ANDOVER - The intricately carved Asian chair belonged to his great-grandmother.

It now has a special place in his home, though Scott Slaughter doesn't let anyone sit in it - he keeps a rope across it for protection.

So he was a little disappointed to learn that other people don't think it's as valuable as he does.

"I wish I had a treasure so I could retire," he said after learning that his chair was worth only about $500.

The bad news was delivered to him by Stuart Whitehurst, an antiques dealer who was invited to appraise various items, including Slaughter's chair, at a fundraiser for the Andover Historical Society, held last night at the Unitarian Universalist Church off Main Street. Whitehurst has appeared on the public television show "Antiques Roadhouse," which inspired Historical Society members to create a similar event for their annual fundraiser.

Last night was the second time Whitehurst has appeared at the fundraiser, dubbed "What's it worth?" About 50 people attended and watched as Whitehurst tried to put a price tag on each of the 65 pieces on display.

The items ranged from the typical - old books and silver serving bowls, which Whitehurst called "as common as raindrops in April" - to the highly unusual. One man brought a jacket made by Seminole Indians, while another toted in a bag of rusty golf clubs and golf balls, which had seen better days.

Several people brought paintings, including an ocean scene by Eleanor Church, a large one with muted colors called the "Isle of Capri," and a round painting of a young boy brought by Sue Adams and appraised at between $1,800 and $2,200. Another piece brought by Adams, an Oriental planter with a floral design, is worth between $1,500 and $1,800, according to Whitehurst.

"Well, wow," she said after the appraisal. "I didn't think it was worth that much. I'm pleasantly surprised at the price."

But items didn't need to have a four-figure price tag to be valuable.

Whitehurst held up a framed cookbook from 1906, which had belonged to someone's grandmother, and said it would only sell for $30.

"It's not worth a lot of money," he said. "But coming from your grandmother makes it irreplaceable."

The bulk of the appraisals were for between $100 and $200, such as a childhood toy - a 12-inch Shirley Temple doll - brought by Evelyn Retelle of Andover.

Even if there weren't many high-end items on hand, people just had fun seeing what Whiteburst had to say, said Historical Society member Lynn Smiledge.

"They want to know about their loot and what it's worth," she said.

Some did better than others. One of the great finds were two Apache woven baskets, appraised at between $3,000 and $5,000 each. The owner said he had several more of the baskets at home.

But just because someone had something of value doesn't mean they are going to rush out and sell it. Adams loves her large Oriental planter, which was given to her by her mother and was probably purchased at an antique auction by her grandfather.

Adams loves the piece so much, she has held onto it even though it doesn't fit with the decor in her home.

She has considered selling the planter, but finds she is reluctant to part with it, especially now that she knows it's worth something.

"I think I will value it more," she said. "I'm seriously thinking of keeping it."