By Natalie MAIER

Polished silver plates, teapots and cups lined the tables in the clubhouse. Antique one-of-a-kind treasures stood proudly, ready to be discovered – and purchased.

The occasion was the first La Crescenta Woman’s Club Antique and Collectibles Sale and Appraisal event at their clubhouse on Saturday, Feb. 2.

A total of 11 tables were rented out to vendors, many of whom were club members selling their own collections. Many admitted they had sentimental attachments to their items, but said it was time for them to sell.

Two standout items, up for sale by Rita Even, were a homemade tracker seat on top of an old milk can from Iowa, and a 1920s waffle maker.

Intricately designed dolls of Elvis, Barbara Bush, Lady Bird Johnson, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson were perched atop Gloria Lee’s table. Lee noted that the night before she had attempted to wash Elvis’s white outfit and had accidently shrunk it. As a result, he was selling for less than the other dolls.

For $5, people could bring in their valuable and have it appraised by Jackie and Frank Fimbres and Matthew Hutchens from Crown City Estate Sales in Montrose.

Jerry and Madeleine Bosco from Tujunga brought in a colorful watercolor painting with its original gold frame. Jackie carefully studied the painting while the Hutchens looked up the artist on his iPhone to provide any helpful information.

“This looks like a turn of the century painting with handmade paper,” Jackie said.

Jackie and Hutchens estimated the painting to be worth between $400 and $600 with the frame alone worth at least $120. Madeleine then pulled out her second item: her grandpa’s teddy bear. Jackie estimated it to be worth about $100 and advised Madeleine to keep it out of light and wrapped in acid free tissue paper in order to preserve it.

When asked what other treasures Jackie had seen that day, she said that one person brought in an 18-carat gold pocket watch and another brought in a Russian cigarette case, each earning a high appraisal.

The antique and appraisal event was in lieu of the club’s annual rummage sale. Chairman Sandy Satterwhite said that the rummage sale takes between three to six months to plan and often is too much work for the members of the club.

“One thing we need is an infusion of youth to help us,” Satterwhite said. “We are actively seeking new members. New blood always helps.”

While Satterwhite didn’t want to give the exact amount of money made, she said it was a very successful event and the club is thinking about having another antique sale in the future.

The money raised will go toward restoring their clubhouse which was built in 1925.

“[The clubhouse] has all the original plumbing and it’s failing in several areas,” Satterwhite said. “We need to re-plumb the whole building, so the money will probably go toward that.”

  Natalie MAIER