Hard Negotiations
He was well aware that his parents were not happy about the decision he had made. But they would always support him no matter what. They were his dreams after all.
He held the painting against his body the whole time. And when it came time for the appraiser to inspect the painting, it's value would leave him in disbelief.
Unique Boy
Mark was quite a special kid. He was nothing like most kids his age.
Most other boys his age were into sports or playing games. But he spent his time sitting in auctions and walking around thrift stores, and garage sales to look for special treasures that were overlooked. He loved The Antiques Roadshow. It was the show that inspired his unique passion.
Being Different
Being a kid who was interested in antiques, Mark was different and his peers knew it. Although he wasn't bullied, he was often left out from parties and other fun events. He wasn’t considered cool and it bothered him.
Some kids his age found him hard to relate to and others just weren't interested in being his friend. But they’d soon realize just how cool he really was.
Intense Studying
Besides knowing everything about the guest appraisers, he had even gone as far as to watch the documentary that had inspired the renowned show.
Mark was a hardcore antique historian buff and loved to learn about the origin of old jewellery, art and ornaments. But his parents had something else to say about it.
Doting Parents
Mark was the youngest of two older brothers so he was doted on by his parents. But the one thing they didn’t seem to understand was his love for antiques.
So, when he spotted one particular painting in a stuffy New Jersey junk house, he had to beg his dad to stay long enough so he could buy it ... for a mere $2.
Making A Profit
For Mark, convincing his dad to buy the $2 painting was the easiest part. The worst was yet to come. Mark was now focused on manifesting a profit off of his first investment.
He traced the brushes of the paint brush and analysed the faded paint and wooden frame. It was exactly as he thought. This painting had to be something special. But he had no idea what he just bought.
Parental Approval
The next stage would take some serious finagling or straight out pestering. Now, he had to convince his parents to take him to the nearest Roadshow airing ... in Virginia.
After 2 weeks of pestering, his parents gave in. He felt a rush of excitement when they finally buckled and loaded the family into the car. He needed to know what his painting was worth.
Dream Come True
The location was understandably packed with people, presenters, and cameramen. Mark could smell the antiques in the air, the wood, old linen, and metal.
He felt like how other kids must have felt in toy stores. He managed to find a person to help him out and soon he would be in disbelief over what they'd found.
Famous Host
The man that decided to help him was none other than David Weiss. Mark knew him as the senior vice president of Freeman Auction house. He beamed up at him and shook his hand.
The man was equally as surprised as Mark was. He must not have expected a small boy to be at the auction like this,
A Role Model
David Weiss is one of the most respected appraisers in America. He has been making waves in the auction field since 1988 and is one of the show’s head appraisers for paintings and oriental rugs.
He has a sharp eye and a well of knowledge that most could only dream of! He was exactly what Mark wanted to be.
Camera’s Rolling
WeMark sat tall and confident as Weiss set him up at the table and explained about the cameras. Mark may have looked nervous but inside he was jittering with excitement.
It only got better when Weiss started asking questions – and Mark delivered totally unexpected answers that quickly changed the tone of the entire interview.
Warm-Up Questions
He humored Mark by asking what his hobby was and what he looked for, “I like glass, sterling silver and art.” Mark also sold his finds to make a small profit to get more treasures.
But he knew he had to wait until September to assess anything sterling silver because of market fluctuation. Weiss looked at Mark in amazement. But it was time to get to the main event
Painter Revealed
Mark guessed it was a watercolor by someone named Albert, but he couldn’t find out anything else.
Weiss grinned and confirmed Mark was right. The artist was Albert Neuhuys. Albert Neuhuys was a well-known Dutch painter that liked to focus on rural family life in the 19th century. But was his work anything special?
It’s Worth
Albert Neuhuys paintings were unique in how he specialized in the shine of satin clothes and his use of light. The watercolors he used became known for their sparkling transparency.
But the question remained. “How much do you think this is worth?” Weiss asked Mark.
First Guess
“Hundred and fifty bucks,” Mark answered confidently. Making that much money off a 2-dollar investment would have been amazing.
The appraiser’s grin changed, and it made Mark’s excitement skyrocket. “It’s worth more than that,” Weiss said.
Anticipation Building
Mark sat up straight on the edge of his seat. His face was full of anticipation. His parents watched from the sidelines. Their hearts pounded for their little boy.
“How much do you think it’s worth?”, Mark excitedly asked. He was barely able to stay seated. The crowd grew silent.
Real Value
“I think your watercolor was probably done in the last quarter of the 19th century,” Weiss said.
“That means it’s already much more valuable than other modern paintings. And you see here?”, he said as he pointed to an area on the painting. “We can tell this painting is original by these imperfections”. Mark's mind began to race.
1500 Dollars!
“Are you ready to find out?”, Weiss asked teasingly. “Yes!”, Mark replied.
“Today, if your Albert Neuhuys watercolor came to an auction, it would probably sell for about $1000 to $1500.” It was Mark’s turn for his jaw to hit the floor. Out of the corner of his eye he also saw his parents’ reaction.
Staring In Amazement
His parents stared at Mark in shock. Their jaws hanging open. Once the surprise passed, they looked at their son in complete amazement and admiration.
They didn’t teach him any of this. He learned how to spot a treasure all by himself. And not only that, he also had to fight hard to persuade them to trust him.
So Happy!
It was a mixture of shock and pride. It wasn’t the first time Mark’s persistence had turned a profit, and they were already so happy he had such a unique hobby, but this was the biggest dollar amount he had made so far.
It was the win Mark needed for them to really trust that he knew what he was doing.
All Grown Up
As with all investments, it can be a risky business, especially if that investor is not even a teenager yet. But for Mark, he didn’t feel too young. He was smart and did a lot of research. This was all he needed to encourage his parents to take him more seriously.
And it wasn’t only his parents that had a change of heart.
Instantly Popular
Once Mark’s unique talent and successful story hit the tv, he instantly became the coolest kid in town. Although Mark didn’t really care too much what other kids thought of him, it was nice to know that now, they understood him.
Suddenly, making money and being smart was cool. But Weiss also had a number of compliments for Mark that would turn his face red.
Bright Future
Even though Mark still had lots to learn if he wanted to become a professional, he was already leaps and bounds ahead of any other dealer when they were that young.
He was also impressed that Mark had made such a wonderful find on instinct alone.
New Perspective
The muted image of a farm wife and her child took on an entirely different light.
So did his parents’ attitude about the entire trip. He felt a new, intense itch to get online and learn more so he could hone his skills, and hopefully visit some auction houses soon.
Not Stopping
The entire experience was amazing! Mark sat in the car with his original Neuhuys with a huge smile plastered across his face.
He loved his unusual hobby more than anything, but now he knew he could make a career of it. And, who knows, maybe be rich one day!