Antiques Roadshow: Native American artefacts valued by expert
WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow.
An Antiques Roadshow guest had to ask an expert to repeat the value of a necklace given to her as a “gift” by her husband decades ago.
The PBS series ventured to Palm Springs to meet more individuals with fascinating items, including a pensioner with a stunning opal necklace.
Explaining how it came to be hers, she said: “I got that in about the late 1970s or early 1980s and I got it at Robinson’s department store in their state sale department, actually my husband brought it home and surprised me.
“It was a gift [and] a little over $3,000 with tax and that was a lot of money to us.”
The guest said she was already aware that it was a Tiffany necklace but knew very little else apart from this.
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It was then expert Christie Romero’s job to fill in the blanks, commenting: “These are beautiful black opals, the larger opal is slightly crazed, the small opal is in perfect condition, both opals are what are known as patchwork opals with lots of play of colour with lots of red which is a very desirable colour.
“But not only is it signed Tiffany & Co on the bottom, looking at the workman ship here, tells me that the work was done by Louis Comfort Tiffany and his work was signed Tiffany & Co after 1907 and I believe it dates to the teens.”
When Romero stated it had been made by the iconic designer, she exclaimed “really?” but the big news was still to come.
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“It is beautifully handmade and a very desirable piece of jewellery”, Romero summarised.
“The value today is somewhere, at average retail, between $70,000 and $90,000. It’s a treasure.”
“Oh my God. You’re kidding me”, the guest replied with Romero confirming that she wasn’t joking.
The guest insisted for her to repeat the appraisal with Romero obliging: “Between $70,000 and $90,000 at average retail.”
“It’s a spectacular piece of jewellery by Louis Comfort Tiffany.
“Thank you so much for making my day”, with the guest laughing: “Thank you for making my day! That’s wonderful, thank you!”
Unsure of what to do next, the guest leaned over the table and held Romero’s face in her palms as she kissed the expert on the cheek.
Romero laughed: “Was that a big surprise?” but it wasn’t clear if the pensioner heard as she sat back in her chair and chuckled: “Oh my God” as she laid her hand on her head.
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on PBS.
