Antiques Roadshow guest admits ‘I nearly didn't bother' as late husband's jewellery worth eye-watering value

Edinburgh Live

2 days ago

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WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow.
An Antiques Roadshow expert labeled a woman's collection of Royal jewellery as 'absolutely marvellous'.
Taking BBC fans back in time to 2008, expert Geoffrey Munn met with a guest at Lichfield Cathedral, who had an extensive collection of impressive jewellery she had inherited.
Explaining its provenance, she shared: 'This jewellery came from my late husband's family and as far as I believe, my father-in-law's grandmother was nanny to Queen Alexandra and Edward II's children or Lord and Lady Nollie's children. Lady Charlotte Nollie was laid in wait to Queen Alexandra.'
Wowed by their background, Munn replied: 'Well fantastic and there's plenty of evidence to back that up, isn't there?
'These magnificent little presentation brooches are sort of a little march through her career.'
Pointing to the first item, he said: 'This is the cipher of Queen Alexandra, the double A isn't it? Under the royal crown and so perhaps this was a Christmas present.
'Maybe that's a birthday present and yet another one and this nanny would wear them with enormous pride, I'm absolutely sure.'
He then turned his attention to two pieces of jewellery in particular which he thought would make her 'swell with pride even more'.
Munn continued: 'Have you thought at all about the date 1902? Why that would be so special? It's the coronation of Edward VII.
'Certainly, this dear Mrs Martin, the nanny, would have shared in the great drama that surrounded the coronation of Edward VII.
(Image: BBC)
'So I believe the people that went to that coronation would have been given a medal such as this.
'More intimate friends would have been given a brooch where the date 1902 is laid out very precisely in the lid.'
What really grabbed the expert's attention though was the presentation of a set of 'stunning telegrams' which highlighted their relationship.
Reading out one of the messages, he said: 'It says, handed in at Sandringham, 'Mrs Martin at Sir John Nollie's stable yard, St James' Palace' and it says, and I think this is full of drama, I really do: 'Poor dear baba and tiny mama miss nana very much.
''Hope she is well and not too sad, signed Princess of Wales.'
The guest queried: 'Would that be the sadness of Queen Alexandra's death?', to which he replied: 'That's absolutely right, isn't it. Of course living with them, you're going to get that. Absolutely marvellous.
'I'm sure it was a very, very exciting moment to receive that.'
'Similar excitement here. Fantastically exciting invitation. It says, at Sandringham, 'The Queen wishes to let nana know that she's expected here as usual for Christmas.'
Munn paused, pulling a face in astonishment as he commented: 'Fantastic, isn't it? Straight from the heart. My goodness.'
She added that it was 'lovely' and showed 'their closeness'.
The expert then took it upon himself to question the guest on how she really felt about the items, with her stating: 'I just love them. I feel as though I'd like to go back in time and be part of it.
'But I suppose in a way I am a part of it, because they have ended up in my care.'
It was then time for the appraisal itself which Munn didn't exactly seem happy about as he remarked: 'So value. Goodness. Well this is almost vulgarity to value them. I don't know where to start.'
He made his way through each of the items, first stating that a medallion from the coronation of Edward VII was worth around £600, while a brooch commemorating the same occasion was worth £1,250.
(Image: BBC)
The guest loudly gasped as she exclaimed 'Gosh'.
Focussing his attention on a 'slightly smaller but much more complex' brooch, he said it was worth around £1,750, while a 'gorgeous watch, plain but sophisticated' fetched a whopping £2,000, much to the guest's amazement.
Pointing to another piece elegant piece, he shared: 'And then back here with more colour in translucent green enamel and white enamel and pearls.
'They're not only masterpieces of ciphers and monograms but they're also thought out in colour and in texture and in three dimensions, they are little sculptures in boxes. So really £2,000 again for that one.
'So heavens, I don't know what it all adds up to.'
As Munn finished off valuing the items, the guest laughed: 'I nearly didn't bother to come today?'
Taken aback, he asked: 'Did you not?', with the owner sharing: 'Nearly stayed at home and decorated.'
With a smile on his face, Munn replied: 'Well I'm massively relieved you put the paintbrush down. You've really made my day and this is absolutely marvellous.'
He added: 'I know you're going to take great care of them because you care about them, don't you?', with her confirming that she does care about them 'very, very much'.
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.