HIDDEN GEM
Bargain Hunt breaks BBC records with mask worth MILLIONS as host Christina Trevanion gasps ‘wow!’
Christina Trevanion saw a unique display with different examples of tribal art from the 19th century.
BARGAIN Hunt presenter Christina Trevanion was floored after discovering a tribal African masks that could be 'worth millions' at auction.
The BBC star visited Leominster in Hertfordshire, where she learned about tribal items with expert Sam Hanbury-Maiden.
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The Bargain Hunt episode broke BBC records after Sam revealed to the shocked host that some of the masks he had could sell for as much as £2million at auction.
During the outing, the expert explained to Christina how difficult it can be to determine the age and origin of tribal art.
"Sam, this looks like a fascinating collection. But what do we mean by the term tribal art? " the BBC star asked.
He responded: "Essentially, Christina, we are talking about pieces that are of a non-European nature. Tribal art is a term that covers North and South America, Africa, certain parts of Asia."
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Sam then moved on to show Christina different examples of tribal art, which included tools, everyday items, jewellery, masks and many more.
He continued: "They are considered a tribal art because they were made by artisans."
Pointing to one of the unique items on display, Christina asked: "I recognise this one as a typical boomerang, but what's going on here?".
Sam disclosed: "The middle one is a more unusual variation of a boomerang, this is called the Lil Lil, which is a rarer type of boomerang.
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“A lot of people recognise the boomerang, the more sort of U-shaped boomerang, which is the famous one that returns. But, these ones they're not necessarily returning boomerangs. They are used for hunting."
"Some of them have very sharp edges, they can be used for cutting, others for digging.
"You don't find those every day, so that's what makes that one highly desirable for collectors."
When asked by Chirtsina how much the items could be worth at auction, Sam replied: "That one you're looking at £800 to £1,000 maybe."
He revealed that the different types of boomerangs are distinguished by the wood used to make them and the carvings on them.
Sam also pointed out another item he predicted was worth between £1,000 and £1,500.
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The pair analysed and discussed the beaded jewellery items on the table before moving on to the intriguing face masks.
Sam said: "These masks are from about the 1400s to the 1460s. One of the biggest giveaways with the mask is actually not the front, it's the back."
"You're looking at signs of wear that essentially comes from being worn on the side of the face or on top of the head."
"This mask, for example, from the Yoruba Tribe, has probably been painted several times as well.
“Looking with a magnifying glass, you'll probably be able to see the different layers of paint."
While discussing the different types of masks, Sam left Christina speechless after he disclosed that some of them could be worth up to £2million.
"This Yoruba mask, maybe a bit more, maybe £600, something like that," he said. "The big money-makers are things like the fang masks from Gabon."
"Again, highly copied today, but a fang mask with a good providence today, dating from the 19th century, could be a couple of million pounds."
A taken aback Christiana replied: "£2 million, wow.”
Elsewhere, Bargain Hunt fans were left unimpressed after they learned that the episode broadcast on Wednesday afternoon (March 6) was a repeat that had already aired recently.
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Fans took to social media and complained about a repeat outing from season 58 hosted by fan favourite Christina, which first aired three years ago in March 2021.
Bargain Hunt is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
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