Antiques-Beyond the Appraisal will captivate lovers of collectibles with an addiction for embracing the old and intriguing. More than the valuation of the appraiser, the real objects in this richly illustrated collection of stories tell us about the societies and cultures that brought them into being. These witnesses and story tellers guide us through their own histories and the complexities of human experience.

They have seen kingdoms rise and empires crumble. The first time traveler is a miniature cabinet as seen on The Antiques Roadshow. It tells of its secret compartment and the German prince who owned it. Feel the unspoken anguish held within Empress Eugenie's casket and the wisdom shared by a Chinese emperor's inkstone.

Each artifact serves as a portal to compelling dramas and mysteries, inviting readers to uncover the connections between past and present, humanity and heritage.

From a pair of Cambodian boxes who survived the killing fields to a Chinese rosewood chair that suffered the deprivations of the cultural revolution and the anguish of separation from its brother. Read of an Indian sorceress who enchanted a princess with a gold bangle.

These are antiques and heirlooms inviting the reader into their worlds as never before.