0:00:05 > 0:00:06Today, we're in a place dubbed
0:00:06 > 0:00:09the last bastion of free speech in the world.
0:00:09 > 0:00:13This place is famous as a forum for debating controversial issues.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16And no doubt, we'll have one or two good points to talk about today
0:00:16 > 0:00:18over the items we find. This is "Flog it!"
0:00:41 > 0:00:43For this programme,
0:00:43 > 0:00:45we've come to the most famous debating room
0:00:45 > 0:00:47outside of Westminster,
0:00:47 > 0:00:49the hallowed chamber of Oxford Union.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51The Union's core principle is free speech
0:00:51 > 0:00:55and it was founded at a time when universities banned students
0:00:55 > 0:00:58from talking freely about politics and religion.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04Malcolm X came here to debate civil rights...
0:01:04 > 0:01:06The most cosmopolitan and progressive parts of it...
0:01:06 > 0:01:11And Teddy Kennedy arrived under a hail of protest to discuss Vietnam.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14Well, let's hope our "Flog It!" audience aren't as rowdy today.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17We are literally surrounded by history here today
0:01:17 > 0:01:18at the Oxford Union.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21Malcolm X made his famous speech in 1964
0:01:21 > 0:01:24when he demanded black empowerment by any means necessary.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27Let's hope we find some wonderful political memorabilia.
0:01:29 > 0:01:30Come on, then.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39And our experts on the campaign trail are Christina Trevanion,
0:01:39 > 0:01:41our silver-lounged jewellery expert.
0:01:41 > 0:01:43Ooh!
0:01:43 > 0:01:47All that glitters. I like it.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50And our very own formidable debater Mark Stacey,
0:01:50 > 0:01:53who seems to me in need of a little light refreshment.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55Oh, you've drunk it all.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57Not very much fun, is it? We need a little tipple,
0:01:57 > 0:01:59being outside in this cold, don't we?
0:02:03 > 0:02:04Call to order.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07I believe this house has large queues of people all waiting
0:02:07 > 0:02:10to have their antiques valued by our experts.
0:02:10 > 0:02:15So, without further ado, let's see what Oxford has to offer.
0:02:15 > 0:02:16Coming up in today's show...
0:02:18 > 0:02:21Has Christina uncovered a famous fake?
0:02:21 > 0:02:23You think it's Serves.
0:02:23 > 0:02:24Yes. Is it not?
0:02:27 > 0:02:30While Mark gets a bit of a religious education.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33So, who was Charles Spurgeon?
0:02:33 > 0:02:35And I turn the clock back to the Cold War protests
0:02:35 > 0:02:37at Greenham Common.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39Did they change history?
0:02:39 > 0:02:42NEWS REPORTER: They arrived in their thousands by coach, by car
0:02:42 > 0:02:43and even on foot.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49Well, everybody's now safe and seated inside
0:02:49 > 0:02:51and our expert first out on the blocks is Christina.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54Let's take a closer look at what she spotted.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57So, June, I'm assuming you're a Libran
0:02:57 > 0:03:00because opals are the birthstone for Libras.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04- No, I was born in November.- Ah! A little bit late, then?- Mm.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06I've never understood why two separate...
0:03:06 > 0:03:09- These are love tokens from past admirers...- Oh, my goodness!
0:03:09 > 0:03:12- Ages...ages past.- Ooh!
0:03:12 > 0:03:16And they both bought me these stones at separate times,
0:03:16 > 0:03:17- which is extraordinary.- Oh, really?
0:03:17 > 0:03:21And I've never expressed a desire for opals.
0:03:21 > 0:03:22So, have you ever worn them?
0:03:22 > 0:03:26I've just tried them on and thought, "They're really not me."
0:03:26 > 0:03:29"Thanks very much, but you obviously don't know me."
0:03:29 > 0:03:33- Quite.- That's why they are past admirers.- Exactly. Exactly.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37Well, a lot of people are very suspicious about opals.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39Like I say, they were...
0:03:39 > 0:03:42Or they are the birthstone of Librans and traditionally,
0:03:42 > 0:03:45it said that Librans are the only ones that can wear them,
0:03:45 > 0:03:47which frankly is buncombe.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51They have been historically linked with bad luck due to a book
0:03:51 > 0:03:53that Walter Scott wrote
0:03:53 > 0:03:56where he had his main character wearing an opal talisman
0:03:56 > 0:03:59- and she promptly, I think, dropped down dead, sadly.- OK.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01So, they've been associated with quite bad luck
0:04:01 > 0:04:02since the 19th century.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05I think they are beautiful and I've got quite a few opals
0:04:05 > 0:04:08mainly because I went over to Australia and picked up...
0:04:08 > 0:04:10Cos they are the native stone of Australia.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12Oh, are they? I didn't know that.
0:04:12 > 0:04:13So, I had a bit of a tourist moment
0:04:13 > 0:04:16and bought myself an opal in Australia.
0:04:16 > 0:04:17This one here...
0:04:17 > 0:04:19Or this pair here is set in nine carat
0:04:19 > 0:04:22and they're obviously a pear shape
0:04:22 > 0:04:24with this little wire work surround in a...
0:04:24 > 0:04:27If we pick one up, you can see it's quite a drop.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30- And it's just quite a nice effect when you turn your head.- Yes.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32They sort of almost quiver. They're quite sweet.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36And they are from I think about 1975, I think.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40- So, with that sort of tally with the right date?- Yes.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43And then we've got this little cluster,
0:04:43 > 0:04:46which is almost quite a Tudor-y looking setting here.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48Garnets in the middle
0:04:48 > 0:04:51and I think these are also stamped nine carats on the back.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54So, very, very sweet.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56Difficult thing to value
0:04:56 > 0:05:00because like I say they've got this reputation and opals are...
0:05:00 > 0:05:02They're not as commercial as say diamonds
0:05:02 > 0:05:04or some of the other harder stones.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07If we were to put them into auction, we would put them in as one lot.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11- Right.- So, we've put them together and I would probably be looking
0:05:11 > 0:05:15somewhere in the region of £80 to £120, something like that.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18And hoping to get the sort of £100 region.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21- How would you feel about that? - That sounds fine.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24Would we look at a reserve or not on that?
0:05:24 > 0:05:28If we could, possibly a reserve of sort of 80. How would you feel?
0:05:28 > 0:05:30- That's fine.- Is that all right?
0:05:30 > 0:05:33If we put 80 firm and then the auctioneer sort of can't go
0:05:33 > 0:05:35- any lower than that.- Yes.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38Well, let's hope we get some divine inspiration for our earrings,
0:05:38 > 0:05:39- shall we?- Let's hope we do.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50Our next item is a rather unusual bust of a gentleman who
0:05:50 > 0:05:54preached divine inspiration every Sunday from the pulpit.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57This was a man not afraid to speak his mind -
0:05:57 > 0:06:00the Baptist Charles Spurgeon.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02Mark should like this one.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04You've brought this rather interesting
0:06:04 > 0:06:06Parian ware bust into me.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09Now, what can you tell us about it?
0:06:09 > 0:06:13My mother owned this all of my life.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17And I think she used to go around and, on occasions,
0:06:17 > 0:06:20heard Charles Spurgeon actually preaching.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23- So, she might have met him. - At some of his meetings, yes.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26- He was known as the Prince of the Preachers.- Oh, right.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28So he was very popular in his day.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32- And he looks a terribly Victorian gentlemen.- Oh, absolutely, yeah.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36And being a preacher, of course, he would've felt at home here,
0:06:36 > 0:06:38- in a debating chamber. - That's right.- Wouldn't he?
0:06:38 > 0:06:41Similar to the gentleman across there.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44- He looks very Victorian as well, doesn't he?- Yeah.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48And why have you brought it in to show to us today, David?
0:06:48 > 0:06:52Well, it's not something that we feel we need to keep anymore.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56- And time's are hard...- Maybe time for somebody who collects Parian ware
0:06:56 > 0:06:57- to have it.- Absolutely, yes.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01It's known as Parian ware after the Island of Paros.
0:07:01 > 0:07:02Oh, right.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06Because of course, when you first see them, they look like marble.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09- Yes. - And that's where they mined marble.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12And they are often fully signed.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16We know this one is by a firm called Robinson & Leadbeater,
0:07:16 > 0:07:19and I think it was designed by one of their sculptors called Acton,
0:07:19 > 0:07:22J Acton, around about 1878.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25So it is a nice, proper antique item.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29Now, they used to be popular many years ago.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32The market for Parian ware is much more realistic these days.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34And it does depend on the model.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38You know, if you get one of the very big models of a glamorous
0:07:38 > 0:07:41looking young lady, who is semi-draped,
0:07:41 > 0:07:43showing a little more than she should be showing...
0:07:43 > 0:07:45- Right.- ..then it is a little bit more popular.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47This is more of an academic figure.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51This is for someone who has got a nice Victorian house who
0:07:51 > 0:07:54wants to create a sort of library or something like that.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57Having said all that, I think he would sell at auction.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59I think years ago,
0:07:59 > 0:08:02something like this would have made £80 to £100.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05Today, we've got to be a little bit more realistic, I think.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09I'd like to put it in with an estimate of around £30 to £50.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12- Would you be happy with that? - Yeah, that's fine.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14Would you want to put a reserve on it or would you
0:08:14 > 0:08:18- just like to see what happens? - No, I don't, because I... No.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20Let the market decide on the day.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23I mean, hopefully, there will be two or three people.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26Put those hands up and we'll get a good price for it.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28- Find its own level.- Absolutely.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31Well, I've done enough preaching, now it's off to the auction for us,
0:08:31 > 0:08:33- isn't it?- OK.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35But before we do,
0:08:35 > 0:08:38let's delve a little bit deeper into the history of the Union.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40And keeping a tight rein on the proceedings,
0:08:40 > 0:08:42is the President of the Union,
0:08:42 > 0:08:44who sits right here, in this chair.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48It currently belongs to student Maria Rioumine,
0:08:48 > 0:08:51who has some ambitious plans for her tenure.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55- Why did you want to be President for the Union?- I was...
0:08:55 > 0:08:57When I came to Oxford, cos I'm Russian,
0:08:57 > 0:08:59so I'm an international student,
0:08:59 > 0:09:01I was absolutely overwhelmed with the history of the place,
0:09:01 > 0:09:04with the debates that've gone on here, with the speakers that I saw.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07And I think I just thought that, where else could you have such
0:09:07 > 0:09:10an opportunity, age 20, to basically run an entire institution
0:09:10 > 0:09:12and put on any events that you wanted?
0:09:12 > 0:09:15So to me, having always debated all the way through school,
0:09:15 > 0:09:18I thought that this is definitely something I should get involved with.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20What speakers do you want to bring here?
0:09:20 > 0:09:23Ideally, I want to make my debates as controversial as possible.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27- That's the whole idea in a way, isn't it?- Exactly. So that's why...
0:09:27 > 0:09:30I mean, this time we've had Psy come to give his first
0:09:30 > 0:09:33English-speaking address. We had John McCain.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36We had even the Winklevoss twins, which were extremely popular.
0:09:36 > 0:09:37So, I think...
0:09:37 > 0:09:42Ideally, for... I'd like people like Caitlin Moran, Germaine Greer,
0:09:42 > 0:09:46politicians, anyone from the frontbench, any Americans,
0:09:46 > 0:09:49obviously Barrack Obama, but I think he'll probably be busy.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52- Well, you never know, do you? - Well, I can... I'll try, I'll try.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55I'll bring up Angela Merkel as well, but we'll see about that.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58I'm sure you will. Thank you so much for talking to me today.
0:09:58 > 0:09:59Thank you very much.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01Clearly a lady who's going somewhere,
0:10:01 > 0:10:04and I'm sure she will get Barack Obama one day.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07Welcoming our next guest is another intelligent lady,
0:10:07 > 0:10:10Christina Trevanion, who has discovered a piece
0:10:10 > 0:10:11by a famous female potter.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16Welcome, Julian and Paris.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20Thank you for coming in today and for bringing this beautiful
0:10:20 > 0:10:23Charlotte Rhead vase. Which belongs to you, Julian.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26Did you inherit the piece?
0:10:28 > 0:10:30- From his nan.- From your nan, OK.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33And was she a Charlotte Rhead collector?
0:10:33 > 0:10:36- She collected lots of things. - She did? Oh, brilliant.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39Well, she obviously had a very, very good eye cos this is
0:10:39 > 0:10:41a particularly beautiful piece.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45- Do you like it? - Nice design, nice shape.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47Brilliant, it is. It is a beautiful design.
0:10:47 > 0:10:52And Charlotte Rhead really came from an entire dynasty of Rhead family
0:10:52 > 0:10:54ceramics specialists.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58And they worked for a lot of different Staffordshire companies.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01But she really is the most famous of her brothers and her sisters,
0:11:01 > 0:11:03who were also in the industry.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07If we look on the bottom - we'll have a look at its bottom here -
0:11:07 > 0:11:10it's actually got TL5 - Tube Line 5.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13And this pattern is quite a prolific pattern.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15It has got oranges and lemons
0:11:15 > 0:11:19and it is a continuous band all the way around.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21So if we keep looking, it is all over decorated.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23And collectors do love that.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27What are your valuation expectations for it?
0:11:27 > 0:11:30Because she did produce quite a lot of them, they are quite prolific.
0:11:30 > 0:11:31Four years ago,
0:11:31 > 0:11:37we saw on the computer, online, one for about £120.
0:11:37 > 0:11:38About £120,
0:11:38 > 0:11:42which would be a fairly accurate open market valuation for it.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44I was thinking, I had in my head,
0:11:44 > 0:11:46cos I've sold quite a lot of these before,
0:11:46 > 0:11:49and they've made in the region of about £80 to £120.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53So, I would be happy to put an £80 reserve on it,
0:11:53 > 0:11:56with an estimate of 80 to 120.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58How do you feel about that?
0:11:59 > 0:12:01- Fine.- Excellent. Brilliant.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04Well, let's put it to auction at 80 to 120,
0:12:04 > 0:12:07and hopefully, we'll get some more for you.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09Thank you ever so much for bringing it in today.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12- It has been a pleasure to meet you both.- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17Well, one or two frank discussions over the valuation tables.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19I'm sure you will agree.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24Well, there you are, three wonderful items we have found so far.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Our auctioneer, Thomas Plant, is under starter's orders.
0:12:27 > 0:12:28He's at the auction room right now,
0:12:28 > 0:12:30so it is time for us to go over there.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34And here is a quick recap of all the items we are taking with us.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37We have Jean's opal love tokens from past admirers,
0:12:37 > 0:12:38which failed to impress.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41"But you obviously don't know me."
0:12:41 > 0:12:45- Right.- Hence why they are passed admirers.- Exactly.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51And David's rare Baptist bust, which turned Mark's head.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57And not forgetting, Julian's Charlotte Rhead vase.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00Which one of them will triumph in the arena of the auction?
0:13:04 > 0:13:08Our sale today comes from Newbury, near Reading.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10At £1,100, make no mistake...
0:13:12 > 0:13:14Our very own auctioneer, Thomas Plant,
0:13:14 > 0:13:18has set up home on a former RAF base, Greenham Common.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21It has its own story to tell, but more of that later.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24Right now, our first lot up are Jean's opal earrings,
0:13:24 > 0:13:29a favourite of Christina's. It is just a shame she cannot bid.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31Jean, I've got my fingers crossed for you. Good luck.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34- Thank you very much.- And I must say, you look fabulous.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37You don't need it. You don't need it. You've got style, lady!
0:13:37 > 0:13:38- Hasn't she?- She has.
0:13:38 > 0:13:43We are about to sell the two pairs of gold and opal earrings.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46Let's hope they are all in vogue and it's not running hot and cold.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49Because we need some kitchen taps, or is it bathroom taps?
0:13:49 > 0:13:51- Bathroom taps. - So, you are doing a bit of DIY?
0:13:51 > 0:13:53I am indeed. I'm looking forward to it.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56- I like these, I think they've got style.- Yeah.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59Opals, not everyone's cup of tea, so let's just hope that doesn't
0:13:59 > 0:14:02put too many people off and we get some Librans in the sale room.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04I'd like them to go to somebody who really loves them.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07- Cos you don't wear them anymore. - I don't. They are not really me.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10No. Do you know, I can see that. I can see that.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13- Anyway, good luck. This is it. - Thank you.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15Next up is lot number 90.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19This is two pairs of gold and opal earrings, the drops here.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21Start me off here at £65. At 65.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25At 65, the bid is with me here at 65.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28At 65. 70. Five.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32- 80. And I'm out at 80. Lady's bid at £80.- Well, we've sold them.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35- Yep, £80.- £80 against you all...
0:14:35 > 0:14:39- Jean, the hammer has gone down. We just did it, £80.- Wonderful.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41Those taps will be mine.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43Yay!
0:14:43 > 0:14:47From plumbing to Parian ware, it is that bust next.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50Will the Prince of Preachers fetch a princely price?
0:14:50 > 0:14:53Going under the hammer right now, we've got a Parian ware bust
0:14:53 > 0:14:55of Thomas Haddon Spurgeon, belonging to David.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59And in fact, David has brought along a book which accompanies the bust.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03- That's correct.- It tells us all about the Prince of Preachers.- Absolutely.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05- As he was known. - Indeed, you are right, Paul.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07Why have you decided to sell it now?
0:15:07 > 0:15:10We've got no direct connections with it anymore
0:15:10 > 0:15:14and there is a Spurgeon Society that is current at the moment,
0:15:14 > 0:15:18- so somebody might be interested in moving it onto them.- Sure.
0:15:18 > 0:15:19And it is beautifully made.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22It is by a good maker, so it is very well modelled.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24- It is beautifully modelled. - No reserve.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26I know, that's dangerous.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28Was that your idea or Mark's idea?
0:15:28 > 0:15:32We both agreed.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34- I can't be blamed for this, Paul. - No.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38Well, I'm sure Thomas will not let this go for £5.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41Lot number 210, the Robinson and Leadbeater
0:15:41 > 0:15:43Parian ware bust of Charles Spurgeon,
0:15:43 > 0:15:47and I've got bids here with me starting straight in at £35.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50- Great.- Wonderful.- Straight in at the top end, there you go.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52At £35, the Parian bust.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54At £35, is there any advance?
0:15:54 > 0:15:57At £35. That is my top bid at 35.
0:15:57 > 0:15:5840 if you want it.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00At £35 against you all...
0:16:00 > 0:16:02Selling then.
0:16:02 > 0:16:03That is a great result.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05You know, I wouldn't mind owning that for £35.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07I would love it for £35.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10It is a nice little thing. Especially with that book.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15I'm sure Charles Spurgeon's book has a few revelations.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18But now it is time for a real "Flog It!" favourite.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22Well, going under the hammer right now,
0:16:22 > 0:16:24we've got a Charlotte Rhead jug.
0:16:24 > 0:16:25It is a great name in ceramics.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27Charlotte Rhead is up there with the best.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30Belonging to Julian, who is standing right next to me,
0:16:30 > 0:16:31with his interpreter, Jean.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34Julian's hoping to put the money towards a trip
0:16:34 > 0:16:36to New York for his 40th birthday.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39Good luck with that. Great to see you both.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41Good to see you both again.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44- It's very exciting. - I like this a lot.- Yeah, absolutely.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46And it belonged to your grandmother, didn't it, Julian?
0:16:46 > 0:16:48- Yes.- That's right.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51So, do you think we'll have her blessing to sell it today?
0:16:52 > 0:16:56- Oh, yeah, I think she'll be very pleased.- Brilliant.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58I'm sure she'd be happy that I'm going to use
0:16:58 > 0:17:00the money for a holiday to New York.
0:17:00 > 0:17:01Well, good luck.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05Let's hope we get the top end of the estimate and a little bit more.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07- Fingers crossed.- Fingers crossed.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13Here we go. Let's hand the proceedings over to Thomas Plant.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16An Art Deco pottery jug by Charlotte Rhead.
0:17:16 > 0:17:17Good-looking lot, this one.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20I start the bidding with me, straight in at £85 with me.
0:17:20 > 0:17:21Oh, brilliant!
0:17:21 > 0:17:23- Wow. That's good.- Fantastic.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25Is there any advance at £85?
0:17:25 > 0:17:2790. Five. 100. And ten.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31- 120. 130. - It's just such a great name.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33Everybody is out at 130?
0:17:33 > 0:17:38- Wow.- With me, on the book at 130. I sell, then, £130...
0:17:38 > 0:17:41- Yay!- Yes, the hammer has gone down. - Brilliant. Congratulations.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43- Brilliant.- That's marvellous news. - Fantastic.
0:17:43 > 0:17:44That'll help towards the trip.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47- Yeah.- Yeah, definitely.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52I've got hands everywhere. Last chance, then.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56Free speech is a central tenant of Oxford Union,
0:17:56 > 0:17:59everyone has the right to express their opinion.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03In 1981, a group of women expressed their opinion in a rather
0:18:03 > 0:18:05dramatic way.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07This was a debate that the whole world would sit up
0:18:07 > 0:18:10and take notice of, and it happened literally right here,
0:18:10 > 0:18:14because the auction room is built on the site of Greenham Common.
0:18:22 > 0:18:27In 1981, 36 women and four babies in pushchairs set out
0:18:27 > 0:18:33from the city hall in Cardiff to walk to Greenham Common, RAF base.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37They had one aim - to reach the American air base,
0:18:37 > 0:18:40which was situated here, on Greenham Common.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43It was a 120-mile walk, but they were determined.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45They were on a mission to protest.
0:18:45 > 0:18:49The reason being, American nuclear warheads were stored here,
0:18:49 > 0:18:50on this site.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53And behind this door, lies the command centre.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04This is where the protesters were desperate to get access to,
0:19:04 > 0:19:06and they actually did make it on the base,
0:19:06 > 0:19:10when security guards mistook them for cleaners.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14But once their protest began in earnest, relations soured.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20'Despite the rain and the bitter cold, they arrived by coach,
0:19:20 > 0:19:21'by car and even on foot.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26'Their aim was to stress as powerfully as possible that in their
0:19:26 > 0:19:30'view, the cruise missile is not a deterrent, it is a weapon of death.'
0:19:34 > 0:19:37In the volatile political landscape of the 1980s,
0:19:37 > 0:19:40opinions polarised over nuclear issues.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43And Greenham Common became a symbolic battleground.
0:19:43 > 0:19:45Now, many people believed cruise missiles were
0:19:45 > 0:19:49a deterrent against a nuclear attack from Russia, while many other
0:19:49 > 0:19:53people believed they were a force of destruction in their own right.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57Ordinary women felt they had no choice
0:19:57 > 0:20:00but to leave their families and homes behind.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02They came to Greenham to protest,
0:20:02 > 0:20:06as they believed Armageddon was imminent.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08We had been told we're stuck with this reality,
0:20:08 > 0:20:13where war is acceptable, war is a way of solving the world's problems.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15And that is simply not good enough.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18This is not even war what they're promising now,
0:20:18 > 0:20:20it's extermination.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24Of us, of everybody.
0:20:24 > 0:20:25Every living thing.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29Jean Hutchinson was one of the founding mothers of the camp.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33It was actually her family who persuaded her to take a stand.
0:20:35 > 0:20:40My son said, "It's about time that you got down there and found out,
0:20:40 > 0:20:43"and I'll do the cooking for the family."
0:20:46 > 0:20:50I arrived with a tent and put it up. So we were all in tents.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53'They'd been living in the most primitive conditions outside
0:20:53 > 0:20:56'the main gate for 15 months. Tonight, however,
0:20:56 > 0:20:59'police reinforcements have been called to Greenham.'
0:21:01 > 0:21:05The Council liked to evict us a lot.
0:21:05 > 0:21:10We had to be very close, because we had to come onto this ground
0:21:10 > 0:21:14and coordinate a nonviolent, direct action.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18'Women had gathered to form a human blockade.
0:21:18 > 0:21:20'They stood in the path of a military convoy
0:21:20 > 0:21:22'and refused to move.'
0:21:22 > 0:21:26# Whatever happened to dear old Lenny? #
0:21:26 > 0:21:31Jean soon found that the authorities adopted a zero-tolerance policy.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34Yes, we all went to prison several times, of course.
0:21:34 > 0:21:39# Whatever happened to the heroes? #
0:21:39 > 0:21:40A pattern was set up -
0:21:40 > 0:21:45nonviolent, direct action, court, prison.
0:21:45 > 0:21:50It was thought of as all part of getting rid of the cruise missiles.
0:21:52 > 0:21:58This weapon is massively destructive, 16 times a Russian bomb.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06The Greenham Common women captured the interest of the media
0:22:06 > 0:22:09by chaining themselves to the perimeter fence,
0:22:09 > 0:22:12demanding an open debate with government on nuclear armament.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15They didn't think it was democratically right that
0:22:15 > 0:22:18Margaret Thatcher's government would just let the Americans
0:22:18 > 0:22:20bring their nuclear missiles into the country.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27Greenham became a permanent encampment.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31Jean lived here for 18 years. Conditions were primitive.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33There was no electricity, no running water.
0:22:33 > 0:22:39But by the mid-1980s, more than 1,000 women had joined her.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41'Thousands of women and small children spread
0:22:41 > 0:22:45'out around the base, joining hands to surround it completely.'
0:22:45 > 0:22:48'They believe their protestors made deployment of crews too
0:22:48 > 0:22:51'sensitive politically and too unsafe.'
0:22:56 > 0:22:59But there is another view from inside the base.
0:22:59 > 0:23:01Phil DeMonte used to work for the US government
0:23:01 > 0:23:06and was based behind the wire at Greenham from 1988,
0:23:06 > 0:23:08where things looked very different.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11They used to get on the base quite regular. It was massive base.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14Cut a couple of holes through the fence, climb over the fence.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18They couldn't stop them getting on the base but the secure areas, they never got into.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21I appreciate the fact that they were protesting,
0:23:21 > 0:23:25and that's one of the liberties that we do have is the right to protest.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27But when they actually started cutting down fences
0:23:27 > 0:23:29and damaging property and interfering with convoys,
0:23:29 > 0:23:32by throwing paint balls, etc, that put people's lives in danger
0:23:32 > 0:23:34and that actually cost money to the British taxpayer.
0:23:36 > 0:23:41I mean, realistically, in the event of the missiles
0:23:41 > 0:23:44actually having to be deployed on a real footing,
0:23:44 > 0:23:47I really don't think they would have had anywhere near the systems
0:23:47 > 0:23:49or the convoys or the base.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03This is a unique view inside the decontamination chamber
0:24:03 > 0:24:06which was only accessible in a state of high alert.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09Scarily, survival time in the event of a nuclear attack
0:24:09 > 0:24:12outside of this chamber was just 14 seconds.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14Now, that's just 14 seconds
0:24:14 > 0:24:17to decide what to do with the rest of your life.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19So you can understand why this was an issue
0:24:19 > 0:24:22so many people had to take a stand on.
0:24:27 > 0:24:31The whole world held their breath as Reagan and Gorbachev
0:24:31 > 0:24:35sat down at the table to discuss nuclear disarmament.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40The historic INF Treaty, signed in 1987,
0:24:40 > 0:24:43effectively ended the Cold War
0:24:43 > 0:24:46and the life of the nuclear weapons stored here at Greenham.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52Now that the missiles have gone 30 years since protests began,
0:24:52 > 0:24:55is there any common ground?
0:24:55 > 0:24:58Jean and Phil, I've brought you together here in the Peace Garden.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01Can you see it from each others' point of view now?
0:25:01 > 0:25:06- I applaud what they've done 18 years standing out here.- Yeah.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09But what I cannot condone and never can condone -
0:25:09 > 0:25:11when fences were ripped down and property destroyed
0:25:11 > 0:25:14as well as interfering with military operations.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16I can't condone that.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18- Well. - HE CHUCKLES
0:25:18 > 0:25:20- We took...- What are you going to say to that, Jean?
0:25:20 > 0:25:22We took non-violent direct action.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25The whole place is freed up
0:25:25 > 0:25:28from more than 100 weapons
0:25:28 > 0:25:32that could have - if used - killed a billion people.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34And you really feel that your actions here
0:25:34 > 0:25:37had a direct result in the fall of communism?
0:25:37 > 0:25:39Women on this spot
0:25:39 > 0:25:44knew that it was possible to defeat cruise missiles.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46So the cruise missiles themselves deployed in the field
0:25:46 > 0:25:50had nothing to do with the signing of the INF Treaty, that's what you mean?
0:25:50 > 0:25:51You can't say that your people
0:25:51 > 0:25:54were working for multilateral disarmament and then...
0:25:54 > 0:25:55Yes, they were.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58You think that wasn't Ronald Reagan's stance, speak softly but carry a big stick?
0:25:58 > 0:26:01He had the weapon systems ready. Now do you want to sit down and talk?
0:26:01 > 0:26:04I can see...I can see now that opinions are still divided
0:26:04 > 0:26:06and they haven't really changed
0:26:06 > 0:26:08and I don't think they will, will they, Phil?
0:26:08 > 0:26:11- We had a job to do.- You had a job to do.- And we had a job to do.
0:26:11 > 0:26:12The publicity was on this side of the fence
0:26:12 > 0:26:15but the history was made on that side of the fence.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18We can all safely say history was definitely made here.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20Yes, we had the missiles destroyed.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25Well, that got quite heated.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27It just goes to show you that 30 years on,
0:26:27 > 0:26:31issues such as this can still prompt debate.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33But at the end of the day, that's what it's all about -
0:26:33 > 0:26:34freedom of speech.
0:26:34 > 0:26:38This was the reason that Oxford Union was created.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54Welcome back to our valuation day venue, the Oxford Union.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56There's still a great buzz in the room
0:26:56 > 0:26:59and plenty more antiques to find to take off to auction.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02So, from the best seat in the house, the president's chair,
0:27:02 > 0:27:05it's over to the hot seat in the house, Christina's chair.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07Let's go and take a closer look at what she's spotted.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14So, Joy, you've brought this beautiful box in to me today.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16Tell me where it came from.
0:27:16 > 0:27:21- It came from Lord and Lady Baldwin's estate.- Right.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25He'd died and his wife lived there for a little while afterwards
0:27:25 > 0:27:27and she found the place was too big,
0:27:27 > 0:27:31so they had a massive auction which I attended.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34My parents worked for Lord and Lady Baldwin.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36- When did you buy it?- 1975.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39- And what did you pay for it then? - £50.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42- And you think it's Sevres?- Yes.
0:27:42 > 0:27:43Is it not?
0:27:44 > 0:27:46- I'm afraid it's not.- Oh.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49We've done a little bit of research and although the top is lovely,
0:27:49 > 0:27:51we're going to have a look at its bottom
0:27:51 > 0:27:54- because that's the bit that tells us everything, isn't it?- Of course.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56So if we turn it over here,
0:27:56 > 0:27:59we've got this lovely sort of entwined Ls mark
0:27:59 > 0:28:03- which, you're absolutely right, is a Sevres mark.- Hmm.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06But there was a factory based in Paris called Samson.
0:28:06 > 0:28:07Oh, I see.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10Now, Samson started in the 1830s
0:28:10 > 0:28:16and he started by producing imitation Sevres works basically.
0:28:16 > 0:28:20And he was a great imitator and a great copier.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22And he never set out to deceive anybody,
0:28:22 > 0:28:24he just made replacements for things that were broken
0:28:24 > 0:28:25- and things like that.- Mm-hm.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28But he actually became very well-known in his own right.
0:28:28 > 0:28:32- And this is a Samson box. - Well, how strange.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35I'm wondering if Lady Baldwin knew that.
0:28:35 > 0:28:39- You never know. It is a difficult one to spot.- Hmm.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42Especially because this is such a typical Sevres view.
0:28:42 > 0:28:43Yes, I knew that.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46This sort of 'what oh'-esque lovers frolicking in a French garden
0:28:46 > 0:28:50in very much the 18th-century style is typical Sevres, isn't it,
0:28:50 > 0:28:54with this wonderful blue Mazarin ground.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57And we open it up. We've got this lovely ormolu setting
0:28:57 > 0:29:00- and inside, lovely gilt interior. - It's beautiful, isn't it?
0:29:00 > 0:29:01Very beautiful.
0:29:01 > 0:29:03And I think this is quite a late one.
0:29:03 > 0:29:05This is a late 19th-century example.
0:29:05 > 0:29:10I don't think it is the 1830 that we'd like it to be.
0:29:10 > 0:29:12And as such, really that is going to be reflected
0:29:12 > 0:29:14in the auction estimate.
0:29:14 > 0:29:15Yes, I do understand that.
0:29:15 > 0:29:17But I think at auction we might be looking
0:29:17 > 0:29:21- somewhere in the region of sort of £60-£80.- Mm-hm.
0:29:21 > 0:29:23How would you feel about selling it at that sort of level?
0:29:23 > 0:29:27- Um, that's difficult. - It is difficult, isn't it?
0:29:27 > 0:29:30I don't have any daughters but I do have two lovely daughters-in-law
0:29:30 > 0:29:35and I was wondering about giving it to one and thinking,
0:29:35 > 0:29:38- I've got nothing to give to the other one that's similar.- Hmm.
0:29:38 > 0:29:42Um, now...I'll sell it.
0:29:42 > 0:29:44- You'll sell it.- Yes.- Are you sure?
0:29:44 > 0:29:45- Yes.- OK.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48- And they'll get the money.- Good. That's a very good idea.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51- So if we put an estimate of £60-£80...- Yes.
0:29:51 > 0:29:54- ..and a reserve of 60... - Yes.- ..and see how we get on.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57- Yes, that's fine.- Yeah?- Mm-hm. - Brilliant.
0:29:57 > 0:29:58Well, we look forward to it.
0:29:58 > 0:30:00Let's hope we can make slightly more than that for you.
0:30:00 > 0:30:01Oh, never mind.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04- Thank you for bringing it in. - Thank you.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07£50 back in the early '70s was quite a lot of money.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09It just proves that you have to look closely
0:30:09 > 0:30:11when buying at local auctions.
0:30:14 > 0:30:18Now it's time to leave the lively excitement of our "Flog It!" crowds
0:30:18 > 0:30:19for a bit of quiet.
0:30:19 > 0:30:22We are in the cathedral of learning after all.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26This was the original debating chamber until 1878.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28It's hard to imagine but, back then,
0:30:28 > 0:30:30Oxford University was very restrictive.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33The culture was the graduates were there to be taught,
0:30:33 > 0:30:35not to think for themselves.
0:30:35 > 0:30:37And there was very little in the way of books
0:30:37 > 0:30:40other than the textbooks the college provided.
0:30:40 > 0:30:44So the students were very keen to start up their own library,
0:30:44 > 0:30:47and I think they've jolly well succeeded, don't you?
0:30:47 > 0:30:49I mean, this is just marvellous.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55From the wonders of books to the beauty of bronze,
0:30:55 > 0:30:58Mark Stacey has unearthed something Bergman.
0:31:01 > 0:31:03What an extraordinary group of figures you've brought in.
0:31:03 > 0:31:05Have you had them a long time?
0:31:05 > 0:31:08My wife's mother said that they were bought by her father,
0:31:08 > 0:31:10so, my wife's grandfather.
0:31:10 > 0:31:12So a wee while ago?
0:31:12 > 0:31:14- Probably a long time ago.- Yes.
0:31:14 > 0:31:19I mean, the minute I saw them, I thought only of one thing.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22- Yes.- That they were of course Austrian.
0:31:22 > 0:31:23Ah.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26Cold painted bronze, which means that the painting
0:31:26 > 0:31:30and the decoration is painted on after they were actually...
0:31:30 > 0:31:31- come out of the mould.- Course.
0:31:31 > 0:31:36And I hoped they would be by one maker...
0:31:36 > 0:31:38a chap called Franz Bergman.
0:31:38 > 0:31:40And the answer to my question is on here.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43And we've got a little number here.
0:31:43 > 0:31:45Then we've got a word that says "geschutzt"
0:31:45 > 0:31:48which is Austrian or German for "register".
0:31:48 > 0:31:50Can you see that little vase there?
0:31:50 > 0:31:54- Oh, yes.- With the B in the middle? - Yes.- That stands for Bergman.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56Franz Bergman. That's his mark.
0:31:56 > 0:31:58- Right.- And it's really nice to see.
0:31:58 > 0:32:01- So it's confirmed what I thought they would be.- Yes.
0:32:01 > 0:32:06- And they would date to around about 1900.- Yes.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09So they're going to... They're well over 100 years old.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11He specialised in this type of work
0:32:11 > 0:32:15and produced a wide range of animal figures and bird figures.
0:32:15 > 0:32:19Produced a lot of Arabian-type scenes
0:32:19 > 0:32:21with Arabs drinking coffee,
0:32:21 > 0:32:24- carpet sellers, this sort of thing.- Hmm.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27But these are Africans, aren't they?
0:32:27 > 0:32:30Well, we always assumed they were sort of Zulus.
0:32:30 > 0:32:32- Yeah, Zulus with their shields. - Yeah.
0:32:32 > 0:32:36There's a huge collector's market for Franz Bergman's works
0:32:36 > 0:32:38but I've not seen a little group like this
0:32:38 > 0:32:40and I think they're absolutely charming.
0:32:40 > 0:32:44I would say, as they're damaged, put them in as a little group.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47- Yes.- And I would like to put an auction estimate on them
0:32:47 > 0:32:49of £400-£600.
0:32:49 > 0:32:50Right.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53But I think they might make a bit more on the day.
0:32:53 > 0:32:55Would you be happy to put them in at that?
0:32:55 > 0:32:59- Um, yes, I have my wife's permission.- You do?- Yes.
0:32:59 > 0:33:01You're not going to get into trouble with 'er indoors?
0:33:01 > 0:33:03- I don't think so, no. - Oh, good. I'm sure you won't.
0:33:03 > 0:33:08- We'll put a reserve of course.- Yes. - We'll put a reserve of £400 on them.
0:33:08 > 0:33:11There's two types of reserve, you can have it fixed,
0:33:11 > 0:33:14- which means that we won't sell them below 400.- Yes.
0:33:14 > 0:33:16Or you can have it discretionary,
0:33:16 > 0:33:19which gives the auctioneer 10% on the day.
0:33:19 > 0:33:23What do you think your wife would be comfortable with?
0:33:23 > 0:33:26Um, let's say fixed.
0:33:26 > 0:33:28- Shall we say fixed? - I would say fixed anyway.
0:33:28 > 0:33:32Let's say fixed because actually, I think we're going to be OK.
0:33:32 > 0:33:34And they'll go to a collector who loves these type of things.
0:33:34 > 0:33:36They've been in a box, I must confess.
0:33:36 > 0:33:38Oh, no. Oh, no, they can't live in a box.
0:33:38 > 0:33:40- They're much too nice for that. - That's right.
0:33:40 > 0:33:42I think someone who appreciates them should...
0:33:42 > 0:33:44I'm glad we've got them out of the box
0:33:44 > 0:33:45and we're going to give them a chance
0:33:45 > 0:33:48of finding a home where they're going to be loved and cherished.
0:33:48 > 0:33:50- Good.- Thanks for bringing them in, Michael.
0:33:50 > 0:33:53Here's hoping those beautiful Bergman bronzes
0:33:53 > 0:33:55never have to be boxed up again.
0:33:56 > 0:34:00And now, our final item of the day could be the most lucrative.
0:34:00 > 0:34:04And who better to evaluate it than our very own jewellery expert
0:34:04 > 0:34:06Christina Trevanion.
0:34:06 > 0:34:08Zena, what a sparkler.
0:34:08 > 0:34:11I love it. You've brought this beautiful ring in to us today.
0:34:11 > 0:34:13It's absolutely stunning.
0:34:13 > 0:34:15Can you tell me a little bit about it?
0:34:15 > 0:34:20The original ring was given to me by an ex-boss when she retired.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23She gave me the option of a few items which I'd like to have
0:34:23 > 0:34:25as a thank you and I chose the ring.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28- But it was set in white gold at the time.- Right.
0:34:28 > 0:34:33It was a very small ring but a square setting
0:34:33 > 0:34:35and it looked more like a ring out of a cracker.
0:34:35 > 0:34:37- Oh, right. - SHE LAUGHS
0:34:37 > 0:34:39So I had it reset in 18 carat gold.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41So you must have worked incredibly hard
0:34:41 > 0:34:45- because it's a beautiful ring and a very, very generous present.- Yes.
0:34:45 > 0:34:46Very generous present.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49- So you've had it put into quite a traditional setting really.- Yes.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52And it's very, very similar to my engagement ring.
0:34:52 > 0:34:54- I'm thinking about swapping. - No. No, no, no, no.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56Slightly bigger than my engagement ring!
0:34:58 > 0:34:59But this is a very, very traditional setting.
0:34:59 > 0:35:02- And did you wear it when it was...? - I did, yes. I used to wear it
0:35:02 > 0:35:07- but the insurance value was rather high.- Right.- Um,
0:35:07 > 0:35:11and I put it in the safe and now I don't wear it, so...
0:35:11 > 0:35:13It's a bit ridiculous paying the insurance for it.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15It does seem that way, doesn't it?
0:35:15 > 0:35:18So let's see if we can find a mutually agreeable value
0:35:18 > 0:35:19and then perhaps you can use the money
0:35:19 > 0:35:21towards something that you will wear.
0:35:21 > 0:35:25Obviously it's a diamond ring set in, what looks to be,
0:35:25 > 0:35:30a platinum, little coronet setting and then 18 carat yellow gold hoop.
0:35:30 > 0:35:34We've got a diamond solitaire, a brilliant-cut diamond here
0:35:34 > 0:35:38and we grade diamonds on what we call the four Cs,
0:35:38 > 0:35:42so cut, clarity, colour and obviously carat weight,
0:35:42 > 0:35:45what every girl wants to know really is, how big is it?
0:35:45 > 0:35:49And in all four of those aspects it really does score quite highly.
0:35:49 > 0:35:53It's a great colour. It's a nice white colour.
0:35:53 > 0:35:56Clarity, there are a few little inclusions there.
0:35:56 > 0:35:58A lot of people quite sweetly call them birthmarks
0:35:58 > 0:36:01- because that's how the diamond would have formed.- Right.
0:36:01 > 0:36:02But this is quite clear.
0:36:02 > 0:36:06And carat weight, we've worked it out at about a carat.
0:36:06 > 0:36:08- Have you...?- Should be 1.1.
0:36:08 > 0:36:11- 1.1 carat.- Is that what they graded it at?- Yes. BOTH: On the insurance.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14- Yes.- Which is great cos that means it's over a carat
0:36:14 > 0:36:16which really does make quite a difference
0:36:16 > 0:36:19- when you get over that one carat mark.- Yes.
0:36:19 > 0:36:23So, value-wise, at auction
0:36:23 > 0:36:25I would be quite cautious
0:36:25 > 0:36:28because of the current economic market we're in
0:36:28 > 0:36:31and maybe go somewhere in the region of sort of 1,000-1,500,
0:36:31 > 0:36:32- something like that.- Mm-hm.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35- How would you feel about that?- Yes, fine.- Is that all right?- Yes, yes.
0:36:35 > 0:36:39So if we put an auction estimate of 1,000-1,500
0:36:39 > 0:36:41and perhaps a reserve of 1,000,
0:36:41 > 0:36:44- cos I don't think it needs to go for any less than that.- No.
0:36:44 > 0:36:45- No, I wouldn't want it to.- No.
0:36:45 > 0:36:46Cos it really is rather beautiful.
0:36:46 > 0:36:48And what would you use the money for?
0:36:48 > 0:36:51- For a holiday I think.- Cos you're quite an intrepid traveller, aren't you?
0:36:51 > 0:36:54- Yes.- Globe trotted by the sounds of it.
0:36:54 > 0:36:55THEY LAUGH
0:36:55 > 0:36:57Well, we haven't seen the Northern Lights yet,
0:36:57 > 0:37:00- so I'd like to do a cruise to the Northern Lights.- Fantastic.
0:37:00 > 0:37:01So next year is supposed to be a good year.
0:37:01 > 0:37:04It would be quite appropriate really from a sparkler
0:37:04 > 0:37:06- to sparklers in the sky.- It would, wouldn't it?- Yes!- True.
0:37:08 > 0:37:10Well, here's hoping that in Zena's case,
0:37:10 > 0:37:12diamonds really are a girl's best friend.
0:37:12 > 0:37:16They definitely appear to be a long-time favourite of Christina's.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19Well, our experts have been working flat out here at the Oxford Union.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22You've just seen the items, you've heard what they've had to say,
0:37:22 > 0:37:24you've probably got your own opinions, but right now
0:37:24 > 0:37:27we're going across to the auction room to put them to the test.
0:37:27 > 0:37:30And here's a quick recap of what we're taking with us.
0:37:31 > 0:37:35Will Michael's Bergman bronze captivate the crowds?
0:37:38 > 0:37:40Or will it be Zena's diamond solitaire ring
0:37:40 > 0:37:43which sparkles in the eyes of the bidders?
0:37:47 > 0:37:49But first, it's that Sevres box.
0:37:49 > 0:37:51Joy got a shock on the valuation day
0:37:51 > 0:37:52when Christina revealed
0:37:52 > 0:37:56her antique box was actually a later reproduction.
0:37:56 > 0:37:58But can we still turn her a little profit?
0:38:03 > 0:38:05£85. 90. 95.
0:38:05 > 0:38:07100 and I'm out.
0:38:07 > 0:38:10Thomas is back in action on the rostrum.
0:38:10 > 0:38:13- Against you all.- Here's hoping he can weave his magic.
0:38:14 > 0:38:16And now, for our next item just about to go under the hammer.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19It belongs to Joy, and unfortunately, she cannot be with us
0:38:19 > 0:38:21but her little porcelain box can.
0:38:21 > 0:38:23- And it's going under the hammer. - It is, yes.
0:38:23 > 0:38:26- Big grin on your face.- Yeah. It's Samson. She thought it was Sevres.
0:38:26 > 0:38:29- So, Samson box.- Which is a copy really of...
0:38:29 > 0:38:32- They were the best in... - Of the best.- Yeah, exactly.
0:38:32 > 0:38:34And they did a lot of Meissen, Sevres reproduction wares.
0:38:34 > 0:38:37- So hopefully... Hopefully, hopefully.- Hopefully.
0:38:37 > 0:38:38- Fingers crossed.- Yeah, bless her.
0:38:38 > 0:38:42- She bought it for £50 over 30 years ago.- Thinking it was the real thing.
0:38:42 > 0:38:45- Thinking it was the real McCoy, so let's hope.- Let's hope
0:38:45 > 0:38:48we can get her money back. It's going under the hammer. Good luck.
0:38:48 > 0:38:49Here we go.
0:38:49 > 0:38:5119th-century Samson porcelain box and cover.
0:38:51 > 0:38:53There we are. With gilt metal rims.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57I can start the bidding with me here at £45 with me.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00- At £45 for the box.- 45.
0:39:00 > 0:39:02- Well. Come on, Thomas. - And 50. And 55 with me.
0:39:02 > 0:39:04At 55 against you all.
0:39:04 > 0:39:05Is there any advance at 55?
0:39:05 > 0:39:07And 60 and I'm out.
0:39:07 > 0:39:09- At 60.- Ooh, that's better. - It's in the room at 60.
0:39:09 > 0:39:11Last chance then, at £60.
0:39:11 > 0:39:16- At £60. Oh, joy! Joy for Joy. - SHE LAUGHS
0:39:16 > 0:39:17Hammer's gone down and we've sold it.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20- I hope you're "en-joying" this moment.- Brilliant.
0:39:20 > 0:39:22- Phew, that was a relief. - Yeah, it was.
0:39:22 > 0:39:24No more Joy jokes, I promise.
0:39:24 > 0:39:28Up next, there's a bit of a dispute in the saleroom.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31Going under the hammer right now, one of my favourite lots
0:39:31 > 0:39:33of the sale that belong to Michael who's right next to me.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36It's a group of three Bergman cold painted bronzes.
0:39:36 > 0:39:37Masai warriors.
0:39:37 > 0:39:39And these really are flavour of the month.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42They are really nice. I don't know why you're selling them.
0:39:42 > 0:39:43I'd like to find out.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46Well, they're a bit fussy for us
0:39:46 > 0:39:49- and a bit British Empire too. - Right, OK.
0:39:49 > 0:39:51It's all the rage right now though.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54- Well, Bergman is a very big name, Paul, isn't it?- Hmm.- Very big name.
0:39:54 > 0:39:56Let's find out what auctioneer Thomas thinks.
0:39:56 > 0:39:58We've got a big crowd here and hopefully
0:39:58 > 0:40:00we're going to get them away at the top end. This is it.
0:40:00 > 0:40:03345, a group of three 19th-century Viennese cold painted
0:40:03 > 0:40:05tribal figures - Bergman style.
0:40:05 > 0:40:06There we are.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09But they're not Bergman style, they are Bergman.
0:40:09 > 0:40:10Start the bidding with me at £200.
0:40:10 > 0:40:13Start the bidding with me at £200 for the Masai figures.
0:40:13 > 0:40:14At 210.
0:40:14 > 0:40:18220. 230. 240. 250.
0:40:18 > 0:40:20250. 250 I have.
0:40:20 > 0:40:21With me here at 250.
0:40:21 > 0:40:23Against you all 250. 260.
0:40:23 > 0:40:26- 270. 280. 290. - This is a surprise, Paul.
0:40:26 > 0:40:29- 300.- It's a slow climb though. We're getting there.
0:40:29 > 0:40:31340. 360. 380 with me.
0:40:31 > 0:40:33If you want it, it's 400.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36At 400 and I'm out. At 400 I have.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39At £400. It's in the room at 400.
0:40:39 > 0:40:40Make no mistake.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42And I'm selling at £400.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45- GAVEL BANGS - 400.- Well, they've gone.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48They've gone at £400, right on the lower end of the estimate.
0:40:48 > 0:40:50- Are you happy with that? - Um, not totally
0:40:50 > 0:40:53because of the "Bergman style" description.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55- Announcement.- Yes. Yes.
0:40:55 > 0:40:58Do you feel that slightly killed it off a little bit?
0:40:58 > 0:41:00Uh, well, I don't really know.
0:41:00 > 0:41:04I think it's because some of them need a little bit of restoration
0:41:04 > 0:41:07and that does add to the cost when you're buying something, you know?
0:41:07 > 0:41:10Because you need to take it to a skilled person.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12I'm glad we fixed a firm reserve of 400 on them
0:41:12 > 0:41:15because it meant we protected them.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18It's a shame that those bronzes didn't go for more
0:41:18 > 0:41:19but, Mark is right,
0:41:19 > 0:41:23they did have some damage which maybe put the collectors of.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25There's always an element of risk at auction,
0:41:25 > 0:41:27that's why we fix a reserve.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30But here we are at the last lot of the day
0:41:30 > 0:41:33and I'm keen to show Christina that I have been paying attention.
0:41:34 > 0:41:36Colour, cut, clarity, carat.
0:41:36 > 0:41:39Yes, you know what I'm talking about - Zena's sparkler.
0:41:39 > 0:41:41THEY LAUGH
0:41:41 > 0:41:43Hi, Zena, it's great to see you again.
0:41:43 > 0:41:45- Who have you brought along with you? - This is David, my husband.
0:41:45 > 0:41:47- David.- How do you do? - Pleased to meet you.
0:41:47 > 0:41:51Of course, with those four Cs there is one more C to go with them, isn't there?
0:41:51 > 0:41:53Costly...Christina!
0:41:54 > 0:41:56THEY LAUGH
0:41:56 > 0:41:58- You beat me to it. - The fifth C!
0:41:58 > 0:42:01- Well, you both sparkle. The six Cs though.- I'm seriously impressed.
0:42:01 > 0:42:02I've taught you something.
0:42:02 > 0:42:04- You have, haven't you?- Yeah. Wow.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07We're putting this to the test. It's going under the hammer right now.
0:42:07 > 0:42:09- Good luck, everyone.- Good luck. - Here we go.
0:42:09 > 0:42:12Next lot is the diamond solitaire ring. The diamond solitaire.
0:42:12 > 0:42:141.1 carat.
0:42:14 > 0:42:15Lovely ring this one here.
0:42:15 > 0:42:16Start me here at £800.
0:42:16 > 0:42:18At 800. At 800.
0:42:18 > 0:42:20At £800, solitaire diamond. 800.
0:42:20 > 0:42:24820. 850. 880.
0:42:24 > 0:42:26900. 920.
0:42:26 > 0:42:28950. 980.
0:42:28 > 0:42:291,000 and I'm out.
0:42:29 > 0:42:31It's reached its reserve. Brilliant.
0:42:31 > 0:42:33Is there any advance at £1,000?
0:42:33 > 0:42:35At £1,000 it's in the room.
0:42:35 > 0:42:37And 1,050.
0:42:37 > 0:42:401,050. Late legs but it's there.
0:42:40 > 0:42:43And £1,100. At £1,100 are we all done?
0:42:43 > 0:42:46At £1,100, make no mistake.
0:42:46 > 0:42:49- Yes, the hammer's gone down. - Brilliant.- In estimate.
0:42:49 > 0:42:50Well done, everyone.
0:42:50 > 0:42:52- Well done.- Congratulations. That's fantastic.
0:42:52 > 0:42:55A few successes and a few debates at auction, hardly a surprise
0:42:55 > 0:42:58given our choice of venue - Oxford Union.
0:42:58 > 0:43:00We've had a fascinating day here.
0:43:02 > 0:43:04If you'd like to take part in the show
0:43:04 > 0:43:06and you've got unwanted antiques and collectables
0:43:06 > 0:43:09you'd like to sell, bring them along to one of our valuation days.
0:43:09 > 0:43:11Details you can pick up on our BBC website.
0:43:11 > 0:43:13If you don't have a computer,
0:43:13 > 0:43:14check the details in your local press
0:43:14 > 0:43:17and maybe we can help you to flog it.