Bolton Flog It!

This lovely old town was home

to Johnny Ball, Sarah Cox and Fred Dibnah.

Not surprisingly, it's known as one of Britain's most welcoming towns.

-Today, Bolton welcomes Flog It!

-LOUD CHEERING

It's not often an area is chosen for its damp climate but Bolton was.

It meant you could spin cotton without it breaking,

so it was full of large cotton mills. These days,

Bolton is a much brighter and more welcoming place.

It's that famous welcome that has attracted our two experts here -

Philip Serrell and James Lewis -

to the Albert Halls in the centre of town.

We've got a massive queue. There's so much to do. It's now 9.30

so let's get the doors open and see what else Bolton's got to offer.

And now that everybody's settled,

let's see what Philip has for us.

-Linda, how you doing?

-OK.

-Subtle, this, isn't it?

-It is, yeah.

He's a monster. Now, we're in Bolton...

-Yeah.

-Where are you from?

-Preston.

-So there's North Country flavour.

Would this be something your family might have bought new

-and it's been stuck in the hall ever since?

-We've had it a long time.

-About ten days.

-Ten days.

Ten days?! Where did you buy it?

-I bought it from a car boot.

-How much did you pay?

-You really want to know?

-Go on.

-Three quid.

-Do you have any conscience at all?

No, he wanted to get rid of it. He even carried it to the car for me.

-You bought this for three quid?

-Yes.

-So, what is it?

-Burmantofts.

-How do you know?

-It says so on the bottom.

-No flies on you!

-No.

-So tell me about Burmantofts.

Well, I know it was about 1884, something like that.

-Where's Burmantofts from?

-Leeds.

-What else did they make?

Uh...they did quite fancy...

William De Morgan-type styles later on.

-Persian styles.

-Yeah.

-And they made toilet wares.

-Originally, yeah.

So, basically, you don't need me to tell you anything, do you?

Well, I do really, cos it is cracked.

-Cracked?

-Cracked.

-Cracked isn't the word for it! Well...

Let's just describe it first. It's sort of...

It's a double gourd shape, which is Chinese in inspiration,

going back hundreds and hundreds of years.

-Yeah.

-And you've got this sort of...

monumental lizard...

or dragon crawling all around it,

with another little lizard here.

And...

we've got the crack to end them all

that goes all the way round it.

And because it's almost - not majolica or faience -

because it's almost like a flaky body, where it's cracked

-the glaze has actually come away from the crack.

-Yeah.

So, not only have we got this... you can lift the top off the bottom,

we've got a chunk out the lizard,

-we've got all this damage to the top...

-Yes.

-..just here.

If we turn him over, we can see here the Burmantofts mark on the base.

So you've researched it all. What's it worth?

Because it's damaged and it's not a later one, probably not a great deal of money.

What's it worth perfect?

-It's easy to value these things perfect.

-Well, people tell me if it's later,

the Persian design is worth thousands,

so I would say £100. 50.

-You think this is worth £100, £150?

-If it was good, yeah.

-If it was good.

Well, I think if this was good it would be worth between £1,500 and £2,000.

-Oh, my goodness! If it was good.

-Yeah.

-Oh, amazing.

-Yeah.

-Amazing.

-But it's clearly not good.

-What's your husband's views on this?

-"Get rid of it!"

Cos you've got such a huge financial outlay involved in this...

-I know!

-..I don't want to see you lose money. That three quid is precious.

I'm going to put on this what we call a "come and buy me" estimate.

-Right, I'm going to put on this £100 to £200.

-Amazing! Oh, incredible.

Now, Cath, thank you so much for taking the time to come to Flog It!

-You're welcome.

-What have you brought?

-A watch. A gent's gold watch.

You're clearly not a gent, so what are you doing with this?

It was given to me by an old man that I used to work with.

He was taken ill and he couldn't get out much,

so I just did bits of shopping for him and visited him and no-one else did.

-Aw!

-He was frightened of this watch being stolen so he gave it to me.

He told me to have a couple of links taken out of it and wear it.

-It's too big for me to wear, though.

-It is. Compare it to yours.

-That's more you.

-Yeah.

-Well, it's still a lovely gift.

-Yes, it is.

It's an Omega, Electronic, it says here, f300, chronometer wristwatch.

It is a lovely quality watch. Not only is the watch good quality,

but the strap is too. If we look on the clasp here, it's marked,

"375", which means it's nine-carat solid gold.

So it's a good quality watch.

This is something that will do well, I think. It's in good order,

the glass is good. The silver dial sometimes starts to pit

and it has a rough, sort of discoloured area in the centre.

THIS one is in perfect condition. It's been looked after very well.

So, is it something you're wanting to sell?

-Yes.

-OK. Would you sell it for 20 quid?

-No.

-Would you sell it for £50?

-No.

-£100?

-No.

-Wouldn't you?

-No.

How about £150?

No.

200?

Possibly.

Oh, well, we've just got in there.

The estimate I'd put on that is £200 to £300.

-Don't forget, you've got all your charges to come off it as well.

-Yes.

So if you sold it for £250, you'd come away with around £210.

-Right.

-Something like that. Well, let's Flog It! for you.

-Thank you.

-Gillian and Michael, I am so in love with this. It's the best thing I've see all day.

-Oh, good.

-I love it!

It says it all to me. It's got energy, life,

it's got vitality.

It's very tactile. It's behind glass and thank goodness anyway,

because it's in mint condition.

Yes, it is.

I've got to ask you - why on earth do you want to sell this?

Well, it isn't mine. It's my aunt's.

She's become quite poorly and needs help towards her nursing care,

-so she's asked me to sell it on her behalf.

-She's in care?

-Yes.

And that is really expensive.

-She obviously fell in love with this.

-Her husband was an artist

and he took her to the Royal Academy where it was displayed

and they both agreed and bought it together.

It's by Julia Margaret Prout,

wonderful artist, born 1870s, died in 1965.

-Oh.

-So she had a long life.

-Yes.

-She was based in the south of England

and all her views were of the south of England, lots of Bristol,

a lot of the south coast. It's lovely.

It's like a vibrant babbling brook.

You can see all the colours, all the sparkle,

all the light catching the water.

-You almost feel like there's a breeze blowing.

-You can see that.

-It's just pushing the trees this way.

-Yes.

I do like this sort of thing and...

-you stand back from it, the more it comes together.

-Yes.

This was first exhibited at the Royal Academy in London in 1959.

We know that because...

Look at that.

It's in its original frame, which is fantastic.

And look.

I do have the receipt of when it was bought.

You've got the receipt as well?

-Oh, we must get that to the auction room.

-OK.

-That will be so lovely.

That will put all the history together.

It's beautifully done. It's in oils.

A lot of the oil is straight from the tube,

literally squeezed out of the tube

and daubed on in great big blobs, just sort of put on.

It's bold. It's all there. It's confidence.

And a lot of the oils have been thinned out with turpentine

and put on very much like a wash

as if you were putting on a watercolour.

But look at the vibrancy of the colour. All the hue is still there.

It's not been hung in direct light, which is absolutely brilliant.

It's in its original frame

with a plaque saying, "The willows at Winchelsea

"by Margaret Fisher Prout"

and then "Royal Academy 1959", the date.

-So this was bought at the Royal Academy.

-That's what we understand.

-What a lovely story! And for £5?

-Yes.

£5.

OK, value. The big question. We need as much money as possible.

-Yes.

-I've looked up other works, relative size and the same medium,

that she's sold at auction

-and it's around about £800 to £1,200.

-Really?

Now, fix reserve at £800. No-one's buying it for any less.

Hopefully we'll get the two or three buyers that fall in love with it and bid it up to the £2,000 mark.

-That's what I'm hoping.

-That'd be really good. She'd be pleased.

Dave, these figures certainly make a statement.

Is it a statement you like or dislike?

It's a statement that we like.

They're grand figures that should be in a grand drawing room.

Obviously they give a French fancy sort of impression.

-Absolutely.

-That's what we like about them.

Do they stand in a grand room at home or hidden in a cupboard?

-They're actually both placed onto antique wardrobes at home.

-Oh!

We're frightened of the damage they might come to elsewhere

with a small child running around the house.

They're fine figures.

Do you know much about them?

No. One of the reasons we brought them is

we know nothing at all. We can't find anything from the marks on them.

Well, these were made in France,

somewhere between 1870 and 1890.

They're French glazed Parian figures and they're in 18th-century dress

but made a hundred years later.

This is part of that romantic French influence

that was around throughout Europe and also in Britain.

You can imagine a big town house with a very fine drawing room...

-Yeah.

-..a pair of Louis XVI-style cabinets,

big gilt fancy clocks and chandeliers

-and these would be in that sort of interior.

-Yes.

Today, of course, there's a great fashion for minimalism

but there are still collectors for them. And they're finely detailed.

All hand-painted, hand-modelled

-and it's good to have a pair.

-Yes.

This form of figure is always prone to damage.

We've got tiny bits of damage on the flower heads and on the bouquet.

But it's negligible when you look at the figures as a whole.

At the moment, I would say a pair of fine porcelain figures like these...

They've got a great look. ..£200 to £300, something like that.

-Very good.

-Is that all right?

-Yes, sounds good.

So let's look at what we're taking off to auction.

It's big, it's bold and it's Burmantofts.

Not a bad investment - £3!

Next is the Omega wristwatch, which is too large for Catherine,

so it's time for a new owner.

This was MY choice and I absolutely love it -

a beautiful impressionist painting in great condition

and in its original frame.

Finally, a pair of French Parian figures.

Let's hope there's someone out there who loves them.

We've got an absolutely jam-packed saleroom here at Frank Marshall's in Knutsford.

Let's hope there's lots of interest in our items.

Have our experts got their valuations right?

You could say the buck stops here.

Before the sale starts, let's catch up with auctioneer,

our very own favourite - Adam Partridge -

and see what he's got to say about our lots.

David's Parian ware figures. They're finely painted.

-Are they?

-Well, there's a lot of detail.

But to me they don't look Parian.

-Parian should look like white marble.

-Yes.

-A Victorian invention.

-Um...

-I'd call these bisque porcelain.

-Yes.

-If I was being polite.

-Yeah.

-I can tell you don't like them.

-They're horrible, Paul.

-But we've got a valuation of £200 to £300.

-Yeah.

-And they always sell.

-They always sell.

-I'll give it my best shot.

And, you know...I'm good but I'm not that good.

There's plenty of people that'll love these.

The condition lets them down as well. There's a chip here.

-Oh, don't hold back, Adam!

-They're just dust traps, aren't they?

Dust traps or a cherished antique -

will they sell?

It's time to flog Catherine's nine-carat gold wristwatch.

Omega, it's a lovely make. This was given to you by a friend, wasn't it?

-Yes.

-Who you used to look after.

-Yes.

We got a lovely valuation. £200 to £300, maybe a little bit more.

-James, will we get that top end?

-Should do.

-Yes, it's a good quality watch.

-It is.

-Original strap.

-Yes.

Nine-carat gold. The strap as well.

It'll do that easily. It's a weird thing, that wristwatches...

the price of wristwatches follows the price of classic cars.

-I never knew that, did you?

-No.

Pens, wristwatches and classic cars.

-Well, that's James's theory!

-Boys' toys!

-That's what it is, isn't it?

This toy is just about to go under the hammer. Good luck, Catherine.

One nine-carat gold gent's Omega chronometer wristwatch.

The second hand moves so smoothly.

And I'm bid £230 straight in.

Wow! Straight in.

240. 250.

260. 260 back there.

Any more on this one? At 260...

All done 260? 270.

280. 290?

280 at the back, then. 280, selling... 280...

-We've done the top end. That's a sold sound, isn't it?

-Good.

-Happy with that?

-I'm very happy.

-What are you putting the money to?

-£280 less a bit of commission.

-I'm going on holiday next month.

-Oh, lovely.

-I'll spend it.

-Where are you going?

-Just on a cruise.

Just on a cruise! JUST on a cruise!

Now it's time for my favourite lot.

Gillian... ..Hi, Mike. I zoomed in on this lovely painting

by Margaret Fisher Prout.

Royal Academy exhibition 1959.

And your aunt bought it for £5.

Now, the money today is going towards her nursing care, isn't it?

-Yes.

-That's right.

-Brilliant.

-That'll be one of her best investments.

-Oh, yes.

-And I'd love to think it gets near the £1,200.

-I hope so.

-Fingers crossed.

-It's going under the hammer right now.

It's the Margaret Fisher Prout

exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1959.

Lots of nice labels on the back. Lot 766.

£800, start me there.

800?

550 here. 560, I have. Is there 580?

At 560... 580.

600. 620. 640.

660. 680.

680, I'm bid, then. 680. Any more on this one?

Oh, come on.

At 680...

700.

£700. Any more on this one?

At £700...

At £700, are you all done?

Oh, he's not selling.

700?

He didn't sell.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

-It's all right.

-Would you let it go at £700?

-No. It is worth more.

-It is, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Yes.

This is a cracking lot, Linda's Burmantofts vase, in many ways!

-There's a big crack in it.

-Yeah.

-The top's smashed.

-The reserve is now... Well, it was 80, it's reduced to 50.

-Yes.

-I'm with you, it'll do well.

-It's one of those things at the moment.

10 or 15 years ago, you'd have walked past it.

But it's just... I think it'll sell. I hope it does.

Well, we're going to find out right now because this is it.

Looks like it's been under the hammer already, this one.

But it would have been a lovely vase originally.

Who'll give me £100? It's got to be worth that.

£100?

50, then?

50 I'm bid.

We're in. We've sold it.

5. 70. 5. 80.

5. 90. 5. 100.

110. 120.

130. 140. 150.

160.

170. 180.

190? No? 180 with H42.

190 here.

Fresh money at 190.

All done at 190? Any more?

Well done.

Yes! £190, Linda.

-That is fantastic.

-It's marvellous.

What are you going to do with the money? I know cos I've read my notes.

You're going to have a special treat. All your friends here.

-I will treat them for lunch, cos I thought I wasn't going to sell it.

-What about your two mates here?

-We'll buy you a pint.

-You're on.

A pint of milk.

Those Parian figures, remember?

You can't forget them, can you?!

They belong to David. You brought them in.

-You don't own them, do you?

-No, they're my mother-in-law's.

-Yes.

-They don't look like your taste.

-No.

-They're not my taste.

And they're not Adam's taste,

cos we had a chat with the auctioneer earlier.

-He doesn't like them, James.

-I think he's pretending.

I've got friends who sell him this sort of thing.

When I looked at that pair of figures,

-I thought of Adam Partridge.

-Adam's got them in his bedroom, no doubt!

I bet he's got shelves of them, a closet Parian collector.

Well, I never!

I don't believe that.

-It's a cover. He's pretending.

-The value, I think, is right.

Adam disagreed with me. But we've seen them on the show before...

standing height, they always sell.

I don't know who to, but there's people that love them.

They're going under the hammer now.

Very decorative, male and female

with flowers... Some minor losses. Start me £200?

200?

150, then?

150 bid. 150 bid.

Any more now? 150. Who's going on? 150.

At 150...

150. 160. 170.

180. 190. 200.

210.

At 210, all done? At £210...

All done at 210? Any more?

Yes! 210. Bang on there, James.

Well, so far, so good. But there's plenty more auction action to come.

With all this excitement, I need to escape to somewhere very tranquil.

This is Tatton Park in Cheshire.

When Maurice the 4th Baron of Egerton died unmarried in 1958,

it was left to the National Trust.

You can see it's an amazing house,

but it's the gardens we're particularly interested in today.

Each new generation of Egertons

pinched a bit more of the parkland

to convert into the latest garden fashion of the day.

The most recent of them is this beautiful Japanese garden,

constructed in the early 20th century,

and it's considered to be the finest in Europe.

Maurice's father, Alan de Tatton,

employed a team of Japanese workmen to construct it.

Trade with Japan had just been reinstated

and in 1910 there had been a huge Japanese exhibition held in London,

so everything Japanese, especially gardens, were all the rage.

The garden has recently been restored

to the most stunning conditions

with the help of Professor Fukuhara

from the Osaka University in Japan.

I've come here to meet the head gardener, Sam Youd,

-who's been the head gardener at Tatton since 1979. Sam... a pleasure to meet you.

-And you.

You've done a splendid job. You must be pleased with the way it's gone.

-It was one of the easiest restorations we've ever done.

-Why?

Because it took us 14 years to plan!

So it is all in the planning!

-Tell me the difference between an English garden and a Japanese garden.

-You'll love this one!

The English garden is complete when you can't put anything else in.

-The Japanese garden is complete when you can't take anything out.

-Wow!

-So that takes a bit of working out.

-It does.

I feel like I've arrived in Japan. I'm just outside Manchester,

but look at that shrine!

This is the Shinto shrine, which really dominates the garden.

There are various types of garden in Japan. This one is about the tea ceremony and about taking tea.

-And is this the entrance?

-This is the entrance, the tori gate,

and originally they were used for bird perches, but latterly

they got to be used as the most important entrance to the garden.

They usually have a saying on them about the garden itself

and it's all about humbling yourself, this idea of being at one with nature

and eventually taking tea, so we'll humble ourselves...

-And go on this journey.

-Absolutely. After you, Paul.

-Thank you.

Is this shrine the most important one in the garden?

It is, really. It's the only one and it dominates the garden.

It's got that sort of aspect.

-The positioning.

-It's important, isn't it?

-Yeah.

And it was homing places for spirits, really.

That's what these shrines are all about. Most gardens will have them.

They believe that the ancestors will come back and visit the gardens.

-It's a tranquil place.

-Very calming.

Let's take a walk over the bridge and go over to the island.

I can see lots of green bamboos

and I love those cedar trees.

The cedar is used in making the Shinto shrines.

-Japanese cedar.

-Yeah.

You know, Sam, everywhere you look, there's the most stunning vista.

-Indeed.

-It's gorgeous. I feel like I'm in heaven.

-HE LAUGHS

-Look at that!

What have we got, Sam?

This is the waiting pavilion,

where you'd be asked to wait until they got the garden ready.

-And what's this for?

-A water basin,

because the tea ceremony is about cleansing the hands and the mind.

This is at a sort of average height.

You wash your hands in here to remind you to cleanse your mind,

but as you go round the garden these go lower,

so eventually you become humbled before you go in to take tea.

-That is lovely.

-Wonderful, isn't it?

I think this is one of my favourite parts of the garden.

It really is stunning. Why are these stepping stones so close together?

They're designed so that you have to walk on every one of them,

to remind you to cleanse your mind as you're walking along

-before you go in to take tea.

-That's what it's all about? Slowing you down.

-Slowing you down,

and the idea is that they're only the width of your foot apart,

to help the girls with their wooden sandals to walk along.

-So, Paul, we're nearing the end of our journey now...

-OK.

-..through the Japanese garden.

-You don't walk through the garden - you glide, don't you?

-It really calms you down!

-Yeah.

-So this really is the destination, isn't it?

-The teahouse, yeah.

Yeah.

-And do most teahouses look like this?

-Yes, they're mostly thatched.

I noticed the bowl has got incredibly low.

Almost stooping...

Absolutely. So the last of the water basins. And also you notice...

These are sword-resting stones on each side of the steps,

so the samurai warrior would take his swords off, place them there...

The only time you'd see the samurai without swords, when he was taking tea and being at one with nature

-after being in battle.

-And meeting up with the geisha girls!

-Possibly.

But before you do go in, there's one more thing to think about,

and this is this basin here. This is for the last of your bad thoughts.

-Really?

-Anything you've still got to cleanse from your mind, put it in.

It is completely empty. Looks like there are no bad thoughts there.

Thank you for showing me around. It's stunning here. You've done a terrific job.

This place is worth a visit and it's a shame to leave the tranquillity,

but I've got to join up with our experts back at the valuation day,

so time to dip my hands in, banish bad thoughts and go treasure hunting for more antiques.

You know...you do Flog It

and this comes through the door

and you don't have to pick it up to know what it is. I have to say...

I'm going to get shot here. I really am not a great lover of Clarice.

Why?

-I think Clarice is a lovely name.

-Clarice is boring.

Well, I didn't think I was boring.

-No, not you, my love. This.

-Do you think this is boring?

-I think it's beautiful.

-Clarice... What's your name?

-Clarice.

-No, this is Clarice.

-Well, I'm Clarice.

-You're Clarice?

I'm in a lot of trouble here.

-So... So this is Clarice.

-Yes.

-Clarice Cliff.

-I'm the same initials.

-Is that why you bought it?

-I think so.

-Where did you get it?

Um, an auction room in Bury.

Bury? Is that what us soft southerners would call Bury?

-That's right.

-Bury?

-You're proper Clarice.

-I am.

-This is pretend Clarice.

-That's right.

Nice Clarice... I'm not going to say "boring Clarice",

but other Clarice... Why did proper Clarice buy other Clarice?

I think it was just the initials - hers were CC and mine were CC.

Clarice Cliff and Clarice Couselle.

-How much did you pay for it?

-I do not know. I can't remember.

So why, Clarice, are you, Clarice, getting rid of this Clarice,

-here, Clarice?

-Because it's of no use to me at the moment.

-Do you not think that this Clarice might come in for some use for this Clarice later?

-I don't think so.

-I don't like this Clarice. Shall we get rid of it, Clarice?

-You can do.

This Clarice is going to make £100-200 for this Clarice.

-That's fine by me.

-I'm Clariced out!

Now, Vinnie, Lesley, obviously you either collect postcards

-or you know somebody who does.

-Yeah, I've got quite a collection at home.

-12½ or 13 thousand.

-Oh, my goodness!

-How long have you been collecting for?

-Ten years.

-Fantastic.

-Tell me about the ones you've brought along today.

-These vary.

A lot of them are from the First World War, what the soldiers

sent back to their sweethearts, wives and loved ones.

Some are the original comic cards, which originate

back in the early 1900s, round about 1900,

so there's a few of them and there's also some very early ones

-that people sent to their sweethearts pre the First World War.

-OK.

Whenever we're talking about postcards and postal history,

there's various areas, isn't there, that people collect?

Topographical, street scenes,

transport, costume...

Which area did you concentrate on?

At first I was going down the advertising route.

-"We are the Ovaltineys." Advertising cards are worth a lot of money.

-Yes.

Then I found one or two retro cards which I liked, the designer cards,

and it just went on from there.

I'd pick one up, or pick a boxful of 200 up, so I started collecting.

Just went from this up to...

-Oh, my goodness!

-The wife's not pleased. There are suitcases and boxes and all sorts of things.

-So I guess you're shedding some of the ones that are...

-Surplus to requirement, basically.

It's interesting, because you can actually buy a whole album of cards

and take out the couple that you want to keep,

-then sell the rest and still get your money back.

-Yes.

It's a good way of investing money.

Postcards have held their value where a lot of things haven't.

They've continuously gone up and up.

Some of them I've bought for 25p at jumble sales.

Certain ones I've wanted to collect, and I've picked two of them up,

and the ones I've picked up for 25p I've sold for £18 or £20 each.

Gosh! Can't be bad. Is there anything rare in these albums that I should be looking at?

Um...the black and white ones, I think...

the real photo issues.

Yes.

-Real characters.

-There's one or two within the albums.

-These are the First World War cards.

-Yes.

-Or just prior to the war.

I looked at some earlier, at the back here, that had...

There, look at that. Patriotic.

"The bravest and the best. England's Navy, British Soldiers true,

"comrade to comrade,

"I fight for you. Shoulder to shoulder, firm to the test.

"Pride of the whole world - the bravest and the best."

Only the Americans would dare say that today!

But...really interesting comments on the period.

-How many have you got altogether?

-I think it's around 450-ish.

OK, so 450, all duplicates... and things that don't match your collection.

You'll know more than I do about these.

The interesting thing about this job is you often come and meet people,

and teach them, but you learn as well.

With these, I'm learning more from you than you are from me! What do you think they're worth?

At 50 pence apiece, it's around £200.

That's being conservative.

If we put £180 to £220 on them,

reserve of £180,

-do you think they'll go?

-I think so.

-You've taught me something.

-Thanks for bringing them along.

-No problem.

-Vicky, how are you?

-I'm fine, thank you.

-Do you like these?

-Yeah, I think they're nice. They are.

-Which country do they come from, do you think?

-Staffordshire.

-Absolutely. Very precise. And what are they?

-King Charles spaniels.

-King Charles spaniels.

And they're quite rare cos the legs are open-moulded here.

-They're 19th century.

-Yes.

From Staffordshire, King Charles spaniels.

Decorated in this lovely orange-red here.

Why do you want to sell these?

They don't go with the decor, and it's a shame to store them.

It's funny how tastes and times change.

And 30 or 40 years ago, these would have been really popular.

-Yeah.

-And so popular that they were reproduced.

These, perhaps, originally started to be made in the 18th century,

were made in the 19th century, and reproduced in the 20th century.

That cottage-y look has gone, hasn't it?

-Yeah, it has.

-What's your thing now?

-I don't collect anything. It's for my mum.

My mum's working today, so couldn't come today.

-Your mum wants rid of them.

-Yeah. She said it's a shame to store them instead of display them.

-How did she get them?

-She was given them by a lady who taught her to weave, in the mills.

-And this was quite an elderly lady.

-That's fascinating.

She... It was her mother's mother,

so her grandma. Her grandma's originally.

-She taught your mum to weave.

-Yes.

-That's fascinating.

-Yes.

-Your mum worked in the mills?

-She did.

-What did she weave?

-Not a clue.

She's got that many pictures, but I don't understand it. All the machines used to break all the time.

What would Mum be happy with for these?

If we put them in for auction, and they made £15 to £30...

That would be fine. Yeah.

-They'll make between £150 and £300.

-Oh, right!

Fantastic, yeah!

We'll put a fixed reserve of £120.

-Yes.

-We'll estimate them at £150 to £300.

-They'll do really well.

-Right. She'll be really happy.

Now a reminder of what's just about to go under the hammer.

I'm sure Clarice will not be taking HER Clarice back home with her.

The 450 postcards in these two albums should bring the collectors out in force.

And with something as classic as the pair of Staffordshire dogs,

you can't go wrong.

So, let's find out what Adam thinks about them.

I love Staffordshire figures. These belong to Victoria.

They were given to her mum

by a weaver who was weaving in the same factory that she worked in.

-We've got a valuation of £150 to £300.

-They are good ones.

You know my taste. I'm not a Staffordshire pottery man,

but this is the best pair of Staffordshire dogs I've ever seen.

And the rarest, with green bases. I've never seen any with green bases before.

-I've seen them with blue, but not with green.

-So...

-bearing that in mind...

-Not an area I'm really well, well versed in.

I wouldn't like to own them, but they're gonna fly.

-What do you think they'll do?

-I think...

-You really want me to stick my neck out?

-Yeah, go on.

-I think they'll make £1,000-plus.

-Gosh!

-Purely because of the green bases?

-And cos they're in great condition.

They're beautifully painted.

-And the bases - they are right...

-Look at that.

That's what you wanna see. And these bits of chipping round the side.

-It's all part of it.

-Not for me,

but I can appreciate them. Very nice indeed.

That's really exciting!

Well, it wouldn't be "Flog It!" without Clarice!

Here she is!

Eh?!

And she's brought in Clarice Cliff. It is a true "Flog It!" moment.

-You've got a spider on your head!

-Is that lucky?

It's a money spider.

Money always goes to money. I dunno!

Your Clarice Cliff is about to go under the hammer.

This is it. Good luck.

Lot 383 is the Clarice Cliff bowl

in the Crocus pattern, and a Biarritz dessert set. Lot 383.

Next lot there. Bid me £100. 110.

120, 130. 130 bid. Any more?

130, this lot. 130.

Mid-estimate.

-140, 150, 160...

-It's climbing, Clarice.

150 here, 160 on the internet,

160 online bid. Any more now?

At £160. This is selling at £160. Top end of estimate.

Wow! The hammer went down very sharp.

-£160.

-Not bad.

Thank you for coming in.

-Thank you. Thank you, Philip.

-My pleasure.

Unfortunately, our next owners Lindsey and Vinnie, can't be with us.

But 450 of their postcards are!

They're about to go under the hammer, in two albums.

We've got a valuation put on by our expert, of £180 to £220.

They are worth writing home about. They're Vinnie's spares, though.

I don't know what they were. Hadn't a clue.

Was this a, "Oh, each card's probably worth two quid..."

Something like that. That's what he told me they were worth - and he knows.

I asked what he'd buy them at auction for.

-£2 to £3 each.

-No, hang on. How many are there?

450.

-Oh, no, that would make it 900 quid!

-You never know, they might go for £900!

-50p to £1, something like that.

-These will sell - they won't be returned to sender.

It's going under the hammer now.

Postcard albums with song cards - wartime examples, etc.

Who'll start me at £200?

£100, these two.

£80? 80 bid. 90?

100, 110, 120,

130, 140, 150, 160.

160 in the room. 160. Any more now?

160 - is that enough? 160. Any more?

200, 210? £200.

At 200, we sell. £200...

-Yes!

-He was right, wasn't he?

-Yes. He was right.

Vinnie and Lindsey, I hope you're watching. Good luck with the collection.

Now it's time for the Staffordshire figures. Could this be the star of our show?

Remember those two lovely little King Charles spaniels?

-They were brought in by Victoria. They were your mum's.

-Yes.

-Hello, what's your name?

-Lynne.

-If somebody offered £400,

-would you take it?

-Er...

-Yeah!

I think so.

Philip's getting the cash out.

What if they offered you £600 or £700?

-You'd be over the moon.

-I would. Shocked.

-You'd have got rid of them straightaway.

-Yes.

That's why it's good to have auctions. They are on the open market.

I think...they're gonna create a lot of interest.

Had a word with the auctioneer, Adam, our old favourite.

Here's what he said. The green base is very rare.

He's seen them in blue, but not green.

You could have something unique on your hands.

-Oh, right!

-I didn't realise that at the time, but Adam's right.

Those bases are rare.

-And they'll make...

-We don't know yet!

-Let's say they could do well.

-They could do well!

Pair of 19th-century Staffordshire figures

of orange and white seated spaniels on green bases.

Lot 262.

Commission bids start me

at £600.

At £600. Who's going on?

At 600.

Anyone in the room?

Yes? £620.

640, 660?

680, 700...

720, 740?

760, 780?

800, 820?

840, 860?

880, 900?

920, 940?

960, 980?

1,000, and 50?

-1,100, and 50?

-This is good.

-1,200, and 50?

-They're pretty special.

1,300, and 50?

I don't believe it.

At 1,350...

1,400, yes? 1,450.

-1,500.

-I might faint in a minute!

I might pass out!

1,450 on this phone. 1,500.

1,550?

1,600.

1,550 here. At 1,550. Anyone else?

At 1,550. All done at £1,550?

-Bang!

-Fantastic!

-I don't believe it!

-1,550 quid!

I don't believe it!

You sold them for 400 quid to us, just before the auction!

I know!

You made a mistake not buying them!

What are you gonna put the money towards?

Well, my grandson wants to go on a cruise.

He's wanted to for ages. We've not been able to take him away for a few years.

-We're thinking about that.

-OK. Treat yourselves.

We were going to put the money towards it, but now it'll pay for it.

Well done. Thank you so much.

That's "Flog It!" for you!

Join us next time for plenty more ups and downs,

lots of surprises. That's all we've got time for. Until the next time, goodbye.

For more information about "Flog It!",

including how the programme was made, visit the website at bbc.co.uk/lifestyle.