Oxford Flog It!

Today we are in one of the great university towns anywhere in the world.

Not only is it famous for its university, but also Oxford is a literary capital.

It's home to the Oxford English Dictionary and boasts more writers,

per square mile, than anywhere else in the world.

CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien were both Oxford dons.

Our experts today are scholars Mark Stacey and Will Axon.

Let's hope they find first-class items in this architectural delight - Oxford Town Hall.

-Hello, Heather.

-Hello.

-You've brought a nice Charlotte Rhead vase in to show us.

-Yes.

-It was a wedding present?

-Yes. It was my mother's.

-Which year?

-1936.

-Well, spot on, isn't it?

We've got a typical Art Deco vase. Charlotte Rhead was a strong exponent of this decoration

with quite vivid colours.

-I particularly like the autumnal oranges.

-Yes.

-And greens.

You often find on these that they are ribbed. You get this ribbing all round the body.

-So it was a wedding present in 1936.

-That's right.

-Passed down to you?

-Yes.

-And where does it live?

-In a cupboard.

-Oh, what a shame.

-Yeah.

-Let's have a little look. What we've got underneath is the mark of Crown Ducal.

And then Rhead and the shape and pattern number. A full set of marks.

-Right.

-Tell me, it's lived in your cupboard, but what don't you like about it?

I do like it, but, em... it's never really been one that goes out on show.

-Not got anything else like it?

-No.

-Cos that's another thing.

-If you've got a collection...

-They go nice together.

-But one on its own doesn't quite fit in.

-These colours are so strong, you need the right kind of room to put it in.

-I think so.

-Was it a favourite of your mum's?

-Yes, I think so.

-With flowers.

-She'd always use it.

-Well, if we were putting it in for sale, we'd be looking at around the £50 mark.

-Right.

-So maybe an estimate of £40-£60 with a £40 reserve.

-Yes.

It should attract collectors. This particular design is fairly common.

It is a nice, honest piece. There should be collectors out there. Is that OK with you?

-Fine, yes.

-Thank you very much. I look forward to seeing it at auction.

-Thank you very much.

-Joanna, hello there.

-Hello.

-You've brought some interesting albums. Where are they from?

They belonged to my grandmother. She's dead now. She's not with us any more.

-So they've come through your mother's side of the family?

-Yes.

I'll open up this first album here. You've got this great collection of correspondence crests.

-A lot of these would have come off envelopes.

-Right.

Turning the page, we have wax seals. Again, they were used to officialise correspondence and to seal it.

-Yeah.

-You suspect your grandmother didn't put this album together.

No, I don't think she did. She probably would have bought it.

-Was she quite into...?

-I think so. I was quite young when she died,

but as far as I know, she would collect things.

You do these wax seals impressed from signet rings. You see mainly gentlemen wearing signet rings.

-And then, earlier, fob seals. Gentlemen sealed the wax that way.

-Yes.

They're nicely mounted here. Unfortunately, for a collector,

-that can be detrimental that they've already been stuck down.

-Right.

And, in this case, a double-sided page, so there's no way these can be cut out

and individually mounted again. Have you had a leaf through?

Yes. There's a couple of names I thought might be of some interest.

-Lady Churchill.

-You're right.

And Viscount Palmerston, who might be the Prime Minister.

-It might be, yeah. You've almost got the royal coat there.

-Yes.

-I think that probably is. If you flick forward, we've got more of these envelope crests.

-Yeah.

They've been cut out and mounted, which brings us on to the second album.

There's no clue on the covers,

-but inside is this beautiful "Kate Evans Child". It doesn't correspond to the family?

-No.

-In this album, you start to get some artistic licence.

-Yes.

It looks like it's done by a child.

It does, to a degree. You've got simple geometric shapes,

but they start to become a bit more sophisticated, with some decoupage.

-Perhaps as she got older they matured in designs.

-Yes.

This one's rather fun with faux envelopes interlocking. A nice touch.

-Have you had them looked at before?

-No, I haven't, no.

-Any inkling as to value?

-I wouldn't have a clue.

They're not like stamps with a face value

and that face value can generally go up and is collected.

These have more decorative appeal.

Not hugely valuable, I'm afraid, but estimate-wise,

we should put an estimate of £30-£50, that sort of level.

-£40-£60, perhaps.

-That'd be fine.

-Shall we go for the £30-£50, reserved at £30?

-That sounds great.

-Bit of auctioneer's discretion.

-Yeah, that's fine.

-Rather than not sell them.

-So we'll see you at the sale room.

-Yep, that'll be fine.

-Great.

-Rosalyn, this is fabulous.

-Isn't it?

-It's what I expect in Oxford.

-That's what I thought.

-A book on all the colleges.

If I wanted to learn about the colleges, this is the ideal book.

-A bit big for a pocket book.

-Yes, but I'd still buy it.

But I wouldn't take it on a plane! I would definitely put it in the back of the car.

-How did you come by this?

-My friend, it's her house I now live in.

She sold it to me and this was in the house when I loved in.

-I've loved it, I've looked at it.

-Learnt a lot?

-I promised myself from the day I opened it to read it!

-Have you?

-It's too big and heavy.

-It is a bit! On the table it's all right, but you need a big table!

-You need a big table.

-Yeah.

There's a little bit of foxing, but not too much.

It's only really in the pretext and index and list of subscribers.

-It's printed in London.

-Yes.

-Early 1900s.

-Yes.

And it's all here. It might get broken up, but I don't think it's early enough.

The engravings are copies of steel engravings. Photographic prints.

If these were steel or copper engravings, which would be earlier,

they would get knifed out and hand-tinted, or just sold,

framed up and sold off for £30-odd each.

-Being an artist, I considered it.

-You could have done that.

-But I thought it was wicked. It's such a beautiful book.

-Yes.

When you look at the photographs, you can see the buildings as they were then

and they haven't altered at all.

The photography on the inside, you can learn a great deal about the mouldings and carvings.

So why haven't you read it and why do you want to flog it?

-It's wasting away in a cupboard. It comes out when I have Australian visitors.

-Trinity College.

-Isn't that wonderful?

-It comes out for your Aussie friends.

-Yeah. And then it goes away again.

-Would you want to flog this?

-Yes!

-It's not a great deal of value,

but if two people fight for this book, we could get £50-£60.

-Lovely.

-Would you be happy?

-Yeah.

I'll put it into auction with a valuation of £30-£50.

-Shall we put a fixed reserve on it or do you just want it to go?

-A fixed reserve.

-30 quid.

-Yeah.

-Let's flog it, then. Thank you very much.

-Super.

-Marion, hello there.

-Hello.

-What a delightful thing.

I think it's rather pretty, but it just sits around in my flat.

I thought I should do something about it and let someone appreciate it, or a collector.

-Exactly.

-These things are on the market.

Yes, they are. It's a silver card case. These came into fashion

in the late 19th Century when the whole fashion of calling on people and leaving your card...

-Oh, it's not a cigarette case?

-No, I would say a calling card...

-A calling card case!

Cigarette cases tended to be larger. Not so large that you can fit modern-day cigarettes in,

but certainly not this size.

You've got this wonderful country view worked in enamels.

This is a narrow boat and an English cottage by the riverside.

And a wonderful sunset. The colour's very vibrant.

-Do you think it's a Constable?

-Being from East Anglia myself,

it has something of the Norwich School, East Anglian feel about it.

Let's have a closer look at the inside. That gives us a clue as to where it's from.

We've got some marks here. It was imported into London around 1920s, 1925, that sort of period.

Its original country of origin, I suspect,

is probably going to be Austria, France - it's that sort of area we're talking in Europe

where a lot of this was being done.

Now, if we turn it over,

on the back of the piece we've got quite extensive damage

for a piece enamelled like this. It's quite a serious defect.

It can affect the value quite considerably, but gives a lovely insight into how that is done.

When they engine turn this decoration onto the metal body,

then lay this translucent enamel over the top,

it then reflects this tooling and that gives it this shimmering pattern

-within the enamel.

-I see.

-It's nice that it's given us an insight into that.

-Yes.

-Have you had it valued?

-No.

-It's been sitting there and I never thought of having it valued.

-You acquired it how?

-From my mother.

-Your mother? And did she buy it?

-No, it came from her sister.

-I see.

-And it's sort of been through the family.

-There's no one you want to...?

-No, I don't think so.

-Well, you're happy to sell it.

-Very happy.

We just need to agree a value.

Bearing in mind the damage on the enamelling on the back, which will affect value -

you can't get round that - I think we should estimate £100-£150.

-Fine. Yes, that's great. I'm very happy with that.

-We'll reserve it at 100.

-Yes.

-I'm confident it will make more, so it shouldn't have a problem.

-I think the picture might sell it.

-Exactly.

It's looking very busy down there. There's definitely an air of tension and excitement about the place.

All those people are hoping their item will get picked to go through to the auction room.

That's where we're off to right now for our first visit.

Here's a quick run down of the items that will go under the hammer.

Mark is confident the Charlotte Rhead vase should attract the collectors,

but I fear that the crests being mounted will affect these books.

I spotted a bit of local history with these Oxford prints.

Even though the enamel calling card case is damaged, Will feels sure it's going to do well.

Now the moment I've been waiting for as we put those valuations to the test.

I've come to Watlington to Jones and Jacob.

Let's go inside and talk to the man with the gavel and all the local knowledge, auctioneer Simon Jones.

Bit of local interest. I actually really like this lot. It's one I valued.

Didn't put a lot on it. £30-£50.

-A little bit of foxing on some plates, but it's all there.

-Yes.

-Architectural detail is fantastic.

-Some superb plates.

-Rosalyn wants to get rid of it.

I said it could do £50 plus.

You can't buy a new one for less than £150 of that quality.

It's by Batsford, one of the top publishers.

All there, perfect order, apart from a little bit of foxing.

With the local interest, it should do very well.

-Yeah.

-Very happy with that.

-Happy to stick your neck on the block and push my estimate?

-Yes, I think £60-£70. Doubt it will make 100.

-Fantastic.

But certainly £60-£70. No problem.

It's bright, it's collectable and it's studio pottery.

It belongs to Heather, but not for much longer. £40-£60 on this.

-Charlotte Rhead, the chargers are worth quite a lot.

-Yes.

You've been watching Flog It!

-Yes, I have.

-It's been in the family quite a while. It was your mother's.

-Why are you flogging this?

-I've never used it.

I thought somebody might like to collect them.

Fingers crossed for the top end. Here's our expert, Mark. The estimate is "come and buy me"?

I hope so. It IS very collectable. It's got all the little details of the Art Deco movement.

But it's not one of those rare patterns, so we've got to be cautious

and so £40-£60. If we get a bit more, then great.

Fingers crossed. It is a one-off. Not mass produced from a mould.

It's going under the hammer now.

The Charlotte Rhead tube-lined vase. Autumn Leaves.

£40, £50 for it? £30 to start me.

30 I'm bid. 32. 34.

36. 38. 40.

-Good.

-42. 44. 46.

48. 50. 55.

60? 55, then. Standing by the door at £55.

60 now in a new place. 65. 70.

75. 80? £75 in the same place.

£75 by the door. All finished? 75.

-Yes!

-Brilliant!

-£75. I nearly thought he'd got 80 there.

-He was squeezing.

-He was.

-Very good.

75 quid. These are good starter pieces if you want to collect studio pottery.

-Oh, well, you've said goodbye. Some memories going here.

-Oh, yes.

You can hang on to your memories. What will you put that towards?

-The only thing I can think of is a nice meal!

-Yeah, and pay for your petrol backwards and forwards.

-Well done, Mark. That was good.

-I'm pleased with that result.

-Very good.

Unfortunately, Joanna cannot be with us, but we have those lovely books of all those seals she brought in.

And we've been joined by her mum, Mil.

-So we've got about £30-£60 riding on this.

-Yes.

-It's a brave man who put that valuation on it.

-It's a hard one to call.

-You don't see them very often.

-No.

-Here is that brave man. Young Will.

-Yes.

-How did you arrive at that sort of value?

They're mounted in the album, not loose, which is how a collector would really want them.

Loosely in trays and so on.

The auctioneer says 19th Century. I think some are earlier. It's a good collection starter.

-That should seal the bid.

-Let's hope so.

-We're going to find out right now because this is it.

Two 19th Century albums of seals, coats of arms, et cetera.

£30, £40 for them? 20 to start me?

£20 I'm bid. 22 anywhere? Are you all happy at £20?

All done, then, at 20. All finished.

-Hammer's just gone down. £20.

-They don't know what they're missing.

-They don't, do they?

-I'll take them to America.

-Yes!

-You should do, actually!

-There's a place, Brinfield, in Massachusetts that's the centre for antiques.

And the book says Brinfield in it.

If I'd spotted that we could have sent them over to the States for sale!

It's on the internet here. What do you get for £20 nowadays? That's a piece of social history.

-I wouldn't want it to go for less.

-There's a lot of heritage there.

-I think you did right not selling.

Good for you. That's why we protect things with reserves. It's pointless to go for nothing.

Now it's my turn to be the expert. Remember that lovely book? All the colleges of Oxford.

Rosalyn here brought it in. We put a cheeky £30-£50 on it.

-I said to you on the day this might do £80.

-I hope so.

-If two people fall for it.

It's a lovely souvenir and a lovely memory of Oxford.

I had a chat to the auctioneer. He agreed he'd put that value on it, but he's hoping for £70-£80.

-We're both thinking in the right direction.

-It's a wonderful book.

-But it's too big and heavy.

-That's why we're flogging it. Going under the hammer right now.

The Old Colleges of Oxford. What can we say for that? £30, £40?

40 I'm bid. 42 anywhere?

42. 44. 46.

48. 50 I'm bid. 55.

60. 60 there? 55 I'm bid. 60 anywhere?

-Come on.

-All happy at 55? All done?

Yes! £55 the hammer's gone down for.

-Just over the estimate.

-Top end.

-That's OK.

-I'm very lucky.

-OK, it's not a lot of money,

but I have to ask the question - what will you spend the money on?

I can't decide this time if it's for myself or for the house.

-Probably the house.

-Doing some DIY?

-No, I want something nice for it.

-Oh, I see!

-Probably... something unusual.

-Like an ornament, an antique?

-Don't want ornaments. I break those.

Have an antique!

-Maybe a bit of pewter or...

-That's nice.

-A little bit of flatware.

-If not for myself, for my daughter. She collects pewter.

-Oh, good.

I will now hand over to Francis.

This lot is quality. A lovely little enamel calling card case.

-And it belongs to you, Marion.

-Yes, it does.

-Not for much longer.

Yes, well, I hope somebody will like it and enjoy it.

It's been in our family for a long time and it would be nice.

-There are plenty of collectors for this kind of thing.

-Certainly.

-They display them.

-Yes, I'm hoping that the fact that it's lost some enamel on the back

isn't going to detract terribly as it will be laid down on a table.

It really screams quality. It's a lovely pastoral scene.

-I think the little picture is going to do the trick.

-That's it. That's where the value is.

-It really is very pretty.

-They look more expensive together. Once you get half a dozen...

-They really set each other off.

-Yes, they do.

-Yes.

We've got some quality and it's just about to be flogged. Good luck!

Silver enamel cigarette case with a landscape and cottage decoration.

150? 50 to start me.

£50? 50.

At 50. 55 anywhere? 55.

60. 65. 70.

75. 80. 85. 90. 95.

100. 110?

At £100. 110, anywhere?

Selling at 100... 110. 120. 130.

At 130. All done at 130.

All out at 130.

-Brilliant.

-That was quick.

-£130, Marion.

-That was very good.

-What are you going to put that towards?

-Well...

-I think a holiday, Paul.

-Where? That's what we want to know.

-Somewhere cool?

-Well, I don't know. I'd like to go to the Scilly Isles.

-It's beautiful there.

-That sort of area.

-Somewhere different.

-Well, enjoy that.

-Thank you very much indeed.

Excellent.

Not bad so far, but there's plenty more auction action later.

Right now, it's my turn to nip off and explore a bit of Oxford.

I'm going to look at something that's centuries old and it's got extremely thick walls.

There's a clue.

Oxford Castle was used as a place of incarceration from 1072

right up to the present day and the closure of Her Majesty's Prison in 1996.

Throughout the ages, the jail developed a terrible reputation

for the conditions prisoners endured. Now, for the very first time in 1,000 years,

the secrets of the castle can be discovered by the public.

Oxford Castle played a key role during the English Civil War

and one of the most famous prisoners during that period of time was John Lilburne.

To tell me about him is Carys Hedges, one of the tour guides at Unlocked Oxford Castle.

-So who was John Lilburne?

-He was a political activist

who led a group, the Levellers, who fought for freedom of speech.

What was he incarcerated for?

He was in and out of prison all of his life, but he was in Oxford

for defending the parliamentarian position at Brentford.

Oxford Castle had a key part to play during the English Civil War. Oxford was temporary capital of England.

Absolutely, that's right. Charles I was forced to relocate his headquarters from London

after quite a decisive battle at Edgehill. He held his court here and he lived here.

What were conditions like here in the prison for him and the inmates?

John Lilburne was quite lucky. He was able to pay his way.

Many others weren't so lucky. It was very unpleasant.

There was a prison keeper here who had a cruel reputation.

He kept prisoners, sometimes 60 to a cell, for short periods of time.

-A cell this size?

-Yes, about the size of this room.

They'd have been lying on top of each other. The dead weren't taken away.

Disease was rife. They left people there rotting. Really quite cruel.

-What was the fate of Lilburne?

-John Lilburne, once he knew he would be tried for high treason,

smuggled a letter out to his wife Elizabeth.

She was a political activist, too.

She took this letter to London and petitioned Parliament until they granted a reprieve.

They wrote a letter saying that should John Lilburne and his fellow prisoners be executed here,

they would execute royalist prisoners in London in reprisals. It was a very effective letter.

Elizabeth had to get it to Oxford. She was heavily pregnant, it was the middle of winter,

she was on foot - an unarmed woman trying to walk through the Civil War. It was amazing.

Obviously a very determined lady.

-Absolutely!

-So what was the outcome of Lilburne?

He died of natural causes. He never was hanged in the end.

-So you could say it was a happy ending!

-Yes.

In the 18th Century, if you were poor and in a tight spot the only way out was to borrow money

or turn to crime. Many of the prisoners were petty crooks - prostitutes and thieves,

vagabonds and debtors.

But not all the prisoners were from the lower classes or male.

One case that caused quite a stir in polite society involved a woman.

She was young, she was pretty, she was middle class and her name was Mary Blandy.

-So who was Mary Blandy?

-She was one of the most famous prisoners here. She caused a scandal.

-What was she incarcerated for?

-It was for patricide, which was killing her father.

Mary was the only child of quite a wealthy lawyer, Francis Blandy.

She was getting on a bit, around 30, and was still unmarried.

Francis advertised a dowry for her of £10,000 in the hope of attracting a suitor.

Captain William Cranston answered, the son of a Scottish nobleman. Quite a respectable man.

He was invited to live in the Blandy household and it all went well

until just before the wedding when Francis discovered that he was already married.

-Bit of a problem.

-The cad!

-I know! Absolutely.

So he was cast from the house and that was it, or so Francis thought.

Unfortunately, it wasn't. William and Mary had fallen in love.

-She turned against her father.

-Well, nobody quite knows.

It's a little bit undecided. The jury decided she had.

She was given a white powder by Cranston and asked to sprinkle it on her father's food.

She said she was told it was a love filter, like opium, to make him so relaxed and happy

he'd be pleased she was getting married. He died - it was arsenic.

This was a build up over time.

-So what was her final outcome?

-Her last wish was not to be hanged too high off the ground

in case anyone looked up her skirts. A lady to the end.

-Hello there.

-Hello.

-Can I open it up and see what you've brought?

-A three-stone opal.

-Yes.

And four-stone diamond ring. I can tell it's 18-carat gold.

Nice quality. It's been resized at some stage.

-Oh, right.

-That's why you've maybe lost the date letter on that.

We can probably date it accurately to the end of the 19th Century,

-perhaps turn of the century.

-Right.

We've got three graduated opals. Probably Australian opals.

And this nice, scroll work mount to the side, which again adds quality.

With jewellery, you can tell the quality by looking at the back

to see the quality of what you don't see. How did you come by it?

I inherited it from a relative.

And she had inherited it I believe in the 1960s from another relative.

-There's no one you'd like to pass it on to?

-My daughter doesn't like it.

-Right.

-She's got eyes on other pieces.

-But not this piece.

So we're pretty safe putting this in the sale and realising some money for it.

Your daughter not finding it to her taste is a major factor when jewellery is auctioned.

As rings go, people do like the combination of opal and diamonds.

That's quite popular. But she's not interested and you...

I have worn it less than half a dozen times in 20 years.

-Any reason for that?

-Because it's not my style.

-Not your type of thing.

-It's very pretty.

-Yeah, you can appreciate it without falling in love with it.

When we get to the auction value, obviously with gold, diamonds, there's a material value there.

But I think on one of these opals we've just got a small chip.

-Yes, yes. It's tiny there.

-We're going to have to factor that into the valuation.

-It will be picked up on.

-Yes.

-If we factor that in, it shouldn't give us any nasty surprises.

-Have you had it valued in the past?

-It was valued in 1965.

-Yes?

-For £65.

-I think, at auction, you should put an estimate on this

of perhaps £250-£350.

£250-£350.

-And perhaps reserve it at the bottom figure, 250.

-Yes.

At that sort of estimate, it will be well received and hopefully the buyer will wear it.

-It would be a shame to be stuck in a cupboard.

-Exactly. So let's put it in the sale.

Fingers crossed someone likes it.

-Hello, Tony.

-Hello.

-I've seen some things on Flog It in my time,

but I haven't come across an old piece of rope like this. It's a lasso, isn't it?

-How did it end up with you?

-My father bought it in Reading horse sale day

-at least 30 years ago.

-In a box of other things?

-No. They sell the horses

and sell the saddlery separate.

It was a lot in the saddlery.

-And did he buy it as a lasso?

-I think he bought it as a lasso. He was always into horses.

-And it stays in the garage, does it?

-Yeah.

-You don't get it out and try to lasso the local dogs?

-No.

They did used to use it when he retired down to the New Forest.

-They did use it a time or two catching ponies.

-Oh, really?

-So it has been actually used.

-Oh, yeah.

-Wonderful.

-Show us how it goes, then.

-That's how you build it up.

The loop at that end, that's what you throw over the horse's head.

OK, I'm fascinated to see how this goes.

It's absolutely amazing.

Yeah, you get that through and as we run it back, it'll be all right.

-And that's how I've got to lasso you.

-Yes, well, don't quite lasso me at the moment!

Not till after I've valued it. You might not like my valuation, so you can lasso me.

-String me up in the sale room!

-Yeah.

-It's a fascinating object.

-From an auction point of view, the interest lies in the fact that it's a little bit wacky.

-Yeah.

A little out of the ordinary. I would say there are people who would find it quite appealing.

But I have no idea on Earth what it's going to make. We could have a stab at it

and put £100-£150 on it and see what happens.

You never know, we might be able to pick up a punter in the room.

-Are you happy with that?

-Oh, yeah. I'd be more than happy with that.

We'll put a reserve of 100, with 10% discretion. We don't want to give it away for nothing.

-But tell me, I'm intrigued. You've had it a long time.

-Yeah.

-Why have you decided to sell it now?

-Well, my daughters, they're not interested in horses.

-So it's better to pass it on.

-Time for it to go and find a new owner.

Well, thank you very much, Tony. I look forward to seeing you at the auction.

-Jill, hello there.

-Hello.

-Could you tell me a bit about the piece you've brought to show us?

-I don't know much about it.

-How did you come by it?

-An antique shop.

-Locally?

-Yes. Cowley Road, about 45 years ago.

Was it for yourself or as a gift?

I did buy two and gave my sister one for a birthday present.

Was it perhaps a pair to this one?

-No, it was entirely different.

-OK, so we haven't got a split pair that we could reunite.

-No.

-That sort of ties in to the factory philosophy.

Every piece is unique. No pairs.

If we turn it upside down, we can see good marks here on the base.

Burmantoft. They were, in the late 19th Century, making this type of art pottery, shall we say?

-Is it something that you like?

-Oh, I do like it, yes.

-It's a super shape.

-Yes.

-You've almost got that double gourd shape.

And then these quite delicate handles. Condition is very good.

-And the colour. Do you like it?

-Yes.

This was a glaze, this olive green, that was very fashionable in the late 19th Century,

for this art pottery.

-It's odd that this is a firm who started off making sewage pipes.

-Oh.

-And things like that.

Similar to the Doulton factory. You see Doulton waterworks and sewage pipes again.

Because of the opening market for this type of wares, they made them.

Have you had it valued at all? Or how much did you pay for it?

-Em, two for...ten shillings.

-Two for ten shillings? Sounds cheap.

You did well there. So, in my opinion, regarding worth now,

for your ten shillings' investment for two, this one on its own

should be worth in the region of maybe £120-£160.

-Is that an estimate you would be happy with?

-No, I think 150.

-You were looking at the 150?

-Yes.

-That's within my estimate. Right.

If we play the bartering game and I say 150 with 10% discretion, perhaps, for the auctioneer?

-Yes, I think I'd do that.

-OK, then.

So we've settled on that. £150-£200 with a discretionary 150 reserve.

-Why have you decided to sell it now?

-I don't know, really.

It's only because your show was on so I brought some things with me.

I hope we can get more than the estimate for it and you can replace it with a larger piece!

-Oh, yes!

-I'll see you at the auction. Fingers crossed.

-Thanks very much.

Let's see if the valuations stand up to scrutiny.

Will is hoping that slight damage to Hilary's opal ring won't put off bidders.

Mark's favourite item was the lasso, but will it prove just too unusual?

Gillian paid just 25p for this Burmantoft vase, so fingers crossed there should be a massive profit.

Now the jewel in Flog It's crown - the opal and diamond ring and also Hilary!

-You're absolutely lovely.

-Thank you.

I take my hat off to you. You've travelled from Anglesey.

-Correct.

-You've moved.

-Correct, yes.

-It's lovely up there, isn't it?

-It's glorious. Absolutely.

-Have you got sea views?

-Oh, yes.

-I envy you.

-500 yards from the beach.

-Well, let's hope we can do Hilary proud today.

We need that top end to send you back up there in style.

-Let's hope we get that 350 mark.

-I hope so. The only thing that might hold it back is the small chip.

I won't say that too loud in case of potential buyers!

But it's got to be worth that if we've got the right buyer.

-Let's hope so.

-We'll find out.

The gold, opal and diamond dress ring. Three opals, four diamonds.

300 for that? 200 to start me?

£200? 200 I have.

210 anywhere? At 210?

210? 210.

-220. 230.

-Yes. A caller's bid.

230. 240.

250? 250.

At 250. Selling at 250.

All done at 250? On commission on the telephone at 250.

-Brilliant.

-Excellent.

-£250.

-That's really good.

We couldn't make you come all the way and go back with no sale!

-No. Thank you so much.

-I'm really glad it sold. Well done.

-Every bid counts.

-Exactly.

-That's really good.

What will you put the money towards? Obviously you've just moved house.

-Just moved house. We need a new shower.

-Yeah.

-And 250 will go a long way towards that.

-Thank you for coming in.

-Thank you.

-Give my love to North Wales.

-I will.

That big sigh of relief as you drive over the Menai Strait.

-What a vision! We've been there many times and can't wait to come back.

-I'll look out for you.

-Turn up!

I will do!

Now it's time to crack that whip. Quite fitting for Flog It!

I've been joined by Tony. We're going to flog your lasso, hopefully.

I had a chat with the auctioneer. You and Mark don't know this.

-We've got a value of £150.

-Right.

-He thinks it's going to struggle.

-Terribly.

-He's not very optimistic, is he?

-No.

-It's a bit of fun.

There's people out there who like these things.

-I've got a few friends who would love it.

-The grin on his face!

We're going to find out right now. We need a few cowboys in the room. Good luck.

A plaited leather lasso. Yards of it, quite literally.

What can we say for this? £100?

50, then? 40 I'm bid. 40.

45. 50. 55.

60. 65. 70.

75. 80. 85.

90. With you at 90. 95 anywhere?

At £90. Are you all happy at 90?

95 anywhere? £90, then, by the door.

All done at 90.

-He sold it. He used his 10% discretion.

-Who was right, Paul?

Yes, I'm very sorry! Our expert.

-That was a good shout.

-I don't want to crow about it.

-Simon got it wrong.

-People out there, the country folk, it's the quiet ones you look out for.

What are you going to do with £90, less the commission?

-Oh, I don't know...

-You don't know.

-I've two girls. Buy something.

-Treat yourself?

-Yes.

I've been looking forward to this. It's Gillian's Burmantoft. You can see it a mile away.

We've got £150-£250 on it. Hopefully, we'll get the top end, right here, right now.

-But you've got to be here to buy it. Will we get £250?

-Well, I hope so.

We had a little discussion on valuation day. I wanted 100,

you wanted a bit more. We settled on 150 with discretion. So, touch wood.

-I hope so!

-We just need two collectors.

-Yes.

Burmantoft two-handled vase. £100 to start me?

-160 I'm bid. 170?

-We've sold it straight away.

170 with Jake. 180.

190. 200. 210.

220. 230.

240. 250.

260.

270?

270 now? 260, then. With Alan at 260. Against you all.

With Alan at £260. All done at 260? With Alan.

-Yes!

-Lovely!

-260 quid! Top end of the estimate. Well done.

-What will you put that money towards?

-Probably a holiday.

-Where do you fancy?

-I don't know.

-Abroad or in this country?

-Probably abroad.

-Where comes to mind?

I'd probably go with my son and the grandchildren.

-He wants to go to Disney.

-In France or America?

-America, I think.

-Lovely.

Well, that's it. It's all over. What a mixed day we've had.

If you've got any antiques and collectables you want to flog, bring them to our valuation days.

We'd love to see you. Details of upcoming dates and venues are on our BBC website.

Just log on to:

Until the next time, it's cheerio.

You can join the Flog It team across the country in coming weeks.

Come on. Get the best advice when the doors open at 9.30.

Email: [email protected]