Antiques Roadshow guest gobsmacked over huge valuation of 'history-making' item
A guest who travelled across the world to appear on Antiques Roadshow seemed stunned hearing the estimated value of the item they had brought onto the show.
The latest episode of the BBC antiques show was based at the Eden Project in Cornwall. Various guests brought items to the visitor attraction to be valued by experts.
They included a guest who had travelled from Australia. He brought a Buddha statue for a valuation, saying on the show that it had been discovered a couple of years ago.
Introducing the item, host Fiona Bruce said: "Could this infant Buddha provide a clue to a Chinese expedition said to have reached Australia in the 15th century, over a 100 years before the first Europeans arrived, or was it lost on the beach more recently?"
The guest said on the show that he had come from a small fishing town in Australia. He said the item being valued had been discovered whilst he was out with his pals using metal detectors.
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The latest episode of Antiques Roadshow featured the valuation of a Buddha statue (BBC)The guest said: "[It could be from] one of the largest treasure voyages to ever go around the world, sent out by a Chinese emperor [in] around about the 1420s.
"Now, there's no doubt that he came down through southeast Asia, but there is doubt to whether or not he arrived in Australia."
He added: "This could be a missing link to prove an amazing story about the world's richest treasure voyage [...] and that's something I very much hope that Buddha gives us the opportunity to do".
Lee Young - whose specialist areas include Asian Art - said the item is from the Ming Dynasty, which ruled from 1368 to 1644. He estimated that it's from around 1420.
The item was discussed by art expert Lee Young (right) (BBC)The antiques expert confirmed its an infant Buddha statue and said that such figurines would have been brought out in ceremonies to celebrate Buddha's birthday.
He further commented: "[People] poured sort of purified water or tea across the shoulders [of it], which is why they're always made of bronze, so they don't get damaged."
Lee said that without the story about the item it would likely have a pre-sale estimate of between £3,000 and £5,000. He however said that the story adds to the value.
The guest who had brought the item seemed stunned by the valuation it received (BBC)He described it as historically "important" and predicted that it could even sell at auction for six-figures. He shared various estimates with the guest during their meeting.
Lee said: "If the hammer fell at £10,000, would we be surprised? No. If it fell at £50,000 would we be surprised? No. And I think even if it made £100,000, I don't think I'd be that surprised."
Explaining his reasoning, he said: "Because there is only one of these with that story. I'm honoured to have been as close to this as [I am]. It's history-making and for you to have made that incredible journey with him to be here today."
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Asked about his plans for the item, the guest suggested that if it was taken to the open market, he would like to do something in a late friend's honour and in relation to Buddha.
Antiques Roadshow continues on Sunday night (March 12) on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 8pm.
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