Eastbourne Flog It!

# I do like to be beside the seaside! # Even if it is a rather gusty day here on the pier!

I'm on the south coast in Sussex. Welcome to Flog It from Eastbourne!

Eastbourne became a popular holiday destination for the upper classes

in the second half of the 19th century.

It was known as "the Empress of Watering Places" and you see why!

This pier was built in 1865 and it is truly magnificent.

You can imagine the gentry strolling arm in arm along here, taking in the invigorating sea air

whilst looking back at that stunning architecture.

And the equally elegant venue for today's show is Eastbourne's Town Hall, an architectural delight.

Let's get this massive crowd inside!

The people of Eastbourne are in the capable hands of Jethro Marles and, first up today, Mark Stacey.

-Frank...

-Hello, Mark.

These are right up my street. They're quirky and fantastic.

-How did you get them?

-I was told to take them to the tip.

-What happened?

A gentleman died, the wife sold the house and told me to get rid of them.

-And you thought, "I like those."

-"I like those, I'll keep them."

-I was a landscape gardener, they didn't go in my garden, so that was it.

-Where have they been living?

-In the garage, then in the roof.

-In the roof?

-In the loft.

You mentioned gardening and that's what they are.

They would have been little ornaments around a fountain.

They're satyrs because they've got the upper bodies of a cherub

and then they've got these nice goat hooves and legs.

And they've even got a goat tail.

This one is holding a pair of maracas and the other one a tambourine, so they represent music.

They're made in bronze, in a mould, and they've got these really cheeky character faces.

They're having a good time. They've probably had some wine.

They got a lot of wine in that house!

In terms of date, I think we'd be safe if we put circa 1900. I think they're really appealing.

I suspect a lot of people would like them.

-I don't particularly like them.

-I love them.

I don't know if you've considered the value of them, but a safe estimate would be £300 to £500.

-Would you be happy with that?

-Very happy.

I look forward to making happy music with you at the auction.

-Beryl, you know all about this object.

-Somebody gave it to me many years ago

who used to be a head gardener on an estate

and his wife used to work below stairs

and it was given to him.

Just before he died, he gave it to me. That was 25 years ago.

-Have you ever used it?

-I've filled it with hot water to test it.

-And does it hold hot water?

-Yes.

Because it is of course a hot-water bottle made of copper.

-Yes.

-You unscrew this little cap here...

-Yes.

You fill that with hot water.

-You can then use this to keep your little tummy warm.

-Right.

-That's quite comfy like that.

-It is.

-I'm not sure if I haven't seen Paul with one of these on under his jacket!

-You could be right.

-He's got a bit of a tum there. Maybe that's what it is.

-Could be.

-It tells us who made it on the top.

-Yes.

-"Walter Davies. Established 1868."

-That's right.

"Wellington, Salop." We know that it dates after that.

-And it compares with bed-warming pans.

-And they were copper.

-They were all made with a copper sheet beaten around and then sealed with solder on the edges.

-Yes.

When I started in the antiques business, a few years ago now,

a copper bed-warming pan with a long pole handle would always sell for £50, £60, even up to £100.

-And today you can't get £25, £30 for a pretty good one.

-All change.

Something like this is a bit more individual, a bit more unusual.

-Yes.

-And people do collect them.

We won't make a lot of money, but it's an interesting object.

It's a genuine antique. It's 140 years old, for goodness sake!

-Have you got any idea of its value?

-Maybe £20, £25?

-I wouldn't imagine more.

-I think you're in the right area.

-£30 is probably about it.

-Or whatever.

-Or whatever.

-You want to move it on. If we said £20 to £40 as an estimate...

-Fine.

-Let's see what happens.

-It's just a chuckle.

-Yes. A belly chuckle!

-Very much so.

-For your little belly!

This is what we want on Flog It, lots more furniture!

-If you have some you want to flog, bring it in. Whose is it?

-Mine.

It was passed down to my dad, who died two years ago, and I've inherited it, from his mother.

And I do believe that it was passed from her mother, so it's been...

-This has been in the family a long time.

-Three, four generations.

-What do you think of it?

-Well, it's not really my sort of thing.

-Why do you say that?

-I don't know. It's just not modern.

-You like contemporary things?

-Yeah.

-It's the only antique you've got?

-Yes.

-And you want to flog it?

-Yeah.

You might regret that one day, Nicky.

It's a card table, you know that. It is pre-Victorian.

It's William IV, it's around about 1830 and it's made of rosewood.

Not solid rosewood, it's a veneer.

If I open this up, it's a mahogany carcass.

The whole thing is made of mahogany.

That is absolutely gorgeous. That's where the guineas would be kept

or the cards or the dominoes, whatever.

You'd put your games in there. This flips over like that.

It just needs TLC.

It's got the look, but has it got the price?

What do you think it's worth? What have you been told?

-Well, my nan had it valued about eight to ten years ago.

-Right.

-It was valued about £800 then.

-That's about right.

I'd have said a bit more then. The market was really buoyant then.

If two people really want this on the day, fingers crossed, this could do £600.

But I would put it into auction with a fixed reserve of £400.

£400 to me just doesn't feel right.

-You'd take £500?

-I don't know. Even that, I think, would be pushing it.

I don't think in today's market this will reach more than £500.

I'd love to be wrong. I'd like to see someone spend £600 or £700.

OK, let's put it in with a value of £500 to £700 and a fixed reserve of 500 if that's what you want.

-I'd rather do that, yeah.

-Yeah. Do you think that's enough?

Listen, if it doesn't sell, you take it home.

It's up to Nicky, but we're a little bit disappointed, Paul.

-We expected a bit more than that.

-It is nice.

-It's a dilemma. What are we gonna do?

-It's up to Nicky.

-Yeah, put it in.

-500 to 700?

-Yeah.

-We'll test the market. Whatever you do, don't go away. This is going into auction.

-Thanks.

-Hello, Sheila.

-Hello, Mark. Nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you too.

You've got two interesting items. What's the story behind them?

My husband used to collect all sorts of bits and pieces.

He was into antiques and they came from an old aunt, I believe.

I particularly like this little box.

It's a little silver box

-and inset in the top there's a stamp of Edward VII.

-Yes.

Who, as you know, came to the throne in 1901.

And the hallmark on the box is for 1901 which is quite a nice tie-in.

-Yes.

-And of course, the stamp gives away what the actual item is.

This is what you kept little stamps in.

It's got this nice curved base

-which is easy for getting the stamps out.

-Yes.

And we've got a nice little leather top to keep them nice and dry.

You've also got a little double-ended scent bottle

which I couldn't find any marks on.

It's got the odd blemish, but it's a nice little object.

I would suggest we sell them as a little group,

the two items together as one lot.

Had you ever thought about a value?

Well, many years ago, we went to an antiques boot sale

and the perfume bottle,

I think I saw one going for something like £80.

Yes, they can do. They can fetch a lot of money.

They can make sometimes even over £1,000 for a very rare example.

Being not silver and a little bit of blemish here and there,

if we were putting them in for sale,

we would probably put £60 to £80 on the two as a lot.

-How do you feel about that?

-That would be fine. Quite happy with that.

-I'll look forward to putting those in and seeing you at the auction.

-Thank you.

Frank's pair of garden ornaments really tickled Mark's fancy.

Will they make sweet music in the saleroom though?

Jethro warmed to Beryl's copper hot-water bottle. It could come in handy on a cold night.

Nicky inherited this William IV card table from her father.

She drove a hard bargain, but finally agreed to my estimate.

And we're selling this scent bottle and stamp box as one lot.

We've got two auctioneers at the Eastbourne Auction Rooms today -

Paul Achilleous and his partner, Jeannette May.

We'll see Jeannette later, but first let's find out what Paul thinks of the table.

This is a family heirloom. It's been handed down to Nicky.

It's now in a hallway and she's using it, but it's been in the sun at some stage.

During the valuation, I told Nicky it needs some TLC and restoration, but what a lovely thing!

It will struggle, to be honest. My estimate would be 300 to 500.

It needs some work, some TLC. That's why it is £500.

It would cost you about £1,000 to restore the top.

Had this been in good, original condition, we'd be talking of an estimate between 800 and 1,200.

I've got to disagree with you on £1,000 for restoration.

I'm sorry. You've got some expensive cabinet-makers down here!

Well, there's an awful lot of work to restore a bow top. It is the restorer's nightmare.

-You've put the valuation of £60 to £80. That's spot-on.

-I hope so.

Sheila, you look absolutely gorgeous. Have you been in the sun or in the garden?

-Well, Eastbourne generally.

-Are you born and bred here?

-I am.

-Do you watch the tennis in the summer at Eastbourne?

-I do, but I prefer to play.

-You play?

-Four days a week.

-You play four days a week?

-Mm-hm.

-Gosh!

-Amazing!

I'll play you later. I'll probably get thrashed! This is it.

And we sell this... on commission here at £70.

-Straight in at £70.

-Good start.

80. 5. 90. 5. 100.

And 10. 120. 120 on commission.

At £120 only. I'm selling, make no mistake...

The hammer's gone down, £120. What are you gonna put that towards?

-Tennis club?

-No.

-I need a new pump for my fish pond.

-A new pump for the fish pond!

Next it's the hot-water bottle which Jethro valued at £20 to £40.

It belongs to Beryl, but unfortunately she can't be with us.

-This is it.

-A warming pan there by Walter Davies. £20 on commission.

-I'll take 2 again. 22. 25.

-Straight in.

-It's off.

28. In the room then at 28. Where's 30 now?

Back of the room at 28. Are we all done...?

-Not bad, £28, spot-on.

-Spot-on again. Luckily!

I wouldn't like to use it in my bed.

-I was wondering if you were using it? You keep it there.

-On your tummy?

-You're not using one?

-No!

-He's cheeky, saying I've got a pot belly! Look at that!

-Very good. Breathe in.

-It was a good result.

-Are you gonna give Beryl a call?

-I'll do that now.

-Thank you.

The 19th century, rosewood card table - let's hope we come up trumps with £500 to £700.

I've been joined by Sally. Your daughter Nicky can't be with us, but her daughter can.

-We've got another generation here. What's your name?

-Charlie.

-A proper Charlie or a Charlotte?

-I'm Charlie.

-That is a lovely name.

This is your inheritance. It skipped Grandma and it was your great-gran's. It's now your mum's.

-If we don't sell it, you get to inherit it.

-Yeah.

You'll be a happy bunny. It is worth keeping, it's a lovely item.

-A lot of history there. OK, ready for it? Fingers crossed.

-Fingers crossed.

-Let's do it.

Lot number 5, the Victorian, rosewood, swivel-top card table.

-Fingers crossed.

-Charlie...

Beautiful carving. Bids of 500 to start do I see?

4 then I'll take. Do I see 400?

300 is bid. 320. 350 do I see?

350. 380. 400. 420.

At 420. 440. 460?

440 is the bid. At £440.

460, new place. 480. 500? At 480.

£480 only. Any further bids? At 480...

Very close, but not sold, I'm afraid.

-One bid away.

-That's all right.

-We had a fixed reserve of £500.

So close, yet so far really, when you think about it.

-Is that disappointing?

-It's not disappointing for me.

I really like it, but maybe Charlie was expecting a bit of a shopping spree!

-Oh, were you? Clothes and shoes!

-Yes.

-That's worth hanging on to.

It'll increase in value. Look after it. Keep it out of the sun and away from the central heating.

-And love it. Then in 20 years' time, you can flog it and make a lot more money.

-Bigger shopping spree!

Exactly!

This is a great lot. We've not seen anything like it before - two bronze satyrs from a water feature.

-They're Frank's. Hi, Frank.

-Hello, Paul.

-£300 to £500.

They're quality, made of bronze. They're absolutely divine.

-I can see them going back on another water feature.

-They used to be around a lovely fountain.

-That's where they belong. You are interested in badgers.

-Yes.

-Tell us about your hobby.

-I go everywhere.

-You go all over the country filming badgers and you can hand-feed them.

-Yes.

-They're lovely creatures.

-What do they feed on?

-Worms more than anything.

-Here's Mark Stacey. He put the £300 to £500 on these.

-I did.

-They're catalogued as cherubs.

-I did have a laugh, cherubic or otherwise.

-With hooves(!)

-But they're not, they're satyrs.

Again very good decorative pieces. These should do well.

-Quality casting.

-Yes. I'm hoping it's a bit of a "come and get me".

Lot 649 is the bronze forms with outstretched arms.

-Don't they look great?

-There's been plenty of interest.

We start these on commission at £300. 320. 350. 380.

400. 420. 450. 480.

500. 520. At £500. It's on commission at £500.

I'm selling, make no mistake... 520. 540. 560?

-This is great.

-540. At £540. Top bid as usual at £540.

540, are we all done...?

Yes, the hammer's gone down, £540.

-Pleased with that?

-Yes.

-Well done, Mark. Great estimate.

It was. I would have liked to have seen them push up a bit. I thought they might get nearer 1,000.

-But it's over the top end, so we must be grateful.

-Exactly.

-What's the money going towards? Badgers?

-More filming.

-More photography, more badger food.

-Too true.

-Look after them for us. They're beautiful.

Did you know the British invented the seaside holiday?

There is no better way to escape the stresses and strains of work

than seeing the breaking waves and breathing the sea air.

Until the middle of the 19th century, holidays were the preserve of the rich.

They could afford to travel by stagecoach and stay in elegant hotels in smart seaside resorts,

just like this one in Eastbourne.

All that changed with the coming of the railways.

Suddenly, more people could afford to travel and they flocked to the seaside.

But more significantly, the Factory Act of 1850 gave all factory workers the right

to an annual holiday and that, combined with the Bank Holiday Act of 1871,

meant more and more people could enjoy the great British seaside holiday.

It's amazing to think that up to 150 years ago, most people couldn't afford to take time off work.

The focal point of any seaside holiday resort has to be its pier

and this particular one was built in 1865.

For holidaymakers, an excursion to the very end of the pier would be the highlight of your trip.

It projects a thousand feet away from the shoreline and gives you the feeling of walking on water.

In the early 20th century, the seaside remained central to the nation's holidays,

but with a more modern twist.

Billy Butlin opened his first holiday camp in Skegness in 1936.

Guests could stay in chalets and they'd have food and entertainment thrown in.

Some of the UK's best-known entertainers have cut their teeth as Redcoats working at Butlins.

People like Michael Barrymore, Des O'Connor and Sir Cliff Richard.

Another Act of Parliament in 1948 gave industrial workers paid holidays,

so there was no stopping the great British workforce.

By the '50s and '60s, holiday camps were the No.1 choice for millions.

Butlins paved the way for the modern package holiday,

but towns like Eastbourne continued to thrive on our love of the traditional seaside holiday.

There's one tradition I can't resist.

-Hi there.

-Hello.

-Can I order a knickerbocker glory, please?

It's a bizarre request, but I haven't had one since I was 12.

-I'm hungry and I've got some time to kill!

-You sit down and I'll bring it over to you.

-OK.

Teresa Fusciardi's family have been selling ice cream in Eastbourne for 40 years.

-Here you are.

-Oh, thank you very much. That looks fantastic.

-Would you like to join me?

-Yes.

Let me pick your brains about seaside memorabilia. I'm taking a trip today down memory lane.

When I was a kid, going to the seaside was a big adventure,

the whole family out in the car.

If it was pouring with rain, we'd sit in a seaside cafe and eat one of these.

I used to race my sister to get to the bottom.

This knickerbocker glory is the typical, traditional sundae.

It's typically English and I'm getting the best of both worlds.

I'm by the seaside in England and I'm getting Italian ice cream.

-You're famous for your ice creams.

-Very.

-This ice cream parlour has been here since before the war.

-Who mainly buys knickerbocker glories?

-I think it's mostly the older generation.

-Because we grew up eating these.

Every Friday, you can be sure you get a busload of people

and normally they're pensioners who come down to the seaside.

-Sampling the whole menu!

-Yes.

-They always go for a knickerbocker glory.

-I don't blame them.

They say, "This is our treat. I used to come down here with my parents. It's nice to see you're still here."

So it's quite nice because we continue the tradition.

-Keep it going.

-I certainly will.

-This is what it's all about.

Look at that. I'm even gonna do that just to top it off!

-And the Italian.

-Yes, of course.

Yummy, that was good! But I've still got room for more on my trip down memory lane.

There'll always be a place in our hearts for the great British seaside.

There's something so wonderfully nostalgic about it and here is a good old-fashioned sweet shop.

Let's go inside and have a look.

# Sugar baby love

# Sugar baby love

# I didn't mean to make you blue... #

Oh, my word, what a great shop! It's wall to wall of sweets.

Sylvia, you're the manager, pleased to meet you. Where do you start?

-I suppose you eat and eat till you're sick.

-You do at first, but then you get sick of the sight of it.

I can't come to the seaside without going home with a stick of rock.

-Which is the most popular? Is it the classic pink rock?

-It is.

-What is that?

-Peppermint.

-There's all sorts of rock nowadays.

-When I was a kid, that's all you could get.

-Yes.

Now they do fruit, humbug, aniseed, pineapple, Black Jack.

-Have you tried them all?

-Yes.

-And you still think...?

-Peppermint is the best.

-Have you got a bigger one?

-Well...

-It's a tad on the small side.

-There's a nice humbug one here.

-Oh, actually, I like the humbug.

-Humbug.

-Humbug.

Most sweet shops in their peak times would be full of schoolkids,

-but I bet when this is busy, it's full of adults.

-It is.

I'll give you that one back. You've put a big smile on my face.

-This is good for starters. I'll have a hunt around.

-Please do.

Well, I did say I was gonna have a little shop around. I've dropped a bit of my load there!

It's time to go back to the valuation day and I can't go back empty-handed.

The problem is, how am I gonna pick that one up? Sylvia!

Yvonne, you have bought along jewellery

which is typical of collections people bring to me every day.

-You've got a bit of everything here.

-Yes.

-Are they all pieces you've bought?

-No, some were my mother's, some were inherited.

Just a general collection.

You probably have a good idea of the value for insurance purposes?

Not really. I'm not terribly sure.

I'm gonna pick out three items.

This is a nice charm bracelet with a guinea and a sovereign on there.

Other little charms, nine-carat gold bracelet - how much?

-300, something like that?

-Pretty good.

You've got a nice shell cameo brooch. How much is that worth?

-I think about 80.

-You should be on this side of the table.

I think it's about £80 to £100. What's that all about?

I'm not sure, but I should think about 20.

-I don't know if it's a diamond in the middle, but it's quite good.

-Little necklace clasp.

-You said maybe the centre stone is diamond.

-I wondered if it was.

-What made you think that?

-It shines nicely and it's good quality.

-It looks nicely made.

-You're absolutely right.

You've got a diamond in the centre and diamonds round the outside.

-They're diamonds?

-They are.

-Oh.

It's not set in platinum which is what one would hope.

It's actually set in white gold, but with a platinum topping.

It's a mixture of the two.

It would have been made in the 1920s, 1930s, perhaps to go on a rather nice pearl necklace.

I imagine it came from a pearl necklace, but I don't know.

Take the clasp out and on the tongue of this clasp...

..is a little mark and that little mark is the eagle's head for the Paris Assay Office mark.

-Really? It's French?

-It's French.

-So what's it worth? I've boosted you up a bit now.

-Yes.

-You thought it might be worth £20.

-Well, I had no idea.

-I think it's probably worth about 120.

-Oh.

-Maybe 150.

I think a reserve at 120 with an estimate of 120 to 150 would be about right.

-How do you fancy putting that in the sale?

-Yes, definitely.

-It's £100 more than you thought!

-That'd be lovely.

Hello, Hugo.

-Good afternoon.

-We have a lot of interest in things brought to us on our Flog It filming days.

But every now and again, items turn up that are really quite special.

I think this might be one of them.

It's a very interesting subject and portrait,

but tell me a little bit of the history since you've had it.

Well, I've had it for about 35 years.

A friend of mine, he knew two sisters who went to Australia to Melbourne.

And before they left,

they sold a number of items and this was one.

And we each paid, um, £200 each

because I liked her very much

and it's been always in my home, I must say.

-You paid quite a lot of money 35 years ago?

-No, no.

If there's something you like, you like, and that's what you pay for it.

It's a refreshing thing to hear

because these days, people want to spend £400 and know that something is worth £800.

Or they buy it as they think it's worth money.

-You bought it because you fell in love with it.

-I don't want a washing machine, I bought this.

-And you've enjoyed it?

-Always.

-Let's look at a few points.

-We've got what I think is an original frame.

-Yes.

We've got the subject here - "La belle Comtesse de Beauregard" and her little dog, Ham,

which is rather nice, a favourite of Napoleon III.

It's beautifully painted in a contemporary frame

which shows wonderful quality in these oak leaves and these lovely scrolls.

-We have, however, got a little bit of damage.

-Yes.

-We've got a crack in the ivory.

-It doesn't bother me - ivory cracks.

You love it and that's wonderful, but when we're valuing something,

we have to take into account the condition and the history of it.

-Yes.

-It's reportedly painted by Sir William Ross,

a well-known portrait miniaturist.

-He painted also Napoleon III.

-That's right.

And he specialised in this type of painting and in this period

and because of the quality, I have no doubt that story is accurate.

But now how do we value it? Because some of his work fetches £1,000.

Some of his important work of an important subject will make tens of thousands of pounds.

We've also got to bear in mind the damage.

I would say put in an estimate of £500 to £700 with a 500 reserve.

-How would you feel about that?

-That's fair enough.

I've enjoyed it, but there's a time that you have to let things go.

I hope somebody enjoys it as much as I have.

These things are loaned to us. We can't take them with us.

-Maybe it's now time to pass it on.

-I think so.

Katie, this is something quite wonderful and unusual.

-Tell me about it.

-It's my grandfather's apothecary cabinet.

Let's look inside and there it is in all its glory.

-Did he use it?

-Yes. Him and my grandmother ran a nursing home in Eastbourne.

He used to go out on home visits and used to carry this. He stopped practising in 1945, I believe.

-That's quite recent to be using something like this.

-Yeah.

But what a beautifully made piece of timber! It's a wonderful little cabinet.

You've got everything in here. All of the bottles are here.

We've got the scales for weighing out your powders, the funnel for funnelling it into the tubes.

In the drawers down here you've got a glass mortar and pestle.

-There's...

-That's a secret drawer.

A secret drawer. There's nothing secret in that one at the moment.

It all fits beautifully. It's beautifully made. It's mahogany.

And date-wise, it's probably going to be about 130 years old.

-Wow!

-It's a late 19th century one, probably about 1870, 1880, something like that.

-There's so many chemicals in here. Are they allowed to be out and about these days?

-Probably not!

-I'll probably go out of here in handcuffs.

-We'll check all that.

There is a certain smell about this thing.

-As soon as you open those doors, you are in the dentist's chair.

-It's vile.

-It's making me feel a bit nervous. Anybody else in the nursing or doctor profession?

-I'm a nurse.

My mother did her nursing training and followed in Gran's footsteps.

-Is that why it's come to you?

-Yeah.

I have a sister, but my mother thought I should have it.

-You've got no desire to use it?

-No, unless I want to poison my husband!

-Have you had any idea of value given to you?

-A while ago.

-Five years ago.

-And what sort of value were you told?

-It was around 1,500.

Well, five years ago, I think that was about right.

The market with so many things has changed quite a lot.

I have seen one sold quite recently, very, very similar to this,

not in such good condition admittedly,

but it made less than half what you were offered five years ago.

-But you do want to sell this?

-Yes.

What sort of reserve would you be...?

Let's say 600 as a reserve and an estimate of 600 to 800.

-You'll definitely get a lot of interest.

-OK.

You'll have two or three more hands going up than if you were to say 800 to 1,000.

You can always over-egg a pudding. You don't want to do that with these ingredients!

It'll make its price on the day.

Yvonne was amazed to discover that this diamond and white gold clasp was one of her most valuable items.

Hugo has enjoyed this painting for over 30 years,

but it's time to hand it over to a new generation of collectors.

Medicine runs in Katie's family. This wonderful apothecary cabinet belonged to her father, a doctor.

Yvonne, your moment is coming up. That lovely diamond necklace clasp is going under the hammer.

-Will we get the top end of Jethro's estimate?

-I hope so.

-Jethro, will we get £150, £200?

-I think so.

We'll certainly get £150 because of the diamonds in the clasp.

-Whether the buyers are here, that's another matter.

-Fingers crossed. It's going under the hammer now.

The Edwardian white gold clasp set with one carat of diamonds.

We start this one at £100. 110. 120.

130. 140 anywhere? At £130.

140 at the back of the room. 150. 160?

At £150. Are you all done at 150...?

-Well done, Jethro.

-Thank you.

-Marvellous.

Yvonne, £150, what are you going to put the money towards?

I'll take my friends out for a meal to celebrate. They've supported me.

-So you're going to go out to celebrate?

-I think so.

-Enjoy it.

-I'm very pleased it sold. You did well.

-I was amazed.

-Why did you want to sell it?

It really needed a necklace to go with it. It was just a clasp.

Didn't you fancy getting one or searching for one?

If it had the pearls, I would have had it restrung, but I didn't.

Unfortunately, Hugo cannot be with us today, but his painting can be and so is our expert, Mark.

It's a wonderful, 19th century painting by Sir William Ross.

-You fell in love with it.

-I did.

It's not signed, but looking at the style of the painting and it's in that lovely period frame,

I know it's got a crack in the ivory, but the quality is there.

-I'd like to see Hugo and his partner get their money back.

-It would be lovely.

-I love the frame!

-It's your sort of thing.

-It is.

-A good decorator's piece!

We've got some fine art for once in an antique auction. Here it is.

This lovely painting on to ivory panel in a gilt-mounted frame.

We start this at £500 on reserve. Take 20? At £500. 20 is bid.

550. 580.

-600.

-He's got a bid on the book.

Are you all done at £600 then?

-A cracking result, mid-estimate.

-You can't ask for more.

Hugo's got his money back and he might re-invest in fine art.

He's had many years of enjoyment out of it and it was time to pass it on.

If it doesn't make a lot of money, at least you get your money back.

How can you put a price on those years you've owned it?

This next lot is an absolute gem, the apothecary cabinet.

We've got a value of £600 to £800 and it belongs to Katie.

Jethro has waxed lyrical about this. I can't add much more, except why are you selling it?

It's your family history and it's so keepable!

I know, but it's been sitting on the floor in my spare room for a year now.

-It's not something that I can show off.

-If you have it on a chest of drawers with the doors open...

I did, but I've got lots of children and it's not a safe thing to have in the house.

No. I'd like to see this go in a local museum as a bygone.

It's the best I've ever seen.

-And it's almost complete, bar one little thing, I think.

-Oh!

-That's pretty rare.

-Is it gonna make the four figures?

-Yes!

I said to the auctioneer, "Come on, what's it gonna do?"

"Oh, top end." I said, "No, it's got to do 1,000." I'd like to see it do 1,100.

We all want it to make that. They've had a lot of interest.

Moving on, Lot 617, the mahogany travelling apothecary cabinet.

Very fine example. Start me at 1,000?

£1,000, someone? 800 I'm bid. 900.

-1,000.

-How exciting!

-1,100. 1,200 here. 1,300 to move on?

1,300. 1,400. 1,500?

-Oh, my God!

-1,400 here.

-£1,500 with the gentleman on my left. 16 behind you, sir.

-Oh, yes!

17? £1,600.

Are you all done at £1,600?

-The hammer's gone down.

-Oh, wow!

-£1,600, Katie!

That is a fantastic result.

-I'm very excited!

-# I'm so excited... #

It was that good. It was that good. Jethro, what a great item!

The auction advertised it properly, they got all the interest.

-We played the game right.

-Exactly. It was a "come and buy me".

-What else can I say? Job done! Katie, you must be thrilled.

-I am. Thank you for helping me sell it.

Sadly, that's all the time we have from Eastbourne.

Our owners have gone home happy. I hope you've enjoyed the show too. Until the next time, cheerio!

Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd 2007

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