Illness Makes ‘Roadshow’ A No-Show

By Nancy K. Crevier

Fans of The Antiques Roadshow produced by Harrison Galleries were left holding the bag, literally and figuratively, Tuesday, April 10, when Roadshow representative Gary Blane was suddenly taken ill, regretfully canceling the appraisal program scheduled at the Newtown Senior Center just 45 minutes prior to the start of the event.

Disappointed attendees, who had signed up to have various small items examined by the antiques expert, filed in and filed back out of the center, their curiosity unsatisfied.

Phil Orfino had brought a small, yellow creamer, part of a 12-piece china set his mother had purchased more than 70 years ago in Vermont.

“I just wanted to find out about it. There are no marks on it, just a number painted on the bottom. I don’t know if it is hand painted or not. It’s too bad, but I guess I’ll have to wait,” shrugged Mr Orfino, who had come from Shelton.

Trudy Haperstroh’s bag contained a silver and glass vase snugly fit into a satin-lined carrying case.

“We bought it at an estate sale in New York in 1956,” said Ms Haperstroh. “Then we just put it away in a trunk. I do want to know about it, though.” The lining of the case is embossed “Risler & Carré, Paris.” Outside of that, Ms Haperstroh said that she has no idea of the origin of the container.

For Claire Gentile, it was curiosity about two prints that she bought more than 50 years ago at a Dutchess County tag sale for $5 each. She has wondered for years about the value of the prints of sleeping babies by Bessie Pease Gutmann, and placed them back in her bag with a sigh.

“I just called this afternoon to find out if I could bring the pictures in, and it must have been canceled right after I called. I’ll be back, though,” Ms Gentile said.

“I’ve always wondered if it was worth anything,” said Joyce Goldin of the half-dollar-sized compact she had brought to the Roadshow. Delicate roses painted beneath an oval of glass decorate the front of the attractive, gold-colored compact.

“It’s a family piece, and I assume it was for loose powder at one time,” Ms Goldin said. She also had with her three brooches. “They are just things I’ve kept. I don’t know where they came from, but I can tell they are old because of the type of clasp they have on the back. What I wonder is, does a piece become valuable just because it is old?” asked Ms Goldin.

Her question remains unanswered for now, but senior center director Marilyn Place assured each of the 60 people who had signed up for the afternoon’s show that The Antiques Roadshow would be rescheduled in the near future. Who knows what treasures will then be discovered?