Antiques Roadshow

GUEST: When my son was five, which is longer ago than I want to admit, but about 25 years ago, um, I sent it to school with him for show and tell for kindergarten, along with another basket that I have.

Was a little careless with it.

And it wasn't until a few years later that I learned it had some value.

APPRAISER: How did you acquire the pot?

GUEST: My grandfather moved to Colorado in the late '30s, and he acquired it out there.

And I don't think anyone in the family knew anything about it, except just that we thought it was a, a pretty pot and perhaps looked nice with plants in it at one time.

APPRAISER: Well, luckily, you didn't put plants in it.

One of the most important features on a pot like this is the fact that it's what we call black-on-black pottery.

Uh, the very shiny gunmetal design or gunmetal finish is characteristic of a type of pottery that was produced in San Ildefonso, still being produced today.

If you'd have put water in the pot or had plants in it, uh, eventually it would cause the, the finish to start to flake and peel off.

GUEST: It would.

APPRAISER: And it would have really hurt the value of the pot.

This particular pot has a signature on it, and the signature on this pot's what makes all the difference.

The signature is "Marie."

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: And she also spelled her name "Maria."

But, uh, in this particular case, Marie is the way she signed it, generally in earlier periods...

GUEST: Oh, okay.

APPRAISER: ...than, than when she signed it as Maria later.

And this was Maria Martinez.

She was probably the most famous potter of the San Ildefonso Pueblo.

And her pottery is very highly sought-after today and very collectible.

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: And luckily, your piece is in pretty good condition, considering that your kindergartener...

GUEST: (laughs): Considering kindergarteners, okay.

APPRAISER: ...taken it, took it to, uh, kindergarten, yes.

Um, do you have any idea what the piece is worth?

Or have you had it...

GUEST: I have guessed maybe $1,000, but I have no idea, really.

APPRAISER: Well, this size pot, by, perhaps, a lesser-known artist, would be in that range.

However, with Maria's work, you could expect to probably triple that.

This pot should be worth about $3,000 today on the market.

GUEST: That's nice.

(laughs)