaired the collection of the Wilton Historical Society. Her expertise is wide-ranging: she can identify makers and age, advise on repair and restoration and give an estimate of value. Ms. Logan was the first president of the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum. An avid sportsman and golfer, Skip Rooney established his company, Golf-Art/Crossways Gallery, to combine his passion for the game of golf and the magnificence of its vistas with a growing market of collectors and buyers who share the same appreciation of golf’s natural beauty and challenges. Since 1986 the company has grown to serve a remarkable and wide-ranging clientele that includes royal families, sports legends, commercial buyers, an army of retail gift shoppers, and the corporate elite. Drawing upon the success of his website, voted the number one website for golf art by Golf Digest magazine, Golf-Art/Crossways Gallery now ships worldwide, all from its charming and treasure-packed storefront on Route 7 in Ridgefield, CT. Evelyn Phillips is a well known dealer and collector of antique dolls. A retired lingerie designer, her sense of styling and fashion is apparent in the beautiful period costumes she creates using antique fabrics and accessories for dolls whose clothes have suffered the ravages of time. She is a member of The National Doll Dealers Association, the United Federation of Doll Clubs and “Tuesdays Child," one of the oldest doll clubs in this part of the country. Gil Rodriguez opened Gilann Books of Darien in 1975. It was a summer bookshop at first, but due to its success, the business eventually expanded to a shop opened year-round that took Mr. Rodriguez to antiquarian book and ephemera fairs locally and nationally. Although his specialty is art and illustrated books, Mr. Rodriguez deals in all kinds of books. A member of the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America and the Ephemera Society of America, He has been very active in Fairfield County and has provided books, illustrations and autograph material for exhibitions at the Darien Library, the Darien Town Hall, the Ferguson Library the Norwalk Library the Rowayton Library, the New Canaan Library and the Ridgefield Library. Braswell Galleries started in 1958 when Harvey Braswell opened a small used furniture store and auction house in Amarillo, Texas. A strong southern antique market encouraged Mr. Braswell to acquire his inventory from the Northeast and eventually the family came to the New York area where Mr. Braswell continued his business with the southern market. In the mid 1980's, Gary Braswell opened Braswell Galleries auction house in Norwalk, CT. Braswell Galleries relocated to Stamford, CT in 2001. Since returning to Norwalk in January 2008, it has grown from a small local auction house to one of the Northeast's largest antique and auction centers. Braswell Galleries antiques and Estate Center is now located in The Old Norwalk Lace Factory at 1 Muller Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut. A “café style” lunch prepared by Nicholas Roberts Fine Foods will be available for purchase in the Mansion’s Billiards Room on Saturday while on Sunday a Super Duper Weenie truck will be parked outside the Mansion selling hotdogs and sodas. Decorative pumpkins and mums will be sold by Izzo & Son County Gardens, Mansion’s linens for the event courtesy of Elegant Table Linens. For a complete list of appraisers and information on their schedule at the Mansion please visit www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com. The museum will be closed for tours on October 3rd and 4th. © Copyright by ConnecticutPlus.com. Some articles and pictures posted on our website, as indicated by their bylines, were submitted as press releases and do not necessarily reflect the position and opinion of ConnecticutPlus.com, Canaiden LLC or any of its associated entities. Articles may have been edited for brevity and grammar. CURRENT HEADLINES: Top of Page
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