Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest says ‘oh my golly’ after hearing value of a painting locked in her closet (marketrealist.com)
A “Golly!”-Inducing Surprise on Antiques Roadshow
An unsuspecting guest on Antiques Roadshow received a pleasant shock after bringing a couple of framed pictures for appraisal. One piece, an etching by Samuel Margolies depicting a suburban scene, was valued at a respectable $800-$1,200. The other, however, a lithograph featuring horses in a field, turned out to be a hidden treasure.
Appraiser Todd Weyman identified the lithograph as the work of Grant Wood, a prominent American artist of the 1930s and 40s, known for his regionalist themes. Weyman declared the piece far more valuable than the Margolies etching, estimating its auction value between $6,000 and $9,000, with a replacement value of $18,000-$20,000. Overcome with surprise, the guest could only exclaim, “Oh my golly!”
This isn’t the first time a Grant Wood lithograph has caused a stir on the show. In a separate episode, another guest brought in Wood’s “Fertility,” depicting a barn and house behind a field of crops.
Despite some minor mat stains, the lithograph was appraised at $10,000-$12,000. The surprised owner expressed her astonishment, proving once again the enduring value and appeal of Grant Wood’s iconic artwork.