An Antiques Roadshow guest was left gobsmacked when a dress, casually given to her by a friend in the 1960s, turned out to be an 18th Century gem with a hefty price tag. The BBC show's audience were treated to a moment of light-hearted fun as expert Hilary Kay appraised a pensioner's stunning dress at Tewkesbury Abbey. Kay painted a vivid picture: "Looking at this dress, I can sort of picture the scene one misty morning, a woman walking through the abbey meadows.
It's wonderful and is it a family heirloom?". The owner's straightforward "No" sparked laughter from both Kay and those watching, leading to an amusing exchange. The guest then elaborated on the garment's history: "It was given to me by a friend in the 1960s.
And she gave it to me, because I just had a daughter and I think she thought she might be interested in [it] later on, to dress up in it." Upon learning that the dress had been untouched for years, Kay expressed her astonishment. "You've never seen it out? This is the first time you've actually seen it -", only to be cut off by the guest who confirmed: "Yes, seen it on show.
" Curious about the guest's opinion now that the dress was finally unveiled, Kay asked, "How do you think it looks? " The guest admired the garment, replying that it looks "very nice, beautiful". Kay explained that the dress, which had been stored in a box for years, was known as a robe a la francaise or a sack back robe. This style of dress featured an open front and was typically worn with .