Antiques Roadshow viewers gobsmacked after finding out how much 'ugly' metal 'coat hangers' were worth

Antiques Roadshow viewers have been left well and truly gobsmacked after finding out how much 'ugly' metal 'coat hangers' were worth.

Audiences were astonished when an expert gave a pricey valuation to the items, which were likened to 'wire hangers with metal leaves'.

The 'hangers' were analysed on the US version of the show by a woman who inherited it from her aunt.

PBS

Much to many viewers' surprise, an expert gave the items a staggering $1 million (around £780,000) valuation.

Not actually hangers at all, the woman was shocked to find out what she had brought to the show was actually a piece of hanging art.

She explained how her aunt once mixed in the same circles as Alexander Calder, hailed as the master of mobile art, once at a party.

"She had done a needlepoint pillow of one of Calder's works and she gave it to him and a few days later, he had given her this mobile as a thank you for the pillow," the woman said on the show.

Chris Kennedy, the show's appraiser, commented on the vibrant colour of the artwork and noted it had been through a restoration.

Such a restoration, he explained, would affect the item's value to 'a certain degree'.

Kennedy added that the installation, known as a mobile, became highly emblematic in the modern art movement back in the 1950s.

Talk about retro.

PBS

"It's made on very thin wire, and these are usually either aluminium or an anodised weather-resistant material that is slipped in and very delicately soldered," he added.

The woman took the mobile in for restoration back in the 90s and, at the time, she was informed it was worth approximately $30,000 (about £23,000).

"It has gained a little bit on value since then," the appraiser highlighted.

Kennedy continued: "Based upon that a fair auction value, the range is somewhere between $300,000 and $600,000 (around £233,000 and £467,000) as somewhat of a wholesale price."

Not too shabby at all.

He went on: "Right now, Alexander Calder's market is extremely hot and in a good retail setting, it would not be at all inconceivable that this very small, wonderful piece of art could probably break $1 million (£780,000)."

Now that's an investment piece.

The woman, completely in awe of the news, was left totally speechless before finally exclaiming: "Oh my God!

"My problem is I've got one mobile and two children!"

Others, however, weren't too convinced by the iconic artwork with one joking: "I'll sell you a coat hanger with some metal leaves on it for $50,000. It's a steal!"

Another, clearly seeking some inspiration from the whole ordeal, added: "I think I'll start getting my old coat hangers and some spray paint, call myself an artist and make some mobile money."

"So ugly, yet so valuable. The world is weird," added a third.

Well, they do say that all great art is supposed to provoke a reaction.