0:00:03 > 0:00:07It's been well over ten years now since "Flog It!" first set up shop,
0:00:07 > 0:00:11and during that time you've come to trust us to value and sell
0:00:11 > 0:00:13your unwanted antiques and collectables.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16- GAVEL BANGS - That is a fantastic result!
0:00:16 > 0:00:18Wow.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21And during that time, the variety of things you've brought in
0:00:21 > 0:00:23to show us has been absolutely astonishing.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26It's not easy to put a price on them all, but some things
0:00:26 > 0:00:30we know are guaranteed to sell and this is where you can find out more.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32Welcome to Trade Secrets.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01Europe has always been fascinated by the East.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03We've been trading with North Africa, Turkey
0:01:03 > 0:01:05and the Middle East for centuries
0:01:05 > 0:01:07But the furthest reaches of the Orient have been closed
0:01:07 > 0:01:12to all but a few intrepid travellers until relatively recently.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16But treasures from those lands are perennially popular,
0:01:16 > 0:01:20so today, we'll be finding out why Oriental artefacts exert
0:01:20 > 0:01:21a special kind of magic.
0:01:23 > 0:01:24- High order. - GAVEL BANGS
0:01:24 > 0:01:27The hammer's gone down. £600.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31On our exploration of the exotic, we'll be stopping off
0:01:31 > 0:01:33in the Middle East and in India,
0:01:33 > 0:01:37before reaching our final destination, Japan.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41En route, Thomas finds the jewel in the "Flog It!" crown.
0:01:41 > 0:01:43The work in this is amazing.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47One of the best items I've seen on "Flog It!" for many, many years.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51We pinpoint the direction of future trends...
0:01:51 > 0:01:55There's a big market for Arab items and most Arab clients and buyers
0:01:55 > 0:01:58have got fairly deep pockets.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02..and Michael's tour around the best of Japanese art and design
0:02:02 > 0:02:05throws up some surprises.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07I'm going to go off now and have a look for some wonky pots.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10Who knows? One of them might be by a 16th-century master.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19As an imperial power, Britain once ruled the waves with military might,
0:02:19 > 0:02:23but it was trade that was the driving force behind our expansion
0:02:23 > 0:02:26and import and export were the mainstays of our economy,
0:02:26 > 0:02:29and many of the items that turn up at our valuation days
0:02:29 > 0:02:31are part of that legacy.
0:02:36 > 0:02:42We see a huge amount of Oriental items in Great Britain,
0:02:42 > 0:02:47probably much more than Middle Eastern items,
0:02:47 > 0:02:51but that's quite simply because China was a HUGE place
0:02:51 > 0:02:56and made a huge variety of items.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00There's a perception at the moment that everything is Chinese, Chinese, Chinese, Chinese
0:03:00 > 0:03:03and certainly the Chinese market is really, really strong,
0:03:03 > 0:03:05but the Islamic world
0:03:05 > 0:03:08equally, in my view, they're desperate to acquire goods as well.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12The Middle East, Persians specifically, there's less knowledge about it,
0:03:12 > 0:03:14so with a little bit of dedicated research,
0:03:14 > 0:03:17you can really get one step ahead of the market.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21The Middle East has its own appeal and collectability
0:03:21 > 0:03:23and definitely shouldn't be overlooked.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27We don't see many items from these parts at our valuation days,
0:03:27 > 0:03:30but when we do, they are intriguing and unique
0:03:30 > 0:03:32as James Lewis discovered.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36Christine and Steve, tell me the history. Where did you find it?
0:03:36 > 0:03:38- In a junk shop in Chingford. - Did you really?
0:03:38 > 0:03:42I bought this 60-odd years ago, when I was a schoolboy.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46Well, this is Arabic, known as a janbiya,
0:03:46 > 0:03:49which basically is Arabic for a knife.
0:03:49 > 0:03:56This is from Yemen and the janbiya was used as a fighting knife,
0:03:56 > 0:03:59but today they are used more ceremonially.
0:03:59 > 0:04:06This is a hardwood handle and then we have overlay in silver
0:04:06 > 0:04:09and the silver overlays, the hardwood handle
0:04:09 > 0:04:13and also this leather scabbard. It's 19th century,
0:04:13 > 0:04:17it's covered in silver, it's ceremonial,
0:04:17 > 0:04:20but it's still something that has quite a good second-hand value.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24The value of them depends really on their hilt.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28They can be made from lapis lazuli, they can be made from wood,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31they can be set with precious or semiprecious stones
0:04:31 > 0:04:37and the case can be covered in gold filigree wire rather than silver.
0:04:37 > 0:04:44So the variety of coverings and styles and qualities is endless.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47I think an auction estimate of £100 to £150
0:04:47 > 0:04:50- and I think it will do jolly well. - Great.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53And it was "Flog It!"'s own Will Axon, who took to the rostrum
0:04:53 > 0:04:56to sell this traditional piece of Middle Eastern culture.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58There we are. Where do you start me on that?
0:04:58 > 0:05:02Again, a bit of interest in this. I've got to start here
0:05:02 > 0:05:03- at 80, 90, 100.- Wow.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06There's a big market for Arab items
0:05:06 > 0:05:08and most Arab clients
0:05:08 > 0:05:10and buyers have got fairly deep pockets.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12160, 180 I'm bid
0:05:12 > 0:05:14and 200 I have with me. At £200...
0:05:14 > 0:05:18- That was a quick jump, wasn't it, to £200?- ..at £200 now.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21Shakes the head at £200 on commission then. At £200.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25All done then? All the bidding is here with me. All done at £200?
0:05:25 > 0:05:28Hammer's up and selling at 200.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31- GAVEL BANGS - Well done. That was good.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35That great result proves there's a big market for Arabic artefacts,
0:05:35 > 0:05:38but what other objects are worth looking out for?
0:05:38 > 0:05:42A good way to get into Middle Eastern antiques,
0:05:42 > 0:05:47I would suggest Eastern metalwares - copper, brass, that sort of thing.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51There are vases, ewers, plates, chargers,
0:05:51 > 0:05:54some of them more elaborate with silver inlay, gold inlay.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57They're produced in huge numbers and, I think, as an entry-level,
0:05:57 > 0:06:00that's a fairly good pointer
0:06:00 > 0:06:03and work your way up from there, really.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05But you have to understand what you're buying.
0:06:05 > 0:06:09There are so many fakes out there, so many modern tourist things.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12Just be careful.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18But Nick Hall threw caution to the wind and went ahead
0:06:18 > 0:06:21with the valuation of these rarely-seen shields
0:06:21 > 0:06:23from Persia, modern-day Iran.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27How on earth have these come to be in your possession?
0:06:27 > 0:06:31- They were left to me by a neighbour back in 1980.- Right.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34And was she a collector of sorts or a traveller?
0:06:34 > 0:06:37No, her husband was a merchant. He was in the merchant Navy
0:06:37 > 0:06:40- and he used to travel a lot. - So, he's travelled and collected on his travels.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44That explains it because they've come a long way, all the way from what used to be called Persia.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47At the time of the valuation day, we didn't see
0:06:47 > 0:06:48a lot of Persian items.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51We're starting to see a little bit more now with the growth
0:06:51 > 0:06:54of the Asian market as a whole, but Persian items are a little bit
0:06:54 > 0:06:57scarce and rarer so it was a great pleasure to see those walk in.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59Wonderful things.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02Date-wise, these are probably late 19th century.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05Nice decoration on them as well. They're not a pair.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07- They're very similar.- Right.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10Same region, same date, same type of decoration.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14There's chasing on the metalwork, we can see here,
0:07:14 > 0:07:16even little bits of enamelling as well on the top there.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18- Some wonderful designs.- Yeah.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22Almost too nice to be hacked to bits with a big sword. Lovely things
0:07:22 > 0:07:26and quite rare to see. We don't see a lot of Middle Eastern artefacts.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28It's always difficult to value things
0:07:28 > 0:07:32that you don't see that often. You've got to have a bit of market knowledge.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35You've got to constantly read up on the subject, study the subject,
0:07:35 > 0:07:38you've got to go through trade journals and follow other international sales,
0:07:38 > 0:07:41so that you are ready and prepared that when you do see them,
0:07:41 > 0:07:44you've got all that knowledge sat and ready. Not easy.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47It's hard work and dedication, but worth it when something like that walks in.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50So, we need to put a sensible price on them.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54I think each shield is worth in the region of 150-250,
0:07:54 > 0:07:57- there and thereabouts.- Right, OK. No, that's good.
0:07:57 > 0:07:58Per shield, per shield.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00As they weren't a matching pair,
0:08:00 > 0:08:03Nick decided they should be sold separately.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05Come on, 100 to start. 100 I'm bid.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08I've got you at 100, 110, 120,
0:08:08 > 0:08:11130, 140, 150, 160...
0:08:11 > 0:08:12- This is good, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14..180, on my right. Selling at 180.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18Are we all done at 180? I've got you at £180 now.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22- Selling at 180.- The hammer's going down.- That's a good start.- Yeah.
0:08:22 > 0:08:27- Let's see if we can get 180 for the next one.- 120, 130, 140, 150, 160,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29170, 180, 180 on my right.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32- Selling at 180. - GAVEL BANGS
0:08:32 > 0:08:34- Not bad at all. Not bad at all. - I'm very pleased with that.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37- Very pleased. That's great. - That's a result, isn't it?
0:08:37 > 0:08:40Of course, they would have sold better if they had been a true pair
0:08:40 > 0:08:43rather than two very similar objects. Pairs always make more.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47Not just twice the price of a single one but often three or four times.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51So, if they'd been a true pair, they would have made considerably more.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54I suspect there would have been even more collectors on them
0:08:54 > 0:08:56because you just don't see them.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06What you are more likely to see in Britain are these - rugs.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10The Persian tradition of carpet making goes back thousands of years.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13Britain began importing them in the 1880s
0:09:13 > 0:09:16and some experts say, today, there are possibly more of them
0:09:16 > 0:09:19in Europe than there are in Iran itself.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23If you want to collect them, here are a few tips.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28I think the best thing to look for in Persian rugs are old rugs
0:09:28 > 0:09:30and it's quite easy, luckily, to distinguish an old rug
0:09:30 > 0:09:34from a new rug based on the fact that most old rugs are dyed
0:09:34 > 0:09:38using natural dyes, which fade over time.
0:09:38 > 0:09:42So, when you see variations in colour in a rug, you know that it's old.
0:09:42 > 0:09:47The first rug is a rug probably made for the European market.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49The flowers are very European.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52Look at the variations in the reds, for example.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55That's the indication of a natural dye.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58The rug is not very fine. It's more exuberant
0:09:58 > 0:10:02than it is a fine work of art, so it's not going to be of great value.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05The second rug, the design is much finer
0:10:05 > 0:10:08and there's a lot of attention to the colour and all the little details,
0:10:08 > 0:10:12but with fine rugs, you tend to cut the pile, which is the furry bit,
0:10:12 > 0:10:17closer so that you can see the design better and as a result,
0:10:17 > 0:10:19they tend to survive less well over time.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21And I think it's better to spend one's money on a rug
0:10:21 > 0:10:24in good condition than a beautiful fine rug,
0:10:24 > 0:10:27which was much nicer 100 years ago than it is today.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33You can buy a good quality antique rug for around £150,
0:10:33 > 0:10:38but the record for a Persian one at auction is for over £20 million.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44Carpets not your thing? Well, then Persian miniatures
0:10:44 > 0:10:48are also highly collectable but, once again, there's a lot to learn.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50This is a Persian one.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54If you look at the faces, they're usually not in profile,
0:10:54 > 0:10:58they're more rounded faces with more Asian eyes
0:10:58 > 0:11:02and this one, there's a little Persian inscription on the side.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06It says Khosrau and Shirin. They are two lovers.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09They're kind of the Persian version of Romeo and Juliet.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13But with values ranging from tens of pounds to millions,
0:11:13 > 0:11:16you need to be careful not to get caught out.
0:11:17 > 0:11:22This is a Mughal miniature from India and these are more common.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25The Mughal faces, which are almost always in profile,
0:11:25 > 0:11:27and usually the background is quite plain
0:11:27 > 0:11:30and the whole emphasis is on the figure that you're depicting.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33It's easy to confuse Persian with Indian as the Persian influence
0:11:33 > 0:11:36was strong in India 300 years ago.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38It's quite easy to tell if something is a fake.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41If there's a lot of writing in the miniature.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45One of the most common things with miniatures that you buy today
0:11:45 > 0:11:49is that they are actually an old piece of paper with a new painting,
0:11:49 > 0:11:53because what they do is get some old notebook and paint an elaborate scene
0:11:53 > 0:11:58in the centre of the page, so those are the things to watch out for.
0:11:58 > 0:12:03Also these are very delicate objects and they will show some signs of wear
0:12:03 > 0:12:06if they are original. Bear that in mind.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12The next country on our Eastern voyage is India,
0:12:12 > 0:12:17jewel in the crown of the British Empire for over 300 years...
0:12:17 > 0:12:18Wow.
0:12:18 > 0:12:23..and a country that adopted some of our most treasured traditions.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27Sophia, what a wonderful tea set! Do you know how old it is?
0:12:27 > 0:12:31- I think it's '20s or '30s.- Very much. We've got pure Art Deco lines.
0:12:31 > 0:12:36- The Indians were very influenced by the Art Deco period.- Right, OK.
0:12:36 > 0:12:41A huge amount of very, very poor quality items have come out of India
0:12:41 > 0:12:45as indeed the Far East, so if you're thinking of starting,
0:12:45 > 0:12:46go for quality.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49There are two things really that set it aside
0:12:49 > 0:12:53and make it absolutely obvious that it's not an English tea set.
0:12:53 > 0:12:59One is this very intricate Indian trace decoration in the panels
0:12:59 > 0:13:04and also this extraordinary very Indian-looking spout.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06You just wouldn't have a spout like that finishing off
0:13:06 > 0:13:09- an English teapot.- Oh, I see. - Of course, if it had a hallmark
0:13:09 > 0:13:12we would be able to tell you exactly where it was made
0:13:12 > 0:13:15and we would be able to tell you the date and who made it.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19None of that information is available here other than the bottom
0:13:19 > 0:13:23- where it says, "Made in Kashmir." - It is a Kashmiri design.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26- It is a Kashmiri design, is it? - Yes.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29A hallmark tells us a great deal about a piece,
0:13:29 > 0:13:33but a lot of Indian silver isn't hallmarked, making it difficult
0:13:33 > 0:13:35to know exactly what you've got
0:13:35 > 0:13:37but there are few exceptions to the rule.
0:13:37 > 0:13:42A lot of really good English silversmiths went to India
0:13:42 > 0:13:46and a nice piece of Indian silver made by an English silversmith,
0:13:46 > 0:13:50you will find marks on it that will enable you to date it.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53Now, I suppose, of all the pieces of silver that are least saleable,
0:13:53 > 0:13:57- it's tea sets.- Yes.- Simply because people don't use them any more.- Yes.
0:13:57 > 0:14:04- So, you're really looking at a value of a few hundred pounds to £300.- OK.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07Charlie's valuation of the Indian tea set was on the cautious side
0:14:07 > 0:14:09and reflected its scrap value.
0:14:11 > 0:14:17All hallmarked silver in the UK has a minimum 92.5% silver content,
0:14:17 > 0:14:20but without a hallmark to prove its purity,
0:14:20 > 0:14:22this tea set may contain a lot less.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25You just can't tell without having it tested.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29It's worth probably £500 in weight of silver
0:14:29 > 0:14:31if it was English sterling silver.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33- You've cottoned onto this, haven't you?- Yes.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36You rang James up. I had a quick chat with the auctioneer
0:14:36 > 0:14:38just before the sale started.
0:14:38 > 0:14:43Sophia has now upped the valuation, we've got a fixed reserve of £450.
0:14:43 > 0:14:48- Yes.- So, it just might struggle, but you don't know
0:14:48 > 0:14:51because you can't tell the quality of Indian silver.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53You don't know if it's equal amounts or slightly less.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57But in the end, it's all down to the bidders.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59I have two commissions on the book
0:14:59 > 0:15:05- and I start the bidding with me at £450.- Yes! Worry over.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09460, 470, 480, 490,
0:15:09 > 0:15:12500, 520, 540, 560...
0:15:12 > 0:15:15- What do I know?- ..580, 600.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19At £600, with me on the book at £600.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21- Are you all done?- ...over. - GAVEL BANGS
0:15:21 > 0:15:26- The hammer's gone down. £600. Well done.- Thank you, thank you.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28I'm really pleased.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31The tea set's fine quality and exquisite Kashmir design
0:15:31 > 0:15:34definitely set it apart in the saleroom,
0:15:34 > 0:15:37but my advice is, unless you've absolutely fallen in love
0:15:37 > 0:15:40with a piece of silver, be cautious.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42If you're unsure of the silver content
0:15:42 > 0:15:44don't pay more than you have to.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47If it's not by a particularly well-known maker, yes,
0:15:47 > 0:15:49it comes down to the scrap value
0:15:49 > 0:15:53and you can follow the scrap value very, very easily online
0:15:53 > 0:15:56and it goes up and down like a yo-yo.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59As I sit here, it is at £11 an ounce.
0:15:59 > 0:16:04A few weeks ago, it was £16 an ounce.
0:16:04 > 0:16:08Two, three years ago, it was £4 an ounce.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10Quite extraordinary fluctuations.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19When Indian craftsmen are working at their best,
0:16:19 > 0:16:23the quality and the use of materials are beyond compare.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27One example is among the finest things I've ever seen on "Flog It!".
0:16:27 > 0:16:29Thomas was impressed, too.
0:16:30 > 0:16:37This piece of Anglo-Indian art would be the kind of thing
0:16:37 > 0:16:41- you would find in a house like behind me.- Really?- Yeah.
0:16:41 > 0:16:45- Wonderful.- It's that sort of quality. Do you like it?- I do, yes. I do.
0:16:45 > 0:16:50The Anglo-Indian chessboard and chess pieces,
0:16:50 > 0:16:55I called Anglo-Indian because of the work and the style of the piece.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58Anglo-Indian furniture, or colonial furniture,
0:16:58 > 0:17:05has its influence in us Britons going to India and asking craftsmen
0:17:05 > 0:17:11to create pieces of furniture, decorative items in our taste.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15- Where did it come from? - It came from my late husband's family
0:17:15 > 0:17:19and he inherited it, I think, from his grandparents.
0:17:19 > 0:17:24It's got the use here of bone, ivory and tortoiseshell.
0:17:24 > 0:17:31The ivory in this was used and this was made well before 1947.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35Anything later than 1947, we cannot sell, we cannot touch,
0:17:35 > 0:17:40it's illegal to handle. But ivory made pre-then is OK.
0:17:40 > 0:17:41It's amazing that it's all complete.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44There's one or two nicks out of the rooks
0:17:44 > 0:17:45and we've got a bit of fret missing.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48Yes, this work needs to be restored and they can be restored,
0:17:48 > 0:17:50but it's not the end of the world.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52When looking at antiques,
0:17:52 > 0:17:56I have a thing in my head, "Keep on going.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00"Don't compromise on quality, don't compromise on quality."
0:18:00 > 0:18:04And when you see something of quality, you're thinking,
0:18:04 > 0:18:08"Is this really good? Is this something I've not seen before?
0:18:08 > 0:18:11"Should I compromise on it? Do I pick holes in it?"
0:18:11 > 0:18:15- The work in this is amazing, isn't it?- It is. It's beautiful.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19You've got this tortoiseshell base and then this beautiful fretwork,
0:18:19 > 0:18:26with this amazing engraved and painted design around the octagonal,
0:18:26 > 0:18:34on this beautiful turned horn stem, with ivory roundels
0:18:34 > 0:18:38and again on a similar tortoiseshell and fretwork carved base
0:18:38 > 0:18:41on these paw feet. Now, these feet are bone.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44- Oh, they're bone? Not ivory? - They're not ivory, they're bone
0:18:44 > 0:18:48- because you see the little black flecks in there?- Yes. - Those are little blood vessels.
0:18:48 > 0:18:52When looking at this Anglo-Indian chessboard, you can see the quality
0:18:52 > 0:18:57and the design. Also it did have that naive charm
0:18:57 > 0:19:03of being Anglo-Indian, but that gave it a certain je ne sais quoi,
0:19:03 > 0:19:06which was delightful.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10You've got people who collect Anglo-Indian works of art
0:19:10 > 0:19:13and you've got people who collect chess pieces.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15But also you've got the emerging economies.
0:19:15 > 0:19:19The emerging economy of India are collecting back some of the items.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21- Really, are they?- Yeah, of course.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24Therefore, that will command a good valuation.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28I think an estimate should be £500 to £700.
0:19:28 > 0:19:29- I think that's pretty good.- Yeah.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36Personally, I thought the estimate was a bit conservative.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39I'd like to thank you for bringing in possibly one of the best items
0:19:39 > 0:19:42I've seen on "Flog It!" for many, many years,
0:19:42 > 0:19:45that little Anglo-Indian chess set, which Thomas
0:19:45 > 0:19:47had the pleasure of valuing.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51- Lots of interest.- Good. - It's quality. Quality always sells.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54The damage won't put anybody off. This is going to be exciting
0:19:54 > 0:19:57because it's going under the hammer right now.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59Fingers crossed. I hope it flies, I really do.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05Shall we say 450? And 550,
0:20:05 > 0:20:11650, 750, 850.
0:20:11 > 0:20:15900 we're bid, 950 I'm bid for it.
0:20:15 > 0:20:171,000, I have 1,000. And 50.
0:20:17 > 0:20:211,100? I've got 1,100, thank you.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23At £1,100, then.
0:20:23 > 0:20:29- I sell for £1,100, thank you. - GAVEL BANGS
0:20:29 > 0:20:33- That's good, isn't it? - It's very good.- A very good result.
0:20:33 > 0:20:38That Anglo-Indian chessboard and chest pieces was complete.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42I don't think you'd find another one complete.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44That's the reason why it made £1,100.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50Now, we don't get that many Indian pieces at our "Flog It!"
0:20:50 > 0:20:54valuation days, but if Barbara's spectacular chess set
0:20:54 > 0:20:58was anything to go by, they're definitely worth looking out for.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02Fine quality and craftsmanship will always draw in the bidders.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05So, if you're interested in collecting such artefacts,
0:21:05 > 0:21:08keep this checklist in mind.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11The Arabic market is growing - don't overlook it.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16Indian silver is unlikely to be hallmarked, so always be aware
0:21:16 > 0:21:21that its silver content may be less than that of sterling silver.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25If you can, get it tested and then you'll know its true scrap value.
0:21:27 > 0:21:28But quality will always out,
0:21:28 > 0:21:33be it beautifully decorated silver or the finest carved ivory.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36Ivory was once widely used in European artworks.
0:21:36 > 0:21:41It's now illegal to buy or sell pieces created after 1947.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45Older items tend to be more yellow, but seek advice
0:21:45 > 0:21:47and if any doubt, stay clear.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54Michael Baggott has a particular passion for precious metals
0:21:54 > 0:21:58and gems, and you can quite often see him at our valuation days
0:21:58 > 0:22:02with a loop, a small magnifying glass, to his eye.
0:22:02 > 0:22:07He's also fascinated by the Orient and everything from the Far East.
0:22:07 > 0:22:11So, when he was invited to view a new collection of Japanese antiques,
0:22:11 > 0:22:12he jumped at the chance.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23Well, when I left Birmingham to go to college and study antiques,
0:22:23 > 0:22:27I suddenly found a love or an excitement
0:22:27 > 0:22:29of all things Chinese and Japanese
0:22:29 > 0:22:32and, from that point on, I've been hooked.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36Out of the whole scope of Japanese art and design, the ceramics,
0:22:36 > 0:22:39the prints, I think my favourite has to be the little inro,
0:22:39 > 0:22:43which are so collectable and so many different designs.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46Hopefully, here at the Oriental Museum in Durham, we can see some.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54So, Rachel, thank you for liberating these from the cases momentarily.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57- You're very welcome. - It's a wonderful display.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01Obviously, you're very familiar with Chinese and Japanese art
0:23:01 > 0:23:03and the fact that they share quite a lot
0:23:03 > 0:23:05- of techniques and iconography.- Yes.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09What hints have you got for telling the difference
0:23:09 > 0:23:11between Chinese and Japanese objects?
0:23:11 > 0:23:15- That's the million-dollar question. - It is.- It's not easy.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19Really, what it comes down to is just looking at as many things
0:23:19 > 0:23:21as you possibly can.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24Japan has always been heavily influenced by China
0:23:24 > 0:23:28and by Chinese art, so a lot of Japanese art looks very similar,
0:23:28 > 0:23:30uses the same motifs, the same colours.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32But we've got a selection of ceramics here that are
0:23:32 > 0:23:35more uniquely Japanese in design. Can you tell us about them?
0:23:35 > 0:23:38I think this one at the front is the kind of piece
0:23:38 > 0:23:41that people are most readily going to think of as being very Japanese.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44This lovely porcelain, with these beautiful bright colours on it,
0:23:44 > 0:23:46is the kind of thing that was made
0:23:46 > 0:23:48specifically in Japan for export to Europe,
0:23:48 > 0:23:51so it's the kind of thing that collectors are most likely to see here.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54This piece here, dates to the 18th century.
0:23:54 > 0:23:58And by great contrast, some people might have a five-year-old
0:23:58 > 0:24:02- that's come back with something very similar to this.- Yes.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04But this is not the case. Tell us about this bowl.
0:24:04 > 0:24:09No, this is an example of perhaps the most typically Japanese of wares.
0:24:09 > 0:24:14This tea bowl dates to about 1600 and it's in a style
0:24:14 > 0:24:21that's specifically designed to look simple and rustic and very rough,
0:24:21 > 0:24:23but actually has taken a huge amount of skill,
0:24:23 > 0:24:25a huge amount of thought has gone into it.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29So, this is really, if we've got a chance of finding something
0:24:29 > 0:24:32out there that's undervalued, it's going to be
0:24:32 > 0:24:34- this class of Japanese tea wares. - Yeah.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38And this is a stark contrast to what we have in the West.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41- We're buying the... - Yes, we're buying these.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43..the brightly-coloured fancy Arita wares.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47But, moving on from that, they were also masters of metalwork as well,
0:24:47 > 0:24:50- weren't they?- Yes, they were. - So, those aren't real, are they?
0:24:50 > 0:24:54They're wonderful fun though, aren't they?
0:24:54 > 0:24:59These kind of pieces were made by Japanese swordsmiths and armourers.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03During the Edo period, so from 1650 and onwards,
0:25:03 > 0:25:06when you've got peace in Japan, swordsmiths and armourers
0:25:06 > 0:25:11are not so much in demand, so they're making these kind of pieces to show
0:25:11 > 0:25:13the quality of their workmanship.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16So, these are fully articulated. The snake all moves,
0:25:16 > 0:25:20- the legs on the crab all move. - It's an immediate effect, isn't it?
0:25:20 > 0:25:23And, of course, when they're not doing that, they are making swords
0:25:23 > 0:25:25- and they're making sword fittings. - They are, yes.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28We've got a collection of these here. These are tsuba.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31So, this is the piece that fits at the base of your sword blade
0:25:31 > 0:25:34and protects your hand when you're holding the hilt.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37The more solid ones are the sort of thing that you think of
0:25:37 > 0:25:39as earlier, more practical pieces.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41During the Edo period, your sword can become much more decorative.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44It's much more about showing off your status
0:25:44 > 0:25:47and so these kind of sword fittings again become much more decorative
0:25:47 > 0:25:51and obviously when Japan opens up to the West,
0:25:51 > 0:25:54people were bringing back swords but swords are rather bulky to carry,
0:25:54 > 0:25:58so something like a tsuba makes an ideal souvenir.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01So these things came back to the West in large numbers.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05Now, we move on from those to my favourite
0:26:05 > 0:26:11- because I love inros and you've picked out four super ones.- I have.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13The inro is the compartments.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15These were created first of all to carry medicines,
0:26:15 > 0:26:20herbs and seals and then they hung from your belt of your kimono
0:26:20 > 0:26:24and the netsuke is the toggle that secures it in place and makes sure
0:26:24 > 0:26:27that you don't lose all your precious things hanging from your belt.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30And I've tried to get a range of materials.
0:26:30 > 0:26:34People tend to think of the lacquer ones, Japanese lacquer is wonderful,
0:26:34 > 0:26:37but I also wanted to get a couple of different ones out,
0:26:37 > 0:26:40so I've got this lovely wooden one, with these very playful monkeys.
0:26:40 > 0:26:45So, in terms of what is attainable and collectable today, I think,
0:26:45 > 0:26:46certainly if you look at the tsuba,
0:26:46 > 0:26:50they're easily accessible. At the very bottom level,
0:26:50 > 0:26:54you can buy a really simple example for £50, £100,
0:26:54 > 0:26:58going up to, for the decorated ones, £2,000, £3,000, maybe even £10,000
0:26:58 > 0:27:01for the very best examples.
0:27:01 > 0:27:06My love are the inros. You can buy a very nice inro for £300 or £400.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08When you get into the very better ones,
0:27:08 > 0:27:12you're talking multiples of 10,000, but it just shows you that
0:27:12 > 0:27:16if you want to collect Japanese art, it's accessible at every level,
0:27:16 > 0:27:18isn't it? Marvellous.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24I've had a wonderful day at the Oriental Museum.
0:27:24 > 0:27:28I've see lots of wonderful objects, beautifully made.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32I think if this has inspired you to collect Japanese art,
0:27:32 > 0:27:36just be aware of the huge diversity of objects you can find,
0:27:36 > 0:27:38but if you're on a budget, don't go for the obvious.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42Maybe go and choose an obscure area of ceramics to collect.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45That would be my advice.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47After seeing that wonderful tea ceremony bowl, I'm going
0:27:47 > 0:27:51to go off now and have a look for some wonky pots.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54Who knows? One of them might be by a 16th-century master.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03Oriental art and design are truly fascinating areas
0:28:03 > 0:28:07and there's an enormous array of beautiful items out there.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09If we've inspired you to start collecting,
0:28:09 > 0:28:12my advice is to keep an eye out on emerging markets
0:28:12 > 0:28:16and look out for items that are just that little bit different.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22Well, that's it for today. I hope you have enjoyed the show.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25Join us again soon for more Trade Secrets.