Hungerford Flog It!

Welcome to "Flog It!", where you make brass from antiques from your past.

It can be a thrill, especially when it's yours everyone's bidding for!

Our experts give them a valuation and then you flog them at auction.

But will they be off the mark or bang on the nose? Later, we'll find out exactly how well our owners do.

That is very cheap, for sure!

Twenty-one thirty?

Back in the stable! Back in the stable, Doris! 95!

I'm happy! That's what we like to see!

Mahogany... At ?55!

Come on! Fantastic!

That's the top of your valuation.

Yes! Very pleased. It's good!

?160 is grand! Wow, I'm so glad!

Today, we're in Hungerford in Berkshire - a thriving market town on the Kennet and Avon Canal,

and bursting with antiques! You can browse and buy just about any antique you want.

The locals are queueing with boxes for our experts to rummage through.

Everyone hopes to make money, but it depends on our expert valuations.

Philip Serrell started by playing rugby and cricket, but soon ran his own auction house in Worcestershire.

Thomas, yeah! What's yours? Old things!

Thomas Plant started work for an auctioneer's in Bath six years ago.

What's traditional to Hungerford? I'm not sure! I just hope we see nice things!

What's your area? Ceramics, modern...

A young lad like you? You?

Old things! Old things! I like furniture...

and wacky, quirky decorative things, bits of wood, Worcester porcelain...

Who'll do best? The young man. Oh, experience counts!

Let's hope some will part with their treasured possessions

after they hear what the experts say!

First out of the bag is a beautiful brooch that has fired Thomas's imagination! When did you buy it,

and how much for? About two years ago, in a jumble sale. It was in a box of spoons.

I was looking to find anything silver in a spoon collection, and I bought a lot of stuff. It was 5p. 5p.

Yeah. It's been in my car ashtray for a few years. It just sat there. You've done nothing with it?

I haven't. My girlfriend calls it "the treasure". As the programme was on, she said, "Take the treasure!",

hence why you've got it! It's pretty.

It dates from about late 19th century, 1900s.

It's got this wonderful blue enamel, set with this cut stone, which I believe is possibly a small ruby.

It's quite nicely cut.

At 5p, it's a very good buy!

I would've thought it's gonna be worth between ?25 and ?30.

I think that's a very good mark-up.

I can't argue! So, if you're thinking about selling, we'd love to give it a go. Happily! Brilliant.

Thirty pounds is thirty pounds!

I'm Philip. Your names? Ian and Joan. Where are you from? Reading.

How far's that away? 20, 30 miles. Not far!

And you've brought these. Indeed. This part is made out of stag horn, and the base is hallmarked silver.

So if we get the hallmark book out, do you know what a hallmark is?

Yes. Or how it works? JOAN: A little history of the...

It's a series of marks, and there's a line on there,

and that tells you that it's silver.

And there's the Assay Office, and in this instance, the Assay Office looks...

It's a leopard's head, which tells you it's London. If it were an anchor, it would be Birmingham.

And then we've got various letters of the alphabet. Here, we have a "D" in a shield,

So they're London, about 1879. They might've been carved earlier,

but... That checks out with what we believe the problems to be.

How did you get them? They belong to my mother and were given to her

by the daughter of one of the ladies-in-waiting to Queen Alexander

at the start of the last century.

Lady...Lady Baggot, wasn't it? Yeah. And who do they represent?

We believe they're caricatures of Disraeli and Gladstone.

That one on its own might be, say,

a candlestick holder or a spill vase. I was wondering -

having just got this pen in my hand,

I wonder if they sat on someone's desk and held a pen, like that. Have you thought of selling them?

Yes, they belong to my mother and she'd be happy to sell them.

They're really interesting. In auction, they could make ?100 to ?200. Very nice!

If we reserve them at ?80, and estimate them at ?100 to ?200...

Don't be surprised if they make more!

Sorry about the dust! It's all right.

I can't see a mark,

but it's really quite nice.

That definitely is coal-painted bronze... Yeah. ..and certainly from Vienna,

In terms of value, ?80 to ?100.

That's a sensible estimate. Were you thinking of selling? No. No? OK.

That's fine. This might be quite difficult to get this back on.

You should've been careful when you took it off, then you'd know!

An unlucky break there for Thomas.

Philip has found something even more bizarre. What on earth is this?

It's a Chinese puzzle. Show me how it works. Easier said than done.

You have to remove all these rings, somehow, so that the bar is just left separately from the rest of it.

I've never got past the second ring,

but my uncle did it halfway. How long did that take? Weeks!

Dear me! He got it about 40 years ago. Where from? He was a totter!

Really? Yes. And it came in his rag-and-bone trade.

Fascinating. I don't know what it's worth. I haven't seen anything like it. I'd guess it's from about 1900,

and I'd guess its value is between ?20 and ?40, but it's a bit of quirky fun, isn't it? It is!

Yeah! It's different. Thank you for bringing it.

Everyone is hanging on to what they brought, but Thomas has found something right up his street.

It's Clarice Cliff, from the 1920s art deco period. Tell me about this.

I was left this earlier this year from my sister in law...

..and, I'm afraid, I don't appreciate Clarice Cliff.

You're right. It's Clarice Cliff, and it's the Crocus pattern.

We can define it a bit more - it's spring crocus,

the reason being that the band below the crocuses is green.

You do get a crocus colour that is brown, and that's the autumn crocus.

What you have here is a biscuit barrel in a traditional shape,

not in her usual bizarre, jazzy Clarice Cliff art-deco shapes,

so this is probably a later one.

If we look at the mark on the base...here,

there's the signature - Clarice Cliff, Newport Pottery, England,

and the factory is in Staffordshire. It seems to be in good condition.

There's not much damage. There's some chipping to the paintwork.

Have you any ideas of value? No. None? No. You don't like it, and you've no idea of value.

Well...

When you look at the whole thing, and the Clarice Cliff market, people like the rarer bits,

with rarer patterns such as Gibraltar, or Honolulu.

Rare patterns, and maybe more jazzy. Yes.

However, this is sellable. It's still collected by a lot of people.

People like collecting Crocus, the reason being, there's a lot of it around, so it can satisfy demand.

I would suggest, at auction, this is gonna be worth between ?100 and ?150.

It certainly might make more, but ?100 to ?150 is a saleable estimate.

How do you feel about that? Well...

As you say, yes, I thought the pattern was a common one...

Am I allowed to think about it?

You can think about it, for sure. No problem. Thank you. Thank you very much.

While Mrs Taylor goes to ponder, Philip is caught in another puzzle!

So this is a watercolour by William Egerton-Hine. How did you get it?

I saw it in a junk shop. We used to go here on holiday, and saw it was near where we went, so I bought it.

It was ?20, I think.

It's near La Tuque. I like the way it's inscribed, just here - "To my dear young friend, C Collin-Smith."

I wish I knew who it was! It'd be nice! You can never see why people sell them. I rang Eton College,

because he was the art master there. How did you find that out? I can't remember! I must've looked in a book.

I phoned them, and they said yes, he was the art master, and would I give them the painting? I said no.

I can understand that. I'll get one of my reference books and we'll see what we can find out.

Thomas is also trying to track down an artist, but this owner HAS done his research.

Tell me, what do you know about it, and how did you come by it, etc?

It's a bit of a hobby of mine to occasionally go to the auctions. I saw it there... I liked it.

I didn't know anything about the artist, so...

I went to the library and saw the name John Varley,

and there is a very good John Varley,

and this turned out to be his son. Yes! I was pleased when I bought it.

How much did you pay?

I paid ?30. You've done the work, so we don't have to do too much.

Are you willing to sell it? Certainly.

There's some staining and foxing, which will take away some value,

although those can be cleaned up.

If it was John Varley's son it would be very valuable. I'd be a very happy man! You'd be very happy!

As we know, you've done the work, and we know it's the junior, and ?150 to ?200 is a sensible estimate.

Lovely! That's brilliant. Thank you for bringing it in.

Here we are, look.

William Egerton-Hine. He's in there! Yep.

"East View Of The South Downs", 14" by 20", and that made ?360.

How much did you pay for it? ?20.

There you are! That all right?!

I'd rather keep it! Damn and blast!

I think it's worth more than that.

That was 14" by 20",

and my guess is, that is probably more like 8" by 14",

so it's almost half the size...

I'm not suggesting that you sell pictures by the yard, or the square yard,

but it'll be worth less than the sum we quoted. All valuation is based on comparable,

so this just gives you a comparable to work from. If this one's at ?360,

we estimate this at ?150 to ?250.

Would you put that in the sale? Yes, I don't mind.

If we put a reserve on it, it wants to be just below the bottom estimate, so I suggest ?120... OK!

..which is a good return on ?20!

Philip and Thomas have been working hard to find some winners to take to the auction.

Let's find out what they've chosen so far.

Tim Pearson bought his brooch for 5p, so he can't lose, can he?

Really quite pretty... Only in at ?30, so a great mark-up for him.

He was very happy, and I think the buyer will be extremely happy too.

Ian and Joan get the award for the quirkiest characters - their political pen holders.

But will they be difficult to sell? How do you value something like that? I've never seen any before.

I put ?100 to ?200. Fingers crossed!

After a good ponder, Mrs Taylor has decided to sell her biscuit barrel. Which way will the cookies crumble?

The finial, which you lift off the lid with, is lovely and bulbous. I quite like that.

Despite all Philip's endeavours, Maureen has decided not to sell her Egerton-Hine picture after all.

Finally, Michael knows about his painting, but not what it's worth. Will it do well?

That's quite a mark-up. You must be very happy. I am!

I must admit, I'm not that clued up on items

by this painter, but it's John Varley Jr,

and it was a watercolour scene

estimated at ?150 to ?200, and that's got a good chance.

Auctions are exciting. You never know what'll happen.

They've changed so much over the last 10 years with the internet, digital cameras, and motorway links.

You get more people, and it builds up a bit of auction fever,

and if it's well attended, prices will go well, so fingers crossed!

Not far away is Marlborough, where the auction is taking place.

In Wiltshire, it has one of the most famous schools in the country.

Amongst the locals who've turned up to bag a bargain are our owners, looking to profit on their pieces,

but at auction, anything can happen! It depends on who's in the room.

Our experts have given the antiques much thought, but one opinion is crucial - that of the auctioneer,

Sheldon Cameron. As our lots come up, it won't help our owners' chances if he doesn't rate them!

What does he think of Tim's brooch?

I congratulate the man buying that and wish he'd come shopping with me!

It's Victorian, with the enamelware. It would've cost, when made, two to three weeks' wages for someone.

Inset is a ruby, which is hard to see through the side. It has a little glass panel,

with a lock of hair or a photograph as a sweetheart or memorial brooch.

Estimate? If it started in around ?40, I'd think we would be fairly close to that.

Good news for Tim, but Mrs Taylor has decided to hang on to her biscuit barrel for another day.

Clarice Cliff is very collectable,

and is becoming more sought after. Whenever a piece is in auction, there's lots of interest in it.

People want condition reports. It's in good condition. Could've sold well. We'll never find out now.

We THINK - we're not too sure - they're political characters carved out of antler...deer antler,

and were possibly pen holders. The estimate was ?100 to ?150.

I hope Philip's got his chequebook on him tomorrow. I think a bit less.

John Varley - a sought-after artist,

but known for having figures in the picture. In this, there are none, so it could appear naked.

Its condition is quite good - not brilliant. There is some foxing in the top, which detracts somewhat,

but there has been interest in it, with a fair few reports given on it.

I think somewhere tomorrow between ?50 and ?100.

The auction is underway, but before our items come under the hammer,

there's just time to see if Thomas has any doubts about his estimates.

The mourning brooch... You're spot on. It might do better. There's a stamp on the back...

Yes. ..and it's Child and Child, so hopefully it could be good. Bump it up a little? Yes.

And the rest of the valuations...? They were quite good. John Varley, as I said,

I'm not a great painter specialist. Sheldon put them at a bit less than me, um...

but he bought it for ?30... Can't be hard to make a profit. Exactly.

There's been frantic bidding so far! Our owners are steadying their nerve before their turn arrives.

?2,130... ?2,150...

?160, I'm at... ?170... ?180...

Tim's up first with his 5p brooch, and we think this one's in the bag! All finished at...

Lot 280 is a 19th-century circular brooch.

Lot 280, the enamel brooch, here.

Lot 280, the enamel brooch.

Thomas? I'm hoping!

Praying... It should be good! Here it is. It's gonna be shown.

It's the first lot of jewellery today, so let's hope it's the best.

Lot 280. ?10 for it?

?10, surely! Thank you! At ?10. You bidding, sir?

?15. At ?15 to you, sir...

?15, we're stuck at. At ?15, who's got ?20 for it?

Who's got ?18? A rather nice brooch, here. A nice Christmas present,

who's for ?18? If you're all finished...

Victorian silver, with the ruby, only ?15. ?15? Better than 5p!

It's profit! Thomas?

That is very cheap, for sure!

That'll teach us to be so confident. Ian and Joan's prime ministers, Disraeli and Gladstone,

are right up Philip's street, but will anyone vote for them today?

Next we've got these political characters made from stag's horn,

with a silver base. Real nice ones.

They've been in your family for some time? They were given to my mother

by the daughter of one of the ladies-in-waiting to Queen Alexandra,

who was the stepdaughter of Queen Victoria, hence the date on them.

A royalty connection should help.

Philip, do you reckon ?100 to ?200? I've never seen anything like them, so how do you value them?

Just from the quirky factor, I'll be disappointed if they don't sell.

I think Philip's very ambitious in his valuation, but fingers crossed!

He's doubting you! He wouldn't be on his own! We'll find out now.

Lot 300 is the rather nice pair of Victorian antler pen holders,

dated London 1879,

with silver rims to them, or bases. Lot 300, starting at ?70.

?75... ?80... ?85, ?90... ?100.

?110. I'm out. ?120 with you, sir. ?120.

We're at ?120! Fantastic!

At ?120, if you've all finished that...

Well done! Pleased? Thrilled! Really happy. Congratulations.

Next is the Varley Jr landscape.

Thomas valued it at ?150, but has he painted Michael into a corner?

We've got Michael Burrell here. His nice 19th-century watercolour is about to come up.

A few lots to go! How are you feeling? Nervous! Fingers crossed.

I hope someone takes it to say they have a John Varley. That'd be nice. If it does ?150, what'll you do?

I'll be pleased. The children will earmark some money for presents!

Great! We'll see how it goes.

Lot 165 is the late 19th century watercolour, signed "John Varley".

The one in the cabinet - Lot 165, watercolour by John Varley.

A lot of interest in this.

A lot of interest in this one - Lot 165. Start with me at ?32.

At ?32. ?32 only as a start!

Who's going on now? ?30. ?35, ?38.

?42, ?45. ?48.

?48, sir. ?48.

Well short on the valuation! We are.

It does seem awfully cheap. At ?48, do I hear ?50?

At ?48, if you're all finished...

?48 it is. Michael, ?48.

Still, a small profit. Not too bad.

Still very pleased. Good. I'm pleased. Profit is profit after all.

We can use that money to make MORE profit! ..A bit out, there! Yes, but I'll know better for next time,

when I see a John Varley like that. The lack of frame had quite an effect, but profit is profit!

Back in the valuation room, Philip has found something he likes, but it's not exactly an antique!

These are lovely. Where'd you get these from?

They were mum's. I don't know where she got them from.

I remember working this at home! Yeah?

This is the beauty of this game.

I love kitchenalia and this tells you what it is. It's a Spong's bean slicer, number 633.

Obviously, it clamps onto the side of your table,

which I won't... On there like that.

You feed your bean into there and then you turn this handle...

..and out they come, ready sliced. I like that!

They're worth something, are they?

Yeah! I mean...

10 or 15 years ago, no! Right.

All this kitchenalia is now becoming more and more collectable.

That's interesting because it's got Spong's, "Made In England" on it...

That's just an ordinary mincer with no identification, and my advice would be to put these in as one lot,

at ?20 to ?30. Right. Put a reserve on them at ?15...

Um... But, you know, they could do quite well. The only problem is that the market is quite tough,

and they'll never be worth fortunes cos they're not works of art. No.

They're just collectors' items. They would do well. Are you happy to put them in? Yeah! We'll put those down.

We have a Kenwood mixer. Would it go? Well... Electrical. OK. Careful about selling electrical things.

This is a claret jug, and you've got a silver hallmark there, which is nice.

So all of this is silver, and then it's applied on this glass mount, with a monogram on the top there,

and if we lift the thumb piece back, and I put me eyes on, we can see,

it says "P Hazeldine, 101 New Bond Street", which is obviously London,

and, obviously, it's come from a good shop. So that's good!

It be better still if we hadn't got this chunk out of the bottom. Yes!

There is the possibility that you could re-grind that. It might at some time have sat in a silver base.

The value is about ?80 to ?120. Put a reserve on it around ?50 or ?60.

I think it will sell all right.

Is it a specialist thing? No, no, no. There's lots of collectors at these, and it's a claret jug.

Fill that with claret, polish it up... I could live with the chips.

We need to get the reserve right. So you're happy to put it in too? Yes.

Consign these to the auction, as they say. OK!

Big collection! You must be avid collectors. How did you come by all of this?

I bought them 12 years ago, and ever since, they've been in boxes.

They haven't seen daylight for 12 years? The same paper they've been wrapped in? 1990.

You've got everything from hot water jugs to tea caddies. If you were thinking of selling them,

which you are, is that right? Yes!

I would suggest you put them in one lot, together, because some of them are damaged,

some have dents in... There's nothing here which has any sort of, you know, large value,

to be sold on its own, so I recommend they're sold as a lot - a lot of pewter.

I think you'd get people interested. One item that is good fun is this.

This is a great flask. It's a bit big to carry around with you,

in one's pocket. It's something to travel with - maybe for water when walking.

They wouldn't put alcohol in here. After a day of that, that'd be it!

Importantly, the glass seems in good condition.

It doesn't matter about the leather too much, although most is there. That's a good lead for the lot.

The rest of the items I'd value at between ?150 and ?200 as one lot

in the sale at Marlborough. Are you happy with that? That's fine. OK.

There we are. Well!

That's a lovely Victorian nursing chair, isn't it? It is!

It's distressed, isn't it? Very! If we were like that, we would be too!

It's a real crying shame, isn't it, cos you've got all this wonderful material here,

and it's just had it, hasn't it? It has. And all this deep buttoning...

How long have you had it? When my gran knew I was expecting 39 years ago... It was your nursing chair!

..it was given to me as a nursing chair, which I did use. We'd just like to tip him over,

and look and see if we can see anything on the casters.

No.

That one has been slightly altered.

Can you see how it's missing a collar on there, look. Mm!

It's a totally different caster. It'd be nice to get another caster,

but we can just see here... If you sat on it without these slats you'd end up on the floor!

Can you see the springs coming through? Yeah. But...

What I like about it is that it's just absolutely as it was

and whoever buys it has certainly got a pattern to reupholster it in. The problem you've got

is that it's really expensive to reupholster these.

Really expensive. But you could have an estimate at auction of ?50 to ?80,

put a reserve at about the ?40 mark, and I think it'll do very nicely!

The type of person who'll buy it is a lady doing an upholstery class...

I went to one and they wouldn't touch it! They wouldn't touch it?!

They couldn't get the buttoning as it was. The only thing I would consider is taking out that panel...

OK? Trying to buy some old Victorian tapestries or woolwork,

and I would put them in there,

cos I don't find this offensive! The velvet stuff has come off...

Yeah, but it is what it is! If you were 100 years old, yours would come off! More than likely!

Tell me, sir, about your plates.

Well, these plates came from my parents.

We discovered them when they had died, and we collected the bits and pieces, and there were these plates,

and so we decided these were nice, and we understand they may go back in my family

back to my grandfather's time. Well, I've had a look at them and they're by Doulton.

You have this transfer-printed border - the Provence pattern.

And centred is this wonderful transfer-printed Royal crest,

which is really special. It is!

I've never seen a set of six with this Royal Crest. Really? Yeah. So I think it's quite rare.

Whether they were just for the Royal household is another matter. I doubt it. A very nice colour on the edges.

It's a beautiful colour, and how the glaze has dripped and smudged

makes it quite attractive.

Two things to think about - a) They're Doulton, so collectable.

b) They've got an armorial on them. People like to collect armorials as well.

But there are some chips and damage.

So, if you were thinking about selling, which I believe you are...?

Yes! Yes? Yes. I would've thought an estimate at auction would be between ?250 and ?300.

That's excellent. Very good. We'll see if we can flog them. Thank you!

Doris has something else Philip can horse around with. Good, isn't he? He's lovely!

A Mobo - a walking horse! How long have you owned him?

Um... In my family... Yeah. ..just on 40 years. Really? Yes.

And before that? My cousin had it from a young child. So probably late 40s, early 50s? Possibly, yes.

This is the original paint. It is.

There's new paint here. It's made in England, which is a good stamp to see on the side!

The expression is "quiet to shoe, box and clip"? Something like that!

"Steady in traffic" or something! He's a real good toy, isn't he?

In terms of value, at auction he will make probably in the order of...?60 to ?90.

And I'd put a reserve around the ?50 mark, with a bit of discretion.

So if you give the auctioneers 10% discretion on that ?50 figure...

But I think he's sweet, and he'll... He's still serviceable, isn't he?

He is. Yeah? Yeah.

It'd be nice to go to a new home. It'd be nice if he made a lot of money, but the market's hard,

so I'd be cautious. Happy to do that? Yes. We'll put him in. Thanks.

Philip and Thomas have been working hard to get some winners to take to the auction.

We've had a good crowd. It was nice to see a good turnout. People queuing out in the street,

which is how it should be!

It's certainly been quite busy,

and draining on one's vocal cords!

We saw some good quality things, regrettably not all of it for sale!

But I think we saw some good things, completely across the range.

I saw furniture, silver, glass, handsome wood too, but they weren't for sale, regrettably.

I call it "pressing the flesh" - meeting different people,

going through their treasures, to disappoint or to excite, or to tell them what they already know!

Let's see what the rest are selling.

Doris brought her two childhood treasures to auction - the Victorian nursing chair...

It had seen better days, but we put ?50 to ?80 on it,

or something like that. It's the ideal thing for a lady in an upholstery class,

and they can convert it back into a loved thing, and it'll be useful in a bedroom or drawing room.

..and her horse, which she played on as a child!

We put ?60 to ?90 on that and it'll do OK at the sale room.

James Brazier has decided to part with his pewter collection, but will anyone want it?

Put it in as one job lot. 20 pieces - coffee pots, inkwells,

flasks, etc. It's quite good.

At ?150 to ?200, it should sell in between those estimates, if not exceed those.

Brian was surprised his items were worth as much as Philip's valuation.

They're no great shakes, but are more and more collectable. They should make ?15 to ?30.

He's delighted with the jug's price, although the chip may keep bids low.

I think ?80 to ?100, and that should do well. People like claret jugs. They're quite collectable.

And finally, Carolyn is hoping

her Doulton will make a profit. She's got her eye on something else.

They're in at ?250 to ?300.

They might just fall at the bottom estimate.

I'm a bit nervous there.

In Marlborough, Sheldon Cameron, our auctioneer, is back in action.

He's been known to drive a hard bargain and says what he thinks.

At ?28, the bid is against you. Blow the housekeeping, it's only money.

He's gonna give us the lowdown on our owners' items and the estimates.

First up is Doris's chair.

Victorian nursing chair, around 1890 in date, 1895. It's an ideal weekend project for someone.

In the condition it's in, I would have thought we'd get close to the estimate on it.

The estimate's ?50 to ?80. It's not a bad chair. With some restoration work, it'll come up quite well.

With pewter, the earlier stuff always had a touchmark on the bottom -

a small, incised mark based on silver hallmarks.

This, unfortunately, is not that old.

We've got a good selection of coffee pots, teapots, the capstan inkwell, the tankard.

Probably my favourite is this little tea canister.

Initially, it would have been bound in something, possibly mahogany.

Overall, a very nice and sizeable collection.

I would have thought we'd get close to the bottom estimate.

It's a very nice article. People do like them.

But, unfortunately, again, it's an antique and fine art auction and it's not in that bracket.

It's not old enough, it's not fine art. Decorative, yes. I think we could be a little stuck with it.

Decorative pieces. They're pottery and transfer decorated with the royal coat of arms.

Very nice indeed. Initially, I think would have been part of a larger dinner service and we only have six.

With regard to collectability,

anything that has a royal connection goes very, very well.

There is some slight damage to them. Two or three have slight chips.

But I would have thought they'd do quite well. Price-wise - around ?150 to ?200.

Claret jugs are very, very popular. The glass one with the silver top has had someone's initials put on.

That won't detract from it at all. It's a very nice ornament. That should make its money, if not more.

And, finally, Brian's cast-iron bean slicer and mincer.

They are not suitable for an antique and fine arts sale. I think the BBC's hospitality was too good for Philip.

It's really not something we'd be prepared to sell. Nice as they are, functional as they are.

I wonder how Brian's going to react to that. Does he think Sheldon's being fair?

The kitchenalia has been given the heave-ho. Yeah. Disappointed?

Yeah, I thought it might have gone. Yeah, Philip thought it'd sell well. However, Sheldon thinks not.

He's put it through the mincer. You've been working on that.

As the auction gets into full swing, what does Philip think about Sheldon's decision?

So, the kitchenalia has been given the heave.

I'm disappointed. I think it would have sold and sold quite well.

It strikes me that, in an area like this, it would have fitted in well.

Certainly, we put things like that through sales and they make quite good money. However, it's gone.

The rest of it, overall, he seemed quite confident.

The only thing I've got doubts about is the old horse. It's one of those quirky lots

that if we ARE getting towards a recession, I don't think anybody NEEDS a toy horse. So we'll see.

It's a packed house again and there's a real buzz about the place.

Our owners are all hoping to get a good price.

The first item to come under Sheldon's hammer is Doris's chair.

Feeling confident? Fairly.

?50-?80, you said, Philip? If a lady wants a project for reupholstery,

we shouldn't have a problem.

The Edwardian mahogany framed nursing chair, lot 35.

How's the nerves? My heart's going! Terrible.

Rather nice one. Needs restoration, but it is a fine specimen.

Going to start with me at ?40. At ?40.

Do I hear ?45? ?45.

?48. Against you, madam.

At ?50.

Do I hear ?55 anywhere?

At ?50 we'll finish that.

?50 is the reserve price. Just about on your estimate.

In a way, I'm a bit disappointed. I thought it had some potential.

If people had seen that potential... It's a project. A chair like that, reupholstered, would look lovely.

It's sold, so that's good. We got the reserve. ?50 is on the low side for that one. Someone got a bargain.

At least it made its asking price and Doris does have another chance. Let's hope her horse comes in.

James's pewter lot is next. But will anyone here take it off his hands?

Feeling confident? Let's hope so. I think this will be a good one.

..Thomas, ?200 to ?300? I'm quite confident. There's so much for people to choose from.

It's the only way to sell a big collection like that - as one lot.

Start with me at ?100. The bid is with me. ..Do I hear ?110? ?140...

On to lot 202, the large collection of pewter.

Large collection of pewter, including teapots, claret jug, flasks,

inkwells, egg cups. A large selection.

Lot 202. Start at ?80. ?80 at the start.

Do I hear ?85 anywhere? With me, ladies and gentlemen.

Surely worth ?85. ?85. ?90.

Here we go. We're on our way. ?120.

Do I hear ?130 now?

At ?120.

I thought it would have done more. Above the reserve...

We sold it, ?120. Slightly below your valuation.

Slightly below. But maybe there should have been a few more people.

Quite pleased with that, though. I don't think we should be disappointed. Happy with ?120? Yeah.

Maybe James is just glad he's not taking it home with him.

However, he will have to pay the auctioneer's premium, which is usually 10%-15% of the sale price.

Doris's horse has come a long way since she played with it as a child, but will it fall short today?

You reckon ?60 to ?90 for this one. It'll make a nice present for some child, so keep everything crossed.

There does seem to be some good buyers for the smaller stuff today, so let's hope we do well.

Lot 186 is the Mobo 1950's horse.

Lot 186.

The Mobo horse. ?60 to ?90. Don't laugh now.

At ?32, the bid is with me. Who's going on now? ?35. ?38.

At ?42, with me.

Strong bidding so far. ?48.

At ?48, who's going on here? At ?48, we'll finish that...

Very close to the reserve,

but we haven't made it. We reserved it at ?50. Back in the stables.

I suppose it's a case of horses for courses and the equine fraternity just didn't turn up today.

Can we get on a winning streak with the Royal Doulton?

We've got Carolyn here, owner of the nice set of Royal Doulton plates

with the royal crest on the front of them.

You reckoned ?200 to 300. ..Carolyn, you going to spend the money here,

or is it spent already? It's spent here already. You've been buying? Yes.

Lot 252, six Royal Doulton plates. Lot 252, the set of plates.

They are rather nice ones.

?160. ?160 then, the bid is with me.

An opening bid now. 160. Do we have 170?

At ?160. Do I hear ?170 at all?

?160. At ?160, ladies and gentlemen, we'll finish that.

?160. We've done it. Yes. Very pleased. ?160. Fantastic.

Very relieved. Very. That's great. Lovely. Thank you.

His kitchenalia is out, but Brian's claret jug is still in the running and it's last up today.

We've got Brian. Remember we lost his mincer and the bean slicer.

We've got your claret jug, silver topped. Should be good. I hope so.

Sheldon's dead confident. Is he?

Lot 35 is the...

Victorian silver claret jug. Dated London, 1893.

The lid's bearing the retailer stamp - 101 New Bond Street,

which is now a firm of auctioneers.

Surprise, surprise. Start with me at ?42.

At ?42. ?45. ?48. ?50. ..?60.

?60 with you. ?70. ?75. ?80. ?85. ?90.

We're at ?90 already. Come on! Fantastic.

At ?100. ..?120.

At ?120 with you, sir. Anyone else?

At ?120.

Yes! Well done. Spot on there.

Fabulous. Just shows you our experts DO know quite a lot.

Another varied day. Some people were pleased with what they sold and some didn't sell anything.

At least they now know how much their antiques are worth.

A mixed day when her nursing chair went for the reserve price and her horse didn't sell at all.

Michael is pleased with his profit on the John Varley watercolour

even though it went for less than Thomas's valuation.

James is happy to finally off-load his pewter collection, and for a good sum, too!

Both Thomas and Carolyn are chuffed with the price she got for her plates.

Someone got away lightly when they pocketed Tim's brooch for ?15.

Ian thought Philip's estimate was a little high for his Disraeli and Gladstone penholders,

but was proved wrong when he left the saleroom ?120 better off.

Brian may be having words with Sheldon over his kitchenalia,

but he'll also be taking ?120 home with him for his claret jug - minus the auctioneer's charges of course.

Well, it's been a great day here in Marlborough. Our experts have done pretty well.

Philip, you had two lots sold well over your estimates, one exactly on the button and only one lot unsold.

We should have swapped it for these. Brian's here with his cast-iron kitchen implements.

I'll sell them outside. Good luck. But your claret jug did very well.

Dad will be pleased. It's his birthday today.

He's been dead 11 years, but he'll be pleased. ..Won't you, Dad?

And, Thomas, you got four lots sold, but all underneath your valuation.

What happened? 100% record. I think that's quite good. All four sold.

They sold on reserve or on discretion.

It's a sign of the times, I feel. Going through a difficult patch.

Also, mainly small items and the sale wasn't full of smalls buyers. Lots of furniture.

Absolutely right. Furniture did very well, but smalls not quite so well.

Tim, your 5p brooch - 15 quid. Happy with that? Yeah.

I'm more upset I haven't bought anything. Not enough money? Probably not.

Auctions are always full of surprises.

Experts can't be right all the time and sometimes they get it wrong.

Join us to test their expertise on Flog It!

He's doubting you. He's not on his own.

Well done. Spot on there.

Just shows you - our experts DO know quite a lot.

Subtitles by Dermot Fitzsimons and Mary Easton BBC Broadcast - 2002