A guest on the brand new episode of Antiques Roadshow was stunned as a family member’s unwanted Chinese tea set was given a staggering value.

An Antiques Roadshow guest exclaimed ‘that’s outrageous’ after her item from a late family member was revealed to be worth five figures.

Expert Serhat Ahmet talked to a woman who had brought in a Chinese tea set during this week’s episode on Sunday, 4th January.

Ringing in the new year with a fresh series, this edition featured trinkets, oddities and artwork from guests at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea.

Ahmet was speaking to a woman who had brought in a green case containing a remarkable tea set from China that originally belonged to a family member named Margaret.

He let out a “wow” as the contents was revealed, a stunning red set of teapots, cups and saucers detailed with elegant sgraffito.

Serhat Ahmet and guest

The set was bought in Shanghai in the 1940s (Image: BBC)

“This is Margaret’s tea set,” the guest explained. “A family member, she died last year at 94.

“I believe the tea set’s been in the attic for about 80 years, I don’t think she liked it very much so she didn’t use it. It was on its way to the charity shop and I said, ‘Hang on. Can I have a look?’”

The woman went on to explain that Margaret’s father was a captain in the Merchant Navy who chanced upon the set while he was docked in Shanghai.

Ahmet first noted the “wonderful” wrapping paper from the factory who made the set, based in Nanking Road, Shanghai.

Antiques Roadshow guest

The guest was shocked by the set’s impressive value (Image: BBC)

He also spotted an old newspaper kept from the day of purchase, which confirmed the set was bought in 1947. The guest confirmed this adds up as Margaret would have been around 14 when she was given it by her father.

The expert went on to highlight the sgraffito patterns of Ching dragons, which would have been delicately etched while the porcelain was still slightly wet.

“We are looking at the very high end of teaware production in this period,” Ahmet explained.

“I think if this were to come up at auction today, it would fetch somewhere in the region of £1,500 to £2,500.”

Chinese tea set
The tea set is worth between £1,500-£2,500 (Image: BBC)

The guest could only laugh and exclaimed “Really?” at the stunning valuation.

“You’re not serious,” she added, remarking that she guessed it would just be worth £100 to her husband.

“That’s… are you serious? That’s outrageous. Goodness me, I don’t know what to say. I can’t get over it!”