0:00:07 > 0:00:10The window behind me dates back to 1547
0:00:10 > 0:00:15and it's part of a collection of rare, medieval French stained glass
0:00:15 > 0:00:17that's being conserved here at our valuation day venue,
0:00:17 > 0:00:19Highcliffe Castle.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22Later on in the programme we'll be taking a closer look
0:00:22 > 0:00:25at that collection, plus looking at a unique collector connoisseur.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27Welcome to Flog It!
0:00:48 > 0:00:52Our valuation day today is at the 19th-century architectural splendour
0:00:52 > 0:00:55that is Highcliffe Castle in Dorset.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59But head inside and it's a different story.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02The contents were sold off in the 1950s
0:01:02 > 0:01:07and the interiors destroyed in devastating fires a decade later.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11Luckily, funding helped restore the building to its Gothic glory.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17We'll be taking a closer look at some of those precious items
0:01:17 > 0:01:20that did survive the fire later on in the programme, but right now,
0:01:20 > 0:01:24let's meet hundreds of people who've turned up for our valuation day,
0:01:24 > 0:01:27laden with antiques and collectables to show our experts
0:01:27 > 0:01:29that they've collected over the years.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32Now, not only are they going to ask what's it worth?
0:01:32 > 0:01:36But if you're happy with the valuation, what are you going to do?
0:01:36 > 0:01:38- ALL:- Flog It! - Yes!
0:01:38 > 0:01:43Our experts, Christina Trevanion and Adam Partridge are wasting no time
0:01:43 > 0:01:47in hunting through the bags and boxes and hoping for that big find.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50My goodness. I'm sure someone would snap that up.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53- Would you sell it?- Yes, definitely.
0:01:53 > 0:01:54Yeah!
0:01:54 > 0:01:58- Oh, how old is he?- He's four months. - Oh, not even vintage.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02But there's no doubt, this is an antique.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06Oh, this is Christina Trevanion for the BBC,
0:02:06 > 0:02:09asking for the company of Adam Partridge.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11Good day to you.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14So, with Paul Martin speaking to you from the BBC,
0:02:14 > 0:02:16let's find out what's coming up later.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21Nestled in a costumed jewellery box, Christina has found a broach,
0:02:21 > 0:02:22with a price tag...
0:02:22 > 0:02:26It was in my family home and I used to play with it as a child.
0:02:26 > 0:02:27What?! Really?
0:02:27 > 0:02:31..and Adam has a room full of horror film posters.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33Do you not even have this one up?
0:02:33 > 0:02:36No. I don't think my wife would like it.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39And there are some real surprises at auction.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41Start me at £1,000.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46So, as the crowd settled in on this warm day,
0:02:46 > 0:02:48there's a quick chance to look around.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51We know a huge amount about the interiors of Highcliffe Castle
0:02:51 > 0:02:54from a collection of 20th-century postcards
0:02:54 > 0:02:56which show lavish interiors and antiques
0:02:56 > 0:02:58that would seem quite at home
0:02:58 > 0:03:00in the hands of our Flog It! crowds.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03But as you can see, the exterior of the castle
0:03:03 > 0:03:06has been restored lovingly back to its former glory
0:03:06 > 0:03:10and it makes the most magnificent backdrop for our valuation day.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13Everybody is now safely seated on the lawn.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15It's time to get on with our first valuation
0:03:15 > 0:03:19and who is that lucky person going off to auction? Let's find out.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24And Adam's found the first collection of the day.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28Hi, Pam. Now, you were the very first person here this morning,
0:03:28 > 0:03:31- weren't you?- I was, yes.- And what time did you get here?- 6.45.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34That is a dedicated Flog It! follower.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37Well, after watching the programme for many years,
0:03:37 > 0:03:39and I see all the crowds, I thought I'd better get here early.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42Well, you did very well. And you've brought a few things
0:03:42 > 0:03:43and I'm always interested in postcards.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47I think there's a growing interest in postcards. Lots more collectors.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49So you've brought in about 300, haven't you?
0:03:49 > 0:03:53- Yes.- And we've chosen a representative selection here
0:03:53 > 0:03:56to illustrate your collection. Now, where did you get yours from?
0:03:56 > 0:04:00I first started many years ago, but this collection
0:04:00 > 0:04:03- I got from my brother, Jimmy. - Right.- He was in the RAF.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07- Christmas Island. - Oh, really?- And Tangmere, yes.
0:04:07 > 0:04:12And a friend in the RAF gave him the collection of postcards.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15They belonged to his great-grandfather.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18- Right, and you're a collector as well?- Yes, I am.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22And is there a name for a postcard collector?
0:04:22 > 0:04:26- I'm not sure.- I think it's a deltiologist.- Is it?
0:04:26 > 0:04:28So, you've got a lovely selection here.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31First, you've got these humorous ones, with the jolly priest.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33- The jolly priest.- The jolly priest. - Yes.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35By Raphael Tuck, a famous maker.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39These are called Oilettes, which are reproductions of oil paintings.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42- They're beautiful postcards.- I like the gold edge around the edges.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44- That's right.- I love the portraits. - Well pointed.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47The connoisseur series was the top of the range
0:04:47 > 0:04:51and you're quite right, there's a gold edge, and fancy that, really,
0:04:51 > 0:04:52on such a cursory note.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55So other postcards that you see, these are quite interesting.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58We've got sea pictures, and the Japanese Navy in a worldwide series.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02And over here, we've got some relatively local ones here,
0:05:02 > 0:05:04- the New Forest.- The New Forest, yes. - Not so far away.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06I think it's a fantastic collection.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08- So you've decided to thin these down.- Yes.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10We'll find a good home for these, I'm sure.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13There's a lot of interest in postcards and people will look
0:05:13 > 0:05:15- through them and work out what they want to pay for them.- Yes.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18- The value is not huge... - No.- ..as you probably realise.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22- No, I know.- What I would suggest is a nice wide estimate of 50 to 100,
0:05:22 > 0:05:24- to tempt people to bid on them.- Yes.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27- And I think they'll make a little bit more than that, hopefully.- Yes.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29- Would that be all right with you? - That will be fine.- Great.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Well, Pam, thank you very much for coming
0:05:32 > 0:05:34and for being our very first visitor today.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38And to protect the collection, Adam's put a reserve on of £50,
0:05:38 > 0:05:42so let's hope Pamela is the early bird who gets the worm.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47Over to Christina now, who's having a good old root about
0:05:47 > 0:05:49in a treasure trove owned by Marion.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51People bring jewellery boxes like this all the time
0:05:51 > 0:05:53to my auction house, and I love it.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55It feels like Christmas, because from the outside,
0:05:55 > 0:05:58you sort of think, "Oh, it doesn't look very much,"
0:05:58 > 0:06:00and then you open it up and look at that!
0:06:00 > 0:06:02I mean, what a jewellery box. That is fabulous.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04Tell me, where has this all come from,
0:06:04 > 0:06:06this little collection we've got here?
0:06:06 > 0:06:10Well, it was in my family home and I used to play with it as a child.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12What?! I bet that kept you quiet.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14That would've kept me quiet for hours.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16It's the most wonderful box of bits, but to be perfectly honest,
0:06:16 > 0:06:19when I looked at it, I thought, "Oh, spares and repairs, that one."
0:06:19 > 0:06:22Bits are here and there and a lovely sort of necklace here.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25- It's a snake's head on it. - Yeah, just fabulous, isn't it?
0:06:25 > 0:06:29I mean, that's a Victorian paste necklace, so imitation of diamonds.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32And snakes, in those days, were a symbol of everlasting life.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35So it would have been given as a present to somebody, probably,
0:06:35 > 0:06:38and very, very sweet. So, going into the lid,
0:06:38 > 0:06:42we've got this little brooch here, which is indeed scarab beetles.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45Now, again, they were supposed to be eternal.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48Scarab beetles were found in the tomb of Tutankhamen in the 1920s.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50There was a huge resurgence of interest,
0:06:50 > 0:06:52when they found and opened the tomb,
0:06:52 > 0:06:56so you see a lot of scarab set jewellery about that sort of time.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59Although the box is lovely, and to be perfectly honest,
0:06:59 > 0:07:0290% of it is fairly broken and a bit bashed.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04- That's right. - This little brooch here...
0:07:04 > 0:07:06A chick? Is it a chick?
0:07:06 > 0:07:09..is absolutely exquisite.
0:07:10 > 0:07:16We've got here, a little diamond and ruby set chick brooch.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18- Where's the... Oh, his eyes are the ruby.- Yes.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20So although these look like paste,
0:07:20 > 0:07:22they look like sparkly little paste bits we've got there,
0:07:22 > 0:07:26this is actually set throughout with what we call rose-cut diamonds.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29And he is very collectable.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33Indeed, he is my favourite piece out of this box, and frankly,
0:07:33 > 0:07:37I can't believe you were given it to play with as a child,
0:07:37 > 0:07:40but I can quite see why. I mean, his appeal is just endless.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42What sort of date is that?
0:07:42 > 0:07:46Well, I would say the chick dates to about 1880, 1890.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48The bar, probably slightly later.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51He's set in silver, and he's got this wonderful little gold foot
0:07:51 > 0:07:55on here which one of them has actually been slightly bent,
0:07:55 > 0:07:57- so I don't know...- Must be me.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00Guilty as charged!
0:08:00 > 0:08:04But, I mean, he is your main value in this little group here.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08You've got a lot going on and I would suggest that your main value
0:08:08 > 0:08:11obviously is in him and the scarab brooch.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13You've got a lovely little enamelled butterfly brooch here
0:08:13 > 0:08:16and the rest is nice costume jewellery.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20But I would suggest that we sell it as a lot at the auction in its box,
0:08:20 > 0:08:23because I think it's got wonderful market appeal as a little collection
0:08:23 > 0:08:25and I think at auction, happily,
0:08:25 > 0:08:27I would put £100-£200 on it.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30- Are your days of playing with it over?- Yes.- Yes?
0:08:30 > 0:08:33- So shall we send it to the auction? - Yes, I think we should.- Yeah?
0:08:33 > 0:08:35What do you think, crowd? Shall we send it at auction?
0:08:35 > 0:08:38- ALL:- Yes.- Yeah. There we go. Brilliant.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41We've given this a reserve of £100, so let's hope the chick,
0:08:41 > 0:08:45even with his broken foot, will fly away at auction!
0:08:45 > 0:08:48Next up, Adam has found an interesting object
0:08:48 > 0:08:50brought in by Barry.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53Do you take a lot of snuff, Barry?
0:08:53 > 0:08:55No, not every day.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57You know, most people don't know what it is any more
0:08:57 > 0:09:00- of a certain age.- No.- It's an unusual little item you've brought.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02I do like these small pieces of silver.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04Can you tell me where you got this from?
0:09:04 > 0:09:09It was bought in Krakow, in Poland, around about 1972, I think.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12Right, so were you visiting Krakow then?
0:09:12 > 0:09:16Yes. It was a rather an ambitious visit behind the Iron Curtain.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18It was, I bet it was, yeah.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20My mother's Polish. I've never actually visited yet,
0:09:20 > 0:09:23but I remember as a child my mother not being able to visit
0:09:23 > 0:09:25for the reasons that you've mentioned.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27- It was quite an adventure back then, wasn't it?- Yes.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31- You must have been a very young man. - Yes.- So you were visiting Poland
0:09:31 > 0:09:34and you picked this up on your travels while you were out there?
0:09:34 > 0:09:36Yes. And it was suggested that these things
0:09:36 > 0:09:38were a particularly good buy there.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41- Right.- And I liked that particular one.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43I like the design on it.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46- It's a pleasing object, isn't it? - Yeah.- I can see why you bought it.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48And of course, back in 1972,
0:09:48 > 0:09:51I would've thought the English pound went quite a long way...
0:09:51 > 0:09:52- A very long way.- ..in Krakow.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56So it probably cost just a few pounds, I would have thought.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58Probably. About £10, I think I spent on it.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00Well, it's an interesting piece of silver.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02I don't think it's actually Polish silver -
0:10:02 > 0:10:05I just had a little look at the mark inside,
0:10:05 > 0:10:08and what you've got is this lady, there,
0:10:08 > 0:10:10in a sort of house arrangement,
0:10:10 > 0:10:13and I think that's an Austro-Hungarian mark.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15Right. I rather thought it might be.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17Yes. Which is to be expected.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21- Yep.- You've got a silver gilt interior, maker's mark there,
0:10:21 > 0:10:26and very decent quality of engraving and turning on the decoration.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28So, these days,
0:10:28 > 0:10:32I would say, in a silver section of the sale that we're going to,
0:10:32 > 0:10:35you'd put an estimate of £70-£100 on it.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37I think that's probably quite realistic,
0:10:37 > 0:10:40and hopefully it might make a little bit more, a hundred and something.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42- Mm-hm.- I think that's pretty realistic.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45- Does that sound acceptable? - That sounds fine to me, yes.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48- I think we'll put a reserve on it. 70 quid.- Yeah.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50Do you want to give it 10% leeway?
0:10:50 > 0:10:54- Yeah, might as well.- Hopefully other people will like it as much as me.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57So, thanks for coming, Barry, and we'll see you at auction.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59- Thank you very much.- All right.
0:10:59 > 0:11:00With such a lovely collectable,
0:11:00 > 0:11:03I'm sure that buyers will know their snuff.
0:11:04 > 0:11:09- So, Margaret and Ken, this is interesting, isn't it?- Certainly is.
0:11:09 > 0:11:10Where has this come from?
0:11:10 > 0:11:13It was my mother's brother, who was working at Wembley Stadium,
0:11:13 > 0:11:15building it.
0:11:15 > 0:11:20- So your uncle...- Yes. - ..was building the Wembley Stadium.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22My goodness. So, how did he get this?
0:11:22 > 0:11:25Well, each of the workers were given the souvenir.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28I would say this is a little twin-handled sugar bowl,
0:11:28 > 0:11:30and it probably would have come as a set,
0:11:30 > 0:11:33with a teapot and possibly a cream jug or milk jug originally.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37- Goodness.- And if we have a good look at it, we've got this wonderful
0:11:37 > 0:11:39"Souvenir from Wembley, 1924."
0:11:39 > 0:11:42And the British Empire Exhibition was on at Wembley,
0:11:42 > 0:11:45and Wembley was the showcase of the British Empire Exhibition.
0:11:45 > 0:11:47And I love this symbol, this wonderful lion.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50I mean, he was really symbolic of the power
0:11:50 > 0:11:53and the pride that we had in our nation at that time.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56- Yes.- And it's littered with these wonderful Union Jacks
0:11:56 > 0:11:59and Union Flags. So, we've got Paragon China, England,
0:11:59 > 0:12:02made expressly for Bradbury Pratt.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06Now, I can only assume that Bradbury Pratt was a retailer,
0:12:06 > 0:12:11and often when we see Paragon China, it's typical 1920s, 1930s,
0:12:11 > 0:12:13very Art Deco, florally decorated.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16We see a lot of tea services made by Paragon.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20- But there are collectors for this commemorative ware.- Yes.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22And commemorative ware really has been popular
0:12:22 > 0:12:23since the mid-19th century,
0:12:23 > 0:12:27when people started going on the package holiday, if you like,
0:12:27 > 0:12:29and they would come home with a souvenir.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31I would imagine this would have been made for somebody
0:12:31 > 0:12:35who'd gone to the stadium, gone to the exhibition, potentially,
0:12:35 > 0:12:37and taken it away with them as a memento of a lovely day
0:12:37 > 0:12:40that they've had. This is a really difficult one for me,
0:12:40 > 0:12:43because it hasn't got a huge amount of value.
0:12:43 > 0:12:44No, we appreciate that.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48I love the fact that your uncle was building this amazing building
0:12:48 > 0:12:52that was just such a showcase for our country, really, and still is.
0:12:52 > 0:12:57But I think the key to this piece is cataloguing it with that provenance.
0:12:57 > 0:13:01I'm going to say, at auction, we're going to be looking at £20-£30.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05I personally would like to see it go without reserve.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08- What's your feelings about that? - Yeah, that's fine.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11It's an unusual shape, so I'm hoping that it will fetch more for you,
0:13:11 > 0:13:13but I think we need to be conservative.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15- Yes, of course.- All right.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17And it's been an absolute honour to meet you two,
0:13:17 > 0:13:20- so thank you so much for bringing it in.- Thank you for looking at it.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22While most of us associate Wembley with football,
0:13:22 > 0:13:26the original buildings had nothing to do with "the beautiful game".
0:13:26 > 0:13:30The complex was purpose built for the British Empire Exhibition.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34The pavilions, including the iconic towers of Wembley, reflected
0:13:34 > 0:13:39the 58 British colonies, and housed the best of British industry.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43To be sure no-one had any doubt about the might of the empire,
0:13:43 > 0:13:47the British lion was emblazoned on statues and memorabilia,
0:13:47 > 0:13:49just like Ken and Margaret's sugar bowl.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54While everyone's busy here, there's something I'd like to show you.
0:14:01 > 0:14:05Highcliffe Castle might look as solid today as the stones
0:14:05 > 0:14:09it's made from, but over 240 years, it's had several incarnations,
0:14:09 > 0:14:13and has been partly reduced to rubble on more than one occasion.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21I'm going to find out how the stone and the bricks have been reused
0:14:21 > 0:14:24and, to do that, I need to climb this temporary staircase
0:14:24 > 0:14:28made out of scaffolding, which is high above the ground floor.
0:14:36 > 0:14:37And just look at this!
0:14:37 > 0:14:43Pile upon pile of doorframes, window shutters, dado rail, architrave.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45You name it, it is all here.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49This is an architectural salvage hunters' dream.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53When the castle burnt in the 1960s, all of this was saved,
0:14:53 > 0:14:56catalogued, and put up here, high up in the store room.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59But it's where all of this originally came from
0:14:59 > 0:15:01that makes Highcliffe Castle so interesting.
0:15:05 > 0:15:10The story goes back to 1775, when a grand house was built here,
0:15:10 > 0:15:12perched above the cliffs.
0:15:12 > 0:15:16The trouble was, it was poorly constructed and, add to that,
0:15:16 > 0:15:20it was a little too close to the cliff face, which was ever eroding.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24The house was sold off, abandoned, and eventually demolished,
0:15:24 > 0:15:26but that wasn't the end for Highcliffe.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32In 1808, Charles, Lord Stuart de Rothesay,
0:15:32 > 0:15:35bought the land back, determined to build a new house
0:15:35 > 0:15:38for his family, near the site of the original house.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42Charles, an ambassador to France,
0:15:42 > 0:15:44took the opportunity to do two things.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47He stockpiled local bricks, but more importantly,
0:15:47 > 0:15:51he gathered vast quantities of stone and medieval stained glass from
0:15:51 > 0:15:55buildings that had been destroyed during the French Revolution.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04This print from 1824 shows the great French house,
0:16:04 > 0:16:08La Grand Maison a les Andelys, as it was being demolished.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13And here, you can see exactly that oriel window,
0:16:13 > 0:16:17now in pride of place, and I must say, standing from here,
0:16:17 > 0:16:18it just looks superb.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21But you can imagine all this stonework being shipped across
0:16:21 > 0:16:25from France and then strewn across the cliff top,
0:16:25 > 0:16:27as work began on the castle.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32We can take a peek into the past at Lord Stuart's grand-scale scheme
0:16:32 > 0:16:34with these 20th-century postcards and photos.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40They reveal a Gothic English castle, with medieval windows,
0:16:40 > 0:16:44a baronial staircase, gilt embellishments and Gothic turrets.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51There was one person, however,
0:16:51 > 0:16:54who was less impressed with his efforts - Lord Stuart's wife.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58She was the one with the money behind her.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01During the building work, she left for two years,
0:17:01 > 0:17:05to nurse her sick father and, upon her return, she discovered
0:17:05 > 0:17:09how much of her money he'd lavished on this building -
0:17:09 > 0:17:12and she was furious. She wrote in a letter,
0:17:12 > 0:17:15"I wish the whole thing would just fall off the cliff."
0:17:16 > 0:17:20Despite Lady Stuart's hope this castle would crumble into the sea,
0:17:20 > 0:17:23it was as robust as the heavy stone it was made from,
0:17:23 > 0:17:26standing secure as a home over several generations.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32But the building that had emerged from the rubble returned to rubble.
0:17:32 > 0:17:38It suffered two devastating fires, in 1967 and 1968.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40The fire completely destroyed this roof,
0:17:40 > 0:17:43rendering it uninhabitable again.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48For almost 20 years, the castle languished,
0:17:48 > 0:17:51its stonework deteriorating and suffering vandalism.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53But from the early 1990s,
0:17:53 > 0:17:57it received funding to install structural support,
0:17:57 > 0:18:01recreate the crumbling masonry and rebuild the roof.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03But this was just the start.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07Today, the store room, full of medieval wooden ornamentation,
0:18:07 > 0:18:11is being sifted and examined by volunteers, like Maurice Ballard,
0:18:11 > 0:18:14who devote their time to bring the place back to life.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18What did you have to do, Maurice, when you first saw
0:18:18 > 0:18:20all of these architectural elements in a great big pile?
0:18:20 > 0:18:22Obviously, sort them out, but how?
0:18:22 > 0:18:26Well, we tried to put matching items together, so that we could
0:18:26 > 0:18:30- then start trying to define which rooms they came from.- Yeah.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33So we've tried to put things together for the octagon
0:18:33 > 0:18:37and the great hall and the drawing room.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39And how do you know what goes where?
0:18:39 > 0:18:41Are you looking at archive photographs?
0:18:41 > 0:18:43That's what we're having to do now.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46I love these. Where has this come from?
0:18:46 > 0:18:48Now, that, we definitely know.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50This was the original drawing room,
0:18:50 > 0:18:54- and you can see the detailing of the boards.- Oh, yes.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57- It went round the picture. - OK, that's the picture frames.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59And all of these, of course, were gilded, but in the heat
0:18:59 > 0:19:03of the two fires we had here, it stripped all the paint off of them.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07- This is oak as well, isn't it?- It's all oak. It was all oak panelling.
0:19:07 > 0:19:08Wow.
0:19:08 > 0:19:13- That's why it survived.- Yeah.- Oak is such a solid hardwood, isn't it?
0:19:13 > 0:19:15It's got a very tight grain structure.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17You're not going to put it all back together
0:19:17 > 0:19:18and make sort of a pastiche?
0:19:18 > 0:19:21- No.- You're just going to use certain elements,
0:19:21 > 0:19:24stand it against the wall in the right place, fix it there,
0:19:24 > 0:19:26so it gives you an idea of what it would be like.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28That's what we would hope to do, to put it back
0:19:28 > 0:19:31- in the rooms they came from. - There's some lovely bits of detail,
0:19:31 > 0:19:33isn't there? I love the carved pieces.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36That is part of a mirror frame, I'm almost certain.
0:19:36 > 0:19:37That's nice, isn't it?
0:19:37 > 0:19:39- It's fantastic.- Yeah, look at that.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42It really gives you a clue, doesn't it?
0:19:42 > 0:19:46To the sort of ornamentation, the detail, the frilliness,
0:19:46 > 0:19:48it's so typically French.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52When you look at these pictures and think how he built it in 1836,
0:19:52 > 0:19:56the main thing that we can see here is the fact that,
0:19:56 > 0:19:57because of the two fires,
0:19:57 > 0:20:00we've gone back to all the brickwork in most places,
0:20:00 > 0:20:04and I'm almost certain that the building itself
0:20:04 > 0:20:06was built as a brick structure,
0:20:06 > 0:20:09and then they hung the stonework on the outside,
0:20:09 > 0:20:12- and put all the panelling on the inside afterwards.- Yeah.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15Because we're back to the brick structure,
0:20:15 > 0:20:17- you can also see how areas were built.- Sure.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20Which if you go to a house that's still got all its original
0:20:20 > 0:20:23- panelling and other things... - You can't see it.- You can't see it.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25I mean, we can even see some of the original panelling
0:20:25 > 0:20:28that's still on the wall there. And this was a bedroom.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30That's actually survived,
0:20:30 > 0:20:33- it's still hanging there. - That survived in that position, yes.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35Wow. And you would know all about this.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38You're a building surveyor and you do this as a volunteer.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41- That's right.- This must be like a busman's holiday for you.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44- Oh, it is, yeah.- Must be the biggest project of your life.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47Well, when I retired, I wanted a building or somewhere to come
0:20:47 > 0:20:50- and build up my... - To play with.- To play with!
0:20:50 > 0:20:52I've picked rather a large one, though!
0:20:55 > 0:20:57But there's one more part
0:20:57 > 0:20:59of the story of the building's reincarnation.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03Over the years, people have returned architectural embellishments
0:21:03 > 0:21:07back to the castle that they had kept for safekeeping.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11These tiles, a lady had these. The clean ones that you can see.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13She sent them back to the castle by post,
0:21:13 > 0:21:16and they are an identical match to these tiles here,
0:21:16 > 0:21:19which have been salvaged, later to be cleaned up.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21The paint will be removed.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23This is the last piece of the jigsaw.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26That goes there, like that.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30Hopefully, one day, this will be reinstated on the castle walls,
0:21:30 > 0:21:33on the inside, as a panel, for people to appreciate.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36Now, that's a good ending.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46Here's a quick recap of the four items we're taking to auction.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53There's the best of the best postcard collection
0:21:53 > 0:21:54by producer, Raphael Tuck.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01A box of trinkets that includes a diamond in the rough.
0:22:01 > 0:22:02A chick brooch.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08Ken and Margaret's collectable sugar bowl, which could be
0:22:08 > 0:22:12a wonderful reminder for someone of the original Wembley Stadium.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18And a quality silver snuff box, but will it appeal to the bidders?
0:22:22 > 0:22:24We're heading to Wareham for our auction today,
0:22:24 > 0:22:28where, almost 200 years before Highcliffe's disastrous fire,
0:22:28 > 0:22:31one-third of the town also went up in flames
0:22:31 > 0:22:34as a result of burning ash on thatch.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37The whole town was rebuilt using tiles,
0:22:37 > 0:22:40happily for the townsfolk.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42This is where we're putting our valuations to the test,
0:22:42 > 0:22:44Cottees auction rooms.
0:22:44 > 0:22:45It's a jam-packed saleroom.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47The atmosphere is electric.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50It's got all the ingredients of a great sale, so stay tuned.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52Don't go away. There could be one or two surprises.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54Let's get on with the sale.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56Don't forget, you'll pay sellers' commission,
0:22:56 > 0:22:59which can vary from saleroom to saleroom,
0:22:59 > 0:23:02and here it's set at 20% plus VAT.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05And on the rostrum today is auctioneer John Condie.
0:23:06 > 0:23:10The first lot is the collection of postcards brought in by Pamela,
0:23:10 > 0:23:13who was keen to be at the head of the queue on the valuation day.
0:23:15 > 0:23:16Now, the postcards.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18Not a lot of money, Adam. £50 to £100.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21There's 300 of them. Surely we can get the top end of your estimate.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24Well, we think they might make a bit more, hopefully.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27We generally have a few surprises with postcard collections, don't we?
0:23:27 > 0:23:30Purely because of the volume. So let's see how yours do, Pamela.
0:23:30 > 0:23:31- Good luck. This is it.- Thank you.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33They're going under the hammer right now.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36Now we come on to a little set of postcards sets,
0:23:36 > 0:23:41the Tucks collection there, and I'll start that one at £30.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44£30 bid, at 30.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46£30. 35, 40.
0:23:46 > 0:23:4845, 50. 55.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50Someone bidding over there, look.
0:23:50 > 0:23:5365. 70.
0:23:53 > 0:23:54£70, gentleman over there.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56£70.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58£70, I've got.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00And selling... 5 on the net.
0:24:00 > 0:24:01- Good.- 75. 80.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03- Back in the room.- £80, I'm bid.
0:24:03 > 0:24:045, anyone else?
0:24:04 > 0:24:05And you're out on the internet.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08Closing it down at £80 in the room.
0:24:08 > 0:24:09£80. That's a good result.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12Yeah. That's definitely a fair market value, so well done.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14- Thanks for bringing them. - Thanks very much for having me.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17It's good to see you again as well. First in the queue.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20- Thank you so much. - Reward for being first.- Yes!
0:24:20 > 0:24:22What a good result!
0:24:22 > 0:24:24Next up, the commemorative bowl,
0:24:24 > 0:24:28created for the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31For me, it looks like a sugar bowl with cover, it's the right size,
0:24:31 > 0:24:34- rather than a tureen.- And the story that went with it.- Yeah.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37So, Jack was a builder, and all the builders got one of these.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40- Real piece of history. - Well, we're bigging this up
0:24:40 > 0:24:42- and there's no reserve on it. - I know!
0:24:42 > 0:24:46Hopefully it won't be an own goal. This is going to sell.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48Question is - how much?
0:24:48 > 0:24:50Right, we're going to find out right now.
0:24:50 > 0:24:56Paragon China Wembley souvenir, from 1924.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58Who can give me £20 for it?
0:24:58 > 0:25:02- Ooh, straight away, bidder in the room.- Yeah, that's good.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05- £35. £40.- Ooh!
0:25:05 > 0:25:07£45... £50, I've got.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11- £55, sir? £55 now, in the room. - That's fantastic, guys.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13£60, anybody else?
0:25:14 > 0:25:17At £55, then, I'm selling it.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21- £55.- Well done, that's fantastic.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24That's good. That's a very good result.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26- I'm delighted.- Yes, so am I!
0:25:26 > 0:25:29I don't like no reserves, I get really worried.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32- And that was your first auction? - It certainly was, yes.
0:25:32 > 0:25:33Well, what an experience.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35At least we're sending you home happy,
0:25:35 > 0:25:38- and that's what it's all about. - Thank you very much, indeed.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42And may there be many more for Margaret and Ken.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44£440.
0:25:44 > 0:25:45And now on to our next lot -
0:25:45 > 0:25:48a diamond chick brooch and costume jewellery,
0:25:48 > 0:25:50brought in by Marion and daughter Claire.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54Not a lot of money for the collection. We've got £100-£200.
0:25:54 > 0:25:55But you think it's the little chick.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57Well, I think there's a lot of damage in there,
0:25:57 > 0:26:00but nonetheless, some really, really nice things as well,
0:26:00 > 0:26:03- so best of luck.- OK, well, let's find out what the bidders think.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05It's going under the hammer now. This is it.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07I'll start you off at - what shall we say?
0:26:07 > 0:26:08£60 for it.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10Bid, thank you. 60.
0:26:10 > 0:26:1365. 70.
0:26:13 > 0:26:155. 80. 5.
0:26:15 > 0:26:1890. 5. 100.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21£100 on the little selection of jewellery.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23Come on, let's have a bit more.
0:26:23 > 0:26:24£100, I've got,
0:26:24 > 0:26:27at 100, on my right, selling.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30Crack, that's it. The hammer's gone down.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32£100. Look, it's gone. I think you're right.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34- They went for the little Easter chick, didn't they?- Yeah.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37- Well done, ladies. - Thank you very much.- Thank you.
0:26:37 > 0:26:38Thank you for bringing them.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41Our third slot is Barry's Austro-Hungarian snuffbox,
0:26:41 > 0:26:44picked up in Europe.
0:26:44 > 0:26:45Are you still travelling?
0:26:45 > 0:26:48- Are you still exploring countries? - Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50We have a home in Argentina.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52- Do you really?- So, we live part of the time in Argentina.
0:26:52 > 0:26:54Oh, wow. How nice is that?
0:26:54 > 0:26:57Now you've got me going. I'm really jealous!
0:26:57 > 0:26:59Right, OK. It's going under the hammer right now.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01Good luck, both of you. This is it.
0:27:01 > 0:27:02Nice little silver snuffbox.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04Continental vacant cartouche,
0:27:04 > 0:27:06shall we say, start me, £50 for it?
0:27:06 > 0:27:0950 bid. 55. 60.
0:27:09 > 0:27:1265. 70. £70.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15On my right, 75, a couple of you,
0:27:15 > 0:27:1680.
0:27:16 > 0:27:1985. 90. 95.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22100. 110.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25120. 130.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28130 in the middle. 130.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30140 now. 150.
0:27:30 > 0:27:32150, bid. At 150.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35Anybody else? I'm going to sell at 150, then.
0:27:35 > 0:27:36Last chance.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38Selling...
0:27:38 > 0:27:39150.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42I think that's a strong result. 150. What did you pay for it?
0:27:42 > 0:27:44- Oh, about £10, I think. - That's not bad, is it?
0:27:44 > 0:27:48- In the days when the zloty wasn't worth that much at all.- Yeah.
0:27:48 > 0:27:50Continental European silver,
0:27:50 > 0:27:53all coming into its own much more than it used to.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55Excellent.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57- Thank you.- Thank you!
0:27:57 > 0:28:00A good result - and that should contribute nicely
0:28:00 > 0:28:02to Barry's trips to Argentina.
0:28:03 > 0:28:04Well, there you are,
0:28:04 > 0:28:07that concludes our first visit to the auction room today.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09Three lots down, three more to go later in the programme,
0:28:09 > 0:28:10so don't go away.
0:28:10 > 0:28:14Now, many of Britain's great stately homes are brimming with collections
0:28:14 > 0:28:18of the grand tour, picked up by the aristocracy on their travels,
0:28:18 > 0:28:21but not far from our valuation day venue, Highcliffe Castle,
0:28:21 > 0:28:25in Bournemouth, there's a unique collection that was put together
0:28:25 > 0:28:27by a Victorian businessman
0:28:27 > 0:28:30with his very own modern method of collecting.
0:28:38 > 0:28:42In 1876, the Royal Bath Hotel in Bournemouth
0:28:42 > 0:28:44was an old-fashioned affair.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46It was bought and given an extensive overhaul
0:28:46 > 0:28:48by a one-time insurance salesman
0:28:48 > 0:28:52who had an idea that would put this place on the map.
0:28:52 > 0:28:54He was Merton Russell-Cotes.
0:28:58 > 0:29:02Merton realised that, if his hotel was to succeed,
0:29:02 > 0:29:05he would need to get the rich and the famous through the doors,
0:29:05 > 0:29:08so he and his wife Annie set about filling it
0:29:08 > 0:29:11with carefully chosen artworks and furniture
0:29:11 > 0:29:15and marketing it to customers as the ultimate in luxury.
0:29:15 > 0:29:18Oscar Wilde came to stay, and he wrote down,
0:29:18 > 0:29:21"You have built and fitted out with the greatest of elegance and taste,
0:29:21 > 0:29:24"a palace full of gems of art
0:29:24 > 0:29:28"for the use and benefit of the public at hotel prices" -
0:29:28 > 0:29:29and he was right.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32Problem was, Russell-Cotes wanted a home of his own.
0:29:32 > 0:29:36The solution was to build one right next door to his hotel -
0:29:36 > 0:29:38and this is it.
0:29:38 > 0:29:42No-one knows exactly how Merton had made his money,
0:29:42 > 0:29:46but the dramatic gesture in which he gave East Cliff Hall in 1901
0:29:46 > 0:29:50to his wife Annie on her birthday is undeniable.
0:29:52 > 0:29:53Duncan Walker, the curator here,
0:29:53 > 0:29:57knows all about what made this self-made man tick.
0:29:59 > 0:30:01So, how important was Russell-Cotes
0:30:01 > 0:30:04to the community around here in Bournemouth?
0:30:04 > 0:30:07Oh, he was one of the leading members of the community
0:30:07 > 0:30:10and became mayor - but also, I think, he was quite controversial.
0:30:10 > 0:30:12One of his planning activities was to stop development
0:30:12 > 0:30:15between the two piers - between Bournemouth Pier and Boscombe Pier.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18The reason being, he wanted to keep the focus of the town
0:30:18 > 0:30:19where the Royal Bath Hotel is,
0:30:19 > 0:30:21and where obviously all of his customers and clientele.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24- Which would help him! - Which would help him, yes.
0:30:24 > 0:30:26Another one being the Undercliff Drive,
0:30:26 > 0:30:29which obviously provides Bournemouth with a wonderful esplanade
0:30:29 > 0:30:33for you to explore the seven miles of sandy beach and all that,
0:30:33 > 0:30:34but just so happens to prop up
0:30:34 > 0:30:37the cliff where his hotel and house was, as well.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40Good timing, as well, because Bournemouth was expanding.
0:30:40 > 0:30:44Yes. Expanding exponentially. His collection was growing, too.
0:30:44 > 0:30:46Annie and Merton had taken several trips around the world
0:30:46 > 0:30:48and they'd come back with more and more stuff.
0:30:48 > 0:30:51They decided they needed a space of their own - or Merton did.
0:30:51 > 0:30:52So they built this place.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55- Yes.- So how important was Annie to this house?
0:30:55 > 0:30:57Very important. We think
0:30:57 > 0:31:00she knocked off Merton's rough edges, shall we say!
0:31:00 > 0:31:02We know she was a very intelligent woman
0:31:02 > 0:31:05and you do get the impression of a warm, loving person,
0:31:05 > 0:31:09and Merton being a bit more neurotic and go-get.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12All of his art collection is about supporting the hotel,
0:31:12 > 0:31:16so you'd stay in the hotel, fine wine, fine food, all the rest of it,
0:31:16 > 0:31:18and then art on the walls.
0:31:18 > 0:31:20All of his status in society comes from that business.
0:31:20 > 0:31:24- Yes.- That business must function. If it fails, he fails.
0:31:24 > 0:31:26- Yeah.- So these trips around the world,
0:31:26 > 0:31:28they're bringing the ideas and the culture,
0:31:28 > 0:31:32mashed together in an expression of, "This is who I am.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35"I am Merton Russell-Cotes, and I am full of good taste,"
0:31:35 > 0:31:38but Annie was a key part of that.
0:31:41 > 0:31:44The design of the house had to be as aspirational
0:31:44 > 0:31:47as the collection it contained.
0:31:47 > 0:31:50What I love is, you see this wonderful glass fanlight,
0:31:50 > 0:31:53the ceiling above, signs of the Zodiac,
0:31:53 > 0:31:56really deep cornices enriched with gilt stars...
0:31:56 > 0:31:59and below, a Moorish-inspired fountain
0:31:59 > 0:32:03made up of tiny little mosaics put together piece by piece.
0:32:03 > 0:32:05And just in here, there's another tiny little room
0:32:05 > 0:32:08which transports you to Spain, to Alhambra
0:32:08 > 0:32:12with the Moorish-inspired cupola in the ceiling.
0:32:14 > 0:32:17Isn't that just spectacular?
0:32:17 > 0:32:22All of this shows that Merton was definitely a nouveau riche
0:32:22 > 0:32:24social climber of the day.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27He built this house in an ostentatious fashion
0:32:27 > 0:32:30simply because he could afford to - and he wanted to.
0:32:30 > 0:32:32He had great joy in doing it,
0:32:32 > 0:32:37and it also reflected well with his social standing within the town.
0:32:38 > 0:32:40He was the new aristocracy,
0:32:40 > 0:32:44and to demonstrate it, he created his own coat of arms -
0:32:44 > 0:32:48but the real centrepiece was precious art collection.
0:32:49 > 0:32:50Gosh, look at this.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53It is like an overview of Victorian art.
0:32:53 > 0:32:57- Is it all Victorian?- Yeah, mainly Victorian, some Edwardian,
0:32:57 > 0:33:01and this room really does kind of sum up Merton's art taste.
0:33:01 > 0:33:03It's got that sort of
0:33:03 > 0:33:06- historical classical look to it, hasn't it?- Mm.
0:33:06 > 0:33:08Harking back to the greats.
0:33:08 > 0:33:11He taught himself art by reading the right books.
0:33:11 > 0:33:14So, he read Ruskin, he read the Art Journal,
0:33:14 > 0:33:17and he's getting the received wisdom on art of his day.
0:33:17 > 0:33:19He also liked a bargain,
0:33:19 > 0:33:22and a good example is here with the works of Edwin Longsden Long.
0:33:22 > 0:33:24When he was alive,
0:33:24 > 0:33:27Long commanded the highest price of anybody at the Royal Academy,
0:33:27 > 0:33:31but when he died, you know, his price took a dive
0:33:31 > 0:33:33and Merton swooped in and bought these works -
0:33:33 > 0:33:36I think on the basis that they might have gone up again,
0:33:36 > 0:33:39so then he could cash in - but they never did,
0:33:39 > 0:33:45so we have the largest collection of Edwin Longsden Longs in the UK.
0:33:45 > 0:33:49- That's a big picture.- Some of them are quite literally very long!
0:33:49 > 0:33:51Merton considered himself a connoisseur.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54This famous painting by Byam Shaw called Jezebel
0:33:54 > 0:33:56was originally a nude
0:33:56 > 0:34:00until Merton asked the artist to clothe her, to improve the work.
0:34:03 > 0:34:07He plastered his own quotations in his art gallery on the walls.
0:34:07 > 0:34:09Now, some might think that arrogant -
0:34:09 > 0:34:13but in other ways, he was quite a forward thinker.
0:34:15 > 0:34:19And it's represented by paintings like this by Lucy Kemp-Welch,
0:34:19 > 0:34:23a prominent equestrian artist of the day, that he sponsored.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26Now one theory suggests that he was attracted to investing
0:34:26 > 0:34:31in female artists because he could pick their work up for a song.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34Another theory suggests that he liked to invest in these artists
0:34:34 > 0:34:38because he wanted to promote the career of women,
0:34:38 > 0:34:40and I like to think it was the latter.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44The business nous Merton used in running his hotel
0:34:44 > 0:34:48was used to just as good effect in his choice of art,
0:34:48 > 0:34:50dealing in it like stocks and shares.
0:34:51 > 0:34:54These sales show us, in this little book,
0:34:54 > 0:34:58that he didn't hang on to all of his art like the aristocracy did.
0:34:58 > 0:35:00He was a businessman through and through,
0:35:00 > 0:35:03and he was always thinking of a way of making a fast buck.
0:35:03 > 0:35:05He had these images licensed
0:35:05 > 0:35:08so they could be printed into children's books,
0:35:08 > 0:35:12and he also sold postcards of the interior of this house
0:35:12 > 0:35:16as a souvenir to the guests who stayed in the hotel.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19He was definitely a wheeler-dealer.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21But it wasn't always about the money.
0:35:21 > 0:35:24In 1908, during Merton and Annie's lifetime,
0:35:24 > 0:35:26they did something remarkable.
0:35:26 > 0:35:28They gave the house and the collection
0:35:28 > 0:35:30to the people of Bournemouth
0:35:30 > 0:35:34for their benefit in perpetuity, for everyone to enjoy.
0:35:40 > 0:35:43Welcome back to our magnificent valuation day venue,
0:35:43 > 0:35:44Highcliffe Castle.
0:35:44 > 0:35:46As you can see, it's still in full swing.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49It's now time to join up with our experts
0:35:49 > 0:35:52to see what else we can find to take off to auction.
0:35:52 > 0:35:56Christina is taking the opportunity to explore the castle grounds
0:35:56 > 0:35:58which stretch down to the glorious Dorset coast
0:35:58 > 0:36:02and she's joined there by Norman and April.
0:36:02 > 0:36:05Doesn't time fly when you're having fun, hey?
0:36:05 > 0:36:07Tell me about this watch. Where does it come from?
0:36:07 > 0:36:09My late wife's watch.
0:36:09 > 0:36:11- Right.- It was long service.
0:36:11 > 0:36:18- She was teaching until she was about, um, 50...54.- Mm-hm.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21Oh, wonderful. So, a nice present for her...
0:36:21 > 0:36:23- Yes.- ..on being such a successful teacher.
0:36:23 > 0:36:25- That's right.- OK.
0:36:25 > 0:36:29So what we've got is a little ladies' Tissot wristwatch,
0:36:29 > 0:36:30which - taking it out of the box,
0:36:30 > 0:36:33great that you've got the original box with it, as well.
0:36:33 > 0:36:34- It is original. - Did she ever wear it?
0:36:34 > 0:36:36She did, yes, that's right.
0:36:36 > 0:36:38- She did.- Wore it and loved it.
0:36:38 > 0:36:43That's the main thing. Immediately, I can tell that it's 1970s.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46Cos this little wristwatch or this little strap,
0:36:46 > 0:36:49here, which is integral to the watch, is very 1970s.
0:36:49 > 0:36:51That sort of finish there.
0:36:51 > 0:36:54It's almost like a sort of snakeskin-type-effect finish.
0:36:54 > 0:36:56- Yeah.- We've got this lovely oval face
0:36:56 > 0:36:59with what we call obviously a white enamelled dial
0:36:59 > 0:37:02and these batons, as well, so very typical of its time.
0:37:02 > 0:37:06So, would the 1970s sort of tie into when your late wife was given this?
0:37:06 > 0:37:09- Well, let's see, now... - It would be about right.- Yeah.
0:37:09 > 0:37:11It probably would be about right.
0:37:11 > 0:37:13Yeah. We've got a nice little hallmark on here,
0:37:13 > 0:37:15which is telling us that it's 9-carat yellow gold,
0:37:15 > 0:37:20so it's 375 parts per thousand of gold, rather than 18-carat,
0:37:20 > 0:37:23- which is 750 parts per thousand of gold.- Yeah, mm-hm.
0:37:23 > 0:37:25So the lower grade gold, if you like,
0:37:25 > 0:37:27but probably a bit more durable.
0:37:27 > 0:37:28So, lovely thing.
0:37:28 > 0:37:32Tissot, they're not quite up there with the Rolexes and the Omegas,
0:37:32 > 0:37:34but still very good, very reliable,
0:37:34 > 0:37:38great name, and they do still sell at auction, which is the main thing,
0:37:38 > 0:37:40especially in gold, which this is.
0:37:40 > 0:37:41So I like it. I think it's a nice thing
0:37:41 > 0:37:43and I think there will be somebody
0:37:43 > 0:37:45that buys it and wears it and loves it.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48I think at auction, we're probably looking
0:37:48 > 0:37:50somewhere in the region of maybe £60-£100.
0:37:50 > 0:37:52We do see them quite regularly
0:37:52 > 0:37:56and it will be mainly based on the weight of the gold within the watch.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59- Yes, fair enough. - Perhaps with a reserve at £60.
0:37:59 > 0:38:01- Mm.- How do you feel about that? - Fine. That's fine.- Fine.
0:38:01 > 0:38:03- Is that all right? - Yes, quite all right.
0:38:03 > 0:38:07- So, thank you so much for bringing it in.- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:38:07 > 0:38:10Most people associate this area with Poole Pottery,
0:38:10 > 0:38:13but how many of you have heard of Verwood pottery?
0:38:13 > 0:38:14As I found out 12 years ago,
0:38:14 > 0:38:17when I visited the area in an earlier programme
0:38:17 > 0:38:20and met up with aficionado Penny Copland-Griffiths.
0:38:20 > 0:38:23Verwood is the name for a collection of local potteries
0:38:23 > 0:38:26that date back 1,000 years.
0:38:26 > 0:38:29They produced pots for local working people.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31Penny has joined me at the valuation day
0:38:31 > 0:38:34to update me on her own collection.
0:38:34 > 0:38:37- Since the show... - Yes.- ..this one's appeared.
0:38:37 > 0:38:39- It is.- How'd you come by that?
0:38:39 > 0:38:40That was really exciting.
0:38:40 > 0:38:44I received an e-mail from a couple in Essex,
0:38:44 > 0:38:46saying that they'd been watching Flog It!
0:38:46 > 0:38:50and they saw this pot on Flog It! and they'd got one just like it.
0:38:50 > 0:38:55Cos this one, so the couple told me, had they not seen me on Flog It!,
0:38:55 > 0:38:58- they were going to make it into a table lamp.- Yeah.- So...
0:38:58 > 0:39:00And something like this, now,
0:39:00 > 0:39:04you'd have to pay around £1,400 for, in auction, of that particular size.
0:39:04 > 0:39:09- Yes.- Yeah.- Because this was from a kiln site which was 1640,
0:39:09 > 0:39:12and this pot had survived all those years.
0:39:12 > 0:39:14There you go, we're working our magic.
0:39:14 > 0:39:16Maybe we'll get together in another 14 years
0:39:16 > 0:39:19- and this programme will have brought me something else!- Yes.
0:39:19 > 0:39:21You know, another new pot.
0:39:21 > 0:39:24What a nice story - and it's worth looking out for Verwood pottery,
0:39:24 > 0:39:27because it's very collectable.
0:39:28 > 0:39:32The crowds are still flocking to this glorious Gothic-style castle,
0:39:32 > 0:39:34and we're going over to Adam Partridge,
0:39:34 > 0:39:38whose next items have a distinctly Gothic air, too.
0:39:38 > 0:39:39Peter, what a wonderful collection
0:39:39 > 0:39:41of film posters you've brought along.
0:39:41 > 0:39:44- I think they're special.- What, about 100 of them, or something?
0:39:44 > 0:39:46- Yes, that's right. - It's unbelievable!
0:39:46 > 0:39:48So tell me, how have you accumulated these?
0:39:48 > 0:39:50Has it taken a long time to get them?
0:39:50 > 0:39:53- What's the story? - Well, when I was in my early 20s,
0:39:53 > 0:39:57I found a dealer who dealt mail order on these sort of things,
0:39:57 > 0:40:01so I just bought loads of them over the next two or three years.
0:40:01 > 0:40:03May I ask how long ago was it?
0:40:03 > 0:40:07- In the '80s, '90s?- Early '80s I bought them, yes.- Early '80s.
0:40:07 > 0:40:09Obviously we're in an internet age,
0:40:09 > 0:40:11- it's a different world now, isn't it?- It certainly is.
0:40:11 > 0:40:13How do you find a mail order dealer?
0:40:13 > 0:40:15Do you remember how you came across it?
0:40:15 > 0:40:18It was in a Hammer International Fan Club magazine.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21Ah, OK. So you were a member of the Hammer fan club.
0:40:21 > 0:40:24- Yes. I was.- You were. - I don't think it exists any more!
0:40:24 > 0:40:26No, I'm not sure it does!
0:40:26 > 0:40:29So you were clearly a fan of Peter Cushing.
0:40:29 > 0:40:30- Certainly, yes.- And Christopher Lee.
0:40:30 > 0:40:34And all the movies they were in. So, some investment, there -
0:40:34 > 0:40:37and what were you shelling out for these posters?
0:40:37 > 0:40:41Well, the Dracula one was £250.
0:40:41 > 0:40:43That's far and away the most expensive -
0:40:43 > 0:40:45everybody thought I was mad when I bought it.
0:40:45 > 0:40:49- Wow, that was a lot of money in the 1980s.- That one was £17.50.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51And have you had them on display at your house?
0:40:51 > 0:40:53No, they've just been in a box.
0:40:53 > 0:40:54- Yeah.- In a box.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57- Where does the box live? - It has lived in the loft,
0:40:57 > 0:40:59- but at the moment, it's in the garage.- OK.
0:40:59 > 0:41:02Right, and do you not even have this one up?
0:41:02 > 0:41:04- No.- Why is that, Peter?
0:41:04 > 0:41:06I don't think my wife would like it.
0:41:06 > 0:41:08Well, it's not for everyone, is it?
0:41:08 > 0:41:11"The terrifying lover who died - yet lived!"
0:41:11 > 0:41:14- It's an iconic poster, isn't it? - It is, yes.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16So, are you sad to be seeing them go?
0:41:16 > 0:41:20In a way, but... I'm perfectly happy to do it.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23Good, well, film posters are becoming quite a collectable area,
0:41:23 > 0:41:26quite a rarity, you know. You don't see many of these around.
0:41:26 > 0:41:28Of course, they were only really available
0:41:28 > 0:41:31to those who had an intimate connection with the film industry.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34They weren't that easy to get hold of, as you know,
0:41:34 > 0:41:37probably more than us, there were different rules and exceptions,
0:41:37 > 0:41:39some posters worth more than others,
0:41:39 > 0:41:42and this is clearly the star of the show.
0:41:42 > 0:41:46Potentially, this one could be worth a few thousand.
0:41:46 > 0:41:48- Really?- Then the Wicker Man, I think,
0:41:48 > 0:41:50for me, it's a bit bland, that, isn't it?
0:41:50 > 0:41:53- I suppose the picture is. - Which is why this one,
0:41:53 > 0:41:58I think, anywhere from £50-£200 range.
0:41:58 > 0:42:00This one, I really like this one.
0:42:00 > 0:42:02- What do you think?- It's beautiful. - Is it your favourite?
0:42:02 > 0:42:05- It is, yeah.- This one's going to be worth a few hundred pounds,
0:42:05 > 0:42:08maybe £300-£500, Because it's a really iconic one,
0:42:08 > 0:42:12and, of course, Star Wars is a very current one,
0:42:12 > 0:42:15- and I'm sure that one's worth a few hundred pounds as well.- Really?
0:42:15 > 0:42:19So potentially, you could be looking at many thousands of pounds,
0:42:19 > 0:42:22- Peter, but...- I hope so.- Well, yeah, it would be nice, wouldn't it?
0:42:22 > 0:42:23Well, I'm really looking forward
0:42:23 > 0:42:25to seeing how the auction house splits those,
0:42:25 > 0:42:27and what kind of value to put on them,
0:42:27 > 0:42:30it could be one of the most exciting sales we've been to for years.
0:42:30 > 0:42:31Oh, good.
0:42:31 > 0:42:32You're right, Adam.
0:42:32 > 0:42:35When these Hammer Horror posters go under the hammer,
0:42:35 > 0:42:38they could make movie magic.
0:42:39 > 0:42:41Christina has left the crowds behind
0:42:41 > 0:42:44to find a perfect backdrop for her final objects.
0:42:45 > 0:42:47Tell me where it's come from.
0:42:47 > 0:42:49It's from Isle of Wight Glass,
0:42:49 > 0:42:54and they used to have an outlet shop at Alum Bay,
0:42:54 > 0:42:58and my wife and I, my late wife Lorraine,
0:42:58 > 0:43:01used to visit my brother on the Isle of Wight,
0:43:01 > 0:43:02he lives at Shanklin.
0:43:02 > 0:43:05When we were over there on those occasions,
0:43:05 > 0:43:08we looked in the shop and anything that took our fancy,
0:43:08 > 0:43:10then my wife was the artistic one -
0:43:10 > 0:43:13she was probably the one who chose it.
0:43:13 > 0:43:16Oh, bless her - so, her eye was caught by beautiful artistic pieces
0:43:16 > 0:43:18- that she saw.- Yes.
0:43:18 > 0:43:20Oh, fantastic. Well, she obviously had a very good eye.
0:43:20 > 0:43:23- Yes.- Very good eye. And it's very appropriate that we're here,
0:43:23 > 0:43:24cos obviously, just through the trees,
0:43:24 > 0:43:25we can see the Isle of Wight,
0:43:25 > 0:43:28so it feels very appropriate that we brought them here.
0:43:28 > 0:43:31- That's right.- And what we've got on the table here
0:43:31 > 0:43:33is a bit of a timeline of this specific glassware
0:43:33 > 0:43:35that we're talking about,
0:43:35 > 0:43:37but we've got this rather lovely mottled pink glass,
0:43:37 > 0:43:39what we call blue-trailed glass decanter
0:43:39 > 0:43:41and the original stopper, as well.
0:43:41 > 0:43:44If we put the stopper down and look at the bottom,
0:43:44 > 0:43:46- and can you see what that says? - Mdina.
0:43:46 > 0:43:49Mdina. Now, do you know where Mdina originated from?
0:43:49 > 0:43:51- From Malta.- From Malta,
0:43:51 > 0:43:54exactly, so nowhere near the Isle of Wight, really.
0:43:54 > 0:43:56But it's a beautiful piece
0:43:56 > 0:43:58and it starts us off on this wonderful journey
0:43:58 > 0:44:00that is illustrated here,
0:44:00 > 0:44:04starting with this rather inventive chap called Michael Harris.
0:44:04 > 0:44:08Now he started at the Mdina glass factory in the 1960s,
0:44:08 > 0:44:11and this is a very, very 1960s piece -
0:44:11 > 0:44:13you look at the colourway, you look at the shape of it,
0:44:13 > 0:44:14it's quite free-form, isn't it?
0:44:14 > 0:44:17- It's quite fluid, especially with this trail glass decoration.- Yes.
0:44:17 > 0:44:21So he started at Mdina and he has signed pieces -
0:44:21 > 0:44:24we have seen signed pieces of his, where he was at Mdina.
0:44:24 > 0:44:29He then left Malta in the late 1960s and he moved to the Isle of Wight,
0:44:29 > 0:44:33in, I think, 1972, and set up his own factory on the Isle of Wight,
0:44:33 > 0:44:35which is the Isle of Wight Glass.
0:44:35 > 0:44:39Now, this piece is very much a Harris piece.
0:44:39 > 0:44:42This is very much in his iconic fish-shaped vase.
0:44:42 > 0:44:45- Right.- The ones that we have seen have been encased
0:44:45 > 0:44:48and usually signed, but, to be perfectly honest,
0:44:48 > 0:44:49that rather makes sense to me,
0:44:49 > 0:44:51that if you bought this at the outlet factory,
0:44:51 > 0:44:53that might be why it's not signed.
0:44:53 > 0:44:55- I see, yes. - But without a shadow of a doubt,
0:44:55 > 0:44:57we can attribute this to Harris.
0:44:57 > 0:44:59We really can. It's a beautiful thing.
0:44:59 > 0:45:02He really was such an innovator in 1970s glassware,
0:45:02 > 0:45:05and this is really quite an iconic piece for him.
0:45:05 > 0:45:09So really, this is the piece that I am most interested in today.
0:45:09 > 0:45:11We then go slightly later in the timeline
0:45:11 > 0:45:13and we've got this little piece here
0:45:13 > 0:45:16which has got a little sticker on the bottom
0:45:16 > 0:45:19which says, "Isle of Wight Glass handmade in England",
0:45:19 > 0:45:20very, very sweet, very pretty,
0:45:20 > 0:45:23- but not nearly as exciting as this piece here.- Mm.
0:45:23 > 0:45:26So, having not had a signature on the base,
0:45:26 > 0:45:28that is going to affect the value slightly,
0:45:28 > 0:45:30so I'm not going to go wild on the estimate,
0:45:30 > 0:45:32so don't get too excited,
0:45:32 > 0:45:34but I think what I would do is put them as a group
0:45:34 > 0:45:37and I'd put an estimate of maybe £100-£200.
0:45:37 > 0:45:38Right, yes.
0:45:38 > 0:45:43And I think with a reserve of £80, and an estimate of £100-£200,
0:45:43 > 0:45:45you should hopefully have a glass collector
0:45:45 > 0:45:47who would be very interested.
0:45:47 > 0:45:52Next up, Adam's found something I always love to see on the show.
0:45:52 > 0:45:54Christine, thank you for coming along.
0:45:54 > 0:45:56You've brought an item that I really like,
0:45:56 > 0:45:59and something that appeals to my own personal collecting taste.
0:45:59 > 0:46:01As soon as I saw this come down on the table,
0:46:01 > 0:46:04I knew instantly it was a piece of Newlyn Copper ware.
0:46:04 > 0:46:07Very distinctive, arts and crafts, so it's handmade,
0:46:07 > 0:46:11hand-beaten, rivets, hand-decorated with these birds,
0:46:11 > 0:46:15and of course, the fish is a tell-tale sign, isn't it,
0:46:15 > 0:46:19of the fact it was made in Newlyn in Cornwall, early 20th century.
0:46:19 > 0:46:22Of course, the most famous name there is John Pearson,
0:46:22 > 0:46:25of the metalworkers, but there were a number of metalworkers,
0:46:25 > 0:46:29and I think that's a lovely example of a piece of Newlyn Copper.
0:46:29 > 0:46:30How did you come to own this?
0:46:30 > 0:46:32Well, we used to live in Penzance
0:46:32 > 0:46:35and we bought it while we were there.
0:46:35 > 0:46:40We've had it about 20 years now and we're quite fond of it,
0:46:40 > 0:46:43but I don't really want to polish it any more.
0:46:43 > 0:46:45Oh, is that the reason for selling it?
0:46:45 > 0:46:47Well, it doesn't need that much polishing, does it?
0:46:47 > 0:46:49No. We are supposed to be downsizing, as well.
0:46:49 > 0:46:53- Oh, are you moving, are you?- Yes. - It's a pleasing shape, isn't it?
0:46:53 > 0:46:55Angular, geometric, with a decoration,
0:46:55 > 0:46:58and the Newlyn mark there on the front, clearly stamped.
0:46:58 > 0:47:02- Yes.- And these sorts of things are very popular these days,
0:47:02 > 0:47:05in the market, so you've chosen a great time to sell, really.
0:47:05 > 0:47:08Do you remember what you paid for it, all those years ago in Newlyn?
0:47:08 > 0:47:15- No, I don't.- No. What about an idea of its current value?- Er...
0:47:15 > 0:47:19- £100? £150?- Very good, you don't need me, do you?
0:47:19 > 0:47:23No, that's absolutely right. I think £100 to £150 is its value,
0:47:23 > 0:47:27really, and I think it'll make a little bit more towards £200 or so.
0:47:27 > 0:47:30Well, that's good. It would be nice to be £200.
0:47:30 > 0:47:33- Shall we do £120 reserve? - That would be fine.
0:47:33 > 0:47:34I think it'll make more anyway,
0:47:34 > 0:47:37- you have to trust in the system a little bit.- Yes.
0:47:37 > 0:47:41- And we can put the estimate £120 to £180?- Yes.- Nice big range.- OK.
0:47:41 > 0:47:44- And hopefully, I still think it'll make the best part of £200.- Good.
0:47:44 > 0:47:46Who knows, on the day?
0:47:46 > 0:47:48Two people competing, it might make a little bit more.
0:47:48 > 0:47:51- Oh, well, that would be nice. - It would be lovely, wouldn't it?
0:47:51 > 0:47:55It certainly would. I have high hopes for that Newlyn Copper.
0:47:56 > 0:47:59Well, there you are. Our experts have now found their final items
0:47:59 > 0:48:03to take off to auction, and I think one or two of those could fly.
0:48:03 > 0:48:05But sadly, it's time to say goodbye
0:48:05 > 0:48:09to our magnificent host location today, Highcliffe Castle.
0:48:09 > 0:48:11What a backdrop, that really is something to remember -
0:48:11 > 0:48:14and in the true spirit of the Bournemouth collector
0:48:14 > 0:48:18Merton Russell-Cotes, it's time to see if our items make a bob or two
0:48:18 > 0:48:20as we put them under the hammer.
0:48:20 > 0:48:23And here's a quick recap of what we're taking with us.
0:48:23 > 0:48:26The 9-carat Tissot watch from the 1970s
0:48:26 > 0:48:29with still plenty of time left in it.
0:48:31 > 0:48:33The Newlyn Copper teapot -
0:48:33 > 0:48:36it might be cluttering up Christine's house,
0:48:36 > 0:48:39but there are plenty of arts and crafts collectors
0:48:39 > 0:48:41who'd love to take it off her hands.
0:48:42 > 0:48:45Of Peter's 113 film posters,
0:48:45 > 0:48:48we'll be taking ten posters to auction
0:48:48 > 0:48:51in what could be a very exciting sale.
0:48:51 > 0:48:56And the local Isle of Wight glass inspired by the colours of the sun
0:48:56 > 0:48:58and the sea around us today.
0:49:00 > 0:49:02We're back in the saleroom, and our first lot
0:49:02 > 0:49:06is April and Norman's 1970s Tissot lady's watch.
0:49:06 > 0:49:08We are looking at £60-£100.
0:49:08 > 0:49:11Yes. So, £60-£100 and we've got a £60 firm reserve.
0:49:11 > 0:49:14- You didn't want to let it go for any less than £60.- No.
0:49:14 > 0:49:17- So, yeah, you take it home if it didn't sell for that.- Yeah.
0:49:17 > 0:49:19Condition is with it, everything's with it.
0:49:19 > 0:49:21It's good, it's working. It's ready to go, as they say,
0:49:21 > 0:49:24and right now it's ready to go under the hammer.
0:49:24 > 0:49:26This is it. Good luck, everyone.
0:49:26 > 0:49:29The lady's 9-carat gold wristwatch and strap.
0:49:29 > 0:49:31Nice wearable watch there.
0:49:31 > 0:49:33I can start at £60.
0:49:33 > 0:49:3570. 80.
0:49:35 > 0:49:3890. 100. 110.
0:49:38 > 0:49:41120. 130. 140.
0:49:41 > 0:49:43150. 160. 170.
0:49:43 > 0:49:46170, now.
0:49:46 > 0:49:49180. 180 bid, fresh bidder.
0:49:49 > 0:49:52180. 190, make it?
0:49:52 > 0:49:55- It's 180. Gentleman in the middle. - Oh, my goodness.
0:49:55 > 0:49:56Come on, round it up, round it up!
0:49:56 > 0:49:58I'm going to sell it..
0:49:58 > 0:49:59at...
0:49:59 > 0:50:01- 180.- Yes, 180.
0:50:01 > 0:50:04- Well done.- It always helps to sell a watch with the original box,
0:50:04 > 0:50:07- doesn't it?- Absolutely. - It means it's been looked after.
0:50:07 > 0:50:09- It's right.- That was lovely!
0:50:09 > 0:50:11Yes!
0:50:11 > 0:50:13I thought we'd be taking it home.
0:50:13 > 0:50:16Oh! Fantastic. That was a great result.
0:50:16 > 0:50:17Yeah, and thank you for bringing that in.
0:50:17 > 0:50:21- It's quite all right.- I know it means a lot to you, so thank you.
0:50:21 > 0:50:24That's going home with someone who I'm sure will be wearing it!
0:50:25 > 0:50:28Next up, the Newlyn Copper teapot,
0:50:28 > 0:50:31brought along by Christine and husband David.
0:50:31 > 0:50:33- I'm a big fan of Newlyn Copper. - Yes?- I really am.
0:50:33 > 0:50:37- You lived in Cornwall for a little while, I gather?- Yes, in St Just.
0:50:37 > 0:50:40- St Just - very nice.- Just outside. - Just outside.- It's a special place.
0:50:40 > 0:50:43Did you start to collect more or just this one piece?
0:50:43 > 0:50:47- No, it was just something from the area we thought we'd like.- OK.
0:50:47 > 0:50:48£120 to £180 - I think that's sensible,
0:50:48 > 0:50:52- I'd like to see the top end. - It's really pleasing, isn't it?
0:50:52 > 0:50:55Yeah, it's well made, it's tactile. That's the key to it.
0:50:55 > 0:50:59Those edges are folded and rolled, and hand beaten and hammered,
0:50:59 > 0:51:01and all that repousse work is beautiful.
0:51:01 > 0:51:04And it's got the fish motifs, as well, which you expect.
0:51:04 > 0:51:05Anyway, this is the fun part of it,
0:51:05 > 0:51:07it's going under the hammer right now.
0:51:07 > 0:51:11This is impressed Newlyn, rather nice example.
0:51:11 > 0:51:13Start me at £100 for it.
0:51:13 > 0:51:19£100 bid, £100. £110. £120. £130.
0:51:19 > 0:51:22£140, £150, £160.
0:51:22 > 0:51:26£160, £170, £180.
0:51:26 > 0:51:31£180 bid. £190, £200.
0:51:31 > 0:51:33At £220 now, on the internet. £220.
0:51:35 > 0:51:39£230. £230 I've got, £240.
0:51:39 > 0:51:43£240 here. £240, £260 now. £280, anyone in the room?
0:51:44 > 0:51:47At £260.
0:51:47 > 0:51:51I'm going to sell it then, your last chance. It's on the internet.
0:51:51 > 0:51:53£260.
0:51:53 > 0:51:57- Yes! Proper job... - I was just going to say, proper job.
0:51:58 > 0:52:02Adam and I knew we were onto a winner with that lovely piece.
0:52:02 > 0:52:07So, what about our next lot - the three beautiful pieces of glassware?
0:52:07 > 0:52:09So, this is going back to the '60s.
0:52:09 > 0:52:12Yes, '60s, '70s, round about them.
0:52:12 > 0:52:14And first piece, obviously is a Mdina piece.
0:52:14 > 0:52:16The second two are Isle of Wight pieces, which is quite nice.
0:52:16 > 0:52:19Fingers crossed, we can send you away with a bit of money, OK?
0:52:19 > 0:52:22- OK, yes.- Quality always sells, we keep saying it.
0:52:22 > 0:52:24- Absolutely.- Let's find out. Here we go.
0:52:24 > 0:52:26Some nice art glass for you.
0:52:26 > 0:52:28I've got interest,
0:52:28 > 0:52:31and can start at...£55.
0:52:31 > 0:52:3555. 60.
0:52:35 > 0:52:3665.
0:52:36 > 0:52:3970. 75.
0:52:39 > 0:52:4080.
0:52:40 > 0:52:4285. 90, here.
0:52:42 > 0:52:44- Brilliant.- 95, 100.
0:52:44 > 0:52:47Fantastic. Bottom estimate achieved. That's great.
0:52:47 > 0:52:49110 is on the internet.
0:52:49 > 0:52:51- Internet and commission bids as well.- Yeah.
0:52:51 > 0:52:54At £110.
0:52:54 > 0:52:55- 20, anybody else?- Come on, come on!
0:52:55 > 0:52:58I'm going to sell, then. Three pieces.
0:52:58 > 0:53:00Hammer's gone down. 110.
0:53:00 > 0:53:02- That's really good. - That's not bad, is it?
0:53:02 > 0:53:04- It got over the reserve. - Exactly. Exactly.
0:53:04 > 0:53:07Our reserve was 80, wasn't it? So, well over the reserve.
0:53:07 > 0:53:08- Brilliant.- Happy with that?
0:53:08 > 0:53:10- Oh, yes, yes.- Good.
0:53:10 > 0:53:13- Congratulations.- It's worthwhile. - Yeah!
0:53:13 > 0:53:15Finally, it's been worth the wait
0:53:15 > 0:53:17for the stupendous collection of horror posters -
0:53:17 > 0:53:21and as Peter is on holiday, his sister Jane is standing in
0:53:21 > 0:53:23on what could be a very big sale.
0:53:23 > 0:53:25Thank you very much, Jane, for coming in.
0:53:25 > 0:53:27Now, I know you've seen a lot of these posters...
0:53:27 > 0:53:30- Yes.- ..as a young girl, when Peter was collecting these,
0:53:30 > 0:53:31he had them on his bedroom wall.
0:53:31 > 0:53:33- There was 113 in total.- Yes.
0:53:33 > 0:53:36A crate full of them. We've singled out a few, mainly the Dracula one,
0:53:36 > 0:53:40which is an iconic one and also, I think, Peter's favourite.
0:53:40 > 0:53:42- Yes.- What do you think we'll get for that today?
0:53:42 > 0:53:45Well, since then, I believe we've found out the condition isn't great.
0:53:45 > 0:53:48- It's been behind glass, so it has been trimmed and it has been...- OK.
0:53:48 > 0:53:51So it's got a few... I mean, if it was a really good example,
0:53:51 > 0:53:53- it would be a few thousand pounds. - Wow.
0:53:53 > 0:53:55And the others, I believe, Peter is in discussion
0:53:55 > 0:53:58- with the auction house to put them into a specialist sale.- I think so.
0:53:58 > 0:54:01I mean, they'd need an awful lot of attention to go through 100 posters.
0:54:01 > 0:54:03You've got to be very systematic, methodical,
0:54:03 > 0:54:04and hopefully they'll do some deal
0:54:04 > 0:54:06- and put them in a specialist auction for him.- Yeah.
0:54:06 > 0:54:11But today, the auction house will be selling ten posters of the 113,
0:54:11 > 0:54:14starting with Dr Terror's House Of Horrors.
0:54:14 > 0:54:19I can start you with my commission bids at 200.
0:54:19 > 0:54:23220. 240. 260.
0:54:23 > 0:54:25This is a great sign!
0:54:25 > 0:54:28£300 I'm bid for the first one.
0:54:28 > 0:54:30- Yeah.- 320 on the phone, here.
0:54:30 > 0:54:34340. 360 on the internet already.
0:54:34 > 0:54:36380 on the telephone.
0:54:36 > 0:54:38400 on the net first.
0:54:38 > 0:54:41400. 420.
0:54:41 > 0:54:42440 on that phone.
0:54:42 > 0:54:44460, no?
0:54:44 > 0:54:47460. 480. 500, now.
0:54:47 > 0:54:48520.
0:54:48 > 0:54:51This is a good omen for the rest of the collection.
0:54:51 > 0:54:55600. 620.
0:54:55 > 0:54:56640, now.
0:54:56 > 0:54:58660 bid.
0:54:58 > 0:54:59680, now.
0:54:59 > 0:55:00680!
0:55:00 > 0:55:04It's £680 on the first lot.
0:55:04 > 0:55:07Out in the room, on this phone here,
0:55:07 > 0:55:09last chance, we're selling.
0:55:10 > 0:55:12£680.
0:55:12 > 0:55:16That just shows how much cachet these iconic films have.
0:55:18 > 0:55:22Now for the Dracula poster, starring the late Christopher Lee,
0:55:22 > 0:55:24this could reach thousands in pristine condition -
0:55:24 > 0:55:27but will the damage put the bidders off?
0:55:29 > 0:55:31Is in poor condition,
0:55:31 > 0:55:34but it is exceptionally rare.
0:55:34 > 0:55:36Start me at £1,000.
0:55:36 > 0:55:39- Yes.- Yes, 1,000 bid.
0:55:39 > 0:55:411,600. 1,900.
0:55:41 > 0:55:442,200, now.
0:55:44 > 0:55:46- 2,200.- Someone's very keen.
0:55:46 > 0:55:492,400. 2,600.
0:55:49 > 0:55:512,800. 3,000.
0:55:51 > 0:55:53The appetite for the Dracula poster
0:55:53 > 0:55:55seems to have surpassed any worries about damage.
0:55:55 > 0:55:56..on the net already.
0:55:56 > 0:55:584,000, I've got.
0:55:58 > 0:56:024,200. 4,400.
0:56:02 > 0:56:044,600 on the internet.
0:56:04 > 0:56:064,600.
0:56:06 > 0:56:074,700, she goes.
0:56:07 > 0:56:094,700, 4,800, I've got.
0:56:09 > 0:56:114,800. 4,900, I've got.
0:56:11 > 0:56:125,000 bid.
0:56:12 > 0:56:14- Wow!- 5,000, I've got here.
0:56:14 > 0:56:165,100, here.
0:56:16 > 0:56:195,200, now.
0:56:19 > 0:56:215,300.
0:56:21 > 0:56:25At 5,300.
0:56:25 > 0:56:26It's on this telephone.
0:56:26 > 0:56:29- Yes.- 5,400. It's come back in.
0:56:29 > 0:56:315,400.
0:56:31 > 0:56:33I've got to go 5,500, if you want it.
0:56:33 > 0:56:35- That's incredible.- 5,500 now.
0:56:35 > 0:56:38At 5,500.
0:56:38 > 0:56:39Your last chance.
0:56:39 > 0:56:42It's going, going...
0:56:44 > 0:56:45Gone.
0:56:48 > 0:56:49I wish he was here!
0:56:49 > 0:56:52- Yes.- Oh, I really wish he was here.
0:56:52 > 0:56:55Looks like the film buffs definitely got their teeth into that...
0:56:56 > 0:57:01..and the remaining eight posters sold for £2,280.
0:57:02 > 0:57:06Well, that's a grand total of £8,860.
0:57:06 > 0:57:08Wow! That's one happy boy.
0:57:08 > 0:57:10- Yes.- You've got to get on the phone.
0:57:10 > 0:57:12It's going to have turned maybe £1,000
0:57:12 > 0:57:13into many, many, many thousands.
0:57:13 > 0:57:16That's antiques for you, and that's modern collecting.
0:57:16 > 0:57:19Join us again soon for many more surprises in the auction room -
0:57:19 > 0:57:21but until then, it's goodbye.