13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Antiques Roadshow guest shuts down excitable expert as he point blank refuses to sell ‘magnificent' statue
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WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow.
An Antiques Roadshow guest barely reacted when he discovered the true value of his late aunt's falcon statue.
Crystal Palace Park welcomed the iconic BBC daytime series for filming with expert Will Farmer among the specialists ready to value visitors' most treasured items.
It was during his meeting with one particular guest though where he was unable to contain his excitement at the sight of a falcon statue.
Farmer began: 'If it wasn't for the colour that betrayed it, you could almost swear that this bird had flown down from the sky and settled itself here.
'It's the most magnificent interpretation of a peregrine falcon. And I just love it.
'But tell me, how did you come to own it?'
'It came from my late aunt who died a few years ago but she got it from her friend Ken Bright who she got to know when she was working in London,' the guest replied.
(Image: BBC)
Farmer commented: 'You've mentioned that amazing name, Ken Bright. And Ken himself, he's such an amazing character, certainly in the world of ceramics and studio ceramics.'
Born in 1939, Bright went on to study at the Portsmouth School of Art aged 16 and it was during the 1960s that he began working at Goldsmiths.
'His two real main loves in life were horses and birds of prey,' Farmer elaborated.
'There's the Falconry Centre at Newent in Gloucestershire and he used to go there to literally observe and study the birds and I think you can just see it, can't you?
'The observation of it and the way it looks. I love it.'
The expert then pointed out that the guest had also brought a letter which confirmed the purchase of the item, but it was the date 1978 which really caught Farmer's eye.
He gushed: 'This is Ken at the top of his game. I love it. I really genuinely love it.'
Despite Farmer's persistent admiration for the bird, the guest wasn't budging as he stated: 'I'm keeping it though', with the expert disappointingly replying: 'I know you're keeping it. Unfortunately.'
(Image: BBC)
Nevertheless, it was time for the appraisal: 'So I'm going to say if it came to market, great name, iconic piece for his work and what he's doing, made at the absolute pinnacle of his career, I think it could be up to a couple of thousand pounds.'
Barely reacting to the news, the guest bluntly remarks: 'Very nice. Still not going anywhere.'
Farmer laughs and in an exaggerated manner, replies: 'Shucks!'
Explaining why he refuses to sell, the owner added: 'She'd kill me. My auntie will turn in her grave, won't she?'
Upon hearing this, Farmer took a step back and reflected: 'Well do you know what? It's nice that you've got that connection with her.
'She had that connection with Ken.
'To get Ken's name out there, somebody who, really, I think, needs to be recognised for all he contributed to the world of studio ceramics, is something very important.
'So for that alone, thank you very much.'
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
