Before deciding to toss out that grandpa’s trunk filled with dusty old pictures, check out these 11 most expensive items found on Antiques Roadshow. You might be in luck.
Antiques Roadshow premiered on BBC in 1977. It quickly gained popularity with the audience. The testimony to how much audience appreciate the show is the fact that the original concept hasn’t changed in 38 years. The show spread to other countries, namely Australia, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Finland, Sweden and the United States. PBS picked it up in 1997. In 2005, they created a spin-off called Antiques Roadshow FYI. In order to create a unique list, we have chosen most valuable items from all countries. Items found here are on par with those found in the world’s most visited art museums.
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Every one of these 11 most expensive items found on Antiques Roadshow has an amazing backstory to it. In part, this is why they are so expensive. Plenty of people own a 19th century Navajo blanket. However, how many of them can say that their blanket was once own by famous Kit Carson? How about an Anthony van Dyck portrait bought in an antique in Cheshire for £400 ($625) and valued at the auction at £400,000 ($625,000)? These kind of tidbits are what adds spice to the Antiques Roadshow and drives the items’ price through the roof.
Although the show has been aired in seven countries, 11 most expensive items found on Antiques Roadshow are all from UK and US shows. These other shows did have few memorable finds that deserve an honorable mention. Canadian Antiques Roadshow most pricey item was Henry Nelson O’Neil’s painting called “Eastward Ho!” and appraised at half a million Canadian dollars. That’s $258,000 in real money. The name of the Dutch version of the show is Between Art & Kitsch and has been on the air since 1984. Their most valuable find is a Joost van Geel Het painting, valued at €250,000 ($280,000).
11. Navajo Ute First Phase blanket – Antiques Roadshow US 2004
Appraisal: $350,000 – $500,000
Location: Tucson, Arizona
The owner of this beautiful piece of Native American history claimed that it was a gift to his family from Kit Carson.
10. Norman Rockwell painting – Antiques Roadshow US 2012
Appraisal: $500,000
Location: Eugene, Oregon
“The Little Model” oil painting was given to the owner’s great-grandmother, who was Rockwell’s aunt.
9. Clyfford Still painting – Antiques Roadshow US 2009
Appraisal: $500,000
Location: Palms Spring, California,
This 1937 Clyfford Still painting was received as a housewarming gift.
8. Frederic Remington Portrait with Letter – Antiques Roadshow US 2015
Appraisal: $800,000
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Frederic Remington painted a portrait of his good friend and the owner’s great-grandfather, Lea Febiger. Together with the painting came the letter written by Febiger, describing the friendship.
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7. Alexander Calder mobile – Antiques Roadshow US 2011
Appraisal: $400,000 – $1,000,000
Location: Miami Beach, Florida
Inventor of mobile Alexander Calder gave this piece from the 1940s to his aunt as a gift.
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6. Boston Red Stockings memorabilia – Antiques Roadshow US 2015
Appraisal: $1,000,000
Location: New York City, New York
In 1870 Atlanta Braves were known as Boston Red Stocking. This collection of cards and other memorabilia presents the most valuable find of sports items in the history of the show.
5. Diego Rivera’s “El Albañil” oil painting – Antiques Roadshow US 2013
Appraisal: $1,000,000
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
Number 5 on our list of 11 most expensive items found on Antiques Roadshow is “El Albañil”. Rue Ferguson, the owner, says that his great-grandparents bought the 1904 Rivera’s painting in Mexico.
4. Qing Dynasty jade collection- Antiques Roadshow US 2010
Appraisal: $1,070,000
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
When Jinx Taylor’s father bought four carved jade pieces in China during the 1930s, he probably couldn’t imagine what kind of family heirloom he created for his daughter.
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3. A gold-plated Leica Luxus II camera – Antiques Roadshow UK 2001
Appraisal: $780,000 – $1,252,000
Location: Wales, UK
Despite the appraisal value, this one of a kind Leica was sold for $680,000 in Hong Kong auction in 2013. At the time it was found, it was thought to be the most valuable item ever found in Antiques Roadshow UK.
2. Chinese cups carved from rhinoceros horns – Antiques Roadshow US 2012
Appraisal: $1,000,000 – $1,500,000
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
The collection of rhinoceros cups from 18th century China is the most valuable item ever brought to the PBS Antiques Roadshow.
1. The model of Antony Gormley’s Angel of the North – Antiques Roadshow UK 2008
Appraisal: $1,565,000
Location: Gateshead, UK
The most expensive item found on Antiques Roadshow is the model of Angel of the North statue. The author himself, Antony Gormley, made it in order to present his idea to the buyers, the Gateshead Council.
