Antiques Roadshow first aired on PBS in 1997. It’s one of the network’s most popular and long-running programs. Guests bring family heirlooms to get appraised at tour stops across the country. Tucson, Arizona, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Mumford, New York, were among the stops in 2026. After 29 years on the air, the appraisers can still shock with how much family hand-me-downs and possessions are really worth. Keep reading for the details on the shocking $65k appraisal.
Antiques Roadshow Debra Force Stuns Guest With $65K Appraisal
Debra Force is a gallery owner and fine art appraiser. She lends her expertise in appraising paintings on Antiques Roadshow. She’s one of the show’s longest appraisers, joining the show in 2003. She looks beyond the canvas for the origin, history, and importance of each piece.
One guest on the show was stunned after Debra Force examined a family heirloom and uncovered its remarkable value. A piece of art hanging on the wall of the guest’s grandmother’s home turned out to be a rare piece of artwork worth thousands.
When the grandmother passed away in 2008, her home and belongings were left to the guest and his sister. According to The U.S. Sun, the guest recounted finding a price tag on one piece of art on the wall. His grandmother purchased a painting in 1964 for $2,500.
He knew the artwork was worth something, so he stored it away for the future. Debra Force praised him for his decision and revealed the painting’s shocking worth. The expert explained that the painting was created by Manoucher Yektai, an influential artist whose works are relatively rare. If the guest had the painting restored, it would be worth a shocking $65k.
Artist Manoucher Yektai’s Work
Manoucher Yektai (1921-2019) was a renowned Iranian-American painter and poet. He was known for his richly textured landscapes and portraits. He studied in Paris before moving to New York City in the 1940s.
The artist is remembered as part of the Abstract Expressionist movement, though he made his artwork his own. Manoucher Yektai’s work, which hangs in galleries across the world, has been featured several times on Antiques Roadshow. Nearly every time, the guest has no clue how much the paintings are really worth. The guest with the $65k painting didn’t reveal if they planned to restore it and sell it or keep it as a family heirloom.
Shows like Antiques Roadshow and Storage Wars are beloved by fans for their history and unexpected treasures. Antiques Roadshow airs Mondays on PBS.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger
