BARGAIN Hunt fans were left bewildered after expert Jonathan Pratt failed to make a profit out of a pair of heavily damaged pottery figures.
Jonathan had a budget of £95 to look for a surprise item at an antiques fair in a bid to boost the profit of his guests’ auction challenge.
Jonathan Pratt was left counting his losses on Bargain Hunt
He later realised it only had about 20 per cent original features on them
Jonathan bought a pair of early 19th century garden-themed pottery figures – a male and a female – holding a flower pot with leaves decoration on the back.
“I’m a keen gardener and I think people do buy into these but I like to buy something with a bit of history,” he told host Charlie Ross.
“They’ve got a lot of extremities and it gets damaged, okay, you’re going to find a little damages, but it seems there’s a little bit more than I recognised when I bought them.
“I paid £70 for them. I didn’t anticipate that there is probably only 20 per cent original.”
Couple Andrea and Bruce were not confident that the Staffordshire figures would sell well and decided to “give it a miss”.
Auctioneer James Lewis of Bamfords Auctioneers and Valuers noticed the two figures were heavily restored, which could be a problem affecting the price.
“Because of all the restoration, I’d give an estimate of £30 to £50. If they were perfect, might make £120,” he said.
The figures were eventually sold at £3 – a 50 per cent loss at the end of the auction.
And viewers were baffled at Jonathan’s poor judgement on picking the pottery.
“£70 for a couple of damaged figures,” one wrote with laughing emojis as a second questioned: “Seriously how is Jonathan Pratt classed as an ‘expert’ on Bargain Hunt?”
While a third fumed: “Imagine that – £70 for f***’s sake.”
Bargain Hunt airs weekdays at 12:15pm on BBC One.
Guests Andrea and Bruce didn’t think it will make a profit
Did you miss our previous article...
https://thecelebreport.com/television/phillip-schofield-in-hospital-for-urgent-surgery-on-debilitating-eye-condition
