0:00:03 > 0:00:05It's been well over ten years
0:00:05 > 0:00:08since you first started coming to our Flog It valuation days
0:00:08 > 0:00:10and since then we've seen,
0:00:10 > 0:00:14valued and sold thousands of your unwanted antiques and collectables.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17- I don't believe that!- That'll do me, that'll do me lovely.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19Really, as much as that? Wow!
0:00:21 > 0:00:23And I've discovered there's always more to
0:00:23 > 0:00:26find about the world of fine art and antiques which we all love.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30So, if you want to know more, you've come to the right place.
0:00:30 > 0:00:31Welcome to Trade Secrets.
0:00:57 > 0:01:02We love hearing about your bargain hunting skills on Flog It,
0:01:02 > 0:01:05and judging by your stories of miraculous car boot finds
0:01:05 > 0:01:07and fantastic jumble sale discoveries,
0:01:07 > 0:01:09there are still plenty more hidden gems
0:01:09 > 0:01:13waiting to be picked up, all over the British Isles.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16So, today, we're celebrating all you lucky ones
0:01:16 > 0:01:17with a nose for a bargain.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20James, I bought it at a car boot sale ten years ago,
0:01:20 > 0:01:24and £10, believe it or not.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26For the bottle at 420, all finished.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29£420, that is a sold sound!
0:01:29 > 0:01:33- £5. I thought I've got to buy it... - How much? £5.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35HE MOUTHS
0:01:35 > 0:01:38- £100.- Great!
0:01:38 > 0:01:41Crumbs, you must have gone into a jolly nice shop to buy that.
0:01:41 > 0:01:46- No, charity shop.- Go on, tell me what you paid for it.- £15.
0:01:46 > 0:01:47£400, there you go.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52- And how much did you pay for this? - £4.50.- £4.50?
0:01:52 > 0:01:54- At £170.- £170.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57- I'm glad I didn't chuck it now! - I bet you are.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01So, coming up, are there tricks of trade
0:02:01 > 0:02:05to hunting out a bargain or is it simply down to luck?
0:02:05 > 0:02:08I picked them up at auction because there were some frames I wanted,
0:02:08 > 0:02:10I didn't want those.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13I knew that they would do very, very well.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16We discover bagging a bargain can literally be a lottery.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19We won it at a raffle, took it home and hung it on the wall
0:02:19 > 0:02:22and didn't really think a great deal more about it.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24- Didn't realise how important it was? - No.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27Nick Hall reveals the secrets of spotting a bargain in
0:02:27 > 0:02:29the contemporary art world.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33What you really need to do is to go to the places where the young,
0:02:33 > 0:02:36the fresh, the new art is emerging from.
0:02:36 > 0:02:37I know just the perfect place to go
0:02:37 > 0:02:40and find exactly what we're looking for.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44And a pile of unwanted railway posters make sparks in the saleroom.
0:02:44 > 0:02:49- Joan, give us a hug!- Thank you very much, it's been wonderful.
0:02:49 > 0:02:50Don't spend it all at once!
0:02:55 > 0:02:59You bring along so many great finds to our valuation days,
0:02:59 > 0:03:02the team can only look on in envy when you reveal
0:03:02 > 0:03:07how and when you picked them up and exactly how much you paid for them.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10But you really don't have to be an expert to
0:03:10 > 0:03:12pick up a great deal.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14You might just spot something out of your eye.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Go with your gut feeling and just go, there's something about that,
0:03:17 > 0:03:18I'm just going to buy it.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22Because there's nothing worse than, after the event, going, "I wish I'd
0:03:22 > 0:03:23"bought it when I saw it."
0:03:23 > 0:03:26Buy what you like, buy something distinctive.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30If it doesn't turn out to be a bargain, and is only worth more or
0:03:30 > 0:03:33less what you paid for it, it doesn't really matter cos you still like it.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37A bargain is something that you really, really want
0:03:37 > 0:03:41and you can buy it for less money than you're prepared to pay for it.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46A lot of people don't realise they've bought a bargain.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49It's only when they turn up at our valuation days that they
0:03:49 > 0:03:52learn just how valuable their items might be.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56Lynn knew nothing about this painting - except that she liked it.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59So she bought it - for just £2!
0:03:59 > 0:04:01Well, Lynn, it's a matter of fact that
0:04:01 > 0:04:05when it comes down to art at auction it's all about the artist's name.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07And you've got a piece here that you've
0:04:07 > 0:04:09brought in by James Humbert Craig.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12Tell me, how have you come by this, and do you know the artist?
0:04:12 > 0:04:16I don't know it at all, I got it at a jumble sale, about seven years
0:04:16 > 0:04:19ago, and my daughter looked it up on the internet for me.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22- She said he's an Irish landscape artist.- You're right, yes.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25Born in the 1870s, died in 1944.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27Born in Belfast,
0:04:27 > 0:04:31an Irishman who was very passionate about his sort of Irish roots,
0:04:31 > 0:04:36shall we say, and really wanted to bring out the beauty
0:04:36 > 0:04:39and nature of the Irish landscape.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42In the history of Irish art he has quite an important role to play,
0:04:42 > 0:04:46which is always going to help as far as price goes because the more
0:04:46 > 0:04:50relevant someone is to the history, the more important their work is.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53I don't think this is one of his finished pieces.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56It's on what we call an artist's board rather than on a finished,
0:04:56 > 0:05:00stretched canvas. But he's signed it there for us, and dated it, 1912.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04I see it's got a little bit of damage here. Was that there when you bought it?
0:05:04 > 0:05:06That was like that when I bought it, yes.
0:05:06 > 0:05:07OK, cos I suspect if you've bought it for £2,
0:05:07 > 0:05:10the person who sold it to you probably didn't realise what
0:05:10 > 0:05:13it was and it probably wasn't looked after terribly well
0:05:13 > 0:05:16and maybe that's when it got this scuff.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18Sometimes, dealers who buy this sort of work,
0:05:18 > 0:05:20they like to find it in original condition,
0:05:20 > 0:05:21so if there is a bit of damage,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24it almost tells them that it hasn't been through the trade,
0:05:24 > 0:05:26it hasn't been touched up, it hasn't been over-cleaned.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29What do you like about it, is it just the colours, the scene?
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Just the scene, it just caught me eye, and I thought, that is really nice.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35It's as though I was actually looking at that area.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38Well, his work does sell for thousands of pounds.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40He's a well-known artist, his finished canvases
0:05:40 > 0:05:43and his big pieces sell for many thousands.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46But I think I'm going to come in quite conservative.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50I'm suggesting putting it in at an estimate of £100-£200.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53- Really?- Yeah, how do you feel about that?- That's wonderful!
0:05:53 > 0:05:54It is, it's all right, isn't it?
0:05:54 > 0:05:58Find one of those a day and you're laughing, you can give up the day job!
0:05:58 > 0:06:00I said to Lynn that I was putting it in conservatively
0:06:00 > 0:06:01because she only paid £2 for it.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04So she was going to make whatever happens.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11James Humbert Craig has certainly got the phone lines booked
0:06:11 > 0:06:15here today, that's for sure. Lynn, it's caused quite a stir.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19We have a lot of interest in this, one, two, three commission bids.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21Two...
0:06:21 > 0:06:25- Three, we've got. - Three.- Three phone bids.
0:06:26 > 0:06:32So, I'm going to start with the highest cleared bid of £380.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35- SHE GASPS - Is there £400 in the room?
0:06:35 > 0:06:40At £380, commission bid, is there 400? Is there four?
0:06:40 > 0:06:43400 to the telephone. Commission bids are all out now.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47At £400 on the telephone. Is there 20?
0:06:47 > 0:06:49420. 450.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51Someone in the room now.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55450.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57'And the bids just kept coming.'
0:06:57 > 0:07:02470, 500, 520, 550.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04520 on the net, is there a 550?
0:07:04 > 0:07:07550, 570...
0:07:08 > 0:07:11- That's what you said, didn't you?- Yeah.- 600?
0:07:11 > 0:07:17At £570, then, on the internet, at £570 and selling.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21- Lynn, you're in the money. - £570 for the very last time...
0:07:21 > 0:07:24- Yes!- Thank you very much!
0:07:24 > 0:07:27Do you know, it was worth selling, actually, wasn't it, for £570?
0:07:27 > 0:07:30- Not bad for a £2 investment.- No.
0:07:30 > 0:07:31'She was chuffed,'
0:07:31 > 0:07:35and especially as I think the rest of her family had taken the mick
0:07:35 > 0:07:37out of her, "What have you bought that old bit of rubbish for?"
0:07:37 > 0:07:39Well, the last laugh was with you, Lynn.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45If you pick up something you like,
0:07:45 > 0:07:48don't be disheartened if it's not valuable right now.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51Times, tastes and markets all change,
0:07:51 > 0:07:55so it could be well worth holding on to, as John and Sam discovered.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58We don't need any introduction here, do we?
0:07:58 > 0:08:00- No, no. - This is good old Clarice Cliff.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04It wouldn't be a Flog It without Clarice Cliff. But, tell me...
0:08:05 > 0:08:06..family pieces?
0:08:06 > 0:08:11Well, we picked these up in a bazaar, a jumble sale, in a church hall.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13- No?- Yes, many years ago. - And what did you pay for them?
0:08:13 > 0:08:16- Nothing.- Nothing?- Nothing at all.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19- Do you remember this, Sam? - Yeah, I remember it really well.
0:08:19 > 0:08:20I was seven at the time.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24I was with my mum on the day, I was sat on the stage,
0:08:24 > 0:08:26waiting for my mum,
0:08:26 > 0:08:29and then my mum finished, and she spotted it.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32I picked it up and showed her the big plate, I remember,
0:08:32 > 0:08:35and then my mum liked it, she spoke to the woman
0:08:35 > 0:08:37and the woman said, "Take it."
0:08:37 > 0:08:40I packed it up in a bag, she gave me it, and that was it, job done.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44I wasn't surprised at all that they got these from a jumble sale
0:08:44 > 0:08:47for nothing, because, at the time, they simply weren't in vogue
0:08:47 > 0:08:49and nobody wanted them.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52These are very typical of her range in the 1930s.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56We've got a very common pattern here, the crocus pattern,
0:08:56 > 0:08:58but on quite a nice shaped dish.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01We've then got the wind chime pattern, I think, isn't it?
0:09:01 > 0:09:03Something like that.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06And then we've got these two really bizarre patterned ones,
0:09:06 > 0:09:10which I love, these bright oranges and bright geometric designs.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13The market for Clarice Cliff is always unpredictable.
0:09:13 > 0:09:18It's still very buoyant for rare and unusual items, shapes, patterns.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21I don't think any of them are particularly rare patterns.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25- No.- If we estimated them, say, at £150-£250
0:09:25 > 0:09:28to give the auctioneer that oomph, as it were...
0:09:28 > 0:09:31- Yeah.- That's marvellous. - Would you be happy with that?
0:09:31 > 0:09:33- That's wonderful.- Fantastic. - I'm very happy with that.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37Numerous commission bids here, I'm going to start straight in at £260.
0:09:37 > 0:09:43270, takes me out at 270. £270, 280, 290.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46300, 310.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50320, 330.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52340, 350.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56360. At 360 on the one telephone, at 360.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59- Telephone bid has just come in. - 370, 380 back in.
0:09:59 > 0:10:03- Wow.- 380 back in on the phones. 390, Julian?
0:10:03 > 0:10:06390. 400?
0:10:06 > 0:10:10- At £390 on the telephone, at £390. Are you sure, this time?- £390!
0:10:12 > 0:10:17At £390 on the telephone, at 390. Are we all done, then, at 390?
0:10:17 > 0:10:18Wow.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21- I love that wallop!- I don't know what they see in it!- Unbelievable.
0:10:21 > 0:10:23£390!
0:10:23 > 0:10:25- And you got it all for nothing! - I never thought I'd get that far.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29If you want to make a tidy profit like Sam,
0:10:29 > 0:10:33then Mark has a few pointers about the Clarice Cliff patterns
0:10:33 > 0:10:35and designs to look out for.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38The tennis pattern, the carpet pattern,
0:10:38 > 0:10:41the Gibraltar pattern, these are unusual patterns
0:10:41 > 0:10:44and you often find them on unusual shapes,
0:10:44 > 0:10:48the very Art Deco shapes, and the sort of conical shaped pieces.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51That's the thing to look out for. Shapes are really key.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00The best of bargains can come from the most unlikely places.
0:11:00 > 0:11:01And chance can play a part,
0:11:01 > 0:11:05as the item that belonged to Carol and Ian goes to prove.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09It's a very rare item. Tell me a bit about it.
0:11:09 > 0:11:14Well, we won it almost 15 years ago now at a raffle,
0:11:14 > 0:11:16took it home and hung it on the wall
0:11:16 > 0:11:20and didn't really think a great deal more about it until probably...
0:11:20 > 0:11:23four years ago or so, and we did a bit of research on it.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27Right, OK, so you didn't know who it was by at the time you won it?
0:11:27 > 0:11:30We knew it was Eduardo Paolozzi...
0:11:30 > 0:11:33- Right.- ..but didn't really realise the significance of it.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35- Didn't realise how important it was?- No.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39'Paolozzi, I think, is a very important modern artist
0:11:39 > 0:11:43'and sculptor, so I was astonished to hear they'd won it in a raffle.'
0:11:43 > 0:11:46You don't normally win things like that in raffles.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49TV sets, boxes of chocolates, bunches of flowers,
0:11:49 > 0:11:52but a Paolozzi bronze?! Wow, lucky people!
0:11:52 > 0:11:55So I was amazed to hear that, and I was thrilled for them, too.
0:11:55 > 0:12:00This is a representation of the famous piece of sculpture
0:12:00 > 0:12:04that stands in the forecourt of the British Library.
0:12:04 > 0:12:09You knew at the time it was by Paolozzi, but how did you know that?
0:12:09 > 0:12:12It came with this letter of authenticity with it.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15OK, I'll just quickly read this.
0:12:15 > 0:12:20This, obviously, is on his own notepaper with a printed heading.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24"This is to authorise that the bronze plaque Newton After Blake
0:12:24 > 0:12:27"can be raffled for the Brenchley & Matfield Tennis Club."
0:12:27 > 0:12:30- Where's that?- In Kent.- Kent.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32"This was executed by me,
0:12:32 > 0:12:36"and a copy cast by Livingstone Art Founders in 1995."
0:12:36 > 0:12:39He then goes on to say that the original version of the sculpture
0:12:39 > 0:12:43is being installed in front of the new British Library.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46And it's signed by Paolozzi himself, which is fantastic.
0:12:46 > 0:12:51'Provenance on an item like this is vitally important.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53'These things are very rare,'
0:12:53 > 0:12:58and, it must be said, they're relatively easily faked.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01So this was a copper-bottom provenance,
0:13:01 > 0:13:03and that was very exciting, too.
0:13:03 > 0:13:07My view is that this is worth somewhere between £2,000 and £3,000.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12Can I ask how much the raffle ticket cost?
0:13:12 > 0:13:14- £1.- £1? Gosh!
0:13:15 > 0:13:19£1 each. But you were very generous, you bought more than one ticket!
0:13:19 > 0:13:21- We bought five!- Five!
0:13:21 > 0:13:23So it actually cost you a fiver, not just a pound!
0:13:25 > 0:13:28I've got bids, got interest, and I've got to start at £1,500.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31At £1,500, the bid's on the books.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34At £1,500, £1,500, the bid's with me.
0:13:34 > 0:13:381,600, 1,700, 1,800, 1,900, 2,000.
0:13:38 > 0:13:422,1... At £2,100, the bid's with me.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46At £2,100.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48At £2,100... 2,2 or not?
0:13:48 > 0:13:52At £2,100, done?
0:13:52 > 0:13:55At £2,100.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57Number 814.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00Yes! He's sold it for £2,100!
0:14:00 > 0:14:02Got to be happy with that?
0:14:02 > 0:14:04It fell within estimate, so, in all honesty,
0:14:04 > 0:14:06I was quite chuffed, really.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10That's one raffle I'd wished I'd bought a ticket for!
0:14:10 > 0:14:12But even when you're buying at auction,
0:14:12 > 0:14:15a bargain can still land in your lap.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18Flog It regular Claire Rawle proved that point
0:14:18 > 0:14:21when she inadvertently bought a real treasure.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25This little Japanese carved wooden Tiger,
0:14:25 > 0:14:27I never actually set out to buy.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30Many, many years ago, when I first started in this business,
0:14:30 > 0:14:32I bought a box of mixed items.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35I bought the box, it probably had a toy in it or something that I wanted,
0:14:35 > 0:14:39and when I got home and I rummaged about, there it was,
0:14:39 > 0:14:41lurking in the bottom of the box. Cost me a fiver.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44And, I was very early days of my career then,
0:14:44 > 0:14:46so I didn't know an awful lot about it,
0:14:46 > 0:14:50except it's incredibly tactile, it's the most gorgeous thing.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52It looks quite fierce, cos it's snarling,
0:14:52 > 0:14:55but it's got rather a round-y nose, which is very typical Japanese.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57He dates from the late 19th-century.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00Always thought he might have been intended as a netsuke,
0:15:00 > 0:15:03but there are no holes in him,
0:15:03 > 0:15:07so I'm guessing he's just a little carved wooden ornament.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11And if you turn him upside down, like so many Oriental works of art,
0:15:11 > 0:15:13he's got the most beautiful detail.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16All his little pads, his little claws, and he is actually signed,
0:15:16 > 0:15:19he's got character marks, which I really ought to get looked at.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22Probably says something like "Made in Hong Kong,"
0:15:22 > 0:15:25but with any luck it might say that it's carved by one of the exceptionally gifted
0:15:25 > 0:15:28Japanese carvers. That would be nice.
0:15:28 > 0:15:29And one day I'll get it checked out.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31But, in a way, I just like him as he is.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34I don't know that I want to know too much more about him. I think he's gorgeous,
0:15:34 > 0:15:38and I think today we're probably looking at an auction price
0:15:38 > 0:15:42of 100 to 150, so it wasn't bad for a fiver, really.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46A nice little bonus for Claire!
0:15:46 > 0:15:49But nothing compared to the windfall that awaited Stephen,
0:15:49 > 0:15:52who picked up two paintings as part of a job lot.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54They're vibrant, they're impressionistic,
0:15:54 > 0:15:57and they're very much of the moment, I think.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00- So, how did you come by them? - I picked them up at auction.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03- How long ago was that then? - About eight years.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06Cos there were some frames - some Art Deco frames - I wanted.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09- I didn't want those.- You didn't like them.- No. They went in the garage.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12Have they been in the garage for the last eight years?
0:16:12 > 0:16:14One's been on the wall in the house cos the wife likes it.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16The other's been on top of the wardrobe.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18I do like them. I particularly like this one.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21The more I look at that, the more it does grow on me.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24Here's the artist's name. Look, Danila Vassilief.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27This one's dated 1934.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31- And that one's dated... - '33.- ..1933.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34He was a Russian artist.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37He moved to Australia after the Russian revolution,
0:16:37 > 0:16:40became an Australian citizen, but he toured around the world.
0:16:40 > 0:16:44He went to the Caribbean, he came to England for a little
0:16:44 > 0:16:48while during the 1930s and he painted here.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51I've looked at recent sales...
0:16:51 > 0:16:52of oils like this,
0:16:52 > 0:17:00and they have sold for anything from £200-£300 right up to £11,236.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02That's a fair price.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05Yeah. The question is, how much did you pay for these in auction?
0:17:05 > 0:17:10Er..£4, plus the...so £4.60.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12Is that all?
0:17:12 > 0:17:15My advice is let the auctioneer decide - Philip Serrell -
0:17:15 > 0:17:19- it's his sale. He knows his market. - Yes, I'm quite happy with that.
0:17:19 > 0:17:20So what did Philip think?
0:17:20 > 0:17:23Well, he valued the larger of the two at £200-£300
0:17:23 > 0:17:28and the smaller at £100-£150.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30He knew they were something special.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33There are areas of collectability that are strong,
0:17:33 > 0:17:40and the strong areas at the moment are New Zealand, Australia.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44And this man had a big Australian following
0:17:44 > 0:17:46because his work came from there.
0:17:46 > 0:17:51But they were set to exceed everyone's expectations.
0:17:51 > 0:17:55A little birdie told me your wife is quite happy to get rid of these.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58She'd like me to clear out a little bit, yes.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02I have got a rather excessive amount of pictures...probably 300.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06- If they didn't sell... 300? You're a bit of a magpie.- Yes.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09My rainy day money, my retirement fund.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11Here we go. This is it. Good luck, Stephen.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14This painting that I am offering you, it is
0:18:14 > 0:18:15the larger one of the two.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19It is the landscape with the figures. With me at 320.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23- That's a big profit. - 350, 360, 370...
0:18:23 > 0:18:25But it hasn't stopped yet.
0:18:25 > 0:18:30'For a £4.60 investment, Stephen was going to get a serious return.'
0:18:30 > 0:18:33- Internet bidding. Can you see that? - Yeah.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36550, 580, 600...
0:18:36 > 0:18:41Bid's with me. 520, 650, 680, 700...
0:18:41 > 0:18:43720. £720.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47£720 for the first, for the larger one.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49£720.
0:18:49 > 0:18:53'And Stephen's wife Anne can't believe it.'
0:18:53 > 0:18:55At 800, 820...
0:18:55 > 0:18:58850... 850.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01850, 880...
0:19:01 > 0:19:03At £880, here's the bid.
0:19:03 > 0:19:04At £880.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06The bid's with me on the machine.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09Australian art is big business.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12Twice... 900.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14LAUGHTER
0:19:14 > 0:19:19You are a little rascal, aren't you? At £900. 950...
0:19:19 > 0:19:23980, 1,000...
0:19:23 > 0:19:25And 1,100.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27James, don't stop now.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30£1,050, £1,100...
0:19:30 > 0:19:32At £1,050...
0:19:32 > 0:19:34- This is very, very good. - At £1,050 on the machine.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36Is there any more?
0:19:36 > 0:19:37Just that one more.
0:19:37 > 0:19:42Everybody's starting to fidget. They can feel the tension.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45- At £1,050...- £1,050...
0:19:45 > 0:19:47that hammer is going down.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49Done. Thank you.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52£1,050, that is a very good start for the large one.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54Right, here's the second.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56I've got a 500 bid on the book.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58£500 only.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00At £500 for the next one.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03At £500, at 520...
0:20:03 > 0:20:06550, 580, is it?
0:20:06 > 0:20:08At £550, 580, 600...
0:20:08 > 0:20:10At £600.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13Bid is with me at £600.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15At £600 only.
0:20:15 > 0:20:1620 on the net, is it?
0:20:16 > 0:20:18650 in the room.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20At 650.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22680, 700...
0:20:23 > 0:20:25720, 780...
0:20:25 > 0:20:27One more.
0:20:28 > 0:20:29You're very mean.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31At 780.
0:20:31 > 0:20:32At £780.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35Is there £800 anywhere?
0:20:35 > 0:20:36At £780.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38There is the bid.
0:20:38 > 0:20:39Once...
0:20:39 > 0:20:44twice... Done at 780.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47Yes! The hammer's gone down. £780 for the smaller one.
0:20:47 > 0:20:55That is, for you, a grand total of £1,830. What a wonderful moment.
0:20:55 > 0:20:59And we've just been joined by the wife, so what do you think?
0:20:59 > 0:21:02I... I'm stumped. I just can't believe it.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05I knew that they would do very, very well
0:21:05 > 0:21:08because of that Australia connection. Because of the internet,
0:21:08 > 0:21:11you just know that they're going to make the money that they should.
0:21:11 > 0:21:17But from a personal point of view, would they hang in my house? No...
0:21:18 > 0:21:20Well, I absolutely love it
0:21:20 > 0:21:24when we can help you turn a healthy profit, and what a profit it was.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27It just goes to show, there are bargains to be had out there,
0:21:27 > 0:21:31even in the auction rooms where Stephen picked those paintings up
0:21:31 > 0:21:32for just a few pounds.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36If you think lady luck is on your side
0:21:36 > 0:21:39and you'd like to bag yourself a bargain,
0:21:39 > 0:21:41what should you bear in mind?
0:21:41 > 0:21:43Don't always look in the obvious places
0:21:43 > 0:21:45to find that special something.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49Expect the unexpected and keep an open mind.
0:21:49 > 0:21:50Hang on to things.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52Some things may not seem like a bargain now,
0:21:52 > 0:21:57but things can quickly change when it comes to the antiques market.
0:21:57 > 0:21:58And buy what appeals.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01If you like it, the chances are someone else will too.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10Regular Flog It auctioneer Nick Hall likes all kinds of antiques and
0:22:10 > 0:22:14collectables, but he's especially passionate about paintings.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17His sale room is a veritable gallery of pictures for sale,
0:22:17 > 0:22:20and he wants no more than to share his passion with us,
0:22:20 > 0:22:23and some tips on how to spot a good investment.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28Now I've been involved in antiques for over 20 years now,
0:22:28 > 0:22:33but art, paintings, has always been my first love.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36Some of the contemporary stuff really does switch me on.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41Now this is by an artist called Theodor Major.
0:22:41 > 0:22:46Theodor Major is a very important part of 20th century northern art.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48This, when it comes up for auction,
0:22:48 > 0:22:51I've put an estimate of around about £25,000 on it.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58The artist on this one is Harold Riley.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00Now Harold Riley is still a very active artist.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03In fact, he is well-known internationally.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05Now we've been quite cautious on this.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09We've put a pre-sale estimate of £4,000-£6,000 on it,
0:23:09 > 0:23:12but it's going to blow that away.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14If you're lucky, you might find something
0:23:14 > 0:23:16that's slipped through a general auction
0:23:16 > 0:23:19for a fraction of its value - highly unlikely.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23What you really need to do is go to the places where the young,
0:23:23 > 0:23:26the fresh, the new art is emerging from.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28Being from glorious Cheshire,
0:23:28 > 0:23:31we're just a stone's throw away from the vibrant city of Manchester,
0:23:31 > 0:23:35and I know just the place to go and find exactly what we're looking for.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40Manchester School of Art is one of the oldest, highly regarded,
0:23:40 > 0:23:43pioneering art schools in the country.
0:23:43 > 0:23:48During its 175 year history, the school has had many exceptional and
0:23:48 > 0:23:52inspirational graduates, including the world renowned LS Lowry.
0:23:52 > 0:23:56So what better place to find out more about contemporary art,
0:23:56 > 0:23:59how to spot a bargain, and discover the next big thing in the art world?
0:23:59 > 0:24:02- Hi there.- Great to meet you. - Likewise.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04What a wonderful space you've got here.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07I'm here to meet head of painting Ian Hartshorne.
0:24:07 > 0:24:11So someone looking to start collecting up and coming art,
0:24:11 > 0:24:14where should they look and what should they be looking for?
0:24:14 > 0:24:17One of the best opportunities to find what you're looking for,
0:24:17 > 0:24:20what collectors might be looking for, is in our annual degree show,
0:24:20 > 0:24:24which takes place at the beginning of June each year.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27The graduates culminate their studies after three years,
0:24:27 > 0:24:30have an exhibition, which is open to the public.
0:24:30 > 0:24:35Last year, we had over 3,000 people visit the studios...
0:24:35 > 0:24:39and students did really well in terms of selling their work.
0:24:39 > 0:24:44And also, buying work at a degree exhibition is really interesting
0:24:44 > 0:24:48because it's actually the cheapest the work is ever going to be.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51An exhibition in the sense that a gallery would put on a sale
0:24:51 > 0:24:54with items for produced especially for sale in the gallery.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57That's just a sideline to showing the students' work, I guess.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01Yeah. If the students sell anything, it's an unexpected bonus, I suppose.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03But you do teach them
0:25:03 > 0:25:06a little bit about the commercial aspect of being out there
0:25:06 > 0:25:08in the cold, hard world post course.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11Yeah. It's... It's a reality that we have to face.
0:25:11 > 0:25:12It's a difficult...life.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15It's difficult for students to develop that
0:25:15 > 0:25:17kind of life for themselves, but it is possible.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19A number of students do do it and do it successfully.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23JAZZ MUSIC PLAYS
0:25:26 > 0:25:30So, Ian, with the auction buyer of art, they're established art
0:25:30 > 0:25:32and they've got a confidence
0:25:32 > 0:25:35because they know the track record of the artist's work.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38They know the prices are consistent and are high.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42What confidence would a buyer have coming to, say, an exhibition here
0:25:42 > 0:25:44with the artist whose work we're looking at?
0:25:44 > 0:25:46What could give buyers, or collectors,
0:25:46 > 0:25:51confidence is talking to those students and finding out to
0:25:51 > 0:25:55what extent the students are really serious about what they're doing.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59If those students have taken part in any extra exhibitions, if
0:25:59 > 0:26:04they have been included in prizes or awards or competitions, residences.
0:26:04 > 0:26:05Those kinds of thing.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08So it's showing a track record of their success and intent,
0:26:08 > 0:26:09if you like?
0:26:09 > 0:26:13It's an indication of how committed they are to their professional
0:26:13 > 0:26:15development.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21There's some fascinating work going on behind us here.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24- Can we meet some of the students? - Sure.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27Naomi is making some really great work.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31Exotic in flavour. Fairly large scale.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35She's painting these images of palm houses and glass houses.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39- Can we interrupt you for a second? - Of course.- Hi, Naomi.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42Loving the work you're working on currently now.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45I'd really like to get your slant on what it is you're trying to
0:26:45 > 0:26:47portray and produce.
0:26:47 > 0:26:53They are images taken from exotic landscapes and hot houses
0:26:53 > 0:26:56and palm houses. It's not a still life.
0:26:56 > 0:27:01It's meant to evoke an atmosphere of heat and the sounds of the tropics.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13So much to see, isn't there? Gosh, this is interesting.
0:27:13 > 0:27:18- I really like this.- This is Camilla. Can we say hi to Nick for a second?
0:27:18 > 0:27:20Hi, Camilla. Nice to meet you.
0:27:20 > 0:27:24Sorry to disturb you but just interested to know what it is that
0:27:24 > 0:27:27drives you, what's your inspiration for these wonderful works?
0:27:27 > 0:27:30Inspiration-wise, I started off looking at a lot
0:27:30 > 0:27:33of the old masters so I started from there.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37I was also looking at old photos from Victorian times
0:27:37 > 0:27:39and sort of recreating them.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47Ian, what in your opinion makes a good painting good?
0:27:48 > 0:27:52A good painting is good throughout different points in history.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55Some of the paintings that were initially thought to be
0:27:55 > 0:27:56good are not referred to any more.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59- Or talked about very much. - So tastes change.
0:27:59 > 0:28:01Tastes change. Fashion changes.
0:28:01 > 0:28:05And the market changes which also partly determines what a good
0:28:05 > 0:28:09- painting is.- What would you look for in a painting?
0:28:09 > 0:28:11If I can keep returning to look at it,
0:28:11 > 0:28:14it's like an itch that I want to scratch.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17If it does that to me I know it is a good piece of work.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19What are your thoughts on people buying just
0:28:19 > 0:28:21because, commercially, it will bring a return?
0:28:23 > 0:28:26I suppose if you're a buyer you want to buy the cheapest
0:28:26 > 0:28:29and sell at the highest. That's a commercial decision.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31I would like to think if anybody bought something from me
0:28:31 > 0:28:35or one of my students they were buying it because they loved it
0:28:35 > 0:28:38but I think there are two different things at work here.
0:28:38 > 0:28:41One is the art world which is about art
0:28:41 > 0:28:45and one is the art market which is about money.
0:28:45 > 0:28:47And the students that I work with
0:28:47 > 0:28:51and art schools like this are really about the art world.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53There is a fine line between the two worlds
0:28:53 > 0:28:56and the two ideals of buying, heart or purse strings, isn't it?
0:28:56 > 0:28:58I would always go with the heart.
0:28:58 > 0:29:01As an auctioneer, I've got to say purse strings.
0:29:09 > 0:29:13Still to come, we reveal the art of the true bargain hunter.
0:29:13 > 0:29:17You're a self-confessed, get ready for this, Michael, moocher.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22- That's a new one to me. - Mooching about at the car boot sales and jumbles.
0:29:22 > 0:29:23- Mooching.- It's paid off.
0:29:23 > 0:29:26We discover there are still treasures to be found
0:29:26 > 0:29:28if you know what to look for.
0:29:28 > 0:29:31It's not going to make £300.
0:29:31 > 0:29:35- You think it might by the sound of it.- I definitely think it might.- OK.
0:29:35 > 0:29:37Carl had done his homework. He knew it was rare.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40And one valuation day discovery proves to be worth a great
0:29:40 > 0:29:43deal more than David Barby first thought.
0:29:43 > 0:29:45On a good day it could do a couple of thousand pounds.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49Joan, we're going to be in the money. I think you are.
0:29:54 > 0:29:55It seems perfectly clear to me
0:29:55 > 0:29:58that you have got to keep your eyes peeled at all times
0:29:58 > 0:30:02if you want to pick up a bargain for just a few pounds.
0:30:02 > 0:30:04But there's more to bargain hunting than just luck.
0:30:04 > 0:30:08There's a lot you can do to increase your chances of finding
0:30:08 > 0:30:10something special for very little.
0:30:10 > 0:30:16In car boot sales or fairs, get up very, very early in the morning.
0:30:16 > 0:30:20Because everything that can be bought cheaply is probably
0:30:20 > 0:30:23bought before most people get up.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26- Where on earth did you get it from? - From a car boot sale.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29- For 50p or something?- No, £5.
0:30:29 > 0:30:31- At £110, we're away. - Do your homework.
0:30:31 > 0:30:34If you want to spot a bargain you need to know more than
0:30:34 > 0:30:36the person that's selling the object.
0:30:36 > 0:30:37Where did you get it from?
0:30:37 > 0:30:40I bought it from a table top for 20 pence.
0:30:40 > 0:30:47- £230.- And of course, train your eye. - Can I ask how much you paid for it?
0:30:47 > 0:30:50£4. I can't believe it.
0:30:51 > 0:30:57- 1,500.- Yes!- Just have a rummage. Get down there, get under the tables.
0:30:57 > 0:30:59Get in through the boxes and have a really good rummage.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02If you think that something looks like it's really well made
0:31:02 > 0:31:04and it's a nice piece and perhaps got a name to it,
0:31:04 > 0:31:06then it's got to be worth researching.
0:31:06 > 0:31:09Have you ever found anything like that in a charity shop for 40p?
0:31:09 > 0:31:11All done at 1,800.
0:31:11 > 0:31:13Wow!
0:31:13 > 0:31:16Yes! Well done.
0:31:16 > 0:31:21You know, the joy of finding a bargain or hunting
0:31:21 > 0:31:25generally for antiques is you never know where they're going to crop up.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32For some, rummaging for bargains is an obsession.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35And for Flog It viewer Derek, it paid off.
0:31:35 > 0:31:39Michael was blown away by his incredible find.
0:31:39 > 0:31:42- Parcels and packaging. - A bit of tissue.
0:31:44 > 0:31:46Good grief.
0:31:46 > 0:31:50It was a wonderful 18th century silver gilt snuff box
0:31:50 > 0:31:54and it's very rare and something I would struggle to find
0:31:54 > 0:31:58in the normal course of business going around lots of auction houses.
0:31:58 > 0:32:01So to have it brought in on Flog It was quite extraordinary.
0:32:01 > 0:32:04- Are you a box collector, Derek? - No, I'm not a box collector at all.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07It's things I like and I see it and buy it.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10I got it from a jumble sale so it didn't cost enough.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13- Let me stop you there. Where did you get it from?- From a jumble sale.
0:32:13 > 0:32:15Where was this jumble sale?
0:32:15 > 0:32:17I can't remember where the sale is
0:32:17 > 0:32:19because I go to loads of jumble sales.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21Crikey, we have people coming in saying
0:32:21 > 0:32:22they bought this in a jumble sale.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25What they don't tell you is they have been going to jumble sales
0:32:25 > 0:32:27for ten years and getting up at 6:00 in the morning.
0:32:27 > 0:32:29I always have a look under the table
0:32:29 > 0:32:32because you never know what's under the table. And I see a box under the table.
0:32:32 > 0:32:36And I see all these little bits of brass items in the box.
0:32:36 > 0:32:39I mooched through the box and I found this little box in there.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43You haven't got time to think really
0:32:43 > 0:32:45because there's all the people around you.
0:32:45 > 0:32:49I thought that's nice so I got up and said, "How much is that?"
0:32:49 > 0:32:52She said 10p and I said, "I'll have that then."
0:32:52 > 0:32:56And I paid my 10p and went off looking for other things.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59I think I might have broken the sound barrier getting
0:32:59 > 0:33:01the 10p out of my pocket and into her hand.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04That's because you know what you're doing. You know what you're doing.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07- Was this a long time ago? - Couple of years ago, yeah.
0:33:07 > 0:33:09That's not a long time ago, Derek.
0:33:09 > 0:33:15It shows it's worthwhile persevering with jumble sales and car boots.
0:33:15 > 0:33:19If we open it up we would hope to find marks in the cover,
0:33:19 > 0:33:25in the base but it's German, unmarked and dates to about 1760.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28You can tell something is silver if it isn't hallmarked
0:33:28 > 0:33:31by giving it to me and asking me if it's silver or not.
0:33:31 > 0:33:33No, it's the feel of the metal, the weight,
0:33:33 > 0:33:37the colour and with a box like that it's evident it is a wonderful thing.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40If we look underneath there's no marks but there's a little
0:33:40 > 0:33:42bit of white showing through and we can see it's silver.
0:33:42 > 0:33:44Value.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46Return on 10 pence. What do we reckon?
0:33:46 > 0:33:51- I wouldn't have said 20, 30 quid personally.- Give you 40 now.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54- I expect you would! - Thank you very much.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59- Let's put £300-500 on it.- Really? - A fixed reserve of £300.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02If it didn't look so nice I probably would have taken
0:34:02 > 0:34:04it down the car boot and sold it for a few quid.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08- It was meant to be.- It was. Thank you very much.
0:34:12 > 0:34:16- You're a confessed, get ready for this, Michael. Moocher.- Moocher?
0:34:16 > 0:34:20- That's a new one on me.- Mooching about at the car boot sales.
0:34:20 > 0:34:24- It's paid off.- It has. And you do it every Saturday? Mooch about.
0:34:24 > 0:34:25That's right.
0:34:26 > 0:34:31- How many jumbles did you do this weekend?- Saturday went to three.
0:34:31 > 0:34:36- My Saturday is jumble sale day.- And is your house full of...- Rubbish?
0:34:39 > 0:34:42- I was going to.- You're allowed to. You're allowed to.
0:34:42 > 0:34:45I was going to say tat. Let's put your mooching to the test.
0:34:45 > 0:34:47It's going under the hammer right now.
0:34:47 > 0:34:53Who will start me at £400? £400? Try 300?
0:34:53 > 0:34:58300 we have, and 20. At £300 and selling, is there 20?
0:34:58 > 0:35:05At £300 and to the telephone, is there any more? Last time at £300.
0:35:07 > 0:35:12- It's gone.- Good return on 10 pence. - That's fantastic. That's fantastic.
0:35:12 > 0:35:15- I'm happy with that.- You've got to be over the moon with that.
0:35:17 > 0:35:20Fancy mooching about for boxes yourself?
0:35:20 > 0:35:22Michael has some sound advice.
0:35:22 > 0:35:25If you find silver boxes attractive and want to collect them,
0:35:25 > 0:35:29start with something fairly easily available.
0:35:29 > 0:35:30Something like vesta cases.
0:35:30 > 0:35:34The first bit of silver I ever bought was a vesta case. It was £20.
0:35:34 > 0:35:37They are still £20, £30, £40 for simple ones.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40And then you can go on from there to collect snuff boxes.
0:35:40 > 0:35:42But start off small.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47Small items can easily be overlooked
0:35:47 > 0:35:50but if you do your homework you could find a real little gem
0:35:50 > 0:35:55as David Fletcher heard when he met seasoned bargain hunter Carl.
0:35:55 > 0:36:02- No, I bought it at a table top sale. - Let me tell you a bit about him.
0:36:02 > 0:36:06And then you can tell me what you paid for him.
0:36:06 > 0:36:11He's Royal Doulton, as you know. because he's marked Royal Doulton.
0:36:11 > 0:36:15And it also says, which is good, Flambe.
0:36:15 > 0:36:18Which refers to the type of glaze.
0:36:18 > 0:36:24- I suspect it was made at some stage, probably in the 1920s.- I think so.
0:36:24 > 0:36:26And I'll be honest I've never seen,
0:36:26 > 0:36:28although I've seen quite a few of these,
0:36:28 > 0:36:31a mouse sitting on a cube like this.
0:36:31 > 0:36:33Tell me what you paid for it now.
0:36:33 > 0:36:37They were asking £3 but as with most of the things I buy
0:36:37 > 0:36:42I knock the price slightly and I paid £2.
0:36:42 > 0:36:45You must be an antique dealer's nightmare.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48That's a little bit mean and cheeky too
0:36:48 > 0:36:51and he knew what he was buying which I think made it slightly more
0:36:51 > 0:36:54ironic really because he could have paid £20 for it
0:36:54 > 0:36:56and still have known that there was a jolly good profit in it for him.
0:36:56 > 0:37:00Let's talk money and I'll tell you what I think it's going to make.
0:37:00 > 0:37:02You're going to make a profit.
0:37:02 > 0:37:06But I don't want you telling me you want £300 for it.
0:37:06 > 0:37:09It's not going to make £300.
0:37:09 > 0:37:13- You think it might by the sounds of it.- I definitely think it might.- OK.
0:37:13 > 0:37:15I'm here to be proved wrong.
0:37:16 > 0:37:18Carl had done his homework. He knew it was rare.
0:37:18 > 0:37:21He didn't jolly well tell me.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24No, good for him but it was much rarer than I thought.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27I had a chat with the auctioneer and he says it could fly away.
0:37:27 > 0:37:30I think it probably might. I hope it does.
0:37:30 > 0:37:31I might be a little bit embarrassed but...
0:37:31 > 0:37:34Even if it's within estimate it's still a great bargain.
0:37:34 > 0:37:36Let's find out what the bidders think.
0:37:36 > 0:37:38It's going under the hammer right now. Here we go.
0:37:40 > 0:37:45480 then is the Royal Doulton Flambe figure of the mouse.
0:37:46 > 0:37:53Bids there start at 220, 240, 260, 280, 300.
0:37:53 > 0:37:57- 300 straightaway. - With me at 320, looking for 340.
0:37:59 > 0:38:01- 340, I've got 360.- Two phone lines.
0:38:02 > 0:38:06400 and 20.
0:38:08 > 0:38:09440.
0:38:11 > 0:38:12460.
0:38:14 > 0:38:15480.
0:38:15 > 0:38:17500.
0:38:19 > 0:38:27And 20. Selling now at £500.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30Done with it at 500. And 20. 540.
0:38:33 > 0:38:34560.
0:38:36 > 0:38:39At 540, are we sure we're done at 540?
0:38:39 > 0:38:44At 540 left handed. All done at 540, going to sell at 540.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49Well done, you. Well done, you.
0:38:49 > 0:38:51I hope you feel guilty for knocking them down that extra pound.
0:38:51 > 0:38:56I might not have made anything. You don't know until you sell it.
0:38:56 > 0:38:59The mouse sold so well because it was rare.
0:38:59 > 0:39:00As simple as that.
0:39:00 > 0:39:04I was caught out a bit but, you know, what a nice way to be caught out.
0:39:04 > 0:39:07If you're looking for a bargain, Doulton could be a good bet
0:39:07 > 0:39:10as there is so much of it out there.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12You brought in a nice piece of Doulton there.
0:39:12 > 0:39:14Made for Dewar's Whiskey.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17Very stunning piece of Royal Doulton.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20Your wife told me you keep this under the bed.
0:39:20 > 0:39:21At times.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26The history of Royal Doulton goes back almost two centuries.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31Over the years the factory produced everything from stoneware
0:39:31 > 0:39:34jardinieres to flamboyant figurines.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36Miniatures to biscuit barrels.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38That's quite nice. Do you want to sell that?
0:39:38 > 0:39:42- I bought it from a car boot sale. - How much?- £1.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45Selling in the doorway at £1,100.
0:39:47 > 0:39:51One of the things Doulton is best known for is its figurines.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53If you're buying Doulton figures,
0:39:53 > 0:39:57the earlier ones nearly always do better than the later ones
0:39:57 > 0:40:00but the key is making sure you're looking for figures that were
0:40:00 > 0:40:03produced in limited production ranges.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06I would recommend you look for the pre-war Art Deco figures.
0:40:06 > 0:40:10Still very popular, and hold strong prices in the sale room.
0:40:10 > 0:40:14We had one recently that made in excess of £3,000.
0:40:14 > 0:40:16But what else is worth collecting?
0:40:16 > 0:40:18They also made character jugs.
0:40:18 > 0:40:20Thousands of different character jugs.
0:40:20 > 0:40:23Some people call them Toby jugs.
0:40:23 > 0:40:24Tell me, where did you get it?
0:40:24 > 0:40:28I pick up all my bits at boot sales and charity shops.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31- How much did you pay for him? - £2.- That's a bargain.- I know.
0:40:31 > 0:40:32At 35...
0:40:32 > 0:40:33Your bid, sir.
0:40:33 > 0:40:37And another unusual area of Doulton which I see not that often...
0:40:37 > 0:40:42They produced suffragette figures in stoneware rather than bone china.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45Quite rare, quite collectible. So, there's my tip.
0:40:45 > 0:40:47Jump on the Doulton suffragette figures.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51It's hard to go wrong when hunting for Doulton,
0:40:51 > 0:40:54as all true pieces are marked.
0:40:54 > 0:40:59If we look under the pot, we'll see the Doulton back stamp.
0:40:59 > 0:41:01Some are also signed by the artists,
0:41:01 > 0:41:05and there are specific names to keep in mind when buying.
0:41:06 > 0:41:08You've got the artist's monogram.
0:41:08 > 0:41:11- ED for Edward Dunn. - That's right, yeah.
0:41:11 > 0:41:13At £230...
0:41:13 > 0:41:14Yes!
0:41:14 > 0:41:17The important thing about it is that it's designed by Noke,
0:41:17 > 0:41:20who was a very prolific designer in the 1920s.
0:41:20 > 0:41:21All done?
0:41:21 > 0:41:25Yes! Hammer's down. £420.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28If I was going for Doulton, I'd be going for the stonewares,
0:41:28 > 0:41:31which were made end of the 19th, beginning of the 20th century.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34Stonewares decorated by famous artists
0:41:34 > 0:41:36like Mark Marshall, George Tinworth,
0:41:36 > 0:41:38Hannah and Florence Barlow,
0:41:38 > 0:41:40and those major decorators of the period.
0:41:40 > 0:41:44Of course, anybody in the know about Doulton would recognise these
0:41:44 > 0:41:48patinas immediately as being one of the Barlow clans'.
0:41:48 > 0:41:51- In this case...- Florence.
0:41:51 > 0:41:55Who specialised in these nice slipware birds.
0:41:55 > 0:41:57£720? All done? Finished.
0:41:59 > 0:42:00It's a no sale.
0:42:02 > 0:42:03Oh, dear.
0:42:03 > 0:42:06- I've got to take the damn thing home. - And it's quite big.
0:42:06 > 0:42:09But with such a variety of things to collect, and values ranging
0:42:09 > 0:42:13from tens of pounds up into the thousands, when it comes to
0:42:13 > 0:42:17spotting a Doulton bargain, you need to be one step ahead of the game.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20If you're looking to collect Doulton, do your homework.
0:42:20 > 0:42:24Get to know your artists, get to know your decorators,
0:42:24 > 0:42:27get to know when particular designs were made, recognise the
0:42:27 > 0:42:31difference between something made in 1890 and something made in 1930.
0:42:31 > 0:42:33And at any one time,
0:42:33 > 0:42:37Doulton is not all doing really well or all doing really badly.
0:42:37 > 0:42:40There are different trends within all those items that they made.
0:42:40 > 0:42:42Look for good examples of each category,
0:42:42 > 0:42:46depending on what appeals to you. Be wary of restoration.
0:42:46 > 0:42:49Doulton is renowned for being very cleverly restored.
0:42:49 > 0:42:53Monitor the market. There are opportunities to buy reasonably.
0:42:53 > 0:42:55At the moment,
0:42:55 > 0:42:59Royal Doulton ladies are somewhat depressed in their value at auction,
0:42:59 > 0:43:01so if you're wanting to build up a collection, now is the time to buy.
0:43:01 > 0:43:04They will pick up again, I'm sure, in the future
0:43:04 > 0:43:08and then you'll have done quite well, I'm sure, in future years.
0:43:13 > 0:43:15Doulton is one of the most recognisable names,
0:43:15 > 0:43:19but there are other maker's marks that also signify a potential
0:43:19 > 0:43:22bargain, and Christina came across a fine example in Exmouth.
0:43:23 > 0:43:26Chris, you brought this lighter in today.
0:43:26 > 0:43:27Tell me where you got it from.
0:43:27 > 0:43:33I actually bought it in a jumble sale over 30 years ago. I paid 50p for it.
0:43:33 > 0:43:36You bought it from a jumble sale for 50p?
0:43:36 > 0:43:37- Yeah.- Brilliant.
0:43:37 > 0:43:41Took it home, cleaned it up and then realised it was 9 carat gold.
0:43:41 > 0:43:45- Did you recognise the name at the time, Dunhill?- I did, yeah.
0:43:45 > 0:43:47I was very surprised. I couldn't believe it.
0:43:47 > 0:43:50I wish I had been at that jumble sale. It had that magic name.
0:43:50 > 0:43:53Dunhill were the very first people to start producing lighters.
0:43:53 > 0:43:55They produced automobilia accessories.
0:43:55 > 0:43:58It was a driving accessory, so that you could light your cigarette
0:43:58 > 0:44:01with one hand and drive with the other. Not very safe.
0:44:01 > 0:44:03There was a pin broken on it.
0:44:03 > 0:44:07I sent it away to Dunhill Cigarette Manufacturers in London
0:44:07 > 0:44:11and they refurbished it fully and sent it back to me with no charge.
0:44:11 > 0:44:14Oh, gosh, that was very generous, wasn't it?
0:44:14 > 0:44:19Also, they offered me £100 to buy it for their museum.
0:44:19 > 0:44:22- How long ago was that?- That must have been about 30 years ago.
0:44:22 > 0:44:25Well, they've obviously done a very good job of refurbishing it.
0:44:25 > 0:44:28You haven't used it, because we've got this very clean...
0:44:28 > 0:44:29It's never been used.
0:44:29 > 0:44:32So often you find with lighters, that they were used,
0:44:32 > 0:44:35they've been dented, dropped and trodden on,
0:44:35 > 0:44:40and I think, really, to maintain their value, or have any value,
0:44:40 > 0:44:42they need to be in excellent condition, which, of course,
0:44:42 > 0:44:44the one that we saw was in mint condition.
0:44:44 > 0:44:47On the bottom, nice 9 carat gold hallmark there, which is also
0:44:47 > 0:44:52hallmarked for Dunhill, so we know the case was also made by Dunhill.
0:44:52 > 0:44:54From the hallmark, it's actually dated 1929,
0:44:54 > 0:44:57so it's from the late '20s.
0:44:57 > 0:45:00Value-wise, we might be looking somewhere in the region
0:45:00 > 0:45:02of maybe £250-350.
0:45:02 > 0:45:07- I was thinking more a 300 reserve. - 300 reserve, OK.
0:45:07 > 0:45:10So we'll say 300-400, with a reserve of 300.
0:45:10 > 0:45:12I hope that's not just a little bit too high.
0:45:12 > 0:45:15It might just be, but lets keep our fingers crossed.
0:45:15 > 0:45:20Dunhill. The George V 9 carat gold petrol operated cigarette lighter.
0:45:20 > 0:45:23£200...
0:45:23 > 0:45:26200, thank you. At £200...
0:45:26 > 0:45:28- At 220...- Come on, come on.
0:45:28 > 0:45:30240. 60... 280... 300.
0:45:32 > 0:45:34At £300...
0:45:34 > 0:45:38- Where's 20? At £300.- It's sold. - It's sold on the reserve.
0:45:38 > 0:45:42We're done, then. Selling at £300...
0:45:42 > 0:45:45We did it. That's not a bad return on 50 pence. Put it there.
0:45:45 > 0:45:47- Pleased with that. - Good spotting, sir.
0:45:47 > 0:45:49- That was a bit tight, wasn't it? - It was!
0:45:49 > 0:45:52Dunhill really are the name that most collectors want.
0:45:52 > 0:45:56There are others, like Ronson, Zippo lighters, of course,
0:45:56 > 0:45:58but Dunhill were really the first pioneers
0:45:58 > 0:46:01when it came to lighters, so all the collectors want that magic name.
0:46:02 > 0:46:06So, a famous name can certainly add to an item's potential value,
0:46:06 > 0:46:10but not all the signs are so obvious.
0:46:10 > 0:46:13As Caroline Hawley knows, part of the art of sniffing out a bargain
0:46:13 > 0:46:16is to look beyond your first impressions.
0:46:16 > 0:46:20I bought this in a little antique shop in France.
0:46:20 > 0:46:22One of my favourite shops.
0:46:22 > 0:46:26And right at the back of the shop I found this
0:46:26 > 0:46:31completely covered in dust, dirty, and I fell in love with it.
0:46:31 > 0:46:35I asked the price and he said I could have it for 40 euros.
0:46:35 > 0:46:38I bought it immediately,
0:46:38 > 0:46:41took it home and started cleaning it.
0:46:41 > 0:46:46As I cleaned it, all this beautiful inlay came to light.
0:46:46 > 0:46:48And now I have it at home and love it.
0:46:48 > 0:46:51It looks, to all intents and purposes,
0:46:51 > 0:46:54like an ordinary table, with a drawer in the front.
0:46:54 > 0:46:57It's ormolu mounted.
0:46:57 > 0:47:01Ormolu means "or", which is "gold" in French,
0:47:01 > 0:47:02"moulu" - "ground",
0:47:02 > 0:47:06and it would be ground gold mixed with mercury into a paste,
0:47:06 > 0:47:11applied to metal mounts, and then the metal mounts were heated
0:47:11 > 0:47:15and the mercury vaporised, leaving the gold on the metal,
0:47:15 > 0:47:17and then it was applied to the furniture.
0:47:17 > 0:47:22So this is ormolu mounted and it's actually known as a coiffeuse,
0:47:22 > 0:47:25which is a hair dressing table.
0:47:25 > 0:47:28"Coiffure" meaning "hair dressing".
0:47:28 > 0:47:31Open it up and there's a mirror inside,
0:47:31 > 0:47:35and the compartments for putting your various accoutrements.
0:47:35 > 0:47:41And it dates, I'd say, from about 1890, 1900.
0:47:41 > 0:47:46And I think this was such a bargain, because today, I think,
0:47:46 > 0:47:51in its restored condition, it is probably worth £400-500.
0:47:51 > 0:47:55A slice of luck for Caroline and a lesson for all of us.
0:47:55 > 0:47:57Despite the competition for bargains,
0:47:57 > 0:48:00it's still possible to unearth them.
0:48:00 > 0:48:02Seek and ye shall find.
0:48:02 > 0:48:06Like Flog It viewer John, who met David Fletcher in 2011.
0:48:06 > 0:48:09Absolutely stunning. How did you come by it?
0:48:09 > 0:48:12My wife bought it at a jumble sale about six months ago
0:48:12 > 0:48:16- and she paid 50p.- 50 pence?!
0:48:16 > 0:48:17She liked the design and she brought it home.
0:48:17 > 0:48:20We looked through what we bought during that day
0:48:20 > 0:48:22and I looked at the back and saw the Liberty
0:48:22 > 0:48:25and I thought, "God, this looks different."
0:48:25 > 0:48:26Do you go to many jumble sales?
0:48:26 > 0:48:30We have been to quite a few jumble sales in our time, yeah.
0:48:30 > 0:48:33- And have you made many finds like this?- Never.
0:48:33 > 0:48:35This was the golden one, this one.
0:48:35 > 0:48:38What's the difference between a jumble sale and a car boot sale?
0:48:38 > 0:48:41- Cos most people...- A jumble sale is rock bottom prices, really.
0:48:41 > 0:48:42Rock bottom prices, OK.
0:48:42 > 0:48:45Yeah, it's the ones I can afford to go to and buy stuff.
0:48:45 > 0:48:51When I heard that he'd paid 50 pence for it, I was green with envy.
0:48:51 > 0:48:54It was just staggering that these things still turn up
0:48:54 > 0:48:56for such little money. It's just quite remarkable.
0:48:56 > 0:48:59It's a butter dish, with a glass lining.
0:48:59 > 0:49:02The mark tells us so much about it.
0:49:02 > 0:49:05As you rightly say, it was made for Liberty & Co.
0:49:05 > 0:49:11Liberty & Co were at the forefront of the Art Nouveau style
0:49:11 > 0:49:16in Britain in the late 19th, early 20th century.
0:49:16 > 0:49:22Liberty & Co gave the brand name Tudric to their pewter wares.
0:49:22 > 0:49:25The Art Nouveau style is characterised
0:49:25 > 0:49:28by very highly stylised natural forms.
0:49:28 > 0:49:32So, you'll get flower heads, leaves,
0:49:32 > 0:49:37'stems, tendrils, all those things all mixed up in this wonderful way.'
0:49:37 > 0:49:41- Do you like it? - I like the design. Yeah, I do.
0:49:41 > 0:49:44I reckon it'll make between £200-300.
0:49:44 > 0:49:49- Oh! I can't believe it.- I really do. I think it's fantastic.- How much?
0:49:49 > 0:49:51- 200...- Between £200 and £300.
0:49:51 > 0:49:52Dear, oh, dear.
0:49:52 > 0:49:55- What's that? A 40,000% profit? - That'd do me, that'd do me lovely.
0:49:55 > 0:49:58As it was John's wife who found the dish,
0:49:58 > 0:50:02she came along to the auction to see what price it would fetch.
0:50:02 > 0:50:06- Pleased to meet you, Ruth.- How do you do?- Was this your butter dish?
0:50:06 > 0:50:09- I bought it.- You bought it? So, who's going to get all the money?
0:50:09 > 0:50:11I'll give her the money.
0:50:11 > 0:50:15- How much did you pay for it, can you remember?- 50p.- 50p?!
0:50:15 > 0:50:18- And we're hoping for, what, £200-£300?- Absolutely.
0:50:18 > 0:50:19- 50p!- He can't believe it!
0:50:20 > 0:50:24We have the Liberty & Co Art Nouveau, tudric, rectangular dish,
0:50:24 > 0:50:26with the Knox-style decoration.
0:50:26 > 0:50:27Factory marks - 0316,
0:50:27 > 0:50:31to the base. Again, conflicting bids. 240
0:50:31 > 0:50:33and 50 is bid. 250 is where we're in.
0:50:33 > 0:50:35- Straight in, aren't we? - I'll take 60.
0:50:35 > 0:50:37At £250 only. 260 is bid on the internet now.
0:50:37 > 0:50:39270, on commission.
0:50:39 > 0:50:42At 270. 280, is it, on the net?
0:50:42 > 0:50:43280 is an internet bidder.
0:50:43 > 0:50:47At 280, the internet has it. At 280. Is there 90? Commission's out now.
0:50:47 > 0:50:49At 280. 290, on the phone.
0:50:49 > 0:50:51290, on the phone. 300. 320, on the phone, if you like?
0:50:51 > 0:50:54I was about to say, it would be nice to see 300.
0:50:54 > 0:50:56At £320. 320, 340,
0:50:56 > 0:50:59is it, on the internet? 340. 360, is it?
0:50:59 > 0:51:02At 340, on the internet. 360, on the phone, if you like?
0:51:02 > 0:51:05- At 340...- They're definitely picking up on this.
0:51:05 > 0:51:07340, I'm bid.
0:51:07 > 0:51:09350? Yes? No?
0:51:09 > 0:51:12340, it is, on the internet. Trying to get you one more on the phone.
0:51:12 > 0:51:15340, it is. Once, twice...340.
0:51:15 > 0:51:20- £340!- Excellent. - Big smiles all round!
0:51:21 > 0:51:24Oh, I'm pleased you witnessed that! You couldn't miss out there.
0:51:24 > 0:51:27I just wish I'd bought it for 50 pence.
0:51:29 > 0:51:33Inspired to sniff out a bargain yourself?
0:51:33 > 0:51:35Here are a few things to consider...
0:51:35 > 0:51:38Get to the boot sales and jumbles before anyone else.
0:51:38 > 0:51:42The early bird really DOES catch the worm!
0:51:42 > 0:51:46And rummage! Get on your knees under the table and turn out those boxes.
0:51:46 > 0:51:48A little gem might well be hidden.
0:51:48 > 0:51:51Look for names and marks.
0:51:51 > 0:51:53They might just be the sign of something special.
0:51:53 > 0:51:57And, most importantly of all, do your research. A bit of knowledge
0:51:57 > 0:51:59can pay dividends.
0:52:00 > 0:52:01Well done, you!
0:52:01 > 0:52:05But, remember, it's not all about making money.
0:52:05 > 0:52:08I suppose that, whether you consider something a bargain
0:52:08 > 0:52:11depends on how much you really want it.
0:52:11 > 0:52:14If you've not had much luck at a car boot sale,
0:52:14 > 0:52:17then console yourself with the thought that,
0:52:17 > 0:52:20if you bought something you love, it doesn't really matter
0:52:20 > 0:52:21how much you paid for it.
0:52:25 > 0:52:29It's one thing picking up a bargain for a handful of loose change,
0:52:29 > 0:52:32but when something unexpectedly lands on your lap,
0:52:32 > 0:52:34you know your luck's definitely in.
0:52:34 > 0:52:37That is certainly true of the case of Ken, who met up with David Barby
0:52:37 > 0:52:40and set his heart all a-flutter at a valuation day
0:52:40 > 0:52:41in Barrow-in-Furness.
0:52:41 > 0:52:45I find it extraordinary that we have come on a programme
0:52:45 > 0:52:49called Flog It! I think it should be renamed Attic Treasures.
0:52:49 > 0:52:53- Yeah, probably!- Cos these have come out of your attic.- They have.
0:52:53 > 0:52:56- How long have they been stuck up there?- Over 30 years, I think.
0:52:56 > 0:52:58Since the '70s, anyway.
0:52:58 > 0:53:01'I honestly didn't think the posters were worth anything.'
0:53:01 > 0:53:04But we were getting new insulation put in the loft of the house
0:53:04 > 0:53:09and we found them again. They were brought out and Joan, me wife,
0:53:09 > 0:53:13thought they might be just... worth taking to Flog It!
0:53:13 > 0:53:16She was obviously interested in going to Flog It!
0:53:16 > 0:53:19Have you tried to sell these before or give them away?
0:53:19 > 0:53:22I once offered them to a model railway club,
0:53:22 > 0:53:24- but they said, "They're just worthless..."- Uh!
0:53:24 > 0:53:26"..but we'll take them off your hands.
0:53:26 > 0:53:30"We might use one or two." But I thought, "No, I'll not bother."
0:53:30 > 0:53:33It's only probably recently that these are now appreciated
0:53:33 > 0:53:34for what they are -
0:53:34 > 0:53:39railwayana art - which is very popular at the moment.
0:53:39 > 0:53:43- And these all date from the 1950s and the '60s, I'd imagine?- They do.
0:53:43 > 0:53:44How did you acquire them?
0:53:44 > 0:53:49It was a friend that has asked me to be the executor under his will...
0:53:49 > 0:53:51- Yes.- ..and he meticulously
0:53:51 > 0:53:54left all his possessions to different people
0:53:54 > 0:53:56and I got the leftovers, as you call it.
0:53:56 > 0:53:58'He'd worked on the railway'
0:53:58 > 0:54:02and I'm assuming that's how he'd got the posters.
0:54:02 > 0:54:06They'd obviously been used, they'd obviously been on the wall somewhere
0:54:06 > 0:54:08on his station, advertising these trips,
0:54:08 > 0:54:10'and he must have just collected them,
0:54:10 > 0:54:15'because, from what we could make out, they're just bits of paper that,
0:54:15 > 0:54:18'after they were done, they were just thrown away. So, I suppose,'
0:54:18 > 0:54:21in one sense, they were lucky they survived so long.
0:54:21 > 0:54:24These are very evocative of period and the excitement
0:54:24 > 0:54:26of travel by train in England
0:54:26 > 0:54:30- that has gone.- All gone.- Yeah. But the one,
0:54:30 > 0:54:37the one that is absolutely knockout, really, is this one here.
0:54:39 > 0:54:44If you wanted a winter holiday, you would go to Southport.
0:54:44 > 0:54:48This is the best and you've got, probably, about, what, 25 others?
0:54:48 > 0:54:50Roughly, yes.
0:54:50 > 0:54:53Now, I'm going to suggest that we leave it up to the auctioneer
0:54:53 > 0:54:58- to put these posters into various groups.- Whatever he thinks.
0:54:58 > 0:55:01I think we can look favourably to getting -
0:55:01 > 0:55:05I'll not get you too excited - but probably about £600-£800.
0:55:05 > 0:55:09Oh, blimey! Yeah, well... I'd be more than happy with that!
0:55:11 > 0:55:12I hope it's going to make more!
0:55:12 > 0:55:14BOTH LAUGH
0:55:14 > 0:55:15So do I!
0:55:15 > 0:55:19When David Barby said maybe up to £600 and odd,
0:55:19 > 0:55:22we were quite surprised. Then, when the auctioneer started
0:55:22 > 0:55:24looking at them, he thought
0:55:24 > 0:55:27maybe one or two of them might be quite a bit valuable.
0:55:27 > 0:55:31We've just been joined by Ken and he's brought his wife along. Hello!
0:55:31 > 0:55:34- What's your name?- Joan.- What do you think of all the posters?
0:55:34 > 0:55:37- Oh, wonderful.- The auctioneer's done us proud. They're all displayed.
0:55:37 > 0:55:39He's decided to sell them individually.
0:55:39 > 0:55:43I had a chat to him before the sale. He is rather excited.
0:55:43 > 0:55:46On a good day, could do a couple of thousand pounds.
0:55:46 > 0:55:49And there's a few stars. There's a few stars.
0:55:49 > 0:55:52- Joan, we're going to be in the money.- Yeah, I hope so!
0:55:52 > 0:55:55We come on to the first of the railway posters now.
0:55:55 > 0:55:56I have 80, on commission.
0:55:56 > 0:55:59- 85, on the phone. 90. - It's a good start.
0:55:59 > 0:56:0195, 100. With me, now.
0:56:01 > 0:56:04Any advance? And selling...
0:56:04 > 0:56:05No further bid...
0:56:05 > 0:56:09£100. That's the first one down. That's a good start. Great start.
0:56:09 > 0:56:11- We've got how many?- 29!
0:56:11 > 0:56:12The West Highland Line...
0:56:12 > 0:56:14With so many separate posters to sell,
0:56:14 > 0:56:16the money started totting up,
0:56:16 > 0:56:20smashing through David's estimate.
0:56:20 > 0:56:22£1,140.
0:56:23 > 0:56:26Well, I was stunned.
0:56:26 > 0:56:30I even offered to buy me wife fish and chips on the way home!
0:56:30 > 0:56:32Oh, you'll get that fish and chips now.
0:56:38 > 0:56:39(I can't believe this.)
0:56:41 > 0:56:44"Bristol - romantic centre for a delightful holiday."
0:56:44 > 0:56:49I've never seen anything like this on Flog It! I really haven't.
0:56:49 > 0:56:54'Last was David's favourite. Did the bidders share his enthusiasm?'
0:56:54 > 0:56:57The Southport one, an earlier one. This is rather attractive.
0:56:57 > 0:56:582,3 on the phone.
0:56:58 > 0:57:02- 2,4 on the internet. - 2,4 on the internet. 2,500 I'll take.
0:57:02 > 0:57:04- 2,6.- 2,6.
0:57:04 > 0:57:07- 2,7? No.- Gosh!
0:57:07 > 0:57:10£2,600 on the internet now and selling...
0:57:10 > 0:57:11£2,600.
0:57:14 > 0:57:18£8,000 for all the posters put together. Fantastic!
0:57:18 > 0:57:20- I feel like applauding!- I know.
0:57:20 > 0:57:23APPLAUSE
0:57:23 > 0:57:27- Joan, give us a hug! Oh!- Thank you very much. You've been wonderful.
0:57:27 > 0:57:30Don't spend it all at once, will you?!
0:57:30 > 0:57:32ALL LAUGH
0:57:33 > 0:57:35£8,000 - incredible!
0:57:36 > 0:57:40It allowed Ken to buy something that was a necessity
0:57:40 > 0:57:42for a private passion.
0:57:45 > 0:57:48The funny thing was that, on the day of the auction,
0:57:48 > 0:57:52when we were driving to Kendal, the clutch went on me car.
0:57:52 > 0:57:54We barely managed to get there and back home again.
0:57:54 > 0:58:00So, I bought myself an old car, a little estate, which I could use
0:58:00 > 0:58:04for fishing. It gets me out of the house, fishing.
0:58:04 > 0:58:08It's just being out in the fresh air and it's just peaceful
0:58:08 > 0:58:12and, in a place like this, it's just nice to be out.
0:58:15 > 0:58:20Those railway posters will always be a Flog It highlight for me.
0:58:20 > 0:58:23It's great to know that Ken put the proceeds of the sale
0:58:23 > 0:58:27to such relaxing use. Well, that's it for today's show.
0:58:27 > 0:58:28I hope you've enjoyed watching.
0:58:28 > 0:58:31So, please, go out there and have some fun.
0:58:31 > 0:58:35Start buying antiques and we'll be back soon with more Trade Secrets.