An Antiques Roadshow guest was stunned to discover the enormous value of a Louis Vuitton trunk that had spent decades in her parents’ attic.
At Sunday’s show, audiences brought their prized items to Thirlestane Castle in Scotland, and one lady was keen to learn more about the designer accessory.
Expert Raj Bisram recognised the luxury brand immediately when the guest told him: “I think (my father) used it to stand on while decorating and painting the ceiling.”
“Nobody thought it had any value, so someone opened the chest and looked inside (at the label) and thought ‘that sounds really familiar.'”
After admitting that he knew little about handbag maker Louis Vuitton, Raj explained: “They actually started making trunks, they started in 1884 in Paris.”
An Antiques Roadshow guest was stunned to discover the enormous value of a Louis Vuitton trunk that had spent decades in her parents’ attic.
Sunday’s show saw members of the public bring their prized items to Thirlestane Castle in Scotland, with one lady keen to learn more about the designer accessory.
Expert Raj Bisram recognised the luxury brand immediately when the guest told him: “I think (my father) used it to stand on while decorating and painting the ceiling.”
He revealed how the locking system that was invented at the time is still used in the company today and even outdid famous magician Harry Houdini.
Raj went on to explain how the trunk was one of the brand’s first, as it was missing the now infamous LV logo, which was created in 1896.
In this condition, a chest like this is definitely worth between £1,500 and £2,000.
The shocked woman was speechless and laughed before admitting: “It has a lot of sentimental value and despite the valuation it means a lot.”
This comes after another guest on the show was left speechless when expert Mark Smith met a man whose father was an SAS soldier as he showed off his paperwork, medals and badges, which are often “counterfeited around the world”.
The man showed a black and white photograph of his father, named David Cargill, before he was sent to France with the BEF.
Impressed by the collection on the table, Mark said: ‘This morning you said to me ‘my dad was a soldier’ and then you started pulling this stuff out and I got so excited because this man was in the SAS, this is fantastic.’
“We have a territorial medal here. He went to France and started his war by coming off a beach, a place called Dunkirk, because he also has the Dunkirk medal. What did he join then?”
He said: “In this condition, a chest like this is definitely worth between £1,500 and £2,000.”
The woman was shocked and speechless, she giggled before admitting: “It has a lot of sentimental value and despite the valuation it means a lot.”
Raj went on to explain how the trunk was one of the brand’s first, as it was missing the now infamous LV logo, which was created in 1896.
The brand is now adored by celebrities (Sabrina Carpenter photographed at the Louis Vuitton show in Paris)
The guest replied: ‘He joined the Parachute Regiment, did his training and once he got his wings he immediately volunteered for the SAS and was accepted.’
Mark continued: ‘Now when you see these badges and things you have here and you see SAS wings, they’re usually fake. You’ve got a King’s Crown Parachute Regiment badge.
‘Even today they are hard to find and are usually copied too. Then there are two of the 1st SAS shoulder titles. Now I’m not sure I’ve ever seen them before, in person, to be able to touch them, but there they are.’
Mark was particularly impressed with the beret that belonged to the guest’s father, as it had authentic details, including the small insignia that he said was often “counterfeited around the world.”
This comes after another Antiques Roadshow guest was left speechless when the show visited Dundee.
Expert Mark Smith met a man whose father was an SAS soldier as he showed off his papers, medals and badges.
Mark added: “These things just don’t come on the market, so to be able to be here and touch the real thing, it’s fantastic!”
Putting a value on the items, the BBC star said the medals alone were worth around £200, with the entire collection worth around £8,000.
The guest was stunned by the assessment and said to Mark, “My father would be very surprised.”