An Antiques Roadshow expert was left refusing to value one guest’s item as he shared the heartbreaking reason why.
The hit BBC show returned for another episode on Sunday (March 31) with Fiona Bruce back at the helm. For this week’s instalment, the show paid a visit to Alexandra Gardens in Cardiff.
And members of the public were quick to show off their prized possessions to be valued by experts. But expert Ronnie Archer-Morgan was left refusing to value one guest’s item and candidly confessed how it was “one of the most difficult things” he’s ever had to talk about.
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The guest had brought in an item that had a history with transatlantic slave trade. In a voiceover, host Fiona explained: “The item was a disc that acted as an endorsement of the professional reputation of an African slave trader in the West African port of Bonny in the 18th century.”
Looking at the item, expert Ronnie told the guest “I want to make it absolutely clear that myself and we and the Antiques Roadshow wholly and unequivocally disapprove of the trade in ivory.
“But this ivory bangle here is not about trading in ivory, it’s about trading in human life, and it’s probably one of the most difficult things that I’ve ever had to talk about. But talk about it we must.”
The guest got the object from when she used to work for a family. She said: “One of the members passed away and she was having a house sale. And I bought that 36 years ago in the house sale for £3.”
She added how she thought it “looked interesting” but “had no idea what it was.” She went on: “Now I’m researching, it said traders I thought it meant trading in spices or coffee, but I realised they were trading in people.”
He later added: “My great-grandmother was a returned slave from Nova Scotia in Canada and came back to Sierra Leone and Freetown. And I actually think it’s my cultural duty, our cultural duty, to talk about things like this”.
When it came to the valuation, he told the guest: “I just don’t want to value it. I do not want to put a price on something that signifies such an awful business.
“But the value is in the lessons that this can tell people. The value is in researching this and what we can find out. And I just love you for bringing it in and thank you so much for making me so sad.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
