Antiques Roadshow

GUEST

I know that it's got some age to it. It's very unique, I've never seen anything like it, and I figure there's got to be some kind of story behind it.

APPRAISER

Okay, and how did you get it?

GUEST

It was given to me by my mother. She was given this chair as a gift from an elderly black woman that she used to help out and pay bills for and run errands. And as the story goes, it was given to this woman by her grandfather, and the grandfather received it from his master-he was a slave. And it was passed down, and then transferred to my family.

APPRAISER

Rocking chairs are probably the most common furniture form to come into the ROADSHOW, and probably the least form featured on the ROADSHOW.

GUEST

Wow.

APPRAISER

And in part because rocking chairs typically are kept by family members, there's lots of them. So the supply and demand factor does come into them. So why did we pick this one? It's got some pop, it's got some pizzazz, it's got something that makes it look different than your typical chair.

GUEST

Absolutely.

APPRAISER

And also, like some stories and legends go, yours isn't as accurate. It doesn't take us back quite as far as history would say.

GUEST

Oh, oh, okay.

APPRAISER

So this is a typical American chair. It's a production piece of furniture, meaning it was made in a factory. Okay. Probably Midwest or East Coast. It was done stylistically in the 1880s, and we know that by this aesthetic movement, these motifs that are popular in the late 19th century. So these wonderful kind of explosive little medallions that center the back, I think, are probably the most appealing thing about this chair. Then the carved leaf forms on the arms, and you just notice this is just a little bit different. We got this great S curve on the back, and sweeping arms. It makes for an attractive chair.

GUEST

Absolutely.

APPRAISER

Not terribly expensive, however.

GUEST

Not surprising. (laughs)

APPRAISER

So American oak, late 19th century. In terms of value, probably around $300 to $500 at auction today.

GUEST

Fair.

APPRAISER

Thanks for coming in.

GUEST

Absolutely, thank you.