Two guests on Antiques Roadshow were left stunned after learning the true value of an everyday item they thought was worth no more than £5. The revelation came during the latest episode, broadcast on September 13, when expert Lennox Cato examined a tea caddy brought in by a woman and a young girl.
Guests present collection of items
The episode was filmed at Devon's Dartington Estate. The pair presented Lennox with three old books, a wooden sculpture, and a tea caddy. The young girl explained how the collection came into her possession, noting that the tea caddy had been in the family for as long as she could remember, while the wooden sculpture was only about four or five years old.
Lennox quickly identified the tea caddy as the item of interest, saying it had "quite an interesting story." The older lady recalled that it had belonged to her grandmother, who used it as a tea caddy. She now uses it to store "little treasures."
18th century caddy reveals hidden value
Inspecting the item, Lennox explained it was an 18th century tea caddy made in Sheffield, constructed with copper and coated in silver. He shared that when it was made, tea was extremely expensive and kept under lock and key by high-society people, pointing to a small keyhole at the front.
Lennox noted that the copper was starting to show through the silver plate, creating a two-colour effect. While some collectors viewed this positively, he stressed that a damaged finial could impact its value overall.
Guests react to valuation
"Because the finial needs to be replaced, this really is worth between £200 to £300," Lennox revealed, prompting a stunned reaction from the guests. "Wow, just for a little tea caddy? Oh my goodness," said the older lady, while the young girl confessed: "I thought it was just going to be like £5."
Antiques Roadshow airs on BBC One and iPlayer Sunday nights from 8pm.
