Essex 58 Flog It!


Essex 58

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Today, we're in Essex, and later on in the program,

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I'll be investigating one of the county's darkest stories -

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that of the Witchfinder General and how, even centuries later,

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people still claim to see unexplained things in this area.

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TWIG SNAPS

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(Did you hear that?)

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-HE LAUGHS

-Welcome to Flog It!

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'We'll be back following the story of the Witchfinder General

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'later on in the show,

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'but now it's time to head to today's valuation day location.

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'This is the impressive Layer Marney Tower,

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'just a few miles away, near Colchester,

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'Britain's oldest recorded town.'

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The house was built in 1518, and throughout the centuries,

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it's welcomed everyone from royalty to this lot -

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the great and the good of the surrounding area,

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hundreds of people who have turned up for our valuation day

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laden with antiques and collectibles.

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They're here to see our experts,

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and there's one question on everybody's lips...

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ALL: What's it worth?

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'We've got the crowd. They've got their items.

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'All we need now are our experts.

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'And we've got Elizabeth Talbot and Philip Serrell.'

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Elizabeth. What have you got? Oh-ho-ho! Look at that!

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-How much have you paid him?

-Oh, £1,000, £1,500, that's worth.

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What would you get for that? £2,000? £3,000?

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'Oh, that's priceless, Phil! Or do I mean worthless?

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'So, as everyone makes the way to the sunshine in the garden,

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'here's what's coming up in the next 45 minutes.

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'Today, we've got a spectacular Clarice Cliff coffee set

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'and a beautifully modelled bronze of an Alsatian dog.

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'Both have some damage. Now, the question is, will it hold them back?

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'Well, we'll find out later.'

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This magnificent building was designed and built by Henry Marney

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as what he'd hoped would be a grand castle on a rather large scale.

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But sadly, he died before his plans were completed -

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although, he did manage to oversee this wonderful, magnificent facade

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throughout his lifetime, which I am rather impressed with.

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Now, I wonder if we'll be suitably impressed

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with our experts' first find.

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Let's catch up with them.

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'Philip's eagle eye has provided us with our first item.'

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-Warm, innit?

-It's very warm.

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-Very, very, very, very warm.

-Extremely warm.

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-What have you brought, then?

-I've brought these glasses

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that belonged to my mother-in-law,

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who passed away just before Christmas.

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-Right.

-We found these just in a drawer.

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I just brought them along today because I didn't know what they were.

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-These are lovely, aren't they?

-They're beautiful.

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-Do you know what they're called?

-Uh, luminettes?

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-Lorgnettes.

-Lorgnettes.

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Which is derived from the French,

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which is "to squint or sideways look".

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-OK.

-And they were really, really popular.

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Sort of at masquerade balls and that side of thing,

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when you just want to... See, they're quite becoming.

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-These are an improvement, aren't they?

-Not for me, they're not.

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Oh, right, OK.

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-Say it the way it is, Jillian.

-Yep.

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They're probably turn of the last century,

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and the real key to these is whether they're gold or not.

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-Right.

-Cos there's no hallmark on them.

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If they're unmarked gold,

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they're going to just top the scales at £100.

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-You'd sort of estimate them at £80 to £120.

-Yeah.

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And if they are not gold and they're plated,

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-they're sort of 15 to 30 quid.

-Yeah.

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We don't have a gold testing kit here.

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I can't say whether they're gold or not. I think they are gold.

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-The but comes if they AREN'T gold.

-Right.

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-Do you still want to sell them?

-Well, yes. Yes.

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Well, what about this, then? If we ask the auctioneer to test them...

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-Yes.

-..and if they're gold, they put £80 to £120 on them,

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and if they're plate, we put 15 to 30 quid on them.

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-OK.

-Are you happy with that?

-I'm happy with that.

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There you are. That'll be exciting, to get to the auction

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-and find out what's what and where's where, won't it?

-OK.

-Good stuff.

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'Fingers crossed that Philip is right.

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'It's me next with something truly nostalgic.'

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I must say, I'm rather thrilled to be joined by Peter

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with Concorde memorabilia.

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I think this plane is so iconic. It's marvellous.

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And I just wish I had the chance to fly on it.

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-Did you ever fly Concorde?

-No, I didn't.

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I always wanted to. It was my wife's dream.

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But I paid for the tickets,

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and during the course of paying for the tickets,

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there was a crash in Paris, and now we never did get there.

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I got the money refunded,

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and after that, got a nice letter turn up saying

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that some memorabilia was going to be introduced - would I like it?

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Well, the thing is, now it's in the cupboard.

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I've got ten great-grandchildren, two at university,

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one's training to be a solicitor,

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one's at Brighton training to be an engineer,

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and they need some money to be helped,

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and now they've got to pay £9,000...

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So I thought, "You can't split it up."

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So, they could do with the money

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rather than what they could do with the memorabilia,

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and I thought every one of them would like to own it.

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I bet they would. I bet they would love to own this.

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-I mean,

-I

-would love to own it.

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I think this is as good as it gets for modern collectibles.

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This little model is fabulous.

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It's been signed by the chief Concorde pilot

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when Concorde was taken out of retirement - Mike Bannister.

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He had a lot to do with Concorde.

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I've seen these models on the market for sale

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at around about £150 without the signature.

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So, hopefully, the signature will nearly double that sort of money.

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-I'd like to think £200 to £300.

-Yes.

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But you've got a lot of other things here.

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I particularly like these. Look at that.

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I'd like to walk around with this. "This is my boarding pass!"

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-Keep one.

-But unfortunately, it doesn't fly any more.

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-I can't keep it!

-Keep one of them. There's more.

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No, no, no, no, no.

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We're putting them into auction as one lot, if that's OK with you,

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because I don't think this collection will be split up.

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I think somebody that's interested in Concorde

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will want to buy the whole package.

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Any idea of how much the complete package is worth?

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Because you've got an album there with photographs and cards

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with commemorative stamps, all signed by the British pilots.

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You've got boarding passes - unused.

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And you've also got some wonderful medals.

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I think anything what will help my children at university

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will be a bonus.

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Can we put it into auction with a valuation of around £200 to £300?

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-Yes.

-And see if it really does fly away?

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-Yes.

-I mean, hopefully, this will fly away literally.

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-That's a good expression. Yes.

-Did you...

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I can always remember watching TV in 2003 - it was November -

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seeing Concorde make its last journey,

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passing over Bristol and over Clifton Suspension Bridge.

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-Can you remember that on the news?

-Yes, I think I do.

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Wasn't that fabulous? And as a young boy, I grew up in Cornwall,

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and we lived in Falmouth,

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and at about 3:30 or 4:30 every afternoon,

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Concorde would fly over,

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and once he'd got about three or four miles out to sea,

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you'd hear this huge, great big boom.

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It would go supersonic then. Cos it flew subsonic over land.

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And it went, pow! And we went, "Yep."

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You could set your watch by it. Those Concordes.

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'I wish I could have been one of the lucky 2.5 million passengers

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'who flew supersonically on Concorde.

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'Concorde's fastest transatlantic crossing

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'was on 7th February in 1996,

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'when it completed the New York to London flight

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'in an unbelievable two hours, 52 minutes and 59 seconds.

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'Just a few years on,

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'the memorabilia associated with something like Concorde

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'is very collectible and a really good buy.

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'I very much doubt if it will go down in value as time goes by.

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'I hope the bidders share the same memories

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'of what was a first-class piece of aviation history.

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'Now over to Elizabeth in the garden,

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'who has found something for dog-lovers.'

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Mandy, you've struggled in with a very, very heavy dog today.

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-Yep.

-But handsome brute nonetheless. What can you tell me about him?

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It belongs to my mum. She was given it by her aunt about 30 years ago.

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-Right.

-And that's all I know.

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She wants to sell it because everybody in the family wants it.

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-Ah, she's being diplomatic?

-Yeah, everybody likes it

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and there's an argument over who's going to get it.

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Right. What particularly do you like about your dog?

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I love him. He's just got a lovely face to him

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and he's very well moulded and he looks really nice.

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Has he got a name? Has he been given a name in the family?

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-My daughter's named him Jimmy.

-Jimmy! That's nice.

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I notice the condition of the base, the marble base,

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has obviously suffered a little bit.

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Is that a historic kind of...?

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That's always been like it, far as I know.

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But the nice thing - it's still on its original base,

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and the reason that that's important is it does tell us on the front

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the name of the sculptor, the artist, who originally modelled it,

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and the title.

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So, the name of the sculptor was Chiparus,

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and he was very well known in the early part of the 20th century.

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He was born in Romania, but then travelled to Italy in 1909

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and spent some years there before moving to Paris,

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and he was studying under

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some very highly regarded sculptors of the day,

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and by 1914, he was putting on his own exhibitions

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of high-quality bronze sculptures, which attracted a lot of attention.

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He started off by... I think children were his early subjects,

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but of course, by the 1920s,

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he was very much at the forefront of the Art Deco era.

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-So, all the ladies?

-The ladies and the dancers, yes.

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-OK, yeah.

-So, you're familiar with those.

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His animal sculptures are not so well known.

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In a way, I think the figural ones

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tended to be what people remember him for.

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But this is a "chien policier", the police dog,

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and you get the feeling he really kind of knew this dog.

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-It's such a good study of a dog, isn't it?

-Mmm.

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-He's handsome, isn't he?

-Yeah.

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The condition it's in is a shame,

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but as I say, to my mind, it's the fact

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that it's in original, you know, untouched, unrestored condition,

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which will show the genuineness of this piece.

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He became so famous, so popular and his works became so valuable

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that over the last two or three decades, there have been copies

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and, you know, spurious figures coming onto the market.

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So it's all, you know, original, honest,

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and that's exactly what collectors want.

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So, I would say that...

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..a realistic pre-auction estimate in this condition

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-would be somewhere in the region of £200 to £300.

-Oh, right, yeah.

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-But if we put a £200 reserve on it...

-Yep, that's good, yeah.

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-..and then your mother's got peace of mind.

-Yep.

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And it's been well worth your carrying it through.

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-Yeah. Thank you very much.

-Thank you for bringing it in. It's lovely.

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'We always talk about the importance of the condition of items,

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'so it's going to be interesting to see what happens in this case.'

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Surrounded by people and antiques - that's what this show is all about,

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and I can guarantee, we're going to have one or two surprises right now,

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because our experts have made their first choice of items

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to take off to auction.

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You've heard what they've had to say.

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I've got my favourites, and I know you have too.

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But let's put it to the test in the sale room.

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Let's see what the bidders think,

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

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'The lorgnettes will be worth a decent amount

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'if they are gold and not just gold-plated.

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'We will find out at the auction house.

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'And I'm hoping that Peter's Concorde memorabilia

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'stirs some memories in the sale room.

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'And the bronze police dog by Chiparus

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'is bound to have broad appeal.'

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For today's auction, we've left Colchester

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and travelled to Rayleigh, which is just a few miles down the road.

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And I tell you what, the car park looks busy,

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so hopefully, it's going to be packed full of bidders

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going crazy for our first set of items.

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And this is where all the action is taking place -

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Stacey's Auction Room.

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'And the man in charge of the proceedings is Mark P. Stacey,

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'who's sharing the rostrum today with his brother Paul.

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'Before we look at the sale, let's find out

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'if the glittering lorgnettes are really gold.'

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I like these. I think they're very good quality.

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Jillian's folding spectacles.

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Now, Philip was unsure whether they were gold or not on the day.

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There's no hallmarks. But he couldn't test them.

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If they weren't gold, he was looking at sort of £15 to £30 for a plate.

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If they were gold, around £80 to £120.

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Good news, Paul - we've tested them, and they are gold.

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-They come out as being nine carat.

-Brilliant.

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So, with that in mind, £80 to £120 it is.

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OK. How do you go about testing something like that?

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-A tiny, tiny little bit of acid.

-Just literally drop a little bit on?

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Just a little bit on. If it comes up red, then we know it's gold.

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OK. OK. Well, look, good luck with those.

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-Has there been any interest?

-A little bit.

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-I'm hoping they'll do sort of the top end.

-OK.

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Who's likely to buy that? A collector of spectacles, or...?

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Generally, a collector will buy those.

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I don't think anyone's going to go to the optician's and buy them.

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-So, I think, in the main, it'll be just the collector, yeah.

-OK.

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'Well, that is good to know.

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'It makes the estimate £80 to £120, then.

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'And they are first up, so let's see how they do.'

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OK, all you ladies with a squint, this next one's for you -

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Jillian's lorgnettes.

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-I hope I pronounced that right.

-You did.

-"Lorn-YETS".

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Folding spectacles.

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-We had a look at them at the preview day yesterday.

-Yeah.

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I can remember at the valuation day you were unsure

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if they were gold or not, and you gave us a couple of valuations -

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£80 to £120 if they were gold.

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He's tested them - did a little acid test.

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-Oh, right.

-You can test them with a drop of acid.

-And?

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-It turns red - they're gold!

-Oh, brilliant!

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So you're bang-on - £80 to £120.

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-But these will definitely go to a collector.

-Yeah, absolutely.

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They really will. And hopefully there's a few right here right now,

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because it's going under the hammer. This is it. Good luck. Here we go.

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Lot 141. A pair of 19th-century spectacles, as catalogued.

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Three commission bids. Must start the bidding to clear the book at £95.

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< Trading at £95. £100 anywhere?

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£105.

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£110. I am out. At £110.

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£115 is a new bidder. Against you. £120.

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£125. £130.

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£135. £140.

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£145. £150.

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£155. £160.

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< £165. Oh, gosh!

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-When they hold their card up, they mean to buy it, don't they?

-Yeah.

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< £180. £185.

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£190. £200.

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< £210, please, sir?

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(£200!)

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On my left at £200. Fair warning. Last chances, then, please, at £200.

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-£200!

-That's just made ME squint.

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-Yeah!

-THEY LAUGH

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Isn't that a brilliant result? Absolutely brilliant.

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Quality! And quality always sells.

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If you've got anything like that, we would love to see it.

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Bring it along to one of our valuation days.

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And you can pick up details in the press

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or check our website - bbc.co.uk/flogit.

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Follow the links. All the information will be there.

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-And thank you so much for coming in.

-Thank you.

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-Enjoy the money, won't you?

-Rosebushes.

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-Oh, you're going to plant up rosebushes?

-Rosebushes, yes.

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-Are you a keen gardener?

-Oh, yes.

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-The Flog It! Rose.

-Flog It! rose.

-You can plant a Flog It! rose.

0:15:060:15:09

'Next, we have Mandy, who has a common predicament.'

0:15:100:15:13

What we have here is a family heirloom -

0:15:140:15:16

it belonged to Mum, but the kids are squabbling over it.

0:15:160:15:20

So it's got to go under the hammer.

0:15:200:15:21

I'm talking about that lovely bronze dog.

0:15:210:15:23

-Mandy, it's good to see you.

-Thank you.

0:15:230:15:25

-So, you've got an older brother?

-And a sister.

0:15:250:15:27

And a sister. So, I can understand you've got to split the sum.

0:15:270:15:29

-Yep.

-And I think that's the fair thing to do, don't you?

0:15:290:15:32

I mean, you must see this a lot as an auctioneer.

0:15:320:15:34

Yeah. It's kind of a sad scenario, but at the same time,

0:15:340:15:37

there is a solution to it which should satisfy everybody,

0:15:370:15:39

if that's the way they choose to do it.

0:15:390:15:41

So, hopefully it'll be a happy ending.

0:15:410:15:42

Fingers crossed we've got a big audience for this.

0:15:420:15:45

< A gilt bronze in the form of a German shepherd. Lovely bronze there.

0:15:450:15:50

Commission bids, two of them. Must start the bidding at £150.

0:15:500:15:53

£160 anywhere? Thank you, sir. £160. £170.

0:15:530:15:56

You're bidding £180. £180. £180 now.

0:15:560:15:59

Are we all done at £180? Commission bid's at £180.

0:15:590:16:01

Against you. One more, sir?

0:16:010:16:03

-£180. £190.

-Yes. Keep going.

-£190 with you.

0:16:030:16:05

The far back at £190. Coming on the phone at £190.

0:16:050:16:08

£200 on the phone. Telephone bid's at £200. Against you, sir.

0:16:080:16:11

You finished? At £200 now. Fair warning at £200.

0:16:110:16:15

-£200. Thank you for that.

-Just!

0:16:170:16:19

-That was a close one, that was.

-We are on a knife edge here, aren't we?

0:16:190:16:23

-I mean, we are on this one, let's face it.

-Very much so.

0:16:230:16:25

-That close, but we got it away. You're happy.

-Yep.

0:16:250:16:28

And the family's happy. It can all be divided up.

0:16:280:16:31

Once commission is taken out, which is 20%, inclusive of VAT here.

0:16:310:16:34

-Everyone's got to pay it.

-Yep.

-Then we can divide that up.

0:16:340:16:37

-Thank you for coming in.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much.

0:16:370:16:39

'Well, it has gone, and so has the problem of who was going to own it.'

0:16:390:16:43

Well, I've just been joined by Peter, our next owner,

0:16:430:16:47

and it really is chocks away for us.

0:16:470:16:49

I'm talking about that Concorde memorabilia,

0:16:490:16:51

and we're looking at £200 to £300.

0:16:510:16:53

Good luck with this. I think there's been a lot of interest.

0:16:530:16:56

Let's find out what the bidders think. Here we go. Look, Peter.

0:16:560:16:59

Let's watch it fly. This is it.

0:16:590:17:01

Lot 640. Lovely collection of Concorde memorabilia.

0:17:020:17:06

Bids clearing at £100. £110 anywhere?

0:17:060:17:09

£110. £120.

0:17:090:17:11

£130. £140.

0:17:110:17:13

£150. £160. £170.

0:17:130:17:16

£180. £190.

0:17:160:17:18

£200. £210. Your bid, sir, down the middle at £210.

0:17:180:17:21

£220 anywhere? Selling, then, at £210.

0:17:210:17:26

Yes! £210. We just got it away.

0:17:260:17:29

That was close, but it sold within estimate.

0:17:290:17:32

'Nice to see a young bidder, and he looks so pleased with what he got.'

0:17:340:17:39

Very happy with the price that I paid.

0:17:390:17:41

Probably would have gone higher. Really, really wanted it.

0:17:410:17:44

And I thought, because it was such an iconic aircraft,

0:17:440:17:46

it'd be a privilege to own a piece of history.

0:17:460:17:49

'That's great. He's over the moon.'

0:17:500:17:53

Done at £40?

0:17:540:17:55

Thank you. £42. £42 in the room again...

0:17:550:17:57

Did you know that Essex holds a rather dubious record?

0:17:570:18:00

Back in the 1600s, more so-called witches

0:18:000:18:04

were caught, tried and executed in this county

0:18:040:18:07

than anywhere else in the UK, and much of it was down to one man.

0:18:070:18:10

I went to Manningtree, which is just a few miles up the road,

0:18:100:18:13

to find out more.

0:18:130:18:15

'This is beautiful north Essex, a landscape of big skies,

0:18:250:18:28

'meandering rivers and quaint villages.

0:18:280:18:31

'But this peaceful rural idyll has a dark and disturbing history.'

0:18:320:18:36

SHOUTING

0:18:380:18:40

The 17th century was a turbulent time in our history.

0:18:420:18:45

There was a violent civil war

0:18:450:18:47

and clashes between Catholics and Protestants.

0:18:470:18:50

And amongst all the chaos,

0:18:500:18:51

old fears and superstitions about witchcraft and sorcery

0:18:510:18:55

began to resurface

0:18:550:18:57

and Essex became the epicentre of a witch-hunting frenzy.

0:18:570:19:01

'Between the years of 1645 and 1647,

0:19:040:19:08

'over 100 suspected witches were tried and executed,

0:19:080:19:11

'a gruesome record that made the county

0:19:110:19:14

'the most prolific killer of so-called witches

0:19:140:19:16

'in the British Isles.

0:19:160:19:18

'One man in particular became notorious

0:19:180:19:21

'for his involvement in the witch hunts - Matthew Hopkins.'

0:19:210:19:25

Matthew Hopkins was born in around 1620 in Great Wenham, in Suffolk.

0:19:270:19:32

As a young man, he moved here,

0:19:320:19:33

to the small market town of Manningtree in Essex,

0:19:330:19:36

which was at the heart of the Puritan community

0:19:360:19:39

in the east of England.

0:19:390:19:41

Now, at the time, witchcraft was a crime,

0:19:410:19:43

and Hopkins saw the opportunity to forge a new career hunting witches.

0:19:430:19:48

He essentially took the law into his own hands,

0:19:480:19:50

and his search for suspects started right here.

0:19:500:19:54

'Hopkins claimed to have overheard women in Manningtree

0:19:560:19:59

'discussing their secret meetings with the devil,

0:19:590:20:01

'and in 1645, he had the elderly widow Elizabeth Clarke imprisoned

0:20:010:20:06

'on suspicion of witchcraft.'

0:20:060:20:09

Hopkins employed methods of torture,

0:20:090:20:11

such as sleep deprivation and starvation,

0:20:110:20:13

to extract confessions.

0:20:130:20:15

At Elizabeth Clarke's trial, he swore on oath

0:20:150:20:19

that he witnessed four animals, allegedly possessed by demons,

0:20:190:20:23

visit her during his interrogation,

0:20:230:20:25

and as a result of Clarke's ordeal, she admitted to all the charges.

0:20:250:20:29

She was found guilty and hanged.

0:20:290:20:32

'Hopkins' gift for interrogation and persuasion

0:20:330:20:36

'made him a compelling figure,

0:20:360:20:37

'and to add weight to his authority as an investigator,

0:20:370:20:41

'he gave himself the title of Witchfinder General.

0:20:410:20:44

'He even claimed to have been appointed by Parliament.

0:20:440:20:48

'This soon meant he was in high demand

0:20:480:20:51

'in towns throughout the east of England,

0:20:510:20:53

'all of which were willing to pay handsomely

0:20:530:20:56

'to rid them of supposed witches.'

0:20:560:20:59

Many of those he accused were held here at Colchester Castle.

0:20:590:21:02

It looks pleasant enough today, surrounded by flowers.

0:21:020:21:05

It's a wonderful tourist attraction.

0:21:050:21:07

But back in the 17th century, this was a corrupt jail,

0:21:070:21:10

and the prisoners were kept in appalling conditions.

0:21:100:21:13

And for those who fell victim to Hopkins' accusations,

0:21:130:21:16

this was a place of terror, hell and desperation.

0:21:160:21:21

Now, this is Mistley, just a short distance from Manningtree,

0:21:310:21:34

where Hopkins lived.

0:21:340:21:35

Now, local legend has it this lake was used by Hopkins

0:21:350:21:39

for his infamous "swimming trials".

0:21:390:21:41

'Suspects were tied up and thrown into the water.

0:21:410:21:45

'If they floated, they were guilty of witchcraft,

0:21:450:21:47

'at which point, they were taken away and executed.

0:21:470:21:51

'If they sank, they were hauled out and subjected to a formal trial.'

0:21:510:21:56

Either way, if Hopkins accused you of something,

0:21:560:21:59

the outlook was pretty grim.

0:21:590:22:01

'I met up with Professor Malcolm Gaskill

0:22:020:22:05

'of the University of East Anglia, expert on the history of witchcraft,

0:22:050:22:09

'to find out more about Matthew Hopkins.

0:22:090:22:12

What gave Matthew Hopkins his authority?

0:22:120:22:15

Well, he didn't really have any authority.

0:22:150:22:17

Some people said that he had the authority of Parliament,

0:22:170:22:19

but, really, this was during the English Civil War,

0:22:190:22:22

and the world was turned upside down and the law had been disturbed,

0:22:220:22:25

and he just took it upon himself, really.

0:22:250:22:27

And in those times, it was possible to do that.

0:22:270:22:30

Did he have a particular type of victim that he would go for?

0:22:300:22:33

Well, they tended to be the most vulnerable members of the community.

0:22:330:22:36

So, the poor and the elderly.

0:22:360:22:39

People that couldn't defend themselves and speak up?

0:22:390:22:42

Yeah, absolutely. And especially women.

0:22:420:22:44

But when we say "his victims",

0:22:440:22:45

of course, it actually took quite a lot of people

0:22:450:22:47

to accuse somebody of witchcraft for it to be successful legally.

0:22:470:22:51

So it wasn't just him - he was basically feeding on the suspicions

0:22:510:22:55

and the anxieties of all the local people around him.

0:22:550:22:58

What do you think his motives were?

0:22:580:23:00

Well, people even at the time,

0:23:000:23:01

his critics said that he was just motivated by the lust for money.

0:23:010:23:05

Some people said it was actually a kind of a perversion on his part.

0:23:050:23:10

But I think if we understand the context of the time -

0:23:100:23:13

he was the son of a godly clergyman -

0:23:130:23:15

I think actually, as unpalatable as it might seem,

0:23:150:23:18

he thought he was doing the right thing

0:23:180:23:20

and it was a sincere crusade against what he saw

0:23:200:23:23

as the spread of the devil and of evil in these parts.

0:23:230:23:26

'But how did Matthew Hopkins meet his own end?'

0:23:280:23:32

Some people believe that Hopkins himself was actually subjected

0:23:320:23:35

to the same tortures and punishments

0:23:350:23:37

that he'd inflicted upon the witches,

0:23:370:23:39

you know, at the height of his campaign.

0:23:390:23:41

But it's actually said he was brought to a pond -

0:23:410:23:43

probably this one here -

0:23:430:23:45

and was thrown into the water to see if he'd float or if he would...

0:23:450:23:49

-Go straight to the bottom?

-..sink, yeah.

0:23:490:23:51

You know, and then was hauled out, or drowned.

0:23:510:23:53

There's different versions of the story you find in folklore.

0:23:530:23:55

-Why was HE subjected to it?

-Well, I don't think he was.

0:23:550:23:58

There's no evidence that he actually was.

0:23:580:23:59

He probably almost certainly died of tuberculosis,

0:23:590:24:02

just kind of faded away, but it makes a better story.

0:24:020:24:04

Do you think, because there's no definite conclusion, really,

0:24:040:24:07

to what happened,

0:24:070:24:09

do you think that's why this story and other stories like this

0:24:090:24:11

-continue to get told?

-Yeah, definitely.

0:24:110:24:13

The stories that we have inside us

0:24:130:24:15

need a beginning and a middle and an end,

0:24:150:24:17

and I think, given the sense of injustice

0:24:170:24:19

of what happened round here,

0:24:190:24:21

the, sort of, local trauma

0:24:210:24:22

of so many people being arrested and executed,

0:24:220:24:24

there's a very strong need to tell the story in a certain way,

0:24:240:24:27

and I think that explains why there are so many legends,

0:24:270:24:30

and also why there are so many ghost stories associated with round here -

0:24:300:24:33

both ghost sightings of Hopkins and also of his victims.

0:24:330:24:36

-Well, I'll keep an eye out.

-PROFESSOR GASKILL LAUGHS

0:24:360:24:39

'Whatever the truth behind the stories, there is no doubt

0:24:410:24:44

'that in just three short years,

0:24:440:24:46

'Hopkins' career as Witchfinder General

0:24:460:24:48

'destroyed many innocent lives

0:24:480:24:51

'and tore families and communities apart.'

0:24:510:24:54

And what about the final part of the legend?

0:24:540:24:56

Well, like the truth about his death,

0:24:560:24:59

this place is more ordinary and less dramatic

0:24:590:25:01

than a storyteller would have hoped for.

0:25:010:25:04

These are the overgrown foundations of Mistley Heath Church,

0:25:040:25:07

where, it is believed, Hopkins was buried.

0:25:070:25:10

It's unlikely that the truth about Hopkins's death will ever be known,

0:25:100:25:15

but as we've just seen, from the simplest foundations,

0:25:150:25:17

rich folk history can build.

0:25:170:25:20

And I'm sure you'll agree it's a fascinating yet gruesome story

0:25:200:25:24

which is going to be told for generations to come.

0:25:240:25:27

Welcome back to our valuation day

0:25:390:25:40

here at the magnificent Layer Marney Tower,

0:25:400:25:43

just outside of Colchester.

0:25:430:25:44

As you can see, it's still in full swing,

0:25:440:25:46

hundreds of people waiting to see our experts,

0:25:460:25:49

hoping they're going to be one of the lucky ones

0:25:490:25:51

to go through to the auction later on.

0:25:510:25:52

So let's now catch up with Elizabeth Talbot.

0:25:520:25:55

It's not as though we need any more light shedding on today,

0:25:560:25:59

on this bright, sunny day,

0:25:590:26:00

but you have brought a lovely light fitting.

0:26:000:26:02

What can you tell me about it?

0:26:020:26:04

Well, I spotted it when I was on holiday in Dorset,

0:26:040:26:07

and I used to have a very old listed cottage,

0:26:070:26:09

and I just fell in love with it,

0:26:090:26:11

thought it was very ornate and pretty,

0:26:110:26:12

and thought I'd buy it for my cottage.

0:26:120:26:15

I do buy a lot of items,

0:26:150:26:16

and I just thought it was really lovely and original.

0:26:160:26:19

And did you instate it, install it in your cottage?

0:26:190:26:21

We did actually fix it to one of the beams,

0:26:210:26:23

but we didn't actually wire it up.

0:26:230:26:24

-OK.

-So we didn't actually have it working.

0:26:240:26:26

So it looked as though it could have possibly shed light, but didn't. OK.

0:26:260:26:30

So, did you actually have it rewired at all?

0:26:300:26:32

No, that was like that when I bought it. Yeah.

0:26:320:26:34

Cos obviously, what we have here is a late Victorian brass...

0:26:340:26:38

..what was originally a gas-fired light.

0:26:380:26:40

It would have hung from the ceiling, as you say,

0:26:400:26:43

and it has sort of a swivelling, gimballed end here

0:26:430:26:46

so it could be slightly adjusted,

0:26:460:26:47

and then the flow of gas would have been, obviously, operated

0:26:470:26:52

from the little stop-cap there.

0:26:520:26:54

But on and off would have been used by operating the pulley,

0:26:540:26:56

sort of, the seesaw pulley on the chains there.

0:26:560:27:00

In more recent times, it's been converted to electric

0:27:000:27:03

for usage in modern houses.

0:27:030:27:05

And the only other comment I'd make is that the shade,

0:27:050:27:08

which is very pretty in its own right, is more of a 1930s type.

0:27:080:27:10

Yes. I didn't think it was the original.

0:27:100:27:12

-But it complements it.

-It just looks pretty on there, yeah.

0:27:120:27:15

So, have you have you no place for it in your current abode?

0:27:150:27:18

No, 'cause unfortunately, I had to give up my cottage that I lived in,

0:27:180:27:21

and I've moved to a more modern house, which it doesn't suit at all.

0:27:210:27:24

-Suit it at all?

-No.

0:27:240:27:26

And also, to be fair, you need a degree of ceiling height

0:27:260:27:28

to allow that to fall from the ceiling

0:27:280:27:30

and not bang your head on it.

0:27:300:27:32

I mean, certainly, architectural features such as this

0:27:320:27:34

which have been reclaimed from old properties

0:27:340:27:36

and converted, made good so they can be put to modern usage are popular.

0:27:360:27:40

So, the market at the moment

0:27:400:27:42

is still very receptive to things like this.

0:27:420:27:44

Having said that, this model is not rare.

0:27:440:27:46

They were produced in vast quantities.

0:27:460:27:48

And so it's not a scarcity, it's just a very nice example.

0:27:480:27:51

And have you an idea of value? Or do you remember what you paid for it?

0:27:510:27:54

I think I might, about 15 years ago, have paid about £35.

0:27:540:27:58

-But I've no idea what the value is today.

-And that was for a shop?

0:27:580:28:00

That was, erm, yeah, a little gadget, sort of antiquey second-hand shop.

0:28:000:28:06

So, when it comes to value, realistically,

0:28:060:28:07

we should be looking at an estimate of about £30 to £50,

0:28:070:28:10

which is the kind of value you paid for it when you bought it,

0:28:100:28:12

but from a shop.

0:28:120:28:14

I think if you bought this from a shop now,

0:28:140:28:16

you'd be paying another 50% to 100% on top of that.

0:28:160:28:18

So, it has gone up in real terms - it's just that to sell it at auction

0:28:180:28:21

is slightly different from buying from a shop.

0:28:210:28:23

-But if you're happy with that valuation...

-Yeah, that's fine.

0:28:230:28:25

And if we put a reserve on it at the lower end, at, sort of, £30?

0:28:250:28:28

-£30, yeah, that's fine.

-Do you want that firm or...

0:28:280:28:31

-No, that can be discretion.

-Discretion? OK.

0:28:310:28:33

But hopefully, we won't need it.

0:28:330:28:35

And, yes, thank you so much for bringing it along. It's been lovely.

0:28:350:28:39

'It may be a marriage, but it makes a pretty good period piece.'

0:28:390:28:43

While our experts are hard at work,

0:28:460:28:48

I'm also on the lookout for items of furniture.

0:28:480:28:50

My passion is wood.

0:28:500:28:52

I love it in the cut and felled form,

0:28:520:28:54

but also in the living, organic form.

0:28:540:28:56

And here is a wonderful example of - can you guess what this tree is?

0:28:560:28:59

It's a tulip tree.

0:28:590:29:01

They can only flower after ten years of first planting them,

0:29:010:29:03

and I'd say this one is around about 150 years old.

0:29:030:29:07

But tulipwood is a wonderful veneer

0:29:070:29:09

used throughout the 17th century on fine pieces of furniture,

0:29:090:29:12

which really, really does correlate with such a magnificent house.

0:29:120:29:15

I wonder if we can find anything made of tulipwood here today.

0:29:150:29:17

Who knows?

0:29:170:29:19

'Back over to Philip, who has found something rather sweet.'

0:29:210:29:25

-How are you, Anne?

-I'm very hot today.

0:29:270:29:28

-Very, very hot?

-But it's a lovely day.

0:29:280:29:31

Well, this is an ideal day for strawberries and cream,

0:29:310:29:33

-and we've got the old sugar sifter, haven't we?

-Yes.

0:29:330:29:35

How long have you had this?

0:29:350:29:37

Erm, nearly 60 years, cos it was a wedding present.

0:29:370:29:39

It's a beautiful thing. Why have you made up your mind it's time to go?

0:29:390:29:42

Because it's not very practical for today's living, really.

0:29:420:29:47

We don't use it. We used to use it quite a bit. But not any more.

0:29:470:29:51

-That's dining in style, isn't it?

-Well, yes.

0:29:510:29:53

-Now, do you know what these hallmarks mean?

-No, I don't.

0:29:530:29:57

-If we look there...

-Yep.

0:29:570:29:59

..that P is a date code,

0:29:590:30:02

-which I think is around 1910, something like that.

-Right.

0:30:020:30:05

-That's a leopard's head.

-Yep.

0:30:050:30:07

And that tells us that this was assayed in London.

0:30:070:30:10

There were assay offices in Sheffield, Birmingham, London,

0:30:100:30:14

and that's where, to prove that something is silver,

0:30:140:30:18

you sent it to the assay office, you had to pay for it,

0:30:180:30:21

and they stamped it just like this,

0:30:210:30:23

-and that's basically your hallmark to say that it's silver.

-Right.

0:30:230:30:26

So if you turn it up, on the bottom, it's got...

0:30:260:30:30

.."Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company, Regent Street, London."

0:30:300:30:34

-Right.

-You don't want better than that, do you?

0:30:340:30:36

-Oh. Well, that sounds good.

-That is the best.

0:30:360:30:38

They were set up in 1880,

0:30:380:30:40

and I think in 1952, they merged with Garrard,

0:30:400:30:42

so you've got the best retailers' name.

0:30:420:30:44

And they were the best. This is a wonderful quality thing.

0:30:440:30:48

-Oh, right.

-So, now, we've got to decide what it's worth.

0:30:480:30:50

-This has an intrinsic value as an item.

-Yes.

0:30:500:30:53

But almost in a way, the base price of this

0:30:530:30:56

-is the scrap value of silver.

-Mmm.

0:30:560:30:58

-So, what we do...

-Yep.

0:30:580:31:00

..is we get some scales out...

0:31:000:31:02

..and we just put that on there... like that.

0:31:040:31:07

I think they've given me the heaviest elastic band in the world.

0:31:070:31:10

-Oh, right.

-OK? And then we just get that up there like that, look.

0:31:100:31:13

I thought it was about 9oz, but the old scales are showing up at 10.2,

0:31:130:31:17

and it always pays to be a little bit cautious.

0:31:170:31:20

So, you know, it's between, I would say, roughly 9 and 9½ ounces.

0:31:200:31:23

I don't think my hands are that steady when I'm supporting it, so...

0:31:230:31:27

-But it gives us a clue. That's the point.

-Yes. OK.

0:31:270:31:29

-9oz. There we are.

-OK.

0:31:290:31:31

And we know that silver is very roughly

0:31:310:31:34

about £10 an ounce at the minute - between £10 and £12 an ounce.

0:31:340:31:37

-Oh. Right.

-And I think an auction estimate for this is in the...

0:31:370:31:42

..and this is a base price - is £80 to £120.

0:31:420:31:45

Might make £100 to £150.

0:31:450:31:47

But I do want £100 for reserve.

0:31:470:31:51

Right. Here's the simple question. Do you want to sell it?

0:31:510:31:54

-Well, yes.

-Right.

0:31:540:31:55

Then how about if you put an estimate on it of £100 to £150

0:31:550:32:00

and you put a reserve on it at £100,

0:32:000:32:01

but you give the auctioneer 10% discretion?

0:32:010:32:04

-OK.

-All right? So that he's got £10 he can play with if he wants to.

0:32:040:32:09

But I think...I'd be disappointed if he needed it,

0:32:090:32:11

cos I think that's a really stylish thing.

0:32:110:32:13

-Yes. It's a lovely shape.

-It is, yeah.

0:32:130:32:16

I think our silver sugar sifter is going to go to auction

0:32:160:32:19

and we're going to get the sweet smell of success.

0:32:190:32:22

Good. I hope so.

0:32:220:32:23

'It's a good-quality item, so there's no reason why not.

0:32:230:32:27

'Now over to Elizabeth, who's also found something stylish.'

0:32:270:32:31

-Reenie, hello.

-Hello.

0:32:310:32:33

You've made a real highlight for my day today

0:32:330:32:36

by bringing in this lovely Clarice Cliff.

0:32:360:32:38

What is the history behind this set?

0:32:380:32:42

Well, my husband, his brother and sister bought it

0:32:420:32:45

for their mother's and father's silver wedding.

0:32:450:32:49

-And when was that?

-In 1932.

0:32:490:32:51

-Really?

-Yes.

-And where did they buy it from?

0:32:510:32:54

-From the Ideal Home Exhibition.

-OK.

0:32:540:32:57

So, they were buying very fashionable things in those days

0:32:570:33:01

-to make a very special present.

-Mm-hm.

0:33:010:33:03

I suppose the family have lost any idea

0:33:030:33:06

of how much they paid for it at that time.

0:33:060:33:09

-I don't know.

-No, they wouldn't know.

0:33:090:33:10

-So, you have inherited it through the family?

-Yes. Yeah.

0:33:100:33:14

-And do you like it?

-REENIE CHUCKLES

0:33:140:33:17

Well, we've always looked after it.

0:33:170:33:20

Well, I used to let the children play with it.

0:33:200:33:22

-Oh, did you?

-THEY BOTH LAUGH

0:33:220:33:24

So, like a little tea set to have a bit of a play with?

0:33:240:33:26

-But do you like it, though?

-Yes, we like it, yes.

0:33:260:33:30

-It's different, yes.

-It's definitely different.

0:33:300:33:32

We've always kept it, you know, in a cabinet.

0:33:320:33:35

Well, they were obviously buying it in a very important era,

0:33:350:33:39

both in terms of Clarice Cliff's own career

0:33:390:33:42

and also in terms of the height of fashion

0:33:420:33:45

that she was producing for at that stage.

0:33:450:33:48

So, what we have here is a set which is called the Bonjour shape,

0:33:480:33:53

and the pattern, very appropriately for today,

0:33:530:33:56

is called the Summer House pattern.

0:33:560:33:58

-Oh, yes?

-And it's part of the Fantasque range that she made.

0:33:580:34:02

But what's important about this from a collector's point of view

0:34:020:34:05

is the angular elements to it -

0:34:050:34:08

so, the handles,

0:34:080:34:09

the solid, blocked-in, triangular handles on the cups,

0:34:090:34:12

this amazing triangular-section spout,

0:34:120:34:15

and of course, the handle on the coffee pot,

0:34:150:34:17

which is also triangular.

0:34:170:34:19

And all these elements to the milk jug and the sugar basin

0:34:190:34:22

all reflecting this very Art Deco feeling that was introduced

0:34:220:34:27

in all of the high-end design in the 1920s and '30s.

0:34:270:34:30

Now, they were buying this in 1930...?

0:34:300:34:32

-Well, as far as I know, in 1932.

-Yes. OK.

0:34:320:34:36

So, that would tie in beautifully.

0:34:360:34:38

Now, I can't help noticing that,

0:34:380:34:40

probably through the play of the children, I don't know,

0:34:400:34:42

there are one or two little hairline cracks and chips.

0:34:420:34:44

That's the trouble. I'd let them play tea parties.

0:34:440:34:47

Well, all I can say is that it's kind of a shame,

0:34:470:34:49

but it adds to the story, it's all part of its history.

0:34:490:34:52

You've brought it along today

0:34:520:34:54

because you decided that it's time to part with it?

0:34:540:34:56

-Yes, in a way.

-And have you any idea of its potential value?

0:34:560:35:01

-Do you know what it might be worth?

-Not really.

0:35:010:35:03

I know they were worth a good bit a year or two back,

0:35:030:35:06

but not quite so much now.

0:35:060:35:08

You're quite right. Things have settled down and come backwards a little bit.

0:35:080:35:11

There was such an explosion of interest

0:35:110:35:13

and the values were so high two or three years ago,

0:35:130:35:16

it kind of had to give way a little bit.

0:35:160:35:18

But I think it's just the elements of distress

0:35:180:35:21

which are visible on some of the pieces

0:35:210:35:23

which will keep that value, sort of, reined in a bit.

0:35:230:35:26

I think that we should really be looking

0:35:260:35:28

at an open market value at auction of between...

0:35:280:35:32

..I'd have thought £800 and £1,200 for it.

0:35:320:35:35

-Mm-hm.

-Um...

0:35:350:35:37

It is a very specialist market.

0:35:370:35:40

There is enough here, I think, to draw a lot of attention,

0:35:400:35:43

and despite the damage, I would hope it would make that sort of money.

0:35:430:35:47

-Yes.

-So, we place a reserve on it at £800,

0:35:470:35:51

if that's all right and suitable for you.

0:35:510:35:53

-Yeah.

-Hopefully it will make somewhere above £800.

0:35:530:35:56

-Yes, OK.

-Wonderful.

0:35:560:35:58

Well, thank you so much for packing it up

0:35:580:36:00

and bring it safely to us today.

0:36:000:36:01

-It's lovely to see it.

-That's all right. We've enjoyed ourselves.

0:36:010:36:04

'What a lovely lady, and I like the design. It's rather chic.'

0:36:040:36:09

What a fabulous day we've had here at Layer Marney Tower.

0:36:110:36:14

We have found some real gems worthy of such historic settings,

0:36:140:36:18

and I know everybody's thoroughly enjoyed themselves, haven't you?

0:36:180:36:21

But right now, we've got some unfinished business,

0:36:210:36:23

so it's time to say goodbye to Layer Marney Tower

0:36:230:36:25

as we head over to the auction room for the very last time.

0:36:250:36:28

And here's our experts' choices to be put under the hammer.

0:36:280:36:31

'Elizabeth spotted this converted gas light fitting,

0:36:310:36:35

'which is highly decorative.

0:36:350:36:37

'Philip is hoping for the sweet smell of success,

0:36:380:36:41

'and I think he will get it from this silver sugar shaker.

0:36:410:36:45

'And finally, we have this cracking Clarice Cliff coffee set,

0:36:460:36:49

'which should bring the collectors out in force.

0:36:490:36:53

'We're back in Rayleigh, at Stacey's Auctioneers,

0:36:570:36:59

'where today's sale is taking place.

0:36:590:37:02

'Before the auction started, I had a chat with auctioneer Mark

0:37:020:37:06

'about Reenie's coffee set.'

0:37:060:37:08

Now, you know I'm not a big Clarice Cliff fan,

0:37:090:37:11

but when I see this, I kind of like it,

0:37:110:37:14

because I know it's rare - the Summer House pattern.

0:37:140:37:17

And you don't see this every day of the week.

0:37:170:37:19

Lovely coffee set. There's a tiny bit of damage.

0:37:190:37:22

We've got £800 to £1,200 on this.

0:37:220:37:24

-And this was bought at the Ideal Home Exhibition in 1932.

-Really?

0:37:240:37:28

So, you see, it's got great history. It's got everything going for it.

0:37:280:37:30

I agree with you, Paul. Great pattern.

0:37:300:37:32

One problem I do have is the lid - it's not the right lid.

0:37:320:37:35

If you have a look at it and have a play around with it...

0:37:350:37:38

-LID JIGGLES

-Yeah, far too small, isn't it?

0:37:380:37:40

And it's also got an orange band.

0:37:400:37:42

So, it should be a yellow band, as the same as the saucers.

0:37:420:37:45

-We didn't pick up on that.

-So that's a little bit of a problem.

0:37:450:37:48

But in saying that, it's a rare pattern, it's still going to sell.

0:37:480:37:51

We've got a huge amount of collectors for this Clarice Cliff,

0:37:510:37:53

and it's going to make £1,200 plus.

0:37:530:37:56

So, despite the wrong lid,

0:37:560:37:58

-it's going to do the top end of our estimate?

-No problem.

0:37:580:38:00

OK, if it had the right lid, what, £1,800, then?

0:38:000:38:03

I would hope so, yeah. Yeah. But it makes a big difference.

0:38:030:38:06

It does, doesn't it, actually?

0:38:060:38:07

-Unless you're colour-blind.

-HE LAUGHS

0:38:070:38:10

'We didn't spot the problem with the lid,

0:38:110:38:12

'but it sounds like it's still one to watch.

0:38:120:38:15

'First, though, we have the light fitting up for sale.'

0:38:150:38:18

Going under the hammer right now,

0:38:180:38:20

we've got a vintage converted gas lamp.

0:38:200:38:22

It belongs to Carol, who, I think, has got a good eye for detail.

0:38:220:38:26

-Haven't you?

-Yeah.

-And you've bought a lot from old salvage yards.

0:38:260:38:28

I have. I had an old cottage and was always on the lookout for things.

0:38:280:38:32

-Yeah. And it's great fun, isn't it?

-I love it, yeah.

0:38:320:38:35

-Elizabeth.

-Yes?

-Is this a difficult thing to sell?

0:38:350:38:38

You need the right person with an eye for it, as were the case.

0:38:380:38:40

If you've got the spot for it,

0:38:400:38:42

it's a perfect original feature for an interior.

0:38:420:38:44

So it might prove difficult,

0:38:440:38:46

but at the money, it's a good buy, for an original.

0:38:460:38:48

It's a good buy for the money.

0:38:480:38:49

But as Elizabeth said, we need somebody with imagination.

0:38:490:38:52

< A brass gas lamp as catalogued. £20 to start.

0:38:520:38:58

£20 is bid. £22. £25.

0:38:580:39:00

At £25 now. Any advances? £25 for the last time.

0:39:000:39:04

Are we all done at £25?

0:39:040:39:06

-£28.

-Oh!

-Just. Ooh! We're going to do it.

0:39:060:39:09

-We need £30, don't we?

-Dealer's discretion.

0:39:090:39:11

£28 now and selling.

0:39:110:39:13

-It's gone.

-Good. Well done.

-You've decluttered, haven't you?

0:39:150:39:18

It doesn't suit the house. It's best sold to a collector.

0:39:180:39:21

Good. I'm glad somebody will have use for it.

0:39:210:39:23

'Well, that's right - if it's not being used or enjoyed, move it on.'

0:39:230:39:27

Going under the hammer right now, we have a silver sugar shaker.

0:39:320:39:34

It's Edwardian, but it's in the Queen Anne style,

0:39:340:39:37

and it belongs to Anne, who I know is feeling a little bit nervous,

0:39:370:39:39

because this is your first auction, isn't it?

0:39:390:39:41

-Really, it is.

-An antique auction.

-Yes.

0:39:410:39:43

But look, fingers crossed we get this away.

0:39:430:39:45

-Cos this is for charity.

-All the money's going to charity?

0:39:450:39:48

Can you remind us which charity again?

0:39:480:39:49

-Farleigh Hospice, near Chelmsford.

-OK.

-For a very dear friend.

0:39:490:39:53

OK. And are you involved with this charity?

0:39:530:39:55

No, I'm not, but she was,

0:39:550:39:56

and raised thousands of pounds on sponsored walks,

0:39:560:39:59

and we lost her last year.

0:39:590:40:01

-Oh, that's sad.

-I hope it does really well for you.

0:40:010:40:03

Yes. Good luck, both of you.

0:40:030:40:05

< We have a Queen Anne-style silver sugar sifter, as catalogued.

0:40:060:40:10

< Commission bids, I have. Must start the bidding at £80.

0:40:100:40:13

£85 anywhere? Are we all done, then, at £80 only?

0:40:130:40:16

Cheap lot. And I shall sell, then, at 80 pou...

0:40:160:40:18

£85, thank you. £90.

0:40:180:40:20

£95. £100. £110.

0:40:200:40:21

£120. £130. £130 on the commission against you at the back.

0:40:210:40:25

That was a nice little climb. Very quickly.

0:40:250:40:28

Last chance, then, please, at one hun...

0:40:280:40:30

Come again? £140. New bidder. I'm out.

0:40:300:40:32

Commission bid's now at £140. £140 on my left.

0:40:320:40:35

At £140. Hammer's going down.

0:40:350:40:38

-That's a good result.

-I think that sold well.

0:40:380:40:40

-Good-looking thing, though.

-Got a good result?

0:40:400:40:42

-Yes, I'm pleased.

-£140. Happy?

-Yes, I am.

-Good, good.

0:40:420:40:46

'A good amount of money for the hospice. I am so pleased.

0:40:470:40:50

'Now here's Reenie with her lovely coffee set.'

0:40:500:40:52

Well, I know we always say it, but Clarice Cliff doesn't let us down.

0:40:540:40:58

It is one of our old favourites,

0:40:580:41:00

and we've got a lot coming up for you right now

0:41:000:41:02

hopefully for you to enjoy.

0:41:020:41:03

We could have a surprise.

0:41:030:41:05

It belongs to Reenie, and not for much longer.

0:41:050:41:07

-It's great to see you!

-Yes.

0:41:070:41:09

It's that wonderful Summer House pattern.

0:41:090:41:11

Why are you selling it, anyway, Reenie?

0:41:110:41:13

It's just a matter of making more space.

0:41:130:41:15

OK. Hopefully, we're going to get that top end plus a lot.

0:41:150:41:18

-I hope so.

-Oh, I think we will.

-Do you reckon?

0:41:180:41:21

Well, Clarice always does the business, and you know that.

0:41:210:41:24

I was just a bit hesitant, cos a bit damaged.

0:41:240:41:26

You know, if I was bidding...

0:41:260:41:28

It's better to be cautious. Better to be cautious.

0:41:280:41:30

Good luck, Reenie. This is it. We're over there, look.

0:41:300:41:32

We come now to the Clarice Cliff Summer House pattern coffee set.

0:41:340:41:37

Lovely set, it is, too,

0:41:370:41:39

and to prove it, I have one, two, three, four, five commission bids.

0:41:390:41:43

-Wow.

-I must start the bidding at £950.

0:41:430:41:46

Straight in at £900. Well, it's gone.

0:41:460:41:49

£1,000 on the internet. £1,050 is bid.

0:41:490:41:53

Against you, internet bidder.

0:41:530:41:55

£1,100.

0:41:550:41:57

£1,050. £1,200, I will take, internet bidder.

0:41:570:42:00

Thank you. £1,200.

0:42:000:42:02

-£1,250 is back with me.

-Top end of the estimate now.

0:42:020:42:04

£1,250 now. £1,250.

0:42:040:42:05

£1,300 if you like. £1,300 is bid.

0:42:050:42:08

£1,350 back with me.

0:42:080:42:10

Commission bid's at £1,350.

0:42:100:42:12

£1,400 if you like, internet bidder. Have you finished?

0:42:120:42:15

It's here with me on the commissions, then, at £1,350.

0:42:150:42:19

£1,400. New bidder in the room. £1,400.

0:42:190:42:22

-That was... That was late legs!

-Sneaky!

0:42:220:42:25

£1,500. I'm out. It's in the room now at £1,500.

0:42:250:42:30

Any advances? Are we all done?

0:42:300:42:32

The hammer's going down.

0:42:320:42:34

-Whack! £1,500.

-APPLAUSE

0:42:340:42:37

Just over the top end of the estimate. We did it.

0:42:370:42:41

-The auctioneer was right.

-He was right, yes.

0:42:410:42:43

He was confident he'd get that away, despite the damage.

0:42:430:42:45

You see, it doesn't pay to restore things.

0:42:450:42:47

It doesn't matter if it's damaged.

0:42:470:42:49

Just put it into auction and let somebody else have the problem.

0:42:490:42:51

Well done, you. 20% commission here, including VAT.

0:42:510:42:56

-So, you'll get a cheque in the post in a month.

-Yes.

0:42:560:42:58

-Happy with that?

-Yes.

-You've got to be over the moon, haven't you?

0:42:580:43:01

I know your son's here with you looking after you,

0:43:010:43:03

so, look, take care and thank you so much for coming in.

0:43:030:43:05

Oh, she's off already!

0:43:050:43:07

'Well, she's off to celebrate with the family, and why not?'

0:43:090:43:13

Well, that's it. The hammer's gone down for the last time

0:43:130:43:16

for us here in the east of England.

0:43:160:43:19

It's not easy putting a value on an antique, as you've just seen,

0:43:190:43:22

but I think our experts did rather well.

0:43:220:43:24

I hope you've enjoyed today's show.

0:43:240:43:26

We've thoroughly enjoyed being here in Essex.

0:43:260:43:28

So until the next time, it's goodbye.

0:43:280:43:30

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