The UK TV show Bargain Hunt is a competition between two pairs of amateur collectors. Each pair is given £300 to spend, they are taken to a location (usually a large collectors/antique fair) and set free with an expert and given one hour to purchase some bargains. Their items are then sold at auction and whichever team makes the most money from their items is the winne (or as is often the case – loses the least!).

West German Pottery has featured on the show:  Series 27 episode 13. This show was based in Builith Wells and was broadcast on BBC One on the 10th Nov 2010.

From left to right the contestants had a choice of:

• Scheurich – Look at our umbrella vase
• Bay
• Carstens
• Jopeko lamp base – with the distinctive rough lava glaze
• Scheurich – Form 241
• Scheurich
• Scheurich – Form 284

They chose to buy this rather ordinary Scheurich vase. Described by the presenter as, “quite grotesque but quite brilliant” – make what you want of that observation.

They bought it for £25 and from memory (the episode is too old now to watch on iPlayer to check) it only sold for £15 at auction, a loss for the team. However, as many dedicated collectors will tell you, the type of vase they bought is fairly common, dull and boring; especially in comparison to the myriad of vibrant colours and glazes Scheurich offer. Without a doubt, another Scheurich such as this or this would have easily made that money – and more.