BBC Antiques Roadshow guest shocked by valuation of her Louis Vuitton vintage trunk

An Antiques Roadshow guest was shocked to learn the value of a Louis Vuitton trunk that had been sitting in her parents' attic for decades.

In Sunday’s episode of the BBC show, filmed at Thirlestane Castle in Scotland, one woman sought an expert opinion on an old trunk that her family had been using without realising its significance.

Antiques expert Raj Bisram immediately identified the trunk as a luxury item from the renowned Louis Vuitton brand. The guest revealed: "I think my father used it to stand on while decorating and painting the ceiling."

She added: "Nobody thought it had any value until someone opened the chest, saw the label, and thought 'that name sounds familiar'."

The woman admitted she knew little about Louis Vuitton, leading Bisram to explain: "They began making trunks in Paris in 1884, and the lock system they invented back then is still in use today. It was so effective, even Harry Houdini couldn’t crack it."

He went on to reveal the trunk’s value, saying: "In its current condition, this chest is worth somewhere between £1,500 and £2,000."

The episode comes a couple of days after antiques advisor Ronnie Archer-Morgan advised a fortune-hunter that his £1.50 charity shop find could be worth a quarter of a million pounds.

However, the African tribal figurine wasn't quite the lucrative purchase it had first appeared to be. Despite Ronnie admitting his heart had "skipped a beat" when he first saw it, he was in for a crushing disappointment after it emerged that it was just a cunning copy of the real thing.

But it was better luck and no false alarm on Sunday, September 15, for a guest over the valuation of her inherited clock.

Antiques expert Alastair Chandler examined the clock, initially appearing unimpressed by its outer appearance.

“So from the outside, this looks like a plain, simple box. It looks like it had a bit of a life, a bit of adventure,” he remarked. But once opened, the box revealed a beautifully detailed carriage clock.

Chandler revealed an interesting detail about the clock’s origin, noting: “It’s got these wonderful, vivid colours with the gold and the blues. But the clock itself is actually French.”

The expert concluded by offering an estimated price for the clock: "With this clock in this condition, if it was to come up in auction, I would imagine it would have an auction estimate of £2,000 to £3,000."

Thrilled by the unexpected valuation, the guest responded, “Wow, that’s more than I was expecting, I must say.”