Hereford Flog It!


Hereford

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The name Hereford comes from the Anglo-Saxon. Here meaning army, Ford - a place to cross the river.

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A place just like this. And today it's the barracks of Flog It.

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Hereford may have a long association with war, but in its centre is a symbol of peace.

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Many of these walls date back as far as the 13th century. They survived the Reformation, War of the Roses

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and, of course, the Civil Wars,

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but will they survive this lot today? Welcome to Flog It from Hereford Cathedral!

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And two people on a mission to find the best antiques...

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"The Face", Adam Partridge.

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And our very own Mrs T, Christina Trevanion.

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I don't do maps.

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-It looks like she's found her first weapon.

-Hang on a second! You've jumped the queue.

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Come on.

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-But it's cold out here, so let's get inside.

-Oyez!

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In today's Flog It, could a children's tea set possibly make four figures at auction?

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Or is it more likely to be these sparklers?

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You are in the money!

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Well, we have an army of experts with us and an arsenal of items,

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so let's get going and see what Christina has found.

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-Stuart and Janine, you're both bell ringers?

-Yes.

-And you've rung here before?

-Yes. No! Sorry.

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Can we do that again, please?

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Don't lie!

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We have rung in a cathedral. Brecon Cathedral.

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-A couple of years ago.

-Wonderful.

-We'd like to ring here.

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-So from that to the spoils of war.

-Yes, what a difference!

-Very different.

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The bayonets were used for close-contact warfare. You stuck them onto the end of your musket

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-and would head towards the enemy. Which is what you did in the queue to Stuart!

-Yes!

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-You've witnessed how vicious they can be.

-Yes. She drew blood getting it out of the bag.

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-That one is very sharp.

-Sorry, dear.

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-Tell me where they have come from.

-We don't really know a lot.

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-They were brought back by my dad from WWII.

-All of them?

-Yes.

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-We brought them down from the loft. "I didn't know you had those!"

-I'm quite glad we're selling them.

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-Now she knows, she might use one on me.

-It's a good job we're taking them away.

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-Yes, thank you.

-Just get rid of them!

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We've got a real history of warfare just on this table, really.

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A great spread from the Boer Wars through to the Second World War.

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That's why it surprised me when you said your father brought them all back from the Second World War.

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Maybe at that time they were so desperate for weapons that some recycling was going on

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and they used earlier examples. There is a little bit of information on the blades

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that tells us this one here has got a coronet and VR, for Victoria,

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so it's a British example, Victorian. End of the 19th century.

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-Sadly, no scabbard.

-No. Never has been.

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-Then this Second World War German example

-Oh, it's German?

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This is German, yes. This is probably the best example, even though it's the latest.

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This blue steel blade is an indication of quality.

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-It indicates an incredibly good maker and nice to have a scabbard there.

-Very sharp.

-Very sharp.

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Market-wise, we will get interest. It's a slightly limited market.

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I think, at auction, I would say we're looking somewhere in the region of maybe £80-£120.

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But because it is quite a niche market, maybe setting a reserve at maybe 70,

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with some discretion. How would you feel about that?

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-Great. I didn't think they were worth that much.

-Fine with me.

-OK.

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-Just get rid of them.

-And for my safety, thank you!

-Take them away. Brilliant.

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-If you're happy to sell them, we'll include them in the auction.

-Great.

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-Thank you.

-Thank YOU.

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In keeping with Hereford's military past, these young army cadets were intrigued by some items,

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so brought them along to find out a little bit more.

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-Have you had a valuation today?

-Yeah, he said £600-£800,

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but if you found out more about the story, it could go up.

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We know what soldier it was. You can look in the archives and build that picture up.

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That's quite important. And, Ben, that looks fascinating. Tell me about it.

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It's a woven picture, which a soldier has woven himself.

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-It's added the places he's been.

-When he's been overseas on active duty.

-Yeah.

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He's woven it to his mum, as a way to communicate. It's not worth a lot, more sentimental value.

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Exactly. Some things, the monetary value is outstripped by sentimental value.

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That has it in abundance. Thank you for coming in. You might have a career in the services.

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This is setting you up for something big, hopefully.

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Something's dazzling the crowd at Adam's table. He's joined by Graham.

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This is a lovely Edwardian crystal table lamp. Where did you get it from?

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It was my mother's, actually.

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She inherited this or was given this as a present for her 21st birthday.

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And her 21st birthday was in 1939.

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-1918?

-That's right.

-Right.

-That's right.

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-It was from colleagues where she worked at that time.

-I see.

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So we've had it in the family ever since. It's not really for us.

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We put it in a sort of dining room, but the light on it isn't that great.

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No, they don't give off a good light at all. When they're lit,

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the pattern that they give off on a wall is quite striking, beautiful really.

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-Is that your wife watching?

-It is.

-Does she like it?

-No, she doesn't.

-She doesn't like it.

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-So it's got to be sold?

-Yeah.

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We see these quite often at auction. They're not a rare thing.

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Waterford made them, Edinburgh Crystal, other factories made them.

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It's an object of lovely quality, but not rare.

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They're typically Edwardian and slightly later. So that ties in with your date. Invariably damaged.

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You've got a couple of little chips round the base,

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-but when you take the top off, actually this is very heavy, isn't it?

-Isn't it?

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And when you put it back on, there's always collateral damage

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from putting it back on, but yours has survived pretty well. Condition-wise, 7 or 8 out of 10.

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Value-wise, let's get down to the dirty question of money. What do you think it's worth?

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-Not a clue at all.

-Have a guess.

-£60?

-Ooh! Very good. My job is in danger.

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I think it should make towards £100, but my estimate was going to be £60-£100.

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-Something like that.

-Right.

-We should put a reserve on it. We don't want it going for nothing.

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-Absolutely.

-If it doesn't make 60, maybe...

-Take it back.

-Take it back.

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And present it to your wife as a Christmas present. I'd love to see it in action.

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I can't see any switch, so I'm just going to have to summon some mental energy.

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-Let's see.

-SNAPS FINGERS

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-Oh, yes!

-Wow!

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-Thanks for coming.

-Never saw you move!

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-Great object. Thank you.

-Thanks very much.

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Later in the show, we'll give you some tips on lighting design.

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-Hi, Anne.

-Hi.

-Thank you so much for coming in today.

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You've brought these rather beautiful amethyst and diamond earrings. Tell me about them.

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I inherited them from my father's cousin. Her husband was in the Navy and he served in the Far East.

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-So I think he might have bought them out there.

-OK.

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-He didn't buy them as they are now, did he?

-No, they were clips.

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-Did she wear them often?

-I think so. They had quite a formal life.

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They went to lots of dos.

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-And you've had them converted.

-Yes, into earrings.

-OK.

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-And do you wear them as earrings?

-Once, to a dinner dance.

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My lifestyle now is in the country, walking dogs over muddy fields, and my garden.

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And they're a bit too smart for doing the gardening.

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-I think you'd get a few stares!

-I think you might, yes, definitely.

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-They are 18-carat.

-Mm-hm.

-Stamped 750 at the back.

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And you've got diamonds all around the outside and an amethyst in the middle. They look Art Deco,

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but I think they're slightly later. They pick up elements of Art Deco with their sun ray motif there,

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but I think date-wise we're probably looking more at 1940s, 1950s,

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-something like that. Would that tie in?

-It would. They married about 1952.

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-The trend these days is for perhaps more modest, more discreet jewellery.

-Yes.

-Although I'd say

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-that they are quite large, aren't they?

-Yes.

-Quite wide.

-Be nice for a footballer's wife!

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-I'm not sure...

-A lot of bling!

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I think you're right. They are very blingy. Rather spectacular.

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But having said that, the amethysts are lovely, the diamonds are nice and bright.

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If they were all brilliant cuts, it would be wonderful. Sadly, they're not. What's your expectation?

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-I really don't know. I would have thought perhaps £150?

-OK. We can do slightly better.

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I would hope, anyway. I think, at auction, because jewellery is very popular,

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-we're looking at an estimate of maybe £200-£300, with a reserve of £200.

-That's amazing.

-Good?

-Yes!

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-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

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I tell you what, it's absolute mayhem inside there. Hundreds of people with thousands of antiques.

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We've definitely got our work cut out, but we're halfway through and have our items for auction.

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This is where anything could happen. This could get very exciting.

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We're making our way to Philip Serrell's sale room.

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These bayonets from the Boer War to the Second World War would be a great starting lot for a collector.

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And will it be lights out for Graham?

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Let's hope the people of Malvern are into their bling because these diamonds make quite a statement.

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Today our auction room is not far from the Malvern Hills.

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This eight-mile craggy ridge is like a mini mountain range. George Mallory walked them in preparation

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for his ascent on Everest.

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But it's back down to earth at auction.

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What an atmosphere! All the ingredients of a classic auction.

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We've got some wonderful things going under the hammer. Let's hope they climb as high as the hills.

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The sky is the limit.

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Philip Serrell's auction house charges 18% commission to buyers and 16.5% to sellers.

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On the day, you can pay by cash, cheque or card.

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Just like your local supermarket.

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First up, it's those bayonets.

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-It's a sensible estimate, £80-£120.

-I hope so. Militaria is a bit tricky, isn't it?

-Yes.

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It's a very narrow collecting field.

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I just hope with the internet exposure and a packed sale room...

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There should be some interest. Why are you selling these, Stuart?

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-Well...

-Dangerous thing to have!

-What can you do with a bayonet except kill somebody?

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-There's lots of people I'd like to kill!

-It's difficult to get attached to a bayonet. Not sentimental!

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Let's hope we are in the cutting edge right now. Let's find out what this packed room of bidders thinks.

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They're going under the hammer now.

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Four various bayonets. Two with scabbards. As you see them.

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What will you give me for those? £100 to start? 100?

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-What's he starting with?

-100.

-£40 bid. At 40.

-There's someone.

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The chap in the red t-shirt.

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There's the bid in the room at 80. 90 is it, on the 'net?

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At £80 only. The bid's in the room just there.

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At £80 only. 80 bid. I'll take 90 anywhere.

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-At £80.

-Selling them at 80.

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That's good. Oh, 90!

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90 bid. £90. At £90. 90.

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Is there any more? At £90.

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Here's the bid. At £90 and I sell then at £90 and done.

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-Thank you.

-Hammer's gone down at £90. Very good estimate.

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-An internet bid.

-And you're happy?

-I'm happy.

-Well done, Stuart.

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-Fantastic.

-Thanks very much.

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Stuart's wife is even happier to have them out of the house.

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Next up, the bling earrings.

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Something for the ladies right now. We've got two earrings, amethysts and diamonds.

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-Do you wear them at all?

-Once.

-Just once.

-They pinch!

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-Do they pinch?

-You long to take them off!

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I think it's so appropriate that they are amethysts.

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Purple is a colour that's long been associated with the clergy and we found them in a cathedral.

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-It was a lovely day.

-It was.

-I've got to say this...

-I thought your reserve was quite high.

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-Oh, OK!

-200. I didn't expect that much.

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-I'm standing by it.

-OK, let's find out what the bidders think. Good luck.

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Lot 538 is the pair of earrings with an amethyst, surrounded by a scroll set with diamonds.

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There we are. Marked 750. Bid me for those. Bid me £300 to start?

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-Bid me 200.

-We're looking for the ladies.

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At 200. 200. 200. 200.

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At 210.

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220. 230. 240.

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-250.

-260. 270.

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270. 280. 290. 300. 310.

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-Oh...!

-310!

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320. 330.

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-They're nice!

-340. 350. 360. 370.

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-So he's got...

-Phone bids.

-And in the room.

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-In the room.

-I don't believe this.

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You are in the money.

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420. 430.

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440. 450.

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460. 470. 480. 490.

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500. 520.

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-500, Anne.

-550. 580.

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-600?

-600 with us.

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£600 on the telephone. £600. At £600 on the telephone.

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-£600!

-There's the bid at £600. Any more?

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At £600 and I sell then... At £600 and done. Thank you.

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That's us. 600.

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£600. What a fabulous surprise!

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-Certainly is!

-That is a surprise! Well done, both of you.

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-Thank you very much.

-I was nervous.

-Don't doubt me.

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-Don't doubt me.

-Never again.

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I should have known better! The lady knows her diamonds.

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Let's hope this next lot lights up the sale room. A two-piece crystal lamp belonging to Graham.

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-We've got £60 to...

-60 to 100. It should make £100 in my view.

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-Don't you think?

-Yes, I do.

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-Had any on the programme before?

-We've had...

-I seem to remember having one myself in London

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-when we did Alexandra Palace about 8 years ago.

-Yes, we did.

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-Good luck.

-Thank you very much.

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Lot number 605 is the rather nice glass table lamp

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with the globe. There you are. Put it in the bidding.

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I'm bid £30 for that. 30 bid.

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-At 30. £30. Not expensive.

-Worth more than that, eh, Graham?

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-- I think so!

-I agree.

-- 40. £50. At 50.

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One more now somewhere.

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At £50 only. Is there any more at all? One more anywhere?

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Not expensive, this, at £50. Any more at all?

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-At £50. Any more?

-Not selling.

-I'm sorry. I haven't done it.

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-Really sorry.

-Not a problem.

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-It's worth that, I promise you.

-What are you going to do with it?

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Once we decided we'd put it into auction, my daughter said, "I quite like that, Dad."

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-Oh!

-So she can have it.

-She can inherit it! Good for you.

-So a good result in that way.

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Period lights make a real statement and it looks like Graham's daughter will enjoy this Edwardian lamp.

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It got me thinking about how the right design can light up your home.

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If you're thinking about changing the lighting in your house,

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why not consider a period piece that reflects not only light but a moment in history?

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Whilst most people couldn't afford a Georgian chandelier, hundreds of designs are collectables.

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Each object tells the story of design, technology and social history.

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So today we're going to trip the light fantastic together as we look through centuries of lighting,

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starting with the humble rushlight.

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This simple design was a historic revelation.

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It turned the open flame into a home-made candle.

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What you did was you cut your bulrushes,

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you'd dry them outside, let the wind blow right through them, cut them to a feasible length,

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about that length, strip them down to the pith, then dip them in leftover goose fat or duck fat

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from your meal. You then put them in here like this

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and then you light it.

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It was clean

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and easy to use lighting.

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If you're feeling really extravagant and wanted twice as much light, you light the other end.

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Like so.

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And that's where we get the phrase "burning the candle at both ends".

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The next big development in lighting came with the wax candle

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and how those flamboyant Georgians presented them. To tell us about it is Karen Wallace Smith,

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a real bright spark on the history of lighting, as she owns an antique lighting restoration shop.

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Well, we're surrounded by beautiful, sparkling chandeliers.

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The church have used this design for a long time, but how did the Georgians take this and develop it?

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Suddenly there were techniques available with glass that meant that designs just changed.

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-They blossomed.

-Yeah. Along with the social change, it meant it became fashionable to dine in the evening.

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And in addition to that, the glass tax and candle tax meant that a chandelier was

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-the ultimate extravagant item to have in your house.

-The elite thing.

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Invite everyone round for supper, light 100 candles and everybody knew that you were really wealthy.

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They had a lot of technical changes, which meant that for the first time

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chandeliers could be developed in the style that we see here.

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-They were able to be much grander, larger, dripping in crystal.

-With an eight-branch arm?

-Yeah.

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-Snake arms.

-Are there many Georgian chandeliers on the market?

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They do come up, but they are rare. They're worth hundreds of thousands, individually.

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If you get a set, such as in the Assembly Rooms in Bath, they're worth many millions.

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I wouldn't mind one of those in my front room!

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The rich Georgians may have enjoyed the decadence and the flamboyance of the crystal chandelier,

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but it was the Victorians who witnessed the first big step in the history of the life of lighting

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with the invention of the gas lamp.

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And for the very first time candles could now be replaced with a light that would last infinitely longer.

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But like most new inventions, there were teething problems.

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The coal gases used in some lamps, very much like this one which dates to the 1880s,

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used a highly flammable and toxic combination of gases likely to cause carbon monoxide poisoning

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and it's thought that the Victorian image of a woman fainting

0:22:180:22:22

was more likely down to the lack of oxygen in the room,

0:22:220:22:25

rather than somebody making a risque comment to them or their corset was too tight.

0:22:250:22:31

But look, that's what everybody had in the 1880s.

0:22:310:22:34

You certainly wouldn't want to trust it, would you? Not today.

0:22:340:22:38

An elegant solution to the problem caused by gas lighting was the rise and fall of the gasolier.

0:22:380:22:45

You can imagine it, can't you, over the billiard table.

0:22:450:22:49

But gas lamps were brighter, 20 times brighter than candlelight, in fact, and people loved them.

0:22:530:23:00

They could stay up late into the night reading their newspapers and books

0:23:000:23:04

and that remained the most popular source of lighting until something extinguished their flames.

0:23:040:23:10

Poets called it the end of the romantic era.

0:23:110:23:14

Social commentators predicted life would become faster and less simple with its presence

0:23:140:23:21

and when Edison threw a switch that lit 800 light bulbs in Manhattan, people were aghast.

0:23:210:23:27

But at first, electricity didn't come cheap. It wasn't until 1926 and the National Grid

0:23:270:23:33

that electric light could shine throughout homes in the UK.

0:23:330:23:37

And once it became commonplace, homes would never be the same again.

0:23:370:23:42

The unsteady flicker of the gas lamps had been replaced by bright, clean, constant light.

0:23:510:23:58

Gone were the days of the smelly gas lamps and the candles that burnt down in ten minutes.

0:23:580:24:04

People could now work right through the night.

0:24:040:24:07

The streets were illuminated. The nights were no longer dark.

0:24:070:24:11

The world would never look the same again.

0:24:110:24:16

With the advent of electricity came the blossoming of design.

0:24:170:24:21

Chandeliers were renamed electroliers and the fashion

0:24:210:24:25

was to show off the electrical workings on the outside of the design.

0:24:250:24:30

As the 20th century moved through trends such as Arts and Crafts and Art Deco,

0:24:300:24:35

they were reflected in people's choice of lighting.

0:24:350:24:39

And now those early pieces are finding their way into the Flog It valuation days

0:24:390:24:44

from a tasteful piece of Troika which sold for £150

0:24:440:24:48

to a rather kitsch toucan.

0:24:480:24:50

And so to today and the LED which is enabling another leap forward in design.

0:24:520:24:57

Who would have thought that these industrial lamps from eastern Europe would be all the rage?

0:24:570:25:03

Many hands have made light work over the century,

0:25:030:25:06

so why not embrace something different and head to a restoration yard or antique lighting shop

0:25:060:25:12

and flick a new switch?

0:25:120:25:14

Right now, it's back to the valuation day at the historic Hereford Cathedral.

0:25:180:25:24

There's been a place of worship on the cathedral site ever since the 8th century,

0:25:240:25:29

although the earliest part that remains today is from the 11th century Lady Chapel.

0:25:290:25:35

And from the fine stonework of the cathedral arches

0:25:350:25:39

to the delicate woodwork of a master craftsman.

0:25:390:25:42

-Lorena, this is one of the nicest things I have seen on this show for a long time.

-I'm pleased to hear it.

0:25:450:25:51

I hope I give you a little surprise later on and for you behind listening. This is rather special.

0:25:510:25:57

How did you come by it?

0:25:570:25:59

I inherited it from my maiden aunt who I assume went about buying pieces of antique as investments.

0:25:590:26:06

What you normally find with miniature pieces of furniture

0:26:060:26:10

are they are normally made by an apprentice or by a cabinet-maker

0:26:100:26:14

as a small working model for something he can produce full-scale for a client.

0:26:140:26:19

-This doesn't fit that category.

-I didn't think it did.

-This was made for one specific reason.

0:26:190:26:25

It's been made by a master cabinet-maker.

0:26:250:26:28

You can see a pine interior. You can see how light the wood is. It's a very cheap carcass wood.

0:26:280:26:34

But look at the wonderful little dovetails. Can you see that?

0:26:340:26:39

-All hand-cut.

-I've been looking at them for years.

-With a tiny tenon saw.

0:26:390:26:44

Can you see that very fine line, two millimetres thick? That's a hand-cut veneer, a piece of Cuban mahogany.

0:26:440:26:50

You have this wonderful, book-matched flame curl.

0:26:500:26:54

Every single side of this little chest of drawers, and I'm going to give it away to the camera now,

0:26:540:27:00

has been veneered, and then we come to the back.

0:27:000:27:03

Now, that tells me it's meant to be fastened and secured.

0:27:030:27:08

Can you see that with that little turnscrew?

0:27:080:27:11

All hand-cut. If you unscrew that, that will then attach to the side of a table...

0:27:110:27:17

-Have you got the drawers tight?

-I have.

0:27:170:27:19

-You've not done this before?

-No, I've never seen it like that before.

0:27:190:27:24

I'll hold that for one second like that because that's how it's meant to be.

0:27:240:27:29

You then work at this from the front.

0:27:290:27:32

A seamstress, or an officer's wife maybe,

0:27:320:27:36

would unpick all the gold on the officers' tunics,

0:27:360:27:41

on the epaulettes, on the cuffs.

0:27:410:27:43

You'd sit there and unpick this.

0:27:430:27:45

And just here there's fragments of the red silk. This would have been covered in a bright red silk.

0:27:450:27:51

And I'd say that dates to around about 1805,

0:27:510:27:56

1815, somewhere like that, 1820s.

0:27:560:27:59

Very nice. And are these little knobs ivory?

0:27:590:28:03

They're all ivory and original. Have you any idea what that's worth?

0:28:030:28:07

No, I have no idea whatsoever.

0:28:070:28:11

I think it's safe to say we put this into auction with a value of...

0:28:110:28:15

-Any idea? What do you think this might be worth?

-500?

0:28:150:28:19

-500. Yeah, you're spot-on, really.

-Oh!

0:28:190:28:21

I was going to say we'll put it into auction with a value of £600 to £800.

0:28:210:28:27

That would be wonderful.

0:28:270:28:29

-I'd like to do the top end.

-I can't believe it. I just can't believe it.

0:28:290:28:34

We'll put a fixed reserve of £500 on this.

0:28:340:28:38

-That's wonderful.

-Lorena, thank you for bringing this in.

0:28:380:28:41

-It's been a pleasure.

-We're going straight to auction with this and this will be top drawer!

0:28:410:28:46

The ivory handles of this chest of drawers would cause a problem if they were made after 1947

0:28:460:28:53

because of the ivory laws, but as this was made in the early 19th century, there is no problem.

0:28:530:28:58

We can take it off to auction. Right now the cameras are rolling with Adam, Janet and...

0:28:580:29:04

A lovely elephant clock.

0:29:040:29:07

-Yes.

-Do you like it?

-I love it.

-I love it too.

0:29:070:29:11

-Why are you selling it then?

-Because my children are going to put it all in a skip if anything happens to us.

0:29:110:29:17

-They've told you that?

-Yeah.

-You really believe that?

-They did put their arm round me at the time.

0:29:170:29:23

-And said, "Mother..."

-"Don't worry about it." I didn't want them falling out over things.

0:29:230:29:28

-How many children do you have?

-Two.

-And they really wouldn't want it?

0:29:280:29:33

No, they wouldn't want it. They're not into that, really.

0:29:330:29:36

One's into boats and one's into...

0:29:360:29:39

..money! LAUGHTER

0:29:400:29:42

Where did you get it from for a start?

0:29:420:29:45

It came from the Isle of Wight

0:29:450:29:47

where my mother used to look after an old army captain...

0:29:470:29:52

-OK.

-..who died when he was about 92 or 93.

0:29:520:29:56

I always admired it in his house, so I asked my mother if I could have it and she gave it to me then.

0:29:560:30:03

-What do you know about the army captain and where he might have got it from?

-He was over in India.

0:30:030:30:09

-Do you think that's an Indian elephant?

-It is, because of the small ears.

-I thought so.

0:30:090:30:14

Did you hear any of his stories?

0:30:140:30:16

Many of them. There was this rogue elephant and they were going to shoot it.

0:30:160:30:21

He said, "No, I'll have a look at it first," so they chained it between two trees, so it didn't stampede,

0:30:210:30:27

and they lifted its hoof and found out that there was a piece of wood in its foot.

0:30:270:30:33

-So it had a splinter?

-It had a splinter.

0:30:330:30:36

-So he dug it out and bandaged it all up and the elephant...

-That's a remarkable story, isn't it?

0:30:360:30:42

The elephant recognised him from then on.

0:30:420:30:45

That adds so much more significance to the object.

0:30:450:30:48

We could have launched into telling you what it was, what it's worth and off to the auction with it.

0:30:480:30:54

It's an object that... You see great big ones four times the size in gilt bronze.

0:30:540:30:59

And this one is the one that was made...

0:30:590:31:02

I suppose the ordinary one that was made for the domestic market, for people to have in their homes.

0:31:020:31:08

It's not bronze, it's made from spelter, but they were made en masse, mass-produced, really.

0:31:080:31:14

-A German firm mainly made them, one called Junghans.

-Oh, right.

0:31:140:31:17

This is almost certainly made in Germany, circa 1900.

0:31:170:31:22

And the mystery about it is that when we rock it,

0:31:220:31:25

it appears to be the pendulum, but in fact, it's kidology,

0:31:250:31:29

it's just a clock and everything is wound on the back there.

0:31:290:31:32

-Yeah.

-Any idea what it's worth?

0:31:320:31:34

I saw one on Antiques Roadshow, something in the region of 200.

0:31:340:31:39

Well, that would be good going.

0:31:390:31:42

I think it might be a hard tusk... sorry, task, to get to £200 for it.

0:31:420:31:47

-Shall we put 100 on it, discretion, 10% or not?

-No.

-No? 100 fixed?

0:31:470:31:52

I know the auctioneer will do his best.

0:31:520:31:55

-So, put 100 to 150.

-Right, OK.

-And take her off to auction.

0:31:550:31:59

-Can I move the pendulum round?

-Yeah.

-I'm dying to see it swing. There we are.

0:31:590:32:04

-Wonderful.

-Now it should be working.

-Yes, but it's not.

-But it's not.

0:32:040:32:09

We hope Janet had a memorable day. We know the elephant won't forget.

0:32:090:32:14

Christina is very excited about these little bunnies.

0:32:160:32:20

Margaret, you've made my day bringing these in to me.

0:32:220:32:26

I have seen these in books, but never in real life.

0:32:260:32:29

-Do you know how rare they are?

-No.

-As rare as hen's teeth.

0:32:290:32:32

-Or as rare as a rabbit teapot!

-Oh, great.

0:32:320:32:35

-Tell me where they've come from.

-I've known them all my life.

0:32:350:32:40

-I assume that they came from my godmother.

-Right.

0:32:400:32:43

It could have been a christening present or anything like that.

0:32:430:32:47

-What sort of era are we talking?

-I'm 60 now, 61, so it's a while ago, really.

0:32:470:32:53

OK, right. They date to pre-war, so 1930s, something like that.

0:32:530:32:58

-The designs were developed by a nun called Barbara Vernon.

-Oh, right.

0:32:580:33:05

She was the daughter of a man called Cuthbert Bailey who was one of the managers at Royal Doulton.

0:33:050:33:11

-Right.

-Cuthbert, bless him, asked Charles Noke, who was a very famous designer of Royal Doulton,

0:33:110:33:17

better known for his Flambe Wares, to design teapots based on his daughter's sketches.

0:33:170:33:24

-OK? So this is the end result.

-How lovely!

0:33:240:33:28

These are also the precursors to the Bunnykins.

0:33:280:33:31

So it all links together and these are a Bunnykins collector's dream.

0:33:310:33:37

They really are the first Bunnykins figures, if you like,

0:33:370:33:41

but in a utilitarian teapot, creamer and sugar bowl.

0:33:410:33:44

So let's have a little look just to confirm my suspicions. We'll take the cover off, look at the bottom.

0:33:440:33:50

Yes, lovely mark. We've got the nice Royal Doulton mark with the Bunnykins either side.

0:33:500:33:56

It's great that we've got that mark. Collectors will love that.

0:33:560:33:59

When the war came, of course, in 1939, production stopped and it never started again,

0:33:590:34:05

so these are incredibly rare.

0:34:050:34:07

-Good grief!

-You don't see them very often at all.

0:34:070:34:10

-We do have a problem with this. We've both spotted it.

-There is a tiny chip.

0:34:100:34:15

It's not really a tiny chip, sadly.

0:34:150:34:17

We've got this... The sugar bowl with this lovely painted face here,

0:34:170:34:22

we've actually got a crack that runs from the rim right down through the body.

0:34:220:34:27

-That is going to affect the value.

-That will affect it.

-Collectors want them in mint condition.

0:34:270:34:33

-For them to make in excess of £1,000, they need to be in very, very good condition.

-Absolutely.

0:34:330:34:39

-Value-wise, because of that, we want to be just scaling it back a little bit.

-Yeah.

0:34:390:34:44

And perhaps at auction, I still think it will fetch in the region of maybe £500 to £700.

0:34:440:34:49

-Right.

-And I'd be happy to put a reserve on it of maybe £500.

0:34:490:34:53

How would you feel about that?

0:34:530:34:56

-Happy?

-Yes, I think so.

-Yeah?

-Yes.

0:34:560:34:59

I think this at the moment is very worrying.

0:34:590:35:02

-Right.

-Almost a chip is more forgiving, but a crack means the body is actually unstable.

0:35:020:35:07

-So that is worrying.

-Yes.

-But 500 to 700 with a reserve of 500.

0:35:070:35:12

Let's hope it goes for more. I hope it goes for more. I really do. I hope I'm wrong.

0:35:120:35:17

-Let's go for it.

-Brilliant. Thank you.

-OK. Cheers.

0:35:170:35:21

Royal Doulton started producing the Bunnykins clan in the late 1930s

0:35:210:35:25

and well, they've been breeding like rabbits ever since,

0:35:250:35:29

capturing the imagination of children for generations.

0:35:290:35:32

Bunnykins can be bought new from £25 each

0:35:320:35:35

and rare designs can fetch anything up to £2,500 at auction.

0:35:350:35:40

That's it. Our experts have now found their final items to take off to auction,

0:35:460:35:51

so it's time to say a fond farewell to our magnificent host location, Hereford Cathedral.

0:35:510:35:57

And coming along with us, Lorena's lovely little sewing accessory.

0:35:580:36:03

Time's running out for the pendulum clock.

0:36:050:36:09

And keep your eyes on these bunnies.

0:36:090:36:12

They're very rare, but that crack could hold them back.

0:36:120:36:16

There's still a great deal of hammer action in the Malvern Salerooms.

0:36:180:36:22

I'm up here on the rostrum with Philip Serrell. From up here,

0:36:250:36:28

you can get a bird's-eye view of what Philip is looking at - a sea of bidders.

0:36:280:36:33

He certainly is the master of ceremonies today.

0:36:330:36:37

But down there are our owners. I'll catch up with them because we've got a lot coming up right now.

0:36:370:36:43

-Janet, you've been sitting on the lovely, comfy chairs throughout the sale...

-Excellent day.

0:36:450:36:51

-..watching it go along nicely and now it's your turn.

-Yeah.

0:36:510:36:55

I know you want £100. We're talking about that novelty elephant clock.

0:36:550:36:59

-Are you by yourself today?

-No, I've come with my husband.

-What's his name?

-Richard.

0:36:590:37:04

He's over there. Give us a wave, Richard. He's got his camera out. Look at this. Ready...?

0:37:040:37:10

What have you been up to since we last saw you at the valuation day at the cathedral?

0:37:110:37:16

I thought it was a good idea to put it on to Facebook

0:37:160:37:19

-to let my friends and family know what's going on.

-What you've been up to.

0:37:190:37:24

And a niece contacted me and said she wants to keep it in the family and that she would make a bid for it

0:37:240:37:30

-Is she here today?

-No.

-Bidding online?

-She's in London.

0:37:300:37:33

-So you might be taking it away with you again, but belonging to her.

-Somebody else.

0:37:330:37:38

-Give her a name check.

-Oh, yes. Hi, Wendy.

0:37:380:37:41

-Get clicking, Wendy.

-Yes, I hope you get lucky as well.

0:37:410:37:45

It's going under the hammer right now.

0:37:450:37:48

Quite sought-after things, these.

0:37:480:37:50

Bid me £100 for it?

0:37:500:37:52

100 I'm bid, straight in.

0:37:520:37:55

100. 100. 100. 110.

0:37:550:37:57

120. 130. 140.

0:37:570:38:00

140 in the room. The net's out. At 140.

0:38:000:38:03

140. 150. 160.

0:38:030:38:06

170. 180.

0:38:060:38:09

-In the room at 180.

-It's in the room at 180.

-Come on, Wendy.

-190. 200.

0:38:090:38:13

-Yeah, she's there.

-£200 only. At 200. 210.

0:38:130:38:16

220.

0:38:160:38:18

- That's great. - 220. 230.

0:38:180:38:22

240. 250.

0:38:220:38:25

-260. 270.

-Wendy wants it.

0:38:250:38:27

I was in touch with some friends in New Zealand

0:38:270:38:30

and they said they'd put a bid in as well.

0:38:300:38:33

Gosh!

0:38:330:38:35

310.

0:38:350:38:37

-320.

-That is a strong price.

-Yeah.

-That is.

-330.

0:38:370:38:41

340. 350.

0:38:410:38:44

360.

0:38:440:38:46

370.

0:38:470:38:49

380.

0:38:490:38:52

390.

0:38:520:38:54

400, is it? 400.

0:38:540:38:57

410. £410.

0:38:570:38:59

Is there any more? At 410 on the machine. At £410.

0:38:590:39:05

And I sell then at £410...

0:39:050:39:07

£410 online. The hammer's gone down.

0:39:070:39:10

That's an awful lot of money for a spelter clock.

0:39:100:39:14

-I think you have done a marvellous job in marketing that.

-I did my best.

-You did your best, didn't you?

0:39:140:39:20

'From the bronze elephant to wooden furniture.'

0:39:200:39:24

-Lorena, it's great to see you again.

-Thank you.

-I absolutely love what you're wearing.

0:39:240:39:29

My mum would like that. I'll ask you where you got that later.

0:39:290:39:33

-Who's this?

-This is my husband Brian.

-Pleased to meet you, Brian. You're wearing blue as well!

0:39:330:39:38

Let's talk about the miniature chest of drawers that I fell in love with.

0:39:380:39:42

The quality of the veneering was superb and the craftsmanship.

0:39:420:39:47

-And the little ivory handles.

-It's beautiful.

0:39:470:39:50

Let's see what this does. It's down to the bidders.

0:39:500:39:53

You've heard what I thought of it. You've got your opinion. This is it.

0:39:530:39:57

Lot number 592.

0:39:570:40:00

There are sewing accessories and there are sewing accessories.

0:40:000:40:04

I think this is absolutely wonderful

0:40:040:40:07

Fabulous little lot. Bid me £500 to start?

0:40:070:40:10

-£400 only? 400, 400.

-Right, we're in

0:40:120:40:15

It's always frightening when they say 500 and it goes...

0:40:150:40:19

420. 430. 440.

0:40:190:40:21

450.

0:40:210:40:23

450. 460.

0:40:230:40:25

460. 460 with me.

0:40:250:40:28

And the net's out. At 460. At 460. 470.

0:40:280:40:31

470. 480.

0:40:310:40:34

480. The net's out. At 480. 90, just in time.

0:40:340:40:39

At 490. At £490. And now me at 500.

0:40:390:40:42

-At £500 only. At £500.

-Come on!

-Any more at all?

0:40:420:40:46

At £500. It's had its time and it's done then. At 500 and done...

0:40:460:40:51

-Thank you.

-It's gone. That's good, isn't it?

0:40:510:40:54

-A round figure, £500.

-We can work that out.

0:40:540:40:57

-That's good, isn't it? Are you happy?

-Yes, I'm very pleased.

-I'm happy.

0:40:570:41:02

'Lorena's overwhelmed with that result.

0:41:020:41:05

'Let's hope these bunnies don't dive down a rabbit hole!'

0:41:050:41:09

I've just been joined by Christina and Margaret and it's a child's tea set, the Bunnykins.

0:41:090:41:14

-Was this yours?

-Well, it must have been, yes.

-A long time ago?

-Yes.

0:41:140:41:19

-Why do you want to sell it?

-I've only got two sons.

-They wouldn't want that. Let's face it, no.

0:41:190:41:25

-I wouldn't want my mum to leave me that either.

-You'd be grateful of anything!

-You like it, don't you?

0:41:250:41:31

-I think it's charming.

-You said that quite sincerely.

-I do, I like it.

0:41:310:41:35

-Were you a Bunnykins girl?

-A Bunny girl...

-Were you a Bunny girl?

0:41:350:41:39

LAUGHTER

0:41:390:41:41

That's a whole different bunny!

0:41:410:41:44

I think they're endearing and I think they should have great appeal because they're so rare.

0:41:440:41:49

-The damage worries me.

-Yeah.

-OK, let's find out, shall we?

0:41:490:41:53

-Hopefully, we'll get that sort of figure.

-I hope so. The damage worries me, but...

0:41:530:41:59

We're going to find out. This is our lot. Here we go.

0:41:590:42:02

Bunnykins three-piece tea set.

0:42:020:42:05

Will you bid me...

0:42:050:42:07

Somebody bid me £800 for it?

0:42:080:42:11

Oh, gosh! Gosh, he's started it high!

0:42:110:42:15

£500 only. At 500. 520. 550.

0:42:150:42:18

580. 600. 620. 650. 680.

0:42:180:42:21

700. 720. 750. 780. 800.

0:42:210:42:25

-That's wonderful.

-820. 850. 880. 900.

-They ARE rare.

0:42:250:42:29

920. 950. 980. 1,000. And 50. Any more?

0:42:290:42:33

1,050. 1,100. There's the bidder. £1,100.

0:42:330:42:37

1,150. 1,200.

0:42:370:42:40

1,250. 1,300.

0:42:410:42:43

1,350. 1,400.

0:42:440:42:46

Brilliant. Wow!

0:42:460:42:48

Do you know? I wish my mum would leave me something like this!

0:42:500:42:54

1,450? 1,450?

0:42:540:42:57

Hello? 1,450?

0:42:570:43:00

No. There's the bid at £1,400.

0:43:000:43:03

-£1,400.

-At £1,400, there's the bid.

0:43:030:43:06

And I sell then at £1,400 and done, thank you.

0:43:060:43:10

-Well, £1,400, the hammer's gone down.

-Brilliant.

0:43:100:43:13

I'm shaking. I've learnt something.

0:43:130:43:16

-Bunnykins.

-Bunnykins. That's where the future is!

0:43:160:43:20

-Lots and lots of dosh.

-Yes.

-What will you do with that?

0:43:200:43:24

I think I will split it with the two sons.

0:43:240:43:27

With the two sons. That's the diplomatic answer.

0:43:270:43:31

I'm just selling their inheritance, so I think we'll split it.

0:43:310:43:34

They'll love their mum now, won't they? Mum's the best!

0:43:340:43:38

'Lucky boys! And lots of happy people in the saleroom.

0:43:380:43:42

'That's all the time we have for today, but join us again on Flog It.'

0:43:420:43:47

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

0:44:090:44:12

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