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Antiques Roadshow guest lost for words after making BBC history with 'wonderful little gems' - as crowd erupts into applause
An Antiques Roadshow guest was left speechless after his prized heirlooms made BBC history - as the valuation expert gushed over the 'wonderful little gems'.
Glass specialist Andy McConnell set up shop at the Woodhorn Museum in Ashington to value the treasured possessions of hopeful visitors.
And when a guest brought along two 18th century Masonic glasses, Andy could not contain his delight.
'These glasses are absolutely the cream and of course, they're firing glasses, "Yes, here! Cheers!" for toasting.
'So how on Earth do you end up owning these wonderful little gems?'
The guest, who has a passion for glass from Newcastle, explained: 'Well I got a bit lucky really.'
'I'd seen them come up at an auction but they were just with a general lot, I think they were valued at £50 to £70.
'I pretty much knew what I thought they were. Sadly, they'd been spotted by somebody else so they did go up in value but I managed to win the lot.'
He revealed the pair had set him back a staggering £6,000, to which Andy responded: 'So, what makes an apparently sensible person spend £6,000 on two glasses the size of a thimble?'
'It's beautiful stuff,' the collector explained. 'It's a passion.'
Expert Andy revealed the glasses, a 'well known set,' were the work of the Beilby family, specifically Newcastle-based artist William Beilby, who died in 1819.
'1768, it's exactly what it says on the tin,' he added, pointing to the date painted on the glass.
'And they were Britain's leading enamellers, the greatest enamellers, working exclusively on glass.'
Andy elaborated further about the glasses' intricate detail, gesturing animatedly all the while.
He highlighted the paintings of the Masonic compasses, as well as 'rococo style white floral banding around the top.'
Andy continued: 'The first one that came up that we know about was bought by the British Museum in about 2009 for £12,000. Then one sold for £8,000 and another sold for £6,000.
'But yours, I know, today, would fetch at auction - you'd get somewhere like £16,000 for the pair.'
The guest was left speechless, responding simply: 'Wow,' to the impressive valuation.
Andy, taken aback with delight, shouted: 'So look, I mean what a pleasure! These are by far the most expensive glasses that I've ever had in 16 years on the Roadshow.
'I'm so made up with these. So cheers to you and William Beilby!'
The guest could not help but crack a grin at Andy's enthusiasm, and the audience erupted into a round of applause.
In a separate interview, Andy explained: 'It's about rarity. We are linking these to one person, William Beilby, this is the best at its peak.'
The Freemasons are the world's oldest fraternal secular organisation, with roots in medieval stonemason guilds.
Modern Freemasonry evolved from these 17th and 18th century guilds, becoming a social and charitable organisation aiming to teach valuable moral lessons.
