At Belfast's Botanic Gardens, the popular television series Antiques Roadshow returned to captivate audiences with another fascinating appraisal. During the program, expert Richard Price evaluated a family heirloom, describing it as "scruffy" yet surprisingly valuable. The item in question was identified as an "unusual example" of a French four glass clock, which sparked lively discussion between Price and its owner.
The owner, clearly proud of the piece, shared its rich family history. "It came to me from my father and from my grandfather and grandmother before, so it’s been in the family since the late 1800s," he explained. Price, known for his candid assessments, humorously responded, "OK. Ishall disprovethat in a minute," evoking laughter from the guest.
Delving deep, Price critiqued the clock's condition: "The condition is perhaps a little disappointing. It would have had wonderful gilded bits of brass and lovely floral swags which could be so attractive. You’ve got the columns, and then you’ve got the multicoloured champleve enamel."
He then noted some design elements, saying, "You can see the lovely enamel dial center and also the bezel and the mercury pendulum, which is also adorned with multicoloured enamel." Noting the missing finial atop the clock, Price continued his examination.
Interestingly, the owner had misidentified the clock's material, thinking it was marble; Price clarified, "That 'green stuff' you see is actually Brazilian onyx." This prompted another inquiry from Price: "And you’ve said to me just now you thought the clock might be late 19th Century—were any of your family in France at the time or not?" The owner recounted his grandparents' marriage taking place in Paris back in 1909, which led Price to speculate, "It could have been a wedding present at the time," to which the owner agreed.
Opening the clock for closer inspection, Price pointed out, "It actually says 'Made in France,' and all the details—like the use of Arabic rather than Roman numerals—signal early 20th Century origins." He elaborated, "This would have been a top-of-the-range item when it was new." Price’s evaluation brought excitement to the surface as he transitioned to the most anticipated aspect—its worth.
Price concluded his findings about the item by stating, "So the only other thing to factor in is the value. I mentioned earlier it’s very scruffy. If you were to spend serious money on this and do it up, it would sell for approximately £4,000." The owner appeared taken aback and silent upon hearing the potential value; Price, noticing the contemplative stance, remarked, "Little smile come on there." Yet, Price advised caution, adding, "But you’re going to have to put away at least £1,000 to do it properly."
Intrigued, the owner questioned whether restoring the clock would represent a good investment. Price confidently affirmed, "The Chinese are mad about enamel, so it would almost certainly go to the Far East." Although it seemed like the perfect opportunity for sale, the owner firmly dismissed this notion, stating, "There’s no chance of it going to the Far East. It’s going to stay in the middle of Ireland where it’s been for the last 50 or 60 years." His commitment to keeping the family piece only added to the heartwarming nature of the appraisal.
Overall, the episode highlighted not just the fascinating world of antiques and valuations, but also the deep connections families have to their heirlooms. Richard Price's expert insights brought both joy and laughter as he navigated the history and excitement surrounding the French four glass clock, reminding us of the cherished stories behind our possessions.
For viewers wanting to catch up on the appraisals, Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.