Antiques Roadshow viewers were left gobsmacked after finding out an 'ugly' bird statue was valued at tens of thousands of pounds.
The unusual artefact, that was nicknamed Ernie by its owner and daughter, left viewers at home disturbed by the 'ugly' dethatched bird head. The daughter even claimed the disturbing ornament gave her nightmares as a child, as fans of the show soon agreed.
Antiques dealer and expert Steven Moore issued the same sentiment claiming the artefact had a 'face only a mother could love' before leaving the guests stunned at the incredible price tag. Steven claimed that if the bird was in better condition, it could be worth up to £70,000.
He added that the ornament's head alone could be worth up to £4,000 as it was described as ‘a very collectable item.’
Steven said: "They are very collectible. There is an intriguing possibility. If you could find the head for this body, or if you could find the body for this head, you would have a profit of £60,000 to £70,000."
However, following Steven's valuation viewers at home were left scratching their head at the price of the antique. One person took to Twitter to say: "Haunted bird head – kill it with fire."
While another added: "Who, in their right mind, would spend £70k on a bit of pottery?," as a third tweeted: "£4K just for the head!’ while another follower penned: ‘Generally speaking, I love Martin Bros’ Wally Birds, but gee… That’s ugly."
The sculpture was created by the famous Martin brothers, who manufactured pottery in London in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The four brothers were best known for their ‘Wally Birds’ designs, which were intricate ornaments that resembled bizarre birds with long beaks, huge feet, human-like heads and a quizzical look in their eyes.
Antiques Roadshow airs Sundays at 8pm on BBC One.
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