Belton House 1
The Antiques Roadshow visits Belton House in Lincolnshire, where surprising finds include a collection of Chairman Mao memorabilia from China.
The Antiques Roadshow visits Belton House in Lincolnshire, where surprising finds include a collection of Chairman Mao memorabilia from China, a funeral standard believed to have been snatched from Oliver Cromwell's coffin and a purse that hides a secret weapon.
Fiona Bruce welcomes visitors to Belton House and casts an admiring glance at the family silver before the specialists start spotting treasures, including a powerful bronze sculpture of Joan of Arc and an original jewellery design by Carl Faberge.
A collection of Chairman Mao memorabilia amassed by an English teacher during a stay in China dazzles specialist Clive Stewart-Lockhart, and a Chinese visitor to the Roadshow lends a hand with some timely translation.
Other finds include a tiny pistol concealed in a purse, a collection of ceramic drug jars passed down through a family who boast three hundred years in the medical profession, and an illustrated page of British wildflowers that might just be a genuine work by renowned botanist William Keble Martin.
This episode also features one of the Roadshow's most important historical finds of recent years, a piece of cloth bearing the standard of Oliver Cromwell, reportedly snatched from his funeral cortege in 1658.
In Antiques Roadshow Uncovered, glass specialist Andy McConnell reveals what happened next to a beautifully decorated vase by Jules Barbe, a French craftsman who brought his sumptuous skills to Stourbridge in the late 19th century.
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Clips
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Oliver Cromwell鈥檚 funeral standard
Duration: 04:02
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Chairman Mao memorabilia
Duration: 04:02
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Fiona Bruce |
Producer | Michele Burgess |
Series Producer | Robert Murphy |
Editor | Simon Shaw |
Antiques Roadshow Specials
Episodes exploring anniversaries, world changing events and popular culture.