Coca-Cola is teaming up with Antiques Roadshow to try and find three iconic paintings by Norman Rockwell. The three paintings, worth an estimated $1.5 million, will be part of the shows “most wanted” list.
The illustrations were created by Rockwell in the 1930s for the beverage company’s calendars and billboards. The illustrations are in Rockwell’s imitable style, showing young boys enjoying a Coca-Cola, are estimated to be worth about $500,000 apiece.
Coke has searched for years for the pieces, through private collections, auctions and at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Massachusetts and the American Illustrator Museum in Rhode Island. They are named as the biggest missing pieces of the company’s extensive collection of memorabilia.
“These paintings have been the top of the list for us as long as I have been here and that’s been about 15 years,” said Ted Ryan, a spokesman for Coke’s archives.
While three of the six Rockwell Coke illustrations have been found, the company is hopeful to complete the set. “The interesting thing is that there is someone out there with a winning lottery ticket,” said Adam Monahan, an associate producer for Antiques Roadshow.
Source: Boston.com
