Ever wonder how much Grandma’s pearl necklace is worth? What about that antique Westinghouse sewing machine from your distant cousin? Maybe you've got an old menu from the William Penn.
This weekend, you've got a chance to find out.
Pittsburghers can bring in their antiques for a professional valuation at the 9th annual Pittsburgh Hidden Treasures event at the Heinz History Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday where more than 30 appraisers from the Smithsonian museums, Christie's Auction House and other venues will be on hand to assess the historical significance of Pittsburgh's finest.
The event is free for center members and available at museum entrance cost for other patrons.
“It’s an opportunity for Pittsburghers to search their attics, look under their beds, scavenge in the garage and find treasures,” Center President and CEO Andy Masich said.
Hidden Treasures operates similarly to PBS’s Antiques Roadshow and is televised in partnership with KDKA. Masich said he expects between 1,500 and 2,000 visitors this year.
“Pittsburghers never move,” Masich said. “They’ve been here for five generations in the same neighborhood, sometimes in the same house.”
Past treasures include Revolutionary War relics, porcelain toilets and a plaque from an atomic bomb site. In addition to appraisals, the event also aims to teach individuals about historical value and item conservation.
“There seems to be no end of the great things that Pittsburghers are finding to bring in for appraisal,” Masich said.
Each participant is limited to two items, which must fit through a standard doorway and be carried. Upon arrival, staff members will quickly evaluate each item, then send participants directly to the item’s respective expert.
