Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest says ‘I can’t believe that’ after hearing the value of her 1921 vase (marketrealist.com)
A woman appearing on PBS’s “Antiques Roadshow” received a pleasant surprise when a vase she inherited from her father was appraised for thousands of dollars. The guest, who admitted to knowing little about the piece’s origins, watched as appraiser Suzanne Perrault identified the item as a 1921 Arthur Conant Rookwood vase.
Perrault explained that Rookwood Pottery, established in Cincinnati in 1880, operated intermittently throughout the 20th century. Arthur Conant, a first-rate decorator, worked at Rookwood for roughly 25 years beginning around 1915. Markings on the bottom of the vase confirmed both its Rookwood origin and Conant’s design.
Perrault pointed out the vase’s unique design, inspired by Japanese woodblock prints, highlighting its intricate, multi-dimensional background. The guest, rediscovering the vase’s beauty under the studio lights, expressed renewed appreciation for the piece. Perrault even noted that the vase’s design had sparked curiosity among her colleagues.
Finally, Perrault estimated the vase’s auction value between $4,000 and $6,000, leaving the guest speechless. Overcome with emotion, she expressed her astonishment and gratitude.
She revealed that she was the only family member who had wanted the vase, drawn to its depiction of a bird. The rediscovered value clearly added to her fondness for the heirloom.