Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest finds out his textile collection that he saved from trash is worth a fortune (marketrealist.com)
Talk about a trash-to-treasure story! An “Antiques Roadshow” guest got the shock of his life when a collection of textiles he saved from the dumpster was valued at over $335,000.
The guest had purchased the designs from builders who were planning to discard them, not realizing their significance. Expert Ronnie Archer-Morgan identified the collection as the work of Althea McNish, a pioneering Black British textile designer.
McNish, originally from Trinidad, made a name for herself in post-war Britain, bringing vibrant color and patterns to a nation in need of a lift. She worked with Liberty of London, Dior, and even designed Queen Elizabeth II’s wardrobe for a royal tour of Trinidad in 1966.
Archer-Morgan described McNish as “probably the most influential post-war textile designer that Britain has seen,” and noted her work is highly sought after by collectors. He appraised some pieces in the collection at a staggering $3,300 per square meter.
The guest was understandably stunned when Archer-Morgan placed the total value of the collection at over $335,000. “That’s blown me away,” he remarked, adding that the experience had been “an incredible journey of learning and knowledge.” McNish, whose work garnered numerous awards during her lifetime, passed away in 2020 at age 95.