BBC Antiques Roadshow expert delights guests with four-figure price tag of ‘rare’ item despite glaring damage
Antiques Roadshow expert Will Farmer left guests beaming as he announced a surprising valuation in a classic episode of the BBC favourite.
The episode, which came from Wollaton Hall, Nottingham, was originally broadcast in 2022 but it set to be repeated on Sunday evening.
Ceramics, glass and 20th century decorative arts specialist Farmer was amused by a teapot brought along by two sisters.
The unique item was decorated to look like a woman in wearing an apron, but the guests knew little about the artwork.
“I love it when an every object makes you smile because it’s just that little bit different and this absolutely does the trickbut come on tell me, where’s this from?” Farmer probed, also asking: “How’s it come into your life?”
“It belonged to our mum and it was always there as an ornament in the house,” one of the sisters replied.
“It wasn’t used but it was kept on the shelf and I remember it as a child, and we think it belonged to her mum before.”
The guest went on to share: “We lost mum last year and so now it’s mine.”
“Did it ever have a name? You know, anything? How did you associate ‘the teapot?'” Farmer questioned.
“We’d just call it The Fat Lady,” the owner replied, prompting laughs from the audience.
“Okay, well, I love that,” Farmer responded. “Now you’ve looked underneath, and all it says underneath here is Wilkinson’s Honey Glaze, hand painted.”
He admitted: “It’s not very helpful, is it? You also call it The Fat Lady,” before revealing the truth about the item.
“Let me completely erase all your life memories of this teapot, because I would like to introduce you to Bones The Butcher,” Farmer announced.
He explained: “Bones The Butcher was created in 1928 in the potteries by a lady whose name you might have heard of.
“And I’m getting at least one of these people around me will have, I’m going to say Miss Clarice Cliff.
“In 1928, Clarice started to work on a range of new wares that were called Kiddie’s Ware, and it was actually created with a young lady called Joan Shorter.
“Joan Shorter was the daughter of Clarice’s boss, Colley Shorter, and he wanted her to work with Clarice to create some plates, pots, crockery, all things that children could use.
“Some of these basically fell through the and it didn’t carry her name, right? But it makes them rare.”
Getting to the price tag he’d be willing to put in the item, Farmer went on: “Ok, so we’ve got to look at the value, and there is a little hairline crack just there at the top of the handle.
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“But, you know, taking that into consideration, Bones The Butcher is worth £800 to £1,000.”
The sisters were stunned as one commented: “Brilliant, unbelievable,” with the pair seeming to have expected a lower valuation.
“Take home Bones The Butcher and enjoy it,” Farmer instructed before the duo thanked him.