WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow.
An Antiques Roadshow guest shared that she nearly “dumped” a rare vase after buying it for just £2 from a charity shop.
During an episode filmed at Ebrington Square in Derry, antiques specialist John Sandon encountered a pair of designer Belleek vases with a distinctive twist.
Sandon was captivated by the items, telling the owner: “What is so nice is to see so much colour on a piece of Belleek.
“Most of the Belleek productions were pretty white or with a little bit of the mother-of-pearl iridescence for which they are famous. But here you’ve got nice bits of colour.
“The tulips, they picked them out of little red and it’s coloured lustre. And that’s very difficult but really nice to see. Where did you get them from?”
The guest explained: “Oh I actually picked them up in a charity shop in Coleraine about five years ago.
“They were just on a shelf and they were damaged and I wasn’t going to take them.
“They were just on a shelf and they were damaged and I wasn’t going to take them.”
Antiques Roadshow guest nearly ‘dumped’ £2 ‘rare’ charity shop find with top price tag (Image: BBC)
Antiques Roadshow expert John Sandon valued a Belleek vase for around £1,000. (Image: BBC)
Sandon probed further: “Well that normally means they don’t cost very much in a charity shop. Is that right?”
The guest replied: “No. They were looking for £4 for them but I walked past and I said ‘No I don’t like them.'”.
“My husband says ‘Oh there’s something about them, they’re nice.’ And I said but ‘they’re damaged.’
“And the gentleman said ‘Well if you want them, £2 and you can take them with you.’
“So I said ‘Well for £2…'”, prompting Sandon to excitedly echo, “£2!”.
He continued: “Well you’ve got not only two pieces of early Belleek, I mean, they’re rare models too.
“The tulip vases, they didn’t make very many of them and they certainly didn’t make so many with the added colours and a gold trim – that always makes it a little bit more special.
“Indeed, I think, for that reason, we can forgive it a bit of damage.”
An Antiques Roadshow guest brought in two early Belleek vases that she paid £2 for. (Image: BBC)
However, eyeing the damaged vase on the left, he couldn’t help but comment: “I mean, that one actually looks rather a mess, doesn’t it?”, earning agreement from its owner.
“So let’s forget that one and concentrate on this. It’s the early period, we’re looking at sort of probably about 1870.
“So they’ve been around a long time getting their damage. But this one, luckily, has only got the tip of a leaf off there. And otherwise it’s good.”
Thus, he made his valuation: “So that’s where the £2 was well spent. So you’ve got one vase alone worth probably £700, pushing even £1,000.”
When the guest heard the value, her jaw dropped in surprise: “Wow! I actually was going to dump them when I first brought them home. I didn’t like them.”
Her admission prompted Sandon to ask with surprise, “Dump them?”
Once she confirmed, he quipped: “Well, that one you can. It’s just a bit too far gone. Dump that one and enjoy a beautiful Belleek tulip vase.”
Grateful, she responded with delight: “Oh lovely. Thank you very much. That’s brilliant, oh wow!”
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on One and iPlayer.