A BBC Antiques Roadshow expert has proved he had his eyes on the prize after snapping up a £15 sculpture to be sold at auction for a massive profit.
The BBC spin-off Antiques Road Trip sees the show's Roadshow experts handed £200 to spend on items which they spot before they go under the hammer.
The latest episode of the daytime show saw experts Ochuko Ojiri and Margie Cooper visiting antique shops in Malvern, Evesham, Upton-Upon-Severn, Tewkesbury and Cheltenham ion the hunt for the all important profit-making items.
And on their final stop Ojiri stumbled across a wooden sculpture in a Gloucester antiques shop.
"Wow! That stands out doesn't it?” he exclaimed. “How different is that?”
“I love objects for objects' sake. It doesn't have to do anything, it's just beautiful," he added.
After taking a closer look he spotted a a credit on the piece with the first name Brian.
Further detective work discovered the piece was actually the work of Brian Wilshire, a highly regarded artist whose work was sold at Liberty's and exhibited at the Royal Academy.
Wilshire's detailed pieces were painstakingly produced by only using a band saw despite their intricate detail.
But despite the potential profit to be made, Ojiri still haggled the shop owner down to £15 from the listed price of £28.
After pocketing the piece the pair headed of to the auction and task auctioneer Jay Goodman-Browne to assess their find.
Asked prior to auction if anything stood out he said: "The wooden sculpture, really nice piece by Brian Wilshire, sculpted in the 1970s.
“He is a prolific London artist, very much got his inspiration from Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore as well. So, I expect to this hit quite big money today."
The piece proved to be popular attracting both online and in the auction room, with the hammer falling at £420.
Meanwhile fans of the original show Antiques Road Show will welcome a special edition coming to air later this month looking back at the history of nursing.
Presenter Fiona Bruce will be joined by comedian Jo Brand who worked as a psychiatric nurse for 10 years before swapping to the circuit.
During the episode called Antiques Roadshow – A Nursing Special, Bruce discovers more about the nurses and midwives that inspired the hit drama series Call The Midwife.
Antiques Road Trip is on BBC1 weekdays at 3.45pm. Antiques Roadshow – A Nursing Special airs on BBC One on Sunday February 26 at 7pm.
