Shropshire Flog It!

Shropshire is a feast of magnificent landscapes and architectural splendour.

Behind me is one classic example,

the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct designed by Thomas Telford

in the early 19th century.

It's now a World Heritage Site.

I wonder what other items of heritage we can find

at our valuation day in this magnificent county. Welcome to Flog It!

This 11-mile stretch of canal straddles the three counties

of Wrexham, Denbighshire and Shropshire.

The aqueduct itself towers 126 feet above the riverbed

and was revolutionary in its use of an iron trough

which allowed the engineers to create what remains the highest navigable aqueduct in the world.

Let's hope our valuations today reach as enviable heights!

So from one Grade I listed site to another.

Weston Park, this magnificent 17th-century country house

lies in a 1,000-acre wooded parkland designed by Capability Brown.

So whether you're inside or outside,

there's always historical treasures to look at,

not least all the antiques and collectables brought in by this queue of people

for our experts to forage through.

Who knows what we'll find?

Unearthing the treasures today are our very own Grade I listed experts.

Michael Baggott.

No prizes for guessing what this is!

And Clare Rawle,

who will be delving through hundreds of bags and boxes.

So as Weston Park fills up with the Flog It! faithful,

here's a question.

Which one of these items will make the most in today's sale?

Will it be this hunting scene painting by Herbert St John?

A pair of inkwells made from cow hooves?

Or this silver cup?

Let's make a start and find out what Michael Baggott has found in the dining room.

Thelma, Jess, thank you for bringing this adorable little figure!

What can you tell me about it?

She's very ugly!

She's phenomenally ugly!

Which will have a relevance later. I will disclose to you.

But what else? Is it something that's been in the family?

Yes, it belonged to my grandmother.

It belonged to your grandmother, not your grandfather?

I don't know.

The reason I ask

is that this is obviously, we can see by the colouration,

it's a Doulton figure. It's Doulton stoneware.

But we've got the all-important suffragette link to it.

We've got "Votes for Women".

There are two sorts of suffragette memorabilia.

For and against.

Now, if you were against, you would lampoon the suffragettes.

Which is why you make her this grotesque harridan.

So rather than being "Votes for women",

it's "Votes for women?"

So this is lampooning it. So it would be quite odd

if it actually belonged to your grandmother.

But it would make more sense if it started off life with your grandfather

if he held the opinion, as did many people in those unenlightened days,

that votes for women would be a bad thing.

It's lovely that it's Doulton. We've got all the marks on the base that we could possibly wish for.

We've got the Doulton Lambeth factory mark,

and various decorators' marks and modellers' marks.

-It is, in fact, an inkwell.

-Right.

-But it's an inkwell in the sense that I don't think anyone ever used it.

-No.

It's a novelty. It wasn't bought as a practical day-to-day piece.

It's just something you have on your desk, even in the Victorian period,

for amusement.

I say Victorian, this could be around 1900, 1905 in date,

when suffrage was building up, and that's when the feeling against it grew as well.

And you can tell that for such a large factory as Doulton,

a provenance factory,

to actually make items that are against it,

you can sense the feeling, and it gives you an insight into the attitudes of that period.

Do you know what the downside to it is?

-There's a chip at the back.

-A chip at the back.

Chips with fish are good. Chips with ceramics are never good.

-Any idea, any thoughts of what the value might be?

-No, none at all.

-£5?

-A little bit more, perhaps.

-£10? £10 will buy chips.

No, I think let's be sensible and put a broad estimate on it.

-Let's put a reserve of £250.

-Really?!

And let's put an estimate of 300 to £500 on it.

I'd have guessed about 50 quid or something like that.

And I would have said about 50.

-I think it should make £250 all day long.

-Lovely.

I really do. Thank you so much for bringing it in.

What an interesting bit of social history

tied up in this little piece of ceramic.

Now from the same period, Clare Rawle has come across a very personal collection

which belongs to Linda, who's brought her friend Anne along.

Hi, Linda and Anne.

It's great to see you today. A lovely collection here.

Now, this relates mainly to your grandfather in the First World War,

and it's obviously stayed in the family.

-This is him, this is your grandfather.

-It is, yeah.

-OK.

And obviously we have other things relating to your father as well.

-So it's a really nice piece of potted family history.

-It is, yes.

And a lovely collection of a World War I trio of medals.

And there is correspondence and photographs.

So tell me a little bit about it.

Where it's been for the last few years.

Well, my father's kept these in the cupboard

for absolutely donkey's years.

I just know that the book and the cigarette case

must have saved his life because that's where the bullet went through.

This is his little Bible, the New Testament,

and he's been shot, the bullet's gone right through.

There's the little...

Jesus in the middle there, yes.

That went through and saved him.

And then, obviously, his cigarette case.

That's gone with the bullet

and stopped, obviously, and saved his life.

And obviously that's why I'm here.

-Yes. Because if that hadn't stopped, I wouldn't be speaking to you now!

-That's correct.

Smoking isn't always bad for you, is it?

And his papers to say he'd been shot and sent home.

Then I think he went into the Home Guard.

-So it's just bits...

-Before he got patched up and sent off again.

-That's correct.

So you feel it's time they came out of the cupboard.

Yes, I'd like somebody to have them that would appreciate them

and be really interested in where they come from and that.

To collectors, what they love, obviously, are the medals.

But even more so, it's all the history that goes with it.

And also the associated family things which stretch into the second war.

-Yes.

-Your father's things.

And to a collector, that's brilliant, such a piece of history.

And it adds a lot of value.

This is the traditional trio.

We've got a '14/'15 star,

war medal, victory medal.

They're the standard ones issued.

And you've got the discharge papers

and all his papers when he came back from France, having been wounded.

But amazingly not killed.

And you hear about these things on films, don't you?

And here's the proof. It's quite difficult to value

because there is a fairly sort of not huge value on it.

But if somebody's caught up by the story of his surviving the war and all the papers,

I can see it selling quite well.

So I think, sensibly,

-put it in at about 150, maybe 200.

-OK.

-If that's OK.

-Yeah.

Perhaps pitch the reserve just under the 150.

-Usually about 140.

-OK.

I think it'll sell well, but you might as well make it attractive to people.

-It's a lovely lot and I think it will do really well.

-Lovely.

-I look forward to the sale. Great. Thanks for coming in.

-Thank you.

-Sue, a hunting painting.

-Yep.

Very attractive and actually in good surroundings here

with all the other wonderful paintings.

Tell me a bit about it.

The family's always been connected with hunting.

And I think it's my great-great-grandfather.

-This is actually your great-great-grandfather?

-Yes.

-Wow.

It hung on my bedroom wall when I was younger.

That's my first memories of it, really.

-Presumably it's not hanging on a wall any longer.

-No.

-It's lost its frame.

-It's never been framed.

-Really?

-I never remember it having a frame.

-Right.

It's very much of its time.

It's a late 19th-century oil on canvas.

Conveniently, the artist has signed his name at the bottom here.

He is a listed artist. There we are. Herbert St John Jones.

-He was known for painting this type of scene. He painted hunting scenes, basically.

-Right.

It's also nicely titled this side,

"The Cheshire Hunt."

It has had a slightly tough life.

-Yes, it has, yes.

-We have an area of damage here.

-And flecks of paint on it, as well.

-Yes, so it does need a bit of work.

-Yes.

If we look at the back of the picture,

we have all the details here.

There we are. It's the north Cheshire hunt, 1899.

And it's a mare called Luxury.

It says, "This celebrated mare was a fine hunter

"but very vicious. She would kill a man, but wouldn't hurt a hound."

So a great hunter, because you know what happened if you hit a hound.

-You were sent home.

-That's right.

-Not let out again for a while.

-And this is your great-grandfather, Fred Gosden.

-Yes.

And he was the only one to ride her out hunting.

-Obviously he had a feel for her.

-Yes.

Also it mentions that "The hound is the noted Cheshire Trimbush."

So presumably that's the hound there.

If you look back through the stud books, you'll find it.

So a nice painting and nicely documented and all the rest of it.

He is an artist that can make a lot of money

but I think because of the damage

-we're probably looking at about 150 to 250.

-Right.

-Is that OK?

-That's fine.

It would be sensible to put a reserve on it.

-Perhaps just pitch it at 130.

-Yes, that's fine.

-Just under lower estimate. Fixed reserve, though.

-That's fine.

It's a good area for it. A very horsey area.

-We'll see how it gets on.

-Lovely. Thank you.

-Thank you.

We're mid-way through our day and our experts have been working flat-out.

It's time we went to the auction room for the first time.

Here's a quick recap of what we're taking.

Will Thelma's Royal Doulton figure

made to ridicule the suffragette movement get the bidders' vote?

Linda's war memorabilia

including a cigarette box that helped save her grandfather's life

should captivate the collectors.

And will the hunting scene painted by Herbert St John

hit its target of £250?

Our auction room today is in Stourbridge,

just over the Shropshire border in the borough of Dudley.

I'm hoping there'll be a good turn-out at the auction today.

Linda and her friend Anne are here to sell that First World War memorabilia.

You've been in the wars as well, haven't you?

I have. I hit my head on a cupboard door, broke a blood vessel,

-and that is the result of that.

-Ooh! I bet that hurt!

It did a bit, yeah.

But it's getting better.

-Good old

-grandad. Fantastic.

And there's no-one else in the family to pass this on to?

There isn't, no. I have no children.

I would love it to go to somebody who would really look after it, appreciate it,

and they will find a value in owning something like that.

What a hero, like many of his generation.

Let's put it to the test. Here it goes.

Where are you going to start me on these?

£170 takes the other bidders out. At £170.

And so it should. 180 anywhere else in the room?

At £170 maiden bid on a commission.

Do I see 180 anywhere else?

At £170, it'll be first and last.

Taking all the other bidders out at 170. 180 anyone else?

-170, then.

-Hammer's going down.

£170. Straight in and straight out.

-It would be nice to see who it went to, actually.

-It would.

Unfortunately, it was a commission bid, so we'll never find the buyer.

-That's a shame.

-Thank you, Linda, for bringing in such a special piece of history.

-We all enjoyed listening to that.

-It was a brilliant story.

And now, from a soldier on the front line

to a fighter for gender equality.

I absolutely love this, I really do.

Why are you selling it? It puts a smile on my face when I see it.

-Does it?

-That's the beauty of items of art, really.

-Doesn't do anything for you?

-No.

-I think this is...

-Really grumpy!

It's a great little inkwell.

This is the sort of thing you expect to find in Granny's house.

It is, if Granny hasn't smashed it when she was given it, in a fit of anger!

-No, she'd keep it.

-Some did, some didn't, and that's why they're rare.

And that's why they're sought after.

That's why it's 300 to £500 and hopefully the top end.

-Hopefully.

-What will you put the money towards if we get that top end?

-Probably the grandchildren.

-OK. Fingers crossed.

It's an auction. Anything can happen, as you know.

It's hard to put a value on something, but we try our best.

-Good luck.

-She's a lovely thing, we've had interest in her.

-Tell me.

-380.

-£380 cancels all other bids.

-That's an opening maiden bid.

I go to the room looking for 390.

£380 on a commission bid.

390 for your last chance. All done and finished?

At £380 on commission.

-Not bad.

-More than I thought.

Yes. At least more than the reserve, anyway.

There was a touch of damage.

-So it was a fair price.

-I think so.

So the kids are going to get that. The grandchildren. How many?

-13 altogether.

-What? 13?!

-How many kids did you have.

-I had two, Jeff had three.

-Right.

-Between us there's 13.

What a big family.

-Christmases must be fun!

-It's a nightmare!

Sue, are you a horse and hounds type person?

-Got any dogs? That's a good start.

-No, no dogs.

-Got a horse?

-No. But hunting has been in the family.

-Right. OK.

The person in the picture is my great-grandfather.

-We were talking about that. And you had no idea of the value until the valuation?

-No.

-Nothing at all.

-It caught your eye.

This is the kind of thing that has potential in the right area.

Yes. It's a good scene with the horse jumping.

There's good hounds in it as well.

He's a known artist. Everything's written on the back of the picture, everything you need to know.

It's got provenance. So peace of mind.

Let's put it to the test. Here we go.

£270 takes all the other bids.

Straight in at 270.

Anyone else in the room? Or is it a maiden bid on commission.

-At 270. 280 anywhere else?

-Straight in at 270.

For the oil. Going to finish at 270.

Wow. Straight in, on commission,

-at £270.

-I'm pleased with that.

-That was short and sweet!

-It went quickly, didn't it?

Excellent. Very good. Thank you, Clare.

Even though our auction room is packed here today at Stourbridge,

all of our items have been sold on commission.

Basically, they were reserved before the sale even started,

so it just goes to show the importance of those auction catalogues.

That's our first lots under the hammer, fast and furious.

While we've been here in the Midlands filming,

I thought I'd take a trip to the northern tip of Shropshire onto the Welsh borders

to find out about the country's second-most studied poet after Shakespeare.

I've just popped in to a family-owned book shop here in Oswestry.

In the poetry section just here

they have a collection of books by the First World War poet Wilfred Owen.

Even now, almost 100 years after his death,

and the end of the war that he wrote about

his books still have a resonance with readers today.

It was here in Oswestry, on the Welsh borders,

that Wilfred began his life.

I'm off to visit his birthplace.

On 18 March 1893,

Wilfred Edward Salter Owen was born here at Plas Wilmot

into an educated middle-class family.

You can just imagine what a wonderful place this must have been

for a little boy to run around and explore.

Owen enjoyed his first few years here at Oswestry.

There's even a blue plaque to remind us of that time.

Later on in life, he moved around a lot,

but he always kept a strong sense of place and connection to here,

wherever he lay his hat.

Unlike many writers who have grown up in towns,

Wilfred Owen understood and valued the countryside

and often referred to his surroundings in his poetry and correspondence.

Religion was also a powerful influence in Owen's life.

It was here at Oswestry church that Susan and Tom, Wilfred's evangelical parents, got married.

And later in turn, young Wilfred was baptised.

He was raised to speak up for the underdog,

but not in a militant way.

The family attended church steadily every Sunday.

Later on in life, religion played a big part as well

because a lot of Biblical references were mentioned in his poetry.

He even considered becoming a priest,

at one point becoming a lay assistant to the vicar of the Oxfordshire parish of Dunsden.

It was here that Owen came into contact with many very poor parishioners,

strengthening his conviction that the less fortunate needed to be given a voice.

At this time, Owen was also writing poems

and he began to question the contradiction

between religion and science.

His disillusionment with religion,

coupled with the fact that he got rejected from London University,

prompted Owen to set off to France to teach English in Bordeaux.

It was during this time that war broke out

and the following year, in 1915,

he volunteered to join the Army.

Officer training followed basic training

and eventually, in January 1917, he was posted to the front line

as second lieutenant and platoon leader to the Manchester Regiment.

It was his experiences on the front line that prompted Owen to say,

"My subject is war and the pity of war.

"The poetry is in the pity.

"All a poet can do today is warn."

"Move him into the sun.

"Gently, its touch awoke him once.

"At home, whispering of fields unsown.

"Always it woke him, even in France.

"Until this morning and this snow.

"If anything might rouse him now, the kind old sun will know."

As is the title of this poem,

it was the sheer futility of war that Owen was angry about

and it's this emotion and raw imagery that stands out in his poetry,

some say making it more powerful than the most graphic of war reports.

Shropshire author and vice-president of the Wilfred Owen Association,

Helen McPhail, has written extensively about Owen's life.

Helen, it's rather apt that we're meeting here, beneath Wilfred Owen's plaque.

How was his poetry received when it was first widely published?

It was very gradually that they became known by the wider world

and understood as being written by somebody quite ordinary who'd gone through the war

and wrote about it as it really was.

They were considered shocking as they were questioning the war itself and what it did to people.

How do you think people feel about it today?

He's become an accepted voice of that period.

He's very widely read by people who aren't mad keen on poetry but they like what he writes.

And there's the truth about war that he was writing about.

That, of course, is always relevant, particularly to the young.

So it's those that want to know about guns and fighting, they learn the other side of it,

and those who are interested in language, poetry and what you can do with language,

which is a weapon in its own right.

-The pen is mightier than the sword, isn't it?

-Yes.

Owen experienced trench warfare first-hand.

He felt compelled to share the horror of what he witnessed

in a letter to his mother who he was so close to and confided in.

He wrote...

"I can see no excuse for deceiving you about these last four days.

"I have suffered seventh hell.

"I have not been at the front, I have been in front of it.

"I held an advanced post, that is, a dug-out in the middle of No Man's Land.

"We had a march of three miles over shelled road

"and nearly three along a flooded trench."

Some have accused him of being cowardly and a pacifist.

Yet he continued to do his duty and serve his country

even after being wounded,

suffering shell-shock and having spent time in hospital.

And it was during his time at Craiglockhart War Hospital in Edinburgh

that he met another war-time poet who he deeply admired - Siegfried Sassoon,

and spurred on by Sassoon and his own doctor,

Owen wrote some of the best poetry in hospital.

He had deep compassion for the young victims of war on both sides

and he wrote vividly about the harsh experiences they all encountered.

Declared fit for duty, Owen returned to the front line in France

in September 1918.

And he soon found himself in charge after his own commander was wounded.

He had an incredible affinity with soldiers from a poorer background than himself.

He wasn't the typical public schoolboy-type officer.

During a counterattack, he raced to capture a machine gun

in full view of both sides.

He used it to drive away the enemy.

For this, he was awarded the Military Cross.

Just over a month later,

Wilfred Owen, who was only 25 years old,

was killed by machine gun fire

whilst leading his men across the Somme Canal.

The date was 4 November, 1918.

Tragically, it was just seven days before the war ended

that Owen lost his life.

"I am the enemy you killed, my friend.

"I knew you in this dark.

"For so you frowned yesterday through me as you jabbed and killed.

"I parried, but my hands were low and cold.

"Let us sleep now."

What Owen did was ground-breaking.

He wrote about the unspeakable,

he vocalised the horror of war.

Through his poetry, Wilfred Owen has immortalised the experience of a generation

who sacrificed everything for their country.

Welcome back to Weston Park.

This magnificent mansion house was gifted to the nation in 1986.

The Weston Park Foundation work tirelessly

to conserve the buildings, the grounds and the fabulous artworks inside,

including the Gainsboroughs and the Van Dycks.

I think it's about time we caught up with our experts

to see what other treasures they can find.

First up, it's Clare, who has two really strange items.

-Hi, Ken and Anne.

-Hello.

It's good to see you here today with your two friends here!

So tell me a bit about these.

They originate from my great-grandparents who owned a farm.

Obviously it was a well-loved cow.

They mounted two of the hooves. I'm not sure if all four were done,

but certainly the two.

They were on a sideboard in my grandmother's house.

Always polished up and obviously her pride and joy.

-Yes.

-When she passed on, they were handed down.

I don't think anybody else in the family wanted them so we've had them in the cupboard ever since.

But it must have been a good milker.

And you don't really care for them?

-No. I think that's a fair point.

-No, not very fond of them, really.

They're not everyone's choice.

But it was something that people did.

Yes, indeed. But not so much with cows, I don't think.

That's why I thought they were quite fun.

Obviously horses' hooves, your favourite hunter or what have you,

they often got turned into ink wells.

But the nice thing is...

-If you can find one!

-And her name is on the top of the lids.

-Yes, Mulberry.

-Mulberry.

Mulberry, and her dates as well.

I'm not sure whether that's a good age for a cow.

It's about 12 years. That's not too bad.

That's not too bad. She should have had a calf every year

-if she was a milker, otherwise she wouldn't have been much use.

-OK.

-You know more than I do.

-You can tell I come from a...

And, of course, they've been turned into an ink well.

So if we lift the hinged lid,

and in this one we've got the little glass well

which you put the ink in.

Sadly, in that one it's missing, but it's not the end of the world.

If somebody wanted to use them as an ink well.

So I can imagine they'd be looking quite magnificent on someone's desk.

And there are collectors of all sorts of taxidermy.

I've always found the horses' hooves sell quite well.

I think they're going to sell, but not for a huge amount.

-We're probably looking in the region of 40 to £60.

-Really?

-As much as that?

I'd have thought maybe the price of a joint of beef we were going to buy.

Oh, is that what you're going to spend the money on?

Carve into it and think of Mulberry.

I don't know whether you want to put a reserve.

-No.

-No.

-Let them go through and see.

-I'm sure they'll be OK.

-They might even gallop off into the distance!

Oh, dear!

A mammoth bit of silver you've brought in today.

What can you tell me about it?

It was presented to my great-grandfather in 1904

at the Newport agricultural show

where he was showing Shire horses, as far as I can make out.

Oh, fantastic.

There's your grandfather's name engraved on the back, and the date.

But there's no further names or additions or presentations.

No, I'm not quite sure why that is.

Well, it's a splendid cup.

We've got a set of hallmarks at the side here.

A very well-known maker to me, even though the mark is only partially struck.

CS Harris & Sons.

Charles Stuart Harris.

-And we've got the hallmarks for London 1903.

-Yep.

And it's a good-looking cup.

We've got, in its favour, a very heavy gauge of silver all the way round.

And this engraving at the front is quite light.

So if somebody was looking at this as a presentation cup for another event,

they could quite easily take the engraving out

-and re-engrave it.

-Yep.

-Rather than buying a new cup.

-Yep.

But to be honest, the real value of this is actually in its weight.

-Yes.

-Because silver has shot up in value over the last two years.

It had been creeping up, and now, it fluctuates on an almost weekly basis.

-Yes.

-We've weighed it. It's around 42 ounces.

That's excluding the plinth, of course.

The ebonised plinth.

I think at auction we have to pitch it at the right level.

-Yeah.

-Had you had any thoughts as to the value of it?

Well, purely on the price of silver at the moment,

-perhaps 550 to £600.

-Yes.

I think that's sensible. We have to allow a little bit for the upsy-downsy nature.

-It might actually be more when we get to the auction.

-Yes.

If we put a broad estimate of 500 to £700 on it,

and put a reserve of £500 with maybe a little bit of discretion from the auctioneer,

-just in case that silver price does go down.

-Yeah.

But we can always hope that it goes up.

Any plans for what you'd do with the money?

A couple of ideas. I'm planning a trip back to America.

I was there ten years ago and I fancy going back.

-Fantastic.

-Or I'm going to buy myself some teeth!

-Teeth?!

-Yeah.

-I've got no teeth in the top.

-Right.

-I'm spoiled for choice, really.

-Yes.

-I suppose going to America with no upper teeth can be something of a disappointment.

-It's not too bad.

-It's not too bad.

-Well, we'll see.

I'm sure on the day you'll have the problem of whether to go to the dentist or the travel agent!

Yes, the travel agent's looking best at the moment.

-Thank you very much for bringing it in.

-No trouble. Thank you.

While Michael Baggott ponders the price of silver and teeth,

Clare's found a real gem.

Norman and Christine, nice to meet you.

Norman, I'm guessing this is yours.

-It is.

-Tell me about it.

I bought it, I was in the Army

in 1953 and I was stationed in Tripoli.

-Right.

-One of the first things I did was buy myself an Omega.

-I couldn't afford one in this country.

-Right.

-They were better value out there?

-Oh, yes, far better value.

And because it was a big cumbersome one, I put it in a drawer

and that's where it's been ever since.

It's nice because we have the watch here and all its paperwork.

-You kept everything together.

-The guarantee.

-And this little tag.

-Yes.

-So it's all there.

A rather nice steel case, so you didn't run to a gold one.

-I always thought it was gold, but it's gold plate?

-It is.

It's gold-plated on the bezel there.

You get that nice two-tone effect with it,

which is quite popular these days.

Sometimes the gold watches do look a little bit gloomy, for want of a better word.

So collectors do quite like the steel ones. Obviously make a bit less.

And when you pick it up and move it round,

-it's the telltale auto-wind.

-Automatic.

It's an automatic with the bump wind in it.

There's a weight in there which just knocks backwards and forwards.

Did it bother you when you wore it?

-No, it didn't bother me, no.

-Right.

-No.

-Some people didn't like the fact you had this weight moving backwards and forwards.

So it wasn't always a very popular type of watch movement

because of that.

What really did bother me was the size of it.

-A bit clumpy?

-It was a bit. I've got a slim wrist and it's a big dial.

-Yes. You find you catch it on things?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

So you've decided it's coming out of the cupboard. It's going to be sold.

Yes, the wife is getting on to me to do something with it.

It's your fault, then.

We knew Flog It! was coming up, so we thought we'd take it there.

Excellent. Well, it is very collectable.

-It would be nice if it was in a gold case.

-Yes.

But Omega is not quite as popular as Rolex, to a lot of people,

but there is quite a market out there for them.

So I think it'll sell quite well.

I think probably we're looking in the region of maybe 130 to 180.

-How much?

-Yeah. I would suggest putting a reserve of round about the 100 on it,

as a fixed reserve, if you're happy with that.

-Oh, yes.

-So if you sell that, what are you going to do?

-I think I'll take her away for the weekend!

-Ooh!

It'll cost more than that!

I don't know. It won't!

I can see marital strife starting.

How long did you say you've been married?

-54 years.

-You're doing well on it, anyway.

It's obviously kept you young!

-I hope it does really well for you.

-Thank you.

-Then you can fight about where to go for your weekend!

-Thank you.

-I'll see you at the auction, then.

So it's back to the auction for three more lots.

First up, will the unusual hooves attract a buyer?

Ken and Anne, it's great to see you.

These must make you smile - they must have done!

-No, we go, "Eugh!"

-"Eugh!"

-Do you smile at them.

-I thought they were great.

-I love it.

I really do. We've seen a lot of the horse hoof ink wells on the show,

but I've never seen cow hooves.

There's something quite hysterical about them!

I feel sorry for the cow, obviously!

Well, they have to go, don't they?

Let's put them under the hammer and see what this lot think.

Where do you start me on this? £40 for the hooves?

40, quickly? Thank you. Five, anywhere else?

-They're going.

-45. And 50. And five.

And 60. And five?

£60 front row. 65. And 70? No?

65. 70 anywhere else?

At £65 I'm selling the hooves. At £65. Are you sure and done at 65?

-Hammer's gone down. That's a good price for a pair.

-It is.

-That's really good.

-Even at today's prices, you should get a nice joint of beef for that.

And a couple of bottles of wine.

They're going to buy beef and claret.

I'll toast her health.

Got a treat for you now.

Going under the hammer, an Edwardian silver cup

with a value of six to £800.

But all that has been changed by David who's here now.

Hello, David. Who's this, your bigger brother?

-Yes, this is Carl, my bigger brother.

-Hello.

You are a lot bigger, aren't you?

But you do look identical.

I got the most food.

Who started this look first? The glasses are the same...

I've got a couple of years on him, so it was me, really.

-He's copied me.

-He's copying me!

-I think it's fabulous.

I really do.

You've had a chat to the auctioneer.

-Since Michael put that value on, which you were happy with.

-Yep.

-Reserve of £500.

-Absolutely.

It's been upped to £600.

Just going on the value of silver at the moment, really.

The market is so up and down.

Your bottom estimate, plus the buyer's premium,

is actually far in excess of the scrap value.

-So we've just got to hope that somebody wants it as a cup.

-Yeah.

But it does make it a much more difficult proposition

-when a lot of silver dealers are just buying on scrap.

-Yes.

-Hopefully somebody will buy this and you guys will be happy.

-Yes.

Good luck. This is it.

Where do you start me on this?

The bid's with me at 550, 560.

-I look for 570 in the room.

-Not bad.

560 with me. 570 anywhere else?

-At £560. 570 anywhere?

-We need 600!

Anybody coming in? It'll stay with me at 560. 570 anywhere else?

-Are you sure?

-No.

You slightly over-cooked it.

The expert was right, for once.

I hate to say it,

it sounds like rubbing it in.

The silver buyers were there. I can see them just over there.

-Yeah.

-And they've got their price for the day.

-If it's a pound over that...

-They won't buy it.

They're not making money, they're losing it.

So the thing is, maybe pop it away. Silver goes up and down.

Oh, well. Back on the mantelpiece!

If David picks his moment, he might get a good price for his silver

at another auction room.

That's it. Time is definitely up for Norman's watch.

His Omega is just about to go under the hammer.

I think it's a bit of quality, Norman.

-Hello, Christine, good to see you as well.

-Hello.

He's flogging his watch for a weekend to take you away.

-Definitely.

-What a gentleman.

What a gentleman.

That's love, isn't it? That's what it's all about.

This will only go up in value in time. It's a good investment.

-I think it will.

-We'll give it to our grandson, then.

If it doesn't sell, this is going to the grandson.

And you still get taken away for the weekend!

-Definitely.

-Cos he's a naughty boy.

Let's find out what the bidders think.

We've got some interest in this.

-Start at 150.

-£150 to start.

It's gone. Straightaway.

160. 170. 180. 190.

200. 210. 230?

210. 220. 230?

220. It's with you in the room at 220.

The commission bid is out. 230? Do I see anywhere else?

At £220 for the Omega watch. At 220, all done.

Quality sells. £220.

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

-I can't remember.

-You were only earning a pound a week.

It wasn't a lot of money.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

There you go. I told you quality sells.

That will be a great investment for someone's grandson.

-But it's too late!

-It is too late.

He could have had grandad's watch. But it's too late.

I didn't think it would fetch that much.

Let's hope Norman and Christine have a lovely weekend away together.

That's it. It's all over.

What a fabulous time we have had here in Stourbridge, a place steeped in history.

Hopefully, we've made a bit of history ourselves with some of our owners' items.

The atmosphere has been electric here. Everybody's enjoyed themselves.

All credit to our experts, because it's not easy putting a value on an antique,

as you've seen.

I hope you've enjoyed the highs and lows. See you next time!