Antiques Roadshow expert blown away by ‘never before’ seen item on BBC show

Antiques Roadshow expert Alastair Dickenson was left blown away over a guest's incredible item that has ‘never been seen before’.

During a recent episode of the BBC hit show, the experts were in Salisbury Cathedral in Wiltshire as guests brought in various items to be valued. One guest in particular left Alastair speechless with his vintage christening bowl.

Alastair started off by saying: “The great thing about antique Roadshow is that people bring in things that many of us have never seen before and in this particular case I’ve seen them in books but this is the first time I’ve handled one. Do you know what it is?”

The guest revealed: “It’s a christening bowl," as Alastair said: “Yes that’s right. How did it come into your family?”

The guest went on to explain: “Well we’ve had it in our family for at least 70 years. It was certainly used at my christening and it may have been used at my father’s christening. It came from my paternal grandmother and it was used in my daughters' christening and recently with two granddaughters, we used it as well. Of course you pass it round and drink from it like a loving cup.”

Alastair left the man disappointed as he pointed out: “You’re absolutely right. This is a Dutch piece of silver but I’m sorry to say that it’s not an original, which would have been made in the early part of the 17th century. This is about 1890, 1900 in date but as you say, it’s a bowl that has a specific purpose.

“In Dutch it’s called a Hansje in de Kelder, which means Jack in the cellar and as you know something special happens to this when we add something to it, which I will demonstrate in a minute hopefully."

Pointing at the item, he added: “These were originally given to pregnant ladies to toast the health of the unborn baby. So you’ve been using it as a Christening device but it was actually used for the unborn baby to wish it good health.”

Demonstrating how the device works, Alastair said: “Now, we have come to the moment where we see if it works.” Picking up a bottle of water, he continued: “Luckily we have a prop.”

The guest intervened: “Traditionally it would be champagne.” Alastair joked: “This is the BBC. It is pretty well made, it has nice engraving, very much the Dutch style around the edge and embossed decoration on the foot in the early 17th-century style.

“There doesn’t appear to be any marks of it but it is definitely Dutch, late 19th century. Value, I would say we’re looking at £1,000 to 1,500.”

Speaking to the camera, Alastair said: “They are pretty rare things. The originals are very rare and worth many tens of thousands but that was a great price and that’s what the Roadshow does, it shows these incredibly unusual things.

“Well I’ve been on the show for 28 years and never seen one on the show before and I doubt if anybody watching here has seen one either.”