An Antiques Roadshow expert was left ‘ashamed’ by two items of jewellery which were brought to his table during an episode of the BBC show.
Antiques Roadshow: Guest blown away by earrings and bracelet valuation
An Antiques Roadshow expert was in awe of some “extraordinarily beautiful” jewellery that he was “raving mad” for.
The BBC show’s expert could barely contain his excitement when a guest brought in a pendant and brooch from the iconic 1900s jeweller Faberge during filming at Beaumaris Castle in Anglesey, north Wales.
“Well I’m jolly glad she did, because they are very, very exciting things for me,” he exclaimed.
Delving into the details of the brooch, Munn explained: “Somebody’s initials outlined in diamonds over what we call a guilloche ground, which is an engine-turned ground, a sort of sun-ray effect brought about by a machine.
“Then it’s flooded with pink enamel and you see through the enamel onto the guilloche which looks for all the world like a sunburst behind.”
However, there was a touch of disappointment as he admitted: “So here we have the conjoined initials of somebody and I’m ashamed to say that I can’t tell you who that is.
“If it were under an imperial Romanov crown, we might get closer.
“But it isn’t, so I think we can possibly assume that this is a somebody who could afford to go to Faberge.”
“Absolutely the highest level of elite at pre-revolutionary Russia, but not necessarily a member of the Imperial family, because we would expect to see that.”
Antiques Roadshow expert ashamed by candid confession over beautiful brooch and pendant worth a staggering value (Image: BBC)
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An Antiques Roadshow guest brought in her friend’s pendant and brooch to be appraised. (Image: BBC)
Munn then opened up the piece to reveal an intricate inscription in Cyrillic inside before admitting to another incapability of his.
“Now, it’s always better to say when you don’t know something then when you do and I’m not capable of translating that absolutely right now.
“But I want to do it a little later on and try and make that happen for you.”
Munn’s eye for detail didn’t stop there as heturned his attention to the brooch on the table: “This is an extraordinarily beautiful Siberian aquamarine brooch surrounded by diamonds with a ‘true’ lover’s knot in the top.
“The reason for that is when the lapidary sees the Siberian aquamarine, he wants the greatest intensity of colour.”
“This is court jewellery at the highest possible level by Faberge.”
Antiques Roadshow expert Geoffrey Munn valued a ‘beautiful’ aquamarine brooch for at least £35,000. (Image: BBC)
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When the time came to value the pendant and the brooch, Munn first addressed the pendant: “I think this one, highly unusual prototype. Never seen the like before. I’m going to say £10,000 for this one.”
Expert John Benjamin couldn’t contain his excitement, however, as he then valued the stunning brooch, exclaiming: “And I’m going to go absolutely raving mad for this one which is sort of predictable and tell you that I think it ought to be worth £35,000 to £40,000.”
The crowd was left in awe at the staggering valuation, prompting the owner to react with a surprised: “Oh! Isn’t she going to be happy?”
Benjamin acknowledged the piece’s beauty, saying: “Well she is! I know. It’s a great, great thing and look at them returning the light.”
The guest expressed gratitude for the expert’s narrative, to which he warmly responded: “Brilliant.”
