Russian Imperial Charger

Appraised on: August 13, 2005

Appraised in: Los Angeles, California

Appraised by: Peter Schaffer

Category: Pottery & Porcelain

Episode Info: Tasty Treasures (#1520)
Los Angeles, Hour 1 (#1007)

Originally Aired: February 20, 2006

IMAGE: 1 of 1  

Appraisal Video: (1:56)

GUEST: The plate was a gift from Vincent Bendix, who founded the Bendix Corporation. My grandfather worked for the Bendix Corporation for 35 years. They lived next door to Vincent Bendix. Of course, his estate was an entire city block. My grandparents were in a conventional suburban home. This was in South Bend, Indiana. And when Bendix went bankrupt, he gave away a lot of the things that he had collected to people who he was close with and wanted to reward, and this plate was, I believe, one of two, the other plate being given to another business associate. And I really don't know anything about it, except that I believe that's the Romanov seal in the center of the plate.

APPRAISER: It is the Romanov seal. It's called a charger. It's made by the Popov Porcelain Factory-- Alexander Popov. The whole purpose of it was a presentation piece. This is maybe only the fourth one that I have ever seen of this type. Do you have any idea what its value might be?

GUEST: I assumed it was just a fine piece of porcelain that was maybe worth a couple thousand dollars.

APPRAISER: I think you're a little bit short, and I think you'd be a little bit short if you added a zero to your $2,000.

GUEST: Oh, my gosh.

APPRAISER: I think a fair retail value in today's market is $65,000.

GUEST: Whoa...

APPRAISER: It's really a remarkable piece, extremely rare, and especially with the Russian market being so hot, it's very much sought after.

GUEST: Wow. I... I had no idea.