Posts: 966
Registered: Jun 99

posted 05-23-2006 07:56 AM            

---

Just a musing, but I would have expected more local silver on the Providence Antiques Roadshow. There was none.

IP: Logged

Posts: 2132
Registered: Nov 2002

posted 05-23-2006 10:47 AM            

---

Since the Antique Road Show brings out strong urges to throw things at the tv, I don't watch it anymore. That said, it seems that ARS does not do much silver. No idea why. Maybe because it is difficult to look at a pedestrian piece and decide it really could bring $500,000 at a 'good auction'. Or maybe because you really need to be knowlegable to comment and schlep a whole lot of books with you. Snark

IP: Logged

Posts: 2920
Registered: May 2003

posted 05-23-2006 01:27 PM            

---

quote:

---

Or maybe because you really need to be knowlegable to comment and schlep a whole lot of books with you. Snark

---

Probably right. We all remember Boos' boo-boos, and I certainly remember the woman who - to her credit - correctly identified, but badly UNDERvalued a genuine Francis Richardson tankard! I'd have bought it on the spot! The British one seems to do pretty well. It may be that the American Roadshows does not attract enough quality silver to justify retaining someone of Ian Pickford's expertise level to sit around and twiddle his thumbs.

[This message has been edited by swarter (edited 05-23-2006).]

IP: Logged

Posts: 336
Registered: Jan 2005

posted 05-23-2006 07:02 PM            

---

I believe silver is thought less likely to provide the "Wow!" factor the producers seek to induce in the audience. Everyone knows silver articles have some intrinsic value and that greater beauty or rarity increases value. Silver is not found in most households (I know my ancestors (for at least 4 generations) weren't wealthy enough to afford any), so fewer audience members are apt to relate. That's why toys, paintings, pottery, furniture and memorabilia take the lion's share of time - most people have items of that nature.

[This message has been edited by salmoned (edited 05-23-2006).]

IP: Logged

Posts: 390
Registered: Nov 2005

posted 05-24-2006 01:44 AM            

---

I believe I mentioned that I took some silver to the Los Angeles roadshow. But, perhaps not the right silver. The fellow had three books with him. I brought two Boston coin silver teapots from the 1850's. If I ever get a chance to do it again I know what I'll do, I'll bring that Kinsey pitcher. While I was there there was a guy with two Paul Revere serving spoons and a Revere ladle. He was in the greenroom with me and we had to sign a release. When he signed his release he said the things were his mothers so they refused to tape him.

I saw that very elaborate English teaset and Tiffany flatware last night in RI and was surprised to see any silver at all.

[This message has been edited by outwest (edited 05-24-2006).]

IP: Logged

Posts: 1203
Registered: Feb 2005

posted 05-24-2006 02:05 PM            

---

Ouery for you Outwest.
Why did they refuse the person with his mothers stuff?
Many people have brought things there belonging to family members.
I'll see if I can find out why so little silver is shown although I agree with the fact that most people have it as compared to the other types of things.
Jersey

IP: Logged

Posts: 390
Registered: Nov 2005

posted 05-29-2006 01:04 AM            

---

The owner of the item must sign a release. Many people bring their things and their son or daughter in tow. As long as the owner is there to sign the resease they will tape the daughter or whoever. His mother was not there.

IP: Logged

Posts: 1203
Registered: Feb 2005

posted 05-29-2006 01:15 PM            

---

Hello Outwest!
Thanks for the info, good to know. I also found out that the Roadshow has about 30 major categories to deal with so they have to limit what they put on air.
Jersey

IP: Logged

Posts: 390
Registered: Nov 2005

posted 05-30-2006 12:09 AM            

---

There were about 6,000 people at the LA roadshow. So, you know that only a tiny fraction are taped.

IP: Logged

Posts: 1265
Registered: May 99

posted 05-31-2006 04:16 PM            

---

I also know first hand that the Roadshow isn't "value added" for at least one of the experts who used to, but no longer, bothers to go. No expenses are paid for anyone appearing as an expert, and unless the PR value is worth it, you don't know.

But I think your take on the appeal of toys and memorabilia versus "antiques" is probably on target. In England, where the Roadshow is usually much more fun to watch, everyone is a collector, and in America we're more typically accumulators. Present company excepted, of course. Alas for us silver freaks. I still watch it, because I'm secretly trying to turn my children into collectors.

IP: Logged

Posts: 728
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 06-01-2006 10:18 AM            

---

Apparently, Providence was a three show stop; I happened to catch part of it last night (not sure which of the 3 shows), and while they did not have "local" silver, there was someone with a set of Tiffany Chrysanthemum patttern silverware (70 pieces) and a really ornate English Victorian teaset (had sort of a Kirk feel to it). I thought the appraisals were extremely low for both sets-unusual for the Roadshow, in my opinion.

IP: Logged

Posts: 1203
Registered: Feb 2005

posted 06-01-2006 10:44 PM            

---

Doc!
I agree they were undervalued. That said, there is nothing worse than having a high evaluation & then it doesn't sell anywhere near that figure. They may have had that experience and are gun shy. Better to err on the downside, me thinks. Maybe that's why our Forum stays away from giving values. It can be very subjective, and lets face it if you love something you tend to overvalue it.
As an aside I have seen Tiffany & other items sell at "auction" for more than you can currently buy the item for if you went directly to their website or store! Some "Name Brands" seem to make people crazy & they just don't think or do their homework I guess.
Jersey

IP: Logged

Posts: 2920
Registered: May 2003

posted 06-01-2006 11:41 PM            

---

For someone who has been routinely critical of Roadshow appraisals, I have to say I thought this appraiser did a credible job - she seemsd knowledgeable and I thought accurate (alhough I didn't double check her dating). I was frankly surprised at her estimates, most probably because I expected them to be unrealisically high, and, if anything, they could have been real-world realistic. Auctions are unpredictable -- granted, things can, and sometimes do, go unrealistically high, but often they do not.
If you listen to the appraisers, they often preface their high estimates with "on a good day . . ." or "in the right auction . . . " They know a consigner would rarely ever realize that.

IP: Logged

Posts: 390
Registered: Nov 2005

posted 06-02-2006 12:37 AM            

---

This episode was on the West Coast 10 days ago. That's the tea set and tiffany silverware I was talking about earlier. The Roadshow does three episodes for each city it visits. I believe this Monday coming up will be the last RI show.

I still like the show even though it is a cattle call. I like it because seeing all the interesting things people bring in is fun. I also like the England one, but most of the items on that are not American, of course. And the English are much more reserved than the typical American.

IP: Logged

All times are ET