Antiques Roadshow sees countless guests walking away from the show with the certainty their item is worth something or safe with the knowledge their sentimental possession is valuable, even if they decide to hang onto it.
Experts of the BBC show are tasked with estimating the value of peoples’ items, and sometimes they’re worth less than the guest hopes. Will Farmer recently reflected on the mortifying moment one person “stormed off” after he gave his valuation.
Farmer explained the guest had forked out £1,000 for a glass bottle which turned out not to be of any value.
The owner of the bottle had believed it to be a collectable item but had been misinformed, and ended up leaving without any word.
"A gentleman pulled this green glass bottle out of his bag and I looked at him and said, 'What would you like to know'?” Farmer recalled.
The glass and ceramics specialist continued: “He said, 'I want to check the date of it' and I said, 'Are you a collector, have you inherited it? Where is it from?'
Will Farmer recalled the awkward incident
BBC
“And he said he'd bought it from an antique shop so I knew I had to tread carefully."
Speaking to The Express, Farmer remembered it had been sold to the guest as a rare 17th century glass bottle which he paid £1,000 for.
However, after pulling in the expertise of his colleagues, the Antiques Roadshow star was forced to deliver the bad news to the guest.
He explained the man responded by simply storming off, bottle in hand. However, while specialists have to give out the occasional disappointing truth, the show often sees them making peoples’ days.
Farmer specialises in glass and ceramics
BBC
Joanna Hardy recently left a guest speechless when she revealed the staggering valuation of a brooch which had been handed down from her grandmother.
After explaining some information about the item, Hardy added: “It really is absolutely superb. If you were going to buy something similar you would probably need to spend about £25,000 and £30,000.”
The guests had no idea the brooch was worth so much money and were delighted they had taken such good care of it.
Pointing towards a baby the mother and daughter had with them, Hardy quipped: "It is absolutely stunning, it oozes quality and oozes craftsmanship… and lucky you! That is going to be yours one day."
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Farmer remembered one guest walking off after finding out his item wasn't valuable
BBC
Speaking afterwards to the cameras, the owner who had handed the item down to her daughter explained: "I am absolutely bowled over, I am beyond delighted that it is so valuable because it is such a special thing to be able to hand down."
Meanwhile, a 2000-year-old coin was given a huge value by John Foster.
He was able to assure the guest the item would make a four-figure sum if sold, telling them: "But I would say for the pair, easily £1,000 to £1,500."