0:00:04 > 0:00:10Today we're in a Regency town famous for composers, poets and pop stars.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12Welcome to "Flog It!" from Cheltenham.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58And talking of pop stars, not many of you would know
0:00:58 > 0:01:04that Brian Jones, the guitarist in the Rolling Stones, was born here in Cheltenham and went to school here.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13Brian, with the rest of the Rolling Stones,
0:01:13 > 0:01:18played an early gig in Cheltenham on the 10th of February, 1964.
0:01:25 > 0:01:30And rocking their way along the queue today are our very own heart-throbs. Look at them.
0:01:30 > 0:01:35I can't see them in a rock 'n' roll band, more Eurovision. It's the cheeky boys.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39It's James Lewis and Charlie Ross, who are hoping to find some big hits in the queue.
0:01:39 > 0:01:44- Nul point? - Oh, did you want me to do it?
0:01:45 > 0:01:49We're in Cheltenham's elegant town hall today and the excitement is building.
0:01:49 > 0:01:55And first at the table is Charlie, who's found something rather intriguing.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59John, I expect you know what you've got.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03- I think it's a snuffbox. - I think it's a snuffbox too.
0:02:03 > 0:02:04It's an attractive one.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08- Where did it come from?- Well, it was my grandmother's.- Yeah?- Yeah.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12So my father gave it to me to bring in to see what it's worth.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15Oh, I see! And then sell it regardless?
0:02:15 > 0:02:19- Hopefully.- Willy-nilly?- Absolutely. - If I tell you it's worth £2, still sell it?
0:02:19 > 0:02:21Maybe a little more than that!
0:02:21 > 0:02:24- Do you know what it's made from? - I presume it's silver and ivory.
0:02:24 > 0:02:29It is silver and ivory, absolutely spot on. It is, as you say, ivory.
0:02:29 > 0:02:35It's interesting that colouring's going, isn't it? On the top there.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39And I've opened it up, and what did you think about the inside?
0:02:39 > 0:02:42- I thought it was wood.- Wood? - Yeah, I didn't realise.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45I can see why you thought that. It's got a woody grain to it.
0:02:45 > 0:02:50- Yes, yes.- But, you see, what's happened is it's become discoloured.
0:02:50 > 0:02:55It is ivory. It's one piece of ivory, and it's ivory top to bottom.
0:02:55 > 0:03:01And the reason it's gone that colour is, of course, because it's been used for snuff.
0:03:01 > 0:03:07Then looking at the inside, inside it appears has been gilded at some stage.
0:03:07 > 0:03:08Why would that be?
0:03:08 > 0:03:14For protection of the silver and also for quality purposes, which is high quality gilding.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17What sort of person would have a snuffbox like this?
0:03:17 > 0:03:19Oh, quite a gentry.
0:03:19 > 0:03:25This is high quality in silver. I mean, a lot of people had snuff,
0:03:25 > 0:03:29but they would have just wooden snuffboxes, metal snuffboxes.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31This is silver.
0:03:31 > 0:03:36And in terms of its date, the hallmark is unclear.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38We can tell, obviously, that it's silver.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42We can tell that it's George III because we've got George III's head on there.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45The date stamp is unclear.
0:03:45 > 0:03:51And I've come up with two possibilities. 1790 or 1810.
0:03:51 > 0:03:56So for purposes of valuation, we'll call it 1800, George III.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58It's really quite a good size.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00It's quite a big, big snuffbox.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04They were more commonly half that size.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06Right.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10- Now, it's got a name on the bottom. - I have no idea who that is. - Robert Hillier.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13- No relation.- Tell me that's your great, great grandfather.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15Sorry, no. I don't think so, anyway.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18What a great shame. That's another comment,
0:04:18 > 0:04:22- another social comment of the standing of the person it belonged to.- Yes.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25You know, if you were Joe Bloggs and you were a farm labourer,
0:04:25 > 0:04:30you wouldn't have had this wonderfully engraved name on the bottom.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33- It's fabulously done.- Yes. - What do you think it's worth?
0:04:33 > 0:04:35I've got no idea. I have no idea.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38- I'll give a wide estimate of £100-£200.- Right!
0:04:38 > 0:04:40I think it's certainly worth £100.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42- OK. - I'd like to see it make nearer £200.
0:04:42 > 0:04:48- OK. Right.- So we'll put it in, and I think we'll put a discretionary reserve on it of £100.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50I think we need to protect it with a reserve.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52This really shouldn't be sold for £50.
0:04:52 > 0:04:57- Absolutely.- And I don't suppose you've got any use for it? - My father hasn't, and I haven't.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01- Not a snuff taker?- Not a snuff taker at all, not even a smoker.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03- So, father's given it to you to bring in today.- Yes.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05And why does he want to sell it?
0:05:05 > 0:05:08Probably to buy more whisky or wine.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12- Or go and see more horseracing. I don't know. - Oh, that's... Splendid!
0:05:16 > 0:05:22Bev, Chrissie, when I first saw this earlier on today, I thought, fantastic picture.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26I'm going to be able to do some research into the artist and tell you all about it later.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30But do you know, I found nothing. Absolutely nothing.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32I've searched internets. I've looked through books.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35All the valuers here have tried to find out,
0:05:35 > 0:05:38but the thing is, I just really like it.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40I really do.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43But we've got the information on the back here.
0:05:43 > 0:05:48HH Sheard, RBA, who exhibited at the Royal Academy.
0:05:48 > 0:05:49It says here,
0:05:49 > 0:05:52"Exhibited and purchased from the Royal Academy in 1920."
0:05:52 > 0:05:55And whenever you have that sort of provenance to a picture,
0:05:55 > 0:05:59you can almost guarantee that there will be a listing somewhere,
0:05:59 > 0:06:02but not for yours! So, is this a family piece?
0:06:02 > 0:06:06No. It was given to my mother.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09- She was the housekeeper in a big house.- OK.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13And the owner was terminally ill.
0:06:13 > 0:06:19And he said, my mum could pick five things from the house, and she fell in love with that painting.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23She adored that painting, so that was one of the things she chose.
0:06:23 > 0:06:24It's a great lot.
0:06:24 > 0:06:29It's known as Pre-Raphaelite, the Pre-Raphaelite style.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33And this is known in the idealised beauty, the delicacy of the hands.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36There's the shroud, its mystery.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40It's taking its influence from an earlier time.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43The cup itself is a classic Etruscan cup,
0:06:43 > 0:06:50and the surface textures, the attention that's been paid to the detail on there, is really super.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54Look at the colours! You've got white, pink, blue, black...
0:06:54 > 0:06:59All just in the hand. Having said all that, no details on who it is, though.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02So, it's a very difficult thing to value.
0:07:04 > 0:07:09I think that should make around £100, something like that, so...
0:07:09 > 0:07:12auctioneer's favourite, £80-£120.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14- Is that all right for you? - Yeah, that's fine.
0:07:14 > 0:07:20- We just wanted to know the history. - I've come up and given you the history of absolutely nothing at all.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23I've failed dismally!
0:07:24 > 0:07:27I wish I could tell you. Have you tried to find things out about it?
0:07:27 > 0:07:32Well, it was just hung up on my mum's wall, and I don't live at home, you know,
0:07:32 > 0:07:35because my sister, Bev, she lived at home with my mum,
0:07:35 > 0:07:39so I didn't really pay much attention to it, I must admit.
0:07:39 > 0:07:44All they said to Mum was that it was worth some money. That's all she was told.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46She didn't know anything else.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48Well, I love it. I really do!
0:07:48 > 0:07:52I've got a good feeling about this, but my friends and family always tell me
0:07:52 > 0:07:56I have no taste in art at all - not a good move for an auctioneer, really.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59Whenever I like a painting, it fails to sell.
0:07:59 > 0:08:04But, hopefully...I haven't put the dampeners on this one.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06- So, you don't like it at all?- No, no.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08- Do you want it back?- No.- No.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12- So what happens if somebody offers you a fiver? - Oh, no, no, more than a fiver.
0:08:12 > 0:08:13A tenner and it's yours.
0:08:13 > 0:08:17A tenner, fine. If you're happy to let it go...
0:08:17 > 0:08:19Yeah, it's not sentimental at all, so, you know.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22- Fine.- Somebody else will probably fall in love with that.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26- Fair enough. You know? - 80-120, no reserve.- Yeah.- Yep.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32Michael, this is looking a bit like D Day here.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34It certainly is, yeah.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36You collected these over years or...?
0:08:36 > 0:08:38Yes, many years when I was a child.
0:08:38 > 0:08:45- I, you know, bought a few pieces and was given a few pieces.- Right.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49So you'd have bought these, how long ago? These are early '60s?
0:08:49 > 0:08:50- Yes.- Yes, yes.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54- 40 years or more.- I was buying the same thing at the same time.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57Unlike you, I haven't still got mine.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59- No.- And you've even got some in boxes.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02- Yes.- As you now know, of course, this is the key.
0:09:02 > 0:09:07If you and I had known that back in the '60s, we'd have a lot of value, wouldn't we?
0:09:07 > 0:09:08Yeah.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10How much did they all cost?
0:09:10 > 0:09:13Do you remember what sort of money we were paying in those days?
0:09:13 > 0:09:14A few shillings I suppose, were we?
0:09:14 > 0:09:17Yes, well, it's all ranging probably up to about £1.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21- £1 would have been a pretty good one, wouldn't it?- Yes.
0:09:21 > 0:09:26So you've got all this collection painstakingly got together over the years. Why sell them now?
0:09:26 > 0:09:30Um, well, it's really just...
0:09:31 > 0:09:34..my son isn't really interested in...
0:09:34 > 0:09:35- Is he not?- No.- How old's your son?
0:09:35 > 0:09:39- 16.- So if he was going to be, he would have been by now.- Yes, yeah.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42He's more into more passive...
0:09:42 > 0:09:44Pastimes. Not a bad thing.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48So they're just in a cupboard, and they'll go off to a collector who can really enjoy them.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52- Well, the last time I unwrapped them was 20 years ago.- Really?!
0:09:52 > 0:09:54- Yes, it was.- Good grief.
0:09:54 > 0:10:01And prior to that was 1971 when I moved house with my parents.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03- I wrapped them all in a box. - Amazing.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07Well done for not throwing them away and giving them to somebody.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10Do you have a value in mind for these?
0:10:10 > 0:10:13Well, I was hoping for perhaps £150, £200 as a job lot.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16Yeah, I think they might make a bit more than that.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18I think that's pretty accurate.
0:10:18 > 0:10:23I think you've got in the four boxed ones here, I think you're off to 100 quid, really.
0:10:23 > 0:10:29I would have thought £200-£300 with an estimate. I don't see why not.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31I think 200-300 as an estimate.
0:10:31 > 0:10:32Perhaps reserve 150 as a bottom line.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35- Yes, yes.- Wouldn't want to sell for any less than that.
0:10:35 > 0:10:42Otherwise you could end up selling them individually or just put them in a box for a few more years.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45- They're never going to be worth any less.- No.- No. Well, we'll do that.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47- We'll put them in.- OK.
0:10:47 > 0:10:53- And history tells me that there are ALWAYS Dinky toy buyers. - Nice to know.
0:10:58 > 0:11:03Moya, Antony, one very simple word - brilliant!
0:11:03 > 0:11:08Love it. One of the best pieces of silver I have ever seen on Flog It.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10I really love this.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14Rarely do you find such an early piece of silver.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18And to find an early piece of silver that has never been touched,
0:11:18 > 0:11:21in such good condition, is wonderful.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23- Mmm.- Lovely.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27So tell me, you've had it... Well... HAVE you had it for a while?
0:11:27 > 0:11:31Yes, we've had it for over 45 years, and I believe that it came from my grandfather,
0:11:31 > 0:11:37- who was the Lord Mayor of Manchester, as a matter of fact.- OK!
0:11:37 > 0:11:42- So we've just had it ever since then.- Have you done any research into it?
0:11:42 > 0:11:46Well, when I got it, I didn't get any information
0:11:46 > 0:11:49with it, but I did look it up and looked up the hallmarks and so on.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52- OK.- 1737, I believe.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54Yeah, 1737.
0:11:54 > 0:11:55And George Boothby.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58Is that the maker? I haven't even looked yet.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00- Yes.- Wonderful.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02Good clear mark in the lid.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05- Yes, yes, it is.- Good maker too.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07Yes. And I don't use this for beer or anything.
0:12:07 > 0:12:08It's just in the display cabinet.
0:12:08 > 0:12:13OK, so you thought you'd bring it along and see what it's worth.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15Yes, yes.
0:12:15 > 0:12:20Well, whenever we're looking at 18th century silver, the most important thing...
0:12:20 > 0:12:26Well, there are several important bits of information for you to gather before you come to a value.
0:12:26 > 0:12:32Authenticity, originality, condition and provenance.
0:12:32 > 0:12:38And whenever we're looking at an 18th century tankard, these were often changed to mugs
0:12:38 > 0:12:43by the lid being taken off, and jugs, by a spout being put on the front,
0:12:43 > 0:12:46and this is known as a chair-back thumb piece
0:12:46 > 0:12:48or an Onslow pattern thumb piece,
0:12:48 > 0:12:54- and that would match the fashion of the day, and it would often match the chair backs of the day.- Mmm, yes.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57Here on the handle we have the triad mark,
0:12:57 > 0:13:03and this would be, I don't know, "Ethel and Samuel Edmunson."
0:13:03 > 0:13:05So the "E" at the top would be the surname,
0:13:05 > 0:13:09and the "E" and the "S" divided by the star would be the first names.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11That's known as a triad mark.
0:13:11 > 0:13:18When we're coming to date a tankard, the late 17th century tankards started with a flat cover,
0:13:18 > 0:13:20and they were quite low and quite wide,
0:13:20 > 0:13:28and as the 18th century progressed, the silver tankards became slightly narrower and taller and more elegant.
0:13:28 > 0:13:33- What is the reason for the pegs inside?- Ah, right.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37If you have a look in there, you'll see one, two, three, four, five, six.
0:13:37 > 0:13:42Six levels divided by five pegs, and the idea was,
0:13:42 > 0:13:47you would fill that with beer, you would take a swig,
0:13:47 > 0:13:50and if you're doing your neighbour down, you would pass it along,
0:13:50 > 0:13:54and they would have a peg as well. These were known as pegs down the inside.
0:13:54 > 0:13:59Of course, if you took more than one peg, you'd taken your neighbour down a peg or two.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03- Ooh, isn't that nice! - The origin of that.- I didn't know. - That's something different.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05It's a wonderful thing.
0:14:05 > 0:14:11The reason it's a tankard and not a mug, a tankard has a cover and a mug doesn't.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15And the idea for a cover was to stop anybody drugging your drink.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18- Oh!- So, if you can imagine in the 18th century,
0:14:18 > 0:14:22instead of being worried about date raping, the worry was being press-ganged.
0:14:22 > 0:14:30And all these guys came off ship on to shore. They were short of men to work onboard boats,
0:14:30 > 0:14:33so what they would do, is they would drug your beer
0:14:33 > 0:14:37and you would get a whack over the head, get carted onboard ship,
0:14:37 > 0:14:40and you'd be off... and a seaman, whoever.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43So, why, after having it for 40 years,
0:14:43 > 0:14:48do you bring it along to Flog It and say it's time to go?
0:14:48 > 0:14:53Well, I used to collect English antique silver,
0:14:53 > 0:14:58and children don't seem to want that any more now, so there's no point in keeping it forever.
0:14:58 > 0:15:03So, if the opportunity for selling it comes along, I'll sell it.
0:15:03 > 0:15:04Fantastic!
0:15:04 > 0:15:07Well, I think it's going to do very well.
0:15:07 > 0:15:12There are lots of collectors who would go for it.
0:15:12 > 0:15:13The condition is fantastic.
0:15:13 > 0:15:18It's a lovely-looking thing, and I think we ought to put an estimate of...
0:15:20 > 0:15:23- ..£1,500 to £2,500.- Really?!
0:15:23 > 0:15:25- Yeah.- Golly!
0:15:25 > 0:15:27- Is that all right?- Marvellous.
0:15:27 > 0:15:32It's a fantastic object. I would absolutely love that!
0:15:32 > 0:15:35- Very jealous!- Good.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57Now, are you an avid collector?
0:15:57 > 0:16:01Well, if the answer is yes, then stay tuned to us right now
0:16:01 > 0:16:05because today we're at Snowshill Manor, the creation of one man.
0:16:05 > 0:16:12He was an architect, a craftsman, poet and an avid collector, and his name...Charles Wade.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20Charles' collecting fever started at the age of seven
0:16:20 > 0:16:23when he was sent to live with his grandmother in Great Yarmouth.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26In her drawing room was a Chinese cabinet stuffed full
0:16:26 > 0:16:30of exotic objects that young Charles found endlessly fascinating.
0:16:31 > 0:16:32And this is it.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35The very cabinet that Charles' grandmother would open
0:16:35 > 0:16:39just one day a week on a Sunday so the contents could be examined and, of course, held
0:16:39 > 0:16:45because that's what it's all about, and that's what inspired the young lad to start collecting curios.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49But, obviously, on a much vaster scale here at Snowshill.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52He started by spending his pocket money on the odd thing.
0:16:52 > 0:16:58And of course, with an ever-increasing budget, the collecting just never stopped!
0:17:08 > 0:17:14House manager Jennifer Rowley is going to show me around the rest of this extraordinary collection.
0:17:19 > 0:17:24- Oh, how lovely! Look at that! A collage of musical instruments. - Yes, they're lovely, aren't they?
0:17:24 > 0:17:26Beautiful. What's that one shaped like a serpent?
0:17:26 > 0:17:29It is. It's called a serpent, actually, yes.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31We've got some lovely Irish harps here.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34'What a wonderful display!
0:17:34 > 0:17:38'But there's so much to see here, we better move on...
0:17:41 > 0:17:44'..to something rather unexpected!'
0:17:46 > 0:17:50Oh, my gosh. Look at this!
0:17:50 > 0:17:53I'm surrounded by Japanese samurai.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55Where did Charles buy all of this from?
0:17:55 > 0:18:00Well, the majority of items in the collection were actually bought in this country,
0:18:00 > 0:18:02and this includes the samurai armour.
0:18:02 > 0:18:07He found some of the suits in a plumber's shop in Cheltenham when he went to buy a washer.
0:18:07 > 0:18:13Some came from Cheshire, and some were found in a dusty heap in a cellar off the Charing Cross Road.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17And they were arranged to give the impression of warriors meeting
0:18:17 > 0:18:20in the gloom with all their weapons and banners.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23Well, I've certainly been transformed to the Orient, that's for sure!
0:18:25 > 0:18:27And now for something completely different.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30You can see why this area is called 100 Wheels.
0:18:30 > 0:18:36Once used as a granary, it now houses Charles' enormous collection of bicycles,
0:18:36 > 0:18:38and I wonder how many he tried out.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41Hmm. They all look a bit uncomfortable to me!
0:18:46 > 0:18:49Oh, this is a lovely little room. It's full of children's toys.
0:18:49 > 0:18:53It reminds me of a nursery. Are some of them Charles'?
0:18:53 > 0:18:57Yes, a lot of the toys here did belong to Mr Wade, in particular the pantechnicon here
0:18:57 > 0:19:01which was used to transport furniture between the two dolls' houses,
0:19:01 > 0:19:04so it was played with by Mr Wade and his sisters.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07- What a lovely story!- Yes. - I like that, the Noah's Ark.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09Yes, it's great, isn't it?
0:19:09 > 0:19:14But unfortunately, you have to be very careful because if you knock one animal, they all go down.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17- A domino effect? - Yes, definitely. And we've got
0:19:17 > 0:19:22the lovely Georgian-style doll's house over here which belonged to Mr Wade's grandmother.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25The room is called "Seventh Heaven." Why is that?
0:19:25 > 0:19:31Well, Mr Wade thought that Seventh Heaven was something that could only be attained before schoolmasters
0:19:31 > 0:19:35and schools took away the greatest of treasures, which was imagination.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38- Ah!- Hence the name.- They don't make toys like this any more.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41No, they don't. They don't. A real shame, I think.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47Charles Wade decided that the manor was the best place to show off
0:19:47 > 0:19:52his vast collection of more than 22,000 items.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55So he created a home for himself in the priest's house,
0:19:55 > 0:19:59a modest cottage in the garden just a few yards away from the manor.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06As you can see, it's cosy, isn't it?
0:20:06 > 0:20:09Proper bachelor's pad. It's so masculine.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13There's nothing feminine about this place at all or indeed the manor.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17And this chair is where Charles would have sat on many an evening
0:20:17 > 0:20:20by the fire, keeping warm and listening
0:20:20 > 0:20:25to great classics on the wireless such as Much-Binding-In-The-Marsh.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29And, as you can see, the collecting certainly spilled over from the manor house into here.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33Every room was candlelit. There was no electricity in the village at the time,
0:20:33 > 0:20:37and I think, to add a little bit of comfort and domesticity to the place,
0:20:37 > 0:20:40this little wooden cat certainly did the trick.
0:20:40 > 0:20:45But life was about to change for Charles forever.
0:20:45 > 0:20:50One day, a visitor to Snowshill got lost, looking for the gardens.
0:20:51 > 0:20:56One evening in 1946, a young woman lost her way,
0:20:56 > 0:21:00knocked on the door of the priest's house and was invited in.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04For the solitary collector, aged 63, romance had arrived!
0:21:06 > 0:21:09That very same year, Charles and Mary married,
0:21:09 > 0:21:14and they later moved abroad to a more sunny climate - St Kitts.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17Although Charles was living overseas, he still maintained
0:21:17 > 0:21:20a lively interest in the manor and, of course, its contents.
0:21:20 > 0:21:26After a brief visit in 1956 to the house, by then in the hands of the National Trust,
0:21:26 > 0:21:31Charles sadly, and peacefully, passed away, and he's buried right next to his mother
0:21:31 > 0:21:34and his sisters here in a local churchyard.
0:21:40 > 0:21:45There was an impressive turnout at our valuation day in the splendid Cheltenham Town Hall.
0:21:45 > 0:21:50Let's hope the buyers are equally impressed with what we're taking with us to auction.
0:21:52 > 0:21:57I wonder if they'll sniff out the quality of John's rather special George III snuffbox.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02James loved Bev and Chrissie's painting.
0:22:02 > 0:22:07What a pity that the artist is as much of a mystery as the woman he painted.
0:22:08 > 0:22:14Out of the mothballs and into the auction room for Michael's fantastic collection of boys' toys.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17I hope the damage doesn't affect the price.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22And finally, Antony and Moya's wonderful tankard.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24What a find, James!
0:22:28 > 0:22:33We've certainly found some cracking items and we've all had time to reflect on their values.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36But now it's the time to put them to the test.
0:22:36 > 0:22:40For our sale today, we're in Cirencester at the Cotswold Auction Company.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50Right now, we're just about to flog a complete army.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53- Well, it's your army, isn't it, Michael?- It is.- The Dinky toy army.
0:22:53 > 0:22:58A massive collection that you've collected from the '60s. I think Charlie's right on the money here.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01It's about right. I had all these as a child.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03My mother gave them all away.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05I never kept the boxes.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08I was naughty, really bad. Lots of memories here.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10Most definitely, yes, yeah.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13Again collected as a small child and into my early teens.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16Then they went into a box and they've been there ever since.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19At least you had the sense to keep them in a box. I didn't.
0:23:19 > 0:23:20- No.- Good luck, both of you.
0:23:20 > 0:23:25- It's going under the hammer now. - 265.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27Quantity Dinky toys.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29Start me at 100. At 110.
0:23:29 > 0:23:36120. 130. 140. 150. 160. At 170.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39180, 190, 200, 210.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42220. At 220 right at the back.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46At 220, any advance? At 220, then.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48For the last time at 220.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50Yes, 220!
0:23:50 > 0:23:52- Not bad.- That'll do. - That'll do, won't it?- Yeah.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55We won the battle there.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06Something for you fine art lovers.
0:24:06 > 0:24:11It's an oil painting in the Pre-Raphaelite style, and it belongs to Bev and Chrissie.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15We don't have Chrissie, but we've got Bev. So where's Chrissie today?
0:24:15 > 0:24:18One of her children is not very well, so she had to stay at home.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20Looking after them. Oh! I hope they get well soon, OK?
0:24:20 > 0:24:23And I hope we get the top end of James' estimate, don't you?
0:24:23 > 0:24:25- Yes. Definitely. - We've got 80-120 on this.
0:24:25 > 0:24:27It's a pre-Raphaelite style. It looks the part.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29It does. It really looks the part.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32I couldn't find ANY trace at all about the artist,
0:24:32 > 0:24:35and, at the auction room here, they haven't been able to find out anything,
0:24:35 > 0:24:38and I've put the feelers about for the last few weeks
0:24:38 > 0:24:42and I still haven't been able to find out anything about the artist either. So...
0:24:42 > 0:24:44OK. It's going under the hammer.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46Ready, Bev? This is it.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49Our pre-Raphaelite lady.
0:24:49 > 0:24:54We'll start the bidding at 50. 5. 60. 5. 70. 5. 80. 5.
0:24:54 > 0:24:59At 85 now. 90. 5. 100. 105.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03At 105... All done. Going at 105.
0:25:04 > 0:25:05That's a sold sound!
0:25:05 > 0:25:07That's a big booming sold sound.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09£105.
0:25:09 > 0:25:11Good estimate. Good estimate. Spot on!
0:25:17 > 0:25:20Next up, the Georgian snuffbox with the ivory top belonging to John,
0:25:20 > 0:25:23who is on his way to the dentist, aren't you?
0:25:23 > 0:25:27- Thank you, yes, very kind. - Going to have a couple of crowns put in.- I needed that!
0:25:27 > 0:25:29- Well, you need the money to pay for it.- I do.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32I'm looking at £100-£200 for the snuffbox. I hope we get the top end.
0:25:32 > 0:25:37- It's quality.- It's a nice thing, and I would have thought a very collectable thing.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39- Fingers crossed.- Yeah.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42Well, we're going to find out right now. This is it.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46414 is the Georgian silver oval snuffbox.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50- Let's start the bidding at 100. At 100. At 110. 120.- Ooh!
0:25:50 > 0:25:53That's good. We've sold it.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55At 130, at 140.
0:25:55 > 0:26:00140. 150? 160. 170. 180. 190...
0:26:00 > 0:26:04- Oh, God, John!- 210, commission bid.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07220. At 220 in the room now. 240.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09260. 280.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12At 280? 300.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14Serious case of undervaluation.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16300...
0:26:16 > 0:26:19At 300, then. We're all done at £300.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22Wow, they loved it, £300!
0:26:22 > 0:26:23The hammer has gone down.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26That will make going to the dentist a little less painful.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28Thank you. Yes, it will.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32The annoying thing about the dentist is you've got to pay to have all of that pain done.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36- That's the annoying thing about it! It really is!- Hurts so much...
0:26:36 > 0:26:38And then you've got to pay for it.
0:26:38 > 0:26:44- At that price, they're going to be platinum teeth, aren't they? Diamond studded.- Ooh, how awful!
0:26:48 > 0:26:50Right. Next up, the moment I've been waiting for.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52It's that wonderful silver tankard.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56The pegged tankard belonging to Antony and Moya.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59They've gone back home to the Philippines.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02James is with us, who put the value on at £1,500 to £2,000.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04- But we've got daughters...- Tara.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07- And?- Karen. - With us. Two beautiful daughters.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10Now, this is really your family inheritance, isn't it?
0:27:10 > 0:27:13We're flogging it. Anyway, it's going under the hammer right now.
0:27:13 > 0:27:18Lot 426 is the interesting and lovely 18th century silver tankard
0:27:18 > 0:27:21showing here. Thank you very much.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24At £1,000 I have. At 1,000.
0:27:24 > 0:27:29And 50. 1,100. And 50. 1,150. 1,200.
0:27:29 > 0:27:331,250 on the phone? 1,250. 1,300.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37- 1,350. 1,400.- Come on!
0:27:37 > 0:27:391,450. 1,500 on the phone.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41At 1,500 on the phone. All done?
0:27:41 > 0:27:44I'm selling on the phone, £1,500.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46- Was that 15?- It's gone.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49It's gone, £1,500 on the phone. You're happy, aren't you?
0:27:49 > 0:27:51- You didn't like it.- Yes, I'm happy.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53- I think I'll be happier.- Yeah.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55- Will Mum and Dad be happy? - Yes.- Yeah.
0:28:01 > 0:28:06Well, as you can see, the sale is still going on behind me down on the auction room floor.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08It's been a hectic and very busy day.
0:28:08 > 0:28:12We've had our ups and downs, but on the whole, everybody's gone home happy,
0:28:12 > 0:28:14and I hope you've enjoyed the show.
0:28:14 > 0:28:18So, from Cirencester until the next time, it's cheerio!
0:28:24 > 0:28:29For more information about Flog It, including how the programme was made,
0:28:29 > 0:28:32visit the website at bbc.co.uk/lifestyle
0:28:33 > 0:28:36Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:28:36 > 0:28:38E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk