0:00:39 > 0:00:43Welcome to Newcastle, home to these beautiful bridges,
0:00:43 > 0:00:47a brilliant brown ale and now a fabulous Flog It!
0:00:54 > 0:00:59And hoping to find all those hidden gems amongst those bags and boxes,
0:00:59 > 0:01:02we've got two gorgeous experts,
0:01:02 > 0:01:07the irrepressible Anita Manning and the delectable Kate Bliss
0:01:07 > 0:01:11who has brought in an extra pair of hands to help out!
0:01:13 > 0:01:19Hundreds of people are awaiting valuations. First up, it's Anita.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23Janet, where did you get this wee monkey?
0:01:23 > 0:01:26He belonged to my great-auntie.
0:01:26 > 0:01:30She lived with Grandma and Grandad and she was bed-ridden.
0:01:30 > 0:01:36The thing I remember is when she needed attention, a cup of tea or anything,
0:01:36 > 0:01:40she knocked on the floor and everybody went running.
0:01:40 > 0:01:45- She was a formidable lady.- How did it come into your possession?
0:01:45 > 0:01:50When my mum and dad passed away, I found it when we cleared the house.
0:01:50 > 0:01:57- When I saw it, I thought, "I remember this from somewhere!" - You were terrified of this?- Yes.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00It's such good fun. Do you know what it is?
0:02:00 > 0:02:07It's a cane of some description, but I'm not 100% certain of what it would be used for.
0:02:07 > 0:02:14- It looks a bit small to be a walking cane.- Yeah. You have sticks which help you in walking.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18And you have other sticks which are fashion statements.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21- And this is a fashion statement. - Right, OK.
0:02:21 > 0:02:29It's what I would call a swagger stick and you tucked it under your arm and swanked along the pavement.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31Now, it's made of...
0:02:31 > 0:02:37It's a lacquered, ebonised stalk here, but the most interesting thing about it
0:02:37 > 0:02:41is the handle here
0:02:41 > 0:02:44where we have this brass monkey.
0:02:44 > 0:02:49He's finely moulded, so the quality is there.
0:02:49 > 0:02:55There are collectors for this type of thing, Janet, but it's not enormously valuable.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58- But it is collectable.- Yeah.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02Did you have it on display?
0:03:02 > 0:03:07No. It came from Mum's and then literally went into my loft.
0:03:07 > 0:03:12I'm not planning on being bed-ridden for a few years so it wasn't needed.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15- So you won't be doing...?- No.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17I hope not.
0:03:17 > 0:03:22- It's time to pass it on, let it go to a collector.- Exactly.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26The value I would put on it would be between 30 and 50.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29- Would you be happy to sell it at that price?- Yes.
0:03:29 > 0:03:34It doesn't do anything for me, so it might as well move on.
0:03:34 > 0:03:39- Let's put a reserve price of, say, £25 on it.- That's fine.
0:03:39 > 0:03:44You can't fly to the Bahamas with that money, but it will go to a collector.
0:03:44 > 0:03:50- That'll be smashing.- So let's flog it!- Yeah, let's flog it!
0:03:58 > 0:04:05We do see quite a bit of Troika on Flog It. It's become very popular as the market has soared for it.
0:04:05 > 0:04:10- This is the biggest piece I've seen.- That's what people have said.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14- Is it yours? - No, it belongs to my husband.
0:04:14 > 0:04:21- And when did he get it?- I think it was the end of the '70s, beginning of the '80s, about that time,
0:04:21 > 0:04:23when he was on holiday in Cornwall.
0:04:23 > 0:04:30- He purchased it direct from the studio?- Yes.- He was obviously smitten when he saw it?- Loved it.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33What did he like about it so much?
0:04:33 > 0:04:38He just liked the style of it, the design, the colours and the shape.
0:04:38 > 0:04:43The thing about Troika is you do either love it or you hate it.
0:04:43 > 0:04:48I have to say, personally, it doesn't do a lot for me.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52It's very much influenced by Scandinavian pottery
0:04:52 > 0:04:57in the colour of the glazes and the shapes to a certain extent.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01Quite subdued colours - browns and greens and blues,
0:05:01 > 0:05:07but also the artist Paul Klee's landscape work influenced the designs.
0:05:07 > 0:05:13In this piece, which is known, as you know, as a wheel vase,
0:05:13 > 0:05:18this design on the front here is typically sort of Aztec
0:05:18 > 0:05:22with this tapering motif and stepped motif here.
0:05:22 > 0:05:28If we turn it round, we've got what looks like a fireplace on the other side.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31So quite striking, textured images.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35The factory was actually founded in 1963,
0:05:35 > 0:05:39but because the production expanded so much,
0:05:39 > 0:05:44they relocated from St Ives, where it was founded, to Newlyn.
0:05:44 > 0:05:49Looking at the base, since you can date them from what's on the base,
0:05:49 > 0:05:56we've just got "Troika" there, we've got "Troika, Cornwall" and no mention of St Ives.
0:05:56 > 0:06:02So that helps us date it and it is from the later location, post-1970.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06- You thought he bought it in the late '70s?- Yeah.
0:06:06 > 0:06:11And the other thing here is we've got the initials "EW".
0:06:11 > 0:06:14That stands for the decorator
0:06:14 > 0:06:19and some pieces have come on the market with those initials, "EW".
0:06:19 > 0:06:26Some of them you can trace straight away and we know a number of named designers, but EW remains a mystery
0:06:26 > 0:06:30so he goes as an unclassified, unknown decorator.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34That's all we can say about that particular mark.
0:06:34 > 0:06:39So your husband likes it, but why have you brought it along to sell?
0:06:39 > 0:06:44It just doesn't fit anywhere in the house. It doesn't go with anything.
0:06:44 > 0:06:52We've got a fairly old period house and it doesn't go with anything. It's upstairs in a spare bedroom.
0:06:52 > 0:06:59So what about value? You say you've seen it quite a bit on television, so what would you say?
0:06:59 > 0:07:05- I would reckon... I don't know. 200, 300?- A couple of hundred?- Yeah.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09I think you might have a nice surprise.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13I can see this making between £500 and £600 at auction.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17I think that would be fairly conservative.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21The wheel-shaped vase came in four different sizes
0:07:21 > 0:07:27and this is the giant size for obvious reasons at 12 inches high.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29It also was made into a lamp base.
0:07:29 > 0:07:34It is even more commercial. We're looking at 1,000 to 1,500 for that.
0:07:34 > 0:07:39But for something like this, you'll be looking at £500 to £600.
0:07:39 > 0:07:44- Very good.- OK?- For £42. I think that's what he paid.
0:07:44 > 0:07:50- All that time ago?- Yeah. - It's not a bad return. - It's very good. Thank you.
0:07:58 > 0:08:05What a lovely, early vacuum cleaner! How did you come by this?
0:08:05 > 0:08:11It was in a loft in a house where a friend was living. This was years ago. And he just kept it.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15- Your friend's given it to you to bring in?- Yeah.
0:08:15 > 0:08:22- Did you try and use it at home? - Yes.- And it worked?- Yes. - This actually does work.
0:08:22 > 0:08:29- Shall we test it? Have you got some tissue paper?- Yes. - Drop a few bits on the floor.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32Here I come, doing the Shake 'n' Vac!
0:08:35 > 0:08:37Look at that.
0:08:37 > 0:08:42It must have taken hours to clean the carpets in a Victorian house!
0:08:42 > 0:08:47Those buildings were quite big. How many rooms in your house?
0:08:47 > 0:08:50- Oh, five.- Five. Fancy using this?
0:08:50 > 0:08:54- I'll stick to my Dyson. - Stick to your Dyson!
0:08:54 > 0:08:58It's made of tin plate with a lithograph on it
0:08:58 > 0:09:03which tells us "Star Vacuum Cleaner". There's a pattern number.
0:09:03 > 0:09:08- And "British Made". That's a very unusual sight today.- Yes, it is.
0:09:08 > 0:09:13Also we've got the logo here on the top of the bellows.
0:09:13 > 0:09:19They're operated by this sleeve which runs up and down the shaft.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22The canvas is in superb condition.
0:09:22 > 0:09:30- There are no holes and no rot which is great because the vacuum cleaner wouldn't suck up.- No, it wouldn't.
0:09:31 > 0:09:37This is definitely very early 1900s. No later than 1910.
0:09:37 > 0:09:44Value-wise, if this was in immaculate, mint condition with very vibrant hues on the paintwork,
0:09:44 > 0:09:48and it would be museum condition as if brand-new,
0:09:48 > 0:09:51- £200 to £300.- Yeah.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55But because it is tatty, dented, it has been used,
0:09:55 > 0:10:00it'll struggle around the £80 mark, but it will do £50 quite easily.
0:10:00 > 0:10:06- Right.- Would you be happy to put it into auction?- Yeah, with a reserve.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10- Put a reserve of 50 quid? - Right.- Yeah?- Yeah.
0:10:10 > 0:10:17- I hope that somebody collects vacuum cleaners and they want this one.- So do I.
0:10:17 > 0:10:24It's an interesting talking point. I love it. I'll carry on cleaning up now. See you at the auction.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26- Righty oh, then.- Cheerio.- Bye.
0:10:30 > 0:10:37Anita thought this swagger stick topped with a brass monkey was just the thing for a swell about town.
0:10:37 > 0:10:44This large Troika wheel vase caught Kate's eye. Susan doesn't want it, so let's hope someone else does.
0:10:44 > 0:10:51And I love this old vacuum cleaner, though it won't make much of a dent in my housework.
0:10:51 > 0:10:56Today's items are going under the hammer at the Auction Galleries in Boldon.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00I've been having a sneak preview.
0:11:00 > 0:11:07The great thing about auction preview days is you get the chance to look at all the items on display
0:11:07 > 0:11:12and check the lots to make sure there's no damage and alterations,
0:11:12 > 0:11:19because if you start bidding and there's no time to look, you don't know what you're buying.
0:11:19 > 0:11:24If you don't feel like checking out something, ask the auctioneer.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26He's your expert. Use his eyes.
0:11:26 > 0:11:33That's why you pay them 15 to 20% commission on everything you buy and everything you sell.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37This has caught my eye. It's a Regency window seat.
0:11:37 > 0:11:42I looked it up in the catalogue, value £500 to £800.
0:11:42 > 0:11:47I've seen these for sale in shops at £2,000 to £3,000,
0:11:47 > 0:11:51so what's wrong with this one? It's a real snip at £500.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53I'll turn it over and have a look.
0:11:53 > 0:11:59If you don't feel like doing this, ask the porter or the auctioneer.
0:11:59 > 0:12:06If you look at that, the first thing you notice is this item here is known as a central stretcher.
0:12:06 > 0:12:10It should be in the middle of the furniture and it's not,
0:12:10 > 0:12:15which means this has been cut down, we've lost a third of it.
0:12:15 > 0:12:20That's why that's worth £500 to £800 and not £2,000 to £3,000.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26In charge of today's proceedings is auctioneer Giles Hodges.
0:12:31 > 0:12:37We're about to flog your great-aunt's swagger stick which she used to knock on the floor.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41"Bring me up a cup of tea! I can feel a draught!"
0:12:41 > 0:12:45I like the monkey climbing up in brass. That's cute.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49We've got a valuation of 30, 40, hopefully £50?
0:12:49 > 0:12:54- Yes, the wee monkey has a lot of charm.- He has.- People love him.
0:12:54 > 0:12:59Let's hope the bidders of Tyne and Wear fall in love with him.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02Good luck. It's going under the hammer now.
0:13:02 > 0:13:08The early 20th century swagger stick with the ebonised cane handle.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10I'm bid 15 to start it.
0:13:10 > 0:13:1320. 5. At £25.
0:13:13 > 0:13:1730 in the room. At £30, it's against the book. 35.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19- 40.- Good.- 45.
0:13:19 > 0:13:2245. 50.
0:13:22 > 0:13:2755. 55. Down at the front at £55...
0:13:27 > 0:13:31- Wow!- £55. - That's better, that's better.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33- That's not bad.- Not bad at all.
0:13:33 > 0:13:38It's not a great deal of money, it's not our most expensive item.
0:13:38 > 0:13:44I know you're winding me up, so what will you put £50-odd towards?
0:13:44 > 0:13:51- I'm going to spend it on biros. I'm not computer-literate and I've been writing a book.- What about?
0:13:51 > 0:13:56My husband's a retired dentist and he is now a coach driver,
0:13:56 > 0:14:01so it's going to be called An Eye For An Eye, Not A Tooth For A Tooth.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04THEY LAUGH
0:14:04 > 0:14:11Good luck with that. Biros, what a fantastic thing to spend money on! I'm always losing them.
0:14:11 > 0:14:16You'd be surprised how many biros I've gone through. It'll be an epic!
0:14:21 > 0:14:26My turn to be the expert now and I've just been joined by Christine.
0:14:26 > 0:14:31- This next lot we're flogging because it collects dust.- Yes.
0:14:31 > 0:14:38- It's that vacuum cleaner with the pump action.- Yes. - Let's hope we get £50 to £70.
0:14:38 > 0:14:43440, the British made, tin plate style vacuum cleaner
0:14:43 > 0:14:45with pump action.
0:14:45 > 0:14:50- I've got two bids on the book. 35 starts it.- Two bids on the book.
0:14:50 > 0:14:5335. 40. 5. At £45.
0:14:53 > 0:14:5650 now? At £45.
0:14:56 > 0:15:0150 anybody? At £45 and we're away at 45...
0:15:01 > 0:15:03He's put the hammer down at £45.
0:15:03 > 0:15:09We were one bid away. We needed another fiver to sell that for £50.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13Christine, don't look so miserable. You know what that means.
0:15:13 > 0:15:18It's going home and you've got to look after it and love it.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22- Will you do that?- Yes. - It's a great talking point.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26You could chase your husband round and hoover up after him.
0:15:26 > 0:15:32- You are married, aren't you?- No. - Oh, well, chase someone around!
0:15:36 > 0:15:42Susan, it's nearly time to say goodbye to that gorgeous, massive Troika wheel vase.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45- It is a whopper.- It's a belter.
0:15:45 > 0:15:50We see a lot of Troika on Flog It, but it is the piece de resistance.
0:15:50 > 0:15:55Let's hope we get Kate's top end of the estimate. £600 would be great.
0:15:55 > 0:16:01It's not yours. It's your husband's and you've brought him along. Let's give him a wave.
0:16:01 > 0:16:06It's going to be a good investment, £40-odd turned into 800?
0:16:06 > 0:16:10The fact that it's a giant one makes it more unusual.
0:16:10 > 0:16:17This piece was bought new in Cornwall. It's a great example of a niche market which has rocketed.
0:16:17 > 0:16:23And it is a good time to sell because it will peak and slightly drop in value.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26It's going under the hammer now.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29Lot 45 is the giant Troika vase
0:16:29 > 0:16:33with the Aztec, geometric designs to the front and the reverse.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37I've got phone lines, commission bids.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40- 500 starts me.- Come on, in at 500.
0:16:40 > 0:16:44- £500. 50? 550. - I'm quite excited about this.- 600.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47650. 700.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50750. 800.
0:16:51 > 0:16:55- At £800. Anybody else?- Top end.
0:16:55 > 0:17:00At £800 for the last time... At 800!
0:17:00 > 0:17:05- The hammer's gone down, short and sweet. £800!- I'm shocked.
0:17:05 > 0:17:10- Is that a trip back to Cornwall? - That's a fishing trip in America.
0:17:10 > 0:17:17- To America?- Yeah. Not for me, though.- Surely...- I'll get something. It was his vase.
0:17:17 > 0:17:23- Why doesn't he take you to Florida? - That's where we're going. - Get the marlin...
0:17:23 > 0:17:28- Have a great time. And what a great result, Kate!- Fantastic.
0:17:28 > 0:17:34- What did you pay for it in the '70s?- £46?- Yeah, including post and packaging.
0:17:34 > 0:17:39- Always invest in quality and it was in great condition. - That's why we sold it.
0:17:43 > 0:17:50I'm going to ask you to use your imaginations and travel back in time to late Victorian England.
0:17:50 > 0:17:56You're an educated man and you're deciding on what career to choose.
0:17:56 > 0:18:01Something that comes with a free house might be a nice proposition.
0:18:01 > 0:18:07This is a place where you could happily bring up a family.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10It even comes with its own garden,
0:18:10 > 0:18:14so when you're not hard at work, you can grow vegetables.
0:18:14 > 0:18:21You'd be part of a team making sure everything was polished and functional every night.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25You'd be a lighthouse keeper.
0:18:34 > 0:18:39It was a job worth contemplating very seriously indeed.
0:18:39 > 0:18:44It was safe, it was regular, it was well paid and very well respected,
0:18:44 > 0:18:48compared to many other job prospects of the day.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51I'm at the Souter Lighthouse.
0:18:51 > 0:18:56For over 100 years it has warned ships away from the Whitburn Steel,
0:18:56 > 0:19:01a rocky reef off the coast between South Shields and Sunderland.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03With me is Alan Lawless.
0:19:03 > 0:19:10- Alan, you look after the lighthouse for the National Trust. When was it built?- It was built in 1871.
0:19:10 > 0:19:16It was built by a local jobbing builder under the design of Sir James Douglas.
0:19:16 > 0:19:23- I was up the Eddystone Lighthouse at Plymouth Hoe and he designed that.- After he built this one, yes.
0:19:23 > 0:19:30- There weren't many architects that designed lighthouses. - Not at that time.- Alan, I envy you.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34You've got a smashing location for your office up here.
0:19:34 > 0:19:40Yeah. I live five minutes away and come in every day to work. Can't be bad, can it?
0:19:40 > 0:19:47Talk about a stress-free life! How many lighthouse keepers were here? There's a lot of cottages.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51There's six cottages - four for the lighthouse keepers
0:19:51 > 0:19:55and one for the engineer looking after the generators.
0:19:55 > 0:20:00- The sixth one was for visiting dignitaries.- They had lots of those?
0:20:00 > 0:20:05Yes, because we were in the forefront of lighthouse technology.
0:20:05 > 0:20:11Compared with the harsh life of a lighthouse keeper based on a rocky island off the coast,
0:20:11 > 0:20:16this was luxury, although you were never very far from the office.
0:20:16 > 0:20:21All the cottages had connecting corridors which led to each other
0:20:21 > 0:20:28and that led to a covered passageway which took you to the base of the lighthouse.
0:20:36 > 0:20:41We're now in the engine room. Alan, what is this scientific instrument?
0:20:41 > 0:20:46This is the original light source of Souter Lighthouse.
0:20:46 > 0:20:52- Because this was the first electric lighthouse?- It certainly was, the first reliable one.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56- This is a carbon arc lamp. - How did this work?
0:20:56 > 0:21:00We had electricity, but no light bulbs, so they used this.
0:21:00 > 0:21:08When you pass electricity through these two carbon rods, you get a bright spark through the gap.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12- Magnified in the lens system, you'll see that for 19 miles.- Incredible.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15Then came the invention of the lamp?
0:21:15 > 0:21:23Yeah. In 1914 we changed to a paraffin lamp because it got too expensive to produce the power.
0:21:23 > 0:21:28In 1952 we changed to incandescent light bulbs and I have one here.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32Oh, my gosh! Look at the size of this!
0:21:32 > 0:21:38- My word! How long would that last? - About six months. It's 4,500 watts.
0:21:38 > 0:21:43- So again very, very bright. - That's the biggest lamp I've seen.
0:21:43 > 0:21:49- But like any lamp, once you screw it in, it could go instantly.- It has been known.
0:21:49 > 0:21:54This would give you a light of one million, 256 thousand candles.
0:21:54 > 0:21:59- 26 miles you would see this from. - That's a big, big difference.
0:22:05 > 0:22:10We're at the top of the lighthouse. This is what it's all about.
0:22:10 > 0:22:14It's magnificent. I'm so privileged to be so close to this.
0:22:14 > 0:22:20The lens was constructed by the Chance Brothers of the Black Country in 1914.
0:22:20 > 0:22:26It has 1,000 pieces of glass precisely placed at the right angle.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30And in its framework it weighs four and a half tons,
0:22:30 > 0:22:35but the whole thing revolves so smoothly on a bed of mercury.
0:22:35 > 0:22:40It's absolutely effortless. Watch this. I can do it with one hand.
0:22:41 > 0:22:45Look how smooth...that is.
0:22:57 > 0:23:02I'm on the half landing which is basically halfway up the tower.
0:23:02 > 0:23:04This is very interesting.
0:23:04 > 0:23:09The light from the top of the tower shines down on to these prisms.
0:23:09 > 0:23:14These prisms then reflect the light straight out the window.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17We've got red glass and clear glass.
0:23:17 > 0:23:24If you were a ship out at sea and you were in the waters of the light of the clear glass, you were safe,
0:23:24 > 0:23:28but if you were in the waters of the red glass,
0:23:28 > 0:23:32you knew you'd be sailing too close to land. It's simple really.
0:23:38 > 0:23:42In 1869, there were 22 shipwrecks along this coast alone,
0:23:42 > 0:23:47- so really there had to be a lighthouse here.- Yeah.
0:23:47 > 0:23:53Every lighthouse has a different flash, so sailors know where they are.
0:23:53 > 0:24:00Ours is a one-second flash every five seconds. So as well as warning people, they were used as road signs.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04- Technology advanced dramatically over the years.- Certainly.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08Before electric motors, the light was clockwork driven.
0:24:08 > 0:24:13The lighthouse keeper ran up and down the stairs every hour!
0:24:13 > 0:24:19- How long did it take to wind up? - Ten minutes. And 75 minutes to drop from top to bottom.
0:24:19 > 0:24:23- What's that building down there? - That's the foghorn.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27That's quite loud. It's 121 decibels.
0:24:27 > 0:24:34When it's very foggy, the ships still have to know where they are and they'd use the foghorn.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37- How far will it carry?- 19 miles. - Can we hear it?- Yes.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40FOGHORN BLASTS
0:24:40 > 0:24:47Newcastle is about 15 miles away, so I wonder if Anita heard that back at the valuation day.
0:24:58 > 0:25:03Denise, this is a sweet little thing, absolutely lovely.
0:25:03 > 0:25:08- Where did you get it? - I bought it in 1982, myself.
0:25:08 > 0:25:14- A present for yourself? - Yes, a present for myself. I've always liked horses.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16I've actually had my own horse,
0:25:16 > 0:25:21but I've changed my collection to frogs and this is the only...
0:25:21 > 0:25:24the only horsey thing I've got left.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27Let's have a look at it. It is Beswick.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31Beswick is one of the good factories.
0:25:31 > 0:25:36They were always renowned for the quality of their modelling.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40And they always made these little animal ornaments.
0:25:40 > 0:25:45You have got dogs, horses, bulls and so on.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47- And they are all so accurate.- Yes.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51- They also employed the best of designers.- Yes.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55If we look at the back stamp, we can see the designer.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58It's Norman Thelwell.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02He was a cartoonist, interestingly enough,
0:26:02 > 0:26:07and they employed him to design this series of ponies with riders.
0:26:07 > 0:26:13This funny wee chap, if we look at the expression on his face, there is humour.
0:26:13 > 0:26:18- And Beswick was renowned for that type of thing.- Right.
0:26:18 > 0:26:25- So you bought it in 1982 new. Can you remember how much you paid for it?- Yes.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28I thought it was quite expensive - 29.99.
0:26:28 > 0:26:3329.99 in 1982? It was quite a lot of money.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36- It was then.- Yeah.
0:26:36 > 0:26:41These things are favoured at the moment. Beswick is always popular.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45Some say it's the flavour of the month at the moment.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49It will have increased in monetary value,
0:26:49 > 0:26:53but I would estimate it in the region
0:26:53 > 0:26:57of, say, £80 to £100.
0:26:57 > 0:27:02- Yes.- Now, Denise, would you be happy to sell it in that region?
0:27:02 > 0:27:05- Yes, I would.- Well, let's put...
0:27:05 > 0:27:10It's just wrapped up in a box in the cupboard. It's never out on show.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14You're better passing it on to a collector, Denise.
0:27:14 > 0:27:20Somebody that'll make more use of it. It'll match somebody's collection probably.
0:27:20 > 0:27:25- They may not have this piece. - You've had pleasure from it?- Yes.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29Let's put it to auction, Denise. Let's flog it.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31And we'll both have a good look
0:27:31 > 0:27:37- and see if there are any frogs in the auction.- OK. We'll do that.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51What can you tell me about this elaborate clock?
0:27:51 > 0:27:56I've had it since I was a child, but my mum looked after it for me
0:27:56 > 0:28:01because it was given to us by a neighbour we used to look after,
0:28:01 > 0:28:06- an old lady in a bungalow.- Right. - And I always admired this.
0:28:06 > 0:28:13- She gave it to my mum, but when I got married, she said, "You can have that clock now."- Lovely.
0:28:13 > 0:28:18I've had it since I got married, but I have nowhere to keep it now.
0:28:18 > 0:28:23- Since we moved into the bungalow, it's gone in the loft.- OK.
0:28:23 > 0:28:28It's quite interesting. There's quite a story behind this clock.
0:28:28 > 0:28:32What do you think it's made of, first of all?
0:28:32 > 0:28:36First I thought it was marble, but I thought it would be heavier.
0:28:36 > 0:28:43- When you lift it up, it's really light.- So I didn't know what it was made of.
0:28:43 > 0:28:47- If it was wood, well, I've never seen wood like that.- Exactly.
0:28:47 > 0:28:53I think it probably is wood, but it's lacquered to give it this finish.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56It's a shaped wooden case,
0:28:56 > 0:29:02then it's lacquered to give the impression of being marble, so it's simulating marble.
0:29:02 > 0:29:08And we've got these rather dirty gilt metal mounts applied to it.
0:29:08 > 0:29:13What it is essentially is a clock that's very French in design,
0:29:13 > 0:29:18but if we turn it round, we can see that in fact it is American.
0:29:18 > 0:29:25We've got a really nice label on the back and you can tell a lot from the back of clocks.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27Here we go. We've got "Athol,
0:29:27 > 0:29:31"manufactured by William L Gilbert Clock Company,
0:29:31 > 0:29:35"Winsted, Connecticut" in America.
0:29:35 > 0:29:39And in fact Connecticut was a huge centre for clock-making
0:29:39 > 0:29:42from the very early 19th century.
0:29:42 > 0:29:45And the first movements were wooden
0:29:45 > 0:29:51and then they progressed through the 19th century and brass movements were introduced.
0:29:51 > 0:29:55This is a fairly basic movement inside.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58We can see that it's got a gong inside.
0:29:58 > 0:30:03This coil is what the hammer bangs against to give the chime.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06It's a basic eight-day movement
0:30:06 > 0:30:10with that chime mechanism which is rather nice,
0:30:10 > 0:30:17but essentially American, circa 1900, I would say, late 19th century anyway,
0:30:17 > 0:30:24but in the style of a very elaborate and expensive French clock of the same period.
0:30:24 > 0:30:28You would like to sell it, you've got nowhere for it now?
0:30:28 > 0:30:31- That's right. - It ought to fetch £100 at auction.
0:30:31 > 0:30:35- I'd probably say an estimate of 100 to 150.- Right.
0:30:35 > 0:30:40If two people have the right place for it, it could make that top end.
0:30:40 > 0:30:47Even though it's fairly cheaply made in comparison with the elaborate French example,
0:30:47 > 0:30:49it's still quite a good looker.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52Yes, it is nice to look at.
0:30:52 > 0:30:57- I think we ought to whisk it off to auction for you.- Yeah, that's fine.
0:31:01 > 0:31:08- I wonder what's in this plastic bin liner? Hi. What's your name? - Mark.- What is in there?
0:31:09 > 0:31:12Oh, it's a plaque.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16It's... It is a plaque of Mozart.
0:31:16 > 0:31:21It's made of cast-iron. That's lovely actually.
0:31:21 > 0:31:26- He's got three of them.- Three?- Yeah. - They are also of composers?- Yeah.
0:31:26 > 0:31:31Liszt and Brahms. I guess they're part of a commemorative set, 1920s.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34Good, heavy casting, nice moulding.
0:31:34 > 0:31:38If you've got the complete set, then it adds to the value.
0:31:38 > 0:31:43The one by itself, Mozart, I think in a specialist musical sale,
0:31:43 > 0:31:48you might be looking at 100, 120, possibly £150.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50That's worth hanging on to.
0:31:58 > 0:32:04Joyce, when I saw this vase, I was immediately drawn towards it.
0:32:04 > 0:32:09What a wonderful shape, what a wonderful lustre glaze!
0:32:09 > 0:32:11Where did you get it?
0:32:11 > 0:32:16My father bought it many years ago, but I don't know where.
0:32:16 > 0:32:20You don't know where. Do you have it on display?
0:32:20 > 0:32:24No, it's in a cabinet and it doesn't show very well.
0:32:24 > 0:32:29- Perhaps because the colours are slightly darker.- That's right.
0:32:29 > 0:32:33OK. It may not be exactly to your taste,
0:32:33 > 0:32:38but it will be to many collectors.
0:32:38 > 0:32:44- Good. - This is a Royal Lancastrian pot,
0:32:44 > 0:32:47made by Pilkington's.
0:32:48 > 0:32:53Very desirable factory, very good quality.
0:32:53 > 0:32:58We have what I would call an Arts and Crafts shape
0:32:58 > 0:33:00with these four handles.
0:33:00 > 0:33:07We have the Latin inscription round here, "To the good all things are good."
0:33:08 > 0:33:11We have a heraldic shield.
0:33:12 > 0:33:16Heraldic lions
0:33:16 > 0:33:19and very pretty, decorated flowers.
0:33:19 > 0:33:21So it's an interesting vase.
0:33:23 > 0:33:26If we look underneath
0:33:26 > 0:33:28at the back stamp...
0:33:29 > 0:33:33- ..we can see the mark for the pottery.- Oh, yes.
0:33:33 > 0:33:37And we can also see the monogram here
0:33:37 > 0:33:40which is for William Mycock
0:33:40 > 0:33:46who was one of the best decorators of that factory.
0:33:46 > 0:33:49We also have a date
0:33:49 > 0:33:53which is 1918, so we know who made it,
0:33:53 > 0:33:58who decorated it and we know when it was made.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02Value, Joyce...
0:34:02 > 0:34:06- Have you had it valued?- Yes. - What sort of value was on it?
0:34:06 > 0:34:10- In 1984, £80.- £80?
0:34:10 > 0:34:16Right. Well, it's worth a considerable amount more than that now.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19Oh, good.
0:34:19 > 0:34:24I would like to put an estimate
0:34:24 > 0:34:26of £400 to £600 on it.
0:34:26 > 0:34:32- Mm-hm.- I think £400 firm reserve price on it.
0:34:32 > 0:34:38- If it doesn't reach that price, we don't sell.- Yeah. That's right.
0:34:38 > 0:34:43- Do you feel happy with those arrangements?- Yes, I do.
0:34:43 > 0:34:47We'll put it to auction. I'll be there to hold your hand.
0:34:47 > 0:34:52You can hold Paul's hand which will be quite nice as well.
0:34:52 > 0:34:58So we'll see you at the auction and I'm sure that it will fly away.
0:34:58 > 0:35:01Good. Thank you very much. Thank you.
0:35:03 > 0:35:05Back to the auction now
0:35:05 > 0:35:12and this figure based on Norman Thelwell's comic cartoons might be a big hit with Beswick collectors.
0:35:12 > 0:35:19A truly international item, this, a faux marble American clock made to a French design.
0:35:19 > 0:35:22What will the Geordie bidders make of it?
0:35:22 > 0:35:27The colours of this lustre glaze vase were a bit too dull for Joyce,
0:35:27 > 0:35:32but Anita is excited to have found this example of Royal Lancastrian.
0:35:41 > 0:35:46Joyce's Lancastrian lustre ware pot. What do you think, Giles?
0:35:46 > 0:35:50I love it. It's my favourite lot that's come in through Flog It.
0:35:50 > 0:35:55There's a price tag of £400 to £600 on this. It's dated 1918.
0:35:55 > 0:36:00The condition is absolutely superb. Joyce has had it in a cupboard.
0:36:00 > 0:36:06- Now it's time to go. Will it go? - Definitely. No question at all.
0:36:06 > 0:36:09Pre-sale interest has been phenomenal.
0:36:09 > 0:36:14- You sound a confident man.- I'm very confident.- Phone bids booked?
0:36:14 > 0:36:20We've got phone lines booked and we've got commission bids and we still have a day to go.
0:36:20 > 0:36:25We got 600 at the top end from Anita, our expert. What will it do?
0:36:25 > 0:36:30I think on Anita's estimate we should do close to £800.
0:36:30 > 0:36:34Fingers crossed. This is the one to watch.
0:36:34 > 0:36:38- Stay glued to your TV sets. - A perfect collector's piece.
0:36:38 > 0:36:42We'll see later if his confidence is misplaced,
0:36:42 > 0:36:47but kick-starting the auction is Denise's Beswick pony.
0:36:47 > 0:36:52- Why are you flogging this?- I don't save horses any more. I save frogs.
0:36:52 > 0:36:57You used to love horses, you had a horse. You sold that.
0:36:57 > 0:37:02- Now she collects frogs.- Yes.- And there's a little one on that leaf.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05- How many frogs have you got? - Hundreds.
0:37:05 > 0:37:08I have silver frogs, Beswick frogs.
0:37:08 > 0:37:12She's on the right show cos this is "Frog It"!
0:37:12 > 0:37:14What do you think this will do?
0:37:14 > 0:37:20Beswick loved humorous subjects and this is a delightful little thing.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24Estimated 80 to 100, I think that's about right.
0:37:24 > 0:37:28It won't fly through the roof or gallop off into the sunset!
0:37:28 > 0:37:33We're going to find out right now because this is your lot.
0:37:33 > 0:37:38The Beswick Thelwell pony, the Kick-Start. 40 to start him. At 40.
0:37:38 > 0:37:405. 50.
0:37:40 > 0:37:435. 60. 5.
0:37:43 > 0:37:49On the left at 65. 70 now? At £65. 70.
0:37:49 > 0:37:53- 5. 80.- Done it.- £80, front row.
0:37:53 > 0:37:56At £80. All done at 80...?
0:37:56 > 0:38:01- Yes, the hammer's gone down. £80, not bad.- Very happy with that.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04Is that going towards frogs?
0:38:04 > 0:38:09I'll give it to my mum because she paid for a holiday for me to Turkey.
0:38:09 > 0:38:15- Bless her! That's what mums are for.- Every girl should love her mum.- I do, yes.
0:38:22 > 0:38:28Time is up for Margaret and she's not even here! But her daughter Tracy is.
0:38:28 > 0:38:32We have that lovely clock and we want £100 to £150.
0:38:32 > 0:38:36- It isn't the most commercial of clocks.- We've seen a lot better.
0:38:36 > 0:38:41It's a bit Victorian looking and it's a bit black.
0:38:41 > 0:38:46The longcases are selling very well but they're completely different.
0:38:46 > 0:38:50We'll have to see how it goes. It might just make it.
0:38:50 > 0:38:57- And you don't like this?- No.- You don't want to inherit this.- It's been on the sideboard for too long.
0:38:57 > 0:39:01Let's watch it go under the hammer right now. This is it.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04This is the early 20th century,
0:39:04 > 0:39:08French, faux marble, lacquered bracket clock, the American one.
0:39:08 > 0:39:11Bid 50 to start it? 50.
0:39:11 > 0:39:145. 60. 5.
0:39:14 > 0:39:18At £65. 70 anybody?
0:39:18 > 0:39:20£65. 70 now?
0:39:20 > 0:39:25At £65 and we're away at 65...
0:39:25 > 0:39:29- It struggled. Just under. - Giles knows his market up here.
0:39:29 > 0:39:34In a different auction house there would be a different market.
0:39:34 > 0:39:41- So it's worth selling again. - What's going to happen to it? - It'll go on the sideboard again.
0:39:45 > 0:39:51This is Joyce's Lancastrian lustre ware from the Pilkington factory.
0:39:51 > 0:39:57We've got a valuation of 400 to 600. Let's bring our expert in who found this.
0:39:57 > 0:40:01- Anita, you love this. - I'm so excited about it.- I love it.
0:40:01 > 0:40:06- Why are you selling it? It is so beautiful.- I didn't like it.
0:40:06 > 0:40:11I didn't know that. I had a chat to the auctioneer earlier.
0:40:11 > 0:40:15You don't know this either, but he fell in love with it
0:40:15 > 0:40:19- and he said he could see it doing 600 to 800.- Oh!
0:40:19 > 0:40:24- Lots of interest with three phone lines booked.- Fierce competition!
0:40:24 > 0:40:29- This is what auctioneers like.- Yes. - Think of all that commission!
0:40:29 > 0:40:33- Yes.- Everyone loves it except for you. What's wrong with it?
0:40:33 > 0:40:37I like it more now I've seen it in brighter lights.
0:40:37 > 0:40:45It was in the dark. It was in a cabinet like that and there was no lighting. It looked very dull.
0:40:45 > 0:40:52- I might want it back.- Joyce, it's too late because it's going under the hammer right now. Good luck.
0:40:52 > 0:40:57The Pilkington's Royal Lancastrian vase by William Mycock.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59I've got two phone lines booked
0:40:59 > 0:41:03and we start it at £500.
0:41:03 > 0:41:06- Straight in. £500.- 500. 520.
0:41:06 > 0:41:10540. 560.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12- 580.- This is good.
0:41:12 > 0:41:15600, Tom's phone. 620.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18- He's working it up, 620.- 640.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21660.
0:41:21 > 0:41:23680.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26700.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29- They love it.- 720.
0:41:29 > 0:41:33750. 780.
0:41:35 > 0:41:38- It's not stopping, Joyce.- 800.
0:41:38 > 0:41:42At 800, it's Caroline's phone. Anybody in the room?
0:41:42 > 0:41:45- 820, fresh place.- 820!
0:41:46 > 0:41:48- 850.- Oh!
0:41:48 > 0:41:51880.
0:41:53 > 0:41:56900. 920.
0:41:56 > 0:42:00- 920.- 950.- 950.
0:42:00 > 0:42:02- 980.- Let's see four figures!
0:42:02 > 0:42:08- 980, are we all done? - One more!- One more!- At £980...
0:42:08 > 0:42:13Bang! That is a "sold" sound. That is £980.
0:42:13 > 0:42:15I've got something to tell you.
0:42:15 > 0:42:22Just before the sale started, Joyce said, "No-one's looking at my vase! It won't sell!"
0:42:22 > 0:42:24- You said that to me.- I did.
0:42:24 > 0:42:31When I said, "They're looking in secret," you said, "You're always telling fibs!"
0:42:31 > 0:42:34Joyce, I'm so happy for you. That's wonderful.
0:42:34 > 0:42:40- What are you gonna put £980, less some commission...?- I don't know.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44- What are you gonna spend that on? - I'd like a piece of jewellery.
0:42:44 > 0:42:47And the rest, maybe it's too early.
0:42:47 > 0:42:53- Thank you very much for coming on the show.- Thank you very much. Both of you.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56- Wasn't that wonderful, Joyce?- Yes.
0:43:01 > 0:43:08The auction's still going on, but it's all over for our owners. Everybody has gone home happy.
0:43:08 > 0:43:12All credit to our experts for getting those valuations spot-on.
0:43:12 > 0:43:18Sadly, that's all the time we have. So until the next time, cheerio.
0:43:37 > 0:43:41Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd 2006
0:43:41 > 0:43:44Email us at subtitling@bbc.co.uk