An Antiques Roadshow expert was left gobsmacked after a guest revealed she had bought a 17th-century wooden doll for just £18, far below its true worth of around £500.
Expert's Reaction to the 'Wonderful' Doll
During the BBC programme's visit to Winchester Cathedral, expert Nicholas Mitchell examined the small wooden carving and described it as one of the earliest items he had seen that day. He said: "This is probably one of the earliest things I've seen here today and interestingly, it's one that brings history absolutely bang in your face. It is so immediate and interesting."
The guest correctly identified it as a doll, and Mitchell confirmed: "You're right." He added: "And why it makes it so absolutely so emotively important is that this was almost certainly carved by an older man possibly for his grandchild in the late 16th, early 17th Century."
The Story Behind the Doll
Mitchell explained that the doll was likely made by a member of a simple farming family who could not afford to buy a real doll for his grandchild. He said: "But the fact is he made this lovingly and carefully for a grandchild because he didn't have the money to buy her a real doll. A member of a simple farming family from the country. Occasionally, he would come into, let's say Winchester, and see the fashionable, the gentry, walking around the streets. And he copied their dress and I think it's wonderful."
He noted that the doll had been played with and loved for nearly 400 years, calling it "a fantastic thing."
Guest's Surprising Purchase
The guest revealed she had bought the doll at a fair about six months earlier. Mitchell assumed she "must have paid quite a lot of money," but was visibly taken aback when she said she paid only £18. He scoffed: "Not a lot of money," before disclosing its actual worth of around £500. He added: "It is mad how anybody could sell that for £18 when they really should have charged you the best part of £500. I have no idea."
Mitchell concluded: "It's a wonderful piece of folk art, treen, call it what you like but it's got everything going for it." Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
