I kept an old piece of decor from my grandparents for years – I was stunned when Antiques Roadshow said it’s worth $20k

AN unsuspecting granddaughter was shocked after learning that a piece of decor she kept from her grandparents was worth $20,000.

The stunning news came when the decor’s owner appeared on an episode of Antiques Roadshow last week.

YouTube/Antiques Roadshow PBS

YouTube/Antiques Roadshow PBS

YouTube/Antiques Roadshow PBS

According to the Utah resident, her grandparents lived in China for 20 years between 1918 and 1938 and brought back a variety of artifacts to the United States .

Being the first grandchild, she was given a bronze Buddha statue and stand.

The statue is bronze and features Buddha sitting atop a chair posing in Virasana, which is known as the hero’s pose or half lotus.

It depicts the legs crossed over each other and the sole of one foot is turned upward.

The Utah native revealed her grandparents lived in a variety of places in China and she was unsure where exactly they acquired the piece.

Lark E. Mason, who appraised the item described the significance of the statue to the owner.

“This is a seated figure of Buddha, the figure and the stand are all bronze,” Mason said.

“If you look here these kinds of lighter colors which are above the stylized petal patterns are remnants of a gilded lacquer surface.

“So at one time, this figure was entirely gilded.”

Because the statue appeared to have been gilded means it was covered in gold previously.

Mason turned the item around and pointed out where it appeared to have been covered in gold.

After examining the statue and the base it stood on the appraiser believed the item dated back to the Ming Dynasty.

The Ming Dynasty took place in China between 1368 to 1644.

During the dynasty, the Great Wall of China was refurbished, large naval expeditions took place, there was vibrant maritime trade, and there was a rise of a heavily monetized economy.

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

“I have no idea,” the owner said when asked by Mason how much she thought the item was worth.

Mason then told the owner that in an auction setting he believed the piece could sell between $15,000 and $20,000.

The owner was stunned and after learning the shocking news stood with a surprised face.

“Really? Oh my goodness,” the Utah native said.

“I had no idea. Wow,” the owner said still shocked.

The owner thanked her grandmother after the bronze Buddha statue and stands value was unveiled.

This isn’t the first time an individual was shocked by the value of their item on the show.

MORE ANTIQUES ROADSHOW FINDS

Another granddaughter was shocked when she was told that a quilt she inherited was worth $10,000.

According to the Utah native, the Hawaiian mission quilt was passed down to her from her mother who also got it from her grandmother who got it from her mother.

The white quilt featured a red border with several prominent US and Hawaiian flags as well as an eagle in the center with a shield of the American Flag.

In addition to the design, the quilt bore the legend, “Aloha oe Mrs. Libbie Noall.”

According to the appraiser, the blanket was “extremely desirable” for those in the quilt-collecting world due to its rarity.

The quilt’s owner was left stunned when she was told that the retail value fell between $9,000 and $10,000.

“Goodness, that’s amazing,” said the owner with a look of shock on her face adding that she had no idea of the value.