GUEST: I was on my way to the grocery store one Saturday and I saw a sign for an auction and I decided to stop. Didn't see anything really unusual and I was planning to leave, and I saw a bit of this peeking out on the linens table, so I decided to stay. I stayed and I did win the auction.
APPRAISER: And so what did you pay for it?
GUEST: I ended up paying $100.
APPRAISER: What sort of auction did you buy it at? Where was it located?
GUEST: This was an estate auction that was actually being held in a boat storage facility here in Kansas.
APPRAISER: So now you tell me what you think this is.
GUEST: Well, from what I have been able to learn, I believe it's a Navajo weaving or blanket. I have no idea of the age because there are so many reproductions, new ones, old ones, patterns, and I don't know what to look for.
APPRAISER: In the 19th century, the Navajo used weavings like this as wearing blankets. Then as we move into the 20th century, there was a transitional period where they were using the wearing blankets, but then they also were taking them back east and they were serving as rugs. This piece is from the early 20th century and it's probably something that could have either been a rug on the floor or a wearing blanket. The design is something that's very interesting on this one. It is a woman's wearing blanket design, and we know that because it's a little bit shorter than the ones that we see for the men that have similar patterns. I want you to see this line that goes up like this.
GUEST: I did see that, is that a repair?
APPRAISER: It's an upright loom. Navajo women, they weaved from the bottom up. When they'd stop, they'd tie it off and it makes that line, and so that's diagnostic for a Navajo weaving.
GUEST: Oh, okay.
APPRAISER: There are some issues with this that we have to talk about.
GUEST: Certainly.
APPRAISER: You'll notice over here, we have a couple of stains. They may come out. Probably, they're doggie stains.
GUEST: Oh.
APPRAISER: But the overall condition is not bad. The absolute worst thing for these is the sun. The sun can fade this out. This is a hand-spun, aniline-dyed red here, and you can see down at the bottom over there, it's a little bit faded. So what do you think the value would be on this?
GUEST: I really haven't got any idea. I thought maybe $1,500 or $2,000.
APPRAISER: I'll tell you what: we're going to do better. We're going to assume that the doggie stain will come out, but for your $100 investment, in a gallery or in a good auction, what we're looking at is $2,500 to $3,500.
GUEST: Good!
APPRAISER: It's just a great size and for the amount of money, it's a lot of bang for the art buck.
