Cox Cash in the Attic

Welcome to Cash In The Attic.

We're the team that helps you to root out antiques and collectibles in your home,

and then sell some with you at auction,

so that you can raise money for a project that's really close to your heart.

Today I'm in Wiltshire, and I'm very privileged

to be in what is probably one of the greatest monuments to Elizabethan architecture in the country -

we're at Longleat House.

This house has had more than its fair share of royal visitors,

but right now we're off to visit a local resident,

and see what antiques and collectibles we can find that we can take to that all-important auction.

Coming up, is this Edwardian bath chair Jonty's perfect ride to auction?

Help!

I hope we don't have to go up a slope!

And has Jonty found a route to fortune that will make everyone smile?

This map is worth a lot of money.

I liked it, but I like it even more now!

But it takes a lot more to make John happy at auction day.

I've detected a tiny little smile on John's face.

What will the verdict be when the hammer falls?

I've now come just a few miles down the road

to the very charming village of Mere,

which is where I'm about to meet a lady

who would like the fruits of her de-cluttering to go to a very worthy cause.

Living here in this converted village shop in Wiltshire are our hosts, Rosemary and John Cox.

They met in the 1960s, and it was love at first sight.

They married soon after, and went on to have three children who are now all grown up.

The couple enjoyed very different careers - John started out with the Merchant Navy

before running his family's food business, while Rosemary enjoyed a career as a nurse.

Now both retired, John has been diagnosed

with early stages of Alzheimer's, and they've decided that it's time to downsize.

They've called in the Cash In The Attic team to help.

'So whilst Jonty Hearnden gets the search under way,

'I meet our hosts and their close friend, Maureen.'

So, this is where you all are, out in the garden.

So, whose idea was it to call in Cash In The Attic?

Well, I think it was mine.

Well, we've lived here for 13 years, and it's now too big for us.

Our family have grown up, so we don't need such a big house, and we are going to downsize -

get rid of possessions.

So, which charity is it you want to raise money for?

It's the local branch of the Alzheimer's Society in Salisbury,

who do so much good work for people newly diagnosed with dementia,

and people further down the path of dementia.

And have you got a specific thing in mind that you'd like to buy for them?

Yes, they have a lunch club that needs new chairs,

and they cost £250 each, so I said I would try and raise for three chairs.

-So, that's £750?

-Mmm.

Maureen, you two have been friends for longer, probably, than you care to remember.

Ooh, about 30...

50 years.

Is it? Oh, yes, 50 years.

So, you've seen all this stuff building up over the years, have you?

Yes, definitely. She's always been a big collector.

Well, £750 is our target, Jonty, I know, has already started work, shall we go and join him? Come on.

'Ready to identify the treasures is our expert, Jonty Hearnden.

'He's spent his life immersed in the world of antiques,

'and he's already discovered an item that deserves a little closer inspection.'

Hi, Jonty.

Who needs their nails clipping?

This must bring back memories for you, you trained as nurses together, didn't you?

Yes, we did.

So, what have we actually got here, Rosemary?

I think it's a field kit for a surgeon.

And what are all these different things in the box?

We've got forceps and scissors, and scalpels, of course.

I think it's really fascinating.

Taking it out of its canvas bag, it all folds out,

and, of course, what we see here is this travelling medical or surgeon's kit.

Now, I've looked all over this to see if I can find a date or a maker's name, absolutely nothing,

so we really are looking at the Second World War or possibly just post the Second World War.

As for value,

I still think we're looking at £20 to £30 at auction.

'I've got a good feeling about this rummage, and I think we'll be pleasantly surprised.

'Out in the garage, John uncovers a collection of old trunks,

'including one that he took around the world when he was in the Merchant Navy.

'These may not be a matching set,

'but Jonty still thinks they could fetch £20 to £40 at auction.'

On the landing, Maureen locates an engraving,

depicting the magnificent French cathedral of Chartres,

by a living American artist called Catherine Merrill.

Jonty is cautious with his valuation as we'll be selling it in the UK,

so it heads off to auction with a slim £10 to £20 price tag.

-Jonty?

-Yes, John.

-Have a look at the sextant.

Let's have a look. Oh, wow.

So, John, is this your personal sextant you used at sea?

-Yes, this one I've had for years.

-Wow.

And I used it, I mean, it was an instrument of use, not decoration.

How often would you use it?

We'd use it first thing in the morning for a sight, and then at midday for another sight.

You then run one forward, get the crossover, and you'd know where you are at noon.

OK, and I see you have got the maker's name, Kelvin & Hughes.

-That's great. And I see here we've got a date clearly, 1952. Now, Henry Hughes...

-Yes.

..was making precision and nautical instruments way back in the 1830s.

So, there's been a lineage of this company,

and the company's development.

But they changed their name to Kelvin & Hughes in 1947.

So, as far as value is concerned,

we're looking at between £80 to £120.

-That seems reasonable.

-All right?

I think John's going to be sad to say goodbye to the sextant which accompanied him around the globe.

But will it raise the roof at auction?

£80, then, for it.

I'm bid £80. 85. 90.

'Let's hope that it makes a healthy contribution towards our target,

-'which is for a very worthwhile cause.'

-£120, sir.

'As our rummage in Wiltshire continues,

'Jonty is on the trail of more interesting items,

'but I take a minute to enjoy the garden.'

Rosemary, you're raising money for the Alzheimer's Society,

and you've got a very personal reason for wanting to do this, haven't you?

Well, yes, a few years ago John was diagnosed with early Alzheimer's,

and we were introduced to the Alzheimer's Society,

who have been incredibly supportive,

-with not just leaflets, but people contact, and carers groups, and a memory support group for you.

-Yes.

We couldn't have managed without the support of the society,

-as well as, of course, the doctors, and the drugs, and that sort of thing.

-And everything else.

But we've met interesting people who've come from all walks of life.

And you realise you're not the only person suffering from this,

which is always helpful. You don't feel so isolated.

-John, what difference has it made to you?

-I can't drive a car now,

which is probably just as well for everybody else!

So, no... I'm very dependent on Rose.

I'm very lucky that she puts up with me, actually.

We obviously want to make sure that you raise the money for those chairs,

so I think perhaps we should go back into the house, and see what else we can find.

'A charity like this can make such a difference to couples like John and Rosemary.

'So, we head back inside, more determined than ever to raise that £750.

'Maureen is still hard at work, and in a cupboard,

'she uncovers this decorative inlaid Chinese hardwood tray that once belonged to Rosemary's mother.

'Sadly, these were produced in great numbers for the tourist trade, and aren't particularly fashionable,

'so Jonty values it at just £20 to £30.

Rosemary also decides to add this pen-and-ink drawing to the auction hall.

It was a gift from the artist Jamie Goodbrand who was once a neighbour of theirs.

As he isn't well-known, Jonty gives it a modest £20-to-£40 valuation.

'In the lounge, I'm drawn to a rather striking portrait,

'hanging in pride of place over the fireplace.'

Rosemary? Jonty?

Rosemary, what's the story behind this rather dour-looking gentleman?

Well, he was... He was my great-grandfather -

a Scotsman called James Patterson.

Not THE James Patterson?

-I don't know.

-The artist, James Patterson?

Well, he was an artist, yes, but this was a self-portrait by him.

-Wow!

-He was a rather dour Scotsman, I'm told.

But he spent all his life painting.

I've only recently inherited this one,

so it hangs in pride of place.

The way you said, "not THE James Patterson?"

Presumably, Jonty, you do know quite a lot about him?

Well, he's extraordinarily well-known and respected as an artist.

He was born in Glasgow in the 1850s.

He went to the Glasgow School Of Art, and he also was able to go to Paris to study art as well.

But he's highly respected as, really, a landscape artist,

a watercolourist, not necessarily in the medium of oils, as we see here.

Knowing the sort of price that his pictures sell for at auction at the moment,

roughly, they sell between £2,000-£10,000 each.

OK? That's the market value at the moment.

I would suggest that we are looking at a picture at the top end of that range.

So, we're looking at really between, I suppose, anything from £7,000 to £10,000 at auction.

-So, can we take this to auction?

-I think I'd like to think about that!

Are you in shock a bit?

A little, yes, I have to say I had no idea that it was that valuable.

What a magnificent painting!

And a quite staggering valuation.

I'm really not sure if Rosemary and John will send the portrait to auction, but if they do,

it could blow our target right out of the water!

Rosemary bought this clock at a charity auction some years ago,

but sadly any sign of a maker's name has long since vanished.

It's a traditional example, commonly seen at auctions, and Jonty values it at a very affordable £10 to £20.

Rosemary's been sorting through the kitchen cupboards,

and has gathered an assortment of Royal commemorative china.

Jonty values them at another modest £10 to £20.

We're still way some off our target,

so no time for a sit down, Jonty!

Ah-h!

Essentially, what we're looking at here is a bath chair, or invalid's chair.

It's a chair that can be manoeuvred by one person,

but also by two people,

so if you're trying to carry your patient up or down stairs, for instance, then it's easily managed.

-You've got two handles at the back and two adjustable handles at the front. It lifts up like so.

-Ah.

So, one person can carry the front, and one person can carry the reverse.

I think it's got bags of character. Do you know where this came from?

I like it. Yes, it came from a colleague of ours.

Because she has a nursing home herself, she decided it would be better for this cause.

-This is something we can sell?

-Yes.

-Oh, great.

People love to buy items that are just a little bit quirky, a little bit different.

I love the shape of the construction.

So, if you look at the back here,

if you look at the top handle running all the way down to the front, this is one piece of timber.

This is ash, steamed into this lovely S shape.

I love the fact that this caning is in perfect condition,

because this costs a small fortune to replace.

And if you see these rubberised wheels at the back there...

-Oh, they're quite tough.

-It's all sort of, like, perfectly balanced.

-Yeah.

-It's like a... I suppose almost like a wheelbarrow,

insofar that it's designed in such a way that it's easy to manoeuvre.

-How much do you think you'll get for it?

-I think we're looking at £30, £40, maybe even £50.

I'd think it's great fun. Talking of which, I'm dying to have a go.

-Can we take it off for auction if I sit into it?

-Try.

Come on! Come on!

-Ready, here we go. Ready?

-Oh...whoops!

-Help!

Hope we don't have to go up a slope!

Don't get too comfy, Jonty!

We still need you to come up with more!

'These opera glasses are just one of two pairs stored in an old box,

'together with an assortment of oddities, including vintage buttons,

'a 1930s Persian brass date box, and slide rules.

'It's certainly a mixed lot, and Jonty values it at £20 to £40.

Rosemary? Can you look at this map with me.

Yes, Jonty, of course.

Has this been in your family for a long time?

I can't remember when it wasn't hanging in my mother's house,

so, probably.

That's very interesting,

because this map's an exceedingly old map.

Can you see that we've got a join running down the middle there?

I can, yes. Worried about that, too!

Well, don't be concerned, because that's completely correct, because this map was part of a book.

The map maker was Britain's best-known map maker of his time, John Speed.

This was originally made, this particular map, in 1676.

-Well, it is old!

-That old. It's very, very old.

And what's so interesting, is just how accurate it is in today's terms.

Now, on the reverse, there should be some writing.

-Can I take it off?

-Yes, please.

-Let's have a look. What can you see?

-Writing.

-Very good.

That all makes sense. That all makes sense to me,

because this was part of the book.

The book in question was called Prospects Of The Important Parts Of the World.

So, this is worth an awful lot of money.

Really? Because I did worry that it was actually photocopied out of a newspaper by my mother.

Really? How wonderful.

Have we got a very expensive photocopy, then, Jonty?

No, this is a wonderful original, this is superb.

This print is worth between £600 to £1,000 at auction.

-How about that?

-Really great.

-Shattered.

-Shattering, actually!

Jonty has looked at lots of things with you today,

and if we take the lowest estimate on everything,

add them all together,

then we should be able to make at least £840.

-Great.

-That's very good.

£750 is your target.

£840 he thinks you might make.

That might take off, and, of course,

if you do decide to bring the Patterson,

never mind the chairs, we could buy a new centre for Salisbury!

But let's wait and see what happens at auction with that one.

Well, what a day we've had here in Wiltshire with Rosemary and John,

and we've unearthed some truly fascinating items for auction.

There's John's sextant,

which accompanied him around the world during his time in the Navy,

and could steer us northwards of £80 at auction.

The incredible map of Europe,

from cartographer John Speed's World Atlas.

It dates from 1676, and could far exceed its £600 estimate.

And will that fabulous self-portrait

of artist James Patterson make it to auction?

It's possibly one of the most important finds I've experienced on Cash In The Attic,

and I think its £7,000 valuation could just be the tip of the iceberg.

'Still to come on Cash In The Attic, are today's bidders unusually quiet?'

There's a mouse running through the room, making a lot more noise than the buyers.

'Or are they just not in the mood for buying?'

Not quite enough, I'm afraid.

'So, will we have reached our target when the hammer falls?'

Well, it's been a couple of weeks since we were with Rose and John Cox,

in that lovely home of theirs in Wiltshire.

If you remember, their aim is to raise £750 for the Alzheimer's Society.

So, we've sent all of their wonderful antiques and collectibles

off to the Chiswick auction rooms in west London.

Sadly, I can't be with them for the auction, but no problem,

because they're in the very capable hands of Jonty Hearnden.

The doors are open, and the sale room is filling up rapidly with potential buyers.

Rosemary, John and Maureen have arrived,

but I wonder if that spectacular painting of James Patterson has come with them?

-Rose, John, Maureen, how are you guys? How lovely to see you.

-Hi, Jonty. Good, yes.

Now, the big burning question is, have you bought that beautiful James Patterson portrait?

No, it was decided that it should stay for the family for the future.

I had a hunch you might be telling me that.

It's a beautiful, beautiful thing, and I can see clearly why you want to pass it down.

I think the auction's about to start, so let's go and take our places.

You know, I really didn't think they would part with that painting, and I do understand.

But it was our highest valued lot!

So, the pressure is on, as we still want to reach that target of £750 for the charity.

If you're thinking of heading to auction,

please remember that commission and other charges may be added to your bill.

Do check the details with your auction house first, to avoid any unexpected additional costs.

Five. £65. The lady, then, at 65.

The auction is already under way,

so they gather at the back just in time for their first lot of the day,

that striking pen-and-ink drawing,

which could tempt one of the bidders.

OK, our first lot is the Jamie Goodbrand picture.

Now, remind us, Rose, where that came from.

Well, many moons ago we had a lovely neighbour,

he was an artist and sculptor. One day he said, "Would you like one of my drawings?"

We've enjoyed it ever since.

Great. OK. This is not a vast sum of money,

-but it's all going to help.

-It is.

£10 for the picture.

Surely for £10?

At £10 I'm bid. £10 here. Maiden bid of £10.

£12.

£14. Next to me at £14. I'm going to sell it at £14, it's still cheap.

At £14 it goes. 14, then? 14.

-£14.

-Oh, well.

In spite of the auctioneer's best efforts,

not a very good result for that charming drawing.

The bidders aren't digging deep just yet.

Our cathedral engraving and Coronation china make just £14 between them.

Anybody else? £9, it goes for £9.

Things are moving very slowly and that £750 target seems a long way off.

Maybe our next item will make a bit of a splash in the saleroom.

It's a novelty item really.

It's anybody's guess as to what it really might make.

I put £30 to £50 on it. Let's just see what the room decides.

£10 at £10. £10 I'm bid. £12?

12. 14. 16.

£14 is all I'm bid, not quite enough at £14.

£16 I need. For £14. All done at £14?

Not quite enough. £14.

Unsold.

We didn't quite get enough bids.

Very disappointing. I don't want to take that one home!

That chair may need to wait for another day.

Let's hope the job lot of opera glasses and other items might attract the bidders' curiosity,

12, madam? £12. 14.

16. £16 nearer to me at £16, the lady at £16.

Anybody else at £16? I'm going to sell it, then, for £16.

The mixed lot, selling it for 16.

It's very, very quiet in the auction room.

In fact, there's a mouse running through the auction room,

and he's making a lot more noise than the buyers.

I think it's not just the mice that are scampering out of sight.

It's the bidders too.

Maybe the next lot will lift our spirits.

We've got a very nice decorative Chinese inlaid tray. Where was this from?

Well, a present from my mother many years ago,

and it's quite heavy to use as a tray. So, now it needs to go.

Right, I put £20-£30.

We need a bit more injection of enthusiasm from our buyers. Come on!

Start me at £10 for the lot for the inlaid tray. I'm bid £10.

£12. 14. 16. 18. On the sofa at £18.

Come on. Come on. We want two more pounds, please. Two more pounds.

£18. 552.

-Nearly, isn't it?

-It's all nearly, but it's all selling.

So, in fact, the money is accumulating.

But I just want that... A bit more.

A sale is a sale, after all.

But again, this is still below Jonty's lowest valuation.

Nothing seems to be taking the bidders' fancy today,

and with half our lots sold, we've made just £62 towards that £750 target.

It's disastrous!

There are some wonderful items still to sell, though, so the only way is up

We've got your lovely sextant coming up now.

-Will you miss if it's sold?

-Well, I'm not using it now, but I used to use it, yes.

Will you be disappointed if it doesn't sell?

I certainly don't want to give it away.

Good, well, that's the reason why we've got this reserve of £120.

So, if it doesn't sell, it's coming home with you.

Here it comes.

Start me. £80, then, for it. I'm bid £80, 85, 90.

£90, 95, 100.

110, I can take 115. Do you want 120, sir?

120 there, at £120, anybody else?

-That's great.

-That's better.

-That's good.

£120 for the sextant. At 120, then, I'm going to sell it at 120. 161.

I've detected a tiny little smile on John's face.

It's tiny, but I've spotted one.

What a relief. John's Navy background has come into its own

and the handsome bracket clock proves popular too.

£10, £12, 14, 16. £16, 18, 20.

-That's good.

-£20, then.

22, 24, 26.

Next to me's at £26, anybody else?

26, then, to my left, on the dining table, at £26.

Because it wasn't antique at all,

I had to put a very low figure on it, but, £26, John, can you smile for me?

Can you just...?

Just a little smile?

Well, the last two items have exceeded Jonty's highest estimate,

But will the exceptional map live up to its promise?

Righty-ho, chaps, this is the big one. This really is the big one.

-Remember, we've got the fixed reserve of £500.

-Yes.

So, it has to sell.

It's vital, at this point.

Have you got your fingers crossed?

OK, here it comes.

Is it worth, start me £400 to go for it? For £400.

£400 to start me. 400 I'm bid.

420, 440.

£440 for it. At £440 for the map.

-For £440.

-Come on, come on.

Not quite enough at £440.

460 I need. For 440, anybody?

£440 is the bid, then. Not quite enough, I'm afraid.

Disaster has struck.

Unsold.

What a disappointment!

We were depending on that to take us to our target.

Luck just isn't on our side today.

Then John's travelling trunk fails to attract any interest at all.

I'm going to have to pass the lot for £5. Nobody want them for five?

Becoming our third unsold lot of the day.

It's been a real roller coaster but now it's our final item

and everyone has their fingers crossed.

So, Rose, this is your surgical kit now.

I've got a little bit of interest in the lot, I'm bid £20.

I can take fives with me at £20.

25, 30, 35, 40.

It's still with me at £40, and five I'll take from somebody else.

At £40 for the surgeon's tools.

-45, 50.

-Good.

Anybody else? At £50 I'm going to sell, then,

the surgeon's tools, selling for £50.

Aah! Have I got a smile on YOUR face now, Rose?

-Yes, I'm satisfied.

-Well, that's good.

Indeed, it's smiles all round.

The World War II medical kit

has raised more than double its lowest valuation.

But what a terrible shame that there wasn't more interest

in some of our other items.

It's really bad luck for the Coxes, but all is not completely lost.

Well, guys, we've had some ups and some downs, some very big downs.

We didn't get the John Speed sold, so that's a huge dent into our target.

Nonetheless, we have still made £258.

It's better than nothing.

But I'm greedy!

But you still have some lovely items to take back with you, so they can all live for another day.

-Yes.

-All right?

-Thank you.

People with Alzheimer's and their families

have been coming to the Salisbury Day Care Centre to enjoy a variety of activities.

And the money that Coxes raised has gone towards much-needed new chairs.

I've asked them this morning, and they say they are very comfortable, which is reassuring!

Rosemary and John's generosity has given much-needed comfort to this important part of the community.

I think they deserve the support of anybody who can help,

to make it more comfortable and suitable, and generally keep it going.

If there's something you'd like to raise money for,

and you think you have things at home you'd be happy to send to auction,

then why not get in touch with the programme?

You can find all the details on our website.

And good luck,

maybe you'll be joining us on Cash In The Attic soon.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd