An Antiques Roadshow guest was shocked when she discovered the astonishing value of a “forgotten” teapot she dumped in the garage.
Sunday’s episode of the BBC program was hosted at Belfast Botanic Gardens and saw expert Gordon Foster present very special papers.
“Well, today you brought this teapot and this jug of milk,” he began.
‘People at home will be shouting at their screens, people who know what it is.
‘It is designed by Christopher Dresser, a seminal designer of the late 19th century.
“And I heard someone say ‘it looks like art deco,’ and it looks like art deco from the 1920s or ’30s, but it’s actually from the early 1880s.”
An Antiques Roadshow guest was left in tears when she learned of the staggering value of a “forgotten” teapot she dumped in the garage.
Sunday’s episode of the BBC program was presented at Belfast Botanic Gardens and expert Gordon Foster received a very special feature.
The expert stated that the elements before him were well recognized by those who knew it.
When asked how she came to possess these items, the owner replied: “Well, I found it one day when I went to sort out the kids’ soccer boots in the garage.”
“There was some crumpled newspaper so I took it out thinking it was football boots and I found this. I had completely forgotten about it.
Foster asked, “So, among other things, that was what you inherited?” ‘, to which she confirmed: ‘Yes, it’s actually from my grandmother’s family.’
The expert explained that the piece was “way ahead of its time,” as the designer created Art Deco pieces even before they became popular.
‘At the same time, in the 1880s, in the Victorian era, tea services were much larger and covered in floral decoration. So this was in complete contrast to everything before,” he explained.
‘Christopher Dresser went to Japan in 1876 as part of a trade delegation and was inspired by the Japanese forms he saw there.
‘He saw the first Japanese teapots and cooking containers, and this is what he was inspired by.
The expert stated that the elements before him were well recognized by those who knew
When asked how she came to possess these items, the owner replied: “Well, I found it one day when I went to sort out the kids’ soccer boots in the garage.”
As for valuation, Foster revealed that the items were worth between £3,000 and £5,000.
“It was completely going against the grain of fashion at the time, so he was really avant-garde in what he was doing.”
After examining the piece more closely, Foster said its silver finish and handle design were influenced by Japanese bamboo handles.
He also described the teacup’s handle as “very decorative but also functional” because it “serves perfectly.”
‘I love it, because it’s very simple. So when would he have started to acquire the ability to do this kind of thing? ‘, asked the guest.
Foster replied: ‘He trained from a very young age. He went to design school in London as a teenager.
‘He had a good eye for design and it culminates in something like this. In reality, more than a teapot, it is a work of art.
Regarding the valuation, Foster revealed: ‘Well, we come to the valuation. If this appeared on the market, there would be many people interested in purchasing it.
“It is comfortably between £3,000 and £5,000.”
Surprised by the large sum, the guesser laughed before Foster added: “It’s an exceptional example.”
The guest replied: ‘No idea! If I had known that, I wouldn’t have put him in the football boots!
“I don’t know how they put on the football boots.”
When asked what she planned to do with the article, the guest joked, “Maybe take it to the bank,” as the expert chuckled.