An Antiques Roadshow visitor was left speechless after learning the value of a friend's charity shop purchase. The BBC programme recently aired an episode hosted by Fiona Bruce from Souter Lighthouse in Tyne and Wear, where members of the public brought their treasures for expert valuation.
Charity shop find revealed
Expert Steven Moore examined a small enamel object depicting the Holy Family. He asked the visitor where it came from, and she explained that a friend in Sydney had found it in a charity shop for eight Australian dollars. The item had reportedly been kept in a drawer for the past 20 years.
Moore noted the piece was enamel and had "actually got quite a bit of age to it," dating it to the late 17th century. The visitor gasped in disbelief, and Moore remarked that it was still sitting in her friend's drawer.
Staggering valuation
Moore estimated that if the piece came to market in Britain, it would carry a valuation of £1,500, equivalent to 3,000 Australian dollars. The guest exclaimed that her friend would be delighted, and Moore advised that the item should not remain in the drawer.
The visitor said she was "blown away" and believed her friend would be equally thrilled, noting the piece had been stored away for two decades.
