I saved a £1 vase from a tip – I was left gobsmacked when I discovered its real value
AN ANTIQUES Roadshow guest was left stunned after he discovered the value of a £1 vase he saved from the tip.
The most recent repeat episode of the BBC show took viewers to Portchester Castle on the Hampshire coast to discover what items were up for auction.
One of them was a red-toned glass vase with a detailed aquatic theme, complete with fish and coral.
The guest explained that he found the unique vase while he was throwing away his gardening waste at a local recycling centre.
“They have a shed there where they put out things that might be reusable,” he explained.
The guest revealed he spotted the item on a shelf and asked a worker at the tip how much he “wanted for it” and he said £1.
“I noticed this pot sitting on the shelf, so I asked the guy at the tip there how much he wanted for it and he said he’d like £1,” he continued.
Admiring the unique item, Eric told the guest: “Your vase encapsulated the best of Pilkington lustreware. The man who was responsible for starting all the lustre decoration was William Burton.”
The expert revealed that William Burton, who had been recruited to Pilkington from Wedgwood, and his brother would have used 3,000 trial pieces to produce this vase.
He then proceeded to tell the guest how much it would be worth.
Eric said: “The market is very healthy and the moment. This would make well in excess of £2,000.”
The guest left shocked, and replied: “Good heavens, good heavens. I love it even more now if you think it’s worth that much.
He added: “I certainly won’t be parting with it.”