0:00:08 > 0:00:10Today, we've come to the West Midlands
0:00:10 > 0:00:12and stopped off in Wolverhampton.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14And there you have a proud history,
0:00:14 > 0:00:17a heritage of manufacturing, a fabulous football club,
0:00:17 > 0:00:19devoted fans, scrumptious beer
0:00:19 > 0:00:21and a musical accent.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23- WOLVERHAMPTON ACCENT: - 'What you sayin' about our accent?'
0:00:23 > 0:00:26See? I told you. HE CHUCKLES
0:00:26 > 0:00:27Welcome to "Flog It!"
0:00:50 > 0:00:53The West Midlands spent decades at the heart
0:00:53 > 0:00:55of Britain's Industrial Revolution.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57In the mid-19th century,
0:00:57 > 0:01:00the area between Birmingham and Wolverhampton
0:01:00 > 0:01:02was named the Black Country due to the smoke
0:01:02 > 0:01:08bellowing from the many thousands of ironworking foundries and forges.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10Black by day and red by night
0:01:10 > 0:01:13is what used to be said of the landscape.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20Fast-forward to the 21st century and the smoke has cleared.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25Today, we've set up our valuation tables
0:01:25 > 0:01:28at the fabulous Wolverhampton Art Gallery,
0:01:28 > 0:01:31this architectural delight right behind me here.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35The gallery's exhibitions span over 300 years of art history,
0:01:35 > 0:01:37with key periods on permanent display,
0:01:37 > 0:01:41plus they sit alongside revolving exhibitions of contemporary art,
0:01:41 > 0:01:43so there's so much for us to embrace.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47All that's inside. Outside, I suspect, in these bags and boxes,
0:01:47 > 0:01:50there's some fine art and antiques for our experts to discover,
0:01:50 > 0:01:52and some wonderful tales to tell.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56So, let's meet today's experts.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58Hi, nice to see you. Hello!
0:01:58 > 0:02:02James Lewis, who can make you happy...
0:02:02 > 0:02:04Thank you. He's really sweet, isn't he?
0:02:04 > 0:02:07HE QUACKS LIKE DONALD DUCK
0:02:07 > 0:02:10BABY CRIES ..or sad.
0:02:10 > 0:02:15And Caroline Hawley always makes sure she gets the best of the best.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18- I think I'm going to put a sticker on them.- Ooh!- Ooh!
0:02:18 > 0:02:20- It won't hurt a bit.- Thank you.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25Right now, we've got to get the doors open and get everyone inside.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28- Are you ready? ALL:- Yes!- Let's do it.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34Later in the show, Caroline finds a sword with a dark history.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39This, I would think, is human bone.
0:02:39 > 0:02:44And it's a "Flog It!" favourite, but will it hold its own at auction?
0:02:44 > 0:02:48- Well done.- Great.- Yes! Fantastic.- Top end.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51And later, I explore some of the region's industrial past
0:02:51 > 0:02:54with the female chain makers of Cradley Heath
0:02:54 > 0:02:56and their fight for a fair wage.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Now, I've heard that we have already discovered something
0:03:03 > 0:03:05with an unsolved mystery,
0:03:05 > 0:03:09and I think that item may be in here and it may be on Caroline's table.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11Let's take a closer look.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16- Anne, it's always lovely to see diamonds.- It is.
0:03:16 > 0:03:20- So, tell me, you're clutching a piece of paper here.- Yeah.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24This ring, I inherited after my aunt Bessie died back in 1971.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26- This is Aunt Bessie? - This is Aunt Bessie.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28But she lived with her two sisters,
0:03:28 > 0:03:32- Aunt Annie, who had been married, and Aunt Mariah, who hadn't.- Right.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35So, I don't actually know whether the ring was Bessie's
0:03:35 > 0:03:38or whether it had come from Aunt Annie,
0:03:38 > 0:03:40so that was one of the things I came for today -
0:03:40 > 0:03:42- to see if I could find out a bit more about the ring...- Right.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45- ..and whether it was an engagement ring.- Right, OK.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48And where did these ladies live?
0:03:48 > 0:03:51They came from Hull, where my dad came from. East Yorkshire.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53- Do you know where I come from?- No.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56- I come from Hull, East Yorkshire. - Never!- I do!
0:03:56 > 0:04:01And I'm looking at your pictures here of these lovely ladies,
0:04:01 > 0:04:04- and there's a name here - Annie Robinson Hellyer...- Yeah.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07..rings a bell to me because the Hellyer is a name
0:04:07 > 0:04:10- of a big shipping family in Hull. - That's right, that's right.- Gosh!
0:04:10 > 0:04:12- Yes, Aunt Annie was a barmaid. - Right.
0:04:12 > 0:04:13And she married Bart Hellyer,
0:04:13 > 0:04:16who was the son of the shipping company.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19And, obviously, it wasn't looked upon very kindly,
0:04:19 > 0:04:22so they emigrated to Tasmania as soon as they got married.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26- That's fairly dramatic.- Yes. And they lived in that area.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28Uncle Bart sadly died within a few years,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31but Aunt Annie stayed out there till she was an old lady
0:04:31 > 0:04:33and came back to live with her sister.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35- And did they have children? - No, sadly, they didn't.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37And do you know which pub she worked in?
0:04:37 > 0:04:39- The Minerva.- The Minerva.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42- Now, that is on the marina in Hull. - That's right, that's right.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46- Well, that is a real, real iconic pub...- Yeah, it is.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49- ..from the Victorian era in Hull. - That's right. Yeah, yeah.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52Do you know? I could talk to you forever,
0:04:52 > 0:04:56but we're not here to talk about Hull and pubs and the Hellyers.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59We're talking about this gorgeous ring.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01Now, this is a Ceylon sapphire.
0:05:01 > 0:05:07- Two diamonds - old cut diamonds - set in 18 carat gold.- Right.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10- So, it's an expensive thing... - Right.
0:05:10 > 0:05:17- ..which is making me lean towards Annie...- Yeah.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20- ..because she married into... - Into money,
0:05:20 > 0:05:23which is what I'd always wondered - whether it was her engagement ring.
0:05:23 > 0:05:29- It dates from about 1905, 1910. - Exactly right. She married in 1907.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33- That's exactly right then, yeah. - So, it's right, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35- It needs a good clean...- Yes!
0:05:35 > 0:05:38- ..but it's a good sapphire, it's a good diamond...- Yeah.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42..and it's 18 carats, so I think it could have belonged to Annie.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46Well, I think it's lovely,
0:05:46 > 0:05:52- and an auction estimate, I would think, £200 to £300.- Right.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54- Are you happy with that? - I'm very happy with that, yeah.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56And would you like a reserve, Anne?
0:05:56 > 0:05:59Yes, but I'll take your advice on what that should be.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02I would put the bottom estimate - £200...
0:06:02 > 0:06:03- Right.- ..but with discretion.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07And it's gorgeous to see the picture of these lovely ladies
0:06:07 > 0:06:10with their tiny waists and their beautiful hair,
0:06:10 > 0:06:14- and the story of Annie running off to Tasmania.- Yeah.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16That's made my day. Thank you, Anne.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18It's made mine as well. Thank you, Caroline.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23So nice Caroline could fill in the missing pieces.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27I have a feeling we won't be short of anecdotes today.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33For me, the joy of this is about its story,
0:06:33 > 0:06:36- not necessarily what it is.- Mm-hm.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38- So, shall we start with the history behind it?- Right.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40Well, it belonged to my father.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43- He was a lot older than my mother...- OK.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46..and was married previously to a German Jewess
0:06:46 > 0:06:49in the late 1920s, early '30s.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53- He'd been with the army on the Rhine after the First World War...- OK.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56..and then he was working for the British government
0:06:56 > 0:06:59in Cologne after that.
0:06:59 > 0:07:04And when Hitler began to make noises, he...
0:07:04 > 0:07:07- So, we're talking about the early '30s?- Yeah.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11He made it possible for quite a few members of her family and friends
0:07:11 > 0:07:13- to get them moved to England, basically...- Wow.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15..cos they could see what was coming.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18This was given to him by one of those people
0:07:18 > 0:07:22and she gave it to him because of the way
0:07:22 > 0:07:25that he'd helped her escape from Germany, if you like.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28- Can you help with that? - I can indeed, yes.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31It says, "Thanks for fabulous treatment."
0:07:31 > 0:07:33Somebody called Lucie.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35- Yeah, basically, this is a present...- Yes, yeah.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38- ..from a German Jew...- Yeah.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42..to somebody who helped them escape from Nazi Germany...
0:07:42 > 0:07:45- Yes, that's right, yeah.- ..which is an incredible story.- Yeah.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49And the appreciation and the story lives on through this little box.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52Yes, it does. And it's a pretty little box.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56We've got these little cherub-like children
0:07:56 > 0:07:58dancing in a little ring.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01Ring A Ring O' Roses - something like that, you can imagine.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05- And you can see that they're just having great fun.- They are, yes.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08And it's typical of the late 19th, early 20th century,
0:08:08 > 0:08:11so we're looking 1890 to 1910.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13- Something around there.- Right.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16It looks as if it could be for cigarettes, in terms of size.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18- Yes, I think it was, probably. - Solid silver.
0:08:18 > 0:08:24- Mm-hm.- And we've got the 800 mark on the side there.- Ah.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28- An 800 just means 800 parts per 1,000 silver.- Right.
0:08:28 > 0:08:3280% silver, which is a much lower grade than British silver,
0:08:32 > 0:08:35- which is 95 - sterling standard.- Right.
0:08:35 > 0:08:36So, you're happy to sell it?
0:08:36 > 0:08:38- You're happy to let it go? - Absolutely.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42If we put 80 to 120, the old auctioneer's favourite?
0:08:42 > 0:08:44Well, that would be absolutely wonderful.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46- Is that OK?- Yeah.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50- I'm hoping it'll make the top end. - Right, that's brilliant. Great.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52Well, we'll take it along and put it in auction
0:08:52 > 0:08:55- and somebody will love it.- Great.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57What an amazing tale.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02I'm here in the Victorian room of the gallery.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05Many of the works here are typical English pastoral scenes
0:09:05 > 0:09:08prior to the Industrial Revolution.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11However, there was one local artist
0:09:11 > 0:09:16who was born in Wolverhampton in 1874, Edwin Butler Bayliss,
0:09:16 > 0:09:21who absolutely loved to paint the industrial, stark landscape,
0:09:21 > 0:09:25and this is an example of his work. He was the son of an ironworker,
0:09:25 > 0:09:28so he came from a relatively well-off family.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31He had the luxury of not going to work for a living.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34He could capture these scenes with his oils on canvas.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36And you've got this wonderful horizon
0:09:36 > 0:09:40with the large chimneys billowing out smoke into the atmosphere,
0:09:40 > 0:09:43the blast furnaces' red glows everywhere -
0:09:43 > 0:09:47dots on this black horizon. And look at this.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49Anonymous coal pickers and iron pickers
0:09:49 > 0:09:52trudging to work in the mud.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54I think that is absolutely fantastic.
0:09:54 > 0:09:59That's a document of social history of what went on here in this area.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01And thank goodness he did it
0:10:01 > 0:10:05because it's here for all of us to appreciate
0:10:05 > 0:10:06what this area looked like.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12Back at the tables and Caroline has spotted
0:10:12 > 0:10:15a unique collection of memorabilia.
0:10:15 > 0:10:20Sue, what a fabulous collection of postcards.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24I could spend all day and more just sitting here looking at them.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26Such an eclectic mix -
0:10:26 > 0:10:32local history, birthday cards, film stars, wartime.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35- Tell me about them. - My mum collected all of them.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37They were all given to us as a child. There's some blank ones,
0:10:37 > 0:10:40but most of them have been sent to family members.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42You know, they've come to or gone from.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46So, this is your whole family history within these books?
0:10:46 > 0:10:48- Yeah.- And have you spent hours looking at them,
0:10:48 > 0:10:50- like I would love to? - As a child. As a child.
0:10:50 > 0:10:55These date from the early period of the 1900s through to the 1930s.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57This one here, "Birthday greetings".
0:10:57 > 0:11:00Now, this is to Miss G Hartland.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03- Now, do you know who she is? - Yes, she was my great-aunt.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06- My maternal grandma's sister.- Right.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10She lived with a Gwen, which I called Auntie Gertie and Gwen
0:11:10 > 0:11:12because I thought they were friends.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16It wasn't till I was about my 20s, realised they were lesbians. But...
0:11:16 > 0:11:18- Really?- ..it wasn't talked about in those days.
0:11:18 > 0:11:19- No, no. - You didn't know anything about it.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23- But they were together for a lifetime...- Oh, how lovely.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25..and they were really lovely together, so it was happy.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28But they weren't allowed, in those days.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30- It wasn't spoken about. - That is gorgeous.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34- There's a lot from Gertie Hartland in the book.- Yeah.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37And this one is another lovely one.
0:11:37 > 0:11:42"Ever dear." Now, this is...
0:11:42 > 0:11:45It's a new year card to Alice from Bill.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48- Now, who's Alice? - Alice was my mum's elder sister.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51- Right.- She was like a second mum to me. She was lovely.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55Always a spinster, but she told me that she had a boyfriend.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58- Bill?- I think it was Bill, yes.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01- But Gertie, her auntie... - Yeah.- ..my great-auntie,
0:12:01 > 0:12:04didn't like the family he came from, didn't think he was suitable,
0:12:04 > 0:12:07and told her mum, so they broke the friendship up.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10- Aw.- It's a very sad story cos she never married
0:12:10 > 0:12:12- or had anybody else, so... - And she took notice of the family?
0:12:12 > 0:12:15You did in those days. It wasn't she took notice.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18- It was forbidden, so...- Poor Bill. - ..she lived and died a spinster.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20And I think she would have been happy with that man
0:12:20 > 0:12:23- had the family not got involved, you know, but...- Aw.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25Do you know? I could sit here and talk to you forever.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27I feel part of your family already!
0:12:27 > 0:12:31Now, this one is very interesting. The Titanic.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34It says, "Fred Hartland". That's...
0:12:34 > 0:12:36That's Frank, another great-uncle of mine.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Well, what's even more extraordinary,
0:12:39 > 0:12:42in your huge, interesting family, is the date -
0:12:42 > 0:12:45the 27th of April 1912.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48Now, that's a few weeks after the ship went down.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51Yeah, I think it went down on the 15th or something like that.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53He mentioned on the card that he was sad about the news.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56He'd heard the news and he was sad that it had gone down,
0:12:56 > 0:12:57but he wasn't on the boat.
0:12:57 > 0:13:03"I have sent this postcard as I know it will be interesting
0:13:03 > 0:13:06"after seeing the news about its disaster."
0:13:06 > 0:13:10But what a wonderful piece of history documenting that.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14- So, you have a very, very interesting collection.- Good.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17- Some of them are worth literally next to nothing.- Yeah.
0:13:17 > 0:13:22- Others are worth £5, £2, £10.- Yeah.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26It's a very, very specialist market and the collectors of postcards
0:13:26 > 0:13:28know exactly which ones they're looking for.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32I would put a very, very conservative estimate
0:13:32 > 0:13:35for auction of £100 to £200,
0:13:35 > 0:13:39- but I think that is a very conservative estimate.- Right.
0:13:39 > 0:13:44- I am almost sure they're going to exceed the top end.- Right.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46So, would you like a reserve on them?
0:13:46 > 0:13:50- What do you think?- I don't think you need to.- No, I'll trust you.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52OK, and we'll put an estimate - 100 to 200,
0:13:52 > 0:13:54but I think that is very conservative.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56- Right. Fingers crossed, then. - Fingers crossed.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00- And I'll see you at the sale, Sue. - Yes, lovely. Thank you.- Pleasure.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10- How about that? It's all going well, isn't it, everyone? ALL:- Yes!
0:14:10 > 0:14:13What's the time? Well, it's time we went off to auction.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15Our experts have been working flat out.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18We've found our first items to put to the test in the saleroom.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22What's it worth? We're going to find out as that hammer goes down.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25And here's a quick recap of all the items we're taking with us.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30It's a sapphire and diamond ring with plenty of sparkle.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32That should do well at auction.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34Let's hope this silver cigarette case
0:14:34 > 0:14:37with its fabulous World War II story
0:14:37 > 0:14:39will draw in the collectors.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42And Sue's eclectic postcard collection
0:14:42 > 0:14:44will have plenty to keep its new owner
0:14:44 > 0:14:46entertained for hours.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52The market town of Whitchurch is the oldest
0:14:52 > 0:14:55continually inhabited community in Shropshire.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59Built on an original Roman site,
0:14:59 > 0:15:03it was named Mediolanum by the Romans -
0:15:03 > 0:15:06the place in the middle of the plain.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10For us today, all roads lead to Trevanion & Dean auction house,
0:15:10 > 0:15:15and Christina Trevanion and Aaron Dean are on the rostrum.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18Don't forget, auction houses charge a commission fee.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20Here today, it's 17%
0:15:20 > 0:15:22plus VAT.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25First up, Anne's sapphire and diamond ring.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29Let's hope the room sparkles right now. Good luck with this.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32- And there is a great story behind this, isn't there?- Fabulous story.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34- And you've checked it out? - I have checked it out.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37- You have done your duty. - Done my duty.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40- Beyond the call of duty.- Yes, I've been to the Minerva pub in Hull,
0:15:40 > 0:15:43- where your great-aunt worked... - Yeah.- ..and nothing's changed.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46- It's absolutely gorgeous.- Brilliant.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48Did you tell the pub that this was coming up for sale
0:15:48 > 0:15:50- and that they should buy it? - Yes, I did.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52I told them all about it and about your aunt, and they were fascinated.
0:15:52 > 0:15:53Brilliant. Brilliant.
0:15:53 > 0:15:57- Anyway, look, good luck.- Thank you. - Here we go. Let's hope the pub...
0:15:57 > 0:16:00- Let's hope the landlord's here of the pub, shall we?- Yeah, yeah.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02And all the pub have turned out. It's going under the hammer now.
0:16:04 > 0:16:08Lot 130 is the sapphire and diamond three-stone ring.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10Bid me... What have I got here? 150. 160.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13At 160. Bid me 180. 180 is bid.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16200. 220. 240, sir? 240.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19260 here. 280. 300.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22- Oh, this is good. - 320. 340.- This is good.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26Will we go 360? You're out. At £340.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29At 340. With the lady, then, at 340.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32- Determined. Look, she's holding her bidding...- Yeah, she's not moving.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34Do you know? I think it's a really nice combination -
0:16:34 > 0:16:36- sapphires and diamonds. - I do. Beautiful.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38It's a beautiful combination, yeah.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41- Well done, you.- Thank you. - And you.- Thank you, Caroline.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45Next, the silver cigarette case.
0:16:46 > 0:16:47Why are you selling this?
0:16:47 > 0:16:50Because I think the story is more important than the cigarette case.
0:16:50 > 0:16:54Maybe, but it's just been lying in a cupboard for years
0:16:54 > 0:16:59and, although it's beautiful, I'd like to get some art materials.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01- Are you a budding artist?- I am, yes.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03OK. Well, we're going to find out what the bidders think.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06Let's hand the proceedings over to our auctioneer -
0:17:06 > 0:17:07Christina Trevanion.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11Lot five now is the German silver box.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14Interest here with me on commission at £80.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16Straight away with me at 80.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20And five. 90 with you, sir. Thank you. 95. 100.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22I'm looking for 110. 110. Thank you, sir.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25- At 110. 120. - HE MOUTHS SILENTLY
0:17:25 > 0:17:26130?
0:17:26 > 0:17:28Thank you, anyway. At 130 with you, then, sir.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31Are you sure, sir? I'll take five if it helps.
0:17:31 > 0:17:32135.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35Thank you, anyway. At £135.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38- Hammer's gone down. £135. - Wow! Fantastic!
0:17:38 > 0:17:41Well, look, at least it's gone, and it's gone over the top end,
0:17:41 > 0:17:43- so that's a good thing, OK? - That's brilliant.- That's great.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46- Thank you both very much. - I hope you don't miss it.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48I won't miss it.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51Well, I hope it's now gone to a loving home.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53And now it's time for Sue's collection of postcards.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56She's added a reserve of £100.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01We do normally have lots of surprises with these,
0:18:01 > 0:18:04so, Caroline, very brave of you to put a price on this because...
0:18:04 > 0:18:06- They're fantastic.- They are good, aren't they?- They really are.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08Documents of social history.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11Some of these buildings and places don't look like that any more.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14It's a capsule. It's a little reminder of the past.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16And you've hung onto it and now you want to get rid of it.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20- Well, yeah. A bit nervous. - We're all nervous in this game!
0:18:20 > 0:18:23Anything could happen. Sit back and enjoy this. Here we go.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27Lot 264, ladies and gentlemen. Postcard album.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29Collection of assorted postcards
0:18:29 > 0:18:30and lots of interest in this.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33- Lots of interest. - I've got to go straight in at 140,
0:18:33 > 0:18:3750, 60, 70, £180. Straight away on commission at 180.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39It's £180. Who's coming in now? 190.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43200 with me. 210. 220 with me. 230.
0:18:43 > 0:18:44And now I'm out at 230.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47It's at £230 in the room now. On my left at 230.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50Standing in the room at 230. You're out, then, at 230.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53- That was a good result. - It was excellent.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56I knew they'd sell and I knew they'd sell well.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58- Cos you put the reserve of 100, didn't you?- I did.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00- I was a bit worried because, you know...- I wasn't.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02- You were worried, Anne? - Yeah.- I knew they'd go.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04- Thank you ever so much. - That's all right.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06- Thank you.- Aw!- Yeah, thank you.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17Well, there you are. That concludes our first visit to the auction room so far.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19Let's hope our good fortune continues
0:19:19 > 0:19:21when we return later on in the programme.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25Now, back in the 19th and early part of the 20th century,
0:19:25 > 0:19:28the Black Country became the centre of chain making in England.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31In 1910, the women chain makers grabbed the world's attention
0:19:31 > 0:19:34when they laid down their tools, refused to work
0:19:34 > 0:19:37and demanded a fair wage. I went to find out more.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50During the Industrial Revolution,
0:19:50 > 0:19:54the Black Country became the world's leading iron-producing region,
0:19:54 > 0:19:59making everything from huge anchors to nails and chains.
0:20:00 > 0:20:04By 1850, there were around 200 blast furnaces
0:20:04 > 0:20:08and 2,000 wrought-iron furnaces in the area,
0:20:08 > 0:20:12supporting mills, forges and foundries.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15The anchor for the ill-fated ship, the Titanic,
0:20:15 > 0:20:17was forged in the town of Netherton,
0:20:17 > 0:20:19and at the time and for many years to follow,
0:20:19 > 0:20:22it was the largest anchor ever forged by hand,
0:20:22 > 0:20:24weighing in at just over ten tonnes.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27And its chain of equally impressive scale
0:20:27 > 0:20:30was made just down the road in Cradley Heath.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32The Black Country were really proud of their achievement
0:20:32 > 0:20:35and, when the anchor was completed in 1911,
0:20:35 > 0:20:37it was paraded through the streets.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41Hundreds of people turned out to witness this epic spectacle.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46The iron trade was not just a job for the men.
0:20:46 > 0:20:51While they were working in factories making heavy and medium chains,
0:20:51 > 0:20:55lighter chains were being made by women working in small factories,
0:20:55 > 0:20:57or outhouses, behind their homes.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01I'm meeting local-born Luke Perry,
0:21:01 > 0:21:03who is a sixth generation metalworker.
0:21:03 > 0:21:08Luke now works as an ironwork sculptor and art historian.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10During his spare time, he runs this traditional
0:21:10 > 0:21:13chain-making workshop here in Cradley Heath.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15For him, workshops like this
0:21:15 > 0:21:19keep the story of the women chain makers alive.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21- Hi, Luke.- Hi, how are you? Are you all right?
0:21:21 > 0:21:22Hello. Yeah, good to see you.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25So, tell me about this place. It looks like a time capsule.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28Well, it was down to about there in the 1970s, but we rebuilt it,
0:21:28 > 0:21:30and now it's the last surviving chain-making shop
0:21:30 > 0:21:34on its original site in the world, same as it was about 100 years ago.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37- So, it's got some history, then? - Oh, yeah, quite a bit of character.
0:21:37 > 0:21:38When I think of chain making, I think of,
0:21:38 > 0:21:40you know, big, strong guys -
0:21:40 > 0:21:42almost like blacksmiths - forging away.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45But I know women were involved in this trade here in this area.
0:21:45 > 0:21:46Yeah, definitely.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49When nail making died out in the sort of early 1900s,
0:21:49 > 0:21:52they moved into chain making to sort of relieve the extreme poverty.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55And particularly in this area, like you said,
0:21:55 > 0:21:58there was a humongous amount of women making chain.
0:21:58 > 0:21:59Smaller stuff, but still pretty physical.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01Well, I'm eager to have a look around inside,
0:22:01 > 0:22:04- watch you work and hopefully have a go if we can.- Come on, then.
0:22:06 > 0:22:07Love this.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18Men would have made chain anything from this sort of size
0:22:18 > 0:22:21- up to larger chain like this.- Yeah.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24And this would be studded chain, which would be used on ships,
0:22:24 > 0:22:26- big anchor chain, that kind of thing.- Yeah.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30But the women, the women's chain would be much smaller -
0:22:30 > 0:22:33anything thinner than half an inch in diameter bar -
0:22:33 > 0:22:36- and it was much more fiddly, much more precise.- OK.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38- And it would be traditionally things like this.- Oh, that's nice.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41- That almost looks like it's plaited. - Yeah, it's like a braid.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44- It's beautiful.- Yeah.- And that'd be for use in agriculture,
0:22:44 > 0:22:46like on horses, that kind of thing.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48I can't make women's chain, it's so fiddly.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50This is a really good example of the smaller stuff.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53- So, women would also make things like toilet chain.- Yeah.
0:22:53 > 0:22:54It's very, very light.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57The women would be paid as the men were paid, so by weight.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00So, if you imagine the work that would go in to something like this.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04- Yeah.- So, that would be about... - It's not a lot.
0:23:04 > 0:23:05- Not a lot of weight. - Not a lot of weight.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08- One of those links is probably... - And in comparison to...
0:23:08 > 0:23:11- Yeah. So, that might be a week's work, perhaps.- Yeah.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14And this would be 20 minutes' work,
0:23:14 > 0:23:16yet it's not even a fraction of the pay
0:23:16 > 0:23:18because of the weight of it.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23A woman would have to work a 12 or 13-hour day
0:23:23 > 0:23:27hammering up to 5,000 links a week to earn five shillings -
0:23:27 > 0:23:30that's 25p in today's money.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34That would barely be enough to pay for food and bills.
0:23:38 > 0:23:42Luke is going to show me the chain-making process.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44- It gets hot very quickly.- It does.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47If you burned the link, you burned that amount of work,
0:23:47 > 0:23:50and that's money. Everything is money.
0:23:50 > 0:23:51That looks good.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55It's getting there, but you need it to be nice and kind of yellow.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58- It's got to have a barley colour. - I can feel the heat.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02There are stories that women would give birth
0:24:02 > 0:24:04and go immediately back to work.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08So, they'd be working whilst they were in labour, give birth,
0:24:08 > 0:24:09and go straight back.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12- And that was very common. - That's cos money was so tight?- Yeah.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16So, that's the first shape that we're trying to make there,
0:24:16 > 0:24:17- which is the U-shape.- Yeah.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22The chains were made on a hearth by hammering red-hot,
0:24:22 > 0:24:26wrought-iron rods into oval links...
0:24:26 > 0:24:27Ooh!
0:24:27 > 0:24:30- That link has become... It's one unit now...- Yeah, yeah.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32- ..rather than being... - That's fantastic.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35..then passing links through each other to form a cable.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37That goes through the other link...
0:24:37 > 0:24:39- Oh, I like that. - ..like that.- I like that.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41But, of course, the longer the chain is,
0:24:41 > 0:24:43the more you've got to be careful
0:24:43 > 0:24:45- cos this would all be boiling hot. - Oh. So, yeah,
0:24:45 > 0:24:49once it gets to, like, a metre long or so, you're dragging it about.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52So, it becomes very heavy then, very physical.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54- There we are.- That's fantastic.
0:24:54 > 0:24:56I won't hold it! HE LAUGHS
0:24:58 > 0:25:02In 1910, there were 3,500 chain makers
0:25:02 > 0:25:05working in the Cradley and Cradley Heath district -
0:25:05 > 0:25:07two thirds of them were women.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11Tired of working day and night for starvation wages,
0:25:11 > 0:25:15in August 1910, the women chain makers downed their hammers
0:25:15 > 0:25:19and stood up for their right to earn a living wage.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28In order for me to get a better understanding
0:25:28 > 0:25:31of the brutality of the industry,
0:25:31 > 0:25:34I want to have a go at making a link myself.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38- Gosh, it's hot.- It's really hot, yeah.- Oh, man, it's hot!
0:25:38 > 0:25:40Do you know what? That looked so easy when you were doing it.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43- I have had seven-year-old girls making chain...- Right, OK.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45- ..so you've got no excuses at all. - I'm not going to be defeated.
0:25:45 > 0:25:50Oh, it's hot! HE LAUGHS
0:25:50 > 0:25:52Oh! Right, OK.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54- That's it. OK, right on there. - On there?- Yeah.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56And then knock that down.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00- That's the way. - Cor, that's so hot on my arm.
0:26:04 > 0:26:05Gosh!
0:26:06 > 0:26:07Get in there.
0:26:09 > 0:26:13You need longer tongs. HE LAUGHS
0:26:13 > 0:26:15I need tongs twice the length.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19Are you sure a seven-year-old girl's done this?
0:26:19 > 0:26:23- Right, there we go. OK.- Oh, gosh! Gosh, that was hot.- In there.- Yeah.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26- What am I doing?- Just gentle taps to knock that down.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29OK, that'll do. Right, so now...
0:26:29 > 0:26:32- That's looking like rubbish. - No, it's not bad.
0:26:34 > 0:26:35Go on. Give it some. Really...
0:26:38 > 0:26:40- Yeah, that's it, isn't it? - Yeah, that's...
0:26:40 > 0:26:45That's a pretty good link. It's not a bad first attempt at all.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47That is hard work, working in this intense heat.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49I mean, that's dangerous.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51- You know, to think that women did this day in and day out...- Yeah.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54- ..with little nippers running around, as well.- Absolutely.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56And, of course, all the bits that spit out
0:26:56 > 0:26:57would be all over the floor.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59- The conditions...- Doesn't bear thinking about.- No, not at all.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07The women were dubbed the white slaves of England.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11Having heard of their plight, union organiser and campaigner
0:27:11 > 0:27:15Mary Macarthur came to help the women and lead the strike.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19She waged a stunning national campaign
0:27:19 > 0:27:21which exposed the chain masters
0:27:21 > 0:27:25as enforcers of sweated labour in the country.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29This monument of Mary Macarthur is one of Luke's works.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32It stands in homage to the women chain makers.
0:27:35 > 0:27:40In 1910, more than 800 women marched through this whole area
0:27:40 > 0:27:42of Cradley Heath singing protest songs.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46And after ten long weeks of striking, they won their dispute
0:27:46 > 0:27:50and they saw their average earnings double overnight
0:27:50 > 0:27:54from five shillings per week to 11 shillings per week.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57The strike was one of the first in the world
0:27:57 > 0:28:00to demand better pay and conditions for women workers,
0:28:00 > 0:28:03and their victory established the principle
0:28:03 > 0:28:06of the national minimum wage.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19Back here at Wolverhampton Art Gallery,
0:28:19 > 0:28:22valuations are hammering along nicely
0:28:22 > 0:28:26and James has also spotted something with an industrial link.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30Now, when I saw you outside with this...
0:28:31 > 0:28:33..I thought it was wonderful.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35Really interesting.
0:28:35 > 0:28:39- Because these aren't straightforward coins, are they?- No.
0:28:39 > 0:28:41They're industrial tokens.
0:28:41 > 0:28:45- Obviously, somebody has collected these with an eye for detail.- Yeah.
0:28:45 > 0:28:49Well, that was my father. It was his collection, done over many years.
0:28:49 > 0:28:51He used to bring them home in his saddlebag
0:28:51 > 0:28:53- cos we didn't have a car in those days...- Right.
0:28:53 > 0:28:54..on his bike on a Saturday.
0:28:54 > 0:28:56And my mother always used to grumble at him and say,
0:28:56 > 0:28:58"What have you got in your saddlebag now?"
0:28:58 > 0:29:00And it was always coins or it might have been antique glass
0:29:00 > 0:29:03- or something like that.- Yeah. - But he was very keen on antiques.
0:29:03 > 0:29:06The only thing I know about industrial tokens
0:29:06 > 0:29:10is that they were given to work people instead of money.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13So, if you were a factory owner
0:29:13 > 0:29:17and you were a factory owner who also owned the houses
0:29:17 > 0:29:20that your tenant workers were staying in,
0:29:20 > 0:29:23you were also likely to be owning the local shop, as well.
0:29:23 > 0:29:28So, you would pay your workers with your own factory currency.
0:29:28 > 0:29:30They would take it in one hand
0:29:30 > 0:29:32- and then pay it back to you with the other.- Mm.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35It would prevent them spending your money with anybody else.
0:29:35 > 0:29:39But I think there is an element of myth in there
0:29:39 > 0:29:43because I do think other people took the tokens, as well,
0:29:43 > 0:29:46and I think one of the reasons that they were produced
0:29:46 > 0:29:51was the lack of availability to get low currency coinage.
0:29:51 > 0:29:56So, if you wanted to pay your workers a halfpenny here and there,
0:29:56 > 0:29:59the halfpenny's were in short supply,
0:29:59 > 0:30:01so people made their own.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04But normally, when we look at a collection of tokens,
0:30:04 > 0:30:08they're worn, they're soft, they're smooth. Look at these.
0:30:08 > 0:30:12They're as good as you'll ever see, time after time.
0:30:12 > 0:30:14We've got one here that says,
0:30:14 > 0:30:19"Fine mould and store candles, 1794."
0:30:19 > 0:30:22With an old candle mould in the centre, so a candle maker.
0:30:22 > 0:30:26And then, at the top, we've got a forge for iron manufacturing.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29Brilliant. And what history!
0:30:29 > 0:30:32Looms, weaving down at the bottom. I mean, they're wonderful.
0:30:32 > 0:30:37You've got pages after pages after pages.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40On average, they're worth £10 each,
0:30:40 > 0:30:45- so if we said, across that lot, £400 to £600?- Sounds good to me.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47- Not bad if you're spending pennies. - Absolutely.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50- BOTH LAUGH - Sounds good to me.- Well done.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53That's a great lot. Really very, very interesting.
0:30:53 > 0:30:57- Oh, lovely. Thank you.- Made my day. - Thank you.- Thank you.
0:30:57 > 0:30:59That's what you call a collection.
0:30:59 > 0:31:01Now, there seems to be a rather gruesome object
0:31:01 > 0:31:04on Caroline's table from the late 19th century.
0:31:06 > 0:31:09Tell me, what do you know about this?
0:31:09 > 0:31:13Nothing at all, except it was given to my husband about 40 years ago.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16- And who gave it to him? - His uncle.- Right.
0:31:16 > 0:31:20- And was his uncle from around these parts?- Yes, yeah.
0:31:20 > 0:31:22I think he went abroad a lot on holidays
0:31:22 > 0:31:24- and this, that and the other.- Right.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27- And would bring souvenirs back, maybe?- Yes, yes.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30- And do you like it?- It's unusual.
0:31:30 > 0:31:32It is unusual. And where do you have it at home?
0:31:32 > 0:31:35It's been stuck in the loft for years.
0:31:35 > 0:31:37- I think that's wise, Dawn. - SHE LAUGHS
0:31:37 > 0:31:40Now, I've had a very good look at this.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43- It comes from Borneo.- Right.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46And I think it's from one of the northern tribes,
0:31:46 > 0:31:51either the Iban or the Dayak tribes of northern Borneo.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54It is a steel blade.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57It's got a bone handle here.
0:31:57 > 0:32:02And this is lovely wirework that's all plaited and woven here.
0:32:02 > 0:32:05Do you have any idea what it might be?
0:32:05 > 0:32:07- No.- Right.
0:32:07 > 0:32:09- Are you sitting comfortably?- Yes.
0:32:09 > 0:32:14It's a tribesman's head-hunter sword
0:32:14 > 0:32:20and it really would be exactly used for that - for cutting off heads.
0:32:20 > 0:32:24- This is human hair. - I thought it might be.- Yeah.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27- And this, I would think, is human bone.- Mm-hm.
0:32:27 > 0:32:31You'll be glad to know, headhunting has now died out.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34In the 1950s, it ceased to be a practice.
0:32:34 > 0:32:37But people would attack other tribes
0:32:37 > 0:32:40and they would take the heads as a trophy.
0:32:40 > 0:32:41The steel blade.
0:32:41 > 0:32:45Now, if we look at it, it's very good quality.
0:32:45 > 0:32:50It's inlaid here with these little dots of brass on the steel.
0:32:50 > 0:32:54- Sadly, not brilliant condition. - No.- It's a bit rusty.
0:32:54 > 0:32:59And I think, because of the quality, it's probably belonged to a chief.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02They're not everybody's cup of tea, for lots of reasons.
0:33:02 > 0:33:06Now, value... It's a dangerous weapon.
0:33:06 > 0:33:10It's still very sharp, so it needs to be sold correctly.
0:33:10 > 0:33:14There's not a wide following of these items.
0:33:14 > 0:33:19I would think, in great condition, it's worth probably £200.
0:33:19 > 0:33:25But in this condition, with this rusted blade, only 150.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28- That's fine. That's all right. - Would you be happy to let it go?
0:33:28 > 0:33:30- Yes. - SHE LAUGHS
0:33:30 > 0:33:33- Would you be thrilled to let it go, Dawn?- Probably.- Yes!
0:33:33 > 0:33:36So, if we put it into auction with an estimate
0:33:36 > 0:33:40of £150 to £200?
0:33:40 > 0:33:42- Yes, thank you.- Brilliant.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45Well, thank you, Dawn, for a most extraordinary thing.
0:33:45 > 0:33:47It is.
0:33:48 > 0:33:54That may not be to everyone's taste, but it is a relic of a bygone era.
0:33:54 > 0:33:56Now, from the obscure to the more familiar,
0:33:56 > 0:33:59but please don't make that baby cry again, James.
0:34:01 > 0:34:05- If I'm too loud, just... - Not at all.- OK.- Don't worry.- OK.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08- THEY CHUCKLE - Well, Barbara, I have to say,
0:34:08 > 0:34:11you have brought along an old "Flog It!" favourite.
0:34:11 > 0:34:15Moorcroft is something that we see up and down the country,
0:34:15 > 0:34:16day in, day out.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19I know you'll know all about it, all about the factory,
0:34:19 > 0:34:23but it is something that we see, and we keep showing on "Flog It!"
0:34:23 > 0:34:26for one very good reason - it is popular.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29- Yes.- And the different designs make different values.
0:34:29 > 0:34:31You know, we can see the hibiscus pattern
0:34:31 > 0:34:35almost every day of the week, and it'll make £30 to £50.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38But this is earlier and this is more interesting than most.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41- I see. Good.- So, what's the history? What do you know?
0:34:41 > 0:34:47All I know is my parents received it as a wedding present in the 1920s.
0:34:47 > 0:34:51OK. Well, the fact that you know that it's been in the family
0:34:51 > 0:34:53since that sort of period
0:34:53 > 0:34:56- confirms the fact that it is an early period.- Yes.
0:34:56 > 0:34:58It's known as the Spanish pattern
0:34:58 > 0:35:02and it was a pattern that was invented by Moorcroft in 1910.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05And this one, this vase, two blind as they all are,
0:35:05 > 0:35:09- has this wonderful softness of colour.- Yes.
0:35:09 > 0:35:11I always think you can tell the period
0:35:11 > 0:35:15by just looking at the background glaze -
0:35:15 > 0:35:16nice and mottled.
0:35:16 > 0:35:21- The more modern colours are much harsher, much brighter.- Mm.
0:35:21 > 0:35:25- But this, I have to say, this is my favourite period of Moorcroft.- Yes.
0:35:25 > 0:35:27So, why is it here?
0:35:27 > 0:35:30Well, because we're three of us - three girls.
0:35:30 > 0:35:34- You can't really share a vase between three people.- No. OK.
0:35:34 > 0:35:38- So, we decided the best thing was to sell it.- Well, there we go.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41Because it will end up finding its way into a very nice collection,
0:35:41 > 0:35:44- I have to say.- I hope so, yes. - It's a lovely example.
0:35:44 > 0:35:47- It's in good condition, yes.- Yeah. Now, let's look at the condition.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50The first thing about Moorcroft is
0:35:50 > 0:35:53it's a nice, solid, but high-pitched...
0:35:53 > 0:35:57- Yes.- ..sound, which is exactly what you would want.
0:35:57 > 0:35:59The first place to look is here...
0:35:59 > 0:36:01- Yes.- ..because that's its weak point.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04So, if you just turn it around, see if there's anything there.
0:36:04 > 0:36:06- There isn't.- No.- It's fine.
0:36:06 > 0:36:10And if you look at the foot rim, the fact that the crazing
0:36:10 > 0:36:14- goes evenly throughout the whole of that white...- Yes.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17..tells you it hasn't been substantially restored.
0:36:17 > 0:36:19- No, it hasn't been. No.- No.
0:36:19 > 0:36:22Because when it's restored, not only do you restore the top,
0:36:22 > 0:36:27but you also restore the underside, and that removes all the crazing.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30- Around the rim, though... Just here, look.- Yes.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33..we've got a couple of very tiny
0:36:33 > 0:36:35- glaze chips. - Oh, where it's worn, yes.
0:36:35 > 0:36:39- But that is really nothing to worry about at all.- No.
0:36:39 > 0:36:41If you didn't have something, you'd be slightly concerned.
0:36:41 > 0:36:44- Yes, after that length of time. - Yeah.
0:36:44 > 0:36:47Pretty much 100 years old. Value?
0:36:47 > 0:36:52I would be very disappointed if that didn't make £300 to £500.
0:36:52 > 0:36:54- Really?- At least.- Ooh.
0:36:54 > 0:36:58It's a great pattern. I think there should be a reserve - £300 firm.
0:36:58 > 0:37:02- 300.- And I'm sure that whoever ends up with it will love it.- Yes.
0:37:02 > 0:37:06- So, well done. Thank you for bringing it in.- Well, thank you.
0:37:06 > 0:37:10I can't believe she had that in her cupboard for so long.
0:37:10 > 0:37:11Well, they say Wolverhampton
0:37:11 > 0:37:13has some of the friendliest people in the world,
0:37:13 > 0:37:16and do you know what? I've met some wonderful people from this city.
0:37:16 > 0:37:18I think that's true, don't you? Yes.
0:37:18 > 0:37:20- Have you had a good day? ALL:- Yes!
0:37:20 > 0:37:22Well, look, give the camera a big wave and smile, everyone,
0:37:22 > 0:37:26because our experts have now found their final items,
0:37:26 > 0:37:27so, sadly, it's time for us
0:37:27 > 0:37:29to say goodbye to Wolverhampton Art Gallery.
0:37:29 > 0:37:32We've had a brilliant time here and all of these people have.
0:37:32 > 0:37:35We've been surrounded by art and antiques all day long.
0:37:35 > 0:37:39But, right now, we're going to put our final valuations to the test
0:37:39 > 0:37:41and here's a quick recap, just to jog your memory,
0:37:41 > 0:37:43of all the items that are going under the hammer.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49The book of work tokens collected by Sheila's father
0:37:49 > 0:37:50is a rare find.
0:37:53 > 0:37:55I believe Dawn will be glad to see the back
0:37:55 > 0:37:57of the tribal sword.
0:37:59 > 0:38:00And the early Moorcroft vase.
0:38:00 > 0:38:03We love them on this show, but will the bidders?
0:38:07 > 0:38:10Now, back to Whitchurch in Shropshire,
0:38:10 > 0:38:12where the auction room is in full swing.
0:38:12 > 0:38:16Aaron Dean and Christina Trevanion are our auctioneers.
0:38:18 > 0:38:20First up, the tribal sword.
0:38:21 > 0:38:23Dawn, did you live with this in the house?
0:38:23 > 0:38:26- For years.- For years. - And you're very happy
0:38:26 > 0:38:28- to be getting rid of it now, aren't you?- Yes.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31I bet you are. I bet you can't wait. "No reserve, please!"
0:38:31 > 0:38:33- But there is, isn't there? - Yes, there is.- Yeah, OK.
0:38:33 > 0:38:35You've got to protect it - I understand that.
0:38:35 > 0:38:37But we've never seen anything like this on the show before.
0:38:37 > 0:38:39- Gives me the creeps.- Me, too.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42I guess it comes under that label of ethnographica.
0:38:42 > 0:38:45- You know, tribal art.- Yeah, yeah. - And it's big business right now.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48- It's a very specialist, specialist market.- It really is. Yes, yes.
0:38:48 > 0:38:50- So, good luck, both of you. - Thank you.- Thank you.- OK?
0:38:51 > 0:38:56Lot 306. It's the late 19th-century head-cutting knife.
0:38:56 > 0:39:01I've got to start you straight away on commission at 120, 130, £140.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04Bidding at the back, 140. 150.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06- Back of the room it is at 150. - SHE WHISPERS
0:39:06 > 0:39:09Any advance on 150? Selling, then, at 150.
0:39:10 > 0:39:14- Hammer's gone down. Thank goodness it's gone!- Yes.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17- Thank goodness it's sold! - Yeah, that's a big smile.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22Well, that was a sword with a rather macabre past.
0:39:22 > 0:39:26Let's move on now to the industrial book of tokens.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31Well, this is the one I've certainly been looking forward to.
0:39:31 > 0:39:33This is history going under the hammer
0:39:33 > 0:39:35and that's what this show is all about.
0:39:35 > 0:39:37We have something so rare on the show right now.
0:39:37 > 0:39:40Dates back to the late 1700s. That's the 18th century.
0:39:40 > 0:39:42- These little halfpenny tokens... - Yes.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45..where the workers could spend their money with the boss
0:39:45 > 0:39:46so he could make even more money!
0:39:46 > 0:39:49Yeah, I mean, they're just so fascinating.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52Each one is for a different industry and a different owner.
0:39:52 > 0:39:54I've not seen them come up for sale before.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57You're giving the opportunity now
0:39:57 > 0:40:00for collectors and for museums to get involved in trying to buy these
0:40:00 > 0:40:04because these are of museum quality. These need to go to a good home.
0:40:06 > 0:40:08Lot 182 is the collection
0:40:08 > 0:40:11of 18th-century ha'penny, or halfpenny tokens,
0:40:11 > 0:40:13and I'm looking for £200 for it.
0:40:13 > 0:40:15At £200. Where's 200?
0:40:15 > 0:40:20At £200 for the halfpennies and coins here at £200.
0:40:20 > 0:40:22- Come on.- At £200. Are you bidding, madam?
0:40:22 > 0:40:25At 200. 220. 240. 260.
0:40:25 > 0:40:29280. 290. 300, I'm out.
0:40:29 > 0:40:31At £300 with the lady seated.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34At £300. At £300.
0:40:34 > 0:40:36- I'm pleased they've gone for you. - Yes, right.
0:40:36 > 0:40:38- Cos £300 is OK.- That's fine. - I mean, that's fine,
0:40:38 > 0:40:40but I thought they'd be worth an awful lot more.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42- As long as they've gone to a good home.- I'm sure they have.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45- I'm sure they have. - That's the great news about it.- Yes.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48We've found someone who's obviously prepared to spend £300 on them,
0:40:48 > 0:40:51so they are going to love them and...
0:40:51 > 0:40:54- And nurture them.- ..keep them, yeah. - That's absolutely fine.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59And we have since found out it was bought by someone interested
0:40:59 > 0:41:04in industrial history, who is pleased with this very rare find.
0:41:06 > 0:41:10It's a great name in ceramics. It's one of the best - Moorcroft -
0:41:10 > 0:41:13and it's an early one, as well, and it belongs to Barbara.
0:41:13 > 0:41:15- This is some piece. - It is.- Some piece.
0:41:15 > 0:41:17- It's got everything going for it. - Yes.
0:41:17 > 0:41:19And let's hope we get the price right.
0:41:19 > 0:41:20Let's hope we get the top end.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22I'm hoping it'll be at least top end.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25- Yes.- Let's hope so.- Yes. - Happy with that?- Yes, yes.
0:41:25 > 0:41:26Let's put it to the test. Here we go.
0:41:26 > 0:41:28What's it worth? We're going to find out.
0:41:30 > 0:41:35Now, lot 418 is the Moorcroft Spanish pattern vase circa 1920.
0:41:35 > 0:41:37Start me at 250 for it.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40£250 is what I'm looking for. Where's 250?
0:41:40 > 0:41:42250 is bid straight away.
0:41:42 > 0:41:43280 here, internet.
0:41:43 > 0:41:48So, at £320 already online. 320. 340. 360.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50Where's 370?
0:41:50 > 0:41:51At 380. 400.
0:41:51 > 0:41:55At £400. At 400. 420. 440.
0:41:55 > 0:41:57460. 480.
0:41:57 > 0:42:02Bid me 500 now. At £480. Internet bidder at £480.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05I'm looking for 500. I'll go to the phones.
0:42:05 > 0:42:06Would you like to bid?
0:42:07 > 0:42:11- At £500 on the phone.- Very good. - £500.- We got 500.- £500.
0:42:11 > 0:42:15It's on the phone at 520 online.
0:42:15 > 0:42:18At £520. You're out. Thank you, anyway.
0:42:18 > 0:42:22Are we all done at 520? Selling online at 520.
0:42:23 > 0:42:27- Well done.- Great.- Yes! Fantastic! - Top end.- Yes.- £520.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30- Big smiles all round. - That's marvellous, isn't it? Yes.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33Well done, James, and thank you so much for bringing that in.
0:42:33 > 0:42:35- Well, thank you, James. - Real joy to look at.
0:42:35 > 0:42:37- I'm glad you saw it and it caught your eye.- Thank you.
0:42:37 > 0:42:40- Couldn't miss it!- No, no.
0:42:45 > 0:42:47Well, that's it. It's all over for our owners
0:42:47 > 0:42:49and a big thank you to our experts.
0:42:49 > 0:42:53It's not easy putting a value on an item, as you've just seen.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56We've had one or two surprises, but everyone's gone home happy.
0:42:56 > 0:42:58That's the main thing. I hope you enjoyed the show.
0:42:58 > 0:43:01Join us again next time for many more surprises to come,
0:43:01 > 0:43:04but until then, from the West Midlands, it's goodbye.