0:00:12 > 0:00:16Today, I'm at Llanerchaeron, a tranquil 18th-century country estate
0:00:16 > 0:00:19set in the heart of rural West Wales.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22Geographically, Llanerchaeron was built in an isolated spot,
0:00:22 > 0:00:26miles away from the hustle and bustle of any city.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28However, the man who built this was far better
0:00:28 > 0:00:30known for his work in London.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33The renowned Regency architect John Nash.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35A great favourite with the Royals.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37Welcome to Flog It!
0:01:01 > 0:01:03Today's show is a little bit different from the norm.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05We're going on tour across the country
0:01:05 > 0:01:09and revisiting some of the valuation days we've enjoyed from this series
0:01:09 > 0:01:12where you shared with us some of your most exciting stories
0:01:12 > 0:01:16and we took your collectables off to auction houses far and wide.
0:01:19 > 0:01:20We visited Muncaster Castle,
0:01:20 > 0:01:24a fabulous 13th-century stately home in Cumbria where hundreds
0:01:24 > 0:01:28of you turned up to meet our experts and have your treasures valued.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33We also took a trip to the Somerset seaside where we
0:01:33 > 0:01:36visited the Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40Here, an exceptional antique captured Catherine Southon's interest.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43This is probably the best example I've ever seen.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46It is a really special piece.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49And we travelled to the fabulous 19th-century Bowes Museum
0:01:49 > 0:01:54in County Durham where David Harper came across a rare find.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56- That sent shivers down my spine. - Yes, yeah.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59It's mind-blowing as an object.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01And finally, we paid a visit to the most complete Norman
0:02:01 > 0:02:05cathedral in England, the striking Norwich Cathedral in Norfolk.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14But before all that, I'm back at Llanerchaeron in rural West Wales which, today, is
0:02:14 > 0:02:17owned by the National Trust.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21Over the centuries, this house has remained virtually untouched
0:02:21 > 0:02:24which makes Llanerchaeron the most complete example of early
0:02:24 > 0:02:27work by the architect John Nash.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30Nash is more famed for his work in the 1800s with
0:02:30 > 0:02:34the remodelling of Buckingham Palace and Brighton Pavilion.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37However, earlier than that, in the 1780s,
0:02:37 > 0:02:42he beat a hasty retreat here to Wales after being made bankrupt.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46And it was here that Nash rebuilt his career by building
0:02:46 > 0:02:50several country villas for the Welsh gentry,
0:02:50 > 0:02:54including Llanerchaeron which was completed in 1795.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56The house is very pleasing from the front.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00It's got a stucco facade with a traditional slate roof.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Nash has employed some very clever techniques of symmetry here.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06If you look at the window, to the left of the main front door,
0:03:06 > 0:03:08you can't actually see through the glass.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12That's the dining room inside there. So, by adding that false window,
0:03:12 > 0:03:14he's created symmetry.
0:03:14 > 0:03:15It's now balanced.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19And later in the programme, I'll be returning here to
0:03:19 > 0:03:23Llanerchaeron to admire more of John Nash's superb architecture.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30But before that, we start our valuations
0:03:30 > 0:03:34from around the country by crossing the border into England to the
0:03:34 > 0:03:36impressive Norwich Cathedral in Norfolk.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38In the magnificent nave,
0:03:38 > 0:03:42Thomas Plant found an item that was as impressive as the setting.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47Tell me, do you have royal connections?
0:03:47 > 0:03:51No, I would like to have had but apart from liking royal
0:03:51 > 0:03:54blue as a colour, I don't think I have any blue blood in me.
0:03:54 > 0:03:59But why have you got this quite interesting item of jewellery,
0:03:59 > 0:04:04a brooch cum pendant which relates to the British Royal Family?
0:04:04 > 0:04:06My mother-in-law owned it,
0:04:06 > 0:04:09and it would have been bought from the shop
0:04:09 > 0:04:13there that is in the town where they lived and I don't know
0:04:13 > 0:04:17if she bought it herself or got her husband to buy it for her.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21This cypher here, this royal cypher with the Princess Crown
0:04:21 > 0:04:27and these Ls is for Princess Marie Louise who was a
0:04:27 > 0:04:29granddaughter of Queen Victoria.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33Her mother was the fifth child of Queen Victoria.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36It's an extraordinary thing to be released onto the open market.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39In our world, we do see it.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43Bits of royal commemorative get given to ladies-in-waiting and then they get sold on.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47Because they need a bit of money.
0:04:47 > 0:04:52This is what I believe has happened here. This is Essex intaglio.
0:04:52 > 0:04:58Essex intaglio is our word for a piece of reverse-painted rock crystal.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01So it's been engraved in the mirror image, in the reverse,
0:05:01 > 0:05:02and then painted.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05So it's an immensely complicated thing to do.
0:05:05 > 0:05:11To actually engrave in the reverse to make it look good on the dome.
0:05:12 > 0:05:17And the way it's domed makes the actual image bigger.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20It magnifies it and because it's rock crystal,
0:05:20 > 0:05:24- it doesn't scratch as easily as glass.- Oh, right.
0:05:24 > 0:05:29It's encased in gold with these little cabochons of lapis lazuli.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31Now, tell me, have you worn it?
0:05:31 > 0:05:36I have. As a brooch, it's all right but quite heavy
0:05:36 > 0:05:39- and you need the appropriate garment to have it on.- Yeah.
0:05:39 > 0:05:44- As a pendant, it's also quite heavy and it sort of swings.- Yeah.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46I'd rather have something flatter.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50Reverse-painted intaglios are quite popular
0:05:50 > 0:05:52- because they're complicated things to do.- Mm. Mm.
0:05:52 > 0:05:57Normally, you see pictures of foxes, game birds,
0:05:57 > 0:05:59vices for men
0:05:59 > 0:06:01- cos they could be cufflinks.- Yes.
0:06:01 > 0:06:06- Because this has a royal connection, it has something else.- Good.
0:06:06 > 0:06:07I think it's rather lovely.
0:06:07 > 0:06:12So, therefore, instead of being worth 150, £200.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14I think it's worth between 300 and £500.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18- And I think we, sort of, reserve it at the £300.- Right.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21- Are you happy with that?- Very much, yes, yes.- It's worth every penny.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23Lovely. I'm very pleased, thank you.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29Next, we travelled north from Norwich Cathedral to
0:06:29 > 0:06:33our valuation day at the impressive Muncaster Castle in Cumbria.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35Hundreds of you turned up with your collectables
0:06:35 > 0:06:39but Adam Partridge found a quiet spot away from the crowds to
0:06:39 > 0:06:41prove some pictures that wouldn't have looked
0:06:41 > 0:06:44out of place on the castle walls.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47Margaret, many thanks for coming along to "Flog It!" today.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50It's lovely to be here in the serenity of this beautiful
0:06:50 > 0:06:52library and you brought things here that really
0:06:52 > 0:06:54attracted my interest for a number of reasons.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56I mean, firstly, I'm based in Macclesfield
0:06:56 > 0:06:59- and that's known as the silk town. - Oh, yes.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02And we see lots of woven silks but these ones aren't from Macclesfield.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06- These are from another very famous silk town, Coventry.- Oh.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10Made in Coventry by Thomas Stevens who invented this
0:07:10 > 0:07:16process of these woven silk pictures which were called Stevengraphs...
0:07:16 > 0:07:18- Yes, yes.- ..in the, sort of, 1860s or thereabouts.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22He would have mechanised this process where, previously,
0:07:22 > 0:07:25silks and things were all hand embroidered
0:07:25 > 0:07:28and this was now the age of industry.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31So, in Coventry, Stevens would have set up his machines to have
0:07:31 > 0:07:34churned these out, certain amounts of threads and colours
0:07:34 > 0:07:39and the intricacy of these machines is quite incredible, really.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43- Very clever.- Very clever, indeed, yeah. Where did you get yours from?
0:07:43 > 0:07:45Well, I inherited them from my mother.
0:07:45 > 0:07:50And my mother bought them in a country house in Yorkshire.
0:07:50 > 0:07:55This would have been about 1935 or something like that.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58- Gosh.- Yeah.- And that's the days of the country house sale...- Yeah.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00..where you could go along and places like this would be
0:08:00 > 0:08:03- up for sale, wouldn't they and some...?- Oh, yes, yes.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07And you could buy really museum-quality objects.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11- Plus an awful lot of bits and bobs and you know.- That's right, yes.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14- The curtains and bedding... - Yes.- ..and all sorts of things.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17So, these then became furnishings in your family home, did they?
0:08:17 > 0:08:20- Yes, oh, yes, very much so, yes.- Mm. And you have memories of them?
0:08:20 > 0:08:22- Hanging there in the hall, yes... - Yeah, lovely.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26- ..when I was very small. - Well, you've got two pairs.
0:08:26 > 0:08:31- You've got the hunting pair...- Yeah. - ..which is The Meet...- Yes. - ..followed by The Death.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33These are slightly faded
0:08:33 > 0:08:36so maybe these ones were in the sunlight a bit more
0:08:36 > 0:08:40but, of course, they're of an age so you expect them to be slightly...
0:08:40 > 0:08:42But when you move over to the horse racing ones...
0:08:42 > 0:08:45- Do you see how bright and vivid the colours are...- Yes, yes, yes.
0:08:45 > 0:08:46..in comparison?
0:08:46 > 0:08:49And here we have The Start and The Finish,
0:08:49 > 0:08:51and the one I found the most interesting,
0:08:51 > 0:08:52the one you don't see as often, I think,
0:08:52 > 0:08:57and the slightly rarer one, is The Last Lap which is this one here.
0:08:57 > 0:08:58The penny-farthings.
0:08:58 > 0:09:03- That's your best one and I think that one's worth 50 or £80.- Yes.
0:09:03 > 0:09:07And then, that's... The pair's going to be 50 or £80 there again
0:09:07 > 0:09:09- and those may be slightly less.- Yes.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13So, as a group estimate, I would say 100 to 150.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15Can I ask you why you've decided to sell them?
0:09:15 > 0:09:17- Do you have them on display at home?- No.
0:09:17 > 0:09:22- I haven't got that sort of house, no.- So where do they live? - Under the bed.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24Under the bed.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27Well, where else would you keep some 19th-century...
0:09:27 > 0:09:30- Yes.- ..Stevengraphs? - They're just sitting there now.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32- I said I'd treat the grandchildren. - Oh.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35- How many grandchildren do you have? - Seven.- Seven.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38Oh, well, let's hope they make at least 140 so they get £20 each.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41- Yes, yes.- That leaves nothing for you though, does it?
0:09:41 > 0:09:44- THEY LAUGH - Well, I'm delighted that you've brought them along.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47It's really nice to see these sorts of things
0:09:47 > 0:09:50and we'll look forward to seeing how they go at the auction.
0:09:50 > 0:09:51Thank you very much.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01Margaret's embroidery shares something in common with Llanerchaeron.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03The preoccupation with the hunt.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06As you can see here in the dining room, it's literally stuffed
0:10:06 > 0:10:07full of items of taxidermy.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10All shot locally by the family who lived here.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14But what interests me about this room is Nash's subtle
0:10:14 > 0:10:15but clever design.
0:10:15 > 0:10:21This far wall is dominated by this magnificent mahogany buffet.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24Now, that backs on to a false window.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28The false window we saw earlier at the front of the house...
0:10:28 > 0:10:31Nash created that to add perfect symmetry
0:10:31 > 0:10:35and that theme has been carried on through to the inside of the house
0:10:35 > 0:10:40and there's a lovely example here in the dining room with these two doors.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43Now, the door I walked through leads to the entrance hall
0:10:43 > 0:10:45and the staircase. Where does this door go?
0:10:46 > 0:10:50Let's find out. Well, it doesn't go anywhere. Look at that.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52It's a shallow cupboard.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56Now, Nash added this door to create harmony
0:10:56 > 0:10:57and symmetry in this room.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03Nash also designed numerous plasterwork friezes,
0:11:03 > 0:11:05the cornices where the ceiling meets the wall.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08Beautiful, intricate, delicate detail.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11Just look at this example in the dining room with the flower
0:11:11 > 0:11:14and beadwork. It is exquisite.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17No two rooms in the house have the same design.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19That's attention to detail.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31Across the border in England at our valuation
0:11:31 > 0:11:33day at the 19th-century Bowes Museum
0:11:33 > 0:11:37in County Durham, Elizabeth Talbot came across an item that had been
0:11:37 > 0:11:42crafted with painstaking care just like Nash's interiors back in Wales.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47Stuart, you brought a very smart wristwatch in here
0:11:47 > 0:11:48today which is very eye-catching.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50What can you tell me about your watch?
0:11:50 > 0:11:52It originally belonged to my uncle who
0:11:52 > 0:11:56- had a hotel on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland.- Ah.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59He was quite a well-to-do chap
0:11:59 > 0:12:02so I'd imagine at the time it was quite an expensive watch.
0:12:02 > 0:12:07He died, I think, in 1965 when the watch was bequeathed
0:12:07 > 0:12:11- to my father and my father wore it, I think, quite rarely.- Right.
0:12:11 > 0:12:16I don't think he was particularly interested in jewellery as such.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20He died in 1968 when he passed to me.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23I've worn it probably even less than my father did.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26To me, it's quite old-fashioned. It's certainly old-fashioned for today.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29- Yes.- And I prefer a more modern-looking watch.
0:12:29 > 0:12:30Well, what we have failed to mention
0:12:30 > 0:12:33- so far is that it's a Jaeger-LeCoultre watch.- Yes, uh-huh.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37- So the name is a quite...- Yes, yes.- ..magical name within the world of watches.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40But interestingly, you mention it's quite old-fashioned
0:12:40 > 0:12:44- but it's just at the time when people are appreciating... - Yes, yes.- ..vintage
0:12:44 > 0:12:48- wristwatches...- Yes.- ..and there's quite a collector's market...- Yes. - ..for them.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51It's in a very straightforward, very classy but stainless steel case.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53The case is not gold or silver or anything.
0:12:53 > 0:12:58The oyster-coloured face is quite worn which indicates that the
0:12:58 > 0:12:59- original owner...- Yes, yes.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03..your uncle, will have cherished it and worn it and enjoyed it.
0:13:03 > 0:13:07It was intended to be one of Jaeger-LeCoultre's probably very
0:13:07 > 0:13:11classy but more day-to-day type watches of their range.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14But interestingly, it has what's called a bumper movement in it.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16Do you know much about the bumper movement?
0:13:16 > 0:13:20I think I refer to the fact that it's the mechanism is automatic,
0:13:20 > 0:13:24- just the movement of the hand. - Yes, it is an early form of automatic movement.
0:13:24 > 0:13:25I noticed the bumper movement
0:13:25 > 0:13:28because it has a little mechanism inside which tends to
0:13:28 > 0:13:31bounce off two little springs, which is quite quaint.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33The watchstrap,
0:13:33 > 0:13:36you might know this already, is later, obviously.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38So, in terms of its condition, it's showing its age
0:13:38 > 0:13:41and its age is probably somewhere from the, sort of...
0:13:41 > 0:13:43- 1950s.- ..early to mid '30s. Yeah, to 1950s.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45So, it's a good period of watch-making.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48It's very classic, very stylish and quite understated
0:13:48 > 0:13:52and for some people, that's just the type of watch they would love to wear.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55Given the fact it's got the good name, very collectable.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58It has some damage which will mark it down.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02- I think I can see this being in the region of about £200 to £300.- Yes.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05And if you're happy with that, we can put a reserve on of, say, 200.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08- Yes, absolutely fine.- And we'll see you at the auction.- Yes, thank you.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10That will be lovely. Well, thanks so much for coming in.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15And that's it for our first lot of items as it's time to find out
0:14:15 > 0:14:16if they were a hit with the bidders
0:14:16 > 0:14:20when we took them to the different salerooms across the country.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22Remember, at every auction there is always commission
0:14:22 > 0:14:25and VAT to pay, whether you're buying or selling.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31Margaret's five beautiful silk pictures by Thomas Stevens
0:14:31 > 0:14:33wouldn't have looked out of place if they'd been
0:14:33 > 0:14:37hung on the walls of our valuation day at Muncaster Castle.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41In Norwich Cathedral, Thomas Plant was bowled over by Jill's
0:14:41 > 0:14:45rock crystal brooch which had a connection to the monarchy but
0:14:45 > 0:14:48did it get a right royal reception when it went under the hammer?
0:14:50 > 0:14:53Stuart's inherited Jaeger wristwatch was a fantastic
0:14:53 > 0:14:55vintage piece with a bumper movement
0:14:55 > 0:14:57and Elizabeth Talbot was over the moon
0:14:57 > 0:15:00when she saw it come through the doors of the Bowes Museum.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06First, let's find out what happened
0:15:06 > 0:15:09when we took Margaret's silk pictures to Thomson Roddick & Medcalf
0:15:09 > 0:15:12salesroom in Carlisle where
0:15:12 > 0:15:15auctioneer Steven Parkinson was on the rostrum.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19Margaret, thanks for coming along today. It's good to see you again.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22Have you been up to anything exciting since the valuation day?
0:15:22 > 0:15:24Coming up out here is a very exciting day.
0:15:24 > 0:15:29- It is, actually. I love what you're wearing. It's very colourful.- I do too.- It's good, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32Well, look, we're going to sell these five Coventry silks.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35I like these and we've seen them on the show before and they always make
0:15:35 > 0:15:36pretty good money.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39Let's put it to the test right now. This is it.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44We've got these five Victorian woven silk Stevengraphs here.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47A lot of interest here. I can start the bidding with me at 60 bid.
0:15:47 > 0:15:48At £60.
0:15:48 > 0:15:54At 60 bid. 60. 65. 70. 75. 80. 85.
0:15:54 > 0:16:00At 100. At 100. 110. 120. At 120. 130. It's back then. 130. 140.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03- 140 in the room.- Hm, great.- At 140.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05At 140. Are we all done? At 140.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07At 140.
0:16:07 > 0:16:08Yeah, spot-on, Adam. £140.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10I'm pleased we got it right and hopefully,
0:16:10 > 0:16:12you're pleased with the result.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14- Well done. Thank you for bringing them in.- Thank you.
0:16:14 > 0:16:15Pleasure, thanks for coming.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20A solid result to get us off the mark.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23Next, we stayed in Cumbria for the sale of Stuart's Jaeger
0:16:23 > 0:16:27wristwatch. But we headed over to 1818 Auctioneers in South Lakeland.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32Welding the gavel was auctioneer Kevin Kendal.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36We have a Jaeger stainless steel watch belonging to Stuart.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40Sadly, he can't be with us today but we do have our expert Elizabeth.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43It looks more like a ladies watch.
0:16:43 > 0:16:44It's got a really small face on it.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47Yes, but I think the period it was made that was very much the fashion
0:16:47 > 0:16:50- to have the...- Sure.- ..smaller watch faces and actually they're coming back.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53Because I know young ladies, so-called, sort of, the 20
0:16:53 > 0:16:55to 30-year-olds like the big dials now...
0:16:55 > 0:16:58- Yeah, they're nice and functional and chunky...- ..rather than the small ones?
0:16:58 > 0:17:01Yeah, so... Right, OK. Fingers crossed.
0:17:01 > 0:17:02We got a buyer in the room.
0:17:04 > 0:17:10Lot 510. The Jaeger-LeCoultre. Let's start at a sensible £100.
0:17:10 > 0:17:18£100 bid to tempt you in now. 110. 120. 130. 140. 150. 160. 170.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20170 without the internet.
0:17:20 > 0:17:21170 without the internet.
0:17:21 > 0:17:27180 on the internet now. 180. 180. 180 now. 180. 190 on the internet.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29I think we're going to sell-out here at 190.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32190 will sell away, on my head be it, and the sell then,
0:17:32 > 0:17:35if you're all done, at 190.
0:17:35 > 0:17:39- Gone. Just.- Just.- Just.- Oh, 190.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42- Well.- That was close.- It was very close.- That was really close.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45- I think Stuart would agree that he would let it go for the extra £10... - I think so.- ..if
0:17:45 > 0:17:49- he was here but I think the auctioneer persuaded us there, don't you?- I think so.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52Good auctioneer. Yes, good auctioneer.
0:17:52 > 0:17:53When he heard the news,
0:17:53 > 0:17:56Stuart was pleased with the amount that his Jaeger wristwatch fetched.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03Finally, we left Cumbria behind us and travelled south to
0:18:03 > 0:18:08Norfolk to TW Gaze in Diss to sell Jill's rock crystal brooch.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10The man we hoped would do the business was auctioneer
0:18:10 > 0:18:12Robert Kinsella.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16- We have a royal connection with this next lot.- We do, actually, yes.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19It's that lovely rock crystal brooch with the reverse painting.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21- How did you come by this? - It was my mother-in-law's.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25- This is a hard thing to value. There's no book price for it. - No, there are no book prices for it
0:18:25 > 0:18:29for intaglio crystals but they are quite popular. With the royal connection,
0:18:29 > 0:18:32- it's a beautifully made piece.- About three to five still?- Three to five.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35Three to five, here we go. Thomas is spot-on the money, hopefully. Here we go.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41It's a 15-carat gold rock crystal, royal cypher brooch there.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45We're going to have to start here at £200. I'll take 20.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48The brooch is in at £200, the bid. 200 bid. Is there 20 anywhere?
0:18:48 > 0:18:54At 200 I'll start. 220. 240. 260. 280. 300 I have and I'm out.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57- 300 all right. Sold.- Just.- 300 on the next now. £300 bid.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00Any advance anywhere at 300?
0:19:00 > 0:19:01Yes, hammer's gone down.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03Well done, Thomas. £300.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06- Fair enough. That was fun.- That's good. That's a great result.- Yeah.
0:19:06 > 0:19:0860. 85 is left.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10Well, that's it for our first auctions
0:19:10 > 0:19:12but we'll be returning to the valuation days
0:19:12 > 0:19:15and salerooms across the country later on in the show.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18But before that, I'm heading back to West Wales.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33Back in the 18th century, Llanerchaeron was a self-sufficient estate.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36It was at the cutting edge of local agriculture.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39It had the most modern farm buildings and with hunting
0:19:39 > 0:19:42and fishing on the land, it could supply all its own needs.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49Today, Llanerchaeron is exceptional in that many of the areas which
0:19:49 > 0:19:53allowed it to be self-sufficient remain in their original form.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55Visitors come to learn about this way of life
0:19:55 > 0:19:59and to see the working areas which made it possible such as the
0:19:59 > 0:20:05walled garden, cow shed threshing barn and stables to name but a few.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09All of the food that was grown, reared or caught on the estate
0:20:09 > 0:20:13was brought here. The service area courtyard.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15It's situated behind the house
0:20:15 > 0:20:19and it played a vital role in keeping the estate self-sufficient.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22Like the house, this area was also designed by the architect
0:20:22 > 0:20:26John Nash but it's not like other service areas you'll find
0:20:26 > 0:20:31in other British country houses. This one is in the Italianate style.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34And you can see it, can't you?
0:20:34 > 0:20:36It fends off the elements and it seemed to work rather
0:20:36 > 0:20:39well considering West Wales is a long way from Italy.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41But it sheltered the staff
0:20:41 > 0:20:44and the servants as they walked from preparation room to kitchen
0:20:44 > 0:20:49to dairy by virtue of these rather large, overhanging eaves.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53You can see it there, look. Also, I really like this.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57This Herringbone-patterned floor made out of local pebbles picked up
0:20:57 > 0:21:00from the beach. It's a safe, practical working area.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03Not to mention a decorative delight.
0:21:08 > 0:21:09And these are the rooms
0:21:09 > 0:21:13where the milk was processed from the cows on the estate.
0:21:13 > 0:21:14Here is the scullery.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16Here is the old cheese pressroom.
0:21:16 > 0:21:21With this fabulous old press which was built in situ in this room and
0:21:21 > 0:21:24it's been here ever since because it's too big to go through
0:21:24 > 0:21:28the door now and here is the dairy where Hilary is hard at work.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35- Hello, Hilary.- Hello.- You're patting butter.- Yep, I'm just...
0:21:35 > 0:21:36I'm working the butter.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40It's the last part of the process just getting all that moisture out
0:21:40 > 0:21:41so that the butter will keep.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44How often would butter be made on the estate?
0:21:44 > 0:21:47They would be making it once a week, possibly twice a week.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51All the butter they made would be used then in the kitchens for baking and...
0:21:51 > 0:21:55- Cakes and things.- ..cakes and pastries, that sort of thing.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58Talk me through the process how this would've originally been done.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00Well, you start with the cream.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03You have to have cream to make butter and they would have used
0:22:03 > 0:22:05a cream separator like this.
0:22:05 > 0:22:06Then it's churned.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10- The whole thing just turns. And it's the motion...- Sure.- ..that creates the butter.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12And how long would you have to turn?
0:22:12 > 0:22:16- It would take about an hour.- Of just turning?- Of turning.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22Crikey. Once it starts to turn, it almost turns itself, really, doesn't it? It's the weight of it.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25- Yes, it's the momentum really... - Yeah.- ..that you need.- Mind you,
0:22:25 > 0:22:29- I wouldn't like to stand there and do that for an hour.- Yes.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31What happens next after you've done that?
0:22:31 > 0:22:35- You've got a lump of butter, basically.- You've got a lump of butter but you've also got a liquid.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38You've got the buttermilk so you really want to take the buttermilk out.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41So, you come back to where we started which is
0:22:41 > 0:22:43- working the butter.- OK, and that's nearly ready, isn't it?
0:22:43 > 0:22:45That's very nearly ready, yes.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50Like Llanerchaeron, many country houses in Britain would have
0:22:50 > 0:22:54had their own dairy but what other facilities were needed here
0:22:54 > 0:22:56to make the estate self-sufficient?
0:22:56 > 0:23:00To find out, I'm meeting Paddy Tranter, house steward.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04Because this place is so isolated, there's no close market town,
0:23:04 > 0:23:07did it become self-sufficient through necessity?
0:23:07 > 0:23:09If they wanted it, they had to provide it themselves.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12They could get some things brought in but as a rule,
0:23:12 > 0:23:16- they had to farm it, produce it and store it here...- Yeah.- ..at Llanerchaeron.- Yeah.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18And it became successful?
0:23:18 > 0:23:21It was very successful. Other estates were even buying produce
0:23:21 > 0:23:24from Llanerchaeron as there was always more than what they needed here on site.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26This was the bakehouse. They baked bread in here
0:23:26 > 0:23:30but they'd also be smoking meat hanging from the hooks up in the ceiling.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32Would they have made a lot of bread?
0:23:32 > 0:23:34They would have done, not only for the family
0:23:34 > 0:23:36but also the servants so there would have been
0:23:36 > 0:23:39a hive of activity out here to keep everybody fed.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42- And what sort of meats would hang up there?- Beef, lamb, pork.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46- But they'd also have access to a lot of game and fish on site as well. - Right.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48- So, anything they could get really. - Yeah.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50- And there's a lot of hooks up there. - A lot of mouths to feed.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52THEY LAUGH
0:23:59 > 0:24:00What takes place in there?
0:24:00 > 0:24:02This is the brewhouse
0:24:02 > 0:24:04so in here they'd brew a small beer that was
0:24:04 > 0:24:06safe to drink for all the servants
0:24:06 > 0:24:07and was better than the water
0:24:07 > 0:24:10but low enough in strength that they could carry on working
0:24:10 > 0:24:13and then a better quality beer for the family themselves.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17It's all very neat, isn't it? Everything has its place.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22John Nash's service courtyard also boasts a cheese store
0:24:22 > 0:24:24for maturing cheeses,
0:24:24 > 0:24:27a salting room where fresh meat was preserved with salt
0:24:27 > 0:24:29and brine in lead lined tanks
0:24:29 > 0:24:33and a dry laundry were damp clothes were pressed and dried.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35Llanerchaeron operated as a self-sufficient
0:24:35 > 0:24:39estate from the late 1700s until the early 1900s.
0:24:39 > 0:24:40During this period,
0:24:40 > 0:24:43there would have been an average of 11 servants in the house
0:24:43 > 0:24:47and a similar number of workers keeping the home farm running.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50There was also the kitchen garden which probably
0:24:50 > 0:24:53had around ten workers to tend it and grew all the fruit
0:24:53 > 0:24:56and vegetables that were consumed on the estate.
0:24:56 > 0:25:00This included some exotic examples such as pineapples
0:25:00 > 0:25:03and melons which were cultivated in the warmed glasshouse,
0:25:03 > 0:25:06the remains of which can still be seen today.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10Nash's Italianate servants' courtyard leads
0:25:10 > 0:25:14straight in to the main house. In fact, to this room, the scullery.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16And it would've been a hive of activity with servants
0:25:16 > 0:25:18coming and going.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20Food was brought in from the outside into here.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23It would've been processed or prepared.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26Food to be stored would've been kept in there.
0:25:26 > 0:25:27In the pantry.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30Food to be cooked that day would've been taken through to the
0:25:30 > 0:25:32kitchen which is through here.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38Nash designed the kitchen to be a ventilated, well-lit area and
0:25:38 > 0:25:41the majority of the cooking would have taken place in here
0:25:41 > 0:25:44and it looks like I'm in luck today because something's being made.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46- Hello, Rachel.- Hello. - What are you doing?
0:25:46 > 0:25:47I'm making Welsh cakes today.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50- They're more like biscuits, aren't they?- Yeah.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53They're a traditional Welsh recipe. They're made like a scone mixture.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57Dried fruit is added to it and then it's baked on a bake stone
0:25:57 > 0:26:00- on an open fire.- On the old range still?- On the range, yeah.
0:26:00 > 0:26:01Oh, that's nice, isn't it?
0:26:01 > 0:26:07- And it's...- Oh, yeah, that's hot. - ..it's typically eaten by the family and the servants because
0:26:07 > 0:26:10it's a quick treat that you can make and it can be baked on any fire.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12- Oh, would you like to try one? - Yes, can I?- I make them fresh.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16This is a great way to end my tour of the servants' quarters.
0:26:16 > 0:26:17- Thank you very much.- Thank you.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22Mm. Yummy. Thank you.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34Now we continue our journey around the country as we cross
0:26:34 > 0:26:37the border from Wales to England to visit our valuation
0:26:37 > 0:26:41day on the Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare in Somerset
0:26:41 > 0:26:43where Catherine Southon found an item,
0:26:43 > 0:26:46the like of which may have been used by Llanerchaeron's housekeeper.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51Well, Sue, we have an amazing contradiction here
0:26:51 > 0:26:54because we have this world of gadgets and machines
0:26:54 > 0:26:59and noise and then we have this wonderful piece here
0:26:59 > 0:27:05which has so many gadgets and is a late 19th-century chatelaine.
0:27:05 > 0:27:06Where does it come from?
0:27:06 > 0:27:09It was inherited from my grandmother
0:27:09 > 0:27:14and I think the nurse who is named in the thimble was actually...
0:27:14 > 0:27:15might have been her nurse.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18- Right, OK.- But I'm not sure about that.
0:27:18 > 0:27:23OK. A chatelaine was worn by the housekeeper. The lady of the house.
0:27:23 > 0:27:27Traditionally, late 19th-century Victorian England,
0:27:27 > 0:27:32She would have clipped this onto her belt, onto her dress and she would
0:27:32 > 0:27:36have had this around the house and this had her tools on.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40The things that she needed to get through the day.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43Of the chatelaines that I have seen over the years,
0:27:43 > 0:27:46this is probably the best example I've ever seen.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48It is a really special piece.
0:27:48 > 0:27:52So often, you see one or two or three pieces
0:27:52 > 0:27:56but this has got a really large selection of accoutrements.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00And also, because it's made by an important silversmith,
0:28:00 > 0:28:04Levi & Salaman. Now, they were known for making small tools.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07First of all, we've got this aide-memoire
0:28:07 > 0:28:09so that's where the lady of the house would've
0:28:09 > 0:28:13written down her little notes with the pencil there.
0:28:13 > 0:28:17Perhaps what she needed to get for that day, what washing she needed to do.
0:28:17 > 0:28:21Then, we've got the purse there for her pennies
0:28:21 > 0:28:24- and the scissors there which are really beautiful.- They are, yes.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26Really stunning.
0:28:26 > 0:28:31And as you mentioned earlier, here we have the thimble holder.
0:28:31 > 0:28:35Not sure that is the original thimble.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37Nevertheless, even as a thimble, it's a good one.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40It's by a good maker, Charles Horner.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43And you have got Nurse Cowman on it.
0:28:45 > 0:28:49- The pincushion.- It's slightly beaten up.
0:28:49 > 0:28:52The little bottle of scent.
0:28:52 > 0:28:57A penknife with a gorgeous Art Nouveau design on it.
0:28:57 > 0:28:59The pencil.
0:28:59 > 0:29:00And the tape measure.
0:29:00 > 0:29:02Everything is there.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05It really is beautifully designed
0:29:05 > 0:29:07To have everything there all at once.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10I mean, we have mobile phones now, don't we?
0:29:10 > 0:29:14- Well, yes, this is it.- It's not quite the same thing, is it? - It's not the same aura somehow.
0:29:14 > 0:29:17- So this has come down from your grandmother.- Yes.
0:29:17 > 0:29:22I think, probably, it belonged to the nurse of the family
0:29:22 > 0:29:26and when she departed left whatever. Grandmother acquired it.
0:29:26 > 0:29:28- So you think she may have had these?- I think so, yes.
0:29:28 > 0:29:32- I mean, some of the pieces may have been added later.- Yes.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35All of these with a very similar design, I think, were all
0:29:35 > 0:29:39part of the original chatelaine but there may be other items
0:29:39 > 0:29:41and that, of course, was the beauty of the chatelaine.
0:29:41 > 0:29:46You could add additional items but it's just wonderful to see
0:29:46 > 0:29:50all of this and equally important to see solid silver.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53A lot of them are individually hallmarked
0:29:53 > 0:29:56and that really does add to the price. And you're happy to sell it now?
0:29:56 > 0:30:00Yes, I think it would be a good idea for it to go to someone who could really appreciate it.
0:30:00 > 0:30:04Normally, you'll probably only get, sort of, £80 to £100 for them
0:30:04 > 0:30:09but I think this is the exception to the rule and I would go a lot higher on this one.
0:30:09 > 0:30:14- I would probably say in the region of £350 to £500. - Oh, wow.
0:30:14 > 0:30:15How does that sound?
0:30:17 > 0:30:21The last time I had it valued, it was valued at £80. So that is higher.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24Right. I think it's a bit better than £80.
0:30:24 > 0:30:26- Are you happy with that? - Yes, yes, that would be wonderful.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29- Shall we say £300 reserve?- Yes.
0:30:29 > 0:30:31- And let's hope that it goes to a good home.- Yes.
0:30:31 > 0:30:33- That's the most important.- Another housekeeper.
0:30:33 > 0:30:36- That's what we like. A good traditional housekeeper. - Yes, yes, yes.
0:30:36 > 0:30:40- Well, thank you very much. You've really made my day.- Thank you for your time.- Thank you.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45Next, we travelled east to revisit our valuation day at the glorious
0:30:45 > 0:30:48Norwich Cathedral where the crowds were still queueing
0:30:48 > 0:30:53for valuations and something shiny had caught Kate Bateman's eye.
0:30:53 > 0:30:56Gwen, what can you tell me about your item today?
0:30:56 > 0:30:59Well, it was inherited a long time ago
0:30:59 > 0:31:01and it's moved with us from house to house.
0:31:01 > 0:31:03We've recently moved again.
0:31:03 > 0:31:04Downsizing.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07Just, really, we don't need it and so that's...
0:31:07 > 0:31:09Well, there's not much call for cigarette cases nowadays.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12- No, that's the trouble. - It's a bit out of fashion.
0:31:12 > 0:31:14But on the plus side, when I first saw it, I thought,
0:31:14 > 0:31:17- "Oh, it's silver gilt." As in it's silver covered in gold.- Right.
0:31:17 > 0:31:21- Then, I opened it up and I got a pleasant surprise. - Right.
0:31:21 > 0:31:22Which was, it is solid gold.
0:31:22 > 0:31:25- So, here we go. 375. Nine-carat gold.- Mm-hm.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28And it's got your Birmingham hallmark on it there.
0:31:28 > 0:31:31- Which I think is 1927.- Right.
0:31:31 > 0:31:36And it's very cool and what's great about it is there's no initials.
0:31:36 > 0:31:38- Right.- Because that's a real downer.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41- Yes.- Anything that's monogrammed and it doesn't happen to
0:31:41 > 0:31:43- be your initials, really breaks on the selling.- Yes.
0:31:43 > 0:31:48It's quite nice. It's got a machined, you can see the, sort of, very geometric, machined,
0:31:48 > 0:31:52- circle pattern on the front...- Yes. - ..which when you, kind of, change the light, it's a nice texture.- Yes.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55- You're not tempted to keep hold of it?- No.
0:31:55 > 0:31:57You've heard that gold's pretty high right now?
0:31:57 > 0:32:02- I've absolutely no idea what... - It's a good time to sell gold.
0:32:02 > 0:32:05I mean, it's been going up. We've weighed it and it's 94g.
0:32:05 > 0:32:09- Do you have any idea what you think it's worth?- Absolutely none. - Nothing.
0:32:09 > 0:32:10OK, well, from that weight,
0:32:10 > 0:32:15- it's going to be £700, £800 with gold at the moment.- Oh, goodness.
0:32:15 > 0:32:19- You look surprised.- Yes.- Pleasantly surprised. What did you think it was?
0:32:19 > 0:32:22- Maybe a couple hundred pounds or...? - Yes.- Oh, wow.
0:32:22 > 0:32:24- So, that's worth selling, do you think?- Very good.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27- Very good.- So, what I would do, because gold fluctuates a little...
0:32:27 > 0:32:28Yes.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31- It's not likely to go plummeting down before the sale.- No, no.
0:32:31 > 0:32:35- But I would certainly put a reserve of 600. You don't want to give it away, it's ridiculous.- No.
0:32:35 > 0:32:40- So, put a 700 to 800 estimate.- Yes. - Reserve of 600.- Yes.
0:32:40 > 0:32:41- And put it into the sale. - See what happens.
0:32:41 > 0:32:44- OK, well, we'll try it. - Thank you. Very good.
0:32:46 > 0:32:50Finally, we travelled northwards to revisit our valuation
0:32:50 > 0:32:53day at the 19th-century Bowes Museum in County Durham where a
0:32:53 > 0:32:56mystery item crossed David Harper's path.
0:32:57 > 0:33:01Oh, you know what, Enid, I just love it. Talk to me about this object.
0:33:01 > 0:33:05We bought a property in 1972 and it was a joiner's shop
0:33:05 > 0:33:08and this was in the timber shed on the floor with a lot of other
0:33:08 > 0:33:12things and I was sorting things out and I picked this up
0:33:12 > 0:33:14and thought, "I'll wash it and keep it."
0:33:14 > 0:33:17- So you've had it, what, for 40 years?- 45 years.- OK, yeah.- Yes, yes.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20Now, you must have quizzed about what it is, where it's from,
0:33:20 > 0:33:23- what it's made from...- Well, yes. - ..what on earth this lettering means.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25- You've had 40 years of research. - Yes.- Help me.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29Nobody has ever come up with anything that meant anything.
0:33:29 > 0:33:34I just thought it was a bronze Roman thing. That's all I thought.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37- Roman?- That's what I thought.- Did you think it was Roman?- Yes, I did.
0:33:37 > 0:33:39- Like 2,000 years old?- Yes, I did. - Oh, did you? OK.
0:33:39 > 0:33:44- I'm completely wrong, probably.- OK. OK. Gosh, well, I can see, sort of, where you're going...- Yes.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46- ..because it has that ancient shape.- Yes, yes.
0:33:46 > 0:33:48From a distance, without the lettering,
0:33:48 > 0:33:52you might think it's Chinese Archaic, 1,000 years old.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55- But it's British.- Yes. - It's probably English.
0:33:55 > 0:34:01- And it's date is 400 or 500 years old.- Is it?
0:34:01 > 0:34:05It's an ancient thing and it's in the right environment - a museum.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08- Yes.- We know what it is as an object.- Yes.
0:34:08 > 0:34:10- It's a mortar.- Yes.
0:34:10 > 0:34:11- Yeah. So it's missing its pestle. - Yes.
0:34:11 > 0:34:17- But it's one big mortar and it's very, very heavy.- Yes.
0:34:17 > 0:34:22And it's cast out of bronze so who would own a mortar of that size?
0:34:22 > 0:34:27- No idea.- Because it's so big, I'm positive it's a commercial thing. - Oh.
0:34:27 > 0:34:31- It was not made for a house.- No. - It was made for a business.- Yes.
0:34:31 > 0:34:36- So, physicians.- Yes.- Yeah. An apothecary.- Right.- It's made for mixing powders.
0:34:36 > 0:34:38And if you look at the way the handle's cast,
0:34:38 > 0:34:42- it's quite roughly cast. - Oh, yes, it's quite primitive, really.- Yeah.- Yes.
0:34:42 > 0:34:46- I don't think it was ever thought of as being a fine thing.- No, no.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49The lettering really has me absolutely flummoxed.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52- I think it has everybody. That's not just you.- Yeah. You got TT.
0:34:52 > 0:34:54IT.
0:34:54 > 0:35:00- ET which might be AND in Latin. - Yes, yes.- So it might be TTIT and RO, yeah.
0:35:00 > 0:35:01RO, yes.
0:35:01 > 0:35:05For me, it's amazing to think that this was more than
0:35:05 > 0:35:07likely around during the English Civil War.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10- Really? Yes.- Just touch that.
0:35:10 > 0:35:12- This is one of the reasons why I'm in this business.- Yes.
0:35:12 > 0:35:14Because from the age of dot,
0:35:14 > 0:35:17- I was always fascinated by handling objects.- The feel of it, yes.
0:35:17 > 0:35:19Yeah, you're feeling the past.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21- It's the closest you're ever going to get...- Yes.- ..to time travel.
0:35:21 > 0:35:25You're looking at something right now that pretty much hasn't
0:35:25 > 0:35:27- changed apart from the missing of that handle.- Yeah.
0:35:27 > 0:35:31- That hasn't altered in its form for 400 or 500 years.- No, right.
0:35:31 > 0:35:33- Now, that still sends shivers down my spine.- Yes, yes.
0:35:33 > 0:35:36It's mind-blowing as an object.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39But what is it worth?
0:35:39 > 0:35:41- What opinions have you had in the past?- I'm in your hands.
0:35:41 > 0:35:44I've never taken it to a valuation anywhere.
0:35:44 > 0:35:46It's just sat in my lounge with some big grasses in.
0:35:46 > 0:35:48THEY LAUGH
0:35:48 > 0:35:52- I think, in auction, put £200 to £300 on.- Right.
0:35:52 > 0:35:53- As an estimate.- OK.
0:35:53 > 0:35:55- Would you go with that? - Yes, I would. Yes.
0:35:55 > 0:35:59- Well, I think that's really, really exciting.- Yes, we'll have a try.
0:35:59 > 0:36:00Because it's not often in this business,
0:36:00 > 0:36:04- even this antiques business, you handle something...- As nice. - ..so old.- Yes, that's right.
0:36:04 > 0:36:06- Just have the last touch. - Before it goes.
0:36:08 > 0:36:12- Remember that.- Yes. Yes.- I'll see you at the auction.- OK, yes.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16A fabulous piece oozing with history but we didn't want to
0:36:16 > 0:36:20give it away so David put a £200 reserve on Enid's mortar.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30Well, that's it for our last lot of items today.
0:36:30 > 0:36:32We'll find out what happened to them
0:36:32 > 0:36:34when they went under the hammer shortly.
0:36:34 > 0:36:38But first, I want to show you my favourite Nash's room here at Llanerchaeron.
0:36:38 > 0:36:43And it's in there and it's an architectural tour de force.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46This is the dressing room.
0:36:46 > 0:36:49And it belonged to the lady of the house whose bedroom was just through there.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52It's a very small room but I want to show you something.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55Look at the door. As I'm closing this, can you see that?
0:36:55 > 0:36:58Look at the curve. That's not warped.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01It's designed and made like that.
0:37:01 > 0:37:04There's a great deal of skill by a craftsman that's
0:37:04 > 0:37:07gone into making that. That is so difficult to do.
0:37:07 > 0:37:09And look how perfectly it shuts.
0:37:09 > 0:37:11That's Nash's design.
0:37:11 > 0:37:15He's done that to complement the curved walls on the east
0:37:15 > 0:37:17and the west faces of this room.
0:37:17 > 0:37:21The room almost feels oval and here, look, either side
0:37:21 > 0:37:24of this lovely Georgian window, you can
0:37:24 > 0:37:26see these niches here. Pieces of furniture had to be made.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29Here we have a mahogany washstand fitting
0:37:29 > 0:37:33beautifully into the niche but I love this chest of drawers.
0:37:33 > 0:37:35Not the normal configuration.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37Again, curved.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40It had to be designed and made for this room.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43I love Nash's work and I love this room.
0:37:45 > 0:37:49Let's hope the bidders were equally enamoured with our last
0:37:49 > 0:37:51lot of items as it's time to see how they performed
0:37:51 > 0:37:55when we travelled to auction rooms across the country.
0:37:57 > 0:38:00Gwen's nine-carat gold cigarette case was hallmarked Birmingham
0:38:00 > 0:38:03and decorated with a machined circle pattern
0:38:03 > 0:38:05and it certainly impressed Kate Bateman
0:38:05 > 0:38:08when it crossed her table at Norwich Cathedral.
0:38:08 > 0:38:11Enid lugged her bronze mortar along to our valuation
0:38:11 > 0:38:13day at the Bowes Museum in County Durham
0:38:13 > 0:38:18and discovered that it had been around as long ago as the Civil War.
0:38:18 > 0:38:22But first, under the hammer, was Sue's inherited housekeeper's chatelaine which she
0:38:22 > 0:38:26brought along to our valuation day at Weston-super-Mare.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31To sell it, we headed along the coast from the Grand Pier
0:38:31 > 0:38:33to Clevedon Salerooms in Somerset.
0:38:33 > 0:38:36Auctioneer Marc Burridge was still on the rostrum.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38Sue, fingers crossed and good luck.
0:38:38 > 0:38:40This is the first time ever we're selling
0:38:40 > 0:38:43a collection of household gadgets on a chain on Flog It!
0:38:43 > 0:38:45HE LAUGHS
0:38:45 > 0:38:48- Had to say that cos it's true, isn't it?- Well, it is.
0:38:48 > 0:38:51It's the housekeeper's chatelaine and there's everything on there.
0:38:51 > 0:38:55You got your pencil, your aide-memoire, your tape measure, everything.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58- Jack of all trades. Mum's there to fix everything.- Absolutely.
0:38:58 > 0:39:00She is, isn't she? Right, ready to say goodbye?
0:39:00 > 0:39:02- Cos I think it's going to go. - Yes.- This is it.
0:39:04 > 0:39:08And the chatelaine, now, lot 445.
0:39:08 > 0:39:11260, I have. 270. 280. 290.
0:39:11 > 0:39:13£300 on the board.
0:39:13 > 0:39:15- That's all right, we've sold it anyway.- Yeah.
0:39:15 > 0:39:16310.
0:39:16 > 0:39:19I can sell it £300. Is there any advance? Yes or no?
0:39:19 > 0:39:21Selling on 300, then.
0:39:21 > 0:39:24And the hammer's going down. It's gone. Right on it.
0:39:24 > 0:39:26- It was worth that all day long, yeah.- Yes, yeah.
0:39:26 > 0:39:27I hope it all stays together as well.
0:39:27 > 0:39:30Oh, yeah. Definitely. It'd be nice if it got used as well.
0:39:30 > 0:39:32Yes, it would.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36I'm sure that housekeeper's chatelaine will bring its new
0:39:36 > 0:39:39owner a lot of pleasure. A fabulous piece.
0:39:39 > 0:39:43Next, we travelled north to return to 1818 Auctioneers in Cumbria
0:39:43 > 0:39:47to see if Enid's historic bronze mortar was a hit with the bidders.
0:39:47 > 0:39:50Wielding the hammer was auctioneer David Brooks.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55Coming up now, one of my favourite items in the entire sale.
0:39:55 > 0:39:57It's possibly the oldest as well.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00It dates from the 17th century and it's a wonderful, generous-size
0:40:00 > 0:40:03- bronze mortar and it belongs to Enid.- Yes.
0:40:03 > 0:40:04What a lovely find.
0:40:04 > 0:40:07- Very nice find.- It's a nice feeling, isn't it?
0:40:07 > 0:40:10When you hold a bit of bronze like that, you know, the weight,
0:40:10 > 0:40:13you know, made in a good bell foundry. It's a nice thing.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16- Yeah, and you can feel the age as well, can't you?- Oh, yes.- Yes, yeah.
0:40:16 > 0:40:19- If only an object could speak. - Yes.- Yes.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22- It could tell us. It could tell us lots of tales, couldn't it? - That's right.
0:40:22 > 0:40:26Well, right now, we're going to find out exactly what it's worth as it goes under the hammer.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31Lot 60, which is the bronze mortar. Where shall we start the bidding?
0:40:31 > 0:40:32300?
0:40:32 > 0:40:35- 200?- Come on.
0:40:35 > 0:40:36Starting at £100, then, please.
0:40:36 > 0:40:38£100 for the brass mortar.
0:40:38 > 0:40:40Absolutely no interest anywhere.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42- Nothing on the internet. - Oh, come on.
0:40:42 > 0:40:43No interest at all.
0:40:46 > 0:40:50- Aw.- Looking on the bright side, it wasn't a chest of drawers, was it?
0:40:50 > 0:40:51- No.- I mean, you know, you can
0:40:51 > 0:40:54put it in the footwell of the car quite easily.
0:40:54 > 0:40:58- Yes, I'll take it home, yes.- Oh, look, I think it belongs with the house.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00- You've still got the house.- Yes, I have, yes.- So, kind of, you know...
0:41:00 > 0:41:02- Yes.- ..let it embrace the house... - Yes.
0:41:02 > 0:41:06- ..and display it somewhere in the kitchen on a windowsill.- Yes.- Good thinking.- Yeah.
0:41:09 > 0:41:13Right, time for our final stop of the day as we headed back to TW Gaze
0:41:13 > 0:41:19in Diss in Norfolk to see how Gwen's nine-carat gold cigarette case fared.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22Robert Kinsella was the man on the rostrum.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25Are you happy, Gwen? Have you been looking forward to this?
0:41:25 > 0:41:28- You're looking very nervous. - I am nervous.- It is.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31Being put on the spot is not easy, especially for our experts.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34- Tell me about it. No pressure.- OK, look. You've put
0:41:34 > 0:41:37- 700 to £800 on this with a reserve at 600.- Yeah.
0:41:37 > 0:41:39- This nine-carat gold cigarette case. - Yes.
0:41:39 > 0:41:42- You've upped that reserve to £700.- Yes.
0:41:42 > 0:41:46It doesn't change the estimate. We're still looking for 700 to 800, so, hopefully, we'll get that.
0:41:46 > 0:41:50- We can't sell at 600.- It'll all depend on the gold price at the day. - OK, look, good luck with this, Gwen.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52It's going under the hammer right now.
0:41:53 > 0:41:55There it is.
0:41:55 > 0:41:58Bids are starting me here at 550.
0:41:58 > 0:42:01- I'll take 600 anywhere.- 550. Come on, come on.- 550 to begin with.
0:42:01 > 0:42:02Is there 600 now?
0:42:03 > 0:42:06650 bid there. It's online at 650 the bid.
0:42:06 > 0:42:08- 650. It's online.- Yeah. - One more bid.
0:42:15 > 0:42:19- £700 on the phone.- Done it.- Oh, yes. Yes, yes.- 750.
0:42:19 > 0:42:20Hey, girl, you did well.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22No sweat, go on.
0:42:22 > 0:42:23780 bid.
0:42:23 > 0:42:26- 800.- Oh, 800. 800.
0:42:27 > 0:42:31- 820.- 820.- 820 still on the phone then at 820 bid.
0:42:31 > 0:42:34Any advance and we'll sell away at 820.
0:42:34 > 0:42:36- 820.- Brilliant.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39- You didn't do your hammer bit.- No. It's "crack!"
0:42:39 > 0:42:40That's the sold sound.
0:42:40 > 0:42:43- Hey, congratulations, well done. - Thank you.- That's a lot of money.
0:42:53 > 0:42:55Well, that's it for today's show.
0:42:55 > 0:42:58And I've thoroughly enjoyed being here at Llanerchaeron.
0:42:58 > 0:43:01Soaking up the architecture of John Nash
0:43:01 > 0:43:05and seeing how the place functioned as a self-sufficient estate.
0:43:05 > 0:43:08We've seen some great treasures from around the country. Your treasures.
0:43:08 > 0:43:11And we've had some fabulous results in the auction room
0:43:11 > 0:43:14and I was particularly pleased for Gwen.
0:43:14 > 0:43:16Well, until the next time, it's goodbye.