Bronze Birdbath, ca. 1890

Appraised on: July 12, 2003

Appraised in: Savannah, Georgia

Appraised by: Lawrence DuMouchelle

Category: Metalwork & Sculpture

Episode Info: Savannah, Hour 3 (#812)

Originally Aired: April 12, 2004

IMAGE: 1 of 2  

Appraisal Video: (1:54)

GUEST: This piece was bought in an antique store in Atlanta. We had department stores in Atlanta which was Rich's and Davison-Paxon.

APPRAISER: I see.

GUEST: Each one had an antique department. It was bought by my father and given in memory of my grandfather to a church in Atlanta. I used it in the baptistery for flower arrangements.

APPRAISER: Uh-huh.

GUEST: Then I got married and left the church, they said they were not using it anymore; if I wanted it, I was welcome to it. So they give it back to me.

APPRAISER: So it came back to you?

GUEST: Yes, sir.

APPRAISER: Well, it's a birdbath.

GUEST: Yes, sir.

APPRAISER: It's quite a piece, and, um... Is there anything else that you know about it?

GUEST: Uh... it's bronze. I assumed that it was an Italian piece.

APPRAISER: Yeah. Well, I believe that it's definitely an Italian piece and probably around 100 years old, circa 1890. And, uh... these were made for homes and probably for castles in Europe.

GUEST: Yes, used in the garden.

APPRAISER: Used in the formal gardens. And you haven't used it as a garden piece?

GUEST: No, I do not. It stays in the foyer of my house with a flower arrangement in there.

APPRAISER: I think the unusual part of this are the rams' heads, and then the paw feet. And, of course, that snake in the center there is really an unusual item.

GUEST: Yes. That snake weighs at least 75 to 80 pounds.

APPRAISER: Oh, well, I'm sure it does. There's a lot of work that's along the columns here and along the snake, and also along the edge of the bowl there's quite a bit of work. In my opinion, it's probably in the $4,000 to $6,000 area. But it's really quite a piece.

GUEST: Thank you, I've really enjoyed it.