About Us
HOWARD PARZOW
When it comes time to separate ones self from their possessions or let say auctioning off your antique collection that one has put their heart and soul into collecting for years, choosing the right auctioneer is extremely important. Because once that collection is sold, that collection is gone!
I want my clients to know all about my interest, my appreciation for American History and the respect I have for another persons valued collection.
Because not only am I an auctioneer but I'm also a collector myself who has spent over 40 years putting together "The Country Store Museum" located in Mount Airy, Maryland. This is a on going pleasure in seeking the right period items to help showcase my pride and joy project which is always expanding with the additions of newly acquired items. Anyone can sell your collection but finding someone who really deeply cares about what they are selling is the important factor. I know how I feel about my possessions and how proud I am when giving the public tours of my museum.
My own interest are in Period American Furniture, Coverlets, Country Store & Advertising, Apothecary and Soda Fountain related items. I've been collecting such items since I was 22 years old and still an active buyer of such items today. Surrounding oneself with a vast collection whether in my home or my museum has always brought me such pleasure.
I also have always enjoyed antique automobiles and muscle cars of the 1960's. I have had the honor of owning numerous antique cars and always taking part of the restoration of such vehicles. My first antique car was a 1931 Model A Ford which I found on a farm in Olney, Maryland just sitting on a large field in 1971. It was "love at first sight" although most of my friends thought I had "lost it". After a year of intense restoration the car was finished to the correct and original specifications. The 1931 Ford never got off the trailer at The Hershey Antique Automobile Show because someone else fell in love with this car, nevertheless I sold the car. I had driven it on several road tours and won numerous trophies so it was the right time to sell. Of course I went on to restore another antique vehicle and a couple of classic cars.
I still attend numerous car shows throughout the year with my restored 1967 Corvette Coupe.
One of the high lights of car collecting is when I won the People's Choice Award at The Rockville, Maryland Antique Car Show with my 1961 Corvette. Restoration to the period is very important to me. I'm a member of The National Corvette Restorers Society and The Mid-Atlantic Corvette Club.
I really enjoy going to museums like The Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, VT. The Winterthur Museum in Delaware both of these museums are fantastic if you want to see "the best of the best". Although living in the Washington, D.C. suburbs having Mount Vernon, Harper's Ferry and The Smithsonian so close by is great.
For the past 6 years I have had the honor of being the auctioneer for The Montgomery County Humane Society Auction, of course I donate my services for this event that raises so much money to help keep the Humane Society operating. Our compassion for animals is very important in this household.
I have the honor also being the auctioneer for numerous fund raisers such as The Maryland Ballet, Washington Ballet, American Cancer Foundation, numerous public and private school auctions.
My auction firm is known for our speciality auctions such as our Estate, General Antiques, Apothecary, Country Store and Advertising, Dental and Medical Auctions we have held throughout the years. In 1997 I was the first place winner in The Auctioneer's Association of Maryland Bid Calling Championship held in Baltimore, Maryland. I also competed in The National Auctioneers Assoc. Bid Calling Championship held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. I served as Chairman of The Maryland State Bid Calling Competition in 1998 and in 1999 Served as The Media Chairman of The Maryland State Bid Calling Competition. Also I was a judge at The Virginia State Bid Calling Competition.
I have auctioned numerous private collections over 36 years some collections coming here as far away as California, Kentucky, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina and New England areas.
My auction firm provides appraisals for legal, insurance, estate purposes, IRS Tax Donations, I have given lectures to The American Society of Appraisers and The International Society of Appraisers. Also I have attended numerous seminars on personal property appraising through The National Auctioneers Association and other classes for the past 36 years.
Numerous articles of my auctions have been printed in numerous antique publications such as Antique Week, Antique & Auction News, Antique Toy World, The Maine Antique Digest and The Antique & Arts Weekly(The Bee). My auction firm is listed in the nationally known book by Ralph and Terry Kovel, Kovel's Guide to Selling, Buying and Fixing Your Antiques and Collectables(copyright 1995) and Maloney's Antiques & Collectables Resource Directory, published by Antique Trader Books.
My auction firm was featured in The Frederick News-Post 8TH Annual Progress Edition 2009 and my museum was featured on the front cover of TV Week.
DONNA PARZOW
They say behind every good man is a GREAT woman and that adage holds true in Howard's wife, Donna.
A southern gal, Donna Parzow hails from Coral Gables, FL. Her lifelong love of animals started very early in her life, growing up with the family's several great danes as playmates. From the beginning she learned that the proper care, handling, training and, of course, love for your animals was vital not only for the well-being and happiness of the animal, but also for the owner.
It is inevitable that like most young girls when Donna saw her first pony, Donna WANTED her first pony. And Donna GOT her first pony, Rusty, at the age of five. (No doubt the great danes didn't look quite as big anymore.) Already aware of the responsibilities involved with animals care, Donna began her journey into the "horsey set" with ease. Its only natural that Donna's pride in her training and in Rusty's abilities would eventually lead to the showing circle. The ribbons started adding up and soon her parents got her her first true show horse. It was a three gaited gelding named Black Star. As time passed, the stables grew to a total of 12 horses all with a great variety of talents. Donna then started showing on the Florida Sunshine Circuit. She rode English saddle for many years and then got a quarter-horse named Prince and started riding western saddle, competing in the incredibly fast barrel racing competitions in many shows.
