Antiques Roadshow

GUEST: This piece here was given to me by my best friend and his brother.

When their parents passed away, they knew I always had liked it, and so they asked me if I would like it.

They said it belonged in my house.

I think they paid $1,500 for it.

They didn't know anything about it.

So in my attempt to find out, I took a, uh, paper with a charcoal carbon, so I could make out the signature and the name at the bottom, and then found out it was done by Del Panta in the 1800s.

I just love her.

The little doll dressed in the same outfit she is, the-the wrinkles in her stocking and that... It's a beautiful piece.

APPRAISER: You know, it really is a beautiful piece, and, uh, one of the things that really got our attention right away was where the artist signed it.

So right at the little girl's feet it almost looks like there's a calling card that has fallen to the ground.

APPRAISER: It also says "Firenze," which is Florence.

GUEST: Uh-huh.

APPRAISER: And it's dated.

Most likely made of Carrara marble.

GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: Which was sort of the finest quality marble.

And during this timeframe, in Florence and in Rome, you had artists' studios who were working on these wonderful marble figures.

And it's interesting, some artists at the end of the 19th century considered it inferior to actually touch the work.

GUEST: Oh, wow.

APPRAISER: So, in some cases, the artist's hands never touched the sculpture, and it was a workshop of highly skilled artisans and craftsmen who were making these.

She is wearing this beautiful feathered hat, and so is the little baby girl as well.

The title is Colazione, which is Italian for "breakfast."

GUEST: Oh, okay.

APPRAISER: So she's here, she's having breakfast, she's got her favorite doll dressed in the same outfit.

It really is absolutely beautiful.

GUEST: Oh, thank you.

APPRAISER: Uh, the detail of the craftsmanship is really wonderful.

The hands-- also the hands of the doll.

Moving down the feet, uh, as well as her feet, the whole thing.

APPRAISER: The buttons and the ruffles in her dress.

And even at the base with the scrolling and the foliate scrolls.

It's just really wonderful.

One thing that I wanted to point out to you is I'm sure you can see that there's almost this sort of what we call a sugary or a crystalline surface to it.

APPRAISER: That's indicative of having it cleaned and maybe just a little bit overcleaned.

GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: You want mu-- a much smoother, warmer surface to it.

Okay.

But still, that's a minor issue.

I'll give it a quick spin... GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: ...so we can just see the quality goes all the way around.

Even on the back of, uh, her dress, it's just wonderful.

And the way that her hair falls.

GUEST: And the-the lace of the petticoat, I mean, it looks like real lace.

APPRAISER: Oh, it's absolutely beautiful.

APPRAISER: What's interesting is the artist is sort of secondary to the quality of the piece.

We know it was made in Florence in a wonderful workshop, but it's really the quality of the, the subject matter, and the carving, and the size, she's wonderful.

If I were to see this come up for auction today, I believe it would sell for between $12,000 and $18,000.

GUEST: Oh really, okay.

Wow, that's great.

She's a pretty girl.

Very happy, very well-pleased.

APPRAISER: For insurance purposes, you're probably looking closer to $25,000.

GUEST: Okay, all right.

Wow.

(laughs)