The £1m antique kept under a soldier’s bed
Flower by Faberge stuns Roadshow team
THIS tiny, ornamental flower, which was once kept under an army officer’s bed, has been valued at £1million.
The 5in tall Faberge masterpiece is only the third item to reach that price in Antiques Roadshow history.
Geoffrey Munn, jewellery expert on the show, said: “It is the rarest, most poetic manifestation of Faberge’s work that one could ever hope to see.”
Honorary Colonel Stamford Cartwright took the gold, diamond and jade trinket to the show to be valued on behalf of B (Staffs, Warwick and Worcs) Squadron The Royal Yeomanry.
The flower, which Col Cartwright thought was worth £50,000, was used as a centrepiece at formal dinners and stored under the squadron leader’s bed. It had been gifted to the squadron, then known as the Queen’s Own Worcestershire Hussars, in 1904 by Georgina, Countess of Dudley. She was the wife of Lord Dudley, second in command of the regiment. The flower features a pear blossom sprig sitting in a crystal vase, engraved with “QOWH South Africa 1900”. Now owned by a charitable trust, it won’t be sold. Fewer than 80 Faberge botanical studies still survive. An Angel of the North model and an FA Cup trophy have also been valued at £1million on the show. Viewers can see the flower on Sunday in the first episode of the new series, hosted by Fiona Bruce.