In an incredible TV moment, an Antiques Roadshow guest arrived on set with a group of Wind in the Willows characters, with no idea of how much they were really worth.
Expecting to hear a £50 figure for her gang of colourful characters featuring Mr Toad and Badger, gifted to her by her grandfather, she was rendered amazed when the real value was revealed.
As it turned out, her grandfather, who was author Kenneth Grahame’s doctor in the 1930s, had given her an extremely expensive present.
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Expert Hilary Kay said: “I feel like I have stepped into a scene from Wind in the Willows.
(Image: BBC)
“We have got all the characters there, and we have got the caravan and a horse. It is absolutely charming.
“They are flat-cut wooden characters, beautifully painted and articulated with steel pins so that they can move.
“They are of a type that are made by Telford Toys. Two sisters set up the business.”
Viewers then received a detailed backstory, explaining that the Wind in the Willows author commissioned the toys to be created for his beloved doctor and added an extra special Winnie the Pooh figure, for one special reason — he adored the honey-eating bear.
(Image: BBC)
Kay added: “There is a following as far as the collectability of these toys, and these little figures can reach up to £100 or £200 a piece, so I would value these at between £1,000 and £1,500.
“Thank you for bringing to life that wonderful times in the 20s and 30s on the Thames in Berkshire.”
Unsurprisingly, the owner couldn’t quite believe her luck, saying: “I honestly thought it was going to be worth about £50.
“I thought it had been made by a local craftsman and been played with by my mother’s family and by me when I was little, so it is very exciting.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
