0:00:05 > 0:00:09In 1882 a man landed here in Portsmouth on Clarence Pier,
0:00:09 > 0:00:12which is just over there, via a coastal steamer.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14He had nowhere to live,
0:00:14 > 0:00:16no job and little more than £10 in his pocket,
0:00:16 > 0:00:18but he was a doctor and a writer
0:00:18 > 0:00:22in the midst of creating one of the most timeless fictional characters
0:00:22 > 0:00:23in English literature.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27A character who could be recognised by his hat and his pipe.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30Have you guessed who it is yet? Well, the answer is elementary.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32Welcome to Flog It!
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Portsmouth has been the literary home of many great writers
0:00:56 > 0:00:57over the decades.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00From Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his Sherlock Holmes
0:01:00 > 0:01:03to one of the most famous authors and social commentators of all time,
0:01:03 > 0:01:05Charles Dickens,
0:01:05 > 0:01:09who was born at number one Mile End Terrace, Portsmouth.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14But today we're writing our own story
0:01:14 > 0:01:18on board the historic HMS Warrior.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21It's one of antiques and auctions.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24And it all starts here at the historic dockyard at Portsmouth,
0:01:24 > 0:01:25on board HMS Warrior,
0:01:25 > 0:01:28the first iron-hulled armoured warship of its day,
0:01:28 > 0:01:30the pride of Queen Victoria's fleet.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32And hoping to sell their antiques and collectibles
0:01:32 > 0:01:35are the good people of Portsmouth and the surrounding areas.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38And they're here to ask our experts that all-important question,
0:01:38 > 0:01:40which is....
0:01:40 > 0:01:41ALL: What's it worth?
0:01:41 > 0:01:45And answering that question today are two men who have read
0:01:45 > 0:01:47quite a few antiques books in their time.
0:01:47 > 0:01:48Michael Baggott...
0:01:48 > 0:01:51- Any treasure in the bag, or...? - Er... Lunch.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53Lunch.
0:01:53 > 0:01:54Good grief.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57Would they be something you might consider putting into auction?
0:01:57 > 0:01:59Well, we'll see.
0:01:59 > 0:02:00..and Will Axon.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02I've done my three, you know, my normal three.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05Oh, you've been very good. Normally people bring a truckload.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07Don't normally do as I'm told.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09Everybody ready to go on board?
0:02:09 > 0:02:10- ALL: Yes!- Of course you are.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13Well, look, good luck, and if there's any misbehaving,
0:02:13 > 0:02:15you'll be walking the plank.
0:02:15 > 0:02:17But when I get to the front of this massive queue
0:02:17 > 0:02:20we'll be going up the gangway there, I'll be leading them on
0:02:20 > 0:02:23because I know our experts Will and Michael have already found
0:02:23 > 0:02:26some gems in the queue and they're eager to get started.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28And so am I. So, come on, everybody, follow me!
0:02:28 > 0:02:32We're starboard side of HMS Warrior on a beautiful sunny day
0:02:32 > 0:02:36in Portsmouth, and we've got a packed show ahead of us.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41Now, can you guess which material makes the most at auction?
0:02:42 > 0:02:45Will it be the wood? A fighting club from the South Pacific.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47The silver? An English trophy cup.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50Or the ceramic? A Worcester vase.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52Find out later.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00Well, what a fantastic setting we have here today,
0:03:00 > 0:03:02and the weather is absolutely marvellous as well.
0:03:02 > 0:03:07It doesn't get any better than this for a Flog It! valuation day.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10Valuations are taking place all over the dockyard today,
0:03:10 > 0:03:12and Will's starting up on the bridge.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15Well, listen, I don't know about the crow's nest, but look what
0:03:15 > 0:03:18we have here - we've got a couple of pirate's parrots, maybe.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20Russell, tell me, how did you come by this?
0:03:20 > 0:03:23Cos this really caught my eye when I saw you in the queue.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26- I bought it in an antiques stall in West Sussex...- OK.
0:03:26 > 0:03:31- ..about six months ago. Um, I thought at first it was a print...- Yes?
0:03:31 > 0:03:33- ..but my other half is a picture framer...- Right.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36..and we had a good look at it and we thought maybe it is a painting.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39- So we bought it.- Yeah, I think you were dead right.
0:03:39 > 0:03:40Yes, you can see that.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43Usually you can just sort of see the texture of the paint on the surface.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46I mean you do occasionally get prints that try and mimic that,
0:03:46 > 0:03:48- oleographs and so on.- Yes.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51But there's no doubt that you've bought yourself, here,
0:03:51 > 0:03:53what I think is a rather nice watercolour.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57- Most of the painting is actually exposed paper.- Mm.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59Rather than being the paint surface on the paper.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03So, the whole body of the parakeets or cockatoos, we'll call them,
0:04:03 > 0:04:07is actually where he's left the paper, he hasn't painted that.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10- Right.- So, I think that in turn helps accentuate this lovely
0:04:10 > 0:04:12glowing light that is falling on their backs and shoulders.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14It's nice, isn't it?
0:04:14 > 0:04:17I think it's a really nice watercolour.
0:04:17 > 0:04:18And signed, as well. HSM.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21Now, I think you've done yourself a little bit of research, haven't you?
0:04:21 > 0:04:23- I have.- What have you come up with?
0:04:23 > 0:04:27I believe it's Henry Stacy Marks, who did lots of bird paintings.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30Exactly right. I mean, he's a great name, Henry Stacy Marks.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33Certainly when you're talking about bird pictures,
0:04:33 > 0:04:35which is really something that he concentrated on,
0:04:35 > 0:04:37and his most famous work is of birds,
0:04:37 > 0:04:39and hangs in the Walker Gallery in Liverpool.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42- Right.- So, you know, he is well known for this subject matter.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45He's an artist, he's sort of mid-19th century,
0:04:45 > 0:04:47enrolled into art school.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50His father ran a business which went belly up,
0:04:50 > 0:04:53and because of that, Henry Stacy Marks had to become the breadwinner
0:04:53 > 0:04:56of the family, he had to support the rest of his family.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59And because of that, he started doing more commercial work.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03He was actually working for Minton, for example, painting on ceramics
0:05:03 > 0:05:05- and doing more decorative works and things like that.- Yeah.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09But this was really his love, he took a real interest in birds.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12- Mainly parakeets, I suppose for the exotic flavour of them.- Yeah.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15So, what actually drew you to the picture?
0:05:15 > 0:05:16I've told you what I liked about it.
0:05:16 > 0:05:21- For me, it was the light around the heads, it was quite stunning.- Yeah.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24It's something that is very effective, looks simple,
0:05:24 > 0:05:27but I'm sure is very difficult to get right.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30- Because you just get the form of the body, don't you?- You do.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32And like I said before, there's no painting here to suggest that,
0:05:32 > 0:05:35- it's purely done on the highlighting.- Yes.
0:05:35 > 0:05:36Lovely, lovely piece.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38- You say you bought it in an antiques shop.- Yes.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42- What was the price ticket on it? - It was 55, and I got them down to 50.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45And did they think it was a print? Was it listed as a print?
0:05:45 > 0:05:46It didn't have any label at all,
0:05:46 > 0:05:50so I assume at that price they probably thought it was a print.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52Well, listen, Russell, I'd give you £100 for it now,
0:05:52 > 0:05:54if you wanted a quick profit.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56But we're going to work in your interest.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58I'm going to say, let's put it into auction
0:05:58 > 0:06:00and I'm fairly confident with that name
0:06:00 > 0:06:03you would get a price of at least £300-£500 at auction.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06- Fantastic.- Yeah? - Good return. Very good return.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09- You get one of those a day, you're laughing, aren't you?- Yeah.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11- You could give up your day job and become a professional!- Mm.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13You know, this just sits really nicely,
0:06:13 > 0:06:16and you say your partner's a framer, did they frame it for you?
0:06:16 > 0:06:18Yeah, it was in a cheapy plastic frame,
0:06:18 > 0:06:21so he put it in an old frame to suit it.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23Yeah, I mean, I think the frame is spot on as well.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25For £50, I think you've done a good deal there.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27I'm going to find out where you're going next
0:06:27 > 0:06:30and maybe follow you in there and see where your eye ends up.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32Listen, it's been a pleasure meeting you.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34Thank you for bringing the picture in. I've enjoyed seeing it
0:06:34 > 0:06:37and I'm confident it's going to find a new home.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40- Fantastic.- All right, Russell. Thank you.- Cheers.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43Talking of birds that flock together, our next couple
0:06:43 > 0:06:46have been married for 60 years, and they're massive Flog It! fans.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48And they used to be keen car-booters.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51Sadly, in 2006 Ken had a stroke,
0:06:51 > 0:06:53and Jean has been his sole carer ever since.
0:06:53 > 0:06:57They may not be able to attend car boot sales much any more,
0:06:57 > 0:06:58but nothing could stop them
0:06:58 > 0:07:01from coming to our Flog It! valuation day.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06- Jean, Ken, hello.- Hello.- Hello.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08You've brought this lovely parcel in.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11Before we unwrap it - cos I love unwrapping
0:07:11 > 0:07:13these hidden little parcels we get on Flog It! -
0:07:13 > 0:07:15can you tell me, where did it come from?
0:07:15 > 0:07:18- Well, er...- Cleared the...
0:07:18 > 0:07:22- Ken cleared the warehouse out.- Right.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24I think he had three of these,
0:07:24 > 0:07:27and he gave one to a friend that was helping him,
0:07:27 > 0:07:31- and he actually sold one...- Right.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34And he gave me the other one to keep.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36And I've had it years.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39It's exciting to find anything in brown paper,
0:07:39 > 0:07:42- with original retailers' labels. - Yes. Yes.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45And it looks unprepossessing, but let's open it up.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48You've obviously seen what it is.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52- Look at that.- Yes. - Isn't that fabulous?- Yes.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54Gramophone needles.
0:07:54 > 0:07:55Now, I have to say,
0:07:55 > 0:07:58we do see little tins of gramophone needles on Flog It!
0:07:58 > 0:08:00We have seen them.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03You know, every gramophone had some left over,
0:08:03 > 0:08:05they get put in Granny's box.
0:08:05 > 0:08:10But never - in fact, in all my dealing and auctioneering days,
0:08:10 > 0:08:12I've never seen a set like this.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14Absolutely pristine,
0:08:14 > 0:08:18- with all the different varieties in the original packaging.- Mm.
0:08:18 > 0:08:19And what's exciting is,
0:08:19 > 0:08:26this rather dull brown paper has preserved this in mint condition.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30- I mean, this would have been made in about 1920, 1925.- Mm-hm.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33It obviously would have gone out to a retailer, not an individual.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37And then when you bought one, they would slip one out of the back,
0:08:37 > 0:08:38and you would pay whatever for them.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41And we've got all the different types of needle, as well,
0:08:41 > 0:08:44- for the different sound effects that you could achieve.- That's right.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48And, conveniently, they're all put on the back here.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50"Extra Loud Tone..."
0:08:50 > 0:08:53"Loud Tone," "Medium Tone,"
0:08:53 > 0:08:54"Soft Tone..."
0:08:54 > 0:08:57And "Bronze" and "Golden," I would have thought,
0:08:57 > 0:09:00to give a richness of the timbre of the recording.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02They're absolutely fantastic,
0:09:02 > 0:09:06and I would think anyone that collects gramophones
0:09:06 > 0:09:12would want just this as the example in their collection of the needles.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15I don't think you could get better, actually. Um...
0:09:15 > 0:09:18They were made by a Glasgow manufacturer
0:09:18 > 0:09:21and sent out throughout Britain, and of course throughout the world.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25And they're just absolutely pristine.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28You're not tempted at all to keep the last set, then?
0:09:28 > 0:09:33We've been waiting, actually, to see a Flog It! programme in this area.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37- Yes, yes.- They've been wrapped up ready and waiting for us?- Yes.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40- Oh, well, we'll have to do very well for you.- Yes.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43In terms of value....
0:09:43 > 0:09:46- It's difficult, because I've got nothing to compare it with.- No, no.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49But I think, in its original packaging...
0:09:49 > 0:09:53Let's be very broad and say £50-£100.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55- Mm.- Would that...?
0:09:55 > 0:09:57- We were hoping a little bit more than that.- A little bit more.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59What were you hoping for?
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Well...when Ken sold his on the internet,
0:10:02 > 0:10:05- he got 500.- £500?- Yes.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07- He got £500.- Crikey, that...
0:10:07 > 0:10:11- There is a rarity-factor, obviously, to collectors.- Yes.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14- I think people can get carried away. - Oh, yes!- And it's very...
0:10:14 > 0:10:15It's great at an auction,
0:10:15 > 0:10:19- but it's very dangerous to base a valuation on one result.- Mm-hm.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22- Because you never know exactly the circumstances of it.- No.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24We're willing to take the risk.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27- If you're willing to take the risk, let's say £100-£200.- Yes.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29- And let's see where it ends up. - That's right.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32Thank you so much for bringing them in, and thank you, Ken,
0:10:32 > 0:10:34for finding them in the first place.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38- Yes, and doing the hard work. - Absolutely.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41Will Michael's estimate of £100-£200 be on the money?
0:10:41 > 0:10:43Wait and see.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45Well, I told you this ship was full of treasure, didn't I?
0:10:45 > 0:10:48And it's just been plundered by our experts.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50In fact, this is a Jolly Roger flag
0:10:50 > 0:10:52from a Second World War submarine, an English submarine
0:10:52 > 0:10:53called Tantalus,
0:10:53 > 0:10:57and it's been brought in by the son of the sailor
0:10:57 > 0:10:59who was at sea on it. He doesn't want to sell it,
0:10:59 > 0:11:02but that's a lovely piece of naval memorabilia,
0:11:02 > 0:11:04and a wonderful piece of family history.
0:11:04 > 0:11:05And that's what it's all about.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07You get a sense of connection to the past
0:11:07 > 0:11:08when you deal with antiques.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10And there's nothing greener than antiques,
0:11:10 > 0:11:12they're not second hand or third hand,
0:11:12 > 0:11:14they just keep going around and around and around,
0:11:14 > 0:11:18and if you've got any unwanted antiques, we would love to see them.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20Bring them along to one of our valuation days.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23Details can be found on our website,
0:11:23 > 0:11:25or, if you don't have access to a computer,
0:11:25 > 0:11:27check the details in your local press.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31Michael's gone ashore with an item that arrived in Portsmouth
0:11:31 > 0:11:34from 8,000 miles away.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38George, thank you for bringing in this most intriguing item.
0:11:38 > 0:11:43Before I tell you anything about it, how did you come by it?
0:11:43 > 0:11:47Well, I've had it since I was 12 years old.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51- I bought it in a second-hand shop locally, in Portsmouth.- Good grief!
0:11:51 > 0:11:55And I paid the price of 75 pence, which was 15 shillings.
0:11:55 > 0:11:5915 shillings. Was that money that you'd worked or saved up?
0:11:59 > 0:12:02This was money that I saved up with my pocket money.
0:12:02 > 0:12:03Good grief.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06I think it's very interesting - when you go back into the history
0:12:06 > 0:12:09of where people bought things and sold things.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11They didn't have the internet.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14Auctions weren't the favourite haunt of most people,
0:12:14 > 0:12:17and often people would buy and sell things locally, to local -
0:12:17 > 0:12:20either antique dealers or second-hand dealers.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22Now, it's very interesting
0:12:22 > 0:12:27that that shop you went to all those years ago had weapons like this.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29Because we're obviously, in Portsmouth, a seaport
0:12:29 > 0:12:33and there must have been a history of people going out from here,
0:12:33 > 0:12:36taking things from all around the world and coming back,
0:12:36 > 0:12:39- and then of course they get sold locally.- Yeah.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41Um, I don't think you were ever going to go
0:12:41 > 0:12:45- and buy this for 75 pence again. - I don't think so, no.
0:12:45 > 0:12:50- It's a beautiful, obviously tribal, club.- Yeah.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52- This would be the root wood section. - Yes.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54Because if you think -
0:12:54 > 0:12:56you wouldn't take a trunk that size and taper it down,
0:12:56 > 0:13:00but if you think of root ball that grows very thick and dense,
0:13:00 > 0:13:03- and then a slender stem coming from it...- Yeah.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06So, you take that, you cut the top of the branch off there,
0:13:06 > 0:13:08strip the bark back...
0:13:08 > 0:13:11- And, in this case, the root is quite dense and hard.- Right.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15And this is what I call the whacking end of it.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19Um, I believe, although I'm not an expert in ethnographica,
0:13:19 > 0:13:23that from this chip-carving here and the form of it, that's it's Fijian.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26- Right.- And that it's a throwing-club. - Yeah.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Although I think it would be equally effective if you just gripped it
0:13:29 > 0:13:32here and gave somebody a jolly big whack over the head with it.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34- As a weapon, yeah.- Um...
0:13:34 > 0:13:37It's difficult to date these things,
0:13:37 > 0:13:41but you go by wear and surface patination.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45That is, when this was made, it would have been a very fresh timber.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48And it's only the oils and natural greases from our hands,
0:13:48 > 0:13:52handling it, that turns the wood this colour.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55I think it would be very safe to say
0:13:55 > 0:13:59that this was late-18th, early-19th century.
0:13:59 > 0:14:00And of course that ties in
0:14:00 > 0:14:05with when our navy was going around to these islands and trading
0:14:05 > 0:14:08with them for the first time, and bringing these pieces back.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12- 1770, 1780 to about 1820. - That old?
0:14:12 > 0:14:14I think that's a sensible figure.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16The only thing we've got is, we've got
0:14:16 > 0:14:19- a little bit of string tied round here, which is evidence of...- Yeah.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22- And it's just split a little.- Yeah.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24And you've popped that round just to retain it.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26And I don't think that does any harm at all.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29You know, you want to see age and wear on these things,
0:14:29 > 0:14:32you don't want to see them in pristine condition.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35What sort of return are we going to make on 75 pence, do you think?
0:14:35 > 0:14:38Well, I'd like you tell me, if you could, please. I'd be very grateful.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41I think we'll put it into the auction with a wide estimate.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45You always have to be quite wide with these ethnographical pieces.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48- Yeah.- Let's say £200-£400.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50And let's put a fixed reserve at the bottom end of that.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53- A fixed reserve of 200.- Yep. - Thank you for bringing it in.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56- I wish I had your eye when I was 12. - HE CHUCKLES
0:14:56 > 0:14:59Michael Baggott with a new word for you - "ethnographical".
0:14:59 > 0:15:03The understanding and description of specific human cultures.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05I like it.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07Well, there you are,
0:15:07 > 0:15:10three magnificent items all ready to sail off to the auction room.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12Our experts have just made their choices,
0:15:12 > 0:15:14let's put those valuations to the test.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17And here's a quick recap of what's going under the hammer.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19An identical set of these gramophone needles
0:15:19 > 0:15:25sold on the internet for £500, but Michael has valued these much lower.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28Only the bidders will decide.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30The Fijian club may be a weapon of war,
0:15:30 > 0:15:32but it's also a thing of beauty.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36And Russell thinks he's bought a bargain at £50,
0:15:36 > 0:15:39but will anyone want to take these birds home?
0:15:41 > 0:15:44Due north of Portsmouth is the picturesque village of Itchen Stoke,
0:15:44 > 0:15:48which lies in the valley of the River Itchen, hence its name.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50And a beautiful Grade II listed building is home
0:15:50 > 0:15:52to our auction today.
0:15:52 > 0:15:53It's Andrew Smith & Son,
0:15:53 > 0:15:56and I caught up with the man whose name is over the door,
0:15:56 > 0:15:59to see if the bidders are fighting over the Fijian club.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08Now, not only is it a work of art, but it's also a weapon of war,
0:16:08 > 0:16:09a Fijian war club.
0:16:09 > 0:16:13And if you could feel the weight of this, you'd realise, when that was
0:16:13 > 0:16:16flying through the air, that would give you a nasty knock on the head.
0:16:16 > 0:16:17Feel that.
0:16:17 > 0:16:22- Isn't that beautifully balanced? - Yes, it's a very tactile object.
0:16:22 > 0:16:23This is not a ceremonial piece?
0:16:23 > 0:16:27- No, no, this would've been used in anger.- Mm.
0:16:27 > 0:16:28Although not successfully,
0:16:28 > 0:16:31because it would've had notches to record its deaths...
0:16:31 > 0:16:32- For the kills.- ..had it done so.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34I'd like to see top money on this.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38I know we've got £200-£400 on this, but on a good day...
0:16:38 > 0:16:42that should be somewhere in the region of £800-£1,200, shouldn't it?
0:16:42 > 0:16:43I would hope so.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45We haven't had the level of pre-sale interest yet,
0:16:45 > 0:16:47to get it up to the top end of that,
0:16:47 > 0:16:49but I'd certainly hope to get towards the bottom.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52- Well, look, good luck, Andrew. - Fingers crossed.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54So, to the auction, where our Flog It! fans
0:16:54 > 0:16:58are ready and waiting for their big moment.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00But first, the club is going under the hammer.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04Well, let's hope we can deliver that knockout blow right here,
0:17:04 > 0:17:06right now, with the Fijian throwing club,
0:17:06 > 0:17:09belonging to George, who's standing right next to me.
0:17:09 > 0:17:10Great to see you again.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14I remember when I was handed this on board the Warrior, and I went,
0:17:14 > 0:17:16"Ooh, I like the look of this. I like the feel of this."
0:17:16 > 0:17:18It's lovely. It's got the patination.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20- It's got everything you want. - It's got the carving,
0:17:20 > 0:17:22it's just a wonderful thing.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24Of course, you have to be very careful
0:17:24 > 0:17:26- when you value something like a club.- Of course you do.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28Just in case it doesn't sell,
0:17:28 > 0:17:30the owner gets it back and attacks you.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33- Cosh.- Cosh.- Anyway, we're looking at £200-£400.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36I had a chat to Andrew, the auctioneer, on the preview day.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38You know what he had to say.
0:17:38 > 0:17:42And we both agreed that, hopefully, I'd like to see this do about £600.
0:17:42 > 0:17:43So, why do want to sell it now?
0:17:43 > 0:17:46You've had this ever since you were 12 years old, lots of memories.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48Well, my wife kept saying to me, "Bring it along,
0:17:48 > 0:17:51"and if you can sell it, we'll go back to Greece, where we had our honeymoon."
0:17:51 > 0:17:54- That's a good call, isn't it? - It's a brilliant cause.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56- Well, look, good luck, George.- Thank you.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58Hopefully we're going to have phone lines booked on this,
0:17:58 > 0:18:00there should be interest left on the book.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02- We've had commission bids, hopefully.- Good.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05So, a lot of activity in the room. Let's see what happens, shall we?
0:18:05 > 0:18:06This is it.
0:18:06 > 0:18:11Lot 480, this is the Fiji tribal throwing club.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15We have a telephone, I think... And we have a commission bid.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18I'll start the bidding at 200, commission bid.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20Is there 220 in the room?
0:18:20 > 0:18:21At £200 and selling, is there 20?
0:18:21 > 0:18:25220, 240, 260...
0:18:25 > 0:18:27280, 300.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30Commission bids out, 300 to the telephone.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32Is there 20? At £300, are you sure?
0:18:32 > 0:18:35- £300, then, for the very last time...- Mid-estimate.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37It's gone.
0:18:37 > 0:18:38- Yeah.- It's gone.- That's fine.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41- Better than lower estimate. - Yeah!- It is.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43- It's more than I thought, actually. - Yes, yeah.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45I'm a bit disappointed, to tell you the truth,
0:18:45 > 0:18:48- but it's more than you thought, so that's good news.- Yes, yes.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51Now, something to make song about.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58Good luck, both of you. I've been waiting for this, Jean.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01This is something we're about to sell that we've never had
0:19:01 > 0:19:03on the show before - a set of gramophone needles.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05And I can't believe the condition!
0:19:05 > 0:19:09- Museum quality! The packaging, everything, is superb.- Yes.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12- And you've had these 21 years? - Yes. Just kept in a drawer.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16- Waiting for Flog It!- Waiting for Flog It! to come along.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18- And you mean that, don't you? - Yes, I do.- Wow.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20- A big Flog It! fan.- Yes.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23Well, I didn't think my day would be lit up by gramophone needles,
0:19:23 > 0:19:27- really! But they are THE gramophone needles.- Yes.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30Probably... They're the best set, probably, in the world.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32They probably are, actually!
0:19:32 > 0:19:35- And how can you put a price on that? - Well, you can't.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37This is when our job becomes difficult.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40We put an estimate on, let the market decide.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42- Hey, look, good luck.- Oh! - And enjoy the moment.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45Enjoy this Flog It! moment, as well. Here we go, it's your turn.
0:19:45 > 0:19:46This is it.
0:19:46 > 0:19:52Lot 135, it's a pre-war trade pack of 24 Songster gramophone needles.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54We have a commission bid.
0:19:54 > 0:19:55Great, Jean!
0:19:55 > 0:20:00I'm going to start the bidding at £100, is there £110 in the room?
0:20:00 > 0:20:03110, 120, 130, 140...
0:20:03 > 0:20:06- We're getting there, we're climbing. - 170, 180...
0:20:06 > 0:20:08He's not taking his paddle down.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12190, commission bids out, 190 in the room, is there 200?
0:20:12 > 0:20:14- At £190, then.- MAN: 200.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18200 to the net. 220. 220 in the room, and selling.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20At £220, any more?
0:20:20 > 0:20:22If you're all done...
0:20:22 > 0:20:25- £220, the hammer went down.- Yes.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29- Well, it's gone. 220, just over the top end.- Yes.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32- That's good.- Is it? Yeah.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36- It's a good result.- Yeah. - That's a good result.- Yeah, it is.
0:20:36 > 0:20:37We caught up with the buyer,
0:20:37 > 0:20:40a gramophone enthusiast all the way from Germany.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44It's a very nice display, and a very rare display.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48It's about 80 years old, and in very good condition, like new.
0:20:48 > 0:20:53And it's a very good addition to my collection of gramophones.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55And now, those birds of a feather.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58Next up, the gorgeous watercolour, pair of cockatoos by Henry Marks,
0:20:58 > 0:21:02and I tell you what, Russell, you've got a good eye for spotting that.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04- I like to think so!- It definitely wasn't a print, was it?
0:21:04 > 0:21:07- Definitely not, no, you did really well.- Yeah, you did.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11And I've got a whole full of pictures at home. We collect art.
0:21:11 > 0:21:12Ready to sell, or just to collect?
0:21:12 > 0:21:14- Bit of both.- Bit of both.- Yep.
0:21:14 > 0:21:18- I can see Russell owning an antique shop before long.- Maybe one day.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21- Is that an ambition, something like that, to get in the trade?- It is.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25- What do you do at the moment? - I'm actually a charity shop manager.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28- I see! So, you're constantly handling the things.- That's right.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31- Yes, yes.- That's the best way to learn, as well, isn't it?
0:21:31 > 0:21:34In my business, as an auctioneer, that is how you learn.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36You start off, you're a porter, you help unpacking the boxes.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38You're holding the stuff,
0:21:38 > 0:21:40someone's telling you what it is, you're learning.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42- Getting hands on. - You've got to handle it.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44- It is the only way to learn. - Exactly.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48A good artist, and I think three or four of his works are in the V&A.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50- Right.- So, we're in good company, here.- Yeah.
0:21:50 > 0:21:51Well, good luck, Russell.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53We're going to put it under the hammer.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56Let's find out what this packed auction room think.
0:21:56 > 0:22:01Lot 45, study of a pair of cockatoos, Henry Stacy Marks.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04We have one, two, three, four commission bids here.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06- That's good.- Wow.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09I will start the bidding at £500.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11- Wow.- Top estimate.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13£500, is there 20 in the room?
0:22:13 > 0:22:16At £500 and selling, is there 20?
0:22:16 > 0:22:19At £500, then, commission bid.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21At £500, is there any more?
0:22:21 > 0:22:24All done at £500, then, for the very last time...
0:22:24 > 0:22:27Well, that was short and sweet.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29I don't think Russell minds how short it was.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32- You could say those birds flew away, couldn't you? At £500.- Fantastic.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35- You've got to be happy with that. - I am indeed.- Ecstatic.- Yeah.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37A £50 purchase - you see, it is out there,
0:22:37 > 0:22:40you've got to keep your eyes open and keep them peeled.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43That's our first visit to the auction complete.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46All three items have found new homes,
0:22:46 > 0:22:49and all three owners walk away with hundreds in cash.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51Time for me, now, to go off and explore
0:22:51 > 0:22:54some of Portsmouth's literary history.
0:22:54 > 0:22:55Now, we do know Sir Charles Dickens
0:22:55 > 0:22:59and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle came from the port town,
0:22:59 > 0:23:02but there's a lesser-known man who helped rewrite the future
0:23:02 > 0:23:07for many deprived children, by opening up his doors to education.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14Portsmouth, 1818.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18A rapidly-expanding industrial town with a growing working class.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21The streets were dirty, and like a scene form Oliver Twist,
0:23:21 > 0:23:23orphan children roamed about.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27More likely to beg and steal than to read and write.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30It wasn't me, sir, it wasn't me!
0:23:30 > 0:23:35Nearly 200 years later, we tend to take free education for granted.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39But in the 19th century, schooling was for the privileged elite,
0:23:39 > 0:23:40really. The middle classes.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42That meant hundreds of thousands of children
0:23:42 > 0:23:45went without even the basics in education.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48That is, until one Portsmouth man came along.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51He recognised the plight of the poor kids in ragged clothing,
0:23:51 > 0:23:54and he decided to do something about it.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57He was known as the Crippled Cobbler, John Pounds.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01From his shop window in central Portsmouth he saw the plight
0:24:01 > 0:24:04of the destitute, and noticed a boy, disabled like himself,
0:24:04 > 0:24:06with a family on the breadline.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10He offered to take the young boy in and give him an education.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13This would be the start of a very important movement.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18John Pound started to teach the boy from his cobbler shop.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21Before long, his improvised school grew, by visiting the streets
0:24:21 > 0:24:22and the quays of Portsmouth,
0:24:22 > 0:24:25offering deprived and hungry children bits of clothing
0:24:25 > 0:24:30or food if they would come to his shop for lessons in the three Rs.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33Before long, he was teaching around 40 children
0:24:33 > 0:24:36from two tiny little rooms.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40In homage to his philanthropy, a reconstruction of his shop
0:24:40 > 0:24:45has been built here at the John Pounds Memorial Unitarian Church.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48This room is the exact size of John Pounds' shop,
0:24:48 > 0:24:52but I'm not sure the waxworks are quite so accurate.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55John Pounds would not only teach reading and writing
0:24:55 > 0:24:58and Bible studies, but also traditional skills and crafts,
0:24:58 > 0:25:02like shoemaking and carpentry, leatherwork and cooking.
0:25:02 > 0:25:08He gave every child their chance to work their way out of poverty.
0:25:08 > 0:25:13And relatives of his students live on to appreciate the work he did.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16I spoke to one of the locals, Pat Innstead.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19Pat, you have a very special connection with John Pounds.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21Yes, my great-great-grandmother
0:25:21 > 0:25:23and her sister were pupils of John Pounds.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27They lived in St Mary Street, which was just along the road from here.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31- Mm-hm.- Their parents couldn't afford to send them to a paying school,
0:25:31 > 0:25:34so they went to John Pounds' school.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36When he used to teach the children,
0:25:36 > 0:25:40he always had the top of his door open,
0:25:40 > 0:25:45and people would walk past and say, "Could you teach my children?"
0:25:45 > 0:25:48And he would say, "As long as you can't afford to pay."
0:25:48 > 0:25:50How did you find out they were educated here?
0:25:50 > 0:25:52My great-uncle told my sister and I
0:25:52 > 0:25:55that the two little girls in the picture of John Pounds
0:25:55 > 0:25:57with their arms around each other
0:25:57 > 0:26:01were my great-great-grandmother and her sister, Anne Amelia and Georgina.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04They obviously came from a very, very poor family,
0:26:04 > 0:26:06they'd got an education, but what became of them?
0:26:06 > 0:26:09I'm not quite sure about Georgina.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12Anne Amelia, she got married to another bootmaker,
0:26:12 > 0:26:15and they had a shop in St Mary Street.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18And helping her run a business, obviously,
0:26:18 > 0:26:21would have been that education that she got from John Pounds.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24Oh, definitely. Definitely, yes.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30By the 1830s, schools such as Pounds'
0:26:30 > 0:26:34were opening up in shops, barns and stables all across the country.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36And they were even given a name, Ragged Schools,
0:26:36 > 0:26:39to teach the children whose ragged clothes
0:26:39 > 0:26:42belied their impoverished circumstances.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47The Ragged School movement, created in the model of John Pounds'
0:26:47 > 0:26:51humble shop, went countrywide by the mid-19th century.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55And John Pounds wasn't the only local advocate.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57Charles Dickens, who was born in Portsmouth,
0:26:57 > 0:26:59visited one of the Ragged Schools.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03And the visit compelled him to write to the Daily News,
0:27:03 > 0:27:06imploring them that...
0:27:06 > 0:27:09"Those excellent persons who aid, munificently,
0:27:09 > 0:27:12"in the building of new churches to think of these Ragged Schools -
0:27:12 > 0:27:16"to reflect whether some portion of their rich endowments
0:27:16 > 0:27:19"might not be spared for such a purpose."
0:27:21 > 0:27:23Dickens' visit to Field Lane Ragged School
0:27:23 > 0:27:25made such a lasting impression on him,
0:27:25 > 0:27:28and it's thought that was the inspiration
0:27:28 > 0:27:31for the writing of A Christmas Carol.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34The Ragged School Union put pressure on the state
0:27:34 > 0:27:37to educate the poor rather than punish them.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40The Free School Movement became respectable, even fashionable,
0:27:40 > 0:27:43and wealthy philanthropists donated to the cause.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46It's estimated that in its first 40 years,
0:27:46 > 0:27:50300,000 destitute children received a free education.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53The success of the Ragged School demonstrated the need
0:27:53 > 0:27:55for schooling for all, and in 1870,
0:27:55 > 0:27:58the Elementary Education Act encouraged poor children
0:27:58 > 0:28:01into schooling by paying their fees.
0:28:01 > 0:28:05Free education and the model of today's schooling system was born.
0:28:05 > 0:28:10And that's thanks in part to a philanthropic shoemaker
0:28:10 > 0:28:12from Portsmouth.
0:28:12 > 0:28:13What does all this mean to you,
0:28:13 > 0:28:16finding out that John Pounds' educated them?
0:28:16 > 0:28:21Oh, I'm so proud, and I'd really like to let as many people as I can
0:28:21 > 0:28:24- know about John Pounds. - A remarkable man.
0:28:31 > 0:28:35Now, back to our valuation day on board HMS Warrior,
0:28:35 > 0:28:38in its day, the fastest and strongest ship of its kind.
0:28:38 > 0:28:41Will's disembarked to value some silver,
0:28:41 > 0:28:43but what price would you put on it?
0:28:43 > 0:28:47Well, Martina, I can tell from talking to you, and your accent,
0:28:47 > 0:28:49that you're not from these parts originally, are you?
0:28:49 > 0:28:52You're right, Will. I'm originally from Germany.
0:28:52 > 0:28:56- Mm!- But have lived in the UK since 1984.- And always in Portsmouth?
0:28:56 > 0:28:59No, spent the majority of the years up in Sheffield.
0:28:59 > 0:29:02OK, so, that's quite a change, isn't it? From Sheffield to Portsmouth.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05- You couldn't get much further apart. - It is.- You enjoy it here?
0:29:05 > 0:29:06I do, I wouldn't go back to Germany.
0:29:06 > 0:29:08OK, and this, of course, is English.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11We can tell by the hallmarks, that are kindly struck in there.
0:29:11 > 0:29:14We've got Sheffield, 1910. Where's this come from?
0:29:14 > 0:29:18- I actually inherited this from my godparents...- OK.
0:29:18 > 0:29:20..who lived in Duisburg in Germany,
0:29:20 > 0:29:24and were avid collectors of anything British.
0:29:24 > 0:29:28Oh, really? So, they were proper, sort of, Anglophiles, were they?
0:29:28 > 0:29:31- Very much so.- Well, let's go back to the silver trophy cup.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33Is this something that your godfather won,
0:29:33 > 0:29:35or do you think he bought it?
0:29:35 > 0:29:41No, he bought it, and my auntie actually used it as a vase.
0:29:41 > 0:29:43So, it looks fantastic with tulips and roses.
0:29:43 > 0:29:45Well, I bet it does, exactly.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48And I can tell, here, that it has actually been well cleaned,
0:29:48 > 0:29:49shall we say?
0:29:49 > 0:29:52There's a bit of evidence here that it's been well cleaned,
0:29:52 > 0:29:55but she hasn't rubbed the marks off, which is nice.
0:29:55 > 0:29:57You've still got some nice, crisp hallmarks there.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00Jay, Richard Attenborough Co Ltd,
0:30:00 > 0:30:04well-known firm in various cities, Birmingham, Sheffield, London.
0:30:04 > 0:30:08And what is also nice about the cup is that it hasn't been engraved,
0:30:08 > 0:30:11cos, obviously, as a trophy cup, somewhere along the line,
0:30:11 > 0:30:13usually someone has won it, or been presented it.
0:30:13 > 0:30:17It gets engraved with their name, what they won it for and the date.
0:30:17 > 0:30:19And that has the result of sort of personalising the piece,
0:30:19 > 0:30:21and then doesn't appeal to people
0:30:21 > 0:30:23cos it's got someone else's name on it.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26So, the fact that it's plain means that it could actually
0:30:26 > 0:30:29recycled as a trophy cup.
0:30:29 > 0:30:31I see, inside, I've got a bit of old paint splashes
0:30:31 > 0:30:34- in there, where've they come from? - Um, I'm guilty there.
0:30:34 > 0:30:39- It's actually been used to store brushes.- Paintbrushes.- Paintbrushes.
0:30:39 > 0:30:41- Where, in the house? - In the garage.- In the garage!
0:30:41 > 0:30:44Well, you must have a very fancy garage
0:30:44 > 0:30:47if you store your paintbrushes in a silver trophy cup, very nice!
0:30:47 > 0:30:50I think mine are in an old coffee jar.
0:30:50 > 0:30:52Well, listen, I think
0:30:52 > 0:30:55at auction you should be looking at around the £200 mark.
0:30:55 > 0:30:56How do you feel about that?
0:30:56 > 0:31:00- Brilliant.- If we said put it in at, say 200-250.
0:31:00 > 0:31:02- Let's put the reserve at the bottom estimate, 200.- Yes.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05Tell me, what are you what are you going to do with the money?
0:31:05 > 0:31:07Go and visit the family?
0:31:07 > 0:31:13- No, we've actually just bought a 1988 Chevrolet Camaro Z28...- Wow!
0:31:13 > 0:31:17- It's third generation, so it does need some work doing.- Bit of TLC.
0:31:17 > 0:31:20- A lot of TLC.- So, the money's going to go towards that?
0:31:20 > 0:31:21It's going to help.
0:31:21 > 0:31:24Well, listen, I think it's a great cause, so I'm really hoping
0:31:24 > 0:31:26that we earn as much as we can out of it for you,
0:31:26 > 0:31:29- and see you at the sale room. - Thank you!- Well done.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32Will's valuation is based on the current price of silver,
0:31:32 > 0:31:35but will it be as high when we get to the auction?
0:31:35 > 0:31:39Back on deck, Michael's also found himself some silver,
0:31:39 > 0:31:41but from further afield.
0:31:41 > 0:31:45John, thank you for bringing in these two lovely bits
0:31:45 > 0:31:48of Russian silver. Can you tell me, how did you acquire them?
0:31:48 > 0:31:51I'm quite interested in Russian silver,
0:31:51 > 0:31:53I speak a little bit of Russian, read a bit of Russian.
0:31:53 > 0:31:55My wife is from that part of the world.
0:31:55 > 0:31:57I bought them from an antiques fair here, a few a year's ago.
0:31:57 > 0:31:59Oh, fantastic!
0:31:59 > 0:32:03So, you got a little collection of Russian items and artefacts?
0:32:03 > 0:32:05Yes, I collect English and Russian silver.
0:32:05 > 0:32:07I'm trying to learn more about Russian,
0:32:07 > 0:32:10which is why it's always good to speak to people like yourself,
0:32:10 > 0:32:13cos, you know, you can pass on knowledge.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16Well, it's a tricky area, Russian silver,
0:32:16 > 0:32:19because it's been heavily faked since the revolution.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22I mean, in 1917, when it was overthrown,
0:32:22 > 0:32:24you still had the same workmasters,
0:32:24 > 0:32:27you still had the same workshops producing of a quality,
0:32:27 > 0:32:30and, of course, they continued throughout the Communist period.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33And at some point they did start making fakes
0:32:33 > 0:32:35deliberately for export to the West.
0:32:35 > 0:32:38- Really?- And there's always been a fascination with forging.
0:32:38 > 0:32:40- Faberge is the main name.- Yes.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43I think, probably, for every right piece of Faberge I see,
0:32:43 > 0:32:46- I probably see 99 wrong pieces. - Really?
0:32:46 > 0:32:48These smaller domestic wares
0:32:48 > 0:32:52really haven't yet started to be forged in any great way,
0:32:52 > 0:32:54because it's not cost efficient.
0:32:54 > 0:32:56- So, you did right in buying these little things.- Good.
0:32:56 > 0:33:00- We've got, of course, a lovely pair of sugar tongs.- Yeah.
0:33:00 > 0:33:02These are nice, because we've got this -
0:33:02 > 0:33:04this is typical of Russian work,
0:33:04 > 0:33:09we've got this stylised geometric decoration, slightly foliate.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11- And we've got this parcel gilding. - Yes, yep.
0:33:11 > 0:33:15And then this little caviar fork has cloisonne enamel.
0:33:15 > 0:33:17And, basically, what's happened here
0:33:17 > 0:33:20is we've got a plain fiddle-pattern silver gilt fork,
0:33:20 > 0:33:23and they've just applied hundreds of little tiny wires,
0:33:23 > 0:33:25little silver gilt wires,
0:33:25 > 0:33:29and then they've fired in the various colours of enamel
0:33:29 > 0:33:33and built those up layer after layer after layer, and colour by colour.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36The main thing we have to check is that it's in perfect condition.
0:33:36 > 0:33:38- Fine, yeah.- Because...
0:33:38 > 0:33:41it is fired glass, and glass chips.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44And of course, silver is quite robust!
0:33:44 > 0:33:47So the two aren't a happy marriage, but that's perfect.
0:33:47 > 0:33:54- We've got marks on the back here for St Petersburg 1889.- Yeah, yeah.
0:33:54 > 0:33:55The sugar tongs, these sugar tongs,
0:33:55 > 0:33:57are always a devil to look at the marks.
0:33:57 > 0:33:59- Cos they mark them... - They're in the groin.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02..deep inside of the curve of the bow,
0:34:02 > 0:34:03and you can't get your lens in.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06Um, but we've got... Oh, this is tricky.
0:34:06 > 0:34:09I found those really difficult, to try and find those small marks.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11It's a Moscow mark with an "84",
0:34:11 > 0:34:16which at least tells us that it's prior to the Kokoshnik mark of 1896.
0:34:16 > 0:34:20- Yes.- And I'd date those, stylistically, 1890-96.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23Now, the thorny question of price.
0:34:23 > 0:34:28- Um, if we said 120... - Yeah.- ..fixed reserve...- Yeah.
0:34:28 > 0:34:30- ..and an estimate of £120 up to £200?- I think that's a fair price.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33- That shows you a fair return on what you paid for them.- Yeah.
0:34:33 > 0:34:35And the you can go off and put the money and buy
0:34:35 > 0:34:38a better bit of Russian or a better bit of English silver,
0:34:38 > 0:34:40- which is the way collections always grow and change.- Yeah.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42Thank you so much for bringing those in,
0:34:42 > 0:34:44it's always a delight to see a bit of silver,
0:34:44 > 0:34:47and I hope we get them away and you continue with your collecting.
0:34:47 > 0:34:49Thank you, it's been really interesting,
0:34:49 > 0:34:52because it's going to help me build my collection, so that's really good.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55- Thank you.- Best thing in the world. Thanks very much, John.
0:34:55 > 0:34:59A masterclass in Russian silver from Michael Baggott.
0:34:59 > 0:35:01And finally, Will's on the windy dockside.
0:35:02 > 0:35:06Well, these are an impressive trio of vases you've brought in.
0:35:06 > 0:35:10- Are you a collector of this type of ware?- I'm not, but my father was.
0:35:10 > 0:35:12My father had them when I was...
0:35:12 > 0:35:16Well, I can remember them at two years of age, I'm 63 this year.
0:35:16 > 0:35:18You've got a pair here, these are definitely a pair,
0:35:18 > 0:35:21the ones that are painted with pheasants.
0:35:21 > 0:35:24Let's have a closer look at one of them here.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27Nice urn shape, with these sort of scrolling handles
0:35:27 > 0:35:29and this flared rim.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32Typical, sort of, blush ground, that Worcester were known for,
0:35:32 > 0:35:35because that is who they're by. People at home will recognise.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38But it's interesting, if I show you the mark underneath,
0:35:38 > 0:35:40that's not your regular Royal Worcester mark, is it?
0:35:40 > 0:35:43That's actually your Grainger Worcester mark.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46Yeah, before it became Royal Worcester,
0:35:46 > 0:35:50which is where most people remember this type of decoration from,
0:35:50 > 0:35:53you see the Stinton brothers, people like that,
0:35:53 > 0:35:56who were painting animals on these vases for decoration.
0:35:56 > 0:35:59The gilding is good, that's important with these pieces.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02The collectors and buyers of these sort of things really want
0:36:02 > 0:36:05the gilding to be in tiptop condition.
0:36:05 > 0:36:07We've got a date letter on there as well -
0:36:07 > 0:36:10I think we're looking at 1901 for these two,
0:36:10 > 0:36:14so about a year before they turned into Royal Worcester.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17But that's the pair, and I'll just lift up this one, if...
0:36:17 > 0:36:19Keep one hand on there,
0:36:19 > 0:36:21because we don't want these tumbling into the water, do we?
0:36:21 > 0:36:23I think you'll be throwing me in after them,
0:36:23 > 0:36:25to pick 'em out if we did.
0:36:25 > 0:36:27So, again, you've got the pheasant opposing the other one,
0:36:27 > 0:36:30so the other ones were facing right, these ones are facing left,
0:36:30 > 0:36:33which is how we can tell that they were intended as a pair.
0:36:33 > 0:36:37- I remember them as either side of the fire, yeah.- Yeah, exactly right.
0:36:37 > 0:36:39On a fire grate in my mother's bedroom, yeah.
0:36:39 > 0:36:41Yes. And do you have them, displayed?
0:36:41 > 0:36:44- I've had them in a glass case, since I've had them.- Yeah.
0:36:44 > 0:36:47Just to protect them. But they're frightening the life out me!
0:36:47 > 0:36:49They are at the moment!
0:36:49 > 0:36:51I'm having heart attacks, you're having kittens!
0:36:51 > 0:36:53So, I won't hang about.
0:36:53 > 0:36:54Let's have a quick look at the third one,
0:36:54 > 0:36:57which, again, is beautifully painted with these -
0:36:57 > 0:36:59I mean, I'm not a twitcher, myself, what are they?
0:36:59 > 0:37:02Swallows, or house martins, maybe? Something like that.
0:37:02 > 0:37:04Nicely painted, and I would imagine,
0:37:04 > 0:37:06would have had a pair at some stage as well.
0:37:06 > 0:37:09- I don't know if you remember a pair to it in your childhood?- No.
0:37:09 > 0:37:13There was these either side and that one was always in the middle.
0:37:13 > 0:37:14Right, OK.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17And I see we've just had a little bit of flaking there on the gilding.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20I mean, I did mention to you that the collectors and buyers
0:37:20 > 0:37:23of these sort of pieces are really keen that the gilding
0:37:23 > 0:37:25- is in tiptop condition, so... - Tiptop, yeah.
0:37:25 > 0:37:26That's going to be an issue.
0:37:26 > 0:37:28I mean, what we're looking at here, really,
0:37:28 > 0:37:32is a decent pair decorated with pheasants,
0:37:32 > 0:37:36and this one's almost a little bonus for whoever buys the other two.
0:37:36 > 0:37:39You say you admired them, you say your father collected them,
0:37:39 > 0:37:42did he ever give you an inkling of what they might have been worth?
0:37:42 > 0:37:45- No, no. I was always too young.- Yeah.
0:37:45 > 0:37:49- I used to look and watch the pictures of the pheasants...- Yes?
0:37:49 > 0:37:52..and think how beautiful they all were.
0:37:52 > 0:37:54I think you should be looking at an estimate of £300-£500,
0:37:54 > 0:37:56- how does that come across? - That's lovely.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59- Yeah?- That is really lovely. - That would be a handy sum.- Yes.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02It's been a pleasure talking to you, thank you for bringing these in.
0:38:02 > 0:38:04- They're in one piece, still! - Still, yeah!
0:38:04 > 0:38:06Yeah, just check them over once, OK?
0:38:06 > 0:38:09I don't want to get to the viewing and you tell me you've broken 'em,
0:38:09 > 0:38:13cos they're in one piece, and I look forward to seeing you
0:38:13 > 0:38:14and them at the auction.
0:38:14 > 0:38:16- Thank you very much. - No problem, take care.
0:38:19 > 0:38:22Sadly, we have to say goodbye to HMS Warrior
0:38:22 > 0:38:24here at the historic dockyard in Portsmouth,
0:38:24 > 0:38:27as we head over to the auction room for the very last time.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30And here's what we're taking with us.
0:38:30 > 0:38:34There's a huge market for ceramics, but these have some flaking -
0:38:34 > 0:38:36will that put the collectors off?
0:38:36 > 0:38:39And which piece of silver will win gold?
0:38:39 > 0:38:40The Russian fork and tongs?
0:38:43 > 0:38:45Or the English trophy?
0:38:45 > 0:38:47Find out in a moment.
0:38:50 > 0:38:52Back at Andrew Smith's sale room,
0:38:52 > 0:38:54the place is packed with antiques and animals.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00First to the floor is John and his Russian silver.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04Well, things are certainly flying out the sale room today,
0:39:04 > 0:39:06and next up we've got a Russian silver fork and tongs
0:39:06 > 0:39:08belonging to John, who, I believe,
0:39:08 > 0:39:11is getting in a bit of niche collecting.
0:39:11 > 0:39:15You have found your zone for collecting and dealing in a way,
0:39:15 > 0:39:18and I know you're trading upwards, and you can speak Russian?
0:39:18 > 0:39:20Speak Russian, read Russian.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23Not fluently, unfortunately, but, I know enough about the language,
0:39:23 > 0:39:25when I see it on TV I can understand it.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28This is why you want to specialise in Russian jewellery
0:39:28 > 0:39:30and artefacts, which is a niche market. And do you know what?
0:39:30 > 0:39:32You will do well if you can speak Russian.
0:39:32 > 0:39:35If you can speak the language, you know what the inscriptions mean.
0:39:35 > 0:39:37You know what the marks are,
0:39:37 > 0:39:39- it gives you a tremendous advantage, it really does.- Yeah.
0:39:39 > 0:39:41- Well, good luck with this. - Thank you.
0:39:41 > 0:39:43- Let's find out what the bidders think.- Thank you.
0:39:43 > 0:39:48Lot 440, the pre-Revolution St Petersburg sugar tongs
0:39:48 > 0:39:52together with an interesting enamel small fork.
0:39:52 > 0:39:54Start me at 150.
0:39:54 > 0:39:55150?
0:39:55 > 0:39:56120, then.
0:39:56 > 0:39:57£100.
0:39:57 > 0:40:01- £100, surely?- Come on, come on. - I think it may struggle.
0:40:01 > 0:40:04110, 120. At £110, is there 20?
0:40:04 > 0:40:07At £110, are you sure?
0:40:07 > 0:40:11- It's struggling, isn't it?- It is, I think we were there or thereabouts.
0:40:11 > 0:40:13At £110, then...
0:40:13 > 0:40:15I'm afraid I can't let it go at that.
0:40:15 > 0:40:16I think, on the day,
0:40:16 > 0:40:19- you particularly wanted a certain price for them.- Yes.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22And I was happy because you didn't want to sell them for any less.
0:40:22 > 0:40:24What did you pay for them, do you know?
0:40:24 > 0:40:27Er, I paid about £60 for each piece.
0:40:27 > 0:40:30So, you were looking to get your money back, which is fair enough.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33- Exactly.- I think, pop them back in your collection.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36- Yeah.- Don't do anything with them now for maybe a year or two...
0:40:36 > 0:40:40- Yes, yeah.- ..and then put them maybe into a specialist silver sale.
0:40:40 > 0:40:44Our first no-sale of the day. But some good advice from Michael.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48Going under the hammer right now we have a silver cup
0:40:48 > 0:40:50belonging to Martina. Good luck with this.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53And all the money is either going towards renovating the house,
0:40:53 > 0:40:57- or doing up the Chevy. Which comes first?- The Chevy.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59- The Chevy, does it?- Definitely.
0:40:59 > 0:41:02- It's bright red at the moment, with white stripes.- Augh!
0:41:02 > 0:41:04It would be nice if we could get back to the original,
0:41:04 > 0:41:08- discreet red metallic. - And every penny helps.
0:41:08 > 0:41:10Yeah, well, it's a good, clean trophy cup,
0:41:10 > 0:41:12- and like I said, it's not engraved.- No.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14Which helps, because then it can be recycled...
0:41:14 > 0:41:16- And it looks the part, doesn't it? - Yeah, it's nice.
0:41:16 > 0:41:19It does look the part. Good luck, both of you.
0:41:19 > 0:41:21Here we go, let's put it to the test, this is it.
0:41:21 > 0:41:25Lot 460 is a two-handed silver loving cup,
0:41:25 > 0:41:27Richard Attenborough, Sheffield.
0:41:27 > 0:41:29Um, start me at 200.
0:41:29 > 0:41:31£200. £200.
0:41:31 > 0:41:32150, then.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35- 150, I have.- We're in. 150, we're in.
0:41:35 > 0:41:37I have £150, 160.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40170, 180, 190, 200.
0:41:40 > 0:41:43190 in the middle, here, is there 200?
0:41:43 > 0:41:47At £190, we are selling. At £190, then, if you're all done.
0:41:47 > 0:41:49Very last time.
0:41:49 > 0:41:54- Just, £190. It's gone. - Just a quick note on the price.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57When I saw you at the valuation day, silver was more expensive.
0:41:57 > 0:41:59And since the valuation day, silver's come down a bit.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02So, you know, it just goes to show that from week to week
0:42:02 > 0:42:04- it's a fluctuating market. - You have to monitor it.- Yeah.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07- But it's gone, so that's good. - It's no longer in the garage.
0:42:07 > 0:42:10- Holding paint brushes, wasn't it? - Yeah!
0:42:15 > 0:42:18Well, it's Harold's turn to experience the rollercoaster ride
0:42:18 > 0:42:20of the auction room, and we are selling
0:42:20 > 0:42:22the three Worcester vases, dated 1901.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24And are you sure you want to sell them?
0:42:24 > 0:42:27- I'm so frightened they're going to get broken.- Do you think...
0:42:27 > 0:42:29Have you got pets that are going to knock them down?
0:42:29 > 0:42:33- I've got a mad dog...- Have you...?! What is it?
0:42:33 > 0:42:38- It's a cross between a cocker spaniel and a golden retriever.- Oh, gosh!
0:42:38 > 0:42:41- And it is mad.- Lively!- Loopy, yes, it's going to be jumping around.
0:42:41 > 0:42:42Yeah. THEY CHUCKLE
0:42:42 > 0:42:44Here we go, this is it. Good luck.
0:42:44 > 0:42:51The Grainger & Co Worcester pair of urns, lot 600. Start me at £300.
0:42:51 > 0:42:53£300.
0:42:53 > 0:42:55£300. 250, then.
0:42:55 > 0:42:57£250. 250.
0:42:57 > 0:42:58270. 300.
0:42:58 > 0:43:00Yes, we're in, look. We're in.
0:43:00 > 0:43:01300. And 20.
0:43:01 > 0:43:02350.
0:43:02 > 0:43:05370. 400.
0:43:05 > 0:43:06Someone in the cafeteria.
0:43:06 > 0:43:08450. 470.
0:43:08 > 0:43:10500. And 20.
0:43:10 > 0:43:13550. 570?
0:43:13 > 0:43:16£550, right at the top.
0:43:16 > 0:43:18At £550, if you're all done.
0:43:18 > 0:43:21Very last time...
0:43:21 > 0:43:25£550, that's a good result for a bit of early Worcester.
0:43:25 > 0:43:28- You're happy with that, aren't you? - I'm very happy with that.
0:43:28 > 0:43:30What a fantastic day in the sale room.
0:43:30 > 0:43:33In total, our Flog It! lots made over £1,000,
0:43:33 > 0:43:37and even John, whose lot didn't sell, seems to be happy.
0:43:38 > 0:43:40Join us again next time but until then,
0:43:40 > 0:43:42it's goodbye from all of us here in Hampshire.
0:43:48 > 0:43:51Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd