Oregon Woman's High School Art Project Wrongly Declared Worth Thousands

The television program "Antique Roadshow" recently valued a clay jug at up to $50,000 and estimated it a relic of the 19th or 20th century, but it turns out it is simply a relic of one woman’s high school experience.

Stephen L. Fletcher surmised on air that the supposed artifact, featuring six unsettling beastly faces lining the sides, dated back to the late 19th Century and had likely emerged from the Middle Atlantic states. In reality, the alleged antique was crafted by Oregonian Betsy Soule in the 1970’s for her high school ceramics class.

The jug was purchased at an estate sale for $300 by fellow Oregonian Alvin Barr, who brought it on the show in January. Barr found the piece unusual and was compelled to buy it, though he claimed he thought he had overpaid.

“It was covered with dirt and straw,” Barr told Fletcher. “Looked like some chicken droppings were on it...I had to have it. It speaks to me.”

PBS has since issued a correction on its website. It attributes Soule and shows a picture of her surrounded by other similar sculptures she created, now valuing it at $3,000-$5,000.

Fletcher also contributed to the post, giving his thoughts on the new information and attempting to restore his reputation. He credits Soule with considerable talent for creating something that could be mistaken for such a high value artifact, as well as partially blaming the fact that techniques for making pottery have not changed much for centuries.

“As far as [the jug’s] age is concerned, I was fooled, as were some of my colleagues,” Fletcher said in the correction. “Still not bad for a high schooler in Oregon.”

The real one to suffer here is most likely Barr, whose reaction was overwhelming disbelief and excitement upon learning he had struck fortune from his finding. That being said, he still could see a decent profit as he only paid $300 for it.