Hereford Flog It!

Children were baptized in it, men used to drink it whilst working

in the field all day and these guys here

delivered it all over the county.

Yes, you've guessed it, the students' favourite - cider.

Today, we are in Herefordshire, real cider country.

Welcome to Flog It!

Cider-making has been a tradition in Hereford for over 350 years.

You may have heard of Percy Bulmer, the son of a local vicar,

who created the world's biggest cider mill.

And at our valuation day at Hereford Cathedral,

let's hope these guys are sober-minded.

This magnificent cathedral that lies in the heart of Herefordshire

has had such a fascinating history.

And we have hundreds of people

lined up here today laden with bags and boxes full of unwanted antiques.

And they have come here to ask our experts that all-important

question, which is...

ALL: What's it worth?

There is a choir in full voice there.

Today, Adam Partridge and Christina Trevanion are on the lookout

for the best of the big designer names...

If only it was a Partridge, we'd be made.

..the real classics that Flog It! love to see.

Oh! Beautiful. Love it. Love it, love it, love it.

So, let's get under way with our first item

brought in by a lovely young couple.

So, Tim and Lindsay, thank you for coming in.

I saw you standing in the queue this morning with this one

and I nearly went weak at the knees.

And then suddenly you pulled out...

the matching pair, it was just brilliant.

So, thank you very much for bringing them in.

Absolutely stunning pair of McIntyre vases.

Now, tell me a little bit about them and where you got them from.

They were originally my great-gran's.

-Right.

-But they now belong to my gran.

-And does Granny know you brought them here?

-Yeah.

-Phew!

Excellent. And do you like them?

I personally don't like them, nor does she.

-Right, OK, so you're thinking about selling them today?

-Yeah.

I think they are rather beautiful, but I am slightly biased.

McIntyre, as a factory, originated

by actually making electrical insulators -

the pottery that went around an insulator.

And then they moved into art pottery in about the 1910 era.

And these pair of magnificent vases were actually designed

by William Moorcroft.

I think we've got a nice mark on the bottom here,

which actually says...

It was signed by the designer, William Moorcroft.

And we've got the McIntyre mark as well, which is the factory mark.

And also, which is rather nice,

a retailer's mark as well, for a firm in Manchester.

And we've got the lovely, lovely tube line design here, which

has got spring flowers and roses,

tulips and daffodils all over it

against this lovely, celadon-coloured ground.

There is a very buoyant market for this kind of wares,

especially early Moorcroft like this.

And I am absolutely devastated to see that one of them...

We've got some damage on here. Do you know how that happened?

-No.

-No.

-No?

The cat knocked it off the mantelpiece or something?

-They were just always like that.

-Oh, really?

That damage is really going to affect the value, sadly.

So, I think they are going to be popular.

We have got those magical names, McIntyre, Moorcroft, Florian.

Perfect.

But the damage does worry me.

I am going to be slightly conservative and say

maybe £800 to £1,200 as an auction estimate,

with a reserve of maybe £750 just to take into account

the fact that that damage will put a few collectors off.

If they put them on the internet, we'll get lots of interest

and, hopefully, hopefully, we'll get in excess of that for you.

-How does that sound?

-That sounds good.

-Brilliant.

-Good price.

-Excellent. We'll see you at the auction.

-OK.

From a big name in British ceramics to one in British silver.

So, it's over to you, Adam.

My stomach is grumbling and here we have some menu holders.

Where did you get your menu holders from?

-My menu holders came from the effects of my aunt.

-Right.

And she got them from my great uncle.

I think she probably had more than two.

I would've thought so because they were typically made

in larger quantities, obviously for the dining table.

-Yes.

-In sets of eight and upwards. And aren't they wonderful?

Silver and enamel with these game birds.

Each one would have had a different game bird on them.

These were produced by a company called Sampson Mordan & Co,

which is quite a famous company.

They did lots of novelty silver pieces,

and often with enamelling, very fine work.

And they assayed items in London, Birmingham.

And these ones, more of interest to me as I am in the north-west,

-were assayed in Chester.

-Oh.

So, let me just show the hallmark.

There we've got the maker. Can you see the SM & Co?

The lion symbol, the Chester hallmark and then there you've got

that italic H, which is the date letter for 1908.

-Why do you want to sell them? Surely not because of the space.

-No.

They don't have anything to do with my lifestyle.

-I mean, I find them decorative.

-They are.

There are decorative, but how many of us use menu holders these days?

Well, yes, that's it.

But they are very collectible items

and highly sought-after these days, I think, in the market.

Have you got any idea what the value might be yourself?

Well, not really. I mean, I did think about £100.

-I think that is very conservative.

-Oh.

Well, I mean that they must be worth £50 each.

-Yeah.

-I think £100 could be your reserve

and we could put an estimate of £100 to £150,

but I wouldn't be surprised if they made more like 200

to 250 once the bidding, the fighting had all happened.

-Well, that's good.

-That would be quite good, wouldn't it?

-Yes.

-So, you're game to sell them, are you?

-SHE LAUGHS

Thank you for coming along.

I'm looking forward to seeing them selling.

I think they're going to meet with a lot of interest.

Thank you very much, see you at the auction.

And now, to some little fluffy ones.

Aren't these charming little Steiff toys here you've got?

-I think they're very special.

-Aren't they?

They are really, really lovely. Lovely features on them.

-What is your name?

-I'm Barbara.

-Barbara, lovely to meet you.

And how long have you had these? Can you tell me about them?

Um, I got the first one 1958 or 1959,

when we had a student exchange

between our church and a church in Stuttgart in Germany.

-OK.

-And we kept in touch with the family that he came from.

And the following year, her brother came.

The following year, her other brother came.

-And there is one, two, three.

-So you can date them '58, '59 and '60.

-Yes.

Most people have heard of Steiff.

The most famous manufacturer of teddy bears

the world has ever seen, and the most collectible, therefore.

And it looks like you have really preserved them.

So, you must have cherished them at the time.

Yeah, they weren't played with really cos, um,

I wanted to leave the badges on them.

Yes, and you have done well with that, haven't you?

So, why have you come to decide to sell them now?

Well, I have got six great nephews and nieces

and you can't make three go six.

Well, not without ruining them.

Have you any idea what they might be worth at all?

Well, I would hope that they would be at least £25 each.

But maybe that's too much.

No, I think they're worth £20 or £30 each.

I think you have got it just about right.

I was going to say £60 to £80 for the three,

which is about the same.

-Is that all right for you?

-Yes, it is.

-Shall we put a bottom reserve of £60 on them?

-I think so, yes.

-I think so. They must be worth £20 each.

-They've got to be.

They are very nice.

I am not normally that enthusiastic about toys.

My first reaction normally when I see a toy

in its original packaging, I think,

"You poor thing, you had a miserable childhood

"cos you weren't allowed to play with it."

But you were obviously very pragmatic

-and you kept them nice.

-Yes.

Congratulations for doing so.

This is a bronze statue of Sir Edward Elgar, one of our great

British composers who lived here in Hereford between 1904 and 1911.

And I'm pretty sure his push-bike came in very handy.

It got him all over the place.

But right now it's time for us to get straight over to

Philip Serrell's sale room because our experts have made

their choices for our first items to go under the hammer.

So, let's get over there.

Early Moorcroft designs can make thousands at auction,

but will the damage to this one hold it back?

Sampson Mordan wares are always collectible.

So, has Adam undercooked these menu holders at £100 to £150?

And with Barbara's bears being Steiff, they are a firm favourite.

Whether you attend in person or bid online,

at auction, you can pick up anything

from an airplane propeller

to a sparkling diamond.

Going under the hammer right now we've got some Steiff.

Yes, it's a great name in toys. Three, in fact.

We have got... What have we got, Barbara? We've got a squirrel,

-a dog and a bear.

-That's right.

And that's what they're famous for, those bears.

-They've got their labels.

-You see lots of Steiff bears.

-We do.

Lots of them. So it makes them quite easy to value generally.

-They are always popular.

-They are going under the hammer right now.

Let's see if we find a new home for them, shall we?

-I hope so.

-Here we go.

Lot number 360 is the Steiff plush dog Mopsy

and Noddy and the bear, who apparently is unnamed,

-which I think is rather sad.

-Oh.

-There we go.

I bid £60 on the lot to start.

-At 60. 70.

-They've got a bidder there.

-80. 90.

100. 110. 120.

130. 140.

150. 160. 170. 180.

190. 200. 210.

220. 230. Any more?

At £230 only.

240. 250. 260.

-It's going on.

-270.

"Come and buy me!"

290. 300.

That's about £100 a little animal now. That's...that's good.

£310. Is there any more at all?

There is the bid at 310.

The internet is out, it's your bid.

At £310. Any more at all? At £310, there is the bid.

A nice sell, then, at £310. And done. Thank you.

-You have got to be happy with that result.

-I'm delighted.

-That is a great result, isn't it?

-Yes.

-And worth every penny, as well.

Great name, good quality. And quality always sells.

These Steiff bears often sell for just £25 each,

but this result proves that it is always unpredictable at auction.

Serving up right now two silver menu holders -

a value of £100 to £150.

I like these. Assay marked in Chester.

-Very good quality.

-Sampson Mordan, good name.

Yes, like them a lot, like them a lot.

Would you be happy with £200?

-200?

-Yeah.

-I would be very happy.

-Would you be very happy with £400?

-Oh, you're not... You're joking.

-I...

-You're confident?

-Confident.

-You got prior information?

I might have.

-Oh?

-Let's find out, shall we? Let's see if my theory works.

Let's see if they're worth £400 to £600, which they might be.

-You just don't know.

-I wouldn't be surprised.

-Here we go, this is it.

It gets exciting now. Here we go.

Two fine bits. The little silver enamel menu holders.

I think these are really lovely.

-A rack of bids.

-There you go.

-And I start at £260 bid.

260.

270. 280.

290. 300. 310.

320. 330. 340.

350. 360.

370. 380.

390. 400.

410. 420. With me.

420. Any more?

-420. 430. 440.

-Late legs. Look at that, another phone there.

450. 460.

470. 480.

490. 500.

I've got 520 here.

550. 580. 600. 620.

I can't believe this!

650. 680.

-They're still going.

-680. 700.

-I can't believe it.

-700. 720?

£700.

There's the bid on that telephone at £700.

At £700 and done, thank you.

-Bosh!

-Excellent.

What do you think? You've got a big smile there.

And I said, "Are you going to be happy with £200?"

And you said, "Yes." "400?" "You're joking."

-700!

-Yeah. Thank you so much.

-Gosh, that's all right.

-Pleasure.

Two small silver pieces earned Diane £700.

Now, that is a big surprise.

Going under the hammer right now, we've got some real quality for you.

You know what we always say, quality always sells.

We've got some Moorcroft, and it's McIntyre Moorcroft.

Very early Moorcroft.

Pair of vases belonging to Tim and Lindsay.

-Hello, there. Now, these are Grandma's?

-Yeah.

And she's here today, she's over there.

Can we give her away? Look over there.

Hello.

There she is. Look just through.

Bless her!

She doesn't really want to be on camera, but we know they're hers.

There's a little bit of damage to one of them.

-We've got £800 to £1,200.

-Yes.

And someone is going to go home with these. Let's find out who, shall we?

They're going under the hammer right now.

Pair of Moorcroft McIntyre Florian vases.

As you see them, very slight bit of damage there.

Bid me for those.

I'll start at £720 bid.

720. £720 bid.

At 720. 750.

780. 800. 820.

850. 880. 900. 920. 950.

980. 1,000. Any more?

At £1,000 only, on my right.

At £1,000. Is there any more at all?

I will take 1,050.

1,050.

Yes, 1,050.

1,100. 1,150?

At £1,100 only.

-£1,100 for them.

-There is the bid.

At £1,100 only.

At £1,100. Is there any more at all?

At £1,100 only. Is there any more?

At £1,100, and I sell, then, at £1,100. And...done.

-Thank you.

-Yay!

-£1,100.

That's good, that's good.

-Made it, that's good.

-Yeah.

-Top end of the estimate.

Yeah, I was a bit nervous.

-But well done.

-Happy with that?

-What do you think Granny will say?

-I think she will be very pleased.

-Is she smiling?

Shall we have a look? She is through here.

Oh, look at her, she's waving.

We got the thumbs up there from Gran.

Great result for Nan.

There's more big names to come with the brilliant collection

of Beswick and this Lalique car mascot.

But which will raise more money than the Moorcroft at auction?

Well, this is a very distinguished object you have here,

I think, isn't it?

-I don't know, he looks a bit fierce.

-He looks quite fierce.

Well, he's a bird of prey.

Yes, I think he is a peregrine falcon.

I think you're right, he's a falcon.

-Yeah.

-Certainly. And what's your name?

-Sue.

Very nice to see you here, in Hereford Cathedral.

And has this come off one of your cars?

Unfortunately not, because I think he would have gone on a Rolls-Royce.

And where did it come from?

-He came from my grandfather.

-Right.

-Was your grandfather a collector of such things?

-No.

-He had all sorts of funny things.

-Oh, really?

-He had lots of nice things and some just interesting things.

-Right.

So, what was your reason for bringing in this bird of prey today?

Well, he is slightly damaged. He has got a tiny chip off his beak here.

I noticed that.

And I've got some other pieces that I love dearly

and I wouldn't part with for the world,

-but this chap... I'm not really bothered about him.

-Right.

Well, obviously, he is a Lalique mascot,

he is a falcon known as the faucon.

Yes, yes.

Designed in 1925, I believe.

-Oh, really?

-And we have got the moulded Lalique mark just there.

Condition, obviously, you mentioned the chip to the beak, which,

obviously, drastically compromises the value.

-Yes.

-I think, in good condition, you could see £500-worth.

I would have thought about 400ish, wouldn't you?

£400 or £500, typically, in good condition.

Because of the chip, I'd half it probably.

-As much as that?

-200 to 300, I think, is the sensible quote.

-Really?

That's interesting. I would have thought less.

Well, I think 200 to 300 is a sensible guide on it.

-That sounds fantastic, actually.

-Oh, good. A reserve price?

What would you think?

The lowest you could possibly bear is what I think.

I think he needs a reserve, cos I don't want him to go for nothing.

-I would have thought 150 would be a sensible reserve.

-Oh, right, OK.

So, we'll put it through the auction.

It's Lalique, circa 1925, faucon mascot with a chipped beak,

-200 to 300 estimate, 150 reserve.

-Fantastic. Thank you.

I can see your daughter is sitting there, off-camera,

listening in, she can hear everything we say.

What are you going to do with the money?

Well, I think I might spend it all on myself.

Excellent answer. Thank you, Sue.

-Thanks for coming.

-Pleasure.

Our auctioneer Philip Serrell is quite the car buff,

so he'll be looking forward to getting his hands

on this unique Lalique.

Welcome, Claire and Janet, to Flog It!

Thank you for coming in.

You have brought this wonderful selection,

very impressive looking selection, of medals for me today.

Tell me about them, where have they come from?

-Those belonged to my great-grandfather.

-And this is him?

-That's him, yes. And that one is my father's.

-OK.

-All right, so your grandfather was Royal Order of Buffaloes.

-Yes.

And father was a Mason.

This really is a very, very beautiful medal, made by,

got a nice name in the box here, Kenning & Son,

who really were the best, or one of the best, medal makers

of Masonic regalia.

This is actually an 18-carat gold medal.

You've got the set square here,

which is one of the very famous Masonic symbols and, obviously,

the Masons started as a group of stonemasons,

as a trade organisation.

The set square was a mason's set square.

And then we move onto Grandfather's medals,

which were, as I say, Royal Order of the Buffaloes.

And these are very ornate, aren't they?

You've got this wonderful enamelling on here.

-They're beautiful.

-Very beautiful.

Almost works of art in themselves.

They are absolutely stunning if you look closely at them.

And they're all nine-carat gold.

You look at the marks, and they are nine-carat gold.

So, tell me, why are you selling them?

Well, Mum's got eight grandchildren.

Eight grandchildren, wow!

-So, they can't really be split between them.

-Right, OK.

Gosh, they're very difficult things to value

because we've got to take into account, obviously,

the gold weight in them, but also the fact that Masonic regalia

and other lodge regalia really is a very buoyant market.

There are collectors for it.

But I think if we were to sell them at auction, we would probably be

looking at somewhere, with this provenance as well,

probably somewhere in the region of maybe £600 to £800,

-something like that.

-OK.

-How would you feel about that?

-That will be fine, I think, yeah.

-You are happy with that?

-Yeah.

And maybe if we set the reserve at, say,

-600 with some slight discretion, should we need it.

-Yeah.

So, we'll say £600 to £800 with a discretionary reserve of 600.

We will keep our fingers very tightly crossed

-until the auction.

-Yes.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

Over 800 people came to get valuations with our Flog It! team

of experts and it looks like we've made some people very happy.

You've brought in this wonderful selection of Beswick for me to see.

-Yep.

-Can you tell me a little bit about them, where you got them from?

Well, they belonged to my mother, but I inherited them last June.

-Right.

-She had been a collector of Beswick since the '70s, '80s.

-But she got rid of all of them except this...

-This selection.

-Yeah.

-So, she had much larger selection, originally.

-Yeah.

Cos you've got a great selection.

We've got a good cross-section of what Beswick actually produced.

We've got a selection of the animals - the horse, the shire mare

and also the Shorthorn bull here.

And he is rather magnificent, as well.

And then this lovely selection of Beatrix Potter figures,

-which were originally produced from about 1947.

-Right.

And they originally produced ten of them and they were

so successful that they went on to produce more and more and more.

Those original back stamps were actually in gold

and they were an oval mark, originally.

Unfortunately, yours are much later.

They became more and more popular.

We can tell by the back stamps on the bottom,

which are now brown printed,

that these are more 1970s, 1980s examples,

rather than the early '40s examples,

which does make them not as sought-after by collectors.

They really do like the early pieces. But they still have a value.

For these nine lovely figures,

we're probably looking somewhere in the region of maybe £80 to £120.

-How do you feel about that?

-That's fine.

-And that would include this lovely tree trunk display, as well.

-Yes.

So, if we were to put them to auction...

I think it would be sensible, really, to split the lot,

because these don't really naturally go with those.

I think you're appealing to two different collectors' markets.

-That's fine.

-So, I think if we separate them out,

and I think your shire mare and your bull,

we're probably looking at somewhere in the region of maybe 200 to 300

-for these two.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-I am quite surprised.

-Really?

-Yes.

-Oh, good. Thank you for bringing them in today.

It takes me back to my childhood.

I was a great fan of Beatrix Potter books when I was little.

It's nice to see them all again. Many thanks for bringing them in.

-You're welcome.

-Thank you.

What a marvellous day we've had here, at Hereford Cathedral.

I feel like we've really got under the skin of this wonderful

architectural delight.

If you'd like to take part in "Flog It!", we'd love to see you.

Check the details on our website,

because hopefully we'll be coming to a town very near you soon.

But right now, we are heading across to Philip Serrell's sale room

for our last auction of the day.

This Lalique is beautiful and refined, just like its owner.

The provenance of these Masonic medals makes them

even more desirable.

And this family of Beswick may have been split up at auction,

but I'm sure they'll stay in touch.

And we are back at the auction room.

With over 1,000 lots up for grabs, it's no wonder

things are hotting up.

So, first, to the Beswick.

Going under the hammer right now,

we've got everybody's favourite - Beatrix Potter figures.

We've all had them. I've had them. You've had them, I bet.

-Yep, lots of christening presents.

-Yes.

Initially, this group came in as one lot with a valuation of 80 to 120.

Now, Philip has decided to split them into two lots.

-Yes.

-OK?

-Yeah.

-But with the same value still, but we just split them up.

-Yeah.

Well, this is just the first lot going under the hammer.

-In a second lot, we've got the shire horse and the bull.

-That's right.

OK, well, let's see what the bidders think of the first lot.

At 675, is the five various Beatrix Potter figures.

And I start at £100.

At £100 only. At 100.

At £100 only. At 100.

Two very similar commission bids.

At £100 only.

At 100. Any more at all?

At £100 and they are done

and sold to the maiden bid then at 100 and done.

£100.

That's one group down, we're almost at the top end of the estimate.

And here's the second group coming up now.

Lot number 676,

and I'm bid another £100 to start.

At 100, 100, 100.

-Oh, £100 again.

-At £100 only.

At 100. Is there any more?

At 100. 100.

-Any more?

-Same bidder, I bet. He left 100 on each lot.

-Thank you.

-His hand's gone down, no messing about with Philip there.

£100 again. Total of £200.

And the final of the Beswick lots is coming up right now.

-We've already got £200.

-Yep.

-Let's see if we can get another £200.

-Let's hope so.

-It's the bull.

-Yes, and...

-The horse.

Here we go, we're going to find out now.

Lot number 702 is the Beswick model of a dairy shorthorn bull.

There we are.

Together with a Beswick model of a grey shire horse.

Lots and lots of interest.

And I start at £250.

Straight in at the top end.

-Bonus.

-Bonus, yeah.

-At £250 only. At 260. 270.

-Oh!

280. 290.

-Fantastic!

-Great.

300 on the net.

300. 310 with me. 310.

At £310

and I sell then at £310...

And 20. 320.

At 320 on the net.

-320!

-£320. Any more?

At £320, I sell then at £320.

And done. Thank you.

And it has gone down. 320, that's a grand total of £520!

-Great!

-That's going to come in handy.

-It is.

There is commission to pay, don't forget. Don't forget.

You can maximise your return at auction by separating your lots.

So, talk to your auctioneer if you are considering doing this.

I have just been joined by Janet and Claire, mum and daughter,

and we have got the medals, remember the medals?

-Well, one has been withdrawn now.

-Yes.

-Am I right?

-Yes.

-You're going to keep it in the family.

-Yes.

You've had a think about this, and it is a big move, isn't it?

You don't want sell everything because they are memories,

your family's history.

-You're going to keep that one.

-Yes.

-OK.

We did originally have a valuation of £600 to £800 from Christina.

-Yep.

-So, we now have a new valuation for the three.

-Yes.

I have been guided by Philip on this one,

-at £400 to £600 for the three.

-Yes.

-Well, good luck.

-Thank you.

They are going under the hammer right now.

Philip is on the rostrum, and here we go.

There you are, then, who is going to bid me £400 to start? Thank you.

-Went straight in, look at that.

-At 400.

-Brilliant.

-420. 450. 480. 500.

Yes? 500 bid.

At 500. 520. 550.

580. 600. At £600 only. At 600.

At £600 only.

There's the bid, at £600.

And I sell then at £600...and done.

-Thank you.

-Good result, considering we were one medal down.

-You have got to be very happy with that.

-Yes.

-Yes?

-That's brilliant! Well done.

-I am, thank you.

-Well, thank you for bringing them in.

-Yes, thank you.

-That was great.

Thank you ever so much. A great result.

Not only did the medals make some good money,

but one is staying in the family for future generations.

Right, it's one of those moments I have been waiting for

and looking forward to - the Rene Lalique car mascot. Hello, Sue.

-Hello.

-This has been rather exciting because, you know,

recently one of these car mascots made the headlines

in the Antiques Trade Gazette.

-Not the falcon, though.

-No, no, it was the fox.

You know that. But it sold for over 200,000.

So, let's see with the bidders think.

It is going under the hammer right now.

Lot number 640

is the Rene Lalique mascot, the car mascot.

Bids on the line, bids on the book and bids on the net,

so, who has got, I don't know, £300 to start?

Nobody wants it?

Good.

-500.

-500, thank you.

-I bid £500 only. £500.

-That's a good start.

At £500 only. At 520.

550. On the telephone, at 580.

600 on the telephone. 620 on the net. 650. 680.

700. £700 only on the telephone.

720.

At 720. Is there any more?

At £720...and done. Thank you.

-That's made its money, 720.

-Amazing.

-That is fabulous!

I thought seven to eight if it was perfect.

-I never thought it would make anything like that.

-No, I didn't.

Chip or no chip, it is a beautiful bird.

So, out of all the classic Flog It! items today,

it was the Moorcroft that made the most at £1,100.

Join us again soon for many more surprises,

but until then, from Malvern, it's goodbye.