24-04-2025
‘That's ridiculous': Antiques Roadshow guest stunned by staggering value of family's walking stick collection
An Antiques Roadshow guest was left in disbelief after discovering his collection of walking sticks is worth over $400,000.
In an episode of the long-running BBC series, guest presenter Marc Allum appraised the man's unique array of canes, which included sticks with dog-head, moon and boot-shaped handles.
Curious about their origins, the guest researched his family history and discovered his great-great-grandfather had owned Henry Howell & Co., the world's largest walking stick manufacturer in the late 19th century.
The company operated until its closure in 1936.
"My father left this stick to me in his will," he began, pointing to a stick with a large dog head for a handle.
"He'd always talked about walking stick manufacturing, and I thought, 'I need to know more about this.'"
In addition to the walking sticks, the guest brought along a 19th-century photo album documenting the factory's design and production processes.
Allum was astonished by the scale of the operation, which once produced over 1.5 million canes annually.
"This is absolutely mind-boggling," he said as he turned the pages.
The host was particularly impressed by several of the walking sticks, including one with a bulldog-head handle, calling it 'a treasure' and a quintessential example of 19th-century English craftsmanship.
He also highlighted other notable designs, such as a greyhound-head and an upside-down shoe handle.
When it came to valuation, Marc estimated that standout pieces like the bulldog and greyhound sticks could sell for $3,100 to $4,100 AUD each. On average, he valued the collection at approximately $1,000 per stick.
The true surprise came when the guest was in for a real shock after revealing he owned not just the 30 canes he brought, but around 400 in total.
Based on the average valuation, Allum estimated the full collection to be worth approximately £200,000—or over $400,000 AUD.
The guest was visibly stunned by the revelation, exclaiming, "That's ridiculous."
