Best of British

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0:00:03 > 0:00:04Over the last 11 years on Flog It!,

0:00:04 > 0:00:07we've travelled the length and breadth of the British Isles

0:00:07 > 0:00:09several times over.

0:00:09 > 0:00:12Along the way, you've turned up in your thousands

0:00:12 > 0:00:16with beautiful items for our experts to muse over.

0:00:16 > 0:00:18Do you take a wee dram?

0:00:18 > 0:00:21Only for medicinal purposes! THEY LAUGH

0:00:21 > 0:00:26This little nation of ours boasts a rich and proud antique heritage.

0:00:26 > 0:00:28So, in today's programme,

0:00:28 > 0:00:33we're going to give you the low-down on some of our great British makers.

0:01:00 > 0:01:03In this episode, we'll be looking at the best of British -

0:01:03 > 0:01:06antiques and collectibles from up and down the country.

0:01:06 > 0:01:08This is a lovely one we found, as well.

0:01:08 > 0:01:11The Bridlington Excelsior Prize Silver Band.

0:01:11 > 0:01:14And sometimes, it's not just what you have,

0:01:14 > 0:01:16it's knowing where they came from

0:01:16 > 0:01:18and the best place to sell them.

0:01:18 > 0:01:20That really makes a difference.

0:01:20 > 0:01:24Coming up, we'll give you the know-how to find your own

0:01:24 > 0:01:25best of British.

0:01:25 > 0:01:28If it's from a limited edition of 100,

0:01:28 > 0:01:29try and get the earlier pieces.

0:01:29 > 0:01:31This is where I drop it.

0:01:31 > 0:01:34James Lewis visits Derby to learn some trade secrets

0:01:34 > 0:01:37from one of Britain's iconic ceramics makers.

0:01:37 > 0:01:39This is just not easy, is it?

0:01:39 > 0:01:42When it comes to English greats,

0:01:42 > 0:01:45we'll let you know when damage won't dent their appeal.

0:01:45 > 0:01:50A bit of sticky tape isn't necessarily a bad thing.

0:01:50 > 0:01:53Now, the great thing about this show is, we get to visit

0:01:53 > 0:01:55the four corners of the United Kingdom.

0:01:55 > 0:01:57And there's always a buzz amongst our experts

0:01:57 > 0:02:00as to whether you will bring us some local treasures to look at.

0:02:00 > 0:02:02And you never disappoint.

0:02:02 > 0:02:06'So, if you want to buy a bit of British, here are some pointers.'

0:02:06 > 0:02:09Whatever you buy, make it the best you can afford.

0:02:09 > 0:02:13So, rather than perhaps buy five items at £100 each,

0:02:13 > 0:02:15buy one for £500.

0:02:15 > 0:02:18You go with your gut reaction, but if you've got

0:02:18 > 0:02:21a little bit of knowledge, turn everything upside down.

0:02:21 > 0:02:23Strangely, in our business,

0:02:23 > 0:02:28we attach value to who made something, who painted something,

0:02:28 > 0:02:31when it was made, rather than the object itself.

0:02:31 > 0:02:35Look out for stylised pieces from the 1950s. They're on the up.

0:02:39 > 0:02:41So here are some of our very best finds

0:02:41 > 0:02:43and what you can learn from them.

0:02:44 > 0:02:48'And British names don't come any bigger than Royal Worcester.

0:02:49 > 0:02:53'For Flog It! expert Philip Serrell, it's almost a way of life.'

0:02:53 > 0:02:57I think the wares are stunning and because I'm in Worcester,

0:02:57 > 0:03:01it's something that I've tended to specialise in throughout the years.

0:03:01 > 0:03:04Highly decorative wares and models of the 19th century,

0:03:04 > 0:03:07and then in the 20th century, the real key for me,

0:03:07 > 0:03:10I suppose, are the hand-painted wares - cattle by the Stintons,

0:03:10 > 0:03:13hand-painted fruit by people like Sebright.

0:03:13 > 0:03:18You know, I remember Adam took in a vase by White

0:03:18 > 0:03:20that was decorated in peacocks.

0:03:20 > 0:03:21And you've brought me a lovely example

0:03:21 > 0:03:24of a Worcester vase. Can you tell me how you came to own it?

0:03:24 > 0:03:25Well, it was my parents'.

0:03:25 > 0:03:30They acquired it from friends about 40, 45 years ago.

0:03:30 > 0:03:34And my parents gave it to me about 15 years ago.

0:03:34 > 0:03:37Worcester porcelain is one of the most historic

0:03:37 > 0:03:41and longest-established porcelain factories in the world and because they're one of the best,

0:03:41 > 0:03:44they are widely collected all around the world.

0:03:44 > 0:03:48It's obviously hand-painted, brightly enamel painted, with...

0:03:48 > 0:03:52- That's a peacock, isn't it?- I think so, yes. It certainly looks like it.

0:03:52 > 0:03:55Peacocks in Worcestershire are an unlucky bird,

0:03:55 > 0:03:59because the peacock tail is meant to represent the devil's eye, and if

0:03:59 > 0:04:04you have a peacock tail in the house, it's meant to bring you bad luck.

0:04:04 > 0:04:08Now, the lid doesn't sit on quite right. Oh, look!

0:04:08 > 0:04:12- They didn't come out the factory like that!- No, that's courtesy of my father.

0:04:12 > 0:04:14Your father did that to preserve it?

0:04:14 > 0:04:16- To preserve the lid. - To preserve the lid.

0:04:16 > 0:04:22Unfortunately...is that a crack? It is. A hairline crack in the lid.

0:04:22 > 0:04:25The damage on that vase really didn't count

0:04:25 > 0:04:27as a major damage at all. And, if anything,

0:04:27 > 0:04:30it showed that it had never been near a dealer's shop,

0:04:30 > 0:04:33it had never been in a fair, it was just nice and honest and genuine.

0:04:33 > 0:04:37A bit of sticky tape isn't necessarily a bad thing.

0:04:37 > 0:04:39And the date code for this,

0:04:39 > 0:04:42we add up all these dots here, there are 17 dots in total

0:04:42 > 0:04:47which...my calculations make it around 1908, when that was made.

0:04:47 > 0:04:50So, if we turn it back round again,

0:04:50 > 0:04:54we've got a very handsome Worcester vase with cover.

0:04:54 > 0:05:00So, I think that we should put an estimate of £200 to £300

0:05:00 > 0:05:04and I think it will make 300 to 350, eventually,

0:05:04 > 0:05:08once everyone's had a bid at it. Does that sound acceptable?

0:05:08 > 0:05:13- Sounds reasonable to me, yes. But I would want a reserve on it. - 20 quid?- Oh, no...- I'm joking!

0:05:13 > 0:05:17- No, I would say 200.- OK. - Does that sound all right?- Yes.

0:05:19 > 0:05:22You'd have thought that was primed to go in Philip's sale,

0:05:22 > 0:05:25and it was, because Philip has the big collections of Worcester,

0:05:25 > 0:05:27every sale he has, he's in Worcestershire

0:05:27 > 0:05:30and it's one of the things he specialises in.

0:05:30 > 0:05:34So, in that respect, it was the perfect sale for the vase to go in.

0:05:35 > 0:05:39Lot 760 is this really lovely vase.

0:05:39 > 0:05:42I've got 400. Will you go 420? 420.

0:05:42 > 0:05:46Straight in there at 400.

0:05:46 > 0:05:49If you think about it, there's probably more Worcester porcelain

0:05:49 > 0:05:51in Worcester than there is anywhere else.

0:05:51 > 0:05:54And so, as the local auctioneer, I'm probably going to sell more Worcester,

0:05:54 > 0:05:58and so, people tend to come to us for it.

0:05:58 > 0:06:01- 700.- Oh, my giddy aunt.- 720.

0:06:03 > 0:06:07- 750. 780.- Gosh, it's going on and on, isn't it?

0:06:07 > 0:06:10850, 880, 900.

0:06:10 > 0:06:13920.

0:06:13 > 0:06:15You need to be mindful, all the time, that whatever you see

0:06:15 > 0:06:19is someone's property, and it's your job, your duty,

0:06:19 > 0:06:21to get the most that you can for it.

0:06:21 > 0:06:25- Oh, Barbara...- Let's see if we can get four figures. 1,100.

0:06:25 > 0:06:27- £1,100.- Wow!- 50, is it?

0:06:27 > 0:06:30You can never predict what's going to happen in an auction.

0:06:30 > 0:06:321,150, is it?

0:06:32 > 0:06:36- 1,150.- This is quite special. - Yeah.

0:06:36 > 0:06:41- There is the bid. In America.- In America, that's gone to the States.

0:06:41 > 0:06:45- At £1,200, and I sell, then... - How are you feeling?- Wonderful!

0:06:45 > 0:06:47GAVEL FALLS

0:06:47 > 0:06:49£1,200 - the hammer's gone down. That's what we like to see!

0:06:49 > 0:06:52'Selling the vase in Worcester meant the buyers knew where to look.

0:06:52 > 0:06:54'And now this classic English piece has a new home,

0:06:54 > 0:06:56thousands of miles away.

0:06:58 > 0:07:02You always have in the back of your mind, "local" -

0:07:02 > 0:07:03if it's local,

0:07:03 > 0:07:05it's going to have an interest.

0:07:05 > 0:07:07The auctioneer will work harder for you.

0:07:07 > 0:07:11And in Harrogate, there was this amazing postcard and photograph album.

0:07:11 > 0:07:14Tell me, how did you come about them?

0:07:14 > 0:07:18My mum had them at her house, and I just cleared her house out.

0:07:18 > 0:07:21What's amazing is the condition of the album, just to begin with.

0:07:21 > 0:07:25It's super. But what's even more interesting is what's inside, actually.

0:07:25 > 0:07:31The album is awash with postcards and photographs from the 1900s,

0:07:31 > 0:07:361910, 1920. Some pre-war ones. This is a lovely one we found, as well.

0:07:36 > 0:07:40The Bridlington Excelsior Prize Silver Band.

0:07:40 > 0:07:42Things like that are just wonderful.

0:07:42 > 0:07:46They were all there their trophy, their twin-handled cup,

0:07:46 > 0:07:49and these lovely instruments all on display.

0:07:49 > 0:07:51God, it would have made a noise.

0:07:51 > 0:07:55Then we had the polling card which, again, was local. Local elections.

0:07:55 > 0:07:59All of these aspects - you could never photograph them again.

0:07:59 > 0:08:02This polling card, you could never make again.

0:08:02 > 0:08:07That group of people, that's what's so interesting about them. They're so local to that area.

0:08:07 > 0:08:09That's why people are after it.

0:08:09 > 0:08:13- I would like to put an estimate on it of about £300 to £500.- Right.

0:08:13 > 0:08:15- Are you happy with that?- Yes!

0:08:17 > 0:08:21But has Thomas got carried away by a few choice cards?

0:08:21 > 0:08:24'On the day, the auctioneer had his doubts.'

0:08:24 > 0:08:26- £300 to £500 on this.- Hmm...

0:08:26 > 0:08:29There are one or two local ones here, but not that many.

0:08:29 > 0:08:32Which is a shame. I think, as so often with these things,

0:08:32 > 0:08:34they sell best in their own area,

0:08:34 > 0:08:36so if you had a great album of Yorkshire cards,

0:08:36 > 0:08:41they'd sell like mad, but when you get a mixed album like this, not quite so easy to sell.

0:08:41 > 0:08:43This will be a struggle, I think, personally.

0:08:43 > 0:08:46I agree with you, Paul, I think we are going to struggle on that one.

0:08:46 > 0:08:49I can remember when we got to the auction, Paul was, you know,

0:08:49 > 0:08:53"I've had a chat to the auctioneer. We don't think it's going to sell.

0:08:53 > 0:08:55"Oh, it's going to be taken home."

0:08:55 > 0:08:58First round, into the ring, the bell's not even gone,

0:08:58 > 0:09:03we're on the floor already, trying to claw our way up after the ten-second count.

0:09:03 > 0:09:07- This is going to be a tricky one, but I think we should just get it away.- I don't know.

0:09:07 > 0:09:10And then, suddenly, the auction happened. There's a phone bid.

0:09:10 > 0:09:14Yes, quite a lot of them there, lot 509. Couple of hundred for it?

0:09:14 > 0:09:17200 I'm bid, 210, now, £200, the opening bid.

0:09:17 > 0:09:23210 I'm bid, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280...

0:09:23 > 0:09:26There's somebody with their paddle just up. You just love that.

0:09:26 > 0:09:29As an auctioneer, you cannot pray for anything better.

0:09:29 > 0:09:31Somebody doing this all the time,

0:09:31 > 0:09:34they've got somebody on the phone, or somebody's there,

0:09:34 > 0:09:39you've got two people doing that, both paddles up, it started. 300. And 20. 340, 360, 380, 400.

0:09:39 > 0:09:44410, 420, 430. 430, 440, 450.

0:09:44 > 0:09:46- Not bad.- This is fantastic.

0:09:46 > 0:09:49The album is working. It's fighting its corner.

0:09:49 > 0:09:52And I felt vindicated that I put that bullish estimate on it.

0:09:52 > 0:09:55I was so wrong, cos I agreed with the auctioneer.

0:09:55 > 0:09:56I thought it would struggle.

0:09:56 > 0:09:59Ye of little faith!

0:09:59 > 0:10:01500, 510.

0:10:01 > 0:10:04510, 520, 530.

0:10:04 > 0:10:06It just went on and on and on and on.

0:10:06 > 0:10:12700, upstairs. At £700. Any more? 700, then, it's going at £700.

0:10:12 > 0:10:16Janet, £700!

0:10:17 > 0:10:18Unbelievable!

0:10:18 > 0:10:20I think she was ecstatic.

0:10:20 > 0:10:25I reckon it made that money because there were some interesting

0:10:25 > 0:10:28black-and-white photographs of the silver band.

0:10:28 > 0:10:30There were some colliery photographs.

0:10:30 > 0:10:33There was also that piece of political ephemera.

0:10:33 > 0:10:35And it was an early card as well.

0:10:35 > 0:10:40It was early 1900s, before women had the vote, so, again, fascinating.

0:10:40 > 0:10:44With all those things of local interest...

0:10:44 > 0:10:46that's why it made the £700.

0:10:48 > 0:10:52'And that's the thing about our beautiful country - every region has its own gems,

0:10:52 > 0:10:57'but with so much variety out there in the early days, even we were caught out occasionally.'

0:10:57 > 0:10:59She's a pretty girl. Oh, hi, Philip.

0:10:59 > 0:11:02- It's Newlyn.- Newlyn copper.

0:11:02 > 0:11:04I'm not convinced that that's always been in there.

0:11:04 > 0:11:07- No, I don't think that has. - No, it hasn't.

0:11:07 > 0:11:10It's slightly Arts and Crafts looking.

0:11:10 > 0:11:13- I'd imagine you're about right there.- What £30 to 50?- £50.

0:11:13 > 0:11:17- Purely because it's got Newlyn on. Otherwise, about 20 quid. - Absolutely.

0:11:17 > 0:11:22That's the joy of Flog It! - the fact that you're standing there or sitting at your table

0:11:22 > 0:11:25and you never know what's going to pitch up next.

0:11:25 > 0:11:27I think that's quite sweet, that.

0:11:27 > 0:11:30So what do you know about Newlyn brassware?

0:11:30 > 0:11:32Well, I didn't know anything about it.

0:11:32 > 0:11:34It was just a present. And then I looked

0:11:34 > 0:11:38and saw it was made in Newlyn, but that's as much as I know.

0:11:38 > 0:11:40- Really?- Yeah, really.

0:11:40 > 0:11:45I have seen one other piece, but bigger than that...a plate.

0:11:45 > 0:11:49- I quite like it. I think it's a bit of fun. I don't think it's worth a fortune.- No.

0:11:49 > 0:11:53It's very easy to become insular in this job. I live and work in Worcester

0:11:53 > 0:11:56and I look at Worcester pots, Worcester pots, Worcester pots,

0:11:56 > 0:12:01and I don't get too much local Newlyn School copper that's made there.

0:12:03 > 0:12:06I wouldn't profess to be an expert in Newlyn metalware.

0:12:06 > 0:12:10I've had a word with Paul, but it's probably got a value of around £30 to £50.

0:12:10 > 0:12:13- Yeah, well, that'd be handy. - What would you do with that?

0:12:13 > 0:12:16- I'd get some seed potatoes. - Are you a big gardener?

0:12:16 > 0:12:21- I like a bit of gardening, yes. That keeps me on me feet, moving about.- Yeah.

0:12:21 > 0:12:27I think seed potatoes are more important to Eric than Newlyn bowls. really,

0:12:27 > 0:12:31and I just think... that was just typical of him.

0:12:31 > 0:12:35If we put that in at £30 to £50, put a reserve on it of £25,

0:12:35 > 0:12:39I would hope that it would sell, because I just think it's an interesting thing.

0:12:39 > 0:12:43- Somebody will enjoy it, won't they? - Absolutely. I think it's rather nice, actually.

0:12:43 > 0:12:49- Certainly, Eric, if I ever see any Newlyn copper again, I shall think of you, sir.- Oh, thank you.

0:12:49 > 0:12:51- And gardening. - Thank you very much.

0:12:51 > 0:12:54Philip valued it at £40.

0:12:54 > 0:12:56It's certainly undervalued.

0:12:56 > 0:13:01To be quite honest, it's a lovely example of Newlyn copper, beaten all the way around.

0:13:01 > 0:13:05You've got this lovely Cornish fish emblem throughout. He's going to have a surprise.

0:13:05 > 0:13:08We're going to start the bidding at £200. £200 straightaway.

0:13:08 > 0:13:12- Good grief! - 200 quid, straight in.

0:13:12 > 0:13:14You can't ever beat local knowledge, can you?

0:13:14 > 0:13:21260. At 270. 270 I'm bid. Anybody else? At 270 in front of me.

0:13:22 > 0:13:25- What do you think? - I never thought 270...

0:13:25 > 0:13:28- That's really good, isn't it? - I'm shaking.- I'm bid 270.

0:13:28 > 0:13:30- At 270. Thank you. - It went for more than we thought.

0:13:30 > 0:13:32I'm delighted. As I said,

0:13:32 > 0:13:35I'm not an expert in items from the Newlyn School.

0:13:35 > 0:13:37I'm delighted for you. And it's taught me a bit as well.

0:13:37 > 0:13:39That's the beauty of this game.

0:13:39 > 0:13:42- I thought it was worth about 50 quid.- We can always learn more.

0:13:42 > 0:13:48I go out now and I know if I see a piece of copperware with fish on it there's a chance it's Newlyn ware.

0:13:48 > 0:13:50It might be by Pearson.

0:13:51 > 0:13:55Travelling hundreds of miles up and down Britain for Flog It!,

0:13:55 > 0:13:59our experts have picked up quite a few trade secrets along the way.

0:13:59 > 0:14:00Buying a British collectible,

0:14:00 > 0:14:03if you're buying something from a limited edition,

0:14:03 > 0:14:06make sure you're buying it at the start of the run.

0:14:06 > 0:14:11So, if it's from a limited edition of 100, try and get the earlier pieces or, obviously, the last.

0:14:11 > 0:14:14An antique or whatever you're buying should speak to you,

0:14:14 > 0:14:17and if you like the '60s then buy that.

0:14:18 > 0:14:20For me, it's the 17th century that speaks to me.

0:14:20 > 0:14:24And don't forget, the antiques market is international

0:14:24 > 0:14:28and great British names will attract worldwide attention.

0:14:28 > 0:14:33And always collect something you're passionate about - that way you'll never get bored.

0:14:33 > 0:14:37You can never have too much Royal Worcester. You should have more and more...and them some more!

0:14:43 > 0:14:46We British are a nation of porcelain lovers.

0:14:46 > 0:14:51We see more ceramics at our Flog It! valuation days than any other single category of antiques.

0:14:51 > 0:14:54And the great thing about porcelain is,

0:14:54 > 0:14:59normally all you need to know is right there in front of you, on the plate.

0:14:59 > 0:15:01Firstly, in its overall condition

0:15:01 > 0:15:06and, secondly, when you turn it over and look at the factory stamp marks or the potter's name.

0:15:06 > 0:15:09And with a little bit of information and a good guidebook,

0:15:09 > 0:15:14you can normally work out if what you have is of any value.

0:15:18 > 0:15:21James Lewis lives and works in Derbyshire,

0:15:21 > 0:15:24and it's so fitting that among the antiques

0:15:24 > 0:15:28he gets most excited about are pieces of this best British product.

0:15:31 > 0:15:35Derby has been famous for its porcelain from the mid-18th century,

0:15:35 > 0:15:39since the Dewsbury factory started work here.

0:15:39 > 0:15:43And it's been collected and treasured by Royal families,

0:15:43 > 0:15:47monarchs, collectors all over the world, for about 250 years.

0:15:47 > 0:15:51And for anybody who loves porcelain,

0:15:51 > 0:15:54this is just paradise.

0:15:54 > 0:16:01For me, it's England's finest factory and sometimes you get tingles.

0:16:01 > 0:16:05And, for me, they're coming all down the spine and all to the fingers.

0:16:05 > 0:16:11Over my 20 years as an auctioneer, I have handled thousands of pieces of Royal Crown Derby,

0:16:11 > 0:16:15but I've never really spent too much time thinking about the work that goes into it.

0:16:15 > 0:16:20But today, I have access to all areas of the factory.

0:16:20 > 0:16:24And rumour has it they're going to let me make a plate.

0:16:24 > 0:16:29- Tim, nice to see you. - Morning, James.- Hi.

0:16:29 > 0:16:30So, tell me, what's going on here?

0:16:30 > 0:16:35Here we're making one of your favourite plates, I believe, Marie Antoinette.

0:16:35 > 0:16:38What are you saying?

0:16:38 > 0:16:39THEY LAUGH

0:16:39 > 0:16:43- So where does it start from here? - Well, it's just a roll of clay,

0:16:43 > 0:16:47it's made in the smith house, comes out through a machine, like a giant sausage machine.

0:16:47 > 0:16:49- Yeah.- Comes out here and just cut in a roll.

0:16:49 > 0:16:52So how many of these do you make an hour?

0:16:52 > 0:16:55- You can make about 60 an hour. - And if you're working hard(?)

0:16:55 > 0:16:57THEY LAUGH

0:16:57 > 0:17:00- This is going to fall apart. - No, it won't.

0:17:00 > 0:17:01- You can do this.- I'll try.

0:17:01 > 0:17:03You can do this!

0:17:04 > 0:17:07Just place it in the middle of the mould.

0:17:07 > 0:17:10It'll be a miracle if it actually gets to the mould.

0:17:10 > 0:17:12You think you're making pizzas, don't you?

0:17:12 > 0:17:15HE LAUGHS

0:17:15 > 0:17:16Pull the gate down.

0:17:29 > 0:17:33You need to press. Foot on there. That releases it.

0:17:33 > 0:17:36It will come off. There you go.

0:17:36 > 0:17:40Yay! I can't believe that actually worked.

0:17:40 > 0:17:41It wasn't that hard, was it?

0:17:41 > 0:17:43Brilliant!

0:17:43 > 0:17:48- The famous 1128. Or Imari. - Yes, the Imari one.

0:17:48 > 0:17:53These are the patterns that Royal Crown Derby are most well-known for -

0:17:53 > 0:18:01the Imari. Called the Imari because of the influences from the Japanese port of Imari.

0:18:01 > 0:18:08And the port of Imari was exporting porcelain that was mainly red, green, blue and gold.

0:18:08 > 0:18:12Royal Crown Derby started these patterns around 1870

0:18:12 > 0:18:17and this market is still as buoyant today as it was in the 1870s.

0:18:24 > 0:18:25- Karen, hi.- Hi.

0:18:25 > 0:18:29- I've been told you're the queen of the fettlers.- I believe so.

0:18:29 > 0:18:32That sounds like something from The Hobbit.

0:18:32 > 0:18:33What is a fettler?

0:18:33 > 0:18:38A fettler is a person that cleans down a piece of work once it's made.

0:18:38 > 0:18:42Clean all the rough edges, any blemishes, any marks.

0:18:42 > 0:18:47Well, if you're working on one that I've just done, there'll be plenty of work to do.

0:18:47 > 0:18:50- Is this one that I made earlier? - One like you made earlier, yes.

0:18:50 > 0:18:55- It'll have gone round the drying process for a couple of hours. - OK. Right.

0:18:55 > 0:18:57We've cleaned the edge off with a knife.

0:18:57 > 0:19:00And then we'll use what we call a whirler...

0:19:00 > 0:19:05- just to hold the sponge against the edge. And that is dissolving... - The plate!

0:19:05 > 0:19:08Yes, it will dissolve the plate if you leave it on there long enough.

0:19:08 > 0:19:11Why couldn't I just have had a straight plate?

0:19:11 > 0:19:15- A lot easier.- Wouldn't have been so interesting for you.

0:19:15 > 0:19:20- There you go. The next one's yours. - I knew this was coming.

0:19:20 > 0:19:22That's it.

0:19:22 > 0:19:26That doesn't look like you were doing it at all.

0:19:26 > 0:19:30- That would be enough.- Are you sure? - Yeah. That's fine.

0:19:30 > 0:19:34You're just being kind. ..Excuse me, would this pass?

0:19:34 > 0:19:37- You'd pass that, wouldn't you?- Yeah.

0:19:40 > 0:19:43OK, now this is where I drop it.

0:19:45 > 0:19:49- Not too bad.- That looks fine.

0:19:49 > 0:19:51We can send that on its way now to be inspected.

0:19:51 > 0:19:54- And who inspects it? - Christine will inspect that.

0:19:54 > 0:20:00- Be kind!- I will. - Thanks very much. Thanks.

0:20:09 > 0:20:13- That's lovely.- Is that all right? - Yeah, it's OK. - Thank goodness for that.

0:20:21 > 0:20:24The last time I saw my plate, it was unfired clay.

0:20:24 > 0:20:27Since then, it's been fired, glazed, fired again,

0:20:27 > 0:20:30then the underglaze blue and fired again.

0:20:30 > 0:20:35And it's been decorated and gilded and fired again,

0:20:35 > 0:20:39but now it's ready for the final stage, my gilding.

0:20:46 > 0:20:48- Emma, hi.- Hello.

0:20:48 > 0:20:52Right. It's starting to look like the 1128 pattern that I recognise.

0:20:52 > 0:20:57- So you're filling in the white gaps. - Anything you see that's white,

0:20:57 > 0:21:01we will fill with 24-carat gold and then it will go off to be fired and burnished.

0:21:01 > 0:21:07- Right. Now, I was always told that the gilder's job was the most responsible one.- Yeah.

0:21:07 > 0:21:11If you make a mess, all the work that everybody else has done is ruined, isn't it?

0:21:11 > 0:21:14- No pressure(!)- No pressure. Right, great. Thanks very much.

0:21:14 > 0:21:18- Would you like to have a go? - Come on. Right, here goes.

0:21:20 > 0:21:23- Right.- Right.

0:21:23 > 0:21:25It's brown. Why does it look brown?

0:21:25 > 0:21:31Because all the oils and the chemicals that are in the gold,

0:21:31 > 0:21:36and then when it's fired, all of those come out. And that's why it goes into burnishing.

0:21:36 > 0:21:40- Everything that's left on the top gets burnished out and the gold's left underneath.- OK.

0:21:40 > 0:21:43- It's...- Ooh!- No, that's fine.

0:21:43 > 0:21:46If you need a cloth, we have one there.

0:21:46 > 0:21:48I'm going to need more than a cloth, I think!

0:21:48 > 0:21:51We're going to need a whole sink. So we get it quite close, do we?

0:21:51 > 0:21:54Yeah. Just take a little gold off your brush so you don't run.

0:21:54 > 0:21:57- That's it.- I haven't run in years.

0:21:57 > 0:22:00SHE GIGGLES

0:22:00 > 0:22:01Fantastic!

0:22:01 > 0:22:04I think you could get a job here if you wanted.

0:22:04 > 0:22:08You've got a very steady hand. I'm impressed.

0:22:08 > 0:22:10I've gone over here.

0:22:10 > 0:22:14Just put your brush down, pick up the cloth. That's it.

0:22:16 > 0:22:18That's it. And just wipe it off.

0:22:18 > 0:22:22- Fantastic!- I've still not done it.

0:22:22 > 0:22:25This is just not easy, is it? It really isn't.

0:22:25 > 0:22:28It's like anything else - practice makes perfect.

0:22:28 > 0:22:30It is.

0:22:30 > 0:22:34I've been doing this for 15 years now and I'm still learning every day.

0:22:34 > 0:22:40- It can be a lot of fun sometimes. It's a lovely job.- Very rewarding.

0:22:40 > 0:22:44It is. And if you've got an artistic nature,

0:22:44 > 0:22:47then it is a really fulfilling job.

0:22:47 > 0:22:49That's very good.

0:22:49 > 0:22:52Are you sure you don't want a job here?

0:22:52 > 0:22:55Do you know, I love Royal Crown Derby,

0:22:55 > 0:23:01and to see a factory employing real human beings,

0:23:01 > 0:23:04not doing everything by machine, is lovely.

0:23:04 > 0:23:10Yeah. And this will be a completely unique and individual piece.

0:23:10 > 0:23:12You're telling me!

0:23:12 > 0:23:13That's one word for it!

0:23:13 > 0:23:16Ah, no!

0:23:16 > 0:23:17The next stage is, it'll be fired,

0:23:17 > 0:23:21then it'll be moved on into burnishing where it'll be polished up

0:23:21 > 0:23:24and the end product will be what you see in the shop.

0:23:28 > 0:23:29Finished! Look at my plate!

0:23:29 > 0:23:33I'm so proud of it! OK, I didn't do all of it but I did some.

0:23:33 > 0:23:37I've sold these for years and years and I always appreciated them,

0:23:37 > 0:23:40but I appreciate them even more

0:23:40 > 0:23:42now I know how much work goes into them.

0:23:42 > 0:23:46One thing is for sure, I am not going to give up the day job,

0:23:46 > 0:23:49I'm going back to auctioneering.

0:23:51 > 0:23:53And the great thing about Royal Crown Derby

0:23:53 > 0:23:55is it's still out there to be collected.

0:23:55 > 0:23:58And if you can find an Imari piece from around 1870,

0:23:58 > 0:24:00it could be worth several thousand pounds.

0:24:02 > 0:24:05James Lewis may have lost his heart to those wonderful ceramics,

0:24:05 > 0:24:11but for David Fletcher, his passion lies with another great British icon.

0:24:11 > 0:24:14It's a car mascot...

0:24:14 > 0:24:18modelled as a cartoon character called Old Bill,

0:24:18 > 0:24:22created by a man called Bruce Bairnsfather.

0:24:22 > 0:24:28And this is a model of Old Bill, a bust of Old Bill made in bronze.

0:24:28 > 0:24:31The helmet's actually signed Bruce Bairnsfather.

0:24:31 > 0:24:33He was a Tommy, a British soldier

0:24:33 > 0:24:36who got up to all sorts of escapades

0:24:36 > 0:24:39and found himself in pretty grisly situations,

0:24:39 > 0:24:44as you might expect any poor soldier in the First World War to experience.

0:24:44 > 0:24:50And people used to decorate their car radiators with objects like this.

0:24:50 > 0:24:52They would affix them to the radiator cap.

0:24:52 > 0:24:59I would save this because... it belonged to my dad.

0:24:59 > 0:25:04So for purely personal, sentimental reasons, really,

0:25:04 > 0:25:08he collected anything to do with Old Bill.

0:25:08 > 0:25:13And when he died, we sold his collection with the exception of this particular piece.

0:25:13 > 0:25:19And did you know that the police are referred to as the Old Bill

0:25:19 > 0:25:24because in the early 1920s they used to have moustaches like this?

0:25:28 > 0:25:33I've often wondered what some of our successful owners have done with the money in the past.

0:25:33 > 0:25:37You probably have as well. So we've caught up with a few of them.

0:25:40 > 0:25:43Anne came along to our Cheshire valuation day in 2010

0:25:43 > 0:25:48and brought a rather unusual brooch, which caught David Fletcher's eye.

0:25:48 > 0:25:49Tell me a bit about it.

0:25:49 > 0:25:53It was given to me on my wedding day 29 years ago

0:25:53 > 0:25:55by my late husband

0:25:55 > 0:25:59and I wore it at our wedding reception and during our honeymoon.

0:25:59 > 0:26:02- I bet your eyes popped out, didn't they?- Mm-hm.

0:26:02 > 0:26:06Your loss is our gain, as they say.

0:26:06 > 0:26:10I went with an open mind. I had no idea what value it was.

0:26:10 > 0:26:13- It splits apart. Do you want me to show you?- Yeah, you show me, please.

0:26:13 > 0:26:17OK, so you're taking it out of it's case - fantastic.

0:26:17 > 0:26:21And you're left with two... or at least a pair of clips.

0:26:21 > 0:26:23So, really, whoever buys this is getting three

0:26:23 > 0:26:27pieces of jewellery for the price of one.

0:26:27 > 0:26:29Fantastic.

0:26:29 > 0:26:30But why do you want to sell it?

0:26:30 > 0:26:33- We've got alpacas...- Alpacas!- Yeah.

0:26:33 > 0:26:36And we want to buy some land to keep them on.

0:26:36 > 0:26:37We've got eight.

0:26:37 > 0:26:40Scarlett, Honeysuckle, Buttercup,

0:26:40 > 0:26:45Noah, Jacob, Monty, Daisy

0:26:45 > 0:26:48and Olympia Rose, who was born during the Olympics.

0:26:48 > 0:26:53OK. But I'm not sure how much land an alpaca uses,

0:26:53 > 0:26:57but I think this will make between £1,000 and £1,500.

0:27:02 > 0:27:05It's a sparkler. I do love it, I must admit.

0:27:05 > 0:27:07It's going under the hammer now.

0:27:07 > 0:27:09585. Give me 800.

0:27:09 > 0:27:14800 on the phone. At £800, I'll take 20. 820, 840.

0:27:14 > 0:27:18It was a bit slow to start and I thought it wasn't going to sell.

0:27:18 > 0:27:19And 50. 1,100.

0:27:19 > 0:27:21Sold!

0:27:21 > 0:27:241,200 and 50.

0:27:24 > 0:27:271,300. 1,300 on the phone. And 50 in a new place.

0:27:27 > 0:27:31But then all the bidders started and I was very pleased with what I got.

0:27:31 > 0:27:341,350, now in the room with 1,350.

0:27:34 > 0:27:35Thank you, sir.

0:27:35 > 0:27:38- Yes! Yes, £1,350!- Yeah.

0:27:38 > 0:27:42- And have you got your eye on some land already?- Not yet.

0:27:42 > 0:27:45We want to really get enough money together to get enough land for

0:27:45 > 0:27:47when the herd grows.

0:27:47 > 0:27:50So that's a great start for the fund.

0:27:50 > 0:27:54But since then, her empire has expanded in a slightly different direction -

0:27:54 > 0:27:56a new business.

0:27:56 > 0:27:58I've just opened, and I'm really excited about it.

0:27:58 > 0:28:00I'm like a child in a sweet shop.

0:28:00 > 0:28:02I love craft things.

0:28:02 > 0:28:04Meanwhile, Honeysuckle, Noah

0:28:04 > 0:28:07and the gang remain in their rented accommodation.

0:28:07 > 0:28:11But don't worry - they're still very much part of the plan.

0:28:11 > 0:28:14This is a picture of two of our alpacas - Honeysuckle and Buttercup.

0:28:14 > 0:28:17And this is the alpaca wool.

0:28:17 > 0:28:21I can't wait to get our own alpaca wool onto these shelves!

0:28:21 > 0:28:29'So it just goes to show, you can turn your unwanted antiques into almost anything.'

0:28:29 > 0:28:30Well, that's it for today's show

0:28:30 > 0:28:33and I hope we've given you some food for thought.

0:28:33 > 0:28:36Join me again soon for more inside information and surprising sales.

0:28:36 > 0:28:39But until then, it's goodbye.

0:29:03 > 0:29:06Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd