0:00:04 > 0:00:06It's been well over ten years
0:00:06 > 0:00:09since you first started coming to our Flog It valuation days
0:00:09 > 0:00:11and since then we've seen,
0:00:11 > 0:00:15valued and sold thousands of your unwanted antiques and collectables.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18Jennifer, have you raided the silver box at home?
0:00:18 > 0:00:20What can you tell me about it?
0:00:20 > 0:00:24- She is very ugly. - She is phenomenally ugly.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28And I've discovered there's always more to
0:00:28 > 0:00:31find about the world of fine art and antiques which we all love.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34So, if you want to know more, you've come to the right place.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36Welcome to Trade Secrets.
0:01:05 > 0:01:10I've learned over the years that you have to keep your eyes peeled at all times.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14There are incredible treasures just waiting to be discovered
0:01:14 > 0:01:18for as little as a few pounds in jumble sales or car boot fairs.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20So, today, we're celebrating all you lucky ones
0:01:20 > 0:01:22with a nose for a bargain.
0:01:24 > 0:01:29Still to come, we reveal the art of the true bargain hunter.
0:01:29 > 0:01:34You're a self-confessed, get ready for this, Michael, moocher.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37- That's a new one to me. - Mooching about at the car boot sales and jumbles.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39- Mooching.- It's paid off.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42We discover there are still treasures to be found
0:01:42 > 0:01:44if you know what to look for.
0:01:44 > 0:01:46It's not going to make £300.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50- You think it might by the sound of it.- I definitely think it might.- OK.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52Carl had done his homework. He knew it was rare.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55And one valuation day discovery proves to be worth a great
0:01:55 > 0:01:59deal more than David Barby first thought.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02On a good day it could do a couple of thousand pounds.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06Joan, we're going to be in the money. I think you are.
0:02:10 > 0:02:11It seems perfectly clear to me
0:02:11 > 0:02:14that you have got to keep your eyes peeled at all times
0:02:14 > 0:02:18if you want to pick up a bargain for just a few pounds.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21But there's more to bargain hunting than just luck.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24There's a lot you can do to increase your chances of finding
0:02:24 > 0:02:27something special for very little.
0:02:27 > 0:02:32In car boot sales or fairs, get up very, very early in the morning.
0:02:32 > 0:02:37Because everything that can be bought cheaply is probably
0:02:37 > 0:02:39bought before most people get up.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42- Where on earth did you get it from? - From a car boot sale.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45- For 50p or something?- No, £5.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47- At £110, we're away. - Do your homework.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50If you want to spot a bargain you need to know more than
0:02:50 > 0:02:52the person that's selling the object.
0:02:52 > 0:02:53Where did you get it from?
0:02:53 > 0:02:56I bought it from a table top for 20 pence.
0:02:56 > 0:03:03- £230.- And of course, train your eye. - Can I ask how much you paid for it?
0:03:03 > 0:03:06£4. I can't believe it.
0:03:07 > 0:03:13- 1,500.- Yes!- Just have a rummage. Get down there, get under the tables.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15Get in through the boxes and have a really good rummage.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18If you think that something looks like it's really well made
0:03:18 > 0:03:20and it's a nice piece and perhaps got a name to it,
0:03:20 > 0:03:22then it's got to be worth researching.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26Have you ever found anything like that in a charity shop for 40p?
0:03:26 > 0:03:27All done at 1,800.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29Wow!
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Yes! Well done.
0:03:32 > 0:03:37You know, the joy of finding a bargain or hunting
0:03:37 > 0:03:41generally for antiques is you never know where they're going to crop up.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48For some, rummaging for bargains is an obsession.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51And for Flog It viewer Derek, it paid off.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55Michael was blown away by his incredible find.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58- Parcels and packaging. - A bit of tissue.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02Good grief.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06It was a wonderful 18th century silver gilt snuff box
0:04:06 > 0:04:11and it's very rare and something I would struggle to find
0:04:11 > 0:04:14in the normal course of business going around lots of auction houses.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17So to have it brought in on Flog It was quite extraordinary.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20- Are you a box collector, Derek? - No, I'm not a box collector at all.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23It's things I like and I see it and buy it.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26I got it from a jumble sale so it didn't cost enough.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29- Let me stop you there. Where did you get it from?- From a jumble sale.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31Where was this jumble sale?
0:04:31 > 0:04:33I can't remember where the sale is
0:04:33 > 0:04:35because I go to loads of jumble sales.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37Crikey, we have people coming in saying
0:04:37 > 0:04:38they bought this in a jumble sale.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41What they don't tell you is they have been going to jumble sales
0:04:41 > 0:04:43for ten years and getting up at 6:00 in the morning.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45I always have a look under the table
0:04:45 > 0:04:48because you never know what's under the table. And I see a box under the table.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52And I see all these little bits of brass items in the box.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55I mooched through the box and I found this little box in there.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59You haven't got time to think really
0:04:59 > 0:05:01because there's all the people around you.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05I thought that's nice so I got up and said, "How much is that?"
0:05:05 > 0:05:08She said 10p and I said, "I'll have that then."
0:05:08 > 0:05:12And I paid my 10p and went off looking for other things.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15I think I might have broken the sound barrier getting
0:05:15 > 0:05:17the 10p out of my pocket and into her hand.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20That's because you know what you're doing. You know what you're doing.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23- Was this a long time ago? - Couple of years ago, yeah.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26That's not a long time ago, Derek.
0:05:26 > 0:05:31It shows it's worthwhile persevering with jumble sales and car boots.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35If we open it up we would hope to find marks in the cover,
0:05:35 > 0:05:41in the base but it's German, unmarked and dates to about 1760.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44You can tell something is silver if it isn't hallmarked
0:05:44 > 0:05:47by giving it to me and asking me if it's silver or not.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49No, it's the feel of the metal, the weight,
0:05:49 > 0:05:53the colour and with a box like that it's evident it is a wonderful thing.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56If we look underneath there's no marks but there's a little
0:05:56 > 0:05:58bit of white showing through and we can see it's silver.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00Value.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02Return on 10 pence. What do we reckon?
0:06:02 > 0:06:07- I wouldn't have said 20, 30 quid personally.- Give you 40 now.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10- I expect you would! - Thank you very much.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15- Let's put £300-500 on it.- Really? - A fixed reserve of £300.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18If it didn't look so nice I probably would have taken
0:06:18 > 0:06:20it down the car boot and sold it for a few quid.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24- It was meant to be.- It was. Thank you very much.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32- You're a confessed, get ready for this, Michael. Moocher.- Moocher?
0:06:32 > 0:06:36- That's a new one on me.- Mooching about at the car boot sales.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40- It's paid off.- It has. And you do it every Saturday? Mooch about.
0:06:40 > 0:06:41That's right.
0:06:42 > 0:06:47- How many jumbles did you do this weekend?- Saturday went to three.
0:06:47 > 0:06:52- My Saturday is jumble sale day.- And is your house full of...- Rubbish?
0:06:55 > 0:06:58- I was going to.- You're allowed to. You're allowed to.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01I was going to say tat. Let's put your mooching to the test.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03It's going under the hammer right now.
0:07:03 > 0:07:09Who will start me at £400? £400? Try 300?
0:07:09 > 0:07:14300 we have, and 20. At £300 and selling, is there 20?
0:07:14 > 0:07:21At £300 and to the telephone, is there any more? Last time at £300.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28- It's gone.- Good return on 10 pence. - That's fantastic. That's fantastic.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31- I'm happy with that.- You've got to be over the moon with that.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36Fancy mooching about for boxes yourself?
0:07:36 > 0:07:38Michael has some sound advice.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41If you find silver boxes attractive and want to collect them,
0:07:41 > 0:07:45start with something fairly easily available.
0:07:45 > 0:07:46Something like vesta cases.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50The first bit of silver I ever bought was a vesta case. It was £20.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53They are still £20, £30, £40 for simple ones.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56And then you can go on from there to collect snuff boxes.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58But start off small.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03Small items can easily be overlooked
0:08:03 > 0:08:06but if you do your homework you could find a real little gem
0:08:06 > 0:08:11as David Fletcher heard when he met seasoned bargain hunter Carl.
0:08:11 > 0:08:18- No, I bought it at a table top sale. - Let me tell you a bit about him.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22And then you can tell me what you paid for him.
0:08:22 > 0:08:27He's Royal Doulton, as you know. because he's marked Royal Doulton.
0:08:27 > 0:08:32And it also says, which is good, Flambe.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34Which refers to the type of glaze.
0:08:34 > 0:08:40- I suspect it was made at some stage, probably in the 1920s.- I think so.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42And I'll be honest I've never seen,
0:08:42 > 0:08:44although I've seen quite a few of these,
0:08:44 > 0:08:47a mouse sitting on a cube like this.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49Tell me what you paid for it now.
0:08:49 > 0:08:54They were asking £3 but as with most of the things I buy
0:08:54 > 0:08:58I knock the price slightly and I paid £2.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01You must be an antique dealer's nightmare.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04That's a little bit mean and cheeky too
0:09:04 > 0:09:07and he knew what he was buying which I think made it slightly more
0:09:07 > 0:09:10ironic really because he could have paid £20 for it
0:09:10 > 0:09:13and still have known that there was a jolly good profit in it for him.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16Let's talk money and I'll tell you what I think it's going to make.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18You're going to make a profit.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22But I don't want you telling me you want £300 for it.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25It's not going to make £300.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29- You think it might by the sounds of it.- I definitely think it might.- OK.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32I'm here to be proved wrong.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34Carl had done his homework. He knew it was rare.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37He didn't jolly well tell me.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40No, good for him, but it was much rarer than I thought.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43I had a chat with the auctioneer and he says it could fly away.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46I think it probably might. I hope it does.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48I might be a little bit embarrassed but...
0:09:48 > 0:09:50Even if it's within estimate it's still a great bargain.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52Let's find out what the bidders think.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54It's going under the hammer right now. Here we go.
0:09:56 > 0:10:01480 then is the Royal Doulton Flambe figure of the mouse.
0:10:02 > 0:10:09Bids there start at 220, 240, 260, 280, 300.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13- 300 straightaway. - With me at 320, looking for 340.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17- 340, I've got 360.- Two phone lines.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22400 and 20.
0:10:24 > 0:10:25440.
0:10:27 > 0:10:28460.
0:10:30 > 0:10:31480.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33500.
0:10:35 > 0:10:43And 20. Selling now at £500.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46Done with it at 500. And 20. 540.
0:10:49 > 0:10:50560.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56At 540, are we sure we're done at 540?
0:10:56 > 0:11:00At 540 left handed. All done at 540, going to sell at 540.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05Well done, you. Well done, you.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08I hope you feel guilty for knocking them down that extra pound.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12I might not have made anything. You don't know until you sell it.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15The mouse sold so well because it was rare.
0:11:15 > 0:11:16As simple as that.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20I was caught out a bit but, you know, what a nice way to be caught out.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23If you're looking for a bargain, Doulton could be a good bet
0:11:23 > 0:11:26as there is so much of it out there.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28You brought in a nice piece of Doulton there.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31Made for Dewar's Whiskey.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33Very stunning piece of Royal Doulton.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36Your wife told me you keep this under the bed.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38At times.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42The history of Royal Doulton goes back almost two centuries.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47Over the years the factory produced everything from stoneware
0:11:47 > 0:11:50jardinieres to flamboyant figurines.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52Miniatures to biscuit barrels.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54That's quite nice. Do you want to sell that?
0:11:54 > 0:11:58- I bought it from a car boot sale. - How much?- £1.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01Selling in the doorway at £1,100.
0:12:03 > 0:12:08One of the things Doulton is best known for is its figurines.
0:12:08 > 0:12:09If you're buying Doulton figures,
0:12:09 > 0:12:13the earlier ones nearly always do better than the later ones
0:12:13 > 0:12:16but the key is making sure you're looking for figures that were
0:12:16 > 0:12:19produced in limited production ranges.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23I would recommend you look for the pre-war Art Deco figures.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26Still very popular, and hold strong prices in the sale room.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30We had one recently that made in excess of £3,000.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32But what else is worth collecting?
0:12:32 > 0:12:34They also made character jugs.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36Thousands of different character jugs.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Some people call them toby jugs.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41Tell me, where did you get it?
0:12:41 > 0:12:44I pick up all my bits at boot sales and charity shops.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47- How much did you pay for him? - £2.- That's a bargain.- I know.
0:12:47 > 0:12:48At 35...
0:12:48 > 0:12:50Your bid, sir.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54And another unusual area of Doulton which I see not that often...
0:12:54 > 0:12:58They produced suffragette figures in stoneware rather than bone china.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01Quite rare, quite collectible. So, there's my tip.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03Jump on the Doulton suffragette figures.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07It's hard to go wrong when hunting for Doulton,
0:13:07 > 0:13:10as all true pieces are marked.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14If we look under the pot, we will see the Doulton back stamp.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17Some are also signed by the artists,
0:13:17 > 0:13:21and there are specific names to keep in mind when buying.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24You've got the artist's monogram.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27- ED for Edward Dunn. - That's right, yeah.
0:13:27 > 0:13:28At £230...
0:13:28 > 0:13:30Yes!
0:13:30 > 0:13:33The important thing about it is that it was designed by Noke,
0:13:33 > 0:13:36who was a very prolific designer in the 1920s.
0:13:36 > 0:13:37All done?
0:13:37 > 0:13:41Yes! Hammer's down. £420.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44If I was going for Doulton, I'd be going for the stonewares,
0:13:44 > 0:13:47which were made end of the 19th, beginning of the 20th century.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50Stonewares decorated by famous artists
0:13:50 > 0:13:52like Mark Marshall, George Tinworth,
0:13:52 > 0:13:54Hannah and Florence Barlow,
0:13:54 > 0:13:56and those major decorators of the period.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00Of course, anybody in the know about Doulton would recognise these
0:14:00 > 0:14:04patinas immediately as being one of the Barlow clans'.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07- In this case...- Florence.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10Who specialised in these nice slipware birds.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13£720? All done? Finished.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16It's a no sale.
0:14:18 > 0:14:19Oh, dear.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22- I've got to take the damn thing home. - And it's quite big.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25But with such a variety of things to collect and values ranging
0:14:25 > 0:14:29from tens of pounds up into the thousands, when it comes to
0:14:29 > 0:14:33spotting a Doulton bargain, you need to be one step ahead of the game.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36If you're looking to collect Doulton, do your homework.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40Get to know your artists, get to know your decorators,
0:14:40 > 0:14:43get to know when particular designs were made, recognise the
0:14:43 > 0:14:47difference between something made in 1890 and something made in 1930.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49And at any one time,
0:14:49 > 0:14:53Doulton is not all doing really well or all doing really badly.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56There are different trends within all those items that they made.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58Look for good examples of each category,
0:14:58 > 0:15:01depending on what appeals to you. Be wary of restoration.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05Doulton is renowned for being very cleverly restored.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09Monitor the market. There are opportunities to buy reasonably.
0:15:09 > 0:15:10At the moment,
0:15:10 > 0:15:14Royal Doulton ladies are somewhat depressed in their value at auction,
0:15:14 > 0:15:17so if you're wanting to build up a collection, now is the time to buy.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20They will pick up again, I'm sure, in the future
0:15:20 > 0:15:24and then you'll have done quite well, I'm sure, in future years.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31Doulton is one of the most recognisable names,
0:15:31 > 0:15:35but there are other makers' marks that also signify a potential
0:15:35 > 0:15:39bargain, and Christina came across a fine example in Exmouth.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42Chris, you brought this lighter in today.
0:15:42 > 0:15:43Tell me where you got it from.
0:15:43 > 0:15:49I actually bought it in a jumble sale over 30 years ago. I paid 50p for it.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52You bought it from a jumble sale for 50p?
0:15:52 > 0:15:53- Yeah.- Brilliant.
0:15:53 > 0:15:57Took it home, cleaned it up and then realised it was nine carat gold.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01- Did you recognise the name at the time, Dunhill?- I did, yes.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03I was very surprised. I couldn't believe it.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06I wish I had been at that jumble sale. It had that magic name.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09Dunhill were the very first people to start producing lighters.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11They produced automobilia accessories.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14It was a driving accessory, so that you could light your cigarette
0:16:14 > 0:16:17with one hand and drive with the other. Not very safe.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19There was a pin broken on it.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23I sent it away to Dunhill Cigarette Manufacturers in London
0:16:23 > 0:16:27and they refurbished it fully and sent it back to me with no charge.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30Oh, gosh, that was very generous, wasn't it?
0:16:30 > 0:16:34Also, they offered me £100 to buy it for their museum.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38- How long ago was that?- It's got to have been about 30 years ago.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41Well, they've obviously done a very good job of refurbishing it.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43You haven't used it, because we've got this very clean...
0:16:43 > 0:16:45It's never been used.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48So often you find with lighters that they were used,
0:16:48 > 0:16:51they've been dented, dropped and trodden on,
0:16:51 > 0:16:55and I think, really, to maintain their value, or have any value,
0:16:55 > 0:16:58they need to be in excellent condition, which, of course,
0:16:58 > 0:17:00the one that we saw was in mint condition.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03On the bottom, nice nine carat gold hallmark there, which is also
0:17:03 > 0:17:08hallmarked for Dunhill, so we know the case was also made by Dunhill.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10From the hallmark, actually, it's dated 1929,
0:17:10 > 0:17:13so it's from the late '20s.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15Value-wise, we might be looking somewhere in the region
0:17:15 > 0:17:18of £250-350
0:17:18 > 0:17:22and a firm reserve of 250. How would you feel about that?
0:17:22 > 0:17:26- I was thinking more a 300 reserve. - 300 reserve, OK.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29So we'll say 300-400, with a reserve of 300.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32I hope that's not just a little bit too high.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34It might just be, but let's keep our fingers crossed.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38Dunhill. The George V nine carat gold
0:17:38 > 0:17:40petrol-operated cigarette lighter.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42£200...
0:17:42 > 0:17:45200, thank you. At £200...
0:17:45 > 0:17:47- At 220...- Come on, come on.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50240. 60... 280... 300.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54At £300...
0:17:54 > 0:17:58- Where's 20? At £300.- It's sold. - It's sold on the reserve.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01All done, then. Selling at £300...
0:18:01 > 0:18:05We did it. That's not a bad return on 50 pence. Put it there.
0:18:05 > 0:18:06- Pleased with that. - Good spotting, sir.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09- That was a bit tight, wasn't it? - It was!
0:18:09 > 0:18:11That's auctions for you!
0:18:11 > 0:18:14Dunhill really are the name that most collectors want.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17There are others, like Ronson, Zippo lighters, of course,
0:18:17 > 0:18:20but Dunhill were really the first pioneers
0:18:20 > 0:18:23when it came to lighters, so all the collectors want that magic name.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28So, a famous name can certainly add to an item's potential value,
0:18:28 > 0:18:31but not all the signs are so obvious.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35As Caroline Hawley knows, part of the art of sniffing out a bargain
0:18:35 > 0:18:38is to look beyond your first impressions.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42I bought this in a little antique shop in France.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44One of my favourite shops.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48And right at the back of the shop I found this
0:18:48 > 0:18:53completely covered in dust, dirty, and I fell in love with it.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57I asked the price and he said I could have it for 40 euros.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00I bought it immediately,
0:19:00 > 0:19:03took it home and started cleaning it.
0:19:03 > 0:19:08As I cleaned it, all this beautiful inlay came to light.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11And now I have it at home and love it.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13It looks, to all intents and purposes,
0:19:13 > 0:19:16like an ordinary table, with a drawer in the front.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19It's ormolu mounted.
0:19:19 > 0:19:23Ormolu means "or", which is "gold" in French,
0:19:23 > 0:19:24"moulu" - "ground",
0:19:24 > 0:19:29and it would be ground gold mixed with mercury into a paste,
0:19:29 > 0:19:33applied to metal mounts, and then the metal mounts were heated
0:19:33 > 0:19:37and the mercury vaporised, leaving the gold on the metal,
0:19:37 > 0:19:39and then it was applied to the furniture.
0:19:39 > 0:19:44So this is ormolu mounted and it's actually known as a coiffeuse,
0:19:44 > 0:19:47which is a hairdressing table.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50"Coiffure" meaning "hairdressing".
0:19:50 > 0:19:53Open it up and there's a mirror inside
0:19:53 > 0:19:58and the compartments for putting your various accoutrements.
0:19:58 > 0:20:03And it dates, I would say, from about 1890, 1900.
0:20:03 > 0:20:08And I think this was such a bargain, because today, I think,
0:20:08 > 0:20:13in its restored condition, it is probably worth £400-500.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17A slice of luck for Caroline and a lesson for all of us.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19Despite the competition for bargains,
0:20:19 > 0:20:23it's still possible to unearth them.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25Seek and ye shall find.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29..a quick look at it. It was a bit dirty and whatnot. £5.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31I thought, "I've got to buy it." I like things that are pretty.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34- How much?- £5.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36- £100.- Great!
0:20:36 > 0:20:39I bought it at a car boot sale ten years ago.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41£10, believe it or not.
0:20:41 > 0:20:46- The bottle at £420. All finished. - £420! That is a sold sound!
0:20:46 > 0:20:50- And how much did you pay for this? - £4.50.- £4.50!
0:20:50 > 0:20:52- At 170.- £170.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55- I'm glad I didn't chuck it now! - I bet you are!
0:20:55 > 0:20:58- Crumbs, you must have gone into a jolly nice shop to buy that.- No.
0:20:58 > 0:21:03- Charity shop.- Go on, tell me what you paid for it.- £15.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05£400. There you go!
0:21:09 > 0:21:12Inspired to sniff out a bargain yourself?
0:21:12 > 0:21:15Here are a few things to consider.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18Get to the boot sales and jumbles before anyone else.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22The early bird really DOES catch the worm!
0:21:22 > 0:21:25And rummage! Get on your knees under the table and turn out those boxes.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28A little gem might well be hidden.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31Look for names and marks.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33They might just be the sign of something special.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37And, most importantly of all, do your research. A bit of knowledge
0:21:37 > 0:21:40can pay dividends.
0:21:40 > 0:21:41Well done, you!
0:21:41 > 0:21:45But, remember, it's not all about making money.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48I suppose that, whether you consider something a bargain
0:21:48 > 0:21:51depends on how much you really want it.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53If you've not had much luck at a car boot sale,
0:21:53 > 0:21:56then console yourself with the thought that,
0:21:56 > 0:22:00if you bought something you love, it doesn't really matter
0:22:00 > 0:22:01how much you paid for it.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08It's one thing picking up a bargain for a handful of loose change,
0:22:08 > 0:22:11but when something unexpectedly lands on your lap,
0:22:11 > 0:22:13you know your luck's definitely in.
0:22:13 > 0:22:17That is certainly true of the case of Ken, who met up with David Barby
0:22:17 > 0:22:20and set his heart all a-flutter at a valuation day
0:22:20 > 0:22:22in Barrow-in-Furness.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25I find it extraordinary that we have come on a programme
0:22:25 > 0:22:29called Flog It. I think it should be renamed Attic Treasures.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33- Yeah, probably!- Because these have come out of your attic.- They have.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36- How long have they been stuck up there?- Over 30 years, I think.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38Since the '70s, anyway.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41'I honestly didn't think the posters were worth anything.'
0:22:41 > 0:22:44But we were getting new insulation put in the loft of the house
0:22:44 > 0:22:49and we found them again. They were brought out and Joan, me wife,
0:22:49 > 0:22:53thought they might be just... worth taking to Flog It.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56She was obviously interested in going to Flog It.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59Have you tried to sell these before or give them away?
0:22:59 > 0:23:02I once offered them to a model railway club,
0:23:02 > 0:23:05- and they said, "They're just worthless..."- Uh!
0:23:05 > 0:23:06"..but we'll take them off your hands.
0:23:06 > 0:23:11"We might use one or two." But I thought, "No, I'll not bother."
0:23:11 > 0:23:13It's only probably recently that these are now appreciated
0:23:13 > 0:23:15for what they are -
0:23:15 > 0:23:19railwayana art - which is very popular at the moment.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23- And these all date from the 1950s and the '60s, I'd imagine?- They do.
0:23:23 > 0:23:24How did you acquire them?
0:23:24 > 0:23:29It was a friend that had asked me to be the executor under his will...
0:23:29 > 0:23:31- Yes.- ..and he'd meticulously
0:23:31 > 0:23:34left all his possessions to different people
0:23:34 > 0:23:37and I got the leftovers, as you call it.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39'He'd worked on the railway'
0:23:39 > 0:23:42and I'm assuming that's how he'd got the posters.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46They'd obviously been used, they'd obviously been on the wall somewhere
0:23:46 > 0:23:48of a station, advertising these trips,
0:23:48 > 0:23:50'and he must have just collected them,
0:23:50 > 0:23:55'because, from what we could make out, they're just bits of paper that,
0:23:55 > 0:23:58'after they were done, they were just thrown away. So, I suppose,'
0:23:58 > 0:24:01in one sense, they were lucky they survived so long.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04These are very evocative of period and the excitement
0:24:04 > 0:24:06of travel by train in England
0:24:06 > 0:24:10- that has gone.- All gone.- Yeah. But the one,
0:24:10 > 0:24:17the one that is absolutely knockout, really, is this one here.
0:24:19 > 0:24:24If you wanted a winter holiday, you would go to Southport.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28This is the best and you've got, probably, about, what, 25 others?
0:24:28 > 0:24:30Roughly, yes.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33Now, I'm going to suggest that we leave it up to the auctioneer
0:24:33 > 0:24:38- to put these posters into various groups.- Whatever he thinks.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41I think we can look favourably to getting -
0:24:41 > 0:24:45I'll not get you too excited - but probably about £600-£800.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49Oh, blimey! Yeah, well... I'd be more than happy with that!
0:24:51 > 0:24:52I hope it's going to make more!
0:24:52 > 0:24:54BOTH LAUGH
0:24:54 > 0:24:55So do I!
0:24:55 > 0:24:59When David Barby said maybe up to £600 and odd,
0:24:59 > 0:25:02we were quite surprised. Then, when the auctioneer started
0:25:02 > 0:25:04looking at them, he thought
0:25:04 > 0:25:07maybe one or two of them might be quite a bit valuable.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11We've just been joined by Kenneth. He's brought his wife along. Hello!
0:25:11 > 0:25:14- What's your name?- Joan.- What do you think of all the posters?
0:25:14 > 0:25:17- Oh, wonderful.- The auctioneer's done us proud. They're all displayed.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20He's decided to sell them individually.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23I had a chat to him before the sale. He is rather excited.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26On a good day, could do a couple of thousand pounds.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30And there's a few stars. There's a few stars.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32- Joan, we're going to be in the money.- Yeah, I hope so!
0:25:32 > 0:25:35We come on to the first of the railway posters now.
0:25:35 > 0:25:36I have 80, on commission.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39- 85, on the phone. 90. - It's a good start.
0:25:39 > 0:25:4295, 100. With me, now.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44Any advance? And selling...
0:25:44 > 0:25:45No further bid...
0:25:45 > 0:25:49£100. That's the first one down. That's a good start. Great start.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51- We've got how many?- 29!
0:25:51 > 0:25:52The West Highland Line...
0:25:52 > 0:25:54With so many separate posters to sell,
0:25:54 > 0:25:56the money started totting up,
0:25:56 > 0:26:00smashing through David's estimate.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03£1,140.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06Well, I was stunned.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10I even offered to buy me wife fish and chips on the way home!
0:26:10 > 0:26:12Oh, you'll get that fish and chips now.
0:26:18 > 0:26:19(I can't believe this.)
0:26:21 > 0:26:25"Bristol - romantic centre for a delightful holiday."
0:26:25 > 0:26:29I've never seen anything like this on Flog It. I really haven't.
0:26:29 > 0:26:34'Last was David's favourite. Did the bidders share his enthusiasm?'
0:26:34 > 0:26:37The Southport one, an earlier one. This is rather attractive.
0:26:37 > 0:26:382,3 on the phone.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42- 2,4 on the internet. - 2,4 on the internet. 2,500 I'll take.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44- 2,6.- 2,6.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47- 2,7? No.- Gosh!
0:26:47 > 0:26:50£2,600 on the internet now and selling...
0:26:50 > 0:26:51£2,600.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58£8,000 for all the posters put together. Fantastic!
0:26:58 > 0:27:00- I feel like applauding!- I know.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04APPLAUSE
0:27:04 > 0:27:07- Joan, give us a hug! Oh!- Thank you very much. You've been wonderful.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10Don't spend it all at once, will you?!
0:27:10 > 0:27:12ALL LAUGH
0:27:13 > 0:27:15£8,000 - incredible!
0:27:17 > 0:27:20It allowed Ken to buy something that was a necessity
0:27:20 > 0:27:23for a private passion.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28The funny thing was that, on the day of the auction,
0:27:28 > 0:27:32when we were driving to Kendal, the clutch went on me car.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34We barely managed to get there and back home again.
0:27:34 > 0:27:40So, I bought myself an old car, a little estate, which I could use
0:27:40 > 0:27:44for fishing. It gets me out of the house, fishing.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48It's just being out in the fresh air and it's just peaceful
0:27:48 > 0:27:52and, in a place like this, it's just nice to be out.
0:27:55 > 0:28:00Those railway posters will always be a Flog It highlight for me.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03It's great to know that Ken put the proceeds of the sale
0:28:03 > 0:28:07to such relaxing use. Well, that's it for today's show.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09I hope you've enjoyed watching.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11So, please, go out there and have some fun.
0:28:11 > 0:28:15Start buying antiques and we'll be back soon with more Trade Secrets.