What It's Worth
Weekly articles written by Jeffrey P. Hess about the value of collectibles and other rarities. The articles are published weekly on the Tampa Bay Times.
Part Three: The Bank Vault That Wasn’t Empty
The missing sixth box turned up five days later, battered but intact, ending Hess Fine Art’s silver saga with the clients netting roughly $1.5 million and their platinum recovered. The real payoff wasn’t the metal but the lesson: value on paper isn’t cash, and a promise is worth exactly as much as the character of the person making it.
Part Two: The Bank Vault That Wasn’t Empty
With a court-ordered 48-hour deadline to remove thousands of ounces of settlement silver, Hess Fine Art staged an armored, guarded extraction, sold the metal into a seizing market for a $1.6 million net, and repacked it into six insured shipments, only for the sixth box to vanish. Part two of three.
Part One: The Bank Vault That Wasn’t Empty
A Tampa Bay couple inherited over $2.5 million in silver and platinum, then let the original dealer “deposit” it for safekeeping, until a modest $100,000 withdrawal request triggered delays, excuses, and finally the words “We don’t have your coins.” Part one of a three-part story on what it takes to claw a fortune back.
A Remarkable Crystal Goblet Begs to Be Identified
A heavy cobalt-accented crystal goblet, engraved around the 1840s with the Netherlands royal seal and signed “Günther f.,” sent Hess Fine Art on a five-day research hunt pointing to celebrated Bohemian master engraver Karl Anton Günther. They’ll list it conservatively at $2,000 to $3,000, though a confirmed attribution could push it past $10,000.
Price: Only One Aspect of Value
A simple turned-wood bowl by celebrated artist Ron Kent surfaced in a Bayshore Boulevard consignment, sailed past its modest auction estimate, and in a remarkable twist was won by Kent’s own great-granddaughter – sending the driftwood piece back to the artist’s family after a journey from Hawaii to Florida. A reminder that price is only one aspect of value.
The Most Expensive Mistakes We See
The most costly mistakes collectors and estates make – from over-polishing and tossing original boxes and paperwork to improper gold testing, recutting old diamonds, and poor storage – each of which can quietly erase value.
Is It Art? Objectification? The Debate Continues.
The female figure remains one of art’s most enduring subjects, inspiring works that continue to spark both admiration and debate.
The Artistry of Russian Icons
A rare Russian icon by Imperial Court supplier Pavel Ovchinnikov demonstrates why exceptional religious works remain highly collectible.
Between Confidence and Caution: “In the Style Of”
A late 19th-century portrait demonstrates how terms like “in the style of” can dramatically influence value and buyer confidence in the art market.
“Attributed To”: Probably vs. Definitely
A portrait attributed to Michael Dahl highlights how uncertainty in attribution can dramatically affect art valuation and collector demand.
