Andy Warhol Napkin Drawing, ca. 1983
APPRAISER:
You have this very unusual napkin. Tell me how you got this.
GUEST:
Well, I got it in 1998 as a collateral for a loan that I gave to another artist. And the loan was never paid and this is what I...
APPRAISER:
How did he get it?
GUEST:
He got it at a... I think it was Diana Vreeland, but it was a big name like that at a big ballroom, a big show in December of '83 and I guess he did this on the spot.
APPRAISER:
Well, absolutely a hundred-percent Warhol. We've looked at the signatures and we've compared them with others and it's really a marvelous thing. Everyone knows Warhol as a pop icon and a commercial name in the house of art. And one of his closest friends in the ladies who lunched was Diana Vreeland. When his factory was at 860, he did a portrait of her in the years around '83,'84. So, it's certainly possible that it could date around that time. He did flowers and butterflies and it's just a really charming piece. And it looks like we even have some original food stains on it.
GUEST:
It is. His DNA.
APPRAISER:
Now, if it is not authenticated by the Andy Warhol Foundation, whether or not it is authentic, it doesn't exist in the world of Andy Warhol. What you would need to do is take really good pictures of the front and back and send it to the Andy Warhol Foundation. They do not charge for this service, but it will take time, usually about six months, before they get back to you and they research it. But it's well worth the investment in time. The certification of this is everything. What did you say you paid for this?
GUEST:
The loan was $1,500.
APPRAISER:
$1,500. Well, it is certainly a fabulous thing, and if certified by the foundation, you would easily get $20,000 to $30,000 at auction for this piece.
GUEST:
Oh, really? Oh. (laughs)
APPRAISER:
So, do your homework and I think you're going to have a great payday.
GUEST:
Well, thank you.
APPRAISER:
Thanks for bringing it in.
GUEST:
Thank you so much. (laughs) Wow.
Appraisal Details
Executive producer Marsha Bemko shares her tips for getting the most out of ANTIQUES ROADSHOW.
Value can change: The value of an item is dependent upon many things, including the condition of the object itself, trends in the market for that kind of object, and the location where the item will be sold. These are just some of the reasons why the answer to the question "What's it worth?" is so often "It depends."
Note the date: Take note of the date the appraisal was recorded. This information appears in the upper left corner of the page, with the label "Appraised On." Values change over time according to market forces, so the current value of the item could be higher, lower, or the same as when our expert first appraised it.
Context is key: Listen carefully. Most of our experts will give appraisal values in context. For example, you'll often hear them say what an item is worth "at auction," or "retail," or "for insurance purposes" (replacement value). Retail prices are different from wholesale prices. Often an auctioneer will talk about what she knows best: the auction market. A shop owner will usually talk about what he knows best: the retail price he'd place on the object in his shop. And though there are no hard and fast rules, an object's auction price can often be half its retail value; yet for other objects, an auction price could be higher than retail. As a rule, however, retail and insurance/replacement values are about the same.
Verbal approximations: The values given by the experts on ANTIQUES ROADSHOW are considered "verbal approximations of value." Technically, an "appraisal" is a legal document, generally for insurance purposes, written by a qualified expert and paid for by the owner of the item. An appraisal usually involves an extensive amount of research to establish authenticity, provenance, composition, method of construction, and other important attributes of a particular object.
Opinion of value: As with all appraisals, the verbal approximations of value given at ROADSHOW events are our experts' opinions formed from their knowledge of antiques and collectibles, market trends, and other factors. Although our valuations are based on research and experience, opinions can, and sometimes do, vary among experts.
Appraiser affiliations: Finally, the affiliation of the appraiser may have changed since the appraisal was recorded. To see current contact information for an appraiser in the ROADSHOW Archive, click on the link below the appraiser's picture. Our Appraiser Index also contains a complete list of active ROADSHOW appraisers and their contact details and biographies.
