Local Connection to Dinnerware Auction Story

Elspode · 11-19-2004, 12:07 PM

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...expensive_dish

The link above tells the tale of the multi-million dollar auction of a family heirloom plate that turned out to be a rare Ming dynasty porcelain piece. The history of this plate has a local link for me.

The story notes that the dish belonged to the Alexander Majors family. Majors made a remarkable fortune as a freight hauler, primarily over the Santa Fe Trail, back in the days of the Westward migration. His home is now a historical site located in Kansas City. As luck would have it, I have played Christmas music several times over the years at their annual holiday event at the Majors home.

It struck me as kind of cool that I had actually walked through the room where that dish must have been at some time in the 19th Century.

404Error · 11-21-2004, 04:44 AM

Man, imagine having $5.7 million in disposable cash you could throw down to buy an 'old dish'? It got me thinking though, I went looking through all my old 'dinner ware' and came to the sad realization that I probably couldn't get $5.70 for the whole lot.

richlevy · 11-21-2004, 09:27 AM

Imagine picking up something like this at a yard sale for $10.

Imagine finding out you sold something like this at a yard sale for $10.

wolf · 11-21-2004, 11:39 AM

I often think about that when people are telling their "I got it at a yard sale" stories on Antiques Roadshow.

Although I really like seeing the puffed up, self important, pseudo-experts deflated when they are told they overpaid for a fake. And not even a good fake.

Those are usually better to see than the folks who didn't know they had a treasure in the attic.

I also don't like the smug guys who know the appraised value of their treasure and don't even have a flutter of excitement over being given a price tag of over $20K.

I still want to see someone freak out over the price and destroy their item. I think that would make ratings. Surely it's happened ...

richlevy · 11-21-2004, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

I still want to see someone freak out over the price and destroy their item. I think that would make ratings. Surely it's happened ...

I think there was an episode of (Frasier?) where they took in a (teapot?) in to try to fool the appraiser. He suprises them by appraising it for about $1000. They get so excited they knock over another item being appraised for $1000. The appraiser gives them a long look, reaches over, takes their teapot, and hands it to their victim. Cute gag.

xoxoxoBruce · 11-23-2004, 05:09 PM

Somebody posted a clip of someone showing an original phonograph roll made by Edison himself.....and broke it.

11-19-2004, 12:07 PM	#1
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Local Connection to Dinnerware Auction Story http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...expensive_dish The link above tells the tale of the multi-million dollar auction of a family heirloom plate that turned out to be a rare Ming dynasty porcelain piece. The history of this plate has a local link for me. The story notes that the dish belonged to the Alexander Majors family. Majors made a remarkable fortune as a freight hauler, primarily over the Santa Fe Trail, back in the days of the Westward migration. His home is now a historical site located in Kansas City. As luck would have it, I have played Christmas music several times over the years at their annual holiday event at the Majors home. It struck me as kind of cool that I had actually walked through the room where that dish must have been at some time in the 19th Century. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

11-21-2004, 04:44 AM	#2
404Error Lecturer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: CT USA Posts: 826	Man, imagine having $5.7 million in disposable cash you could throw down to buy an 'old dish'? It got me thinking though, I went looking through all my old 'dinner ware' and came to the sad realization that I probably couldn't get $5.70 for the whole lot. __________________ "To disarm the people is the most effectual way to enslave them." ~George Mason~

11-21-2004, 09:27 AM	#3
richlevy King Of Wishful Thinking Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 6,669	Imagine picking up something like this at a yard sale for $10. Imagine finding out you sold something like this at a yard sale for $10. __________________ Exercise your rights and remember your obligations - VOTE! I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. -- Barack Hussein Obama

11-21-2004, 11:39 AM	#4
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I often think about that when people are telling their "I got it at a yard sale" stories on Antiques Roadshow. Although I really like seeing the puffed up, self important, pseudo-experts deflated when they are told they overpaid for a fake. And not even a good fake. Those are usually better to see than the folks who didn't know they had a treasure in the attic. I also don't like the smug guys who know the appraised value of their treasure and don't even have a flutter of excitement over being given a price tag of over $20K. I still want to see someone freak out over the price and destroy their item. I think that would make ratings. Surely it's happened ... __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

11-23-2004, 05:09 PM	#6
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Somebody posted a clip of someone showing an original phonograph roll made by Edison himself.....and broke it. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

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