Entertainment
Share
Published 09:42 7 Sept 2022 BST
Explore more on these topics:
Ronnie joked "You really took a risk, didn't you," with the guest replying: "Well, I was intrigued by the fact that it looked as if somebody had put a lot of work into making it."
The expert then explained how the figure appeared to be from the Kota tribe from Gabon.
He said: "This is a Kota reliquary guardian figure and they put these on the bones of their ancestors to protect them and they polished this metal.
"And in the 19th century, they were brass and copper, this is just copper, the brass and copper were like gold to them. They're so highly revered in the art world that they have one of these in the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
"They're such iconic examples of African tribal art. They hammer the metal over the wood sculpture and then they chase the metal with these designs.
"And it's the geometric form of them that makes them so desirable, and they influenced the greatest modern artists of all time because at the beginning of modernism, they are very, very sought-after."
[caption id="attachment_357435" align="alignnone" width="1422"]
One of the Kota tribe figures had previously sold for a quarter of a million, but this one was in fact just a 'very fine copy' (BBC)[/caption]
He then revealed that a few years ago, one of the statues sold for £250,000 at auction.
But the owner's bubble was quickly burst when Ronnie broke the news to him that his statue was in fact just a "very fine copy."
The expert could tell because it was "slightly the wrong size," and said it was "probably made in about 1980."
But it wasn't all bad news for the member of the public, as the statue was still valued at £150, 100 times more than they paid for it.
So, a nice bit of spending money if they did decide to sell the figure. But sadly not the life-changing amount they may have briefly been dreaming of.
Related links:

Universal’s £6bn UK Theme Park officially named
Entertainment

The JOE Film Club Quiz: Week 100
Entertainment

The JOE Film Club Quiz: Week 99
Entertainment
The JOE Film Club Quiz: Week 100

Entertainment
All the reviews for Clarkson’s Farm Series 5 as audience favourite returns
It seems people are divided The new season of Clarkson’s Farm focuses on Jeremy Clarkson’s efforts to modernise Diddly Squat Farm, as he deals with major farming challenges, a changing political landscape, and the growing demands of running his new pub. Season 5 of the documentary reality series begins after a health scare forces Jeremy […]
Entertainment
21h
‘Amazing’ air cooler drops to under £40 ahead of the next UK heatwave
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission on any sales generated from it.
Entertainment
6 days ago
Entertainment
Amazon slashes the price of best-selling garden furniture set but you’ll have to be quick
Entertainment