Nielsen Cash in the Attic

Welcome to Cash In The Attic.

This is the show that helps you find the hidden treasures around your home, and we sell them at auction.

Today I'm in Suffolk, where I've stopped off at Bury St Edmunds

to take a look at the famous St Edmundsbury Cathedral.

Although it looks medieval, this stunning Gothic-style building

was named in 1914, and officially opened just a few years ago.

The enormous cathedral tower and its ornate and elegant stonework

is a beautifully-matched extension to the original Church of St James.

It was built by a team of just six stonemasons,

over five years, using many of the original construction techniques.

So let's hope we can recapture history today, as we go in search

of a house full of antiques that we can take to auction.

'On today's Cash In The Attic, we're taking a trip down memory lane.'

Wow, so were you actually there?

-Yes. I was there.

-Never!

-At the fight, yes.

'But some mementos are best kept to oneself...'

He's not selling that, because he couldn't even get a bid at £20, unfortunately.

'...whilst others bring in a fabulous return.'

Are you pleased with that?

-Yes.

-Yes?

-Yes, very.

All to come when the final hammer falls.

I'm on my way to meet Peter and Joyce Nielsen.

They've called in the Cash In The Attic team

to help them raise some funds for a rather racy day out.

This house has been home to Joyce and Peter Nielsen since they retired 20 years ago.

Peter hails from Denmark originally, and he joined the British Army in 1945.

He met Joyce after the war, and, after their marriage in 1949,

she persuaded him to stay in Britain.

And after 60 years of marriage, this couple still share lots of interests.

They're both keen sports fans and avid readers,

as well as being active in their local community.

I'm glad we have our expert, Paul Hayes, on hand to help.

-Good morning, Paul!

-Hello. How are you?

-Fine!

I just stopped off at the cathedral, which is amazing.

-Beautiful town.

-Isn't England a fantastic country?

-Yes. And you should know, because you've driven around most of it!

-Yes, I've seen everywhere!

I hope you don't race too much, because today's family are really into racing.

Really? OK. Obviously in the safety of the track?

-Well, yeah. But, more importantly, we need to find plenty of antiques for them to sell.

-OK.

So no time for any tea pit-stops.

Oh, really? Are you sure?

All right, just the one!

Ah, good morning!

-Good morning.

-Good morning.

-It's very fresh, isn't it, today?

-It is, yes.

-A bit chilly.

So, Joyce, I understand you called in Cash In The Attic.

We're here now, so tell us what you want us to do.

I'd love Peter to be able to go out on the racing track. He used to race when we were younger.

And, of course, he hasn't had a chance up here, but I'd like him just to have a go,

and maybe drive a Ferrari or something similar.

-Is this true, Peter?

-That is true, yes.

OK, so have you always been into fast cars?

Well, first of all, we went to Brands Hatch to watch the racing,

and I got hooked on it.

So how much do you think that's going to cost?

I'm not sure, but it'll be at least 500.

So we need to raise £500 so that Peter can have a racing day out in a Ferrari!

So, one man who hasn't arrived by Ferrari today,

I bet he came down by bus from Morecombe,

is our expert, Paul. So shall we go and crack on?

-Yes.

-And see whether he's found anything yet.

-OK.

-Come on, then.

'This well-organised family home has signs everywhere of a lifetime of collecting.

'But both Peter and Joyce know it's time for some of their antiques to go.'

-Ah, hello!

-Hello, Paul. I see you've found the clock.

Yes. Actually, you can hardly miss it, there.

If you move it a fraction, a thousandth of an inch, it won't go.

We used to draw lines when we decorated so we got it back in the right place.

For the simple reason that the way it's regulated is a pendulum.

It swings side to side.

If you get that slightly at one angle, it can't make its way back and it just stops.

So it has to be dead, dead straight.

It has a continental look about it though, doesn't it? So it is British?

This is American, but at the time we were going to places like India,

where rosewood grows, and we were bringing all this timber back.

-This is a rosewood case.

-So would that be where the mother of pearl...

Possibly. Mother of pearl tends to be from Australasia. They buy it in bulk.

But the clocks themselves, these are American.

They're called octagonal faces, with these drop dials, or drop pendulums.

And they're very much a simple clock.

I can tell that from the simple reason that it only has one winding hole. It's purely a timepiece.

If we have two winding holes, it's a chime, on the hour or the quarter-hour.

And if it has three, then it's a Westminster chime or plays a tune,

and they're the most advanced movements you can get.

What sort of valuation would you put on that?

These decorative clocks, you're looking 100, maybe up to £200.

So what you think of that, Joyce?

That doesn't sound too bad, does it?

-Are you happy for that to go to auction, Joyce?

-Yes, I think so.

-That's a fifth of our total.

-It's a nice piece.

So I think we'll leave it on the wall where it is at the moment,

and let's go and see what else we can find. Follow me.

OK. I'm happy with the valuation for the wall clock.

Hopefully, it will make that price on the day.

And I shall miss that, really, the ticking.

When you're on your own, it's got a comforting sound.

That's a good start, but there's still plenty more to find to reach our £500 target.

There are quite a few treasures tucked away in this house.

In the shed, something has caught Joyce's eye.

This coach and horses mirror could bring home £20 to £30 at auction.

And in the living room, Peter's found something with a Scandinavian theme.

-Paul?

-Yes?

-Would you like to see this?

-Look at this.

-Oh, right. Oh, that's pretty, isn't it?

-Yes, it is.

-Oh, Royal Copenhagen!

-Yes.

-So was this something that you brought back with you, then, from Denmark?

-Yes, we did. It was a present from a lady we knew then, to Joyce.

-Right.

And as far as we know, it's the first one of this batch. Am I right?

Oh, I can see what you're saying there, yes.

-It looks like it's number one out of 1016.

-Correct.

Wow. So it's like a limited edition.

But the actual design is typical of Copenhagen.

It's called a Dresden spray. It's actually a German-inspired design.

They used to do this wonderful pierced work,

and everything is hand-painted, so you can imagine the length of time it's taken to make that.

That's a nice example. It's early 20th century, hand-painted, great condition.

So if I said £30 to £50, how does that sound?

Well...

-OK.

-Is that all right?

-Yes, all right.

-All right. So that's it.

I'm not sure that Peter wasn't hoping for a little more for the limited edition Dresden spray,

but he seems happy to take it to auction.

And with Peter's background, it's not surprising that the house is full of Royal Copenhagen.

But in the bedroom, Paul's found something that might cut a swathe through the auction room.

This British officer's sword from 1822 is a fine example of military memorabilia,

and could entice a collector at £60 to £120.

That brings us up to £210 towards our £500 target

for a day out on the racetrack.

And with Paul still firing on all cylinders, Joyce, Peter and I take a pit-stop.

So, Peter, how did the interest in racing start?

It started by me going out to see a race, at Brands Hatch,

and I got hooked from there.

I joined a club and got a car,

and started racing a little bit.

-What made you decide not to carry on with that?

-I ran out of money.

It's quite expensive when you're not sponsored,

and in those days there was no such thing as sponsorship.

-Right. So it was all down to how much you could afford, I guess.

-Yes.

So, did you use to go to this? Have you ever actually raced yourself?

No, I didn't have a driving licence in those days.

I didn't get my licence until the late Sixties.

I used to go there every weekend with Peter.

In fact, our son used to time him with a stopwatch going round, and if he wasn't as fast as Jim Clark...

that was the driver...

'Jim Clark does it in 21 seconds, you've taken 28,' or something like that.

Quite fun, really. You look back and laugh about it.

One person who's had his motor running is our Paul, and he's been making good time.

He's found this attractive wall clock with a pendulum,

which he thinks could fetch £80 to £120.

And in the living room, Joyce is surrounded with potential.

Now then, Joyce, I don't blame you.

I'm going to come and join you here.

What have you found, anything good?

Well, this horse.

I tell you what I did notice before was this tantalus.

Is that something that's come down the family?

Well, it was my father's.

Oh, it's heavy!

It was given to him by his ex-boss.

But the reason it's called a tantalus is that you can see these wonderful liqueurs.

In here would be your cognac, your whisky, your gin...

your quite expensive alcohol items.

And it was kept locked away, under lock and key,

so that it would tantalise you from the sideboard.

Unless you had the key to get into this, then you couldn't take a drink. They are very saleable items.

-Are they?

-They're the sort of thing that people don't really use in private houses now,

but if you've got a restaurant,

and of course a restaurant is an ideal situation where you would need to lock your alcohol away.

A hotel, something like that. These are perfect things to sell.

-Have you got the key?

-No, I haven't.

-There we go, it works. So when you release that, then the bottles can be taken out.

-Yes.

So what you've got there is a 19th century tantalus in reasonable condition.

You haven't got the key, which does make a little bit of

difference, but if I said at least £100, £150, how does that sound?

-Really? As much as that? That's a lot.

-Does that sound all right?

-Mm.

Come on, let's find something else.

I'm happy that's going, because I'm so scared I'm going to drop it.

I can't lift it any more.

I have to slide it when I dust,

slide it from one end of the cabinet to the other, so it's a good...

I shall miss it, but hopefully it'll go to a good home.

'So we're doing well in our search, and in the bedroom Peter's found something to crow about as well.

'This Royal Copenhagen figurine of a cockerel and hen

'could reach £30 to £50 in the sale.

'There are so many delightful pieces in his house,

'but I've found a real beauty, or two, to be precise.'

-Paul?

-Yes?

-I think I might have found something.

-Oh, right.

-A pair of fair maidens.

-Unfortunately, one has been decapitated.

-Oh, what a shame.

-We'll overlook that for now.

-What a shame, I mean this has to be...

-Careful, it's heavy.

My favourite style. This is called art nouveau.

Round about the turn of the century, about 1900, they went back to all this wonderful...

Grecian Ladies with organic poses.

It looks like they're on the back of a mushroom, there, doesn't it?

Or a tree stump. Often depicted by lily pads, and so on.

It looks like the work of a firm called Royal Dux. And it is... there we are.

We have a pink triangle, there. And they were based in Czechoslovakia.

The original idea with these, I mean fine porcelain is wonderful but,

what they were actually trying to do was copy bronze sculptures.

And at the time, in the year 1900 they used to make these figurines from bronze and ivory-mounted.

And they came up with the ceramic version,

so the real version would be carved ivory with bronze fittings.

And obviously tremendously expensive.

I think you've got one of the best factories,

you've got what I think is the best style,

there's a bit of damage on it but it's nothing you can't repair.

I think at least £150 upwards, really. How does that sound?

-Sounds fine.

-Is that the sort of price you were expecting?

-Yes, I think that's great.

-Yes?

-Yes. It's lovely.

-OK, let's go and see what else we can find, then.

I think the valuation on the fruit bowl was very good.

It is a very pretty combination, with the figures and the vase,

and the fruit bowl each side, or sweets...

whatever you like to put in it.

We're racing towards our £500 total for that day out on the track,

and I've found something that could boost it further.

This pair of Victorian opaque glass vases

might hold their value at auction at around £40 to £80.

And you know what they say about men and their sheds.

Well, it looks like Peter's used his as a shrine to the noble art.

Ah, now then, Peter, where have these come from?

Is this something you got yourself, some boxing gloves and...

-Yes.

-The fight at Madison Square Garden.

-Joe Frazier and Mohammed Ali.

-That's correct.

Let's have a closer look at them.

Wow, so were you actually there?

-Yes, I was there.

-So tickets were quite expensive even then?

-Very expensive. Yes, very expensive.

-And did you have a good seat?

Yes, right at the top place, and that's a big place there.

Did you buy these as well there?

Yes, and the Condor posters.

-So were you living in America?

-No, I never lived in America.

I went over to see the fight.

Wow. So were you a big boxing fan?

-Oh, yes. Yes.

-Hiya, Joyce, you all right?

-Hi.

-So did you go out to this fight as well?

No, I was at home looking after the shop!

I don't know... racing driving, boxing...

You have been a lucky boy over the years, haven't you?

What sort of value are we talking about with those, then?

Well, these are very unusual.

There's a massive history between Joe Frazier and Mohammed Ali.

-Yes, there is.

-And basically, what happened, Mohammed Ali was undisputed world champion.

-Absolutely.

-But he refused to go to Vietnam, and there was a massive story at the time.

So he lost his licence.

And in the meantime, Joe Frazier became the number one champion,

so when Mohammed Ali got his licence back, he had this massive fight

and I think Joe Frazier won the first one, is that right?

He did. He won the first one, and the second one, that's the one...

-You went to the second one.

-So what do you think they might sell for today, Paul?

Well, I think quite a lot.

I think you've got a couple of nice boxing gloves,

-you've got the programme, you got a couple of posters...

-Yes.

And that will create a lot of interest at the auction.

If I said £200, maybe £300, how does that sound?

-Wow.

-That's all right.

-Is that all right?

-Yes.

-That sounds pretty good to me.

-What do you think, Joyce?

-Yes. Not half, yes!

There might be a fight over them.

Well, let's hope so, because then the price will go up, won't it?

That's good news, then, because that helps our total no end.

You wanted £500, didn't you?

So that you can have this day out in a Ferrari.

Thanks to the gloves and the other boxing memorabilia,

the total value of all your items going to auction is £810.

-Ooh, heck, that's a lot!

-That's very good.

But we can't guarantee that amount.

Obviously it will depend on the day, when you go to auction.

-We understand that.

-But fingers crossed, that's the amount you should make.

-Great.

-So, Peter, there'll be some left over.

So what are you going to spend that on?

On petrol!

Well, it's certainly been a rumble in Peter and Joyce's antiques jungle today,

and we've found some items that could really be contenders at auction.

They include the beautiful Royal Dux figurines with fruit bowl,

which could put a smile on somebody's face for £150 to £200.

And the Mohammed Ali gloves, programme and posters.

A lot like this should have the bidders fighting over it,

for between £200 and £300.

'Still to come on Cash In The Attic,

'we're fighting fit and ready for auction.

150...

'Will we be going another round?'

-Pleased with that?

-Yes.

'Or will we be knocked out?'

That's tragic. So he's left those unsold.

'Find out when the final hammer falls.'

It's been a few weeks since we had a good look

around Joyce and Peter Nielsen's home in Bury St Edmunds.

We found lots of lovely antiques and collectibles to bring here

to Sworders & Olivers Auction House in Sudbury in Suffolk.

Remember, they're looking to raise £500 so that Peter can have the drive of his life,

so let's hope today that our items race away when they go under the hammer.

There's almost a studious air in the saleroom today,

with the buyers wandering around deep in thought over the antiques.

Our man, Paul Hayes, is certainly absorbed by the Ali versus Frazier programme.

-Ah, hello.

-Fantastic, I love that advert in there.

The man with the moustache. Goodness gracious.

These are great. What a piece of nostalgia!

If we get two people who want them, then they should sell very well.

The only concern is that there's nothing else of any sporting memorabilia in this sale.

So what I'm going to suggest we do is put a reserve on them and see how we get on.

-We've got the tantalus.

-The tantalus is beautiful.

That's calling from the sideboard, there. And also that sword.

There's a lovely sword, which I think could do quite well.

OK. I just really hope we get a good price for those art nouveau ladies,

because they're quite close to her heart, aren't they?

Yes, those really are stunning.

I think that sort of period, for me, is the best.

It's damaged but it's a great centrepiece, so let's see.

-Let's hope can get a good price. Shall we go and meet them?

-Of course.

-Come on.

'Peter and Joyce have arrived today minus one important piece.

'Peter decided that he would keep hold of the pretty little Copenhagen

vase, so he didn't bring it with him today.

But at the moment, everything is eclipsed by these beauties.

-Hello!

-Hi!

-They are lovely, aren't they?

-It is beautiful.

But how would you feel about seeing his piece in the auction house and not in your house any more?

I feel a bit sad, really, but they had to go.

And how are you feeling?

-Are you feeling fighting fit, to sell those Ali gloves?

-Oh, yes. Yes.

Paul, have you got any fears?

What I suggested we do is put a reserve on those, just to make sure that they're looked after.

-Yes. All right, Paul.

-Auctions are very exciting places, so I'm sure you'll have a good day.

-Come on then, let's get ready.

-Come on.

'If you're planning to buy or sell at an auction,

'then please bear in mind that charges and VAT may apply.'

Right, morning ladies and gentlemen.

'The auctioneer is in fine fettle today, and with a quiet spot to watch proceedings,

'we're excited to see the impressive engraved sword

'taking its first lunge.'

I'm going to start this at 50.

-50, we're in. Here we go.

-5, 60, 5, 70, 5, 80...

-Yes!

-5, 90, 5...

-Yes!

-100, 5, 10...

-Yes!

-Yes!

-15, 115 in the back. I'm out.

20, 5, 30, 5,

140, 5, 145 still at the back...

-That's great.

-145. All finished and done with it at 145?

-£145! Are you pleased with that?

-Yes.

What a first-class result...

£145 on our first sale.

I'd no idea the sword would fetch that kind of money,

but it was more than I expected.

And our next item to strut its stuff

is the Royal Copenhagen cockerel and hen figurine.

At £85, all finished and done at £85?

-£85!

-Great.

And we still don't know which came first... the chicken or the egg.

Another fantastic wake-up call.

£85 is nearly three times the lower estimate.

I was really surprised at how much the cockerels fetched,

the Royal Copenhagen cockerels.

I never liked them but I was quite happy with the price they bought!

We're clocking up some great sales here,

and when this single-pendulum timepiece sells...

We're all finished and done with that at £75. Selling at 75.

£75, is that OK?

-Yes?

-Yes.

-Good, OK.

Just £5 short of the estimate.

We're not too concerned.

A pattern followed by the Victorian opaque patterned glass vases

when they also sell...

< Selling at 35.

Are you happy with that price? Yeah?

...for £5 under the estimate, at £35.

After a succession of good sales, we've already achieved £340 towards

the £500 for Peter and Joyce's day racing supercars.

That's an impressive average but let's not count our chickens too early.

Our next lot is a bit of a mystery item, as at the last minute,

Peter brought along this Carlton Ware pot.

The estimate on this is £30 to £50.

This is just a plain blue and white bowl, not the usual Carlton Ware.

-No.

-No, OK. So you're quite happy whatever we get for this will help?

-Yep.

-Cool.

-20, I'm bid.

-20, we're in.

At £20, 25, 30,

-35, 40.

-Oh, excellent.

-On the books with me at 40.

At £40, you're all finished and done with that at £40?

-There we go.

-That was good, £40.

-Are you pleased with that?

-Yes, I am.

'Well, Peter obviously knows his ceramics, and £40 is a good amount.

'Our next lot is the memorabilia

'from the 1974 Frazier verses Ali fight.'

Just remind us where you got these from.

-Madison Square Garden.

-You were there, weren't you?

I was there, yes.

Fantastic. Right, now, what do we want for this set?

We're looking for around the £200 mark. We've looked after them.

I've put a reserve of 150 on them.

It's less than the estimate,

but we just want to make sure that they get looked after.

OK, all right.

-At £95. At £95.

-No, he's going to withdraw it.

Are you all finished and done with that at 95? 100, and 5. At £105.

At £105.

All finished and done with £105?

Have to pass that.

Well, the bidders obviously weren't on form today,

and the £150 reserve wasn't reached.

I was rather disappointed when the boxing memorabilia didn't sell,

but I'd rather take it home than let it go for that.

And when the coach and horses mirror

also fails to gain any interest in the room...

Are you all finished and done with at £20?

Right, I'm passing that.

-No, he's not...

-He's not selling that because he couldn't even get a bid at £20, unfortunately.

...we're starting to feel a little disappointed, and after such a promising start.

Those two no-sales have really knocked us back.

With just three items to go, we're on tenterhooks.

What we need is a really good sale.

-So you're both happy about this being sold, yes?

-Yes.

It is a nice clock, because it's in good condition.

It has a fusee movement, which is great.

So yes, £100.

OK.

50, at £50? 5, 60, 5, 70...

-Yes, come on.

-5, 80, 5, 85 on my right, 90, 5, 100.

10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 180.

At £180, right at the back.

-180, yes.

-All finished at 180?

-Hey!

-£180, that's not bad, is it?

Are you pleased with that?

That'll keep us ticking over.

And when the stylish tantalus sells...

All finished and done with it at 100?

..We're feeling giddy with success.

But will lady luck stay on our side?

Certainly we hope the bidders

will be charmed by the art nouveau fruit bowl.

And I'm starting this at 60.

-£60, we're in.

-60, I'm bid.

5, 70, 5, 80, 5, 90, 5, 100.

-110 on the phone.

-110 on the telephone.

110 on the phone.

120, 130, 140, 150...

-Yes!

-150, still on the phone at 150.

At £150.

-That's better.

-Are we all finished and done with that at 150?

150, are you pleased with that?

-Yes, very.

-Yes.

-Oh, good, I'm really pleased.

-That's good.

'Well, the auction was nothing if not varied,

'and after two items not selling, will Peter and Joyce

'be driving supercars for their big day out racing,

'or will they have to settle for a joyride in a Robin Reliant?'

Do you think you've made enough money?

I hope so.

Yes, well you've made a bit more than that.

-Really?

-She'll have to use some of her own money if it's not enough.

No, she won't be having to do that, you know. Because you've made £810!

-That's all right!

-So is that more than you were thinking?

-Yes.

-That's all right, yes.

-What are you go to do with the extra money?

-Well, we'll think about that.

It's our diamond wedding next year.

Ah! Congratulations.

Yes, so we can put it towards that.

Yes, absolutely.

A couple of weeks after the auction, and it's time to get the motor running.

You must be Peter and Joyce, am I right?

How are you doing?

It's a great day out for me today.

I've been looking forward to trying a Ferrari or two!

With his racing background, Peter needs no prompting.

Shall I start it?

Yes, just fire it up.

So, no throttle, just easing your foot off the clutch.

That's it, and up to second gear.

Keep it going. Up to fourth gear.

With a 3.6 litre engine and over 400 brake horsepower to play with,

there's no stopping Peter.

It's really nice to know Peter's enjoying himself.

He's been so excited about it.

In fact, now he's hooked, you can't hold him back.

That's it.

I'll have to go again, I think!

That's one of the best presents I've ever had.

Now I won't be hearing, 'Oh, I wish I could drive a Ferrari.'

He won't be saying that any more, will he?

He'll want to buy one, if possible!

No.

Well, the Nielsens had a great time at auction, and it's fantastic to see Peter racing around that track.

If you've got something you'd like to raise some funds for, a special treat perhaps,

and you've got plenty of antiques and collectibles lying around your home

that you'd rather sell at auction, then why not apply to come on Cash In The Attic?

You find more details at the BBC website.

We'll see you again next time.

For more information about Cash In The Attic,

including how the programme was made,

visit the website at bbc.co.uk/lifestyle.

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