Antiques Roadshow guest’s painting worth a fortune - but there's a huge catch
A painting of a 19th-century yacht race was brought to Antiques Roadshow and is believed to be the work of a famed artist, but there's a mystery surrounding it.
An unsigned painting presented on Antiques Roadshow could potentially be worth up to half a million dollars, but its value hinges on solving the mystery of its origin.
The maritime artwork, which portrays a 19th-century yacht race, left appraisers in awe when it was brought to the show in Tampa, Florida, back in 2005.
Many speculate that the piece is the work of famed marine artist James Buttersworth, but the absence of a signature has left experts uncertain.
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The painting's estimated value ranges from $250,000 to $500,000, but this appraisal comes with a significant caveat: further research is required to definitively attribute it to Buttersworth.
Host Adam Monahan delved into this enigma in the podcast Yacht What it Looks Like, consulting appraisers, museum curators, auction experts, and public opinion to shed light on the painting's true identity.
If the appraisal were to be accurate, the artwork would rank among the most valuable items ever featured on the iconic TV show.
Back in 2002, a Navajo blanket valued between $350,000 and $500,000 in Tucson, Arizona, and a mid-16th-century Milanese parade helmet was previously valued at $250,000.
However, the record for the most valuable item in Antiques Roadshow history is held by a collection of signatures from every US presidential cabinet member from George Washington to Franklin Roosevelt, appraised at an astounding $1 million.
Notably, the owner of this historical treasure chose not to appear on the show.
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An unsigned yacht painting, renowned for its meticulous depiction of billowing sails and shimmering sea spray, reminiscent of Buttersworth's style, has intrigued art lovers for years.
The podcast discussed whether the artist's identity mystery has been resolved or remains elusive.
Antiques Roadshow airs on PBS in the US and BBC in the UK.
