Mahogany Knife Box, ca. 1800
Appraised Value:
$5,000 - $8,000
IMAGE: 1 of 2
Update 11.14.2011:
We contacted appraiser John Hays for an updated appraisal of this object in today's market.
• Current Appraised Value: $5,000 - $8,000 (Unchanged)
Appraisal Video: (1:00)
Appraised By:
John Hays
Decorative Arts, Folk Art, Furniture, Paintings & Drawings, Silver
Deputy Chairman
Christie's
Appraisal Transcript:
GUEST: This box was a piece that I inherited. My grandparents were originally from Boston, and it's from a pair.
APPRAISER: Federal sideboards in America had these boxes that were made for them in which to hold your cutlery. What's so exciting about your box is that you said it's one of a pair. And then this one is even rarer, because it's American. The secondary wood is North American white pine, and if you look along the base, you see this sawtooth inlay decoration which is very typical of Boston, which is where you said your family came from. This single knife box, by itself, would be worth $5,000 to $8,000, but a pair would bring $20,000 to $30,000.
GUEST: Oh... (laughing) Where's a Kleenex? Oh, my God.
This website is produced for PBS Online by WGBH Boston.
©1997-2013 WGBH Educational Foundation.
ANTIQUES ROADSHOW is a trademark of the BBC and is produced for PBS by WGBH under license from BBC Worldwide.
WGBH and PBS are not responsible for the content of websites linked to or from ANTIQUES ROADSHOW Online.
PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
