Antiques Roadshow viewers horrified as guest discovers eye-watering value of ‘ugly’ gift from his mum
Antiques Roadshow viewers were left baffled on Sunday as the owners of an ‘ugly toad ornament’ were told of the true value of their family heirloom.
Hosts Fiona Bruce and the show’s antique experts travelled to Brodie Castle in Morayshire, Scotland to film the latest episode of the BBC show.
And fans were horrified when expert Lee Young revealed how much the bizarre yellow three-legged toad was worth.
The ornament had been in the owner’s family for six decades but, the guest admitted he and his wife were divided over the unusual piece.
The owner, who was gifted the item as a birthday present from his mother, said: ‘He has been known as ugly toad to me for about 60 years. My mother collected unusual items.’
Shocked: Antiques Roadshow viewers were left baffled on Sunday as the owners of an ‘ugly toad ornament’ were told of the true value of their family heirloom
He jokingly added: ‘I love him but not so much so my wife.’
The expert dated the ornament as an 18th century Scottish pottery piece by Dunmore, describing it as a ‘monochrome glaze masterpiece.’
He went on to reveal the ornament was based on a mythical three-legged Chinese toad, which brings good fortune or wealth to its owners.
Lee said: ‘I love the fact that he is in this almost imperial yellow, rich thick glaze. The reason I say imperial yellow is because he is actually based on a Chinese mythical toad.
‘The myth is that the three-legged toad would turn up at your house in full moon to predict an event, usually of good fortune or wealth. So in China he’s actually portrayed with little coins in his mouth.’
He added: ‘I think he is such a wonderful thing and for all the things we have just discussed about him, I think he would easily carry an auction estimate of £600-£900, and if two people got excited about him, maybe a little bit more.’
The Scottish man was shocked and gasped as he said: ‘Oh wow. I’m delighted about that.’
Lee added: ‘And I suspect that if two people got excited about him, he could even make a bit more.’
Turning to the man’s wife, Lee then asked: ‘Do you like him a little bit more now?’ to which she nodded and laughed: ‘Yes.’
Viewers didn’t appear keen on the ornament, with one penning on Twitter: ‘Each to their own’
Another wrote: ‘My initial reaction to seeing the frog is “what the heck is that?” But honestly it would be something I’d have in my house’
Value: Fans were horrified when expert Lee Young revealed how much a yellow three-legged toad was worth an auction estimate of £600-£900
Viewers didn’t appear keen on the ornament, with one penning on Twitter: ‘Each to their own’
It comes after a guest was left astounded by the value of her beloved diamond brooch she brought to the BBC show at Brodie Castle in Morayshire.
Expert Susan Rumfitt was delighted to take a look at the ‘unusual’ and ‘stunning’ diamond brooch, which the expert revealed originated in the Art Deco period of the 1930s.
She said: ‘This is a magnificent brooch. I hope you wear it every day,’ to which the owner confirmed she wore it in the ‘evening’ when ‘going out’.
Explaining how she first came across the item, the guest explained: ‘It’s just come down to the family from my grandmother,’
Susan went on the explain: ‘The brooch dates from the 1930s which is the height of the Art Deco period, which really and truly was about having a great time as far as fashion jewels, partying was concerned.
‘So I can imagine your grandmother really having a wonderful time putting this brooch on.. It’s got a sort of sense of theatre about it, doesn’t it? It sort of plays away on its own with these beautiful diamonds in it and everything.’
Susan added: ‘When we get to the 1930s the style of jewellery it was very similar to the 20s in regards to being bold and impressive as we’re seeing here, but we’ve moved away from colour and also concentrating on diamonds as well, which is quite extraordinary considering that 1929 we had the Wall Street crash and the depression.
‘Well, one of the greatest designers who was behind the love of diamonds was Chanel, of course, and she teamed up with DeBeers to promote the diamond industry.
‘And they basically were saying that diamonds are portable, you can show the greatest of worth in the smallest volumes, this is by no means a small piece of jewellery but it’s portable so it’s no wonder so many people were turning to diamond jewellery if the likes of Chanel was saying this is the thing that you should do.
‘It’s pretty stunning, isn’t it? It does make a statement set in white gold it’s got a yellow gold back to it. That white gold at the top to again help to really reflect those diamonds. It’s absolutely wonderful.’
Shocked: An Antiques Roadshow guest was left astounded by the value of her beloved diamond brooch she brought to the show at Brodie Castle in Morayshire
Stunning: Expert Susan Rumfitt was delighted to take a look at the ‘unusual’ and ‘stunning’ diamond brooch, which the expert revealed originated in the Art Deco period of the 1930s
Susan then asked: ‘Have you ever thought how many carats are in the weight of the diamonds?’
The guest guessed three before the expert revealed the weight was 14 carats and its value was £20,000.
She quipped: ‘Oh my goodness. That’s taken my breath away. Oh crumbs, brings tears to my eyes.’
‘A really big surprise, I’m still quaking at the moment,’ she later added before the expert remarked: ‘It’s been wonderful. Fantastic to find it and to make somebody’s day as well when they have no idea that it was going to be worth as much as it was just stunning, fantastic.’
Source: Read Full Article