E.M. White Company Salesman's Sample Canoe, ca. 1900

Appraised on: July 25, 2009

Appraised in: Denver, Colorado

Appraised by: Marybeth Keene

Category: Decorative Arts

Episode Info: Denver, Hour 3 (#1412)

Originally Aired: April 12, 2010

IMAGE: 1 of 3  

Appraisal Video: (2:06)

GUEST: I think I've had it for about a year. And I got it at a consignment store in Basalt, Colorado. And I asked the owners what they knew about it. And they bought it at an estate sale in Aspen. I think people were just redecorating.

APPRAISER: And what did you pay for it, can I ask you?

GUEST: I think I paid $75.

APPRAISER: Do you know what it is?

GUEST: I would assume it was some sort of advertising piece or promotion piece. I don't know.

APPRAISER: Well, it is a true salesman sample. And they were in stores that sold sporting goods. And this is what you would order your big canoe from. The E.M. White Company was started in about 1888 in Old Town, Maine, and in the 1980s was sold to the Old Town Canoe Company. But this particular piece was probably made between 1890 and 1920. You can see right along the side, where they have their name on it. But it's beautifully made. It's commercially made, but it's absolutely fantastic. And let's look at the inside. This is so beautiful. It's made of walnut. There's a wonderful brass rib that comes along here. These were really top-of-the-line canoes. Salesman samples are pretty rare, and a lot of people think they have salesman samples, but this is really nice, because it really is a salesman sample. This, probably, in a retail situation, would be between $5,000 and $7,000. Now, this has condition problems, as you can see-- the paint chipping. If this were in mint condition, probably $15,000. But I wouldn't restore the paint at all.

GUEST: No.

APPRAISER: I would just not put it in sunlight, and just love it the way it is.

GUEST: We do.