Exeter 58 Flog It!


Exeter 58

Similar Content

Browse content similar to Exeter 58. Check below for episodes and series from the same categories and more!

Transcript


LineFromTo

What connects the esteemed authors Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie?

0:00:060:00:11

It's less a case of whodunnit and more a case of wheredunnit. Take a look at this.

0:00:110:00:17

They've both drawn inspiration from the magnificent Devon countryside

0:00:170:00:21

and today we're hoping to be equally inspired. Welcome to Flog It!

0:00:210:00:25

Devon's dramatic scenery has inspired writers and artists for centuries.

0:00:470:00:52

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created Hound of the Baskervilles after spending a scary night on Dartmoor.

0:00:520:00:59

And War Horse was penned by Devonian Michael Morpurgo,

0:00:590:01:03

who set the story in the county after meeting WWI veterans in the village where he lived.

0:01:030:01:09

Later in the show, I'll be visiting the Devon home of Agatha Christie and finding out more about her.

0:01:090:01:16

But first we're being inspired by this - Exeter Cathedral.

0:01:160:01:21

And the bells are already ringing to welcome the people of Devon.

0:01:240:01:28

Just look how many people have turned up here today in the sunshine. Happy faces.

0:01:310:01:36

Somewhere in all these bags and boxes there's a real treasure. It's our experts' job to find it.

0:01:360:01:43

And here is one of our experts, Caroline Hawley, looking fabulous. Good luck, Caroline.

0:01:430:01:48

And here's an old Flog It favourite, Mr Mark Stacey!

0:01:480:01:53

-Paul, how are you?

-What have you found so far?

0:01:530:01:56

Oh, a good little find. I think that's going under the hammer!

0:01:560:02:01

-Are you all ready to go inside?

-Yes!

-Come on, then. Let's get them in.

0:02:010:02:05

The tables are set, the lights are on and the Flog It team are smiling.

0:02:100:02:14

Hundreds of people are queuing for a valuation day and they're impressed by their surroundings.

0:02:140:02:20

There's always something interesting here.

0:02:200:02:24

It's been a beautiful day so far.

0:02:240:02:26

It's a wonderful setting for this.

0:02:260:02:29

I'm hoping to have some good news.

0:02:290:02:32

Absolutely perfect.

0:02:320:02:34

On today's edition of Flog It: an exquisite and unique item of virtue.

0:02:340:02:40

Do you know what this is?

0:02:400:02:43

And can you guess what it sells for? All will be revealed.

0:02:430:02:48

But first here's Mark with some subtle ceramics.

0:02:500:02:54

What a lovely pair! And the vases, of course!

0:02:540:02:58

Debbie, I've got to ask.

0:02:580:03:00

-Yes?

-Do you need medical assistance? What on earth did you see in them?

0:03:000:03:05

-What did you see in them?

-I thought they were beautiful!

-Really?

-And decorative.

0:03:050:03:12

-Really?

-Yeah.

-Beautiful?

0:03:120:03:14

When you see a lovely pair of early Worcester vases, all hand-painted and delicate,

0:03:140:03:21

you can say beautiful, but these? They're early 'orrific!

0:03:210:03:25

-Oh, 'orrific!

-Having said that, I adore them.

0:03:250:03:30

-And I would love to take them home. I think they're so over the top.

-They are a bit OTT.

0:03:300:03:37

-Where did you get them from?

-I got them from an antiques fair.

0:03:370:03:42

-Yes.

-At Westpoint, just outside of Exeter.

-Quite recently or...?

-At the beginning of the year.

0:03:420:03:49

-So you haven't had them long.

-No.

-What attracted you to them?

-I liked the detail on them.

0:03:490:03:56

-I thought the cream would go with my kitchen.

-I've never, ever seen anything like them before.

0:03:560:04:03

-They're Victorian.

-Right.

-So they've got a bit of age.

0:04:030:04:07

Underneath, I've had a sneaky look and it's marked Brownfield.

0:04:070:04:11

And it's got a registration lozenge on it,

0:04:110:04:16

-which you can date to the day and the month of the design.

-Oh, right.

0:04:160:04:20

It's also got some figures which says five over 81,

0:04:200:04:25

which means May, 1881.

0:04:250:04:28

-Wow!

-That's when the pottery vases were actually made. Not necessarily when they were decorated, but fired.

0:04:280:04:36

-To have all these split beans and peas on it, they are just delightfully wacky.

-They are.

0:04:360:04:43

-But you only bought them this year.

-Yes.

-And I have a hideous feeling you paid quite a lot.

-I did.

0:04:430:04:49

-What did you pay?

-240...for the pair.

0:04:490:04:53

For the pair?

0:04:530:04:56

-£240. That's quite a lot, isn't it?

-It was, yeah.

0:04:560:05:00

My gut feeling, really, if you put them into auction, is

0:05:000:05:04

-you'd want to put the estimate really at £200-£300.

-Right.

0:05:040:05:08

-They're an interior decorator's dream.

-Yeah.

-If you've got a client who wants something really wacky

0:05:080:05:14

-in a kitchen or conservatory, these are fabulous.

-Yeah.

-They're really value for money.

0:05:140:05:21

-There's a lot of pot there.

-A lot for a couple of hundred quid.

0:05:210:05:25

Would you be happy to do that? Put a 200 reserve on?

0:05:250:05:28

-That would be lovely.

-OK? You never know.

0:05:280:05:32

-Somebody else might have bad taste, too.

-Yes!

0:05:320:05:36

They say art is subjective and auctions are unpredictable,

0:05:380:05:43

so who knows what will happen?

0:05:430:05:46

It's such a beautiful day, we're using the cathedral close and grounds

0:05:460:05:52

and Caroline has found herself some classic collectables.

0:05:520:05:55

So, Janus, thank you for bringing along this fabulous collection. How did you come by them?

0:05:570:06:03

Well, these are my toys.

0:06:030:06:05

My father bought them for me in the early to mid-'50s.

0:06:050:06:09

And I did play with them.

0:06:090:06:11

Of course, as I got a bit older, I stopped.

0:06:110:06:15

-Ever since then, they've been up in the loft in boxes.

-You don't play with them?

-Not any more.

0:06:150:06:21

They're in remarkably good condition and it's incredible -

0:06:210:06:25

-they were all in their boxes. You say you played with them?

-I did.

0:06:250:06:30

My father always taught me after I'd finished playing to put them back in their boxes.

0:06:300:06:37

-Are you still a tidy gentleman?

-My wife would say no!

-Right.

0:06:370:06:41

Your father taught you well because to have the boxes with these things is very important.

0:06:410:06:48

There's a few tiny chips of paint off here and there,

0:06:480:06:51

but really very little at all to worry about.

0:06:510:06:55

They're nearly all a military nature, apart from this single RollsRoyce.

0:06:550:07:01

-I think it was my dad's dream to own a car like that!

-And everybody's! Why the military connection?

0:07:010:07:07

Is it something you were particularly interested in?

0:07:070:07:11

Well, my dad was in the army and the early '50s was just after the war.

0:07:110:07:17

-My dad had an interest and knew all about these.

-So why not buy what he was interested in?

0:07:170:07:23

-Now these are Dinky Toys.

-They are.

-The company came into being in 1933.

0:07:230:07:30

Originally they were called Modelled Miniatures. The name Dinky Toys came in in 1934.

0:07:300:07:37

They're made by the Meccano Company.

0:07:370:07:39

As a collection, and the best way of selling them is as a collection,

0:07:390:07:44

I think we would put an estimate of £150-£250

0:07:440:07:49

on the collection.

0:07:490:07:51

There will be a lot of interest in them, so they will get away,

0:07:510:07:56

-but if we put a fixed reserve of £150, are you happy with that?

-Sounds very good to me.

-Brilliant.

0:07:560:08:02

Hopefully, you'll be driving off with a decent amount at the sale.

0:08:020:08:06

-I shall look forward to that!

-Thanks for bringing them.

-Not at all.

0:08:060:08:10

Now it's not just Caroline and Mark doing the valuing.

0:08:100:08:15

We also have six off-screen experts who make sure that everyone who comes to Flog It

0:08:150:08:21

gets a professional valuation. While they're hard at work,

0:08:210:08:24

I've been looking around the cathedral and I've found something incredibly special.

0:08:240:08:31

I'm in the choir stall and there's something I want to show you.

0:08:320:08:36

There's a whole series of misericords. Let me explain.

0:08:360:08:41

These are seats for the choristers, but during long periods of time you had to stand up.

0:08:410:08:46

So to ease the discomfort, look - this is very, very clever.

0:08:460:08:51

There is a little misericord, also known as a mercy seat.

0:08:520:08:58

A little perch that you could just put your bum on

0:08:580:09:02

to ease the discomfort over long periods of time when you're in prayer or have your arms folded.

0:09:020:09:08

You will normally find these hidden underneath things because it's a form of subversive art.

0:09:080:09:14

Beautiful figures, carved by wood carvers who were taught initially by the monks.

0:09:140:09:19

They don't really represent their Christian surroundings.

0:09:190:09:23

They normally depict pagan scenes or scenes of animals,

0:09:230:09:27

in a way as a bit of tongue-in-cheek art.

0:09:270:09:31

Once you've finished perching on it, you just hide it back away.

0:09:310:09:35

I think that's quite cheeky for something from the 13th century.

0:09:350:09:40

Well, something's put a smile on Mark's face. Is it Veronica or her late-19th century scent bottle?

0:09:400:09:48

-Veronica, nice to meet you.

-And you, too.

0:09:480:09:51

-You're Mark Stacey. I'm Veronica Stacey.

-Oh, are you?

0:09:510:09:56

-We might be related.

-It's possible. I'd like to be related to you.

-And I'd like to be related to you.

0:09:560:10:03

-How long have you had this piece?

-For donkey's years!

0:10:030:10:07

-Donkey's years?

-Yes.

-And it's been stuck in a box somewhere.

0:10:070:10:12

-Yeah, packed away.

-You haven't looked at it and loved it?

-Not for ages.

0:10:120:10:16

-It's a charming little scent bottle.

-Right.

0:10:160:10:19

Where did you get it from?

0:10:190:10:21

Well, I would have bought it at auction, but I go to a lot of auctions.

0:10:210:10:27

-I haven't a clue which one. It was in a box of oddments.

-So you just bought a box?

-Oh, yeah.

0:10:270:10:34

-And this happened to be in them.

-I go for fun, but end up buying things!

0:10:340:10:39

-It's always good to go to an auction to buy something.

-That's right.

0:10:390:10:44

I've had a little look at it. It's confusing me a bit. It's some sort of gentleman's atomiser,

0:10:440:10:51

-maybe as part of a travelling set.

-Yes.

-Part of a boxed set of silver toiletwares,

0:10:510:10:57

-little pots and powder dishes.

-Yes.

-But I think over the years it's had a few problems.

0:10:570:11:03

It seems to have got gunged up. I'm not sure that little bit there is original.

0:11:030:11:09

I would have thought there should have been a hole of a spray there.

0:11:090:11:13

Maybe, it looks to me, as if originally you could press that down gently.

0:11:130:11:19

As you pressed, it would maybe suck up the eau de toilette and give you a little spray before dinner.

0:11:190:11:26

-Oh, lovely.

-To make sure you smelt lovely for your...paramour.

0:11:260:11:31

Right.

0:11:310:11:33

What's interesting about it is it's got little initials with a coronet on the top.

0:11:330:11:40

So that means it's come from an aristocratic background.

0:11:400:11:44

-I'm surprised it belonged to a baron. I never...

-Well, it might have done.

0:11:440:11:49

-There's certainly a coronet of some description. It has no hallmarks.

-Yes.

0:11:490:11:55

But it is, I think, English. It does have a pair of initials stamped in.

0:11:550:12:00

I think for George Brace, GB. He specialised in small scent bottles,

0:12:000:12:06

little boxes, that sort of thing. And it's quite a charming little object, really.

0:12:060:12:12

I think, as a collectable, we ought to put £60-£80 on it.

0:12:120:12:16

-I see.

-With a reserve, of course.

-A reserve of...?

0:12:160:12:20

-What do you think it should be?

-Well...

0:12:200:12:24

Between 50 and 80. Shall we settle on a figure between?

0:12:240:12:27

I think we should put a reserve of £50 on it, fixed.

0:12:270:12:32

-I thought more along the lines of 60, to be honest.

-You're a hard woman.

-Oh, well...

0:12:320:12:37

-I thought you were going to be such a gentle little soul.

-If it was less, I'd rather hold on to it.

0:12:370:12:44

But it would end up in the box again, hidden away.

0:12:440:12:48

Say 60 and I'll settle for that.

0:12:480:12:51

-You do drive a hard bargain, you.

-Oh, no!

0:12:510:12:55

-£60.

-That'll be a good bargain for whoever buys it.

0:12:550:12:59

£60. We'll put it in and see what happens.

0:12:590:13:02

I think they might well be related, don't you?

0:13:020:13:06

Our experts have found their first three items to take off to auction.

0:13:060:13:10

Here's a quick recap of all the items going under the hammer.

0:13:100:13:14

Janus remembers playing with these as a child, but he's not letting sentimentality get in the way

0:13:140:13:20

-of a good sale.

-You don't feel the need to play with them?

-Not any more!

0:13:200:13:26

The scent bottle with an aristocratic past.

0:13:260:13:30

And will the bulbous vases be snapped up by a designer or will Debbie and Lisa take them home?

0:13:300:13:37

Down on the Devon coastline, our auction comes from the vibrant city of Plymouth.

0:13:390:13:44

But let's head straight to our auction house where it's all hustle and bustle and flexing of muscle.

0:13:440:13:50

Anthony Eldred is the auctioneer today with all the local knowledge.

0:13:500:13:54

And the commission here is 15% plus VAT.

0:13:540:13:58

Boys and their toys. We're going to put some to the test. Dinky Toys belonging to Jan.

0:13:580:14:04

-These were yours.

-They certainly were.

-But you were taught to play with them carefully.

-Definitely.

0:14:040:14:10

-30% of the value is in that box!

-Unreal, isn't it?

-Unreal.

0:14:100:14:14

There's people that collect all sorts of things out there.

0:14:140:14:19

Let's put this to the test.

0:14:190:14:22

Next is lot 299. This is a quantity this time of military vehicles.

0:14:240:14:30

Dinkys. And I'm bid £90. At 90.

0:14:300:14:33

At £90. 100. And 10. 120.

0:14:330:14:37

130. 140. 150. 160. At 160 at the back.

0:14:370:14:41

At 160 at the very back.

0:14:410:14:45

170. 180. Take five if you like.

0:14:450:14:48

At 180. 185. 190.

0:14:480:14:51

And five. 200. And 10.

0:14:510:14:54

220. At 220 in the very back.

0:14:540:14:57

They're fighting this one out. This is a little battle going on.

0:14:570:15:01

Finished at £220?

0:15:010:15:04

Bang! That hammer's gone down.

0:15:050:15:08

-They're great. Do you regret this now?

-No, no. They just take up room.

0:15:080:15:13

For many collectables, it's all about good condition, so treat old toys with kid gloves.

0:15:130:15:19

And next it's the scent bottle.

0:15:190:15:22

Well, so far, so good. And our next item should have the sweet smell of success.

0:15:220:15:28

It's that lovely scent bottle belonging to Veronica.

0:15:280:15:33

-How are you today?

-Very well.

-Nervous?

-No.

-No, you're not.

0:15:330:15:37

You're confident. This is gorgeous.

0:15:370:15:39

-And you've had it for 20 or 30 years.

-Approximately.

-Did he talk you into selling it?

0:15:390:15:45

Not really. I wanted to say goodbye to it.

0:15:450:15:49

It's going under the hammer right now.

0:15:490:15:53

Lot 128. It's a small glass atomiser. At £60.

0:15:530:15:58

At 62.

0:15:580:16:00

At £62. Five if you want it.

0:16:000:16:03

At £62, then.

0:16:030:16:06

-Are you all done at 62?

-Oh...

-Quite sure at 62?

0:16:060:16:11

-Oh, well. Short and sweet.

-He sold it. £62.

-That's all right.

0:16:130:16:17

-£2 over the low end.

-Just £2 over the bottom end.

0:16:170:16:22

Even £2 over the estimate and it's a sale!

0:16:220:16:25

Now for those vases.

0:16:250:16:28

Now something hideously fabulous. Can you guess what I'm talking about?

0:16:280:16:33

Yes, the comments from Mark Stacey. Debbie and Lisa, good to see you.

0:16:330:16:37

We've got those pea pod pots. Did you think that was a good description from our expert?

0:16:370:16:43

-Yes, eventually.

-Eventually!

-I absolutely loved them.

0:16:430:16:48

-They're large, aren't they?

-Very. You get a lot for your money.

0:16:480:16:53

You do. Mind you, having said that, we're not giving these away. It's a fixed estimate. Not below £200.

0:16:530:17:00

-Absolutely. That's quite wise.

-Or they're going home with you.

0:17:000:17:05

Ah.

0:17:050:17:06

Ah!

0:17:060:17:08

-You didn't think of that, did you?

-No, especially on the train.

-Yeah!

0:17:080:17:13

-You're best friends. What do you think of these? Is it something you could live with?

-No. Horrible.

0:17:130:17:19

-You're not going to buy them?

-Oh, no!

-Let's put them under the hammer and see what they do.

0:17:190:17:25

-I think they're fabulous.

-Two similar Brownfield pea pod vases.

0:17:250:17:31

£130 bid for them. At 130. Not enough. At 130.

0:17:310:17:36

At £130. 40 if you want them.

0:17:360:17:39

-At £130.

-I don't think they're going to sell.

0:17:390:17:42

At 130. Nobody in the room?

0:17:420:17:45

-At £130.

-Oh, dear.

-I can't sell.

0:17:450:17:48

-How are we going to get them home?!

-I don't know.

0:17:480:17:52

At £130. Quite sure? All finished at 130?

0:17:520:17:56

-They can't quite be sold.

-Oh, I can't believe it.

-They're going back on the train.

0:17:560:18:02

It's a good job you came along. You can carry one each.

0:18:020:18:06

-We've had a fabulous time.

-Have you? It's been good.

-Yeah.

0:18:060:18:11

Taxi for Debbie and Lisa.

0:18:130:18:16

That's it for our first half of the auction. And now I'm off to Agatha Christie's summer house

0:18:190:18:25

to uncover the mysteries within.

0:18:250:18:28

South Devon.

0:18:330:18:36

Beaches, rivers and rolling hills.

0:18:360:18:38

An inspirational landscape for any author,

0:18:380:18:43

but for Torquay-born Agatha Christie real places became fictional settings

0:18:430:18:49

of parties,

0:18:490:18:51

intrigue,

0:18:510:18:53

mystery

0:18:530:18:55

and, of course, murder!

0:18:550:18:58

The facts about Agatha Christie are quite extraordinary.

0:19:010:19:06

At one time, she was so popular her books were only outsold by the Bible or William Shakespeare.

0:19:060:19:12

Her play, Mousetrap, is the world's longest-running theatre production

0:19:120:19:16

and her novels top the best-seller charts.

0:19:160:19:19

Yet despite all this success, she was a private person, cloaking herself in the kind of intrigue

0:19:190:19:25

you associate with the characters in her novels. One thing we do know

0:19:250:19:30

is her love for this county, Devon, and in particular her summer cottage here on the River Dart.

0:19:300:19:36

The River Dart starts life amongst the tors of Dartmoor

0:19:370:19:41

and descends through the crags towards the English Channel.

0:19:410:19:46

The River Dart is surrounded by beauty and tranquillity

0:19:460:19:51

and that captured Christie's heart from a young age.

0:19:510:19:55

To get to know the Dart's peaceful flow, I'm taking a novel approach to her special summer residence.

0:19:550:20:02

This really is the perfect way to travel down a river.

0:20:090:20:13

It's peaceful and it's tranquil. There are no motors or engines to disturb the wildlife or pollute it

0:20:130:20:20

and that's something Agatha Christie loved. It was quiet and peaceful.

0:20:200:20:24

This was her sanctuary.

0:20:240:20:27

'A place she would soon call home.'

0:20:280:20:31

One day we saw that the house was up for sale. Greenway House on the Dart.

0:20:310:20:37

The house which my mother had always said was the most beautiful property on the Dart.

0:20:370:20:44

A white Georgian house, about 1780.

0:20:440:20:47

Gosh, just look at that! They say location is everything and that is stunning.

0:20:490:20:54

No wonder Agatha Christie and her husband snapped this place up in 1938.

0:20:540:21:00

Today, thanks to her descendants and the National Trust, it's now open to the general public,

0:21:000:21:06

so we can get a glimpse into the private world of the best-selling authoress of all time.

0:21:060:21:12

'Greenway House became Agatha Christie's summer residence for over 50 years.'

0:21:120:21:18

Thoroughly enjoyed the kayaking,

0:21:180:21:21

but if you do try it, bring waterproof trousers. Look.

0:21:210:21:26

I'm going to have to change.

0:21:270:21:30

'Entering the house, you're greeted with fine art and antiques

0:21:300:21:34

'collected by five generations with an incredible eye.

0:21:340:21:39

'One member of the family remembers Agatha Christie like no other -

0:21:390:21:43

'Matthew Pritchard, Agatha's grandson.'

0:21:430:21:48

You spent a lot of time with her. What was she like as a person?

0:21:480:21:51

The thing I remember best was that hardly ever did I think of her as an authoress or famous person.

0:21:510:21:57

To me she was just a kind and affectionate and intelligent grandmother who was, incidentally,

0:21:570:22:03

one of the best listeners I ever met. She didn't talk very much.

0:22:030:22:08

-She was much more interested in finding out what...

-Made you tick.

-And what made my friends tick.

0:22:080:22:15

She was a very generous and kind person and we just led a perfectly ordinary life as grandson

0:22:150:22:21

-and grandmother.

-What got her interested in crime writing? Why did she focus on that?

0:22:210:22:27

She was always very interested in people. She saw this busload of Belgian refugees.

0:22:270:22:32

One had a strange-shaped head. There was born Hercule Poirot.

0:22:320:22:37

She went away to Dartmoor and wrote The Mysterious Affair At Styles.

0:22:370:22:42

And after five tries with five different publishers who all, to their shame, turned it down,

0:22:420:22:48

-the sixth one accepted it.

-How dare they!

-And so a legend was born.

0:22:480:22:52

Your grandmother was educated at home. Do you think that made it easier for her to write books?

0:22:520:22:58

I think if you are educated at home, you are magnificently free of other people's influence,

0:22:580:23:04

so eventually you turn to doing it all yourself. Her books are marvellous examples of somebody

0:23:040:23:11

who learnt to do it her own way. Some might describe it as obstinate, but she did do it her own way

0:23:110:23:17

and, my goodness, it was successful.

0:23:170:23:20

'But where did Agatha draw her inspiration from?

0:23:200:23:24

'And how does this house, Greenway, reflect the scenes she created in her novels?

0:23:240:23:29

'I feel it's down to me to become the detective.'

0:23:290:23:34

I want to play Poirot or Miss Marple and find out who Agatha Christie really was.

0:23:340:23:39

With my pen and notebook, I'm hot on the trail.

0:23:390:23:45

Clues are not always hidden away in dusty nooks and crannies.

0:23:530:23:58

In this splendid Georgian house, the secrets and tell-tale signs are for all to see.

0:23:580:24:03

Look at this wonderful serpent doorstop.

0:24:030:24:06

Agatha kept catching her stockings on this as she walked past it,

0:24:060:24:10

so she put this cork on the serpent's tongue.

0:24:100:24:14

'Throughout the house, there are echoes of Agatha. The Steinway piano where she would sit and play,

0:24:200:24:27

'an accomplished, but shy pianist.

0:24:270:24:29

'And behind, the window through which Poirot escaped in the book Dead Man's Folly.

0:24:290:24:36

'The dining room, where the whole family celebrated her birthdays.

0:24:360:24:41

'It's not hard to imagine that the gatherings were the inspiration for the group dinners

0:24:410:24:47

'so familiar in her novels.'

0:24:470:24:49

Aha! The drawing room. And, most poignantly, this is where Agatha would gather all the family

0:24:490:24:56

and read her latest Christie at Christmas novel.

0:24:560:24:59

The story goes that her husband, Max, who would be dozing off in that chair over there,

0:24:590:25:05

would wake up and guess whodunnit before the story was finished.

0:25:050:25:10

I like that. Everyone loves a clever clogs.

0:25:100:25:14

Something definitely went on down there. Hmm, mon Dieu!

0:25:140:25:18

Agatha's husband, Max, was an archaeologist, travelling the world, digging up the past.

0:25:190:25:25

Agatha would join him on these trips and write, inspired as ever by her surroundings.

0:25:250:25:31

So we've established why so many of her novels were set abroad.

0:25:330:25:37

The plot thickens.

0:25:380:25:40

'Agatha's early life also left an impression on her work.'

0:25:400:25:45

During World War One and Two, she worked in a pharmacy and had an understanding of medicines,

0:25:450:25:51

chemicals and poison, the latter featuring in many of her murder mysteries.

0:25:510:25:57

'Agatha Christie wrote 66 detective novels, 15 short story collections

0:25:590:26:04

'and more than a dozen plays, but in some ways this house says more about her than any of them.'

0:26:040:26:11

So what have we learned?

0:26:140:26:17

Well, I can conclude the people and the natural surroundings are all key to Agatha

0:26:170:26:23

and the world that she recreated.

0:26:230:26:25

A chance meeting on a foreign trip, an object from the past or a dinner party,

0:26:250:26:30

all reimagined in a world of intrigue and murder...most foul.

0:26:300:26:34

And as for the woman herself, I think I've got that solved as well. Have you?

0:26:340:26:41

Returning to our valuation day at Exeter Cathedral, the good folk of Flog It are being entertained

0:26:460:26:53

by some great folk music.

0:26:530:26:56

LIVELY FOLK TUNE

0:26:570:27:01

'This traditional Devon tune was penned many years ago,

0:27:020:27:07

'but as is often the case in folk history, nobody quite knows by who.

0:27:070:27:11

'Now for more folk history.

0:27:330:27:35

'The poetic verse of a very famous Scotsman, Robert Burns.'

0:27:350:27:40

-It's quite daunting being under that tower, isn't it?

-Rather high!

-It is rather intimidating.

0:27:400:27:46

-We're in Exeter and you've got something terribly Scottish.

-I know.

-Haven't you?

0:27:460:27:51

-Where did you get this lovely book?

-We lived in London until five years ago with elderly Scottish neighbours

0:27:510:27:58

who we sort of looked after when they needed it, as you do.

0:27:580:28:02

-And our son went to a Scout troop that was a Scottish Scout troop.

-Oh, yes?

-Kilted, the lot.

0:28:020:28:09

-And he learnt to play the pipes and the drums.

-Wow.

0:28:090:28:13

And we used to go to Burns Night suppers and we got fascinated with the address to the haggis,

0:28:130:28:19

which is in there. I never read the rest of the poems.

0:28:190:28:24

-I've never seen a Mauchline Ware book cover.

-I didn't know that was what it was.

-Yes, it is.

0:28:240:28:30

The book is not in the best of conditions. There's a break there, but I'm sure that can be restored.

0:28:300:28:37

Even the binding is rather nice in that tooled leather.

0:28:370:28:41

-And it's Burns' Poems And Songs.

-Yes.

0:28:410:28:44

You've got a nice portrait of Robert Burns there, framed by Scottish thistles.

0:28:440:28:50

And then when we turn it over,

0:28:500:28:53

-we have again a nice, little printed Burns Monument in Edinburgh.

-Yes.

0:28:530:28:59

Then it's "made of wood", it says there.

0:28:590:29:02

Mauchline Ware is wood which has been transfer-printed.

0:29:020:29:06

What I quite like about it as well is if you do live in quite a grand Victorian or earlier house

0:29:060:29:12

and you have such a thing as a library,

0:29:120:29:15

wouldn't that just be lovely on a side table?

0:29:150:29:17

Rather than put up on the shelves, just have it...

0:29:170:29:20

-A showpiece.

-..like that on a side table for show.

0:29:200:29:23

-It's a lovely-looking thing. Have you ever thought about the value?

-Not at all.

0:29:230:29:28

I think we've got to take into account the slight bit of wear on the spine,

0:29:280:29:33

but I would probably suggest something like £100 to £150 as an estimate

0:29:330:29:38

and we'll put a reserve of £90 on it, fixed, so we won't sell it below that.

0:29:380:29:43

-It might end up going back up north to bonnie Scotland where it probably belongs.

-Hopefully.

-Yes.

0:29:430:29:50

The Cathedral Close is still buzzing with people and Caroline has found some Victorian chic.

0:29:500:29:56

Gretchen, tell me about this lovely cape.

0:29:560:30:00

I have had it since 1970 as part of a big collection of such things.

0:30:000:30:05

And I wear them to my concerts

0:30:050:30:08

as I play in the orchestras in the cathedral many, many times.

0:30:080:30:13

You've played here in Exeter Cathedral?

0:30:130:30:16

Yes, I started playing here in 1956 and I still play occasionally.

0:30:160:30:21

-How lovely!

-Yes, but this was just a bit over the top.

0:30:210:30:24

Well, it's something that I very much appreciate.

0:30:250:30:28

It's a Victorian mourning cape.

0:30:280:30:31

After Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert died in 1861,

0:30:310:30:36

the Queen went into mourning for the rest of her life

0:30:360:30:40

and fashionable Victorians followed her.

0:30:400:30:43

The widows went into a period of two and a half years' mourning

0:30:430:30:47

and then in the last six months,

0:30:470:30:49

they gradually introduced grey, lilac and other colours into the black mourning wear,

0:30:490:30:55

so this would have been modelled from something the Queen would wear.

0:30:550:30:59

-Is it something you've worn?

-No, unfortunately, it doesn't fit me.

0:30:590:31:04

It's on this wonderful, black, grosgrain background.

0:31:040:31:08

It's embellished with this French jet or bugle beads, as they're called, these long, thin beads.

0:31:080:31:14

They would all have been stitched on by hand. A very fine needle would have gone through to thread these.

0:31:140:31:20

All this is hand-stitched. The lace is machine-made lace.

0:31:200:31:23

This wouldn't be the average lady that would have worn this.

0:31:230:31:27

This was a fairly expensive piece at the time

0:31:270:31:31

and it's something I think is still wearable today. What do you think?

0:31:310:31:36

Oh, yes, if I were younger and thinner, I would wear this to grand parties.

0:31:360:31:41

-Yes, yes.

-With not very much underneath.

0:31:410:31:45

-LAUGHTER

-Would you?

0:31:450:31:47

And stunning you'd look, I'm sure!

0:31:490:31:51

Now, why are you wanting to sell it now?

0:31:510:31:54

Because I have a Georgian house of eight rooms

0:31:540:31:57

and it's full of Georgian furniture

0:31:570:32:01

and china and my clothes as well.

0:32:010:32:03

Oh, how nice! I'm coming round.

0:32:030:32:06

I do have to sell it before I die.

0:32:060:32:08

Well, hopefully, that'll be quite a long time.

0:32:080:32:11

As to value, I absolutely adore it, but we have to put an auction value on it.

0:32:110:32:17

-As with most things, condition is very, very important.

-Yes.

0:32:170:32:23

This is, for the most part, in very good condition, but I'm sure you have seen there is some damage to it

0:32:230:32:29

and it needs a good needlewoman or needleman to repair it,

0:32:290:32:35

so I would say, with the damage, an auction estimate of £30 to £50

0:32:350:32:40

and I'm sure it would achieve that.

0:32:400:32:44

I would put a fixed reserve of £30.

0:32:440:32:46

-Yes.

-I'm sure we would sell at that.

0:32:460:32:49

It's not to stop it getting a lot more, but I think it would certainly get between £30 to £50.

0:32:490:32:54

-Are you happy with that?

-Very happy.

-There will be a lot of interest in this.

0:32:540:32:59

-Somebody would be very happy to wear this with or without a lot underneath.

-Right. I'm very happy.

0:32:590:33:05

-Thank you very much.

-That's a pleasure.

0:33:050:33:08

Saucy ladies!

0:33:080:33:10

'The finale on today's show comes in a small, but perfectly formed package

0:33:160:33:21

'that we've seen before on Flog It -

0:33:210:33:23

'the vinaigrette, not for oil or vinegar,

0:33:230:33:26

'but for smelling salts that could be sniffed to disguise the pong of Victorian England.

0:33:260:33:31

'We've seen them go for big bucks on the show.'

0:33:310:33:34

-£290!

-Very nice.

0:33:340:33:37

'But will Jean's beautiful gemstone piece beat them all?'

0:33:370:33:42

Now, tell me the history of it. Where did you get it from?

0:33:420:33:46

It belonged to an elderly lady that I used to help

0:33:460:33:50

and one day, she asked me if I would like it.

0:33:500:33:54

-And it's so long ago now, perhaps 30, 40 years...

-Wow!

0:33:540:33:59

It's been in my china cabinet ever since until this morning.

0:33:590:34:03

We've heard the word "vinaigrette" quite a lot on Flog It

0:34:030:34:06

and I'm sure if you've watched it, they can range in value immensely.

0:34:060:34:11

-If they're silver, they can be 100, 150, sometimes 200 or more.

-Yes.

0:34:110:34:15

-This is a very, very unusual example. I've never seen one like it.

-It's extraordinary.

0:34:150:34:22

I think it's charming because without even touching it, just looking at it,

0:34:220:34:27

-you know this is a quality little object.

-Right.

0:34:270:34:31

The use of the agates that they've cut and polished and shaped into this sort of geometric form

0:34:310:34:38

and when we open it up,

0:34:380:34:40

we see that we've got a pierced grille, obviously, which has been chased as well

0:34:400:34:45

and you see a void inside for putting your little sponge with your favourite scent.

0:34:450:34:52

-I was sorry there was no sponge. Nearly always there's a sponge.

-Yes, but they do perish.

0:34:520:34:58

-We thought it was enamelled.

-I did.

-You would, wouldn't you?

0:34:580:35:02

-I did think it was enamelled.

-No, I think these are Scottish agates.

0:35:020:35:06

You often see them in brooches and jewellery,

0:35:060:35:09

little slithers of them that have been polished and set into silver.

0:35:090:35:13

-This is not marked, but I'm almost sure it's silver.

-What age is it?

0:35:130:35:17

I would have thought that's going to be late Victorian, so 1890, 1900, that sort of date.

0:35:170:35:23

-Yes.

-And very, very collectable.

-Incredible, isn't it?

-Very collectable.

0:35:230:35:28

I just picked it up. Juliette, my niece, said, would I like to come and I said, "Yes, rather!"

0:35:280:35:35

I thought, "What shall I bring?"

0:35:350:35:37

She thought it was a Flog It regular.

0:35:370:35:40

-You've never seen one like this on Flog It.

-Probably not.

0:35:400:35:43

Anyone who collects an object of virtue,

0:35:430:35:46

-anybody who collects that type of thing would love to add this to their collection.

-Yes.

0:35:460:35:52

I think certainly I would put £600 to £800 on it.

0:35:520:35:57

-What?

-And put the reserve at a fixed reserve of 500.

0:35:590:36:03

It wouldn't surprise me if, on the day, two or three people really want it and it went for a bit more.

0:36:030:36:09

It's such a charming object.

0:36:090:36:11

I'm absolutely amazed. I never dreamt it was anything like that.

0:36:120:36:17

I thought it might have been about 100.

0:36:170:36:20

-You do surprise me.

-You don't need some smelling salts, do you?

-No.

0:36:200:36:24

-You're OK?

-There's nothing in there to smell, is there?

0:36:240:36:29

Unfortunately.

0:36:290:36:30

Sadly, it's time to say goodbye to Exeter Cathedral and the city of Exeter,

0:36:360:36:41

but I had to come to the top of the cathedral to show you what a stunning view it is from up here.

0:36:410:36:47

But we have to make our way over to Plymouth. Our experts have made their final choice of items.

0:36:470:36:53

This is where we put those valuations to the test.

0:36:530:36:56

Here's a recap of what we're taking with us.

0:36:560:36:59

Will a book of poems by Robert Burns be the great chieftain of the auction race?

0:36:590:37:05

A true piece of vintage fashion inspired by Queen Victoria herself.

0:37:070:37:12

And they say good things come in small packages.

0:37:140:37:17

Do you think this exquisite item of virtue could make four figures in the saleroom?

0:37:170:37:23

All will be revealed in a moment.

0:37:230:37:26

The phones are ringing, the people are bidding

0:37:300:37:33

and the gavel's going down at a ferocious pace. It's auction time.

0:37:330:37:38

First up, the bonnie Scot.

0:37:380:37:41

-It's Margaret and Ken?

-Yeah.

-Yes.

-Great to see you again.

0:37:410:37:45

This is fabulous. Good condition, good quality.

0:37:450:37:48

A lot of collectors want this kind of thing, especially Mauchline Ware.

0:37:480:37:52

-It would do better in Scotland.

-Yes, but thanks to the internet, people up in Scotland can find this.

0:37:520:37:58

-£200?

-It's a lovely object. I'd like to see it make 200. It's worth it.

0:37:580:38:02

Let's put it to the test. It's going under the hammer now.

0:38:020:38:05

Next is Lot 413.

0:38:080:38:10

It's a Mauchline Ware-covered copy of Robert Burns' Poems And Songs.

0:38:110:38:15

There they are. And £70 for that? At 70. At £70.

0:38:150:38:19

5 if you want it? At £70 then.

0:38:190:38:22

-Come on.

-Against you all in the room at £70. No bidding, at 70.

0:38:220:38:25

80. 5.

0:38:250:38:28

90 now. At £90 in front here.

0:38:280:38:31

-At £90, second row.

-This is a surprise.

-At 90 then. 5 anywhere?

0:38:310:38:36

Are you quite sure? At £90. Last chance in the room, at 90...

0:38:360:38:39

All done then?

0:38:390:38:42

-Sold.

-Just on the reserve.

-He's sold it at £90.

0:38:420:38:45

-That was the reserve price. I'm so surprised by that.

-That was close.

0:38:450:38:49

-You can't win them all, can you?

-We don't want to take it home.

-No.

0:38:490:38:53

-That's good.

-Hopefully, that will find its way back to Scotland.

-Yes.

0:38:530:38:58

'We caught up with the buyer to find out what enticed him to it.'

0:38:580:39:02

I just thought it was beaming with quality and the rarity of the thing,

0:39:020:39:06

plus the fact it came out very reasonable.

0:39:060:39:09

I'm well pleased with my purchase.

0:39:090:39:12

Going under the hammer right now, we have a Victorian cape and it's in good company.

0:39:130:39:19

There's a lot of other costume here and textiles, so hopefully, we'll get the top end of the estimate.

0:39:190:39:25

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

-Yes.

-You've played violin plenty of times in Exeter Cathedral.

0:39:250:39:31

-Oh, yes.

-The venue of our valuation day.

-I started in 1955.

0:39:310:39:36

-You must be very good.

-That was the first concert. I wasn't a soloist. I was in the orchestra.

0:39:360:39:42

-But I gradually became a leader.

-Wow!

0:39:420:39:44

I'll come and watch you play violin in Exeter Cathedral.

0:39:440:39:48

You get in touch with the Flog It office and I'll come and watch you.

0:39:480:39:52

Let's put this cape to the test. I know you like your clothes. Let's see what this lot think.

0:39:520:39:57

There it is. £30 bid for it. 2. 5.

0:39:590:40:01

At £35 then. 8 if you want?

0:40:010:40:04

38. 40. 2. At £42. I'll take 5 now?

0:40:040:40:08

At £42 there. Are you all done then at £42?

0:40:080:40:11

-Can't follow the bidding, but we're on £42.

-Yes.

-The hammer's gone down.

0:40:110:40:16

-£42.

-Good.

-Thank you so much.

-That's great.

0:40:160:40:19

'£42 doesn't seem much for something so beautifully made.

0:40:200:40:26

'Now, finally, how about that vinaigrette?'

0:40:260:40:29

Going under the hammer now, we're selling that gorgeous, Victorian, hardstone vinaigrette.

0:40:290:40:35

This is real quality. Juliette and Joan are here with your daughters. We have the whole generation.

0:40:350:40:40

They're over there somewhere if we can give them a wave.

0:40:400:40:44

Hello.

0:40:440:40:46

We just said earlier what a stunning family you all make! Good genes in your family. This is lovely.

0:40:460:40:52

Why are you selling it?

0:40:520:40:54

I didn't think it was worth very much. I've seen them on the programme and I thought perhaps £70, £100.

0:40:540:41:00

-There are so many different collectors for these.

-Yes.

0:41:000:41:04

Small objects of virtue always have a wide appeal.

0:41:040:41:07

An item of virtue and we're going to put it under the hammer and see what happens.

0:41:070:41:12

This is where it gets exciting. Stay tuned. It could just fly.

0:41:120:41:16

Next is Lot 112.

0:41:160:41:19

It's a silver-mounted, hardstone vinaigrette. Scottish one.

0:41:190:41:23

And I'm bid £500 for it. At 500. 10 if you want it?

0:41:230:41:26

-At 500. And 10.

-We're in. Somebody's on the phone.

0:41:260:41:30

-Can you see those two phone lines?

-Yes.

0:41:300:41:32

550. 560. 570. At 570 now.

0:41:320:41:36

Any more in the room at 570?

0:41:360:41:38

Finished in the room at 570. 580.

0:41:380:41:40

590.

0:41:400:41:42

600. And 20.

0:41:440:41:47

-640...

-Someone's very, very keen on it on the gentleman's phone.

0:41:470:41:51

680. 700.

0:41:510:41:54

At £700.

0:41:540:41:56

And 20. At 720.

0:41:560:42:00

-740.

-Oh!

-At £740.

0:42:000:42:03

760. 780.

0:42:030:42:06

At 780.

0:42:060:42:08

-800.

-Oh, wonderful.

-Brilliant.

-820.

0:42:080:42:12

-Brilliant.

-At 820.

0:42:120:42:14

-840. 860.

-Wow!

0:42:140:42:16

At 860. 880.

0:42:160:42:19

900.

0:42:190:42:20

At 900. And 50.

0:42:200:42:24

-1,000.

-Yes! We've got it.

-£1,000.

0:42:240:42:27

-And 50.

-It's going up.

-1,100.

0:42:270:42:29

At 1,100.

0:42:290:42:33

At £1,100.

0:42:330:42:35

The bidding's in the corner at £1,100.

0:42:350:42:38

-Quite sure then?

-£1,100!

0:42:380:42:41

That is what it's all about and the hammer's just gone down.

0:42:410:42:45

Well done, you two. Wow, what a surprise!

0:42:450:42:48

-That's amazing.

-Happy with that? You must be, mustn't you?

0:42:480:42:52

-I'm very happy because it's going to the Children's Hospice South West.

-Brilliant.

0:42:520:42:57

Thank you for bringing that in. You put a smile on all our faces.

0:42:570:43:01

I hope you've enjoyed today's show. Sadly, we've run out of time in Plymouth.

0:43:010:43:06

Do come along and join us at one of our valuation days, but from Devon, it's goodbye from all of us.

0:43:060:43:12

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

0:43:330:43:36

Download Subtitles

SRT

ASS