An guest was left stunned thanks to the unexpectedly high valuation of a piece gifted by her aunt. The guest brought in a small mobile crafted by renowned American sculptor, Alexander Calder.
She explained that her aunt had met Calder at a cocktail party and had gifted him a needlepoint pillow featuring one of his works. In return, Calder had given her this mobile as a token of appreciation.
The guest had been in possession of the mobile since 1985 and had some restoration work done on it due to fading colours.
Expert Chris Kennedy noted that while the restoration would affect its value to a “certain degree”, the piece was likely created in the early 1940s, before Calder’s work became “very iconic”.
He added that Calder’s art typically involved thin wire, either aluminium or an “anodized weather-resistant material”, and he “always liked the use of primary colours”.
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Antiques Roadshow guest stunned as ‘simple’ object worth more than £1.6million. (Image: PBS)
Antiques Roadshow expert Chris Kennedy valuated the mobile. (Image: PBS)
Therefore, the presence of an orange piece on the guest’s mobile was considered “a little unusual” by some of the other Antiques Roadshow US appraisers.
The guest was left utterly astounded when she learned the true value of her item on the show.
Initially, it had been appraised in the late 1980s for a hefty sum of at least $30,000 (£24,000), but the expert revealed that its worth had significantly increased over time, reports .
He explained: “We worked on the values to somewhat of a consensus and it still needs to be validated.”
He then estimated that at auction, the piece could fetch between $400,000 and $600,000 (£324,000 – £485,000).
Alexander Calder likely created the mobile during the 1940s. (Image: PBS)
The Antiques Roadshow guest was taken aback by the staggering valuation. (Image: PBS)
Upon hearing this, the guest was so taken aback that she asked Kennedy to repeat the valuation. When the enormity of the figure sank in, she whispered in disbelief, “I don’t believe it” and clung to the set for support.
Kennedy went on to say: “Right now, Alexander Calder’s market is extremely hot and in a good retail setting, it would not be at all inconceivable that this very small, wonderful piece of art could probably break $1 million.”
He light-heartedly added: “Not bad for a pillow”, prompting the guest to quip about her dilemma: “My problem is, I’ve got one mobile and two children.”
Kennedy concluded with a nod to her spouse, saying: “I’m sure your husband who’s watching off camera will be equally happy with the good news.”
In 2021, the mobile’s retail value was updated to $2 million, equivalent to £1.6 million.