A signed photo of the late Princess Diana.

It is everyone’s nightmare: putting something out for charity that you think is dusty, dented and worthless and finding out later it was quite valuable.

That almost happened to one of the people who turned up to listen to Antiques Roadshow expert Marc Allum, who was in Malta yesterday to give a talk to the members of the Decorative Fine Arts Society – Malta.

The woman had already put aside the two lamps to give away when she happened to spot similar items at an antiques fair and gasped when she saw the asking price.

Now re-plated and with a new glass shade to replace the broken one, the pair enjoy pride of place on her mantelpiece.

These are the kind of stories that intrigue Mr Allum, who has handled thousands of items over his 30 years in the business and who loves whimsical stories perhaps even more than something worth an unexpected fortune.

Not the easiest thing to carry running from a fire

Forty of the 130 society members managed to secure a sought-after place at the lecture, one of several events organised every year by the society. Those who attended were invited to bring along something special to be valued or explained.

And the table at the Salini Resort was like a veritable treasure trove, with items ranging from a highly-collectible signed photo of the late Princess Diana, to a dagger disguised as a sort of slide-rule and a 10,000-year-old flint.

Mr Allum was able to take it all in his stride, saying that when it came to Europe, there were very few surprises, with only the Far East still able to catch him out at times.

A notorious collector, he admitted that some of his favourite pieces only cost a few pounds but were all quirky.

And what would he save from his own collection if the house were on fire? A suit of early 19th century Samurai armour.

“Not the easiest thing to carry running from a fire. I’d probably have to wear it,” he grinned.

The society has a Facebook page and its website can be accessed at https://maltadfas.nadfas.net .