Cardiff Flog It!

Welcome to "Flog It!". Make money out of your antiques!

Auctions can really be exciting, especially if it's your antique under the hammer.

If you don't mind risk, "Flog It!" is the show for you.

Dig out your antiques for valuation by our experts.

At auction, they'll either make a mint or go for a song.

Will our experts get it right? Will the owners win out? Find out soon.

152. Wow!

Lot 2's a bamboo and wicker table. Bang on the nail!

Bang on the nail. Typical carpenter!

Are we all done at £52...?

Out of the garage at long last!

22. ..I can't BELIEVE it!

130. Thank you.

Fantastic! Thank you very much!

Hundreds of people have joined us here today at Cardiff City Hall.

If they like the valuations, they'll be selling their items at auction.

People bring all sorts of things they think may be worth selling.

Our experts are on hand for advice.

Both are experienced auctioneers.

Kate Alcock likes ceramics and can spot items with a ready market.

Philip Serrell is keen on wooden furniture but is game for anything out of the ordinary.

The first thing to catch Kate's eye is a striking pottery collection.

Good morning. Good morning.

Did all these ceramics come from the same place? No.

This one...and this...and this came down from my husband's family. Right.

This one I bought somewhere and I can't remember when and how long ago,

but it might have been a bazaar. I like going to those. Right.

I think you've got a very good eye,

because this is my favourite. Any idea what it was used for?

I've been told since it was used for salt. It's a salt thing. Right.

There might have been a pair. What do you like about it in particular?

What attracted you to it? The colours. Yes, the bright colours.

This is a piece of majolica.

Majolica was made to copy early Italian maiolica,

which used very bright glazes like these. What's quite nice about this piece

is not only it's in lovely condition, but if I turn it over...

it's got a mark on the base which tells me it's by the Minton factory.

Minton and the George Jones factory were the leading manufacturers of majolica in the late 19C.

This mark dates to about 1856. It's just a lovely design, isn't it?

We've got two dolphin heads, I think we call it. Quite detailed painting.

And a lovely moulded base. Their tails extend into the base of the salt.

What date did you say? About 1856. Brilliant! Are you surprised? Yes.

You'd think it was made yesterday. It's not had a lot of wear, has it?

Have you any idea about the value of the piece? I've had a few people telling me different prices.

I'm assuming a couple of hundred, perhaps. Maybe not. I dunno.

You're right. I'd like it to make between £200 and £300.

Majolica is very saleable to the American market, in fact. £200 would be a good price.

That's lovely. It's a great piece to put to auction.

I just wish I could remember when I bought it and where I bought it.

But it would have been less than £200. Gosh, yes! It would have been small money.

Well, anything... Could be £1. Could be 20p. Could be - I dunno - £5.

No, I don't think I'd go £5!

These are lovely. Beautiful. I'm not sure I'm into Christian Dior dresses...!

Too mature for you! Glad about that!

These are great. Where're they from? They're my fiancee's grandmother's.

Is all of this hers? Yes, yes. She was a lady of some taste.

She had a lot of taste. Yeah. Very, very nice items she had.

Especially with the document holder. She was a very big golf fan.

When you've got names like Christian Dior, Jaeger Le Coutre and Hermes, Paris,

they really are sort of the style leaders, aren't they? Oh, very much so.

And she obviously, er...had some money to go and buy these things. Yes, she did! That's good.

This document holder or paper holder is not hallmarked silver, but it feels sprung like it's silver.

And in my eyes, this has got two avenues of collector.

It's got the collector who's a golf fanatic... Yeah.

And it's got the collector who's a Hermes fan. I would think all this is '20s or '30s? Yes.

There's also a handbag. I didn't want to carry that down the road! I'm with you there all the way!

Um, I think in an auction it'll make £200 to £300.

Wow! Having said that, it needs to go into the right auction.

I hope we've chosen well. We'll put a reserve on it of £180.

Estimated £200-£300. I'm sure with the right audience, that will sell.

Are you happy to put that in? Yes, most definitely. Definitely!

This is really stylish. It's hallmarked silver... Yes.

A cigarette box by Walker and Hall.

You can see the WH, the crown for Sheffield, lion passant for silver and the V for 1938.

It's monogrammed "FEP", 24th of the 5th 1941.

Was that her? No, it was her late husband. Yeah?

Yes, Frank. Yeah.

If you look at that there, it's very stylish, isn't it?

It's got a lovely sleek style to it.

It very much reminds me of the old Hoover building on the M40 into London. Yes.

It's a cigarette box and cigarette boxes today are not collectable for two reasons.

Firstly, if you DO smoke, this compartment is too small to get the cigarettes in. You'd crush them!

You could always take that out and have some cigars in there.

But the other reason is, you know, smoking is just not a good thing. No, definitely not.

People tend to shy away from these things. So this, in my eyes, is undervalued.

I think it'll make £50 to £100,

but you need to put a £50 reserve on it. I can see it on a dressing table

with some jewellery in there. Yes, definitely.

It proves what good value all this is. Yes, definitely.

So, happy to put those in? Yes, definitely. Thank you very much.

This is to go with those cups. Right.

Jack and Carol, you've brought in silver-plate claret jugs. Yes. Lovely items.

Are you both related...or are THESE related?! Um, neither! No.

We sat next to each other and when we opened our bags, these came out!

Here in the queue today? Yes. Yes. Now, isn't that odd?!

And you don't know each other, you've never met? No. No.

She's from Newport. I'm from Cardiff. Somebody's picked them up somewhere along the line!

Let's hope you go home with the right ones. That's mine!

Hello, Martha. Hello. Thank you for bringing these in.

First of all, to start with the musical box, it's late Victorian.

It's got a rosewood case crossbanded with what looks like kingwood here.

Some lovely marquetry decoration on the lid here. And opening it up,

we've got probably a Swiss movement inside. ..Does it work? Oh, yes.

Beautiful sound to it. Shall we listen? Yes.

SILVERY TINKLING TUNE

What can you tell me about it? Well, it's been handed down the family.

I can remember as a little girl this was a very special item.

They had the piano in the parlour, in the front room, with Grandmother and Grandpa.

Grandpa played the piano. But this was something special of Grandmother's in the middle room.

That's where we had afternoon tea on a Sunday.

After we'd had tea, she'd hold my hand and we'd have a little dance.

How lovely! So you were spoilt! Yes. Well, I was the little girl

and the rest of the grandchildren were all boys.

I was the baby and the spoilt one!

What a lovely story! Have you any idea about value? Well, it's always been said

that these items are very collectable

and lots of people are interested in them if they're in good condition.

I would think at auction, conservatively speaking,

we're looking at £400 to £600. I would hope it'd make towards the upper end of that. Yes.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

This is something quite different - a lovely little silver vinaigrette,

William IV. But there's something quite special about this one. What is it?

Well, it's made by Nathaniel Mills. Absolutely.

His signature's inside. Yes. We've got "NM", Nathaniel Mills' initials,

next to the hallmark and again on the grille,

which is very important to collectors. Yes, indeed.

And it has a very, very special hinge to it. I've been told it is a piano hinge,

which goes right the full length, rather than one little hinge.

Am I right in this? I've been told he was silversmith to Queen Victoria. Absolutely. That's lovely.

So obviously, a quality piece good enough for royalty. Yes.

Yes, indeed.

It was used for smelling salts.

There would've been a little sponge inside soaked in smelling salts

and people would use it as a little perfumer... Yes, yes.

..to hide the smells of the street. When the sewage was bad. Yes.

Again, have you any idea what the value would be?

No, no. Not really, not really.

I think you're going to be looking at £300 to £500.

Oh, that's very pleasant!

Is that a surprise? Yes, it is.

There is a lovely story attached to it. It was a gift given to my great-grandfather

because, er...

It was in thanks for their bravery for survival work

at the awful disaster that happened in the Rhondda Valley, the Troedyrhiw Flood Disaster. Right.

Many, many men and little boys were working in the pits in those days,

1872. Well, at the end, after the bravery shown by these rescuers,

they were presented with the Albert Medal by Queen Victoria,

which, up until that very date, had only been presented by the Queen on behalf of bravery at sea.

But now, for the first time, it was bravery on land and underground, but caused through water.

How fascinating! And that was a present? Yes.

So they had the medal from the Queen, they had a beautiful half-hunter pocket watch

and a gold chain with the gold sovereign - Queen Victoria. That was a gift from Members of Parliament.

And then members of the public, apparently, were sending gifts of silver to the men.

And this was one that was sent and I've also got others.

As it's been a big part of your family history, are you still happy to offer these things at auction?

Yes, my grandsons will have the money to buy books.

They're at college and university and I think the money would come very useful for buying books.

That's super. And I think Granny and Grandpa would be very pleased

that the money is used in this way. I'm very pleased you'll allow us to flog them for you.

That's a lovely term - flog! Thank you.

We've found some interesting things already. Let's see what we've got to auction.

The majolica salt dish was a bargain buy.

She was a lovely lady who said she was really camera-shy,

but when we got talking, she opened up and came out of her shell. But Anne had forgotten what she'd paid.

Stuart had brought along two pieces of silver.

Philip was bowled over by the document clip

and Stuart is ready to sell that

and the lovely deco cigarette box.

If you've gotta smoke, you won't find a better box.

Martha's made the decision to sell the music box and vinaigrette

though both are family heirlooms.

I think you're looking at between £300 and £500.

Oh, that's very pleasant.

For our auction, we've come to Penarth, a resort outside Cardiff.

We've come to a general sale full of china and bric-a-brac.

Auctioneer Ryan Beach has briefed the collectors and dealers with a special interest in our lots.

But what does HE think of them?

Stuart Pearce - not the footballer, ex-Nottingham Forest! -

has brought in a couple of items. The first, a Hermes document clip.

Interesting item, good for the executive that has everything.

And likes golf. Absolutely! Marked Hermes, Paris. Not silver, unfortunately. Silver-plated.

A decorative object. What will it fetch?

I would suggest £40-£50 at auction. Philip, our expert, put £200 to £300 on that.

A little optimistic. Very!

Stuart's also brought in a cigarette case. Yes, silver cigarette case.

Dated 1938. Looks '40s, doesn't it? It does. Severity of surface.

Very Art Deco in its shaping.

It's inscribed "1941", so presented to somebody.

Unfortunately, smoking isn't very PC at the moment and the price of cigarettes, you wouldn't fill it up!

Philip's put £60 to £100 on that. I think he's bang on. I believe so.

Kate fell in love with this vinaigrette. It's gorgeous. Superb.

Martha brought this in and Kate would love to buy it. She's put £300 to £400 on it.

I think that may be a little strong. It's by a good maker,

it's 1840, Nathaniel Mills...

It's such quality, though. Yes, piano hinge, pierced grille, gilt decoration

just to stop any acid attack. It's a quality piece. Should be tempting to any box collector.

Our gorgeous Kate hopes for £300 to £400. I'd be more comfortable with £200 to £300.

I hope it's more for Martha's sake!

Martha's music box - lovely rosewood one. Yes, rosewood top and front.

Fuchsia marquetry there to the top.

Unfortunately... Been grained. Yes.

Kate's valued this at £400 to £600. I think again we're looking towards the bottom aspect.

It would have been nice if we'd had Nicole Frere on it or another maker's name to give it more oomph.

The condition inside? Not too bad.

I'm not sure how many airs it will play - probably eight.

I'm surprised with the amount of work that's gone into the inlay

that the feet aren't finished off. They're not the same quality. No.

We've got a lovely salt trencher here. It is.

Majolica, sort of mythical dolphins...

very Regency in their outlook.

Very popular at the moment. Kate has said £200 to £300 on this.

I think it should do the top estimate. £300? Yes.

Majolica is very popular. It's quality, isn't it? It is. Condition is good...

Few small impress marks on the base.

Could be Minton, but a nice decorative item. Great! OK.

The auction's about to start. Buyers are doing a last-minute inspection.

But before we start, I wonder if Martha has pre-auction nerves.

Martha, lovely to see you again. Have you come to many auctions?

No, to be at a live auction, this is my very, very first.

But I've not missed many editions of the Antiques Roadshow!

It's a good show. I pretend that I'm there!

Now are Kate and Philip sticking to their guns or having seeds of doubt?

What do you think, Kate? I've a good feeling about the vinaigrette.

I hope the majolica buyers will pick up on that salt dish. Let's hope there's a few here.

You're also confident about the music box. I am. I think it'll go well.

Let's see what we get.

I think with the golfball document holder we could well be in a bunker.

He's quick!

Both seem pretty confident, even though auctioneer Ryan Beach thinks some estimates are over the top.

I wonder who's right?

£2. ..Gentleman standing at 10 now, £10.

Our first lot is Anne's salt dish.

She couldn't recall what she'd paid for it. Let's hope she remembers.

Anne, how're you feeling? Getting excited? Yes, I am now.

Nervy, knees going? A little bit.

How long have you had this salt dish? A couple of years.

What did you pay for it? To be honest, I can't remember what it was,

but it wasn't much. It could have been anything from 50p to £5.

She'll get a big return, then. I hope so.

Lot 347 is the majolica table salt.

Possibly by Minton.

Numerous commissions here. A lot of interest in this.

A lot of interest! I know!

£290. ..£290.

Ooh, that's good! We're well in!

290 on commission.

At £290.

300. Very nice!

310. ..Back with me at 310.

Commission at £310. Are you all out now in the room at 310?

That's better than I thought! What'll you do with it?

Well, I've seen a bit of jewellery I like, so I might go for that,

or I'll spend it... At another auction! At another auction!

Anne's caught the auction bug! ..How are Stuart's two pieces going to do? First, the cigarette box.

Stuart can't make it today. We'll have to ring him and let him know how it goes. Good or bad. Yes!

Shall we toss a coin?! I think we should be all right.

Cigarette boxes are not fashionable. Smoking's frowned on. But it's a nice quality box.

Severe surfaces, deco-looking, good price. And £60 reserve. Yes.

If it doesn't make that, there's something wrong!

Lot 505 is the George VI silver cigarette box. Lot 505.

Commission bids here start me straight in at £65. 70 I'll take.

At £65. ..70.

That's good. So you're happy!

At £75. ..Are we all done at 75?

That's quite pleasing. Excellent. That's about the market price. Yes.

We were hoping for a bit more than market price, Philip!

Let's hope Martha's music box does better.

How are you feeling, Martha? A little bit nervous. This is my first visit.

All the excitement going on... I'm loving it, though. Are you? Oh, yes.

We'll make sure we look after you today. Thank you very much.

Your music box is fantastic quality, isn't it, Kate? It is. I love the rosewood case.

Yes, and it's been looked after. Good inlay. It is.

It has a beautiful sound. Every note is practically perfect.

You used to dance to it, didn't you? Yes, with my grandmother.

Did you have one final dance before you brought it along? Yes. Did you?!

I have been... Oh, yes!

Here we go. Right!

Lot 8 is a 19th-century rosewood-cased cylinder music box.

Lot number 8. Commission bids start me at £400.

How about that?! Excellent.

410. ..420. ..430.

440. ..450. ..460.

470. ..480. ..490.

500. ..520.

What do you think about that, Martha? It's good! This is good!

640. ..660. ..680.

Your grandsons will be delighted.

At £700. ..Are we all done then at £700?

What a result! Oh, thank you. That's lovely!

Well done, Kate. Fantastic! Thank you very much. Superb! Excellent!

You were hoping for 600. That's right. Two people must have spotted the quality of it.

Your grandsons will be delighted. There's £700 towards their books and their fees!

What a result! That's a good start. That's knocked me back, actually!

All we need is a couple of bidders just to take the price a bit higher.

Hard to think of a better reason for selling a beautiful heirloom.

Lot 550 and we're starting at £70.

Stuart's second lot's coming up now. I really like this one. So do I.

I'm not that confident. We've just got to keep our fingers crossed

and hope we've got Hermes and golf memorabilia collectors here!

If it doesn't go, it's just because it's the wrong day. Absolutely.

I'll stand by the value, but it could be the wrong day. That's auctions. Yeah.

515 is the white-metal paper holder, the Hermes, Paris one. 515.

£110 I have to start. ..120?

At £110. Struggling, isn't he? Yeah, he is.

Are we all done at 110...?

We're definitely in the bunker.

Who's going to ring Stuart?! I'll let you do that!

Stuart had protected the paper clip with a reserve. He can try again another day.

Now what about Martha's vinaigrette? This is beautiful.

You're not so nervous now, are you? No. You're confident.

You've been all so friendly and have looked after us so well.

Have you enjoyed yourself? Yes, I have very much. Thank you so much.

We hope you come back to more auctions. Yes. Clear the rest of the house out!

All right. Get them all through university in style! Yes, indeed.

Right, we're up now, Martha.

You've kept it in beautiful condition. It's a wonderful example.

The Nathanial Mills vinaigrette - lot 479.

£300 I have to start. At £300.

310...320...330...340.

350. ..On my right at 350.

That's £350. The lady standing at 350. ..At £350.

Are we all done, then, at 350...?

Well, it sold. I'm delighted. Thank you very much. That's OK!

I'd have liked a bit more for that. It was beautiful. It was nice, yeah.

Are you all right?! There's more than £1,000 going to the boys towards their fees and I'm delighted.

I don't think my grandparents would mind I've sold it

because it is going towards the education of members... Of the family. Aw-w! Thank you very much.

What a touching story. Thank you.

It's been a great day so far. Martha can now buy books for her grandsons

and there's still time for Kate and Philip to unearth more treasures.

I travel to Wales quite often on the lookout for quality furniture.

Join us on a cold day in north Wales.

Bluebell and I often come up here.

We're on our way to Lake Bala to see Tom Thomas who collects fine oak furniture.

I bet he's got something wonderful for us to see.

Tom's been farming sheep here with his family all his life,

but he also has an eye for lovely Welsh oak furniture.

Come in, Paul. Right-o. I've got a few things here for you. Oh, Aladdin's cave!

I love the table. This is gorgeous. You like it? Yes, it's wonderful.

It's got a great "H" stretcher on it. ..Very naive spandrels there,

but that is typical of country furniture. It's not decorative at all.

It's absolutely gorgeous.

This would polish up superbly. One plank. That is so wide.

I like it. It's a good table, the best I've seen.

Worth about £8,000? £8,000 to £10,000. I thought so.

I'll sell it to you, if you give me a good price on it! I can't afford it!

I dunno, I might keep it.

£10,000 may seem a lot for such a plain table, but for a single slab of Welsh oak, it's good value.

Come and see this, Paul.

I've something to show you. It's a wheelwright's vice! That's right.

Golly! Not only an antique, but a functional piece of sculpture!

You know what this is? Yes, it's for repairing the rims.

The stand and the wheel and everything is in very good condition.

Solid oak - wow! What are these for? ..Oh, I know. To hold the hub down.

A cooper would have rebanded that.

How much will you give me for it? I'll give you £400. Oh, no.

Come on, Tom! You always pull me down, Paul. I know, I know.

I have to make a profit as well! I'll split with you - 450.

It's worth that. Yeah, I know it is. OK, you've got a deal.

Thank you very much.

Another deal done and another successful trip.

Now back to Cardiff to see what else has turned up at our valuation day.

Can our experts turn up another little gem?

Hi, how are you? Fine, thanks. Come far? Monmouth. What's that - about 20 miles away? 20-30, yeah.

Fire bucket? Yes.

We were interested in it, being as it was the abdicated king.

Where's it come from, how long have you had it and where do you keep it?

I think it was part of a house clearance. Yes.

He's an ex-builder and we've acquired things over the years. Stuff would be left behind.

A bit of architectural salvage. I suppose it is, really.

It's interesting. 20 years ago, this wouldn't have been worth much.

But now people like wacky decorative things. I can see this in someone's kitchen with some flowers in it.

I don't think it's worth a fortune.

I'm guessing. I've never sold an Edward VIII fire bucket before!

I'd guess that it'd make between £15 and £30. It might make a little bit more if you get two keen people.

The Fire Brigade might like it. Well, who knows, who knows?!

This Edward VIII stuff - there was lots of it made.

This is lovely. Yeah. It's nice in an old house. It's a 19C water filter.

We can see here it's got The Silicated Carbon Filter Company,

Patent sterilising... moveable block...Battersea, London.

Er, it's earthenware. We've got more impress marks here.

And if we take this lid off, inside here, we've got...

Goodness me! Ugh! Dead spiders!

No, not actually!

That's the carbon filter, isn't it?

Yeah, it is. I'll put that back, then. Put that back very quickly!

It ought to have a health warning!

What makes these interesting is when they've got more shape,

when that armorial here is a lot prouder and you've got different colours.

So this is very nice, but I'd have loved to have seen this

a bit bolder and better moulded... and all THIS in different colours

and perhaps a bit of shape to the body. And then that would have been lovely.

Then you'd have been talking £150 to £250. As it is, I think this'll make

between £50 and £100.

It might as well go to somebody that'll appreciate it.

It's lovely it's got this Silicated Carbon Filter Company on the tap.

It's just as it was. Yes. Oh, yes.

I think we'll pass having any water out of it! I think so! You're happy to put those in? Yes. Yes.

We'll see you at the sale!

Good morning! Where did you get THIS from? The Houses of Parliament.

The Houses of Parliament?! I was on the maintenance staff for 15 years.

About ten years ago, they decided there weren't enough fire escapes.

We had to take these out of an office so they could take out a chimney to put a fire escape in.

I see. ..Well, as you know, the Houses of Parliament were designed by Pugin

and a lot of the furniture inside that was very much in the Puginesque style.

This has quite nice, stylish carved brackets, but was made as a functional piece,

probably for an office in the back rooms of the Houses of Parliament. Would that fit? That fits exactly!

I can see some traces of paint.

It was covered in about 20 coats of magnolia paint. You stripped it yourself? Yes.

It's a long job, isn't it?! It is!

I can also see that it's made of oak and pine.

Oak on the edges of the shelves here and the ends.

It's quite a nice stylish piece.

Bookcases are always saleable at auction because they're so useful.

I can see it making £60 to £80.

I would have hoped they'd make a bit more than that with their provenance.

I naturally assumed they were Pugin because of where I took them from,

but if they're not, they're not. It makes an awful lot of difference.

If it makes the higher estimate, what would you do with the money? I don't really know.

Till it's actually in your hand, how do you know?!

You know this is a Moorcroft bowl? Yes. How long have you owned it? About two years.

Did you buy it or inherit it? No, I didn't.

I found it in a boot sale. A boot sale! How much did you pay for it?

£4!

£4? Mmm. And do you sleep at night?!

Yes. I paid what they were asking for it!

If we turn it over here, we can see "Moorcroft. Made in England."

And the facsimile signature here.

If we just turn the bowl round...

we can almost see this all-around landscape with these almost mushroom-like trees. Yes.

Again, that design is replicated in here.

It's a lovely bowl and Moorcroft is incredibly collectable.

Over the recent past, it's got even more collectable. Two years ago,

when you bought this, it was collectable then. Yes.

I think it'll make between £200 and £400 at auction. That's wonderful.

With luck, it might do more, but we'll estimate £200 to £400 with a reserve of £200.

I'm sure it'll do well. Thank you very much. What do you think?

A lot better than £4!

What I want to know is where was the car-boot sale?! That's my secret!

Kate and Philip have just about seen everybody today in Cardiff.

Let's check out what items have been put through to auction.

June and Gerard Kinnon felt it was time to have a clear out!

Their two water-related items are a bit of fun.

These filters are becoming more and more collectable.

Whilst that one was a bit dirty, if cleaned, it could be serviceable.

There can't be many Moorcroft bowls hanging about in car-boot sales,

but Christa found one.

We can surely return a profit on £4!

Peter Cartwright was disappointed Kate thought his bookshelf wasn't made by Pugin.

I was expecting some late 19C really stylish piece.

When I saw it - a bit disappointed!

But it's a functional piece and it should sell for about £60 to £80.

10...12...15...18...

20...22...

Things are still going strong at the auction with plenty of keen bidders.

What does Ryan Beach think of this batch and our valuations?

Are we all done then?

Ryan, we both love this. Oh, yes.

June's brought this in. Philip's valued it at £15 to £30.

It's got a good chance of selling at that estimate.

It's a decorative item. Original paintwork, Edward VIII. Short reign!

It's an interesting item for any house - whether it's umbrellas or dried flowers.

Indoors to protect the paintwork. It's lovely, distressed, original. We think it'll get £30. Oh, yes.

Philip's also put £50 to £100 on this. What do you think? Interesting item.

A little bit off the wall, though.

It's a bit big. Someone may buy it, put it in the garden, plant it up.

It should creep up to that bottom estimate. Interesting armorial, a royal warrant for the company.

Yes, and their patented silicated carbon filter!

Interesting item. Could have done with being more decorative.

Philip was being ambitious with that. I think so. It weighs a ton!

Peter Cartwright brought in these bookshelves.

They're from the Houses of Parliament but not Puginesque, not Gothic.

Kate's valued these at £50 to £60. They're a decorative bookcase.

Good shaping. Unfortunately, they're not solid oak. No, they're just faced with oak at the front.

That may hold them back. They've got oak slab sides. Yes, but the shelves are pine.

If you've got the right space, it's a bargain. Absolutely.

The size is good, quality's good, but if they were by Pugin, it'd be a different ball game.

That's a flier, isn't it? It is. A Moorcroft bowl.

Good decorative pattern, nice size...

Philip said £200 to £400. That's very ambiguous! It is, it is.

I think it'll top that top estimate. Good autumnal colours, good condition. A decorative piece.

Shame we're in the spring! It is.

I think that one's gonna fly. That's my Top of the Pops. It's a winner.

This is what an auction's all about.

Make sure you arrive early and have a good look around. There are all sorts of things you can pick up.

Most people go to an auction because they know what they want to buy, but you can be pleasantly surprised.

These four chairs are gorgeous - oak, well-made, 1940s.

In the catalogue, there's an estimate of £10 to £20 for the four!

Just bought your first house? This will give you something to sit on.

Our owners are arriving, ready to see if they'll be in the money.

Peter, how do you think it'll go today with your bookcase?

Hopefully, it'll go OK. If the room fills up, we'll be there, hopefully.

Fingers crossed. What are you looking for? As much as I can get!

I don't blame him, but he'll have to wait. First, I wonder if June's water filter will find a home?

June, we're two lots away. How are you feeling? Oh, confident! And happy? Yes. Not nervous? No!

We're only here for a day out. What will you do with the money?

We'll be out of pocket by the time we've spent the petrol coming here!

Let's hope it sells. Where did you have it in the house? When we had a larger house,

it was in the kitchen as an ornament, really. It suits an older house.

Lot 326 is the Battersea Pottery silicated carbon water filter.

Lot 326. £35 I have to start. £35.

And 40. Standing far back at 40.

At £40. Gentleman standing at 40. At £40. ..Are we all done, then?

It's sold, then, cos that's the reserve.

Not too bad! At least it's sold.

I've got rid of it! Yeah, yeah. That's the way to look at it!

I feel I ought to contribute to your petrol!

I hope the new owner won't use it!

Peter's pine and oak bookshelf IS practical.

It's simple, but it once graced the Houses of Parliament.

Not far away. A few lots to go. Yeah, terrible! Nerve-racking!

Is it bringing back memories of working in the Houses of Parliament? Yeah. I wish I hadn't made 'em!

..No, I didn't!

They're very decorative. They're a good, honest, functional piece.

Oak sides, oak lipping at the front. With books on it, it'll look better. Yeah, that's it.

You couldn't build them for £60. No. It's a bargain for somebody. You can't buy oak now.

Lot number 142 is the oak hanging bookshelves. Lot 142.

Commission bids start me straight in at £60.

Here we go! £60. ..And 5, anywhere? That's £60.

65. ..70. ..75. ..80.

At £80. Back with me at 80. Are we all done at £80?

That's great! Bang on the nail! Are you pleased? Yes, that's a good meal!

Bang on the nail - typical carpenter!

There you go. An auction is better value than buying a flat-pack.

Now, what about June's fire bucket? Useful in the past, but now merely decorative.

Your water filter went OK, didn't it? Yes.

The fire bucket I think should do better. Do you?! It's decorative and it's smaller. Well, we'll see!

What do you think, Philip? I like it. It's a decorator's dream. I'd love it in my house. So would I.

It'd make a good ash tray! You could fill it up with, er... Sand. Yeah.

Actually, it would make a great champagne ice bucket. Yes, I suppose you could do that with it.

Lot number 535 - the Edward VIII fire sand bucket.

Numerous commission bids start me straight in at £25. ..£25.

Oh-h! It's sold! £25. ..£25.

Are we all done, then, at £25?

It was short and sweet! It was one bid, but it was £25. Not too bad.

Are you pleased with that? I am, really. It's been in the garage so long, it deserves a new home.

They'll manage to put the fires out now. Yes.

With the money from the water filter, it's a meal out. We only wanted a bit of fun

and have a day out with you all. Have you enjoyed it? I did. Great fun!

And you got to clear the house out! Well, the garage!

Perhaps June should rummage through the REST of the garage now!

Now, here's my prediction for big money.

Christa, you've brought in a Moorcroft bowl. You paid £4 for it!

That's right. A bit of a star buy! I think so, yes.

Keen eye, or just luck? Part luck but I hope I've got a good eye.

Or you go to the right boot fairs! That might be it!

Philip is expecting this to fly. I'm going to follow Christa round the car-boot sales!

Get in the queue!

I think this will go through the top estimate. Hopefully!

We've got £200 reserve. It'll breeze that. Easily.

We want £400 plus. Yes.

I'm so excited! So are we! Are you feeling nervous? A bit of both, I think.

More excited than anything. It's the trepidation, the not knowing. Right!

If it does reach great money like that, what would you spend the money on? Well...

visit a few more boot sales! Yeah. Or possibly a holiday.

You could go to another 100, can't you?! Yes!

Here we go - the lots up.

Lot 462.

Numerous commission bids again start me straight in at...

£580. Wow!

620...650...680...

700. ..The gentleman seated at 700.

700...720...750...

780...800...

That's unbelievable! Absolutely fantastic!

..On the telephones - 820 on the first line. ..850.

880.

900. ..And 20.

There's two phone bids on this at the moment... 950...

980...1,000...

1,050... I don't believe it!

1,100...1,150...

1,200...

Goodness me! Oh-h! ..1,250...

1,300...

1,350... This is UNBELIEVABLE!

You've got two very serious collectors here, haven't you?

Both bidding...

At £1,500...

Are we all done, then, at £1,500?

Yes! ..Oh, yes!

Oh, gosh! You're pleased?!

Well done! Oh, thank you!

Well done! ..Goodness me! That's absolutely lovely!

You could put that money towards something special - a holiday.

It would cover a few more boot sales!

What an exciting finish!

£1,500 for a bowl picked up at a car-boot sale for just £4.

But Christa isn't the only happy owner leaving the auction room.

Anne's majolica salt dish reached just over Kate's top estimate.

She thinks she paid well under £5 for it, so £310 will do very nicely.

June's fire bucket and water filter both did well for garage clearance!

And at £65, it's better than a skip!

Today's best buy must be the bookshelf.

Could you buy a modern equivalent with solid oak facings for £80? I doubt it.

Very nerve-racking. Don't know if I'll do it again!

Even after paying commission, Martha has nearly £1,000 for her grandsons

and I'm sure her ancestors would approve of her reasons for selling.

The auction's nearly over and what a fantastic day we've had.

From a £25 fire bucket to a Moorcroft dish for £1,500.

It just goes to show, anything will sell...if you flog it!