>> Welcome to Mississippi Antique Showcase.

In this episode, we are in Natchez, Mississippi with our expert appraisers to look at your rare finds, family heirlooms and your quirky collectibles.

We'll see what we can learn about these unique treasures, and of course, see what they might be worth.

>> ...just to have something with them on it.

>> It's fantastic.

>> That's really fantastic.

>> Susanna, you're joining us in Natchez today, all the way from Tupelo.

>> Yes.

>> And what'd you bring us to look at today?

>> So this is a tea set I inherited from my grandmother.

She bought it in 1985, and she was an avid English, um, antiques collector.

And so, um, she passed away several years ago and my mother had this in her closet for 10 years packed away.

And uh, when my mother needed to clean out, she gave it to me.

And here it is.

>> Is it packed in your closet or do you display it?

>> No, it is displayed in a cabinet in my dining room.

But it is not, um, it is not for use.

>> Not for use.

>> (laughing) No.

>> We're also not looking at the entire set that you inherited, right?

>> Correct.

Correct.

>> So how many pieces do you have in the whole set?

>> Thirty-seven.

>> Thirty-seven pieces in the whole set.

And do you know the maker?

>> It's an English maker that I've been told, um, that made Amari in the late 1700s.

>> Yes.

Royal Crown Derby is the maker.

And then we know that because of these marks on the back.

And then this was done, they started making porcelains right around 1750 is the earliest record.

And, um, this was done based on these marks that we can see sometime in the 19th century, late 19th century.

>> Okay.

>> Um, and so the pattern is called The Old Amari Pattern >> Okay.

>> by Royal Crown Derby.

And it's to, um, mimic Amari, you know, which is the Asian porcelain format.

You know, that you can see in Chinese plates and stuff like that.

I noticed that we have a little bit of damage right here.

>> Yes.

>> Cat knocked it off?

>> Don't wanna talk about it.

>> Well, you don't have to.

I won't make you, but I do know that the piece is inside and it can be repaired.

>> Yes.

>> So that's good.

It's a great set.

It looks to be all in great condition, um, with this one handle off.

But of course, the handle, as I mentioned, is present, so it can be reattached.

And then as far as the count goes, we just have these two plates, several cups and saucers, correct?

>> Mm-Hmm.

>> The teapot, creamer, bowl.

And then the other pieces are, um, also cups and saucers.

The one's not showing on the screen.

>> Correct.

Right.

>> Do you have any idea of value?

>> My mother had it valued in the late 1990s for around $5,000.

But it was an online, um, valuation.

I just know my grandmother always told me that it was very... collectible.

>> Yeah.

>> That's all I know.

>> It is, it's very collectible and it's still collectible.

Now, something important to note is that between the late 1990s and today, the porcelain market has kind of evaporated.

>> Mm-Hmm.

>> Um, the prices of regular porcelains have gone down pretty substantially.

These items have been able to hold their own throughout the times, >> Really?

>> So from 2010, yeah.

To now, now they're not bringing as much as they did again, you know, back in 1999, even up into the early 2000s.

But they are bringing more than, um, other English porcelain makers that you'd see out there.

>> Okay.

>> So I would value the entire set.

I'd put an auction estimate of $2,500 to $4,500 on it.

>> Okay.

>> And I think that that's pretty good considering that there's only about 37 pieces, >> Uh-huh.

>> Is that what you thought?

>> It's about what I thought.

Yes.

>> It's about what you thought?

>> It is.

>> It's spot on?

>> It is, it is, yes.

Yes.

>> That's good.

And I still think that you should keep it and probably not-- >> I'm not giving it away or selling it >> Or selling it?

>> It's mine.

>> Or using it, right.

>> No!

>> Don't use it.

Alright.

Well, listen, I thank you so much for bringing this down, uh, bringing it to Natchez and joining us here today.

We love seeing all the different items.

And of course, you know, with the English porcelains, we've seen everything from English porcelains all the way to Southern, you know, collectibles.

And it, it's just, it's a great experience.

And so again, we thank you.

We couldn't do this stuff without you.

>> Thank you.

It was a fun time.

>> Deborah, you brought us a nice looking piece of ivory today.

>> Well, thank you, Mark.

This belonged to my great-grandmother.

>> Your great grandmother?

>> Yeah.

>> My goodness.

Have you had it, uh, for many years.

>> I have.

Yes.

>> Do you know how long she had it?

It's been, it was in her house when I was a baby, so it's at least 50.

>> It's at least 50.

Um, do you know where she came by this piece?

>> I don't know how it came in her hands.

I suspect-- she traveled a lot.

And so I suspect it was on the trip to the East.

>> Have you ever had the piece appraised?

>> I have not, not until now.

>> Not until now.

It's a beautiful piece.

Do you have any documentation with the piece as far as the age or anything like that?

>> No, None.

>> Yeah.

You know, ivory, especially a piece like this, there used to be quite a demand for it.

>> Mm-hmm.

>> And quite a market for it.

And before the latest bans were passed, um, I'd sold a piece at an auction actually to a gentleman who was the expert for Sotheby's, uh, on ivory.

And he gave like $11,000 for it.

It was quite an elaborate piece of ivory.

And then about six months later, they passed the ivory ban.

And I've often wondered what happened to that piece of ivory.

>> Makes you wonder.

>> 'Cause you have to have some documentation, uh, this day and time.

If you had documentation on this piece to prove that it was made before 1924, uh, then we as an auction company, that's what we do.

Uh, we could sell it for you or you could sell it to a shop or whatever.

Uh, without that documentation, uh, you can't sell this piece of ivory.

>> Right.

Well... >> You could give it to a museum or you keep it at your house, uh, that's, you know, completely legal.

Uh, but to sell it, uh, would be illegal.

And, uh, she has a beautiful piece.

Just looking at her and looking at the marks on the bottom, um, she looks like to me, she was probably made maybe around 1940, 1950, something like that.

Um, could be a little older than that.

It's probably something that came back, uh, with a soldier from World War II.

>> Mm-Hmm.

>> Or the Korean War.

The condition on this one is pretty amazing.

Uh, usually a lot of times there'll be a chip, especially in something like this hair.

>> Mm-Hmm.

>> Um, or a finger.

>> Right.

She has all these fingers and flowers and they're really dainty, but there's no damage there whatsoever.

And, uh, if you were able to sell it, she would probably sell in the $2000, $2,500 range, something like that.

>> Well, that's good to know.

>> Because it is a large piece.

Uh, but without the documentation, you couldn't go there.

You didn't wanna sell her anyway.

>> No, she's part of the family.

>> Yep.

You're just gonna keep her and look at her.

>> Of course.

But it's good to know.

I could be a little more careful.

>> That's good.

It's, it's probably good.

She's not worth a lot.

You never have to think about selling her.

>> That's true.

We'll just take good care of her.

But thank you, Mark.

>> Thank you for bringing it.

>> Appreciate you.

>> And we sure appreciate it.

>> I am here with none other than the 44th mayor of Natchez, Mississippi.

Mr. Dan Gibson.

Dan, welcome to MPB Antique Showcase.

>> Thank you, Germaine.

So excited to be here.

>> So excited to have you here.

Now what I want to know first is, are you an antiquer yourself?

>> Oh gosh!

From a kid on.

Yes.

>> What's some of your favorite type of antiques?

>> Oh, wow.

I love to take an old piece of furniture and redo it.

And I've done this all these years with beds, wardrobes, chairs.

But I'm also loving like antique clocks.

Marble stuff, anything with brass on it.

I love a little glitz, you know?

Um, and I also love to see rare coins.

And also one of a kind old photographs and things that have a memory.

And we have quite a few things in our family.

For instance, I have an old chair that belonged to my grandmother.

And I sit in it every morning when I'm getting dressed.

Just an old crude wooden chair.

Of course, we are the oldest city on the highest hill of the mightiest river, the oldest municipality in Mississippi.

So, you know, antiques really fit in around here.

Uh, some of us are walking antiques.

It's really (both laughing) it's a great city with a great vibe and a great present and a really exciting future developing.

It's a good time.

>> Now Mississippi itself is a good antique, but when it comes down to the tourism impact that maybe an event like this has or some of the other events you all host here, how important is that for the city?

>> Oh, that's a great question.

You know, tourism is our number one industry.

And in fact, last year we welcomed over 1 million visitors to Natchez.

And that added up to over a $100 million impact on our local economy.

Tourism is growing.

We're having even more announcements all the time.

Projects that are in the works, projects that are now completed, and the riverboats coming here from far and wide.

And then people who are flocking to Natchez because of our story.

Everything from the old, beautiful historic homes, amazing live oaks, wonderful carriage rides, but also our amazing Civil War history.

For example, the history of our US colored troops.

We had more who served here at Natchez than anywhere else in the country.

Over 8,000.

And we are about to honor them, uh, in a big way on the north end of our historic bluff.

And also our Civil Rights history is second to none.

The Natchez is now on the United States Civil Rights Trail and, uh, Mississippi's Freedom Trail.

We're just so grateful.

>> I mean, this is a city to definitely be proud of, but when it comes down to your hopes and dreams for the, for the City of Natchez and, and your position as mayor, what is it that you see in the future?

>> Well, I was urged to run for mayor a few years back in order to help build more unity here, to bring people together.

And so we're working to build opportunity, community, and we can't have either one without unity.

That's the key word in doing this.

Also, making sure that we tell our story.

Our history is our history.

And rather than just tell one part of it, tell all of it.

Embrace all of it, 'cause that is who we are.

And it's also, I think by telling that story, the good and the bad, recognizing this beautiful city was actually built by the enslaved ancestors of a vast majority of our citizens.

When we recognize that and we give them honor, then we are doing honor to all of us, because that's our history.

>> Germaine Flood at the MPB Mississippi Antique Showcase in Natchez, Mississippi, with the 44th mayor of the City of Natchez, Mayor Dan Gibson.

>> Lacey, thank you so much for coming to the Antique Showcase.

How are you today?

>> I'm well, thank you for having us.

>> Good.

Tell us about this interesting piece you brought us today.

>> So this is, um, it's a table chair that I found.

I was actually in a, a furniture resale shop, and it was apart.

There's two separate sections for it.

And, um, they were apart.

And I saw them, I saw the base first, and then I saw the top and I went, okay, those, those go together.

Um, and so I was interested in it and the owner of the shop came over and was like, okay, yeah, this is a chair and this is kind of how it operates.

Um, and it was, he was having a sale that day and it was about an $80 purchase.

And I went home with it.

So, and we put dowels in it just to make sure that it could function as a table and a chair at the same time.

>> So how long ago was it that you said you got it?

>> About two months ago.

>> Okay.

So $80, that seems like a pretty fair deal.

Right?

Well, I mean, one thing our audience is gonna know is that this is a unique piece.

>> Uhhuh.

>> And one of the reasons is because what you just said, it actually is a table that then converts into a chair.

And so, uh, just some brief history on it.

It actually what we call a polychrome arts and crafts table chair.

>> Okay.

>> So one of the great things about it in this piece is you'll notice even just from the top of the table and then really all around the table, on the bottom, sides, and we're about to show when we tilt it up, in the interior, is the polychrome and, and marquetry that is displayed throughout.

And this particular pattern, it's a grape leaf.

And a lot of times these tables that have come on the market are tulip base.

Yours, however, also has what I would consider the original, uh, leather top.

And this is about a 1920s, mid twenties, uh, table.

And one of the great things about the top of the table too, is you have the original wooden nails, so the wood pin nails, and you see some of them have come off on the top and you expose the nails underneath.

So when we're looking at a piece like this, I think it is a fantastic thing that you've got a lot of the original components of this chair from the 1920s.

If you'll help me lift this up, we'll show what this chair actually does.

So now this is what we call occasional table moves to a chair.

And this was actually used.

In the 1920s, the arts and craft style became very popular and mainly in, in the northeast.

And that's where some of these chairs have come out in even recent auctions.

But if you'll notice, you've got the original woman, uh, depiction here surrounded by some motifs, and continued that grape leaf pattern.

And even the bottom of the chair continues that gorgeous red color that you see throughout.

The condition is still nice.

I would note, like you mentioned earlier, you did replace these.

>> The dowels.

>> Exactly.

>> Yes.

>> And that's because you need to keep the chair functional.

And so it was already in two pieces.

So that doesn't hurt the value necessarily too much.

What do you think this may be worth?

>> You know, we have no idea.

We, you know, I purchased it for $80 on sale, so I paid some taxes, a couple dollars in tax.

>> Right.

>> Um, but you know, we, we were really just interested in the history of it.

Just to know what we have.

Um, for us it's a beautiful conversation piece, so that could be invaluable.

>> Absolutely.

Um, look at a cocktail party, at dinner party.

>> Right.

It's in our living room.

>> This is the first thing-- This is the first thing I'm gonna to direct people's attention to because it does have a nice, and, and I, and I don't wanna not mention that this is actually still the original oak on the piece too.

>> Oh, okay.

>> And so they carved this chair by hand using original piece of wood.

So there's been some that have come up in auction most recently.

One that did not have the near detailing on the sides and the bottom and the foot portions of the, of the actual chair.

That went for about $1,100.

But because, um, of the quality of your chair, I say it would be anywhere from $1500 to $1750.

It's a lovely example of the arts and craft style, and we really appreciate you for bringing it in today.

>> Absolutely.

Thank you very much for your research.

>> Absolutely.

>> I mean, you know, it's, it's a conversation piece.

Um, that's been really cool in our, in our home.

We just have it in our living room and just people are like, whoa, what is that?

And we're like, found it at a resale shop and... >> And now you know all about it.

>> I was like, I think I'm gonna go home with this.

>> You're coming home with me, aren't you?

Thank you so much.

>> Thank you very much.

>> I am here right now with Howard and Karen Dysart.

They are from Gulfport, Mississippi.

They brought in a beautiful cane that they're here to tell us about.

How is y'all's day going today?

>> Oh, I'm doing great.

You?

>> It's been very good.

Really enjoying our visit here.

>> Good.

Well, I wanna talk about this beautiful cane that you all have.

Tell everybody a little bit about it.

>> Okay.

We got this, I went to in the estate sale and they said everything in the garage was $1.

So I went out in the garage and found this and paid a dollar for it.

So I really wanted to know a little bit more about it.

That's why we came today.

>> Okay, well you've gotta tell me exactly what the appraiser told you about it, because for a dollar, anything from here is up.

(laughing) >> It's true.

He said, um, it's a sterling silver cane made in England, um, turn of the century probably.

He said it would probably sell in an auction or in a retail shop from anywhere from $350 to $500.

>> Wow!

>> So not bad, really.

>> Wow.

Okay.

Now the big question is, are you gonna sell or keep it?

>> I'll just keep it.

He might need it one day.

>> Yeah.

>> I might need it.

That's why she actually bought it, I wasn't, she bought it from me.

>> Right.

She was foreseeing the future.

>> That's right.

That's right.

>> Well y'all, I'm glad you all came out and congratulations on your great find.

Anywhere up from a dollar is great.

It was, but you really did come up on this one.

Thank you again for coming to the Mississippi Antique Showcase.

>> Thank you for having us.

>> What brings you to the show today?

I see you have a lovely lamp here and I'd like to know something about it.

How did you come about this lamp?

>> Well, we moved to Natchez.

Back to Natchez.

My mother was from Natchez, originally.

And, uh, we were living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

We moved back to Natchez in 1949.

>> Oh wow.

>> And my parents bought a home called Oakland, which is an antebellum home here in Natchez.

And, um, the old saying is that the lady died in bed with an umbrella over her head because the roof leaked.

>> Okay.

>> So they had a lot of work to do.

But they had never thrown anything away.

Everything was in the attic.

There were four mahogany four-poster beds leaning against the wall up there.

>> Oh my goodness.

>> And this is just one of a myriad of things, uh, that we found up there.

>> Well it is absolutely gorgeous and it's a very rare piece for a lot of reasons.

You know, it is a converted oil lamp.

>> We had figured that much.

Yeah.

>> So this part is decorative and it's so fragile.

I don't want to take it apart and do any damage.

But this brass thing is actually a basin that holds oil.

The little cap is around here.

And this is what would turn the wick up and down to illuminate more or less.

But at some point it's been electrified, which most of them were.

And you can see here we have an electrical cord that's quite old also.

It's probably done around the twenties from the look of the cord.

Um, but it's just exquisite.

And the thing about the lamp, I'm sure you already know, is that it has Napoleon and Josephine on the painted sections of the glass globes.

So this is Josephine and this is Napoleon.

And of course they're quite famous in history 'cause he wanted to conquer Europe and take over the world.

And he had quite a tumultuous experience as a leader of France.

But the painting, all hand done, is just exquisite on this with the Canthus leaf scrolls and the torches.

You can see, I'm going to take this off so I can turn it around at some point, but there are torches on the side.

And then if I turn it on this other side, it's Michel Lafevre, if I'm saying that right.

He was the, um, Grand Marshal of France under the Napoleonic Wars.

>> Okay.

>> So this is him.

And I want to take just a second and see if I can turn this around because his significant other is on the back.

So there are two of the most power, uh, significant power couples in French history throughout the war, the Napoleonic Wars.

And they've been depicted on this gorgeous, gorgeous blown glass oil lamp.

>> Okay.

>> In the South, they kind of call these sometimes the Gone with the Wind lamps, but this is way, way, way before Gone with the Wind, um, probably by about 40 years.

And, um, this is all cast brass and this would've been a very, very expensive household item to purchase or to have made in that day and time.

Uh, so I just think it's one of the most exquisite things ever.

Do you have any idea of the value of it?

Have you ever had it valued?

>> Not at All.

>> Would you ever take a guess?

>> (laughing) I was afraid to guess.

>> Well, tell me what you think.

>> Well, my knowledge of lamps is limited.

So, uh, particularly antique lamps.

>> Okay, well I'll help you out.

So they're collectible anyway, especially in an area like Natchez in this part of the country where we have so many antebellum homes and old homes that are furnished with these kinds of things.

People like to keep the history pure and they want the decor to match.

Um, if it were just an ordinary lamp by itself, I'd say it's probably worth about $500 or $600.

But because of the history behind it and the beautiful painting and the two, the four figures that are on it that depict the French history, and it probably came from Europe, I would probably put it closer to like $2000, $2200.

And somebody-- it falls into a couple of categories.

It falls into lamp, you know, collectibles, and it falls into the antebellum collectible.

But then the third thing is Napoleon.

And there are people who are crazy, crazy, crazy for Napoleon and Josephine and they would pay a lot of money just to have something with them on it.

So $2000, $2200 might even be a low figure, but I think if it market it went or auction, it would probably definitely bring that price.

And it's just delightful.

I'm so excited you picked this out to bring with all the history that it has.

>> That's Fantastic.

>> Well, that's really fantastic.

It is fantastic.

And we've wondered for so many years.

>> Well thank you again for bringing this.

It's just delightful and I'm so glad you did.

>> It's so good to know.

>> We appreciate it.

>> No problem.

>> Thank you very much.

>> Well, we've been... all day long, we've been pulling up some pretty interesting things from Natchez, uh, all day long.

People have been bringing in different things.

Silver.

Silver from the silversmith of Natchez and all.

But we saved this for last.

This is, the gun that belonged to General William T. Martin.

He was a Brigadier General.

He was from Natchez.

And Montaine, the house Montaine was... he built.

And it's, uh, it's a 50 caliber and, uh, and it's what brand, Mark?

>> Uh, New Orleans.

He made about 1859, 1860, right in there.

>> Yeah.

And the condition of it is what's so beautiful.

And it even has where you make... >> Your bullet mold.

>> Bullet mold.

There's a 54 caliber in it.

>> Mm-Hmm.

>> 54 caliber.

>> This is the powder measure.

The rosewood handled tools.

>> Everything there, ready to shoot >> Cap box.

>> Thing about these things from Natchez, in a normal situation, you might appraise it a certain way, but the people, uh, of Natchez really love their stuff and they, they want to hang on to it.

So here today we've had, all the things that's been brought in to us with Natchez, we have to allow for that.

Because if we were having an auction somewhere else, it might be valued at one value.

But here in Natchez, because the people really want to hold onto their things.

There are a lot of old families here that moved into their homes in, uh, 1810.

And the same families, uh, generation after generation are still living there.

A lot of old families, a lot of, a lot of great things in Natchez.

I really enjoyed being, uh, a part of this today and seeing a lot of my old friends here.

Uh, but this particular thing, I'm going to ask Mark, Kennedy Auction.

What would you think this gun, in today's world, if you were selling it at a great auction, say here in Natchez with Natchez-related items.

>> You know, do Dwight, I remember an auction you did here in this very civic center.

If you had it at that auction that day, I believe this gun would bring somewhere between $50,000 and $75,000.

>> Uh, yes.

I'll, I'll agree with that.

And, uh, this gun belongs to a good friend of mine.

He showed me this gun and I just, I felt it needed to be a part of this show.

And, uh, it's a beautiful, beautiful gun.

>> It's about as good as they get.

>> Join us next time on Mississippi Antique Showcase and see if you have a hidden treasure in your closet.