Fabergé find at Black Country Living Museum similar to Queen’s piece
A precious ornament valued at £1 million in the Black County Living Museum is similar to a piece in the Queen's collection, the Express & Star can reveal.
The Fabergé flower, which was valued when the Antiques Roadshow filmed at the museum earlier this week, resembles a piece in the extensive Royal Collection.
'Wild Roses' – a similar Fabergé piece in the Royal Collection – is made of rock crystal, gold, enamel, nephrite and brilliant diamonds and dates from around 1900.
It has been in the collection since 1953 and was 'probably acquired' by King Edward VII's wife Queen Alexandra.
A description of 'Wild Roses' online says: "A spray of three wild roses of opaque pink enamel with brilliant diamond centres and red-gold stamens, two sets of three nephrite leaves on red gold stalks in a trumpet shape rock crystal vase.
"A similar realistically modelled study exists in the India Early Minshall Collection, Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio.
"A previously unpublished drawing from an album of designs executed by Henrik Wigström relates closely to this flower study."
The floral ornament valued at the Black Country Living Museum was valued at around £1 million by expert Geoffrey Munn – making it one of the most expensive items in the show's 40-year span.
However, BBC bosses refused to reveal any details about the flower.
Laura Wakelin, the museum's deputy chief executive, said: “We’re delighted one of the Antiques Roadshow’s most significant finds has been made here at the museum.
"It was a pleasure to welcome so many antique lovers to the museum for the day and we look forward to seeing the museum on TV once again."
Dudley North MP Ian Austin said: "Dudley is the jewel in the Black Country's crown – and it sounds like that was quite literally the case at the Black Country Living Museum.
"It's incredibly exciting for something so rare and so valuable to be shown off in the region."
Angel of the North and the FA Cup which was presented between 1911 and 1992.
A BBC spokesman said the Fabergé piece was 'a really important find', while Antiques Roadshow executive producer Simon Shaw said: "We've had one of the most significant jewellery finds in 40 years of Antiques Roadshow history – but we don't want to spoil the surprise."
The episode featuring the Fabergé piece is due to air in the new series, which starts in September.
