Antiques Roadshow guest gasps over eye-watering amount of 'little hidden gem'

10 September 2023 , 21:52

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Antiques Roadshow guest gasps over eye-watering amount of 'little hidden gem'

Antiques Roadshow returned for another instalment on Sunday evening with guests left stunned to discover the true price of their valuable items. During the episode, one guest was left completely floored to discover their family sundial was worth an eye-watering amount.

The guest explained before speaking to expert Jon Baddeley that she had brought her sundial in a tupperware box, joking: "When I tell people that I have a sundial, they expect something sort of like this [bigger] and then I open [this] and say: 'This is our sundial' and they're quite surprised!'", pointing out that their family think it's a "little hidden gem".

Speaking to expert Jon, the guest revealed that her granddad was demolishing an old barn and found the sundial in a bit of sacking. He took it home to which her dad and uncle cleaned it up, it has now been in the family for 70 years.

One guest was left completely floored to discover their family sundial was worth an eye-watering amount

Expert Jon said that it was a "very special" piece invented by a creator called Mr Tuttell, who started his shop back in 1695, explaining it was a travel sundial as you could pop it in your pocket and arrive somewhere to get the solar time. However, he did note that it was missing a gnomon, a stick, on both sides.

Yet despite this missing feature due to the fact it was signed, dated and a very rare piece, Jon valued it between £3,000 to £5,000, leaving the two guests delighted. However, there was more shocks to come as Jon said if they replaced the pieces, it could reach £6,000 to £10,000, he added: "A complete piece sold within the last couple of years for £25,000...."

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The guest revealed that her granddad was demolishing an old barn and found the sundial in a bit of sacking

The guests were left amazed as they exclaimed: "Wow!" followed by: "Oh my goodness!" Speaking after the valuation, they said: "Wait till we tell dad tonight, he'll be over the moon!", adding they were thinking about getting it reconditioned and were going to get in contact with a museum.

Meanwhile, expert Jon said: "On the roadshow for getting on 25, 30 years, it's the most important scientific instrument we've ever had!" Viewers were also quick to react as one person tweeted: "#antiquesroadshow The little Tuttle pocket sundial...beautiful and rare!" while a different account added: "Ooooh, lovely pocket sundial on #AntiquesRoadshow tonight!"

Olivia Wheeler