0:00:06 > 0:00:07Over the years on Flog It!
0:00:07 > 0:00:11you've brought us thousands of items and we've valued and helped you sell
0:00:11 > 0:00:14around £1 million worth of antiques and collectables,
0:00:14 > 0:00:18so it comes as no surprise that we can give you the inside track
0:00:18 > 0:00:20on buying and selling antiques.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22Welcome to Trade Secrets.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53On today's programme, we'll be showing you how to spot
0:00:53 > 0:00:56the best of glorious Georgian.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59Georgian design has stood the test of time to become classic.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02There were four King Georges on the throne,
0:01:02 > 0:01:05reigning from 1714 to 1830,
0:01:05 > 0:01:09and each king has brought along subtle changes of style.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12Coming up, our experts show you
0:01:12 > 0:01:16what antiques offer the best Georgian buyability.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19You can furnish your home with Georgian furniture cheaper
0:01:19 > 0:01:23than you can by buying it retail and screwing it together yourself.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27And we teach you how to spot a neoclassical treasure.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32This is an extremely elegant figure.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35When you look at the detail, the hair, wonderful.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38You've got this distinctive sort of Greek key pattern.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41It's part and parcel of the neoclassical movement.
0:01:41 > 0:01:46And our experts find rare items that get their hearts racing...
0:01:46 > 0:01:47These are fabulous.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50..and make some amazing prices.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59We're looking at all kinds of Georgian items.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01So, what other tips can our experts give us
0:02:01 > 0:02:04about buying the best of Georgian?
0:02:05 > 0:02:07By definition, I think,
0:02:07 > 0:02:09anything that has survived from the Georgian period
0:02:09 > 0:02:13is going to be collectable, because there is less of it about.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16You can buy a pair of beautiful bright cut sugar tongs.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20You can buy a lovely individual potted Worcester tea bowl.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24It just is the most wonderful time in antique history.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30The 18th century witnessed the first Industrial Revolution,
0:02:30 > 0:02:33when modern manufacturing got under way.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37It was a time of innovation and experimentation,
0:02:37 > 0:02:40and that's very much reflected in the items
0:02:40 > 0:02:42that were made during that period.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46Here are some of the most interesting pieces
0:02:46 > 0:02:47our experts have found.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52In 2008, Charlie was lucky enough
0:02:52 > 0:02:54to find some intriguing magic lantern slides
0:02:54 > 0:02:57which brought the era into sharp relief.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01These are fabulous.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05They're magic lantern slides, but they're early 19th-century.
0:03:05 > 0:03:10Most of the ones we see are 1880, 1890,
0:03:10 > 0:03:14and I think you can put these back another 50 years,
0:03:14 > 0:03:16nearer 1800 than 1900.
0:03:16 > 0:03:21To find any slide that is hand-painted
0:03:21 > 0:03:24as opposed to transfer printed
0:03:24 > 0:03:25adds to its value hugely.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28I've pulled out three examples.
0:03:30 > 0:03:35- One of which is mechanical - and I'm sure you've seen this.- Yes.
0:03:35 > 0:03:40Wind the handle and it gives the most wonderful patterns.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46And here, we've got a boxing fight.
0:03:46 > 0:03:47Quite...
0:03:47 > 0:03:49THEY LAUGH
0:03:49 > 0:03:54Anything that moves, and even a kaleidoscopic one that forms
0:03:54 > 0:03:57different colours and shapes, adds to the value hugely,
0:03:57 > 0:03:59because they're rarer.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02The trouble is the arms are fixed at an angle to the body,
0:04:02 > 0:04:05so it's actually quite difficult to land a blow.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07Uh...
0:04:07 > 0:04:08Whether, of course,
0:04:08 > 0:04:11it looks better when you've got a light shining through,
0:04:11 > 0:04:15if it's projected onto the wall and they become life-size,
0:04:15 > 0:04:17then I should think it becomes a lot more fun.
0:04:17 > 0:04:23- Yeah.- And another one we've pulled out here are some caricatures.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27Now, the thing about these early magic lantern slides,
0:04:27 > 0:04:30these are hand-painted, and you can feel,
0:04:30 > 0:04:34if you run your hand along the back, the texture of the paint
0:04:34 > 0:04:38on the back of the glass, and then smooth the other side.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41As I've said, unfortunately, we've got some bad-condition ones there.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45And that, of course, happens more with the hand-painted ones
0:04:45 > 0:04:47than the transfer-printed ones.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49Condition is very important, and certainly,
0:04:49 > 0:04:54if you have a hand-painted slide and the paintwork is chipping off,
0:04:54 > 0:04:56the image will be spoilt.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59Condition, condition, condition - hugely important.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03I think if you collectively put the whole lot together,
0:05:03 > 0:05:06you're looking at £100 to £200's worth,
0:05:06 > 0:05:08which is not bad for pulling it out of the loft,
0:05:08 > 0:05:10if you're happy with that - would that be satisfactory?
0:05:10 > 0:05:12Yeah, yeah.
0:05:12 > 0:05:13I think, like anything,
0:05:13 > 0:05:17if you can see something the like of which you have never seen before,
0:05:17 > 0:05:19it's going to be more valuable.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21If somebody's looking at something, saying,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24"I've got one of those, he's got one of those"...
0:05:24 > 0:05:26If you find something truly quirky
0:05:26 > 0:05:29and you haven't seen it before, how do you put a value on it?
0:05:29 > 0:05:32So what value did the buyers put on the rare Georgian slides,
0:05:32 > 0:05:33being sold in a lot
0:05:33 > 0:05:36along with a microscope?
0:05:36 > 0:05:39170. 180. 190. 200.
0:05:39 > 0:05:40And 20. 240...
0:05:40 > 0:05:45- What? Ooh!- We must have missed something, Charlie.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47£340 here.
0:05:47 > 0:05:48Quite sure? At 340.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54- £340.- Proper job.- Proper job! That's what they say.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57- That's a fantastic result, isn't it?- It is.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59You'd have settled for the 100 quid, really, wouldn't you?
0:05:59 > 0:06:03- Well, yes.- 80 quid discretion. - I wouldn't have minded 80!
0:06:03 > 0:06:07£340 for those beautiful slides - fantastic!
0:06:09 > 0:06:11To look for that early hand paintwork,
0:06:11 > 0:06:15run your hand gently along the slide to feel for ridges,
0:06:15 > 0:06:17and don't forget, you really want to find them
0:06:17 > 0:06:20with little damage to get the best value.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22Although somebody obviously fell in love
0:06:22 > 0:06:25with these slightly damaged slides.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28The Georgians really loved their playthings, and in 2009,
0:06:28 > 0:06:33Adam came across an item that may be described as an early desk toy.
0:06:35 > 0:06:36The Georgian brass cannon -
0:06:36 > 0:06:39it's a boys' toy for the desk, really.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41And of course, in Georgian times,
0:06:41 > 0:06:44we've got Nelson and all the great battles, haven't we?
0:06:44 > 0:06:49So, a cannon was a real good object for a gentleman to have on his desk.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53- I got this one from a charity shop. - Did you? How long ago?
0:06:53 > 0:06:56- About 18 months.- 18 months.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00- How expensive was it? - £1.90.- £1.90?- Yes.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02Yeah - and now you're selling it.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04It appears to be a Georgian cannon.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06It's a very nice piece of brassware, isn't it?
0:07:06 > 0:07:08A good piece of workmanship
0:07:08 > 0:07:11and as you say, you've got the George III cipher there.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14There was a lot of brassware made, from coal buckets to fire irons
0:07:14 > 0:07:19to ornaments, so brassware was quite prolifically seen in Georgian times.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21- Any idea what it's worth? - Not really.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25Well, I'd estimate that at £30 to £50 at auction,
0:07:25 > 0:07:28and I think it'll probably make that, perhaps a little more.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30It's a miniature example.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33The big ones on the big cast iron stands can make hundreds of pounds,
0:07:33 > 0:07:35even sometimes thousands of pounds.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37There's quite a cross-over of collectors
0:07:37 > 0:07:39that may be bidding on that cannon,
0:07:39 > 0:07:43but I think the main ones would be the military gents
0:07:43 > 0:07:46and things like that that would probably want
0:07:46 > 0:07:47to own a desktop cannon.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50I can't see many ladies bidding on it -
0:07:50 > 0:07:52and I'm not sexist in any way - but I think most of the viewers
0:07:52 > 0:07:55watching will think, "That's going to be a blokey item, really."
0:07:55 > 0:07:59Well, Adam, there were some men - or women - out there at the auction,
0:07:59 > 0:08:02willing to pay for their very own Georgian cannon.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04At 35, 40 upstairs.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07Five, 50, five, 60, five.
0:08:07 > 0:08:0970, five...
0:08:09 > 0:08:12At £70 in the gallery. Your bid, sir, at £70.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14For the lot...now 75.
0:08:14 > 0:08:1780, five, 90, five.
0:08:17 > 0:08:23At £90, still in the gallery, at £90 - are we all done at £90?
0:08:23 > 0:08:26Yes! £90.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29That's fantastic. Quality always sells.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32Not bad, for something that cost £1.90p.
0:08:32 > 0:08:38The brass cannon, 200 years old or so, only estimated at £30 to £50,
0:08:38 > 0:08:39seems great value.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43On the day, it made £90, which was a pretty strong price,
0:08:43 > 0:08:46but have a think - where else can you find something charming,
0:08:46 > 0:08:49handmade like that for just under 100 quid?
0:08:49 > 0:08:52Small Georgian playthings may appear modest,
0:08:52 > 0:08:56but can have a really avid following, so keep your eyes peeled.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59You could turn a huge profit, like David.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05The Georgians were great craftsmen, especially when it came to silver,
0:09:05 > 0:09:08and some names have really stood the test of time,
0:09:08 > 0:09:11as Michael demonstrated with these wine labels.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15- "B" for brandy, "G" for gin and "R" for rum.- Yeah.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18These are fully marked for Birmingham,
0:09:18 > 0:09:20and with Birmingham wine labels at this period,
0:09:20 > 0:09:23you always get a full set of assay marks.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26Birmingham has had a long association with silver,
0:09:26 > 0:09:29and even today, the Birmingham Assay Office is, I think,
0:09:29 > 0:09:32the one assay office in the country
0:09:32 > 0:09:34that marks the most silver.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37- In this case, the "JW" is for Joseph Willmore...- Yeah.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39..who made all sorts of small work.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42He made boxes, caddy spoons,
0:09:42 > 0:09:45all manner of things will bear his mark.
0:09:45 > 0:09:50He was quite a large firm, and we've got the date letter for 1707-1708.
0:09:50 > 0:09:51Yeah.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53You'll find a lot of wine labels by him,
0:09:53 > 0:09:58a lot of boxes - snuff boxes, vinaigrettes, card cases -
0:09:58 > 0:10:01and bizarre things - toothbrushes and tongue scrapers -
0:10:01 > 0:10:02if you look hard enough.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04They're a pair.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07Then we get this one, and you said you had trouble identifying this.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11Because there's no town mark, I couldn't work out the date letter.
0:10:11 > 0:10:16Small articles at this time don't necessarily bear the town mark,
0:10:16 > 0:10:19and you get stub marking. The maker is "JS".
0:10:19 > 0:10:24There are a couple of makers - it's probably Josiah Snatt,
0:10:24 > 0:10:26who was also a caddy spoon maker.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29- And that's for London, 1812. - Oh, right.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32So...yeah, that really confirms what I thought,
0:10:32 > 0:10:35that maybe that one had been made up to go with the other two.
0:10:35 > 0:10:36Well, this is it, you see,
0:10:36 > 0:10:39because even though these were made in Birmingham
0:10:39 > 0:10:41and this was made 100 miles away in London,
0:10:41 > 0:10:44it's still got exactly the same script.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47- Yes.- So someone has obviously bought these
0:10:47 > 0:10:50and, four or five years later, commissioned that.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54Sometimes, people like Snatt made pieces for other goldsmiths
0:10:54 > 0:10:58that required them and they over-stamped their mark on theirs.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01So if you see something and you think, "Oh, that's by Snatt",
0:11:01 > 0:11:05and it's another silversmith's mark, if you look very hard, you might
0:11:05 > 0:11:09just be able to see the original silversmith's mark underneath that.
0:11:09 > 0:11:14- I think we should put them into auction for £70 to £100.- Yes, yes.
0:11:14 > 0:11:15We'll pop them in for auction.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18- Thank you so much for bringing them in.- Excellent.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22Did anyone want to take home some fine silversmithing
0:11:22 > 0:11:24by one of the era's most valued makers?
0:11:26 > 0:11:2880, 90, 100.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32Bid's still with me. At £90. Give me 100.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36- Oh, come on... - Make no mistake, all done at £90.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40- £90.- £30 each. - That's not bad, is it?
0:11:40 > 0:11:42There is an argument that sometimes,
0:11:42 > 0:11:46if you've got a very domestic form of an object,
0:11:46 > 0:11:50at the lower end in a collectable area that is quite rare or niche,
0:11:50 > 0:11:54like wine labels, don't necessarily put them into a wine-label sale,
0:11:54 > 0:11:56because they'll be the worst lot there.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00Take them out and put them into a general auction
0:12:00 > 0:12:02and then they're the only wine labels in that sale
0:12:02 > 0:12:05and they might attract a little more interest.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08So it's a delicate balance to judge right.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11If you think you've got a Josiah Snatt piece,
0:12:11 > 0:12:14but it's got another silversmith's mark on it,
0:12:14 > 0:12:19take a closer look - if you can see the "JS" mark has been over-stamped,
0:12:19 > 0:12:23you might well be sitting on a sought-after Josiah Snatt.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Every now and then, something comes along
0:12:27 > 0:12:29which really conjures up the Georgians.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32Claire Rawle came across a stunning spectacle collection
0:12:32 > 0:12:35rarely seen on Flog It!
0:12:35 > 0:12:39Spectacles, as we know them, as we recognise them today,
0:12:39 > 0:12:40really came to the forefront
0:12:40 > 0:12:42in the Georgian era.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44So we've got different types here.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48The earliest ones are these wig spectacles. They date...
0:12:48 > 0:12:51Well, they will go back to the Georgian times, early 19th century.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53I mean, obviously,
0:12:53 > 0:12:57only very wealthy people could afford to have glasses and lenses.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00So these were really made in the days when people wore wigs.
0:13:00 > 0:13:05Georgian spectacles are of the very traditional, round-framed sort.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09But they also had a very pronounced "C" that went over the nose.
0:13:09 > 0:13:10They had straight arms,
0:13:10 > 0:13:13which literally went straight through the wig,
0:13:13 > 0:13:16not round the back of the ear, because they couldn't get at that.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19So, those tend to be the more traditional Georgian style.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23You have a little ribbon going through the loop.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25That would sort of hang round your neck
0:13:25 > 0:13:27and then you sort of put it up and put it on -
0:13:27 > 0:13:29very attractive, isn't it?
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Then we come on to different types here.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36These are known are lorgnettes and they're rather fun.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40George Adams designed the lorgnette,
0:13:40 > 0:13:44which is the spectacle you hold up to your eyes on a bar,
0:13:44 > 0:13:46which we probably associate more with the Victorian era,
0:13:46 > 0:13:48but it was a Georgian innovation.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51I always have this image of grand ladies,
0:13:51 > 0:13:56who would sort of pick it up and sort of peer at you
0:13:56 > 0:13:58in a rather imperious way.
0:13:58 > 0:14:00These tended to be quite decorative -
0:14:00 > 0:14:02there's a little pair at the top here, in gilt metal.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05Really pretty, but obviously not for you.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09No - so, it's time to move them on. They are quite saleable.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11My feeling is probably about £80 to £120.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15And the bulk of the value is going to be in the decorative lorgnette
0:14:15 > 0:14:17and the earlier spectacles.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19So if we work on a sale estimate of £80 to £120,
0:14:19 > 0:14:23and I'd suggest a reserve of £70.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27What did the buyers think of this unique collection
0:14:27 > 0:14:28that captured a little touch of the era?
0:14:30 > 0:14:34We can open at...£130.
0:14:34 > 0:14:35- Oh!- Straight in. Look at that!
0:14:35 > 0:14:37Ooh!
0:14:37 > 0:14:38140, 150, 160.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41150 on a commission. 160 anywhere else?
0:14:41 > 0:14:44At £150 for all the spectacles, £150 it shall be.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46160 anywhere else?
0:14:46 > 0:14:47At £150, then...
0:14:47 > 0:14:50£150. That's good, that's a great result.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54- Straight in, good top-end result, £150.- Yeah, pleased with that.
0:14:54 > 0:14:59Items that show social history, if you like - how people lived,
0:14:59 > 0:15:02what they did with their lives - I think will always sell well.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04Not necessarily for a fortune,
0:15:04 > 0:15:08but there will always be an interest in how people have lived
0:15:08 > 0:15:13their lives previously and something that's intrinsically shows that.
0:15:13 > 0:15:18So, keep your eyes peeled for the telltale C-shape to identify a pair
0:15:18 > 0:15:23of Georgian specs, and you could be looking into the past yourself.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25So what have we learnt about collecting
0:15:25 > 0:15:28from the glorious Georgian era?
0:15:28 > 0:15:31Georgian items which encapsulate the times are highly prized
0:15:31 > 0:15:33and could fetch you a good profit,
0:15:33 > 0:15:36so look out for the curious and the unusual.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40And if you're lucky enough to come across magic lantern slides,
0:15:40 > 0:15:43remember - the ones that move are the rarer
0:15:43 > 0:15:45and therefore more valuable.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49Georgians love their silver, so you have a huge range of items
0:15:49 > 0:15:52to look out for, from terrines to tankards.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54Examine the hallmarks,
0:15:54 > 0:15:57which will tell you whether you have a Georgian piece
0:15:57 > 0:16:01and if you have silver by one of the good makers.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03But if you want something fun and affordable,
0:16:03 > 0:16:06look for the small objects made of brass -
0:16:06 > 0:16:09there are plenty of those about and they won't hurt your pocket.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22If you had to choose one precious thing
0:16:22 > 0:16:25from among all your possessions, what would that be?
0:16:25 > 0:16:29I put that question to Flog It! expert, Caroline Hawley.
0:16:29 > 0:16:35My Georgian bureau, complete with its wonderful mahogany veneers,
0:16:35 > 0:16:38its string inlay, its coloured boxwoods,
0:16:38 > 0:16:43its Prince of Wales feathers, its splayed French bracket feet,
0:16:43 > 0:16:44it's gorgeous.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47I absolutely love it.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51It's classically Georgian quality and I adore it.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57You can furnish your home with Georgian furniture
0:16:57 > 0:16:59cheaper than you can by buying it retail
0:16:59 > 0:17:01and screwing it together yourself.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04And if you've got a brain, that's what you'll be doing.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11One of the words our experts like to bandy about on Flog It!
0:17:11 > 0:17:15when talking about Georgian objects is neoclassicism.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18The late David Barby was no exception.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22I love the period, which is the late Georgian period.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25All this is very much of the style prevalent in that period,
0:17:25 > 0:17:27which was neoclassicism.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31But what does it really mean? And how can we identify it?
0:17:32 > 0:17:35From the 1750s in Europe,
0:17:35 > 0:17:38archaeologists were starting to make some major discoveries
0:17:38 > 0:17:40about the ancient world.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43Quickly, young men of means from Britain
0:17:43 > 0:17:46embarked on what became known as the Grand Tour,
0:17:46 > 0:17:49in which they visited Greek and Roman ruins,
0:17:49 > 0:17:53observing first-hand the skills of the ancient designers.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55They brought these ideas back here
0:17:55 > 0:18:00and they were soon incorporated into new architectural designs,
0:18:00 > 0:18:02known as neoclassicism,
0:18:02 > 0:18:06although the term wasn't coined for another 100 years.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08They great homes of Britain were festooned
0:18:08 > 0:18:11with ancient Greek and Roman-style columns,
0:18:11 > 0:18:13symmetrical fronts and cornices.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15But it didn't end there.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18Names we know today, like Chippendale and Wedgwood,
0:18:18 > 0:18:20also took on these new designs,
0:18:20 > 0:18:25making furniture and ceramics which were light and elegant.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28For any of you interested in collecting items
0:18:28 > 0:18:30with a neoclassic twist, like that teapot,
0:18:30 > 0:18:33the main characteristics are easy to spot,
0:18:33 > 0:18:36like on this Grecian-shaped vase,
0:18:36 > 0:18:38the ultimate symbol of the classical world.
0:18:38 > 0:18:43Look out for swags and festoons, beading and strange creatures
0:18:43 > 0:18:47and classical figures, like this Meissen piece.
0:18:48 > 0:18:52This is an extremely elegant figure.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55When you look at the detail, the hair...wonderful.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58You've got this distinctive sort of Greek key pattern.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01It's part and parcel of the neoclassical movement.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04A neoclassic piece by one of the masters like Royal Worcester
0:19:04 > 0:19:08recently sold at auction for a record £12,000.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11But also look out for the Georgian-inspired classics
0:19:11 > 0:19:13by Wedgwood and Royal Derby.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16So good luck recognising a neoclassical item
0:19:16 > 0:19:18and holding it in your hands -
0:19:18 > 0:19:23a small Georgian piece inspired by the ancient classical world.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30On the show, we've looked at the items Georgian people
0:19:30 > 0:19:34used in high society to indulge their passions.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37But I've always wanted to know what life was really like
0:19:37 > 0:19:39for these upper classes.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42There's one Georgian figure whose story gives us a fascinating glimpse
0:19:42 > 0:19:45into the past, and I was lucky enough
0:19:45 > 0:19:47to visit her home of Chatsworth House.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51She, of course, was Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54The south sketch gallery of the house was full of artefacts
0:19:54 > 0:19:57that Georgiana bought or collected herself -
0:19:57 > 0:19:59in fact, it's dedicated to her.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01She was a celebrated beauty, a socialite,
0:20:01 > 0:20:03and famous for her wonderful sense of style
0:20:03 > 0:20:07and political campaigning, but perhaps, more infamously,
0:20:07 > 0:20:11for her love of gambling and her rather unusual marital arrangements.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16In 1774, on her 17th birthday,
0:20:16 > 0:20:20Georgiana married William Cavendish, who was the fifth Duke of Devonshire
0:20:20 > 0:20:22and one of the richest men in the country.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27The marriage was an unhappy one.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31For many years, Georgiana was unable to produce a male heir,
0:20:31 > 0:20:35and after introducing William to her best friend, Lady Elizabeth Foster,
0:20:35 > 0:20:40she spent the rest of her life as part of an infamous menage a trois.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50And here are the paintings of the two women and the Duke.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52This is Georgiana, and she's absolutely stunning.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55It was painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds in the 18th century.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58This is her best friend Elizabeth - also known as Bess -
0:20:58 > 0:21:00again, painted by Reynolds.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03And here's the Duke, in the middle, looking rather proud and smug
0:21:03 > 0:21:07and pleased with himself - so he should, really, shouldn't he?
0:21:07 > 0:21:10They all lived here in the house, and both gave birth to his children.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14In fact, the Duke also had a child by a maid who worked at the house.
0:21:14 > 0:21:19But finally, Georgiana gave birth to the long-awaited Cavendish heir.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21And this three-sided relationship continued,
0:21:21 > 0:21:23right up to Georgiana's death,
0:21:23 > 0:21:26and then the Duke married her best friend, Bess.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32Georgiana's personal situation became even more complicated
0:21:32 > 0:21:35during her unhappy marriage when she fell in love
0:21:35 > 0:21:37with the second Earl Grey and became pregnant.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41We've been given special access to a fascinating letter from this time.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49The Duke found out and he exiled her to France, hoping, maybe,
0:21:49 > 0:21:51that not many people would find out.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54Now, childbirth was risky at this particular time,
0:21:54 > 0:21:55for mother and for child.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57The survival rate was quite low.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00So Georgiana wrote this letter so her son could read this
0:22:00 > 0:22:02when he was old enough.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05This letter was written in her own blood,
0:22:05 > 0:22:07and this explains why she did this.
0:22:07 > 0:22:11I know it sounds dramatic, but this was Georgiana. Just listen to this.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14"My dear little boy,
0:22:14 > 0:22:17"as soon as you are old enough to understand this letter,
0:22:17 > 0:22:18"it will be given to you.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21"It contains the only present I can make you -
0:22:21 > 0:22:23"my blessing, written with my blood."
0:22:26 > 0:22:27Incredible.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31"God bless you, my child.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34"Your poor mother, G. Devonshire."
0:22:35 > 0:22:37It's so sad, isn't it?
0:22:37 > 0:22:40And as you can see, look...the blood is fading.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44The more she's writing, the more it's fading.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48It is very melodramatic, but that's Georgiana.
0:22:53 > 0:22:54Because she loved gambling -
0:22:54 > 0:22:56in fact, she was really addicted to it -
0:22:56 > 0:22:57she was in debt all her life.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01Here's a summary of some of the gambling debts.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04The gambling debts amount to around £61,859.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07Now, that's a lot of money back then.
0:23:07 > 0:23:13Today, that's equivalent to earnings of, say, £40 million.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16Now, they do say you can win some, you can lose some.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18But I think she was losing all the time.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20Wasn't very good at cards.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23She was living on a knife edge, wasn't she?
0:23:23 > 0:23:26And obviously here, look - there's a list of all the people working
0:23:26 > 0:23:30on the estate, tradesmen and people like that, that haven't been paid.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34There's £183, which was a great deal of money.
0:23:34 > 0:23:38It took her family decades to pay these debts off after her death.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42Georgiana was definitely melodramatic
0:23:42 > 0:23:43and terrible with money.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46But let's not forget she was a political campaigner,
0:23:46 > 0:23:49arbiter of fashion and taste,
0:23:49 > 0:23:51and one of the most influential women of the day.
0:23:52 > 0:23:56When Georgiana walked into a room, everyone stopped and stared.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58She had the most wonderful, alluring presence,
0:23:58 > 0:24:01and as we've just seen from her letters, she was a loving mother.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05But the time she lived in saw her bound by convention.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08But what a fascinating story. I'd love to have met her.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15Another thing that tells us a lot about the people,
0:24:15 > 0:24:17like the Duke and Duchess,
0:24:17 > 0:24:20were the vinaigrettes and the perfume bottles they had made.
0:24:20 > 0:24:21We see lots of them on Flog It!
0:24:21 > 0:24:25They soaked these beautiful vinaigrettes with perfume
0:24:25 > 0:24:28and inhaled to erase the nasty aromas of the Georgian streets.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31Chris, this little gem that you've brought along...
0:24:31 > 0:24:34Chris brought Michael an exquisite perfume bottle
0:24:34 > 0:24:36inlaid with tortoiseshell.
0:24:36 > 0:24:41Tortoiseshell, to the Georgians, was our plastic.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43It was the one material they had
0:24:43 > 0:24:46that, when it was subjected to heat, they could mould and form.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50The joy of this thing is really the outside of the case.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53If we have a look here, it's tortoiseshell,
0:24:53 > 0:24:55which is actually turtle shell.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58Tortoiseshell is extremely sought-after,
0:24:58 > 0:25:01because it is a beautiful natural material
0:25:01 > 0:25:02with a tremendous lustre,
0:25:02 > 0:25:05especially when it's mounted with silver.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07So they'd pierce all of this out,
0:25:07 > 0:25:09and then you'd inlay all this silver work,
0:25:09 > 0:25:11and then it's been bright cut afterwards.
0:25:11 > 0:25:15So you've got swags and festoons, but there's a surprise
0:25:15 > 0:25:16when we open it,
0:25:16 > 0:25:20because I have seen many, many of these little cases,
0:25:20 > 0:25:24and they don't have their bottles in.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27If they do, they don't have their stoppers or they're cracked.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31Now, as far as I can see, that's all original.
0:25:31 > 0:25:3599 times out of 100, the interior glass bottle is gone,
0:25:35 > 0:25:37and you're just left with the case.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39So to find the bottle is good.
0:25:39 > 0:25:43To find the bottle with its stopper in perfect condition is...
0:25:43 > 0:25:45As I say, one in a hundred will have it.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47So it's great.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50That's a little 18th-century cut-glass scent bottle
0:25:50 > 0:25:53that has survived in its original case.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57If you pop it back in here, it's not the tightest fit in the world.
0:25:57 > 0:25:58- These were made for travelling.- Yes.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01As you're going in coaches or along the street,
0:26:01 > 0:26:03it's protected in this little box.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06So again, this usually takes a few knocks and damages.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10I've given the game away, really, with the date of it.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12It is a little 18th-century piece
0:26:12 > 0:26:17- and it could date anywhere from 1785, 1790...- Gosh, that old?
0:26:17 > 0:26:20- ..up to about 1810.- Really?
0:26:20 > 0:26:22They made a lot of these in Birmingham -
0:26:22 > 0:26:25workers produced these in quite large numbers.
0:26:25 > 0:26:30- Any ideas what it's worth, then? - Haven't a clue.- Yeah.- Not a cue.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32I think, with its original bottle,
0:26:32 > 0:26:35and because it's in relatively nice condition,
0:26:35 > 0:26:40- we should put it into auction with maybe £100 to £150 on it.- Really?
0:26:40 > 0:26:44Fixed reserve for £100, and I could see two or three people fighting
0:26:44 > 0:26:48for that, cos it's a good old proper antique, which I love to see.
0:26:48 > 0:26:54Buying or selling any tortoiseshell object which was worked after 1947
0:26:54 > 0:26:59is illegal, so check your piece was created before that date.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02Quite rightly, nobody trades in modern tortoiseshell,
0:27:02 > 0:27:06the turtles are protected and you wouldn't want to do that.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09At the time, there were an abundance of turtles,
0:27:09 > 0:27:14so it was a natural resource which, sadly, into the 19th century
0:27:14 > 0:27:16was over-exploited and now it's protected.
0:27:16 > 0:27:20Interest here. A number of commissioned bids.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23180, 190, 200, 210 is bid.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26Commission bid of 210 - 220, will you?
0:27:26 > 0:27:29It's with me - 220. 230. 240.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33The book is out with you, sir, at £240.
0:27:33 > 0:27:3450, will you?
0:27:34 > 0:27:39Book's out, it's in the room, and we're selling at £240.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41I wish they could all be as easy as that!
0:27:41 > 0:27:43- It was marvellous, wasn't it?- Phew!
0:27:43 > 0:27:46And if you find an item made of tortoiseshell,
0:27:46 > 0:27:49make sure you know how to take care of it.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51Don't put it in direct sunlight,
0:27:51 > 0:27:53don't put it in a very dry atmosphere,
0:27:53 > 0:27:55and every so often,
0:27:55 > 0:27:58get a little neutral oil, something like almond oil,
0:27:58 > 0:28:01just pop it on your hands so your hands are greasy and just rub
0:28:01 > 0:28:06the object over, and that will absorb as much oil as it needs.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09Leave it for about five minutes and then clean it off.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11That will keep it lustrous.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13Most importantly, it won't allow it to dry out and split.
0:28:16 > 0:28:20Beautiful items like these are why I love the Georgian period so much.
0:28:20 > 0:28:24So if you are thinking of collecting Georgian in any of its many guises,
0:28:24 > 0:28:26spare a thought for the passionate and even
0:28:26 > 0:28:31tempestuous lifestyle of the people who would have been using them.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35Well, I hope you have learned enough
0:28:35 > 0:28:39to help you sniff out a few Georgian gems.
0:28:39 > 0:28:43Good luck and join us again soon for more Trade Secrets.