BBC Antiques Roadshow expert issues urgent care warning to guest as he shares personal connection to item
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Ceramics expert Will Farmer warned one Antiques Roadshow guest to avoid a similar mistake he made after they'd brought in an item he instantly recognised.
During Sunday's episode of the long-running BBC show, Fiona Bruce and the experts were at Firstsite in Colchester where Farmer was presented with "an amazing ceramic figurine".
He told the guest: "(It's) an absolute piece of classic Art Deco design but on top of that, the combination of three fabulous factors. Before I fill in those blanks, I've got to ask you, how did she get to be in your life?"
The owner told Farmer that the figurine was inherited from her late husband's grandmother, describing her as "very elegant and very petite".
"That fits, doesn't it?" Farmer replied. "I think to have acquired this when it was new you were making a style statement. This was a cut above.
"What we're looking at is a figurine that is absolutely in those Roaring '20s eras," he added before showing off the manufacturer's signature on the bottom of the item.
BBC Antiques Roadshow: Will Farmer revealed he used to own a figurine like the one brought in
BBC
After revealing it was made in Austria in 1885, Farmer went on to point out that there was a second signature on the artefact that belonged to the sculptor.
However, Farmer wasn't done there as he revealed there was a third person whose influence made the figurine a rather valuable piece.
"I mentioned a third party that brings this whole thing together and that is an incredibly famous dancer of the period called Niddy Impekoven," Farmer delved.
"Now, Niddy Impekoven was a German-born dancer, but she became so famous for her wonderful dances to classical music, often humorous, often a bit risque."
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"I think she's so elegant," the owner chipped in. "Beautifully elegant and I love all the colour! (I call her) the Butterfly Lady."
Farmer explained: "Her real name is the Captured Bird. Niddy Impekoven is actually photographed in the 1920s in a gown like this with her arms out. She was an incredibly popular figure for the firm, created and first modelled in 1922."
Farmer then asked if anyone else in the guest's family "loved" the item as much as she did, to which the owner admitted her granddaughter was particularly fond of it.
"So I think she's hoping I can pass it on to her," she admitted, which prompted Farmer to reflect on his own younger years and why he possessed such a fondness for the figurine.
The Antiques Roadshow star said: "I think that's lovely, to hear that there is somebody younger who has that connection to her, I think that's perfect. One last little secret...
"I used to have one of these, you know. I dropped mine," he continued, prompting the guest to clasp her face in disbelief.
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Farmer went on: "I dropped it on the floor and obliterated it into many hundreds of pieces.
"So whenever I see these I always have a little moment because I know how much mine was worth when I dropped it and I know how much yours is worth now.
"You're looking between £2,000 and £2,500 to replace it," he continued before bidding farewell with some words of warning.
"She's wonderful. Just don't do to yours what I did to mine," he urged, to which the guest agreed: "No, no! Thank you, that's excellent."
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