Antiques Roadshow guest in hysterics as he learns | TV Shows

Expert Sebastian Clarke revealed that the mirror was made by French jewelry maker Line Vautrin, who showcased her work at the 1937 Paris Exposition. Her success at the exhibition allowed her to open a shop in an upscale district.

However, due to the world wars, precious metals were scarce.

He explained: “So what she did, and this is what’s so fantastic about this, is that she turned to other different methods and experimentation of ways to make jewelry, and the other real thing that she loved and her passion, was mirrors.

“This is an absolutely magnificent example. As we can see, it’s made of a composite resin and you can only imagine how difficult it would be, especially with this size, to build up each layer of resin.

“They’re incredibly fragile and then to have all these wonderful little mirrored panels around the outside and then, obviously, this central convex mirror, which is mercury glass.”

The guest added that his grandparents acquired the mirror in the early 1960s, suggesting it wasn’t long after its creation when it came into their possession. Clarke remarked: “She was a relative unknown until 1986 when a dealer recognized the importance of her work.

“And Vogue magazine referred to her as the poetess of metalwork at one point, because she was so magnificent in her jewelry and metalwork.”

When asked about its value, the guest shared: “My mum sent me a picture, it was hanging above my dog bowl at home, and she sent me a picture of one that was on some website and they were asking a ridiculous amount for it, like $30,000 or something.

“So I did a little research and I’ve seen some like $2,000 and some seemed to be worth more but I don’t know what the difference is between them. There seems to be a really big range.”

Clarke clarified that the only reason some of these mirrors were sold at a significantly lower price was that they were “fakes”. However, this wasn’t the case for this man’s mirror.

Clarke explained: “In 2016, a similar example sold for $27,500. Since then, there’s been considerable interest in her work.”

He added, “Another example, smaller, sold for $40,000. So, in getting together with my colleagues, we feel a reasonable auction estimate for this mirror, as a beautiful mirror, would be $40,000 to $60,000.”

The guest began to laugh, saying: “Oh wow. That is crazy. I probably shouldn’t keep it above the dog bowl anymore.”

To which Clarke responded: “Probably not. There was one which had more like, Sputnik-type mirrors.”

He concluded: “That one sold within the last couple of years for over $40,000.”