January 12, 2011 - Page 2 of 2 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Orchids take center stage at Longwood Gardens

Longwood Gardens has acres of reasons to visit this
winter. The horticultural showplace near Kennett Square transforms
its majestic conservatory into an Orchid Extravaganza January 22-March 27.

The
heated 4-acre conservatory transports guests into a warm oasis featuring the
“divas” of the plant world with thousands of orchid blooms, displays and
special exhibits. The award-winning Orchid Curtain returns, fashioned this year
with Phalaenopsis ‘China Xen Queen,’ in addition to stunning displays of
orchids in planting beds, window boxes, containers and other eye-catching
exhibits.

Featuring a plethora of colors, sizes and shapes, guests
will be amazed by the variety of orchids on display, including Cattleya,
Dendrobium, Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum and Oncidium, among others. In all,
more than 4,000 blooming orchids will delight the senses. In the East
Conservatory, giant white Phalaenopsis adorn the oval basin, welcoming guests
to the Conservatory, while purple Phalaenopsis fashioned into topiary-like
standards lead you into the Main Conservatory. Floating islands of yellow and
orange Oncidiums dot the Fern Floor and hanging baskets of Cymbidiums line the
yellow-blooming Acacia Passage as a waterfall of golden Oncidium ‘ Sweet Sugar’
marks the entrance to the South American-inspired Cascade Garden.

Additional indoor highlights include the Mediterranean
Garden, a riot of vibrant color January through April with Australian purple
coral-pea (Hardenbergia) vines blooming like miniature wisteria; while the
Estate Fruit House displays nectarines, melons, and other fruits and vegetables
flourishing in the midst of winter.

In early March, Longwood’s famed Blue Poppy (Meconopsis)
returns to the Exhibition Hall. Usually, to see masses of blue poppies in
bloom, you needed to travel to Scotland, Alaska, or the Himalayas. Not anymore.
Longwood Gardens has successfully produced a stunning crop of blue poppies that
decorate the Conservatory’s Exhibition Hall with their unique blue blossoms.

School’s Out Mondays: January 17 and February 21

Pack up the kids on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and
President’s Day and bring them to Longwood for a day of fun. Special discovery
and craft stations will be in the Conservatory from 10 am–2 pm. Donate a canned
good in the Visitor Center on Jan. 17 and receive a coupon redeemable that day
for a cookie in the Terrace Restaurant Café. Activities included in Gardens
admission.

OrKid Days Family Fun

The entire family will enjoy Longwood’s “OrKid” Days. Spend
a Saturday experience a children’s performance (Noon & 2 pm), craft and the
chance to meet unique exotic animals up close (Noon–3 pm). Activities are
included in Gardens Admission.

January 22: Joanie Leeds & the Nightlights and the
Philadelphia Zoo
Joanie Leeds, GOLD Parent’s Choice Award winner for her latest CD I’m a Rock
Star, performs songs for the entire family, including I Wanna Be Green,
honoring the plants at Longwood.

The Philadelphia Zoo on Wheels will bring a lineup of exotic
animals to the gardens for children to see and learn more about.

January 29: It’s Not Mean to be Green, The Musical and
Brandywine Zoo

This book by Jamie Kleman about a young boy’s somewhat
confusing introduction to “going green” is now a lively and entertaining
musical.

abounds when the Elmwood Park Zoo brings a variety of furry
friends to delight young visitors.

February 26: Andes Manta and Elmwood Park Zoo
Travel to the Andes to and experience the traditional music of the region. See
more than 35 traditional instruments, including the lyrical sounds of the
quena, to the six-foot long pan-pipes. The music of Andes Manta never fails to
bring audiences to their feet!

Jazz Club Returns

Enjoy a night of stellar jazz in the midst of an exotic
orchid paradise at The Jazz Club at Longwood Gardens. This popular series of
performances returns featuring some of the greatest jazz artists performing
today including nine-time Grammy winner Kurt Elling Quartet (Feb. 19), popular jazz
violinist Regina Carter’s Reverse Thread (March 5), and 2008 Grammy winner
Kenny Garrett Presents (April 9). Concerts are at 5:30 pm and 8 pm in
Longwood’s historic and intimate 280-seat Ballroom. After the 8 pm show, enjoy
a coffee reception with the artist. To purchase tickets ($40–50 per person;
$34–43 for Garden Pass Members), visit www.longwoodgardens.org,
or call 215-893-1999. Additional charges apply. Purchase all three concerts and
save 10 percent.

Valentine’s Day Events

Love is in the air this Valentine’s Day Weekend, February 12
and 13 when Longwood presents the Love Blooms Valentine’s Brunch and Dinner
events.

Saturday, February 12 and Sunday, February 13 – Valentine’s
Day Brunch in 1906. Seatings at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m. Enjoy a 4-course,
prix-fixe brunch that includes a complimentary glass of champagne. $99 per
couple/Garden Pass Members $85 per couple.

Saturday, February 12 at 7 p.m. – Valentine’s Dinner in
Conservatory. Bring that special someone to an evening of elegance at Longwood
from 7–11 pm. Enjoy a gourmet menu featuring Asian, Moroccan, and Italian
Antipasto specialties as well as a Carving Station and French Dessert station
in Longwood’s dazzling conservatory setting. Special tickets are required
and can be purchased online at www.longwoodgardens.org
or by calling 610-388-1000. Ticket prices are $150 each ($130 for Garden Pass
Members) or $275 per couple ($235 for Garden Pass members).

Clivia Show, March 19–20

Clivia enthusiasts share their expertise and showcase
beautiful Clivia during the Clivia Show, March 19-20 at Longwood. Guests can
see dazzling Clivia in a judged show from noon–5 pm Saturday and 9 am–5 pm
Sunday. Show is included in Gardens admission.

International Orchid Show & Sale, March 25–27

The popular Longwood Gardens International Orchid Show &
Sale returns March 25–27. Sponsored by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Orchid
Society (SEPOS), the three-day judged show features exhibits by regional orchid
societies and renowned vendors. Free with Garden admission, the show is open
Friday, 1–5 pm, Saturday & Sunday, 9 a.m–6 p.m.

The Orchid Sale will include vendors from the Continental
U.S., Hawaii, and South America offering a wide selection of orchids that will
delight both novice and expert growers. The sale, located in Longwood’s Special
Events Pavilion, is free with Garden admission and is open Friday 9 am–5 pm,
and Saturday and Sunday from 9 am–6 pm.

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Winter classes at CCArts

Arts & Entertainment

New winter classes begin Jan. 17 at the Center for the
Creative Arts. Explore visual and performing arts opportunities for youth and
adults from short workshops to intensive ten week classes taught by
professional teaching artists. Express yourself and beat the winter blues.

New visual arts opportunities for Adults include Pen and Ink
with Cynthia Swanson, Painting in Gouache with Robert Stack and Mural Painting
with Jennifer McKay Higgins. Kathleen Buckalew will lead a Documentary
Photography Workshop in Kennett Square. Learn to Read Music is offered by Terri
Weaver for ages 8 through adult.

Youth will enjoy learning the art of Printmaking with Pamela
Skwish, and Elementary School students in Delaware public schools can take an
imaginary trip around the world during our new Spring Break Art Camp. Spring
Break Art Camp may also be scheduled for small groups of Pennsylvania students.
Please inquire.

Children’s Theater at CCArts presents Beauty and the Beast
for young actors, ages 6-14. Auditions and rehearsals begin January 22;
register in advance and plan to attend the production March 26, 2011, 2PM. This
will be the second performance of this new program. The first show, Aladdin and
the Wonderful Lamp, was proudly performed by nine young actors in December for
an enthusiastic crowd. As one visitor commented, “This was the highlight
of my week; no month!” The actors’ charm and wit were matched by beautiful
costumes and sets, all to the credit of directors Lara Michele and Sue Sodomin.

CCArts is also available for birthday parties, special
events, studio rentals and customized arts experiences. For additional
information call 302-239-2434, visit www.ccarts.org
or stop in at 410 Upper Snuff Mill Row, Yorklyn, DE to register for classes.
The Center for the Creative Arts is the place for you to “Find the Artist
Within.” Check class listings for specific dates and times, and take advantage
of the opportunity to explore your creative side!

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The Appraising Eye:Treasures in the Attic

Home and Leisure

The New Year is a time of reflecting upon the past
but more importantly focusing on the coming year. New Year’s resolutions often
include spending more time with family, exercising regularly and eating
healthier. However getting organized appears on just about every New Year
resolution top ten list. Most people have an accumulation of objects in their
attic, cellar or closets. In general, people feel a responsibility to be good
stewards of objects that they inherit or receive as gifts. Before you discard
unwanted objects, it’s worth taking a look at those seemingly humdrum items in
your household. Antique treasures often go unnoticed and there is often value
in what the untrained eye sees as ancillary.

Last year the most astounding find in a dusty attic
was a decorative 16-inch Chinese vase found by a brother and sister in suburban
London that sold at auction for $69.5 million. The other Chinese knickknacks
they found in their family attic sold for only $65. In addition a retired
electrician revealed over two hundred pictures created by Picasso that he had
kept in his garage. While most of us may not have Chinese antiquities or
Picassos hidden in our homes, you may be surprised at the value of your
possessions. Whether you decide to keep your grandmother’s porcelain vase or
sell the crystal bowl that you received as a wedding gift, be sure to
understand whether your object is a treasure. To determine whether you have an
object of significant monetary value, first start by thoroughly examining the
object for labels and markings. Check the Internet or local library to research
objects similar to yours. If you cannot find the equivalent object on-line,
consider having the items appraised by a professional. Keep in mind the
condition of the object will affect its value.

While many stunning and unusual items are hidden in
one’s home, below are three types of objects that you may find stashed in your
closet or attic.

1.) Porcelain Platesare commonly inherited
and come in a variety of styles commanding assorted prices. However porcelain
portrait plates by manufacturers such as Royal Vienna can be valued at over
$2,000 per plate. A significant number of portrait plates were hand painted
after 19thcentury portrait artists.
Joseph Karl Stieler, a portrait painter for King Ludwig I of Bavaria was
commissioned by the king to paint portraits of the most beautiful women in
Bavaria. Many of these images were reproduced on Royal Vienna plates. The Royal
Vienna plates are identified by an underglazed blue shield similar to a beehive
on the reverse side of the plate. These plates tend to measure approximately
nine inches in diameter and were made to be displayed in cabinets or hung as
wall decorations. As a result condition is extremely important. Cracks, chips,
scratches or repairs can reduce the value.

2.) Porcelain Figuresof women dressed in 18thcentury costume or
children playing may be hidden in the attic and not on display in your
household, but if these objects are marked with blue crossed swords under the
glaze then the figures are highly collectable items. This particular mark
indicates that the object was most likely manufactured at the Meissen factory
in Germany. The Meissen artists were supported by the ruler of Saxony, Augustus
II whose coat of arms, two cobalt blue crossed swords were adapted as the
porcelain mark. During the early 1700’s, the German craftsman in Meissen were the
first European artisans to discover a process to make porcelain which had been
mastered by the Chinese for centuries. For several years, Meissen retained a
monopoly on the production of hard-paste porcelain in Europe hence making it
valuable today. An 18thcentury
Meissen figure can command over $3,000 at auction. In fact, a pair of Meissen 14-inch
amorous figures sold at auction this past year for $17,500.

3.) Silver bowls and platterstend to be popular
wedding gifts and you may have accumulated a few in your collection. First you
must identify whether the object is sterling silver or silver plate. Sterling
silver is a metal alloy that contains at least 92.5 percent silver and the rest
is usually copper. Silver plate is a base metal such as copper or nickel that
is coated in thin layers of silver by a process called electroplating. In
America, silver manufacturers after the 1850s marked objects to indicate the
fineness of the alloy. The object may be stamped ‘Sterling’, or have a
numerical mark such as-0.925 or 925/1000. Pieces made in Europe are often
marked with a series of symbols known as hallmarks. The standing lion with his
right paw raised known as the ‘lion passant’ is most commonly seen on quality
English sterling. The other marks on English silver indicate the city of
origin, the maker and the year of manufacture.

Similar to porcelain, silver values vary. One type
of American silver that is highly collectible is Gorham Martele produced at the
end of the 19th
century
until the 1930’s. At the Gorham plant in Providence Rhode Island, artisans
handcrafted one-of-a-kind fine silver objects for selected customers. Martele
silver pieces have the Gorham symbols thast include a lion, an anchor and the
capital letter ‘G’ as well as an added eagle over the anchor and the words
‘Martele’ stamped on the object. Martele silver objects are rare and highly
prized by collectors. For instance, a 10-inch Martele silver bowl sold for over
$10,000 last year at auction.

So as you are fulfilling your New Year’s resolution
of getting organized, be sure to grab a magnifying glass and dust your hidden
objects with a soft cloth to look for symbols and markings. Whether your
objects were acquired as gifts or given to you by your ancestors, they may be a
treasure trove today.

* Colleen Boyle is an appraisal consultant
for Freeman’s, America’s oldest auction and appraisal company. She holds
advanced degrees in Art History and a diploma in French fine and decorative
arts from Christie’s, Paris. She has appraised art and antiques for private
collectors and corporations throughout the U.S. and regularly publishes
articles about art and antiques. 610-470-5340,
cbfineart@gmail.com,www.freemansauction.com

About Colleen Boyle

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