Antiques Roadshow expert Matthew Haley was left utterly gobsmacked on the latest episode of the BBC show when a woman brought in a one-of-a-kind photobook to be appraised. On Sunday evening, viewers were whisked away to the picturesque Pitzhanger Manor in Ealing as people wanted to see how much their prized possessions could earn them at auction. The episode saw one lady stepping forward with an uncommon Harlequinade, a book with flippable pages that unfold a story.
Clearly intrigued by this rarity, the BBC star admitted, "I've been in this business for about 20 years and I had never seen one of these before until about a month ago. This is the third one I've seen in the past month." Before perusing the photobook, the Antiques Roadshow expert was visibly impressed by the children-friendly Harlequinade where turning the upper flap creates a new picture while pairing it with the unaltered lower half.
Wanting to know more about the book, the owner explained: "It's my partners. He was left it by a friend of his about two years ago and we know nothing about it at all." Adding to the awe before diving into the item's details, the expert shared his fascination, commenting: "It's really, really curious.
It starts with the story of Adam and Eve. It's done in manuscript in ink, handmade and water coloured." The guest's book revealed a series of bizarre transformations, including Eve morphing into a mermaid and a lion donning a crown.
As the pages turned, viewers were treated to a water.