It's rare, if not unprecedented, for an item to not be valued on Antiques Roadshow. Antiques RoadshowViewers were surprised when an expert refused to put a price on something during a recent episode.
During the episode on Sunday night, an expert chose not to give a valuation to an item brought in by one of the guests because he found it extremely challenging to discuss on the show.
Host Fiona Bruce returned to lead the Roadshow at Alexandra Gardens in Cardiff.
There, a guest left expert Ronnie Archer-Morgan stunned by bringing in an item with connections to the transatlantic slave trade. Fiona explained in a voiceover: 'The item was a disc that served as an endorsement of the professional reputation of an African slave trader in the West African port of Bonny in the 18th century.'
Explaining its history Examining the item closely, expert Ronnie told the guest: 'I want to make it absolutely clear that myself, and we, and the Antiques Roadshow completely disapprove of the trade in ivory.
The guest had originally been unaware of what she had bought (Picture: BBC)
Nevertheless, he emphasized: 'But talk about it we must.'
He then proceeded to describe the item as 'remarkable,' despite its ties to the 'heartless trade' of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.
The guest then explained how she came to possess the object when she used to work for a family looking after them.
'One of the members passed away and she was having a house sale,' she said. 'And I bought that 36 years ago in the house sale for £3.'
The guest was unaware of the item's real nature and simply found it 'interesting'.
'Now I'm researching, it said traders I thought it meant trading in coffee or spices, but I realised they were trading in people.'
Ronnie then acknowledged the 'beautiful calligraphy' on the bangle (Picture: BBC)
Ronnie then candidly shared: 'My great-grandmother was a returned slave from Nova Scotia in Canada and came back to Sierra Leone and Freetown.
'And I actually think it's my cultural duty, our cultural duty, to talk about things like this.'
When it came to the valuation, Ronnie stated: 'I just don't want to value it.
'I do not want to put a price on something that signifies such an awful business.'
'I'd like to meet him and tell him how honest I think he is,' Ronnie said of Prince Jemmy of Gandy (Picture: BBC)
‘However, the significance lies in the insights that can be gained from this. The value comes from studying this and discovering what we can learn.
Antiques Roadshow is shown on Sundays on BBC One and on BBC iPlayer.
The specialist declined to assess its worth.
Antiques Roadshow airs Sundays on BBC One and on BBC iPlayer.
