BBC Antiques Roadshow expert receives strict order from guest over ‘touching’ prized item: ‘I won’t let you!’
BBC Antiques Roadshow expert Lisa Lloyd was given a stern warning from one guest not to touch his prized Johnny Cash harmonica.
During the repeat episode, which is set to air tonight on BBC One at 7pm, Fiona Bruce and the experts visited Pollok Park in Glasgow and found an abundance of treasures.
Frances Christie was thrilled to see an early painting by celebrated Scottish artist Jack Vettriano, whilst Matthew Haley was intrigued by a collection of rare printed pages dating back to the very earliest days of the printing press in the 15th century.
Marc Allum coveted a record signed by members of the band U2 at the start of their career, and Gordon Foster admired a silver cup presented by the President of the United States to a ship’s captain in 1881 in recognition of a daring rescue at sea.
However, it was Lloyd who was left issuing a staggering value for one guest’s prized possession – but her expertise came with a stern warning.
Before meeting with Lloyd, the guest explained, “I’ve brought along Johnny Cash’s mouth organ. I have been offered quite a bit of money for it, and I won’t take it.”
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When standing with the expert, she expressed: “Well, here we have a programme with Johnny Cash, known as the ‘Man in Black’, and a mouth organ. What can you tell me about it?”
The guest said: “Well, I am a big Johnny Cash fan, and in 1984, I went to the Apollo Theatre in Glasgow. I was sitting right in the front row.
“He called me out and… he handed me down his mouth organ. I was shocked myself, as he bent down the stage and threw it down to us.”
Impressed by the guest’s story, Lloyd asked: “He was not known for handing out mouth organs, was he?
“Things like plectrums, you can understand, they often hand out. Of course, in the 1950s and 1960s, Johnny Cash had many hit singles.
“He kind of crossed over many genres, didn’t he? He was almost like the early days of rock and roll. It was country, it was sort of Nashville. A brilliant musician.
“And of course, you’ve got cast-iron provenance. It was something that he actually used at a concert. It’s a shame it’s not signed, obviously, that would have been the icing on the cake!”
Summarising, Lloyd went on: “Well, you know, it’s a brilliant story, and there are an awful lot of very obsessive Johnny Cash fans around.”
“Well, I wouldn’t let you touch it,” the guest promptly warned, leaving Lloyd to laugh and reassure the guest: “No, I wouldn’t touch it! No.”
He added that nobody had ever touched it since Cash had given it to him in 1984 and that it was wrapped up on toilet paper from the same year.
Ready to evaluate the instrument, Lloyd said: “Well, I think if it were to come up for sale at auction, because there are so many really die-hard Johnny Cash fans.
“It would certainly be upwards of £1,000, perhaps £2,000, maybe more. Is it something that you’re thinking of maybe selling, are you going to hand it down?”
Adamant in his decision, the guest revealed: “No. I won’t sell it. That’ll go for the long sleep, along with me!”
Impressed with his answer, Lloyd replied: “Well, that’s a true fan there, obviously. Thank you so much for bringing it along. I’m absolutely delighted to see it.”
