The roadshow pays a final visit to Ebrington Square in Derry/Londonderry, where treasures include a statue from Java, Olympic boxing memorabilia and dazzling 1960s jewellery.
Katherine Wright is excited to see a collection of ceramics by Irish designer John ffrench, while Mark Hill admires a mid-century lounge chair by an American designer bought for a tenner. Lennox Cato is moved by a carved wooden crucifix dated 1716, while Mark Smith examines a medal awarded to a woman who took part in the Irish War of Independence.
John Sandon is intrigued by a strange ceramic tray pierced with small holes that bears the mark of the Belleek porcelain factory, which also has a surprising link to salmon fishing. Marc Allum can’t resist an early 20th-century gadget designed to help photographers calculate the right exposure, while Raj Bisram hears the story of an Irishman who became an Olympic boxing referee.
Ronnie Archer-Morgan is captivated by a bronze statue of a figure from Javanese mythology bought for a few pounds online – but could it really be almost 1,000 years old? Joanna Hardy is thrilled to see a gold feather brooch by pioneering 1960s designer Andrew Grima.
Fiona Bruce explores the long history of shirt making in the city and meets three women who worked in the factories – the original ‘Derry girls’ – while Gordon Foster challenges her to pick the odd one out amongst a collection of Irish and Scottish silver vessels. Show less