Forum Amateur Harpists: Antiques Road Show

1: Antiques Road Show

Posted by Kay Lister on 03/12/07 11:56 AM

About a month ago my husband, through channel surffing (drives me crazy!!!) said he came accross the Antiques Road Show and someone had brought in an old harp that they had purchased in an antique store for a couple thousand (I think that was the price) anyway, the road show experts said her harp was worth, I believe between 60 - 70 thou. Anyone see this and know the details of the harp, make, etc.? WAS IT ANY OF YOU THAT PURCHASED IT? I'm still looking for my $20.00/$50,000.00 treasure. Maybe someday, although I'm not holding my breath. A good week to you all.

Kay

2: Re: Antiques Road Show (response to 1)

Posted by Julie Albertson on 03/12/07 01:03 PM

I saw that episode (my Tivo thankfully caught it for me). Here's what I remember: It was built circa 1776 for French nobility by J. H. Naderman. The new owner said she was a harp teacher and had purchased it at an estate sale for several hundred dollars after the parents of a student asked her if it was even playable. The Roadshow guy said it was worth $60,000 and the lady just sort of shrugged - she must have either been shocked or was thinking about insurance costs. This particular episode was in Tuscon.

3: Re: Re: Antiques Road Show (response to 2)

Posted by Pat Eisenberger on 03/13/07 12:20 PM

I think she wasn't shocked because she knew that harps are almost always pricey .

I've seen horrified faces on people who ask how much my harp cost when I tell them! And mine is an "inexpensive" L&H Style 85GP.

4: Re: Antiques Road Show (response to 1)

Posted by Paula Fagerberg on 03/24/07 06:51 PM

I think she wasn't shocked because she already knew it isn't worth anything close to that...unfortunately...

Paul Knoke has more information about this harp and its owner. Paul?

Paula

5: Re: Antiques Road Show (response to 1)

Posted by Julie Albertson on 03/26/07 03:18 PM

So sorry; I was only trying to make a little joke that she was shocked. I just think that if you purchased anything - a bottle of Lafite-Rothschild, a box of Pop Tarts from Justin Timberlake's garbage, Anna Nicole's diaries, whatever - for a few hundred dollars and someone said it was worth tens of thousands of dollars (or over $500,000 for the diaries), you might at least say something like, "Wow." It was sort of cute that she had no reaction. Could have been in the editing as well.

When I'm on a gig and someone asks me the price of one of my harps (I have a Venus Diplomat, Venus Protege and L&H Troubadour), I say, "How much do you think it costs?" And 9 times out of 10 they reply, "$1,000." I usually say, "I wish," and tell them the price range of harps and automobiles can be about the same, then they get a glazed look in their eyes.

I would guess the Naderman harp isn't playable but there must be some amount of historical value, plus it was simply a beautiful instrument. I hope to hear some sort of follow-up. At the very least, it was cool to see a harp on the show.

6: Re: Re: Antiques Road Show (response to 5)

Posted by Evangeline Williams on 03/26/07 05:25 PM

Antique harps-different people would pay different prices. A harpist who is looking for a playable harp and sees an antique harp in a shop might balk at the price, someone looking for a gold harp to sit in the living room might think it a good deal, someone who specializes in historic items or design of a certain period or music history, etc., might think it priceless. It really depends on what you want to do with it-play it or look at it.

Anyone have a link to a picture of this harp? I've seen some antique harps with the most beautiful painting on them-harps that are truely works of art