An Antiques Roadshow guest was left completely speechless when he discovered the incredible value of a sculpture he had been casually using as a doorstop.
This week, Fiona Bruce, 60, presented the show from historic Beaumaris Castle on Anglesey, uncovering treasures including a possible first edition Winnie the Pooh and a rare ballerina brooch.
But the highlight of the exhibition came when a guest brought in an intriguing sculpture and explained that he had always been “perplexed” by the item and wondered what it was.
He joked: “It’s been my doorstop for the last 12 months,” before adding that he had picked it up at a car boot sale in Anglesey three years ago for just £50.
Unsure of his origin, he added: ‘Someone mentioned he might be African; I don’t know.’
An Antiques Roadshow guest was left completely speechless when he discovered that a sculpture he had been casually using as a doorstop was an incredibly valuable item.
This week Fiona Bruce, 60, presented the show from historic Beaumaris Castle on Anglesey, uncovering treasures including a possible first edition Winnie the Pooh and a rare brooch.
Expert John Foster identified the piece as a work of art by Ben Enwonwu, one of Nigeria’s most famous sculptors.
He explained that Enwonwu was the first pioneer to mix Nigerian art with Western art while describing his rise to fame in the 1940s after being discovered by the Zwemmer Gallery, which led to exhibitions in New York, London and Milan.
He said: ‘Sculptor Ben Enwonwu (is) one of the most famous sculptors in Nigeria. He was born in Nigeria in 1917 and died in the mid-nineties.
‘He was the first pioneer to mix Nigerian art with Western art. Really known as a bronze and stone sculptor, and this style being carved stone, I thought it dates back to the 1970s.
‘A gallery picked it up in the ’40s and it was a gallery called Zwemmer Gallery. And that, literally from there, skyrocketed him to having shows in New York, London and Milan.’
He then valued the sculpture at between £10,000 and £15,000, leaving the guest speechless.
Incredulous, the guest exclaimed: ‘You’re kidding! I could cry. I had no idea it would be worth that much money. It surprised me.’
When he realized the true value of his £50 find, he added with a smile: “I thought it might be £100.”
But the highlight of the show was when a guest brought in an intriguing sculpture and explained that he had always been “perplexed” by the item and had wondered what it was.
He joked: “It’s been my doorstop for the last 12 months,” before adding that he had picked it up at a car boot sale in Anglesey three years ago for just £50.
Expert John Foster identified the piece as a work of art by Ben Enwonwu, one of Nigeria’s most famous sculptors.
He explained that Enwonwu was the first pioneer to mix Nigerian art with Western art as he described his rise to fame in the 1940s.
He then valued the sculpture at between £10,000 and £15,000, leaving the guest speechless.
It comes after a guest on this month’s show said: ‘be good!’ while learning about the dazzling value of her grandmother’s jewelry collection.
The episode took place at Thirlestane Castle in the Scottish Borders and an unsuspecting guest brought two brooches and a pendant of his grandmother, hoping to find out more about them.
The collection included an opal and diamond brooch dating from 1890 to 1910, a pearl and diamond pendant from the 20th century, and a sapphire and diamond brooch from 1970.
Expert Susan Rumfitt was tasked with valuing the items and said the sapphire and diamond brooch could sell for between £500 and £700.
The pearl and diamond pendant was valued at between £1,500 and £2,000 and the opal brooch would sell for between £5,000 and £7,000.
The astonished guest then exclaimed excitedly: ‘No, behave! Wow, thank you very much!’
They added: “I am absolutely stunned and delighted to hear such beautiful news about the jewellery.”
‘No, I won’t remodel them, I’ll keep them exactly the same!’
Antiques Roadshow continues on Sunday 17 November on BBC1 at 8pm