One item on Antiques Roadshow left the crowd visibly shocked as they gasped in disbelief, as it was valued by an expert. Gordon Foster valued a pair of silver spoons at an astonishingly high price as he declared that the special set were like “gold dust”.
He added that the spoon set’s controversial history sent it “into a different stratosphere of value” as he slapped a sky-high price tag on the goods, while visiting Sefton Park’s Palm House in Liverpool. The owner of the items was a descendant of Captain James Cook – best known for charting New Zealand and the eastern coast of Australia, including the Great Barrier Reef. The family member had brought along two spoons once belonging to the famed explorer which featured a delicate engraving of the initials JC at the top of each handle, etched in a cursive hand.
Gordon pointed out just how special the items were as he admitted that spoons are not normally featured on the BBC show. “Eagle-eyed viewers of the Roadshow would know we don’t often feature silver spoons unless they are something special, and these spoons you’ve brought along today are something special,” the expert admitted.
He continued: “We’re looking at a Georgian silver spoon from 1750, an old English pattern. Quite often, we’re asked on the Roadshow when you’ve got initials engraved on pieces, ‘Does that make a difference to the value?'”
The expert then explained that it only really makes a difference if the initials are “of some significance”. Gordon then went on to share that without the known history, the spoons would only be valued at between £40 to £50.
However, due to the background of where they came from and who they once belonged to, it made them very special indeed.
He asked: “But the question is, how much does the provenance add to the spoon?” The professional antiques dealer went on: “I can tell you provenance like this is gold dust.
“This takes this spoon into a completely different stratosphere of value. It’s quite incredible. I can say with a lot of confidence that one spoon is worth £10,000. And you’ve got two.”
The owner was in shock, as were the audience who watched on as they stood around him and audible gasps could be heard. He joked: “That makes £20,000, I think. That’s extraordinary.”
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