It is said that everything is worth what its purchaser will pay for it, a lesson one little boy from New Jersey learned well during an episode of Antiques Roadshow. In an episode that originally aired in 2014, the anonymous boy had the painting appraised by David Weiss, one of the show’s hosts and a professional auctioneer. Having only paid $2 for the painting, he was in pure shock when he found out its true worth.
Speaking to Weiss, the boy described how he obtained the painting. He and his dad were at an auction when he became enamored of the painting, which depicted a mother sitting with her child.
The boy told Weiss that he likes to visit local auctions and buy old paintings or pieces of silverware, later selling for a bigger profit. While his dad didn’t think that this individual piece of art was worth buying, the little boy was insistent, eventually being able to buy the painting for a mere $2.Examining the painting, Weiss determined that it dated all the way back to 1844. Pointing to a watercolor mark, Weiss was also able to learn that the painter was Albert Neuhuys, one of the most well-known Dutch artists of the 19th Century.
Speaking to the boy, Weiss told of how the piece was a prime example of the style of the time, where artists typically favored painting watercolor interior scenes of women sitting with their children.
After he was done examining the piece, Weiss asked the little boy what he thought the painting was worth. The boy confidently replied that he thought the painting was worth about $150. While agreeing with the boy’s assessment, Weiss felt that the painting was worth far more than $150.
Continuing, Weiss said that paintings of this style typically fetch between $1000 and $1500 at auction. Giving his final assessment, Weiss felt that the boy’s painting was worth $1498.
Upon hearing Weiss’s appraisal, the little boy was unable to hide his shock or his joy. After Weiss asked what the boy thought about the assessment, he replied, “I think I’m going to be rich!”Weiss was more than happy with the boy’s reaction, telling him that if he continued making smart purchases, he would be on the road to financial success. For his part, the boy hopes to one day start a career as an art dealer.