0:00:16 > 0:00:18Today, we're in Warwickshire, at Ragley Hall,
0:00:18 > 0:00:21ragley meaning the Old English word for rubbish dump.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24But any hint of rubbish is long gone today.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27Look what we have now - a magnificent Palladian house
0:00:27 > 0:00:29full of some of the finest things from all over the world
0:00:29 > 0:00:33that money can buy. Welcome to "Flog It!"
0:00:56 > 0:01:00Ragley Hall contains all manner of wonderful things.
0:01:00 > 0:01:05A list of the makers names reads like an auctioneer's catalogue.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07Mirrors and furniture by Chippendale.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10The finest Bow in Chinese porcelain.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12Glass and silver by Paul Storr.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16And I haven't even mentioned the paintings yet.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18It's like being a child in a sweet shop.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24Later on, by contrast, I'll be looking at an exhibition
0:01:24 > 0:01:29of art which is much more everyday but equally as intriguing.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34But we'll come back to that in a bit
0:01:34 > 0:01:37because there's a long queue forming at the front of the house.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39The weather may be a bit below par,
0:01:39 > 0:01:44but it's great to see it hasn't put a dampener on anyone's spirits.
0:01:44 > 0:01:46- Good morning, everyone. ALL:- Morning!
0:01:46 > 0:01:49Thank you so much for turning up because without you,
0:01:49 > 0:01:50we would not have a show.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52Hundreds of people here,
0:01:52 > 0:01:53laden with antiques and collectibles.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57And they've come from Warwickshire and beyond to see our experts.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59And I can guarantee one or two real treasures today.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02And hopefully, one or two of you - it could be you, you, you or you -
0:02:02 > 0:02:04going home with a small fortune.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07Of course, if they're happy with their valuation...
0:02:07 > 0:02:09- What are you going to do? ALL:- "Flog It!"
0:02:11 > 0:02:15And already in the queue, searching for the top items to take to
0:02:15 > 0:02:19auction, are our discerning antiques experts, Christina Trevanion...
0:02:19 > 0:02:21What have we got in here, ladies?
0:02:21 > 0:02:24Right, we have the most unusual Carlton Ware I've ever seen.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27- It is unusual. - With the hanged man inside.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31- It's really...- It's horrible. - ..awful.- It's my grandad's.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34..and Charlie Ross.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37- You brought some frozen food for us, have you?- Not quite.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39What have you got in there, herrings?
0:02:39 > 0:02:42Salmon? Good Lord!
0:02:42 > 0:02:45- So where has this lot come from? - We found it in Devon.
0:02:45 > 0:02:46Cor, you didn't buy that in Devon.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49- That's not the Devon pottery that I know and love.- No.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54So, let's get on with the matter at hand.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58This is the Great Hall, where the cameras have started rolling,
0:02:58 > 0:03:00under the gaze of the great and the good,
0:03:00 > 0:03:02including the Prince Regent, no less.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06And there's plenty to look at.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10Christina has a back-breaking job on her hands.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13- Made of...bronze!- Yes!
0:03:15 > 0:03:17Charlie has the measure of one of our owners.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19- 14-1.- Ah, very good.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23Fantastic. Well, I shall saddle you up and ride off.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26And I'm overwhelmed by the sheer scale of things.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29The biggest teapot I've ever seen in my life there.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34- Having a good time, everyone? ALL:- Yes!- Yes!
0:03:34 > 0:03:38Well, look, waive to the camera, you're all on telly.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42We've set up our valuation tables in the finest room in the building,
0:03:42 > 0:03:44with the most wonderful Baroque plasterwork.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48Just look at this, designed by James Gibb in 1750.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52Also we have the goddess Minerva up there. We have the symbol of war
0:03:52 > 0:03:55over this fireplace and the symbol of peace over the other fireplace.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58But right now, we have the perfect setting for you -
0:03:58 > 0:04:00peace and harmony -
0:04:00 > 0:04:03with our first valuation with the gorgeous Christina Trevanion.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05And she's just over there.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08Bernadette, how on earth did you bring this into us?
0:04:08 > 0:04:12Did you have some sort of crane to lift it in?
0:04:12 > 0:04:14- Well, I put it in the back of the car to start with.- Yeah.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18- Then I lifted it out and put it into the buggy.- Oh, my goodness!
0:04:18 > 0:04:19- And you've wielded here?- Yes.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23You are a strong lady, cos that is jolly heavy, isn't it?
0:04:23 > 0:04:26- I know, yes.- My goodness. So, where did you get it from?
0:04:26 > 0:04:31Well, my father used to go to house sales back in the '50s and '60s,
0:04:31 > 0:04:33and he came back with this.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35So what do you think inspired him to come back with this?
0:04:35 > 0:04:38- There was a palm tree in it. - Oh, right!
0:04:38 > 0:04:40A big palm tree, massive palm tree.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44And the jardiniere has outlived the palm tree, I assume.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46- Oh, years ago, yes.- Oh, really?- Yes.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50- Yes.- But that's exactly what it was used for.- Oh, yes.- Originally.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54- Basically, it is Japanese.- Yes.- OK.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56The reason we know it's Japanese is that
0:04:56 > 0:04:59if you look at this wonderfully magnificent dragon...
0:04:59 > 0:05:02- Yeah, all these dragons. - If we look at his claws...
0:05:02 > 0:05:04Let's just count them. So how many claws has he got there?
0:05:04 > 0:05:06- Three.- Three claws.
0:05:06 > 0:05:11- Now, if he were Chinese, he would have four claws.- Oh, right.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14OK? So Japanese dragons have three claws.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17- So that's how we know he's Japanese. - Wow.- Also by the style of it.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21Now, I would say that he probably dates to the end
0:05:21 > 0:05:25- of the 19th century, so 1880 to 1900.- Yeah.- Fantastic thing.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27And I personally love this dragon.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29I mean, full of symbolism -
0:05:29 > 0:05:33they were signs of happiness, good health, wealth.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37And it's just fantastic. Really, really lovely quality thing.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41And obviously, made of...bronze!
0:05:42 > 0:05:44- Which is jolly heavy.- Yes.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Now, it's the kind of thing that would sell well at auction.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51Japanese works of art are not selling as well as Chinese works.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54- No.- Chinese works of art are really very popular.- Yes.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57But nonetheless, it's incredibly attractive, it's very well made.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01The only downside to it would be there wouldn't be that many people
0:06:01 > 0:06:03who would be able to accommodate it.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06So I think for that reason, I'm going to scale back
0:06:06 > 0:06:07the estimate slightly.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10If this came into my saleroom, I would say, at auction,
0:06:10 > 0:06:15we'd be looking at putting about £150 to £250 on it.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18- And I think that is a sensible auction estimate.- Yes.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20- Would you like to sell it at that? - Oh, yes.- Yeah?- Yes.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23So I think we would want to put what we call a discretionary reserve
0:06:23 > 0:06:25- of 150 on it.- Yeah.
0:06:25 > 0:06:30- You're hoping to go on holiday.- Yes. And I thought of going to Greece.
0:06:30 > 0:06:31Oh, lovely.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34Let's hope that we can get you part of the way there.
0:06:34 > 0:06:35Get me some of the money.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38And let's look forward to a successful auction for you.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40Thanks so much for taking the effort to bring it in.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44Yes, that shows real dedication.
0:06:44 > 0:06:49And now over to the Red Saloon, and Charlie has found something musical.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53- I'm so thrilled you brought this along.- Good.- I love a bit of music.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55- All right.- Look at that.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57Now, you know exactly what you brought along, don't you?
0:06:57 > 0:07:00- Yes, a phonograph. - A phonograph. By who?
0:07:00 > 0:07:03- Edison.- Thomas Edison.- Yes.- Yes.
0:07:03 > 0:07:08Well, he invented the phonograph in about 1875, 1880.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11This is a model which is the Edison Standard,
0:07:11 > 0:07:17- quite a big size, from about 1905, 1910.- I did wonder, yes.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20- Have you ever had it working? - Yes, but not for number of years.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23- How long?- Probably 15 years.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26Well, it's anybody's guess as to whether it still works,
0:07:26 > 0:07:28- but we're going to try. You've brought some music along.- Yes.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30Where are your musical tastes?
0:07:30 > 0:07:34- SHE LAUGHS - Spill it. Rock and roll.
0:07:34 > 0:07:35Oh, I'm afraid...
0:07:35 > 0:07:38I'm afraid this is a little pre-rock and roll, my darling.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40Ah!
0:07:40 > 0:07:43- Private airs from The Pirates Of Penzance.- Right!
0:07:43 > 0:07:45- Do you know The Pirates Of Penzance? - Not really.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49Unfortunately, but fortunately for me, I know The Pirates Of Penzance,
0:07:49 > 0:07:52- so if it doesn't work, I shall sing it to you.- Wonderful.
0:07:52 > 0:07:57Now, they are quite simple to work. You wind the handle here.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59It's on a spring, so it is spring operated.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03- I think it's already been wound a bit.- OK.- And we've got here...
0:08:05 > 0:08:07- The magic horn. - HE TOOTS THE HORN
0:08:07 > 0:08:08The magic horn.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12- Which I believe to be original, of the period.- Yes.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14Which slides onto here.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16Except in this case, it doesn't.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18- You're missing a bit.- Yes, probably.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20Where is your rubber sleeve?
0:08:20 > 0:08:23The rubber sleeve has probably perished.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25Hm. Always a problem.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29But I'm sure we can get over that problem by holding
0:08:29 > 0:08:33- it in position and hope that it works.- Yes, all right.- OK? Right.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35We reach for The Pirates Of Penzance.
0:08:39 > 0:08:40That fits on rather nicely.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43We get that locked onto the cylinder,
0:08:43 > 0:08:45which will hold it in position.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48- Yes.- Drop that onto there. So here we go.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54MUSIC PLAYS SOFTLY
0:08:54 > 0:08:55Shh!
0:08:55 > 0:08:59MUSIC PLAYS SOFTLY
0:09:02 > 0:09:04# For he is a pirate king, he is
0:09:04 > 0:09:06# Hurrah for the pirate king
0:09:06 > 0:09:09# And it is, it is a glorious thing
0:09:09 > 0:09:10# To be a pirate king
0:09:10 > 0:09:13# It is, hurrah, for a pirate king
0:09:13 > 0:09:15# Hurrah for the pirate king! #
0:09:15 > 0:09:18- Marvellous, it works!- Wonderful. - You see? Wasn't that wonderful?
0:09:18 > 0:09:20- THEY APPLAUD - Thank you very much.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22- Wonderful.- What a voice!
0:09:22 > 0:09:24Splendid!
0:09:24 > 0:09:27Well, I couldn't have believed it could have worked as well as that.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29Now, value.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31They don't make as much money as they used to.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35I think people have realised that actually the company made
0:09:35 > 0:09:38a lot more than they thought.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41- It is in splendid working order. - Yes.- You have some cylinders.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43I can't believe it's worth less than £100,
0:09:43 > 0:09:47so I think the safe estimate here is £100 to £200.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49- Put a reserve of 100 on it. - Yes, all right.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51So are you happy to put it into auction?
0:09:51 > 0:09:53- Yes, certainly. - I think it's splendid.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55It's a great bit of social history, isn't it?
0:09:55 > 0:09:59Imagine retiring after supper, into the drawing room...
0:09:59 > 0:10:03- And listening.- ..and playing The Pirates Of Penzance.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05- Yes.- Thank you very much indeed. - Thank you.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08And on that note, it's a good time
0:10:08 > 0:10:11to see a little more of this fabulous house.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18Away from all the crowds of people and the valuations, there is
0:10:18 > 0:10:20one room the general public haven't seen today,
0:10:20 > 0:10:22and it's this room - the dining room.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26It's a lovely room, actually. It's fit for a state banquet.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28This room is north-facing, it's quite cold.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31So it's been cheered up with this lovely sunshine yellow colour
0:10:31 > 0:10:32on all the walls.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35It really does warm it up. It's a joy to be in.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39Now, during the Second World War, like many grand country houses,
0:10:39 > 0:10:41this place was used as a war hospital.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45And this room, in fact, was used as an entertainment room.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47And believe me, they did have fun in this room.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51So all the furniture, the silver, the cutlery, the glass,
0:10:51 > 0:10:54the artwork was packed away carefully and stored in the attic
0:10:54 > 0:10:58because they played cricket in here, football, they even played darts.
0:10:58 > 0:10:59And after the war,
0:10:59 > 0:11:03when the room was handed back, the walls had to be patched up.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06There were holes everywhere. It's a lovely story, actually.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09But now, as you can see, it is fit for a queen.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12Good job as well, because we have royalty in this room.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16Up there, a wonderful portrait of Queen Victoria. Look at that.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20Painted by the Austrian artist Heinrich von Angeli.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23Over here, look - Queen Charlotte and George III,
0:11:23 > 0:11:25painted by Alan Ramsey.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28Up there, Prince Regent, who later became George IV,
0:11:28 > 0:11:32painted by Hoppner. And my favourite, Charles II.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35There he is. Look at that. What a fine chap he was.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39Painted by his favourite court artist, Dutchman Peter Lely,
0:11:39 > 0:11:41strongly influenced by Van Dyck.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44And you can see those long Van Dyck-type fingers, can't you?
0:11:44 > 0:11:48Isn't that great? A room fit for royalty.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53Back now to Charlie, who has a surprise in store.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56And don't worry, he's not going to sing.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58Phil, I feel a bit of a Beau Brummell,
0:11:58 > 0:12:03a bit of a man about town, with this stick. It is absolutely splendid.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06- Where did you get it from? - Well, I got it out of a skip.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09- You got it what?- Out of a skip.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13A lady I was working for, she decided to use the skip
0:12:13 > 0:12:16at the weekend and threw stuff away, and that was in it.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19- Do you think she knew what she was throwing away?- I...
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Well, I don't know, but I did ask.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25- Did you?- Yes.- I mean, it's not just a bamboo walking stick, is it?
0:12:25 > 0:12:28No, it's a measuring stick for horses.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30It is a horse-measuring stick.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33And not only that, it's a particularly good quality one.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36It's got a silver mount on here. Are you a horse measurer?
0:12:36 > 0:12:40- No.- Do you know how to measure a horse?- Yes, by hands.- Yeah.
0:12:40 > 0:12:45- How big is a hand?- Four inches. - Very knowledgeable.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48Well, what we do here, we just slip that up,
0:12:48 > 0:12:51and that is how you measure your horse.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54You put the base of the stick on the ground.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58You have here a spirit level.
0:13:00 > 0:13:05Which is set into the brass stick here. Have you tried dating it?
0:13:05 > 0:13:09- I did try dating it.- Yeah? What have you got?- I got 1910.
0:13:09 > 0:13:15Jolly good effort. It's 1908, made in London. Bamboo, as we've said.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17And then, if it pulls out,
0:13:17 > 0:13:21I'm hoping to find a maker's name on here somewhere.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25- I think it's here.- Oh, well spotted.
0:13:25 > 0:13:30Swaine & Adeney. They obviously specialised in these objects.
0:13:30 > 0:13:35And you measure a horse to where?
0:13:35 > 0:13:37- To its withers.- To its withers.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39You know all about this. Now, where is your wither?
0:13:39 > 0:13:42Well, I think it's where the head comes down and joins the back.
0:13:42 > 0:13:43I think that's right.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46I think they say it's where the front of the saddle should be
0:13:46 > 0:13:48- when you saddle up.- Right. - Shall we measure you?
0:13:48 > 0:13:53- Yes,- go on, then. If you'll just turn slightly that way.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55- Where is your withers? - HE LAUGHS
0:13:55 > 0:13:57That's what everybody asks.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59I'm not the first person to ask you where your withers are.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01I think your withers are about there.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04Are we agreed that's where the withers are? Marvellous.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08We're unanimous about your withers, which is good news.
0:14:08 > 0:14:13- And so I've got you here at 14-1. - Oh, very good.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15And as it were, I shall saddle you up and ride off.
0:14:15 > 0:14:16THEY LAUGH
0:14:16 > 0:14:18I think that's a great, great object.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22- What do you think someone would pay for something like that?- £70?
0:14:22 > 0:14:23I think they'd pay more than that.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27I think that could make between £100 and £150.
0:14:27 > 0:14:28In fact...
0:14:28 > 0:14:32- I'd be pleased at that. - Shall we put a reserve at £80?- Yes.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36And estimate it at 100 to 150. I think it's splendid.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40I won't be able to go on a cruise, though, will I, with it?
0:14:40 > 0:14:43- Well, you could go on a very short cruise on the Thames.- Oh.
0:14:43 > 0:14:47But not much longer than that. Thank you so much for bringing along
0:14:47 > 0:14:51- a really interesting piece of social history. Thank you.- Thank you.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58Well, it's busy, busy, busy here at Ragley Hall.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00This room, behind-the-scenes,
0:15:00 > 0:15:02is where our off-screen experts are working,
0:15:02 > 0:15:05doing all the research for the on-screen experts,
0:15:05 > 0:15:08so when it hits the tables, they hit the ground running.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11Hopefully, most of these people here, including you,
0:15:11 > 0:15:15will go on to the auction later on and go home with a small fortune.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18Well, our experts have made their first choice of items.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20This lot are coming up later on in the show.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22So let's get over to Bigwood's auction rooms
0:15:22 > 0:15:24and put those first valuations to the test.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28And here's a quick recap of what's going under the hammer.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31We simply must sell the Japanese jardiniere.
0:15:31 > 0:15:32There is no way Bernadette
0:15:32 > 0:15:34should have to carry it home again.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40A reminder of a bygone era, Wendy's Edison phonograph is
0:15:40 > 0:15:43great fun, especially with Charlie's accompaniment.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50And the silver-topped bamboo walking stick doubles up
0:15:50 > 0:15:51as a horse-measuring stick,
0:15:51 > 0:15:53so that should certainly get
0:15:53 > 0:15:55the bidders raising their hands.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03We are heading some ten miles east across Warwickshire to
0:16:03 > 0:16:07William Shakespeare's birthplace - Stratford-upon-Avon.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11Bigwood Fine Art Auctioneers work out of this delightfully old
0:16:11 > 0:16:15red brick Victorian schoolhouse just on its outskirts. There is
0:16:15 > 0:16:17always a good atmosphere in the saleroom,
0:16:17 > 0:16:20and we have not one but two auctioneers
0:16:20 > 0:16:21on the rostrum today -
0:16:21 > 0:16:24Christopher Ironmonger and Stephen Kaye.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27Remember, with every auction, there is commission to pay.
0:16:27 > 0:16:28Now, here today at Bigwood's,
0:16:28 > 0:16:31it's 15% plus VAT
0:16:31 > 0:16:33if you're selling something.
0:16:33 > 0:16:34If you're buying something,
0:16:34 > 0:16:38it's 17.5% plus VAT on that hammer price.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41So please do your sums because it does add up.
0:16:41 > 0:16:42If you're not sure,
0:16:42 > 0:16:45ask the auctioneer, pick up a catalogue like this one.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47All the information is printed inside.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50But these rates do vary from saleroom to saleroom,
0:16:50 > 0:16:54so please do find out before you start bidding or selling.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58280. 300.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00360.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02'Philip's unusual walking cane is first up.'
0:17:02 > 0:17:04Were you a horsey man?
0:17:04 > 0:17:07No, I wasn't. But people have borrowed it to measure their horses.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09Oh, I like this. The condition is fantastic.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11- We measured Philip with this. - Did you?- Yes.- How many hands?
0:17:11 > 0:17:15I had a bit of a problem finding his withers, that was the problem.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17Look, I think it's quality.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20It's hallmarked London, isn't it? 1904. It's in perfect condition.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23And I think we should do the top end plus. Happy with that?
0:17:23 > 0:17:26- Very happy.- Right, let's hope we don't fall at the first. Here we go.
0:17:26 > 0:17:31The horse-measuring walking stick, very useful things.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33There's a number of bids here on the book.
0:17:33 > 0:17:37And I can start at £120.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40I'll take 130 from anybody else.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42I'll go 140. 150. 160. 170.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46180. 190. Make it 200?
0:17:46 > 0:17:50I'm out. Anybody else? At £200 with Christian. Anybody else interested?
0:17:50 > 0:17:53Selling at £200...
0:17:53 > 0:17:56- Yes.- Brilliant.- He's a very good valuer, isn't it?- He is.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58No, it's just that they're so rare, those things, you know?
0:17:58 > 0:18:00And they don't come on the market that often.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03There are people out there that love their horses that would want
0:18:03 > 0:18:05- to own that.- And use it. - And use it, yes.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08It'll get me further down the Thames than what you thought.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10It will. It won't quite get you to the Bahamas.
0:18:10 > 0:18:11What are you doing then?
0:18:11 > 0:18:14Well, I was hoping to go to a world cruise, but...
0:18:14 > 0:18:16We don't think we will do that.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19Hey, you set your sights well, didn't you?
0:18:20 > 0:18:23There's nothing wrong with being ambitious.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28Right now a touch of the Orient comes to Stratford-upon-Avon
0:18:28 > 0:18:31with this wonderful Japanese bronze jardiniere belonging to Bernadette.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33- That's great. - Yeah, I like this.- Yeah.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36- Shame it's not Chinese, though, isn't it?- Oh, I wish it was.- Yeah.
0:18:36 > 0:18:37THEY LAUGH
0:18:37 > 0:18:40Nevertheless, it's got the look. Why are you selling it now?
0:18:40 > 0:18:44- It's going to the holiday fund.- Oh, is it? The holiday fund, right, OK.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47- Where are you going?- I don't know yet.- It depends on the price.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50OK, let's find out what it's worth. Here we go.
0:18:50 > 0:18:55Early 20th-century Japanese bronze jardiniere. On the book here at 120.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59Is it 140 now? At £120, the bid's with me.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02- At 120.- Oh, more than that, surely, come on.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05130 is it? At 130 only. At 130.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08Are we done? Are we finished at 130?
0:19:08 > 0:19:12- It can go.- At 130... Are you done?
0:19:12 > 0:19:14Yes, the hammer's gone down. £130.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18I think he sold that cos we had a £150 reserve with discretion.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21- With discretion, yeah.- Which means 10%. So I think it's gone.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25- Oh, lovely. I'm going. - Skegness, here we come!
0:19:25 > 0:19:29- Are you going too?- No.- Blimey! - THEY LAUGH
0:19:29 > 0:19:31I don't think I've got a suitcase big enough.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34THEY LAUGH
0:19:34 > 0:19:37I thought I was in with a chance at an extra holiday there.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40There are lots of bidders in the saleroom, which is great
0:19:40 > 0:19:44because we don't want any of our items going for a song,
0:19:44 > 0:19:46especially the next one.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48- Wendy, good luck. - Thank you very much.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51- You could be hearing sweet music in about one minute's time.- OK.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55I have to say, I sold one of these last year.
0:19:55 > 0:20:00I put it into auction and it made £380. And it was identical. So...
0:20:00 > 0:20:03- Did it have The Pirates Of Penzance? - No, it didn't.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05No, it didn't have that. We'll see.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07If the collectors are out there and they find this online,
0:20:07 > 0:20:10they will buy it. Whether or not we get that big bucks is another thing.
0:20:10 > 0:20:16Number 431, the Edison Standard phonograph, oak case and cover.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19- And I'm bid, £100, straight off on the book.- Oh, we're selling.
0:20:19 > 0:20:20At 100, 120 is it?
0:20:20 > 0:20:22120 is it? 110 on the net.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26120 it is. 120. 140, net. Do you want?
0:20:26 > 0:20:28- 160, room.- Oh!- 160, room. 180, net.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32200. 200, room. 220.
0:20:32 > 0:20:33220 on the net if you want to carry
0:20:33 > 0:20:35on. At £200, it's going to go.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38Are we done at £200?
0:20:38 > 0:20:41- Sold for 200.- Yes!- You're pleased, aren't you?- Yes, I am very pleased.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44- No more Pirates Of The Penzance.- No. - THEY LAUGH
0:20:44 > 0:20:45Not at all.
0:20:45 > 0:20:51170. 180. 200. 220. Lady's bid at 220.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53Well, there you are, our first three lots,
0:20:53 > 0:20:57done and dusted here today. We are coming back, so don't go away.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59It could get very exciting.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02But right now, I'm going to take you on a trip
0:21:02 > 0:21:04to show you something quite naive.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07Earlier on in the week, while we were in the area filming, I went
0:21:07 > 0:21:11to a rather special venue locally to see a wonderful collection.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21Only ten miles south of Stratford-upon-Avon
0:21:21 > 0:21:24is Compton Verney, a fine classical house.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30Since March 2004, it has been an art gallery.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33Some of the exhibits are antiquities and some are Baroque.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38It's also the place to find the best collection of British
0:21:38 > 0:21:42folk art on permanent display anywhere in the country.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53Folk art is a term used to describe a wide variety of objects,
0:21:53 > 0:21:59from paintings to quilts, carvings, toys, trade signs, tools...
0:21:59 > 0:22:04furniture. And most of these things have been made by untrained artists.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08But not all. These pieces have been inspired by everyday life.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10And there's a growing interest
0:22:10 > 0:22:12in their delightful non-academic freshness.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17Jeff McMillan, an American artist living in London,
0:22:17 > 0:22:21was asked by the Tate to co-curate a touring folk art exhibition
0:22:21 > 0:22:24featuring works from all over the country.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26And here is a taste of it.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29I love the use of colour. You've got blue in this section, yellow,
0:22:29 > 0:22:31and it just changes everywhere you go.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33How did you go about sort of putting it into sections?
0:22:33 > 0:22:35What was your thought behind that?
0:22:35 > 0:22:38Well, each room, each section is basically kind of themed,
0:22:38 > 0:22:41so there's themes to do with either the sea or the land or maybe to do
0:22:41 > 0:22:44with sort of signage, or the idea of text in work as opposed to
0:22:44 > 0:22:47things that are just visually arresting objects.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49Was it a difficult project? There's a lot here.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51It was difficult. There was a lot of work to do.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53- But it was also hugely enjoyable. - Sure.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56And to be introduced to all these incredible objects was a real treat.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00I think folk art, really, it's all about where it's been over
0:23:00 > 0:23:02the last few years, isn't it? The last century.
0:23:02 > 0:23:04It's been touched, it's been used, it's been loved.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06- Yeah, it's not precious objects.- No.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08They are often things that have been kept in a family,
0:23:08 > 0:23:11for instance, and then given over to the local museum.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13And then those things kind of sit in a drawer
0:23:13 > 0:23:15and then sometimes see the light of day,
0:23:15 > 0:23:17which is what happens here, in this case.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19We are surrounded by ships' figureheads.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23So let's have a look at these two. I mean, they look to me 19th century.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26He's got a Victorian haircut with sideburns.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28They're both from the 1840s, these two.
0:23:28 > 0:23:29Both great sort of dynamic figures.
0:23:29 > 0:23:33- They're almost quite cartoonish. - For example, it was all the fashion.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36- Yes, yes.- That's had a recent coat of paint, hasn't it?- Yes.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39There's an idea that, at a time, a lot of the ships' figureheads
0:23:39 > 0:23:41would have been painted white perhaps originally.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44Cos when you imagine a boat at sea, they'd have to be conditioned
0:23:44 > 0:23:47and painted fairly regularly to keep them from deteriorating.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50- Sure, yeah.- You know, and rotting. But what you see now...
0:23:50 > 0:23:53And it's interesting when you see a whole roomful of these, is that the
0:23:53 > 0:23:56most recent version of paint is probably not the original at all.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58And it's one of the great things about folk art, I think.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01It's not necessarily about the authenticity from the beginning.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03Cos maybe things have been repaired over the years.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06- It's been loved.- It's been loved and it's been changed. And that's OK.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08There's a lot of work that's gone into that carving.
0:24:08 > 0:24:13Look at the way her coat is sort of flowing backwards in the wind.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15She's interesting because she was originally from
0:24:15 > 0:24:17a carving family called the Hellyers.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20And they were carving since the 16th century.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22And they had a long tradition of carving some 200,
0:24:22 > 0:24:27300 different figures for different Royal Navy boats over the years.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30- Gosh.- The idea of carving for wooden boats had a great history.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32And then at the advent of steam engines and...
0:24:32 > 0:24:35- And the steel hull, the iron. - ..the steel hull,
0:24:35 > 0:24:37- then of course these became redundant.- Obsolete.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40What a lot of these carvers ended up doing is going into a whole
0:24:40 > 0:24:44new industry, which was carousel and fairground work.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46It's not a classical sculpture, is it?
0:24:46 > 0:24:49- Of a goddess, of a woman. - It's not.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52- It's crude.- It is, but it's very dynamic. I love her with her torch.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54It's a bit like the Statue of Liberty or something.
0:24:54 > 0:24:55Yeah, it's lovely.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58- Anyway, look, I've been drawn by the yellow wall.- Hm.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00So let's go down there and have a look.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11- Oh, tell me about this.- Oh, this is great, the Bellamy quilt.
0:25:11 > 0:25:16It's a courtship quilt that was created in 1890, '91 by a couple.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19And I think it was kept by their daughter until 1980,
0:25:19 > 0:25:21and then it was given to the Norwich Castle Museum,
0:25:21 > 0:25:24which is where we found it. The textiles curator,
0:25:24 > 0:25:26Ruth Battersby Tooke, brought this out and said,
0:25:26 > 0:25:28"I don't know if you've ever seen anything like this,
0:25:28 > 0:25:30"or if this is what you want in your show."
0:25:30 > 0:25:31We were completely bowled over.
0:25:31 > 0:25:32If I hadn't seen that date,
0:25:32 > 0:25:34I wouldn't have thought that's Victorian.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37- I'd have thought that's contemporary.- It looks it.- Yeah.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39And part of it is because it's in such great condition.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41It's so vibrant. The colours are amazing.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43And I think it'd never really seen the light of day.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46It's quite interesting to think about the idea of a courtship quilt.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48They're getting to know each other.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51It's a great way to spend time, to sort of embroider things.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53It looks like there are two different hands at work.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56There's a very accomplished hand, which does the things
0:25:56 > 0:25:58like the flowers and the centrepiece,
0:25:58 > 0:26:00which is a very elaborate sort of cartoon.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03But then there's also quite sort of crude things,
0:26:03 > 0:26:06like a very simple face or quite a crude foot, for instance.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08So it definitely looks like there's two hands at work there.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10There's a lot going on.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12There's a lot. What I like is I think it almost represents things
0:26:12 > 0:26:15that they would see around them, including things from the town.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17I'm noticing here lots of objects here that
0:26:17 > 0:26:20I see on your trade sign wall.
0:26:20 > 0:26:25I see you got a teapot on the quilt, but there's a magnificent...
0:26:25 > 0:26:27The biggest teapot I've ever seen in my life there.
0:26:27 > 0:26:28Where did that one come from?
0:26:28 > 0:26:31Again, from the Norwich Museum. It's a fantastic teapot.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33It's just this great thing, a great sculptural object.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35It happens to say The Teapot on it,
0:26:35 > 0:26:37and it's one of the only words on the whole wall,
0:26:37 > 0:26:39everything else being just identifiable in silhouette,
0:26:39 > 0:26:42- but it's got, you know, a fantastic shape.- That's nice as well.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45- A locksmith's.- Yeah, a great locksmith sign from here
0:26:45 > 0:26:49- in Compton Verney. I love it. I love the green surface of it.- Yeah.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51And I love the fact that you've given the exhibition
0:26:51 > 0:26:54- space around the items.- They're little sculptures, aren't they?
0:26:54 > 0:26:56I think they need to be appreciated that way.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59They would've hung outside of shops, maybe protruded over the payment.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02- It's a shame we don't have this kind of branding still.- It is.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05I know, how great would it be to go to the mall and have a display
0:27:05 > 0:27:08of all these great things rather than backlit signs?
0:27:08 > 0:27:11I love the top hat. I've got to say, congratulations.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13It's a great learning curve for anybody that's interested
0:27:13 > 0:27:16in folk art and it puts a smile on your face as well.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20Well done, Jeff.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23And of course, many of the items in the exhibition will remain
0:27:23 > 0:27:24at Compton Verney
0:27:24 > 0:27:27as they belong to its permanent collection, like this
0:27:27 > 0:27:32piece of sailor's woolwork which is a particular favourite of mine.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34I love the three-masted schooner.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38Sunbeam, built in 1874. But look at the detail.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41Look at the rolling hills as well.
0:27:41 > 0:27:46This was done by a sailor whilst at sea, when he had nothing else to do.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49This was done as a tribute to the vessel.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52And I think it's really stood the test of time. It's beautiful.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55And if you are fascinated or interested in folk art,
0:27:55 > 0:27:59then this is definitely the place for you to come and visit.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09Back to Ragley and to the grandeur of the Great Hall,
0:28:09 > 0:28:13where Christina is in the company of two rather remarkable ladies.
0:28:15 > 0:28:16Gwen and Jackie, welcome.
0:28:16 > 0:28:18Thank you so much for coming in today.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21You brought this really rather wonderful collection
0:28:21 > 0:28:23of brooches here. Where on earth have they all come from?
0:28:23 > 0:28:24Are they all yours?
0:28:24 > 0:28:27Well, there were donated to the building fund of my church.
0:28:27 > 0:28:29Oh, OK, so when you say YOUR church...?
0:28:29 > 0:28:32Yeah, Studley Methodist Church, I'm the minister there.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34Oh, right. Oh, gosh, I'm in the presence of greatness.
0:28:34 > 0:28:38I'm feeling very intimidated now. So are you...? What's your title?
0:28:38 > 0:28:40- My title is deacon.- Deacon!
0:28:40 > 0:28:44- Deacon Gwen?- Deacon Gwen. - Deacon Gwen in the hat.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46- Yeah, I'm usually known as the vicar with the hat.- Are you?
0:28:46 > 0:28:48THEY LAUGH
0:28:48 > 0:28:50I love it. That's fantastic.
0:28:50 > 0:28:52Is this a trend that's followed on in the church?
0:28:52 > 0:28:53Are you all wearing a hat as well?
0:28:53 > 0:28:57- No, I'm just wearing the hat cos I'm having a bad hair day.- Are you?
0:28:57 > 0:28:59- SHE LAUGHS - I wish I could do that.
0:29:00 > 0:29:04- Well, that was an incredibly kind gift, was it not?- It was, yes.
0:29:04 > 0:29:06Just having a quick glance around here.
0:29:06 > 0:29:08This is certainly a great selection.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11They are all what we would class as costume jewellery.
0:29:11 > 0:29:12There's no gold.
0:29:12 > 0:29:15There are no semiprecious stones or indeed diamonds.
0:29:15 > 0:29:16It would be lovely if there were.
0:29:16 > 0:29:21But sadly not. The most collectible ones are the coronet brooches here.
0:29:21 > 0:29:24People like to collect certain designs, and coronet brooches
0:29:24 > 0:29:25do seem to be quite collectible,
0:29:25 > 0:29:27especially in the red, white and blue.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30- I think that was probably from a coronation year.- Yes.
0:29:30 > 0:29:33So really rather nice to have that in those different colour waves.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36And the other one that I picked out was this one here,
0:29:36 > 0:29:39which I have seen before but not in this sort of rose gold finish.
0:29:39 > 0:29:41I've seen it in a yellow gold finish.
0:29:41 > 0:29:43I think it's by a company called Trifari who produced really
0:29:43 > 0:29:46quite good quality costume jewellery.
0:29:46 > 0:29:48And it's a really very, very designer thing.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51It's very sort of 1950s, if you think of that ribbon style.
0:29:51 > 0:29:55So, would either of you be tempted to wear any of these?
0:29:55 > 0:30:00- Well, I'm not really a brooch-y person.- Really?- No, not really.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03Everybody's a brooch person, aren't they? I love a good brooch.
0:30:03 > 0:30:05- I like this one.- Oh, that's very pretty, isn't it?- Yes.
0:30:05 > 0:30:07That's quite 1960s, isn't it?
0:30:07 > 0:30:09It's a wonderful sort of pastel colours.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11- Flower power.- Yeah, absolutely.
0:30:11 > 0:30:13- Were you a flower power girl? - I was a flower child, yes.- Were you?
0:30:13 > 0:30:16- Yes, with a flower painted on my forehead.- Really?
0:30:16 > 0:30:19- Long hair in a thong. - Oh, my goodness me!- Yes.
0:30:19 > 0:30:21And flares and Glastonbury?
0:30:21 > 0:30:24- Oh, the flares, but I didn't get to Glastonbury.- Aw.
0:30:24 > 0:30:26Never mind, you still have a chance.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28- THEY LAUGH - There's still time yet.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32I particularly like this one, with the acorns.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34That's beautiful, isn't it?
0:30:34 > 0:30:36Very reminiscent of sort of that Tudor stump wood.
0:30:36 > 0:30:38Have you seen those boxes
0:30:38 > 0:30:40and the panels of embroidery they did?
0:30:40 > 0:30:42I do think, offering them at auction,
0:30:42 > 0:30:44- we would sell them as one lot.- Yes.
0:30:44 > 0:30:46We're not looking at a fortune, sadly, ladies,
0:30:46 > 0:30:48but we are looking probably somewhere in the region
0:30:48 > 0:30:49of maybe £30 to £50.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52And I would suggest, if you don't mind, I think we should try
0:30:52 > 0:30:56and sell them for what we can and get that money working for you.
0:30:56 > 0:30:59- Yes, absolutely.- And it's going towards?- It's going towards
0:30:59 > 0:31:01Studley Methodist Church Building Fund.
0:31:01 > 0:31:02And does it need a lot of repairs?
0:31:02 > 0:31:04We need a new entrance to the church
0:31:04 > 0:31:07cos at the moment, we've got a flight of stone steps,
0:31:07 > 0:31:12which means that mums with babes in prams can't get up there.
0:31:12 > 0:31:14And anyone with any sort of disability can't climb the steps.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17Well, look, hopefully, I'm being incredibly pessimistic
0:31:17 > 0:31:20and we'll get hundreds of brooch collectors in the room and it'll
0:31:20 > 0:31:22make more, cos it sounds like it's going to a very good cause.
0:31:22 > 0:31:25Let's keep everything crossed and maybe pray
0:31:25 > 0:31:27- for some divine intervention. - Absolutely.
0:31:27 > 0:31:31- Thanks so much for bringing them in. - BOTH:- Thank you very much.
0:31:31 > 0:31:35Brilliant! I'm looking forward to meeting those two at the auction.
0:31:35 > 0:31:38There are always marvellous people visiting the valuation day.
0:31:38 > 0:31:42Sometimes it feels as if they know the show better than we do.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46Well, everybody is now safely seated in the Great Hall,
0:31:46 > 0:31:51waiting for their valuation. Having a good time now, yes? Yes! So...
0:31:51 > 0:31:54- I like Charlie because he makes me laugh.- I didn't ask the question.
0:31:54 > 0:31:58- Well, that's the answer anyway. - THEY LAUGH
0:31:58 > 0:32:02- You're having it, you're having it. - HE LAUGHS
0:32:02 > 0:32:05Well, we better get straight over to him,
0:32:05 > 0:32:08as I hear he's found himself a quiet spot.
0:32:09 > 0:32:14Pat, what better place to be than in a splendid country house
0:32:14 > 0:32:18- library...- Beautiful.- ..looking at some of the finest porcelain
0:32:18 > 0:32:21our country has ever presented.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24- Yeah.- Wonderful. How long have you had them for?
0:32:24 > 0:32:28- About ten years, I think. - About ten years? They are Worcester
0:32:28 > 0:32:31and are one of the most-loved decorators of porcelain
0:32:31 > 0:32:33from the Stinton family.
0:32:33 > 0:32:38We've got James Stinton here, who I think retired in 1951,
0:32:38 > 0:32:41so, you know, we're into the 20th century here.
0:32:41 > 0:32:45But nevertheless, the quality is superb.
0:32:45 > 0:32:47And we've got the mark for Royal Worcester.
0:32:47 > 0:32:50And the great thing about the Worcester mark is that we are able
0:32:50 > 0:32:52to date these. There is one thing.
0:32:52 > 0:32:54I've looked at all of them -
0:32:54 > 0:32:59they are all 1932, with the exception of one.
0:32:59 > 0:33:01- Yeah.- Which is 1930.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04- Yeah, why is that? - Why is that? Yeah.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07Well, I can only think that they were a set of 12, 1932,
0:33:07 > 0:33:09one got damaged and they replaced them.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12The factory do keep a certain number of these things,
0:33:12 > 0:33:16and they might say, "Well, hang on, you've broken your pheasant,
0:33:16 > 0:33:19"we've got a pheasant by James Stinton of the same pattern.
0:33:19 > 0:33:22"But it's 1930, does that matter?" Well, I don't think it does, really.
0:33:22 > 0:33:24What do you like about it?
0:33:24 > 0:33:29- Well, I think it's just the colours and they look so lifelike.- Yeah.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31That's exactly... Hit the nail on the head.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34- Do you know my favourite?- Which?
0:33:34 > 0:33:39- Yeah.- Ptarmigan.- Yeah.- I think they are absolutely wonderful.
0:33:39 > 0:33:43- Have you had these on display or...? - Yes, in a glass cabinet.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46So that begs the question, why are you selling them?
0:33:46 > 0:33:48- Because we've downsized. - Oh, have you?
0:33:48 > 0:33:49Did you pay much money for them?
0:33:49 > 0:33:52- Well, a few thousand. - A few thousand pounds, yeah.- Yeah.
0:33:52 > 0:33:54- But you're happy to sell them? - Yes, yeah.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57So I think the sensible estimate is 600 to 800,
0:33:57 > 0:33:59tuck it in below 1,000.
0:33:59 > 0:34:01We'll need a reserve on them.
0:34:01 > 0:34:04We're not going to let some bounder get away with these for nothing.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07- So I think we'll put a reserve of £600.- Yeah.
0:34:07 > 0:34:09Are you happy with that?
0:34:09 > 0:34:12- Yeah, yeah. - Will you be sorry to see them go?
0:34:12 > 0:34:16- Um, yeah, I will, but I've got other things to look at.- Have you?
0:34:16 > 0:34:19- Well, lovely. We'll get you as much money as we can.- Yeah.
0:34:19 > 0:34:22- Thank you so much for bringing them along.- OK, my pleasure.
0:34:24 > 0:34:28Next, Christina has selected an autograph album.
0:34:28 > 0:34:31Sandra, I have to be perfectly honest with you, when one of these
0:34:31 > 0:34:34normally lands on my desk, I think, "Oh, dear!"
0:34:34 > 0:34:36Cos it's normally full of people that I've never really heard of.
0:34:36 > 0:34:39- Yeah.- But this is fantastic, isn't it?!- Yes, it is.
0:34:39 > 0:34:40Look inside here!
0:34:40 > 0:34:42You've got some really daring people,
0:34:42 > 0:34:45some really diverse characters as well.
0:34:45 > 0:34:47You've got this wonderful chap called Hearn,
0:34:47 > 0:34:50- who looks relatively unassuming there.- He does, actually, yeah.
0:34:50 > 0:34:53And then we turn a few pages, and look what he's doing!
0:34:53 > 0:34:56He's doing wonderful acrobats and wing walking,
0:34:56 > 0:34:57and it's just fantastic.
0:34:57 > 0:35:02And it's chock-a-block full of some fascinating individuals.
0:35:02 > 0:35:03She was a very interesting woman.
0:35:03 > 0:35:05Well, how on earth did you come by it?
0:35:05 > 0:35:09- Well, she was my neighbour for 25 years.- Right.
0:35:09 > 0:35:12- The owner of this?- Yes. And she died at 91.
0:35:12 > 0:35:16- She left it me in the will with some other things.- Oh, really?
0:35:16 > 0:35:19- But she was a lovely woman, very knowledgeable woman.- Really?
0:35:19 > 0:35:23So often I see autograph collections collected at a specific place
0:35:23 > 0:35:27or of a specific group of people, but these seem to be quite sporadic.
0:35:27 > 0:35:30- Did she specialise in anything in particular?- No, no.
0:35:30 > 0:35:32No, she used to work at the Morecambe theatre.
0:35:32 > 0:35:36- Oh, OK.- So she knew the manager that ran the Morecambe theatre.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38He allowed her to collect autographs.
0:35:38 > 0:35:39And that makes perfect sense now
0:35:39 > 0:35:42because it is chock-a-block full of sort of music hall characters.
0:35:42 > 0:35:44- And we've got George Formby there. - Yes.
0:35:44 > 0:35:47"Now I'm cleaning windows!" Bless him.
0:35:47 > 0:35:51- So they all seem to be sort of 1935, 1936.- That's right, yeah.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54- So they've got some quite serious age to them, really.- Yes.
0:35:54 > 0:35:55Which is your favourite?
0:35:55 > 0:35:59I personally like them all because I find it really fascinating,
0:35:59 > 0:36:02especially the fact that I know the neighbour anyway,
0:36:02 > 0:36:04and she was a very interesting woman.
0:36:04 > 0:36:08- Yeah, quite. 91 when she passed?- She was 91 when she died.- Goodness me.
0:36:08 > 0:36:10- And obviously, a good neighbour. - She was wonderful.- Yeah.
0:36:10 > 0:36:14- I wish she was still here, actually.- Aw. I bet you do.
0:36:14 > 0:36:15Yes, she was lovely.
0:36:15 > 0:36:18So, it's a difficult thing to put a value on because there are
0:36:18 > 0:36:20so many different signatures in here.
0:36:20 > 0:36:21- Yes, I know.- Autographs in here.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24We've totted them all up and we're probably looking
0:36:24 > 0:36:29- somewhere in the region of about £200 to £300 at auction.- Yeah.
0:36:29 > 0:36:30How would you feel about that?
0:36:30 > 0:36:33- That's fine.- Is that all right? - Yes, that's fine.
0:36:33 > 0:36:34Would you like us to put a reserve on them
0:36:34 > 0:36:36or would you just like us to let them go?
0:36:36 > 0:36:37No, I would like a reserve.
0:36:37 > 0:36:40OK, so we're legally bound to set the reserve at the low
0:36:40 > 0:36:43- estimate or lower.- Yeah.- So in this case, obviously, it would be £200.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46I think we should do 200 with some discretion, should we need it.
0:36:46 > 0:36:49- Yes, that's fine.- Would that be all right?- That's fine.- Splendid.
0:36:55 > 0:36:58Well, that's it, our work is done here at Ragley Hall,
0:36:58 > 0:37:01our magnificent valuation day venue.
0:37:01 > 0:37:05Our experts have now found their final items to take off to auction,
0:37:05 > 0:37:07and I think this venue has certainly done us proud.
0:37:07 > 0:37:09We're excited about what we found.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12And hopefully, we're going to have that big surprise I promised you.
0:37:12 > 0:37:14We're going straight over to Bigwood's saleroom,
0:37:14 > 0:37:17and here's a quick recap of all the items we're taking with us.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22Deacon Gwen and Jackie need a new entrance to their church,
0:37:22 > 0:37:24so this collection of brooches,
0:37:24 > 0:37:26with no reserve, is there to go.
0:37:29 > 0:37:32Next, we have the best of Worcester served up on a plate,
0:37:32 > 0:37:33or rather a set of 12,
0:37:33 > 0:37:35to be precise.
0:37:36 > 0:37:38There are autograph albums and autograph albums,
0:37:38 > 0:37:41but Christina thinks this one is a good one.
0:37:41 > 0:37:43We'll just have to wait and see.
0:37:47 > 0:37:49Next, we need lots of money for a good cause,
0:37:49 > 0:37:51so, everybody, cross your fingers.
0:37:51 > 0:37:53Are we all done?
0:37:53 > 0:37:57Gwen and Jackie, we are pinning all our hopes on these brooches.
0:37:57 > 0:38:01- 24 brooches, all donated to the church.- That's right.
0:38:01 > 0:38:06It's for Studley Methodist Church, and it's to raise £125,000.
0:38:06 > 0:38:10This is a small collection of brooches that were given to us
0:38:10 > 0:38:13- to help with that building fund. - Every penny helps.- 125?
0:38:13 > 0:38:15I don't think they're going to make 125,000.
0:38:15 > 0:38:17Hey, look, this is a good starting point, isn't it?
0:38:17 > 0:38:18How long will you be at the church for?
0:38:18 > 0:38:20Cos I know you have to move around a lot.
0:38:20 > 0:38:23Yes, I've been on the Methodist circuit for four years here
0:38:23 > 0:38:26at Bromsgrove and Redditch, and I'll be here for another six years.
0:38:26 > 0:38:28Jackie, how long have you been involved with the church?
0:38:28 > 0:38:32Well, I've been in Studley for four years with Gwen,
0:38:32 > 0:38:37but I've sort of moved around with her. I'm like her little Alice.
0:38:37 > 0:38:41- If she's the Vicar of Dibley, I'm her Alice.- Brilliant.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44Well, hopefully, someone that loves costume jewellery or something
0:38:44 > 0:38:46like that, or has a textiles collections, will buy these.
0:38:46 > 0:38:48- Absolutely.- They're going under the hammer right now.
0:38:48 > 0:38:53This selection of costume jewellery, 24 pieces in all. £30?
0:38:53 > 0:38:54For the whole lot?
0:38:54 > 0:38:57- Come on, we need the money. - Come on.- 30, thank you.
0:38:57 > 0:38:59Lots of hands going up in the air.
0:38:59 > 0:39:0235. 37? 37. And 40?
0:39:02 > 0:39:04And five?
0:39:04 > 0:39:06- And 50. And five.- Yes!- Fantastic!
0:39:06 > 0:39:1050 with the lady, I'll take five from anyone else. Five. And 60?
0:39:10 > 0:39:11- Yes!- And five.
0:39:11 > 0:39:1460 I have standing in the middle. Anyone else?
0:39:14 > 0:39:16All done at £60?
0:39:16 > 0:39:19Yes! The hammer's gone down. £60, that's brilliant, isn't it?
0:39:19 > 0:39:23- Very good.- It all helps, so that's fantastic.- And I hope you succeed.
0:39:23 > 0:39:25And I'm sure you will.
0:39:25 > 0:39:29- Yeah.- Well, every little bit helps.
0:39:29 > 0:39:34And now time to see if we can sign off on Sandra's autograph album.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36I'm pleased I didn't value this next lot.
0:39:36 > 0:39:39Christina, you're very brave. This is a tough one to put a price on.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42- Very tough.- Very tough. - It is a very, very niche market.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45And I know your next-door neighbour gave this to you 25 years ago?
0:39:45 > 0:39:47What have you done with it over the last 25 years?
0:39:47 > 0:39:50- It's just been in a drawer, actually.- Just hidden away?- Yeah.
0:39:50 > 0:39:52And it just comes out occasionally.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55- You absolutely wanted the £200 reserve, didn't you?- Hm.- Which...
0:39:55 > 0:39:57- I see, that dictates the price. - That dictates the price.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00I'm not sure whether we'll get that 200, but hopefully...
0:40:00 > 0:40:02- Yes, I know.- You just don't know. You just don't know.
0:40:02 > 0:40:05That's the beauty of an auction, anything can happen.
0:40:05 > 0:40:06Let's put this to the test. Here we go.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09I've got a bid, and I can start here on the book at £200.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12- Fantastic!- 200, anybody else?
0:40:12 > 0:40:15210. I'll go 220. 240?
0:40:15 > 0:40:17- 260. 280.- I can't believe it.
0:40:17 > 0:40:19- Fantastic.- That's wonderful!
0:40:19 > 0:40:20340. 360.
0:40:20 > 0:40:23340 on the book. Anybody else?
0:40:23 > 0:40:25- 340!- All done at 340?
0:40:25 > 0:40:27Yes!
0:40:27 > 0:40:31- Fantastic!- You set the reserve, well done.- Yeah.
0:40:31 > 0:40:35- That's wonderful.- £340, Sandra. - That's very good, yeah.- Yeah.
0:40:35 > 0:40:39- Are you happy?- Very, yes.- Good. - I didn't think it would actually
0:40:39 > 0:40:42- do that well, to be honest. - No, me neither. That's fantastic.
0:40:42 > 0:40:44There's only one thing left to say, really - job done!
0:40:44 > 0:40:46THEY LAUGH
0:40:46 > 0:40:49That's the stuff! And now for that fabulous set of Worcester.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54Our next lot is a bit of a mix-match, really.
0:40:54 > 0:40:56It is 12 Royal Worcester plates,
0:40:56 > 0:40:58but in my opinion, it's 12 works of art.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01All hand-painted by James Stinton.
0:41:01 > 0:41:05But I'm sure the Royal Worcester collectors will love this, Patricia.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07And I know you were a big fan, weren't you?
0:41:07 > 0:41:09- You bought these ten years ago?- Yes.
0:41:09 > 0:41:11I know, Charlie, you put these in at around £600.
0:41:11 > 0:41:15- Yeah.- I'd like to see them double that. I mean...- 600 to 800.
0:41:15 > 0:41:17I have to say, even in front of Patricia,
0:41:17 > 0:41:21- if they fall much short of 1,000, I will be a bit disappointed.- Yes.
0:41:21 > 0:41:24Having said that, Patricia doesn't want them back.
0:41:24 > 0:41:26They're in a cupboard, so we put £600 on them.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29Thank goodness they were in a cupboard, you've looked after them.
0:41:29 > 0:41:31- Well, yeah. - THEY LAUGH
0:41:31 > 0:41:34Let's put it to the test, let's find out what they're worth. Here we go.
0:41:34 > 0:41:36James Stinton set of Royal Worcester porcelain bone
0:41:36 > 0:41:38China ornamental plates.
0:41:38 > 0:41:39And I've got an opening bid
0:41:39 > 0:41:41on the book here at £500.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44At 500. At 500. 550.
0:41:44 > 0:41:45550. 600.
0:41:45 > 0:41:47600 at the back.
0:41:47 > 0:41:48600 standing at the back.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50650 of the phone. 700.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53- That's better!- 750? 750 on the net.
0:41:53 > 0:41:55- 800 at the back. 800 in the room.- Come on.
0:41:55 > 0:42:00800 at the back of the room. Is it 850 on the net or on the phone?
0:42:00 > 0:42:03- 850 on the phone.- Come on, now they're fighting it out.
0:42:03 > 0:42:04Let's get £1,000, please!
0:42:04 > 0:42:07It's 900 in the room.
0:42:07 > 0:42:09900 at the back of the room.
0:42:09 > 0:42:11950 here. 1,000?
0:42:11 > 0:42:13- 1,000 in the room. - Come on, come on, a bit more.
0:42:13 > 0:42:141,000 in the room.
0:42:14 > 0:42:18- 1,050. 1,100. - Every bit counts.- It does.
0:42:18 > 0:42:211,100, back of the room, and I'm going to sell it.
0:42:21 > 0:42:23Last chance and done.
0:42:23 > 0:42:25- They've gone, they've gone. - They've gone, yeah.
0:42:25 > 0:42:27Yeah, and I hope somebody can enjoy them.
0:42:27 > 0:42:29Wow, that was a good one. Well done.
0:42:31 > 0:42:34And they went over that £1,000 mark. Fantastic!
0:42:36 > 0:42:3917 at the back of the room. I've got 1,800 here.
0:42:39 > 0:42:4219, sir? 19. Are we done?
0:42:43 > 0:42:45Well, that's it, it's all over for us.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48Another day in another saleroom and some happy owners.
0:42:48 > 0:42:49And that's what it's all about.
0:42:49 > 0:42:51We've thoroughly enjoyed being here
0:42:51 > 0:42:53and I hope you've enjoyed watching the show.
0:42:53 > 0:42:55If you've got anything you want to sell,
0:42:55 > 0:42:56we'd love to "Flog It!" for you.
0:42:56 > 0:42:59Bring it along to one of our valuation days.
0:42:59 > 0:43:03But until then, it's goodbye from all of us here at Bigwood's.