THE owner of a bronze sculpture passed down by his mother has been left stunned at its worth.
He brought the rare item to Antiques Roadshow to learn more about its special century-old history.
A man has discovered his mom’s sculpture is worth $30,000[/caption]
An appraiser with Antiques Roadshow confirmed its unique past[/caption]
“My mother had this on her dresser all of her life,” the man explained to appraiser Eric Silver during a 2009 episode.
The sculpture could be seen in a green patina bronze, depicting a woman carrying a baby in her left arm.
“She always thought of it as her mother holding her, and she really treasured it.”
The man added that he noticed a small marking, a signature, at the sculpture’s base over the years, but he’d never been able to make out what the inscription said.
Silver quickly noted that the signature was from none other than famous American sculptor Bessie Potter Vonnoh.
Vonnoh created works in the early 1900s and was most known for her small bronze statues featuring domestic scenes with female subjects and some garden fountains, per The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The appraiser continued to note a visible date on the statue below Vonnoh’s signature, but he couldn’t quite read it.
Another special marking was also on the side of the sculpture’s base.
MARKING VERIFIED
“It also has the foundry mark — it was cast by the Roman Bronze Works of New York City,” Silver told the man.
“They were a very prominent foundry at this time [20th century], and they did wonderful work.”
Silver also gave a little more backstory on Vonnoh, who studied in Chicago and Paris with August Rodin, a legendary French sculptor.
Vonnoh later married painter Robert Vonnoh and moved to New York City with him in 1899.
Considering that information, Silver noted that it was likely made around 1900, just after the couple moved to New York City permanently.
“It’s in very good condition,” the appraiser emphasized.
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WHAT’S IT WORTH?
The man told Silver that he’d previously gotten the sculpture appraised for around $100 in 1938 but hoped it was worth more.
“I think it is worth more than $100 — her work is very, very desirable,” Silver emphasized.
Considering everything, the appraiser said the Vonnoh sculpture would likely go for between $20,000 and $30,000 at a gallery.
The man was almost speechless at the evaluation.
“Oh my gosh, from $100 — that’s astounding,” he exclaimed.
It’s unclear if the man ever put it up at auction, but it would’ve gotten him more money if he did so back in 2009.
Antiques Roadshow noted that in 2024, the sculpture’s value would be considerably less at just $7,000 to $9,000.
