An Antiques Roadshow guest was visibly moved upon discovering the sentimental history behind her great-uncle’s cherished artifacts.
At Ham House and Garden in Richmond, the popular show featured a guest who presented expert Ronnie Archer-Morgan with an assortment of intriguing items, including an exotic paddle, a gold bangle, and more.
With genuine enthusiasm, Ronnie shared: “You have no idea how much I love these items. So, could you please tell me how they came to be in your possession?”
The guest revealed: “Well, this is a love story. Our great uncle wrote this letter in 1910, leaving behind his beloved, and said, ‘I send you a token, and I want you to wait for me.’
“And then when they did get together, he must have brought home this paddle, which was a prized item for our uncle and aunt and was on their wall for the duration of their lives.”
The contributor’s great-uncle journeyed to the northwest shorelines of British Columbia, Canada, where as an engineer, he played a pivotal role in envisaging and shaping the town of Prince Rupert near Alaska.
Ronnie highlighted the connection of the memorabilia to around 1900, particularly impressed by a collection of photographs chronicling the town’s early days.
The guest noted: “Well that ties in perfectly with these postcards which there is a whole album full of postcards of them building the town.”
She proudly reflected, “This is boardwalks on their earth, and our great uncle was involved in developing the town, so it’s a source of great pride for us.”
Antiques Roadshow guest ‘choked up’ at discovering true value of great-uncle’s ‘special’ items as she shares heartfelt love story (Image: BBC)
An Antiques Roadshow guest brought in her great-uncle’s First Nation paddle and bangle. (Image: BBC)
The owner was unsure how her ancestor had acquired the items, but a letter confirmed the bangle’s First Nation origin.
Ronnie expanded on this, saying: “So these truly amazing objects are made by Northwest Coast tribes, of which there are between half a dozen and 10.
“This paddle, made in cedar, painted with totemic sea creatures. This decoration is what you get on the chill cat blankets that the Chim Shan make.
“The bangle is very hard to determine where it’s from, it’s clearly Northwest Coast, it’s clearly British Columbia, Vancouver Island or further north.
“But it’s beautiful gold smithing-it’s really, really fine. I see them in copper and silver, maybe. This is fine gold, that’s probably 22 carats,” he added, prompting the guest to exclaim, “Wow. “.
Antiques Roadshow expert Ronnie Archer-Morgan valued a paddle, bangle and other First Nation items for around £7,000. (Image: BBC)
Ronnie then concluded his appraisal: “And things like this have a value, and a paddle like this and a bracelet like that, with the story, with that album, have to be between £6,000 and £7,000.”
The owner gasped, her jaw dropping as she looked around at the surrounding audience for someone who accompanied her to the Roadshow.
“Wow. That’s amazing”, she said, to which he agreed: “They are amazing.”
She continued: “That’s really, really fantastic, what a lovely story”, with Ronnie responding: “It’s your story and it’s my honour.”
The guest later expressed her delight at the appraisal’s outcome: “I just think it’s fantastic that Ronnie was so thrilled with them.
“We’ve always revered them in our family, so to hear a professional talk about their excellence is so special.
“And obviously you know about the heritage of these First Nation people but to hear those words was just amazing, I was a bit choked up.”
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on One and iPlayer.