0:00:07 > 0:00:10Today, we're in Leicester, a vibrant, multicultural city
0:00:10 > 0:00:12in the heart of the East Midlands.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15It's the birthplace of legendary footballer Gary Lineker
0:00:15 > 0:00:17and controversial playwright Joe Orton.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20It's also the place where the remains of one of history's
0:00:20 > 0:00:22most famous kings was discovered.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24Let's hope our experts can measure up to the great
0:00:24 > 0:00:26and the good of this city.
0:00:26 > 0:00:27Welcome to "Flog It!".
0:00:48 > 0:00:52King Richard III was killed in battle in Leicestershire in 1485.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56It has since been a mystery as to where he was laid to rest...
0:00:56 > 0:01:01until 2012, when archaeologists began excavating beneath the car park in Leicester.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03Human remains were unearthed
0:01:03 > 0:01:07which were later confirmed as those of King Richard.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11Leicester has claimed Richard III as one of their own, and the plan
0:01:11 > 0:01:15is for his final burial place to be within the city's cathedral.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19Imagine if we had a royal relic through the door today.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22Here at De Montfort Hall, we've already got an impressive turnout.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24The more people, the more antiques we see,
0:01:24 > 0:01:28and the greater chance of finding something special.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32And scouring the crowds today are our very own regal couple,
0:01:32 > 0:01:34experts Thomas Plant...
0:01:34 > 0:01:37- Do these work?- Yes.- Look at those.
0:01:37 > 0:01:38..and Catherine Southon.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41- Lovely. And you're "Hottie", are you?- Was!
0:01:41 > 0:01:42LAUGHTER
0:01:42 > 0:01:46They are on a mission to find antiques unusual, intriguing
0:01:46 > 0:01:47and priceless.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49Basically, anything fit for a king.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52Yeah, we've got The Mouth.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54You've got The Mouth? Is that what you call him?! The Mouth!
0:01:54 > 0:01:56LAUGHTER
0:01:56 > 0:01:58Well, it's time to get the doors open,
0:01:58 > 0:02:02get this big crowd inside and hopefully find a few gems.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04And we've got a packed show ahead.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07Coming up, our experts go to battle with a couple of beautiful
0:02:07 > 0:02:08little boxes.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12Will Thomas's Chinese snuffbox find its fitting home
0:02:12 > 0:02:13in an emperor's palace?
0:02:13 > 0:02:16Or will Catherine's exquisite continental pillbox be
0:02:16 > 0:02:19the king of the castle when it comes to the auction?
0:02:21 > 0:02:23Whilst the crowds are still pouring in,
0:02:23 > 0:02:27Thomas has already found his first item - some unusual glassware.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31- OK, girls, you're sisters, aren't you?- We are indeed.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34- But there's four years' difference. - Four years' difference? OK.
0:02:34 > 0:02:35She's the oldest!
0:02:35 > 0:02:37THEY CHUCKLE
0:02:37 > 0:02:39- So, it's Jane...- Yes. - ..and Sue.- Yes.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42- There's no other siblings?- No. - No, I can see you're quite close.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44There wouldn't be room for anybody else, would there?
0:02:44 > 0:02:49So, tell me about these. What do you know about these things here?
0:02:49 > 0:02:51They are marvellous.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54They've been in the family for ever, I think.
0:02:54 > 0:02:55Well, it feels as though for ever.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57Certainly, when I was a child,
0:02:57 > 0:03:00they were always on the mantelpiece or on the hearth.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03- I think Mum thought they were French. - Oh, really?
0:03:03 > 0:03:07- Yes, but, erm, we're here to find out.- I don't think they're French.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10I call these, funny enough, Norfolk glass dumps.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14Only because I heard the late, great David Barby once call them Norfolk glass dumps.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16So I've always called them that.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18- But people just call them doorstops, really.- Yeah.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20How old do you think they are?
0:03:20 > 0:03:25Interestingly, you have got quite a bit of wear on this base here.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28I would say they are going to be late 19th century.
0:03:28 > 0:03:33- So you're looking at the 1890s. - Really?- Yeah, 1900s.
0:03:33 > 0:03:34The thing about glass, it is difficult...
0:03:34 > 0:03:37You can fake it, you can make it look old easily.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41- But to get that honest wear on the base, you can't fake.- Right.
0:03:41 > 0:03:47And to have a trio is marvellous, isn't it? Absolutely marvellous.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51And this technique of getting the flowers within the actual
0:03:51 > 0:03:52dump itself...
0:03:52 > 0:03:55How do they make the flowers so uniform, almost?
0:03:55 > 0:03:58I have no idea. When they blow glass, literally... I can't...
0:03:58 > 0:04:03I did a bit last year and it is just amazing. So hot, you know.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06A bit of blowing and back in the glory hole and then out.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09And they only use a limited amount of tools. It's brilliant.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11- It's absolutely brilliant.- Mm.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15Why have you brought them to "Flog It!"?
0:04:15 > 0:04:18- To find out the value. - Do you want to sell them?
0:04:19 > 0:04:21- For the right price, yes.- Oh, yes!
0:04:23 > 0:04:27- Is that always the wrong answer?! - Oh, the pressure!
0:04:27 > 0:04:28The pressure, you two!
0:04:28 > 0:04:32I feel I'm being ganged up on. What is the right money?
0:04:32 > 0:04:34Do you know, we have no idea.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38We've looked on the internet and never seen anything quite like them.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40I think they have got to be worth between 30 and 40 each.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44So, as a holistic lot, it's £100.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48£100... That's quite disappointing.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50- Is it?- Mm.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54Yes. Because it's got to be split two ways, you see.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57I think...£100, with a fixed reserve at 100.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01- So give that a wide estimate. 100 to 200, £100 reserve.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04- Are you going to agree?- Yes.- Yes.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07Yes! We're there. I don't want to disappoint you.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10- No, we don't want you to! - No, you don't!- No!
0:05:10 > 0:05:13Thomas is feeling the pressure, but he needs to keep his cool.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16There are plenty more people to see.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18We've got a packed main hall here.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21I've been told the queue goes outside, so let's have a look.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24We might go through a bit of darkness to get there, so follow me.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30Hello, everyone. We'll get you seated in just a moment.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33Thank you so much for turning up today.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37Without you, we would not have a show. How many outside?
0:05:37 > 0:05:39PAUL CHUCKLES
0:05:39 > 0:05:43Oh, my gosh, look. What a lot of people!
0:05:43 > 0:05:46I tell you what, it's going to be a long day.
0:05:46 > 0:05:47But a good one.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50There's bound to be some treasure in all of those bags and I am hoping
0:05:50 > 0:05:54for the crown jewels, but silver is a great start for Catherine.
0:05:56 > 0:06:01Now, Paul, I see silver christening cups constantly,
0:06:01 > 0:06:04but nothing quite as special as this.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07- I want to know where you got this from.- Car-boot sale.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09How much did you pay for it?
0:06:09 > 0:06:11About £3.50.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15Erm, we used to go to 'em Sunday mornings.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17It was just something to do.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19And I just... I came across this.
0:06:19 > 0:06:24But obviously, when I seen it, it wasn't... It didn't look like that.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28- It was black.- It was black, right.- It was black. It's about 20 years ago.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32Why now are you coming to "Flog It!" to sell it?
0:06:32 > 0:06:36Cos...my partner doesn't like it.
0:06:36 > 0:06:37- Right, OK.- I do. So...
0:06:38 > 0:06:43..I'd like to sell it and reinvest the money into another collectable,
0:06:43 > 0:06:47but one that I can have on show at home and be proud of.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50Well, I think you should keep this, but then I'm a little bit biased.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52Let's have a look at this.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54First of all, a silver christening cup.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57And you were drawn to it as a piece of silver?
0:06:57 > 0:06:59I had a feeling it could be silver.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02- Right, OK, but it was all covered in black?- Yes.
0:07:02 > 0:07:07Now, what I am so interested in with this is these little
0:07:07 > 0:07:11figures around the bottom of the christening cup,
0:07:11 > 0:07:17which are all figures of sailors, and they are all holding a ship.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21And then you've got this swag detail going round,
0:07:21 > 0:07:26which you quite often find on silver pieces of this era.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29But they are actually made up like they're pieces of rope,
0:07:29 > 0:07:32so you have this whole nautical theme.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35Perhaps it was made for...
0:07:35 > 0:07:37a baby of a nautical family,
0:07:37 > 0:07:39- perhaps the family were sailors or something.- Yes.
0:07:39 > 0:07:44But it is just so lovely. So you're appealing to two different markets -
0:07:44 > 0:07:46you're appealing to the silver buyers
0:07:46 > 0:07:50and also to those who are interested in nautical works of art.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54Now, we've got a lovely, crisp hallmark here.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56We've got the maker's initials, DF...
0:07:57 > 0:08:01..for David Fullerton, and the letter A.
0:08:01 > 0:08:06So we can date that precisely to 1916, which is lovely.
0:08:06 > 0:08:11- What worries me about this is that you bought it and it was black.- Yes.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15- And what did you do to it?- The worst thing that I could do.- You did!
0:08:15 > 0:08:18- The one thing that you tell us... - I'm glad you recognise that!
0:08:18 > 0:08:21- The one thing you tell us not to do - clean.- Right. You've cleaned it.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24And you've really, really polished it.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28It looks like to me that you've got a very abrasive pad
0:08:28 > 0:08:30and given it a good scrub.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34- At the time, I didn't realise that. - Naughty boy!
0:08:36 > 0:08:40I mean, it's nice to be able to see the detail, but really,
0:08:40 > 0:08:43we should keep it in its original condition.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45- Now, you paid £3.50 for this?- Yes.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50I would put that into auction at £100 to £150.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54- But I can see it doing well. - Can we put a reserve on it?
0:08:54 > 0:08:57We can put a reserve. What do you want your reserve to be?
0:08:57 > 0:09:00- The bottom end of the estimate. - £100. I think that is very sensible.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03We'll put a reserve on of £100. I think this is going to do well.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06- I think you're going to get a lot of people interested in it.- Great.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09It's all go here at our valuation day
0:09:09 > 0:09:11and it looks like the whole of Leicester has turned out.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13Even the local radio station has turned up.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15..Paul Martin now.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18We are Flogging It between now and midday on BBC Radio Leicester...
0:09:18 > 0:09:22But DJ Tony Wadsworth has found a moment to chat to me
0:09:22 > 0:09:24about this lovely piece of local memorabilia.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28Tony, I absolutely love this photograph. It sums up Beatlemania.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31Look at this, screaming fans going, "Aaaaaah!"
0:09:31 > 0:09:33- You couldn't hear the concert. - You're absolutely right.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35- You saw The Beatles, didn't you? - I did indeed, yeah.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37- Did you hear any music? - Not at all, no.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39I was screaming alongside the girls,
0:09:39 > 0:09:41but I was screaming at the girls to stop screaming!
0:09:41 > 0:09:43PAUL LAUGHS
0:09:43 > 0:09:45How funny. But that picture really sums up Beatlemania
0:09:45 > 0:09:47and the frenzy everybody got into.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50I love the ticket stub, I love everything about that.
0:09:50 > 0:09:51Did you put this together?
0:09:51 > 0:09:55I bought this ticket from a well-known internet auction website.
0:09:55 > 0:09:56I know the one!
0:09:56 > 0:09:59This picture here was taken by the local paper at the time,
0:09:59 > 0:10:02so this was taken in this very concert hall.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04I thought it would be nice to put it in a frame like that.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06I like what you've done. You've mounted it up
0:10:06 > 0:10:09and created a little bit of history here, you know,
0:10:09 > 0:10:11connected to De Montfort Hall, which I really like.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15Now, did you get this set of autographs?
0:10:15 > 0:10:17I wish I could say I did.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21- Because, you know, provenance and authenticity...- I know!
0:10:21 > 0:10:24..with The Beatles' autographs is key. It's crucial.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28The story goes that the mentioned Mrs Glenn there,
0:10:28 > 0:10:31she was employed as an outside catering contractor to serve
0:10:31 > 0:10:34The Beatles sandwiches in their dressing room.
0:10:34 > 0:10:39And got the Fab Four's signature and the rest, as they say, is history.
0:10:39 > 0:10:40That's incredible.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44- So this signature came with this piece of paper to you?- Indeed.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46I bought it just like that.
0:10:46 > 0:10:47Is it something you want to sell?
0:10:47 > 0:10:49No, I don't want to flog it, Paul!
0:10:49 > 0:10:52You know, I'm a Leicester lad born and bred, and for me,
0:10:52 > 0:10:56this is a little bit of local history. And I was there.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59I was at that very concert in 1964.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01And I remember it as if it was yesterday.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03You really can't put a price on memories,
0:11:03 > 0:11:06and for Tony, the value of this just isn't important.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09But in the past, we've seen authentic Beatles autographs
0:11:09 > 0:11:12which have sold for thousands of pounds.
0:11:12 > 0:11:142,500, then.
0:11:16 > 0:11:17- Ohhh!- Yes!
0:11:17 > 0:11:20And recently at Christie's, a piece of Buckingham Palace
0:11:20 > 0:11:25headed notepaper, signed by the Fab Four, sold for £20,000.
0:11:25 > 0:11:31Marie, Dale, tell me - how did you come by this box?
0:11:31 > 0:11:35Erm, well, I bought it off a friend. It was probably 15, 20 years ago.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37Ooh. Well, let's have a look at it.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40- It's very light, isn't it? - It is, yes.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43It's extraordinarily light for something which is so delicate
0:11:43 > 0:11:45and so well carved.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48And you look at the space inside here
0:11:48 > 0:11:50and you wonder what it could have been for.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53- Quite a good tight fit as well, isn't it?- It is, yes.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56I think it's snuff tobacco.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58And do you know the material?
0:11:58 > 0:12:00I thought it was tortoiseshell.
0:12:00 > 0:12:01It is tortoiseshell.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03And you can see the colour coming through.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06If you hold it up you can see that, can't you?
0:12:06 > 0:12:08- Yes, it's beautiful. - Isn't that delightful?- Yeah.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11So, we have to look at a number of things with this.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13Where is it from? The country of origin?
0:12:13 > 0:12:16Chinese, I think.
0:12:16 > 0:12:17How old do you think it is?
0:12:19 > 0:12:20100 years.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22I think it's a bit older than 100 years.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24It's probably going to be around 1870s.
0:12:24 > 0:12:261860s, 1870s.
0:12:26 > 0:12:31Produced for our markets, produced for us in the West.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33And we can tell that
0:12:33 > 0:12:36because on the front of it there is a monogram here.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38Yes, I noticed it was English.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40Yeah, absolutely.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42Somebody like the East India Company,
0:12:42 > 0:12:44who were based in the Far East,
0:12:44 > 0:12:46dealing in tea and trading, etc,
0:12:46 > 0:12:49some merchant would have had this commissioned
0:12:49 > 0:12:52and had this very fine,
0:12:52 > 0:12:57and it is fine, carving done on this piece of tortoiseshell.
0:12:57 > 0:12:58Beautiful work.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00And you've got a story here as well, haven't you?
0:13:00 > 0:13:03You've got figures within a landscape, with pagodas,
0:13:03 > 0:13:06weeping willow trees, within a bamboo border,
0:13:06 > 0:13:09but I think the real gem is on the front
0:13:09 > 0:13:11with these two dragons.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15- Yes.- So, I've told you what it is.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17Why are you selling it?
0:13:19 > 0:13:22Well, I've always collected loads of things, bits and bobs,
0:13:22 > 0:13:26- and I'm getting on a bit now, so... - Don't be silly!
0:13:26 > 0:13:28Why is your mother selling this?
0:13:28 > 0:13:31It's in a cupboard. it doesn't do anything. She doesn't look at it.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33- It has been shut away for a while. - Oh, really?- Yes.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35I used to have it in a display cabinet for a long while,
0:13:35 > 0:13:37and then I just put it away.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40It's a great market, with the emerging Chinese economy
0:13:40 > 0:13:43and a new middle class, so to speak.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47I would suggest, at auction today, it would be worth
0:13:47 > 0:13:50between £500 and £700.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52Fix the reserve at around about 450.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55I think it could do a bit better.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57But I don't want to push it.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59No.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01- Are you going to be happy with that? - Yes.
0:14:01 > 0:14:06So, the 450 fixed reserve, and it's a realistic estimate,
0:14:06 > 0:14:08for what it's worth.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11But it also gives the intention that maybe,
0:14:11 > 0:14:15intention that maybe it could go a bit higher.
0:14:15 > 0:14:20Tortoiseshell is like ivory, and thus has sale restrictions in place.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22But this box predates 1947,
0:14:22 > 0:14:25which means we can legally sell it at auction.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27Well, three great gems there.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29You've just seen them.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32There's nothing better for me than being surrounded by fine art
0:14:32 > 0:14:33and antiques, makes me feel good.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36And some of these items are fit for royalty.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38Right now we're going to put them to the test in the auction room.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41Here's a quick recap of what's going under the hammer.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43We're taking those pretty glass dumps.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46I hope they sell, or Thomas will be in trouble.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50The christening cup is gorgeous.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52But has Paul scrubbed the life out of it?
0:14:52 > 0:14:54And the snuffbox is exquisite.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56I'm expecting big things.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02Our auction today comes from Market Harborough on
0:15:02 > 0:15:04the Leicestershire/Northamptonshire border.
0:15:04 > 0:15:08The town is located in an area which was formerly part of
0:15:08 > 0:15:11Rockingham Forest, a royal hunting ground used by
0:15:11 > 0:15:12the medieval monarchs.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15Well, here we are. Gildings auction rooms.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19It may be quiet outside, but hopefully it's buzzing inside.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23The commission to pay at Gildings is 15% plus VAT.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27And Mark Gilding takes to the rostrum as our first lot
0:15:27 > 0:15:29goes under the hammer.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32Here's hoping he makes one of our owners a king's ransom.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35Going under the hammer right now we have three glass dumpy weights
0:15:35 > 0:15:37belonging to Jane and Susan.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41Sisters who join me right now here in this very exciting atmosphere.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43- Are you looking forward to this? - Very much.- Indeed.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45It's the moment of truth. Wants £200, Thomas.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47Yes.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49I think they're worth £150 any day of the week for three of them.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51I like them a lot.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53They were very popular
0:15:53 > 0:15:55when we first started doing this show 12 years ago.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58- Everybody was collecting these. - Now they're not?
0:15:58 > 0:15:59Well, we don't know.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02This is the problem with antiques, fashions change, you see,
0:16:02 > 0:16:03and prices fluctuate.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06And we've got to sell them because they can't be divided up.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08Two sisters, and there's three of them.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10You could keep one each and sell one.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13- But it's too late now, isn't it? - Yes, it is.
0:16:13 > 0:16:14- We'll wait and see.- OK.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16Let's put them under the hammer, shall we?
0:16:16 > 0:16:18Let's find out what the bidders think.
0:16:18 > 0:16:19Here we go. This is it.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21SHE GASPS
0:16:21 > 0:16:24Bidding opens at £55.
0:16:24 > 0:16:2655. I'm bid at 65.
0:16:26 > 0:16:2775.
0:16:27 > 0:16:2880. 90.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30100. 110.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32110 I'm bidding.
0:16:32 > 0:16:33You're out at my left at 110.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36120. 120 online now.
0:16:36 > 0:16:37And you're still out over here.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39It's 120 online.
0:16:39 > 0:16:40Online bidding, then.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43And selling away. Fair warning at 120.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45£120. Good result.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48Look, it was better than £100, wasn't it?
0:16:48 > 0:16:50That extra 20 helps.
0:16:50 > 0:16:51Yeah, it's fine. That's good.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53It wasn't the top end, unfortunately, but...
0:16:53 > 0:16:55It was worth it for the experience.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57Yes. Your first auction as well.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00There's nothing quite like your debut sale for excitement
0:17:00 > 0:17:02and exhilaration.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05Let's hope we keep the buzz going for our next lot.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08Going under the hammer right now we have a silver christening cup
0:17:08 > 0:17:11with a value of £100-£150, brought along by Paul.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13Was it yours as a christening cup,
0:17:13 > 0:17:15- or just yours because you acquired it?- No, I acquired it.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18- Where from?- A car-boot sale.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20I think somebody's in for a lot of profit here.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22But you know what he's done?
0:17:22 > 0:17:23He's polished it to death.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26- Oh, dear.- With an abrasive pad.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29Oh, no. Oh, that's a no-no. You do not do that.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31- You don't touch it, do you? - Good luck.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33Let's hope we get the top end.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35Here we go. This is it.
0:17:35 > 0:17:40And bidding opens with me here on my books at £95.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42£95 I'm bid.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46At 95. 100 in the room.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48Now at 100. And all my bids are lost.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50£100 I'm bid.
0:17:50 > 0:17:51We're at 100.
0:17:51 > 0:17:56The internet's out. The book's out. Selling to the room at £100.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59It's gone, but the damage let it down a bit.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02- I think it was the scrubbing. - It was that over-polishing.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04I shouldn't have polished it. I should have left it alone.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07Next time you will know - when you go to your boot fair,
0:18:07 > 0:18:10you find your bit of silver, you leave it.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13- Leave it to the experts.- Yes.
0:18:13 > 0:18:18But even so, what a great find and an amazing return on just £3.50.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24Thank you so much for coming along to our valuation day
0:18:24 > 0:18:27because you brought along absolute quality in the form of
0:18:27 > 0:18:30a carved tortoiseshell snuffbox.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32I mean, it's exquisite.
0:18:32 > 0:18:34The detail on this, absolutely beautiful.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36It's luscious.
0:18:36 > 0:18:37Got the reserve at 500.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40- Did you increase it to five?- I did.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42No, I don't blame you.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45Right. Let's find out what it's worth. Here we go.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48It's going under the hammer now. Good luck.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51Cantonese carved box.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54Carved in high relief, pavilions and foliage.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56A smart object, this one.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00And interest on the books here, 280, 300, 320, 340, I'm bid.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02It's not enough.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04£340. At 340.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06360. 380.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08I'm bid at 380.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11It's against you online at £380.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13400. 420.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16They're being cautious.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18They are.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20480 bid now.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24Against you online.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27At 480.
0:19:27 > 0:19:28Waiting for you.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30500.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32500 bid. We're online now.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34It takes time to wait.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37Selling away online now at £500.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40Hammer's gone down.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42That's a sold sound, and we love that sound.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44- Well done.- Thank you.
0:19:44 > 0:19:45You did the right thing.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48Putting the reserve at 500. He had one online bidder.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51As the auctioneer, he reserves the right to bid up to the reserve.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53That's exactly what he did.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55So, in the end, you did the right thing.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57Cos otherwise it would have been sold at 450.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59There was only one online bidder.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05Well, there you are, that concludes our first visit to the saleroom,
0:20:05 > 0:20:08as the curtain comes down on our first lots.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11And right now I'm off to the city of London, to the West End,
0:20:11 > 0:20:14to theatreland, to find out about one of the most influential
0:20:14 > 0:20:16playwrights of the 20th century.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19And he was a Leicester lad - Joe Orton.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34Joe Orton was born in Leicester in 1933 into a working class family,
0:20:34 > 0:20:37but it was here in the West End that he made his name.
0:20:37 > 0:20:42He wrote some of the modern era's controversial and challenging plays,
0:20:42 > 0:20:46including Entertaining Mr Sloane, What The Butler Saw and Loot.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49But the road from the council estate to the West End
0:20:49 > 0:20:51would be a bumpy one.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54Orton had a fascination with the theatre
0:20:54 > 0:20:56and writing from an early age
0:20:56 > 0:20:59and was actively involved in amateur dramatics.
0:20:59 > 0:21:00In 1951,
0:21:00 > 0:21:04he won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08It was during this time at RADA that he met his long-term partner
0:21:08 > 0:21:10Kenneth Halliwell.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12The pair were both aspiring writers,
0:21:12 > 0:21:14but never really had a great deal of success,
0:21:14 > 0:21:17and Orton had a few failed novels.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20They both took menial jobs for six months of the year to fund
0:21:20 > 0:21:23their lives so they could return to their typewriters to write
0:21:23 > 0:21:25for the rest of the year.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27But it wasn't their writing that first brought them to
0:21:27 > 0:21:29the attention of the public.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31It was a prolonged and elaborate practical joke.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37I'm leaving theatreland to head to North London to the local
0:21:37 > 0:21:42history museum in Islington, and I'm here to meet manager Mark Aston.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45- Mark, pleased to meet you. - Hello, Paul, likewise.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47- Thanks for talking to me today. - Not at all.
0:21:47 > 0:21:48What was the practical joke all about?
0:21:48 > 0:21:49What exactly did they do?
0:21:49 > 0:21:53Well, Joe Orton and Kenneth Halliwell would go to their local libraries.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57They would steal library books, take them back to their flat
0:21:57 > 0:22:00and start doctoring the covers by adding alternative images
0:22:00 > 0:22:03and narrative - bit of text, as well.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05Occasionally changing the dust jacket blurb.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08The would then sneak the library books back onto the library shelves
0:22:08 > 0:22:12from those same libraries and just wait for drama to unfold.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15Let's look at the original of John Betjeman, I'm a big fan.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18OK. I think the full effect of the covers, the collage,
0:22:18 > 0:22:20is to see the original.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24and here we have a facsimile of the original cover,
0:22:24 > 0:22:28which is a very basic cover showing Betjeman there in a boater.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31When you look at that, I mean, that's so typical Betjeman, really.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33But that puts a smile on your face.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35It certainly does. Look at that.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37And we've got there the Collins Guide To Roses.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39Lots of wonderful, pretty roses.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41Very simple cover.
0:22:41 > 0:22:45And English rose, what could be more institutional?
0:22:45 > 0:22:50But to cause a little bit of havoc, a simple monkey pasted on the rose.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53How long did this go on for?
0:22:53 > 0:22:55This went on for two and a half years.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58From 1959 to mid-1962.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00How many books in total, do you think?
0:23:00 > 0:23:03We believe they doctored hundreds of books
0:23:03 > 0:23:07as well as cutting out pictures to wallpaper their flat wall with.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11Now that Orton is well-known, a very famous playwright,
0:23:11 > 0:23:14these are quite rare, there's a lot of value attached to these now.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17There is a lot of value attached.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19We only have 42 originals.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21They are priceless because they're irreplaceable.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23Thank you very much for talking to me today.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25You're very welcome, Paul.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28This is Essex Road library in North London
0:23:28 > 0:23:30and it's the scene of the crime.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32Orton and Halliwell would come here
0:23:32 > 0:23:35and replace their defaced books on the shelves and sit and wait
0:23:35 > 0:23:40until an unsuspecting member of the public picked them up.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42Like all practical jokers they wanted to see
0:23:42 > 0:23:44the results of their work.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48A lot of the staff here at the library used to look forward
0:23:48 > 0:23:49to their latest creations,
0:23:49 > 0:23:51but not everyone saw the funny side.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53In fact, a lot of the changes that Orton
0:23:53 > 0:23:56and Halliwell made were pretty racy,
0:23:56 > 0:23:59especially for the 1950s, early 1960s.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02This may have been a bit of fun for Orton and Halliwell,
0:24:02 > 0:24:06but for many it was hugely shocking and blatant vandalism.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09This was an attack on our books.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12Our book stock, of which we are very proud,
0:24:12 > 0:24:14was being attacked by predators.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18The authorities took defacing public property very seriously,
0:24:18 > 0:24:21and the joke drastically backfired.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25And eventually in 1962 they were caught and both men were sentenced
0:24:25 > 0:24:29to six months' imprisonment for malicious damage.
0:24:31 > 0:24:35One person who knew Joe Orton and Kenneth Halliwell back then
0:24:35 > 0:24:40was their next door neighbour Elena Salvoni, who still lives here today.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43I always used to call them "the boys next door".
0:24:43 > 0:24:45I remember quite a lot.
0:24:45 > 0:24:50My son-in-law, he said, "Mum, what they've done is unbelievable."
0:24:50 > 0:24:52I said, "What have they done?"
0:24:52 > 0:24:55He said, "They've defaced library books."
0:24:55 > 0:24:57The boys were very mischievous.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00I mean, they used to banter off each other.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03And then Ken would say, "Joe, now behave yourself."
0:25:03 > 0:25:05I said, "It's about time you behaved yourself
0:25:05 > 0:25:07"after what you've been up to."
0:25:07 > 0:25:10And Elena clearly remembers the day they were arrested.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14I found out by coming out of the door after going shopping
0:25:14 > 0:25:18and Mrs Gordon was seeing to her flowers, and she said,
0:25:18 > 0:25:21"Elena, isn't it disgraceful?" I said, "What?"
0:25:21 > 0:25:22"The boys have been arrested."
0:25:22 > 0:25:24I said, "What do you mean?"
0:25:24 > 0:25:27She said, "They've defaced the library books.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29"Didn't you see the blue van?"
0:25:29 > 0:25:30I said, "No.
0:25:30 > 0:25:31"Lewis saw the blue van,"
0:25:31 > 0:25:33and I tell her I didn't have time to come to the window
0:25:33 > 0:25:35because I was busy cooking.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37Orton's time alone in prison
0:25:37 > 0:25:40allowed him to find his style as a writer.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43He later described his spell inside as his most formative.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46And after his release he had a new lease of life.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49And over the next few years he went from a struggling writer
0:25:49 > 0:25:52to become to the toast of the West End.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55In 1960s Britain, the working classes were on the rise,
0:25:55 > 0:25:58and that suited Orton's background, his writing style
0:25:58 > 0:26:00and his dislike for the middle classes.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03The timing was absolutely perfect.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07And his first play was a huge success, Entertaining Mr Sloan.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09And that continued for his second play, Loot,
0:26:09 > 0:26:12which won the London Evening Standard theatre award.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16Orton's career as a playwright and celebrity continued to grow, but
0:26:16 > 0:26:20his partner Kenneth Halliwell found his fame difficult to cope with
0:26:20 > 0:26:23and there was an increasing distance between them.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25Their relationship ended tragically.
0:26:25 > 0:26:29In August 1967, Halliwell, suffering from depression,
0:26:29 > 0:26:34murdered Joe Orton before taking his own life in that flat just there.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36He was only 34 years old.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40In a few short years, Orton wrote some of the most important plays
0:26:40 > 0:26:42of the last century.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44Tackling and challenging social issues of the day.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47Themes that had never been put on stage before.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49He was truly pioneering.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01Welcome back to our evaluation day De Montfort Hall.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03Let's now catch up with our experts
0:27:03 > 0:27:06and see what else we can find to take off to auction.
0:27:08 > 0:27:14Janet, there's one word, and one word only, to describe this.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16And that's fabulous.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19Oh. Amazing.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22Fabulous. It is a beautiful object.
0:27:22 > 0:27:26Predominantly, probably a pillbox, I would say.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30Tell me first of all how you got this beautiful box?
0:27:30 > 0:27:32Well, my late first husband,
0:27:32 > 0:27:36he just liked looking around antique shops and buying what he wanted.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40May I say that your husband had a fantastic eye
0:27:40 > 0:27:44because this is superb quality, and it is of the very, very best.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46Oh, good.
0:27:46 > 0:27:51When I look at it, to me, it looks...Swiss.
0:27:51 > 0:27:56- Oh.- Because it looks like the musical boxes of a similar period.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59Similar small musical boxes that had little flip-up lids
0:27:59 > 0:28:03with birds singing. Like singing bird boxes.
0:28:03 > 0:28:07They were made in Switzerland towards the late 19th century.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10If you look inside there's this little mark here.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14- A tiny little mark, which is a little bit rubbed.- Yeah.
0:28:14 > 0:28:18And I think... I've got a feeling that mark may actually be French.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21So it could be Swiss or it could be French.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24But it's so rubbed it's very difficult to be sure.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26The box itself...
0:28:26 > 0:28:28is rose gold.
0:28:28 > 0:28:30Oh, right.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32And all of this around the outside is enamel.
0:28:34 > 0:28:35I thought it was enamel.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38All this blue work. This blue here, that's all enamel.
0:28:38 > 0:28:42- But what I love is this lovely central panel here.- Yes.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45This has been overlaid onto the gold.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48We have this lovely central urn.
0:28:48 > 0:28:49Yeah.
0:28:49 > 0:28:54And this here is platinum. And then we've got the yellow gold
0:28:54 > 0:28:55and the little rose gold...
0:28:55 > 0:28:58all around the outside, the leaves and the flowers.
0:28:58 > 0:29:00It's absolutely exquisite.
0:29:00 > 0:29:02The detail is just second to none.
0:29:03 > 0:29:08Even on the sides there you've got the little...urns
0:29:08 > 0:29:10and with the flowers.
0:29:10 > 0:29:12And all these wonderful panels, everywhere.
0:29:12 > 0:29:14It's just lovely quality.
0:29:15 > 0:29:18Is it not something you would like to keep?
0:29:18 > 0:29:20Well, I would like to keep it
0:29:20 > 0:29:22but I would like to travel a bit and do one or two things.
0:29:22 > 0:29:26Probably a second youth, sort of thing!
0:29:26 > 0:29:29Why not? Why not?
0:29:29 > 0:29:30It's the sort of thing that
0:29:30 > 0:29:33people will get very excited about at auction.
0:29:33 > 0:29:35- Oh, right.- Really because of the pure quality of it.
0:29:35 > 0:29:37It's just untouched.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40I mean, it looks... Apart from a little rubbing inside,
0:29:40 > 0:29:42which is really not the end of the world...
0:29:42 > 0:29:45the condition, I think, is perfect.
0:29:46 > 0:29:48Do you have any ideas on prices?
0:29:48 > 0:29:50I haven't a clue, no.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52It must've been in the '70s when he bought it.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55I would absolutely love to rewind to the '70s
0:29:55 > 0:29:57and find out what he paid for it.
0:29:57 > 0:29:58I haven't a clue, to be honest.
0:29:58 > 0:30:00It would just be wonderful to know.
0:30:00 > 0:30:02- Well, I would love to put this in auction.- Thank you.
0:30:02 > 0:30:06I would like to put this in with an estimate of £2,000-£3,000.
0:30:06 > 0:30:07Golly, that much!
0:30:07 > 0:30:09How does that sound?
0:30:09 > 0:30:12Well, I could have a good holiday on that!
0:30:12 > 0:30:14You could have a jolly good holiday. I could come, too!
0:30:14 > 0:30:19Well, shall we put it in with an estimate of £2,000-£3,000?
0:30:19 > 0:30:23- Yeah.- And let's put a reserve on of £1,800.
0:30:23 > 0:30:25- Right. - Just to protect it.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28- And I hope that it does very, very well.- Thank you.
0:30:28 > 0:30:30And you can go round the world a few times.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32Well, I don't know about that!
0:30:32 > 0:30:34What a beautiful find for Catherine!
0:30:34 > 0:30:37And now it's my turn and I've discovered something
0:30:37 > 0:30:38with a brilliant local connection.
0:30:40 > 0:30:42Corinne, is this yours?
0:30:42 > 0:30:44Well, it was my husband's.
0:30:44 > 0:30:46He was the locomotive enthusiast, was he?
0:30:46 > 0:30:48Absolutely. Not me.
0:30:48 > 0:30:50It's a lovely, lovely image, isn't it?
0:30:50 > 0:30:53You see that steam locomotive rolling down the tracks.
0:30:53 > 0:30:56Has this been on the wall in pride of place?
0:30:56 > 0:30:59It's been on the wall, not necessarily in pride of place.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02- How long has it been on the wall for?- Oh, years. Years and years.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04When you took it off this morning to come to the valuation day,
0:31:04 > 0:31:07- did it leave a sort of mark behind? - It's left a mark.
0:31:07 > 0:31:10Now, it is signed Weston. It is by David Weston.
0:31:10 > 0:31:13And look...there it is, there's the date - 1968.
0:31:13 > 0:31:15So it's one of his earlier works.
0:31:15 > 0:31:17He sadly died in 2011.
0:31:17 > 0:31:20He was born in...1935.
0:31:20 > 0:31:22Leicester-based artist.
0:31:22 > 0:31:23Yes, yes.
0:31:23 > 0:31:27And his work is exhibited at the London Transport Museum.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30- Right. I didn't know that. - He's highly sought-after.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33- I know it's highly sought-after. - Especially in this area.- Yes.
0:31:33 > 0:31:34Especially with railway enthusiasts.
0:31:34 > 0:31:36I mean, that's a nice image, isn't it?
0:31:36 > 0:31:38You've got this wonderful tank locomotive
0:31:38 > 0:31:40steaming down the track,
0:31:40 > 0:31:42smoke bellowing everywhere,
0:31:42 > 0:31:44pulling the Pullman carriage.
0:31:44 > 0:31:48His work, I think, is quite popular with his acrylics on board.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51This is slightly different, this is an oil on canvas.
0:31:51 > 0:31:52- Yes, it is.- And it's quite big.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55- Yes. - Have you any idea of the value?
0:31:55 > 0:31:59Well, I've been told £200, but I'd got no idea, prior to that.
0:31:59 > 0:32:02You bought this in the '60s?
0:32:02 > 0:32:03Erm... No, later than that.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06- I would say it was later than that.- OK.
0:32:06 > 0:32:08- And I don't know how much it cost. - OK, right.
0:32:08 > 0:32:10I'm confident with you on £200.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13- There's a lot of paint in there for £200.- Mm-hm.
0:32:13 > 0:32:15Yeah.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18Can we put it in for a sale with a value of 250 to 350?
0:32:18 > 0:32:21Would you be happy?
0:32:21 > 0:32:24I'd be very pleased. I would be very pleased with that!
0:32:24 > 0:32:26So, I think your husband made a wise investment back then in the day.
0:32:26 > 0:32:28He did, didn't he?
0:32:28 > 0:32:29Fixed reserve at 250?
0:32:29 > 0:32:32If you were going to take £200, then I'd just up the ante a bit.
0:32:32 > 0:32:35- Yes. - I think this will be jolly exciting.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37It's full steam ahead and we're on the right track.
0:32:37 > 0:32:38- Yes. I'm with you.- OK?- Yes.
0:32:38 > 0:32:40See you at the auction room.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43Oh, I love a good pun, so, how about this one?
0:32:43 > 0:32:46Thomas has found a collection which could light up the room!
0:32:48 > 0:32:51Fiona, tell me about your collection of pipes, "peeps" -
0:32:51 > 0:32:52whatever you want to call them.
0:32:52 > 0:32:56They were passed down to me from my grandfather.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58He died about 12 years ago
0:32:58 > 0:33:00and I inherited them from him.
0:33:00 > 0:33:04And I think they came from his great-grandfather.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07- Do you know what they are called? - I know they're meish...
0:33:07 > 0:33:08- Meerschaum.- ..meerschaum.
0:33:08 > 0:33:10- Meerschaum pipes.- Yeah.
0:33:10 > 0:33:12Was your father a pipe smoker?
0:33:12 > 0:33:15- Never smoked in his life. - Really? Do you smoke?
0:33:15 > 0:33:17- No.- Never in your life?- No.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20Meerschaum pipes from...probably Austria, these ones.
0:33:20 > 0:33:24Or that mid-continental European bloc.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26And this is sea foam.
0:33:26 > 0:33:28They are late 19th, early 20th century.
0:33:28 > 0:33:29Right.
0:33:29 > 0:33:33It's carved and they are brilliant, brilliant white
0:33:33 > 0:33:35- when you first buy them. - OK.
0:33:35 > 0:33:37And as the tobacco
0:33:37 > 0:33:42stains the pipe as you're smoking it,
0:33:42 > 0:33:44it colours the pipe.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48And it creates these lovely patterns, doesn't it, really?
0:33:48 > 0:33:49Yeah.
0:33:49 > 0:33:52And patination within these marvellous things.
0:33:52 > 0:33:56And, of course, because it's quite a soft material - chalky almost -
0:33:56 > 0:33:58it's easy to carve.
0:33:58 > 0:34:03So you get lots of different faces and heads and objects, etc.
0:34:03 > 0:34:04Where are they at home?
0:34:04 > 0:34:07They're kept in a cabinet in the lounge.
0:34:07 > 0:34:08Are they?
0:34:08 > 0:34:10- Do you like looking at them? - Yes, I do. Yes.
0:34:10 > 0:34:12So, why have you brought them along?
0:34:12 > 0:34:14Well, I've got nobody to leave them to
0:34:14 > 0:34:16and I can let someone else have some enjoyment out of them.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19Which one is your favourite one?
0:34:19 > 0:34:22I like the one with the lady with the colours.
0:34:22 > 0:34:25Where it is all mottled.
0:34:25 > 0:34:26Yeah, it's good that, isn't it?
0:34:26 > 0:34:29It's got a lovely richness to the colour.
0:34:29 > 0:34:31This is my favourite one. I like the Cossack.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33- Yes.- He's got a really expressive face.
0:34:33 > 0:34:35Let me just pick him up.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38He's rather handsome, isn't he?
0:34:38 > 0:34:40Almost a bit sort of Sherlock Holmes-y, isn't he?
0:34:40 > 0:34:43I've always thought that these are lovely things.
0:34:43 > 0:34:45We do see them quite often.
0:34:45 > 0:34:47You do get lots of faces.
0:34:47 > 0:34:50You get, erm, interesting objects such as the acorn.
0:34:50 > 0:34:54The more racy ones are obviously the more valuable ones.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56Because they were more risque.
0:34:56 > 0:34:58So you get naked ladies, and stuff.
0:34:58 > 0:35:00- Yes. - Have you got an idea of value?
0:35:00 > 0:35:02Probably between 100 and 200.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05Yeah. I mean, there's one here with a bit of damage to it,
0:35:05 > 0:35:08which will knock it down.
0:35:08 > 0:35:10You're in the right ballpark.
0:35:10 > 0:35:13There's no moment here when I can surprise you and say,
0:35:13 > 0:35:16actually, madam, they're going to be worth £50,000.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19- It's not one of those. - It'd be nice if you could!
0:35:19 > 0:35:21I know. It'd be lovely, but it's not.
0:35:21 > 0:35:23If we sort of base this around that £100 bracket
0:35:23 > 0:35:26and we sort of use our typical auctioneer's estimate -
0:35:26 > 0:35:28- can we use that one? - You can.
0:35:28 > 0:35:30IN UNISON: £80 to £100!
0:35:30 > 0:35:33Because I think that's fair.
0:35:33 > 0:35:35Reserve at £80.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38I think they should do rather well. There are many collectors for them.
0:35:38 > 0:35:40Are you going to be happy to let them go?
0:35:40 > 0:35:44Yeah, we've decided that we might as well let somebody else have them.
0:35:44 > 0:35:46So our valuation day is nearly over
0:35:46 > 0:35:49but before we head off to the auction for the last time
0:35:49 > 0:35:51I'm taking advantage of the peace and quiet
0:35:51 > 0:35:54to show you something rather lovely.
0:35:54 > 0:35:57This striking sculpture that you'll find standing proudly
0:35:57 > 0:36:00outside De Montfort Hall is entitled Concerto.
0:36:00 > 0:36:05It was made by Leicester artist Dr John Sydney in 2010.
0:36:05 > 0:36:08The sculpture is of great significance to De Montfort Hall
0:36:08 > 0:36:10as the venue is a second home
0:36:10 > 0:36:14to London's world-renowned Philharmonia Orchestra.
0:36:14 > 0:36:18In 1997, this elite orchestra took up residence here in Leicester
0:36:18 > 0:36:22and each season the city sees around nine performances
0:36:22 > 0:36:26featuring some of the world's leading conductors and soloists.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29What a truly eclectic venue De Montfort Hall is.
0:36:29 > 0:36:31It's played host to everything -
0:36:31 > 0:36:33from the Philharmonia Orchestra to The Beatles.
0:36:33 > 0:36:37But now it's time to head back to the saleroom for the last time.
0:36:37 > 0:36:39And here's what we're taking with us.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42One of the finest little boxes I've ever seen.
0:36:45 > 0:36:47The painting which I hope will tempt in not just the locals,
0:36:47 > 0:36:50but the train enthusiasts.
0:36:52 > 0:36:53And the pipes!
0:36:53 > 0:36:56Quirky items often do well, so I'm keeping everything crossed.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05Welcome back to Gildings Auction Rooms in Market Harborough.
0:37:05 > 0:37:07Let's now catch up with our experts
0:37:07 > 0:37:09and get on with our next lots.
0:37:09 > 0:37:11Hopefully, we'll have one or two big surprises.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16We've got some bearded gentleman going under the hammer
0:37:16 > 0:37:18in the form of meerschaum pipes belonging to Fiona.
0:37:18 > 0:37:20We've seen these before.
0:37:20 > 0:37:22- And the characters are wonderful, Thomas?- Absolutely.
0:37:22 > 0:37:25So, have these been in the family a long time?
0:37:25 > 0:37:26Who's been collecting these?
0:37:26 > 0:37:29They came from either my great-grandad or great-great-grandad.
0:37:29 > 0:37:30Not sure which.
0:37:30 > 0:37:33Hopefully, we'll get the top end of Thomas's estimate,
0:37:33 > 0:37:35I think there's one or two that are quite delightful.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38- They are delightful. - Yes.- We have to wait and see.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40Well, we can't really say any more about it,
0:37:40 > 0:37:43let's hand proceedings over to Mark Gilding on the rostrum. Here we go.
0:37:43 > 0:37:45Bidding opens here with me at 35.
0:37:45 > 0:37:4845...55...
0:37:48 > 0:37:50£55, I'm bid.
0:37:50 > 0:37:52At £55. I'm bid at 55.
0:37:52 > 0:37:5460. Do I see it? 55.
0:37:54 > 0:37:55Then 60. 65.
0:37:55 > 0:37:5665? Bid at 65.
0:37:56 > 0:37:5870 online.
0:37:58 > 0:37:5975 bid now. At 75.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02At 75. 80, I'm bid. At 80.
0:38:02 > 0:38:04At £80 I'm bid.
0:38:04 > 0:38:06At 80 now, at 80. Online at 80.
0:38:06 > 0:38:07You're all out in the room?
0:38:07 > 0:38:10At £80 I'm bid. Selling to the internet at £80.
0:38:10 > 0:38:12- It's gone! - Lovely. Wonderful.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15- Well done, Thomas.- I'm really pleased about that.- Yeah, so am I.
0:38:15 > 0:38:17Because we kind of said, you know,
0:38:17 > 0:38:19these were in vogue about 10-15 years ago,
0:38:19 > 0:38:21and the fashion has really dropped.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24- But they've got away. Thank goodness.- That was a good job.
0:38:24 > 0:38:28I'm glad. I've filled the space in the cabinet already!
0:38:29 > 0:38:31And now time for another pun.
0:38:33 > 0:38:35OK, well, we seem to be chugging along quite nicely,
0:38:35 > 0:38:37which brings me to one of my valuations.
0:38:37 > 0:38:39Yes, it is the oil painting by David Weston.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42The wonderful locomotive under steam belonging to Corinne
0:38:42 > 0:38:44- who has just joined me.- That's true.
0:38:44 > 0:38:46And we're looking at £250-£350.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49He's a local artist, so hopefully the word is out there
0:38:49 > 0:38:52and there's a bit of interest.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55- Let's hope for the best.- Yeah, let's hope. Fingers crossed.- Yes!
0:38:55 > 0:38:57And I know you've brought some support along today.
0:38:57 > 0:38:58Yes, my son's here. Yes.
0:38:58 > 0:39:00OK, good luck.
0:39:00 > 0:39:02Let's find out what the bidders think.
0:39:02 > 0:39:05- Let's see if we're on the right track!- Let's hope so.- Here we go.
0:39:07 > 0:39:08And this is the David Weston.
0:39:08 > 0:39:10With Michael here on my right -
0:39:10 > 0:39:14the steam tank locomotive, signed and dated '68, an oil on canvas.
0:39:14 > 0:39:18And, understandably, quite a bit of interest in this.
0:39:18 > 0:39:19- 120.- Good!
0:39:19 > 0:39:21130, 140, 160, 180, 200...
0:39:21 > 0:39:23Someone in the room's bidding in the front.
0:39:23 > 0:39:25..240, 250 I'm bid.
0:39:25 > 0:39:26250 I'm bid.
0:39:26 > 0:39:28He's got it away at 250.
0:39:28 > 0:39:29Yeah.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32It should fetch more than that, really.
0:39:32 > 0:39:35- ..280. - That's encouraging - a phone bid.
0:39:35 > 0:39:36Yes, yes.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38300 on the telephone. At 320?
0:39:41 > 0:39:44340 with the telephone.
0:39:44 > 0:39:45360 with me.
0:39:47 > 0:39:49360 with me, then.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53The telephone is out and walking away.
0:39:53 > 0:39:55360, then. Selling at 360.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59- Top end of the estimate. - Yeah.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02- We wanted to fetch more, but it's gone.- We did, a bit, didn't we?
0:40:02 > 0:40:04But it's gone, I didn't want to take home.
0:40:04 > 0:40:06- But money is tight at the moment. - Yes, it is.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09- But nevertheless, it's gone and you didn't want it, did you?- No.
0:40:09 > 0:40:11- I didn't want it back home.- We did it.- Thank you very much.
0:40:11 > 0:40:13Thank you for bringing it in.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16And finally Janet's beautiful gold pillbox
0:40:16 > 0:40:17is going under the hammer.
0:40:17 > 0:40:21Catherine valued it at £2,000-£3,000,
0:40:21 > 0:40:25but on the auction preview day I asked Mark Gilding what he thought.
0:40:25 > 0:40:28It's absolutely exquisite. It really is.
0:40:28 > 0:40:30It's about as good as you'd find
0:40:30 > 0:40:32from the period these were made - the 1840s.
0:40:32 > 0:40:33Yeah.
0:40:33 > 0:40:34What I want to know is,
0:40:34 > 0:40:37has this been picked up and handled plenty of times
0:40:37 > 0:40:39along the viewing days?
0:40:39 > 0:40:42Not only that, it's been picked up through the internet
0:40:42 > 0:40:45- and lots of interest - from the UK and abroad.- Brilliant!
0:40:45 > 0:40:47Can we see the top end of that two to three?
0:40:47 > 0:40:49Can we see that and that more?
0:40:49 > 0:40:52Well, I think we can be certain of it selling.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54OK, the market will dictate later on.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57If three or four people really want this, they might pay over the odds.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01So without further ado,
0:41:01 > 0:41:02let's see how it does.
0:41:02 > 0:41:05Every now and then our valuation days throw up a real gem.
0:41:05 > 0:41:08And we certainly had one back at De Montfort Hall
0:41:08 > 0:41:11in the form of Janet, and also in her beautiful little
0:41:11 > 0:41:12rose gold and enamel box.
0:41:12 > 0:41:16This is a delight! An absolute treasure!
0:41:16 > 0:41:20- You were gobsmacked.- Stunning. - Really.- It's absolutely beautiful!
0:41:20 > 0:41:24Had a chat to the auctioneer - he said he's had phone bids,
0:41:24 > 0:41:28we've got internet booking on it, and hopefully interest in the room.
0:41:28 > 0:41:30Oh, good.
0:41:30 > 0:41:32- We're here to enjoy the moment, aren't we?- I'm interested.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35OK, well, let's see what the bidders think. Here we go.
0:41:35 > 0:41:38This is it. Good luck, both of you.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41So, this is the rose gold, enamelled, rectangular snuffbox.
0:41:41 > 0:41:45And I think you'd struggle to find a better one
0:41:45 > 0:41:47in many other places.
0:41:48 > 0:41:51Lots of interest in this throughout all of the viewing.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54I'm going to open the bidding here at £1,000.
0:41:54 > 0:41:561,000 I'm bid.
0:41:56 > 0:41:58It's not enough!
0:41:58 > 0:41:591,100. 1,200,
0:41:59 > 0:42:011,300. 1,400.
0:42:01 > 0:42:031,500.
0:42:03 > 0:42:041,600.
0:42:05 > 0:42:061,700.
0:42:07 > 0:42:09£1,800, I'm bid now.
0:42:09 > 0:42:111,900.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14Two phone lines ready to battle it out. See those two gentlemen?
0:42:14 > 0:42:16- Oh, yeah. - ..2,200.
0:42:17 > 0:42:182,300. 2,400.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22- 2,500. - (Amazing. It's wonderful.)
0:42:22 > 0:42:24- 2,600. - (It's a great thing.)
0:42:24 > 0:42:262,700.
0:42:27 > 0:42:292,700 I'm bid, then.
0:42:29 > 0:42:322,800 - new bidder.
0:42:32 > 0:42:342,900.
0:42:34 > 0:42:36£3,000.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39- Did you know it was worth this much? - Not really. No.
0:42:39 > 0:42:41- Are you OK? - It's very nice...
0:42:41 > 0:42:423,400.
0:42:44 > 0:42:463,600.
0:42:47 > 0:42:483,800.
0:42:49 > 0:42:52£4,000 I'm bid.
0:42:52 > 0:42:53So, £4,000 we're bid.
0:42:55 > 0:42:57No bidding with the internet, as well.
0:42:57 > 0:42:59With the telephone, then. £4,000?
0:42:59 > 0:43:02Last chance - selling at £4,000.
0:43:04 > 0:43:08- Well done.- Wow. What a wonderful way to end today's programme!
0:43:08 > 0:43:10- You don't really know what to say, do you?- No.- No.
0:43:10 > 0:43:12I enjoyed it.
0:43:12 > 0:43:14You enjoyed it!
0:43:14 > 0:43:16- Thank you so much for bringing that in.- Thank you.
0:43:16 > 0:43:18It's been a real delight to see.
0:43:18 > 0:43:20Our experts love things like that.
0:43:20 > 0:43:22If you've got anything like that we'd love to see it.
0:43:22 > 0:43:25But for now, from Market Harborough and from all of us,
0:43:25 > 0:43:27it's goodbye from a wonderful, wonderful "Flog It!".