Antiques Roadshow Primer : The Introductory Guide to Antiques and Collectibles from the Most-Watched Series on PBS (Paperback)

~ (Author), Chris Jussel (Foreword)
Key Phrases: tallcase clocks, pontil mark, bell toys, New York, Art Deco, Art Nouveau (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The simple but brilliant attraction of the popular PBS series is that deep down inside, everyone wonders if that family heirloom or flea-market antique in the corner of the living room has any real value. Antiques Roadshow Primer can help you answer that question. Carol Prisant, who writes about antiques and collectibles for Martha Stewart Living, House Beautiful, and New York, quickly notes in her introduction, however, that this is a primer--an introduction to the basics of antiques--and does not presume to make the reader an instant expert.

In that vein, the focus is on the bread and butter of the antique world: silver, glass, pottery, porcelain, books, paintings, jewelry, rugs, clocks, and furniture. These are the items that are not trendy (Barbie dolls, 1920s beaded bags) and subject to massive fluctuations in price and value. Instead, Prisant points out, they are the types of items that are good for the long haul and, she notes, the front hall. So how do you determine if an heirloom is worth something? The following tips are offered when inspecting furniture: run your fingers underneath or over the back of the piece--very sharp edges and corners indicate recent manufacture. Remove one screw in some inconspicuous spot. An old, handmade screw will have irregular widths between the spirals, running the whole length of the shaft. The slot in the head may be off-center. Look for the distinctive curved pattern left in sawn wood by the teeth of a circular saw--it is one important sign of manufacture after 1840.

Prisant also reveals tricks of the trade for inspecting diamonds: place the gem against your upper lip, she advises. If it's glass--the oldest imitator of a diamond--it will not feel cold at all, while a real diamond will. Definitions are also offered for "antique furniture" (any object 100 years old or older, according to the U.S. government), "used furniture" (secondhand furniture less than 100 years old), and "period furniture" (made when its design was first popular and new; generally the most valuable of antique furniture). At its best, Antiques Roadshow Primer instills a sense of genuine interest and enthusiasm, much like the PBS show, by making the antiques and collectibles world less of a stuffy discussion about an untouchable item behind lock and key and more about drawing connections to the heirloom in the corner. --John Russell

From Booklist

Lines snaking around every major and minor U.S. metropolitan civic center are the hallmarks of PBS' wildly popular Antiques Roadshowand may soon queue at library doors. Why? Appraiser-dealer Prisant, with a lot of help from marketing-savvy Workman Publishing, has extracted some of the best finds and tips and data from the TV series, and has added selected background information. Photographs and illustrations are prolific throughout the 10 chapters; either solo or within a chart, all pictures include annotations as well as narrative "crib sheets." From furniture to books and manuscripts, each section features a broad overview of manufacturing and techniques, makers, "discoveries" from the show, distinguishing characteristics, and clues that will reveal the rarity of the object. Easy on the eyes--and the wallet--as well as the best place to begin serious antiquing. Barbara Jacobs
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Workman Publishing Company (December 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743222733
• ISBN-13: 978-0761116240
• ASIN: 0761116249
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #177,701 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

74 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Gift of the Year, January 7, 2000

By	no name (Huntington, NY, United States) - See all my reviews

What could be a more appropriate resource for the new millenium than this compedium of information concerning antiques. Through a delightfully written and totally applicable approach, Carol Prisant helps those of us green to the antiques market guage the potential value of our treasures. For such a broad field of study, Ms. Prisant takes us by the hand through a myriad of antiques, giving us a general yet highly pertinent overview of each category. She then goes into a more in depth explanation, replete with fascinating examples, of what comprises a healthy antique. She seems to provide a minor's hat to each of her readers, and brings us on a wonderful journey of exploration into so many practical and fascinating details of this arena. This was such a fulfilling read, such an inspiration to any of us who search for a more complete understanding of the world of objects around us. She primes us indeed, and serves as a masterful captain in navigating these otherwise confusing waters. This book is written in highly intelligent yet comfortably familiar language, with true respect for us novices. Antiques Roadshow Primer takes center stage on my shelves this year. Bravo! and can we have a Primer 2, please?

60 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Advice, December 27, 1999

By A Customer

Having just completed my reading of the book by Ms Prisant, I have found it an excellent companion for advice and research into the world of antiques. I especially found the sections on furniture, paintings and jewelry to be thoughtful and helpful in content.

I recommend the book highly to people looking for insights into their own valued possessions or when thinking of purchasing.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Antiques Roadshow Primer is all about style!, August 27, 2000

By	Rebecca Brown "rebeccasreads" (Clallam Bay, WA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Antiques Roadshow Primer: The Introductory Guide to Antiques and Collectibles from the Most-Watched Series on PBS (Hardcover)

With a Foreword by Chris Jussel, the show's charming & charmed host, in which he gives us a glimpse of the unfolding of what has arguably become one of the most watched shows in the history of television, The Antiques Roadshow Primer is a gift waiting to be given to any & all who enjoy browsing through fleamarkets, garage & estate sales, other countries & country auctions as well as dealers' stores. With black & white photos on every page & a glorious full color section, this is a clear, interesting teaching book. It has a useful Glossary, a long & lucid Index & a thorough Photo Credits Sections. While values & prices of pieces are rare(go to the many catalogs in print for real time prices)what I like about the Antiques Roadshow Primer is you're learning all the time, on every page; learning to see what's before you, to classify, verify & testify. Very well done! For my full review do check out my sit [...].