Hertfordshire

0:00:06 > 0:00:07Today we're in West Hertfordshire

0:00:07 > 0:00:11and I'm 108 feet up in the air on top of the Bridgewater Monument,

0:00:11 > 0:00:15which was built in 1832 as a tribute to Francis Egerton,

0:00:15 > 0:00:18the man who was also known as the Canal Duke

0:00:18 > 0:00:22for his pioneering work on the UK's inland waterways.

0:00:22 > 0:00:26Now, they say from up here you can actually see seven counties at once.

0:00:26 > 0:00:28I'm not sure about that today.

0:00:28 > 0:00:31One thing I am sure about, though, you can see Ashridge House,

0:00:31 > 0:00:34which was the Canal Duke's home during the 18th century.

0:00:34 > 0:00:38And today, for one day only, it's home to our valuation tables.

0:00:38 > 0:00:39Welcome to Flog It!

0:01:04 > 0:01:08Ashridge House is a real seat of innovation and change.

0:01:08 > 0:01:11During it's 700-year history this site has been a monastery,

0:01:11 > 0:01:14a royal residence and a war hospital.

0:01:14 > 0:01:17And it's not just the Canal Duke who achieve great feats here.

0:01:18 > 0:01:22Edward I held parliament here in 1291.

0:01:24 > 0:01:27But today it's inspiring and exciting antiques

0:01:27 > 0:01:30we are looking for, and this lot cannot wait to get inside

0:01:30 > 0:01:32so the fun can begin.

0:01:32 > 0:01:35Someone in this queue today has got something that's worth

0:01:35 > 0:01:38a great deal of money. It's our experts' job to find it.

0:01:38 > 0:01:40Now, if our experts pick on one or two of your treasures and you're

0:01:40 > 0:01:43happy with the valuations, what are you going to do?

0:01:43 > 0:01:44ALL: Flog It!

0:01:50 > 0:01:52And on the lookout for us today are a double act

0:01:52 > 0:01:54destined for great things.

0:01:54 > 0:01:57We've got pioneering Thomas Plant,

0:01:57 > 0:01:59and roaming roving Claire Rawle.

0:02:01 > 0:02:04Now let's catch up with Claire who's made a scientific discovery.

0:02:06 > 0:02:08Well, hello, Florence. Hello.

0:02:08 > 0:02:11Nice to meet you, and you've brought a really attractive polished

0:02:11 > 0:02:16mahogany box here, haven't you? Yes. When it opens out - hey, presto.

0:02:16 > 0:02:18A rather magnificent-looking microscope in there

0:02:18 > 0:02:21with a huge collection of objectives.

0:02:21 > 0:02:24So, quite a superior item. Nicely made.

0:02:24 > 0:02:27Has a very specialised market, though, microscopes,

0:02:27 > 0:02:29they can be a bit tricky to sell. Yes.

0:02:29 > 0:02:32So sometimes the value isn't huge.

0:02:32 > 0:02:37But you've also brought in a couple of rather nice boxes here of slides

0:02:37 > 0:02:41to go with it. Botanical subjects, mainly, aren't they? Yes.

0:02:41 > 0:02:45They've got all their little cards and things there.

0:02:45 > 0:02:48Nice sort of late 19th century ones. So...

0:02:48 > 0:02:51Quite an unusual object. You've lugged this quite a long way.

0:02:51 > 0:02:55It's very heavy. Tell me a bit about it. Where did it come from?

0:02:55 > 0:02:59Well, my husband bought it about 54 years ago,

0:02:59 > 0:03:02and he bought it off a very old gentleman then

0:03:02 > 0:03:06who was quite happy to sell it to him because he knew he was interested

0:03:06 > 0:03:08in it and he'd look after it. Yeah.

0:03:08 > 0:03:11So my husband bought it

0:03:11 > 0:03:14and he's had many, many years of happiness on it.

0:03:14 > 0:03:16So he used it? Yeah, he did use it. Oh, right.

0:03:16 > 0:03:20Yes, he used to go past puddles, do a few puddles. Yeah?

0:03:20 > 0:03:23Pick a little jar up... Take it home and look at it?

0:03:23 > 0:03:26And then he'd come home and then he'd drop the water on the slide

0:03:26 > 0:03:29and look through it, and say to me, "Come and have a look at this,"

0:03:29 > 0:03:31and he was so thrilled. Oh, that's nice, cos very often

0:03:31 > 0:03:33these things are bought and people don't really know

0:03:33 > 0:03:35what to do with them. So the fact that it was used.

0:03:35 > 0:03:38But it's fascinating, and lovely to be able to look at

0:03:38 > 0:03:40all the sort of little creepy crawlies and things...

0:03:40 > 0:03:42It was, once you looked through it and see these things moving,

0:03:42 > 0:03:45it was wonderful. Gives you a different perspective

0:03:45 > 0:03:47on what's going on in a puddle, doesn't it, really? Oh, yes.

0:03:47 > 0:03:52And obviously it's a 19th century scope and 19th century slides,

0:03:52 > 0:03:55so obviously he was using a collectable item then, really. Yes.

0:03:55 > 0:03:57It already had age when he bought it.

0:03:57 > 0:03:59Yes, a very elderly gentleman who had it.

0:03:59 > 0:04:01It is more than just a student's instrument,

0:04:01 > 0:04:03I mean, this is quite a specialised instrument. Yes.

0:04:03 > 0:04:05With all these different objectives in here you can look at

0:04:05 > 0:04:07a whole range of things.

0:04:07 > 0:04:09It's a nice item, and I think especially

0:04:09 > 0:04:11because you've got the slides with it,

0:04:11 > 0:04:14because there are really keen collectors purely for the slides.

0:04:14 > 0:04:18Really? Especially if they've got little insects and bugs in them,

0:04:18 > 0:04:21cos some of them they're not even sure they're in existence now,

0:04:21 > 0:04:23so it's a sort of historical interest. Yes.

0:04:23 > 0:04:27So, I guess we have to talk money. I think an estimate of 3-500. Yes.

0:04:27 > 0:04:29Nice broad estimate there. Yeah. Does that sound good to you?

0:04:29 > 0:04:33I'm quite happy, yes. Would you be happy with a ?300 reserve on that?

0:04:33 > 0:04:38Yes. Happy with that? Yeah. Sure? Just about.

0:04:38 > 0:04:41Well, the thing is not to overcook it. No. Keep it sensible.

0:04:41 > 0:04:43Make sure it's a price you're happy with. Yes.

0:04:43 > 0:04:45And then hopefully you get them all there

0:04:45 > 0:04:48and they get really excited and they spend a lot of money on it. Good.

0:04:48 > 0:04:50So, what are you going to put it towards? Central heating.

0:04:50 > 0:04:53Central heating? Yes, it's packed up. Oh, no!

0:04:53 > 0:04:56So you really want to get on with that. Yeah. Yes, yeah.

0:04:56 > 0:04:58Well, I shall look forward to seeing you at the auction. Thank you.

0:04:58 > 0:05:02And we shall do our very best to get you a radiator or two fixed.

0:05:02 > 0:05:04Yes, that's what it'll buy.

0:05:05 > 0:05:08That was a well-preserved example of 19th century science.

0:05:08 > 0:05:11Let's hope it entices the botanists in the sale room

0:05:11 > 0:05:13so we can get Florence's heating fixed.

0:05:15 > 0:05:20So, here we are, this palatial mansion, huge,

0:05:20 > 0:05:22would've had many fireplaces.

0:05:22 > 0:05:26The tiles backing those fireplaces...

0:05:26 > 0:05:28would have no relationship to these ones here.

0:05:28 > 0:05:31These would be in far more modest accommodation.

0:05:31 > 0:05:35However, there's an interesting relation between the two.

0:05:35 > 0:05:37How did you come by them?

0:05:37 > 0:05:40Demolishing the fireplace that they were inserted inside.

0:05:40 > 0:05:44And where was that? Two fireplaces. In the last house I had. Oh, really?

0:05:44 > 0:05:51Built about 1860. Yeah. These would be 1860s, 1870s, absolutely.

0:05:51 > 0:05:55The reason why I say there's a sort of relationship between

0:05:55 > 0:05:58the two things is that the house

0:05:58 > 0:06:00we see behind us is medieval,

0:06:00 > 0:06:03it has 19th century additions to it.

0:06:03 > 0:06:06These hark back to that medieval period.

0:06:06 > 0:06:08They hark back to that romantic time.

0:06:08 > 0:06:12They're by Minton, but more importantly these designs

0:06:12 > 0:06:15are by a person by John Moyr Smith.

0:06:15 > 0:06:19John Moyr Smith was a designer from that late 19th century period

0:06:19 > 0:06:26when it was terribly fashionable to look upon the allegorical stories

0:06:26 > 0:06:29of the past and design scenes around them.

0:06:29 > 0:06:31And here we have the seasons.

0:06:31 > 0:06:34So we have summer here with Celadon and Amelia,

0:06:34 > 0:06:38and this is a representation of a poem from the 18th century.

0:06:38 > 0:06:40I don't think Amelia was in love with Celadon,

0:06:40 > 0:06:44but Celadon got swept away in a storm, hence the lightning.

0:06:44 > 0:06:46But that's rather fun, isn't it?

0:06:46 > 0:06:49And then we've got autumn - Comes Jovial On.

0:06:49 > 0:06:52I don't know the story behind this one, but he is here with his scythe

0:06:52 > 0:06:57here, and he's sort of reaping the rewards of his harvest.

0:06:57 > 0:07:01Winter - looks like a Scottish gentleman in his tartan here

0:07:01 > 0:07:06and almost like a Tam o'Shanter hat. Yes, and the ginger hair.

0:07:06 > 0:07:10The Snow Storm. I think that's a rather attractive one.

0:07:10 > 0:07:12And then we've got spring with the ploughing of the land

0:07:12 > 0:07:15and the planting. Doesn't look like he's putting much effort in

0:07:15 > 0:07:17cos ploughing takes a bit more effort than that

0:07:17 > 0:07:18to drag that plough down.

0:07:18 > 0:07:21You don't just hold it one hand and the oxen in the other.

0:07:21 > 0:07:22This is the problem with Victorians,

0:07:22 > 0:07:24they had this romantic view of things.

0:07:24 > 0:07:26And here's one typically romantic.

0:07:26 > 0:07:29Well, luckily for you there are tile collectors out there.

0:07:29 > 0:07:35So, I would value them at 120... Yes. ..to ?180. Yes.

0:07:35 > 0:07:37I'd put a reserve at ?100. Yeah.

0:07:37 > 0:07:40I don't think there's any point giving them away. Oh, no. No.

0:07:40 > 0:07:44I'd rather keep them and use them. Too nice to leave in the cupboard.

0:07:44 > 0:07:48Absolutely. Well, see you at the auction. OK. Thanks a lot.

0:07:54 > 0:07:57We're back at the Tring Market Auctions,

0:07:57 > 0:08:00and like all auction houses sellers have to pay commission.

0:08:00 > 0:08:05Here it's 15% plus VAT on the hammer price.

0:08:12 > 0:08:14Introducing Kenneth, a man for all seasons.

0:08:14 > 0:08:16That's exactly what's going under the hammer right now.

0:08:16 > 0:08:20Four Minton tiles, the four seasons. Quality, quality, quality.

0:08:20 > 0:08:23Great ceramics. Why are you selling these?

0:08:23 > 0:08:26They've just been lying in my cupboard for over 20 years.

0:08:27 > 0:08:29I never found a use for them.

0:08:29 > 0:08:31I mean, they make good kettle stands and things like that.

0:08:31 > 0:08:35Good coasters and... A coaster on the dining table.

0:08:35 > 0:08:37We've seen these sets before sell on "Flog It!"

0:08:37 > 0:08:38and we've seen them separately as well.

0:08:38 > 0:08:40Thank goodness you've got all four.

0:08:40 > 0:08:42They sell well and they make great coasters.

0:08:42 > 0:08:45They do, and these are Minton John Moyr Smith,

0:08:45 > 0:08:48great Arts and Crafts designer.

0:08:48 > 0:08:51So if you love Arts and Crafts, you'll love these.

0:08:51 > 0:08:53They're going under the hammer right now.

0:08:53 > 0:08:55Number four - 104, now.

0:08:57 > 0:09:00We have some Art Nouveau Minton's pottery tiles.

0:09:00 > 0:09:03They're in jolly good order. Yeah, I love these.

0:09:03 > 0:09:0680 for them? 70 for them? 70. Five. 80. Five. 90.

0:09:06 > 0:09:07Are you going to be the five?

0:09:07 > 0:09:10100, thank you. ?100.

0:09:10 > 0:09:11Come on, that's a good opener.

0:09:11 > 0:09:13Lady over there. There you go.

0:09:13 > 0:09:16130. 40? 140.

0:09:16 > 0:09:18150? 150. 160.

0:09:18 > 0:09:20No more?

0:09:20 > 0:09:24At 150, then, they're going. ?150. Thank you.

0:09:25 > 0:09:27That's quite good.

0:09:27 > 0:09:30Gosh, that lady moved in, bidding, bidding, bidding,

0:09:30 > 0:09:33made sure she had them, didn't put her paddle down and walked out.

0:09:33 > 0:09:35Literally, did you see that? Just here for the tiles.

0:09:35 > 0:09:37If someone pushed her she'd've kept going.

0:09:37 > 0:09:39She was that determined and that's the beauty of auctions.

0:09:39 > 0:09:41That's a good result. Yes. That's a very good result.

0:09:50 > 0:09:52Well, it's the microscope up next

0:09:52 > 0:09:55and I think there will be a real enthusiasm for this.

0:09:55 > 0:09:58Remember, Tring has strong zoological connections,

0:09:58 > 0:10:01so fingers crossed for a botanic bidding battle.

0:10:02 > 0:10:04Good luck, Florence. Thank you.

0:10:04 > 0:10:07I have been waiting for this moment ever since the valuation day

0:10:07 > 0:10:09cos I saw this and I said to you,

0:10:09 > 0:10:13"Oh, I like that, I like that," and I know you spotted it as well. Yeah.

0:10:13 > 0:10:16You did the valuation. I just think the cases of slides

0:10:16 > 0:10:20that go with this are so well documented.

0:10:20 > 0:10:22It's a lovely piece of history here, and I had a chat to Steven,

0:10:22 > 0:10:25the auctioneer, yesterday. He's happy with the valuation.

0:10:25 > 0:10:27He knows it's going to sell at what you said,

0:10:27 > 0:10:30but he's upped it a little bit. Oh, right, excellent.

0:10:30 > 0:10:33So we're now looking at ?500-?700. Yeah, it's a nice lot.

0:10:33 > 0:10:36The slides are so decorative, apart from anything else.

0:10:36 > 0:10:37They're beautifully presented.

0:10:37 > 0:10:40I hadn't seen it for 20 years because it was put in the cupboard,

0:10:40 > 0:10:43and then I opened it a couple of days before I came to

0:10:43 > 0:10:46"Flog It!" and when I looked at it I thought, "Wow!" You know,

0:10:46 > 0:10:48so it even surprised me after 20 years.

0:10:48 > 0:10:49It's going under the hammer right now.

0:10:49 > 0:10:52Let's find out if there's any interest online or on the phones.

0:10:54 > 0:10:57Right, now lot number 106.

0:10:57 > 0:10:59There we are, a very fine microscope

0:10:59 > 0:11:04and also the two boxes of prepared slides with it.

0:11:04 > 0:11:06500 I'm bid for it now.

0:11:06 > 0:11:09520, I have it. And 50, 80, 600.

0:11:09 > 0:11:12And 20 and 50 and 80.

0:11:12 > 0:11:15700 we're bid. 720 and 50 and 80.

0:11:15 > 0:11:17Yes, 780.

0:11:17 > 0:11:19800 we're bid. 820, 850, 880.

0:11:19 > 0:11:22This is very good. ?900. ?900.

0:11:22 > 0:11:23At ?900 and we're bid for it.

0:11:23 > 0:11:26920, 950. And there's more to come.

0:11:26 > 0:11:30980. ?1,000.

0:11:30 > 0:11:33?1,050. ?1,100 we're bid. And 50.

0:11:33 > 0:11:381,200. And 50. 1,300. And 50.

0:11:38 > 0:11:421,400. And 50. 1,500. And 50.

0:11:42 > 0:11:45This is what it's all about. This is a proper auction.

0:11:45 > 0:11:49?1,650. ?1,650.

0:11:49 > 0:11:51I'm going to get you a chair in a minute.

0:11:51 > 0:11:531,800, perhaps?

0:11:53 > 0:11:56No, but 1,800 in the room.

0:11:56 > 0:11:581,850. New bidder.

0:11:58 > 0:12:00Fresh legs. 1,900.

0:12:00 > 0:12:05And 50. 2,000. And 50.

0:12:05 > 0:12:072,100. And 50.

0:12:07 > 0:12:102,200. And 50.

0:12:10 > 0:12:122,300. And 50.

0:12:12 > 0:12:14Slightly underestimated this item.

0:12:14 > 0:12:172,400. Yeah. It was.

0:12:17 > 0:12:19Yeah, it was, wasn't it?

0:12:19 > 0:12:232,500, sir. 2,500. And 50 now.

0:12:23 > 0:12:27At 2,500 I'm selling. 550.

0:12:27 > 0:12:322,600. ?2,600.

0:12:32 > 0:12:35I can't believe it. Gosh.

0:12:35 > 0:12:382,800. And 50. 2,900.

0:12:38 > 0:12:40This is incredible.

0:12:40 > 0:12:41It's mad.

0:12:41 > 0:12:443,100. 3,200. 3,300.

0:12:44 > 0:12:493,400. 3,500. 3,600. No?

0:12:49 > 0:12:51At 3,600 in the room.

0:12:51 > 0:12:56I'm selling, then. It's going down at ?3,600.

0:12:56 > 0:12:57Thank you, sir.

0:12:57 > 0:13:01That's a sold sound, isn't it?

0:13:01 > 0:13:04Florence, ?3,600.

0:13:04 > 0:13:07Everybody is giving you a round of applause in the auction room.

0:13:08 > 0:13:10Wow. Wow.

0:13:10 > 0:13:13It exceeded all our expectations. It did, it really did.

0:13:13 > 0:13:17That is a great result. Oh, look, enjoy it, won't you?

0:13:17 > 0:13:20Well done, Claire. And thank you, Claire. Oh, thank you.

0:13:20 > 0:13:24It's been an absolute pleasure. I'm so pleased for you.

0:13:24 > 0:13:25Thank you very much.

0:13:27 > 0:13:31Wow! We had two bidders going head-to-head, neither one wanting

0:13:31 > 0:13:32to lose the microscope

0:13:32 > 0:13:36which sold for over six times its reserve price.

0:13:36 > 0:13:40Let's see what they had to say about the final outcome.

0:13:40 > 0:13:45I feel I've paid a lot of money for them, but that's auctions for you.

0:13:45 > 0:13:47Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose,

0:13:47 > 0:13:50but I was obviously prepared to pay that amount.

0:13:50 > 0:13:54I'd calculated how much I wanted to pay, got a bit carried away

0:13:54 > 0:13:58and probably bid more than I intended to.

0:13:58 > 0:14:02Obviously I was disappointed, but the other bidder looked as if

0:14:02 > 0:14:06he was fairly determined and was going to carry on bidding.

0:14:06 > 0:14:10They're a good collection of quality microscope slides.

0:14:10 > 0:14:14Unusual to have such a good collection all in one go.

0:14:14 > 0:14:16I will probably save and collect some of them

0:14:16 > 0:14:18and trade a few of them, as well.

0:14:22 > 0:14:24What a wonderful way to end the show.

0:14:24 > 0:14:26We've had such a marvellous time here in Tring,

0:14:26 > 0:14:29and I know you have, haven't you? We've made your year, haven't we?

0:14:29 > 0:14:31You certainly have.

0:14:31 > 0:14:33If you've got something like that we want to see it, but until then

0:14:33 > 0:14:36join us for many more surprises. Well done, you, Florence.

0:14:36 > 0:14:37Thank you very much, Paul.