BBC Antiques Roadshow expert Ronnie Archer-Morgan was really upset when he saw a rare item.
It was even more emotional for Ronnie because he knew it had been linked to the slave trade and said he couldn’t put a price on it. He didn’t want to value something that came from such a terrible part of history.
On the latest show, Fiona Bruce and her team were checking out cool stuff at Alexandra Gardens in Cardiff. The experts saw lots of different things while they were in Wales for Sunday night’s show.
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They looked at an ivory disc that had to do with the slave trade a long time ago. Fiona explained: “[It] acted as a kind of endorsement of the professional reputation of an African slave trader in the West African port of Bonny in the 18th century.”
(Image: BBC)
Ronnie, who knows loads about antiques, took a look at it. He made it clear: “I want to make it absolutely clear that myself and we in the Antiques Roadshow wholly and unequivocally disapprove of the trade in ivory. But this ivory bangle [is] not about trading in ivory – it’s about trading in human life.”
He also said: “It’s probably one of the most difficult things that I’ve ever had to talk about, but talk about it we must. This is an amazing object and a testament to the callous trade that went on in the 17th, 18th and into the 19th century.”, reports the Mirror.
The lady on Antiques Roadshow told Ronnie she got a special item from a house sale 36 years ago for just £3. She said, “I bought that 36 years ago in the house sale for £3. I thought it looked interesting. I had no idea what it was.”
(Image: BBC)
She kept it all these years because it felt special and now she’s found out it’s linked to history. She explained, “There was something about it. And now I’m researching it. It said ‘traders’ – I thought it meant trading in coffee or spices but actually I’ve realised they were trading in people.”
Ronnie read some words on the old object: “Prince Jemmy of Grandy, Bonny, a good trader.” They think this Prince Jemmy might have been involved in the slave trade long ago.
The antiques expert wasn’t happy about what the man did. He said, “A despicable human being. I think he was an indigenous trader, somebody from Nigeria. He wouldn’t have been trading in his own people. It was another nation, another tribe. Then we have ‘honest fellow’ [engraved too]. I’d like to meet him and teach him how honest I think he is.”
(Image: BBC)
He also said this kind of thing is super rare and important. He added, “These objects are really rare. I know of the existence of about half a dozen of these only. It’s extraordinary. I mean, this is a document … the living proof in a way, the surviving proof … that this awful trade went on. And look how beautiful the calligraphy is. The beauty of the calligraphy, it just belies the awfulness of the message.”
Ronnie Archer-Morgan, an expert on Antiques Roadshow, was moved when a guest brought in an item linked to the slave trade. “Then we have the name of a ship here, don’t we? Ship Anna and a date – 1782,” he noted.
The guest replied: “And on that particular ship, there were 535 slaves.”
Ronnie reflected on the grim reality: “Probably all stacked on top of each other and transported across the Atlantic for months on end.” They thought the slaves might have been taken from Bonny, now part of Nigeria, to Montego Bay in Jamaica.
(Image: BBC)
Ronnie highlighted the historical context: “The Abolition of Slavery Act wasn’t until 1833, spearheaded by William Wilberforce, so this is long before that. This is over 50 years in advance of that, when the trade was rife.”
He then spoke about his own ancestry, saying, “My great-grandmother was a returned slave from Nova Scotia in Canada and came back to Sierra Leone and Free Town, and I actually think it’s my cultural duty, our cultural duty, to talk about things like this.”
While he refused to put a price on such a significant historical item, Ronnie emphasized its educational importance: “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 to the Roadshow and thank you so much for making me so sad.”
Catch more stories and treasures on Antiques Roadshow, which airs next Sunday (April 7) on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 8pm. You can also watch past episodes on the streaming service.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
