Antiques Roadshow expert makes U-turn on vase price as reaction 'wakes the baby'
WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow.
An Antiques Roadshow expert made a U-turn on his valuation for a vase as the audience’s reaction woke up a sleeping baby.
With a backdrop of Audley End, BBC expert Eric Knowles was met by three generations: the owner of three ceramic items, her daughter and her grandchild who was being cradled.
“In the 1920s and the 1930s, there was a lot of interest in fairies. You may remember there were some photographs produced that [had] people convinced that there were fairies at the bottom of people’s gardens”, Knowles began.
“And you’re a good one to talk to as you’ve got fairies on your sideboard from what I can see. Have you been living with these fairies for quite some time?”.
An Antiques Roadshow audience 'woke a baby' with their gasps at a whopping price for a vase (Image: BBC)She replied: “For about 12 years. Before then, they lived in Ireland from about 1962 to 2004. They were owned by a cousin of my aunt who lived in Johannesburg - ”.
“Goodness me, these are well travelled vases,” Knowles interrupted.
“So there've been fairies in South Africa, they’ve been leprechauns by the time they got to Ireland and now they’re fairies again in Saffron Walden.”
The guest commented: “They’re very special, because they remind me of my aunt," with Knowles replying: “Well that’s what it’s about at the end of the day, isn’t it?”.
“Let’s have a look at the pieces, because I know you’ve done a little bit of research, because I’ve been talking to the daughter who’s behind you with the next inheritor.
An Antiques Roadshow guest brought in three ceramic items that she had inherited from her aunt. (Image: BBC) Don't miss...
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“The big name here, it’s one we’ve heard before on the Roadshow, is Daisy Makeig-Jones as the designer. She did come out with these amazing designs, produced by Wedgwood in Stoke-On-Trent and under the band of Wedgwood Fairyland Lustre.
“So you’ve got three very nice prime pieces. The thing about the Wedgwood Fairyland in general is that it’s very, very dependent on condition. A little bit of wear.
“So the first thing I do when I see a bowl like this, is this -”, with Knowles then tapping the bowl. “That sounds alright. That’s a good sound. The decoration is called Castle On The Road but the interior for some reason is called Boxers.
“Now I’m looking at these fairies, or boxing rather, but I can’t see any boxing fairies but anyway, that’s what it’s called.
“So, it’s making the right sound OK, because if it had made a bit of a snare, that would have been worth £1,000. It’s worth a bit more than £1,000 now. So I think we’ll start with that one around the £3,000 mark.”
Antiques Roadshow guests were taken back by how much their Wedgwood Fairies ceramics were really worth. (Image: BBC)The mum remarked “Holy smokes!” as her daughter questioned: “Really?”.
Knowles then moved onto the second item, a vase called Pillars which he once again tapped before confirming it was worth around £6,000.
“What for this one? I should be sitting down,” the mum commented as her daughter joked:“Or laying down mum.”
It was then time for the third and final item, a large vase, to come under scrutiny.
“So we now move on to this big thing which could even work as an umbrella stand.”
“I think that’s what they used it for. They just dumped umbrellas in it”, the owner stated.
Knowles said: “Did they really? It’s called Bubbles for obvious reasons and you’ve got this wonderful arrangement of what appear to be like water babies, don’t they? Little wing sprites.
“Now we’ve got to come around for this one, because I don’t want to lift it.” Once again, he tapped the vase but this time, he looked a little unsure about the sound.
“Do you like that? Are you sure? OK right. The thing is, I’m looking in there and wondering if I can see a crack. Because if that’s a crack -”
“Let’s say it’s one of my hairs,” the daughter teased but Knowles clarified: “Well no, the long and short of it is, if that’s a crack - do you mind if I look in it?”
Once given the go ahead, Knowles picked up the vase for closer inspection. “If that’s a crack, that’s £2,000. You understand that? OK.”
The owner said that was still “loads of money” as he continued to investigate the inside of the vase before finally stating: “No. Hang on. Let’s have a look. Well - no. No crack.
“So I suppose, forget the £2,000. I think we’re now going to say £20,000.”
Unanimously, the audience gasped with the owner covering her face in disbelief at the new price and exclaiming: “No!”
Her daughter then jokingly commented: “Oh my word. OK that woke the baby”, much to the audience’s amusement.
The mum asked: “You are joking?” but Knowles insisted that he “never” jokes when it comes to money.
But when she mentioned about having the vase insured, he added: “Well you know, I mean it’s nice to think there’s a profit to be had by having fairies in anybody’s house but at your house, it’s gone good.”
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Antiques Roadshow expert makes U-turn on vase price as reaction 'wakes the baby'
Antiques Roadshow expert makes U-turn on vase price as reaction 'wakes the baby'
Antiques Roadshow expert makes U-turn on vase price as reaction 'wakes the baby'
Antiques Roadshow expert makes U-turn on vase price as reaction 'wakes the baby'
Antiques Roadshow expert makes U-turn on vase price as reaction 'wakes the baby'
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