Tiffany Studios "Pond Lily" Lamp
GUEST:
My father-in-law had bought it around 1928, in Chicago.
APPRAISER:
And did you use it over the years?
GUEST:
We used it up until around 1960, and then since then, it's been in storage.
APPRAISER:
Was using it up till around 1960, did that have anything to do with having children in the house?
GUEST:
Yes, we had children and dogs at that time, mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
Well, I'm very glad that you held on to it and that you were able to keep it in such great condition because this is a Tiffany Studios 12-Light Lily Lamp. Sometimes we call it the "Pond Lily." In fact, I believe that's what Tiffany referred to it in his inventory lists when he was selling these lamps. And the reason why he said Pond Lily, you can see the little lily pads down here that cluster around the stems leading up to these beautiful glass shades which are resembling flowers. This is such a great patina-- the finish over the bronze that this base is made out of. The finish is an original finish, and what was very refreshing for me today was to see an original finish because so many of them get stripped over the years, and then people try to fix them and it just never looks like the original. But this is original.
GUEST:
How old would this be, then?
APPRAISER:
Well, they were making this from 1902 probably right up until the 1920s. I would say that yours is more on the earlier end of things because this was the kind of work that was being done from 1902 probably to about 1915. The shades, which are the most valuable part of the lamp, are all intact. What's happened with lily lamps is that it's been a very movable feast. The prices have sort of gone up and down and shot way up, but over the past couple years, I think they've reached a new plateau which people are very comfortable at buying them at, and I would value this lamp today between $30,000 and $40,000.
GUEST:
Amazing.
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.