Hertfordshire 53 Flog It!

We're mixing business with pleasure today at Ashridge House in West Hertfordshire,

home to a world-renowned business school and set in one of the county's most historic estates.

These walls behind me housed great minds and great treasures,

and today, it's home to our BBC production team and our precious valuation tables.

Welcome to Flog It!

This site has been a hive of academic activity for over 700 years.

First, a group of monks settled here,

then the young Queen Elizabeth I came to Ashridge to be tutored,

and several centuries later, the grand house became a finishing school for girls.

These days, it's a business school and welcomes delegates from all over the world.

More about the estate's history later, but first, we're very much in the present and looking forward

to a busy valuation day.

Ashridge is a few miles from the Buckinghamshire border

and a short drive from Bedfordshire, so there's a quick geography lesson.

Hundreds of people have turned up and are all as keen as mustard

to ask our experts that all-important question which is...

-ALL: What's it worth?

-Stay tuned and you'll find out.

'And the people best placed to answer them are these keen beans.'

-It's like a voyage of discovery in your sack.

-'Top of the class, Thomas Plant.'

You know, I'm in training for Rio.

I don't know about our hopes. What do you think?

-Hello, hello. What have you got lurking in there?

-'And head girl for the day, Claire Rawle.'

-A ukulele.

-A banjolele.

-Is it?

-A banjolele when it's a banjo, a ukulele when it looks like a guitar.

'Thanks for clearing that up.'

I shan't do a George Formby!

'Coming up, as well as our usual mix of eclectic and curious items,

'we're putting some of the most famous names in ceramics head to head at auction.

'So can you test your antiques knowledge

'and predict which one of these amazing pieces fetches over £1,000?

'Susie Cooper, Clarice Cliff

'or Royal Worcester?

'You'll have to wait for the auction to find out.

'But first, let's crack on with the valuations and it's over to Claire dishing up a real treat.'

Hello, Joan. You've brought this rather fine charger in for me to have a look at.

-What can you tell me about it?

-Only that I've had it for about 55 years.

My mother bought it for me on a little antiques stall in Hemel Hempstead Market

and she paid £4 for it.

-Any particular reason?

-No reason at all. Just that she liked it and she thought I would.

-Have you enjoyed it over the years?

-Yes.

-I think it's a wonderful design. The colours are just...

-And they're poppies and I'm very fond of poppies.

-They are rather special.

-It's by a designer, Susie Cooper.

-That's right.

-It's clearly marked on the back.

There we are, Susie Cooper, all the marks on there and the number which will go with the pattern.

I always think she's been rather eclipsed by Clarice Cliff.

Yes, indeed.

They worked rather in the same period, they were in the same area.

Clarice gets all the attention.

Susie Cooper certainly has a good following of collectors,

but a lot of her designs are much more pastel

and to see something as bold as this from her, I think, is lovely.

-Yes, it is nice.

-You've got the tube line decoration which is literally out of a tube.

-You get these sort of raised edges which you then in-fill with blocks of colour.

-Yes.

And wonderful, deep blue and the red of the poppy.

I think it's a lovely thing. Even if it wasn't by Susie Cooper...

-It would still be nice.

-Wouldn't it, to have?

-Yes.

-Now you've decided to sell it and I think it will do very well indeed.

-Good.

I think certainly sort of 130 to 180 is a sensible estimate

-with a 130 fixed reserve if you're happy with that.

-Yes.

-Definitely.

-I really look forward to seeing you at the auction. It's been a pleasure meeting you.

-Thank you.

Yes, I agree with Claire. It is an unusual design for Susie Cooper,

so let's see what our auctioneer thinks later.

Next, it's Thomas in the garden with his first catch of the day.

So, Katie, we look like we've got a fisherman's head smoking a pipe. What's the story behind him?

My auntie's given him to me and all that I know is his eyes light up and smoke comes out of his pipe,

or it did at one point and it's no longer working.

Right, OK. And what's the story? Your auntie, was she a pub owner?

No, no, no. She was given it by her auntie

and she worked for a family in Stanmore.

And they gave it to her. She was a maid type...

-OK, so she was in service?

-Yes.

I don't think this is something you'd see in a house though.

You've got this spelter body here,

but it's marked here ELO and then "Geschutz".

Now, Geschutz is a sort of German expression. It's a bit like saying "made in England".

So it's definitely continental,

but it's of a very, very British sailor or fisherman in a sou'wester with a beard.

-It's what you think of if you draw a fisherman.

-Yeah.

-But this filament here...

-Mm-hm.

Why would it just smoke from his pipe?

I think you could have lit your cigarettes from it or your cigars.

It would have got hot, they'd put it on and light it. That's one theory.

-Your theory is that it smoked as a novelty item.

-Yeah.

Is it something your family have had for a while?

My auntie gave it to me last week, but she's had it for quite some years.

-Did she give it to you to bring here?

-Yes, she did.

She said I could keep any proceeds that went to auction.

-Do you think it's worth a lot of money?

-No, I don't.

-But you're going to sell it?

-Yes, definitely.

Yeah, I think we should give it a go.

-It is extraordinary.

-Have you ever seen one before?

-No. Have you?

-No.

-I've never seen anything this extraordinary. What's it worth?

Probably between £80 and £100?

You've been watching too much Flog It. That's a typical auctioneer's estimate - £80 to £120, £80 to £100.

I think that's quite generous. Personally, I'd like to give it a little bit less - £70 to £80.

It might make more. Reserve it at 60 and see what happens.

-OK.

-Are you happy?

-I'm very happy.

-I look forward to seeing you at the auction.

-Thank you.

All eyes may be on what's going on at the tables,

but above our heads is something quite breathtaking.

Decorated around 1850, the ceiling in the Lady Marian Alford Room features a central panel,

copied from the luscious Palazzo Rospigliosi in Rome.

The scene depicts the goddess of the dawn, Aurora, leading the chariot of the sun god, Apollo.

The border is also very intricate with gold leaf decor

and the painting depicts the arts, navigation and commerce.

Now, that's not your average ceiling.

-Good morning, Julie.

-Good morning.

-Isn't it glorious here?

-I love it. I've never been in here before, but the ceiling is beautiful.

-It really is beautiful here. And a rather beautiful object you've brought in today.

-Thank you.

-Where did you buy it?

-I bought it at an antique market in Hemel Hempstead.

I saw this particular item and I thought, "I really like that!"

I went past the stall quite a few times and in the end, I did buy it. It cost me £4.

Wow! That was good.

So did you buy it because of the decoration, the colours? Or did you know who it was by?

I didn't know about Clarice Cliff.

-I just liked the item and I liked the lady on it.

-Yes, she's pretty, isn't she?

-She's mysterious without a face.

-It's a very pleasing object.

-As you say, it's by Clarice Cliff who I think nearly everybody knows.

-They do now.

Exactly. She was a very prolific designer.

She was very young when she started designing, a young teenager.

And she just had this idea of decorating porcelain in the white,

so it was just this glazed white with her bold colours.

She started out with geometric patterns and this is a rather more romantic piece.

The design is known as the Crinoline Lady.

And it has lovely sort of pastelly, sort of sweetie-coloured rings.

-I can see why you were attracted to it.

-It's kept its colour well.

-They will do. The worst thing that happens with earlier pieces is that the paint flakes off.

-Oh, no!

But these are usually fine. Did you ever use it?

I don't think I have. I've been frightened to use it because it's so delicate.

-They do tend to be a little bit...

-That's the reason.

Yes, I'm always afraid that they'll suddenly come to bits and the plates will smash together.

But it is a nice object and she is still very collected.

-Right, OK.

-It's got one point, one problem with it.

-Right, OK.

-It has got a little hairline crack running from the centre.

My guess is that's come from where this fitting is.

It's not too desperate, but to a collector, it's not perfect, which does knock it back a bit in value.

I still think it'll sell well. My feeling is probably around about £180 to £220.

-I don't know how that sounds to you.

-It sounds fine.

-Oh, good.

Armed with all this wonderful money, have you got anything in mind what you'll do or how you'll spend it?

I'm trying to collect Ercol furniture.

-Oh, right.

-I quite like the Ercol.

-I've got a coffee table so far and I'm after a bookshelf now.

-Right.

-Maybe the money will go towards that.

-Excellent.

I look forward to seeing you at the auction. I'm sure this will sell well. It will appeal to collectors.

Once you get your cheque, you'll have some money to put towards your Ercol furniture

-and buy your bookshelf maybe.

-Thank you.

-That's excellent.

We've got off to a flying start at Ashridge and we're almost ready for our first trip to the auction room,

but before we do, can you remember what items are coming with us? Here's a quick reminder.

Leading the charge is Joan's colourful Susie Cooper, looking for a new home after 55 years.

On to another ceramic queen,

this Clarice Cliff cake stand has a higher estimate,

but will the bidders buy it?

And it's all eyes on Katie's friendly fisherman,

but will he light up the saleroom?

We haven't had to travel too far for our auction.

We're in Tring just a few miles up the road from Ashridge where all our items will be going under the hammer

and hopefully, going through the top end of the estimate.

On the rostrum, we have auctioneer Stephen Hearn, the man with all the local knowledge.

The car park's filling up. I bet it'll be busy inside. Let's go in.

Well, it has to be, doesn't it? It's Flog It. It's got to be a little bit of Clarice Cliff.

It normally doesn't let us down. Julie, fingers crossed.

I think we've sold about 2,000 or 3,000 pieces of Clarice in the 12 years and only two have not sold.

-This is a two-tier, Bizarre cake stand.

-That's right.

I don't think we've had one of those before. I can see this with cake on it.

-It's got good colours.

-With a bit of Battenberg on it. That's got good colours.

-My dad used to love Battenberg. I don't know if they still make it any more.

-Oh, yeah.

-A bit of Victoria sponge and a bit of this and that.

-Yes. Let's hope.

A little bit of Clarice has crept into the sale. There we go.

-We'll get £200...

-There's something quite decadent about a cake stand.

-It's become fashionable again.

-Yeah.

-30. 40. 50.

Surely it's 60. And 70. And 80 now.

And 90. At £200.

At 210 is it perhaps? At 210.

220.

I'm selling then. It's going to be sold for £220.

-Thank you.

-That's a good result.

-Someone loved it.

-I hope they look after it like I did.

Oh, bless you! Now you're missing it!

'Good old Clarice Cliff always sells. Not bad for a £4 investment.'

Next up, that man with a pipe, that wonderful, continental, automated little mask

which does light up cigarettes and cigars, belonging to Katie, who has just got married.

-You have, haven't you? Congratulations.

-Thank you.

-Thomas... I can remember that day. It's a day you'll never forget in your life, getting married.

-Yes.

-Good event?

-Very good, yeah.

-Have you had the honeymoon yet?

-No, we've postponed it.

-To be on Flog It?

-Yes, but we'll get there.

-That's commitment for you.

And that's pressure as well because, Thomas, we have to pay for a wedding.

-I don't think the smoking man...

-No. It'll maybe pay for the printing of the menus or something.

-I hope it was brilliant. I really do.

-It was very lovely.

-Where are you going on your honeymoon?

-It depends how much the man with the pipe sells for.

Come on, Thomas. Come on!

Because it's so unusual, I think it's going to make the estimate.

-Top end?

-I hope so.

-Put that in your pipe and smoke it. Here we go, this is it.

Now something very interesting, the automata plaque.

Possibly £100 for it? Something a little different. £100? Or 50?

Or 40. And 5. And 50. And 5.

And 60. And 5. And 70.

Out now. Any more?

No, £70 then. I shall sell.

Down it goes for £70. Sir, thank you very much.

-It's gone. £70.

-Better than nothing.

Better than nothing? It was fine.

-I didn't think it was going to sell.

-Well, there you are then.

-You've exceeded your expectations.

-That's a happy result.

I might get to Butlins for the weekend. Who knows?

Now, if I said Burslem, you'd say, "Yes, the Stoke Potteries,"

and that's where our next item was made, courtesy of Joan.

-Hello there.

-Hello there.

-Your charger has got Susie Cooper on the back.

-I know.

-Susie Cooper always worked in pastels.

-It's a very strong colour.

-I think it's Charlotte Rhead.

-Maybe.

-I really think that's Charlotte Rhead.

-I don't think that will affect the cost or the value.

-No, It's lovely.

-It's lovely, yeah.

-We'll see.

-Fingers crossed. Let's find out what the bidders think.

The Susie Cooper Crown Works, Burslem Pottery charger.

I'll tell you something about that. That's just a little bit unusual

in as much that it's got a Charlotte Rhead decorated pattern on it.

There is a little theory with it

that Charlotte Rhead took over painting and decorating

just at the time when that was Susie Cooper

and I cannot be sure,

but I think it was a "left behind" Susie Cooper,

possibly decorated by Charlotte Rhead,

just on that period, so it's very interesting.

Anyway, there you are, lot 373...

We need two people to go along with that theory and go, "That's rare!"

£90. £100. And 10.

Are you 20, sir? 120. 130.

140. And 50? Yes.

£150, thank you.

Right then, I sell for £150...

-Well, it's gone. Gone within estimate, so you were right.

-Yeah.

Unusual. I'm still not quite sure.

-But that was my theory and Stephen agreed with it.

-Yeah.

-That's a good one.

-It will always be a Susie Cooper plate for me.

-Yeah.

'So the lucky new owner is going home with a very rare piece of pottery -

'a Susie Cooper charger, decorated by another sought-after artist of the time, Charlotte Rhead.'

As we often see on the show, as times change, so do values and the way people use things.

I've been taking a close look

at how the diverse owners of our valuation day venue have used and shaped the estate,

carving its name firmly in the history books.

The thing I love about visiting heritage properties is you get a chance to play house detective.

The architecture, the internal decor and the furnishings are all clues

as to who lived here during different periods of its history.

If the walls really did have ears, these residents here behind me

would have witnessed all the characters and stories you would need in a gripping period drama.

Starting with religion, the mythology and mystery of Ashridge begins 700 years ago

when Edmund, the 2nd Earl of Cornwall, decided to site a new religious order,

the College of Bonhommes at Assherugge, as it was known, near to Berkhamsted Castle,

which at the time was Edmund's main residence.

These founding fathers even built a monastery here and were charged with guarding a precious holy relic

that Edmund brought back from Europe with him,

reputedly, a portion of the blood of Christ.

The legend of the holy blood drew pilgrims from all over the world to pay homage here at Ashridge

and it's said that some wealthy ones even wanted to be buried here.

In fact, archaeologists are rather hoping that the dig that's going on here in the garden

may just reveal the convent chapel of St Mary which was built in 1286

and possibly where the relic was kept.

Now, the Bonhommes monks were certainly an industrious bunch

and some of the structures they built still exist on site, such as the old well,

730 years old and 70 metres deep.

It provided the principal water source for the house until 1858.

But by the 16th century, religion had made way for another divine order - monarchy.

Henry VIII had three children who survived infancy -

Edward, Mary and Elizabeth.

They all needed a safe and suitable place to study

and so by 1543, Ashridge had become their exclusive boarding school.

They may have been royalty,

but Elizabeth and her siblings were under the strict rules of their governess.

A serious timetable of educational studies were carried out at Ashridge

where the future young Queen enjoyed learning languages such as French, Italian and Latin,

all of which she excelled at.

When Ashridge and several other Hertfordshire estates were granted to her

under her father's will in 1550,

her childhood haunt became her regal home.

Elizabeth spent her time between here and Hatfield House

where she was courted and pursued by suitors including the incredibly dashing Thomas Seymour,

a successful politician who, incidentally, was married to her stepmother at the time.

He came to a sticky end in 1549.

He was sent to the Tower of London where he lost his head.

But Elizabeth's days of commanding the freedom of Hertfordshire were numbered.

When her brother King Edward died and Mary Tudor became Queen,

the Princess's life was thrown into jeopardy.

Catholic Mary sought to re-establish the faith and no Protestants were safe,

not even her younger sister.

What was once a happy childhood home became a fortress.

Elizabeth gathered a small army and made fortifying amendments to the building.

But in February 1554, the knock at the door came that Elizabeth had been dreading.

Queen Mary had sent a commission to bring her sister to court

on trial on suspicion of supporting Protestant rebels.

Despite pleading sickness, Elizabeth was taken from here to London.

When she arrived at court, she was close to death.

But by some miracle and despite a three-week trial, and being confined to the Tower of London,

the future Queen survived the ordeal.

The rest, we know, is history.

She became Queen Elizabeth and ruled for 45 years, but she was never to see Ashridge House again

or many of her beloved possessions left there on that cold February night.

In 1604, ownership of Ashridge was passed on to Sir Thomas Egerton, Elizabeth's Lord Chancellor,

and with it some of her personal possessions - a nightcap, shoes, looking glass. Things like that.

Over the next 200 years, Ashridge saw immense change, embarking on a new, dynamic era.

This included the purchasing of an earldom by John Egerton, who assumed the title Earl of Bridgewater.

Andy Plumley from Ashridge House has been charting how much the estate changed in the Bridgewater tenure.

So the royals moved out and the Bridgewaters moved in. What happened next?

The family inherited a Tudor mansion and then the 3rd Duke...

-He was worth a few bob.

-He certainly was.

He made an absolute fortune. Although he died without issue, he passed it on to his nephew

who created this magnificent building we have now.

-And he employed the most fashionable architect of the day.

-James Wyatt.

-The master of Gothic revival.

-He's left his stamp all over this. You can see it in his style.

-Very much so, yes.

The star features include the entrance hall with the wind direction in the ceiling.

Amazing ceilings, unsupported staircase. You name it, we've got it.

The chapel is a wonderful feature. The glass in particular.

Wyatt went to huge lengths to make sure it was the right setting for this particular building.

-It came from a German monastery and took, we think, 20 years to install.

-And that's now at the V&A?

-Unfortunately, yes.

-But the chapel itself...

-It's wonderful, absolutely.

-You've got to see it.

-Yeah.

Combining lavish materials with intricate carving, the chapel was to be Wyatt's masterpiece.

But the sad thing about it is that James Wyatt didn't actually get to see his vision realised.

He was tragically killed in a horse carriage accident in Wiltshire in 1813.

The chapel, though, was completed by his nephew Jeffry Wyatt

so the legacy of the architect does live on.

But like all good period dramas, the story of Ashridge has a bittersweet twist.

After six centuries inhabited with queens, dukes and monks,

the future of Ashridge was thrown into complete jeopardy.

When the 3rd Lord Brownlow died he didn't leave a young heir.

Fears ran high that the buildings and woodland would be carved up and sold to developers,

but a campaign to raise funds meant the National Trust was able to purchase 200 acres of woodland.

And in 1928 the building was gifted by its new owner to the Conservative Party.

Once again, Ashridge became a training college.

30 years later, Ashridge was established as a business school with no political affiliation.

It has delegates from all over the world, a place of education, entertainment and social history.

They say there's no place like home, but in the case of Ashridge, there's no place like it.

Welcome back to our Flog It valuation day where 600 people

have brought their unwanted antiques to be valued

and are also enjoying a summertime serenade.

PLAYING "William Tell Overture"

So, Chrissy, there could be anything in this black box.

-It could be a set of carving knives. What is it?

-It's actually a Royal Worcester...tea set?

You're saying tea. A bit small for tea.

I think it's coffee. And you're right - Royal Worcester. It should be marked on the base.

There we are. The Royal Worcester mark. Robin. They're all signed.

This is a presentation set. How did you come by it?

My father gave it to me when he moved. He didn't have room for it.

What did he do with it? It looks like it's never been out of the box.

No, he didn't have it on display. He's quite a collector when it comes to antiques.

-This is one of many.

-Do you like it?

I do like it. Robins remind me of my dad. His name's Robin.

-Right, OK.

-He's always had a fond affiliation when it comes to robins.

And it's beautifully painted. And it's signed, which is the all-important thing.

With Worcester, especially with signed porcelain, if it's signed by somebody who is famous

from a painter's point of view, it creates a premium.

And also the porcelain has got to be perfect.

-Have you had a good look?

-I have and I haven't managed to find any...

-Chips.

Or anything like that.

-This gilding is so fresh!

-It is, lovely.

It does look like it's never been out of the box. We see the artist's name here. E Barker.

Ernest Barker. And he was the painter in the '30s.

He normally painted four-legged animals such as cows and sheep.

Of course, in these presentation sets so many of these items do survive.

However, being in such nice condition, it does command a good value.

-Have you an idea?

-Em, I haven't got much of an idea.

-I have an amount I'd be happy with, but...

-Right, OK. Well, hopefully I will make you happy.

Really, in layman's terms, anything painted by Worcester,

each cup and saucer is worth £100, £100-£120.

So you've got six cups and saucers so that's £600.

I think you wrap the whole thing up at £600-£800. With a reserve of six. Would you be happy with that?

Most definitely. I would be happy with 600, yeah.

-Brilliant. Will you be there at the auction?

-Of course.

-Will you be excited?

-Definitely.

-I look forward to seeing you there.

-Thank you.

From coffee to claret, Claire is next, busy inspecting another beverage receptacle with Phil.

A very elegant item. Tell me a bit about it.

-Something you've acquired, is it?

-It is.

I've often gone to the auctions with my partner, Val,

and she all of a sudden decided that she likes claret jugs.

-Oh, right.

-And looking on a website on the internet I saw this one.

-I put in a bid for it and got the thing.

-Oh, right. OK.

-But it didn't get received well because it's here today!

-I think I paid a little too much for it.

So I thought I'd bring it along and get a valuation on it.

Yeah. Of course, it's in the Georgian style,

which was 18th century through to the early 19th century.

You have these very clean lines. Beaded edging, no fussy decoration.

Simple etching to the body and the shape is very classical.

It was very popular in the Georgian period.

I say style because it might look Georgian, but it's actually quite modern. It's beautifully marked -

1996. I won't take that away from it. It's by an extremely good maker, isn't it?

-It is. Garrard and Company.

-The royal jewellers.

So that's good. And this would have been an extremely expensive item when it was bought in 1996.

Because the finish is good. Lovely quality. Very elegant item.

-That would look rather nice filled with claret.

-I think so, yes.

With the red sparkling through the body there.

-So you've decided to sell it...

-Cut my losses, maybe.

Well, you never know. It's always difficult with modern items, but it's got quite a bit of silver,

it's by a very good maker, it's a lovely piece

and anybody who wants to use it or just have something attractive, it's worth going for.

-My feeling is probably at the moment say 350, 350-400.

-Right.

Obviously, if it was an antique piece, it would be considerably more than that.

Somebody might think that. They might say, "I can't afford £1,000 plus for a Georgian jug.

"However, 350 sounds a good buy for this one."

-So if we try it at that.

-Yeah.

-350 reserve?

-Yes.

-Try it at that.

Keep away from these websites!

They can be addictive at times.

Yeah, that's true. I shall look forward to seeing you at the sale.

And I really hope it does well. We shall see.

-Thanks very much.

-Thank you, Claire.

Let's hope we help Phil get some of his money back. He spent £450 on it,

so it'll be a close call.

-Oh, no! Look at Ted! He needs a teddy bear hospital.

-He does.

I'll try to get him restored. I've just been to see the valuer. He's an old Steiff.

-Yes, he looks really early as well. Has he got a name?

-No.

-Are you going to give him a name?

-I think I should. I'll probably get him restored and keep him.

He's got all the right attributes you'd expect from an early Steiff.

Long nose, long arms as well.

-I think I'll do the right thing and get him restored. He could be restored?

-Yes, he could be.

He just needs his arm sewing back on and a little bit more padding out.

I wouldn't try to restore this fur. It's part of his age and character.

-He's got a lot of heart and soul.

-I don't want to part with him.

-No, don't ever part with him.

Thank you very much for looking at him.

Now back to Thomas in the garden, who has received a very special delivery.

Dee, this is one of my favourite things. How does that line go?

-"Brown paper packages wrapped up with string." Is that right?

-Definitely.

-From The Sound of Music.

-Are you a fan?

-Not particularly.

Really? Aww! I thought all girls were.

-Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

-But, yeah, what is in here?

-We'll have to open it and see.

-An old address.

Sweet!

-Twins.

-Twins.

-So what's the story behind these?

They were addressed to my great grandfather. We believe they were sent when his wife was pregnant.

-It was just a little joke.

-It could have been twins. Were there twins in your family?

-No, there aren't.

-They had a single baby, which was my granddad.

-Lovely for me because I have twins.

I have a boy and a girl. It's so sweet. These are bisque-head dolls.

They're a sort of porcelain. And a bisque which is like an unfired porcelain.

-Did you like dolls?

-No, I don't like dolls at all.

-You don't like Sound of Music or dolls.

-I do like Sound of Music!

-You probably like James Bond.

-Oh, yeah.

-There you are. Gadgets.

These are quite late. There's not much detail on them.

They would have been made in probably the 1920s.

-They're probably German. They're called sleeping eyes.

-Yeah.

As you raise them up, you really have to treat them like new-borns.

The heads go back. That's quite sweet, really. Unfortunately, this poor little darling here

has a crack on the old porcelain, which is a shame. It really affects the value.

-It's so lovely that it's in the original packaging. What do you feel about value?

-Oh...

I have actually no idea.

They've been in my loft for several years now.

I did a clear out in the loft just a few weeks ago

-and wondered what was in the carrier bag. I'd forgotten them.

-Really?

-Poor little things.

-How can they be forgotten about?

-So I have no idea.

-I would say under £100 probably.

-I think with the damage, unfortunately, it is under £100.

-No more than £50-£80.

-Yeah, that's pretty much what I thought it'd be.

-That's lovely, thank you.

-Brilliant. And you're happy?

-Absolutely.

We'll send them to auction in brown paper packages wrapped up in string.

What a fabulous day we have all had here. Everybody has enjoyed themselves.

Our experts have now made their final choice, inspired by such magnificent surroundings.

Sadly, it's time to say farewell to Ashridge House as we head over to auction for the last time today.

In case you've forgotten, here's a quick reminder of all the items going under the hammer.

Chrissy's Royal Worcester set is in perfect condition, so let's hope those robins take flight.

The silver jug is classy and waiting to be filled with claret,

but will the bids come pouring in?

And it's double trouble, but will it be double bubble for Dee's porcelain dolls?

We're heading back to Tring Market Auctions one last time to see if we can reach top price.

A little tip. If you're thinking of buying something at auction, don't arrive on the sale day.

Come a few days before. Auction preview days give you a chance to wander around,

look at all the items on display, pick them up, examine them, ask about its provenance

-or, better still, have a chat to the auctioneer. Today it's Stephen.

-Hello, Paul.

-Pleased to meet you.

-Now you've singled out one of our items for me to have a look at.

-I have.

-And it's just here.

-Yes, I've singled it out.

-It's a little different to have something of this date.

-Shall we look?

It's a coffee set, isn't it? Not a tea set. Royal Worcester.

-It is. Very consistent also.

-Lots of robins!

-All these robins!

-Mid-1930s?

-Probably the latter part of the 1930s.

-Painted by Ernest Barker.

-Very good established artist.

-Yes, very collectable.

-It's unusual to have this painted entirely with robins.

-That's got me a bit foxed.

You've got to love robins to want that. I was expecting a different variety of birds.

I've got a theory that this might have been prepared as a commission.

-Somebody who loves robins.

-I think that's the only reason why.

Are we looking at the top end here? Can you see maybe £700, £800?

-It's going to be double estimate. Treble estimate.

-Treble estimate?

-We'll leave it at that.

-OK. I think you know something I don't know.

We'll have to wait and see if Stephen's right. The twin dolls are first.

Going under the hammer right now is something that terrifies me. I do not like them.

Dee, I'm sorry to say that. Nothing personal, but I do not like dolls and the way they look at you.

I know these are sleeping ones. The two German, early 20th century bisque-head dolls.

With a value of £70-£100, maybe. Fingers crossed. Do you like them?

-No.

-No. Do you like them?

-Not particularly.

No.

-But somebody here in this sale room will. There's plenty of collectors of continental dolls.

-Hopefully.

Going under the hammer right now.

The German bisque-headed twin dolls.

There you are. They're rather nice, aren't they?

Are we going to get close to £100 for those? £100 for them? £50?

Yes, we've got 50. Thank you.

50 I'm bid for the twin dollies. £50 bid. £60.

70. 80. 80 I'm bid. 90.

Are you going to bid £100? 100.

£100 for the dollies, then.

-That's good.

-Excellent!

We've rounded it up. Dee, are you happy?

-£100.

-Pleased to bits. Thank you.

-So someone did love them.

Next up, can Phil get his money back on his impulsive internet purchase, the claret jug?

You haven't had it long. I know you only bought it recently.

-You paid a fair amount.

-I did, yeah.

-On an auction site online. £450.

-It's Georgian style.

-It's lovely quality. Made by Garrard.

-That's a top maker.

-It's the name that will sell it. And the name attracted you.

-Yes.

-Let's find out if anyone here fancies it, shall we?

-OK.

A rather nice claret jug by Garrard and Co.

Quality Street, this one.

-Architecturally, it's very strong.

-Yeah.

-Stands well, good height.

250 I am bid for it. Thank you. 260. 270. 300, he says.

310. 320.

330, is it? 330.

-And 40 now.

-Come on.

50, sir? 350. 60 anywhere?

350. 60 I'm bid for it. At 360. 70 now?

At £360. It's going to be sold.

-I'll sell it.

-That's good. £360.

-Thank you, sir.

-The hammer's gone down.

Not quite your money back, but you haven't suffered a great deal.

-I've had a bit of fun.

-Yeah, yeah, yeah. Don't push those buttons too eagerly in future.

Go and view the thing if you can.

And the jug's happy new owner is Alistair.

It's such a beautiful object, I couldn't resist it.

I'm looking forward to my next bottle of claret, which will be decanted carefully into the jug

and I'll share it with friends. I'm sure they'll be delighted to see it.

It's just a wonderful object.

Let's hope the new owner of the coffee set is as pleased with their purchase. It's up next.

Your coffee set got us all talking yesterday. Mind you, it got you talking at the valuation day.

Ernest Barker, a great, great decorator for Royal Worcester.

-I've not seen a complete coffee set with six robins on before.

-No.

So we came to the conclusion that it was a special commission.

-I know Dad gifted this to you.

-That's right.

-Are you saving up for anything special?

-To go to our wedding.

-This will be a good contribution.

-I hope so!

-Well, I think we'll get that top end, anyway.

-Hopefully.

We're looking for £800. Let's see if we can get £1,000. We've got a wedding to pay for.

The Royal Worcester coffee set.

There it goes. The Royal Worcester coffee set.

Shall we start at £800? Shall we start at 6? Yes. 600 bid.

-We're in at 600.

-620 now.

Yes? And 50. 680.

700. Yes?

720. 750.

780. £800.

-At 800. 820 now.

-We've just gone through the top.

Are you 900? Thank you. 920.

-This is good.

-950. 1,000 he says. 1,000 is bid.

1,050. 1,050.

1,100 perhaps, madam? You like robins. 1,150.

1,200 is bid now. 1,300.

At 1,350. 1,400?

-Good, isn't it?

-Brilliant!

1,550. Are you going to be 16?

£1,600.

And 50.

1,700.

At £1,700. And 50. 1,800 now.

1,900 is bid for it. At 1,900.

I don't know where you'll find another one. 1,950. At 1,950.

-2,000 perhaps? Fill it up.

-Were you expecting something like this?

-No. A lot of the valuations are low.

-2,050 I'm bid now.

At £2,050.

-At £2,050.

-It's in the room.

I'm selling, then, at £2,050.

-Well done, well done.

-Brilliant.

-Chrissy, what a result! £2,050!

That'll go a long way towards the wedding. We know your fiance is here watching this.

-I expect you're pleased you didn't use it now.

-Most definitely!

-Is this your first auction?

-Yes.

What a high to go out on! And what a high for us as well.

We weren't expecting anything like that. What a way to end the show, Thomas. Can you add to that?

It was a fantastic piece of quality porcelain.

Yeah. Quality always sells. See you next time for more surprises. Bye-bye for now.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd