Clifton Cash in the Attic

Welcome to the show that searches out all those hidden treasures

in your home and then helps you sell them at auction.

Today I've come to Surrey to meet a lovely family whose home is packed with treasures including this.

Now you can find out more about the family connection, and to who, later in Cash In The Attic.

Coming up on Cash In The Attic, are expectations high for one of the antiques?

They looked at it and sort of, pfft, said, "Maybe I'll give you 30 quid," and I was thinking, "No way!"

And is all of the excitement too much for Bernadette?

Gosh...that's incredible. Whoo!

But will the mood change when we get to auction?

It looked like it was going to go a bit higher.

I know. You can never tell, you can never tell.

Find out later in the show.

I've come to Esher to meet Bernadette and Justine,

a mother and daughter who are hoping Cash In The Attic

can help them have a clearout and raise some funds for a rather special day out.

This modern bungalow is Bernadette Clifton's home.

She loves nothing more than spending time with her two daughters,

Danielle, aged 28, and Justine, who is 26.

She's a proud mum and after the sad breakdown of her marriage,

a very strong bond developed between the three of them.

Oh, it's lovely to see you.

In her free time she enjoys gardening and playing tennis.

She works as a lettings manager for a local estate agent.

But Bernadette wants some time out from the daily schedule

to treat herself and daughter Justine to something special.

So our expert, Paul Hayes, and I have been called in to help them raise some cash.

I just hope the girls are ready for some serious grafting.

-Good morning, ladies.

-Hi.

-Hello.

-It looks like I've arrived just in time.

-Yes, it's sandwiches' time.

-Fantastic.

Mine's egg mayonnaise, please.

Right, now, Bernadette, you've called Cash In The Attic, so what's the game plan?

Justine and I love being pampered, so we're going to go off to one of

these spa hotels for a couple of days, a couple of nights.

We're going to be primped and preened, treatments and massages, and sitting round in fluffy towels

drinking tea and eating biscuits, and just having a lovely chilled-out time.

So, what sort of money are we talking about?

£450, £500 should be enough for a couple of nights, and if we make more, all the better.

-We'll have more treatments, won't we?

-Yeah, lovely.

Come back looking all preened and proper and nice, and younger hopefully.

That's the thing with these places, isn't it?

-The actual stay isn't so expensive but the treatments can add up.

-I think they do, yeah.

Well, you both look beautiful to me. But if that's what you want to do, let's hope we raise the £500.

-Great.

-Shall we go and see where Mr Hayes is?

-Absolutely.

-We'll do that.

We'll leave the sandwich-making till a little later as it's time to find out what Paul is up to.

Well, I'm pleased to see there plenty of rooms full to the brim to get stuck in to...

and he's already found his way to the end of the garden, in the shed, knee-deep in clutter.

With over 20 years in the antiques and collectibles business,

it won't take him long to spot something that's worth a bob or two.

-Anyone there?

-Yep.

-Oh, Paul.

-Hello. Stand well back.

-You're far too smart to go in the garden shed.

-How are you, all right?

-What have you got there?

-I've got an old dress sword,

It's an unusual item but it's just a tourism thing, but I'm fascinated to know where it comes from.

I'm pretty sure it came from Saudi Arabia.

Well, that does fit in. It's a very ceremonial sword.

It's used on parades or carnivals, just for show really.

If we have a look at the blade, it's not sharp at all,

just a piece of metal, it's just purely decorative.

Do you think that's a horse?

-It looks like a horse, but it looks more like a camel.

-It's odd, isn't it?

The last time I saw a camel it had a couple of humps, and that hasn't. So I don't think it's a camel.

At the end of the day, it is a tourist item.

It's something you would buy if you were over there in the bazaars

that would be made by the locals, just a fun item at the time.

Why I pulled this out, it's not the best item to have lying around.

-If it gets into the wrong hands.

-True.

Also if you come to sell it there are certain laws you've got to abide by.

-If you went to a car boot sale with this item, then it's against the law to sell it.

-Oh, is it?

The safest way to do it would be through auction. They have a special licence, they'll handle it for you.

If you got £30. It's not the sort of thing you want lying around,

and it goes towards our target.

-Fine. Lovely.

-Well, it might be a decorative piece but I think we need

-to find a few more pieces that are going to make money, so come on.

-Come on, then.

Not a bad start, but if the girls are going to be pampered and preened, then we need a lot more cash.

So we all get stuck in to see what we can find tucked away, and Paul comes up trumps yet again, spotting these

three pretty Japanese pictures of mountain coastal scenes.

They're by little known Japanese artist W Masaya, and were a present

from Bernadette's former husband when he worked in Hong Kong.

Paul values them at £10... £20.

Many of Bernadette's items are gifts from friends and family or are items she's collected over the decades,

so I'm sure they hold all sorts of memories for her.

Hey, Mum, what about the table?

Oh, God, I've had that for years. Do you not remember I loaned it to you for a while?

-Yeah, it was in my flat but I never used it, did I?

-I tried to sell it recently

at an antique dealer up in Hampton Court, and they offered me...

pfft, silly money for it and I thought blow that, I'm not going to bother.

So there it is, but I think it's quite a pretty little table.

-Ah, now then.

-Hello. What do you think about this?

As far as I know it's 1930s, I don't know if you agree.

Well, this is a fantastic example of an oak Jacobean revival table,

1920s-1930s, you're dead right there.

The style was reinvented, if you like, people's dining rooms became

a lot smaller than the originals and of course you needed a dining table that could be folded away.

What was wonderful about these tables, they had this gate leg action,

one of these legs comes out, can you see that?

-Yeah.

-The whole thing opens out so you can sit maybe four or six

people round this table and you can fold it away again and put it against the wall.

So you can have it as a card table, a dining table, use it occasionally

is the idea. You say you had it valued before?

Yeah, I kind of had it in the car from when I picked up from Justine and Roy's and I thought well

as I haven't used it I might as well get this valued while I've got it in the car.

So I took it to a couple of antique dealers up by Hampton Court and they looked at it and sort of,

pfft, said "Maybe I'll give you 30 quid", and I was thinking, "No way, no way!" So what do you think?

Well, I think that's about right. You're looking at maybe

round the £50 mark, how do you feel about that?

Well, £50 sounds more reasonable.

Would you be prepared to let it go for that?

Oh, yes, absolutely.

Great, that can go then at hopefully £40-£60, let's see how we go.

-Let's keep looking.

-OK, fabulous.

Glad to hear she's had a change of heart about the table,

as £40-£60 will pay for a treatment at the spa.

Following the break-up of her marriage, Bernadette, Justine, and Danielle relied on each other

for support and the three of them spent a lot of time together.

Primary school teacher Justine lives just an hour away from her mum, which means she can visit regularly.

Enticed by a day of pampering, Justine is throwing herself into the search for valuables.

After much rooting around, she finds a couple of pieces of artwork.

This Gaskell framed engraving of The Boat Coming to Shore, together with a framed charcoal and pastel

drawing of a tree-lined road. Paul gives the two a £40-£60 price tag.

Bernadette's had her fair share of challenges, especially being a single mum for many years,

so she deserves to spoil herself and her daughter once in a while.

Now you told me, obviously, that you've done spa days before,

how did that all start and what do you like about them so much?

I don't know really, just a chance to relax.

We're always so busy, so we actually get time to just sit and chat.

-You started it, didn't you really?

-Yeah.

On Mother's Day, I think it was,

and then again on a birthday.

We've been a few times now and really enjoyed sitting around and chatting.

I've always thought that was a brilliant present to buy

somebody, you know, because obviously you have to go as well.

Yeah, shucks.

-Ah. You all seem quite close as a family.

-We are.

-Yeah, we are.

And what about your other sister, do you get on with her or is there a bit of sibling rivalry?

-Yeah, we get on very well.

-What's the age difference?

Just under two years.

So when did you split up with your husband, the girls' father?

Justine was seven, so 19 years ago.

So how did you find that, Justine?

I don't know really, I was very young, so I didn't really know what was going on at the time.

You must be very proud of them, that's quite an accolade to you, isn't it?

He used to travel quite a bit anyway so it affected Danielle much more so

than Justine because Justine was very much Mummy's little girl.

But no, we just plodded on and I used to say to them we were four,

we're now three, we'll just keep on going on our plan and we did.

Now with a luxury spa trip in sight,

we all need to keep our eyes peeled, and Bernadette does just that when

she discovers these pearlescent opera glasses, carefully tucked away in the back of a wardrobe.

Opera glasses were introduced around 1800,

by 1850 they became a fashion statement for well-to-do women.

These add a respectable £10-£20 to the kitty.

Our next find could be worth its weight in gold, or should I say bronze?

-Paul, have you got a minute?

-Uh-huh.

Just found this, what do you make of that?

That's quite nice, let's have a look. That's a bronze.

Might have found something here that's really nice.

It's very clearly marked, isn't it, "Drago Marin Cherina".

-That's the one, yeah.

-Why does that name ring a bell?

Well, he designed this as the starting point for Expo '90 in Osaka in Japan.

-Right, OK.

-And this was a full-sized statue that was set around the gardens at Expo '90 in Osaka.

Croatian, I believe, was he, from the Balkans?

But he was big in Australia, I know that much, but the reason

I know him, he was an understudy to Henry Moore.

Henry Moore was one of Britain's greatest sculptors.

I think he did do a big sculpture of Henry Moore himself.

So what's your connection then?

My husband, they had a design company together.

Are the figures based on anyone you know?

The lady I believe was his wife and the child in

the bronze was from a photograph of my eldest daughter, Danielle.

-Oh, OK.

-Can it go for sale?

-Absolutely, yeah.

-So your oldest daughter's not bothered about the fact that it's her?

No, she's never really took any interest in it.

So have you got anything else in terms of the provenance?

I've got the sketch of the lady and the baby, yeah.

I've got that somewhere.

That would really help if you put the two items in together, on the internet now you can find

out lots of information about the artist, the more information

-you can put with it and someone will buy into that market.

-Great.

-Fascinating.

So what sort of price do you think perhaps, Paul?

Well, it's a speculative item, somebody will take a chance and it's probably a future investment,

but if I said at least £100 mark and see how it goes.

If people take a shine to it, I think you've got a real chance.

-Great.

-Does that sound all right to you?

Fabulous, yes, one less thing to dust.

-Let's see what else we can dig out to sell, come on.

-Thank you.

Well, what an incredible piece of family history, especially as

the little girl in the statue was modelled on Bernadette's daughter.

She also finds the original sketch

of the design for the bronze, which adds to the provenance.

Hopefully this will increase the value and someone will spot it's a truly unique lot.

And a trend for all things artistic continues

when Paul comes across this large book on the top of the wardrobe.

It's called L'Art Arabe and is a first edition compilation of lithograph prints.

There are approximately 30 pages, all of which could be individually framed.

Paul gives the book a value of £30-£50.

45... 50, 55.

But when it gets to auction, this little stash results in a big surprise for Bernadette.

Thank you, sir.

We only had £30-£50 on that.

The rummage is moving along nicely and so far

we've raised £250 towards the £500 target for the luxury spa weekend.

'But more money means more pampering, so I'm hoping the value of our next

'find will be the equivalent to a top of the range beauty treatment.' Paul?

-Uh-huh?

-Bernadette?

-Yes?

-I've found a very nice...

-print here.

-Ooh.

-It's of Oxford, terribly posh.

-Oh, well there you are, very nice.

But it looks like it's quite old, although they age things nowadays, so it's quite difficult to tell.

That's an original, isn't that beautiful?

-Well, I've had that about 30 years, I think.

-Really?

Yeah, my husband had it before me.

It's a little bit older than that, this is 18th century.

It says, "Published according to the act of Parliament, John Boydell".

He's famous, actually, for engraving and publishing at the time.

-OK.

-And you've got 1751, so that's dead right.

-Wow.

-Isn't that amazing?

That's how Oxford looked in 1751.

-Wow, isn't that fantastic?

-Tea on the lawn there.

It must have been so impressive as well in that era

to do a huge ride through the countryside from London and then to literally come upon this.

-This would be just urban sprawl now, it's expanded so much.

-Yeah.

-But people love to buy in to that market, anything that's changed over the centuries.

-Right.

You go to Oxford now and you'd probably recognise a few of the buildings but most of it will have

changed and people love to see that.

This is a steel engraving and you can tell a genuine engraving, it's done on a piece of steel,

-and of course as it's pressed into the paper, it leaves this impression, can you see that?

-Yes.

So that's a genuine engraving, and then it's coloured afterwards,

so the black and white is all done by the steel engraving.

And they could do so many copies before it becomes blurred, so this is a nice crisp example.

So what do you think then, pricewise?

It's probably been a set. You'd probably find that this

has maybe come out of a book, or there may be 10 or 12 in a series,

cities of British Isles or something like that.

But as an individual item,

£50-£80, does that sound all right to you?

Yeah, £50-£80 would be great, might go for more on the day.

-I'll put it away safely.

-Excellent.

-Let's see what else we can find.

-OK, come on, then.

Not bad at all, but Justine's find, a wooden occasional table, is pretty impressive too.

This one is really decorative and worth a fabulous £120-£180.

Now her two daughters have moved on, it's a good opportunity for

Bernadette to make a fresh start in life.

You've got the two girls, you didn't think of having any more children?

-I couldn't have any more, I was lucky to have the two that I've got.

-So what's the story behind that then?

I was told I probably couldn't have children

and I was kind of coming to terms with that and then

I was due to go and have a test done

and two weeks before I was due to have the test, I was expecting.

-Well, that's wonderful, isn't it?

-My husband was delighted, and

obviously after a couple of weeks I got over the shock and that was it.

I had a great pregnancy, a difficult birth,

and that was it really.

So, yeah, that was what happened.

Obviously that was Danielle, so after that was that just planned or...?

Nobody actually researched into why I was told 99%

they were certain I couldn't have them, and why I had one.

I didn't look into it and then, hey-ho, I was pregnant again.

So pregnancy number two, and along came Justine, within 21 months, which was a delight.

You're all very close, aren't you?

Is that as a result of the fact that you didn't think you could have them

in the first place or maybe the divorce?

Yeah, I guess because it was just the three of us, and my mum died quite soon after they were born,

so we didn't have the extended family, so, yeah, we did kind of live in each others' pockets.

But I'm grateful for that, they still phone me up for advice and

want to do things with me, whereas many people have got children who you're phoning them up

and trying to get to see them, where it's the other way round with mine.

They're always suggesting we get together and do something. So it's lovely.

And, obviously, you've decided to do this as well.

Yes, which they thought was a bit of a hoot.

I had to persuade Justine into it a little bit... "Oh, Mummy, what have you got me into?"

So I said, "Well I've always told you I want to do it."

Obviously they agreed, and I thought she'd be terribly shy, but I don't think she has been.

We need Paul to make us a bit richer for the auction,

-so shall we go and see how he's getting on? Come on, then.

-Let's see what we've got.

Paul's doing a great job, but it doesn't take me long to spot this

very comfy Victorian mahogany tub chair.

It's a little shabby and the trim is coming away, but I'm sure a bidder

will see its potential and with a little bit of TLC, it should look as good as new.

Paul thinks it'll fetch £80-£120.

-Paul?

-Uh-huh?

-I've found something here.

Look at that, it's posh, isn't it?

-Bit shiny, isn't it?

-So was this your mum's, do you think?

No, I think I've just spotted the initials on it, it could be my dad's, AC.

-But I've never seen it before.

-Right, well these really were a status symbol, the petrol lighter

developed just before WWII.

Gold-plated lighters, you can imagine how fantastic that must have been?

-Yeah.

-It's a real James Bond moment. What a nice luxury thing to have.

Sometimes they did make them from solid gold,

which obviously were one-offs, but this one says Dupont, Paris.

-They're really the world leaders in lighters.

-They were a good make?

Very, very good, yeah, they still are.

-But if you have a look here, the little number there 20M, can you see that?

-Yes.

-Do you know what that stands for?

-No.

-20 microns.

That is the thickness of the gold that's plated,

-so the whole thing's made from nickel and then using 20 microns' worth of gold on top.

-OK.

So it keeps its colour, looks like the real gold but isn't, obviously, solid. It would cost a fortune.

So was it an heirloom do you think, or a present?

No idea, I've never come across it before.

-So I take it you don't smoke?

-No.

-You've no intentions of starting?

That's not going to tempt me.

Well, people do collect objet d'art, and smoking accessories,

-cigarette cases, and match cases.

-Yeah.

-So I think even as a gold-plated lighter, you're looking round the £50 mark, £50-£60.

-Fab.

-That sound all right to you?

-Yeah, lovely. Let's get rid of that.

-Some bright spark will buy it.

-Yeah.

-Come on, let's keep looking.

-OK.

Well, who knows, it might ignite the bidders on the day

and make its top value.

After all the hard work we've put in today, I'm starting to think that

Paul and I might need a little pamper weekend too, but the day is coming to

an end and we all have a final look round to see if there's anything else worth sending to auction.

Has Paul found a piece that could make him king of the castle?

-Guys?

-Yeah, what have you found?

I've found my throne chair, did you know I was coming?

-Oh, right.

-This is great, isn't it?

So where's this come from, is it something that you've bought?

No, I inherited this, it came through my husband's family.

Do you know where it came from originally?

I've been told it came from India, that's what I was always told.

Well, don't forget India was a very important country, especially at the times of the Raj.

We would take over there our furniture, all the best of European design, and usually bring it back.

So it could actually have been out in India but this wasn't made in India, this is very European.

-Is it?

-It's called an X-frame chair - the way the legs go is an X-frame,

and that's inspired from Ancient Rome.

They found very similar chairs that Caesar would use in ancient times.

You've got the acanthus leaf on here, which is a power symbol

again going back to Ancient Rome, and you've got these two gargoyles, these grotesque heads,

again a power symbol, and it was much copied in the late 19th century in Europe.

-So I would say this is probably North European, Belgian, Flemish.

-Really?

The gothic design was very popular in that area, and this design here, this is called the Green Man.

You often find it on large pieces of furniture, this sort of gargoyle face.

That's made around that sort of period.

-Is it sentimental to you at all?

-Not at all, it's just a dust trap.

-This was actually one of a pair.

Yes, I believe my brother-in-law had the other one.

-Do you like it, Justine?

-Not really, it's all right.

-It's a bit strange-looking.

-And is it going to end up in your new pad?

I doubt it, it's a bit weird for me.

Well, if you said £100, sort of £80-£120,

to give it a chance, get it into the auction.

But I think if someone takes a shine to this,

it's a great thing to have, isn't it?

-Does that sound all right to you?

-Did I hear some money mentioned?

-You did, yes. This throne chair, just for you...

-Very nice, very nice.

-What sort of price did you say?

-I said around at least £80 just

-to get it into the auction, OK.

-We've run out of time for rummaging now, so that's going to

-be quite a help because you wanted £500, didn't you, Bernadette?

-Yeah.

-Are you pleased with the valuations today?

-Yeah, pretty much, yes.

The items are very interesting, maybe slightly mixed history.

-Yes.

-But yeah, they're quite fascinating.

Well, the value of everything that is going to go to the auction comes to £630.

-Oh, wow!

-There you are.

-Gosh.

-That's incredible. Whoo!

-That's pretty good, isn't it?

-Yeah.

We've got a few auction estimates in there that are quite conservative.

Hopefully something like the bronze, Paul, might fly.

Yeah, I mean items like that bronze can often surprise you.

If he's becoming a celebrity now in his own right, then who knows.

If two people take a fancy to it then hopefully that could do very well.

-Brilliant.

-So are you ready for the auction?

-Yeah, really good news there.

Obviously all this stuff has got to be packed off

and go to the auction so that plenty of people can view it beforehand.

-And we'll see you at the auction.

-Fabulous.

-Good luck.

Exciting, lovely.

Well, I'm glad that they're excited about the auction,

and there's the wonderful luxury spa trip to look forward to as well, if they make their target.

And we have some fantastic items to tempt the bidders -

there's the Oxford engraving that Bernadette had for over 30 years,

Paul gave it a £50-£80 estimate.

And the Dupont gold-plated lighter that still works and has its original case, valued at £50-£60.

Then there's the oak barley twist gate leg table that Bernadette was

reluctant to sell previously,

at £40-£60, I'm glad that she's now happy to send it to auction.

Still to come on Cash In The Attic, one of our items blows us away.

-Fantastic.

-Wow. £200.

-That's brilliant.

But the euphoria doesn't last.

Unsold, I'm so sorry.

You were right to put a reserve on it.

Will we get back on track?

-He's got a steal.

-He does, doesn't he?

Find out when the final hammer falls.

Thank you, sir.

Now it's been a couple of weeks since we met Bernadette and Justine at their lovely house and we found

plenty of antiques and collectables to bring here to Chiswick Auction House in West London.

Now remember, Bernadette is hoping to raise around £500 so she can treat her daughters,

so let's just hope that when the auction gets started the bidders are ready and raring to go.

There's something for everyone here at Chiswick Auctions,

buyers range from traders and designers to those who just enjoy a bid or two once in a while.

It's a fun day out and looking across the room, I spot Paul who looks like he might be seeing double.

-Good morning, Paul.

-Good morning, Lorne, how are you?

I'm fine. This is one of ours, isn't it?

Yes. Now the point I'm making here is just when you think things

are rare, along comes another one. They're like buses, look at that.

Both very similar in value as well, you're looking at £80-£120 for ours, £70-£100 for the other one.

So there we are, something for everybody.

We've got some lovely items, do you remember the little bronze?

I know, that's an interesting one, isn't it? It's contemporary, there's a bit of a story behind the artist.

I'm quite surprised they're selling that really because the child in the piece is based on the daughter.

-Yeah, Drago Marin Cherina, what a strange artist.

-Let's go and meet the family.

We have an interesting mixture of antiques and collectables

that I'm hoping will raise us a king's ransom today.

But as always, it depends on the mood and taste of the bidders as to whether or not we make our money.

So how's Bernadette feeling about saying goodbye to her bronze statue featuring one of her girls as a baby?

-Morning, Bernadette.

-Hi.

-Hello.

-How are you?

I see you have one daughter here.

-I do.

-Immortalised in bronze.

-Absolutely.

-But where is she?

Unfortunately they wouldn't give her time off cos she's a schoolteacher.

-So are you looking forward to today?

-Absolutely. All excited.

So is there anything that you haven't bought?

Just the oval occasional table.

I moved the position of it in the lounge and started to enjoy it, so

I decided to hold on to that for the time being.

OK, because I can see, obviously, your print is here.

Lovely, yes. Oxford print.

I think the showstopper today is going to be that bronze.

Let's hope that people wake up to the artist, there's a bit of information and it creates

a bit of a fever, but just to be on the safe side I'm going to suggest we put a reserve on that of £100.

Now you're going to have to put it down so other people can

-have a look at her and hopefully someone today will be buying her. Come on.

-Thank you.

So that occasional walnut table stays at home,

which means we lose out on a potential £120-£180 towards the pamper fund.

Well, I'm hoping that won't ruin our chances today.

The room is full and the bidders are ready and eager to buy,

and as today's auctioneer gets the auction started...

60... 5, 70... 5, in the room.

we take our place ready for the first lot.

It's the 18th century Oxford engraving that Bernadette has had for over 30 years.

Is anybody here willing to give it a new home?

This is very nice, excellent condition as well, isn't it, Paul?

I really like this, it's amongst friends, there's quite a few views

of old England, so hopefully that will create the interest.

But I love the fact that Oxford's surrounded by all this

grass and farmland, and people haymaking and so on, it's a real capsule of time, isn't it?

I think it'll do rather well, we want £50-£80, that'll be nice to add to the pot.

-I've got a little bit of interest in it, so I'm able to start the bidding at £40.

-Oh, OK.

45... 50, 55...

60, with me at £60... it's a left bid...

Somebody else? Is that a bid?

No, he's just waving. At £60 then... with me at £60, on the book at 60... it sells for 60.

That's all right, isn't it?

It looked like it was going to go a bit higher.

I know. You can never tell, you can never tell.

The engraving may have got off to a slow start

but it got there in the end, and it's a great opener to the day.

I was very pleased to sell the Oxford engraving because I've

had it for many, many years and it wasn't something that

was really special to me, and I'm pleased it got £60, so let somebody else have the pleasure of it now.

It's smiles all round, and I hope they remain in place as next up are

the three, framed miniature Japanese prints that Paul valued at £10-£20. So what's the story behind these?

My husband bought them when he was over in Japan working there

and he brought them back, but I never ever put them up on the wall.

It's very hit and miss, Oriental things, unless you're really interested in

that sort of subject and that area,

but quality always shines through and these are very nice, very appealing, very feng shui.

I'm bid £25... with me at 25, £25...

30. 35... £35, 40 there...

£40 fresh bidding, at £40 to my left... Anybody else?

For £40 for the prints... for £40.

-251.

-I'm quite pleased with that.

-That's excellent.

-It's a bit more than we were thinking, absolutely.

-That is good.

These bold contemporary Oriental pictures certainly

impressed the bidders, selling for double their top estimate.

That's good news for us, but we've still got a lot to sell.

Now this 19th century mahogany chair with its scrolling arms

and decorative carving should make someone fall in love with it.

Paul's got his eye on another one of its redeeming features.

The reason I put this in at £80-£120 is the legs are beautiful.

This has potential to be a very nice chair indeed,

but £80 for today would be lovely.

Start me £40 for the lot... surely for 40, 30 then to go...

£30 for the chair, no interest?

-Oh.

-No? Nobody want for £30...

Bargain lot for 30?

No interest, I'm afraid.

-Maybe the restoration was just that little bit too much.

-Yeah.

-Gosh we've got £80-£100 and we couldn't even get £30 for it.

-Crikey.

Oh, dear,

it looks like the chair's best assets failed to impress the crowd.

So will the next item coming up entice the bidders?

It's the Gaskell framed engraving of The Boat Coming To Shore,

together with a framed charcoal and pastel drawing of a tree-lined road,

that has an estimate of £40-£60.

-I put these in at £40-£60, that's £20 each, does that sound all right to you?

-Yeah.

What's it worth...? Start me £20 the lot surely, the engraving there for 20.

-Oh, come on.

-£10 I'm bid, thank you...

£10, 12... 14, 16...

£18 there, in the middle at £18...

Anybody else? It's going to be sold for £18... £18 it goes.

Shame.

We were so certain, but 18.

-It's a little less than we wanted, obviously.

-Yeah, it is.

The buyers are definitely holding back today and I'm hoping this poor show doesn't continue.

So how will the rest of the furniture fare?

It's the Victorian oak barley twist gate leg table next,

valued at £40-£60.

So are you looking forward to this?

I am. I am very much hoping this will sell, I've had it for a long time, but it's excess to my needs.

I think it's a very pretty table, but it's just inconvenient to have it now.

It was with my daughter for three years and it's come back to me and I don't really need it.

Start me for the lot... £30 for it. £20 then to go for the barley twist table... Anybody want this...?

20 I'm bid, thank you, 22...

24, 26...

28, not quite enough at £28, at £28... Anybody else?

-Come on.

-Come on, come on.

28 with me then... At 28.

-Not quite enough.

-He's going to pass it, how do you feel about that?

-What he's done is because it didn't quite reach the £40...

-Yeah.

..he's recorded the bid at 28, but he hasn't actually sold it.

Well, it's good news that the auctioneer used his discretion

and didn't sell the table,

but it's not the result we were looking for

as we need to reach that £500 target for the luxury pamper trip.

Now come on, buyers, we need you to massage our worries away and start spending.

I wonder whether the first edition book of Arab prints will help?

-Where is this from?

-It was actually some work my husband did for a Saudi Arabian royal palace

for the Riyadh royal family and they were for an entrance hall,

-and the work didn't go ahead, so he asked for the work back.

-Crikey.

Back in the late '80s, early '90s.

A royal connection there, Paul.

Well, it certainly has, but it's a beautiful example of

Islamic design, all that wonderful tile work and architectural work, I think these are lovely.

I put these with £30-£50, let's see how we get on.

Interest in this lot, 268, and I'm already bid £30 for the lot, £30...

and 5 I'll take upstairs, 35...

40, 45... 50, 55...

-60,

-Yes, yes, yes.

70... 75, 80...

85 in the room against commission, 90 there...

95, 100... 110, 12... 130.

-Hello.

-140... 150, 160... 170, 180...

190, £200.

I knew they were worth more.

£200 then... It goes for £200.

-That's fantastic.

-Wow. £200.

-Amazing.

-That's brilliant.

-We only had £30-£50 on that.

-They're beautiful and they'll frame up lovely.

Good news at last, a fantastic result

and just what we needed to boost our spirits.

I always felt they were worth more than the estimate that Paul had put

on them, and I know how much work went into those originally when my husband was commissioned to do them.

So I'm really, really thrilled and I like to think that they'll be

framed up and be lovely pictures for somebody that they can enjoy.

It's been an unpredictable day here in the saleroom with most items failing to get bidders

digging deep into their pockets, but that's the nature of auctions, you never know what can happen.

So where are we with our pamper fund?

We're halfway through the auction, quite a mixed sort of reception to our lots today, I must say.

You wanted £500, didn't you, to treat you daughters. Well, so far, we're not doing too bad I suppose, £318.

-That's not too bad is it?

-That's not so bad, is it?

No, no, and don't forget we've got the bronze still to come and the chair, quite a few nice bits,

-so we've got a bit of time actually until ours come up, so shall we go and have a break?

-OK.

It's time to take a well-earned break and prepare ourselves for this afternoon's sale.

Now if, like Bernadette, you've got a special reason to raise some cash and are thinking of heading to auction,

please remember that commission and other charges may apply, so check the details with the auction house.

Looking forward to this?

It's the start of the second half of the sale

and next up is the brass Saudi Arabian dress sword

with velvet scabbard.

Paul valued it at £20-£30.

The reason why we brought this to auction is it wasn't safe

having this lying around, it'd be better get rid.

We're not expecting a massive amount of money for this, I don't think.

-£20-£30, it all helps, doesn't it?

-Let's hope so.

Start me £10 for the lot...

Decorative object even if it isn't very old, £10 for it surely...

10 I'm bid next to me, a maiden bid at £10... Anybody else? At £10.

It's gone.

He's got a steal.

He does, doesn't he?

Paul did warn Bernadette that the sword might not be a big seller.

If you plan to sell similar items, remember to keep them out of the reach of children.

I'm really thrilled that the dress sword sold, £10 is fine because it's

better out of my house as it could be potentially dangerous.

Next up are the pearlescent opera glasses valued at £10-£20.

What are they worth...? Start me £10 for them, surely for the opera glasses, £10.

-Oh, come on.

-£10 I'm bid in the middle of the room at £10. At £10 then. Are we all done for £10?

That's another £10 to add to the fund, so not bad.

Now it's time for the X-frame 19th century colonial chair to be shown to the room.

Bernadette thought it was from India,

but was in fact made in Europe and inspired by Ancient Rome.

The gothic design is carved over the scrolling arms,

and Paul is hoping it will reach £80-£120.

This kind of style has been very out of fashion for a long while, and I think it's only going to take

a magazine or a certain person like Posh Spice, for example, to suddenly say this is the look I'm going for.

I think we can see all that turning around, don't you?

I think you're right. This sort of old carving went out of fashion with that minimalist look,

but I think now people are harping back and seeing it for what it is, it's quality.

So £80-£120 sounds great.

-£80-£120?

-Yeah, I'm happy with that.

£40 to go for the chair. I'm sure you've viewed it. 40 I am bid, a maiden bid of £40...

-And 5 I'll take. At £40 then... not quite enough.

-No.

45, thank you... £45 in the distance there. 50.

-Come on, looks more than that.

-50... At £50 nearer to me, it'll be sold for 50.

At £50. The hammer's coming down at £50.

It goes, £50.

OK, right, well, I'm afraid bidding only got to £50 on that.

So maybe my whole idea that this might be coming back into fashion is...

Don't trust my fashion sense, is all I can say.

Hmm, I think I'll keep my thoughts to myself in future.

It's another disappointing "no sale" and I have to admit

that my halftime optimism is starting to falter a little.

Now our next lot is our star item.

We're hoping this one will smash through its highest estimate of £200.

Because of its sentimental attachment,

Bernadette has put a £100 reserve on it.

-It was modelled on your daughter.

-Uh-huh.

How do you feel about seeing that going?

No, I'm not bothered about it going. I did offer it to her but she isn't really attached to it.

I think it's quite a nice piece, I just hope we've got the right

buyer here today and that it goes for a good amount of money.

-What do you think, Paul?

-We're covering it with the reserve,

so I think we'll be happy if it does sell for £100

but this is a future artist, but today let's hope for £100.

Starting at £70 for the lot, surely for 70?

70... 5, £75 for the lot... At £75.

No. We might be right with the reserve.

80... 85, £85 with me... At 85.

Come on.

Not quite enough at £85... 85 it is.

Unsold, I'm so sorry.

You were right to put a reserve on it,

-otherwise it would have sold for such a low price.

-I'm glad he didn't get it for that.

I think that's the sort of thing if the artist becomes even more notorious in the future...

Or have a retrospective exhibition, that sort of thing,

-that's the time to sell it.

-Oh, it's gutting.

What a shame, as we all thought this would do well.

I'm just relieved that it didn't sell for such a low price, Bernadette can

hold on to it and think about selling it again later on.

Coming up is the last item of the day, the gentleman's gold-plated Dupont lighter.

It was found by daughter Justine at the rummage and has her father's initials engraved onto it.

It's got an estimate of £50-£60.

It's a wonderful thing to have, it is Swiss made, Dupont, beautiful.

When did it come in to the family?

I bought it as a gift for my husband, he was a smoker those days.

Very soon after, he packed up in fact and I've had it ever since, forgotten it was even there.

Is it worth £20, start me for 20?

Nice low start for £20... I'm bid 20.

-Come on.

-In the distance at £20...

-22, 24... 26.

-Oh, dear.

Still there at £28... Anybody else? At £28 near to the door... £28.

The hammer's coming down at £28.

That's gone. He's sold that.

That's a lot less than we were hoping for.

Yeah, that's what I paid for it a long time ago, 20 years ago.

It's shocked expressions all round.

It's not the ending we had bargained for, but the lighter sold and that's £28 in the kitty.

It's time to work just how much money Bernadette has made today.

Now, Bernadette, I have to say it hasn't been our most successful

-day at auction, you are taking quite a few pieces home, aren't you?

-I am, yeah.

-How did you find it?

A little bit disappointed, Lorne, that some of the items haven't sold,

and they were the big items that are awkward to look after,

but that's how it goes on the day, you can never tell.

Now you wanted £500. What are going to spend it on?

I'm going on a mother and daughter spa day to a nice hotel to have some

pampering and some treatments with my youngest daughter.

Well, I'm afraid we didn't make £500, but you have banked £366.

OK. Well, I still think we'll manage a little bit of pampering on that, don't you?

And, of course, we haven't sold that bronze.

No, that is a real surprise cos Paul had hopes for that and so did I.

That's a real shame, but maybe another auction another time further down the line.

That bronze might be a long term, might be a future Van Gogh.

You don't know what it's going to be like in the future.

-Do enjoy your spa day.

-Oh, absolutely, I'm looking forward to that now.

So, with the money made at auction,

Bernadette is true to her word and treats her daughter Justine to a pamper day.

It's a luxury that they always look forward to. Who wouldn't?

-Hello there.

-We've booked in for a spa day.

-Yes.

-Bernadette and Justine Clifton.

It just gives us the tranquillity to just be, really, and have some good quality time together and

catch up on things, get away from the hectic pace of life, really.

You can't come in here.

Once you come in, you do feel like you've left the

rest of the world outside and it's just very, very peaceful.

-We've had some treatments, it's all very otherworldly, isn't it?

-Yes.

It's just terribly relaxing and takes the stresses away of everyday life.

After a tub full of bubbles,

the girls decide to lie back by the spa's pool and catch up on the celebrity gossip.

Once again, it's all about relaxation before an afternoon filled with pampering treatments.

What's the verdict so far?

The best part for me was the Jacuzzi.

-Yeah, and me.

-It's just so, so chilling, it's just lovely.

-Could stay in there for hours, couldn't you?

-Yeah.

-The food was pretty good as well.

-Lunch, they give you too much, delicious as always.

-Yeah.

But no, it's just lovely. The whole thing is just really relaxing.

Well, Bernadette didn't make the £500 she was looking for, but some of her

nicer items are going back home with her and she did bank enough to enjoy plenty of pampering at the spa.

Now if you've got a project in mind that you'd like to raise some money for and you've got plenty of antiques

and collectables that can be sold at auction, then why not apply to come on Cash In The Attic?

You'll find more details at our website, which is...

..and I'll see you again next time.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

E-mail [email protected]