BBC Antiques Roadshow guest gobsmacked by Faberge necklace that survived house fire

Edinburgh Live

15-07-2025

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
An Antiques Roadshow guest was stunned with an "oh my goodness" moment upon discovering the true value of a friend's necklac.
The beloved BBC programme set its scene at Chatham Historic Dockyard, where expert Geoffrey Munn was taken aback by an exquisite and rare necklace.
Munn began: "A beautifully made wooden presentation box, probably of Hollywood, and for me, there are no prizes for guessing what is within.
"There are three pretty little enamel blue eggs. Tell me about them with you."
The visitor recounted how the necklace came into her friend's possession, having been passed down from her aunt who believed it to be Russian.
Munn clarified: "Well I think she probably guessed that they were Russian from the lid satin and it is written in cyrillic but it's clearly eligible to enthusiasts of this subject, that it actually says the name of an important Russian jeweller.
"But I'd just like to discuss this in a back to front way and tell you about the eggs which are sky blue enamelled Easter eggs on a necklace.
"And they are mounted by tiny, tiny diamond laurels and that's quite important in a way, because in the tradition of jewellery, the colour blue is for love and it's something borrowed, something blue."
(Image: BBC)
The expert elaborated on the symbolism behind various aspects of the necklace, noting that the petite diamond laurels symbolise the Latin adage "the triumph of love over all".
He expounded: "So here are the triumphal laurels surmounting the colour blue but there's another message coming across here, because they are Easter eggs.
"This is a gift from somebody at Easter in holy Russia, presenting to someone that they love and it's the triumph of love over everything.
"I think it is a triumph, because it's survived in absolutely pristine condition which is wonderful for all kinds of good reasons but let's return to the lid satin once again."
Munn then revealed that the piece in question was actually crafted by Faberge, leading the guest to exclaim: "Oh gracious. Oh wonderful."
He noted: "And we don't need any explanation beyond that to know that this is by far the most famous goldsmiths workshop that's ever existed, so it's very, very exciting stuff."
Munn continued, explaining that the blue "eggs" consisted of a silver core intricately engraved and enamelled in blue.
He disclosed: "And there's a great tradition in Russia to give Easter eggs. In the countryside, you'd have painted white chicken's eggs to give and in the cities they might be wooden or perhaps ceramic eggs.
"But within the insular world of the Romanov court and those in its circle, nothing but Faberge would suffice. It's an echo of pre-Revolutionary Russia.
(Image: BBC)
"And in 1917, catastrophe happened, because the Russian Revolution came about and Faberge's empire was destroyed utterly and completely and forever.
"And so when we see these things coming through, the excitement mounts enormously and mercifully your friend has taken enormous care of it because it's in almost perfect condition and it's kept in this box which signs it like a picture frame."
He went on to disclose the necklace's staggering valuation, sharing: "Your friend has an object which is undoubtedly worth £12,000."
The guest's reaction was one of utter astonishment upon hearing the valuation, prompting her to divulge the necklace's deeper sentimental value.
"Oh my goodness! Oh she'd be thrilled to pieces," she expressed. "Because quite recently she had a big fire at her house and there was quite a lot of things lost and this is one thing that survived.
"Well that's wonderful and maybe it's some small compensation. But how exciting it is to see it here today," Munn responded empathetically.
The guest remarked: "It is absolutely wonderful, she'd be thrilled to pieces."
The expert then jovially added: "I'm thrilled to pieces! I'm exhausted now, I don't know about you! Wonderful."
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.