Amazon.com
This three-tape boxed set combines never-seen-before footage and well-loved moments from one of PBS's hottest shows,
Antiques Roadshow. Who would've thought a TV series about antiques could be eminently more interesting and fast paced than any quiz show this side of
Sabado Gigante? Its appeal lies partly in the American fascination with the bargain find--the Beatles record picked up for a few dollars at a thrift store that is worth thousands "on today's market." We've also all accumulated so much stuff that we're enthralled with the idea that some of that junk might actually be worth something--like that beautiful 16th-century hand-forged Milanese parade helmet that one woman found wedged in her rafters and turned out to be worth a quarter of a million dollars.
Roadshow also teaches us that things don't have to be handcrafted or even very old to be worth a lot, like that Buck Rogers ring that one guy kept since his childhood--it's worth hundreds. But the real thrill of the show is the wind-up given by the expert appraisers to each segment's climax. "Do you have any idea what this is worth?" the appraiser asks the person who brings the item in and who invariably is dumbfounded by the wealth of knowledge the appraiser has just shown on the subject of, say, Duncan Phyfe's furniture or early Mickey Mouse toys. "No, I don't," they'll usually stammer, only to be wowed by either the item's exciting, immense value or the fact that their prized Civil War artifact is actually a fake. "Oh my God! It was just hanging there in the hallway; we walked by it everyday!" one woman exclaims regarding the lovely, heirloom engraving by Albrecht Dürer, which will fetch between $30,000 and $50,000. Not bad.
--Mike McGonigal
Product Description
Do you have treasures in your home? Take another look. All across the country, folks are dusting off their old things and showing them to top experts at the Antiques Roadshow. This special collection lets you hear the fascinating stories behind the most interesting discoveries and see the owners' reactions when they discover the true value of their treasures. Includes tips on identifying and caring for your own treasures and footage never seen on TV. Marvel at The Best of Antiques Roadshow as host Chris Jussel and a team of top auction-house appraisers take a look at everything from swords to sewing tables, paintings to puppets and teddy bears, glassware to chairs and more. Home Furnishings gives you an insider's look at an array of home furnishings from artwork to rugs to tea tables, from an extravagant Philadelphia desk to a funky Art Deco shaving stand scrounged from a barn. Collectible Treasures offers a peek at what Americans like to collect, as well as the surprising value today's market places on ordinary stuff from days gone by. Learn what to look for in porcelain dolls, pottery, antique toys, jewelry, glass vases, vintage pistols, silver, and more.