Writing on this week's Letters page, Mark Dodgson, Secretary General of the British Antique Dealers' Association, echoed many of the comments, stating:
"I feel bound to add to your own scepticism of the 40% fakes figure claimed by the television series, Treasure Detectives. Bearing in mind BADA members annually sell antiques and fine art worth £822 million, it is worth noting that in some years I receive no queries and in others a maximum of two or three queries about the validity of items sold by the membership. The average number of such complaints upheld amounts to fewer than one a year.
"I am fully aware that BADA members are not representational of the entire market, but I think anyone with the slightest knowledge of the subject would seriously question the validity of the 40% figure."
ATG have received no response from UKTV, makers of Treasure Detectives, or from its presenter, Curtis Dowling.
