An Antiques Roadshow guest was left speechless after a set of old underwear got a stunning valuation, making a BBC pundit a “career first”.
In a new episode that aired on Sunday, the roadshow returned to Cromford Mills in Derbyshire, where finds included a rare collection of opals, a pair of 300-year-old long johns and an Albert Medal for bravery.
Expert Chris Yeo met a local man whose great-great-grandfather owned a mill in Derbyshire and had an unlikely connection to British heroine Florence Nightingale.
He brought an old pair of long brown pants and the mill purchase contract to appraise them.
Explaining the story behind the contract, the man said: ‘John Smedley was my great-great-grandfather.
“He was a cotton spinner in the Derbyshire mill, which he rented from the Nightingales and in 1983 he bought the mill from the Nightingale family.”
An Antiques Roadshow guest was left speechless after a set of old underwear got a stunning valuation, making a BBC pundit a ‘career first’.
Expert Chris Yeo met a local man whose great-great-grandfather owned a mill in Derbyshire and had an unlikely connection to British heroine Florence Nightingale.
Pointing to Florence Nightingale’s signature, the expert added: ‘And this is the actual handwriting here. If we keep going down, there we are, Florence Nightingale herself, widely considered the founder of modern nursing.’
Moving on to the long johns, the guest said: ‘These were made for the Emperor of Japan in 1916. These are vicuna long johns. Vicuña is a particularly fine wool, it comes from an animal similar to the llama.
“We kept an example of everything we do, including these.”
Surprised by the unique item, Chris laughed: “Now in my career, I’ve never been asked to value a pair of long johns before.
‘I think probably £500. The deeds here, Florence Nightingale’s signature appear from time to time and usually fetch between £500 and £700.
‘I think the fact that it’s actually within these documents that are linked to the company puts it on a different level. I see it’s attractive, I’d say between £1000 and £1500.
“Why, yes,” replied the guest, who seemed to have been left speechless by the combined assessment.
It comes after another guest was left stunned when he learned the truth behind his “king-worthy” crown; as the BBC expert admitted, “he would buy one but can’t afford it.”
In Sunday’s installment of the BBC programme, people from Cromford Mills in Derbyshire took their hidden jewelery to experts to be valued.
He brought an old pair of long brown pants and the mill purchase contract to appraise them.
Explaining the story behind the contract, the man said: “John Smedley was my great-great-grandfather.”
Pointing to Florence Nightingale’s signature, the expert added: ‘And this is the actual handwriting here. If we go down, there we are, the lady Florence Nightingale herself.’
It comes after another guest was left stunned when he learned the truth behind his crown “fit for a king”, as the BBC expert admitted “would buy one but can’t afford it”.
The woman explained that her husband gave it to her two years ago as a Valentine’s gift, but that it originally came from a sale of the attic of the famous estate in 2010.
Chris Yeo’s face lit up when a guest presented him with a red and gold velvet crown that doubled as a Chatsworth House trinket box.
The woman explained that her husband gave it to her two years ago as a Valentine’s gift, but that it originally came from a sale of the attic of the famous estate in 2010.
An excited Chris replied: “What it is is a crown fit for a king, you could say, or even a duke.”
‘Probably to store trinkets. Victorian, with this gilt metal outline and a velvet insert.
Opening it, the expert continued: ‘If you twist the crown that way, the top comes off and you have a velvet-lined interior.
It is something very, very beautiful. Very good quality. “It’s something I would love to have at home.”
Chris recalled wanting the item when he saw it, or one similar to it, at Chatsworth House during a visit, but “couldn’t afford it”.
Revealing the value of the beautiful piece, he said: “Which brings us to the price.” If that came up for auction now, in the province of Chatsworth, I think it would sell for between £800 and £1,200.
He asked the guest if she loved it even more now that she knew the value, to which she replied, “I love it, I just love it.”
‘I’m very happy. I think my husband will be very happy. “I think he’s as intrigued as I am to find out a little more, so yeah, we’re very happy.”
Antiques Roadshow airs on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer