Bonham Auction House coming to SJIMA to do appraisals

||| FROM DIANE MARTINDALE for SAN JUAN ISLANDS MUSEUM OF ART |||

Ever wonder how much a piece of art you have is worth?

Now is your opportunity to find out! Specialists in the Jewelry and Fine Art-Departments from Bonhams auction house will be on location at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art to answer the probing question, “How much is this family heirloom or estate sale impulse-buy actually worth?”

The San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA) is pleased to present our inaugural appraisal event, from 11-3 on Saturday, August 28. This will be so much fun! Take the jewelry you inherited or a fine art piece and learn its worth and a bit of its history.

Bonhams’ specialists will provide an informal verbal appraisal that will include an estimated value based on what the object might sell for at auction. The value is based on the specialist’s expertise and knowledge of what similar items are fetching in the current auction market. If an object meets the minimum consignment requirements, you will have the option to consign your item to Bonhams for sale at auction. Specialists are visiting from the Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles offices of the esteemed Bonhams auction house and frequent guests on the popular PBS series Antique Road Show®.

Specialists will be available to provide appraisals in the following categories:

• Aaron Bastian, Fine Arts expert at Bonhams
  • paintings,
  • drawings,
  • sculpture
• Emily Waterfall, Fine Jewelry expert at Bonhams
  • The appraisals are $50 for the first item and $25 for each additional item, with maximum of three items.
• One hundred percent of the proceeds from this event support the exhibitions and programs of the San Juan Islands Museum of Art in Friday Harbor.

The event will be in our glass Atrium Gallery and participants can enter its side door or the lobby entrance. The appraisals will  begin with a short panel discussion on collecting at 11 am  and appraisals immediately following up until 3 p.m.. 

Heather O’Mahony will lead a revealing and useful discussion on collecting. Our own Don Pollard will join the panel to ask the questions we all typically ask when inheriting or bequeathing fine art or jewelry.

SJIMA will have a surprising silent auction for your enjoyment and shopping. Items for auction include an art quilt, wine basket, African Twilight photographs by Beckwith & Fisher, photographs by Ernest Brooks and art from the DEEP DIVE exhibition and more.

Make sure to see the African Twilight exhibition by Beckwith and Fisher in the main museum while you are there. There is no admission fee to participate in the silent auction portion of the event. Museum admission will be Pay As You Can that day.

Log on to www.sjima.org for additional information.

Things You Should Know:

• First come, first served—NO RESERVATIONS (Be prepared to wait a bit.) While you wait explore the silent auction items on display.
• You must be able to carry your items into the museum on your own (Museum staff is unable to provide assistance). For large fine art pieces,
  photos of art, back of art and signature area can substitute for the item.
• For categories not represented, it may be possible for the specialists to provide photos and details to the appropriate specialist at Bonhams after the event (no guarantees).
• Any consignment agreements are between you and Bonhams; the San Juan Islands Museum of Art is not involved with any auction activity.
• No written appraisals will be provided.
   

Bonhams is a privately owned British auction house. Founded in 1793, it is one of the world’s oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The Bonhams’ name is recognized internationally throughout all sectors of fine art, jewelry, motorcars, and collectors’ markets.