23 August 2023 , 20:10
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When it comes to finding inspiration for nabbing yourself a bargain, there is no better way than an episode of The Antiques Roadshow.
The hit PBS series celebrated it's 25th birthday last year having made it's debut with the US broadcaster way back in January 1997. Since then there have been a string of shock moments on the show both for viewers and for those taking part who have found their items to be far more valuable than they could have dreamed.
One such moment came for Ted Kuntz when he discovered the blanket he had slung over the back of a chair was in fact a Navajo Ute blanket that dated back to around the 1850s. Ted believed that the blanket was given to his grandmother's foster father by Kit Carson, a US frontiersman.
The lucky discovery saw Ted break down in tears as he learned it was worth an estimated half-a-million dollars. He later went on to sell the treasured item and used the profits to pay off his mortgage.
World class Rolex
Dave was stunned when he discovered the true value of his Rolex (PBS)Much like Ted, U.S. Air Force veteran David found himself unable to contain his emotions when he took his coveted Rolex watch to be valued. He had bought the item - a 1971 Rolex Oyster Cosmograph - in 1974 while he was serving in the mlitary and saw many pilots wearing time pieces from the same brand.
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David recalled that he paid $345.97 for the watch - the equivalent of a month's salary from his military position at the time. He had been planning to wear it to go scuba diving but at the last minute decided it was “really too nice to take down in salty water,” and proceeded to keep it in a safety deposit box for several decades.
The valuer on the show Peter Planes initially told David his coveted Rolex was worth roughly $400,000 - leading to him falling over in shock. People were heard laughing behind the camera as Peter said: “You okay? Don’t fall. I’m not done yet.”
He then explained how as the watch appeared to be unused, had all its documentation, and even had its original foil sticker on the back its true value was between $500,000 and $700,000.
Boston Red Stockings card collection
The baseball card collection was worth a staggering $1m (PBS)One guest stunned appraiser Leila Dunbar when she explained how her great-great-grandmother had once upon a time helped to house athletes from the Boston Red Stockings - some of the first ever professional baseball players. As a result she was the proud owner of a set of 1871 baseball cards which were valued at a gobsmacking $1,000,000.
1923 Frank Schoonover Oil Painting
The guest couldn't believe the cash value of his mother's kind gift to his father (PBS)Another guest on the show was reduced to tears after he shared the story of how he had come to own and Frank Schoonover oil painting. His mother had saved $5 every week for two years to gather enough money for his father to pick out a piece of artwork from Schoonover’s studios.
The piece his father chose an illustration from the 1923 Ralph D. Paine book Privateers of ’76 which was valued at $125,000. He said as he wept: “My father would be so thrilled to know that people were being turned on to illustrations. And my mother would be really thrilled at what you just said.
1892 H.F. Farny Watercolor and Gouache Painting
Her grandmother's painting turned out to be extremely valuable (PBS)After opening up a framed painting she had inherited from her grandmother assuming it was a print to get a mosquito out from behind the glass one woman realised it was in fact real and had previously had it valued at $200 and $25o. However, Antiques Roadshow appraiser Meredith Hilferty confirmed her valuation on the original 1892 painting by H.F. Farny at an impressive $200,000 to $300,000.
Diamond Bracelet and Van Cleef & Arpels Ring
A generous friend led to total shock for this guest (PBS)After one lucky lady and her husband attended monthly dinner dates with a friend who always wore the same diamond bracelet and pearl ring to their outings inherited the items when her friend passed away, she was keen to know the value of the jewellery. Appraiser Kevin Zavian placed the platinum-and-diamond bracelet at $15,000 to $20,000, however, the 14-millimeter pearl and six carats of diamonds Van Cleef & Arpels ring was worth even more at $20,000 to $30,000.
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