Antiques Roadshow

Antiques Roadshow, produced by WGBH, is part history lesson, part treasure hunt. Auction house experts and dealers travel throughout the US offering free appraisals of antiques and collectibles. Cameras watch as owners recount tales of family heirlooms, yard sale bargains, and neglected items salvaged from attics and basements, while experts reveal the fascinating truth about these finds.

Relative Riches: Monday, Nov. 23, at 8pm | WGBH 2/HD

This Antiques Roadshow special puts family folklore to the test. Did that refinished chair once seat royalty? Did a tall tale get passed down with the tall chest? Highlights include a bow and quiver purported to have been made and signed by Geronimo; a carved emerald-and-ruby ring that would benefit from a bill of sale; a questionable 1815 Kentucky corner cupboard that might have more value as firewood than furniture; and a desk (shown), passed down through generations of the owner’s family, containing documents from his ancestors in the 1600s all the way through to his grandparents in the 1960s. Appraiser Andrew Brunk declares the piece a “treasure chest” with a value of $100,000.

Mobile, Hour 2: Monday, Nov. 30, at 8pm | WGBH 2/HD

While in Mobile, Alabama,host Mark L. Walberg and appraiser Don Cresswell visit the Audubon Bird Sanctuary on Dauphin Island to explore why collectors flock to bird prints by artists such as James Audubon. At Mobile’s Arthur R. Outlaw Convention Center, eagle-eyed experts spot such finds as a circa-1969 jersey worn by NFL legend Gayle Sayers when he played for the Chicago Bears; a side chair that may have graced the Lincoln White House; and a trio of books (shown) containing lithographs of American Indian chiefs whose portraits were painted when they came to Washington, D.C., to negotiate treaties with the US Department of War, valued at $70,000-$90,000. 

Popular questions for Antiques Roadshow

How can I get an appraisal of my objects?

Antiques Roadshow provides only verbal evaluations in person at our events. If you are looking for an appraiser in your area, we have some suggestions to help you on your search.

• Look through your local yellow pages under "antiques," "auctions," or "appraisers."
• Inquire with other local antiques collectors, historical societies, or art museums to see if they have any suggestions or recommendations.
• Go through the published directories from the Appraisers Association of America or the American Society of Appraisers or the International Society of Professional Valuers.
• Contact an Antiques Roadshow appraiser.

How can I buy or sell an object?

We cannot give specific advice on the buying or selling of objects. The best general advice we can give is to explore all your options. Dealers, auctioneers, online and even yard sales are all potential ways of selling or acquiring objects. All methods involve costs to sell; some involve costs to buy. Investigate costs, the type of objects being bought and sold, and, through research, make the choice that best suits your situation.

Is Antiques Roadshow available on DVD or VHS?

Antiques Roadshow is not available on DVD or VHS. A selection of episodes is available to purchase and download from iTunes for $1.99 each. You can also view select appraisals and read appraisal transcripts at the Roadshow archive.

Antiques Roadshow tours only in June, July, and August each year. Tour dates and cities are listed on the On the Road section of our website when available.

Antiques Roadshow website

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