Young Boy Buys Painting For $2 Before Learning Its Real Value

Apr 26, 2021 by apost team

It is said that everything is worth what its purchaser will pay for it, a lesson one little boy from New Jersey learned well during an episode of "Antiques Roadshow." In an episode that originally aired in 2014, the anonymous boy had the painting appraised by David Weiss, one of the show’s hosts and a professional auctioneer. Having only paid $2 for the painting, he was in pure shock when he found out its true worth.

Before Weiss told the boy its true value, he asked him about his interest in collecting, and it quickly became clear that not only does this young boy have a real eye for antiques, if he keeps going the way he has, it'll only be a matter of time before he makes a fortune. Let's take a look at what happened. 

Speaking to auctioneer David Weiss, the boy described how he obtained the painting. He and his dad were at an auction when he became enamored of the painting, which depicted a mother sitting with her child.

The boy told Weiss that he likes to visit local auctions and buy old paintings or pieces of silverware, later selling for a bigger profit. While his dad didn’t think that this individual piece of art was worth buying, the little boy was insistent, eventually being able to buy the painting for a mere $2.

Read on to learn more about how this young boy's intuition secured him a gem of a painting, and one worth way more than what he originally bought it for.

David Weiss called the boy "the youngest collector [he's] seen. He then asks him what kind of things he likes to collect, and the boy explains his interests mainly lie in "glass, sterling silver and art." He recalled the coolest thing he's ever found was a big sterling silver tray. Weiss gave the boy a tip that the price of silver fluctuates, which means it's important to keep an eye on the current going rate.

After the two discussed a few general things about collecting, they eventually turned their attention to the painting the boy had brought in that day.    

Examining the painting, Weiss determined that it dated all the way back to the last quarter of the 19th century. Pointing to a signature on the artwork, Weiss was also able to learn that the painter was Albert Neuhuys, a well-known Dutch artist of the 19th Century.

Born in 1844 in Utrecht, Neuhuys was one of the most well-known painters of the Laren School. After studying at the Antwerp Academy, Neuhuys moved to Amsterdam and befriended many other famous painters of the day. He was good friends with those who studied at the Hague School and later moved to the town of Laren, after hearing of how picturesque it was. There he co-founded the Laren School with Anton Mauve. Neuhuys painted his entire life until he passed away in 1914.

Speaking to the boy, Weiss told of how the piece was a prime example of the style of the time in which it was painted. 

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During the time, artists typically favored painting watercolor interior scenes of women sitting with their children. Neuhuys was especially known for this style of painting. 

After he was done examining the piece, Weiss asked the little boy what he thought the painting was worth. The boy confidently replied that he thought the painting was worth about $150. While agreeing with the boy’s assessment, Weiss felt that the painting was worth far more than $150.      

Continuing on, Weiss said that he believed this particular painting would fetch between $1000 and $1500 at an auction. Upon hearing Weiss’s appraisal, the little boy was unable to hide his shock or his joy, as his eyes widened and the only word he could get out was an astonished, "wow!" At that moment you can imagine that the boy's career dreams were made, as he realized his talent for finding collectible antiques and realizing how much money he could earn by reselling them.

After Weiss asked what the boy thought about the assessment, he replied, “I think I’m going to be rich!” Weiss was more than happy with the boy’s reaction, telling him that if he continued making smart purchases, he would be on the road to financial success. For his part, the boy hopes to one day start a career as an art dealer, and Weiss reassured him that at this rate, he's got a big head start over the competition. What an incredible moment for this young budding art dealer to realize his talents while being featured on "Antiques Roadshow." 

What do you think of the little boy buying a painting worth nearly $1500 for only $2? Have you ever bought something at auction for a highly discounted price? If you found this story inspiring then be sure to pass it on to those you know!