The latest episode of Antiques Roadshow saw expert Cristian Beadman fall head over heels for a unique item he was certain he’d “never see again”.
He was left in awe when a guest brought along a 19th century Swiss singing bird automaton, and his surprise over the item was reflected in the eye-watering valuation of £40,000 he gave it.
“This is certainly one of the most exquisite things I’ve ever seen on the Antiques Roadshow in my ten years,” Beadman confessed as he took in the item.
“What draws you to this object?” he asked the guest, who replied: “I collect music boxes.”
“This is the sort of princeling of musical boxes, isn’t it?” Beadman remarked.
“Yes, I don’t think you can get much higher,” the guest responded.
Detailing the unique item, Beadman remarked: “This is a Swiss singing bird automation box, early 19th century, by the Rochat brothers.
“And they were superior in craftsmanship to the French ones and the German ones.
“Also wonderful is that you have the original carrying case, the retail case. With a stamp to the underside fort Howell of London,” he went on.
Desperate to see the box in action, he couldn’t help but make a request as he added: “Well, I think you ought to show us how this thing works.”
When the guest got the box working, the the audience gasped as they witnessed the bird tweeting its song.
“Utterly exquisite,” the expert beamed, continuing: “It’s not for nothing that they’re Swiss made.
“It’s effectively a watch movement, and the bid that pops up is in mint condition.”
He went on: “And it hasn’t got a feather out of place,” as the owner of the music box noted: “No, it’s perfect.”
“Even the auctioneer at the time said, ‘This has got to be the best one we’ve ever sold,'” he went on to explain.
“You bought it at auction?” a surprised Beadman asked, adding: “I have to ask you what you paid for it, sir.”
“Oh, do you?” the guest joked before replying: “£9,000.”
“You paid £9,000 for it? How long ago was that, sir?” the specialist probed, to which the owner explained it had been around 18 or 19 years ago.
Beadman had some great news to share as he detailed: “Well there have been fluctuations in the market for all sorts of things and for all sorts of reasons.
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“Sweet little Swiss boxes have continued to go upwards. So even though it seems like a lot of money to have spent nearly 20 years ago, funnily enough, that was a good investment.
“I think that you could realistically expect that best example possibly ever to come on the market to go in at something between £20,000 and £40,000.”
The guest was shocked by the value and quickly thanked Beadman, but made clear he had no plans to sell the item.
“It’ll get passed through my family because they love it. It’s not just the money, it’s quite special to me.”
“I’ll never see one of those again,” Beadman commented, emphasising the item’s unique nature.
“That’s just a thing of wonder,” he added.
