An Antiques Roadshow guest was left utterly speechless when he discovered the incredible value of a sculpture he had been casually using as a doorstop.
This week, Fiona Bruce, 60, hosted the show from the historic Beaumaris Castle on Anglesey, uncovering treasures including a possible first edition of Winnie the Pooh and a rare ballerina brooch.
But the highlight of the show came when one guest brought in an intriguing sculpture, explaining that he’s always been ‘perplexed’ by the item and wondered what it was.
He joked: ‘It’s been my doorstop for the last 12 months,’ before adding that he had picked it up at a car boot sale in Anglesey three years ago for just £50.
Unsure of its origins, he added: ‘Someone mentioned it could be African; I don’t know.’
An Antiques Roadshow guest was left utterly speechless when he discovered a sculpture he had been casually using as a doorstop was an incredibly valuable item
This week, Fiona Bruce, 60, hosted the show from the historic Beaumaris Castle on Anglesey, uncovering treasures including a possible first edition of Winnie the Pooh and a rare brooch
Expert John Foster identified the piece as a work of art by Ben Enwonwu, one of Nigeria’s most celebrated sculptors.
He explained that Enwonwu was the first pioneer in mixing Nigerian art with Western art as he described his rise to fame in the 1940s after he was discovered by the Zwemmer Gallery, which led to him having exhibitions in New York, London, and Milan.
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'Absolutely flabbergasted' Antiques Roadshow guest gasps 'behave yourself!' as she learns eye-watering value of grandmother's jewellery collection
He said: ‘The sculptor Ben Enwonwu (is) one of Nigeria’s most celebrated sculptors. He was born in Nigeria in 1917 and died in the sort of mid-90s.’
‘He was the first pioneer in mixing Nigerian art with Western art. Known really as a sculptor in bronze and stone, and this being in carved stone style-wise I thought it sort of dates from the 1970s.’
‘He was picked up by a gallery in the 40s and it was a gallery called the Zwemmer Gallery. And that, literally from there, skyrocketed him to having shows in New York, London and Milan.’
He then valued the sculpture between a staggering £10,000 and £15,000, leaving the guest lost for words.
In disbelief, the guest exclaimed: ‘You’re joking! I could cry. I had no inclination that it was going to be worth so much money. It’s shocked me.’
As the true value of his £50 find sank in, he added with a smile: ‘I thought it might be £100.’
But the highlight of the show was when one guest brought in an intriguing sculpture, explaining that he’s always been ‘perplexed’ by the item and wondered what it was
He joked: ‘It’s been my doorstop for the last 12 months,’ before adding that he had picked it up at a car boot sale in Anglesey three years ago for just £50
Expert John Foster identified the piece as a work of art by Ben Enwonwu, one of Nigeria’s most celebrated sculptors
He explained that Enwonwu was the first pioneer in mixing Nigerian art with Western art as he described his rise to fame in the 1940s
He then valued the sculpture between a staggering £10,000 and £15,000, leaving the guest lost for words
It comes after a guest on the show this month gasped ‘behave yourself!’ as she learned the eye-watering value of her grandmother’s jewellery collection.
The episode took place at Thirlestane Castle in the Scottish Borders and one unsuspecting guest brought two brooches and a pendant from her grandmother, with the hopes of finding out more about them.
The collection included an opal and diamond brooch dated from 1890 to 1910, a pearl and diamond pendant from the 1900s, and a sapphire and diamond brooch from 1970.
Expert Susan Rumfitt had the task of valuing the items and said the sapphire and diamond brooch could sell for between £500 to £700.
The pearl and diamond pendant was valued at between £1,500 and £2,000 and the opal brooch would fetch between £5,000 to £7,000.
The stunned guest then excitedly exclaimed: ‘No, behave yourself! Wow, thank you very much!’
They added: ‘I’m absolutely flabbergasted and was delighted to hear such lovely news about the jewellery.’
‘No, I won’t be having them remodelled, I’ll be keeping them the exact same!’
Antiques Roadshow continues on Sunday, November 17, on BBC1 at 8pm.