<body><div>THE owner of a bronze sculpture passed down by his mother has been left stunned at its worth.He brought the <a href="https://www.the-sun.com/topic/rare-toys-and-collectibles/">rare</a> item to <a href="https://www.the-sun.com/topic/antiques-roadshow/">Antiques Roadshow</a> to learn more about its special century-old history.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4ejSek_0w9CQjpG00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4ejSek_0w9CQjpG00" width="1269" height="665" ><figcaption>A man has discovered his mom's sculpture is worth $30,000 Credit: PBS</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=44zdfg_0w9CQjpG00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=44zdfg_0w9CQjpG00" width="1269" height="665" ><figcaption>An appraiser with Antiques Roadshow confirmed its unique past Credit: PBS</figcaption></figure><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate>"My mother had this on her dresser all of her life," the man explained to appraiser Eric Silver during a 2009 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Reh_cbSXFzA">episode</a>.The sculpture could be seen in a green patina bronze, depicting a woman carrying a <a href="https://www.the-sun.com/topic/parenting/">baby</a> 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 <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/bess/hd_bess.htm">The Metropolitan Museum of Art</a>.<nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate>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.<h2>MARKING VERIFIED</h2>"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 <a href="https://www.the-sun.com/where/paris/">Paris</a> with August Rodin, a legendary French sculptor.Vonnoh later married painter Robert Vonnoh and moved to <a href="https://www.the-sun.com/where/new-york-city/">New York City</a> 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.<nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate>"It's in very good condition," the appraiser emphasized.<h2>Antiques Roadshow best finds</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1DCGHu_0w9CQjpG00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1DCGHu_0w9CQjpG00" width="620" height="413" ></figure>Antiques Roadshow has helped people put a price on their treasures since 1979. Here are some of the most interesting finds<ul><li>A hand-me-down ring that had been in the family for generations was <a href="https://www.the-sun.com/money/10415632/inherited-jewelry-great-aunt-expert-valued/">valued at $595,000</a></li><li>A silver coin found on a farm is <a href="https://www.the-sun.com/money/10487342/silver-coin-grandfathers-farm-james-madison-expert-worth/">worth $30,000</a></li><li>A Rolex that cost just $120 is now <a href="https://www.the-sun.com/money/10869029/rolex-gmt-master-antiques-roadshow-valuable-original/">worth $45,000</a></li><li>The portrait of a woman's mother at four years old and its frame was <a href="https://www.the-sun.com/money/12305557/portrait-famous-boston-artist-antiques-roadshow/">worth $32,000</a></li><li>A book of hymns that was kept in a basement was <a href="https://www.the-sun.com/money/12302317/scared-hymns-book-antiques-roadshow-worth-50k/">worth $50,000</a></li><li>A rare sculpture bought at a flea market in 1961 was <a href="https://www.the-sun.com/money/12311783/antique-roadshow-demetre-chiparus-sculptor-eric-silver/">worth $100,000</a></li><li>An antique floor lamp from an estate sale was <a href="https://www.the-sun.com/money/12287930/floor-lamp-antiques-roadshow-telescoping-feature/">worth $15,000</a></li><li>A mobile from the 1940s was worth a <a href="https://www.the-sun.com/money/12196549/old-mobile-storage-decades-antiques-roadshow-worth-2-million/">whopping $2 million</a></li><li>A tablecloth drawn on by a baseball legend was <a href="https://www.the-sun.com/money/12343254/tablecloth-baseball-icon-antiques-roadshow-markings/">worth $1,500</a></li><li>A Picasso plate that hung above an oven was worth $15,000 </li></ul><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><h2>WHAT'S IT WORTH?</h2>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 <a href="https://www.the-sun.com/topic/money-us/">money</a> 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.<nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate></div></body>

Mountain View, CA

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. \"My mother had this on her dresser all of her life,\" the man explained to appraiser...

My mom gave her favorite sculpture to me – I couldn’t believe Antiques Roadshow said a marking makes it worth $30k

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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. "My mother had this on her dresser all of her life," the man explained to appraiser...