Cardiff Flog It!

'Our Flog It! troupe have moored up in Cardiff's National Museum

'in the heart of the city's elegant Civic Centre.

'Opened in 1927, this building holds millions of artefacts

'and our crowd have brought hundreds more to be valued by our experts.'

And what a marvellous queue we have -

everybody is smiling, it's going to be a super day.

Everyone's laden with bags and boxes

full of unwanted antiques and collectibles.

The lucky ones will go home with a tidy profit.

'Captaining the Flog It! crew today is auctioneer Mark Stacey

'and maritime expert Catherine Southon.'

-Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

-Don't they look so young?

I look more like Victoria and you look like Albert!

'So, on to our valuations - expert Catherine Southon is first in line

'to dish out her words of wisdom.'

We're at this wonderful location at the museum of Wales

and you've brought along a very smart desk stand.

Thank you for bringing it, John. Where did you get it from?

I bought it in Cardiff in a house sale in the '50s,

you could buy things then, if you had the money!

I was with a furniture remover and this was part of my job.

-Oh, right.

-I fancied it myself and thought "That's nice",

so I took it home, the wife liked it so it went in the cabinet.

Well, I think this is a lovely set.

-Nice quality.

-Well, that's what attracted me to it.

We've got this nice border here with the cut-outs,

but what drew me to it was the simplicity, its clean-cut lines.

Quite typical of the 1930s. We've got a clear hallmark there

with the maker's name -

I don't know if you can see that, but it's JB Chatterley.

And we've got an initial, N,

which dates it to 1937.

And then it's also hallmarked nicely around the rim.

Interesting, this has got an R,

so it's hallmarked for a couple of years later,

so 1941. I was a bit concerned

that they aren't correct and don't go with it,

but if you look closely, it's got the same maker's mark,

so I think it's fine. It's just a nice, neat thing,

-with the nice inset here for your pen.

-Simple but effective.

A bit like you, John!

So why do you want to sell it?

I'm decanting a bit now for cruises and grandchildren.

-Oh, right.

-Yeah, they're the ones.

-Well, shall we say an estimate of...

-about £100-150.

-Good.

-Are you happy with that?

-Happy.

-How much did you pay for it in the '50s?

-About 25, that was good money.

-Did you?

-Yeah, good money in the '50s.

-Let's put a reserve on of £80.

-Let's keep our fingers crossed. I'll see you at the auction.

-OK.

'Plenty of treasure here - Mark's with a jug he spotted in the queue.'

-Hello, Bethan.

-Hello, nice to meet you.

-And what a lovely Welsh name.

-Well, I am Welsh.

-And you've brought this wonderful jug in to show us.

Do you have a lot of them?

I do, I have about 50 jugs in sets, but this one

is one of the individuals and is particularly nice.

-You must've been collecting for years.

-No, mother-in-law and mother.

Well, I love anything to do with the royals, and when you look back

over history, there are certain monarchs

-that are remembered above others.

-Absolutely.

Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and, of course, Victoria,

because she reigned for such a long time. And she's known for her love

-of Prince Albert.

-Yes.

-And I'm sure this was made

to commemorate their wedding

-in 1840.

-Yes, they look young enough.

They do. I must say, the picture doesn't do them justice,

it's not terribly flattering!

But I like the shape of it,

it's a very mid-19th-century shape, this jug.

-Yes.

-And it's got a nice handle

and I adore the puce transfer printing

-and this lovely canary-yellow round.

-Yes, yes.

-Very difficult colour to fire, yellow.

-Ah, right.

-You don't often see it...

-No, it's unusual.

-..on pottery and porcelain.

And this is in remarkably good condition.

I love it. I would like to see the estimate

probably 120-180.

I would like to take your advice.

Well, we'll put a fixed reserve of 120,

so if we can't get 120, we won't sell it.

-Good.

-And hopefully,

we'll both be crowned with success.

-Ooh, wonderful!

-Gets worse, doesn't it?

Does it?!

'Sadly for Bethan, mass-produced commemorative ware

'rarely makes much at auction,

'but generally, the older the item, the better.

'King Charles was probably the first monarch

'to have commemorative memorabilia made about him.

'Only a few pieces exist and they fetch

'a staggering amount -

'like this 1662 King Charles II charger,

'which sold at Christie's in New York for around £106,000.'

'Now, let's get back to Mark's table.'

-Hello, Janice. Lovely to meet you.

-And you, thank you.

You've brought an interesting collection

of jewellery. Tell me about them.

Well, my father acquired lots of this

over the years. He's recently died with Alzheimer's.

-Oh, gosh.

-So we thought we'd see what we could bring to show you.

Well, they belong to various members of the family, don't they?

-They're happy for you to go ahead...

-Very happy.

-This is so pretty.

-Gorgeous, isn't it?

But none of us would wear it.

Where would you go to wear it? It's got to be the right event.

It's almost what I think of as a Renaissance style -

it looks as if it could be medieval, but it's actually Victorian,

made towards the end of the 19th century.

And you've got a 15-carat gold round there

and beautiful turquoise enamel

and it's set with old cut rubies and little freshwater pearls.

Something like that would have an estimate of between £300 and £500.

-Mm.

-OK, so that's the start. If we go on

to the two pieces in the front, you've got a mourning locket

which I would've put as a separate lot had it not

had some damage to the black enamel.

It's dated 1840,

but I've put it with that little glove-button hook,

which has a gold mount to it.

Those two we would put an estimate

-of something like £100-150.

-Right. Yep.

The next group is this little group of charms.

You've got a seal here, which is to do with the Masons, it's Masonic,

but it's not gold-mounted. You've got a silver shoe,

with enamel on it and a lovely little parrot, set with turquoise

and little ruby or garnet eyes.

-And a bit of jade carved as a frog.

-I thought it was jade,

-I wasn't certain.

-No, I think it is.

But I think that group would go in as something like

-£200-300.

-Right.

-OK? For that little group.

Now, the toggle, or whatever it is,

-I'd like to put £150-250 on that.

-OK.

And likewise with the two bar brooches

and the little eternity ring, again, around 150-250.

What do you think? Are you happy?

I'm very happy. I think it's better to split it up.

-Let's hope they sparkle in the sale as much as you and I will.

-Oh, yes!

'We've travelled two miles up the road

'to Anthemion Auctions in Cardiff.

'Like all auction houses, there is commission to pay

'and here sellers pay 17.5% plus VAT.'

I love to see an auction room full of bidders.

There's an air of anticipation and hopefully our owners will go home

with a lot of money.

Auctioneer Ryan Beach is about to get on the rostrum,

so let's get on with the action.

Bethan, you collect jugs, do you?

-I've inherited my mother-in-law's.

-You're not adding to the collection?

-Not at all.

-In fact, we're starting to sell off.

-We're selling a copper lustre jug right now, one of yours.

-Yes.

A commemorative one, Victoria and Albert.

-What are you going to do with the rest?

-I'll have to get rid of them

because my children don't want them.

-Well, they're not fashionable.

-No, it's not.

Well, let's find out what it's worth. Going under the hammer now.

Lot 296. The copper lustre jug bearing the portrait. 75 I have.

£75. At 75, 80,

5, 90, 5. At 95,

with me at 95, now at £95,

at 100. 110.

110 on the book, 120 in the room,

120 in the room.

At 120 now. Are we all out in the room? At 120.

Brilliant. Sold right on the reserve, £120.

You can't believe it! You're going "Uhhh..."

-It's gone, you don't have to take it home.

-No! No bubble wrap.

-There's just 49 more to get rid of!

-Exactly!

Coming up now,

a proper country-house antique - a desk stand which holds a pen

and two inkwells with silver tops.

Would look really nice on a nice country-house desk, wouldn't it?

It's got the look and that's what matters.

Let's see if it's got the look today. Good luck, John.

The George VI silver desk standish here. Lot 250.

55 I have and 60 I'll take. At £55, at 60, 5, 70, 5,

80. At £80, 85.

That lady's bidding there, look.

100 and 10. 120, 130, 140,

150, 160, 170, 180.

At 180 at the cabinet. 190, fresh bidders.

200 and 10. 220,

230, 240.

Action in the room!

240. Are we all done?

At £240. At 240.

The cabinet at 240. Are we all done at 240?

Well, I'm impressed with that. £240.

-Good.

-Happy, big smile, big grin.

You just turned 25 quid into £240.

So far so good. Let's raise the bar, shall we?

A wonderful Victorian bar brooch

about to go under the hammer.

Part of a massive lot of jewellery brought in by Janice.

We've got £300-500 on this, which is a lot of money.

Let's find out what the bidders think. Good luck.

The Victorian yellow metal bar brooch.

Lot number 50. 200 I have. At £200.

£200. And 10. 210, 220,

230, 240, 250, 260,

-270. Takes me out at 270.

-We've got a discretionary reserve,

so we can sell it at 270.

-280, 290...

-Selling in the room, look. That guy there.

£300. 310.

320, 330.

That's a good start for you here.

330. 340 on the internet.

-Back on the net.

-Back in the room now.

In the room at 350 now. At 350 in the room.

At £350, are we all done?

-At 350...

-Sold. First one gone.

Brilliant start. Now the mourning brooch. £100-150.

-Let's see what that one does.

-70, 5, 80,

5. At 85. Back with me at 85.

-At £85.

-Come on.

Are we all done? At £85...

He didn't sell it.

No, it should've got 90, really.

OK. We've got the five charms now.

180. Takes me out at 180. At £180,

on the corner at 180. 190 on the net.

200, sir. 200 in the room.

210 I have. At 220, sir? 220 in the room.

-230 on the net.

-Ooh, a bid on the net!

£230. At 230 on the net. 240, sir?

At 230 on the internet, are we all done? At 230...

-Three down, two to go.

-With me at 95...

-It's the toggle.

-£95, at 100. 110.

110 on the book. 120 in the room. At 120.

130 on the net. At 130 on the internet.

Are we all out in the room at 130?

-Internet bidder.

-He shouted out "Sold to the internet at £130",

so that's three out of four. Here's the final one.

140 I have, 150 I'll take. At 140, 50, 60,

170 at the cabinet, at 170 now. 180.

At 180, 190, 200

-and 10...

-Well, that's good.

At £210...

Well, I'm pleased with that. That was four out of five,

which makes a grand total of £920.

Your first auction experience. You put your trust in him.

-Lots of people wouldn't!

-THEY BOTH LAUGH

THEY ALL LAUGH

'We've come back along the South Wales coastline to our valuation day

'at the National Museum, Cardiff.

'And here's another colourful Welshman, expert Mark Stacey.'

Hello, Terry. How are you?

All right, thanks. All the better for now, I'm on Flog It!

I'm not a great toy expert, but it looks great.

This one here, it plays music and runs around.

This one here's a general, sort of tin plate one.

And what date do we think these are?

Well, it says "Made in the US zone in Germany",

so that's going to date it

-to after the Second World War, isn't it?

-Yep.

-Because Germany

-wasn't split up then.

-No, no.

That's an interesting mark.

So I suppose it's sort of 1950s.

-And the car looks early '50s, if you think about it.

-Yes, true.

-Music?

-Please.

I'll just wind.

IT PLAYS A GENTLE TUNE

It's fascinating. It's in such good condition.

-Yeah.

-That's very nice.

Let's turn it off for a minute and look at the box.

Even looking at the print and the costume, we can see it's early '50s.

And this is just a Tri-Ang, a typical Tri-Ang tin plate toy.

I think they're interesting. I think these

will always have a fascination because it's musical,

it's mechanical and because you've got the original box.

Have you ever had them valued?

-No, but I've seen this one on Flog It! back in 2007.

-Gosh, really?

-And what did that make?

-That went for 140, I think.

Gosh, really, as much as that?

Well, I didn't see that episode.

-Didn't you?

-But I think, if we put them in, they could go in together.

-Yes.

-As a little mixed lot

with an estimate of 150-200.

-Yes.

-Would you be OK with that? With 150 discretionary reserve.

-Yeah.

-If you're happy with that...

-Yes.

-..we'll motor them off to auction

-and see what happens.

-Are you driving? THEY LAUGH

-Shall we go together?

-Why not?!

'Hold your horses, boys, we've still got two valuations to go.

'I'm sure I've found the most unusual item here.'

Oh, Bernie. Can I call you Bernie?

-You certainly can.

-I love this! I love this.

-Did you bring this for me?

-Yes.

-You know I like my wood.

-It doesn't get better than this.

-It isn't Cornish.

No, and it's not Welsh, that's for sure.

It comes from a long way away - Tonga. How did you come across it?

We had an elderly uncle

who, one day, said he would like us to have it

because he was afraid it was going to disappear

so he just gave it to us over 40 years ago.

Have you any idea of its age?

-No, no idea at all.

-OK.

-This is definitely from the late 18th, early 19th century.

-Really?

It's right on the cusp.

-It's known as an "appa appay".

-"Appa appay".

Now, this is indigenous to Tonga, as opposed to being imported from Fiji

and other islands.

This is exactly what you would find.

-So it would've been made on Tonga.

-Yes.

It's a hunting and killing weapon and a weapon of self-defence.

What I like about it

are these lovely, incised geometric carvings, known as "tata".

All these wonderful zigzags.

Also it's got these little figures.

-Yes, that's what I always loved.

-See the little men on there? Little men.

Here's an albatross flying.

-What do you think this is worth?

-A couple of hundred?

As much as 200?

Yeah. Would it?

If I said to you

it might struggle at 200,

it's more likely to do somewhere in the region of...

-£1,000.

-Really?

-Yes.

-Really?!

-Yes.

-Good gracious.

-Yep.

It should do 1,000. I'd like to see it do more. On a very good day,

-it could make £1,600-1,700.

-Gracious.

Tribal art is big business,

we've seen it on the show before and it never ceases

to amaze us. I'm going to be cautious

-and put £800-1,200 on this.

-And that's cautious?

That's a "come and buy me". Very exciting.

-Just incredible.

-Will you be in the auction with me?

-I'm afraid not.

-Where will you be?

-We're going to Portugal,

actually, on a bowling holiday. More wood!

-Who's we?

-My husband and I.

-Aww.

-Well, enjoy Portugal.

-Yes, but I wish we were here now.

-I think this will pay for your holiday.

-Wow.

-Easily.

It's incredible what you find at a valuation day.

Never ceases to amaze me.

'And what a great treat that was.

'Finally, here's Catherine with Cynthia.

'In this harbour city, she's found 'a great little nautical object.'

As an expert in maritime items,

as soon as I see a box like this,

I think that it's got to have a navigational instrument inside

-and more likely, a sextant.

-Right.

And there we have it.

This is a "triple-circle sextant" because of the three circles here.

"Sextant" because it's a sixth of a circle and I'm sure you know

-that it is a navigational instrument.

-Yes.

-This belonged to your husband?

-It did, yes.

He had it as a birthday present when he was 21.

His dad paid a lot because he was so proud of him,

passing the exam to go into the merchant navy,

which they did years ago,

and he's treasured it and it's been around the sea so many times.

These books always went with him.

-Never went anywhere without it.

-He looked after it,

-because it's in lovely condition.

-He worshipped it.

And often you find that these parts are missing certain filters.

These are the interchangeable filters and the mirror is here.

And the index arm, which you move back and forth to get a measurement.

It's in lovely condition. He's even got the bottle of oil,

which is wonderful.

So how long was he at sea for?

Well, he passed away when he was 52,

so ever since he was 16.

-So he had a lifetime at sea.

-OK.

What I would say about it, it is quite late.

It's made by a maker called Hughes & Son. The maker's there.

"Henry Hughes & Son". Value on this -

-are you selling the books as well?

-Yes.

-I'd put them as one lot.

I think the books would complement the sextant

quite nicely and I would put a pre-sale estimate on

of £150-200

and a fixed reserve of 150.

I would prefer 200,

otherwise I don't want to sell it.

£200. It might just make that, because you've got the books as well

and it is a nice lot

and it is in lovely condition.

Shall we put it in at 200-250 with a fixed reserve of 200?

-That'll be fine.

-Is that better for you?

-Yes.

Because the more you get, the more the sanctuary would get

-and that's what his great love was - horses.

-You're giving it to charity?

-Yes, all to the horses.

-I think that's a lovely idea.

Let's put it in at 200-250 and hope it makes a lot more.

-I hope so.

-Thank you for bringing this along, it's lovely to meet you.

Thank you very much.

'We're going back to the auction room one last time

'and we've got a lively bunch of bidders.

Going under the hammer now, one for you marine fanatics - the sextant.

It belongs to Cynthia, who unfortunately is poorly today.

-She's poorly, yes.

-Get well soon

and hopefully we'll get that £200-300 if we're lucky.

Let's see if we've got our figures right. Let's put it to the test.

The marine sextant by Henry Hughes here. £120 I have to start.

£120. At £120.

It's going to sell.

160, 170, 180.

-200...

-200 - good.

200 I have. At £200, the lady there.

-Nice if we had a bit more.

-At £200.

200. Are we all done? At £200...

Well, it's gone. £200. You were right.

Cynthia, enjoy this moment,

I hope you're watching. There's a cheque in the post, less commission.

'It's good to see that £200 is going to a great cause

'and a charity close to Cynthia's husband's heart.'

Right, some boys' toys. It's about time we had something for the lads.

You can rely on Mark to pick a boys' toy. Hello, Terry.

We've got the wonderful wind-up toy,

the German car, going under the hammer

and that Tri-Ang... It's the lorry, isn't it?

-Yeah, the car's musical.

-We've had this one on the show before.

-Yeah.

-And I think we put the same value - £150-200.

I don't know a lot about toys, but this was fun.

-The Schuco one particularly.

-Let's shift gear and accelerate over there

-to the auctioneer. Let's see what he can do. Good luck, Terry.

-Cheers.

The Schuco radio 4012 radio car with the Tri-Ang mini milk tanker.

Lot 567. £100 I have to start.

At £100. At £100 and 10, is there? At 100.

At £100 and 10. 110, 120, 130, 140.

140. With me at 140.

At 140. 150 on the internet.

We've sold. It's reached its reserve.

150 on the internet. Are we all done at 150?

-Short and sweet.

-We got there.

-Blink and you'll miss it.

Well done, Terry.

'And now it's time for our final item of the day

'and I've got high hopes for this.'

This is a moment I've been waiting for for three weeks,

ever since I set my hands and eyes on that Tongan war club

belonging to Bernice. She's on holiday in Portugal.

I'm going to get a phone given to me any moment, she'll be on the line

and she can listen to this auction live from Cardiff

to hear exactly how it goes.

I've got the phone now. Here's Adam, our sound man.

Here we go. Thanks.

Hi, Bernice, it's Paul from Flog It! Can you hear me?

-'Yes.'

-I am in the auction room now.

We're going to put this Tongan club under the hammer right now.

As soon as the lot's sold, because it will be,

I will have a chat to you.

-'OK. I'm really excited.'

-Good.

I hope you're sitting down, OK?

Have a gin and tonic, sit down, put your feet up

and enjoy this roller-coaster ride,

because I am. Here we go. Talk to you in a second.

Lot 515 is the Tonga islands palm-leaf club.

Lot of interest in this. Lot 515 starts me straight in at £800.

There we go. Straight in at the lower end.

900 and 50. 1,000 and 50.

1,100 and 50.

1,200 and 50, 1,300 and 50, 1,400...

Two people fighting it out - someone on the phone.

1,800, 1,900, 2,000.

-2,100...

-£2,000 now.

2,300, 2,400.

2,400 with me. At 2,400.

2,500. 2,600. 2,700. 2,800.

-I'm tingling. Can you hear this?

-'Yeah, I can!'

3,3. 3,4.

3,5. 3,6.

3,7. 3,8. 3,9.

4,000. 4,2. 4,5.

-Can you hear this?

-'No, I can't.'

£5,000 in the room.

'Ohhh! That's incredible!'

5,200 on the phone.

At 5,200. At 5...

5,500 in the room.

At 5,500. 5,800.

5,800. 6,000, sir?

At £5,800 on the telephone.

£5,800 on the telephone.

-Can you hear that?

-'Yes.'

Are we all done, then?

At £5,800.

-Bang, the hammer's gone down.

-APPLAUSE

You got a round of applause in the sale room

-at £5,800.

-'Just incredible.'

Who are you with out there?

'I'm with my husband and the bowls players are lining the balcony,

'listening to what's going on.'

On a bowls holiday in Portugal!

Enjoy yourself, won't you?

You've got a big, fat cheque waiting for you.

And thank you for making my day, my week, my year!

-'Thank you, Paul.'

-OK, bye-bye. Bye-bye.

Wow. £5,800.

If you've got anything you want to sell, we want to sell it for you.

That's Flog It! But until then, from a wonderful day here in Cardiff,

it's goodbye.