About 10 years ago I went to thrift stores looking for frames I liked for something I was working on. I decided not to pay more than $5 each, but I came across one with a painting inside that was $12.95. I decided I kind of liked it, so I bought it anyway to keep just for the painting. Several years later, I decided to google the name of the painter, and he turned out to be a known Texas painter who was friends with Ima Hogg, the philanthropic art-patron daughter of famous Texas governer James Stephen Hogg.
Anyway, a girlfriend of mine is in San Antonio today for a taping of The Antiques Roadshow, and she took my painting. I hope she gets to be on television - she's wearing one of her big trophy Texas-size silver belt buckles which she won in equestrian competition, and she's quite lovely with that broad East-Texas accent. I'll bet they film her and use her footage. That'd be really neat. She said she'd tell them my name, and I told her to look at the camera and mention my email address and that I'm a realtor. We got a big laugh out of that.
You may be surprised to learn that to be on that program, you don't just show up with your crap and get in line. You apply to be included in a lottery drawing for tickets. Apparently something like one out of ten people actually are awarded tickets. Who knew?
I'll let you know if I get any word on that. I'm guessing they'll value the painting at $400 or so. It'll be fun to actually know how collectible it is, though, at last.
8 comments:
I hope your frien gets on the show. You'll have to let the world know when it's airing if she does, and we can all sit in awe of the great purchase you made.
Sell, Sell!! A
barbara - yeah, I hope so, too! I'm all agog today waiting for a phone call with info...
A - I might sell it. If it's not worth very much, it's still a neat story. If it's worth a lot of money, well, I don't like it THAT much!
About 10 years ago here in the city I picked up a small painting of a lighthouse in a mall hosting a string of antique shops. From quite a distance it caught my eye and something said, "It sure looks like a real deal." The painting on panel was $120 and I said the frame is worth that. I glanced at the signiture - "Hopper" - not "E. Hopper," however. The dealer said he got it at an estate sale in Roanoke, VA. I will probably never take it to be appraised but it is fun thinking it just might be the real McCoy.
My sister got my mom tickets to the Antique Roadshow. They had a blast. Their stuff wasn't worth too much, but they were standing next to some man who has some item (I forget what it was) that was worth around 1 mil. It was the thrill of their life.
Cool. I picked up a cute little painting of an Indian shield once in Colorado, not paying attention to who painted it. Just liked it and could afford to buy it. Turns out the lady who painted it, Teri Sodd, is quite good and popular. Who knows what it's worth, but it would be fun to go to the show and find out. Hope you make out.
leazwell - you know, you may HAVE something fabulous there, anyway. Most importantly, though, you are enjoying it.
zelda - wow - a million bucks - I'd be selling it before I even left the building
fhb - That's cool - maybe they'll come to Dallas or Austin soon and you can go...
I wish I could remember what it was. I think it was a collection of some kind. They didn't even pick him to go on tv either.
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