Antiques Roadshow porcelain expert Henry Sandon dies at 95 on Christmas Day
Former Antiques Roadshow expert Henry Sandon has died at the age of 95.
Sandon – a specialist in ceramics, and particularly porcelain and pottery on the BBC series – died “peacefully” on Christmas Day, his family confirmed.
His son, John Sandon, also joined the show and became an authority on Royal Worcester porcelain.
He described his father as having left an “incredible legacy”.
He said: “My dad died peacefully on Christmas morning. Simply old age, as he was 95, and he’s left the world of antiques with an incredible legacy.
“On the Antiques Roadshow chatting to the owner of the most humble cracked teapot, his enthusiasm and his infectious laugh and smile brought their treasured pot to life.
“Dad taught me to see the human side of a piece of pottery, and I could have asked for no greater gift.”
‘Sorely missed’
Henry Sandon was known for his knowledge of Worcester porcelain and was a curator of the Dyson Perrins Museum, which became the Worcester Porcelain Museum and then the Museum of Royal Worcester, of which he was a patron.
The museum wrote in a post on X: “It is with great sadness we share the news that Henry Sandon passed away on Christmas morning.
“Our curator and then patron of the Museum for many years, a much-loved expert who shared his knowledge and enthusiasm for pots and Worcester in person, in books & on TV. Sorely missed.”
Before joining Antiques Roadshow, Sandon had a couple of books on Worcester porcelain published.
He first appeared on the show in 1979 and had many highlights – including the valuation of Ozzie the Owl during an episode in the 1990s.
The slipware owl – pottery treated with semiliquid clay – was brought along to the roadshow in Northampton, where Sandon gave it a valuation of £20,000.
Henry Sandon became an MBE for services to broadcasting, the ceramics industry and charity in 2008.
In 2000, Sandon was voted Antiques Personality of the Year by readers of the BBC’s Homes and Antiques magazine.