Antiques Roadshow Expert's Unpleasant Surprise After Tasting 180-Year-Old Bottle
An Antiques Roadshow expert received an unwelcome surprise after sampling a mysterious substance from a guest's 180-year-old bottle during a memorable episode of the popular BBC programme. The show, where members of the public bring historical artefacts for valuation and background checks, took an unexpected turn when glass specialist Andy McConnell encountered a century-old container with peculiar contents.
The Fateful Examination
Upon inspecting the antique bottle, Andy McConnell observed a brown substance inside and speculated it might be port or red wine. He humorously suggested to the guest, 'I think it's port... port or red wine... or it's full of rusty old nails and that's rust.' Demonstrating his hands-on approach, Andy then dipped his finger into the bottle and licked the mysterious liquid, unaware of its true nature.
Later in the 2016 episode, host Fiona Bruce, who succeeded Michael Aspel as presenter in 2008, revealed the shocking truth about what Andy had tasted. She explained the liquid was actually urine mixed with a tiny amount of alcohol and contained a human hair. Fiona clarified that the bottle was a witches' bottle, created as a talisman to ward off witchcraft, curses, and misfortune.
The Revealing Details
Fiona Bruce elaborated, 'Now, you thought it might have been port or wine... That would've been nice...' She continued, 'Inside were these brass pins, all of these dating from the late 1840s, and the liquid - urine, a tiny bit of alcohol and one human hair. And a mysterious little creature called an ostracod, which is like a little cockle.'
Fortunately, Andy McConnell took the misstep in stride, responding with a joking 'Yummy' to lighten the awkward moment. This incident occurred during an episode filmed at Firsite contemporary art gallery in Colchester, which aired over the weekend, showcasing the unpredictable nature of the long-running programme.
Another Remarkable Discovery
Elsewhere in the same episode, another guest experienced a more pleasant surprise when expert Ronnie Archer-Morgan assessed an unusual ironwood pole club. The visitor explained her in-laws discovered the item after buying a new home in West Wales during the 1960s, where it had been left behind by previous owners. Through internet research, her family had guessed it might originate from Fiji.
Ronnie revealed the pole club actually came from the Cook Islands, describing it as a magnificent ironwood akatara made either on Rarotonga or Atiu. He recounted how Captain Cook's surgeon spotted such items during Polynesian voyages, noting that while originally a fighting weapon, it had become a ceremonial object imbued with spiritual power called manna.
Valuation and Historical Significance
Ronnie Archer-Morgan could deduce the item's age as 18th century by identifying it as stone cut, potentially dating to the 1770s when Cook arrived. He emphasized, 'If this could be attributed to anything to do with James Cook, wow. Things like this have a value.' Despite minor damage with a missing tip, he stated it didn't detract from its energy and power.
The expert provided a staggering valuation, explaining that in a top sale in Paris, it would have a pre-sale estimate between £100,000 and £150,000. The guest reacted with astonishment, exclaiming, 'Crikey. That's amazing, really amazing.' Speaking to the camera later, she expressed disbelief about how such an object ended up in a Welsh house, wishing she could trace its incredible journey through time.
Antiques Roadshow continues to air Sundays on BBC One and iPlayer, offering viewers fascinating insights into historical artefacts and their surprising stories, from witches' bottles to valuable ceremonial weapons.
