Antiques Roadshow

[Longhorn]

Don't you just love it? I'm not a collector but I really enjoy learning about the different items and how much they're worth. I record it every week to watch when I have time. :hi:

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

1. I love that show.

I went to one once. It was a hoot. And I found out that my china was worth waaay more than I paid for it, but not enough that DH made me sell it. :rofl:

Hey, fancy meeting you here. :hi:

[Longhorn]

2. I was thinking the same thing!

I had to double check which forum I was in! :hi:

I've often wondered how often those folks do go home and sell, even when they say they're going to keep it for "sentimental value." :)

Were you on the show?

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

3. Oh no. Mine wasn't anywhere near the grade to be on the show.

The guy - it was David Ragu - did say "you done did really, really good girl". :rofl:

[Longhorn]

4. Tell me about your china!

I have two sets, one that belonged to my mother-in-law and another that belonged to her mother. My father-in-law bought both sets when he was stationed in Japan in the sixties and I inherited them. I doubt if it's valuable, though.

[eleny]

5. You hold onto china, too?

I just can't seem to part with my mom's couple of sets and then one for each grandma. Mom's one set is Noritake. but the two sets that were my grandmothers' sets are every day dishes. I love them all and can't possibly use them. But still.... sigh.

[Longhorn]

7. Yes, I actually need another set -- one for each daughter!

:) I think both of my sets are Noritake. I looked up the patterns once when I was considering finding a replacement lid for one of the sugar bowls. I wasn't thinking of selling so I didn't really check the value but they're not that old. We use them, at most, once a year if I have Thanksgiving at my house. :hi:

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

6. I bought it at an auction. In the catalogue it was listed as Chatsworth in the

Imari Pattern. Like a dolt, I didn't actually check the back of the pieces, I just checked to make sure there were no chips, cracks etc. So, when I got home I googled and couldn't find anything. The estimate was 500 to 600 hundred. There were 45 pieces and I figured that they were worth at least 10 bucks apiece - dinner plates, soup tureens, gravy ladles, luncheon plates, soup bowls, platters, etc. So I figured I would go 450 max. I won at $425 plus the buyers premium. I get them home and read the back and it says K&Co. That tells me nothing. I googled and googled and googled and finally figured out that it was Keeling and Co, but the stamp (the little figure) doesn't check with anything I've found. So, I go and look at books at the library, at the major bookstores, everywhere I can think of. No dice. Take it to the Antiques Roadshow and et voila! he finds it immediately. It's Keeling and Co and there's the stamp - it's a guy with an urn. He told me what they were worth. I only brought in the big soup urn, lid and ladle and one dinner plate and he said the two pieces alone were worth 500 bucks.

Here's a link:

http://www.replacements.com/webquote/KEECHATS.htm

[Longhorn]

8. I'll have to see how much mine is worth.

Thanks for the link!

And how cool that yours is so valuable! You need to get that set insured, if you haven't already! :hi:

[zabet]

9. Watch it every Monday night on PBS...

if I miss it then, they repeat it early Saturday afternoon. I have learned a lot from it through the years. :hi:

[Longhorn]

12. I'm not sure if I've learned anything because I tend to forget things

if I don't write them down. But the show does serve as a reminder that there are a lot of jewels amongst the junk out there. And it seems that most of the people on the show lucked into their find or inherited it, which makes it even more fun. :hi:

[Vinca]

10. I never miss it and I always learn something from it.

One time they had a segment with Suzanne Perrault from the Rago auction about Delft Des Porcelayne Fles Tiles. I had never seen one or even heard of them before. Amazingly, the very next day I was in a thrift shop and what did I find? That exact thing. It was small and not terribly valuable, but I sent and email with a photo to Suzanne to tell her of my find and got a response.

[Longhorn]

11. Great timing!

Their experts are so knowledgeable and respectful. They really seem to enjoy discussing the items. :)

[yy4me]

13. The show is interesting but beware of some of the value's they

put on your goods. They are very inflated in many cases. Ask any dealer you know and they will tell you the same thing. What annoys me is the time they sometimes spend on some item of very little consequence when, in the background is a beautiful piece of furniture that gets no notice.

I know the show is meant to be entertainment but if their intent is to educate as well, they should be a little more careful with the values quoted. I get very annoyed when the "experts" quote prices that are qualified by saying "but it would be higher in a shop". Sorry, but that is a lot of hogwash. Maybe some swanky New York shop but not your everyday Antiques shop.

I spent 25 years in the business and know a little about a lot and not a great depth in any one specific area. I can look up marks etc in the same text books they use. So can all of you. The library is a great source. Don't think that Granny's old dishes will bring you a zillion dollars. You have to find a buyer willing to pay for it and that show puts unrealistic value on most of the goods reviewed.

For anyone who has made a great find, like the woman from New Jersey with the Seymour table she bought for $25.00, I say bravo. To the rest of us, just keep looking and just maybe you'll find that goodie. Do your research. There is plenty of good information out there.

Don't swallow the hyper-baloney on roadshow. You might be very disappointed. And, I might add, Auction prices mayy be a little lower now but the show implies that auction is the best way to buy. Not so, but that is another story.

Watch for the entertainment and identification value, not the dollar value.