Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest ‘chokes up’ after expert revealed the value of her unique 1965 sculpture (marketrealist.com)
A recent episode of “Antiques Roadshow” featured a heartwarming appraisal that left one guest nearly speechless. The guest, an art teacher, brought in a unique wind chime sculpture inherited from her parents.
She explained to appraiser Meredith Hilferty that her brothers hadn’t been interested in the piece, but her artistic eye saw something special. Recalling a similar item she’d once seen on the show, she wisely kept the sculpture safe, even bringing it in from her porch where her dogs’ wagging tails frequently played the chimes.
Hilferty identified the piece as a beryllium copper sculpture by Harry Bertoia, likely dating back to the mid-1960s. Bertoia, originally known for his furniture designs for Florence Knoll, later gained fame for these stunning “Sonambient” sculptures, inspired by the wheat fields of his Italian childhood. Hilferty highlighted the precision and visual appeal of the sculpture, demonstrating its kinetic sound by gently moving the rods.
Despite the sculpture lacking a signature, a common trait for Bertoia’s work, Hilferty appraised the piece at a staggering $20,000 to $30,000. Overwhelmed with emotion, the guest responded, “Wow, pretty good.
Almost get choked up. That’s pretty exciting!”
Hilferty concluded the segment by praising the quality of the materials used in the sculpture and thanking the guest for sharing it with the “Antiques Roadshow” audience.