GUEST: I collected them because I have such respect for them. They were always such humble items. But some woman worked hours, maybe days, on every single item, because they're all, for the most part, handwoven and even handspun.
APPRAISER: When did you start collecting?
GUEST: Oh, I've collected for probably 30 years.
APPRAISER: Is there a first item here that you collected, or a special item?
GUEST: Yeah, I guess the pockets-- I love the pockets.
APPRAISER: Why don't we hold them up?
GUEST: Yeah.
APPRAISER: What's the little rhyme that you know?
GUEST: Oh, "Lucy Locket lost her pocket."
APPRAISER: Do you know how she lost her pocket?
GUEST: No.
APPRAISER: Because they were tied around her waist. And so these pockets, you know, if your string came undone, your pockets fell off. And all kinds of things were carried in a pocket. I mean, it was a lady's handbag of the 18th and 19th century. And a dress had slit on the side, and you had to put your pocket, your hands into your dress, and you could pull things out. And we know from newspaper records that when women lost things, they would say, "Lost in my pocket." And you would find things like, oh, a pocket watch, and your clips, and your jewelry, and your notecards.
GUEST: Okay, okay.
APPRAISER: And all kinds of things. And they're made of very humble cloth, so it's probably not a very wealthy woman.
GUEST: Right, right.
APPRAISER: What else do you love that's here?
GUEST: I love the apron. The apron is a real treasure.
APPRAISER: You can see here that it opens up down the back. And do you know how to date this apron?
GUEST: No, I don't, really. I think it's pretty early, but I don't know how to date it.
APPRAISER: It is early. It's got this very thin seam right here, indicating that there's a very short bodice in the back. And I would date this to about 1805.
GUEST: I never noticed that, okay.
APPRAISER: What'd you pay for this?
GUEST: I paid $700 for that apron. My husband bought it for me.
APPRAISER: Well, I think he did a good thing. I can't tell you how rare this is. Sometimes the simplest things are the rarest things, and they don't survive. I would value the apron at about $1,500.
GUEST: Oh, well, that's a good thing.
APPRAISER: And the pockets at about $1,000.
GUEST: That's wonderful.
APPRAISER: And I would value... This purse here?
GUEST: Yes.
APPRAISER: Which is dated 1812, at about $1,500.
GUEST: Oh, that's wonderful.
APPRAISER: So if I begin to think about the value of your collection, it's worth quite a lot of money, you know? $6,000 to $8,000.
GUEST: Oh, my goodness-- well, thank you very much.
