• 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 | RECUT: Bonanzaville, Part 1

Watch | RECUT: Bonanzaville, Part 1

Watch | Newport, Hour 2

Watch | Newport, Hour 2

Watch | Newport, Hour 3

Watch | Newport, Hour 3

    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 |  Dexter Gordon: Bebop to Copenhagen

Article | Dexter Gordon: Bebop to Copenhagen

Article | Burmese Gems: Legal Again

Article | Burmese Gems: Legal Again

Article | Cigar Store Indians: Trading on Stereotypes

Article | Cigar Store Indians: Trading on Stereotypes

  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

Victorian Baby Carriage, ca. 1870

Value (2016) | $1,500 Insurance
Watch  

GUEST:
I brought what I believe to be a child's carriage or pram. I purchased this from a farmer in my hometown a couple years ago, and I love old things, unique things, fell in love with it, and it sits in the corner of my living room.

APPRAISER:
All right. This is made about 1870 or so.

GUEST:
Okay.

APPRAISER:
It's made probably in New England. There was a company called Joel Ellis, who made doll carriages and, to a lesser extent, baby carriages. They were in Springfield, Vermont. And this has a lot of elements that would relate it to especially doll carriages made by Joel Ellis.

GUEST:
It wasn't for dolls, I mean...

APPRAISER:
It wasn't for dolls. It's too big. A doll's carriage tends to be maybe a third this size. This is a baby carriage, and what's remarkable about it is the condition that it's in. The leather top is likely the original one, the tasseling is all original. The upholstery on the backrest and the seat is probably an early replacement, but probably from the late 19th century still. The best part about it is the decoration. It's painted by what would be generally termed a decorative painter. He would do Victorian flourishes and things like that. This is the kind of item that would get a great deal of use and would tend to be subjected to a great deal of wear. And even in some of the places where the wear is most, you still see some of the painted decoration, which is really remarkable. You said you bought it from a local farmer; what did you pay?

GUEST:
$175.

APPRAISER:
I think that because of the condition that it's in, I would place the value for insurance of $1,500.

GUEST:
Wow. That's wonderful.

APPRAISER:
It's one of the best ones we've seen.

GUEST:
That's wonderful.

Support provided by: Learn more

Appraisal Details

Appraiser
Christopher Barber
Decorative Arts, Folk Art, Furniture
Skinner, Inc.
Appraised value (2016)
$1,500 Insurance
Featured In
Indianapolis, Hour 1 (#2104)
Event
Indianapolis, IN (July 09, 2016)
Category
Furniture
Period
Victorian
Form
Vehicle
Material
Leather , Wood

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!