more: "It's not the money that matters to me, it's the absolute buzz of doing the research and meeting wonderful people who are so knowledgeable about their subject."

He spotted the piece at a car boot sale in Otley, West Yorks, where it is believed to have ended up following a house clearance somewhere in North Yorkshire.

If its origins are verified, the unusual item is expected to go under the hammer at Christie's in December.

well... you won't find that on "Bargain Hunt"!

Eddie Izzard was right when he said, "I'm from Europe... where the history's from!"