There is more humor in the world of antiques than one might expect. The biggest sources of humor are dealers and customers who have no idea what they are selling or buying.
For instance, one day I was in a shop in Baltimore Maryland. A customer expressed her appreciation for a federal brass desk light. The proprietor explained that it was late 18th century, and typical of New England at the time.
The lady then asked, "And when was it electrified?"
The response, "It was originally electric"
The customer, "I did not think they had electricity back then."
The dealer, "Of course they did, don't you remember Benjamin Franklin's famous experiments with it?"
I had to leave the building so I could laugh out loud.
Another time I was admiring a single Charles X sconce. It was very nice, with bright original gilding, but sadly all alone. I asked the dealer to tell me about it. He correctly identified the country and period of manufacture. But then he added, "You know, a single is very rare and valuable, they are almost always found in pairs."
Finally, I had a dealer give me a setup I could not resist. I was at an antiquarian book show talking with a group of dealers. A lady walked up and asked if anyone would be interested in purchasing her antique family bible. All demurred. When she left a dealer said, "I don't know why people think their old bibles are valuable. Everyone has one and they are worthless." He then looked at me and said, "Do you have an old bible?"
"Yes" I replied.
"And is it worth anything?"
"Maybe" I replied, "It is a signed first edition."
Coming up Passy metro in the Early Fall