The Untold Truth Of Antiques Roadshow

The popular television series Antiques Roadshow first premiered in the UK in 1979 before being adapted for American audiences in 1997. If nothing else, AR has made everyone ponder whether something you have is actually worth a fortune. Does that weird sculpture you've been using for a doorstop really date to the Ming Dynasty? Or that old painting of Grandma's, the one of a skinny child with big eyes: Is that actually an original painting rendered by renowned artist Margaret Keane? Indeed, nearly all of us have some unusual, antique goodie that makes us wonder if it is of any real value. The sky's the limit, from a simple ring in a jewelry box which turned out to have been owned by author Charlotte Bronte, to a 1974 Rolex watch which brought an appraisal between $500,000 and $700,000.

So say you have found that one thing, or maybe two things, which you think could really be worth something. Where to take it but on Antiques Roadshow, where experts will scope out your treasure and hopefully tell you all about its amazing past and that it's worth millions of dollars. But how do you get on the show? Do you buy tickets, or what? And is there any guarantee of getting an appraisal at all? And do those so-called experts really know what they're talking about? Here is the real scoop on the show, from how to get on to what happens once you're in the door.

Some strange stuff does occasionally appear on Antiques Roadshow: In March 2020, Metro reported on what looked like a large varnished nut on the show. The object brought a lot of comments, and laughs—mostly because it sort of resembled a big derriere. The nut was ultimately identified as a "coco de mer" (similar to the one pictured) from the Seychelles islands, which are located far off the east coast of Africa in the western Indian Ocean (per the official website). The nuts were originally believed to be from mythical trees below the ocean until their origins were finally identified in 1768, according to antiques expert Marc Allum. "It's hand finished as well," he noted, explaining the item was "essentially a huge sea pod. A sort of double coconut."

Another oddball piece was a simple Monopoly game, according to Radio Times. What made it unique was that after a group of thieves committed England's "Great Train Robbery" in 1963 (netting £2.3 million) the gang played the game, using real cash, at a hideout, reported British Transport Police. Authorities on the gang's trail found the game and were able to identify the robbers from their fingerprints on the board. Several men were convicted of the robbery, but the true mastermind of the operation was not revealed until 2014, according to Smithsonian Magazine. Radio Times reported appraiser George Archdale valued the Monopoly game at "just £100—£200, thinking it wrong for money to be made from a crime."

Antique Roadshow's bonafide experts are usually good at spotting fakes, but a few get by them—such as a hand painted box by early Pennsylvania folk artist Jacob Weber. In 2016, the show's website confirmed that appraiser Wes Cowan incorrectly assessed the item as an authentic antique. Antique dealer Patrick Bell set the record straight, explaining that the box's hasp, hinges, wood bottom and paint indicating the trinket was probably a fake. AR corrected the error, reporting the outcome and admitting that "even so-called 'experts' can be fooled." Still, the antique box received an appraised value of between $100 to $150. Not bad for some early American folk art. 

Fraudulent watches are especially prone to duping innocent buyers. On an episode on AR's British version, watch expert Richard Price says fake watches have increasingly been made harder to spot, and that "sophisticated fakes can test even experts." The trick is to check out the movements, where such tell-tale signs as peeling gold plating, fake "hallmarks" which mark the purity of the item and even the watch's weight can signify it isn't real. This is best checked by a specialist or professional jeweler. 

Jewelry is another problem area, according to appraiser Joyce Jones (via Lifestyle).  The market is ripe for rip-off replicas of such well-known brands as Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, and Elsa Schiaparelli especially. Even if you aren't going on AR, an ABC report quotes writer Bob Jackman as advising buyers to proceed with suspicion to avoid getting ripped off.

Every person lucky enough to get into an Antiques Roadshow event is guaranteed a free appraisal. But, there is no guarantee you will actually appear on the show. The reason, according to Reality Blurred, is that at an average of 2,500 attendees with two items per show, upwards of 5,000 objects could possibly be appraised. The key to actually scoring an on-camera appraisal, advises the Cheat Sheet, is to bring something truly unique, with a great story behind it. Even something with a high appraisal might be passed up for something else with an intriguing history and provenance. 

Here is how it works: appraisers view each item at the event and alert producers if it something show-worthy. Then, according to Collectors Weekly, you wait in a line and eventually will be sorted into other lines, depending on what category your particular item falls into. After more waiting, the staff will eventually shuffle you onto the set and into another line to meet with an appraiser. If the appraiser thinks your item is special enough, they tell a producer, who then decides whether to air the appraisal. Bear in mind, if you get this far and the item is a hit, be sure to act very, very surprised. Otherwise the segment is less likely to air. On a side note, if you're watching from home, taking a sip of your cocktail each time a guest utters "Wow!" makes for a great drinking game.

Ever dream of hitting the lottery in a crowded place and realizing you haven't signed your ticket? Talk about feeling like a target and squirming in your seat! But just imagine hitting the proverbial lottery with your valuable item at Antiques Roadshow, with thousands of strangers and cameras around you. Country Living verifies that the show does keep security guards around for guests whose goods are worth a bit, and police are on hand to escort those with high-dollar items to their car. And, the official rules assure attendees that AR "provides private security and police at all times at production events. All guests entering the event are subject to search and Antiques Roadshow may deny entry to anyone for any reason."

But securing the area goes much further than just hiring local guards and notifying police. In her 2009 book, Antiques Roadshow Behind the Scenes: An Insider's Guide to PBS's #1 Weekly Show, author Marsha Bemko wrote about security director Sean Quinn, who personally visited each town ahead of the show to "make recommendations regarding our security plan." And, volunteers working for AR are trained, and cautioned to call a supervisor and security should they see something amiss—such as guns without the required white tag on them which is affixed by police officers as guests enter the show. In addition, Quinn said, two paramedics are also on hand in case someone suffers from a medical emergency.

It isn't easy to get on Antiques Roadshow, although there are four ways to score tickets, according to the show's website. One of them is a "sweepstakes," wherein entrants access the site with a valid email address and fill out an electronic form in its entirety (those in Canada must also "correctly answer the question about Antiques Roadshow that appears on the entry form.") A second sweepstakes requires participants to follow AR on Twitter or Instagram with their own account and type in a comment "by tagging a friend and including the city of the appraisal event they wish to attend."

Then there is the "Knock Our Socks Off!" Contest. In this, entrants have to submit an online entry form at a different site. The submission must include your description of the item you are bringing in 20 words or less and your story about the item in 200 words or less. You also have to submit at least one photo of the item, and it has to comply with specific upload criteria. And, your item must fit into a category on a drop-down list. Last is the Furniture Contest, wherein those wanting to lug their antique rocker or whatever must enter the first Sweepstakes contest, live within 60 miles of the event, submit an entry form, include a photo, and agree to let AR staff transport the item to and from the event and use it on the show.