A fiery exchange between a couple over the fate of an expensive Chinese vase left Antiques Roadshow expert Lee Young speechless during the show's latest outing at Kenilworth Castle. The episode saw tensions rise as the husband and wife clashed in front of the BBC cameras, disagreeing on their appreciation for a set of Chinese vases from the Republican period, valued at around £800.
Lee Young, taken aback by the domestic spat, had initially asked if they found the "attractive vases" to their taste. The husband expressed his fondness, stating: "I like them" while his wife bluntly retorted: "I don't particularly like them."
The disagreement escalated when the husband accused his wife of attempting to discard the vases, to which she vehemently responded: "I didn't. I tried to auction it for £300 for the pair. But then I heard the story and I pulled it off from the auction and there was interest."
The atmosphere shifted when Lee revealed that the vases could fetch between £600 and £800 at auction, prompting the husband to jest: "Wow. Great. Good job you didn't throw them away."
The vases themselves boasted vibrant butterfly motifs and elaborate designs, adding to their charm and value, reports the Mirror.
In another twist to the tale, Antiques Roadshow threw up a valuation that left jaws dropping – a classic case when some unassuming silverware from Japan became the star of the show. The owner was flabbergasted upon learning her pair of silver sugar tongs might attract bids between £300 and £500 at auction.
Still reeling, she discovered her complete set could command a staggering sum of £2,500 to £3,000. But this isn't the pinnacle of the show's history of pricey surprises; back in 2008, a model of sculptor Antony Gormley's Angel of the North was given a heady estimate that it would 'easily' pull in £1 million if placed under the hammer.
Art connoisseur Philip Mould couldn't contain his excitement, saying back then: "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."
This high-octane rollercoaster of valuations includes a Banksy artwork roughly valued at £403,000 in 2014 and a Van Dyck painting with an estimated value of £400,000 despite being snapped up for just £400 at an antique store.
