0:00:09 > 0:00:12This magnificent hall in the Old Royal Naval College
0:00:12 > 0:00:15in Greenwich is one of England's greatest art treasures and we're
0:00:15 > 0:00:18feeling very privileged today, because we're making this
0:00:18 > 0:00:20the base for our valuations.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25While the crew make sure everything is in place,
0:00:25 > 0:00:28all I need to say is, "Welcome to Flog It!"
0:00:49 > 0:00:52The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich is one of London's
0:00:52 > 0:00:55most famous riverside landmarks.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58In the past, visitors to Greenwich were encouraged to arrive via
0:00:58 > 0:01:02the River Thames so they could fully appreciate the formation of
0:01:02 > 0:01:04this classic masterpiece.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07The celebrated architect, Sir Christopher Wren, designed
0:01:07 > 0:01:11the buildings in the late 1600s as a refuge for old and injured sailors.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16Well, I've come outside to meet all of these lovely people.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19Hundreds of them from London and beyond,
0:01:19 > 0:01:21laden with antiques and collectables.
0:01:21 > 0:01:23In a few minutes, we'll be getting them inside
0:01:23 > 0:01:27so they can find the answer to that all-important question, which is...
0:01:27 > 0:01:29What's it worth?
0:01:29 > 0:01:31Stay tuned and you'll find out.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35Helping steer us through the valuations today
0:01:35 > 0:01:37are experts Jonathan Pratt...
0:01:37 > 0:01:39You see watches have a maritime theme, of course, and
0:01:39 > 0:01:41here we are in the naval college.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44Watches were used for timekeeping and navigation, as well.
0:01:44 > 0:01:46And Philip Serrell.
0:01:46 > 0:01:48I see no ships.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50No, there's nothing there at all, is there?
0:01:50 > 0:01:53But putting them together could mean a lot of horsing around.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55- Isn't that lovely, JP. - What have you got there, then?
0:01:55 > 0:01:58- Well, it's Muffin the Mule, isn't it?- Is it Muffin the Mule?
0:01:58 > 0:02:00- What's it worth?- I'm not old enough to remember Muffin the Mule.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02Thank you very much! What is it worth, mate,?
0:02:02 > 0:02:04About a pony, I would have thought.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08While everyone gets seated, here's a quick look at what's coming up.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15Philip Serrell is training up the next generation of experts.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18- When I ask you, you go 50 quid, all right?- OK.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21- What do you think that's worth, Harry?- £50.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23He's good, isn't he? He's really very, very good.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26And Jonathan has a favourite fan.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28I'm rather drawn to this one.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30I don't know if it's the naked ladies bathing,
0:02:30 > 0:02:34but it's a bit of a racy subject, which is kind of nice.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37And later on in the show, I'm aboard this national treasure.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41The Cutty Sark was one of the fastest sailing ships the world had
0:02:41 > 0:02:43ever seen in the mid-19th century.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46Here she stands in all her glory, having survived the high seas,
0:02:46 > 0:02:48hurricanes and even fire.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00While everybody's getting themselves settled in,
0:03:00 > 0:03:03I'd like to show you the artist behind all of this masterpiece.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Sir James Thornhill painted himself in,
0:03:06 > 0:03:09like a self-portrait, onto the mural on the back wall here.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12Here he is, look, in all his splendour with his wig and with his
0:03:12 > 0:03:16palette and brushes, which you can see the oil's already mixed up.
0:03:16 > 0:03:20Thornhill painted directly onto dry plaster and there are
0:03:20 > 0:03:23a number of themes running through all the murals here from
0:03:23 > 0:03:27royal patronage right onto the maritime trade.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31Although he also worked at Blenheim Palace and on St Paul's Cathedral,
0:03:31 > 0:03:33this is what he is best known for.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36He received a knighthood for his work here.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39It's hardly surprising, really, it's absolutely breathtaking.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Right, now let's catch up with our expert, Philip,
0:03:46 > 0:03:49and hopefully he's found something worthy of some honours.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56- Jill, Paul.- Hello.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59- Phil. How are you, all right? - Fine, thank you.- Fine, thank you.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01How long has this been in the family?
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Um, it was my father's.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06We've had it for as long as we can remember.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08Has he been an avid clock collector?
0:04:08 > 0:04:13- Yeah, he used to be an amateur... watch...- Repairer.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16- Horologist.- Horologist. - Horologist.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18- OK.- Yeah. I've not heard that, but...
0:04:18 > 0:04:20Well, do you know how old this is?
0:04:20 > 0:04:23- Er, I think it's Regency. - How do you know that?
0:04:24 > 0:04:27- Because one of your experts... - Oh! That's unfair!
0:04:27 > 0:04:29That is so unfair.
0:04:29 > 0:04:30- Oh!- He's absolutely right.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34What I love about this business is that there's no magic to it at all.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36It's just a question of using your eyes.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40If you start at the top here, if you think of the Brighton Pavilion.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43- Oh, yeah.- Pineapple finials.
0:04:43 > 0:04:44Oh, yeah.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48- You've got this almost fan-shaped pagoda top.- Yes.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51It's made out of rich mahogany.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55These spandrels, they're typical of that late Regency period.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58This is called a bracket clock.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01This would sit on a wooden bracket on a wall
0:05:01 > 0:05:04in all its glory.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07This has problems, OK?
0:05:07 > 0:05:10This is mahogany
0:05:10 > 0:05:11and it's all veneered,
0:05:11 > 0:05:15but if you look down there,
0:05:15 > 0:05:19you've got a massive problem with your veneers.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22So whoever's going to buy this clock
0:05:22 > 0:05:28they've got to get a good furniture man to restore the veneers here.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30So it is repairable, then?
0:05:30 > 0:05:33- Everything's repairable - but it's at what cost?- Right.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35Let's just open this up here.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38The light's a bit better if I just spin it round.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43There we've got the movement.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47Now, what I don't quite understand is this pendulum.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51Right? Because that
0:05:51 > 0:05:53should fit in there,
0:05:53 > 0:05:57- but if it does, it isn't going to swing, is it?- No.
0:05:57 > 0:06:03So I'm not convinced that this pendulum goes with this clock.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07I wonder whether your dad bought this as a bit of a project
0:06:07 > 0:06:11and perhaps he intended to sort out the veneers here.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15Perhaps he was wondering if he could alter this pendulum.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17That might be the case. Do you want to sell this?
0:06:17 > 0:06:19Yes, I do.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22Let's turn it around and put it in all of its glory, shall we?
0:06:23 > 0:06:26Um, if you're sure
0:06:26 > 0:06:29- that this is the only pendulum that you've got.- I think so.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32Leave it with it and we'll put it with an auction estimate
0:06:32 > 0:06:35of £200 to £400.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38Give the auctioneer 10% discretion
0:06:38 > 0:06:40and we'll see where it goes.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44All we've got to hope is that time flies, haven't we?
0:06:44 > 0:06:47Well, yes, our experts definitely aren't wasting time today and
0:06:47 > 0:06:50it looks like Jonathan has already spotted something
0:06:50 > 0:06:52right up my street.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55- Welcome, Ann.- Thank you very much. - What a beautiful room we're in here.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57It's absolutely fabulous.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59Yes, and looking at this object, it doesn't look out of place.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01What do you know about this?
0:07:01 > 0:07:04This was found by my uncle in the 1980s
0:07:04 > 0:07:06in the attic of a house he was living in.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10He passed it onto my father, between them they were trying
0:07:10 > 0:07:12to find out where it actually came from.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15- Right.- And it finally finished up in my hands.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19- What first strikes me about it is the wood, which is rosewood.- Lovely.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22Quite an exotic wood.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24It was a very fashionable wood at a specific time,
0:07:24 > 0:07:27predominantly at the end of the Georgian period,
0:07:27 > 0:07:31running up to the Victorian period, around the 1840s, circa 1840.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34- This panel on the top is carved...- Right.
0:07:34 > 0:07:39..from the wood and you've got this amazing acanthus
0:07:39 > 0:07:41on this coffer shape.
0:07:41 > 0:07:46It's really a magnificently made piece of furniture, almost.
0:07:46 > 0:07:47I just love the colour of it.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49Then we look inside
0:07:49 > 0:07:52and up it comes and it's a good old solid top
0:07:52 > 0:07:54and inside we've got a book.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57Immediately this looks a little bit more florid.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01This is a typically Victorian, maybe late Victorian monogram.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05Watered silk lining and then that... Gosh.
0:08:05 > 0:08:10That strikes me almost a sort of medieval illuminated manuscript.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12- Yes.- What have we got on here?
0:08:12 > 0:08:15It says, "Address of congratulation,
0:08:15 > 0:08:17"John Muir Hetherington,
0:08:17 > 0:08:19"esquire, upon his marriage."
0:08:19 > 0:08:21And then the date - "March."
0:08:21 > 0:08:24- 1891.- 1891.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26What is this?
0:08:26 > 0:08:31Well, the Hetherington family owned a factory in Manchester...
0:08:31 > 0:08:33Right.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37..which manufactured machine parts for the textile industry
0:08:37 > 0:08:41and John Muir Hetherington was one of the sons of the family.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44OK, so this is sort of an explanation of the business.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47It's a short description of the business.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50Then we've got a list of the employees.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54But it goes on and on and on and there are 500,
0:08:54 > 0:08:56or 600 people listed in here.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58- It was a large factory. - A large factory.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01So that's a lot of people in the Manchester area
0:09:01 > 0:09:03- working for this company.- Yes.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05What strikes me is it's possibly...
0:09:05 > 0:09:09That this is at a point where the son's inheriting the business.
0:09:09 > 0:09:14I think this was a sort of a ledger to pass on as a wedding gift,
0:09:14 > 0:09:16"Here you are, son, you're now in charge."
0:09:16 > 0:09:18- Lovely.- It could well be.
0:09:18 > 0:09:24My feeling is the box alone is worth £800 to £1,200, my feeling.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27Um, the book is very hard to put a value to.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31- Mm-hm.- I think, combined,
0:09:31 > 0:09:34the valuation would be between £1,000 and £1,500.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36Would you sell it at £1,000 or £1,500.
0:09:36 > 0:09:37- At that price, yes.- OK.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41If it had been my family, then, no, that would've stayed in the family.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43- Yes, exactly.- Thank you very much,
0:09:43 > 0:09:45Uncle, you've found it, you've passed it through and I would
0:09:45 > 0:09:48love to pass it onto somebody else who can appreciate it.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50Brilliant, thank you very much,
0:09:50 > 0:09:54it's such a brilliantly crafted thing with such a brilliant history.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56I can't wait to sell this.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58There's a lot more to find out about it, as well.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03I tell you what, it's good to catch up with the crowd here.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05- Are you all enjoying the surroundings?- Yes.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09- I bet you come here often, don't you?- Well, I like to think so.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11Have you been here many times before?
0:10:11 > 0:10:13No, this is my first.
0:10:13 > 0:10:14How far away do you live, then?
0:10:14 > 0:10:16- If you think of the Elephant and Castle.- It's not far.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18That's my nearest landmark.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20That's a couple of miles down the river, isn't it?
0:10:20 > 0:10:22- Yes.- So you've got to come here more often.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24What do you think of that?
0:10:24 > 0:10:26I love it, I'm speechless. I'm really speechless.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30- I'm enjoying the view, including you.- Oh, thank you very much.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32I'll tell you what, you might be one of the lucky ones going
0:10:32 > 0:10:34through to the auction later on.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36So let's join up with our experts and we've got
0:10:36 > 0:10:39a lot of people still here in the room.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44- Do you like watches? - I do like watches, very much so.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47- That's one of THE makes, isn't it? A Rolex Oyster.- Mm-hm.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49Do you know anything about Rolex?
0:10:49 > 0:10:52All I know is I've got one myself and my brother's got one as well.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55- Really?- Yes. Both 18th birthday presents.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57- Is that from your dad? - Yes, it was.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59- He's a real watch man. - He was a watch man, yes.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01- Was this his?- That was his, yes.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05So Rolex was set up by Hans Wilsdorf in 1905.
0:11:05 > 0:11:06Right.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08This is an Oyster.
0:11:08 > 0:11:13The Oyster movement was set up in 1926.
0:11:13 > 0:11:18And in 1927 there was a swimmer called Mercedes Gleitze.
0:11:18 > 0:11:23- She swam the channel wearing her Rolex Oyster.- Right.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26When she got out, having done her ten-hour swim,
0:11:26 > 0:11:30the watch was still in perfect working order and it was called
0:11:30 > 0:11:33an Oyster, apparently, because Wilsdorf said
0:11:33 > 0:11:34it's just like an oyster.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36It's almost impossible to get into.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39It won't let water in, it won't let dust in,
0:11:39 > 0:11:40it won't let whatever in.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42Why do you want to sell this?
0:11:42 > 0:11:44It's just not a watch that I was going to be wearing,
0:11:44 > 0:11:46neither my brother.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48And we've both got them, so we just thought we'll sell it
0:11:48 > 0:11:52and use the money to separate between the two.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54Do you remember your dad wearing this?
0:11:54 > 0:11:56Yes, I do, he used to wear it all the time and
0:11:56 > 0:11:59then he just stopped wearing it and got another Rolex.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01OK. It's stainless steel.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03It's not gold.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05What's it going to make at auction?
0:12:05 > 0:12:11The interesting thing for me is that in the last ten or 15 years
0:12:11 > 0:12:13watches have gone through the roof
0:12:13 > 0:12:15in terms of price.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17The reason for that,
0:12:17 > 0:12:19now this is no tax advice here,
0:12:19 > 0:12:21so I've got to lay that clearly.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24You don't pay capital gains tax on watches.
0:12:24 > 0:12:29So if you buy a Rolex watch today for £10,000,
0:12:29 > 0:12:33- and you sell it in three years' time for £40,000...- Yeah.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37..that's yours. There is no CGT on it.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40Having said that, I don't think we're going to be paying
0:12:40 > 0:12:43capital gains tax on your dad's stainless steel watch.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47My idea of an estimate for it is £200 to £300.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50That, I think, is a sensible estimate.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53Give the auctioneer 10% discretion.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55Now the thing is, it's going to go on the internet
0:12:55 > 0:12:58and so the world will know it's available.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00- Yeah.- So...
0:13:00 > 0:13:03..if it's worth £300, £400, £500, it will make it.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05I don't have any worries about it at all.
0:13:05 > 0:13:06Are you happy with that?
0:13:06 > 0:13:10- Yeah, it's fine, perfect.- Thanks for coming along.- Thank you very much.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15Well, the atmosphere's certainly buzzing and hundreds of people are
0:13:15 > 0:13:18enjoying the impressive surroundings.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21Our experts have worked flat-out and we have found our first items
0:13:21 > 0:13:23to take off to auction.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25I've got my favourites, you've probably got yours.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27Let's find out what the bidders think.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30Here's a quick recap of all the items that are going under
0:13:30 > 0:13:32the hammer.
0:13:32 > 0:13:33Although we can't make more time,
0:13:33 > 0:13:37let's hope we can make more money with this Regency bracket clock.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43This rosewood box found in an attic has the craftsmanship that
0:13:43 > 0:13:45should see it do well at auction.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50And it's a sellers' market at the moment for timepieces,
0:13:50 > 0:13:55so this Rolex Oyster watch from the 1950s should do well.
0:13:58 > 0:14:03We're heading west along the River Thames to the suburb of Chiswick.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06Chiswick Bridge was opened in 1933 and it now marks the
0:14:06 > 0:14:09finishing point for the Oxford and Cambridge boat race.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14Today, though, it's not about speed, it's about money and
0:14:14 > 0:14:18here at Chiswick Auctions, William Rouse is on the rostrum.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21And remember, when you buy and sell at auction, you have to pay
0:14:21 > 0:14:24commission and the fee here today is 15% plus VAT.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27First up, it's the bracket clock.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29It's great quality. It belongs to Jill and Paul.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32- In fact, it was your father's, wasn't it?- Yes.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35It's been in the family quite a bit of time.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37I think £200 to £400 is sensible on this.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39- It's just a good looking, decorative clock, really.- OK.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42We're going to find out what the bidders think right now
0:14:42 > 0:14:44as we put it under the hammer. Here we go.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47The Regency bracket clock.
0:14:47 > 0:14:52I've got commission interest in this straightaway at the bottom estimate,
0:14:52 > 0:14:54which I think is very low, of 200.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56I'll take 210, somebody else.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59With me at £200. 210, 220.
0:14:59 > 0:15:00450.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02- That'll do, won't it?- Yes.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04We love the internet.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06480.
0:15:06 > 0:15:07Would you like 500?
0:15:07 > 0:15:08No, he's out.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12The phone was immediately knocked out by the internet at 480.
0:15:12 > 0:15:13Would anybody else want to come in?
0:15:13 > 0:15:15Internet bid 480.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19That's a good price. £480.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22- I'm very pleased.. - I'm happy with that.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25Putting it at that estimate encourages the bidding.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28Yes, that certainly worked for this one.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30Next up, the lovely rosewood box.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34- And, good luck. Good luck. - Thank you very much.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36This is quality, the rosewood writing box.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38Why are you selling this?
0:15:38 > 0:15:40It was found by my uncle in the attic.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43- It doesn't belong directly to my family.- So you can let that go?
0:15:43 > 0:15:46I've had it for 30 years, it's time for somebody else to enjoy it.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48Do you know what? I'm with you on that.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51Let's put it to the test, it's going under the hammer right now.
0:15:51 > 0:15:55An impressive Victorian rosewood case with the book inside, as well.
0:15:55 > 0:15:56Very impressive lot.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59Start this. £500 to start me?
0:16:00 > 0:16:03£500 to start me? We've got to start there.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05For £500?
0:16:05 > 0:16:09Nobody's flickered. For £500?
0:16:09 > 0:16:11Any interest for 500?
0:16:11 > 0:16:14I'm afraid it needs to be this and a bit more.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17At £500 I'm not selling it, I'm afraid.
0:16:17 > 0:16:18No interest?
0:16:18 > 0:16:20Oh, I'm ever so sorry.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23- That was short and sweet. - I'm ever so sorry.
0:16:23 > 0:16:24In a way, I'm not that sad.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28I'm very happy to take it home and look after it a little bit longer.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32It would've been nice to let it go but if the person isn't there...
0:16:32 > 0:16:36There is another auction on another day, in a few months' time maybe.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40Now, with no time to waste, it's Guy's Rolex.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44- Who's this?- My son, Fraser. - Hello, how do you do?
0:16:44 > 0:16:47I know it's half term. Thank you for joining us in the auction room.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49We're just about to sell the Rolex.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52It is a lovely '50s relics with a blackface and it was your father's?
0:16:52 > 0:16:54- That's correct. - Philip, I agree with the value.
0:16:54 > 0:16:55Let's hope everybody else does.
0:16:55 > 0:16:59We're going to put it to the test, right now. Here we go.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02A Rolex gent's Oyster wristwatch. Quite a bit of interest in it.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05I'm straight in at the bottom estimate of £200.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07210, 220, 230, 240,
0:17:07 > 0:17:09250, 260, 270,
0:17:09 > 0:17:11280, 290, 300, 320,
0:17:11 > 0:17:13340, 360, 380,
0:17:13 > 0:17:16390, 400.
0:17:16 > 0:17:17410...
0:17:17 > 0:17:19..550 on the internet.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21550.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23- 600.- Yes.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25650.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27700. 750.
0:17:27 > 0:17:28800.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30850.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32900.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34900 is bid on the telephone.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36950 is also bid on the internet.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38- It's good.- Top marks.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41Thank you on the telephone.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43950 it is.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46At £950, internet bid, 950.
0:17:46 > 0:17:47Yeah, it's going.
0:17:47 > 0:17:51Hammer's gone down. Crack! That's a sold sound. £950, Dad.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53- It's good.- That was your dad's. - Yes, it was.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55You're now thinking, "Hang on a minute, Dad,
0:17:55 > 0:17:57"why didn't it get passed onto me?!"
0:17:57 > 0:18:00I'm sure you've got a shopping list together now, haven't you?
0:18:00 > 0:18:02- Yeah.- I'm sure you'll get something out of this.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04- Thank you for bringing it in. - Thank you.- We enjoyed selling that.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06- Thank you very much. - Lovely to meet you.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13There you are, some good results and we are coming back here later on
0:18:13 > 0:18:16in the programme, so do not go away.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20Meanwhile, back in Greenwich, I had the opportunity to go
0:18:20 > 0:18:24on board the world's last surviving tea clipper, the Cutty Sark.
0:18:30 > 0:18:34In the mid-19th century, this ship became famous for her speed,
0:18:34 > 0:18:35style and elegance.
0:18:37 > 0:18:38In a few years from now,
0:18:38 > 0:18:43she will be celebrating her 150th birthday, having survived high
0:18:43 > 0:18:47seas, hurricanes and more recently, in 2007,
0:18:47 > 0:18:51a fire that swept through the decks, which left many fearing the worst.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53It's the Cutty Sark!
0:18:54 > 0:18:58Today she stands looking across the River Thames and she's
0:18:58 > 0:19:01a fantastic reminder of Britain's seafaring heritage.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04I can remember as a schoolboy, a 12-year-old boy,
0:19:04 > 0:19:08my dad bringing me here when we lived in London to see
0:19:08 > 0:19:12fantastic three-masted tea clipper with these beautiful lines,
0:19:12 > 0:19:15the best ship in the world for me and I can't begin to tell you
0:19:15 > 0:19:20how excited I am today to be standing here right now on the deck.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23She was built in the Victorian era when London was the largest
0:19:23 > 0:19:25and the busiest dock in the world,
0:19:25 > 0:19:29handling around 60,000 vessels each year.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32This was the age before steam, the age when Britain truly
0:19:32 > 0:19:34ruled the waves.
0:19:38 > 0:19:43Cutty Sark was commissioned in 1869 by shipping magnate Jock Willis,
0:19:43 > 0:19:45a Scotsman based in London.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48He wanted a ship that could bring tea back from China
0:19:48 > 0:19:53as fast as possible to ensure that he got the best prices.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59I'm meeting with the ship's curator, Jessica Lewis, who's giving
0:19:59 > 0:20:03me a tour and can tell me why this ship was so innovative for the time.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06We're down in the belly of the ship
0:20:06 > 0:20:08and the tea would be stacked right the way
0:20:08 > 0:20:11down to the bottom of the ship, up to the underside of the main deck.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13She is the pinnacle of sailing ship design.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16She's what's known as a clipper ship. And clipper ships are defined
0:20:16 > 0:20:20by a very long, narrow hull, a very sharp bow at the front,
0:20:20 > 0:20:24- a huge sail area, bigger than anyone had ever seen before.- Yeah.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26She's all about getting that cargo onto the market
0:20:26 > 0:20:29ahead of her competitors, because in the late 19th century,
0:20:29 > 0:20:32the market was incredibly competitive.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37Cutty Sark was bringing back high-quality black tea from China.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39At the time that Cutty Sark was trading,
0:20:39 > 0:20:42the fad was for the fresh new season's tea and it really was
0:20:42 > 0:20:44a fad, because, after all,
0:20:44 > 0:20:48tea's got a shelf life of two or three years, but it was the fashion
0:20:48 > 0:20:51to pay the premium for that high-quality tea that was
0:20:51 > 0:20:53coming back ahead of all of the other teas.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56So the race was on to get that blend back from China
0:20:56 > 0:20:57as quickly as possible.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01Between 1870 and 1877,
0:21:01 > 0:21:04the Cutty Sark raced between London and Shanghai,
0:21:04 > 0:21:09bringing back more than 600 tons of tea with each trip,
0:21:09 > 0:21:14enough to make more than 200 million cups of tea.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17Although she proved strong competition
0:21:17 > 0:21:19against other fast clippers,
0:21:19 > 0:21:22she was yet to make her name as the fastest of them all.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29So what happened to her, towards the end of the 1880s?
0:21:29 > 0:21:32Well, Cutty Sark was built to serve the China tea trade,
0:21:32 > 0:21:35but just at the time that she was entering the tea trade,
0:21:35 > 0:21:38the Suez Canal opened and that opened up the trade to the steamers
0:21:38 > 0:21:41and sailing ships, including Cutty Sark, were driven out of the trade.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45So obviously this ship was built to make money and so Jock Willis,
0:21:45 > 0:21:48the owner of Cutty Sark, put her into other trades
0:21:48 > 0:21:52- and in 1883 she went to Australia to bring back wool.- Really?
0:21:52 > 0:21:54And it was as a wool clipper
0:21:54 > 0:21:57that she became known as the fastest ship of the day.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01On her very first voyage back from Australia to London,
0:22:01 > 0:22:05Cutty Sark reached port in just 84 days.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09It was the fastest passage ever made by any ship that year.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13But it was under the command of Captain Richard Woodget
0:22:13 > 0:22:16that she beat off all competition
0:22:16 > 0:22:20and beat her very own record by a significant margin.
0:22:24 > 0:22:25'I'm meeting with Martin Woodget,
0:22:25 > 0:22:29'who is the great-grandson of Cutty Sark's most notable captain.'
0:22:30 > 0:22:35- So your great-grandfather delivered Cutty Sark's fastest times?- Yes.
0:22:35 > 0:22:41From Australia to here, he did it in just over 70 days.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44Yeah, he must've been a great captain and a great navigator.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46Well, he was. I think one of the...
0:22:46 > 0:22:49He was very good on the rigging,
0:22:49 > 0:22:51he was very good in handling his men.
0:22:51 > 0:22:55He was tough, mind you, but he did, you know, they knew where they were.
0:22:55 > 0:23:00He navigated further south, around Cape Horn, than anyone else did,
0:23:00 > 0:23:04because the winds were stronger, but that made it quite risky
0:23:04 > 0:23:07and they saw, as my grandfather told me,
0:23:07 > 0:23:11lots of icebergs, so it was very dangerous.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13He had a lot of guts
0:23:13 > 0:23:16and he was almost foolhardy, I suspect, sometimes.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19- He captained this vessel for ten years.- Yes.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21What happened after that? what did he do then?
0:23:21 > 0:23:24When he retired from Cutty Sark at 50,
0:23:24 > 0:23:27he went on this other clipper,
0:23:27 > 0:23:30but somehow he lost heart a bit, I think.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34- She just did not compare with Cutty Sark.- No, I can imagine.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37And there wasn't another ship that could
0:23:37 > 0:23:41and so he retired to North Norfolk and took on a smallholding.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44By the end of the 19th century, the era of the fast clipper ships,
0:23:44 > 0:23:47like Cutty Sark, also came to an end.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52Despite speedy passages, by the 1890s,
0:23:52 > 0:23:55she wasn't making the money she once had.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59Sadly, she was sold off in 1895 and she spent the next 27 years
0:23:59 > 0:24:01flying the Portuguese flag.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05Under her new name and country,
0:24:05 > 0:24:08she continued to transport cargoes around the world.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12This may have been where her story ended,
0:24:12 > 0:24:14had it not been for a retired sea captain
0:24:14 > 0:24:17who spotted her more than 25 years later
0:24:17 > 0:24:19when she pulled up in Falmouth.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24Despite the change of name and her battered appearance,
0:24:24 > 0:24:27he instantly recognised her from her glory days
0:24:27 > 0:24:30and salvaged her from her Portuguese owner.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36She was used for training cadets during World War II
0:24:36 > 0:24:40and in 1951 was moored in London for the Festival of Britain.
0:24:42 > 0:24:43Shortly afterwards,
0:24:43 > 0:24:48she was acquired by the newly formed Cutty Sark Reservation Society
0:24:48 > 0:24:53and in 1954, floated here into Greenwich to a welcoming crowd.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58She was by now the last surviving tea clipper
0:24:58 > 0:25:03and here she would stay as a reminder of Britain's maritime past.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09Then, in 2007, disaster struck.
0:25:09 > 0:25:14While undergoing conservation work, a fire swept across her decks.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17Five o'clock this morning and an intensive fire
0:25:17 > 0:25:19beside the Thames at Greenwich.
0:25:19 > 0:25:24Gradually people realised part of Britain's heritage was burning.
0:25:24 > 0:25:25It's the Cutty Sark.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29This had been the world's fastest tea clipper,
0:25:29 > 0:25:32but in under two hours this morning,
0:25:32 > 0:25:36it was reduced to this - a burning frame.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38It was a really horrific time,
0:25:38 > 0:25:41a very difficult, very challenging time for us here at Cutty Sark
0:25:41 > 0:25:43and we had phone calls from across the world.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46The ship featured on news bulletins across the world, you know,
0:25:46 > 0:25:49everyone cares about this ship and people were worried about
0:25:49 > 0:25:53losing that bit of maritime history, but, thankfully,
0:25:53 > 0:25:55because we were in the middle of a conservation project,
0:25:55 > 0:25:58we were able to bring this ship back to life.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00So a lot of this was off-site?
0:26:00 > 0:26:03Yes, all of the master rigging, the deck furniture, you know,
0:26:03 > 0:26:04half of the hull planks,
0:26:04 > 0:26:07all of that was safely in storage at the time of the fire.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09The biggest casualty were the decks,
0:26:09 > 0:26:13but none of the decks were original, from when she was a working ship.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17What does the ship mean to you?
0:26:17 > 0:26:19I mean, I've been coming here since I was little.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22She's at the heart of maritime Greenwich.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25- We can't imagine Greenwich without her.- No, you can't, no.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31The Cutty Sark has proved herself worthy time and time again
0:26:31 > 0:26:34on the high seas and even here in Greenwich.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37She's one of the last of a kind of sailing ships
0:26:37 > 0:26:40that truly did rule the waves and I believe
0:26:40 > 0:26:43she's earnt our respect and a place in our hearts forever.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54Welcome back to our valuation date venue
0:26:54 > 0:26:57here at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59It's now time to catch up with our experts
0:26:59 > 0:27:04to see what other treasures we can find to take off to auction.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07Now let's see what Jonathan has spotted on his travels.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12So, Alison, you've brought along a suitcase.
0:27:12 > 0:27:13Yes, it's an interesting suitcase.
0:27:13 > 0:27:14Let's have a look inside.
0:27:14 > 0:27:15It's a bit battered.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18Yeah, what we've got is, um...
0:27:18 > 0:27:21a beautiful lady's travelling case,
0:27:21 > 0:27:26fitted with lots of silver jars and a dressing set within enamel.
0:27:26 > 0:27:27Now, so who did this belong to?
0:27:27 > 0:27:30It belonged to my great-aunt who used to travel a lot
0:27:30 > 0:27:33- with her husband.- And what did they do for a living?
0:27:33 > 0:27:36- Well, he was an ambassador.- Oh, wow!
0:27:36 > 0:27:39- So she just travelled the world with him...- Yes.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41..and, yeah, he had a very big job.
0:27:41 > 0:27:43He was, I think, his last post was Czechoslovakia,
0:27:43 > 0:27:47- the old Czechoslovakia.- Right. - He was ambassador. Yeah, so...
0:27:47 > 0:27:49So to go to Czechoslovakia, you'd go on the Orient Express, wouldn't you?
0:27:49 > 0:27:52- You would, yes.- And she did, I guess?- Yes, she did.- Yes, she did.
0:27:52 > 0:27:54- Perfect.- And this had been taken with her, obviously.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58- I mean, we can see from the case, this has had many a journey.- Yes.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01- That sort of wear doesn't happen overnight.- No.
0:28:01 > 0:28:03So looking inside it,
0:28:03 > 0:28:07we've got all these lovely fitted cases and jars
0:28:07 > 0:28:09on this watered silk background,
0:28:09 > 0:28:12which are kept in with little poppers
0:28:12 > 0:28:16and you've got covered jars for various different things,
0:28:16 > 0:28:18like scents and... Do you know?
0:28:18 > 0:28:21I don't even know what these tall ones are for,
0:28:21 > 0:28:23- possibly hat pins and all sorts of things like that.- Oh, OK.
0:28:23 > 0:28:29And then you'd have jewellery in here. You've got a button hook.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32You would have a pair of scissors here and I think this one
0:28:32 > 0:28:35would have been a nail file, actually.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38All hallmarked silver, er, dated...
0:28:38 > 0:28:41So now this gives us a clue, so we're dealing with...in the '30s.
0:28:41 > 0:28:45- Right.- This is dated 1938. And you've got this guilloche enamel...
0:28:45 > 0:28:48- Right.- ..which is essentially...
0:28:48 > 0:28:51They machine-engraved this sort of pattern and then they'd melt a glass
0:28:51 > 0:28:52on top. It's a coloured glass.
0:28:52 > 0:28:55- Oh, right. - So this is all coloured glass.
0:28:55 > 0:28:58And then this whole thing here inside lifts out.
0:29:00 > 0:29:02- You'd put your clothes in there. - Right.
0:29:02 > 0:29:06And then you've got this, and I think this is quite a nice touch,
0:29:06 > 0:29:09look, this becomes another little sort of vanity case
0:29:09 > 0:29:12to take to the evening, I suppose,
0:29:12 > 0:29:16that you can get yourself ready when you're on your ambassadorial...
0:29:16 > 0:29:18- Duties.- ..duties, yes.
0:29:18 > 0:29:22So we get to the nitty-gritty about the valuation.
0:29:22 > 0:29:28- Now, my feeling is that it's worth between £250-£350.- Yes.
0:29:28 > 0:29:30And we can put a reserve somewhere below the lower estimate.
0:29:30 > 0:29:34- Yes, that's fine. That's fine. - Put a reserve of...- 200?
0:29:34 > 0:29:37£200 would be wonderful. I think that's really good.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40You know, as an auctioneer, you see an object like this
0:29:40 > 0:29:43coming into the saleroom and you don't actually get to sell it
0:29:43 > 0:29:47- with that story, like we can here. - Oh, good.- It's really interesting.
0:29:47 > 0:29:48Thank you for bringing it along.
0:29:48 > 0:29:50You're welcome.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52And that's what it's all about for us -
0:29:52 > 0:29:55those stories behind the objects.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58And I think I've spotted an item on Philip's table that also fits
0:29:58 > 0:30:01with Britain's maritime history.
0:30:01 > 0:30:02Let's find out more.
0:30:05 > 0:30:11- You look terrified. Am I that scary? - No.- Do I growl, eh?- No.
0:30:11 > 0:30:13- So what's your name?- Harry.
0:30:13 > 0:30:16- And who have you brought with you today, Harry?- My mum.
0:30:16 > 0:30:21- And who bought this?- She did. - She did.- She did, she's my mum.
0:30:21 > 0:30:25- And you're Nicola, aren't you?- I am. - So, I love this.
0:30:25 > 0:30:29- I absolutely love this. What do you know about this?- Not a lot.
0:30:29 > 0:30:33I mean, the person we got it off of was a friend of my mum's.
0:30:33 > 0:30:35When she died and all requests
0:30:35 > 0:30:36had been dealt with,
0:30:36 > 0:30:38my mum was left with everything else,
0:30:38 > 0:30:41so there was a suitcase full of papers, photos...
0:30:41 > 0:30:47- What did this friend do? - She was a press photographer.- When?
0:30:47 > 0:30:52Would have been from the sort of '40s onwards.
0:30:52 > 0:30:54I'm a real petrolhead, right?
0:30:54 > 0:30:57Now, if you look at a boat like this,
0:30:57 > 0:31:00this family were the Campbells.
0:31:00 > 0:31:06- Yeah.- Malcolm and Donald - land-speed records, water records.
0:31:06 > 0:31:10So you've got a picture of an old boat and if we turn it over,
0:31:10 > 0:31:15you've got this signature of Malcolm Campbell. So who's Margaret?
0:31:15 > 0:31:18Margaret was the woman that left everything to my mum.
0:31:18 > 0:31:24She was born in the '20s. She had an amazing life.
0:31:24 > 0:31:29She was a photographer, she married well. She basically did everything.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32But the thing that I find really interesting -
0:31:32 > 0:31:34she must've been a real character,
0:31:34 > 0:31:39because if she was born in the '20s, this was taken in 1947,
0:31:39 > 0:31:44she would have been in her mid-20s out there taking photographs.
0:31:44 > 0:31:46You know, I mean, that's...
0:31:46 > 0:31:51I'm sort of kind of guessing that was very much a male preserve then.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54- And she actually took this photograph?- We don't know.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57You wouldn't know who Malcolm Campbell was, would you?
0:31:57 > 0:31:59All I know was he broke the land-speed record.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03See, smart kids. Never ever work with smart kids.
0:32:03 > 0:32:05They don't ever work.
0:32:05 > 0:32:07- You're absolutely right. - That and the internet.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10No, but it's interesting, because why would you keep this?
0:32:10 > 0:32:12Because I recognised the name on the back.
0:32:12 > 0:32:13- You recognised it straightaway? - Yeah.
0:32:13 > 0:32:18- OK, so we've got to arrive at a value of this, haven't we?- I guess.
0:32:18 > 0:32:19What do you reckon, Harry?
0:32:19 > 0:32:23- I'm thinking about £150.- Really?
0:32:23 > 0:32:25- I'd say lower than that. - I don't know.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28- Look, Harry... Come here.- I'd say about 50.
0:32:28 > 0:32:32- When I ask you again, go, "50 quid," all right?- OK.
0:32:32 > 0:32:34- What do you think that's worth, Harry?- £50.
0:32:34 > 0:32:37Yeah, he's good, isn't he? He's really, really, very, very good.
0:32:37 > 0:32:38I think you're spot on, Harry.
0:32:38 > 0:32:40I think that that's going to be worth...
0:32:40 > 0:32:43I think at auction we should estimate it at £50-£80
0:32:43 > 0:32:45and put a reserve on it of £40.
0:32:45 > 0:32:49And the thing is, if you go and make 40 or 50 quid...
0:32:49 > 0:32:51It could actually make £150 -
0:32:51 > 0:32:55you just want two enthusiasts there, right? It's a really cool thing.
0:32:55 > 0:32:59- Thank you for bringing it. Have you got a lot more?- Not like that, no.
0:33:03 > 0:33:07In case you're wondering how we get that close-up detail
0:33:07 > 0:33:08on the mural on the ceiling,
0:33:08 > 0:33:11it's by virtue of this thing here, a great piece of kit.
0:33:11 > 0:33:14It's called the jib and these guys are the jib operators,
0:33:14 > 0:33:17hoovering up all of that lovely artwork.
0:33:17 > 0:33:21Now up here, this section is known to us as the holding area.
0:33:21 > 0:33:24This is where we have off-screen experts and we also have
0:33:24 > 0:33:28a lot of people here who potentially will be going through to the auction
0:33:28 > 0:33:30if they make it to the valuation table.
0:33:30 > 0:33:32So this is where a lot of the work is done
0:33:32 > 0:33:34behind the scenes, hence off-screen.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37As you can see, we've got lots of laptops, lots of books.
0:33:37 > 0:33:41These are our off-screen experts, so you can see it's a hive of activity.
0:33:41 > 0:33:43We've got lots of crews, lots of lights, lots of soundmen,
0:33:43 > 0:33:47lots of directors and, of course, lots of antiques to get through.
0:33:50 > 0:33:52- Hello, Pepita.- Hello, Jonathan, hi.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55Where's Pepita... What's the name Pepita from?
0:33:55 > 0:33:58- It actually means Josephine, but it's Spanish.- Oh, lovely.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01- Well, there we are. Spanish...- Yes. - So you've got Spanish heritage?
0:34:01 > 0:34:04- No, I don't, no.- Oh, cos you've got a collection of fans?
0:34:04 > 0:34:05I've got a collection of fans.
0:34:05 > 0:34:07Of which I think one or two might be Spanish,
0:34:07 > 0:34:10but we've got a bit of an array here. Where are they from?
0:34:10 > 0:34:14They're basically from my grandmother's side of the family.
0:34:14 > 0:34:16I think it was various cousins and people like this might have
0:34:16 > 0:34:19left them to her, but I'm not really quite sure.
0:34:19 > 0:34:22But they have been in the attic for many a year,
0:34:22 > 0:34:26so I thought it was time that they actually saw some light
0:34:26 > 0:34:29and went to somebody who might appreciate them.
0:34:29 > 0:34:34I think they probably do represent one person's collection,
0:34:34 > 0:34:36- buying one every now and then perhaps.- Yes.
0:34:36 > 0:34:41So various different styles. I rather like...
0:34:41 > 0:34:44I'm rather drawn to this one.
0:34:44 > 0:34:46I don't know if it's the naked ladies bathing
0:34:46 > 0:34:49- or just because you've got these little mirrors on the end.- Yes.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52And it's very decorative on the other side as well.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55And this paper here, which is finished off at the edges,
0:34:55 > 0:34:57is gouache painted here at this end
0:34:57 > 0:35:00and then in the middle it's actually over a print,
0:35:00 > 0:35:03so it's like a stipple engraved print.
0:35:03 > 0:35:05- Oh, right, is it?- And coloured over the top, yeah.- Yes.
0:35:05 > 0:35:09But it's a bit of a racy subject, which is kind of nice, you know?
0:35:09 > 0:35:13- This one here is handmade.- Right.
0:35:13 > 0:35:17- It's handmade lace and I would say certainly Spanish.- Yes.
0:35:17 > 0:35:21This one again is a Chinese one and comes from a similar date to these,
0:35:21 > 0:35:24so you've got a sort of late 19th...
0:35:24 > 0:35:29- Similar date, moving into the 20th century here.- Right.
0:35:29 > 0:35:31Obviously, condition's everything and they've always...
0:35:31 > 0:35:34Presumably they were like this when you got them?
0:35:34 > 0:35:36They were like this, yes, yes.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39Ever since I've known them, they've been in this condition.
0:35:39 > 0:35:41This has obviously got a lot of detail
0:35:41 > 0:35:43and this is Chinese and Canton.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46- It's copying sort of the porcelains of the day as well.- Right, yes.
0:35:46 > 0:35:48You get a lot of porcelain with this sort of decoration
0:35:48 > 0:35:50- in these colours.- Right.
0:35:50 > 0:35:52With ivory boards here and still pierced,
0:35:52 > 0:35:54so a lot of work, you know, hand-cut.
0:35:54 > 0:35:56Obviously, when you're handling ivory,
0:35:56 > 0:36:01- you've got to be certain that it's legal to sell.- Right.
0:36:01 > 0:36:07The law states that it has to be pre-1947 worked ivory to sell.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10Well, most auctioneers don't really want to touch anything
0:36:10 > 0:36:14that's even close to that date. This is late 19th century.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17- It's absolutely fine to sell. - Oh, right. Oh, good.
0:36:17 > 0:36:20So I think, really, we're looking at around...
0:36:20 > 0:36:24- I think we'd probably get about £150 for them...- OK, OK.
0:36:24 > 0:36:26..if that sounds realistic to you?
0:36:26 > 0:36:29No, it does, yes, no, no, no, that's perfectly OK.
0:36:29 > 0:36:35- If we pitch it sort of estimate £120-£180, a reserve of £120.- Right.
0:36:35 > 0:36:38I think we're going to see what we can do with them now.
0:36:38 > 0:36:39Right, well, thank you very much.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42You never know on the day they might do a bit better or...
0:36:42 > 0:36:45- Hopefully they don't have to go back in the loft.- No, I hope not.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49Well, that's it.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52Our work is now done at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich.
0:36:52 > 0:36:54Our experts have found their final items,
0:36:54 > 0:36:57so it's time to say goodbye to our magnificent host location.
0:36:57 > 0:36:58I've had a marvellous time.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01Right now it's straight over to Chiswick, to the auction rooms,
0:37:01 > 0:37:02and here's a quick recap,
0:37:02 > 0:37:06just to jog your memory of all the items we're taking with us.
0:37:07 > 0:37:10This lady's vanity case could make a fabulous present
0:37:10 > 0:37:11for the classy lady.
0:37:13 > 0:37:17And those with a need for speed would have to fasten the bells
0:37:17 > 0:37:18when this goes under the hammer.
0:37:20 > 0:37:21And calling all fans of fans,
0:37:21 > 0:37:24this eclectic collection could seal a deal.
0:37:27 > 0:37:29We're back at Chiswick Auctions
0:37:29 > 0:37:33and our auctioneers are Stephen Large and William Rouse.
0:37:33 > 0:37:36Now, let's hope there's some stylish ladies in the room.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40We're going under the hammer right now. We've got a real treat.
0:37:40 > 0:37:45Some real class belonging to Alison and hopefully not for much longer.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48I think this big crowd out there will get excited
0:37:48 > 0:37:51about the vanity case and I know our expert Jonathan did.
0:37:51 > 0:37:55It's the kind of thing that belongs on the Orient Express
0:37:55 > 0:37:58- and indeed it did go. I love the back story to this.- Yes.
0:37:58 > 0:38:02I really do. Great-aunt's married to the Ambassador of Czechoslovakia,
0:38:02 > 0:38:03travelled a lot.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06Quality, quality, quality. And we always say on the show,
0:38:06 > 0:38:09- "Quality always..."- Yep. "Always sells."- It does. It always sells.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12Fingers crossed, the moment of truth, what's it worth?
0:38:12 > 0:38:15We're going to find out. It's going under the hammer and here we go.
0:38:15 > 0:38:20Special lady's vanity case by Adie Brothers Ltd, 1938.
0:38:20 > 0:38:23It's very, very nice. It's all complete.
0:38:23 > 0:38:28Let's go straight in at £200. At £200.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31It's a fine example. At £200?
0:38:31 > 0:38:38£200. I'm bid in the room. So £200. In the round at £200. £200.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41Any further advance? At £200? Just on the reserve.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44At £200, any further advance?
0:38:44 > 0:38:48- We thought this would go for a lot more. We were hoping so.- Oh.
0:38:48 > 0:38:52At £200, 220? In the room at 220. It's against you.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55Would you like 240? 240.
0:38:55 > 0:38:57It's £240, it's against you.
0:38:57 > 0:39:02It's £240 in the room. Last chance. Final warning. £240.
0:39:02 > 0:39:05- Well, he's selling at 240. - It's sold.
0:39:05 > 0:39:08Hammer's gone down. £240. Gosh. Ah!
0:39:08 > 0:39:11- Well, I'm pleased.- I'm pleased.- Yes.
0:39:11 > 0:39:13It's not going to go back in the loft. It's now going to be loved.
0:39:13 > 0:39:14It didn't need to go back in the loft.
0:39:14 > 0:39:16It's going on a new journey.
0:39:16 > 0:39:19Yes, hopefully it'll go back on the train with somebody new,
0:39:19 > 0:39:20so I'm happy, I'm happy.
0:39:21 > 0:39:24Time for a new chapter in the life of this vanity case.
0:39:24 > 0:39:28Next up, the postcard. Nicola and Harry, it's great to see you.
0:39:28 > 0:39:30High-five, man. Yeah!
0:39:30 > 0:39:33I feel the need for speed, which brings us to our next item.
0:39:33 > 0:39:35Yes, Malcolm Campbell, Donald's dad,
0:39:35 > 0:39:37and this man loves his speed as well.
0:39:37 > 0:39:39We're talking about that photograph.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42- You know what we're talking about, don't you?- Yeah.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45Malcolm Campbell. Do you know, also, he won the Grand Prix twice
0:39:45 > 0:39:47in an old Bugatti?
0:39:47 > 0:39:50I think if you weren't an auctioneer,
0:39:50 > 0:39:53- you'd be a Grand Prix driver. - Oh, I'd love to have had a go, yeah.
0:39:53 > 0:39:55- That would be a good career for you, wouldn't it?- Yeah.
0:39:55 > 0:39:57Well, it's a great image. It's an iconic image, isn't it?
0:39:57 > 0:40:00So we're going to put this to the test and find out what the bidders
0:40:00 > 0:40:02- think of it.- Yeah, let's hope it goes at a high speed.
0:40:02 > 0:40:05Yeah, here we go. This is it.
0:40:05 > 0:40:08Come to a very nice lot now. This is a Malcolm Campbell...
0:40:08 > 0:40:14A signed postcard with me at £40. 40 is bid in the room.
0:40:14 > 0:40:16Commission is out.
0:40:16 > 0:40:18Surely a further advance for a Malcolm Campbell,
0:40:18 > 0:40:22part of our heritage. At £40. £50.
0:40:22 > 0:40:25We'll go in tens. £60. It's £60.
0:40:25 > 0:40:31I've only got one of these. £60 in the room. Would you like 65, sir?
0:40:31 > 0:40:35No. £60. Would you like 65? 65. £65.
0:40:35 > 0:40:38It's £65 for Malcolm Campbell.
0:40:38 > 0:40:43Is that it? It's a special lot, special gentleman selling it. 65.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46That is it. It's selling at £65.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49- It's sold at £65. - Hammer's gone down.
0:40:49 > 0:40:53Well done, Philip. Got it spot-on. Well done.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55- So, are you going to get a treat out of that?- I don't know.
0:40:55 > 0:40:59- You don't know. I bet you do. - More than likely.- I think you will.
0:40:59 > 0:41:00Yeah, more than likely.
0:41:02 > 0:41:06It's heating up in this saleroom. Time to cool off with this next lot.
0:41:07 > 0:41:10Right now we have a collection of fans going under the hammer
0:41:10 > 0:41:11belonging to Pepita.
0:41:11 > 0:41:14Look, your fans, why are you selling them?
0:41:14 > 0:41:17Because they have been in my attic and as I've moved house,
0:41:17 > 0:41:19they've gone from attic to attic and...
0:41:19 > 0:41:23- Gathering dust, getting broken, falling apart.- That's right.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25We're going to put the fans under the hammer right now.
0:41:25 > 0:41:27- Good luck, Jonathan.- Thank you. - Here we go. This is it.
0:41:27 > 0:41:31The fans, good little lot of fans,
0:41:31 > 0:41:37lots 475 and with a phone bid and straight in at 85. With me at 85.
0:41:37 > 0:41:3990. 95. 100.
0:41:39 > 0:41:42110. 110 it is.
0:41:46 > 0:41:48Every time the internet... 160, 170.
0:41:48 > 0:41:52- That's brilliant.- Yeah.- 170. 180.
0:41:52 > 0:41:57190. 200. 210. 210.
0:41:57 > 0:42:00220. 230.
0:42:00 > 0:42:05- Oh, hopefully we'll climb to 300. - 230, then? An internet bid of 230.
0:42:05 > 0:42:11- 240 on the telephone. 240 on the telephone.- Back to you.- 260. 270.
0:42:13 > 0:42:17280. 290. 300.
0:42:17 > 0:42:22- Pepita, that's good.- It's amazing. - 320. 340. 360.
0:42:25 > 0:42:28- 380.- Cor, I need one of those fans to keep cool now.
0:42:28 > 0:42:33- This is warming up, isn't it? - I know.- 420. 440.
0:42:33 > 0:42:37- Oh, we could do £500.- Oh, could we? Wouldn't that be... Don't say that.
0:42:37 > 0:42:42- 480.- There's a lot of fans here.
0:42:42 > 0:42:46Has the internet slowed down? I think it might have done.
0:42:46 > 0:42:50We're on the telephone, then, at 500. At £500 I'm selling it then.
0:42:50 > 0:42:55- Telephone bidder. 500. - That's absolutely brilliant.- £500.
0:42:55 > 0:42:57Thank you. That's absolutely amazing.
0:42:57 > 0:43:00Well, I think the auctioneer did a good job there.
0:43:00 > 0:43:02- They found the right price. - He did indeed.
0:43:02 > 0:43:04Believe me, we wish this could happen to all our owners,
0:43:04 > 0:43:07but it doesn't, does it? Sometimes we fail, but it's not our fault.
0:43:07 > 0:43:09We really do want this, genuinely, but we got it with you,
0:43:09 > 0:43:13- so thank you so much.- Thank you. It was absolutely amazing.
0:43:13 > 0:43:14What a way to end today's show.
0:43:14 > 0:43:17Sadly, we've run out of time, but we've had those wonderful surprises
0:43:17 > 0:43:21that I promised you and if you keep watching, hopefully we'll give you
0:43:21 > 0:43:24some more, but until then, from Chiswick, from London, it's goodbye.