Life
Boy is overjoyed to learn actual value of his $2 painting at Antiques Roadshow
The appraiser told him “I think you’ve got a great career going as an art dealer. You ought to keep at it.”
Michael Dabu
06.09.21

He has a keen eye for valuable things. His name is Stephen Padlo of Upper Pittsgrove, New Jersey.

He’s probably one of the youngest piece collectors we’ve ever seen.

In fact, that’s what David Weiss, an appraiser of Freeman’s in Philadelphia, PA told him when they met at an episode of the Antiques Roadshow.

YouTube/Antiques Roadshow PBS
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YouTube/Antiques Roadshow PBS

If you are quite familiar with the show, it’s definitely something that’s pretty much not for kids. However, young Stephen seemed to be born with a different spirit and set of likes.

At 11 years old, Stephen already has the talent for picking good finds.

Pexels
Source:
Pexels

Despite the age gap, Weiss still treated the young boy with the utmost respect, just like what he would normally do to an adult client. Stephen was equally cordial to the expert in front of him.

Before going straight to the piece the young boy brought, the two had a friendly conversation first.

“You must be the youngest collector I’ve seen,” Weiss says at one point.

To which the preteen replies, “I must be.”

Weiss: “You like buying and selling things?”

Stephen: “Big time.”

YouTube/Antiques Roadshow PBS
Source:
YouTube/Antiques Roadshow PBS

The young fella is definitely a collector in the making, wouldn’t you agree. He also told Weiss he’s fond of collecting glass, sterling silver, and art pieces.

A piece of art or a piece of crap?

YouTube/Antiques Roadshow PBS
Source:
YouTube/Antiques Roadshow PBS

Stephen told Weiss a short story about how he ended up taking home the piece that he brought at the auction.

“This piece was found at an auction down in South Jersey,” he explained. “It was so hot there my dad didn’t want to stay to get it, but I wanted to so we waited an hour or so and I got it for two bucks.”

This pre-teen’s way of thinking is definitely beyond his young age. What’s even more astonishing is his desire in collecting art pieces, particularly vintages just like this one.

YouTube/Antiques Roadshow PBS
Source:
YouTube/Antiques Roadshow PBS

Weiss told his young client that the piece that he brought was likely done in the late 19th century.

As the painting shows, it looks like pretty much a mother and a child sitting. The mother looks like she’s sewing or knitting something while cooking. Her daughter, on the other hand, is holding a toy and is patiently waiting for her.

It’s pretty much a household scene if I may say.

The young boy pointed out a signature.

YouTube/Antiques Roadshow PBS
Source:
YouTube/Antiques Roadshow PBS

Who knows? The signature might lead to the art’s origins or creator and Stephen was so eager to know. He told Weiss he can only read the first name which was “Albert”. The expert told him the last name reads as “Neuhuys”.

It’s a watercolor painting of Albert Neuhuys, a Dutch painter who lived from 1844 to 1914.

Wikimedia Commons
Source:
Wikimedia Commons

During his time, Albert Neuhuys painted interior scenes with peasants as his main art subjects. He’d often sketch families portraying the lives of local farmers and weavers. The expert appraisal even commended the young boy from New Jersey and told him he might have a career as an art collector.

“I think you’ve got a great career going as an art dealer. You ought to keep at it.”

Time to reveal its real worth.

YouTube/Antiques Roadshow PBS
Source:
YouTube/Antiques Roadshow PBS

Albert Neuhuys made copies of his watercolor paintings, thus resulting in very few of them being “one of a kind”.

Young Stephen also seemed to have done his homework about the piece.

Whatever he discovered in his research convinced him it’s still worth something, possibly around $150.

But Weiss told him it’s worth more than that amount. You too wouldn’t believe how much this artwork is worth. The kid’s reaction was priceless upon hearing the amount.

YouTube/Antiques Roadshow PBS
Source:
YouTube/Antiques Roadshow PBS

You don’t like spoilers? Me either.

Watch the video below and hear it straight from Weiss!

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