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Something for everyone on Chubb's Antiques Roadshow
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By: DAVID SELTZER Web Producer
Everybody has something old in their house, or at least in their family.
Last summer, thousands of Clevelanders brought some of their old and (to them) precious items to be looked at by appraisers for Chubb's Antiques Roadshow. Beginning on Monday, Sep. 15, what those Clevelanders found out about soe of their most cherished possessions will air on WVIZ/PBS-TV.
Unfortunately for many in the Jewish community, the only day to have antiques appraised was on Shabbat. However, Chubb's Antiques Roadshow made an exception and gave me a behind-the-scenes tour on a Friday. On that Friday I also learned that my bubby's simple brass menorah (which I brought in for appraisal) was almost 200 years old and probably worth over $2,000. (The menorah was featured in the CJN on Nov. 22, 2002. It can viewed in our online archives at www.clevelandjewishnews.com/archives).
Chubb's Antiques Roadshow travels around the country inviting people to bring in old and odd objects for explanations and appraisals. If an item attracts the special interest of an appraiser, he or she takes the item for further analysis while the owner goes to a "green room" to prepare for filming. The appraiser then describes the item to the owner at a special stand in the middle of the set, where several cameras catch all of the details.
The show then features some of the more interesting items, including a detailed explanation, history and estimated value of each object. A history of the particular city where the objects reside is also part of the presentation.
Since the appraisal tour usually visits cities on Saturday, Judaica is not terribly common at the show. In addition, Kerry Shrives, a Judaica appraiser from Skinner of Boston, who volunteered at the Cleveland show, comments that "if a kiddush cup was brought in, it could be shown to a silver specialist, who may or may not recognize it for what it is," especially if there are no Hebrew words on it.
Another reason for the lack of Judaica on the show is scarcity. Since, most families were not able to bring much out of Europe after World War II, the supply of antique Judaica is small. Regardless, or maybe because of this, Shrives points out that "objects are a good way of connecting one generation with the next."
Shrives, a member of Temple Isaiah in Lexington, Mass., has been appraising Judaica since 1994. The most interesting item she has seen on the Roadshow was an etrog box made of old spoons owned by someone in Phoenix. Most often the Judaica brought in for appraisal are candlesticks and menorahs, she says.
Tips on antique Judaica can be found on PBS' Web site at www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/roadshow/tips/judaica.html
Gary Sohmers, an appraiser for Wex Rex Collectibles in Framingham, Mass., who is Jewish and who also volunteered to appraise in Cleveland, has a different connection to the previous generation. Wearing bright orange shoes and a colorful shirt patterned with guitars, he explains that he learned the trade of antiques from his father.
After watching his father buy old campaign items and sell them as collectibles, Sohmers came up with an inspirational concept: "Buy stuff from people who don't want it and sell it to someone who does want it - ooh!"
Over time, Sohmers became an expert in the area of old collectibles, including specific toys, records and other paraphernalia.
Generally, most of the appraisers for Chubb's Antiques Roadshow have similar backgrounds. They either grew up with antiques in the family or developed a passion for antiques that propelled them to where they are now. All the appraisers for the Roadshow are professionals who serve as volunteers. The local Roadshow staff are also mainly volunteers.
Three shows are being broadcast from Cleveland, airing on WVIZ/PBS on Mondays, Sept. 15, 22 and 29, each at 8 p.m.
For more information about Chubb's Antiques Roadshow, visit their Web site at www.pbs.org/antiques
Last summer, thousands of Clevelanders brought some of their old and (to them) precious items to be looked at by appraisers for Chubb's Antiques Roadshow. Beginning on Monday, Sep. 15, what those Clevelanders found out about soe of their most cherished possessions will air on WVIZ/PBS-TV.
Unfortunately for many in the Jewish community, the only day to have antiques appraised was on Shabbat. However, Chubb's Antiques Roadshow made an exception and gave me a behind-the-scenes tour on a Friday. On that Friday I also learned that my bubby's simple brass menorah (which I brought in for appraisal) was almost 200 years old and probably worth over $2,000. (The menorah was featured in the CJN on Nov. 22, 2002. It can viewed in our online archives at www.clevelandjewishnews.com/archives).
Chubb's Antiques Roadshow travels around the country inviting people to bring in old and odd objects for explanations and appraisals. If an item attracts the special interest of an appraiser, he or she takes the item for further analysis while the owner goes to a "green room" to prepare for filming. The appraiser then describes the item to the owner at a special stand in the middle of the set, where several cameras catch all of the details.
The show then features some of the more interesting items, including a detailed explanation, history and estimated value of each object. A history of the particular city where the objects reside is also part of the presentation.
Since the appraisal tour usually visits cities on Saturday, Judaica is not terribly common at the show. In addition, Kerry Shrives, a Judaica appraiser from Skinner of Boston, who volunteered at the Cleveland show, comments that "if a kiddush cup was brought in, it could be shown to a silver specialist, who may or may not recognize it for what it is," especially if there are no Hebrew words on it.
Another reason for the lack of Judaica on the show is scarcity. Since, most families were not able to bring much out of Europe after World War II, the supply of antique Judaica is small. Regardless, or maybe because of this, Shrives points out that "objects are a good way of connecting one generation with the next."
Shrives, a member of Temple Isaiah in Lexington, Mass., has been appraising Judaica since 1994. The most interesting item she has seen on the Roadshow was an etrog box made of old spoons owned by someone in Phoenix. Most often the Judaica brought in for appraisal are candlesticks and menorahs, she says.
Tips on antique Judaica can be found on PBS' Web site at www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/roadshow/tips/judaica.html
Gary Sohmers, an appraiser for Wex Rex Collectibles in Framingham, Mass., who is Jewish and who also volunteered to appraise in Cleveland, has a different connection to the previous generation. Wearing bright orange shoes and a colorful shirt patterned with guitars, he explains that he learned the trade of antiques from his father.
After watching his father buy old campaign items and sell them as collectibles, Sohmers came up with an inspirational concept: "Buy stuff from people who don't want it and sell it to someone who does want it - ooh!"
Over time, Sohmers became an expert in the area of old collectibles, including specific toys, records and other paraphernalia.
Generally, most of the appraisers for Chubb's Antiques Roadshow have similar backgrounds. They either grew up with antiques in the family or developed a passion for antiques that propelled them to where they are now. All the appraisers for the Roadshow are professionals who serve as volunteers. The local Roadshow staff are also mainly volunteers.
Three shows are being broadcast from Cleveland, airing on WVIZ/PBS on Mondays, Sept. 15, 22 and 29, each at 8 p.m.
For more information about Chubb's Antiques Roadshow, visit their Web site at www.pbs.org/antiques
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