Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest brings artifacts in paper bag — then she found out its real value (marketrealist.com)
From Paper Bag to Priceless: “Antiques Roadshow” Guest Stunned by $21,000 Find
What started as a simple clean-out of her parents’ home turned into a jaw-dropping revelation for one “Antiques Roadshow” guest, whose collection of humble wood carvings, brought to the show in a paper bag, turned out to be worth a staggering $21,000.
The guest, whose name was not released, inherited a dog, parrot, chicken, and eagle carving from her parents. Unaware of their true significance, she simply sought to learn more about the items as her parents prepared to move into a retirement home. Little did she know, these seemingly ordinary trinkets were the work of a renowned 19th-century folk artist.
Appraiser Ken Farmer identified the carvings as creations by Wilhelm Schimmel, a German immigrant born in 1817. Schimmel, known as one of America’s foremost folk sculptors, was an itinerant artist who often traded his carvings for supplies, and, as Farmer humorously noted, “a lot of liquor,” with many of his pieces initially found in alehouses and taverns. His eagle carvings, in particular, are highly celebrated.
The appraisal unfolded with increasing astonishment for the guest. Farmer began by valuing the dog carving at $1,000, followed by the chicken at $2,000, and the parrot at $3,000.
Each pronouncement elicited gasps and a visible struggle for balance from the guest, who exclaimed, “Wow. I just have ’em in a paper bag over there!”
The grand finale came with the appraisal of the eagle carving, which Farmer valued at an astounding $9,000. This news nearly knocked the guest off her feet.
“Wow! There’s my sister over there.
I can’t believe that. Wow!”
she exclaimed, quickly clutching the eagle to her chest and declaring, “The Eagle’s mine!” when asked how she and her sister would divide the inheritance.
Adding to the excitement, the show recently updated the collection’s value, confirming its worth at an impressive $21,000. This heartwarming story serves as a testament to the hidden treasures that can lie within everyday objects, proving that sometimes, the most valuable possessions are the ones we least expect.