Treasure Detectives Season 1 Episode 3 Violin / Warhol

Treasure Detectives is a thrilling show that talks about the most sought-after antiques and precious items. The show tracks how art detectives prove the authenticity of artworks and antiques. In this episode, named "Violin / Warhol," the Treasure Detectives' team is set on a mission to authenticate a violin and a questionable Warhol print.

The episode starts by introducing us to the team of experts, including Curtis Dowling, an art dealer and writer, and Andy McConnell, an antique glass expert. Curtis and Andy head to Brooklyn, where they meet their client, a man who found a violin in his attic. The violin looks vintage and has a “Stradivarius” label inside, but the client cannot be sure if it is an authentic Stradivarius worth millions or not. The team takes the violin to an expert restorer, who opens it up to exam the tag.

Meanwhile, the team's lead appraiser, appraiser Terry Kovel, goes to Pittsburgh to authenticate a questionable Warhol print. The owner of the print inherited it from his mother, who claimed that Warhol gave it to her in person. However, there is no record of Warhol creating such prints, and the print appears to be of lower quality than Warhol's usual work.

The two Treasure Detectives teams have their tasks cut out for them. Curtis and Andy discover that the violin is an old one, but it does not sound like a Stradivarius. They find a serial number on the violin that helps them date the instrument. Meanwhile, Terry Kovels looks into the documentation that came with the Warhol prints and also checks the ink, paper and other physical characteristics of the print.

In the second segment, which focuses on the violin, the experts take the violin to a colleague who has handled a number of Strativarius violins to help with authentication. The colleague analyzes the violin and reveals they believe it is a copy of a Strativarius made over 100 years ago, worth about $20,000.

In the second half, Terry Kovel discusses her findings on the Warhol print. She narrates how Warhol was infamous for giving his art away to a lot of people, and it might be possible that the client's mother possessed a bona fide Warhol print as a gift. The team of detectives analyzes the ink and paper to determine if they match the common materials Warhol used in his artwork.

In the end, the teams compare their findings. The violin turns out to be a quality replica worth much less than the owner was hoping. However, the Warhol print turns out to be a genuine work of art worth around $200,000. A happy ending for the treasure detectives and the owners of the Warhol art print, but not for the owner of the violin who was not too excited to hear the news of his violin not being an original Stradivarius violin.

The audience is left awestruck by the extensive work and expertise of the Treasure Detectives. It's a show that is both informative and fascinating. The process of how artists authenticate artwork and the precision with which they do it is impressive. Treasure Hunters is a must-watch for art enthusiasts or anyone interested in good investigative work.