Leigh Keno, the president and founder of Keno Auctions, has written numerous articles and books, appeared on Antiques Roadshow, and lectured across the country. One of Leigh Keno’s passions since childhood is treasure hunting--exploring old barns and houses for antiques and art. In 2000, he wrote a book, Hidden Treasures, together with his brother, Leslie Keno. The brothers were honored to have Luminaries such as Oprah Winfrey and Jay Leno invite them to appear on their television programs, which helped the sale of the book tremendously.
If you are just getting into treasure hunting, start with your local town history. Take some time to do research, paying close attention to historical buildings and locations. With this information, instead of aimlessly wandering the town, you can go directly to a location with the potential to yield hidden treasures, such as an abandoned home, a local landmark, or the location of an old battle, crime, or disaster. Leigh Keno recalls writing a magazine article about a once famous but mostly forgotten late 19th century Tarrytown, New York Art Pottery, Odell and Booth Brothers during a summer break from college. He did the primary archival research but also decided to find the brick building where it once operated. Upon walking around the building, he was amazed to find shards of pottery from the kiln site which had been discarded! Although they had little monetary value, the small collection of shards added greatly to his knowledge about the objects produced there.
When searching for treasures of all types, you must be opportunistic. Keep an ear out for news of yard sales, construction projects, or urban developments in your area. Many yard sales offer old toy collectibles, furniture, or paintings at a reasonable price. Meanwhile, urban developments and construction projects often occur in areas with old buildings or historic sites, where you may be able to pick up valuable items that have been discarded as scrap.
When searching for auctions on the various internet platforms, the best place to find treasures is in a single owner Estate sale where objects of all types are included. In these sales, specialists are not always notified if there are items in which they have expertise and search for. You may end up getting an extremely rare piece for 'pennies on the dollar'
Finally, look around your own home. Small bits of metal or other material sticking up in your yard may be a sign that something valuable was buried there. Further, if you have an old house, the attic or basement may still contain some old treasures that were left by family members or former owners. The great thing about treasure hunting is that there are countless items out there just waiting for their moment in the spotlight. Why shouldn’t the one who finds that treasure be you? It only takes determination and a bit of luck!
