Antiques Roadshow

GUEST

I have admired this little basket at my mother-in-law's house for many years and once saw something about one similar in the paper and thought maybe it would be a good item to bring down to see what its value is.

APPRAISER

And what did they say in the paper about the basket similar to yours?

GUEST

Well, I think it said it might be worth, like, $2,000.

APPRAISER

What you have here is a leather hand-embossed basket. It's called a key basket. And they're very typical for Southern states. These are very typical around the 1850s. And for that time, this basket's in very good condition. You'll see all the embossed figures, hearts and stars that are very typical American. And on one side, there was also the initials "C.W.," which is probably a family member. It's got embossing on the bottom, too, which is quite lovely. And these were kept in Colonial homes to keep their keys in it. Have you got any value in mind for this?

GUEST

Just from seeing that little photograph in that article in the paper, you know, maybe $2,000.

APPRAISER

Well, I have to tell you, there was an auction in the last two years up in Charlottesville, Virginia, and one of these baskets sold for quite a high amount. It was $30,000.

GUEST

No!

APPRAISER

And we think that this definitely is worth $20,000 to $30,000.

GUEST

Oh, I will take better care of it.