0:00:02 > 0:00:03The natural world -
0:00:03 > 0:00:06it's been a source of inspiration for many sculptors, right down
0:00:06 > 0:00:10to their creations of tiny but fragile creepy-crawlies.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13I've been given the delicate job of helping to carve the antennae
0:00:13 > 0:00:18of a butterfly, whose wingspan measures 15ft from tip to tip.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20Find out later in the programme what this has to do with
0:00:20 > 0:00:24some of our great British carvers and whether or not I make the grade.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26Welcome to "Flog It!".
0:00:48 > 0:00:51And this is where we are today, in the heart of Hampshire,
0:00:51 > 0:00:54amongst vintage vehicles and recreated shopping streets.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59I've been joined by hundreds of happy people
0:00:59 > 0:01:02here at Milestones Museum in Basingstoke,
0:01:02 > 0:01:06who are being serenaded by a folk singer "Flog It!" style.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09# There's a programme on the telly
0:01:09 > 0:01:12# Been on it every day
0:01:12 > 0:01:14# Goes chasing round a country
0:01:14 > 0:01:16# Different place to stray
0:01:16 > 0:01:21# Only 40 minutes to clear your stuff away
0:01:21 > 0:01:23# That's the fun of "Flog It!"
0:01:23 > 0:01:25# What's it worth, they say
0:01:25 > 0:01:28- ALL:- # That's the fun of "Flog It!"
0:01:28 > 0:01:30# What's it worth, they say. #
0:01:30 > 0:01:32Stay tuned and you'll find out.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36Our crowds are arriving in droves here, at the Milestones Museum,
0:01:36 > 0:01:39where they've recreated some of the businesses that
0:01:39 > 0:01:42thrived here in Hampshire from the 18th century onwards.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46And already pounding the streets, looking for the best items to flog
0:01:46 > 0:01:50are experts Elizabeth Talbot and James Lewis.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53- A lovely colour, isn't it? Quite a talking point.- Yeah.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55THEY LAUGH
0:01:55 > 0:01:58And they both recognise a good bit of bling when they see it.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02Whoa. That's your scale, isn't it, James? My goodness me.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06That's a night out in Derby, isn't it?
0:02:06 > 0:02:07I'm sure it is.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12And it's a show packed with the surprising and the mysterious,
0:02:12 > 0:02:14as James has discovered.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16I had no idea what it was.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19Elizabeth has come across a rare wartime object.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21One could not ask for anything better.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24- So, all very exciting to see all this.- Excellent.
0:02:24 > 0:02:25And James has identified
0:02:25 > 0:02:29an Oriental vase that could go into four figures.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33The gilding would have been as gold as you could possibly imagine.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36But which one will ring up the highest price at auction?
0:02:38 > 0:02:39We're in the money!
0:02:40 > 0:02:43As the crowds pack this wonderful venue, time to go over to
0:02:43 > 0:02:47James for his first item, and what a start to the show.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51He's come across an object that has puzzled most of us.
0:02:51 > 0:02:56But our off-screen expert, Sophie, has been doing some research.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00Sophie came up with, I think, a genius idea.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02- Tell me more. - THEY CHUCKLE
0:03:02 > 0:03:04I just want to drag you down to it first.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08I want you to tell me - where did it come from,
0:03:08 > 0:03:10how did you come to find it,
0:03:10 > 0:03:12and what do you think it might be?
0:03:14 > 0:03:19- I found it at a car boot. - What? Oh, no!- Yes.- No!
0:03:19 > 0:03:22A dealer, what I would call a dealer's stall
0:03:22 > 0:03:24in a box of rubbish.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27It fascinated me when I saw it and, you know, the grime,
0:03:27 > 0:03:30the baked-on grime and, you know, clearly the age of the wood.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33- What did you pay for it?- £3.
0:03:33 > 0:03:34- LAUGHS:- No!
0:03:35 > 0:03:39- And how long have you had it?- Within the last six months I got it.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42People are speculative, they don't really know what it is.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44- I mean, initially, you think it is a club.- Yeah.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47But then the holes at the end are telling me it's not a club,
0:03:47 > 0:03:49and if it were a club,
0:03:49 > 0:03:52why would you want to be using that nice carving to get damaged?
0:03:52 > 0:03:55Well, let's start to work it through.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58Without question, as you've already said, hand-carved.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02It has the most wonderful patination.
0:04:02 > 0:04:09And patination only comes through handling and feel and use.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11The hat is what period?
0:04:11 > 0:04:14In my opinion, it's 17th century, but I'm no expert.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17That's just from me looking on the net at that style of hat.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20The hairstyle, again, that long hair is typical of that period.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23And what sort of person would have had that sort of hat?
0:04:23 > 0:04:25Erm... A sailor.
0:04:25 > 0:04:26OK.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30I think that is possibly...
0:04:32 > 0:04:36..a late-17th-, early-18th-century false leg.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40- Wow. - JAMES LAUGHS
0:04:40 > 0:04:43- Did they carve them... Was it...? - No idea.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45- No?- We've never seen one, any of us.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47- It's Sophie that has come up with it.- Yeah.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49And I think she is a genius.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54- Sounds good to me.- Well, I think it's brilliant. And I love it.
0:04:54 > 0:04:59And what is it worth? I have absolutely no idea whatsoever.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06- What would I sell it for?- More than £3, hopefully.- I think 300.
0:05:06 > 0:05:07- Be lovely.- Reserve?
0:05:08 > 0:05:10300 quid?
0:05:10 > 0:05:14- A bit lower.- 200.- I'd be happy if it sold for 100.- £100, then.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18- I love it. Well done, you. - Thank you.- £3.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23That's the kind of "Flog It!" first that makes our day.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26Now I can't wait to see what the bidders will make of it.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30Now, Elizabeth's first item is by a designer well known to
0:05:30 > 0:05:34"Flog It!" viewers, although the pattern is anything but familiar.
0:05:34 > 0:05:35- Hello, Ruth.- Hello.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38Well, as well as I like your wonderful pink jumper,
0:05:38 > 0:05:40I also like your wonderful jug.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43What do you know about your jug that we can't already
0:05:43 > 0:05:45guess by looking at it?
0:05:45 > 0:05:49Not a lot. It was not bought by family.
0:05:49 > 0:05:53My sister-in-law, about 13 years ago, moved into a flat.
0:05:53 > 0:05:58And sitting on the draining board was this article with some
0:05:58 > 0:06:00washing up mops.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02- Oh, really?- Yeah.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05And when she died, we cleared her flat out,
0:06:05 > 0:06:07and believe it or not, it's Clarice Cliff.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11- Nobody realised that until afterwards?- No.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14And did she continue to use it with the washing up brushes and things?
0:06:14 > 0:06:16- Probably she did.- Right.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18I mean, it's interesting, Clarice Cliff,
0:06:18 > 0:06:22if it isn't liked, it's often sort of degraded
0:06:22 > 0:06:24- or put down to doing something that is quite a menial task.- Yeah.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28Until somebody looks at it again and realises.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30So, now you know it is Clarice Cliff,
0:06:30 > 0:06:31you're looking to sell it?
0:06:31 > 0:06:34Do you not want to keep it in the family and sort of say,
0:06:34 > 0:06:35"I have a piece of Clarice Cliff?"
0:06:35 > 0:06:38- Do you not like it? - No, I don't. And the chil...
0:06:38 > 0:06:42- I've got two daughters... - None of them like it?
0:06:42 > 0:06:45Well, one daughter has three German shepherds.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47Oh, that wouldn't last very long then, would it?
0:06:47 > 0:06:50The reason I stopped you to talk about this was because,
0:06:50 > 0:06:53although I've seen a lot of Clarice Cliff in my time,
0:06:53 > 0:06:57this pattern is not a very common pattern, and therefore it's quite
0:06:57 > 0:07:00nice to see a slightly different version that we can talk about.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04And it's called the Cabbage Flower pattern, which was produced in 1934.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08- Oh, yeah. A year after I was born. So I was one year old.- Oh, really?
0:07:08 > 0:07:12- Yeah.- Oh, look at that. I think you are wearing better than the jug.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14Me too.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16There's a bit of damage to it here.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18Well, my husband said, "You are not taking that thing."
0:07:18 > 0:07:21He said, "It's got chips all over it."
0:07:21 > 0:07:24Well, you can tell that nothing went wrong with your item here.
0:07:24 > 0:07:25Yeah. Absolutely.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29It seems to me, cos it's got quite a Deco style and shape to it.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32The handle is quite conventional, but this panelled kind of baluster
0:07:32 > 0:07:36shape is very much of the 19...sort of late 1920s, early '30s.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39And so in 1934, when this was being painted, it would
0:07:39 > 0:07:40- have been high to fashion.- Yeah.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43It's not the rarest, but it's unusual. A nice shape.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46The fact is, damage will just keep kind of restraints
0:07:46 > 0:07:47- on what people pay.- Yeah.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50I think that that will probably fetch roundabout £80 to £120.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53- Yeah.- I think that's a fair estimation.- Yeah.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55- Would you be happy to sell it at that?- Rather.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57Rather. Oh, said it with gusto.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00And shall we put a reserve on it for you? Do you want it with a reserve?
0:08:00 > 0:08:03- No.- No?- No, no reserve.- It should probably mark quite comfortably.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06- Yeah.- Well, listen, thank you very much for bringing this in.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08- It's had a very interesting life. - Yes.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11- Let's give it a new chapter at the auction and see.- That's right.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14I'm sure there must be someone there that collects Clarice Cliff.
0:08:14 > 0:08:15I'm sure there will.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17Of that we can be certain.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19It's a well-known phrase that a craftsman is
0:08:19 > 0:08:21only as good as his tools,
0:08:21 > 0:08:24and I've come across something that definitely proves the point.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29Look at that! Isn't that lovely?
0:08:29 > 0:08:32- Where did you get that? - It's my father's. He used to use it.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34- Was he a carpenter? - No, he's a cabinet-maker.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38Oh, well, there you go. That's a very fine smoothing plane, isn't it?
0:08:38 > 0:08:39Do you know what this is worth?
0:08:39 > 0:08:41I had an estimate about four months ago,
0:08:41 > 0:08:42and they said between £600 to £800.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45You know what? I was going to say that.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49So, it not only has great monetary value, this,
0:08:49 > 0:08:50- but also sentimental value.- Yes.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52Do you know what? You shouldn't sell this.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55I mean, I'd gladly put this into auction for you if you want me to.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58Well, what should he do? What should he do, folks?
0:08:58 > 0:09:01£600 to £800!
0:09:01 > 0:09:03Flog it! Oh, look, the pressure is on now.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05Anyway, that's lovely and I love that.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07Thank you very much. Thank you.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10Well, I'm pleased to say that one is a keeper today.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13But it's given me a taste for carving, and later on in the show,
0:09:13 > 0:09:18I'll be getting my hands on some equally wonderful woodworking tools.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22And now for his next item, James has found a furry friend.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25- OK, Tim, who is this?- A bear, my sister-in-law's bear.- A bear?
0:09:25 > 0:09:28- Yeah, a bear. - Does he not have a name?
0:09:28 > 0:09:30No, I haven't given him a name, no.
0:09:30 > 0:09:36No, she was given it as a gift from a lady that she looked after.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39- And did that lady give him a name? - Not that we know of, no.
0:09:39 > 0:09:40You poor bear!
0:09:40 > 0:09:43But he can't go for the rest of his days without a name,
0:09:43 > 0:09:45- so I think we need to christen him. - OK.
0:09:45 > 0:09:50- I don't know, something like Paul? Or Martin?- No, Paul.
0:09:50 > 0:09:54- Paul.- Yeah.- Paul the bear. - Yeah.- Hello, Paul.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57This old bear is a bit of a character.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01- But do you know what to look for for an early bear?- No idea.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03OK. First thing, boot button eyes.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07Second thing, a hump on the back just below his head.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10- Third thing, very long arms.- Right.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13If his arms come down to the side of him,
0:10:13 > 0:10:16- longer than his bottom, then he's an early bear.- Right.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19Then you look at things like the stitched-over snout.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23This snout has been re-stitched at some stage and, of course,
0:10:23 > 0:10:25his pads aren't original either.
0:10:25 > 0:10:26Right.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28- But he's what we call a mohair bear. - Mm-hm.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31And if he was to go and have a professional clean,
0:10:31 > 0:10:34he'd be a lot fluffier, have a lot more life in him.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38So, how long has he been with you?
0:10:38 > 0:10:42Erm, my sister-in-law's had him three or four years.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46- Just had him in a cupboard, like. - In a cupboard?- Yep.- Aw, poor bear.
0:10:46 > 0:10:53- OK, date... About 1910, 1920, that sort of period.- Right, OK.
0:10:53 > 0:10:54Value...
0:10:56 > 0:10:58- She wants to sell him, I guess.- Yeah.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02- The market for bears isn't as strong as it once was.- OK.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05But the market is still good.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09I still think he's worth... £300 to £500.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11- Gah!- Something like that.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14- Really? - But he needs a bit of work.- Yeah.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17So, I think to...
0:11:18 > 0:11:20Take that into consideration.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23- Let's put £200 to £300 on him. - Right.
0:11:23 > 0:11:28- Let's put 150 as a firm reserve. - Yeah.- And let's see how he does.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30- Sounds good.- All right? - That's great, yeah.- Good.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33And it looks like Paul's also got a few friends.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35This is just one of the shops here
0:11:35 > 0:11:38whose contents have been pieced together by volunteers.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42And it's not just the window displays that echo the past.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44And the old street signs
0:11:44 > 0:11:46and the shop signs that you can see above the windows have been
0:11:46 > 0:11:50painstakingly recreated from old photographs
0:11:50 > 0:11:52by two local sign writers.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56Now, that really is a dying art. It's a great skill.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58And I think they've done a terrific job.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01But right now, we're going to test the skills of our experts.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03You've just seen their first items.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05I've got my favourites, you've probably got yours.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07Let's see what the bidders think, shall we?
0:12:07 > 0:12:09Here is a quick recap of all the items
0:12:09 > 0:12:11that are going under the hammer.
0:12:11 > 0:12:16There's Gary's extraordinarily late-17th-century carved peg leg
0:12:16 > 0:12:17that stumped James.
0:12:17 > 0:12:22Bought for only £3, will it go through the roof at auction?
0:12:22 > 0:12:26And will Ruth's slightly damaged Clarice Cliff vase
0:12:26 > 0:12:28with that unusual cabbage design
0:12:28 > 0:12:30appeal to the bidders?
0:12:31 > 0:12:34And could we be in for a big surprise when Tim's
0:12:34 > 0:12:37early-20th-century bear, now named Paul,
0:12:37 > 0:12:38goes under the hammer?
0:12:40 > 0:12:42Our sale today is in Winchester,
0:12:42 > 0:12:45which has quite a history of stunning art,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48dating back as far as the 12th century,
0:12:48 > 0:12:52like this incredibly rare and beautiful illuminated Bible,
0:12:52 > 0:12:55which is now housed at Winchester Cathedral.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59Today, you can see examples of arts and crafts across the town,
0:12:59 > 0:13:04from traditional to ultramodern, but always thought-provoking.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07This is the moment I've been waiting for.
0:13:07 > 0:13:08It's auction time,
0:13:08 > 0:13:11courtesy of Andrew Smith & Son just outside of Winchester.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14This is where we put our experts' valuations to the test.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16Anything can happen. I hope they are on the money.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19Let's go inside and catch up with our owners.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21And don't forget, you have to pay a commission,
0:13:21 > 0:13:25which here is 18%, including VAT.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27Today, we have two auctioneers,
0:13:27 > 0:13:29Andrew Smith and Nick Jared,
0:13:29 > 0:13:30wielding the gavel.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34And first up is that Clarice Cliff vase
0:13:34 > 0:13:36with the Cabbage Flower pattern.
0:13:37 > 0:13:38- Ruth, good luck.- Thank you.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42- See, Ruth didn't let the show down, did she?- Bit of Clarice Cliff.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45Clarice Cliff, yes.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47It wouldn't be "Flog It!" without Clarice Cliff, would it?
0:13:47 > 0:13:50There will be people out there that will like this.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52- That's the main thing. - Oh, this is it.- Yes.
0:13:52 > 0:13:58A few months ago on telly, I did see a plate...with the same pattern.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02- Really?- Yes.- On one of our shows?- It must have been, it must have been.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05- She never watches anything else. - No.- Oh, bless you.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09- You can learn a lot, can't you?- Of course you can.- I'm always learning.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11That's part of the joy of it, absolutely.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14- Look, your lot is coming up now, ready for this?- Is it? Oh, good.
0:14:14 > 0:14:15Here we go.
0:14:15 > 0:14:20Here is the Clarice Cliff bizarre jug. Cabbage Flower pattern.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22Start me at £80. £80
0:14:22 > 0:14:24Good Clarice Cliff jug for £80. £80.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29Try 60. £60, surely. £60.
0:14:29 > 0:14:3340, then, to get it going. £40, surely. Try 30.
0:14:33 > 0:14:39£30. 20. £20, surely. A Clarice Cliff jug for £20.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42- Nobody wants it. - Yes, yes! We have it.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45£20 on the net, and starting at £20.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49- Is there two in the room? At £20, any more? At £20.- Oh, no.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53At £20. 25, is there seven?
0:14:53 > 0:14:58At £25, we will sell. Make no mistake. At £25.
0:14:59 > 0:15:0327 we have now. Make it 30. At £27.
0:15:04 > 0:15:0530 we have. £30.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07Oh, it's gone to 30.
0:15:07 > 0:15:0932. At £30, then.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11For the last time at £30.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15Well, that was a journey, wasn't it? THEY LAUGH
0:15:15 > 0:15:1730 quid.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21I'll tell you what, though...
0:15:21 > 0:15:23- Best rid of.- Yeah. - THEY LAUGH
0:15:23 > 0:15:26- Somebody will love that and enjoy it.- Of course.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28- And they won't stick a mop in it either.- Oh, no.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30Well, they could put a mop into it.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35Clarice Cliff is a path well trodden,
0:15:35 > 0:15:39and this one was damaged, which might explain that result.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43But Ruth seems happy to flog it on, and that is what counts.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47Next up is the slightly dogged turn-of-the-century bear
0:15:47 > 0:15:49named after me.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52He's not a Steiff, but I've got all the right attributes -
0:15:52 > 0:15:56the long arms, the hump back, paddy paw.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58The right stuffing.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00For me, he's got those characteristics that you
0:16:00 > 0:16:01fall in love with and you say,
0:16:01 > 0:16:04"I can't leave him here. I've got to take him home."
0:16:04 > 0:16:08- He's got a great face, doesn't he? - See, I needed you home, I really do.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10This could be the next Paddington Bear, couldn't it?
0:16:10 > 0:16:12Anyway, look, it's going under the hammer right now.
0:16:12 > 0:16:17I have to start you here at £100.
0:16:17 > 0:16:18110 can I say now?
0:16:18 > 0:16:20£100, and ten is it?
0:16:20 > 0:16:21Surely.
0:16:21 > 0:16:28- £100. 110, yes?- 130.- We've got 130 on the net now. 140 I have. 150.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32- 150.- 150 then. At £150, and on the net at 150.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35- 160 can I say anywhere else? - 170.- 170.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38It's still going on, on the net. At 170.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41- 180.- 180. 190. 200.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45It's all on the net. Shout if I've missed you here.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49At £190, and on the net at £190, all done.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52At £190, have you done, last chance.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57- Great.- That was a good result, 190. Spot on, James.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00Sister-in-law said, "I'd be happy with £50," so she's done all right.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03Everyone loves the bear, don't they?
0:17:03 > 0:17:05Brilliant.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08And now it is time for Gary's early prosthetic leg,
0:17:08 > 0:17:11possibly made for a pirate or a sailor.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13We can only speculate.
0:17:13 > 0:17:14- Gary, good luck.- Thank you.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18I've been waiting for this one cos this is absolutely fabulous.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20Any pirates out there, you will want this.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22You'll want to own it, if you know what I mean.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24Long John Silver, it's a peg leg.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27We're going to take three quid right now and hopefully into £300.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30- I mean, what an unusual thing.- It's brilliant.- Have you ever seen one?
0:17:30 > 0:17:33No, I haven't. I think this is a first.
0:17:33 > 0:17:34Yeah, and it's great.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36It's a piece of folk art as well.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39Whittled away by someone on deck, you know, with a marlin knife.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43- Amazing.- You know, with hours to spare at sea. I mean, it's unique.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46It's a one-off, and hopefully we're going to get a one-off price for it.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48We're going to find out now.
0:17:48 > 0:17:53The peg leg, there it is, with its, erm, funny face.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57I've been told I have to do a pirate voice, but I'm not sure I can. Arr.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01There, that's it. Start me at £50 for it, surely.
0:18:01 > 0:18:0450. 50. No?
0:18:04 > 0:18:09- Are to be £50 a peg leg.- Yep.- How often do you get these at £50? 55.
0:18:09 > 0:18:1060.
0:18:10 > 0:18:11I've got 65.
0:18:11 > 0:18:17- Got 65. 70, five.- Oh, it's going to be a slow climb up to 300.- 80, five.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20- Yep.- 90. Five.
0:18:20 > 0:18:21110?
0:18:22 > 0:18:27- 110, I have on the net, at 110. - 130.- Oh, it's going on at 130.
0:18:27 > 0:18:31I have now 140. £130. If I've missed you in the room, shout.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33140 on the phone. 150?
0:18:35 > 0:18:37- 150.- 160.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39170.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41- Yep.- 180.
0:18:42 > 0:18:43190.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46200.
0:18:46 > 0:18:47And 20.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52240. Yes, 240. 260.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55- 280.- That's amazing.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58300.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01At £280, are we all done at 280?
0:19:01 > 0:19:03Finished at 280, then. Last chance.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07- That was great.- Oh, arr!
0:19:07 > 0:19:09£280.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13- Well done, Gary. Thank you for bringing that in.- Thank you.
0:19:13 > 0:19:14That was a lovely find.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17- Just goes to show what's out there at the car boot.- Doesn't it just.
0:19:17 > 0:19:18What a great object.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22Might be a "Flog It!" first, but it might be a "Flog It!" last as well.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25Never going to see another peg leg. No, never.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29But a great result for such a brilliant carved curio.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39The ancient art of wood carving has strong traditions in Britain.
0:19:39 > 0:19:43Not only were they created by the medieval craftsmen who
0:19:43 > 0:19:44decorated our churches,
0:19:44 > 0:19:49but by master sculptors like the great 17th-century artist
0:19:49 > 0:19:50Grinling Gibbons.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54He brought an extraordinary realism to his interpretation
0:19:54 > 0:19:59of the natural world that had never been seen before.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02I met Hampshire artist Alex Jones who has continued
0:20:02 > 0:20:05the tradition with a contemporary flourish.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09He likes to bring his audience close to the kind of nature
0:20:09 > 0:20:12some of us are usually at pains to avoid.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14You know, I am a bit of an arachnophobe,
0:20:14 > 0:20:17especially big hairy ones. HE LAUGHS
0:20:17 > 0:20:19But I love the enormity of scale.
0:20:19 > 0:20:20Why so big?
0:20:20 > 0:20:23Because basically, I think we need beasts around us
0:20:23 > 0:20:25and things like that.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27And the way to change someone's perception of something is to
0:20:27 > 0:20:29make it big and exciting and, yeah,
0:20:29 > 0:20:32it just changes the way you look at stuff.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34And also, we are used to seeing, like, squirrels and rabbits
0:20:34 > 0:20:37and things like that, sort of easily palatable.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39I want to make something that is a bit more edgy.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41And because wood is so beautiful,
0:20:41 > 0:20:44I came up with the idea that, what happens if you carve something
0:20:44 > 0:20:47that if people thought of as really revolting and horrible but had
0:20:47 > 0:20:49the beauty of the traditional woods and things like that?
0:20:49 > 0:20:51So you start to fall in love with it.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54Exactly. You end up with a paradox. You end up with a push and a pull.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56You get pushed away by the subject matter
0:20:56 > 0:20:59and then you could pulled in by the material and things like that.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01- And that's the energy that interests me.- Yes.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03And what woods have you used there?
0:21:03 > 0:21:06Basically what we've got here is some good old English oak.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08All the lighter bits are made in oak.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11And then inlaid is black walnut, or American walnut.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14It's one of the things that pulls people in.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17If you use natural woods and their colours, then people come in closer.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20- As soon as they hear it paint or stain...- Or dye.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22..you're sort of distancing people, aren't you?
0:21:22 > 0:21:24- I'll always try and use natural woods.- Yeah.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27Then for the final touch, the eyes are done in ebony.
0:21:27 > 0:21:31They are from the keys I collect from pianos and stuff like that.
0:21:31 > 0:21:32Right.
0:21:32 > 0:21:33Very resourceful.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36You also have to show it as people see the real spider, which is
0:21:36 > 0:21:39when it's in your bath on the wall, you see it from above.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41And that's the shot, that's the bit that freaks people out
0:21:41 > 0:21:44when they see it like that and it's suddenly bigger.
0:21:44 > 0:21:45- Yeah, it's a lot bigger.- Yeah.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48You wouldn't want to come across the blight of that, would you?
0:21:48 > 0:21:49No, definitely not.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53And it's not just creepy-crawlies he carves
0:21:53 > 0:21:55but plant life like this dandelion.
0:21:56 > 0:21:57That's lime, isn't it?
0:21:57 > 0:22:00- I recognise that. - That's right, yes. That's lime.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02The dandelion is all about weeds and things,
0:22:02 > 0:22:05cos the client who commissioned it used to love his garden.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08And I love the idea of taking some of the weeds that he spent
0:22:08 > 0:22:12his whole time pulling up and making a seven-foot-one that he couldn't.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15So, to make it into something exotic and exciting.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18And with this guy here, I actually had a house spider.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21I had him as a pet for a couple of months and he was called Stanley.
0:22:21 > 0:22:25And literally, when I did the last bit of carving, he died.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28- One of those big harvest spiders, so he's enormous.- Yes.
0:22:28 > 0:22:32So I almost feel a part of him maybe still inhabits the sculpture.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36'Alex's method is to observe nature in the wild,
0:22:36 > 0:22:39'but he has been known to wrangle the odd creature,
0:22:39 > 0:22:42'which can lead to unsettling situations at home.'
0:22:43 > 0:22:45I have carved a scorpion.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48Actually got hold of an Imperial scorpion for a few years,
0:22:48 > 0:22:51which was actually one of the most boring pets.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54But the one thing it did do was frighten the baby-sitter
0:22:54 > 0:22:57by clanking around the cage every night, so that was worth it.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00Alex's work is usually commissioned
0:23:00 > 0:23:04and can range in price from £1,000 upwards.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07But they do take up months of effort to complete.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12His workshop is in his home, which is crawling with the creatures
0:23:12 > 0:23:14and plants he has recreated in wood.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16OWL HOOTS
0:23:16 > 0:23:18Along with a few real ones.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22But it's at the back of the house where
0:23:22 > 0:23:26they emerge from the raw materials, including his latest commission.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30Butterfly wings.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34Yes. This is one of the wings of a very,
0:23:34 > 0:23:36very large butterfly that was commissioned
0:23:36 > 0:23:38by Lords Hill Academy
0:23:38 > 0:23:40in Southampton to be made with the children.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44And they wanted something that symbolised peace and regrowth.
0:23:44 > 0:23:49And also the whole symbolisation of butterflies is ideas growing.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52- Sure.- The actual structure, so it's a little bit like making...
0:23:52 > 0:23:55- The skeletal structure of the wing is oak.- Yes.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57- Solid oak.- It's like making a spitfire. These bend the wing.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00Because the last thing you want is just a flat wing.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04And that's bending some very thin ply and then on the ply, a little
0:24:04 > 0:24:08bit like making a roof, is different veneers, scales of veneers.
0:24:08 > 0:24:09Oh, yes.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13And, of course, the butterflies are based on real butterflies.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15I've been looking very closely at dead
0:24:15 > 0:24:19and living ones cos I want the details to really ring true.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22And I've been told there's some finishing touches to do,
0:24:22 > 0:24:25- which hopefully you might let me have a little go.- Absolutely.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28- I need an expert carver like yourself...- Oh, no, no, no.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30..to come and work on the antenna.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33We are carving the antennae, so shall we go through to the studio?
0:24:33 > 0:24:34Yeah, come on.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38'This butterfly has been crystallising for two years
0:24:38 > 0:24:41'with incredible care and attention from Alex,
0:24:41 > 0:24:43'so I can't afford to get this wrong.'
0:24:46 > 0:24:49Well, there's the body of the butterfly. It's growing.
0:24:49 > 0:24:50It's getting bigger.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54One last remaining wing there and one of the antennae.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57- Now, this is the bit I'm going to be working on.- Absolutely.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59OK, so, come on, talk me through it.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01First of all, you got the lines here.
0:25:01 > 0:25:02You quickly got the segmented antenna.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06What we need to do is make a stopping point into the wood,
0:25:06 > 0:25:09- so whenever we carve into it... - It's going to stop on that point.
0:25:09 > 0:25:13Exactly. And it's not going to run away. So...
0:25:13 > 0:25:16And then we take the next chisel, pared-down.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19- There, do you want to have a go? - Do you trust me?
0:25:19 > 0:25:21I do, implicitly. Shouldn't I?
0:25:21 > 0:25:23There's a lot of work that's gone into this so far, isn't there?
0:25:23 > 0:25:26But maybe it'll just end up very short antennae, don't know.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28- We'll see what happens. - Are you ready for this?
0:25:28 > 0:25:29- Yes, go for it.- Here goes.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34That's good. That's really good.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37I don't hit as hard as you cos I'm not so confident.
0:25:37 > 0:25:38And then what I should...
0:25:38 > 0:25:42I should stop now on that and then go for the V
0:25:42 > 0:25:45and take that round and I think you're getting there with the depth,
0:25:45 > 0:25:47actually, there on that one.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49That's perfect. That's really good.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51- Good, sharp tools. - I'm glad you think so, yes.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54Without a sharp tool, it makes it a little harder.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56Yes, go for it. Yes, yes.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59I'm enjoying this.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02I could be out in the studio all night long doing this.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04Well, I'll come back later, if that's all right.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06I'll go and have my tea and come back.
0:26:06 > 0:26:07I think it might go horribly wrong.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10But I've thoroughly enjoyed being a little part of this antenna.
0:26:10 > 0:26:11Fantastic.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15What an inspiring man who's definitely passed on the bug.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19Just take a look at the finished version of this elegant butterfly.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21Assisted by yours truly.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33Welcome back to Milestones Museum -
0:26:33 > 0:26:37our wonderful, magnificent valuation day venue.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39Now, before we join up with our on-screen experts,
0:26:39 > 0:26:43I want to show you our holding bay with our off-screen experts.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47They do all the hard work before our on-screen experts hit the scene.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51Anyway, let's get straight over to Elizabeth Talbot for her first item.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57- Julia, thank you for bringing your lovely casket in.- That's OK.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00Now, I'm attached to it because I just like the design and the shape,
0:27:00 > 0:27:02but you tell me what you know of it first.
0:27:02 > 0:27:03It's come from my mother's house
0:27:03 > 0:27:06- and I think she...it must have been her parents'.- Right.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09- It belonged to her parents. - So, you remembered it all your life,
0:27:09 > 0:27:11you can remember it being part of your life?
0:27:11 > 0:27:14- I've never seen it before. - Oh, really?- No.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17We cleared the house out and there it was. And I've never seen it.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20- It was in a room upstairs. - Well, it's a lovely thing to see.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23I mean, in terms of, first of all, its age, I think it would
0:27:23 > 0:27:27probably date from anywhere between 1890 to possibly 1910.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29- It's very much late 19th to early 20th century.- Right.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33- Would that fit in with the family? - Yes, it would.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36The reason I think it's that sort of era is that it's very
0:27:36 > 0:27:38influenced by the late Art Nouveau period.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42The decoration is a very flowing, very fluid,
0:27:42 > 0:27:44naturalistic kind of design, which is
0:27:44 > 0:27:47very reflective of the Art Nouveau motifs that we see.
0:27:47 > 0:27:48Right.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51It's an interesting combination of several different skills here.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54We have decoration, which is applied by pen and ink,
0:27:54 > 0:27:58and then the outline, which is all hand-drawn, it's all freehand.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01The decoration is then stained using different colours to
0:28:01 > 0:28:03absorb into the wood.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05And in its day, it would have been far more vibrant.
0:28:05 > 0:28:06I think at the ends, you can see
0:28:06 > 0:28:09that the sun hasn't faded it so much.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12The greens would have been a really strong backdrop to the
0:28:12 > 0:28:15honeysuckle, which I believe would have had far more of a pink and
0:28:15 > 0:28:19possibly gold and yellow coloration to it to make it stand out.
0:28:20 > 0:28:24And then the feet employ another craft,
0:28:24 > 0:28:27and that's a form of poker work where
0:28:27 > 0:28:30they would heat little metal rods and incise the wood to give
0:28:30 > 0:28:33both the texture, the sort of dimpled effect,
0:28:33 > 0:28:36and also use the colouration of the singed wood to give
0:28:36 > 0:28:39- the browns almost a wicker effect on the feet.- Yes.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42So, in terms of the shape, which baffles me a bit.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44Do you know any more about the history of it
0:28:44 > 0:28:45as to where it came from?
0:28:45 > 0:28:49Absolutely none, except that if it came from my grandparents,
0:28:49 > 0:28:53- then it might have come from Switzerland or Germany.- Ah, right.
0:28:53 > 0:28:57Ah. I think of the two, Switzerland probably sounds more likely.
0:28:57 > 0:28:58I think it's got the elegance
0:28:58 > 0:29:01and the style is probably more Swiss than German.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04- Right. - So that is interesting.- Mm-hm.
0:29:04 > 0:29:05Now, in terms of it, what it is,
0:29:05 > 0:29:08it's a little box, casket with a lock.
0:29:08 > 0:29:10Yeah.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13It could, therefore, be for precious jewels or something,
0:29:13 > 0:29:17but then equally in the 19th century and in the days
0:29:17 > 0:29:20when boxes were very commonplace, you could have locked
0:29:20 > 0:29:24away your stationary, your nice writing paper, etc, in it.
0:29:24 > 0:29:28So, a little bit of damage, little bit of fading as we've said.
0:29:28 > 0:29:29Any idea of value?
0:29:29 > 0:29:32- Absolutely none.- No?- No, not a clue.
0:29:32 > 0:29:34Value-wise, I'd be disappointed
0:29:34 > 0:29:36if it didn't make sort of £40 to £60.
0:29:36 > 0:29:37Right. OK.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40- Would you be happy to sell at that sort of level?- Mm, yes, that's fine.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43- Would you like a reserve on it or just let it...?- Erm, no.- Let it go?
0:29:43 > 0:29:45I think just let it go for whatever.
0:29:45 > 0:29:46It'll carry a 40 to 60 estimate then.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49- Thank you for bringing it in. - OK, thank you.
0:29:51 > 0:29:53As our crowds wait for their valuations, we are
0:29:53 > 0:29:57all lucky to be serenaded again by our folk singer for the day,
0:29:57 > 0:30:02Rob Mills, with his own composition written especially for us.
0:30:02 > 0:30:04# Can I just remind you
0:30:04 > 0:30:06# Don't give stuff away
0:30:06 > 0:30:09# Let the experts see it
0:30:09 > 0:30:11# Let them have their say
0:30:11 > 0:30:13# They'll have their suggestions
0:30:13 > 0:30:15# What the folks will pay
0:30:15 > 0:30:18# The auctioneer will flog it
0:30:18 > 0:30:21- ALL:- # What's it worth, they say... #
0:30:21 > 0:30:22Well, they look happy,
0:30:22 > 0:30:26so let's leave them to enjoy themselves while we find James,
0:30:26 > 0:30:28who's unearthed two objects
0:30:28 > 0:30:31that seem to have made him all lyrical too.
0:30:31 > 0:30:36Graham, there is something about bronze for me that is
0:30:36 > 0:30:38almost primeval.
0:30:38 > 0:30:42I think man's relationship with bronze goes back
0:30:42 > 0:30:47so far that there's something so tactile about it.
0:30:47 > 0:30:52- Yeah.- With these two, the quality is very different,
0:30:52 > 0:30:55although its history and the periods are probably not so different.
0:30:55 > 0:30:57Are these family pieces?
0:30:57 > 0:31:02They are. They were acquired by my uncle, who died in Holland,
0:31:02 > 0:31:04and I think he might have either bought them
0:31:04 > 0:31:07in Holland or brought it over from Indonesia or that area.
0:31:07 > 0:31:11- Oh, OK.- He was quite high ranking in the Dutch army,
0:31:11 > 0:31:13or East India army, at the time.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16- Right, OK. - Just before the Second World War.
0:31:16 > 0:31:18- So he was an official?- Yes.
0:31:18 > 0:31:22Because what we've got in front of us are two very different things.
0:31:22 > 0:31:24- Let me just start with this.- Yeah.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27Which, I'm going to be quite disparaging about...
0:31:27 > 0:31:28That's all right.
0:31:28 > 0:31:31That sums it up, as far as I'm concerned.
0:31:31 > 0:31:36Yes, it's bronze and it's got its roots in the Far East Chinese.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39The casting is crude, the colour is poor,
0:31:39 > 0:31:43it's got great big lumps all over it, and basically, I hate it.
0:31:44 > 0:31:46But then we come to this one.
0:31:46 > 0:31:49Which, I know you've done it before, but just humour me
0:31:49 > 0:31:52and pick them both up at the same time, if you would.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55This, the difference in weight is incredible, isn't it?
0:31:55 > 0:31:58Light and tinny, and this one is fabulous.
0:31:58 > 0:32:01The gilding would have been bright,
0:32:01 > 0:32:05would have been as gold as you could possibly imagine when it was done.
0:32:05 > 0:32:10It's turned yellow, it's become a soft, honey colour, which is
0:32:10 > 0:32:15what happens to it over years of use, of oxidisation with
0:32:15 > 0:32:18the atmosphere, and that is something that you just cannot fake.
0:32:18 > 0:32:22- How old is it, do you think? - 18th century.- 18th century, OK.
0:32:22 > 0:32:23I love it.
0:32:25 > 0:32:26That one...
0:32:27 > 0:32:29- 20 quid.- OK.
0:32:30 > 0:32:31And that one...
0:32:33 > 0:32:37Oh, blimey. At the moment, what I'd like to put on it...
0:32:39 > 0:32:42..subject to further research...
0:32:45 > 0:32:47£6,000 to £10,000.
0:32:48 > 0:32:49Don't believe it.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51- Really?- £6,000 to £10,000.- Amazing.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54I never thought it was worth that much, by a long way.
0:32:54 > 0:32:56When it comes to a reserve,
0:32:56 > 0:33:00I do not even want to go there yet with you, if that's OK.
0:33:00 > 0:33:03What I'd like to do is research it, do a bit of digging,
0:33:03 > 0:33:05see where we go.
0:33:05 > 0:33:06Lovely.
0:33:06 > 0:33:10We'll see if we can discover some more information on that bronze
0:33:10 > 0:33:14and get every penny of that cracking valuation for Graham.
0:33:14 > 0:33:18James, though, isn't the only one to find something really special.
0:33:19 > 0:33:20Mark, good morning.
0:33:20 > 0:33:23Thank you very much for bringing this wonderful, wonderful figure in.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25I'd like you to tell me all you can about it.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29Well, it was a piece that my mother bought some years ago.
0:33:29 > 0:33:34- She used to collect antiques and do some antique shows.- Mm-hm.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37And this, along with The Evacuees,
0:33:37 > 0:33:40was a piece that she particularly liked.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43I'm not sure where she got it from, but I know it was in her
0:33:43 > 0:33:47display cabinet in the lounge for many years.
0:33:47 > 0:33:51And, sadly, my mother passed away 2.5 years ago, just
0:33:51 > 0:33:53over 2.5 years ago, and this was one of the items
0:33:53 > 0:33:55that was bequeathed to me.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58But it doesn't fit in with my style, with our decor at home.
0:33:58 > 0:34:00- It's been in a box.- Right.
0:34:00 > 0:34:02And I think it's too nice to be in a box
0:34:02 > 0:34:05and I think my mother would rather someone else enjoy it.
0:34:05 > 0:34:06OK.
0:34:06 > 0:34:09Well, this is made by the factory of Royal Worcester,
0:34:09 > 0:34:11which obviously is well known to most people.
0:34:11 > 0:34:14It was modelled by a lady called Eileen Soper.
0:34:14 > 0:34:18And Eileen was an artist primarily known for etchings.
0:34:18 > 0:34:20- Oh, right. - She was a child prodigy.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23She actually was the youngest person to ever be
0:34:23 > 0:34:27- enrolled in the Royal Academy at the age of 15, just 15 years old.- Gosh.
0:34:27 > 0:34:28She illustrated, of all things,
0:34:28 > 0:34:30Enid Blyton's The Famous Five books at one point.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33- Oh, wow.- So she was very well known for her...
0:34:33 > 0:34:35- Oh, I can see the sort of... - Yep, it's very...- Very stylised.
0:34:35 > 0:34:37Absolutely. Very typical of that period.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40This series, which was produced by Royal Worcester
0:34:40 > 0:34:44between 1941 in 1942, was a war-themed series.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47And actually, there were eight figures
0:34:47 > 0:34:49originally designed for the set.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52In actual fact, only seven were ever produced
0:34:52 > 0:34:55because the eighth was thought to be too distressing.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58They actually never put that into production.
0:34:58 > 0:35:02So, Take Cover, which in itself, from the expression and the sort of
0:35:02 > 0:35:05- body language is quite poignant, isn't it?- Yes, definitely.
0:35:05 > 0:35:09But, as a series and as models, they are very rare.
0:35:09 > 0:35:12Very unusual to come across one, and you say you have two in the family?
0:35:12 > 0:35:14- Yes, yes, we do. - Your sister has the other one?
0:35:14 > 0:35:16Yes, she has The Evacuees.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19Well, not only that, but if they are both in this excellent
0:35:19 > 0:35:21condition, one could not ask for anything better.
0:35:21 > 0:35:24So it is all very exciting to see all this.
0:35:24 > 0:35:26I think, realistically,
0:35:26 > 0:35:29if it were offered for auction this year with an estimate
0:35:29 > 0:35:35of between £600 and £800, I think that would not be out of the way.
0:35:35 > 0:35:36That would be lovely.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38- You'd be happy with that?- Yes.
0:35:38 > 0:35:43- That would be a nice fitting circle of it, I do believe.- OK.
0:35:43 > 0:35:47Obviously for such a rarity, we would put a reserve on it for you.
0:35:47 > 0:35:48Lovely.
0:35:48 > 0:35:52Erm... And if we put £600 on it, but perhaps with auctioneers discretion.
0:35:52 > 0:35:55Yeah, I wouldn't want it to go for less than that.
0:35:55 > 0:35:57- I think that sounds very fair. - OK.- Thank you.
0:35:57 > 0:35:59Thank you so much for bringing it along. It's lovely.
0:35:59 > 0:36:03Things should bode very well for that rare figure.
0:36:03 > 0:36:09Back in 2011, the entire set of seven sold for £7,200
0:36:09 > 0:36:11at Bonhams, the auctioneers.
0:36:11 > 0:36:15So, let's see if Elizabeth's valuation is on the money.
0:36:15 > 0:36:17If you'd like to take part in "Flog It!",
0:36:17 > 0:36:21this is where your journey starts, a valuation day just like this one
0:36:21 > 0:36:24at Milestones Museum in Basingstoke.
0:36:24 > 0:36:26Details of up-and-coming dates and venues
0:36:26 > 0:36:28you can find on our BBC website.
0:36:28 > 0:36:29Just log onto...
0:36:31 > 0:36:34Follow the links, all the information will be there.
0:36:34 > 0:36:35We would love to see you,
0:36:35 > 0:36:39so come on, dust them down and bring them in and let's flog them.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42Now let's remind ourselves of the three final items
0:36:42 > 0:36:45that we are taking off to auction.
0:36:45 > 0:36:46There's Julia's wooden casket
0:36:46 > 0:36:48with the interesting poker work.
0:36:50 > 0:36:51Graham's two bronzes,
0:36:51 > 0:36:54as different as chalk and cheese,
0:36:54 > 0:36:56with vastly different prices to match.
0:36:59 > 0:37:02And Mark's poignant Royal Worcester figures.
0:37:02 > 0:37:04Will their rarity cause a storm
0:37:04 > 0:37:06when they go under the hammer?
0:37:08 > 0:37:11Back at the sale room, there's a healthy number of bidders.
0:37:11 > 0:37:13Nick is on the rostrum
0:37:13 > 0:37:17and first up is that late-19th-century wooden box.
0:37:17 > 0:37:18Julia, good luck.
0:37:18 > 0:37:21This is where we find out what is it worth, your little casket.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24I love it. I love the painting. Good quality.
0:37:24 > 0:37:26- I'm pretty sure it's Swiss, I agree with you.- Oh, that's nice.
0:37:26 > 0:37:30- It's got a pitched roof on it. I love it.- It's lovely quality.
0:37:30 > 0:37:32Combination of poker work and staining,
0:37:32 > 0:37:35and the pen and ink work on it is just lovely. A bit faded now, but...
0:37:35 > 0:37:37- I think that it's joy, though.- Yes.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40I'd rather see lived in slightly, yeah, with a bit of personality.
0:37:40 > 0:37:42- Well, look, good luck.- Thank you.
0:37:42 > 0:37:43Let's find out what the bidders think.
0:37:43 > 0:37:45The Continental Art Nouveau casket.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48This is a lovely bit of wood.
0:37:48 > 0:37:49I have to start you here to clear
0:37:49 > 0:37:52all bids at £45.
0:37:52 > 0:37:54Straight in.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57And five, 60. At £60, in the room, at 60.
0:37:57 > 0:37:59Gentleman's bid at £60. I'm out.
0:37:59 > 0:38:03At 60, you? 65. 70. And five.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05- It's a decorator's piece, isn't it? - Yes, yes.
0:38:05 > 0:38:09At 70 in the room. 75, do you mean? 75. 80. And five.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12It's 80 in the room, gentleman's bid at 80.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15Five, we're going to say on the net. Have to be quick. At £80, then.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18- £80, great result.- At £80.
0:38:18 > 0:38:22Hammer has gone down, £80. That'll make a great present for someone.
0:38:22 > 0:38:23Yes, it will. Yes.
0:38:25 > 0:38:29Next, it's Mark's Royal Worcester figure group called Take Cover,
0:38:29 > 0:38:33which is part of a set of seven pieces with a war theme.
0:38:33 > 0:38:37- £600 to £800. It's quite poignant looking at them, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:38:37 > 0:38:38Sort of...
0:38:38 > 0:38:42Taking shelter, it's kind of a hard thing to understand for us,
0:38:42 > 0:38:43- you know?- Yes.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46But it captures quite a lot of the essence of what was
0:38:46 > 0:38:48happening at that time during the war.
0:38:48 > 0:38:50Yeah, and I love the fact that there is a correlation with
0:38:50 > 0:38:52the Enid Blyton books.
0:38:52 > 0:38:54When you look at your Royal Worcester,
0:38:54 > 0:38:57- you can actually see the Enid Blyton characters.- They come to life, yes.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00Yeah, it kind of brings it home for me, that part of it, anyway.
0:39:00 > 0:39:02Let's find out what the bidders think. Here we go.
0:39:02 > 0:39:05The rare Royal Worcester figural group.
0:39:05 > 0:39:10This is from the wartime series Take Cover. Start me at £600.
0:39:10 > 0:39:15£600. £500, then, to start me. £500, surely.
0:39:15 > 0:39:21£500, thank you. And 20. At £500, any more? All done at £500?
0:39:21 > 0:39:23Sadly less...
0:39:25 > 0:39:29Well, I'm afraid we are tantalisingly close,
0:39:29 > 0:39:30but I just can't let it go at that level.
0:39:30 > 0:39:33- Sorry about that.- That's a shame. - Sorry.- Thank you anyway.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36That's all right. We had fun trying, didn't we?
0:39:36 > 0:39:38What a shame, but I do agree with Elizabeth - it's a
0:39:38 > 0:39:42pleasure to see such a thought-provoking object.
0:39:42 > 0:39:44And I'm sure it will do well in the future
0:39:44 > 0:39:47if Mark still wants to sell it.
0:39:47 > 0:39:51Time for our last lot of the day now, it's those two bronzes.
0:39:51 > 0:39:56The smaller, estimated by James at a massive £6,000 to £10,000.
0:39:56 > 0:40:00But auctioneer Andrew Smith thinks that figure is a bit too steep.
0:40:01 > 0:40:04The Oriental market is just so hard to predict.
0:40:04 > 0:40:08I think every expert has been proved wrong on at least one occasion.
0:40:08 > 0:40:12We just felt that the estimate it came in with was, although
0:40:12 > 0:40:16certainly in the range we'd hope to get at auction, but if it went
0:40:16 > 0:40:20in with that sort of guide, it may just kill off some of the interest.
0:40:20 > 0:40:23So, we prefer to see it in
0:40:23 > 0:40:27with just shaded down a bit, just to get as many buyers in as we can.
0:40:27 > 0:40:31I'm pretty confident it's going to sell in the sale.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34There has been a lot of good interest in it.
0:40:34 > 0:40:38So, with a revised estimate of £4,000 to £6,000 and a reserve
0:40:38 > 0:40:41of £4,000 to kick-start the interest,
0:40:41 > 0:40:42let's see what happens with it.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47Having found all that out, are you regretting selling it?
0:40:47 > 0:40:49Do you think, "Actually, I should've kept it"?
0:40:49 > 0:40:50Erm...
0:40:50 > 0:40:53I have got a few other little smaller things at home which
0:40:53 > 0:40:56would go to the children. I thought because it's worth so much money...
0:40:56 > 0:40:57The money's going to come in handy.
0:40:57 > 0:41:00- I think it could come in handy at this stage, yes.- OK, OK.
0:41:00 > 0:41:03Well, we're going to start with the first one.
0:41:03 > 0:41:04I could say the tatty one.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07- We're not worried about this one, are we?- Not particularly, no.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09It's one up from a baked bean can, this thing.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12Here we go. It's going under the hammer.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14The auction house have upped the valuation
0:41:14 > 0:41:17on the cheaper bronze vase to £40 to £60
0:41:17 > 0:41:19because they think it's from Thailand.
0:41:20 > 0:41:24Start me at £40. £40. £40.
0:41:24 > 0:41:26- £40. £40. Come on, come on. - Get it going.
0:41:26 > 0:41:31£30, surely. £30. 20, if you like. £20.
0:41:31 > 0:41:37£20. Start me at ten, then. At £10 anywhere? £10, surely. £5.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40Five? Well done at the front. As I said, at £5.
0:41:40 > 0:41:42Ten on the net, even better. 12.
0:41:42 > 0:41:44Worth going another one?
0:41:44 > 0:41:4912, well done. 15, sir. 17. Go on.
0:41:49 > 0:41:51- No, no, no.- This is a struggle, isn't it?- It is a struggle.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54In the room at 17, it's your last chance.
0:41:54 > 0:41:55Last time.
0:41:55 > 0:41:56Sold it.
0:41:56 > 0:42:01Sold it, right. And now for the one we've been waiting for.
0:42:01 > 0:42:04Chinese bronze vase, the 18th-century vase.
0:42:04 > 0:42:08- Oh, I'm shaking. I'm nervous for you.- So am I.- Oh, Graham, good luck.
0:42:09 > 0:42:12Start me at £4,000. £4,000.
0:42:12 > 0:42:14£4,000.
0:42:14 > 0:42:17- 4,000 we have. Thank you. - It's got in at 4,000.
0:42:19 > 0:42:23- We are up to £7,000 on the net already.- Straight out. Come on.
0:42:23 > 0:42:26- Gosh, that was a quick jump, wasn't it?- Yeah, four to seven.
0:42:26 > 0:42:28At £7,000, selling on the net.
0:42:30 > 0:42:34If you are all done at £7,000... You sure?
0:42:34 > 0:42:36£7,000 then, for the very last time...
0:42:39 > 0:42:42- You're in the money! Hey, did you know...?- Thank you very much.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45It jumped from four, someone online went seven.
0:42:45 > 0:42:47It was like, wow, seven grand.
0:42:47 > 0:42:50- I can't believe it. Amazing.- Yeah?
0:42:50 > 0:42:52What's the first thing going through your mind?
0:42:52 > 0:42:54I don't know, I just can't believe it.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57I think I shall have to treat the family, certainly.
0:42:57 > 0:42:59I think you will, won't you? THEY LAUGH
0:42:59 > 0:43:01- Yeah.- What a way to end the show.
0:43:01 > 0:43:03We've had a marvellous time and I hope you've enjoyed it.
0:43:03 > 0:43:06See you next time for many more surprises.