Rock City birdhouses to $85,000 chairs at ‘Antiques Roadshow’

Editor's Note: The show's producers would not give out the names of people with highly valued items.

“Antiques Roadshow” has been must-see TV on Monday nights in my home for years. I’m fascinated by the junk people bring in and their stories behind those pieces.

So standing Saturday on the set of “Antiques Roadshow” was almost surreal to this “Roadshow” junkie. Although the items I brought in didn’t turn out to be as rare as family legend had built them up to be, the behind-the-scenes look at “Roadshow” was priceless.

As visitors walked into the exhibit hall of the Chattanooga Convention Center, they were met by a huge line of people in a Disney World-type zigzagging queue. It looked more daunting than it was. The line moved fairly quickly and took only 40 or so minutes to move from back to front.

The line snaked up to “triage,” where we checked in with WTCI volunteers and showed what we wanted appraised. Then we were directed on to a huge, oval-shaped area surrounded by blue curtains.

Inside that oval was the “Roadshow” set.

The excitement was just palpable when you entered the set. Appraisers were seated at tables encircling the oval. Above each table hung a “Roadshow” banner telling which of 25 categories was appraised at that booth.

Thank goodness I hadn’t brought art or a collectible, because those were the longest lines, snaking out of the circular “Roadshow” set almost back to triage at times.

It seemed like every other person was asking where to find the Keno brothers. The Kenos weren’t behind an appraisal table, but out mingling with the crowd.

The brothers (who are taller in person than they appear on TV) were surprisingly friendly, taking time to greet every fan who approached them. They agreeably posed for photos with fans and signed innumerable autographs (yes, I got mine.)

“I’m Leigh Keno and the funny-looking one is Leslie,” the twin would say while signing everything thrust in his direction.

In the center of the appraisers’ tables was another circular area in which the “finds” were being taped. Three carpeted sets were positioned under stage lighting in this inner circle with a cameramen in their center, rotating between them with each taping.

This was cool, because everyone could watch an on-air appraisal while waiting in line.

I saw Leigh Keno tell Chuck that his antique Windsor chair, which Chuck said he thought was worth $750, was actually worth $80,000 to $100,000.

I learned that several tapings are made for each appraisal you see on TV. Chuck and his Windsor chair had at least six takes before he walked off the set.

I had brought a collection of six cameos that had been passed to me through my mother’s family. I didn’t think they’d be rare and valuable. I chose them because I wanted more information on them.

The line to the jewelry appraisers was short and moved quickly. I was standing in front of Gloria Heberman of Skinner Auction House in 10 minutes. I got to pick two pieces for appraisal.

One was a black cameo (I thought possibly carved from onyx) that had belonged to my great-great-grandmother and allegedly dated back to the Civil War.

Ms. Heberman told me the black cameo was actually molded glass attached to polished glass so the two pieces looked like one. That was disappointing, but she did tell me it was engraved (chased) around the frame, which I hadn’t known.

She put its date at around 1890 and its value at only $50. But she added it was a piece that would be of interest to collectors.

The other cameo — which was warped and needed cleaning — turned out to be carved from shell, encased in a filigree 10K frame and worth $200 to $250. She put its date in the 1920s.

Next, I headed to the books/manuscripts table. There were only three people in line, but the one in front had brought a 3-foot-square carton of books. He had them all out on the table and was making sure the appraiser didn’t miss a thing.

I had brought along my dad’s childhood book, a 1928 copy of “The House at Pooh Corner.” Since it was printed the year the book came out, I hoped it was a first-edition. I had high hopes for this because I had Googled the book and seen copies that looked the same going for $700 to $900 online.

Chris Coover of Christie’s broke it gently that mine wasn’t a first edition, it was a later printing. In mint condition, it would be worth $15 he said; but since mine had some damage it would “possibly get $2.”

Then he tried to soften the blow by adding he could tell as “well-loved and used” (read worn-out) as the book was, it had been priceless to our family.

So I didn’t leave rich. But the whole experience of having something appraised on “Roadshow” was just the coolest!

As I was leaving, the room started buzzing that a piece of jewelry had just been appraised for $200,000.

Only 90 “finds” were scheduled to be taped Saturday. But if a $200,000 piece of jewelry and a $100,000 Windsor chair were any indication of the surprises discovered here, I think WTCI should be proud of the impression Chattanooga will make when these “Roadshow” episodes air next season.