Antiques Roadshow Guest Gets the Surprise of a Lifetime After Host Examines Her Old Family Heirloom

12. Plus, a Massive Insurance Valuation

When she heard Lark Mason's original valuation, this lucky owner was very surprised; then, she was really surprised when she heard how much she should insure her statue for. Mason ranged the insurance valuation between $150,000 to $250,000. Probably not expecting too much, the owner arrived to the Antiques Roadshow and discovered she had museum-quality antique value hundreds of thousands of dollars. Though it's part of the appeal of Antiques Roadshow, it's kind of crazy to consider that this item, which surely would be the crowning gem of many collections and auctions, was simply sitting in this woman's house. And it's not the only occasion a rare gem made appearance on the program. The greater insurance amount reflects both the difficulties of replacing such a rare object should it be lost or destroyed as well as the possibility for the statue's worth to rise with time. This disclosure probably shifted the owner's whole view of the monument from a quirky family relic into a major asset needing cautious preservation and security. It also emphasizes the need of professional appraisals for antiques since many people would not know the actual worth of objects they own. Viewers of Antiques Roadshow continue to be drawn in by stories like these because of the exciting prospect that any garage or attic could hold a lost gem of great historical importance and worth.