0:00:02 > 0:00:03Powderham Castle in Devon,
0:00:03 > 0:00:06a fantastic location for our valuation day.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10This room was once part of the Great Hall,
0:00:10 > 0:00:14but it now features this very grand staircase.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17All the rooms here in this stately home aren't what they seem.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21Over the last 600 years, the house has been altered considerably,
0:00:21 > 0:00:25but one thing is for sure - we're staying firmly on the spot.
0:00:25 > 0:00:26Welcome to Flog It!
0:00:46 > 0:00:50Powderham Castle dates back to the 14th century and it's the
0:00:50 > 0:00:53much-loved long-standing home of the Courtenay family.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57Set in 3,500 acres, with a deer park,
0:00:57 > 0:01:00it's seen significant changes over the years.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03The castle has adapted to each generation living within its
0:01:03 > 0:01:05historic walls.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07Today, we're making this stronghold our base,
0:01:07 > 0:01:10as the family has opened the gates to "Flog It!",
0:01:10 > 0:01:14and the crowd is already making itself at home on the terraces.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17If you want to take part in "Flog It!",
0:01:17 > 0:01:20this is where your journey starts - a valuation day,
0:01:20 > 0:01:22just like this one here at Powderham Castle in Devon.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26Hundreds of people have turned up, laden with antiques and collectibles,
0:01:26 > 0:01:29hoping they're one of the lucky ones to go through to the auction
0:01:29 > 0:01:31later on in the show and go home with a small fortune,
0:01:31 > 0:01:34but first they have to see our experts because they want to
0:01:34 > 0:01:37know the answer to that all-important question, which is...
0:01:37 > 0:01:39- ALL:- What's it worth?
0:01:39 > 0:01:41Brilliant! Stay tuned and you'll find out!
0:01:41 > 0:01:44And we've brought in the best experts.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48- Keen and eager is West Country lass Claire Rawle.- Oh, a teddy bear!
0:01:48 > 0:01:51Hello, boy. I'm glad to see you haven't smothered him in the bag.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53I like to see his head hanging out of the top!
0:01:53 > 0:01:55He's got a real snub nose, hasn't he?
0:01:55 > 0:01:58And hot on her heels is someone who always has something to say,
0:01:58 > 0:02:00Will Axon.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02Oh. Well, you've still got the price on it.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05An outrage! How much was it? What were you asking?
0:02:07 > 0:02:11With such a huge crowd, it's time to get the people inside.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14We're filling the rooms, so they can settle down and unpack.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17And while they all meander their way through the castle,
0:02:17 > 0:02:21let's take a look at what's coming up later on in the programme.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23Claire finds a real token of love
0:02:23 > 0:02:25that's travelled all the way from Spain.
0:02:25 > 0:02:30- Obviously, your father had a very good eye.- He did.- Yeah.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33Will can't keep his hands to himself.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35- It just sits nicely. You're safe. - Don't go for it!
0:02:37 > 0:02:40And one of our contributors is moved at the auction.
0:02:40 > 0:02:45- That is fantastic, isn't it? - Absolutely astonishing. Thank you.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47Wow!
0:02:47 > 0:02:50And I'll be taking a closer look at this amazing architectural
0:02:50 > 0:02:54structure, now firmly planted on Plymouth Hoe - but, amazingly,
0:02:54 > 0:03:00it started life 14 miles out at sea, on perilous Eddystone Rocks.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03But before all that...
0:03:03 > 0:03:05The deeper you dig at Powderham Castle,
0:03:05 > 0:03:08the more you discover. Appearances can be deceptive.
0:03:08 > 0:03:13Now, here, in the First Library, this is where the family would entertain guests throughout
0:03:13 > 0:03:16the 18th century, but if I do this to the bookcase, watch this...
0:03:16 > 0:03:18Follow me - you'll love it.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20Here we go. Look at that. Another room.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24The China Room, set within the medieval walls of the castle.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Are there any more surprises?
0:03:26 > 0:03:29We're just about to find out, as we go over to Claire Rawle's table.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31Let's take a look at what she's discovered.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35- Maureen, it's good to meet you. - Thank you.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38And good to meet you in the library of this beautiful castle.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41And you've brought along a really, really pretty silver trinket box.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43- Yes.- So, is this a family piece? - Yes.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46I can always remember it being on my grandmother's dressing table
0:03:46 > 0:03:49for as long as I remember and when she died, it came to me.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51For years, it was so black I actually thought it was
0:03:51 > 0:03:54- pewter or something. I never realised it was silver.- Oh, right.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56- Until I found the hallmarks fairly recently.- Yeah.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59And I thought, "Wow! Got to do something with this."
0:03:59 > 0:04:01Well, it certainly isn't pewter, although I know what you mean.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04- Sometimes, it goes so, so black. So you cleaned it up, did you?- A bit.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07- Haven't done it recently. - No, no. That's a good idea.
0:04:07 > 0:04:08Never over-clean silver.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11It is indeed German, but it has got import marks Chester,
0:04:11 > 0:04:14so it was deliberately imported into this country to be sold,
0:04:14 > 0:04:19- and the date is 1906. So it's a little Edwardian box.- That's nice.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21It was made by Berthold Muller in Germany.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24And Muller actually made a lot of items that were imported into
0:04:24 > 0:04:28this country to be sold as decorative items and when an
0:04:28 > 0:04:32item of silver is imported into this country, it has to come up to
0:04:32 > 0:04:36our standards and so that is why it has the Chester hallmark on it.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38Right, the M is the Muller, presumably.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42Yes, that's the actual maker. And it's sometimes known as Hanau silver.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46I don't know if I pronounced that right. But it's a region of Germany.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49They imported a lot of decorative items into this country
0:04:49 > 0:04:52and that's exactly what it is. It's a little trinket box,
0:04:52 > 0:04:56so you put on a dressing table or a Bijouterie table or whatever.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59It's beautifully embossed with figures on the front here,
0:04:59 > 0:05:03ladies in 18th-century costume. And interesting, I think -
0:05:03 > 0:05:07it's got nice decoration round it of musical trophies, so it's quite pretty.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10Funnily enough, when I saw it first, I thought it might have been
0:05:10 > 0:05:12slightly earlier because the decoration is very 19th century,
0:05:12 > 0:05:16- but then it didn't alter an awful lot.- Follow a pattern, I suppose.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19- Yes.- But it's pretty.- It weighs - 4oz. All right.- But that
0:05:19 > 0:05:24doesn't actually affect its value because a lot of silver is sold for scrap, so you base it on the weight.
0:05:24 > 0:05:29This is more than scrap. It's a collector's piece. Now, one thing I noticed when I looked at it.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Where you've got pieces that are embossed and decorated like this,
0:05:32 > 0:05:35the silver's slightly thinner and if people over-clean it,
0:05:35 > 0:05:39they make holes in it, so it's good that it stayed black for so long.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42- Fair enough.- If you hold it up to the light, you can see there's a couple of very small holes
0:05:42 > 0:05:46- in the lid, but that's acceptable. - I'm not surprised. An item of that age,
0:05:46 > 0:05:49there's bound to be something wrong somewhere, I suppose.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51Oh, indeed, yes. The great thing is it hasn't been squashed or bent.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55The hinges work well and I can see it going on someone's
0:05:55 > 0:05:57dressing table or in a little display cabinet.
0:05:57 > 0:06:02- But you've obviously decided now's the time to get rid of it? - Yes. I'm beginning to declutter.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04You get to that stage in your life where something's got to go
0:06:04 > 0:06:07and whether it was sentimental or not at some stage, I've got other
0:06:07 > 0:06:12- pieces that have more sentimental value, so some of it has to go.- Yes. Well, I think this will sell well.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16I'd like to put an estimate of about 80 to 120 on it.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20That's an auctioneer's favourite, I'm afraid. It goes over the hundred.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22Chances are it might make a little more than that,
0:06:22 > 0:06:25but it has got two small holes, so you have to bear that in mind.
0:06:25 > 0:06:30And I'd suggest a reserve just under the lower estimate of about £70.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32- That's fine.- Is that good? - That's fine. Excellent.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34- Thank you very much.- Good, good. - I shall look forward to that.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38So, when you've got this money burning a hole in your pocket, what are you going to do with it?
0:06:38 > 0:06:40Well, the one problem when you start decluttering is
0:06:40 > 0:06:43- you find you've got to redecorate. - Oh, OK. Yes.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46- So that's going in the pot for that. - Oh. Well, that's good.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48- I look forward to seeing you at the auction.- Thank you.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52- And I hope we at least buy a few pots of paint for you out of it. - Hope so, yes.- Yeah.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56One thing about "Flog It!" - we see all sorts.
0:06:56 > 0:06:57What on earth has Will found?
0:06:57 > 0:07:00Frank, have you just picked this up out in the car park?
0:07:00 > 0:07:02An old bit of stone?
0:07:02 > 0:07:06No, I dug it up in the garden about 23 or 24 years ago.
0:07:06 > 0:07:11- So it is just a lump of rock? - Well, it is a stone, isn't it? Yes.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14So, I saw it and I immediately thought - it's an adze.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Now, an adze is a hand-held axe.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21- It could be held by hand, or you could fix a handle to it.- I see.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23Strap it onto a piece of wood.
0:07:23 > 0:07:28- Yeah.- Use it as an axe. - That's right. So it's an axe head.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30Axe head, I think.
0:07:30 > 0:07:34- And it's made from greenstone. - It's from Cornwall.- Ah, so not far.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36- Well, yes, not very far. - Devon and Cornwall.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38- Cornwall, yeah, that's right. - Devon and Cornwall.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41- That's about the best thing I've ever found.- Is it?- Yes.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44Well, do you mind if I hold it? Cos it's a tactile piece, isn't it?
0:07:44 > 0:07:46And what's this, I see? Some inscriptions.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50Well, that went to Exeter Museum to verify it
0:07:50 > 0:07:54- and then it went to London.- Oh. This stone's been around.- Oh, yes.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57- More than I have! - It's travelled further than you!
0:07:57 > 0:08:00- That's right. - So, it's been authenticated.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04- Show me the authenticity.- That's what they done, what they sent back.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06I see.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10"I took your items to the curator of the museum at Exeter and
0:08:10 > 0:08:13"he was very interested, especially in the axe.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16"This is made of greenstone..." We got that right.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18"Found in West Devon and Cornwall.
0:08:18 > 0:08:23- "They date from 4000 to 2000 BC," so Neolithic.- BC.- Yes.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26"There are least four other axes of this type in the museum..."
0:08:26 > 0:08:30- In Exeter, but this one here is better than what they've got.- Is it?
0:08:30 > 0:08:32- So they say.- "Yours is much nicer..."- There we are, you see.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36- You're quite right, so yours is the one... Did they make you an offer for it?- No.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39- No, I wasn't interested in selling it.- Weren't you?- No.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43- But you are now. - Well, I've had it long enough. I thought, "Shift it on."
0:08:43 > 0:08:47Well, I think it's an interesting piece and I think other
0:08:47 > 0:08:51- people will find it interesting. - I think so.- Certainly local people.
0:08:51 > 0:08:56Local history. The connection, the letter from the museum. Great story.
0:08:56 > 0:09:01- Estimate. Now, I'm notoriously mean, Frank.- I can see that.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04I'm going to say to you, let's put it in at £100 to £200
0:09:04 > 0:09:07and let the market decide what it's worth.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10- I want a reserve on it.- Yes. I'll reserve it at 100?
0:09:10 > 0:09:12Yes, that'll be all right, I think.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15And at the end of the day, it's going to make what it makes.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18- That's right.- Well, good work. Keep digging.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21And next time you find something, come and find us.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23Right, thank you very much.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25Back to the library and Claire's making the most of
0:09:25 > 0:09:27the beautiful surroundings.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31Maria, you've brought along the most charming, beautiful brooch here.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34I think it's absolutely exquisite, but I gather it's been in
0:09:34 > 0:09:37the family a while. Tell me a little bit of its history.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40Well, as far as I know, it belonged to my mother.
0:09:40 > 0:09:46She had it for 40, 50 years and my father gave it to her as a present.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50That's all I know, really. She liked to wear it. She wore it quite a lot.
0:09:50 > 0:09:55And we all like it in the family, but we are not jewellery wearers.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57Oh, right. Yes. And so is your mother no longer with us?
0:09:57 > 0:10:00No, she's not. She passed on in March.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03- Right, and so the brooch has come to you.- That's right.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05Yes, to me and my two sisters,
0:10:05 > 0:10:08but my two sisters have given me permission to sell it in England.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10Yeah, cos your mother and father, they were still living in Spain.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12They were still living in Spain, yes.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15I think it's absolutely beautiful. I mean, the detail in it.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19So we've got an 18-carat gold dove, beautifully worked,
0:10:19 > 0:10:23sitting on a crescent, set with old-cut and mine-cut diamonds.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27And then a sweet little pearl pendant at the base there.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30And he's also got little diamonds just in his wings and
0:10:30 > 0:10:33a tiny little ruby eye, but if you look closely, I mean,
0:10:33 > 0:10:38the work on the feathers of that little bird, absolutely exquisite.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41- And what a token of love. - That's what we always thought.- Yes.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44- I mean, a beautiful thing to buy for anybody.- Yes.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47- And I'm so glad she wore it.- Yes. - And she loved it in her time.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51- She appreciated it. She liked to wear jewellery, so yes.- Yes.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55But as you say, you'd almost worry about wearing it because you'd worry
0:10:55 > 0:10:58about it getting caught in things, or the little pearl off and a lot
0:10:58 > 0:11:01of collectors of jewellery from this just Edwardian period,
0:11:01 > 0:11:05they actually collect them more as decorative items and put them
0:11:05 > 0:11:09in little cabinets and they look absolutely charming.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13I mean, it shows off the diamonds beautifully in the little pearl.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16So people, yes, they do still wear old jewellery, but also there's
0:11:16 > 0:11:19the collectors' market for people that just love beautiful objects.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21- Beauty.- Obviously, it has value
0:11:21 > 0:11:23because it's made of a valuable metal,
0:11:23 > 0:11:26it's got diamonds in it, sweet little pearl.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29Brooches aren't that popular, mainly because people don't wear
0:11:29 > 0:11:32brooches these days. They have become unfashionable.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34- Have you ever had it valued in the past at all?- No.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37- No, I haven't.- Well, OK.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41Its sale value, I think, is going to be in the region of £200 to £300.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44- Does that sound OK?- That's OK. Yes, that's OK with me.- Oh, good.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47I didn't think it was going to get that much because it's so tiny.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49Well, yes, but then, it's so beautiful.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52I mean, it doesn't have to be huge to be worth lots of money.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54- No, absolutely.- I think it's the quality of the workmanship.- Mm.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58- And obviously, your father had a very good eye.- He did.- Yeah.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01Yeah, you know, it's quite unusual. Thank you so much for coming in.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05- It's been a pleasure and I'll see you at the auction.- Yeah, lovely. - Excellent.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11Back to Will now, and he's making me jealous.
0:12:12 > 0:12:16Well, Belinda, I'm just having a look round, in case Paul's watching.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19To be honest, if he sees me valuing these, he's only going to get upset,
0:12:19 > 0:12:22isn't he? Because we all know he loves a bit of Troika,
0:12:22 > 0:12:24which is exactly what you've brought in.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27These are fantastic pieces.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30- Where have you got them from? - We bought them at auction.
0:12:30 > 0:12:31You say "we", who's that?
0:12:31 > 0:12:33- My husband and I.- I mean,
0:12:33 > 0:12:36did you always like this sort of Modernist decoration?
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Were you always quite forward-thinking in your tastes,
0:12:39 > 0:12:41- you and your husband?- I like them.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43My husband preferred them, to be honest.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46- You like them, he loved them.- Yeah.
0:12:46 > 0:12:47So, what drew you to them?
0:12:47 > 0:12:51- Because they're not everyone's cup of tea, are they?- Abstract design.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53That's what you like. See, that's what I was...
0:12:53 > 0:12:55- Anything abstract. - Really?- Like your good self.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57Oh, thank you very much.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02I've been called many things but never abstract.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05Well, Troika, as we know on this programme,
0:13:05 > 0:13:07set up 1963 by Benny Sirota,
0:13:07 > 0:13:09amongst others.
0:13:09 > 0:13:14Why I mention Benny Sirota is because this one is by him - was designed by him,
0:13:14 > 0:13:17wasn't it? They call them what, the Thames Fish Plaque, is it?
0:13:17 > 0:13:20The Thames Fish Plaque With Outer Buildings.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23Interesting, isn't it? Real sort of of the time, very cutting-edge,
0:13:23 > 0:13:25forward-thinking.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27Then, this one, I think, is called the...
0:13:27 > 0:13:29- Calculator. - Well, for obvious reasons.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31That would be one calculator, wouldn't it,
0:13:31 > 0:13:33to pull that out of your pocket?
0:13:33 > 0:13:34- Would you carry it?- No, I wouldn't.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37- No, neither would I.- I'd only end up breaking it.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39You say you bought them from auction.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41How long ago? Was it fairly recently?
0:13:41 > 0:13:43- 15 years ago.- 15 years ago.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46- Do you remember what you paid for them?- Yes.- Oh, dear.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50- Go on, then.- £1,778.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52£1,700?!
0:13:52 > 0:13:54HE GROANS
0:13:54 > 0:13:57Well, listen, I think, you know, at the end of the day,
0:13:57 > 0:14:00it's down to what the collectors are prepared to pay nowadays,
0:14:00 > 0:14:05aren't they? I'm afraid I'm going to be a bit more realistic in my
0:14:05 > 0:14:10estimate. I think probably on the calculator plaque,
0:14:10 > 0:14:13around the £400-£600 mark.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15Fix a reserve at 400.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20On the Sirota piece, because of the connection with him,
0:14:20 > 0:14:23one of the founder members,
0:14:23 > 0:14:26I would say 600-800 on that.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28I think offer them as two separate lots.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30But if you add the two estimates together,
0:14:30 > 0:14:33you're looking at around maybe 1,000, 1,500.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36On a good day, we might go some way towards getting your money back,
0:14:36 > 0:14:38which would be a bonus, wouldn't it?
0:14:38 > 0:14:40- It certainly would.- Belinda, it's been a pleasure.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44Thank you very much for calling me abstract, I think.
0:14:44 > 0:14:45Yeah, but you are, so...
0:14:45 > 0:14:47You know?
0:14:47 > 0:14:49- That's a nice end to your day. - I'm not having this...
0:14:49 > 0:14:51No, no, no.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53While everyone's busy here,
0:14:53 > 0:14:57I'm off to do something completely different.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06Why is it that it can be pouring with rain in North Devon
0:15:06 > 0:15:08while Dartmoor is cloaked in mist
0:15:08 > 0:15:11and it's ice cream time at Paignton on the south coast?
0:15:11 > 0:15:16Three different types of weather in a space of 100 miles.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19It feels the weather is nothing but unpredictable, but in fact,
0:15:19 > 0:15:23it can be scientifically predicted to within four days of accuracy.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25And this is where it all happens,
0:15:25 > 0:15:28the Met Office headquarters just outside of Exeter, which houses
0:15:28 > 0:15:32the latest hi-tech equipment and highly trained experts.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34The meteorologists don't just tell us
0:15:34 > 0:15:38if we need an umbrella one day or a bikini on another,
0:15:38 > 0:15:41they give us small warnings on perilous conditions
0:15:41 > 0:15:44such as UV levels, floods, drought and storms -
0:15:44 > 0:15:47information which could be life-saving.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59Now, if you are a weather fanatic, I'm going to whet your appetite.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02This is the operation centre, and it's buzzing with information
0:16:02 > 0:16:03and output.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07All of these screens are providing weather-related data, which is
0:16:07 > 0:16:10fed into TV and radio feeds
0:16:10 > 0:16:14and also acts on your mobile phones, so you can get the very latest,
0:16:14 > 0:16:17up-to-the-last-minute information on the weather.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24But you cannot appreciate the vast significance of all this
0:16:24 > 0:16:27modern technology unless you turn back the clock
0:16:27 > 0:16:30and go back to the primitive origins of weather forecasting.
0:16:39 > 0:16:40Catherine Ross
0:16:40 > 0:16:43from the National Meteorological Library and Archive
0:16:43 > 0:16:45is here to give me a potted history.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48How did weather forecasting start and when?
0:16:48 > 0:16:50Well, in 1854,
0:16:50 > 0:16:53that's the first...that is the origin of the Met Office, and
0:16:53 > 0:16:56it was founded with the intention of protecting life and property at sea.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59At the time, there was no intention to forecast the weather.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01- They actually didn't believe it was possible.- Right.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05So the plan was simply to collect observations, particularly wind.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08And there's not much point in knowing the prevailing wind
0:17:08 > 0:17:11if you don't know the direction and current,
0:17:11 > 0:17:13so they were collecting both of those sets of data at sea.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17And we actually used the scientific version of a message
0:17:17 > 0:17:19in a bottle in order to do that.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21We do have some examples here.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24They were placed in a small glass bottle, which was corked,
0:17:24 > 0:17:25thrown overboard.
0:17:25 > 0:17:30And you had notes on which the captain would write his latitude,
0:17:30 > 0:17:33his longitude and the direction in which he was travelling.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36So it provides in sort of six languages essentially,
0:17:36 > 0:17:39"If found, please return to the Admiralty in London."
0:17:39 > 0:17:42And from those, they were able to track the currents and understand
0:17:42 > 0:17:45the speed and, you know, the direction of the world currents.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48The science of forecasting was founded
0:17:48 > 0:17:51by Admiral Robert FitzRoy, who was the founder of the Met Office.
0:17:51 > 0:17:55And he developed this as a science based on those observations.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57And then in 1859, there was
0:17:57 > 0:18:00a very major storm, which is called the Royal Charter Storm,
0:18:00 > 0:18:05and that resulted in the loss of 133 ships around the British Isles,
0:18:05 > 0:18:07and in particular, the Royal Charter herself
0:18:07 > 0:18:11went down off of Anglesey, with the loss of 450 lives.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14And there was a great outcry resulting from that, that surely,
0:18:14 > 0:18:15you know, at this point,
0:18:15 > 0:18:17we should have been able to predict that storm.
0:18:17 > 0:18:18Something should have been done.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21So Robert FitzRoy said, "Yes, we could have done that."
0:18:21 > 0:18:25And he wrote a report which he presented to the Board of Trade.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27And this is one of the original charts from that.
0:18:27 > 0:18:31- OK.- And he used it to prove that they could have predicted the
0:18:31 > 0:18:35course of that storm and understood the weather going on around it.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38And from that, he persuaded the government to allow him
0:18:38 > 0:18:40to start the first warning service, a gale warning service,
0:18:40 > 0:18:44which still continues. It is now known as the shipping forecast.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47The Met Office was originally funded by the Board of Trade.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50But by the Second World War, it was part of the Air Ministry.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52And it played a vital role in the war effort.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08This D-Day chart shows the importance of weather forecasts
0:19:08 > 0:19:12when planning one of the most significant Allied operations
0:19:12 > 0:19:13against the German forces.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17Meteorologists consulted about the best time to carry out this
0:19:17 > 0:19:20massive seaborne invasion of Normandy.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23It needed fair weather and calm seas
0:19:23 > 0:19:25so the landing craft wouldn't capsize.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29On the advice of the Met Office, the planned operation was delayed
0:19:29 > 0:19:33by one day because conditions wouldn't have been suitable.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35It was a very small window of opportunity.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38But with that accurate information,
0:19:38 > 0:19:40it helped change the course of our history.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45During the 20th century, developments in technology
0:19:45 > 0:19:49have been key in gathering weather information and passing it on.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52The invention of the telegraph made observing and forecasting
0:19:52 > 0:19:54more immediate.
0:19:54 > 0:19:59In 1959, the first computer capable of doing 30,000 calculations
0:19:59 > 0:20:04a second was introduced. This was a major step forward,
0:20:04 > 0:20:08making numerical-based predictions possible for the first time.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11In the 1970s, the satellite revolution proved a quantum
0:20:11 > 0:20:15leap in the accuracy of weather data by providing a birds'-eye
0:20:15 > 0:20:19view of how the atmosphere moves.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23But that was nothing compared to what the Met Office have today.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25This supercomputer, one of the fastest in the world,
0:20:25 > 0:20:31can do more than 23,000 trillion calculations per second.
0:20:33 > 0:20:34And all of that information,
0:20:34 > 0:20:37from observations around the world, is sent into here,
0:20:37 > 0:20:39the operations centre.
0:20:42 > 0:20:47Meteorologist Helen Roberts is going to explain how this busy room works.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49We have lots of different types of forecasting.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52So everybody is aware that we do media forecasting,
0:20:52 > 0:20:54but there's lots of other things going on.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56We have our aviation section.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58That is probably the biggest section we have, actually.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02And we have one of only two world area forecast centres
0:21:02 > 0:21:03in the world.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06And they're forecasting upper air charts,
0:21:06 > 0:21:07so high-level aviation charts.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11Then we've got our marine forecaster who, among other things,
0:21:11 > 0:21:13is producing the shipping forecast,
0:21:13 > 0:21:16which still goes out regularly on Radio Four.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19And them behind me here, we've got
0:21:19 > 0:21:22one of our newest sections, which is space weather,
0:21:22 > 0:21:25as well as our hazard centre, which is looking at
0:21:25 > 0:21:29things like land slips, which can be as a result of the weather.
0:21:29 > 0:21:30Yes, yes.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34And also, volcanic ash, if something like that should occur.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38And with all the new computers, has it become more accurate,
0:21:38 > 0:21:41let's say, in the last 30 years, weather forecasting?
0:21:41 > 0:21:45Yes. So just as an example, our four-day forecast now
0:21:45 > 0:21:48is as accurate as our one-day forecast was 30 years ago.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50So a huge improvement over the last few decades.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53- That's massive, isn't it? - It's massive.- Yeah.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56And our three hourly forecasts are over 90% accurate,
0:21:56 > 0:21:58so, yeah, we're doing pretty well.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00Does anything still surprise you with the weather?
0:22:00 > 0:22:02Do you get it wrong now and then?
0:22:02 > 0:22:04It's rare that we get a big surprise.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07We've got so much observational information - satellite,
0:22:07 > 0:22:11radar observations - it's unusual.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16It's incredible to think we've come this far
0:22:16 > 0:22:20in just over 150 years, from a message in a bottle to
0:22:20 > 0:22:24a handful of people given sporadic information which was
0:22:24 > 0:22:26often off the mark to this operation.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30It runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32And it has an impact on all of our lives.
0:22:32 > 0:22:37The Met Office HQ here at Exeter never sleeps, nor does the weather.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49Here's a quick recap of the four items we're taking to auction.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54There's the intricate silver trinket box.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59Dug up in a garden, the axe head.
0:23:02 > 0:23:06And not one but two Troika plaques - the calculator design...
0:23:08 > 0:23:11..and the River Thames scene.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15And that beautifully made brooch.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22We've travelled an hour south-west to the Devon coast.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26Well, the moment I've been waiting for, and you.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29We're going to up the tempo right now because it's auction time.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32We're putting those valuations to the test on the outskirts of
0:23:32 > 0:23:34Plymouth here at Eldreds saleroom.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36On the rostrum is auctioneer Anthony Eldred.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38Right now, our owners are feeling really nervous.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40I'm going inside to catch up with them.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44The hammer's just about to go down on our first lot, so let's go in and enjoy the fun.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48Commission here is 15% plus VAT.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51Going under the hammer right now, some continental silver.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54It's a German trinket box belonging to Maureen.
0:23:54 > 0:23:58You're in good company here, because silver has been selling well.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02- That's what I like to hear.- Yes. So, fingers crossed it happens for you as well.- Yes.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05- This is superb quality. - Well, it is nice quality and it's pretty and it would make
0:24:05 > 0:24:07- a good gift for somebody. - It's unusual.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09- The music bits on there are unusual. - Do you know what?
0:24:09 > 0:24:12You're right, actually. It's ready to go as a gift, isn't it?
0:24:12 > 0:24:15- Yes, that's right. Yeah, it is. - For a musician somewhere.
0:24:15 > 0:24:16It's going under the hammer now.
0:24:16 > 0:24:22The continental rectangular trinket box. And I'm bid £72 for it.
0:24:22 > 0:24:27At 72. Five. Eight. 80. Two. Five. At £85.
0:24:27 > 0:24:3088. 90.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33- Five. 100. And five. - This is good.- It is good.- 110.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35At £110, here.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38Are you all finished? At £110.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41GAVEL BANGS
0:24:41 > 0:24:44Very good. You got it right, didn't you?
0:24:44 > 0:24:47- Well done. It's not easy being an expert.- Brilliant. Well done.
0:24:47 > 0:24:48Very good.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51- And thank you for bringing it in. - Thank you very much. I'm very happy.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53What a great start!
0:24:53 > 0:24:57I'm a fan of our next lot, but is my passion going to be shared?
0:24:59 > 0:25:01Belinda, thank you for bringing in some Troika.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03- You know, it's one of my favourites, it really is.- You're welcome.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06It sums up that rugged Cornish coastline.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08I'm a big fan of Benny Sirota and the team that put Troika together,
0:25:08 > 0:25:11as we know. We've got two plaques, we've split them into two lots.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13We've got the River Thames fish plaque.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15- Interesting.- Interesting.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18I've not seen one of these come up for sale for a long, long time.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21And we have possibly your favourite plaque.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24The calculator one. I'd prefer that, myself.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26The abstract-ness of it.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29But right now we're going to try with the Thames plaque.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31- OK.- Originally,
0:25:31 > 0:25:34Will put a value of £600 to £800 on the Troika with the River Thames design.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38But Anthony and Belinda had a discussion.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41It's now been reduced to 400 to 600.
0:25:41 > 0:25:45This is it. Here we go. Let's see if we can get that £600 mark.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49Next lot is the Troika pottery River Thames fish plaque.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52There it is. £350 for that.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54- At 350.- 350.- £350.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00At 370. 380. 390. 400.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02And ten. At £410.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05420.
0:26:05 > 0:26:06At 420 now.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08- Bidder in the room.- 430, then.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11In the room. At 430.
0:26:11 > 0:26:12Last chance, then, at 430.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16That's 430 for the first lot.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18We just got that away, didn't we?
0:26:18 > 0:26:20Fingers crossed we get a bit more for the second.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22- Fingers crossed.- This is it.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26Here we go. Let's see if we can get that £600 mark.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29Here's another Troika pottery plaque.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31A calculator pattern this time.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34£350 for it.
0:26:34 > 0:26:38At 350. At £350 against you all.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40At 350.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43Against you all. Including the internet.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46- At 360. 370. 380. 390. - The internet's coming now.
0:26:46 > 0:26:47- One more.- 400.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49At £400 here.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52Online. At £400.
0:26:52 > 0:26:54Are you all done, then, at £400?
0:26:54 > 0:26:56- Last chance. - That's surprising, isn't it?
0:26:56 > 0:26:58£400, I'll sell it.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03£400. We just got that away.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05- Oh, never mind!- Wow!- Never mind.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07- Not to worry.- You'd think we'd get top money for it down here,
0:27:07 > 0:27:09wouldn't you? You really would.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12There was bidding online. Obviously, it had been spotted.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15Sometimes you've just got to accept that maybe they've found their market value.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18Of course. They're gone now.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20Hopefully gone to a good home.
0:27:20 > 0:27:21I do hope it has.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24Now, how will Frank's garden find fare?
0:27:24 > 0:27:29This stone has been fashioned, as you know, into an axe head 4,000 years ago.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32It really is quite fascinating to hold it as well, isn't it?
0:27:32 > 0:27:34- I mean, that's real history.- It is. You've got to hold it.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36- It's got some energy about it. - That's right.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40It does, yes. Right, it's going under the hammer right now. This is it.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42Stone axe head.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44There it is and it was dug up in Dawlish and dated
0:27:44 > 0:27:47between 4,000 and 2,000 BC.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51- And £80. At 85.- Nothing, is it?
0:27:51 > 0:27:54At £80, then. Are you all finished at 80?
0:27:54 > 0:27:58- That one can't quite be sold. - Didn't sell it. It didn't sell.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00No, I'm not surprised.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03Oh, it's so hard to put a value on an artefact like that.
0:28:03 > 0:28:07I would have paid you £100 for it. But I can't. So, go to the museum.
0:28:07 > 0:28:11- Depends if you've got two people that want it here in the sale. - Yes, exactly.- There you go.
0:28:11 > 0:28:12What a shame.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15Now, let's hope there are bidders out in force for the pretty
0:28:15 > 0:28:17dove brooch.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19Maria, I love this. It's real quality.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22I hope this little dove flies away, I really do.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24It's not a lot of money for the amount of detail that's in
0:28:24 > 0:28:26there, is there, when you think about it?
0:28:26 > 0:28:29It's so pretty and as you look at it under a glass, I mean,
0:28:29 > 0:28:32- all the sort of work on the feathers and things, it's a lovely thing.- Mm.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34I can understand why you don't want to wear it any more.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37- It belongs to the whole of the family, in a way, it was Mum's.- Yes.
0:28:37 > 0:28:39- So, your sisters don't mind you selling it.- Not at all.
0:28:39 > 0:28:43- So, we're going to put it to the test right now.- Yes, yes.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46- I'm confident this will sell. - Yeah, I think so, yeah.
0:28:46 > 0:28:5118-carat yellow and white gold brooch. 150 starts it. At 150.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54- Come on.- At £150. 160, if you want it.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57Looking for phone lines, internet bids, anything like that.
0:28:57 > 0:29:00At 180 now.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03At 180. Five. 190.
0:29:03 > 0:29:05Five. At 195.
0:29:05 > 0:29:07200 now online. And ten.
0:29:07 > 0:29:12- At £210.- Still going. - Online at 210. 220 now. 230.
0:29:12 > 0:29:14Still going. 240.
0:29:14 > 0:29:16250. At £250.
0:29:16 > 0:29:18260 now.
0:29:18 > 0:29:22270. At 270, then.
0:29:22 > 0:29:23Last chance online.
0:29:23 > 0:29:25At £270.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29- Maria, the hammer's gone down. - Yes, yes.- £270.
0:29:29 > 0:29:31- Yeah.- Quality, quality, quality.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33- Thank you for bringing that in. - Thank you.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36- It's a good story as well.- Yes. - Lovely story with it.
0:29:36 > 0:29:38- So, thank you very much.- OK.
0:29:38 > 0:29:39£290.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43Well, that's our first three lots under the hammer. So far, so good.
0:29:43 > 0:29:47Before we return to the valuation day to find some more treasures
0:29:47 > 0:29:50to sell, I've been exploring Plymouth's maritime history -
0:29:50 > 0:29:53in particular, one extraordinary story that involves an
0:29:53 > 0:29:55incredible feat of engineering.
0:29:56 > 0:30:0014 miles south-west of Plymouth lie Eddystone Rocks.
0:30:00 > 0:30:02Sitting on a busy shipping route,
0:30:02 > 0:30:06they were known as Dread Eddystone because up to 50 ships
0:30:06 > 0:30:10a year and their crews were being lost on this treacherous reef.
0:30:10 > 0:30:14A solution was a lighthouse to mark the deadly spot,
0:30:14 > 0:30:18and Henry Winstanley's ornate wooden creation was the very first
0:30:18 > 0:30:21offshore light to be built in the world.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24It survived just five years before being swept away
0:30:24 > 0:30:26in the great storm of 1703.
0:30:27 > 0:30:32The next lighthouse lasted 50 years before being destroyed by fire.
0:30:32 > 0:30:36Trinity House, which is responsible for the safe navigation of shipping
0:30:36 > 0:30:41and seafarers, permitted a private consortium to build a new light.
0:30:41 > 0:30:46And this is the result, Smeaton's Tower, named after John Smeaton,
0:30:46 > 0:30:50who was one of the first people to call himself a civil engineer.
0:30:50 > 0:30:52But this wasn't built here on Plymouth Hoe.
0:30:52 > 0:30:56Like the first two lighthouses, it started life out at sea,
0:30:56 > 0:31:00on Eddystone Rocks, which posed a real design challenge.
0:31:01 > 0:31:05What was needed was something more robust and fireproof.
0:31:05 > 0:31:10Something like this, designed by engineer John Smeaton.
0:31:10 > 0:31:14Now, he based his concept on an English oak tree,
0:31:14 > 0:31:17something with core strength, something with stability and
0:31:17 > 0:31:20foundations and roots, like an oak tree.
0:31:20 > 0:31:24And of course, he chose his design to be created out of stone.
0:31:24 > 0:31:26And not wood.
0:31:27 > 0:31:31Smeaton's light did its job on perilous Eddystone Rocks for
0:31:31 > 0:31:32more than a century,
0:31:32 > 0:31:36before being dismantled and re-erected here at Plymouth Hoe.
0:31:38 > 0:31:42Curator Nigel Overton is going to explain why the stone
0:31:42 > 0:31:44construction was so radical.
0:31:45 > 0:31:49The challenge of building a rock lighthouse 14 miles out at
0:31:49 > 0:31:54sea was a pretty brave endeavour and, obviously, it took people
0:31:54 > 0:31:57like Smeaton to deliver a lighthouse on a sea-swept rock.
0:31:57 > 0:31:58The key to building in stone,
0:31:58 > 0:32:02apart from persuading people that it was practical, was to come up with
0:32:02 > 0:32:05a hydraulic mortar or a waterproof cement cos you're out on
0:32:05 > 0:32:10a sea-swept rock, you need a cement that's going to be able to go hard in those conditions.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15Fortunately, in the mid-1750s, Smeaton met and lodged with
0:32:15 > 0:32:19William Cookworthy, who later went on to develop English porcelain.
0:32:19 > 0:32:23Smeaton experimented with him and they came up with an ideal
0:32:23 > 0:32:26mixture that proved integral to the construction.
0:32:26 > 0:32:29But that was only part of the jigsaw.
0:32:29 > 0:32:33- There is hidden cleverness in the way the stonework is joined together.- You've got an example.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36And that's what we're going to show you with this, if we may, yeah.
0:32:36 > 0:32:40- Each of these blocks represents... - One of these. Yes, basically. - A block of Cornish limestone.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43- That's basically that, isn't it? - Yeah.- Cornish limestone.- Yeah.- OK.
0:32:43 > 0:32:46But between every block, there's a diamond-shaped piece of
0:32:46 > 0:32:50Purbeck marble that drops in there and that's a joint stone.
0:32:50 > 0:32:54Smeaton was worried when the building moves, as it's going to,
0:32:54 > 0:32:58out on a sea-swept rock, he didn't want those vertical joints to open up and let the water in.
0:32:58 > 0:33:03- Right.- So the joint stone prevents that problem.- Oh, I see, yes. Stops it filtering through.
0:33:03 > 0:33:07Then, to clamp each stone together, over the top of the join and inset
0:33:07 > 0:33:11inside the masonry is a staple or a cramp,
0:33:11 > 0:33:14- so those two blocks now can't easily part from each other.- OK.
0:33:14 > 0:33:18And then in the middle of each block of masonry is a joggle stone, this
0:33:18 > 0:33:23was called, of Plymouth limestone, and then is you put the joggle stone in each of the neighbouring blocks,
0:33:23 > 0:33:27- then the next block above links to those.- Ah.
0:33:27 > 0:33:31So, the joggle stone has the effect of linking each block
0:33:31 > 0:33:34on the course above to two of the stones on the course below.
0:33:34 > 0:33:36So, it keeps that accurate in a course.
0:33:36 > 0:33:38It's a simple but remarkably clever device.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41It's interesting, Smeaton himself was quoted to say that,
0:33:41 > 0:33:44"I don't want this lighthouse to last one age, or two ages.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46"I want it to be there in perpetuity."
0:33:46 > 0:33:48So, he was thinking long-term.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51And indeed, it stood on the Eddystone for 123 years,
0:33:51 > 0:33:53so it did its job on the Eddystone.
0:33:53 > 0:33:57It was replaced in May of 1882 by the present lighthouse and
0:33:57 > 0:33:59this lighthouse was re-erected on the Hoe and
0:33:59 > 0:34:02- has been here itself now for over 130 years.- Even longer.
0:34:02 > 0:34:05One of the reasons it was replaced was that they were concerned
0:34:05 > 0:34:07that there's a cavern in the reef which was getting slowly
0:34:07 > 0:34:11enlarged by the action of the waves and they felt that eventually,
0:34:11 > 0:34:13Smeaton's Tower would crumble and fall.
0:34:13 > 0:34:17It must have been one hell of a project to dismantle it out there and bring it back here.
0:34:17 > 0:34:19Well, I think that's important to get across.
0:34:19 > 0:34:22I mean, Trinity House were pondering a controlled explosion,
0:34:22 > 0:34:24or possibly dismantling,
0:34:24 > 0:34:27but various people stepped in offering to buy the building,
0:34:27 > 0:34:31but Plymouth Corporation had a meeting, they decided they wanted to bring it back.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33They were just developing Plymouth Hoe here as
0:34:33 > 0:34:35a public park and they had a place for it.
0:34:35 > 0:34:39There was a navigational obelisk where this building now stands.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41So they were going to build it, re-erect it here.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43It was going to be a memorial to Smeaton.
0:34:43 > 0:34:47And it was also going to be a day mark, a navigational mark, so it
0:34:47 > 0:34:51would still carry on fulfilling some sort of navigational function. It's obviously become a landmark.
0:34:51 > 0:34:55Most people don't even realise that it spent the first half of
0:34:55 > 0:34:57its life out at sea.
0:35:00 > 0:35:02More than a century ago,
0:35:02 > 0:35:04three lighthouse keepers worked in this building,
0:35:04 > 0:35:06obviously in alternating shifts,
0:35:06 > 0:35:10keeping an eye on the light in the lantern, which is just up there.
0:35:10 > 0:35:13You can see through the scoop of light.
0:35:13 > 0:35:17Now, there's mention in one of their logbooks of this building
0:35:17 > 0:35:19moving like an old oak tree,
0:35:19 > 0:35:23swaying as it was being battered by the high winds.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26And in one particular storm, in 1824,
0:35:26 > 0:35:29there's mention of the waves being so high and powerful that they
0:35:29 > 0:35:34reached the top of the lighthouse, shattering the glass in the lantern.
0:35:34 > 0:35:36Must have been a strange existence.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41There's something really special about lighthouses like these.
0:35:41 > 0:35:44This particular one has stood the test of time,
0:35:44 > 0:35:46both out at sea and here on dry land,
0:35:46 > 0:35:51and it's highly unlikely that any more of this design will ever be
0:35:51 > 0:35:54built again, so it makes it really, really special to be up here.
0:35:54 > 0:35:57And it's brilliant that this one's open to the general public
0:35:57 > 0:36:01because future generations get to appreciate the endeavour,
0:36:01 > 0:36:04the achievement that went in to building this.
0:36:04 > 0:36:09And you get to experience this and of course, when you're at the top, look at that view!
0:36:18 > 0:36:20Back at Powderham Castle now,
0:36:20 > 0:36:24which has seen its own fair share of moves and changes.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27At the valuation tables, our experts are doing their best to keep
0:36:27 > 0:36:30up the pace and Will's joining Jill's club.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34Jill, you look like a well travelled lady.
0:36:34 > 0:36:37Tell me, is this something you've picked up abroad on one of
0:36:37 > 0:36:39your excursions?
0:36:39 > 0:36:41- No, that was a gift from a friend. - Was it?- Yes.
0:36:41 > 0:36:45- I did a bit of research on it and it's Fijian.- You're dead right.
0:36:45 > 0:36:46And from your research,
0:36:46 > 0:36:49- you've probably found out what this was used for.- It's a killing club.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52It was a killing club, exactly what it was used for.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55They're called ulas, U-L-A, so a Fijian ula.
0:36:55 > 0:36:57And of its type, a very nice one.
0:36:57 > 0:37:00I mean, I'm finding it difficult to keep my hands off it.
0:37:00 > 0:37:04- I know, it's very tactile. - It's just screaming out to be held.
0:37:04 > 0:37:08You feel the weight of it and it just sits nicely. You're safe.
0:37:08 > 0:37:10Don't go for it!
0:37:10 > 0:37:13It just sits nicely in your hand, doesn't it? It's well weighted.
0:37:13 > 0:37:17- It's beautiful. - It's beautifully made. And actually, quite commercial.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20The market for tribal or ethnographic antiques is
0:37:20 > 0:37:22actually very strong on the Continent.
0:37:22 > 0:37:26- Really? - Big market for this type of piece.
0:37:26 > 0:37:30Now, as far as value goes, there's quite a wide range of values,
0:37:30 > 0:37:33depending on the size, the quality, the condition.
0:37:33 > 0:37:37- But would this detract from the value?- I don't think so.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40- I think that's part of the natural make-up of the club, isn't it?- OK.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43Because my understanding is that these were made in
0:37:43 > 0:37:45a similar way to the Zulu Knobkerries,
0:37:45 > 0:37:50in that they were made from a protruding branch and the actual
0:37:50 > 0:37:55- head of the club is the sort of base of the branch within the main trunk. - Right.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58So that's where the wood is very hard and very dense and I've seen
0:37:58 > 0:38:01some like this that have got various bits of decoration on the heads.
0:38:01 > 0:38:06- You've got mother-of-pearl inlay, bone inlay, and you were telling me earlier...- Teeth.
0:38:06 > 0:38:09Human teeth. I mean, that's quite something, isn't it?
0:38:09 > 0:38:12- Is that natural patina?- Yeah. Exactly right.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15Exactly, that is just the build-up of colour from being handled,
0:38:15 > 0:38:20held, the natural oils from our hands just react as well, the air
0:38:20 > 0:38:24reacts with the wood, and just gives it this lovely rich, deep colour.
0:38:24 > 0:38:29- It's beautiful, isn't it? - You can get very large ones, which were more used as weapons,
0:38:29 > 0:38:33hand-to-hand combat, against, you know, rival tribes.
0:38:33 > 0:38:36- This one, I think, generally used for animal hunting.- Really?- Yeah.
0:38:36 > 0:38:41I think so. Easy to carry, easy to take with you, easy to throw.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44I mean, you get that on the back of the head, you're going to know about it, aren't you?
0:38:44 > 0:38:48- You're not going to wake up, no. - You're going to end up some Fijian tribe's dinner.
0:38:48 > 0:38:51Now, I think the market for this is strong at the moment.
0:38:51 > 0:38:56Price-wise, I'm going to say to you - estimate £400 to £600.
0:38:56 > 0:39:00- That's going to be an attractive estimate to potential buyers.- Right.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03And the reserve, I think, we're going to fix at £400.
0:39:03 > 0:39:07- That's fine.- Is that OK?- Yeah. - Well, I think, in that case,
0:39:07 > 0:39:10I'm almost certain that this is going to find a new home and
0:39:10 > 0:39:13I wouldn't be surprised, like I said, if it's somewhere abroad.
0:39:13 > 0:39:17- Might go home.- Might do. Let's flog it and find out.- OK.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19- I'll see you at the auction. - Thank you very much.- Thank you.
0:39:19 > 0:39:21Time for some fresh air now and Claire's found
0:39:21 > 0:39:24a nice spot on the terrace.
0:39:24 > 0:39:25Joan, you've brought in
0:39:25 > 0:39:28two completely different types of watches. Both ladies' watches.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31One a fob, which predated the wristwatches,
0:39:31 > 0:39:33which, of course, are more 20th century.
0:39:33 > 0:39:35So they're both quite different.
0:39:35 > 0:39:37They're both divided by quite a few years.
0:39:37 > 0:39:40But tell me a bit about them before I give you an idea.
0:39:40 > 0:39:43They were both given to me for my 21st birthday.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46The modern Omega watch was given to me by my mother.
0:39:46 > 0:39:51And the fob watch was given to me by my aunt, who was also my godmother.
0:39:51 > 0:39:55And it actually was her 21st birthday present from her mother
0:39:55 > 0:40:00and father, so it's been in the family since the early 1900s.
0:40:00 > 0:40:02The only thing is, I don't wear them.
0:40:02 > 0:40:04There's nothing much you can do with the fob watch.
0:40:04 > 0:40:07What I'd like is to put the money towards
0:40:07 > 0:40:09a ring that I can remember the family with.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12Yeah, that's very sensible, really, because as you say, I mean,
0:40:12 > 0:40:14wristwatches, OK, you either like them or you don't and wear them.
0:40:14 > 0:40:19As you say, a fob watch or a pocket watch, they're not very practical in this day and age, are they?
0:40:19 > 0:40:22And they don't always keep very good time. They are terribly pretty.
0:40:22 > 0:40:26It's an 18-carat cased watch. Very, very decorative.
0:40:26 > 0:40:29You've got the gold dial with the blued numerals and the blued hand.
0:40:29 > 0:40:31It's a nice quality watch.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34It will have a very attractive decoration on the back of it.
0:40:34 > 0:40:36And a sort of vacant, as they call it, cartouche,
0:40:36 > 0:40:40which might have had initials in it once upon a time.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43But really pretty. And very much the sort of thing a lady would wear on
0:40:43 > 0:40:46a chain that would either sort of fit... Cos they didn't really have pockets in those days.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49It would sort of be pinned on you, sometimes as a brooch or
0:40:49 > 0:40:53a chain that would go into a sort of chatelaine, that type of thing.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55But it is a nice quality one.
0:40:55 > 0:40:56Moving onto the 20th century,
0:40:56 > 0:41:00we have the nine-carat lady's Omega wristwatch.
0:41:00 > 0:41:05Now, ladies' watches never seem as popular as gents' watches.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07It's a very good make, very, very expensive.
0:41:07 > 0:41:10A gents' Omega will still be worn
0:41:10 > 0:41:13and is fashionable and very expensive.
0:41:13 > 0:41:16The ladies' watches, however, unfortunately tend to come
0:41:16 > 0:41:19down to their gold weight because ladies these days seem to
0:41:19 > 0:41:23prefer silver jewellery and I think ladies just wear bigger watches.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25They have bigger dials on them.
0:41:25 > 0:41:27- I know I do. - Yeah, I'm the same as well.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30And so the delicate watches are going rather out of favour.
0:41:30 > 0:41:31Now, we have weighed this.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34We're looking at about 20g of nine-carat gold.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37So I'm afraid, to a certain extent, it's based on the gold price.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40This one is a different kettle of fish.
0:41:40 > 0:41:43- It is higher-carat gold, but it is a collector's piece.- Right.
0:41:43 > 0:41:46So, I think out of the two of them, that would be more a sort of
0:41:46 > 0:41:49collector's item, whereas that is more of a sort of jewellery item.
0:41:49 > 0:41:53But having said that, this is the one that carries more value
0:41:53 > 0:41:56because it has more gold in it. And it is a good make.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59When you come to sell them, I think they should be offered as two
0:41:59 > 0:42:02separate lots, because they will appeal to different buyers.
0:42:02 > 0:42:06I've put this watch in at about... Around about the £200.
0:42:06 > 0:42:09I think it's going to work out at about 180 to 220 -
0:42:09 > 0:42:12it will very much depend on the gold value.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15But the name does also add some value as well.
0:42:15 > 0:42:16OK, that sounds fine.
0:42:16 > 0:42:21Now, this one, I'd say about 140, 150,
0:42:21 > 0:42:26so I'd suggest putting a reserve at 130, just under the low estimate.
0:42:26 > 0:42:30- Can we have it at 140, please? As a reserve.- Yes.
0:42:30 > 0:42:32I think we can probably just about agree that.
0:42:32 > 0:42:36- Oh, you drive a hard bargain! That's fine.- Thank you.
0:42:36 > 0:42:38Well, I think they'll go well because, at the end of the day,
0:42:38 > 0:42:42they've both got good gold value in them and the market is good for that at the moment.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45So I shall look forward to seeing them at the auction and seeing how they do.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48- Lovely, thank you very much. - Oh, thank you for coming in today.
0:42:48 > 0:42:52Next up, Will's got his eye on something with an oriental flavour.
0:42:52 > 0:42:56Pamela, tell me you haven't had to travel as far as this little
0:42:56 > 0:42:58chap to get here today. Are you local to Powderham?
0:42:58 > 0:43:01- No, not quite. Live on Dartmoor. - Oh, lovely.
0:43:01 > 0:43:05- I bet it's nice up there, isn't it? - Yes, it's wonderful.- I can imagine.
0:43:05 > 0:43:07Tell me, why have you brought a little bit of China with you
0:43:07 > 0:43:11here today? I say China as in the country, rather than porcelain.
0:43:11 > 0:43:13- Well, I've had him for 60 years. - Right.
0:43:13 > 0:43:17- And I love him dearly, but my children don't.- Oh, you're joking?
0:43:17 > 0:43:20So I want to see him go to a good home.
0:43:20 > 0:43:22And then let them enjoy the money.
0:43:22 > 0:43:24Well, you've come to the right place.
0:43:24 > 0:43:26We shall do our very best for you.
0:43:26 > 0:43:28But first of all, you say you've had him 60 years.
0:43:28 > 0:43:30Tell me, something you've inherited or purchased yourself?
0:43:30 > 0:43:34- No, bought at auction as one of four.- Interesting.
0:43:34 > 0:43:39- So you're a keen auction goer, are you?- Used to be.- Yes?- Not recently.
0:43:39 > 0:43:43Were you interested in oriental pieces before you bought this chap?
0:43:43 > 0:43:47Yes, I was, because I lived in Singapore for three years
0:43:47 > 0:43:51when I was young. And we brought back quite a lot of oriental things.
0:43:51 > 0:43:52- This wasn't one of them. - This wasn't.
0:43:52 > 0:43:55This was a new addition, as you say, from the auction.
0:43:55 > 0:43:58Have you done any research into him? Can you tell me anything about him?
0:43:58 > 0:44:02- Well, somebody told me that he was Chinese.- Yes, I would agree.
0:44:02 > 0:44:05- And that he was an incense burner. - Yes.
0:44:05 > 0:44:10- But I was intrigued by how he was made.- OK.- And when.
0:44:10 > 0:44:14Well, when can be a little bit tricky because the Chinese tradition
0:44:14 > 0:44:18for bronze pieces started thousands of years ago
0:44:18 > 0:44:23and they were generally ceremonial pieces, or religious pieces,
0:44:23 > 0:44:25rather than pieces for decoration.
0:44:25 > 0:44:28So I think this has been made to be used.
0:44:28 > 0:44:30So date-wise,
0:44:30 > 0:44:33I think it's definitely earlier than 20th century because a lot
0:44:33 > 0:44:37of these pieces came out of China in the 1920s, that sort of period.
0:44:37 > 0:44:40So I'm going to err on early 19th century.
0:44:40 > 0:44:42Do you know where it came from when you bought it?
0:44:42 > 0:44:47- Well, no, I think it came from a retired Army man...- OK.
0:44:47 > 0:44:50..who put a whole lot of these into this one sale.
0:44:50 > 0:44:53That's quite interesting. So, he was retired, so he's obviously of a certain age.
0:44:53 > 0:44:56- Which would then take that back perhaps...- Back a little bit further.- Exactly.
0:44:56 > 0:45:00Which again adds an element of confidence to the buyer.
0:45:00 > 0:45:01Because make no mistake,
0:45:01 > 0:45:05- the Chinese are very good at producing these last week... - Oh, absolutely.
0:45:05 > 0:45:08..to make them look like they've been around hundreds of years.
0:45:08 > 0:45:11- I think he's a bit more age to him than that.- Exactly.
0:45:11 > 0:45:14I mean, some of this patination of the bronze makes
0:45:14 > 0:45:17me think that he's not new, he has got age to him.
0:45:17 > 0:45:19Occasionally they are marked underneath.
0:45:19 > 0:45:21This one isn't, I've had a look.
0:45:21 > 0:45:25But again you have to be careful with Chinese marks, certainly
0:45:25 > 0:45:30on bronzes, because they almost revere back to an earlier time.
0:45:30 > 0:45:35What they're doing there is, they're almost offering reverence to past dynasties to give good luck
0:45:35 > 0:45:39to this piece they're making in the same sort of style.
0:45:39 > 0:45:42Now, the market has gone off the boil a little bit.
0:45:42 > 0:45:46But even so, I think this is a nice piece, good, compact size,
0:45:46 > 0:45:49nicely detailed, well cast.
0:45:49 > 0:45:52If I open him up, obviously that's where the incense would go.
0:45:52 > 0:45:56And then you can imagine the plumes of smoke coming out of the mouth.
0:45:56 > 0:46:00- Absolutely.- I'm looking at an estimate of...
0:46:00 > 0:46:03I'm thinking of around the sort of £300 mark.
0:46:03 > 0:46:05I mean, how does that sound? You want it gone, don't you?
0:46:05 > 0:46:08Well, yes, I do because the value in him for me
0:46:08 > 0:46:11- has been 60 years of love. - Interesting, that's lovely.
0:46:11 > 0:46:13So I can hold on to that.
0:46:13 > 0:46:17Well, listen, why don't we put my sort of estimate as the top
0:46:17 > 0:46:20- figure and say 200 to 300? - I think that would be nice.
0:46:20 > 0:46:24Yeah. Let's protect him with a £200 reserve and maybe just
0:46:24 > 0:46:26a little bit of discretion for the auctioneer.
0:46:26 > 0:46:32If he gets to 180, 190, rather than not sell it for the sake of £10.
0:46:32 > 0:46:34I think if he doesn't make his...
0:46:34 > 0:46:37- Reserve.- ..reserve, I'll take him home.
0:46:37 > 0:46:39Well, listen, it's been fascinating talking to you.
0:46:39 > 0:46:43Thank you for sharing your story concerning our friend here.
0:46:43 > 0:46:47Well, I'm pretty confident we'll see him away for you, so wave bye-bye.
0:46:49 > 0:46:51And here's another interesting item.
0:46:52 > 0:46:54- Hello, Ros, it's good to meet you. - Hello, Claire.
0:46:54 > 0:46:56And you brought some very pretty items in here.
0:46:56 > 0:46:59Now, tell me, were they things that you bought for yourself
0:46:59 > 0:47:00or you've collected, or...?
0:47:00 > 0:47:04Well, they are something I bought for myself, and a long time ago now.
0:47:04 > 0:47:06I think probably in the late '70s, early '80s,
0:47:06 > 0:47:09when I used to live near Portobello Road.
0:47:09 > 0:47:12And I bought them with the intention of making a jacket.
0:47:12 > 0:47:14- OK.- And they've sat in a drawer ever since.
0:47:14 > 0:47:16Right, so the jacket never got made.
0:47:16 > 0:47:18- The jacket never got made, no. - Oh, that's a shame!
0:47:18 > 0:47:20It seems a shame to keep them in a drawer.
0:47:20 > 0:47:24- Yes.- So hopefully, somebody else may wear them.- Yes, indeed.
0:47:24 > 0:47:26Or even just put them out in a cabinet to look at.
0:47:26 > 0:47:28- Yes.- So, do you know what they are?
0:47:28 > 0:47:31- Well, I believe they're micromosaic. - Yes, indeed.
0:47:31 > 0:47:33- But I don't know where they're from.- Right.
0:47:33 > 0:47:35- Well, they're Italian.- Right.
0:47:35 > 0:47:38And indeed they are known as micromosaic.
0:47:38 > 0:47:41So very, very tiny little pieces of glass
0:47:41 > 0:47:44and coloured stones in this wonderful design.
0:47:44 > 0:47:46If you actually look closely at the medallions,
0:47:46 > 0:47:48they are like little tiny flower heads, aren't they?
0:47:48 > 0:47:49They are so pretty.
0:47:49 > 0:47:51And then mounted on just a gilt metal.
0:47:51 > 0:47:52They are not on a precious metal.
0:47:52 > 0:47:55I'd have guessed there'd have been six buttons originally.
0:47:55 > 0:47:58- I'm just thinking...- I think there would have been a set of six,
0:47:58 > 0:48:00but there's only ever been five.
0:48:00 > 0:48:01Yes, which is fine.
0:48:01 > 0:48:04It doesn't really make a lot of difference to the value.
0:48:04 > 0:48:07So these were made in Italy through the sort of 19th century,
0:48:07 > 0:48:08into the early 20th century.
0:48:08 > 0:48:11I'm not sure they are not actually still being made today,
0:48:11 > 0:48:12but they are much cruder.
0:48:12 > 0:48:14- The later ones are much cruder.- OK.
0:48:14 > 0:48:17- The thing with this, it's a lovely, tight decoration.- Yes.
0:48:17 > 0:48:21So I think they probably date from the latter part of the 19th century.
0:48:21 > 0:48:23And also, in very good order.
0:48:23 > 0:48:24They appear to be, yes.
0:48:24 > 0:48:29I can imagine that style of belt buckle worn in that period as well.
0:48:29 > 0:48:31Yes. Yes, very much so.
0:48:31 > 0:48:35So there is this lovely shaped buckle, beautiful decoration in it.
0:48:35 > 0:48:38Again, clusters of flower heads. Look like forget-me-nots, actually.
0:48:38 > 0:48:43And then lovely palmettes radiating away. Beautiful panels of colour.
0:48:43 > 0:48:45Lovely, lovely item.
0:48:46 > 0:48:47It does appeal to today's market.
0:48:47 > 0:48:50So obviously, you've made up your mind that, you know,
0:48:50 > 0:48:52you're not going to make the jacket any longer.
0:48:52 > 0:48:53- No.- So it's time to sell them.- Yes.
0:48:53 > 0:48:55It is time to sell them, yes.
0:48:55 > 0:48:57- Have you had them valued at all in the past?- No.
0:48:57 > 0:49:00Can you remember what you paid for them?
0:49:00 > 0:49:03- Well, I probably paid under £10.- OK. Yes, yeah.
0:49:03 > 0:49:05- So a sensible price. - A little while ago.
0:49:05 > 0:49:08Yeah, well, I think they'll make a bit more than that now.
0:49:08 > 0:49:11My feeling is... Again, it is the auctioneer's favourite.
0:49:11 > 0:49:13- It's 80 to 120.- OK.
0:49:13 > 0:49:19I think we are looking at a sensible estimate. I'd put the reserve at 70.
0:49:19 > 0:49:22- OK, that sounds very good. - Is that all right?- Yeah.
0:49:22 > 0:49:23- Mainly for this.- Yes.
0:49:23 > 0:49:26I think the buckle will carry most of the value and the buttons will...
0:49:26 > 0:49:27They just add to it.
0:49:27 > 0:49:30They're lovely, cos they are very much made as a set.
0:49:30 > 0:49:33- So we shall head off to the auction. - Good.- High hopes...- Yes.
0:49:33 > 0:49:36- ..in buying you something else.- Yes. - Not to put in a drawer.- No.
0:49:36 > 0:49:39- Great, Ros. We'll see you there. - OK, thank you very much.
0:49:42 > 0:49:45Well, our experts have now found their final items to take off to auction,
0:49:45 > 0:49:51which means we have to say farewell to this magnificent host location.
0:49:51 > 0:49:53While we test the market for the last time in the saleroom,
0:49:53 > 0:49:56here's a quick recap of all the items that are going...
0:49:56 > 0:49:58under the hammer.
0:49:59 > 0:50:01There's the mysterious Fijian ula.
0:50:04 > 0:50:06Two timepieces - an Omega watch...
0:50:09 > 0:50:11..and an older fob.
0:50:15 > 0:50:19The colourful buttons and buckle may attract the fashionistas.
0:50:22 > 0:50:24And the bronze dog, all the way from China.
0:50:28 > 0:50:31We're back at the auction rooms with high expectations,
0:50:31 > 0:50:33and Anthony Eldred is in charge.
0:50:35 > 0:50:37Going under the hammer right now, we have some ethnographica.
0:50:37 > 0:50:40Yes, that's right, some tribal art.
0:50:40 > 0:50:44And we have a new ethnographica expert, Will "The Axe" Axon.
0:50:44 > 0:50:46I see the auctioneer has tickled my estimate.
0:50:46 > 0:50:50You had four to six on this club, the auctioneer has now said...
0:50:50 > 0:50:52- Three to four or three to five. - Three to four.
0:50:52 > 0:50:54- Three to four.- Yes. - Why did he say that?
0:50:54 > 0:50:57Did he get on the phone to you and talk to you about it?
0:50:57 > 0:51:00Yes, he did, but I couldn't understand why he dropped it.
0:51:00 > 0:51:04Maybe he doesn't feel confident that it's going to do Will's estimate.
0:51:04 > 0:51:06Enjoy this moment - it's going to sell.
0:51:06 > 0:51:09Here we go, it's going under the hammer, this is it.
0:51:09 > 0:51:13The Fijian ula, or throwing club, and £260 for that.
0:51:13 > 0:51:15At 260. 70. 270.
0:51:15 > 0:51:1880. 290, 300. And ten.
0:51:18 > 0:51:22At £310. 20 if you want it. At £310, then.
0:51:22 > 0:51:25Bidding's in the room. At £310.
0:51:25 > 0:51:27Last chance at 310.
0:51:28 > 0:51:33- Well, it's gone down, £310.- I would have hoped for a little bit more.
0:51:33 > 0:51:36I don't think there was any internet or phone-line bidding on that.
0:51:36 > 0:51:39The guy in the room got lucky there. No-one challenged his next bid.
0:51:39 > 0:51:44- It'd be interesting to know what he would have gone up to, though, wouldn't it?- Yes.- Never mind.
0:51:44 > 0:51:46That's called holding your cards close to your chest.
0:51:46 > 0:51:48- It's gone.- Next time. - It's had a good life.
0:51:48 > 0:51:50Next up, perhaps the colourful buckle
0:51:50 > 0:51:54and buttons may finally get to see the light of day.
0:51:54 > 0:51:57Ros, I like this next lot, I really do.
0:51:57 > 0:52:01The Italian micromosaic work, sort of mid-19th century.
0:52:01 > 0:52:04Why did you buy this? Come on, tell me why you bought it.
0:52:04 > 0:52:07Well, I bought it on Portobello Road about 30-odd years ago.
0:52:07 > 0:52:09- It's a long time.- It is a long time.
0:52:09 > 0:52:11And I was planning to make a nice blue velvet jacket.
0:52:11 > 0:52:13- Did you know this story?- Yeah.
0:52:13 > 0:52:16- Yeah, it's good, isn't it?- I had it in my mind, what I was going to do.
0:52:16 > 0:52:18- I can see it. I can see it. You never got round to doing it?- No.
0:52:18 > 0:52:20You know, you don't have to put it on a belt or anything.
0:52:20 > 0:52:23It would look lovely in a cabinet, wouldn't it? Set off.
0:52:23 > 0:52:26- Yeah, really nice.- Fingers crossed we get the top end for this.
0:52:26 > 0:52:29- Yeah, I hope so.- Or somebody else might be creative and re-use it
0:52:29 > 0:52:31in a new way. You never know, do you?
0:52:31 > 0:52:33It's going under the hammer now. Let's find out what it makes.
0:52:36 > 0:52:38It's an Italian micromosaic buckle.
0:52:38 > 0:52:44And some buttons to go with it. Several bids. I'm bid, £100 exactly.
0:52:44 > 0:52:46Yeah, straight in, well above the top end.
0:52:46 > 0:52:47- Excellent.- Worth every penny.
0:52:47 > 0:52:49And ten. 120.
0:52:49 > 0:52:53At £120. On my book.
0:52:53 > 0:52:56125. 130. I'm bid, 140.
0:52:56 > 0:53:00At £140. Against the net. 150 now.
0:53:00 > 0:53:05At £150. Online at £150.
0:53:05 > 0:53:09At £150 then. All finished at 150...
0:53:10 > 0:53:13- Sold, 150. Ros, that's a good result.- I'm very pleased with that.
0:53:13 > 0:53:15I think that's a cracking thing.
0:53:15 > 0:53:16And it's been saved.
0:53:16 > 0:53:20- And somebody is going to put it to use and show it off.- Let's hope so.
0:53:20 > 0:53:21Yeah.
0:53:21 > 0:53:23And here's another interesting duo.
0:53:23 > 0:53:27Going under the hammer right now, we have Joan's nine-carat gold
0:53:27 > 0:53:31lady's Omega wristwatch. It's a great watch. And it was your watch.
0:53:31 > 0:53:34- 21st birthday present.- 21st birthday present from my mother.
0:53:34 > 0:53:37- God, that was a posh present. - It was a very posh present.
0:53:37 > 0:53:40- Wow, Mummy spent a lot of money on you.- She did.
0:53:40 > 0:53:42A good dress watch, nevertheless, it's nine-carat gold.
0:53:42 > 0:53:44Great Swiss movement. The name should sell it.
0:53:44 > 0:53:46OK, there are watch collectors out there,
0:53:46 > 0:53:49so it's going to go to a collector.
0:53:49 > 0:53:51He said. THEY LAUGH
0:53:51 > 0:53:54- Very positive there.- Yes. Well, you've got to be, haven't you?
0:53:54 > 0:53:56There's no turning back from this spot right now,
0:53:56 > 0:53:59because it's just about to go under the hammer.
0:53:59 > 0:54:01Omega wristwatch.
0:54:01 > 0:54:04I'm bid 150 for it. At £150 on my book.
0:54:04 > 0:54:07- 160, 170.- That's great.- 180. - Brilliant.
0:54:07 > 0:54:09At 180 now. At 180, then.
0:54:09 > 0:54:13Take five. We're all done, then, at £180.
0:54:14 > 0:54:17- That has gone down. Straight in and straight out.- Very businesslike.
0:54:17 > 0:54:20Yeah. £180.
0:54:20 > 0:54:23Good result. So that's 180 for the first part of the lot.
0:54:23 > 0:54:27And the second part of the lot is the 18-carat-gold pocket watch,
0:54:27 > 0:54:30which is about to be put under the hammer. Here we go.
0:54:30 > 0:54:32The continental, open-face, keyless pocket watch.
0:54:32 > 0:54:35£100 for that, at 100. And ten.
0:54:35 > 0:54:38120. 130. And five. 140.
0:54:38 > 0:54:41- Come on.- At £140.- Come on, come on. - Seated in front.
0:54:41 > 0:54:45- Last chance, then, online. - That's good, £140.
0:54:45 > 0:54:47- That's very good.- That's not bad, is it?- No, no.
0:54:47 > 0:54:50- Brilliant, brilliant. That's £320. - That's all right, isn't it?
0:54:50 > 0:54:51That's all right.
0:54:51 > 0:54:55- We're happy, aren't we? - Very happy, actually.
0:54:55 > 0:54:58'The pressure's on now for the globetrotting bronze dog.'
0:54:58 > 0:55:01I love this - it's either late 18th or early 19th, isn't it?
0:55:01 > 0:55:04It's bronze, it's Chinese, it's flavour of the month.
0:55:04 > 0:55:07I think this will fly, this censer. I really do.
0:55:07 > 0:55:10Hopefully more than the two to three, Will. I know you've got to be cautious.
0:55:10 > 0:55:13Got to be cautious. But it's got good provenance.
0:55:13 > 0:55:14You can trace back the history,
0:55:14 > 0:55:18certainly enough to give the buyers confidence, I would hope.
0:55:18 > 0:55:21I think the internet will be a factor in this lot.
0:55:21 > 0:55:23Right, we're going to find out what the bidders think.
0:55:23 > 0:55:25Hopefully those phone lines are booked and we've got some
0:55:25 > 0:55:27internet bidding all the way from the Far East.
0:55:27 > 0:55:30It's going under the hammer right now. This is it, Pamela, over there.
0:55:30 > 0:55:33The Chinese bronze censer, in the form of a standing kaolin.
0:55:33 > 0:55:37I'm bid £310 for it. To start at 310.
0:55:37 > 0:55:39- At £310 for it.- Good.
0:55:39 > 0:55:42Against you on the net. 310, 320. 330.
0:55:42 > 0:55:46340. 350. 360. 370.
0:55:46 > 0:55:49He's got a bit left on the book. He keeps looking down.
0:55:49 > 0:55:51390 now. 400.
0:55:51 > 0:55:54410. 420. 430. I'm bid 450.
0:55:54 > 0:55:58- Well, you're not taking it home, I can tell you that much.- 460 online.
0:55:58 > 0:56:02- At 480.- It's a great looking thing, isn't it?- It stands well.
0:56:02 > 0:56:05- As censers go, yes.- Good colour.
0:56:05 > 0:56:08540. 560. 580.
0:56:08 > 0:56:11600. 620 now.
0:56:11 > 0:56:14What's nice about someone bidding in the room is you know they've
0:56:14 > 0:56:16seen it, they've handled it, they have confidence in it.
0:56:16 > 0:56:19680. 700.
0:56:19 > 0:56:22- And 20. 740.- Still going.- 760.
0:56:22 > 0:56:25780. 800.
0:56:25 > 0:56:27Anything oriental, as you know -
0:56:27 > 0:56:30mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore...
0:56:30 > 0:56:32Everybody is buying this back.
0:56:32 > 0:56:33880.
0:56:33 > 0:56:36- 900. 20 if you want. - It'd be nice to get 1,000.
0:56:36 > 0:56:39Pamela, we might be getting £1,000.
0:56:39 > 0:56:42At 940 now. 960.
0:56:42 > 0:56:46Come on, don't stop there. Don't stop there!
0:56:46 > 0:56:48- 1,000.- Oh!
0:56:48 > 0:56:51At 1,050. 1,100.
0:56:51 > 0:56:541,200. And 50.
0:56:54 > 0:56:581,300. At 1,350.
0:56:58 > 0:57:00At 1,350, it will be...
0:57:00 > 0:57:03He's working well, the auctioneer, for us.
0:57:03 > 0:57:071,400. And 50. 1,500.
0:57:08 > 0:57:12- 1,500! We're so close, losing it for £50.- Against the net.
0:57:12 > 0:57:15- It is so hard when you're the underbidder.- At 1,500.
0:57:15 > 0:57:17- And 50.- Still going.
0:57:17 > 0:57:19- Shall I faint?- No...
0:57:19 > 0:57:22£1,550. Very last chance.
0:57:22 > 0:57:24The hammer's going down. Yes!
0:57:24 > 0:57:28Pamela, that is fantastic, isn't it?
0:57:28 > 0:57:31- That is brilliant!- Thank you.- Wow!
0:57:31 > 0:57:34It's so hard, it is so hard for an expert to put
0:57:34 > 0:57:37a price on something like that. What a way to end today's show.
0:57:37 > 0:57:38I hope you've enjoyed it.
0:57:38 > 0:57:40We said there'd be a big surprise at the end,
0:57:40 > 0:57:43and we delivered. And I hope you did enjoy it.
0:57:43 > 0:57:46But do join us again for many more to come in the future,
0:57:46 > 0:57:48but now, from Plymouth, it's goodbye.