Antiques Roadshow guest gasps ‘oh my God!’ as he learns eye-watering value of napkin used by ‘iconic’ star
An Antiques Roadshow guest gasped ‘oh my God!’ after finding out the eye-watering value of a napkin used by an ‘iconic’ star on Sunday night.
The most recent episode of the BBC show saw a number of people travel to Ebrington Square in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, to ask the experts for their advice about their beloved items.
Mike brought a sketch drawn by Muhammad Ali in his restaurant in Dublin 22 years ago.
Presenter Fiona Bruce was lost for words and said: ‘Of all the things I thought we might see today…
‘Do you know, that’s why I love this job. You never know what someone’s going to bring along. This has blown me away!’
Expert Raj Bisram said when he saw the drawing: ‘Well I recognise that signature, Muhammad Ali, the greatest three-time world heavyweight boxing champion of the world.
An Antiques Roadshow guest gasped ‘oh my God!’ after finding out the eye-watering value of a napkin used by an ‘iconic’ star on Sunday night
Expert Raj Bisram said when he saw the drawing: ‘Well I recognise that signature, Muhammad Ali, the greatest three-time world heavyweight boxing champion of the world.
Guest Mike brought a sketch done by Muhammad Ali in his restaurant in Dublin 22 years ago
‘How did you get this?!’
Mike explained: ‘One night I got a phone call to my restaurant where I work for a table of eight people for Muhammad Ali.
‘They reckon he was here for the Special Olympics. Muhammad Ali’s wife asked me could I cut the steak up for him because he couldn’t use his hands.
‘So I said to our chef “Will you cut them up for Muhammad Ali? But put them back together nicely.”
‘So when I put them down in front of him and Muhammad Ali’s wife said to me “I thought you were going to cut them up”. I said “They are”.
‘And she was very impressed at the presentation.
‘Then as the night went on, first of all, he says to me would I mind if he drew on the napkin. I said “No problem”.
‘So I gave him my Biro.
Raj was so impressed with the napkin that Mike brought in for him to see – and shook his hand after telling him the value
‘So I said to myself “I’m going to try and have that, when you know, when they’re going.”‘
They allowed them to have the napkin and signed it to him.
Raj said: ‘I think it’s wonderful.
‘This particular picture is known as The Guiding Light. And it’s one that he did very, very often.
‘He first did it in 1979.’
Mike explained that one of the marks on the napkin was from where he used it on his mouth.
Raj said: Value-wise, I’m going to be on the low estimate here.
‘But without a doubt, £6,000 to £8,000.’
Mike replied: ‘Wow. Wow. My gosh.’
Raj told him: ‘It’s a real iconic sporting item, so thank you for bringing it in.’
Antiques Roadshow airs on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.
