High school art project mistakenly appraised for $50K US on Antiques Roadshow
'Grotesque face jug' originally to be influenced by Picasso was made by Betsy Soule in the 1970s
Originally published May 10, 2016.
Alvin Barr's eyes nearly popped out of his head when his ugly-face pottery jug was appraised on PBS's Antiques Roadshow for $50,000 US. It was dated to the 19th or early 20th century.
But recently, PBS published a corrected appraisal of $3,000-$5,000 on its website after it was discovered that the jug was not as old as first thought.
"I made it sometime around 1973, or 1974, in high school art class," said Betsy Soule from her home in Oregon.
As Soule told As it Happens host Carol Off, a friend had seen the "Grotesque Face Jug" episode of the Antiques Roadshow and called Soule to tell her about it. The friend had once owned the jug and mentioned that the "weird pot" Soule had made was on the show.
I thought Alvin Barr paid too much for it at $300.- Betsy Soule
The pottery jug has six faces on it and according to Antiques Roadshow appraiser, Stephen L. Fletcher, it appeared to be influenced by Spanish sculptor Pablo Picasso.
"It's pretty grotesque. If you put flowers in it they'd probably just wither."
Soule's friend had encouraged her to contact the Antiques Roadshow to make them aware of the error.
"They have to do those appraisals on the fly without that much information. And probably if it really was made in the time period they'd guessed it was made in, I don't know, I think that's pretty outrageous."
The show's staff got in touch and although Soule had no proof the jug was hers, she was able to provide a picture of herself surrounded by similar sculptures in the 1970s. She's amazed that the jug is now appraised at $3,000-$5,000.
"I thought Alvin Barr paid too much for it at $300. He bought it at a barn sale, and it was covered in dirt and chicken manure, but he just really liked it.… If I'd known he was that fond of it I probably would've just given it to him."
"Have you gone on to a successful career making works of art and pottery?" asked Off.
"Are you kidding me? No, I'm just a lowly horse trainer and riding instructor," Soule replied with a laugh.
Soule muses about returning to pottery one day. But when asked if those jug faces are still in her, Soule cried, "Oh God, I hope not!"
