WEBVTT 00:01.900 --> 00:05.600 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% GUEST: This is a, what I think is a tea cozy that I purchased on Portobello Road 00:05.600 --> 00:10.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% in London about maybe five or six years ago. And what attracted me to it was, 00:12.666 --> 00:17.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I have some other whimsies that, that are beaded in the same manner that I purchased in, 00:19.433 --> 00:24.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% in the States. And this beading reminded me of those pieces. Those pieces, I believe, 00:26.300 --> 00:29.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% were made by the Iroquois Indians near Niagara Falls at the turn of the century. 00:30.866 --> 00:32.833 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% APPRAISER: It's made by the Iroquois, 00:32.833 --> 00:37.233 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% and, uh, in the summer, spring to autumn, uh, they clustered around Niagara Falls, 00:37.233 --> 00:42.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% set up little tables, and sold beaded whimsies. They're typically small pouches. 00:43.766 --> 00:45.766 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% GUEST: Right. APPRAISER: Maybe five or six inches in diameter. 00:45.766 --> 00:47.666 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% GUEST: Mm-hmm. 00:47.666 --> 00:49.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% APPRAISER: But they would have sold thousands of beaded whimsies for 00:49.666 --> 00:53.533 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% every one tea cozy. It's really a rare object. This is earlier than circa 1900. 00:54.700 --> 00:56.300 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% GUEST: Oh, really. 00:56.300 --> 00:57.766 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% APPRAISER: This, this may be, more or less, 150 years old. 00:57.766 --> 00:59.566 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% GUEST: Hm! 00:59.566 --> 01:02.433 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% APPRAISER: Perhaps, uh, 1850, 1860. So, a half a century older... 01:02.433 --> 01:04.333 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% GUEST: Wow, I had no idea. 01:04.333 --> 01:05.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% APPRAISER: ...than maybe some of those whimsies that you were referring to. 01:05.900 --> 01:07.900 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% GUEST: Mm-hmm. APPRAISER: Do you know where the beads are made? 01:07.900 --> 01:09.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% GUEST: I don't know where they're made. I think they're glass beads, but, um... 01:09.700 --> 01:12.500 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% APPRAISER: They're glass beads made in Venice, Italy... 01:12.500 --> 01:14.400 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% GUEST: Really. 01:14.400 --> 01:17.400 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% APPRAISER: ...brought here by traders and, uh, providing Native people with 01:17.400 --> 01:22.400 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% the opportunity to decorate with glass beads. Iroquois particularly favored clear beads, 01:24.466 --> 01:28.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% of which this really exemplifies them. And one of the beauties of a clear bead is that it reflects 01:30.566 --> 01:34.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% light. And objects that reflect light, in Native culture, are considered to be rather special. 01:34.933 --> 01:36.666 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% GUEST: Hmm. 01:36.666 --> 01:37.566 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% APPRAISER: It's almost as if there's a spiritual quality to them. 01:37.566 --> 01:39.566 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% GUEST: Mm-hmm. 01:39.566 --> 01:41.600 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% APPRAISER: Like a quartz crystal, some p, folks might feel. The interior is lined 01:41.600 --> 01:46.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% with a polished cotton cloth. It's also stuffed, as a quilt might be stuffed... 01:47.400 --> 01:48.933 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% GUEST: Mm-hmm. 01:48.933 --> 01:50.166 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% APPRAISER: ...in order to keep that tea nice and warm. 01:50.166 --> 01:51.733 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% GUEST: Mm-hmm. 01:51.733 --> 01:54.600 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% APPRAISER: This side is a little bit more lavishly done. 01:54.600 --> 01:56.166 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% GUEST: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. 01:56.166 --> 01:58.366 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% APPRAISER: So this is a star device, a stellate device... 01:58.366 --> 02:00.200 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% GUEST: Mm-hmm. 02:00.200 --> 02:02.166 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% APPRAISER: ...reflecting the upper world, powers of heaven, if you will. 02:02.166 --> 02:04.533 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% GUEST: Mm-hmm. 02:04.533 --> 02:07.166 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% APPRAISER: The other side...reflects a tree of life. It's in perfect condition. It could fade. I, 02:11.033 --> 02:15.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I would recommend that it's not in direct sunlight. May I ask what you paid for it? 02:15.400 --> 02:18.600 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% GUEST: I believe I paid about 40 pounds for it. 02:18.600 --> 02:21.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% APPRAISER: What do you think five years ago, in U.S. dollars, that would be? 02:21.533 --> 02:23.233 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% GUEST: Might have been $60. 02:23.233 --> 02:24.800 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% APPRAISER: $60. GUEST: Some, something. 02:24.800 --> 02:25.600 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% APPRAISER: I, I think... GUEST: I think it was less than $100. 02:25.600 --> 02:26.666 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% APPRAISER: Yes, yes. 02:26.666 --> 02:28.466 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% GUEST: Mm-hmm. 02:28.466 --> 02:31.466 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% APPRAISER: Um, I wish I could shop with you. (laughing) That's a good 02:31.466 --> 02:36.466 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% value. On a retail basis today, I would value this at approximately $5,000. 02:39.133 --> 02:41.000 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% GUEST: (gasps) Oh, my goodness, really? 02:41.000 --> 02:42.600 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% APPRAISER: Yeah, it, it's fabulous. 02:42.600 --> 02:44.100 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% GUEST: Really! I had no idea.