Antiques Roadshow guest left gobsmacked as item she ‘chucked in the bin’ gets surprising valuation
ANTIQUES Roadshow guest left gobsmacked as an item she ‘chucked in the bin’ gets a very surprising valuation.
The hit BBC show returned to our screens with the wonderful Fiona Bruce heading up the new episode.
This time the team were visiting the Firstsite contemporary art gallery in Colchester.
As usual, members of the public flocked to the site to have their prized possessions valued by the show’s experts.
But there was a surprise in store for a woman who brought it in an old item.
Expert Siobhan Tyrrell examined the item and said: “You brought this in today and you told me that it almost got chucked in the bin.”
The woman replied: “Well, it did yes”.
Siobhan said: “I’ve got to admit, it looks a little bit like a car crash because it’s been soldered so much but actually it’s closed back.
“And then when I turned it over and had a look at the stones, we’ve got old cut diamonds”.
The guest replied: “I know I’m amazed.”
Siobhan continued: “We’ve got emeralds and we’ve got garnets. It looks certainly 1700s.”
Then for the most important feature – the valuation!
Siobhan declared: “I would’ve said that’s going to make £300 to £400.”
The amount shocked the woman, who then exclaimed: “ Well, it’s made my day! It really has.”
It’s not the first time the show’s visitors have been left dumbfounded by the expert valuations.
The team set up shop at Cromford Hills in the idyllic area of Derwent Valley in Derbyshire last year.
Harrogate jewellery specialist Susan Rumfitt was available to give her expert opinions.
A husband and wife brought two items to her, a bracelet and a stunning pendant.
Antiques Road Trip experts
The BBC One series features a team of experts ready to give their opinions on hidden treasures.
Mark Hill – Mark is a popular antiques expert, TV presenter, author and publisher.
He is known for both Antiques Road Trip and BBC‘s Antiques Roadshow.
Away from his TV career and he previously worked at Sotheby’s in London as a Specialist in their Collectors Department.
Izzie Balmer – Izzie was previously a part of BBC Street Auction’s celebrity edition before becoming a member of Antiques Road Trip.
She is a popular antiques valuer and auctioneer from Derbyshire who is now a recognizable face.
As well to her TV work, Izzie predominantly works as a head valuer at the Wessex Auction rooms in Wiltshire.
Steven Moore – Steven is known for being an antiques dealer, auctioneer and museum curator.
He has also used his expertise in the past to write for a variety of magazines.
Steven joined the Antiques Road Trip in 2020 and has also been an expert on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow.
Natasha Raskin Sharp – Natasha is an Antiques Road Trip expert with a passion for antiques and art.
She was born in Glasgow in 1986 into a family of art collectors with her dad Philip Raskin being a successful artist.
Irita Marriott – Irita is an antiques expert and dealer as well as being the founder of Irita Marriott Antiques.
She is one of the latest BBC antiques expert on Antiques Road Trip and full time antiques dealer based in the UK.
Charles Hanson – Charles chose a career in antiques because he has a love for history and enjoys the drama of an auction.
He joined Bargain Hunt back in 2002 and works as an auctioneer.
Raj Bisram – Raj is a British antiques expert and auctioneer.
He co-founded Bentley’s Fine Art and Antiques Auction House in Cranbrook, Kent in 1995.
Philip Serrell – Philip says that he thinks antiques found him “rather than the other way round”.
He was approached by the Bargain Hunt series producer of the day and recorded the first Bargain Hunt filmed at Malvern in 1999.
The dealer, who is known for his scarves, was then asked to feature as an expert.
David Harper – David is an antiques expert, artist, speaker and writer.
He has gone on to make multiple TV appearances, with his first television role in 2005 as presenter of Channel 4‘s Natural Born Dealers.
James Braxton – Ever since he was young, James was always interested in the world of antiques and began pursuing a career in the industry after purchasing an auctioning company in 1991.
He founded the Fine Art Auction Group where he currently serves as director, responsible for running five auction rooms in the South of England.
James has appeared in other hit TV shows including Bargain Hunt and Flog it!
Roo Irvine – Roo, whose full name Arusha Irvine, is an antiques dealer and television presenter from Scotland.
As well as Antiques Road Trip, she has also appeared on shows such as Bargain Hunt, Flipping Profit and the celebrity version of Antiques Road Trip.
Tim Wonnacott – Timothy is an English chartered auctioneer, chartered surveyor, antiques expert, narrator, and a television presenter.
He used to be a director of Sotheby’s; one of the world’s oldest auction houses.
He has been the narrator of Antiques Road Trip since it began in 2010.
The wife explained that her husband did not think much of one of the items as he labelled it ‘a bit of tat’ and just a piece of glass.
Susan enquired as to why he thought the seemingly stunning item was more akin to costume jewellery.
The husband replied: “It’s very big for a sort of precious stone.”
“It really is totally magnificent” replied Susan.
She then explained that the bracelet came from Wartski’s in London, an important firm that sold expensive Faberge items.
After discussing the items further Susan then revealed her valuation and the couple were completely blindsided by how much both items were worth.
The ‘piece of tat’ pendant was given a value of between £3,000 and £5,000, which left the couple shocked.
However, the bracelet would have fetched even more if they tried to sell it at auction.
Susan stated: “The opal bangle, of course, it’s a magnificent piece.
“If that came up to auction, we would be looking at an estimate of £8,000 to £10,000.”
The husband’s jaw dropped at the huge value of the item as he exclaimed: “I didn’t expect that …. That’s incredible.”
Previously in the segment, the pair explained how they decided to give the items to their daughter.
Upon hearing the experts comments, the wife jokingly remarked: “Our daughter did well didn’t she!”
Antiques Roadshow airs on BBC and is available to stream on BBCIplayer.