Antiques Roadshow guest in tears after learning value of childhood teddy

18 December 2023 , 09:02

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An Antiques Roadshow guest was left in tears at her valuation

An Antiques Roadshow quest was stunned to find out the staggering value of her childhood toy that was kept in a carrier bag.

The BBC show returned on Sunday night with a Christmas special. The episode focused on toys with members of the public bringing in their beloved items in the hopes of finding out their true worth. As usual, the Antiques Roadshow experts were on hand to provide information on the toys and give the all important valuation.

One lady took along her teddy bear, which turned out to be super rare. The toy was made by Steiff, who are now known for making teddy's for designer brand Louis Vuitton. Opening up on the item, the guest shared: "It belonged to my great aunt and when she passed away it went to my mum and now I'm the custodian of it at the moment."

The guest said the bear had been kept in a carrier bag (BBC)

Expert Bunny Campione was stunned when she saw the bear, which housed a hot water bottle inside its stomach. She said: "Well, I must admit, I hope I didn't give too much of a shock when I saw you coming to my table. I think I screamed didn't I?" Bunny praised the rare item and then gave the guest her valuation.

"So, we are talking about a Steiff teddy bear, circa 1904, incredibly rare colour, a rare size because most of them were smaller than this, and a value wise, £15,000," Bunny told the guest. The lady responded in shock: "What 15? It’s just been put in a bag in the wardrobe."

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Another Antiques Roadshow guest was baffled by the valuation of their inherited broken watch. The damaged watch was originally bought by the guest's father from an army surplus store for £20. But when expert Richard Price laid eyes on the item, he quickly labelled it as the "rarest of items."

The guest explained that she was under the belief that the watch was a pilot's watch. Richard then explained that it had been used by Luftwaffe, the German Air Force, and would been an completed item with a large leather strap. The TV show expert added that if it were made by A. Lange & Stone, a German company who made watches for the Nazis, the price of the guest's timepiece would increase dramatically.

When opening the watch he said: "Joy of joy it's A. Lange & Söhne the one (all collectors) want." The lady who appeared on the show was left in disbelief as her father had just been walking around shops in Weymouth in the 1970's. Richard added: "Pretty good buy. I think i would be very happy if I had paid £20."

He then claimed it was the "rarest of items" that "all collectors want", before informing her that the watch would be worth between an estimated £8,000 - £10,000. In response the guest added: "I might not take it home to (my father)."

Mia O'Hare