A guest on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow was left speechless after learning that an item he had been using as a doorstop was worth a staggering five-figure sum. The episode, which originally aired in 2011, featured oriental specialist David Battie meeting a gentleman in Saltaire whose vase had been given to him by his grandfather.
The Vase's Unlikely Origin
When asked where his grandfather had acquired the piece, the man explained: "He got it from an auction house in Bradford. It was being used as a doorstop. At the end of the auction, he'd seen the vase. I don't know what he gave for it, but he obviously made a bid and came home with it."
Expert Appraisal
David Battie, an oriental specialist, expressed great admiration for the vase, noting that it had originated from China. He declared: "It is, undoubtedly, the oldest bronze we've ever had on the Roadshow. Now, this falls into the category of later Chinese bronzes." Inspecting the piece, Battie suggested the vase dated back to the period between 1279 and 1368.
The expert pointed out that the squiggles on the item depicted sea dragons and praised the craftsmanship. He added: "On the sides, you've got these dragon handles. What I like about this is, it's in complete contrast to the rather fine tracery here." Highlighting the facial features on the dragon handles, Battie explained that the creator would have used wax to make those elements. He exclaimed: "It's just brilliant!"
Condition and Value
Despite its age, the vase had some condition issues. Battie noted that it had been buried at some point and that one area had been cleaned, causing discolouration. He advised the guest not to repeat that process. Other problems included a handle that appeared close to breaking and a foot that had come off at some point. Nevertheless, Battie stated: "But, we're looking at something which is pushing 1,000 years old. If this were in a smart dealer's catalogue in London, I could see it having a price tag of somewhere between £10,000 and £15,000."
Guest's Reaction
The guest was visibly stunned, his mouth dropping open before he replied: "Seriously? Seriously? That's really unbelievable, to be honest. Thank you (grandad) very much. That's a real shocker. I love the piece myself, but I didn't think it was going to be worth something like that."
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
