A man whose uncle bought a pair of figurines after drinking in a Liverpool pub was shocked to learn their true value on Antiques Roadshow.
The man explained he inherited the works from his uncle, who used to drink with sculptor Arthur Dooley in a pub in Liverpool.
Arthur Dooley was a Liverpudlian artist from Walton born in 1929.
He started work as a welder at Cammell Laird shipyard when he was 15 years old, which greatly influenced his pieces.
The man explained: “I think over the years, he [uncle] was a drinking buddy and lived round the corner from the studio.
“Very often they went back to the studio and Arthur sold him the pieces directly.
“My uncle was very happy to have a budding artist.”
The man believed the pieces were worth around a maximum of £500, but was shocked to learn they were worth thousands of pounds more.
Antiques Roadshow Specialist Marc Allum revealed to the man that the first figure created in 1956 is worth between £4,000 to £6,000.
The second figure made in 1971 is worth between £3,000 to £5,000, meaning the man could make £11,000.
The man said: “I was very surprised, I thought middle to £500s or so, something like that, not those valuations, and so I’m very glad I brought them today.”
