Antiques Roadshow

GUEST

I purchased it at an auction sale, farm auction.

APPRAISER

Okay. About ten years ago.

GUEST

That's about all I can tell you.

APPRAISER

And how much did you pay for it at the auction?

GUEST

I'm thinking about $30, no more than $40. I'm pretty cheap.

APPRAISER

What attracted you to it? Why did you buy it?

GUEST

I just kind of liked the lines. I'm more of an Arts and Crafts furniture kind of guy, but it just kind of had a certain appeal to me.

APPRAISER

It's a mahogany center table, and it was used in the center of a room just for a decorative piece of furniture. It's an Edwardian table made in the George III style. It's an early 20th century reproduction of a late 18th century style, and it has all the neoclassical elements in it. It is inlaid, inlaid pottery in the center. These neoclassical swags with the bellflowers. Then you have more of the ribbons and the swags, and then it comes out to this wonderful cross banding right here. And then you go down to the skirt, and even the skirt is cross banded with satinwood. And then you have string inlay in ebony up here. Then you go down to the legs and you've got this very delicate fine string inlay, and this is very difficult to do, and it's also all the way around, it's not just the front. And also, it has its full height. These feet haven't lost any height. It's got very delicate legs. It's just a very delicate little table.

GUEST

So what year would it have been made?

APPRAISER

Probably between 1900 and 1915. Would it have been made by a well-known manufacturer? I don't know the manufacturer, but it is very high style and high quality, so it was made in England by a very good furniture manufacturer.

GUEST

Oh, it was made in England then?

APPRAISER

Yes, it's definitely English.

GUEST

Okay.

APPRAISER

And it's in pretty good condition. So what do you think it's worth?

GUEST

Well, since I'm on the program, I'm thinking at least over $100.

APPRAISER

(laughing) At least over $100.

GUEST

Anything more than $30, what I paid for it, would be a blessing.

APPRAISER

At auction, it would probably be in the $800 to $1,200 range for an estimate.

GUEST

That's nice to hear!