A VASE passed down to a woman by her parents has been valued at a few thousand dollars thanks to its unique past.
She took the rare item to Antiques Roadshow for a second look and quickly discovered the qualities that made it worth serious money.
The owner of a 1900s vase has discovered its worth thousands[/caption]
Antiques Roadshow pointed out several unique markings that boosted its value[/caption]
“I got it from my mom — this is always something I really admired and wanted,” the owner of the pottery vase told appraiser David Lackey during a 2009 episode of the PBS series.
Her parents had told her a brief history of how they’d come across the vase, which could be seen in a turquoise hue and fish drawn down the side.
“They’d got it from family friends either in the 1940s or 1950s,” she recalled.
“[Her mother] knew it was a Rookwood vase, but beyond that, she didn’t really know anything.”
Lackey quickly confirmed that it was indeed a Rookwood pottery design and that the company was “one of the most important manufacturers of art pottery in America.”
Rookwood was founded in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the 1880s and quickly became known for its innovative works, according to the appraiser.
While the company did later mass-produce pottery, it sometimes made “one-of-a-kind and hand-painted” designs and the woman’s parents had come across just that.
“What’s great about this is these terrific fish that are on here,” Lackey noted.
He praised the “sea green” coloring and design that made it seem like the fish were underwater.
Although several “marks” on the bottom of the vase significantly increased its value.
ARTIST’S TOUCH
Included were what Lackey noted as the standard Rookwood marks of RP.
The “flames” around the initials helped date it back to the 1900s, with the “V” Roman numeral under it confirming the vase was from 1905 specifically.
Another “V” marking just below the others also meant that the glaze on the vase was “vellum,” a combination of a glossy and matte finish.
On the very bottom of the vase’s base was the artist’s mark, identified as “Albert Valentine” by the appraiser.
Antiques Roadshow best finds
Antiques Roadshow has helped people put a price on their treasures since 1979. Here are some of the most interesting finds
- A hand-me-down ring that had been in the family for generations was valued at $595,000
- A silver coin found on a farm is worth $30,000
- A Rolex that cost just $120 is now worth $45,000
- The portrait of a woman’s mother at four years old and its frame was worth $32,000
- A book of hymns that was kept in a basement was worth $50,000
- A rare sculpture bought at a flea market in 1961 was worth $100,000
- An antique floor lamp from an estate sale was worth $15,000
- A mobile from the 1940s was worth a whopping $2 million
- A tablecloth drawn on by a baseball legend was worth $1,500
- A Picasso plate that hung above an oven was worth $15,000
WHAT’S IT WORTH?
Considering the markings, coloring, and “particularly large” design of the woman’s vase, Lackey confirmed it would go for thousands.
“This piece, at auction, would probably sell for at least $5,000 to $7,500,” he said.
“Oh, wow, that is wonderful!” the owner of the vase exclaimed.
Lackey also recommended that she clean it a bit before putting it up for auction if she intended to.
Surprisingly, the value of the vase has decreased over the years, according to Antiques Roadshow.
In 2024, the show estimated it would only be worth a maximum of $4,000.
Another collector was recently told by Antiques Roadshow that their great-grandmother’s vase was worth at least $25,000 because of its shape.
Similarly, the owner of a vase that was gifted to them 30 years ago said it was “worth more than the condo” they sold when Antiques Roadshow told them it was worth $65,000.
