I kept my aunt’s old mobile in storage for decades – I was floored when Antiques Roadshow said it’s worth $2 million

A WOMAN was shocked to learn her aunt's old mobile is worth millions after she kept it in storage for decades.

The antique item's monetary value skyrocketed in 2021.

The woman appeared in Antiques Roadshow's 2010 show in Miami Beach, Florida, and had her aunt's old mobile appraised by Chris Kennedy, per PBS.

At the time, Kennedy told her that the "very small, wonderful piece of art" — created by American sculptor Alexander Calder somewhere around the 1950s — was worth between $400,000 and $600,000 at auction, adding that it could retail for $1 million.

The woman was shocked, as she had previously been told it was worth at least $30,000 when she had it restored in 1986.

"Oh, my God," she reacted to the hefty value.

Kennedy let her know that the restoration — which had touched up some of the colors — would "have an effect on the value to a certain degree."

As she revealed on the hit PBS television show, the woman's aunt received the mobile from Calder in 1958.

Kennedy said it was likely constructed a little earlier than that, with the woman saying that the early 1940s "was a guess."

She then explained the origin of the art piece.

"My aunt and uncle were having a cocktail party, and Calder was visiting friends of theirs who were invited to the party, so they took Calder along," she explained.

"And my aunt was very creative, and among other things, she had done a needlepoint pillow of one of Calder's works. And he was astounded. He'd never seen one like that before.

"And so she gave it to him. And a couple of days later, somebody appeared at the doorway and he had given her this mobile as a thank you for the pillow."

The woman received the antique mobile from her aunt in 1985.

In 2021, the mobile's auction value was updated to $800,000 and its retail value to $2 million.

ICONIC ANTIQUE

As Kennedy explained, Calder "essentially invented" the mobile art form, which "became very iconic of 1950s modern art."

He continued, "And I think the late '50s sort of marks a turning point where he begins to concentrate more on larger installations.

"It's made on very thin wire, and then these are usually either aluminum or an anodized weather-resistant material..."

As he continued to describe the item, he said the mobile is "slipped in" the aluminum or anodized weather-resistant material "and then very delicately soldered."

Kennedy added, "And you can see in here where all of the knots and joints all put in in a very balancing kind of format.

"He always liked the use of primary colors. This back one is a little bit more of an orange, and some of the other appraisers on the set thought this might be a little bit unusual for a color."

OTHER ANTIQUE WINS

Many people have been pleasantly surprised while appearing on Antiques Roadshow.

One woman found out a $40 jacket was actually worth $15,000.

The clothing item had belonged to the late TV legend Carroll O'Connor, who played Archie Bunker in the iconic sitcom All in the Family.

A man was shocked to learn that a salesman's sample of a medical device was worth $18,000.

He had inherited the item from his great-grandfather.