Virginia Valuables
In the style of Antiques Roadshow, Virginia Valuables pairs local experts with central Virginia residents and their treasures – all while the cameras roll. Our appraisers put on their detective hats to help reveal the stories behind the treasures.
Virginia Valuables, produced by the Community Idea Stations, captures the joy – and disappointment – as local appraisers meet with central Virginia residents and discover if their treasures have more than just sentimental value.
Watch the Web-Only Episodes:
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Meet the Appraisers
By the age of 6, Jay was actively working at Gates Antiques Ltd., his family’s business. Jay furthered his education at Roanoke College, graduating in 4 years Cum Laude with a degree in Business. Upon graduation, Jay entered the finance industry as a money manager. He continued to work in the antique industry and apprenticed under his father, John A. Gates Jr. In 1997, Jay decided to enter the family antique business full time. He assumed the management of the company in 2001 and has led the business ever since. Jay specializes in American and English furniture from 1650-1925 and Chinese and Japanese export. Jay is an active member of the New England Appraisers Association. He has been featured on television and in various publications as an expert appraiser over the years.
Christine is a Certified Appraiser of Antiques and Decorative Arts through the International Society of Appraisers. She is Senior Appraiser of Corbin Appraisal Services, Inc., in Richmond. She has been appraising in the Richmond and central Virginia regional area since 1988, and is a licensed Virginia Auctioneer. In her auction life she acted as an auction director for 15 years and auctioned estates for 19 years. She began appraising estates at the same time, in addition to cataloging auctions and providing pre-auction estimates based on previous sales, which is the same as appraising and using comparable sales to determine value.
Lex will serve as the Art Appraiser for this event. Lex graduated from Washington and Lee University with a BA in Art History. He has also completed the Sotheby's American Arts Course in NYC. Lex has fine tuned his appraisal skills by working at C. G. Sloan Auctions (Fine Art Department), Sotheby's (Impressionist and Modern Paintings Department), and at Alexander Reeves Fine Art as an Art Broker.
Mark is an Appraiser, Gemologist and Estate Buyer. His jewelry experience spans 20 years, 18 of which have been with Carreras Jewelers. Mark is a Graduate Gemologist through the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and for the past 11 years has been listed as a Certified Gemologist Appraiser through American Gem Society (AGS). Mark is a history major who loves doing research on the history of the designers, manufacturers, as well as the pieces themselves.