ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / NEWS

'Antiques Roadshow' guest falls on expert after he revealed her artifact was fake: 'You're joking...'

The guest who assumed it was an ancient Chinese artifact said it felt like 'a stab to the heart'
PUBLISHED JUN 11, 2025
Screenshots showing the guest's reaction on the show (Cover image source: YouTube/TYSONGREER SHADY/BBC Antiques Roadshow)
Screenshots showing the guest's reaction on the show (Cover image source: YouTube/TYSONGREER SHADY/BBC Antiques Roadshow)

"Antiques Roadshow" guests usually make news for reactions ranging from breaking down to losing their balance after discovering the value of their items, which is higher than expected. But the real shock awaits those who walk in with an item, not knowing that it's a fake. A guest who bought an item for $40 thought it was an ancient artifact from China. However, the show's expert, David Battie, burst her bubble by revealing that the item was not more than a couple of years old and probably not even worth what she paid. Hearing this, the guest nearly collapsed on the appraiser out of disappointment as the crowd gasped.

Screenshot showing the expert comforting the guest (Image source: YouTube/TYSONGREER SHADY/BBC Antiques Roadshow)
Screenshot showing the expert comforting the guest (Image source: YouTube/TYSONGREER SHADY/BBC Antiques Roadshow)

The guest, who was an archaeology student, appeared to be quite excited as she bragged about the great deal she scored at a flea market. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t in my family. I found it in a flea market in southeast London, a few years ago, on a Sunday afternoon. It was among loads of house clearance things, and the guy didn’t really seem very interested in it. I’d just finished a part-time archaeology course, and I was just really intrigued by it. Because it had sandy earth, I presumed it was some sort of funeral offering,” she told Battie.

She further added that she bought the item for just $40 after some serious bargaining, as it was initially priced at $67. She told Battie that it appeared to be some ancient vessel that was used in rituals at Chinese funerals. The expert confirmed that the item was indeed made for funerals, as it served as an offering to the dead during the rule of the Han Dynasty in China. 

Screenshot showing the guest talking about the item (Image source: YouTube/TYSONGREER SHADY/BBC Antiques Roadshow)
Screenshot showing the guest talking about the item (Image source: YouTube/TYSONGREER SHADY/BBC Antiques Roadshow)

“Indeed, these were grave goods. Almost invariably, they were buried and having been dug up, you get all this wonderful color building up here. This is cast bronze, and the copper is coming through – that’s because of acid attack by the soil. The thing that worries me is that this would normally be what we call a B disc, the eye, which actually has a hole in the middle," he explained. He further added that these items were buried along with "highly important officials" and they were buried under the elbows and above the head, over the B disc.

Screenshot showing the expert talking about the item (Image source: YouTube/TYSONGREER SHADY/BBC Antiques Roadshow)
Screenshot showing the expert talking about the item (Image source: YouTube/TYSONGREER SHADY/BBC Antiques Roadshow)

All of this information intrigued the guest, who thought she had scored a deal. However, when she asked Battie about the age of the item, the expert had to break the truth to her. “A couple of years," the expert responded honestly. Realizing that the item was fake, the guest collapsed on the expert's shoulder. “Oh no! You’re joking? Are you joking? Oh no, I’m so upset! I’m really upset. My life is over. It’s like a stab to the heart," she exclaimed after burying her face.

Screenshot showing the expert assuring the guest (Image source: YouTube/TYSONGREER SHADY/BBC Antiques Roadshow)
Screenshot showing the expert assuring the guest (Image source: YouTube/TYSONGREER SHADY/BBC Antiques Roadshow)

However, the expert told the guest that he hadn't finished yet. He told the guest that these forged items were kind of an investment for the future, as they did come from China. "They are casting it, they are carving it, because they still can afford the skilled craftsmen to do it. It’s a fantastic bit of work," he told the guest. He added that experts won't recommend people buying forged items, but if such items are being sold for $40, they should go and buy them. "Your children are going to thank you," he said in the end.



 

In the end, Battie estimated that if it was the real deal, then it would have been about 2,4000 years old and worth about a million pounds or over $1.3 million in the market, at the time.

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
This was rare on the show where Harvey is the one doing most of the talking and shutting people down.
1 hour ago
Fans complained that the unusual clue cost the player a chance to challenge for the win.
21 hours ago
The founders of xCraft struck a rare and expensive all investor deal on Shark Tank.
1 day ago
The dynamic host finally broke silence on exit rumours, cementing his intent to continue his job.
1 day ago
The painting and a note from the renowned artist, Hovsep Pushman left the expert in awe.
1 day ago
Banking on a bad guess made by his opponent, Ryan Burkett guessed the correct answer and took home a massive win.
1 day ago
The World War II era sketch was given to the guest's father by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the creators of Superman.
2 days ago
The contestant, Madison, hit the jackpot with less than a second remaining in the 'Race Game.'
2 days ago
Both the contestant and fans believed he stood no real chance of solving the Bonus Round puzzle.
4 days ago
The spooky item was a great find for the pawn shop, but the asking price was too high for Corey Harrison to cut a deal.
4 days ago
Despite saying that the item was worth a small fortune, the expert was confident about its future.
5 days ago
Harrison almost blew the deal for the gold & diamond encrusted ring over $3,000.
5 days ago
Insulted by her refusal to partner up, Kevin O'Leary told Lori Greiner, 'Do not screw with Mr Wonderful...'
6 days ago
The witty host reminded everyone that he’s never afraid to deliver the perfect clap back.
6 days ago
TikToker Madilynn Cameron alleged she was asked her to get a membership to use the self checkout facility at Walmart.
6 days ago
The toy train set from the Lionel company turned out to be a invaluable treasure.
6 days ago
The pawn shop boss, Rick Harrison wasted no time to get the mummy authenticated.
6 days ago
The elderly guest was visibly shaken to learn the value of her prized family heirloom.
7 days ago
In an Instagram post, Drew Goldfarb got candid about his big win, friends he made along the way, and things he learnt.
7 days ago
Ken Jennings accidentally let a curse slip and spoiled a clue — and the goof-up made it to air unedited.
7 days ago