In a touching episode of Antiques Roadshow, a man was overcome with emotion when he learned that an old blanket he had kept without much thought was actually worth a significant amount of money.
Unaware of its value, he was brought to tears upon discovering that he was about to become a very rich man.
Man breaks down in tears on Antiques Roadshow after unexpectedly becoming rich man
Antiques Roadshow offers a diverse collection of items, from antique Pokémon cards to cherished family heirlooms.
While some bring in valuables that turn out to be worthless, others are pleasantly surprised by the unexpected value of their everyday possessions.
In 2001, Ted Kuntz, a guest on the PBS edition of Antiques Roadshow, was moved to tears when he discovered the actual worth of the blanket he had brought.
Antiques specialist Donald Ellis couldn't hide his enthusiasm as he explored the intriguing backstory of the blanket.
Antiques Roadshow offers a diverse collection of items, from antique Pokémon cards to cherished family heirlooms.
While some bring in valuables that turn out to be worthless, others are pleasantly surprised by the unexpected value of their everyday possessions.
The massive value of the towel that Kuntz had brought
Kuntz had casually kept the blanket "over the back of a chair" for quite some time, completely unaware of its significant worth.
Ellis asked Kuntz if he understood the importance of what he had and if he thought of himself as a rich man.
Ellis then shared that the blanket, even on a bad day, was worth $350,000, and on a good day, it could bring in as much as half a million dollars.
This revelation left Kuntz astonished and overwhelmed by the unexpected wealth that lay within his possession.
Kuntz, shocked and unable to believe it, admitted that he had no clue about the blanket's tremendous worth.
Ellis commended him, exclaiming, "You have a treasure, sir. When you brought this in, I was almost speechless. Congratulations!"
The blanket's exceptional value was linked to its grim and solemn past.
It was revealed to be a Navajo Ute blanket from the 1850s.
Although Kuntz mentioned that it had been given to his grandmother's foster father by frontiersman Kit Carson, its worth was not solely dependent on that historical connection.
Ellis clarified that the value he mentioned did not consider the connection to Kit Carson.
Proving the provenance is challenging, but if it could be convincingly established that Carson owned the blanket, its value would rise even more.
Carson, a well-known frontiersman, was implicated in harsh acts against Native Americans, including the forced displacement and ill-treatment of the Navajo people.
Ultimately, the Navajo Ute blanket, which had come into Kuntz's possession, was sold for approximately $450,000 to an anonymous buyer who generously donated it to the Detroit Institute of Arts.
This heartwarming and unexpected turn of events left both the man and the Antiques Roadshow audience in awe of the hidden treasures that can be found in the most unexpected places.
