As I type this month’s column, the weather is very fitting for early November, chilly and raining. What better activity to undertake on a day such as this than to binge watch “Antiques Roadshow” especially when one is an antique dealer and appraiser?

My mind began to wander through my long career as an antique appraiser. I have assisted in several archaeological digs, appraised some amazing items, and even took a side trip into a forensic assessment, dating and identifying a young man whose skeleton was found in a dried-up river bed. If you have seen the movie “Dirty Dancing” there is a scene where the main characters are dancing on a log laid across a river. In reality, several years ago the river dried up and a skeleton was found. A detective from that area of Virginia reached out to me. I used the shoes to come up with the approximate year of his passing and a ring found on his finger led me to a nearby men’s university. There was initials inside the band so then I turned to yearbooks from the university and identified him using all of the information I gathered. Through my research I learned that there used to be speak-easies scattered about in the woods. The detective speculated that the young student had spent the evening drinking and while stumbling back to the university he fell into the river. I never heard from the detective again to see if he had located any family members.

My favorite archaeological dig was performed in central Caribbean Panama. I was contacted by a gentleman from the University of Texas to assist in dating, and in some cases identifying items that were found in specific areas along the Panama Canal. Some of the cultural components found dated back to the second millennium BC. They also found the first documented samples from the Caribbean slopes of Monagrillo Ware, the oldest known pottery in Lower Central America.* They also investigated the area along the canal where the workers who dug the canal lived. This was really when my experience was needed.

Hopefully, I have not lost your attention by reflecting back on these opportunities. I found the CD from the Panama Canal dig today while cleaning off a shelf in the office and felt the need to share with you.

Ten years ago, Bruce Rodgers, the former owner of Discover Vintage America, brought me onboard to write a monthly column, which I sincerely hope that y’all enjoy. Several years ago he paid for me to become a certified appraiser. When you take classes in something such as appraising you quickly learn how little you really know. I am always looking for ways to increase my knowledge, besides the education, conducting appraisals on a frequent basis is always a learning opportunity.

People get items appraised for a number of reasons. Some are simply curious about the value of things they own, appraisals for insurance purposes are popular, as are appraisals for the family once someone passes on. This hopefully prevents higher value items from being sold for a couple of dollars. Later this week I will conduct a full house appraisal for that very reason.

I certainly don’t want to talk anyone out of hiring me to conduct an appraisal but there are a few appraisal questions that are asked on a regular basis. Ashton Drake, Bradford Exchange, and Danbury Mint are all known for advertisement/order postcards inserted in magazines and they declare that their items are “Limited Edition.” Limited edition can denote several things. There are limited edition items that are actually limited to a predetermined number of pieces if you see a notation similar to 200/1000 this is telling you that you have number 200 on a run of 1000. This is the best that you can hope for. The above companies mention in tiny print that the dolls, plates, and other items they make are limited to a particular number of firing days, for instance 365 days. The great unknown is how many of a particular doll or plate the company can produce in a single day times 365 days. I can bet that they have the capability to craft several thousand items a week. Due to mass production the doll that you are paying $90 for is now worth $10 to $20. The plates and other small items created by these companies are for the most part valued at $5 or less. There are a few exceptions but they are rare.