A "grotesque face jug", which is actually a school art project of a high school student in was mistakenly valued at $50,000 by an antique expert, much to the amusement of the creator.
The artwork is, in fact, a 1973 high school project by Betsy Soule from Oregon. She sculpted the jug to her imagination during her ceramics class at Oregon's Churchill High School. Her friend saw the piece of art on the American television show "Antiques Roadshow", and contacted her.
Soule, now a horse trainer, admits that she was "a passionate, artistic kid." "I don't know where those faces came from; they just came roaring out of me on to those pots." She says.
The said piece of pottery was brought in by antique owner, Alvin Barr. He said that it was originally covered in mud but when he cleaned it, the ugly-faced jug 'talked' to him.
The antique appraiser sees the jug has similar art style as Pablo Picasso. The appraiser, Stephen L Fletcher, thought that the 30-centimeter pottery covered with six faces was made in the late 19th century. He thinks it was a jug "unlike any other example" he has ever seen. He added that "as far as its age is concerned, I was fooled, as were some of my colleagues."
Public Broadcasting Service, the network showing "Antiques Roadshow" has now corrected the pricing information on their website. The show rarely makes errors in their appraisal.
The art piece is now priced from USD$3000 to 5000, which is not a bad price for a high school project. Fletcher said that it deserves its price because of its "quality and artistic merit".
Antiques Roadshow stars antique owners who bring in their art pieces to the show for appraisal from antique experts. It is hosted by Mark L. Walberg and has been nominated 13 times for an Emmy.
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