0:00:02 > 0:00:05CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYS
0:00:09 > 0:00:15This splendid Palladian house was designed by Dr Robert Hooke in 1680.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17Now, he was no ordinary man.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19Not only did he help Sir Christopher Wren
0:00:19 > 0:00:21rebuild London after the Great Fire,
0:00:21 > 0:00:25but he also had a hand in designing the dome of St Paul's Cathedral.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28Now, it doesn't get much better than that, does it?
0:00:28 > 0:00:31Welcome to Flog It!, from Ragley Hall in Warwickshire.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58This historic house, built in blue lias stone and roofed
0:00:58 > 0:01:03in Cornish slate, was completed in 1780.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06The impressive iconic portico, added by James Wyatt,
0:01:06 > 0:01:08was the first in Warwickshire.
0:01:08 > 0:01:13He also took a hand in designing some of the beautiful rooms inside.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16But it was James Gibbs who was responsible for the fabulous
0:01:16 > 0:01:19rococo stucco work in the Great Hall.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23On the ceiling, Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, is the centrepiece.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27Let's hope we have some guidance from her today.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33So, where better than this historic backdrop
0:01:33 > 0:01:35for our experts to wax lyrical about
0:01:35 > 0:01:37all the antiques and collectables they are just
0:01:37 > 0:01:41about to see, but more importantly, give us their valuations.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44All of these good folk have come from Warwickshire
0:01:44 > 0:01:47and beyond laden, with their antiques and collectables,
0:01:47 > 0:01:50and there is only one question on their lips, which is...
0:01:50 > 0:01:52- CROWD:- What's it worth?!
0:01:52 > 0:01:55Brilliant! Stay tuned and you will find out.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02And already settling in to these aristocratic surroundings
0:02:02 > 0:02:04is a distinguished gentleman of the saleroom, Will Axon.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07You haven't just taken that off His Lordship's car, have you?
0:02:07 > 0:02:09No, we've left the car in the garage.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11Oh, have you? I like it! Very nice.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14- I think you've got it upside down.- Have I?
0:02:14 > 0:02:17- You have now! - HE LAUGHS
0:02:17 > 0:02:22And a prince of the antiques world, auctioneer Charlie Ross.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24Probably a bit too high for a milking chair.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26When you're milking, you've got to be down there.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29- I am a world expert. - SHE LAUGHS
0:02:29 > 0:02:31Whereas your spinning, you are a bit higher up.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37Well, we can't keep people waiting and this grand old house
0:02:37 > 0:02:40has plenty of space to accommodate our eager crowd.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44On the show today, we delve deep into history.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48One of our experts brushes with the ceremonial,
0:02:48 > 0:02:50but ends up looking a right Charlie.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55Whoever had this had a very small head, didn't he?
0:02:55 > 0:02:58I mean, to be honest, I'd have felt a bit of a twerp
0:02:58 > 0:02:59standing to attention in this.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03We travel to Edgehill, to find out
0:03:03 > 0:03:07more about one of Warwickshire's famous battles.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10What you would have seen would have been your immediate neighbours
0:03:10 > 0:03:13fighting, struggling for their lives in all the smoke.
0:03:13 > 0:03:14What would you have heard?
0:03:14 > 0:03:21Well, I suppose you would have heard screams of pain, deafening noises.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26And I'm overwhelmed by the sheer scale of things.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29The biggest teapot I've ever seen in my life, there.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32All that's coming up later on in the show.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34Well, everyone is now safely seated in the Great Hall
0:03:34 > 0:03:37and there is a wonderful air of anticipation and excitement.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40Who is going to go off to auction and go home with lots of money?
0:03:40 > 0:03:43That is what we are going to do right now, make a start.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45This is the first person going off to the saleroom,
0:03:45 > 0:03:47and it is a valuation with Charlie Ross.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50And he is currently in the Red Saloon with Raymond.
0:03:52 > 0:03:53- This is a busby.- Yep.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57- It belongs to the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.- Yep.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01You were never a serving member of Her Majesty's Forces, were you?
0:04:01 > 0:04:03- No, only in the TA.- In the TA.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07It is a wonderful, wonderful object. It is not particularly old, is it?
0:04:07 > 0:04:10- No, it is between '70 and '72.- Right.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13- So, not 70 years old. - No.- 1970.- Yeah.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15So, we're looking at 40, 50 years old.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17At the front, of course, we have got the badge,
0:04:17 > 0:04:19which you can explain to us.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21That is the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers' badge.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24- And here we have got...?- That is a hackle.- That is the hackle.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27A lot of people say, you know, feathers and this, that and the
0:04:27 > 0:04:30other when you've got the one on your beret, but that's a hackle.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33May we just lift it up here? Because there's something quite interesting.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37- Now, I see on here a little tag. - That's right.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41That is the sealed whatsit from the MOD, to say that
0:04:41 > 0:04:44- that's original, it is not a repro. - Not a repro or a fake.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46- So, that is a vital thing.- Yeah.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49- Now, who would have worn this? Somebody in a band?- Yeah, bandsmen.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53- Bandsmen.- Nobody else wore them bar bandsmen.- Right.
0:04:53 > 0:04:54They're purely ceremonial, aren't they?
0:04:54 > 0:04:56They're just ceremonial.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59- You would never have gone off to war wearing it, would you?- No.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03Whoever had this had a very small head, didn't he?
0:05:03 > 0:05:06I mean, to be honest, I'd have felt a bit of this twerp
0:05:06 > 0:05:07standing to attention in this.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10Plus, if you wore that into battle, you'd have your head shot off.
0:05:10 > 0:05:11You certainly would.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15- You wouldn't want to peer out of a trench wearing this, would you?- No.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18I think it is a wonderfully tactile object.
0:05:18 > 0:05:19Well, the value.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24Get it in at the right money and they fall over each other for it.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28I'd say...170 - what I paid for it.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31I think we need a little bit more flexibility, don't we?
0:05:31 > 0:05:33- You do want to sell it, don't you?- Yeah.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35- We'll put it in at one and a half.- Righto.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37- One and a half, to make you laugh. - Yeah.- Yeah?- Yeah, that's fine.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40That gives us enough flexibility, doesn't it?
0:05:40 > 0:05:43- Okey-dokey.- £150.- Fixed.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45- Fixed?- Yeah.- As in bayonets? - Yeah.- Fixed bayonets?
0:05:45 > 0:05:48- HE CHUCKLES - Fixed reserves?- That's it!
0:05:48 > 0:05:51I was going to say, can we use just a little bit of discretion? But no.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53- No, no.- £150. I think it is worth that.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56And if it doesn't make that, then you'll take it back home.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58- I'll still keep it, yeah. - But it is brilliant to see it.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01- Thank you very much. Keep my fingers crossed.- Thanks very much.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04Cheers, Charlie. Much appreciated, ta.
0:06:04 > 0:06:05That will probably be a one-off,
0:06:05 > 0:06:08and I don't expect we will see another one like it.
0:06:10 > 0:06:11Now, over to Wendy,
0:06:11 > 0:06:15who has a couple of items that are giving Will "paws" for thought.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21Wendy, you didn't expect to be on this table, did you, with me?
0:06:21 > 0:06:24I didn't, no. I just thought I'd come for a valuation.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26Were they something that you've had since a little girl
0:06:26 > 0:06:28- or have you inherited them?- No, no.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30- They were my husband's.- Yeah.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34- They were his uncles'.- Right, OK.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38And they were young boys around the turn of the century,
0:06:38 > 0:06:44- 1900 to 1910, I suppose.- OK.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46And then they were given to my husband,
0:06:46 > 0:06:51- who then gave them to my son.- Oh, right.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55- And my son is now 38 and...- He has just stopped sleeping with them.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59Well, he is not interested in them and I don't think his wife is,
0:06:59 > 0:07:03so we may as well do something with them.
0:07:03 > 0:07:04Well, the big name in bears...
0:07:04 > 0:07:07You're obviously aware of the name Steiff.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10- Yes.- The well-known bear makers - German.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13Was there an idea that this might have been a Steiff at some point?
0:07:13 > 0:07:17Well, we did wonder. When my son first had him, he did have a growl,
0:07:17 > 0:07:19but that has disappeared.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22Yeah, the growlers do perish, unfortunately.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24One or two times too many and they do perish.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28The thing to look out for for a Steiff bear is the shape.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31There are certain things that they have this pronounced snout,
0:07:31 > 0:07:33so it becomes a, sort of...
0:07:33 > 0:07:36And it is quite pointy, the snout of a Steiff bear.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38They have long arms, as well,
0:07:38 > 0:07:42where the, sort of, the pads are quite long for the arms.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46- They almost look a bit sort of monkey-like almost, the arms.- Yes.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49They usually have a hump on their back.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52So, you've got the start of that here, but I don't think it is
0:07:52 > 0:07:55- prominent enough to make me think it is a Steiff.- Right.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58And, of course, you have the button in the ear.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00Now, there is a problem here, isn't there?
0:08:00 > 0:08:02Because from where I am sitting, he looks fine,
0:08:02 > 0:08:06but from where you're sitting, there is no ear, is there, your side?
0:08:06 > 0:08:08- No, it's gone. - I mean, I talk about damage
0:08:08 > 0:08:10because we're going to have to think about condition.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13What's happened over the years is he's been played with,
0:08:13 > 0:08:18cuddled, rolled about with, you know, the mohair has come away,
0:08:18 > 0:08:19it has perished.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23- So, he is down to his bare skin, the poor chap, isn't he?- Yes, he is.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26And then I noticed the pads as well. The pads on the feet and the arms,
0:08:26 > 0:08:28they look to have been replaced at some stage.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30- They have been, by my mother-in-law. - Oh, were they?- Yes.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34- I mean, she has done a reasonably good job, actually.- Yes, she has.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36We move on to the Panda, who, again, is unmarked,
0:08:36 > 0:08:38so no idea who possibly made him.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41But again, a little bit unusual, being a panda.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43We're used to seeing the mohair bears,
0:08:43 > 0:08:45not so used to seeing the pandas.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49- Am I right in thinking that they were on their way to the tip?- Yes.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52- HE GASPS - Outrageous.- I'm having a clear-out.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54So, I feel like I've done my good deed of the day.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58- I've rescued them from almost certain death.- You have.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01Well, listen, we've got to talk about value at some stage.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04I am going to prepare you - it is not going to be a fortune.
0:09:04 > 0:09:08Estimate-wise, I'm thinking £20 to £40 for the two.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11- How does that sound?- Yes, I'd be happy with that.- Yeah?- Yes.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13Considering you were going to chuck them,
0:09:13 > 0:09:15I'm suggesting that we have no reserve,
0:09:15 > 0:09:17we take a bit of a gamble and let them make what they make on the day.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19- That sounds good to me. - You happy with that?
0:09:19 > 0:09:21- I'm very happy with that. - Brilliant.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24- Well, listen, they're going to find a new home.- Aw. All right, then.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26And well-deserved, too.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29And now for something really extraordinary.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34Well, we have all had pen pals in our lives, at some stage,
0:09:34 > 0:09:37but this is a pen pal with a totally different story that is quite
0:09:37 > 0:09:40unique, and it belongs to Nick. So, tell me about it.
0:09:40 > 0:09:45Paul, this is a Mr Chamberlain, who lived in Wales
0:09:45 > 0:09:51and he wrote to Adolf Hitler in 1936 asking for his signature.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54And I don't know really whether he was called Mr Chamberlain,
0:09:54 > 0:09:57but I think it is a great example of the British sense of humour.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59Even then, we were seeing through
0:09:59 > 0:10:01all the goose-stepping and everything.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04And what is amazing is Adolf Hitler wrote back again.
0:10:04 > 0:10:10So, here is the letter. It is dated 15th of August, 1936, and he writes,
0:10:10 > 0:10:13"My best wishes, Mr Chamberlain."
0:10:13 > 0:10:15He thanks very much for his correspondence but says,
0:10:15 > 0:10:19"Unfortunately, the Fuhrer doesn't do personalised autographs",
0:10:19 > 0:10:21but wishes him all the best.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25And it has been signed by his adjutant.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27So, they took it very seriously.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29Definitely so. I like that a lot.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33To keep that, to keep it safe, frame it, have a small bordered frame,
0:10:33 > 0:10:36maybe an ebonised frame, a pencil round frame, not too big
0:10:36 > 0:10:40so it doesn't detract from the text and put it on the wall.
0:10:40 > 0:10:41Because when you look at that,
0:10:41 > 0:10:43that's going to put a smile on your face.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45It is. It's a real piece of history. Thanks very much, I'll do that.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47- Well, thank you.- Thank you.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49HE CHUCKLES Sorry, we don't do autographs.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54Over to Will now, who has found some fantastic wood carvings.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57Michael, you haven't left your canoe outside, have you?
0:10:57 > 0:11:00Cos I'm loving this paddle you've brought me.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02Tell me, are you a collector of tribal art?
0:11:02 > 0:11:04No, not really, no.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07I just saw them in a very small auction house
0:11:07 > 0:11:09in South Cumbria a few years ago.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12- Right.- I thought... I appreciated the carving on them.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16- Yes.- My son lives in Wellington, New Zealand...
0:11:16 > 0:11:18- Ah.- ..and I thought they might be Polynesian, that one.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21Did you ask your son's opinion? What did he think?
0:11:21 > 0:11:26Well, I sent photographs as an e-mail attachment to my son.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29I said, "Please go to the Maori Museum in Wellington
0:11:29 > 0:11:31- "and ask them about them."- Yes.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35- And he didn't. - Sons, eh? Who needs 'em!
0:11:35 > 0:11:40- I got fed up with this, so I wrote directly to the museum...- Yes.
0:11:40 > 0:11:41..enclosing the pictures again.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44I said, "If my son does bother to come round,
0:11:44 > 0:11:47"tell him that they're the long-last paddle
0:11:47 > 0:11:51"given to Captain Cook by the chief of the Cook Islands."
0:11:51 > 0:11:53- Really?- They did!
0:11:53 > 0:11:54When he eventually went,
0:11:54 > 0:11:57they went through this little charade with him.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00So he, all of a sudden, thought that his dad
0:12:00 > 0:12:03isn't as mad as he thought and he had actually discovered
0:12:03 > 0:12:06- a long-lost treasure, but it was a wind-up!- Yeah.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09Did they manage to tell him anything about them?
0:12:09 > 0:12:12- I've got a little note from them, if you want to see it?- Have you?
0:12:12 > 0:12:15That always helps. We like a little note.
0:12:15 > 0:12:16Let me have a look at that.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20"The paddle in the images - Austral Islands in east Polynesia.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23"The intricately carved paddles were made in the 19th century..."
0:12:23 > 0:12:26I would agree with that. "..in large numbers.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29"Ceremonial or trading situations
0:12:29 > 0:12:32"and wonderful examples of wood carving."
0:12:32 > 0:12:35Wow, that's amazing. That's actually quite a nice little note
0:12:35 > 0:12:38to maybe keep with them. Let me give you that back.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40They've said the Austral Islands, which is great,
0:12:40 > 0:12:44we've pinpointed it, but you haven't just brought along the one piece -
0:12:44 > 0:12:46you've also brought this along, as well.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49I think this one is early 20th century.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51Once you get into the 20th century,
0:12:51 > 0:12:54the collectors start to lose a little bit of interest -
0:12:54 > 0:12:55more people are travelling
0:12:55 > 0:12:59and more pieces like this are bought as a souvenir.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02In my mind, I think most of the value out of these two
0:13:02 > 0:13:05- is going to be in the ceremonial paddle.- Yes.
0:13:05 > 0:13:10It's got this wonderful, intricate what we would call chip carving.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12It's, literally, chips of wood being taken out,
0:13:12 > 0:13:16to create this all-over geometric pattern.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20Significance to each individual tribe.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22Then, here on the pommel, what I think is rather nice
0:13:22 > 0:13:25is that we've got what I would call these little tikis,
0:13:25 > 0:13:30little sort of charms, to ward off evil spirits.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33- You mention you saw them in an auction house.- Yes.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36- So, you've had to put your hand in the air to buy them.- Yes.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38Can I ask you what sort of money you had to pay?
0:13:38 > 0:13:41I paid, I think, 410 for the pair.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44- Right.- No telephone bidding, no internet.- No internet connection.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47Nothing like that, it's just sort of bric-a-brac, really.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51I have seen these make £1,000,
0:13:51 > 0:13:52a little bit more,
0:13:52 > 0:13:55- so let's straddle that £1,000 mark.- Yes.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58I'd like to put them in at £800-£1,200.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01I think most of the value is going to be carried by this paddle,
0:14:01 > 0:14:04the chip-carved.
0:14:04 > 0:14:05Let's keep them together.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08You bought them together, it seems a shame to split them up
0:14:08 > 0:14:10and who knows?
0:14:10 > 0:14:12It might be making its way all the way round
0:14:12 > 0:14:14to the other side of the world, once we've sold it.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17Michael, I look forward to seeing you at the auction
0:14:17 > 0:14:20and I think we could have a little flyer here.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25Well, with the internet, the world is our oyster.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27Time to catch up with Charlie again.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30He is now in the splendour of the formal dining room.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32Who knows where he'll pop up next?
0:14:34 > 0:14:38Rather like this splendid house with its splendid contents,
0:14:38 > 0:14:40we've got a lot of history here.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43And quite a bit of it very, very sad.
0:14:44 > 0:14:45And we will come onto that,
0:14:45 > 0:14:49but I am quite intrigued to know how you've ended up with these.
0:14:50 > 0:14:55- Well, my brother-in-law used to go to a lot of auction sales.- Yes.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57And at the end of the auction sales,
0:14:57 > 0:15:01- they used to sell job lots in big boxes.- Yep.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04And these two were in one of the big boxes
0:15:04 > 0:15:07- that he'd bought in the auction.- Yeah.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10And he said to my husband, "You can have these,
0:15:10 > 0:15:12- "you'll be interested in these."- Yep.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15So, my husband said, "Oh, yes, that's nice."
0:15:15 > 0:15:17And then put them in the loft.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20Well, it is no good having things in the loft, is it?
0:15:20 > 0:15:23On the other hand, the loft does have its advantages.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27- It does mean that they haven't been broken or damaged.- That's right.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31- We have got the two ships here, Lusitania and Mauritania.- Yes.
0:15:31 > 0:15:36- They were sister ships. They were launched in 1906.- Yes.
0:15:36 > 0:15:42- Now, the Lusitania was sunk in 1915.- Yes.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46And was a civilian passenger ship.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50- And yet it was torpedoed.- Yes.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53It went down so quickly that very, very few
0:15:53 > 0:15:57of the lifeboats were launched. Just terrible.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01The Mauritania survived the war
0:16:01 > 0:16:07and I think it was, ultimately, scrapped in about 1934, 1936.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11So, what we have got here, plain sheets of glass
0:16:11 > 0:16:15- with a transfer print reverse on the back.- On the back.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19And that is how they are done. And then what actually gives them
0:16:19 > 0:16:23a new dimension is that they've inserted into the print some little
0:16:23 > 0:16:27- pieces of mother-of-pearl, which you can see here.- Yes.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30- Doesn't it give it an extra dimension?- It does, doesn't it?
0:16:30 > 0:16:32It absolutely shines at you.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34They have got these rather splendid,
0:16:34 > 0:16:38worn, Edwardian fabric frames round them.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41They were done for a specific purpose
0:16:41 > 0:16:45and that was to raise money for the Lusitania relief fund.
0:16:45 > 0:16:46Oh.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49Now, what about value? Any ideas?
0:16:49 > 0:16:53Well, actually, we just thought you'd say, "Nothing,
0:16:53 > 0:16:56"just put them in the bin!"
0:16:56 > 0:16:59There's no great quality to the frames or, indeed,
0:16:59 > 0:17:02the transfer printing, but they are real history and they are a pair,
0:17:02 > 0:17:06and I certainly think that the pair are worth between £100 and £200.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10That would be really nice.
0:17:10 > 0:17:16I am going to suggest a reserve of £75 as an absolute stop-gap.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19- Stop-gap.- Happy with that? - Yes, we're very happy.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23- As long as they go to someone who really, really wants them.- Yes.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25And you never know, they might even go to a museum.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27Yes, that would be good.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31Those paintings are real mementos of a moment in history.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34Before we head off to auction,
0:17:34 > 0:17:36there is something I would like to show you.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45Only ten miles south of Stratford-upon-Avon
0:17:45 > 0:17:48is Compton Verney, a fine classical house.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54Since March 2004, it has been an art gallery.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57Some of the exhibits are antiquities and some are Baroque.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02It's also the place to find the best collection of British
0:18:02 > 0:18:05folk art on permanent display anywhere in the country.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17Folk art is a term used to describe a wide variety of objects,
0:18:17 > 0:18:23from paintings to quilts, carvings, toys, trade signs, tools...
0:18:23 > 0:18:28furniture. And most of these things have been made by untrained artists.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31But not all. These pieces have been inspired by everyday life.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33And there's a growing interest
0:18:33 > 0:18:36in their delightful non-academic freshness.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41Jeff McMillan, an American artist living in London,
0:18:41 > 0:18:45was asked by the Tate to co-curate a touring folk art exhibition
0:18:45 > 0:18:47featuring works from all over the country.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50And here is a taste of it.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53I love the use of colour. You've got blue in this section, yellow,
0:18:53 > 0:18:55and it just changes everywhere you go.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57How did you go about, sort of, putting it into sections?
0:18:57 > 0:18:59What was your thought behind that?
0:18:59 > 0:19:01Well, each room, each section is basically kind of themed,
0:19:01 > 0:19:05so there's themes to do with either the sea or the land or maybe to do
0:19:05 > 0:19:08with sort of signage, or the idea of text in work as opposed to
0:19:08 > 0:19:11things that are just visually arresting objects.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Was it a difficult project? There's a lot here.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15It was difficult. There was a lot of work to do.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17- But it was also hugely enjoyable.- Sure.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20And to be introduced to all these incredible objects was a real treat.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23I think folk art, really, it's all about where it's been over
0:19:23 > 0:19:26the last few years, isn't it? The last century.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28It's been touched, it's been used, it's been loved.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30- Yeah, it's not precious objects.- No.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32They are often things that have been kept in a family,
0:19:32 > 0:19:34for instance, and then given over to the local museum.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37And then, those things, kind of, sit in a drawer
0:19:37 > 0:19:39and then, sometimes, see the light of day,
0:19:39 > 0:19:41which is what happens here, in this case.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43We are surrounded by ships' figureheads.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47So let's have a look at these two. I mean, they look to me 19th century.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49He's got a Victorian haircut with sideburns.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51They're both from the 1840s, these two.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53Both great sort of dynamic figures.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57- They're almost quite cartoonish. - Prince Albert was all the fashion.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00- Yes, yes.- That's had a recent coat of paint, hasn't it?- Yes.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03There's an idea that, at a time, a lot of the ships' figureheads
0:20:03 > 0:20:05would have been painted white, perhaps, originally.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08Cos when you imagine a boat at sea, they'd have to be conditioned
0:20:08 > 0:20:11and painted fairly regularly to keep them from deteriorating.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13- Sure, yeah.- You know, and rotting. But what you see now...
0:20:13 > 0:20:17And it's interesting when you see a whole roomful of these, is that the
0:20:17 > 0:20:19most recent version of paint is probably not the original, at all.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22And it's one of the great things about folk art, I think.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25It's not necessarily about the authenticity from the beginning.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27Cos maybe things have been repaired over the years.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30- It's been loved.- It's been loved and it's been changed. And that's OK.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32There's a lot of work that's gone into that carving.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36Look at the way her coat is sort of flowing backwards in the wind.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39She's interesting because she was originally from
0:20:39 > 0:20:41a carving family called the Hellyers.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43And they were carving since the 16th century.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46And they had a long tradition of carving some 200,
0:20:46 > 0:20:50300 different figures for different Royal Navy boats over the years.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53- Gosh.- The idea of carving for wooden boats had a great history.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56And then, at the advent of steam engines and...
0:20:56 > 0:20:59- And the steel hull, the iron. - ..the steel hull,
0:20:59 > 0:21:01- then of course these became redundant.- Obsolete.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04What a lot of these carvers ended up doing is going into a whole
0:21:04 > 0:21:08new industry, which was carousel and fairground work.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10It's not a classical sculpture, is it?
0:21:10 > 0:21:12- Of a goddess, of a woman.- It's not.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16- It's crude.- It is, but it's very dynamic. I love her with her torch.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18It's a bit like the Statue of Liberty or something.
0:21:18 > 0:21:19Yeah, it's lovely.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22- Anyway, look, I've been drawn by the yellow wall.- Hm.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24So, let's go down there and have a look.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35- Oh, tell me about this.- Oh, this is great, the Bellamy quilt.
0:21:35 > 0:21:40It's a courtship quilt that was created in 1890, '91 by a couple.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42And I think it was kept by their daughter until 1980,
0:21:42 > 0:21:45and then it was given to the Norwich Castle Museum,
0:21:45 > 0:21:47which is where we found it. The textiles curator,
0:21:47 > 0:21:49Ruth Battersby Tooke, brought this out and said,
0:21:49 > 0:21:52"I don't know if you've ever seen anything like this,
0:21:52 > 0:21:53"or if this is what you want in your show."
0:21:53 > 0:21:55We were completely bowled over.
0:21:55 > 0:21:56If I hadn't seen that date,
0:21:56 > 0:21:58I wouldn't have thought that's Victorian.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01- I'd have thought that's contemporary.- It looks it.- Yeah.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03And part of it is because it's in such great condition.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05It's so vibrant. The colours are amazing.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07And I think it'd never really seen the light of day.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10It's quite interesting to think about the idea of a courtship quilt.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12They're getting to know each other.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14It's a great way to spend time, to sort of embroider things.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17It looks like there are two different hands at work.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20There's a very accomplished hand, which does the things
0:22:20 > 0:22:22like the flowers and the centrepiece,
0:22:22 > 0:22:24which is a very elaborate sort of cartoon.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27But then there's also quite sort of crude things,
0:22:27 > 0:22:29like a very simple face or quite a crude foot, for instance.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32So, it definitely looks like there's two hands at work there.
0:22:32 > 0:22:33There's a lot going on.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36There's a lot. What I like is I think it almost represents things
0:22:36 > 0:22:39that they would see around them, including things from the town.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41I'm noticing here lots of objects here that
0:22:41 > 0:22:44I see on your trade sign wall.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48I see you got a teapot on the quilt, but there's a magnificent...
0:22:48 > 0:22:51The biggest teapot I've ever seen in my life there.
0:22:51 > 0:22:52Where did that one come from?
0:22:52 > 0:22:54Again, from the Norwich Museum. It's a fantastic teapot.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57It's just this great thing, a great sculptural object.
0:22:57 > 0:22:58It happens to say The Teapot on it,
0:22:58 > 0:23:00and it's one of the only words on the whole wall,
0:23:00 > 0:23:03everything else being just identifiable in silhouette,
0:23:03 > 0:23:06- but it's got, you know, a fantastic shape.- That's nice as well.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09- A locksmith's.- Yeah, a great locksmith sign from here
0:23:09 > 0:23:13- in Compton Verney. I love it. I love the green surface of it.- Yeah.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15And I love the fact that you've given the exhibition
0:23:15 > 0:23:18- space around the items.- They're little sculptures, aren't they?
0:23:18 > 0:23:20I think they need to be appreciated that way.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23They would've hung outside of shops, maybe protruded over the pavement.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26- It's a shame we don't have this kind of branding still.- It is.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29I know, how great would it be to go to the mall and have a display
0:23:29 > 0:23:32of all these great things rather than backlit signs?
0:23:32 > 0:23:34I love the top hat. I've got to say, congratulations.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37It's a great learning curve for anybody that's interested
0:23:37 > 0:23:40in folk art and it puts a smile on your face, as well.
0:23:42 > 0:23:43Well done, Jeff.
0:23:43 > 0:23:47And, of course, many of the items in the exhibition will remain
0:23:47 > 0:23:48at Compton Verney,
0:23:48 > 0:23:51as they belong to its permanent collection, like this
0:23:51 > 0:23:56piece of sailor's woolwork, which is a particular favourite of mine.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58I love the three-masted schooner.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02Sunbeam, built in 1874. But look at the detail.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05Look at the rolling hills, as well.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09This was done by a sailor whilst at sea, when he had nothing else to do.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12This was done as a tribute to the vessel.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16And I think it's really stood the test of time. It's beautiful.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19And if you are fascinated or interested in folk art,
0:24:19 > 0:24:22then this is definitely the place for you to come and visit.
0:24:27 > 0:24:31And now, a quick reminder of what's going off to auction.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35Raymond's busby hat is truly splendid,
0:24:35 > 0:24:37so I think we should have lots of interest.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43And people love bears, so I don't think there's any doubt
0:24:43 > 0:24:46that these two will have a new home soon.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52The two carved paddles made their way here
0:24:52 > 0:24:53from the other side of the world.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57And who knows? After the auction, they may be making a return trip.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02And the paintings of the Mauritania and the Lusitania on glass
0:25:02 > 0:25:05are a little bit special, so fingers crossed.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10For our auction today, we're heading across Warwickshire
0:25:10 > 0:25:14to the village of Tiddington, just south of Stratford-upon-Avon.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19We have come to a small and perfectly-formed
0:25:19 > 0:25:21old red brick Victorian schoolhouse,
0:25:21 > 0:25:25which is now the bustling home of Bigwood Fine Art Auctioneers.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31Our lots will be in the capable hands of auctioneers Stephen Kaye
0:25:31 > 0:25:33and Christopher Ironmonger.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38We are setting off with Michael's carved wooden paddles.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41Right, are you ready for this? We have what is known as
0:25:41 > 0:25:47ethnographica coming on the show, meaning tribal art and artefacts.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49We've got two paddles belonging to Michael,
0:25:49 > 0:25:54- with a whopping great price of £800-£1,200.- Mmm.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57Now, we have seen these things fly. Definitely South Seas, Polynesian,
0:25:57 > 0:26:01anything like that - big money. Anything African - small money.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03I don't know why, but that is the way of the world.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07Very hard thing to value. We'll find out what they're worth right now.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10South Sea island carved, timber paddle
0:26:10 > 0:26:12and a double-ended paddle, as well.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14Who is going to start me on this?
0:26:14 > 0:26:16£1,400 is an opening bid.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18Great!
0:26:18 > 0:26:2215, now. At 1,400, are we done?
0:26:22 > 0:26:23All finished?
0:26:24 > 0:26:27- Brilliant!- That's not bad, is it? - That's really good!
0:26:27 > 0:26:28That is really good.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31I think it was the Polynesian... It was the South Seas paddle
0:26:31 > 0:26:34that everybody wanted. It was rounded, it was lovely.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36Listen, Michael, you had done your research and so on.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39- You've been proved right, so well done, sir.- Thank you.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42Well, that was short and sweet!
0:26:42 > 0:26:43What next?
0:26:43 > 0:26:47About turn! Raymond's lot is now on parade.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49Everybody ready? Attention, en garde,
0:26:49 > 0:26:51this is it, this is your lot. HE CHUCKLES
0:26:51 > 0:26:53We are talking about the busby hat.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55It is going under the hammer right now.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00The busby hat bearing the crest and plume,
0:27:00 > 0:27:03chinstrap and interior paper label.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05And I can start this at £100.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07That's not enough. Come on.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09110, 120, 130,
0:27:09 > 0:27:12140, 150. 160?
0:27:12 > 0:27:16150, the lady nearest, the glasses on the head, at 150.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19- At £150, we're going to sell. - Come on.- At 150.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21Do I hear 160 now? Surely!
0:27:21 > 0:27:25At 150, it is going to go. Are we done?
0:27:25 > 0:27:29- All right, Charlie.- Well, I think Raymond was right.- I'm fine.
0:27:29 > 0:27:30- You're happy with that?- Yeah.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33I know there's commission to pay, but you've had a bit of fun with it.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35- Yes.- You didn't lose too much money?- No, no.- No.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37It is gone. Job done.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41That is a lucky find for someone.
0:27:41 > 0:27:43The next lot can only be described as lovable.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50- Wendy, it may be time to say goodbye to your best mates.- I know.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53Those bears, those pre-war mohair bears.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55I love the one with the missing ear.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58- Oh, dear. I wouldn't want to sell him.- Wouldn't you?- No! No.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00These things were made to be loved,
0:28:00 > 0:28:02that's why it's nice to see them in this condition.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05Someone else will love him. We're going to find out who right now.
0:28:07 > 0:28:11Golden plush straw-filled teddy bear and a panda bear.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13There we go. Who has got £20 for these?
0:28:13 > 0:28:16Two handsome little gentlemen there. £20?
0:28:16 > 0:28:20Ten to get me going, then. Come on, they've got to be...
0:28:20 > 0:28:22- 15 on the net. 15 on the net we've got.- Oh, 15 bid.
0:28:22 > 0:28:2515, 20? At £15 only.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27They are going to go at 15. Is it £20?
0:28:27 > 0:28:30At £15. You disappoint me. At £20 now?
0:28:30 > 0:28:34At £15, they are going to be sold.
0:28:34 > 0:28:38- £15! No reserve, he's gone! - Oh, that is fine.- Aw!- Listen,
0:28:38 > 0:28:40it's not going to get you a return ticket to Peru
0:28:40 > 0:28:44- with another famous bear. - Maybe a ticket to Paddington.
0:28:44 > 0:28:48- Exactly. But look...- Station. - I'm happy with that, it's fine.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51- As long as they have gone to a nice home, that's fine.- Exactly.- Aww.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53And I am sure that they have.
0:28:54 > 0:28:56Now, for the pair of prints.
0:28:58 > 0:29:00Nautical memorabilia going under the hammer.
0:29:00 > 0:29:02This is big business. We have seen it before.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05Reverse prints on glass, two wonderful, great ships.
0:29:05 > 0:29:08Lovely stories, as well. Great history.
0:29:08 > 0:29:10Roma, why are you selling these?
0:29:10 > 0:29:13Well, because they've just been in the loft for...
0:29:13 > 0:29:15- They've not been on the wall?- No, no!
0:29:15 > 0:29:17I'd have put them on the wall for safekeeping.
0:29:17 > 0:29:19They've been in the loft for about 50 years.
0:29:19 > 0:29:21- We're going to put it to the test. Ready, Roma?- Yes.
0:29:21 > 0:29:24- And I love that name, Roma. That is a great name.- Thank you.
0:29:24 > 0:29:26Here we go. They are going under the hammer.
0:29:28 > 0:29:32Pair of period coloured prints of Cunard liners, the Lusitania
0:29:32 > 0:29:36and the Mauritania. Highlighted with mother-of-pearl, canvas covered.
0:29:36 > 0:29:38£60 to get me started.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40£60. £50.
0:29:40 > 0:29:4350, I am bid. At 50. The bid is there at 50.
0:29:43 > 0:29:46At 50. Do I hear 60 now? 60, madam?
0:29:46 > 0:29:4860, 70, 80.
0:29:48 > 0:29:5180 in the centre of the room. At 80. 90?
0:29:51 > 0:29:54- We're selling.- At 80, centre of the room. Is that 90 at the back?
0:29:54 > 0:29:56At £80, the bid is with the lady at £80.
0:29:56 > 0:29:59- And it will be sold at 80. - Squeaking away.
0:29:59 > 0:30:01Make no mistake, £80.
0:30:02 > 0:30:05Sailed away. THEY LAUGH
0:30:05 > 0:30:07So, it's gone. That's good.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09Well done. Well done, both of you.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13I think those are going to be really treasured by someone.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17- I'll take five from anyone else. - Well, there you are.
0:30:17 > 0:30:19We are coming back here later on in the programme,
0:30:19 > 0:30:23hopefully, fingers crossed, for that big surprise I keep promising you.
0:30:23 > 0:30:25But the great thing about being in an auction room
0:30:25 > 0:30:29is we are surrounded by history, little windows into the past.
0:30:29 > 0:30:33And right now, it is time for me to take a trip back in time.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46In the middle of the 17th century, Britain was in the early stages
0:30:46 > 0:30:48of a great rebellion, which resulted,
0:30:48 > 0:30:51for the first and only time in British history,
0:30:51 > 0:30:54in the country cutting off its king's head.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00The conflict between the King and his Parliament, which placed
0:31:00 > 0:31:03the country in such great turmoil,
0:31:03 > 0:31:06became known as the English Civil War.
0:31:09 > 0:31:15It was right here on the fateful morning of 23rd October 1642,
0:31:15 > 0:31:19that King Charles I stood looking down on those fields there.
0:31:20 > 0:31:24This is where his Royalist troops, the Cavaliers,
0:31:24 > 0:31:27came face-to-face with the Parliamentarian force,
0:31:27 > 0:31:30the Roundheads, led by the Earl of Essex,
0:31:30 > 0:31:33in the Battle of Edgehill.
0:31:37 > 0:31:41Due to his unpopularity with both the people and Parliament,
0:31:41 > 0:31:45the King had fled to the North from London, where he had raised an army.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48That army was now marching for the capital.
0:31:50 > 0:31:54Meanwhile, Essex's force was attempting to head them off.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59Extraordinary as it may seem, with lack of intelligence
0:31:59 > 0:32:01and poor communications,
0:32:01 > 0:32:06each of these huge armies had no idea where the other side was.
0:32:06 > 0:32:11It was only by pure chance that they met up here in Warwickshire.
0:32:21 > 0:32:23So, how did Britain get to the point
0:32:23 > 0:32:26where the King was fighting his own Parliament?
0:32:26 > 0:32:29To find the answer, I have travelled just seven miles down the road from
0:32:29 > 0:32:33Edgehill to this delightful ancient moated manor house,
0:32:33 > 0:32:34Broughton Castle.
0:32:39 > 0:32:41This was the home of William Fiennes, a Puritan,
0:32:41 > 0:32:43pro-Parliament leader,
0:32:43 > 0:32:48opposed to Charles's more Catholic beliefs and dictatorial behaviour.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53The causes of the English Civil War were complex.
0:32:53 > 0:32:57The King's continual disagreement with Parliament over taxes,
0:32:57 > 0:33:01the Protestants' fear of a return to Catholicism
0:33:01 > 0:33:04and the desire to move away from the old feudal system
0:33:04 > 0:33:06were all major factors.
0:33:06 > 0:33:08But it was the King's pretensions
0:33:08 > 0:33:11and his arrogant attitude that was key.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15Charles believed in the divine right of kings,
0:33:15 > 0:33:20which asserted that monarchs derived their authority straight from God.
0:33:20 > 0:33:25As far back as 1215, the Magna Carta had established that the King
0:33:25 > 0:33:27was no more above the law than his subjects.
0:33:27 > 0:33:31And yet, Charles I continued to behave autocratically,
0:33:31 > 0:33:36dissolving Parliament on a whim, if they did not agree to pass laws
0:33:36 > 0:33:40introducing new taxes, to raise more money for his coffers.
0:33:46 > 0:33:49So, where does William Fiennes and Broughton Castle
0:33:49 > 0:33:52fit into this picture of England in turmoil?
0:33:52 > 0:33:56Well, the politically-minded William played host to
0:33:56 > 0:34:00several of the most important meetings of the rebel leadership.
0:34:00 > 0:34:04It is said that they all gathered here in the tower.
0:34:06 > 0:34:10Now, we know that William was away in London at the time of the battle,
0:34:10 > 0:34:14but his regiment and all of his four sons fought
0:34:14 > 0:34:18the Royalists at Edgehill, and it is said that a number of the regiment
0:34:18 > 0:34:22slept up here, in these attic rooms, the night before the battle.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26So, what actually happened on that memorable day?
0:34:26 > 0:34:29Well, for that, we need to return to Edgehill
0:34:29 > 0:34:33and the site of the battle to talk to historian Julian Humphrys.
0:34:35 > 0:34:37I tell you what, it is quite overcast and misty.
0:34:37 > 0:34:39It is very atmospheric!
0:34:39 > 0:34:41And there's some sounds going off in the background!
0:34:41 > 0:34:42Are the Roundheads still here?
0:34:42 > 0:34:45I know this looks like the perfect day for a battle,
0:34:45 > 0:34:47but what was the weather like on that particular day?
0:34:47 > 0:34:50- Was it like this?- No, it was crisp and clear.- So, it was bright?
0:34:50 > 0:34:53It was, but of course, it wouldn't have stayed clear for very long,
0:34:53 > 0:34:55because the moment people started to shoot their muskets,
0:34:55 > 0:34:56you got smoke everywhere.
0:34:56 > 0:34:59'Fire!'
0:34:59 > 0:35:00You would have seen about 30,000 men,
0:35:00 > 0:35:04which was an extraordinary number of people together at that time.
0:35:04 > 0:35:06It was like a small town travelling around.
0:35:06 > 0:35:08The Royalists coming down from the high ground...
0:35:08 > 0:35:10- So, they were up there? - ..the Parliamentarians
0:35:10 > 0:35:11over towards Kineton.
0:35:11 > 0:35:15Infantry in the centre, with muskets and pikes, cavalry on the wings.
0:35:17 > 0:35:18The two armies came together.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21The Royalists, who had superior cavalry, swept
0:35:21 > 0:35:24the Parliamentarian cavalry away off the battlefield almost immediately.
0:35:24 > 0:35:26Now, if all had gone to plan then,
0:35:26 > 0:35:28the Royalists would have stopped,
0:35:28 > 0:35:30they would have turned inwards and enveloped
0:35:30 > 0:35:31the Parliamentarian infantry,
0:35:31 > 0:35:35who were left on their own in the centre. But they didn't do that.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38"Tally-ho, chaps!" They charged off because, very temptingly,
0:35:38 > 0:35:40back towards the village of Kineton
0:35:40 > 0:35:43was the Parliamentarian baggage train, full of stuff.
0:35:43 > 0:35:45- And that's what they were interested in.- Yes.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47Don't forget, they're quite short of stuff, anyway,
0:35:47 > 0:35:50so if they could nick a few things, it would help.
0:35:50 > 0:35:52In a chess analogy, it was a queen for a queen.
0:35:52 > 0:35:55They'd gone, so it was left with just the infantry in the centre.
0:35:57 > 0:35:59But the Parliamentarian infantry got the upper hand
0:35:59 > 0:36:02and they actually pushed the Royalists back.
0:36:02 > 0:36:03But the Royalists were saved by two things -
0:36:03 > 0:36:05one was the advent of night,
0:36:05 > 0:36:08because the battle went right on till the end of the day
0:36:08 > 0:36:10and, secondly, the return of the Royalist cavalry.
0:36:10 > 0:36:11So, the result - a draw.
0:36:11 > 0:36:13What would you have seen - if you could see -
0:36:13 > 0:36:16what would you have smelled and what would you have heard?
0:36:16 > 0:36:18What would you have seen, I think, would have just been
0:36:18 > 0:36:21your immediate neighbours, fighting, struggling for their lives
0:36:21 > 0:36:23in all the smoke. What would you have heard?
0:36:23 > 0:36:28Well, I suppose you would have heard screams of pain, deafening noises.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34So, an unhealthy, smelly, scary place.
0:36:34 > 0:36:36And the smell of blood, as well.
0:36:36 > 0:36:39- These were all amateurs, really. - Sure. In their first major conflict.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42- Absolutely.- Armed conflict.- Yeah.
0:36:42 > 0:36:451,500 people were killed here, which was a lot of people at that time.
0:36:45 > 0:36:47And it shocked people throughout England.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49They were really shocked by this.
0:36:49 > 0:36:51It would be enough to really turn you, wouldn't it?
0:36:51 > 0:36:56And want some sort of... Well, I guess some sort of result out of it
0:36:56 > 0:36:59all to make you carry on believing in the cause.
0:36:59 > 0:37:01I think the big tragedy was that it wasn't decisive.
0:37:01 > 0:37:04People thought at the time perhaps it would all be over by Christmas.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07- Exactly, no more fighting. - But, no, it was indecisive,
0:37:07 > 0:37:10- so the war dragged on for years as a result of that.- Yeah.
0:37:14 > 0:37:19Because of the indecisive nature of the battle, it tipped the country
0:37:19 > 0:37:25into civil war, and around 10% of England's population were killed.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27The Parliamentarians realised they couldn't win a war
0:37:27 > 0:37:29without professional soldiers,
0:37:29 > 0:37:33so they set up and started to train the New Model Army.
0:37:33 > 0:37:37And from that day onwards, we have always had professional soldiers.
0:37:37 > 0:37:42More importantly, though, eventually the Royalists finally lost the war.
0:37:42 > 0:37:45Charles I was beheaded in 1649.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48Eventually, the monarchy was restored to the throne with his son,
0:37:48 > 0:37:52Charles II, but it never really had the same power.
0:37:52 > 0:37:56From that day onwards, the country embarked on that difficult pathway
0:37:56 > 0:38:00that has resulted in the democracy we have today.
0:38:07 > 0:38:11Back to Ragley Hall, which I think I am right in saying
0:38:11 > 0:38:13was on the King's side in the Civil War.
0:38:13 > 0:38:16We are in the Great Hall, which is still bustling with activity -
0:38:16 > 0:38:19happily, in a well-ordered and peaceful way.
0:38:19 > 0:38:21Time to tune in to Will.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24RADIO STATIC
0:38:24 > 0:38:28Sylvia, it is not often that I use the words funky and radio
0:38:28 > 0:38:31in the same sentence, but in this instance, wow.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34- What a looker!- Yeah, it's lovely. - Where has this come from?
0:38:34 > 0:38:36Tell me, is this something you have had from new?
0:38:36 > 0:38:38- Yes, it was from new.- Wow.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41Dad bought it about 65 years ago.
0:38:41 > 0:38:45- Have you ever seen such a thing? - No.- A round radio.
0:38:45 > 0:38:47- But it has been quite a talking point over the years.- Has it?
0:38:47 > 0:38:49Have you got it on display? Does it work?
0:38:49 > 0:38:52No, not now. I don't know whether it works, I'm not sure.
0:38:52 > 0:38:54Well, I am not brave enough to plug it in, I'm afraid.
0:38:54 > 0:38:57- No, the wire looks a bit dodgy to me.- I know, exactly.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00- So, it would need to be rewired...- That is it, yes.
0:39:00 > 0:39:02..by whoever wants to use it.
0:39:02 > 0:39:07You have got this wonderful sort of textured speaker cover.
0:39:07 > 0:39:10And I love the way that they have continued the circular theme...
0:39:10 > 0:39:13- That's it.- ..with the actual dial itself going around the edge.
0:39:13 > 0:39:17- Yeah.- The knobs here, the on and off, of course, and volume.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19- And then, of course, here to actually tune it in.- That's it.
0:39:19 > 0:39:22And here you have got the EKCO Radio mark.
0:39:22 > 0:39:27When this was designed, produced, it was really cutting edge,
0:39:27 > 0:39:28- wasn't it?- That's it, yes.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31Bakelite was a material that was
0:39:31 > 0:39:36- allowing the manufacturer to form into shapes.- That's it.
0:39:36 > 0:39:39The could mix colours, they could change the colours.
0:39:39 > 0:39:41Because you know these came in a variety of colours, don't you?
0:39:41 > 0:39:44That's right, yes. Yes, I did know.
0:39:44 > 0:39:48Did you know they came in green? Like a really bright lime green.
0:39:48 > 0:39:51- Yes.- I think they came in white, from memory.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54Certainly, obviously, the brown.
0:39:54 > 0:39:56Was it the focal point of the evening?
0:39:56 > 0:39:59Well, we hadn't got television, you see, so we used to have
0:39:59 > 0:40:05the radio on a lot. And as soon as I came from school, it went on for,
0:40:05 > 0:40:07you know, all the programmes. There used to be
0:40:07 > 0:40:11a Saturday Night Theatre or something, it was called. Yeah.
0:40:11 > 0:40:13You were literally sat down...
0:40:13 > 0:40:16- And it was your equivalent of the television.- That's it.
0:40:16 > 0:40:19- It would have been a new product, just out.- Yes.
0:40:19 > 0:40:21Your father thought, "I've got to keep up with the Joneses here
0:40:21 > 0:40:24- "and get my Bakelite radio." - That's it.
0:40:24 > 0:40:28- What do you think it is worth now? - I've no idea, to be honest.
0:40:28 > 0:40:33I could see this at auction at around a couple of hundred pounds.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36- What do you think to that? - Yeah, very nice.- Yeah?- Yes.
0:40:36 > 0:40:38It is a bit of a high estimate to risk having no reserve,
0:40:38 > 0:40:40so why don't we tuck the reserve in
0:40:40 > 0:40:42just under the bottom estimate, at 150?
0:40:42 > 0:40:44- Yes, that would be fine. - Just to protect it.
0:40:44 > 0:40:46- But I am pretty sure that is going to find a new home.- Yes.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49It has been a pleasure meeting you and hearing your stories.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51It's been a pleasure meeting you.
0:40:51 > 0:40:53- It's been good fun meeting you.- Yes. - SHE CHUCKLES
0:40:53 > 0:40:57Of course, radios were just one of many products made of Bakelite.
0:40:57 > 0:41:02This early plastic was first developed in New York in 1907.
0:41:02 > 0:41:03During the Depression,
0:41:03 > 0:41:07it sold more than any other commercial product in America.
0:41:07 > 0:41:11Bakelite's cheerful colours and affordability meant it was loved
0:41:11 > 0:41:14across the world for decades, until finally replaced
0:41:14 > 0:41:16by more modern plastics.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21It was known as "the material of a thousand uses",
0:41:21 > 0:41:23this coffin being one of them,
0:41:23 > 0:41:26which must be the last word in Bakelite.
0:41:29 > 0:41:33Now over to Charlie, who has found a quiet spot in the library.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37- Kath, did you ski here today? - SHE LAUGHS
0:41:37 > 0:41:41- No. I drove.- You drove?
0:41:41 > 0:41:44Well, I must say, you really have dressed for the occasion.
0:41:44 > 0:41:46- It is fantastic. - I thought I was going to be cold.
0:41:46 > 0:41:48- You look wonderful. - Thank you.- Wonderful.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50- And you've brought a funny old pot along.- I have, yes.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52Yes. Where did you find that?
0:41:52 > 0:41:55- On the kitchen shelf. - SHE CHUCKLES
0:41:55 > 0:41:57- How long has it been there? - 20 years.
0:41:57 > 0:42:01- 20 years. What is it? - It is a tea caddy.
0:42:01 > 0:42:03It is a tea caddy! Correct.
0:42:03 > 0:42:05- Do you know where this comes from?- No, I don't.
0:42:05 > 0:42:07- I am going to give you a little clue.- OK.
0:42:07 > 0:42:10You're going to pick it up and you're going to look at the front.
0:42:10 > 0:42:12- Yes. Windmill. - What is on the front?- A windmill.
0:42:12 > 0:42:14- Where do you think it comes from?- Holland.
0:42:14 > 0:42:16Correct! Absolutely marvellous.
0:42:16 > 0:42:19- Every object has a clue in it, doesn't it?- Yes!
0:42:19 > 0:42:21And how old is it?
0:42:21 > 0:42:2418th century?
0:42:24 > 0:42:27- Very good.- Yes.- It is 18th century.
0:42:27 > 0:42:33Now, it either had a lid, tin-glazed lid over the top,
0:42:33 > 0:42:35Or actually, they weren't all made with that.
0:42:35 > 0:42:37Could have just had a cork stopper.
0:42:37 > 0:42:39And it is very simply decorated.
0:42:39 > 0:42:43It is not like buying a piece of fine English Worcester porcelain
0:42:43 > 0:42:47that has been decorated wonderfully by a specific hand.
0:42:47 > 0:42:49This is very loosely decorated.
0:42:49 > 0:42:54But nevertheless, charming because of it. It has got a bit of damage.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57- You can see where the glazing has been knocked at the corners.- Yes.
0:42:57 > 0:42:59But I don't mind that.
0:42:59 > 0:43:02That is part of the age, part of the history of it.
0:43:02 > 0:43:06- It has got no, as far as I can see, serious cracks.- No.
0:43:06 > 0:43:09I think that is a charming little object.
0:43:09 > 0:43:14There's collectors of delftware, which is what it is.
0:43:14 > 0:43:18Holland, so we are appealing to delft collectors.
0:43:18 > 0:43:21We are also appealing to tea caddy collectors.
0:43:21 > 0:43:25So, we are getting into two different spheres there.
0:43:25 > 0:43:27We are doubling our chances of finding someone that will
0:43:27 > 0:43:29want to buy it.
0:43:29 > 0:43:32Value. What about it? Give us a clue.
0:43:32 > 0:43:37- 20 to 30?- 20 to 30. Well, I have got £20, I'll give you £20 now for it.
0:43:37 > 0:43:39- How is that? Would you take that?- No.
0:43:39 > 0:43:43No. Very sensible. I think you are more...
0:43:43 > 0:43:46- £100-plus, probably.- Wow! - Yeah, I know, I know.
0:43:46 > 0:43:51- I am going to suggest that we put a reserve of £50 on it.- OK.- All right?
0:43:51 > 0:43:57- Yep.- And I think if they probably estimate it at 80 to 100, 80 to 120,
0:43:57 > 0:43:59I think there should be plenty of interest in it.
0:43:59 > 0:44:02- Good.- A couple of bidders. - Lovely.- And who knows?
0:44:02 > 0:44:04- SHE CHUCKLES - Hopefully.
0:44:06 > 0:44:09What a delightful thing and it's not a lot of money.
0:44:13 > 0:44:15And now, over to Will.
0:44:15 > 0:44:20Well, Pat, I feel a little bit like the opening of Pandora's box here.
0:44:20 > 0:44:25I think there should be a glow lighting our faces as we do so.
0:44:25 > 0:44:29But let's open up this... what hopefully contains...
0:44:29 > 0:44:33Oh, my word. Look at that. It is a piece of Royal Worcester, of course.
0:44:33 > 0:44:35A Royal Worcester coffee set,
0:44:35 > 0:44:40together with the silver gilt spoons, which is a lovely touch.
0:44:40 > 0:44:41Beautifully painted, isn't it?
0:44:41 > 0:44:44- Yeah, they're lovely. That is what I like about it.- Stunning quality.
0:44:44 > 0:44:48And these scenes of Highland cattle have been
0:44:48 > 0:44:50painted by one of the Stinton brothers.
0:44:50 > 0:44:55The Stintons were a family that were employed by Worcester to paint their
0:44:55 > 0:44:59designs on their porcelain and, to be honest, I think they're probably
0:44:59 > 0:45:04rated as one of the best porcelain painters that there has been.
0:45:04 > 0:45:08- Do you know who these ones are by? - Is it Jas?- Harry.
0:45:08 > 0:45:10- Oh, Harry, that one. - These are Harry Stinton.
0:45:10 > 0:45:13His speciality was the Highland cattle.
0:45:13 > 0:45:16- It dates from around 1937. - Oh, right.
0:45:16 > 0:45:201930s. If that is not enough, what is this here?
0:45:20 > 0:45:23- Harrods!- Harrods, yeah. - Retailed by Harrods.
0:45:23 > 0:45:27I mean, that is a word synonymous with quality, luxury.
0:45:27 > 0:45:29Why are you selling it?
0:45:29 > 0:45:33Well, we have downsized and I've got nowhere to display it.
0:45:33 > 0:45:35It is just shut away and it's a shame.
0:45:35 > 0:45:37It needs to be on display, doesn't it?
0:45:37 > 0:45:40It needs to be shown off. It needs to shine.
0:45:40 > 0:45:43I mean, in my mind, I am thinking this is £1,000, all day long.
0:45:43 > 0:45:45Yeah, yeah.
0:45:45 > 0:45:48- Is that a sort of figure you would be happy with?- Well, yeah.
0:45:48 > 0:45:51- You'd be happy at £1,000?- Yeah.
0:45:51 > 0:45:53If we use that as the bottom estimate,
0:45:53 > 0:45:56- we would have an estimate of 1,000 to 1,500.- Yeah.
0:45:56 > 0:45:59- Are you sure you want to go down this route?- Well, yeah.
0:45:59 > 0:46:01Yeah. Go on, Pat. Don't worry.
0:46:01 > 0:46:03We're going to have to put a reserve on it.
0:46:03 > 0:46:06- It shouldn't go for less than £1,000.- Oh, no, no.
0:46:06 > 0:46:08I don't think so. Do you agree?
0:46:08 > 0:46:10- I would rather keep it, if it was less than that.- Yeah.
0:46:10 > 0:46:14Let's reserve it at £1,000, fixed reserve.
0:46:14 > 0:46:17And, well, I think...say bye-bye.
0:46:17 > 0:46:21- Say bye-bye!- Oh, shame. - THEY CHUCKLE
0:46:21 > 0:46:23Listen, we're going to keep it safe for you.
0:46:23 > 0:46:26And you can take pleasure in knowing that whoever buys it, wants it.
0:46:26 > 0:46:28- That's right.- And will love it as much as you did.- Yeah.
0:46:28 > 0:46:30Do you know, it's made me a bit thirsty.
0:46:30 > 0:46:34- I think I will go and get a coffee. But in a plastic cup.- I know, yeah.
0:46:34 > 0:46:35Not the done thing.
0:46:35 > 0:46:38What a cracking set of Royal Worcester.
0:46:39 > 0:46:41Back now to Charlie.
0:46:41 > 0:46:43Phil, I feel a bit of a Beau Brummell,
0:46:43 > 0:46:47a bit of a man about town, with this stick. It is absolutely splendid.
0:46:47 > 0:46:50- Where did you get it from? - Well, I got it out of a skip.
0:46:50 > 0:46:53- You got it what?- Out of a skip.
0:46:53 > 0:46:58A lady I was working for, she decided to use the skip
0:46:58 > 0:47:01at the weekend and threw stuff away, and that was in it.
0:47:01 > 0:47:04- Do you think she knew what she was throwing away?- I...
0:47:04 > 0:47:06Well, I don't know, but I did ask.
0:47:06 > 0:47:10- Did you?- Yes.- I mean, it's not just a bamboo walking stick, is it?
0:47:10 > 0:47:12No, it's a measuring stick for horses.
0:47:12 > 0:47:14It is a horse-measuring stick.
0:47:14 > 0:47:18And not only that, it's a particularly good quality one.
0:47:18 > 0:47:21It's got a silver mount on here. Are you a horse measurer?
0:47:21 > 0:47:25- No.- Do you know how to measure a horse?- Yes, by hands.- Yeah.
0:47:25 > 0:47:30- How big is a hand? - Four inches.- Very knowledgeable.
0:47:30 > 0:47:33Well, what we do here, we just slip that up,
0:47:33 > 0:47:36and that is how you measure your horse.
0:47:36 > 0:47:39You put the base of the stick on the ground.
0:47:39 > 0:47:43You have here a spirit level.
0:47:44 > 0:47:50Which is set into the brass stick here. Have you tried dating it?
0:47:50 > 0:47:54- I did try dating it.- Yeah? What have you got?- I got 1910.
0:47:54 > 0:48:00Jolly good effort. It's 1908, made in London. Bamboo, as we've said.
0:48:00 > 0:48:01And then, if it pulls out,
0:48:01 > 0:48:06I'm hoping to find a maker's name on here somewhere.
0:48:06 > 0:48:10- I think it's here.- Oh, well spotted.
0:48:10 > 0:48:15Swaine & Adeney. They obviously specialised in these objects.
0:48:15 > 0:48:19And you measure a horse to where?
0:48:19 > 0:48:21- To its withers.- To its withers.
0:48:21 > 0:48:24You know all about this. Now, where is your wither?
0:48:24 > 0:48:27Well, I think it's where the head comes down and joins the back.
0:48:27 > 0:48:28I think that's right.
0:48:28 > 0:48:30I think they say it's where the front of the saddle should be
0:48:30 > 0:48:33- when you saddle up.- Right. - Shall we measure you?
0:48:33 > 0:48:37- Yes,- go on, then. If you'll just turn slightly that way.
0:48:37 > 0:48:40- Where is your withers? - HE LAUGHS
0:48:40 > 0:48:41That's what everybody asks.
0:48:41 > 0:48:44I'm not the first person to ask you where your withers are.
0:48:44 > 0:48:46I think your withers are about there.
0:48:46 > 0:48:49Are we agreed that's where the withers are? Marvellous.
0:48:49 > 0:48:52We're unanimous about your withers, which is good news.
0:48:52 > 0:48:58- And so I've got you here at 14-1.- Oh, very good.
0:48:58 > 0:49:00And as it were, I shall saddle you up and ride off.
0:49:00 > 0:49:01THEY LAUGH
0:49:01 > 0:49:03I think that's a great, great object.
0:49:03 > 0:49:07- What do you think someone would pay for something like that?- £70?
0:49:07 > 0:49:08I think they'd pay more than that.
0:49:08 > 0:49:12I think that could make between £100 and £150.
0:49:12 > 0:49:13In fact...
0:49:13 > 0:49:17- I'd be pleased at that. - Shall we put a reserve at £80?- Yes.
0:49:17 > 0:49:21And estimate it at 100 to 150. I think it's splendid.
0:49:21 > 0:49:24I won't be able to go on a cruise, though, will I, with it?
0:49:24 > 0:49:28- Well, you could go on a very short cruise on the Thames.- Oh.
0:49:28 > 0:49:32But not much longer than that. Thank you so much for bringing along
0:49:32 > 0:49:35- a really interesting piece of social history. Thank you.- Thank you.
0:49:39 > 0:49:43Well, that's it. Our work is done here at Ragley Hall.
0:49:43 > 0:49:45Our experts have now found their final items
0:49:45 > 0:49:47to take off to the auction room,
0:49:47 > 0:49:50so sadly, we have to say goodbye to this magnificent venue,
0:49:50 > 0:49:52as we head over to Bigwoods for the very last time.
0:49:52 > 0:49:55And hopefully, fingers crossed, we've got that big surprise.
0:49:55 > 0:49:58Here's a recap of all the items that are going under the hammer.
0:50:01 > 0:50:05The Bakelite radio is right on trend, so it should do the business.
0:50:07 > 0:50:10The delft tea caddy is a proper antique,
0:50:10 > 0:50:15which gives you a glimpse into what life was like in another age.
0:50:15 > 0:50:18And the silver-topped bamboo walking stick doubles up
0:50:18 > 0:50:21as a horse-measuring stick, so that should certainly get
0:50:21 > 0:50:23the bidders raising their hands!
0:50:26 > 0:50:30And the coffee set is top notch, but Worcester has lost its value
0:50:30 > 0:50:33recently, so it will be interesting to see what it makes.
0:50:41 > 0:50:44Back at the auction house, we have a stylish start.
0:50:44 > 0:50:47Anybody give me 310? 310, 320...
0:50:47 > 0:50:52Sylvia, let's hope the whole nation is tuned in to your Bakelite radio.
0:50:52 > 0:50:54- It is online, it is on the net.- Yeah.
0:50:54 > 0:50:58- The whole world can buy this right now.- Oh, good.- I like this.
0:50:58 > 0:51:01At one stage, everybody in the country owned a bit of Bakelite,
0:51:01 > 0:51:03it was that popular.
0:51:03 > 0:51:06It was such a talking point that you grew to like it.
0:51:06 > 0:51:08Let's hope this one is a talking point.
0:51:08 > 0:51:10- It is going under the hammer right now. Here we go.- Here we go.
0:51:13 > 0:51:16The EKCO electric receiver.
0:51:16 > 0:51:20Anybody like to start me at, say, 150?
0:51:20 > 0:51:22The machine is starting at 180.
0:51:22 > 0:51:24- 180.- Went straight in.
0:51:24 > 0:51:27I have got 220 here, 230 in the room.
0:51:27 > 0:51:30Let it finish. I can see you.
0:51:30 > 0:51:33This is the internet bidders all bidding against each other,
0:51:33 > 0:51:35so he is just letting it settle online.
0:51:35 > 0:51:37Let this thing finish what it's playing at.
0:51:37 > 0:51:39260. 280?
0:51:39 > 0:51:42300, and 20, 340, 360,
0:51:42 > 0:51:44380, 400, and 20,
0:51:44 > 0:51:47440, 460, 480,
0:51:47 > 0:51:50- 500.- This is fabulous. - I know!- 480 with you, sir.
0:51:50 > 0:51:53Is this finished? I think it has. 480, with the gentleman.
0:51:53 > 0:51:54Are we all done?
0:51:56 > 0:52:00- £480, sold in the room. How about that?- Oh...
0:52:00 > 0:52:02- Oh, that's a result! - Are you pleased with that? Yeah.- Oh!
0:52:02 > 0:52:04I was hoping for around the £400 mark,
0:52:04 > 0:52:06- because I've seen them make that before.- I did...
0:52:06 > 0:52:09That was a good result. We hit the right frequencies there,
0:52:09 > 0:52:11- that's for sure. Happy? - Oh, thank you ever so much.
0:52:11 > 0:52:14- Oh, bless you.- Thank you. - Enjoy the money, won't you?
0:52:14 > 0:52:17Excellent. That did better than expected.
0:52:18 > 0:52:19What next?
0:52:22 > 0:52:23Were you a horsey man?
0:52:23 > 0:52:26No, I wasn't. But people have borrowed it to measure their horses.
0:52:26 > 0:52:28Oh, I like this. The condition is fantastic.
0:52:28 > 0:52:30- We measured Philip with this. - Did you?- Yes.- How many hands?
0:52:30 > 0:52:34I had a bit of a problem finding his withers, that was the problem.
0:52:34 > 0:52:36Look, I think it's quality.
0:52:36 > 0:52:39It's hallmarked London, isn't it? 1904. It's in perfect condition.
0:52:39 > 0:52:42And I think we should do the top end plus. Happy with that?
0:52:42 > 0:52:45- Very happy.- Right, let's hope we don't fall at the first. Here we go.
0:52:45 > 0:52:50The horse-measuring walking stick, very useful things.
0:52:50 > 0:52:53There's a number of bids here on the book.
0:52:53 > 0:52:56And I can start at £120.
0:52:56 > 0:52:59I'll take 130 from anybody else.
0:52:59 > 0:53:02I'll go 140. 150. 160. 170.
0:53:02 > 0:53:05180. 190. Make it 200?
0:53:05 > 0:53:09I'm out. Anybody else? At £200 with Christian. Anybody else interested?
0:53:09 > 0:53:12Selling at £200...
0:53:12 > 0:53:15- Yes.- Brilliant.- He's a very good valuer, isn't it?- He is.
0:53:15 > 0:53:18No, it's just that they're so rare, those things, you know?
0:53:18 > 0:53:20And they don't come on the market that often.
0:53:20 > 0:53:22There are people out there that love their horses that would want
0:53:22 > 0:53:25- to own that. - And use it.- And use it, yes.
0:53:25 > 0:53:27It'll get me further down the Thames than what you thought.
0:53:27 > 0:53:29It will. It won't quite get you to the Bahamas.
0:53:29 > 0:53:30What are you doing, then?
0:53:30 > 0:53:33Well, I was hoping to go to a world cruise, but...
0:53:33 > 0:53:35We don't think we will do that.
0:53:35 > 0:53:38Hey, you set your sights well, didn't you?
0:53:39 > 0:53:42There's nothing wrong with being ambitious.
0:53:44 > 0:53:46Now, for Charlie's final choice.
0:53:48 > 0:53:51It's time for a cup of tea, with Kathleen's little tea canister.
0:53:51 > 0:53:54I love it! I love it and I don't mind that there's a lid missing
0:53:54 > 0:53:56and it is a bit chipped. It is great 18th-century delft,
0:53:56 > 0:53:58and that is what it is all about.
0:53:58 > 0:54:00Could be Dutch, could be London. Not quite sure.
0:54:00 > 0:54:02But the market will determine that.
0:54:02 > 0:54:06- It is such an academic subject. - Yes. Why are you selling it?
0:54:06 > 0:54:08Because I didn't think it had any value whatsoever.
0:54:08 > 0:54:11- Oh, it has got such charm!- Yes.
0:54:11 > 0:54:14It looks like it has had a useful, used life, and I love that
0:54:14 > 0:54:16because that is its social history.
0:54:16 > 0:54:18For me, it is not necessarily about the maker, it is about the user
0:54:18 > 0:54:21and the period of time that it has been loved and cherished
0:54:21 > 0:54:23and handed down through the generations.
0:54:23 > 0:54:26- That's what you can't put a price on. Good luck, Kathleen.- Thank you.
0:54:26 > 0:54:28Here we go. This is a lovely thing.
0:54:28 > 0:54:31Not a lot of money, but a cracking bit of history. This is it.
0:54:33 > 0:54:36The 18th-century English tin-glazed earthenware,
0:54:36 > 0:54:38possibly Bow, tea canister there.
0:54:38 > 0:54:43Who has got, I don't know, £50 for it?
0:54:43 > 0:54:4430 to start. 30 I am bid.
0:54:44 > 0:54:4930, five, 40, five, 50, is it?
0:54:49 > 0:54:51At £45 only. At 45. 50, surely?
0:54:51 > 0:54:56At 45. Are you all done at 45? You all finished?
0:54:57 > 0:54:58- 45!- Oh, dear.
0:54:58 > 0:55:02- Well, it wasn't Bow, was it?- No. It was Dutch.
0:55:02 > 0:55:06- The reserve was 50.- Yes, the reserve was 50.- One bid short.
0:55:06 > 0:55:10Love it! Give it some love. Oh, go on. It is a nice thing.
0:55:10 > 0:55:12Well, I do love it now, but...I didn't before.
0:55:15 > 0:55:19Well, it didn't sell, but I don't think Kathleen minds taking it home.
0:55:19 > 0:55:22Over to Will now, who has found our final item of the day.
0:55:22 > 0:55:26All boxed and ready to go and hand-decorated by Harry Stinton.
0:55:26 > 0:55:27It doesn't get much better than that -
0:55:27 > 0:55:29the expert in the Highland cow.
0:55:29 > 0:55:30Patricia, what a lovely set
0:55:30 > 0:55:32- of Royal Worcester. - They are nice, aren't they?
0:55:32 > 0:55:35Especially if you like drinking coffee. Did you have a little...?
0:55:35 > 0:55:37- No, I didn't!- I tell you what,
0:55:37 > 0:55:39it looks like no-one has ever touched them.
0:55:39 > 0:55:41- They are cracking quality, aren't they? Mint condition.- Mint!
0:55:41 > 0:55:44In the box there, as they were bought.
0:55:44 > 0:55:46- As good as the day they were made.- Oh, lovely.
0:55:46 > 0:55:49It doesn't get much better than that for collectors. It really doesn't.
0:55:49 > 0:55:51- Why are you selling these? - We're downsizing.
0:55:51 > 0:55:54We've got nowhere to display them any more now,
0:55:54 > 0:55:56- so it is a shame, really. - We're going to put them to the test.
0:55:56 > 0:55:59- They are going under the hammer right now.- Not literally.
0:55:59 > 0:56:03No. This is where it gets exciting. What are they going to make?
0:56:03 > 0:56:05- Let's hope they sell. Here we go. - Keep your fingers crossed.
0:56:07 > 0:56:09We are onto Harry Stinton now.
0:56:09 > 0:56:13This is very nice Royal Worcester porcelain tea set for Harrods.
0:56:13 > 0:56:17Birmingham 1939 is the date of the hallmarks there.
0:56:17 > 0:56:20In a nice presentation box. I have got multiple bids on the book,
0:56:20 > 0:56:23which means I am going to start straight off at £1,600.
0:56:23 > 0:56:26- Yes!- £1,600, straight in.
0:56:26 > 0:56:29At 1,600. Do I hear 1,800? 17 at the back of the room.
0:56:29 > 0:56:31I have got 1,800 here.
0:56:31 > 0:56:3219, sir. 19.
0:56:32 > 0:56:37I've got to go 21 here. 22, sir. 22, and I'm out and you're in.
0:56:37 > 0:56:412,200 at the back of the room. 23? 23.
0:56:41 > 0:56:46- 24, sir?- Good price. - £2,300 on the telephone.
0:56:46 > 0:56:48At £2,300. Last chance and done.
0:56:48 > 0:56:53It is going to be sold at 2,300 on the telephone. Are we done?
0:56:53 > 0:56:58Yes! On the phone, £2,300. That was a good day out, Patricia.
0:56:58 > 0:57:00- Yes, it was very good. - That was great.
0:57:00 > 0:57:03- The market decided. - Do something else with it!- Yes.
0:57:04 > 0:57:08And do you know what? That ends our show beautifully today.
0:57:08 > 0:57:09We've run out of time here.
0:57:09 > 0:57:12It was the last lot in the sale and what a day it has been.
0:57:12 > 0:57:13I hope you have enjoyed it.
0:57:13 > 0:57:16Join us again for many more surprises, but until then,
0:57:16 > 0:57:20- it is goodbye from Tricia, Will and myself.- Goodbye.