Click here to see the video clips of the segment!

Copper Tray

The first item is a 27.5″ diameter copper tray with interesting marks.  Based on the weight of the tray, it may have more value as scrape than as a decorative tray.  Once I get the opportunity to examine the piece in person, I will be able to determine age and value of the item.

The other item she is brining in consists of a number of prints or etchings by John Fulton Short (1932 – 1998), a Philadelphia artist.  He also is know as the first, if not the only, American to become a Matador in Spain.  The value will depend on the medium of the pieces.  If they are prints the value is less than if they are originals.

How much do you believe the piece is worth?  All will be reveled on the “What’s It Worth Wednesday” segment during the WFLX Fox 29 morning show 8am hour.

The answers will be posted after the show along with follow up commentary!

Roxanne Stein, Tim Luke & Lisa from Port St. Lucie

Auctioneer/Appraiser and Hobe Sound, FL resident, Tim Luke appeared last week on Fox WFLX 29 Morning News show with anchor, Roxanne Stein and a viewer from Port St. Lucie, FL.  The weekly segment, “What’s It Worth Wednesday” airs during the 8am hour and features viewer submissions of items for opinions of value.

This week our item came from Lisa, a viewer in Port St. Lucie, FL.  She received the portrait from her mother who received the piece from her mother, so it dates back to the 1940s.  They were interested in finding out about the age of the piece, if it was original and if it has any value.

The piece is titled, “Head of Christ” by the artist Warner Sallman.  The piece was stamped with the printers information on the bottom corner and a date of 1941.  The print was done and mounted on a sturdy cardboard.

The story of the artist’s background and his journey in creating his most famous work, “Head of Christ,” dates back to 1924.  He was struggling to produce a cover illustration for a denominational magazine when inspiration struck and he created a 3″ thumbnail sketch from which a final charcoal drawing was produced.

After explaining all this to Lisa and Roxanne, I asked them both, “Is the piece over or under $25?”  They both answered over, but alas they were disappointed to discover the piece was actually valued under $25!  It was merely a decorative print of a religious portrait.

See you Wednesday week with more interesting items!

The popularity of exchanging Valentine’s cards grew during the  Victorian time period, 1890 to the early part of the 20th Century.  Antique and vintage cards can still be found at flea markets, antique malls and ephemera or paper shows.  Collectors look for whimsy, construction and appeal.  Expect to pay in the $1 – 50 range.

The mid-20th Century also brought about mass-production and printing.  These cards are not as valuable and were produced in great volume.

Another fun fact about Valentine’s Day comes from the Catholic Encyclopedia.  It states there were at least three early Christian saints named Valentine.  One was a priest, the other a bishop and little is known about the third, only he met his demise in Africa.  All three were said to have been martyred on the 14th of February.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all!

The piece is titled, “Head of Christ” by the artist Warner Sallman.  Since I have only seen a digital photograph of the piece, the big question is over the medium of the portrait.  Is is a print, lithograph, oil, watercolor or a digitally printed copy.  Also, having the opportunity to looking at the ornate nature of the frame in person will provide other clues about the time period, quality and overall value of the piece.

Tag on Verso of Piece

The story of the artist’s background and his journey in creating his most famous work, “Head of Christ,” dates back to 1924.  He was struggling to produce a cover illustration for a denominational magazine when inspiration struck and he created a 3″ thumbnail sketch from which a final charcoal drawing was produced.

How much do you believe the piece is worth?  All will be reveled on the “What’s It Worth Wednesday” segment during the WFLX Fox 29 morning show 8am hour.

The answers will be posted after the show along with follow up commentary!

Fox 29's Roxanne Stein with Expert Appraiser Tim Luke

Auctioneer/Appraiser and Hobe Sound, FL resident, Tim Luke appeared this week on Fox WFLX 29 Morning News show with anchor, Roxanne Stein.  The weekly segment, “What’s It Worth Wednesday” airs during the 8am hour and features viewer submissions of items for opinions on the value they may or may not posses.  This week our items came from a viewer in West Palm Beach, FL.  They were interested in finding out about the vase, tea set and cast iron still bank.

Items on Fox Set before Segment

The bank (in Roxanne’s hands in the photo above) is made of cast iron and is called a safe bank.  It was missing the key to open the safe plus the central bolt holding the bank together was replaced.  The most likely explanation of the replaced bolt was someone wanted to get at the money trapped in the bank.  The other unfortunate quality of the bank was the oxidation of the cast iron.  Overall the piece was in the under $50 range.

Next up was the tea set.  As the photograph illustrates all the pieces were very tarnished.  The set turned out to be silver plate and the viewer was cautioned about over polishing because the silver plating will rub right off with to aggressive a cleaning!

The last item appraise was the vase and the question from the viewer, “is it Chinese or Japanese?”  In looking at the material used to make the piece coupled with the glaze and design, I was able to determine the piece was Japanese.  It is Satsuma pottery and the large size of the piece also helps its overall value.  The only flaw was an old repair to the handle of the piece.  The appraisal of the vase came in at around $150.

See you next week with more interesting items!

The piece is a Chinese vase with interesting foo dog figural handles and depicts an interesting scene on the body of the vase.  How much do you believe the piece is worth?  All will be reveled on the “What’s It Worth Wednesday” segment during the WFLX Fox 29 morning show 8am hour.

The answers will be posted after the show along with follow up commentary!

Anchor, Roxanne Stein & Expert Appraiser, Tim Luke

Auctioneer/Appraiser and Hobe Sound, FL resident, Tim Luke appeared today on Fox WFLX 29 Morning News show with anchor, Roxanne Stein’s inlaid game table.  She picked up the game table at a yard sale years ago for a couple bucks and wonders if she over or under paid.  I had an opportunity to look over the piece prior to our live segment and discovered the green felt was in good condition, however there was wear and minor damage to the inlaid pieces on the game board and throughout the piece.

Additionally, I brought in a Lundberg Studios iridescent art glass piece with a bronze base.  We started the segment and I stated to Roxanne, “You show me yours and I will show you mine!”  We laughed as I explained to Roxanne the game table was 20th Century and the damage throughout the piece ultimately holds down the overall value.

Lundberg Studios Art Glass

Base of Lundberg Studios Piece

Moving on to the art glass piece.  It is signed and dated 1992.  I explained James Lundberg founded his studio in 1970 and began production out of his garage.  The company grew and produced a variety of beautiful art glass pieces.  James died in 1992 and his wife continues with various artists producing art glass still today.

The question is which item is more valuable?  Can you guess?  Roxanne took a stab at it and guessed the art glass was more valuable.  Based on auction results of similar items, both pieces are about the same value.  They each come in at the $250 range.

The weekly segment, “What’s It Worth Wednesday” airs during the 8am hour of the Fox 29 Morning News and provides opinions on the value of viewer submissions.  Every week we will be blogging the items prior to the segment  and encourage participation by leaving comments on the items, guesses of the value or recollections about the piece.

See you next week with more interesting items!

More Photos:

On Set at Fox 29

Auctioneer/Appraiser Tim Luke

This week, the Fox 29 live in studio segment will feature anchor, Roxanne Stein, and a personal piece she has

Game Table Closed

owned for years.  The piece, a game table, will be in the studio so Greg & I can give it a good look over to determine age, condition and if the piece has ever been restored.  Roxanne wants to find out information about a game table and its value.

Game Boards

The table opens up to reveal a green velvet surface for playing cards.  The sections can be turned over to reveal game boards for playing checkers, chess, and backgammon.  It appears from the photos to be inlaid with mother of pearl or bone.  We will have to take a close look at the inlay plus the condition of the game boards.

Included are a few photographs of the piece.  I want to know what do you think the piece is worth?

Also, we will be looking at a piece of art glass by the Lundburg Studios with a bronze

Art Glass with Bronze Base

base.  The piece was made in 1992 and features blue iridescent glass.

Which piece do you think has more value?  Is it the table or the Art Glass?  Leave your comments and guesses.  In tomorrow’s Wrap Up Blog, the values will be revealed.

“What’s It Worth Wednesday” is a weekly segment airing during the WFLX Fox 29 morning show, in the 8am hour.

Tim Luke - Expert Appraiser

Roxanne Stein - Fox 29

Auctioneer/Appraiser and Hobe Sound, FL resident, Tim Luke appeared today on Fox WFLX 29 Morning News show with anchor, Roxanne Stein.  The weekly segment, “What’s It Worth Wednesday” airs during the 8am hour and in the future will provide opinions on the value of viewer submissions.  Every week we will be blogging the items prior to the segment  and encourage participation by leaving comments on the items, guesses of the value or recollections about the piece.

Our first segment featured Tim talking about 4 items (shown below) while Roxanne tried to assign the proper values to each piece.  As she contemplated the values of the items, she also tried to enlist the help of fellow anchor, John Favole for help.  In the end, Roxanne only placed one correct value.  It was on the paperweight.  Next week, Roxanne is bringing in a game table and a golf print to see, “What’s It Worth!”

Try your hand at it and leave a comment on what you think the correct value are for the items.

1. Murano Italian Paperweight

2. Tiffany Style Lamp

3. McCoy Pottery Cookie Jar

4. Cast Iron Fire Truck

The items listed from 1 – 4 have values of $40, $50, $300 and $500.  Can you assign the proper values to each items?  Can you say which of the 4 items is the least valuable?  How about which item is the most valuable?

Did you get any of these correct?  The correct answers are: 1. $300 – 2. $40 – 3. $50 – 4. $500

See you next week with more interesting items!