Finding value or lack thereof in treasured items

We call it the Treasure State for a reason.  

Aside from the traditional treasure of “oro y plata” and other natural resources, there are the items people made, or brought to Montana. 

Flathead treasure hunters and keepers flocked to the Northwest Montana History Museum for the sixth Montana Antiques Appraisal Fair on Oct. 26. Organized by the Foundation for Montana History, the fair brings in expert appraisers once a year to a select venue for a day of engrossing infotainment.

“Just wait,” the foundation’s Zachary Coe said to me as the first attendees trickled in at 9 a.m., “this whole room at 1 will be full.” 

He was right. More than 180 people brought in 250-plus items that rarely go out in public. Many people stayed the day, taking in the parade of objects and the impromptu history lessons that Timothy Gordon, of Missoula, and Grant Zahajko, of the Spokane area, frequently delivered at the mic. 

A big bronze rolled in on a dolly, paintings arrived tucked under arms or carefully packaged, rolled woven rugs were slung over shoulders. 

Alyssa Cordova of the Hockaday Museum of Art brought in a John Clarke carving of a mountain goat, purchased at a garage sale for $95. It had been discounted $5 for a missing horn. Zahajko pegged the work at $8,000.  

Next came a piece of Japanese carved ivory from the 1880s, a Persian/Ottoman heart-shaped metal box from 1890 to 1910 (“The third I’ve seen in the last three weeks,” Zahajko said), a signed American cut glass whiskey jug, and a violin made by Gibson Guitar Co. (Zahajko found a single auction record of such a rare instrument and put the value at $3,750). 

“You guys are really bringing the goods this afternoon,” Zahajko said to the crowd before he and Gordon — who gets through the fair on a case of Diet Coke — tackled the rest of the items. 

Prompted by an attendee’s vintage fixture, Gordon talked about Gump’s of San Francisco importing vases from China that were turned into lamps and mentioned one that subsequently sold for a quarter million. Gordon and Zahajko also examined a 1913 map of Fort Peck, a Dutch painting from the 1600s, native American beadwork, the last picture completed by Montana painter Ace Powell, and an 1850s Irish chain quilt bought at Goodwill (value: $700). 

Results varied. A rug that was thought to be Southwestern turned out to be Mongolian. Flathead High senior Atlas Jaques came in hopeful with a chalkware bust that had an 18-something date etched on it. “$30 to $45!” she reported. One fellow hauled away his Mayan artifacts. With a satisfied nod, he said, “They’re real.” 

My mom and I took a turn. She brought a small bronze of Jeannette Rankin (submitted for the contest of who would depict one of the two Montanans selected to represent our state in D.C.’s National Statuary Hall Collection; Lakeside artist Terry Mimnaugh won that commission). 

I offered a sculpture of two happy guys riding a water buffalo that my grandparents had picked up in Asia. 

Gordon gave it a smile and tried not to hurt my feelings: “If it was Chinese, it’d be worth a lot more.” 

Margaret E. Davis, executive director of the Northwest Montana History Museum, can be reached at mdavis@dailyinterlake.com.