About this episode
In this episode of House of Folk Art, Matt and Kyle are back at the Folk Art Auction House in Gibsonville, sifting through the spring haul from shows across North Carolina and Virginia. With the van finally unloaded and the finds laid out, they talk through what’s going to auction, what might stay in the collection, and what stories came with each piece. From a $70 New Jersey jug now soaring past $1,200, to a vividly painted mystery basket that might just be Native American, the episode dives deep into the value, and vulnerability, of picking. Matt reflects on hard-earned lessons, including a $500 mistake and a $50,000 miss. He also reveals the secrets behind spotting real age in stoneware and shares the rare backstory of a Chester Webster bird jug, complete with family lore. Whether you're a longtime collector or just getting started, this episode is a crash course in auction hustle, gut instinct, and the kind of heartbreak only pickers know. 00:00 – 00:32 | Cold Open: Sponsored by Monster (Not Really) Matt cracks open a Monster and jokingly claims it’s their sponsor. 00:33 – 04:03 | Back at the Auction House Matt and Kyle regroup after a whirlwind run of spring shows. 04:04 – 06:18 | Mini Basket Pickup A small, early basket gets examined, was it broken or just built without a handle? 06:19 – 11:00 | The Jug Found at 6AM Matt tells the story of a $70 New Jersey jug he snagged at sunrise, now bringing over $1,200 at auction. 11:01 – 14:04 | Northern vs. NC Stoneware They compare decorative blue stoneware from the North to the utilitarian jugs of early North Carolina. 14:05 – 14:56 | Spotting Old Stoneware Matt shares how to spot authenticity in pottery, from wear patterns to firing details. Sometimes, all it takes is years of getting it wrong. 14:57 – 16:55 | The $500 Mistake Jug Matt opens up about a painful lesson: spending $500 on a fake decorated jug. The story is a cautionary tale every collector should hear. 16:56 – 17:47 | Recap: What to Look For in Stoneware Signs of age like dragging wear and firing marks separate the real deals from the modern knockoffs. 17:48 – 21:52 | Two $900 Baskets Down to $425 Matt talks about bundling and how he scored two high-dollar baskets for under half price. 21:53 – 23:59 | Why Isn’t There a Basket Museum? Matt rants about the lack of a Southern Appalachian basket museum. 24:00 – 25:52 | Liberty Festival Pottery Finds The guys transition to pottery finds from Liberty. An alkaline-glazed jar with strong glass runs gets special attention. 25:53 – 26:37 | Alkaline Glaze Tells the Story The type of glaze can place a pot’s origin and age instantly. 26:38 – 29:47 | The Only Book You Need Matt pulls out an old pottery reference guide and explains how it helps identify makers. 29:48 – 31:38 | Learn by Watching Auctions You’ll learn more from watching what sells than any class. 31:39 – 36:16 | 1,000 Buttons for $100 Matt bulk buys a mountain of vintage military buttons. 36:17 – 38:00 | Back Into Pottery Talk After buttons, it’s time to dive back into North Carolina pottery. The conversation steers toward differences in regional clay and glaze. 38:00 – 39:20 | Introducing the Chester Webster Jug They unveil a rare bird-decorated jug by Chester Webster. 39:21 – 40:55 | Wade Ledbetter’s Chester Webster Find Matt recounts his dad buying a Webster jug in 1985 for $100. Turns out that bird on the jug was worth thousands. 40:56 – 42:33 | Chester Webster: Bird & Fish Potter Chester Webster is known for his incised bird and fish motifs. His decorated jugs are among the most collectible in NC folk pottery. 42:34 – 43:49 | Rare Size and Decoration The jug's small size and intricate design make it exceptionally rare. 43:50 – 46:12 | No-Bird Chester Webster Jugs They show another Chester Webster piece, this one without a bird. 46:13 – 49:32 | Spotting a Chester Webster Without a Bird Matt teaches how to ID a Webster jug based on shape, handle, and decorative technique. It’s all about knowing the tells. 49:33 – 51:06 | Salt Glaze vs Alkaline Glaze A quick visual breakdown of glaze types. Green means alkaline, gray means salt...usually. 51:07 – 55:23 | The $50K Dave Jug That Got Away Matt tells the gut-wrenching story of walking away from a $50,000 Dave jar at age 15. It still haunts him. 55:24 – 58:28 | Picker Songs Matt sings the song he wrote about the Dave jar and starts brainstorming one for potter Stacy Lambert. The banter turns musical. 58:29 – 59:26 | If You Don’t Buy Something, You’ll Go Berserk The pressure to find a good buy builds during a dry stretch. Sometimes you’ve got to buy something to stay sane. 59:27 – End | Keep It or Sell It? Matt wraps up by playing a round of "Keep It or Sell It" with their current finds. Some are auction-bound, but a few may just stay in the collection. Subscribe for more folk art finds, auction stories, and behind-the-scenes picking adventures.