Dig This Treasure!

I mentioned last week that when I went to the Chelsea Antiques Market a few weekends ago, there were many things to see that were very hard to resist. Here are a few of my faves. 

Frankly, I don’t understand this terrifying plate, who would want it, or where it came from. I hated it so much–it just made me feel icky inside. Clowns are already scary enough but this one has a SAW in his doctor bag, a hammer in his hand, and golf clubs for no reason. WTF? 

Sarah and I were dying when we saw that someone had, with a red sharpie, made poor Big Boy’s eyes super bloodshot. Either that or he smoked some powerful ganja. 

I enjoyed that this seller didn’t know for sure whether a) the doll was very old or b) it was even a doll at all! 

I hope the Ultimate Punk finds this vase, because it was especially made for him/her. 

I call this masterpiece Terrifying Zombified Ceramic Hunter Boy, with Dog.

Some special anniversary cigs. 

NUDE LOVERS.

Ok, I saved my favorite for last. Every time I look at this picture, I LOL. 

This is what Erin looked like when the nurses told her it was time to push. 

-Sarah

We hope you all enjoyed our Part One recap of the trip we took to Antiques Roadshow.  It was a really long read, but thanks for hanging in there!

Today’s entry is all about some of the cool people we met at the Roadshow, and perhaps more importantly, the treasures!

Before Sarah, Zach, and I arrived at Cobo Center in Detroit, my dad had already been there early that morning.  He unfortunately had to wait in the crazy long triage line to get in (more proof that Timmy needs his own blog and thus press credentials).  Luckily, he brought a chair for the 3 hour excursion.

People actually started offering him money for the chair because they were so exhausted standing!  Anyway, Timmy also brought two items for appraisal.  First, a 1948 Babe Ruth watch and second, a Ty Cobb signed check. 

His appraisals went really well.  Much better than my illegal scrimshaw one.  The Babe Ruth watch is from 1948 and is a “caricature watch.”  The most famous caricature watch is from the 1930s and features Mickey Mouse. Other notable examples are The Lone Ranger and Dick Tracy.  

My dad found this watch at an estate sale about 5 years ago.  And the tale is a really great one. The sale was of a baseball collector.  If I remember correctly, the man had worked for the Detroit Tigers, so the house was packed with all sorts of Tigers things.  I wasn’t there, but my sister went with my dad, and they both brought giant bags to load up.  While waiting outside, my dad chatted with another guy waiting.  My dad explained how he collected all things baseball, and the other guy said he collected only vinyl records.  

Inside the sale, the stranger my dad had met walked up and handed my dad this Babe Ruth watch. He said, “Hey baseball guy, I found this for you,” and proceeded to hand it over.  Such an INSANELY kind gesture, considering that I’m about to tell you what this watch is worth.  

My dad paid $90 for the watch at this sale, and flash forward, he’s here at Antiques Roadshow. The appraiser was shocked to see the watch in its original box, with its original plastic baseball case, and with all of the paperwork inside (even the purchase receipt).  He appraised it at $3,000!

This is my dad’s most favorite possession, and he was thrilled by the value.  Of course, he will never sell it though!

The Ty Cobb check ended up valued at $1,200, which was also more than my dad expected.  He bought it in the 1970s at a sports card show for $125.  Apparently Ty Cobb’s family sold a bunch of these checks from his estate after he died in order to raise money for his foundation.

Everyone we met at the Roadshow had just as much fun as my dad, even if their appraisals weren’t as high.  

Karen brought a baby doll from her childhood.  She would change its diapers while her mom changed her sister’s diapers.  It appraised for $15.  I think this was because it was vinyl, and not bisque or composition.  Still a very cute doll!

We also met Debbie and Susan, sisters from Royal Oak.  They brought their great-grandmother’s Homer Laughlin pitcher and an old alabaster and marble framed bust.

Debbie thought that her entire family might end up fighting over this vase, but said she reconsidered when it appraised for $75.  She said everyone assumed it would appraise a bit higher because of its age, but that they will still all cherish it a lot!

The alabaster and marble framed bust was purchased by Debbie’s and Susan’s mother at a church rummage sale.  At the time, their mother paid $80.  The bust appraised for $500-600, which was a great surprise!  Maybe the family will fight over this item now instead of the vase! 

At some point, I saw a woman walking around carrying a Dream Baby doll.  I practically bum rushed her.

Jayne and Sue got this doll from their aunt.  They remember seeing it growing up, and knowing they couldn’t play with it.  The doll is from the 1910s or 20s and is made by Armand Marseille.  It appraised for $75-100, which I was shocked by!  I thought for sure the doll would be worth more because it was in amazing condition.  I do have a soft spot for Dream Baby dolls though, so I’m biased.

We saw lots of other amazing treasures at the Roadshow, and some of them I suspect will be shown on the program when it airs.  

Kachina dolls!  I would probably give up my first born child to own these (sorry Zach).  I don’t love all Kachina dolls, but that furry guy in the front is exquisite!

I don’t even know what this next thing is, but Sarah would probably give up her first born for it (she really likes Peanuts stuff):

We had several people ask if we saw this velvet John Lennon portrait roll by:

And yes, yes we did.

We also saw this giant buffalo roll by:

But what was the COOLEST thing that Detroit brought to Antiques Roadshow?  Well, we didn’t know!  But Marsha Bemko, the show’s executive producer, sure did!  Stay tuned for Part 3 of our recap, when Marsha reveals the highest priced item at the Roadshow!

-Erin

Update from Sarah: This is sort of a non-update because I don’t have much to add! Erin got it all right! The one thing that surprised me was how positive every single person was who we talked to. They had to wait so long to get their items appraised, but all of them said they had a great time and loved the chance to meet a whole bunch of new people while waiting. I guess that’s the midwest for ya!    

Six months ago, I found an Arranbee “Dream Baby” doll at a sale, and took a chance on it for $50.  At the time, I think I referred to this doll as a “dumb little idiot” because it looked really funny without its dress on.

This dummy grew on me though, and I started to really love it.  I bought it specifically to sell, but I remember waiting to list it on ebay while I decided whether to keep it.  This was REALLY strange for me, because I have never been a doll person, not even as a child.  I’ve only bought one other doll to keep, and eventually sold it after a month or so after falling out of love.

But there was something about this Arranbee doll that I loved.  I think it was its cute little face and weird little teeth.  And it also has something to do with its stubby little body.

Look!  Someone even put a tiny handmade diaper on it.  Probably a child in the 1920s or something.  So cute.

Ok, so I am dragging this out, but here is the deal.  So six months ago, despite being in love, I sold this darn thing on ebay for a whopping $250.  The money made my love affair less important to be honest.  I was thrilled.  I packed little dummy up in a million pounds of bubble wrap and shipped him off to California.

But then, little dummy came back.  Because little dummy’s stupid little dumb eyes fell out of its skull while being shipped to California.  The doll had “sleepy eyes” which opened and closed, but the jostling around of transit had loosened them.

Luckily, I had paid for insurance with USPS, so I filed a claim and got reimbursed the full $250.  That way, I could refund the buyer, and still have made my sale profit.  

I wasn’t sure what to do with little dummy when he came back all eye-less.  But then I found a doll hospital in Berkley, MI.  The doll ended up staying there FOR FOUR MONTHS.

And then yesterday, little dummy came home.  I started singing that Eminem song that goes, “Guess who’s back?  Back again…”

So what will happen to the Dream Baby now?  Well, it’s back up on ebay of course!!  That’s not to say I didn’t struggle for a good half day on whether to keep it…

-Erin