Edinburgh 2 Flog It!

Scotland has some of the world's most stunning scenery,

peppered with lochs, castles and country houses.

This is Hopetoun House, just outside of Edinburgh, in Scotland.

It's a truly unique country house, and it's our venue for today.

Welcome to "Flog It!".

Hopetoun House has been home to the Hopetoun family for ten generations,

and it sits amongst 6,500 acres of beautiful landscape.

It's filled with exquisite furniture,

impressive paintings and terrifying taxidermy.

But today the ballroom holds a cast and crew of around 50 people,

setting up for a momentous "Flog It!" valuation day,

but all of this will come to nothing

unless there's a great crowd of people outside,

laden with antiques and collectables, who want to flog them.

So shall we go outside and see if anybody's here yet?

Oh, just look at this, a healthy queue of people already.

Are you raring to go? Yes! Yes!

They're all here underneath the colonnade, taking shelter

from the rain, but we won't let that weather dampen our spirits today

because everybody here wants to see our experts.

They want their antiques valued, and they want to know the answer

to that all-important question, which is...

What's it worth?

Stay tuned - you'll find out.

Putting the prices on today's pieces are two masters

of the valuation tables - the all-seeing eye, James Lewis...

Anyone seen Adam Partridge?

..and the quickest of minds, Adam Partridge.

I don't know much about Scottish football memorabilia.

Well, we'll help you. Oh, will you?

They're searching the queue for treasures that are both fascinating

and worth a packet, but will their valuations be on the money?

And which one of them will find the star lot of the day?

It's time to shake off the brollies

and invite the people into our valuation day location.

On today's show, Adam and James are fighting it out

over three pieces of intriguing militaria -

a wobbly sword...

It bends like that for a really good reason.

..two medals called Pipsqueak and Wilfred...

They're all to the same person,

who is Sergeant AB Jolly. That's it.

..a suit of rusty armour...

Matthew, I have to say, you look as if you have robbed

the dungeons of some Scottish castle somewhere!

Can you guess which doubles its estimate at auction?

Having a good time, everyone? Yes! Yes! That's what it's all about.

There's definitely a party atmosphere here today.

Hundreds of people have turned up,

which means hundreds of antiques to value. In fact, possibly thousands.

Our experts do have their work cut out today

so we'd better get started.

Let's hand the proceedings over to James Lewis.

Patricia, I have to say,

coming here to Edinburgh, I was expecting somebody to turn up

with a big Scottish broadsword or something like a dirk,

or something classically Scottish.

And we've ended up with that,

which is about as unlike a Scottish sword

as you can possibly get.

What's the story? I found them in my dad's attic!

You found them in his attic? I did, yes.

They've been up there for as long as I can remember, before...

And what were they doing up there? Do you remember them as a child?

No. No. How interesting.

Well, what we've got are two totally different pieces.

Now, let's start with this.

This is known as a urumi,

which is a belt sword.

And these were used by the Tamil troops

and soldiers of southern India.

The top section, this section, is obvious.

You would need a hand smaller than mine to get in there.

But that's your hand protector.

There's your arm protector, and...

..it's this.

It bends like that for a really good reason.

And that is, it would be worn around the waist,

so the scabbard, instead of being down like that,

actually goes in here.

So the scabbard goes in around the waist,

and this whole sword curves around the body of the wearer.

So when they take the sword out, it's been bent and it flexes. Right.

And they were well-known for being the most difficult sword

to learn to use. What year? What time?

Date would be about 1850, 1880,

something like that, so mid-19th century.

Then, in total contrast, is this.

So, well...a cavalry officer's sabre.

Sabre, just meaning it's curved.

It's got a steel scabbard,

with a single ring for suspension around the waist,

and a wire-bound leather grip.

So one British...

..and one Indian.

Both 19th century.

That's worth, I would say,

?100 to ?150.

And that's almost identical. 100 to 150. Right.

But interesting things.

I think they'll do jolly well at the auction,

and fingers crossed they'll make top end. Thank you very much.

Is that all right? Yes, thank you very much. OK.

A bendy, wobbly sword called a urumi.

Well, you learn something every day.

Adam, however, has discovered an item from a little closer to home.

It's really nice to see a piece which I think is Glasgow School,

Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau.

What do you reckon? Absolutely.

It's what attracted me to it in the very first place

when I bought it in an antique shop.

How long ago was that?

Nearly 40 years. Oh, right. Yeah.

When you were just a very young boy.

Very much interested in Art Nouveau. Yeah.

Saw this, saw the crisp, straight lines.

Yes. Very clean. Knew it was going to be

a piece of Glasgow School of Art Nouveau... Yes.

..and grabbed it. I thought, "That's something I want."

Oh, yeah.

We've got the Mackintosh style decoration,

the heart-shaped enamel panels.

It just ticks so many boxes. Yeah.

On the sides, we've got the dragonflies. Yes.

It's just a lovely thing. So you clearly love it, I love it.

What's made you decide to sell it?

Because if it was mine, I don't think I would.

Well, I've loved it for all that length of time.

Unfortunately, I'm in a small house.

It's crammed with books,

and it sits in the library

and it's literally piled with books on top,

books in front, so it's better being

sent to somebody. Move it on to a new home. Yeah.

And, of course, this is all the rage at the moment, you know.

This is very current.

So, Sam, now down to value.

Well, overall condition-wise, it looks pretty sound.

All the enamelling's intact, as you know, it's really important

the enamelling on both sides is to be intact. Yes.

The only thing I've noticed is this little crack this side, isn't there?

Yes. Which is a great shame.

Yes, it's 100 years old, it's going to have something wrong with it,

but it does go through to the other side.

I just worry how much that's going to affect it, commercially. Yes.

Do you remember what it cost you?

Back then, it was about ?35.

OK, which was a lot then as well.

Yes, not bad.

Where do you see it now?

Around 200 to 300.

Are you telepathic as well, Sam? Telep...?!

Because it's exactly what I was thinking. ?200 to ?300. Right.

Although, at what price would you rather have it back

cluttering up your library?

200. 200. Is that too much? Too high?

If you could go lower, I think you'd give it a better chance.

If we did 150 to 250, with a 150 reserve, I think that might

just drag in more people to bid on it,

and you might end up getting over the top.

Right. Let's go with that.

Obviously, it's important to us that we get the best possible

price for you, and I'm trying to advise you accordingly.

Thank you again for bringing it.

I look forward to seeing it coming under the hammer,

and hopefully making a good deal more than the top estimate still.

Excellent.

What a wonderful piece of local art,

still as fashionable today as it was over 40 years ago.

A "Flog It!" valuation day is a great experience.

Every single person will be seen by one of our experts,

and James is one of the best.

Eleanor, there are certain things

that are just archetypal antiques.

Things that you see very rarely

but the public have seen so often.

But the interesting thing with this is, it's going to appeal

to two very different groups of people.

It's going to appeal to the child who's going to enjoy the images.

Yeah. But also, the scientific brain,

who is going to want to understand how it works. Yeah.

And it almost comes under the same category as a globe

or a microscope, that sort of thing.

What do you know about it?

Well, I know it's called a zoetrope.

As children, we used to sit

and very carefully watch the moving pictures.

It came from my grandmother's family.

Don't know where she got it from.

It didn't come out very often.

It was kept in the attic.

My grandfather brought it down very carefully,

unravelled the slides,

and we sat round the old big table in the kitchen

with our eyes glued.

It is a very interesting bit of entertainment history,

but also, scientific history.

The idea that you can look through an aperture

and swivel a picture and change it

is one that dates back generations.

I don't know if you ever did this at school,

but paint a little picture on the corner of your jotter

or sketchbook... And flick through it. ..and flick the pages.

If we look through the side here

and then turn,

the whole picture starts to form,

and we see here a horse leaping over a hedge,

and of course it helps to date this

by the fact that the horse

is a classic early-19th-century horse.

Of course, the horse's stride

is totally wrong. Yeah.

Because this is how we thought a horse would walk before,

with two front legs going forward first,

followed by the two back legs.

A bit like a rabbit.

Of course, the right front goes with the back left.

If you look at the base of it,

it's a turned section of mahogany.

Was this part always made of tin?

Normally made of tin. This is slightly buckled. Yes.

I've seen them made from card as well,

the later ones, but they very rarely last in the way that this has.

And here we have various types of paper band.

We've got the circus, that would be attractive to a child.

The great thing about this is that you have a mass of them.

You've got loads of them. Yeah.

OK, some of them are tired,

but others are in relatively good condition.

OK. We need to come up with a price.

I would like to put ?500 to ?800 on it,

with a reserve of ?500 firm.

OK. That's lovely.

All right? Thank you very much. I look forward to seeing it

at the auction, and I think it's going to do very well.

Thank you. Thank you.

What a great piece of history,

and it shows just how far technology has come.

While the valuations are still in full flow,

I went to discover more treasures inside

the historical Hopetoun House.

Wow. How about this for a young man's bedroom?

It was designed in the late 17th century.

It was the height of luxury back then,

and, for me, well, it still is today.

It was designed, in fact, for the 1st Earl of Hopetoun,

who was only one year old when his father was sadly killed

in a shipwreck, making the young earl the man of the house.

At the age of one! Well, his mother, Lady Margaret Hamilton, oversaw

the running of the house, and the building work that was going on here

up until it was completed and the earl came of age,

and then he slept in this room, in this bed.

And, no doubt, he had a good night's sleep in that four-poster.

Isn't that just stunning? Anyway, there's no rest for the wicked.

Our valuations are still in full swing over in the ballroom.

And it's Adam's turn to put a value

on some items of military significance.

Jeanette, whenever I see medals coming up for auction,

whether on "Flog It!" or through the auctions,

I can't help thinking sometimes, "Why are the families selling them,

"and the contribution that these brave men made for the country?"

Now, please tell me that these aren't your grandfather's medals.

No, they're definitely not. OK.

I brought them today on behalf of my sister, who couldn't come,

and they're her ex-husband's grandfather's medals.

OK, so no great sentimental connection for you. No.

Or for your sister, really. Not now, no. OK. Well, I'm glad you came

because we've got an interesting collection of medals.

They're all to the same person, who is, um...

"Sergeant A...B...Jolly..." That's it.

"..of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment."

That's right. Very good. Which is an interesting regiment, actually,

and we've got two different wars, so he went off to fight

in the Boer Wars,

and this is the Queen's South Africa Medal,

Victoria there, and these four clasps represent...

Are they different battles? That's right. Oh, right. Yes.

And then again in the King's South Africa Medal,

with South Africa 1902 and 1901 bars there. Right.

So he's obviously come back from them safely,

stayed in the military and then, 13 years later,

gone off again to fight in the First World War.

It's amazing to think of it, really, isn't it? I know.

And he's picked up the war victory medals

and the '14-'15 Star. Right.

So these are fairly standard World War I medals. Right.

In fact, those two are usually referred to

as Pipsqueak and Wilfred.

Are they, really?! Because everybody got one. Oh, right!

The Star should have the name on the back. There we go. Right.

"Sergeant AB Jolly."

And you don't see as many, perhaps,

from the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment

as you do from certain other regiments.

So they will really tell a story.

Now, medal collectors are a passionate bunch,

and there's a real joy for them in researching the soldier.

And these days, with the online... Oh, yes. ..capabilities,

you can find out lots about this soldier,

what he did and all those other things.

I tried to do it myself but I'm not very good with the internet,

so I didn't get far. Well, they've also got medal books.

But this is where the value lies.

And the World War I trios here

are worth ?30 to ?50, or something like that. Right.

These two boost the value right up to about ?300. Right.

I would have thought ?300 to ?400 for the group... Right.

..would be a sensible estimate.

Right. Does that sound all right with you? Yes, that sounds fine.

Always nice to see a nice medal group.

All five of them to the same recipient,

and quite an impressive collection, so thanks very much.

Thank you. Thanks very much.

While everyone's busy here,

I'm off to do something completely different.

OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYS

It's one of the best-known stories in literature.

Published in 1886, The Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde

tells the story of Jekyll's experiments with a potion

that transforms him into the darker side of his personality,

Mr Hyde.

The author, Robert Louis Stevenson, exposed the human battle

between good and evil, a concept that excited a Victorian audience.

But what was it about this beautiful city that inspired him

to write such a sinister story?

When Robert Louis Stevenson was growing up in the mid-19th century,

Edinburgh was a city of two sides -

the Old Town is ramshackle and poor,

dirty and full of sinful behaviour...

..the New Town - sophisticated, ordered

and the urges of the upper class restrained by the principles

of the day.

So, where did our young author place himself in this scene?

Stevenson was born in the Old Town, but moved to the New Town

by the time he was six years old.

He experienced first hand the two different faces of Edinburgh.

The city was divided, the good side and the bad,

a fitting inspiration for a character who is both

good and evil in one man.

Award-winning author Ian Rankin

has lived most of his life in the city,

and alongside Robert Louis Stevenson,

has created a hugely successful character,

full of conflict and contradiction - Inspector Rebus.

He knows more than most about Edinburgh's two sides

and what effect it had on Stevenson's writing.

Stevenson grew up in this family of engineers,

he grew up in a rational environment,

but he was attracted to the Old Town, he was attracted to the chaos,

he was attracted to the vagabonds

and the ladies of the night who would be there,

and he would tiptoe out of his house as a teenager

and tiptoe up the hill towards chaos,

and so I think that whole thing about the Old Town, the New Town,

the rational, the irrational was there at the back of his mind

throughout his life.

It wasn't just his physical surroundings that influenced

Stevenson's writing. His physical condition also played a part.

He was plagued will ill health as a child,

but in his adult life,

his fevered nightmares proved inspirational.

The story of Jekyll and Hyde came to Stevenson in a dream.

It's thought the strong medication he took for his illness

gave him hallucinations

that illuminated a darker world.

The entire novella was written from his sickbed

in under six days.

This wasn't the first time Stevenson had written about

good and evil existing in one man.

As a young chap, he wrote a play

based on a real-life 18th-century Edinburgh gentlemen, Deacon Brodie.

Deacon Brodie was a respectable cabinet-maker

and a well-regarded society man by day,

but by night, he was a sinister thief with a criminal mind.

Brodie was a gambler and an adulterer.

He raided his clients' houses to fund his gambling habit.

He kept up his double life for nearly 20 years,

but he was eventually caught and hung on the very gallows

he had himself designed.

But how did this impact on the young Robert Louis Stevenson?

Stevenson's nursemaid Cummie would tell him the story

of this guy who was one thing by day, a gentleman,

and another thing entirely by night,

and, again, we think that might have lodged itself

in Stevenson's subconscious and later on, when he wanted to write

about the nature of evil, he had a template, a guy in his head,

who had really existed, and so he decided to write Jekyll And Hyde.

The interesting thing about Jekyll And Hyde

is that it's about a scientist.

It's about a man who's actually...

He's a man on the side of good. He's using these experiments

to try and find out more about human nature,

and people were fascinated by science and criminology.

Victorian Britain was experiencing rapid change,

experimenting with technology and medicine

in ways never seen before.

Jekyll And Hyde excited their curiosity

and reflected their concerns.

Victorian Britain was a place that kept its vices very well hidden.

There would be prostitutes round every corner

but it was all kind of hidden away. It was genteel on the surface...

That was what Stevenson was talking about, the difference between

the surface, what we present to the world, and what's actually going on

inside our heads, our baser instincts.

And that's an idea that resonates with people today,

making the intriguing story of Jekyll And Hyde

a timeless classic

and one that's influenced prestigious modern authors

like Ian Rankin.

Stevenson was fascinated by the question of good and evil,

why human beings continue to do bad things to each other,

and that's something that you find throughout crime fiction,

and certainly throughout my books.

Jekyll And Hyde deals with the conflict between good and evil,

the two sides of human nature,

the split in the split personality,

and when you hear about Stevenson's own experiences here

in Edinburgh, it seems it was a book he was destined to write.

Well, what a day we're having here. Everyone's having so much fun.

And I'm sitting in a section of the crowd that hasn't had

a valuation yet, so good luck to all of you.

It could be you up next, you never know. Keep watching.

But right now, as you've just seen,

our experts have been working flat out.

It's time for our first visit to the saleroom.

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

Two very different swords from two continents,

both valued at the same price, but which one will make the most money

for owner Patricia?

There are lots of collectors of medals,

so this lot should make the top of the estimate.

This zoetrope is a classic antique,

but will anyone want to pay ?500 for it?

This stunning Glasgow School of Art planter

is valued at ?150 to ?250

and is being sold at the perfect place...

..just four miles outside of Glasgow at Anita Manning's

Great Western auction house.

First up are those mighty swords. Which will make the most money,

the British sabre or the Indian urumi?

Well, we could be the Three Musketeers with our next lot,

couldn't we? Definitely.

We've got a collection of swords belonging to Patricia

going under the hammer.

Valued in two separate lots by James,

and we're selling as two separate lots.

It's the sabre in this first lot, isn't it? Yep.

Going under the hammer right now.

19th-century cavalry sabre.

What could we take? 150? 100?

?50? 50 bid.

50 bid. Any advance on 50? 60.

Any advance on 60?

70. 80.

90. 100.

100. 110.

On Claire's phone, 110.

120. 130.

140. 150.

160. 170.

170. It's on the phone with Claire at ?170.

Any advance on 170?

All done at 170? 170.

Yes! ?170, we just got that one away, didn't we?

Here's the next lot.

The 19th-century South Indian pata.

I'm holding bids on the books, ladies and gentlemen,

and I'll start the bidding at...

..?120.

Oh, that's good. Straight in.

120. Any advance? 130, 140.

150. 160.

170. 180.

190. 200.

Nope? 200. 210.

210, on the books.

220 with Cat.

220.

230 on the books.

230... 240. 250 on the books.

The market for anything Indian is really booming at the moment.

?260.

It's on the phone at ?260.

Any advance on 260?

Any advance on 260? All done at 260. 260.

Yes! What's that, 430? Yeah.

Brilliant. All told. Fantastic.

Thank you very much. Well done.

The urumi won the battle and maybe it will find its way back to India.

Next up, Jeanette's hoping to sell her sister's medals.

I've just been joined by Jeanette and Adam,

and going under the hammer right now, we have a group of medals.

I think the most important has to be the Boer War medals.

You will agree on that? Yeah, two South African medals there.

Fingers crossed we get that top end of the estimate.

Good luck, everyone. This is it.

A group of five, ladies and gentlemen.

Can we say 400?

300? Start me at ?200.

?300 for five medals is about right.

Well, it's the two with the bars,

the South Africa ones. The other three are very common.

200. 210. 220.

230. 240. 250.

260. 270. 280. 290.

The book is out.

Any advance on 290 on the medals?

Any advance on 290? All done at 290.

290.

?290! We nearly got that 300.

But we're happy. I'm happy. You're happy.

I'm sure my sister will be happy.

The medals just scraped the discretionary reserve.

Let's hope the zoetrope gets the bidders watching.

Invented in 1853 by mathematician William George Horner,

we have the zoetrope going under the hammer and it belongs to Eleanor,

who's standing right next to me with our expert James.

Now, for me, this was the best thing at the valuation day,

because I love it.

It's early telly,

and that is what it was all about. It was.

I bet, as a young girl, you enjoyed this, didn't you? We did.

Yes! Lots of use.

Condition is slightly against it

but where can you find another

with all of the pictures and the diagrams?

And there's a lot there. Yeah.

It's so rare. We've got a fixed reserve at ?550.

Hopefully, we will sell it beyond that. Here we go.

It's a mid-19th-century zoetrope.

We have 23 coloured printed circular discs,

so you have the full home-entertainment kit there!

?1,000?

1,000? 500?

Will you start me at ?400?

400? 400 bid.

Any advance on 400?

450.

500.

550.

?600.

650.

?700.

700.

750.

It's going in the room.

?750.

Any advance on 750?

All done at 750?

750...

Yes! Eleanor, we did it.

?750. Gosh.

Well, I'm happy.

I was a bit worried there for a moment.

I thought I'd be taking it home with me.

Condition was against it. Yeah.

Nevertheless, it was a good price. Yeah. Thank you very much.

Let's hope Lady Luck continues to smile on our next lot.

Fingers crossed, Sam, and you, Adam.

I think we'll get top money for this.

Going under the hammer right now,

we have an Art Nouveau planter.

Now, on the auction preview day, a Glasgow girl told me

this could be attributed to a Glasgow Girl. Oh, good.

Margaret Gilmore.

The design looks right, the dragonfly's right. Perfect.

Everything's right about it. Condition. Good for you.

Well, tell us the story. How did you pick this up?

I got it from an antique shop in Perth.

How much?

?35. How long ago?

30-odd years. Ah, right. Well, let's find out what the bidders think.

Great local connection to Glasgow here,

so fingers crossed, it could fly.

Let's find out. This is it.

70 is the Glasgow School Art Nouveau

repousse work white metal and enamel planter.

We can attribute this to Margaret Gilmore, ladies and gentlemen.

I'm holding bids in the books, and I can start the bidding

at ?130.

It'll make double that, at least. It's got to make double that. Yeah.

I'll take it from the floor first.

140. 150.

160. 170.

180. 190.

200. 210.

220. It's good, Sam.

260. 270. 280.

290. 300.

310. 320. 330.

340. 350. Very pleased!

?360.

?360?! With you, sir.

All done at 360.

All done at 360. 360.

Whack! What a sold sound!

?360. That's excellent.

That's a very good investment. Very good investment.

And it sold in Glasgow. Yes, exactly.

It's all worked out nicely, hasn't it? Yes. Job done! Perfect.

There you are, that's the end of our first visit to the saleroom

so far today and some great results.

But don't go away because we're coming back later.

Now, as you've already seen, our valuation day location

on the outskirts of Edinburgh is absolutely stunning.

It's been compared to Versailles for its architecture,

but who was responsible for such fine work?

Well, I went to investigate.

Hopetoun House is unique.

It was one of the very first houses of its kind to be built in Scotland.

What you see here is a culmination of over 60 years of construction,

not by one, or two,

but three of the greatest names in Scottish architecture.

And I'm going to walk you through its history.

Before the 17th century,

Scotland's nobility lived in castles.

They were designed to be strong and defensive, with thick walls

and small windows to protect the occupants

from the ravages of civil war.

So, how did Scottish architecture evolve from this...

to this?

The story starts right here with this man, William Bruce.

Sir William Bruce was one of

Scotland's most important architects,

a local aristocrat born in Fife, 30 miles from Hopetoun, around 1630.

He transformed the style of Scottish country houses.

Bruce was also hugely influential in politics.

He helped Charles II return to the throne in 1659

and, as a result, was rewarded with the title

of Surveyor General of the King's Works in Scotland.

Effectively, he was the King's architect.

He rebuilt the Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse in the 1670s

and is credited with bringing the European classical style

of architecture to Scotland.

Bruce's style borrowed heavily from classical Italian design

and could, for the first time, have a place in Scotland

because the Civil War was over and the country was more stable.

So Bruce designed a house that reflected this new security.

It could be beautiful instead of defensive, with large windows

and flat vistas for miles around.

The result was the first commissioned country house

that brought a little slice of Europe to Scotland.

And just look at this spectacular stairwell.

This is the finest remaining example of Bruce's original house

and it's topped off with the most magnificent dome.

It acts as a central lantern, letting the light come flooding in

and it really does do that, even on dull days.

This whole stairwell is of the fanciful European Baroque period.

Out goes the Scottish awkward spiral staircase going up the turrets

and in comes this playful area.

And every element,

all the architectural detail of this space, makes it a real joy to be in.

Bruce's Hopetoun House should have been his greatest legacy.

The Bruce bedchamber and the garden room are some of the finest examples

of Scottish design and workmanship of the time, but it wasn't to be.

Bruce died in 1710

and 14 years after this masterpiece was completed,

the family decided to redesign the house

to suit their rising status in Scottish society.

The result was Bruce's house finished at this door.

And everything this side was built and designed by another man.

A whole new facade was added to Bruce's house.

An additional suite of rooms at the front and the sides

made the house altogether larger and more imposing.

Neil Baxter from

the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland

knows all about the next man to work on Hopetoun House.

So, William Bruce was the first architect to build the house.

He died. What happened next?

The second architect was William Adam,

so one of the greatest Scottish architects and, indeed,

the founder of perhaps the most important

European architectural dynasty of that era.

It was about creating a new,

completely in-vogue front of the house

and producing something that's one of the grandest country houses

in Scotland, the UK and Europe.

How did this reflect Scotland and Scottish architecture at the time?

This is a modern house of its era.

It's a powerful evocation of the influences that come in from Europe

and it's what the gentry really aspired to.

They wanted to produce something that you could actually find

the equivalent of in Italy.

This is a grand international house of its age.

William Adam worked on Hopetoun House for over 25 years.

It was a major part of his life and career

and looking around at the scale of things, you can see why.

Sadly, he died in 1748, before the building was finished.

So, who could complete the house?

Well, the job fell to three young men who, possibly,

as young children walked up and down these corridors

watching their father hard at work.

Their names were John, Robert and James,

William Adams' three sons.

The young men were handed the family firm in their 20s

and were entrusted with completing their father's plans.

But it was Robert who was given the greatest opportunity.

He was invited by the Hope family on the Grand Tour of Europe.

This was the lucky break that would change

the face of architecture around the world.

Robert Adam was an ambitious young man

and he relished the opportunity to study classical architecture

in Italy and France and learn from the great tutors

and hone his draughtsmanship skills.

And he didn't forget about Hopetoun.

This marble chimneypiece is the first piece of interior design

chosen for Hopetoun by Robert Adam.

The iconography is typically classical

and shows what influenced Robert in his five years abroad.

But rather than copy the classical, as had been done previously,

Robert Adam adapted it and he made it his own with clean lines

and greater simplicity.

This became known as neoclassical.

Robert Adam is the most exported architect from Scotland.

His influence is worldwide.

It influenced the USA, it undoubtedly influenced throughout Europe.

Effectively, we are exporting back to the source. Yes, exactly. Yes.

You know, Scottish neoclassicism

becomes a great world architectural movement.

So, why is this house so important to Scotland?

This house brings together Bruce, William Adam, Robert Adam.

You've got the father of Scottish architecture... Yes.

..you've got the greatest dynasty in Scottish architecture

and they all coalesce here.

They are all to be found in this one magnificent house.

Like many grand country houses, Hopetoun sparkles with grandeur,

impeccable taste and character.

But that's not all.

If you scratch the surface,

you will find it holds a rather special place in history.

Welcome back. As you can see, our valuation day is in full swing.

It's all hands on deck right now.

Let's join up with our experts

and see what else we can find to take off to auction.

It's over to James with a most unusual piece of militaria.

Matthew, I have to say, you look as if you've robbed

the dungeons of some Scottish castle somewhere! Where's it all from?

It's been sitting in my own garage for about ten years.

And before that, I inherited it from my father, who lived in Cambridge.

OK. It came with a twin.

There was another suit of armour, which my brother inherited. Right.

There were two of them

and I do remember them standing guard in my father's house at one point.

Well, I have to say,

if there was a suit of armour in my parents' house like this,

the first thing I'd have done is try to put it on.

Unfortunately, I'm a little too big for it to fit these days.

It's one of those things that I think would be a 19th-century piece

that would never have been designed to use. Yes.

If we were talking about something from the 1500s, 1400s,

it would be incredibly valuable.

I've never thought it was that old, I must admit. Good.

Tell me, was it set up in pristine condition?

It was a long time ago and then it was taken down

because it really wasn't in that pristine condition.

It's always kind of looked like this.

It's not the Scottish rain that's done it on the way here, then?

It was all shiny when I brought it!

Well, what we've got is a whole mass of bits and bobs.

Does this constitute enough of a suit of armour to be complete?

There were lots of pieces. There would be arm armour as well.

It would have articulated gloves

that would look a bit like lobster tails over the fingers. Yes.

So you've got, probably, 70%.

But what we have got

is a really good-looking interior designer's piece

that would fit in so many different venues.

It's the sort of thing that would go into a Tudor pub called The Knight.

Or an old Tudor-beamed hotel.

So, having added it up, I think 300 to 500 as an estimate

and a firm reserve of 300. Is that all right?

That would be fine with me, yes.

Won't your boys be upset that you've sold it?

Well, my boys love it, I love it, but my wife hates it.

Won't even let it in the house. So, boys... How many? Two? Three. Three.

Three boys and you love it.

So four people love it and one person hates it,

and that one person is getting her way. As usual, yes! That's not on.

That is an 80-20 split. Well, you tell my wife that!

No, it will do very well and go to a home where they'll love it.

The Victorians loved a bit of Gothic revival

and this suit of armour fits the bill.

But it certainly doesn't fit James!

Now, something with a bit more sparkle.

This charming little insect brooch is definitely going to create

a buzz in the saleroom.

Thank you very much for bringing it, Gordon and Liz.

I presume it's yours, Liz?

Well, it is, but it came from Gordon's side of the family.

Ah, right! Whereabouts? An old aunt of mine had it.

She was born in the 1890s, so it could well be early 20th century.

I don't know. I think it's probably Edwardian, isn't it?

It could be, as she was growing up. Yes.

As far as I know, she never really wore it. Really?

I've always been aware of it being in the house.

Not the sort of thing you would wear either, then?

It isn't. I don't tend to wear silver. I prefer gold things.

Have you ever worn it, Gordon? Not that I remember.

That's why it's ended up on the table here at "Flog It!". Yes.

We have little cabochon garnets as the eyes

and then a couple of amethysts there.

Then a little row of seed pearls on the wings.

And it's set in silver. It is silver? We weren't sure about that.

Yes, it's definitely going to be silver.

It could be made on the Continent,

otherwise it would carry an English hallmark. I see.

Because it is only in silver, it's going to have

a relatively limited value.

I think it's going to be ?100 to ?150 worth.

I suggest a reserve of 80. Is that all right with you?

Yes, that sounds good.

Let's hope it creeps along and makes a great price. Makes a buzz, yes!

Thank you very much.

Insect-inspired jewellery tends to be popular at auction

so let's hope there isn't a fly in the ointment on today's show.

George, whenever you see a box like that, it could only possibly

have one of two things in it.

It's either a magician's wand or a conductor's baton.

Which is it? I couldn't tell you.

Oh! It's a strange thing.

It's not tapered like a conductor's baton.

No. It's almost like a ceremonial staff, isn't it? Uh-huh.

Presented to MW Balfe, May 1841.

Balfe is a composer, an Irish composer, who was born

around 1806, 1808, something like that, and died around 1875.

I think each one of these bands

is in recognition of one of his operas.

I see. Yes?

Does that...? Yeah.

We've got The Siege Of Rochelle,

The Maid Of Artois,

Val...

Yes, Val Morris.

It sounds like Van Morrison, that's about as close as I can get to it!

It's a different era.

The wood is probably beech, the bands are in silver,

although they are not hallmarked.

Do you know of anything else he wrote? Come Into The Garden, Maud.

Come Into The Garden, Maud?

Is that a song or an opera? A song.

What an interesting thing! I've never seen anything like it, ever.

How long have you had it? I've had it over 30 years.

Where did it come from?

A friend of mine in Glasgow.

Do you want to sell it? Aye.

I was almost hoping you'd say no!

Because I don't know what to put on it.

I'm going to ask for a second opinion.

Adam!

Have a look at this.

What do you make of that?

Composer. These are his operas.

We've got vacant rings down the bottom there.

A lovely thing, but not very practical as a baton.

Just a presentation thing. Presentation, yeah.

I would imagine something like 2... BOTH: 200 to 300.

Yes, good. Thank you. Any time.

I'll call you if I need you again!

THEY CHUCKLE

Oh, dear.

I think we should put a reserve of ?200 on it.

All right.

And estimate 250 to 350. OK.

Is that all right for you? That's fine.

Well, it's a really unusual thing

and an absolute pleasure to see.

Thank you very much, George. Thank you for bringing it in.

Another "Flog It!" first.

A ceremonial baton presented to a famous Irish composer.

Michael Balfe, your memory lives on.

# Come into the garden, Maud... #

Now, Adam's found something that is hugely popular

and beautiful to boot.

Sally. Yes. Adam. We see lots of Moorcroft on this programme

and, in fact, very rarely does a show pass without an example

coming across, but I couldn't help noticing this one

because it's quite a nice distinctive shape,

and it's quite a large piece.

How did you come to own this?

Well, I did have a next-door neighbour,

she was an elderly lady and she died,

and her daughter-in-law came up,

they had to sell the house, and things like that,

so I was helping them out and everything,

and we came across this Moorcroft dish,

and she said, "I've got no use for it. Would you like it?"

I thought, "I love Moorcroft, so, yes, I'll take it. That's great."

Absolutely. I tried to do research,

even to get to know what the design was.

I couldn't see a dish like this on the internet.

I tried but couldn't get it. The shape's quite unusual,

that lipped-bowl shape,

which is quite nice.

But it's tube-lined, as they always are,

with the anemone design on this green ground. Right.

Commercially, it's not the top end of Moorcroft. Right.

The vases always sell better than bowls, for a start,

because they display better in a cabinet. Right.

And this green ground isn't as popular, perhaps,

as the blue and red flambe grounds,

but it's a very pleasing thing.

It's decorated around the outside.

Shall we do the old flip-over

and see what's underneath.

I'm fascinated to know about it. There we are.

You've got the blue signature there

of Walter Moorcroft, which dates this probably to the end

of the 1940s, or so. Oh, is it?

May I ask you why you've decided to sell it?

Presumably it's out in Sally's house, looking wonderful,

full of fruit. No, it isn't.

I have it wrapped up and packed away in a drawer.

Oh, Sally. And I don't have a place to display it.

It's a really pretty item.

It is. The only time I really get to enjoy it is,

I have a quiet moment, I take it out,

I have a look at it, wrap it up and put it back in and go,

"One of these days..."

So maybe somebody else would enjoy it. Not tempted to have it

on the sideboard? Um, no,

because... Too late now, we're selling it! Off to auction.

Any idea on the value?

Um...no.

I think most probably about ?200, ?300.

Very good. Very good. You've done your research.

You're obviously an intelligent lady.

I think you're right. It's going to make about ?300,

hopefully a touch more.

I would suggest 250 to 350 estimate,

and my bet is, it'll make ?340.

Oh, that'd be nice. Don't hold me to it.

But thanks for coming. Oh, you're welcome.

I've really enjoyed it. Oh, good. To find a little bit out about it.

Good. Well, I've enjoyed talking to you. OK. Thanks.

A very precise prediction of ?340.

And, yes, Adam, we will hold you to it.

Well, what a marvellous time we've had here at our magnificent

host venue, Hopetoun House, just outside of Edinburgh.

Our experts have now made their final choices of items

to put in the sale.

You've seen them. Let's now put those values to the test,

as we head over to the auction room in Glasgow.

Here's a quick recap of what's coming with us.

Adorned with amethysts and seed pearls,

this statement brooch would make the perfect gift

for a loved one. Will there be a buyer in the room?

And Adam's confident

this Moorcroft bowl will sell for exactly ?340.

And two very rare items.

Which one surprises everyone by making way over the estimate?

A suit of armour that Matthew's wife will be pleased to see the back of,

or the engraved baton that any Balfe fan would be proud to own?

And it's back over to Anita for the last time.

And first to the fore, it's the ever-popular Moorcroft bowl.

Going under the hammer right now

one of the most famous names in pottery, a bit of Moorcroft,

and it belongs to Sally. It is a gorgeous bowl.

Now, at the valuation day,

Adam had an exact...an exact, I must say,

not approximate but an exact valuation.

I'm going to look stupid. Come on. 340.

340.

I might want to review that slightly,

but I'll stick with it. 200 to 300.

Why are you selling it? For me, it's a keeper.

Well, I don't have a place to put it.

I don't use it. I just wrap it up and put it in my drawer.

It's the old "Flog It!" story, it lives in a drawer. Yes.

But if you've looked after it...

It's a big bowl. Fruit?

But it's easier to have a vase than a bowl.

Right now, we're trying to sell this one. It's beautiful.

It's the anemone pattern.

Can we say 400?

300? Will you start me at ?200?

200 bid. With you, madam, at 200.

Any advance on 200?

210. 220. 230.

240.

Any advance on ?240?

Any advance on 240?

Oh, no, I've lost, Paul.

Any advance on 240?

Nearly 100 quid out.

It's sold, though, look,

within estimate. OK?

That was good. It's not a good day at the office for Adam.

He's a perfectionist.

Hey, look, you're happy. I am.

Within estimate. Just under.

It's not easy putting a value on antiques, Adam,

so we'll let you off this time.

It's always a good idea to protect your item with a sensible reserve.

Right now, I'm not going to wave a magic wand,

it's going to be a magic baton

because this is one of my favourite things of the valuation day.

It belongs to George and it's a 19th-century composer's baton.

This really exposed my lack of knowledge of classical music.

OK, but it is a lovely thing, one of my favourite things.

It's quality and we say "quality sells". Let's put it to the test.

Good luck, George, this is it. Here we go.

A presentation baton to Michael William Balfe.

Can we say 500?

300? Start me at ?200.

100, then?

100 bid.

Any advance on 100?

110, 120, 130,

140.

150, 160, 170,

180...

We've got somebody on the phone, as you can see. There's a phone bid.

..200...

220 on the phone.

?220. Any advance on ?220?

220. 220.

And it's gone, ?220. Well done, James, spot on.

Just. It's gone, ?220.

It went to somebody on the phone at the back of the room.

Phone bidding is a great way to be part of the auction

if you cannot make it in person.

A commission of 18% still applies.

If you like creepy-crawlies and you like a bit of bling,

you will love this next lot.

It's a brooch and it belongs to Liz and she's here with her husband.

I guess, Liz, if you're going to have a brooch,

it's got to be something so unusual

that people just gravitate towards it and look at it.

Did you wear it? No, I didn't.

You didn't like it? It's not my colour.

That's why I like to marry a girl who prefers gold to silver.

Well, yeah! Expensive tastes!

I like this. Fingers crossed this is going to fly. Here we go.

It's going to FLY!

It's this large white-metal bug brooch.

Can we say ?200?

150?

Can you start me at ?100?

50.

She had 100 there.

70, 80, 90, 100,

110, 120,

130...

130. 140, 150,

160...

160. 170, fresh bidder.

180, 190...

Are you bidding, sir?

200 on the phone.

It's the right money, isn't it? Mmm. 210. Well done!

220, 230, fresh bidder.

230, 240 on the phone.

250, 260,

270, 280, 290,

300, 310...

It's fantastic. I thought it might have sold on the WEB.

..320, 330. That's clever.

340, 350...

We've got two keen bidders fighting it out now.

..370, 380,

390, 400,

410...

?410.

?410, I don't believe this.

It's with you, sir, at 410. Any advance on 410?

Selling in the room at 410!

GAVEL BANGS

Fantastic!

What a great result!

You've got to be happy with that. Gordon?

?410!

That's a strong price.

A great result for Gordon and Liz

and that brooch has FLOWN to a new owner.

Now, fingers crossed for our final item of the day,

that suit of armour.

I think this is a first on "Flog It!". It belongs to Matthew.

I know your brother has almost a twin set.

I can imagine both of you dressed in suits of armour,

trying to have a joust, or a fight together, hardly moving.

It's an interesting lot, this.

Out of all the things that I took in on the valuation day,

I think this might do...I'm putting my neck on the line

but I think it might do a lot better than we've said.

We've got three to five. Let's hope we get that top end

and a bit more.

17 pieces of Victorian armour in the medieval style.

Now, I have bids on the books...

Will you start me at ?500?

Will you start me at 500 on the floor?

500. Straight in.

500, 550,

600, 650,

700, 750,

800, 850...

There's competition in the room and a phone line behind me, as well.

This is looking good.

..1,000...

1,000.

1,050, 1,100.

1,150, 1,200.

1,250, 1,300.

1,350, 1,400.

1,450, 1,500...

Come on. Good. ..1,550.

1,600.

Hard thing to value, ?1,600 we have.

1,700.

1,800, 1,900.

2,000... Well, everyone's battling it out. I said so.

2,100.

2,200.

2,300.

2,400.

2,500...

That's where I thought it was going to stop!

2,500. Don't you just love auctions?

Any advance on 2,500?

2,500...

What's it worth? ?2,500 and you've got a round of applause in the room.

I think it deserved that, as well.

I'm so pleased about that. Wow! That's absolutely fantastic.

And where was it? It was stuck in a cardboard box in my garage.

Wow! Hence all the rust. Tell your brother what it's worth.

He'll be the first on the phone. I bet he will!

He'll be putting it into auction, as well. I'm sure he will be.

Don't forget there's 18% plus VAT to pay here on the commission.

Nevertheless, that's a great deal of money to be going home with.

What a way to end today's show, in a packed saleroom in Glasgow

with a result like that. I told you there'd be a surprise.

Join us for many more surprises in the future

but, until then, it's goodbye from all of us.

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