BBC Antiques Roadshow guest beams as pole left in new home is given six-figure value

WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow.

An Antiques Roadshow guest couldn't stop smiling after discovering the 'true' value of a pole that had been stumbled upon decades ago.

The BBC daytime show journeyed to Firstsite in Colchester, where more visitors brought their fascinating items for appraisal with expert Ronnie Archer-Morgan particularly thrilled by one item.

As the camera zoomed out, viewers saw Ronnie holding a tall pole next to its owner, who explained: "In the 1960s, my husband's parents bought a house in west Wales with all its contents and this was in its contents."

When asked where she thought it originated from, the elderly lady suggested Fiji, but it was actually from the Cook Islands.

Ronnie began his explanation: "This is a magnificent ironwood pole club and the Cook Islands people call it an Akatara.

"They were either crafted on the island of Rarotonga or Atiu.

"Now, as we all know, Captain Cook travelled to Polynesia and during his third visit, his surgeon spotted one of these and noted in his journal how magnificent they were, praising this wonderful weapon.

"Originally, this would have been used in combat, but by the time Western contact occurred, it had become a ceremonial weapon imbued with mana.

"And mana represents the spiritual power of the warrior chief who would have owned this.

"I mean, I feel like I've got power holding this. It's such an impressive object isn't it?"

He explained that the dated appearance, specifically the stone-cut hallmark, gave away its 18th Century origins, observing ripples when looking down the blade's shaft.

Ronnie expressed his amazement: "I can't conceive of making this. This double-scalloped edge, I just don't understand how they maintained the rhythm of that.

"So they would have cut the heartwood out with adze's, then they would have started finishing it with shark skin, dried shark skin is like sandpaper.

"These are very rare. These are very, very important, these objects. I've never held one of these, this is the first time."

He playfully engaged the audience, asking: "Do you think it's clear that I like it?"

Following their unanimous affirmation, he confessed: "I don't like it, I love it. And you found it in your house in Wales."

She confirmed with a smile: "Yes, it was just left there with the content."

Ronnie then asked the guest what she admired about the pole: "I think it's quite imposing, isn't it? In a way, it's very majestic."

Admiring her choice of words, he responded: "That's a lovely word for it, wish I'd thought of that!"

Ronnie began to summarise: "I think it's amazing. And things like this have a value. And would you like to know the value?"

The guest agreed silently before elaborating: "It's a shame about the damage, there's a little bit of a tip missing but it doesn't detract from its energy and power.

"But if I wanted to put it into a sale and this would go into a top sale in Paris, they would put a very comfortable pre-sale estimate of between £100,000 and £150,000."

As if on cue, the crowd collectively exclaimed "Wow" while the pensioner chuckled in disbelief: "Crikey! Wow, that's amazing, isn't it? Really amazing."

Ronnie expressed his astonishment by declaring it was "mind-blowing", and went on to say: "But I don't love it for its value.

"If I found one of these, I don't think I'd want to sell it. I just feel powerful, I feel like I can do anything just holding this thing. Why don't you hold it with me?"

Approaching Ronnie to share in the experience, the guest joined in to hold the object when Ronnie stated: "There we go, we can both feel powerful. It's just incredible, don't you think?

"Wow. That's all I can say," Ronnie concluded, prompting applause from those gathered.

Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.