Will they cash in on treasure...
or cash out on trash?
Have you ever wondered where the pickers watch the auctions? They're on a set, built in one of WGBH’s Brighton, Massachusetts studios. The MARKET WARRIORS studio set is the creation of Set Designer Amy Whitten and Set Decorator Michael Cataldo. This set might look like a cluttered auction house, but every item is placed with meaningful attention to detail.
Southern antique stoneware is highly sought after and prized by collectors. There are many different features that collectors look for, such as the maker, the region, as well as certain pieces such as jugs, bowls, pitchers or face jugs.
Catawba Valley pottery, made in the Catawba River Valley of Western North Carolina, is a seminal place for Southern pottery. German immigrants and German-American descendants settled in the Catawba Valley in the late 18th century as farmers, and they brought their pottery-making tradition with them. Face jugs are some of the most unique and popular pieces of southern pottery, and their history extends back to slaves who made such pottery in the Edgefield region of South Carolina.
Burlon B. Craig of Vale, North Carolina, was one of the last of the North Carolina potters to work in alkaline glaze. The advent of refrigeration and mass production nearly ended the centuries-old pottery tradition. Craig is credited with revitalizing Catawba Valley pottery.
In Antiquing in Liberty, NC, Miller looks at a piece by Burlon B. Craig, a well-known and popular potter in North Carolina. Miller expressed concern that this pot might not sell well outside the state, but convinced herself that, since the auction was in Virginia, it was still in the same regional market, the South.
How important are regional differences when buying and selling antiques? What does this mean for your treasure hunting? Some items go for high prices, no matter where you are, due to scarcity and demand. Other objects have specific regional appeal. We spoke with Ken Farmer, of Quinn & Farmer Auctions , and here's what he had to say:
The Internet has changed the rules about regionalism. Regional differences are a lot less important now than they were 15 or 20 years ago. We now can sell some pretty obscure stuff to people from all over the world.
In one of the booths at the Liberty Antiques Festival in Liberty, NC, Miller Gaffney stopped to take a look at a painting of cotton. The artist, Mose Tolliver (1920-2006), commonly known as Mose T, was a self-taught American folk painter from Alabama, whose style and use of house paints and salvaged objects gave his paintings a distinct look. In his lifetime, Mose T was celebrated as an "Outsider Artist" and his paintings can be seen in museums throughout the United States.
In 2002, a guest brought a Mose T painting to the ANTIQUES ROADSHOW event in Hot Springs, Arkansas and had it appraised by Paintings & Drawings expert Colleene Fesko. Take a look to learn more about Mose T and find out how much this painting is worth!
We put your picking skills to the test in an online poll by asking you which item you think would make the most profit at auction. How did our viewers do? Kevin Bruneau's carved sandalwood box came in dead last in the poll with just 6% of the vote, but Kevin nearly tripled his money at Ken Farmer Auctions, making this the most profitable item of the night!
Take a look at the full poll results below, and watch Antiquing in Rochester, MN to see how the rest of items measured up!
In Rochester, MN, the pickers were tasked with naming the principle design motif often used in Rococo ornamentation in the bonus round.
What is Rococo? Rococo refers to an artistic movement that began in the early 1700s. Defining Rococo might land you on rocky terrain, but the word Rococo can be broken into parts and mined for clues. The French word, rocaille , literally refers to stone debris, and is associated with rock and shell ornamentation. Another French word, coquilles, translates to shells. The origins of the name Rococo underscore the strong association between the movement and the shell motif.
The ornate Rococo style influenced several art forms, including painting, music, sculpture, and literature. Furniture-makers and other craftspeople also made Rococo pieces. Design motifs include elements mentioned by our pickers in the bonus round, such as acanthus leaves and romantic figures. In fact, romance imbues many Rococo works with levity and playfulness.
Detecting faux from authentic French antiques can be quite challenging, as there are many beautiful reproductions on the marketplace.
Antiques frequently have been repaired or have parts replaced, and so will not have the perfection found in new factory furniture. When you find an authentic piece that you j’adore, you can overlook the defects — provided that the antique is authentic to the period and an outstanding example. Here's advice to help you in your search:
The presence of nails and screws in antique French furniture should arouse suspicion, as none were used in the construction of the period. Furniture at that time was doweled and edges dovetailed. Nails or screws might indicate that a piece has been repaired.
Examine pieces from every angle as well as the insides, backs, and upside down. Antiques have a sense of smoothness that cannot be reproduced.
