26 March 2023 , 20:00
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An Antiques Roadshow guest was left gobsmacked over the valuation of two silver spoons after an expert admitted he would usually refuse to value such items.
A pair of Georgian spoons caught the eye of BBC expert Gordon Foster when he discovered the silverware was engraved with the initials 'JC' for the renowned explorer James Cook.
One of Cook's descendants came along to the Antiques Roadshow with a couple of humble items from the explorer's travels.
The expert began: "Eagle-eyed viewers of the roadshow will know we don't often feature silver spoons unless they're special."
"Ostensibly, we're looking at Georgian silver spoon from 1750 and quite often we're asked on the roadshow when you've got initials engraved on pieces, does that make a difference to the value? Well, usually it doesn't because it tends to detract slightly. If however, we can pin down the initials to being someone of significance, that's a different story."
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The expert revealed he often refuses valuing silver spoons (BBC)The guest explained: "On my father's side, generations of seafarers go back master mariners so yes, I am the five grand nephew of Captain Cook that's so that's explained why we've got one spoon."
The descendant of Cook discovered his family should have had two spoons in their possession and later purchased one at an auction when he explored the provenance and realised it was the missing spoon.
"I've been fortunate enough to handle quite a few rare pieces of silver in my time," Gordon continued. "But to pick up the spoon, from what you just told us, a spoon that belonged to Captain Cook, famous navigator mapped out Australia, New Zealand, the Northwest Passage, these spoons were on that journey with him, he ate with those spoons."
The expect revealed silver spoons are not usually valued on Antiques Roadshow because they are normally worth up to £50.
The guest was a descendant of Captain Cook (BBC)"But the question is, how much does the provenance add to the spoon? And I can tell you, this provenance is like gold dust," he said.
"This takes this spoon into a completely different stratosphere of value."
"This is where I say wow," the guest joked before the expert valued the spoons at £10,000 each.
"I think that's just extraordinary, absolutely extraordinary," Gordon said before the guest remarked: "Wow, incredible."
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