Sotheby’s Offers Heirloom Appraisals, Web Auction

Do you have some potential antique tucked around the house? Could that molded plastic chair stashed in the garage be an original Eames?

You can get the answer on Saturday at Sotheby’s Heirloom Discovery Day. Free appraisals will be offered from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sotheby’s galleries in Beverly Hills, 9665 Wilshire Blvd.

It’s the first in a series aimed at promoting Sotheby’s online auctions, said spokeswoman Laura Maslon. “We chose Los Angeles as the first city because we have such great flea markets here, we thought people would understand the idea. We’ll have about 40 guest experts doing verbal appraisals. And if you want to sell the item afterward, it can go right up on one of our Web sites.”

Host for the day will be Chris Jussel of PBS’ “Antiques Roadshow” fame, who is now senior vice president of Sotheby’s Online Auctions Associate programs. He oversees the company’s two sites, at https://www.sothebys.com and https://www.sothebys.amazon.com.

“Sotheby’s has done these Heirloom Discovery days for years,” he said. “Now we are taking the concept and creating an online event where people can get a free appraisal [in person] and also post their item for auction online. They can watch the process of cataloging, the digital photography of the item and how it is uploaded on the site.”

There is no charge for the event, and admission is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Objects can include Hollywood and rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia, porcelain, furniture, photographs, jewelry, books, silver, carpets, paintings, sculpture, prints and drawings. Stamps and coins will not be appraised.

Information: (310) 786-1875. K

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Shabby Chic’s Rachel Ashwell, who spawned a craze for machine-washable slipcovered furniture when she opened her Santa Monica store in 1989, will be a featured speaker at this weekend’s Capistrano Antiques and Garden Show.

More than 65 international dealers will participate in the third annual show Friday through Sunday at the Decorative Arts Villa Pavilion in San Juan Capistrano.

Ashwell is scheduled to speak and take questions about the shabby chic aesthetic at 11 a.m. Friday at La Sala Auditorium in the library next to the pavilion.

Hours for the Capistrano Antiques and Garden Show are Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information: (949) 488-2627.