The first Antiques Appraisal night wasn't more than 10 minutes old when Hereford antiques dealers Dixie Cook announced, "We have our treasure. This is a magnificent piece."

She was holding a 7-inch tall blue and gold vase that most likely dates back to the late 1600s. Cook told its owner, Ellen Rae, that its value is between $1,500 and $2,000.

"My grandmother got it in 1932 and got it out of occupied Belgium," Rae, of Parkton, said. "She knew it was worth guarding, but I had no idea how old it is or what it is worth until now."

The vase was one of several dozen items appraised by Cook, who owns Cook Ltd. Antiques in Hereford, and antique dealer Liz Lanphear, who has a space at Hereford Antiques Emporium. The two were appraising items during the fundraiser put on by the Friends of the Hereford Library. People paid $10 for each item to be appraised and were limited to two items.

One of the most unique antiques also stumped the experts. Jean Hessenauer and her son, Jim, both of Parkton, brought a large wooden ship with canvas sails. It sat in a rack with the name "Santa Maria" on it.

"This was my grandfather's and it sat on his mantel for 60 years," Jean Hessenauer said. "Now it's mine and it sits on my mantle."

Cook said it was a European piece, possibly from the late Victorian era. She suggested the ship be taken to the Baltimore Museum of Art to have layers of dirt removed professionally. The BMA personnel may also be able to date the wood, she said.

Cook and Lanphear looked at a 14-carat gold men's pocket watch, two intricate German beer steins from the late 1800s, a French oyster plate worth $300 and a 160-year-old needlepoint sampler only valued at $200 because it is not signed or dated.

"We were all impressed with how knowledgeable Dixie Cook is," said Laura Pawlak, president of the Friends group who came up with the idea for a fundraiser. "What a wild variety of items we had."

Cook and Lanphear often consulted a pile of books they had on the table to determine the manufacturer of an item. But some, like a hand-blown pitcher valued at $250 and a wooden cabinet to hold miniatures they estimated was worth $300, had no manufacturer markings.

Mary Huddleston, of White Hall, brought in a chipped platter that had been poorly repaired. She learned it is an ironstone flow blue platter from the late 1800s, named because the blue ink of the pattern flowed onto the platter instead of leaving a sharp image.

"This is definitely worth repairing properly," said Cook, who also gave her the names of somebody to do the work.

Jane Obaza, of Cockeysville, brought in an egg-shaped carved wooden container. She said it was her great-grandmother's case to hold sewing needles.

Lanphear looked at it with her magnifying glass and said it was worth about $150.

"This is a really interesting night," Obaza said. "I learned a lot, and it is fun to sit here and see what other people brought in."

There were 26 appraisals on Nov. 12 and the Friends hope to hold another Antiques Appraisal night in late spring.

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