Antiques Roadshow seller burst into tears after being told he's rich when finding item 'on back of chair'
An Antiques Roadshow seller was left feeling emotional after the value of a 'random item' that he had on one of his chairs was revealed to him.
During an episode of the PBS TV show from 23 years ago, an elderly man named Ted made an appearance after looking to get a blanket, that was passed down for generations in his family, appraised.
According to the man, it was given to the foster father of his grandmother by well-known American frontiersman, fur trapper, wilderness guide and Indian agent Kit Carson, who was around in the 19th century.
He's not the first to blindly get something valued after being told about its history, as people have had random items valued on the show at six-figures, changing their lives.
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If Ted was to be believed, then the mid-19th century Ute First Phase Blanket boasted a lot of history and significance, as appraiser Donald Ellis explained how valuable the item was.
Originally found 'on the back' of one of the man's chairs, Donald admitted that he 'stopped breathing a little bit' after seeing the Navajo blanket for the first time.
The appraiser further explained: "It's not just a chief's blanket, it's the first type of chief's blanket made. These were made in about 1840 to 1860, and it's called a Ute, first phase.
"A Ute, first phase, wearing blanket. But it's Navajo-made, they were made for Ute chiefs, and they were very, very valuable at the time. This is sort of, this is Navajo weaving in its purest form."
Revealing it's made from hand-woven wool, Donald commented on how smooth it is and compared it to silk.
Ellis then asked Ted if he is a rich man, to which he simply replied: "No."
He then dropped the bomb on the guest, revealing: "Well, sir, um... I'm still a little nervous here, I have to tell you. On a really bad day, this textile would be worth $350,000 (£261,000). On a good day, it's about a half a million dollars (£373,900)."
In utter disbelief, Ted's jaw dropped, with Ellis calling the find a 'national treasure'.
Ted said: "I had no idea. It was laying on the back of a chair."
He started to shed some tears, as the appraiser admitted that he 'just about died' when Ted brought it in.
In today's money, the find would be worth a cool $1,500,000 (£1,121,800) to $2,000,000 (£1,495,800) once adjusted for inflation.
Clearly emotional, Donald gave the guest some time to process the news he had just been told before going into more detail about the blanket, and how it could even be worth more.
Donald further explained that the value was not considering the Kit Carson provenance, as this is sometimes difficult to work out.
"If we could do research on this and we could prove with a, without a reasonable doubt that Kit Carson did actually own this, um, the value would increase again - maybe 20 percent," he revealed.
Ted emotionally responded: "Wow. I can't believe it. My grandmother (and grandfather), you know, were poor farmers. She had, her foster father had started some gold mills and, you know, discovered gold and everything, but there was no wealth. No wealth in the family at all. Whoa... I can't believe..."
It honestly might be worth asking your family members about some of the old things sitting around your house.
The strangest items that have appeared on Antiques Roadshow
Some items on the show have just been downright bizarre...
Human hair from famous poets
Ever dreamed of owning the locks of William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge?
Well, it'll cost you, as when this item was brought on Antiques Roadshow last year it was valued at upwards of £40,000.
The clippings were a family heirloom, and according to expert Justin Croft, one was taken on a person's deathbed.
Yikes.
Nightmare fuel Teletubbies concept art
Turns out Tinky-Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po originally looked pretty scary.
Jonathan Hills drew the concept art for the future children's TV icons. He sadly died in 2020 and his wife brought some of his original sketches on the show in 2022.
Expert Mark Hill admitted some of the drawings were 'creepy', but went on to value the individual pieces between £500 and £2,000, and the entire collection of 80 drawings at up to £80,000.
A bottle of pee
Who could forget the time expert Andy McConnell inadvertently drank urine back in 2016?
A bloke called John found the bottle in his garden, and McConnell used the taste test to figure out what was inside, thinking it was port.
Fast forward to 2019, and Fiona Bruce revealed to McConnell: "Inside were these brass pins, all of these dating from the late 1840s, and the liquid - urine, a tiny bit of alcohol and one human hair."
It turned out it was a 'witches bottle', buried on the threshold of a house as a protection against curses and bad luck.
Topics: Antiques Roadshow, History, Money, TV and Film
Joshua Nair