A MIAMI realtor was shocked to discover a thank-you gift he received 30 years ago was worth tens of thousands of dollars.
During a recent episode of Antiques Roadshow, an appraisal expert noted that the pricy collector’s piece was “something we can’t find anywhere.”
A man was stunned to discover a uniquely-shaped vase he had held onto for over three decades, which was a rare find.
The blue-and-white striped vase was designed in the 1950s by Fulvio Bianconi, an Italian artist and designer.
He told the appraiser, Arlie Sulka, that he received the vase as a gift from a real estate client in Miami Beach.
“It was actually a gift from the father of the first sale I ever made, the daughter,” he said, adding that the woman’s father had given him the piece.
Sulka, the owner of the world-renowned Tiffany gallery, Lillian Nassau LLC in New York City, examined the piece as he shared his story.
“I sold her a condo for $48,000…it was a difficult sale,” he added.
The man said he knew little about the vase, only that he figured it was “Italian” and that he knew it was “art glass.”
The original owner had “collected art glass,” and after finding himself with too many pieces, gave the man a piece from his collection.
Sulka confirmed that Bianconi designed the piece, and likely produced by a master glassworker at the Venini workshops in Murano.
What makes Murano glass so special is its “unparalleled quality, exquisite range of colors,” and “unsurpassed craftsmanship,” according to Venice Tours.
Sulka noted that the vase’s shape and decoration were “very elegant” and “very Italian.”
The vase’s shape, originally believed to be a “double gourd,” was actually meant to “mimic the female form.”
Bianconi was known for incorporating the female figure in his designs.
Antiques Roadshow best finds
Antiques Roadshow has helped people put a price on their treasures since 1979. Here are some of the most interesting finds
- A hand-me-down ring that had been in the family for generations was valued at $595,000
- A silver coin found on a farm is worth $30,000
- A Rolex that cost just $120 is now worth $45,000
It also explains why the vase appears narrower or broader at different points when rotated.
Sulka also explained that Murano glassworkers invented a specific technique, dubbed zanfirico, to make these unique vases.
Zanfirico glass consists of fine canes, or lines, which have been stretched and twisted to form a lattice pattern.
She also noted the vase’s use of rette configurations, calling the diagonal-shaped lines “beautifully done” and “beautifully rendered.”
What made this vase such a unique find, however, was the combination of the rette configuration with the zanfirico technique.
“It’s something we can’t find anywhere,” she said, adding that in a retail venue, “something like this” vase could easily sell for $65,000 or more.
The owner was immediately taken aback.
His jaw dropped, his eyes widened, and he began laughing.
“$65,000?” he said, questioning the figure.
“Wow,” he added.
Sulka explained that the “people who are collecting contemporary art are now looking at the [type of] glass,” which explains the high valuation.
“The market has seen enormous jumps…things that were selling for low thousands are now bringing in tens of thousands of dollars,” she added.
She even noted one similar vase that recently fetched “a quarter of a million dollars.”
The owner, breathless, was too stunned to speak.
“Thank you Arlie,” he said.
Sulka noted that the vase he received as a “thank you” gift for selling the condo was now “worth more than the condo you sold.”
Viewers were equally shocked to learn the vase was worth well over $50,000.
“Definitely a top-ten Antiques Roadshow reaction. Love it,” one viewer wrote.
“The Antique Road Show is so interesting and fun,” another viewer shared.
“I was anxious the entire time that (in his excitement) he might accidentally jostle the table,” another viewer joked.
One skeptical viewer, however, noted that the price of some Fulvio Balconi vases had recently gone down.
“I hope that guy sold the Fulvio Bianconi Venetian glass vase right away,” the viewer wrote.
“I’ll bet those prices (65k) didn’t last long! I looked, and they’re currently around $1,500-5,000,” they added.
Valuable thrifting finds revealed
Here are some of the best thrift store finds:
- Tiffany & Co. earrings that sold for $0.34 and are valued at $430
- American Girl doll that sold for $5.99 and is valued at $300
- Bionicle toy that sold for $14.95 and is valued at $18.101
- Gold record plaque for DJ Quik’s 1992 album Way 2 Fonky that sold for @20 and is valued at $200
- Rothy’s brand Sugared Berry pointed-toe flats that sold for $155 retail and are valued at $250
GIFTS GALORE
Many of the pieces on Antiques Roadshow are lucky finds.
From flea markets and garage sales to hand-me-downs and heirlooms, the iconic show – and its appraisers – have captivated audiences nationwide with their rags-to-riches tales.
Some of the best finds on the show, however, happen to be gifted to their new owners, who are shocked to discover their true worth.
One woman had to hold back tears after learning that a gift from her father, a 1956 Gustave Baumann print titled Rain in the Mountains, was worth far more than the $125 he paid for it.
She had received the gift – now worth tens of thousands of dollars – when she was just 10 years old.
During another episode, a man recalled how he received his first watch from a family member.
The man’s uncle, a physician, realizing he didn’t have a watch on his wrist, took his off and gave it to his nephew.
“He purchased it from Tiffany’s in New York,” the man shared, explaining he received the gift right before going to college.
The watch, given to him for free, turned out to be a Rolex – and worth a pretty penny.
