Antiques Roadshow Guest's Plastic Bag Brooch Stuns with Valuation Up to £10,000
In a remarkable segment from the beloved BBC programme Antiques Roadshow, a guest received an astonishing surprise when a small gold rabbit brooch he had casually stored in a plastic bag was valued at a minimum of £3,000, with potential to reach £10,000. The episode, which originally aired last year, featured jewellery expert Joanna Hardy examining the delicate piece, which fit snugly between just two of her fingers.
From Plastic Bag to Precious Find
The guest admitted to placing the brooch in a plastic bag merely for transport to the show, a detail that amused Hardy. She remarked, 'Usually people come to my table and they're showing me a jewel in a box, but you came and showed me the bunny brooch in a plastic bag.' The owner explained he had purchased it at an antiques fair 25 years ago, never suspecting its true worth.
Hardy, upon inspection, noted the brooch's exceptional quality despite its small size. 'For something that is basically metal, it has life to it. And that's because it's a good quality piece of jewellery,' she said. The piece features a sapphire eye with a diamond eyelid, crafted from 18-carat gold and dating back to the 1960s.
Valuation That Left Owner Speechless
After assessing the brooch, Hardy delivered the eye-watering valuation. 'As is, without it being attributed to a particular jewellery house, it is so beautifully made, you're talking at least £3,000,' she revealed. The guest, who had speculated it might be worth around £1,000, responded with a stunned 'Oh God!'
Hardy further elaborated that if the brooch could be attributed to a prestigious jewellery house like Cartier, its value could skyrocket to between £8,000 and £10,000. She pointed out that engraved markings on the piece were likely shop codes rather than maker's marks, indicating more research is needed to uncover its origins.
Another Antiques Roadshow Mishap: The Witches' Bottle Incident
This surprising valuation follows another memorable Antiques Roadshow moment involving glass expert Andy McConnell. In a 2016 episode that resurfaced recently, McConnell examined a 180-year-old bottle, initially speculating its contents were port or red wine. He even tasted a sample, only for host Fiona Bruce to later reveal the liquid was actually a mixture of urine, a trace of alcohol, and a human hair.
Bruce explained it was a witches' bottle, a talisman used historically to ward off witchcraft and misfortune. Despite the unpleasant revelation, McConnell handled the situation with humour, quipping 'Yummy' after learning the truth. The bottle also contained brass pins from the 1840s and a small creature called an ostracod.
Antiques Roadshow continues to captivate audiences with such unexpected discoveries and valuations, airing Sundays on BBC One and iPlayer.
