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An Antiques Roadshow guest was left reeling after discovering an item passed down from his father was 'one of 15 in the whole world'.
Furthermore, he was further stunned when he was told that the rare antique was worth a life-changing sum.
A recent repeated episode of the BBC antiques show, which was broadcast from Lytham Hall, Lancashire, saw a gentleman bring in a 130-year-old automaton, which was part of his late father's collection.
The mechanical device was of a female snake charmer which played music to guests, with the perfectly working item simulating the woman fluttering her eyelashes and breathing.
Expert Jon Baddeley was clearly fascinated and amazed by the item and its great condition, telling the guest and the audience that it was 'one of the rarest automatons ever known.'
An Antiques Roadshow guest was left reeling after discovering an item passed down from his father was 'one of 15 in the whole world'
Furthermore, he was further stunned when he was told that the rare antique was worth a life-changing sum
He explained of the automaton: 'It was made in Paris at the end of the 19th Century by a company named Roullet-Decamps', before asking the guest how it came into his possession.
The guest told how his it belonged to his father who began collecting antiques as a hobby after his retirement, adding it was 'one of his prized possessions'.
Detailing the history of the clockwork dancer, Jon shared: 'They were made to entertain adults.
'You can imagine yourself at a dinner party in Paris in the 1890s. You would have had your dinner and then you might have retreated to smoke your cigars and have your brandies.
'And there would be something like this. And it would mean they’re simulating reality.'
He then proceeded to test out the antique, which to everyone's amazement, was in full working order as he played a merry tune, with the woman's body, the snake and the trumpet all moving.
After declaring the item was 'very rare' and 'one of only 15' left in the world, Jon then got down to the business of discussing the price - with the eyewatering sum shocking both the guest and the gathered crowds.
Jon said: 'Prices at the moment are not as high as they have been in the past.
A recent repeated episode of the BBC antiques show, which was broadcast from Lytham Hall, Lancashire, saw a gentleman bring in a 130-year-old automaton, which was part of his late father's collection
Expert Jon Baddeley was clearly fascinated and amazed by the item and its great condition, telling the guest and the audience that it was 'one of the rarest automatons ever known'
'But if you decided to sell it today, I think at auction you’d be looking at a figure between… well, £60-80,000.'
The guest was dumbfounded by the amount, asking 'really', while the audience behind him gasped in shock.
It comes just days after an Antiques Roadshow guest was left astounded and shaking as she learned that a dish that had been sitting in her parents loft for 20 years was actually worth up to £10,000.
She met with expert Duncan Campbell during an episode of the BBC programme that was filmed at Wightwick Manor in Wolverhampton.
The woman had brought along a golden grape dish that had been passed down in her family, before being left to gather dust for decades.
She explained: 'It has been in my parents loft for about 20 years, it's not used for anything and we haven't cleaned it.
Unable to stop shaking her head, she gushed: 'No, I never ever thought, oh my goodness. That's really shocked me. I can't believe it, up in the loft'
All I know is it belonged to my parents and then my grandparents. We know very little about it. I think it might be Russian but I'm not sure.'
After close inspection, the expert remarked: 'Well it's a very simple dish, you've got a shell, a big scallop shell and a lovely little cherub on the front with angel wings who's gorgeous.
It comes after an Antiques Roadshow guest was left astounded and unable to stop shaking as she learned that a dish that had been sitting in her parents loft for 20 years was actually worth up to £10,000
She met with expert Duncan Campbell during an episode of the BBC programme that was filmed at Wightwick Manor in Wolverhampton
The woman had brought along a golden grape dish that had been passed down in her family, before being left to gather dust for decades
The guest's face dropped as she heard the valuation and exclaimed: 'No, oh my goodness. I am shocked'
'You're right, it is Russian. The interesting thing about it is that it's made by a rather good Russian maker.'
Flipping over the dish to show the underneath, he pointed out a marking and added: 'On the bottom here, we've got the mark of Fabergé.
'You wouldn't have necessarily associated a dish like this with Fabergé would you?
'But in actual fact it is made by Fabergé and the quality of it is fantastic.'
He later added: 'You might be interested to know, that if you put this up for sale it ought to make somewhere around the £8,000 to £10,000 mark.'
The guest's face dropped as she heard the valuation and exclaimed: 'No, oh my goodness. I am shocked.'
Unable to stop shaking her head, she gushed: 'No, I never ever thought, oh my goodness. That's really shocked me. I can't believe it, up in the loft'
