A Valuable Dilemma: Should She Keep the Priceless Heirloom or Sell It for a Fortune?

Grandma’s Native American Painting Surprises Granddaughter in US Version of “Bares for Rares”

In the US, there is a show similar to “Bares for Rares.” Rose had initially sought the free appraisal service, expecting her beloved grandmother’s painting to be valued at around $300. She never intended to part with this cherished heirloom.

However, things took a surprising turn. Despite a previous appraiser estimating the painting’s value at $250 years ago, it turned out that Rose’s grandmother had bequeathed her a genuine masterpiece. Suddenly, the question arose: should she preserve the memento or become instantly wealthy?

The Grand Day

As Rose stared in disbelief at the appraiser, the whole world seemed to stand still. Her emotions swung wildly, with each one reflected on her face.

From disbelief to tears, a whirlwind of emotions played out while the appraiser quietly waited for her to regain composure before sharing further information about her beloved heirloom for her to process.

“Bares for Rares” – US Version

The Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center played host to the popular “Antiques Roadshow” and its televised series. Over 5,000 people flocked to have their old or potentially valuable items appraised by experts.

Everyone fervently hoped to discover whether their possessions were worth their weight in gold or merely accumulated clutter. Among the crowd, one person patiently waited, eager to have their item evaluated by the appraiser.

A Family Treasure

This particular painting had been passed down through their family for many generations, making it emotionally invaluable and simply irreplaceable.

Now, they longed to finally uncover whether this artwork held any monetary value or if it was merely a decorative piece to be displayed in their home and eventually passed on to another family member. But they weren’t quite sure if they wanted to know more than that.

Emotional or Material Treasure

The painting had always adorned their grandmother’s bedroom, cherished for its artistic and soothing qualities. It had always been a source of comfort and a constant presence for their grandmother.

Yet, nobody had ever truly known whether it was an original or a reproduction, or how much it was worth. Rose had only recently suspected it could be an original painting when something strange happened.

Inherited from Grandma

Rose inherited this beautiful painting after her beloved grandma’s passing. She felt deeply honored to receive this artwork that her grandmother had held so dear.

Whenever she gazes at the painting, she feels her beloved grandma’s presence, even though she is no longer with them. One day, as she admired the frame, something caught her attention.

An Intruder

A minor flaw seemed to mar the beauty of the artwork, so Rose took it outside into the light to examine the blemish closely. And there it was. Upon closer inspection, she discovered a small black insect.

Somehow, it had become trapped between the canvas and the glass pane in the frame. Carefully, she opened the back of the frame, removing the glass to expose the artwork to sunlight and fresh air.

Gently and Carefully

Upon closer inspection, Rose realized that the insect was actually a mosquito. She delicately picked up the mosquito between her thumb and index finger, lightly brushing the painted canvas with her knuckle. Her heart began to race in her chest. She placed the mosquito amongst the flowers and quickly covered the painting with the glass again.

Later, she explained, “I took it to the front yard and opened it to retrieve the mosquito so I could take it to the university, and then it startled me a bit. I closed it immediately because it looked like it might be real.” But she wouldn’t discover the truth until much later.

It All Started with a Mosquito

If you were to ask someone what they believe to be the most annoying insect on the planet, you’ll likely find the most common answer to be the mosquito. They truly are pesky pests, at best keeping us awake at night with their high-pitched buzzing, and at worst, known carriers of infections.

However, for Rose, the mosquito proved to be the crucial key to uncovering the truth about her grandmother’s painting. She just needed to find out what that truth was.

Finding an Appraiser

Rose had spent most of the day waiting to meet the appraiser, and now it was finally her turn. After carefully balancing her painting on the appraisal table, she was asked to take a seat.

With bated breath, Rose sat down beside it, brimming with anticipation. The butterflies in her stomach intensified as Meredith Hilferty, the head appraiser, took a seat across from her. It was now or never.

The Tension Mounts

Meredith started the interview by asking Rose if she knew anything about the artwork, and unlike many other attendees of the exhibition, she seemed to have some knowledge about the artist.

Rose began to tell Meredith what her family believed about the artist: “I think he was born in France and then moved to northern Pennsylvania,” she said.

Henry François Farny

Henry Francois Farny was a renowned American painter and illustrator, whose relationship with the Native American tribes became the stuff of legends. His work centered around the lives of Native Americans in the United States during the 19th century.

It was said that he learned about forest knowledge as a child, from the Seneca tribe as they hunted in the area where he lived, near their reservation. But how did Rose’s grandmother come to possess the painting, if it was indeed authentic?

The Painter

“I know he was born in France,” Rose replied. “And then his family moved to northern Pennsylvania, so he could have been in the area when he painted it and when my grandmother received it. And then he moved to Ohio.

He had ties to the Sioux tribe, and they actually adopted him and gave him the name ‘LongBoots,'” and the symbol of a circle enclosing a dot. “And that’s that little circle below his signature,” Rose added.

An Exciting Tale

Meredith nodded her head, acknowledging that Rose was indeed correct about some details regarding the artist’s history, and agreed that it could be possible for the painting to be authentic, based on the location of Rose’s grandmother at the time.

But she had one more question to ask Rose, and the answer sent shockwaves through the audience. “Has it ever been appraised? Do you know if your grandmother had it appraised?” she asked gently. Rose thought carefully before answering, but what she said was scandalous.

Already Appraised Twice

“It was appraised twice as part of a general home appraisal. In 1998, it was valued at $200 as a print, and in 2004, it was valued at $250,” Rose explained.

Disbelief briefly flashes in Meredith’s eyes before she smiles and changes her tone, trying to hide what she already knows as a renowned appraiser.

The New Appraisal

Meredith looks at the painting and then back at Rose, suppressing her smile. Then, without changing her tone or skipping a beat, she professionally appraises the beautiful family heirloom.

It is her presentation that makes the value of the artwork all the more shocking. Rose’s face starts to turn bright red with utter disbelief, and then a tear slowly rolls down her cheek.

Worth a Fortune

Meredith turns to Rose and calmly says, professionally, “If we were to auction the painting today, I would estimate it to be worth $200,000 to $300,000.”

It takes Rose a moment to comprehend what has just been told to her. And then she is too stunned to speak. Finally regaining her composure, her reaction is priceless.

Unbelievable Information

Meredith remains silent as the camera zooms in on Rose’s reaction. Every emotion is reflected on her face, from disbelief to elation. Then she giggles a little, and tears start to well up in her eyes.

Through sobs, she poses an innocent question that reveals what her grandmother’s painting means to her. Rose speaks again, her throat choked with emotions.

The First Question

“So, I can’t hang it up then?” she squeaks, as the value of her grandmother’s painting finally sinks in and she realizes that she probably shouldn’t have it hanging as a decoration over her bed.

Meredith is initially taken aback by the young woman’s emotions, but then she begins to share more fascinating details about the artwork. As an appraiser, one doesn’t often have the chance to evaluate such a treasure.

The Content

The intriguing artwork depicts a group of Sioux Native Americans riding horseback around the curve of a rocky mountain path. It was created during the artist’s most prolific period.

Meredith further explains to Rose, “Starting from around 1890, we begin to see some of his best paintings. He represented Native Americans in a very peaceful and calm manner.”

A Friend of the Indians

“You can see in his paintings that, unlike some other artists of that time, he never really introduced conflict into his work,” she continued. Rose listened attentively.

“He just wanted to show the Native Americans in their natural environment – without too much else besides the landscape around them.” His works are characterized by respect and genuine interest.

Respect and Interest

“The painting always hung directly above my grandma’s bed. I guess her father gave it to her after she spent the summer on a Dude Ranch when she was 19, in…well…the 1940s,” confirmed Rose, still tearful.

But then she smiles again. And people around the world can’t get enough of the tearful reaction of the young woman upon learning that her beloved and sentimental grandmother’s painting is worth a fortune.

What to Do?

“What a heavy dilemma. Something so valuable, beautiful, and important to your family’s memory. A historical relic of an American master. But on the other hand, a HUGE pile of money that could change your world.

It could be used to buy a new house or pay off debts or serve as debt relief,” commented one woman. “Such a difficult decision and no wrong answer, but really no right one either.”

Worth More Than Grandma’s House

Over four million internet users watched as Rose discovered the true value of the painting and her grandmother’s estimated heirloom on YouTube. Most have nice things to say and comment on her character and honesty.

“It was interesting that her first reaction was one of loss, despite the value she believed the painting held. She said, ‘So, I can’t hang it up?’ and shed tears.”

The Internet Celebrates with Rose

The insightful commentator continued, “That means the painting reminds her of her grandmother, and due to the high value of the object, she can’t risk it being stolen.”

She needs to place it in a secure location, safe from thieves, but not within her sight. She won’t be able to see it every day and think of her dear grandma. Very sweet reaction.” But not all comments on the video were as positive.

Critical Voices as Well

Some viewers expressed disappointment and complete annoyance that the first two appraisals of the heirloom were so far off. “What kind of appraiser just assumes it’s a print?” someone wrote, annoyed. Others wondered if it was a scam or an honest mistake.

Some said it might have been appraised by a jack-of-all-trades while conducting a broad home appraisal, but we will never know the truth.

The Mosquito

Rose, on the other hand, now worried about only one thing when she learned the true value of the artwork. “Should I have left the mosquito behind?” Rose stuttered, asking the appraiser.

She feared that she had done the wrong thing by exposing the artwork to the elements. Meredith gently reassures her with her answer, “Actually, it’s not a bad idea that you got rid of the mosquito,” she said. And then she explained why.

Lucky Break

“Normally, we would prefer to have a conservator take care of that, but the mosquito could have continued to cause stains. It’s good that the mosquito was no longer there,” she explained.

The relief that washes over Rose is evident on her face as she realizes that she did the right thing by trusting her instincts and removing the mosquito.

Better for the Painting

Ultimately, removing the mosquito from the painting was a good idea. As Meredith explains, there could have been a stain that a conservator could likely have removed.

But the fact remains that the removal of the mosquito had a dual effect. On one hand, it preserved the painting from further potential damage, and on the other hand, the unfortunate mosquito played yet another crucial role.

No Mosquito, No Discovery

The tiny and insignificant mosquito played a much bigger role in Rose’s story – it pointed her in the right direction and gave her a glimmer of hope that there was more to the piece than meets the eye.

Without the mosquito, she would likely never have been prompted to inspect the painting or even bring it to Meredith for evaluation. But now, as some commentators quickly pointed out, Rose has to make a very big decision.