BBC Antiques Roadshow expert reveals huge value of 'pulse raising' Pablo Picasso item

An Antiques Roadshow expert revealed the huge value of a "pulse raising" Pablo Picasso item on Sunday (November 2). Tonight's episode of the hit BBC programme took place at the Hill of Tarvit Mansion and Gardens in Fife, Scotland, where locals arrived to have their antiques and fine arts appraised by experts. During the instalment, ceramics expert Will Farmer was presented with an unusual jug that was made by iconic Spanish artist Pablo Picasso.

"Well, there are certain names within the firmament of art and design that will raise anyone's pulse, and one of those has to be Pablo Picasso. And before us, we have a jug by Pablo Picasso," Will began. The guest revealed that the jug belonged to her parents, and she first found it when she was clearing their house after her father's death.

"And actually, funnily enough, this had been a jug that I was scarcely aware of as being in their house. My mother was a keen art collector, but it didn't have pride of place in the house at all," she added.

Will then shared: "Where we have to head for is a place called Vallauris. And within that area, there were potters and workers, but of particular note, there was a firm called Madoura that was run by Georges and Suzanne Ramie.

"Let's take ourselves back to 1946, when Picasso went to visit Madoura Pottery. And while he was there, Georges and Suzanne Ramie allowed him to make three pieces. And he was so transfixed by this medium that a formation of a new adventure began."

The expert then revealed that from 1947 to 1971, Picasso created, with the assistance of the Ramies and their team of potters, over 630 different designs.

"Now, amongst them, there are the unique pieces, but then he would also create editions," Will went on.

"And all of these editions have different ranges in numbers. The very small have a very short edition of only 50 pieces. Some go up to 500."

He added: "This jug itself is called Chope Visage and was created in 1959 to an edition of 300. It's wonderful."

After unveiling several handwritten marks that were located underneath the jug, Will revealed that the item could fetch between £8,000 to £12,000 at auction.

"The fact that in just a few simple strokes, you can turn a very ordinary picture, a very ordinary jug, into something that has been touched and kissed by Picasso," the stunned expert concluded.

Antiques Roadshow is available to stream on BBC iPlayer