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Bohemian Glass Decanter & Stem Set, ca. 1880

Value (2020) | $3,000 Insurance – $4,000 Insurance
Watch  

GUEST:
I got it about 30 years ago. There was an elderly gentleman that lived in San Jacinto, and he had an antique shop. And he didn't have a family, and he just kind of adopted me. And the very best of what he had, that he thought was his best, he wanted me to have.

APPRAISER:
Well, it's probably Baccarat glass, but in order to prove that, we would have to see the line drawings. It also leans towards a nice Bohemian glass. Either way, values and styles are pretty much the same. And this is all heavy giltwork, along with heavy enameling. It's all matching, the just perfect condition. You have a handled decanter and a stoppered decanter. And if you notice, you have two different stopped tops.

GUEST:
Right.

APPRAISER:
That's so when they're out of the bottle, you could remember which one goes in which.

GUEST:
Oh.

APPRAISER:
Now, generally, these come in a huge set. Do you have more?

GUEST:
Yes. Originally, I had 27 pieces. My husband was helping me one day before a party, and he knocked a glass shelf out.

APPRAISER:
Oops!

GUEST:
And nine of them broke.

APPRAISER:
Oops!

GUEST:
Yeah, oops.

APPRAISER:
So...

GUEST:
Maybe I shouldn't know how big... (both laugh)

APPRAISER:
Well, these were made in about 1870s, 1880s, and again, I would lean towards Baccarat. And since I can't see the other pieces that are available...

GUEST:
Yes.

APPRAISER:
The pieces that are here on the table, for insurance, would be in the $4,500 to $5,000 range.

GUEST:
Ooh! (laughs)

APPRAISER:
So I hope the "oops" wasn't...

GUEST:
Yeah. (laughs) Well, he's an antique, too, so I have to keep him. APPRAISER (laughs): That's great. Cherish what you have left.

GUEST:
And keep my husband away from it.

APPRAISER:
Well, just make sure he uses all the bubble wrap.

GUEST:
Yeah, there you go. Well, that's, that's wonderful.

Support provided by: Learn more

Appraisal Details

Appraiser
Kathleen Bailey
Glass, Pottery & Porcelain, Silver
None
Seattle, WA
Update (2020)
$3,000 Insurance – $4,000 Insurance
Appraised value (2005)
$4,500 Insurance – $5,000 Insurance
Featured In
Los Angeles, Hour 3 (#1009)
Vintage Los Angeles 2020 (#2421)
Event
Los Angeles, CA (August 13, 2005)
Category
Glass
Period
19th Century
Form
Decanter
Material
Gilt , Glass

Executive producer Marsha Bemko shares her tips for getting the most out of ANTIQUES ROADSHOW.

Value can change: The value of an item is dependent upon many things, including the condition of the object itself, trends in the market for that kind of object, and the location where the item will be sold. These are just some of the reasons why the answer to the question "What's it worth?" is so often "It depends."

Note the date: Take note of the date the appraisal was recorded. This information appears in the upper left corner of the page, with the label "Appraised On." Values change over time according to market forces, so the current value of the item could be higher, lower, or the same as when our expert first appraised it.

Context is key: Listen carefully. Most of our experts will give appraisal values in context. For example, you'll often hear them say what an item is worth "at auction," or "retail," or "for insurance purposes" (replacement value). Retail prices are different from wholesale prices. Often an auctioneer will talk about what she knows best: the auction market. A shop owner will usually talk about what he knows best: the retail price he'd place on the object in his shop. And though there are no hard and fast rules, an object's auction price can often be half its retail value; yet for other objects, an auction price could be higher than retail. As a rule, however, retail and insurance/replacement values are about the same.

Verbal approximations: The values given by the experts on ANTIQUES ROADSHOW are considered "verbal approximations of value." Technically, an "appraisal" is a legal document, generally for insurance purposes, written by a qualified expert and paid for by the owner of the item. An appraisal usually involves an extensive amount of research to establish authenticity, provenance, composition, method of construction, and other important attributes of a particular object.

Opinion of value: As with all appraisals, the verbal approximations of value given at ROADSHOW events are our experts' opinions formed from their knowledge of antiques and collectibles, market trends, and other factors. Although our valuations are based on research and experience, opinions can, and sometimes do, vary among experts.

Appraiser affiliations: Finally, the affiliation of the appraiser may have changed since the appraisal was recorded. To see current contact information for an appraiser in the ROADSHOW Archive, click on the link below the appraiser's picture. Our Appraiser Index also contains a complete list of active ROADSHOW appraisers and their contact details and biographies.

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