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The antiques world was rocked (okay, more like gently bumped) when a recent episode of Antiques Roadshow estimated a woman’s collection of carved Chinese jade objects at $710,000 to $1.07 million. Either figure would make it the highest-appraised item in Antiques Roadshow history. Unfortunately, when the woman actually sold the items at auction, she only got $494,615. Why the discrepancy? It’s complicated — read about it here if you want the blow-by-blow from real antiques experts. Meanwhile, below I have collected the Top 10 Antiques Roadshow valuations (actually 11 items, as there’s a tie for second place), courtesy of YouTube user Ultranothing. The jade still comes in first as I’m counting by valuation, despite its later actual sale value being lower than predicted.
1st Place: Jade Collection
$710,000 to $1.07 million.
Tie for 2nd Place: Clyfford Still Painting
$500,000 “insurance value”; a conservative estimate.
Tie for 2nd Place: Navajo Ute First Phase Blanket
$350,000 – $500,000.
3rd Place: 1790’s Card Table
Purchased for $25, valued at $200,000 – $300,000, and apparently sold in 1998 for $541,500.
4th Place: Art Deco Jewelry Collection
$257,000.
5th Place: Patek Philippe Split Chronograph Watch
$250,000.
6th Place: Painting of Ships Possibly by James E. Buttersworth
$200,000 – $500,000 if restored and painter’s identity verified. It turned out not to be a Buttersworth, but still sold for $288,000 (it was by Antonio Jacobsen).
7th Place: 6th-9th Century Chinese Marble Sculpture
$120,000 – $180,000 at auction, $150,000 – $250,000 for insurance.
8th Place: 1840’s Solid Gold Sword
$200,000 and up.
9th Place: Charles Schulz Cartoon Collection
$150,000 – $200,000 at auction.
10th Place: Jasper Cropsey Painting
$150,000.
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Comments (16)
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I adore antiques roadshow. I dream of the day I can take something on there (and have it be of actual value). Seeing the prices on some of these things are so jaw dropping. Love this show!
posted by Barbara on 1-6-2010 at 11:23 pm
I was hoping for a clip of the Frasier episode about Antiques Roadshow- “Veneer!”
“That’s pretty much what I expected…”
But this was great, too, haha.
posted by KK on 1-7-2010 at 3:29 am
I’ve always heard the most expensive item appraised never made it air because the owner didn’t want his name out in the public. According to the story I heard he had a book signed by every president, vice president and cabinet member since Washington.
posted by Chris on 1-7-2010 at 9:03 am
If you like the US Antique’s Roadshow I would definitely suggest the UK version. Pretty much everything is MUCH older and often times more valuable than the items you see here.
posted by Me on 1-7-2010 at 12:07 pm
Does anyone remember an episode a number of years back where they showed an old helmet of some kind that had been found lodged in the beams of a barn, which had a startlingly high value?
posted by B on 1-7-2010 at 1:14 pm
It was an old Inuit hunting helmet that looked really odd–a horizontal slit over the eyes and sort of a bowl shape. IIRC, it was appraised at over $100k.
I love the Roadshow because I found out by watching that my house full of junk is completely valueless. So I can relax, kick back, and watch some fortunate folks get good news.
posted by Joan on 1-7-2010 at 3:05 pm
i love she just said damn.
posted by meta on 1-7-2010 at 7:15 pm
Love watching Antiques Roadshow. My favorites are probably the musical instruments eg: an old Fender Strat or an antique violin. I also remember a Beatles album that some one brought in that was only released for a short time. It had a strange,creepy cover photo – believe it was also called the “butcher album” or something. It turned out to be very valuable but I don’t recall how much.
posted by Nerak on 1-8-2010 at 12:56 am
I noticed on number six that you wrote Antonio Jackson, but it says Antonio Jacobsen. Thanks for the entertainment. I love Antiques Roadshow but get bored with the non-expensive stuff.
posted by Tricia on 1-8-2010 at 3:51 am
Near the end of her life, I actually helped take care of the lady who had the table (#3). She had had a stroke and couldn’t express herself very well, but would lead me over to the wall in her apartment where she had framed pictures of the table and newspaper clippings every time I visited. It was clearly one of the highlights of her life.
posted by Ed on 1-8-2010 at 12:50 pm
Tricia — thanks for the heads-up; I have corrected the post!
posted by Chris Higgins on 1-8-2010 at 1:56 pm
That card table has always been one of my favorites. I love how the furniture twins get so excited about a great find! They are fun to watch, they really seem to have a passion for furniture, of all things.
The Art Deco jewelry is just gorgeous!!
posted by Jenny on 1-11-2010 at 7:55 pm
The “Furniture Twins” also have a column in Traditional Home Magazine, IIRC. They’ve been collecting antiques literally since childhood.
posted by Megan on 1-21-2010 at 5:22 pm
Major sign I’m a Peanuts fan from way back: #9 was the only one I viewed here (although I had seen many of the others on TV).
The guy deserves a medal for getting Hallmark on the Snoopy bandwagon, as far as I’m concerned!
posted by Random on 1-25-2010 at 1:46 am
Hey, cool. I’m happy to do it :D
- ultranothing from YT
posted by Josh on 1-28-2010 at 1:58 pm
I love antiques roadshow and I never get tired of watching it no matter what they have on! I’ve never found anyone who likes watching it with me, my family and friends are always dismayed when I discover that it’s on. Oh well :)
posted by Rachel on 1-29-2010 at 2:38 pm