An Antiques Roadshow guest was stunned to discover an unsigned painting that had been in the family for years was in fact worth thousands of pounds.
The guest took the painting of two girls to expert Grant Ford, who immediately attributed it to acclaimed artist Thomas Alfred Jones, the President of the Hibernian Royal Academy.
The guest said that her great-great uncle had bought it in the Cork exhibition in 1883 and that it had been in the family ever since and that she had had it for 30 years.
Grant said: "It's such an extraordinary thing, It's very very difficult to find narrative Irish art. It's a real cracker."
The guest said she loved the painting because it was "so Irish" like herself and "very fresh and hopeful."
Grant agreed and said the colours were beautiful, as were the two girls in the painting.
He said: "Jones was a very important artist, it's in lovely condition, It's not signed, but it's totally autographed by looking at the way it's painted.
"It's absolutely him, 100%, it's extraordinary to think this very rare painting by Jones has been in your family for the entire time since it was created.
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"The Irish art market has been up and down but the real rarities still command great prices, for a Victorian painting like this by him, I've only seen a few in my decades long career.
"It's certainly worth £10- £15,000."
The guest looked stunned and said: "Wow, that's amazing, it will stay in my family."
Grant said: "It's a museum quality piece and a real Irish treasure."
*Antiques Roadshow continues next Sunday on BBC1
