An Antiques Roadshow record was broken as a stunned expert declared, "I'm so made up". During a past episode of the popular BBC programme, glass expert Andy McConnell examined heirlooms at Woodhorn Museum in Ashington, Northumberland.
Andy met a Newcastle local with a passion for glass, who owned two 18th century Masonic glasses. "Occasionally on the Roadshow, we get a glimpse into the secretive world of freemasonry - an organisation made up of hundreds of groups or lodges, each with their own traditions incorporating mysterious symbols and objects," host Fiona Bruce explained. "Items like these 18th century glasses offer both an insight into Masonic rituals and the craftsmen who made them."
Rare glasses revealed
After examining the glasses, an excited Andy said: "These glasses are absolutely the cream! And, of course, they're firing glasses... for toasting. So, how on earth do you end up owning these wonderful little gems?" The guest admitted he got "a bit lucky" after seeing them come up at an auction.
He added: "They were just a general lot. They were valued at, I think, £50 to £70. And I pretty much knew what I thought they were. Sadly, they had been spotted by somebody else, so they did go for value, but managed to win the lot [for] just under £6,000." Explaining why he spent so much, the guest said: "They're local glasses. I just like collecting things that come from Newcastle. It's beautiful stuff. It's just a passion."
Beilby family craftsmanship
Andy said: "What you recognised them as was the work of the Beilby family, William Beilby, who were in Newcastle. 1768, it's exactly what it says on the tin, and they were Britain's leading enamellers, the greatest enamellers, working exclusively on glass." The expert explained the glass would have been ground into a powder before William Beilby picked up oil on a paintbrush to paint each colour on one by one.
Andy went on: "Then using these fine brushes, [he would have] painted on these details. So, here we have the Masonic compasses and the square on the other side with this Rococo style white, floral banding around the top. And they are a well-known set."
Record-breaking valuation
He continued: "The first one that came up that we know about was bought by the British Museum in about 2009 for £12,000. Then one sold for £8,000 and another sold for £6,000. But yours, I know, today, would fetch at auction - you'd get somewhere like £16,000 for the pair." The stunned guest said "wow" before a delighted Andy concluded: "These are by far the most expensive glasses that I've ever had in 16 years on the Roadshow. I'm so made up with these. So, cheers to you and William Beilby!" shortly before the crowd erupted into applause.
Antiques Roadshow is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
