Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Fiona: Are my own antiques worth a bid?
ANTIQUES Roadshow star Fiona Bruce is putting some of her own treasures up for valuation.
The BBC presenter, 53, was set the challenge by Radio Times bosses.
She chose an “ever so humble” Dresden porcelain figure, her granny’s opal and diamond ring, and a Chinesestyle watercolour painted by her mum.
Singapore-born Fiona, who has
This figurine is ever so humble but I have it on display. It’s Dresden but I’m reliably informed it’s worth a fiver. It means a lot to me. It was my first antique; my parents gave it to me when I was about 14 after we’d moved to
England. I was quite a girly girl and I liked this kind of thing.
This is a little mid 20thcentury Dresden lace lady. These have been made for many years however this is a later interpretation and would fetch as little as £20. been fronting the Beeb favourite since taking over from Michael Aspel in 2008, also highlighted the difference between Roadshow and its American counterpart.
She said: “On the US version they go completely bananas. Whereas in Britain we’re rather more reserved.”
Read the full interview in the new issue of Radio Times on sale now. This is my grandmother’s ring. I never knew her but I used to play with it when I was a girl and always said, “When I get engaged can I have this ring?” Years later when my soon-to-be husband took me to Berlin I told my mum I thought he was going to propose and she said, “Darling! Do you want to take the ring?” I didn’t. But I should have done — he hadn’t got a ring. It was nearly closing time on the last night before he asked.
This is a lovely example. The bright, old-cut diamonds help to set off the subtle play of colours on the opal. It’s in good condition and I’d expect it to fetch between £1,500—£2,000.
My mum Rosemary worked as a textile designer and was really good. She died four years ago. I was very close and loved her very much. I found this the other night in the attic. She did it when we lived in Singapore.
Chinese friends tell me they think the artist’s name is Rosemary. Many Chinese in Singapore had European names. Was this Fiona’s mother’s name? If not, had I been brought this picture on the Roadshow, I’d have said that it’s from around 1950 and worth £20. I doubt it is by a European because the style is just too Chinese. It could have been a gift or bought in the market.