Value Of 'Heart-Stopping' Lord Nelson Tie Pin Shocks Owner | BBC Antiques Roadshow UK
What this covers
*All valuations were correct at the time of broadcast.* This lady purchased this 'terribly exciting' Lord Nelson tie pin at a church antiques fair, and bought it for her husband as a birthday present. Unbeknownst to her, she was actually buying something of huge historical significance. The experts from Antiques Roadshow take a look at some fantastic antiques and the history and stories surrounding them. This clip was filmed in Liverpool in 2002.
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An antiques expert appraises a mourning tie pin connected to Lord Nelson, explaining its historical significance and valuing it at £4,000-£5,000 despite its minimal material worth.
- The pin's black enamel 'Nelson' lettering uses champlevé technique characteristic of early 19th-century mourning rings, indicating it is a personal relic of Lord Nelson
- Nelson died at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 wearing his medals, making him a conspicuous target, and this pin likely originated from a close relative
- The pin's value derives entirely from historical provenance and emotional significance rather than intrinsic material value
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Jewelry value is determined by emotional and historical significance rather than material composition, so an intimate and relatively materially worthless piece can be far more valuable than magnificent diamond-set jewelry.
“Jewellery is a very funny thing. You can say that the most magnificent piece of diamond-set jewellery is jewellery and you can say that something very intimate and exciting and relatively worthless is jewellery, too.”
The tie pin features the word 'Nelson' in black enamel using champlevé technique, where gold lettering is raised and then flooded with black enamel, which is characteristic of the way mourning rings were constructed in the early 19th century.
“the way in which the word "Nelson" is laid out in black enamel. It's champlevé enamel, that means that the gold lettering is raised up and then it's flooded with black enamel. And it's in a way in which mourning rings were phrased in the early 19th century.”
There are organized collector communities for both Nelson memorabilia and Napoleon memorabilia who actively seek out historical pieces.
“There are great collectors of Nelson memorabilia. There are great collectors of Napoleon memorabilia.”
The pin has no intrinsic material value and if melted down would be worth no more than £15.
“This has no intrinsic value whatsoever. I mean, if it's melted down, it wouldn't be worth £15.”
Nelson made a tactical error by going on board the ship wearing his medals during the Battle of Trafalgar, which made him an obvious target for enemy fire and directly led to him being shot.
“His big mistake was going on board wearing his medals because he was a sure target for enemy fire. And, of course, he did receive enemy fire and he was shot and fell and…”
The tie pin was likely created by or given by a very close relative of Lord Nelson as a mourning keepsake.
“I think it's perfectly possible that this may have been from a very close relative of his.”
If this pin were to appear at auction, it would generate significant interest and excitement in the collector community.
“I think that if this turned up at auction, it would cause quite a stir.”
This tie pin is a small but historically significant piece of British history with considerable emotional and collector appeal, valued at £4,000 to £5,000.
“This is a very small, almost radioactive piece of British history. One that's terribly, terribly exciting for me to find. And I'm going to venture £4,000 to £5,000 on it.”
Lord Nelson died on 21st October, 1805, at the Battle of Trafalgar.
“He died on 21st October, 1805, at the Battle of Trafalgar.”
The owner purchased the pin for approximately £8 or slightly more at a church antiques fair.
“I was trying desperately to remember and I didn't know whether it was £8 or perhaps a little more than that.”
The owner acquired the pin believing it was simply a tie pin without understanding its historical connection to Lord Nelson.
“Did you know what it was when you bought it? Well, I just thought it was a tie pin. - Just that? - Yes.”
The antiques dealer who sold the pin mentioned it was connected to Nelson but did not elaborate on the details.
“The gentleman who did sell me it said it was connected with Nelson, but he didn't elaborate too much. And I can't really remember what he did say.”
The owner purchased the pin as a birthday gift for her husband.
“I went to a church antiques fair and I saw it in the cabinet and I think it must have been my husband's birthday. And so I thought, 'Oh, I'll buy that.'”