A COLLECTOR has discovered the special history behind his letter box that makes it worth thousands.
He brought the rare item to Antiques Roadshow for a second look and was quickly informed he had its past all wrong.
A collector was shell-shocked at the evaluation for his 1900s letter box[/caption]
He’d bought the rare item 30 years ago for just a few hundred bucks[/caption]
“I bought it about 30 years ago in Brooklyn, New York,” the collector told appraiser Kerry Shrives during a 2009 episode of the PBS series.
The copper and brass letter box could be seen with a variety of art etched into it, with silver, red, and gold visible on the top and sides.
“At that time, the dealer told me it was Celtic Revival.”
The collector added that he believed, considering what the dealer had told him, the letter box was either English or Scottish in origin.
However, Shrives explained that it was French, designed by metalsmith Alfred Daguet.
She pointed to markings on the side of the letter box that confirmed the detail.
“He was a French art-nouveau metalworker,” Shrives said.
“He’s known for making a lot of jewel boxes, desk boxes, clocks, and album covers.”
RUSSIAN INSPIRATION
Shrives continued that Dagae made pieces alongside other “big names” during the movement, and each was highly regarded.
The box the collector had was specifically created between 1905 and 1910 and was more of a “Russian Revival” piece.
“The decoration is sort of this stylized design — it’s copper and brass with sort of glass cabochons and enamel,” the appraiser noted.
“The Russian ballet at the time was in Paris, and it’s likely [Daguet] got inspiration from that.”
She also added that the letter box had a “sturdy form” but was beautifully decorated with conjoined birds depicted at the very top.
All the materials used to make it also didn’t cost much at the time but had a very “rich-looking” appeal, per Shrives.
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“It may have actually been for letters,” she also emphasized while opening it to the leather lining inside.
“It would’ve been a desk box.”
So, what’s it worth?
RAKING IT IN
While the collector said he paid $250 for it 30 years ago, Shrives said that considering everything, it was worth several thousand dollars more.
She located the identical box with legs and all that sold for around $12,000 at auction.
The collector was stunned.
“Is that right? Oh my goodness, I can’t believe that,” he said.
“That’s staggering.”
Antiques Roadshow noted that in 2024, the box’s value sadly would’ve decreased by about half to $6,000.
Still, that’s quite the return on the collector’s $250 investment.
