Antiques Roadshow guest blown away over eye-watering value of cigarette case

01 October 2023 , 20:29

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The cigarette case was estimated at an eye-watering £5-£7,000 (Image: BBC)

An Antiques Roadshow guest couldn't believe what she had heard after meeting expert Alastair Dickenson.

During the latest instalment of the BBC One series, people flocked to Roundhay Park in Leeds, West Yorks to get a valuation on their most prized possessions. But while the show is known for leaving guests blown away, it still doesn't prepare some for the shock factor when they take their items to be valued.

This week, antique expert Alastair Dickenson was on hand to offer his opinion on the true value of things and even he was left completely blown away by a cigarette case. A lady attended the event with a golden cigarette case that had belonged to her late brother before she inherited it.

An Antiques Roadshow guest was left stunned by a huge valuation (BBC)

However, she had no idea of it's true value or how he came to own the stunning item. Dickenson explained it was the most "elegant cigarette cases" that he had ever had the "pleasure" of handling on a roadshow. "The case is beautifully engraved on the front with flying ducks here but it's also got this very delicate enamel on both sides, black reeds," he said before adding: "Which gives a really nice contrast.

"Tell me, where did you get it from?" Responding, the female guest said: "I inherited it from my brother, he's passed away so it was found amongst his belongings." Upon further inspection, Alastair opened up the case and discovered that it was inscribed with "Harold W. Brook.s Racquet & Tennis Club, New York City". However, the woman wasn't aware of her late sibling having a connection with America.

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The cigarette case was made by Cartier in the 1940s (BBC)

"The only thing I possibly may know is his wife may have had some connection with America, a lot of years ago, I wouldn't have thought my brother would have any connection," she told the expert. But Alastair went on to explain there was "something else" on the case which was "far more important," as his eyes started to light up.

"That is the word Cartier, one of the greatest jewellers there have ever been," he exclaimed before continuing: "It sort of explains why this case is so elegant. This is from a bygone age when everybody smoked and this is probably from the 1940s I would think. It's made in 14-carat gold, so just the melt value alone is quite substantial."

He continued: "Cartier is a magic name, so, a lovely, elegant case like this with a nice simple design, I think it's going to be worth a little bit. How about £5 to £7,000." Seconds after his revelation, the woman said: "Hm. A bit of a shock. I didn't think it was that much but yes, a nice shock, thank you very much."

Daniel Bird