GUEST: Because there's a tile and because it's a god I thought it was probably something it would go over a doorway in China.

Because he's so ugly, to maybe to keep away... (appraiser chuckles) ...keep away evil spirits.

APPRAISER: Absolutely, well, you were very close.

GUEST: Okay.

Yeah.

APPRAISER: This is a Chinese glazed pottery roof tile, actually.

GUEST: Roof tile, mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: And let's look at how it's made here.

This wonderful, curved base allows it to sit right on the roof.

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: We can all picture the fabulous Chinese architecture... GUEST: Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: ...with pagoda roofs that end in that lovely curve.

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: These tiles sit at the end of the curve along the edges of the roof line... GUEST: Is that-- APPRAISER: ...and are decorated in fancier houses, temples and so forth... GUEST: Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: ...with wonderful figures like this one.

This particular one was made probably in the Ming Dynasty, around 1600 to 1700.

So it's really quite old.

GUEST: Oh.

Oh, I'm surprised.

APPRAISER: When you first brought it to the table, I thought, this can't really be a Ming one because it's in such lovely condition.

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: It doesn't look like it's been battered by the elements... GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: ...but the colors of the glazes are just right.

The molding of the face and the details of the fingers and so forth.

GUEST: Oh, I'm very surprised.

APPRAISER: Yeah.

GUEST: I thought it was even flawed because the green and this color is-- they're so close, I thought it might have been a mistake.

APPRAISER: They are close-- no, I don't think so.

I think they actually intended to make this, the shawl around his shoulders... GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: ...a lovely turquoise blue, which you see a lot of in the Ming tile work.

GUEST: Oh.

APPRAISER: Often, there's a lot more yellow in these figures.

This one is particularly dark with the green and the brown.

GUEST: Yeah.

Yeah.

APPRAISER: Now, you found it where?

You were looking for...?

GUEST: I was at an ant-- at an antique market at Aberfoyle, Ontario.

Uh, 1966.

APPRAISER: Uh-huh.

GUEST: And APPRAISER: Did you-- were you looking for Asian art or you just happened to...?

GUEST: No, I just happened to catch my eye.

APPRAISER: And do you remember what you paid for it?

GUEST: Uh, under $100, probably around $65 Wow.

or $75.

APPRAISER: Okay, that's fabulous.

GUEST: Yeah.

APPRAISER: Well, these don't bring immense fortunes at all, because there were, of course, even in the Ming dynasty, many, many of them.

GUEST: Uh-huh.

APPRAISER: There are many roofs in China... GUEST: Uh-huh.

Uh-huh.

APPRAISER: ...and many roof tiles, but a lovely one like this would probably bring, at auction, today around $1,000.

GUEST: Oh, isn't that great?

Oh, yeah.

APPRAISER: So I think you've made a very good buy, and I think you have a great thing.