Antiques Roadshow expert Izzie Balmer was stunned when she took a monkey brooch to auction.
Izzie picked up the brooch in Kent, whilst shopping for collectables with fellow antique expert Philip Serrell.
The pair set off in different directions to find their pieces with Izzy making the first purchase of the day.
"Do you know what?” Izzy began. “I promised myself I was not going to look at brooches because I always buy brooches.
"It’s a monkey, I mean who doesn’t love a monkey, it’s set with marcasite at the back as well which is a nice little touch.
"If you can’t afford diamond but you want something that sparkles and catches the candlelight. This does the trick, it’s a good diamond simulant actually."
"It is priced at £22," she continued.
"If this was a piece of Victorian costume jewellery this would be hundreds of pounds because the monkey brooches are really collectable.
"This is not Victorian and the reason I know this is because the quality just isn’t there.
"This is a much later safety fastening, you didn’t get this safety fastening until the 20s, 30s.
"Unfortunately, I’ve just spotted there is a little marcasite missing here."
The voiceover remarked: "Which poses the question, why are you still looking at it?"
"Because it’s a monkey, look at him and the part of me, the dare-devil thinks it’s worth the risk," she replied.
"If nothing else I can feed my monkey bananas," the Antiques Road Trip expert added.
As the item prepared to go under the hammer at auction, Izzy admitted: "I’m a bit nervous now Phil."
When the bidding for the £15 piece started at £50, Philip and Izzy were stunned.
He said: "Well and truly smacked, well done you."
"I love monkeys, I love bananas, I love 1940s brooches," Izzy said. "My Monkey is swinging."
"That’s brilliant Izzie, well done you," Philip replied.
"Okay well this rarely happens, I’m lost for words,” Izzie commented.
"I need to trust my gut instinct more," she added and Philip remarked: "You need to buy more brooches."
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