Bath Flog It!

Today, we've travelled to a city famous for its hot springs,

Georgian architecture and sophisticated living.

In the 18th century, this city was a playground

for the royal, rich and fashionable.

It also had a reputation for its gambling and wild social scene.

Let's hope the residents of Bath today behave themselves. Welcome to Flog It!

Bath in the royal county of Somerset may have had a dubious reputation back in the early 18th century,

but by the late 18th century, when the Bath Assembly Rooms were built,

it was altogether a more civilised place.

Designed by John Wood the Younger,

the Assembly Rooms first opened their doors in 1771 to polite society

and today, "Flog It!" are opening the doors to hundreds of people

who have turned up to have their antiques and collectables valued.

You look very elegant in the velvet and the corduroy.

-LAUGHTER

-I used to be known as the scruffiest one!

Let's hope our experts recognise what's fashionable and what should be left in the past.

Some scantily clad figures have caught David Barby's eye.

Very decadent, this.

Anita Manning is all a-flutter and not about one of our antiques.

-And you're very good-looking as well.

-Oh, thank you.

The Assembly Rooms have hosted some incredible and important events throughout the decades,

so it really is an honour for us to be here today.

This magnificent building has three main rooms - the tea room, the octagon room and the dance hall,

which we'll feature in today's show,

but we do have hundreds of people outside and thousands of antiques and collectables to see,

so let's get on with it.

We have some fantastic finds, but can you antique hunters spot

what will surprise us most at auction?

Will it be Aaron's Black Forest ink blotter or Jenny's corkscrew by Osborne & Co?

Well, keep watching to find out.

So, let's catch up with David Barby, who's beginning the day rather decadently.

CORK POPS Oh!

Jenny, this is marvellous.

-It's a lovely accoutrement for a cellar.

-Hmm.

Because this is one of the finest bottle openers you could have.

Oh, really?

When I look at this, I think immediately

-in terms of a wealthy household.

-Oh, goodness me!

Houses that you see in Bath, those terraced houses.

-Beautiful.

-This would have been used in the early 19th century.

This would have been used by the butler to open those special bottles of wine taken out of the cellar,

the sand dusted off, and then it would be opened.

This casting of this section here is wonderful.

It's all what we term as "fruiting vine",

which is very appropriate if you think in terms of its use.

-And just there we have an inscription, "Osborne & Co, patentee".

-Yeah.

They patented it because it had a double action,

so if I just hold it like this

and then...

-and then...

-It's amazing.

-..you've got a double action to take out the cork.

-It's a little bit rusted.

-Yes, it hasn't been used...

-It hasn't been used for years?

-No.

-There are certain things wrong with it.

-I know.

-First of all, the screw section is not as long as it should be.

-No, no.

-We're missing an inch and a half at the end.

-Oh, dear.

The other thing that's missing is here, where there's a whacking great hole

and that would have had a stiff bristle brush, so that when you'd opened the bottle,

you'd just brush all the wax, so it didn't go into the actual drink itself.

-I see.

-You'd brush that away.

-That's interesting.

-You'd probably do that before using the corkscrew section.

-Lovely, lovely piece, a collector's item.

-Oh, really?

-But we have got those defects.

-Yes, I know.

In perfect condition, maybe £150, £200.

With the defects and the corkscrew section,

I think we're looking at round about 60 to 80

with a reserve at £50.

-Yeah, lovely.

-You say "lovely".

-Is it just getting it out of the house? That's what you want?

-No, not really. It's just that...

I didn't attach a huge amount of value. I knew it was beautiful because of the engraving on the body

and it was unusual because I'd never seen one before, but no, no, I'm a terrible hoarder, so...

-It deserves another bottle to celebrate that.

-Absolutely. Why not? Cheers.

Anita has not wasted any time tracking down her young man and pulling him in for a valuation.

Aaron, this is an interesting little object.

Did you inherit it from your family?

No, I didn't. I picked it up in a charity shop, actually, about three weeks ago.

Right. What drew you to it?

I'd watched the programme and I've heard about Black Forest carvings

and I'd seen them in the auctions and that, so I saw this one and I snapped it up straightaway.

Do you frequent the charity shops and the auctions? Do you have an interest in antiques?

I've never been to an auction yet myself, but I'm in charity shops when I get the chance, car boots.

-I'm always looking around.

-Do you collect things yourself?

-I do. I collect Wedgwood at the minute.

So the ambition perhaps to be an antiques dealer at one point?

-Yes, that's right.

-Would you describe that to me?

It's a Black Forest carving from Germany

and it takes the ink off the bottom when you're using a fountain pen,

so you don't get the ink to run anywhere. It's a lovely little item.

The Black Forest in Germany beside the Rhine was a famous place for the carving of oak

and we had cuckoo clocks and bear-related items,

and some of the big Black Forest carved items are big hall stands,

and these can go for thousands of pounds.

This was made for the souvenir trade, but we don't look down on it because of that.

The quality of the carving in that area was so good that all of the things that they made were good.

This little chap is smashing and the condition is good.

We're looking at good condition and that's important when you're buying things, especially to sell them on.

And I like him because his eyes are intact.

Now, how much did you pay for him?

I paid £35 for him.

Well, it's not bad and I think that it was worth taking the chance on that.

-I would estimate him maybe between 30 and 50.

-Right, yeah.

-But we will put a reserve on it of perhaps £30, lower estimate?

-£30, that will be fine.

I think that you'll make a little money on it and you might become hooked.

I'm sure I will, I'm sure I will.

From the Black Forest of Germany to Georgian England. We do like to mix it up on "Flog It!".

Well, Susan, we have this wonderful jewel.

Where did this come from?

Well, I inherited it from my uncle, who died in about 1980-something.

-So this is a family piece that you now want to sell.

-Yes.

-Why's that?

-Well, it's so delicate,

it wouldn't really be viable to wear it, I don't think.

I think you're right, because this lovely green guilloche enamel

is in such a lovely state of condition and preservation.

It could be rose gold, because the quality is there to be gold.

But right in the middle we have this crystal

and underneath the crystal there is a fountain of hair.

Yes.

So either this is a memento of a loved one

-or it could be called a "mourning jewel".

-Right.

-I'll turn it round to have a look at the back.

-Yes.

This is marvellous, isn't it, because this is all woven hair.

And it's woven into a very delicate pattern.

-It almost looks like fine female hair, doesn't it?

-I'm sure it's female.

-Yes.

Then we have the initials in gold and cut out,

laid on top of that hair.

It's a lovely, lovely, lovely jewel.

It's difficult to put a price on because it is so personal.

And the other thing is people may say, "It's a mourning piece of jewellery,"

but I can't see anything "mourning" in that arrangement.

We have no pearls for tears,

we have no black enamel,

so I think this is a personal memento

that has been given to a suitor

and I'm thinking in terms probably of somewhere in the region of about £300 to £400.

-Right.

-And I would put a reserve of round about 280, that sort of price range.

OK, I think it's actually more valuable than that.

-Because you're assuming it's gold?

-Well, it looks like rose gold to me.

But you're limited, because what are you going to do with it?

-Are you going to wear it?

-That's true.

-If you wear it, it's somebody else's hair.

But what I like about it is it's of this period of the building,

so late Georgian, the Regency period.

This little jewel is very nice.

This is gold, seed pearls,

-and on the back, there is a small mark that says the equivalent of 15-carat.

-Right.

Probably made at the beginning of the 20th century.

Hand-painted, possibly on ivory, with this river pearl surround.

That little jewel, I think probably around about £140, £200.

-I would hate to think somebody is buying that purely for the gold content.

-No.

For me, it's a lovely piece of jewellery.

So, we are now halfway through our day, and time for our first visit to the auction room.

I think we could have one or two surprises. Let's put it to the test. Here's a recap of what we're taking.

Jenny's Osborne & Co corkscrew that has seen better days.

A wooden Black Forest ink blotter from Germany.

And that intriguing Georgian locket with a twist of female hair.

And a little seed pearl brooch from the same era.

Today, our sale is in Clevedon,

27 miles west of Bath.

There is a wonderful atmosphere and a real energy in the room today.

People have travelled from far and wide, hoping to pick up a bargain

or go home with a treasured item and earn a few bob.

It's the unpredictability of the auction that creates all the magic.

Our first item is just about to go under the hammer, so I'll catch up with our owners

and leave the proceedings to our auctioneer, Mr Marc Burridge.

-Susan, good luck.

-Thank you. I need it.

I had a chat to the auctioneer Marc Burridge yesterday about your wonderful locket

and we think the quality is exceptional. It's exquisite.

Let's put this to the test. It's going under the hammer now.

George III oval locket there, green enamel decoration.

What can we say on this one? £200, thank you. 220.

240. 260. 280.

-300. 320...

-It's sold.

-340.

360? No. £340 nearest me.

And 60, anyone else? All done at £340 now...?

-It's gone, £340.

-Yes.

We're happy. That's mid-estimate. Three to four, you said.

-That's OK.

-Yes, brilliant.

-Could have been a bit more.

-It would have been nice.

-There you go, it's gone.

-Here's your second lot going under the hammer, the seed pearl.

-Yes.

Circular brooch with a miniature portrait of a lady wearing a bonnet.

Interest here. 110. 20. 30? 130?

130? 130, 30, 30, will you?

30. 40. 50.

60? £150 in the room. 160, anyone else?

Come on.

150...

-The hammer's gone down. That's a total of £490.

-Great, thank you.

-Happy?

-Yes. I'm going to take the kids on holiday.

Butlins! LAUGHTER

And what a nice place to go!

Next up, our budding antique dealer with his ink blotter.

Aaron, let's talk about your Black Forest bear, your ink blotter.

-I think you did rather well with that.

-Thank you.

I'm a big, big fan of those whole carved Black Forest figures, and the little bears always sell well.

-And you paid £35 for it?

-£35, yeah.

-I think we can top that.

-Hopefully.

-I think you'll make a profit even after paying the commission.

-That's what it's all about. You're starting at a young age. Keep doing it.

-I love it.

Let's put this one to the test. Here we go.

We've got the Swiss, Black Forest style, beech roller blotter.

We'll start at £25.

-£30.

-He's got commission bids.

40. 5. £50 with me.

And 55 now?

55 in the room. £60.

65, sir...? £70 with me. And 5, sir...?

And 80 anywhere else? The bid's in the room now at £75.

-We're selling at 75...

-The bear's done it.

-That's brilliant.

-Well done.

-Thank you very much.

-It shows you what you can do if you've got a good eye.

-Thank you.

-And you're brave enough to part with the money and take a punt on it.

-It was a gamble.

It's that gut feeling you have to go with, your instinct.

'Aaron's done well at his first auction, making twice what he originally paid for the item.'

-Are you happy with that?

-Very happy.

I'll be going back to the charity shops tomorrow to see what I can find.

Hopefully, after this next lot, Jenny will be opening a bottle of wine,

but not with this corkscrew, because that's going under the hammer to be sold, hopefully, for £60.

-Hopefully.

-Nice thing, though. Good corkscrew.

-Beautiful.

The actual corkscrew, we've lost about three-quarters of it.

That's why we've put a sensible price on it.

That's fine. It was sitting in the drawer, so I don't mind at all.

-And it still works. We opened a bottle of wine.

-I saw that. It still goes "pop", doesn't it?

Let's find out what the bidders think.

The Thomason corkscrew now, Osborne & Co.

-One, two, three telephone bids.

-Three?

-Oh!

-Oh!

We might get a surprise here.

220. 240. 260. 280. 300.

320. 340. 360. 380. 400.

420. 450. 480.

500.

-£500, David!

-500. 520.

550. 580. 600.

I can't believe it!

- 620. 650. - I can't believe it!

-£650!

-680. 700.

700 on the phone. 720.

-Wow!

-I cannot believe it.

-This is unbelievable.

-This is unbelievable.

-780.

-780?

-I think we should take another look at this corkscrew.

820.

850.

880.

900.

I've never seen this on "Flog It!" before with a corkscrew like this.

980...

Gosh, my husband's looking down on me up there!

£1,000 bid on the telephone. Any advance? £1,100 we need - yes or no?

All done on 1,000?

£1,000 and the hammer has gone down - crack!

That's unbelievable, isn't it? £1,000!

-That money is going to come in handy.

-You're dead right!

I cannot believe it!

-I can't believe it.

-Can I honestly say, neither can I!

-Nor can I.

'We're back at the Bath Assembly Rooms for our valuations, where things are still looking busy.'

People from all over the West Country have come here today, laden with antiques and collectables.

It's our job to find the gems and send the best ones to auction.

-Peter, Jane.

-Correct.

These are quite intriguing.

For any youngster studying history between the two world wars,

this is a fascinating record, because it's just for one short period,

the Second Republic of Poland,

and Marshal Pilsudski was the Premier.

These were done in 1930. And this is the artist here.

How would you pronounce this? I'm not certain.

-ATTEMPTS POLISH NAME

-Zdzislaw Czermanski.

Now he was living in Paris, almost in exile.

In fact, he was born in 1900 and died in 1970, so he lived a very good life.

-Oh, right.

-But he produced 13 cartoons reflecting this particular period.

-Under the premiership of Marshal Pilsudski.

-OK.

Some of them are remarkably like his German counterparts, like George Grosz and Otto Dix.

Can I just pull one of them out?

If we think in terms of decadence...

..this one is the epitome of decadence.

-I thought you might choose that one!

-Here we have Marshal Pilsudski, a rather elderly gentleman,

towards the end of his life, but in control of a huge country,

going through this turmoil after the First World War.

And dancing to his attention we have his cabinet,

-or ministers, and there they are, dressed up as cabaret girls.

-It's really taking the mickey!

Absolutely. He could afford to do that because he was in Paris.

-But this is an incredible period of history.

-Yeah.

I thought initially they were hand-tinted, but it is all a coloured lithograph.

-So it's one layer on top of another?

-That's perfectly correct.

So the first outline is black with colours introduced. Whether I'd want them framed and on my wall,

I don't know. Now how much are they worth?

It's a very, very niche market and I don't think we're looking at a vast amount of money.

-Right. OK.

-The condition is not good.

This is all stained, but at least the actual drawings themselves are in pristine condition.

-Right.

-I would think that we are looking at something in the region

-of about £150, £200.

-Right.

-If we get into the right market, we get the Polish interest there,

-they could go even higher.

-Really? OK.

So it really is a bit of a gamble, but I think it's worth putting up for sale.

If it goes on the internet, I think it will attract some interest.

-Fine.

-Lovely.

-You'd be quite happy?

-Absolutely.

Oh, wow. Hey, look. Look.

-You'd have to give me a lot of money for them.

-This is out of my league.

I wouldn't have a clue what I'm talking about here,

but they are beautiful.

-Is it something you want to sell?

-I'm prepared to. I have a huge collection.

If I go off and get a quick... "off-the-cuff" valuation

from somebody who does know something about these, I'll come straight back to you.

-If it's a ballpark figure, we'll do this together.

-OK, great.

-Here goes.

'Working away off-camera are lots of "Flog It!" valuers.

'I've asked Sophie Hutton to take a look at Steven's cufflinks.'

-Let's say they haven't got a lot of age, they're 1950s, 1960s.

-Yeah.

-That's kind of my gut feeling.

-Yep. I would think at auction,

you'd be looking at easily 400-600 for them as decorative items.

The Russian element might add more.

There you go. I had a chat to Sophie Hutton, who specialises in jewellery.

-She said not a lot of age to them, she doesn't think.

-Right.

-Possibly around the '50s, '60s.

-Right.

-If they went to auction, she'd be happy to say £400-£600,

possibly £700 with the Russian element, but who knows at auction? They might do a little bit more.

-Good.

-I don't know if they're the figures you were thinking of.

-I'm sort of happy with that.

-Are you?

-That's really good. They're gorgeous. People love them.

-Is it something you're happy to put in?

-Yes, into sale.

-With a £400-£600 valuation?

-I'll keep my fingers crossed.

# A kiss on the hand may be quite continental

# But diamonds are a girl's best friend... #

But not Vivian. She wants to flog hers.

Vivian, they say that diamonds are a girl's best friend

and when you look at these you can see why.

Can you tell me, where did you get them and do you wear them?

No, I don't wear them.

This one was mine. And the other two were my mother's.

-She gave them to me.

-I like diamonds and I like to look at them,

-but in the end I wear plastic!

-That's right!

But these are pretty. Let's look at them.

These two here are of classic design.

And everyone loves a classic solitaire or single diamond ring.

These are in 18-carat gold, they are set in 18-carat gold. When I looked at the diamond closely

I could see some inclusions. That's some small fault

which you can't see without the use of an eyeglass.

I would, just by eye, judge these to be just below half a carat,

somewhere between a quarter of a carat and half a carat.

This one here, a three-stone, is very, very pretty.

You have two lovely diamonds there which are just below a quarter of a carat

and you have this lovely cornflower-blue sapphire.

And I think that is very, very pretty. This one here is in a more contemporary setting.

-Can you remember when you got that one?

-Probably about 15 years ago.

-Or longer even.

-Uh-huh. So it's in the latter part of the 20th century.

And I think we're probably just below a quarter on that.

If these came in to me, I would sell them as separate lots. I wouldn't want to put them together

as these will appeal to the private buyers.

They might like one but wouldn't like to buy three in a lot.

In this solitaire here, I would like to put that in at 250-350.

On the solitaire.

And I think I would put the same on your diamond and sapphire.

250-350.

When it comes to your own ring, I think the setting is not as appealing as the other two.

-No, I agree.

-But we would put it in at, say, 100-150.

-Mm-hm.

So, Vivian, if we sell them you'll get maybe between £500 and £800.

-What would you put the money towards?

-A nice holiday.

-I think that's better than just having them in a box.

-Mm, definitely.

I've got my favourites, our experts have made their final choices,

so it's time to say goodbye to our regal surroundings, the Assembly Rooms, as we head off to auction.

Let's hope we have a few surprises. Here's what we're taking with us.

Those decadent Czermanski prints that David was so taken by,

although not enough to hang them on his wall.

The delightful cobalt-blue Russian cufflinks.

And Vivian's three diamond rings.

'Well, the auction room is full, so let's hope the bidders want to spend their money.'

Peter and Jane, good to see you. And David here, our expert.

We've got the book of prints by Czermanski, printed in Paris, 1931.

-Now tell me the story about these. They were your father's. He was into bric-a-brac.

-He was.

In his retirement, he collected odds and ends and put them away and made a few bob here and there.

-Do you think we'll make a few bob today?

-Hopefully!

-It would be nice. A few pounds would be very nice.

-I think these prints are superb, but it's a very niche market.

-It is.

-There's nothing else comparable in the sale. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

-Fingers crossed!

-But they are quality.

-And quality sells!

-Quality sells!

But how much for? We're just about to find out. Good luck. Here we go.

We have the Polish folio prints.

What can we say? I have only 55. 65, £70.

70. 70. 70. Thank you. 80. 90? 90.

100. 110. 120.

-130.

-Here we go.

-We're in.

150, sir? 160.

160 now. Anyone else? All done then. Selling at £160.

-He's sold them.

-That's OK.

-£160.

-It was within our margin.

-That'll buy us a nice dinner, won't it?

-It will.

-I suppose I'll have to treat brother and sister as well.

-Mm-hm.

-They can have fish and chips!

And now for one of my items.

I've just been joined by Steven and his wonderful cufflinks.

On the day, I was wearing that blue corduroy suit and that's what attracted me.

I see you've got a little blue handkerchief there as an homage!

It's time to say goodbye. They're going under the hammer. Our auctioneer has his eye on them.

-And he is a man who wears cufflinks.

-Let's hope he can put in a bid!

-I think he might. He might have sold them already.

-Good, good.

This will go on the phone or online.

Russian diamond-set blue enamel cufflinks.

14-carat gold. Stamped 56.

£200 here. 220. 240.

It's flowing.

-280. 300.

-At least it's in the right direction.

340. 360. 380.

There's a commission bid. He takes a bid, then looks down.

420. 440? £420. Fresh bidder in on 420.

-Anyone else?

-They're just selling, aren't they?

-£420.

-Yeah, I think it's a bargain. They're excellent cufflinks.

-I'm pleased. Thank you so much.

-Thank you.

-I've not seen quality like that for a long time.

They say diamonds are a girl's best friend, so why is Vivian selling hers?

-Has she got lots of others?

-Not at all, no!

-John, does she have lots of diamonds?

-Not that I've found yet!

-Why are you selling these, then?

-They're just sitting in a drawer. They were my mother's.

-It's such a shame that they are sitting in a drawer.

-There's three. We've split them up.

Of course! We wouldn't sell them as a wee job lot, Paul!

No. Thank goodness.

And they are nice. Three nice rings. Two older ones of classic design

-and one of a more contemporary design.

-Starting on the solitaire.

We're hoping for around £300 at the top end. Let's put it to the test.

A solitaire diamond ring. Two commission bids here.

250. 260. 280.

300. 320. 340.

360. 360.

360. 380. 400.

420. 440.

I have bid 440 in the room. 460.

480. 500.

-Wow.

-520. 540?

£520 and selling in the room. On 520 now.

Well, there's the first. £520. Next is the diamond and sapphire.

462. What can we say on this one? 180 only. 190.

190. 190. 200. 210.

220. 230. 240.

250. 260.

260. 270. 280. 290. 300.

-320.

-We're looking for around 350 again.

£340 in front of me. Selling on 340.

That's very good. Still the top end. £340.

One more to go. Hopefully, we'll get around 150 for that.

The solitaire diamond ring. On the book at 130.

140? 140?

140? Bid on the book at £130. Selling on 130.

-That's about £990 by my calculation!

-We should come again to "Flog It!".

-Nearly a thousand quid.

-Fabulous. Just under.

-And you didn't think they were worth a lot of money.

-I didn't.

-And you never wore them?

-Hardly ever, no.

-Do you wear jewellery at all?

-Not much.

-You don't have to.

-Ooh!

-Absolutely right.

-But you do have a lot of style.

-You've picked a beauty.

-Absolutely.

-Nearly a thousand quid. That is a smashing result.

-The holiday's already booked.

-At least we know we can pay for it now.

-Were you taking a chance?

That's it. It's all over. Another day in another saleroom.

I hope you've enjoyed it. I have. Join us again for more surprises.

Until then, it's goodbye.

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