Cliveden Antiques Roadshow


Cliveden

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This week, we've returned to Cliveden -

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a mansion standing above the Thames.

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Cliveden has been close enough to London

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for those who needed refuge from matters of court or politics.

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In 1893, Cliveden was bought by an American family, the Astors,

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whose money came from fur trading,

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and, in 1916, William Waldorf Astor became a baronet.

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When he died, his son, Waldorf, an MP, entered the House of Lords.

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His wife, Nancy, fought the election in his place, becoming the first woman MP to enter Westminster.

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A renowned hostess, Nancy established the Cliveden Set.

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There were endless parties,

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with an "A" list of guests, such as George Bernard Shaw...

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..Amy Johnson and Charlie Chaplin.

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Winston Churchill also visited, despite some venomous exchanges between him and Nancy Astor.

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If he were her husband, she said, she'd poison his food.

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He replied, "Madam, if you were my wife, I'd eat it."

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But he still dined here.

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But Cliveden, in the '60s, was the setting

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for one of the most notorious political scandals.

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It was here, after dinner,

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that Minister for War, John Profumo,

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first saw Christine Keeler, while she was swimming in the pool.

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Their affair was secret for a while,

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but rumours, and the fact that MI5 knew that Keeler was seeing a man from the Russian Embassy,

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forced Profumo to deny that he knew her.

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His downfall wasn't due to the affair but because he lied to Parliament.

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Public interest was huge.

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When Lord Denning published the report into the scandal, people queued till midnight for a copy.

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We're unlikely to find mementoes of that story,

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but our experts are ready for anything which might turn up.

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Let's just hope it stays fine for us.

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Guess what nationality these are.

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-French.

-Wrong!

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-English.

-Oh!

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There's a naivety about these two chaps.

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The combination of bronze and gilt bronze

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is typical of the late 18C, early 19C.

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I don't think a French sculptor made this thin lion with this funny face,

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but the workmanship is good.

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Look - you can see the hair.

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-He has this shaggy mane.

-And the whiskers.

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It's nicely done,

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but the sculpture isn't brilliant.

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You've got this vaguely Adam design

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that you get in the 1770s.

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It's been used on this desk object,

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but it's quite crudely pricked out.

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I'm being rude about them!

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I wish you had said nicer things!

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It's a lovely combination of colour. Let's look underneath.

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These handmade nuts are well made.

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There are traces of sand.

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It's sand-casting, as you'd expect then.

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They're very nice objects indeed,

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and they look so nice.

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They're such decorative objects,

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and so difficult to find.

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Have you had them a long time?

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No, I've had them for about four years.

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A friend of restores antiques.

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He said that a couple owned them,

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and the husband brought them in, as the wife didn't like the base.

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She was thinking of changing the base

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-to more of a bronze colour.

-Oh, yuck!

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He couldn't bear to do it! How horrible!

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He couldn't do it, and asked me if I was interested in purchasing them.

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-I thought it was a fabulous... I love them! It's all right that they're crude!

-Not crude - naive!

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There's a certain charm in naivety.

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I'm very glad the restorer

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didn't change for that lady!

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I like these, despite their naivety.

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May I ask what you paid for them?

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£2,500.

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Would you mind insuring them for £6,000?

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No, not at all! I'd be very pleased!

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-Who is this charming young lady in the photograph?

-It's my mother.

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-And when was it taken?

-I think about 1920 - I don't know exactly.

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Do you know what the occasion was?

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My father loved to show off his furniture,

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and my mother loved to show off a new dress,

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and together they made a picture.

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The thing I want to look at

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is this, which is being shown off with flowers.

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We have it here.

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This is a scrumptious object.

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-Do you know any more than it dates back to 1920?

-It's Viennese.

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-Hand-painted, 18th century.

-18th?

-I think.

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-That's what you've been told.

-Yes. Is that wrong?

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In the 19C, the German School, in both Germany and in Austria,

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-went back to the Renaissance for inspiration.

-I see!

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-This called Historismus - historical revival.

-Yeah, quite.

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This drinking horn was associated with medieval knights.

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-Mmm.

-And it's made of enamelled copper.

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Making 3D shapes in copper and enamel

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is very, very difficult.

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Buckling occurs when firing.

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This is a complicated shape to make.

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-Oh.

-So it has been made in sections.

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On the horn itself

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is subject matter which would be at home in this house.

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We have Orpheus,

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God of music,

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dragging Eurydice out of Hades,

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before he looks back and she disappears.

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It's a gorgeous thing.

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Most gorgeous of all, perhaps, is this -

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the hippocampus,

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-the horse of the sea.

-Yes.

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-It has a dolphinesque tail.

-Yes.

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And this is fashioned in silver.

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A little sculpture in its own right!

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It's beautiful!

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-I love the colours!

-They're gorgeous!

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There is a little bit of restoration

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-on the rim up here.

-Oh, yes.

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It will have a bearing on the value.

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-It's been repainted there.

-Mmm.

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Now...value.

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-Right.

-At a sale some years ago of Viennese enamels,

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I remember seeing a piece like this,

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fetching something like £2,000.

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I see.

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-That was some years ago.

-Yes.

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Today, it's more likely

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to be in the region of £10,000 to £15,000.

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I thought that was about it. Mmm.

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-I'm not going to faint on you!

-Good! Take this home very carefully!

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My mother she got it from a friend or a neighbour, in the Clapham area,

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-it would have been.

-Yes.

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-And how long ago was that?

-The '30s.

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Have you any idea what nationality it is?

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Well, I have an idea it is Dutch, but I don't know.

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Well, certainly, marquetry like this

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-you do see on Dutch furniture.

-Yes.

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-In my view, it's an English piece of furniture.

-Oh!

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It would have been made in the middle of the 19C.

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It's not that old, then? I see.

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-It's about 1850, 1860.

-Yes.

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It has a bad ink stain in there. Does that detract...?

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But it also has its original pink velvet inside, which has faded,

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but it's retained that.

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Ebony veneering. Very high quality.

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Another sign that it's English

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is the lock on here is an English lock.

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It has the look of something

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that you've enjoyed for years.

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Yes, I enjoy it. Mmm.

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It hasn't been over-polished.

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Often things coming onto the market are restored.

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This has a nice, natural feel.

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I haven't polished it lately.

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I used to go over it now and again.

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Gently, every so often, will look after it.

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I think, today, for insurance,

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a figure of £2,500 to £3,000 is right.

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-It's a lovely thing.

-Yes!

-Continue enjoying it!

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What a super plate! It's English delftware -

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-copying the Chinese.

-Yes.

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The inscription is incredible.

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-It thrilled ME.

-Is it a family thing?

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Not MY family. I looked after two old people.

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When the man died,

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his wife asked if there was anything I'd like.

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I chose THAT and I treasure it.

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-I would imagine so!

-I really do.

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The underglaze blue is marvellous.

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-It's very much in the Kangxi style of Chinese.

-Yes!

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You've got a lovely vase, and a little table.

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Then these lovely little panels,

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which depict a Chinese pavilion,

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which people used to retire to,

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and contemplate things!

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-Copied by the English in a strange way.

-Yes!

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-1732 would be the right date for it.

-Yes.

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-Commemorative things can be done later. You realise you haven't made a plate for a birthday...!

-Yes!

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But this is right as rain!

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From Lambeth in London.

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-Really? Yes.

-It's super.

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Unfortunately, at some date,

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they've put these nasty metal...

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-Little wires to hold it on the wall.

-Yes!

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-It may have happened. But delftware easily chips.

-Does it?

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-So, although it has a few chips, it doesn't matter much.

-Good!

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-Are you worried about its value?

-I'd be interested.

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Well, if that didn't have an inscription,

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-if it was just a copy...

-Yes.

-..Of the early-18C,

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-of the Chinese Kangxi plate...

-Yes.

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..it would be something like £500.

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-Ah, yes!

-The inscription turns it into a different animal.

-Oh!

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The inscription and date raise that £500

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up to something like £2,000.

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Oh, that's a lovely surprise!

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This is a wonderful present

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-to have from your friend.

-Well, yes.

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My great grandmother left me it.

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She was born in 1877,

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and she got married in 1898.

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It was in my family home, in my bedroom, and now it's in my cottage.

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That's all I know.

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It's satinwood, which was a popular wood,

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and it's, as you can see, extremely decorative,

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with these Reynolds-like portrait medallions on the doors. It couldn't have been made for a man.

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So it's a piece of late-Victorian, Edwardian furniture.

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It may have been a wedding present.

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Let's look inside, shall we?

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What else does it do? ..Fantastic.

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So you've got a beautiful piece for possibly the bedroom,

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a little writing surface...

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..places for writing accoutrements.

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Here, you could put little bits of sewing,

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you could put letters...

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A very feminine piece of furniture.

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What would we insure it for?

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I think we will put the figure of £1,000 on this.

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Right, that's nice!

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It'll be passed to my daughter when she's old enough.

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-Do you love it?!

-It's very pretty.

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It's interesting to know about these pictures, as my mother is a Reynolds,

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-and is related to Reynolds.

-Strange!

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You said they were "Reynolds-like" -

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that was interesting!

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A collection of illustrated letters

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of absolutely the best sort.

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It's pop art of the 1850s,

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I suppose it is, really.

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This is a wonderful one here!

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-Mrs Abbot, I assume.

-Yes.

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I don't know who these others are.

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-That was his son.

-That's his son?

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-William Thomas, my great-grandfather.

-That's absolutely charming!

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Presumably this...

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Is this to do with India? I can see that he's away from his wife.

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The circumstances of him going to India,

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-I haven't found out.

-Right.

-I assume that it was to make his fortune,

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as he left a wife of only two years,

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-and a son who was only a year.

-Yes.

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-Is that his young son?

-Edward. Yes.

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-With long dreadlocks!

-Absolutely!

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-Terribly mid-Victorian.

-Yes.

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These are so beautiful!

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This one here, I notice,

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has got a little, um...

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-It's his bungalow and pigeon house.

-Yes!

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-Is this out in Bombay?

-That's right.

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He makes a great thing

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about enjoying the East India Company more than the British Army.

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-Now you know what I'm going to say about this!

-I panicked!

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-I must hold up my hand and confess - that's my...

-That's YOU?

-Yes.

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I recommend that you get it off,

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-because it really soaks into the paper and makes a mess of it.

-Yes.

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-Here is one of ships, and him playing cricket.

-Yes.

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That brought him

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from England to Bombay.

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Wonderful!

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You have other pictures here.

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-Well...

-This one here...

-That's his self-portrait.

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And that is - you can see it's the same man -

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-a self-portrait in dress uniform.

-Amazing. It's not a Regency dandy -

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it's a William IV, early-Victorian dandy!

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-With these wonderful muffs!

-Yes!

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-They were sent home in letters?

-Yes.

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Illustrated letters as good as these are rare.

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I find them charming,

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but, of course, being a direct descendant, I can't be very objective about it!

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I think they're the best of their sort and very desirable - illustrated letters sent from India.

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They are worth in the region

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-of about £400 to £500 each.

-Right!

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So you've got, at least, about £2,000 here,

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-together with these.

-I'm pleased!

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-It's wonderful to air them.

-Good!

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Thank you very much indeed!

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I can imagine it behind us here -

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it would be suitable, wouldn't it?

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-Definitely.

-I mean, it's large,

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and I'm sure very heavy...!

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Do you know ANYTHING about it?

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My husband's grandpa acquired it in the '20s - that's it.

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-But do you know what country it came from?

-No idea. No.

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Let's decide on the country.

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It's fortuitous that you've brought this in today.

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There was a recent exhibition of this type of furniture in Belgium.

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Why was it held in Belgium?

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It was made outside Brussels.

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The whole look of this piece of furniture is 17C.

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-17th?

-Yes - the LOOK of it! The look of it!

-Yes.

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And it was a very popular style in Holland.

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Hans Vredeman de Vries was an important designer working in the 16C.

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In the 17C, he kept producing this style as it spread through Europe.

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In the 19C, in Belgium, they started making lots of these,

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and they became almost factory-made.

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There was a recent exhibition of furniture of this type.

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It is the first time anyone has tried to catalogue these pieces,

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so it was fascinating.

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You see, here,

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this design - this geometric moulding -

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you see in England in about 1680, 1700.

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And why do you see it in England at that time?

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The design came over when William of Orange became King in the 1680s.

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So they brought this design from Holland into England. And here...

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-It's great.

-I

-couldn't carve this.

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Compared to the way a figure is carved,

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it's not as realistic as it would be as a 17C piece.

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-Is it oak?

-It's oak, solid oak - very solid oak indeed.

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-So what do you think it's worth?

-I haven't got a clue.

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Have a guess. I'm thinking on my feet, here. It's a new science.

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-I would imagine...£3,000.

-Any advance?

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No, not at all!

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Thinking on my feet, I'll top your bid, and put £5,000 on it.

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-£5,000?

-£5,000?

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-It's one of the best I've seen of its type.

-Really?

-Yes. I think it's a great investment.

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-Yes.

-I can't believe it's £5,000.

-I think that's the minimum! I do!

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-Well...

-It's becoming popular now?

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We're in England - it's a Flemish piece -

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so over there, it'll be taken very seriously. Well done!

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-Thanks very much.

-Thank you!

-Very interesting!

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-Thank you!

-Thank you!

-I'm very stunned.

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This is one of the most famous images in the Roadshow's history,

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-because you brought this along to Reading.

-Yes, I did.

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-It was much appreciated.

-It caused a stir - the picture has had fan mail!

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Have you found out more about this person and what she did?

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I haven't identified the person,

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but someone wrote to me,

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saying the lady was wearing

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a Voluntary Aid Detachment uniform of the Order Of St John,

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which we call St John's Ambulance.

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I was pleased about that.

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I contacted the Order of St. John.

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They invited me to look at their archives.

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When I looked at a uniform of WWI it sent tingles down my spine.

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Since then, I've had more letters.

0:20:100:20:13

We've decided that it would be a good idea to make a card.

0:20:130:20:17

This card will go towards this charity.

0:20:170:20:20

It'll be more famous than it is now.

0:20:200:20:24

This little framed miniature is French.

0:20:240:20:28

-Is it a family heirloom?

-I don't know its origin.

0:20:280:20:32

It's signed to the left - just "Dubois".

0:20:320:20:37

The interesting thing about Dubois is that he, at the end of the 18C...

0:20:370:20:42

-..1780s, he was exhibiting in Paris.

-Mmm.

0:20:430:20:47

He then went to St Petersburg.

0:20:470:20:50

By 1818, he was exhibiting in London.

0:20:500:20:54

I'm not clever enough on dress

0:20:540:20:56

to know whether this waistcoat -

0:20:560:20:59

which is delicious - is English, Russian or French.

0:20:590:21:03

It's hard to comprehend

0:21:030:21:05

how these miniatures are painted.

0:21:050:21:09

Some of them are plumbago with a pencil...

0:21:090:21:13

You can see how they're built up.

0:21:130:21:16

This fineness is extraordinary.

0:21:160:21:19

And even when you get the...

0:21:190:21:22

You have fine paint in the face,

0:21:220:21:24

but you also have a much more painterly brush stroke

0:21:240:21:28

in the shirt and in the cravat.

0:21:280:21:31

Even that feels painterly -

0:21:310:21:33

it doesn't feel laboured in any way.

0:21:330:21:36

Dubois actually painted

0:21:360:21:38

with these dark backgrounds.

0:21:380:21:41

This little miniature here

0:21:410:21:43

is worth today about £3,000 or £4,000.

0:21:430:21:46

I think they're very good value for money.

0:21:480:21:51

This is a different matter altogether -

0:21:510:21:55

rather murky and distressed,

0:21:550:21:58

but I have no doubt, myself,

0:21:580:22:00

that it's of the period - 16th century.

0:22:000:22:03

And it's...

0:22:030:22:06

It says in Latin...

0:22:060:22:09

her age,

0:22:090:22:11

and we can just see...she's 29.

0:22:110:22:14

Beyond the marriage date, really!

0:22:150:22:19

You always think of these little miniatures as being...

0:22:190:22:24

-as being sent to the prospective husband...

-Yes.

-..As a photograph.

0:22:240:22:30

And it's dated 1596,

0:22:300:22:33

and it's um... almost certainly Dutch.

0:22:330:22:37

-It's oil on copper.

-Right.

0:22:370:22:39

And then it does seem to be signed.

0:22:390:22:42

The initial is T. Then it's B-U-I-S.

0:22:420:22:46

In fact...if it were English, I think it would be pretty rare,

0:22:460:22:52

but when we go over to Northern Europe,

0:22:520:22:55

these miniatures really AREN'T terribly rare.

0:22:550:22:59

It's worth £400, which seems surprisingly little.

0:22:590:23:03

If you didn't have much money,

0:23:030:23:05

but wanted to collect,

0:23:050:23:07

what a wonderful thing to collect!

0:23:070:23:10

-How long have you had them?

-Over 30 years, I suppose.

0:23:130:23:17

-Probably about...

-So you've had them a jolly long time!

0:23:170:23:22

I bought them as I was fascinated by the workmanship...

0:23:220:23:26

-Yes.

-The detail of these fascinated me,

0:23:260:23:30

even on the end of the...ramrod.

0:23:300:23:33

They've gone to trouble to engrave it.

0:23:330:23:36

-Yes, yes.

-Amazing.

0:23:360:23:39

England. France. Spain.

0:23:390:23:41

That's Spain?

0:23:410:23:43

Yes, this one's a Spanish one.

0:23:430:23:46

This pistol is a double-barrelled,

0:23:460:23:49

percussion belt pistol.

0:23:490:23:53

It would have been made around about 1840, that time -

0:23:530:23:59

a nice pistol.

0:23:590:24:02

Now, here we have France...

0:24:020:24:07

This pistol is not for firing.

0:24:070:24:09

This is an alarm gun.

0:24:090:24:12

Here...

0:24:120:24:14

This part... would be into a door jamb,

0:24:140:24:19

to make it secure.

0:24:190:24:21

A line would be passed

0:24:210:24:23

across the threshold of a doorway.

0:24:230:24:26

It comes under there,

0:24:260:24:29

up into a little hole here,

0:24:290:24:31

and that, when it's tripped,

0:24:310:24:33

will move that trigger sufficiently

0:24:330:24:37

to allow the cock

0:24:370:24:40

-to make the charge.

-Yes.

0:24:400:24:42

I mean, it would be a gunpowder charge.

0:24:420:24:45

-It's to frighten somebody?

-An alarm gun made in the form of a pistol.

0:24:450:24:51

Now, Spain...

0:24:510:24:53

A nice travelling pistol.

0:24:530:24:55

This is called a miquelet,

0:24:550:24:57

because the action is on the outside

0:24:570:25:00

instead of inside the lock plate.

0:25:000:25:03

Spanish pistols have these ring cocks -

0:25:040:25:08

you could tell a Spanish pistol a mile away.

0:25:080:25:12

Three interesting pistols.

0:25:140:25:16

I think this particular one,

0:25:160:25:20

if it was in auction,

0:25:200:25:22

and it's in nice condition,

0:25:220:25:24

would be around £600 to £800.

0:25:240:25:27

Your alarm pistol...

0:25:280:25:30

Firearms curiosa -

0:25:300:25:32

a lot of collectors for it...

0:25:320:25:35

About £500. And your Spanish one...

0:25:350:25:38

That would be similar to the English one -

0:25:400:25:43

£600 to £800.

0:25:430:25:46

So all in all, you know, three very nice pistols.

0:25:460:25:50

These are some of my favourite toys.

0:25:510:25:54

They're small, they're beautifully designed,

0:25:540:25:58

they sum up a period in history,

0:25:580:26:01

and this is a lovely collection.

0:26:010:26:03

How did they come to YOUR hands?

0:26:030:26:06

They came from my family,

0:26:060:26:08

and I know they were used on my brother's first Christmas tree,

0:26:080:26:13

-which was in Danzig, 71 years ago.

-Oh, fantastic! So...

0:26:130:26:17

I know they're as old as that,

0:26:170:26:19

but that is all I know.

0:26:190:26:21

-They were used as Xmas decorations?

-We have them out every Xmas.

0:26:210:26:26

-You STILL do?

-Yes.

0:26:260:26:28

They tended to be sold

0:26:280:26:31

by vendors outside big stores.

0:26:310:26:33

They were called "penny toys",

0:26:330:26:35

because, at the time, they were sold for one penny.

0:26:350:26:41

They were made in Germany.

0:26:420:26:44

A range of dates here,

0:26:440:26:46

from about 1905,

0:26:460:26:48

through to about 1915, 1920.

0:26:480:26:52

They are sought after by collectors now.

0:26:520:26:56

Something like this -

0:26:560:26:58

we'd be talking £300, £400.

0:26:580:27:00

Oh, my goodness!

0:27:000:27:02

Something like this - the same figure.

0:27:020:27:05

So for this group of toys,

0:27:050:27:08

we are looking at £1,000, if not more.

0:27:080:27:11

Not bad for Xmas decorations!

0:27:110:27:15

It's lovely!

0:27:150:27:16

We're on the next door table,

0:27:160:27:19

and what have we discovered?!

0:27:190:27:21

I don't believe it!

0:27:210:27:23

Look! This is another penny toy,

0:27:240:27:27

and THAT...

0:27:270:27:29

You've got...

0:27:300:27:33

five coaches, in lovely condition...

0:27:330:27:36

-I would have thought maybe £400.

-Oh!

0:27:370:27:40

THUNDER

0:27:400:27:42

Delicious, and not so delicious recipes!

0:27:520:27:56

I'd say that that is probably worth £200.

0:27:560:28:00

Far more exciting, in my opinion,

0:28:000:28:03

are these 50 watercolours of the most delightful,

0:28:030:28:07

and most detailed plants.

0:28:070:28:09

Great bindweed - something that we try to get rid of!

0:28:090:28:14

-Is this another family item?

-It is, yes.

0:28:140:28:17

Another great-great-grandmother,

0:28:170:28:20

more directly connected to me -

0:28:200:28:22

our maiden names are the same.

0:28:220:28:24

These are remarkable -

0:28:240:28:26

50 fabulously detailed watercolours!

0:28:260:28:29

I feel that this collection

0:28:290:28:32

would make certainly in excess of £1,000.

0:28:320:28:35

I enjoy seeing railway posters,

0:28:360:28:38

as they're a precarious survival!

0:28:380:28:43

This is one of my favourite images - Brunel's great Saltash bridge...

0:28:430:28:48

The train coming across this... This was done from a Terence Cuneo painting in 1959 -

0:28:480:28:54

-done for the bridge's centenary. There's a mouse.

-Yes.

0:28:540:28:59

-There he is.

-His trademark.

0:28:590:29:01

His trademark, running along.

0:29:010:29:03

It's one of his best images, as it conveys the history of the railways.

0:29:030:29:08

Where did you get it?

0:29:080:29:10

My family was friendly with a ticket collector from Paddington Station.

0:29:100:29:15

-So he kept posters?

-Yes, he did.

0:29:150:29:18

-I asked him for something for my room.

-Why?

0:29:180:29:22

A train enthusiast?

0:29:220:29:24

Yes. I loved Great Western.

0:29:240:29:26

In wonderful condition,

0:29:260:29:28

this poster is worth £300 or £400.

0:29:280:29:32

-In this condition, it'll be about £150.

-Thanks very much!

0:29:320:29:37

Well, this is a Book Of Common Prayer,

0:29:370:29:40

dated...

0:29:400:29:42

1686 is the date.

0:29:420:29:44

It's a fine Book Of Common Prayer!

0:29:440:29:47

The book, itself, I have to say, doesn't excite me

0:29:470:29:51

as much as this binding!

0:29:510:29:53

In the middle here,

0:29:540:29:57

are the arms of William and Mary,

0:29:570:29:59

but around the edge,

0:29:590:30:01

this lovely, delicate speckling

0:30:010:30:05

with roses and other flowers around it.

0:30:050:30:09

It's the best binding I've seen.

0:30:090:30:11

Where did it come from?

0:30:110:30:13

-My dad was given it to burn.

-What?!

0:30:130:30:16

-Yes, among many other books.

-That's terrible! When was this?

0:30:160:30:20

55, 60 years ago.

0:30:200:30:22

That would have been terrible!

0:30:220:30:25

This is a beautiful survival.

0:30:250:30:27

It's more exciting on the back.

0:30:270:30:30

It has survived better on the back.

0:30:300:30:33

It's lacking its ties.

0:30:330:30:35

I'd recommend you have it furbished.

0:30:350:30:38

Even the joints, although cracked,

0:30:380:30:41

-are not in bad condition.

-No.

0:30:410:30:43

As a binding, this is worth

0:30:430:30:46

something like £2,000.

0:30:460:30:48

Good heavens! Is it really?!

0:30:480:30:50

-And it could have been burned!

-Yes!

-Thanks for bringing it in.

-Thanks.

0:30:500:30:55

-My father was born in 1929.

-Yes.

0:31:020:31:04

He was a Mickey Mouse fan! He died last year.

0:31:040:31:08

We were clearing things out and found Mickey.

0:31:080:31:12

So this was a treasured possession...?

0:31:120:31:15

-You can tell...!

-Yes!

0:31:150:31:17

-He's been much loved.

-He's missing his tail!

0:31:170:31:21

Um, these Mickeys

0:31:210:31:23

were made by Deans Rag Book.

0:31:230:31:26

Here is the registration number...

0:31:260:31:30

which showed that it was a pukka Disney registered design.

0:31:300:31:35

And Mickey - the early sort of rat-faced Mickey with the teeth.

0:31:350:31:40

We have an abundance of riches here.

0:31:400:31:43

Not only do we have THIS Mickey - the type that one sees quite often -

0:31:430:31:49

but we have MacMickey!

0:31:490:31:52

-MacMickey! That's right!

-Mickey MacMouse!

0:31:520:31:55

I have to say

0:31:550:31:57

I haven't seen a Mickey MacMouse,

0:31:570:32:00

dressed in his tartan.

0:32:000:32:02

Is it Mickey or Minnie?

0:32:020:32:04

Is this a kilt, or is it a dress?

0:32:040:32:06

He does have lace round his pants, so perhaps it's Minnie.

0:32:060:32:11

What is nice here

0:32:110:32:13

is that, unlike our friend,

0:32:130:32:16

-yours has his tail.

-Yes.

0:32:160:32:18

Um, we've got the same registration mark here.

0:32:180:32:21

Again, we've got this toothy grin,

0:32:210:32:24

but it is unusual to have this tartan. Is it from Scotland?

0:32:240:32:29

I was told it was from an exhibition in London,

0:32:290:32:33

but I don't know how true that is.

0:32:330:32:35

And how far can you trace it back?

0:32:350:32:38

It belongs to a friend who was born in 1933.

0:32:380:32:42

He's had it since he was a baby.

0:32:420:32:44

Yes, that would figure. Very nice!

0:32:440:32:47

Let's have the two here together.

0:32:470:32:50

As far as value's concerned,

0:32:500:32:53

this little chap... I would say that he is around...

0:32:530:32:57

perhaps £80 to £120.

0:32:570:33:00

Um, MacMickey, because he is very unusual in this outfit,

0:33:000:33:06

would appeal to Disney collectors,

0:33:060:33:09

something like £180 to £200.

0:33:090:33:12

I think he's absolutely lovely.

0:33:120:33:15

This is a delightful garden scene.

0:33:150:33:19

It's painted in oil,

0:33:190:33:22

on a wooden panel.

0:33:220:33:24

A garden with a large greenhouse in the background,

0:33:240:33:28

and rather sort of painted in similar colours.

0:33:280:33:32

Difficult to see is the signature,

0:33:320:33:35

but it's readable - Norman Garstin.

0:33:350:33:38

Garstin was among the first painters

0:33:380:33:41

to settle in Newlyn, in Cornwall -

0:33:410:33:44

-he was in the Newlyn School.

-Yes.

0:33:440:33:47

One of the leading Victorian schools of painting,

0:33:470:33:51

you know, in the late 19C.

0:33:510:33:54

What can you tell me about it?

0:33:540:33:56

How did YOU come by it?

0:33:560:33:58

I was clearing a house out,

0:33:580:34:01

about 15 years ago,

0:34:010:34:04

and this was amongst it.

0:34:040:34:06

-I put it in the shop for six months. There was no interest.

-Really?

0:34:060:34:11

I suddenly looked at it one day,

0:34:110:34:13

-and I thought it was very nice.

-So you took it home?

-Yes.

0:34:130:34:18

Quite right. It is a charming picture.

0:34:180:34:22

Garstin is an Impressionist.

0:34:220:34:24

He studied in France and his pictures almost LOOK French.

0:34:240:34:29

It's got a French feeling about the tonality of it.

0:34:290:34:33

Impressionistic brush work and soft colours

0:34:330:34:37

-are typical of him.

-Yes.

0:34:370:34:39

Now Garstin's work is rare, it doesn't often appear.

0:34:390:34:43

What also makes him interesting

0:34:430:34:46

is that he was born in Ireland.

0:34:460:34:49

So Irish collectors are interested in Norman Garstin,

0:34:490:34:53

all of which, you know, helps to add to the price.

0:34:530:34:57

I took it to an auction house and they said about £700.

0:34:570:35:02

-£700?

-Yes.

-How long ago was that?

0:35:020:35:04

-Eight or ten years ago.

-Yes!

0:35:040:35:07

Things have changed since then.

0:35:070:35:10

If you were to take this picture back to the auction house now,

0:35:100:35:15

-they'd tell you more like £20,000 to £30,000.

-God!

0:35:150:35:19

Without doubt, it's a very charming and delightful Garstin,

0:35:190:35:24

and a good example of his work, in good condition.

0:35:240:35:28

Although small, it's perfect for a private collector - this size -

0:35:280:35:33

so really delightful.

0:35:330:35:35

Thank you for bringing it!

0:35:350:35:38

Thank YOU. You made my day!

0:35:380:35:40

You made MINE!

0:35:400:35:42

-Have you ever seen a LARGER barometer?

-No.

0:35:420:35:46

It's the largest one I've seen.

0:35:460:35:48

I mean, it is eccentrically large.

0:35:480:35:52

It has great charm, due to its scale.

0:35:520:35:55

It's an exquisitely made object.

0:35:550:35:58

This chap has used the best mahogany veneers.

0:35:580:36:02

You've got this flame veneer

0:36:020:36:04

that occurs throughout the carcass of the piece,

0:36:040:36:08

so he's really tried to make this a showy barometer.

0:36:080:36:12

They're called "wheel barometers",

0:36:120:36:15

-or "banjo barometers".

-I've heard THAT expression.

0:36:150:36:19

..Relating to the shape of it.

0:36:190:36:22

You've got a hygrometer, and you've lost the glass.

0:36:220:36:27

This hygrometer would have been an ear of corn

0:36:270:36:31

-which when twisted, as the weather is damper...

-Yes.

-..Or drier,

0:36:310:36:36

so the ear of corn reacts, changing the measurement in that dial.

0:36:360:36:43

The thermometer part...

0:36:430:36:45

is unusual as it's in a bow-fronted case.

0:36:450:36:49

He could have used a flat, glazed cover,

0:36:490:36:53

but decided it was special,

0:36:530:36:55

-and used a more expensive bowed cover.

-Yes.

0:36:550:36:59

The register itself

0:36:590:37:01

is about 16 inches in diameter,

0:37:010:37:04

-which is really enormous.

-Yes.

0:37:040:37:06

Just at the bottom,

0:37:060:37:09

is "Charles Maspero, Manchester".

0:37:090:37:12

He was a maker recorded in Manchester

0:37:120:37:15

-between 1850 and 1870.

-Oh, really?

0:37:150:37:18

If we revolve it, and have a look at the back,

0:37:180:37:22

and we can see inside...

0:37:220:37:25

The silk through this pulley floats with a glass weight

0:37:250:37:29

on top of the mercury.

0:37:290:37:31

The pressure makes the pulley react,

0:37:310:37:34

and adjusts the arm on the front.

0:37:340:37:37

It's a very simple mechanism

0:37:370:37:39

-for such an elaborate and enormous case.

-Yes.

0:37:390:37:43

Tell me, how long have you owned it?

0:37:430:37:46

My great-great-uncle was the estate manager for Lord Leverhulme,

0:37:460:37:51

and Lord Leverhulme gave this as a retirement present,

0:37:510:37:56

because, as the estate manager,

0:37:560:37:58

he was responsible for the shoot and the fishing.

0:37:580:38:02

The barometer was an important piece of his equipment,

0:38:020:38:07

to see what the weather would do!

0:38:070:38:09

So, it sort of... eventually ended up

0:38:090:38:13

in my hands, just after I was married in the early '70s.

0:38:130:38:17

I was rather short of money,

0:38:170:38:19

and I had an antique dealer round.

0:38:190:38:22

I sold some bits and pieces, and he offered me £50 for this.

0:38:220:38:27

-Did he?

-And I said I'd think about it,

0:38:270:38:30

and, er, well, I'm still thinking!

0:38:300:38:34

-It's just as well you were not forthcoming at that time.

-Yes.

0:38:340:38:38

At the moment, it's a splendid thing.

0:38:380:38:42

I'd expect you to get between £3,000 and £4,000 for it.

0:38:420:38:46

-You're joking!

-So £50 to £3,000 is a very fair stretch, isn't it?!

0:38:460:38:52

I'm very grateful!

0:38:520:38:54

Why Malta?

0:38:560:38:58

My husband is half-Maltese. My father-in-law was from Malta.

0:38:580:39:04

Yes, so you bought them there?

0:39:040:39:07

No. My father-in-law bought them in the '60s at an auction in Surrey.

0:39:070:39:12

Two types of Maltese paintings...

0:39:120:39:14

There are lots of tourist pictures.

0:39:140:39:17

-This isn't a tourist picture.

-No.

0:39:170:39:19

It's a Maltese painting his people.

0:39:190:39:22

And where is this one?

0:39:220:39:24

If I remember - father-in-law died 12 years ago -

0:39:240:39:28

he said that that was in a square,

0:39:280:39:31

and he was a melon seller,

0:39:310:39:33

he would be selling melon.

0:39:330:39:35

-Looks more like bananas to me!

-Yes!

0:39:350:39:38

You don't know where it is?

0:39:380:39:40

-I don't know.

-Valetta or somewhere.

0:39:400:39:43

It's a very small island.

0:39:430:39:45

Yes. It's the feeling of that dry...

0:39:450:39:48

This is a dry, parched rock, really.

0:39:480:39:51

And a wonderfully warm people.

0:39:510:39:53

They are.

0:39:530:39:55

I'm interested not in the value of them, but in how they're painted.

0:39:550:40:01

-Are they well-painted?

-They are.

0:40:010:40:04

They're in the Italian style of watercolours.

0:40:040:40:07

-There's an Italian tradition in watercolours.

-Yes.

0:40:070:40:12

And Malta is quite Italian...

0:40:120:40:15

It's a second language there.

0:40:150:40:17

Not the finest watercolours,

0:40:170:40:20

but they are highly competent.

0:40:200:40:22

Yes. OK.

0:40:220:40:24

The price is highly competent as well -

0:40:240:40:27

-these are worth quite a lot of money.

-Ah.

0:40:270:40:31

They are worth

0:40:310:40:33

at least £6,000 to £8,000 each.

0:40:330:40:36

Good grief!

0:40:360:40:38

-And maybe more.

-Gosh.

0:40:380:40:40

-Maybe up to £10,000 each.

-Heavens!

0:40:400:40:43

You have surprised me! I must say, you have!

0:40:450:40:48

Lovely cruet frame! Do you use it?

0:40:480:40:51

-I don't.

-Why not?

0:40:510:40:53

I'm frightened to use it!

0:40:530:40:56

I'd be wary, particularly with this glass.

0:40:560:40:59

Glass, I must admit, terrifies me.

0:40:590:41:03

If you drop silver, at least it bounces -

0:41:030:41:07

you can get the dents out later!

0:41:070:41:09

What is wonderful with this cruet

0:41:090:41:12

is that the glass seems intact.

0:41:120:41:15

Has it been passed down the family?

0:41:150:41:17

I see there's a coat of arms.

0:41:170:41:20

Nothing to do with our family.

0:41:200:41:22

It would be quite interesting

0:41:220:41:24

to try and work out who that is.

0:41:240:41:27

There's a gentleman's helm there,

0:41:270:41:29

so it's not a member of the peerage.

0:41:290:41:32

So, how did you come by it?

0:41:320:41:35

It was my birthday, I was in Ireland, and my father told me to pick out whatever I liked in the house.

0:41:350:41:41

-I picked this.

-You know the maker?

0:41:410:41:44

Yes, I do - Paul Storr.

0:41:440:41:46

Absolutely! Paul Storr -

0:41:460:41:49

one of the greatest workers ever -

0:41:490:41:51

the greatest makers of silver.

0:41:510:41:53

From the date there...

0:41:530:41:56

Where are we? ..1808.

0:41:560:41:59

That was at the peak of Paul Storr's work -

0:41:590:42:03

with Rundell, Bridge and Rundell -

0:42:030:42:05

goldsmiths to the King.

0:42:050:42:07

You couldn't get better work then.

0:42:070:42:10

Cruets by Paul Storr...

0:42:110:42:13

..are actually comparatively common.

0:42:140:42:17

I see.

0:42:170:42:20

Complete ones are not,

0:42:200:42:22

and ones of this size are not.

0:42:220:42:25

This is quite a cruet.

0:42:250:42:27

It surprises me that it's not a member of the peerage,

0:42:270:42:32

which is what you expect with Storr.

0:42:320:42:35

A stunning piece of Regency silver.

0:42:360:42:39

Have you ever had it valued?

0:42:390:42:41

I have, yes. Due to insurance.

0:42:410:42:44

It was valued between five and six.

0:42:440:42:47

-Thousand?

-Yes.

-How long ago was that?

0:42:470:42:50

-Um, it must be at least... er, six years ago.

-Six years.

0:42:500:42:56

Things have moved a bit since then.

0:42:560:42:59

I would reckon, that to insure this,

0:43:000:43:03

you'd have to put...

0:43:030:43:05

between £25,000 and £30,000 on it.

0:43:050:43:08

Boy-oh-boy! Whew!

0:43:100:43:13

-So a reassessment on the insurance!

-Yes. Whew!

0:43:130:43:17

That's something. Whew! Yeah.

0:43:170:43:20

In spite of the rain, we've had a wonderful day.

0:43:200:43:24

Thank you to the National Trust, and to the hotel for their warm welcome,

0:43:240:43:29

and to the people of Buckinghamshire and Berkshire for bringing us their treasures AND themselves.

0:43:290:43:36

Until next week, goodbye.

0:43:360:43:39

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