0:00:02 > 0:00:05Welcome to Cash In The Attic, the show that finds hidden treasures
0:00:05 > 0:00:07in your home and helps to sell them at auction.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09Today, I am in Chelsea in southwest London
0:00:09 > 0:00:11and this is the beautiful Physics Gardens.
0:00:11 > 0:00:16I may not have green fingers, but I do like getting my hands dirty, which is great news because
0:00:16 > 0:00:19it's time to move on to our next location.
0:00:19 > 0:00:20Yes, it's time for a rummage.
0:00:20 > 0:00:24I do hope we find some interesting items to take to auction.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46On today's Cash In The Attic, our expert John
0:00:46 > 0:00:49finds Victorian buttons of surprising value.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51I think it's fabulous actually.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54They have been sitting in the drawer. Yes, it would be brilliant.
0:00:54 > 0:00:59And when it comes to valuations, he finds there is no messing with the mother-in-law.
0:00:59 > 0:01:05- How much do you think they're worth? - I'd like to think at auction today they'd make about £80-£120.- Each?
0:01:05 > 0:01:07No, that's for the pair.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11On auction day, is our willpower enough to push the bids sky high?
0:01:11 > 0:01:13Come on, come on.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17Find out what happens when the final hammer falls.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20We've moved a couple of miles down the road.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22We're still in south London and we've reached Tooting.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24We're going to meet a lady
0:01:24 > 0:01:26who's called in the Cash In The Attic team
0:01:26 > 0:01:29because she wants to treat her family to a wild experience.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33Katie Freeland might look like any mum playing in the garden
0:01:33 > 0:01:37with her children, but she has a remarkable family history.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40Her great-grandfather exported tea from Burma,
0:01:40 > 0:01:44her great-aunt was a governess to a princess in Romania,
0:01:44 > 0:01:48but if there's one thing she has in common with all her ancestors
0:01:48 > 0:01:50is that they all love new and exciting experiences.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53Something tells me that's what we'll be in for today.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57- Hello.- Hello.- What a beautiful home.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01- You must be Katie.- Yes.- Which makes you the mother-in-law, who's Kate.
0:02:01 > 0:02:06The big question then is, what do you want to raise the money for, and how much do you need?
0:02:06 > 0:02:08If I could get about £500.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12Ideally, we'd all love to go to South Africa and do a safari.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14£500 to £600. Are you ready for this?
0:02:14 > 0:02:17- Are you sure?- I think so.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20- She's not coming!- I'm not coming, but I'm pleased to help.
0:02:20 > 0:02:26Katie was too polite to reveal that she and her family are going through tough times right now.
0:02:26 > 0:02:32Both her sisters have recently passed away and she also lost her mother a few months ago.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36She wants to travel to South Africa with her husband and three children
0:02:36 > 0:02:40to create happy memories and move on from these sad times.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43Looking around the house, I wonder if any of these
0:02:43 > 0:02:46interesting-looking pieces are steeped in family history.
0:02:46 > 0:02:52I'd normally expect John Cameron to get us started with a fine piece of furniture,
0:02:52 > 0:02:54but something shiny has caught his eye.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00- He's there.- Hi.- Hi, John. What have you got for us?
0:03:00 > 0:03:03I have found some rather attractive silver buttons.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05They date from the turn of the last century.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08I reckon that's Granny or Granny's mum, yes.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11Around that time. They'd probably came back from Asia at that time.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15Interesting about the travelling, because these aren't English.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17They're Continental, certainly imported.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20We can tell that because they have "sterling" engraved on the back
0:03:20 > 0:03:23as opposed to a set of British hallmarks.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25The decoration on the front would support that. If you have
0:03:25 > 0:03:30a look at the beautiful lady there, very much in the Art Nouveau style.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33So buttons, are we talking about for a man's waistcoat, trousers?
0:03:33 > 0:03:37Well, I think the only man's costume this would have been on, Chris, is probably Oscar Wilde.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40- Oh, no!- And he's of that period.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43- They're quite large, aren't they? - They are large.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46You can't imagine going to buy anything like this today.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50The Victorians certainly knew how to do things properly.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52Their accessories were superb.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56- I think there's another box somewhere.- I'd like to see those, if they're of this quality.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58Some rummaging to come.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00Value-wise, I would suggest
0:04:00 > 0:04:02about £70 to £90 for them.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05- You don't seem that excited. - I think it's fabulous.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08- They've been sitting in a drawer. - I'd like to see the others.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11- OK, let's go and find them. - That way, I think.- OK.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13What a nice surprise to start us off.
0:04:13 > 0:04:14We're all straight down to work
0:04:14 > 0:04:18and there are plenty of nooks and crannies to search through today.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22I wonder if these are any good to go to auction.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24Well, they certainly look interesting.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28- Where do they come from?- Burma. They were Katie's grandfather's.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31- OK, so they were well travelled? - Very much so, yes.- Interesting.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34They're called cloisonne. The first thing you do with cloisonne
0:04:34 > 0:04:38is have a look at it for damage because the surface of this
0:04:38 > 0:04:41is covered with enamel, which is literally vitrified glass.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44Once this gets damaged, it's very, very hard to repair.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46Right, OK. They look pretty good.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49- They're Japanese.- Right.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51If we look at those birds amidst the branches there,
0:04:51 > 0:04:55these beautifully blossoming trees, the way it's quite asymmetric
0:04:55 > 0:04:58in its layout, that's typically Japanese,
0:04:58 > 0:05:01as opposed to Chinese, which tend to formulate things in mirror image.
0:05:01 > 0:05:06Date-wise, I would say about the latter part of the 19th century.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10What we call the Meiji period, from the 1860s to about 1912.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12I thought they were older.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15- That's where I'd put them. - How much are they worth?
0:05:15 > 0:05:17Well, they are in good condition.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21- I'd like to think at auction today they would make about £80 to £120. - Each?
0:05:21 > 0:05:23No, that's for the pair!
0:05:23 > 0:05:26But who knows? They are nice.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29If they made double that I would be absolutely delighted for you.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34Katie also has another pair of cloisonne vases, pink ones.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37They're going to auction with a pair of blue plates.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40John values the lot at...
0:05:43 > 0:05:46Upstairs, Katie has found that other box of buttons.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50She thinks they were a present to her great-grandfather
0:05:50 > 0:05:53who returned to the UK from Burma in the early 1900s.
0:05:53 > 0:05:58The thistle design is made from silver and blue enamel,
0:05:58 > 0:06:00and John values them at £30 to £50.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02It's amazing how many items
0:06:02 > 0:06:05have been passed down through Katie's family.
0:06:05 > 0:06:09I wondered where you'd got to. What have you got there?
0:06:09 > 0:06:13Family photos? I've noticed you've got a fascinating family history.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17You have loads of legal documents on the walls, great photographs of all the family members.
0:06:17 > 0:06:22Let's start with your father's side, your great-grandfather. They weren't based in the UK, were they?
0:06:22 > 0:06:25No, they were Scottish so they grew up in Scotland.
0:06:25 > 0:06:31The bit that starts to come in with the stuff that we've got is really when they were in Burma,
0:06:31 > 0:06:33exporting tea.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37I think they must have made quite a lot of money out there actually.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39And it gets more fascinating.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43I don't know which side of the family this is, but I've seen letters from royalty.
0:06:43 > 0:06:48Actually, that's mostly on my lovely great-aunt Ida's side.
0:06:48 > 0:06:54She actually taught as a governess and went out to Romania to the Princess Ileana of Romania.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57And actually through her entire life they remained firm friends.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01She had a zest for life and just had a sparkle in her eyes.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04I'm hoping, actually, because I lost my mum earlier this year,
0:07:04 > 0:07:08I really hope that my children will remember my mum with the same fondness
0:07:08 > 0:07:12that I remember Aunt Ida and actually a lot of this is all due to her.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16I suppose if you've got all these lovely photographs and letters, as you have,
0:07:16 > 0:07:20getting rid of items or antiques is not so painful, or is it?
0:07:20 > 0:07:24There's always one or two things that are really difficult to part with.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27For some strange reason, they just mean something more to you
0:07:27 > 0:07:30- and the antiques start to become easier to part with. - I agree with you.
0:07:30 > 0:07:35The only problem is, it could take us ages to look through all the letters and we haven't got any time.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38- John's going to get very angry if we don't get back.- OK.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41Come on, let's go and find some antiques.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46While we've been chatting, both John and Kate have left no corner unexplored.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Kate's uncovered this Staffordshire tea set.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52Tea has clearly played a big part in the family life.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56Auntie Enid collected china sets including this one,
0:07:56 > 0:07:59valued by John at £30 to £50.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03Kate also digs out a pair of handmade lace bonnets
0:08:03 > 0:08:05which Katie inherited from her mum.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07They're in good condition
0:08:07 > 0:08:10and John hopes they'll net...
0:08:12 > 0:08:16Kate's stunning home has so many interesting family items.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18It's a pleasure to learn about them.
0:08:18 > 0:08:23Now, has she laid her hands on two more that could set John's heart a-flutter?
0:08:23 > 0:08:27- John, do you think these would be worth anything? - Let's take a look at those.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29Where did you find those?
0:08:29 > 0:08:32It was my great-grandfather. They got married in Burma.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34He worked out there for quite a long time.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37They certainly look of that origin and they're made of silver.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40They're not hallmarked as British silver would be,
0:08:40 > 0:08:43and they still retain the original gilding on the inside.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47Interesting, the shape - they're totally export pieces.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50That scrollwork handle is very much a European thing.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54The work that's gone into them is absolutely remarkable.
0:08:54 > 0:08:55When you look on the inside
0:08:55 > 0:08:58you can see that these haven't been cast.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00They've been worked by hand by a silversmith
0:09:00 > 0:09:03punching all that detail out from reverse,
0:09:03 > 0:09:05before turning it around and then doing the same
0:09:05 > 0:09:11this side in finer detail to chase out the textures of the fur and the bodies and so on.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13There are some really little details in here.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15A lot of work has gone into them.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17It's part of a three-piece tea set.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21We've got the sugar and cream jug. We're missing a teapot.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24- What happened to it? - I haven't seen it, actually.
0:09:24 > 0:09:25- I still think they're saleable.- OK.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28They are good quality and there is a market for foreign silver.
0:09:28 > 0:09:33Even though we're lacking the teapot, this should make at least £100 to £150.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36I think someone will really enjoy them.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39I'd love to see how they perform at auction. They're super quality.
0:09:39 > 0:09:43Well, John, you won't have to wait long to see what the bidders make of them.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46Come on. Come on...
0:09:46 > 0:09:49But will it make enough money to help Katie achieve her dream?
0:09:49 > 0:09:51Thank you very much.
0:09:51 > 0:09:56All that excitement is still to come, but as our rummage continues,
0:09:56 > 0:09:59John keeps up the good work in the attic, finding a tapestry.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Katie thinks it was embroidered by someone in her family.
0:10:02 > 0:10:06It shows a woman watching Bonnie Prince Charlie drinking from a spring.
0:10:06 > 0:10:11John values it at an impressive £100 to £200.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14We're bounding ever closer to that £500 target
0:10:14 > 0:10:17and I've found this standard lamp
0:10:17 > 0:10:21which was bought by Katie's great-grandmother around 1918.
0:10:21 > 0:10:22It's going to auction
0:10:22 > 0:10:25with a price tag of £20 to £40.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29Katie has such a huge variety of items hidden away
0:10:29 > 0:10:31and there's no prizes for guessing
0:10:31 > 0:10:33where this next little collection has come from.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36I've had these fans for quite a while, actually.
0:10:36 > 0:10:41They're probably family - grand...great-grandmother.
0:10:41 > 0:10:46These would date to the latter part of the 19th century, early 20th century. The use of fans
0:10:46 > 0:10:51goes back a lot further, several hundred years and certainly in the 18th century it was a necessity,
0:10:51 > 0:10:56especially in high society balls, where they were used as an object to communicate with.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59I'm not terrible voiced in the communication process...
0:10:59 > 0:11:02- Fan etiquette!- No, exactly. But they're quite a nice collection.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05You've got some ivory here and these look ebonised.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08- Looking at the fans here, I think these are European.- OK.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12The decoration, although they're ivory, I think are Continental, probably French.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14This one's quite interesting. Looks Japanese to me.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18Ebonised sticks, nicely embroidered flower work here.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20Typically Japanese.
0:11:20 > 0:11:25Collectors are looking for several things - condition is very, very important,
0:11:25 > 0:11:28the quality of design and the materials.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32You often see ivory, as we have here, tortoiseshell,
0:11:32 > 0:11:35ebony and other timbers and sometimes beautifully inlaid.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38That's been painted, but you often see them
0:11:38 > 0:11:43inlaid with silver and gold wire so they can be really exquisite things.
0:11:43 > 0:11:44Works of art, aren't they?
0:11:44 > 0:11:48Absolutely, they were works of art made by craftsmen of their day.
0:11:48 > 0:11:53- I would suggest putting them together as one lot and I think we'd be looking at £100 to £150.- OK.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57- Are you happy with that? - Yes.- Methinks you have made a wise choice, madam.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01Well done. We will leave those there and see what else we can find.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03OK, let's go.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06Bear in mind that in the UK it's only legal to sell
0:12:06 > 0:12:10worked ivory made before 1947 and that is classed as antique.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14If in doubt, ask your auction house.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17Downstairs, Kate has spotted this large Edwardian high-backed chair.
0:12:17 > 0:12:22It's in need of new upholstery, but John's very keen on the carved frame.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24It adds another £50 to £80
0:12:24 > 0:12:27to our ever increasing total.
0:12:27 > 0:12:32The chair belonged to Katie's great-aunt Ida. When she left the Romanian royal household
0:12:32 > 0:12:38to move back to England, she bought an old Tudor building called the Old House in Cambridgeshire
0:12:38 > 0:12:40and turned it into a tearoom.
0:12:40 > 0:12:46Remarkably, Katie has a fabulous set of china from that very place.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50- This is a really pretty set. It's a cake set.- Let's have a look.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54Actually, there's only two pieces here but there's a whole set of them.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57- How many have you got in the set? - There's a few, actually.
0:12:57 > 0:13:03- I think there's probably five cake stands and 14 plates. - It's certainly a dessert set.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06You can just imagine a Victorian table laid out with these.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10When you see those old cookery books, the amount and variety of cakes and sweets,
0:13:10 > 0:13:12it makes you wish you were born in that period.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16Looking at the decoration, Kate, does that remind you
0:13:16 > 0:13:18- of those vases we looked at earlier?- Yes.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22That's because the decoration was inspired by the Orient.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26This is exactly the period we were talking about with those vases, the Meiji period,
0:13:26 > 0:13:31when Japanese artworks inspired a whole movement in this country called the Aesthetic Movement.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34But if we turn them over and have a look on the back,
0:13:34 > 0:13:38we can see a retailer's mark there - James Green & Nephew.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40I love that, not James Green & Son.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43I wonder if you ever see James Green & Second Cousin Twice Removed!
0:13:43 > 0:13:45- Exactly!- That's the retailer, not the maker.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48If we look closely, it's a bit obscured
0:13:48 > 0:13:51- but there is an impressed mark. Can you see that?- Mm-hm.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54That is Bodley. It's been obscured by the glaze.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57Bodley were an English company based in Burslem in Staffordshire.
0:13:57 > 0:14:03They were only around from the 1870s to the very early 1890s, and that ties in perfectly with this period.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07So they're in fact English, but the decoration is typically Japanese,
0:14:07 > 0:14:13It's been transfer-printed on, this brown border, and the outline of the fruiting trees,
0:14:13 > 0:14:17and the fruit trees have been hand-painted in afterwards, so a series of processes.
0:14:17 > 0:14:22I think the colours are lovely, and it's got a real feminine part to it.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25They do remind me of cakes, just that colour.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28- Everything reminds you of cakes! - Besotted with cakes!
0:14:28 > 0:14:31This has a chip. What are they like for condition?
0:14:31 > 0:14:35Actually, all the cake stands are in very good condition,
0:14:35 > 0:14:38but there may be a couple of chips on a couple of the plates.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42OK, we'll take that into consideration, plus the fact that it's not a major maker.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45I would suggest an estimate of about £100 to £150.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48You don't seem very happy about that.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51Well, there's a sentimental bit here.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54I don't know whether it's enough to make me part with them.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58Right, so if we said £100, that is not good enough for you?
0:14:58 > 0:15:02- I'd really have to think about it. - Right, we have something that hangs in the balance.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05I suppose we weren't going to have a trouble-free day, John?
0:15:05 > 0:15:08- Can't have your cake and eat it! - Very good, very good.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12- The good news is that the rummaging is over. Are you pleased with that, Kate?- Great!
0:15:12 > 0:15:15- It's time for a gin and tonic. - Oh, yeah!
0:15:15 > 0:15:19Now, you wanted to raise £500 to £600 today, didn't you?
0:15:19 > 0:15:21That would be great.
0:15:21 > 0:15:27Now, with the plates and cake stands hanging in the balance, we reckon we can raise £780.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31That's quite good, and I would be quite pleased, but...
0:15:31 > 0:15:34Without the plates, of course, it's £680.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36I think that's all right for a good day's work.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38What a fascinating day we've had.
0:15:38 > 0:15:42I feel we've really got to know Katie's family through her items.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46Here's a quick reminder of the most interesting ones heading to auction.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48Two boxes of silver buttons,
0:15:48 > 0:15:51which once belonged to Katie's great-grandfather.
0:15:51 > 0:15:56We're hoping that these will make the combined total of £100 to £140.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00Worthy of £100 to £150, I wonder if Katie's great-grandmother
0:16:00 > 0:16:04attracted her great-grandad's attention with these lovely fans.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07Plus, of course, we've got those cake stands,
0:16:07 > 0:16:09which once had pride of place in Aunt Ida's tea room.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12If Katie can bring herself to let them go,
0:16:12 > 0:16:16with a bit of luck they'll bring in £100 to £150.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21Find out how they all get on when the final hammer falls.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25Hopefully, it won't fall anywhere near Katie's fragile ceramics!
0:16:25 > 0:16:28Still to come on Cash In The Attic,
0:16:28 > 0:16:32we have our fair share of nail-biting moments.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36Fingers crossed, I think, on this one.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40But there's more than a glimmer of hope of hitting our £500 target.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42- Yes!- We got those away.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44Thank you very much.
0:16:48 > 0:16:54It turned out to be a real trip down memory lane for Katie at her home in southwest London.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56She had a fascinating family history,
0:16:56 > 0:17:00and we found some wonderful items that we hope go really well here
0:17:00 > 0:17:02at Sworders auction house in Essex.
0:17:02 > 0:17:07Katie wants to raise around £500 to £600 for a family trip to go on safari,
0:17:07 > 0:17:13so let's hope everybody in there is in generous mood, as her items go under the hammer.
0:17:13 > 0:17:19It might be early in the day, but the auction room is already packed with prospective buyers
0:17:19 > 0:17:23sizing up today's lots, and there's plenty up for sale too.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27John and I find Katie in the midst of things.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30Hello, Katie, nice to see you.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32What have you done with the mother-in-law?
0:17:32 > 0:17:35I think we wore her out the other day!
0:17:35 > 0:17:37We've got one big question for you, and it is...
0:17:37 > 0:17:41Have you brought your dessert service?
0:17:41 > 0:17:44No, I haven't, I'm afraid. I did think long and hard about it.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48I think if it had been worth a little bit more, I might have been tempted,
0:17:48 > 0:17:50but it's got a bit of sentimental value attached to it.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52So no, I've left it at home.
0:17:52 > 0:17:57- Oops. That's hit us hard, a little bit, hasn't it?- It takes at least £100 off our target, I think.
0:17:57 > 0:18:02I think we're running out of time, let's get into the auction. Come on.
0:18:02 > 0:18:07'Positive mental attitude. The room is full of people, and we have plenty of items to sell.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09'We're ready to go, and so is our first lot.
0:18:09 > 0:18:14'That's the Staffordshire tea set that once was owned by Aunt Enid in the 1920s.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17'We want £30 to £50.'
0:18:17 > 0:18:19We're not asking for much, are we?
0:18:19 > 0:18:23No, but they've described it as a part tea service, implying that it's not complete.
0:18:23 > 0:18:29We have got odd numbers of cups and plates and so on, hence my £30 to £50 estimate.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31I don't think I could have put a much lower estimate on it.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35Good decorative lot, we'll start here at £10 to bid.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38£10 I am bid. 12, 15, 18, 20.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40At £20? £22,
0:18:40 > 0:18:43£25. £25 here on my right.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46It's in the room now, £25, I'm going to sell.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48Thank you very much.
0:18:48 > 0:18:53You didn't want to take that home, did you? You weren't ever going to use it again.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55It would've been nice to get more, but I'm pleased.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58'We're straight out of the blocks with £25,
0:18:58 > 0:19:01'just short of John's lower estimate, but we're on the move,
0:19:01 > 0:19:04'and it looks like there are lots of keen buyers in the room.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06'I wonder if there'll be any interest
0:19:06 > 0:19:10'in the two late-Victorian silver pieces from Burma.'
0:19:10 > 0:19:14- I'm looking for five if you want. 55, 60...- Come on.
0:19:14 > 0:19:1785. £85 there.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20Any advance at 85? I'm going to sell, make no mistake.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22At £85.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24Thank you very much.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28- Not quite what we hoped, but they have sold. OK with that, Katie?- Yes.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32'£85 is just short of John's lower estimate of £100,
0:19:32 > 0:19:37'but it's more cash towards the family trip to South Africa.
0:19:37 > 0:19:42'Next, it's the fan collection from the turn of the 19th century, that's been handed down through the family.
0:19:42 > 0:19:47'John fancied that they might make £100 to £150.'
0:19:47 > 0:19:52- At £25 a fan, don't know, let's see. Here we go.- Fingers crossed.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55We'll start here at £40, it's a low start.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59I'll take five if you wish. 45, 50, 55, 60.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03- At £60 here. Against the room at £60...- It's not...
0:20:03 > 0:20:06- Not sold.- No fans for fans. - Disappointing.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09Disappointing, as you say, but it is a specific thing,
0:20:09 > 0:20:12and there was nobody here today that wanted fans.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16'It's so difficult to gauge today what's going to sell or not.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18'Two separate cloisonne lots coming up,
0:20:18 > 0:20:21'dating from the Meiji period in Japan. We want....'
0:20:25 > 0:20:27At £60, with me now.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31Still with me at £60.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33Not sold.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36- Their loss. - Their loss completely.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38'Now, don't be upset, Katie.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42'At least the auctioneer didn't let them go for a silly price.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46'We really need the room to love our items, but I'm not sure about what's next.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50'Why? Well, it's our second of our cloisonne lots.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54'£50 to £100 is the estimate on these.'
0:20:54 > 0:20:59We've got more vases here, John, which I'm a bit concerned about. Just a different colour.
0:20:59 > 0:21:00It's not looking great.
0:21:00 > 0:21:05These are pink variety, slight damage, together with a pair of plates of mediocre quality,
0:21:05 > 0:21:10hence my 50-100 estimate. Fingers crossed, I think, on this one.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14All the same, some interest here. At £40.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16Any advance on £40? 45, 50.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19At £50. We're going to sell this time.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23Against the room. 55, 60, 65.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25£65 is bid.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27- Yes!- Well, we got those away.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30I wonder which part they were after, the plates or the vases.
0:21:30 > 0:21:35'Unbelievable! I really thought Katie would be taking them home.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38It has been quite hard work, gang, hasn't it?
0:21:38 > 0:21:42John, I don't know what to say to Katie. Her little face there, look. She's a bit disappointed.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46I saw you having a chat to the auctioneer, have you got some good news for us?
0:21:46 > 0:21:49We've had word from the auctioneer that the chap
0:21:49 > 0:21:53who was bidding on the cloisonne vases has come back and offered £80, our lower estimate.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56- Would you be happy with that, Katie? - Yes. Yes.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58OK, so we've got another £80.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01£80 on top of that. We're at the halfway stage.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04You wanted to raise about £500 - £600 for that safari.
0:22:04 > 0:22:11I've got some good news, you're going to get the taxi to the airport anyway. So far we've raised £255.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13OK, that's more than I thought.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16Not too bad, is it? It's a lot better than I thought as well.
0:22:16 > 0:22:21'So, halfway towards our £500 target, and we have everything to play for.
0:22:21 > 0:22:27'If you've been inspired by Katie's progress to try your hand at the auction game, do bear in mind
0:22:27 > 0:22:30'that there are various charges to be paid, such as commission.
0:22:30 > 0:22:36'They vary from one saleroom to another, so it's always worth checking in advance.
0:22:36 > 0:22:37'Next, the standard lamp
0:22:37 > 0:22:42'picked up by Katie's great-grandmother around 1918.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45'John valued it at, "at least £20".'
0:22:45 > 0:22:49- You don't like this much, do you? - I would rather not take it home.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52- Right.- Mainly because my husband doesn't like it. I grew up with it.
0:22:52 > 0:22:56It's been in my house for years, but my husband's not very fond of it.
0:22:56 > 0:22:5810 I have there. 12, 15, 18...
0:22:58 > 0:23:02- Yes, we're off!- ..20, 22.
0:23:02 > 0:23:06£22 on the pillar now. 25, 28?
0:23:06 > 0:23:0825, close by. 28, fresh bidder.
0:23:08 > 0:23:1130, 32, 35,
0:23:11 > 0:23:1438, 40, 42....
0:23:14 > 0:23:17At £42.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20- There's no accounting for taste. - What do men know?
0:23:20 > 0:23:25'Smiles all round then, and another £42 in the kitty.
0:23:25 > 0:23:30'The second half of our auction has got off to a great start, and we're all in good spirits.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34'Let's hope the bidders are just as interested in our next lot,
0:23:34 > 0:23:36'that Edwardian high-backed chair.'
0:23:36 > 0:23:37Good, comfortable lot there.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39I bid £20.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41- Any advance on 20?- Oh, no.
0:23:41 > 0:23:4422, 25, 28, 30.
0:23:44 > 0:23:45At 30?
0:23:45 > 0:23:49Any advance on £30? Any further interest?
0:23:49 > 0:23:52'I can't believe no-one was interested in the chair.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55'Chin up though, we've still got plenty of items to go.
0:23:55 > 0:24:00'Next up, it's the Victorian tapestry, featuring Bonnie Prince Charlie.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04'John found this, and he values it at £100 to £200.'
0:24:04 > 0:24:07Any further interest at £40?
0:24:07 > 0:24:09No, no interest. Not sold.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13'Uh-oh, another unsold item, and things go from bad to worse
0:24:13 > 0:24:17'when the Victorian hand-made lace bonnets go under the hammer.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20'We wanted £50 to £80.'
0:24:20 > 0:24:22No further interest at £20.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25All done? £20. Not sold.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29'They don't sell either. OK, everyone, take a deep breath.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33'Two items to go, and we need £203 to hit our target.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36'I really like this next lot from the Victorian times,
0:24:36 > 0:24:42'and I've got everything crossed that the bidders in the room share my view.'
0:24:42 > 0:24:44Up next we've got those Art Nouveau buttons.
0:24:44 > 0:24:50They are nice, cased and silver, so I hope we've got some collectors here today.
0:24:50 > 0:24:5465 at the back of the room. Any advance on £65?
0:24:54 > 0:24:58£70 anywhere? Selling at £65.
0:24:58 > 0:25:03We're limping towards those bottom estimates, but it sold. £65.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06'Time now for our final item,
0:25:06 > 0:25:08'and it's the second of our Victorian button lots.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12These have a thistle design, and are made from silver and enamel.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15Any advance on 32, madam?
0:25:15 > 0:25:1838, 40. £40 there.
0:25:18 > 0:25:2142, 45, takes it from commission.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25It's in the room now. At £45, selling.
0:25:25 > 0:25:30- Yes! £45. They did all right. - We're in!
0:25:30 > 0:25:35'Well, we've ended on a high, £45 more to add to our total.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39'It's been a really tough day trying to hit our £500 target.
0:25:39 > 0:25:40Well, that is it.
0:25:40 > 0:25:45I've got to say, John, I know we didn't bring the cake stands, you couldn't part with them,
0:25:45 > 0:25:49of all the auctions I've been to, I've never had such high hopes and been so disappointed.
0:25:49 > 0:25:54The things I thought would do well didn't, and the things I thought wouldn't, did!
0:25:54 > 0:25:58- In total today we've raised £407. - OK.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00- Not too bad.- Not too bad.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03We're all going to a fancy-dress party in those bonnets.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06- Yes, Victorian party invites in the post.- Yes!
0:26:06 > 0:26:07I'll take a rain check on that one!
0:26:13 > 0:26:16Katie and her family won't be going on safari until next year.
0:26:16 > 0:26:21But a few weeks after the auction, she's decided to test the water for what it might be like.
0:26:21 > 0:26:26The whole family are ready to go. I wonder what's first for them to see.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28- I can see one!- Can you see one?
0:26:28 > 0:26:32They're stunning, aren't they, these animals?
0:26:32 > 0:26:36Well, you can't feed the lions, but someone else is hungry.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39It's been brilliant, a fantastic day.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41A really memorable day. Thank you, it's brilliant.