0:00:02 > 0:00:04Hello, and welcome to Cash In The Attic,
0:00:04 > 0:00:07the programme that really loves to join you in a hunt through
0:00:07 > 0:00:10your home for antiques, collectibles, hidden valuables
0:00:10 > 0:00:13so that you can sell them at auction to raise money
0:00:13 > 0:00:15for something really rather special.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17Today's story starts with a family loss
0:00:17 > 0:00:21but ends, hopefully, with a gift for a new generation.
0:00:41 > 0:00:46Coming up on Cash In the Attic, expert John is caught red-handed handling Mum's favourite pottery.
0:00:46 > 0:00:52She was always afraid that if anybody came to the house they would take her Wedgwood.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55So should I not be looking at this?
0:00:55 > 0:00:57- No, absolutely, it's fine. - You bad girl!
0:00:57 > 0:01:00There's nothing like a bit of sparkle.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03I have found the most amazing bit of bling.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05Look how it glints in the sun, take a look at that.
0:01:05 > 0:01:06While at auction...
0:01:06 > 0:01:08£50. Thank you.
0:01:08 > 0:01:13You wouldn't have got that for one of the plastic ones from down the chemist!
0:01:13 > 0:01:17To find out what I'm talking about keep watching till the hammer falls.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21Today I'm in an ancient village to the South of London
0:01:21 > 0:01:24and about to meet Louise and Lindsay
0:01:24 > 0:01:28who are raising money for a very special person indeed.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32Louise Halfpenny called us in to help raise money for
0:01:32 > 0:01:35sister Lindsay's soon expected baby,
0:01:35 > 0:01:41but she'd originally wanted to raise money to buy a mobility vehicle for her disabled mum, Jean.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44Sadly, she died before she could appear on the show.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49Roses round the door.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53Louise has bravely decided to go ahead with the programme, seeing the money as a gift
0:01:53 > 0:01:58from her dead mother to the grandchild she would never see, and sister Lindsay is helping out.
0:01:58 > 0:02:03- Louise and Lindsay, hello.- Hello. - This is John Cameron, who is going to be your expert for the day,
0:02:03 > 0:02:08so go on, whet his appetite, tell him the sort of things he's going to be able to look at.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11Lots of things from my mum's collection, but unfortunately
0:02:11 > 0:02:14we can't keep them anymore because we're trying to sell the house.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16So it's time for them to go.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20- Better get on, then. - We'll see you later, John.- OK.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23Selling the house, moving on,
0:02:23 > 0:02:25John is going to see what he can take to auction
0:02:25 > 0:02:29but what sort of things did your mum like to collect?
0:02:29 > 0:02:32Her favourite collection was her green Wedgwood
0:02:32 > 0:02:35and she also like furniture and jewellery
0:02:35 > 0:02:41and all sorts of things that have been hidden away since 1961, really.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44Lindsay, how do you feel about them now going out of the family?
0:02:44 > 0:02:48Sad, but neither of us have got anywhere big enough to put it all
0:02:48 > 0:02:52and, in collecting the Wedgwood,
0:02:52 > 0:02:57the pleasure was always in finding it for my mum, seeing her open it.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01It doesn't really mean anything to us without her here.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04So it's got to go.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07Why do you need the money? What are you going to do with it?
0:03:07 > 0:03:13Initially we wanted to spend it on a disabled taxi to be able to take my mum out on day trips
0:03:13 > 0:03:15but unfortunately she is no longer with us,
0:03:15 > 0:03:18so what better than on the new arrival
0:03:18 > 0:03:21that's coming in a month's time?
0:03:21 > 0:03:25What a wonderful gift to give to your baby. Presumably you think this is a great idea?
0:03:25 > 0:03:29I think it's what my mum would have wanted because she knew she was
0:03:29 > 0:03:32going to be a grandmother but she's not going to be here to see it
0:03:32 > 0:03:35so this is her way of being able to spoil it when it arrives.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38Do you know whether it's a girl or boy yet?
0:03:38 > 0:03:40No, it's going to be a surprise.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43How much do you think you'd like to put in the piggy bank for the baby?
0:03:43 > 0:03:48We're hoping for about £300, but we really don't mind how much we raise.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51I know John is going to do his very best to make sure that we do
0:03:51 > 0:03:55make that figure, so shall we go find him and see how he's doing?
0:03:55 > 0:04:00Following their mum's death, Louise and Lindsay have decided to sell the family home.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04We caught them just before they were due to exchange contracts with the new owner.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07Some items have already been placed within the family,
0:04:07 > 0:04:11but there's still plenty for us to look at in this much loved home.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14While Lindsay gets stuck into rummaging, it seems John
0:04:14 > 0:04:17has already laid his hands on something precious.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21Angela, some interesting medals here.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23Did you have a hero in the family, then?
0:04:23 > 0:04:25I don't think so.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28These were my grandad's medals, he didn't win them himself.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32I think they were in the bottom of his shed,
0:04:32 > 0:04:35they were either given to him or he just found them.
0:04:35 > 0:04:40He was a great collector and they've been handed down to us.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44OK. They're First World War medals, they're actually two of three that were issued,
0:04:44 > 0:04:47the three collectively are known as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51What we've got left here, this brass one, is the victory medal,
0:04:51 > 0:04:55the other one is the war medal, The one that's missing is a star.
0:04:55 > 0:05:00When they do turn up with one missing it's sometimes this one because it was solid silver
0:05:00 > 0:05:03and in the '70s there was a hike in the price of silver and a lot of them got scrapped
0:05:03 > 0:05:09- because they weren't collectible then.- So those medals are made of solid silver?
0:05:09 > 0:05:12I guess they were worth seven or eight pounds in the '70s,
0:05:12 > 0:05:15which was probably a week's wages for some people.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19The great thing about First World War medals is it's the last time
0:05:19 > 0:05:22that we, as a country, issued our medals with the recipients'
0:05:22 > 0:05:24name on the edge, and some people don't know it's there.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27So, this one here has its number,
0:05:27 > 0:05:3558676 Private A Ward of the North Devonshire Fusiliers.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39- Did your grandfather know somebody called Ward?- I don't know. I don't know anybody of that name, no.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42OK, the second set, we've got two here,
0:05:42 > 0:05:46- both with the stars missing, interestingly.- Strange, isn't it?
0:05:46 > 0:05:50This one is number 38068, J Hayes.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53One. First class stoker of the Royal Navy.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56So, somebody that was right down in the lower decks,
0:05:56 > 0:05:59with probably just a vest on in the soaring heat, stoking the ships.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03- Again, Hayes?- No, nothing at all.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07Is it possible they were friends of his and perhaps that's how he got hold of them?
0:06:07 > 0:06:09I think more likely he would be given things
0:06:09 > 0:06:12rather than buy things, because they had no money in those days.
0:06:12 > 0:06:17Well, I'd certainly think even though this one is just a stoker...
0:06:17 > 0:06:18That one is interesting,
0:06:18 > 0:06:20it's a regiment that's no longer in existence.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23So that makes it slightly more interesting, in my opinion.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26- But I certainly think between £50 and £100 for them.- That much?
0:06:26 > 0:06:31Well, a nice tidy sum to go towards our total sum of £300.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35Thanks very much, John, let's see what else we can find.
0:06:35 > 0:06:40While we've been busy looking at evidence of past heroic deeds,
0:06:40 > 0:06:43Lindsay has been taking her own trip down memory lane.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47This stuffed bear and monkey were Louise and Lindsay's playthings
0:06:47 > 0:06:49when they were children. They think that,
0:06:49 > 0:06:54like the metals we just saw, these too came from their grandad.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58Ancient teddies like this are very popular at auction.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02And when paired with the much rarer, but ever so cute, monkey,
0:07:02 > 0:07:06our expert, John, is confident they could raise between £30 and £50.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09And that's not peanuts.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13And speaking of inquisitive anthropoids...
0:07:13 > 0:07:18Girls, Angela. I think I found a couple of potentials for our auction.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22Good heavens! Those are so distinctive, aren't they, John?
0:07:22 > 0:07:26You almost don't have to turn them over to know that these are Troika.
0:07:26 > 0:07:31- Absolutely.- Who bought these then? - It was both my mum and dad.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35They bought them from an Ideal Home exhibition in the 1970s.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39- I think they paid £5 for them.- £5 each?
0:07:39 > 0:07:41- No, £5 for the two. - Not bad, not bad.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45And your mum, obviously, particularly liked them,
0:07:45 > 0:07:49- which is why they stayed in the house so long.- I think, for my mum, it was the colour,
0:07:49 > 0:07:51which replicates the Wedgwood.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55- What about the shape? - Well, this particular one was perfect for the carnations,
0:07:55 > 0:07:59because when you put them in, they fan out perfectly.
0:07:59 > 0:08:00So this was the carnation vase.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02The Troika factory doesn't exist any more.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06- They're very collectible still, aren't they?- They are indeed.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09Talking of carnations, they had two incarnations, if you like.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12They started in about 1963, in St Ives,
0:08:12 > 0:08:14in a place called Wheal Dream.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16They then relocated to Newlyn.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20So, in terms of looking at their history and their marks,
0:08:20 > 0:08:23the pre-Newlyn stuff, the stuff from St Ives,
0:08:23 > 0:08:24is always marked St Ives.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27After there, when they moved to Newlyn, it just says Cornwall.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29So, looking at these marks,
0:08:29 > 0:08:33it would suggest they're from the latter period, the second incarnation.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35If we look on the bottom of that one, we've got an AB there.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39But that, I would suggest, is probably Alison Brigden,
0:08:39 > 0:08:42who was a painter at the factory from the mid-'70s
0:08:42 > 0:08:45up until its closure in 1983. So that would tie in perfectly.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47And very collectible still.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51If anything, even more so because the factory doesn't exist anymore.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53So, if we were going to take these to auction,
0:08:53 > 0:08:58- what you think we might get on them? - I think collectively, whether the auction house sells them separately
0:08:58 > 0:09:01or together, we'll be looking at £200 to £300.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03Gosh!
0:09:03 > 0:09:06Well, you've got there, in these two pieces,
0:09:06 > 0:09:08almost the exact amount of money that you want to
0:09:08 > 0:09:11put in the piggy bank for junior. Isn't that lovely?
0:09:11 > 0:09:14OK, should we put them back nice and safe?
0:09:14 > 0:09:16And we're perfectly positioned here to go and search
0:09:16 > 0:09:19in the rest of the house for more goodies to take to auction.
0:09:19 > 0:09:20See you later.
0:09:24 > 0:09:25Our expert, John,
0:09:25 > 0:09:29wastes no time tracking down some interesting glassware,
0:09:29 > 0:09:32a present to Louise and Lindsay's mum from their dad.
0:09:32 > 0:09:37The blue lollipop vase was bought on a family trip to the Isle of Wight
0:09:37 > 0:09:41and the yellow Murano moulded spill vase, on a trip to Italy.
0:09:41 > 0:09:47Murano glass is made on the island of Murano in the Venetian Lagoon, in Italy.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50Its origins can be traced back to the Roman Empire.
0:09:50 > 0:09:54With the items we've found so far, we stand to make at least £300, so job done.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57But we've still got a whole day of rummaging ahead of us,
0:09:57 > 0:10:00so John can keep up the good work while we have a chat.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04Louise, you originally intended to do this programme with your mum.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06Lindsay wasn't going to be in it.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09- Because she was a great fan of this programme.- Absolutely.
0:10:09 > 0:10:14We were hoping to raise money to take her out in a disabled taxi
0:10:14 > 0:10:17and take her to the theatre, but, unfortunately, she died in May.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21So, we're going to use the money for my sister's baby.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25You're selling this house now. That must be, actually, a very sad thing for you to do.
0:10:25 > 0:10:30- Because, Lindsay, this has been your home for as long as you can remember.- That's right.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33It's the only house we've ever known. It's our family house.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35There are a lot of memories in it,
0:10:35 > 0:10:37so it will be sad that it's going, yes.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40But it was a very important thing in your parents' life, too,
0:10:40 > 0:10:45because they had this house built, and it's sort of, really, meant a lot, particularly to your mum.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48Well, my mum always called this house her pride and joy
0:10:48 > 0:10:52and it took a lot of effort for both her and my dad to raise
0:10:52 > 0:10:55the money to buy the land and then have the house built.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58But you will be keeping a particular memory of the house.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00Your mum made all the curtains, didn't she?
0:11:00 > 0:11:03Yes, she made all the curtains and cushion covers.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05She was a very good seamstress.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08She made all our clothes. She was an absolutely fabulous seamstress.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11And you're going to hold onto the curtains?
0:11:11 > 0:11:13I'm taking the living room curtains, yes.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16They're coming up to Bedfordshire with me.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19Everywhere you look in the house there's something of my mum and dad,
0:11:19 > 0:11:23because they basically made everything that was in there.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25They always saved up for a long time.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28It sounds as if your mum had a real adventurous streak in her.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31She took off all over the world, didn't she?
0:11:31 > 0:11:34My mum and dad had hoped to travel quite a lot in their retirement.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37They travelled a bit before my sister and I came along.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40But then my dad, sadly, died when he was 59,
0:11:40 > 0:11:42so he never got to go.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44So, she took off on her own and travelled
0:11:44 > 0:11:50and saw quite a lot of the world. She went and walked the Great Wall of China. She went to Las Vegas.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53All over. We've got photo albums of her from all over the world.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56So, yep, she certainly made up for lost time.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59You're obviously going to have some wonderful memories to pass on
0:11:59 > 0:12:02to him or her when he or she is born,
0:12:02 > 0:12:06but we hope you're also going to be able to hand on a little bit of money in the piggy bank, as well.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09So, shall we go in and find John and see how he's doing?
0:12:09 > 0:12:13It's clear that Louise and Lindsay's parents put their heart and soul into this house.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17And while we've been chatting, John has turned his attention to
0:12:17 > 0:12:21one of the first pieces of furniture they bought for their then new home.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29- Lindsay, can I ask you about this dressing table?- Yeah.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31Pop yourself down.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35- Now, what's the history behind it? - It's been in the family as long as we can remember.
0:12:35 > 0:12:40It was here before my sister and I. It's been here all our lives.
0:12:40 > 0:12:45- It's a fantastic shade, isn't it? - Uh-huh. We don't know actually know anything about it,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48apart from the fact that we always liked it as a child
0:12:48 > 0:12:51because it had what looks like Batman on the drawers.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54And it was always interesting to open the drawers
0:12:54 > 0:12:56and have a rummage and see what was in there.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59My mum always kept her jewellery and bits and bobs in there.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02- I mean, the shape is Art Deco.- Right.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04It's probably later than that.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08The war, if you like, interrupted a huge cocktail party.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10So after the war, a lot of the styles
0:13:10 > 0:13:13that were popular before were continued for a little while.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16So, I think this is probably late '40s, maybe early '50s.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19Those pierced handles suggest that to me. Do you know what?
0:13:19 > 0:13:23The sad thing about it, they're not hugely in demand.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27I noticed you've got wardrobes over there, which are from the same suite.
0:13:27 > 0:13:28Those, if you ask me,
0:13:28 > 0:13:32are a bit plain and probably would have no buyers at auction.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36I think we could get this piece into auction. Not huge sums of money.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40I reckon, you're looking at no more than £50 to £70, something like that.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44It's not a huge amount of money for such a lovely piece.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48And it seems a shame to split it up from the wardrobes,
0:13:48 > 0:13:52particularly when everyone who comes in, admires it, as the whole bedroom suite.
0:13:52 > 0:13:58I'll have to have a word with Louise and see what we think, whether we want to part with it or not.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01Then we better find something else if we're going to hit this target today.
0:14:01 > 0:14:05- So, take your time, but let's carry on rummaging.- OK.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09Louise and Lindsay must make a tough decision over whether they can bring
0:14:09 > 0:14:12themselves to part with this much-loved family heirloom.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15There's a good chance it could be worth much more to them
0:14:15 > 0:14:18than it might be to the auction-going public.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22Louise, however, has ferreted out some more wartime memorabilia that
0:14:22 > 0:14:25can probably be traced back to her grandfather's infamous garden shed.
0:14:25 > 0:14:31On our expert John's advice, Louise decides to offer these anti-aircraft shells,
0:14:31 > 0:14:35together with this military fob watch, as one lot.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38Our expert's estimate, another £30 to £50.
0:14:38 > 0:14:39But we're not stopping there.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42- Hi, Louise.- Hi.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45I want to ask you about this collection of Wedgwood here.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49- What's the story with it?- These were my mum's favourite things.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52She collected the Wedgwood throughout her life.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56The collection is actually older than my sister and I, over 40 years old.
0:14:56 > 0:15:02And everywhere she went, she would go to antique fairs or markets
0:15:02 > 0:15:06and buy a piece and my sister and I would buy her a piece for her birthday.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09She always said, if you ever needed to sell anything,
0:15:09 > 0:15:12then you can sell anything you like in the house,
0:15:12 > 0:15:14but not my green Wedgwood.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17And she was always afraid that if anybody came to the house
0:15:17 > 0:15:21- they would take her Wedgwood. - She became quite obsessed with her collection.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23She was very obsessive about it, yes.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26- So, should I not be looking at this? - Oh, no, absolutely, it's fine.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28It's absolutely fine.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31So, do you like Wedgwood Jasper Ware?
0:15:31 > 0:15:34It's not my favourite, but I can understand why she collected it.
0:15:34 > 0:15:39Green was her favourite colour and she was very, very fond of it.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42When I look at it, I look at it academically.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45These pieces are all 20th century.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49But this reflects the actual style, current taste of the 1770s.
0:15:49 > 0:15:50Yes.
0:15:50 > 0:15:54We're right in the middle of the neoclassical revival, Robert Adam,
0:15:54 > 0:15:58and the style of this pottery is very much taken from classical antiquity.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01With these lovely cameos, which are applied.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04These are plain white Jasper Ware
0:16:04 > 0:16:06that have been pressed into a mould
0:16:06 > 0:16:08and then delicately taken out by the potters
0:16:08 > 0:16:10and applied with slip to the top.
0:16:10 > 0:16:16- You have that wonderful contrast that almost looks like it's been carved, isn't it?- Amazing, isn't it?
0:16:16 > 0:16:20- So, how many pieces do you have in the collection here?- Over 30.
0:16:20 > 0:16:25- You're probably looking at somewhere between £100 and £200, something like that.- That much?- Yeah.- All right.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29- You'll be happy to get rid of it? - Oh, yes, yes.
0:16:29 > 0:16:34- A nice collection to go to auction, but somebody's going to have to pack all this up.- It's going to be me!
0:16:34 > 0:16:39Lindsay, meanwhile, has uncovered this silver charm bracelet,
0:16:39 > 0:16:42a present from their grandad to their mother.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45At auction, it could garner £10 to £20.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49We're just over halfway through our rummage day
0:16:49 > 0:16:52and already we've turned up some wonderful pieces.
0:16:52 > 0:16:57But as we know from long experience, nothing is certain in the auction room.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04£100 bid. 110. 120...
0:17:04 > 0:17:07How will the bidders react to the two hand-painted Troika vases?
0:17:07 > 0:17:12- 170...- Look, two people bidding against each other there.
0:17:12 > 0:17:16180. 190, I'm bid for it. 200. New bidder. 210.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20220 and 30. And 40. And 50.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24And 60. And 70. And 80. And 90. 300.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27Will teddy and monkey capture their hearts?
0:17:27 > 0:17:29Find out when the gavel finally falls.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33Louise, your mum clearly loved to travel the world,
0:17:33 > 0:17:37is that how you got your interest in and love of foreign languages?
0:17:37 > 0:17:43I always enjoyed languages at school and I decided to carry on learning them when I went to university,
0:17:43 > 0:17:45so I studied French and German.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48And that enabled me to travel Europe.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50I got a teaching qualification,
0:17:50 > 0:17:52so I was able to use that in France and Spain.
0:17:52 > 0:17:57You worked in Nancy, in France, for a while. What were you doing there?
0:17:57 > 0:18:01I had a year in Nancy teaching English in a language school.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03And then I repeated the same thing in Madrid.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07- Six months there teaching English to businessmen.- Wonderful city!
0:18:07 > 0:18:10A city that's so vibrant! That must've been terrific!
0:18:10 > 0:18:12Oh, absolutely fabulous.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15Yes, I shared a flat with a couple of Irish people.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18And we had an absolutely fabulous time.
0:18:18 > 0:18:19So, did your mum ever visit you?
0:18:19 > 0:18:22Yes, everywhere I went, she came to visit.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25She encouraged me to travel so she could have a free holiday.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29Wise woman!
0:18:29 > 0:18:33But you've also got a real love of European literature,
0:18:33 > 0:18:37particularly the books of Georges Simenon, who wrote the Maigret novels.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41Well, I stumbled across him rather unusually.
0:18:41 > 0:18:46I was in the library one day, I picked up a book and I thought, "Oh, that sounds quite interesting."
0:18:46 > 0:18:48And I got completely hooked.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51And I've been collecting them ever since.
0:18:51 > 0:18:56You have, it seems, a love of crime fiction, particularly Conan Doyle.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00Well, I'm a very big Sherlock Holmes fan. I collect his books.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03And, particularly, biographies about Conan Doyle.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07I've read about his life. Because I like Sherlock Holmes so much.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10My mum avidly collected a local newspaper,
0:19:10 > 0:19:16cut out the coupons, so I could have all of the DVDs about Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19Well, you may be downsizing in the house,
0:19:19 > 0:19:21but clearly wherever you go to live after this,
0:19:21 > 0:19:24you're going to need a pretty big bookshelf to keep them all on.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28Oh, yes, exactly. They are my pride and joy.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31They're more important than anything, my books.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33Clearly, they're not going to be going to auction,
0:19:33 > 0:19:35but a lot of other things in this house are.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37Let's go find John, shall we?
0:19:37 > 0:19:41So, this is why the programme is called Cash In The Attic.
0:19:41 > 0:19:46John has found a classically-styled Silver Cross doll's pram hidden in the rafters.
0:19:46 > 0:19:51The sisters aren't sure how old it is, but they remember playing with his children.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53John's estimate, £20 to £40.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00- John. Would you have a look at this? - What have you got there, Louise?
0:20:00 > 0:20:03- It's a gold bracelet. - What's the story behind it?
0:20:03 > 0:20:06It belonged to my mother.
0:20:06 > 0:20:11And she wore it because she had a stroke about 20 years ago, when she was 55,
0:20:11 > 0:20:16and she had to take her medicine called Warfarin to keep her blood thin.
0:20:16 > 0:20:21It was to let people know that she couldn't take certain medication and certain foods
0:20:21 > 0:20:24because they react with the blood thinning tablet.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27Warfarin, isn't that rat poison?
0:20:27 > 0:20:29It was a rat poison, yes. But in small amounts,
0:20:29 > 0:20:33humans can take it and it keeps the blood thin. It prevents strokes.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Doesn't a nice one-a-day glass of red wine do the same for you?
0:20:36 > 0:20:41- No, unfortunately not. No.- That's the remedy I'm going to take, anyway.
0:20:41 > 0:20:46As you said, it is an ID or medic alert bracelet. It says...
0:20:46 > 0:20:50- On the back, it's engraved. It has the hospital number and... - Anticoagulant.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53Anticoagulant, there we are. Warfarin.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57It says on the back, ID and a number. So, she had to wear that.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00Obviously, if she had a fall or something like that happened...
0:21:00 > 0:21:02It's certainly something we can sell.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06I don't think anyone's going to buy it is a piece of jewellery as such.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09But it does have a value because it's nine carat gold.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12And I would guess, without weighing that,
0:21:12 > 0:21:14that were looking at about £100 to £150.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16- So, you'd be happy to sell that to auction?- Yes.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18Right. Jolly good, well done.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21- Shall we see what else we can turn up?- Yes.- OK, after you.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25In the sitting room, I found a piece of Louise and Lindsay's family history.
0:21:25 > 0:21:30This miner's lamp used to belong to their grandad, who was a Nottinghamshire miner.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33The two copper kettles were also his. They were all given to him
0:21:33 > 0:21:37as presents in gratitude for the work he did in helping the elderly.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41Our expert reckons that together these could fetch £30 to £40.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46I see you're getting the grand tour of the garden, John.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49And while you've been out here enjoying this lovely weather,
0:21:49 > 0:21:53I have found the most amazing bit of bling. Gosh, look how it glints in the sun!
0:21:53 > 0:21:57- Take a look at that. Whose was the ring?- That was my mother's.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00Why did your mother feel she had to buy a ring quite like that?
0:22:00 > 0:22:05Well, she lost her original engagement ring not long after my dad died.
0:22:05 > 0:22:10So, she decided that next time around she'd have something bigger and better.
0:22:10 > 0:22:14- So, did she use to flash it around, Louise?- No, no, she didn't.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16She was rather embarrassed about having it.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20Coming from humble backgrounds, no-one had the money to buy such a diamond.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23So, she would tell everyone it was a cubic zirconia.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26So, if any burglars were on the lookout,
0:22:26 > 0:22:28they would think there was nothing to steal.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31- She hasn't fooled you, though, John, has she?- No, not at all.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33It's quite a nice ring. In the sunshine,
0:22:33 > 0:22:36it's got a nice brilliance. See how it sparkles?
0:22:36 > 0:22:39The actual ring itself... 18 carat gold shank.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42It's claw set in platinum.
0:22:42 > 0:22:47The diamond is round brilliant cut and spreads about half a carat in weight. Medium clarity,
0:22:47 > 0:22:49not too bright. No big pieces of carbon,
0:22:49 > 0:22:51or what we call inclusions, in there.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54The colour is off-white, but it's still quite nice.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57I imagine quite a few women would like to wear that.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00- Are you prepared to let this go to auction?- Yes.- OK.
0:23:00 > 0:23:05- So, John, put a price on it. - Well, I certainly expect, with everything I've said,
0:23:05 > 0:23:09for it to make no less than 150 and possibly as much as 250.
0:23:09 > 0:23:10- What do you reckon?- That's fine.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14- OK. Well, 150 is going to be your lowest price?- Definitely.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18- It'll make over that.- 150. Let me add that then, John,
0:23:18 > 0:23:21to the lowest price you've given on the other things you've looked at.
0:23:21 > 0:23:26I have to say you were very modest in asking for £300 for your niece-
0:23:26 > 0:23:31or nephew-to-be. Because, if we really have a good day at auction,
0:23:31 > 0:23:37I hope that we should be able to make at least £790.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40- BOTH: Oh! - Gosh!
0:23:40 > 0:23:42That's a surprise.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44All we need is a beautiful day like this
0:23:44 > 0:23:47and lots of sunshine in the room.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51- Let's hope so. - Are you looking forward to it? - Yes!- You better have one, too.
0:23:53 > 0:23:57It looks like Lindsay's baby is set for a very warm welcome
0:23:57 > 0:24:00into this world, but nothing is certain until the hammer falls.
0:24:00 > 0:24:06Will the WWI medals honour the estimate that John has given them?
0:24:06 > 0:24:09The two Troika vases that were bought for a fiver,
0:24:09 > 0:24:12will they smash all expectations?
0:24:12 > 0:24:14And the stunning ring,
0:24:14 > 0:24:19a solitaire diamond set in platinum with an 18 carat gold shank.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21Will the bidders get as excited as we were?
0:24:21 > 0:24:24Look at how that sparkles in the sunlight!
0:24:24 > 0:24:26Still to come on Cash In The Attic...
0:24:26 > 0:24:30Will the scale model Silver Cross pram that the sisters shared
0:24:30 > 0:24:33as children stroll home to a comfortable finish?
0:24:33 > 0:24:36There it is down there, the Silver Cross pram.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40My goodness, what a specimen that one is. £50, £30.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44And one of our lots exceeds all expectations.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47- Terrific!- Fantastic! £300.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50That's amazing! Mother would have been proud.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53Find out which when the hammer falls.
0:24:56 > 0:25:00Well, it's been a couple of weeks now since we were with Louise
0:25:00 > 0:25:02and Lindsay, but we brought all of their things here to
0:25:02 > 0:25:06the Tring Market Auctions, in Hertfordshire. If you remember,
0:25:06 > 0:25:10Louise wants to raise £300 so that she can spoil
0:25:10 > 0:25:14her soon-to-be-born niece or nephew something rotten.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17So, let's hope she's successful, when the hammer comes down.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23Tring Market Auctions is popular with private and trade buyers alike.
0:25:23 > 0:25:28There's a sizeable crowd here, already leafing through the sales list or inspecting individual items.
0:25:28 > 0:25:33Louise and Lindsay have found their mother's Troika vases.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36- I hope they're not having second thoughts.- £180...
0:25:36 > 0:25:41Hi, Louise and Lindsay and, as yet, unnamed niece or nephew.
0:25:41 > 0:25:45- How many weeks?- Two-and-a-half. - So, we've got our work cut out today, John.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49We have. We've got to get this done and you home with your feet up again.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53Absolutely. I see you're both looking at the Troika vases.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56- You've put a reserve on these, haven't you?- Yes, £180.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59- Why did you do that? - Because they were quite valuable.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01They're very sentimental to my mother.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05- We don't just want to give them away.- Under £200 is absolutely fine.
0:26:05 > 0:26:06They should sell past that.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09Well, I hope that Junior enjoys today.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11- Are you both looking forward to it? - Yes!
0:26:11 > 0:26:13I've never been to an auction before.
0:26:13 > 0:26:17- Neither have I.- It's exciting. - A first experience for you.- Yes.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20Should we go and take our position? Let's get started.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24In the end, the sisters decided not to bring their mum's Art Deco
0:26:24 > 0:26:27dresser, but that is understandable as they were very fond of it.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30But that does bring our likely takings down to about £740.
0:26:30 > 0:26:34But that is still nearly twice as much as their original target.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37Are you in the cupboard? I do believe you're in the cupboard.
0:26:37 > 0:26:42With the crowd settling down, it's time for the first of our lots.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45It's the two brass and copper kettles and the miner's lamp,
0:26:45 > 0:26:47which have links back to the girls' grandfather,
0:26:47 > 0:26:51who was a miner in Nottingham.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54One of the nice things about selling the copper kettle and the miner's
0:26:54 > 0:26:56lantern now is that nobody is going
0:26:56 > 0:26:58to get the brass polish out any more.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01No. That saves us a job, definitely.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03But we are in the country and, presumably, John,
0:27:03 > 0:27:07there will be people who want them for their country homes,
0:27:07 > 0:27:09because it's sort of in keeping.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12I still can't work out who buys them these days,
0:27:12 > 0:27:15but whenever I do a clearance, I take the brass and copper
0:27:15 > 0:27:19and it always sells. It doesn't make fortunes, but it always sells.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21What do we say? £30 for those? £20?
0:27:21 > 0:27:24Surely there's £20 for those. Yes, £20 I'm bid, then.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26Are you coming? Five? Two of you, 30.
0:27:26 > 0:27:31- Two, five, eight... - That's nice when two people want to bid against each other.
0:27:31 > 0:27:3540, I sell. It's going down, then, for £40.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37£40!
0:27:37 > 0:27:40- A bit more than we expected.- Yeah!
0:27:40 > 0:27:43Our first lot and we're already ahead.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come.
0:27:45 > 0:27:49The charming made-to-scale Silver Cross doll's pram comes
0:27:49 > 0:27:54under the hammer now, an old toy replete with childhood memories
0:27:54 > 0:27:56for both Louise and Lindsay.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58- Now, this belonged to both of you? - It did, yeah.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02We both had it and wheeled our dolls around in it.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04Was this supposed to be a pram for babies?
0:28:04 > 0:28:07Or was it a doll's pram?
0:28:07 > 0:28:10It's a scale miniature of a genuine pram. Very well made.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12I put 20 to 40 on it, which I think is modest.
0:28:12 > 0:28:14I think they're fantastic.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17There it is down there, the Silver Cross pram.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20My goodness, what a specimen that one is. £50, £30.
0:28:22 > 0:28:2640. Five for you. At £40. £50, and five?
0:28:26 > 0:28:29- Yes or no?- £50!
0:28:29 > 0:28:32At £50 it's going... You're out?
0:28:32 > 0:28:35- Yes you are. £50.- Well done!
0:28:36 > 0:28:40I know, Lindsay. He's not always as on-the-button as this.
0:28:40 > 0:28:45Well, let's hope this trend continues with the anti-aircraft rounds and the military watch
0:28:45 > 0:28:48that Lindsay found in her grandfather's shed.
0:28:48 > 0:28:52Just remind me where the military issued pocket watch came from.
0:28:52 > 0:28:55That was my grandad's. I don't know if it belonged to him,
0:28:55 > 0:28:57but he must have acquired it from somebody.
0:28:57 > 0:29:01or it was a present for helping out old people.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04But we don't really know where it came from.
0:29:04 > 0:29:06It's going in with the anti-aircraft shells.
0:29:06 > 0:29:12- Do you think he went out and picked them up as well? Lindsay?- Who knows!
0:29:12 > 0:29:14He acquired an awful lot of things.
0:29:14 > 0:29:16They were in the shed. I don't know where most of them came from.
0:29:16 > 0:29:18The famous shed!
0:29:18 > 0:29:24- I think you would have loved to have a rummage around there, John. - I certainly would. It's interesting.
0:29:24 > 0:29:27What's nice about the watch... Pocket watches aren't that popular.
0:29:27 > 0:29:31Is that it has a military pattern, as you said. It has that military mark on it.
0:29:31 > 0:29:35That will make it interesting to military collectors rather than a watch dealer.
0:29:35 > 0:29:40£70, £50, 40 I'm bid then. Five, 50. Five, 60.
0:29:40 > 0:29:42Are you coming five? 70?
0:29:42 > 0:29:46No? £75 then. £70. It's at 65. It's going...
0:29:46 > 0:29:50Out of the room then at £65.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52- Terrific!- That was good. - Good.- Great!
0:29:52 > 0:29:55Well, that was a bit more than we expected, John.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58- Yeah, I'm happy with that. I hope you don't mind if it goes over.- No.
0:29:58 > 0:30:00Another fine result!
0:30:00 > 0:30:04Or are John's estimates erring on the side of caution?
0:30:04 > 0:30:06Let's see what happens when these next pieces
0:30:06 > 0:30:10from their childhood are offered up to the room?
0:30:10 > 0:30:15I have to admit, nothing would make me part with my first childhood teddy bear.
0:30:15 > 0:30:19So, which of you two has made the great sacrifice
0:30:19 > 0:30:22with the teddy bear and the monkey going in the auction?
0:30:22 > 0:30:24- Whose was the monkey? - I think it was yours.
0:30:24 > 0:30:28I think it was mine. I've certainly got a picture of it with me as a child, holding it.
0:30:28 > 0:30:33- £30 to £50 for second-hand toys, John?- That might be optimistic, but I love the monkey.
0:30:33 > 0:30:38He had a real charming face. The bear is much loved, you can see that.
0:30:38 > 0:30:41That shows in the condition. But the monkey just charmed me.
0:30:41 > 0:30:44Teddy and monkey, £50 for them?
0:30:44 > 0:30:46£40 bid. £40 bid, five now.
0:30:46 > 0:30:48£40 and five. £50 and five.
0:30:48 > 0:30:5260? No more. 55 out in the room. You're out in the corner.
0:30:52 > 0:30:5755. Teddy and monkey at £55.
0:30:57 > 0:31:01- 55!- 55, that's a surprise.- That's a little more than...- Goodness!
0:31:01 > 0:31:05Not wildly over John's maximum, but still over.
0:31:05 > 0:31:09Our bidders seem to be in a sentimental mood today.
0:31:09 > 0:31:13These medals belonged to Louise and Lindsay's grandad,
0:31:13 > 0:31:16though they were not awarded to him.
0:31:16 > 0:31:18Another find in the now infamous shed!
0:31:18 > 0:31:20Let's see how they perform.
0:31:20 > 0:31:23Next up are our two World War I partial medal groups.
0:31:23 > 0:31:27We've got the brass victory medal and a silver war medal for two recipients.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30But together with one of the ribbons from one of the others.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33I've got on them £50 to £100. They ought to do that.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36There we are. Shall we say £50 with these? £30? £20?
0:31:36 > 0:31:40- I'm bid £20.- Bidder at the back.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43£25 bid. 30 at the very back. 35 in the front.
0:31:43 > 0:31:4635, 40 I'm bid. 45.
0:31:46 > 0:31:5250. At £50, on the right at £50. 55 up the row.
0:31:52 > 0:31:54Yours at £55.
0:31:54 > 0:31:58I shall sell those, they're going for £55.
0:31:58 > 0:32:02- 55. Good.- Yeah, I was hoping for a little more, but we got there.
0:32:02 > 0:32:05I knew it would go for about that sort of money.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08Well, that's John's cautious streak over.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11But the final bid did exceed the minimum estimate.
0:32:11 > 0:32:15Do the bidders prefer teddies and prams to medals and jewellery, I wonder?
0:32:15 > 0:32:19Next up is a little charm bracelet made of silver coins
0:32:19 > 0:32:21and a little silver chain, which is very typical.
0:32:21 > 0:32:25Men in the First World War were making these as gifts to send home.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28- So, what are the coins that are on the bracelet?- Sixpences.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31But it's worth a lot more than sixpence because...
0:32:31 > 0:32:34- Actually, you only put £10 to £20 on it, John.- I have.
0:32:34 > 0:32:39Let's wait and see, but that's what I think it's worth. If it makes more, I won't complain.
0:32:39 > 0:32:41£30 for it. £20. 15.
0:32:41 > 0:32:4518, £20 now. At £20 for the coin bracelet.
0:32:45 > 0:32:49- Then at £22.- £22.- £22. - A bit over your estimate, John.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51Two pounds, I'm happy with that.
0:32:51 > 0:32:55It seems John was right to err on the side of caution.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58But when you add it all together, how are we doing?
0:32:59 > 0:33:03The jewellery there is going to get £300, do you hope, yes?
0:33:03 > 0:33:06- Yes, we hope.- £300 is quite modest. We're already halfway through and,
0:33:06 > 0:33:08so far on all the things that we've got,
0:33:08 > 0:33:14- we made £287.- Oh, fantastic! - So, we're well on our way.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17High time for a short break. I'm sure Lindsay will appreciate that.
0:33:17 > 0:33:21Bear in mind, auction houses charge commission on the items they sell,
0:33:21 > 0:33:23so if you are thinking of selling,
0:33:23 > 0:33:29please remember, the total bill will not necessarily be the amount that you take home.
0:33:29 > 0:33:33But, what if you're looking to buy? How do you know when you've spotted a good one?
0:33:34 > 0:33:37- Thinking of going on safari, John? - I wish I had the time.- Yeah.
0:33:37 > 0:33:39So, what's taking your attention here?
0:33:39 > 0:33:42I'm looking at this on behalf of a friend that collects elephants.
0:33:42 > 0:33:47- But what I'm doing is I'm checking the extremities for any damage.- Find any?
0:33:47 > 0:33:50I can see that this tusk has been off, quite clearly.
0:33:50 > 0:33:53Yes, you can see it's been stuck on with a bit of glue there.
0:33:53 > 0:33:57It's quite obvious there hasn't been any attempt to cover that up.
0:33:57 > 0:33:59But restoration can be extremely hard to spot.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02There are some very, very clever restorers out there.
0:34:02 > 0:34:06And if you're not sure, there are a couple of good ways that you can check things over.
0:34:06 > 0:34:10One is to buy a little, cheap UV light, a little ultraviolet light.
0:34:10 > 0:34:13Take a piece of pottery into the dark, or porcelain, and you just
0:34:13 > 0:34:16shine it over and any restoration will stand out like a sore thumb.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19If you don't have a UV light and you suspect something
0:34:19 > 0:34:22might be restored, another way is to just take a pin
0:34:22 > 0:34:26and drag it lightly over, just the tip of any sort of household pin,
0:34:26 > 0:34:30and it will glide over the glaze, but where it's been restored, it will start to drag.
0:34:30 > 0:34:35That is because you cannot fire the porcelain to the same temperature the original piece was fired to
0:34:35 > 0:34:38because you would risk damaging the whole piece.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41Yes, I suppose as the restorers become more and more expert,
0:34:41 > 0:34:44that means that collectors have to up their game, as well.
0:34:44 > 0:34:49We're hoping that this Troika ware will give us game, set and match
0:34:49 > 0:34:53at auction. And this solitaire diamond ring their mum, Jean, bought
0:34:53 > 0:34:56to replace the original that she lost could catch someone's eye.
0:34:56 > 0:35:01Now, gold, solitaire diamond-set ring, £150 to £250.
0:35:01 > 0:35:02It's a nice ring, isn't it?
0:35:02 > 0:35:06Remember how beautifully it sparkled in the garden? Isn't it dazzling?
0:35:06 > 0:35:12All ladies like a diamond and they especially like solitaires. So, we should get somewhere in our estimate.
0:35:12 > 0:35:16- Let's see if we get a sparkle at £150 to £200.- 150 for it.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19£100 for it. 80. Bid.
0:35:19 > 0:35:2190, £100 bid.
0:35:21 > 0:35:23110. 120 bid, 130.
0:35:23 > 0:35:25140 at the back.
0:35:25 > 0:35:29150. Bid, 160. 170.
0:35:29 > 0:35:34- Two people are bidding against each other there. - 190 I'm bid for it. 200.
0:35:34 > 0:35:37New bidder. 210. 220 and 30.
0:35:37 > 0:35:39And 40. And 50. And 60.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42And 70 and 80... 300.
0:35:42 > 0:35:46£300, the bid. You're out. At £300, the bid,
0:35:46 > 0:35:47I sell to sir in the front row.
0:35:47 > 0:35:53In the front row, at £300, I sell it at £300. Gone.
0:35:53 > 0:35:55- Terrific!- Fantastic! £300.
0:35:55 > 0:35:59Mother would have been proud of that for her bling, wouldn't she?
0:35:59 > 0:36:02- For her rock.- Yeah.
0:36:05 > 0:36:07Well, it rocked for you guys.
0:36:07 > 0:36:12Now, that is a result, the target amount in one bid alone.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15Lindsay's baby will be very lucky indeed.
0:36:15 > 0:36:18But how's the room going to react to Jean's medical bracelet?
0:36:18 > 0:36:22We've got a gold bracelet coming up now,
0:36:22 > 0:36:25but I have to say, I'm not quite sure this is a gold bracelet
0:36:25 > 0:36:29anybody else would necessarily want to buy because it's a medical
0:36:29 > 0:36:32gold bracelet. Just remind us, Lindsay, why your mum had this.
0:36:32 > 0:36:34It was, like you said, a medical alert.
0:36:34 > 0:36:38It was to alert people if my mum had an accident or anything that she
0:36:38 > 0:36:42took Warfarin, so not to administer any drugs that react with Warfarin.
0:36:42 > 0:36:43So we've got what, John?
0:36:43 > 0:36:47- £100 to £150? That's its gold value? - Pretty much, yes.
0:36:47 > 0:36:48That's what I based it on.
0:36:48 > 0:36:51I can't think of anybody buying it to wear it, but it takes all sorts.
0:36:51 > 0:36:54There we are. We ought to be over £100 for it.
0:36:54 > 0:36:59£80 for it. Yes, let's get going. 90, bid then. 100. And 10. And 20.
0:36:59 > 0:37:03130? 120 I'm bid for it then. 120 it's going. 120 then.
0:37:03 > 0:37:07I sell for £120.
0:37:07 > 0:37:09- Pretty good, John.- Yes.
0:37:09 > 0:37:14I tell you, you wouldn't have got that for one of the plastic ones from down the chemist, would you?
0:37:15 > 0:37:18That's fantastic!
0:37:18 > 0:37:22Nothing so far has fallen below our expert's minimum estimate.
0:37:22 > 0:37:26Next under the hammer is Jean's treasured collection of Wedgwood pottery.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29Will the bidders of Tring share her enthusiasm?
0:37:29 > 0:37:36Your mum really, really liked green, Jasper Ware Wedgwood, didn't she?
0:37:36 > 0:37:41- Yes.- She certainly did.- So, the green is less popular than the blue.
0:37:41 > 0:37:44- How are we going to do today, John? - I put 100 to 200 on it.
0:37:44 > 0:37:47I think we'll certainly be around the £100 mark.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50Some people find green a superstitious colour, they think it's unlucky.
0:37:50 > 0:37:53- I don't, I love green. - I don't.- Me neither, I like green.
0:37:53 > 0:37:56I think we ought to be looking around £50 for it.
0:37:56 > 0:37:58£30 for it then. OK.
0:37:58 > 0:38:00£30, 35, 40.
0:38:00 > 0:38:03There's rather a lot there. 45, 50, 55.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05No? Sir's got them at £55.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08Then I sell for £55.
0:38:08 > 0:38:14- Not as much as we hoped.- No. - A real bargain at £55.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17That's about a pound a piece, that's quite low, I think.
0:38:17 > 0:38:19- Disappointing?- Very. But never mind.
0:38:19 > 0:38:22We can always rely on John to say something positive.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25Now, let's see if we can put this setback behind us.
0:38:25 > 0:38:28Next up are two pieces of coloured glass. I found these.
0:38:28 > 0:38:33One was Isle of Wight. The other, a moulded piece. But the Isle of Wight glass, who got this?
0:38:33 > 0:38:35My dad bought it when we were on holiday in the 1970s.
0:38:35 > 0:38:38We used to go on holiday to the Isle of Wight every year.
0:38:38 > 0:38:42- He bought it while we were there. - You put £20 to £30 on it, John.
0:38:42 > 0:38:45That one Isle of Wight piece is worth that. It is nice.
0:38:45 > 0:38:49Displayed right, with the light passing through it, they look quite striking.
0:38:49 > 0:38:53£40 bid. £40, £30. £20. 25. £30 bid.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57£30, at £30. 35. £40? No? I have 35.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00It is yours, sir, at £35.
0:39:00 > 0:39:04- That's over John's estimate, terrific.- I'm happy with that.
0:39:04 > 0:39:07This crowd is proving hard to fathom.
0:39:07 > 0:39:11They won't stretch to Wedgwood, but for garish glass, no problem.
0:39:11 > 0:39:16With a form like this, there's just no telling how they're going to react to the Troika vases.
0:39:16 > 0:39:21- There have been quite a lot of people looking at the Troika vases, haven't there, John?- Yes.
0:39:21 > 0:39:26So, I think there's a lot of interest in them, because they are still very collectible.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29Interesting that your mum and dad paid so little for them
0:39:29 > 0:39:33when they bought them. But just because they liked them.
0:39:33 > 0:39:34My mum like the colours.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36That's usually the best way to buy something.
0:39:36 > 0:39:39Buy it because you like it, then you can always live with it.
0:39:39 > 0:39:43But these are two really nice, midsize pieces, very contemporary
0:39:43 > 0:39:45and similar in style and by the same painter,
0:39:45 > 0:39:49so I think they are going to do OK, despite the chip on one of them.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52Couple of hundred pounds for them. 200 for them. 150 for them.
0:39:52 > 0:39:53Yes, 150.
0:39:53 > 0:39:56I'm bid 160. 170. 180.
0:39:56 > 0:39:58- 190.- You made your reserve.
0:40:00 > 0:40:03210. We have 220.
0:40:03 > 0:40:05We've got it. 230. Sir, 230. And 40.
0:40:05 > 0:40:10You're out, then I sell to sir in the front for £230.
0:40:12 > 0:40:16- £230? Pleased with that?- Yes.
0:40:16 > 0:40:19- How much did they pay for them originally?- £5.
0:40:19 > 0:40:21What a finish!
0:40:21 > 0:40:24Mother Jean was obviously a woman of intuition and foresight.
0:40:24 > 0:40:27After a result like that, there can't be any doubt that
0:40:27 > 0:40:30Lindsay's baby has been endowed with a very tidy little sum.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33But exactly how much?
0:40:33 > 0:40:37- Your first experience of an auction, what do you reckon?- Fantastic, yes.
0:40:37 > 0:40:39It's exhausting as well.
0:40:39 > 0:40:41You know, I have to say, John and I both thought
0:40:41 > 0:40:44when we came to the house, that you were being very modest,
0:40:44 > 0:40:49wanting to raise just £300 for your niece or nephew.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52Because you have some lovely things to auction.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55You said you wanted a little nursing chair, didn't you?
0:40:55 > 0:40:58- But also some money to put in the piggy bank for little one?- Yes.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00You've made...
0:41:00 > 0:41:05£1,027.
0:41:05 > 0:41:09- Oh, goodness me! - You only wanted £300.
0:41:10 > 0:41:13That's amazing! Well, thank you very much.
0:41:19 > 0:41:23Louise and Lindsay soon put the windfall to good use.
0:41:23 > 0:41:27But surely at this stage, she's got everything she needs.
0:41:27 > 0:41:31I'm still a bit disorganized on the baby's arrival front.
0:41:32 > 0:41:36So, today getting the chair was a step in the right direction,
0:41:36 > 0:41:39but we still have quite a lot to do in the next couple of weeks.
0:41:39 > 0:41:42While most of the cash is being put aside for baby,
0:41:42 > 0:41:46Lindsay couldn't resist investing in this nursing chair.
0:41:46 > 0:41:48Well, it's important that Mum is comfy, too.
0:41:48 > 0:41:52It's lovely. I'm thrilled with getting the new chair.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54I've been looking at it for ages.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57I've been in the shop a few times trying it out.
0:41:57 > 0:42:00So, I shall look forward to it being delivered in a week's time.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03And, hopefully, the chair will arrive before the baby.
0:42:03 > 0:42:06- Thank you very much.- Bye-bye.- Bye.