Cardigan

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0:00:04 > 0:00:09Today we're in one of the most beautiful parts of the world, West Wales, and we're here to rescue

0:00:09 > 0:00:14all of those unwanted antiques to find them a new home. Welcome to Flog It!

0:00:40 > 0:00:45Today we're holding our valuation day just outside the town of Cardigan at the Rhosygilwen Mansion

0:00:45 > 0:00:49and this whole area is mainly a Welsh-speaking area full of tradition.

0:00:49 > 0:00:52I know all of these people are so excited

0:00:52 > 0:00:54because someone's going home with a lot of money

0:00:54 > 0:00:57and they've come to ask our experts that all-important question.

0:00:57 > 0:01:00- HE SPEAKS WELSH - There you go. So I think it's about time

0:01:00 > 0:01:04we got this big crowd out of the orangery into the main hall. Let's start valuing.

0:01:07 > 0:01:11'Helping our crowd discover exactly what they have are our team of experts,

0:01:11 > 0:01:17'headed up by Charlie Ross and Christina Trevanion.

0:01:17 > 0:01:23'Charlie's a freelance auctioneer with a passion for cricket. Will he be bowled over by today's antiques?'

0:01:23 > 0:01:29If you're thinking of a month in the Bahamas, I'm afraid it's more like a wet weekend in Tenby.

0:01:31 > 0:01:33Hello. What have we got here?

0:01:33 > 0:01:39'And Christina is an auctioneer and valuer who first became interested in antiques as a child.

0:01:39 > 0:01:42'She's particularly drawn to jewellery and silver.'

0:01:42 > 0:01:46- Is he a relative?- I don't think so. SHE LAUGHS

0:01:46 > 0:01:50'Coming up, we have a rollercoaster of emotions.

0:01:50 > 0:01:52'Charlie battles with temptation.'

0:01:52 > 0:01:57What an extraordinary collection! They're all fabulously interesting.

0:01:57 > 0:02:00I wish I could buy them myself, but I'm not allowed to.

0:02:02 > 0:02:07- 'Christina has to handle some possible disappointment.' - So it's a cheap brooch.

0:02:07 > 0:02:12- It's mock agate and it's gold plate, not real gold.- You said that. - THEY LAUGH

0:02:12 > 0:02:15'And I go from joy...'

0:02:15 > 0:02:19You've made my day. Cos this is what it's all about, regional things.

0:02:19 > 0:02:22'..to panic...' I'm feeling nervous about this!

0:02:22 > 0:02:25'..and back again.'

0:02:25 > 0:02:27They like it.

0:02:30 > 0:02:34'Christina is first at the tables where she is assessing some gold coins.'

0:02:34 > 0:02:37So, Christine and your tour boy Laurence,

0:02:37 > 0:02:44welcome to Flog It! and thank you for bringing these wonderful sovereigns and half sovereigns.

0:02:44 > 0:02:50- Tell me where they've come from.- One gold sovereign and a half sovereign, I don't know which one it is,

0:02:50 > 0:02:54- originally came from my mother-in-law.- Right.

0:02:54 > 0:02:56And they were left to my husband,

0:02:56 > 0:02:59who mislaid them for the last 40 years.

0:02:59 > 0:03:03And then he died two and a half years ago and I found them in a tin

0:03:03 > 0:03:06- with a load of coins and that.- OK.

0:03:06 > 0:03:11- And then Laurence decided to put his four and bring them here today. - Great!

0:03:11 > 0:03:15So, we've got three sovereigns and three half sovereigns.

0:03:15 > 0:03:19- Mm-hm.- The sovereign was initially the first one-pound coin.

0:03:19 > 0:03:23And the first sovereign was minted in 1489.

0:03:23 > 0:03:27These, sadly, aren't as early as that. They are Victorian and later.

0:03:27 > 0:03:30You've got a Victorian one here with a nice jubilee head

0:03:30 > 0:03:33which is for 1887.

0:03:33 > 0:03:37You've also got an Edwardian one there. I think that's 1902.

0:03:37 > 0:03:43And a George V one here. So graduating nicely. You've got a nice set of monarchs there. Wonderful.

0:03:43 > 0:03:49- Laurence, where did you get yours from?- I've had mine since 1951.

0:03:49 > 0:03:521951? And where did they come from?

0:03:52 > 0:03:57- From two aunts. - OK. So what happens today? How are we going to split this money-wise?

0:03:57 > 0:04:00- Is it going to be half and half? - Yeah.

0:04:00 > 0:04:03- Are we happy to sell them as one? - Yes.

0:04:03 > 0:04:07Yeah? OK, good, cos they are solid gold

0:04:07 > 0:04:12and they do have, especially with gold weight at the moment, which is really peaking,

0:04:12 > 0:04:16very, very high, I think at auction we'll be looking in the region

0:04:16 > 0:04:22of about £150 for each sovereign and probably about £75 for each half sovereign.

0:04:22 > 0:04:28So in total, I think that gives us about £650, slightly over maybe.

0:04:28 > 0:04:32So I think our estimate needs to be somewhere in the region of 650 to 700.

0:04:32 > 0:04:38- Oh.- I think, at the moment, we'll be fairly safe with a reserve of 650. - Yes.

0:04:38 > 0:04:43- Laurence, what are we going to put this money towards?- I've decided that if things go all right,

0:04:43 > 0:04:47we're going to get a mobility scooter for Christine.

0:04:47 > 0:04:51- A mobility scooter for Christine? - A mobility scooter.- Oh, fantastic!

0:04:51 > 0:04:55- Cos you've got a bit of a poorly hip, haven't you?- Yes. - And he keeps dragging you around.

0:04:55 > 0:05:00To all the agriculture shows and vintage car rallies and I can't keep up with him.

0:05:00 > 0:05:05- So he goes round looking at new wheels and you're going to get a set of new wheels.- That's right.

0:05:05 > 0:05:09Fantastic. Thank you for bringing them in and I hope we get a really good price.

0:05:09 > 0:05:16'Let's hope the bidders will want to snap them up. People bring a variety of antiques to our valuation days

0:05:16 > 0:05:20'but there's nothing that gets me quite so fired up as furniture.

0:05:20 > 0:05:27'I was so excited to see this next item that I intercepted Holly before she had a chance to get inside.'

0:05:27 > 0:05:32Holly, thank you so much for bringing in a piece of Welsh furniture. You've made my day.

0:05:32 > 0:05:35Cos this is what it's all about, regional things. Wherever we go,

0:05:35 > 0:05:38it's always nice to see something that's made in the vicinity.

0:05:38 > 0:05:44And this chair was made all over Wales, even on the Welsh borders around Herefordshire, as well.

0:05:44 > 0:05:47- Do you know much about it? - Not a huge amount at all.

0:05:47 > 0:05:49I knew it was Welsh oak and that's it.

0:05:49 > 0:05:53It doesn't get any better than Welsh oak. You know that.

0:05:53 > 0:05:57It's got a completely different colour. I think there's something in the pH in the soil here,

0:05:57 > 0:06:01because Welsh oak is slightly redder than Somerset or Yorkshire oak.

0:06:01 > 0:06:04The patina is very, very good. That's what you buy into.

0:06:04 > 0:06:08The colour, the patina. It's this skin, it's the surface on the skin.

0:06:08 > 0:06:12Because over the years, oak tightens and the grain closes together.

0:06:12 > 0:06:15Because it's so tight, it holds the polish, it doesn't sink in,

0:06:15 > 0:06:19it sits on the surface and that's how you build up a patina.

0:06:19 > 0:06:21All hand-sawn and it's all pegged.

0:06:22 > 0:06:25- Can you see that? See these little pegs?- Oh, yes.

0:06:25 > 0:06:28All dowels driven right through a mortise and tenon,

0:06:28 > 0:06:33so all of these stretchers, there's a little tenon in there that sits into a mortise

0:06:33 > 0:06:38and to hold it tight, a hole's drilled through there and then a dowel is knocked through.

0:06:38 > 0:06:40Gosh. A lot of work goes into them.

0:06:40 > 0:06:45Yeah. But it stops the joint from moving. And look at that. Look how tight it is.

0:06:45 > 0:06:48You couldn't even put a cigarette paper in that joint, could you?

0:06:48 > 0:06:52This is a lovely thing to have, all these pegs showing.

0:06:52 > 0:06:56But this chair has never been fiddled with because, if you turn it upside down,

0:06:56 > 0:06:59- can you see it's as dry as a bone there?- Yes.

0:06:59 > 0:07:03If that's been polished, it means it's been polished to match in

0:07:03 > 0:07:07with polished sections of these stretchers, so the seat wouldn't be original.

0:07:07 > 0:07:10But looking at this, it's as honest as the day it was made,

0:07:10 > 0:07:15and that's a lovely thing to have, because I date this chair to the latter part of the 18th century.

0:07:15 > 0:07:18I'd say this is circa 1780, 1790.

0:07:18 > 0:07:21- Gosh.- Yeah, I would, honestly.

0:07:21 > 0:07:24I've got a favourite part to this chair, apart from its overall look

0:07:24 > 0:07:28and its dynamic, if you want, its personality.

0:07:28 > 0:07:32It's that front stretcher. It's a set of peripheral stretchers that go around.

0:07:32 > 0:07:38But look. Some youngest has rubbed his heels and the soles of his feet

0:07:38 > 0:07:40and can you see that wavy wear?

0:07:40 > 0:07:44- Yes.- It's almost like a piece of waney-edged oak, isn't it?

0:07:44 > 0:07:46- Yes, it is. - But see how shiny it is?- Very.

0:07:46 > 0:07:49That's taken 200 years to do that.

0:07:49 > 0:07:52That's the real McCoy. That's lovely.

0:07:52 > 0:07:55Really nice. So, value.

0:07:55 > 0:07:58How much did this chair cost you?

0:07:58 > 0:08:01I think it was about £60. Certainly no more than that.

0:08:01 > 0:08:04Well, I think we could safely say let's put this into auction

0:08:04 > 0:08:08at a value of £120 to £180, and I think she'll double her money.

0:08:08 > 0:08:11- That's fantastic. - We'll put a reserve of £100 on.

0:08:11 > 0:08:14This will come in handy to anybody that loves Welsh furniture.

0:08:14 > 0:08:17There's plenty of people here in Wales who'll buy this

0:08:17 > 0:08:19because they'll make up a set around the kitchen table.

0:08:19 > 0:08:23And it doesn't matter if it slightly mismatches another one of the style.

0:08:23 > 0:08:27It may not have these lovely flattened bobbin turnings,

0:08:27 > 0:08:30but that doesn't matter. Harlequin sets look really good.

0:08:30 > 0:08:32- Yes.- And they're full of character.

0:08:32 > 0:08:37And it will last somebody another 200 years because it's so practical and functional.

0:08:37 > 0:08:40- Yeah?- Very pleased. - See you at auction.- Thank you.

0:08:40 > 0:08:44'I can't wait to see how that does. It's real quality.

0:08:45 > 0:08:50'Back inside, Charlie is just as excited by an interesting but eclectic collection.'

0:08:50 > 0:08:53Gwyn, what an extraordinary collection.

0:08:53 > 0:08:57I've been sifting through here to try and sort out

0:08:57 > 0:09:02the valuable from the less valuable. They're all fabulously interesting

0:09:02 > 0:09:08and there's some splendid West End theatre programmes.

0:09:08 > 0:09:12But they're not the things that really excite me, I have to say.

0:09:12 > 0:09:15- You've got Joe Davis's autograph there, haven't you?- Yes.

0:09:15 > 0:09:18- Greatest snooker player of all time, do you think?- Yes.

0:09:18 > 0:09:21- We would think that, wouldn't we? Our generation.- Yes.

0:09:21 > 0:09:24- And you've got one over here. - Jimmy Wilde.

0:09:24 > 0:09:29Jimmy Wilde, world flyweight boxing champion. You've got some pretty rare signatures here.

0:09:29 > 0:09:32- I'm glad you say that. - Ooh, they're things that excite me.

0:09:32 > 0:09:36- The Barbarians rugby team here. - Yes.- Trevor Evans.

0:09:36 > 0:09:40- Yes. - Does that ring any bells with you? - Yes, he's an old boy of the school.

0:09:40 > 0:09:46- Old boy of your school? Where did you go to school?- Llandovery. - Oh, what a rugby school!

0:09:46 > 0:09:49- Rugby was your game?- Yes, I played hooker in the first team.

0:09:49 > 0:09:53- Tough little nut. Did you have two good props?- Yes, very good.

0:09:53 > 0:09:55HE LAUGHS Excellent.

0:09:55 > 0:09:58Well, I wasn't as good as you at rugby, I'll say that straight away.

0:09:58 > 0:10:02Cricket was more my game. And that brings me onto this.

0:10:02 > 0:10:07And I've looked at that programme and that's an Indian team programme.

0:10:07 > 0:10:09- It's from about 19...- 1946.

0:10:09 > 0:10:11- '46, is it?- Yep.

0:10:11 > 0:10:15- And you've got the Nawab of Pataudi's signature.- That's right.

0:10:15 > 0:10:21- What can you tell me about him? - Well, all the boys were competing to receive autographs

0:10:21 > 0:10:27so I wrote away to the manager of the Indian side and received that programme back.

0:10:27 > 0:10:29He came over, he went to Oxford University,

0:10:29 > 0:10:32he played cricket for England,

0:10:32 > 0:10:36which is unique. Three times, I think.

0:10:36 > 0:10:39- And he then went on to captain India.- That's right.

0:10:39 > 0:10:43So he played for England and India. How extraordinary is that?

0:10:43 > 0:10:49- Most interesting to me, you've got here a letter with 10 Downing Street on it.- Yes.

0:10:49 > 0:10:52I thumbed through to think it might be signed by Churchill, but no.

0:10:52 > 0:10:58- No, no.- It's signed by somebody completely different.- It's signed by Dawson, the Australian hooker.

0:10:58 > 0:11:01Here it explains it. "This note paper may be of interest to you."

0:11:01 > 0:11:09I should say. "It came from the Cabinet Room at Number 10 Downing Street when we visited Mr Attlee."

0:11:09 > 0:11:12He took over from Churchill immediately after the war.

0:11:12 > 0:11:15Well, I think it's just the most wonderful collection.

0:11:15 > 0:11:20- Why do you want to sell them? - Well, they're stuck in the garage

0:11:20 > 0:11:23with a pile of other programmes that I have and...

0:11:23 > 0:11:29I don't think that these generally have much value attached to them. £1 here, £1 there.

0:11:29 > 0:11:32But I do think some of the signatures do.

0:11:32 > 0:11:38Not a huge amount. It would be more exciting if Mr Churchill had signed the one from 10 Downing Street

0:11:38 > 0:11:40and not the Australian hooker, but there you go.

0:11:40 > 0:11:44I think you've probably got 100 quid's worth here. What do you think?

0:11:44 > 0:11:46- Quite happy.- You happy with that?

0:11:46 > 0:11:49I think we might estimate the lot at £50 to £100.

0:11:49 > 0:11:53- Right.- And if the internet boils into a frenzy,

0:11:53 > 0:11:55- we might just give you a surprise. - OK.

0:11:55 > 0:12:01£50 to £100, reserve £50. I wish I could buy them myself but I'm not allowed to.

0:12:01 > 0:12:05'Poor Charlie. I know that feeling well.'

0:12:06 > 0:12:09We're now halfway through our day. This is where it gets exciting

0:12:09 > 0:12:12because we're going to put our first valuations to the test.

0:12:12 > 0:12:16You've probably got your own opinions but right now it's down to the bidders

0:12:16 > 0:12:22at Peter Francis Auction Room in Carmarthen as we put them under the hammer. Here's a quick reminder.

0:12:22 > 0:12:26'Christine and Laurence's selection of gold coins.

0:12:28 > 0:12:33'Holly's beautiful Welsh oak chair that I've fallen in love with.

0:12:33 > 0:12:38'And Gwyn collection of theatre programmes and sporting memorabilia.

0:12:46 > 0:12:48'Commission rates here are on a sliding scale,

0:12:48 > 0:12:53'starting at 17.5% for items under £150

0:12:53 > 0:12:57'and down to 10% for items over £3,000.

0:12:57 > 0:13:02'The duties on the rostrum will be shared today between Jeff Thomas and Nigel Hodson.

0:13:02 > 0:13:06'On the preview day, I managed to grab some time with Nigel

0:13:06 > 0:13:09'to ask him what he thought of Gwyn's collection.'

0:13:09 > 0:13:14Very interesting and mixed lot. We've got theatre memorabilia

0:13:14 > 0:13:20mixed with sporting memorabilia and I think the sporting memorabilia probably outweighs the theatre,

0:13:20 > 0:13:24but I'm not sure. We've got a valuation of £50 to £100.

0:13:24 > 0:13:27Well, that sounds fine to me. I think there are a couple of issues here.

0:13:27 > 0:13:30What's surprised me so far,

0:13:30 > 0:13:35- in the run up to the sale, is that we've had more interest in the theatre programmes...- Really?

0:13:35 > 0:13:39- That is a shock. - I wouldn't have expected that.- No.

0:13:39 > 0:13:44Usually it's things like rugby programmes, particularly in Wales, that we get a lot of interest in.

0:13:44 > 0:13:48The Australian rugby team is very interesting because it's on 10 Downing Street paper

0:13:48 > 0:13:54and that's a personal letter to a young lad who was playing rugby and I think that's very interesting.

0:13:54 > 0:13:59So it's got lots of different angles to it. But the theatre is where most interest is coming from.

0:13:59 > 0:14:04It seems like we've got someone from the theatre in the room right now playing the piano.

0:14:04 > 0:14:10- Lots of interest going on all around us. Hopefully that person playing the piano...- You never know.

0:14:10 > 0:14:15- So are we top end or lower end? - I'm going to hedge my bets and say it'll be somewhere between the two.

0:14:15 > 0:14:20- I don't think it's going to fly away but I think the estimate is very fair.- OK. Ready for Act One? We are.

0:14:21 > 0:14:26'We'll soon find out if Nigel was right because it's the first lot to go under the hammer.'

0:14:26 > 0:14:33Lots of autographs and they belong to Major Gwyn and he's brought along Helga.

0:14:33 > 0:14:38- How wonderful to meet you. And I've got to say how fabulous you look, as well.- Thank you.

0:14:38 > 0:14:41A great collection. I had a chat to the auctioneer earlier.

0:14:41 > 0:14:44Interestingly enough, he said the interest lies in...

0:14:44 > 0:14:50- The Australian?- No, not at all! - The Indian?- No!

0:14:50 > 0:14:53I said, "The sporting memorabilia?"

0:14:53 > 0:14:59He went, "No, no, no interest in that. It's the theatre programmes that people are sparked up about."

0:14:59 > 0:15:05You'll be interested to know, I took a photocopy of the Australian team down to Cardiff

0:15:05 > 0:15:09and I saw a very nice couple walking along the road

0:15:09 > 0:15:13and I said, "Have a look at this memorabilia".

0:15:13 > 0:15:17And what do you think? He turned around and said, "That's my grandfather".

0:15:17 > 0:15:20- No!- Wow!- On my honour.

0:15:20 > 0:15:23- Was that a rugby player or...? - Winton.

0:15:23 > 0:15:26- I saw the match.- Cricket.- Oh, no!

0:15:26 > 0:15:31- Good grief! - He played in that team in 1948.

0:15:31 > 0:15:34- Did you tell him to come to the auction?- Is he here?- No.

0:15:34 > 0:15:39- Oh, you missed a trick there! - He would've paid twice as much!

0:15:39 > 0:15:41That's the kind of thing you just dream of finding.

0:15:41 > 0:15:44- Yeah.- I was disappointed I didn't take his name and address

0:15:44 > 0:15:48- because I've got a spare programme at home.- Ohh.

0:15:48 > 0:15:52- Missed out. - But he played and Wales won 6-nil.

0:15:52 > 0:15:56- Ooh!- In the days when Wales used to win Rugby matches.- Regularly.

0:15:56 > 0:16:01- You're right.- Let's just hope the sporting memorabilia does give it an extra boost.

0:16:01 > 0:16:05They're going under the hammer now. This is a great lot. Watch this.

0:16:05 > 0:16:09Collection of theatre programmes and sporting ephemera.

0:16:09 > 0:16:14West End and other theatres. Crazy Gang, et cetera.

0:16:14 > 0:16:18Start me there, what should I ask you on this lot? Start me at £100.

0:16:18 > 0:16:2180? 50 to go, then. 50 I am bid.

0:16:21 > 0:16:24- At 50. 50.- We're selling, Gwyn.

0:16:24 > 0:16:2870. 80. At £80 bid. At 80.

0:16:28 > 0:16:31At 80. 90 now. At £80 bid.

0:16:31 > 0:16:35At 80. Are you all done at £80?

0:16:35 > 0:16:40- Hammer's gone down.- Yep. - £80. Happy with that?

0:16:40 > 0:16:43- £50 to £100 we put on that. - I'm cleaning the garage now.

0:16:43 > 0:16:46- Are you having a sort out?- Yes. - Are you?- Yes.

0:16:46 > 0:16:49- Many more to come. - Is there lots more?

0:16:49 > 0:16:52- Yes.- You count yourself lucky you won't get it.

0:16:52 > 0:16:54THEY LAUGH

0:16:54 > 0:16:58'I think Charlie would like nothing more than to have a root around in that garage.

0:16:58 > 0:17:03'Next we're going to see if the crowd can be tempted with a bit of gold.'

0:17:03 > 0:17:06Christine and Laurence, this is a great time to sell gold

0:17:06 > 0:17:08and, believe me, gold's been flying out of the room.

0:17:08 > 0:17:12Famous last words. You know what happens at auction. It doesn't always go right.

0:17:12 > 0:17:18- Good luck. Three full sovereigns, three half sovereigns. Let's get top estimate.- Best of luck.

0:17:20 > 0:17:23So there we are, three sovereigns and three half sovereigns.

0:17:23 > 0:17:25What are they worth? About £600?

0:17:27 > 0:17:30Thank you, at £600 I'm bid. At 600.

0:17:30 > 0:17:32Can I say 620 now? At £600.

0:17:32 > 0:17:36At £600. 620 may I say? At £600.

0:17:36 > 0:17:38620 is it now? 20. 620.

0:17:38 > 0:17:42- 640.- Good.- 640. 660 do you want?

0:17:42 > 0:17:45£640 in the room, 640 and I will be selling.

0:17:45 > 0:17:48At 640. 660 do you want now?

0:17:48 > 0:17:52- Selling in the room. £640. - HAMMER BANGS

0:17:52 > 0:17:57- Sold.- Close. - Yeah, close. Happy?- Yes.

0:17:57 > 0:18:01- There's commission to pay, don't forget, 15%.- That's great.

0:18:01 > 0:18:06'So, Nigel used a bit of discretion there and they sold, but it was for a surprisingly modest amount.

0:18:06 > 0:18:10'Now, I'm starting to get cold feet about our next item.'

0:18:11 > 0:18:15I keep saying bring lots of furniture in, we love seeing furniture.

0:18:15 > 0:18:19Bless Holly, she did just that, a lovely Welsh regional chair.

0:18:19 > 0:18:22It's about to go under the hammer. Fingers crossed. I'm really nervous.

0:18:22 > 0:18:28I know everybody in the trade keeps saying, "Brown furniture is on its knees and it's a good time to buy".

0:18:28 > 0:18:32- OK, it is a good time to buy, but hopefully it's going to be a good time for you to sell.- Yes.

0:18:32 > 0:18:37- This has got personality.- It has. - It's got great personality. Let's see what happens.

0:18:39 > 0:18:45At late-18th century Welsh oak single chair. Lot 184.

0:18:45 > 0:18:48What should I ask for this one? Start me at 180.

0:18:48 > 0:18:51150. £100 I'm bid.

0:18:51 > 0:18:55£100 I've got. 100. At 100. 120. 140.

0:18:55 > 0:18:59At 140. 160. 180. At 180 bid.

0:18:59 > 0:19:01- At 180.- Brilliant. - At 180. 200 do I hear now?

0:19:01 > 0:19:05At 180. 200. 200. 220 with me.

0:19:05 > 0:19:08220. At 220 bid. At 220.

0:19:08 > 0:19:12- 40 is it now? At 220. - They like it.- Yes.

0:19:12 > 0:19:1540 is it, then? At 220. I'll let it go, then.

0:19:15 > 0:19:19With me at £220. All quiet.

0:19:19 > 0:19:22- Hammer's gone down. £220. Not bad, top end.- Amazing!

0:19:22 > 0:19:26I was really, really frightened

0:19:26 > 0:19:30because the furniture had just come in and there were half a dozen chairs before our lot,

0:19:30 > 0:19:35a mixed lot, a harlequin set, £180, six of them!

0:19:35 > 0:19:37That one did £220. I'm ever so pleased.

0:19:37 > 0:19:40'What a lovely artisan piece.

0:19:40 > 0:19:42'But there's another area of Welsh craft

0:19:42 > 0:19:47'that's currently experiencing something of a revival and I'm off to find out more.'

0:20:00 > 0:20:03For centuries, the wool industry has shaped the British landscape

0:20:03 > 0:20:07and provided livelihoods for generations of families.

0:20:07 > 0:20:13But here in Wales, it's particularly deeply woven into the country's social fabric.

0:20:16 > 0:20:22'Spinning and weaving have been an integral part of Welsh culture from the earliest of times.

0:20:22 > 0:20:25'Starting off as little more than a domestic pursuit,

0:20:25 > 0:20:29'large and successful woollen mills emerged and thrived

0:20:29 > 0:20:33'to make it one of Wales's most important manufacturing businesses.'

0:20:34 > 0:20:38By 1895, the three counties of Dyfed,

0:20:38 > 0:20:41Carmarthenshire, Cardiganshire and Pembrokeshire,

0:20:41 > 0:20:44boasted 325 wool mills between them.

0:20:44 > 0:20:49But by the end of the Second World War, sadly the price of wool drastically plummeted,

0:20:49 > 0:20:52forcing the mills to close down.

0:20:54 > 0:21:01'The 1960s and 1970s saw a revival when tapestry-style cloth suddenly became fashionable

0:21:01 > 0:21:04'and top designers, including Mary Quant, were keen to use it.

0:21:04 > 0:21:08'But unfortunately, the interest didn't last.

0:21:08 > 0:21:14'Blankets from that era and earlier have now become highly-prized collector's items.'

0:21:18 > 0:21:22But Welsh weaving is definitely not an historical remnant.

0:21:22 > 0:21:26There might only be 13 working mills left here in the country

0:21:26 > 0:21:30but they're still producing exciting and innovative work

0:21:30 > 0:21:36in this beautiful whitewashed stone building hidden away in a wooded valley on the Pembrokeshire coast.

0:21:41 > 0:21:45'There's been a mill on this site since the 17th century

0:21:45 > 0:21:48'when local farmers would bring their fleeces to be spun into yarn

0:21:48 > 0:21:51'which was woven into fine Welsh woollen blankets.

0:21:51 > 0:21:56'The current mill, Melin Tregwynt, has been in the hands of the same family since 1912.'

0:22:01 > 0:22:06Today it's a thriving design and manufacturing business employing around 20 local people,

0:22:06 > 0:22:10supplying fabrics that are in demand all over the world.

0:22:13 > 0:22:18'It's owned and managed by husband and wife team Eifion and Amanda Griffiths.'

0:22:18 > 0:22:22- So when did you both get involved in the business?- I was born into it.

0:22:22 > 0:22:26- Did you try and escape out of it? - Yes, I did.

0:22:26 > 0:22:29I trained as an architect and I went away and did it for a while

0:22:29 > 0:22:33but I was an only child, so it was an opportunity to come back.

0:22:33 > 0:22:36- If I didn't come back, nobody else would have.- OK.

0:22:36 > 0:22:40So I tried it, came back in the 80s and stayed.

0:22:40 > 0:22:42What about you?

0:22:42 > 0:22:45I came here about 25 years ago.

0:22:45 > 0:22:49He made me an offer I couldn't refuse and I've been here ever since.

0:22:51 > 0:22:54Was it always like this in this area when your grandfather was here?

0:22:54 > 0:22:57Yeah. The mill hasn't changed that much.

0:22:57 > 0:22:59He'd recognise it if he went in there now.

0:22:59 > 0:23:03He wouldn't know the machines as they are but he'd know what was going on.

0:23:03 > 0:23:06Some things have changed.

0:23:06 > 0:23:09In his day, we used to do a little bit more of the processing of the wool.

0:23:09 > 0:23:12- Sure. Cos that was more on site. - Yeah.- Local wool.

0:23:12 > 0:23:17- Yes.- Cos people didn't mind putting up with Welsh wool, which is quite coarse.

0:23:17 > 0:23:20- It's not very nice on your face. - No. I think, in those days.

0:23:20 > 0:23:23you relied on local suppliers.

0:23:23 > 0:23:25But that changed in the 50s

0:23:25 > 0:23:30and I think my grandfathers was not very happy losing the connection with the local farmers,

0:23:30 > 0:23:35but my father, being perhaps slightly more of a businessman, could see the advantages,

0:23:35 > 0:23:38having a wider choice of raw material.

0:23:38 > 0:23:43- And I guess the raw material, the sheep's wool, was coming from New Zealand.- That's right.

0:23:45 > 0:23:48How many men did he employ back then? Was it a bigger concern?

0:23:48 > 0:23:50No, not really.

0:23:50 > 0:23:54My grandfather worked in the mill, my father worked with him in the mill.

0:23:54 > 0:23:58- We're talking half a dozen, if that. - Right, OK.

0:23:58 > 0:24:02I think what happened in those days was, the mill was roughly the same size as it is now

0:24:02 > 0:24:08but they had more processes and they probably would take the product

0:24:08 > 0:24:11virtually from the beginning through to the end.

0:24:11 > 0:24:15So they'd be doing one thing at a time and perhaps moving onto the next machine.

0:24:15 > 0:24:19So although we still occupy the same amount of space, we're more labour-intensive

0:24:19 > 0:24:22and we make more than they did.

0:24:25 > 0:24:30Interestingly enough, we're saying about the materials were cheaper abroad,

0:24:30 > 0:24:35yet your clients are mostly overseas anyway, aren't they? You export all over the world.

0:24:35 > 0:24:40Yeah, we do. Japan is a good customer of ours and they like the authentic part of it,

0:24:40 > 0:24:45the fact that it's still made, in many ways, in the same way as it was in my grandfather's day.

0:24:45 > 0:24:51And they like something with a story attached. And that, we find, is increasingly important.

0:24:51 > 0:24:55- And the fact that we'll be 100 years old in 2012.- You will? Wow!

0:24:55 > 0:24:59- Yeah.- Congratulations! And the products today will carry on for another 100 years.

0:24:59 > 0:25:04Those throws and those blankets will last a long, long time, won't they?

0:25:04 > 0:25:06- They will.- Yes, I think so.

0:25:09 > 0:25:12What's the latest thing you've designed?

0:25:12 > 0:25:17- Have we got something nearby? - There's probably a couple of cushions behind you.- On the bed.

0:25:17 > 0:25:21- Those ones?- Yes.- Shall I grab one? - Yes, by all means.

0:25:21 > 0:25:24- And the throw on the bed. - Oh, this throw? That's beautiful.

0:25:24 > 0:25:26- That's going back to a 60s design. - Yep.

0:25:26 > 0:25:31- But recoloured and reworked. - Yeah.- Palatable shades.

0:25:31 > 0:25:33- Yes.- Muted colours.- Yep.

0:25:33 > 0:25:39But then you've got bright, vivid colours, as well, so it's working for you really well, isn't it?

0:25:40 > 0:25:46'Melin Tregwynt's on-trend fabrics are coveted by designers all over the world

0:25:46 > 0:25:50'and it's a driving force behind the resurgence of interest in Welsh fabric.'

0:25:51 > 0:25:53There's about 13 working mills left in Wales.

0:25:53 > 0:25:59Are they all over Wales or are there a few concentrated in this area? Is this a good area?

0:25:59 > 0:26:04Originally, this wouldn't have been one of the main areas, but I think because it's a tourist area,

0:26:04 > 0:26:09it's meant that some of the mills have been able to survive here by selling to tourists.

0:26:09 > 0:26:13But there were a lot of mills and it's now down to single figures.

0:26:13 > 0:26:14- It is really?- Yeah, virtually.

0:26:14 > 0:26:17Well, long may it last for you two, that's all I can say.

0:26:17 > 0:26:21- HE LAUGHS - I'm surrounded by quality.

0:26:21 > 0:26:25- Thank you.- That's what we always look for in antiques, as well. - Thank you very much.

0:26:31 > 0:26:36I think it's absolutely marvellous that traditional Welsh skills are still being kept alive

0:26:36 > 0:26:40by mills like this employing local people. It doesn't get any better than that.

0:26:40 > 0:26:44And they've got that combination just right. Heritage meets contemporary designs.

0:26:44 > 0:26:48It's onward going. There's a sense of connection to our past

0:26:48 > 0:26:50but there's also inspiration for the future.

0:26:55 > 0:26:58'Back at our valuation day at Rhosygilwen Mansion,

0:26:58 > 0:27:01'there are still lots of antiques left to inspect.

0:27:01 > 0:27:07'But Christina is pleased to have bumped into Vicky because she is very partial to a bit of jewellery.'

0:27:07 > 0:27:10- I see you're a brooch fan.- Yes. - I'm a brooch fan.- Yes.

0:27:10 > 0:27:14- And you've brought a brooch in to show us today.- I have. - Tell me who it belonged to.

0:27:14 > 0:27:16It was handed down in the family.

0:27:16 > 0:27:22I presume it belonged to my grandmother and then my mother and then it came to me.

0:27:22 > 0:27:26- Goodness me, that is a very long pedigree history.- Yes.

0:27:26 > 0:27:30The brooch dates to around 1880, 1890, something like that.

0:27:30 > 0:27:35- Would that tie up with great-granny's dates? - My mother was born in 1896.

0:27:35 > 0:27:39- Right.- So that would tie in. - It would, wouldn't it? OK.

0:27:39 > 0:27:44So we've got this wonderful star motif here, which is absolutely fantastic.

0:27:44 > 0:27:50It's actually made of glass. The glass would've been made in layers, like a glass sandwich,

0:27:50 > 0:27:55and then they would've carved it to produce this wonderful stellar, or star effect here.

0:27:55 > 0:27:57It's trying to be hard-stone agate.

0:27:57 > 0:28:01- Only trying.- It's trying, yes, it's trying very hard.

0:28:01 > 0:28:05And it would've been much more costly material to produce this in.

0:28:05 > 0:28:08It would've been a mourning brooch originally and we can see that

0:28:08 > 0:28:12- because it's got the plaited hair of somebody in the back of it.- Yes.

0:28:12 > 0:28:15- Might that have been great-granny's? - I hope so.

0:28:15 > 0:28:17I wish I had a name, but unfortunately I don't.

0:28:17 > 0:28:21OK. Now, the Victorians were very involved with their mourning.

0:28:21 > 0:28:23They really did mourn pretty much everything.

0:28:23 > 0:28:29When Victoria lost Albert, she went into deep mourning and all Victorians had to follow suit.

0:28:29 > 0:28:34And this was classic of that time. You carried a piece of them with you in your everyday life.

0:28:34 > 0:28:39- I think it's quite a charming memento.- Absolutely, it really is.

0:28:39 > 0:28:43And, of course, from the front, you wouldn't know it at all.

0:28:43 > 0:28:48I think this yellow metal here, having studied it quite carefully, is actually gold plate.

0:28:48 > 0:28:54So it's a cheap brooch, it's mock agate and it's gold plate, not real gold.

0:28:54 > 0:28:57- You said that. - THEY LAUGH

0:28:57 > 0:29:00Now, here we come to the crunch point.

0:29:00 > 0:29:03I'm not going to get too excited at this stage.

0:29:03 > 0:29:07Sadly, I think, because it's a bit tired

0:29:07 > 0:29:14and because some people get a little bit squiffy about having mourning pieces

0:29:14 > 0:29:17and having someone else's hair in the back of their brooch,

0:29:17 > 0:29:20which is why so often now we see them empty,

0:29:20 > 0:29:25that I think the value really is going to be relatively low.

0:29:25 > 0:29:31Well, that's all right. It's just staying at home in a box so it might as well go to the auction.

0:29:31 > 0:29:34If it doesn't get the reserve, then I'll keep it. Either way, I'm happy.

0:29:34 > 0:29:37Good. OK, well, I think at auction, we'd be looking at

0:29:37 > 0:29:41putting an estimate of £20 to £30, something like that,

0:29:41 > 0:29:45- and hopefully we can find it a new home with someone who will wear it. - Exactly.

0:29:45 > 0:29:51- So what about a reserve? Generally, we tend to put the reserve at the bottom end of the estimate.- Yes.

0:29:51 > 0:29:54I think I'm going to be cheeky and put a reserve of 30.

0:29:54 > 0:29:58- 30?- Yes.- Gosh, OK. So that means we have to put the estimate at £30 to £40.

0:29:58 > 0:30:02- Yes.- OK.- Which is being a bit optimistic, obviously.

0:30:02 > 0:30:05I think it might be slightly optimistic, but I'm willing to give it a go

0:30:05 > 0:30:10- and hopefully... - Well, I won't get too excited and I don't mind either way,

0:30:10 > 0:30:16- so that's the best way to be, really. - Exactly, yes. Well, let's keep our fingers crossed and let's go for it.

0:30:16 > 0:30:19- OK.- All right! - Thank you.- You're welcome.

0:30:19 > 0:30:23'On a good day, I think it could do it, but as Christina suggested,

0:30:23 > 0:30:26'it might well be a tricky sell.

0:30:26 > 0:30:32'Next, Keith and Margaret are hoping Charlie will be able to give them some good news about their dolls.'

0:30:32 > 0:30:35- Good afternoon!- Good afternoon. - Married couple?- Yes.

0:30:35 > 0:30:38- You look happy to be a married couple.- We are.

0:30:38 > 0:30:40- How many years?- 43, sir.

0:30:40 > 0:30:43- That's fantastic! You've put up with him for 43 years?- I have, yes.

0:30:43 > 0:30:47- Has it been easy?- No. THEY LAUGH

0:30:47 > 0:30:49Right answer! Now, whose dolls are they?

0:30:49 > 0:30:53- Mine. Well, my aunt's. - Your auntie's?- Yeah.

0:30:53 > 0:30:59- You inherited them from her?- Well, when we cleaned the house out after she passed away, they were there.

0:30:59 > 0:31:03- You found these. How long ago was that?- About ten years.

0:31:03 > 0:31:07The trouble is today, they're the sort of things that live in a box.

0:31:07 > 0:31:11It's nice to think of children playing with them, but they're porcelain-headed

0:31:11 > 0:31:14and they're very easy to damage and then they're not worth anything.

0:31:14 > 0:31:19- Do you have children or grandchildren?- We've got a little grandson, 10 months old.

0:31:19 > 0:31:23- He won't be interested in these.- No. - Do you know where they were made?

0:31:23 > 0:31:27- I think they might be German. - You think they might be German.

0:31:27 > 0:31:30They date from about 1920.

0:31:30 > 0:31:32So they're the best part of 100 years old.

0:31:32 > 0:31:36They are indeed German-made. I've had a look...

0:31:36 > 0:31:41The place to look at a doll is on the nape of the neck, at the base.

0:31:41 > 0:31:44- I don't know if you've ever done that, have you?- No.

0:31:44 > 0:31:49No. So what we've got with one of them is simply "Made in Germany"

0:31:49 > 0:31:53with a number, which is a model number.

0:31:53 > 0:31:58The other one is plain. But this has got a name that I was hoping to find.

0:31:58 > 0:32:02If we turn this over, take the hat off,

0:32:02 > 0:32:05on the back here we've got a number

0:32:05 > 0:32:11and I can just seen the D of Armand and the M of the Marseille.

0:32:11 > 0:32:14That's all I need to see. So Armand Marseille.

0:32:14 > 0:32:17Good maker. Beautiful maker.

0:32:17 > 0:32:19The workmanship in these is phenomenal.

0:32:19 > 0:32:24And to a great extent, I think they've got their own original clothes,

0:32:24 > 0:32:26which is absolutely lovely.

0:32:26 > 0:32:31Falling to bits really, but the lace is in good order

0:32:31 > 0:32:35and I think somebody would like to buy these and do them up.

0:32:35 > 0:32:41- Did you have an idea of what they might be worth?- Not really, no. I thought £200, £250.- Did you?

0:32:41 > 0:32:44- Each or for the three? - Well, for the three.

0:32:44 > 0:32:50Yeah. I think you would've been right had you brought them to Flog It! five years ago.

0:32:50 > 0:32:56I'm afraid to say it, but you're probably looking at £140 to £160

0:32:56 > 0:33:01- with a reserve of about £120, in my opinion.- Right, fine.

0:33:01 > 0:33:05- So we fix the reserve at £120 and I think they'll find a buyer.- Fine.

0:33:05 > 0:33:11- So you'll get a little bit of money to celebrate your next 43 years of married bliss.- Thank you very much.

0:33:13 > 0:33:17'I hope the doll collectors will be out in force at the auction.

0:33:17 > 0:33:20'Our last find of the day is down to Serena,

0:33:20 > 0:33:24'who has some silver bearing the name of one of our finest retailers.'

0:33:24 > 0:33:28- Time for tea?- No. THEY LAUGH

0:33:28 > 0:33:31Wow. Goodness me. Have you got very fond memories of cleaning this?

0:33:31 > 0:33:34- My mother does.- Oh, really?

0:33:34 > 0:33:37My mother has very fond memories of keeping this very clean.

0:33:37 > 0:33:42So I don't know anything about it. All I know is it's been used and loved

0:33:42 > 0:33:46- since I was a child. And- she actually used it every day?

0:33:46 > 0:33:48- Yes.- Oh, my goodness. How decadent!

0:33:48 > 0:33:52Right, so, we've got a bit of a mixed bag here, haven't we?

0:33:52 > 0:33:57We've got this wonderful four-piece service which is all solid silver.

0:33:57 > 0:34:01It's got the most wonderful hallmark on the bottom of it.

0:34:01 > 0:34:04It's got a nice lion passant for sterling silver,

0:34:04 > 0:34:07a London town mark for the leopard's head

0:34:07 > 0:34:13and then we've also got the date letter for 1942, London 1942.

0:34:13 > 0:34:18And then, creme de la creme, we've got a retailer's stamp for Harrods, as well.

0:34:18 > 0:34:22One of the best retailers at the time. So it's absolutely fantastic.

0:34:22 > 0:34:27- It really is everything you could want in a silver tea service. - I think this is a wedding present.

0:34:27 > 0:34:30- Oh, really?- Because my parents got married in November '43.

0:34:30 > 0:34:34- Oh, well, that would make sense, wouldn't it?- Yeah.- Fantastic.

0:34:34 > 0:34:40This sort of date, 1942, we're really looking at the war period

0:34:40 > 0:34:44and the shape of it, the fact that it's very sleek and very stylish,

0:34:44 > 0:34:49reminiscent of the sleek lines of spitfires and the modern age of technology and steam.

0:34:49 > 0:34:53- It's wonderful.- So what about the handles? What are they?

0:34:53 > 0:34:56Well, the handles are an ebonised composite.

0:34:56 > 0:35:02Because wood kept breaking, they developed this early form of Bakelite or composite

0:35:02 > 0:35:08- which was heat-resistant, so you could pick up the tea service without being burnt.- Yes.

0:35:08 > 0:35:11- But, surprise, surprise, where's this come from?- I don't know.

0:35:11 > 0:35:18- I don't know. I vaguely remember that sitting in a dresser, my father's dressing table.- Right.

0:35:18 > 0:35:20Cos this is silver plate, not silver,

0:35:20 > 0:35:26but it does go quite nicely with this service. It's got that sleek line to it, that sleek silhouette,

0:35:26 > 0:35:28that matches it really quite nicely.

0:35:28 > 0:35:31Possibly a very similar date.

0:35:31 > 0:35:34Moving onto the rest of the items here,

0:35:34 > 0:35:36a set of three little salts.

0:35:36 > 0:35:40The marks are very rubbed on those. It's quite difficult to see the marks.

0:35:40 > 0:35:44We've got a silver eggcup. Tell me about that.

0:35:44 > 0:35:48That I bought in the late 70s.

0:35:48 > 0:35:50It was a christening present for my niece.

0:35:50 > 0:35:54I got it home and I actually took it out and looked at it

0:35:54 > 0:35:57and I thought, "I don't like those faces. She's a baby."

0:35:57 > 0:36:01Those faces are spooky.

0:36:01 > 0:36:05- Oh, my goodness!- They are spooky. - It has got some quite scary faces on it.

0:36:05 > 0:36:12If we look at the bottom of it, it actually tells us this probably came from an egg cruet originally,

0:36:12 > 0:36:16so it was probably one of about four or six on a stand.

0:36:16 > 0:36:19So have we got the rest of its friends or is it just the one?

0:36:19 > 0:36:22No, that was expensive enough. SHE LAUGHS

0:36:22 > 0:36:27We've also got these here. Have we got sets of these or are these just individual?

0:36:27 > 0:36:31Just bits, really. I can't say for those at all.

0:36:31 > 0:36:38OK. I think... In all honesty, I think we're probably best selling it all as one lot.

0:36:38 > 0:36:43Because we've got quite a few other entities going on here, these are relatively low value.

0:36:43 > 0:36:46Your main value, really, is in the four-piece tea service.

0:36:46 > 0:36:51- Yes.- And I think we're looking somewhere in the region of about £300 to £500,

0:36:51 > 0:36:54something like that. How does that sound?

0:36:54 > 0:37:00- Nice. - Excellent. I would suggest a reserve of £300 with some slight discretion.

0:37:00 > 0:37:04So we'll leave it up to the auctioneer just to give him that little bit of leeway.

0:37:04 > 0:37:08- But it's brilliant. I'm sure it'll do really well for you. - Thank you.- You're welcome.

0:37:10 > 0:37:15Well, that's it. We've now found our final lots to take off to the auction room.

0:37:15 > 0:37:19I don't know about you, but I'm getting really excited. While I make my way over there,

0:37:19 > 0:37:24I'm going to leave you with a quick rundown of all the items our experts have just picked.

0:37:24 > 0:37:28'There's that pretty Victorian mourning brooch belonging to Vicky.

0:37:31 > 0:37:35'The three German porcelain dolls inherited by Margaret.

0:37:36 > 0:37:42'And last but not least, that large collection of silver, including the tea set from Harrods.

0:37:47 > 0:37:50'So, we're back in Carmarthen and that packed auction room.

0:37:50 > 0:37:52'The first lot up for grabs are the dolls.'

0:37:54 > 0:37:58We got a valuation of £140 to £160 on these. Good luck.

0:37:58 > 0:38:01- Because I know you don't like them, do you?- No.

0:38:01 > 0:38:06They don't do a lot for me, either. I'm frightened of them. But there are people that do like them.

0:38:06 > 0:38:11- But not as much as they used to. - No, but that's why you've put that valuation on it and not 300 to 400.

0:38:11 > 0:38:15- Cos they would've done. - They would've made £100 each a few years ago.- Exactly.

0:38:15 > 0:38:19- They'll still sell. - Here we go. This is it.

0:38:19 > 0:38:24This is three early 20th century German bisque-headed dolls.

0:38:24 > 0:38:29Armand and Marseille, which sounds very French, but they are German,

0:38:29 > 0:38:33early 20th century. What do we say for those?

0:38:33 > 0:38:37They're in your hands again. What are they worth? £100 away on these?

0:38:37 > 0:38:41- 100 for these? Some interest with me.- Get your hands up.

0:38:42 > 0:38:45- 60. At 60.- For goodness sake!

0:38:45 > 0:38:48There's one doll there worth a couple of hundred!

0:38:48 > 0:38:5190. 100.

0:38:51 > 0:38:57120. 140 still here. On the book at 140. All quiet in the room.

0:38:57 > 0:39:00- At £140 on the book. - He's going to sell at 140.

0:39:00 > 0:39:05- Going, then, at £140 for the three. - Hammer's going down.

0:39:05 > 0:39:08Sold. Sold. Just got them away.

0:39:08 > 0:39:12- Happy with that?- Yes.- Didn't like looking at them, did you?- No.

0:39:12 > 0:39:15THEY LAUGH

0:39:15 > 0:39:18You'll have a good night's sleep now.

0:39:19 > 0:39:22'Well, for a while there, I was worried, but we got them away.

0:39:22 > 0:39:25'Now, will we manage to do the same for Vicky's brooch?'

0:39:25 > 0:39:28- Vicky, you're up next. - Yes.- With the mourning brooch.

0:39:28 > 0:39:33£30 to £40. There's the part for the hair at the back, as well.

0:39:33 > 0:39:37- It's a nice little thing, actually, if you collect this kind of thing. - Absolutely.

0:39:37 > 0:39:41- You were very determined about the reserve of 30.- I'm afraid so.

0:39:41 > 0:39:44And if it doesn't sell, you'll have it back. So winners all round.

0:39:44 > 0:39:49I never wear it so I'm happy for it to sell but I'm happy to take it home again.

0:39:49 > 0:39:52- Well, let's keep our fingers crossed.- It's a win-win situation.

0:39:52 > 0:39:55Let's find out what the bidders think right now.

0:39:56 > 0:40:00A Victorian overlay glass leaf design pin brooch.

0:40:00 > 0:40:04Pretty pin brooch with the woven hair panel to the back.

0:40:04 > 0:40:07What's that worth, little memorial brooch? £50?

0:40:07 > 0:40:0950 for it.

0:40:09 > 0:40:13Surely. 30 to put me in, then. 30.

0:40:13 > 0:40:17- Oh, 20 then, somebody. - Come on. It's worth that.

0:40:17 > 0:40:1920 I'm bid here. At 20.

0:40:19 > 0:40:24Who says 30 now? At 20 only. At 20. 5. 25.

0:40:24 > 0:40:2730 may I say? At 25. You want 30, madam?

0:40:27 > 0:40:31At 25 only. At 25. At 25. 30 is it?

0:40:31 > 0:40:34At £25 only. May I say 30 on the brooch? No more?

0:40:34 > 0:40:39- It's not going to sell, is it?- No, well, I'll take it home and love it.

0:40:39 > 0:40:41Not to go then, I'm afraid.

0:40:41 > 0:40:44- Take it home and love it.- Exactly.

0:40:44 > 0:40:47I just think, unfortunately, because they are quite heavy,

0:40:47 > 0:40:52they're difficult to wear and some people are a little bit squeamish about mourning brooches.

0:40:52 > 0:40:55So I think take it home, love it, wear it.

0:40:55 > 0:40:59- And it's quite nice that it's staying in the family.- Exactly.

0:40:59 > 0:41:05'Just short of 30, but Vicky wasn't willing to let it go for any less. And quite right, too.

0:41:06 > 0:41:12'Now it's time to sell our last item. But will we get a top price for the top-of-the-range tea set?'

0:41:12 > 0:41:15Going under the hammer now we've got a top people's lot.

0:41:15 > 0:41:19- It belongs to Serena, but not for much longer. This was your mum's. - Yes.

0:41:19 > 0:41:21- It was made for Harrods.- Yes. - Silver tea service.- Yes.

0:41:21 > 0:41:24- What are you hoping for?- I'm not.

0:41:24 > 0:41:28- You must secretly be hoping for something.- No, no, no.

0:41:28 > 0:41:33- Top end plus a bit more? - Oh, definitely.- Definitely.

0:41:33 > 0:41:39It's time to find out what this big crowd here in Carmarthen think. It's going under the hammer right now.

0:41:40 > 0:41:44This is a silver four-piece, plain-design tea set.

0:41:44 > 0:41:48Made for Harrods. You don't have a better recommendation than that.

0:41:48 > 0:41:53What can I say for the lot there? £300 away for the lot.

0:41:53 > 0:41:57300. 200, then, to go. £200 I'm bid. 220 may I say?

0:41:57 > 0:42:00At £200. In the room at £200 only.

0:42:00 > 0:42:03240. Two bidders online.

0:42:03 > 0:42:05260. 260 in the room.

0:42:05 > 0:42:09Against you both online at 260. 280. 300.

0:42:09 > 0:42:12At £300 in the room. Against you online at 300.

0:42:12 > 0:42:15320. 340.

0:42:15 > 0:42:18Taken 340 in the room. Against you online.

0:42:18 > 0:42:21At 340 in the room. 360 online.

0:42:21 > 0:42:26- 380.- Mum will be amazed. - Mum will be watching now.

0:42:26 > 0:42:30- Yep.- At 420. 440 may I say?

0:42:30 > 0:42:34- 440!- 460. - What's your mum's name?- Pat.- Pat.

0:42:34 > 0:42:37480 may I say? Selling in the room at 460.

0:42:37 > 0:42:41- Pat, it's at 460.- 480. 480. 500.

0:42:41 > 0:42:45- 500.- At £500 bidding in the room. 520 may I say?

0:42:45 > 0:42:48- At £500. Selling in the room against you all online at 500.- Brilliant!

0:42:48 > 0:42:51Is there any more? £500.

0:42:51 > 0:42:56- Hammer's gone down.- Well done. - £500. Well done.

0:42:56 > 0:42:59Pat, I bet you're pleased! Ohh!

0:42:59 > 0:43:02- Get the kettle on! - That's great news.

0:43:02 > 0:43:05- She hasn't got a teapot any more! - Oh, no! - THEY LAUGH

0:43:05 > 0:43:08- Get the coffee on! - THEY LAUGH

0:43:08 > 0:43:11'Great to end with such a fabulous lot.

0:43:11 > 0:43:13'The bidders obviously recognised the quality.'

0:43:15 > 0:43:19That is it. It's all over. What a marvellous time we've had here.

0:43:19 > 0:43:22A big thank you to Peter Francis Auction Rooms and to you, our owners.

0:43:22 > 0:43:25Without you, we wouldn't have a show. It wouldn't be possible.

0:43:25 > 0:43:30You keep brightening up our days. Please bring in your unwanted antiques. We love to see you.

0:43:30 > 0:43:32For now, from Carmarthen, it's goodbye.

0:43:34 > 0:43:38Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

0:43:38 > 0:43:42E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk

0:43:42 > 0:43:42.