Graham Cash in the Attic

Welcome to Cash In The Attic, the show that tracks down the hidden treasures in your home

and helps you sell them at auction. Today I am in north London and I fancy a bit of culture,

so I've stopped off at one of the capital's most famous theatres, the Sadler's Wells.

The name is taken from the theatre's original founder, Richard Sadler,

and the wells discovered on this site.

The first theatre opened in 1683, but there have been six Sadler's Wells buildings here in total.

The current theatre opened in 1998 and is a landmark in theatre design,

with its stylish glass, steel and brick decor.

Let's hope we can dramatically impress the saleroom

when we offer up plenty of antiques and collectibles that will take centre stage

when they go under the hammer at auction.

Coming up on Cash In The Attic: A lady with great taste in antiques.

-I have to say, Pauline, you are pure style.

-Ooh-la-la!

But where have they all come from?

I have had a number of admirers. Have you now?!

When we get to auction, we find a forgotten cache of cash.

-Did you realise you'd left that in there?

-No, of course not!

-How funny!

Find out where when today's collectibles go under the hammer.

I'm on my way to meet a pair of very sophisticated ladies who have

called in our team to help raise some funds for a home project.

Pauline Graham has led a remarkable life.

Born in Egypt to Spanish parents, she married an Englishman in 1944 and has lived in London ever since.

Retired from working as an accountant, lecturer and writer,

Pauline now wants to convert her study into another bedroom.

She's asked her friend Pamela and the Cash In The Attic team to help with a clearout.

-Morning, James.

-Morning, Lorne! You've been to the ballet, so where's the tutu?

-I left the tutu behind, but I can still pirouette.

-Oh, I love it!

It's worth leaving behind for this.

-What a fantastic place!

-I know.

We've got a lovely lady, so I really hope the items will be as good as this property.

-It's great, isn't it?

-Let's go and have a look.

-Come on, then.

-Good morning, ladies!

-Hello, hello!

-I understand it's your house, Pauline.

-It is, yes.

You've called in Cash In The Attic, so what is it you want us for?

Well, I'm downsizing, and I thought that Cash In The Attic

would be a tremendous impetus for me to get the thing going.

I want to use the space I have more efficiently and get rid of some things and so on.

I thought that Cash In The Attic was such a wonderful programme,

and it would be of great help to me for various reasons -

in terms of getting a valuation of the stuff and really doing some of the donkey work for me!

And so that's one of the reasons.

Also, of course, it will be interesting to see

how much they are worth and it will give me the impetus to get on with it

-and to really do the work I want to do.

-Rather than keep putting that job off?

Absolutely right. Absolutely.

-How much money are you looking to raise?

-As a starter,

about £1,000.

-That will get me going.

-So what's the plan?

I am going to start by physically downsizing myself - that's to say losing weight.

So I'm going to book into a health farm and spend a week there.

You've come along to help out as well?

-I'm a supporting friend.

-Right! So how long have you been playing a supporting role to Pauline?

We met some years ago through the Society of Women Writers and Journalists,

-because we're both writers. That's how we met.

-What do you think of this idea?

I think it's fabulous! I wish I had something to contribute!

OK, so we need to raise £1,000 so you can take a trip to a health farm,

in which case we need to start having a good look around.

-Is this all stuff you've collected over the years?

-Yes, yes.

So you should be able to tell us a little about its history, then.

We need an expert, don't we? Shall we crack on and find someone to value it?

-Yes, by all means.

-Come on, then.

This house is a real reflection of Pauline's interesting life,

with books, works of art and mementoes from all over the world.

In amongst the myriad of antiques is James, with today's first surprise.

HE CHUCKLES

-Morning!

-Morning.

-Pauline, you had me fooled with this.

I couldn't figure out what it was when I picked it up. I just love it.

It may not be fashionable any more, but a cigarette dispenser.

It's very much in the form of an oriental pagoda.

We've got this wonderful simulated cloisonne ware on the side,

which is Oriental - Chinese and Japanese -

technique of inlaying enamels with little soldered wires onto it.

That's the sort of overall effect that you've got. Then the pagoda roof doubles up as your ashtray.

My goodness me!

-I didn't know that.

-Then out it comes.

What price would you put on it for auction?

-I'm hoping around £100.

-Goodness! Really?

-Let's wait and see, but it's a nice talking piece.

I like the fact that it's £100.

A good start. Another £900 to go, so come on.

'Unusual, practical, attractive, collectible - what more could we ask for

'from our first find of the day?

'I can't wait to see what else we come up with in this house.'

We soon find this pair of Bisto rainbow jugs. In 1906,

the Staffordshire pottery's famous advertising slogan was "The sun never sets on Bisto wares!"

Let's hope the same is true today, and they fetch their £40- £70 estimate.

In the meantime, James joins Pauline upstairs,

where he stumbles across an object from the Orient.

Ooh, I've seen lurking on the floor here a nice vase!

This, with the greens and the pinks,

is absolutely typical of Cantonese porcelain.

-Probably made towards the end of the 19th century.

-19th century?

Yes, it's over 100 years old. The quality is superb.

You've got these little vignettes of Chinese people,

what we call courtiers in palace scenes.

Alternating with those, you've got these fantastic little

vignettes with flowers, butterflies,

birds. The detail is so intricate. It's wonderful. I think,

for a single vase like that, we would probably be looking at between £300 and £500.

-So that's a good chunk towards your total.

-Yes.

This Cantonese vase is certainly full of Eastern promise,

so let's hope it fulfils its potential at auction.

As we continue our search, we find more oriental treasure.

This 1920s Japanese, lacquered

mantle clock is valued at between £50 and £100.

'Leaving the rummage to James and Pamela for a while,

'I take a moment with Pauline to find out more about how she came to live in England.'

Where are you from originally?

I was born in Cairo in Egypt.

-What made you come over to this country?

-Love!

Actually I met an English officer during the war in Cairo,

and we fell in love and we married.

-And here I am, 60 years thereafter.

-I understand you lost your husband at quite a young age.

Yes, yes. I was 23 and had two children, aged two and three.

There was no money at all, so it was difficult, very difficult.

Was it very difficult moving to this country?

Well, it was difficult because I didn't speak English -

although I understood the chap when he told me, "Will you marry me?"

-So you're quite happy to see some of his stuff go now?

-Yes.

-Shall we find out what the others are up to?

-Yes, yes.

'On that note, I really hope we can do all we can today to help Pauline

'raise £1,000 so she can enjoy a trip to a health farm.'

I'm delighted to find this majolica Wedgwood dessert set, comprising of three dishes and six plates

with a lovely leaf pattern. Dated around 1880, it's worth between

£50 and £80 today.

James finds this spelter oil lamp, also dating from 1880 -

a wonderful reminder of life pre-electricity. Let's hope collectors of

domestic Victoriana will come out of the shadows at auction

and bid between £40 and £60 for it.

As our rummage continues, James finds this gorgeous sampler, sown by Dagmar Marshall,

clearly a very talented needlewoman. This fabulous piece of handiwork

commemorates the months between D Day and VE Day in 1945.

Hopefully it will be victorious at auction and fetch at least £60.

Meanwhile, James's next find is just my bag.

-James, what have you got there?

-I know it's a girly thing,

but the most fantastic collection of handbags!

-I know this is close to your heart, Lorne.

-Chanel!

-Look at this!

Pauline, where did you get this Chanel handbag from?

-Well, I have been a widow for a very long time, so I have had a number of admirers.

-Have you now?!

You'll have to give me a few tricks of the trade, cos my admirers don't give me Chanel handbags.

The trademark Chanel bag actually came out first in the 1950s, with this gold-coloured chain,

the metal chain, and then of course these iconic interwoven Cs that stand for Coco Chanel.

What I love about it is it's utterly timeless. It's as timeless now as it was 50 years ago.

It just it oozes quality and style.

We've actually got a number of bags, but I think we should

put the Chanel one in a lot by itself with an estimate of, let's say between £80 and £150.

I think it's going to make a bit more than that.

Then the rest of the bags, which are all fantastic quality, Pauline -

-- you are a lady of great taste and discernment, I have to say...

-Her admirers are men of great taste!

..I think we'll put all of those in a lot with maybe £40-£60 on them,

and let's see them go on and make a bit more.

If I saw those for £40-£60, I'd bid on them, as I'm sure you would!

-HE WHISPERS:

-Something tells me that someone over here might be bidding!

If only I could afford Chanel, darling! At the moment we can't afford very much,

because we need to find more stuff to sell. Follow me and let's have another look round.

'So many admirers, so many handbags.

'What am I doing wrong?'

So the black velvet Chanel bag will be sold as a separate lot,

while the collection of six other bags, all different styles,

will be sold together for between £40 and £60.

'I wonder how much of our final find of the day was also given to Pauline by admirers?'

It's another Aladdin's cave!

-I don't believe it.

-Fantastic - handbags,

-and now look at this jewellery.

-I have to say, Pauline, you are pure style.

-Ooh-la-la!

-I just love it.

Look at this. What a great name!

Christian Dior Bijoux - jewels! I love it.

Look at this. Isn't that fantastic?

So stylish, so timeless, absolutely timeless.

And then a completely different style...

Yep, and there's the Dior stamp on the back. That's obviously a great name.

Funnily enough, I think the box will help this.

It's going to be very difficult to give an upfront valuation on this. All I can say -

and I gather you have got lots more - all I can say is what I can just see on this bed,

it's gonna be a few hundred pounds upwards. Let's say it's £300.

We'll use that as our baseline. Whether we end up with 5, 6, 7, £800, who knows?

That depends on how much you bring.

But the important thing is that it's separated out into sensible lots.

-Are you happy with that?

-Yes, I am, and I'll follow whatever advice you say about how to mix them.

It's also a great contribution to our total, because we want to raise £1,000.

-How do you think we've done, ladies?

-I have no idea. What d'you think?

-I haven't the faintest.

I'm very pleased to report that the value of everything going to auction comes to...

£1,060!

Wow! That's wonderful.

After a really great day's rummaging, here's a selection of Pauline's antiques

that will soon be taken to auction.

The 1950s pagoda-shaped cigarette dispenser...

..The black, velvet Chanel handbag, given to Pauline by an admirer...

The sampler, stitched between D Day and VE Day, 1945...

..And Pauline's amazing collection of costume jewellery.

Coming up next:

Once we get to auction, which of Pauline's antiques will be the belles of the ball?

That's wonderful! I'm absolutely amazed!

And which will be the wallflowers?

-Oh, dear.

-Didn't sell!

It's all to come when today's collectibles go under the hammer.

It's been a few weeks since we had a good look around Pauline Graham's lovely North London home.

She had so many beautiful things, it was hard to choose which ones to bring here

to Sworders auction house in Essex.

We've done the job now and we're looking to raise £1,000 so she can indulge in a fantastic spa retreat.

Let's just hope the bidders are ready to splash out on our items today.

Before the sale gets under way, I join James for a last, admiring look

at one of our favourite items from Pauline's collection.

Good morning, James. I love this piece. What a great gimmick that is.

I do, too. It may not be PC, but it is so retro cool.

-I've got high hopes for this today.

-And we've got lots of costume jewellery.

Lots of costume jewellery, and the auction is divided up into lots.

That was a good idea. I think that will help it.

-And my favourite handbags.

-Oh!

-You would remember that, wouldn't you?!

-How can you forget Chanel?

So, are you looking forward to the auction today?

Yeah. I think big variety, interesting objects, I'm sure we'll do well.

They're all really good quality, so shall we go and find out how Pauline feels about the sale?

'Pauline and Pamela are waiting for us

'on the other side of the auction room in anticipation of the sale.'

-Good morning, ladies.

-Good morning.

-You're looking as beautiful as ever.

-Ooh-la-la!

-But minus a few handbags because they're here, I see.

-Are you going to miss any of those at all?

-Yes. They're very nice.

-Are you looking forward to the auction today?

-Yes, very much so.

There's already people having a good look. Before it fills up too much more shall we get in our position?

If you catch the auction bug, remember that you'll be

charged commission on your purchases, so check this with your local auction room first.

Before the sale begins, auctioneer Richard Harrison has picked our Pauline's costume jewellery

as being of particular interest.

The costume jewellery could either make £20, it could make £200.

Dealers are looking in these sort of things for specific things, which could do really well.

We've got a few lots to get through before we find out.

But it's time now for our first lot of the day to go under the hammer.

It's the Chinese antiquity found in Pauline's bedroom.

-Canton baluster vase.

-It makes it sound very posh, and it IS posh.

Late 19th century Cantonese vase, cracking quality.

So, £300-£500. It's got a profit price as well. Let's just see how we get on.

Lot number 62, the Canton baluster vase, decorated with panels of figures on terraces.

A good-looking vase there. Lot number 62, starts away here at £180.

£180 is bid. I'll take 90.

190. 200. 210. 220. 230. 240.

250. 260. 270. 280.

280. 90 if you wish.

£280 is bid in the room here.

At £280, I'm selling. Are we all done and finished?

At £280 and selling, at £280, all done?

-Are you happy with that?

-Very, very good.

It's a bit less than we thought, but it's still a good £280 in the kitty.

I think Canton can do!

It's always a relief to have a good first sale,

This elegant vase has done us proud.

Let's hope our next lot lights our way to even greater success.

Our next lot is the 19th-century oil lamp. What have we got on this, James?

We've got £40-£60 on this one, so it's a question of rub the lamp and hope some money comes out!

Lot number 68. We've have a late 19th century oil lamp,

the opaque glass reservoir, painted with flowers,

at £25. £25 is bid. I'll take eight in the room now.

25. 28. 30. 32. 35.

38. 40.

42. 45. 48. £48 is bid. I'll take 50 now.

£48 is bid. All done and finished at £48.

-£48.

-Wonderful!

-Absolutely amazing!

-A lovely surprise, then.

-Yes, indeed. Really.

-And right in the middle of the estimate. That's where we wanted it to be.

Another good sale, and some lucky buyer has got a wonderful

working piece of Victoriana at an almost Victorian price!

Next up is Pauline's lovely example

of pure French style, valued at between £80 and £150.

Lot number 80. We have the Chanel black velvet handbag.

In the original box.

Lot number 80.

-Now, Pauline, understandably, you put a reserve on this.

-Yes.

-And what is the reserve?

-100.

-£100. Well, I can assure you, you cannot buy a new Chanel handbag for £100.

So, let's hope we make that amount, and I'm pretty sure...

-As it comes with its dust jacket and its inner box...

-It's all there.

-..It should do well.

Starts here at £65. £65 is bid.

I'll take 70 where now? At £65 for the Chanel handbag there.

At 70. 75. 80. 85. 90. 95.

100 has it now. In the room at £100.

I'll take ten now. At £100 bid and selling. All done in the room?

At £100 all done?

-£100.

-It's sold for 100, but we've got a bit of a bonus for you on this one

because inside the handbag we found two £20 notes.

-Wow!

-So there's another £40, so we're up to £140.

-Pauline, did you not know you had that in there?!

-No!

Did you realise you'd left that in there?!

-No, of course not!

-How funny!

-That was obviously for a nice night out and you never spent it!

I wonder how long that £40 has been stashed away.

It could have been years. What a bonus!

Wonderful. And please remember, the £40 doesn't include the commission.

The auction is commissioned, so it's a clear £40.

In addition to the 100. Very good.

We did a thorough search in Pauline's six other handbags before they went under the hammer,

but unfortunately,

there were no more stashes of cash.

Still, they did manage to raise £60, bang on their upper estimate.

Next to go is our 1950s curio, that wonderful pagoda-shaped

cigarette dispenser, valued between £100 and £120.

At £40 for the cigarette dispenser.

I'll take five where now? At £40 for the cigarette dispenser.

All done and finished at £40.

No more interest at £40?

-Not sold.

-Oh, dear.

-£40, didn't sell.

Unfortunately, this sale went up in smoke,

with the highest bid only reaching £40,

so the auctioneer, quite rightly, didn't let it go.

We're halfway through the auction now and we've made £528, if you include the surprise £40

we found in the Chanel handbag.

So if we're going to raise £1,000 to get Pauline away to a health farm,

we really need some good sales in the second half.

Will our next item tick all the boxes

and get the bidders' hands moving?

Now, our next lot is the mantle clock.

These clocks always remain popular, don't they, James?

This is the one with that nice Chinoiserie decoration on it. We've got £50-£100.

It doesn't actually sound like a lot of money for something like this.

Lot 178, starts at £30.

At £30. I'll take two where now? For the Chinoiserie mantle clock.

At £30. I'll take two where now? At £30.

Take two? 32. 35. 38. 40.

42. 45. 48.

In the room now and selling at £48. All done and finished at 48.

-£48.

-£48.

We sold it, but it could have done better, I think.

I'm happy with it.

-Are you?

-You're happy.

If you're happy, we're happy. Definitely!

Just a tad under estimate, but that doesn't seem to bother Pauline.

Things are looking up.

Next to go is the 19th-century Majolica Wedgwood dessert set,

valued between £50-£80.

-Selling at £60. All done at 60?

-That's fine.

-Very good.

-Right in the estimate, so that's good.

Performed to order.

£60 is a really good price for these lovely pieces,

and we're slowly edging towards our target.

However, the gorgeous pair of Bisto rainbow jugs,

worth at least £40,

was disappointing and didn't attract any interest.

There's another disappointment in store.

The intricately stitched VE Day sampler

failed to get any winning bids and remains unsold.

We've only brought along a fraction of Pauline's

collection of jewellery, but there's so much of it,

that it's been split into three separate lots.

These are our last items today and we really need them all

-to hit our estimates if Pauline's going to get her week at a health spa.

OK, next we've got the first of the three lots of costume jewellery,

so I think on the whole lot we reckon around £300-£500.

Oh-la-la. Not a hope!

Let's see how we get on.

At £75, no more interest than £75?

No more? Not sold.

The auctioneer didn't want to accept a £75 bid

on that first lot of jewellery, so back home with Pauline it goes. How about the second batch?

At £40, all done and finished. At £40. No more interest? Not sold.

-Oh, dear, I'm sorry, that's not sold.

-I don't mind at all, really.

-No?

With the first one, we knew. Today is not a jewellery day.

What's wrong with people? Have they no taste?!

But I'm glad that Pauline doesn't mind, at least. Will we be luckier with lot number three?

Now, our next lot is more costume jewellery,

-and I'm afraid I'm not that hopeful.

-Neither am I!

At £45 for the costume jewellery. 45. 50. 55.

60. 65.

65 right at the back. 65. 70, a lady. 75. 80. 85...

..90. 95. 100. 110.

120. 130. 140.

I can't believe it.

160. 170. 180. 190. 200. 210.

-Now I'm a bit worried about what jewels were in there.

-I know!

-Are you sure it's the right one?!

Gentleman's bidding. Selling at £210. All done at 210?

How much? £210.

-I can't believe it.

-That's bonus time because we wanted £300-£500 for the lot.

-We're taking two thirds of them home.

-Yes! Yes! I'd call that a result!

Well, what a great result.

Our last lot was definitely helped by the fact

that it included Pauline's Christian Dior jewellery and gave us a sparkling result.

That surprising last sale means Pauline's possibly still in the running for that health farm trip.

I just need to tot up today's totals, including the bonus £40 found in the Chanel handbag.

Obviously, you wanted to raise £1,000 for a trip to the spa. How do you think you've done?

I have no idea.

-Certainly not as much as we had estimated anyway.

-OK. Pamela, any idea?

-I think you've made about £750.

-Oh, blimey!

Actually, you've done a little bit better than that.

You've made £846!

Wonderful! Really, I'm thrilled.

Absolutely!

Shortly after the auction, Pauline heads off to the Leicestershire countryside

to enjoy a relaxing stay at a health spa in a bid to downsize herself.

Here she indulges in various therapies and exercise, as well as taking time to put her feet up

for a rest and a good think.

I'm having a lovely time.

I'm getting the treatments and so on, I'm getting in good shape

so that I can start rearranging my thinking about the house.

Auctions are always full of surprises, but my goodness, you can make some money.

If you've got a project in mind that you'd like to raise funds for

by selling your antiques and collectibles at auction,

why not apply to come on Cash In The Attic? You'll an application form at our website:

Goodbye, and see you next time.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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