Latest news with #DuncanCampbell
Daily Mail
20 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Antiques Roadshow guest gasps as he learns hefty value of 'scary' bowl passed down from grandfather that he 'kept under the stairs'
An Antiques Roadshow guest gasped when he learned the hefty value of a 'scary' bowl passed down to him. A rediscovered video from 2015 sees expert Duncan Campbell assess a Kashmiri begging bowl on the BBC show. The owner of the interesting piece revealed he kept it 'under the stairs' and described the bowl as 'attractive in a scary sort of way'. 'It was my grandfather's,' the guest explained. 'It's been handed down to me from my grandfather who was in army in the North West frontier in the 1890s. So we think that's where he got it, in the area which is now sort of North West Pakistan.' Duncan eagerly gushed: 'I can tell you exactly where it comes from. It's covered in local symbols. It comes from Kashmir.' He went on to reveal the different details, including 'local flora', that helped identify where the bowl originated from. The expert shared how the antique was based on a 'begging bowl' which 'dervish monks used to carry to collect arms from the locals'. 'It's a popular shape that was used by the local craftsmen to turn into all sorts of things, for example your lovely centrepiece, which is not ever intended to be sold to a Kashmiri, it was always expected to be sold to a foreigner,' Duncan explained. He described the piece as 'wonderful' and noted the size was 'on a very grand scale'. Duncan went on to share his valuation of the antique bowl. He said: '... As far as date of manufacture goes, this is going to be about 1890 and the market for what's essentially Islamic metal work has grown and grown over recent years. 'This is not only skillful work but a really nice looking object, it has some considerable value too. It would cost you somewhere around the £4,000 mark.' 'Oh, right. That's more than I was thinking, thank you very much,' the surprised guest replied. It comes after another episode of Antiques Roadshow from 2016 saw presenter Fiona Bruce, 61, and the experts head to Scarborough Grand Spa Hall on the North Yorkshire coast. The specialist appraisers met with guests to value their family heirlooms and heritage items - with expert Ronnie Archer Morgan, 75, taken aback by one in particular. He spoke to a woman who had brought in a Polynesian, club-like tribal weapon for evaluation - which was unlike anything he had seen on the programme before. Ronnie, an expert in tribal art and weaponry, opened by asking: 'What's a feminine person like you doing with a big, heavy, aggressive thing like this?' She explained: 'Well, it belongs to my dad actually, it's not mine, and it was passed down to him by his dad who acquired it through some elderly spinster ladies who gave it to him. He was a solicitor in Scarborough town so that's how but I don't know anything more.' The slightly unclear origins of the item did not matter to Ronnie - who was just floored by its quality. He exclaimed: 'Amazing. I can't actually believe what I'm looking at. This is absolutely superb. 'It's a Fijian Bulibuli and this is a thing of rare beauty. It is really what us collectors look for. This is the best I've ever seen.' This type of weapon from the South Pacific island nation typically has a straight, long handle with a rounded head and protruding decorative circles on it. The guest's item was completely textbook, with raised carved studs. She responded, incredulous, to Ronnie's praise for it: 'Really? Wow!' By the end of the discussion, Ronnie had massively built up the anticipation ahead of the all-important valuation - and it did not disappoint. And with an unbelievable object comes an unbelievable price', he said. 'I'm thinking about this. The market for this sort of thing is more in Paris or in Brussels and in New York. 'But they get very excited and they've got galleries that deal in this sort of stuff and a nice one of these would probably be £8,000 to £10,000.' The guest, eyes wide, was astonished by this - but Ronnie was not done yet. 'This, I would stick my neck out and say if you had to buy this from the Sablon [antiques market] in Brussels, I think it would cost you between £30,000 and maybe £35,000. 'I really think it could make that.' The woman was blown away by the prospect of such a life-changing sum: 'Wow! That's amazing!'
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Antiques Roadshow expert leaves guest gobsmacked over huge value of 'scary' bowl
Antiques Roadshow expert Duncan Campbell left a guest gobsmacked after revealing the huge value of a 'scary' and 'poisonous' bowl that the man kept stored under his stairs. An Antiques Roadshow guest was left stunned by the eye-watering valuation of a bowl that had been gathering dust under his stair case for several years. The BBC programme ventured to Tredegar House in Wales for another episode, with expert Duncan Campbell on hand to examine some interesting pieces, including one rather "scary" bowl, the Express reports. Campbell opened with: "Poisonous snakes aren't everyone's cup of tea so how do you feel about having a festival of snakes on your dining room table? Or do you not keep it on your dining table?" The guest explained: "We don't keep it on the dining table no, we keep it under the stairs actually but now that I've seen it out again, it's a while since I've seen it out, it's actually quite attractive in a scary sort of way, isn't it?" "I think it was put away, because we can't really decide what to do with it," he continued. When questioned about how he came to own it, the guest revealed: "It was my grandfather's, it's been handed down to me from my grandfather who was in the army in the North West Frontier in the 1890s." "So we think that's where he got it, that sort of area which is now sort of North West Pakistan, isn't it?" Campbell then intervened to enlighten the guest, explaining that the piece actually originated from Kashmir and was covered in "local symbols." He went on: "And you've got Kashmiri or local leaves, you've got Chinar leaves, coriander leaves and all of this flora and fauna, poking its head out and rearing up in a very sort of aggressive looking way. The bowl itself is based on what's called a kashkul which is a begging bowl which the [whirling] Dervish monks used to carry who collect arms from the locals." 'It's a popular shape that was used by the local craftsman to turn into all sorts of things, for example, your lovely centre piece which was never intended to be sold to a Kashmiri, this was always expected to be sold to a foreigner," he continued. "It's a wonderful item, it's much bigger than what Kashmiri silver is, it's on a very grand scale," Campbell explained. "And as far as date of manufacture goes, this is going to be about 1890 and the market for what's essentially Islamic metal work, has grown and grown in recent years." "This is not only skillful work but a really nice looking object. It has some considerable value too." Upon hearing talk of a big price tag, the guest's expression changed dramatically, his eyebrows shooting up as he exclaimed: "Oh. Right." Campbell then revealed: "It would cost you about, somewhere around £4,000 mark." The delighted guest responded with a wide grin: "Oh. Right. That's more than what I was thinking. Thank you very much. Brilliant!". "Not at all. A nice thing to be left," Campbell remarked as the guest enthused: "What a result." When cheekily questioned about whether he'd remove the bowl from its under-stair storage, the guest chuckled and replied: "I think it will. Get some bananas to put in it."
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
BBC Antiques Roadshow guest pulls face as grandfather's 'scary' item worth small fortune
An Antiques Roadshow expert was given the job of appraising an unusual bowl with a "considerable value"'. WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow. An Antiques Roadshow guest's eyebrows shot up when he discovered the staggering value of a bowl that had been gathering dust under the stairs for years. The BBC favourite pitched up at Tredegar House in Wales, where expert Duncan Campbell was on hand to delve into a trove of treasures, including a "scary" bowl that caught everyone's attention. Campbell quizzed the owner: "Poisonous snakes aren't everyone's cup of tea so how do you feel about having a festival of snakes on your dining room table? Or do you not keep it on your dining table?" To which the guest responded: "We don't keep it on the dining table no, we keep it under the stairs actually but now that I've seen it out again, it's a while since I've seen it out, it's actually quite attractive in a scary sort of way, isn't it?" Admitting its long-hidden status, the owner added: "I think it was put away, because we can't really decide what to do with it." Curious about its origins, the guest recounted: "It was my grandfather's, it's been handed down to me from my grandfather who was in the army in the North West Frontier in the 1890s. "And we think that's where he got it, that sort of area which is now sort of North West Pakistan, isn't it?" Campbell then revealed the true provenance of the piece, informing the guest that it hailed from Kashmir and was adorned with "local symbols". He went on: "And you've got Kashmiri or local leaves, you've got Chinar leaves, coriander leaves and all of this flora and fauna, poking its head out and rearing up in a very sort of aggressive looking way. "The bowl itself is based on what's called a kashkul which is a begging bowl which the [whirling] Dervish monks used to carry who collect arms from the locals. "It's a popular shape that was used by the local craftsman to turn into all sorts of things, for example, your lovely centre piece which was never intended to be sold to a Kashmiri, this was always expected to be sold to a foreigner. "It's a wonderful item, it's much bigger than what Kashmiri silver is, it's on a very grand scale. "And as far as date of manufacture goes, this is going to be about 1890 and the market for what's essentially Islamic metal work, has grown and grown in recent years. "This is not only skillful work but a really nice looking object. It has some considerable value too." Upon hearing hints of a substantial valuation, the owner's expression shifted dramatically, his eyebrows shooting upwards as he exclaimed: "Oh. Right." Campbell then disclosed the figure: "It would cost you about, somewhere around £4,000 mark." Breaking into a delighted grin, the guest responded: "Oh. Right. That's more than what I was thinking. Thank you very much. Brilliant!". Campbell concluded warmly: "Not at all. A nice thing to be left," whilst the thrilled owner declared: "What a result." In response to a playful query about whether he'd now display the bowl more prominently, the guest chuckled: "I think it will. Get some bananas to put in it."
The Guardian
19-06-2025
- The Guardian
Letter: Duncan Campbell obituary
In 2010, Duncan Campbell wrote the obituary of my brother Martin Beales, a lawyer and crime writer. He took great care to capture Martin's detailed work on the case of Herbert Rowse Armstrong, executed as a murderer in the 1920s, in his book Dead Not Buried. When it was being debated at the Hay literary festival in 1995, Armstrong's daughter Margaret was able to assert that her father was vindicated, and that he was a victim of injustice and a 'hanging judge'. Duncan understood the importance of truth and justice to Martin, and was a tremendous support to the family.
The Independent
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
BBC presenter runs 10k in Crocs in memory of younger brother
BBC Scotland's Home of the Year presenter Danny Campbell has completed a 10k run wearing Crocs in memory of his younger brother who died from cancer. Mr Campbell, an architect and presenter, ran the Glasgow Men's 10k in 50 minutes and 18 seconds, handing out copies of his younger brother Duncan's memoir The Suicide Notes throughout the race. He wore Crocs during the race to 'defy expectations' and to encourage people to 'show up for yourself' after his brother's death last year, and regularly wears them during his appearances on television. In 2024, Mr Campbell spoke openly about losing his younger sibling to an aggressive form of brain cancer, despite trying sonodynamic therapy in New York, describing his brother's health battle as 'heroic'. The race, which started at the Riverside Museum and ended in Glasgow Green, is designed to get men of all ages talking about their mental health. Mr Campbell, a father-of-three, said: 'I ran the race in my brother's honour. Every squeaky step, Dunk was with me. 'He faced life's hardest challenges with humour, courage, and zero regard for convention. He made sure we laughed, even when things got impossibly hard. I'm just trying to follow in his footsteps. 'My Crocs are now a symbol of not giving a toss about other people's expectations. 'It's about showing up as yourself — and creating space for other people to do the same. 'Thanks to everyone who donated, cheered, or just shook their head in disbelief. I hope it made people smile. And maybe think about someone they could check in on today.' Writing on a JustGiving page, he said: 'I'm doing this in memory of my little brother and to encourage others to share their struggles. 'Dunk fought a tough battle with cancer and had a profoundly positive impact on so many people. He was charismatic, quick-witted, honest and caring.' Mr Campbell, an ambassador for The Social Hub Glasgow, said that doing the race in Crocs was 'a silly way to say something serious'. He raised £750 for the Mental Health Foundation, which praised his efforts at 'normalising conversations around mental health'. Julie Cameron, associate director for Scotland at Mental Health Foundation, said: 'We're incredibly grateful to Danny for taking on this challenge, raising both awareness and vital funds for the Mental Health Foundation. 'His message encouraging people, especially men, to talk about their struggles and seek support is more important than ever. 'While awareness has grown, stigma still holds many back from opening up about their struggles. 'Normalising conversations around mental health is crucial, and if an architect running a 10K in Crocs sparks those discussions, that's a win.'
