Antiques Roadshow

GUEST

They were on my husband's side of the family. And his grandmother had it and gave it to her daughter, and she ultimately gave it to me. I love her, and I just want to know more about her.

APPRAISER

Okay, well, you sure it's a her?

GUEST

No. (laughs) Come to think of it.

APPRAISER

Well, Kewpies, you really don't know if they're a he or a she. They're one of those kind of things that could be either/or. It's a Kewpie. It was designed by Rose O'Neill, and this particular thing probably didn't come from the old country. This was made around 1913 up into the 1920s. So it was probably bought in New York as a little gift for her room. It's what they call an action Kewpie. Of course, they're doing things, not just a normal Kewpie standing there. This is an unusual one with the Kewpie, with the two baby Kewpies. Very good quality bisque porcelain, maybe made by a company called Hertwig, which was a German company that produced lots of nice little novelty figures. This particular Kewpie, the Kewpie that collectors call "Down on His Luck." So I guess he was expecting one baby and ended up with two. If you look around the back, little blue wings. All Kewpies that are real Kewpies have blue wings. No wings, they're not a Kewpie.

GUEST

Not a Kewpie.

APPRAISER

Did you have any idea what you think it could possibly be worth?

GUEST

Well, I thought maybe $25. I, I didn't know.

APPRAISER

Okay, well, originally, when it was new, it was a little novelty thing made for children. It probably cost no more than 25 to 50 cents. It's in good shape. It's good quality. And if you can find it, it would probably retail between $4,000 and $5,000.

GUEST

(laughing) Really?

APPRAISER

Yeah, really. I mean, it's a very rare action Kewpie.

GUEST

Whoa!

APPRAISER

So "Down on His Luck" isn't so down on his luck at all.

GUEST

Oh, my heavens.

APPRAISER

And be very fortunate that you own it. It's really adorable.

GUEST

Oh, she will have... He-- it will have...

APPRAISER

It, it.

GUEST

...will have a place of honor in my home.

APPRAISER

Cool.