GUEST: I found it in a shed. It was covered with filth. I just kind of cleaned it up a little bit, and it's been hanging in my bedroom. And when we got tickets for the show, I was trying to think of what to bring, and I thought, "Well, I'll take that plaque and see if I can find out anything about it."
APPRAISER: This was made by the Rookwood Pottery. They worked in many different types of glazes and lines, and this is called a scenic vellum plaque. It has a snowy dusk landscape, which is very desirable. The artist has signed right here. Her name was Sallie Coyne, and Sallie Coyne was with them from the 1890s all the way until 1936, a few years before she died. This is mounted in its original Arts and Crafts frame. That is the Rookwood Pottery mark. RP. And when it's filled with these little flames, the dates after 1900 are added in Roman numeral. So this is 1918. This is the original price of two dollars.
GUEST: Wow.
APPRAISER: Now, you said you've cleaned some of it. Did you remove the piece?
GUEST: No-- no.
APPRAISER: You can pop these little nails out and soak it in very warm water and a little bit of detergent. Soak it overnight, and that will get into some of the crazing over here, and that should lighten all of that. This glaze is very matte, which was arrived at by putting an overglaze of lots of little bubbles that refract the light. Would you like to know what it's worth?
GUEST: Yes. (laughs) Two dollars.
APPRAISER: $4,000 to $5,000.
GUEST: (softly) Oh, my gosh, you're kidding. (whimpers) That's amazing. (both laugh) (sniffles) (crying)
APPRAISER: Good. I'm glad it's good news.
GUEST: (laughs)
APPRAISER: I think it's good news, right?
GUEST: It is, it is. Wow, that's really something. Two dollars it sold for, huh? Wow. (crying) I can't believe that.
APPRAISER: Aww...
GUEST: (sniffles) That's great.
