Antiques Roadshow expert admits 'I'll never see one again' as rare item given £40k value

Antiques Roadshow expert Cristian Beadman found himself utterly mesmerised on the latest episode by a discovery that left him near speechless with admiration.

During the series' stop at Thirlestane Castle, a person turned up keen to learn the value of a special musical treasure they brought along.

Cristian, visibly enchanted by the piece, confessed to the audience: "This is certainly one of the most 'exquisite things I've ever seen on the in my 10 years. Glistening in the sun, like a jewel."

Inquisitive about the story behind it, Cristian prodded the owner, a self-professed collector of music boxes, for insight into his attraction to this unique find.

The BBC star detailed that the item was a Swiss singing bird automaton box crafted by the Rochat brothers in the early 19th century.

Not stopping there, the enthusiast even had the rare original carrying case for the remarkable piece, reports .

Eager for a demonstration, the guest obliged by engaging a lever which summoned a hidden 3D bird into view.

The creature then proceeded to open its beak, flutter its wings and chirp melodiously to the astonishment of the assembled audience, eliciting a gasp of "Oh my gosh!" from an onlooker.

When the performance ceased and the bird retired into seclusion once more, Cristian couldn't help but exclaim: "Utterly exquisite, utterly exquisite."

Upon closer inspection and noticing the bird's impeccable state, Cristian announced to those present that despite being over 200 years old, the bird was in pristine condition.

He remarked: "It hasn't got a feather out of place. There isn't a chip on this box. This one, I can see is made of Hawksbill Turtle shell. It's been protected since the 1970s but this is of course much older."

A charming little enamel alpine painting adorned the top of the box, surrounded by a gleaming gold frame that also appeared in flawless condition.

The owner shared with a hint of pride: "Even the auctioneer at the time said this has got to be the best one that we've ever sold."

When probed about the purchase price, the man disclosed it set him back £9,000 nearly two decades prior. With market trends changing over the years, Cristian admitted the value of Swiss boxes has seen an upward trajectory.

Explaining the financial aspect, he noted: "Even though it seems like a lot of money to have spent nearly 20 years ago, funnily enough, that was a good investment.

"I think that you could realistically expect that, best example possibly ever to come on the market, to go in at something between £20,0000 to £40,000."

Showing his attachment to the piece, the gentleman responded: "Very good, thank you. It'll get passed through my family because they love it. It's not just the money, it's quite special to me."

In awe, the expert concluded: "I'll never see one of those again, that's a thing of wonder, thank you so much."

Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.