GUEST: In 1967, we were on a family trip; my parents, my sister, and my brother.

And it was to Washington, D.C., primarily.

But then we did a little side trip to Monticello.

And back then it had an antique/thrift shop.

And my mother fell in love with this vase.

And, so, um, my father bought it for her.

And, been a treasure.

It's been in a china cabinet in my dining room in my home.

The top shelf, center, so I see it every day.

When we bought the vase-- and the tag is still on the bottom-- um, it was $40 in 1967.

APPRAISER: The mark on the bottom... You can see the initials, KPM.

GUEST: Right.

APPRAISER: KPM stands for the King's Porcelain Manufacturing.

I'm translating from German.

GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: In Berlin.

Then the orb and cross above that, and further on is the scepter, which is another typical KPM mark.

GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: The other labels are from the gift shop at Monticello.

GUEST: Correct.

APPRAISER: So, KPM is known for a few things.

Beautiful portraits, plaques of... GUEST: Okay, okay.

APPRAISER: ...mythological figures, biblical figures, beautiful women with long flowing hair.

GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: They also made vases that were... GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: ...kind of over the top.

GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: Very Victorian kind of stuff.

GUEST: Oh, okay.

APPRAISER: So then, something unusual happens at KPM in 1908, when a young man named Theo Schmuz-Baudiss became the artistic director.

GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: And I think Theo said, "Hey, we've been doing kind of Victorian stuff for years.

Look at what they're doing at Royal Copenhagen, at Rookwood.

Beautiful high-glazed porcelain pieces..." GUEST: Right.

APPRAISER: "...with Art Nouveau-style decorations."

GUEST: Oh, so that's where it comes in.

APPRAISER: So, you see a subtle change coming around that time... GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: ...thanks to Baudiss.

And this is a perfect example of his influence.

I would think this vase dates from around 1910.

I think these are stylized ferns.

GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: Little fiddlehead ferns.

GUEST: Oh, yeah.

APPRAISER: And you see all the dots?

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: The porcelain, it all had to have been done with an eyedropper, probably.

GUEST: Wow.

APPRAISER: Very detailed work.

There are four panels.

Each have the same design on them.

GUEST: Yeah.

APPRAISER: All ferns, I think.

So it's porcelain body with enamel decoration.

GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: These pieces are rare.

They still don't show up a lot.

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: I mean, when you unwrapped this, I was shocked how pretty it was.

GUEST: (chuckles) APPRAISER: I mean, it's just one of those pieces that grabs you.

GUEST: It is beautiful.

APPRAISER: I think, probably an auction value, we're looking at $2,000 to $3,000.

GUEST: Okay!

Very That's pretty exciting.

APPRAISER: It's special.

GUEST: Yeah, I love it.

She's a beauty.