0:00:21 > 0:00:25We have travelled across the country in search of exceptional stories
0:00:25 > 0:00:29and objects to take to auction, and we haven't been disappointed.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32Our journey has taken us to Lulworth Castle in Dorset,
0:00:32 > 0:00:35originally a 17th-century hunting lodge.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39Wrest Park, a Grade I listed house in Bedfordshire.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43Chiddingstone Castle in Kent, which can be traced back to Tudor times.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47And finally, to Gloucester and its wonderful cathedral.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52Until today's show, Michael Baggott thought he'd heard it all.
0:00:52 > 0:00:54What are your plans for the money?
0:00:54 > 0:00:59- I want to finish my tattoo, which is a full Tibetan sleeve.- Oh, my word!
0:00:59 > 0:01:01That's a first for Flog It!.
0:01:03 > 0:01:04And at Wrest Park,
0:01:04 > 0:01:08David Harper doesn't think he's ever heard anything like it.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Unfortunately, our house hasn't got walls.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15- What, you've got no walls at all in your house?- No. No, we live in a tent.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17HE LAUGHS
0:01:17 > 0:01:20The ceilings aren't high enough to house anything like this.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23But will it be a different story at the auction?
0:01:23 > 0:01:2490...
0:01:27 > 0:01:30Our journey begins in Kent, at Chiddingstone Castle,
0:01:30 > 0:01:34where Thomas Plant is talking to Rodney and Katie.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36Who owns this little dish, pin tray?
0:01:36 > 0:01:40- Well, we both do, but I found it. - Right. Tell me the story.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43I collect kitchenalia, copper mainly,
0:01:43 > 0:01:49and I went to a local auction and I saw two boxes of copper,
0:01:49 > 0:01:50and I liked the look of some of them.
0:01:50 > 0:01:54And there was also some brass in there. So I bid on it.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56And at the bottom of one of the boxes was this.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00- How much did these two bits of kitchenalia cost you?- £35.- Really?
0:02:00 > 0:02:05- Yeah.- And what did you do with it all?- I have cleaned up most of it.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09And some of it I might take to a boot fair.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11But this, I had a look at it, and I thought, "It's very heavy,
0:02:11 > 0:02:13"it must be bronze."
0:02:13 > 0:02:16And I saw only one signature at the time,
0:02:16 > 0:02:19and then when I was just cleaning it a bit on the side, I saw...
0:02:19 > 0:02:21- Barbedienne.- Barbedienne
0:02:21 > 0:02:26- Basically, I went on the internet. - Yes.- And then I looked at Levillain on there.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29- And basically it's a fella who was a sculptor.- Yes.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33And his works were being done, basically, by
0:02:33 > 0:02:35Barbedienne, who was the founder.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39And it was all roundabout the 1830s, 1840s.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42So, all of a sudden, it just opened up, this could be quite interesting.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44It certainly is interesting.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48Barbedienne was the founder, who specialised
0:02:48 > 0:02:52in taking the classical sculptures,
0:02:52 > 0:02:57bronzes, marbles and reducing them in size to maquettes, which,
0:02:57 > 0:03:01dare I say it, ordinary folk like ourselves could then
0:03:01 > 0:03:05afford and buy and have as decorative objects.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07That was his speciality as a founder.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11Obviously there's only so much you can do of that before people's
0:03:11 > 0:03:13tastes and fashions change.
0:03:13 > 0:03:18In steps a modern sculptor, and they form a relationship together.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21- So you have the double whammy, don't you?- You do.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23- So that's quite interesting.- Yeah, very much so.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27And then did you go on other sites and look at prices realised?
0:03:27 > 0:03:29- HE LAUGHS - I suppose we did.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31I had a brief look at a couple of things,
0:03:31 > 0:03:33but obviously they were quite big bronzes at the time.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36- All of a sudden you're then going into...- Thousands of pounds, yeah.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38Absolutely thousands of pounds.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42- And we couldn't really find anything this small, actually.- No.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45It's actually quite nice, actually, isn't it? So what's it worth?
0:03:45 > 0:03:49Well, I would probably hazard a guess at maybe £30-£50.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52- So, what you paid originally for the whole lot.- Yes.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54So you're already in profit.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56Yes, I've got my money back.
0:03:56 > 0:03:57THEY LAUGH
0:03:57 > 0:03:59I think I would double that.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01- That's fantastic.- I think 60 to 80.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04With regarding reserves, you don't want to give it away,
0:04:04 > 0:04:08- so I think £60-£80 with a discretionary reserve.- Right.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11- Say, £50.- That's fine.- Is that fine?- That sounds absolutely fine.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13- It's fair, isn't it? - Yes, I think so.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15- So are you going to come along to the auction?- Definitely.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17- Yeah, definitely.- I look forward to seeing you there.- Right.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20That is a classic story,
0:04:20 > 0:04:25discovering a little gem like that at the bottom of a boxed lot.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28Now we travel north of London to Wrest Park in Bedfordshire,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31where Anita Manning has found a cat.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35But I don't think it's a local.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37- # Walk like an Egyptian...- #
0:04:37 > 0:04:40- Sue, welcome to Flog It!- Thank you.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43Now, it's absolutely wonderful to have you here.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46And you've brought along two interesting items.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50Do you have any questions that you would like to ask me?
0:04:50 > 0:04:53Well, it was because of the show that you were involved in,
0:04:53 > 0:04:56Flog It! Trade Secrets. You were talking about amber,
0:04:56 > 0:05:00and it was from that programme that made me wonder if this is amber.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04So I thought I would come along today to see. I was curious.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06So this is a wonderful decorative object.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09Tell me, when did you buy it, and why?
0:05:09 > 0:05:13I bought it about 25, 30 years ago when I was over in Egypt, in Luxor.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16And they were selling gifts to tourists.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19And I saw this cat sitting in the corner on the floor and I
0:05:19 > 0:05:22thought there was something rather beautiful about this cat.
0:05:22 > 0:05:28I did have eight cats of my own at the time and I quite like cats.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31- So this was your ninth cat? - It was indeed.- Right.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34So the question is, is this real amber?
0:05:34 > 0:05:39Now, you bought it 30 years ago, and you bought it in a tourist area.
0:05:39 > 0:05:44- Yes.- So the likelihood of it being amber are very, very low.
0:05:44 > 0:05:50And true amber comes from the resin of old pine trees
0:05:50 > 0:05:54over 350 million years old. So it is very, very rare.
0:05:54 > 0:05:59But we do have different types or lookalikes of amber.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03OK, let's look at it. We have these bangles.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05Now, in amber,
0:06:05 > 0:06:10there were different shades of light which would come through the amber.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12So that's copying that.
0:06:12 > 0:06:19Also in amber, there is often the inclusion of pieces of insects,
0:06:19 > 0:06:23which have been trapped in the resin of the tree.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27And to have an insect, or a piece of an insect,
0:06:27 > 0:06:31in a piece of amber makes it more valuable.
0:06:31 > 0:06:36Now, when we look underneath here, we can see a beastie there,
0:06:36 > 0:06:41it's a fly. And we see the whole fly.
0:06:41 > 0:06:46Now, if a creature had been caught in this sticky resin,
0:06:46 > 0:06:51it wouldn't just lie there and say, "OK, I'm going to die," it would struggle.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55So when we see a full insect, we start to think,
0:06:55 > 0:06:58"No, there's something wrong there." So...
0:06:58 > 0:07:02These little indications are telling me that it's not amber.
0:07:02 > 0:07:07This cat here is made of a celluloid or a plastic.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10- OK.- So not true amber.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12Now, interestingly enough,
0:07:12 > 0:07:18you have brought along another item, which is allied in some way
0:07:18 > 0:07:21to the...to the cat.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25But this is an earlier item, probably from the Art Deco period.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29- Can you tell me where this came from?- It belonged to my uncle.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33He was in the Army, positioned in Hong Kong.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36And my aunt was also staying with him.
0:07:36 > 0:07:41And then just before the fall of Hong Kong, 25th of December in
0:07:41 > 0:07:471941, my aunt was put onto the last boat being evacuated to Australia.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50And my uncle gave this to my aunt for safekeeping.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54Now, if we look at this, a mahjong set, an oriental game.
0:07:54 > 0:07:59And if we look at these little counters, this side here is
0:07:59 > 0:08:03decorated with the little symbols which are used in the game.
0:08:03 > 0:08:09But this yellow here is meant to look like amber.
0:08:09 > 0:08:14But it is a celluloid or a plastic copy of that.
0:08:14 > 0:08:19And on the other side, we have a celluloid copy of jade.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23So in some way, the two items are allied.
0:08:23 > 0:08:28They are made to look like something which is a very precious substance.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32- But in actual fact is a copy.- Yes. - But still interesting.
0:08:32 > 0:08:33If we were going to auction,
0:08:33 > 0:08:37I would like to put these two items together.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39Put together in one lot, we would
0:08:39 > 0:08:42put an estimate of perhaps 70 to 100.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45- Would you be happy with that estimate?- Yes, I'm happy.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49We'll put a fixed reserve on it because I know if that goes
0:08:49 > 0:08:52back home with you, you won't be too upset.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54Yes. Thank you very much.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58Remember, of course,
0:08:58 > 0:09:00with every auction there is commission to pay, whether you're
0:09:00 > 0:09:04buying or selling, and there's VAT to add on top of that.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07And these rates vary from saleroom to saleroom,
0:09:07 > 0:09:11so make sure you find out in advance. Do your sums.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14And now, let's see how our first item fares.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18Our first stop is near Guildford in Surrey,
0:09:18 > 0:09:21where auctioneer Tim Duggan is selling the bronze tray
0:09:21 > 0:09:23at Ewbank's Auctions.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26- Katie and Rodney, good luck.- Thank you.- This is where your Flog It!
0:09:26 > 0:09:30journey ends today, in the auction room, with that hammer going down.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34Because it will on this. A lovely little bronze dish. A tiny tray.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38- Not a lot of money, Tommo. Why is it so cheap?- Well...
0:09:38 > 0:09:40- Because it's very small. - THEY LAUGH
0:09:40 > 0:09:41But it's very nice!
0:09:41 > 0:09:44- It is very nice, and it's a little proper antique.- Yes.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46So why are you selling this?
0:09:46 > 0:09:49It's not really something that I personally collect.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51- OK, and you're into kitchenalia? - I am, yes.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53Yeah, and there's a few things here in the sale.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56- I'd like someone else to appreciate it a bit more.- OK.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58OK, we're going to put it to the test right now.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00It's going under the hammer, this is it.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02This is a French gilt bronze small tray.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05Nice little quality item, this one there. Do I see £50 for it?
0:10:05 > 0:10:0830 if you like. 30 bid now. 30 bid now. 30 bid now.
0:10:08 > 0:10:1035 now. 40 bid now.
0:10:10 > 0:10:1345 now. 50 bid now. 55. 60. And five.
0:10:13 > 0:10:1670. And five. 80 bid now.
0:10:16 > 0:10:1980 bid now. Looking for 85 now. Looking for 85.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22At £80, are we all done? Selling, then, at £80.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26- £80, I knew it was worth a lot more than you said.- Ah...
0:10:26 > 0:10:29- I did, didn't I?- You did.- Yes.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31THEY LAUGH
0:10:31 > 0:10:34- I'm very pleased.- Yeah, it was a "come and buy me", but well done.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36- Thank you for bringing it in. - Thank you.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38And if you've got anything like that,
0:10:38 > 0:10:40we would like to flog it for you.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42Bring it in to one of our valuation days.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45That was fun and a good result.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47And now over to Tring Market Auctions,
0:10:47 > 0:10:50where Stephen Hearn is selling the rather fine cat
0:10:50 > 0:10:52and mahjong set belonging to Susan.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56Now, I know we had a fixed reserve at the valuation day, of £70,
0:10:56 > 0:10:58but I know you've had a chat to the auctioneer
0:10:58 > 0:11:03- and you've upped it to £90.- I'm more comfortable with 90 than 70.
0:11:03 > 0:11:04In the end, we want you to be happy.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06Yeah, and I feel very comfortable with that.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08Well, let's keep our fingers crossed.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10Well, look, if it doesn't sell,
0:11:10 > 0:11:12I know you're going to be happy to take this home.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15I am very happy to take it home so, as you say...
0:11:15 > 0:11:17We've got a win-win situation.
0:11:17 > 0:11:18But we'd like to get top money,
0:11:18 > 0:11:20that is what it's all about, isn't it?
0:11:20 > 0:11:22- It is.- And this is going under the hammer right now.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25The mahjong Bakelite playing pieces,
0:11:25 > 0:11:28together with the cat. There it is.
0:11:28 > 0:11:33How do we go on this cat? 50, 60, 70, 80, 90. Two of you!
0:11:33 > 0:11:38- 100 bid, 110 and 20. - That lady's keen in the red jacket.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42- Look, she's not putting her bidding paddle down.- 120, yes or no?
0:11:42 > 0:11:46At 120... And 30 and 40 and 50 now.
0:11:46 > 0:11:51Look, she's still there, she's still there in the red jacket.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55£140, then, you get the mahjong pieces and the cat.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57140, then, madam, yours at £140...
0:11:57 > 0:11:59She's got it.
0:11:59 > 0:12:05- Thank you so much!- I am delighted - surprised, but delighted.- So am I.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09- Style won once again. - I think it did, yes, it did.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11- She obviously wanted it. That's so special.- Yes.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14Excellent result! That's what it's all about.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Back at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire,
0:12:22 > 0:12:27our valuation day is still at full tilt, as is David Harper.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31Well, Diane, look at us on a beautiful summer's day
0:12:31 > 0:12:35in the south of England, admiring a pair of Scottish Highland scenes.
0:12:35 > 0:12:36Aren't they gorgeous?
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Yes, I love them, but can't wear them,
0:12:39 > 0:12:43- so to speak, because our house is too small.- Right. OK.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45So, what they are, we've got Scottish Highland scenes
0:12:45 > 0:12:47and you can see, can't you,
0:12:47 > 0:12:49that this is like a continuation of the scene.
0:12:49 > 0:12:55- Yes.- And very, very trendy c1900. What's the background story?
0:12:55 > 0:12:58Well, when my father's eldest sister died,
0:12:58 > 0:13:02we had to clear the house out, and up the chimney,
0:13:02 > 0:13:05when we were clearing out, we found these
0:13:05 > 0:13:07and we had house clearance people in
0:13:07 > 0:13:12- and they offered the family £5 for those.- Did they? Now, when was that?
0:13:12 > 0:13:17That would have been the late '70s, but my father said at the time,
0:13:17 > 0:13:19"No, you're not having those for £5."
0:13:19 > 0:13:23So, I believe he put the £5 into the estate and took them home.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27But unfortunately, our house hasn't got walls.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31- What, you've got no walls at all in your house?- No, we live in a tent.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36No, but the ceilings aren't high enough
0:13:36 > 0:13:37to house anything like this
0:13:37 > 0:13:40so when my mother passed away, I inherited them,
0:13:40 > 0:13:42but they've been in the attic ever since.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45That's the worst place in the world they could be, in an attic.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47- They've got to be on show, haven't they?- Yes.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49And you're right, you do need height in a room,
0:13:49 > 0:13:52ideally a Scottish castle. Hasn't your husband bought you one yet?
0:13:52 > 0:13:55- No, but I'm working on it.- Well, you need to change your husband.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58- Is that him there?- Yeah.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01You're history!
0:14:01 > 0:14:02No, I'm Ken!
0:14:04 > 0:14:06Painted by Henry Cooper -
0:14:06 > 0:14:10now, Henry Cooper was a 19th and early 20th-century artist.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14Just because there's age connected here doesn't necessarily mean
0:14:14 > 0:14:17they're worth lots of money because this was a period
0:14:17 > 0:14:19when there were lots of jobbing artists creating
0:14:19 > 0:14:24maybe hundreds a year, so there are lots of his paintings around,
0:14:24 > 0:14:27but let's look at the quality of the painting.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29I think this is a good example here, with the Highland cattle there.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33The quality isn't absolutely brilliant.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35Let's have a look at the condition.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38So, always look... With anything in this business,
0:14:38 > 0:14:42the back of something can tell you as much about the front
0:14:42 > 0:14:45because often a painting can be restored really well
0:14:45 > 0:14:49on the top side and you can't tell, but you'll see a patch on the back.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52No patching. I've had a look at that one, no patching either.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54Frame's probably original.
0:14:54 > 0:14:59Nice original clout nails holding the canvas in place,
0:14:59 > 0:15:02so it hasn't been re-stretched or repaired. So, in good order.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06Now, then, what about value, Diane? What do you feel?
0:15:06 > 0:15:10Well, going back four to six years, I can't remember,
0:15:10 > 0:15:14when we went to Bonham's with a view to having them put in an auction,
0:15:14 > 0:15:18we discussed it with them and they said about 700, I think,
0:15:18 > 0:15:21and I was a bit shocked because years before when we'd been
0:15:21 > 0:15:24to Sotheby's, we were told then to hang on to them
0:15:24 > 0:15:26to the beginning of the year 2000.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29They would then become antiques and worth a lot more.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31So, what do you reckon?
0:15:31 > 0:15:33- Well, the market's changed, I've got to tell you.- Yes.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36In the mid-'90s, I think we could have sold them for 1,500.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40The market has changed dramatically and they've really, really dipped now
0:15:40 > 0:15:45and I think today their value should be in auction 300-500,
0:15:45 > 0:15:49a "come and get me" kind of estimate, and they might surprise.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51How would you feel about that?
0:15:51 > 0:15:54Yes, I think I would like a reserve put on them.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58- What would the reserve need to be? - I would like 400.- Four.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00OK, well, we can do that, but we'd need to re-look
0:16:00 > 0:16:02at the estimate and estimate them
0:16:02 > 0:16:05at four to six with a reserve at four.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08- Shall we do it?- Yes, please. - Marvellous!
0:16:08 > 0:16:09- Lovely, Diane, thank you. - OK, thank you.
0:16:09 > 0:16:13- Will we see you there, Ken, at the auction?- I think so, yes.- Good man!
0:16:13 > 0:16:17What's the point of paintings sitting out of sight in an attic?
0:16:17 > 0:16:18If you have anything like that,
0:16:18 > 0:16:22bring them in to one of our valuation days.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25Our tour now continues at Lulworth Castle in Dorset,
0:16:25 > 0:16:29where a colourful item has caught Catherine Southon's eye.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Stefan, lovely to meet you. Welcome to Flog It!
0:16:33 > 0:16:36- Thank you, nice to meet you, too. - Wonderful collection of spoons here.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38Well, two sets of spoons.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41Now, when you see these and probably when the viewer sees these
0:16:41 > 0:16:44at home, they'll be thinking, "These are incredible,"
0:16:44 > 0:16:48and indeed they are beautiful and what lovely colours they are,
0:16:48 > 0:16:51but there's this huge cloud which is hanging over them
0:16:51 > 0:16:54and it begins with the letter D and that's "damage".
0:16:55 > 0:17:00And that is a problem. These are lovely enamel little coffee spoons.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02I'm going to look at one of them individually.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05I'm going to look at this set first of all.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08This was retailed by The Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company
0:17:08 > 0:17:11and these would date from around 1930.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14Let's have a look at this one first of all
0:17:14 > 0:17:18because this is where the D word starts. Can you see that?
0:17:18 > 0:17:22A big bit of damage on some lovely blue enamel there.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25So sad because these are so elegant
0:17:25 > 0:17:29and so pretty and I love the blue colours and the red and the white.
0:17:29 > 0:17:34- Very British, this is.- Mmm, very patriotic, sure.- Absolutely.
0:17:34 > 0:17:35I'm going to have a quick look at these
0:17:35 > 0:17:39cos it will be nice to date them and they are 1936
0:17:39 > 0:17:41and they are made by the Adie Brothers
0:17:41 > 0:17:45for the retailers Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47These have come down through the family, have they?
0:17:47 > 0:17:50- They must have been a wedding present...- Right, OK.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54..for my mother, I think she got married in about 1938.
0:17:54 > 0:17:591938, right, so that works. Was she particularly patriotic?
0:17:59 > 0:18:00- Oh, yes.- Was she?
0:18:00 > 0:18:04- Oh, well, they've chosen the colours well, haven't they?- Very definitely.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08It's such a shame and the more I look at them, the more damage I see.
0:18:08 > 0:18:09In perfect condition,
0:18:09 > 0:18:13we'd be looking at about £100 for these, but they're not quite
0:18:13 > 0:18:16going to be up to that, but I'll come back to that a bit later.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19- Right.- These little spoons here, these are Danish
0:18:19 > 0:18:23by the well-known Danish factory Tostrup, but what beautiful colour.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26- I think those are lovely. - Really exquisite, aren't they?
0:18:26 > 0:18:30Again, these are all enamel and they're on gilt silver
0:18:30 > 0:18:32and in perfect condition, again
0:18:32 > 0:18:35you'd be looking at £100-£150 for these,
0:18:35 > 0:18:39but I can see there's a tiny bit of damage on each and every one.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41Rough washing up.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45- Is that what it is? Did you wash them up?- No.- Do I tell you off?
0:18:45 > 0:18:47I've never used them. I've never seen them being used.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50So, it all comes down to price.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54£100 in perfect condition, £100-£150 in perfect condition.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56This goes right down, I'm afraid,
0:18:56 > 0:19:01and you'd be really looking for the two at around £50-£80.
0:19:01 > 0:19:02Ooh!
0:19:02 > 0:19:05Maybe 60-80.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07- Mm, because of the damage. - Shall we say 60-80?
0:19:07 > 0:19:11- It sounds a bit better, doesn't it? - Yeah.- Shall we put a £60 reserve on?
0:19:11 > 0:19:16- Please.- OK, let's say £60-£80 with a 60 reserve. Happy with that?- Yes.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18Let's close them and forget about the damage
0:19:18 > 0:19:21and we're going to make good money at auction.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23- Thank you so much, Stefan, it's lovely to meet you.- And you, too.
0:19:23 > 0:19:28Catherine is putting a brave face on it. Let's hope she's right.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32Off to the magnificent cathedral in Gloucester,
0:19:32 > 0:19:36where Michael Baggott is enjoying a collection of prints.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39Claire, thank you very much for bringing in what looks like
0:19:39 > 0:19:44the contents of an art gallery. Wonderful selection of prints here.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47You've done a little bit of research on these and this artist,
0:19:47 > 0:19:51- haven't you?- Yeah.- So, can you tell me what you know about them?
0:19:51 > 0:19:52Well, I know that William Nicholson
0:19:52 > 0:19:55was a prolific illustrator, book designer...
0:19:55 > 0:19:58And he worked on a Peter Pan set, for example,
0:19:58 > 0:20:01but he did a compassionate portrait of the Queen
0:20:01 > 0:20:04at her diamond jubilee and did Victorian characters.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07So, we've got a host here of Victorian characters
0:20:07 > 0:20:09- by this artist William Nicholson. - Yeah.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13- And I think he was born in about 1872.- That's right.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15- And died in about 1949.- Absolutely.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17So, he's working almost at the height
0:20:17 > 0:20:20of the Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts periods,
0:20:20 > 0:20:23that's when he's a young man full of energy,
0:20:23 > 0:20:26executing these commissions and you've got,
0:20:26 > 0:20:28with this wonderful portrait of Sarah Bernhardt,
0:20:28 > 0:20:31that feel of English Art Nouveau.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34It's a bit more restrained than on the Continent
0:20:34 > 0:20:39and you've just got that very figural, almost a mushroom-type,
0:20:39 > 0:20:40a growth, if you like,
0:20:40 > 0:20:44rather than a real human figure and that's carried through.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46I mean, we've got there - Whistler,
0:20:46 > 0:20:51who I imagine would be tremendously flattered by that.
0:20:51 > 0:20:52Almost a caricature, aren't they?
0:20:52 > 0:20:55They're less portraits, more caricatures.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57We've got the Prince of Wales there,
0:20:57 > 0:21:00looking rather stern and respectable.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02Was that a bit of Flog It! day damage?
0:21:02 > 0:21:05- That was my fault on the way, yeah. - Ohhh!- Sorry.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08It's all right, it's not a Chinese vase worth £1 million.
0:21:08 > 0:21:09You don't have to worry.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12And as you say, we've got this rather touching portrait
0:21:12 > 0:21:14of Queen Victoria and there
0:21:14 > 0:21:17the royalty and the power has been stripped away
0:21:17 > 0:21:22and we've got basically a very nice little old lady walking her dog,
0:21:22 > 0:21:24so there is some thought behind it.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26Are these something you've collected?
0:21:26 > 0:21:29No, they've been handed down the paternal line directly
0:21:29 > 0:21:31from, I think, my great-grandfather,
0:21:31 > 0:21:34- certainly my grandfather in the '30s.- Oh!
0:21:34 > 0:21:37He was a vicar locally in the '30s through the war
0:21:37 > 0:21:40and he handed them on to my father when he died
0:21:40 > 0:21:42and my father had nine children...
0:21:42 > 0:21:45so we've decided that it's very difficult
0:21:45 > 0:21:48to split up a collection.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50Well, I mean, that's very sensible of you all
0:21:50 > 0:21:53because the value of these is as a collection.
0:21:53 > 0:21:58We actually haven't got the full set here, but we're some way towards it.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01I mean, in terms of value, have you given that much thought?
0:22:01 > 0:22:05I've guessed about 300, possibly, on a good day.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07- I'm a little bit more cautious, but then I always am.- OK.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10Let's say, as an incomplete set,
0:22:10 > 0:22:15£200-£300 as a start and hope that we do over the £300 mark.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18- Let's put a fixed reserve of £200. - Absolutely.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22We don't want to give them away. And you're happy to sell them?
0:22:22 > 0:22:24- Absolutely, yeah.- Now, if they go and make a superb sum,
0:22:24 > 0:22:27what are your plans for the money?
0:22:27 > 0:22:30From a purely selfish point of view, I want to finish my tattoo,
0:22:30 > 0:22:33- which is a full Tibetan sleeve. - Oh, my word!
0:22:33 > 0:22:37That's a first for Flog It! We'll get you an armful, hopefully.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40- Thank you, and then I can go down the other side.- Marvellous!
0:22:40 > 0:22:44- Claire, thank you so much for bringing them in.- Thank you.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48From one type of decoration to another - we're back at Beaulieu.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50Now, there's just enough time
0:22:50 > 0:22:53for me to show you this magnificent room.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55It is the upper drawing room.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58But it's the detail on the wall,
0:22:58 > 0:23:00the decoration, that I'd like to point out to you.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04There's an alternating pattern running all around and you can see it.
0:23:04 > 0:23:09It's an eagle and then there's a bishop's crosier bisecting a crown.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12That's the armorial bearings of Beaulieu Abbey.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16Now, that was applied with a gold leaf in 1870,
0:23:16 > 0:23:21but it's been painstakingly restored by the staff here in 1990
0:23:21 > 0:23:25and I think they have done a tremendous job.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27Right, are you ready for some more auction action? Good.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29Well, before we head over there,
0:23:29 > 0:23:30here's a quick recap of all the items
0:23:30 > 0:23:32that are going under the hammer.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37It's always good to have a pair and these two Scottish scenes
0:23:37 > 0:23:41are pleasing to the eye, so they're in with a good chance.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45These two sets of spoons with their coloured enamels
0:23:45 > 0:23:47are highly decorative.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51It will all depend on the bidders overlooking the damage.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57And the collection of prints are rather stylish,
0:23:57 > 0:24:00but will they appeal to today's market?
0:24:06 > 0:24:08Charterhouse Auctioneers in Dorset
0:24:08 > 0:24:10is where our first sale is being held.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13Auctioneer Richard Bromell is on the rostrum,
0:24:13 > 0:24:16selling the attractive silver spoons.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19Well, I've just been joined by Stefan and our expert Catherine.
0:24:19 > 0:24:20They do say, you know,
0:24:20 > 0:24:22some people are born with a silver spoon in their mouth.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26Was Stefan born with six? I don't know.
0:24:26 > 0:24:27You have lots of boxes of spoons.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29What are you doing with all these spoons?
0:24:29 > 0:24:31They've just been sitting in a drawer
0:24:31 > 0:24:32for years and years and years.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35Is it something you wanted to collect or a family inheritance?
0:24:35 > 0:24:37- Family inheritance. - And you never used them?- No.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39The enamel ones are quite nice, aren't they,
0:24:39 > 0:24:41- sort of red, white and blue. - Yes, but they're not perfect.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43They're not, no. I totally understand if they don't sell.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47We might struggle on these purely, purely because of the damage.
0:24:47 > 0:24:48It's going under the hammer now.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50So, the six silver gilt enamel teaspoons.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52Another set as well, a little bit of damage.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55They're very pretty little sets and I'm straight in at £50
0:24:55 > 0:24:59- I have bid now at 50. 60. £60 on my right.- That's good. We've sold some.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02Two sets of teaspoons at 60, 70 on the internet.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06- At £70, the internet bid, selling online at 70...- That's good.- Good!
0:25:06 > 0:25:10- Thank you so much.- £70, done it. Job done! I like it.
0:25:10 > 0:25:11See, we proved you wrong.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14- Mind you, it's not a lot of money for two boxes, is it?- No, it's not.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17- Let's face it, 35 quid a box.- It's quite a bargain, I think.- I know.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20- If you look at it like that, they have.- They've gone, they've gone!
0:25:20 > 0:25:22This is what this show is all about - it's called Flog It!
0:25:22 > 0:25:26We want to sell your things, so bring it in and we'll do the business.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30Well done, Catherine, everyone is pleased with that.
0:25:31 > 0:25:36Now, 145 miles north at Tring Market Auctions
0:25:36 > 0:25:39where Stephen Hearn is selling our lots.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41Going under the hammer,
0:25:41 > 0:25:43something for all you fine art lovers -
0:25:43 > 0:25:44two oil paintings by Henry Cooper
0:25:44 > 0:25:47and not the boxer. This is the 19th-century artist.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50- They'd be worth more! - Diane, why are you selling these?
0:25:50 > 0:25:52Well, years ago,
0:25:52 > 0:25:56when my auntie died, who was the eldest sister of my father,
0:25:56 > 0:25:58we had to clear the house out
0:25:58 > 0:26:01and up the chimney were these two Henry Cooper oils.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04We inherited them and they've been up in the attic ever since.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06You don't like them?
0:26:06 > 0:26:09Well, our house hasn't got ceilings tall enough to house them.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11They're kind of furnishing pictures in a way, aren't they?
0:26:11 > 0:26:15- Yeah, and we know, don't we, that they're slightly off the boil.- Yes.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17- They really are, they've dived in value.- So you've just said, yes.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20I can't believe they were shoved up a chimney to stop draughts.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24- Well, look, I think they do have a value, I really do.- Yeah.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26So, let's put it to the test.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29There we are, look, Highland cattle, a pair of them. Where do we go?
0:26:29 > 0:26:33500 for them? 500, what about four?
0:26:33 > 0:26:35250? 260, 280. 280.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39- Come on, come on.- 290, 300. One more.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42At 320. 50, is it?
0:26:42 > 0:26:43Yes or no, sir?
0:26:43 > 0:26:46- Go on!- At £350, at 350...
0:26:46 > 0:26:48Not quite there.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51They're going home. I think they are worth £400.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54I think you should re-enter them into another sale.
0:26:54 > 0:26:55We nearly got it.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57They raised about what they're worth,
0:26:57 > 0:27:00but doesn't it show what a bargain they are, actually?
0:27:00 > 0:27:03- Cos they would have been £1,500 15 years ago.- Yeah, yeah.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07- Another day, another saleroom. - Another dollar.- Another dollar!
0:27:07 > 0:27:09- I hope so.- All right!
0:27:11 > 0:27:14Well, that was pretty close. They almost went.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17Our journey concludes in the Cotswolds,
0:27:17 > 0:27:20just outside Cirencester at Moore Allen & Innocent
0:27:20 > 0:27:24with auctioneer Philip Allwood, who is wielding the gavel.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27Going under the hammer right now,
0:27:27 > 0:27:28we have a Victorian print collection
0:27:28 > 0:27:30which has to be sold
0:27:30 > 0:27:34because Claire has how many other brothers and sisters?
0:27:34 > 0:27:37- Eight brothers and sisters. - Eight brothers and sisters.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40They can't fight over them, it has to be sold as a complete collection.
0:27:40 > 0:27:41We're not going to split this up.
0:27:41 > 0:27:45No, I think that's the best way to do this and then if any members
0:27:45 > 0:27:46of the family wanted them,
0:27:46 > 0:27:48they could come along to the auction and bid.
0:27:48 > 0:27:49I totally agree with you there.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52So, what are you going to spend your share on?
0:27:52 > 0:27:55What have you been up to since we last saw you?
0:27:55 > 0:27:59- I've had my whole sleeve tattooed. Do you want to see?- Yes, please.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04- Oh, my word!- Gosh, that must have taken hours.
0:28:04 > 0:28:08It's fantastic artwork. Wow, I can't take my eyes off it.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11There's pressure there - get that completed, get the money for that.
0:28:11 > 0:28:15- Oh, my word! Some prints for some more printing.- Exactly.- In a way.
0:28:15 > 0:28:17Right, let's see what we can do for you.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19The William Nicholson wood block prints -
0:28:19 > 0:28:21Lord Roberts, Bismarck and the rest there.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24Good little lot, there, should be £300-£400 to start me?
0:28:24 > 0:28:29- Start me two? At £200, a bid there at 200.- We're in.
0:28:29 > 0:28:33- 240. 260. 280. - Wow, I'm quite surprised.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35300. At 300, 320 now. At 300,
0:28:35 > 0:28:38320 now, can I say? 300 I have.
0:28:38 > 0:28:42At 300, 320 on the phone. At 320, 340.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45At 340, 360 now. 360. 380.
0:28:45 > 0:28:49At 380, 400 now? At 380. 400. 420.
0:28:49 > 0:28:52At 420, 440 now. 440 on the phone.
0:28:52 > 0:28:57At 440, 460 now. At 440, on the left here at 440 on the phone now.
0:28:57 > 0:29:00At 440, 460 in the room if you like?
0:29:00 > 0:29:04At £440, the other phone, no? At 440, are you all sure?
0:29:06 > 0:29:11- Well, look, the good news is... - How much was that?- £440.
0:29:11 > 0:29:13- You can get your arm finished.- Yeah.
0:29:13 > 0:29:14And you said it wasn't painful,
0:29:14 > 0:29:17but I do have some painful news for you, Claire.
0:29:17 > 0:29:19- Yeah?- There is commission to pay!
0:29:21 > 0:29:2518% plus VAT - everyone has to pay it, unfortunately.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28- That's OK, that's OK. - That's the painful bit, but, hey...
0:29:28 > 0:29:31That's the most painful bit over and done with there.
0:29:33 > 0:29:35We've been to some fabulous locations,
0:29:35 > 0:29:38which have provided us with a diverse collection of items,
0:29:38 > 0:29:42and some have given us some real surprises in the saleroom.
0:29:42 > 0:29:48- Thank you.- I am delighted - surprised, but delighted.- So am I.
0:29:48 > 0:29:50Style won once again.
0:29:50 > 0:29:54So, join us again soon for more auction drama on Flog It!