0:00:02 > 0:00:08Penzance is the first port of call for many sailors who've just made an Atlantic crossing.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12That's where we've dropped anchor today on Flog It!
0:00:42 > 0:00:48Penzance dominates Mount's Bay, which extends from Lizard Point all the way to Land's End.
0:00:48 > 0:00:53It has the biggest fleet of fishing boats in the south of England.
0:00:55 > 0:01:01Today we'll be fishing for some of your special items to take to auction later on.
0:01:01 > 0:01:06Casting their nets are our experts, Philip Serrell and Jethro Marles.
0:01:06 > 0:01:11- So, me beauties, what have you found?- Oh, arr, m'dear!
0:01:11 > 0:01:15- Something proper 'ere.- And you? - I'm afraid I need an interpreter.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18- You're both from here.- We are.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22I'm sure Philip will survive. The Cornish are very hospitable!
0:01:22 > 0:01:28As everyone starts to settle in, let's look at what they've brought along to flog.
0:01:28 > 0:01:33- How are you doing? Who's this? - My son, Jack.- Shake hands.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36Well done, Jack.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40- What do we reckon to these, then? How long have you had them?- 6 weeks.
0:01:40 > 0:01:45- Did you buy them in a shop? - From a charity shop.
0:01:45 > 0:01:50- How much did you pay for them? - I paid £12.- Was that for the three?
0:01:50 > 0:01:52For three, yes.
0:01:52 > 0:01:57- What were they asking for them?- £12. - So you didn't knock them down?
0:01:57 > 0:02:01- No, no, no. - What do you know about them?
0:02:01 > 0:02:05I've done a bit of research on the internet.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07- They're by RD Sherrin.- Yeah.
0:02:07 > 0:02:15- That was a Mancunian who painted scenes of Exmoor and Dartmoor in the '50s.- Yep.
0:02:15 > 0:02:23- That's as much as I know. - They're not great works of art. They're furnishing pictures.
0:02:23 > 0:02:30And they would be designed to complement a room, complement a piece of furniture.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34Just to dress a room, to furnish a room.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37You can see they are signed here.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39If we just lift this one up...
0:02:39 > 0:02:43this is signed here. You know this better than I do.
0:02:43 > 0:02:49- Probably somewhere locally? - I would say that's north Cornwall. - North Cornwall?- Yeah.
0:02:49 > 0:02:56At auction, these aren't a pair. If we look at the size, this one is slightly smaller.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00You've got to put what we term a "come and buy me" estimate on.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02- OK.- £30-£50.
0:03:02 > 0:03:08- And my "come and buy me" estimate on this would be £20-£40. How does that sound?- Good.
0:03:08 > 0:03:13Can we shake hands on that, Jack? Come on, then. Good man!
0:03:18 > 0:03:24Doreen, I have never valued a teddy bear on Flog It before.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28We've seen a lot, if you watch regularly,
0:03:28 > 0:03:33- but I fell in love with him. What's his name?- Just Teddy.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37- How long have you had him? - Since 1937.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41- 1937?- Yes. - When you were a little girl.- Yes.
0:03:41 > 0:03:46- Any evidence to this fact? - Yes, I've got two photographs here.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48Oh, isn't that lovely?
0:03:48 > 0:03:52- The teddies are bigger than you are! - Yes, I know!
0:03:52 > 0:03:57- He seemed large at the time. - He was brand new.- Yes.
0:03:57 > 0:04:03- He's obviously upset you in some way. You're casting him out. - Not really.
0:04:03 > 0:04:09Being my age, I think that perhaps someone else could appreciate him, perhaps a collector.
0:04:09 > 0:04:14I've only got him wrapped in a pillow case in the cupboard.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18- How can you do that? Poor Teddy! - Yeah.
0:04:18 > 0:04:23He doesn't like that. Well, he is in lovely condition.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26The plush that you've got on here. Lovely condition.
0:04:26 > 0:04:34How much is it worth? Well, who's made it? We can tell from the label on the base of his foot here.
0:04:34 > 0:04:41- Chad Valley.- Yes.- Chad Valley were making teddies like this between the wars to begin with.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44Teddies were the first thing they made.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48Little things to look out for are a hump on the back.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52Early teddies had this hump. This one doesn't.
0:04:52 > 0:04:57- And you can date it exactly to 1937?- Correct.
0:04:57 > 0:05:02He moves all his arms and limbs perfectly. There's a hard spot here.
0:05:02 > 0:05:07- Is that a growler?- It should be. - I don't think he is growling.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10Let's have a little go.
0:05:10 > 0:05:15- I can't hear anything. - It used to.- Did he?- Yes.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19But with these teddies, it's down to character.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23- Definitely. - And this teddy has got character.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26Sure you wouldn't regret selling it?
0:05:26 > 0:05:29Well, I've decided I will. I made my mind up.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32I won't ask again. What's he worth?
0:05:32 > 0:05:38Well, teddies like this can do quite well sometimes. It depends on size, how rare they are.
0:05:38 > 0:05:43The label tells us all about him. It's an original label.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45I think he'll make around £150.
0:05:45 > 0:05:52- OK.- If we put a reserve at 150, estimate his value at £150-£200 in the auction...
0:05:52 > 0:05:56- Yes.- Should we give him a go? - Yes, we could.
0:05:56 > 0:06:03- I've got one grandchild and would give the money to them. - And they could then buy a toy.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06They like to save, so put it in their savings.
0:06:06 > 0:06:12- You wouldn't give them the teddy? - No! In this day and age, they don't seem to have teddies.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15Sorry, Teddy. It's time to go.
0:06:19 > 0:06:25- Linda, it's good to be back on home turf.- Oh.- And what a wonderful thing to look at!
0:06:25 > 0:06:30The last time Flog It was here, we filmed at the Penlee House Gallery.
0:06:30 > 0:06:35- Oh, yes.- And it was full of Newlyn copper work.
0:06:35 > 0:06:40What a lovely salver. Basically, it's a tray. How did you get it?
0:06:40 > 0:06:46It's not mine, it's my son's. And he bought it at the Bath and West Antique Fair.
0:06:46 > 0:06:51He's in the army in Dorset. He can't get down, so he asked me.
0:06:51 > 0:06:56This, basically, was started off by a guy called John Drew Mackenzie.
0:06:56 > 0:07:02He was the chief instigator of Newlyn copper. And it follows that Arts and Crafts ethos
0:07:02 > 0:07:06of hands-on applied metalwork. Doing things by hand.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09The good old craft way.
0:07:09 > 0:07:15All of this is hand-hammered, done through a mould and hammered the other side.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19- You can see the little marks.- Yes. - And the technique is repousse.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22It was very popular until the 1920s.
0:07:22 > 0:07:27For that whole period, they called it the Industrial Class.
0:07:27 > 0:07:33Fishermen were making these wonderful wares and Newlyn copper work always had fish
0:07:33 > 0:07:36with shells, lots of bubbles.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38- Seaweed.- Fish swimming through.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43It's in very, very good condition.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48Drew Mackenzie died in, em, 1918.
0:07:48 > 0:07:55And the latter pieces have always been stamped "Newlyn". After 1920, they were stamped Newlyn.
0:07:55 > 0:08:00- It's very small. There it is! - That is tiny, isn't it?- Yes.
0:08:00 > 0:08:07I'm really pleased that's quite small. A lot of the wares, like ashtrays, are quite small
0:08:07 > 0:08:13- and there's a huge "Newlyn" on the back.- It distracts. - This is discreet.
0:08:13 > 0:08:17- And it's a whopping great piece. - It is.- Any idea what it's worth?
0:08:17 > 0:08:20No. No idea.
0:08:21 > 0:08:27I think... I think we could get somewhere in the region of £400-£600 for this.
0:08:27 > 0:08:31- I'd like to put a reserve of £400 on it.- That sounds good.
0:08:31 > 0:08:37- Fingers crossed. Will we see you at the auction?- Yes.- Can't wait to watch this go under the hammer.
0:08:42 > 0:08:49- Chris and Andy, are you local Cornish people?- No. - Where are you from?- Stourbridge.
0:08:49 > 0:08:53- So you've moved down here? - No, we're on holiday.
0:08:53 > 0:09:00And you've brought a field telephone! Why have you brought a field telephone on holiday?
0:09:00 > 0:09:04- We knew you'd love to see it. - It's not your mobile phone?- No!
0:09:04 > 0:09:08- It's a bit big for that. - We're up your way next week!- I know!
0:09:08 > 0:09:13It would have been so much easier. How have you come by this?
0:09:13 > 0:09:19I used to work for a university in Birmingham. They were throwing it out and I salvaged it, basically.
0:09:19 > 0:09:27- Why?- My husband used to work in telecomms.- I was a telephone engineer.- And I was in telecomms,
0:09:27 > 0:09:34- so I was sort of interested. He keeps all sorts of strange things. - I'm not sure the nation's ready.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38- He's got what? - He's got his old GPO codes
0:09:38 > 0:09:40from when he started in telecomms.
0:09:40 > 0:09:45So you've got your GPO codes. I'm pretty cool about that.
0:09:45 > 0:09:51Whatever people do in the privacy of their own homes is fine by me. Joking apart,
0:09:51 > 0:09:57this brings back two great TV moments for me. Hold this while I crank it. The first is
0:09:57 > 0:10:05cranking that up and it's Jonesey, Captain Mainwaring, out on manoeuvres somewhere.
0:10:05 > 0:10:10- Stupid boy. - "Don't tell him your name, Pike!" I think it's absolutely brilliant.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14- The other one for me is Blackadder. - Right.- With Melchett.
0:10:14 > 0:10:19"Over you go, Blackadder." And I just think it's great.
0:10:19 > 0:10:25It's a bit of a talking point. Are there wires? Got to be wires.
0:10:25 > 0:10:30The telephone line connects to these two terminals at the front.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34They'd run that to another set like this.
0:10:34 > 0:10:41And then you'd lift the receiver, wind the handle and that would ring the bells on the other machine.
0:10:41 > 0:10:47Pretty good stuff. You can tell me more than I know. Can you tell me what it's worth?
0:10:47 > 0:10:50I haven't the faintest idea! None whatsoever.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53You are in excellent company.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55Right.
0:10:57 > 0:11:02- £30-£50.- Right.- Reserve £25. I haven't got a clue. How's that?
0:11:02 > 0:11:08- Yeah.- I have to say, we need to find two people in Cornwall who want to buy a field telephone.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11Might be a telephone bidder.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14- Shall we have a go?- Why not?
0:11:14 > 0:11:18Our first set of lots are packed and ready for the auction.
0:11:21 > 0:11:26David bought these three pictures in a charity shop for £12.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30They're local. Can someone show Doreen's teddy the light of day
0:11:30 > 0:11:34for something between £150 and £200?
0:11:34 > 0:11:39And I just love Linda's Newlyn copper tray. It's a beauty.
0:11:39 > 0:11:44And, finally, Philip couldn't believe Chris and Andy brought this!
0:11:44 > 0:11:47It's in the sale at £30-£50.
0:11:48 > 0:11:53Yes, you've guessed it. It is now time for the auction.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57We want some hammer action. We've left Penzance for Lostwithiel.
0:11:57 > 0:12:02Our auctioneer is Ian Morris. He's somewhere among the bidders.
0:12:02 > 0:12:09Let's catch up with him and find out what he thinks about our owners' items and our experts' valuations.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15So what do you think of these? They were brought in by David.
0:12:15 > 0:12:21We've got two Sherrins, RD Sherrin. One of Dartmoor, one of Exmoor.
0:12:21 > 0:12:27Now we've got a valuation of £30-£50, which is really cheap, actually, for the two.
0:12:27 > 0:12:32Nice furnishing pictures. He paid about 15 quid for them.
0:12:32 > 0:12:39Well, since that happened, he came in yesterday and he wants a lot more now.
0:12:39 > 0:12:44- He's changed his mind?- Yes. The figure he's put on them is closer to £200.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47Now why has he done that?
0:12:47 > 0:12:53- He doesn't like them, wanted them to go and was happy with the valuation. Second thoughts?- Must be.
0:12:53 > 0:13:00- Would you be confident in getting him that £200 anyway? - No. I've got to say no.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04These kind of paintings which are of moorland scenes.
0:13:04 > 0:13:10- They're quite bland. - They need an animal in the foreground.- No animals,
0:13:10 > 0:13:13no birds, no figures. So...
0:13:13 > 0:13:16What would you have valued these?
0:13:16 > 0:13:23I would put something in the region of £40-£60, £50-£80 each.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26So maybe £80-£120 the pair.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28So we are a bit out, a little low.
0:13:28 > 0:13:34- Yes, I would have thought you were very conservative.- Which has made him think, "Hang on, that is cheap."
0:13:34 > 0:13:39If you catalogued these at £200, people will go, "Trade stock."
0:13:39 > 0:13:43- And not bother to come back. - So where does it leave us?
0:13:43 > 0:13:48- Will we sell? Or will they be going home?- I think we will struggle.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51Well, David has upped the ante.
0:13:51 > 0:13:59Can we get £200 for the two smaller paintings? And another £200 for the larger one? We'll wait and see.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03Right now, we hope to flog the biggest mobile phone in the world.
0:14:03 > 0:14:09And possibly the heaviest! Chris and Andy, I had a chat with the auctioneer.
0:14:09 > 0:14:16We thought it'd sell for £30, so Philip was spot on. Let's hope we get that top bid of £40-£50.
0:14:16 > 0:14:22- What have they brought on holiday this time? A photocopying machine? An old calculator?- No...
0:14:22 > 0:14:29- We passed this time. - But this is a great bit of recycling. It was being thrown out.
0:14:29 > 0:14:35- We've got nowhere to display it. It would be lovely if we had a big house.- Exactly, yeah.
0:14:35 > 0:14:41- Or it would make a nice bookend. - Wire it up.- We've only got one, so we can't talk to each other.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44Best not to talk to each other.
0:14:44 > 0:14:49Let's find out what the bidders of Lostwithiel think of it. Good luck.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52Field glasses in a painted green box.
0:14:52 > 0:14:57What say we for the field telephone? £30 away? £20 to start me?
0:14:57 > 0:15:00£15? Just give us a call. £15.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02At 18. 20.
0:15:02 > 0:15:07- 22. At £22. £25, bid with me now. - That's it.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10At £25. 28 to get on. 25, then.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13- He's selling.- £25.
0:15:13 > 0:15:18- Yes.- Paul, ask him. - I know what he's doing!- Ask him.
0:15:18 > 0:15:23- What are you going to spend 25 quid on?- Petrol going home!
0:15:23 > 0:15:25Straight home.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29- Hang on. There's commission to pay at 15%.- It'll get you to Bristol.
0:15:29 > 0:15:35- Yeah.- It's not too bad.- That was a bit of fun. A great day out.
0:15:38 > 0:15:44Talking of provenance, we've got a Chad Valley teddy bear belonging to Doreen,
0:15:44 > 0:15:51- but we've got photographic evidence of you with it. You've had this since 1937?- Correct.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54A lot of history there. A lot of memories.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57- You always called him Teddy?- Yes.
0:15:57 > 0:16:02If we make a note that he's called Teddy, that will help the buyer.
0:16:02 > 0:16:08What's really nice is whoever buys this little ted gets the photograph as well. That's so important.
0:16:08 > 0:16:17Provenance adds to value. But I want you to take it home. It's going under the hammer now.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20We have a Chad Valley teddy bear.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23Original Chad Valley label to paw.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26Can I say £150 away? 150? £100 to start me?
0:16:26 > 0:16:31£100 I'm bid. I'll take 110 to get on. At £100.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34110. 120. At 120.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36130? At 120. At 120.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39130, I think, at the back. 140.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42150. At 150, at the back.
0:16:42 > 0:16:48- At 150. 160? All done, then? - He's selling at 150.
0:16:48 > 0:16:53- Yes, he's sold it.- That's OK, Paul. - Teddy's gone.- That's OK, Jethro.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56That's sad, I think.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00It should have been more, but I'm quite happy.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02What will you do with £150?
0:17:02 > 0:17:08After the expenses, I'll put the rest in my little grandson's savings account.
0:17:08 > 0:17:13- How old's he?- 16 months. - 16 months? How sweet.
0:17:13 > 0:17:19- Hope you enjoyed it.- I have. - What a wrench to part with Teddy, though.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26This is my favourite lot of the sale and I feel quite confident.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30Linda, good to see you again. Fingers crossed for your son.
0:17:30 > 0:17:37It's a wonderful Newlyn copper tray. £400-£600. I had a chat to Ian, our auctioneer, earlier.
0:17:37 > 0:17:42He would have liked £350-£450, but that's typical auctioneers.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46But it's quality. It is quality. I love it.
0:17:46 > 0:17:52- And I just hope so many bidders in this room get excited by it. - I do, too!
0:17:52 > 0:17:55- This is it.- The fine Newlyn copper.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58- A lovely twin-handled tray. - That looks great.
0:17:58 > 0:18:03£400 away? 300 away to start? £300 I'm bid on the book.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07At 300. 320 to get on? At £300.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09At 320. At 350.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12At 380 now? At 350.
0:18:12 > 0:18:17I'll take 360. 360. 370 At 370. At 370.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20- I'm a bit worried.- At 370. 380?
0:18:20 > 0:18:23Done at £370.
0:18:24 > 0:18:30- Not sold?- No. One bid away if he was going up in £20 lots.
0:18:30 > 0:18:36- He'd have sold it at 390. - He'll have to build a shelf to put it on now!
0:18:36 > 0:18:41I'm pleased we put a fixed reserve of £400 on it. It's worth that.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47- I know.- Auctions, don't you just hate them sometimes?
0:18:51 > 0:18:55I've just been joined by David and young Jack here
0:18:55 > 0:19:00- with a little pussycat. What's his name?- Pussycat Miaow.
0:19:00 > 0:19:05- Sorry?- Pussycat Miaow. - Pussycat Miaow? Aww.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09That's a great name. You've got two lovely Sherrins.
0:19:09 > 0:19:14- Quite small. One of Exmoor, one of Dartmoor. Correct?- Yes.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18With a valuation of £30-£50 put on by Philip Serrell.
0:19:18 > 0:19:24But since the valuation day, you don't know this and I've only just found out,
0:19:24 > 0:19:29you've come in here, Jack, and said, "I'm putting the reserve up...
0:19:30 > 0:19:32"to £200."
0:19:32 > 0:19:35- I did, yes.- That is a massive jump.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39What have you found out that Philip doesn't know?
0:19:39 > 0:19:45What I did was I went online and quite easily found out all about the artist and his work.
0:19:45 > 0:19:51- Teddy's in the way! Pussy! - And what his work sells for.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55They're very much furnishing pictures and I wish you well, but...
0:19:55 > 0:20:00That's a brave punt, a £200 reserve. I had a chat with the auctioneer.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03He thinks they'll struggle as well.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07So well, fingers crossed for you. And for little Jack.
0:20:07 > 0:20:12£200 is a lot of money. I hope you do it. Going under the hammer now.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15Already showing. Two watercolours.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18Can I say 150 away? £100 away? £100.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21At £100. 110. 120. 130.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24140. 150. 160. 170.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26180. 190. 200.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30At £200. At £200. 210?
0:20:30 > 0:20:33At £200. Are we done? £200.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36Yes! He's sold it!
0:20:36 > 0:20:40Jack lost interest during bidding. He's playing with his cat.
0:20:40 > 0:20:44£200 has just been secured. Hats off to you. Fantastic.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46- Thank you.- One more to go.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49RD Sherrin. Watercolour. Moorland.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51What'll we say? £150 away?
0:20:51 > 0:20:55£100 away? £100 I'm bid. 110.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58120. 130.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01140. 150. 160.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03170. 180. 190.
0:21:04 > 0:21:09200. At £200. At £200, at £200. 220 now?
0:21:09 > 0:21:12- Bang on.- £200.
0:21:12 > 0:21:17That is a sold sound! The hammer's gone down. £200.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21- A total of 400 quid. You bought these for £15.- 12.
0:21:21 > 0:21:26- £12!- I think you sold three pictures with one bidder! A real bit of luck.
0:21:26 > 0:21:31- Yes, definitely.- That is fantastic. What is £400 going towards?
0:21:31 > 0:21:35- That will go towards Jack's Christmas.- There he is down there.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38He's going to enjoy that. My word.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40That's a result. Well done.
0:21:43 > 0:21:49We've had some cracking results so far. It's a shame the Newlyn copper tray didn't sell.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53There is plenty more hammer action to come later on in the show.
0:21:53 > 0:22:00Talking of hammer action, I've been told Newlyn copper is still being fashioned today.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02Let's go and check it out.
0:22:07 > 0:22:14Newlyn has always been one of the country's most important fishing ports and it still is today.
0:22:14 > 0:22:19Back in the 19th century, when the weather was really bad,
0:22:19 > 0:22:24fishermen couldn't earn a living. But all that changed in 1888
0:22:24 > 0:22:29when John Drew Mackenzie arrived. He was an artist and illustrator.
0:22:29 > 0:22:34He took pity on the fishermen. He taught them handicraft skills.
0:22:34 > 0:22:39He set up the Newlyn Industrial Class to teach those skills.
0:22:39 > 0:22:45The fishermen were used to handling copper as they often used it for boat repairs.
0:22:45 > 0:22:50It was readily available and became the material of choice.
0:22:50 > 0:22:56However, the skill and creative influence needed to produce fine pieces of art
0:22:56 > 0:23:00was down to a chap called John Pearson, who came here in 1892.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03He taught at the Industrial Class for seven years.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06He was a very skilled copper worker
0:23:06 > 0:23:11and soon the Newlyn workshops were making wonderful things.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15I'm going to find out if anything's changed over the years.
0:23:15 > 0:23:21The man I want to meet is principal craftsman Mike Johnson. And he's in here!
0:23:24 > 0:23:28- Mike, I'm sorry to stop you in mid-bash.- Not at all.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31You are actually fashioning this into shape.
0:23:31 > 0:23:36- What are you working on? - It's a font for Trinity Church.
0:23:36 > 0:23:41It's part of a commission - font, lectern, communion table, benches, the whole lot.
0:23:41 > 0:23:46- Oak and copper furnishings. - What brought you to Newlyn?
0:23:46 > 0:23:51I moved down about 16 years ago to work with my uncle, initially,
0:23:51 > 0:23:56on films, making suits of armour. But my passion was always copper.
0:23:56 > 0:24:02- Newlyn copper.- Newlyn copper. So I moved away from the film work and into copper full-time.
0:24:02 > 0:24:06You were obviously aware of Drew Mackenzie and John Pearson.
0:24:06 > 0:24:11- And you collected Newlyn copper. - Yeah, I started late, in the '80s.
0:24:11 > 0:24:17But it was beautiful work, exquisite work, and affordable. Now...
0:24:17 > 0:24:20Very collectable. That kick-started the passion.
0:24:20 > 0:24:25Talk me through how you take a sheet of metal and get it like this.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29That's nearly the finished process. I'll start you from scratch.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32- Here's a couple of big persuaders. - Right.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35- Feel the weight of those.- Gosh!
0:24:35 > 0:24:41- So, basically, you let gravity do the work.- Exactly, yeah! Let gravity do it, not you.
0:24:41 > 0:24:46- Start from the end and work your way around.- It's a noisy old job!
0:24:46 > 0:24:49Very noisy! Exactly!
0:24:49 > 0:24:52Work your way around the bowl.
0:24:54 > 0:25:00- And so on, until you get the whole bowl completely dished. - It's so pliable and soft.
0:25:00 > 0:25:06Next stage, once it's dished up, is to remove all the dents you just put into it.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08I'll hammer away.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17This is incredibly clever.
0:25:17 > 0:25:22- And the longer you hit it, the harder it's getting.- Absolutely.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26And if you want it softer again, heat the metal till it's red hot,
0:25:26 > 0:25:33- drop it in cold water...- And then you can work on smaller little fishes, impregnations of seaweed...
0:25:33 > 0:25:40- Exactly, yeah.- OK, what's the next stage? How do you get it to reflect all the light and bounce?
0:25:40 > 0:25:46- I'll take you back to the font. To help bounce light up through the water and give it...- Sparkle.
0:25:46 > 0:25:54We've gone for really fine ball peening. There's about two days of work putting in the little ripples.
0:25:54 > 0:26:01That's literally a ball peen hammer, the round section of the hammer. Hundreds of thousands of those.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04Absolutely, yes. In the zone!
0:26:04 > 0:26:09- But it's like the skin of an orange now.- Absolutely.- Wow.
0:26:09 > 0:26:16I know you're influenced by Drew Mackenzie and Pearson. Are you frightened to put fish on?
0:26:16 > 0:26:21Yes! Because Mackenzie's designs were so exquisite.
0:26:21 > 0:26:27And so, whatever you try and do in a contemporary sense, it's looked at in that context.
0:26:27 > 0:26:33You're either looked at as trying to be generic or that you're trying to copy or mimic.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35Let's look at your stamp, your make.
0:26:35 > 0:26:41This looks like the godfather of the Arts and Crafts movement, Archibald Knox.
0:26:41 > 0:26:46There is a Knox influence. Definitely Knox.
0:26:46 > 0:26:51- Can you see through them?- Yes. They're old megaphone glass lenses.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55Done in reference to monstrances, but with really simple materials.
0:26:55 > 0:27:01In the past, they were diamonds and rubies and gold, donated by wealthy families to the church.
0:27:01 > 0:27:05I've used really simple, down-to-earth materials,
0:27:05 > 0:27:10partly to reflect the craftsmanship that went into the cutlery first.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14I think you've succeeded!
0:27:14 > 0:27:17- There's an old washing posser. - Oh, yes!
0:27:17 > 0:27:21- Do you get asked to do a lot of commission work?- Yes.
0:27:21 > 0:27:27These pieces have gone into Liberty's, there's stuff in the local galleries down here.
0:27:27 > 0:27:31- A lot of commission work. - You can't go wrong with Liberty's.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34Very flattering, exactly.
0:27:34 > 0:27:39But Mike doesn't only work to his own designs.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43He's about to restore a landmark, made by the original coppersmiths.
0:27:43 > 0:27:49I've got the copper galleon here off the roof of the fisherman's mission.
0:27:49 > 0:27:54- One of Newlyn's most important pieces.- Hence all the weathering.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58It's been up since 1911. This was an early Newlyn copper piece.
0:27:58 > 0:28:04- That's an iconic landmark.- It is. - I'm surprised it wasn't stolen! - It's a long way up!
0:28:04 > 0:28:08- You'd have to be very keen! - So what have you to do?
0:28:08 > 0:28:12It needs stripping. It's been gilded and painted over the years.
0:28:12 > 0:28:17We'll carefully strip it all back to copper, re-gild it and re-rig it.
0:28:17 > 0:28:22A lot of the rigging is quite tatty. Ready for its next 100 years.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24- And you'll put it back up?- Yes.
0:28:27 > 0:28:32Well, that was a real delight. It's wonderful to meet experts in their own field.
0:28:32 > 0:28:36Time to catch up with our very own experts at the valuation day.
0:28:36 > 0:28:39And I think it's this way!
0:28:54 > 0:29:00- Now, Trevor, you have brought along... Do you know what these are? - No, I don't, really.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03These are magic lantern slides.
0:29:03 > 0:29:07- You did know that? - Well, I know they're quite old.
0:29:07 > 0:29:09Over 100 years, I should say.
0:29:09 > 0:29:13I think they probably are. How did you get them?
0:29:13 > 0:29:19- They just dropped in with the family.- They've come down from your mother and father?- Yeah.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22You don't know back beyond that?
0:29:22 > 0:29:28Pre-war... Pre-war, mind you, pre the 1914-18 war.
0:29:28 > 0:29:31- But...- No cameras, see.- Exactly.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34- It's the latterday video show.- Yeah.
0:29:34 > 0:29:39Each one is bound in a mahogany frame.
0:29:39 > 0:29:43It would go on the magic lantern and a strong light went through.
0:29:43 > 0:29:48The image was projected onto the wall. We can see here an image
0:29:48 > 0:29:51of humanised pigs doing things.
0:29:51 > 0:29:56Here we've got the donkey being a bit stubborn, not going to market.
0:29:56 > 0:30:01And you've got the man cracking the whip, and the other pigs pulling.
0:30:01 > 0:30:05- Yeah.- You've got six magic lantern slides. That's not many.
0:30:05 > 0:30:11When you go out for an evening, you'd expect to see quite a few
0:30:11 > 0:30:16and with these comical ones, somebody's got to tell the story.
0:30:16 > 0:30:22With a bit of music going on as well. And here someone has stolen a fish - he's a poaching pig.
0:30:22 > 0:30:28And someone's cracking the whip after him. So all these little slides would have had a story.
0:30:28 > 0:30:34- What a wonderful evening's entertainment.- I see what you mean. - The condition isn't brilliant.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37Well, they are. They're unsoiled.
0:30:37 > 0:30:44- Well, yes... - One of them's got a crack, but I got a new glass for that.
0:30:44 > 0:30:52You're a good salesman, Trevor. Anyone buying these would see what they could do with the bad ones.
0:30:52 > 0:30:57- As I said, it only just needs pushing out and they'll never...- Exactly.
0:30:57 > 0:31:01As far as value's concerned, have you got any idea?
0:31:01 > 0:31:04Well, I thought...
0:31:04 > 0:31:11Perhaps £20... £20 each, say £60 for the set.
0:31:11 > 0:31:15- You thought £60 for the set. - Yeah. About that.
0:31:15 > 0:31:19- That's around about right. Shall we put a reserve at £40.- Yes.
0:31:19 > 0:31:24- Actually, I don't want 'em back. - You don't want them back?- No.
0:31:24 > 0:31:28- But you wouldn't be happy if they sold for a fiver.- No.
0:31:28 > 0:31:34Shall we say £40 as a reserve? And if they don't sell, you can try on another day.
0:31:34 > 0:31:36- I think that's fair enough.- I do.
0:31:36 > 0:31:40- And we'll give it a go.- Yeah. - Let's see what happens.
0:31:43 > 0:31:47- Anne, how are you doing?- Fine, thank you.- Where did this come from?
0:31:47 > 0:31:52We bought it about four years ago from an antiques centre.
0:31:52 > 0:31:56An antiques centre? I won't ask what you paid for it...yet.
0:31:56 > 0:32:01I think it's a great thing. We've got a little lever at the back.
0:32:01 > 0:32:05Press it, the stork bends down, the top slides open
0:32:05 > 0:32:13and his beak opens, up comes a little ratchet from underneath, which I guess holds a cigarette.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16- Mm-hm.- A really non thing now!
0:32:16 > 0:32:21And up he comes with a cigarette in his mouth.
0:32:21 > 0:32:25It's a cigarette dispenser. I think it's made out of tin plate.
0:32:27 > 0:32:32It's got "Made in England" on the base with a load of patent marks. I like this.
0:32:32 > 0:32:37It's stylistically quite sort of Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts.
0:32:37 > 0:32:41It's about 1900, 1910, I would think. But in my eyes,
0:32:41 > 0:32:45from there up it just loses the plot a little bit.
0:32:45 > 0:32:52From there down, it's pure Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts, but this bit...
0:32:52 > 0:32:57It's like they made this box and thought, "How do we finish this?"
0:32:57 > 0:33:02And they've put this stork on top. That's my view. Now, valuation.
0:33:02 > 0:33:08I've never seen one like it. I think that I would estimate it at £200-£400.
0:33:08 > 0:33:12I think we...put a reserve on it of £200.
0:33:13 > 0:33:19- And now I'll ask what you paid. - I think it was about £160.
0:33:19 > 0:33:21£160? In an antiques centre?
0:33:21 > 0:33:26- Yeah.- It'll be interesting to see if it does show you a profit.
0:33:26 > 0:33:31But I just think it's a really good thing, a thing of the moment.
0:33:31 > 0:33:36- Why do you want to sell it? - Well, we live in an old barn now.
0:33:36 > 0:33:42It really doesn't go. It's all granite and this against the granite just doesn't do anything.
0:33:42 > 0:33:46- It's a great thing in its own right. - Yeah.- We'll put it in the auction.
0:33:46 > 0:33:53- Yeah.- And let's hope it has a wealth warning, not a health warning.- That'd be good.
0:33:56 > 0:34:01Peter and Della, you have made me break my cardinal rule.
0:34:01 > 0:34:05I was never going to do Troika because everybody else has,
0:34:05 > 0:34:08but this is a little bit different.
0:34:08 > 0:34:14This little piece of Troika, signed on the bottom by the artist, Alison Brigden,
0:34:14 > 0:34:21is a perfectly genuine article, produced out of the Newlyn factory in the mid-1970s.
0:34:21 > 0:34:26I would say 1976, 1977, but you don't see many Aztec masks!
0:34:26 > 0:34:29- How long have you had it?- 27 years.
0:34:29 > 0:34:35- So that must be when it was made. - We bought it in 1979, but it was made a bit earlier.
0:34:35 > 0:34:39- In the '70s sometime.- Exactly. - It was bought in St Ives.
0:34:39 > 0:34:45- I don't believe it was made there. Was it?- Newlyn. That's where it would have been.
0:34:45 > 0:34:50They moved from St Ives up to Newlyn and everything was made there.
0:34:50 > 0:34:54So how much would this have cost when you bought it?
0:34:54 > 0:34:58It was under £10, but I can't remember exactly.
0:34:58 > 0:35:02We wouldn't have paid more. We couldn't afford it.
0:35:02 > 0:35:07To me, I know it's 1970s, but you could think it was earlier.
0:35:07 > 0:35:14That stylistic thing. People going to a foreign country, it's sort of an Aztec mask anyway.
0:35:14 > 0:35:20I wonder how many of this model are out there. I have seen a couple quite recently,
0:35:20 > 0:35:24but prior to that I haven't seen any at all.
0:35:24 > 0:35:31- I've only seen one in an auction catalogue. Not in the flesh. - And what estimate was on that one?
0:35:31 > 0:35:33Er, £400-£600.
0:35:33 > 0:35:38- Do you know what it made? - No. That was a long time ago.
0:35:38 > 0:35:42And the market changes. Just to show everybody...
0:35:43 > 0:35:47Troika. AB. Alison Brigden.
0:35:47 > 0:35:49And on the back, it's decorated.
0:35:49 > 0:35:54Unlike a lot of early antiques and pieces to go up against a wall,
0:35:54 > 0:36:01I suppose this could go in the window so that you could see one side and then the other.
0:36:01 > 0:36:06- Two totally different patterns. - Exactly. So why are you selling it?
0:36:06 > 0:36:10Well, we're always worried about it getting damaged.
0:36:10 > 0:36:16When the children were small, it was hidden away. On show, but safe.
0:36:16 > 0:36:22We moved a few years ago and have nowhere safe to put it, so it's out of sight.
0:36:22 > 0:36:27It is a little bit top heavy. It's been around 20-odd years
0:36:27 > 0:36:31- and it is in good order.- No marks. - No damage.
0:36:33 > 0:36:37So...what do I think it might be worth today?
0:36:37 > 0:36:42It's a little bit of a finger in the air job. Which way is the wind blowing?
0:36:42 > 0:36:47But I think you should get over £800.
0:36:47 > 0:36:51- £800 would be the right sort of reserve level.- Right.
0:36:51 > 0:36:57I'm hoping you might get into four figures. I'm hoping you might get £1,000.
0:36:57 > 0:37:00And on a good day, maybe £1,200.
0:37:00 > 0:37:04- But, realistically, put a reserve at £800.- Yes.- Estimate £800-£1,200.
0:37:04 > 0:37:10- How do you feel about that?- Fine. - Give it a go?- Yeah.- Let's see if the buyers are out there.
0:37:12 > 0:37:15So we're ready for some saleroom magic once again.
0:37:15 > 0:37:22With a reserve of £40, will Trevor's antique slides cast a spell on our buyers?
0:37:22 > 0:37:28Is there a market for Anne's cigarette dispenser? Or are we all too healthy now?
0:37:28 > 0:37:35And, finally, some Troika! Peter and Della's mask is far from the usual square vase.
0:37:40 > 0:37:45Right now, a bit of magic - six magic lantern slides with Trevor.
0:37:45 > 0:37:49Not a lot of money, but a lot of interest, hopefully.
0:37:49 > 0:37:53£40-£60 on this. Let's hope we get that top end.
0:37:53 > 0:38:00- Why are you getting rid of? - Well, this is getting rid of me, not me getting rid of this.
0:38:00 > 0:38:02I shan't outlast it!
0:38:05 > 0:38:09- Let's hope we find someone in love with this.- They're quite charming.
0:38:09 > 0:38:15Not in brilliant condition. We are going to have to hope for a bit of a following wind.
0:38:15 > 0:38:21- But let's see what happens. - I'll follow it wherever it goes.
0:38:21 > 0:38:23I'm sure you will, Trevor.
0:38:23 > 0:38:26It's going under the hammer now. Good luck.
0:38:26 > 0:38:30Six 19th-century magic lantern slides with colour decoration.
0:38:30 > 0:38:34Pigs in rectangular mahogany frames.
0:38:34 > 0:38:39There we are. £40 away? £30 away?
0:38:39 > 0:38:41£20 I'm bid. At £20. 25.
0:38:41 > 0:38:45£30. At £30 I'm bid. At 30. 35? 35.
0:38:45 > 0:38:47£40 for the slides now?
0:38:47 > 0:38:51At £35. 40? We're nearly there again at 35.
0:38:51 > 0:38:53Leave them go at 35.
0:38:53 > 0:38:56£35. He didn't sell.
0:38:56 > 0:38:59We've got a fixed reserve on of 40.
0:38:59 > 0:39:01- Eh?- You're taking them home, Trevor.
0:39:01 > 0:39:08- The little pigs are going all the way home.- I'm taking them home? - Yeah, they're not leaving you now.
0:39:08 > 0:39:13- Oh.- You look after them. Love them a little bit longer.
0:39:13 > 0:39:19- Glad to see you.- And you. Haven't seen you for a long time. He used to take me to school!
0:39:19 > 0:39:21- Really?- Yeah.
0:39:21 > 0:39:25- He went to the same school as my son went.- Oh, I see.
0:39:25 > 0:39:29- So you were the taxi.- If it was raining, I had to take my boy
0:39:29 > 0:39:34- and I used to see him struggling along.- With my satchel!
0:39:39 > 0:39:43I absolutely love this next lot. It belongs to Anne, not for long.
0:39:43 > 0:39:50- Not with a price tag of £200. Who have you brought along? - My partner Neil.- Hi, Neil.- Hello.
0:39:50 > 0:39:55Smoking is not PC, but I don't think in this case it will deter the bidders.
0:39:55 > 0:40:01- A modern smoking accessory is a good cough.- Shame it didn't have Liberty's name attached to it.
0:40:01 > 0:40:07But nevertheless, we'll get you your money back. I think you paid the right price.
0:40:07 > 0:40:12- Right.- It should raise a stir. I know the auctioneer loves it.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15Fingers crossed, here we go.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19Lot 260. Art Nouveau pewter cigarette dispenser.
0:40:19 > 0:40:23Style of Knox or Liberty. Lot 260. What do we say for that?
0:40:23 > 0:40:25£200 away? 150 away?
0:40:25 > 0:40:28150 I'm bid. At 150.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31160. 170. 180.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34200. Is it 10? At £200.
0:40:34 > 0:40:38210? Are we done? Selling at £200.
0:40:38 > 0:40:42- £200. Hammer's gone down. We'll settle for that.- Yeah.
0:40:42 > 0:40:47- What will you put £200 towards? - A holiday.- Where do you fancy?
0:40:47 > 0:40:49Australia.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52My word! That's a long way away!
0:40:52 > 0:40:57I was just about to say, you live in a beautiful part of Cornwall.
0:40:57 > 0:41:01It's very hard to choose somewhere to go on holiday.
0:41:01 > 0:41:05- That's right, but we have a B&B. - That's hard work.
0:41:05 > 0:41:09So it's nice to go away out of season.
0:41:09 > 0:41:11Well, enjoy Australia.
0:41:15 > 0:41:21Well, we've just been joined by Della and Peter. Jethro, what do you expect to see in Cornwall?
0:41:21 > 0:41:23- Pasties.- Yes!
0:41:23 > 0:41:26Apart from that - Troika!
0:41:26 > 0:41:30And we have a classic Troika mask. A great valuation as well.
0:41:30 > 0:41:36- £800-£1,200. Which you bought for how much? - Well, it was under 10.
0:41:36 > 0:41:41Why are you flogging it? It's not peaked yet and these are very rare.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44I know, but it is very fragile.
0:41:44 > 0:41:50- It's beautiful, but it has a very slim base.- This is why not many have survived.
0:41:50 > 0:41:55There's a premium on them. We've sold chipped ones for £600-£800.
0:41:55 > 0:41:59Quite recently I saw one sold for just over £600.
0:41:59 > 0:42:05But this is a lot of money for a piece of Troika. Not many make around £1,000.
0:42:05 > 0:42:10- But it is a rare piece. - And we're in Cornwall.- Yes.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13A face mask there. £800 away? £600 away?
0:42:13 > 0:42:17£600. The bid's with me. At £600. I'll take 20.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20At 620. 650. 680.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22- 700.- We're off!
0:42:22 > 0:42:24750. 780. 800. 820.
0:42:24 > 0:42:28- 850. 880.- It's sold. It's going. - £900. The bid is with me.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31At £900. And 20. 920.
0:42:31 > 0:42:34At 920. My bid is out.
0:42:34 > 0:42:37- Come on.- At 920. Done?
0:42:37 > 0:42:39£920.
0:42:39 > 0:42:43Yes! The hammer's gone down at £920.
0:42:43 > 0:42:45- We'll take that.- Good mark up.
0:42:45 > 0:42:51That's a very good profit. Less a bit of commission - there's 15% commission to pay.
0:42:51 > 0:42:54What will you do with the money?
0:42:54 > 0:42:58- I think we'll probably go on holiday.- Where do you fancy going?
0:42:58 > 0:43:04Our oldest daughter's just gone out to Dubai. Our youngest daughter lives nearby, which is great.
0:43:04 > 0:43:10- So I think we might see the other one.- A trip to the Arab Emirates. - Possibly.- A bit of sunshine.
0:43:10 > 0:43:13Well, enjoy it, won't you?
0:43:16 > 0:43:21What a day we've had in Cornwall. The auction is still going on.
0:43:21 > 0:43:26It's all over for our owners. Troika does the business again!
0:43:26 > 0:43:30Proper job! Until the next time, cheerio!
0:43:41 > 0:43:45Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd - 2007
0:43:46 > 0:43:48Email: subtitling@bbc.co.uk