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Twin Antique Dealers Host New PBS Series

Aired October 17, 2003 - 15:43   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: All right.
If you've ever watched the popular PBS series "Antiques Roadshow," you may have, from time to time, believed that you were seeing double. Well, you -- you sort of were. Twin brothers Leigh and Leslie Keno have had a love of old things since they were very young. At age 12, they declared themselves antique dealers. Today, they're two of the roadshow's favorite appraisers. Now they have their own PBS show called "Find."

Leigh and Leslie Keno join us from New York.

Hi, guys.

(CROSSTALK)

PHILLIPS: All right. Good. I think I am seeing double.

All right, guys. So take me back. Lee, let's start with you. 12 years old. How did you guys know that you hat an affinity for antiques?

LEIGH KENO, HOST, "FIND": Well, we've always loved antiques, Kyra, and we luckily had parents that absolutely love antiques. They're dealers. They -- we grew up with antiques all around us. So when we were 12 or -- and 13, we were buying and selling things. So it was just -- it was just a passion we've always had.

PHILLIPS: Boy, too bad you couldn't go online and do stocks. You'd do well as day traders now.

Leslie, same thing for you? You guys just sort of did everything together?

LESLIE KENO, HOST, "FIND": Yes, it's really our passion. You know, we wake up in the morning, and we love to go on treasure hunts for antiques. So the great thing about our new show, "Find," is that we're able to that every day and do it together as twins. So we're spending a lot more time together than ever. We're really excited.

PHILLIPS: Well, Leigh, how do you guys -- is this just a feeling and a vibe and you're always right? Or what kind of research have you done? Have you read a million trillion books? Have you studied the wood? Give me background on how you've reached this point. LEIGH KENO: Well, Kyra, we're learning everyday. But for the show, for instance, what we do is we get pictures of things from viewers, and then we look over the pictures and we get a chance to do some homework on them. We can check with experts in each of those areas. And by the time we show up at the house to look in the basement, under the bed, in the closet, in all those places, we've done a lot of homework. And we learn -- every show we do we learn, because you're always learning about a new area.

But it's about reading the books, it's using the Internet, it's about picking up things, holding them, smelling them. And we hope that the show, our new show really kind of conveys that kind of what we love, and that's that passion for objects, that passion to always learn. Right, Les?

LESLIE KENO: That's right.

And our show is also going to involve some interior design. We're entering the whole world of interior design to find out, you know, how -- how antiques work in the home. You can take, you know, something you've inherited and how does it work into modern life?

PHILLIPS: All right. As we've been talking about you guys being here for a couple days, we've asked some viewers if they had anything they wanted you to take a look at. We got a number of pictures. So let's throw a couple of these out.

Now this first one -- OK -- coming to us -- now I think -- now what kind of -- these -- I guess these are wicker chairs, right?

LEIGH KENO: They're wicker. Les, do you want to tackle that one?

LESLIE KENO: Yes, sure.

Well, that -- that looks like it's a wicker rocker and a matching ensuite (ph) chair. These were really popular during the Victorian era, probably about 1880. Probably -- value -- probably about $600 to $900, maybe, for the two, conservatively.

LEIGH KENO: Probably for the two, that's about right. And a lot of people paint those -- I'll just add to what Leslie says. A lot of people paint them and it's a mistake to really paint them with bright green or bright white paint. But leave them the way they are...

LESLIE KENO: That's right.

LEIGH KENO: ...and, you know -- and keep them -- keep them nice and dry. A lot of people let them stay out in the rain. So keep it dry.

PHILLIPS: Bright green -- whoah, I don't think I'd want to go there, guys.

LEIGH KENO: Porch furniture, right.

PHILLIPS: Yes, exactly. Throw it out in the back. All right. -- that's a lot of money. All right.

Number two, here was another picture that we got in. Now, I look at this and I think, It doesn't really look like an antique. Well, what's the deal?

LEIGH KENO: I can start that one.

LESLIE KENO: Sure.

LEIGH KENO: We looked at that -- just based on the pictures, I feel -- Les and I talked about it -- it's a copy of a circa 1720 or '40 New England mushroom handhold ladder-back chair. It's a reproduction and I hope that the owner doesn't think it's a period piece because we'd have to gently -- if we were on the show, we'd have to tell them gently that it's not real.

But maybe they inherited it, maybe they got it reasonably. What -- anything you want to add, Les?

PHILLIPS: What do you guys think it would be worth?

LEIGH KENO: What's it worth? What do you think, Les? Probably $200?

LESLIE KENO: About $200, yes.

PHILLIPS: Oh, my gosh. I really hope this person did not pay more than that. I'm going to feel really bad. We won't mention their name.

All right. Here's a third one, you guys. Let's take a look at this. What do we have?

LEIGH KENO: Sure. Well, Les, do you want to start?

LESLIE KENO: Well, this is a marketry-inlaid Louis XV-style cabinet, probably a little writing desk. That -- that front section falls down -- you can write letters...

PHILLIPS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) secretary.

LESLIE KENO: Exactly. They can write love letters or whatever there. It's a beautiful piece.

LEIGH KENO: Can I just add to Leslie -- sorry -- that the marketry on it is very popular amongst collectors. It's -- they -- people love it. The period ones -- I'll just say before Leslie gives you the value -- the originals, the 18th Century Louis XV-style ones are worth an awful lot of money. They bring -- they bring in the -- just the tens of thousands of dollars.

LESLIE KENO: That's right.

LEIGH KENO: So, Les, what do you think this is worth.

LESLIE KENO: And this one is probably -- because it's 1880s -- probably about $3,000 to $5,000. So it's a nice piece.

PHILLIPS: Very nice.

LEIGH KENO: Nice piece. And it's pretty valuable.

PHILLIPS: I'm just curious -- have you guys ever duked it out with anybody -- like maybe some 90-year-old staunch woman saying I know this is worth a million dollars and you're like, Sorry.

LEIGH KENO: Well, I'll tell you, we have something coming up on the upcoming show that we didn't duke it out with the lady -- the lady wanted to kiss us. I think she wanted us to stay overnight,have dinner the whole thing.

LESLIE KENO: That was amazing.

LEIGH KENO: We found something in an attic that we can't tell you even what it is -- you have to watch the show -- but it's worth in the hundreds of thousands and it was in the attic.

PHILLIPS: Oh my gosh!

LESLIE KENO: That's right.

LEIGH KENO: She had no idea, right, Les?

LESLIE KENO: That's right. So stay tuned to find out.

PHILLIPS: There you go. PBS -- your local PBS -- it's called "Find." You can catch the Keno brothers. I'm sure a lot of ladies want to kiss you too.

Gentlemen, thank you. We'll be watching.

LESLIE KENO: Thank you.

LEIGH KENO: Thanks a lot, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. You bet.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired October 17, 2003 - 15:43   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: All right.
If you've ever watched the popular PBS series "Antiques Roadshow," you may have, from time to time, believed that you were seeing double. Well, you -- you sort of were. Twin brothers Leigh and Leslie Keno have had a love of old things since they were very young. At age 12, they declared themselves antique dealers. Today, they're two of the roadshow's favorite appraisers. Now they have their own PBS show called "Find."

Leigh and Leslie Keno join us from New York.

Hi, guys.

(CROSSTALK)

PHILLIPS: All right. Good. I think I am seeing double.

All right, guys. So take me back. Lee, let's start with you. 12 years old. How did you guys know that you hat an affinity for antiques?

LEIGH KENO, HOST, "FIND": Well, we've always loved antiques, Kyra, and we luckily had parents that absolutely love antiques. They're dealers. They -- we grew up with antiques all around us. So when we were 12 or -- and 13, we were buying and selling things. So it was just -- it was just a passion we've always had.

PHILLIPS: Boy, too bad you couldn't go online and do stocks. You'd do well as day traders now.

Leslie, same thing for you? You guys just sort of did everything together?

LESLIE KENO, HOST, "FIND": Yes, it's really our passion. You know, we wake up in the morning, and we love to go on treasure hunts for antiques. So the great thing about our new show, "Find," is that we're able to that every day and do it together as twins. So we're spending a lot more time together than ever. We're really excited.

PHILLIPS: Well, Leigh, how do you guys -- is this just a feeling and a vibe and you're always right? Or what kind of research have you done? Have you read a million trillion books? Have you studied the wood? Give me background on how you've reached this point. LEIGH KENO: Well, Kyra, we're learning everyday. But for the show, for instance, what we do is we get pictures of things from viewers, and then we look over the pictures and we get a chance to do some homework on them. We can check with experts in each of those areas. And by the time we show up at the house to look in the basement, under the bed, in the closet, in all those places, we've done a lot of homework. And we learn -- every show we do we learn, because you're always learning about a new area.

But it's about reading the books, it's using the Internet, it's about picking up things, holding them, smelling them. And we hope that the show, our new show really kind of conveys that kind of what we love, and that's that passion for objects, that passion to always learn. Right, Les?

LESLIE KENO: That's right.

And our show is also going to involve some interior design. We're entering the whole world of interior design to find out, you know, how -- how antiques work in the home. You can take, you know, something you've inherited and how does it work into modern life?

PHILLIPS: All right. As we've been talking about you guys being here for a couple days, we've asked some viewers if they had anything they wanted you to take a look at. We got a number of pictures. So let's throw a couple of these out.

Now this first one -- OK -- coming to us -- now I think -- now what kind of -- these -- I guess these are wicker chairs, right?

LEIGH KENO: They're wicker. Les, do you want to tackle that one?

LESLIE KENO: Yes, sure.

Well, that -- that looks like it's a wicker rocker and a matching ensuite (ph) chair. These were really popular during the Victorian era, probably about 1880. Probably -- value -- probably about $600 to $900, maybe, for the two, conservatively.

LEIGH KENO: Probably for the two, that's about right. And a lot of people paint those -- I'll just add to what Leslie says. A lot of people paint them and it's a mistake to really paint them with bright green or bright white paint. But leave them the way they are...

LESLIE KENO: That's right.

LEIGH KENO: ...and, you know -- and keep them -- keep them nice and dry. A lot of people let them stay out in the rain. So keep it dry.

PHILLIPS: Bright green -- whoah, I don't think I'd want to go there, guys.

LEIGH KENO: Porch furniture, right.

PHILLIPS: Yes, exactly. Throw it out in the back. All right. -- that's a lot of money. All right.

Number two, here was another picture that we got in. Now, I look at this and I think, It doesn't really look like an antique. Well, what's the deal?

LEIGH KENO: I can start that one.

LESLIE KENO: Sure.

LEIGH KENO: We looked at that -- just based on the pictures, I feel -- Les and I talked about it -- it's a copy of a circa 1720 or '40 New England mushroom handhold ladder-back chair. It's a reproduction and I hope that the owner doesn't think it's a period piece because we'd have to gently -- if we were on the show, we'd have to tell them gently that it's not real.

But maybe they inherited it, maybe they got it reasonably. What -- anything you want to add, Les?

PHILLIPS: What do you guys think it would be worth?

LEIGH KENO: What's it worth? What do you think, Les? Probably $200?

LESLIE KENO: About $200, yes.

PHILLIPS: Oh, my gosh. I really hope this person did not pay more than that. I'm going to feel really bad. We won't mention their name.

All right. Here's a third one, you guys. Let's take a look at this. What do we have?

LEIGH KENO: Sure. Well, Les, do you want to start?

LESLIE KENO: Well, this is a marketry-inlaid Louis XV-style cabinet, probably a little writing desk. That -- that front section falls down -- you can write letters...

PHILLIPS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) secretary.

LESLIE KENO: Exactly. They can write love letters or whatever there. It's a beautiful piece.

LEIGH KENO: Can I just add to Leslie -- sorry -- that the marketry on it is very popular amongst collectors. It's -- they -- people love it. The period ones -- I'll just say before Leslie gives you the value -- the originals, the 18th Century Louis XV-style ones are worth an awful lot of money. They bring -- they bring in the -- just the tens of thousands of dollars.

LESLIE KENO: That's right.

LEIGH KENO: So, Les, what do you think this is worth.

LESLIE KENO: And this one is probably -- because it's 1880s -- probably about $3,000 to $5,000. So it's a nice piece.

PHILLIPS: Very nice.

LEIGH KENO: Nice piece. And it's pretty valuable.

PHILLIPS: I'm just curious -- have you guys ever duked it out with anybody -- like maybe some 90-year-old staunch woman saying I know this is worth a million dollars and you're like, Sorry.

LEIGH KENO: Well, I'll tell you, we have something coming up on the upcoming show that we didn't duke it out with the lady -- the lady wanted to kiss us. I think she wanted us to stay overnight,have dinner the whole thing.

LESLIE KENO: That was amazing.

LEIGH KENO: We found something in an attic that we can't tell you even what it is -- you have to watch the show -- but it's worth in the hundreds of thousands and it was in the attic.

PHILLIPS: Oh my gosh!

LESLIE KENO: That's right.

LEIGH KENO: She had no idea, right, Les?

LESLIE KENO: That's right. So stay tuned to find out.

PHILLIPS: There you go. PBS -- your local PBS -- it's called "Find." You can catch the Keno brothers. I'm sure a lot of ladies want to kiss you too.

Gentlemen, thank you. We'll be watching.

LESLIE KENO: Thank you.

LEIGH KENO: Thanks a lot, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. You bet.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com