BBC series Antiques Roadshow has left fans stunned throughout the years, after items were valued at eye-watering sums.
From £1million prototypes of world famous sculpture The Angel Of The North to rare Faberge Flowers and even a jacket once owned by late president John F Kennedy, owners of the rare items could not believe their eyes when finding out the value of their items.
But what have been the most expensive Antiques Roadshow items of all time?
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As the beloved BBC programme celebrates its 44th anniversary, Daily Star takes a look at some of Antiques Roadshows most expensive finds.
Prototype of The Angel Of The North
(Image: Internet Unknown)
A school librarian received a huge shock in 2012, when she brought in a bronze sculpture of the world famous Angel Of The North, designed by Antony Gormley – only to discover it was actually a prototype for the statue itself.
The bronze sculpture was being used as a paperweight, but it was later revealed that it was one of a number that artist Antony made in his bid to have the Angel Of The North commissioned.
It later became the first Antiques Roadshow item to be valued at seven figures, with an eye-watering sum of £1m.
Series editor Simon Shaw said at the time: “This was one of the most exciting moments that we’ve ever had on the show.”
Art expert Phillip added: “It’s a great thrill to me that something produced in the last 15 years has broken the record for the most valuable item to ever have been on the show.”
The sculpture has since left the school library and is now being housed in a museum due to its significance.
FA cup
(Image: PA)
Fans could not believe their eyes when former Leeds United manager and FA Cup winner Eddie Gray brought in an item of special sporting significance in 2016.
Eddie brought in the FA Cup that was presented to football teams between 1911 to 1992, until a new trophy was designed.
The original FA Cup was housed in the National Football Museum after being purchased at auction in 2005, but Eddie and presenter Gabby Logan brought the item on air for a valuation more than a decade later.
It became one of the most expensive items to be valued on the programme, with silver expert Alastair Dickinson estimating it was worth up to £1m.
“The hardest thing of all about this is putting a value on it. This is, alongside the Wimbledon trophy, the most famous cup in the country,” said Alastair on the episode.
“I think, quite comfortably, this has got to be worth well over £1m – the highest ever value I have given on Antiques Roadshow.”
Faberge Flower
(Image: Handout)
Another £1m item to be valued on Antiques Roadshow was a stunning Faberge Flower.
The beautiful antique, which came in its original presentation box, featured details such as a diamond centre and was made of gold, silver, rock crystal and enamel – and is one of only 80 surviving “botanical studies” created by Faberge in the early 1900s.
The Faberge Flower had been passed down through a soldier’s regiment and was brought onto Antiques Roadshow in 2018 by an Army Reserve cavalry squadron.
Antiques Roadshow jewellery expert Geoffrey Munn could be heard saying on the programme that his “pulse was racing” at the sight of the object.
“This was a sensation beyond our wildest dreams really – this is a towering masterpiece from Faberge.
“It’s what we call an ‘object of fantasy’ because it has absolutely no function whatsoever except to be a source of pleasure – and it is…
“It is the rarest, most poetic manifestation of Faberge’s work that one could ever hope to see,” he said.
Van Dyck painting
(Image: PA)
Antiques Roadshow host Fiona Bruce made an impressive find in 2013, when she spotted a painting that looked like an original Van Dyck.
Speaking about the find, Fiona told The Daily Express: “When I saw this something about the eyes and the way you can see the bone under the nose here it just looked similar to the kind of paintings I’d been looking at, so I thought, ‘Who knows, it could be?’”
The painting had been bought for £400 from an antique shop by Derbyshire priest, Father Jamie MacLeod in 1992.
However, it was valued 1000 times that at a jaw-dropping £400,000 on Antiques Roadshow.
Following its valuation, the painting was exhibited internationally and verified as authentic by Dr Christopher Brown, a world leading authority on Van Dyck artwork.
JFK’s jacket
(Image: BBC)
Another item of historical significance was a leather jacket once owned by President John F.Kennedy.
It had been kept by a former girlfriend of the late president in the 1950s and found its way to Canterbury in the UK, before it was presented during an episode of Antiques Roadshow in 2015.
Expert Jon Baddeley described it as an “iconic piece” and valued the jacket anywhere between £200,000 to £300,000.
“In America or anywhere worldwide, it is an iconic piece. The story’s everything, please write it down. I feel confident the market will pay that price,” he said.
Jon continued: “Judging by the fabulous prices paid at the auction from the estate of Jackie Onassis and subsequent items relating to the Kennedys, the market for Kennedy memorabilia continues to grow.”
Banksy painting
(Image: BBC)
Banksy is one of the world’s most famous artists and in 2004, his “Mobile Lovers” artwork found its way onto Antiques Roadshow.
The painting showed two lovers embracing while checking their mobile phones and was spotted on the door of a youth club in Bristol.
The owner of the youth club could be heard saying: “I am looking to sell the Banksy at the highest price, and I just took it down to get an expert opinion.
“I’m not an art dealer and I’ve got no idea what I am doing. He said it was like everything else – Banksy is an incredibly hard thing to put a price on.
“And the reason behind that is there are no set fees or prices, but it is a very unique piece.”
At the time, gallery owner and expert Rupert Maas explained that selling the artwork for £400,000 would be a “good deal.”
Mobile Lovers was later sold by the youth club in 2014 for a huge £403,000 to keep the club going.
Rare plates
(Image: BBC)
One of the most recent Antiques Roadshow finds to leave owners in shock was a set of rare plates.
The items dated back to the 17th century and were decorated with pictures and a blue outline, with the owner being told they were “as rare as you can get.”
The owner explained that they had belonged to her husband’s family, and was left in tears after experts revealed to her that they were worth anywhere between £10,000 to £30,000.
“Together as a pair, £30,000 or more,” said expert John Sandon.
However the owner made an amusing admission following the valuation, as she said: “I brought them in my handbag!”
Tea Caddy
A family heirloom was given a staggering value recently, when furniture expert Christopher Payne revealed how much their tea caddy was actually worth.
He could be heard asking the owners: “I am absolutely speechless, where on earth has this come from?”
They explained that the tea caddy had been commissioned for a family wedding in 1838, and included the family crest, making it “presumably unique.”
The owners then made another shock revelation as they admitted: “We are the Cornwallis family, so historically we go back to the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1200.”
They were then left stunned as Christopher valued the piece at between £20,000 to £30,000, saying: “I have seen many models over the years, but this is, without doubt, the best piece I have ever seen on Antiques Roadshow.
“It appeals to me academically, aesthetically and historically, as an object with the crest dare I say £20,000 to £30,000.”
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