Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ expert stunned by a guest’s old painting, says ‘it’s one of the best I’ve seen’ (marketrealist.com)
A “Persian” Surprise on Antiques Roadshow!
An Antiques Roadshow guest received a pleasant shock when their family heirloom turned out to be worth a small fortune. The item, a painting titled “The Persian Book” by renowned artist Hovsep Pushman, stunned appraiser Colleene Fesko, who declared it “one of the best I’ve ever seen.”
The painting’s journey began in the 1930s when the guest’s great-grandfather purchased it from the Grand Central Art Gallery in New York. It remained a treasured family possession, passed down through generations, eventually landing in the guest’s hands in 1968.
Fesko provided insight into Pushman’s background, noting his Armenian heritage, studies in Istanbul, and eventual move to the United States. She highlighted the artist’s fascination with Asian art, evident in “The Persian Book.”
Adding to the painting’s allure was a personal note from Pushman himself, explaining the artwork’s symbolic meaning. He described the painting as a composition “of a past that probably never existed except in my imagination,” using Oriental objects to evoke a sense of mystery and beauty.
While an initial auction estimate placed the painting’s value between $15,000 and $25,000, Fesko ultimately recommended an insurance valuation between $50,000 and $75,000, taking into account the painting’s quality, provenance, and accompanying letter. The guest, understandably surprised, expressed their gratitude for the appraisal. Fesko reiterated her admiration for the piece, praising its unique blend of “lovely movement and lovely quiet.”