BBC Antiques Roadshow expert refuses to value family heirlooms and makes shocking confession

He continued: “It’s been in the family ever since. My mother tried to explain to me at one point what it was for. There are metal holes in it as you can see above,” reports the Express.

The guest further explained how his mother would put sticks in it and “you would hold it in the sun, so to speak, and the stick would cast a shadow.”

As Ronnie examined the object, he asked, “Like a sundial?” To which the guest replied, “Yes, but you can’t really move sundials. At least I never knew exactly how they worked.”

Astonished, Ronnie admitted, “Maybe you’re happy that I love it. But maybe you’re not happy to know why. I love it because I don’t know what it is!” Ronnie pointed to a part of the stick and remarked, “Here and here is clearly Indian writing.”

He then said that it could not have been used as some kind of walking aid.

He continued: “It’s definitely old, 100 to 120 or 130 years old, late 19th to 20th century.”

Ronnie then made a heartfelt appeal to the loyal viewers of the Antiques Roadshow at home. He pleaded: “I appeal to the viewers of the show for someone to tell us what it is. And it would have a price!”

Although he was unsure of the purpose of the item, he was willing to pay for it while he tried to estimate its value.

In his opinion: “I would happily pay up to 200 for it. Probably not more. But I would pay 200 just to have it and find out… what a cheap lesson it would be!”.