The latest episode of the Antiques Roadshow saw presenter Fiona Bruce introducing a special edition of the BBC programme at the Black Country museum in the West Midlands.
There were a number of impressive finds throughout the day, but one of the more surprising ones involved a small wooden child’s toy.
Having turned the item around in his hands, the show’s valuer revealed the shabby-looking wooden pig was actually likely to be 3,000 years old.
Fascinated to discover the item had been found in a charity shop and cost such a small amount, he revealed it was probably a rattle discovered in the Victorian period, and would now be worth £500 rather than a mere five.
“That’s a long time ago,” the rattle’s owner said, taken-aback by the age of his possession.
“In a charity shop!” the valuer joked, as the owner agreed it was an “unreal” turn of events.
Going on to use his expertise to describe the object, the valuer explained: “I mean it’s just a simple little child’s toy.
“It’s got to be the oldest toy I think we’ve ever had on the Roadshow.
“I mean it’s a rattle, so you shake it and inside there’s some little stones, which you put in the little holes in the sides, there.
“It was a toy, perhaps buried in the grave of a little child who died 3,000 years ago,” the valuer added.
“Jeez, right,” the owner said with a chuckle, unsure of how to respond at the surprising news.
“Dug up by a Victoria adventurer and here it is,” the expert continued excitedly. “I guess it would have been 150 years ago when it was found.
“That’s when people were going in and digging things up like this.
“How much was it in the charity shop?”
“I think she paid a fiver for it,” the man then laughed.
“I mean 3,000 years old, I suppose it’s probably worth £500.” the valuer then added, dropping the final bombshell.
“Right, ok!” the owner trailed off.
The most unexpected valuation of all came at the very end of the BBC programme when a custodian taking care of a Faberge glass pear blossom flower was bowled over by the unexpected price tag of £1 million.
The “regimental jewel” featured the Worcestershire emblem and was manufactured by the famous jewellery company.
Antiques Roadshow continues tomorrow on BBC One.
