Maria Koogle Schoolgirl Needlework, ca. 1817

Appraised on: July 25, 2009

Appraised in: Denver, Colorado

Appraised by: Allan Katz

Category: Folk Art

Episode Info: Denver, Hour 2 (#1411)

Originally Aired: April 5, 2010

IMAGE: 1 of 2  

Appraisal Video: (48:20)

GUEST: I inherited this needlework from my mother. It was actually done by my great-great-grandmother, who was from Ohio. And it was subsequently passed down through the family to me.

APPRAISER: And we know that she was born in 1803.

GUEST: Correct.

APPRAISER: And the family history says that she was about 14 years old when she made this.

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: So we're dating this to 1817.

GUEST: 1817.

APPRAISER: And it is a schoolgirl needlework. And it really has an extraordinary composition. And this one has some very, very special features. It's silk thread on a silk background.

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER:Looking at the piece, we see tremendous affluence. And it may not be too hard to believe that she possibly attended school on the East Coast at that time of her life. But more research needs to be done about that.

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: And each of the women are wearing a different costume.

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: And they're displaying the styles of the day that were worn between 1800 and, let's say, 1825. The color of this is so extraordinary. The blues are totally rich, the sky. And typically what we have found with pieces such as this, that scene in the background

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: of the town and the faces might have been done in a wash watercolor by the teacher. Now, have you ever had the piece appraised?

GUEST: After my mother passed away, somebody who came to the house who was an antique dealer in Phoenix did offer me first $3,000, and later when she came back she offered me $6,000 for it.

APPRAISER: I would put a market value on this piece of around $40,000 to $50,000.

GUEST: Oh, my. (laughing) Now, for insurance purposes?

APPRAISER: For insurance purposes I would go $50,000 to $70,000.

GUEST: Oh my, okay.