The Antiques Roadshow has become one of my favorite television shows. If you haven't seen it, you should know that it is simply a group of appraisers who travel around the country, rent out convention centers and civic auditoriums, and people by the thousands bring in some object they have found in their house, or at a swap meet, for appraisal.

Someone will bring in an old clock, a watch, a vase, or a painting, almost anything. The conversation between the appraiser and the owner of the object is recorded. The appraiser will ask for some history on the object, like where did you get it. If you bought it, they want to know how much you paid for it. If you inherited it, they want to know something of the family history.

Then the appraiser will talk about what he or she knows about the obje…