Antiques Roadshow’s latest episode takes the show to the famous Pollock Park in Glasgow. As usual, it featured unique objects from paintings to clothing by Alexander McQueen. However, there was one set of items that included a silver ure and basin and a two-century-old bottle of rosewater that shocked the experts who gave it an astounding valuation after hearing the marvelous tale of how it ended up in the possession of this family.
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The story
The person who owns the items is a descendant of a man named Jock who helped save King James V’s life. On the show, he tells the story as follows:
In the 14th century on the outskirts on Edinburgh in a place called Cramond, one day he heard a commotion on a bridge and saw a man on horseback being attack so he ran to the bridge and helped fend off the attackers and then took the man into his house and bathed his wounds.
Long story short, it turned out he had saved the life of King James V, and as a simple farmer he was then gifted land by the King. But a condition of that was that he and his ancestors must be available to the King and his ancestors if ever called on again at Cramond.
In 1822, George VI visited Scotland and descendants of the family attended to the now king with a basin of water which was used in a symbolic hand washing ceremony. The set that appeared on the show is the very same set that was used for more royals down the line including the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The astounding valuation
Expert Gordon Foster had insight into the making of the set, revealing it was made by Phillip Rundell and Paul Storr whose pieces are coveted which gives them great value. However, he added that the story adds to the unique appeal of the set and gives it historical context, further driving the value up, he said:
I don’t want to frighten you too much, but I would put a valuation of this on £100-£150,000.
Despite the immense financial gain from selling such an item, the owner remains adamant it will stay in his family:
For us the value is priceless because it is the only way we can do the service, is to continue using the silverware that has always been used for it.
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Source:
Metro: Jaw-dropping Royal link to ‘priceless’ family heirlooms revealed on Antiques Roadshow
