ANTIQUES Roadshow viewers have ripped into a ‘crap’ plaque – but the guest got the last laugh after a life-changing twist.
A recent episode of the BBC show saw expert Marc Allum meet the lady who had brought in an 18th Century plaque.
She told him: “This came from my grandfather and he had it before his mother before him and she was the daughter of a landlord of a pub in Bristol — The Trout in Stokes Croft.
“When he moved on, he presumably took this with him because he had bought it with the pub I guess.”
The plaque had lyrics on it which she believed were written by Henry Purcell.
Marc told her: “The ceramic plaque here is actually a terracotta plaque.
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“It has the title ‘Topeing Jack’, which is what you’ve just sung, with all the musical notation and lyrics.
“Now topeing is drinking, so Topeing Jack is all about a cuckolded chap who’s been drinking a lot — typical theme of a Purcell catch like this.
“The fact that this is in a pub in Bristol, leads me to think that as an English Delft plaque, it could well be a Bristol plaque.”
He then linked the item to Joseph Flower, a famous plaque maker and said: “One thing I will say to you is that I think this item is of national importance — it’s unique.”
As the guest’s friend reached out and touched her arm in shock he added: “I genuinely think if this comes up at auction tomorrow, it would make £40,000 to £60,000.
“Valuing things like this and of this importance and rarity, who knows? I even feel that it could make £80,000.”
Her friend then gripped her arm as they laughed in shock before the guest’s friend said their male companion had thought it would be worth £50.
However, viewers couldn’t get their head around the unassuming plaque covered in song lyrics being worth a fortune.
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One wrote on Twitter: “£80k for some crap old song lyrics?”
Another added: “A song about a posh alcoholic.”
Antiques Roadshow airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.
