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 brings an 18th-century item that breaks show record — but there's one problem

While the item received a record-breaking appraisal, a flaw prevented its value from going higher.
PUBLISHED DEC 12, 2024
Screenshot showing the guest and the expert on 'Antiques Roadshow' (Cover image source: BBC | Antiques Roadshow)
Screenshot showing the guest and the expert on 'Antiques Roadshow' (Cover image source: BBC | Antiques Roadshow)

Guests on "Antiques Roadshow" turn up with the most mundane-looking items and walk away with a lot more than what they thought they were worth. At the same time even spectacular-looking artifacts often turn out to be fake or have flaws that pull down their value.

A couple on Antiques Roadshow was left speechless after their item received a record-breaking appraisal on the show. The "18th Century Imperial Chinese robe" stunned the expert Lee Young, who considered himself fortunate to come across one. The expert shared that only a handful of such robes existed in the world before appraising its value to a whopping six-figure sum. While the robe had the potential to fetch more, there was a tiny flaw that restricted its value.

Screenshot showing the expert Lee Young (Image source: Antiques Roadshow/BBC)
Screenshot showing the expert Lee Young (Image source: Antiques Roadshow/BBC)

While the robe was in spectacular condition, Lee noted that there was a tiny flaw that would affect the valuation. "It does have a little problem and that is if you look at the dragon here, it wasn't intended to be two-toned," Lee said. He then explained that the makers had mixed the gilt on the copper wire which had oxidized over time, turning into a greenish color.

In the special Chinese-themed episode, the elderly couple presented the remarkable find which captivated Young from the get-go. "There are those moments in your life that you will always remember, and I will always remember standing here, but I certainly will also remember the first time that I saw this spectacular robe," Young said. 

The ancient robe is made from golden yellow silk fabric adorned with traditional symbols, "wonderful flaming pearls," "crashing waves at the bottom," and a "five-clawed dragon" at the front and the back. 

Screenshot showing the ancient robe (Image source: Antiques Roadshow/BBC)
Screenshot showing the ancient robe (Image source: Antiques Roadshow/BBC)

The owner explained that the robe was brought to Britain in the early 1930s by the woman's grandfather, who worked as the general manager of the Standard Bank in India. "It was in the dressing-up box!" she told the expert. "No! So did you wear it as a child?" the expert queried, to which she replied, "Oh yes." 

Lee then went on to explain that the robe was made in the 1750s, which would certainly made it imperial. He shared that it was a ladies' robe and there were very few such items that had survived the test of time. "The only other ones I know of this type, you have to go to Beijing and go to the Palace Museum to see one of these. It really is a museum item," Lee noted. 

Screenshot showing the details of the robe (Image source: Antiques Roadshow/BBC)
Screenshot showing the details of the robe (Image source: Antiques Roadshow/BBC)

He clarified that it wasn't a robe of an Empress as such robes are typically bright yellow and the one in this case had a "slight green tinge" to it. Nevertheless, the expert was left in awe by the "spectacular" condition of the robe. Lee even pulled out a glove to handle the delicate silk as he did not want to stain the precious item. "It's just a fabulous thing," he said.

Screenshot showing the expert pointing out the discoloration (Image source: Antiques Roadshow/BBC)
Screenshot showing the expert pointing out the discoloration (Image source: Antiques Roadshow/BBC)

"Another thing I've noticed, I think somebody at some time, someone's actually turned up the bottom. I think it's a little shorter than it should be because I can see part of the fringe here and maybe it's been turned up as well," Lee further noted while speaking of flaws.

He mentioned that since the perfect dragon on the back highlighted the oxidation, the value of the robe would slightly be impacted because of it. Despite this, Lee estimated that the robe would still be worth a lot. "If that comes up at auction, with the way the market is at the moment, I think that would make £200,000 ($2,54,900)," he said. This instantly shattered the episode's record and made the item one of the most valuable to appear on the show.



 

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
While all the Sharks were out, Mark Cuban saw the potential in "Garage Celebrations."
7 hours ago
The loss was ironic as the retired teacher coulnd't get a phrase commonly used in classrooms.
9 hours ago
The recalls were issued for a range of products including tires, air conditioners and power banks.
10 hours ago
The guest who got the item as a gift from a neighbor had little to no idea about its significance.
12 hours ago
Harrison got a good deal for the fossil although it wasn't what he had thought.
1 day ago
The player, Beth Barbee left everyone in the dust with her impressive puzzle solving skills.
1 day ago
Given her celebrity status, Harrison cut her some slack in the negotiations.
1 day ago
The deal ultimately fell apart as the seller, Scotty was looking to get $375,000.
2 days ago
The guest was blown away by the six-figure appraisal for his father's John Falter illustration.
2 days ago
Harvey just couldn't believe that the contestant could come up with an answer like that.
3 days ago
Antoinette's win was even more special because she needed a car more than anything at that point.
3 days ago
The player, Catrice Sandt, nearly blew the Bonus Round puzzle by saying too many words in the end.
4 days ago
The co-founders of Nature's Wild Berry left the Sharks in shock with their miraculous product.
4 days ago
The contestant named Whitney could barely control her emotions as she celebrated with Ryan Seacrest.
4 days ago
The player named Kathy Young missed out on the Showcase Showdown as she had to leave.
5 days ago
Harrison closed a mega deal by scooping up three post cards for the price of one.
5 days ago
The guest who brought his father's prized possesion, had already made up his mind.
5 days ago
Harvey got a genius solution to avoid asking an awkward question to Carson Kressley's family member.
6 days ago
The player could barely control her excitement as she had a near-perfect game on the show.
6 days ago
Harrison knew it was too good of a collection to let go, and he decided to raise the stakes.
7 days ago