Rhinoceros horn cups brought to the Antiques Roadshow on Saturday in Tulsa became the highest-value appraisal ever made by the PBS television show in its 16 year history. The unidentified man, who started collecting the carved Chinese cups inexpensively, and had no idea of their worth, was told they were valued at 1-1.5 million dollars.
The rhino horn cups from the late 17th- or early 18th-century, have increased in value dramatically since their original purchase because of today’s strong market for Chinese antiques.
The second highest appraisal recorded during the 9-time Emmy-nominated Antiques Roadshow was also Chinese, a collection of carved jade bowls, estimated to be worth as much as $1.07 million, discovered at the event in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2009.
“We couldn’t be more excited about such an extraordinary, rare treasure,” said executive producer Marsha Bemko. “We look forward to sharing it with the nation!”
Tulsa was the fourth stop on the TV show’s six-city 2011 production tour. The record-breaking find will air as part of Roadshow’s 16th season, running from January to June 2012.