By Kate E. Salute
The antiques ranged from old radios to dolls to teapots to paintings to hammered silver-plated serving trays to lockets and more. Aside from getting free appraisals, those who brought items to Costello were entered in a contest for the most unique antique. There were more than 40 contestants.
"Who is the king of entertainment?" asked Costello after viewing a framed, signed picture of a young Frank Sinatra. A young boy raised his hand and said with confidence, "Elvis!" Costello explained to the boy that Elvis was the king of rock 'n' roll, but Frank Sinatra reigned as the king of entertainment.
The well-maintained photo signed by Sinatra read, "To Company 383." The photo's owner, Massapequa Park resident Liberto Arcari said, "I was in the Navy in 1944. Here is the certificate that states that I was a member of Company 383." Costello determined the piece was worth $2,300-plus at auction. "I wouldn't sell it; it has sentimental value," said Arcari.
While the photograph was the most valuable item, ringing in at $1,000 more than any other piece Costello and wife Jean saw the entire day, the medal did not go to Arcari. The Costellos had three favorite pieces in the category of uniqueness. Chuck Manza of Lynbrook brought in a deceiving Wizard of Oz table and chair set. Its weathered appearance made the piece look antique, though Costello found it to be from 1999.
"I bought it about two hours ago in Flushing for $10," said Manza.
"I would have loved to give the medal to the Wizard of Oz set, because it's such a great piece but I just couldn't," Costello said. "It's not antique." The used children's table and chairs in the shape of Dorothy, the scarecrow and the cowardly lion was valued at $300 to $500.
The next runner-up? "The mirrors," said Jean Costello.
"Yes, the Victorian mirrors, which were iron and brass and done by hand," said her husband, who valued the piece at $550.
"I bought a bunch of stuff at an estate sale 12 years ago, and this mirror was sitting on top of the secretary I bought, so they just gave it to me," said Vani Aboucham of Malverne.
The winning piece was the last item in the show. Dan Nagler of Malverne won the medal for his framed 19th century Chinese hatchet-like fans, valued at $1,000 plus for a set of two. "It's very unusual - I've never seen anything like it," said Costello.
"I'm going to pawn it on my way home," joked Nagler.
Aside from the expensive and unarguably unique, there were some interesting items that people brought for the adult show-and-tell. A plastic Aunt Jemima syrup pourer was valued at $75 to $125. "Someone ate a lot of pancakes to be able to send away for this syrup pourer," said Costello as he appraised it.
The boy who declared Elvis to be the king of entertainment, Brian Kearney of North Lynbrook, presented a doll to Costello with his mother, Carolyn.
"Don't think I'm a pervert," said Costello as he flipped the doll over and peeked under its white dress. "It's a Betsy Wetsy from around the '60s. You could probably get $75 to $100 or more at a doll show."
A 1930s green vase that changed color in different lighting was valued at $300. Barbara Lee of Malverne wasn't thrilled about its worth. "I don't like these - I think they're ugly," she said. "As far as I'm concerned, I'd just as soon put them out on the curb, but my brother and sister wanted me to bring them here."
Late in the show, a woman from Woodbury brought up two teapots. Having stated that each participant was allowed a single item to be appraised at a time, Costello looked in the box after appraising the first teapot at $160 and joked, "You bozo, you showed me the wrong one!"
The crowd, intrigued, allowed the woman a second appraisal. The second teapot, though worth the same as the first, was deemed rare, as it was part of a 1950s Japanese tea set. Costello explained that Japan rarely produces tea sets, as China has taken over in that arena.
After the show, Costello explained that he likes to keep his appraisals light-hearted, since he also does stand-up comedy. He prefers to joke around rather than tell people that their personal valuables have no monetary value. Even if a piece was worth only a few dollars, Costello showed the item off, saying, "But isn't it beautiful anyway?"
He claims to have appraised just about every imaginable item in his many years, and has his own business called Appraisals Only.
