Xuenou > Television > Antiques Roadshow guest says ‘don’t be silly’ over high value of cigarette lighter
Antiques Roadshow guest says ‘don’t be silly’ over high value of cigarette lighter
Antiques Roadshow guest says 'don't be silly' over high value of cigarette lighter,An Antiques Roadshow guest brought on an elaborate cigarette lighter from the mid 1900s called an "aquarium lighter" but rather than it being decorated with fish, it had moths

Antiques Roadshow guest says ‘don’t be silly’ over high value of cigarette lighter

An Antiques Roadshow guest told expert Mark Hill "don't be silly" after he shared the high value of a cigarette lighter she had brought to him.

The cigarette lighter featured a delicate two moth design and was known as a Dunhill aquarium lighter – usually decorated with fish.

Mark told her: "I've only ever seen one other example, with one moth."

READ MORE: Antiques Roadshow guest floored at jaw-dropping value of £1 vase he found at local dump

Clearly fond of it, the guest told him: "It's very precious to me, sentimentally."

Mark went on: "Is it more precious when I say it's worth £5,000 to £7,000."

The guest's hands flew to her mouth and she said: "Stop it. Don't be silly. Are you kidding?"

The Dunhill aquarium lighter usually featured designs showing fish
The Dunhill aquarium lighter usually featured designs showing fish (Image: BBC)

The guest explained that her father had worked as a salesman for Dunhill in the 1960s, which is how it eventually ended up with her.

Mark said that, understandably, the aquarium lighters usually featured "jolly and jazzy" designs of fish instead of moths.

The guest said she'd seen some on Antiques Roadshow in the past, but was still blown away by the value of her own.

The guest couldn't believe how much the lighter worth
The guest couldn't believe how much the lighter worth (Image: BBC)

Expert Mark said: "Rarity really counts.

"These have exploded among collectors in the past 10, 15 years.

"They will fight and fight and fight and compete to get the rarest.

"As I say I’ve only ever seen another one with one moth and I haven’t seen any with two moths."

The guest replied: "Wow, what a clever father I had to pick the one with the moths."

Mark valued the lighter at £5,000 to £7,000
Mark valued the lighter at £5,000 to £7,000 (Image: BBC)

Mark described her dad as "remarkably smart", as she responded: "Thank you, I'm kind of a bit lost for words."

The lighters were made by carving a pattern into a panel of lucite, which was then sent away and painted in bright colours.

While the guest was impressed with the price tag Mark provided, similarly obscure aquarium lighters have sold for much more in the past.

One featuring the RMS Queen Elizabeth sold for around £14,000 in 2017, while there are some listed on eBay for £8,000 and £10,000.

Antiques Roadshow airs Sundays at 7pm on BBC1

READ NEXT:

  • Antiques Roadshow fans gobsmacked as battered briefcase gets eye-watering valuation

  • Strangest Antiques Roadshow items – creepy dolls, £1million fortune and mystery 'pebble'

  • Antiques Roadshow pulled off air last minute in BBC schedule shake leaving fans fuming

For more of the latest showbiz news from Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.