For Hometown News

VERO BEACH - Antique appraiser Ronald H. Rennick, of Vero Beach attended a three-day seminar at Winterthur Museum in Winterthur, Del., the premier museum specializing in American furniture, paintings, and decorative arts.

The program was limited to 20 participants, and featured leading experts in the field including Wendy Cooper, Dean Fraley, Charles Hummel, Phil Zimmerman, Ann Verplank, and others.

The format included lectures by respective experts and hands-on workshops where the participants examined and critiqued various pieces from the Winterthur Museum collection.

One outstanding feature was the Dominy family cabinet shop, which had been totally moved and installed in one of the museum rooms in Winterthur.

The participants saw the actual tools, limited workspace, and lighting that the 18th century furniture makers worked with.

By calculating the price charged for pieces of furniture, Winterthur experts have determined that a single craftsman could make an 18th century ladder back chair in less than one day. A tall chest, highboy, took approximately 29 days to construct.

In addition to furniture, the participants also studied 18th and 19th century oil paintings and works on paper.

The workshop section of the art lecture consisted of a visit to the Winterthur restoration laboratory to study the materials and techniques of 18th century American paintings.

The seminar was sponsored by the Appraisers Association of America.

Mr. Rennick, a well-known local appraiser, art and antique dealer, and auctioneer, performs appraisals for insurance purposes, estates, donations, property damage, collateral, estate planning, and several other purposes.

He can be reached at 15 Royal Palm Pointe in Vero Beach, or by calling (772) 562-5015.