AN Antiques Roadshow guest was left gobsmacked after learning the truth about a mystery wooden item his grandad wanted to BURN.
Sunday’s episode of the BBC One show took place at Castle Ward and the first item on the programme was a long wooden plank.
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Expert Ronnie Archer Morgan asked how the male guest came to be in possession of the item and he said his grandad had originally been given it in the 1970s with a sack of coal.
He added: “My grandfather gave it to my father because he didn’t want it, and he said if my father didn’t take it off him he was going to cut it up for fire wood.”
When he saw it, he felt it could be a “ceremonial ore or axe”, and Ronnie confirmed it was a Tongan war club from the 18th Century.
“It’s fantastic quality,” he added. “This is a rare type of club. In Tonga the quality of a man’s war club was a symbol of his rank and so this quality is very high.
“Do you know what these were carved with? Shark’s teeth. And I think from the colour here, it could be late 18th century.”
The expert then highlighted some of the intricate detailing on the club, before getting to its value.
He said: “Collectors love these things and this is a very fine example. I would value it comfortably at £5,000 to £8,000.”
Ronnie added that was a cautious valuation, as similar items had actually sold for £10,000.
The guest was clearly gobsmacked, and told Ronnie: “Wow that’s very unexpected. I was expecting a few hundred really.
“I’m quite buzzed to be honest. I feel very excited, emotionally shocked I think, simply because I didn’t expect it to be that much.”
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Antiques Roadshow airs Sundays on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.