Our Own Antique Roadshow Moment

I know you probably join me in the continuing interest and fascination with the PBS Antiques Roadshow. Long before this program came to the US, Husbola and I would tune into the British version that was on Sunday night TV in the UK. Wouldn't we all like to find a dust catcher in our house, parade it in front of an expert and then have them utter the magic words--"We are going to film this!"

Well--Husbola and I had a find even though it was not through the Roadshow--and it was thrilling nonetheless.

After Husbola and I got married, I moved into his condo in downtown Chicago. It was a beautiful place and had a great deal of good closet space. The guest bedroom was a catch--all kind of room. (this is a bit of an understatement if you know Husbola and me personally) It had a large closet on one wall and one day I felt inclined to sort through the stuff--lots of dreck that I am not sure even Husbola remembered was there.

In the back of the closet was a HUGE framed print. Think Holiday Inn starving artist sale kind of framed piece--probably 50 inches by 36 inches. It was a really tacky still life print--fruit-bread-cheese-globe-book-1970s wall filler kind of a print in a wood grain but not really wood kind of frame. "YUCK" I exclaimed--and questioned Husbola about it. He said that years ago when he bought the condo from a divorcing couple--they left all sorts of stuff in the condo and in the storage unit--and this treasure was left behind. We both agreed this was not a "keeper" and I started to disassemble it for the rubbish chute.

I pulled off the tacky poster that had been attached to a backing board--it came off rather easily and was actually attached by some old glue residue and tape. "What's this??" I exclaimed as the backing board had an image--that was much older than the poster and was infinitely more interesting.

The tacky poster was glued on top of a chromolithograph of the Grand Canyon. Not just any chromo. It was a full color chromolithograph from Hermit Run Road by the artist Thomas Moran. THE Thomas Moran who is known for his incredible paintings of the American southwest and west and many of the now national parks. Pieces like this were usually framed and graced train waiting rooms and hotel lobbies throughout the US. And this little treasure was nestled behind el tacko poster in our guest bedroom!

During the late 1980s, Chicago was host city for many high end antiques shows that have since gone away. The next antique show we attended--we found a chromo like ours in a booth of a good print dealer--pricetag? $5600 smackers. We had it framed and have enjoyed it everyday since then.

So--of course--Dearest Pack Rat Husbola has "mentioned" our find on a few occasions--usually to justify continuing "accumulation tendencies" and "what if I had thrown that poster away." OK OK he is right--the lesson learned here is make sure what you throw out is what you think it is--be thorough and not hasty. One more reason in my book--to give that pile of junk on the neighbor's curb a little closer look as you drive by...