Two Sisters Brought Their Late Mother’s Lamp To An Appraiser And Got The Surprise Of Their Lives

Antiques Roadshow has been a mainstay on America’s small screen for well over 20 years now. It’s boasted some fantastic moments during that time, of course — and this one has to be up there with the best of them. It involves a pair of sisters bringing a vintage lamp in for an appraisal. The piece, which once belonged to their mom, held a lot of sentimental value, but they had no clue just how significant it really was.

Classic TV moment

We hope you’ve got some tissues on standby, folks, because you’ll probably need them! This classic segment first aired in 1999, just two years into Antiques Roadshow’s epic run. In truth, few other appraisals on the show have managed to match the sheer surprise and emotion packed into those minutes.

Setting the scene

So, let’s take a trip down memory lane and dive into the segment. It took place in Tampa, Florida, with Arlie Sulka running the rule over the vintage lamp. She’s a glass expert, which was perfect for this particular appraisal. Anyway, it was quickly established that the piece was a product of Tiffany Studios.

A familiar name

Now, if you’re big on jewelry, that name will no doubt be very familiar to you. Tiffany & Co. has been delighting customers since it first opened its doors in 1837. Charles Lewis Tiffany was the initial mastermind behind it. But Tiffany Studios cropped up thanks to his son’s fascination with art and glass.

Meeting Louis Comfort Tiffany

Louis Comfort Tiffany was welcomed into the world in 1848 and spent a lot of time around artistic pieces when he was growing up. He fell in love with the whole creative process, which prompted him to pursue a life in design and art. Tiffany didn’t box himself in when it came to his interests, though.