Antiques Roadshow guest astonished at value of 'incredibly desired' £30 charity shop find
An Antiques Roadshow guest muttered "good grief" as he was told the real value of his £30 charity shop discovery.
Antiques Roadshow: Will Farmer values Lenci ceramic figure
WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow.
An Antiques Roadshow guest was “astonished” as his charity shop find turned out to be worth thousands.
Filmed at The Grand Spa Hall in Scarborough, BBC expert Will Farmer found he had something in common with the next guest as they both owned a “beautiful” Italian figurine.
Farmer explained: “25 years ago, let’s say at the modest age of 13-years-old, I walked into an antique fair and acquired my very own example. Exactly the same. But tell me, where’s yours from?”
The guest replied: “I bought it in Whitby about six months ago at a charity shop”, to which Farmer exclaimed “good grief”.
He then asked just how much he had paid for the item with the owner revealing it set him back just £29.95.
After being complimented on his “seriously good eye”, Farmer asked what made him buy the piece of art, with him explaining that he first saw the “beautiful” item pop up on Antiques Roadshow and recognised it was a Lenci design thanks to the show.
Farmer continued: “Well you’ve said that wonderful name. Lenci in the 1920s and 1930s were really the jewel in the crown of the Italian ceramic industry.
“And if we look underneath, the nice thing about Lenci is they are very clearly marked.
“Lenci, made in Italy, and the name of this piece, which is Angelita alla Corrida.
“Now Lenci in the 1920s and 1930s were really at the pinnacle of what they were doing.
“They were formed by a young lady called Helen Konig Scavini and Scavini was a very well travelled lady.
“She actually originated from Germany, ended up in Switzerland and married an Italian to then just settle in Turin.
“And what started out as a cottage industry actually making felt dolls, by 1928, her work had grown into this wonderful ceramic firm, making really what are classed now as some of the most wonderful deco figures of the period.
“They epitomise the style, the chicness, the essence of that day.”
Farmer clarified it cost the guest just under £30, joking that he let the shop have the extra 5p.
The expert said: “Oh well done, that’s good, because if I say to you we need to, very comfortably, move the decimal point, your £29.95 realistically now is worth £2,500 to £3,000.”
Upon finding out the figure, the guest smiled: “Good grief. Really? Astonished at that.”
“These are incredibly desired figures the world over, particularly with the Italians, they love them”, Farmer commented.
“And I have to say, I love mine as well so we’re both in very good company.”
The guest added: “That’s wonderful, thank you so much. That’s incredible.”
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
