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---
title: Antiques Roadshow Appraises High School Project at $50,000
description: Fans of Antique Roadshow often wonder how certain pieces of art can cost that much. For once, they were right to be skeptical.
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author: Eliana Dockterman
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article:published_time: 2016-05-10T19:39:06.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-02-22T17:26:13.424Z
article:section: Entertainment
og:title: &#x27;Antiques Roadshow&#x27; Accidentally Appraises High School Art Project at $50,000
og:description: The show now says it&#x27;s worth between $3,000 and $5,000
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twitter:title: &#x27;Antiques Roadshow&#x27; Accidentally Appraises High School Art Project at $50,000
twitter:description: The show now says it&#x27;s worth between $3,000 and $5,000
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# _Antiques Roadshow_ Accidentally Appraises High School Art Project at $50,000

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## Eliana Dockterman


Correspondent

May 10, 2016 7:39 PM UTC

![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1984f06468640bc0/6988929dab6d774c4d6a9a2f/grotesque-face.png?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=3:2)

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by 

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## Eliana Dockterman


Correspondent

May 10, 2016 7:39 PM UTC

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](http://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/bend/4042082-151/the-grotesque-jug-that-fooled-the-experts#) the Bend Bulletin.

> [](https://twitter.com/RoadshowPBS/status/686591387735867393)

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](http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/season/20/spokane-wa/appraisals/grotesque-face-jug-ca-1900--201502A19) the piece at $3,000 to $5,000 on the PBS website.

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