Top Stories
  • Share/Save

Antique Road Show Comes To Butterfield Library

by Margaret O’Sullivan

Amanda Crowley (r) and a friend displays two pictures purchased at the Stormville Flea Market for about $150. When appraised by Mr. DeSilva, Amanda found out she was the proud owner of a Rockwell Kent and another equally valuable painting with the combined value of over $1500.

The Antique Road Show, held at Butterfield Library in Cold Spring on February 12

th, had a dramatic start. Even the appraiser, Ron DeSilva, was bowled over by the first item, which turned out to be an authentic dragonfly Tiffany lamp with a Tiffany bronze base, signed by Louis C. Tiffany or Tiffany Studios. The value was estimated to be between $60 to $80 thousand dollars. The owner of the lamp and the audience gasped in glee and amazement. That set the tone for the day. Many people stayed to watch and learn after having their items appaised or, upon the suggestion of Mr. DeSilva, went home to bring back some more items for appraisal.

According to Mr. DeSilva, the event was a huge success, not only monetarily for the library, but with an important item being discovered every 6 to 8 items. Almost everyone has watched The Antique Road Show on TV, but what they don’t know is that Ron DeSilva trained eight to ten of the people who are on the show. Mr. DeSilva was the head of the American Decorative Art and the Art Nouveau Departments of Sotheby Parke Bernet about 25 years ago and some of the people on the show worked for him. He has handled thousands of items in his career and as he said to the PCN&R, he enjoys doing the Road Shows, finding those hidden authentic treasures (or reproductions) and talking with the audience. The Road Show finally ended at 3:30pm after Mr. DeSilva appraised thirty three objects belonging to one person. Mr. DeSilva told the PCN&R that he was extremely pleased with this show because of the diversity and quality of the items presented.

Pictured above is Appraiser, Mr. Ron DeSilva, examining an old serving dish during the Antique Road Show held at the Butterfield Library on February 12, 2000.





Cold Spring, NY Weather