0:00:06 > 0:00:08Birmingham is famous throughout the world for its gold
0:00:08 > 0:00:12and silverwares and what better symbol than this sparkling gem
0:00:12 > 0:00:15of a piece of architecture, its new library,
0:00:15 > 0:00:19to put contemporary Birmingham well and truly on the international map?
0:00:19 > 0:00:24It's a city rich in history and now a first-class cultural destination.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26Welcome to the show!
0:00:49 > 0:00:52For the past 250 years, Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter
0:00:52 > 0:00:56has been the epicentre of the country's jewellery design,
0:00:56 > 0:01:01with the historic square mile itself being declared a national treasure.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05This city's certainly not shy in promoting its glittering heritage.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07Even the statues are gold-plated.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13Our venue today is Birmingham's Museum and Art Gallery.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16It's a beautiful Victorian building, a work of art in its own right,
0:01:16 > 0:01:20and it's situated right in the heart of the city's civic centre.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22The last time they saw a crowd as big as this
0:01:22 > 0:01:24was just after the incredible discovery
0:01:24 > 0:01:28of the Staffordshire Hoard, found by a local man,
0:01:28 > 0:01:31the largest and most valuable Anglo-Saxon treasure
0:01:31 > 0:01:32ever to be discovered.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35But today, it's a blockbuster of a different kind.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38We're looking out for treasures from the world of art and antiques
0:01:38 > 0:01:41and there's only one question on this lot's mind, which is...
0:01:41 > 0:01:43ALL: What's it worth?
0:01:43 > 0:01:45Stay tuned and you'll find out.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55Hunting for their own treasure today are experts James Lewis
0:01:55 > 0:01:58and Christina Trevanion.
0:01:58 > 0:01:59It doesn't have a mark!
0:01:59 > 0:02:01- Does yours have a mark?- Yes!- Ooh!
0:02:02 > 0:02:05- Hang on a minute, what does yours say?- Nine carat.
0:02:05 > 0:02:06What does yours say? Nothing.
0:02:06 > 0:02:07Doesn't say anything.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09- I'll swap you. - THEY LAUGH
0:02:10 > 0:02:14Later in the programme, I find out how one lucky metal detectorist
0:02:14 > 0:02:17got in touch with his inner Midas.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19- You've got a mantra, have you?- Oh, yeah.
0:02:19 > 0:02:20"Spirits of yesteryears,
0:02:20 > 0:02:22"take me where the gold appears."
0:02:22 > 0:02:24That was it, really, was it?
0:02:24 > 0:02:28And I take a closer look at some of the museum's own treasures.
0:02:28 > 0:02:29That's real history.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36As you can see, we've taken over the museum's Rotunda Gallery
0:02:36 > 0:02:38for our valuation day tables,
0:02:38 > 0:02:40and our experts are hard at work in here.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42In the centre is the archangel Lucifer,
0:02:42 > 0:02:44by modernist sculptor Jacob Epstein
0:02:44 > 0:02:48and it looks like Lucifer's just about to step off the plinth
0:02:48 > 0:02:50and help out with our valuations.
0:02:50 > 0:02:51We might need him later on,
0:02:51 > 0:02:53but right now, James Lewis is over there,
0:02:53 > 0:02:56he's at the Flog It! tables, he's spotted a real gem.
0:02:56 > 0:02:57Let's catch up with him.
0:03:00 > 0:03:01When I was a little boy
0:03:01 > 0:03:04with my mum and dad at the weekend, on a Saturday night,
0:03:04 > 0:03:06I used to be given a treat.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08Instead of sitting round the dining table,
0:03:08 > 0:03:11we would have our tea on our knee in front the TV
0:03:11 > 0:03:15and it used to be Harold Lloyd or Laurel & Hardy
0:03:15 > 0:03:19and I loved Laurel & Hardy, absolutely fantastic.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22- Were you a fan when you were...? - Big fan.- Still a fan?
0:03:22 > 0:03:24Still a fan of Laurel & Hardy, yes.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27Is this something a relative of yours collected?
0:03:27 > 0:03:29No, I was a delivery driver
0:03:29 > 0:03:32and I used to deliver to one of the Dudley hospitals
0:03:32 > 0:03:34and the fella in the goods-in department
0:03:34 > 0:03:38was talking about actors and film stars and said he had an autograph
0:03:38 > 0:03:42of Laurel & Hardy. I said, in a Black Country term, "Yo ay!"
0:03:42 > 0:03:44He says, "I have!"
0:03:44 > 0:03:47So he asked if I was interested in buying it.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50I agreed a fee with him and I bought it off him.
0:03:50 > 0:03:55Apparently, his sister used to go with a fella named Eddie
0:03:55 > 0:03:58who played the piano at the Wolverhampton Hippodrome,
0:03:58 > 0:04:00so he got the autograph off of Laurel & Hardy
0:04:00 > 0:04:02cos they were appearing there in Wolverhampton.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04OK, let's have a look.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07Here we have a page from a programme.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10It appears to be signed by Laurel & Hardy.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13The big question is, is it right or is it wrong?
0:04:13 > 0:04:15Because the bigger the name,
0:04:15 > 0:04:18and you don't get much bigger than Laurel & Hardy,
0:04:18 > 0:04:19the more common the fakes.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23We see an awful lot of fake Laurel & Hardy signatures.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25One of the most important things is to have that provenance,
0:04:25 > 0:04:27to have that confidence,
0:04:27 > 0:04:30that we know how the person came by it.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34Anybody who was a friend of Eddie, and Eddie was the piano player
0:04:34 > 0:04:36and therefore worked with them,
0:04:36 > 0:04:38- is a great provenance.- Right.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40It's almost as good as seeing them sign it.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44There are various things you look for with a Laurel & Hardy signature.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48You see that Stan Laurel has signed in fountain pen...
0:04:48 > 0:04:52- Yes.- ..and Oliver Hardy has signed in ball pen.
0:04:52 > 0:04:58After 1947, Oliver Hardy always used a ball pen,
0:04:58 > 0:05:02but Stan Laurel continued to use a fountain pen to sign
0:05:02 > 0:05:04all of the time, he never converted,
0:05:04 > 0:05:08so you expect Oliver Hardy to be in a ball pen, and he is.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12You expect Stan Laurel to be in a fountain pen, and he is.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14The other thing they always did
0:05:14 > 0:05:18was they always signed their name on the side of the image
0:05:18 > 0:05:22where their image was, so here we have Stan Laurel on the left
0:05:22 > 0:05:24and Oliver Hardy's signature on the right,
0:05:24 > 0:05:26so another telltale sign that it's right.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29If you were going to fake something like this,
0:05:29 > 0:05:31you certainly wouldn't fake it
0:05:31 > 0:05:34and then put a great, big crease down it, because that devalues it.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy signatures
0:05:39 > 0:05:41almost always have a set value,
0:05:41 > 0:05:44so auction estimate - £200-£300.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48- I'm confident it'll do well. - Oh, thank you.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50- Is that all right?- I'm pleased.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52You had me sweating for a bit. JAMES LAUGHS
0:05:52 > 0:05:53No, I think it's OK.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57Not sweating, Will, laughing!
0:05:57 > 0:06:00Along with our own favourite slapstick double act.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09That's another nice mess you've gotten me into!
0:06:09 > 0:06:11Ollie, is that really you?
0:06:11 > 0:06:13- Of course it's me. - Gee, I'm glad to see you.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19Well, they don't make 'em like that any more,
0:06:19 > 0:06:22and here's another fine mess for Christina to untangle.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27So, Mary-Ann, here we are in the Industrial Gallery
0:06:27 > 0:06:31and it's stacked full of just the most beautiful things, isn't it?
0:06:31 > 0:06:34Just like this little bag of tricks that you've brought in to me.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37I haven't actually opened the bag yet, but it looks intriguing.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41- My aunt gave it to me about 15 year ago.- Right, OK.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44And it's obviously got a good jumble of opals in it, hasn't it?
0:06:44 > 0:06:47- Is this how you got it? - Yes, it's in the same bag.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51We've got a bracelet, which is very pretty.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55And we've got a necklace that is slightly worse for wear
0:06:55 > 0:06:56going on here.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00But nonetheless, very pretty.
0:07:00 > 0:07:01Did Aunt ever wear them?
0:07:01 > 0:07:05- I'm not sure if she ever wore them. - Right, OK.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08But my aunt, she raised us,
0:07:08 > 0:07:10and I used to stay with my aunt a lot,
0:07:10 > 0:07:14- and we come from a travelling community.- Right, OK.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19And she was the first one ever to put my sticky-out dress on
0:07:19 > 0:07:22- and put my hair in rag curls. - Oh, really?!- Yes.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25And she just wanted me to have these,
0:07:25 > 0:07:28but I don't think she ever wore them.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32This is a perfect illustration of why people think
0:07:32 > 0:07:34that opals are unlucky,
0:07:34 > 0:07:37because so much of their composition is made of basically a gel,
0:07:37 > 0:07:39so much of it is water,
0:07:39 > 0:07:41that they dehydrate, they shrink,
0:07:41 > 0:07:43and they fall out of their settings.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45That's exactly what's happened here, isn't it?
0:07:45 > 0:07:48So we've got one missing off this bracelet here -
0:07:48 > 0:07:50we've got a lovely row of opals
0:07:50 > 0:07:52and then this beautiful fringe necklace,
0:07:52 > 0:07:56- but unfortunately, it's not very fringe-y any more.- No, it's not.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58We have got some loose stones and things here,
0:07:58 > 0:08:00which obviously would have been part of it here,
0:08:00 > 0:08:03and we've still got some of them, so that's the main thing.
0:08:03 > 0:08:04When we look at valuing jewellery
0:08:04 > 0:08:07and look at valuing opals specifically,
0:08:07 > 0:08:10we look at the colour and the play of colour that's in the opal,
0:08:10 > 0:08:13and these do have a particularly nice play of colour.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16I would say that the pieces are quite contemporary in date,
0:08:16 > 0:08:191880-1890, late Victorian in era,
0:08:19 > 0:08:22and they're obviously set in a yellow gold.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24Have we got any marks on here?
0:08:24 > 0:08:28We've got a very faint nine-carat mark there,
0:08:28 > 0:08:29just on that little ring there,
0:08:29 > 0:08:32which is very, very faint but still there nonetheless.
0:08:32 > 0:08:33If they're in good condition,
0:08:33 > 0:08:36I would have suggested putting them separately,
0:08:36 > 0:08:38but they're not, and I think to sell them,
0:08:38 > 0:08:41really we'd be looking at selling them as one lot here.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43Yeah, that's fine.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46I'm going to say at auction, I would hope that the two of them
0:08:46 > 0:08:49- would fetch somewhere in the region of £200-£300.- Yep.
0:08:49 > 0:08:53Maybe with a reserve slightly lower, sort of the 160 level,
0:08:53 > 0:08:56and let's just hope we've got some opal lovers in the sale room,
0:08:56 > 0:08:59and I think opal is the sign for Libra,
0:08:59 > 0:09:02so let's hope we've got some Librans in the sale room as well!
0:09:03 > 0:09:04- Best of luck.- OK, thank you.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09Librans or not, those opals are sure to brighten up the sale room.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13Now, while the valuations are in full swing,
0:09:13 > 0:09:17I've come to see one of the museum's most treasured objects.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22Away from all of the lights, the camera and the action,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25the hubbub where the valuations are taking place,
0:09:25 > 0:09:29I've come deeper into the heart of the museum to the Buddha Gallery,
0:09:29 > 0:09:34and it's dominated by this one statue, the Sultanganj Buddha,
0:09:34 > 0:09:36and it has a wonderful story attached to it,
0:09:36 > 0:09:37which I'd like to tell you.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40It was discovered by a railway engineer
0:09:40 > 0:09:43working for the East India Company back in 1861.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46He saw a hand sticking out the ground
0:09:46 > 0:09:48and, after some careful excavation,
0:09:48 > 0:09:52this whole statue was revealed and it's quite remarkable
0:09:52 > 0:09:55to find something surviving from that age made of metal.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57This dates back to the seventh century.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00He would have been at the centre of an ancient Buddhist monastery,
0:10:00 > 0:10:02and if you're wondering what he's doing with his hands,
0:10:02 > 0:10:06the right hand's palm open in the air, that's a gesture of piece.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08The left hand opened outwards facing downwards,
0:10:08 > 0:10:12that's a gesture of giving, it's a blessing and he's beckoning you
0:10:12 > 0:10:15into the museum, and that's why he's situated here.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18You can spot him from 150 yards away,
0:10:18 > 0:10:20from that Rotunda Gallery, all the way down there,
0:10:20 > 0:10:23through the Industrial Gallery to this space here,
0:10:23 > 0:10:24and as you walk through,
0:10:24 > 0:10:28he's calling you in and it has a really calming effect.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30I love him - that's real history.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40MUSIC: On Treasure Island by Tommy Dorsey
0:10:43 > 0:10:46We can hardly move for treasures today.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48Let's see what James has netted himself.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54So, Raymond, tell me, are you a gin drinker?
0:10:54 > 0:10:58- Erm, a little bit.- Enough to empty four bottles?- No, not really, no.
0:10:58 > 0:11:03- These are classic Dutch 19th-century gin bottles...- Wow.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05..that we see a little bit in England,
0:11:05 > 0:11:08but you see a lot more on the Continent.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11Very few arrive here in England,
0:11:11 > 0:11:13so is there a history behind these?
0:11:13 > 0:11:17- There is a history. My family are from Guyana...- Right.
0:11:17 > 0:11:22..and my nan bought them in a place in Georgetown in 1980
0:11:22 > 0:11:23for 200 Guyanese dollars.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26- So what does that equate to? - About £10.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30- OK.- So that's a lot of money in those days, especially for Guyanese.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34- Yeah.- They were found by somebody else on a beach.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36You can understand the Dutch being there -
0:11:36 > 0:11:37the Dutch had colonised Guyana,
0:11:37 > 0:11:41the Dutch were big traders,
0:11:41 > 0:11:46gin was used in huge quantities to bargain for all sorts of goods.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49These are square for one very simple reason -
0:11:49 > 0:11:52that they were much easier to transport and pack,
0:11:52 > 0:11:54so they would have gone in the crates like that,
0:11:54 > 0:11:56side by side,
0:11:56 > 0:11:59and that's the way they logically fit.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03Gin was traded for slaves as well in the 19th century,
0:12:03 > 0:12:08so gin was always seen as the evil drink.
0:12:08 > 0:12:13Even Hogarth painted a series of pictures about drinking
0:12:13 > 0:12:18and Gin Lane - if you saw the illustration of Gin Lane by Hogarth,
0:12:18 > 0:12:20it's a not a great scene.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22It's not a, "Darling, shall we have a gin and tonic?",
0:12:22 > 0:12:23- as it is today.- No!
0:12:23 > 0:12:27Gin was not a great thing to be drinking in the 19th century,
0:12:27 > 0:12:28or the 18th century.
0:12:28 > 0:12:34So we've got bottles dating to about 1820, 1850.
0:12:34 > 0:12:38That one is worth about £40-£60,
0:12:38 > 0:12:42that one is worth another £20-£30,
0:12:42 > 0:12:46and these are worth 10, 15 each, something like that.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50My recommendation would be to sell them as a group
0:12:50 > 0:12:52and put an auction estimate of £80-£120 on them,
0:12:52 > 0:12:55- something like that. - OK, thank you.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57- How do you feel, is that all right? - Excellent.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59- It's better than £10, isn't it? - Definitely.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02So 30 years ago, they've paid 10, they're now worth 100,
0:13:02 > 0:13:06- that's not a bad investment. - No, no, that's a good investment.
0:13:06 > 0:13:07You need to go beach-combing!
0:13:07 > 0:13:10- I certainly will! - See what else you can find.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13- Thank you very much indeed, James. - Well done.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16MUSIC: Message In A Bottle by The Police
0:13:19 > 0:13:22This gallery is a perfect example of industry and art
0:13:22 > 0:13:24working together in harmony.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27All the elements are here creating a dynamic
0:13:27 > 0:13:28and when you put them together,
0:13:28 > 0:13:30it really is something special -
0:13:30 > 0:13:33the wonderful vaulted iron girders here,
0:13:33 > 0:13:35natural daylight flooding through the ceiling,
0:13:35 > 0:13:37lighting up all the objects,
0:13:37 > 0:13:41and, of course, original gaslights and this wonderful balcony,
0:13:41 > 0:13:43so you can see everything going on below.
0:13:43 > 0:13:44Talking of visual treats,
0:13:44 > 0:13:47it's now time for our first visit to the auction room.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55Well, it's another fine mix of items we're taking with us,
0:13:55 > 0:13:58starting with William's Laurel & Hardy signatures
0:13:58 > 0:14:00and their airtight provenance...
0:14:01 > 0:14:05..Mary-Ann's dazzling jewels from down under,
0:14:05 > 0:14:07and will Raymond's bottles,
0:14:07 > 0:14:10with their mysterious stories of far-flung oceans
0:14:10 > 0:14:13and shipwrecks bewitch the bidders?
0:14:20 > 0:14:23We've travelled to the market town of Stourbridge
0:14:23 > 0:14:25and Fieldings Auctioneers,
0:14:25 > 0:14:28where we're always assured of a warm welcome from the proprietor,
0:14:28 > 0:14:30our very own Nick Davies.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33The great thing about the antiques market is
0:14:33 > 0:14:35it's all about fads and trends,
0:14:35 > 0:14:38getting in at the right time, and making that profit.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41What's hot right now? What does everyone want around Birmingham?
0:14:41 > 0:14:44The word everyone's using at the moment is "vintage".
0:14:44 > 0:14:48So '50s, '60s, that type of thing is very popular,
0:14:48 > 0:14:49especially with young professionals.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53We have a couple of design sales a year to incorporate that.
0:14:53 > 0:14:54That's what you're doing?
0:14:54 > 0:14:56So you're encouraging the younger buyers in?
0:14:56 > 0:14:59Absolutely, yeah - got to have fresh blood, keep it going.
0:14:59 > 0:15:00Course you have, cos they grew up with that,
0:15:00 > 0:15:03- so they're going to want a piece of it back.- Nostalgia always sells.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07Well, talking about nostalgia, great comedy double acts,
0:15:07 > 0:15:09Laurel & Hardy - that's proper nostalgia, isn't it?
0:15:09 > 0:15:11Proper nostalgia, proper slapstick.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13One of the best. Two of the best!
0:15:13 > 0:15:16- This belongs to William. He paid £120 for this.- Right.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19We've got it valued at 200-300.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22I think that's about right. I don't see there's a problem with it.
0:15:22 > 0:15:23- Will we get 200-300? - I've sold them before,
0:15:23 > 0:15:25I've got another couple actually in this sale.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28And are these better than your other examples
0:15:28 > 0:15:30- because they're on a little programme card?- They are.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33The others are on little bits of paper, so that always helps.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36Good, good, because we don't want someone buying the other lots first
0:15:36 > 0:15:38and then running out of money to get to this one.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40Does this one come up first?
0:15:40 > 0:15:43- This one does come up first, actually.- It's sold.
0:15:43 > 0:15:44For how much, we don't know.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47Whatever you do, don't go away - this could get quite exciting.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52And don't forget, there's the auctioneer's commission to consider.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55Here at Fieldings, the seller's commission is 18%.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00Did you know, there were two other lots in the sale room
0:16:00 > 0:16:02- both with Laurel & Hardy signatures? - Really?
0:16:02 > 0:16:05Yeah, so there are three lots of signatures here.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07I had a chat to Nick at the preview day yesterday
0:16:07 > 0:16:09and he said your lot is the best.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11- It is.- It really is, yes. The others are on scraps of paper.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14Yours is on something quite official.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16Can I ask why you're selling?
0:16:16 > 0:16:18I've got a few jobs on my car to be done.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21- A few jobs on the garden? - On the car.- On the car?- Yes.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23Make it last another 12 months.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25Oh, yeah. You need your wheels, don't you?
0:16:25 > 0:16:27- You do, yeah.- OK.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29We'll make sure that happens.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31The signatures are going under the hammer right now.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34Let's see how they do.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36284, the Laurel & Hardy programme.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39This is nice, from the Wolverhampton Hippodrome.
0:16:39 > 0:16:44£230 takes the underbidders out, just above bottom estimate, 230.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47Couple of people interested. Do I see 240 anywhere else in the room?
0:16:47 > 0:16:48We're at 240. 250?
0:16:48 > 0:16:52You're out and done with 240 in the room now. 250 anywhere else?
0:16:52 > 0:16:54At £240 for the Laurel & Hardy,
0:16:54 > 0:16:56at 240 all done.
0:16:56 > 0:17:01- £240 - you're happy with that. - I'm happy, yeah.- I'm happy with that.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04- Well done.- Thank you so much for bringing that in.
0:17:04 > 0:17:09It's put a smile on everyone's face - the greatest comedy duo ever.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13William doubled his money and he's very happy with that.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16Is this the beginning of a winning streak?
0:17:16 > 0:17:1720, all done?
0:17:18 > 0:17:21- Mary-Ann, you inherited this, what, 15 years ago?- Yeah, I did.
0:17:21 > 0:17:22Never worn them?
0:17:22 > 0:17:25Never even tried them on. Did the girls dress up and try them on?
0:17:25 > 0:17:27- No.- No? Aww!
0:17:27 > 0:17:30Look, hopefully, somebody will today. Someone's going to buy them.
0:17:30 > 0:17:31Let's put them to the test.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34Here we go, they're going under the hammer right now.
0:17:34 > 0:17:39£200, starts the underbidders at £200. Do I see 210? 220, 230,
0:17:39 > 0:17:40240, 250,
0:17:40 > 0:17:42260, says no.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44250 in the room, 260 anywhere else?
0:17:44 > 0:17:45Right, we're in.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47£250, in the room at 250.
0:17:47 > 0:17:51260 anywhere else? At £250, seated in the room...
0:17:51 > 0:17:52HAMMER FALLS
0:17:52 > 0:17:54- WHat did you think of that, girls? - Was that good?
0:17:54 > 0:17:57- Good, yeah?- It's quick, isn't it?- Good?
0:17:57 > 0:17:59- Thumbs up?- Well done.- Job well done.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03I'm sure that'll pay for a wonderful family event.
0:18:05 > 0:18:06Going under the hammer right now -
0:18:06 > 0:18:09four Dutch gin bottles belonging to Raymond and the gin has gone
0:18:09 > 0:18:12and there wasn't even a message in the bottle, was there?
0:18:12 > 0:18:14- No, there wasn't.- Nevertheless, nice-looking bottles.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17I like the square ones - quite rare to this country.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19Why are you selling these?
0:18:19 > 0:18:22We had them in our family since 1980
0:18:22 > 0:18:25and we bought them in Guyana, Georgetown,
0:18:25 > 0:18:27and we just wanted a little clearout.
0:18:27 > 0:18:28OK.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31I just thought, as a sort of prop, you're a chef -
0:18:31 > 0:18:34have them on the kitchen shelf somewhere, looks good.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38- We've got a few more bottles. - Put some olive oil in there?
0:18:38 > 0:18:41- Genius!- There we go. - I don't like food.
0:18:41 > 0:18:42You can tell!
0:18:44 > 0:18:47Here we go, we're putting it to the test. This is it.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54£80, we're off and running at £80. 85 anywhere else in the room?
0:18:54 > 0:18:57£80 on commission, 85, 90, 5.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00You sure? £90 on commission. 95 anywhere else?
0:19:00 > 0:19:01They've gone, Raymond.
0:19:01 > 0:19:0295 anywhere else?
0:19:02 > 0:19:05£90 on commission, the four bottles are going to sell at 90.
0:19:05 > 0:19:0795, he's back.
0:19:07 > 0:19:08You're out now.
0:19:08 > 0:19:1195, he's back. You're out at 100.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Does anybody else want to jump in at £100?
0:19:13 > 0:19:17We're £95. All done and finished at £95 for the bottles. Finish?
0:19:18 > 0:19:22- Yes, £95. Well done. Put it there. - Thank you very much.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24- Job done as well. - Thank you very much.- Great.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29That proves there's a buyer for everything.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32At £200 all done.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35We all dream of finding something in an auction,
0:19:35 > 0:19:38buying it for next to nothing and selling for an absolute fortune,
0:19:38 > 0:19:41that sleeper, or finding something in a car boot sale,
0:19:41 > 0:19:44the garden shed, or digging something up in the garden.
0:19:44 > 0:19:46For most of us, that is a dream,
0:19:46 > 0:19:50but for the lucky few, that dream has come true. Take a look at this.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59BEEPING
0:20:02 > 0:20:03Let's face it -
0:20:03 > 0:20:06people that use metal detectors get a tough time from the rest of us,
0:20:06 > 0:20:10and I know this for fact because my dad had one of these in the '70s
0:20:10 > 0:20:12and we all took the mickey out of him.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16But for the lucky few, the last laugh is on us,
0:20:16 > 0:20:20because back in 2009, in a muddy field in Staffordshire,
0:20:20 > 0:20:22Terry Herbert struck gold,
0:20:22 > 0:20:27and I mean he literally struck gold. Not one piece, not ten pieces,
0:20:27 > 0:20:29but hundreds of pieces!
0:20:31 > 0:20:35Terry had lifted the lid on a treasure that had lain undisturbed
0:20:35 > 0:20:37for over 1,300 years.
0:20:38 > 0:20:43Within days, a professional archaeological dig had been set up.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46Soon, Terry's 300 pieces of gold
0:20:46 > 0:20:50had turned into a staggering 3,000 individual pieces.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53It was the largest haul and the most valuable haul
0:20:53 > 0:20:55of Anglo-Saxon treasure ever discovered.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59Dating from the sixth century,
0:20:59 > 0:21:03these glittering Anglo-Saxon jewels were from the Dark Ages,
0:21:03 > 0:21:06when Britain was made up of several warring kingdoms,
0:21:06 > 0:21:08a brutal and bloodthirsty epoch.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13STEEL CLANGS AND MEN SHOUT
0:21:13 > 0:21:15The Staffordshire Hoard, as it became known,
0:21:15 > 0:21:17made headlines around the world.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22The biggest haul ever found of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver,
0:21:22 > 0:21:26shedding new light on one of most mysterious times in British history.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28..treasure that's been lost for more than 1,000 years.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31There's so much gold, it'll be worth millions.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33When the treasure went on show at the museum,
0:21:33 > 0:21:38a record-breaking 40,000 people came to see it.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41Absolutely fantastic. It hasn't disappointed one little bit.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43- It's been brilliant. - I'm a jeweller,
0:21:43 > 0:21:46so it's quite a thrill to have a look at it, to be honest.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52The treasure was valued at £3.3 million,
0:21:52 > 0:21:56which was shared between the owner of the land on which it was found
0:21:56 > 0:21:57and a delighted Terry.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02Talk me through exactly what went on that day.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05I got out into the field about quarter past 11.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08I did a bit of metal detecting.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11Nothing was coming up so I had my little saying...
0:22:11 > 0:22:16You're got a mantra, have you? What is it?
0:22:16 > 0:22:19"Spirit of yesteryears, take me where the coins appears."
0:22:19 > 0:22:23- But why on this day I changed it, I still don't know.- Changed it to what?
0:22:23 > 0:22:25"Spirits of yesteryears, take me where the gold appears."
0:22:25 > 0:22:27HE LAUGHS
0:22:27 > 0:22:33- Really?- And within half an hour I suddenly found this piece.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36I thought it was off a jewellery box or something. But when I looked
0:22:36 > 0:22:41at it with my magnifying glass I thought, "Could be a piece of gold."
0:22:41 > 0:22:45So that went in my pocket and I carried on.
0:22:45 > 0:22:51- The next thing to come off was a pommel off a sword.- Wow!
0:22:51 > 0:22:54On that day I found 25-50 items.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58But I didn't realise then how much was on that field.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00That was the big shock, that was.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03Does this bring back lots of memories coming in here today?
0:23:03 > 0:23:06- It's been a few years for you. - It has, yeah.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11But it's nice to see what I'd actually found.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17Terry wasn't the only one excited by the find.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20For the museum's archaeology department and its curator,
0:23:20 > 0:23:24David Symonds, it was as if all their Christmases had come at once.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26It's absolutely astonishing.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30I never, ever in my career thought I'd be holding this kind of treasure.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35To think that these are 1,300 years old is unbelievable.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40What was it like when you realised the true extent of the hoard?
0:23:40 > 0:23:42I think the only word is unbelievable.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44I mean literally unbelievable.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46Because nothing like this had been found before
0:23:46 > 0:23:50and you just looked at it and more and more of the most incredible
0:23:50 > 0:23:53items appeared and you could not believe what you were looking at.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56When you look at Anglo-Saxon Britain you think of the Dark Ages and a
0:23:56 > 0:24:00sort of brutal feudal society but you don't necessarily think of
0:24:00 > 0:24:04exquisite craftsmanship and I have been blown away by looking at this.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06Especially the filigree work.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09They must have had wonderful workshops back then in order
0:24:09 > 0:24:13to twist these fine threads of gold, weave them together and plait them.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16The workmanship is incredible but I think the thing about
0:24:16 > 0:24:18dark ages is they're only dark
0:24:18 > 0:24:20because we don't have the written history.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23It doesn't mean the people weren't capable of producing the most
0:24:23 > 0:24:24incredible things like this.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27But, yes, the workmanship is literally astounding.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30And just talk me through the bulk of the hoard.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33Was it weapons or things to be worn?
0:24:33 > 0:24:35That was one of the shocks with the hoard
0:24:35 > 0:24:40because it's overwhelmingly what we recognise as military kit.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43But it's not straight pieces of military equipment.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46For example, a lot of the things we see here.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48This is a reproduction Anglo-Saxon sword.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53If you look at the handle you'll find we've got a pommel cap
0:24:53 > 0:24:56and these pieces here are pommel caps.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59You can see they've all been torn off the sword.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02We don't have the sword blades. That's the really interesting thing.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04The good quality Anglo-Saxon sword blade was probably
0:25:04 > 0:25:06worth as much as the gold on the handle.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08So it's very interesting they're not there.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10- So it was just the gold ripped off? - Yep.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13That's what makes me thing it's a treasure find.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15It's actually the gold and silver they're interested in.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18- And I think this lot was destined for the melting pot.- You do?
0:25:18 > 0:25:21I don't think anybody cared how lovely it was.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24Talk me through some of the pieces anyway.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26I'll start you with one pommel cap over here.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29This is the gold and garnet work complete with the gold pins
0:25:29 > 0:25:34- that fixed it on.- Gosh. I'm surprised they're still intact.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36We're very lucky with this bit.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39- If I just move this in the light. - It does catch the light beautifully.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42When you see that shine you think
0:25:42 > 0:25:44they must have looked magnificent with this kind of kit on.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47It's very intriguing because if you notice in this piece,
0:25:47 > 0:25:50- you see that stamped gold foil in the middle?- Yes, it's cross-hatched.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54That's what's making these other little garnets shine so much.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57It's very much as if you're making a bicycle reflector.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00You have to have something shiny behind the red glass
0:26:00 > 0:26:02so the light goes through and then shines back again.
0:26:02 > 0:26:06One suggestion is it's meant to look like an eye and the shape is right.
0:26:06 > 0:26:07It could be, couldn't it?
0:26:07 > 0:26:11This is another really intriguing piece.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14If you look carefully you'll see at one end that it's meant
0:26:14 > 0:26:15to have a little snake head.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17Oh, yes. I can see that.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19So the whole thing is the interlaced body of a snake.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22- Yes!- We've seen nothing like these before.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26I'm not an expert but I'd say the people that owned this
0:26:26 > 0:26:28sort of thing were the upper echelon of society?
0:26:28 > 0:26:31You're absolutely looking at elite warriors.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34If I'm the king of one of the local Anglo-Saxon kingdoms
0:26:34 > 0:26:36I want really good warriors around me
0:26:36 > 0:26:39because they are the men who will help me keep power and basically
0:26:39 > 0:26:42beat up my neighbours until they give me treasure to go away.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45The best description I've heard of one of these type of people
0:26:45 > 0:26:48are that they're the psychopathic peacocks around the throne.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50And you have to imagine them
0:26:50 > 0:26:54decked out in all this finery going into battle looking like this.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58People sometimes say, "Is this parade armour or parade weaponry?" No.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01This is deliberately there to show how important you are
0:27:01 > 0:27:03and how dangerous you are.
0:27:03 > 0:27:08This is a once-in-a-lifetime find for Terry but for you
0:27:08 > 0:27:11- and many other academics this is the rest of your life, isn't it?- It is.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15It's fair to say it changed my life in the past five years
0:27:15 > 0:27:19and I know that long after I'm gone from the museum people will be
0:27:19 > 0:27:20arguing about this find.
0:27:20 > 0:27:2430, 40 years down the line those arguments will be going on
0:27:24 > 0:27:27and it's wonderful to know you've been part of that story.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31What does it feel like to be the person
0:27:31 > 0:27:34responsible for all of the experts all over the world
0:27:34 > 0:27:37in Anglo-Saxon artefacts to come here
0:27:37 > 0:27:41and pit their wits against each other and look at this in awe?
0:27:41 > 0:27:42It feels fantastic.
0:27:42 > 0:27:47To find something like this cos it's gone on display
0:27:47 > 0:27:50- so everybody in the world now can see it.- Exactly.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52- Do you think there's a lot more out there still?- Yes.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55Around the UK there's got to be another one of these somewhere.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57There's got to be.
0:27:57 > 0:28:01- Are you still actively looking? - I'm still looking. Still looking.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09# Like finding a needle in a haystack
0:28:09 > 0:28:11# Like finding a needle in a haystack
0:28:11 > 0:28:14# Yeah, yeah, shadoop. #
0:28:14 > 0:28:16Welcome back to Birmingham's
0:28:16 > 0:28:19Museum and Art Gallery, where our valuation day is in full swing.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22Hundreds of people are turning up throughout the day.
0:28:22 > 0:28:23We've taken over
0:28:23 > 0:28:26the Industrial Gallery, which is housing our queue.
0:28:26 > 0:28:28Hundreds of people waiting to be filmed.
0:28:28 > 0:28:32- You having a good time, everyone? - ALL: Yeah!- Good luck later on.
0:28:32 > 0:28:33Anyway, it's lights, camera,
0:28:33 > 0:28:35action in the Rotunda Gallery through there.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37Let's catch up with our experts
0:28:37 > 0:28:39and see what else we can take off to auction.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43# Like finding a needle in a haystack. #
0:28:43 > 0:28:48And after all that dazzling gold it's a relief to see some silver.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50When I came here this morning I really wanted to see a nice
0:28:50 > 0:28:52couple of bits of Birmingham silver.
0:28:52 > 0:28:55It's such a great historical assay office.
0:28:55 > 0:28:58And you haven't brought me Birmingham silver,
0:28:58 > 0:29:00you brought me Sheffield silver.
0:29:00 > 0:29:01Sorry.
0:29:01 > 0:29:03Not to worry. I'm not disappointed.
0:29:03 > 0:29:05But we can tell we've got the hallmark
0:29:05 > 0:29:09and the maker's name, which is George Howson.
0:29:09 > 0:29:10GH for George Howson.
0:29:10 > 0:29:14We've then got a crown, which is the symbol of the assay office
0:29:14 > 0:29:15of Sheffield.
0:29:15 > 0:29:20We've got a lion passant mark, which is the standard for sterling silver.
0:29:20 > 0:29:22And then we've got a little letter which is the letter
0:29:22 > 0:29:26Y, which in this case is for 1916.
0:29:26 > 0:29:30- Right, OK.- So a lovely pair of silver candlesticks.
0:29:30 > 0:29:33Tell me how you've come by them. How have they come into your possession?
0:29:33 > 0:29:38When my mum passed away I inherited a few things myself
0:29:38 > 0:29:40and my brother sort of split between us.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43I particularly liked the look of these so that's why I close them.
0:29:43 > 0:29:45OK, so what is it that drew you to them?
0:29:45 > 0:29:49I think it's the shape. They're quite simple. They're not too elaborate.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52They're just very stylish and I just like the look of them.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55They're very elegant and I think that's...
0:29:55 > 0:29:58so typical of that time.
0:29:58 > 0:29:59If you think about that
0:29:59 > 0:30:02First World War era this is very much what
0:30:02 > 0:30:04we call the Adam revival style.
0:30:04 > 0:30:08Adam was really an 18th century furniture designer
0:30:08 > 0:30:13and we often think of Adam interiors which were very classical.
0:30:13 > 0:30:17He often used harebell and swag details in his design.
0:30:17 > 0:30:22And these are hugely in this style. Very restrained yet elegant.
0:30:22 > 0:30:24On this wonderful plinth base.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27You can almost see statues standing on it, can't you?
0:30:27 > 0:30:29It's quite monumental in a way.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32- Timeless, really, aren't they?- Yeah, I'd say so.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35The only thing really that's a bit of a downside about them is...
0:30:35 > 0:30:38- A bit skewwhiff.- A bit skewwhiff, sadly.
0:30:38 > 0:30:40So we've got one that's doing a bit that way
0:30:40 > 0:30:42and one that's doing a bit that way.
0:30:42 > 0:30:44They look like they're doing a bit of a dance.
0:30:44 > 0:30:46Have they been damaged in your possession?
0:30:46 > 0:30:50They've been packed away for a few years now.
0:30:50 > 0:30:54- So it may have just happened at a wild dinner party?- Possibly.
0:30:55 > 0:30:57A bit of a while ago possibly.
0:30:57 > 0:31:01If we look at the construction we can see why this has happened, as well.
0:31:01 > 0:31:03When you look at silver candlesticks we turn them
0:31:03 > 0:31:07upside down to see whether they're solid silver or filled.
0:31:07 > 0:31:11We can tell by looking at the bottom, we can see that this metal
0:31:11 > 0:31:13plate is actually holding in the fill.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16Either plaster or wax or a composite.
0:31:16 > 0:31:19If they'd been solid silver they would have been worth
0:31:19 > 0:31:20an awful lot more.
0:31:20 > 0:31:26- Yeah.- But we're looking somewhere in the region of £200-300.
0:31:26 > 0:31:31- With a reserve possibly at 180. - Right.- How would you feel about that?
0:31:31 > 0:31:33- I think I'd be quite pleased with that.- Yeah?
0:31:33 > 0:31:37- That would tie in more or less with what I was thinking.- Super.
0:31:37 > 0:31:38And we'll hope that between now
0:31:38 > 0:31:41and the auction silver price starts going up a little bit.
0:31:41 > 0:31:43- Definitely. Thanks a lot.- Thank you.
0:31:44 > 0:31:46Um, a very nice pair.
0:31:47 > 0:31:49But James can double that with a quad.
0:31:51 > 0:31:53Andrew, when I saw these in the lines outside,
0:31:53 > 0:31:56you'd been queueing up nice and early.
0:31:56 > 0:31:58And I just fell in love with them.
0:31:58 > 0:32:01A lot of this business that we're in is all about value
0:32:01 > 0:32:05and really there's far more to it than that.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08It's personal attraction really and I just love them.
0:32:08 > 0:32:13It reminds me of times in Africa and the animals I love to watch.
0:32:13 > 0:32:17For me, I did a basic animal tracking course when I was out there.
0:32:17 > 0:32:20It just brought back happy memories. So, what memories are they for you?
0:32:20 > 0:32:21Where did they come from?
0:32:21 > 0:32:24I purchased them about 15 years ago at a car boot.
0:32:24 > 0:32:26And I just liked them, like you said.
0:32:26 > 0:32:29Other people have looked at them and seem attracted to them as a group.
0:32:29 > 0:32:33- And they're so well modelled. - The casting is brilliant.
0:32:33 > 0:32:37- The great thing is that these are cast in solid bronze.- Yeah.
0:32:37 > 0:32:39- And they weigh a ton, don't they?- Yeah.
0:32:39 > 0:32:41When I first saw that
0:32:41 > 0:32:44and picked it up I was shocked at how heavy it was.
0:32:44 > 0:32:48Most of the modern things like this that we see today are a bronze
0:32:48 > 0:32:51- and resin mix.- Yeah. Some are lead filled, as well.
0:32:51 > 0:32:55Some are lead filled but that's as heavy as anything you'll find.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58Really, you've got a lot of scrap bronze there
0:32:58 > 0:33:00if anyone wants to melt it down, which would be horrific.
0:33:00 > 0:33:04But there we go. They're modern. There's not a lot of age to them.
0:33:04 > 0:33:09- Yeah.- They're probably, 20, 30, 40 years old. Something like that.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11They could have been made in Africa
0:33:11 > 0:33:14but they're not traditional African works of art.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17We turn one over, we've got a mark underneath.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20Which is a very modern looking mark, as well.
0:33:20 > 0:33:22But basically, they're post-war.
0:33:22 > 0:33:23So why are they here?
0:33:23 > 0:33:27We're selling the house at the moment and downsizing like a lot of people.
0:33:27 > 0:33:29And we don't really know what to do with them now.
0:33:29 > 0:33:33Well, I think they should make £60-100 at auction.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36I would hope they'll make the top end.
0:33:36 > 0:33:40- Around £100 or so. What did you pay at the car boot?- 30.
0:33:40 > 0:33:45- You've done all right.- We liked them for 15 years so £30 over 15 years...
0:33:45 > 0:33:46Not bad, is it?
0:33:46 > 0:33:50I look at him and I think, "What would I give?" £30 for him.
0:33:50 > 0:33:56So you think 30, 60, 90 and a little one an extra tenner. Should be £100.
0:33:56 > 0:34:00- Shall we say £60 on the lot as a reserve?- Yep, that sounds fine.
0:34:00 > 0:34:02Take your little pod of hippos to the auction.
0:34:02 > 0:34:05Lovely to see you. Thanks so much for bringing them. You made my day.
0:34:05 > 0:34:07- I love them.- Good, great.
0:34:07 > 0:34:08Thank you.
0:34:08 > 0:34:13# Am I a toy or am I a treasure? #
0:34:16 > 0:34:18Our experts really do have their work cut out today.
0:34:18 > 0:34:19Hundreds of people are here.
0:34:19 > 0:34:22It looks like all of Birmingham and the surrounding areas have
0:34:22 > 0:34:26turned up laden with their unwanted treasures. That's caught my eye.
0:34:26 > 0:34:27- What's your name?- Karen.
0:34:27 > 0:34:30- Karen, are you a local lady? - No, I'm from Coventry.
0:34:30 > 0:34:32- Have you come for the day? - Yep.- Bless you.
0:34:32 > 0:34:33Can I have a look at this
0:34:33 > 0:34:37because just down the road in Stourbridge, that was really
0:34:37 > 0:34:41the centre of glass making in this country back in the 18th century.
0:34:41 > 0:34:42Second to Bohemia.
0:34:42 > 0:34:44When they made things like this.
0:34:44 > 0:34:46Little paperweights.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49And I love these little canes bursting full of colour.
0:34:49 > 0:34:53- Can you tell me much about this? - We think it's a Paul Ysart.- Yes.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57- That's all I know.- And whose was it? - My mum's.- Your mum's.
0:34:57 > 0:35:00- And it's been in the family all that time?- Yeah.
0:35:00 > 0:35:03It's a shame it's been dropped. Can you see that?
0:35:03 > 0:35:05I think if this hadn't been dropped
0:35:05 > 0:35:08and badly damaged you're looking at £80-120.
0:35:09 > 0:35:14- But in its present condition maybe £20-30.- Is that all?
0:35:15 > 0:35:17That's what an auctioneer would put on it.
0:35:17 > 0:35:20And then he'd hope people would fall in love with the decorative
0:35:20 > 0:35:21quality of it.
0:35:21 > 0:35:23Personally, I'd hang on to it.
0:35:23 > 0:35:27- It's nice to know something about it, really.- Thank you for coming in.
0:35:27 > 0:35:28Thank you.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34And that brings us to your final valuation.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38These little guys are from a skip, hop
0:35:38 > 0:35:39and a jump down the road in Worcester.
0:35:39 > 0:35:40That's right.
0:35:40 > 0:35:44So we've got three pieces of Royal Worcester Porcelain.
0:35:44 > 0:35:45Can you tell me where you got them from?
0:35:45 > 0:35:48They were initially from my grandmother who left them
0:35:48 > 0:35:53to my mother and we had them from my mother as from last year.
0:35:53 > 0:35:55- So two generations. - That's right.
0:35:55 > 0:35:59The dates on them, I've had a little look at the dates and I would say
0:35:59 > 0:36:05a pair but having had a look at the dates, the dates are 1904 and 1910.
0:36:05 > 0:36:08And I would say the bodies were made earlier
0:36:08 > 0:36:11and painted later at the same time.
0:36:11 > 0:36:13- They're just so similar, aren't they?- Yes, they are.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16But obviously we can't call them a pair
0:36:16 > 0:36:18because they're different dates.
0:36:18 > 0:36:23And then we've also got the rose painted potpourri.
0:36:23 > 0:36:26- I do like that one. - It's really sweet, isn't it?
0:36:26 > 0:36:29Can you imagine picking the rose petals off your rose bushes
0:36:29 > 0:36:32- to put in your potpourri from your garden?- Those were the days.
0:36:32 > 0:36:37Those were the days. Absolutely. If only. This one dates to 1909.
0:36:37 > 0:36:41So all of them in the Edwardian period.
0:36:41 > 0:36:45They're not signed, which is a shame but not surprising.
0:36:45 > 0:36:49Often we find signatures just to one side, but no signature.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52We do know that a lot of Worcester artists were
0:36:52 > 0:36:55specialists at different types of painting.
0:36:55 > 0:36:59So you had your rose painting which is often by an artist called Hunt.
0:36:59 > 0:37:01You had other artists, for example
0:37:01 > 0:37:04Kitty Blake, who specialised in autumnal berries and leaves.
0:37:04 > 0:37:08You had Stinton, who specialised in cattle and game birds.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12So I think we can say they're by Hunt, they're Edwardian.
0:37:12 > 0:37:15They've got these beautiful, big, blousy English roses.
0:37:15 > 0:37:18Quintessentially of their time.
0:37:18 > 0:37:23All together a really nice little group of Royal Worcester.
0:37:23 > 0:37:26And the fact that they're in good condition is a real bonus
0:37:26 > 0:37:29because so often you find these are so delicately made you often
0:37:29 > 0:37:32find a finial has been knocked off.
0:37:32 > 0:37:35So the fact they're in good condition is a real bonus.
0:37:35 > 0:37:39For the group we're going to be looking at 100-150.
0:37:39 > 0:37:44For the three. And I would put a reserve of 100 with discretion.
0:37:44 > 0:37:49- How would you feel about that? - Um, yes. That would be fine.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52Let's hope, fingers crossed, that it's a really good sale for you
0:37:52 > 0:37:54and that they sail away.
0:37:54 > 0:37:55- Thank you very much.- Thank you.
0:37:59 > 0:38:01That's it. You've just seen them.
0:38:01 > 0:38:05Our experts final choices of items to take off to auction.
0:38:05 > 0:38:07And I think there's some real gems there.
0:38:07 > 0:38:10I can't wait to find out what's going to happen but sadly it
0:38:10 > 0:38:14means we have to say goodbye to our magnificent host location,
0:38:14 > 0:38:16Birmingham's Museum and Art Gallery.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19A building full of treasure and history.
0:38:19 > 0:38:22And let's hope we can make some history of our own as we go
0:38:22 > 0:38:25off to the auction room. And here's what's coming with us.
0:38:26 > 0:38:30Debbie's pair of Sheffield silver candlesticks are approaching
0:38:30 > 0:38:31their 100th birthday.
0:38:31 > 0:38:33With a new owner, hopefully.
0:38:35 > 0:38:39Four bronze hippos. They make a change from three flying ducks.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44And finally, Linda's Royal Worcester collection.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47That should have no difficulty attracting the bidders.
0:38:56 > 0:38:57170 seated there.
0:38:57 > 0:38:59180 anywhere else?
0:38:59 > 0:39:02We're heading back to the auction one last time with our final
0:39:02 > 0:39:04batch of lots.
0:39:04 > 0:39:05All done and finished?
0:39:05 > 0:39:08Going under the hammer right now we've got four modern bronze
0:39:08 > 0:39:12- hippos which James absolutely loved. - They've just got a shape about them.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15They're modern OK, but they're still lovely. Really like them.
0:39:15 > 0:39:18Unfortunately we don't have their owner, Andrew.
0:39:18 > 0:39:19We do have sort of a co-owner,
0:39:19 > 0:39:21because we've got Andrew's wife, Sue.
0:39:21 > 0:39:23- Yes.- Pleased to meet you.- Pleased to meet you too.
0:39:23 > 0:39:25- He's poorly, is he?- He is.
0:39:25 > 0:39:26Get well soon, Andrew,
0:39:26 > 0:39:28and hopefully we'll send you home with a bit of money.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31We'll send the wife home with a bit of money.
0:39:33 > 0:39:37Lot 632, which is the study of the hippopotamus.
0:39:37 > 0:39:42Bit of interest, we open at £130. £130.
0:39:43 > 0:39:48At £130 maiden bid takes the others out. 140 anywhere else?
0:39:48 > 0:39:50£130 we're selling. All done?
0:39:50 > 0:39:52That was short and sweet. £130.
0:39:52 > 0:39:54Double bottom estimate so that's good.
0:39:54 > 0:39:56He'll be really pleased with that.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59He will, won't he? Thank you for standing in.
0:39:59 > 0:40:01- Hope he gets better soon. - I enjoyed it.
0:40:02 > 0:40:06A tidy £100 profit on Andrew's original investment.
0:40:07 > 0:40:11Next, it's Debbie's pair of classic silver candlesticks.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15Our next lot is bound to light up the sale room.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19I've been joined by Christina and Debbie here, our owner.
0:40:19 > 0:40:21The candlesticks. Did you ever use them at Christmas time?
0:40:21 > 0:40:23Set the scene?
0:40:23 > 0:40:25- I think my mum used to.- Very nice.
0:40:25 > 0:40:29Special occasions, but they've been packed away ever since.
0:40:29 > 0:40:33- It's a shame.- Not many of us dine by candle light anymore, do we?
0:40:33 > 0:40:35We don't with kids, let's face it.
0:40:35 > 0:40:39They'd put their fingers in the flame. All sorts of things.
0:40:39 > 0:40:40- Not a good idea.- No.
0:40:40 > 0:40:44- There is a market for them. We've got 2-300?- Yes.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47They're getting some really good, strong prices today.
0:40:47 > 0:40:49- So fingers crossed.- Good luck.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53The pair of silver candlesticks. £200 takes the underbidder out.
0:40:53 > 0:40:54£200.
0:40:54 > 0:40:58210. 220. 230. 240. 250.
0:40:58 > 0:41:03- 260. 270. 260 on commission. Anyone else?- Fantastic.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06I'm selling at £260.
0:41:08 > 0:41:10That was quick. It doesn't last long, does it?
0:41:10 > 0:41:13I have to be honest, I wasn't sure they were going to sell,
0:41:13 > 0:41:14so well done.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16Spot on with the estimate.
0:41:16 > 0:41:2175. 85. 95. 100.
0:41:21 > 0:41:22It's our final lot.
0:41:22 > 0:41:24The Royal Worcester china collection.
0:41:24 > 0:41:27Sadly, Linda couldn't be with us today
0:41:27 > 0:41:28but we do have her sister Janet.
0:41:28 > 0:41:32I know Linda's feeling poorly but I guess this is your inheritance,
0:41:32 > 0:41:34- as well?- That's right.
0:41:34 > 0:41:38- And you can remember these as a little girl?- Vaguely, yes.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41Don't touch them. Don't smash them.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44They were always in a cabinet or on the sideboard.
0:41:46 > 0:41:49It's a nice little trio. What have we got here?
0:41:49 > 0:41:52We've got a pair of ewers. And also the potpourri, as well.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55Not a big lot but we decided it's better to sell them
0:41:55 > 0:41:56together rather than split them up.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59Hopefully they'll stay together. Right, here we go.
0:41:59 > 0:42:00Let's put it to the test.
0:42:01 > 0:42:04Royal Worcester. Potpourri and the two jugs.
0:42:04 > 0:42:08Where do you start me? Interest in this one. Have to open at £260.
0:42:08 > 0:42:10Blimey!
0:42:11 > 0:42:14270. 280. 290.
0:42:14 > 0:42:21- 300 and 10. 320. 330. 340... - Smashing through the estimate.
0:42:21 > 0:42:27- ..370. 380.- Brilliant. - In the room at 370. 380. 390.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30400. 410. 420.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33- 410, ladies bid. - This will cheer Linda up.
0:42:35 > 0:42:38All done at £410 for the Worcester? All finished? 420 last chance.
0:42:38 > 0:42:40At 410 I'm selling.
0:42:42 > 0:42:44That's what we like. That's what we call a result.
0:42:44 > 0:42:47You've got to be over the moon with that?
0:42:47 > 0:42:48We weren't expecting that.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51Were you expecting the top end of the estimate?
0:42:51 > 0:42:56- I don't know, really.- There's no accounting for taste, is there?
0:42:56 > 0:43:00- That was a come and buy me, wasn't it?- It was.- £22 on my left.
0:43:00 > 0:43:02All done?
0:43:04 > 0:43:07That's it. It's all over for our Flog It! owners.
0:43:07 > 0:43:10What a brilliant day we have had here in Stourbridge.
0:43:10 > 0:43:12If you've got something you'd like
0:43:12 > 0:43:14to sell we'd love to flog it for you.
0:43:14 > 0:43:17Bring it along to one of our valuation days.
0:43:17 > 0:43:19Details you can pick up on our BBC website.
0:43:19 > 0:43:22If you don't have a computer check the details in your local press.
0:43:22 > 0:43:25We would love to see you. Dust them down and bring them in.
0:43:25 > 0:43:28But until then from Stourbridge and all of us, it's goodbye.