Question about something i wondered about the antique peoples job after watching Antiques Roadshow!!!!!!?

Question

The people on the show who do the valuations and know all the stuff about the antiques..... what is their profession and how did they become whatever they are???

Answer 1

Their profession is usually that of antique dealer or auctioneer. Sometimes they pop up on auction programmes as the auctioneer. They may have done a fine arts degree course at University. They know about antiques because that is their job - just like a bus driver knows about driving buses

Answer 2

Appraisers mostly. It is a profession and many different kinds of people use their services.

There is a certification process and it helps to have studied art or have a degree in different aspect of the art world.

They are hired by private collectors, museums, furniture dealers, antique stores, auction galleries, art galleries... loads of places will employ a good appraiser.

It takes years... most people who are at all good at it have been doing it for years and years and take language courses, mark and signature courses and study and collect books and need to have an extensive library of reference books.

The old addage applies in this field... You never stop learning. You learn something new every day!

I learned Japanese just to be able to tell the difference between Chop marks and makers marks, signatures and publishers seals, places of origin and designs....

Leigh Keno and his twin brother Leslie have been into antiques since they were children. Most good ones have.