Occasionally, I find myself drawn into an episode of a popular PBS show, Antiques Roadshow. Folks present their goods to appraisers, hoping to hear the pronouncement of treasure rather than trash. The ultimate insult is when a proud person is told that their "Ming dynasty" heirloom vase is just a knock-off of the real thing. The former proud-as-punch owner has to quickly recover with as much dignity as possible on national television. I am not sure if I feel bad for them or not. Usually, said vase owner has no skin in the game other than being the current owner of an object and a tale being passed along in a family. Said vase owner probably needs to remember the old adage "Don't count your chickens before they are hatched".
The most entertaining folks are the ones who share an item that has held no prominent place in a family's lore. It might be a little tin toy that was played with extensively throughout the years. Or an "ugly" painting stuck in a box in the attic. Or a weird looking chair that has gathered dust over time. When they are given an appraisal in the high five digit range or even six digits, the blood usually rushes out of their faces and they are completely tongue-tied. The lottery has been won without buying a ticket.
I'm sure many of us watching the show wonder whether we own anything of hidden worth. Since I come from a family of tossers rather than savers, my odds are not very great. And most of my family are loath to spend on anything considered impractical. The idea that one of my relatives would purchase a fancy vase during worldwide travels is quite humorous. My grandparents spent their honeymoon driving to a TB sanitarium where my grandmother's brother was a patient. They car camped and on top of it all, my grandmother's younger brother was along for the ride. These are my people, folks. No Ming dynasty vases in our attics.
Over the years, we have had a few things that appreciated in value. There was the bizarre little beanie baby incident when I sold a beanie baby for about hundred times what I paid for it. It was bittersweet for me because I found myself feeling sorry for the woman who bought it. I don't think any stuffed object is worth that kind of money. I certainly had no sentimental attachment to the little brown bear. My husband has also sold a few old items for a shekel or two more than was ever paid for them. Rest assured, most of our artwork, jewelry and furniture are depreciating as we speak.
Antiques Roadshow does a great job of tapping into a nerve as old as the miners in the great gold rush. The risk of finding fool's gold is outweighed by the dream of fabulous riches. But when all is said and done, most of us instinctively know what is of true value in our lives. No appraiser needed.
And if you have a pretty vase in your attic, I promise not to judge.
No comments:
Post a Comment