Antiques Roadshow

GUEST

What I brought in was a Sam Gilliam. It's titled "Nile." Sam Gilliam is an African American artist based out of Washington, D.C. My father purchased it. He has purchased previous Gilliams. Unfortunately, they got burned up in a fire, so he lost all of them except for "Nile" and one other piece.

APPRAISER

Ah, so, and, and how much did he pay for it? Do you remember?

GUEST

He thinks somewhere between $275 and maybe $350.

APPRAISER

About when did your dad obtain this piece?

GUEST

It was in the early '70s, so not long after it was produced.

APPRAISER

Where did he obtain it? Was he in Washington, D.C.?

GUEST

Washington, D.C., yes, sir.

APPRAISER

Ah, okay.

GUEST

I love it, I've always loved it. It's, it's hung up in our house ever since I was a little kid, so...

APPRAISER

You've been looking at it for quite a while?

GUEST

I've been looking at it for a few years, yes.

APPRAISER (chuckles)

This is a color lithograph by Sam Gilliam, uh, that he created in 1972. It's from an edition of 67. It's actually also on handmade paper. Sam Gilliam was born in 1933. It is with, uh, deep sadness that I have to say that, uh, in June of 2022, Sam Gilliam passed away. So this work is dated, '72, and numbered, 58 over 67. In 1972, Sam Gilliam had work displayed at the, uh, Venice Biennale.

GUEST

Oh, nice.

APPRAISER

He was the first African American artist to actually display there. He was with a group of other artists, but, uh, it was a pretty significant year for him in 1972. And the other interesting thing and cool thing about this particular piece is that the Museum of Modern Art in New York City actually owns one of these.

GUEST

Oh, cool.

APPRAISER

So that's, that's kind of nice to, to, to know.

GUEST

That's very cool. Yeah. I did not know that.

APPRAISER

How much do you think it might be worth?

GUEST

I'm thinking, with inflation, probably $1,000?

APPRAISER

Ah, well, actually, I would put a retail value on this of $8,500.

GUEST

Oh, nice! Awesome!