Episode 7 Flog It!

We have travelled across the country in search of exceptional stories

and objects to take to auction, and we haven't been disappointed.

Our journey has taken us to Lulworth Castle in Dorset,

originally a 17th-century hunting lodge.

Wrest Park, a Grade I listed house in Bedfordshire.

Chiddingstone Castle in Kent, which can be traced back to Tudor times.

And finally, to Gloucester and its wonderful cathedral.

Until today's show, Michael Baggott thought he'd heard it all.

What are your plans for the money?

-I want to finish my tattoo, which is a full Tibetan sleeve.

-Oh, my word!

That's a first for Flog It!.

And at Wrest Park,

David Harper doesn't think he's ever heard anything like it.

Unfortunately, our house hasn't got walls.

-What, you've got no walls at all in your house?

-No. No, we live in a tent.

HE LAUGHS

The ceilings aren't high enough to house anything like this.

But will it be a different story at the auction?

90...

Our journey begins in Kent, at Chiddingstone Castle,

where Thomas Plant is talking to Rodney and Katie.

Who owns this little dish, pin tray?

-Well, we both do, but I found it.

-Right. Tell me the story.

I collect kitchenalia, copper mainly,

and I went to a local auction and I saw two boxes of copper,

and I liked the look of some of them.

And there was also some brass in there. So I bid on it.

And at the bottom of one of the boxes was this.

-How much did these two bits of kitchenalia cost you?

-£35.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-And what did you do with it all?

-I have cleaned up most of it.

And some of it I might take to a boot fair.

But this, I had a look at it, and I thought, "It's very heavy,

"it must be bronze."

And I saw only one signature at the time,

and then when I was just cleaning it a bit on the side, I saw...

-Barbedienne.

-Barbedienne

-Basically, I went on the internet.

-Yes.

-And then I looked at Levillain on there.

-And basically it's a fella who was a sculptor.

-Yes.

And his works were being done, basically, by

Barbedienne, who was the founder.

And it was all roundabout the 1830s, 1840s.

So, all of a sudden, it just opened up, this could be quite interesting.

It certainly is interesting.

Barbedienne was the founder, who specialised

in taking the classical sculptures,

bronzes, marbles and reducing them in size to maquettes, which,

dare I say it, ordinary folk like ourselves could then

afford and buy and have as decorative objects.

That was his speciality as a founder.

Obviously there's only so much you can do of that before people's

tastes and fashions change.

In steps a modern sculptor, and they form a relationship together.

-So you have the double whammy, don't you?

-You do.

-So that's quite interesting.

-Yeah, very much so.

And then did you go on other sites and look at prices realised?

-HE LAUGHS

-I suppose we did.

I had a brief look at a couple of things,

but obviously they were quite big bronzes at the time.

-All of a sudden you're then going into...

-Thousands of pounds, yeah.

Absolutely thousands of pounds.

-And we couldn't really find anything this small, actually.

-No.

It's actually quite nice, actually, isn't it? So what's it worth?

Well, I would probably hazard a guess at maybe £30-£50.

-So, what you paid originally for the whole lot.

-Yes.

So you're already in profit.

Yes, I've got my money back.

THEY LAUGH

I think I would double that.

-That's fantastic.

-I think 60 to 80.

With regarding reserves, you don't want to give it away,

-so I think £60-£80 with a discretionary reserve.

-Right.

-Say, £50.

-That's fine.

-Is that fine?

-That sounds absolutely fine.

-It's fair, isn't it?

-Yes, I think so.

-So are you going to come along to the auction?

-Definitely.

-Yeah, definitely.

-I look forward to seeing you there.

-Right.

That is a classic story,

discovering a little gem like that at the bottom of a boxed lot.

Now we travel north of London to Wrest Park in Bedfordshire,

where Anita Manning has found a cat.

But I don't think it's a local.

-# Walk like an Egyptian...

-#

-Sue, welcome to Flog It!

-Thank you.

Now, it's absolutely wonderful to have you here.

And you've brought along two interesting items.

Do you have any questions that you would like to ask me?

Well, it was because of the show that you were involved in,

Flog It! Trade Secrets. You were talking about amber,

and it was from that programme that made me wonder if this is amber.

So I thought I would come along today to see. I was curious.

So this is a wonderful decorative object.

Tell me, when did you buy it, and why?

I bought it about 25, 30 years ago when I was over in Egypt, in Luxor.

And they were selling gifts to tourists.

And I saw this cat sitting in the corner on the floor and I

thought there was something rather beautiful about this cat.

I did have eight cats of my own at the time and I quite like cats.

-So this was your ninth cat?

-It was indeed.

-Right.

So the question is, is this real amber?

Now, you bought it 30 years ago, and you bought it in a tourist area.

-Yes.

-So the likelihood of it being amber are very, very low.

And true amber comes from the resin of old pine trees

over 350 million years old. So it is very, very rare.

But we do have different types or lookalikes of amber.

OK, let's look at it. We have these bangles.

Now, in amber,

there were different shades of light which would come through the amber.

So that's copying that.

Also in amber, there is often the inclusion of pieces of insects,

which have been trapped in the resin of the tree.

And to have an insect, or a piece of an insect,

in a piece of amber makes it more valuable.

Now, when we look underneath here, we can see a beastie there,

it's a fly. And we see the whole fly.

Now, if a creature had been caught in this sticky resin,

it wouldn't just lie there and say, "OK, I'm going to die," it would struggle.

So when we see a full insect, we start to think,

"No, there's something wrong there." So...

These little indications are telling me that it's not amber.

This cat here is made of a celluloid or a plastic.

-OK.

-So not true amber.

Now, interestingly enough,

you have brought along another item, which is allied in some way

to the...to the cat.

But this is an earlier item, probably from the Art Deco period.

-Can you tell me where this came from?

-It belonged to my uncle.

He was in the Army, positioned in Hong Kong.

And my aunt was also staying with him.

And then just before the fall of Hong Kong, 25th of December in

1941, my aunt was put onto the last boat being evacuated to Australia.

And my uncle gave this to my aunt for safekeeping.

Now, if we look at this, a mahjong set, an oriental game.

And if we look at these little counters, this side here is

decorated with the little symbols which are used in the game.

But this yellow here is meant to look like amber.

But it is a celluloid or a plastic copy of that.

And on the other side, we have a celluloid copy of jade.

So in some way, the two items are allied.

They are made to look like something which is a very precious substance.

-But in actual fact is a copy.

-Yes.

-But still interesting.

If we were going to auction,

I would like to put these two items together.

Put together in one lot, we would

put an estimate of perhaps 70 to 100.

-Would you be happy with that estimate?

-Yes, I'm happy.

We'll put a fixed reserve on it because I know if that goes

back home with you, you won't be too upset.

Yes. Thank you very much.

Remember, of course,

with every auction there is commission to pay, whether you're

buying or selling, and there's VAT to add on top of that.

And these rates vary from saleroom to saleroom,

so make sure you find out in advance. Do your sums.

And now, let's see how our first item fares.

Our first stop is near Guildford in Surrey,

where auctioneer Tim Duggan is selling the bronze tray

at Ewbank's Auctions.

-Katie and Rodney, good luck.

-Thank you.

-This is where your Flog It!

journey ends today, in the auction room, with that hammer going down.

Because it will on this. A lovely little bronze dish. A tiny tray.

-Not a lot of money, Tommo. Why is it so cheap?

-Well...

-Because it's very small.

-THEY LAUGH

But it's very nice!

-It is very nice, and it's a little proper antique.

-Yes.

So why are you selling this?

It's not really something that I personally collect.

-OK, and you're into kitchenalia?

-I am, yes.

Yeah, and there's a few things here in the sale.

-I'd like someone else to appreciate it a bit more.

-OK.

OK, we're going to put it to the test right now.

It's going under the hammer, this is it.

This is a French gilt bronze small tray.

Nice little quality item, this one there. Do I see £50 for it?

30 if you like. 30 bid now. 30 bid now. 30 bid now.

35 now. 40 bid now.

45 now. 50 bid now. 55. 60. And five.

70. And five. 80 bid now.

80 bid now. Looking for 85 now. Looking for 85.

At £80, are we all done? Selling, then, at £80.

-£80, I knew it was worth a lot more than you said.

-Ah...

-I did, didn't I?

-You did.

-Yes.

THEY LAUGH

-I'm very pleased.

-Yeah, it was a "come and buy me", but well done.

-Thank you for bringing it in.

-Thank you.

And if you've got anything like that,

we would like to flog it for you.

Bring it in to one of our valuation days.

That was fun and a good result.

And now over to Tring Market Auctions,

where Stephen Hearn is selling the rather fine cat

and mahjong set belonging to Susan.

Now, I know we had a fixed reserve at the valuation day, of £70,

but I know you've had a chat to the auctioneer

-and you've upped it to £90.

-I'm more comfortable with 90 than 70.

In the end, we want you to be happy.

Yeah, and I feel very comfortable with that.

Well, let's keep our fingers crossed.

Well, look, if it doesn't sell,

I know you're going to be happy to take this home.

I am very happy to take it home so, as you say...

We've got a win-win situation.

But we'd like to get top money,

that is what it's all about, isn't it?

-It is.

-And this is going under the hammer right now.

The mahjong Bakelite playing pieces,

together with the cat. There it is.

How do we go on this cat? 50, 60, 70, 80, 90. Two of you!

-100 bid, 110 and 20.

-That lady's keen in the red jacket.

-Look, she's not putting her bidding paddle down.

-120, yes or no?

At 120... And 30 and 40 and 50 now.

Look, she's still there, she's still there in the red jacket.

£140, then, you get the mahjong pieces and the cat.

140, then, madam, yours at £140...

She's got it.

-Thank you so much!

-I am delighted - surprised, but delighted.

-So am I.

-Style won once again.

-I think it did, yes, it did.

-She obviously wanted it. That's so special.

-Yes.

Excellent result! That's what it's all about.

Back at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire,

our valuation day is still at full tilt, as is David Harper.

Well, Diane, look at us on a beautiful summer's day

in the south of England, admiring a pair of Scottish Highland scenes.

Aren't they gorgeous?

Yes, I love them, but can't wear them,

-so to speak, because our house is too small.

-Right. OK.

So, what they are, we've got Scottish Highland scenes

and you can see, can't you,

that this is like a continuation of the scene.

-Yes.

-And very, very trendy c1900. What's the background story?

Well, when my father's eldest sister died,

we had to clear the house out, and up the chimney,

when we were clearing out, we found these

and we had house clearance people in

-and they offered the family £5 for those.

-Did they? Now, when was that?

That would have been the late '70s, but my father said at the time,

"No, you're not having those for £5."

So, I believe he put the £5 into the estate and took them home.

But unfortunately, our house hasn't got walls.

-What, you've got no walls at all in your house?

-No, we live in a tent.

No, but the ceilings aren't high enough

to house anything like this

so when my mother passed away, I inherited them,

but they've been in the attic ever since.

That's the worst place in the world they could be, in an attic.

-They've got to be on show, haven't they?

-Yes.

And you're right, you do need height in a room,

ideally a Scottish castle. Hasn't your husband bought you one yet?

-No, but I'm working on it.

-Well, you need to change your husband.

-Is that him there?

-Yeah.

You're history!

No, I'm Ken!

Painted by Henry Cooper -

now, Henry Cooper was a 19th and early 20th-century artist.

Just because there's age connected here doesn't necessarily mean

they're worth lots of money because this was a period

when there were lots of jobbing artists creating

maybe hundreds a year, so there are lots of his paintings around,

but let's look at the quality of the painting.

I think this is a good example here, with the Highland cattle there.

The quality isn't absolutely brilliant.

Let's have a look at the condition.

So, always look... With anything in this business,

the back of something can tell you as much about the front

because often a painting can be restored really well

on the top side and you can't tell, but you'll see a patch on the back.

No patching. I've had a look at that one, no patching either.

Frame's probably original.

Nice original clout nails holding the canvas in place,

so it hasn't been re-stretched or repaired. So, in good order.

Now, then, what about value, Diane? What do you feel?

Well, going back four to six years, I can't remember,

when we went to Bonham's with a view to having them put in an auction,

we discussed it with them and they said about 700, I think,

and I was a bit shocked because years before when we'd been

to Sotheby's, we were told then to hang on to them

to the beginning of the year 2000.

They would then become antiques and worth a lot more.

So, what do you reckon?

-Well, the market's changed, I've got to tell you.

-Yes.

In the mid-'90s, I think we could have sold them for 1,500.

The market has changed dramatically and they've really, really dipped now

and I think today their value should be in auction 300-500,

a "come and get me" kind of estimate, and they might surprise.

How would you feel about that?

Yes, I think I would like a reserve put on them.

-What would the reserve need to be?

-I would like 400.

-Four.

OK, well, we can do that, but we'd need to re-look

at the estimate and estimate them

at four to six with a reserve at four.

-Shall we do it?

-Yes, please.

-Marvellous!

-Lovely, Diane, thank you.

-OK, thank you.

-Will we see you there, Ken, at the auction?

-I think so, yes.

-Good man!

What's the point of paintings sitting out of sight in an attic?

If you have anything like that,

bring them in to one of our valuation days.

Our tour now continues at Lulworth Castle in Dorset,

where a colourful item has caught Catherine Southon's eye.

Stefan, lovely to meet you. Welcome to Flog It!

-Thank you, nice to meet you, too.

-Wonderful collection of spoons here.

Well, two sets of spoons.

Now, when you see these and probably when the viewer sees these

at home, they'll be thinking, "These are incredible,"

and indeed they are beautiful and what lovely colours they are,

but there's this huge cloud which is hanging over them

and it begins with the letter D and that's "damage".

And that is a problem. These are lovely enamel little coffee spoons.

I'm going to look at one of them individually.

I'm going to look at this set first of all.

This was retailed by The Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company

and these would date from around 1930.

Let's have a look at this one first of all

because this is where the D word starts. Can you see that?

A big bit of damage on some lovely blue enamel there.

So sad because these are so elegant

and so pretty and I love the blue colours and the red and the white.

-Very British, this is.

-Mmm, very patriotic, sure.

-Absolutely.

I'm going to have a quick look at these

cos it will be nice to date them and they are 1936

and they are made by the Adie Brothers

for the retailers Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company.

These have come down through the family, have they?

-They must have been a wedding present...

-Right, OK.

..for my mother, I think she got married in about 1938.

1938, right, so that works. Was she particularly patriotic?

-Oh, yes.

-Was she?

-Oh, well, they've chosen the colours well, haven't they?

-Very definitely.

It's such a shame and the more I look at them, the more damage I see.

In perfect condition,

we'd be looking at about £100 for these, but they're not quite

going to be up to that, but I'll come back to that a bit later.

-Right.

-These little spoons here, these are Danish

by the well-known Danish factory Tostrup, but what beautiful colour.

-I think those are lovely.

-Really exquisite, aren't they?

Again, these are all enamel and they're on gilt silver

and in perfect condition, again

you'd be looking at £100-£150 for these,

but I can see there's a tiny bit of damage on each and every one.

Rough washing up.

-Is that what it is? Did you wash them up?

-No.

-Do I tell you off?

I've never used them. I've never seen them being used.

So, it all comes down to price.

£100 in perfect condition, £100-£150 in perfect condition.

This goes right down, I'm afraid,

and you'd be really looking for the two at around £50-£80.

Ooh!

Maybe 60-80.

-Mm, because of the damage.

-Shall we say 60-80?

-It sounds a bit better, doesn't it?

-Yeah.

-Shall we put a £60 reserve on?

-Please.

-OK, let's say £60-£80 with a 60 reserve. Happy with that?

-Yes.

Let's close them and forget about the damage

and we're going to make good money at auction.

-Thank you so much, Stefan, it's lovely to meet you.

-And you, too.

Catherine is putting a brave face on it. Let's hope she's right.

Off to the magnificent cathedral in Gloucester,

where Michael Baggott is enjoying a collection of prints.

Claire, thank you very much for bringing in what looks like

the contents of an art gallery. Wonderful selection of prints here.

You've done a little bit of research on these and this artist,

-haven't you?

-Yeah.

-So, can you tell me what you know about them?

Well, I know that William Nicholson

was a prolific illustrator, book designer...

And he worked on a Peter Pan set, for example,

but he did a compassionate portrait of the Queen

at her diamond jubilee and did Victorian characters.

So, we've got a host here of Victorian characters

-by this artist William Nicholson.

-Yeah.

-And I think he was born in about 1872.

-That's right.

-And died in about 1949.

-Absolutely.

So, he's working almost at the height

of the Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts periods,

that's when he's a young man full of energy,

executing these commissions and you've got,

with this wonderful portrait of Sarah Bernhardt,

that feel of English Art Nouveau.

It's a bit more restrained than on the Continent

and you've just got that very figural, almost a mushroom-type,

a growth, if you like,

rather than a real human figure and that's carried through.

I mean, we've got there - Whistler,

who I imagine would be tremendously flattered by that.

Almost a caricature, aren't they?

They're less portraits, more caricatures.

We've got the Prince of Wales there,

looking rather stern and respectable.

Was that a bit of Flog It! day damage?

-That was my fault on the way, yeah.

-Ohhh!

-Sorry.

It's all right, it's not a Chinese vase worth £1 million.

You don't have to worry.

And as you say, we've got this rather touching portrait

of Queen Victoria and there

the royalty and the power has been stripped away

and we've got basically a very nice little old lady walking her dog,

so there is some thought behind it.

Are these something you've collected?

No, they've been handed down the paternal line directly

from, I think, my great-grandfather,

-certainly my grandfather in the '30s.

-Oh!

He was a vicar locally in the '30s through the war

and he handed them on to my father when he died

and my father had nine children...

so we've decided that it's very difficult

to split up a collection.

Well, I mean, that's very sensible of you all

because the value of these is as a collection.

We actually haven't got the full set here, but we're some way towards it.

I mean, in terms of value, have you given that much thought?

I've guessed about 300, possibly, on a good day.

-I'm a little bit more cautious, but then I always am.

-OK.

Let's say, as an incomplete set,

£200-£300 as a start and hope that we do over the £300 mark.

-Let's put a fixed reserve of £200.

-Absolutely.

We don't want to give them away. And you're happy to sell them?

-Absolutely, yeah.

-Now, if they go and make a superb sum,

what are your plans for the money?

From a purely selfish point of view, I want to finish my tattoo,

-which is a full Tibetan sleeve.

-Oh, my word!

That's a first for Flog It! We'll get you an armful, hopefully.

-Thank you, and then I can go down the other side.

-Marvellous!

-Claire, thank you so much for bringing them in.

-Thank you.

From one type of decoration to another - we're back at Beaulieu.

Now, there's just enough time

for me to show you this magnificent room.

It is the upper drawing room.

But it's the detail on the wall,

the decoration, that I'd like to point out to you.

There's an alternating pattern running all around and you can see it.

It's an eagle and then there's a bishop's crosier bisecting a crown.

That's the armorial bearings of Beaulieu Abbey.

Now, that was applied with a gold leaf in 1870,

but it's been painstakingly restored by the staff here in 1990

and I think they have done a tremendous job.

Right, are you ready for some more auction action? Good.

Well, before we head over there,

here's a quick recap of all the items

that are going under the hammer.

It's always good to have a pair and these two Scottish scenes

are pleasing to the eye, so they're in with a good chance.

These two sets of spoons with their coloured enamels

are highly decorative.

It will all depend on the bidders overlooking the damage.

And the collection of prints are rather stylish,

but will they appeal to today's market?

Charterhouse Auctioneers in Dorset

is where our first sale is being held.

Auctioneer Richard Bromell is on the rostrum,

selling the attractive silver spoons.

Well, I've just been joined by Stefan and our expert Catherine.

They do say, you know,

some people are born with a silver spoon in their mouth.

Was Stefan born with six? I don't know.

You have lots of boxes of spoons.

What are you doing with all these spoons?

They've just been sitting in a drawer

for years and years and years.

Is it something you wanted to collect or a family inheritance?

-Family inheritance.

-And you never used them?

-No.

The enamel ones are quite nice, aren't they,

-sort of red, white and blue.

-Yes, but they're not perfect.

They're not, no. I totally understand if they don't sell.

We might struggle on these purely, purely because of the damage.

It's going under the hammer now.

So, the six silver gilt enamel teaspoons.

Another set as well, a little bit of damage.

They're very pretty little sets and I'm straight in at £50

-I have bid now at 50. 60. £60 on my right.

-That's good. We've sold some.

Two sets of teaspoons at 60, 70 on the internet.

-At £70, the internet bid, selling online at 70...

-That's good.

-Good!

-Thank you so much.

-£70, done it. Job done! I like it.

See, we proved you wrong.

-Mind you, it's not a lot of money for two boxes, is it?

-No, it's not.

-Let's face it, 35 quid a box.

-It's quite a bargain, I think.

-I know.

-If you look at it like that, they have.

-They've gone, they've gone!

This is what this show is all about - it's called Flog It!

We want to sell your things, so bring it in and we'll do the business.

Well done, Catherine, everyone is pleased with that.

Now, 145 miles north at Tring Market Auctions

where Stephen Hearn is selling our lots.

Going under the hammer,

something for all you fine art lovers -

two oil paintings by Henry Cooper

and not the boxer. This is the 19th-century artist.

-They'd be worth more!

-Diane, why are you selling these?

Well, years ago,

when my auntie died, who was the eldest sister of my father,

we had to clear the house out

and up the chimney were these two Henry Cooper oils.

We inherited them and they've been up in the attic ever since.

You don't like them?

Well, our house hasn't got ceilings tall enough to house them.

They're kind of furnishing pictures in a way, aren't they?

-Yeah, and we know, don't we, that they're slightly off the boil.

-Yes.

-They really are, they've dived in value.

-So you've just said, yes.

I can't believe they were shoved up a chimney to stop draughts.

-Well, look, I think they do have a value, I really do.

-Yeah.

So, let's put it to the test.

There we are, look, Highland cattle, a pair of them. Where do we go?

500 for them? 500, what about four?

250? 260, 280. 280.

-Come on, come on.

-290, 300. One more.

At 320. 50, is it?

Yes or no, sir?

-Go on!

-At £350, at 350...

Not quite there.

They're going home. I think they are worth £400.

I think you should re-enter them into another sale.

We nearly got it.

They raised about what they're worth,

but doesn't it show what a bargain they are, actually?

-Cos they would have been £1,500 15 years ago.

-Yeah, yeah.

-Another day, another saleroom.

-Another dollar.

-Another dollar!

-I hope so.

-All right!

Well, that was pretty close. They almost went.

Our journey concludes in the Cotswolds,

just outside Cirencester at Moore Allen & Innocent

with auctioneer Philip Allwood, who is wielding the gavel.

Going under the hammer right now,

we have a Victorian print collection

which has to be sold

because Claire has how many other brothers and sisters?

-Eight brothers and sisters.

-Eight brothers and sisters.

They can't fight over them, it has to be sold as a complete collection.

We're not going to split this up.

No, I think that's the best way to do this and then if any members

of the family wanted them,

they could come along to the auction and bid.

I totally agree with you there.

So, what are you going to spend your share on?

What have you been up to since we last saw you?

-I've had my whole sleeve tattooed. Do you want to see?

-Yes, please.

-Oh, my word!

-Gosh, that must have taken hours.

It's fantastic artwork. Wow, I can't take my eyes off it.

There's pressure there - get that completed, get the money for that.

-Oh, my word! Some prints for some more printing.

-Exactly.

-In a way.

Right, let's see what we can do for you.

The William Nicholson wood block prints -

Lord Roberts, Bismarck and the rest there.

Good little lot, there, should be £300-£400 to start me?

-Start me two? At £200, a bid there at 200.

-We're in.

-240. 260. 280.

-Wow, I'm quite surprised.

300. At 300, 320 now. At 300,

320 now, can I say? 300 I have.

At 300, 320 on the phone. At 320, 340.

At 340, 360 now. 360. 380.

At 380, 400 now? At 380. 400. 420.

At 420, 440 now. 440 on the phone.

At 440, 460 now. At 440, on the left here at 440 on the phone now.

At 440, 460 in the room if you like?

At £440, the other phone, no? At 440, are you all sure?

-Well, look, the good news is...

-How much was that?

-£440.

-You can get your arm finished.

-Yeah.

And you said it wasn't painful,

but I do have some painful news for you, Claire.

-Yeah?

-There is commission to pay!

18% plus VAT - everyone has to pay it, unfortunately.

-That's OK, that's OK.

-That's the painful bit, but, hey...

That's the most painful bit over and done with there.

We've been to some fabulous locations,

which have provided us with a diverse collection of items,

and some have given us some real surprises in the saleroom.

-Thank you.

-I am delighted - surprised, but delighted.

-So am I.

Style won once again.

So, join us again soon for more auction drama on Flog It!