Dudson collector Paul Fawcett with Eric KnowlesAntiques Expert at The Dudson Museum
29 July 2010
Eric Knowles (probably best known for his expertise on 'The Antiques Roadshow), was at The Dudson Museum recently, filming an episode of the BBC programme 'Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is'.
The popular programme features television's top antiques experts who go head-to-head in a challenge to make a profit buying and selling antiques, using their own money and being kept on their toes!
Despite a very busy schedule, Eric Knowles still occasionally finds time to accompany groups of ceramics enthusiasts to the Dudson Museum. He recently contacted the Curator, Alison Morgan suggesting that as he hoped to sell a pair of 1870s Dudson vases on the show, there would be no finer place for the transaction to take place than at the museum. Alison was delighted at the idea. She explained; "This is a wonderful opportunity to bring the Dudson Museum to the attention of a wide audience. Today, the company makes pottery for the hospitality industry so a lot of people are not familiar with the name. I always tell visitors that although they may not know the brand, I can almost guarantee that they will have eaten off Dudson pottery! It is 210 years since the first Dudson factory was opened, but only 10 years since we opened the museum".
Eric's enthusiasm for the museum is reflected in his last comment in the visitor's book - "Lock me in and throw away the key!" The programme is scheduled to be shown in October or November on BBC1 and BBC2, so viewers will have to wait a little while to find out if Eric's transaction was successful!
To discover more about The Dudson Museum and for information on opening times, please click here.
