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 / ECONOMY & WORK

'Antiques Roadshow' guest finds out his textile collection that he saved from trash is worth a fortune

The designer was also commissioned by top brands and worked for the royal family.
PUBLISHED JUL 18, 2025
The guest and the expert with the collection (Cover image source: Dailymotion | Antiques Roadshow)
The guest and the expert with the collection (Cover image source: Dailymotion | Antiques Roadshow)

Apart from highlighting family heirlooms and historic items, "Antiques Roadshow" has also shed light on the work of lesser-known artists. One such collection was brought in by a guest and was identified by expert Ronnie Archer-Morgan. The guest explained that he bought it from builders who were going to discard the 'rare' designs in the trash. "I was a cheeky chappie, asked them if I could have a look, buy some bits and bobs, done a deal," the guest chuckled. Archer-Morgan then revealed that the textile collection belonged to Althea McNish, a pioneer in Black British textile design, who also worked for the Royal Family.

The expert explained that McNish hailed from Trinidad and migrated to England in the early 50s. Victoria & Albert museum records state that Mcnish inherited her designing skills from her mother, who was a dressmaker. She studied at the prestigious London School of Printing and Graphic Arts.



 

Arthur Stewart-Liberty, chairman of London's Liberty store, found her work intriguing for the incorporation of nature's elements on fabric, and encouraged her to produce more of it. One of her popular designs for the store includes Cascade, an eccentric dandelion-style pattern on cotton poplin fabric. She was later commissioned by Dior and also designed the entire wardrobe for Queen Elizabeth II during the royal tour of Trinidad in 1966.

"She was probably the most influential post-war textile designer that Britain has seen. She brought the colour and the vibrancy of Trinidad to the shores of post-war Britain, and at a time when we really needed colour here," Archer-Morgan added. He also revealed that he owned one of her exquisite pieces as a scarf, albeit in a different color. The expert then flipped through McNish's design book, which seemed to be preserved in mint condition. He highlighted the vibrant colors and textile patterns that the late pioneer designer used for her creations, according to the Daily Mail. To the guest's surprise, the expert went on to reveal that some of these could fetch $3,300 per square meter since they were considered the 'holy grail' for fashion collectors. 

"I think this archive and what you've brought to us here is worth in excess of £250,000 ($335,000)," Archer-Morgan said, giving his final valuation for McNish's textile collection. The guest stood transfixed, and the crowd gasped at the figure. "That's blown me away," was all the guest could say. "It's just been an incredible journey of learning and knowledge, I've loved every minute," he added. McNish collected many honors and awards throughout her life for her contributions to art and textiles. This included the Jubilee Gala Award for Achievement in the Arts at the UK High Commission of Trinidad and Tobago in 2012. McNish passed away in April 2020 at the age of 95.

More from Market Realist:

'Antiques Roadshow' guest says 'I am too old' after hearing the value of his 20-year-old painting

'Antiques Roadshow' guest gets a $1 million valuation for his item — then says 'it's not for sale'

'Antiques Roadshow' guest says 'that's retirement' after hearing the value of her family heirloom

RELATED TOPICS ANTIQUES ROADSHOW
MORE ON MARKET REALIST
The contestant said she was bad at it but there is no excuse for mistaking a continent for a country
23 hours ago
Corey Harrison did not know much about the jersey, but he got a lot of help from the expert.
1 day ago
The contestant would have become the first man to achieve the big prize.
1 day ago
The question was about some of the most popular boy bands of all time.
1 day ago
The guest did not create a fuss but was adamant about the authenticity of his item.
1 day ago
The host's speech made for a sombre moment but he found a way to make that funny as well.
1 day ago
Fans once again called out the puzzle, which, according to them, was too tough.
3 days ago
The guest wanted a five-figure sum at first but was left disappointed by Harrison's stubbornness.
3 days ago
Rick Harrison was not as careful with this item as one would have expected him to be.
3 days ago
The contestant got a couple of chances to answer, and Harvey was left unimpressed on both occasions.
3 days ago
The contestant has denied the host's claims on social media that has fans intrigued.
3 days ago
It must have felt like a full circle moment for the family that had felt similar emotions back then.
3 days ago
The entrepreneur did not have a clear plan to grow the business despite having such a big ask.
4 days ago
All of the other sharks said no due to the risks, but Cuban seemed eager to take the gamble.
4 days ago
The contestant started the game strong but had to wait until the end for the big win.
4 days ago
The contestant faced a tough puzzle and she was not prepared for that at all.
5 days ago
Cuban had seen enough of Mr. Wonderful's greedy tactics, and he decided to take a stand.
6 days ago
Fans were also left as confused as the contestant after seeing the puzzle.
6 days ago
The iconic "Jeopardy!" champion has been hosting the show for many years now.
6 days ago
The host remembered the times he was bullied as a young kid after hearing the chant.
6 days ago