Brett Banter

More than 150 people brought their family antiques and heirlooms to The Woodlands at Furman today to get them critiqued by renowned appraiser Gary Piattoni.

Highlights from the three separate seminars which were held in The Woodlands’ Azalea Room included a signed Babe Ruth baseball from the 1940s, a children’s Singer sewing machine from the late 1800s, a 17th Century portrait, a second edition copy of “All Quiet on the Western Front,” and many other items including spyglasses, pocket watches, tea sets, paintings and Prohibition Era purses.

The purses drew some laughter as Piattoni pointed out that such handbags can now be used to carry cellphones instead of their intended illegal alcohol. Wearing a dark suit and crisp blue shirt, Piattoni showed his amazing skills honed through years of work on the PBS series “Antiques Roadshow,” working at Christy’s auction house and owning his own appraisal firm.

Using an inquisitive style to gauge where the guests attained their antique, Piattoni would then lead a brief history lesson on the piece before deeming what it could sell for at auction. In between, were some pearls of wisdom when looking for antiques.

“Age and value don’t always go hand-in-hand,” he said.

The Woodlands at Furman is a non-profit, mission driven continuing care retirement community owned and operated by a local board of directors and managed professionally by Greystone Communities. The 22-acre campus, adjacent to Furman University, opened in March 2009 and consists of 132 apartment homes in addition to 32 assisted living apartments, 16 memory support suites and 30 skilled nursing suites. For more information, please visit www.thewoodlandsatfurman.org or call 864-371-3100.