Who Is Michael Gambon's Son, Fergus?
Occasionally, family members of celebrities become celebrities in their own right. Such is the case with Fergus Gambon, son of the late Michael Gambon. Michael was best known for playing Dumbledore in the "Harry Potter" film series after taking over the role following Richard Harris' death in 2002. Fergus, the only child and son of Michael and his wife of 60 years, Anne Miller, doesn't wave magic wands around in service of Harry Potter but knowledge in service of pottery.
Fans of the BBC's "Antiques Roadshow" might recognize Fergus as that guy with a fantastically upper-crust British accent who's very enthusiastic about things like ceramics and glass paperweights, as we can see from an excerpt. Such clips show that Fergus isn't just enthusiastic, he's incredibly knowledgeable — encyclopedic, in fact — about everything from world history to arts and crafts. This love, as HITC cites, he inherited from his father, who was a "passionate collector of antique guns, clocks, watches, and cars in his own right."
Bonhams' auction site says that Fergus has been Bonham's Director of British Ceramics and Glass since 1994, is in charge of British pottery and porcelain, and is one of the globe's top experts on Welsh ceramics. He's headed up some major sales in this role over the years, which have helped propel Bonhams to the top of its industry.
The find of a lifetime
One of Fergus Gambon's proudest and most widely cited moments came in 2016 when he appraised a 300-year-old dollhouse. As Metro explains, the dollhouse was a one-of-a-kind creation from the Isle of Dogs on London's east side dating back to 1705. The find was filled with unique handmade dolls and furniture arranged in scenes that by all accounts hadn't been changed since the dollhouse's creation. The whole thing was originally created for a Miss Westbrook and has been passed down since then through the women of the family to arrive at the present a bit worn, a bit dirty, but overall in excellent, well-preserved condition. Fergus, beside himself and overcome with emotion, appraised the entire find at £200,000.
"I've found the whole day today completely staggering and amazing," Fergus said at the time. "I have a passion for early doll's houses, I never, ever thought I'd see such a wonderful one. This is an object of national importance ... Made as a toy it could so easily have been spoiled but it's been preserved in your family — that's why it's so moving." And if his passion wasn't clear and apparent, he added, "I must admit that when I saw it, I recognized it. I'd heard of it because someone that I know had been doing some restoration on it. It was something that I'd laid in bed at night, dreaming that one day I would see. And here you are."