Compilation 20 Flog It!


Compilation 20

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This is the House for an Art Lover. Yes, it really is called that.

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And later on in the programme, I'll be back here getting some

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tips on life drawing, which fits in beautifully with today's

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programme, because it's like an artist's palette, full of colourful characters and stories.

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So stay tuned for this special edition, as we bring you

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some of the very best finds from all over the country.

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Welcome to "Flog It!"

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We've travelled the length and the breadth of Britain in search

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of exceptional stories and objects to take to auction.

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And we've been saving some of the best until now.

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In today's show, we travel to Birmingham, Southall,

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Edinburgh and Wallasey...

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where our experts find a selection of fascinating collectables.

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But can you spot which one of them

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gets the bidders most excited at auction?

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A painting by Albert Moulton Foweraker,

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an artist obsessed by contrast...

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-It's something that I bought at an auction...

-OK.

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..in 1971, for ten shillings.

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..an unusual 15-carat gold vesta case, dating back to the 1920s...

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Most of them you see are either in a plated metal,

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sometimes in silver, lots of them in silver, but you've got a gold one,

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which is a very posh vesta case, Peter.

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..or a pilot's watch made by one of the best names

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in technical timepieces.

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Do you know something, I have always wanted to own one of those.

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One of our items fetches well over £1,000 today.

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Can you guess which one it is?

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Today's show comes from Dunster Castle in Somerset.

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The original castle was built by a Norman lord, who fought alongside

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William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

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And, for his services, he was rewarded with Dunster.

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Now, that seems to me like a pretty impressive perk

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of the job by anybody's standards.

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The castle is brimming with treasures and fine art,

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and here's a good example.

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Look, these very rare leather wall hangings.

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They tell the story of Antony and Cleopatra and their romance.

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Tragically, it went wrong, but here they are in happier times.

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These were painted by a group of Dutch artists in the late 1600s

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but nobody knows for sure who they were.

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We love it when works of art turn up at our valuation days and

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that's exactly what happened at Hopetoun House,

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just outside of Edinburgh.

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Pat, when I first started as an auctioneer, which would be 25

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years ago, I was working for a firm called Neales in Nottingham.

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And...a firm that...I...

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We bought the firm back,

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so I started there on work experience and eventually bought the firm back.

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But I have to say, they wouldn't have let me if they knew I'd made mistakes like I did with my first

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ever painting valuation.

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-And it was one of these.

-Right.

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I looked at it, I thought it was a print.

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I put £20 to £30 on it.

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And it made a lot more.

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-And it was by this artist.

-Right.

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And this is an artist called Albert Moulton Foweraker.

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He was an artist that was obsessed with the contrasts of light

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-and dark.

-Uh-huh.

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Which is something that artists, way back through time,

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have been interested in.

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Rembrandt, again, the same, had that same passion,

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that same interest.

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And here we see a bluey-green scene,

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a night-time scene. And he was well-known, Foweraker was well known

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-for painting in these colours.

-Right.

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With a single bit of light coming...

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Just takes your eye right to it.

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It's exactly where he wants you to look. And it's so effective.

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Foweraker travelled a lot, especially in North Africa.

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I think this is probably a scene, maybe in Tangiers,

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or could be Tunis, somewhere like that.

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-We see the dome at the top here.

-Yeah.

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But...it's an artist that

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-comes in and out of fashion.

-Yes.

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At the moment, I have to say,

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it's not the most fashionable of pictures,

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and the value is not as high as it has been in the past.

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I understand that, yes.

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Is it something you've purchased?

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-It's something that I bought at an auction...

-OK.

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..in 1971, for ten shillings.

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HE EXHALES

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Well, in that case, it's not bad news, it's good news.

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Can't go wrong.

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Because, if you had bought it ten years ago at auction,

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it would be a considerable amount of money.

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Well, it was up on the wall for quite a number of years.

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Now it's not up on the wall.

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-So, tell me, do you deal, do you collect?

-No.

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-I just collect.

-What do you collect?

-I mainly collect dolls.

-OK.

-Yeah.

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So that doesn't go hand-in-hand with a Foweraker watercolour.

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-No, it doesn't.

-Where does this...

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I was at an auction...

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over 40 years ago,

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and I just really liked that.

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Is this going to be an investment that goes into other antiques,

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-like dolls, again?

-No, I think the money will go to my grandchildren.

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OK, OK. Right, so...

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how spoilt are your grandchildren?

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Well, it's to make them appreciate that

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if they hold on to some things, they can make extra money with them.

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Well, it's a good picture.

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And, although it's not making what it used to, I still think

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your grandchildren are going to be spoilt with an extra £200 or £300.

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-That would be very nice.

-Is that all right?

-Yeah, that'd be lovely.

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Auction estimate, 200 to 300,

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and a reserve of 2.

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-That would be lovely.

-Super. Thank you very much for bringing it in.

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-And well done, ten shillings.

-Yeah, marvellous.

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The painting really is an excellent example of Fowerakers' use of both contrast

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and the colour blue, but will the market appreciate his eye today?

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Now, Christina Trevanion's eyes certainly lit up when she spotted

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our next item in Birmingham's Museum and Art Gallery.

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Oh, Betine, I do love an original box. There's nothing nicer than

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seeing something in its original case, is it?

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Let's have a little look.

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Oh, OK, some silver apostle spoons. Where have these come from?

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I inherited them from my mother, who was given them by a friend of hers.

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-Right.

-Other than that, I don't know anything about them.

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OK. Do you use them, or are they just in a cupboard?

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-Just in a cupboard.

-OK.

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So, they're called apostle spoons, they are solid silver, and we know

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that because we have a really nice hallmark on the back of each one.

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And we've got a Sheffield Assay Office mark, and then we've got

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the lion passant mark for silver. The date letter U for 1887.

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And a nice little Victorian Jubilee head as well.

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And then we've got and maker's mark, which is RMEH,

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which stands for Richard Martin and Ebenezer Hall.

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They were great silversmiths and metalworkers, and great they've got that pedigree to them.

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Now, we call them apostle spoons because they've got this very

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decorative handle here. We call it apostle-style spoons, really.

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Apostle spoons have been popular since the Reformation period

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and they were to represent Christ's Last Supper with the Apostles,

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so each of the finials would be modelled as an apostle.

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And they were given as presentation pieces or commemorative pieces,

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things like that. The really, really collectable pieces have each

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apostle moulded on a terminal. Ours, unfortunately, just have a

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generic apostle, so they've not been made individually, they've been made

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as one. Having said that, they have got silver-gilt bowls,

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which is really nice. It shows they are a little bit nicer than just being plain silver.

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-What do you think of them?

-I think they're very pretty, actually.

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They are pretty, aren't they? It's just a little bit difficult,

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in today's market, to know how you would use them.

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Value-wise, our auction estimate on them would be

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somewhere in the region of £70-£100.

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How would you feel about that?

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-Mmm...I was hoping for a little bit more.

-Oh, were you?

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OK, what were you hoping for?

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More the other end, you know, sort of £100.

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I think, because silver price at the moment is fluctuating,

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we would need to be a little bit conservative.

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To be perfectly honest with you, I think 70 to 100.

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-All right, I'll leave it with you. That's good.

-Super.

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Hopefully, silver will boom between now...

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-Yes. I can't see the pigs flying.

-..and the auction. No.

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There might be one over...

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Let's hope, for Betine's sake, that Christina is being cautious

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with her estimate.

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And now from silver to gold,

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and Adam Partridge has found a lovely piece back in Hopetoun House.

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-Well, Peter, welcome to "Flog It!"

-Thank you very much.

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You've brought along an item that we see very, very regularly in the auction rooms.

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-A vesta case.

-Yes.

-Clearly not really something that

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-anyone would use any more.

-No.

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But they were made widely, end of the 19th century

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and right through the first 30 years or so of the 20th century.

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-A vesta, of course, for the famous matches.

-Matches.

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So it's a match case, and the match would come out

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-and there's this ribbed bit underneath.

-Right.

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It's actually been quite well worn,

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actually, must have used it quite a lot.

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Then you would strike your match along there,

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and the flame would come.

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Usually for a pipe or a cigarette, I would imagine,

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but sometimes, perhaps, for one of these magnificent

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fireplaces of the kind we've got behind us.

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Now, what is unusual about it is the fact that most of them

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you see are either in a plated metal, in brass,

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sometimes in silver,

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lots of them in silver, but you've got a gold one,

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which is a very posh vesta case, Peter. How did you come to own it?

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-Well, the initials there are my paternal grandfather.

-Are they?

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But he died 12 years before I was born, so I never met him.

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And I inherited it when my father died in 1991. It's nice to look at.

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Yeah, you're right, it's the sort of thing you just want to pick up

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and it's got this lovely little curve on it to fit against the body.

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It's a very tactile object.

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And, of course, when you flip it up here,

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they're always marked on one side there,

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and we've got the mark there, WN & Co, which is

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William Neill & Co, who were a firm of silversmiths, really,

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and obviously goldsmiths, in Birmingham.

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Prolific producers of pieces like vesta cases, cigarette cases,

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cigarette boxes, accessories of that kind.

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And we've got a mark there for 15-carat gold.

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The Birmingham date letter for 1927.

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A silver-plated one of this kind would be worth

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£10 or £15. A silver one of that shape and description

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would be worth £30-£50.

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A 15-carat gold one, however, and the value hugely rises

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up to £400 to £600.

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I imagine it will make about £500.

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How does that fit with your expectations?

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-That's very nice.

-Oh, good.

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I could fix it at 400. I don't think you should go for any less, because

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the gold in it is going to be worth best part of that anyway.

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And, as an object, it should make a bit more than that. Happy with that?

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-Very happy, thank you.

-Excellent.

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Let's get over to the auction room, shall we?

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And here's a quick reminder of all the items going under the hammer.

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Pat's painting by Albert Moulton Foweraker.

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His use of light attracts the eye but will it attract the bidders?

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Betine's apostle spoons were made by pioneering silversmiths.

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But is that enough for them to top Christina's modest valuation?

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And Peter wants to put the proceeds from the sale of his vesta case

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towards a holiday.

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But the question is, how far will he get?

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First up, over to expert and auctioneer Anita Manning,

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who's on the rostrum at the Great Western auction rooms

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to try to sell that Foweraker painting.

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Well, our next lot, the Foweraker oil painting, was

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-bought for just ten shillings by Pat in 1971, at auction.

-Yes.

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-You got it in the right place.

-Yes.

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-You bought it trade, you bought it at source, didn't you?

-Yes.

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And hopefully we can turn that into £200 to £300.

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-And you've had the joy of looking at it.

-Yes.

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-Haven't you?

-For a few years.

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Just got to hope somebody's got a turquoise room to put it in.

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Do you know what, you're right. Let's find out, shall we?

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There's plenty of people here. Let's put it to the test.

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Albert Moulton Foweraker. Here is a superb

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and typical work of his.

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Do we have phones here?

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-Two phones, where are they?

-Two phones!

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I can start the bidding at £150.

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160. 170. 180. 190.

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200.

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220. 230.

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240, on the book. 240. 250.

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The book is out.

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-250.

-Well, we've sold it.

-It's with David. The book is out at £250.

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Any advance on 250?

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All done at 250. 250.

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Yes, £250. Spot on.

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-Mid-estimate.

-It goes to somebody that wants it.

-Exactly, yes.

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-Thank you for bringing that in.

-You're welcome.

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'Remember, of course, that with every auction there's varying

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'rates of commission and VAT to pay,

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'if you're buying or selling.

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'So make sure you find out how much in advance.

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'And next up, expert and auctioneer Nick Davies is putting the spoons

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'under the hammer at Fieldings Auctioneers.'

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-Fingers crossed, Betine, good luck with the spoons.

-Yeah.

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-It's been a long wait, hasn't it?

-It has.

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-It has. Let's hope it's going to be worthwhile.

-I hope it is.

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We've got six apostle spoons going under the hammer now. Sheffield silver.

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-Hopefully they will sell well for you.

-I've got my fingers crossed.

-Good.

-So have I.

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And things have been going well today, as well. Good luck.

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-This is your lot coming up right now. This is it.

-Best of luck.

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The apostle spoons with the gilt bowl, Sheffield, 1887.

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Nice condition, I don't think they've ever been used. £70.

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-In straight away at 70.

-We're in at £70.

-Oh, gosh.

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90. And five. 100.

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-110.

-Brilliant.

-120. 130.

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140. Anybody else? At £130, it will be.

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140 anywhere else? At £130. On my left, at 130.

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All done and finished?

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-Sold.

-Well done, Betine.

-That was marvellous!

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You've got to be happy with that.

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-I am.

-I think... Do you know what? I think

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that's the start of a lot of clearing out, don't you?

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I can see the auction rooms being very busy.

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-I might see you again.

-With your chattels?

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Yes, come along, won't you? Definitely come to another valuation day.

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And if you'd like to join us, you're more than welcome.

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Details of up-and-coming dates and venues, you can

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find on our BBC website. Just log on to

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bbc.co.uk/flogit

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If you don't have a computer, just check

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the details in your local press, because we would love to see you.

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Time for the sale of one of the most impressive vesta cases

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we have ever had on the show.

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-Peter, good luck with this.

-Thank you.

-We see a lot of vesta cases on this show

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but I think this one's got something special about it.

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I think it's quite tactile. I know it's plain, but there's something wholesome about it.

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-And it was Grandad's.

-It was Grandad's, yes. On my father's side.

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-And it's got his inscription in it.

-It's got his initials.

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-You like this as well.

-It's a high-class vesta case,

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isn't it, Paul?

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You see them in metal and brass and silver but 15-carat gold,

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I mean, that's for a distinguished chap, isn't it?

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Well, this is quality and hopefully we're going to get top prices,

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-because you know what we always say, quality always...

-..sells.

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Yeah. This is it.

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Victorian 15-carat gentleman's vesta case.

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400. Will you start me at £400?

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300, thank you, sir.

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I'm holding bids in the books.

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Any advance on 300 on the floor?

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320. 340. 360.

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Any... 380. 400. 420.

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440. 460. 480.

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Any advance on 480? 500.

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520. 540.

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I'm pleased this is doing so well.

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580. 600.

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It's on the book at £600.

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-Commission bids at 600.

-A striking lot.

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Any advance on 600? All done at 600.

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600.

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I'm ever so pleased with that. And, as Adam said,

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it's a striking lot, it really was.

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That is a fantastic result. That's going to be cherished and treasured.

0:17:250:17:28

-Yeah, it's an investment piece. Invest in a vesta.

-Yeah!

0:17:280:17:31

Don't tell me you're going to put the money towards a holiday.

0:17:310:17:34

He's just come back from a cruise in the Caribbean, haven't you?

0:17:340:17:37

There's always time for another holiday.

0:17:370:17:39

Well, exactly. Look, enjoy the money.

0:17:390:17:42

You have to have commission here. It's 18% plus VAT.

0:17:420:17:45

Deduct that from that hammer price but, look, enjoy it, OK?

0:17:450:17:48

Thank you very much.

0:17:480:17:50

That deserved to go for top of the estimate.

0:17:500:17:53

A lovely little piece with a rather large price tag.

0:17:530:17:56

And now, back here at Dunster Castle, I've just time to show you this.

0:17:560:18:01

Nobody knows who this debonair-looking cavalier is,

0:18:010:18:04

but what we do know - it was painted in 1638 by the portrait

0:18:040:18:08

artist Edward Bower, who was in high demand during his lifetime.

0:18:080:18:12

He even painted a three-quarter-length portrait

0:18:120:18:15

of King Charles I at his trial.

0:18:150:18:17

Not many of us could ever hope of painting anything like that

0:18:170:18:20

but you don't have to be a highly trained

0:18:200:18:23

and skilled artist to produce a picture, as I found out

0:18:230:18:26

when I joined an art class in Glasgow.

0:18:260:18:28

I've been lucky enough to be surrounded by art all my life.

0:18:340:18:37

I grew up with it and I've always been so impressed with what an artist can achieve.

0:18:370:18:41

Something so dynamic with a few bold

0:18:410:18:43

strokes of a pencil on a piece of paper.

0:18:430:18:46

So I thought it's about time I gave it a go,

0:18:460:18:48

and what better place to do it than here at the House for an Art Lover?

0:18:480:18:52

This extraordinary building was designed in 1901 by Glaswegian

0:18:550:18:59

architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

0:18:590:19:01

Today it lives up to its name as a vibrant space that ignites

0:19:010:19:05

the public's interest in art and design.

0:19:050:19:08

And it's where I'm going to try my hand at a drawing class.

0:19:080:19:12

Life drawing, in fact.

0:19:120:19:13

Is everybody ready with their new sheets of paper?

0:19:160:19:19

Life-drawing classes became popular in the 19th century but drawing

0:19:200:19:23

the human body has been around since the beginning of art itself.

0:19:230:19:28

The ancient Greeks were fascinated by the human form.

0:19:280:19:31

2,500 years ago, Greek artists studied it in the flesh

0:19:310:19:37

and created amazing sculptures that captured the whole body

0:19:370:19:40

with accuracy and beauty for the first time.

0:19:400:19:44

I've done a fair bit of still-life drawing, you know,

0:19:440:19:47

sort of bowl of fruit, that kind of thing.

0:19:470:19:50

But here, when you've just got a sort of a classical figure,

0:19:500:19:53

there's no space for errors or mistakes.

0:19:530:19:57

Guiding me through is our teacher Sheena Russell

0:19:570:19:59

and Sam Murphy is our model.

0:19:590:20:02

I'm hoping they'll teach me enough tips and tricks to draw

0:20:020:20:05

a respectable full-length picture of Sam by the end of the lesson.

0:20:050:20:09

First, counting heads.

0:20:090:20:12

So if everybody can look at Sam, pick up your pencils, close one eye,

0:20:120:20:18

measure from the top of Sam's head to her chin.

0:20:180:20:21

So I've got one, two, three,

0:20:210:20:26

four, five, six.

0:20:260:20:30

If you, say, put in her head you'll need six of that measurement

0:20:300:20:35

to fit the entire figure into the sheet of paper.

0:20:350:20:39

And remember, straight arms, straight arms.

0:20:430:20:46

Remember you can use this technique with the width as well.

0:20:480:20:52

This theory of proportion is demonstrated by Leonardo da Vinci's

0:20:520:20:56

seminal life drawing, Vitruvian Man.

0:20:560:20:59

It shows how the proportions of the body can be

0:20:590:21:02

measured against each other.

0:21:020:21:04

For example, the length of the outspread arms equals

0:21:040:21:07

the height of a man. Each part of the body is a fraction of the whole.

0:21:070:21:13

The proportions there look absolutely spot-on. Very good.

0:21:130:21:17

-OK, I hope that was helpful.

-Very.

-Good.

0:21:210:21:24

Yeah, it's a really clever little trick, that.

0:21:240:21:27

Very nice work, everybody.

0:21:270:21:30

The next exercise is all about tone,

0:21:300:21:32

using shading to create the picture.

0:21:320:21:36

Remember, with tonal drawing, it's the difference between

0:21:360:21:39

the light and the dark that gives something shape and depth.

0:21:390:21:44

Using a rubber like, yeah, lift some of that pigment off

0:21:470:21:50

so there's maybe some on the hip and a little bit...

0:21:500:21:54

Actually, you already have that highlight on the bum cheek, there.

0:21:540:21:58

The tonal exercise really proved how

0:21:580:22:01

-light and shade can bring a picture to life.

-Well done, everybody.

0:22:010:22:05

So, if I put all of Sheena's tips together, what will I achieve?

0:22:050:22:10

We'll probably spend about half an hour.

0:22:100:22:13

Half an hour's a long time, isn't it?

0:22:130:22:14

It is, it'll go really quickly, though.

0:22:140:22:16

-OK.

-OK, so whenever you're ready.

0:22:160:22:18

Really hard to have half an hour to make this look accurate.

0:22:230:22:26

The human form is said to be the most challenging

0:22:280:22:30

of subjects to draw and mastering it has been the pursuit of artists

0:22:300:22:34

throughout history.

0:22:340:22:36

I'm nearing in the end but I haven't got a lot of detail.

0:22:390:22:41

I'm scared to do it.

0:22:410:22:44

You could maybe put in a hint of spine there, as well,

0:22:440:22:47

-because then that'll help with the shape.

-Yeah, I can see...

0:22:470:22:51

I've got the back too long, I can see that now.

0:22:510:22:54

This here is a bit long but the legs in comparison is a bit...

0:22:540:22:58

-It's wrong.

-It's just a bit short.

0:22:580:23:00

OK, just one minute left now. Any final touches.

0:23:010:23:06

OK, everybody else can rest and breathe.

0:23:110:23:15

God, just about got the legs about three inches longer

0:23:160:23:19

and it's made me a bit happier.

0:23:190:23:21

-Sam, what do you think?

-Yeah, I think it's a really good effort.

0:23:230:23:27

I see what you mean about the back, it's slightly longer.

0:23:270:23:32

But for somebody that's never done life drawing before I think...

0:23:320:23:35

-But you've got the arm...

-I know.

-..well done as well.

0:23:350:23:38

-Yeah, the classical pose.

-So, would you do any more, then?

0:23:380:23:42

Yeah, I would, actually.

0:23:420:23:44

Great to hear it from Sam but what does my teacher think?

0:23:440:23:47

Good proportions and good tonal work with the charcoal as well, I think.

0:23:470:23:52

-Well done.

-Thank you.

0:23:520:23:54

Well, there you are, look.

0:23:550:23:57

There's the fruits of our labour and just looking down at these now,

0:23:570:24:00

looking at everybody's work all at once, I can see mine

0:24:000:24:02

is by far the darkest and the heaviest and that's

0:24:020:24:06

because I've got massive great big hands like a builder,

0:24:060:24:10

I'm club-handed. I need to lighten up.

0:24:100:24:13

Well, I don't think I produced a masterpiece like some

0:24:160:24:19

of the works that are on display here.

0:24:190:24:20

But I'll tell you what,

0:24:200:24:22

I've been surprised by what you can learn with a few quick, simple tips.

0:24:220:24:26

So, if you've got the inclination to pick up a pencil or a little

0:24:260:24:29

piece of charcoal and start drawing, then please do it right now.

0:24:290:24:33

There's no time like the present and I bet you enjoy it.

0:24:330:24:37

Well, this is a show that's jam-packed full

0:24:410:24:44

of fine art from wonderful masterpieces here at Dunster Castle,

0:24:440:24:48

to affordable investment pieces at our valuation day

0:24:480:24:51

and to distinctly amateur attempts by my good self.

0:24:510:24:55

Now, though, a work of art of a different form.

0:24:550:24:58

James Lewis has spotted a work of art of the technical variety

0:24:580:25:01

back up in Scotland.

0:25:010:25:02

Jeannette, do you know something?

0:25:060:25:07

-I have always wanted to own one of those.

-A Breitling watch?

0:25:070:25:12

So, if you don't mind, I'll just... Just have a look. Oh.

0:25:120:25:18

I've got such fat paws that it won't go on.

0:25:180:25:20

-Brian was very, very small...wrist.

-Brian your, your...?

0:25:200:25:24

-My late husband.

-Your late husband, gosh. And this was his?

0:25:240:25:28

And it was his, yeah.

0:25:280:25:29

Because, I mean, that must have looked massive on him,

0:25:290:25:32

-just look at that.

-But he liked the thickness of it.

-The big, yeah. Wow.

0:25:320:25:37

I mean, this is the most amazing of wristwatches.

0:25:370:25:42

It's a pilot's watch.

0:25:420:25:44

And it's called the Navitimer

0:25:440:25:47

-simply because it was like wearing a computer on your wrist.

-Ah, I see.

0:25:470:25:52

You could do absolutely everything.

0:25:520:25:54

This isn't something that just tells the time.

0:25:540:25:57

If we just take the book out.

0:25:570:26:00

It is marvellous because, here we go.

0:26:000:26:03

Operation as a slide rule.

0:26:030:26:06

So it can be a slide rule.

0:26:060:26:09

-To work out your ground speed. By the watch.

-By the watch?

0:26:090:26:13

Miles per minute, calculated by the watch.

0:26:130:26:16

Gasoline consumption, calculated by the watch.

0:26:160:26:20

Distance in climb or descent.

0:26:200:26:23

-So it definitely was a pilot's instrument.

-Yeah, yeah. Very much.

0:26:230:26:28

-Did your husband fly?

-No, he was a civil servant.

0:26:280:26:31

-Civil servant, just loved it as a watch?

-Just loved it as a watch.

0:26:310:26:33

Brilliant. Well, I don't fly either but I'd love it as a watch.

0:26:330:26:37

And when you start looking at the quality of these things,

0:26:370:26:40

you start thinking about the cost, new.

0:26:400:26:44

These were a lot of money. They really were.

0:26:440:26:48

The box is the original and, looking at the style of the box

0:26:480:26:52

-and the style of the watch and strap, looks to be 1970s.

-Right.

0:26:520:26:57

Mid to second half of the 1970s. '75, '78, something like that.

0:26:570:27:02

Condition is good.

0:27:020:27:03

-There is a massive following for wristwatches at the moment.

-Really?

0:27:030:27:07

What would it cost, new, to buy one of those?

0:27:070:27:10

I know they are very expensive.

0:27:100:27:13

-About £6,000.

-Are they really?

-Yeah.

0:27:130:27:16

-Gosh, that's huge amount.

-Oh, yeah, that's why I've never bought one.

0:27:160:27:20

Mind you, I'd never buy a new one anyway.

0:27:200:27:23

But, second-hand, still a lot of money

0:27:230:27:26

because it's now worth £700 to £1,000.

0:27:260:27:28

Which is really, really good.

0:27:280:27:30

Which, OK, not the same as a new one

0:27:300:27:32

-but probably a lot more than it cost all those years ago.

-Oh, yes, it must've been.

0:27:320:27:36

But I think we should protect it with a reserve, £700 reserve.

0:27:360:27:41

If it doesn't make that...

0:27:410:27:42

James, would I be able to put that up to maybe 800?

0:27:420:27:45

If that would be OK, I'd like to do that, then.

0:27:450:27:47

It's your watch, it's your decision. Let's do that.

0:27:470:27:51

800 firm but that reserve also has to be at

0:27:510:27:55

the bottom end of the estimate.

0:27:550:27:56

So at 800 reserve,

0:27:560:27:58

let's put 800 to 1,200 on it as an estimate.

0:27:580:28:01

That's lovely, then. Thank you very much, indeed.

0:28:010:28:03

-Good luck, I think you'll do well.

-Thanks very much.

-Thank you.

0:28:030:28:06

Janet's husband was certainly a man of taste

0:28:060:28:08

and the proceeds of this sale will be going to his favourite charity.

0:28:080:28:12

So let's hope it does well.

0:28:120:28:13

What has four legs, a seat but you wouldn't want to sit on it?

0:28:150:28:19

Philip Serrell has found the answer in Wallasey Town Hall.

0:28:190:28:22

Dave, I have to say that, for you and I to sit on one of these,

0:28:240:28:28

-we'd want one for each cheek, wouldn't we?

-Not half.

0:28:280:28:32

That's about half, is what it is. Tell me all about this, then.

0:28:320:28:34

-Where's it come from?

-My grandmother had it.

0:28:340:28:37

I believe she got it when she was three years old.

0:28:370:28:40

-This is your granny's chair?

-Yeah. She was 84, 85 when she died.

0:28:400:28:46

-When was that?

-Oh, that must be about 44 years ago.

0:28:460:28:51

So 44 years ago is about 1970, isn't it?

0:28:510:28:55

-I've had it 45 years.

-Right, OK.

0:28:550:28:58

-So we're going back to around 1900ish, 1905, aren't we?

-Yeah.

0:28:580:29:02

So this is your granny's chair. It's been in the family for 80-odd years.

0:29:020:29:06

-Probably since it was made. And you're going to sell it?

-Yeah.

0:29:060:29:11

I've got two daughters and I don't want them fighting over it, you know.

0:29:120:29:16

I can sort of get that, I can sort of...

0:29:160:29:17

I think it's absolutely lovely.

0:29:170:29:19

What I love about this is it's just a miniature ladder-backed chair.

0:29:190:29:23

So we've got this ladder back here and we've got a lovely rush seat.

0:29:230:29:28

There's a very thin dividing line between patinate

0:29:280:29:31

and being completely worn out.

0:29:310:29:33

And there's...for me, there's three areas of collector for this.

0:29:330:29:38

You know, there's someone who collects what we call apprentice,

0:29:380:29:41

this is an apprentice piece.

0:29:410:29:43

You know, they're collecting apprentice-piece furniture,

0:29:430:29:46

or miniature furniture.

0:29:460:29:48

So, the first area of collectability is someone who's going to buy

0:29:480:29:51

small bits of furniture.

0:29:510:29:53

The next area of collectability is someone who's a doll or

0:29:530:29:55

a teddy-bear collector because what a fantastic prop that is.

0:29:550:29:59

But, for me, if you've got a child or a grandchild,

0:29:590:30:03

what a fantastic present to give them. You know, it is just original.

0:30:030:30:07

Look at this here. These legs are all chamfered.

0:30:070:30:10

There's an expression, "How does it turn up?"

0:30:100:30:12

This bottom here is just like the day it was made.

0:30:120:30:17

These spindles are all completely original.

0:30:170:30:20

If this was a full-sized chair, it's worth a fiver

0:30:200:30:24

but as a child's chair I think you could put a reserve on it,

0:30:240:30:27

a fixed reserve of £40, I think that you can

0:30:270:30:31

estimate it at £50 to £80

0:30:310:30:34

and I think that, if you have a real result at the auction, you might

0:30:340:30:39

just get three figures for it.

0:30:390:30:41

I think it's absolutely lovely, I'd love to own it.

0:30:410:30:43

So, what are you going to do - give your daughters half each?

0:30:430:30:47

-No, I'm going to go on holiday with it.

-I like him.

0:30:470:30:51

No, I'm going to go on holiday, I'm going to enjoy it.

0:30:530:30:57

Good lad.

0:30:570:30:59

Let's hope Dave manages to treat himself with

0:30:590:31:02

the proceeds from the sale and that the grandkids don't find out.

0:31:020:31:06

Mark Stacey has come across another unusual item

0:31:060:31:09

in the splendid Southwell Minster.

0:31:090:31:11

Sylvia, what a charming little object you've brought in.

0:31:140:31:17

Could you give me any of the history?

0:31:170:31:19

-It belonged to my brother who died about 12 years ago...

-Right.

0:31:190:31:23

..and left me quite a few things and I thought this was lovely.

0:31:230:31:27

This is a little miniature lamp.

0:31:270:31:30

-Coaching lamp or miner's lamp, something like that.

-Yes.

0:31:300:31:33

-And it's just very nicely made. It's hallmarked in Chester.

-Really?

0:31:330:31:38

The Chester Hallmark closed down many years ago now,

0:31:380:31:41

so it's quite an interesting little hallmark for 1912.

0:31:410:31:46

So it's just over 100 years old.

0:31:460:31:48

And it's got the maker's mark of Gray & Co, who specialised

0:31:490:31:52

in these little novelty items, little card cases,

0:31:520:31:55

little silver objects of virtue. And this is just what this is, isn't it?

0:31:550:32:00

-Yes, it is.

-It's got a few condition problems.

0:32:000:32:03

-There's a little bit of wear to the top there.

-Yes.

0:32:030:32:05

-Somebody's been overpolishing it a bit. Not you, I hope.

-Not me, no.

0:32:050:32:09

-Does the bottom come off?

-Yes, it does.

0:32:090:32:12

You can undo it and it's been dropped at some time

0:32:120:32:15

and it's got a bit of a dent at the bottom.

0:32:150:32:18

Oh, can you put a light in there?

0:32:180:32:20

You can, it's got a little sort of mechanism inside, I think,

0:32:200:32:23

for putting a little sort of wick.

0:32:230:32:26

-And then I suppose the light magnifies out of there.

-Wonderful.

0:32:260:32:30

-But it's a really funny, quirky little item, isn't it?

-Yes.

0:32:300:32:34

Now, you've had it for a number of years.

0:32:340:32:37

Have you ever thought about the value?

0:32:370:32:40

Some time ago I did take it to be valued and he said up to £500.

0:32:400:32:46

I think if it was in very good condition it might make that.

0:32:460:32:49

But because of the condition issues that I've mentioned, I think

0:32:490:32:53

we've got to temper that down a little bit in today's market.

0:32:530:32:56

Because, at the end of the day, they're quirky items

0:32:560:33:00

-but what on earth do you do with them?

-Absolutely, yes.

0:33:000:33:02

-You have to be a collector, really, don't you?

-Yes.

-You know?

0:33:020:33:05

I think if we put it into sale we've got to think realistically

0:33:050:33:09

and maybe put an estimate of 200 to 300 but with a reserve of 200.

0:33:090:33:14

-Would you be happy with that?

-Indeed, yes.

-Wonderful.

0:33:140:33:17

-And let's hope it lights up the saleroom.

-Let's hope, yes.

0:33:170:33:20

Now, all the items that you've seen on the show

0:33:230:33:25

so far have been in good condition.

0:33:250:33:27

There's something I want to point out to you

0:33:270:33:29

here in the library at Dunster Castle.

0:33:290:33:31

It is the fabulously preserved wallpaper.

0:33:310:33:34

The Victorian embossed wallpaper.

0:33:340:33:37

And if you look closely you can see an image of a bird.

0:33:370:33:39

Now, that bird is a hoopoe bird.

0:33:390:33:42

During the Victorian time there was a real fashion for this cheaper,

0:33:420:33:45

embossed wallpaper because it was a cheap imitation of the real thing -

0:33:450:33:49

painted, embossed leather wallpaper, which would cost a small fortune.

0:33:490:33:53

Now, the trick here is to keep this out of the sunlight

0:33:530:33:56

and I think they've done a wonderful job here.

0:33:560:33:58

Right, it's time to put our expert skills to the test as we go

0:33:580:34:02

over to the auction room

0:34:020:34:03

and here's a quick recap of what's going under the hammer.

0:34:030:34:07

Philip has given a modest valuation to the miniature chair

0:34:070:34:10

but has speculated it could make three figures.

0:34:100:34:13

Dave will be keeping his fingers crossed.

0:34:130:34:16

Sylvia's novelty miner's lamp is a quirky one but let's hope it

0:34:180:34:22

attracts some attention and meets its reserve price at least.

0:34:220:34:26

And there's no doubt, surely, that Janet's pilot's watch will fly away.

0:34:300:34:34

But will it sell for the heady heights of that top estimate?

0:34:340:34:38

First, over to Mellors and Kirk auctions

0:34:450:34:47

where Sylvia's unusual miniature lamp is up for sale.

0:34:470:34:51

Sylvia, it's great to see you again. Who's with you?

0:34:530:34:55

-Who've you brought along?

-My daughter, Suzanne.

0:34:550:34:58

-Pleased to meet you.

-How do you do?

-Hi, hi, hi.

0:34:580:35:00

Well, Mark was excited about this silver miner's lamp

0:35:000:35:03

because you've not seen a silver miner's lamp before.

0:35:030:35:05

No, and quirky bits of silver always seem to do well, don't they?

0:35:050:35:08

Yeah, it's a novelty thing, it's different

0:35:080:35:10

and you can't do comparables on it.

0:35:100:35:12

So someone's going to want to own this.

0:35:120:35:14

-Fingers crossed we get that top end. Ready for this?

-Yes.

0:35:140:35:17

-Been to an auction before?

-Yes.

-Yeah, quite a few times.

0:35:170:35:20

Right, here we go. Let's do it.

0:35:200:35:22

£100, I have bid on commission at 100,

0:35:220:35:25

and 10, 120, 130, 140, 150,

0:35:250:35:28

clears my book at 150.

0:35:280:35:30

160, 170, 180? At 170.

0:35:300:35:35

180. 190, 190.

0:35:350:35:39

200, 220, seated? At £200 the gentleman...

0:35:390:35:44

-200 on the reserve.

-Yes.

-I shall sell.

0:35:440:35:47

It's gone, you did it, it's gone, just. It's gone.

0:35:480:35:51

-Well done.

-Well done, Mark.

0:35:510:35:52

-Enjoy.

-Thank you.

-Thank you so much.

-Thank you.

0:35:520:35:56

Not bad. Now to expert and auctioneer,

0:35:560:35:58

Adam Partridge, as he puts the miniature chair under the hammer.

0:35:580:36:03

Well, I love this next lot going under the hammer.

0:36:030:36:05

It's a little child's leather-backed chair.

0:36:050:36:07

-It's got quality and it's got charm, Dave.

-Yeah.

0:36:070:36:10

-But it's also got family history.

-It has, yeah.

-Grandma's?

0:36:100:36:12

It was my grandmother's, yeah. She had it when she was a child.

0:36:120:36:15

Why are you flogging this?

0:36:150:36:17

Surely there's more generations of the family going on that

0:36:170:36:20

would love this, it's a great christening present.

0:36:200:36:22

I've got two daughters there and I don't want them squabbling over it.

0:36:220:36:25

-Does one of them love it?

-They both love it.

0:36:250:36:28

Look, I hope you come out winning all-round. That's all I can say.

0:36:280:36:31

Let's hope we get top money for this, then you can take them

0:36:310:36:34

all out for a meal.

0:36:340:36:35

It's going under the hammer right now.

0:36:350:36:37

Lot 45 is this little child's rush-seated chair.

0:36:370:36:41

There we are, cute little thing.

0:36:410:36:42

Nice for a child or a doll or a teddy bear. Lot number 45.

0:36:420:36:46

20, 5, 30, and 5. At £35, then.

0:36:460:36:49

I have 35, is there 40 in the room, or not? At £35, 40 in the corner.

0:36:490:36:53

At £40 in the corner now. At £40. 5, 45, 50. 50 bid.

0:36:530:36:58

It's £50 in the corner.

0:36:580:37:00

At £50, any advance on £50? Over this side now and we'll sell at £50.

0:37:000:37:06

Hopefully there's enough there to treat everybody.

0:37:060:37:09

-I'd just take the grandchildren out.

-No, it's going towards my holidays.

0:37:090:37:12

-Oh, is it? Well, good luck. Where are you going?

-Tenerife.

0:37:120:37:14

-Tenerife. Well, enjoy the weather, won't you?

-Oh, I will do.

0:37:140:37:17

Thank you, Dave.

0:37:170:37:18

Not quite the three figures we could have hoped for

0:37:180:37:21

but still a respectable amount and Dave seems happy.

0:37:210:37:24

Finally, I've been looking forward to this.

0:37:250:37:27

The pilot's watch is up for sale.

0:37:270:37:30

Time's up. No, don't go and put the kettle on. We haven't finished yet.

0:37:310:37:34

Going under the hammer right now we've got Janet's Breitling watch.

0:37:340:37:38

It's a navigator's watch for a pilot. And it was your husband's.

0:37:380:37:41

-All the money is going towards his charity, I believe.

-That's correct.

0:37:410:37:44

Deep down, I think we could double or triple this estimate.

0:37:440:37:47

-Triple would be amazing. But I'm hoping for above top end.

-Double.

0:37:480:37:54

-Double, come on, James.

-I'm hoping 1,650, 1,750, something that.

0:37:540:38:00

Look, I know it's out of our hands.

0:38:000:38:02

We can talk until the cows come home.

0:38:020:38:04

Right now it's all down to this lot. A room packed full of bidders.

0:38:040:38:07

Let's hand to the proceedings over to Anita Manning. Here we go.

0:38:070:38:10

A wonderful and rare watch, ladies and gentlemen.

0:38:110:38:14

I am able, from commission bids, to start the bidding at...

0:38:140:38:20

-£700.

-Oh.

-700.

0:38:200:38:24

It's a tease, don't worry, it's a tease.

0:38:240:38:28

750. 800.

0:38:280:38:29

850, 900,

0:38:290:38:32

950, 1,000, and 50.

0:38:320:38:35

1,100, and 50. 1,200, and 50.

0:38:350:38:40

1,300, and 50. 1,400, and 50.

0:38:400:38:45

1,500, 1,500.

0:38:450:38:49

-£1,500.

-Come on.

-1,500.

0:38:490:38:54

1,500 on the floor. Are you finished on the floor?

0:38:540:38:58

It's at 1,500.

0:38:580:39:02

Commission at 1,550?

0:39:020:39:05

1,580? 1,600.

0:39:070:39:10

You're there, James. You said 16, didn't you?

0:39:100:39:13

I'll take 20 if you wish? 1,620, the book is out.

0:39:140:39:19

Oh. Wow, that £20.

0:39:190:39:22

1,620, any advance on 1,620?

0:39:220:39:25

All done at 1,620, 1,620.

0:39:250:39:29

-Yes, £1,620.

-APPLAUSE

0:39:290:39:34

Brilliant, happy with that.

0:39:340:39:36

And that's going to two charities. You were spot on.

0:39:360:39:39

-Wasn't he spot on?

-Absolutely.

-Well done, James. And well done, Anita.

0:39:390:39:43

-Thank you for bringing something like that in. Good luck.

-Thank you.

0:39:430:39:47

Well done.

0:39:470:39:49

What an eclectic mix of collectables we've had on today's show.

0:39:490:39:54

Join us again soon to appreciate some art, relish some history

0:39:540:39:57

and enjoy some more exciting auction action.

0:39:570:40:01

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