GUEST: It was my husband's mother's family who had this piece. And… in cleaning out various family pieces, it was brought from Massachusetts to California, and then we in turn brought it from California to Florida. Wish I could say more.
APPRAISER: Well, what it is called is a turtle-back fireplace bellows-- "turtle-back" because of the turtle back-like shape of this piece. And these were both practical and ornamental pieces that were made in New England in about the 1830s. And you would pump them to re-fire the embers in a fireplace. But it is in extraordinary condition. The paint is remarkably fresh. The metal fitting here is in remarkable condition. The leather, which traditionally dries out, is totally pliant. It's stencil-decorated, it's hand-painted. And then if we turn it over... slightly brighter color. And this is smoke decoration…
GUEST: Oh!
APPRAISER: …that would have been applied using a lampblack.
GUEST: Ah!
APPRAISER: So it's just an incredible survival, and I have found over the years that many wonderful things have retired to Florida-- both people and objects-- and this certainly is one of them.
GUEST: Oh, goodness.
APPRAISER: Ah… it's a family piece, so I'm sure it has a tremendous amount of value just within the family, but if it were to come to auction, I would say $4,000 to $6,000.
GUEST: Oh, my goodness! Oh! And we've had it on the bedroom wall, enjoying it but having no clue.
APPRAISER: Right. Well, that's probably a good place for it.
GUEST: Oh, goodness. Well, thank you!
APPRAISER: You’re welcome.
GUEST: That's really fun to know! What a surprise.
