Leicestershire 44 Flog It!


Leicestershire 44

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One of the things I love about my job is the variety of antiques

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I get to see on a daily basis.

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My passion is Queen Anne and early-Georgian furniture,

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but I do have a guilty pleasure

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and that's antiques that I call decorator's pieces.

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And later on in the show, I'll be finding out about a woman

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whose passion for such things changed the look of this house forever.

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Welcome to "Flog It!"

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Today, we're in the city of Leicester. With a history

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which spans back to the Roman period,

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this should be a place with a wealth of antiques to offer.

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It's also one of the most culturally diverse cities in the country,

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so I'm hoping for a really eclectic mix of items to take off to auction.

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And with a population of around 330,000,

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we should have a good turnout here at De Montfort Hall.

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In fact, I think, looking at that queue,

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most of them have turned out today, don't you?

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And hopefully we'll have one or two big surprises.

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To help us find the best antiques and collectables,

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we have our very own uber-talented "Flog It!" favourites,

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Thomas Plant and Catherine Southon.

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What they don't know about antiques isn't worth knowing.

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If rules weren't rules, I'd be buying that.

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-"Flog It!" That's the name of the programme.

-I'll "flog it".

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-You all having a good time so far?

-ALL:

-Yes.

-Yes.

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And the day hasn't even started.

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It's barely 9.30, time to get the doors open.

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Somebody here in this queue is going to go home with

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an awful lot of money and it could be you.

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-What have you got inside there?

-A bit of china.

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What have you got? Some China. Oh, look at that.

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Oh, lots and lots of valuables.

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I think it's time to get the doors open,

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get our experts at work, because we've got a lot of antiques to see.

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So whilst everyone takes a seat and makes themselves comfortable,

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here's what's coming up.

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Decorator's pieces are all the rage in this show.

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We've got African spears, an ornate French clock and candlesticks,

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and the most intriguing architectural model.

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But which will catch the eye of the interior designers as we take this

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little lot off to auction?

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But first up, it's Catherine

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and she's found a classic "Flog It!" treasure.

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-John, you and I are going to get on well together.

-Hope so.

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I love this little perfume bottle holder. Where did you get it from?

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It belonged to my mother.

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When she died, I found it in a drawer, but I didn't really know what it was.

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I tried pressing the button and I had difficulty pressing it at first.

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When it shot up, I was quite surprised what was inside.

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Let's have a look at it, because it's a lovely elegant shape.

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The outside of this case is all tortoiseshell

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-and then this is a silver inlay.

-Oh, right.

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These are like little laurel leaves, and then you have this little

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swag detail and then you have a cartouche, here on the front.

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And then on the back, and then it's got the lady's initials.

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Can you imagine the sort of lady that would have had

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-something like this?

-A bit posh.

-I think she probably was a bit posh.

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I don't think it's an English piece. I think it's probably

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continental, probably French.

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My father was in the First World War and he was...

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..he was in France.

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Right, so he might have picked it up.

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-Might well have picked it up there.

-Yeah.

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But it's a lovely piece, but it actually

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dates from the late 18th century to the early 19th century.

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It's got quite a bit of age to it.

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But it's a shame that things like this are not used today.

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The type of lady that would have had this,

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she would have kept her perfume in it, had a little dabble.

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-Probably belonged to my grandma, then.

-Quite possibly. Quite possibly.

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So you press this little button here

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and this is what you had the problem with.

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Press the button...

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and then we should have two perfume bottles.

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Just look at the shape of these perfume bottles. Aren't they lovely?

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-Very unusual.

-Really nice. Lovely tapered shape.

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Such a shame we've got one missing. But you've never known the other one.

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-No.

-If it had the other bottle, we'd be talking at around £300.

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But without that, that does make a difference.

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With that in mind, I'd probably put a presale estimate on of £80-120.

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-That's fine.

-Is that all right?

-Yes.

-But I think

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we should protect it with an £80 reserve,

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because it's a lovely piece of history.

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It's been in your family a long time

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and you don't want to just let it go for nothing.

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Yeah, that's fine.

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If it does do well, what will you do with the money?

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I will most probably buy my lady friend something.

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I hope that it does do very well

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and I hope you can buy your lady friend something very, very special.

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-I will do.

-Thank you very much. Thank you, John.

-My pleasure.

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Like ivory, there are restrictions

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when it comes to selling tortoiseshell, but this piece

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was made well before 1947, so it's perfectly legal to sell in auction.

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And now I'm going to have a rummage myself.

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There's always something good to find at a valuation day.

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Having a good time? Thank you so much for being patient.

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Lots of happy, smiley faces.

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This is what I like to see at a valuation day.

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Hopefully someone will be looking at your things very shortly.

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HE GASPS

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-Can I have a look in your bag? What's your name?

-Ali.

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-Can have a look in there?

-You certainly can.

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The gilding caught my eye.

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Everything that glitters might be worth a lot of money.

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-Everything that glitters isn't always gold, though.

-It's not, is it?

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HE LAUGHS

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-Did this come off the wall this morning?

-Unfortunately, no.

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It has been on the wall at some point,

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but it's been in a cupboard for a long time.

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You can't beat something that goes on the wall,

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an original work of art. Birket Foster, look at this.

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Royal Watercolour Society.

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That's a name that's up there with the great

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artists in the Victorian era. A wonderful British artist.

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How did you come by this?

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My dad bought it for my mum shortly after they were engaged.

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He bought it at an auction.

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It was in their home for as long as I can remember as a child.

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It was passed down to me and it was on my bedroom wall for a long

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-time until I went contemporary.

-Oh, sad.

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There is some doubt about its authenticity.

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If this is Birket Foster, English romantic scene

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-just like that, we're looking at £30,000.

-Wow.

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£30,000.

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What are you going to do with that?

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Flog it! Don't be silly, flog it.

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Can I just tell you something? Birket Foster is

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one of the most faked artists you will find.

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For every one original, there's possibly 1,000 fakes.

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He was a miniature artist, worked in great detail, very,

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very fine brushstroke.

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Could pick out wonderful detail in the face, the fingers,

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the little leaves in the trees.

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This is good but it's not by him.

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I'm so sorry.

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Would have been gutted if it had been bought as a genuine.

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Is there a value on it?

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There's always a value on it because it's a good watercolour in itself.

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It's not a print. It's in a nice gilt frame.

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It has a nice bit of wear to it.

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In the trade, we call this a decorator's piece

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and it has a value of around £300-400.

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-It's a nice thing within itself, so enjoy it.

-Thank you very much.

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There we are, a decorator's piece, a classic decorator's piece.

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Next up, Thomas is keeping the theme going.

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-Julie.

-Hi.

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You've brought along a very decorative clock garniture,

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as you like to call it. Tell me, how have you come to have it?

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I was left it in my uncle's will, ten years ago.

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-Did he leave you other things?

-This is the main thing.

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So why have you brought it here?

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Because I've had it for ten years in the house,

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and I live in an ordinary three-bed, semidetached house,

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and it just doesn't fit anywhere.

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I've tried it on shelves and tables and cupboards. It just doesn't fit.

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This wouldn't fit in my house

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because everything has got so much smaller now.

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This is for a grand palatial mansion.

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It's a very beautiful 19th-century French, mantel, garniture clock,

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with a spelter top.

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This looks like bronze, like it's been bronzed, but it is spelter.

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It's signed, "Glchter," or "Clee-cher." Somebody like... 1842.

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I wouldn't say this is 1842, I'd say more like late 19th century.

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-Right.

-Do you have it working?

-It does work.

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You wind it up and it goes for eight days,

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-and it rings on the hour and the half an hour.

-Do you like it?

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I do like it, but it just doesn't look right in my house.

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-Looks like something out of the Ride Of The Valkyries.

-That's right, yes.

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With this polished...polished slate and the beautiful white dial.

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So, extremely decorative. You can imagine it with the candles.

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Have you ever had candles in here?

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I have had candles and I put them on the table at Christmas,

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but because it's so big, you couldn't see the people opposite

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when you're eating your meal. It was not practical. You need a huge table.

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Yeah, absolutely. Some great big mahogany number.

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-Do you have any idea of value?

-No, I have no idea.

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I've always thought maybe 50-100.

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Very often on "Flog It!" they say 80-120.

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That's our favourite auctioneer's estimate.

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-I've always, always thought maybe that.

-I think it's worth over £100.

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-I would say 120, 180, as an estimate. Reserve it at £100.

-Yes.

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-Or do you not want to reserve it?

-I don't mind if

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it doesn't have a reserve. I just need it to go.

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-Shall we let the auctioneers use their own discretion?

-Yes.

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-I don't think they'll give it away.

-I'll be happy with that.

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I really look forward to seeing you at the auction.

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-Hopefully, I can see nowadays this being in a big hotel.

-Oh, right.

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-Who's going to lift it off? It's me, isn't it?

-Yes, I think so.

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It's me.

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Whilst Thomas was busy, I carried on my search and came across a very

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pleasing precious piece.

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Are you after a valuation on this,

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-because you're clutching it as if it's rather precious.

-I am.

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Tell me a little bit about it.

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How did you come by it?

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-A village fete. 10p I paid for it.

-How long ago was that?

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-Oh, probably about 20 years ago. More, maybe.

-You have hung on to it.

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But it's been up in the loft, sort of thrown in a corner.

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-I was about to say you've had your 10p worth.

-Yes, yes.

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I don't know what it is. I don't know if it's worth anything.

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Do you know what it's made of? Looking at that...

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-I'm assuming plastic or something.

-It is in fact turtle shell. OK.

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It's the shell which has been finely polished.

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This is made for the tourist market. This is Victorian, this little box.

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-Wow.

-Around about 1880. From the Far East.

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-And you see this little decorative picture on the front?

-Yeah.

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That's what's known as taki-maki.

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It's a technique which is raised and this picture is drawn on

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with layers and layers of lacquer.

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-Run your finger across that. You can see it is all raised.

-It is.

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-I thought it was like a gold leaf.

-No, no.

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-It's been gold leafed afterwards.

-Oh, right.

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But what we call it, we call it "gilded," because it's not using real gold.

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But the lacquer, basically, when you look at early lacquer,

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especially in the Victorian period, lacquer is squashed stag beetle juice.

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It's very, very sticky and very, very thick.

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And it's what was used to make early varnish.

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-Do you want to sell it?

-I do.

-Can we put it into auction?

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Of course. Yeah.

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What would you say if I said it's worth £300-500?

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Would you say I was daft?

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I wouldn't believe it because people have looked at that

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-and said, "Throw it in the bin."

-OK.

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-SHE LAUGHS

-I'll throw it in the bin, don't worry.

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No, no. Seriously.

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-I think we put a reserve on of £200, if you're happy?

-Yes.

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Get everybody excited.

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-They'll all want to own it and it should do £300-400.

-Wow.

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-I'll look forward to seeing you at the auction.

-Lovely, thank you very much.

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There you are. Our first three items found, valued and packaged up,

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ready for the auction room.

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Hopefully, one or two surprises as they go...under the hammer.

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And here's a quick recap of what we're taking with us.

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I hope John's perfume-holder has the sweet smell of success

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so he can splash out on his lady friend.

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The clock weighs an absolute tonne, so fingers crossed it sells.

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I'm sure Julie doesn't want to take it home.

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And the tortoiseshell box is gorgeous.

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I'd be hanging onto this if it were mine.

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For hundreds of years, Market Harborough has been

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at the centre of trade, and the market is still thriving today.

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They even have a regular antique and collectors' fair here.

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Now, the man in this area with the local antique knowledge, is

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auctioneer Mark Gilding, and hopefully, fingers crossed,

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when he gets on the rostrum later on, trade will be good for us.

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Seller's commission here at Gildings is 15%, plus VAT.

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And first to go under the hammer is John's pretty little perfume-holder.

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-Quality, quality, quality. Isn't it lovely?

-Beautiful.

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-Has it been in the family a long time?

-I don't know.

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-We found it quite a few years ago, so I don't really know.

-It's lovely.

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It's tortoiseshell.

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The only thing is, it's only got one bottle, which is a shame.

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-It's a shame.

-Nevertheless, it's really fantastic.

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The George III silver inlaid horn scent bottle case,

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fitted with one of two bottles.

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And bidding opens here with me at 45. £55.

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£55, I'm bid at 55. 60, 65.

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-It's 65 against you all. At 70. 75. 75, I bid.

-Come on.

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£80. I'm bid online at 80.

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On the internet and selling away now at £80.

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Well, we did it, £80.

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-I think because it had losses, it struggled.

-That was the problem.

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-John's happy. Lovely to have met you.

-Thank you very much indeed.

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It just goes to show condition is of the utmost importance.

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If you're looking for a centrepiece, something showy,

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you need to be right here, right now, to get this next lot.

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This massive, great big French mantel clock, with a spelter

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figure on the top, accompanied by a pair of candlesticks.

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It has the "wow" factor, and there's no reserve.

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-No.

-It's got to go, hasn't it?

-I want it to go.

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You do not want to take this home.

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I really don't want to go home with it, no.

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We are erring on the side of caution.

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Julie has a pushchair in the car because it's so heavy,

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she can't carry it. Push it along. Big, isn't it?

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-Massive. But it deserves...

-A grand mantelpiece.

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A hotel lobby, I was thinking.

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Something where they can get lost but still be very useful.

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And there's plenty of big hotels around here that could do

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with this, so without further ado,

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let's try and find it a new home, shall we?

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It's going under the hammer right now.

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A French patinated marble mantel clock

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and a pair of matched five-light candelabra.

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Bidding starts with me at £100.

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110. 120. 120 bid, now.

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-It's gone, hasn't it?

-Sold.

-It's gone. There's no reserve.

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140. 150 online. 160.

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Selling away at £160.

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It's gone. £160. That is a lot of kit for £160.

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-A showy item...

-But it's gone.

-Thank goodness.

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-The relief on your face.

-I thought I was going to have to take it home.

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Another very satisfied customer.

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Well, it's my turn to be the expert right now.

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Going under the hammer, we've got a Victorian tortoiseshell box,

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belonging to Beverly, who's with me. £200-300.

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That's what we want. Just remind us why do you want to sell this.

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-Go towards my daughter's uni fees.

-Every penny helps, doesn't it?

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Good luck with that.

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And good luck with her studies and let's find out what it's worth.

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It's going under the hammer right now.

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Gilt-painted tortoiseshell box, telephone bid starts us at £200.

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Straight in, sold.

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220, 230, 240. 250. 260.

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270, 280. 290. 300.

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And 20.

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340, new bidder.

0:16:570:17:00

360. 380.

0:17:000:17:01

-400 online.

-(Yes. That's what I wanted.)

0:17:030:17:07

-420.

-Every penny helps.

0:17:070:17:10

420. You're out on the internet. Fair warning. 440, back in.

0:17:110:17:16

440.

0:17:160:17:17

460 with the telephone. It is your last warning, internet.

0:17:180:17:22

Fair warning at £460.

0:17:220:17:25

£460. Well, I'm very, very happy.

0:17:260:17:29

-That's satisfying, actually, isn't it?

-Yeah. It really is.

0:17:290:17:33

£460 is a pretty impressive return on 10p.

0:17:340:17:39

We'd all love to find something like that.

0:17:390:17:42

I am surrounded by fine art and antiques every day of my life,

0:17:420:17:45

and I'm always on the lookout for that one special item that

0:17:450:17:48

could change the look of a room.

0:17:480:17:50

Back in the early part of the 20th century, one woman put this

0:17:500:17:54

ethos into motion. Creating that look and that style was her passion.

0:17:540:17:59

Nancy Lancaster had a profound and lasting effect on interior design.

0:18:080:18:12

She was a tastemaker. A flamboyant,

0:18:120:18:15

feisty American woman, who, ironically, with her passion and

0:18:150:18:19

natural flair for interior design, pioneered a style which we now know as the

0:18:190:18:24

English country house look, which is

0:18:240:18:27

clearly evident here at her beloved Kelmarsh Hall.

0:18:270:18:30

Having married not one, but three very wealthy men,

0:18:350:18:38

Nancy led a rich and extravagant lifestyle,

0:18:380:18:42

and every year Nancy and her second husband, Ronald Tree, would travel

0:18:420:18:45

from America to Leicestershire, to take part in the hunt.

0:18:450:18:49

Travelling by ocean-going liner,

0:18:490:18:50

they would bring everything with them from horses to servants,

0:18:500:18:54

cars to the very best table linen, and in 1926, Ronnie was

0:18:540:18:58

invited to become joint master of the hunt here in Northamptonshire,

0:18:580:19:03

a chance that he jumped at, so they both moved over to England.

0:19:030:19:07

Nancy and Ronnie took out a ten-year repairing lease on Kelmarsh Hall,

0:19:170:19:21

which is situated just outside of Market Harborough.

0:19:210:19:24

This architectural gem was built in 1728

0:19:240:19:26

and it's said to be the favourite of all of Nancy's homes,

0:19:260:19:30

and as she put it herself, she loved it for its good bones

0:19:300:19:33

and relished the chance of having free rein to

0:19:330:19:35

stamp her mark on the interior of this grand house.

0:19:350:19:40

'Betty West, a volunteer at Kelmarsh Hall,

0:19:480:19:51

'grew up just down the road, and her mother knew Nancy Lancaster.'

0:19:510:19:55

Hi, Betty. So where do we start? With the lady herself?

0:19:550:19:59

Well, she was very knowledgeable on history and art, and politics.

0:19:590:20:03

She was very lively. She was a good raconteur and she had a wry smile.

0:20:030:20:08

If something was amiss, her eyebrow raised,

0:20:080:20:13

so you knew that something had been said that was not quite correct.

0:20:130:20:17

She was really a superb lady.

0:20:170:20:20

When Nancy came here to the house, she found it very cold.

0:20:200:20:24

We are talking now, 1927, '28.

0:20:240:20:27

And this room we are standing in was a dreadful green.

0:20:270:20:32

She wanted to have this sort of pinkish wash on the wall.

0:20:320:20:36

This is a lovely colour, isn't it? It embraces you.

0:20:360:20:39

I feel quite at home already.

0:20:390:20:41

And I've only just got into the entrance hall.

0:20:410:20:44

She loved furniture and she acquired a lot of her

0:20:440:20:47

thoughts on furniture from her mother and her grandmother.

0:20:470:20:50

They were at one stage quite poor,

0:20:500:20:53

and her mother had to make do and mend.

0:20:530:20:57

Mixing and matching.

0:20:570:20:58

Mixing and matching was very evident,

0:20:580:21:01

and she used different types of materials as well.

0:21:010:21:04

She clearly had a passion for antiques.

0:21:040:21:07

Yes, but she did adapt them to her own use as well.

0:21:070:21:11

For example, we have some celadon vases that are now lamps.

0:21:110:21:16

They're very beautiful as lamps,

0:21:160:21:19

but perhaps they were also beautiful as celadon vases.

0:21:190:21:22

PAUL LAUGHS

0:21:220:21:23

-And she certainly liked to paint her antique furniture.

-Did she?

0:21:230:21:27

-And many an antique dealer has said...

-"Oh, you've ruined it.

0:21:270:21:30

"You've gilded up the legs and you've changed this, and you've done that."

0:21:300:21:33

But I guess that's what a decorator does, though.

0:21:330:21:37

She saw that these things have a different dynamic,

0:21:370:21:39

if she could alter them slightly.

0:21:390:21:41

I guess there's nothing wrong with that as long as you're

0:21:410:21:43

not buying purist pieces which shouldn't be touched.

0:21:430:21:46

That's true, that's very true.

0:21:460:21:47

And if a chair looked very new,

0:21:470:21:49

-she had been known to put it out in the rain.

-Sure.

0:21:490:21:52

It horrified me when I first heard of it,

0:21:520:21:55

but certainly it had the effect that she desired.

0:21:550:21:58

Well, it had a personality, rather than being contrived

0:21:580:22:01

and just plonked there by a curator of a big stately home.

0:22:010:22:05

She was able to mix the grandeur with the modest look as well.

0:22:050:22:09

-Should we have a quick tour?

-Yes, do follow me.

0:22:090:22:12

'Most of Nancy's decoration

0:22:120:22:14

'and styling still remains here at Kelmarsh.'

0:22:140:22:16

This is the Chinese room that I'd like to show you.

0:22:230:22:27

Nancy used this room for cocktails before dinner.

0:22:270:22:31

And then perhaps after dinner, people might like to come and play bridge in here.

0:22:310:22:35

Gosh, this is beautiful. All hand-painted wallpaper.

0:22:350:22:38

Nancy had seen it advertised, and she realised that with

0:22:380:22:42

a bit of tweaking, it would fit this room.

0:22:420:22:46

And it's on hessian, and on batons.

0:22:460:22:48

-So it's been backed and panelled back on.

-That's right.

0:22:480:22:51

It fits perfectly, doesn't it?

0:22:510:22:53

-Apart from over the chimney breast, where it's had...

-I can see. Has that been overpainted?

0:22:530:22:57

-It has.

-A rock formation or something.

0:22:570:22:59

Obviously, the furniture's mixed and matched.

0:22:590:23:02

-We haven't gone down the whole chinoiserie thing.

-No.

0:23:020:23:05

And this sort of thing she loved.

0:23:050:23:08

-Well-worn, the furniture.

-Shabby chic.

-"Shabby chic" is the correct word.

0:23:080:23:14

But this is her furniture.

0:23:140:23:16

And this is, quintessentially, the English country house look.

0:23:160:23:19

Yes, yes.

0:23:190:23:21

Where you had the sort of elegant furniture mixed with the more

0:23:210:23:24

modest, and where you had a mixture of patterns and design.

0:23:240:23:30

And periods of furniture as well. Things from the late 17th century,

0:23:300:23:33

the 18th, right through to some 19th-century pieces.

0:23:330:23:36

So, mix and match is the order of the day.

0:23:360:23:39

In its day, this was very pioneering, wasn't it?

0:23:390:23:42

Oh, yes, it was.

0:23:420:23:44

In 1938, the Trees' lease on Kelmarsh Hall had expired.

0:23:510:23:56

And pretty much most of the furniture that they acquired was sold off in auction.

0:23:560:24:00

Fortunately, the owner of the hall acquired most of it

0:24:000:24:03

and much of it is still here today.

0:24:030:24:05

The Trees turn their attention to their new home.

0:24:050:24:09

But Nancy's love affair with Kelmarsh was far from over.

0:24:090:24:13

In 1944, Nancy's passion for interior design was taken to a new level

0:24:150:24:20

when she became the co-owner of Colefax and Fowler,

0:24:200:24:23

an influential British decorating firm.

0:24:230:24:26

Her work with the company was so profound that the English

0:24:260:24:29

country house look was recognised, and inspired many, although

0:24:290:24:34

Nancy always believed that a room should never look decorated.

0:24:340:24:37

She created a list of rules to follow to make a room comfortable.

0:24:370:24:42

In restoring a house, one must first realise its period,

0:24:420:24:46

feel its personality and try to bring out its good points.

0:24:460:24:50

Understatement is extremely important and crossing too many t's

0:24:500:24:53

and dotting too many i's makes a room look overdone and tiresome.

0:24:530:24:57

One needs light and shade,

0:24:570:24:59

because if every piece is perfect, the room becomes a museum and lifeless.

0:24:590:25:04

But it must be a delicious mixture that flows and mixes well.

0:25:040:25:07

It's a bit like mixing a salad. I'm better at mixing rooms than salads.

0:25:070:25:11

In 1947, Nancy and Ronald's marriage came to an end

0:25:120:25:16

and just over a year later, she married her third husband,

0:25:160:25:19

Colonel Lancaster, who happened to be the owner of Kelmarsh Hall.

0:25:190:25:23

Nancy was back in her precious home, but it transpired that she

0:25:240:25:28

was far more in love with the Hall than her husband.

0:25:280:25:31

It was a short-lived and turbulent relationship.

0:25:310:25:35

Nancy clung onto the house but was finally forced to leave

0:25:350:25:37

when Colonel Lancaster turned off the electricity.

0:25:370:25:40

Her relationship with Kelmarsh was finally over.

0:25:400:25:44

But Nancy's passion for interior design lives on in the way

0:25:440:25:47

we decorate houses today,

0:25:470:25:49

from grand country estates to the eclectic mix of furniture

0:25:490:25:53

we find in our own homes.

0:25:530:25:55

Nancy's spirit is clearly still here at Kelmarsh Hall.

0:25:550:25:59

Her touch was an absolute delight.

0:25:590:26:02

This is, and always will be, Nancy Lancaster's home.

0:26:020:26:05

And back at De Montfort Hall, it's just as busy as ever.

0:26:170:26:21

There really is a hive of activity going on down there.

0:26:210:26:24

It's wonderful to watch.

0:26:240:26:26

It's such an articulated, well-oiled machine.

0:26:260:26:28

Everybody knows exactly what they're doing.

0:26:280:26:30

We're in our 12th year now. There's six camera crews down there,

0:26:300:26:33

capturing every single little piece of action

0:26:330:26:35

and those wonderful treasures.

0:26:350:26:37

And talking about treasures, let's catch up with our experts

0:26:370:26:40

and see what else they can find.

0:26:400:26:42

Thomas has hunted out some very intriguing tribal artefacts.

0:26:420:26:46

Let's see what owner John can tell us about them.

0:26:460:26:49

-These were the property of my father's youngest brother.

-Right.

0:26:490:26:55

-He was in Kenya for...I don't know how many years.

-In the British Army?

0:26:550:27:01

-No. On a tea plantation.

-Oh, really.

0:27:010:27:04

And he brought them home with him

0:27:040:27:07

and they used to be in the old house that I lived in.

0:27:070:27:11

Always in the hall, standing up there.

0:27:110:27:14

And so I'd see these in the corner and think, "Wow,

0:27:140:27:17

-"I wonder who used these?"

-Absolutely, absolutely.

0:27:170:27:20

-And have you got any information on what they are?

-No, I haven't.

0:27:200:27:25

We think they're Masai. We've been having a chat here... Masai.

0:27:250:27:29

They're for hunting, aren't they?

0:27:290:27:31

I think certainly that would do some damage.

0:27:310:27:33

This one looks like it's more sophisticated, somehow.

0:27:330:27:36

A little bit more sophisticated with a blood drain, with these grooves here.

0:27:360:27:40

Because the blood would drain off this one quite quickly, wouldn't it?

0:27:400:27:43

Which is quite useful.

0:27:430:27:45

And this lovely, lovely bits of hickory, whatever they are, shafts.

0:27:450:27:51

-Yes.

-They're so nice.

-These would be the little branches, would they?

0:27:510:27:55

Yeah.

0:27:550:27:56

And it's got a real strength, but a real bend to it,

0:27:560:27:59

-so it would sail through the air.

-Yes.

0:27:590:28:02

And spin and probably do some real damage,

0:28:020:28:05

if you were hunting something to eat,

0:28:050:28:08

a wildebeest or something. African tribal works of art, weapons,

0:28:080:28:13

clubs, fertility things, are so widely collected.

0:28:130:28:17

People want to know where they're from,

0:28:170:28:19

-and these are probably ones which were used.

-I should say so.

0:28:190:28:23

The provenance you have from your father's brother...

0:28:230:28:26

-Working in Kenya.

-In the tea plantation.

0:28:260:28:28

That would have been in the '40s?

0:28:280:28:30

I think he went out either very late '20s or early '30s...

0:28:300:28:36

-That's marvellous.

-..and then came back around about 1940.

0:28:360:28:39

I think they're worth a good couple of hundred pounds.

0:28:390:28:41

-What do you think?

-Each?

-I'd like to think they were worth a good

0:28:410:28:44

couple of hundred pounds each.

0:28:440:28:46

-I wouldn't want to put them in at £200 each.

-No.

0:28:460:28:48

I think maybe 150 each. 150-200 each.

0:28:480:28:52

-And a reserve?

-£100 each.

-OK.

-Yeah?

0:28:520:28:56

-Yeah.

-They've got a good chance, haven't they?

0:28:560:28:58

Cos they are beautiful things. And I like them very much.

0:28:580:29:02

-Thank you for bringing them along.

-Not at all.

0:29:020:29:04

I'm glad I've made my point.

0:29:040:29:05

THOMAS LAUGHS

0:29:050:29:08

'Before we see our next valuation,

0:29:080:29:10

'I want to show you a truly mysterious item.

0:29:100:29:12

'Let's see if one of our littlest fans can work out what it is.'

0:29:120:29:16

-And what's your name?

-Lena.

-I love what you're wearing.

0:29:160:29:21

-Are you going to give us a dance or something?

-No.

0:29:210:29:24

-No, you're just dressing up?

-Yes. Mum told me to dress up.

-Did she?

0:29:240:29:29

Well, I've got a little test here, right?

0:29:290:29:32

Somebody has brought this along...

0:29:320:29:36

and...

0:29:360:29:37

..it's rather unusual.

0:29:390:29:40

And she wanted me to tell her what it was.

0:29:420:29:45

These join together like this. Any ideas yet?

0:29:450:29:49

-Is it for unblocking something?

-For unblocking a drain. No, nearly.

0:29:490:29:54

Not quite, though. This dates back to around 1900, 1920.

0:29:540:30:00

It was used by surveyors and valuers. Any ideas yet?

0:30:000:30:04

-It's got a hook on the end.

-Look at the end of that. Come on.

0:30:040:30:08

-For grasping, holding some string or something fine.

-Oh.

0:30:080:30:13

I like your logic of thinking there and it's nearly right.

0:30:130:30:16

I'll tell you what it was used for. It was used by a surveyor on a farm.

0:30:160:30:21

When bales of hay were baled up and they were being sold,

0:30:210:30:25

you'd stick this into the bale, turn it, and pull it out.

0:30:250:30:30

It would pull out a piece of straw that was in the middle

0:30:300:30:33

and you could test if it had gone mouldy or damp or rotten.

0:30:330:30:37

So, it's testing the quality of a bale of straw.

0:30:370:30:40

How about that for a bit of agricultural interest?

0:30:400:30:44

You don't see many of these on the market.

0:30:440:30:46

And if that little leather case was in good condition,

0:30:460:30:50

this would be worth around £150-200.

0:30:500:30:54

This is a great bit of our agricultural heritage and I love it.

0:30:540:30:58

-And you've all learnt something.

-We have.

0:30:580:31:01

And Thomas has set his sights on those lovely little cufflinks

0:31:030:31:06

he spotted earlier in the queue.

0:31:060:31:09

-These are delightful.

-Aren't they gorgeous?

0:31:090:31:13

If I wasn't on "Flog It!" -

0:31:130:31:14

if these were in an auction, I would be after these.

0:31:140:31:18

It's something to wear.

0:31:180:31:19

-They are cufflinks but they are actually gold dollars.

-Yes.

0:31:190:31:22

And they're early gold dollars, aren't they?

0:31:220:31:25

-I believe they're the first.

-1849.

-Yes.

0:31:250:31:28

-I mean, they would have minted quite a few.

-Well, yeah.

0:31:280:31:30

-Coins become really rare when the mint is really small.

-Yes.

0:31:300:31:34

But when they first started minting a coin, they go a bit mad,

0:31:340:31:38

-they mint quite a few million.

-Uh-huh.

0:31:380:31:40

Tell me, how did you come by these?

0:31:400:31:42

Well, they were donated to one of our shops,

0:31:420:31:44

that's Dove Cottage Day Hospice.

0:31:440:31:46

So, for the hospice, is that a local hospice?

0:31:460:31:49

It's out in the Vale of Belvoir, not far from Leicester,

0:31:490:31:52

-and these were in a box with other cufflinks for £1 a pair.

-No!

0:31:520:31:57

And you saw these, and thought, "Hang on a minute, they look gold."

0:31:570:32:01

I always check the jewellery before it goes out into the shop.

0:32:010:32:04

I'll just turn one over so you can see...

0:32:040:32:06

..that lovely figure of eight on the back there.

0:32:070:32:09

-They're beautifully made.

-It is quite nicely made, isn't it?

0:32:090:32:12

A nice fixed bar, the figure of eight,

0:32:120:32:14

and they probably hang very nicely on the cuff.

0:32:140:32:16

I mean, cufflinks are very widely collected.

0:32:160:32:19

If you wear cufflinks, I wear cufflinks every day,

0:32:190:32:22

these are ones you like to wear because they're not ostentatious,

0:32:220:32:25

they've got that little sense of quality

0:32:250:32:28

-and a class about them.

-Yes.

0:32:280:32:31

They're not too blingy cos they're nice, small, gold roundels.

0:32:310:32:34

-And they've got a bit of history to them.

-Yes.

0:32:340:32:37

And, of course, you're appealing to the American market as well.

0:32:370:32:40

-I think they're worth 150, 200.

-Mm.

0:32:400:32:43

-They're lovely things cos they're so nice.

-Yes.

0:32:430:32:45

-All the money would be going to the charity, wouldn't it?

-Absolutely.

0:32:450:32:48

-Oh, yes.

-So, I think we'd fix a reserve on these, for sure...

0:32:480:32:51

-OK.

-..at £100. Would you be happy with that?

0:32:510:32:53

Absolutely, yes.

0:32:530:32:54

And just think, they could've been bought for a pound

0:32:540:32:56

and your charity would only have got a pound but now,

0:32:560:32:59

we'll be getting you over 100, I hope.

0:32:590:33:01

-Well, that's wonderful.

-I hope so. They're lovely.

0:33:010:33:04

And Catherine has found a very quirky item which would make

0:33:050:33:08

the perfect decorator's piece in a swanky, modern home.

0:33:080:33:12

Alison, this is a terribly futuristic sculpture.

0:33:130:33:17

It's a wonderful shape and it is actually of the Skylon Tower...

0:33:170:33:22

-That's right.

-..from the Festival of Great Britain in 1951.

-Yes.

0:33:220:33:27

Now, how did you get this in your hands?

0:33:270:33:29

My late husband was a carpenter-builder

0:33:290:33:33

and he would often renovate houses and so on.

0:33:330:33:36

And the owners would say,

0:33:360:33:37

-"Can you clear out all this stuff before you start work?"

-Right.

0:33:370:33:41

-And he would bring things home.

-Right.

0:33:410:33:44

And this was one of the things that he brought home, it's probably

0:33:440:33:46

one of the most interesting things that he brought home.

0:33:460:33:49

So, what sort of things was he bringing home?

0:33:490:33:51

All sorts of things, I mean, some of it was useful.

0:33:510:33:54

He brought home an American fridge.

0:33:540:33:58

You know the big double fridge kind of thing?

0:33:580:34:01

Well, that was quite handy. Wonderful.

0:34:010:34:03

But this was...quite unique.

0:34:030:34:04

So, what happened was he used to come home,

0:34:040:34:06

"Hello, darling, I'm home from work," and then used to reveal.

0:34:060:34:10

-Yes, things would come out of the van.

-Here's what I've got today.

-Yes.

0:34:100:34:14

-We do have a lot of clutter, however.

-Do you?

-Yes.

0:34:140:34:17

Well, I wouldn't call this clutter

0:34:170:34:19

because I think it's really stylish and a really nice futuristic piece.

0:34:190:34:24

-Did you have it on display?

-I had it on display, mainly in my dining room.

0:34:240:34:28

It isn't really in my decorative style but it was so unique,

0:34:280:34:33

I had to have it.

0:34:330:34:34

When you think of some of the science-fiction movies

0:34:340:34:37

and things, it's the sort of thing you might see in science-fiction

0:34:370:34:41

films where they're flying their cars above the city and things.

0:34:410:34:44

I just think it's wonderful

0:34:440:34:45

and I can see how somebody could have this in their home today,

0:34:450:34:49

you know, going along with the whole minimal look,

0:34:490:34:52

the interior design, and then having something like this. Fabulous.

0:34:520:34:56

Yeah, clean lines.

0:34:560:34:57

This is Perspex and then just the metal Perspex base.

0:34:570:35:00

It was very simple but a really nice piece of design.

0:35:000:35:04

-And very well made, I think.

-Very well made.

0:35:040:35:06

I think it deserves to be in a home with someone that really loves it.

0:35:060:35:10

-I mean, I like it but it's...

-It doesn't go with the decor.

0:35:100:35:14

It isn't my style particularly.

0:35:140:35:16

Estimate - my feeling is it's probably one of a number that

0:35:160:35:20

were produced of that sort of period,

0:35:200:35:22

like a sort of commemorative thing, if you like.

0:35:220:35:25

I mean, I have seen other examples that were produced.

0:35:250:35:28

I think Biro made little desk models at the time for gentlemen to

0:35:280:35:32

put on their desks and they're... In original boxes, I think

0:35:320:35:34

-they're worth sort of 100, 150.

-Yeah.

-Shall we say 100-150?

-OK.

0:35:340:35:40

-With an £80 reserve?

-Erm, I don't actually mind the reserve.

0:35:410:35:46

I'm quite happy for it to go to someone that really loves it.

0:35:460:35:50

-So, that's the main thing for you?

-Yeah, yeah.

0:35:500:35:52

-I mean, if it makes a lot of money, that's great.

-That's wonderful.

0:35:520:35:55

That's wonderful. But if it doesn't,

0:35:550:35:57

if somebody's bought it that really loves it, then...

0:35:570:36:00

-Then that's more important to you?

-Yes.

0:36:000:36:02

Well, I think that's a really nice ethos.

0:36:020:36:04

-Shall we say £60 reserve, then?

-OK.

-And a £100-150 estimate?

-Yeah.

0:36:040:36:10

Oh, well, I hope people love it and admire it just as much as we do

0:36:100:36:13

and let's hope it does extremely well at the auction.

0:36:130:36:17

The Festival of Britain was an exhibition held in 1951.

0:36:170:36:20

It was organised by the government to give the country

0:36:200:36:23

a feeling of recovery and positivity in the aftermath of World War II.

0:36:230:36:28

An abiding symbol of the festival, the Skylon stood

0:36:280:36:31

almost 300 feet high and dominated London's South Bank.

0:36:310:36:36

We've had a wonderful time here today

0:36:410:36:42

at Leicester's De Montfort Hall but before we head off to auction,

0:36:420:36:46

here's a quick recap of what we're taking with us.

0:36:460:36:48

John's spears are so beautiful,

0:36:500:36:52

I'm sure they'll have more than a fighting chance of selling.

0:36:520:36:55

The cufflinks are so unusual and Thomas is

0:36:550:36:57

so disappointed he can't place a bid.

0:36:570:37:00

And the Skylon model is a love-it-or-hate-it type of thing.

0:37:000:37:04

I really hope there's a bidder out there for it.

0:37:040:37:06

So, it's back to Gildings and before the sale starts,

0:37:080:37:11

auctioneer Mark Gilding is casting his eye over the Skylon.

0:37:110:37:14

I like this as a piece of unusual sculpture. Who knows?

0:37:160:37:19

It could get that top end of £150.

0:37:190:37:21

But then again, it just might struggle.

0:37:210:37:23

THEY CHUCKLE

0:37:230:37:24

We do have a reserve of £60.

0:37:240:37:26

Well, I think that this is not from the 1950s.

0:37:260:37:30

I think it's more like a 1980 student piece which, for me,

0:37:300:37:35

-means that we'll be doing well to sell it at £60.

-Sure.

0:37:350:37:38

-If it was from the Festival...

-Of the period.

0:37:380:37:42

..then I think we would be pushing 150, maybe even 200.

0:37:420:37:45

So, now, it's really down to people interested in the Festival

0:37:450:37:48

of Britain and hopefully finding those two people that think

0:37:480:37:52

-they can't live without it.

-It's an interesting model, it's quirky.

0:37:520:37:55

-Indeed.

-And if you've got the right environment,

0:37:550:37:57

as a decorator's piece, I think this would work quite well.

0:37:570:38:01

But before we see how it does, we've got a couple of other items

0:38:040:38:07

going under the hammer first.

0:38:070:38:08

Oh, Sophie, what a special lot, eh?

0:38:110:38:13

Going under the hammer right now, we've got some cufflinks,

0:38:130:38:16

gold cufflinks and they are top dollar.

0:38:160:38:19

-Literally top dollar, aren't they?

-Yeah.

0:38:190:38:22

How'd you put a price on those?

0:38:220:38:23

Well, you've obviously got the gold and a coin collector's not going to

0:38:230:38:26

like them cos they have solder marks on them but they're so stylish.

0:38:260:38:29

-They're still very rare.

-Let's put these to the test, shall we?

0:38:290:38:32

They're going under the hammer right now.

0:38:320:38:34

Slightly unusual, these, a pair of metal coin cufflinks,

0:38:340:38:37

straight in at £100.

0:38:370:38:39

£100, I'm bid. 110, 120.

0:38:390:38:42

130, 140.

0:38:420:38:43

150, 160.

0:38:430:38:45

You're on the book here at 160, you're all out of the room at £160.

0:38:450:38:49

Well done, Sophie, because you fished those out, didn't you,

0:38:510:38:55

out of a box of pound coins?

0:38:550:38:57

Well, the pound cufflinks in the shop.

0:38:570:39:00

-Incredible. Eagle eyes here.

-I liked those.

0:39:000:39:03

I mean, you have to be quite sharp, don't you,

0:39:030:39:05

cos you see an awful lot of items coming in on a daily basis.

0:39:050:39:08

-We do, yes.

-It must be like one of our valuation days.

-A bit.

0:39:080:39:12

Do you fancy a job at one of our tables?

0:39:120:39:14

Well, you certainly wouldn't want to be on the pointed

0:39:190:39:22

end of one of these.

0:39:220:39:23

We've got two spears going under the hammer belonging to John,

0:39:230:39:26

-courtesy of your uncle...

-Yes.

-..living out in Kenya.

0:39:260:39:28

I particularly like one of them,

0:39:280:39:30

we're splitting these into two lots and the first lot is my

0:39:300:39:32

favourite, but I think both of them would look stunning on the wall.

0:39:320:39:36

-You can imagine it sailing through the air.

-No, I couldn't.

0:39:360:39:38

No, I want to see it fixed to the wall quite safe somewhere,

0:39:380:39:41

out of harm's way.

0:39:410:39:42

Why are you selling these now?

0:39:420:39:45

Well, it's because I had my loft insulated and all kinds

0:39:450:39:49

of things came down and I thought it's about time I got rid of them.

0:39:490:39:52

Ah, so they were tucked up in the loft...

0:39:520:39:54

Well, they were on my bedroom wall at one time and then I put them

0:39:540:39:57

in the loft and now they've come down.

0:39:570:39:59

Oh, that's a shame, I'm pleased they're back out.

0:39:590:40:01

OK, so, 291 is the next lot. The tribal fishing spear.

0:40:010:40:04

What do we say for this? Bids on the book. I'll open at 45.

0:40:040:40:09

55, 65.

0:40:090:40:11

-£65.

-Come on, come on.

0:40:110:40:13

65, do I see 70? 65, thought this would make more than this.

0:40:130:40:17

So did I.

0:40:170:40:19

£65 I'm bid. Here with me, then, at 65.

0:40:190:40:21

Didn't sell. OK. Spear number two.

0:40:230:40:26

Not quite as big, this one.

0:40:260:40:28

I'm going to start again and stand on here at £65.

0:40:280:40:31

Standing on at 65, at 65 bid.

0:40:310:40:34

At 65.

0:40:340:40:36

-I'm surprised.

-Well, yeah.

0:40:370:40:38

No bidders here today, nobody online, nobody on the phone.

0:40:380:40:41

I mean, that is auctions for you,

0:40:410:40:43

sometimes these things get geared up and they race away -

0:40:430:40:46

two or three people bidding against each other takes it to

0:40:460:40:49

a different level but here, nobody wanted it on the day.

0:40:490:40:52

-Didn't even reach the reserve. I'm ever so sorry.

-No, it's OK.

0:40:520:40:55

Such a shame but maybe John will put them back on his bedroom wall.

0:40:560:41:00

Alison, I love this little model of the Skylon, the little, tiny rocket.

0:41:020:41:06

I love it.

0:41:060:41:08

And it sums up the Festival of Britain, doesn't it, 1951?

0:41:080:41:11

-We don't know if it's of the period.

-No.

0:41:110:41:13

That's the problem, it could be 1970s, it could be '80s.

0:41:130:41:16

-Even so, it's really futuristic, isn't it?

-It is, isn't it?

0:41:160:41:20

-And quite unique.

-And I think it's worth every penny

0:41:200:41:22

so we had a chat to the auctioneer, he said, "Yes, definitely

0:41:220:41:24

"the lower end of the estimate." If we get the top end, we're all happy.

0:41:240:41:27

Yes, absolutely.

0:41:270:41:29

And onto lot number 508L,

0:41:290:41:31

the Perspex-metal model of the Skylon Tower.

0:41:310:41:35

£45.

0:41:350:41:36

45, 50. 55? 60.

0:41:360:41:39

65 online, 70 in the room.

0:41:410:41:43

75 online, 80 in the room.

0:41:430:41:45

Well, we're in.

0:41:450:41:47

85. 90.

0:41:470:41:49

-95.

-I'm very pleased with that, I'm really pleased, that's fantastic.

0:41:500:41:54

It's good.

0:41:540:41:56

130. 140.

0:41:560:41:58

150. 160.

0:41:580:42:00

170. 180.

0:42:020:42:04

-This is brilliant.

-It's very good.

-Nice surprise.

-190. 200.

0:42:040:42:08

-Oh, we're loving this now.

-210. 220.

0:42:080:42:12

230. 240.

0:42:120:42:14

250, 260.

0:42:140:42:17

270, 280.

0:42:170:42:20

280 in the room now.

0:42:220:42:24

Fair warning then, internet, and selling, make no mistake, at £280.

0:42:250:42:30

£280, yes, the hammer's gone down. What a result.

0:42:310:42:34

You see that's the power of the internet, you know, it's a great way

0:42:340:42:37

of advertising these things online to find those collectors out there.

0:42:370:42:40

-Yeah.

-You've got to be happy with that.

-I'm thrilled, yeah.

0:42:400:42:42

-That's higher than I thought it would go.

-I know, me too. Well done.

0:42:420:42:45

I wondered if it would sell. I just didn't know.

0:42:450:42:48

-Oh, look, thanks for bringing that in.

-It was great.

0:42:480:42:51

It just goes to show sometimes the most peculiar things can sell well.

0:42:530:42:56

You just never know.

0:42:560:42:58

And I think the Skylon will give the perfect look to a very

0:42:580:43:01

stylish room somewhere.

0:43:010:43:04

Well, there you are, it's all over for our owners.

0:43:040:43:06

Another day in another saleroom.

0:43:060:43:08

At least everyone's gone home happy and I hope you've enjoyed the show.

0:43:080:43:11

-£15.

-From all of us here, it's goodbye.

0:43:110:43:15

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