WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow.
On Antiques Roadshow, a set of chairs with a remarkable history left expert Will Farmer evidently wowed when presented by a woman who had inherited them from her parents.
The valuation at Pollok Park in Glasgow turned into a light-hearted moment when Farmer encountered the American guest seated comfortably in one of her three chairs she wished to appraise.
He quipped: “Well, I feel, looking at you sat here this psychiatrist’s chair, I should ask, any problems? Any issues you want to talk about?”, to which she responded with a laugh, “No, I’m alright”
Farmer continued, adding a touch of humour to their exchange: “Look, I think there is only one issue and only one problem here that clearly, like me, you have a love of mid-century modern furniture.
“So come on, fill in the blanks for me. Where does this amazing array of chairs come from?”
The guest recounted her family’s history: “Well the chairs come from my parents, actually. They grew up in the 1930s and 1940s in Detroit. And my dad was the first in his family to go to college, let alone medical school.
“He turned out to be a psychiatrist. Because he had no sense of art or design or anything, but my mum did – she was a huge fan of design – this is one of her original books.
“So she trotted them off to Herman Miller in Michigan, and they kind of went to town. So they bought stuff for his office and for their home.”
Antiques Roadshow guest bends over in disbelief as late parents’ ‘iconic’ chairs get whopping value (Image: BBC)
Antiques Roadshow expert Will Farmer valued three chairs for between £10,000 and £12,000. (Image: BBC)
Farmer expressed his fascination: “So this is your father’s psychiatrist couch? So now in your home, but many people before you have sat there and talked through their problems.”
In a light-hearted remark, he continued: “You know what? If I was going to talk through my problems, I think my problems would feel a lot better in this chair.”
She then retorted: “Or you could sit here and have a cocktail,” eliciting laughter from the audience.
The expert continued: “This is, to my mind, and to anyone’s money, an icon.
“This chair was designed by Charles and Ray Eames. This is the 670 and 671 lounge chair and ottoman. First designed in 1956. Eames based the design on a 19th Century club chair. I mean, they called it a refuge from the strains of modern life.
“He always said that he loved it when the leather got worn and when they got beaten up and he wanted it to look like a well-worn baseball mitt.”
The expert then revealed a personal connection to the piece: “It is such a beautiful bit of design and I will admit I’ve got one as well,” to which the guest responded with a cheerful: “Hey hey!”
Moving on to the coconut chairs situated to the side, he attributed their conception to George Nelson and credited a collaboration with George Mulhauser: “When the design was first patented, the idea of it is, it was meant to look like a segment of coconut,” he explained.
“It was about ease and freedom of movement. These [two blue chairs] designed, 1955. That [the psychiatrist’s chair] designed, 1956. Still in production today. Still considered two of the most important chairs of the 20th Century.”
An Antiques Roadshow guest brought in her late parents’ three chairs, one of which was used as a psychiatrist’s chair. (Image: BBC)
The guest joked: “You’re making me feel important,” to which Farmer warmly responded: “You are important. These chairs are important. I love them.
“The thing I also love – do I see there the original invoice? So, this was, in 1962, $528. It’s a lot of money back then. But these are still a lot of money today.”
A poignant moment followed when the guest revealed that her parents had passed away, yet she found comfort in the chairs, saying they felt “like my family at home.”
The time had come for the valuation: “Coconut chair, period example, without its ottoman. £2,000.
“Coconut chair, period example, with its ottoman, £3,000. Lounge chair and ottoman, period example, original gorgeous, and, because it is such a lovely, lovely example, in such honest condition, I’m going to say £4,000 to £6,000.”
Overwhelmed by the figures, the guest was visibly moved, exclaiming: “Wow! Honestly? In that condition, that’s amazing.”
Farmer continued: “I think here, because of the honesty, the history, the receipts, the story, the collective wow, you’ve got between £10,000 and £12,000.”
The guest, elated, could only utter, “Oh man!” before confirming the cherished items would remain with her, “Absolutely, yeah.”
Reflecting on the experience later, the guest shared: “It’s great to get them in the light of day, so to speak. We admire them so much but it’s just nice to share it.”
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on One and iPlayer.