The Lotz House has announced the official date for its Sixth Annual Fall Antiques Appraisal Fair, which is scheduled for Saturday, October 4 at the Civil War house museum located at 1111 Columbia Avenue across from The Carter House.
In making the announcement, Lotz House Executive Director J.T. Thompson said, “The Antiques Appraisal Fair is one our most anticipated events each year. It’s a great opportunity to learn about the history and value of your treasures including grandmother’s china and silver, you may have collected over the years. We always see some incredible pieces and many folks will learn they own a piece of history.”
The appraisal fair is open to the public and will be held from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Guests are invited to bring their antiques to learn its value. The cost is $20 for the appraisal of one item, $25 for two items or $30 for three items. There is a maximum of three pieces allowed at a time. For each appraisal, guests will receive one free admission and guided tour of the Lotz House Museum.
Thompson added, “In addition to learning the value of an item, there is a really great experience tied to learning the item’s history. Understanding where these pieces came from and what kind of people originally owned them is a truly rewarding experience. These events are intriguing because you never know what treasures will show up at our house.”
J.T. Thompson and his mother Sue Armstrong Thompson will be appraising the antiques during the fair. For more than 14 years, Thompson and his mother Sue Armstrong Thompson have been featured at various Antique Appraisal Fairs throughout Tennessee and the southeast including events for the Tennessee Backroads and the Jack Daniels Distillery to name a few. They have teamed up again for this event to benefit the Lotz House Foundation, a non profit organization.
J.T. Thompson is certified in Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and Advisory Opinions (USPAP) and trained as a certified Personal Property Appraiser. He is also a member of the International Association of R.S. Prussia Collectors and The Society of Inkwell Collectors.
Sue Armstrong Thompson is often called the “One Woman Road Show,” as she has conducted numerous antique appraisal fairs for many years. As an independent appraiser, she has been involved in the art and antiques appraisal business for 51 years. She has been retained to do appraisals throughout the U.S., England and Germany. In the past, she has also been an art instructor in the Western Pacific Islands of Guam and Saipan.
Her international work and travel have enabled her to understand art on a global level. She is a noted antiquarian who works as a consultant to individuals and corporations and lectures on the subject of collecting as investment.
She is avid collector of American furniture and decorative arts. In fact, she was instrumental in finding and collecting many of the furnishings and decorative arts you see at the Lotz House today.
She has also been involved in the restoration of many of Middle Tennessee’s historical homes including Mooreland, Longview, Belmont Mansion, Belle Meade Mansion, Clover Bottom, White Hall and of course, the Lotz House.
Tennessee Backroads Heritage, Inc. Executive Director Dianne Murray said, “Our organization always receives praise for hosting the antique appraisal day events and that praise must be shared with J. T. and Sue Thompson. They are, without question, the most gentle and knowledgeable “Roadshow Team” to engage the audience in sharing stories and memories when appraising a person’s heirloom. We value their expertise and the way they embrace the audience. Folks always feel good at the end of the day and want to know when the next event will be held.”
The Lotz House, which has been on the National Historic Register since 1976, is located in the heart of downtown historic Franklin, Tennessee at “epicenter” of the Battle of Franklin which was a pivotal battle in the Civil War on November 30, 1864.
The house is open Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. or by appointment. Admission charged (free for Antique Appraisal Fair participants). The Lotz House is located at 1111 Columbia Avenue. For more information, call 615-790-7190 or visit the website is www.lotzhouse.com.
