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 today we are going to be finding out about the stonemasons

who helped build it.

And, of course, we will be looking out for some fascinating antiques

worth worshiping at auction.

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.

Coming up, we've got a show full of favourites.

So, if you think you know your 20th-century designers, stay tuned.

And can you guess which of these big names made the most at auction?

A Moorcroft design is always treasured by collectors,

but will the damage on this piece stop it making top money?

And you may be familiar with Lalique glass,

but have you seen one like this before?

Could its rarity beat even a Moorcroft at auction?

Or will the winner be the Beswick figures,

modelled on some of our most-loved characters.

Not so unique, but in immaculate condition

and always a great favourite.

All will be revealed in the auction.

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 didn't much mind about them.

-Right.

And they have just always lived on our fireplace.

-OK. In Granny's house?

-Yeah.

-OK.

-And does Granny know you brought them here?

-Yeah.

-Phew!

Excellent. And do you like them?

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

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

-Yeah.

So, Lindsay, what do you think of them?

I think they are quite pretty, but, obviously, she is not very fond

of them, so that's fine.

They have this wonderful Art Nouveau shape to them, as well.

-Yeah, they're really nice, but...

-Very curvaceous.

-Mm.

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,

particularly well known for inventing the propelling pencil.

-Oh.

-There you go. Very enthusiastic there(!)

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 know,

-were assayed in Chester.

-Oh.

Which is slightly rare, it is slightly more interesting

than the ones that were in Birmingham or London.

So, let me just show the hallmark so we can see...

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 do 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.

We are going to put the acoustics to the test

in this magnificent building with the Hereford Police Choir.

They are 50 strong. They've been together since 1957.

And they were recently seen on the BBC's Last Choir Standing.

So, let's give them a round of applause, everybody.

# Sometimes I stumble home at night, discouraged

# Dragging my plans and dreams behind

# Wondering if the battle's worth the fighting

# And why so many people's eyes are blind

# What would I do without my music?

# To make things right when everything seems wrong

# To give me hope

# So I can carry on...

# Carry on! #

Thank you so much.

Music to all of our ears. 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... I think it was '58 or...

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. Most of us have heard of Steiff?

Yeah? They are a famous name in ted...

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?

The badges are all there. That one's called Mopsy.

And there is another one there.

And I think that little one is my favourite.

Lovely, characterful face.

Where do they live at home at the moment before you brought them

-today?

-They live in a china cabinet.

-Do they?

So that the great nephews and nieces don't play with them.

It seems funny, doesn't it? They're toys, but...

"I'm going to keep it away from the kids, they'll ruin them."

-But they are toys for the collector, really, aren't they?

-Well, yes,

cos the first thing they do is pull badges, pull the labels off

-when they get a new toy.

-Yeah, that's right.

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 undercut these menu holders at £100 to £150?

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

Weather 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. I see 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. Yeah.

-Should do that still.

-I'm just...

The damage is making me a bit nervous.

-No, no, no.

-It is, because...

-I think we'll do that.

-Do you think?

-Yes.

-Do you think I'm just being a bit of a jelly?

-I do.

I think, in perfect condition,

you're looking at 1,600 to 2,000.

-I trust you.

-Yes, I do.

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?

At £1,000.

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 right 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.

Well, there you go, that concludes our first visit

to the auction room today.

We are coming back later on in the programme.

So far, so good, but don't go away.

Now, while we were filming back at the valuation day

at Hereford Cathedral,

I was so inspired by the magnificent building,

I thought I'd go back and take a closer look at who built it

and how they built it. Take a look at this.

Hereford Cathedral is a testament to a group

of highly-skilled craftsmen

who have kept this architectural gem alive for centuries.

Putting their lives at risk on a daily basis without engines or

machinery, they have built a building impressive

in scale and design.

Those craftsmen were the stonemasons and without stonemasons,

there would be no cathedrals at all.

And no pyramids,

because stonemasonry has been about since civilisation began.

Stone was recognised by the Egyptians as the most stable

and long-lasting material.

And the skills they used 2,500 years BC vary little from those used

by the Normans who built Hereford Cathedral 36 centuries later.

It is quite incredible to think that those wonderful, soft, round

arches that you can see up there were created by Norman stonemasons

some 900 years ago with the use of a mallet, a chisel,

a set square and a plumb-bob on a piece of string.

But who were these stonemasons

and how did they achieve such feats of architecture?

The Norman stonemason combined the role of designer,

engineer, craftsman and builder.

They served a seven-year apprenticeship, learning a huge

range of skills to create both decorative and structural stone.

It was hard and dangerous work.

The sheer physical effort of lugging great lumps of stone

all the way up there.

With ropes and blocks and tackle, standing on shaky,

primitive scaffolding with no safety rails, believe me,

it must have been frightening.

The sheer effort it must have taken, as well.

And I know it doesn't look that high from here,

but if you were up there on widths of scaffolding this wide,

carrying lumps of stone, looking down, believe me,

you were frightened.

When those stonemasons were building this, people from all

the surrounding areas looked upon them in awe

at what they were creating.

They were so inspired by it.

They were regarded not as builders, but as magicians,

creating something so magical and special as this.

And those magicians are still working today, centuries later.

Simon Hudson is a full-time resident stonemason.

What are you working on at the moment?

Well, at the moment, I'm making a coping stone,

which goes and sits on a wall high up -

just throws the water off the wall.

How has it changed today? Has it changed that much?

The principles of stonemasonry haven't changed it all.

-The equipment has.

-Has it really? That much?

Iron and steel chisels have been replaced by tungsten-tipped chisels.

Medieval masons would have had a blacksmith working all the time.

So, literally, a few taps, it goes blunt.

An apprentice would be backwards and forwards to the forge

to bring back sharp chisels.

What's the template on the floor?

Obviously, that's a full-size template from a window.

Are you rebuilding this in stone? Can we have a look?

-This is...

-It's obviously this way up.

-This way up.

-Central mullion here.

-That's right.

This is part of a full-sized sketch of a window on the cathedral

-that we have had to replace.

-That window?

-It is that window.

Talk me through the process, where'd you start?

So, you set it onto the stone.

So, imagine the floor is your block of stone.

And then you scribe around the edge of the stone

until you have created your template onto there.

And even these eyes, these are piercings where glass goes.

Yes. Looks like you have got a job for life here, really.

-Let's face it.

-I put these going up there, as well.

The more you look, the more you can see.

Just along here, there's something I want to show you.

It is a very good example of what is good workmanship

and what is, let's say, shoddy workmanship.

And it starts here.

Look at these wonderful, clean-cut, faced pieces of stone,

beautifully pointed.

Coming down here and you've got this wonderful mid-height plinth

showing an awful lot of architectural detail.

Crisp, clean lines.

This has been cut by a master mason.

But something drastic happened in the country in 1349,

the Black Death.

It was a plague that was passed on from flea bites

and it wiped out a third to half of the population -

in doing so, wiped out a great deal of our skilled labour.

Work on the cathedral stopped for around 100 years.

When it started again, we didn't have that workforce.

So, look at the masonry work now. It's shoddier.

It's not cleaned off so crisply. The pointing isn't so good.

And you come down here to this wonderful bit of ornamentation

and it is rather crude.

So, this isn't too worrying because this is just ornamentation,

it's an applied detail, but you get the general idea.

If it's shoddy workmanship on the structural elements

of the cathedral, well, then it's going to weaken it.

By the early part of the 18th century,

the cathedral started to show signs of decay,

although the stonemasons tried to stop its demise through

restoration and repair.

Finally, tragedy struck in April, 1786 -

part of the legacy of the Norman stonemasonry collapsed.

The west wing, the west front,

and the adjoining nave crumbled to the floor

on Easter Sunday.

And this is where it happened. There would have been rubble everywhere.

How did the stonemasons go about repairing this?

Well, it would have been a daunting task.

It would have actually come out to here.

Because when it was rebuilt, they lost a bay,

they would have set up a mason's yard very close

to the site, probably behind us now, where the library building is.

Very dangerous work putting that back together.

Taking it down and making it stable and then carrying, starting again.

Some of the blocks would have been half a tonne, hanging, dangling,

you know, ready to come down.

Would some of that have been salvageable?

A lot of it would.

I think there was a period of about five years before the new west front

went up and was finished.

And I can see the landscape of the cathedral is constantly changing.

It is keeping up with the times.

What we're standing on today has recently been done, hasn't it?

-Literally.

-It has, within the last six months.

Forest of Dean sandstone paving

and a beautiful apple motif in the middle there.

It works, doesn't it? You got the contemporary now with the ancient.

Yeah. I think it's looking excellent, it really is.

The Norman stonemasons built it and generations of craftsmen

have preserved their work and perpetuated it.

And in the words of the poet John Osmond,

"They climbed on sketchy ladders towards God,

"with winch and pulley hoisted hewn rock into heaven.

"Inhabited the sky with hammers, defied gravity, deified stone.

"Took up God's house to meet him.

"And came down to their suppers and small beer."

So, the next time you have the pleasure of walking through

one of the country's cathedrals,

spare a thought for the stonemasons of the 12th century

who carved stone from the earth to create buildings that take you

closer to heaven.

But there aren't any stonemasons to be seen today,

because Flog It! has taken over the pews of the Cathedral.

And it is 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 of 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 400-sh, 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.

-You would have thought less?

-Yeah.

-That it'd be worth less than 200?

Well, that's what I just guessed.

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

Does that sound...? That sounds fantastic, actually.

Oh, good. "Fantastic," I like a fantastic.

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.

But I'm not sure about that.

-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 they come from?

-Those belong 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.

You have also got the compass, as well, which is a Mason symbol.

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 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 think we need it.

-Yep.

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.

As a child, did you have Beatrix Potter books?

Oh, yes. Peter Rabbit and all that, yes.

Wonderful. 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, of course -

the shire mare in a grey gloss

and also the Shorthorn bull here, who is Champion Lord Oxford.

Great name, I think.

-Yeah.

-And he is rather magnificent, as well.

And then this lovely selection of Beatrix Potter figures,

-which were originally produced from about 1947.

-Right.

It was actually Lucy Beswick that suggested that they start

bringing to life Beatrix Potter's characters from the books.

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, 1980 examples,

rather than their 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. But first,

I want to find out more about that unusual piece of glass.

Rene Lalique car mascot,

I've never come across anything like this before in my life.

The good thing is, this is signed R Lalique,

so it's before he died.

-It is a great name.

-It is. And for me, you know,

you can just see that on the radiator of a Hispano-Suiza

or a Phantom Rolls or, you know, a wonderful Bugatti or something.

He started making these as a direct commission for Citroen cars

in 1925, but I don't think that many have been made.

-No, no.

-It's the first I've seen.

-And we've had a lot of interest.

I bet you have. There's a lot of interest in car mascots.

We've seen it on the show before.

I think you are going to hit two collectors with this.

I think you'll hit the car mascot collector

and the Lalique collector.

We have had interest from France for this.

Great, cos I think that's where it'll go, or possibly America.

-I know one was sold recently in America, it was a fox.

-Yeah.

It was a glass car mascot of a fox.

And it made £130,000.

-Over 200,000 in the States.

-Fingers crossed.

Let's hope our bird will fly.

Don't go away, whatever you do, cos this is going to get exciting.

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

things are hotting up in the auction room.

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.

So, I think he thinks that hopefully you might get a little bit more.

Yeah. It makes it more accessible to collectors who perhaps have got

-one of the figures.

-Exactly. They don't want to double up.

-Exactly.

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 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.

-You'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!

270. At 270.

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.

-Brilliant.

You are going to need these in a minute.

At £600 only.

At £600 only. At 600. Any more?

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.

You know, they are sought-after.

Yes. I think that this one is slightly damaged.

Well, nevertheless, it is really exciting. It is lovely to see.

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.

-We like that.

-I'm surprised already.

-Yeah, we do.

At 520.

550. On the telephone, at 580.

On the net at 580.

That's the beauty of auctions, isn't it? You know.

-Two people, what more.

-Exactly.

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

700. £700 only on the telephone.

720.

At £720 on the net.

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.

Well, that's it, another day in another auction.

We've had a fabulous time here, everyone has gone home happy.

All credit to our experts and Mr Philip Serrell

on the rostrum. He has done us proud.

And what a marvellous day I had at Hereford Cathedral.

Now we know a little bit more about it.

Join us again soon for many more surprises,

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

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