Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest brings a painting ‘rescued from the trash’ — and it got a massive appraisal (marketrealist.com)
Trash to Treasure: ‘Alice in Wonderland’ Painting Found in Dumpster Appraised at $10,000 on ‘Antiques Roadshow’
A discarded painting depicting a scene from “Alice in Wonderland” was recently appraised for a staggering $10,000 on PBS’s “Antiques Roadshow.” The painting’s owner recounted how his father rescued the artwork from a dumpster while on a road trip in the late 1950s or early 1960s.
Despite its less-than-pristine condition, appraiser Nan Chisholm identified the piece as an oil painting on artist’s board. The image depicts Alice with the Red Queen from “Through the Looking-Glass” and the Jack of Hearts, representing the conclusion of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”
Chisholm attributed the work to John Rae, an artist known for his detailed work, and later, portraits of notable figures like Albert Einstein and Carl Sandburg, and even Alice Liddell, the inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s famous stories. While unable to pinpoint the exact date of the painting, Chisholm placed its retail value at $10,000, much to the owner’s astonishment.
This wasn’t the only surprising appraisal on a recent episode. Another guest brought in a painting of aspen trees by Loren Mozley, a piece she inherited from her mother.
While the guest admitted to initially finding the painting frightening, it had grown on her over time. The appraiser estimated the painting could fetch between $30,000 and $50,000 at auction, leaving the guest speechless.
These discoveries highlight the unexpected treasures that can be found in the most unlikely places, proving once again that one person’s trash can truly be another’s treasure.