AN ANTIQUES Roadshow guest who bought an old plate online for £16 was shocked to learn its four-figure value – here’s what to look out for.
The guest, who was an avid glass and ceramics collector, brought in a jewellery trinket plate for expert Lisa Lloyd to take a look at.
She explained that for “about 15 years”, she had been collecting glass and ceramics along with her husband and she had this item from an auction website.
Taking a closer look, Lisa gave her more background about the item.
The expert revealed: “It’s actually French by an artist called Mithe Espelt. And she was born in the 1920s in the South of France.
“By the 1950s, she started making things basically for women, what would appeal to women, so she made little trinket boxes with ceramic lids and mirrors like you see here.
“Now this dates from probably the 1960s into the 1970s but at a glance you would see that it just looks so Scandinavian, it’s influence.” Both Lisa and the guest agreed they had never heard of the woman who made the item until recently.
Lisa asked the guest how much she paid for the item, and she was stunned to find out she only paid £16.
Lisa replied: “Really? Oh well, I think you’ve done quite well then.”
When it came down to the valuation, the expert said: “I would say at auction, you’re probably looking at maybe £700 to £1,000 on it.”
“It was a lucky spot,” exclaimed the amazed guest.
Lisa agreed, saying: “It was a very lucky buy and well done you. You’ve obviously got an excellent eye.”
