Antiques Roadshow: Army officer SPEECHLESS over £1million Faberge flower valuation
ANTIQUES ROADSHOW will feature its most expensive item to ever appear on the show later this month as an army officer presents a Faberge flower.
Antiques Roadshow: Army officer SPEECHLESS over £1million Faberge flower valuation
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Colonel Stamford Cartwright will be left speechless when he finds out how much the stunning ornament is worth on the Antiques Roadshow episode, which is set to air on April 15.
The Faberge flower was made in imperial Russia and is made of enamel, gold, diamond and jade.
The five-inch ornament, which sits in a crystal vase, is just one of 80 pieces of its kind.
The piece belongs to an army regiment as was brought in by two soldiers when the programme visited Dudley.
Speaking about finding out the value of the object, Colonel Cartwright said his squadron were “over the moon” when they heard how much it was worth.
“Because you grew up with it you tend to treat it as part of the future,” he explained.
“The regiment had got some huge silver pieces, which absolutely tower over this little thing.”
He later added that it reminds the soldiers of their fallen comrades.
“It reminds them not only of the sacrifice of fallen comrades but also that there is a continuation,” he commented.
“It forms a bond for comrades right the way through from the 1900s.”
Antiques Roadshow: The army officer was stunned by the valuation
Antiques Roadshow: The Faberge flower is made of gold, jade and diamond
Because you grew up with it you tend to treat it as part of the future
Jewellery expert, Geoffrey Munn, said his “pulse was racing” when he set eyes on the Faberge flower last year.
“To make a judgement of that enormity is a tricky thing to do so I'm not going to pretend it wasn't pressurised,” explained.
“This was a sensation beyond our wildest dreams really - this is a towering masterpiece from Faberge.
“It's what we call an 'object of fantasy' because it has absolutely no function whatsoever except to be a source of pleasure.
“It is the rarest, most poetic manifestation of Faberge's work that one could ever hope to see."
Antiques Roadshow: Expert Geoffrey Munn was very excited about the object
Antiques Roadshow: Fiona Bruce said the crew were 'excited' about the ornament
Meanwhile, presenter Fiona Bruce said “word quickly got around that something very special had been brought in”.
“We weren’t disappointed,” she laughed.
It is just one of many very expensive items featured on the show over the years.
Viewers have been left stunned by a maquette of the Angel of the North, which was also worth £1 million, and a Van Dyck painting, priced at £400,000.
Antiques Roadshow will air this episode on April 15.