Description
Discover the unbelievable hidden treasures of Australia! In this episode of Antiques Down Under, hosts Gregory Bickford and Claudia Chan Shaw travel across the country to uncover incredible private collections, priceless rarities, and curious artifacts.
First, we go inside the ancient vaults of the Hellenic Museum in Melbourne, exploring 8,000 years of Greek history—including a stunning gold myrtle wreath used by Bill Henson in a moody contemporary photoshoot. Then, we meet legendary bass player Jed Hudson to explore his world-class vintage guitar and mandolin collection. We also take a trip to the Adelaide Hills to look at the fascinating history of Australia’s first gold rush and a pristine 140-year-old lithograph from the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition.
Stick around until the end to see the mystery "What Is It?" object revealed!
If you love history, rare collectibles, and great stories, don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more episodes!
Chapter Markers
0:00 - Introduction to Antiques Down Under
0:47 - Coming Up on Today's Show
1:17 - Inside the Hellenic Museum (Melbourne)
1:53 - The Ancient Greek Gold Myrtle Wreath
2:17 - Rare Black-Figure & Red-Figure Vases
2:41 - Exploring the Vault of the Former Royal Mint
3:30 - Bill Henson's Mythology Photo Shoot
4:26 - The History of the Olympic Torch Relay
6:22 - Mystery Object Challenge: "What Is It?"
8:06 - Jed Hudson’s Vintage Guitar Collection
10:11 - Iconic Signature Guitars & Unique Sounds
12:12 - The History of Australia’s First Gold Mine
14:33 - The Story of the Victoria Mine Gold Ring
16:20 - Authenticating a Rare 1880 Melbourne Exhibition Lithograph
19:45 - How Antique Dealers Prove Originality
20:06 - Coming Up Next Time & Credits