大象传媒

However, antiques were not always in the plan. Whilst working as a hairdresser for films and commercials, Ronnie would browse the local antiques shops and markets. When he would return with his purchases, he found his clients admired the antiques and wanted to buy them. A new career then beckoned and he was eventually drawn to specialist work, acting as a consultant to Sotheby’s on collections as diverse as wristwatches and costume jewellery. Ronnie now works as a consultant to Dore & Rees auctions in Frome Somerset.

He is now an independent specialist working largely for private clients and galleries. He has a particular interest in locating and identifying ethnic, tribal and folk art.

Ronnie is a recent new addition to the Antiques Roadshow team, and at upcoming valuation days he would really like to see a from one of the North West Coast tribes of America. If he had to select his favourite item from his collection, it would have to be an amazing late 19th Century life-size oil portrait of the 13th Dalai Lama, something Ronnie feels privileged to own.

Ronnie鈥檚 most exciting find on the Roadshow so far was a Fijian war club brought along to Scarborough in 2012. Called a 'Buli Buli', it is a beautifully carved ironwood club with a rather sinister purpose - to crush the skull of the enemy. It was a rare find and worth a whopping 拢35,000.

Outside antiques, Ronnie鈥檚 greatest passion is collecting records and listening to music of all kinds.