Antiques Roadshow fans baffled as ‘haunted’ bird head ornament is valued at staggering price

Fans of Antiques Roadshow were left gobsmacked on Sunday after a creepy-looking  bird statue was valued at a six-figure price. 

The ornament, playfully named Ernie by its owner and their daughter, featured a bizarre, avian-like head that detached from the rest of its body. 

Ernie was so ugly that the daughter admitted she was ‘terrified’ and had nightmares about it as a chid.

Expert Steven Moore agreed that while the ornament was ‘very collectible’, it also had ‘a face only a mother could love’. 

He also noted that the top and bottom part of the bird didn’t seem to match’, and that it could fetch up to £70,000 (AU$132,765) if the missing parts were located. 

The head alone was valued for £4,000 (AU$7,586). 

Viewers were shocked at the outcome, with one commenting on social media: ‘Who, in their right mind, would spend £70k on a bit of pottery?’ 

Expert Steven Moore (pictured) agreed that while the ornament was ‘very collectible’, it also had ‘a face only a mother could love’

“£4K just for the head!’ another added. 

Many branded the sculpture as ‘ugly’, with one commenting: ‘Haunted bird head – kill it with fire.’ 

One user compared it to the Angry Birds cartoon characters, while another added: ‘What a horrible looking ornament Ernie is.’ 

Many branded the sculpture as ‘ugly’, with one commenting: ‘Haunted bird head – kill it with fire’

The eccentric sculpture was crafted by the famous Martin brothers, who manufactured pottery in London in the late 1800s and early 1900s. 

The four brothers were best known for their ‘Wally Birds’ designs, which were intricate ornaments that resembled bizarre birds with long beaks, huge feet, human-like heads and a quizzical look in their eyes.

They featured detachable heads, and were intended to be used as storage containers for pipe tobaccos. 

The eccentric sculpture was crafted by the famous Martin brothers, who manufactured pottery in London in the late 1800s and early 1900s