GUEST: Well, this is a, um, Tiffany-- maybe, right?-- diver's helmet, I think.

APPRAISER: Okay.

GUEST: That's all I know.

I-I bought it in 1974 from an antique friend of mine, antique dealer.

He never told me what it was, really.

He just-- I bought it.

It's a great nightlight.

APPRAISER: Yeah?

GUEST: Yeah.

APPRAISER: How much did you pay for it?

GUEST: Uh, about $1,100.

APPRAISER: Okay, do you think that was a good deal?

GUEST: Yep.

APPRAISER: Yeah?

All right, so what would you like to know from me today?

GUEST: Is it really a Tiffany?

APPRAISER: The good news is, yes... It is?

...it is a Tiffany Studios lamp.

GUEST: Well how-- I don't see a signature on it.

APPRAISER: Because it would have been on the base plate, and it's missing.

GUEST: Oh... oh okay.

APPRAISER: Ah, yes.

So this is actually a diver's lantern.

GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: Not a diver's helmet.

GUEST: Not.

Okay.

APPRAISER: It's had kind of a hard life, sir.

GUEST: It has?

APPRAISER: Yes-- the handle's a little worn.

You can see that some of the leading, it's not patinated... GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: ...it's painted.

And some of the painting's come off.

GUEST: Oh.

Okay.

APPRAISER: And the switch is replaced.

GUEST: Oh, God.

APPRAISER: Oh, gosh.

GUEST: Oh, no.

APPRAISER: But it's still a Tiffany lamp.

GUEST: Yes, it is.

Okay, good.

APPRAISER: And it's an early Tiffany lamp.

And it's one that everybody's looking for.

GUEST: Oh, great.

APPRAISER: So we would date this to be circa 1900 to 1910.

GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: If we had the base plate, we'd be able to narrow that down to a specific date... GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: ...but it's missing and it can't be replaced.

So that's why we've given a little bit of a range.

GUEST: Have you seen these before?

APPRAISER: I have seen one before.

GUEST: With the base plate?

APPRAISER: With the base plate.

So, looking at this piece, and knowing that it's had a hard life, and knowing that there's some damage to it, and knowing that it's kind of rough, at retail today, $25,000 to $30,000.

GUEST: Holy Toledo.

Wow.

Ooh!

My ex-wife is gonna know about you.

(chuckles) Oh, my gosh, $25,000 to $30,000?

Wow, I never-- okay.

I never thought it'd be worth that much money.

Wait till I tell my buddy who I bought this from.

I'll be darned, well, thank you very much, I appreciate it.

I'm going to enjoy happy hour tonight, I can tell you that.