Antiques Roadshow

APPRAISER

Well, this is an artist who's got a very strong connection with Pennsylvania and is one of a group of artists who are amongst the hottest collecting areas in American paintings just now, the Pennsylvania Impressionists, who were based around the area of New Hope.

GUEST

Uh-huh.

APPRAISER

Walter Emerson Baum, he was born in Sellersville in Pennsylvania. And I think you had one or two questions.

GUEST

I just was wondering what makes a painting more valuable than another painting.

APPRAISER

Right. Right. I should point out first of all, we've got the little signature here. But he's also been good enough to... sign it in the back here. And what helps-- to answer your question-- is the fact that we know where it is now, it's a farm in Center Valley. And people like to know-- particularly collectors of this work-- where it's located.

GUEST

The Center Valley in Pennsylvania?

APPRAISER

Yeah, absolutely. And the other thing that helps this painting along is the fact that it's a snow scene. Because they tend to be the most coveted paintings by Walter Emerson Baum. The thing to remember with him is that he was one of the most prolific of the Pennsylvania Impressionists.

GUEST

So he's painted a lot of...

APPRAISER

Oh yeah. Now, that can be a bit of a problem. Because he was also very variable. And when you have artists who are prolific and variable, it can quite often lead to fakes. Now, don't look so worried because there's no problem with this one, it's a very nice bona fide Baum painting. And Baum certainly has a lot going for him at the moment. And this is a nice little jewel-like one. It's quite small. Mm-hmm. But it's going to clean up beautifully. It's actually quite dirty. I don't know if you noticed that.

GUEST

No, I didn't.

APPRAISER

It's not a personal criticism of housekeeping or anything like that, but over a period of time... Well, I'm sure it hasn't been cleaned in... 20 or 30 years.

GUEST

It hasn't, yeah.

APPRAISER

If you're thinking of holding onto it, then I would advise you to have it cleaned. But if it's something you're thinking of selling, you're actually better to leave it in the condition that it's in and let someone else take that on.

GUEST

Uh huh.

APPRAISER

It's got all the ingredients that a collector of Baum would want to see. I would expect it to fetch, I think comfortably $4,000 to $6,000.

GUEST

Wow. Wow.

APPRAISER

Particularly in the current market, they're very, very sought after.

GUEST

Boy, that's... that's quite a bit of money.

APPRAISER

You're surprised at that.

GUEST

Yes.

APPRAISER

But you mentioned you had other... you're not so keen on this one, is that right?

GUEST

Well, I do, I like it. I think the thing that I don't like about it is the framing. If I were to get it reframed, I mean would that be okay or would that take away the value or should I leave it in this frame?

APPRAISER

You know, I am inclined, I always recommend that you try and keep the original frame where possible. I think it's nice to do that.

GUEST

Well, I'll learn to love it the way it looks.

APPRAISER

Absolutely.