Leigh Keno has a background in fine and decorative arts across four decades which includes serving as: Vice President of Christie's Appraisals Inc.; an expert in Christie's American furniture and decorative arts department and in charge of the American folk; advising buyers in purchasing artwork and decorative arts valued at over $200,000,000 at public auction; advisor to and representative of owners of fine and decorative arts who are considering selling at auction so that they chose the right auction house and receive the best possible terms. One of Leigh Keno's most memorable and rewarding experiences advising clients began when he was asked to represent four siblings who had inherited a masterwork. Created by the celebrated American artist Norman Rockwell as an illustration for a 1954 Saturday Evening Post cover, the iconic image features a young man in a suit at the train station about to leave for college. He sits upright with bright, eager eyes alongside -and in stark contrast to -the slumped-over figure of his father, whose dirty fingernails, worn overalls and downcast expression exude a lifetime spent as a farmer. Keno had first gone to the Rockwell Museum with the family to see the work in the museum- but several things about the painting did not look right. In 2006, the painting at the museum was confirmed to be a copy, secretly painted- unbeknownst to the four siblings- by their father. Having purchased the original work from his friend Rockwell in 1960 for $900, Don Trachte had covertly painted a detailed copy of the work and kept the original within a hidden compartment between two walls in his house. The hidden wall was discovered by his sons- confirming experts questions over the visible differences between the painting in the Rockwell Museum and that shown in the Saturday Evening Post “tear sheet.” With no other explanation as to why the work at the Rockwell Museum was not the actual work, these discrepancies were at first attributed to poor re-varnishing and restoration efforts. Prior to being sent to New York to be auctioned, the two paintings were exhibited side by side. In this way, visitors to the Rockwell Museum could gain insight into the work of both a world famous artist and the artist/owner who copied the work. Leigh Keno recalls negotiating with dealers and auction houses on behalf of the owners. He finally convinced the siblings to turn down a cash offer of 8 Million dollars and to sell at auction. In 2006, "Breaking Home Ties" sold at Sotheby's for $15.4 million, setting an auction record for Rockwell's work.Leigh Keno had brought a bottle of champagne to share with the siblings for this event. Having told the owners repeatedly that their painting would almost certainly set a world record, they all had reason to celebrate!
A graduate of Hamilton College, Leigh Keno has been in the antiques industry his entire career. The founder and president of Keno Auctions, he routinely lectures around the country and appears on Antiques Roadshow as does his twin brother, Leslie. Beyond his passion for antique furniture and art, Leigh Keno also loves classic cars and has lectured regarding the subject of preservation of Automobiles as it relates to the the preservation of Art and Antiques. He judges preservation class at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance each year. Leigh Keno co-authored a chapter which discussed barn find and survivor cars in the critically acclaimed 2012 book "The Stewardship of Historically Important Automobiles" sponsored by The Simeone Foundation in 2012. In recent years, some people have begun using the words “survivor” and “barn find” as interchangeable descriptors for cars. But the terms actually have a very different meaning depending on the condition of the discovered vehicle.Survivor cars, like barn finds, have been in storage for a long time. However, these cars have been maintained-and very often pampered- by their owners. While the vehicle may never leave storage during the course of several decades, the owners still care for the car and make sure it remains in near-perfect condition (ie: drain or replace the oil on a regular basis; flush radiator regularly; turn engine over at least once each year; store the car up on jacks so that the tires do not develop flat spots, check rubber hoses for dry-rot, put tennis balls in the exhaust pipes and if appropriate, carburetor, to keep mice and rodents out of the engine, etc.). For most enthusiasts, the vehicle must meet three criteria to be considered a survivor car. They must pass a 10-mile road test, be at least 20 years old, and be -at the very minimum- 50 percent unrestored, unaltered, or refinished in the exterior, within engine compartment, chassis, or interior.A barn find is a vehicle that desperately needs restoration. These cars have been put into storage and been largely left alone during the entire time they have "slept". Many barn finds have a seized engine and are rusty, corroded, and imbued with rodent and/or bird droppings.
Winner of the 2005 National Humanities Medal, Leigh Keno is widely known in the antiques industry for his expertise. Alongside his twin brother, Leslie Keno, he has appeared on Antiques Roadshow consistently over the past two decades, co-written a book, and starred in television programs on various networks. Leigh Keno and his brother also maintain their own lifestyle brand, Keno Bros., and have a shared passion for collecting Shaker boxes.Before the invention of Tupperware, flour, tea, and other household items were stored in lightweight pantry boxes. The usefulness of these boxes appealed to the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, or Shakers, who emigrated from England to the US in 1774. However, the pantry boxes made in the past were often poorly constructed and others were too pretentious for Shakers. For this reason, they began constructing their own pantry boxes, later known as Shaker boxes, in the 18th century.Dedicated to hard work and precision, the Shakers created oval boxes that were both beautiful and functional, without being ostentatious. Made by hand, these boxes were initially made from hand tools and during the second half of the 19th century, were created using circular saws. They were constructed from maple, likely because of the wood’s ability to become pliable when exposed to steam or hot water, and were uniform in size, with each size assigned a number. the oval top and bottom boards were usually made of white pine. The boxes eventually became popular outside of Shaker communities and soon became a regular “fancy work” item that Shakers made and sold to other people.In the late 19th and first decades of the 20th centuries, Shaker membership and box construction declined. Delmar Wilson, one of the most prolific builders of Shaker boxes in the 20th century, made his last example around 1955. In general, surfaces were covered with a thinned paint, or wash of color, which included red, yellow, green and blue, until about 1850. After mid-century, most boxes were covered with a clear shellac. Today, Shaker boxes are used as an accent item or decoration rather than as a pantry box. Some collectors strive to form stacks of boxes in graduated sizes. The market for shaker boxes has declined somewhat in recent years, in part due to the rarity of great examples in the marketplace. As Leigh Keno points out, " In general, boxes with well preserved paint- with blue being the most desirable color- sell for many times the price of an example which is merely shellacked."
Leigh Keno is the founder of Keno Auctions, an innovative auction house with a focus on fine and decorative arts in New York. With almost half a century worth of experience in dealing with antiques, Leigh Keno understands the importance of taking health and safety precautions packing fragile items or while moving heavier items. The following tips can help ensure your safety on moving day.
1. Avoid overpacking. Overpacking can put not only the container at risk of breaking, potentially damaging its contents, but also yourself at risk of injury. Furthermore, a general rule of thumb for packing involves making sure boxes and other containers do not weigh more than 50 pounds. When packing a fragile or extremely valuable object, made of porcelain or glass, use bubble wrap and float the packed box within another box lined with bubble wrap. This will insure that if the box is dropped, that the layering lessens the effect of impact.
2. Know proper lifting technique. Lift boxes and items with your legs by bending your knees and squatting while keeping your back as straight as possible. Bending over or leaning forward with your back while carrying even a 25 pound object puts strain on the spine and increases your risk of injury. Additionally, while bearing weight, make turns with your feet rather than your hips.
3. Remain alert. Keep a close watch on your surroundings while moving boxes and furniture from one place to another. Watch for hazards such as other boxes, packing tools, uneven walkways, dishevelled carpets and slippery floors that could cause you to trip or lose your balance.
4. Dress appropriately. Consider wearing comfortable clothing with no excess fabric that can get caught or stuck on something. Protect your feet with closed-toed shoes and avoid footwear such as heels that may compromise your balance.
Leigh Keno feels that if one follows these four basic rules, you may never have to call your property insurance company to report breakage or your health care provider to report an injury. However, assuming that it is affordable, it is always wiser to consider using a professional crater and mover.
A graduate of Hamilton College, Leigh Keno has been working in the field of decorative and fine arts for more than four decades. He regularly appears on the PBS program Antiques Roadshow. In 2000 he and his twin brother, Leslie Keno, co-authored a book about discovering hidden masterpieces. Leigh Keno also founded and leads Keno Auctions, a boutique auction house specializing in fine and decorative arts.At Keno Auctions, you are welcome to submit any items you wish to consign throughout the year. Although many of the company’s sales are done at auction, the company also transacts private treaty sales of major fine and decorative art. For example, Leigh Keno recently placed with a major folk art collector a previously unknown full-length masterpiece, c. 1805, by the celebrated deaf artist John Brewster, Jr. (1766-1854) of a young girl, Abigail, for perhaps what is a record price for the artist. In addition he found a home for a exceedingly important unique half-scale late 18th century Bonnet-top high-chest of drawers from New London County Connecticut. He also regularly handles works by 20th century Modern Masters. Several years ago, Mr. Keno advised family members on the sale of the painting "Breaking Home Ties" by Norman Rockwell, which sold for over 14 million dollars, setting a world record price for the artist at the time. To start the consignment process, you must submit images of the item(s) you have for sale. Among the images, you must include clear pictures of the front and back of the object as well as as many detail shots as possible (along with an up-close shot of the maker’s mark or signature, if present). Any history about the object, such as how and where it was acquired, should also be included in your submission, as should copies of literature relating to the item, appraisals, or certificates of authenticity. You also need to submit the medium, dimensions, and other details of the item. If any of this information is not possible to provide, it is not essential. The most important thing to Leigh Keno is that he see clear images of the piece with as many detail photographs as possible. Upon receiving these images, Keno Auctions will respond within a few days, but within a couple weeks at most. Once Leigh Keno or a colleague contacts you, an appointment might be made to see the piece in person. You can discuss whether a private sale or auction is best for your property. After that, you will receive an appraisal of the item’s market value and an pre-sale auction estimate. If you decide on selling, Keno Auctions will work closely with you to set final terms and details, send a Consignor Agreement, and confirm delivery arrangements. As someone who has been involved in auctions his whole life, one thing he has learned is that an easy process makes for a happy consignor! --
Accomplished appraiser Leigh Keno has worked in the fine and decorative arts field for more than 40 years. Throughout this time, he has been a regular appraiser on Antiques Roadshow and overseen operations at Keno Auctions as president. Leigh Keno also has co-authored a book about discovering hidden treasures with his brother and maintains a site detailing antiques and art discoveries he finds in barns and houses.Places where antiques pickers can find vintage items, antiques, and collectibles include:- Thrift stores. Pickers who are looking for vintage toys, glassware, planters, or sterling silverware can often find something at thrift stores. These stores, whether small or large, are great places for finding hidden treasures at low prices, especially right after new merchandise is put out. It helps to get to know the owner of the store so that they can tell you about the latest additions to the store.- Estate sales. Craigslist and local papers typically list upcoming estate and yard sales. These events are perfect for finding hidden treasures. However, pickers must focus on estate sales that are put on by the family and not an estate-liquidation company. These companies have a better idea of how much certain items are worth and will price them higher than usual. However, a liquidation company can't know about every type of object, so if you are a specialist in, for instance, Chinese porcelain, you may just be lucky enough to find a bargain.- Curbside. When people move or clean out their homes, they often leave unwanted furniture and other items on the curb. Many of these items can be good finds for pickers. Leigh Keno recalls an Antiques Roadshow segment filmed at the Anaheim, Ca. convention center where the owner told a story of her father finding an unsigned shadow box containing marbles, an ivory pool ball and sand on top of a pile of garbage next to the sidewalk. Under a glass plate, one could see a mapped constellation from an old book affixed to the inside of the backboard. Leigh did some quick homework and discovered that Ferus Gallery had a show of the famous artist Joseph Cornell's (1903- 1972) work in 1962 in Los Angeles, not far from where the box was found. He gave it a preliminary on-air auction estimate of $100-200,000 dollars and recommended further research. Not ad for being plucked fromt he top of the garbage!Below is the link to where she tells of her father finding it in the trash:http://urs.pbs.org/redirect/256ffb98ae6419eb45d2d487a/- Online. There are literally thousands of auctions on several auction platforms each year. There are so many, by hundreds of small to large auction houses, that a simple search may turn up a gem that gets missed.
