Antiques Roadshow guest discovers dented Silver Clef trophy once owned by Take That star Robbie Williams and bought for £200 is worth more BECAUSE it is damaged – and you won’t believe how it happened!

A music loving Antiques Roadshow guest refused to make a sizeable profit on Sunday after discovering an award originally owned by Take That had increased in value, despite carrying a large dent. 

The pop group had originally been awarded five Silver Clef trophies for their outstanding contribution to music in the United Kingdom in 1995, shortly before Robbie Williams’ abrupt departure and their subsequent nine-year hiatus.  

Appearing on the latest edition of Antiques Roadshow from 18th century Belmont House in Kent, one of the highly prized awards – pre-owned by Robbie Williams – was on display after being obtained by its current owner for a mere £200.   

Specialist Mark Hill immediately discovered the trophy had been crafted by luxury jewelry and silverware designer Theo Fennell, exclusively for the Silver Clef fundraising committee. 

The ceremony was originally devised in 1976 with the aim of raising money for Nordoff–Robbins music therapy, a concept developed for children with psychological, physical, or developmental disabilities. 

Surprise: A music loving Antiques Roadshow guest refused to make a sizeable profit on Sunday after discovering an award originally owned by Take That had increased in value, despite carrying a large dent

Theer it is: Appearing on the latest edition of Antiques Roadshow from 18th century Belmont House in Kent, one of the highly prized awards was on display after being bought for £200

Old times: The pop group had originally been awarded five Silver Clef trophies for their outstanding contribution to music in the United Kingdom in 1995

The last Silver Clef was presented to singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran in 2019, with the final fundraiser to date, held at London’s Grosvenor House, pulling in £835,000 for charity. 

Recognising the award’s value, Hill remarked it would have cost the committee significantly more than the £200 paid by its current owner, but immediately noticed it was damaged. 

‘To commission a piece like this from Theo Fennell would have cost an absolute fortune,’ he said. ‘But I’`ve got to ask, there’s a massive great dent in here staring up at me and you don’t really want that in a piece of silver, do you? Especially a piece by Theo Fennell.’ 

Elaborating on the sizable blemish, it’s owner – a self-confessed music lover – claimed there was a piece of fascinating history behind the exterior damage, connected to the bitter feud that resulted in Robbie’s departure from the band. 

‘I was told there was an argument one evening with the group,’ he explained. ‘And in the end Gary Barlow said something to Robbie Williams, so Robbie threw the trophy at him and it got a couple of dents.’ 

Quite a find: Specialist Mark Hill immediately discovered the trophy had been crafted by luxury jewelry and silverware designer Theo Fennell

Back for good: The trophy on display was previously owned by pop star Robbie Williams 

Pricey: ‘To commission a piece like this from Theo Fennell would have cost an absolute fortune,’ Hill remarked 

Damaged: Hill immediately noticed the globe shaped trophy was carrying a large dent 

The claim prompted gasps from those gathered around the object, and Hill admitted its historical context made it more valuable than first thought. 

‘Today the value for that is £300 to £400… but for me it’s all about this,’ he said, nodding to the dent.

‘We all know who Robbie Williams is, right? And we like Robbie Williams. For me this is material evidence of one of the great feuds from one of the great bands of the 20th century – £1,5000 to £2,000.’ 

Despite the potential of a hefty profit, it remained firmly in the hands of its owner – a Fennell collector who purchased the trophy for his existing collection. 

‘So it’s back for good,’ Hill quipped. 

Gasp: The guest on Antiques Roadshow, near Belmont House in Kent, couldn’t believe it when the value of his painting was confirmed

Original painting: The guest’s grandfather had bought the painting back in 1957 in Suffolk

Later in the show a guest was left dumbfounded after his painting was revealed to be a signed David Hockney worth an incredible amount.

Art expert Rupert Maas confirmed the painting was by the British artist and called it an ‘extraordinary story’ on the BBC show filmed at Belmont House, near Faversham in Kent, which aired on March 12.

The unnamed guest said the painting had been in his family for 65 years and he suspected it was by the famous artist.

But after estimating its worth to be £10,000, the guest was shocked when its true value was revealed to be between £20,000 and £30,000.

‘I think you might be right, but it’s closer to £20,000 to £30,000,’ said Rupert, as he established how much the painting was worth.

The guest repeated him in disbelief, his voice trailing off at the end: ‘£20,000 to £30,000!’ before he ducked behind the painting.

‘Just say thank you’, a person behind him hollered as the rest laughed.

‘Thank you for that information. Thank you very much,’ he said as he managed to compose himself.

Hockney, now 85, is now considered to be one of the most influential British artists of the 20th Century. His paintings can be worth millions of pounds.

His most famous works include A Bigger Splash (1967) and Portrait Of An Artist (Pool With Two Figures) (1972), which sold for $90million (more than £70million) in 2018, the third highest ever paid for an artwork by a living artist.

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