WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow.
An Antiques Roadshow guest was all smiles as she learned more about her grandmother’s “mysterious” item.
Filming took place at Ebrington Square, Derry, where expert Adam Schoon met with a guest who brought along an intriguing wooden object.
He asked her: “So what do you think this was used for, this amazing wooden object in your hands?”
She responded: “Well, we’ve had lots of different suggestions over the time that I’ve had it. Possibly a carpet beater? Possibly a paddle?”
The expert humourously suggested: “Which would be useful in this weather to get us home with all the rain?”, causing her to chuckle.
Schoon then confessed: “Well, it’s interesting because actually, I don’t really know.
“But this comes from a society who never recorded just quite how they used this item, which, indeed, is in the shape of a paddle. Now, where do you think it’s from?”
Antiques Roadshow guest laughs as nan’s ‘mysterious’ object gets unexpected value (Image: BBC)
An Antiques Roadshow guest brought in a mysterious ritual paddle which had been given to her by her nan. (Image: BBC)
She speculated: “Well, I think it’s possibly Maori because I think I did see something similar on the Antiques Roadshow a long time ago, and it was Maori, but I don’t know whether this is the same.”
Schoon confirmed that she wasn’t “far off” as the object was actually from the Austral Islands, “southwest of Polynesia, but it’s in the Pacific Ocean.”
He added: “And the Austral Islands were famous for carving these paddles. But if I can take it from you, it’s considered they’re actually ritual vessels used in some sort of a dance, but we don’t know.
“And that is what I personally find really mysterious about these. But look at it, it’s all carved over. It’s got these, the face of the paddle’s got these bands of wriggle work and little sort of repeat triangular motifs.”
The guest pondered the effort involved, asking: “Can you imagine the length of time this must have taken to do?”
To which the expert replied: “It’s quite hard, so it would have taken a long time. An awful long time. How did you get it? Is it a family heirloom or what?”
Antiques Roadshow expert Adam Schoon valued a mysterious ritual paddle for around £1,000. (Image: BBC)
The guest shared the item’s history, explaining: “Yes, my nana gave it to me because I moved back home from England to a new house and I had nothing for my walls, so she thought this was a good thing to fit on my wall.”
Schoon admired the piece, stating: “Yeah, well, it’s a beautiful sculptural thing. And what’s unusual is the head of the shaft, and I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed, but there’s two abstract, carved figures”.
“A lot were made in the sort of 1820s, 1840s and were pretty much trade items. The islanders would be visited by missionaries and traders and whalers, they wanted something to exchange for goods. So let’s give them our ritual paddles”, the expert said.
The guest, intrigued, asked if it was “like money”, with him stating: “It’s a shame, we just never know what their purpose was within that society on the Austral Islands.
“So, look, there’s one little problem, there’s a bit of a slice out of the rim there and that will affect the value a little bit. It’s worth £700 to £1,000.”
The guest was taken aback, exclaiming “Oh!” as her jaw dropped in laughter at the valuation.
Overcome with surprise, she held her chest, remarking: “Really? Oh wow! Well done, Nana!”
That’s a really lovely story. And I never noticed the heads and the figures before on it at all. That’s brilliant, thank you.”
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on One and iPlayer.