Appraisal: Hiratsuka Filigree & Cloisonné Teapot, ca. 1895

GUEST: This is a teapot that my great-grandfather collected, and it's just been passed down through the family, so I don't really know much more about it.

I think it's from China.

(laughing) APPRAISER: Oh, okay.

All right, actually it's from Japan.

GUEST: Oh, okay.

APPRAISER: Yes, they are made of silver, and then filigree.

And then within that they put the translucent cloisonné.

GUEST: Oh, okay.

APPRAISER: The details are exquisite.

So many things to look at.

It could look like ivory.

GUEST: But you don't think it's ivory.

APPRAISER: No, it's bone.

GUEST: Oh, okay.

APPRAISER: And it was made in late 19th century.

GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: Maybe about 1890s.

GUEST: All right.

APPRAISER: And it has a name, it has the maker's name.

GUEST: It was in Japanese, I guess.

APPRAISER: Yes, it's a Japanese name.

GUEST: So I couldn't read it.

APPRAISER: Yeah, it's a famous maker's name called Hiratsuka.

GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: I think at the auction, on a good day, it should bring $20,000 to $30,000.

GUEST: Oh, my gosh!

(laughing) Yeah, we weren't expecting that much.

Right, yes.

Oh wow.

Yeah, definitely don't break it.

APPRAISER: Don't break, yes.