Lion Statue Brings Antiques Roadshow Expert To Tears

A lady brought her antique to get appraised at the Antiques Roadshow in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She didn’t have any expectations. Her grandparents traveled to China many years ago and brought back an extremely heavy marble statue. The statue was passed down to her mother, and then she inherited it. The family thought it could possibly be valuable, but weren’t sure any details about it or if that was really the case. The woman was curious after all these years to see if it was worth anything, so she took the statue to a roadshow to meet with an appraiser. His reaction was nothing she expected. The family had no idea its value when she decided to get it appraised.The statue was purchased by the woman’s grandparents during the Tang Dynasty. It is a big, marble statue. China as a country has an incredibly interesting history, and it is a big focus of the country and its government to preserve its ancient culture. In many cities in China, you can see ancient, preserved temples, canals, buildings, and artifacts. There are a number of  UNESCO World Heritage sites including one in Xi’an which is home to the famous Terracotta Warriors. All of them are very closely managed and monitored. The government of China likes to preserve and monitor all important pieces of history, which is why this story is so surprising. How did this woman’s grandparents purchase this statue? And how did they get it from China to New Mexico?

The woman was very curious about the statue especially after considering where it came from and when. There must have been some reason her grandparents brought it back all the way from China. They were also tourists in China at a time that tourism was not popular, especially amongst people from the West. They went at the beginning of the century which was an interesting time in China history. The Cultural Revolution occurred, and the country was undergoing huge changes to its economy and culture. Most people were unable to get into the country if they wanted to, but somehow her grandparents did and even managed to bring a huge, marble statue back with them. So, is this statue important? Is it worth anything? Is it just a fake copy of an important statue? Is it garbage? Read on to find out what the big deal is with this statue and what happened when the appraiser saw it for the first time.

Mind-blowing Statue

This episode of Antiques Roadshow was supposed to be just like many others for the seasoned presenter Lark E. Mason.

Mind-blowing Statue

Nevertheless, when the modest lady came and brought the lion statue for appraisal, it absolutely overwhelmed him. Why was he overwhelmed?

Completely At A Loss For Words

Mason always has fun at work, so he believed that this day would be similar to other days. There was nothing remarkable about the antiques in the past several episodes.

Ultimately though, this was Mason’s occupation and to entertain is the most important aspect of his job. Nevertheless, as soon as he first gazed upon the lion statue, he already knew they would have an episode that is quite different. As he laid his eyes upon the antique, he was absolutely speechless.

Enigmatic Lion

It was in an episode of Antiques Roadshow in 2002 when the mysterious lion statue was unveiled. It only took Mason a few seconds to realize that he had been presented something extremely remarkable. He was speechless. The lady who presented the statue merely made an account of how she acquired it, not giving it a thought over the years.

In the early 1900s, her grandparents went to China and the marble statue somehow ended up in their possession. In the end, the lady inherited it.

Vague Details

Because the lady has had the statue for quite a long time, her first recollection of how her family obtained it are a bit sketchy.

She has incomplete facts about how it came to be with her grandparents. “My grandparents picked it up. They traveled a lot in China,” she said. That drew Mason’s attention. He asked, “When were they in China?” The lady’s response was: “probably in the early part of the century.”

The Tie That Binds

To a certain degree, three generations of the lady’s family have been bound by the lion statue. “Where have you had this since then?” Mason inquired.

“My mother’s had it in her house, and since then, I inherited it and brought it west,” she replied. Amidst all the good and bad times her family has had, the statue has always been there, anticipating the day that its worth and significance would ultimately be recognized.

Part Of The Family

In spite of Mason’s tremendous enthusiasm after having seen the lion statue, his level of excitement wasn’t exactly mirrored by the owner of the statue. Whatever transpired in that episode, the lady thought the statue was part of her family.

Instead of an antique, the lady and her brother referred to it as “Leo The Lion” back in the day and played with it when they were children. Not just that, but they would also put marbles in the lion’s mouth and dress it up.

Ancient Dynasty Origins

The lady, whose grandparents passed on the lion statue to, was originally uncertain it was worth anything. Nevertheless, she changed her mind when a family friend came to check it out and made a deduction of where the statue could have possibly come from.

The friend knew a bit about Chinese art and believed the lion statue was most likely very valuable and even thought that it might have been from the Ming Dynasty.

The Art Authority

Having a lot of experience with antiques, it takes a great deal to impress Lark E. Mason. The researcher is specifically renowned for being an expert in Chinese antiques. Nevertheless, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Mason’s resume is also extensive in the education world. At the New York School of Interior Design, he works as a teacher for design. Nevertheless, the years he spent at Sotheby’s has to be the thing that made him well-known.

Journey To Antiques Roadshow

For almost 25 years, Mason worked in the Department of Chinese Works of Art at Sotheby’s in New York. Eventually, he became the senior vice president at Sotheby’s but he left in 2003 in pursuit of achieving his own business goals. Not a long time after, Mason established his very own successful company, iGavelauctions.com.

Nevertheless, his reputation in the world of education was maintained by him being an adjunct professor at New York University. However, many will know him most for devoting over 20 years on Antiques Roadshow.

Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover

One reason that TV shows like Antiques Roadshow have demonstrated more often than not is that you shouldn’t base your opinion of something just by the way it looks.

Even if there isn’t anything special by the way an antique looks, there is still a possibility that it is. There have been several occasions wherein people discover obscure objects stored in their houses and find out later that the items are worth a staggering amount of money. For example, Mason discovered this porcelain teapot is a rare piece from the 1700s.

Overwhelmed and Emotional

For somebody as accomplished as Mason is in the antique world, it was wonderful to see him getting genuinely emotional in front of the camera.

It appears as if a feeling was awakened in Mason, which had never occurred before. “Okay. Well, I’ll start out by saying when this came up, I could barely…” he uttered. The usually very calm and collected Mason appeared to be shaking. The lady did not know how to react. What made him feel this way?

Being Professional

In spite of Mason’s emotional response to the statue, he kept his professionalism and got his act together. Nevertheless, as he examined it further, Mason was open about his reaction.

“It’s fantastic. This is truly…Sorry, I’m a little worked up,” he uttered. “This is among the finest examples of Chinese art that we have seen on the Roadshow. The carving is beautiful. The workmanship is stunning.” Mason persistently praised the lion statue for its magnificent design and its downright resilience.

Exquisite Art

One thing we can be certain about – Mason was absolutely astonished by the antique and knew that the individual who carved this remarkable piece of marble deserves due credit.

“The carver who did this was truly a master,” he uttered. “You can see the muscles rippling under the surface. It’s the finest quality marble you can get. It’s truly magnificent.” Nevertheless, there was one important detail that entirely overturned this statue on its head. Mason could recognize what it was immediately.

Absolutely Unmarred?

What makes this lion statue unique from the different antiques that have been featured in previous episodes of the show is that how it has been kept practically unscathed since the time it was created.

In Mason’s opinion, no matter how you looked at the statue, you could see that it was an object of tremendous importance. “And as you look at this…any way you look at it…it’s fantastic, breathtaking,” Mason said. However, are there any other similar antiques around?

Nothing Like It?

You would expect that there were alternative copies or versions of this specific statue somewhere in the world. It’s possible that there might be one.

Nevertheless, Mason made sure the lady understood that in his several years of being an antique expert, there had never been anything that he stumbled across which was quite like the lion statue; not anything that big. “I see little tiny versions of these that come in for sale…but never does one see one like this,” he uttered.

The Whereabouts Of The Others

Statues as large as this one may still exist in the world. Nevertheless, up to this day, they haven’t been discovered or they are concealed in the most discreet places.

Mason recognized that the woman’s grandparents had been very lucky, even many years ago. “Your grandparents bought something when they were on their trip that you can’t get now,” he uttered. So where precisely might you be able to acquire other lion statues similar to this one?

Ending Up In Museums

Mason has said that very few lion statues this big have been discovered, with most of them having ended up in museums around the globe.

There is a possibility that this specific statue could have also shared the same fate. However, depending on its value, it may also end up in quite a different home. “You can see examples like this in museums. Occasionally they come up at auction…It’s wonderful,” Mason uttered.

Last For A Long Time

Mason was most amazed by the number of years the lion statue has been in existence and how it merely…survived.

“Something that has been handled and has been around for a while…it’s a great thing,” he uttered. Seldom do you discover something so magnificent and intact that has survived for quite a long time. Majority of the statues or artifacts that are about the same age as the lion statue would have at minimum a handful of small marks or flaws.

Unavailable Signature

The thing that both Mason and the lady found surprising is the fact that there is no visible signature on the lion statue.

“The artist didn’t sign it,” she said. “No, these were never signed,” Mason added. A lot of these ancient artifacts have at least a pair of initials which either represents who the artist was or when it was fashioned. Nevertheless, he had no choice but to do an assessment of the origins of the statue based on what it looks like.

It’s Tang

Initially, the lady was told that the lion statue was probably from the Ming Dynasty, but she would soon be surprised that this was, in actual fact, her family friend’s misconception.

Mason knew that the information the lady got had been inaccurate, and this is what caused him to become so emotional to begin with . The statue did not come from the Ming Dynasty; it came from the Tang. “This dates from the golden period of Chinese art, which is called the Tang Dynasty, between the sixth century and the ninth century,” he uttered. So what is its value?

The Prime Period Of Chinese Art

The statue originally came from the days of the Tang Dynasty, in 618 to 907 AD. This Chinese empire is considered by numerous experts to be ancient China’s golden age when it comes to art.

All things that were Chinese, from dance and literature to music and painting, were absolutely marvelous. In addition, as you may have observed with the statue, sculpting was likewise a form of art that the Chinese people’s ability peaked at during the period.

The Worldwide Influence

It is really not very surprising that a lion statue which came from the Tang Dynasty could be found in this lady’s residence in New Mexico. Work from the Tang spread to distant places, at first to regions as far as the Middle East and India.

The art was not only moved to different parts of the globe, but numerous people have swarmed to China in order to explore the country’s rich history. For example, the lady’s grandparents, who eventually went to the country and brought the lion statue home.

So Many More

This lion statue is merely a speck of the magnificence that can be uncovered in this marvelous part of the globe. There are a lot more sculptures that came from the Tang Dynasty are scattered all over China. During this time, Buddhism was the most frequently practiced form of worship in the country.

A large bulk of the statues in the period were images of the Buddha, and they varied in size. This kind of art was particularly easy to fund because of the Buddhist monasteries’ popularity.

UNESCO World Heritage

A lot of the statues made during the time the lion statue was created are examples of the most desired constructions in man’s history.

As a matter of fact, the Longmen Grottoes – limestone cliff faces which have many statues sculpted into them – have been given World Heritage status by UNESCO’s governing body since the arrival of the new millennium. The sculptures were described as “an outstanding manifestation of human artistic creativity” because of their grandeur and size.

Craftsmen

During its prime, the Tang Dynasty wasn’t only well known for sculpting. There were also other forms of art. The people of the Tang Dyansty were also experts in pottery, a three-dimensional art. Potters would frequently carve many items of earthenware and paint them with plain colors.

These potters would then position this kind of “sculptures” near the tombs of important individuals as well as the emperors’. Quality porcelain was likewise a significant material used throughout the Tang era, which leads us back to the main feature – the lion statue.

Headline Grabbing Discovery

Because of the importance of the marble lion statue, there was enough reason to feature the statue on the Antiques Roadshow Insider. The editor-in-chief of the website, Larry Canale, holds a firm belief about the lion statue being the one of the greatest and most significant of the antiques to have passed through Antiques Roadshow at any given time.

However, it may be hard to believe but the Chinese statue didn’t even fetch the highest amount on the show. Another thing came along and broke the record…

Blanket Of Money

One person who appeared on Antiques Roadshow informed the appraiser that he had a blanket that had been given to his grandmother’s foster father by no less than be the frontiersman Kit Carson himself. Nevertheless, upon inspecting it closely, the appraiser couldn’t believe his eyes. He was convinced the blanket’s origins were Navajo.

“This is Navajo weaving in its purest form,” the appraiser explained. “On a really bad day, this textile would be worth $350,000. On a good day, it’s about a half a million dollars.”

Unforgettable Episode

After the team finished filming the classic episode of Antiques Roadshow, Canale remembered how Mason couldn’t move on from this phenomenal antique that had so quietly gone through the studio. “Mason was visibly moved, both before taping the segment and immediately afterwards,” Canale recalled.

“It was such an important piece – one he never expected to encounter in New Mexico – that he got a little choked up. It totally caught him by surprise…” What did Mason precisely say looking back at the said event?

Biggest Surprise In His Career

According to what was on Antiques Roadshow Insider, Mason expressed that it was his career’s most surprising moment. “Surprise, astonishment, and disbelief washed over me the moment the owner of a white marble lion walked up to the Asian Arts table in Albuquerque last summer,” he uttered.

“Discovering a Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.) lion in such an unexpected venue, however, ranks as one of the greatest surprises of my career. It’s exceptional not only for its size (around 18 inches tall) but because of its quality and condition.”

Pristine Condition

This photo might not clearly show how breathtaking it had been for Mason. Nevertheless, Mason’s account of his experience on Antiques Roadshow Insider was enough to show how much enthusiasm he had about the discovery. It was difficult for him to believe how flawless the statue was. As he stated, the statue was “smooth and unmarred by damage.”

The piece seemed as if it had been finished not so long ago and it looked quite new. Mason gave more details on Antiques Roadshow Insider…

The Base Is Important

In Mason’s opinion, the base of the statue conveyed very significant information. “One of the ways that I can tell you that it’s what it’s supposed to be…not only from the artistic aspects of it…” he said.

“But when you look at it underneath, you can see that there is every indication of great age from the chisel-work that has taken place to the sort-of sandy surface, which is fantastic that gives you the kind of patina that you want to see.”

Attention To Detail

One of the most important aspects of the lion statue that struck Mason was the unbelievable attention to detail the original crafter had. “The craftsman treated this large sculpture in a manner more typical of carvings of much smaller size,” he explained.

“The surface is smooth and unmarred from damage. The details are as crisply rendered as the day it left the carver’s workshop. I told the lion’s owner that its value might be a bit more than expected…” However, the question remained: How much was lion statue truly worth?

How Much Is It Worth Exactly?

Initially, Mason’s estimate of value was the following: “I would feel pretty confident that one could get between $120,000 and $180,000 for it,” he expressed. Nevertheless, that was only the value at an auction. “Now, the value I gave you is an auction estimate value,” he explained.

“But an insurance figure on this would be somewhere between $150,000 and $250,000, probably toward the high end. I would probably say around $250,000 for insurance purposes.” The lady would never have guessed what he said!

Knowing Its Worth

Eventually, Mason realized that it would be necessary to set the value of the lion statue at a whopping $250,000. In addition, Larry Canale remembered the statue’s owner’s exceedingly calm reaction to hearing the impressive number. “I told the lion’s owner that its value might be a bit more than expected: around $250,000,” he said.

“But the lion’s owner took it in stride. She was as cool as a cucumber, even if she was as astonished by the value as Mason was by the lion itself.”

Where Has The Lion Gone?

A few years back, Larry Canale ran into Mason and asked if Mason was aware of the whereabouts of the lion statue today. Although it was surprising, the Asian Arts expert actually had seen statue before encountering Canale and Mason even validated the fact that it is still with the original owner – that pleasant lady.

Regardless of the considerable amount of money that Mason appraised the lion statue at, it looked like the lady wasn’t actually interested in letting go of Leo the Lion.

The Lion Is One of The Most Amazing & Expensive Finds In The History Of Antiques

This story and statue are incredibly unique. It is definitely one of the most interesting stories on the topic in existence. We do have a few other examples of normal people finding antiques that are incredibly historically important and valuable. For example, below you see an extremely rare Faberge ornamental flower.

When an expert named Georggrey Munn first saw it, he gasped and stated: “It is the rarest, most poetic manifestation of Faberge’s work that one could ever hope to see” and it is “A sensation beyond our wildest dreams.” The jade ornament was brought in by Honorary Colonel Stamford Cartwright. It is only 5 inches tall, but guess how much it is worth? A whopping $1 million!

Shakespeare Notepad

When an expert at the Antiques Roadshow saw this, he said his hands were literally “trembling.” It is an incredibly rare 17th-century tiny notepad which contains Shakespeare’s plays from the time they were performed!

The specialist just gushed and said, “There is so much research that can be done on this item. It’s absolutely extraordinary. My hands are trembling now, just looking at it.” He predicted it would sell for more than £30,000 at an auction!

1959 LaCoultre Deep Sea Alarm Watch

This is a very valuable watch! When the owner, Zach Norris, went into a Goodwill, he decided to buy a watch which cost him $6. Guess what?

It was actually an incredibly rare LaCoultre Deep Sea alarm watch. The owner sold it on eBa for $35,000.

A Libation Cup?

Back in 2013, a man purchased this cup at a thrift shop in Austrailia for $4. It was later found to be a traditional Chinese artifact.

It is actually made from a rhino horn! He ended up selling it for a whopping $60,400.

An Amazing Painting

Beth Feeback went to a thrift store looking for a blanket. She randomly decided to buy this painting. Guess what? It was created by Ilya Bolotowsky.

It’s entitled “Vertical Diamond” and was sold for $34,375.

The Necklace Of A Sculpture

This necklace was purchased by Norma Ilfill at a flea market in Pennsylvania.

Whenever she wore it everyone gave her huge compliments but it wasn’t until she visited an Art Museum that she realized what it was! It was made by a famous sculptor and was sold for $267,750.

A Real Nice Copy Of The American Declaration of Independence

This is kind of a sad story. Stan Caffy of Nashville sold this copy of the DOI for mere pennies after cleaning out his house.

He later found someone else sold it for $470,650!

James Bond’s Watch

This watch disappeared for decades after James Bond used it in Thunderball.

It actually resurfaced out of nowhere at a garage sale. It was eventually sold for $163,000.

A Really Awesome Sweater

When Sean and Rikki McEvoy found this sweater at a thrift shop and paid less than $1 for it!

When they were watching a documentary on Vince Lombardi he realized the sweater had his name on the tag. It prompted him to look to sell it for $43,000.

A Super Special Egg

When the owner paid $14,000 for this, let’s be honest, he knew he had something valuable on his hands. He easily recognized this Fabergé egg at a flea market.

It was later revealed that the egg was an Easter gift to Czar Alexander III to his wife Maria Feodorovona in 1887. It sold for an amazing $33 million! Not too shabby, huh?

Rare Historical Photo

When Zachary Bodish was walking through a thrift store in Ohio when he was drawn to this poster.

It was purchased for $14 and when he found out it was a real Picasso, he sold it for $7,000!

Jackson Pollock?

A retired truck driver discovered this painting in a California thrift shop and paid $5 for it. He was actually planning to throw it out and was planning to start throwing darts at it! Turns out it was a real Jackson Pollock portrait! She found out by watching a documentary about him and saw it featured there!

Since she found out it was a real Jackson Pollock piece, it has been valued at $50 million!

Found In A Couch

Yep, a student in Germany paid $215 for a couch and found this tiny oil painting inside of it. Guess what?

It was painted sometime between 1605 and 1620 and was created in Egypt. The student sold it for $27,630.

Shepherd’s Call

Laura Stouffer was at a thrift shop when she came upon a small print of “Shepherd’s Call.”

Turns out it was the original movie poster for the film All Quiet On The Western Front. It has been valued an amazing $18,000!

Yosemite Plates

A man purchased a number of a glass plated with images of the Yosemite National Park for about $45.

He later found out they were original Ansel Adams pictures and were sold for about $200 million!

Warhol Sketch

This is definitely not your average sketch! An art collector was searching for items in a garage sale in Las Vegas.

He decided to buy 5 paintings for about $5. Behind one of these pictures was a sketch by the singer Rudy Vallee which was signed by Andy Warhol. Guess what? The sketch is apparently worth over $2 million dollars! Isn’t that amazing?

Dog Lithograph

Mauren Flaherty attended the grand opening of a new local Goodwill store. She noticed a large lithograph print of a dog hanging on the wall.

She bought it for $43.50. When she got home, she did some internet research and realized it was much more than a mere dog lithograph. It was actually an Alexander Pope painting called The Brook Hill Dog. Guess what? It was recently sold for $3,300 and the proceeds were donated to charity!

Augusta National Green Jacket

When a sports journalist noticed a green blazer at a thrift store in Toronto, he immediately noticed the patch on the pocket. It is actually the logo of the Augusta National Golf Club.

This jacket is very rare. Only people who are current Masters champions can wear them at the Augusta National Green Jacket in Georgia. The jacket was most recently sold for $139,249!

A Stadium Events Video Game Cartridge

Jennifer Thompson was looking around the DVD section of a Goodwill store in North Carolina when she noticed a video game sitting behind the counter.

She decided to buy it and when she sold it at an auction in Indiana, it sold for $25,000!

Picasso Print

Zach Bodish is an avid thrifter and decided to purchase this poster and frame for $14.14. When he got home he went on google and realized he had something special on his hands.

It was an original signed linocut poster created by Picasso! He thought the poster was maybe worth between $3-4 thousand, but it was sold for $7,000 during a private sale.

Ancient Dolls

These dolls are more than 300 years old! The owner also had the original doll’s house. Guess the value? The value is estimated at over £200,000!

This was the find of Fergus Gambon’s career! In 2016 he first laid his eyes on these incredibly rare 300-year-old dolls.

Victorian Portrait Of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema

This is regarded as one of the best pictures in recent Antique selling history.

The Victorian painting is estimated to be worth about £27.4million!

FA Cup Trophy

This is actually the longest-serving trophy in the history of the league.

It was valued at over 1 million Euro by an expert.

A Model of the Angel of the North

This model of the Angel of the North sculpture was rediscovered in 2008. It was first valued at around £1million on the Antiques Roadshow.

The model is 6 feet tall and 17 feet wide! That’s one big statue!

Van Dyck Picture

This was purchased at an antique shop for £400. It was revealed that it was actually an Anthony Van Dyck masterpiece.

The picture is actually valued at a staggering £400,000!