Antiques Roadshow star Fiona Bruce squealed ‘this never happens’ after an audience member inspected a £10,000 vase in a landmark first.
An episode of the BBC show that aired on Sunday visited Swanage Pier and seafront in Dorset.
During the show, Fiona and pottery expert Will engaged in a game. Fiona had to determine the value of different Poole vases by guessing which one was the least valuable and which one was the most valuable.
Will showcased his personal collection during the game and mentioned, ‘This collection is from my own home. Out of all the items I’ve purchased and sold, my Poole collection has remained a constant passion.’
‘And being down here and being so close, just over the water, we couldn’t not mark this amazing factory.
‘Specifically, we’re also looking at the work of one lady and that’s Truda Carter. Now, Truda is this, for me, unsung hero of the potteries.’
The displayed pieces were designed by Truda. Will pointed out, ‘These designs are iconic to Truda. For example, motifs like the leaping stag or gazelle can be seen. The vase in front of you is particularly rare, as there are only four known to exist.’
He went on, ‘The cheapest piece is about £150, maybe £200 on a good day. The most expensive, £8,000 to £10,000.’
The crowd gasped before it was then Fiona’s turn to make her choices and she went over to the audience for guidance.
‘I’m going to come to you with your gorgeous pink hair…’ she said to one woman, who replied, ‘Well, actually, I was a paintress at Poole Pottery in the Delphis department.’
Fiona gasped and exclaimed: ‘I’ve hit the jackpot!’
‘I’m out! That’s it,’ Will said.
Fiona gushed: ‘I’m loving you! Oh yes. This never happens!’
The woman explained: ‘My great-grandfather was a buyer and seller, used to travel abroad for Carters before , and we’ve got some pieces at home. I’m kind of looking at the curves and the shape and the hand-thrown, and the possible clay that it’s made of, as well, sort of inside.’
She shared her verdict one which she thought was the least valuable and the most valuable.
‘Feeling pretty good about this, I’ve got to tell you!’ Fiona quipped, as she pointed out her choices.
The woman selected the lowest value correctly, but not the highest.
In the same episode, guests gasped when they learned the eye-watering value of silverware that was sensationally dubbed the ‘best to ever grace the show’.
It saw expert Duncan Campbell astounded by a tiny silver teapot brought in by a couple for valuation.
Duncan was excited to see the teapot and said: ‘It’s now in the hands of somebody who’s eyes have been alight ever since you showed it to me. I think it’s absolutely gorgeous.’
He revealed it is called a ‘bullet teapot’ due to the shape and was made by Paul de Lamerie, ‘the most sought-after silver smith in English silver smithing’.
‘What he didn’t make was funny little toys like this, so to find a Paul de Lamerie miniature is remarkably uncommon,’ Duncan explained. ‘It’s made in 1728 which makes it George II, just.’
He went on to reveal just how rare and valuable the teapot was and said: ‘If you had to go and replace that, you would struggle, but when you eventually did alight on one because there’s sure to be one out there somewhere, even if I haven’t seen it, it’s going to cost you at least £12,000.’
One of the guests said, ‘Wow’ and the man seemed taken aback by the eye-watering evaluation and agreed: ‘Wow, I will have to re-insure it .’
The miniature ornament gleamed in the sunshine as Duncan held it delicately in his hand.
‘This is the nicest teapot certainly I’ve ever seen on Antiques Roadshow, arguably I’ve ever seen. I absolutely adore it and I’m more than a little bit envious,’ he gushed.
The guest explained he had acquired the teapot from his great aunt and uncle who collected things. He had taken it to a jewellers to get it valued 20 years ago, but was told to take it to an expert.
Antiques Roadshow airs on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
