0:00:03 > 0:00:05One of the things I love about Flog It!
0:00:05 > 0:00:07is meeting you, members of the general public,
0:00:07 > 0:00:10and learning about the thousands of fascinating objects
0:00:10 > 0:00:12you bring along for us to value.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18Together, over the years, we've made hundreds of trips
0:00:18 > 0:00:20to auction rooms all over the country,
0:00:20 > 0:00:22putting those valuations to the test.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25So in this series, we're pooling all of that knowledge together
0:00:25 > 0:00:27to help you get in the know.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29Welcome to Trade Secrets.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59On today's show, we're looking at the inspiration
0:00:59 > 0:01:02that makers of the fine arts have taken from nature.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06We Brits are a nation of animal lovers.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09Now, that seems to apply to our antiques and collectables
0:01:09 > 0:01:12as well as our actual furred and feathered friends.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19In this programme, we're looking at which species you should be keeping an eye out for.
0:01:19 > 0:01:24Coming up, our experts are blown away by your animal collectables.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26He's absolutely gorgeous!
0:01:26 > 0:01:29I remember picking up that greyhound, and I started to shake.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32We show you that some of our four-legged friends can achieve
0:01:32 > 0:01:34surprising results.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36That's 1,350.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38- £1,300!- That's wonderful!
0:01:38 > 0:01:40The table's holding me up!
0:01:41 > 0:01:43And our experts share their wisdom.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47Whatever you do, don't go and throw your antiques in a barrel of flour!
0:01:51 > 0:01:53Animals tend to sell,
0:01:53 > 0:01:56and they can command hefty sums
0:01:56 > 0:01:59if the right collector is there on the auction day.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02Now, at our Flog It! valuation days, we see dozens of bronzes,
0:02:02 > 0:02:07ceramics, paintings and toys, all depicting animal varieties.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11But certain types of species do command more money,
0:02:11 > 0:02:14and certain types of antiques are of special interest.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17Everybody has got a soft spot for their pet.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21And if you can look at a little kitten or a dog, or a puppy, or whatever,
0:02:21 > 0:02:23and go, "Awww!" it's going to add to its value.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26And it's the same when it's represented in a work of art.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30The species does make a huge difference to the value of a piece.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32The more common the animal,
0:02:32 > 0:02:34tends to be the more common the object
0:02:34 > 0:02:36and therefore the lower the value.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39Polar bears. I don't know what it is about polar bears.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43I don't think most of the people in the country have seen a polar bear in the wild.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45But a polar bear comes up for auction,
0:02:45 > 0:02:47everybody's after it.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50Exciting animals lead to exciting prices.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52So if you think of...
0:02:52 > 0:02:55a rhinoceros or something charging,
0:02:55 > 0:02:56something like that,
0:02:56 > 0:03:00it's going to make more money than a model of a sheep.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02Over the years on Flog It!
0:03:02 > 0:03:06we've seen hundreds of animals of all shapes and sizes.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08And I want to share some of the most interesting with you.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12Philip was delighted when he came across a collectable cow.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15Is this a fine Norfolk cow?
0:03:15 > 0:03:18- They're Jersey cows.- It's a Jersey cow?- And Black Angus.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21- Black Angus?- I've never heard of a Norfolk one.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24I think this is absolutely lovely. You've got a lovely accent.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Thank you. I'm half and half.
0:03:26 > 0:03:27Half and half?
0:03:27 > 0:03:31- Is that half...?- I'm half Norfolk and half American.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34- Really?- Yes.- That's a really lovely accent.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36I remember Helen. She was great fun.
0:03:36 > 0:03:37She had an American Norfolk accent,
0:03:37 > 0:03:39which is a strange hybrid, that.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41But what was really interesting
0:03:41 > 0:03:42and I think really different...
0:03:42 > 0:03:46Well, she'd got the whole history of this cow from about 1860 onwards.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50I remember thinking at the time, "Why would you keep all this?" But she did.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53And it was fantastic, and I think it probably added to its value.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56So we can see here you've got all this recorded.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58- Yes.- How did you find all this out?
0:03:58 > 0:04:00Well, the gentleman who it belonged to...
0:04:00 > 0:04:04- Jack Marks. Where did Jack Marks live?- He lived in England.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08- So Jack Marks was the first owner of this prize cow?- Yes.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10In 1853, so this bit of paper says,
0:04:10 > 0:04:13he was awarded the cow at a farm show.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17And then in 1855, this cow embarked on a bit of a trip, didn't it?
0:04:17 > 0:04:19It went to America.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21They must have emigrated to America.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24It says here it went in a barrel of flour for protection.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Whatever you do, don't go and throw your antiques in a barrel of flour!
0:04:27 > 0:04:29It's probably not the best thing to preserve them.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31If you look just here,
0:04:31 > 0:04:35you can see we've got papier-mache for the base.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37- Clearly not English, is it?- No.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39I'm not the biggest linguist in the world,
0:04:39 > 0:04:41but it's either French or German.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43And these cows were made in leather.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47And they're like a pull-along toy, almost.
0:04:47 > 0:04:48You would have pulled it along.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51And occasionally the head would move back and forwards,
0:04:51 > 0:04:53- but this is really, really fragile. - Yes.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56And sometimes the tail would wag as well.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59And if we have a look at a sort of...
0:04:59 > 0:05:01- There's... - I think there's one missing.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03Well, I think there's two udders missing.
0:05:03 > 0:05:04Absolutely right.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08- And two horns missing. - Two horns and two udders.- Yes.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11So if it's going to last the test of time,
0:05:11 > 0:05:14you know, it's got to be...
0:05:14 > 0:05:16really well looked-after and cherished,
0:05:16 > 0:05:20and the fact that this thing DID last, albeit it was a bit rough and ready round the edges,
0:05:20 > 0:05:22um...
0:05:22 > 0:05:24it's going to add to its value.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26The better condition, the more it's going to make.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28Because of the condition,
0:05:28 > 0:05:30I think we need to estimate her...
0:05:30 > 0:05:31£30 to £50.
0:05:31 > 0:05:37- OK.- And put a sort of...a £30 with discretion reserve on it.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39And there's a but coming now.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43I sold one of these, I think, last year.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45It was slightly bigger,
0:05:45 > 0:05:47but in a similar condition
0:05:47 > 0:05:51and my Daisy made about £200, £250.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53So, you know, the proviso is,
0:05:53 > 0:05:56she could do really, really well for you.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59Luckily, the cow enthusiasts were there on auction day.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02100. 110.
0:06:02 > 0:06:03120.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06130. 140.
0:06:06 > 0:06:07Oh, my word!
0:06:07 > 0:06:10160, above. At 160 now. Where's 70?
0:06:10 > 0:06:13At 160 in the gallery.
0:06:13 > 0:06:14At £160.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18I love it, I love it! It's like a game of ping-pong!
0:06:18 > 0:06:21The final result was not hugely a surprise to everybody.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24The estimate was fair, given the condition it was in.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27But Philip, bless him, did acknowledge on the day,
0:06:27 > 0:06:30quite correctly, that the rarity of it as an object generally
0:06:30 > 0:06:34would have likely tempted people to pay more, and he was right.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37- Helen - £160!- Yes!
0:06:37 > 0:06:41The fact that the cow came with her own ready-made passport
0:06:41 > 0:06:44and the fact that our little cow had been across the water to America
0:06:44 > 0:06:46and had come back again
0:06:46 > 0:06:48and we were able to pass all that on
0:06:48 > 0:06:50to the purchaser...
0:06:50 > 0:06:52It doesn't necessarily make it that much more valuable,
0:06:52 > 0:06:55But it makes it such a sweeter story, doesn't it?
0:06:55 > 0:06:57Considering it was made of papier-mache,
0:06:57 > 0:07:00Helen's toy cow has done incredibly well
0:07:00 > 0:07:02to survive as long as it had.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04And this was certainly reflected
0:07:04 > 0:07:06in the sale price.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08Another thing which can attract animal collectors
0:07:08 > 0:07:10is big makers' names.
0:07:10 > 0:07:11I like Beswick.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14And I think that the animals they produce
0:07:14 > 0:07:16are quite wonderful.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18- Min...- Mm-hm?
0:07:18 > 0:07:24I still get a wee buzz when I see one of these Beswick animals.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27Tell me, where did you get it?
0:07:27 > 0:07:30Well, I got it in a small village in Wigtownshire,
0:07:30 > 0:07:32where the bulls are from, that area.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35And it's Auchenlarie.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37- Auchenlarie?- Auchenlarie.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40My mother bought it for me as a holiday gift.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42Well, Beswick are wonderful.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44In the 1940s,
0:07:44 > 0:07:48they started making figures,
0:07:48 > 0:07:51animals, and that type of wares.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54And they became very, very popular.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56And the reason that they became popular
0:07:56 > 0:08:00is because their modelling
0:08:00 > 0:08:02was detailed,
0:08:02 > 0:08:04it was very, very precise.
0:08:04 > 0:08:11The factory sent their modellers to look at the best of the stock,
0:08:11 > 0:08:14so they had a great eye for detail.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16When buying Beswick,
0:08:16 > 0:08:19buyers should be looking at condition first of all.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21That's extremely important.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25The second thing is, look for the rare examples.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27This particular one,
0:08:27 > 0:08:30the Galloway Belted bull,
0:08:30 > 0:08:33was designed in 1960.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36This is one of the more collectable ones.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39Now, going in to auction,
0:08:39 > 0:08:42I would estimate it in the region of
0:08:42 > 0:08:45£600 to £800.
0:08:45 > 0:08:50I saw a book price which was a lot, lot higher than that.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52A book...
0:08:52 > 0:08:54Min mentioned book price.
0:08:54 > 0:08:59Now, this can be fairly unreliable.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03A book price may be the price, the retail price,
0:09:03 > 0:09:05at the end of the road.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10It also might be a book that is well out of date.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14And prices change from time to time.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18So you've got to be very careful when you talk about book price.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20Do you feel comfortable to send it to auction
0:09:20 > 0:09:23with that estimate on it
0:09:23 > 0:09:27and a reserve price to protect it of £600?
0:09:27 > 0:09:28Yes, I think that'll be fine.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30- Shall we go for it?- Yes, I think so.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32And it's a farming community down there,
0:09:32 > 0:09:34so you'll have a lot of collectors as well.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36And he'll go to a good home.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38He'll go to a good home!
0:09:38 > 0:09:41The local buyers were certainly fighting it out
0:09:41 > 0:09:43to bring him home.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45800.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47820. 850.
0:09:47 > 0:09:48880. 900.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50This is good.
0:09:50 > 0:09:51980. 1,000.
0:09:53 > 0:09:561,350 on the telephone. At 1,350.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00- Sold! The hammer, Min, has gone down!- That was lovely.
0:10:00 > 0:10:01The bull sold so well
0:10:01 > 0:10:04because the Belted Galloway
0:10:04 > 0:10:10is a breed which exists in that part of the country.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13We were selling it in that country,
0:10:13 > 0:10:17so the people who were interested in that particular breed
0:10:17 > 0:10:19would be there on the spot
0:10:19 > 0:10:22and possibly in the saleroom.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24There's no doubt about it -
0:10:24 > 0:10:26when it comes to animal collectables,
0:10:26 > 0:10:28Beswick is one of the biggest names around.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31And over the years, hundreds of animals from the factory
0:10:31 > 0:10:34have trotted across our tables.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37Beswick usually commands high prices
0:10:37 > 0:10:40and as the Galloway Belted bull proved,
0:10:40 > 0:10:43the rarer the breed, the higher the price.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46In 2003, the rarest of all Beswick wares,
0:10:46 > 0:10:48the Spirit of Whitfield,
0:10:48 > 0:10:51sold at auction in London
0:10:51 > 0:10:53for £9,500.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56If you're in the market for a bit of Beswick,
0:10:56 > 0:10:59always check to see if the piece is the genuine article
0:10:59 > 0:11:01by looking for a Beswick mark.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03Some pieces also have a model number,
0:11:03 > 0:11:05which you can look up in a reference book.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08This will tell you more about the figure -
0:11:08 > 0:11:10the year it was made, for example -
0:11:10 > 0:11:12and who the designer was.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15For collectors, the designer's name can make all the difference,
0:11:15 > 0:11:17as Mark explains.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20Look out for rare designers.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23A tip from me - Colin Melbourne.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27But not all the animal collectables we see on the show
0:11:27 > 0:11:29were made to be admired and put on display.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32Some were manufactured with a functional purpose
0:11:32 > 0:11:35and one such item crossed Michael Baggott's path.
0:11:35 > 0:11:40Nick, you've brought me a little bit of Somerset's wildlife today!
0:11:40 > 0:11:42- Exactly!- And it's a little pin cushion,
0:11:42 > 0:11:44which is why we've got all these little perforations here.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46You can imagine this little fellow -
0:11:46 > 0:11:48it's either a porcupine or a hedgehog.
0:11:48 > 0:11:49I haven't made up my mind.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52But we'll call him a hedgehog!
0:11:52 > 0:11:55The hedgehog is, from a design point of view,
0:11:55 > 0:11:57the most aesthetically pleasing way
0:11:57 > 0:11:59to make a pin cushion.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02Because once you put all the pins in,
0:12:02 > 0:12:05it looks completely like a hedgehog.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07And these little novelties were very popular
0:12:07 > 0:12:09from the late Victorian period,
0:12:09 > 0:12:12all the way through after the First World War into the '20s.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15We've got a full set of hallmarks.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20And the maker is L&S, which is a good company -
0:12:20 > 0:12:21Levi & Salaman.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24Makers normally make a difference to value.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26When it comes to novelty pin cushions,
0:12:26 > 0:12:29you do have makers - you have Levi & Salaman, Crisford & Norris,
0:12:29 > 0:12:33Boots Pure Drug Company. You have lots of manufacturers.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36But no-one is prized more than the other.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40It's purely about the animal and the condition that it's in.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43It is Birmingham, and it's 1904.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46So it's a little Edwardian hedgehog.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48Which is quite nice.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52These little pin cushions were made in forms of frogs,
0:12:52 > 0:12:54kangaroos, lions, camels...
0:12:54 > 0:12:58I mean, every animal you can think of, I've seen as a pin cushion.
0:12:58 > 0:12:59But the little hedgehog
0:12:59 > 0:13:02is probably one of the more common ones that you see.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05The most expensive one I've seen
0:13:05 > 0:13:07is a monkey.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09And the little monkey's sitting up
0:13:09 > 0:13:13and all his arms and legs and tail are separate pieces.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16And that was about £3,500, £4,000.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18Were they mass-produced?
0:13:18 > 0:13:21Good question. They are actually mass-produced.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24If you see around its nether regions and up over its top,
0:13:24 > 0:13:26you've got a little seam.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29So both parts of that would be pressed in a machine,
0:13:29 > 0:13:31one after the other after the other.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34And you basically have two that you'd solder together
0:13:34 > 0:13:37and then you'd solder on the little feet separately.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39And that was the job done,
0:13:39 > 0:13:40so very easy to manufacture.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44Even with a little dent to the side, which is easy to take out,
0:13:44 > 0:13:47£100 to £150.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49- Phew!- Fixed reserve of £100.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51It sounds big money. I have seen them,
0:13:51 > 0:13:55not of this form but other forms, make £2,000 or £3,000.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57- So it gives you an idea.- Yes.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59So I think we're safe at that.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01If you're happy to pop it in at the auction...
0:14:01 > 0:14:03I'm happy with that, yes.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07Commission bid of £170.
0:14:07 > 0:14:08180. 190.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11200. And 10.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13You can't stop pin cushion collectors, you know!
0:14:13 > 0:14:14280, sir?
0:14:14 > 0:14:16290.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19Gentleman's bid, on the back wall, and selling
0:14:19 > 0:14:22at £280.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26- Yes! £280. It's the hedgehog they fell in love with.- It was.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28What are you going to do with that?
0:14:30 > 0:14:34Believe it or not, a fox ate our chicken the other night,
0:14:34 > 0:14:36so I'm going to replace them.
0:14:36 > 0:14:41He was buying a small model of an animal to buy some live chickens.
0:14:41 > 0:14:42I thought that was lovely.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46After from the fact that the fox had killed the chickens the night before. That was very sad.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49But it had a happy ending because of a hedgehog.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51A great price for a tiny hedgehog.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53Pin cushions are popular with collectors,
0:14:53 > 0:14:55because they take up minimum room
0:14:55 > 0:14:59and the less rare examples are often easier on the pocket
0:14:59 > 0:15:01than some other animal collectables...
0:15:01 > 0:15:02like a well-moulded bronze.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05Is this something you've had in the family a long time?
0:15:05 > 0:15:07Yes, it's been around for a long time.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10Can't remember when I first saw him, to be honest.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12- Known him ever since a child?- Yes.
0:15:12 > 0:15:14I remember picking up that greyhound
0:15:14 > 0:15:15and I started to shake.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18And it wasn't out of excitement
0:15:18 > 0:15:20of seeing a nice Pierre Jules Mene bronze.
0:15:20 > 0:15:21It was purely because
0:15:21 > 0:15:24I was SO terrified.
0:15:24 > 0:15:29It was my first on-screen appearance ever on telly.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32- Do you know anything about the history of the dog?- No.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34- I've heard that name once or twice. - OK.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36- That's as much as I know.- OK.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40I just thought, "Concentrate, and pretend they're naked",
0:15:40 > 0:15:42and that's what I did.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45And that's why I'm doing this when you look at the footage.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48I'm turning it in such an awkward way!
0:15:48 > 0:15:50So amateurish. And I'm thinking...
0:15:50 > 0:15:52And then I saw my face!
0:15:52 > 0:15:54I remember the terror.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56So that is why it's so memorable for me.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58Well, he's cast in bronze.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02And he's by one of the French 19th-century animalier bronzers,
0:16:02 > 0:16:05called Pierre Jules Mene.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08And he was one of the leading and most prolific
0:16:08 > 0:16:11of the animalier sculptors of the 19th century.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13The group of animaliers
0:16:13 > 0:16:18were basically the group of French sculptors in bronze
0:16:18 > 0:16:21who specialised in animals.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25Dogs, horses - working-type sculptures,
0:16:25 > 0:16:28sporting sculptures - are always very sought-after.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31And this is obviously a working dog, he's a fit dog.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33He looks the part.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36He could be a champion greyhound or something like that.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38Patination is so important.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40The colour, the overall colour of the bronze.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43Make sure it hasn't been polished.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46The back of that greyhound, that had been polished quite heavily.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49This bronze is in particularly good condition.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51However, it does appear
0:16:51 > 0:16:53that somebody's been giving him a bit of a rub on his back.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56- Have you tried to polish him at any stage?- No, I haven't.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00- I clean him with a paintbrush. - That's the right thing to do.
0:17:00 > 0:17:01Any ideas of the value?
0:17:01 > 0:17:04- Not a clue.- If I said it would make
0:17:04 > 0:17:05more than £20, would you be surprised?
0:17:05 > 0:17:08- I would expect him to be worth more than that.- Good.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11Well, he will. He'll do jolly well.
0:17:11 > 0:17:12I think he'll probably make
0:17:12 > 0:17:14somewhere between £300 and £500 at auction.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17Oh, my goodness, I didn't think it'd be that much!
0:17:17 > 0:17:20He's lovely. He's a really super, super thing.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24Was James proved right at his first ever Flog It! auction?
0:17:24 > 0:17:25800.
0:17:27 > 0:17:28850.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30900.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33950.
0:17:35 > 0:17:361,000.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38£1,050.
0:17:38 > 0:17:39I didn't expect that!
0:17:39 > 0:17:411,050.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44That greyhound - £1,000.
0:17:44 > 0:17:45Phew! Great result.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48How about that?
0:17:48 > 0:17:49The table's holding me up!
0:17:51 > 0:17:53The quality and the crispness of that bronze,
0:17:53 > 0:17:55coupled with the great sculptor's name,
0:17:55 > 0:17:59definitely helped the greyhound race away at auction.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01So what other things have we learned
0:18:01 > 0:18:04about buying and collecting animal-themed items?
0:18:04 > 0:18:07Look out for rarer Beswick models.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09If the manufacturing run was short,
0:18:09 > 0:18:11the species will be in danger of extinction.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14Rarer animals are worth significantly more.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17Check your pottery animals for chips and cracks.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19Condition is key
0:18:19 > 0:18:22when it comes to buying and selling Beswick.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24With older and more fragile items,
0:18:24 > 0:18:26like the papier-mache toy cow,
0:18:26 > 0:18:29buyers will be more forgiving of condition.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33But the age-old rule applies -
0:18:33 > 0:18:35the more intact the piece, the higher the price.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39And don't forget, if you know the provenance of your collectable,
0:18:39 > 0:18:43make sure the auction house includes it in their catalogue
0:18:43 > 0:18:44when you come to sell it.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47It may just increase the allure for the bidders.
0:18:48 > 0:18:53And remember also, keep an eye open for unusual animals -
0:18:53 > 0:18:57monkeys, lions and camels always fetch high prices.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06Now, there's one furry friend we haven't yet mentioned,
0:19:06 > 0:19:09but one who tugs on everyone's heartstring.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11# If you go down in the woods today
0:19:11 > 0:19:13# You're sure of a big surprise... #
0:19:13 > 0:19:16Everyone loves a teddy.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18I love these little chaps.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20And when it comes to bear manufacturers,
0:19:20 > 0:19:24there's one name that stands head and shoulders above the rest,
0:19:24 > 0:19:26and that's the German company, Steiff.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29Their teddies are so highly sought-after
0:19:29 > 0:19:33that even the most battered bear can command huge prices
0:19:33 > 0:19:35if its credentials are right,
0:19:35 > 0:19:37as Catherine Southon discovered.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40Because of these lovely black boot eyes,
0:19:40 > 0:19:42which are just so adorable,
0:19:42 > 0:19:45- it's pre First World War.- Right.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47Later on, you tend to get the glass eyes.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49Now, in perfect condition,
0:19:49 > 0:19:51we'd really be looking at about four figures.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53In perfect condition.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56- But...and it's a big but...- Yes.
0:19:56 > 0:20:01..we can see here all the...all his sort of insides coming out.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03There's holes, there's moth holes.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06- Value-wise, it's going to drop right down, I'm afraid.- Yes.
0:20:06 > 0:20:10- And it is going to be between £100 and £200.- Right.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14But when it came to the auction, we were sure of a big surprise.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16At £2,000.
0:20:16 > 0:20:172,100.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20I don't believe it!
0:20:21 > 0:20:242,200. At £2,200.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27The other phone's out. At 2,200 now.
0:20:27 > 0:20:293, may I say?
0:20:29 > 0:20:30Here we go.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33At £2,200, he's a fine bear.
0:20:33 > 0:20:34At 2,200.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36Hammer's gone down! Yes!
0:20:36 > 0:20:40Well done! £2,200.
0:20:43 > 0:20:44Thank you!
0:20:44 > 0:20:46I think the reason that the bear
0:20:46 > 0:20:48sold for so much money
0:20:48 > 0:20:51was that he just had an amazing character.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53He just had such a lovely face.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56And that's why people are really drawn towards Steiff bears.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59Sylvia really had the stuffing knocked out of her
0:20:59 > 0:21:02with that result. What a surprise!
0:21:02 > 0:21:03You see, we all love teddy bears.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07And Steiff is definitely the maker to look out for.
0:21:07 > 0:21:12Today the teddy bear is undoubtedly Steiff's most iconic product,
0:21:12 > 0:21:16though the company also produces other types of stuffed toys.
0:21:16 > 0:21:17But where did it all begin?
0:21:17 > 0:21:20The company was founded by Margarete Steiff,
0:21:20 > 0:21:22who was born in 1847.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25A bout of childhood polio left Margarete needing a wheelchair
0:21:25 > 0:21:28and something to keep her busy.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30So she trained as a seamstress
0:21:30 > 0:21:33and went into business producing ready-to-wear clothing.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37In 1879, Margarete made her first stuffed toy -
0:21:37 > 0:21:38a felt elephant.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41The Steiff company went from strength to strength,
0:21:41 > 0:21:44adding a whole range of other stuffed animals to their repertoire.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48Steiff stuffed toys were of exceptional quality.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50Indeed, the company's motto was
0:21:50 > 0:21:53"Only the best is good enough for our children".
0:21:55 > 0:21:57Margarete's nephew Richard
0:21:57 > 0:22:01designed the world's first toy bear, with jointed arms and legs.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03The bear took the world by storm
0:22:03 > 0:22:05and sold in record numbers,
0:22:05 > 0:22:08especially in America.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11In 1906, the bear became known as the teddy bear,
0:22:11 > 0:22:15after the US President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19And the teddy has been a firm favourite ever since.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21What should you look out for
0:22:21 > 0:22:24if you're in the market to give a Steiff teddy a good home?
0:22:24 > 0:22:27Catherine Southon has some words of advice.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29It is important to consider condition
0:22:29 > 0:22:32when you're looking at teddy bears.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35However, there are certain things that can be restored.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37For example, a bear can be restuffed,
0:22:37 > 0:22:39and you can restitch its paws.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43And things to look out for are, check that the eyes are still there
0:22:43 > 0:22:46and also, of course, that the limbs aren't missing.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49It's also worth looking out for unusually large bears,
0:22:49 > 0:22:52which tend to sell for a premium.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55And rare colours, like blue or orange,
0:22:55 > 0:22:56are chased hard by collectors.
0:22:56 > 0:23:01Steiff toys are known for the legendary metal buttons
0:23:01 > 0:23:02in their left ear.
0:23:02 > 0:23:03And beware of fakes -
0:23:03 > 0:23:06imitation buttons are sometimes added to imply Steiff.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09So always check the provenance of the bear
0:23:09 > 0:23:11with your auction house or dealer.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14My top tip is to make sure you pick a bear
0:23:14 > 0:23:17that you know you will love forever.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28Apart from bears, one area of collectables close to our hearts
0:23:28 > 0:23:31here on Flog It! is all things equestrian.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35The horse features time and time again on our tables
0:23:35 > 0:23:38on items from children's toys to works of art.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41For me, though, the true majesty of the horse
0:23:41 > 0:23:44can only really be depicted when it's life-sized.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48In 2011, I visited Heather Jansch,
0:23:48 > 0:23:50who captures the grace and the energy of the equine
0:23:50 > 0:23:54in life-sized driftwood sculptures.
0:23:54 > 0:23:55- Hi, hello.- Hello, Paul.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59- Pleased to meet you. What a fabulous place you've got.- Thank you.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02How did the idea for driftwood sculptures come about?
0:24:02 > 0:24:04- Entirely accident.- Was it?
0:24:04 > 0:24:07Absolutely, yes. My son was then about ten years old
0:24:07 > 0:24:10and I'd gone out...
0:24:10 > 0:24:13without lighting the wood-burner.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15When I came back, he'd actually lit the wood-burner
0:24:15 > 0:24:19by chopping up a piece of ivy that had been lying around in my workshop.
0:24:19 > 0:24:23It was one of those pieces that had grown around a pole,
0:24:23 > 0:24:24so it was all twisted.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27The section that was left behind was about that long.
0:24:27 > 0:24:33The perfect size to fit into a copper wire sculpture I was working on.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36And that was a eureka moment, absolutely. I went cold
0:24:36 > 0:24:38and thought, "Where can I get more?"
0:24:38 > 0:24:42And I just knew that it was driftwood. So I was in the car,
0:24:42 > 0:24:45- burning rubber the next day! - Beachcombing!- Yes.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48It's like a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51And you never quite know what you're going to end up with.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54I just take a decision about what sort of size it's going to be
0:24:54 > 0:24:57and what sort of thing it's going to be doing.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59And then, really, I draw with steel.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02- So I work with my assistant, who does the welding.- Right.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06With fairly thin pieces of wire. I say, "Let's have a bit here, a bit there",
0:25:06 > 0:25:08so it grows quite quickly.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10- Do you want an apprentice?- Yes!
0:25:10 > 0:25:13I'd love to come down here for a week and work on one of these.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16You can have a go in the workshop if you want.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19- There's a big horse we're halfway through doing.- Gosh! Can I?!
0:25:19 > 0:25:22Yes. We can go and play together in the workshop.
0:25:28 > 0:25:29Lovely studio.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31Well, I don't know about lovely.
0:25:31 > 0:25:32Oh, no, it is - and what light as well.
0:25:32 > 0:25:37I guess the mirror comes in handy so you can see sculpture all around.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41- It's essential.- It's essential, isn't it?- Because we can't always get
0:25:41 > 0:25:44far enough away to look at it if the weather's inclement.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46When it's like this,
0:25:46 > 0:25:48I can just walk out of the door and get a long view on it.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50How can I help? What can I do?
0:25:50 > 0:25:53Section here's missing.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57Yes, I'm just about to try and find a way into the neck
0:25:57 > 0:25:59and through into the head.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02- About this long, that's got a bit of a twist in it.- That one's quite nice.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05- Is that any good? - It is quite interesting.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07Not really, I don't know.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09Not quite.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11- No, that's no good.- So, similar.- OK.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14- What about that - have you tried that one?- No. Let's have a look.
0:26:14 > 0:26:19- It all looks the same, doesn't it? I bet you pick the same thing up about ten times!- Actually, I don't.
0:26:19 > 0:26:20I've got quite a good memory like that.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22Let's have a look.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27- Oh, is that the ear?- Look at that.
0:26:27 > 0:26:28Hey, look at that!
0:26:30 > 0:26:32That is fabulous, isn't it?
0:26:32 > 0:26:34It will need a bit of shaping.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36If you could pass me up a piece of wire...
0:26:38 > 0:26:41- And can you tie it round here?- Yeah.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43- Tie it quite tight. Twist it round. - Yeah.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45Quite therapeutic, isn't it?
0:26:45 > 0:26:48It can be really therapeutic, or it can drive you mad.
0:26:48 > 0:26:49Yeah.
0:26:52 > 0:26:54And I guess, once the final sections are in place,
0:26:54 > 0:26:58and all the screws are in place, you take the wire that's visible off?
0:26:58 > 0:26:59Yes, all of the wire comes off.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01We do what we call tacking,
0:27:01 > 0:27:05so once I'm fairly sure that a piece is in the right position,
0:27:05 > 0:27:07I get my assistant
0:27:07 > 0:27:09to drill a hole and put a screw in.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11When I'm certain of it,
0:27:11 > 0:27:13the screw comes out and it's recessed,
0:27:13 > 0:27:16- and then the final thing is to fill it with wood.- Plugs?
0:27:16 > 0:27:17No, just wood filler,
0:27:17 > 0:27:21but mixed with a stain, so it's the right colour.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24- There's a lot of process that goes on, isn't there?- Loads.
0:27:24 > 0:27:28It's not like, let's just put it together with a bit of driftwood, is it?
0:27:28 > 0:27:31Do you stand back and go... after, say, three hours' work,
0:27:31 > 0:27:33"No, it's not right. I'm going to take it off again"?
0:27:33 > 0:27:38- Oh, yes. I've been known to completely deconstruct one before now.- Really?
0:27:39 > 0:27:42Heather's sculptures are absolutely incredible.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45She's a genius. Her work encompasses artistic creativity
0:27:45 > 0:27:47with technical prowess, passion,
0:27:47 > 0:27:51patience and love of horses.
0:27:51 > 0:27:52Look at what she's created.
0:27:52 > 0:27:56And when you see them outside, they belong outdoors in the landscape.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58They don't look out of place.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00You can view them through all the seasons
0:28:00 > 0:28:01and they'll look wonderful.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04And if you turn your back on them for too long,
0:28:04 > 0:28:05they might just gallop away.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13Objects inspired by the animal kingdom
0:28:13 > 0:28:17offer us so much that's really different, fun or just
0:28:17 > 0:28:21beautifully designed. So if you're thinking of buying or selling
0:28:21 > 0:28:23take a leaf from our experts books
0:28:23 > 0:28:26and look to the natural world for your inspiration.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29You really can't go wrong.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32Join me again soon for more trade secrets.