Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest’s voice breaks after expert reveals the value of his 100-year-old painting (marketrealist.com)
A treasured family heirloom and a touching story of a mother’s love took center stage on a recent episode of “Antiques Roadshow.” Guest Denis Chandler brought in a 1923 oil painting by renowned American illustrator Frank Schoonover, famous for his work on classics such as “Swiss Family Robinson” and “Robinson Crusoe.” The painting, titled “At A Hail From The Boat, He Went To The Rail,” depicts a scene from the novel “Privateers of ’76.”
But the true value of the piece lay not just in its artistic merit, but in its heartwarming backstory. Chandler explained that his mother, wanting to give his father a special gift, secretly saved five dollars a week from her grocery money for two years to purchase the painting.
She finally surprised her husband with a card allowing him to choose a piece from Schoonover’s studio. The family ultimately selected the clipper ship scene, a treasured possession ever since.
Appraiser Debra Force identified the painting and noted its excellent condition, including the original frame. Given Schoonover’s popularity and the painting’s historical significance, Force estimated its value at a staggering $125,000. Chandler was visibly moved by the appraisal, tearing up as he expressed how thrilled his father would be to see the continued appreciation for such illustrations.
Adding to the story’s heartwarming conclusion, the painting was later displayed at the Delaware Art Museum.