Guest's £18 Doll Valued at £500
An Antiques Roadshow expert was left speechless after a guest revealed she purchased a 17th-century wooden doll for just £18—a fraction of its true value. The doll, brought to the BBC show at Winchester Cathedral, was appraised by expert Nicholas Mitchell, who estimated its worth at around £500, marking a 28-fold increase from the purchase price.
Expert's Reaction to the Bargain
Mitchell, visibly surprised, remarked: "It is mad how anybody could sell that for £18 when they really should have charged you the best part of £500. I have no idea." The guest had acquired the doll six months earlier at a fair, and Mitchell initially assumed she "must have paid quite a lot of money" for the item.
Historical Significance of the Doll
Describing the doll as "probably one of the earliest things I’ve seen here today," Mitchell explained that it was carved in the late 16th or early 17th century, likely by an older man for his grandchild. "He made this lovingly and carefully for a grandchild because he didn’t have the money to buy her a real doll," Mitchell said. The carver, a member of a simple farming family, copied the dress of fashionable gentry he observed in Winchester. Mitchell noted: "It’s been played with, it’s been handled, it’s been loved for nearly 400 years. Isn’t that a fantastic thing."
Value and Craftsmanship
Mitchell praised the doll as "a wonderful piece of folk art, treen, call it what you like but it’s got everything going for it." The appraisal took place during the Antiques Roadshow visit to Winchester Cathedral, where guests brought various items for valuation. The episode airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.
