Antiques Roadshow guest covers face and cries after staggering valuation of broken plates

During a classic episode of Antiques Roadshow, one guest was left in tears after a valuation of her "rare as you can get" plates. John Sandon, the ceramics and glass specialist on the BBC show, was instantly impressed by two unusual plates dating back to the 1600s.

The white plates, adorned with images and a blue outline, were described by John, the expert, who said: "They seem to be a matching pair of plates, but one's painted with a comical [Chinese man], and here you've got a figure of a king."

The expert found them very peculiar and asked the guest about their history. She recalled: "Well, I remember them on the wall of my husband's parents' house," adding that they were traditionally considered valuable within the family.

However, she admitted that no one else seemed to know anything about them. Eventually, they were passed down to her husband, who only knew that they came from his mother's side of the family.

John explained that the plates were Delftware, a European imitation of Chinese porcelain before the technique for creating the real thing was known. He said: "Crude pottery covered with a white tin glaze, and that's what these are." He added that most early Delft designs copied Chinese patterns, which appeared to be the case with these plates.

Delving into the intricate designs, the expert observed: "What is curious is the palette and the colouring. We've got some nice mixes of colours, which does indicate really quite an early date."

He then revealed: "So we're looking back here into the 17th century. But one thing we do find in early Delft often are portraits of the reigning kings and queens of the time."

Examining a plate adorned with a regal figure, he continued: "So one wonders here what this chap might be - so they're a very splendid king with a sceptre. And I suppose he's holding a letter or a scroll - who do you think he is?"

The owner admitted her ignorance: "I really, really don't have a clue I'm afraid."

John provided further insight: "He must be a British king. One tries to pick a date from the plates and looking at the designs, I've seen ones before with a similar king which depicts James II. I think that's probably who he is, so that goes back to 1685, it's a relatively short reign. So you've got a pair of plates here, probably made in London... but they're about as rare as you can get."

As the guest reacted in surprise, the expert added: "I mean, this one is a bit of a shocking state, it's been broken in half and someone liked it enough to stitch it together, just about.

"But it's barely held together - but this is really quite an important piece of pottery because you've got a picture of the king on a rare plate with rare colours. So let's think, the perfect but Chinese subject one, shall we say - £10,000 to £20,000."

He continued: "The broken one, it's got to be more than that, so at least £30,000."

"Oh my god," the plate owner gasped covering her face with her hands in shock.

"Together as a pair, £30,000 or more," John added. The guest, visibly overwhelmed, confessed: "I brought them in my handbag! ".

"That's alright, a good strong handbag," John chuckled, to which she tearfully replied: "Can I cry now?"

Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.