WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow.
Antiques Roadshow experts grappled with placing a value on a “hideous” piece that they’d never laid eyes on before.
The hit BBC series ventured to Derby Roundhouse where fans saw a plethora of unique items being evaluated for their worth, both sentimental and monetary.
Stepping into the role usually filled by the experts, Fiona Bruce experienced firsthand the intrigue of uncovering an object’s past as she encountered a guest with an extraordinary purse.
Fiona turned to the viewers, questioning: “Can you guess what this is? There are three, what could be claws here, and then this lizard-like skin.”
Upon enquiring about its composition, she was informed by its owner that it involved a swan, which led her to the realisation: “It’s a swan’s claw isn’t it! And made into a purse. It’s hideous isn’t it?”
As the guest agreed with a chuckle, Fiona continued: “Now swans have been owned by the monarch since, it’s thought, the 12th Century so whoever had this either illegally killed a swan or was connected to the Royal Family in some way.”
Adding to its mystique, an Elizabethan coin found within the swan’s foot when bought from an antiques shop provided a significant clue to its history, suggesting a “pretty good start” for dating the peculiar item.
The item’s current owner explained: “It was part of his [the antiques shop owner’s] own collection and he was just wanting to move it on.
“But he did say that he believed it was connected to the court in the Elizabethan times and would have been given to somebody who had done some sort of favour or was in favour with the court.”
Fiona said: “I was talking to our experts about this coin and there’s no doubts in their minds that it’s genuine, it’s an Elizabethan coin, it’s from the 16th Century.
“I was quite surprised to learn that it’s worth about £40.”
She then shifted the focus back to the swan’s foot purse as the guest revealed she had paid roughly £400 for the item.
The presenter added: “Well I talked to our experts again about that and the thing is, no one here’s ever seen one before so it’s almost impossible to value.
“We had estimates ranging from £200 to £700 so £400 is probably about right.”
Fiona then commented: “Certainly, I think it wins the prize this series for the strangest thing we’ve ever seen on the Roadshow.
“And on that basis alone, thank you so much for bringing it in!”
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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