We took the opportunity to ask presenter of Treasure Detectives and fake antique-expert Curtis Dowling some burning questions about his work.
WHAT WAS THE MOST INTERESTING THING ABOUT ANTIQUES THAT YOU LEARNED WHILST MAKING THE SERIES?
That everything has a tell, no fake will get passed you if you look deep enough, I knew it already but doing some of the mad items re-confirmed that.
Elizabeth I portrait from Treasure Detectives
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE FROM THE SERIES?
It has to be the portrait of Elizabeth I.
WHAT ARE THE TELL-TALE SIGNS OF A FAKE ANTIQUE THAT WE SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR?
Their proportion - over age and feel. If you handle enough real ones the fakes just feel wrong somehow.
DO YOU HAVE ANY FAKES IN YOUR HOME?
Yes! I have a Thomas Toft slipware dish (a type of decorated pottery) from 1660... I love it!
Picasso painting from Treasure Detectives
WHAT IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE PIECE OF ART THAT YOU HAVE EVER HAD YOUR HANDS ON?
That would be a blue period Picasso insured for £300m! It had a possible sale price, if it ever hit the market, of about half that.