BBC Antiques Roadshow guest gobsmacked over huge valuation of £2.50 charity shop brooch
Antiques Roadshow expert Susan Rumfitt left a guest gobsmacked when she revealed the staggering value of a brooch that she forked out just £2.50 for in a charity shop
A guest on Antiques Roadshow was left gobsmacked when a brooch she bought for a mere £2.50 in a charity shop was valued at an astonishing amount. The episode, which aired on Sunday, April 27 from Thirlestane Castle in the Scottish Borders, saw the woman reveal to expert Susan Rumfitt that she had purchased the brooch along with other costume jewellery.
However, she confessed it "just didn't feel like costume jewellery" due to its weight.
She explained: "The clasp was broken when I bought it and I took that to a little jewellers and asked if he'd mend the clasp and he did and I asked if it was worth anything and he said 'not really' but he said 'if you're selling it I'll buy it for £50' and I thought if he wants to buy it for £50 it's probably worth a little bit more."
Susan then enlightened the owner about the history of the brooch, dating back to around 1870, composed of sapphires, symbolising devotion, and diamonds, signifying everlasting eternal love.
She commented: "You've got a very devotional and romantic piece of jewellery," as she highlighted the mounts were two intertwined hearts. "Perhaps it was given as a marriage gift," she suggested, reports the Express.
Upon learning the brooch was bought from the charity shop for just £2.50, Susan informed the guest: "It's got everything going for it. If it came up for auction I think we'd be looking at an estimate of two to three thousand."
The owner was left gobsmacked, managing only to say "oh my goodness" as she processed the moment.
She then added: "I wasn't expecting that, not at all - maybe £100, £200 because I've had it a while, but never in the thousands."
This episode follows a previous Antiques Roadshow edition where a guest couldn't believe an expert's valuation, astonished by the true value of her family painting.
In a segment from Swanage Pier and Seafront, viewers saw a beautiful Samuel John Lamorna Birch painting, with its owners sharing its delightful history.
One of them explained: "My uncle and aunt used to go to Cornwall on holiday and they found his studio, which is in the picture there, on the way down to Lamorna Cove and they met the artist and bought this picture from him."
Expert Alexandra Grill was excited to find "The Studio, Lamorna" written on the back, along with Birch's signature and the original price of £20 – a fact the owner confirmed.
When Grill estimated the painting's worth between £2,000 and £3,000, an off-camera gasp was heard, and the owner was visibly stunned, prompting them to ask incredulously, "really?".
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