Antiques Roadshow: Expert refuses to appraise item from slave trade
WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow.
An Antiques Roadshow expert expressed his profound disapproval of a £3 ivory bangle with a harrowing provenance.
Filmed at Cardiff's Alexandra Gardens, Ronnie Archer-Morgan was presented with an "awful" item that was purchased 30 years ago.
Making it clear from the very beginning, Archer-Morgan declared: "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 here, it's not about trading in ivory, it's about trading in human life.
"And it's probably one of the most difficult things that I've ever had to talk about. But talk about it, we must.
Archer-Morgan described the artefact as "an amazing object and a testament to the callous trade that went on in the 17th, 18th and into the 19th Century," before inquiring about its history.
The owner recounted how she came into possession of the bangle, explaining: "I used to work for a family, looking after them and one of the members passed away and they were having a house sale.
"And I bought that 36 years ago in the house sale for £3. I thought it looked interesting. I had no idea what it was."
On her reluctance to part with the artefact, the guest revealed: "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 realised they were trading in people."
Inscribed on the bangle was "Prince Jemmy of Grandy," described as "a good trader" with the guest believing that he was “an African himself trading in people”.
Expert Archer-Morgan replied: "That's what I think, 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.' I'd like to meet him and teach him how honest I think he is."
Further examination of the bangle revealed its connection to "Ship Anna," and the date 1782, marking a grim context of 535 slaves aboard traveling from Bonny to Montego Bay.
Archer-Morgan then shared his own personal connection with slavery: "You know, my great-grandmother was a returned slave from Nova Scotia in Canada and came back to Sierra Leone and Freetown.
"And I actually think it's my cultural duty, our cultural duty, to talk about things like this."
The emotional weight of the artifact led the expert to conclude: "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."
The guest then agreed to continue researching in order to find out exactly who Prince Jemmy was.
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
