Lincolnshire Flog It!

This is an Avro Lancaster, a long-range heavy bomber,

one of thousands that were used during World War II.

Today, it is only one of three working Lancasters left

in the world.

Later on in the programme, I am going to be meeting the family

who lovingly restored it for future generations to appreciate it.

But right now, we are heading due north 30 miles

to our valuation day.

Let's start the engines!

Welcome to Flog It!

Lincolnshire became known as Bomber County during the Second World War.

Its flat land and big skies made it the epicentre of RAF Bomber Command.

And at the height of the War,

there were more airfields here than anywhere else in the UK.

This 350-acre estate, Normanby Park, was also used

as a training base for the Army during the Second World War.

But today, for one day only, the gardens

and this magnificent

English country manor house are home to Flog It!

And all the people here in this magnificent queue

are hoping it is their antiques and collectibles

that will make a small fortune at auction.

Stay tuned and you'll find out which ones will fly sky-high.

The stage is being set in the house and the gardens

and our experts are ready to greet the crowds.

Touching down at Normanby today is Michael Baggott,

and he has already found something priceless.

It's worth a million pounds.

THEY LAUGH

Where's my car? Where did I park?

And his trusty co-pilot today is Caroline Hawley.

-What have you brought?

-No, he's with me.

Oh, you brought him. You've brought each other.

-What do you think of him?

-I think he's lovely. I think he's gorgeous.

Is he a growler? Oh, he is! He's a squeaker.

The crowds are arriving in the gardens,

clutching the items they hope will be worth a hefty sum.

But which of these will land a high price at auction?

Will it be these handmade brass fighter planes?

This striking Chinese necklace thought to be Buddhist prayer beads?

Or this touching collection of World War II memorabilia?

Well, whilst everybody is enjoying our fabulous garden party

outside in the sunshine,

Michael is enjoying the sumptuous interiors inside the manor house.

Let's catch up with him now and see what he has spotted

and who he is talking to.

Jan, Joe, thank you so much for bringing these wonderful figurines.

Are they something you have collected or have they come down

through the family?

No, my parents bought them in Hong Kong. And they came back in 1949.

Were they there on holiday or...?

No, my father was in the RAF and we moved out to join him

-when he was posted out there.

-Oh, my word!

Were these things that, at the time, your father collected

-or were they souvenirs?

-I think they were souvenirs, yes.

It's getting quite difficult sometimes to tell

-whether these figures are Japanese or Chinese.

-All right.

Just because they're bought in Hong Kong doesn't necessarily

mean that they are going to be Chinese.

And I think, whilst these are Chinese taste,

I think they were carved for export.

-Yes.

-I think, with this chap, with his very long forehead,

that's usually the sign of sort of a deity.

Because they think so much, they've got large foreheads. Um...

This figure, which I think again is possibly another immortal,

a Lohan, he is much better carved than this one.

They're very similar, but the facial features here, I mean,

the detail of the brow, the eyes.

-He has got one inset eye missing.

-Yes.

And he's got the most wonderful, elegant beard.

If I could grow one like that, I think I'd be quite happy.

-And they've got their original bases, as well.

-Yeah.

I would think this would be turn-of-the-century,

this would be about 1890, 1900.

The downside is they are carved root wood figures.

So, they are carved from a section of wood that grew underground,

and you get this sort of rust colour.

And of all the things, really, the ceramics are worth a lot of money.

-Yes.

-The jades are worth a phenomenal amount of money.

-Yes.

The root wood figures sort of support the rear

in terms of value and desirability.

-Kind of like me then.

-Don't...don't say that.

-Value, have you given any thought either of you to the value?

-No idea.

Cos we've never seen anything like them, so...

I think we sell them together and I think we say

£100 to £200.

-And we put a fixed reserve of £100.

-Yes.

The only caveat, so I don't look stupid on the day,

-is that they are Chinese and they'll be on the Internet.

-Yes.

-So, if they go and make £1,000, I suspected it all along.

-Wow!

Don't get your hopes up.

They really are worth about £100,

but sometimes Chinese works of art can do funny things.

Thank you very much for bringing them along.

Not at all, thank you very much. It's been very interesting.

Well, stranger things have happened on Flog It!

You can never predict an auction. In another corner of the house,

something rather fitting has landed at Caroline's table.

And she is joined by Ken.

Well, here we are in Lincolnshire, and what better thing to fly in

than these two iconic World War II planes?

Which look as if they could be just flying into one of the dozens

of airfields that were around here in the Second World War.

Now, I'm ashamed, and apologies to my father who would be horrified,

who worked in the aerospace industry for over 40 years,

I don't know the models. Can you tell me a bit about them?

Well, I presume this is the Spitfire.

And then I've been told it's the Mosquito.

Look at the work that has gone into it and the detail in the cockpit.

-Yeah.

-How did they come into your possession?

Well, they have come into the family from my granddad,

who worked in the railway yard at Doncaster.

-He was quite a handy sort of chap?

-Yes.

And he used to make old model planes,

because he had a workshop.

I've got my two boys, he used to make model planes for them.

-So you think he made these?

-Well, we think so, yeah.

I can imagine your grandfather in his shed,

working lovingly for hours doing this.

-And it comes off the base, doesn't it?

-That's right.

-Turns round.

Solid brass. It is naively made.

And this one, the detail in this, you can see underneath,

the work that has gone into this.

-He must have been very proud of them.

-That's right.

-And they're working models, aren't they?

-Well, yeah.

The propellers go around.

Then, of course, at the time, he would have seen them

going over, seen them leaving from here from his home,

-probably from his garden shed.

-Yeah.

As to value, Ken,

I think that they will get quite a bit of interest round here.

There's a lot of people that are interested

in World War II memorabilia.

There's a lot of people interested in planes.

I think they could get £40 to £60.

And if we put a fixed reserve of £40, and hope that they fly.

-That's right. Yes, we hope so.

-Let's hope so.

The de Havilland Mosquito bomber was nicknamed the Wooden Wonder

because it was one of a few aircraft of its day to be made

almost entirely out of timber.

Sadly, the wooden frame was not built to last,

and there are no flying Mosquitoes left today.

The Spitfire, meanwhile,

was produced in greater numbers than any other aircraft in the War

and there are over 40 left today that are still in the air.

So, let's hope we find some model plane enthusiasts

at our Lincoln auction.

Back outside, in case it rains, our crowd are sheltering in the marquee.

Can I hold Munchkin?

-You can, but she gets a bit naughty.

-Oh, does she?

-She won't tiddle on me?

-No.

-She won't tiddle on me?

-No, don't bother about that.

I've got a corduroy suit on. Munchkin!

-Shall we put a value on Munchkin?

-Now, that's a good idea!

In a quieter part of the gardens,

Michael has found a very personal collection of items.

Jenny, Brian, thank you very much for bringing in this very poignant

group of medals and documentation.

Before I say anything about them, tell me the family history.

You must have quite a lot with these.

Well, this is my Uncle Ray. He was in the Navy in the Second World War.

And I had all these documents and medals passed down to me

through the family.

Why have you brought them in to Flog It!?

Well, we wanted to know a little bit more about it

and also we would like to give him recognition

-for what he did during the War.

-Absolutely.

Well, it sounds sometimes odd but the people who collect these,

they do have a sincere and genuine interest in the history of it.

-Mm. That is what Jenny was hoping.

-Yeah.

-That is what attracts them.

We have got the two standard stars

and the standard medal that you get for the '39-'45 conflict.

And we've got this very interesting medal here,

which is the Naval General Service medal.

And what is very important is

we have got the additional bar for minesweeping.

That makes it a very interesting group of medals on their own.

But you have got this original photograph of him and you have got

his original certificate of service, which is absolutely wonderful.

So, we've got his name there.

We can see that he joined up during the middle of the War.

-Yes, 1942.

-And he was only 18 years of age then.

-Mm-hm.

I mean, that's...

It is a very young age to be thrust in to sort of the thick end

of a terrible conflict like that.

And we've got, there we go, the first ship that he was with,

the Ganges. And he was a Second Seaman.

And we've got the dates that he served on the individual ships.

We go from Pembroke, Revenge...

And there he's been made Able-bodied Seaman.

Which he remains till the end of his service.

And we have got a photograph here of him with the crew.

And we think this is in training on the Ganges, don't we?

-Yes. That's him, second from the left.

-That's marvellous.

I mean, the thing about medals is people think,

"Why are medals valuable?"

And it isn't the medal that is valuable. Not to medal collectors.

It's the associated history with it.

And it is what a person has done. It is a section of somebody's life.

Sometimes it can be a bit hard to put a price on these things,

because it is our history.

And a very important moment from history it is, as well.

I think this group on its own,

with the ephemera, wouldn't be greatly valuable.

But when you add in the General Service medal

and the bar for serving on a minesweeper,

it becomes rare.

-Oh, right.

-Wow.

-Had you had any thoughts as to value?

No, not at all, really. It's just putting it all together, really.

-That has been your interest in it, hasn't it?

-Yes.

-Not the military side.

-No.

I think we would be sensible to say £400 to £600.

-Really?

-We'll put a £400 reserve on it.

Um, but if it goes beyond that, I won't be surprised,

because that's what those are worth

on their own in cold hard cash.

But this makes them much more attractive

and much more interesting.

-Thank you very much indeed.

-Thank you for having us.

-Thanks very much.

Well, we have been working flat out and now we are halfway

through our day, it is time to put those valuations to the test.

And here is a quick recap of what is going under the hammer.

Will Jan and Joe's oriental figures shock us at the auction?

They are definitely being sold in the right place,

but will Lincolnshire's aviation history mean their price

soars when they go under the hammer?

And then there's the very personal collection of World War II history.

Let's hope it goes to someone who can appreciate its true value.

Lincoln is our destination for today's auction,

and putting our items under the hammer is auctioneer Colin Young.

The commission is 15% plus VAT.

So, remember to factor that in if you're planning to sell or buy

anything at auction.

And the first lot to go under the hammer is Ken's model planes.

-It is a nice little lot.

-It is.

-It is an unusual looking lot, as well.

-And it couldn't be sold in a better place.

-That's right.

Hopefully, these two little aircraft will fly out today at the top end

of the estimate.

That's what it is all about. Fingers crossed.

They're going under the hammer right now. Let's put it to the test.

Who is going to start me a £50? 50?

50? 30 shall we go then?

Surely. £30, anyone? 30?

£30 bid. 32, now we go to two. At two.

And five. Anywhere else? Five, 35.

38. Bid 40 do I see now? 38 bid, 40 surely.

40 it will have to be. I've already got the 38 bid. 40 coming in now.

At 38 bid, 40 now, do I see it?

-38 bid, 40 surely. At 38, bid 40. 40 on the Net.

-It's slow, isn't it?

He's pushing it up, pushing it up. He is working his magic.

-Selling at 40.

-£40, it is sold.

-The hammer has gone down.

-Yeah.

Not the top end they were expecting,

but they are gone anyway, they're gone.

-Happy with that?

-Yes, yes.

-Please, yeah.

-Somebody is going to look at those,

have fun with those and they'll be part of another collection.

-That's right, yeah.

-Thank you for coming in.

-Yeah.

Well, we thought they'd land at the higher end of the estimate,

but they're sold anyway.

The tension is building right now.

We're about to put the medals under the hammer with all

-the documentation. Wonderful personal story.

-Yes.

Is it something that was a bit of a wrench to think about parting with?

In a way. We really brought it to find out more about the photographs.

It is what medal collectors want. They don't just want medals.

-No, they want the history.

-The history.

And you've got all of that with it. So, that makes the difference.

-Hopefully, they will find a good home.

-Yes, I hope so.

Here we go. This is it.

There is a heck of a lot in this lot, so it is time to bid for it.

Let's get on. Who's going to start me at £400 for it?

400? Three to go then, surely. £300. 300.

300. Two to go then, surely. 200. £200 bid.

-220, surely.

-That's a low start.

-Mm.

At £200 bid. 220 now.

220 there. At 220. 240 now.

-240.

-I'm rather hoping there are some commission bids on this.

260. 280 now. 280. At 280.

-300.

-We are getting there, come on.

340. 360 now. At 340 bid.

At 340. 360 do I see?

At 340 bid, 360 now. At 340.

You're out in the back row. At 340 bid.

360 now, surely. At 340 bid. Last call then at £340...

I'm afraid at that level, we have to withdraw it,

ladies and gentlemen.

In a way, I am delighted because the medals alone

were worth £500.

That is before you put all the documentation.

-I'm very sorry.

-At least it didn't go for nothing.

You know, that's the main thing, isn't it?

-We haven't given them away.

-No.

And that is why you fix a reserve,

especially with a collection as personal as this.

Jenny and Brian are still hoping to sell their collection,

but are now looking at specialist sales for these items.

Up next is another one of Michael's valuations.

And after further research, the auction house has found out

that, as Michael suspected, these are Chinese figures.

A touch of the Orient comes to Lincoln right now with two Chinese

carved root wood figures belonging to Jan and Joe.

-It is great to see you again.

-Thank you.

-How have you been since the valuation day?

-Brilliant.

-Yeah? Enjoying the weather?

-Yes.

-Indeed.

-What have you been doing with yourselves?

-Oh, all sorts.

-I can't think.

-Clearing the house out for more stuff to sell

-on Flog It!...

-That's right.

-..the next time we come to the area.

-Yes.

-It's that magic word - Chinese.

-Yes.

-You know, hard to put a value on.

-Yes, exactly.

We put an estimate on and hope the buyers are there for it.

Right. Now we are going to find out exactly what the bidders think.

It's all down to them. Here we go.

Two late 19th century or early 20th century Chinese root carvings.

There we go, what shall we say for these?

We ought to be somewhere in the region of what, £100 to £200?

Who is going to start at 80, save the hard work?

£80 anybody, 80?

50 to go then, surely. £50 bid, at 50. Five anywhere else?

Come on, come on.

60. 65. 70. 70 is bid. And five. At 75.

It is a good decorator's lot, this.

-Five now. At 90 bid. 95. 100.

-We're there, yes.

-Very good.

-We are on the market and we are selling, make no mistake.

At £100 bid, are we all done and finished?

Going then and selling at £100.

-£100.

-That's wonderful. Brilliant.

-Spot on.

-There we go, in and out.

-Yeah.

-Spot on.

-Very good.

And they sold right on estimate. Good valuing, Michael.

Right now, I'm going to meet a family who devoted their lives

to sharing the history of Lincolnshire's Bomber Command.

During the Second World War,

over 100,000 young volunteers faced one of the most dangerous tasks

of any British servicemen and suffered the highest casualty rates.

Nearly half of them were killed.

They were known as Bomber Command, the force who took on Hitler

when air power was the only way of striking back at Nazi Germany.

This cathedral, in the heart of Lincoln, was an important

landmark for the men of Bomber Command, guiding them safely home.

Lincolnshire's flat landscape and proximity to Germany made it

the perfect place for Bomber Command to be stationed,

earning it the nickname Bomber County.

Thousands of planes flew from here,

full of brave young man on dangerous missions deep into enemy territory.

But despite their heroism,

the men of Bomber Command found themselves ignored after the War.

Their orders meant they led massive bombing attacks on Hamburg and

Dresden in the later months of the War, killing thousands of civilians.

It was after the Germans bombed the city of Coventry with such

devastating consequences in 1940 that Commander In Chief

of Bomber Command, Sir Arthur Harris, began a new

and more controversial strategy known as area bombing.

The aim was not just to destroy specific targets,

but the people and places surrounding those targets.

Now, many people thought these attacks unnecessary,

as the War was virtually won by then.

Whilst other servicemen received their medals, the controversy

surrounding Bomber Command left these servicemen empty handed.

For those young men who risked their lives night after night,

it must have felt very difficult to swallow.

But time has helped the nation realise

the importance of Bomber Command's contribution.

And one family especially is working hard to keep

this memory alive.

Harold and Fred Panton lost their brother, Christopher,

during a bombing raid over Nuremberg on the 31st of March, 1944.

They were all just teenagers at the time.

To remember Christopher and the thousands of men who were

killed fighting in Bomber Command, Fred and his family

have set up their own museum

and have given their lives for the last 25 years to transforming

this old RAF base into what is now an incredible

collection of stories and artefacts.

The original control tower still stands and it is a stark reminder

of the thousands of planes that flew out of this Lincolnshire airfield.

The museum chapel has been set up to honour those men who didn't return.

Of the 212 operations carried out from this airfield

during the Second World War, 121 failed to come back.

The family are very proud of their unique collection

of World War II history, from the original buildings

to the period vehicles.

And their most precious antique is pretty special.

It's only one of three working Lancasters left in the world.

What an aircraft!

From 1942, this mighty four-engined machine became

the mainstay of the RAF during the Second World War.

It carried the biggest bomb load of any other aircraft and it

became the most famous and the most successful of all the night bombers.

Fred and his family managed to get hold of one of the only

Lancasters that didn't take part in active service.

Just Jane is the centrepiece of this museum

and has been the family's labour of love for nearly 20 years.

She is a fine tribute to brother Chris,

who was an engineer in Bomber Command.

-Fred, that is the biggest antique I've seen in my life.

-Oh, is it?

-And the biggest restoration project.

-Very good.

You and Harold have done the most remarkable job.

I know about your brother Christopher.

Was really that the turning point for you to say,

-"Right, one day I am going to do something..."

-Yes.

-"..in his memory."

-It would be, yeah, and the Bomber Command.

-Can you talk to me about Christopher?

-Yes.

Tell me what happened.

-He was on his last operation, really.

-Gosh.

-Yeah.

And that night they went to Nuremberg.

There should have been more clouds than what there was.

40 miles from the target, they could see the streets in Nuremberg,

shining about the width of your finger

like pieces of ribbon, all the streets.

And the German night fire took them underneath and got her starboard engine on fire.

They lost power on one side and Nielsen couldn't hold it

cos it still has got the bombs on it, you see.

And, well, they didn't have a chance to get out.

About, I don't know, four or five years ago, a German who lived not

far from the crash site wrote to us to see if we minded him going

-with a metal detector to see what he could find.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-And did he find anything?

-He did.

Well, he found this... this little adjustable spanner.

-That was Christopher's, was it?

-Yeah, it was.

When he went on ops, he took that.

Just in case he had to adjust something.

Yeah, he carried it in his pocket.

Did he write to you before that flight or write to Mum and Dad?

He did. Yeah, he did. The very last letter he wrote to my sister Gwen.

And Chris, when he wrote, he never...

he never put any kisses or anything like that

in any letter, you know.

In this particular... the very last letter,

he put some kisses on it, big ones.

I'm pretty sure he knew he wasn't going to make it, you know.

-This...all your land here, this was an old airfield?

-It was.

-Were Lancasters taking off from here?

-Oh, yeah, there were.

I'd always wave to them.

I didn't realise, I didn't know until probably two years ago,

that a veteran said to me,

did I know the worst thing that veterans didn't like to see?

I said, "No, I have no idea."

He said, "We didn't like when people used to wave to us."

-To them, it was like waving goodbye.

-Do you know? I can imagine that.

-One day, Fred, you and Harold are going to get this flying.

-Oh, yeah.

Before anything happens to me, I want to see that flying.

-I don't blame you. It'll happen. It will happen.

-It'll come.

-You are a determined man.

-One step at a time.

Although Just Jane taxies down the runway, she doesn't fly yet.

But Fred's restoration project is nearing its completion.

New engines have been ordered

and the family hope it will be airworthy within a year.

Here we are, right up in the cockpit.

You know, the first thing that struck me

was the lack of space inside.

Secondly, now, once I have crawled the length of this aircraft,

is there is not a lot of protection.

I mean, you know, it's not bulletproof.

The fuselage is very, very thin. There is glass everywhere.

The pilot had no GPS, no satellite navigation system,

no air traffic control, you know, telling him what to do.

He relied on his navigator.

And this chap had a compass, a map, a ruler and a watch, basically.

It was crucial plotting out where precisely these bombs

had to be dropped.

These men, you have to remember, they were volunteers. They...

They put their lives through hell to protect our country.

I wouldn't have liked to have done it. I really wouldn't have.

I don't think I'd be brave enough.

And that bravery has finally been given the recognition it deserves.

In June, 2012, a memorial dedicated to the men of Bomber Command

and to the civilians who lost their lives

in the controversial bombings was finally unveiled in London.

-Lest we forget.

-VARIOUS: Lest we forget.

Well, it's sad that it has taken so long for the men of Bomber Command

to be officially recognised, but it is thanks to Fred and his family

that their story has been told right here, in Lincolnshire.

It is a fitting tribute to Bomber Command and to Bomber County,

and I for one can't wait to come back in a couple of years,

where hopefully I will take a flight with Fred.

Well, we've landed back in the gardens at the Normanby estate.

And the gems are coming thick and fast.

I found something that is right up my street.

-Janice, I love that.

-Mm-hm.

British 20th century modern, that is my thing.

-Yes, it's lovely, isn't it?

-I am drawn to that. Do you like it?

I do like it. I have been looking at it for 15 years.

-But not enough to want to keep it.

-No.

-Because I believe you want to sell this, don't you?

-Yes, I do.

-Why?

I think it's time it went to another home.

-I've got other pictures to replace it.

-How did you come across this?

I went to a church fete in a nearby village about 15 years ago

and I got that along with two other paintings.

Can you remember how much you paid for them?

-I think they were about a pound each.

-That was bad, was it?

You've got an eye for a bargain.

There is something quite quirky about this injured rugby player,

-the schoolboy.

-He has had a hard game.

Yeah, but look at his perfect skin and his perfect lips.

There is something quite... It's almost feminine how he is painted.

-Yeah.

-Purvis, Tom Purvis,

renowned as a poster painter

in the early 1920s and '30s.

He did a lot of work for the London And North Eastern Railways.

And I would imagine this was done in the very...

late 1920s, 1930s.

"Only been having a game," quite cheeky.

And that is done in pencil, which I think is really sweet.

It's an afterthought, isn't it?

Yeah. It's in its contemporary frame.

I know his works have sold before.

I've looked in the art index guides and some of his watercolours,

which are a lot busier and larger than this,

have sold for around about £600 to £900.

Any thoughts about value now I've told you something?

I haven't really got an idea, honestly, I haven't.

Well, I think we put this into auction

with a value of £80 to £120.

Right, yeah. What do you think I should put on as a reserve?

-£80.

-£80, that is fine by me.

-Are you happy with that?

-I'm happy with that, yes.

-You can put a £100 reserve on it.

No, I'll put an 80 on it because I have enjoyed it for so long.

It only cost me a pound.

-It's lovely.

-That is not a bad result.

Somebody else will enjoy it, as well.

It's things like this that make my day on Flog It!

When you come across something like this,

something that you really are passionate about and you love,

it's a joy to talk about.

-Have you had one of his before?

-No.

-Oh, well, that's great.

-And the great thing is, you know, for five minutes

of the day, this is mine,

I get to own this for five minutes while I am talking about it,

-you know?

-Well, I'm saying goodbye to it.

I get my fix and then someone can buy this at auction.

That's lovely.

Whilst I have been enjoying my 20th century art,

Caroline is working hard inside the house and has found an unusual piece of jewellery.

So, Sarah, you brought this along,

literally around your neck, and I spotted you in the queue.

-You did.

-It's beautiful! Now, tell me about it.

My mother brought it back from China when she was working out there

as one of the first ex-pats that was sent out way back in 1948.

She did a lot of travelling

and I believe she went to Tibet early on in the '50s.

And she brought that back with her then.

Well, I think these will date probably from a little earlier

than that, possibly the 19...late '20s, '30s.

-Right.

-And your mother, obviously, wore them.

And who else would have worn these, do you think?

I'm not sure anybody actually wore them.

I think they might have used them for like worry beads.

-Mm.

-For religious reasons when they think about or sit and meditate.

Yeah. And some of these fellows look pretty worried to me, don't they?

Do you wear it a lot?

Apart from to attract my attention today, which you did.

-Do you?

-No.

-No.

It is beautifully and intricately carved. It is made of seed pods.

All of these are carved separately, by hand.

-Every expression is different.

-Absolutely.

Have you seen, there's one I particularly like?

Screaming and shouting here.

-It is quite scary.

-It is quite scary, that one.

The rest, some of them are grimacing, some of them are smiling.

It is all tied with silk knots in between and it is a silver...

Chinese silver marked fastening here.

It's lovely. But as you say, it's not something you wear, so...

No, it's something we kind of have seen as children,

-but then put away.

-Yes.

And then when my mother passed away, it went up into the loft.

-Where it has been until today.

-I think we could sell this quite well.

Ten years ago if you had brought this to me,

I would say possibly not, there wouldn't be a great interest.

But antiques, like most things, come in cycles,

and Chinese items are very fashionable at the moment.

And I think that this would probably sell quite well in today's market.

Would you be happy if we put it in to auction with

an estimate of £80 to £120, perhaps?

-Um...I guess so.

-Yeah?

-Yes.

-I mean, it could fly.

It could do a lot better than that,

but if we put it in at that sort of estimate

with a reserve of £80...

-How do you feel about that?

-Yes, OK.

And, fingers crossed, on the day that we haven't got a screamer

or a grimacer, we've got this rather jolly, smiley fellow here saying,

-"Yes!"

-Absolutely, OK.

-That's great.

Worry beads or prayer beads date back to sometime around 500 BC

and it is thought that they originated from somewhere in India.

Traditionally, Buddhist beads would have been made from wood or

seed pod and the faces represent the Buddhist Arhats -

the 18 original followers of Buddha.

Let's hope we get a few followers of Sarah's beads at the auction.

Our Flog It! fans have brought some fascinating items

to the gardens today,

but inside the house, there are a few surprises, too.

When the Council took over the property in 1964, they had

a huge task on their hands of filling it with items

that evoke the period and create a visitor attraction.

The curator at the time, Michael Kirkby, was given £1,000

and asked to fill the house full of fine art and artefacts.

So, he set off around the country visiting auction rooms.

And this is one of his acquisitions.

It was catalogued as School of Titian.

Now, eagle-eyed Michael believed it to be the school of Rubens.

He paid five pounds for this.

Now, some 21 years later, this has actually been verified

that it is painted by Rubens himself, in his studio,

and not by one of Rubens' studio artists under his guidance.

This was painted sort of circa mid 1620s.

In 2002, another of Rubens' missing paintings,

The Massacre Of The Innocents,

became the most expensive painting ever auctioned in Britain

and it sold for almost £50 million at Sotheby's,

although it was a much bigger canvas than this one.

It is part of a series of paintings that Rubens did

on the first 12 emperors.

Here we have Emperor Otho.

Now, there are nine known in existence now,

so there are still three missing.

So, keep an eye out, won't you, if you go to an auction?

You never know what you might find.

Now, let's catch up with our experts who are back out in the garden

and see what they are up to.

On Michael's table is a fascinating collection of medals,

but this time not from the War.

I think you must know all about them, can you tell me what they are?

They are actually my father's medals. He was a professional footballer.

He started life out in the pits

because he came from a mining village called Barlborough in Derbyshire.

And he left there when he was 16 and he went to play

for Frickley Colliery.

And then Notts Forest came and they signed him on.

Then he was transferred to West Bromwich Albion.

And he stayed there with West Bromwich Albion

round about five years.

But he had £1,000 on his head.

Because in them days, they put money on your head

if you're going to be transferred back into another league club.

-Good Lord!

-So, to get it off his head,

he came to a non-league club, and he came to Scunthorpe United here.

-Just down the road.

-Yes.

It must have been really exciting to have

your father as a footballer.

Did you go to his matches and watch him?

Well, the thing about it was, I mean, I was born in 1933.

-Right.

-And my father's playing career was up until about 1936.

So, I can't remember very much about him actually playing the game.

-So, this is your father here?

-Yeah, Mr Pattison, Ernie Pattison.

-Pattison, number nine.

-That's right.

And we've got some of his original contracts, as well.

Yes, that one I think is the Scunthorpe contract.

This is the Scunthorpe, the local interest one.

But what is more important is we've got the medals.

And we've got... These three at the front are really the most

important, the crucial ones.

We have got the Central League, the Benevolent Cup winners here,

and we've got Doncaster and District FA Winners Cup.

-Yeah.

-And, of course, they're all gold.

-Yes, there are.

Now, I'm not a follower of football,

but I think a few people are.

And you have got the associated paperwork and programmes as well.

And that, to me, if I had an interest in football,

that would be a wonderful group to have.

I mean, they must have very strong sentimental attachments to you.

So, why, you know, haven't you sort of held on to them?

Well, there's a reason why I want to sell them.

Um, my mother actually gave them to me.

Now, my mother has got... This year, unfortunately,

she has had to go into a home.

And she is quite old.

-105, or will be.

-105!

-Next Thursday.

-Next Thursday.

-Good grief! That's amazing.

There are certain costs that do occur.

If there is a good cause for selling the medals, I think that's it.

Um, right.

Value, any idea?

Gold-wise, I had them appraised locally for gold,

just the gold itself,

and I think they said somewhere between £360 to £400

was the gold value.

Thankfully, the interest in football takes them

above and beyond that, you'll be glad to know.

I think we should put them in auction at...

Reserve figure of say £700.

And we'll put the estimate at 800 to 1,200.

And I think there should be interest across the board in these.

I don't mind the auctioneer having a bit of leeway on the price

if we put a reserve on it... You know,

if it's reaching near the reserve or something like that.

We'll put a discretion on that reserve of £700 for you.

June, Michael, thank you very much for bringing these in.

-Wonderful collection.

-Thank you, very pleased to meet you.

-Pleasure.

Our experts have now made their final choices -

three wonderful items, all worthy

of our magnificent host location for today,

Normanby Hall, which sadly, we have to say goodbye to now,

as it's off to auction in Lincoln for the very last time.

And here is a quick recap of what's coming with us.

I think the Purvis painting was a very clever one-pound purchase

for Janice.

She is bound to make a profit, but how much?

Sarah's beads definitely caught Caroline's eye,

but should we be excited or worried about the prospects at auction?

And June and Michael's collection of football medals and memorabilia

is sure to find some fans, but will they score high in the sale room?

Let's find out.

Five, last call...

It is still bustling in the auction house

and we're hoping for bidding galore on all our items.

Everybody's out in the room now.

Fingers crossed for our next lot. Sarah, have you got them crossed?

I'm going to cross my legs, as well.

These Chinese beads are superb, they really are.

Or they could be Tibetan worry beads, I don't know.

But I love the little faces.

I can understand that, you know, these are valuable to you.

And you've obviously thought about the 80 to 120

with a fixed reserve of 80.

You've got in touch with Colin, the auctioneer.

-I did.

-You have raised that reserve now to £100.

-I have.

-Which has put the estimate up to £100 to £150.

-OK.

So, it can't sell for a penny under £100.

-What's your gut feeling, Caroline?

-I think they're going to do well.

-I think they are going to top the top estimate.

-OK.

I'm going to stick my neck out there.

-It is a come and buy me.

-It is, yes.

-Well.

-I'll hold you to that.

Over to Colin on the rostrum, and the bid is here in the room.

Let's see what we can do. Here we go.

Each bead carved with the head of an immortal.

There we go.

So, with this silver stamping on it, as well,

that ought to be over £100.

Who's going to start me at 100 for it? £100, 100.

80 to go then, surely 80.

£80, anybody? 80, who is going to join in? 80.

Thank you. Bid at £80. 90 now.

80 bid, 90. 90. £100 bid. At 100. 110?

110. 120. 130.

-Gone, they're away.

-150?

-150. 160. 170.

-Yes!

-Oh, wow.

170. 180. 190.

190. No more here.

-190 in the room.

-Fantastic!

-At 190.

It is only 190. Is there 200 anywhere else?

At £190 in the room. Then going at 190.

-Yes!

-Very happy with that, £190.

-Well done.

-Thank you.

-Well done, well done.

-Fantastic.

-That was worrying for your little bit, wasn't it?

I don't know about worry beads, worrying Sarah, here.

When he went down to 80, I was like, "Oh, no!"

But fantastic, thank you.

Great result for a fascinating item.

And next, it's a favourite from the valuation day,

Janice's stylish watercolour of the rugby player.

How have you been in the last few weeks?

Very well, excited about the auction.

So have I. Do you know what?

If I had a hat and this didn't sell, I would eat it.

Because I think this is wonderful.

We'll find out if it is going to sell.

Fingers crossed it will, and hopefully a little more than

what I said. It is going under the hammer right now.

What do we say for this?

Who is going to start me at £100 for it?

100? 100? 80 to go.

80? Well, if we started...

If they don't buy it, they've got no taste.

-It's going back home.

-£20 bid.

Oh, you can't start that low, can you?

28. 30. 32.

35. 38. Bid 40. Two.

-Has he got a bit on the book?

-Yes, lots.

He's looking down. Every alternate bid, he's looking down.

The book is not out yet.

Look, the book is not out. Someone has... Look. Book's out. £80.

At £80 bid. Five do I see now? At 80 at the back of the room.

-Come on.

-Are we all done?

-Selling this time.

-We're selling.

-£80...

-It's done, lower end.

-Never mind, that's wonderful.

That was a relief, wasn't it? Do you know?

I would be really annoyed if that didn't sell at £80,

-cos it was quality.

-It is. Is it good buy.

Well, it was at the bottom end of the estimate,

but Janice only paid a pound for it.

So, that was a good buy and a great profit.

Now, are we going to hit the back of the net

with this collection of football medals? Let's find out!

Originally, we had an estimate of £800 to £1,200

put on by Michael here.

-I know Colin, the auctioneer, has got in touch with you.

-He has, yeah.

-He has lowered the estimate.

-That's right.

-What did he say?

He said that he felt that maybe it was high, that realistically

he thought £500 to £700 was about the amount it would be at.

-So, we are looking at 500 to 700.

-It is one of these difficult things.

-It is difficult to quantify because people love football.

-Exactly.

-They love football memorabilia.

-And it's big business.

It's big business. And we as valuers known that

if something has got a football association,

that can transform a very ordinary gold badge worth scrap value

into something that is tremendously valuable.

-We've seen it happen before.

-Yeah, exactly.

It's a little archive, it's for a collector of football medals.

We just need two of them and I think we will see that top end.

Yeah, so do I. Fingers crossed. Here we go.

Lot number 275. Who is going to start me at £500? Five?

Four to go then, surely. £400, anybody?

400. 300? £300, anyone? 300.

-Not good.

-Mm.

At 320 now. 320.

340. And 360 on the book.

At 360. 380 now. 380. 400. 420.

You can't buy a gold football medal for 100 quid.

460 do I see? 460 bid now?

460 bid. At 460. 480.

At 480 bid. Any more bids now?

At 480 bid, any more now? At 480 bid. 500, surely.

At 480, 500 bid.

-At 500.

-Just teased us.

At 500. 520 now.

At £500, are we all done then?

-I think one interested bidder.

-Yes.

-Any more bids coming from the Net?

No. Any more from the room? All done and finished then.

And they are on the market and they are sold at £500.

Well done, Colin.

He teased that last bit out. He just got there.

Colin knew his market

and he was right to bring that estimate down.

-Surely.

-But it is always difficult

when you're just having one person who's bidding.

-Yes.

-Because you never know how far they will go.

-Thank you so much for coming in.

-Thank you, Paul.

-Thank you.

-Thanks.

The final price was lower than our estimate,

but I'm sure Michael's 105-year-old mother will be happy

with the money, as well we know on Flog It!

It's not easy putting a price on an antique. Join us next time.

But for now, from Lincolnshire, it is goodbye from all of us.

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