Antiques Roadshow Accidentally Appraises High School Art Project at $50,000

Fans of Antique Roadshow often wonder how certain pieces of art can cost that much. For once, they were right to be skeptical.

An ugly-faced jug was appraised at $50,000 on the show last year. The appraiser estimated it dated back to the late 19th or early 20th centuries. In fact, a woman actually made it in an Oregon high school art class in the 1970s. Horse trainer Betsy Soule claimed the piece when a friend recognized it on the show, according to the Bend Bulletin.

The show rarely makes such mistakes. The appraiser from that particular episode, Stephen L. Fletcher, released a statement in which he said, “as far as its age is concerned, I was fooled, as were some of my colleagues.” He has re-appraised the piece at $3,000 to $5,000 on the PBS website.