Hidden Treasures: Searching for Masterpieces of American Furniture

by Leigh Keno

Leigh and Leslie Keno are twins with a single passion--the pursuit of American antiques. One (Leigh) is an antiques dealer in New York. The other (Leslie) is a director at Sotheby's, New York. Together with Joan Barzilay Freund--a New York-based freelance writer who specializes in American antiques--they tell tales of the hunt.

Some of the stories come from the twins' childhood in upstate New York (they started keeping antiques dealer diaries when they were 12); one riveting anecdote is set more recently in the auction room of Sotheby's, circa January 1999. But all of the treasure-hunting episodes are imbued with the drama and thrill of the chase as well as the bliss of aesthetic appreciation.

It doesn't matter whether you, yourself, have swapped bids in tense auction rooms for million-dollar furnishings, or traipsed through small-town flea markets in search of sleepers, or gained the bulk of your antiquing know-how while firmly planted in your easy chair watching the Antiques Roadshow. Because the Keno twins know their stuff and they evoke the rich details of antiques, such as the creamy surfaces of 18th-century ceramics and the plum-pudding mahogany sheen to the rare secretary bookshelf. The passion that drives them is evident on every page of the book, and that emotion is the hook that allows them to so effectively share their fascination with the reader. To read their stories is to enter their world, and while the color photographs are certainly appreciated, the prose does a fine job by itself to portray the lure of the Seymour table and the Canton ginger jar. Along the way, the life stories and distinctive personalities of the twins come through, too. By time you finish the final chapter, you will have learned a lot about American antiques, and even more about the happy souls of two brothers pursuing their craft. --Stephanie Gold

Genres: Nonfiction, History

Paperback

First published October 31, 2000

Reviews

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Grade = 85% - B

I found this at one of my favorite thrift shops in Red Hill, Pa. Once a month they have a "free" book sale - take anything you like, donations accepted.

I have often seen the Keno brothers on the PBS and House and Garden channels. Twins, they each hold jobs at the top of the ladder in the most prestigious auction houses in the world - Christies and Southebys.

They even had their own show, not unlike Cash in the Attic, where they went into homes to look for antiques to go up for auction for special causes.

These fellows were born with the proverbial silver spoons, and even as young teenagers had a collection of museum quality antique clay ceramic ware.

Their stories were interesting, but in my common life, how many 3+ million desks or chairs would I be interested in reading about? 2

[Laurie Stoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

The paper and pictures used in this book are as much a hidden treasure as the book itself.

Hidden Treasures pages are of exceptional quality, the pictures are excellent and the writing is facinating.

I purchased this book to learn a little bit about antiques. I have had this book for several years and put off reading it because I was expecting it to be dry but educational.

I was pleasantly surprised. While the book is quite educational it was also filled with warm ancedotes and memories.

Hidden Treasures was much better than I was expecting.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hearing Leigh Keno speak recently reignited my interest in the Keno brothers and the work that they do. This book was a nice combination of biography and education on historic American furniture. The book is an extension of the idea of Antiques Roadshow- there really are treasures everywhere, you just need to know what to look for. While I enjoyed learning about the legitimate pieces, I really enjoyed learning about how to spot a fake.

[Susan Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous. Informative, entertaining and inspirational. The Keno brothers are truly special and incredibly artsy. Even if you aren't a collector (like me) you may be able to appreciate their passion and their remarkable relationship, and perhaps develop a deeper appreciation for antique furniture in the process.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book. Part biography, part antique furniture lesson. Written by the Kenno Brothers that are so familiar to Antiques Roadshow fans. Not overly full of personal details but it really is more about their shared passion for antique American furniture. And you will learn about it along the way. It is never boring like some instructional books. What you learn you learn because it is part of the story. It fits in without ever meaning to be a book to teach you about good quality furniture but you learn , almost, accidentally. I highly recommend it if you are a fan or as a starter for if you want to learn more ab out early American antiques and what makes something better quality than anything else.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book at Goodwill and bought it because I’ve always been interested in antiques. This is the story of the Keno twin brothers who are obsessed with antique American furniture and how they got started at the young age of twelve.

[Dorise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly readable book about the Keno brothers’ careers and the artistry of incredibly valuable American furniture

[Anson Cassel Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though the Keno twins are said to have written alternate chapters of this book, their voice is one. Literally from childhood, both have conducted a passionate love affair with antiques, and like any person in love, they want all to know how beautiful is the object of their affections: “Was it my eagerness to see the secretary or the many flights of stairs leading up to the apartment that made my heart beat so rapidly…I arrived at the threshold literally panting in anticipation….I think the owners enjoyed the look of pure wonderment that instantly crossed my face.” (256) And so on throughout the book.

The twins reveal comparatively little biographical information about themselves, and the book is certainly not a guide to furniture collecting. The Kenos’ interest is in the most exceptional examples of late 18th- and early 19th-century American furniture, each worth a million dollars or more. If that’s your interest, then this is the book for you, more than a half dozen masterpieces of craftsmanship carefully delineated in words and in numerous fine photographs.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the Antiques Roadshow twin appraisers, this entertaining and informative book is full of superb color photos of classic American furniture of note, with narrative by two of the most knowledgeable antiquers in the business today. It's an excellent primer for anyone who's even remotely interested in the world of world of high-end collecibles.

[Carol Wolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the twin brothers we all know from the Antiques Roadshow (they alternate chapters). Interesting, quick read about chasing down fine furniture. Not quite as engrossing as Harold Sack's "American Treasure Hunt," but more current.

[Autumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love them on Antiques Roadshow, and love this book. Don't love that great pieces always seem to end up in the hangs of grubby rich white men, but still.

[Rose Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn't love Leigh & Leslie Keno from Antiques Roadshow? This was book was charming and very interesting

[Daniel Hausman · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heroes!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the writing but more importantly what I learned about antique furniture.