Valuable assets
TV’s
‘Cash in the Attic’ appraiser Luke
to make stop in Madison
By
Michella M. Marino
Contributing Writer
(September 2006) – Madison, Ind.’s homes,
buildings and storefronts are full of history. It is likely that if
their owners would be willing to check, some of this history has made
its way into their attics as well. For some local residents, this history
can soon be turned into cash.
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Photo provided Tim
Luke |
On Sept. 8-9, the Lanier Mansion Foundation will play
host to a two-day event featuring Tim Luke, the appraiser from Home
and Garden TV’s “Cash in the Attic” show. This popular
show airs on HGTV at 8 p.m. Monday nights. Luke is a former appraiser
from PBS’ “Antiques Roadshow.”
According to a press release for the event, the Friday night program
will be held at the Lanier-Madison Visitor Center, 601 E. First St.,
beginning at 7:30 p.m. This portion of the event will consist of Luke
taking the public behind the scenes of the “Cash in the Attic”
show. Gerry Reilly, the new director of the Lanier Mansion State Historic
Site, said that Luke will be presenting clips, bloopers, and funny parts
of the show along with discussing the makings of “Cash in the Attic”
in general.
Luke said he plans on demonstrating to people how the families on the
show raise funds for their home improvements, too. “The show is
a lot of hard work, but the viewer can be doing it himself," Luke
said by telephone from his Florida home.
The lecture will show this, he said. It will show what goes into it
because it’s not all the glamour it appears to be.” After
the “Behind the Scenes” part of the program, an auction of
donated items will take place, which includes the opportunity to bid
on a “Cash in the Attic” experience in the top bidder’s
own home by Luke. The items to be auctioned were donated by the Lanier
Mansion Gift Shop, The Attic, Folk Art by May, Bizarre Ladies Uppity
Gifts, The Garden Gate, Barbara Kiffmeyer, and Binzer’s Custom
Framing.
The actual appraisal part of the event will take place from 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, at the same location. Luke will be available
to the public to appraise antiques and collectibles, excluding guns,
knives, coins, stamps, and fine jewelry.
The appraisals will be performed on a first come, first serve basis.
Cost for an appraisal is $10 per item with a limit of four items per
person. The program will not be televised, but all proceeds will benefit
the Lanier Mansion Foundation. The sponsors of the event include Woodburn-Kyle
& Co., A Sister’s Attic, Flint Painting & Repairs, John
& Crystal Fulton, Lumber Mill Antique Mall, MainSource Bank, Main
Street Antiques and Collectibles Mall, River Valley Financial Bank,
Local Harvest Market and MPS Printing.
Luke has been involved with and interested in antiques and collectibles
since he was a small child.
“Honestly, my dad’s a pack rat,” he admitted. “I
come from a long line of hoarders.”
His great aunt was a collector of mechanical banks, and from her collection
he learned to be more selective in what to collect and to throw away.
After college, Luke went to live in New York City and worked at Christie’s
Inc. Auction House, 20 Rockefeller Plaza, and New York, New York, where
he picked up a lot of his education on antiques and appraisals. He has
learned most of his antique education in what he refers to as “the
school of life,” but he is an accredited member of the International
Society of Appraisers. That required much class work on the various
legal aspects of appraising items.
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Tim Luke |
Luke was an appraiser on the popular PBS program “Antiques
Roadshow” for its first nine seasons, and he found it “exciting
from the very beginning.” Luke believed it appealed to the viewer,
as does his new show, because “it’s easily understandable,
everyday stuff.”
Aside from his television career, Luke has authored two books titled,
"Insider’s Guide to American Toys and Games" and "Toys
from An American Childhood." From his experience with the books,
Luke is now able to call himself a “generalist,” meaning he
knows “a little bit about a lot of things.”
Writing his two books gave him a lot of background on various areas
of items people have. He has recently been working on a weekly column
for Scripps-Howard Newspapers which will be coming out in October. In
addition, Luke is an auctioneer and also co-owns the Treasure Quest
Appraisal Group Inc. in Hobe Sound, Fla., with business partner Greg
Strahm.
Luke obviously stays very busy but keeps everything in check with good
scheduling and organization skills. The diversity of his work, even
if it can be hectic, is very satisfying. “I enjoy the mixture.
I like the variety because different skills are required. I can focus
on writing for three days and then walk away and do something different.
It’s a rejuvenation and regeneration to do this. I keep things
in moderation and then don’t get burnt out.”
Although, Luke grew up in the Cleveland area, and has traveled to Louisville,
Indianapolis and Cincinnati, this will be his first trip to Madison.
Luke said that he has done research online about Madison and loves this
part of the country, so he’s looking forward to visiting.
“I’m always impressed and surprised at the things people bring
to be appraised. There’s such a diversity of items and stories
that come with them. I’m looking forward to hearing them.”
• For more information on the “Cash in the Attic” event, please contact the Lanier Mansion Foundation at (812) 265-3526.