BBC Antiques Roadshow guest gobsmacked as auction item breaks show record

An Antiques Roadshow guest was left gobsmacked as their auction item broke a show record.

Glass expert Andy McConnell was evaluating family heirlooms at Woodhorn Museum in Ashington, providing valuations for the public's cherished belongings.

Andy was taken aback by some "wonderful little gems" brought in by one visitor. Upon examining two 18th-century Masonic glasses, Andy couldn't hide his excitement.

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He exclaimed to the owner: "These glasses are absolutely the cream and of course, they're firing glasses, 'Yes, here! Cheers!' for toasting."

He then queried, "So how on Earth do you end up owning these wonderful little gems?" reports the Express.

The guest revealed: "Well I got a bit lucky really. I'd seen them come up at an auction but they were just with a general lot, I think they were valued at £50 to £70. I pretty much knew what I thought they were. Sadly, they'd been spotted by somebody else so they did go up in value but I managed to win the lot."

The pair of glasses set him back a hefty £6,000, prompting Andy to ask: "So, what makes an apparently sensible person spend £6,000 on two glasses the size of a thimble?"

The collector explained that acquiring rare glass was a "passion" of theirs.

As Andy inspected the glasses further, he confirmed they were indeed crafted by the Beilby family, specifically the Newcastle-based artist William Beilby, who passed away in 1819.

Highlighting the date inscribed on the glass, he clarified: "1768, it's exactly what it says on the tin. And they were Britain's leading enamellers, the greatest enamellers, working exclusively on glass."

Andy then revealed: "The first one that came up that we know about was bought by the British Museum in about 2009 for £12,000. Then one sold for £8,000 and another sold for £6,000.

"But yours, I know, today, would fetch at auction - you'd get somewhere like £16,000 for the pair.'"

The guest was left utterly astounded, managing only to utter: "Wow."

Andy then expressed his delight, saying: "So look, I mean what a pleasure! These are by far the most expensive glasses that I've ever had in 16 years on the Roadshow. I'm so made up with these. So cheers to you and William Beilby!"

The surrounding audience quickly erupted into applause, celebrating the historic valuation.

Antiques Roadshow airs Sundays at 8pm on BBC One