The Antiques Roadshow team visits Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery in Ealing, west London, for the first episode of its 47th season. Among the treasures brought by guests are a royal paintbox, a collection of Italian jewellery, and a rare wartime medal awarded to a carrier pigeon.
Expert Frances Christie discovers a moving sculpture by the celebrated 20th-century artist Dame Elisabeth Frink. Mark Hill comes across a pair of eerie Victorian cut-out figures known as ‘dummy boards’. Fuchsia Voremberg examines soup bowls with a unique history, having accompanied their owner to the Antarctic and back. Meanwhile, Cristian Beadman appreciates a 19th-century German chair that has attained the status of a design classic.
Ronnie Archer-Morgan inspects a set of throwing clubs from the other side of the world, and Hilary Kay is intrigued by a portable watercolour paint set that once belonged to Queen Victoria.
Presenter Fiona Bruce explores the history of Pitzhanger Manor, delving into the life of its former resident, the 18th-century architect Sir John Soane. Bruce discovers the famous friends Soane entertained at the house, including the renowned artist JMW Turner. She also meets broadcaster Matthew Sweet to discuss the Ealing comedies, a series of much-loved British films produced locally.
Antiques Roadshow: Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery 1 airs on BBC One on Sunday, 25 August 2024, at 8:00 pm.
