Rating: 
Summary: Love of Antiques Not Necessary
Review: The Keno twins of PBS's Antique Roadshow fame first fascinate you with their unusual growing up and then sweep the reader along, making their very real enthusiasm contagious as a summer cold. Their exciting detective work becomes your own and there is even almost instant gratification. When the elusive piece is found, then authenticated, there is the very real reward of seeing what price the customers put on your sleuthing and expertise. It may be millions if you are as expert as the Keno brothers.The boys grew up in upstate New York with part-time antique dealer parents. They found treasures as soon as they were old enough to dig them up. They started with antique hardware and went on to glass and stoneware. Soon they were in business for themselves at flea markets and auctions. As soon as they graduated from college, they found places with dealers in their specialty, 18th century American furniture, and quickly found employment at Christies and Sothebys respectively. Leigh has subsequently gone into business for himself as a dealer. The frame of the book centers around a unique secretary (combination two-piece desk) created in Newport R.I. by the famed Townsend family. The secretary has silver fittings, almost no "secondary" wood and no detail too slight to have anything but expert craftsmanship. The piece had been "hiding" for 150 years in a modest French apartment. The secretary was auctioned at Sothebys for $, the highest price ever paid for an American piece. With tax, handling added in, it was actually $.
There are many other stories in "Hidden Treasures" just as exciting if maybe not quite so costly. I found out that Americana antiques lose value if they are "cleaned." If there is any old paint or rags of upholstery, leave it as is or the price will go down. This seems strange to me; surely it must be prettied up before it is displayed. This is a beautiful book with lavish color photographs very sharp and clear. The Keno brothers are extremely likeable and never put the reader at a distance. They seem to want you to enjoy their story as much as they do. This is a good book for the general reader; I found I could not put it down. You will never look at your great-aunt's sewing table quite the same way again!
-sweetmolly-Amazon.com Reviewer
Rating:
Summary: fascinating
Review: What a terrific book! Leigh and Leslie Keno, the twins on Antiques Roadshow wrote a book that is fun to read and educational. These guys aren't just TV people they know their field thoroughly. If you love the look of Colonial furniture but don't know enough about it this is a good introduction to the field. If you love antiques and have ever dreamed of a career with them this book should be on your list.
I love the way the twins describe the furniture, it's so lush and romantic. Their obvious passion for their work is thrilling.
Rating:
Summary: An Adventure from Start to Finish
Review: Who would have thought these American funiture experts would be great story tellers too?! I wasn't expecting this book to be such an interesting story. Actually I should say *stories* since the book is a collection of the Keno brother's favorite furniture adventures as well as their own personal journey in Americana. Before I knew it, the book was finished AND I had learned a lot about American furniture.
What a FUN book!
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