GUEST: It was purchased at auction in England about ten years ago and we believe it be a 19th-century French bronze. That's about it.
APPRAISER: This bronze is by one of the more notable salon bronziers...
GUEST: Oh, really?
APPRAISER: of the 19th century. Yes, it's Léon Deschamps and he was born in 1860, and he died in 1928. He won several medals and showed in many salons during the late-19th and early-20th century and this particular piece is signed on the front, "En Moisson"...
GUEST: Okay.
APPRAISER: and that means "the harvest."
GUEST: "The harvest."
APPRAISER: He had a particular penchant for the harvest and he did bronzes like this using, generally speaking the sand-cast method. We also have a signature of his on the side right here...
GUEST: Okay.
APPRAISER: as well as, then, on the reverse side, the foundry mark the Suss foundry mark and that was of also a famous foundry in the 19th and early-20th century. It's fortunate that this is the original cast size of the piece. During the mid-19th century many pieces were cast in a smaller size by the invention of, uh, Achilles Collas of the pantograph. However, this is the original one shown in the 1903 salon.
GUEST: Oh, really?
APPRAISER: Yes. This is the original casting and it's quite an extraordinary piece. He studied under Hippolite Moreau and he won several medallions in the Paris salons and was just one of the more notable of the bronziers of the 19th century. Can you tell us, Neil, what you paid for this?
GUEST: I seem to think it... say in England, £800 which is about $1,200, $1,300 equivalent.
APPRAISER: Ah, well, I think we may have a little bit of a surprise for you. On the open market right now and I think by a reputable dealer this bronze would be worth between $45,000 and $50,000.
GUEST: Ah, no! Are you joking?
APPRAISER: Absolutely.
GUEST: Oh, my goodness!
APPRAISER: It is an extraordinary piece of his workmanship and he was one of the much more notable men of his era, so...
GUEST: Oh, my goodness.
APPRAISER: It's a phenomenal piece and I'm so glad you brought it on the Roadshow with us.
GUEST: Oh, jeez! Can we cry on camera?
APPRAISER: ( laughs ) Sometimes it can amaze you. And this particular one when I saw it, I was just flabbergasted by it. I was so hoping that...
GUEST: My wife's going to be back there falling off her chair.
APPRAISER: ( laughs )
GUEST: Oh, my goodness, me. Whoa! We call her Griselda. ( laughs ) Don't know why, but...
APPRAISER: Well, I like the name, Griselda. It sort of fits. ( laughs )
