Leeds Flog It!

Welcome to Flog It! - the show where you can make a tidy sum from antiques you don't want any more.

Instead of them gathering dust, you could be raking it in at auction, after our experts have seen them.

They'll help you decide which ones to sell. If they're right, you could coin it in. If they're wrong,

they'll be eating humble pie! Let's see what happens to this lot.

?140. That's not bad! Result, David!

160...

Fantastic.

Never sold anything at auction before? No, might be hooked now! ..That's got to be a world record!

Today on Flog It! our valuation day comes from Leeds, a city with great Victorian heritage.

Everybody has the chance to make money from their antiques, but they must choose which valuables to sell.

Our experts will help them make up their minds.

The adorable Kate Alcock has travelled all the way from Herefordshire.

I love early English porcelain. With Leeds pottery here, I'm hoping to see some 18th-century porcelain.

And the debonair David Barby.

I hope to see Victorian artefacts, a plethora of Burmantofts pottery, and Leeds fabric-related items.

Hundreds of people have brought all sorts of antiques to be valued.

I've heard of "almost the kitchen sink...!" I hope you've got a car!

Certainly an Art-Deco style, but I wonder if it's real!

We'll soon find out as our experts get to work.

Kate's imagination has been fired by John's grandparents' projector!

How long have you had it for? It's been in my family for generations.

Right. And I can remember my grandma and grandfather showing us how it worked and everything.

We used to have little shows in the evening. It then passed down to my father and, again, it was used,

and even I have used it. How interesting! How wonderful!

The thing I love about it is that it's got its original box,

and the label on the front, which is still quite readable.

And obviously made in Germany - "Laterne Magika" we have on top -

The instructions on the lid have been scratched out - I wonder why.

Well, it's a family story, actually.

Grandmother, during the war, thought that the police might knock on the door and find that she had something

with "Germany" on it, and we'd be arrested for being on the other side!

So she scratched it off. That's how people thought at the time. Apart from the scratching,

it's in lovely condition. It fits neatly in there,

and if we look inside the lantern, we've got the burner in here,

and the reflector at the back, to reflect the light, and the slides...

would just slot in there.

The actual lantern itself is in super condition.

The glass is complete. I thought it was a bit distressed, actually!

Well, if you think... it's about 100 years old, it's not in bad condition at all.

We've got some great subjects here. We've got all the war heroes and generals,

some action shots of the Transvaal War, and this one I've picked out

looks like a sort of fairy-tale story. We've got a landscape...

And this is an extra set of slides, I see.

Have those always been with the lantern?

Well, they were available as an accessory. Right.

We had more, but I can't think where they are.

Well, I think that, at auction,

a collector would really go for something like this.

It's in its original box with the slides. I can see it making ?150, or ?200, if two people like it.

That's a surprise! Is it? Yes! Would you like to get rid of it, or has it got a sentimental attachment?

I'd rather it went to somebody who'd appreciate it, as opposed to me putting it back in the drawer again

and forgetting about it. Thank you for bringing it.

Thank you for filling me in on it, cos I was completely beaten on it!

If I was advise anyone what to collect now from the present era, it would be things like this,

the National Westminster piggy banks! They're superb.

How did you get them? They were my eldest son's. He's 20 now.

When he left home, he said I could give them to my twins. You've got a 20-year-old son? I have. Goodness!

I thought these belonged to you! I should have said that, shouldn't I?

So you acquired them for your son? Yes, his grandparents put money in the bank. Right.

Did they start off with Daddy or Baby? Baby. How much do you need in your account for Baby? I'm not sure.

At the end, when he got the daddy one, it was ?1,000. That's a lot of money 20 years ago, for a youngster!

That's probably why there's few complete sets.

I think they're great fun. They're of no age, but they are collectable things from the present era.

They fall into two categories - Wade collectors, people who collect Wade whimsies,

and collectors of commercial items, who collect advertising items,

because these are advertising the National Westminster Bank. Have they all got original plugs? Yes.

Let's look at Daddy. There's the National Westminster logo on the metal plug, and the "Wade, England".

Wade has been going for almost a century and they produce novelty items in porcelain,

of very good quality. These are excellent quality. I love the expressions on the faces. Yeah!

I like this baby one with the huge nappy pin. They're such fun.

I'm going to give you a wide margin. Some of these in the past have gone for ?350, ?400.

I think we have to be a little conservative going out to auction,

and I'd say a wide margin of about ?200 to ?300, but hope it'll hit about ?250.

Can we flog them for you? Yes. What will your son say? I'm not sure, cos he doesn't know I'm here!

But he left them in our hands quite a few years ago, so... He won't be bereft if they go up for sale?

He wasn't too unhappy to leave them behind when he left home, so... Super. Thank you for bringing them!

Tell me about the doll's history. It belonged to my great-aunt Gladys,

who used to keep it in a bottom drawer. She actually lost a child,

and she kept dolls and used them as a replacement for children. That's a really sad story. It is.

But it explains why she's so well-preserved. Do you like dolls?

No, I'm more of a teddy-bear person. You and me both!

I think she's in absolutely super condition,

and what looks like original costume.

If we lift her, we see her sleeping eyes open - lovely brown eyes -

and her mouth with the lovely teeth. Her face is beautifully preserved.

If we turn her over... They're often marked on the back of the head.

She's continental, and has a bisque porcelain head,

but the only mark you can see on the back is just a little letter.

Some of the marks can be A and M, for Armand Marseille, a well-known firm, and Kammer Reinhardt,

but we only have a letter, so it's hard to pinpoint. She may be marked under this, but I won't remove it.

But I would think German. At auction,

she's the sort of thing that collectors and specialists love. All original condition.

A conservative figure would be ?100, ?150. If two people liked her, I'd see her making more. Right, thanks!

Next, Chris Sykes crosses David's palm with silver.

What can you tell me about this? I inherited it from my father, who bought it in the mid-'60s.

It's fairly recent. Yes. He bought it as an investment, hoping the value of silver would increase,

but I understand it hasn't, so it's a bit of a disappointment,

but I have no idea of its current value and would like to see what we could do with it. Right.

He bought it in the 1960s, and silver was at a high price. So I understand. What did he pay for it?

He paid about ?2,000. Goodness me! You could have bought a house for that in the '60s! Not HIS house.

This is a superb piece of silver. It's so very plain and simple, with a lovely beaded edge

all the way round, and I like the simplicity of the three feet here,

ball-and-claw feet, and you feel as though the claws grip the balls.

And the mark, which is here, is so wonderfully distinct. It's not rubbed or polished out.

I note, with interest, the mark, which is for Hester Bateman,

is upside down, and the date letter is for 1789.

So it's quite an early piece, and you associate Hester Bateman with those delightful pierced pieces,

and she was often said to create pierced work to save silver!

It has great charisma and it's plain, so it reflects the period it was made - the neoclassical period.

Yes. It would be interesting to see what it weighs, so let's do that.

Well, it's 31 ounces...

which is a good weight, 31 ounces.

You normally multiply the ounces

by so much unit of pound for the silver.

For Hester Bateman, I'd say that we'll get somewhere in the region of about ?2,500,

but please can we have the estimate about ?1,800 to ?2,500?

Would that be acceptable? Yes, it would indeed.

We're aware that silver hasn't gone up as much as we'd expect it to do.

We've had the pleasure of using it, it's been a lovely thing to have around in the family home,

but I don't think I wish the responsibility of keeping such a lovely piece.

I'd like someone else to enjoy it. A lovely sentiment. Without being rude, what'll you do with the money?

Buy something else. Thank you for bringing it!

This little fellow looks as if he's been much loved. Did this also belong to your great-aunt? No.

This belonged to my aunt, then it was passed to my mum, and it's been to both my brothers and me!

He's been through the wars. He's got lovely long legs. His paws have shrunk a bit -

he's lost a bit of stuffing, but someone's done a good patching job.

And he's got quite a pronounced snout. Originally, I think he'd have had black boot-button eyes,

and he's been replaced with these rather later pink ones - makes him look starry-eyed!

I think, again, we're talking early 20th century, 1910, perhaps. About the same as the doll.

Value at auction - because he's so worn, that'll bring the value down quite a bit,

but I think he ought to make ?30 to ?40 still. Right.

I think he's got a lovely face. ..I'm surprised about that! That surprises you? It does.

He's past his sell-by date now. Would you like to sell them, or have they got family connections?

Yes, I would be interested in selling them. Both of them? Yes. We can put them in an auction for you,

and with those sorts of estimates... Have you ever sold at auction before? No. I've never been to one.

We'll explain everything for you. OK, thanks!

We've seen a real cross-section of pieces. Let's see what's going to be flogged at auction.

Kate's under no illusions about the magic lantern. It could fetch ?200.

Can Jill Heath bank on a windfall from her NatWest piggies?

Deborah Lee's doll may be spooky, and her teddy tatty,

but can she make a tidy sum?

Chris Sykes' Hester Bateman tray - he'll do well to make a profit!

Our sale is in Tennants Auction House in Leyburn, where 1,000 lots go under the hammer every week.

Our owners' items are attracting the attention of Yorkshire buyers.

Auctioneer Rodney Tennant will also take a close look. Although our experts have loads of experience,

it's good to get a second opinion, and Rodney knows his buyers' taste.

Kate got pretty excited about this magic lantern from John Gregson, so she put ?100 to ?150 on it.

Ooh...I think that's high.

I think that's very high. It's a novelty thing, and it seems

to be complete, in good order,

but I think, for my money, half that. A bit ambitious.

Hope I'm wrong, but my valuation would have been half.

Jill Heath brought along a recent family of pigs with a NatWest bung on the bottom.

Rodney, these look recent, and David's put them at ?200 to ?300.

Phew! You see quite a lot of these about. Nowadays,

we would estimate those at, um...?140, ?180.

?200 would be a very strong price.

One of the best finds was this Hester Bateman silver platter.

Chris Sykes brought it, and David's put ?2,500 to ?3,000 on it. Seems a lot of money for a silver tray.

For a Hester Bateman tray of this size and quality, one would expect to pay between ?2,000 and ?3,000.

But, a tray of this period, you'd expect to find an armorial. It'd belong to an important house? Yes.

Indeed it would. And...WAS there an armorial on it? That's the first question.

So look to see if there's any sign of an armorial being rubbed out.

When you rub your finger in the middle, it is slightly dished, as though somebody's polished...

Yes, I can feel it. The silver is thinner there than on the rest of the tray,

so I think that is the truth of the matter. Will that affect the value dramatically? Yes, it will.

I think it'll be less than ?1,000. That much difference?

A true saleroom estimate now would be ?800 to ?1,000. ?700 to ?1,000.

Our owners are all here and are bracing themselves for their five minutes of fame.

There's a potpourri of porcelain, pottery and glass. Could it be a bumper day for Jill's NatWest pigs?

We took them down to see what they were worth, we thought it'd be fun.

John is feeling a bit more reserved.

Kate reckoned your magic lantern was worth ?100 to ?150. Yeah, she did. I'd be surprised.

But she's the expert, I'm not. So you're not that confident? No, personally, I don't think so.

Let's hope John's being overcautious. There are plenty of people ready to place a bid.

First up are Jill's piggy banks.

?100? ?100.

We're coming to your NatWest piggy banks. You were nervous earlier. How are you now? Even worse!

David, confident with these? Rodney's not! It's very difficult. They're modern collectors' items.

They are popular. This auction room holds the record for the highest price for them, ?280, two years ago.

Let's see whether they're holding their price. I think they're a modern collector's investment.

They could do well. Will ?280 do you? Oh, fine! It's the children's birthday tomorrow.

A nice birthday present! It isn't so much price, it's the excitement. They were sat on a shelf anyway.

Have you never sold anything at auction before? No, might be hooked now! I hope so! This is yours now.

Family of NatWest banks, Series 2.

NatWest banks there. ?100? ?100?

It's a complete set of five. I have ?100 bid.

?110. At ?110. ?120.

?130. ?140.

You've got your reserve. I daren't look! On my left, at ?140...

All done this time at ?140?

?140 was your reserve price. Well, they sold! You weren't quite on it.

A little bit short there. No need to rub it in! Jill, you're happy with that? We're fine with that.

That'll go to the kids' birthday? Yeah, we're having a big party. Thanks very much. Thank you.

John, how do you think it's going so far?

It's interesting. I'm interested in what my item might produce.

Rodney wasn't keen on the lantern. He thought it wouldn't get the lower end of your estimate. Right.

It is a specialist thing. We've got different items from David, which appeal to specialist collectors,

so I hope it'll make towards the ?100, but we'll have to wait and see if the right person is here.

The tension is building. It IS unusual to find a magic lantern... In such good condition. Yes.

Lot 330...a small magic lantern in its original box. Excellent condition, with an additional set

of Transvaal slides with it. Who will start me at ?100? ..Well, ?50.

?40, then? ?40 bid, thank you.

At ?50? ?60? At ?60...

?70. ?80. Getting up there.

That's not bad. ?100. At ?100. ?110.

?120. ?120. At ?120. It's still going!

?130, ?140...

Wow! What do you think? ?150?

You're out there. The bid's in the doorway at ?140. All in at ?140?

The auctioneer's estimate was very down, wasn't it? It certainly was.

Rodney reckoned that would only be ?65, ?75. A nice surprise! We got ?140! Yeah, I'm quite pleased.

Good. Where are you going to put that money? I'll go and have a meal. A slap-up? Really splash out.

You can have champagne, too. I don't know - bubbles get up me nose!

It seems the buyers at Tennants are a lot more gung ho than Rodney!

Now, Rodney has found a flaw in Chris Sykes's silver platter that David didn't spot.

Your silver platter's about to sell. Very collectable. How are you feeling? I'm very interested to see

what it'll get. The auction's been good, but it's been mostly ceramics. One or two bits of silver.

One or two bits, some silver plates, some solid silver.

Nothing as to the value of the Hester Bateman that we're expecting, so... Or its age. Or its age.

It'll be interesting to see if the right people are here. Rodney, our auctioneer, wasn't too keen on it.

He feels that there's been a shield in the middle that's been ground out, polished out. Really? Yes.

He thinks it might affect the price. We'll see what happens. Having said that, he has been contacted

by two good silver dealers, so they know it's here. Good. Hope I've not upset you! No!

?30. In the middle, ?40. ?50.

?50. Anybody at the back? No? Right over there...

Your bid.

Lot 235. The Hester Bateman silver salver, regrettably with the armorial removed.

It's a piece of Hester Bateman, a circular silver salver.

You can see in the light... like a saucer in the middle.

?500? ?500. He's struggling to get it going at ?500.

?500. ?600.

?700. ?800. ?900. Rodney reckoned it might get ?1,000.

?1,000 over there now. ?1,100?

No? At ?1,100? No?

At ?1,100. We're out there at ?1,100. All done at ?1,100?

No-one else?

The removal of the armorial has affected that badly,

as Rodney said it would.

Well, he knows what to look for. I had no idea. Did you miss that? We didn't spot it. I didn't spot it, no.

Does that disappoint you, not selling it? Well, yes, it does, but this won't be the last auction.

That's true. Better luck next time! Yes, indeed.

That's the great thing about antiques. When you're not earning, you're quite often learning.

Debbie, you're looking excited. I am. It's the first auction I've ever been to! How do you feel about it?

Very excited. I'm hoping to do well with the doll. The doll's up second. We've got your teddy bear first.

Kate, you've put 30, 40 quid on it, despite its state. It might be all its money. We'll have to see.

This is us now. Look at him! What a poor old fellow. He must have been thrown around the bedroom! He has.

There we are, a nice early teddy bear. Start me at ?100?

Well, ?50, then. ?40, for this good teddy bear.

I've ?40 bid. Thank you, madam. We're in already.

..?70. ?80. ?90.

?100. ?110.

At ?110, the lady's bid over there...

He's not even got his right eyes! He hasn't!

At ?110...

110 quid!

Goodness me! What do you think?

It's unbelievable! Where's that 110 quid going to go? I'm going to pay for a scuba-diving trip to Malta!

I hope your doll does well as well. Oh, so do I! That'll be the whole trip paid for! Yeah!

?80. ?90. ?100.

?110. 120.

Three lots to go now.

I'm looking forward to this. Heart rate going up? Yeah, it is!

So, no regrets about selling family things? No. At first, I had a twinge of guilt about it, but...

Not any more! No! ?110 in the pocket!

We have this bisque-head doll,

with the open mouth, open-and-closed eyes.

That's your holiday! Even from this distance, she looks good.

She's in lovely condition. At ?100, then.

?100. I have ?100 bid. At ?110?

At ?110. ?120. We're at ?120 already. ?140.

?150. ?160. ?170. ?180.

?190. ?200. ?220.

?230...

?240, ?250...

No? ?250 over there. He's trying to get a few extra pounds!

Are you all done this time at ?250?

Brilliant! That's great. Really pleased with that. That's ?360 quid.

In fact, that just covers it! Great! That's your holiday paid? It's paid!

While Kate and David rummage around for more antiques, I went for a rummage, too! In some antique shops,

you know what you're going to get. I prefer places with a surprise round every corner,

like Swiss Cottage Antiques, Leeds. John and Sandy Howarth have created a world bordering on the surreal!

We love EVERYTHING about this business. It doesn't matter if it's brass, or pots, or furniture.

Everything's just...new. I can see that, yeah! Things come in really dirty, and you just clean them,

and they come back to life. It's a recycling business! It must give you a tremendous amount of pleasure.

Yeah. And we don't want people to feel intimidated when they come in. Quite often you go to antique shops,

and you're scared to ask questions, cos you think, "I can't afford it, I don't know what I'm talking about!"

Frightened to touch anything. Yes! We wanted to take all that stuffiness out of the antique trade.

And bring on a new generation of collectors. It's for everybody.

I'm getting a buzz just from you talking!

This is an absolutely genuine original soap box, that politicians used to stand on.

There shall be no more stuffiness in the antiques business. Thank you!

In the town hall, David is onto his favourite subject.

This is a fascinating collection you have, ranging from fish-bait boxes to these marvellous teapots.

Where did you get them? I picked them up at auctions and fairs, car-boot sales.

Why did you start collecting ceramics, in particular teapots? I once saw a teapot in an antique shop,

and I liked it so much, I went in and bought it for ?11, then later sold it for ?175.

Within the same week?! No, a few years later. The one I like is this one here,

which I noticed from a distance.

This is a beautiful teapot, based on Chinese and Japanese lines.

I like the wonderful glaze, rich turquoise glaze, a Chinese colour,

and the shape is very good, with this square handle. I'll have a look at the base...

Oh, that's interesting. It's a Linthorpe, patent number 1562.

I can't be certain whether that is a design by Christopher Dresser,

who was one of the most influential of the Anglo-Japanese style.

It could well be by him, but normally, pieces associated with him have a signature -

"CH" - for Christopher, and then "Dresser". We haven't got that here,

but his designs went on beyond the time he left, so I think we're probably looking at about 1885.

So this is an important piece.

We sold a coal box in our last home for ?3,500. Oh!

I'm not saying this is worth ?3,500, but that was a signpost at least.

This one, I think, has influenced design by Christopher Dresser. I'll research the patent number.

If we prove it's Christopher Dresser, it'll be more, but for now, around ?120 to ?200. Yes.

Do you want to sell it? Yes, please. We can flog it? Yes! Thank you!

We've got some Beatrix Potter items. I love Beatrix Potter. So you're an enthusiast? I'm a fanatic!

I'm a member of the Beatrix Potter Society, so anything Beatrix Potter, I've got to have it.

I collected this service in bits and pieces. It's very rare you get the whole set complete.

This is Peter Rabbit. It's a part child's tea service,

with the Peter Rabbit pattern, and it's marked "Grimwades".

I think it's dated from 1920s, possibly '30s.

All colour-transfer printed, but in lovely condition.

If I look at the jug, we've got Peter chased by Mr McGregor.

Lovely little scene.

All in super condition, just a little bit of wear on the gilt.

I think it's super, but it's a part set. If you were to go to auction, a complete set would go better.

You told me you'd seen a complete set go under the hammer a while back. That was "Peter's Friends",

which are different pictures to this one. And that sold for...? ?1,500. For the whole set?

For the whole set. Well, we've got a part set here, so we're not talking that amount,

but I could see it at auction, with a Beatrix Potter enthusiast, making ?250, ?300, possibly more.

For the whole thing? The whole lot, yes. Because it's been put together, and it's in lovely condition...

It depends if there's an enthusiast there on the day. It could make more, but for a caution estimate,

around the ?300 mark. I see. Something even more interesting

is a greetings card associated with Beatrix Potter herself. I got it about 12 years ago,

at an auction in Edinburgh. It's Beatrix Potter, so I had to go...

So you source things from all over? If it's Beatrix Potter, I'm there!

I think you've found a really rare thing. We've got the Flopsy bunnies on the front of this greetings card.

I love the Flopsy bunnies. If we turn it over, it's got, "From Uncle Will and Aunt Beatrice."

Beatrix Potter herself. To, I think it says, "Ben, Isabel, Barbara and Rosemary, a merry Christmas,"

and it's dated 1938.

Obviously in her hand. Yes, her writing's very distinctive. Yes, that sloping hand,

which you've recognised. Just a little bit of foxing,

which is only to be expected. But you've kept it well in this wallet.

What did you pay for it at auction, 12 years ago? I think it was a couple of hundred pounds.

I can't remember! I think it's very rare today, and I can see it's almost doubled its money today.

Oh, right! In the right sale, and marketed to the right people, I can see it making ?400, maybe ?500.

Oh! It's a rare thing, and I think it's lovely.

So, are you interested in selling these items? Yes! And you can get something else for your collection?

Always on the lookout for that! Thank you very much for bringing them. Thank you for your interest!

David thinks Mr Bentley may make a few quid from his other teapots.

I note that you've collected cosy teapots. Why?

I thought they were an interesting design, but I've never seen any more.

They were popular for a limited period, and these were made by Wood Sons

at the start of the 20th century. I think this is the principal one.

Why it's fascinating is because of the decoration, which we term "tube lining", rather like Charlotte Reed,

rather like Moorcroft, and, from a distance, with the powder blue, you might think it was Moorcroft.

A stylised design, called secessionist, after the Vienna secessionist movement.

It's SUCH an attractive teapot,

and I like the way that the lid just closes in there quite cosily.

But it was so good because, when you tipped it, the lid didn't fall out.

The other thing is this section which gets broken away so often.

That's the filtering section. Yes.

So we have a filter for tea leaves and a lid that won't move around.

Cosy-fit teapot.

I would suggest all three of them be sold.

I'd look for a price in the region of ?120, ?200, that price range.

Yes. And you want us to flog those? Yes, please! Thank you!

Susan, you've brought quite a few things along, but I've picked this one out, which is a lovely shape.

Have you had it for a long time? Yes, it was my husband's mother's. It's been in the family.

It's a water jug. We thought it was a coffee pot, but apparently not.

It's Art Nouveau, made in Birmingham,

and the mark is, um...1916, which I think is unusual, because that would have been during the war.

Strange... It would have been during the First World War, yes.

It IS a hot-water jug. A coffee jug would have a more pronounced spout.

And it is Art Nouveau in shape and style. I love these leafage capitals to the handle.

If we look at the mark here, it's Birmingham, and "R", and 1916,

so George V, you're right.

At auction, I think the value is going to be between ?100 and ?150. It's a stylish piece.

Originally, it was part of a tea or coffee set, but as a one-off, it's perfectly saleable. I like it!

I think it's really attractive and I do like the Art Nouveau period, but it's just a one-off,

and it's been in the trunk, so...flog it!

Well, we'd be delighted to sell it for you. Thank you for bringing it.

Where did you get these? They belonged to my mother and father,

who collected them in about the 1940s, '50s. Right.

Did they go to Japan to buy these? No, I think they were bought mainly in the Lake District, where we lived.

They were brave to buy these just after WWII! Yeah, maybe they were cheap! And they were very astute.

Could be, could be! These date from the late-19th, early-20th century.

We can tell they're Japanese because they are pegged figures.

In other words, if you look very carefully at the back,

you see pegs keeping the sections together. They're not solid? They are not carved out of solid ivory.

We call these figures okimono, which basically is "genre subjects", that's everyday subjects.

Right. And the Japanese loved this idea of decoration. They carved things out of nature,

and these were the things they saw about them - people working, playing with children, fishing...

So you've got a huge variety of Japanese life, dating from the early 20th century.

I like these immensely. I have looked at these carefully,

and there is some damage on each one. I've indicated here

that the basket is missing, and you can see the dowelled section.

And, on this figure, which also has its stand,

we are missing a section of spade handle.

I think that was down to one of my cleaning ladies. Was she insured? I didn't check!

And this glorious piece here, which is a wonderful example, beautifully carved.

It's a crayfisher, and we're missing the lantern from the top.

That would have been knocked off, and it could have been another 1? inches high.

It would put balance in.

So we haven't got the full compliment in each piece.

I would therefore advise that, if you want to sell them, we put them in as a collection of three.

Have you had these looked at before? That one, I was told it was worth about ?800.

Well, yes, it would be worth about ?800 for insurance purposes.

When we come to auction, we have to look at these and accept that they're all slightly damaged.

In a catalogue description, you'll see "A/F", which means "at fault" or "as found". Right.

So, if these go up for sale, I'd like to see a price to encourage people to buy,

in the region of about ?300 to ?500. For the three? For the three.

Hope to get something in the region of ?650, ?700. Well, that's fair.

Happy with that? Yeah! Thank you for being so sensible!

We'll see what else is going forward to auction in a few moments.

Not far from the town hall is the Kirkstall Abbey Museum. I went for a snoop around Victorian Leeds.

I actually feel like we've stepped back in time, about 100 years or so.

Yes, it's meant to look like 1880s Leeds, based on photos of the period.

What have you tried to recreate in this area of the museum? We've got a widow washerwoman's house,

to show how life was if you didn't have money. Like a laundry? Yes, the only way she could make a living,

cos there were no benefits, and she also did other things like tarot cards and telling fortunes,

which she could do while things were boiling in the washer.

And this looks like an ordinary house here. This is going up in the world. This is an artisan's cottage.

He's basically a skilled workman, so he's got a bit more money, so they have ornaments as well as the basics.

Is a lot of this stuff Leeds-based, or is this general Victorian? More of the stuff we have in this house

is general Victoriana, but in the main street is an art furniture shop,

with pottery from the area, called Burmantofts pottery.

Burmantofts is inspired by what we call the aesthetic movement.

It's people like Ruskin, Pugin, William Morris,

and their ideas that even household objects should have beauty in their form.

And they have. The stuff here is fantastically ornate and attractive.

Yeah, they're heavily influenced by Persian art forms, other Eastern art forms, like Japan.

Some of these are fantastically... Grotesque? Weird!

Grotesque is a better word for it!

This is an example of the early stuff Bermantofts did. It's French-influenced.

It features a heavy glaze at the back with heavy relief round it,

in this case, a crocodile chasing a monkey. A lot of the fussy stuff, you wouldn't want in your house.

And not so much fussy stuff was made, was it? More plain, everyday stuff. They made a lot of both!

With valuation day over, let's see what the people of Leeds are taking to auction.

Mr Bentley brought his teapots. The Linthorpe should do well. You can flog it!

Margaret Boston has high hopes for her Beatrix Potter card and tea set.

Anything Beatrix Potter, that's it, I've got to have it!

Cliff Barton's figures have seen better days, but should do well.

Let's hope there are Art Nouveau collectors for Susan Duke's jug.

In Tennants Auction Room, Leyburn, the eclectic mix of antiques is keeping the browsers busy.

Beatrix Potter aficionados have been alerted, so we hope Margaret's collectables will do well.

Auctioneer Rodney Tennant will tell us what he thinks of our lots.

Rodney, we'll talk first about Mr Bentley's cosy pots. Yes. David's valued them at ?120 to ?140,

but then changed his mind and upped it. What do you think?

?120 to ?140, and changed his mind?

He then said ?120 to ?200. I think I'd have changed my mind the other way. I think slightly less.

I hope I'm wrong! Mr Bentley's got a Linthorpe teapot over here.

This is a rare object. It's almost certainly designed by Dr Christopher Dresser,

one of the greatest of the period. Again, he's said ?120 to ?200. I'd be surprised if it didn't make that.

It's a good thing to buy, and it's in good condition, lovely glaze,

and I wouldn't be surprised if it makes that and more.

Mrs Duke brought that in, and Kate put ?150 on it. Lovely silver jug.

Silver tea and coffee services of this period have gone out of fashion faster than anything else

in the whole antique market. They really have, and a very unfashionable thing now.

It might struggle to make ?100. David also chose Cliff Barton's three ivory figurines.

Does ivory still sell well? Very good quality ivory does, yes.

These are Japanese ivory figures, and they have a commercial value.

I think they were more collectable in the '50s, '60s, '70s, than now. David's put ?300 to ?500 on them.

With that damage, will we get close? If he reckons they're worth ?100 each, that's fair.

Anything to do with Beatrix Potter or Peter Rabbit is very collectable.

Margaret Boston has a lovely tea set with Peter Rabbit all over it. Valued at ?250 to ?300.

It seems a lot for a small tea set. I think you're absolutely right.

I think it... It's a Grimwades one... It's jolly high - how much? ?250 to ?300.

?250 to ?300.

And... I would think ?150 to ?200, maybe.

And Margaret has disagreed with our experts, and she's put a reserve of ?700 on it!

No. Put a mattress by the rostrum! If it makes ?700, I'll fall on it! She's a Beatrix Potter collector -

she SHOULD know what she's talking about. Well, I'll bow to her greater judgment. I hope I'm wrong!

This is Margaret's lovely little Peter Rabbit greetings card.

This will appeal to many collectors, cos we've got Beatrix Potter, Peter Rabbit AND the signature.

Mmm, quite a scarce thing. Kate's been pretty hefty on this. What's she said? ?400 to ?500.

In the right market, it's worth it, but whether we have the right buyer here today... Word may have spread,

somebody could have got on the phone, "Get down to Tennants - there is a Beatrix Potter card."

But, normally, we'd put it into a catalogue where it's on the internet and everything.

The grapevine DOES work quickly - let's hope this one's on it.

There's a great atmosphere today, with a packed saleroom. Let's hope Yorkshire people have deep pockets!

Mr Bentley doesn't want to miss his teapots going under the hammer.

How are you feeling? Your teapots are about to go. Not too confident.

My experiences of auctions have not been good. This is a good one. Hope so!

First up are Cliff Barton's ivory figurines.

Rodney reckons bottom end of your estimate - ?300 to ?500. Right. It might creep towards the bottom,

100 quid apiece. I think that's good, although there's a particular piece which is better quality.

How are you feeling? Philosophical, really. I didn't collect them - my father and mother did -

so they've had them since about 1950, and they died not so long ago.

They're no good to my children - they'd just sell them - so I may as well, and spend the money!

Lot 315... Here we go, this is you. Three ivory figures.

Two large ones and a smaller one.

Start me at ?300. ?200? Well, ?100, surely, for three figures.

?100. ?120. ?140. ?160.

?180. ?200. ?220. ?240. ?260... It's rattling fast!

?280. ?300... At ?300, right over there at ?300...

Anyone else? Are you all done? ..?310. ?320. No?

At ?320... Take another ?10 if you want. ..?330.

?340. Rodney's giving them a chance. He's helping them along. ..?370.

?380. They're at ?380. Are you sure? Give you all the time! It's ?380!

You're hesitant! At ?380, over there, give you time... Your bid!

That's good. David, I can't believe it!

In the middle of your valuation again! I'm delighted! Cliff, does that please you? I'm happy, yeah.

Just goes to show, the auctioneer isn't always right.

Silver water jugs are not de rigueur, but Susan is confident.

We've had a couple of silver water jugs already that haven't done well. I know, but mine's Art Nouveau.

I put a lot of strength on that. Without a doubt. It is a nice shape.

Rodney, our auctioneer, wasn't that keen on it, and he thought it would fetch maybe ?80.

It'll maybe touch the ?100 if we're lucky, but he didn't think we'd do too well. Hmm.

Well, he IS the expert, isn't he? AN expert. We've had some good prices today.

A lot of things he thought would do ?100 have done much more. Yes.

Kate, you reckoned ?100 to ?150. Was it because it's Art Nouveau? Yes, it's a nice decorative piece,

which I hope is a selling point,

because hot water jugs aren't doing well, and they have been a little under par.

A water jug... Start me at ?100? It looks very good.

I did clean it, with tender loving care. ?100 I'm bid, thank you!

?100 already! ?110. ?120. ?130.

?140. ?150... ?150.

?160. ?170. ?180... ?180! ?180.

All done at ?180? At ?180? My Art Nouveau buyer at ?180.

That is fantastic. 180 quid. That's an excellent price.

It may well be that somebody... Collects Art Nouveau. And went for it as a decorative piece.

Rodney said that's his Art Nouveau buyer, so he came in for that piece. Thank you, whoever you are! ?180!

Now, let's hope we can put an end to Mr Bentley's bad run at auctions.

The ceramics have been going well. Some have, but a cosy teapot is not everybody's...cup of tea! Very good!

Rodney wasn't keen, but he thought they might get towards it.

I think they'll do well. This is us - we're on!

Three nice cosy teapots there. May I say ?100?

I've ?50 bid. ?60. ?70. ?80... Going up quickly already.

..At ?110.

?120. ?130. At ?130. Your estimate, David.

At ?140. No?

?140, selling at ?140...

?140. That's not bad! Result, David! Well done!

Vindicates my opinion. That's a good sign for the Linthorpe. I think that'll go really high.

I think so. Linthorpe, Christopher Dresser... Even if it's only ?120 to ?200. We're in the right area.

That's right, very local. That's true. I thought it'd go for between ?180 and ?200, that sort of price.

Lot 205... We're on. The Linthorpe glazed teapot.

Almost certainly a design by Dr Christopher Dresser, in good order.

What will you start me at? Start me at ?200? Well, ?100, may I say?

I've ?100 bid. ?120. ?140.

?160. ?180. ?200.

At ?200. ?220. ?240. ?260.

?260.

At ?260, an unusual teapot here. 260 quid! At ?260, anyone else?

Are you all done at ?260?

?260! That's good. That's a profit for me at least! Great! Well done.

Congratulations.

Can Margaret and her Beatrix Potter collectables crown a good day? Rodney had best get that mattress!

I think you're an expert on Beatrix Potter. Just a bit! You have a greetings card with the signature,

and the tea service. Yeah. You think it's worth a lot of money? It should be - fingers crossed.

Do you think the buyers will be here? If they're not here, they'll know about it,

and they'll make bids by phone, or something, hopefully.

Rodney has told me that they have phone bids on both of them. Lovely!

Kate, on the card, you've put ?400 to ?500. A lot of money, but it IS important. It is important.

It's a genuine signature. For Beatrix Potter collectors, that's great. It's also on the internet,

which is great, as we have a global market and anybody can pick it up.

Yeah. .. You told me earlier, are you going to buy more Beatrix Potter stuff? I'd love a watercolour,

but they're into the thousands. A Beatrix Potter one? I'd love one.

Here we go. This is you now. Lovely little picture on the front. Yes.

Signed, "Uncle Willie and Auntie Beatrix" - Beatrix Potter.

What will it be for this? Several phone bids. Start me at ?200?

I've ?200 bid, thank you.

At ?200. At ?220?

At ?220?

?220. ?250. At ?250, on the telephone. ?280.

?280. At ?280. It makes it a little bit slower on the telephone. It is!

But it's creeping up there. ..?350. ?380.

?400. It's at ?400. ?420. ?450.

?480. ?500. ?550...

?600. ?600! ?650. Maybe you'll get your watercolour before you think!

Sure? ?700 here. You won't get the chance again.

Once-in-a-lifetime chance, at ?700. Anyone else in the room?

The bid is on the telephone, at ?700. All done at ?700?

On the phone.

?700! That is just brilliant!

Lovely. I can't believe it! Way above what they thought.

It was more than anybody expected. You must be getting excited about the tea set. Not TOO excited.

I don't want to raise me hopes too high! I think that bodes well.

It was estimated at ?250 to ?300. That's right. Rodney had a look and thought that was a bit high.

Yet you think it's worth a lot more.

Well, I've been told that it could be.

What reserve have you put on it? About ?700!

So I'm either going to go home with egg on my face, or what!

But you're still confident it's worth that?

Given the right market and the right people and publicity, definitely.

Kate, are you still sticking with your valuation? I am, yes.

I would think it's worth between ?200 and ?300, but I really hope you'll prove me wrong! We'll see.

Lot 415... It seems that we have Beatrix Potter buyers here today, so this should get a good price.

The Peter Rabbit part tea service, the Grimwade one. Start at ?500?

?500? A rare item. ?500?

?400, then. Well, ?300. Thank you, I have ?300 bid.

Good start - that's above your estimate already. At ?320.

At ?320. ?350.

Creeping up! ?380. New bidder. At ?380. ?400.

?450. ?500. They're on the telephone. ?550.

At ?550. At ?550. ?580.

?600. At ?600. ?600. ?600?!

At ?620. On the phone now, at ?620.

At ?640.

He's on the book now. ?660. ?680. ?700.

(I can't believe it!) At ?700. We're at ?700!

The bid's on the telephone at ?700. Anyone?

Fantastic price! All done at ?700? Well done!

That's got to be a world record! I don't know about that,

but I'm very pleased! Sorry to prove you wrong, Kate. That's excellent! She was right. You got the buyers!

In Yorkshire, you know what to expect. 20 years' experience of Beatrix Potter paid off!

I'm a fanatic and a member of the society, so, you know... I know all about her.

Well over ?1,000 towards your watercolour! Yes, it's about 1/20th of what I want!

It's a start. It's a start.

An excellent day at auction. John Gregson was pleasantly surprised by the ?140 for his magic lantern.

The missing armorial on Chris Sykes' platter shows that original condition is crucial to the value.

Outside Leeds Town Hall, Deborah Lee never imagined that her toys would be paying for her holiday!

I couldn't believe it. ?110 for the teddy! I didn't expect to make ?40,

he was in such poor condition. Totally shocked.

And Margaret Bolton proved that sometimes YOU really do know best!

?700! Excellent! That is brilliant!

If that's the kind of surprise YOU would like, come to a valuation day, or join us again on Flog It!

Have you never sold anything at auction? No, might be hooked now!

You can have champagne, too. I don't know - bubbles get up me nose!

?140. That's not bad! Result, David! Good one!

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