Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest gets a $180,000 valuation for her item — then she says ‘not that I’d sell it’ (marketrealist.com)
A Tang Dynasty treasure worth a king’s ransom? That’s exactly what one lucky “Antiques Roadshow” guest discovered, much to her surprise! While the six-figure appraisal was certainly exciting, the real story lies in the heartwarming sentimentality that often graces the show.
This particular heirloom, a magnificent Chinese marble lion, was initially believed by its owner to be from the Ming Dynasty. Passed down through her family, she recounted the story of her grandparents acquiring the piece during their travels in China in the early 20th century. She admitted knowing little about the lion’s true origins, other than a family friend’s assessment of it being “Ming Dynasty and priceless.”
Enter appraiser Lark Mason, who was visibly thrilled by the piece. Describing the lion’s exquisite carving, stunning workmanship, and the “finest quality marble,” Mason declared it one of the best examples of Chinese art ever seen on the show. He then corrected the owner, dating the statue to the even older Tang Dynasty (6th-9th century), a period considered the golden age of Chinese art.
Mason’s excitement was palpable as he detailed the statue’s remarkable features, from the rippling muscles carved into the marble to the aged patina indicating its authenticity and history. Hesitant at first, he finally placed the lion’s auction value between $120,000 and $180,000, eliciting a stunned “Wow!”
from the owner. However, sentimentality quickly trumped financial gain, as she declared she wouldn’t sell the cherished heirloom.
Mason then provided an insurance valuation of $250,000 for the priceless piece.
Overwhelmed and delighted, the guest’s reaction perfectly captured the spirit of “Antiques Roadshow.” After all, what’s a small fortune compared to a family treasure steeped in history and love? “So it was worth lugging it in here,” she chuckled, proving that some things are truly priceless.