I picked up a painting at a fair – I was stunned when I found out why it was worth a fortune
ANTIQUES ROADSHOW expert Rupert Maas was delighted to analyse the piece of “unique” street art inspired by Rodin’s The Kiss.
In Somerset, a mix of historical items were dissected and valued on the much-loved BBC show.
It was a modern piece of street art on a rusting cast iron which caught the eye of art dealer Rupert.
The guest brought the piece by a street artist named Bambi and was stunned when she heard the evaluation.
It featured an image of two people kissing, sprayed with a stencil in black and white paint with a red kiss in the corner.
Rupert was very impressed as it perfectly depicted the iconic Rodins’ The Kiss.
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The original classic sculpture was carved around the year 1888, but the amazing adaptation brought to Bishop’s Palace was made around 200 years later.
The guest explained: “It was leaning up against a white van in a fair last year that we went to and it just jumped up at me and I loved it.
“So I asked the chap if it was for sale and it was. He asked for £800 at the time so then I went back and said would you take £350 and he said yes.”
A very interested Rupert said: “I think that goes with the territory, you’re not supposed to know much about these mysterious characters.
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“It’s all shrouded in mystery and I think it’s all probably rather manufactured generating a bit of mystique about the mysterious artist.”
He then revealed: “It’s certainly unique, I think it’s probably worth £2-3,000.”
The guest and her son were shocked and said: “Wow, wow.”
But then she declared: “Well we’re not selling it… I love it.”
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A curious Rupert asked the guest if she had met or been in contact with Bambi, the artist.
She revealed: “I wrote to her on Valentine’s Day because it was Rodin’s The Kiss and she wrote back and said she did it for a friend of hers in 2013.”
Rupert replied: “That takes care of the authentication for me then.”
Antiques Roadshow airs Sunday from 8pm on BBC One.
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