0:00:02 > 0:00:05- Coming up on today's show... We'll take that.- That's lovely.
0:00:05 > 0:00:08I can feel the energy!
0:00:08 > 0:00:11All that's to come on Flog It!!
0:00:41 > 0:00:46And today's Flog It! is in Telford, named after the famous engineer
0:00:46 > 0:00:50Thomas Telford, one of the principal architects of the Industrial Revolution.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55It's famous for the world's first iron bridge, which was built across
0:00:55 > 0:01:02the River Severn in 1779 by local metal master Abraham Darby III.
0:01:02 > 0:01:06However, Telford is a new town, forged over 25 years ago
0:01:06 > 0:01:10by joining up existing towns and villages in the area.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14And it attracted a lot of high-tech Japanese and Taiwanese firms.
0:01:14 > 0:01:19It's got a population of over 125,000 people, some of whom
0:01:19 > 0:01:24have come to our valuation day at the Telford International Centre to show us their antiques.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28Slick, hi-tech and sophisticated - that's our two experts today,
0:01:28 > 0:01:33Philip Serrell and Adam Partridge, who are keen to test the mettle of our owners' antiques.
0:01:33 > 0:01:38And both of them are hoping to pick an item that will turn a white heat in the auction room.
0:01:38 > 0:01:44Well, we've got our owners into the warm, and Adam's really found a hot little number.
0:01:44 > 0:01:49- This is one of my particularly favourite subjects, Michelle.- Great.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52Very beautiful art-deco dancing lady.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55What can you tell me about her?
0:01:55 > 0:01:59It was my mother's, and it's been in my dad's house, and we said we
0:01:59 > 0:02:02were coming down today, so he said "Bring it along"
0:02:02 > 0:02:06We think it's in the style of Joseph Lorenzl,
0:02:06 > 0:02:09an Austrian sculptor.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12- That's right.- And that's about it.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14It's nice to see you've done a bit of research.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17You're quite right - Lorenzl was a prolific sculptor
0:02:17 > 0:02:22of this sort of subject, these glamorous, art-deco ladies.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26She's got this short skirt and quite a skimpy top,
0:02:26 > 0:02:31and a very glamorous cape in the form of some wings.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34Whichever way you look at her,
0:02:34 > 0:02:36she's gorgeous.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41Of course she's a table lighter. This bit comes out here.
0:02:41 > 0:02:47And that would cause a spark, which would ignite a wick.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51And there we have a lighter. She's on a marble plinth,
0:02:51 > 0:02:54which, sadly, has been damaged at some point.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57It's been quite neatly glued together.
0:02:57 > 0:02:58That will affect the value a bit.
0:02:58 > 0:03:02Lorenzl signed pieces - Lorenzl -
0:03:02 > 0:03:04and they were in bronze.
0:03:04 > 0:03:09This is a gilded spelter figure, which is a cheaper alloy than bronze.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12So she's not really of massive value,
0:03:12 > 0:03:17but she's really evocative of the deco period. She's total 1930s -
0:03:17 > 0:03:19a period that's in vogue at the moment.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22So she should sell very well in the auction room.
0:03:22 > 0:03:27What I mean by very well is probably between £100 and £180.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29Because she's a spelter one.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33Bronze Lorenzl figures are from £500 to £2,000,
0:03:33 > 0:03:35depending on size and condition.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39- So is that all right by you? - That is, yes.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43Although it's from my dad's house, he's got plenty of other clutter.
0:03:43 > 0:03:48As much as I like her, she's not really something I'd have my own home.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50Not your style, maybe?
0:03:50 > 0:03:56I do like the Art Deco/Art Nouveau period, but not something that I would have personally.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03- Interesting. How are you doing? - I'm fine, thank you.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06You've brought along a pair of earrings.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09- What can you tell me about these? - Not a lot really.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13I just had them left to me. I don't wear them.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16So it's a shame - they're just stuck in the drawer.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19I think that's a real crying shame.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22This green stone that's at the bottom is what we call a peridot.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25It's in a teardrop shape.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28We've got these little seed pearls set.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32Let's see if we can find any mark that tells us whether they're gold or not.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36And there we are - nine-carat gold.
0:04:36 > 0:04:41So we've got a pair of nine-carat gold peridot and seed pearl earrings.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44I would think they're probably Edwardian.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46I think they're really sweet. Why don't you like them?
0:04:46 > 0:04:49- I've never worn them. - Never worn them?
0:04:49 > 0:04:52- Just not your thing?- Not really.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56I think their auction value isn't gonna be great.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59I would think you're looking at probably £60 to £90.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01We'll put a fixed reserve of £50.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05I think that represents super value for money for someone who'd buy them.
0:05:05 > 0:05:11I believe that those in the shop might be £200 to £300.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13I'm hopeful that they'll sell well.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16And you don't want them, so if they make £80,
0:05:16 > 0:05:20will you go and buy something else that you do like with the £80?
0:05:20 > 0:05:22Yes.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24- You're gonna buy something?- Yes. - What?
0:05:24 > 0:05:28I like platinum, so I'll probably put it towards that.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30- That sounds expensive to me.- Yes.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32Well, good luck to you.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42Malcolm, thank you very much for bringing in this architectural gem.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45It's a gorgeous internal post box.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47How did you come by this?
0:05:47 > 0:05:51It's my mother-in-law's. She remembers it being in her house as a little girl.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54When her mother died it was passed on to her.
0:05:54 > 0:05:59It's been left inside one of the spare bedrooms ever since.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01- That's the only history you know about it?- Yes.
0:06:01 > 0:06:06My wife remembers playing with it when she was a little girl as well.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10Just putting little notes in and opening the door.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13Well, this is Edwardian.
0:06:13 > 0:06:14It's early 1900s.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18This would belong in a country house hotel, and would be used for
0:06:18 > 0:06:23a lot of internal mail - all the guests that would be staying there for the shoot, say,
0:06:23 > 0:06:26or the fishing meeting, would send each other notes.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30This would be left on the counter at reception, and the receptionist
0:06:30 > 0:06:33would sort the mail out for the guests.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35It's made of solid oak.
0:06:35 > 0:06:42And it's craftsman-built. And he's selected the timbers to make this, because he's cut across the grain
0:06:42 > 0:06:48to create this wonderful decorative finish.
0:06:48 > 0:06:49And that's a medullary ray,
0:06:49 > 0:06:54which is a fissure which feeds the wood to make it grow.
0:06:54 > 0:06:55It feeds those annual rings.
0:06:55 > 0:07:00If you cut across the trunk, this is where you see all those fissures running through.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02Yeah, I understand that now.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06And that makes this side look a lot more pleasing.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08Otherwise it would look quite boring.
0:07:08 > 0:07:13Likewise, I've noticed this side has faded a lot.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15It's been in the sun somewhere.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18But a little bit of polish would bring that up.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21It will bring the golden hue back out. In needs TLC.
0:07:21 > 0:07:27If I lick my finger, watch, you can see the colour, the hue, glow from this. Look.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31- See that?- Yes I do. - It's in original condition.
0:07:31 > 0:07:36It's got an eight-sided door knocker made of brass, typical of the era.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40The original key, which would have been removed.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43Original lock
0:07:43 > 0:07:46and original hinges.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49And I love the fact that the craftsman who made this, the cabinet maker,
0:07:49 > 0:07:55has put the two panes of glass in, but he's actually bedded them in with little cot-beadings,
0:07:55 > 0:07:59which is how you should bed in glass in a door.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01Everything is perfect about this.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05I would say this is about 1910, 1920.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07Why do you want to flog this?
0:08:07 > 0:08:11Well, it's just been sitting in the bedroom and doing nothing, really.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15My mother-in-law said to take that along.
0:08:15 > 0:08:20Has Mother-in-law or you any idea what this is worth?
0:08:20 > 0:08:23No. My mother-in-law hasn't.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26I thought she may be lucky to get £40, something like that.
0:08:26 > 0:08:2840, 50 quid?
0:08:28 > 0:08:34- Something like that.- 60 tops? Well, I think if we put this into auction,
0:08:34 > 0:08:37if two people fall in love with this it's gonna sell for £800.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40- How much?- £800.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42You've shocked me there!
0:08:42 > 0:08:44My God!
0:08:44 > 0:08:50I'd like to put this into auction with an estimation of £600-800.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53- It's wonderful.- And we're gonna put a fixed reserve of £600 on it,
0:08:53 > 0:08:56so you mustn't sell it for any less than £600.
0:08:56 > 0:08:57Fine. We'll go by what you say.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59- That taken you by surprise!- It has.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01You've shocked me completely.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04When I looked at it I thought, "It's a piece of wood".
0:09:04 > 0:09:10I didn't really register that it could be quite that valuable, to be honest.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12Fingers crossed then.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15In the meantime, what's Philip got his eye on?
0:09:15 > 0:09:19"Fear God and honour the Queen and do good to all men.
0:09:19 > 0:09:25"Elizabeth Lewis worked this in the year of Our Lord 1838."
0:09:25 > 0:09:28- Who's Elizabeth Lewis? - I haven't got a clue.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31My mum says it's something to do with her grandmother -
0:09:31 > 0:09:35it's my mum's side of the family, but we're not Lewises.
0:09:35 > 0:09:40- So you've no idea who this belongs to?- No, it doesn't mean anything.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42But it's a family piece?
0:09:42 > 0:09:48- It's been passed down, but nobody's very sentimental. - You've brought it here to sell?- Yes.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52A tip for everyone at home, if you do have things like this in your family, write as much
0:09:52 > 0:09:58information as you can about who the person was, when they lived, what they did, who their relationship was,
0:09:58 > 0:10:02and record it all on a bit of paper. We're gonna have a history lesson.
0:10:02 > 0:10:07- Can you remember history at school? - Just about.- When it refers to
0:10:07 > 0:10:11"honour the Queen," which Queen was that?
0:10:11 > 0:10:14- (Victoria.)- Victoria! Of course!
0:10:14 > 0:10:19And it says here that this was her work in the year 1838.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21When did Victoria come to the throne?
0:10:21 > 0:10:26- ('37.)- 1837.- Well done! So this is quite interesting,
0:10:26 > 0:10:30cos I don't know how long this would have taken, but Elizabeth Lewis
0:10:30 > 0:10:34- did this in the first 12 months of Queen Victoria's reign.- Yes.
0:10:34 > 0:10:39- I think that's interesting. It's not been loved at all, has it?- No.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42- Its condition isn't great.- No.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45You just want it sold?
0:10:45 > 0:10:48We want it sold. It was ready for the skip.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51- You just want it gone? Sold?- Flogged.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53- No reserve?- No.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56We will stick what we call a "come and buy me" estimate on it,
0:10:56 > 0:10:58which is £20 to £40.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02You could have a bit of luck. It might make two or three times that.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04- That's what we'll do.- Lovely.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07Poor old Lizzie! What on earth are we doing to her?
0:11:07 > 0:11:13Next up is Danielle, with two Arts and Crafts-style napkin rings.
0:11:13 > 0:11:18I brought these napkin rings, cos I don't know anything about them.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20And they're made of?
0:11:20 > 0:11:23- Copper?- That's right. Where did you get them from?
0:11:23 > 0:11:26They belonged to my granddad, and he told me to bring them today.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29Did he tell you anything about them?
0:11:29 > 0:11:33No, he doesn't know anything about them at all.
0:11:33 > 0:11:39Well, they date from what we call the Arts and Crafts period, which is at the beginning of the 20th century.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42They are made from copper, and most of the time
0:11:42 > 0:11:46you're not gonna get very excited about a copper serviette ring.
0:11:46 > 0:11:52But these are hand-made, they're hand-riveted at the end, and they've each got this little monogram on.
0:11:52 > 0:11:57The monogram is not one that any of us recognise, but there's a lot of Arts and Crafts metalworkers.
0:11:57 > 0:12:02There was the Newlyn School... These may well be from the Lake District,
0:12:02 > 0:12:06where there is the Keswick School of Industrial Arts. Hand decorated,
0:12:06 > 0:12:13and these are ceramic, or pottery, plaques in there. They look a bit like precious stones, don't they?
0:12:13 > 0:12:15That's the intention, but they're made from pottery.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18We call these insets cabochon.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22These may well be Ruskin Pottery - they often are.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26We'd probably say, "Two Arts and Crafts napkin rings
0:12:26 > 0:12:29"with Ruskin-type pottery cabochon".
0:12:29 > 0:12:32So how much do you think they're worth?
0:12:32 > 0:12:37Not an awful lot, but if they weren't so stylish they wouldn't be worth anything, really.
0:12:37 > 0:12:43I'd say, at auction, estimate at the moment would be £40 to £60 for the pair.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47- Are you gonna put them in the auction?- Yeah.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49And who's gonna get the money?
0:12:49 > 0:12:51My mum, probably.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54- The auction is on a Saturday, so you'll be able to come.- Yeah.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58I look forward to it. I'll be there as well. Thanks for coming in.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08So, time to take our first batch of antiques off to auction in Stourbridge.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12Will our owners' items impress the bidders of the West Midlands?
0:13:12 > 0:13:14Well, here's our cast.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17Michelle doesn't like her mum's stylish dancing lady,
0:13:17 > 0:13:22but Adam thinks she should strike up a reasonable price at auction.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25These earrings have come out of a dark drawer
0:13:25 > 0:13:28to see a sparkling £60 to £90 estimate from Philip.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30This sampler nearly went in a skip!
0:13:30 > 0:13:32Luckily Flog It! came to town,
0:13:32 > 0:13:37and Philip gave Patricia a bit of history and his estimate.
0:13:37 > 0:13:42Danielle brought along her granddad's copper napkin rings - hand-made but unsigned.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46Adam says they're worth £40 to £60.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50My favourite was this Edwardian post-box, belonging to Malcolm's mother-in-law.
0:13:50 > 0:13:56With original detailing I hope I haven't gone too far with my estimate of £600-£800.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08Home for our auction today is Fieldings, right here in Stourbridge.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12We have two auctioneers on the rostrum today - Will Farmer,
0:14:12 > 0:14:14who specialises in pottery, porcelain and glass,
0:14:14 > 0:14:18and Nick Davies, who specialises in basically everything else.
0:14:18 > 0:14:24Their most famous sale here was a painting by Birmingham-born artist Walter Langley,
0:14:24 > 0:14:29which sold for a staggering £22,000 - not bad for something with an estimate of £6,000.
0:14:29 > 0:14:36I know we're not gonna see anything like that here today, but have any of our owners' items caused a stir?
0:14:36 > 0:14:38Let's go and find out.
0:14:43 > 0:14:48A classy little lot here, Nick. Earrings, nine-carat gold, seed pearl, belonging to Christine.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51She's flogging them because she prefers platinum.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55She wants £60 to £90 - that's what Philip, our expert, put on them.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58What do they mean by seed pearl?
0:14:58 > 0:15:01Seed pearls are river pearl - another name for a river pearl.
0:15:01 > 0:15:07Not cultured, they'd be plucked out of a river and popped into the metal mounts.
0:15:07 > 0:15:14- Are they always smaller? - Very small, often split in half as well, so they lie flush to the metal.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18These will have been made in Birmingham, about 1900, 1910,
0:15:18 > 0:15:24there were literally millions of items coming out of Birmingham in the jewellery quarter. They're lovely.
0:15:24 > 0:15:29I would have thought something like that, I don't anything about jewellery,
0:15:29 > 0:15:33would be slightly more expensive. I would have put £100 to £150 on.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36I understand what you're saying. At auction...
0:15:36 > 0:15:40People are often slightly timid of buying jewellery at auction.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43But these, at the guide price given, they should sell.
0:15:48 > 0:15:54Well, it's time to take the gavel to the rostrum and see if any of our estimates are bang on.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56Let's see if this lights up the sale room.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00It's Michelle's dancing lady in the Art-Deco style.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03We've got a valuation of £100 to £180.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05Why are you flogging this?
0:16:05 > 0:16:10Well, it was in my dad's house, and when Flog It! was on in Telford he suggested taking it down.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14It was my mum's. In effect, it's going to pass on to me.
0:16:14 > 0:16:19- Are you happy with the valuation? - Yes.- Adam's spot-on on this one.
0:16:19 > 0:16:20Well, this is his field, you see.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22You mean glamorous girls?
0:16:22 > 0:16:26- Yeah, with long legs. This should do the business then?- I think so.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30It's quite nice with those back wings that hang down.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34I'd like to think we'd get the top end of £150-ish - maybe a bit more.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36- OK.- That would be good. - Very decorative.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38We're gonna find out right now. This is it.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41870, the Art-Deco table-lighter.
0:16:41 > 0:16:46We have to start here at £120, I believe. £120 I'm bid.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49Do I see 125 in the room? £120 on a commission. 125. 130.
0:16:49 > 0:16:55135. 140. 145. 150. 155. 160. 165.
0:16:55 > 0:17:00Says no. 160 on a commission. 165 anywhere else?
0:17:00 > 0:17:04165. 170. 175.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06180. 185.
0:17:06 > 0:17:14190. 185. 190 anywhere else? At £185 for the table-lighter.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18All done at £185. Are we all finished this time?
0:17:19 > 0:17:25£185. That's pretty good. Now, what are you putting that towards?
0:17:25 > 0:17:28My daughter's trip to Italy next year.
0:17:28 > 0:17:29- Wonderful. A school trip?- Yes it is.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33- Great.- Good price, Paul. You know I'm gonna say it...
0:17:33 > 0:17:36I know you're gonna say - "Everything you touch...
0:17:36 > 0:17:38"..turns to sold." That's it.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47We have those lovely nine-carat gold pearl seed earrings going under
0:17:47 > 0:17:50the hammer right now, which Christine has brought in.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54We had a chat to the auctioneer - Philip doesn't know this.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57You put in an original valuation of 60-90.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01It could have been an 80-120, cos we think that's what they're gonna do.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03Hopefully they might do the top end.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07By the time somebody's paid commission, they'll reach £140.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11And I know you're putting the money towards platinum earrings.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14- Afraid so.- She's never won the gold ones! Never ever!
0:18:14 > 0:18:16Obviously allergic to gold.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19Expensive taste.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23You'll never guess what Christine used to do for a living. Tell them, go on.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26I used to drive a coach part-time.
0:18:26 > 0:18:31- And you were the second woman in the country to be able to drive a coach? - Yes.- Quite an accolade.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35I'll be doing that if I get my valuation wrong!
0:18:35 > 0:18:37Well, it's going under the hammer right now.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41A cased pair of nine-carat peridot and seed pearl drop earrings,
0:18:41 > 0:18:44these are the ones with the floral stems, they're lovely little things.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47Bids and interest, you're gonna have to start me at £80.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50Yes!
0:18:50 > 0:18:5580. 85 anywhere in the room? 85. And 90? And five? 100.
0:18:55 > 0:18:5895 there. 100 anywhere else in the room?
0:18:58 > 0:19:00At 95 for the earrings, and 95 and selling at 100 anywhere else?
0:19:00 > 0:19:02All done at £95.
0:19:03 > 0:19:04Still got a job.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08Yeah. You don't have to drive those big coaches. Happy with that?
0:19:08 > 0:19:12- That's fine.- Yeah? How much are the platinum earrings gonna cost?
0:19:12 > 0:19:15200.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18- Have you got your eye on some already?- I have, yes.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20Happy shopping, anyway. Something towards them.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28Cracking little lot, this, the Arts and Crafts napkin rings.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31I love them, and they belong to Danielle.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33Now, Mum's really, aren't they?
0:19:33 > 0:19:35- Yeah.- So Mum's gonna get the money.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39- Do you like them?- No. - Can't bear them?- No.
0:19:39 > 0:19:40If I was you I'd be keeping these.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42I'd talk Mum into letting you have them.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44But it's too late now, because they're gonna go under the hammer.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47- And I know Adam particularly them. - Yeah.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51They're pure Arts and Crafts, hand-made, hand-riveted, hand-decorated.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53Yeah, they're nice.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57Nice little things. And we have to start at £50, I believe.
0:19:57 > 0:20:02£50 takes the under-bidders out. Do I see 52 in the room? I'll go.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05£50 made and bid on a commission. Do I see 52 anywhere in the room?
0:20:05 > 0:20:06£50 made and bid on a commission.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08Don't be shy.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10All done and finished at 50. All done?
0:20:10 > 0:20:13Spot on. Spot on, Adam.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15Right in between the estimate.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18- £50. Happy with that, aren't you?- Yeah.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21Mum's gonna be delighted as well. Thank you very much for coming in.
0:20:26 > 0:20:31Right, now on Flog It! it's time for us to weave our magic, because we have Patricia
0:20:31 > 0:20:34and that lovely framed tapestry, which is all about your family.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37And it's being flogged for 20 to £40.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39- Yes. - Otherwise it was going on a skip.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42- Yes.- There's a lot of sentimentality here.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46- No, not attached. - Just not attached.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48- No.- It doesn't do anything for you.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51- No.- There's no danger there and you can go and spend whatever
0:20:51 > 0:20:54- you want to spend and you'll get more enjoyment out of it.- Yes.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58Lot 70 is the Victorian framed and glazed wallwork sampler.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01Elizabeth Lewis, 1838.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03Bids and interest enough to start me at £80.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05£80 takes the under-bidders out.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07Do I see 85 in the room?
0:21:07 > 0:21:11£80. 85. And 90. And five.
0:21:11 > 0:21:1495, madam. 95. 100?
0:21:14 > 0:21:1695 there, standing.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19- 100 anywhere else? - These are now worth a lot of money.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21100 at the back. 105?
0:21:21 > 0:21:24110. 115. 120. 125?
0:21:24 > 0:21:28120, right in the distance. We'll finish at 120. All done.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34- £120.- Lovely, lovely.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37- What are you going to do with that? - Give it my mum.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40- Aww... - Because it was my mum's family. - She's a big part of the family.
0:21:40 > 0:21:45A proper family day out. Flog something from the family.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48- What a good result. - Yeah, really, really pleased.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50Obviously, someone values your family more than you do.
0:21:50 > 0:21:54- That's lovely.- Well done, you. - That's such a shock,
0:21:54 > 0:21:58- such a shock.- Tell your mum to enjoy the money.- I will. Thank you.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00And talking of enjoying the money -
0:22:00 > 0:22:05OK, for me, this is my favourite lot of the show. It is the star of the show.
0:22:05 > 0:22:12We've got £600-£800 riding on this gorgeous little Edwardian internal post box, which is yours, Malcolm.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14It was the mother-in-law's.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17Your wife, your mother, you have both played with this.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19So we have three generations of people that have played with this.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21- So what's your name?- Heather.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23- Heather. Did you like it?- Yes.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26I know it's gonna do the six. And I hope I don't let you down.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28It's definitely worth 600.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30Let's find out what the bidders of Stourbridge think, shall we?
0:22:30 > 0:22:33- Shall we do it? - Yes.- Right. Let's do it.
0:22:33 > 0:22:39830, which is the Edwardian oak internal post box showing down here.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42Interests on the telephone as well. And where do we start?
0:22:42 > 0:22:48£600. 610. 620. 630. 640. 650.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51660. 670. 680?
0:22:51 > 0:22:55670 in the room. 680 anywhere else before I go to the phones?
0:22:55 > 0:22:58670 in the room. 680, William?
0:22:58 > 0:23:01680. 690. 700.
0:23:01 > 0:23:06720. 740.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09760.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14760 on Helen?
0:23:14 > 0:23:18780, Will?
0:23:18 > 0:23:23800. 820? 820 anywhere else in the room?
0:23:23 > 0:23:27At £800. 820. 850?
0:23:27 > 0:23:29880.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32- 900.- That's brilliant.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36920. £900 on the phone.
0:23:36 > 0:23:41920 anywhere else? At £900. Are we all done and finished at £900?
0:23:41 > 0:23:43All done? You sure?
0:23:45 > 0:23:46Well, we'll take that for sure.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48900 quid!
0:23:48 > 0:23:51- Very good.- Put it there.- Well done.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55Thank you very much for bringing that in, because that made my day.
0:23:55 > 0:23:56It's not often on Flog It!
0:23:56 > 0:24:00we see quality items that the bidders really, really like.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02And that's why it got £900.
0:24:02 > 0:24:07It's not a purist antique or anything, but it's something that is so fashionable at the moment.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14Well, how exciting was that? Some great results so far.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18And lots more auction action later on in the show.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21I'm going to take myself off
0:24:21 > 0:24:25to explore the rich, rural cultural heritage of this part of the world.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33"It was a wonderful feeling to work with horses, to plough with a single
0:24:33 > 0:24:38"furrow plough, following two of our draught horses plodding ahead.
0:24:38 > 0:24:42"The swingletrees swaying as the traces, or chains, tightened.
0:24:42 > 0:24:47"The wave of earth rearing up and turning over with the soft whisper of the shear.
0:24:47 > 0:24:52"The bright breast of the plough gleaming like a curved sunflower."
0:24:53 > 0:24:59That is exactly what Tarka The Otter author, Henry Williamson, felt in 1972.
0:24:59 > 0:25:06But he was remembering a bygone age when the power of the horse was at the very heart of agriculture.
0:25:06 > 0:25:13By the 1950s, heavy horses had all but disappeared from British farms, as the tractor took over.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16They were introduced to Britain by William the Conqueror,
0:25:16 > 0:25:19used to carry the immense weight of the knights in full armour.
0:25:19 > 0:25:25And they've been used in the frontline of battle right up to and including the Second World War.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29To find out more about these heavy horses and their use in agriculture,
0:25:29 > 0:25:33I've come to Acton Scott Historic Working Farm.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35These Shire horses were needed for their pulling power.
0:25:35 > 0:25:40In their heyday, cargoes were determined by the amount of horses it took to pull that load.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44And that expression has stayed with us today in the term of "horsepower".
0:25:44 > 0:25:46We're gonna learn more about that.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50Here is head wagonner Mike Bingham. What are we going to get up to today?
0:25:50 > 0:25:53We're going to continue the ploughing of the root land
0:25:53 > 0:25:56in preparation for sowing of spring oats next week.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00We'll be using Penny and her sister, Emily, to pull the plough.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04Good! lovely crisp, frosty morning. So shall we get on with it?
0:26:04 > 0:26:07- An absolute perfect ploughing day. - Is it?
0:26:12 > 0:26:14I'm going to thoroughly enjoy this.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17Well, I hope so. The day couldn't be better for us.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26Ah, this is the life.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32Mike, how long did it take you to learn this?
0:26:32 > 0:26:37Well, I still haven't learnt it, Paul, and I've been having a go for 25 years.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40Well, I've got a good teacher. That's the main thing.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44The great thing about ploughing is it's an essay in perfection, and one can never achieve perfection.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47I'm quite lucky I just have to follow that, in a way.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50The horse should go in the furrow.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52You do indeed. Penny is the furrow horse. Emily's the wagon horse.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55And that's how they always work on ploughing jobs.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58So, Penny will follow the furrow for you.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01Walk on, Pen and Em. Walk on!
0:27:05 > 0:27:07So you've got to really keep your head up,
0:27:07 > 0:27:10and stand high so you can see where the wheel's going.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12Yes, keep that furrow wheel at the furrow side.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14Actually, this is pretty good, isn't it?
0:27:14 > 0:27:17Oh, it's going very nicely.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19D'you know, that blade cuts like a dream.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22Yes.
0:27:22 > 0:27:26- And in the old days, of course, to do an acre, which a good man would do in a day...- Yeah.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30..you would've walked nine miles at the back of a pair of horses.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35- Gee back!- Wait!
0:27:35 > 0:27:38Wait! So there's your furrow slice.
0:27:38 > 0:27:39That is pretty good.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43I'm impressed with that for the first go.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46Right, this is the difficult bit, as we've got to the end of the field
0:27:46 > 0:27:49and we've got to turn the horses round. So how?
0:27:49 > 0:27:53This is quite difficult, but you're going to sit on the handle at the far side.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56I'm going to bring horses round for this first attempt.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58- OK.- Em, Pen, gee back, steady.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01Steady, darlings. Steady. Steady.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04Steady. Steady.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06Oh, dear. Whay!
0:28:09 > 0:28:11It doesn't move.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21Actually, it is some weight, isn't it?
0:28:21 > 0:28:23There we are.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27Actually, Paul, I was very unfair because I told you the wrong handle to sit on.
0:28:27 > 0:28:29It's this handle you need to sit on.
0:28:29 > 0:28:34I thought so. Because if you're turning that way and I put all the weight on, I'm bound to fall over!
0:28:34 > 0:28:36I thought I had a good teacher.
0:28:36 > 0:28:39Right.
0:28:39 > 0:28:41- Joke's over.- Yes.
0:28:41 > 0:28:44Of course, Paul.
0:28:44 > 0:28:45- Come on.- Come on then, girls.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48- Em, Pen, walk on.- Gently, gently.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50Gee back. Gee back.
0:28:50 > 0:28:52Gee back.
0:28:52 > 0:28:53Em, Pen, walk on.
0:28:57 > 0:29:00- Steady...- Steady, steady, steady.
0:29:00 > 0:29:04Whay! D'you know, we are moving at some pace, aren't we?
0:29:04 > 0:29:08They always go quicker uphill and there's just a little hill there.
0:29:15 > 0:29:16Whay!
0:29:20 > 0:29:23Gosh! That was hard work, but I thoroughly enjoyed that.
0:29:23 > 0:29:25That was brilliant. Thank you very much.
0:29:25 > 0:29:29What would I have been paid back then in the 1900s?
0:29:29 > 0:29:35Well, I can remember, just remember, grandfather telling me that he was taken into service in 1900
0:29:35 > 0:29:42as a 14-year-old boy, and he was paid keep plus a pair of boots plus a guinea at the end of the year.
0:29:42 > 0:29:45And that was hard work. They were up at early hours.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48It was extremely hard work. They started at 5 o'clock.
0:29:48 > 0:29:52They groomed their horses, fed their horses, harnessed their horses up,
0:29:52 > 0:29:57and then went in for breakfast at about 6:15 or 6:30.
0:29:57 > 0:30:01And if they weren't out of the yard by seven in winter time
0:30:01 > 0:30:04then the farmer would consider they weren't going to work that day.
0:30:04 > 0:30:06And they would work right through, then, until three.
0:30:06 > 0:30:08We call it one yoke.
0:30:08 > 0:30:15They worked from seven to three, particularly ploughing, that was the traditional hours of work.
0:30:15 > 0:30:21It was a hard life for the man and also for the farm's most valuable asset - the horse.
0:30:21 > 0:30:25What's the average working life of one of these heavy horses?
0:30:25 > 0:30:28We always talk, in heavy-horse terms, in "three sevens".
0:30:28 > 0:30:32We say it takes seven years to train them, seven years when they're at their best,
0:30:32 > 0:30:36and seven years they're like me, they wind down towards retirement.
0:30:36 > 0:30:40And any years after 21 are really a bonus.
0:30:40 > 0:30:43Pen and Em are nine and seven years old, respectively.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46So they've both got many happy ploughing years ahead of them.
0:30:46 > 0:30:52Together with Mike, they're continuing a proud tradition that has helped to make this country great.
0:30:52 > 0:30:56So a lot of respect to those horses. Where would we be without them?
0:30:56 > 0:30:58And, of course, a little bit of respect to our experts
0:30:58 > 0:31:03ploughing their way through hundreds of antiques back at evaluation day. Let's go and see what they've found.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16Well, Christina. These are lovely, aren't they?
0:31:16 > 0:31:18- Mm-hmm.- How long have you had them? - About six to eight weeks.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21- Six to eight weeks?- Yeah. - So you've not had them long.- No.
0:31:21 > 0:31:26- I can sense that you've purchased them for a cheap amount, then.- Yep.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29- They've been a bargain, haven't they? - Yep.- Where have you had 'em from?
0:31:29 > 0:31:34- Local charity shop.- Really. Which?- I can't tell you.- You can't tell me, or I'll be straight down there after.
0:31:34 > 0:31:36- That's right. - Now, what attracted you to them?
0:31:36 > 0:31:37Did you recognise them straight away?
0:31:37 > 0:31:43Liked the colour of them, turned them up, saw the name, put it down, asked the assistant how much.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46- And how much were they? - £2 each.- £2 each?- Yep.
0:31:46 > 0:31:48Well, they're clearly Moorcroft.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50Moorcroft is so distinctive.
0:31:50 > 0:31:55You don't have to look at the bottom to show they're Moorcroft, but we'll show the bottom off there,
0:31:55 > 0:31:58with the signature there.
0:31:58 > 0:32:03- And they're the pansy pattern, aren't they?- Yes.- You've done a bit of research?- Yep.- What have you done?
0:32:03 > 0:32:05Went up to the Moorcroft factory and, actually, to the museum.
0:32:05 > 0:32:10- You went to that? At Stoke?- Yes. - Did you take them with you?- No, we took photographs, just for safety.
0:32:10 > 0:32:14And they said that they're pansy pattern on a blue ground.
0:32:14 > 0:32:17Because they did pansy on green and on different grounds,
0:32:17 > 0:32:22but the blue's the nicest or the most popular, really, apart from the flambe ones, which are red
0:32:22 > 0:32:27and incredibly desirable in the marketplace nowadays.
0:32:27 > 0:32:34So your four quid would probably make you 200, 250, maybe even £300.
0:32:34 > 0:32:37- Brilliant.- So, not bad.- No.
0:32:37 > 0:32:39- So, you want to sell them? - Yes, definitely.
0:32:39 > 0:32:41I'm glad, because this is Flog It!
0:32:41 > 0:32:44I think we put an estimate of 200 to 300,
0:32:44 > 0:32:48reserve of 180, so they don't go for less.
0:32:48 > 0:32:52- And then, it's a nice profit, isn't it?- Yes.- So what would you do with that profit?
0:32:52 > 0:32:56- We've already planned a holiday.- Oh. - We're planning for Canada next year.
0:32:56 > 0:33:01- So that will be a...- ..bit of a deposit towards it, yeah. - Nice deposit towards a holiday.
0:33:01 > 0:33:02Yeah. But I will give a bit back to the charity shop.
0:33:02 > 0:33:07- That's a really nice idea, because a lot of charity shops are more clued up now.- Exactly, yeah.
0:33:07 > 0:33:12- And it's a shame, in a way, that they're depriving themselves of much-needed funds.- That's right.
0:33:12 > 0:33:16But I think, for spotting it, then you should obviously have your reward out of it as well.
0:33:16 > 0:33:18- Yeah, definitely.- Well done.
0:33:22 > 0:33:24Helen, where'd this come from?
0:33:24 > 0:33:26It came from my mother-in-law's house.
0:33:26 > 0:33:29We were quite surprised to find it there, because she wasn't the kind
0:33:29 > 0:33:32of lady who liked anything that looked old.
0:33:32 > 0:33:36- What was her vintage?- Ercol.- 1960s.
0:33:36 > 0:33:38- Yes.- D'you know, it's bizarre, because that stuff now is really quite collectible.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41Yes, I know. I wish I had kept the chairs and things now.
0:33:41 > 0:33:45Well, I think I'm of a different age, really. How old do you think this is?
0:33:45 > 0:33:49- Well, that's what I was dubious about because it looks... - How old do you think it should be?
0:33:49 > 0:33:52I think it should be 1600 and something.
0:33:52 > 0:33:59- So this is a C17th stool.- Yeah.- And what type of stool do we call it?
0:33:59 > 0:34:00- Joint stool? - A joint stool. And what's it made of?
0:34:00 > 0:34:02- Oak?- Oak.
0:34:02 > 0:34:06Do you want to stand here and have my job?
0:34:06 > 0:34:11There are a few things, first, I just want to point out to you. Can you see that there?
0:34:11 > 0:34:15- There's a new bit of timber just been spliced in there. - Well, I never noticed that.
0:34:15 > 0:34:19Right. So that's either an old repair or they were
0:34:19 > 0:34:23being a bit cautious with the timber when they made it.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26Now let's just turn it over. Now, you called it a joint stool.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29- Why?- Because it's joined together with wooden pegs.
0:34:29 > 0:34:34Right. So if we just look here, you can see one of these wooden pegs.
0:34:34 > 0:34:40- Yeah.- But in fact, this is tenoned into there and the pegs don't come all the way through.
0:34:40 > 0:34:44If this has been around for the thick end of 300 years,
0:34:44 > 0:34:47wouldn't there be some wear here - more wear?
0:34:47 > 0:34:52These are obviously... have been tacked on in the 20th century.
0:34:52 > 0:34:54But I would've expected to see some wear there.
0:34:54 > 0:35:00People would have sat on this and perhaps put feet on here and there would've been more wear here.
0:35:00 > 0:35:06- Can you just see that this dark patina here...- Yeah.
0:35:06 > 0:35:08..it almost suddenly stops there...
0:35:08 > 0:35:13- Yes.- ..like it's been painted on. Which just makes me think it's been got at a little bit.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15And if you just hold it there.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18Can you see here... and here?
0:35:18 > 0:35:25There are marks where someone has just bashed it to actually sort of fake age. So this is oak.
0:35:25 > 0:35:27It's almost a joint stool.
0:35:27 > 0:35:30But I think it's C19th rather than C17th.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33- Right.- In terms of value,
0:35:33 > 0:35:36if this was C17th
0:35:36 > 0:35:40I think it would've have been £600 to £900.
0:35:40 > 0:35:44- So, I'm afraid, we're gonna have to take a nought off.- Well.
0:35:44 > 0:35:50I think we need to put £60 to £90 on this, and we'll reserve it for you at £50.
0:35:50 > 0:35:55That will ensure that it will sell. And I actually think that represents cracking value for money for someone.
0:35:55 > 0:36:00- Yeah.- Because, you go and try and buy a modern little coffee table
0:36:00 > 0:36:05made out of solid oak for between £50 and £100, you can't do it.
0:36:05 > 0:36:07- But you can if you buy this.- Yep.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10- So let's keep our fingers crossed. - OK. Thank you.
0:36:16 > 0:36:19Well, Penny, what a lovely piece of Charlotte Reid you brought.
0:36:19 > 0:36:24Well, you might think it's wonderful. I think it's absolutely vile.
0:36:24 > 0:36:26Do you? I can tell it's not treasured.
0:36:26 > 0:36:33I can see that straight away. There's no chips or cracks, but there's paint on it, there's muck and dirt.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36- Where has it been living? Outside? In the shed?- No.
0:36:36 > 0:36:41It's actually been underneath the sink with the old paintbrushes in it, which accounts for the paint.
0:36:41 > 0:36:45OK. That accounts for all the paint, and bits and pieces.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48Living under the sink, it's not treasured, it's not out on display, in a cabinet.
0:36:48 > 0:36:52I did see on a programme that Charlotte Reid was...
0:36:52 > 0:36:55And I thought, "Oh, that reminds me, that's what's underneath the sink," and I did get it out.
0:36:55 > 0:37:00That's why you've dug it out this morning and brought it along to Flog It.
0:37:00 > 0:37:03Presumably you're keen on selling it because you don't like it.
0:37:03 > 0:37:07- I'm desperate to sell it. I loathe it.- Well, some people like Charlotte Reid.
0:37:07 > 0:37:12There's quite a good collector's market for it. It's from the 1930s.
0:37:12 > 0:37:15Art Deco period, which is always popular.
0:37:15 > 0:37:19And you've got a few Art Deco elements here, this sort of stepped design.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22This is a tube lining decoration here.
0:37:22 > 0:37:25There's various patterns. I think this is "Autumn".
0:37:27 > 0:37:32The two main factories that made Charlotte Read were Crown Ducal, like this one and Burleigh ware.
0:37:32 > 0:37:35They also made Charlotte Read designs.
0:37:35 > 0:37:41This one's signed, as well, by Charlotte Read - some aren't signed. And you've got the pattern reference.
0:37:41 > 0:37:45That could easily be looked up and you could find the name of the pattern.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48It's also got quite a pleasing handle, hasn't it?
0:37:48 > 0:37:52- Yes...(!)- I'm going to try and make you like it before you sell it.
0:37:52 > 0:37:55- I think you've got your work cut out.- I have.
0:37:55 > 0:37:57Any idea what it might be worth?
0:37:57 > 0:38:02- Um... 50 quid? Something like that? - Probably about right, there.
0:38:02 > 0:38:06£40 - £60 would be an estimate I'd suggest.
0:38:06 > 0:38:09Promote a bit of interest in it.
0:38:09 > 0:38:14Clearly, you don't want it back. So shall we do the risk of selling it without reserve?
0:38:14 > 0:38:17That sounds like a really good idea.
0:38:17 > 0:38:22We rarely recommend that but, when a vendor really doesn't like an object,
0:38:22 > 0:38:29and it's not a major piece that's going to be undersold, then it'll find its own value without reserve.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31It's fun to see what happens.
0:38:31 > 0:38:37If it makes you 50 quid, how are you going to commemorate getting 50 quid for your unwanted paint-pot holder?
0:38:37 > 0:38:40- Theatre tickets.- Theatre tickets. Much better.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48- How are you, Pat, all right? - I'm fine thank you.
0:38:48 > 0:38:51What have you brought along today? A pot-pourri. It's Worcester.
0:38:51 > 0:38:54I just wanted to know if it was genuine, actually.
0:38:54 > 0:38:56Why do you want to know if it's genuine?
0:38:56 > 0:39:02I don't know. We bought it from the National Exhibition Centre and I liked it because of all the roses.
0:39:02 > 0:39:05I'm a roses person, a pink person.
0:39:05 > 0:39:09And we fell in love with it and after I bought it, I just wondered if it was genuine.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12It is undoubtedly a piece of Worcester.
0:39:12 > 0:39:14Worcester pots have a shape number.
0:39:14 > 0:39:16This is shape No. 1286.
0:39:16 > 0:39:18And it's called a crown topped pot-pourri.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22And there's the crown top and there's the inner cover.
0:39:22 > 0:39:26So the way it works is that this would be filled with scented rose petals, in there,
0:39:26 > 0:39:31and then this would've been shut so there'd have been no scent coming out.
0:39:31 > 0:39:35And when you wanted the scent to come out, this inner cover stayed off
0:39:35 > 0:39:40and through this pierced crown you would get the fragrance coming out.
0:39:40 > 0:39:45We can have a look at the bottom, and there it is - there is the shape number we discussed - 1286.
0:39:45 > 0:39:49It's got this dot system which started in 1891,
0:39:49 > 0:39:51and there are 16 dots there,
0:39:51 > 0:39:55so we can date this quite precisely to 1907.
0:39:55 > 0:39:57It just strikes me as being a little bit odd.
0:39:57 > 0:40:03Can you see, this is like an ivory and what we call "shot silk" decoration?
0:40:05 > 0:40:07And yet there, it's totally different.
0:40:07 > 0:40:08I had thought that myself.
0:40:08 > 0:40:13I just wonder whether it may have been that...
0:40:13 > 0:40:19if this cover has been a replacement at some point in time, because they produce
0:40:19 > 0:40:24Worcester painted fruit now, that has a crown-topped cover like that to it.
0:40:24 > 0:40:28- When did you buy it? - About eight to 10 years ago.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31- How much did you pay for it? - We think about £180.
0:40:31 > 0:40:36I think it will show you a profit on that, provided there's no restoration and it's all A-OK as I said.
0:40:36 > 0:40:41My estimate for it would be probably £200-£400.
0:40:41 > 0:40:46And put a reserve on it of £200. On the basis that it's not restored. It looks very crisp around here.
0:40:46 > 0:40:50It LOOKS OK, but it's difficult in these lights.
0:40:50 > 0:40:56- Why have you decided to sell it? - Well, my children aren't very keen on it.
0:40:56 > 0:40:58Obviously, they've got modern houses.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00It wouldn't go in their house.
0:41:00 > 0:41:05And obviously, I dust it occasionally, and I'm just frightened of almost dropping it.
0:41:05 > 0:41:08What is fascinating is that roses aren't that collectible.
0:41:08 > 0:41:11So you have got a pot there that is £200-£400.
0:41:11 > 0:41:15If that was decorated in sheep by Harry Davis, it would probably make £3,000 - £5,000.
0:41:15 > 0:41:17Like it's not fashionable any more.
0:41:17 > 0:41:20Absolutely. But we're going to sell it.
0:41:25 > 0:41:31Hello! ...That's the end of our Telford valuation day and we've found all our items.
0:41:31 > 0:41:37So I've taken the opportunity to come back here to Acton Scott historic working farm, where, earlier,
0:41:37 > 0:41:39we looked at the history of the heavy horse.
0:41:39 > 0:41:43Lots of other related crafts revolve around the horse.
0:41:43 > 0:41:48That's an absolutely brilliant word to use right now because I'm going to take a closer look
0:41:48 > 0:41:51at one of man's earliest but greatest inventions.
0:41:54 > 0:41:59The first wheels invented were simply a solid disk carved from one lump of wood.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02But this had two main disadvantages.
0:42:02 > 0:42:08First, they were extremely heavy and second, they tended to snap and break along the line of the grain.
0:42:08 > 0:42:13So to overcome this, to make the wheels a lot lighter, yet still maintain its strength,
0:42:13 > 0:42:16they had to invent something called the spoked wheel.
0:42:16 > 0:42:19This has been around since the year 2000 BC.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22This is a very fine example of one.
0:42:22 > 0:42:27Before the first-world-war in this country, every village had its own wheelwright, making these.
0:42:27 > 0:42:31Here at Acton Scott Farm, we have filling this role,
0:42:31 > 0:42:34the appropriately named Mike Wright. How do you do?
0:42:34 > 0:42:40Now, you made this wheel, and what a wonderful job you have done. Let's just talk about carts, first.
0:42:40 > 0:42:45Is it true you can identify what part of the country you come from by the cart you drive?
0:42:45 > 0:42:49Well, yes, every county has its own style of wagon.
0:42:49 > 0:42:51And their own colour as well.
0:42:51 > 0:42:58Shropshire wagons were solidly built with heavy wheels, and solidly framed, whereas Oxfordshire wagons
0:42:58 > 0:43:03where much lighter, narrow wheels, and had more graceful curves.
0:43:03 > 0:43:06And is there one standard wheel size?
0:43:06 > 0:43:09No, there isn't a standard size.
0:43:09 > 0:43:12It depends entirely on the size of the vehicle and the use it was put to.
0:43:12 > 0:43:18Wagons had big, heavy wheels to take the weight of a wagon weighing perhaps a ton,
0:43:18 > 0:43:22but because of that they only have a very limited turning circle.
0:43:22 > 0:43:29Whereas drays - a flatbed cart - would have smaller wheels and were much more manoeuvrable.
0:43:29 > 0:43:34You've done a wonderful job on this wheel. Do you still use traditional methods?
0:43:34 > 0:43:37Yes. This is almost entirely made by hand.
0:43:37 > 0:43:40How long would a wheel take to make by hand? This sort of size?
0:43:40 > 0:43:42That would be about a month's work for me.
0:43:42 > 0:43:45- That's a long time, isn't it?- It is.
0:43:45 > 0:43:49Let's talk through the parts on the wheel. What have we got here?
0:43:49 > 0:43:54In the middle we have the stock, or the hub of the nave, depending what part of the country you come from.
0:43:54 > 0:43:56- And what wood's that made of? - It's made of elm.
0:43:56 > 0:44:02Elm has a very twisted grain and it resists splitting when the spokes are driven into it.
0:44:02 > 0:44:07Here we have the spokes, and they're made of oak for strength.
0:44:07 > 0:44:12- And the rim...- That's ash, isn't it? - Because ash is very springy and it takes the shocks of the road well.
0:44:12 > 0:44:16The rim is divided up into seven sections which are called "fellows"
0:44:17 > 0:44:23- and, across the joint, they are dowelled.- Why are the spokes shaped?
0:44:23 > 0:44:28They are wider at the back than the front because most of the stress is at the back.
0:44:28 > 0:44:32Wherever you can on a wheel, you want to save weight, so you...
0:44:32 > 0:44:37take more material off the front of the spoke than off the back.
0:44:37 > 0:44:41And it weighs in absolute ton! It is a good job it rolls.
0:44:41 > 0:44:44I can see you are working on what looks like a spoke.
0:44:44 > 0:44:46Can you show me how you do it?
0:44:46 > 0:44:51Yes indeed... This is a draw knife.
0:44:51 > 0:44:55We start with the draw knife and then I'll start moving on to the spokeshave.
0:44:55 > 0:45:02I'm taking off fairly heavy pieces with the draw knife.
0:45:02 > 0:45:07And working towards the lines that I've drawn on the middle of the spoke, there.
0:45:07 > 0:45:09So, as I get nearer to it,
0:45:11 > 0:45:14I shall use the spoke shave to finish it off.
0:45:18 > 0:45:20That gives me a nice, smooth face.
0:45:21 > 0:45:24- That's right.- Tapering it back.
0:45:24 > 0:45:27Nice curve on the edge there.
0:45:29 > 0:45:34'Carpentry skills are not the only skills required by a wheelwright.
0:45:34 > 0:45:37'He also needs to be something of a blacksmith, too.'
0:45:40 > 0:45:44The whole wheel is held together with a tyre, and the tyre is made of steel.
0:45:44 > 0:45:48Just like these ones. It is about two inches wide and half an inch thick.
0:45:48 > 0:45:50That's essential for a working cartwheel.
0:45:50 > 0:45:56Mike and Malcolm have already put one in the fire, to get it into shape and, as you can see,
0:45:56 > 0:45:58it's cooking nicely.
0:45:58 > 0:46:02The placing of the tyre on the wheel is the most crucial stage of all.
0:46:02 > 0:46:05The metal tyre is made slightly smaller than the wooden wheel.
0:46:05 > 0:46:07As it's heated, the metal expands.
0:46:07 > 0:46:10If the hoop is too large, it won't hold the wheel together.
0:46:10 > 0:46:14Too small and it could crush it completely, wasting a month's work.
0:46:14 > 0:46:17It's a tense moment for the wheelwright.
0:46:25 > 0:46:31The cold water contracts the metal, causing it to crush the joints of the wheel tight in a permanent vice.
0:46:31 > 0:46:34WOOD AND METAL GROAN
0:46:42 > 0:46:47The process is completed on the anvil, with the edge of the tyre hammered into shape
0:46:47 > 0:46:53to make sure that the finish is even and that the wheel has a good roll.
0:46:55 > 0:47:01I've had a brilliant day out here at Acton Scott Farm, but right now it's time to return to the hustle
0:47:01 > 0:47:07and bustle of the auction room, and let's hope it's gonna be a smooth ride for all our owners.
0:47:21 > 0:47:26Our experts, Adam and Philip, have teased out the most tantalising of Telford's titbits.
0:47:26 > 0:47:29Here's a quick run-down of what they've found.
0:47:29 > 0:47:33This stool was nestling out of place in a '60s-style house.
0:47:33 > 0:47:38Although C19th and not any older, it's still worth £60-90.
0:47:38 > 0:47:40Penny will need a new paint-brush holder
0:47:40 > 0:47:43when her Charlotte Read jug goes to auction.
0:47:43 > 0:47:46Adam's put no reserve on it as Penny can't wait to get rid of it.
0:47:46 > 0:47:51Pat wanted to check if her Worcester pot-pourri jar was real or fake.
0:47:51 > 0:47:56Philip thinks it's the real McCoy and should be worth at least £200.
0:47:56 > 0:47:59And Christina definitely brought in the bargain of the day,
0:47:59 > 0:48:03a pair of Moorcroft vases bought for only £2 each.
0:48:03 > 0:48:06I just can't wait to see what they sell for.
0:48:11 > 0:48:14So what does the auctioneer think?
0:48:14 > 0:48:17This is a tidy little lot, and it's rare.
0:48:17 > 0:48:21It's a bit of Worcester, pomander and cover. It's nice to see the cover.
0:48:21 > 0:48:24- Absolutely.- And we've got a valuation of £200-400 on it.
0:48:24 > 0:48:29Well, I was spoon-fed this. I was literally brought up from childhood days with Royal Worcester.
0:48:29 > 0:48:33My late aunt collected it. This takes me back to being five years old
0:48:33 > 0:48:36and being taught all about Royal Worcester, so I love this stuff.
0:48:36 > 0:48:38Good grounding for you at an early age.
0:48:38 > 0:48:43Oh, yeah, absolutely, had to learn. Now, the estimate, 200-400.
0:48:43 > 0:48:47I think we've said 200-300 in the catalogue, absolutely fine, no problems at all.
0:48:47 > 0:48:52- There has been some question with regard to, first and foremost, restoration.- Right.
0:48:52 > 0:48:54I've been all over this, top-to-toe.
0:48:54 > 0:48:56It's absolutely sound.
0:48:56 > 0:48:58There is not a problem at all.
0:48:58 > 0:49:00Is the cover right for the pot?
0:49:00 > 0:49:05That's where we fall down, no. It is what we've termed in the catalogue an associated cover.
0:49:05 > 0:49:09It has a marginal effect on the price but not phenomenal, because
0:49:09 > 0:49:14at the end of the day these things are rare, these are very expensive, and also - for anyone out there -
0:49:14 > 0:49:18if you've got a smashed pot and got the cover, don't sling it
0:49:18 > 0:49:22out, because people are desperate to buy the covers, cos these are often the first things that get broken.
0:49:22 > 0:49:25Yeah, and how much would the cover cost somebody to buy?
0:49:25 > 0:49:32- Oh, grief, I mean, I've sold covers alone at £80-100.- OK, Will, so what do you think it's gonna go for?
0:49:32 > 0:49:34I think it's gonna have a three in front of it.
0:49:34 > 0:49:36It'd be nice if we could end up nudging it
0:49:36 > 0:49:40with a four in front of it, but we're gonna sell, no problem at all.
0:49:40 > 0:49:43It's just that cover that'll hold it back.
0:49:46 > 0:49:49Christina's Moorcroft vases, what a story! Can you remember?
0:49:49 > 0:49:55- Bought for just £2 six to eight weeks ago. That is astonishing, isn't it? - Which charity shop was this, Paul?
0:49:55 > 0:50:00I don't know, I think we're trying to squeeze the information out of her, we'll get it by the end of the day.
0:50:00 > 0:50:07Adam, our valuer, has put £200-300 on this, and that is a stunning result, 1930s pansy pattern.
0:50:07 > 0:50:10I think it's a stunning estimate!
0:50:10 > 0:50:15And in the positive this, for me, is a complete teaser estimate. That is fantastic.
0:50:15 > 0:50:18- Is that a "Come and buy me"?- Oh, it's a complete "Come and buy me", I mean
0:50:18 > 0:50:23this is one of my particular loves, and you're well into my comfort zone here. And they're gonna fly.
0:50:23 > 0:50:27OK, come on, come on, tell me, let me into the little secret, what's fly?
0:50:27 > 0:50:30There's a couple of things about them, one thing which I picked up on once they were delivered to us...
0:50:30 > 0:50:36on this one we do actually have a factory fault there, it does run round.
0:50:36 > 0:50:41Now, this is how they did leave the factory, so we can't be over-critical but...
0:50:41 > 0:50:46taking that damage into consideration, I think they're gonna do comfortably twice estimate,
0:50:46 > 0:50:52- and I wouldn't be surprised at three times.- Wow, so you think three times estimate?
0:50:52 > 0:50:55- Bottom estimate.- OK, three times bottom estimate, 600-700.
0:50:55 > 0:50:58Yeah, somewhere between £500-700 mark, something around that.
0:50:58 > 0:51:01It would be a sorry day if they don't do that, but they're going to, they're going to.
0:51:01 > 0:51:09Well, I do hope so! However, you'll just have to wait a bit for that one, so I hope you're sitting comfortably.
0:51:09 > 0:51:12It's now time to flog that lovely C19th oak joint stool
0:51:12 > 0:51:17brought in by Helen, valuation of £60-90, fixed reserve of 50.
0:51:17 > 0:51:23- You're with your husband John. It was your mum's, was it not?- That's right. - Lots of memories there?- Yes.
0:51:23 > 0:51:25- Sad to see it go?- Yes...
0:51:25 > 0:51:30Well, they are handy pieces of kit, and loads of people use them for bedside tables.
0:51:30 > 0:51:34- So I think we should do this, Philip.- Yes, it should sell.
0:51:34 > 0:51:38I mean, you couldn't buy the timber for that, could you? It's solid oak, so yeah, it should get away.
0:51:38 > 0:51:421060, we have a C19th oak joint stool.
0:51:42 > 0:51:46Nice little lot. Where will we be on this? Do I see 40 to start me?
0:51:46 > 0:51:4940 I have, 45 with me, and 50, sir.
0:51:49 > 0:51:5150, I'll go five, and 60, and it's with you.
0:51:51 > 0:51:5460, it's out and about at £60, and five anywhere else?
0:51:54 > 0:51:59£60, then, back right-hand corner, are we all done at £60?
0:51:59 > 0:52:02Yeah, the hammer's gone down, 60 quid, spot-on.
0:52:02 > 0:52:05Whoo, that was touch-and-go, wasn't it, for a second?
0:52:05 > 0:52:09It started at 30 quid. It's not a lot of money, less a bit of commission. What will you do with it?
0:52:09 > 0:52:11Well, we'll probably treat ourselves to a night out.
0:52:16 > 0:52:21We have something in the Art Deco style right now, it's a paint brush holder - or is it not? -
0:52:21 > 0:52:24in the Charlotte Read style? It belongs to Penny!
0:52:24 > 0:52:28It's not really a paint brush holder, but that's what you used it for.
0:52:28 > 0:52:33It was, yes, it's not something I really like very much, so it was under the sink.
0:52:33 > 0:52:39- I gather that. Are you an artist or a painter, or are you just sort of...? - No, this was DECORATING brushes.
0:52:39 > 0:52:44Well, at least you didn't throw this away, and we've got £40-60 on this with no reserve.
0:52:44 > 0:52:46- Was that your decision?- Well, it was a joint decision, because
0:52:46 > 0:52:49Penny said, "I definitely don't want it back, whatever happens."
0:52:49 > 0:52:53No, I just hoped I hadn't got to pay someone to take it away, cos that would be really sad.
0:52:53 > 0:52:57- Good luck, this is it.- And lot 70, we have the Charlotte Read
0:52:57 > 0:53:00Crown Ducal stitch work jug. Nice one with the fruit decoration,
0:53:00 > 0:53:01the hand to the right is saying...
0:53:01 > 0:53:05£40 to open. I have on a commission, 40 straight in and five in the room.
0:53:05 > 0:53:09Or two, if it helps. 42, 45, 48 and 50.
0:53:09 > 0:53:14And two, 55, 58...58 looks away.
0:53:14 > 0:53:1755, still, on my right, 58 anywhere else?
0:53:17 > 0:53:2055, all sure and done?
0:53:20 > 0:53:25Yes, 55 quid. Not bad, not bad for a paint brush holder!
0:53:25 > 0:53:27It's a lovely jug, though.
0:53:27 > 0:53:32Right, the money was going towards theatre tickets, wasn't it? So what are you going to see?
0:53:32 > 0:53:36Well, we've changed our minds, I'm afraid, about that. I had some discussion with my husband,
0:53:36 > 0:53:42because the jug belonged to his mother, and so the money's going to a prostate cancer charity now.
0:53:42 > 0:53:43Excellent, wonderful.
0:53:49 > 0:53:54Right now we've got one that's caused a bit of stir in the auction in chat with Will, because he's positive
0:53:54 > 0:53:56this lot is gonna really race away.
0:53:56 > 0:54:02It's that lovely bit of Worcester, that crown topped pot-pourri valued at 200-400 by Philip Serrell.
0:54:02 > 0:54:04And here we are with Pat and Jeff.
0:54:04 > 0:54:06I had a chat with the auctioneer, Will, earlier.
0:54:06 > 0:54:12He seems to think that because the top's intact, although it's the wrong top, it's gonna add
0:54:12 > 0:54:14possibly another £200 to Philip's top end.
0:54:14 > 0:54:17We could be looking at £600 here.
0:54:17 > 0:54:20- How does that sound?- Lovely!
0:54:20 > 0:54:23- It sounds a lot better than 200-400, doesn't it?- Just a little.
0:54:23 > 0:54:28But I hope I'm not teasing this up too much. Philip really does know his Worcester, he is a Worcester expert.
0:54:28 > 0:54:30We know what you think. Now it's down to the bidders.
0:54:30 > 0:54:34Let's find out what the bidders of Birmingham think. This is it.
0:54:34 > 0:54:38Nice little lot there, associated cover, as you'd have seen.
0:54:38 > 0:54:42Had a great deal of interest, and it's very, very close, and I believe
0:54:42 > 0:54:48- for the top bidder to clear the under-bidders I open at £450.- Yes!
0:54:48 > 0:54:51£450 on a maiden bid clears everybody else.
0:54:51 > 0:54:54I've got 450 on my right, do I hear 460 in the room?
0:54:54 > 0:55:00It's on a commission bid, then, opening and closing at £450.
0:55:00 > 0:55:02All sure? All done?
0:55:02 > 0:55:07Bang, the hammer's gone down, short and sweet, £450.
0:55:07 > 0:55:12Great result, top end of Philip's estimate, what is that going towards, Pat?
0:55:12 > 0:55:17Well, we're looking for a painting for our dining room, and it's going towards that.
0:55:17 > 0:55:22- OK, looking in here?- Well, we have been, but I haven't seen anything at the moment, but we're still looking.
0:55:22 > 0:55:24We have been looking quite a long time.
0:55:24 > 0:55:29- I guess you're doing lots of art galleries, more auction rooms and antiques shops.- That's right, yes.
0:55:29 > 0:55:32OK, happy shopping, and I hope you find something really special.
0:55:32 > 0:55:34Thank you very much indeed.
0:55:34 > 0:55:37- Good result. - Yeah, I was pleased with that, and I don't think the real top...
0:55:37 > 0:55:40It might have made perhaps another £100-150, but it wouldn't have made
0:55:40 > 0:55:43that much more, roses aren't that popular, but it's a good result.
0:55:43 > 0:55:47Let's see if the Moorcroft can top that.
0:55:47 > 0:55:51This is the one that Will has been musing and getting very excited over - our auctioneer -
0:55:51 > 0:55:57it's the pair of Moorcroft vases bought in a charity shop not long ago for a couple of quid.
0:55:57 > 0:56:01You lucky, lucky thing! I know you do feel a little bit guilty, don't you, Christina?
0:56:01 > 0:56:07- And some of the money's going back to the charity shop.- Yes.- Adam, our expert, put £200-300 on this.
0:56:07 > 0:56:13We had a chat with Will earlier, he seems to think they might do 400-600, 600-plus on a good day.
0:56:13 > 0:56:15- Does he really?- He does.
0:56:15 > 0:56:19I'd be surprised if they made that much, and I'd ask him why he reduced the catalogue estimate in that case.
0:56:19 > 0:56:22Because he's a typical auctioneer, he's teasing all the bidders in.
0:56:22 > 0:56:30- You know the score.- That's a bit too much, that, really, but we'll see. I think they'll do about 350-400.- OK.
0:56:30 > 0:56:33Well, it's gone up from Adam's estimate.
0:56:33 > 0:56:37Yeah, but 200-300 and make 350, you know, that's the idea.
0:56:37 > 0:56:40What a surprise, eh? What a surprise!
0:56:40 > 0:56:43Let's hope they don't do 180 now, eh?
0:56:43 > 0:56:45Yeah, there's us talking all this up.
0:56:45 > 0:56:48Christina, don't worry, Will is a porcelain expert.
0:56:48 > 0:56:53I think he knows his market here, and he's pretty sure these are gonna fly.
0:56:53 > 0:56:57We have the near pair of William Moorcroft pansy pattern vases.
0:56:57 > 0:56:59Have had a great deal of interest in these.
0:56:59 > 0:57:04- believe I have to open to my right on a commission bid at £380.- Whoa!
0:57:04 > 0:57:08£380. Do I hear 400 in the room?
0:57:08 > 0:57:13400, 420, 440, 460, 480, 500.
0:57:13 > 0:57:19And 20, 540, 560, 580, 600.
0:57:19 > 0:57:24And 20, 640, 660...
0:57:24 > 0:57:29£640 there in the room, at £640. Do I hear 660 anywhere else?
0:57:29 > 0:57:35Otherwise I'm selling away for £640.
0:57:35 > 0:57:36That's a great result.
0:57:36 > 0:57:40That is better than the 200-300, we'll take that, we'll take that.
0:57:40 > 0:57:43What are you gonna do? Where's this holiday gonna be?
0:57:43 > 0:57:45- Canada next year. - Canada, well, that'll get you there.
0:57:45 > 0:57:49That'll make the deposit, a big help towards it and...great, it's great.
0:57:49 > 0:57:53- I can feel the energy coming off you, I'm tingling as well!- I feel bubbly!
0:57:53 > 0:57:55- I- feel bubbly, I'm so pleased for you.
0:57:55 > 0:57:57That's what it's all about, get down those charity shops,
0:57:57 > 0:58:02get to those car-boot sales, because it still is out there. You've just got to know what you're looking for.
0:58:02 > 0:58:04- That's right. - So keep watching Flog It and learn.
0:58:09 > 0:58:14As you can see, the auction's still going on behind me in the heart of the industrial Midlands,
0:58:14 > 0:58:18where those Moorcroft vases proved to be hot, hot, hot!
0:58:18 > 0:58:21And what about that lovely little Edwardian post box?
0:58:21 > 0:58:24That had no intention of being "returned to sender".
0:58:24 > 0:58:27But I hope you return the next time for lots more fun on Flog It!
0:58:35 > 0:58:39For more information about Flog It, including how the programme was made,
0:58:39 > 0:58:43visit the website at bbc.co.uk/lifestyle
0:58:47 > 0:58:51Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd 2006
0:58:53 > 0:58:56E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk