In an episode of the American version of the Antiques Roadshow, a seller couldn't hold back her tears when she learned the estimated value of an item after discovering a mosquito inside.
This incident deeply moved her as she realized the true worth of the item.
In the episode, a woman brought in a family painting that had been passed down through generations, with her grandfather gifting it to her grandmother in the 1940s.
She explained the history of the painting and mentioned that it had been appraised twice before, once in 1998 for $200 for a print, and again in 2004 for $250.
The seller also revealed that when her grandmother gave her the painting, she had noticed a mosquito under the glass and removed it, but then placed the glass back because the painting looked fine.
In the video segment, the woman with the painting was speaking to Meredith Hilferty, the Director of American Art Auctions at Rago and an appraiser for Antiques Roadshow.
Hilferty asked the woman if she knew anything about the artist, with the painting depicting a Native American riding a horse through the American mountains.
She mentioned that she knew the artist was born in France and had a connection to a specific tribe, with a symbol on his signature indicating his high regard for that connection.
Hilferty revealed that the artist's name was Henry Francois Farny and that he moved to Pennsylvania from France at the age of six.
He established a relationship with a specific tribe, showing an interest in Native Americans as a whole.
Focusing on landscapes instead of the violence surrounding Native American groups at the time, the painting was truly unique, and Hilferty disclosed the value it would have in a current auction.
Hilferty suggested the estimated price of this painting would be up to $200,000 to $300,000.
The seller couldn't hold back her tears, unable to say anything, before joking, "So I can't hang it up then."
After expressing her speechlessness and shedding tears, she asked Hilferty whether she should leave the mosquito inside or not.
Hilferty explained that it was a good idea that she had removed the mosquito. Keeping the mosquito inside the painting could cause damage and stains.
The painting was subsequently referred to as "1892 H. F. Farny Watercolor & Gouache Painting," and the video garnered millions of views on YouTube.
