BBC Antiques Roadshow guest pulls face after whopping value of 'beautiful' bronze despite mistake
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WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow.
An Antiques Roadshow guest was beaming after receiving mixed news regarding his inherited bronzes.
The popular BBC daytime show visited the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh for another episode, with expert Cristian Beadman on hand to meet guests.
One such visitor was a man who brought along two "dramatic" Russian bronzes, which Beadman felt embodied "Mother Russia".
The owner explained why he favoured the Cossack bronze, saying: "There's a lot of family history behind it. My great-grandfather ran a cotton mill in St Petersburg.
"In the early 20th Century, there were many industrial strikes and he was compelled in 1905 to intervene in a dispute between the workers and management over working hours.
"The usual way of resolving disputes in those days was to send the Cossacks in.
"They would typically force the workers into submission. But in this case, he decided that wasn't the right approach.
"He established a workers' council to mediate and restore the workers' rights."
Beadman, pointing to the bronze, interjected: "And here we have the plaque along the front that says 'You did without them!'"
(Image: BBC)
"So this is from the very grateful workforce.
"It was. So when he retired in 1907, he was given that," the guest confirmed.
The expert read the inscription on the back, which stated: "Presented to Joseph Hadfield, your great-grandfather. Esquire by the Office and Hospital of the Nevsky Cotton Mills, St Petersburg, June 1907.'
"What a wonderful bit of family history.
"As you know, it's a mounted Cossack and the original was cast by a man called Eugene Lanceray. He was Franco-Russian. Hugely popular.
"This, I would probably describe as a late 19th Century cast and it's a very wonderful thing."
When discussing the second sculpture, the guest confessed his limited knowledge, only aware that it was passed down from his father who inherited it from his mother.
Beadman added: "So you know it's Russian. It is by a very, very good sculptor called Nikolai Lieberich, hugely respected.
"The thing that he was most appreciated for, believe it or not, was the texture and the finish that he could achieve with depictions of wild animals.
"And here we have this wonderful example of exactly that, the bear's fur."
However, Beadman had to deliver some unfortunate news, noting: "They're both quite shiny, I can't help noticing. Are you a keen polisher?"
"I was last weekend," the guest chuckled.
(Image: BBC)
The expert advised, "It's not necessarily a good thing to do with antique bronzes.
"It takes away the original patina which does sadly affect the value."
Next, the expert delivered his valuation, beginning with the Cossack bronze, which he estimated would fetch between £2,000 and £4,000 at auction.
But disappointedly he remarked: 'If it weren't so highly polished, you could have doubled those figures.'
It was a different story for the second of the two bronzes though: 'The Lieberich is again quite highly polished, so I think that one at auction is only £20,000 to £40,000.'
The guest pulled a face as he heard the whopping value and then chuckled.
'Thank you very much indeed', he grinned as Beadman stated: 'Beautiful things.'
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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