Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ seller gasps in disbelief after expert reveals the value of her rice bowl (marketrealist.com)
A woman’s jaw dropped on “Antiques Roadshow” after learning the staggering value of a seemingly ordinary rice bowl, cover, and accompanying dish. Initially, the guest believed the items, inherited from her in-laws, were worth around $1,000. She mentioned her father-in-law’s position as the first consul general for the Republic of Korea in New York City, adding a touch of historical intrigue to the objects’ provenance.
Expert Lark E. Mason examined the pieces, quickly determining that the dish and bowl were unrelated.
The dish, possibly 18th-century Chinese, lacked the typical markings of the era. Its thinness and stark white color hinted at a slightly later period, possibly made for someone of significant wealth.
The rice bowl and cover, while sharing design elements with 18th-century pieces, were assessed to be from the 20th century. When Mason asked the guest for her valuation, she modestly suggested $1,000.
Mason, however, declared the set to be worth a considerably higher sum: $15,000 to $25,000 at auction. The guest’s stunned reaction spoke volumes.
Online, viewers debated the composition of the items, with some suggesting they were made of rare white jade, potentially making Mason’s valuation an underestimate. The segment highlighted how even everyday objects can hold surprising historical and monetary value.