Folkestone Flog It!

This is the show on which YOU can make money from Aunt Edna's vase into a holiday in the sun.

When you sell your own antiques at auction, the tension can be unbearable.

It's like starring in a suspense movie. If you like to take risks, "Flog It!" is the show for you.

We invite people to bring their antiques for our experts to value.

A handful will be picked to go under the hammer. Will our owners get more than they'd bargained for?

We'll be finding out later.

Any bids? Don't be shy.

That's Seville.

You can thank BBC "Flog It!" for this one.

I left 50 on it. Guess what... Did you really? I did!

Today we're in Folkestone, Kent, at the Grand Hotel,

and the atmosphere is electric.

People have turned up from miles around with their antiques

which they hope will make a pretty penny at auction.

Our experts are on hand to help them. Let's hope they give them optimistic valuations.

Philip Serell will be on the lookout for the unusual.

The newspaper comes off and it can be worth ?5 or ?5,000.

It's fascinating to see what comes out of the package.

Nigel Smith has over 20 years of experience in the antiques business.

He starts with a real heavyweight.

Thanks for struggling in with these.

What's the story? They belonged to my grandparents.

My grandmother died in the early '50s. She was about 98 years of age,

so we know that they're old. She may have had them when she was married.

This is quite a lump, isn't it? It is.

It's quite a lump. It's 19C Japanese. It's Kutani ware.

The value is probably around ?100. I see. Not a staggering amount. No.

You might find somebody who really likes it, it's in good condition.

They're popular as umbrella stands, so I'd be surprised if somebody didn't give you towards ?100 for it,

but it's not a lot for a big pot like that.

Has it always been on this base? It fits, but it's the bottom of a 19C cheese dish.

A wacky idea, isn't it? Crazy.

What about this one? Same source? Yes.

This is a similar sort of age. It's a copy of a Meissen centrepiece.

It was made around the middle of the 19C. Not the quality you would expect to see of Meissen.

This is made by one of the other Dresden factories...

round about 1890, 1890.

It's a good lump, really, and they do sell now.

Made for a table decoration, really.

She's looking quite forlorn with her lamb there.

I suspect there was a shepherd involved, so it's one of a pair, probably.

Not great quality, but it's a good decorative item.

Give me a valuation on that, then. I suppose about the same.

Yeah. I think we'll do better with this. Probably at least that, maybe nearer three.

Fine. So, you're willing to get rid of them now? Yes.

I'm sure they'll sell. Thanks very much. Save you carrying them home. You can take the cheese dish!

Who does the decorating in your house? Her more than me.

Try to be much more careful with your paintbrush.

You've flicked it over here. It's not a major problem,

but you've got bits of paint on there.

We've got a mother-of-pearl escutcheon on the front that's broken off.

That's not a major problem. You can buy Victorian/Edwardian counters that you can cut and reshape.

I'm not worried about that... or that, but can you see this timber's really dried out?

Yes. I don't know how high you have your central heating. It stood on the fire surround.

That's probably why. At her dad's place first. I wouldn't want your coal bill!

The hotter you have your room, you draw the moisture... It's dried out.

What I would recommend you to do is put a bowl of water under the radiator.

It just keeps the timber in a better condition than it is.

But we can put some wax on that.

It's a lovely little Coramandel wood box. It's an exotic hardwood.

It's almost signified by these yellow and brown stripes.

It's a nice box. Has it been in the family? Yeah. Quite a long time. It was my nan's.

Your nan's. My dad's 88. It was his mother's, so it's quite a long time.

I think that will make ?50-80, put a reserve on it of ?40. I think it's lovely and it'll sell well.

Are you happy with that? Yes. Thank you. Let's keep our fingers crossed. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

John's decided to off-load his Japanese vase and centrepiece and his family are right behind him.

John, Tracy and June? Yes. You brought in a huge vase. That's right.

What did Nigel value it at? Only about 100. He said the value hasn't changed much in the last ten years.

And you bought them ten years ago! No, they were left recently to my son who lives in Australia.

So he's cleared off. I don't blame him, taking that big thing.

He probably didn't like it. I don't think so.

Will you send the money to your son in Australia? No, he's too wealthy.

We're going over to see him in a month or so's time, so that'll help us. It's quite pricey. It is.

Have you been over before? Yes, ten years ago. So he's been making the effort to visit you? Yes.

I hope you enjoy the holiday in Australia. Thanks very much.

You've brought this wonderful object. I want this. My wife will kill me if I buy it.

Where did it come from? It was on my grandmother's wall until two years ago when she died.

I was enlisted to sell it. Feeling guilty at the thought of selling it?

Unfortunately, it's got to be split three ways. Might be a small split.

It appeals to a certain market. This sort of thing in the right environment is quite fashionable.

This 1950s, early '60s kitsch stuff. Guitar players would want it, too.

What do you think it's worth?

I don't know. I haven't got much idea, either, but I would think somebody would pay ?50-?70 for it.

It's survived all in one piece. I mean, it's a two-piece mirror.

It's just on plywood. Very low-budget, but you might do better if you get a guitar nut! Right.

It's always worth hoping! Yeah! I'll have a little practice on it.

Make sure it's in tune. Yeah.

I play in the local pub once a week with a friend of mine who's a pilot

and we go under the title of MT Skull, because that's his name, and Bluesboy Smith - that's me.

Oh, dear. Sad, isn't it? My fee is normally three pints. I'd love to have that.

That's in amazing condition. That's... This is the original, but I sat on it and it tore.

You know what it is, don't you? A World War I campaign bed.

It's made of oak. Yes. It's really, really nice.

A sail-maker has remade this for you, hasn't he? That's right. You can tell by his stitching.

With the pillow up that end.

It's fantastic because it concertinas up...

into this little, tiny...

portable stool, which I think is quite amazing.

I use it as a bedside table. Why not? It's really lovely.

How long have you had this? Eight or ten years. Where did you find it?

In a little local auction. It cost me ?4. I think you got a good deal. Yes.

Chris, this is "In memory of my dear Sam who fell fighting for his King and Country." Where did you get it?

A junk shop 15 years ago.

Why did you buy it? My wife wanted a picture frame. And this was in it? That was in the frame. It cost ?2.

It's quite sad, isn't it? It is sad.

If you turn it over, we've got... After me own heart, I'm a cricket fan.

The MCC 1890 Devonshire tour.

Presumably that's the Marylebone Cricket Club, not Middleham or wherever!

Looking at the names, I don't think we've got any famous cricketers.

I think it's a nice late-19C photograph.

Sporting stuff's quite sought-after and collectible. Are you a cricket fan? No, I'm a football fan.

Looking at some of these boots, they could have played football!

Looks like they had a good time. Yeah, on the pitch and off it.

If you look at some of the scores here, all out for 38, I think they've had a very good time.

Yeah.

But I think this'll do OK. It's not gonna make big bucks, but I think someone might find it interesting.

It's certainly interesting. Probably going to be worth ?10-20. Yeah.

We'll put a reserve on of ?10 and see how we get on. OK? Yeah. Thanks very much.

Let's see what's going into auction so far.

Sam hopes someone will buy her funky guitar mirror. Hope it's not Nigel.

John can't wait to get rid of this vase and basket centrepiece.

Margaret and Phil hope to sell their stationery casket to someone who has time to look after it.

Chris wants to get rid of his old cricket photo. The MCC on tour.

They look like they've had a hard time, don't they? On the pitch as well as off.

Let's hope it's not so hard to sell.

In a few minutes, we'll find out what our first items are worth at our auction in Tunbridge Wells.

In charge today is auctioneer James Braxton.

Does he think Nigel and Philip got it right, or have they gone overboard?

Nigel fell in love with this, James. He's a bit of a guitar fanatic.

Either that or he owns a tapas bar somewhere.

Samantha brought this in. It was on the mantelpiece in her grandfather's house. He's sadly died. Yeah.

So she's going to sell it and split the money three ways. There may not be a lot to split. 1950s kitsch.

Who knows? Somebody may have a sense of humour out there. I think Nigel has.

Well, he ought to jolly well buy it, then.

We had a wonderful family in on valuation day. John, June and Tracy.

They brought both items in. It's quite fun. Shepherdess and her sheep, a good German figural stand.

That has been valued at ?200-?300. No reserve.

Yeah, I'm sure it should do it. It's a big piece of porcelain.

And intact. Still ringing nicely.

An impressive-looking piece and a great dust trap! We don't like it, do we?!

Looking at your catalogue, your photography does that justice.

You'd want to buy it from that photograph.

Buy it from the photograph. Don't come and see it!

Great catalogue. This - ?100, no reserve.

It's a big piece, a floor vase. Normally stood on the floor. Huge all-over decoration.

It shouldn't really be in this cheese dish.

It came in this dish and they thought that it belonged to it. No.

This is the difference. Porcelain and pottery.

How much will that go for? It's a big piece. I think it should do ?100, ?200. That's great.

Hopefully, they'll get to Australia and see their son.

It's a full house and the place is buzzing. How are our owners?

These lovely people were so nervous, you did a dummy run from Harlow in Essex. We had to negotiate the M25

and we thought we'd have to be up at dawn to get here.

You're not nervous now? No, no. You'll enjoy the day? Yes.

Looking forward to going to Australia, Tracy? They're not taking me. That's a bit mean!

You've got to take your daughter! I've got two sons as well. There's a bit of a problem there. Yes.

Let's see how it goes later. Yeah.

Why doesn't one of you buy it and settle up with the other two?

It wouldn't fit into my scheme in the house. Is that a polite way of saying you do not like it? I do like it.

It's part of the family life.

Hopefully we'll get you ?25 each. That's if it reaches top money!

What would you spend the money on? We're going to have a fish and chip lunch at Easter. On Good Friday.

A toast to Granddad. We always had fish and chips with him on Good Friday.

It's a way of thinking him. Lovely.

The auction is under way. First up is John's basket centrepiece.

Will he make enough dollars to take him to the Antipodes?

John, it's not far to go now. No. Getting excited? I am, but china apparently is not making high prices

and has been a bit disappointing.

Hope you don't have to take it back home. I'd find someplace to leave it! Dump it in Tunbridge Wells!

The figural centrepiece.

We'll keep an eye who's bidding.

I have ?200.

200? That's brilliant.

At 200, anybody? 100, then?

100?

Thank you, 100. At least it's gone.

A lot for your money. 100. Anybody at 110? 100, very back.

110, thank you. 120.

130...140.

140, very top there.

No money. No. Any advance on 140?

It'll sell. 140 at the top.

It's got you to France, not Australia. That's a poor price. Yes.

He's not getting the money for porcelain today.

We'll be going to France! We'll see if we can make it up on the next lot. Of course, yes.

John will see how his vase sells before he decides about Australia.

Will anybody spot the specks of paint on Philip's stationery box?

Two Philips!

What are you expecting on this box? I don't know if it'll go. What'll you spend the money on?

I'll probably give it to the father-in-law. It's his money.

He needs a fridge. He needs a fridge? Look.

Who'll start me on this one?

Start me at 40, please. At ?40?

20. At ?20. 20 I'm bid.

25...30...35.

40...45. He's got some bids left on the book.

55, all finished at 55. Anybody at 60?

?55, it's here at 55.

There you go, 55 quid. That's brilliant. It'll be a small fridge.

As small as it can be! A little icebox!

You won't buy a joint of beef to put in it! No. Thanks. Thank you.

So, will John's Japanese vase do any better than his centrepiece?

I'm just thinking of the sunshine down under for you. If we get there.

You'll get there. You can put it towards it. Oh, yes.

Japanese porcelain floor vase, showing now,

with the unassociated pottery stand.

No reserve. It's going to sell.

100, please. Impressive-looking fellow. ?100.

50, then. At 50? Someone, come in.

Anybody at 50?

For the floor vase, at 50?

Oh, John! This is desperate. 30?

?30? Anybody at ?30?

Surely somebody should have a go.

Come on, Nigel.

30 is bid. ?30. I'm not going to bid for it!

35.

You've started something. 40. 45?

You don't need to do it now. It's with you at ?40.

Well done, Nigel. That is desperate.

That was desperate. A desperate price. Mid-Channel, I think!

We're swimming!

Chris is hoping for a big score with his cricket photo.

Poor old Chris can't be here today. It's a pity, isn't it? Yes, but I think, Chris, it's a smart move.

If it only goes for a tenner, it'll cost him that in petrol to get here!

He's had a result already. I think it'll fly. Might get a 0 on the end.

THAT sort of fly? I hope so. Hope we're on a good wicket!

..with the printed scores around the mount. Where will you start me?

It's my double here, 35.

Excellent. He's filled his tank full of petrol!

40's bid. 45. 50. 55.

60. 65. 70.

75. Quite amazing!

85? 85. It's with me. On commission.

?85. Brilliant. I'm really pleased.

I hope he'll be pleased.

You had a hunch, but you didn't say just in case! I'm really pleased!

We'll go and give him a phone call. I'll go now.

Last on the list is the guitar mirror that Nigel's fallen for.

Was he a guitar man? No.

Was he into Duane Eddy or someone? No, he just used to go out and buy things, to my grandmother's disgust.

This is a way of checking if there's any musos in the room!

Obviously not. Here we go.

How are you feeling right now? Right here, right now?

Hmm...! SHE LAUGHS

No comment. No. This is "Flog It!"

The novelty wall mirror, modelled as a six-string guitar.

You can thank BBC "Flog It!" for this one.

Unfortunately, we have a commission double here. 55? ?55. Yes, we're in!

Anybody at 60? 60 at the back. 70?

75?

It's doing well. 75. Here it is at ?75.

Any advance... I said yesterday I'm hoping for ?75.

That's a good price. I'm very pleased. I didn't buy it.

I left 50 on it. Did you really? I did.

They're all going off for fish and chips. Yeah. Well done. Thank you very much.

Well, Sam's made money on her guitar mirror.

Philip's father-in-law can enjoy a chilled beer from his new fridge.

Let's hope our experts can turn up a few more gems in the valuation room later.

Meanwhile, I'm off for a walk.

Today, we're in for a real treat.

I'm in deepest Kent and I've come to visit a friend of mine that has a barn full of wonderful antiques.

She'll give me some tips on styling and on living with those antiques.

Wow!

What a wonderful setting for an antiques shop. High, vaulted ceilings, inglenook fireplace.

I'm so jealous of Gabrielle.

You have a wonderful eye. You manage to articulate all this together so easily. How's it done?

You go to a fair and you see different things.

For example, for the baby's cradle downstairs, you think, "What use is a baby's cradle?"

"Perhaps we could put magazines in it." Buy it, take it home.

Most antiques do have a duality. You can find another use. I think you've got to find another use,

an alternative use, yes, like the Victorian cot here.

When it's finished being a cot, you can fold the side down to make a little settee for the children.

A little day bed. Or a day bed.

A good starting point in collecting antiques is to buy a dining table.

Your dining room is probably your sparsest room.

Start with a big table.

French dining tables are affordable.

English ones hard to come by, especially anything over 3' wide.

But they do exist, so keep looking for them.

This is lovely. This has got a great patination.

It's an early 19C one and it's a pine top, but look at the length.

You could get at least 12 people around this. Just imagine the amount of wine that it's seen

and the interesting stories that have happened around it.

People say, "Should we get those marks out?" I wouldn't because that's the history of the table.

Each little mark could tell a story.

Very definitely. VERY definitely! Yes.

Being creative with antiques is important, especially if your rooms are dark or small.

Get some mirrors, they make the room look spacious and elegant.

In the valuation room, Philip and Nigel are pulling out all the stops to find one final corker.

This is lovely. It's Judy and Brian, isn't it? Mm-hm. Red or white wine?

White. Red? Red. I'm a teetotaller, so we've got one of every mix here.

I would think it's probably a boar's tusk or something.

It's silver-mounted. The hallmark tells us that this tip is silver.

It fits the hand really well. You can get a good purchase when you're pulling your cork out.

There are avid collectors of corkscrews. They can make ?2,000-?5,000.

They can also make a fiver. How did you come by this? It belonged to my great-grandfather

and it's been handed down. That would take us back to the 19C? Was he a collector? No. It was used.

Whether he was a wine buff, I don't know. It's been bought to assist in his imbibing? I think so.

I think it's lovely. Have you used it? No. I think it would be a good corkscrew.

You have to be a bit careful because the screw part can snap off.

I think at auction that's going to make ?50-?80-?100.

We'd put a reserve on it of ?50, so that if it didn't make that money, you would have it back.

I think it's lovely. You told me earlier why you want to sell it. Yes. I am vegetarian,

so it doesn't please me in that respect. Fashions change with the way society looks at things.

Fur coats now, very unfashionable. And ivories, as well.

People look at them and think, "No, that's not a good thing." But it gives someone the chance to buy it

and hopefully use it as well. Yes. Shall we put it in the sale for you? Yes, please.

Excellent.

You've brought this rather nice watercolour. It is a watercolour, not a print.

Where did it come from? I bought it in Michigan about 20 years ago.

Michigan? I lived there for many years.

Dare I ask how much you paid for it? $15. Well, it could prove, I think, to be a good investment.

Why do you want to sell it? I'm not too keen on hunting.

20 years ago, horses and dogs and things, probably I liked it because of that. Right.

We find there's a mixed reaction to hunting things.

At auction, they're very commercial.

I'm not too sure whether the frame's original or not.

It's a Detroit frame. Hudson's - a large department store. Did you frame it? No.

Signed "H Murray". I had a look and I never did see him.

I cheated. I looked him up in our sales index. He is here.

He was working around the middle of the 19C, 1850-60. There are a number of listings for him there.

He seemed to specialise in hunting. They're all hunting subjects.

Have you got any idea of value? No, not at all. Have a guess.

All right. ?300 was what... I mean, ?200-?300, I think it would walk out, as we say.

I think we could probably estimate it at ?300-?500.

You ought to put a reserve around three. It should make nearer ?500.

If it didn't, it wouldn't be making its right price. OK.

You could put a reserve of three and I should think it'll make nearer five. Wonderful. OK.

Good saleable thing. Thank you.

Hello. Is this your chair?

What's your name? Jane. Hi, Jane. Hi.

You've managed to struggle in with this? Yes. Lovely chair.

It's meant to have a link... It's called Napoleon's chair.

It's got Napoleon eagles on it. Uh-huh. Can I sit on it? Be careful.

Oh, yes!

About time I put my feet up.

Isn't that nice? It's very nice.

I love the claw and ball feet on that.

Isn't that a super chair? The tale is that it was made wider because of this thing about Napoleon...

..being a little fatty. How long have you had it? My father had it, so just recently, since he died.

I'd be interested to know if the upholstery could be...

That needs padding out again. It needs the webbing done underneath. A cat has sat on it.

Speaking of Napoleon... 20C...

I'm just looking up to see if we can find the sculptor of this Napoleon bronze.

What can you tell me about it?

I know very little about it.

I acquired from an uncle who dabbled for a few years in antiques, then went off and did other things.

It was acquired by my uncle in the late '60s.

I know very little about its age. I wish I'd been around in the '60s.

That's when you could really buy antiques.

I've looked the signature up. It is a French bronze. I can't find it, but I don't think that matters.

I don't think it need worry us.

It's late 19th early 20th century.

so it's commemorating Bonaparte, really. It's not a period thing.

The only thing I don't particularly like is the very dark patination.

It's not got a great deal of life to it.

It's a bit flat, a bit dark. Doesn't do any harm to handle bronzes.

You should rub your hands all over them.

There are natural acids in the sweat that help bring on the patination. I didn't realise that.

What do you think it's worth? At a guess, I would have thought perhaps ?50.

I've no real idea. At that price, you're tempted to get the chequebook out. It's probably worth more.

I think between ?100-?200 would be my guesstimate.

I should think it would sell quite easily. Are you happy for us to take it away? Yes. Flog it? Yes.

Excellent.

Kelly and Ben, so who's the proud owner? My mother.

Does Mum know you've brought this here? She does. Are you sure? Yeah.

How far do you think you'd get on the proceeds? Back to Barnet, I think. Do you know what they are?

I thought they were egg cups. What sort of eggs do you eat? They're salt cellars.

They're a very good make. Walker and Hall of Sheffield. How do I know? Go on.

It's written there.

One spoon is missing, which is a bit crucial.

The little crown there for Sheffield, that's their assay mark. Birmingham had an anchor.

The story is that when they were discussing assay mark to have, they were in a Crown And Anchor.

That's why Sheffield has a crown and Birmingham has an anchor!

What do you think they're worth? No idea. Ben? I haven't got a clue.

Would you take a fiver for them? No chance.

Ten? I'd say yes, but Kelly would say no. OK, where's my wallet?!

I think they'll make ?80-?120. I think we put a reserve on them at about the ?70 mark.

Happy with that? Very. Will that get you back to Barnet? I think so. Mum'll be pleased. That's a relief!

Well done. Thanks for bringing them.

My name is Ben. And? Kelly. You're soon to be husband and wife? Yes. Did you fight over what you brought?

We brought in a load of stuff, but what we're selling is my mum's. So we fought with her.

I hope you get a decent price. Persuade your mum to put it towards the wedding. I'm sure she will.

Where are you going on honeymoon? We're getting married in Jamaica. All the family are coming.

How sweet. So Mum could pay for her plane ticket with the proceeds? Just a small percentage of it!

You never know! Congratulations. Thank you.

What can you tell me about this? Not a lot. What do you think it is?

As far as I know, we think it's Japanese early Satsuma.

Looking at pictures on the net, it's the closest I can see.

It was given to me by an aunt who had it for 40-50 years.

So it's been in the family. Yes.

I think they got it from a house clearance sale. That's what everybody wants to hear.

Provenance is a great thing. If they came through a family source, it adds interest.

Things that are fresh to the market always seem to do quite well.

I don't know how, but buyers seem to be able to sniff out fresh things.

A lot of the better Satsuma ware was made in the middle of the 19C.

It can be quite early, as early as 1840-50.

It's certainly of that type of pottery.

It's good quality. It varies enormously.

The later in the 19C it gets, it gets completely dreadful.

You get this very late stuff with piping almost piped on enamel.

That's how I couldn't quite tell because I saw some Satsuma pottery that looked very orange and gaudy,

which didn't look anything like what we've got.

The nice thing about is the variety of decoration on the panels.

You've got the garden scene with the lady with the broom,

which is quite nice, and then you've got finches and wisteria,

little Japanese theme,

and then a sort of Samurai battle going on.

Then you've just got a serene scene with a pagoda.

It's lovely.

It's made purely for the European market. These were made for export.

They were made to appeal to Western buyers. How much do you think it's worth? I don't know.

A couple of hundred quid? Can I write you a cheque now?

I think it's worth more than a couple of hundred pounds.

It's sort of Meiji period, second half of the 19C.

It's going to be worth middle to high hundreds. Wow!

If you put it in with something like a ?500-?800 estimate, I think it would fly.

Right. Auction estimates tend to be conservative. Yeah. We're looking to attract buyers.

The worth thing you can do is put something in with a really high estimate in the catalogue.

People think they can't afford it.

In spite of Nigel's valuation, they decide not to sell.

It's quite nice, so we're unsure.

Just wanted some information, to find out exactly what it was. Excellent. Thank you.

How did this come into your family?

I think my father acquired it. Quite how, I don't know.

It was probably in payment for some work he'd done. How much do you think he was owed? Back in 1940...

..perhaps about ?100.

So, he was owed ?100 in 1940.

Yes. And he had this table.

So, in 1940, I guess, could you have bought a house for ?100?

Yes.

So, on that basis, we ought to be looking at a ?80,000-?90,000 table.

That's right. We're not, are we? No.

When we turn a table like this over, we look for various things.

The first think you look for is, when you've got a circular table,

you'll have fingermarks all the way round the edge because that's where fingers have picked the table up.

Dirty fingers underneath the table, and if you don't see that type of mark, you get suspicious.

If it's only in one part, you think, "Has this been cut down?"

Next, this is called the block.

It covers up the timber that's underneath,

so when we pull this catch and put the legs back, we want to see a lighter shadow there.

Lo and behold, there we are.

You can see that that block is original.

If you get a block that ends there and a shadow line that ends there,

you get suspicious and think, "Has this top come off another table?"

If you see screw holes here, you'd suspect that these stretchers

might have been altered,

or the top doesn't belong to the bottom.

So, this looks honest. If we tip him back up again,

the next thing we're going to look at... Imagine back in 1800 or whatever,

this is on a stone floor, water thrown on the floor,

rot, all the rest of it.

A lot of these tables lose the tips of these toes, or it breaks off here.

And if you look at these, I think this is absolutely fine.

It doesn't look like there's been any damage.

So, let's get it back, restore the dignity and put it the right way up.

You've got a lovely 18C, Georgian, mahogany, circular, snap-top table.

I think that that at auction will do ?500-800.

Gosh. So, you were right in your valuation.

I think you need to put it into auction with a reserve on it of around ?450. Right.

But I think it'll go well and it's a lovely thing to put in the sale. I'll be sad to part with it.

It's a bit disappointing from the initial value, the price we swapped it for in 1940. Mmm.

But it's a handsome table. Yes. Very nice. Keep our fingers crossed, shall we? Indeed.

PETER SELLERS: It has been a hard day's night

And I have been working like a dog

It's been a hard day's night

I should be sleeping like a log.

Ringo would have done something like that. I used to do something like that. I played in a band.

Pop memorabilia is worth a fortune, especially Beatles memorabilia.

I'm here to meet Darren who'll tell us all about it.

Darren, it's great to meet another Beatles fan.

You look far too young to be a Beatles fan. A lot of people say that.

Unfortunately, I was born a little bit too late to actually see the Beatles,

so... Your parents obviously influenced you.

They got me into it, especially my mum, listening to the music.

How did you make the transition from collector to dealer? This looks like a successful business.

That was by pure chance, really.

When you collect a certain subject, you get in with the in crowd,

and people want to buy stuff from you, and it escalated from there.

You had a shop? We had two shops in the end, but the internet side is so huge, we've run the shops down

and now we've just got the internet mail order service and it's just gone mad, really.

Darren, this looks interesting. This is a 1964 Weekend magazine.

What would this be worth?

That's about ?40, maybe ?45. It is quite a rare magazine...

..especially being complete.

That's the most important thing with magazines.

It hasn't been creased and all the pages are there.

These look like little trolls. Real hair!

The nice thing about these is... Normally the little instruments are missing and you can't replace them.

Again, made in the '60s, in the States.

These are in quite nice condition.

As you can see, the start of the rubbing of the gold. But about ?50-?60 each.

The internet is becoming a popular way to buy and sell antiques and memorabilia. How is it done?

Ringo used to use Ludwig drums.

Good American drums. How am I gonna buy an authentic Ringo snare drum?

If you could find one! That's the difficult part.

There's many different ways you can go about it.

The easiest way is go into a search engine.

Type in whatever you're collecting.

"Beatles".

You go onto the website, you find the company. We're on our site now.

We're just beatcity.co.uk

There's tons of merchandise on there and you can choose a category...

..like "concert programmes". We don't just do Beatles memorabilia.

Will I get that Ludwig snare drum? I'll have to wait and see.

Philip and Nigel have been valuing left, right and centre.

Let's find out what the owners have decided to sell. Will there be a hidden gem in our selection?

Judy's not sentimental about her ivory corkscrew.

Probably ?50-?100. Yes. I think we ought to put a reserve on of about ?50. Yes.

Susan is offended by the subject of her painting.

David is selling the bronze of Napoleon.

Is the dark patination a problem?

Quite happy for us to sell it? Yes. Why not? Flog it? Flog it.

Jean's table has been in the family for 60 years,

but now she has no room for it.

A holiday. I could do with one.

And Kelly's hoping her mum June will buy a new hat for the wedding

from the sale of the salt cellars.

My mum will be pleased. That's a relief to all of us! Thanks for bringing them. Thank you.

The tension is rising. Will our experts' estimates be on the nose?

Most first-time sellers don't have the luxury of knowing what the auctioneer thinks of the piece.

We do. Let's see what James Braxton thinks of our owners' items.

Sue brought this painting in and I think it's going to show a good healthy return.

She bought it in Michigan, 20 years ago for $15. She could do well!

It's not PC but it is collectible, isn't it, hunting? It is.

We looked up Mr H Murray

and it's a pseudonym for a Birmingham-based artist and illustrator called Horace Hammond.

Horace Hammond had three pseudonyms.

He was also AD Bell and J Barclay.

Why would he do that? He tended to use H Murray when he did hunting and coaching inn scenes.

Maybe he, even in the '20s and '30s, was politically sensitive. Yes.

Everyone is falling off, so they don't catch the fox.

They never do. They don't, do they?

Nigel has put on this ?300-?500, with a reserve of ?300.

We've looked him up in the art sales index. They tend to make ?300-?350.

So he's bang on. Yeah.

Jean's brought this lovely flame mahogany table in.

Philip's valued this at ?500-?800. There is a reserve of ?450.

Yeah. I think it's going to be around that ?500. It's an honest table.

The toes are missing, aren't they? Yeah. When one toe wears down,

rather than have a carpenter or furniture restorer make one up, they knock the other two off.

It doesn't quite stand so well. They are worn.

Something like that. Yeah, although it has the added advantage of having casters.

But you can see the difference. It just finishes it off.

So, what are we looking for? Around ?500. It will get five. I think we'll struggle around 500.

This is it. There's a packed house. How are our owners feeling?

First up is Napoleon's bust. David seems quite happy to let it go.

What will you spend the money on? I've got my eye on a map over there of my namesake county.

What county's that? Norfolk. Norfolk.

There we go. OK, David, this is our lot. Right. Lot 88 now.

Bronze bust... What will it make?

I'll say it might just get to 100.

I think he'll pip the estimate. Napoleon Bonaparte,

looking very splendid.

I want to see you go home with your namesake map.

?50, nice bronze here.

50, thank you. 60, I have.

At 60...70...80.

There's a bid left on the book. That's encouraging.

..and 40. 140. With me at 140.

Any advance on 140?

Sold! Are you happy with that?

That's useful, yes. I can use the money.

I hope you get the map of Norfolk.

Yes, that'll be an excellent thing to take home...in place of Napoleon.

Won't be TOO sorry to see him go.

75.

We've met before, haven't we? Yes. We were bidding against each other in a sale room. I was the lucky one.

Yes. I hope you get lucky here today. I hope so.

You bought this watercolour in Michigan for $15.

That's a hell of a buy. We think it's going to reach, what? ?300-?400?

I think at least that.

Here we go.

A watercolour drawing, the hunting scene... I hope it does well.

It would be nice.

?200.

I like it because they're all falling off!

100 is bid. Thank you. 100.

Where's the 110?

110 against you.

120, 130... Great. He's got something on the book.

160...170.

180...190.

200...220... It's climbing well. Yes.

250...280. One more.

Brilliant. 280 against you.

At 280...

Not expensive. Not expensive.

Didn't sell.

Well... 280.

I mean, I've still got it.

Or you could have a word with the auctioneer, if you want to let it go at 280. Well... If you want rid.

I would have thought that was worth ?300 any day of the week.

I wouldn't be tempted. All right. Hang onto it, then. Disappointing.

Oh, well. OK.

Susan's fox painting didn't find a new home. Maybe the buyers are too politically correct today.

Wonder what they'll make of Judy's corkscrew. This is my partner Brian. Is he vegetarian? When he's with me.

Hopefully you're off to Spain with the proceeds of this corkscrew.

We may make it to Victoria on the proceeds!

Lot 210A, the novelty corkscrew.

75...

Brilliant. Good start.

Anybody else in the room? 80, I have. He's got a bid in the book.

95...100...110.

120...130. He can keep it going much faster and people get excited.

170. It's with you at 170.

Any further bidding? At 170. Brilliant. Further than Victoria!

That's Seville. Excellent. A return to Seville for one of you!

I hope you enjoy the holiday. Thank you very much.

Will Kelly's mum make enough from the salt cellars to buy a hat?

Kelly, who have you got with you?

This is my mum. What's your name?

Julie. They're yours? Yes. You'll put the money towards the wedding.

Yeah, hopefully. What did you pay for them? I didn't. Someone gave them to me.

You don't feel guilty about selling a present? We've all done it! Haven't sold them yet!

Lot 200 now. Here we go. Off to the races.

Are you shaking? Just a bit.

..Sheffield, 1904,

by the maker Walker and Hall. Despite commission double, at ?90.

90.

Anybody at 95?

95, thank you.

100.

?100.

Any advance on this at 100?

110. Thank you. There it is on my left there. 110.

120. Oh, yeah! At the back, 120 it is.

There you go!

Are you happy with that? One bikini.

Yeah, that's good!

Several, I'd have thought.

Hope you enjoy the wedding. Thank you. And good luck for the future.

The last lot of the day is Jean's dad's table.

It's been in the family for a long time, so it'll be hard to see it go.

I love this little table of yours. It's a shame you have to sell it. It is a bit.

I reckon this should go for around ?700. Let's hope so.

It's honest. I like the top. It is honest. Yes.

Are you still going to put the money towards a holiday?

I've had a change of heart. What's that? I think my grandchildren might benefit. Ah!

I've got five grandchildren. Five? Yes. You'll need to get over ?500 for it! I need as much as possible!

A simple figure cos our maths are useless. Absolutely.

This is ours. Fingers crossed. Feeling nervous?

Not really.

Nick, you wouldn't mind holding it up, would you?

Hold it up, Nick. Coax the bids out of them! It does help, though.

And it's a lovely column.

That's my double at 420...420.

450...480.

Great. We've sold it. 500. 550.

600.

650. Brilliant.

700...750...800.

850.

Top money. 880's taken. 900.

950 now.

950's bid. Anybody at 1,000?

Make the maths easier. It would, wouldn't it? Round it up.

950. It's in the room at 950. Any advance on ?950?

Jean, that's great. It's absolutely wonderful. Well done, Philip.

What a great sale for Jean.

Sam's delighted her guitar mirror made a profit of ?75, even though she's got to split it three ways.

I'm quite pleased with that actually, yeah.

It's gone now. No-one can say I didn't do my best to get rid of it.

It was a struggle to sell John's Japanese vase, but somebody bought it in the end.

Disappointed, but the china wasn't fetching the prices we'd hoped.

At least we got rid of them.

Julie will be the envy of the beach in her new bikini, paid for by her silver salt cellars.

We thought we'd get the reserve.

So we're not embarrassed. No.

And Jean's grandchildren will be delighted with the windfall of ?950.

I think it's absolutely wonderful. I'm amazed! Well done, Philip, too.

Every auction room is full of surprises. We've had some wonderful ones here. See you next time.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

This is Malcolm. He owns Iceland.

He's the one that's going to present us with the ten grand WHEN we win it.

You've just got to make it as bearable

or as pleasurable as possible.

Well, here we are in the PR nerve centre of Iceland,

at the end of 96 hours of total hell.

Did we test for horse? No.