Moravian Green Fish Flask, ca. 1810

Appraised on: August 14, 2004

Appraised in: Reno, Nevada

Appraised by: J. Garrison Stradling

Category: Pottery & Porcelain

Episode Info: Big & Little (#1320)
Wild Things (#916)
Reno, Hour 1 (#910)

Originally Aired: March 28, 2005

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Appraisal Video: (-1:55:10)

GUEST: I found it in the shed in a box. It had this little note tied to it which was from this woman, who was my husband's great-great-great-grandmother. In the note she says she's had it 86 years, I think, at that point, and she gave it to him in 1889.

APPRAISER: This is a very early piece of American ceramics.

GUEST: Really?

APPRAISER: It's made by the Moravian potters of Old Salem, North Carolina. Wow. Now, this is a press-molded little flask. And they are very, very highly collected these days. This, though, is about the smallest I have ever seen.

GUEST: Really?

APPRAISER: I mean, this is for someone who couldn't take much whiskey.

GUEST: (chuckling) Yeah.

APPRAISER: Now, as to a value, get ready.

GUEST: Oh, no.

APPRAISER: $27,000 to $30,000.

GUEST: Oh, my gosh. Oh, gee.

APPRAISER: How does that strike you?

GUEST: Pretty amazing.