Latest news with #Franco-Russian
Edinburgh Live
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
BBC Antiques Roadshow guest pulls face after whopping value of 'beautiful' bronze despite mistake
The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel 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 Get the latest Edinburgh Live breaking news on WhatsApp 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.
Russia Today
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Russia-Ukraine ceasefire could ‘return peace to Europe' – de Gaulle's grandson
The three-day ceasefire next month could pave the way to peace between Russia and Ukraine, Charles de Gaulle's grandson has told RT. Pierre de Gaulle made his remarks after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russian troops will observe a truce from May 8 through May 10, as Russia marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in World War II on May 9. 'Russia is a peaceful people. Russia doesn't want war. Russia wants peace,' Pierre de Gaulle told RT on Monday, welcoming the ceasefire announcement. 'I think it's a very strong symbol, as we celebrate the end of the Second World War,' he said. 'We're also celebrating, I hope, the return of peace to Ukraine and the return of peace to Europe – a peace in which I would have hoped France could play a role.' He argued that the current government in Paris was making 'decisions contrary to common sense and reason.' 'But I hope that, in the long term, we can once again celebrate the Franco-Russian friendship – which is what my grandfather always wanted,' he said, adding that both nations would benefit from closer ties. After leading the French resistance against Nazi occupation during World War II, Charles de Gaulle founded the modern French political system and served as president from 1959 to 1969. In his statement on Monday, Putin urged Ukraine to honor the ceasefire, warning that Russian troops would 'give a proportionate and efficient response' to any violations. Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky responded by accusing Moscow of 'manipulation' and called for an immediate 30-day ceasefire. According to Russia, Ukraine violated both the 30-day 'energy truce' brokered by the US last month and the 30-hour Easter truce, despite having promised to respect both arrangements. Putin has argued that, for a comprehensive ceasefire to succeed, Ukraine must halt its mobilization campaign and the West must stop delivering weapons to Kiev.
