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0:00:02 > 0:00:06We help you to sell something dear to your heart for something special.

0:00:06 > 0:00:10We're about to meet a lady who's willing to part with family history

0:00:10 > 0:00:12to see some other countries.

0:00:33 > 0:00:37'Today our expert, Paul, struggles to contain his excitement

0:00:37 > 0:00:39'over a delightful relic.'

0:00:39 > 0:00:44You're salivating, Paul. You're very excited. We're getting excited, now.

0:00:44 > 0:00:48'Our ears prick up at the sound of our favourite word.'

0:00:48 > 0:00:51- Did we hear...- Money? - There's some money involved.

0:00:51 > 0:00:56'Come auction day, our expert's love of puns reaches new heights.'

0:00:56 > 0:00:59That's the spirit.

0:01:00 > 0:01:02You don't know about him yet, do you?

0:01:02 > 0:01:06- Not yet, no. We'll find out. - Sorry about that.

0:01:06 > 0:01:10'We'll be wincing and cheering when the final hammer falls.'

0:01:11 > 0:01:14Today we are in West London to meet a mother and son

0:01:14 > 0:01:19who are clearing out their cupboards to have a bit of a busman's holiday.

0:01:19 > 0:01:22'Home may now be a riverside apartment in West London,

0:01:22 > 0:01:25'but Shirley Guest has been quite a globetrotter.

0:01:25 > 0:01:27'She's lived in places like Trinidad,

0:01:27 > 0:01:30'Mauritius and Hong Kong.

0:01:30 > 0:01:32'Twice married, she has three sons.

0:01:32 > 0:01:35'Her youngest, Phillip, is a photographer.

0:01:35 > 0:01:37'Shirley's inspiration was her father, Percy,

0:01:37 > 0:01:40'a doctor with a love of art and history.

0:01:40 > 0:01:43'Our search, through many family heirlooms and souvenirs,

0:01:43 > 0:01:47'will enable Shirley to indulge her passion for history further.

0:01:47 > 0:01:53'Paul Hayes is our expert today, with more than 20 years experience.'

0:01:53 > 0:01:56- I'm going this way. You go that way. - OK, mate.

0:02:00 > 0:02:03There they are! You must be Shirley and this is Phillip.

0:02:03 > 0:02:05- Nice to see you. - Wonderful to see you, too.

0:02:05 > 0:02:08- What a lovely part of the world. - It's very pleasant here, I must say.

0:02:08 > 0:02:10Who called the Cash in the Attic team?

0:02:10 > 0:02:13- I did.- You called us in. Why did you call us in?

0:02:13 > 0:02:15I was hoping to raise a little money

0:02:15 > 0:02:17cos I love visiting stately homes.

0:02:17 > 0:02:21Stately homes. We'll hear a bit more about that later on.

0:02:21 > 0:02:24Own up, what sort of things are we going to find here, Phillip?

0:02:24 > 0:02:30I think we're going to find loads of things. Antiques from way back.

0:02:30 > 0:02:33Some interesting things. How much money would you like to raise?

0:02:33 > 0:02:36I was hoping to raise about £400.

0:02:36 > 0:02:41About £400. I'm feeling outnumbered by you two. Let's find Paul.

0:02:41 > 0:02:45He's the man who knows what he's talking about. Let's find him.

0:02:45 > 0:02:50'True to form, Paul has already made a fine discovery.'

0:02:50 > 0:02:54- Hello Shirley, how are you? - Are you beavering away?

0:02:54 > 0:02:56Yeah. I've made a start already.

0:02:56 > 0:02:59Do you know what? I think I've found one of the nicest things

0:02:59 > 0:03:01I've seen for a long time.

0:03:01 > 0:03:04This is Chinese mythology. Do you know where this came from?

0:03:04 > 0:03:08I think it was Great Uncle Alfred got it from Tibet.

0:03:08 > 0:03:10It wouldn't surprise me. It's top quality.

0:03:10 > 0:03:12It goes back to Buddhist culture.

0:03:12 > 0:03:15All of the Buddhist temples are protected

0:03:15 > 0:03:18by these four characters, here.

0:03:18 > 0:03:21They represented the four points of the compass.

0:03:21 > 0:03:25They are hand-painted characters. The quality of paint is fantastic.

0:03:25 > 0:03:27You're looking at sometime in the 19th Century.

0:03:27 > 0:03:29The box itself is lacquer.

0:03:29 > 0:03:31It's made with like a papier mache,

0:03:31 > 0:03:35and then the sap from the lacquer tree is placed in layer after layer,

0:03:35 > 0:03:37to give this wonderful finish.

0:03:37 > 0:03:40And then using powdered gold, they get this wonderful effect.

0:03:40 > 0:03:42This is top quality, it really is.

0:03:42 > 0:03:45What I love about this, why I know this is a quality item,

0:03:45 > 0:03:48is that this isn't glass, this is crystal.

0:03:48 > 0:03:50- Is it?- It's carved crystal. - Goodness.

0:03:50 > 0:03:54And the way I can tell is that there's no air bubbles or anything.

0:03:54 > 0:04:00And the actual bottle here has been used for perfume or ointment.

0:04:00 > 0:04:03You're salivating, Paul. You're very excited.

0:04:03 > 0:04:05We're getting excited, now.

0:04:05 > 0:04:07- How much? - The big question.

0:04:07 > 0:04:09I think I'd like to have a closer look at this,

0:04:09 > 0:04:11before we get to the auction,

0:04:11 > 0:04:14to try and find out some more, exactly, about it.

0:04:14 > 0:04:18But I think for now, if we put this in, maybe £70-£100.

0:04:18 > 0:04:21But I expect it to go for a lot more.

0:04:21 > 0:04:23Wonderful!

0:04:23 > 0:04:25'Yes, wonderful. A superb start.

0:04:25 > 0:04:30'Phillip has also been busy, turning out his grandfather's hipflask.

0:04:30 > 0:04:34'This was a souvenir of Percy's appointment to India in the 1920s.

0:04:34 > 0:04:37'It's silver-plated and clad in crocodile leather.

0:04:37 > 0:04:40'It could be worth £20-£30.'

0:04:42 > 0:04:44Paul, look what I've found here.

0:04:44 > 0:04:46Do you think that might be interesting?

0:04:46 > 0:04:49That's a beauty, isn't it? Where has this come from?

0:04:49 > 0:04:52I'm sure my father brought it back from Persia,

0:04:52 > 0:04:55but it could be India, as was there in the First World War.

0:04:55 > 0:05:00- Right. How long was your father... - Right through the First World War,

0:05:00 > 0:05:03and then he went on to India and he worked as a Civil Doctor

0:05:03 > 0:05:05out there for the Indians for a while.

0:05:05 > 0:05:08I suspect this is actually where it's come from.

0:05:08 > 0:05:12- It's more Indian? - Maybe 1920s, 1930s.

0:05:12 > 0:05:16If you are lucky enough to be out in the days of the Raj, out in India,

0:05:16 > 0:05:19these are the sorts of things they used to sell in bazaars.

0:05:19 > 0:05:22The whole thing is made from a local wood.

0:05:22 > 0:05:25In this case it looks like rosewood on the interior.

0:05:25 > 0:05:30Can you see that? And it's veneered with tortoiseshell and ivory.

0:05:30 > 0:05:34What I love about this type of work is the pierced decoration.

0:05:34 > 0:05:39That takes hours and hours to do. It's very, very elaborate.

0:05:39 > 0:05:43It's decorated here in black decoration. Can you see that?

0:05:43 > 0:05:46Does it have any sentimental value to you?

0:05:46 > 0:05:49Not really. I've got lots of other memories.

0:05:49 > 0:05:52We do have to be careful with ivory and tortoiseshell.

0:05:52 > 0:05:55They both come under CITES,

0:05:55 > 0:05:59the Convention for the International Trade of Endangered Species.

0:06:00 > 0:06:02An item from ivory has to be pre-1947.

0:06:02 > 0:06:05We know that this came from India.

0:06:05 > 0:06:09We know it's pre-war. We're looking 1920s, 1930s, so we're safe.

0:06:09 > 0:06:11What I like about this one, it's not damaged.

0:06:11 > 0:06:15The little feet are still on there. It's got the original key.

0:06:15 > 0:06:18- If we said, sort of, £80-£120. - Wonderful, Paul.

0:06:18 > 0:06:20Very happy with that.

0:06:20 > 0:06:24'Isn't that lovely? I wonder what trinkets this box contained.

0:06:24 > 0:06:26'Doctor's orders, perhaps.

0:06:26 > 0:06:30'Phillip is intrigued by this pair of framed prints in Turner's style.

0:06:30 > 0:06:33'They're the work of an artist who lived until the 1920s.

0:06:33 > 0:06:36'William Tatton Winter was well-liked by royalty,

0:06:36 > 0:06:40'and is believed to have settled in Ryegate, which may be shown here.

0:06:40 > 0:06:45'The other picture is a shipwreck by John Cother Webb,

0:06:45 > 0:06:50'a student of Landseer, famous for creating mezzotints,

0:06:50 > 0:06:55'an early printing process. Paul values this pair at £40-£60.'

0:06:58 > 0:07:00There's a sense of travel in this family.

0:07:00 > 0:07:03Tell me about your side of the family.

0:07:03 > 0:07:05Your uncle and father.

0:07:05 > 0:07:08It sounds as if your family has travelled everywhere.

0:07:08 > 0:07:11Well, I mean, Great Uncle Alfred, obviously.

0:07:11 > 0:07:16Then my grandfather on my mother's side fought in the Boer War.

0:07:16 > 0:07:19My father was in Persia during the First World War.

0:07:19 > 0:07:22And then he was also in India.

0:07:22 > 0:07:25He joined the Indian Civil Service as a doctor.

0:07:25 > 0:07:28And then when I was 15 we went out to Trinidad.

0:07:28 > 0:07:32And then in 1954, I married somebody from Mauritius. Went to live there.

0:07:32 > 0:07:36We went to the Seychelles, where you were born.

0:07:36 > 0:07:38From there we went to Hong Kong.

0:07:38 > 0:07:41We went to what was the Gilbert Islands, now it's Kiribati.

0:07:41 > 0:07:44It's been quite a lot of travelling.

0:07:44 > 0:07:46I moan when I have to go around London!

0:07:46 > 0:07:49Is that sense of travel in your blood, as well?

0:07:49 > 0:07:51It is. I love travelling, always have.

0:07:51 > 0:07:54We were blessed to travel at such an early age,

0:07:54 > 0:07:57and live in these countries at such an early age.

0:07:57 > 0:08:00In those days, travel was more of an expedition.

0:08:00 > 0:08:03When you first went to the Seychelles, you went by boat.

0:08:03 > 0:08:08You love to travel around the world and now you want to travel the UK.

0:08:08 > 0:08:10What do you want to do?

0:08:10 > 0:08:12What I'd like to do is visit lots of stately homes.

0:08:12 > 0:08:16There's Petworth, which belonged to the Northumberland family,

0:08:16 > 0:08:18and lots of National Trust places.

0:08:18 > 0:08:22All the wonderful history and art, beautiful things to see.

0:08:22 > 0:08:26Shirley, I could talk to you all day. Brilliant stories about travel.

0:08:26 > 0:08:29But do you know who would get really upset? Paul.

0:08:29 > 0:08:32He's out on his own, working. Let's go an help him.

0:08:32 > 0:08:34Off we go.

0:08:34 > 0:08:36'We needn't have been too worried about him.

0:08:36 > 0:08:39'He's happily checking out a glazed porcelain cigarette box,

0:08:39 > 0:08:43'once owned by Shirley's Great Uncle Alfred.

0:08:43 > 0:08:45'It was made between the Wars by Carlton Ware,

0:08:45 > 0:08:47'and it could fetch up to £25-£40.

0:08:47 > 0:08:50'But another of Great Uncle Alfred's mementos

0:08:50 > 0:08:53'may do even better.'

0:08:54 > 0:08:57Have you any idea what this teapot - is it a teapot or a coffee pot?

0:08:57 > 0:09:01I can't make my mind up. Do you know where it came from?

0:09:01 > 0:09:02The Orient, I believe.

0:09:02 > 0:09:05Great Uncle Alfred had this on his travels as Sea Captain.

0:09:05 > 0:09:07That's as far as I know, I'm afraid.

0:09:07 > 0:09:11You're looking late 19th Century. The golden age of tea drinking.

0:09:11 > 0:09:14We had lots and lots of products coming in from Japan,

0:09:14 > 0:09:17which is where this teapot comes from.

0:09:17 > 0:09:20This is a very nice example of Japanese silverwork.

0:09:20 > 0:09:24I can tell you it's silver because there's no sign of wear.

0:09:24 > 0:09:27If this was silver plated, if I breathed on the surface,

0:09:27 > 0:09:31you'd get a yellow tinge coming through. This is perfect.

0:09:31 > 0:09:33It's not British silver, because it's too hard.

0:09:33 > 0:09:35They call this a low-grade silver,

0:09:35 > 0:09:39it tends to be what's made, at least into Europe if not into Asia.

0:09:39 > 0:09:44It doesn't dint with your fingers. The workmanship is fantastic.

0:09:44 > 0:09:47The enamel top is lovely as well.

0:09:47 > 0:09:51You've got the green and yellow in the shape of the chrysanthemum.

0:09:51 > 0:09:53The chrysanthemum is Japan's national flower.

0:09:53 > 0:09:58It symbolises peace and harmony, so it's quite an elegant teapot.

0:09:58 > 0:10:03If you wanted to auction, I'd say a minimum of £40-£70.

0:10:03 > 0:10:06- I think if someone takes a shine to it, it could go for more.- Great.

0:10:06 > 0:10:11'I love your enthusiasm, Paul, but I wonder if bidders will share it.'

0:10:11 > 0:10:14Hundred pounds for it. There we go. Hundred pound. 110.

0:10:14 > 0:10:16120. 130?

0:10:16 > 0:10:19140? 150? 160. 170?

0:10:19 > 0:10:21- 180? 190. - 180.

0:10:21 > 0:10:25'Oh! This could prove a very exciting sale.

0:10:25 > 0:10:28'Our search appears to be going well.

0:10:28 > 0:10:32'I've found a perfume bottle which belonged to Shirley's grandmother.

0:10:32 > 0:10:34'The silver cap is a little tarnished,

0:10:34 > 0:10:38'but the hallmarks suggest it was made in Chester in 1914.

0:10:38 > 0:10:41'Paul's estimate is £20-£30.

0:10:42 > 0:10:44Shirley, these are beautiful.

0:10:44 > 0:10:47Look at these. Almost see-through.

0:10:47 > 0:10:51- They're Japanese porcelain. - Are they really? I like these.

0:10:51 > 0:10:53- Paul. - Uhuh.

0:10:53 > 0:10:56I've got something very nice and something close to your heart.

0:10:56 > 0:10:58You like a cup of tea. Look at these.

0:10:58 > 0:11:02Those are lovely. It's known as Japanese export porcelain,

0:11:02 > 0:11:04or eggshell china.

0:11:04 > 0:11:07If I hold it up to the light, you can see through it.

0:11:07 > 0:11:11That's part of its mystery. They called it white gold.

0:11:11 > 0:11:13- Would you drink tea from it? - I wouldn't.

0:11:13 > 0:11:15These usually are made for decoration.

0:11:15 > 0:11:19If you poured boiling water into that, chances are it will crack.

0:11:19 > 0:11:24These are purely ornamental. That's the idea. They go in a cabinet.

0:11:24 > 0:11:26- What are these flowers? - Cherry blossom.

0:11:26 > 0:11:27Oh, lovely.

0:11:27 > 0:11:31What I love about Japanese items is they always put things to one side.

0:11:31 > 0:11:35Can you see that? This is on the left-hand side of the plate.

0:11:35 > 0:11:37You can see that all the decoration is to one side,

0:11:37 > 0:11:40whereas in Europe, we tend to do things down the middle.

0:11:40 > 0:11:43it's asymmetrical, to one side.

0:11:43 > 0:11:46- Who brought these back? - Great Uncle Alfred again!

0:11:46 > 0:11:49He's done very well, Uncle Alfred, for us.

0:11:49 > 0:11:52Originally this would've been 12 cups and saucers,

0:11:52 > 0:11:55teapot, a sugar basin, cream jug, side plates.

0:11:55 > 0:11:58More often than not, they were brought back in the 1920s.

0:11:58 > 0:12:00You're looking at a 20th century item.

0:12:00 > 0:12:05I think what's happened here is that over the years they've been damaged.

0:12:05 > 0:12:07This one has been damaged and glued.

0:12:07 > 0:12:09I think, for decorative value,

0:12:09 > 0:12:11£30-£50. How does that sound?

0:12:11 > 0:12:15That's more than I expected. Very pleased.

0:12:15 > 0:12:18- Is that your cup of tea? - Please.

0:12:18 > 0:12:22'Oh dear. The Japanese tea set brings another country

0:12:22 > 0:12:24'into our worldwide souvenirs.

0:12:24 > 0:12:28'Shirley's next find comes from somewhere a little closer to home.

0:12:28 > 0:12:31'These decorated seashells are from Cornwall,

0:12:31 > 0:12:35'one shows a carved terracotta woman with a basket.

0:12:35 > 0:12:40'Highly unusual. They may fetch £30-£50 in the auction.

0:12:40 > 0:12:43'Paul seems to have found something much more impressive.'

0:12:43 > 0:12:46Look at this. Do you know what, these are fantastic.

0:12:46 > 0:12:49Look at the size of the one you've got.

0:12:49 > 0:12:53- Who's collected these shells? - That was my uncle in Cairo.

0:12:53 > 0:12:56- That would've been in the '20s. - Right. OK.

0:12:56 > 0:12:59That's from the Gilbert Islands, Kiribati.

0:12:59 > 0:13:02I used to go snorkel diving and found that.

0:13:02 > 0:13:05That is amazing, isn't it? Look at that.

0:13:05 > 0:13:09This is typically what you'll find. This is an oyster shell.

0:13:09 > 0:13:11This is a form of mother of pearl.

0:13:11 > 0:13:14The way the oyster shell works is that

0:13:14 > 0:13:17when a bit of mineral or piece of dirt gets inside the oyster,

0:13:17 > 0:13:21to protect itself, it secretes a substance called nacre.

0:13:21 > 0:13:24That nacre covers the bit of muck and that becomes the pearl.

0:13:24 > 0:13:28What happens is this interior becomes a milky petrol finish,

0:13:28 > 0:13:29this mother of pearl.

0:13:29 > 0:13:33What they've done is polished and carved it in a fantastic way.

0:13:33 > 0:13:36Look at the detail, there.

0:13:36 > 0:13:38Look at all this floral decoration.

0:13:38 > 0:13:42That looks like one of the mosques in Cairo.

0:13:42 > 0:13:46- What's that one there? - Bit crude, that one, isn't it?

0:13:46 > 0:13:49It is the quality of the carving but you can see the difference.

0:13:49 > 0:13:55- That's more a religious scene. - You can see vestiges of paint there.

0:13:55 > 0:13:57I think these are beautiful quality.

0:13:57 > 0:14:00I think they are prized for the quality of the carving,

0:14:00 > 0:14:03not so much the actual shell.

0:14:03 > 0:14:05The shapes on those two are particularly nice.

0:14:05 > 0:14:09- What do you think, then? - Around £50 each.- Wow!

0:14:09 > 0:14:11You're looking £150-£200 as an auction estimate.

0:14:11 > 0:14:15- I never expected as much as that. - Let's ask Phillip and Chris.

0:14:15 > 0:14:18Guys. Phillip, Chris. Some good news.

0:14:18 > 0:14:20- We're sprinting over. - Did we hear...

0:14:20 > 0:14:23- Money?- There's money involved.

0:14:23 > 0:14:29- If I said at least £150 for these? - Actually, Chris was offering more.

0:14:29 > 0:14:32I don't think you've got the right idea about this programme.

0:14:32 > 0:14:37They are beautiful, aren't they? A great way of finishing our day.

0:14:37 > 0:14:41- You know you wanted to raise around £400 today, didn't you?- Yes.

0:14:41 > 0:14:44The grand total is £505.

0:14:44 > 0:14:48- Wonderful.- How do you feel about that?- Wonderful.

0:14:48 > 0:14:51You see, he's not easily pleased!

0:14:51 > 0:14:53- LAUGHTER - That's great.

0:14:53 > 0:14:55He's a tough customer.

0:14:55 > 0:14:58'I think Phillip may not be jumping for joy just yet,

0:14:58 > 0:15:01'but deep down he's as pleased as the rest of us

0:15:01 > 0:15:03'that we found so many treasures to sell.

0:15:03 > 0:15:07'Shirley's father brought this tortoiseshell box from India.

0:15:07 > 0:15:11'We think it dates from the 1920s, but it could be older.

0:15:11 > 0:15:14'We hope it'll fetch £80-£120.

0:15:14 > 0:15:20'The lacquer cabinet with bottle is guarded by mystical Chinese figures.

0:15:20 > 0:15:23'Worth at least £70-£100, we think.

0:15:23 > 0:15:27'And the Japanese white metal teapot should make £40-£70,

0:15:27 > 0:15:31'but if it turns out to be solid silver, as we suspect,

0:15:31 > 0:15:33'it could bring us more. Cor!

0:15:35 > 0:15:39'Still to come, our expert can't tell his ammonite from his elbow.'

0:15:40 > 0:15:45- Ammonite or nautilus. - Nautilus. Ammonites are fossils.

0:15:45 > 0:15:48Oh right. Nautilus. There we go. Sorry.

0:15:48 > 0:15:52- 'There are surprises in store, too.' - Lovely!

0:15:52 > 0:15:54I thought your hat was going to blow off, then!

0:15:54 > 0:15:56Vanished!

0:15:56 > 0:16:00'Hold on to yours until the final crack of the gavel.'

0:16:04 > 0:16:07We had a fascinating day with Shirley and Phillip

0:16:07 > 0:16:11at Shirley's London flat. I can't wait to find out what happens today.

0:16:11 > 0:16:14Why? Because we found weird and wonderful things

0:16:14 > 0:16:16from her family's travels around the world.

0:16:16 > 0:16:20Will we make a fortune? We'll find out when the final hammer falls.

0:16:22 > 0:16:25'Shirley has sent her collectibles to Cheswick auction rooms

0:16:25 > 0:16:29'in plenty of time for dealers to view them.

0:16:29 > 0:16:31'I can't wait to catch up with Shirley and Phillip,

0:16:31 > 0:16:33'but someone seems to be missing.'

0:16:34 > 0:16:37Hello, Shirley. Nice to see you.

0:16:37 > 0:16:39This isn't your strapping son.

0:16:39 > 0:16:41He has a photoshoot in Regent's Park.

0:16:41 > 0:16:44- And so you are? - Sheila. A great friend of Shirley's.

0:16:44 > 0:16:46We've known each other for donkey's years.

0:16:46 > 0:16:48Literally years.

0:16:48 > 0:16:50Not quite dinosaur years, more donkey years.

0:16:50 > 0:16:54- Donkey, I should say. - Are we in for some trouble?

0:16:54 > 0:16:58- I hope we're in for trouble. - I sensed that!

0:16:58 > 0:17:02You've got interesting items. The white metal coffee pot.

0:17:02 > 0:17:05They're keen on that here, so you've put a reserve of £50 on that.

0:17:05 > 0:17:10My ultimate favourite has to be the lovely Chinese casket.

0:17:10 > 0:17:13The guys here think it's late 19th Century, early 20th.

0:17:13 > 0:17:17We've put a reserve of £70 on that one.

0:17:17 > 0:17:19- Alright with you? - Wonderful.

0:17:19 > 0:17:22'It's not too long before the auction gets underway.

0:17:22 > 0:17:24'Shirley's first lot is the hipflask,

0:17:24 > 0:17:27'silver-plated and wrapped in crocodile leather.

0:17:27 > 0:17:29'It could be worth £20-£30.'

0:17:31 > 0:17:34£20 for it. £20 for it. £10 for it.

0:17:36 > 0:17:3815? 15. 18?

0:17:38 > 0:17:4118. 20. 22.

0:17:41 > 0:17:4325. 28. 30.

0:17:43 > 0:17:47- 32. 35. 38. 40. 45. - Keep going. Oh!

0:17:47 > 0:17:51At £42. Bid at £42. £45? £42 I'm bid.

0:17:51 > 0:17:54At £42, are we done? I think we are, at £42.

0:17:55 > 0:17:57That's the spirit!

0:17:58 > 0:18:02- You don't know about him, do you? - Not yet. I shall find out.

0:18:02 > 0:18:04LAUGHTER

0:18:04 > 0:18:07'Hm. Puns aside, that is a good start.

0:18:07 > 0:18:10'Next this tortoiseshell and silver trinket box.

0:18:10 > 0:18:13'It has been paired with the glass scent bottle.

0:18:13 > 0:18:17'We're hoping for £20-£30, despite the slight tarnish on the lid.'

0:18:18 > 0:18:22- I should've polished that silver. - That's outrageous.

0:18:22 > 0:18:25To be honest, it's better to leave the silver unpolished,

0:18:25 > 0:18:27and not to polish it often.

0:18:27 > 0:18:30Every time you polish it, you take a layer of silver off.

0:18:30 > 0:18:33- It eventually gets thin. - How much are we hoping for?

0:18:33 > 0:18:35£20-£30 for this one.

0:18:35 > 0:18:37£20 the lot. A bid at £20.

0:18:37 > 0:18:3922. 25. 28.

0:18:39 > 0:18:4230. 32. 35. 38. 40.

0:18:42 > 0:18:4442. 45.

0:18:44 > 0:18:46- 48. 50. - Oh come on!

0:18:46 > 0:18:49Nobody else wants it at £48? Take £50. At £48.

0:18:49 > 0:18:53At £48. Are we done? £48. You've got it. £48.

0:18:53 > 0:18:56'Good. That's two lots punching well above their weight.

0:18:56 > 0:18:58'Shirley's Great Uncle Alfred brought back many souvenirs

0:18:58 > 0:19:03'from the far east, including this Japanese Satsuma tea set.

0:19:03 > 0:19:05'Paul's estimate was £30-£50.'

0:19:05 > 0:19:08£30 for it.

0:19:08 > 0:19:11- Thank you, a bid at £30. - £30. That's alright.

0:19:11 > 0:19:1332. 35.

0:19:13 > 0:19:1538. 40.

0:19:15 > 0:19:1842. A bidder at £40. At £42.

0:19:18 > 0:19:21- Come on.- At £40, at £40. Sold at £40 and gone.

0:19:21 > 0:19:24- There we go. That's alright. - In the middle.

0:19:24 > 0:19:28'Not bad. A reasonable result, considering the set was incomplete.

0:19:28 > 0:19:32'Our fourth lot consists of two shells from Cornwall.

0:19:32 > 0:19:34'One shows a carving of a fisherwoman.

0:19:34 > 0:19:38'There are two more that Shirley found in Mauritius.

0:19:38 > 0:19:42I think that's really nice. Such a delicate shape. Nice condition.

0:19:42 > 0:19:47- Are they an ammonite or a nautilus? - Nautilus. Ammonites are fossils.

0:19:47 > 0:19:51- OK. Nautilus. There we go. Sorry. - Got it wrong.

0:19:51 > 0:19:53- You do have to work at it. - Exactly.

0:19:53 > 0:19:56Do I hear £20?

0:19:56 > 0:19:59About four hands going up. I'm bid £20. 22. 25.

0:19:59 > 0:20:01- 25. 28. 30. - That's more like it.

0:20:01 > 0:20:0435? 35. 38. 40.

0:20:04 > 0:20:05I'm bid. 42.

0:20:06 > 0:20:0942, there. 45. 45. 48.

0:20:09 > 0:20:1248. 50? At £48. Bid at £48.

0:20:12 > 0:20:14At 50, there. 55.

0:20:15 > 0:20:1765.

0:20:17 > 0:20:20At £60 right there. £60.

0:20:20 > 0:20:22Sure we'll have a bit more.

0:20:22 > 0:20:25- Are we done? We are. - You got £60. That's great.

0:20:25 > 0:20:27- Ooh! - Wonderful.

0:20:28 > 0:20:32'And that's Paul's natural history lesson over.

0:20:32 > 0:20:35'We can move on to the curious box Great Uncle Alfred found in Tibet.

0:20:35 > 0:20:39'Will the four characters guarding the bottle bring us good luck?'

0:20:39 > 0:20:43Out of all your items, this is probably the most unusual.

0:20:43 > 0:20:46It's one I really like. The auctioneers like this one as well.

0:20:46 > 0:20:49I know we have a reserve of £70 on this.

0:20:49 > 0:20:51Let's hope somebody likes it.

0:20:51 > 0:20:54Call me £100 for it. Thank you.

0:20:54 > 0:20:56Straight in.

0:20:56 > 0:20:57£100. 110, I'm bid.

0:20:57 > 0:20:59At 110. 120. 130.

0:20:59 > 0:21:00140. 150.

0:21:02 > 0:21:05170. 180. 190.

0:21:05 > 0:21:07190. 200. 210.

0:21:07 > 0:21:09£210.

0:21:09 > 0:21:12I see £210. Do you want 220? 230.

0:21:12 > 0:21:14240. 250.

0:21:14 > 0:21:17240 we're bid. 250? We're at 240.

0:21:17 > 0:21:22240. 240. Are we all done at 240? Going. Last chance.

0:21:22 > 0:21:24- Ooh! - Genuinely excited.

0:21:24 > 0:21:28- That's good, isn't it? - I thought your hat would blow off.

0:21:28 > 0:21:31- It vanished! - LAUGHTER

0:21:31 > 0:21:34'Wow! Over three times the lower estimate.

0:21:34 > 0:21:38'That's brilliant! It must have made a huge difference to the target.

0:21:38 > 0:21:40'Speaking of which...'

0:21:40 > 0:21:42You wanted to raise £400 today.

0:21:43 > 0:21:47At the halfway stage, you've raised £430.

0:21:47 > 0:21:51- What? Wow! - That's fantastic, Shirley!

0:21:51 > 0:21:54- That's only half way! - That's really good.

0:21:54 > 0:21:56'Yes it is, Sheila. Very good indeed.

0:21:56 > 0:21:59'If you'd like to sell your items in this way,

0:21:59 > 0:22:03'bear in mind that auction houses charge fees, such as commission.

0:22:03 > 0:22:06'Your local sale room will advise you on these extra costs.

0:22:06 > 0:22:08'Shirley has delightful items still to come.

0:22:08 > 0:22:12'Where better to start than with this Indian trinket box,

0:22:12 > 0:22:17'made of rosewood and decorated with a veneer of tortoiseshell and ivory.

0:22:17 > 0:22:21'It's late 19th Century and we're looking for between £80-£100.'

0:22:21 > 0:22:24Bid at £50. At £50. 55.

0:22:24 > 0:22:26Up five there, 60. 70.

0:22:27 > 0:22:3085. 95.

0:22:30 > 0:22:32100. 110. 120.

0:22:33 > 0:22:35- Super. Keep going. - 120. £110.

0:22:35 > 0:22:38Here at 120. 110. At 110.

0:22:39 > 0:22:42At 110, we're at 110. Last chance, going at 110.

0:22:42 > 0:22:43- Ooh! - How's that?

0:22:43 > 0:22:46- Wow! - That's great, isn't it?

0:22:46 > 0:22:48Fantastic. I'm a happy bunny.

0:22:50 > 0:22:54'Good. That's another chunk of cash towards Shirley's grand tour.

0:22:54 > 0:22:58'But how high can we go?'

0:22:58 > 0:23:01Up next we've got this Japanese white metal teapot

0:23:01 > 0:23:02with a floral decoration.

0:23:02 > 0:23:06The catalogues have described it as white metal.

0:23:06 > 0:23:09I'm 99% certain this is solid silver.

0:23:09 > 0:23:13Because it doesn't have the same hallmark system we have in the UK,

0:23:13 > 0:23:16it can only really be classed as white metal.

0:23:16 > 0:23:20We have a £50 reserve on this. Let's hope it goes for at least that.

0:23:20 > 0:23:22Quite a nice thing. Number 238. £50 for it.

0:23:22 > 0:23:25About 15 hands going up here. Start again.

0:23:25 > 0:23:28£80 for it. CHUCKLING

0:23:29 > 0:23:32£100 for it. There we go. Telephone at £100. 110.

0:23:32 > 0:23:34110. 120. 130?

0:23:34 > 0:23:37140. 150. 160. 170.

0:23:37 > 0:23:39- 180. 190. 200. - 180, there.

0:23:39 > 0:23:41210, 220.

0:23:41 > 0:23:43230.

0:23:43 > 0:23:44240. 250.

0:23:44 > 0:23:45260.

0:23:46 > 0:23:48At 250 bid. At 250. Want 260.

0:23:48 > 0:23:50At 250 wanting.

0:23:50 > 0:23:53At 250. We're going once at 250. Are we done? Twice at 250.

0:23:53 > 0:23:55And gone. Your last chance.

0:23:55 > 0:23:58- Oh! - Wonderful!

0:23:58 > 0:24:01- That's brilliant, isn't it? - Isn't it! That's superb!

0:24:01 > 0:24:03I've never seen that before.

0:24:03 > 0:24:07The auctioneer says, "Who wants to come in?" and eight people bid!

0:24:07 > 0:24:09- Fantastic! - Yes! Wonderful!

0:24:09 > 0:24:11'Wasn't that exciting!

0:24:11 > 0:24:14'Our total has gone through the roof.

0:24:14 > 0:24:16'Now the pair of the early 20th Century engravings,

0:24:16 > 0:24:18'valued at £40-£60.

0:24:18 > 0:24:23'Shirley's changed her mind and brought along a second seascape

0:24:23 > 0:24:25'instead of the Victorian street.'

0:24:27 > 0:24:29I'm going to start at £25. Done at 25 and going.

0:24:29 > 0:24:32- That's a bit less. - Never mind.

0:24:32 > 0:24:37'Never mind. You're doing well. It's a shame they sold under estimate.

0:24:39 > 0:24:41'How about some Carlton Ware?

0:24:41 > 0:24:44'Let's see if this mid-20th century porcelain cigarette box

0:24:44 > 0:24:46'performs a little better.'

0:24:46 > 0:24:52- £20, going to sell. £20, it's gone. - Only £20.- It doesn't matter. - There you go.

0:24:52 > 0:24:56'Next up, more sea shells from the sea shore.

0:24:56 > 0:24:59'These two mother of pearl examples have delicate carvings

0:24:59 > 0:25:02'and are valued at £150-£200.'

0:25:02 > 0:25:07For the two, start me at £100, please. £100.

0:25:07 > 0:25:09Thank you. 110? 110. 120. 130?

0:25:09 > 0:25:11140. 150.

0:25:12 > 0:25:15- 160. - 160! Yes, yes, yes!

0:25:15 > 0:25:16At 150. 160.

0:25:16 > 0:25:18170. 180?

0:25:18 > 0:25:20190? 200?

0:25:20 > 0:25:23- 210. 220. - Oh!

0:25:23 > 0:25:27230. Back with the 220 value. Give me 230.

0:25:27 > 0:25:29Yes!

0:25:29 > 0:25:33Who else wants it? We come in at 220. Going at 220.

0:25:33 > 0:25:35- Amazing. Absolutely amazing. - So pretty.

0:25:35 > 0:25:38I'm knocked out!

0:25:38 > 0:25:43'Well, £220 is a fantastic final sale.

0:25:43 > 0:25:45'It's now time to reveal the grand total.'

0:25:45 > 0:25:49For someone that was chasing £400, you have raised...

0:25:51 > 0:25:55£1,055!

0:25:56 > 0:25:59£1,055!

0:25:59 > 0:26:01- Unbelievable. - That's incredible.

0:26:01 > 0:26:04I should give some to charity. I'd have to after that.

0:26:04 > 0:26:08That's typically you. You have to make that decision.

0:26:08 > 0:26:11Listen, Chris and Paul, thank you so much. And everybody.

0:26:11 > 0:26:12It's been a wonderful day.

0:26:16 > 0:26:18'Ham House in Richmond-upon-Thames

0:26:18 > 0:26:22'is first on Shirley's long list of stately homes to visit.

0:26:22 > 0:26:24'All thanks to her auction success.'

0:26:25 > 0:26:28I couldn't be more pleased. I never thought I'd raise as much.

0:26:28 > 0:26:32To visit wonderful places is a great joy. I love visiting stately homes.

0:26:32 > 0:26:36I've always loved history. That's really why.

0:26:36 > 0:26:38I love anything that's historical, really.

0:26:38 > 0:26:42Beautiful paintings. Lovely possessions, all round.

0:26:42 > 0:26:45It's been a wonderful visit. I've had a wonderful time.

0:26:45 > 0:26:50'Let's hope this is the first of many successful visits for Shirley.'

0:27:02 > 0:27:06Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd