Antique furniture appraiser blowing smoke.

[popeyespappy]

I am sure the seller in this case simply didn't care. I do.

At least some of those pieces are for sale by commercial sellers. They make their living selling stuff so I highly doubt they don't care what it sells for. I do however think your "I do" comment is at the heart of what myself and others have been trying to say in this thread though. How much you care doesn't really factor into the real market value of the pieces you would like to sell. How much your potential buyers care does.

Could your appraiser be trying to fuck you? Possibly, but it is also possible he is giving you a honest assessment of what he believes the pieces are worth. Probably a wholesale price as opposed to a retail price.