Smith Cash in the Attic

Hello, and welcome to Cash In The Attic.

The programme that searches your home for antiques and collectibles.

Now, today I am about to be driven right into the very heart of the City of London.

To be precise, I'm heading into the Square Mile.

The original boundaries were built by the Romans around 200AD.

Of course, the city has changed dramatically over the centuries, but there are reminders of its history,

like the Monument, designed by Sir Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke to commemorate the Great Fire of 1666.

Many of the street names are based on the Middle Age trades that practised here.

Threadneedle Street was the tailor's district.

Bread Street had bakeries.

And here on Milk Street, they even used to keep cows for milking.

Now, that was seven centuries ago.

We probably won't find anything that old today.

But I'm sure we'll discover enough collectibles to keep our own trading floor busy with bidders.

And on today's Cash In The Attic, have we found John's make-up box?

I know you. You like your powder and paint.

-Could you see me with that, Gloria?

-Yes, I can, actually!

John's words of wisdom keep us on the straight and narrow today.

We want her to sell it at auction.

So, that's right, mum's the word.

When we get to auction, could it be bad news for Jill?

£45 is the highest we got, and the auctioneer quite rightly has left that unsold.

Or could Lady Luck be hiding amongst the bidders?

I tell you what, that's better, isn't it?

We'll find out when the final hammer falls.

Today we are meeting a woman who is lucky enough to live in a world famous venue.

The Barbican Centre was built in the City of London in the 1970s.

This hub of theatre, art, film and music also boasts more than 2,000 flats,

and I've heard that at least one of them contains plenty for us to take to auction.

Good morning, John.

-Gloria, how are you?

-Isn't this fabulous?

Normally I see you in the country, you're all sort of fresh-faced.

I must tell you before we go in, this lady's really interesting.

Racy...

Not in that way, no.

Races horses, races motorbikes, still goes around in a motorbike.

Married to a very famous pop star, do you remember Mike Smith from the Dave Clark Five?

-The Dave Clark Five, Glad All Over.

-Shall I take you away?

-Come on.

Jill Smith is being helped today by her good friend, Bill.

It's high time I met them both.

So this is my racy lady.

How are you? A pleasure to meet you. And who's this handsome, tanned man?

My dear friend in the City, Bill the banker.

Bill Fleming, hello. Pleased to meet you.

You're a bit of a country girl,

loving your horses and everything, what are you doing right bang centre in the middle of London?

Well, I had a boutique, and then I had a men's hair salon in Mayfair. And I met Mike Smith.

And of course Mike, lovely Mike, was part of the Dave Clark Five.

Dave Clark Five, yes.

And this was his flat, and so then I moved in here and had a baby, Jamie,

and decided this was the place to stay. And I actually bought the flat.

And because you love horses and the country,

I gather that's why you're getting rid of some of the things here?

Yes, just to have a little fun day out. And I'm so cluttered. I need to have a bit of space.

Just let me ask you about all the things that Jill has collected over the years.

-Would you say she's a hoarder of the first order?

-More than that!

How much money would you like to raise?

-Probably about £700.

-That would give you a good day in the country!

Well, I hate to tell you, but you've got to do a lot of work if you're going to raise £700.

So put those cups of tea down.

Maybe you'll show me the other side of the flat and see what we can find there.

If we're going to raise that £700 we've got a very busy day ahead.

As always our expert, former cabinet maker John Cameron, isn't wasting any time.

John, you are the master of finding unusual, beautiful pieces.

This was quite easy, it was right here on the table.

-Gorgeous.

-Yes, it's not a bad box.

It's oriental in design. Jill, can you tell us something about it?

Yes. I found this in a little mews cottage off the Earls Court Road.

-I understood it to be a Chinese vanity box.

-I'd agree with that.

Show me how that works again.

You open the lid here, the cover, and you have this wonderful hinged mirror.

This little mirror comes out.

These then open out, rather nice features.

You have drawers, little secret compartments here.

Everything a woman would need to go on her travels.

I think it's lovely. I like boxes. But I think it's quite masculine.

I wouldn't argue with anybody that wanted to use it, male or female.

I know you, you like your powder and paint, don't you?

-Do you see me with that, Gloria?

-Yes I can, actually!

It looks like a box of tricks.

It is a box of tricks. Date wise, I'd say this is 19th century.

Chinese rosewood, travelling toiletry box.

You can see that by the style of it, and this very distinctive cut metal work,

the strap, hinges and the strap clasp here, very, very Chinese in their shape.

I would say this is a 19th-century export, Chinese rosewood travelling box.

-A bit of class there then.

-Certainly, and a bit of clasp.

So, condition wise, not the greatest at the moment.

But structurally, it's all there.

-I'd be looking to get £60 to £80 for it, possibly a bit more.

-Is that all?

-Is that all? We said in unison!

It could always go for more at auction if two people want it badly enough.

£60 to £80, £80 to £100, you're not far out of that region.

If it makes over £100, all the better.

Well, it will be very interesting to see what it does at auction.

-Where are we going next?

-This way.

-Are we going to the bedroom now?

-You always have to ask!

I don't know where else to go in the flat, do I?

I saw the glint in your eye, John, but we ought to get a move on.

Jill finds this 19th-century brass letter clip,

which adds another £20 to £30 to our total.

All we need now, John, is somewhere to write those letters.

I was just having a look at this desk as a possible item for us to send to auction.

What do you know about its age?

-I have no idea.

-Its origins?

I bought this in Camden Market when I was looking for fairly light furniture with a nice feel.

I thought it was a pretty piece.

Apparently, an elderly lady had given some of her furniture.

And it was delivered by, I think, Cat Stevens' cousin,

and they were dealing there in the market, and they also had a shop

where they were dealing with pictures and paintings and mirrors.

Some interesting provenance there.

I think it came from further afield than Camden Market.

I just liked this old lady's taste.

Right. Well, this is actually from Holland. It's Dutch.

It's either Dutch or north German.

The style of it tells me that.

Date wise, it's 19th-century, though this style, which is somewhat baroque,

was very popular throughout Europe, around the late 17th century, early 18th century.

But it was revived again in the 19th century.

Interestingly, it is made of walnut, though looking at the colour you wouldn't think that.

What happened is, at some point it's been painted, and then, in the 1980s when everybody wanted stripped pine,

it came over, probably imported by one of the dealers that was stripping pine at the time,

and they stripped it, only to find out that it's actually walnut. So it's been bleached.

It's lost its colour and it's been given that kind of pine look.

-It's been through the wars.

-It has, and you can see the top, sadly, has warped up a bit as a consequence.

Because it's dried out quickly, the top has bowed up. Which is a shame.

It can be glued down again, but that would take the work of a skilled craftsman.

And if you wanted to colour it, it would probably cost you quite a bit more than it's now worth.

But if you're looking for space in this place, then that is definitely something we can send to auction.

Give me two square foot?

Well, it will be a start anyway.

I think at auction we'll be looking at £80 to £120 for it.

OK, absolutely fine. Lovely.

-Jolly good. Well, there's another item towards our target. Let's see what else we can find.

-OK.

I was delighted to hear its history, how it was made, where it was from.

I'm so pleased that John's historical knowledge is winning plaudits here today.

But I wonder what else we can turn up.

Hey, look at these. What are these, Jill?

They're actually gold earrings.

My goodness. Exotic, aren't they?

The word exotic is pretty good for you. You've had a pretty exotic life one way or another.

Yes. Started actually after training racehorses.

-Did that interest begin as a girl?

-Yes. I used to see them going up our private road in the '50s.

I used to ride regularly.

In Cheltenham, I took the Queen Mother's horse.

Did you? You weren't racing, were you?

No, I was just like the stable girl jockey.

But I'd ride him in the morning.

The Queen Mother did come in the box when I was putting on his racing saddle.

Tell me about all this hairdressing that you did. How did that start?

I met Vidal Sassoon at a party and said I didn't really like hairdressing, but I loved cutting.

So he said, take a test, if you pass, I'll send you back to my school free

and you can be the first girl in my Sloane Street salon in the men's section.

It would have to be men's hair that you'd end up doing, wouldn't it?

-So you've run your hands through a lot of men's hair?

-I certainly have.

-A very exciting life.

-Like whom, in particular?

-People like Laurence Olivier, Gregory Peck, Richard Harris.

-And you still do that?

I still see see a few, just because I miss all the people that you bond with over the years.

And then I got involved, living in the City, with tiaras.

If there's a banquet or a head of state, for instance, coming over, the banquet would be at Guild Hall.

I actually jump on my Aprilia 650cc and leap round to the Old Bailey where the doors glide open.

They see me coming.

Mansion House, where the Lady Mayoress is, and Guild Hall, where the past Lady Mayoress is.

So that's good fun.

Well, I think we'd better crack on and just see we can find.

I shall put your jewellery back in the draw.

Jill certainly keeps up her busy London life.

And her banker friend, Bill, is working wonders in our search.

He's found this ornamental letter opener

that adds £10 to £20 to our £700 target.

It may be a compact apartment,

but there's still plenty to search through that's very close to home.

Like this next find of Jill's.

John, what about this one?

Who's it by?

-Donald Bisset.

-That rings a bell.

Yes, he's a wonderful old character.

He used to live in the Barbican.

-Shakespearean actor and author.

-An author of children's books.

-Correct.

-That's wonderful. So he lived here in the building?

Yes. I often used to go and have a drink with him in the garden.

-Oh, wow. So did you buy this direct from him?

-He gave it to me.

-That's even nicer.

-Yes.

So this was probably an illustration for a book, I'm guessing?

Yes, an elephant parachuting down from the moon.

What a lovely picture. Do you have any others like this from him?

I have another one that he gave to me, which is here.

He was a dear friend, Donald. He was lovely character.

That doesn't look like an illustration from a children's book. It's more of a still life.

-This was in his flat, actually.

-OK.

-This was painted in his flat, you think?

-Yes.

With the Barbican lake behind and the window.

Cos he was on the ground floor facing the back.

I see. And it is signed, as you say, by Donald Bisset again.

When he'd finished it, he thought it was terrible.

He was about to scrumple it up.

And I said, "Donald, that's beautiful.

"It's one of your best pieces."

So he just handed it, "Have it, Jill."

-So you saved it.

-I did.

And when he died, his son was selling some of his things,

and I bought the matching lamp, which happens...

You've got the lamp as well? Let's have a look at this lamp.

I'll let you pick it up, because it's very difficult.

-Do you want to take that off?

-Yes.

OK, this is the actual lamp from the picture.

How interesting. That lived in his flat.

If I'm brutally honest, the lamp doesn't ooze quality in its casting.

It's interesting, purely for the fact of the provenance, who owned it, and the fact it's in that picture.

Are these things that you'd consider getting rid of?

Yes, I would, actually. If they went to a good home I'd be even more thrilled.

They're interesting items.

I'd group them together because of the interest,

and to make something of the provenance there.

I'd be tempted to put something on them like about £80 to £120.

See where we go from there. Can we put these into auction then?

Yes, that's absolutely fine.

Well, let's put that back on there very carefully.

Pop that down there. Right, well.

That's another interesting lot.

You've got some fantastic things around your house.

However, I don't think we're anywhere near our target yet,

so we'd better get on. Shall we?

Yes. Absolutely.

Too right, John. We've got a long way to go to raise that cash for Jill's horse riding adventure.

Now, Bill hits the back of the net with this photo

which Jill keeps under the sofa for come strange reason.

It shows Muhammad Ali embracing Pele during a ceremony in honour of the Brazilian soccer star.

It was taken back in 1977, signed by Pele and authenticated on the back.

Jill bought it at a TV auction and it's going to ours with a price-tag of £80 to £100.

You're doing well, Bill, and I reckon that chair might be worth looking at.

Bill, there's no time to be sitting down on the job.

I thought you were trying to find things to sent to auction.

I think this is quite interesting actually.

What do you think about its age?

I would guess probably Victorian, isn't it?

It's very early Victorian, if not William IV.

I tell you why I suggest that.

-This rather stylised almost horse shoe front frame here, can you see that?

-Yeah.

That's left over from the Regency period.

You see that a lot in French Empire furniture.

And in the work of people like George Smith and George Bullock.

And it was inspired by Napoleon's campaigns in Egypt.

A lot of the furniture you see in the Empire period features emblems and motifs from Egypt.

But what separates it and suggests it's slightly later is the leg.

If you look down further, that bulbous reeded leg is a break.

If it was 20 years earlier this would have probably had sabre legs, sweeping gently forward.

But that kind of turn to the turn bulbous support there

would suggest slightly later, probably about William IV or very, very early Queen Victoria.

Value wise, I think considering all the money has to be spent on restoring it,

I would put it in with an estimate of about 150 - £250.

I'd like to hope it would make over a couple of hundred,

but if you put it in at 150 you should start some bidding.

If I had a chair like that, I think I'd keep it.

Don't say that to Jill! We don't want to keep it, we want her to sell it at auction.

I'll make sure we can take that, that's good. Come and see what else we can find.

Yes, Bill, we are trying to find things to sell, not to keep!

I found an oil lamp that's worth going to auction.

It may be missing its shade,

but it adds another £20 to £30 to our total.

Now that our £700 target is in sight,

I have time for a chat with Jill.

I want to know more about her life with former husband

from the Dave Clark Five,

the musician, Mike Smith, and the son they had together.

Well, I met Mike, actually, when I went to a rather popular

drinking place in Berkeley Square, Mortons.

And I went to Mike and said, I love the album you've just written with Mike D'Abo.

It's called Smith & D'Abo.

I play it every day in my salon.

And that was the introduction to Mike.

Very shortly afterwards we went out and then I had a dozen red roses.

-It was great fun.

-So at what stage did you have your son?

He was born about one year and two months after we'd married.

And obviously I really want to talk about Jamie, because very sadly you lost him.

Tell me a bit about him and what kind of boy he was.

Jamie was probably the love of my life.

-We got on, we were great mates, great friends.

-What happened then?

He was diving, just getting his sports science degree.

He was taking some Russians diving, who were very experienced divers.

So he was obviously very, very deep.

And the divers returned and Jamie still hasn't returned to the surface.

You are strong lady. And I can sense that from you.

-Yes.

-How do you get that strength?

You have had really bad times in your life.

I think Jamie and I had a discipline and a great love and joy and spirit.

And I've managed to maintain that.

It's amazing how you kept your spirit strong. Well done, you.

However, we are going to get the £700, hopefully,

for that day out. So come with me.

Where would you like me to go to now?

'We've hardly stood up and Jill's help is needed elsewhere.'

Jill, would you come here a second? Is this something you're really attached to?

No. It's a pretty piece, but I'm not desperately attached.

That's good. Where did it come from?

It was a country house sale in Surrey.

And was it converted to a lamp at that point?

-Yes.

-What do you know about it? Anything?

I don't know anything about the history of this except it's a Russian tea urn, I think.

-It is, indeed.

-A Samovar.

A Samovar, exactly, that's what it's called, a Samovar, which translates in Russian to "self boiler".

-I didn't know that.

-That's what it actually means, yes.

Samovars were very popular in the 19th century.

They've been around for a bit longer.

And there is some debate as to where they first emerged.

They are universally used for that purpose, heating hot water or heating tea.

But very popular in the Victorian period. You see them in brass, in copper, silver-plated.

This one here, I'm sad to say, has seen better days.

-Yes, it has.

-It's a bit battered.

What you tended to have on here is a central tube here where you would have your tea concentrate.

There are vents there for letting the steam out.

And it would be heated either by charcoal or by some sort of little spirit burner.

They always have this very obvious spigot here for allowing you to pour the hot liquid out,

and the handle's for moving it from one place to another.

You still occasionally see Samovars or items of this use

in some of the period-looking tea rooms.

So how much do you think this is worth?

Well, it has seen better days, but it is still a useful item.

I think the fact it's been converted to a lamp may just help us in terms of demand.

I think Paul Hayes would like this. He likes anything to do with tea.

-But for an estimate, I think I would go for something like £40 to £60.

-OK, that's fine.

At the mention of tea, have you got any hot water in the house?

-Why not? Come and have a cup of tea.

-Stick a couple of teabags in it then!

On his way to the kitchen John spots a model cannon and flintlock pistol, and they could bring us £50 to £80.

They are purely decorative of course, but remember

if you decide to keep firearms at home,

you'll need a licence and must keep them very safely out of harm's way.

But now, what has John laid his hands on?

We've got an interesting collection, here, of stirrup cups. Now, you do see stirrup cups from time to time.

You very seldom see sets of them.

However, these are what what we would call slightly modern.

They're probably from the '60s, there or thereabouts.

They first emerged in the mid-Georgian period,

around the 1760s in the growth of that type of sport.

They're called stirrup cups because it is traditionally the last drink

the hunt would have before they set off.

So they're in the stirrups at that point.

Sorry to interrupt you. Did we hear "the hunt"?

Yes, we're talking about this lovely collection of stirrup cups.

These are silver-plated.

The Georgian version you see tend to be silver, and can be very, very expensive.

As you know, they are by Gucci, the very famous accessory and jewellery maker,

that aren't traditionally known for making this sort of thing.

But they are one of the great houses for luggage and accessories.

Set up in Florence in the 1920s, Gucci, and still around today.

The thing is, Jill, we'd be glad to have a Gucci dress, never mind Gucci stirrup cups.

We can sell you a stirrup cup.

But these are very interesting. If I were putting them in I would suggest an estimate of about £800 to £1,200.

-Wow!

-How would that sound to you?

I think that sounds very fair, yes.

But I think I'd like to hold a reserve of about £1,000.

In that case, if you want a £1,000 reserve, I'd have to estimate them at £1,000 to £1,500.

But I still think that's got a good chance.

We've found a great variety of things, haven't we?

-Have you enjoyed the experience?

-Fantastic.

But I guess you would like to know

how much, in an ideal world, you're going to raise at auction.

-Yes.

-So, about my person somewhere here...

-I saw you do that.

Oh, did you? Sneaky boy.

Anyway, you wanted £700 for that marvellous day out in the country.

To catch up with everything.

Well, it is, da-da-da-da...

I should have had a hunting horn, shouldn't I?

£1,590. How's that?

1,590. You might be in there, Bill.

-That is fantastic.

-I want to thank you very much indeed.

First time for me in a residence in the Barbican,

so every time we go to the theatre or any time I come I'll think of you.

Pop up and have a drink.

It's certainly an eclectic mix of items off to auction.

I hope the bidders are as interested in the items

as I have been in Jill's stories about them.

For example, the watercolours painted by her friend and neighbour,

children's author Donald Bisset.

Together with the lamp that features in this picture.

We are hoping the lot will fetch £80 to £120.

The writing desk from Holland that Jill bought in Camden Market.

John has also given it an estimate of £80 to £120.

And this Chinese vanity box that both Jill and I think is

far too pretty for John's low estimate of £60 to £80.

We'll just have to see how it performs on auction day.

Still to come on Cash In The Attic, will Jill's items fall at the first?

Disappointing. £45 is the highest we got

and the auctioneer quite rightly has left that unsold.

-So, taking it home, Jill.

-Or will she be first past the finishing post

to hit her £700 target?

-I tell you what, that's better, isn't it?

-That's good, isn't it?

It's a good price.

We will find out when the final hammer falls.

It's been a few weeks now since we visited Jill Smith

in her very stylish apartment right in the heart of the City of London.

We helped her look for antiques and collectibles to take to auction.

So today we've brought those to a different part of London,

to the Chiswick auction rooms.

Now, she wants to raise about £700,

because she's had a fairly tough couple of years and would really

like to rekindle her interest in horse-riding

after something like 40 years out of the saddle.

So, she's got to raise her £700 and we sincerely hope

that the punters are here as her items go under the hammer.

I'm always pleased to see our bidders

looking so keen when they walk through the sale room doors.

Luckily for us, we have a terrific range of items to tempt them with.

From the replica pistol and cannon,

to the fascinating Chinese vanity case.

Of course, there's also that funny elephant painting

which seems to be our expert's favourite.

Well, well, well, down on your knees,

hair suitably spiked for the day.

I had the roof down this morning.

You fibber, it takes you hours with gel

to get it like that. I know!

Now, of course, Jill's painting.

A Bisset painting, if I remember correctly.

Yes, it was, and she was a friend of the artist.

Nice to get the picture direct from the artist.

It's in here along with another

and a lamp that featured in the other picture.

Then there were the stirrup cups, I'd never seen those before.

Will they do well?

We have a lot riding on them.

£1,000-£1,500 pounds on them, so fingers crossed on that.

I'm looking forward to seeing Jill again.

She's lively and I think the auction will be very interesting.

And she has brought Bill with her.

OK, let's see where she is.

Now, when we last met Jill she was very keen to protect the value of

her stirrup cups by giving them a substantial reserve price.

As we join her and Bill, I wonder if she's got any other reserves in mind.

Jill and Bill. Hey!

Looking suitably tanned and healthy.

You've been on holiday, haven't you?

-Yes, I have.

-You have. Where were you?

-Sailing. Salcombe.

-And where did you get your tan, Jill?

The Barbican, facing south in my flat.

On your balcony. It's a much cheaper way to do it, isn't it?

It's very nice to see you again.

Are you having any pangs about the things you're selling?

No, I shall miss everything, but I do need the space.

And you want to get back to all that horse-riding.

-Yes.

-Have you put reserves on any items?

Just a couple of things.

-Which ones?

-The Chinese vanity box.

Oh, we like that vanity box, don't we?

And the Gucci stirrup cups.

The Gucci stirrup cups.

£1,000 reserve. I think we should get in our little spot,

because the auction is about to begin.

-OK, let's go.

-Follow John.

-Let's go.

-Great.

But as we head into position,

we discover Jill's put reserves on two more lots.

The Samovar lamp

and the photograph of Pele with Ali.

If you're planning to buy or sell in this way,

you will face charges such as commission

which can vary from one saleroom to another, so do check in advance.

And now we come to our first lot of the day,

the Gucci stirrup cups held in such high esteem by Jill.

Probably the prize item, isn't it, John, the stirrup cups.

Indeed, and it is the sort of thing

that you would come here to buy or you don't.

I don't think somebody's going to have a speculative bid on it.

We've either got a buyer or we haven't.

So you have put on a reserve of a £1,000 on these

-because you don't want to part with them unless you get that.

-No.

Start me £700 for the lot. £700 for the Gucci cups.

700, I'm bid. 720. 740. 760.

£760 for those Gucci cups.

For 760. Not quite enough. 760.

Not anywhere near our £1,000 reserve,

so it looks like you'll be taking those home, Jill.

-So, you are happy with that?

-Yes.

You would have been disturbed if had they gone for less.

I would have been sad, yes.

-Well, back on that side table.

-Yep.

Oh dear, that's a bit of a blow.

If we'd made the reserve price it would have brought us,

the entire £700 target in one go.

But let's not get too downhearted.

We have another ten lots to auction off.

Next, is a collection of items from artist and author Donald Bisset.

The centrepiece is that lovely whimsical painting

of an elephant hanging from an umbrella.

It's quite a fun picture, quite striking.

And this is something that somebody would take a chance on.

Visually, it's quite pleasing and there is good providence with it as well.

I like the humour in it, it will be interesting to see what it fetches.

-He was a wonderful character.

-Here it comes.

Start me for £30 for the picture.

30 I'm bid. 35. 40. 45. 50. 55. 60.

Next to me at £60. Next to me at £60. It goes then for 60.

Anybody else, £60. 463.

So, Jill, they you go. £60.

-Are you happy with that.

-I think that's very fair.

-That's a pony in the New Forest.

-Yes.

Bill, you took the words right out of my mouth.

What's more, £60 is a respectable start to our kitty.

However, Jill has such an ambitious target in mind,

let's hope our later sales will be even more respectable.

Talking of which...

Next up is my favourite lot, it's the William IV library chair.

It does need a bit of work, but good solid frame, good condition.

£150 bottom estimate, it should do that.

And why do you like it so much, John?

It's a handsome-looking chair.

Something I'd like to fall asleep in.

I think you'd quite like it yourself.

We'll start the chair for £100.

100 I'm bid. 110. 120. 130. 140. 150.

160. 170. 180. 190. 200.

£200 there. At £200.

Anybody else for £200? Are we all done at £200?

That chair at 200 then.

Excellent. That's great, isn't it?

How much was that above your estimate?

-I said 150 to 250, so we are bang in the middle.

-In the middle.

It is quite an antique as well. It's a good old chair.

Bill, I thought you might have liked that chair.

I would have done.

Yes, a really impressive sale.

If we can keep up this pace, we are laughing all way to the gymkhana.

Now, the next lot is my favourite of all.

A 120 year-old Chinese vanity box, and John shares my enthusiasm.

Quite unusual for an oriental box, but you didn't like my estimate.

I said £60 to £80, and you did not like that.

We were a bit mortified at his estimate.

There is a bit of damage on it though.

The proof's in the pudding, it's about to come under the hammer.

Start me for £40. 40 I'm bid. 45.

50. 55. 55 I'm bid.

At £55. £60. 65. At £65.

I am going to sell at 65.

And £70. Just in time at £70.

So, what do you think?

-I hope it's gone to a good home. I'm delighted.

-I liked it.

There were few flashing cards there.

A good bit of interest in the room.

£10 above my low estimate and your reserve, well done.

He's getting very cocky on it now, isn't he? "I did really well".

Flash is the word.

Steady, steady. We don't want John to be too pleased with himself.

Still, we're doing really, really well at the sale.

We've only sold three items so far and we have already made over £300.

So we're feeling very positive.

Next up, is our early 20th century Continental dressing-table

which we are all agreed had been stripped at some point

and is a bit faded. But structurally, it's sound.

It just wants repolishing. We want 80 to £120 for it.

And it is a little warped.

It is a little bit warped here and there, but aren't we all?

We like a bit of warp. It adds a bit of interest. Hear it comes.

£40 for the dressing table. £40 for it. 45.

£45 is all I'm bid. At £45 for the dressing table.

45, anybody else? £45.

Not quite enough. £45. 45.

-Disappointing.

-No sale.

Only one bidder, £45 is the highest we got and the auctioneer has left that unsold.

-So, you're taking it home, Jill.

-OK.

A bit off-beam with that one. No interest in the room.

Well, it depends who 's here on the day, doesn't it?

What a shame, and we were all doing so well.

Our luck is looking a bit shaky, but perhaps this is just a minor blip.

Next, we have that unusual electric lamp,

converted from a Russian tea urn, known as a Samovar.

Remember, Jill has put a reserve price of £40.

Let's hope it won't put anyone off making a healthy bid.

Samovars tend to be popular at auction,

but I do remember that the condition was right on the edge there.

If there's a fly in the ointment, that will be it.

Say £30 to start need for the Samovar. 30 I'm bid.

32. 34. £34 for the Samovar.

I need 36. At £34 then. At 34.

Anybody want to come in at 36?

£34 then. 34. Not quite enough.

He hasn't sold it because you put a reserve on that of £40.

Yes, I guess I bonded with it.

It's such a pretty piece.

Oh no, just £6 below the reserve and John's lowest estimate.

As we reach the middle of our sale it looks like

it could be turning into a real roller-coaster ride.

And I hope it won't damage Jill's chances of reaching her target.

We're at the halfway point,

you want to raise £700 for your day out on that horse, we have, yay, £330.

-That's pretty good.

-Not bad.

-That's very good.

-That's half a hunter.

But which half?

'Ha-ha, Bill. Always good to see a man with a sense of humour.'

Now, as we take a short break, I wonder what has caught John's eye.

Now, this is a really interesting piece of porcelain.

It caught my attention because, at first,

I thought it was a piece of 17th or 18th century Blanc de Chine.

It is basically undecorated.

And as the term denotes, blanc, meaning white, it is French blank china.

Now, in the 19th century a very famous Parisian

potter called Edme Samson set up making direct copies of Chinese,

Oriental and English porcelain.

Things like Chelsea and so on.

They always claimed that they marked their wares with an "S" for Samson.

But they also used to mark with pseudo marks

of the factories they were trying to copy.

And with a bit of unscrupulous removing of the Samson mark with

hydrofluoric acid, they can often be out there and be quite deceptive.

Samson models are coming into their own now,

and if you can collect a nice series of pieces

of Blanc de Chine, the whiteness will help you display them.

Especially against a nice dark background.

Now the estimate on this is about 150 to £180.

I think when you look at it, it is absolutely modelled superbly.

And I think it is great that Samson now, although they have long been

known for their fakes,

are starting to be collected as great potters in their own right.

I think he's charming.

Well said, John. So do I.

So as we return to the floor,

we know that we have to make a least £370 on the next five lots,

if we are going to bring Jill up to her target.

She has put a reserve of £100 on the next item,

£20 higher than John's lowest estimate.

So, Bill, as a sporting man.

It's iconic. Iconic, isn't it?

-It's just wonderful. Yes.

-And John, what is the official line on this?

We probably have the two most famous sporting celebrities in their own field.

They are still alive and they sign a lot of autographs,

so they do turn up, but it should be around that sort of money.

£60. 65. 70. 75.

£75 for the Pele picture. At £75.

Anybody want to come in at 80?

£75. Any more?

£75 then.

80, just in time. 85 with me.

85 with me.

At 85. Not quite enough. £85. 85.

At £85. Not sold.

Well, we got £85 and were within my estimate,

but not near enough to your reserve, so another item you are taking home, Jill.

Uh-oh, four lots to go, so many hundreds of pounds

still to make and I am getting a little

concerned about Jill's chances of fully funding her return to the world of horse-riding.

Up next, an oil lamp that John has valued no higher than £20 to £30.

Now, this is a rather special lamp

and I saw it on the way in because it was quite well displayed.

It is cranberry and base, but it belonged to your former husband.

Mike Smith, who played with The Dave Clark Five.

It has a good provenance, so you have aimed this very low actually, John.

It should sell at that money. It will make what it's worth.

-What value had you put on it?

-We have 20 to £30. Here it comes.

This is a Victorian brass oil lamp with cranberry garter reservoir.

I understand this belonged to Mike Smith of the Dave Clark Five band.

76A is the lot number.

£10 for the oil lamp.

£10 I'm bid. £12.

14. 16. £18. In the doorway at £18.

The oil lamp, anybody else? At £18.

It's going to be sold then at £18.

It will go down for £18. £18. 531.

Not a lot. Not a lot.

-Never mind.

-But it's gone.

It's gone. £18.

It's found a home. Found a home.

And it's another £18 towards that horse ride.

It's heartening to see that Jill is being a really good sport.

And as we continue the sale,

we come to an item with a very distinguished pedigree.

Letter clips were first invented in 1843

to keep gentlemen's correspondence in very good order, you know?

They are amongst the most sought-after trinkets in the antiques trade.

And Jill's brassy clip is valued at £20 to £30.

Next up, is our little 19th century brass letter clip by

Merry, Phipson and Parker.

Not a huge sum for our auction, only 20 to £30.

But there should be a few collectors

that will be attracted at that low estimate.

There we go. Is it worth £10? £10 for it, surely.

12. 14. 16.

£18.

At £18 for this little letter clip.

£18 for the letter clip. Any more?

£18, I'm going to sell then. £18. £18.

-That's fair.

-£18.

-Just under our lower estimate again.

But it has sold.

I tell you what, they haven't got big purses in this room today.

No. But I'm happy it's gone.

If things don't start improving,

that lovely day you have planned with the horses

may have to be ditched in favour of a rickshaw ride.

Our next item is a letter knife.

Always remember, by the way, to keep sharp,

potentially dangerous items out of children's reach.

-You're getting rid of your letter opener.

-Yes.

So it is a brass one, yes?

I have another one that is slimmer and swifter.

Surely for £10, I am bid. A maiden bid of £10.

£10 to my left. At £10, all done.

At £10, it goes for £10. 175.

-Just what you thought, John.

-Yes, right on our lower estimate.

-That's fine.

-Right on the money.

As they say, every little helps, but we are such a long way from our target,

and with just one item left to sell, there is a massive amount riding on the pistol and cannon.

The gun is only a replica,

but I quite like the little Napoleonic cannon.

For me, that is the nicest bit in the lot.

We are looking for £50 to £80, so we have to be hopeful with that.

I think we will have to cross everything on this one.

The little miniature cannon. 92 A.

What's it worth? Start me with £30.

Surely, I'm bid £30 straight off.

A maiden bid of 30. 30. 35.

We've got two bidders in the room.

45. 50.

55. 60. 65. 70. 75.

80.

£80, seated at £80.

Anybody else, at £80? All done, £80.

It goes for 80 then. 466.

I tell you what, that's better, isn't it?

It's a good price.

I was getting hot flushes myself.

It's lovely when you get a few bidders bidding against each other.

It's good. I like watching the paddles.

And there have been plenty of those here today.

It's such a pity they weren't waving so enthusiastically for Jill's other items.

So that's the end of our sale.

And it's time to tot up our total.

We come to the total.

Now, you wanted £700. We didn't quite make the 700

because you are taking home quite a lot of items.

-But you did make £456.

-Still pretty good.

It's pretty healthy. Well, I hope you have a wonderful day out.

-Thank you.

-Thank you so much for being good fun,

and you enjoyed it as well, John?

Of course. Of course. Fantastic.

-It's been great fun.

-Thank you, guys.

We'll be galloping towards your horse now.

It's just a few weeks later, and Jill might not

have made her full total, but she has raised enough

to spend the day at these beautiful stables in Surrey.

There's a welcoming committee for her, and she's definitely not lost her touch.

I'm so lucky to be here and to be able to ride here.

But I will need help getting on, please.

Now, now, from what I have seen so far,

I don't believe that for one second.

She's off, and it's time to stretch those legs.

Its 44 years since Jill last rode a horse,

and she's certainly still got what it takes.

With a little help from her new friend.

It's great, and thanks to Mia. She's a beautiful mare.

She's lovely. Absolutely lovely.

She's coming to say goodbye.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd