Sighting

Still working towards reading through a few more sources and trying to see if I have enough sources to really start working on an initial proposal. Saw another sighting yesterday from the Antiques Road Show in San Diego California . A woman brought in an item that was identified as a sash for Washingtons inagural ball. I will try and get the vido/copy of the picture



George Washington's Inaugural Ball Silk Sash, ca. 1789
Appraised
Value:
$3,000 - $6,000
Appraised on: June 12, 2010
Appraised in: San Diego, California
Appraised by: Leigh Keno
Category: Folk Art
Episode Info: San Diego, Hour 2 #1505
Originally Aired: January 31, 2011
IMAGE: 1 of 1
Form: Sash
Material: Silk
Period / Style: 18th Century

Value Range: $3,000-$6,000

Appraised
By: Leigh Keno Furniture, Folk Art

Appraisal Transcript:

GUEST: My mother said this was a scarf worn at George Washington's inauguration. He did not wear it; the men got these and the women got the earrings.

APPRAISER: You have some distinguished ancestry, I should put it, right?

GUEST: I do. APPRAISER: Entirely possible that you would have some family member that went to that ball, right?

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: But you don't know exactly which one, right?

GUEST: No.

APPRAISER: We are looking at this, now framed and folded, a silk banner that
probably was seven feet long if you extend it. And it's all folded under itself
right here. It's really long.

GUEST: I did not realize that.

APPRAISER: When this showed up, I was so excited. Because, first of all, I love American folk art. I also love American history.

GUEST: Right.

APPRAISER: This piece combines a great folk design with great history. So, as you know, President Washington was inaugurated on April 30, 1789. A week later, they held a big ball down near Wall Street in New York for the President. All the ladies wore their finest. Something like this certainly would not be unusual at that. We have this American eagle, painted eagle on the silk. And it's a classic stance with the
laurel branch in one claw symbolizing the peace and in the other claw the
arrows, symbolizing strength. And the eagle's banner here says "E pluribus"
written out in gold. There are 13 stars above that in yellow with blue outline.
And up here what looks like an abstract design. Somebody else actually pointed
out-- I can't take credit-- this is "G" and this is a "W".

GUEST: Oh, my heart.

APPRAISER: For George Washington.

GUEST: That's fabulous.

APPRAISER: Isn't that great?

GUEST: No, it's better than fabulous.

APPRAISER: It's better than fabulous because the G, if you look sideways, and then the W for George Washington. They're probably silver little bangles with glass beads. Each one is carefully sewn over the star for "GW" and the 13...

GUEST: That is so exciting.

APPRAISER: Isn't that neat? And above it, the French... fleur de lis.

GUEST: Fleur de lis.

APPRAISER: Now, a week after the major ball, Count de Moustier had
another ball, the French count.

GUEST: De Moustier.

APPRAISER: De Moustier. Now, we don't know, we certainly can't prove it, because these relics are so rare, but to my knowledge no other of these banners exist. But it's very possible that a banner like this would have been at that ball a week later. And I've checked with several experts here-- the silk, the fine silk, is of the period. The
bangles, it's all right. I've got good news and bad news. Which one do you want
first?

GUEST: I think I'll take the good news today.

APPRAISER: You want the good news first? I think that's a good way to do it. The value, on a bad day, would be $3,000 to $6,000, and this is the kind of object that, in the right situation...

GUEST: Right.

APPRAISER: … could bring $10,000, $15,000 in an auction setting. Now I'm going to give you the bad news. These are costume jewelry from around... from after 1900.

GUEST: So they aren't... Mother lied to me.

APPRAISER: They didn't make clips like this, this ear clip, until after 1900.

GUEST: Okay, oh, that's interesting.

APPRAISER: Also, the metal's not gold and it's not even enamel. They're nice, decorative ear clips, but so these weren't made for the...

GUEST: So I can wear them without feeling like I'm...all right.

APPRAISER: You can wear them without worrying about losing them as much. But this you want to really preserve as you've always done.

GUEST: I'm excited, really. I just love it.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/archive/201001A35.html 7th May 2011