Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest gasps in disbelief after expert revealed the value of her vintage glass vase (marketrealist.com)
A Connecticut woman received a stunning surprise on Antiques Roadshow when a simple glass vase, a family heirloom for over six decades, was appraised for a five-figure sum. The owner recounted how her parents purchased the vase at an estate sale in New Haven, Connecticut, in the 1930s, admitting they “didn’t pay much money for it, because they didn’t have any money.” Little did they know, this unassuming “piece of glass” would become a treasure.
Appraiser Arlie Sulka identified the vase as a Tiffany Aquamarine Glass Vase, crafted around 1914 by Louis Comfort Tiffany, son of the famed jeweler Charles Tiffany. Sulka explained the rarity of the aquamarine glass, a difficult and costly technique to produce, mimicking the appearance of seawater. Early examples often featured aquatic life encased within the glass, later replaced with floral designs.
The vase’s authenticity was confirmed by the signature “L.C. Tiffany Favrile” and a serial number.
Sulka emphasized that while signed pieces aren’t always genuine, the unique aquamarine glass, impossible to replicate, solidified its provenance. She noted that similar vases sold for $200-$250 when new.
The owner gasped in disbelief as Sulka appraised the vase at $30,000-$40,000. The astonishment didn’t end there. A 2012 update from PBS revealed the vase’s value had skyrocketed to an astounding $90,000-$100,000, proving that sometimes, the most unassuming objects can hold remarkable value.