2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
BBC Antiques Roadshow guest left speechless as 'treasure' kept in spare bedroom given top value
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An Antiques Roadshow expert couldn't hide her exhilaration after examining an "extraordinary" item that's kept in her family's spare bedroom.
Kay was initially taken aback by the historical significance of the item, revealing: "Sheltering from a passing shower, and sheltering with an object which is, I feel almost radioactive with power.
"It's a very interesting phenomenon to be this close to something that is really quite important. I'm recognising, immediately, the personal standard of Oliver Cromwell.
"It's a name we all know but let's just put him into his place in history, he was one of the signatories to the death warrant for instance to Charles I. Very much involved with the regicide, killing of the king and then he became in 1653 what was known as the Lord Protector of England.
"It was after the Civil War and he ran the country essentially from 1653 to 1658 and that is his importance in English history and why this object has such resonance."
The owner of the historical piece then shared its background: "It was in a collection about seven years ago. My father actually bought the collection of militaria.
(Image: BBC)
"We now own it as a family, it's actually kept in one of our spare rooms and, as you say, it's one of those objects that make you tingle."
Kay agreed: "It does make you tingle, because this is the standard that was part of the funeral procession of Cromwell's on November 23, 1658, and this was extraordinary.
"Here was the non king being revered really as a king with a royal crown. It is an extraordinary image that we have here which was totally against everything that he stood for."
She revealed the item's dramatic history, explaining it had been "stolen from the hearse by a young boy that was in the funeral crowd", with its inscription corroborating the tale.
"Snatched from the funeral hearse! At that moment too, it's just brilliant," Kay enthused.
The guest proudly mentioned: "My whole family's been into history for generations and my maternal grandparents are actually founding members of The Sealed Knot, the re-enactment society for the Civil War."
To which Kay responded: "Which is amazing, what a coincidence! It was meant to end up with you."
(Image: BBC)
The guest then expressed a deep connection to the artefact: "Absolutely, I believe so. Because we're the kind of people who really want to look after it and preserve it and make sure it's seen by everyone it should be seen by for generations, I guess.
"It's a real treasure, it's a pleasure to own."
Kay praised the item's condition, noting it had been "beautifully restored" but emphasised the importance of proper care.
The expert humorously suggested: "It does and however great your spare room is and I'm sure it has almost museum like qualities, I do think, even if it went on loan somewhere, I think it deserves to be looked after."
The expert was visibly challenged by a unique item's worth, noting: "And as far as value's concerned, this is about the trickiest thing I've ever had to value.
"It is certain to fetch £25,000 but how much more would it go?"
Overwhelmed by the valuation, the guest stood there astonished, while the valuer Kay expressed her elation: "It's going to take me a little while to come down from this.
"It'll take a couple of bars of chocolate and a cup of tea but this has been a really special moment with a really extraordinary object, don't you agree?"
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
