'Antiques Roadshow': Most Valuable Find Ever

PBS's "Antiques Roadshow" recorded the highest-value appraisal in the series' 16 years of production. Veteran Asian arts expert Lark Mason identified a collection of five late 17th century Chinese, carved rhinoceros horn cups and valued the set at $1 million to $1.5 million, July 25, 2011, in Tulsa, Okla. (WGBH)

PBS's "Antiques Roadshow" had not seen an appraisal like this in its 16 years of production. A man arrived at the Tulsa Convention Center in Oklahoma Saturday with five Chinese, carved cups and learned the set, made from rhinoceros horn, was valued at more than $1 million, the highest evaluation in the show's history.

"As each one came out of the box, my jaw started to drop a little more," appraiser Lark Mason told ABC News Tulsa affiliate KTUL. "[They] are worth between $1,000,000 and $1,500,000."

Mason is the show's Asian art expert and said the cups are from the late 17th century or early 18th century. The owner, who requested anonymity, told Mason he began collecting cups in the 1970s and had no idea how much the collection was worth.

WGBH

PBS's "Antiques Roadshow" recorded the... View Full Size

WGBH

PBS's "Antiques Roadshow" recorded the highest-value appraisal in the series' 16 years of production. Veteran Asian arts expert Lark Mason identified a collection of five late 17th century Chinese, carved rhinoceros horn cups and valued the set at $1 million to $1.5 million, July 25, 2011, in Tulsa, Okla.

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"We had not had a million-dollar find until last season [when] we found some jade," host Mark Walberg told KTUL.

The previous record was set in 2009 during filming in Raleigh, N.C. A collection of Chinese, carved jade bowls were estimated to be worth as much as $1.07 million.

"I am no longer surprised by what I'm going to find anywhere but, yeah, OK, a little surprised to find it in Tulsa, but delighted," executive producer Marsha Bemko said in an interview with KTUL.

The episode will air next year as part of the 16th season of the "Antiques Roadshow."