Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest says ‘you’re kidding’ after hearing the value of her family heirloom (marketrealist.com)
Tiny Family Heirloom on ‘Antiques Roadshow’ Stuns Guest with Surprising Value
A seemingly unassuming family heirloom, a small Chinese snuff bottle, recently delivered a jaw-dropping appraisal on “Antiques Roadshow,” leaving its owner in disbelief. The intricate artifact, initially thought to hold little monetary value, was revealed to be worth thousands by show expert Richard Cervantes.
The guest, whose name was not disclosed, shared that the tiny bottle had been passed down through generations, arriving with her great-aunt Selena, who extensively traveled through “the Orient” in the 1920s. Unaware of its historical significance or potential worth, she presented the item to Cervantes for appraisal.
Cervantes began by unraveling the bottle’s rich history, explaining that snuff bottles became prominent during China’s Qing Dynasty. With smoking outlawed by the emperor, tobacco consumption shifted to snuff form, elevating these small containers into symbols of status, much like fine watches or jewelry today.
The expert identified the primary component of the bottle as an 18th-century milky white nephrite jade, mined in western China during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor. He noted that the bottle later journeyed to Japan in the 19th century, where it received its elaborate embellishments. These intricate additions include soapstone, hard stone, lapis lazuli, lacquer, and even delicate seed pearls, forming a picturesque scene of cherry blossom trees and a child carrying Lingzhi fungus—a highly auspicious symbol.
Before revealing the final figure, Cervantes inquired if the guest had any inkling of its value. “I’ve never had it appraised, and no sense of the value or even what was paid for it initially,” she responded.
Cervantes then delivered the stunning news: given the robust market for snuff bottles, the item could fetch between $4,000 and $6,000 at auction. The guest’s immediate reaction summed up the shock: “You’re kidding! Oh my gosh!”
The appraisal left the owner astonished, having had no idea that the small family keepsake held such considerable historical and monetary worth.