Let’s start with a thank you to our viewers and readers. Everybody associated with Chesapeake Collectibles knows that the show’s secret sauce is the affection of fans. And as 2025 comes to a close, we remain steadfastly grateful.
We’re also conscious that the backstories from collectors about their quests and successes are treasures in and of themselves.
At the taping in October of next season’s episode segments, appraiser Genice Lee had a memorable moment even though it didn’t make it on film: Among a few thrift-store-found artworks a woman brought in was a small “charming turquoise harlequin by Charles Sebree” (look him up if you don’t recognize the name!). Bought for $7 and, thrillingly, worth $3,000 to $5,000.
For appraiser Kathleen Hamill, an Alex Cooper Auctioneers contemporary and modern art analyst, 2025 was highlighted by the continuing power of Bob Ross’ legacy. At Alex Cooper, a soaring auction of one of his works went to a buyer in Denmark, and multiple other nationally celebrated auctions of his art produced huge windfall donations to public television stations.
“I was genuinely moved,” notes Hamill, “to see how (his) ‘happy trees’ could rally such generosity and awareness for causes that matter.”
Hamill’s Alex Cooper colleague Lisa Jones, our mainstay pottery-porcelain-glass appraiser, was struck by the prevalence of that kind of spirit at the October filming.
“This seemed like a year when people literally grabbed random pieces as they were walking out the door as a way to attend the event and support MPT. People were definitely curious about what they had, but they were not concerned with value as in previous years. They simply love Chesapeake Collectibles and wanted to participate in the experience.”
Furniture and decorative arts expert Robert Harrison has been thinking about collecting generationally. We anticipate delving more deeply into his ideas in early 2026, but for now let’s absorb his overview:
“Younger collectors have had a dramatic effect on collecting trends that now focus on toys from the 1980s, pop culture, mid-century modern furniture and accessories, designer watches, electronics, and even fine wines. On the other hand, a shrinking group of older collectors today dominate a market that is less inclined to celebrate more traditional collecting areas such as antique American and Continental furniture, 18th and 19th century fine art, antique glassware, porcelain, and the decorative arts.”
Picking up on the topic of surging trends, our ears perked up when Ross Kelbaugh weighed in about hard data and disciplined investing. Kelbaugh, whose expertise spans photographs, memorabilia, and ephemera, offered perspective on the surging attention for contemporary trading cards (of many varieties) and the spending by affluent and wealthy speculators.
“Most important,” says Kelbaugh, “is to check population reports” — how many of any card has been registered in a certain grade (condition) — and “dates created and size of print runs.”
Everyone is chasing pristine grades and gambling on future factors like the career longevity of athletes, Kelbaugh points out. “But at what point does the quantity of (purported top cards) with manufactured rarity outpace the pockets of middle-class buyers. Lots of FOMO, fear of missing out, is driving the markets too.”
Finally, we’ll leave you with a sense of intrigue about a find during the October filming. We say “intrigue” because Asian Arts expert Dennis Harter and drawings-and-painting appraiser Lex Reeves teamed up to answer some, but not all, questions about notable Japanese woodblock prints. We’re not going to spoil anything ahead of next season’s episodes, but suffice to say that lingering fascinating questions remain — possibly to be reinvestigated at the 2026 filming!
What better inspiration for all collectors heading into next year? There are always mysteries to chase as well as values. And that’s why Chesapeake Collectibles is about stories more than anything else. Your stories. Thank you.
While you’re waiting for the new season, watch encore episodes of past seasons of anytime on the free PBS app and online at video.mpt.tv/show/chesapeake-collectibles/.
