Last time the show came from outside the V&A in Dundee the haul included a Vivienne Westwood jacket and SAS medals. Among the treasures seen in last night’s programme were a heavenly Lalique centrepiece, an Orkney chair, much coveted by the design set, and a collection of prized curling trophies from an overseas tour – all of which were heading the way of lucky children and grandchildren rather than the auction house.
As for the other items, who knows. Let’s face it: Antiques Roadshow is still going strong after 41 years because owners, and viewers, want to know how much moolah they would get if an item was flogged tomorrow. Some of us, like The Royle Family, even put bets on what the valuation might be.
To win from the Dundee episode the gambler would have needed a broad, almost Lovejoy-level knowledge of artefacts. In keeping with the city chosen to house Scotland’s design museum, the Dundonians who turned out were a quietly stylish lot whose family histories included many a seafaring tale. Doubtless there was a fair bit of car boot sale tat as well, but Antiques Roadshow, the Hyacinth Bucket of reality TV, never features it. Got to keep standards up.
READ MORE: Dundee – why haven’t I visited yet?
The programme began, rather alarmingly, with the sight of host Fiona Bruce wearing blue surgical gloves. For a horrible moment it seemed AR had gone the way of the Old Firm match and the London marathon and been hit by coronavirus. But as you could tell from the sunshine, this episode was recorded BC (Before Coronavirus). Bruce was wearing the gloves to protect a pair of wooden snow goggles that once belonged to Captain Scott.
Also requiring careful handling was the aforementioned Lalique centrepiece. Expert Steven Moore said a similar sculpture bought today would cost £3000-£5000. Cue a sharp intake of breath from the crowd.
“Wow,” said the owner. “But it is not going anywhere. It will go to my son.”
How old is he, asked Moore.
“Eleven,” said mum to a mix of more gasps and laughter. “Obviously he doesn’t get near it at the moment.”
“Well he’s grown up with it,” said Moore, “so he appreciates it. I think he might appreciate it a little bit more now.”
Next was a chap who had a collection of Scottish agate jewellery amassed over 40 years from car boot sales and charity shops. His mother had a “pebble jewellery” brooch, which was what got him started. His wife, though, was not keen on the style.
“I’d imagine the value isn’t really of significance to you, is it?” asked the expert on hearing of the connection to his mother.
“Well, it’s of interest,” said the man, adding, with guid Scots honesty, “that’s why I’m here.”
The answer? £6000-£8000. One imagines the wife will be keener on the jewellery now.
On it went: the buddha found in the Yangtze (top price £2500); a pair of Alberto Morrocco paintings (£15,000; a scroll signed by Shackleton (£4000: going towards a new car, said a delighted owner); a piece of tartan that had gone to the moon courtesy of astronaut Alan Bean (£15,000); and outfits decorated with Native American bead work and embroidery (£8000).
Some of the pieces, notably the Lalique, were of museum quality. One chap said he would be offering an engraved commemorative rivet from the Forth Bridge to the V&A because he wanted it kept in Scotland.
None of it had the same wow factor as George Harrison’s guitar, which turned up on Antiques Roadshow a couple of weeks ago in Sussex and was valued at £400,000. But the items clearly meant a lot to the owners – and even more to the lucky youngsters who will one day inherit them.
Antiques Roadshow visits Culzean Castle, Ayrshire, on July 12. See bbc.co.uk/antiquesroadshow
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