0:00:03 > 0:00:05You could be forgiven for thinking we've just
0:00:05 > 0:00:07hopped across the Channel to Paris, but in this case not.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10We are in County Durham.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13And we're just on the outskirts of a small market town called
0:00:13 > 0:00:16Barnard Castle, and this is the magnificent Bowes Museum.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19It is formidable. Welcome to "Flog It!".
0:00:40 > 0:00:43This is a French chateaux built in the North of England
0:00:43 > 0:00:45in the late 19th century.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48And it houses outstanding collections of European fine
0:00:48 > 0:00:50and decorative arts.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54It was the brainchild of Josephine Bowes, a French actress
0:00:54 > 0:00:56and artist who married John Bowes,
0:00:56 > 0:01:01who was the illegitimate son of the tenth Earl of Strathmore.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03Both were keen collectors, and John wished to bring new
0:01:03 > 0:01:08dimensions into the lives of the people in his native County Durham.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11And what a wonderful job they did.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15Well, we've certainly got a healthy queue of people wanting to
0:01:15 > 0:01:17make the most of the day here at the museum.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20Hundreds have turned up, from all over County Durham and beyond,
0:01:20 > 0:01:22laden with antiques and collectables,
0:01:22 > 0:01:26here to see our experts, to ask that all-important question, which is...
0:01:26 > 0:01:29- ALL:- What's it worth? - Stay tuned and you'll find out.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32- Do you want to go inside, everyone? ALL:- Yes.- Yes! Come on, then.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34HE LAUGHS
0:01:34 > 0:01:37And providing the answers to today's questions are our experts,
0:01:37 > 0:01:40- Elizabeth Talbot...- Five gold rings.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43- There's a song about that somewhere. - Yeah.
0:01:43 > 0:01:44..and David Harper.
0:01:44 > 0:01:46Handbags don't suit me, I've got to tell you.
0:01:46 > 0:01:48I've tried them. Doesn't work.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51While they all find their way through the museum to the picture
0:01:51 > 0:01:55galleries, let's take a quick look at what's coming up.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58Today, our experts have brought an international flavour with
0:01:58 > 0:01:59items from India...
0:01:59 > 0:02:01Well, I've got to say, that is
0:02:01 > 0:02:05one of the most glamorous pieces of furniture I have seen.
0:02:05 > 0:02:06..and Polynesia.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10This has been pierced and carved in the most exquisite way.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13But I explore something a little closer to home,
0:02:13 > 0:02:16the history of the music hall.
0:02:16 > 0:02:18David Harper is in one of the picture galleries,
0:02:18 > 0:02:21and has spotted a small masterpiece in silver.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24Gina, I think it is absolutely ridiculous that you've brought me
0:02:24 > 0:02:28- something so small when we've got these huge Canalettos behind us. - Yes.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31- But you work here.- I do, I work in the shop here...- Right.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34- ..which is a great privilege. - Tell us about it.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37It's a piece that belonged to my mother.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40I remember it for many, many years sitting in a cabinet.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43It is a bit sad because, of course, it was made to be used,
0:02:43 > 0:02:45and what for?
0:02:45 > 0:02:49- Was it a cream jug? - Yes, it is a miniature cream jug.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53But it is so elegant and it is in, I know it is only small,
0:02:53 > 0:02:55but it is in the right environment, isn't it?
0:02:55 > 0:02:58- And of course it is silver, you know that.- I do know that.- OK.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01When this form of jug was designed,
0:03:01 > 0:03:06drinking tea was an incredibly involved process, and very expensive.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10In, I don't know, 1700, the average
0:03:10 > 0:03:12teaspoon of tea equated
0:03:12 > 0:03:17- to one week's wage for a servant girl, a maid.- Really?- Very expensive stuff.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21So the things that people used to take tea were often of very high
0:03:21 > 0:03:24- quality, and made out of things like that.- Like that. I see.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28- How old is it, do you think? - I've no idea.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30I can date it by the hallmarks,
0:03:30 > 0:03:33but of course the shape and the style tells you something as well.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37So that form and shape dates to the mid 18th century.
0:03:37 > 0:03:43So from ten feet away, you might think that's George II, 1750.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45A couple of things start to tell you that it isn't.
0:03:45 > 0:03:50One, the decoration, which is very 19th-century in its style.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54A Georgian one would be incredibly plain, but it is so elegant
0:03:54 > 0:03:57with the handle, feet, with the shell design, it is absolutely gorgeous.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01But let's move on from the Georgian period.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Early part of the 20th century
0:04:03 > 0:04:06we've got the Edwardian time, and it's a Georgian revival.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09So in the Edwardian period, everybody loved anything Georgian.
0:04:09 > 0:04:14- Oh, I see.- So they started making, of course, reproductions.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17Look at the dates. Can you see the lion side on?
0:04:17 > 0:04:18- That tells you it is silver.- Right.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22- We've got an anchor there, tells you it was made in Birmingham.- OK.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26We've got "WD", which is William Davenport. He is the maker.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30- Right.- And we've got the letter "D", which is 1903.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33- So there you have it.- It is fascinating.- It is gorgeous.
0:04:33 > 0:04:38Solid silver, George II, 1750 in design,
0:04:38 > 0:04:42but made during the Edwardian Georgian revival period.
0:04:42 > 0:04:43It is a beauty.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47To make something like that now would cost you a few hundred pounds, it really would.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51But in auction, that today... What would you guess?
0:04:53 > 0:04:55- £60.- I think you are about right.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59I think we would have to estimate it at 30 to 50. Sounds ridiculous.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01It is too cheap. It really does.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04Even to me, handling these things for 500 years I've been doing
0:05:04 > 0:05:08- this, it still seems too cheap. But that's the market price.- Yes, OK.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11- But would you be happy?- Yes, let's go for it.- It will get you...
0:05:11 > 0:05:12- Have some fun with it.- Exactly.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16- And you can go for a high tea somewhere really posh.- Could do.- All right.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18- The Bowes Museum.- There you go. Perfect.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21- And you'll get a staff discount. - Absolutely.- You can have two high teas.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23SHE LAUGHS
0:05:23 > 0:05:26That is not a lot of money for a real antique.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30- Now for Elizabeth, and something magical.- Peter.- Hello.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32You have a nice magic lantern,
0:05:32 > 0:05:34and what looks to be a quite interesting collection of slides.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36But what's the story behind them?
0:05:36 > 0:05:41The story is that my mother passed away in January,
0:05:41 > 0:05:45and we were entering the house and we found this in the loft.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47Have you learnt a lot about it, or are you still...
0:05:47 > 0:05:50- I found out that the lantern was made in Bradford...- Mm-hm.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53..circa 1890 or something like that.
0:05:53 > 0:05:58It's the slides that I couldn't find anything out about,
0:05:58 > 0:06:01apart from it says on the box, "Canadian Pacific Railroad".
0:06:01 > 0:06:04So is there a chance that your mother will have
0:06:04 > 0:06:06inherited from her parents?
0:06:06 > 0:06:08My dad picked it up on his travels somewhere.
0:06:08 > 0:06:12Oh, right. Well, the fact it has been left in the loft means it has actually
0:06:12 > 0:06:15survived in very good condition, so that is an advantage.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18It has not travelled very far actually as a piece of equipment,
0:06:18 > 0:06:21because it was made in Bradford by the Riley brothers.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24Joseph Riley and his two sons, Herbert and Willie, they started
0:06:24 > 0:06:29doing film shows for children's orphanage and national home...
0:06:29 > 0:06:31- All right.- ..in 1883.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33And they put on entertainment for communities,
0:06:33 > 0:06:36and obviously for the children at the orphanage as well,
0:06:36 > 0:06:39so they could share these views of long distant lands back home
0:06:39 > 0:06:42to people who wouldn't ever see them otherwise.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45It was a good way of entertainment, a good way of education.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48The slide would obviously sit in the carriage there.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50And then the light would have been projected
0:06:50 > 0:06:53- onto the wall at the...- The far side.- Yeah.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56- So simple, yet so effective.- It's very simple, yes.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00Oh, this is rather fun. Now this is... It is
0:07:00 > 0:07:04somebody standing with their arms outstretched with sort of an
0:07:04 > 0:07:07edifice of arches or architecture stretching out beyond them.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09It looks like they're in water.
0:07:09 > 0:07:14It looks like the hot springs somewhere near Banff.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Oh, yes, my goodness.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19You see, for people who had never seen these distant lands,
0:07:19 > 0:07:21this would have all been very, very...
0:07:21 > 0:07:25I'm excited, so they would have thought it was amazing. Wonderful.
0:07:25 > 0:07:26This model's been converted
0:07:26 > 0:07:29from what originally would have been a little candle lantern.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31A candle in here and there'd have been a chimney
0:07:31 > 0:07:32to let all the fumes out.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36It's later been converted to take an electric bulb, so it's usable.
0:07:36 > 0:07:37Have you actually plugged it in and used it?
0:07:37 > 0:07:39Yes, I've had it working at home
0:07:39 > 0:07:42and I've been through some of the slides on the wall at home.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44It works just as well now as well, I guess.
0:07:44 > 0:07:45Yes, it works just as well now.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49They're a fantastic window and collectors of history in different
0:07:49 > 0:07:52formats would take this as a lot of resource material, which is great.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55I think, for having waxed so lyrical about it, we have to be careful
0:07:55 > 0:07:59and mindful that this type of lantern is not the rarest.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02- So would you be happy to put £100 firm on?- Yes.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06- That all right?- Yes. - Put an estimate of 100, 150.
0:08:06 > 0:08:07And we'll just see.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10But, as I say, because there's so many strands of interest
0:08:10 > 0:08:12and so many strands of collectable interest,
0:08:12 > 0:08:14you may find that if you get the competition between people who
0:08:14 > 0:08:18want this lot for different reasons, hopefully it will push the price up.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20- Hopefully.- Yeah. Fingers crossed.
0:08:22 > 0:08:27Talking about collections, I have something rather special to show you.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30The walls here of the picture galleries in the Bowes Museum
0:08:30 > 0:08:34are literally plastered with paintings in the 19th-century style.
0:08:34 > 0:08:39This is how you exhibited back in the 19th century, sort of high and low.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41A lot of them are Spanish.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45Now John and Josephine Bowes' art dealer friend actually persuaded them
0:08:45 > 0:08:49to buy Spanish paintings somewhat against their own taste,
0:08:49 > 0:08:52but luckily enough, they took his advice and they bought some.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56One is a Goya, possibly the most famous Spanish artist,
0:08:56 > 0:09:00and they also have an El Greco here, look - The Tears Of St Peter.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04They picked this one up back in the 1800s for £400,
0:09:04 > 0:09:06which was an absolute snip.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08So, by investing all that time ago -
0:09:08 > 0:09:11and thank goodness they listened to that art dealer -
0:09:11 > 0:09:15they now have a collection which is so envied worldwide.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18I think this is the greatest collection of Spanish paintings
0:09:18 > 0:09:20anywhere in the UK
0:09:20 > 0:09:23and it's all here at the Bowes Museum for us to enjoy.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25So they listened to sound advice
0:09:25 > 0:09:27and that's exactly what we're going to do right now
0:09:27 > 0:09:30with our next item and our next expert.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35And it is David Harper who is delighted with his find
0:09:35 > 0:09:38which is rather different and comes from foreign climes.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41Well, I've got to say, that is one of the most glamorous
0:09:41 > 0:09:45pieces of furniture I have seen in a very long time.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47Mr and Mrs Glam or what?
0:09:47 > 0:09:48How is your house furnished?
0:09:48 > 0:09:51- Not with that, no! - HE LAUGHS
0:09:51 > 0:09:52Jeanette, why?
0:09:52 > 0:09:56I think because it's quite ornate, which I do like.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00I am a bit concerned about what it's made of.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04- OK.- That does concern me a bit. - OK. Is it displayed?
0:10:04 > 0:10:07It was, but out of the way because it's quite intricate
0:10:07 > 0:10:09and I'm a bit worried about getting it damaged.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11- OK. What about you, David? Do you love it?- I like it,
0:10:11 > 0:10:14but it doesn't really fit in with the rest of the furniture
0:10:14 > 0:10:16- in the house.- OK. So it's been in the family for how long?
0:10:18 > 0:10:19- 40, 50 years.- Right, OK.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23Well, listen, it is definitely exotic. It's Anglo-Indian.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26So it comes from the Indian sub-continent.
0:10:26 > 0:10:31It was made from about 1880, so it was made for - undoubtedly -
0:10:31 > 0:10:35British people living in India in the 19th century
0:10:35 > 0:10:39absolutely at the height of the British Empire.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42This thing was glamour personified.
0:10:42 > 0:10:47Superb quality. The wood is rosewood, that's a real hardwood.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50Bearing in mind how hard it is, just imagine how difficult it must have been
0:10:50 > 0:10:54- to inlay in that marquetry decoration...- A lot of work.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57..using ebony and - do you know what the white material is?
0:10:57 > 0:11:00- Well, we think it's ivory. - It is. It's ivory.
0:11:00 > 0:11:01Now, of course,
0:11:01 > 0:11:05we're talking about a completely different time in history.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08You know, this is elephant ivory, today it's totally not acceptable
0:11:08 > 0:11:11and illegal in actual fact to work new ivory.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13And the rules are pretty strict.
0:11:13 > 0:11:20Erm, something has to have been made pre-1947 for it to be legal now.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22- Anything after '47 is actually illegal to sell.- Right.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26So this is well into the safe zone.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30But, of course, because it is ivory, it does have an effect
0:11:30 > 0:11:33because it's becoming less and less acceptable or...
0:11:33 > 0:11:35Is that how you feel, Jeanette? Is that a problem for you?
0:11:35 > 0:11:37It is a bit, yeah. It is a bit.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39At this time, during the 19th century,
0:11:39 > 0:11:42campaign furniture was very popular,
0:11:42 > 0:11:45so that is anything that can be easily packed away and moved around.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48- So it's flatpack?- It's flatpack. That's what it is.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51- Nothing new in this world. It's a flatpack.- OK.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54So whether it was made to put into a ship and transport
0:11:54 > 0:11:58back to the UK or whether it was made for those living in India
0:11:58 > 0:12:02with a lot of money and those that would move into the hills
0:12:02 > 0:12:05at the height of the summer to the coolness
0:12:05 > 0:12:06and take some furniture with them.
0:12:06 > 0:12:11- Dining tables, sideboards...- Gosh! - Four-poster beds.- A different world.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14Oh, my gosh, all packed up, flatpacked
0:12:14 > 0:12:18and bunged on the backs of elephants and camels. It's just amazing.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20Erm, the condition - there are bits missing.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22Bits of ebony and little bits of ivory.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25- And, of course, the top comes off, doesn't it?- Yes.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27And the base folds flat.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30- Shall we just demonstrate? - Absolutely.- Yeah, so that top...
0:12:30 > 0:12:33Comes up. If you'd just fold that up.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35Look at that. There you go.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38Put a bit of bubble wrap, call your local carrier,
0:12:38 > 0:12:41and off it goes anywhere in the world, yeah?
0:12:41 > 0:12:44Pretty safely. Don't worry, we'll just put that on top like that.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46So, in auction, you would have
0:12:46 > 0:12:49to put it in at £200-300 as an estimate.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52We can't keep it, so whatever it makes, it makes.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54Shall we put a little bit of discretion on it?
0:12:54 > 0:12:58- It might sell for 190 on a bad day. - That's fine.- Happy?
0:12:58 > 0:13:01- You're the expert. - You can do wonders with 190 quid.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04Yeah. It should do more.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07Good, that's a lovely thing. Thank you very much.
0:13:07 > 0:13:08- See you there.- Thank you.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12I totally understand David's enthusiasm for that table.
0:13:12 > 0:13:13It is a beauty.
0:13:15 > 0:13:16Well, there you are.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20Three items and three happy owners, all hoping that their antique
0:13:20 > 0:13:24will go to record-busting levels way over what our experts predict.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26That's what the saleroom's all about.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28Anything can happen, you know that.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30Sit back and enjoy this roller-coaster ride
0:13:30 > 0:13:31as we put them to the test.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35Here's a quick recap of everything that's going over to the saleroom.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41First, something that punches above its weight in my mind -
0:13:41 > 0:13:44the Georgian revival silver cream jug.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47Elizabeth thinks the magic lantern could have wide appeal
0:13:47 > 0:13:49in the saleroom.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52But will it shine brightly enough for the bidders?
0:13:52 > 0:13:56And last but not least, the highly glamorous flatpack -
0:13:56 > 0:13:58the inlaid rosewood table.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03We're heading west to the Lake District,
0:14:03 > 0:14:07which is home to our saleroom - 1818 Auctioneers.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09We have two auctioneers looking after us today,
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Kevin Kendal and David Brookes.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16The commission here is 20% including VAT.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18And we're starting with a quality piece.
0:14:18 > 0:14:19- Good luck, Gina.- Thank you.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23We're just about to sell the wonderful little silver cream jug,
0:14:23 > 0:14:26the Edwardian one. Why are you selling it?
0:14:26 > 0:14:29I thought it might be more useful to have the money
0:14:29 > 0:14:31and perhaps buy a silver photo frame.
0:14:31 > 0:14:32- OK.- And put a nice photograph in it.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34- All right.- Which would be more useful.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38- Still a bit of silver though.- Still a bit of silver. We'll see how we go.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40It's very, very stylish, isn't it?
0:14:40 > 0:14:43And being small, I think is often very lovely.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45It's very delicate and a great starter piece.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49For anybody's collection. And it's going under the hammer right now.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52Small silver cream jug. Birmingham 1903.
0:14:52 > 0:14:53Start me 40. Pretty jug.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57- Come on, lad. - £30? £30. Thank you, madam. £30 bid.
0:14:57 > 0:14:58- There you go. Good.- Job done.
0:14:58 > 0:15:0032. 35. Come back to you.
0:15:00 > 0:15:0338. 40. No? 40 in the room.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05We're bidding now on the internet? I've 40 in the room.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09- Yeah, there's another bid, look. - Lady's bid at 42. 45.
0:15:09 > 0:15:1148. 50.
0:15:11 > 0:15:1355. 60.
0:15:13 > 0:15:1460 in the room.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17We're in the room here at £60.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20- Nice thing.- Good thing.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22- That gets you that silver photo frame.- It does, it does!
0:15:22 > 0:15:24I'm very pleased with that. Thank you both.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26Well, thank you for bringing it in.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28What a good start.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31And now for some magical time travel.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33Just think, Peter, before TV,
0:15:33 > 0:15:36- it was all magic lanterns and slides.- It was.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39- Really was a bygone era. - A bit before my time.
0:15:39 > 0:15:40Yeah, and mine, thank goodness!
0:15:40 > 0:15:43In fact, it would have been a wonderful event.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45You drew the curtains, Dad got out the projector
0:15:45 > 0:15:48and all of a sudden you were transformed into another world.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51- Absolutely. - OK, let's put the value to the test.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53It's going under the hammer right now.
0:15:53 > 0:15:54A magic lantern here.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57I've got bids. They're a bit low, but it's a start.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59I'm going to start the bidding with me at £40.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01£40 bid. 45.
0:16:01 > 0:16:0450. Five. 60. Five.
0:16:04 > 0:16:0770. Five. 80. Five.
0:16:07 > 0:16:0890. Five.
0:16:08 > 0:16:1095 only. 95, bid's on my right.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12I'm going to sell at 95. 100 now.
0:16:12 > 0:16:13100. 110.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15120. 130.
0:16:15 > 0:16:20- 130.- Peter, it looks like they're going to a very serious collector.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23160. 170. 170.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26170, all done this time, then?
0:16:26 > 0:16:28We're all done at 170?
0:16:28 > 0:16:33- Yes, done it.- Done it.- Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant. Well done.
0:16:33 > 0:16:34OK. Thank you very much.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39We are on a roll. Let's see if our next item can do as well.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41Going under the hammer right now,
0:16:41 > 0:16:43we have a table belonging to Jeanette and David.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45Sadly, they cannot be with us today,
0:16:45 > 0:16:48- but we do have our expert David and we have that lovely table.- I know.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52The wonderful inlay on it - it's beautiful. Great quality.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54- It's quite an acquired taste.- Mm.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56You can picture it in a lovely London apartment room
0:16:56 > 0:16:58where it is going to look a fortune!
0:16:58 > 0:17:00- We're trying to sell it here. - I know, I know.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03You're making me slightly nervous that it might not go.
0:17:03 > 0:17:04THEY LAUGH
0:17:04 > 0:17:06Sitting alongside provincial furniture.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08Anyway, let's give it a bash. Here we go.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10It's going under the hammer now.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13Early 20th-century Anglo-Indian occasional table.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16I'm going to have to start the bidding with me at £230.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19- It's gone.- Good.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23Looking for 240. At 240.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25- It's a nice piece, isn't it? - 260, we've jumped to.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28All commissions are out. 280 on the phone.
0:17:28 > 0:17:33- 300.- Come on.- 320. I've 340 on the internet there.- Come on.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35360. 380 on the internet.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37400 on the phone.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39450, we've jumped to on the internet.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41500 on the phone.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43550 on the internet.
0:17:43 > 0:17:44Come on!
0:17:44 > 0:17:47- 600 on the phone. - This is more like it.- Wow!
0:17:47 > 0:17:50- On the phone at £600.- They're going to be very, very pleased with this.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52Yeah. It's gorgeous.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54700 we've jumped to.
0:17:54 > 0:17:55At 7... Oh, 750.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58Have we got 800 on the phone?
0:17:58 > 0:18:00- 800 on the phone.- Hoo-hoo!
0:18:00 > 0:18:02On the phone at £800.
0:18:03 > 0:18:08£800 sold. That's a great result and a lovely thing to find up here.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11- Well done you, David. - Thank you. Marvellous.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14What a result! And that makes three in a row.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17Well, there you are, that concludes our first visit to the auction today.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19We are coming back here later on in the programme,
0:18:19 > 0:18:21hopefully for one or two big surprises,
0:18:21 > 0:18:24but right now, we're in for a real treat.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28Get your dancing shoes on - we're off to Leeds for a bit of a singsong.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30APPLAUSE
0:18:30 > 0:18:32Once again,
0:18:32 > 0:18:38good evening, ladies and gentlemen!
0:18:38 > 0:18:40CHEERING
0:18:48 > 0:18:50That was the cry of Leonard Sachs,
0:18:50 > 0:18:54the chairman of the very popular BBC variety show The Good Old Days,
0:18:54 > 0:18:57which was broadcast from Leeds,
0:18:57 > 0:19:00here at the 150-year-old Leeds City Varieties,
0:19:00 > 0:19:04the oldest music hall in the country and it's located up this
0:19:04 > 0:19:07rather unassuming narrow lane, as you can see.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09In fact, here we are now.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12The Good Old Days was first broadcast in 1953
0:19:12 > 0:19:15and it ran for an incredible 30 years,
0:19:15 > 0:19:17and it was responsible for making household names
0:19:17 > 0:19:21out of entertainers like Morecambe and Wise and Ken Dodd.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25This was invented by a man in America,
0:19:25 > 0:19:27a little baldy-headed fellow called Kodak,
0:19:27 > 0:19:29and he has invented this!
0:19:31 > 0:19:33Could I have...? I want you to watch the birdie here.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35LAUGHTER
0:19:35 > 0:19:36This...
0:19:40 > 0:19:44The long-running show celebrated Britain's rich history of music-hall
0:19:44 > 0:19:48entertainment, which spanned the mid-19th and 20th centuries.
0:19:48 > 0:19:49The format was simple -
0:19:49 > 0:19:53popular entertainers would perform shows from the period,
0:19:53 > 0:19:58while the audience dressed up in traditional Edwardian costumes.
0:19:58 > 0:19:59And it all happened in here.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02Gosh, this theatre is absolutely breathtaking.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05The moment you walk into the auditorium, and you notice all
0:20:05 > 0:20:08the fixtures and fittings, you heart starts to beat faster.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12The excitement levels rise and you see this gilt, deep burgundy
0:20:12 > 0:20:15and lush fabrics on the seats.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18This is real history. Time has stood still.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22But, of course, Leeds City Varieties isn't just famous for staging
0:20:22 > 0:20:24the BBC's The Good Old Days.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28Acts such as a young Charlie Chaplin, Harry Houdini and Marie Lloyd,
0:20:28 > 0:20:30the greatest music star of the day,
0:20:30 > 0:20:35all performed here on this very stage at the turn of the 19th century.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37# And suppose it makes you fat
0:20:37 > 0:20:39# I don't worry over that
0:20:39 > 0:20:43# For a little of what you fancy does you good. #
0:20:44 > 0:20:47You can just imagine the atmosphere with a sea of faces all so close
0:20:47 > 0:20:52looking at you, cheering, heckling and joining in, bold and boisterous.
0:20:52 > 0:20:53But to be fair,
0:20:53 > 0:20:57the noise wasn't always down to the on-stage entertainment.
0:20:57 > 0:21:01Before the Leeds City Varieties became a music hall in 1865,
0:21:01 > 0:21:05it actually started life as a pub, The White Swan,
0:21:05 > 0:21:10or the Mucky Duck as the locals at the time affectionately named it.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12Even as far back as 1766,
0:21:12 > 0:21:15the premises had a singing room at the back of the pub,
0:21:15 > 0:21:18which is now the stage of the City Varieties.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22The music halls differed from the more traditional theatres,
0:21:22 > 0:21:26in that beer was allowed to be sold and drunk on the premises.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29That probably accounted for the rowdiness
0:21:29 > 0:21:30of the variety hall audiences,
0:21:30 > 0:21:33because drinking paid such a huge part
0:21:33 > 0:21:37in the appeal of the music halls in this country.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41Owners sometimes paid closer attention to the amount of beer
0:21:41 > 0:21:45they could sell rather than the quality of the entertainment.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48Someone who has appeared on this stage with The Good Old Days
0:21:48 > 0:21:53is the president of the British Music Hall Society, Roy Hudd.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55Give us a flavour of the atmosphere of the music hall
0:21:55 > 0:21:57when it was in its heyday.
0:21:57 > 0:22:02Well, it was very much a working-class show.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06And in the early days, of course, it was always based on booze.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09- Right.- And drink.
0:22:09 > 0:22:10Now, they found out - the publicans -
0:22:10 > 0:22:14after doing this for about 100 years, they suddenly realised
0:22:14 > 0:22:18that when certain customers said, "We're coming in on Wednesday,"
0:22:18 > 0:22:22more people came in because they knew that those customers
0:22:22 > 0:22:23would sing something.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26So they started to draw people in.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29And so they started to pay the amateur singers
0:22:29 > 0:22:32and that was how the whole business of music hall really started.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34And eventually it became so popular,
0:22:34 > 0:22:37these particular singsong nights,
0:22:37 > 0:22:41that they started to build special buildings on the side of the pubs
0:22:41 > 0:22:44to accommodate the huge crowds that used to turn up.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48They called them halls of music, music halls.
0:22:48 > 0:22:49And that's it? As simple as that.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53But the chairman was always very much in evidence
0:22:53 > 0:22:57in those early days, rather like Leonard Sachs did here.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01- And the chairman was usually the bloke who owned the pub.- Right, OK.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04- And he booked the talent? - He booked the talent.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07He knew exactly who his customers wanted to see.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10And he'd sort of control it.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12And the role of the chairman, when he used to bang his mallet
0:23:12 > 0:23:14and shout out "Order, order!"
0:23:14 > 0:23:19People think he did the same job as the Speaker in the House of Commons.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22- Trying to control a drunken mob! - HE LAUGHS
0:23:22 > 0:23:25Not quite, because the original shout of "Order, order,"
0:23:25 > 0:23:30was to instruct the audience to order another round of drinks.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33And if they didn't, he wouldn't put the next turn on,
0:23:33 > 0:23:35so it was "Come on, order, order, and I'll put him on.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38- "Order now! All of you." - Do you know, I never knew that.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41There you are, you see? There's a lot of things you don't know, Paul!
0:23:43 > 0:23:46Sadly, developments in film and radio
0:23:46 > 0:23:49brought the curtain down on music hall entertainment.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51Luckily though, for the Leeds City Varieties,
0:23:51 > 0:23:56the BBC's decision to bring The Good Old Days here gave the theatre
0:23:56 > 0:23:57a new lease of life.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01Again, Roy Hud, who frequently appeared on The Good Old Days.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04So let's talk about The Good Old Days for you.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07The Good Old Days for television - it was fantastic.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09- Over 30 years it ran.- Incredible.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11And was that a good break for you?
0:24:11 > 0:24:14It was a terrific break for so many people,
0:24:14 > 0:24:17because for the first time ever,
0:24:17 > 0:24:22you were presented in a proper way to an audience
0:24:22 > 0:24:24- that wanted to be entertained.- Yeah.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26You know, and you wanted to do it,
0:24:26 > 0:24:29cos this atmosphere is fantastic and on that stage,
0:24:29 > 0:24:32to get out there and work at that audience, packed to the roof
0:24:32 > 0:24:34and they all wanted to laugh!
0:24:34 > 0:24:37First of all, I must say how wonderful it is, folks,
0:24:37 > 0:24:39to be back here in Leeds again.
0:24:39 > 0:24:40The Miami of Yorkshire.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45Was there extra pressure because this was being filmed
0:24:45 > 0:24:49- and it was going out to an audience of sort of 12-18 million?- Yeah.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51That was the turning point for you?
0:24:51 > 0:24:54It wasn't the turning point, but, my God, it did me a lot of good!
0:24:54 > 0:24:59Cos everybody saw The Good Old Days and so I got nice summer seasons
0:24:59 > 0:25:02and nice pantos and everything, purely just by appearing on there.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06Les Dawson, Ken Dodd, Ray Allen and Lord Charles...
0:25:06 > 0:25:09- I watched it with my mum and dad religiously.- There you are.
0:25:09 > 0:25:10They were in love with it.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13- It was the first time I came across Danny La Rue.- Well, indeed.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15Danny, one of his first shows was here.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19# Oh, what a beauty
0:25:20 > 0:25:23# Never seen one as big as that before
0:25:24 > 0:25:27# Oh, what a beauty
0:25:27 > 0:25:31# It must be two foot long or maybe more
0:25:31 > 0:25:34# It's such a lovely colour, nice and round and fat
0:25:34 > 0:25:37# I've never seen a marrow quite as big as that
0:25:37 > 0:25:42# Oh, what a beauty
0:25:42 > 0:25:45# Never seen one as big as that before... #
0:25:45 > 0:25:47- And you're still playing them?- Yeah.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49You've got your own chair here, haven't you?
0:25:49 > 0:25:52Well, I have indeed, yeah. I'm not sitting in it.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55I think they've removed it after my last act.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59# Everybody knows me by the end of me old cigar
0:25:59 > 0:26:01# Oh, the end of me old cigar
0:26:01 > 0:26:03# Ta-ra, ta-ra, ta-ra
0:26:03 > 0:26:07# Everybody knows me by the end of me old cigar. #
0:26:07 > 0:26:08APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:26:12 > 0:26:14Although the variety circuit that's powered the music halls
0:26:14 > 0:26:19is long gone, it is still with us in some variation on our tellies now,
0:26:19 > 0:26:22with shows like Britain's Got Talent.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24And as for the Leeds City Varieties itself, well,
0:26:24 > 0:26:29after a recent refurbishment, this place has never looked so good
0:26:29 > 0:26:33and it will continue to be the country's oldest music hall.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42Back at the Bowes Museum, there is still plenty of action going on
0:26:42 > 0:26:45at the valuation tables in the picture galleries
0:26:45 > 0:26:48where Elizabeth Talbot is continuing the musical theme.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51Ian, I love this box you brought in today.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53Lovely, Victorian rosewood box.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56What can you tell me about this wonderful box?
0:26:56 > 0:26:59Well, I inherited it from my late mother.
0:26:59 > 0:27:04As far as I'm aware, it's been in the family since 1850, 1860 time.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07Right, that would tally very much with the style of it.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10And if we look inside, we can see why it is so significant.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12Look at this.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16So, this is a beautiful, beautiful Victorian music box,
0:27:16 > 0:27:19Swiss in origin. How's it come to you through your life?
0:27:19 > 0:27:22Do you always remember it being part of the family?
0:27:22 > 0:27:25- Well, we are a very musical family that I come from and...- OK.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28- So we did use this a lot. - Are you looking to sell it?
0:27:28 > 0:27:31- Because it's passed down the family and you're musical...?- Yes.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34This has been under the bed for a few years now,
0:27:34 > 0:27:38because I was frightened if it's outside, it got knocked
0:27:38 > 0:27:42or stained or something because it is in good working order.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44So I decided that I would sell it.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47I'm delighted to see it so thank you for bringing it in.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49This is what's called a comb and cylinder movement
0:27:49 > 0:27:54for obvious reasons. As it revolves, it plucks the teeth on the comb.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58A lot of people have found that their teeth have dropped out.
0:27:58 > 0:27:59SHE LAUGHS
0:27:59 > 0:28:02The teeth on the comb have dropped out through metal fatigue
0:28:02 > 0:28:05- and overuse so this is just in lovely, lovely condition.- Yep.
0:28:05 > 0:28:07The other thing which is also rather nice is that
0:28:07 > 0:28:11it is such a long cylinder so therefore it has the capacity
0:28:11 > 0:28:14to play as many as 12 airs which is a good number.
0:28:14 > 0:28:18- Again, the smaller ones tend to play only perhaps three or four.- Yeah.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20And for a collector of musical boxes,
0:28:20 > 0:28:24the more music you can play on a cylinder the better.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26The more elaborate the tunes are the better.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29- It's a ratchet wind one?- Yes.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31- It's not a key wind, it's a ratchet. - No, it's a ratchet.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34- There's the ratchet.- Yep. If you want to play right through,
0:28:34 > 0:28:37- you've got to wind it up probably a dozen times at least.- OK.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40- So if you pull it a few times, then we'll have a listen.- OK.
0:28:40 > 0:28:44MUSIC BOX PLAYS
0:28:53 > 0:28:56That is really lovely, isn't it?
0:28:56 > 0:28:57That is so mellow and rich
0:28:57 > 0:29:00and the fact that's the same music that was being heard
0:29:00 > 0:29:04by your ancestors decades and decades and decades ago...
0:29:04 > 0:29:06- 150 years ago, probably. - Extraordinary.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09It really links the generations.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12It's a magical piece and I think it has
0:29:12 > 0:29:15so many qualities about it which is lovely.
0:29:15 > 0:29:17Having said that, we can find no name on it
0:29:17 > 0:29:20so I can't attribute it to any particular manufacturer,
0:29:20 > 0:29:23if it were one of major manufacturers of the 19th century,
0:29:23 > 0:29:25we could get a bit more excited about it.
0:29:25 > 0:29:29But I'd like to think it would fetch in the region of about
0:29:29 > 0:29:32£180 to £250, something like that.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35- Would that appeal to you?- Yes, yes.
0:29:35 > 0:29:37You'd be happy to sell it? We can put a reserve on it obviously
0:29:37 > 0:29:41so that it's, you're comfortable that it's going to be looked after.
0:29:41 > 0:29:43- Probably 150...- 150? - ..or something like that, yes.
0:29:43 > 0:29:47So if we put £150 firm and then we'll have one final farewell tune
0:29:47 > 0:29:50and then it's off to a new home. Yeah.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52- Thank you for bringing it in, it's lovely.- Thank you.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55MUSIC BOX PLAYS
0:29:56 > 0:30:00That is a splendid musical box but right now I'm going to show you
0:30:00 > 0:30:05a mechanical music player that will simply take your breath away.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08Every day in the museum, there's a special event that takes place
0:30:08 > 0:30:11just after lunch, in fact, two o'clock to be precise,
0:30:11 > 0:30:16where quite a crowd gather and we've got a healthy one here today to watch
0:30:16 > 0:30:18the automation of the Silver Swan.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21This was made by the silver smith James Cox of London
0:30:21 > 0:30:24in the early part of the 1770s.
0:30:24 > 0:30:30There's 30lbs of sterling silver here and it cost a great deal of money.
0:30:30 > 0:30:36It was exhibited in the Paris show in 1867 at a cost of £2,000
0:30:36 > 0:30:39and the Bowes picked this up for a real bargain.
0:30:39 > 0:30:43Two years later, they bought it in Paris for £200.
0:30:43 > 0:30:44So, there you go.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47But right now Mike is coming to wind it up
0:30:47 > 0:30:50and it is now fastly approaching a few seconds to two o'clock.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53Here we go. Enjoy this.
0:30:53 > 0:30:56MUSIC BOX PLAYS
0:31:13 > 0:31:16What an exquisite piece of engineering.
0:31:16 > 0:31:19Now, while the valuations continue in the blue gallery,
0:31:19 > 0:31:22David has found a quiet spot to examine some artwork
0:31:22 > 0:31:25that is close to his heart.
0:31:25 > 0:31:29Now, Alison, I know this scene very well indeed. Are you a local girl?
0:31:29 > 0:31:31- Yes, yes, Barnard Castle.- Right.
0:31:31 > 0:31:33So, Alison, tell me about the background, where did it come from?
0:31:33 > 0:31:37It came from my great aunt. It was inherited from her.
0:31:37 > 0:31:41- Otherwise I know nothing else about it.- Was she a Barnard Castle lady?
0:31:41 > 0:31:43Yes, she came from just outside Cotherstone.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46OK, so we recognise these landmarks of Barnard Castle.
0:31:46 > 0:31:50There is the famous Butter Market, that octagonal shape building
0:31:50 > 0:31:53- which actually is a roundabout... - Roundabout.- ..isn't it?- Mm-hm.
0:31:53 > 0:31:55And I see it every day, ten times.
0:31:55 > 0:31:57- And then we've got this building here which is now gone.- Gone.
0:31:57 > 0:32:01Demolished a long time ago and I recognise all of these
0:32:01 > 0:32:03- and they haven't changed, have they?- No.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06We've got a little furnishing shop here, we've got a cafe,
0:32:06 > 0:32:07my friend's antiques shop's there
0:32:07 > 0:32:12and then we've got the estate agents and my office is just out of sight.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14It's about there
0:32:14 > 0:32:17and so that's where I spend my time
0:32:17 > 0:32:21when I'm in Barney, as we call it. It's a lovely thing.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24- Little etching so it's effectively a print.- Yes, yes.
0:32:24 > 0:32:28By someone called Florence Bell. What's the connection?
0:32:28 > 0:32:31- Is there a connection? - I don't know who she is,
0:32:31 > 0:32:35whether she was connected to my great aunt or not, I don't know.
0:32:35 > 0:32:38All I do know is that my great aunt valued it
0:32:38 > 0:32:41very much from a sentimental point of view.
0:32:41 > 0:32:43- So this was quite important to her though?- Yes.
0:32:43 > 0:32:47How old was she? Cos I'm just trying to date the scene here.
0:32:47 > 0:32:50She was 96 when she died in 1989.
0:32:50 > 0:32:54So she would remember Barnard Castle just like this
0:32:54 > 0:32:57with the market going down the bank here, the road called The Bank.
0:32:57 > 0:32:59- I mean, today this is full of traffic.- Mm-hm.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02Florence Bell herself doesn't necessarily crop up
0:33:02 > 0:33:03- as a well-known artist...- No, no.
0:33:03 > 0:33:07..but I have had prints by her over the years
0:33:07 > 0:33:11and my previous research came up that Florence Bell
0:33:11 > 0:33:13is buried in Barnard Castle.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16Oh, lovely. Oh, I didn't know.
0:33:16 > 0:33:17I had no idea.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20There is a Florence Bell and it seemed to tie in.
0:33:20 > 0:33:24- Well, that's the first time I've heard anything about her.- Yes?- Yes.
0:33:24 > 0:33:28Well, I mean, you can go and see... I mean, it may well be her.
0:33:28 > 0:33:29- Florence Eva Bell.- Uh-huh.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32- So they probably knew each other. - Yes, uh-huh.
0:33:32 > 0:33:36Yes, well, she was 96 when she died, my great aunt, so, yes,
0:33:36 > 0:33:39they probably did. She could've been a friend, yes.
0:33:39 > 0:33:42Are you thinking that you don't have room for it now?
0:33:42 > 0:33:46Well, just sell it to raise money for a charity I support.
0:33:46 > 0:33:48- Right. Oh, that's sweet of you. - Uh-huh.- OK.
0:33:48 > 0:33:50Now, are you hoping for very much because...?
0:33:50 > 0:33:53No, I don't think it would raise a terrific amount.
0:33:53 > 0:33:55No, I don't think it is. I mean, as much as we love it
0:33:55 > 0:33:59and you can really appreciate its beauty and its sentimental value,
0:33:59 > 0:34:03in the cold, hard auction market, it's probably £30-£50.
0:34:03 > 0:34:04Yes, yes, uh-huh.
0:34:04 > 0:34:08It's not much so I think that would be sensible, 30-50,
0:34:08 > 0:34:11with a little bit of discretion. How do you feel about that?
0:34:11 > 0:34:14- Yes, that's fine. Every little counts.- OK. Yeah.
0:34:14 > 0:34:18And a quick jump over the Pennines and a day in the lakes, how's that?
0:34:18 > 0:34:21- Lovely.- Sounds like a great day out. - Yes.- OK, let's do it.
0:34:21 > 0:34:25- We'll see you there.- Yes, lovely. - OK, thank you very much. Thank you.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28It usually helps to have some local knowledge
0:34:28 > 0:34:31but Elizabeth will have to go much further afield to find her next item.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36Paddi, you have brought some exquisite, exquisite shells
0:34:36 > 0:34:39to show me today. Tell me what you know about them.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41Well, my grandfather was a sailor,
0:34:41 > 0:34:44- he was in the Royal Navy...- Right.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47..and he travelled widely in Japan.
0:34:47 > 0:34:51I remember him talking about the South China Sea,
0:34:51 > 0:34:55- isn't that romantic?- It is, it sounds stunning. Yeah, it does.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58We think these might have come from the Polynesian Islands,
0:34:58 > 0:35:00somewhere in that sort of area.
0:35:00 > 0:35:02I mean, it's lovely that you had that relationship with him
0:35:02 > 0:35:05- and he could tell you stories so you've got...- I wish I'd listened.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07Well, we're all the same when we're little.
0:35:07 > 0:35:09He had so many stories to tell and I just didn't listen at all
0:35:09 > 0:35:12and now I regret it so much.
0:35:12 > 0:35:13Why have you brought them today?
0:35:13 > 0:35:17Well, my daughters, they have their own style of decor,
0:35:17 > 0:35:21they're not particularly interested in them now.
0:35:21 > 0:35:23I suppose it's not as easy for them because if they don't have
0:35:23 > 0:35:26personal contact with the person who brought them back,
0:35:26 > 0:35:28- it's perhaps slightly devoid of that link.- That's right, yes.
0:35:28 > 0:35:32We have two here, we have two abalone shells
0:35:32 > 0:35:34and we have a nautilus shell here.
0:35:34 > 0:35:36Now, nautilus shells like this which are in themselves
0:35:36 > 0:35:38very, very fragile.
0:35:38 > 0:35:40Once they... I mean, this has been pierced and carved
0:35:40 > 0:35:43in the most exquisite way and I have seen them
0:35:43 > 0:35:45where they've been used in that format
0:35:45 > 0:35:50with a little bulb inside and used as a little lampshade.
0:35:50 > 0:35:52It does work very effectively!
0:35:52 > 0:35:54But nonetheless, this is just beautiful.
0:35:54 > 0:35:57The workmanship is stunning so that's the nautilus shell.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02But it's the abalone shells which I'm particularly drawn by.
0:36:02 > 0:36:07- Oh, really?- Now, we normally see abalone shell in that format.
0:36:07 > 0:36:09It's often referred to as mother-of-pearl,
0:36:09 > 0:36:12it's used for inlay in furniture,
0:36:12 > 0:36:15it's used for decoration in jewellery,
0:36:15 > 0:36:19very occasionally do you find it where the craftsman
0:36:19 > 0:36:21has actually turned his attention to the shell
0:36:21 > 0:36:23and like carving a cameo shell brooch
0:36:23 > 0:36:26where they carve away layers of the shell to form
0:36:26 > 0:36:28a three-dimensional, raised pattern,
0:36:28 > 0:36:31this is what's happened here. It's very much a cameo format.
0:36:31 > 0:36:35We have this little montage of two figures travelling out
0:36:35 > 0:36:38through the jungle on a hunting expedition.
0:36:38 > 0:36:42So they're there, the master with his nice feathered headdress
0:36:42 > 0:36:45and his assistant here coming up behind and then this shows them
0:36:45 > 0:36:47having had a successful hunt
0:36:47 > 0:36:50and the master with his feathered headdress is there standing
0:36:50 > 0:36:54with his feet either side of a boar who they've managed to entrap.
0:36:54 > 0:36:56Really dramatic.
0:36:56 > 0:36:59So, they were made for the Victorian traveller,
0:36:59 > 0:37:02the Victorian tourist, very much for the Western market.
0:37:02 > 0:37:04There is no doubt that there's a little bit of damage,
0:37:04 > 0:37:06particularly on this one.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08It's bound to have a little bit of an effect
0:37:08 > 0:37:10but I don't want to be too negative on that.
0:37:10 > 0:37:13I think the figure I have in mind though for the three
0:37:13 > 0:37:16is probably in the region of about £150 to £200 for the three together.
0:37:16 > 0:37:17I would keep them together.
0:37:17 > 0:37:21- I wouldn't split them down, you'd keep them as a little lot.- Sure.
0:37:21 > 0:37:23And would you be happy to sell them for that sort of figure?
0:37:23 > 0:37:26- Yes, indeed.- You would? You would?- Yes.
0:37:26 > 0:37:31- How about we put on a reserve of, say, 120 fixed?- Yes.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34- You sound hesitant.- OK. - If you'd rather...?- No, no. No.
0:37:36 > 0:37:39But hopefully that will still leave margin for a bit of competition,
0:37:39 > 0:37:41- they might do a little bit more than that.- OK.
0:37:41 > 0:37:44Thank you so much for bringing them in. They are a delight,
0:37:44 > 0:37:45they are really lovely.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48Well, I quite like them myself now.
0:37:48 > 0:37:50I've talked them up too much!
0:37:51 > 0:37:54I love those shells, they are absolutely beautiful things.
0:37:54 > 0:37:56Well, there you are, you've just seen them.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59Our experts have made their final choice of items to take off
0:37:59 > 0:38:01to the saleroom which means, sadly,
0:38:01 > 0:38:04we have to say goodbye to the Bowes Museum,
0:38:04 > 0:38:07surrounded by wonderful art and antiques all day long.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09Hopefully we'll make some history of our own today
0:38:09 > 0:38:12but let's say goodbye to all our people as well
0:38:12 > 0:38:14and thank you so much for turning up.
0:38:14 > 0:38:16Well, we wouldn't have a show without that lot, would we?
0:38:16 > 0:38:19But right now we've got some business to do in the saleroom.
0:38:19 > 0:38:21Let's put those valuations to the test
0:38:21 > 0:38:24and here's a quick recap of what's going under the hammer.
0:38:25 > 0:38:28Ian's musical box is in excellent condition
0:38:28 > 0:38:33and plays a number of tunes, all of which should appeal to the bidders.
0:38:33 > 0:38:36The etching of Barnard Castle shows a local scene
0:38:36 > 0:38:39but will they like it in Cumbria?
0:38:40 > 0:38:43These shells from the other side of the world are spectacular.
0:38:43 > 0:38:47I think they should be in the hands of a new owner very soon.
0:38:49 > 0:38:53We're back at the auction rooms and the atmosphere is building
0:38:53 > 0:38:56and auctioneer David Brookes is selling our first lot.
0:38:56 > 0:38:59I love this next lot because I'm a bit of a shell collector.
0:38:59 > 0:39:03- Paddi, do you know what they call shell collectors? Conchologists.- Ooh.
0:39:03 > 0:39:05From the conch shell. Conchology.
0:39:05 > 0:39:07- Oh, yes, I didn't know that.- Yes.
0:39:07 > 0:39:10And you've got a nice nautilus shell there, the iridescent one.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12Good thing is they've been in the cabinet
0:39:12 > 0:39:15- because that nautilus shell is very brittle.- Very.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17And they are worth absolutely nothing
0:39:17 > 0:39:22if you haven't got the right edges that nature has formed around them.
0:39:22 > 0:39:24We did... I priced them reflecting of the condition
0:39:24 > 0:39:27which I hope was fair to... People have got to start somewhere.
0:39:27 > 0:39:30- They've got to start somewhere. - If they're going to collect.
0:39:30 > 0:39:34And the nautilus one there, good decorative lot.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37May we ask 200, please? £200 for the three shells. 200.
0:39:37 > 0:39:39Start me at £100, then.
0:39:39 > 0:39:41£100 bid, I'm bid. 110.
0:39:41 > 0:39:44Are you bidding? 120.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47Commissions are out. It's 120 now on the internet. 120 on the internet.
0:39:47 > 0:39:52Any further interest? At £120 on the internet and going.
0:39:52 > 0:39:57- It was quick, wasn't it?- It was. - £120. Gone.- That's very good.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00- Yeah, well, it was OK. - We're happy, we're happy. It was OK.
0:40:00 > 0:40:02- Are you happy?- Oh, yes, of course.
0:40:02 > 0:40:05- And it's a day out on "Flog It!", wasn't it?- Absolutely.
0:40:05 > 0:40:08Well, good for Paddi, she sold her seashells.
0:40:08 > 0:40:10Let's see how the etching goes.
0:40:10 > 0:40:14- Well, fingers crossed, Alison. You don't need it, David.- No.
0:40:14 > 0:40:15Not a lot of money riding on it
0:40:15 > 0:40:18but I'd like to think we'd get more for this etching by Florence Bell.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21- Why are you selling it?- It's to raise some money for a local charity.
0:40:21 > 0:40:25Fingers crossed we get lots and lots of money. Every penny helps. OK?
0:40:25 > 0:40:29- Ready for this?- Absolutely. - Here we go.- Raring to go, aren't we?
0:40:29 > 0:40:31The 19th century etching - Florence Bell.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34- It's Barnard Castle, showing the detail there.- Very nice.
0:40:34 > 0:40:36£50 for this, please. 50.
0:40:36 > 0:40:38Start me 30. Start me 20 then, please.
0:40:38 > 0:40:41- Barnard Castle.- Come on! - Thank you, sir.
0:40:41 > 0:40:42£20 bid in the room.
0:40:42 > 0:40:4422. Can I see you?
0:40:44 > 0:40:4625. 28.
0:40:46 > 0:40:48Yep? 30, sir?
0:40:48 > 0:40:49- That's a bit of keen bidding.- Yeah.
0:40:49 > 0:40:5232? 32. 35.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55- 38. 40.- Go on. Go on!
0:40:55 > 0:40:57No? You're thinking about it? Be sure.
0:40:57 > 0:41:01At £40 in the room there. Your bid, sir, at £40.
0:41:01 > 0:41:03Sold, £40.
0:41:03 > 0:41:05- Well done, spot-on. It's gone.- Good.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07And all the money is going to the charity.
0:41:07 > 0:41:08Yes, that's very kind.
0:41:08 > 0:41:10- They've waived the commission, very kind.- Very lovely.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12Yes, that's lovely.
0:41:12 > 0:41:15I'm so pleased it went at the top of the estimate
0:41:15 > 0:41:18and now we end on a musical note.
0:41:18 > 0:41:19Well, so far so good.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22Right now it's time to make some music here in the saleroom
0:41:22 > 0:41:25- with Ian's musical box and there's 12 airs to choose from.- Yep.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28- This has been in the family a long time.- My great grandmother.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31What about the next generation? Didn't they want to own it?
0:41:31 > 0:41:33I think she would prefer money.
0:41:35 > 0:41:38It's kind of a hard thing to inherit, I must admit. I'd like to see
0:41:38 > 0:41:41- a surprise on this one...- That would be nice!- ..cos there are
0:41:41 > 0:41:43- a lot of collectors out there, aren't there?- I hope so.
0:41:43 > 0:41:47- Fingers crossed, OK?- Yep.- Anything can happen, let's hit the high notes.
0:41:47 > 0:41:48Here we go.
0:41:48 > 0:41:51It's Swiss and I believe it's an Ami Rivenc.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54Ooh, we have a maker's name. That might add value.
0:41:54 > 0:41:59Start bidding with me at £100 exactly. With me at 100.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01Looking for 110. 120.
0:42:01 > 0:42:04130. 140. 150.
0:42:04 > 0:42:06Commissions are out. 150 in the room.
0:42:06 > 0:42:07160 on the internet I can see.
0:42:07 > 0:42:11170 in the room. Gets you on the net. 180. 190.
0:42:11 > 0:42:13Someone's fighting against someone on the net.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16190 in the room. 200. 220.
0:42:16 > 0:42:19- 220.- 240.
0:42:19 > 0:42:20- 260.- Come on.
0:42:20 > 0:42:24- 280. 300.- Ooh.- This is more like it.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27- 320. 340.- We'll get a little surprise, maybe.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30360. 380. 400.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33Ian's happy and we haven't finished.
0:42:33 > 0:42:34- No.- At £400.
0:42:34 > 0:42:38Any further interest at 400 on the internet and selling?
0:42:38 > 0:42:39- Is that a bid just in time? - Yes, late bid.
0:42:39 > 0:42:41..to take on the phone.
0:42:41 > 0:42:44Give you chance on the internet. It's 420 on the phone now.
0:42:44 > 0:42:47- 420 on the phone. Going...- Hammer's going down, ready for this, Ian?
0:42:47 > 0:42:50That's a nice, big hammer sound, isn't it? "Boof!"
0:42:50 > 0:42:52£420 for you, that's more like it.
0:42:52 > 0:42:55- The family will be happy with that, won't they?- Yes.- The money.
0:42:55 > 0:42:58- To my daughter, yes.- What's your daughter's name?- Rachel.- Rachel.
0:42:58 > 0:43:03- Well, hopefully you'll treat yourself and the wife, OK?- Yes.- OK.
0:43:06 > 0:43:08Well, there you are, that's it,
0:43:08 > 0:43:10another day in another saleroom for "Flog It!"
0:43:10 > 0:43:12and some happy owners, all credit to our experts
0:43:12 > 0:43:15and our auctioneers on the rostrum - they did us proud.
0:43:15 > 0:43:18If you've got anything you want to flog, well,
0:43:18 > 0:43:21we want to sell it for you. Bring it along to one of our valuation days.
0:43:21 > 0:43:24But, for now, it's goodbye from all of us.