Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest says ‘wow, that’s crazy’ after hearing the value of his 125-year-old device (marketrealist.com)
A Magical Surprise on Antiques Roadshow
An “Antiques Roadshow” guest received a magical surprise when his antique automaton was appraised for a five-figure sum. The intricate device, a magician figure in a brown and yellow suit, captivated both the expert and the audience with its elegant movements.
Inherited from his mother, who received it as a gift in 1931, the automaton features a magician tapping his hat three times to reveal, and then vanish, an object. Expert Noel Barrett identified the piece as the work of Leopold Lambert, a renowned French automaton maker. Barrett emphasized that these intricate creations were not mere toys, but rather expensive objects d’art intended for display in the homes of the wealthy.
Demonstrating the automaton’s function, Barrett and the guest watched in awe as the magician performed its disappearing act. “As if by magic, the watch is gone,” Barrett remarked.
Despite some minor condition issues, including fraying on the magician’s collar and the need for some mechanical work, Barrett appraised the automaton at $10,000 to $15,000. The owner reacted with surprise, exclaiming, “Wow, that’s crazy!”
While viewers were fascinated by the automaton, some found its lifelike movements a bit unsettling. Comments on YouTube ranged from “a nice item to have in a curio, although it’s a little spooky,” to “Well, there goes my night’s sleep.” Others compared the automaton’s appearance to a Disney character, finding it charming rather than creepy.