An Antiques Roadshow visitor was forced to fight back tears after learning the “shocking” value of a vase passed down to him from his late boss.
The show’s resident expert Lee Young was left stunned by an item brought in by a Dundee man.
He told viewers on Sunday’s episode that the vase could have travelled to the UK from Japan more than a century ago.
The guest told the expert about the RRS Discovery in Dundee that it had been given to him by someone very close to him.
He said: ‘I inherited it from someone very dear to me who passed away about 10 years ago. With very fortunate details, inherited from my late boss.
An Antiques Roadshow guest was left fighting back tears after learning the “shocking” value of a vase passed on to him by his late boss after years of admiring it.
The show’s resident expert Lee Young was shocked by an object brought back by a Dundee man and revealed it had likely travelled to the UK from Japan.
The guest told the expert at RRS Discovery in Dundee on Sunday’s episode that he had inherited it from someone very close to him and was emotional remembering his boss.
“It means a lot to me. He insisted I had to have it.”
He revealed that he had admired the vase for years when its previous owner was still alive and explained that he had first seen it while working for his boss.
The guest said to Lee: ‘When I was working for him, I always looked up to him and asked myself, ‘Well, what do you want when I die? Do you want the hallway mirror or the vase?’
“I said, ‘I just don’t want you to die, I’m not going to tell you.'”
He then explained that before his boss fell ill he made him a promise: that the vase would be passed on to him.
And Lee was clearly impressed, telling the tearful guest: “Well, it’s a very, very nice gift in sad circumstances, but it’s a very nice gift.”
He then went on to reveal the story behind the beautiful vase.
He said, ‘This is a type of pottery called Satsuma, from Japan.’
After hearing the heartbreaking story behind this beautiful artefact, the BBC appraiser said: “Well, it’s a very, very nice gift in sad circumstances, but it’s a very nice gift.”
Lee told the tearful guest that the vase was known as Satsuma ware and was first introduced to the West in Paris in 1867, where people “went crazy” for it.
Looking at the vase, the BBC star explained the significance of the figures covering it and noted its size before revealing it could be worth up to £5,000 to wow guests.
Lee pointed to the base of the vase, noting its authenticity and the maker’s mark showing it had been made by Ryozan and Kyotio.
To give further context, Lee told the man that Satsuma pottery was first introduced to the West in Paris in 1867.
He said: “We went crazy for it, to say the least. They were decorated with beautiful, rich gilding and very lavish and sumptuous decoration. In fact, what we see here, a popular theme, were processions and here we see a procession.”
Looking at the vase, the BBC star explained the significance of the figures covering it, both on horseback and carried in carriages.
But one element that surprised Lee most was the size of the vase.
He said, “What I love about this is the scale of it, I mean, it’s huge. I mean, for a Satsuma vase of this type. I mean often the ones we see are very small, very fine.”
He then suggested that the vase could date back more than 100 years, to the late 19th century.
Lee pointed to the base of the vase, noting its authenticity and the maker’s mark showing it had been made by Ryozan and Kyotio.
As for its value, the antiques expert said: “It’s an impressive piece. It’s an impressive size. I think if it came on the market today it would easily fetch between £3,000 and £5,000.”
The guest was visibly surprised by the review and became emotional.
An Antiques Roadshow guest was left completely stunned after discovering the astonishing valuation of his £45 watch on last week’s episode.
His “extremely rare” watch had the BBC crowd gasping in amazement at his prized possession, after learning its value.
Holding back tears, she said: “It’s very special. It’s very… I get emotional because it reminds me of the man (who gave it to her).”
“For me, that’s the most important thing. But it’s a huge amount of money, it’s quite astonishing. Outrageous, actually. It’s quite shocking.”
This wasn’t the only exciting discovery, on last week’s episode one guest was completely stunned when he discovered his £45 watch was now worth more than his pension.
The guest’s “extremely rare” watch left the BBC crowd agape at his prized possession, after hearing its value.
The guest said he was given the watch for his 21st birthday, shortly after joining the Merchant Navy.
The watch, of which only a few hundred were made, is now worth a staggering £40,000 and the guest told valuer Richard it was worth more than his pension.