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Appraisal, Valuation and Inspired Guesswork or the Rise of TV Antique Shows and the Collecting Bug

By Howard Lewis

The Price is Right.

Once upon a time you knew precisely where you stood. You were, metaphorically speaking, peering over the shoulder of the venerable Arthur Negus, denizen of that epitome of middle class culture, The Antiques Roadshow. Now, however, you�re turning this way and that, amidst a plethora of antiques discovery programmes, as you seek to satisfy your voyeuristic craving and perhaps learn a little something as you go.

Life used to be very simple in the antique firmament on TV. Its first airing was Going for a Song in 1965, so ancient a time that England had yet to win the World Cup and I was still in short trousers, in a programme memorably described as a

�Pooterish pottery riddleathon, chaired in its glory days by Max Robertson with Arthur Negus stapled to one side for a bit of gossip. Max would then proffer a vaguely familiar looking antique loom at teams of experts and a clueless public, demanding both date and asking price. Points were awarded for the closest bid.�

That won�t ring too many bells with today�s protagonists, by all accounts. This was an age in which most educated people were expected to have a routine general knowledge of art, antiques and collecting because it suggested some hint of engagement and appreciation of the world around them. Of course, the clueless public were a convenient prop to the cardsharps around them but the scenario hasn�t deviated too far over the last forty years. Having said that, presenters could always be relied upon in yesteryear to wear a jacket and tie and a sensible haircut � this was the BBC after all � so one wasn�t confronted, as is our current misfortune, by a bunch of D listers swathed in Hawaiian tee shirts and an all over tan.

Yet the extraordinary thing is that these programmes � and, believe me, there are plenty of them � have such enduring appeal. The antiques themselves obviously play their part but the real key is the human dimension and, without exception, it is a feature of all the latter day productions that the viewing public are encouraged to make contact and tell their stories. However, whereas The Antiques Roadshow was deliberately more formal in its approach, more recent entrants are positively gushing. The three best examples of this new genre are Flog It, Bargain Hunt and Cash in the Attic, each of which, like The Antiques Roadshow, have spawned some very ugly American hatchlings. More of that anon.

Back here, we have David Dickinson, full of grandiloquent gestures and gravelly tones, hosting Bargain Hunt. Dickinson, notwithstanding that he loves the sound of his own voice, has certainly done the rounds and knows his stuff unlike the motley crew from Cash in the Attic who look like cast offs from a lifestyle channel. Bargain Hunt is not designed to be too successful but just give a taste of what could be achieved with a good eye and a judicious approach though, as ever, it is most watchable when confronted by the unexpected. One contestant so successfully bought and sold a copper log box that Dickinson, momentarily speechless, had to dispatch a crew member to an ATM to cough up enough cash when he ran short. Priceless!

Howard Lewis, Chairman http://www.invaluable.com Only Invaluable gives you unrivalled access to pre-sale and post-sale information for auction houses and salerooms across the globe. Find art, antiques and collectables. Try our Keyword search, register at http://www.invaluable.com for a free 14 day trial.

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Many people collect antique hand blown glass, such as drinking glasses and bottles. Most pieces date to the 18th and 19th centuries, as earlier glassware is difficult to find and somewhat rare. In order to determine the age of hand blown glass one needs to understand the history and technique of glass making, as well as shape, style, and decoration.
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Clocks are intricate mechanisms and can be delicate. When you are interested in a piece, try to find out if the clock is in good working order. Some older clocks will only run well if they are absolutely level. If possible, try to have the piece examined by an independent clockmaker. In some instances a clock will retain its value even if the workings have been reconditioned but in other cases the piece becomes virtually worthless without the original mechanism.
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Get a Second Opinion. If you�re unsure about a piece and it�s expensive, get a second opinion from a friend who is knowledgeable about antiques or whose taste you trust. Ask the dealer if he or she will hold the piece for you until you return. If not, ask yourself how you�d feel if the piece weren�t there when you got back. If the heartbreak you�d experience would exceed the disappointment you�d feel paying more for the piece than it�s worth, buy it.
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