ANTIQUES Roadshow viewers were left gobsmacked over the whopping valuation given to a tiny brooch on the show.
Fans watched as BBC expert John Benjamin examined a tiny box containing the jewellery on Sunday night’s episode.
The presentation box was linked back to the Russian royal family as the guest explained the story behind the item.
Arriving with an aged black-and-white photo of her grandfather, Thomas Walker, and a lady called Jean, who had both worked for King George V at Buckingham Palace.
She explained: “The Tsar came to visit Buckingham Palace in 1908 – she looked after him and his room – and when he left, he presented her with the brooch inside that box.”
John pointed out that although he couldn’t find a record of the Tsar’s visit that year, it may have been his wife and sister who were in the country at the time.
Pointing out the two sapphires on the brooch, John went on to reveal a monogram.
He added: “This tells me that this was made by a craftsman called Tieleman and he was a craftsman who did work for – guess who? Peter Carl Fabergé.
“It’s in the original presentation case, and it’s in absolutely pristine condition.”
Getting to the all important figures, John went on: “Subject to the affirmation of this connection directly to the Tsar or maybe to his mother, eight to £12,000.”
Clearly shaken by the huge figure, the guest exclaimed: “Goodness!”
Echoing her reaction, one viewer wrote on Twitter: “£12,000 brooch!!”
Fabergé always means a top dollar valuation on the #AntiquesRoadshow,” added another.
A third wrote: “I knew there was a reason I switched from #NFLRedZone to #AntiquesRoadshow… 12 grand, well done lass!”
John had earlier revealed to the guest that her ring, made from a tie-pin gifted to her grandfather from King George V, was worth £880 to £1200.
‘PRISTINE CONDITION’
Explaining the story behind the gift, she said: “When the war was declared, he [my grandfather] had to go out to France as a dispatch rider.
“And then King George V came out to visit the troops, and he came on horseback, and when he came near the troops they all clapped and cheered.”
She went on: “His horse reared, and he fell quite heavily, and fortunately my grandfather was there and he recognised him because he had been his footman, and he carried him to safety in a chateau.
He was quite badly hurt, and [my grandfather] was awarded the Victoria medal.”
Musing over both the pieces, John commented on the two people in the photograph: “They left a legacy which today has matured into something quite significant.”
Antiques Roadshow airs Sunday, 8pm on BBC One.
