GUEST: I got these two dresses that I got from England, a small antique shop in England.
APPRAISER: And how long ago was that?
GUEST: Five, six years ago. I paid, like, 800 for both.
APPRAISER: I'll start with the one closest to you.
GUEST: Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER: It is unlabeled.
GUEST: Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER: It is a lady's green velvet jacket, and the bell-shaped sleeves are split and lined about ten inches up with a gold lamé fabric. It is all handmade, hand-embroidered with metallic thread, a gold and a silver thread, and it's in excellent condition. It dates from about 1910. This is labeled. It is Liberty's of London, and Liberty of London started in 1875. In 1884, Liberty of London opened a costume department, and they presented things that were reminiscent of historical costumes. So this is a beautiful 1890s silk tea gown in the medieval style. And we've got these split sleeves. It is made out of a beautiful pink silk satin and hand-decorated in this scrolling vines, and the back is a Watteau back, and there's a lovely train. This piece is in very good condition. Liberty of London in this period would have been the epitome of the Aesthetic movement, exactly what they were looking for: art for art's sake, medieval historical costumes. So, in terms of value, the green jacket has a retail value of $2,500 to $3,000, and the Liberty medieval-styled tea gown has a value between $5,000 and $6,000 at retail.
GUEST: Sold. (laughs)
APPRAISER: You did-- "Sold," exactly.
