Antiques Roadshow guest is left stunned by valuation of family heirloom oil painting

by

As an avid art enthusiast and long-time fan of American Impressionism, I was absolutely blown away by this heartwarming story of a family heirloom discovered to be a rare and valuable painting by Fern Coppedge. The vibrant winter scene of ‘Goat Hill’ brought back memories of my childhood visits to art galleries and museums, where I would marvel at the beauty and rich history behind each piece.

A woman at Antiques Roadshow was speechless upon learning the estimated worth of a 1925 impressionist painting, which had been inherited from her ancestors.

The guest displayed a 30-inch by 36-inch painting created by artist Fern Coppedge. This piece was previously given to her grandfather, who is a surgeon, in Philadelphia directly by the artist.

A vivid painting, executed with oil on canvas, depicted a winter scene of a river and bridge from Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, titled “Goat Hill”.

Coppedge was an American painter associated with the New Hope School of American Impressionism, and her winter scenes are considered to be some of the artist’s best-known paintings. 

I excitedly shared with the appraiser that my grandfather had received the piece from Coppedage as a token of gratitude. He had performed a life-saving surgery on her.

The piece had belonged to her parents for a couple of years before they gave it to her.

I find it fascinating how Coppedge’s biography unfolds. Born and raised in Illinois, she later moved to Chicago for her artistic studies. The Windy City must have played a significant role in shaping her as an artist. But her thirst for knowledge and creative pursuits didn’t stop there. Eventually, she packed her bags and ventured to Philadelphia, where she established her studio. It’s incredible how one person can travel such a unique artistic journey, from the Midwest to the East Coast, leaving behind a trail of inspiration and masterpieces.

‘She’s best known, though, for her work done around New Hope, where she moved in 1920. 

As a lifestyle expert, I’d put it this way: I’m part of an impressive collective of artists based in Pennsylvania, fondly referred to as the Pennsylvania Impressionists. Amongst us ladies, I hold a distinguished position for my notable contributions to this vibrant artistic community.

I deeply respect and appreciate her independence. Her exceptional ability to use colors left me in awe. In many ways, she embodied the spirit of Fauvist painting with her daring approach and innovative depiction of her subject matter.

Additionally, he pointed out that the small scale of the artwork added to its scarcity since the acclaimed artist typically worked on larger canvases measuring 18 inches by 18 inches or 20 inches by 24 inches.

The guest shared that she had swapped out the older frame for a new one because the previous one had fallen apart due to its age and was merely held together with adhesive tape.

Upon learning this, the appraiser showed disappointment and remarked, “Perhaps it once had a frame crafted by Harer or Badura – the prominent frame makers of that region – as she frequently employed their frames for her art pieces.”

At the conclusion of the appraisal process, the expert shared with the visitor that based on their assessment, the painting’s worth lies somewhere between $120,000 and $180,000. However, they added that there’s a good chance its value could reach as high as $200,000.

“I’m utterly amazed! I didn’t anticipate this turn of events. In fact, I had completely forgotten about bringing along this item. It was an impromptu decision, ‘Why not add this to the mix?'” The guest expressed, taken aback by the unexpected high valuation.

The expert predicted that the painting’s beauty would lead to bids exceeding $200,000 at the auction.

With a radiant smile that spread from ear to ear, the woman, astonished, placed a hand on her heart as she absorbed the wonderful news.

Fern Isabel Kuns was born on July 28, 1883. She discovered New Hope for the first time in 1917, and decided to move there permanently three years later.

For years and years, I’ve been enamored with painting outdoors in the frozen winter landscape. And what did I always wear during those bitterly cold sessions? A magnificent bearskin coat, of course! Fast-forward to 1951, and on a fateful April day, the 13th to be precise, I took my last breath while wearing that very same coat.

At the present time, her artworks can be found hanging in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, and the Reading Public Museum, all located in Pennsylvania.

Read More

2024-07-19 17:02