0:00:02 > 0:00:05This is the site of the first passenger railway line in history.
0:00:05 > 0:00:08It was opened in 1830 and it allowed the working man to travel
0:00:08 > 0:00:12from Manchester to Liverpool in half the time and at half the cost.
0:00:14 > 0:00:18Just one of the reasons why Manchester has an esteemed legacy as
0:00:18 > 0:00:20the world's first industrial city.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23And the men in the mural over there, that's another story.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27We'll be finding out more from Manchester's Museum of Science
0:00:27 > 0:00:29and Industry later on in the programme.
0:00:29 > 0:00:30Welcome to Flog It!
0:00:52 > 0:00:56The Industrial Revolution in Manchester led to enormous wealth
0:00:56 > 0:00:59for some, but extreme poverty for others.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02The city's population quadrupled in just 50 years,
0:01:02 > 0:01:04at the turn of the 19th century.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06And as Friedrich Engels commented,
0:01:06 > 0:01:11living conditions for some were wretched, damp and filthy.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15But as Manchester city grew, so did the people's fight.
0:01:15 > 0:01:16And it's probably
0:01:16 > 0:01:19the relatives of some of these people here, in today's crowd,
0:01:19 > 0:01:23that played a major part in Manchester's working-class
0:01:23 > 0:01:25campaign for the right to vote,
0:01:25 > 0:01:27free trade and also better working conditions.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31But thankfully, our battle is a little less serious today,
0:01:31 > 0:01:34as our experts hunt out the best antiques and collectibles
0:01:34 > 0:01:35to take off to auction.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37And it could be you going home with a small fortune.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39We'll find out later on in the show.
0:01:41 > 0:01:43Fingers crossed and good luck, everyone.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45What a fabulous queue we have here today!
0:01:48 > 0:01:51Let's get the doors open and get on with it!
0:01:51 > 0:01:52ALL: Hooray!
0:01:52 > 0:01:55As our massive queue enters the MOSI,
0:01:55 > 0:01:59they are first struck by the impressive digital sculpture
0:01:59 > 0:02:04that shows some of Manchester's most important people and places.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07But today, it has been hijacked by our very own experts,
0:02:07 > 0:02:10who couldn't resist appearing on another TV screen.
0:02:10 > 0:02:15Pretty in pink and legend in the sale room, it is Anita Manning.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18And the man with an encyclopaedic knowledge of silver,
0:02:18 > 0:02:20Mr Michael Baggott.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24And today, they've found items from around the globe
0:02:24 > 0:02:26and throughout the decades.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30Anita has got a ship that sailed the China seas.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34And the seas were a wild, wild place.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38Michael has got his hands on an Inuit carving
0:02:38 > 0:02:41from a far-flung polar region.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44And I chance upon one of the most beautiful books I've ever seen.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46And the bidders love it, too.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50Well, everybody is now safely seated inside the venue.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54We have our experts in place. They've found their first items.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56So let's now catch up with Michael Baggott,
0:02:56 > 0:02:57who is first at the Flog It! tables.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00We'll take a closer look at what he's spotted.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05Jeff, I better not upset you with you my valuation today,
0:03:05 > 0:03:08cos you've brought this in.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10Where has this lethal weapon come from?
0:03:10 > 0:03:13Well, recently, in my bedside cupboard.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15It goes there at night?
0:03:15 > 0:03:19- Yeah. Just lying in a drawer. - Have you had cause to use it?- No.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23- That's good.- We are very law-abiding people in Manchester.- Marvellous.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25But where did it come from originally?
0:03:25 > 0:03:29- It belonged originally to my great-great-grandfather.- Good grief!
0:03:29 > 0:03:32- His father kept a pub in Lancaster.- Yeah.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36At the age of 19, he left to seek his fortune.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38Went down to London, married a London girl,
0:03:38 > 0:03:42- didn't work out for him. This is in the 1840s.- Yeah.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45Came back, finally settled in Manchester,
0:03:45 > 0:03:48joined the police force at Ashton.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52Was then moved to a place called Farnworth,
0:03:52 > 0:03:55where he was promoted to police inspector.
0:03:55 > 0:04:00And it was there, I believe, that he was given that particular truncheon.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02Well, we are dealing with a very early period
0:04:02 > 0:04:04in, sort of, police history.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06And this is, sort, of a crossover.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09Cos people will think of a truncheon
0:04:09 > 0:04:14as a grip with a slender tapering for service.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16- This is far more decorative.- Yeah.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20- And this falls into what we call a tipstaff.- Hm-mm.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24And they are what is carried much earlier. They had a functional use.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28I mean, you could, you know, whack someone over the head with that
0:04:28 > 0:04:32- if you really had to, but it is more your badge of office.- Yeah.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35- You've got VR - Victoria Regina.- Obviously.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37You've got the crown, the warrant.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40On the other side, we've got
0:04:40 > 0:04:42a little shield with a coat of arms on it.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46That would be for the district that employed his service.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49- And we've got these initials here.- Yeah.
0:04:49 > 0:04:54Sometimes they will be the initials of an officer, but very rarely.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58Often these initials will actually refer to a place.
0:04:58 > 0:05:03- So like, if we were MC, we might be Manchester city.- Yeah.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06- I don't know what the arms are for or what the initials are.- No.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09But I can guess there is a tipstaff collector out there that
0:05:09 > 0:05:13- probably does.- Yeah. - It's turned out of mahogany.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15And it has got all this decorative ring turning.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17And then it has been varnished.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19And, I mean, look at the colour of it.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22- Yeah, beautiful, isn't it?- Lovely. And just wear, you know...
0:05:22 > 0:05:26A couple of hundred years of fingers have been around that.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30I mean, I have to ask the question, why have you decided to sell it?
0:05:30 > 0:05:34It's in my bedside cabinet. It's not on display.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37Absolutely. Let's say...
0:05:37 > 0:05:40£150 to £250.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43- If you are happy with that.- Yeah.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46- And a fixed reserve of 150. - Yeah, I'd like a fixed reserve.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49You know, it is a wonderful bit of social history.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51And I am delighted you brought it in today.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54Just as long as things don't go badly at the auction
0:05:54 > 0:05:56and I get the back of it on my head, but I don't think we will.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00- Thanks very much for bringing it in. - You are quite welcome. Thank you.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02That's a real collector's item,
0:06:02 > 0:06:06but will the tipstaff fans be at the auction or bidding online?
0:06:06 > 0:06:10Wait and see. Next, Anita has found some old junk.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14Jackie, an interesting item you have brought along today,
0:06:14 > 0:06:16this little silver Chinese junk.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19Can you tell me, where did you get it?
0:06:19 > 0:06:22Well, my friend, Terry, bought it 20 years ago
0:06:22 > 0:06:24from a car boot in Cheshire.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27Did he tell you what drew him to it?
0:06:27 > 0:06:30He is very fond of ships and boats.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33Having been an engineer and designer,
0:06:33 > 0:06:35he likes anything interesting. Yeah.
0:06:35 > 0:06:41Oh, right, right. It was probably made in the 1920s.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43It would have been made of silver,
0:06:43 > 0:06:46but it would be a low-grade silver, it wouldn't be
0:06:46 > 0:06:51a sterling silver, and it would have been made for the tourist market.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54But don't let that put you off, at all, you know,
0:06:54 > 0:06:56these are quite positive things.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58When I look at that,
0:06:58 > 0:07:03I'm thinking about the South China Seas,
0:07:03 > 0:07:05around Hong Kong,
0:07:05 > 0:07:11and what was happening in the late 19th, early 20th century,
0:07:11 > 0:07:16and the South China Seas were a wild, wild place.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18When we look at the little boat,
0:07:18 > 0:07:22we can see the little cannons on the boat.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25And I find that fascinating.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27When you think of the traffic and the pirates,
0:07:27 > 0:07:30they would need some sort of protection here.
0:07:30 > 0:07:34And we have these marvellous sails.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37Oars, if they were becalmed.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41I mean, it's not a finely-made thing. It's quite crudely done.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44But it is a lot of fun.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48- What do you think it is worth?- Um...
0:07:48 > 0:07:52- £60 to £70?- You are quite good, are you looking for a job?
0:07:55 > 0:07:58So, we will put it into auction, £50 to £70.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01Will you be happy to sell it on at that?
0:08:01 > 0:08:03Oh, yes, that's fine, thank you.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07Let's hope that it sails beautifully into the sunset
0:08:07 > 0:08:10- and makes a lot of money.- Yes!
0:08:10 > 0:08:14# When my ship When my ship, when my ship... #
0:08:14 > 0:08:18It may not be of the highest quality, but this ship has stacks
0:08:18 > 0:08:21of character and keeps a moment in history alive.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27And now it is back to the present day and Mr Michael Baggott.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30Jeff, where has this magnificent decanter stand come from?
0:08:30 > 0:08:34It came from my father, actually, he was in the antique trade years ago.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37Oh, he was a dealer? Was he dealing in silver or everything?
0:08:37 > 0:08:41No, just generally, everything. Furniture, all sorts of things.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44When he retired, he had quite a number of items, you know,
0:08:44 > 0:08:45and this was just one of them.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48And when he died, my mother took everything over.
0:08:48 > 0:08:52And when she died, my sister and I split everything between us.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56- But you decided to keep this.- Yeah, I decided to keep that, really,
0:08:56 > 0:08:59cos it was such an ornamental thing and it looked nice on the...
0:08:59 > 0:09:01I had it on a bureau and it looked quite nice.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04So it has not been up to here with sherry, whisky and brandy.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06I never actually used it for that, actually.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10Just lately it has been put away in a cupboard, because of the cleaning.
0:09:10 > 0:09:11It got a little bit tarnished.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14So the polishing has, sort of, put paid to it in your house.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18- Well, it has really, yeah!- I mean, it is typical high Victorian.
0:09:18 > 0:09:19- Is it? Yeah.- You know,
0:09:19 > 0:09:22if you wanted a picture of what high Victorian was,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25- this would suit it perfectly.- Right.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28- The decoration is all over the place.- Right.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31I mean, we've got scrolls, anthemion shells.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35- There are little dolphins, stylised dolphins on the feet.- Right, yeah.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38- And these immensely-fussy stoppers.- Right.
0:09:38 > 0:09:42This one is a bit low and this one is a bit high.
0:09:42 > 0:09:46I never noticed that, I thought they were all the same.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49I just wonder if they are not the original stoppers.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52We've got the electroplate labels.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55- And the whole frame is electroplated.- Right.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57- Sadly, not solid silver.- No.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01And we've got the electroplater's mark of Padley and Parkin Limited.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05And they were working in about 1849 to about 1855.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07- Right.- Which is slap bang
0:10:07 > 0:10:11- when you'd expect this sort of thing to be made.- I see.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14I think it was probably a more popular thing
0:10:14 > 0:10:17when your father had it than it is today.
0:10:17 > 0:10:18So I think it would have to be
0:10:18 > 0:10:22put into an auction at an attractive figure to another trade buyer.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25- Right.- I think...let's say, £100 to £200.- Right.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28- Put a fixed reserve of £100 on it. - That's OK, yeah.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31I think two people might just fall in love with it,
0:10:31 > 0:10:32wonky stoppers or not,
0:10:32 > 0:10:36and it might go on and make a great sum at the auction.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38- So thanks very much for bringing it in.- Right.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41Jeff, you'll never have to polish it again.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43Wave goodbye to it now.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47You get a lot for your money with those decanters, but the market
0:10:47 > 0:10:50for elaborate Victorian ware is not what it used to be.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52How will it fare when it goes under the hammer?
0:10:52 > 0:10:54We'll find out in just a moment.
0:10:55 > 0:11:00But first, some precious treasure discovered, thanks to Flog It!
0:11:00 > 0:11:02- Carol...- Hello, Anita.
0:11:02 > 0:11:08..in today's current market, I am always delighted to see
0:11:08 > 0:11:11gold coins coming in to auction.
0:11:11 > 0:11:16- Very good.- Tell me, where did you get these ones?
0:11:16 > 0:11:20Well, it's my... My dad passed away two years ago
0:11:20 > 0:11:23and I got them then. They were just in a box.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27When I found out Flog It! was coming to Manchester town centre,
0:11:27 > 0:11:29I thought, "Ooh, I'll look in my dad's box."
0:11:29 > 0:11:32And I found these. I thought, "I'll take them with me."
0:11:32 > 0:11:36So, you didn't know that they were there, until this morning?
0:11:36 > 0:11:41Yes. It's... I never bothered to look in the box.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45The price of precious metals has risen substantially
0:11:45 > 0:11:47in the last few years.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53This is because people are not getting big interest in the banks.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57- Yes.- The price of the property has gone down, stocks and shares
0:11:57 > 0:12:00- have gone down.- Yes. - At times like this,
0:12:00 > 0:12:05people go back to what they know, what they can feel in their hand,
0:12:05 > 0:12:08and that is gold.
0:12:08 > 0:12:14- We have two sovereigns.- Yes. - We have a half sovereign and we have
0:12:14 > 0:12:18- a sovereign in a ring mount.- Right.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22Now, did your dad collect coins especially or is there anything
0:12:22 > 0:12:27that drew him to collecting gold or coins or whatever?
0:12:27 > 0:12:30He always had an interest in all different types of coins.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34- Even the old penny coins. - Were you allowed to play with them?
0:12:34 > 0:12:36Sometimes we were, because he used to have them
0:12:36 > 0:12:40in special little packets and he used to slot them all in
0:12:40 > 0:12:44and we would go and say, "Wow, Dad, they're great!"
0:12:44 > 0:12:49Your dad was a very astute man, especially in buying the gold coins.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53- Yes.- The nominal value of these coins...- Yes.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56..was £1, at the time.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59- Right.- So, what are they worth now?
0:12:59 > 0:13:05Erm...£50, maybe. Maybe £60 for the bigger ones.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08Well, they are more than that. They are more than that.
0:13:08 > 0:13:15- What I would do is I would sell these as a group.- Right.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18I would put an estimate on these
0:13:18 > 0:13:22- of £550 to £750.- That's amazing.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26- I didn't realise they were... - 550 to 750.- Wow.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30For those little coins?
0:13:30 > 0:13:36- Wow.- We will put a reserve price on these at 550,
0:13:36 > 0:13:40- but giving the auctioneer just a touch of a discretion.- Right.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43- But you've got a wee fortune. - I know, I can't believe it!
0:13:43 > 0:13:46- Thank you very much. - I know they will do very well.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48Thank you very much, Anita.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52While everyone is busy here,
0:13:52 > 0:13:55I am off to do something completely different.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01CLASSICAL MUSIC
0:14:03 > 0:14:06Manchester is bursting with diverse buildings.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13From Italian-inspired palazzio structures
0:14:13 > 0:14:14like the old Free Trade Hall
0:14:14 > 0:14:17to the finest examples in neo-Gothic.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23Every building here helps tell the story of Manchester,
0:14:23 > 0:14:27from the development of the textile industry in the 18th century
0:14:27 > 0:14:29through to Manchester's colossal rise
0:14:29 > 0:14:33as the world's first industrial city.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38Each era brought new building styles for different purposes.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42Banks, warehouses and municipal buildings were used by businessmen
0:14:42 > 0:14:47as a symbol of their wealth and success, and these big architectural statements
0:14:47 > 0:14:50also said they had pride in their city.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55Many of those buildings are still standing here,
0:14:55 > 0:14:58in a city that's built on ambition,
0:14:58 > 0:15:01and today, I'm taking you on an architectural tour of Manchester,
0:15:01 > 0:15:05and what better way to do it than by a chauffeur driven limo?
0:15:05 > 0:15:07- Hi, John.- Hi, mate.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09- Pleased to meet you. - Pleased to meet you.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11Well, John, driving a taxi.
0:15:12 > 0:15:14John, how long have you been
0:15:14 > 0:15:17a cabbie driving the streets of Manchester?
0:15:17 > 0:15:19Oh, this year, Paul, I daren't think.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22- It's around about 30 years this year.- Really?- Yeah, really.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24- Gosh!- You must have seen the city change a lot.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26Well, it's changed dramatically.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28It's still changing even as we speak, as you see,
0:15:28 > 0:15:31as we're driving round the city, all the new buildings
0:15:31 > 0:15:34and the old buildings all blend in nicely together, don't they?
0:15:34 > 0:15:36- Yeah, yeah.- Fabulous. - Where do we start?
0:15:36 > 0:15:39Well, what we'll do is, we'll start off and we'll break you in gently.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41We'll go the Friends' Meeting House,
0:15:41 > 0:15:45which is one of the early Greek revival buildings in Manchester,
0:15:45 > 0:15:47- and then we'll move on from there. - OK.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52Manchester may have been established by the Romans,
0:15:52 > 0:15:54but no Roman buildings survive.
0:15:56 > 0:15:57What you do see here, though,
0:15:57 > 0:16:00is an abundance of buildings that may look old,
0:16:00 > 0:16:03but they're not nearly as ancient as they appear.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08Now, here we are. This is the Friends' Meeting House,
0:16:08 > 0:16:10built by the architect Richard Lane in 1828.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14It's a place where the Quakers would come and meet and worship.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17Now, although the building's not quite 200 years old yet,
0:16:17 > 0:16:19it has the feel and the presence of something
0:16:19 > 0:16:21that's ancient and prestigious.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25That's because it's built in the Greek revival style,
0:16:25 > 0:16:29and by mimicking the ancient Greeks with this perfect form and symmetry,
0:16:29 > 0:16:33wonderful columns with Ionic capitals at the top,
0:16:33 > 0:16:36you create a building that has real majesty.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39And another clever trick that the architects discovered
0:16:39 > 0:16:42by setting it back from that noisy road there
0:16:42 > 0:16:45with these wonderful steps that goes up to a raised ground floor,
0:16:45 > 0:16:48you have a building of such majesty,
0:16:48 > 0:16:51you could almost imagine you're in ancient Greece.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57Richard Lane's building marked the start of Victorian architecture
0:16:57 > 0:17:00in Manchester. The Victorians took inspiration from around the globe
0:17:00 > 0:17:04and throughout history to give their structures an air of antiquity.
0:17:06 > 0:17:11And no edifice did it quite as well as this - Manchester Town Hall.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18Now, you couldn't come to Manchester and talk about architecture
0:17:18 > 0:17:20without seeing this building, the town hall.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24It's absolutely awesome. It's a powerful-looking building,
0:17:24 > 0:17:25yet it's full of dignity
0:17:25 > 0:17:28and architectural detail and ornamentation.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31It's a symbol of strength and inspiration,
0:17:31 > 0:17:34and that's exactly what the architect and the town planners
0:17:34 > 0:17:36of the day had in mind.
0:17:36 > 0:17:41Alfred Waterhouse's town hall was built in 1877,
0:17:41 > 0:17:45but its style harks back to 13th century gothic.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49It echoes the power and the might of the UK's early cathedrals,
0:17:49 > 0:17:53and it said to the world that Manchester meant business.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55BELL RINGS
0:17:57 > 0:18:00What a fabulous building. It's what I would describe as
0:18:00 > 0:18:03an architectural gem, a real joy to walk around.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06But I love the fact that it tells the story of
0:18:06 > 0:18:09the most significant people throughout this city's history -
0:18:09 > 0:18:13scientists renowned the world over for their great achievements,
0:18:13 > 0:18:17people like John Dalton here, beautifully carved in marble
0:18:17 > 0:18:19right in the main entrance area.
0:18:19 > 0:18:24And whilst busts of businessmen and politicians adorn the corridors,
0:18:24 > 0:18:26the working man is not forgotten.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29On the outside, on the exterior of this fine building,
0:18:29 > 0:18:31there's this massive, great big roundel
0:18:31 > 0:18:35which tells us the city's roots, based on the textile industry.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38Right down to the wonderful floors, all the mosaic work,
0:18:38 > 0:18:42the worker bees, thousands, thousands of them.
0:18:42 > 0:18:46This represents the hard graft that everybody put in
0:18:46 > 0:18:48throughout the Industrial Revolution,
0:18:48 > 0:18:52making this city what it is, really, today.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58The worker bees generated the wealth that paid for these buildings,
0:18:58 > 0:19:02and they did it from a far less salubrious environment.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10This is where the architecture most strongly evokes
0:19:10 > 0:19:12the story of Manchester.
0:19:12 > 0:19:17These disused mills either side of me were built in the 19th century
0:19:17 > 0:19:20to produce cotton on an unprecedented scale,
0:19:20 > 0:19:25and even by today's standards, these buildings are absolutely huge.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27These massive constructions were built
0:19:27 > 0:19:30for practicality rather than beauty,
0:19:30 > 0:19:34and conditions inside were often cramped and dangerous.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41The Ancoats area has a real atmosphere and feel to it.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44On one hand, you can imagine these mills being full
0:19:44 > 0:19:49with thousands of people working incredibly hard for long hours,
0:19:49 > 0:19:52in dangerous conditions, and on the other hand,
0:19:52 > 0:19:55it reflects the demise of the Industrial Revolution.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59This whole area has gone from representing wealth and industry
0:20:00 > 0:20:03to becoming a symbol of unemployment
0:20:03 > 0:20:06and the end of the textiles industry.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13Today, there is new life being breathed into Ancoats,
0:20:13 > 0:20:17and the city centre is thriving with buildings and investment.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20And there's one building in particular that you cannot ignore.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25Beetham Tower dominates the skyline
0:20:25 > 0:20:28as its 47 storeys cut through the blue.
0:20:28 > 0:20:33For me, it shows how the city has developed in the last 200 years.
0:20:34 > 0:20:35Thanks a lot.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41From its 23rd floor, you can see the Gothic, the classical
0:20:41 > 0:20:46and the contemporary buildings that tell the tale of that progress.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49The Victorians demonstrated Manchester's ambitions
0:20:49 > 0:20:52with the buildings they designed and erected.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55Power and strength symbolised in architecture, and it's a message
0:20:55 > 0:20:58that's still emblazoned across the city skyline today.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10Fingers crossed, everybody.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13Good luck later on in the programme, because it could be you,
0:21:13 > 0:21:14you or you going through to the auction.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17That's exactly where we're going right now
0:21:17 > 0:21:20for our very first visit. Our experts have worked flat out.
0:21:20 > 0:21:21They have been industrious.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23We're going to put those values to the test.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25And here's what we are taking with us.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28Hello, hello, hello. What have we here?
0:21:28 > 0:21:31It is a tipstaff from the 19th century,
0:21:31 > 0:21:33and is up for grabs today.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36The Chinese junk would make a great gift for a sailing buff.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39It might go down a storm in the sale room.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45And Jeff's grandiose decanters won't match many modern interiors.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47Will this deter the bidders?
0:21:50 > 0:21:52Gold prices fluctuate, so the sovereigns could make
0:21:52 > 0:21:55the top or the bottom end of the estimate.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02There's only one way to find out - it's off to auction, which is held
0:22:02 > 0:22:05in an old school hall 15 miles from Manchester,
0:22:05 > 0:22:06in the town of Knutsford.
0:22:07 > 0:22:11Frank Marshall Saleroom was established in 1947
0:22:11 > 0:22:15and sells everything from bronze beasts to chubby cherubs.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19Nick Hall and Peter Ashburner are in charge of the sale today,
0:22:19 > 0:22:23and it's their duty to get as much money as possible for every item.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26The sale is online, so bidders from around the world will be
0:22:26 > 0:22:30logging on right now for our first Flog It! lot.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35Now, not only is this little truncheon in fabulous
0:22:35 > 0:22:38condition, from the Queen Victoria era, but we also have
0:22:38 > 0:22:41the gentleman who owned it, the policeman who owned it,
0:22:41 > 0:22:44and all of his career record!
0:22:44 > 0:22:46This is what you can't find out.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49This is what is not written on the tipstaff.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51So this is probably one in, what,
0:22:51 > 0:22:54200 or 300 that we'll see that still has it.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56- It makes a big difference.- Yeah.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58Let's find out what the bidders think right now.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00It's going under the hammer. Here we go.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04The Queen Victorian mahogany turned wood tipstaff.
0:23:04 > 0:23:05What are we going to say for this?
0:23:05 > 0:23:08Who's going to open the bidding for me?
0:23:08 > 0:23:09I'll ask 150.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11150 anywhere?
0:23:11 > 0:23:14£100 and away, surely.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16Bidding, 100. At £100, on bid.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19- And ten. 120.- Right, we are off.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21- We are in.- That was short and sweet.
0:23:21 > 0:23:22At £120.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25Anybody got 30 now? At £120.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28- You're out on the right, make no mistake.- I can't believe this.- 120.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31Anybody got more? Anybody online?
0:23:31 > 0:23:35At 120, then. Any advance now on 120?
0:23:35 > 0:23:39I'm sorry, we're not quite there with that one.
0:23:39 > 0:23:40Well, do you know something?
0:23:40 > 0:23:42I'm absolutely pleased, really. Because...
0:23:42 > 0:23:44Now you've brought this along,
0:23:44 > 0:23:46I think this makes the complete package.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49Get this photocopied and... Or when you do offer it up to the
0:23:49 > 0:23:53next sale room, offer it up as a complete package. Yeah.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55Because that did arrive a little bit too late.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58We just found out about that while the auctioneer covered the rostrum.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02- Yeah.- I think it was not meant to go.- Yeah, so do I.
0:24:02 > 0:24:06- I think he probably had something to say about it.- Yeah.
0:24:06 > 0:24:07Now here's a tip.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10If you've got some provenance that goes with an item,
0:24:10 > 0:24:13make sure you get them both to the auction house in time
0:24:13 > 0:24:15so they can be catalogued together.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18It might mean the difference between a sale and a no sale.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20And talking of sale...
0:24:20 > 0:24:23Our next lot is that Chinese junk, belonging to Jackie.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25And it is really sculptural, isn't it?
0:24:25 > 0:24:26I remember it from the valuation day.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28You can't forget this lot, can you?
0:24:28 > 0:24:31- And you zoomed in on this, you loved it.- I love it.
0:24:31 > 0:24:35I was in Hong Kong at Christmas time, and I saw lots of these
0:24:35 > 0:24:40fabulous boats in the harbour, the South China Seas.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43- And they really just sparked my imagination.- Right.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46Well, let's hope we can do the same to the bidders in the sale room.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49Let's hope they have got a great imagination.
0:24:49 > 0:24:50It's going under the hammer now.
0:24:50 > 0:24:56Fine Chinese white metal model of a junk in glazed case.
0:24:56 > 0:25:00Rather stylish, isn't it? Right, where were going to go over this?
0:25:00 > 0:25:02Who's going to start me at £50?
0:25:02 > 0:25:04Yes? 50. 50 bid. At 50.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07Seated bid at 50. I'll take five.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09At £50. Anybody else want a go?
0:25:09 > 0:25:12- There is a bid in now. - Is there a five? Anybody online?
0:25:12 > 0:25:14- Come on.- Anybody else in the room?
0:25:14 > 0:25:16It is £50, seated in the centre of the room,
0:25:16 > 0:25:17and I'm going to sell it.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20Selling it, Jackie. £50, hammer has gone down.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23- £50, just made it.- Fine. - It just made it.- Right.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25- Brilliant. - Are you happy enough at that?
0:25:25 > 0:25:27- Very happy. - I'm sure Terry will be as well.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29- Oh, yes.- Over the moon, in fact.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32Next, they were found under a bed
0:25:32 > 0:25:34and brought along to the valuation day.
0:25:34 > 0:25:35How much will they sell for?
0:25:35 > 0:25:38Going under the hammer right now, we've got a lot of gold.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40Two full sovereigns, one half-sovereign,
0:25:40 > 0:25:42one full sovereign bound in a ring.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44Carol, it's great to see you again.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46Who've you brought along? Who's this?
0:25:46 > 0:25:48This is my twin sister Anne.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50Hello, Anne. Do you know what, I thought I was seeing double then!
0:25:50 > 0:25:53Yeah, you are twin sisters. You can see it, can't you?
0:25:53 > 0:25:54- You can.- You really can.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57I guess you've both got joint ownership of this, haven't you,
0:25:57 > 0:25:59- so you're going to divide up the proceeds.- Yes.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01We're going to put it to the test right now. Ready?
0:26:01 > 0:26:03- BOTH: Yes. - Let's do it.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07I can start the bidding at 560.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09- 560!- Yes! - I'll take 580 if you like.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12580. 600.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14620. At 620 in the room.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16640 online.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18640, 660. All online now.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20680. At 680, online bidder.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22Any advance now?
0:26:22 > 0:26:25Both online now, 680, 700.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27- (700!)- £700 and 20.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29At £720, all done?
0:26:29 > 0:26:31Any advance?
0:26:31 > 0:26:34Online at 720, selling at...
0:26:34 > 0:26:36- 740. 740.- (740!)
0:26:36 > 0:26:38- THEY LAUGH - Come on, don't stop there.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40760. 760.
0:26:40 > 0:26:41And it's online.
0:26:41 > 0:26:42GAVEL BANGS
0:26:42 > 0:26:44- Sold.- Yes! - Top end of the estimate.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47- Well done.- Thank you. - That's a good result.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50- Are you happy? - Yes, very happy.- Yes.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56Let's hope this next lot lifts the spirits in the sale room.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59Right now we've got a bit of Victorian electroplate for you -
0:26:59 > 0:27:01Jeff's decanter and stand.
0:27:01 > 0:27:02Why are you selling this, Jeff?
0:27:02 > 0:27:04It has been in the family for such a long time
0:27:04 > 0:27:07and it's never had anything in it, any spirits or anything.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09It would add to the value right now.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12- What are we looking at, about 100, 150?- 100 to 200.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16I remember ten years ago these at auction making £500, £600.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19- Really?- Because of the high Victorian taste. It's gone.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22It was all about showing off for entertaining,
0:27:22 > 0:27:24- but now it is all about minimalism. - Yeah.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27Right, we're going to find out exactly what this packed
0:27:27 > 0:27:29auction house thinks of the electroplate.
0:27:29 > 0:27:30It is going under the hammer now.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34Ready to go for gin, brandy and whisky, whatever's your flavour.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37Where are we going to go? I've got commission interest.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39I'm coming straight in on the book now at £100, firm.
0:27:39 > 0:27:40We're now at 100.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43110. 120. 130.
0:27:43 > 0:27:44140. 150. 160.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47Must have a couple of heavy drinkers in Knutsford.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49Yeah, it has made its money straightaway.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51It has literally made its money.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53190. 200.
0:27:53 > 0:27:57And ten. 210 now. It is against you online, it is against the room.
0:27:57 > 0:27:58It is all on commission.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00At £210, bids are with me.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02At 210, I sell.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04Last chance, all sure?
0:28:04 > 0:28:06- Well, that was a great result. - Brilliant.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09I think that was a brilliant result, £210, Jeff.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11- Very pleased with that.- Yeah!
0:28:11 > 0:28:13- I think we are in the right area. - Nostalgia.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16- Big Victorian houses with Victorian interiors.- Yeah, nostalgia.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19We've hit the right place with the right object.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21That is a great result.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24Maybe decanters are coming back into fashion.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26Manchester has had many famous sons
0:28:26 > 0:28:32and daughters throughout history, from Emmeline Pankhurst to LS Lowry.
0:28:32 > 0:28:36But one of the most extraordinary men from this city charted
0:28:36 > 0:28:38the history of 20th century America
0:28:38 > 0:28:42and created a social record of unparalleled distinction.
0:28:47 > 0:28:50Broadcasting House, in the heart of London, is the most famous
0:28:50 > 0:28:54of all the BBC's buildings and its original home,
0:28:54 > 0:28:58so it is a fitting place to talk about the work of one
0:28:58 > 0:29:03of the BBC's most legendary radio broadcasters, Alistair Cooke,
0:29:03 > 0:29:07born in Salford, near Manchester, in 1908.
0:29:07 > 0:29:11For 58 years, Alistair Cooke presented Letter From America,
0:29:11 > 0:29:14the world's longest-running speech radio programme,
0:29:14 > 0:29:16from the BBC studios in New York.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19Now, at the time of his death in 2004,
0:29:19 > 0:29:23the then acting Director General of the BBC described him
0:29:23 > 0:29:26as the outstanding commentator of the 20th century.
0:29:32 > 0:29:36The Letter, which started on March 24th, 1946,
0:29:36 > 0:29:41was originally devised as a 13-week series.
0:29:41 > 0:29:45What follows is part of the very first episode that Cooke
0:29:45 > 0:29:48re-recorded in 1996.
0:29:48 > 0:29:53In it, he describes his trip over the Atlantic on a ship packed
0:29:53 > 0:29:57with GI brides, leaving a war-weary Britain for their new lives
0:29:57 > 0:29:59in the United States.
0:29:59 > 0:30:05'I sailed back on the Queen Mary with a couple of thousand GI brides.
0:30:05 > 0:30:09'And I recall now the great liner thundering its great horn
0:30:09 > 0:30:13'as we slipped away from the dock at Southampton.
0:30:13 > 0:30:15'All the mothers were clinging to the rail
0:30:15 > 0:30:19'and all the babies were clinging to their mothers.
0:30:19 > 0:30:23'Along the entire curving length of the ship's main deck,
0:30:23 > 0:30:27'the handkerchiefs fluttered in an unbroken line,
0:30:27 > 0:30:29'like washing day in Manchester.'
0:30:33 > 0:30:37The formula for The Letter never really changed that much.
0:30:37 > 0:30:43It broke all broadcasting records by reaching 2,869 episodes.
0:30:43 > 0:30:48And remarkably, Cooke himself only missed three of the weekly
0:30:48 > 0:30:51broadcasts throughout that entire epic run.
0:30:51 > 0:30:55And the letters themselves acted like a secular sermon,
0:30:55 > 0:30:58charting the history of the 20th century through the daily
0:30:58 > 0:31:02life of one of the most powerful countries in the world.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07Over almost 60 years, his 15-minute reflections
0:31:07 > 0:31:11touched on everything from the assassinations of the Kennedys,
0:31:11 > 0:31:16the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal
0:31:16 > 0:31:20and the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers on 11th September.
0:31:20 > 0:31:25'I found myself, by one casual chance in a thousand,
0:31:25 > 0:31:27'on hand,
0:31:27 > 0:31:29'in a small, narrow serving pantry
0:31:29 > 0:31:32'of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.
0:31:32 > 0:31:36'There was suddenly a banging repetition of a sound
0:31:36 > 0:31:40'that I don't know how to describe, not at all like shots,
0:31:40 > 0:31:42'like somebody dropping a rack of trays.
0:31:42 > 0:31:44'There were flashlights by now,
0:31:44 > 0:31:47'and the button eyes of Ethel Kennedy turned to cinders.
0:31:47 > 0:31:50'And down on the greasy floor was a huddle of clothes,
0:31:50 > 0:31:53'and staring out of it, the face of Bobby Kennedy,
0:31:53 > 0:31:57'like the stone face of a child lying on a cathedral tomb.'
0:32:04 > 0:32:06His proud assertion was that
0:32:06 > 0:32:10until he sat down at his portable typewriter on Thursday morning,
0:32:10 > 0:32:13he didn't actually know what he was going to write about.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16This is his very typewriter here, at Broadcasting House.
0:32:16 > 0:32:21So what you got was the texture of daily life, conversations with
0:32:21 > 0:32:22cab-drivers and shopkeepers
0:32:22 > 0:32:25and store holders that he bumped into and met.
0:32:25 > 0:32:29His last letter was written four weeks before his death,
0:32:29 > 0:32:31at the age of 95.
0:32:31 > 0:32:33A reporter at heart,
0:32:33 > 0:32:36Cooke not only wrote Letter From America for the BBC,
0:32:36 > 0:32:39he worked as a foreign correspondent for The Guardian newspaper
0:32:39 > 0:32:43for 25 years and he made memorable television programmes
0:32:43 > 0:32:45in both the US and the UK,
0:32:45 > 0:32:49including the monumental BBC series Alistair Cooke's America.
0:32:49 > 0:32:53But he followed a strict regime - work always stopped at cocktail hour
0:32:53 > 0:32:55and the evenings were kept for pleasure.
0:32:57 > 0:33:01Letter From America is older than Radio 4 itself.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04It started out life on the Home Service
0:33:04 > 0:33:09and then moved over to the new station when it was created in 1967.
0:33:09 > 0:33:13And now the programme has taken another remarkable turn.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16The dusty old reels have been given a 21st century makeover.
0:33:16 > 0:33:20It is now available on the BBC's website.
0:33:20 > 0:33:24But many of the early episodes were not recorded by the BBC,
0:33:24 > 0:33:28and these unique reflections could have been lost forever.
0:33:28 > 0:33:32But thanks to 90-year-old Roy Whitaker, that's not the case.
0:33:32 > 0:33:36Roy, can you explain how you helped the BBC with their archive?
0:33:36 > 0:33:39Well, the BBC put out a request
0:33:39 > 0:33:42for anyone who had any early
0:33:42 > 0:33:46recordings of Alistair Cooke's Letter From America.
0:33:46 > 0:33:50I got in touch with the BBC and, to cut a long story short,
0:33:50 > 0:33:55two reps from the BBC came down to our home address to view
0:33:55 > 0:33:57the quantity of tapes that I had.
0:33:57 > 0:34:01And in all, there were over 200 cassettes.
0:34:01 > 0:34:05And it worked out to well over 1,000 recordings altogether.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08And when did these recordings start from?
0:34:08 > 0:34:14Well, my recordings started from 1978. And almost without fail,
0:34:14 > 0:34:17I didn't miss a recording until the day he retired.
0:34:17 > 0:34:21What was it about Alistair Cooke? I mean, why were you such a big fan?
0:34:21 > 0:34:24Because he is such a wonderful speaker.
0:34:24 > 0:34:26He had such a wonderful way of putting things over.
0:34:26 > 0:34:30And he had such quips that he dropped in.
0:34:30 > 0:34:35I was just fascinated by his command of the English language.
0:34:35 > 0:34:37His talks,
0:34:37 > 0:34:40only 15 minutes every Friday,
0:34:40 > 0:34:43and Sunday morning it was repeated again,
0:34:43 > 0:34:45I could listen to them forever. Yeah.
0:34:45 > 0:34:48Unfortunately, I've not got round to doing that.
0:34:49 > 0:34:51But they are there. If I live
0:34:51 > 0:34:54long enough, I'll do some of them, that's for sure.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56'In no time at all, a new profession was born,
0:34:56 > 0:34:58'that of marketing research.
0:34:58 > 0:35:02'And the marketing researcher became to industry in this country
0:35:02 > 0:35:05'what the oracles were to the Greeks.'
0:35:05 > 0:35:08I ought to give credit to another gentleman, David Henderson.
0:35:08 > 0:35:11He contacted the BBC, too.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14- And he is responsible for a lot before the 1970s.- Yeah.
0:35:14 > 0:35:19The BBC, from the two contributions,
0:35:19 > 0:35:22they were able to resurrect
0:35:22 > 0:35:25620-odd recordings.
0:35:25 > 0:35:28Well, it sounds like we are really in debt to both of you.
0:35:28 > 0:35:31Thank you so much, Roy, it has been a pleasure to talk to you.
0:35:31 > 0:35:33My pleasure. Absolutely.
0:35:33 > 0:35:36Roy's recordings prove that antiques don't have to be silver or gold
0:35:36 > 0:35:38to be valuable.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41Maybe you've got something in the attic that is
0:35:41 > 0:35:43precious beyond pounds and pence,
0:35:43 > 0:35:46like Alistair Cooke's unique, historical records,
0:35:46 > 0:35:50which can now be accessed by everyone.
0:35:50 > 0:35:51The question is, what is that worth?
0:35:51 > 0:35:54Well, the answer is obvious - priceless, of course.
0:36:01 > 0:36:03Back at our valuation day,
0:36:03 > 0:36:06the engines of industry are still running, and the fuel
0:36:06 > 0:36:12for Michael's fire is a stunning carving from an indigenous people.
0:36:12 > 0:36:16Bruce, thank you for coming along with this very intriguing figure.
0:36:16 > 0:36:19Before I say anything about it, where did it come from?
0:36:19 > 0:36:23I bought him at an auction in Dorset. There was no bids on him,
0:36:23 > 0:36:27- so I went and made an offer to the people in the office.- Really?
0:36:27 > 0:36:29How cheeky was the offer you made?
0:36:29 > 0:36:32I started off at five pounds and went up by 50ps.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35Did it take a long time to buy it at that rate?
0:36:35 > 0:36:37They gave up at £7.50 and told me to take it.
0:36:37 > 0:36:41- They told me I could have it.- I'm going to remember that technique.
0:36:41 > 0:36:42You wore them down.
0:36:42 > 0:36:45I should've offered them 20p, I made a big mistake.
0:36:45 > 0:36:47And you'd have got it for six quid.
0:36:47 > 0:36:52We've basically got, as you know, a soapstone carving of an Eskimo,
0:36:52 > 0:36:55- or more correctly, an Inuit. - An Inuit.
0:36:55 > 0:36:59And it falls into this very interesting group of Inuit
0:36:59 > 0:37:03carvings that were done, but done to be given as gifts,
0:37:03 > 0:37:06mainly due to the Western influence.
0:37:06 > 0:37:11Before probably about 1870, 1860,
0:37:11 > 0:37:16the carvings that they made were purely within their own culture.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19And they can be in soapstone or the more desirable
0:37:19 > 0:37:22ones can be in a species of slate called argillite.
0:37:22 > 0:37:26And that is very telling, when you see something in this material.
0:37:26 > 0:37:30- Does that give it a date, then?- It can be earlier but it can be later.
0:37:30 > 0:37:34Dating is a problem. It is a thorny issue.
0:37:34 > 0:37:39I would imagine this to date from the first quarter
0:37:39 > 0:37:43of the 20th century. It has got a lot of wear to it.
0:37:43 > 0:37:47We've got the bone used. And we've got little bits of damage.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50- The base is cracked. And that has happened over time.- Yeah.
0:37:50 > 0:37:54Now, this has got the sense of being handled, and soapstone does wear.
0:37:54 > 0:37:56It is quite a soft material.
0:37:56 > 0:37:57A value...
0:37:57 > 0:38:01when we are uncertain of date is an even bigger problem.
0:38:01 > 0:38:03Is it more than £7.50, Bruce?
0:38:03 > 0:38:05I think that's more than £7.50.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08Let's put it in at £100 to £200.
0:38:08 > 0:38:11And it is going to be photographed, it is going to
0:38:11 > 0:38:12be put on the internet.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15And it is going to be described as an Inuit carving.
0:38:15 > 0:38:19So basically, anybody in the world looks on the internet catalogues,
0:38:19 > 0:38:21and believe me, there are many,
0:38:21 > 0:38:24many people that type in "Inuit carvings" once a week,
0:38:24 > 0:38:27will see this, and they will probably know better than you
0:38:27 > 0:38:31and I when it was made, who made it and what it is worth.
0:38:31 > 0:38:32But I think for the moment,
0:38:32 > 0:38:36- if you are happy to risk your £7.50 figure...- I will risk my £7.50.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38It is as much a learning experience for me
0:38:38 > 0:38:40as it probably will be for you on the day, Bruce,
0:38:40 > 0:38:44but thank you so much for bringing in such an interesting item.
0:38:44 > 0:38:45Thank you very much.
0:38:45 > 0:38:50Art and sculpture has always played a big part in Inuit society,
0:38:50 > 0:38:53and this carving represents that ancient tradition.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57I hope someone in the sale room recognises its worth.
0:38:57 > 0:38:59Thank you so much, everyone, for coming in today,
0:38:59 > 0:39:02because without you, we would not have a show.
0:39:02 > 0:39:03Hold up what you've got, let's see!
0:39:03 > 0:39:07Let me take my pick. Let me beat the experts to all the goodies.
0:39:07 > 0:39:10Well, I'm going for the nearest thing, actually.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12Wow, look at this!
0:39:13 > 0:39:14Look at that!
0:39:14 > 0:39:17Chis-chis. Chis-chis.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20That looks like a very early pair of secateurs,
0:39:20 > 0:39:23something for Alan Titchmarsh.
0:39:23 > 0:39:27- 1920s or '30s?- 19...13.
0:39:27 > 0:39:301913, pair of English secateurs.
0:39:30 > 0:39:33Look at that, still working, oiled up and cleaned.
0:39:33 > 0:39:35- Do you use them?- Occasionally.
0:39:35 > 0:39:38- Put your finger in.- Yeah. Chis. Oh!
0:39:38 > 0:39:40Prune the privet heads.
0:39:40 > 0:39:42Well, good luck with that. Well, what have you got here? Oh!
0:39:42 > 0:39:46- I've got a very old...- Papillon, butterflies!- Papillons.
0:39:46 > 0:39:48- And they're all hand-painted.- Oooh!
0:39:48 > 0:39:50Can I have a look at these? What is your name?
0:39:50 > 0:39:54- My name is Kath Dawson. - Kath, how did you come by these?
0:39:54 > 0:40:01Well, originally, in the 1960s, my first job was as an art designer,
0:40:01 > 0:40:05- a textile designer, at a mill up in the Rossendale Valley.- OK.
0:40:05 > 0:40:10And when I was made redundant, which was only after a couple of years,
0:40:10 > 0:40:12I was asked, would I like to pick a book,
0:40:12 > 0:40:14and this is what I picked.
0:40:16 > 0:40:18I think the condition is superb, absolutely superb.
0:40:18 > 0:40:22This is how it was as I was given it, you know, so...
0:40:22 > 0:40:27This man, Seguy, was quite influential, you know,
0:40:27 > 0:40:29- with the colours and the designs. - It is very good.
0:40:29 > 0:40:33I did take it to somebody about three years ago who was prepared to
0:40:33 > 0:40:36- buy it from me.- And how much were they prepared to offer you?
0:40:36 > 0:40:39They were offering £1,000 three years ago.
0:40:39 > 0:40:41- Are they still about?- Yes.
0:40:41 > 0:40:43I haven't contacted them, though.
0:40:45 > 0:40:49- And is it something you're hoping to sell in one of our auctions?- Yes.
0:40:49 > 0:40:53It just seems such a shame that it's wrapped up
0:40:53 > 0:40:55in brown paper in my wardrobe.
0:40:55 > 0:40:59My gut feeling is there is a value here instantly of a round about
0:40:59 > 0:41:02£500, if you add up the individual sheets.
0:41:02 > 0:41:05There is around about 15 or 20 really good plates here,
0:41:05 > 0:41:07all in great condition.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09And if you think every plate might be worth
0:41:09 > 0:41:13- round about £30 to £40, you've already got £500, haven't you?- Yes.
0:41:13 > 0:41:17I mean, I am quite happy to go with your valuation on that.
0:41:17 > 0:41:20- I do personally think it is a bit punchy.- Right.
0:41:20 > 0:41:24I think what we should do is we should look online,
0:41:24 > 0:41:25look on the internet,
0:41:25 > 0:41:28- find out exactly if any of these copies have sold before.- Yeah.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31Look after you, put you in our best interests.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34And then I'll go and do the rounds with our off-screen experts.
0:41:34 > 0:41:36This is where it could get quite interesting.
0:41:36 > 0:41:40If you wait here, OK? I'll be five minutes, and we'll do a quick recce
0:41:40 > 0:41:43- and we we'll come back with some kind of figure.- Right.
0:41:43 > 0:41:46It will be interesting to know if any of them have heard of him.
0:41:46 > 0:41:49- I will let you know in a minute. - OK.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54Right, so follow me. This is where it all happens here.
0:41:54 > 0:41:56These are the filming tables.
0:41:56 > 0:41:58But we've got some off-screen experts over there.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03Allison, Nick, you wouldn't mind just having a look at that,
0:42:03 > 0:42:05would you? It is complete.
0:42:05 > 0:42:07And just doing a little bit of research,
0:42:07 > 0:42:10- find out if any have been sold before...- Yep.
0:42:10 > 0:42:12- ..and what they've made. - Very colourful.
0:42:12 > 0:42:16- The condition is very good. I'll be back in a couple of minutes.- Sure.
0:42:16 > 0:42:19Stay with us to find out what the research reveals.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24Jim, when I saw this in the queue this morning,
0:42:24 > 0:42:27I thought, "That is a beauty."
0:42:27 > 0:42:29Is this the family silver, Jim?
0:42:29 > 0:42:33No, no, this is the charity shop silver.
0:42:33 > 0:42:35- You bought this in a charity shop? - Yes.
0:42:35 > 0:42:39Do you go round to charity shops or was it just a chance buy?
0:42:39 > 0:42:42I go down and have a look all the time, but it was a chance buy,
0:42:42 > 0:42:44it was just dumped in, black.
0:42:44 > 0:42:47Maybe it looked like pewter, so I thought, I'll have a look anyway.
0:42:47 > 0:42:51- How much did it cost you? - About a fiver.- About a fiver.
0:42:51 > 0:42:54- Did you find out anything about it?- No.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57But because there are no hallmarks, I wondered if it was silver or tin.
0:42:57 > 0:43:00I didn't really know, so I thought, "I'll bring it."
0:43:00 > 0:43:02Well, it is silver.
0:43:02 > 0:43:06Now, there are various aspects of the teapot that
0:43:06 > 0:43:10I look at just to make sure and to be reassure myself.
0:43:10 > 0:43:14The feel of it first of all. The feel of it is right.
0:43:14 > 0:43:16If feels like silver.
0:43:16 > 0:43:19If we look at the lid here,
0:43:19 > 0:43:21we can see this beautiful,
0:43:21 > 0:43:25well-finished little nut inside.
0:43:25 > 0:43:27That's denoting quality.
0:43:27 > 0:43:30They wouldn't do that if it was plate.
0:43:30 > 0:43:32We look at the shape of it.
0:43:32 > 0:43:36Now, this is what we call a drum teapot.
0:43:36 > 0:43:39And the date of this is about 1780.
0:43:39 > 0:43:43So it is an 18th-century piece of silver.
0:43:43 > 0:43:47I know the date of it because of the style.
0:43:47 > 0:43:49And the quality.
0:43:49 > 0:43:54And when we look at this engraving round here,
0:43:54 > 0:43:56this is bright-well engraving.
0:43:56 > 0:44:00And this is telling us that there is, again, quality to it.
0:44:00 > 0:44:02And in its time,
0:44:02 > 0:44:06it would have glittered like diamonds.
0:44:06 > 0:44:08And we look at the spout here.
0:44:08 > 0:44:10Again, it is very low in the teapot,
0:44:10 > 0:44:13and this is another indication of age.
0:44:13 > 0:44:17So all these little things are giving me hints,
0:44:17 > 0:44:21which will build up the whole picture.
0:44:21 > 0:44:24Now, why do you want to sell it now?
0:44:24 > 0:44:27We're thinking about emigrating in the near future,
0:44:27 > 0:44:30- so we need funds just to get us there.- Oh, right.
0:44:30 > 0:44:33And you think we are going to get more than a fiver on it?
0:44:33 > 0:44:36- If you get a tenner, I've doubled my money.- All right.
0:44:36 > 0:44:39Well, you are going to get more than a tenner for that.
0:44:39 > 0:44:44- Estimate, 100 to 150. Would you be happy to sell it at that?- Yes.- OK.
0:44:44 > 0:44:48100 to 150, a reserve of £100.
0:44:48 > 0:44:52And maybe give the auctioneer
0:44:52 > 0:44:54- just a little bit of discretion. - Yep.
0:44:54 > 0:44:58But I don't think you'll need it. I think this will do very well.
0:44:58 > 0:45:02- Thank you very much.- Thank you for bringing it along.- My pleasure.
0:45:02 > 0:45:05Now, some very unusual owls.
0:45:05 > 0:45:09Roy, thank you for bringing in this lovely pair of little pepper pots.
0:45:09 > 0:45:10You're welcome.
0:45:10 > 0:45:12How did you come by them?
0:45:12 > 0:45:15- I got them off the internet. - A long time ago?
0:45:15 > 0:45:17- About three weeks ago. - Three weeks ago!
0:45:17 > 0:45:20What was I doing... Why wasn't I paying attention?
0:45:20 > 0:45:23Do you buy a lot of silver on the internet, or...?
0:45:23 > 0:45:27I've just started buying silver, yeah.
0:45:27 > 0:45:30About six months ago.
0:45:30 > 0:45:32- Right.- Like, the babies' rattles
0:45:32 > 0:45:35and the Vesta cases and things like that.
0:45:35 > 0:45:37So what started you off?
0:45:37 > 0:45:42I just like buying animal objects, so if it's in the form of an animal,
0:45:42 > 0:45:43I'll buy it.
0:45:43 > 0:45:47When you bought them, what were they described to?
0:45:47 > 0:45:491952 was the date that the guy put on them,
0:45:49 > 0:45:52and just pepper pots, salt and pepper pots.
0:45:52 > 0:45:55Right. Well, if we have a look here, we've got
0:45:55 > 0:45:59a full set of hallmarks just tucked on the tail,
0:45:59 > 0:46:02and indeed, we've got hallmarks for 1952.
0:46:02 > 0:46:05- And Chester.- Yeah. - Chester is an assay office
0:46:05 > 0:46:09that, in the '40s and '50s, started to produce less and less silver.
0:46:09 > 0:46:11Right. Less was marked there, and in fact,
0:46:11 > 0:46:13it closed in the 1960s.
0:46:13 > 0:46:17So it's very unusual to get large novelty pieces marked that late.
0:46:17 > 0:46:19That's the first thing.
0:46:19 > 0:46:24And the second thing is, they're really good quality.
0:46:24 > 0:46:29They're copying the first novelty pepperettes in the form of owls,
0:46:29 > 0:46:31made by Charles Thomas and George Fox
0:46:31 > 0:46:34- in about 1840, 1850.- Yeah.
0:46:34 > 0:46:37Then towards the end of the 19th century,
0:46:37 > 0:46:39all these little pepper pots get much smaller.
0:46:39 > 0:46:41It's as if they're harking back
0:46:41 > 0:46:45- to the ones that were made 100 years ago.- Right.
0:46:45 > 0:46:48They are handmade, the feet are cast,
0:46:48 > 0:46:51and they're engraved to simulate feathers.
0:46:51 > 0:46:55I suppose the crucial question - well, two crucial questions -
0:46:55 > 0:46:58is, why do you want to sell them? Cos you bought them three weeks ago.
0:46:58 > 0:47:01- Cos they're not old enough. - They're not old enough for you!
0:47:01 > 0:47:04You're a puritan. You're a man after my own heart, Roy.
0:47:04 > 0:47:08And the other big question is, what did you pay for them?
0:47:08 > 0:47:10350.
0:47:10 > 0:47:16- 350 was not an unreasonable price to pay.- That's with postage.
0:47:16 > 0:47:18With postage and everything included.
0:47:18 > 0:47:20In fact, you probably couldn't go into a dealer's
0:47:20 > 0:47:23- and buy those for 350 today. - No.- So that's good value.
0:47:23 > 0:47:28Now, at auction, I think we would be sensible to put £300-500 on them,
0:47:28 > 0:47:30- and a fixed reserve of £300.- Yeah.
0:47:30 > 0:47:34And that gives them the best chance of getting up to that £500 mark.
0:47:34 > 0:47:36Right, OK.
0:47:36 > 0:47:40So if these do well, you want something earlier and smaller.
0:47:40 > 0:47:43I'm going to go on holiday with it.
0:47:43 > 0:47:45Oh, it's holiday!
0:47:45 > 0:47:48- I suppose you can't spend all your money on silver, can you?- No, no.
0:47:48 > 0:47:51They're lovely things, and they really are unusual at that date,
0:47:51 > 0:47:53so thank you so much for bringing them in,
0:47:53 > 0:47:56and I hope they fly away at the auction.
0:48:00 > 0:48:03Right, done a bit of research.
0:48:03 > 0:48:08It happens that one complete set, a set of 20, sold recently,
0:48:08 > 0:48:10in London, in auction,
0:48:10 > 0:48:13catalogued at £700 to £900,
0:48:13 > 0:48:15- and they made £600.- Right.
0:48:15 > 0:48:18- So, are you happy with £500?- Yeah.
0:48:18 > 0:48:20If I can get more, that would be better.
0:48:20 > 0:48:22Do you know what? Well, look,
0:48:22 > 0:48:24we'll put it in at £500 to £800,
0:48:24 > 0:48:26with an estimate of £500 to £800,
0:48:26 > 0:48:29a fixed reserve at £500, not a penny less,
0:48:29 > 0:48:32because we know one made £600 recently.
0:48:32 > 0:48:36But the technique used for painting these butterflies
0:48:36 > 0:48:39- and textiles, we said they were all hand-painted...- That's right.
0:48:39 > 0:48:41..is known as pochoir.
0:48:41 > 0:48:44- And it is basically paint going through stencils.- Pochoir.
0:48:44 > 0:48:47- I'm excited, aren't you excited? - I really am.- Good.
0:48:47 > 0:48:49And I hope they go to a good home.
0:48:49 > 0:48:52And I hope you get the top end as well. You see, you can learn
0:48:52 > 0:48:55so much on Flog It! I have learned something today. Pochoir.
0:48:55 > 0:48:57- Never heard about before. - No. Thank you very much.
0:48:57 > 0:48:59And that's a great example.
0:49:00 > 0:49:03Well, I have to say, everybody has thoroughly enjoyed themselves
0:49:03 > 0:49:06here in the Museum of Science and Industry.
0:49:06 > 0:49:07We've found some real gems.
0:49:07 > 0:49:10Sadly, it is time to say goodbye as we head over to the auction
0:49:10 > 0:49:14room in Knutsford, and put those last set of valuations to the test.
0:49:14 > 0:49:15Here is what is coming with us.
0:49:15 > 0:49:19Robert bought this Inuit carving directly from an auction house
0:49:19 > 0:49:21when no-one else wanted it.
0:49:21 > 0:49:24Now, will it set the auction room alight this time or will it
0:49:24 > 0:49:27be left out in the cold again?
0:49:27 > 0:49:31The English teapot is a classic design and, bought for just a fiver,
0:49:31 > 0:49:36what return do you think Jim will make on his charity shop bargain?
0:49:37 > 0:49:41And the owls cost Roy £350.
0:49:41 > 0:49:43Will they prove to be a wise investment?
0:49:46 > 0:49:48And I can't wait to see
0:49:48 > 0:49:52if the 1924 butterfly book metamorphoses into big money.
0:49:54 > 0:49:59I chatted to auctioneer Nick Hall about the stunning pochoir album.
0:49:59 > 0:50:03- Well, my favourite lot of the sale. - Are they, really?- Yes.
0:50:03 > 0:50:07- They're beautiful. - Kath's hand-coloured prints.
0:50:07 > 0:50:09- I mean, she was in the textiles industry.- Was she?
0:50:09 > 0:50:12When she left, she was given this. And if you look through the book,
0:50:12 > 0:50:14you can see, it's not about butterflies.
0:50:14 > 0:50:18- The inspiration was the colour of the butterfly.- Absolutely, yeah.
0:50:18 > 0:50:22- How it makes these wonderful patterns.- It's incredible.
0:50:22 > 0:50:24Now, she was offered £1,000 for these not so long ago.
0:50:24 > 0:50:27- That was a fair offer. - I would've taken it.
0:50:27 > 0:50:30- Yeah, I think I would, actually. - The people that have offered that
0:50:30 > 0:50:32- sort of money are coming to the sale tomorrow.- Yeah.
0:50:32 > 0:50:34Obviously, we've marketed this online.
0:50:34 > 0:50:36So hopefully, we'll have the right bidders here.
0:50:36 > 0:50:39- There'll be some competition. - There'll be competition.
0:50:39 > 0:50:42Whether we get that £1,000 she was offered, I don't know.
0:50:42 > 0:50:45Hopefully, we'll get around about £600 to £800.
0:50:45 > 0:50:47I feel confident we'll get that.
0:50:47 > 0:50:50- If everything is right in the world, Paul, they should do.- Good luck.
0:50:50 > 0:50:54- Thank you.- But the world of the auction can be a cruel one.
0:50:54 > 0:50:57Let's see whether the bidders are kind to our Inuit hunter.
0:50:57 > 0:51:00Michael and I have just been joined by Robert,
0:51:00 > 0:51:04who purchased this for £7.50 in an auction room in Dorset.
0:51:04 > 0:51:08We're hoping to get around £150 to £200 for this Inuit carving.
0:51:08 > 0:51:10It is a wonderful little fishermen, fishing away.
0:51:10 > 0:51:12I absolutely love it.
0:51:12 > 0:51:14I totally agree with Michael, it is
0:51:14 > 0:51:16a really hard thing to put a date on.
0:51:16 > 0:51:19Look for a bit of wear, but being stone, it's not that obvious.
0:51:19 > 0:51:24- It doesn't acquire a pattern.- No.- As to value, I haven't got a clue.- No.
0:51:24 > 0:51:27But what it does have is wonderful shape and form.
0:51:27 > 0:51:30It has got a lot to it and I can see why you were attracted to that.
0:51:30 > 0:51:33- If it doesn't sell, I'm quite happy to take it home.- I don't blame you.
0:51:33 > 0:51:35Let's find out what the bidders think.
0:51:35 > 0:51:38They might have a different idea. We could be making a lot of money.
0:51:38 > 0:51:40It is going into the hammer now.
0:51:40 > 0:51:42Lot 495.
0:51:42 > 0:51:45It's a mid-20th century Inuit figure.
0:51:45 > 0:51:48Rare things, these Inuit carvings. Where are we going to go?
0:51:48 > 0:51:50Have we got the buyers here today? I wonder.
0:51:50 > 0:51:53Start me, where, at £100? £100 for it somewhere, surely.
0:51:53 > 0:51:55Bring me the 100. 80. 50.
0:51:55 > 0:51:56Get the ball rolling at £50.
0:51:56 > 0:51:57Who's in at 50?
0:51:57 > 0:52:00Who's bidding on this lot? 50 online, thank you. 50 on bid.
0:52:00 > 0:52:02Any of the phones coming in?
0:52:02 > 0:52:04Someone's having a nibble on the lot.
0:52:04 > 0:52:06Any of the phones coming in, yes or no? At 50.
0:52:06 > 0:52:10Five with you, thank you. Back on the phone now. At £55.
0:52:10 > 0:52:13- Would you have a phone bid if you were only going to bid £55?- No.
0:52:13 > 0:52:16Quiet online. 60 against you. Five.
0:52:16 > 0:52:1970. That's 70 here, at 70.
0:52:19 > 0:52:2075. 80.
0:52:20 > 0:52:2280 now. 80 on bid. At 80.
0:52:22 > 0:52:2485 on the phone.
0:52:24 > 0:52:2695 with me. I'll take 100.
0:52:26 > 0:52:28That is 95 against you, phone bidder.
0:52:28 > 0:52:30It is yours at £100. The book's out.
0:52:30 > 0:52:33It's on the phone at £100.
0:52:33 > 0:52:34Any advance on £100?
0:52:34 > 0:52:38With you then, on the phones, at £100, and selling...
0:52:38 > 0:52:42- All sure and done? Last chance. - Hammer's gone down, £100.
0:52:42 > 0:52:43That's not a bad return, is it?
0:52:43 > 0:52:46We didn't get the top end, but for £7.50,
0:52:46 > 0:52:48we turned that into £100.
0:52:49 > 0:52:52I'm glad our fisherman caught a new owner.
0:52:52 > 0:52:54Now, high-calibre English silver.
0:52:54 > 0:52:56Well, I've just been joined by Jim.
0:52:56 > 0:53:00And going under the hammer right now, we've got a silver drum teapot
0:53:00 > 0:53:03with a value of £150 to £200, a reserve of £100.
0:53:03 > 0:53:06And all the money is going towards a trip, a trip of a lifetime.
0:53:06 > 0:53:09- In fact, you're emigrating, aren't you?- I am indeed.
0:53:09 > 0:53:11Well, look, good luck with that.
0:53:11 > 0:53:14- I hope so.- He's off to South Africa. Why South Africa?
0:53:14 > 0:53:16- That's where my partner comes from.- Oh, right!
0:53:16 > 0:53:18- We're going back to her roots. - So you've been there?- Oh, yeah,
0:53:18 > 0:53:21- I've been there a few times. - You'll be in safe hands,
0:53:21 > 0:53:22- you'll be looked after.- I hope so.
0:53:22 > 0:53:25- Are you selling everything you own in this country?- Everything.
0:53:25 > 0:53:27Everything's got to go, and this is a start.
0:53:27 > 0:53:30A silver drum teapot. Let's see what we can do.
0:53:30 > 0:53:32Let's see if we can get a couple of hundred pounds.
0:53:32 > 0:53:34It is going under the hammer now.
0:53:34 > 0:53:37Argyle-shaped teapot, classic Georgian design about it.
0:53:37 > 0:53:41Unmarked, but we think almost certainly will be silver.
0:53:41 > 0:53:44Where are we going to go? Start me at 150 for it.
0:53:44 > 0:53:46- Thanks, at 150.- Yes!
0:53:46 > 0:53:49- Silver dealers are there, you see? - Any advance from 150?
0:53:49 > 0:53:51At £150, the bids are in.
0:53:51 > 0:53:56On my left at 150. Any advance? 160 online. 170.
0:53:56 > 0:53:58170 now. Gent in the room at 170.
0:53:58 > 0:54:02170. It is against you online, come on, give me another.
0:54:02 > 0:54:05It is 170, yes or no? Is that it? Short and sweet.
0:54:05 > 0:54:08The bid is on my left, in the room, at £170.
0:54:08 > 0:54:10And selling...
0:54:10 > 0:54:14- Yes! £170. That's OK, isn't it? - Yeah.- Every penny helps.
0:54:14 > 0:54:18Must be a nice feeling, actually, thinking everything in your life,
0:54:18 > 0:54:21you'll sell, you want as much money for everything - the house, the car,
0:54:21 > 0:54:25the possessions. Get on a plane with just a suitcase full of clothes
0:54:25 > 0:54:28- and start a new life. - And a big suitcase full of money.
0:54:28 > 0:54:30And a big suitcase full of money, yeah.
0:54:32 > 0:54:35Now, Roy's owls.
0:54:35 > 0:54:39Something tells me Roy here has been doing a little bit of sort of
0:54:39 > 0:54:41- buying and sort of selling, a bit of speculating?- Yeah.
0:54:41 > 0:54:43Three weeks before the valuation day,
0:54:43 > 0:54:46- you purchased these two little silver owls.- I did, yeah.
0:54:46 > 0:54:48- For 300...?- 350.
0:54:48 > 0:54:51Which was sensible money, I think. I think that's bang-on.
0:54:51 > 0:54:54Let's just hope we get your money back and a little big of profit, OK?
0:54:54 > 0:54:56- Yeah.- OK, here we go. They're going under the hammer.
0:54:59 > 0:55:02Lot 575 is a pair of hallmarked silver pepper pots
0:55:02 > 0:55:05in the form of owls. These are rather fun, aren't they?
0:55:05 > 0:55:071952, '53.
0:55:07 > 0:55:09Right, who's going to start me at £300?
0:55:10 > 0:55:13- And a deathly silence fell. - Come on!- Yeah.
0:55:13 > 0:55:15A couple of wise old owls over there.
0:55:15 > 0:55:17Surely you'll start the bidding. 300?
0:55:17 > 0:55:19Couple of hundred to start me, then.
0:55:19 > 0:55:21Yes? 200, I have. At £200. 10.
0:55:21 > 0:55:24220. 230, 40, 50, 60,
0:55:24 > 0:55:2770. 280, 290, 300.
0:55:27 > 0:55:30300, front row, I've got. At £300, right at the back.
0:55:30 > 0:55:31At £300, only bid.
0:55:31 > 0:55:34Right at the front, seated bid at £300.
0:55:34 > 0:55:36- I said late Chester silver. - I know.
0:55:36 > 0:55:38..otherwise I'm selling them. At £300, front row
0:55:38 > 0:55:41will take them, then, at 300.
0:55:42 > 0:55:45- Cor, they struggled a bit.- Yeah. - Got them away, but...
0:55:45 > 0:55:48- You've lost a little bit. - Never mind. You learn.
0:55:48 > 0:55:52You've had the joy of owning them, though, and you've learned, exactly.
0:55:52 > 0:55:54And you can only learn by your knocks.
0:55:54 > 0:55:56No-one in this industry is born an expert.
0:55:56 > 0:55:57It's something you have to learn.
0:55:57 > 0:56:00If all I'd lost, Paul, was the difference between
0:56:00 > 0:56:03what Roy's paid and sold for, I'd be a happy man.
0:56:03 > 0:56:06And finally, the French designer book of butterflies.
0:56:06 > 0:56:09You told me at the valuation day you were offered £1,000 for
0:56:09 > 0:56:11- this a few years ago.- Yes.
0:56:11 > 0:56:14Now, I've talked you into putting it into the sale, you know,
0:56:14 > 0:56:16at a lot less than that, but I think...
0:56:16 > 0:56:19I just think, you know, opening it up to the market,
0:56:19 > 0:56:23letting the whole world know this is available, I think
0:56:23 > 0:56:25we could get some better offers.
0:56:25 > 0:56:28- Hopefully.- Hopefully. So, any regrets?
0:56:28 > 0:56:30Do you want to go through and sell this now?
0:56:30 > 0:56:33No, I just hope somebody can appreciate it instead of it being
0:56:33 > 0:56:35- wrapped up in brown paper in my wardrobe.- OK.
0:56:35 > 0:56:38So let's get on with the sale and see what this lot think. Good luck.
0:56:40 > 0:56:44Fantastic album of illustrations, papillons,
0:56:44 > 0:56:47the butterflies, by Eugene Alain Seguy.
0:56:47 > 0:56:50I've got commission bids. We've got phone bids.
0:56:50 > 0:56:53- I'm going to start straight in on reserve at 500 now.- Yes.
0:56:53 > 0:56:54At 500, on bid with me at five.
0:56:54 > 0:56:57At five. I've got 20 where? Who's in next?
0:56:57 > 0:56:59I've got five. I've got bids coming online.
0:56:59 > 0:57:01At five... 20, 40, 60, 80. Six.
0:57:01 > 0:57:0320, 40, 60, 80. Seven.
0:57:03 > 0:57:0520, 40, 60, 80. Eight.
0:57:05 > 0:57:07820, 840, 860, 880. Nine.
0:57:07 > 0:57:0920, 40, 960, 980.
0:57:09 > 0:57:11- 1,000.- We've done it.
0:57:11 > 0:57:14- 1,100.- You're off 1,000.
0:57:14 > 0:57:16- 1,250.- 1,250.- It's going online.
0:57:16 > 0:57:1913. 1,350. 14. 15. 1,500.
0:57:19 > 0:57:22- These butterflies are flying away! - And 50. 1,700.
0:57:22 > 0:57:25At £1,700, the bid is online at 1,700.
0:57:25 > 0:57:27The phones haven't had a look in yet.
0:57:27 > 0:57:30- We did the right thing putting it into auction.- At 1,750.
0:57:30 > 0:57:32- Still bidding on the phone? - I'm going hot and cold.
0:57:32 > 0:57:33At 1,850.
0:57:33 > 0:57:37These butterflies are flying online at £1,850.
0:57:37 > 0:57:391,900. Still going.
0:57:39 > 0:57:41- Don't stop there. - I've got butterflies.
0:57:41 > 0:57:431,950. Let's round it up, make it two.
0:57:43 > 0:57:45£2,000. The bid's online.
0:57:45 > 0:57:47At £2,000.
0:57:47 > 0:57:48Any advance on two?
0:57:48 > 0:57:51At 2,050. 2,050.
0:57:51 > 0:57:532,100. At £2,100.
0:57:53 > 0:57:57The bid is online still at 2,100. Commissions are out.
0:57:57 > 0:57:59- The phones are out. It's online.- Breathe.
0:57:59 > 0:58:012,150. 2,200.
0:58:01 > 0:58:04At £2,200.
0:58:04 > 0:58:06The bid is online. At £2,200.
0:58:06 > 0:58:09Anyone in the room waiting to come in, now is your chance to shine.
0:58:09 > 0:58:13It's 2,200 here. Who's in the room? Who's to bid? 2,250.
0:58:13 > 0:58:15Anyone coming in against it?
0:58:15 > 0:58:20- At 2,250. Online at 2,250.- £2,250.
0:58:20 > 0:58:23Any further bids? Last call, last chance.
0:58:23 > 0:58:26Selling away now at £2,250...
0:58:26 > 0:58:28All sure and done?
0:58:28 > 0:58:31£2,250!
0:58:31 > 0:58:35- And it is all yours!- Yes!- Obviously, there's commission to pay on that,
0:58:35 > 0:58:37but, wow, what a result!
0:58:37 > 0:58:41- What's going through your mind right now?- I don't know.
0:58:41 > 0:58:44- I'm blank.- I bet you are. You are speechless!- Yes, I am.
0:58:44 > 0:58:45Oh, but you know what?
0:58:45 > 0:58:48- We did do the right thing putting it into auction.- Absolutely.
0:58:48 > 0:58:50Well done. There's tears in your eyes.
0:58:50 > 0:58:51What a way to end the show here.
0:58:51 > 0:58:53I told you there'd be one or two surprises.
0:58:53 > 0:58:56If you've got anything like that, we want to see it.
0:58:56 > 0:58:58But until then, from Knutsford, it is goodbye
0:58:58 > 0:59:00from one very happy Kath and myself.
0:59:00 > 0:59:02Bye!