• Connect with us
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  • Our Sponsors

Discovering America’s Hidden Treasures ™
On Tour
Watch
Special Features
Appraisals Archive 
Appraisers 
 Shop
    Quick links
  • Learn more about ROADSHOW's 2022 Tour
  • 2022 Tour Complete Rules
  • 2022 Tour FAQs
  • Nashville, TN — May 10
  • Boise, ID — May 31
  • Santa Fe, NM — June 14
  • Woodside, CA — June 22
  • Shelburne, VT — July 12
On Tour

On Tour

Things We Commonly See at ROADSHOW

Things We Commonly See at ROADSHOW

FAQs

FAQs

    Quick links
  • Watch Episodes Online
  • TV Schedule
  • Best Moments of Season 25
  • Best Moments of Season 24
  • Best Moments of Season 23
  • Best Moments of Season 22
  • Cities from Past Seasons
  • About Executive Producer Marsha Bemko
  • Roadshow's Editorial Policy
Watch | Meadow Brook Hall, Hour 1

Watch | Meadow Brook Hall, Hour 1

Watch | RECUT: Bonanzaville, Part 1

Watch | RECUT: Bonanzaville, Part 1

Watch | Newport, Hour 2

Watch | Newport, Hour 2

    Quick links
  • Detours Podcast
  • Video "RoadShorts"
  • Roadshow Topics — Endangered Species
  • Roadshow Topics — Sports Appraisals
  • Roadshow Topics — Best Moments
  • Roadshow Topics — Staff Picks
  • For Teachers
  • AR "Extras" Newsletter Sign-up
Article | Understanding Rosewood Regulations

Article | Understanding Rosewood Regulations

Related | 1907 Pair of Mettlach Plaques

Related | 1907 Pair of Mettlach Plaques

Slideshow | Behind the Scenes of ROADSHOW's Season 23 Production Tour

Slideshow | Behind the Scenes of ROADSHOW's Season 23 Production Tour

  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

Art Nouveau Jewelry Box, ca. 1900

Value (2014) | $3,000 Auction – $5,000 Auction
Watch  

GUEST:
It's a jewelry box. It was inherited by my daughter. She was ten when her stepmother Sherri died, and about five years later, her dad decided that my daughter should get her stepmother's jewelry box, which we had admired and loved. The only thing I know about it is what Sherri told me, which was that it was a gift to her grandmother. When she and her husband lived in a houseboat on the Yangtze River in China in the early part of the 20th century, her husband worked for a trading company, so they had a lot of guests that came and went from their houseboat, and somebody gave this to her, and that's really all I know about it, and I've wondered for 35 years, where was it made.

APPRAISER:
We know right away this isn't Chinese. The background material is burled walnut, and this is brass. It's done in an Art Nouveau style. We believe it's from the Art Nouveau period, anywhere from 1890 to about 1910. We know that it was made in Austria, so it traveled from Austria to your relative in China, and now out to California. Despite all those weather changes, the condition is fabulous. Oftentimes, with this type of intricate inlay, we see lifting, we see separations. One of the interesting things about this object is the stories in these vignetted panels here. We have Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on the front. Turn it around this way, we have a number of other Grimm fairy tales: Hansel and Gretel in the corner, Puss in Boots in the other corner, we have the Six Swans in the middle, and others. The work on it is spectacular. If we open it up, we can see inside, it's fitted. It is a jewelry box. It's in really, really beautiful condition. It's a phenomenal piece. The artistry and the work on it couldn't be better. It's one of the finest examples of this type of work that we've seen. At auction, we believe it would fetch between $3,000 and $5,000.

GUEST:
Wow! Oh, amazing.

APPRAISER:
It is amazing.

GUEST:
I've known it was a special box. I would just love to know who gave it to Sherri's great-grandmother.

APPRAISER:
Well, the box knows, and that'll have to do for now.

GUEST:
That's true.

Support provided by: Learn more

Appraisal Details

Appraiser
Kelly Wright
Decorative Arts, Silver
Appraised value (2014)
$3,000 Auction – $5,000 Auction
Featured In
Santa Clara, Hour 2 (#1914)
Event
Santa Clara, CA (June 07, 2014)
Category
Decorative Arts
Period
19th Century , 20th Century
Form
Box
Material
Brass , Walnut

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.

More from PBS

Benjamin Franklin

Get to know one of the 18th century's most influential figures.

Now Hear This | Great Performances

Discover the secret histories of some of the greatest music ever written.

Putin's Road to War

Explore what led to Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine.

"I know there's a lot of envious people hearing that story..." Antiques Roadshow on Facebook

What’s inside the case?

@RoadshowPBS on Instagram

William Austin Burt patented the U.S.'s first "typographer” on July 23 in 1829. 110 year later came this "The Gold Royal" typewriter… @RoadshowPBS

We're soaking up the story behind this @LeslieKeno appraisal! #antiquesroadshow @RoadshowPBS

  • Connect with us
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  • ABOUT ROADSHOW
  • Schedule
  • Contact Us
  • Credits
  • Press
  • For Teachers
  • Telephone Scam Warning
  • Roadshow Imitators Warning
  • Doing Business with Appraisers
  • Our Sponsors
  • Our Funders
  • Corporate Sponsorship

Funding for ANTIQUES ROADSHOW is provided by Ancestry, and American Cruise Lines. Additional funding is provided by public television viewers.

Produced By

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW is a trademark of the BBC and is produced for PBS by GBH under license from BBC, Worldwide. PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. ©1997 – 2022 WGBH Educational Foundation.

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Policy
  • Copyright
Subscribe Hide  ×

A weekly collection of previews, videos, articles, interviews, and more!