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Steven Porterfield

Details

The Cat's Meow
Midland, TX
Toured In
13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27
Phone
432-687-2004

Steven Porterfield has collected vintage and antique clothing, fabrics, and dolls since the age of 11, when he received his first item while helping the women at his church sort through boxes of items donated for missions. His mother and grandmother were both talented seamstresses who encouraged him in his interest. They didn't realize at the time what they were creating. Currently he has over 3,000 garments and about 600 hats in his collection. Steven graduated with a music education degree in 1985. That fall, he and two friends opened up a vintage clothing store in Midland, Texas, and named it The Cats Meow. Within a few years Steven bought each partners’ share and within five years expanded the store from its original 1,000 square feet to 4,500. Museums, private collectors, the fashion and movie industries, and the general public are all part of his clientele. When Steven is not traveling to buy or sell, he is working on museum installations or planning exhibits. His most recent exhibits have included "A Secret Passion," Costume Jewelry From the Linda Smetak Collection, which spanned eight decades and included over 1,000 pieces of jewelry; "Master Piece of Memories," A Century of Quilts & Buttons — Ellen Noel Art Museum; and "Here Comes The Bride," 150 Years of Bridal Tradition — North Texas University. Steven promotes the biannual Antique Elegance Show in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The show features over 60 dealers from 15 different states. The show is every third weekend of February and September. Each show provides lectures, demonstrations or presentations spanning a variety of topics related to antiques. It is hosted by Kevin Jones and Christina Johnson, curators from the Fashion Institute of Design & Marketing in Los Angeles.

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW is an antiques appraisal event and television production; we do not buy or sell objects, and conducting any business with an appraiser at the ANTIQUES ROADSHOW event is strictly forbidden.

If you decide to do business with an appraiser who has appeared on ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, please keep in mind these tips before consigning or selling an item:

  • Get more than one referral and check references
  • Get valuations of your item from more than once source
  • Compare options between different types of sellers, i.e., a dealer versus an auction house
  • If you are considering consigning an object for auction, be sure to inquire how the item will be priced, the size of the fee, and the expected amount of time the process may take. Find out what will happen if it doesn't sell.
  • Check the appraiser's professional associations (such as International Society of Appraisers, American Appraisers Association, National Auctioneers Association)
  • Consult an attorney before signing a contract
  • Whatever kind of transaction you decide to enter into, always get a detailed written receipt for your records

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW’s pool of experts are professionals with a wide range of experience in the antiques, fine art and collectibles community, and they are from a diverse background of auctioneers, dealers and appraisers.

All ROADSHOW appraisers are independent volunteers who donate their time and expertise to PBS and who pay their own expenses to be on the show. All business transactions are independent from ANTIQUES ROADSHOW.