Discovering a family heirloom is an exciting thing as that antique item reminds us that even though a lot changed, some things are eternal and stay for a long time. At times, the heirloom has a deep secret associated with it that is not passed on to the next generation and remains hidden until someone discovers it unexpectedly. Ted Kuntz was unaware of what his grandmother’s blanket was worth until he took it to the Antiques Roadshow in Tucson, Arizona. The story behind that warm woolen piece was revealed in that show and Ted was left amazed by what he was told. That blanket was definitely extraordinary!
Man With Treasures
When a family possession is involved, there is always an emotion associated with it. Ted Kuntz understood those emotions very well. He has been inclined towards cultural artifacts and has a remarkable collection of Southwestern treasures. Out of all those precious objects in his store, one piece that is closest to him was given to him by his grandmother. He shared a wonderful bond with her despite the family struggles he was pushed into involuntarily. However, that one piece would turn his life after all those years of hardships.
Days Of Innocence And Struggle
Ted Kuntz had a difficult time growing up in a “poor farmer” family. His family had to go through many troubles to make ends meet. Five-year-old Ted had to witness his parents’ divorce and that impacted him in the worst way. That’s when his grandparents took him in and raised him. They made sure he had a normal childhood and received every comfort they could afford. Turns out, they gave him a lot more.
As Old As The Hills
His grandparents were his family and he could not be more grateful for his upbringing in that house. There was another thing that he cherished apart from his grandparents. It was an item that had been in the family even before he was born. When he laid his hand on that, he knew it is a treasure to keep forever.
A Lot In The History
Ted belonged to a family of “poor farmers” and money had always been an issue persisting for many years. He always had a curious mind and he wanted to know all about his family’s past and the meaning behind every rare piece at his grandparent’s house. That’s when he discovered that there are intriguing historical stories related to every item. The objects of Southwestern history spoke a lot about the past. It is hard to predict their value but those antiques had a surprise hidden in them.
Once Upon A Time
When parents and grandparents tell their little ones stories from their past, the kids usually take them as just another fable that helps them fall asleep peacefully. But when the kids grow older, those tales might emerge again and that’s when they tend to discover the true meaning behind them. Ted had also been told many stories when he was growing up but he didn’t pay attention to them until many years later when he discovered something unexpected.
Collecting Artifacts
Ted had his heart at gathering things of historical and cultural importance and his collection of Native American blankets and other artifacts prove it right. He owned some of the precious objects that carried great importance in the past but he never knew their money value. He just collected them to cherish them as a part of his childhood that reminded him of his family especially his grandparents. His collection had more to it than he thought.
A Blanket Of Memories
One of those precious items was a blanket covering his bedroom chair. The cozy antique item adorned his home after all these years and kept him warm. He considered it a treasure like other things from his collection but this one had a unique story behind it that came to light during the 2000s. While he cherished it as his grandmother’s gift to him, he was unaware of all that this blanket held.
With Love, From Grandma
Ted’s family had an abundance of tales that consisted of surprising revelations. He was drawn towards that rich history and that’s when he learned about his interest in artifacts. Although he was eager to know the details about their past, he never imagined that his grandmother had left something incredible for him. More than that thing, the fact that took him by a surprise was a small part of his grandmother’s youth and the one person who was present with her.
Blanket’s Origin
After many years of owning that blanket, Ted was enlightened by an astonishing truth about its origin. He figured out that his grandmother was surrounded by a few famous Frontiersmen of America while growing up. The connection was so strong that one of them gave her a gift many years ago. He revealed during Behind the Scenes at Antiques Roadshow in Tucson: The Navajo Blanket, “My grandmother had grown up with this frontiersman, Mark Bedell.”
A Token Of Kindness
So, she received this blanket from a popular frontiersman and now, it has been a significant part of Ted’s life. He held it close to himself since it reminded him of all the blissful moments he spent with his grandmother when he was little. He was only aware of one fact about this special possession so far and there were many such eye-opening details waiting to be unveiled.
Cozy Memories
“During the years I was living with my grandmother, [the blanket] was on the bed where I slept. And in the cold winter days, it was probably thrown over me,” he shared during the interview. It wasn’t an ordinary blanket as it was worn by chiefs and superiors while attending any special occasion. All this gave rise to a new mystery and Ted wanted to know a complete background of the gifted blanket that has been in his family for years.
Truth About The Chief Blankets
This mysterious blanket was known as a chief blanket. Chief blankets were considered the most valuable ones during the 1800s. They were extremely expensive and only the wealthy members could afford them. Mostly, these blankets were used to honor people for their contribution to the Dine nation or other Indian tribes or organizations. The weaving of these blankets began in the Navajo Classic period (before 1863). They were classified into three types: Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3. Turns out, Ted’s precious heirloom had another tale behind it.
Another Story Unraveled
Ted stumbled upon some more facts and found that this blanket that has warmed him on cold winter nights was actually given to Ted’s grandmother’s foster father by a famous American frontiersman. In a nutshell, it was originally presented to Ted’s great-grandfather and it was passed on further. The chief blanket was conferred on him by one of the most renowned western American explorers. “The story goes that Kit Carson gave this blanket to Marc Bedell,” Ted revealed in the interview.
Letting The Facts Sink In
Knowing that the blanket came in his family from a well-known person was astounding for Ted. The artifact enthusiast was elated to be a part of this enlightening experience and wanted to dig in deeper to know more about this heirloom. This was just the beginning of his journey towards knowing all about its existence as the facts were not ceasing and he was all set to explore the intriguing history.
Kit Carson’s Significance
While many are familiar with this name, a few might wonder why he was such a special person in American History. Well, for starters, he was one of the greatest mountain men and became the protagonist in many popular novels. He had witnessed Native American culture throughout his life. He went on many expeditions and completed important military missions. His work made him iconic and is remembered as a legend as a result of his heroic character description in biographies and news articles.
A Deeper Research
Ted could not more excited to know that the blanket he possessed was originally passed on to his family by the legendary Kit Carson. His belief in anecdotes just strengthened. He had this thought in his mind that this blanket may have a really great value attached to it. However, he never had a chance to dive into the details but an opportunity showed up at the right time. The Antiques Roadshow was all set for Tucson, Arizona and Ted knew what he had to do this time.
The Real Value
Ted grabbed his prized possession and headed towards the show. Ted went there with an assumption that he owned a Navajo Chief Blanket after concluding this from all the tales he heard from his ancestors. But he wanted to have an expert to prove his theory right. Donald Ellis, appraiser of the Antiques Roadshow had all the answers to Ted’s queries and he would tell him if what he owned was as valuable as he had imagined.
The Show
The Antiques Roadshow is a popular series since 1970 and it’s highly appreciated by the ones who are enthusiastic about history and the pieces that belonged to a bygone era. They go all around the world and set up at various cities so that people can present their antiques and know their actual worth. They arrived in Tucson, Arizona in 2001 and that’s when Ted decided to become a part of it. The professionals inspect every item and explain the history behind them. At last, they reveal the actual value of the object.
Test For The Blanket
In 2001, this man was ready to have some answers that would clear all his doubts about the blanket. As he stood there taking a good look at his blanket, he had many thoughts running through his head. He was soon going to learn the actual value of this piece and it was making him a bit nervous. He could not forget that it came from the famous mountain man, Kit Carson but that was all he knew. What was the next big news?
First Reaction
When Ted bought that blanket on the Antiques Roadshow in 2001, Donald Ellis, an expert appraiser from Dundas, Ontario had a moment of disbelief as he looked at that piece. “Ted, did you notice that when you showed this to me, that I kind of stopped breathing a little bit? I’m still having a little bit of trouble breathing here,” he said while recovering from the shock.
Change Of Expressions
After hearing Donald’s comment, Ted responded, “Yeah… It took me by surprise because, I, you know, didn’t think too much about it.” He wasn’t sure about what his reaction meant and so, he sounded uncertain. This conversation was just the beginning of all that Donald was about to tell Ted about his childhood treasure. It just needed one look and the expert appraiser was ready to spill all the information.
The Navajo Apparels
There was no doubt that the blanket was a Chief’s Blanket but the next thing that Ted was told was extremely surprising. He found that it was the first type of Chief’s Blanket ever made! That made it even more special and it was not the only reason for Donald to skip a heartbeat when the blanket appeared in front of him.
Chief’s Blankets
The Native Americans and traders named such blankets “Chief’s Blankets” considering the fact that only the higher members of the society owned them during those days. Donald had enough knowledge about the Native American culture and he was aware of the Navajo apparel designed and sold during the earlier times. He knew their worth. Since he was a collector, he had many details that he could reveal to Ted to make him understand all about those blankets.
Back To The 1800s
Donald took Ted back to the time when these blankets were created and sold. During the 1800s, the Navajo blankets were priced between $100 and $150. It was the time when a worker earned $5 per week. The blanket brought to the show by Ted was called “A Ute First Phase Wearing Blanket” as revealed by Donald. The reason for these blankets being expensive was the process that took place behind the scenes. The way they were produced and designed mattered a lot and it gave them a high value. What about the present value?
A Lavish Shade
Another factor that made his blanket so unique and precious was the color. Donald told Ted, “This here was dyed with indigo dyes. It was a very valuable dye at the time.” That’s what made them so pricey in the 1800s. All antiques don’t attract in the way this woolen piece did! It had a charm to it and it was visible through the eyes of the expert appraiser. But that wasn’t all. He had some more secrets about the antique blanket that he believed Ted should know.
The Ordinary Design
The blanket appears to be any normal piece of cloth to anyone who takes a casual look at it. It doesn’t have any complex design, instead, it has a basic pattern with linear stripes that are not attractive enough to grab anyone’s attention instantly. But when Donald laid down the facts about Navajo’s “First Phase” weaving and how it was the purest form, things started to make sense. He said, “[The] pure linear design [was] the beginning of Navajo weaving.”
It’s All In The Cloth
The material used to create this priceless piece was hand-woven wool and it was made in such a way that it repelled water. “It’s so finely done, it’s like silk,” Donald shared. The blanket had so many hidden aspects to it that Ted could have never known if he never met Donald. Such pure design justified the high price. Donald was quick at identifying antiques and their value. He was thrilled to conduct a deeper inspection now.
A Closer Analysis
Ted was told some incredible things about the blanket that he had never really known despite being wrapped in it for years. This antique blanket was a big part of history and Donald wanted to explore every edge of it before putting forward an appraisal value and offer. The further analysis left him speechless as the condition of the blanket was great apart from a few fringes on the sides.
Well-Maintained Artefact
Donald was amazed at how well Ted had kept this historical piece. He could not believe that such a valuable blanket was right in front of him and it felt like he was transported back to the Navajo era. The history aficionados can understand the elation when someone discovers such antique pieces. The expert had to disclose one more thing about this blanket before moving forward.
Little But Precious Alteration
When Donald was inspecting the blanket, he came across another surprising element within its weaving. He told Ted as he showed him the one little alteration, “What’s really interesting is that right here we have an old repair that was probably done in the 1860s. and it’s done with raveled bayeta, which is, in itself, a very important thing in Navajo weaving.”
Bayeta Steals The Show
The use of bayeta in any material just multiplies the value of that product as it is something very exclusive and not seen often on the market. In Navajo textiles, the red woolen flannel cloth that was re-spun and raveled was called bayeta. That shade of red came from either carminic acid derived from the Mesoamerican cochineal beetle or laccaic acid from the lac beetle.
Calculations For Vintage Textile
Ted had never thought that his grandmother’s blanket had such a level of historical value associated with it. It was beyond his imagination that he owned a huge part of Native American culture that is highly significant. “It’s an extraordinary piece of art. It is extremely rare. It is the most important thing that’s come into the Roadshow that I’ve seen,” exclaimed Donald on the show. Does it still hold a good money value or has it witnessed a downfall when it comes to the cost?
Putting A Price Tag
The expert was ready to declare the actual price of this fine piece of art and Ted had no clue about what he would be hearing the next moment. Donald could not hold the secret anymore and his excitement showed in the way he spoke the next few words. “Well sir, I’m still a little nervous here. I have to tell you, on a really bad day, this textile would be worth $350,000. On a good day, it’s about half a million dollars!” This announcement changed everything in a second.
Pulling It All Together
“Half a million dollars” – these words still echoed in Ted’s ears as he tried to come back to the present after the surprise that just hit him. Ted has always been a keen admirer of the Native American culture and gathered things that belonged to it. He never knew that he had something with such a jaw-dropping money value. He was raised in a poor family and never predicted his adult life to be any different. However, his family heirloom had another story written for him.
“A National Treasure”
Donald saw his expressions and raised his spirits by saying, “You have a national treasure… when you walked in with this, I just about died.” So, he knew the reality exactly when Ted first walked in with this heirloom. There were more details that Donald had not yet shared but it was the right time to reveal the next piece of information.
Scope Of Increasing
While Ted was still recovering from the appraiser’s offer, Donald had another news for him. “The value of this that I’m giving you is not using the Kit Carson provenance. Provenance is sometimes very difficult to ascertain. If we could research this and we could prove without a reasonable doubt that Kit Carson actually owned this, the value would increase, again, maybe 20%,” Donald explained. It turns out the blanket was hiding an unbelievable treasure all this time and Ted had a decision to make now.
Making A Decision
When entering that show, Ted never anticipated his experience to turn out this way. He just went in there to know the historical value of that piece of vintage textile. “I can’t believe this!… I’m amazed, flabbergasted”, he finally expressed after he dawned on the entire situation. He was now standing with all eyes on him as he had to make a choice. He could either sell that esteemed blanket or take it back home.
Preserving The Relic
Ted contemplated the options that were laid down in front of him. All those memories played in his head as he wondered about the blanket’s significance in his life. Finally, all he wanted was that this treasure is taken care of well wherever it goes. During the filming of the “Behind the Scenes at Antiques Roadshow in Tucson: The Navajo Blanket”, Ted shared, “It would be better served some place where it could be preserved properly.”
A Final Decision
After being made aware of all that the antique piece held within those weaved threads, Ted came to a conclusion. He wanted the world to have a look at that blanket and also, he believed that it would be safe under a professional’s eye. So, he decided to sell it. “It was sold to an anonymous buyer who donated it or put it at the Detroit Institute of the Arts… As far as I know, it’s still there on display 3-4 months a year,” Ted revealed in the episode.
Focusing On The Finances
He couldn’t ignore the fact that the money would improve his life and he would be able to fulfill some wishes for his wife. The huge amount that he received contributed to making his family’s life more comfortable. When Ted had all that money in his account, he bought a new house with his wife, Virginia. Next, he assisted his family and friends financially during their hard times.
Securing The Future
This man never let the money get to his head. He did not make any lavish additions in his life, instead, just invested that money thoughtfully. “I worked up until I was 74 years old. I had no intent to changing my lifestyle [after selling the piece],” Ted shared on “Behind the Scenes at Antiques Roadshow in Tucson: The Navajo Blanket.” He added that the money helps him receive proper medical care in case of any health issue that arises.
Reminiscences Of Those Days
Ted recalled those days of being enlightened by the facts about his blanket and said, “[It’s] almost unbelievable that I could have something that valuable.” He hopes that people realize the value of things that have been in their families for many years. He said, “[Everyone should] take care of the old things, and someday they’ll be valuable. You never know what’s gonna produce value.” After 15 years, the value of that vintage textile piece increased to his amazement. Donald was right again!
Latest Price
No one knew the amount that Ted took home after selling his family heirloom. The appraisal offer that was initially revealed in the show in 2001 was $300,000-$500,000. That was an astonishing number! The expert appraiser had predicted that the value could be 20% more than what they had announced considering the history of that art piece. In 2016, the show declared that the latest value of the piece lies between $750,000 and $1,000,000. Yes, it doubled within a few years.
Preserved For Better
As a child, Ted loved to be covered by the blanket that his grandmother owned. He spent the winter nights being snuggled inside it, unaware of the treasure he was holding. One million dollars was not even close to what he would have imagined the price of the blanket. The Antiques Roadshow gave him the biggest surprise of his life. In 2008, Ted visited the Detroit Institute of the Arts to look for his blanket being showcased there. However, he was told that they had just taken it down and it was preserved carefully.
