I'm cleaning out my parents home and have come across a lot of antiques.?
Answers:
Ok. The antique roadshow has dealers that come on the show to appraise items. These dealers names, stores and locations are usually printed at the bottom of the screen. Depending on where your from, look for that dealer. They usually offer free appraisals hoping that should you decide to sell, they would get the first option to buy. Some dealers like Sotherby's in NY also tell customers to take a picture of the item and send it to them. They will appraise it and let you know. Check online for dealers in your area and take it from there. Also, it is good to get second and third opinions. Don't be too quick to sell.
Other answers:
Bookstores or library should carry books to help you price antiques.
Bookstores or library should carry books to help you price antiques.
You could try and asking various antiques shops their value or go to a proffesional asseyer, check the yellow pages for your area
Find an antiques salesman and ask him for the merchantdise.
Keep them for when your children find them, then let it go down the family and score money for your children in the future!
Nitrogen.
You can contact an auction company in your area, especially if you are interested in selling some of them. The people there are experienced in estimating value. Another option would be an heirloom furniture refinisher.
My local paper runs a syndicated collector's column every Sunday. If yours does too, you could send questions to the paper. Look for the address at the end of the column.
Another thing you can do is to get some books (from the library is fine) and research the items yourself.
Right, any way you do it will require work. Go to the libarary with a list of books that are as specific as possible. Like HUMMEL or PEWTER. Other than that or looking things up on ebay for what they are selling for, a PERSON who knows a lot about a lot of antiuques is good. Invite a seller to come over, give you some rates. Then say NO and take extra care of what they offered you money for. Usually, they will say something like "This isn't worth much, but I collect these myself.." blah blah