GUEST: My husband and I lived in Springfield, Illinois, and we went to a local auction gallery. We saw this. I liked it a lot. My husband thought it was big and we probably didn't need it. But it was the very last item in the auction.
APPRAISER: What did you pay for it?
GUEST: $35.
APPRAISER: And when was this?
GUEST: About nine or ten years ago.
APPRAISER: Nine or ten years ago. It's probably mid to late 19th century.
GUEST: Okay.
APPRAISER: It's quintessentially something that's of Chinese taste. It's very, very pretty. It's decorative-- the dragons, the peony flowers. And a fantastic interior to the bowl as well. And it was a fish bowl.
GUEST: Oh, my goodness.
APPRAISER: And this is the kind of thing the Chinese are looking to get back. Nowadays, a piece like this would probably sell in the neighborhood between $6,000 to $8,000.
GUEST: (gasps) Oh, my... When it was $35 and there was no other bid, he said, "Okay, bid." And so...
APPRAISER: You wouldn't have gotten it for $35 if I was there.
GUEST: (chuckling)