0:00:02 > 0:00:06Today I'm in Northumberland and the venue for our valuation day today
0:00:06 > 0:00:10is the spectacular, breathtaking Alnwick Castle.
0:00:10 > 0:00:15But will we have the antiques and collectables worthy of the backdrop?
0:00:15 > 0:00:19Well, stay tuned and find out. It's going to be an adventure.
0:00:40 > 0:00:45Standing proud over the town of Alnwick, the castle is seen for miles.
0:00:45 > 0:00:52As a warning to any strangers, the Percy family's lion guards the entrance to the town.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56But don't worry. We're friendly visitors today.
0:00:58 > 0:01:04And this is where it all starts. For the lucky ones who go through to the auction later on,
0:01:04 > 0:01:10they could be going home with a small fortune. There could be one or two big surprises.
0:01:10 > 0:01:17Everyone here has turned up laden with unwanted antiques to ask our experts the all-important question,
0:01:17 > 0:01:20- which is... - ALL: What's it worth?
0:01:20 > 0:01:23- What'll you do when you find out? - ALL: Flog it!
0:01:23 > 0:01:29- It's about time we stormed the castle, got everybody inside and got on with it. Ready?- Yes!
0:01:29 > 0:01:32Follow me, then. Let's go.
0:01:34 > 0:01:40Heading up our team of experts are David Fletcher and Anita Manning.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43Are they both in good condition? That's crucial.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47They've already scoured the queue, but better get inside with me.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51And we're greeted by this marvellous vista.
0:01:53 > 0:01:59Coming up on today's show, there's fun for the young and the young at heart
0:01:59 > 0:02:05and can you guess which of these items spotted by Anita makes the most at auction?
0:02:06 > 0:02:08A collection of toy trains?
0:02:08 > 0:02:11This is our dear old Hornby.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14A concertina with a bit of damage?
0:02:14 > 0:02:17It's made by Lachenal.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20Or three history books with a local connection?
0:02:20 > 0:02:24Alnwick. The county town of Northumberland.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27Stay tuned and all will be revealed.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32- Love this. Don't you?- Yes!
0:02:33 > 0:02:40Everybody's now safely seated inside. We're filming outside today, so fingers crossed it won't rain.
0:02:40 > 0:02:45What a stunning backdrop! It doesn't get much better than that.
0:02:45 > 0:02:52Hopefully we'll have some wizard work by our experts. And Anita Manning is first at the tables.
0:02:52 > 0:02:57Anita is with Dick and his trains are certainly not just for boys.
0:02:57 > 0:03:03When I was a wee girl, my dad bought me train sets for Christmas. Not dolls. I'm always pleased
0:03:03 > 0:03:07to see this type of thing. Tell me, where did you get these?
0:03:07 > 0:03:13They were my dad's. And he, I think, bought some of them
0:03:13 > 0:03:21in the 1940s. Probably when he came out of the RAF. And he was a railway engineer on steam trains.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25- So I think this is where the interest came.- Oh, right.
0:03:25 > 0:03:30- Did he play with these?- Yes, he did. - And when you were a wee boy?- Yes!
0:03:30 > 0:03:32I was never allowed to touch them!
0:03:32 > 0:03:36- Did your dad get dressed up in his uniform?- No, no.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38No, no!
0:03:38 > 0:03:41- It wasn't as bad as that? - No, it wisnae.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45This one here is possibly the earliest one.
0:03:45 > 0:03:50This is a German locomotive made by Bing.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53From about the mid-1920s, I would say.
0:03:53 > 0:03:58- This one here is our dear old Hornby.- Yes, clockwork.
0:03:58 > 0:04:04Probably the most popular company for making trains or locomotives ever.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08And this one here is Bassett-Lowke, which were a Northampton company
0:04:08 > 0:04:16and, of course, Northampton's a very famous place for railways, railway memorabilia.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20Now do you have the other pieces of this?
0:04:20 > 0:04:26- We have various tracks and goods stock to go with them all. - Right, OK.
0:04:26 > 0:04:32- Now these are steam-driven.- Yes. - When you were a wee laddie, were you allowed to do any of that?
0:04:32 > 0:04:37- No, no.- No?- Actually, one time they had it going in the living room.
0:04:37 > 0:04:45I think this one caught fire and my dad threw it in the sink and it set the curtains on fire...!
0:04:45 > 0:04:49He wasn't really allowed to run them in the house after that.
0:04:49 > 0:04:54- Your mum said, "Enough's enough." - They're very difficult to regulate.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58You had to put a load of coaches on to slow them down on corners.
0:04:58 > 0:05:03- I used to like when they fell off. - You must have been a wee devil!
0:05:03 > 0:05:08- Aye.- All right. I notice on the Hornby one
0:05:08 > 0:05:13that they're all zero gauge and this has been a replacement.
0:05:13 > 0:05:20- Yes, my dad made the replacement. - That probably didn't affect the performance.- No.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24- But...- The price. - It will affect the price a wee bit.
0:05:24 > 0:05:30I think probably putting them in, maybe 150-250, would you be happy to put them in at that?
0:05:30 > 0:05:37- Yes, aye.- We'll put them in with a reserve of maybe round about 130 on them.
0:05:37 > 0:05:42But what I would like you to do if you have the other pieces and carriages
0:05:42 > 0:05:49- is to bring them to the auctioneer. The auctioneer may amend the valuation on it.- Right.
0:05:49 > 0:05:55I'd rather somebody got the enjoyment out of using them. That's where they should be.
0:05:55 > 0:06:00- Played with again. That's the important thing.- Aye.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04Let's hope whoever buys them doesn't set fire to their mum's curtains!
0:06:04 > 0:06:10'And moving on I'm with Irene and the most bizarre inkwell I have ever seen.'
0:06:10 > 0:06:16- It's been kicking around my loft for 30 years.- Has it? What was it doing up there?
0:06:16 > 0:06:20- I have no idea. It's my husband's. - Oh, right. OK.
0:06:20 > 0:06:26- I think he got it from his father. - Strange thing.- You like it or you don't.- Yeah, I know.
0:06:26 > 0:06:31- I don't really like it.- No! Neither do I.- I'm a horse lover
0:06:31 > 0:06:34- and it's something that I would never do.- No.
0:06:34 > 0:06:41- Never.- It looks better on the horse. - It looks much better on the horse. The horse was called Duckling.
0:06:41 > 0:06:46- We know that as it's engraved "Duckling, 1908".- Yeah.
0:06:46 > 0:06:51- This is silver. Did you know that? - I saw the...- The hallmarks.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55- It was black this morning! - You polished this?- My husband did.
0:06:55 > 0:07:02- Bless him!- It was black. - "It might make more money! Give it a quick polish!"
0:07:02 > 0:07:05It doesn't really matter if you don't polish silver.
0:07:05 > 0:07:12I like my silver unpolished. Maker's name - M&C. The silversmith Macey and Chisholm.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16They were working from 1834 to around about 1957.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20- Somewhere around there.- Right.- So it was a good span, over 100 years.
0:07:20 > 0:07:25- That thistle, what does that tell you?- Scotland?- Exactly.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29So the assay office was in Edinburgh.
0:07:29 > 0:07:35- If this horse had had a racing pedigree, then it might be worth quite a bit of money.- Yeah.
0:07:35 > 0:07:40But I think it was just a trusty steed, a family pet.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44This kind of thing was fashionable back in 1908.
0:07:44 > 0:07:51- At auction, I imagine this would fetch £60-£80.- Right. - Are you happy with that?- Fine.
0:07:51 > 0:07:57- Let's stick it in with that valuation. Do you want a reserve? - No.- Shall we say no reserve?- Yeah.
0:07:57 > 0:08:03- Just get rid.- OK. - I've never been to an auction before.- Well, you'll enjoy yourself!
0:08:03 > 0:08:09You'll enjoy yourself. 'Not to everyone's taste, but Irene gets to experience an auction.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14'David is with Linda and her dolls.'
0:08:14 > 0:08:19You've brought three very pretty young ladies along with you.
0:08:19 > 0:08:25- What can you tell me about them? - Well, all I know is that they belong to my mother-in-law.
0:08:25 > 0:08:32I don't know how long she had them, but we came across them in a cupboard, all wrapped up,
0:08:32 > 0:08:38- after she died. And really we've had them since then.- OK.
0:08:38 > 0:08:43- You didn't know of their existence? - She'd never really shown us them.
0:08:43 > 0:08:50- She collected and had so many things.- I don't think these are dolls that were made to play with.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54They were made to sit on a mantelpiece or in a display cabinet.
0:08:55 > 0:09:00That's really borne out by the splendour of their costumes.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04I think that they would have been made in about 1900.
0:09:04 > 0:09:12- They were made in Germany.- Oh, right.- Made out of what I really think we should call porcelain,
0:09:12 > 0:09:15- but is known as bone china. - Mm-hm.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18And more or less mass produced.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22Each one of the girls has very rosy cheeks and those bright blue eyes.
0:09:22 > 0:09:27- And their difference lies in the costumes.- Yeah.
0:09:27 > 0:09:34- Are you looking to raise money for a particular purpose? - Well, we are going a trip
0:09:34 > 0:09:41- to the Deep South in the States next year. New Orleans, Memphis, all around that area.- Wonderful.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45OK. I don't think the proceeds will pay for your trip,
0:09:45 > 0:09:52but they'll go towards your holiday. And you might be able to buy dinner somewhere on the proceeds.
0:09:52 > 0:09:57I think they're going to make somewhere between £10 and £20 each.
0:09:57 > 0:10:02So I would like to put an estimate of £30-£50 on them.
0:10:02 > 0:10:08- OK.- So if you're happy because they're relatively low value I'd like to sell without reserve.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12- Fine.- You don't really want them back again, do you?- No.
0:10:12 > 0:10:18- Just have to say bye-bye. - And I'll see you at the sale. - Thank you very much.
0:10:18 > 0:10:24That's it. That's our last item found this morning and now it's time to put those valuations to the test
0:10:24 > 0:10:30as we head over to the auction room for the first time. Here's a quick recap, just to jog your memory,
0:10:30 > 0:10:33of the items going under the hammer.
0:10:33 > 0:10:38We have three items to take off to auction, all good fun.
0:10:38 > 0:10:44Dick's selling his collection of trains along with more track that he's added to the lot.
0:10:44 > 0:10:50Irene's horse's hoof inkwell is a curious item, but it does have a silver lid.
0:10:52 > 0:10:58And Linda's three dolls are low value, but would really appeal to a collector.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06We're thrilled to be at Boldon Auction Galleries in South Tyneside,
0:11:06 > 0:11:11where I'm keen to get the bidders enthusiastic.
0:11:11 > 0:11:16- What have you seen?- Lots of things, but it depends how much they go for.
0:11:16 > 0:11:21Oh, a canny lot! Well, any moment now the auction is just about to start.
0:11:21 > 0:11:27Our auctioneer is Giles Hodges and he's ready with his gavel in hand.
0:11:27 > 0:11:32Linda's hoping to raise some holiday money by selling her dolls.
0:11:32 > 0:11:38- Why are you selling these? Because they're spooky? - Well, they are a bit!
0:11:38 > 0:11:44- We don't have them out. - I don't like them. I don't like any type of dolls.
0:11:44 > 0:11:50- Do you?- I don't think I do, particularly, Paul! - You didn't want to answer that.
0:11:50 > 0:11:55But somebody out there does love them and we're going to find them. Good luck.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59Three little continental dress dolls. Somebody bid me £10. 10 bid.
0:11:59 > 0:12:04- At 10. 15. 20. - We've sold them.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07Anybody I've missed? At £20.
0:12:07 > 0:12:105, yes or no? At £20. We're right at the front.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13For the last time at 20.
0:12:13 > 0:12:18Yes! That's it. There was no reserve, so £20, straight in.
0:12:18 > 0:12:23- It was a bit of fun!- It'll buy you a gin and tonic if you're lucky!
0:12:23 > 0:12:30I hope those dolls went to someone who will love them. The same goes for Irene's horse hoof ink well
0:12:30 > 0:12:33as she doesn't want it back.
0:12:33 > 0:12:39- Hello there. Who's this? - Joan, my friend. The reason I came. - The reason you came? Why?
0:12:39 > 0:12:43- She wanted to come.- Ah, I see! - And I didn't have anything!
0:12:43 > 0:12:48- You haven't got anything in your house?- It wasn't worth anything.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52OK, well, hopefully it's the little bit of silver that gets this away.
0:12:52 > 0:12:58I'm not sure about the name Duckling, but somebody loved it and this was the fashion.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02- Let's see what the bidders think. Happy?- Absolutely.- Here we go.
0:13:02 > 0:13:07A silver-mounted hoof inkwell. Edinburgh, 1908.
0:13:07 > 0:13:14Engraved "Duckling". And I have a £50 bid for it. At 50.
0:13:14 > 0:13:175, anybody? 55. 60.
0:13:17 > 0:13:2065. 70.
0:13:20 > 0:13:2575. 80. At £80. It's on commission.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27At £80, are we all done?
0:13:27 > 0:13:32At £80. It's the commission bidder. There's nobody on the 'net.
0:13:32 > 0:13:37At £80, are we all done? At 80.
0:13:37 > 0:13:42- Yes! £80. That's not bad, is it? - It's all right.- I was a bit worried.
0:13:42 > 0:13:47- Kind of what I said in a way. - Yeah, it was. 60-80.
0:13:47 > 0:13:52- It was nice and quick! - Yeah. In and out.- Lovely. Yeah.
0:13:52 > 0:13:58Top end of the estimate for lovely Irene. Now it's time for Dick to say goodbye to his trains,
0:13:58 > 0:14:01which used to belong to his dad.
0:14:01 > 0:14:06- Did he let you play with them? - Not often! Not at all, in fact!
0:14:06 > 0:14:12- "You can't play with them, but I can!"- They're a wee bit dangerous at times!
0:14:12 > 0:14:17- And you brought some other bits and pieces.- Rails and carriages.
0:14:17 > 0:14:23- It's a nice package.- A nice group. - Well, we could have a big surprise. - Let's hope so.- You never know.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27This is what happens in an auction. Cheeky come-and-buy-mes.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30- Good luck, Dick.- Right. - Here we go.
0:14:30 > 0:14:37A large collection of Bingham, Hornby, locomotives, track, rolling stock.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41Plenty of interest again. I'm bid 100 to start it. 100.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45120. 140. 160.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47At 160. 180 now?
0:14:47 > 0:14:51At 160. 180. Back of the hall.
0:14:51 > 0:14:56At £180. 200 now? At £180. Are you all done?
0:14:56 > 0:14:59At £180 and we're away.
0:14:59 > 0:15:04- Sold. 180. It's gone. - Right. Good, good.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07I don't need to take it back!
0:15:07 > 0:15:12There you are. That concludes our first visit to the auction room.
0:15:12 > 0:15:16We are coming back here later on, so don't go away.
0:15:16 > 0:15:21While I was in the area, I took the opportunity to discover
0:15:21 > 0:15:27the new gardens created by the Duchess of Northumberland. This is the old meets the new
0:15:27 > 0:15:32and it's absolutely stunning. Take a look at this.
0:15:41 > 0:15:46We all dream of a secret garden, but this one is teeming with people.
0:15:51 > 0:15:56Welcome to Alnwick Gardens, just a short walk from the castle.
0:15:56 > 0:16:01A peaceful, yet invigorating space to appreciate Mother Nature at her very finest.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05Thanks to Jane Percy, 12th Duchess of Northumberland,
0:16:05 > 0:16:1124 acres of the castle's estate have been transformed into these truly spectacular gardens.
0:16:11 > 0:16:18The Duchess's vision was to turn a neglected piece of land into a gorgeous public garden,
0:16:18 > 0:16:24but it's taken a lot of hard graft to get here. The plans started to form in 1997.
0:16:24 > 0:16:31Heavy work started in the year 2000 and now, a decade on, the garden is clearly flourishing.
0:16:33 > 0:16:39As this site was used for centuries before as the gardens for the previous Dukes of Northumberland,
0:16:39 > 0:16:44the current design incorporates a nod to the past.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47For traditionalists, there is the ornamental garden
0:16:47 > 0:16:52and also a touch of modern with the bamboo labyrinth.
0:16:55 > 0:17:01The area I'm in now is the rose garden and I'm surrounded by 3,000 roses.
0:17:01 > 0:17:07The sense of smell is really heightened here because this area is so concentrated.
0:17:07 > 0:17:13One rose here is the Alnwick rose. This was planted up in 2001 when it was named.
0:17:13 > 0:17:18I'm told you can actually make out the scent of raspberries.
0:17:19 > 0:17:26Do you know what? You can. It really does smell of raspberries. That's astonishing.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29Now to something darker.
0:17:29 > 0:17:35This is the Poison Garden, developed to educate the public
0:17:35 > 0:17:40about the hidden hazards of horticulture. Alison Hamer from Alnwick Gardens
0:17:40 > 0:17:47has agreed to be my guide through the world of deadly and dangerous plants.
0:17:55 > 0:17:59Hello, Alison. Pleased to meet you. So tell me all about this.
0:17:59 > 0:18:06- Why have they kept poisonous plants here under lock and key? - Well, every plant in this garden
0:18:06 > 0:18:11- is poisonous.- Right. - Would you recognise them?- No. - No, you wouldn't.
0:18:11 > 0:18:18- What's this?- This here is Rue, an irritant. Debbie, our gardener, was bruised by this
0:18:18 > 0:18:23- and her whole skin was up... - In a rash?- Yeah.
0:18:23 > 0:18:28- I know you've got something to show me that I've never heard of. - Aconite.- I don't know it!
0:18:28 > 0:18:31You will when you see it.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35It's absolutely beautiful.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39I'd want to buy some. It's like a cottage garden flower.
0:18:39 > 0:18:45- You can go into florists and see this in bouquets.- Really? - Absolutely.- Why do they sell it?
0:18:45 > 0:18:51- They know how to handle it.- OK. - The poison in that is only if you ingest it,
0:18:51 > 0:18:58actually take it into your body. In ancient times, warriors would carry aconite in their pockets,
0:18:58 > 0:19:05dried, and when they were on siege, they would drop it into wells and castles would be poisoned.
0:19:05 > 0:19:11- Really? So if you dry this out... - I'm not going to tell you how to do it! That's a secret.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13We hold those secrets dear.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17But in Ancient Greece this plant was known
0:19:17 > 0:19:23that if you were no longer of any use to the state, especially old men,
0:19:23 > 0:19:29you were expected to take aconite and rid your family.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33- So a good plant to have.- What else can you show me?- Come over here.
0:19:39 > 0:19:45- Can you touch this?- You can, but the smell it gives off is what makes it really special.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48If you just rub the leaves and smell.
0:19:48 > 0:19:53This is Artemisia absinthe, which came to notoriety
0:19:53 > 0:19:58in absinthe, the hallucinogenic. It's totally addictive.
0:19:58 > 0:20:06- Is it?- Absolutely addictive. If you drink this, your colour spectrum turns to the yellow.
0:20:06 > 0:20:11Now just you imagine... Go back and look at Degas. Look at Lautrec.
0:20:11 > 0:20:16- You see everything goes to yellow. - Really? They were into this.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20They were really into this. The fascinating thing about this
0:20:20 > 0:20:27is that this is mentioned in an Anglo-Saxon book. They say you make a tea from this, wormwood,
0:20:27 > 0:20:29and it rids the body of worms.
0:20:29 > 0:20:34In recent studies, there's been a clinical trial for malaria.
0:20:34 > 0:20:40And we've had York University come to talk to us. They're now creating a medicine
0:20:40 > 0:20:47from absinthe for malaria. But where did all that knowledge go? 900 years we had that knowledge
0:20:47 > 0:20:51and it's only coming to light now. That's the story these plants tell.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55- It's absolutely fascinating! Thank you so much!- Come again!
0:20:55 > 0:20:58Before everything goes yellow.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01# This is the end
0:21:01 > 0:21:04# Beautiful friend
0:21:07 > 0:21:09# This is the end
0:21:09 > 0:21:14# My only friend, the end... #
0:21:16 > 0:21:20But Alnwick Garden is not just for the alchemist or green-fingered.
0:21:20 > 0:21:27There's plenty of humour, fun and information in the grounds to entertain every visitor.
0:21:27 > 0:21:34Engineering and imagination have joined forces here to create this wonderful visual spectacle,
0:21:34 > 0:21:38the Grand Cascade. There's 21 little weirs of water here
0:21:38 > 0:21:45with 7,260 gallons of water flowing down it. The whole thing is made out of local stone.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49And every half hour and on the hour you get this wonderful,
0:21:49 > 0:21:56eccentric display of water spurting up with fountains everywhere. It'll be any moment.
0:21:56 > 0:22:03I might have to move in a second because one of the fountains is literally 2 or 3 feet away from me.
0:22:17 > 0:22:22And if the Grand Cascade wasn't an impressive enough water feature,
0:22:22 > 0:22:25there's another fluid bit of design in the Serpent Garden,
0:22:25 > 0:22:28home to eight water sculptures.
0:22:32 > 0:22:37You really do have to get amongst them to understand their true meaning.
0:22:37 > 0:22:43They were designed by the celebrated sculptor William Pye who must have an excellent grasp of science
0:22:43 > 0:22:49because for these installations to work, they have to rely on physics, surface tension and gravity.
0:22:49 > 0:22:55But it's not the science the kids are enjoying, it's all the splashing!
0:22:55 > 0:22:59I particularly like this one. This one is one of my favourites.
0:22:59 > 0:23:03It's called Coanda. It gives the illusion of water defying gravity
0:23:03 > 0:23:08by clinging to the underside of a smooth surface like that. Isn't that wonderful?
0:23:08 > 0:23:13It's subtle. It's something for the adults. I could live with this one at home.
0:23:18 > 0:23:22And all this is down to the vision and the dedication of one lady -
0:23:22 > 0:23:25Jane, the current Duchess of Northumberland.
0:23:25 > 0:23:30Without her hard work and passion, none of this would have been possible.
0:23:30 > 0:23:35This is Alnwick Castle. Nothing was ever going to be done on a small scale.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38It's as grand as ever and it's paid off.
0:23:44 > 0:23:50A short walk up from Alnwick Gardens and you're in the grand surrounds of the castle buildings
0:23:50 > 0:23:54where we have more valuations to get under way.
0:23:54 > 0:23:58And over with David, Betty has her sweetheart brooch on display.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04- Hello, Betty.- Hello there. - You've brought along a little brooch
0:24:04 > 0:24:08which has a pair of wings, a bit like eagle wings.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11- It's actually an RAF brooch. - An RAF brooch, yes.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14Royal Air Force, of course.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16How did you come by it?
0:24:16 > 0:24:19I bought it at an antique sale.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23And what attracted you to it?
0:24:23 > 0:24:28Well, my husband was in the RAF in the 1950s for five years.
0:24:28 > 0:24:34I'm interested that you bought it yourself. I'm soon to get married.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37I hope that my wife will buy her own jewellery.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41- It's what's known as a sweetheart's brooch.- Yes.
0:24:41 > 0:24:48And wives of men in the RAF either were bought these or, in your case, bought them for themselves
0:24:48 > 0:24:56to recognise the fact that their husbands or boyfriends were in the RAF
0:24:56 > 0:24:59or whatever other armed force it might have been.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03You get regimental sweetheart badges and all sorts of things.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05I think that they're delightful.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10It's not quite what it appears to be
0:25:10 > 0:25:15because, as I'm sure you know, it looks as if they're diamonds,
0:25:15 > 0:25:20- but on closer examination, we discover that they're just glass or paste.- Yes.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24But if I could turn it over...
0:25:25 > 0:25:28Yes, I can confirm that the mount is silver.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31It's actually marked "sterling silver"
0:25:31 > 0:25:38which I think we can take as a guarantee that it's 925 parts per 1,000,
0:25:38 > 0:25:41so it's a nice little thing, enamel decoration
0:25:41 > 0:25:43and, as I say, paste
0:25:43 > 0:25:48- with the RAF wreath just behind the letters in green.- Yes.
0:25:48 > 0:25:52And surmounted, of course, by the crown.
0:25:53 > 0:25:59- You don't have any sentimental attachment to it now?- Not really. I never wear it.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03It's not anything of immense value, as I'm sure you know.
0:26:04 > 0:26:09I would be disappointed if it made less than £30,
0:26:09 > 0:26:13but I think an estimate of £20 to £30 would be sensible.
0:26:13 > 0:26:18Let's hope we have a nice surprise and it flies away.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21- Very apt.- Sorry. It was very corny, wasn't it?
0:26:21 > 0:26:24- I'll see you at the sale.- Right.
0:26:24 > 0:26:29Well, those rain clouds have finally opened up and sent us all inside the Guest Hall
0:26:29 > 0:26:32to carry on with our valuations,
0:26:32 > 0:26:38but we still get to look at the castle and that's thanks to Jackie's local history books.
0:26:38 > 0:26:45- Where did you get these books? - I was left them by my uncle who live in Jesmond just out of Newcastle.
0:26:45 > 0:26:51He had a great interest in historical books and had quite a few.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55- Uh-huh.- He didn't get to travel very far in his lifetime,
0:26:55 > 0:27:01but he gathered information from places that he visited and went on holidays,
0:27:01 > 0:27:03such as Bamburgh.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06And a general interest in Newcastle.
0:27:06 > 0:27:12He never moved out of the city and he lived until he was about 90, 95.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16Well, it just shows you, you can get so much from books.
0:27:16 > 0:27:22- When did you inherit these books? - About 15 years ago. I can't quite remember now.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24Have you read them?
0:27:24 > 0:27:30I've leafed through them, but I don't like to go through them too often in case I damage the pages
0:27:30 > 0:27:36And they are in remarkably good condition. Let's have a look at them in more detail.
0:27:37 > 0:27:41- I'd like to open the book on Alnwick first of all.- Yeah.
0:27:41 > 0:27:46"A descriptive and historical view of Alnwick,
0:27:46 > 0:27:50"the county town of Northumberland, and of Alnwick Castle."
0:27:52 > 0:27:57- And this is the second edition, dated 1825.- Yeah.
0:27:57 > 0:28:02- Here we have the ground plan showing the Great Court.- Yeah.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05Absolutely wonderful.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08It's always good to have illustrations
0:28:08 > 0:28:12and when we look at this book here, it's The History Of Newcastle...
0:28:12 > 0:28:16Now, very interesting as well. Have we dated this book?
0:28:16 > 0:28:18- It's dated 1736...- 1736.
0:28:18 > 0:28:24"The History of Newcastle upon Tyne or the Ancient and Present State of that Town."
0:28:24 > 0:28:28What we have here is a little piece of Newcastle's history.
0:28:28 > 0:28:34As well as telling us about the history of Newcastle, it's a piece of history as well.
0:28:34 > 0:28:38- These are original, the bindings? - The bindings are original.
0:28:38 > 0:28:41Here we have... This is a later book.
0:28:42 > 0:28:47This book is by Cadwallader John Bates.
0:28:47 > 0:28:49It's gone into its third edition
0:28:49 > 0:28:53and again we have some illustrations.
0:28:53 > 0:28:57- He had so many books.- Wonderful again.- Fantastic book, yeah.
0:28:57 > 0:29:00I love this.
0:29:00 > 0:29:04- Uh-huh.- It's pretty. - They were all beautifully bound.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07Well, I have a feeling that...
0:29:07 > 0:29:11I know that these two are the most desirable.
0:29:11 > 0:29:18But if we put them into the auction with a moderate estimate, they will achieve their proper price.
0:29:18 > 0:29:25- Yes.- Would you be happy if we put them in with an estimate of 80 to 120?- Yes.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28We'll put a firm reserve of £80
0:29:28 > 0:29:31- because I think they're worth that at least.- OK.
0:29:31 > 0:29:35I've enjoyed looking at them and when we've finished this,
0:29:35 > 0:29:39- I'll go into a wee corner and have an even better look at them.- Good.
0:29:39 > 0:29:42Thank you very much.
0:29:42 > 0:29:46Fascinating books and lovely to see something relevant to our location.
0:29:46 > 0:29:52Christine's glass vases are a lovely splash of colour on David's table.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56Do you like them?
0:29:56 > 0:30:00- Not particularly.- No, which is why they're here.- They're quite pretty.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03- They belong to my daughter, really. - Right.
0:30:03 > 0:30:09She knew I was coming along today and she said, "Mum, take the glass vases that were Great-Granny's."
0:30:09 > 0:30:14- OK.- She just has them stuck in a little cabinet at the side there.
0:30:14 > 0:30:20This is just the sort of thing that young people, in particular, don't like, really,
0:30:20 > 0:30:24because they represent
0:30:24 > 0:30:30all that they think is bad about sort of Victorian art and Victorian decoration.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33They're overblown, they're over-ornate,
0:30:33 > 0:30:36they've got sort of frilly edges.
0:30:36 > 0:30:39You know, people today prefer minimalism.
0:30:39 > 0:30:46Anyway, I've done nothing but criticise them and now I've got to try and get you to sell them.
0:30:46 > 0:30:48I'll have to do some frantic back-pedalling.
0:30:48 > 0:30:52They're typical of the sort of items that were produced
0:30:52 > 0:30:56to decorate your parlour in the late 19th century.
0:30:56 > 0:31:00And the parlour was that space in your house in Victorian England
0:31:00 > 0:31:04- which you only ever used if the vicar came to tea.- That's right.
0:31:04 > 0:31:10You'd have a family of five or six in a smallish terraced house and they didn't use one of the rooms.
0:31:10 > 0:31:13I must say, I quite like this sort of thing.
0:31:13 > 0:31:17- It represents, it speaks of a period.- It does.
0:31:17 > 0:31:22It therefore has historical value, even if we may doubt its decorative value.
0:31:22 > 0:31:29And having been so rude about them, there are aspects of them which make them quite commercial and saleable.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32- And chiefly, the colour.- Yes.
0:31:32 > 0:31:36This type of glass is often called Vaseline glass for obvious reasons.
0:31:36 > 0:31:41You won't be sorry to see them go, your daughter won't miss them,
0:31:41 > 0:31:45so let's have a think as to what they might be worth.
0:31:45 > 0:31:50- I think we're talking about something in the region of 30 to 50.- Right.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53And because they're your daughter's and not yours,
0:31:53 > 0:31:57you're probably not empowered to sell them without a reserve.
0:31:57 > 0:32:01- Do you think we ought to put a reserve on them?- Yes.- OK.
0:32:01 > 0:32:08Let's make it that bottom estimate, £30, and hope that they might make 50 or 60.
0:32:10 > 0:32:16For our final item, we have headed back outside for a last hint of sunshine
0:32:16 > 0:32:21and maybe a spot of music as Ian and Liz have brought along their concertina.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24- Now, I... - MUSICAL SOUND
0:32:24 > 0:32:27I love these things.
0:32:27 > 0:32:29It's a concertina.
0:32:29 > 0:32:33- Where did you get it? - It was from my grandfather.
0:32:33 > 0:32:37I've had it for 30 years and it's just been sitting in my house.
0:32:37 > 0:32:43Liz, did he never take it out at some point and just have a wee go at it?
0:32:43 > 0:32:46- He's not very musical. - He's not very musical?- No.
0:32:46 > 0:32:48He can't sing, he can't play.
0:32:48 > 0:32:53OK, concertinas are highly desirable instruments
0:32:53 > 0:32:57and the best of them can go well into four figures.
0:32:57 > 0:33:02But what's most important about it is the make.
0:33:02 > 0:33:07And if we look at this one, this is called The Edeophone
0:33:07 > 0:33:09and it's made by Lachenal.
0:33:09 > 0:33:13Now, Lachenal was a Swiss company that came to London
0:33:13 > 0:33:17and made these precision instruments.
0:33:17 > 0:33:22They made them from about the 1850s to the 1930s.
0:33:22 > 0:33:28This one is probably from about the late 1890s, in that area.
0:33:28 > 0:33:35But let's look at this wonderful, ebonised plate on here
0:33:35 > 0:33:38with this marvellous fretwork.
0:33:38 > 0:33:44Now, I like that and when I see things finished like that
0:33:44 > 0:33:49with such good craftsmanship, then you know it's a quality instrument.
0:33:49 > 0:33:55We have a wee condition issue on this thumb strap here.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59Now, tell me, Ian, was it like that when you got it?
0:33:59 > 0:34:03- As far as I can remember, yes. - It's been like that?- Yeah.
0:34:03 > 0:34:08We also need some attention on some of the buttons here.
0:34:08 > 0:34:13They're not working. So a couple of wee condition issues there,
0:34:13 > 0:34:17but in the main, the instrument is in good order.
0:34:17 > 0:34:21What makes it...even more desirable
0:34:21 > 0:34:25is the fact that we have it in its original leather case.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28- Yes.- Estimate...
0:34:28 > 0:34:33I would like to put a value of 250 to 450.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36I think that it has a good chance of going higher,
0:34:36 > 0:34:41but to give it a conservative estimate will pull in the bidders.
0:34:41 > 0:34:45- Shall we go ahead and flog it? - Yeah.- Yes.- Good, good.
0:34:45 > 0:34:51- Will you be there at the auction? - We'd love to be, but I think we might be away on holiday.
0:34:51 > 0:34:54- You'll be on holiday at that time? - I think so.
0:34:54 > 0:34:58Well, I will be there to cheer it on
0:34:58 > 0:35:04- and hopefully, to make you a nice little pot of money for coming back to.- That's brilliant.
0:35:04 > 0:35:09Well, that's it. We've now found our final items to take off to auction,
0:35:09 > 0:35:15so sadly, it's time to say farewell to our magnificent backdrop - Alnwick Castle.
0:35:15 > 0:35:22Let's get straight over to the saleroom. Here's a quick recap of what we're taking with us.
0:35:22 > 0:35:26And we're taking Betty's sweetheart brooch with its RAF connections.
0:35:28 > 0:35:31Jackie's three local history books,
0:35:31 > 0:35:34including one all about Alnwick Castle.
0:35:35 > 0:35:39Christine's two Victorian coloured glass vases.
0:35:39 > 0:35:44And last, but not least, Ian and Liz's concertina in original case.
0:35:49 > 0:35:55It's a packed auction house and hopefully, that can be good news for our owners.
0:35:58 > 0:36:02If you're buying or selling at auction, there is commission to pay.
0:36:02 > 0:36:06Here at the Boldon Auction Galleries, it's 17.5% plus VAT.
0:36:06 > 0:36:11Check in the catalogue because it does vary from auction room to auction room.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14Betty is waiting with her sweetheart brooch.
0:36:14 > 0:36:19I know it wasn't your husband's, was it, but you managed to buy this one?
0:36:19 > 0:36:23- I bought it. I bought it in an antique sale.- In an antique sale?
0:36:23 > 0:36:30- How much did you pay for it? - I can't remember. It's 20-odd years ago and I think it was about 50.
0:36:30 > 0:36:36It's great that the gallant chaps in the RAF were sentimental enough to think of their girlfriends and wives
0:36:36 > 0:36:39- and buy little tokens like that. It's very touching.- Yes.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42Let's find out what the bidders think right now.
0:36:42 > 0:36:45Pretty little RAF brooch.
0:36:45 > 0:36:47I've got commission bids.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50I've got £35 to start me.
0:36:50 > 0:36:5340. 5. 50.
0:36:53 > 0:36:555. 60. 5.
0:36:55 > 0:36:58At £65 to my immediate left.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01- At £65 now on the net.- Yes.
0:37:01 > 0:37:05Bidding on the book and on the internet - £65.
0:37:05 > 0:37:10Are we all done, ladies and gents, at 65?
0:37:10 > 0:37:14- GAVEL BANGS - That's a good result.- Fantastic.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17- £65.- Someone else likes it as much as I did.
0:37:17 > 0:37:21Yeah, that's a real collectable, isn't it? That's a real collectable.
0:37:21 > 0:37:25It's a piece of jewellery, but it's also a collectable item.
0:37:25 > 0:37:29If you're interested in aviation or the RAF, it's a nice thing to own.
0:37:29 > 0:37:35- Betty, thank you so much. It's been a real pleasure to meet you.- And you as well.
0:37:35 > 0:37:40'That was a double whammy as it was Betty as well as her brooch who was a real sweetheart.
0:37:40 > 0:37:46'And here's another one - Jackie and her three books with a local connection.'
0:37:46 > 0:37:49Very, very nice. Why are you selling these?
0:37:49 > 0:37:52They're just getting very dusty on a bookshelf
0:37:52 > 0:37:56and probably not kept in the right conditions for older books
0:37:56 > 0:38:00Well, these things are of historical interest as well.
0:38:00 > 0:38:06I think it's nice for a collector to have them, to get that historical information and move on from there.
0:38:06 > 0:38:11Let's hope there's a few collectors here today and to get the top end and a bit more.
0:38:11 > 0:38:14Good luck, both of you. This is it.
0:38:14 > 0:38:16"The History of Newcastle upon Tyne
0:38:16 > 0:38:19"or the Ancient and Present State of that Town."
0:38:19 > 0:38:23Somebody bid me? I'm bid £50 straight in.
0:38:23 > 0:38:26At 50. At £50. 5, anybody now?
0:38:26 > 0:38:30At 50. 5. 60. 5.
0:38:30 > 0:38:3270. 5. 80.
0:38:32 > 0:38:355. 90. 5.
0:38:35 > 0:38:38100. 110. 120.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41130.
0:38:41 > 0:38:45140. Downstairs to the left at £140.
0:38:45 > 0:38:47Are we all done, ladies and gents,
0:38:47 > 0:38:50at 140...?
0:38:50 > 0:38:53- GAVEL BANGS - Sold. Good. Very good.- Very good.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57- Are you happy?- Yes, very pleased. - Thank you for bringing them in.
0:38:57 > 0:39:02'Way over top estimate, perhaps because of the link with the north-east.
0:39:02 > 0:39:06'Moving on to some colourful glassware with Christine...'
0:39:06 > 0:39:12They've been in the family a long time, but they skipped a generation. They were Grandma's?
0:39:12 > 0:39:17- Not your mother's?- No. They were my grandmother's, then Mother's, then mine.
0:39:17 > 0:39:21- And your daughter's?- My daughter's. - But she doesn't want them now?
0:39:21 > 0:39:23- No, no.- Do you want them back?
0:39:23 > 0:39:25Not really.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28- Not really. - It seems nobody really likes them.
0:39:28 > 0:39:32But I'm sure they'll find a home today. We'll find out right now.
0:39:32 > 0:39:37We've got the two pretty, Victorian, coloured glass trumpet vases
0:39:37 > 0:39:39with the flower heads.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42And I'm bid 20 to start them.
0:39:42 > 0:39:4425. 30.
0:39:44 > 0:39:465. Front row at £35.
0:39:46 > 0:39:4940.
0:39:49 > 0:39:5045.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53£45 on the front row.
0:39:53 > 0:39:56At £45. 50, have I missed anybody?
0:39:56 > 0:39:59At £45 for the first and the last.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02At £45...
0:40:02 > 0:40:05- Job done.- Yes.- Well done. - Thank you very much.
0:40:05 > 0:40:07No big surprises there.
0:40:07 > 0:40:11- It was a good experience though? - Yes, I've thoroughly enjoyed it.
0:40:11 > 0:40:16Thank you for coming along because without you, we would not have a show.
0:40:16 > 0:40:21If you've got anything you would like to sell, bring it along to one of our valuation days.
0:40:21 > 0:40:26Pick up details on the website. Just log on to bbc.co.uk/flogit
0:40:26 > 0:40:32Follow the links. All the information will be there. Or check the details in your local press.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35Dust those antiques down and bring them along.
0:40:35 > 0:40:39'For our final item, Ian and Liz's concertina.
0:40:39 > 0:40:43'I asked auctioneer Giles's opinion on the preview day.'
0:40:44 > 0:40:47When people come in to view this,
0:40:47 > 0:40:51the collectors come in and people that play them, hopefully,
0:40:51 > 0:40:54do they get a tune out of them?
0:40:54 > 0:40:59If I give you a quick demonstration, what they're not looking for, unfortunately,
0:40:59 > 0:41:01is this sound.
0:41:01 > 0:41:03- It's quite...- Flat.- Flat.
0:41:03 > 0:41:09- Some of the cards are broken in there?- Yes, and there's probably quite a lot of rust inside it.
0:41:09 > 0:41:13At some stage, it's got damp inside.
0:41:13 > 0:41:18Whoever buys it will be having a bit of a gamble to see whether they can restore it.
0:41:18 > 0:41:22If they've got to restore all the airs, it will cost a lot of money.
0:41:22 > 0:41:28If this was in perfect nick, in good condition and played well, £700, £800?
0:41:28 > 0:41:34- Yes, I would have thought so.- £1,000 - It would probably tip over 1,000 on the right day at the right sale,
0:41:34 > 0:41:41- but with our business, condition is paramount.- Yeah, this isn't good condition.- It needs a lot of work.
0:41:43 > 0:41:48It's a great item, but will its condition affect the final result?
0:41:48 > 0:41:52Time to see how Ian and Liz's concertina fares.
0:41:52 > 0:41:57- Unfortunately, they can't be with us, but we have their daughter Kelly. Hello.- Hello.
0:41:57 > 0:42:00- Where are your mum and dad? - On holiday in Wales.
0:42:00 > 0:42:04- And I gather they're off to Poland soon?- They are, next week.
0:42:04 > 0:42:08- And they're putting the proceeds of the sale towards that trip?- Yes.
0:42:08 > 0:42:13- Did you ever have a go on this? - I didn't, no, unfortunately. - Did anyone?- I don't think so.
0:42:13 > 0:42:18- We were frightened to touch it. - Good luck.- Thank you.- Here we go.
0:42:18 > 0:42:23We have the Lachenal Edeophone concertina with 48 buttons.
0:42:23 > 0:42:27And I'm bid 200 to start me.
0:42:27 > 0:42:31- We're straight in, but it's not enough.- £200.
0:42:32 > 0:42:35At £200.
0:42:35 > 0:42:37220. 250.
0:42:39 > 0:42:42At 250...
0:42:42 > 0:42:45- That was a sticky start, wasn't it? - 280. 300.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48- 320. 350.- This is great.- 380.
0:42:48 > 0:42:50- 400. 420.- Now we're making music!
0:42:50 > 0:42:53450. 480. 500. 520.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56550. 580. 600.
0:42:56 > 0:42:58- I love this, don't you?- Yes.
0:42:58 > 0:43:02680. On the phone at 680. 700 now?
0:43:04 > 0:43:06At £680. It's on the phone.
0:43:06 > 0:43:10Be quick on the net, please. It's fair warning.
0:43:10 > 0:43:13At £680 for the last time...
0:43:13 > 0:43:16At 680.
0:43:16 > 0:43:21Yes! Great result, considering the condition. It needed sorting out.
0:43:21 > 0:43:25- That's great.- You've got to get on the phone and tell them.- I will.
0:43:25 > 0:43:29- Will they be pleased?- Yeah.- I bet you're pleased as well.- I am, yeah.
0:43:29 > 0:43:34'Ian and Liz had a fantastic holiday in Poland, using some of the proceeds of the sale.
0:43:34 > 0:43:39'They might even make a return trip with the rest of the money.'
0:43:42 > 0:43:48I hope you've enjoyed today's show. If you've got any antiques you want to sell, we would love to see you.
0:43:48 > 0:43:54Bring them along to our valuation day and it could be you in the next sale going home with a lot of money.
0:43:54 > 0:43:59But until then, from the Boldon Auction Galleries, it's goodbye.
0:44:16 > 0:44:20Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd 2012
0:44:20 > 0:44:23Email subtitling@bbc.co.uk