As I stated in the cameo thread this is not the place to receive an evaluation for Probate purposes. For that in most states you need a statement in writing by an authority, antique/jewelry dealer giving approximate age and current value. There are ways around receiving individual evaluations but I they are not something that an ethical person should do.

While you are asking for evaluations if you are planning on selling things ask after you have received the evaluation if the place would be interesting in purchasing. Expect to receive much less than what the evaluation states.

Now for the unethical part if this was not to payoff debts or if there were multiple heirs. I was/am my husband's conservator. I had to fill out a list of his assets for the court similar to what you are doing. I elected to list his stuff as household goods and gave it an estimate based on what I saw similar items selling for in this area. I could do that in this state but not all states allow that. In this state even if there is a will what is in the house must be listed and provided to the Probate Court but unless they are high end items most courts would rather you not list individual things. You should ask the attorney handling this what is customary in your aunts area.

Maifleur01 - thank you for your advice - I did muddy the waters a bit. WE are in Probate, but these are personal items not listed on our Court docs. They needn't be after advice from Court personnel. These are items for sale only for the estate beneficiaries, so in re-thinking this, I guess I should not have added the probate details! - thank you for helping with that detail.

Here if the court found out about anyone taking personal items that were not mentioned in a will it could get ugly. Since you are in Probate I strongly urge you to talk to your attorney about these items.

oh thank you so much, this is huge learning experience, I will definitely ask questions, appreciate your time!

My relative owns a bookstore. If someone asks for an evaluation she will charge for this service.She tells the customer that she will not then buy the book/books. This would be unethical.

Yes, it is unethical for an appraiser to offer to buy anything that they appraise.
back to the original question.....can we see more pictures of the chair so we can tell you more about it?
I am not aware that this is a forum for dispensing legal advice, especially when the circumstances are unknown.

linda I agree that this is not a place for dispensing legal advice which is not what I did. I suggested she talk to her attorney because of the problems that I have had with my husband's conservatorship and now Probate issues. I gave an examples of what problems I HAD.

Agreed, advising someone to talk to an attorney is a specific recognition that the poster does NOT want to be seen as giving legal advice.

Cool chair, I hope we get more pics.

thank you all so much - I finally have some additional pics of the chair and will post as soon as I can figure out how to get them from my camera to the computer! you all are great people!

here are the pics of the underside and what I believe is a repair on one arm of the chair. This is so interesting to learn about family stuff in New England. Should we donate it to the historical society? This chair has probably been upstairs in this 1800 house for all that time, maybe? what do you think? and I'll say it again, what fun and thank you all so much for your comments!

any ideas as to value on this chair and should it go to the historical society? thank you all!

Can't tell you about value....but it's a great old bamboo turned Windsor! Showing wear on the rails...very old iron angle repair Back posts go through the top rail....you need to have some one look at it....it's VERY nice....really VERY nice!