Van Den Bergh Cash in the Attic

Welcome to Cash In The Attic where we uncover treasures in your home and sell them for you at auction.

Today, I've come to Bromley in Kent

and behind me is Keston Windmill, a beautiful restored building that stands testament to bygone times.

Keston Windmill was built in 1716 and, at 450 feet above sea level,

is the oldest surviving windmill in Kent,

so today we're hoping to find plenty of antiques and collectables

to breeze through a very different sale when we take them to auction.

I'm on my way to meet proud grandmother, Tessa Van Den Burgh.

She's called us in to help raise some money for a rather exciting sporting adventure.

'Tessa Van Den Burgh has had an exciting and well-travelled life.

'Now surrounded by her family, grandson Freddie has a trip of a lifetime to Malaysia planned

'and Grandma is on hand to help out.

'Will the rummaged antiques go down the Swanee?'

-A commode.

-Oh, dear.

'Will they mind saying goodbye to their collectables?'

I'm not sure I really want to sell them. £600 would be great, but...

'And will her grandmotherly generosity come back to haunt her?'

It's unsold.

'So will the Van Den Burghs' antiques be a hit with the bidders at auction?'

-Paul, started without me?

-Yes, there's lots of priceless antiques found in gardens, but not here.

Don't worry because there are lots of fine-quality antiques indoors.

-Ready?

-Yes.

-Don't forget to wipe your feet.

-OK, after you.

There you all are! All right, gather round, everybody.

-I understand you called us in?

-Yes, I did.

-To what purpose?

To raise money so that Freddie's mum can go on the hockey tour with him.

-Where is this tour?

-In Malaysia.

-You're a lucky young man. You're quite a sportsman?

-Yeah, I particularly like cricket and hockey.

-This is some trip?

-A long way away.

-Is it a good idea for your mum to come too?

-Yeah, it'd be really good.

-OK, so we've got the money for you, but not your mum.

-I would like her to go as well.

-How do you feel about this, Dad and sister?

-We'd like to go too.

-Yeah!

-We'd have to raise a bit more money, I guess.

-Yes.

-What sort of money are we talking about?

-About 3,000.

-What would that cover?

-That would cover Susie going, Freddie's mum,

and some coaching before they go.

So we need to raise £3,000, so that Mum can come with you to Malaysia and get a bit of extra coaching.

Let's go and find some stuff to sell.

Susie is a cordon bleu chef who hosts dinner parties.

Today, work beckons, but first she couldn't help but dig out a few gems for the rummage today.

Every surface in Tessa's home is covered with collectables from her far-flung travels.

Luckily, Paul Hayes' thoughts rarely leave the world of antiques.

He's bubbling with ideas when it comes to cashing in on collectables

and is never tardy when it comes to hitting our family's target.

Look at that! Tessa, you have got some amazing stuff in this house.

What a treasure trove! We do need an expert to value it all and I can hear him. This way!

-There you are, Paul.

-Hello. Right on time!

-How are you?

-Fine.

-This house is full of really interesting bits and pieces.

I've started already and I found this wonderful grandmother clock.

This is the Jacobean style which was very popular in the 1920s.

It's a revival style that goes back to the early 17th century

and all the furniture then had barley twists and solid oak construction.

-What sort of value?

-This is quite a good one. It's solid oak.

Lots of them are plywood, a cheap material. It does chime on the hour.

So it's got a lot going for it really. I think £150 to £200?

-I thought it would be more.

-Let's hope there are some grandmothers at the auction!

-It's a good start.

Shall we look through here? There are so many rooms!

I'm not happy with the estimate for the grandmother clock. I would put a reserve on it of more than 120.

Tessa had hoped for more on the grandmother clock, but a healthy reserve should put her mind at ease.

The team spread out around this massive house and rummaging comes easy with a hoarder like Tessa.

-England greats.

-I've got a team from the 1981 Ashes series.

Have our father and son team hit a six or gone for a duck?

-Are they worth anything?

-Let's ask Paul.

-Paul, what do you reckon?

-Wow, these are great, aren't they?

-England-Australia, signed bats.

-How have you come across these?

A great friend of Mum's was Ian Chappell, the Australian cricketer.

One Sunday when they were over in 1975, the Australian team came for a barbecue here which was fantastic.

The was a bowler on that tour called Gary Gilmour, fast bowler,

probably had a few beers, we had a net down there, hit one over the nets, straight through the window.

And I suppose he felt a bit guilty, and Trevor and Ian Chappell,

and they basically gave me a signed bat.

-The Australian cricket team were playing cricket in the back garden here?

-And also broke a window!

People would have a cricket bat signed by your county cricket team.

Then they had the idea of making miniature versions, so you could put them on the wall.

It's a deliberate thing teams will do for charities and you were very lucky getting this at the time.

-How many have you got?

-I think we've got eight.

-And there's also one up there.

-Yeah.

-Two, four, six, seven.

-Have you any idea how much they might be worth?

Impossible to say. If there's a cricket enthusiast at the auction, who knows?

If I said put a reserve of, say, £600, would that sound OK?

They're memories of the Australian cricket team, so I'm undecided about whether we should sell them.

We need to keep looking. Put those down.

I'm not sure I want to sell them.

£600 would be great, but they're special bats. I need to give it some thought.

'A £500 estimate on the autographed bats is a nice chunk of our target,

'but only if Dom will let them go.

'Our fielders are catching out collectables left, right and centre.

'Paul is counting the pennies with this Empire coin collection.

'Tessa's rich and colourful life is reflected in the eclectic mix around her home.'

This house has some gorgeous stuff in it. Was it always like this?

Oh, God, no. It was full of clocks with sundials and just not my cup of tea at all.

-This is much more your taste?

-Yes.

-Where have you got all these bits and pieces from?

-A few bits I've bought.

-Family mostly.

-You're from South Africa. What made you come here?

I was born in South Africa and lived there for 17 years.

My parents thought I needed more education.

So I came to school in London, to Cygnet House, a finishing school.

-A proper finishing school?

-Yes.

I learnt absolutely nothing.

It cost my parents a lot of money, but I learnt nothing. But I met wonderful people.

Crikey! So who were your peers?

The peers were Fergie's mum, Susan Wright,

Ira Furstenberg who was married when she was 14.

There were lots of ladies and we did everything.

We went to the opera, to balls, we went racing.

-Did it change your life?

-I had no intention of staying in England.

I had a wonderful life in South Africa, but then I met my husband.

We went back to South Africa and got married out there, then came back and I've been here for 50 years.

-How many children have you got?

-Four children and six grandchildren.

Tell me a bit about Freddie. I understand he excels at sports.

From a very early age. He won the egg and spoon race when he was two!

-He played cricket for Kent when he was nine.

-Goodness!

Hockey, he's only really played in the last three years.

They've won all sorts of fantastic tournaments.

I've never seen a child's room with so much stuff in it - silverware, silver salvers, everything.

-You've got the money for Freddie's trip.

-Yes, but I'd like his mum to go as well.

And also to pay for some extra coaching for him before he goes on this incredible trip.

We've seen some wonderful things. Let's see what else we can find.

'What a lady! Tessa's love of her family is as obvious as her love of the antiques.

'While we were chatting, the team is still rummaging. Freddie has served up this silver tray.

'Hannah takes the weight off her feet with her latest find.'

-Paul!

-Yeah?

-What do you think of this chair?

-That's a nice one.

-Do you like that?

-Yeah.

-Is it one of your grandma's favourites?

-Yeah, one of the best.

This is a typical Victorian chair called a button-back

because the button holds it in.

When you lay right back, doesn't it do your back in?

No, because your back rests on the padded area.

This was the height of comfort. If you sit in there properly, the whole thing moulds around you.

-Can you see the way that these come over here?

-Yeah.

Imagine a big, Victorian, draughty house with log fires and so on,

you'd bury yourself in there, all the wind would go around you and you'd be nice and snug.

It's very French style. This painted, gilded effect is very French, Louis XVI style.

One way to tell the age of this chair, if you stand over there just a second...

there was a great invention about 1840, when you had large seated areas like this,

-you had the coiled spring - can you feel the bits of metal?

-Yeah.

This chair was made after 1840, most likely about 100 years ago.

-Did your grandma have it restored in any way?

-Yes, I think so.

-Has she replaced any of the stuffing?

-Yes.

It's quite a nice one. Any idea how much that's worth?

-600?

-I wish you came into my shop. That's a bit optimistic. As it is...

-What would you say?

-£180 to £250, that sort of price band.

-Good. Cool.

-Does that sound all right?

-Yeah.

Somebody would totally restore it, then you can see it in a posh antiques shop at that figure.

Done up, it would be lovely. All right, come on.

I didn't realise how much it went for. I couldn't believe what he was saying to me. It was like, "Whoa!"

'We're turning this place upside down to give us a sporting chance of success at auction.

'Dominic discovers these two paintings in the lobby.

'Paul heads upstairs. We need a big find if there's to be any hope

'of reaching our £3,000 Malaysia Hockey Tour Fund.'

-What a beautiful piece of furniture!

-Is this a family piece?

It came from my grandparents and great-grandparents. They kept cheese in it.

-You don't keep cheese in it?

-No.

-Just thought I'd check!

-Are you sure it wasn't smelly socks?

-No, definitely not.

This is a dressing chest or a tallboy. It's a chest-on-chest.

-I don't know how old it is.

-You're looking 18th century here, 1700s, 1800s.

It's a real antique item. It's after a guy called Thomas Sheraton, Britain's best known cabinet maker.

He made these wonderful items from solid mahogany with inlay.

They carve out a particular shape, replace it with a contrasting wood and the end result is fantastic.

But what's beautiful about it is its patina.

It's a natural build-up of oil and dirt and it gives a lovely colour.

If you step back from it, you can tell this has been in a light area to one side.

This whole right-hand side is slightly bleached.

That can't be faked. That tells me that this top has always gone with that bottom.

What are we talking about in value?

Rather than give a price on it, I'd like to talk to somebody who specialises in this field.

-Is it available for sale?

-Yes. I shall be sorry to see it go.

I don't keep cheese, but I keep all my Christmas stockings and rubbish in there really.

We won't have a price until we've spoken to a specialist.

-We need to find some stuff that will get us near our target.

-OK.

I'm really interested to hear about the tallboy and I will await with anticipation Paul's valuation.

Never one to tell tall tales, Paul thinks a second opinion on the tallboy is needed.

Every little piece is looked over in Tessa's home.

This set of Crown Derby figurines

should make a royal £150 to £180 at auction.

Heading back downstairs, father and son make a good team

and the rummaging is going well.

-There you are. I understand you're more at home on any kind of sports pitch.

-Yes, I play loads of sports.

-What's your earliest memories of any sport?

-Going down to Bickley Park near here and playing cricket.

-Without being terribly biased as his father, has he got a real natural talent?

-Yeah, I think so.

Probably more than I did. I played to quite a high level.

Freddie, tell me a little bit about this tour.

First we'll go to Singapore and we'll play the local clubs there

and see some of the sights like the Raffles Hotel,

then we'll go to Kuala Lumpur and play a few more matches,

then to Penang, the island off Kuala Lumpur, then we're going to Langkawi for three days at the end.

-That's quite a lot of games.

-Seven in all.

-Right, OK.

-Shall we crack on? Come on.

-Yeah.

Freddie may have a natural talent for sport, but Hannah has a natural talent for dealing out collectables.

This Georgian stool will hopefully play out nicely at auction.

Paul has found another bit of forgotten furniture.

Mind your backs! Coming through!

-Good grief.

-Let me put this down.

-Look at that!

-What a wonderful chair!

-Isn't that marvellous?

-Where did this come from?

-I bought it for 20p.

-20p?

-20p. I think it was Bermondsey or Portobello, one of those markets.

40 years ago.

Even 40 years ago, to pay 20p, it's got to be a bargain.

It's a genuine antique. This is Georgian.

Reign of George III, late 18th century.

It's a carver from a dining suite.

You'd have four or maybe eight chairs that match.

Absolutely superb, robust design.

It looks very spindly, very elegant, but it's very, very hardy.

-What do you think it's worth?

-It's a restorer's lot.

Done up, it could be quite good.

I'll leave you guessing for now.

-Shall we see if we can find something that you will tell us the value of?

-OK.

-Come on.

I'm waiting in great anticipation of what the value is.

I'm sure my 20p will be really well worth spent.

A Georgian chair for just 20 pence?

I can't wait to hear what this beautiful bit of wood is worth.

Dom's checking out some artwork and I've found this little ink stand.

Hannah and Paul get rummaging downstairs, but Hannah's latest find has gone down the pan.

-Paul, what do you think of this chair?

-The place is full of chairs.

-That's a commode.

-Oh, dear.

-The less said about that, the better.

-This mirror is lovely. Is this one of your grandma's favourite?

-Yes.

It dates from the Regency period. Have you heard of that?

-No.

-Have you heard of The Madness Of King George?

-Yes.

George III went a bit mad and to compensate that,

his son took over the throne. It's where we get the name Regency from.

It's any item made 1800 to 1820, the beginning of the 19th century.

-That's a long time ago.

-You're telling me!

-Ancient.

This is a form of pier glass mirror which would sit in the alcove between two windows.

It's almost like a gingerbread. It's very, very thin pieces of mahogany. Can you see that?

-What's this?

-That would have had a convex mirror to enable you to see the whole room.

It would catch the light.

What you look for as well is you check the thickness of the glass.

Real Georgian mirrors are very thin.

Can you see the pen there? Those two nibs almost touch.

Late 19th century glass is very thick. You'd have more of a gap between the two nibs.

-I think £100 to £150. Does that sound all right?

-Yeah.

-Do you think your grandma will let it go?

-Yeah.

-Let's go and tell her.

I'm very happy for the mirror to go. It belonged to my great-grandmother.

So it's been passed down from generation to generation and I'm happy for it to go to auction.

'Tessa is in a clearing-out mood. It seems everything can go,

'which is fantastic news for our £3,000 target.

'Dominic finds this collection of four tea caddies that were used for storing fresh tea leaves.

'Our clairvoyant of collectables Paul predicts £40 to £80 each.

'The next hit on our list

'is a timepiece in the living room.'

Paul, Tessa, I've found the most amazing clock.

This is absolutely beautiful. Is this another family piece?

It's the same vintage as the other clock. 70 years it was in the family.

-It's absolutely stunning. Do you like it?

-Not particularly.

-Why?

-It's a bit ornate for me.

-What do you think, Paul?

These are marvellous clocks. It's loosely called a bracket clock.

They had a handle and you'd move them from room to room.

They're absolutely superb quality.

When the spring came around, they made them more compact, but the design was kept.

This one is about 1880, 1900, so earlier than you think.

These clocks are always made in Germany and the Westminster chime is inspired from Big Ben.

It's very clever how it works.

When you get into the back of these clocks, you can really see the movements.

These chiming bars here make a different pitch. These are little hammers. It all runs on clockwork.

But absolutely fantastic. Let's just turn it round again.

Everything we get today is battery-powered or quartz movements.

Anything clockwork is a bygone thing and it's becoming appreciated.

-What sort of value?

-You're looking around £1,000.

-Hmm, lovely!

-Would that sound all right?

-I like it a bit better now.

That could make about a third of our target.

-Shall we tot up and see how much we've got? Guys, come in!

-Hello.

Do you see this clock? It's worth £1,000 no less!

-Whee!

-Yes!

-We wanted to raise £3,000, so that your mum can accompany you to Malaysia.

-Do you think that you're anywhere near that figure?

-I would think fairly...

-Close-ish? I hope so.

-I would think fairly near.

-We've got the beautiful tallboy, but that's a specialist valuation.

-Yeah, you could be surprised.

-If you want to bowl a maiden over, you could bring the cricket bats.

They're pretty special to us. We'd have to think about it.

Let's exclude those items, but everything else that's going to auction comes to £2,555.

-We're getting there.

-Next time we see this will be at the auction house.

We've certainly scored a few home runs in our rummage today.

Top of the league is the magnificent tallboy,

but its exact value will be disclosed later by a specialist.

Hopefully, we'll cash in on the Empire solid silver coin collection.

We also have the grandmother clock for the general auction

and the Westminster chime bracket clock will go to a fine arts sale.

A nice little surprise could be the Georgian chair

that only cost Tessa 20p. Will this prove to be a canny buy?

Paul will reveal all on auction day.

It's been two weeks since we looked round Tessa's property in Bexley.

We found plenty of collectables to bring here to Sworders auction house in Stansted Mountfitchet.

She wants to raise £3,000 to get top professional hockey coaching for grandson Freddie.

Let's hope as the items go under the hammer that there's plenty of enthusiasm from the bidders.

Sworders auction house is open for business. Eager buyers are looking for anything and everything.

I like coming to auctions because I can generally buy things to sell which are reasonably priced.

I'm not a collector of any one thing. I just like to have a look and see.

If something looks different and I like it, I'll go for it.

'The Van Den Burghs' treasures are being studied closely.

'I find Paul hanging out with the older generation.'

-Good morning.

-Good morning.

-Is it that time already?

-Yes, it's time to sell Grandmother.

-It is lovely.

They're marvellous items. I think it will do quite well. We're in the right area, it's a country clock.

-What about the cricket bats? We are in Essex and they've got quite a good cricket side.

-They're great.

I hope he's brought them along. They could do particularly well.

-That lovely tallboy, any update?

-This is a general sale here today.

That's a special item and I'd rather see that in a fine arts sale.

I've brought it along, but I want to chat to somebody who can give us a realistic estimate on it.

-It's a very good piece.

-Shall we go and find the family?

-Yeah.

The room is chock-a-block with antique enthusiasts.

Our auctioneer is hoping for a good sale.

The Van Den Burghs will do well. They've got a mixed assortment.

A bit of a lottery over how some things will sell, but I'm sure they'll come up fine.

'With the family's antiques getting such close attention,

'let's hope it transfers into cash.

'Our sale is divided into two parts with all the wood and furniture being sold in the afternoon.

'We find Tessa and Dominic ready to go.'

-Good morning.

-Hello.

-Good morning.

We've had a little bet. Did you bring the cricket bats?

-I've brought them.

-Excellent news! How do you feel about seeing your items here?

Very mixed feelings cos I've had some of them for such a long time.

-Especially my 20p chair which Paul won't tell me how much it's worth.

-Makes it interesting.

-That coin set is very nice.

-Yes.

-You've got some great items.

-It's very busy and the auction is about to start, so shall we find a nice position?

-Yeah.

-This way.

'We make our way across the room and the auction gets under way.

'Remember, anything bought or sold at auction is subject to commission and VAT.

'We just get our places in time for our first lot this morning,

'the ink stand that Paul valued at £25 to £40.'

Lot 95, the 1920s, black, glass and brass mounted ink stand.

These always are popular, despite the onset of computers and emails.

It's quite nice. It's been on my father's, grandfather's desk.

These go back to a romantic time of actually writing letters.

-We'll start here at £25.

-25, straight in.

30. 32. 35. 38. 40.

42. I'll take 5. 45.

-Good-looking lot here at £45.

-Come on, it's beautiful.

All done and finished at 45...?

-£45.

-Almost double your estimate.

'What a cracking start - £5 over its top end estimate!

'The room is buzzing with bidders and all thoughts are on the Empire coin collection doing well.'

The silver coins have been stuck in the cupboard for 30, 40 years.

They're only cluttering up the cupboard. I may as well sell them.

'Tessa has a good attitude for auction day.

'Paul valued these solid silver coins at £80 to £150.

'Will the room nod their heads or turn on their tails?'

-Starts us away here at £80.

-Straight in at 80.

I'll take 5. 85. 90. 5. 100. And 10.

-Yeah.

-120. 120 is here. 130. 140.

150. 160. The bid is here with me at 160. 170.

-Come on.

-Another bidder.

With me on commission at £180. Are we all done and finished at 180...?

-Great!

-'The hammer falls at £180. Well collected, Tessa.

'Not bad for something that just sat in a cupboard.

'The room is bursting with buyers eager to spend their cash, a good sign,

'as our next lot, the silver tray, is valued at £120 to £180.'

We're selling at £175, down the middle at 175...

-Result!

-Brilliant. £175?

-Yeah, good.

-Crikey!

'The tray also sells well at just £5 under its top estimate.

'The first three lots have sold and everyone is feeling confident.

'Next under the hammer is Tessa's tea caddies. The auctioneer knows how to market these to the room.'

We split them up to give them a chance to appeal to more people.

A lot of buyers will like to buy one, maybe not four or five.

'It's a shrewd move and Tessa is happy for them to go to a new home.'

They've been in the family for years and years. Some are Georgian. I'm hopeful they'll get a good price.

Lot 61, George III, mahogany, cross-banded and inlaid tea caddy.

Tea caddies are always popular.

Yeah, they're beautifully made boxes.

You kept your tea locked up. It was very expensive.

-Just well-made pieces of furniture.

-Starts us at £60.

-£60.

-£60 is bid. I'll take 5 where? £60 is bid.

-5 for the caddy, 65. 70.

-Yes!

-75. 80. 85.

90. 5. 100. And 5. 110.

110. Got to go here, 120.

-At 120, commission's here.

-Commission, 120.

-Commission bid, eh?

£125 for the two we're selling. At £125, all done...?

-That was an expensive cuppa!

-It's the most I've ever paid for a cup of tea!

'Fantastic! The first of our tea caddy lots has brewed up a storming profit.

'Will the next tea caddy lot also be to the bidders' tastes?'

Selling at 130...

-Result!

-That is really good.

'It seems so, selling £50 over the low end estimate.'

The tea caddies have been in the family for years and years, so I was delighted with what they went for.

'It seems Tessa's antiques can do no wrong with the buyers at Sworders auction rooms.

'But will the next lot of modern Crown Derby animals

'evoke a similar response?'

Lot 100, three Royal Crown Derby animal paperweights.

We've been to this auction house before and Crown Derby have done very well.

What price have you put on these three little animals?

£50 each, so we're looking for 150.

We're gonna start here at £100.

-£100 straight in.

-Whoa!

-At £100. I'll take 10 where?

-It's a struggle.

-No-one there.

110. I've got 120. 30, madam?

For three of them? £120 here then.

Come on!

-£120...

-Come on, come on.

-No vet's bills, no feeding, madam.

-He really is trying.

It remains here then at £120...

-That's not sold.

-Unsold - our first lot of today to not go home with someone else.

Hopefully, this is just a little blip on today's sales.

Dominic's collection of signed bats is our next lot to be sold

and they could make a big contribution to our £3,000 target.

Dom is willing to take a chance.

If someone buys them, I hope it's for a decent sum of money, so we put a reserve of £600.

Hopefully, someone else can enjoy them and let's see how we go.

Lot number 74, we have the cricket bats, one signed by the England team, the other by Australia.

-So the cricket bats are here.

-What do you reckon?

-What do you think?

-We'll give them a try.

We've put a reserve on them of 600, but we need two people to bid.

-See how we go.

-Starts us at £300.

-300 in.

-300?

-300 bid.

-For the England-Australia bats. At £300.

-There's not that many cricket lovers.

-No interest at all?

- Bit more, bit more. - They're not sold.

-Out for 300 as opposed to out for 600.

-I'm quite glad I'm taking them back home.

'That may be so, Dominic, but that was £500 we're now stumped without.

'We steel ourselves and hope that our next lot of the morning can paint a different kind of picture.'

Douglas Treasure is not a name I've come across. We couldn't find any records relating to past sales.

So they may just sell on their commercial, decorative appeal alone.

'Our auctioneer is in two minds about Tessa's taste in paintings.'

-Lot 80, Douglas Treasure, figures by their fishing boats.

-What do you want for this, Paul?

These are quite nice. I was chatting to a gentleman who understands South African paintings.

He sold one recently for £200. We have a £200 reserve on each one.

It might be a bit near the knuckle, but if we get two people who understand them, we might get that.

Where do we start? At £200? At £200. 220. 240.

-Come on.

-260. 280.

-Come on.

-Come on.

-300. 320.

And 40. 360. 380.

-380, that's all right.

-Yeah.

-At £380.

-Can I bid?

Are we all done and finished at 380...?

-Fantastic.

-That is really good.

-Yeah.

'Paul's on-the-floor knowledge came good.

'They sell just £20 under their reserve

'with the auctioneer using his discretion.

'That's a much-needed injection of cash to our hockey fund.

'I do some sums to let Tessa and Dom know where we stand.'

That's the end of our lots so far and you've made £1,155.

-What a great start!

-Fantastic.

We've got a bit of a break before the furniture and you need to speak to the specialist.

I hope to bring you some good news about this tallboy. Not you!

-What about the 20p chair?

-I'll tell you in the second innings.

Paul has invited 18th century furniture specialist James Rolleston down to the auction

to take a look at the tallboy.

James, thank you for having a look at this.

Do you know where it's come from originally?

Possibly the Channel Islands or maybe even southern Ireland.

This inlay has got echoes of that.

-These handles aren't original?

-No.

They would have been this size, but they would have been better quality.

It's a very early piece. Is it late 18th century, early 19th century?

Yes, probably about 1810, probably around then.

If I was to tell Tessa a value, what would you expect it to bring?

At auction, it's very unpredictable.

If two people really like it, it can slightly inflate the price.

-So you could get two and a half to three.

-They'll be delighted.

-If I said £3,000, they will be made up.

-I think that's realistic.

-This doesn't want to go into a general sale.

-No, not with porcelain or silver.

-You want to sell it in a specific furniture sale.

-You've made my day and the family's as well. Thank you.

So Paul has decided the tallboy and the Westminster chime clock

are going to be put into a fine art auction

to maximise their chances of a great price.

Back at today's sale, the buyers are taking a last look at the lots they fancy having a bid on.

I've come here today because I like looking round at old furniture

and I'm looking for a dining table.

I'm sure you'll find it in this room, madam. It's full of the weird and wonderful.

The second part of our sale is drawing nearer. Paul heads back to us with some good news.

Now then, you two, I've got some great news for you.

Your chest-on-chest, your tallboy is from the Channel Islands.

-Does that ring any bells to you?

-Not at all.

He's given me a value on it and he says on a really good day,

-you could be looking at as much as £5,000.

-Fantastic.

-I'll give you a big hug if it gets that.

-I asked him the minimum and he said at least £3,000.

We'll take it to another auction, so it gives you a bit of time to set any reserves and so on.

We have lots of items still to sell. Let's get back to the auction.

That's good news for the travel fund,

but we'll have to wait for the fine art sale to see just how much the tallboy will bring in.

We've had a fantastic sale so far, but will our luck continue into the afternoon?

The first lot under the hammer is another mystery item.

Come on, Paul, spill the beans!

Lot 242, the George III, mahogany, open-arm elbow chair.

Paul, do tell us. It's that chair bought for 20p.

-We want to know!

-It's a beautiful old chair, almost 200 years old.

It's seen better days, but haven't we all? In its present state,

you're looking at £50 to £80.

-Good profit.

-Isn't it just?

Lot 242, £100 for it?

-Come on.

-The open-arm chair we're selling at £50... 5. 60.

-5.

-Oh, yeah.

-70. 5.

80. 5. At £85. 90 where now?

We're selling in the room at £85. Bid's in front...

-Good profit on 20p.

-Congratulations.

'So for a 20p investment, Tessa has been repaid a hundredfold.'

The Georgian chair, my 20p one, I'm very pleased with. We got £85.

It needs a bit of repair, but it's very nice, so somebody will enjoy it.

The next piece of furniture is a bit of a gamble as our auctioneer explains.

20 years ago, this furniture would have sold extremely well.

Nowadays, the fashion for minimalism, I don't think it will sell well.

That's not good news, but Tessa will risk it and see if a bidder falls for this nostalgic chair.

Lot 237, the 19th century, French, cream and gilt upholstered chair.

-What do we hope to get for this?

-Nearer the 200 mark.

Couple of hundred for it? 100 and we're away.

£100. I'll take 10 where now? At £100. Lot 237.

Come on, someone must be there.

Are we all done and finished at £100...? Remains here.

That's unsold.

The auctioneer's insight came to fruition

and the chair remains in Tessa's household. That's a big loss.

I'm very disappointed. I think it's a really pretty chair, but obviously nobody fancied it.

Grit your teeth. The next lot could pull a little back.

The Georgian stool may only be £30 to £40, but it has a lot of charm.

At £20, are you all out now? All done at £20...? It's not gone.

-Rather than let them go too low, hang on to them.

-Sure.

This room has turned on the Van Den Burghs' antiques.

Our morning was so good.

We pull ourselves together for the next lot, the Regency mirror valued at £100 to £200.

Lot number 248, the George III, fret-framed wall mirror.

-Starting me here at £100.

-Come on.

-The wall mirror we're selling at £100...

-Come on.

-At £100, are we all done and finished?

-Oh, dear.

-That's not sold.

-He hasn't sold that one.

This is a nightmare, another unsold antique in our afternoon sale.

We've hardly moved closer to our £3,000 for Freddie's hockey tour.

Only one lot left in the sale, Dominic is hedging his bets on the grandmother clock.

We thought Paul's estimate for the grandmother clock was quite low and I think it'll do a lot better.

Prove him wrong, Dom. Not just for you but for Freddie's trip. It's fingers crossed!

Lot 259, the 1920s, oak-cased grandmother clock.

I assume you won't miss this because in your hall

-you also have that beautiful grandfather clock.

-I won't miss it.

Come on, Grandmother.

Starting right away at £150.

-£150 I'm bid.

-Come on, Grandma.

-180. 190.

-Yeah.

-200. Commission's at 210.

220. 230. 240. 250.

-260. 270. 280. 290.

-Lovely.

300. 310. With me here at £310. I'll take 20?

Selling at £310, all finished...?

Yes! Good finish!

'You said it, Dom. That was a desperately needed sale.'

£310, that was a really good result. Roll on, Grandmother!

'We haven't had the best furniture sale, but it's time to find out how the day averaged out.'

-How do you feel you did today?

-The non-furniture stuff went really well, every one above estimate.

There didn't seem to be many people here who wanted furniture, but overall, a good day, I think.

-You've made £1,590.

-Wow!

-Result!

-Fantastic.

-So you're halfway there.

-Over halfway.

-Next stop, another auction.

Roll on, roll on!

Feeling confident after the first sale, the Van Den Burgh ladies head down to their travel agent.

-We're looking for flights for Malaysia.

-How many people?

-Myself and my son, Freddie, who's 14.

-He's an adult fare then.

-Yes.

I know we're a bit eager, but the sale went really quite well.

If we make extra money, it can go on Freddie's training.

The tickets are being booked and Dom and Freddie are preparing for his trip in their own way.

-How's your Malay going?

-It's going good. Apa khabar?

-What's that mean?

Oh, I see - "how are you?" And I am fine is "khabar baik". What other words have you learnt?

I've learnt "terima kasih" which is "thank you". And yes and no are "ya" and "tidak".

I can't find "I'd like a glass of white wine for Mummy". Maybe we'll have to search harder for that one.

I'm sure Susie will be very pleased if you can find that essential bit of lingo.

-These are the sort of fares we're getting up.

-OK.

-That's departing at 22.15, getting in at 09.15.

-That one looks good.

-OK, so we're confirming that?

-Yes, thank you.

And the flights are booked.

-That's all confirmed for you.

-Thank you, Tessa.

I can't thank Tessa enough. I can't wait. I'm so excited to go on the tour and be with Freddie.

I'm just over the moon.

Back at the house, Freddie's teaching Dom a thing or two.

-"Selamat jalan", what do you reckon that is?

-"Good trip", something?

Close. "Bon voyage."

-That's French.

-Well, it's in English, bon voyage, good trip, I suppose.

-So I was right.

'We had a fantastic rummage at Tessa's home.'

A beautiful piece of furniture!

-'At their first general sale, there were some highs...'

-Yes!

-'And lows.'

-That remains here.

-Oh, dear, that's unsold, that one.

I'm very disappointed. Extremely.

'They're only halfway to their £3,000 target,

'so everything hangs on the sale of their tallboy and bracket clock.'

It's been two weeks since our last auction,

so Tessa, Dominic and Hannah have all come to Chiswick Auction Rooms.

They've already made £1,590,

but today sees two very special pieces coming up for sale in the fine art auction.

Let's hope they can make the £3,000 they're looking for and their run of good luck continues.

'So the big day has arrived and the fine art sale starts to fill up with buyers and dealers.

'Chiswick is bursting with high-class paintings, ceramics and the best furniture craftsmanship.

'The Van Den Burghs arrive in good time and the room is anticipating a big sale.

'The family are ready for anything.'

-Good morning.

-Morning.

-Hannah, you managed to get here.

-Yes.

-Is that a day off school?

-Yes.

-Is this your first auction?

-Yes.

-Are you looking forward to it?

-Yeah.

-Tessa, how are you feeling?

-I've been crying. I feel so emotional.

I've just seen the tallboy on the cover and it's been in the family for years.

-You are happy for it to be sold?

-Oh, yes.

-All right.

-Any news on that front?

-It's beautiful. I noticed you put a reserve on it.

I put a reserve of 5,000 on it. I wouldn't accept less.

We're looking at a minimum of 5,000.

-What you can find is that obviously we need two or three dealers or buyers who want it.

-Sure.

You realise it might not reach that? Are you happy to take it back, rather than let it go for less?

-Hmm.

-Yeah.

-Yes, I suppose so.

-OK, we'll see how we go.

-Yes.

You've got that lovely clock too. We're looking for £1,000 for that.

-Fingers crossed.

-It should be a good result.

-Let's get in position.

'Tessa's looking for the top end estimate on the tallboy

'to justify letting go of this beautiful family heirloom - a wise decision.

'Chiswick Auction Rooms is no stranger to fantastic antiques, like this John McLean cabinet.

'McLean was renowned for quality workmanship and his pieces command a premium at auction.'

£100,000, I'm bid 100,000. 105,000.

110,000...? 110,000. 115,000?

115,000.

120,000? 120,000 I'm looking for? £115,000...

I'm selling at 115,000... Sold for £115,000.

-Barbosa.

-Barbosa.

It's a saleroom record for us today and go on, my son, done it!

What an amazing sale on the McLean cabinet! The room today is already buzzing from the bids.

We eagerly anticipate the sale of the tallboy.

With its hefty reserve, auctioneer Tom Keane is in two minds.

The Van Den Burghs' tallboy will struggle with the trade.

It's not a trade lot, but you might find a private customer for it.

There's a few people been looking round. You might get it away at 5,000, but it's gonna be close.

There's been some big sales already, so fingers crossed the right bidder is here today.

Tessa is confident of a sale.

I've got perhaps too good expectations, but it's going to go.

The money's got to go towards going to the Far East, so, yeah, I'm optimistic.

The auction is up and running and the moment of reckoning is upon us.

Number 520A now, a Georgian, mahogany chest-on-chest. Number 520.

-How are you feeling now, Tessa? It's been quite emotional for you.

-I'm getting more and more emotional.

I've got butterflies in my stomach

-and I feel very positive about it.

-It's coming up now.

Good luck, everyone.

-We've got a telephone bid as well.

-Telephone bid's in.

-Come on.

The chest-on-chest and start me, what, £3,000?

-£3,000...

-'The tension's almost too much to bear.'

3,200.

3,400. 3,600.

3,800. 4,000.

-4,200?

-Yes, come on.

Bid's on the phone at 4,000. 4,200 I'm looking for. 4,200.

4,400. 4,600?

4,500. 4,600? No? At 4,500.

It's at 4,500. At 4,500. 4,600 I'll take?

Is that it at 4,500?

It's not sold at the moment. The owner wants more, I'm afraid.

-Oh, dear.

-After all of that, it's unsold.

-Oh, dear.

-How do you feel about that, Tessa?

I don't want to say anything.

I don't know. What was the bid?

It was 4,500, but obviously the bottom reserve was 5,000.

-I wouldn't let it go for less than 5,000.

-Another day.

'Heartbreakingly, the tallboy is unsold,

'but Tessa won't see this grand chest-on-chest

'sell for any less than it's worth.

'The bidding carries on in the room and the family take deep breaths

'and compose themselves for the sale of their clock.'

The Westminster chime clock should sell. The last three or four we've had in all made £1,000, £1,200.

So hopefully £1,000 or £1,200.

'Tom's keen on the clock. We need every penny towards the travel fund.

'Tessa bounces back with her eternal optimism.'

The Westminster clock, I'm very hopeful.

I think it'll go between 8 and £1,000 which was what Paul said. So I'm hopeful.

525A, quite a good clock, a gilt metal, oak-cased bracket clock.

A big piece, but really pretty. What are your thoughts on it?

This is a beautiful clock. It's oak, it's 19th century. It's very stylish.

We're looking for £1,000. Let's hope two people want it.

What's that worth? Start me at £500?

£500, I'll take 50. At £500. 550 I'll take. 550.

Looking for 600... 600. And 50.

-650. 700.

-Here we go.

-800. And 50.

900? £850. The bid's at 850.

£850. £850.

850, I'm bid 850. I want 9. It's against you at 850.

All done at 850 then? I'll accept the offer of 850.

Sold for 850.

-It's a bit less than we wanted. How do you feel?

-That's all right.

It's still £850 towards their trip to the Far East, so... No, I'm happy about it.

'The clock strikes dead on estimate.

'It's a fantastic amount of money towards Freddie's trip to Malaysia.

'The auction carries on and I do some maths.

'It's time to find out if Tessa is sending two generations abroad.'

Now, the big question is, how much have we raised?

We did have a very successful day in our general sale. That one raised £1,590.

Clearly, we just had the two pieces today.

Now, add in the clock at £850

and that gives us a total, in terms of banking,

of £2,440.

-Great.

-That's fantastic.

-We did hit a bit of turbulence today.

-Thank you for all your help and understanding.

-I didn't mean to be too emotional.

-I get like that at the end of every auction with my feet aching!

The tallboy may not have sold, but Tessa insists on nothing but the best for Freddie.

Who better to coach him than ex-UK Olympic captain Brett Garrard and England centre forward Matt Daly?

-Hello.

-Good morning.

-Nice to meet you.

-Freddie, nice to meet you.

First it's the warm-up.

Freddie, all the way through. Use your arms.

Good. One foot, that's perfect.

Time for some hockey.

-Round that cone, angle...

-Oh!

Stick on the ground, good tackle.

Freddie is learning fast. Tessa knows it's money well spent.

I'm really pleased to watch Freddie playing hockey.

Brett and Matt have helped him with new skills and to give him confidence on his forthcoming tour.

We'll do some shooting now.

-Push it away.

-Bang!

-Freddie continues putting the ball in the back of the net.

-He's picked up some new skills

which I'm sure he can use on his tour to Malaysia, so best of luck, Freddie.

Good!

Yeah!

It's been really good. I can't wait to go to Malaysia with my mum.

Let's hope he has a fantastic time and with shots like that, the other team won't know what hit 'em!

Thanks to that fantastic auction, Freddie and his mum are going off on that tour to Malaysia.

I'm sure there'll be excess baggage with all Freddie's trophies!

If you've got antiques to sell, so you can raise funds for a special family occasion,

get in touch with Cash In The Attic via our website.

We'll see you again soon.

-Are you ready?

-Yes. £180 to £250, that sort of price band.

-Cool.

-That's a commode.

-Oh, dear.

That was a really good result.

-Apa khabar?

-Thank you, Tessa.