Wolverhampton Flog It!

What a fantastic crowd of Wulfrunians we have here today. Is that the right pronunciation?

-Yes.

-Wulfrunians.

-Yes.

-I tell you what, the team's not doing very well.

-Not yesterday.

They got thrashed 4-0 by Cardiff.

Where do you find a Wulfrunian?

I'll tell you where, outside Wolverhampton's Civic Hall, and they are all queuing up for Flog It!

The people of Wolverhampton are called Wulfrunian after the Saxon Lady Wulfruna.

In 1425 she founded a monastery,

starting the settlement which was to become the thriving city we see today.

Amongst this massive crowd of Wulfrunians,

we've also got David Barbie and Catherine Southern.

They're rummaging through all the bags and boxes, ready to come up with their expert valuations.

Hilary, you've brought along this beautiful little trinket box.

It's that classic combination

of tortoiseshell and silver which always looks so elegant.

-Where did you get it from?

-It was handed down to me from my mother.

She got it from an elderly neighbour who gave it to her as a thank you present.

What a lovely thank you present!

Your mother must have been kind to her.

-Probably, yes.

-It's a sweet little thing.

Is it something that you use?

I actually keep my rings in it.

It's been in a cupboard for a long time and it hasn't seen the light of day

so I thought it would be something you might like to look at

and someone might appreciate it more.

It's something I appreciate because it's pretty.

Is it something that you love, you're interested in?

I like the combination of the silver and the tortoiseshell

and I like the elegant lines of it.

I'm wondering if it might, once upon a time, have been part of a set.

There might have been other pieces in it perhaps like a brush

that would have had the tortoiseshell covering.

I might be wrong.

But it is possible that it is part of a set.

It has got the hallmarks here.

Do you know anything, have you had it dated?

No, I haven't, I don't know anything about the hallmarks. I noticed there were two sets of hallmarks.

There are two sets of hallmarks on the lid and also on the bottom.

The actual shield here, this mark actually tells us it was made in Chester.

And this other mark here, the initial R, lets us date it to 1917.

That is the actual date of the piece.

-Oh right!

-Is that the date you were thinking of?

-I thought it was earlier than that, actually.

I will tell you how much it's worth. It's worth £100-150.

But I would hope if there are two people like us who really go for it,

perhaps it might make a bit more than that. It is a pretty piece.

-Would you be happy to sell at that price?

-Yes, I would be, yes.

We'll put a reserve on of about £80 to keep it safe,

but I would hope that it does more than that.

If it does do well, what would you spend the money on?

I really don't know. I'd probably just put it in the bank.

Very wise! Save it for a rainy day.

Thank you very much for coming along. I hope it does well for you.

-I hope we can get you a good price.

-Thank you very much.

-Doreen, you look very with it with your hairstyle.

-I know, yes.

Do you have London leanings or what? Where do you come from?

Originally?

-Birmingham originally.

-Aren't we in Birmingham?

-No, no!

And you've brought this wonderful little box along.

-Look at that! Do you not wear it?

-No, I don't.

-Why not?

I don't know. I never had the occasion, I suppose.

-It is really is such...

-It's beautiful, I know.

That box does nothing for the ring. Here we have this wonderful ring.

They are old cut diamonds. We have this lovely pierced gallery all the way around.

Where did this come from?

-It was my mother's.

-Your mother's.

Right. And did she not wear it?

-No.

-Did she not like it?

Yes, she loved it. She just didn't wear it.

-It's extraordinary, isn't it?

-I know, it's amazing.

-Did she buy it?

-She bought it. Yes.

And she wanted a diamond ring like this?

-Yes.

-This is quite stunning.

I notice the shank is not marked.

It may well be that constant wear has worn the mark smooth

so, before it goes up for auction, it's got to be tested.

The auction house can test it for either 15 or 18 carat gold.

I would suspect with the setting and the stones,

that it's round about 18 carat. I don't think it's 22, it's 18 carat.

I love the stones. Old cut.

Lovely shimmer.

Why are you selling this? Don't tell me, you don't wear it either.

-I don't.

-Do you not like diamonds?

I do, I love them but I don't see the sense of them being locked away with nobody looking at them.

And you've no member of the family it could go to?

-No.

-Here it goes.

Let's put this up for sale. Price.

I would like to see an estimate in the region of £350-500.

-Right.

-If it was in a retail outlet, it would be twice that amount.

-But we are selling at auction, which is often called the wholesale level.

-Yes.

You've got this distinction between wholesale auction and retail which is the price you pay for it in a shop.

-Yes, yes.

-Right.

I think I might put a reserve in the region of about £350 on it.

-Are you quite happy with that?

-Yes.

You said that hesitatingly.

-I know!

-Speak now, forever hold thy peace.

-Yes, yes.

-We'll do our very best for you.

Ian, it's so nice to get scientific instruments on the show

because they are precision made, they are quality instruments,

owned by gentlemen with a bit of money, academics.

And, of course, sought after by academics as well.

It's quality all the way.

Just look at the case for a start.

Moroccan-tooled leather.

It's just quality all around, that.

That is absolutely stunning.

A pocket telescope.

If I take that out, original velvet interior as well.

I think it's absolutely divine.

-How did you come by this?

-I found it under the back seat of a police car.

-What were you doing?

-I worked for West Midlands Police.

-Oh, I thought you might have been arrested.

No. No. I handed it in to found property.

Retrieved it after the specified time.

-Have you found anything else in police cars?

-No.

-And it's been yours ever since.

It's been mine ever since, about 32 years.

You've certainly looked after it. It's a nice little piece.

If we pull it open, you can see it is in fact six draw.

One, two, three, four, five, six.

And there it's got a little signature which says Bate

and it's made in London. They were based in London throughout the 19th century.

They made a lot of scientific instruments.

This is a refracting telescope.

It works by light coming straight through the lens as opposed to a reflecting one.

It's not a brilliant telescope but let's face it,

it was meant be put in the pocket and used as a little eyeglass.

I'm pretty sure you could survey something.

Maybe that's what was going on in the police car.

"I've got my eye on you." It really does work.

Obviously the value is in the lens.

It's not been damaged or scratched.

One thing is missing from this. Have you noticed?

This rim here has been machine-tooled and so has that rim.

That would have been to hold a piece of leather, brown or a blood red.

Most field glasses have it, it just gives a bit of grip there.

But it also finishes it off, it gives it that quality.

Metal and leather look fantastic together.

That won't devalue it too much because the value is in the lens.

It's one of the nicest little telescopes I've ever seen.

I'm going to say it's got a value of around £100-150.

If you had the original leather, possibly £175-200 in the right sale.

That's the sort of money we are going to get. It'll find its own level in there.

-Happy with that?

-I am, yes.

And you never know, maybe we will spot loads and loads of bidders out there.

Pat, thank you very much for coming along today

and waiting very patiently.

You've brought along this lovely little set here,

this little cup and saucer and little side plate.

It looks like the sort of thing you would have had as a christening present.

We would probably date it back to the 1920s.

-Tell me, where did you get it from?

-I think it must have been given to me

as a Christmas present, christening present or birthday present.

-Not quite sure.

-Right.

Do you have any idea when you got it, what sort of age?

-I was probably about two or three.

-And it's always been with you?

It's always been with me or at my mum and dad's house.

It's in fantastic condition so presumably they never actually gave it to you.

-They preserved it and put it in a cupboard.

-That's right, yes.

There are no chips or anything, as you would imagine.

It doesn't look like it's been touched which is wonderful.

Do you know anything about it at all? In terms of who it was made by?

I know it's a Shelley.

It's actually made by Shelley.

I don't know if you've seen underneath the prints.

They are really pretty little prints, lovely scenes.

It's actually got the name of the artist, Mabel Lucie Attwell. Did you know anything about her?

I don't know much about Mabel Lucie Attwell.

She produced these wonderful little prints and Shelley was inspired by her prints.

They often used her prints in their china.

Often her little figures are these really chubby little boys and girls,

chubby little fairies which I think are wonderful, really characteristic.

Also on the back, you can see we've got this lovely little verse

which is...

There they are, the little boy and girl pedalling as fast as they can

and the fairies running after them.

It's a pretty little scene. Do you have any idea of value on this?

No, none at all.

I would probably put it in auction with an estimate of £40-60.

It's not a huge amount, but I would hope it would make a lot more than that.

I would hope a few people would be interested in it to buy it

because of its lovely condition and hope they would buy this

as a christening gift for somebody.

-How does that sound to you?

-That sounds OK.

Are you all right with that? It's not a vast sum of money so what would you do with the money?

Well, probably put it towards a holiday.

Even if it was just to fill up the car with diesel.

Well, good for you, and thank you for bringing it along today and really maintaining it in perfect condition.

Thank you.

So let's remind ourselves what we're taking off to the saleroom.

To start, the elegant little Chester silver trinket box

made special by its tortoiseshell inlay.

They may be a girl's best friend,

but Doreen's decided her mother's diamonds have had their day.

And what a find!

This lovely telescope was rescued by Ian from the back of a police car.

And finally, Catherine was charmed by the Shelley trio,

which is in immaculate condition.

For our auction today, we've moved down the road to Stourbridge,

and this is where all our treasures have ended up, Fielding's Fine Art Auctioneers.

Let's go inside.

Hopefully the room is packed full of bidders all after our lots.

We are in luck today. We have not one but two auctioneers,

Will Farmer and Nicholas Davies, who will be sharing our lots.

I've just been joined by one bidder, a chap called Alan who has brought along another bidder.

His name is Sam.

-Does he go everywhere with you?

-Most of the time he does, yes.

He's very tame, how old is he?

He's about two and a half.

He's absolutely beautiful.

-The question is, does he have a bidding paddle?

-In my bag.

He collects fine art glass.

Well, good luck. And thank you for showing us Sam.

We have this gorgeous little silver trinket box with the tortoiseshell lid and it belongs to Hilary here.

-How are you?

-Fine, thanks.

-Looking forward to this?

-Yes.

The tension is rising.

You kept your rings in this.

-What do you keep them in now?

-I keep them in another little box.

So you collect little boxes. This one is particularly nice.

It reminds me of a piece of Georgian furniture. It's very demure and elegant.

We've got a value of £100-120. Will we get that top end?

I think so. You hit the nail on the head, it is elegant, it's so pretty.

What we want to know is why do you really want to sell it?

If you collect them, surely you should be hanging on to this?

I do have rather a large number of them.

This one hasn't seen the light of day for 15 years. So it's a good thing to sell.

-How many have you got in your collection?

-About 40.

Here we go,

it's the little silver tortoiseshell trinket box on the slender legs.

Chester, 1917.

I have to open the bidding at £75.

-I'll look for £80 in the room. £75 on commission. £80 anybody?

-Come on.

Some bidding down in the room.

Do I see 85 anywhere else?

£80, the lady has bid, seated in the middle of a crowd.

-Come on, a bit more.

-We're all finished at £80.

-It's too cheap.

-It's sold on the reserve at £80.

We didn't quite get that £100.

-It was a bit cheap.

-Now, what it is that £100 going towards? More boxes?

No, it's going to the Mayfair Centre in Church Stretton.

What's that, is that a charity?

Yes, it's a healthy living centre and it's run by the community for the community.

-A good cause then.

-Yes.

Right now we've got a trio of Shelley up for grabs and I've just been joined by Pat.

That is the good news.

The bad news, Pat, is the Shelley got damaged in the viewing a few days ago.

It does happen, unfortunately.

That's why the auctioneer puts a commission on buying and selling.

So the seller is protected.

Right, yes.

It's what's called an insurance, it's built in to that price.

The auctioneer has agreed to buy this item at the lower end of the estimate.

The estimate was £40-60, put on by our expert Catherine here.

Are you happy with the valuation?

-Yes.

-He's agreed to buy it at the lower end of the valuation,

so whatever happens, Pat is going away with £40. OK?

But we're still putting it up for sale because a collector

might want just one of the items

and he might be prepared to pay £50-60. So it's all academic, really.

The Shelly bone china by Mabel Lucie Attwell. A trio.

My apologies, ladies and gentlemen.

This did get damaged in the view. The cup is as found.

However we do still have a perfectly nice and perfect plate and saucer

and a good restoration project.

Still a super lot. Here to be sold.

Where will we be for it? The plate's got to be worth £20, surely?

£20 anywhere for it?

£20, thank you. 20 I have. And two.

-22. 25. 28.

-Gosh!

28 down on the left. And 30 now? Selling that away at £28,

all sure and done?

Brilliant! That's good news for you because you still get your £40

without paying any commission.

It's also good news for Will Farmer as well

because they don't have to pay out of their own money the 40 quid

-because somebody bought it for £28. So that will make up the difference.

-Thank you.

-Happy?

-Yes.

-I'm sorry that happened.

-It's not a lot of money but it will cover the petrol and a drink.

-Certainly, yes.

-Thank you anyway for coming along.

-Thank you.

Here's something to set your sights on.

It's a six-draw pocket telescope and it's quality.

It was found under the seat of a police car and it belongs to Ian here.

-What a find!

-What a good find, yes.

-It's a nice little treasure.

-We're looking at £100-150. Any regrets on flogging this?

-No.

You want to see it go?

-I want to see it go.

-I think it will.

I think it will, I've seen a lot of the bidders here sort of looking at it, looking through it.

-It's a lovely little item.

-We can but hope.

We can but hope, can't we? I think all the talking's done and dusted.

It's now time to find out what the bidders of Stourbridge think. This is it.

Here is the 19th century brass and stained ivory

six-draw pocket telescope of Bate of London.

A nice thing this, I'd really like this.

Bids and interest, we have to open the bidding at £140. £140.

We've sold it.

We're £140.

I'll sell for 145, anybody want to take the commission bidders on?

140, I'm selling it. All well and finished at £140.

All done?

That was quick, wasn't it?

In and out, blink and you'll miss that. 140 quid.

-I am very pleased with that.

-Top end of the estimate.

-That's right.

-What's that going towards?

My wife wants to have a flight around the northern lights.

-The aurora borealis.

-That's right.

So I think I might treat her.

-How romantic!

-I might even go myself.

I think you should. You can't let her go by herself.

Now for the jewel in the Flog It crown.

It is a diamond ring and it belongs to Doreen.

We've got a valuation of £350-500.

Why are you flogging this?

-I never wear it.

-You never wear it.

It is beautiful. It is going to be sad to part with it.

-Yes, it is rather nice.

-Is it going to be a cruncher, lots of memories?

-Not really, no.

-Were you happy with David's valuation?

-Yes!

-Yes.

I've got to say that.

I don't know anything about jewellery. Could this be a "come and buy me"?

It's quite a stunning piece, actually. Women do love diamonds.

Now on cruise ships, they are flashing them all over the place.

-They're a girl's best friend.

-Yes.

-So you tell me.

-Well, they are!

So it says in the songs and the movies.

We're going to find out exactly what that diamond ring is worth right now. Good luck, Doreen.

-And good luck, David.

-Thank you.

The 19th century 18 carat diamond cluster ring.

We've had bids and interest on this on commission.

420, I believe.

-420 takes the other bidders out. Do I see 430 in the room?

-Come on.

420, 430 in the room? 430. 440? 450?

460?

-This is...

-450 we have. 460 anywhere else?

-460, Chris? 460. 470?

-We've got a telephone bid.

-There's a telephone bid over there.

-470 anywhere else?

At £460, are we all done?

470 anywhere else? All done at 460?

Yes! Hammer's gone down.

-£460! What a lot of money!

-I know.

Less a little bit of commission.

-Yes.

-Spot on.

-Thank you very much.

-Out by the odd £40.

-Yes.

-Exactly, yes.

-I'll do better next time!

Great valuation. I couldn't have done that.

What are you going to put all that money towards?

-I don't know. I don't know with that one.

-Don't care yet?!

I was wondering whether I was going to sell it or not.

I'd get a bigger one!

Yes!

I know what you're thinking - a late medieval manor house.

Well, no, you're wrong.

It's from the Victorian era.

This is Wightwick Manor and it was built in 1887.

It was the pride and joy of Theodore Mander,

who was a very successful Victorian paint and varnish manufacturer.

He built this house just outside Wolverhampton in the picturesque

and very popular Old English style, which was the fashion of the day.

Theodore's artistic tastes were influenced by writer and critic John Ruskin,

who emphasised the importance of hand craftsmanship and looking to the past for inspiration.

Only six years after moving in, Theodore and his wife Flora's family had grown.

The business was doing extremely well,

which meant they needed to do much more entertaining.

So they built an extension.

And this is it, the new east wing.

It's on a much grander scale than the original house.

It's now entirely half-timbered.

If you look at the decoration of the chimney stacks there,

that barley twist turning looks very much like something from the 16th century.

We're now looking at a mock Elizabethan house.

Well, here we are in the great parlour.

It really is the centrepiece of the new extension.

Theodore and Flora created this room to impress and entertain their guests.

Wightwick Manor is now owned by the National Trust, and their learning officer, Jackie Allen, is here

-to talk me through the room. It's good to see you.

-Pleasure.

Thank you for taking time out.

-A pleasure.

-I must say, it certainly does have the wow factor

of a 16th century great hall, what you'd expect to see.

You've got a lovely vaulted ceiling, wooden panels all over the wall,

which is what you'd expect in the 16th century.

The carved fireplace, that overmantel, but there is a date there.

-Right in the centre. You spotted that, Paul!

-1893.

So it's not meant to deceive, is it?

-No.

-It's tongue in cheek.

-It's a visual joke.

Just a few references, but those in the know would certainly realise that, yeah, that was a joke.

But artists were intelligent people so they had lots of influences from the past.

They've put these things together and it's made them feel good.

It certainly makes me feel good standing here.

A lot of people come and say, "It does feel like a home."

It doesn't feel like an imposing place. It's their living room.

-It's not a museum piece.

-I could move in here tomorrow.

-So could I!

I just love looking up there. Your eyes gravitate upwards, don't they?

Colour everywhere, texture everywhere.

Tell me about the panels up there.

Come and have a look, Paul, especially this one here.

Again, a pastiche of an Elizabethan frieze.

We know it can't be Elizabethan.

Can you see the kangaroo?

-Oh, yes.

-So again a little joke, a visual reference. Who is going to spot it tucked away?

A little play on the eye.

A little play on the eye.

From up there, I'm coming straight down here,

because I have a winged-back armchair just like this at home,

which I sit and watch the telly in.

Unfortunately, it doesn't have William Morris fabric on it like that.

-Tell me all about this chair.

-The Manders would have purchased the particular material

and had it put on it.

This is a lovely story.

Morris, going down the garden one day, sees the birds pinching the fruit out of the fruit cage.

-Is that where he got the inspiration from?

-Yes.

There you go, there you've got the strawberry thieves, literally.

-What a chair!

-It's lovely.

-We're not allowed to sit on that, are we?

No, unfortunately not.

The stained-glass windows - tell me about them.

Like the frieze, they were done by a gentleman called Kempe.

We've come across him before.

He did mostly church-commissioned work.

Very much so. It is very unusual for him to actually have done this in a house itself.

In a domestic setting.

Like you've seen before, you will know the yellow,

the translucent light that's coming in, adding to that rich colour of the house.

Again, with this very old fashioned theme to it,

you have to have the patron saints, the armorial stained glass, the civic centre - Wolverhampton -

and of course the arms of Nova Scotia - Flora, his wife.

Kempe, strangely enough, has a connection himself with what's in front of us here.

-William De Morgan.

-William De Morgan.

You've seen these before.

-On many, many programmes.

-Especially the pattern here on this flatware.

To us, again, we would know this as De Morgan.

If we were a Victorian audience, we'd know him by his books, his writing.

-Ah!

-So that's changed.

Tell me more about the man.

The man himself was quite educated, enjoyed science very much.

Started life as a painter,

went into stained glass and that is where we get the Kempe connection in.

Kempe, using a glaze, is producing the colour and the translucency and the lustre.

This is how he gets the lustre.

Yes, he says if it can be done on glass, surely it can be done on ceramics.

Who were his clients in the day? These are so expensive. They would have been expensive.

Really. Very much so. His clientele, he called them "carriage folk".

But the problem with him is that he underestimated them all.

Is that because he was an artist, really? He wasn't a businessman.

No, not by any means.

He would not know how much things were going to charge.

He would say to you, "You can have this for £5,"

and it would cost him ten. So there were lots and lots of losses.

I wish I'd know him then, I tell you!

Thank you so much for showing me around. I've got to say it is such a beautiful place.

I spent the day here. I'd love to spend a week.

You are welcome to come back any time.

And back to the valuation day, where something gleaming has caught David's eye.

Robert, are these family heirlooms? How long have you had them?

I think about eight years.

About eight years? So they're not family heirlooms. How did you come by them?

They were from a friend of mine, deceased, who left me with the contents of a property.

-What happened to the other contents?

-The majority were sold off.

-At auction?

-At auction.

-So you're quite familiar with how auctions work.

-I am, yes.

-Right.

What I like about these sticks is the elegance.

These were probably made 1920, 1923.

You've got that leftover of the neo-classical period with these tapering columns.

Originally square at the top and they took the corners off.

We call these cantered corners.

They're waisted at the side here. They're tapered beautifully.

Then we have these sloping shoulders with a little raised plinth all the way around.

Quite often, with old sticks, you have this section here, which is called the sconce,

actually you could remove it. But you can't on these.

-These are fixed sconces.

-It is fixed?

-Yes. Have you had these in pride of place at home?

-No.

Wrapped up in a box in the loft.

I can't believe it!

Did you not like them or...?

I've got some other things which were put away at the time and...

Not forgotten about but I thought, "One day I'll get these out and..."

-Use them?

-Maybe sell them.

I ask because they're beautifully polished. Was that before you came here?

-Yes, I did clean them up.

-Well done. These are in fact silver.

-Oh, they are silver?

If you look right at the front here, you can see the silver mark.

-Yes.

-You've got a sword and bushels of wheat right in the centre there,

which tells me that these were assayed at the Chester office.

-The assay mark is for 1923.

-Oh, that's how you know the year?

Yes. 1923. We know exactly when these almost went on the shelves or to the shop to be sold.

When you brought them over to me, you said, "Look, they rattle." Which one is it?

It's not in that one.

-I can hear it. Can you hear it?

-Yes, I can.

-You know what that is?

These are not solid silver. They are filled with a bitumen.

-Bitumen?

-Which then sets and it forms a solid body.

So these are very thin silver sections.

So that would make it heavier?

Make it heavier. The price of these, I would estimate somewhere in the region of £120-150.

We could do more because they're very elegant.

I think we should do quite well on these. They're going up to auction

-and I look forward to seeing you there.

-I look forward to that.

Abby, thank you very much for coming along.

Who's this lovely doll you've brought along?

-This is Polly.

-Right, OK.

Where does Polly come from?

Well, she came from my grandma's auntie, who gave it to her

because she didn't want to give it to my grandma's cousin. She didn't trust her with it.

So it's come through the family.

Let's have a closer look at her.

She has been through the wars.

We can see that her teeth are damaged a bit.

She needs to go off to the dentist. Also some of her eyelashes are out.

Know anything about her, where she comes from or anything like that?

Well, not really.

All we know is that she's German.

The best thing to do when you've got a doll is to look on the back of the head.

That's what we'll do now. We'll turn her straight around.

We'll have a little look.

The heads are made from bisque, which means they've been fired twice.

If we push her wig up a little bit, we can see that it says Heubach.

Heubach is a very famous maker of dolls.

Gebruder Heubach is the maker.

You can see here as well that it does say Germany.

This bit here is actually the mould number

and that will tell you the date of the doll.

I think she's really quite pretty.

She's quite a large doll, larger than your average size.

Here we can see that she has got her composition legs and they are jointed.

I'm just a bit concerned about the teeth and her eyelashes, that she is not in tip-top condition.

If she were in tip-top condition, we'd be looking at a couple of hundred pounds.

But because of the way she is, I think we should realistically price her at about £60 to £80 at auction.

-Would you like to put her in at that?

-Yeah, that's fine.

-Are you not attached to Polly any more?

-No.

-Did you never really play with her?

No, she was in a suitcase on top of a wardrobe.

Really? Poor Polly! If she sells for between 60 and 80,

would you take the money from that or would you give it back to your family?

My nan is going to have the money

and she said that she was going to spend it on a day at a recording studio for me.

Are you training to be a singer?

-Lovely! Classical singing or...?

-All different things.

How wonderful! I hope that it does well

and that you go along for your singing and you do exceptionally well.

Perhaps we'll see you in the next West End production.

Well, Arthur, I've never seen anything as large as this.

-D'you like it?

-No.

-Does your wife like it?

-No.

-Is that why you're selling it?

-That's right.

-I'm fascinated. Where did you get this from?

A friend gave it me, who didn't like it, 40 years ago.

So where has it been stuck?

In the wardrobe!

-What, wrapped up in sheeting or something?

-Yes.

That's why it's not dusty.

Often you will find all this moss work, which is shredded clay,

inundated with dust and dirt, but this is in lovely condition.

What I do like particularly is this huge, ugly toad,

with that wonderful sort of brown speckled glaze.

Then this magnificent... Would you say it was a grass snake or a huge slow worm?

-Grass snake.

-Are you reluctant to part with it?

-No.

-Nobody in the family likes it?

-No.

Where did your friend get it from?

I couldn't tell you, it has been so many years. She didn't say.

She just asked me if I'd like it and I said I'd take it.

Because I was going to ask you, had they been on holiday to Portugal?

No, I haven't.

I know it's from Portugal.

That's right. A potter called Da Cunha produced these.

He was copying a French potter's designs of the 16th/17th century.

He used this rich coloured glaze to create a similar effect.

These are very much de rigueur at the moment. They are collected.

People like to have these.

And on a conservatory wall, they can look stunning,

-with ferns and orange plants and things like that.

-Lovely.

So there is going to be a ready market for it.

We're going to sell it at an auction house that's well known for selling ceramics.

I think they'll go absolutely doolally when they see this.

Have you any idea about a price?

Not the faintest.

I want to put a comfortable price on it so we sell it.

I think if we put something in the region of £180-250

and hope to get more, and I think we shall do,

-would you be comfortable at that sort of figure?

-That'd be all right.

It may well be that they suggest we put a reserve of slightly less to guarantee a sale.

-So you're happy with that?

-I'm happy with that.

-You don't have to consult the wife?

-She just wants to get rid of it?

-No, it's entirely up to me.

-You've made the right decision bringing it in to Flog It. Thank you very much indeed.

-Thank you.

And now for another look at our finds.

First, the 1920s silver candlesticks.

I think they're far too nice to keep wrapped up in the loft.

Next, Polly the dolly who Catherine thinks would benefit from a trip to the dentist and beautician.

And finally we have to wait and see if David is right.

Will the bidders go doolally for the majolica plate?

Well, let's hear what William, our auctioneer, thinks.

This belongs to Arthur, and I can tell you, Will,

not for much longer, especially with a valuation of £180-250.

And the more creepy-crawlies, as you know, the more value that goes onto these, but what a size.

It's brilliant and also I've never seen one

-with a toad that big sat in the middle of it.

-Nor have I.

It's great fun. Markets have come, markets have gone.

America are the big buyers for this stuff.

It's in vogue, except for the price, which I don't think is bang-on.

It's a bit of a teaser, I think.

-500, 600, 700?

-I think five, six, certainly.

I know we've had interest Stateside.

The Americans have struggled with their economy,

but they're saying, "Whatever, it's a good thing, we want to have a go at this."

-The condition is superb.

-And these things will stand a little bit of damage.

They don't seem to be over precious about them.

They just want them for what they are, which is just a complete face-smiler, isn't it?

It's a pleasing thing to own, to look at,

and it won't belong to your client much longer.

Well, fingers crossed, I think this one could fly.

So whatever you do, don't go away, watch this space, because the sale's coming up in just a moment.

But first, let's see how the candlesticks do.

There's always a premium on pairs and we've got one for you right now.

It's a pair of candlesticks belonging to Robert here. Fingers crossed!

A nice bit of silver, I know one rattles, the weight is a bit loose in the base there.

-Correct.

-Why are you flogging these?

They've just been packed away in a box in the loft, no use to me.

-David's put a valuation of 120, possibly we'll get that top end, 150.

-I would hope so.

As you said, pairs are so important.

A nice pair of candlesticks dress a table beautifully

and I understand now, you see, dining tables coming back into vogue,

linen, silverware, crystal, two candlesticks.

Create the look.

And not only that, they look fantastic on the mantelpiece as well, so why are you selling them?

Well, I don't use them.

-Well, they've been in that box, haven't they?

-Yes.

-Well, let's hope they find a great home, OK?

Hallmarked silver candlesticks, here they are, down here, Chester, 1923.

Nice ones, these are great, any table.

-Bids and interest, I have to start at £170, I believe.

-Yes!

Straight in at £170.

£170, 175 in the room anywhere before I go to the phone?

175 on the phone, would you like to bid?

175, 180, 185?

190, 195...

Oh, good, there's a commission bid left. They like them!

210? Says no, 205, standing on the phone at 205, 210 anywhere else?

£205 for the sticks, are we all done and finished at 205? 205.

Yes, that's a sold sound! £205...

-Very good.

-That was great, wasn't it?

-Excellent, very good.

What are you going to put £205 towards, less a bit of commission?

-Erm...I was thinking of, erm...putting it towards a holiday, travel.

-Where do you fancy going?

I like to visit various places.

Where's your favourite place?

-I've been to London recently.

-OK.

Well, it could be a good trip out to the theatre, take in a good show.

-Yes, I might go back again.

-And go around the capital.

-Yes.

Good choice. Thank you so much for coming in. Great result.

-Thanks for bringing them along.

-Yeah.

And now for something that's gonna get you on the edge of your seats.

No, it's not worth a lot of money, it's just frightening!

It's that German doll with missing teeth and eyelashes and it belongs to Abby here.

It's good to see you again.

-Who have you brought along for moral support?

-My nan Jane.

Nan Jane, hi, Jane! Well, I guess Nan can drive, can't she? You can't.

Oh, this dolly's scary, it is very scary.

We've got a valuation, £60-80 we're looking for.

Yeah, absolutely. It would be a bit more if she had some teeth.

-I'm pleased you're selling this, cos I find them so spooky, don't you?

-Yeah.

-How long have you had the doll?

-Erm...

For quite a while, quite a few years.

-In the bedroom?

-Yeah, hidden away.

Hidden away, don't blame you!

So who's gonna get the money when we sell it?

-My nan.

-Nan?

-No, I think Abby will.

Abby should, shouldn't she? Fingers crossed we'll get the top end.

-I hope so, I really hope so, let's just see.

-We're gonna find out right now, Abby.

There we are, bids and interest, where do you start me?

£60, straight in on a commission, £60 takes the underbidders out.

-Straight in.

-And five, and 80?

75 in the distance, gentleman's bid, 80 anywhere else?

£75 right in the corner with the jacket on.

At £75 for the doll, all done and finished at £75.

Yes, that hammer's gone down, that's a sold sound, £75.

Gotta be pleased with that. That's exactly what Katherine, our expert, predicted.

Yeah, that's not bad, is it? 50-80, yeah, I'm quite pleased at that.

-Well done.

-What's the first thing that's come to mind?

-How old are you?

-12.

What would a 12-year-old spend £75 on tomorrow?

-Shopping.

-Shopping, but what would you buy?

-Clothes.

-Everything!

Come on, what's at the top of your wish-list for £75?

Some better shoes, probably.

Better shoes, oh... Nan, shoe shopping.

Typical girl, isn't it, shoes?

Yes, shoes and handbags, typical women.

Oh, yeah, absolutely.

Remember Arthur from the valuation day?

I can remember you and that majolica plate

with that wonderful big toad on it and all the creepy-crawlies.

We had a chat to the auctioneer a little bit earlier, and I said,

"That's a whopping great toad, that should leap up to at least £800,"

and the auctioneer agreed with me.

There's been lots and lots of interest, we have seen them on the show before, but a lot smaller,

-so fingers crossed that this is going to leap away, David.

-Just like that toad.

You either love it, Paul, or you hate it, those things of the night, the dark slippery places.

I love that, I absolutely adore it and I'd love to own this as well.

Why, oh, why are you flogging it?

Because it is all the rage right now.

It doesn't fit in the cabinet, it's in the wardrobe.

It never sees the light of day?

Creepy-crawlies like that, don't they?

That accounts for its condition.

Yes, cos it is in very, very good condition.

Well, there's lots of interest so fingers crossed, OK?

This should be a lovely surprise.

-This is it.

-We have the Portuguese majolica plaque.

Lovely lot with a great big frog and the snake surrounding.

A great deal of interest in this, been on it all week, and I believe

I have to go to my right to take all other commission bidders out

-with an opening bid of £920.

-Yes!

-£900! £900!

-It's gonna do the 8-12.

The opening bit on my right clears all other commission bidders.

920 I have, do I hear 950 in the room?

Before I go to the telephones, I have 920 on the book.

No interest in the room.

Chris, would you like to bid 950?

Telephone's out as well. It's on the commission, then, at £920.

Short but sweet...

That hammer, Arthur, is just about to go down at £920!

Oh, that was good, wasn't it? That was good!

-A bit of a "come and buy me", David, that was.

-Absolutely!

OK, we've got £920 less a bit of commission.

What are you gonna put all that money towards?

-It's a lot better than 250.

-Holiday.

Holiday! Where are you going, Arthur?

-Costa del Sol.

-Costa del Sol, how long are you going for?

-Six weeks.

-Oh, keep warm through the winter then.

-Do you do this every year?

-Yes.

-That should pay for the trip, shouldn't it?

-It should do.

-And the expenses.

-Absolutely wonderful, it's far more than I'd expected.

-It's far more than I expected.

But what a choice piece! Will you see another one that size in that condition? I very much doubt it.

There's been a great buzz in the auction room all day long.

In fact, it's still going on and we've certainly had a rewarding day.

It was great to see that big smile on Arthur's face

as his majolica dish full of creepy-crawlies served up a whopping £920.

I hope you've enjoyed the show. Join me next time for lots more.

For more information about Flog It, including how the programme was made,

visit the website at bbc.co.uk/lifestyle

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd 2007

E-mail [email protected]