Doncaster and Rochdale Flog It!

Lancashire goes up against Yorkshire today

as we look back at some of the top Flog It finds.

Even though they're on opposite sides of the Pennines, we find that Rochdale and Doncaster

have something in common - they love their bears.

It's a lovely inkwell. It's a nice group.

-You've got mummy and daddy bear and a couple of babies...

-That's right.

And we can be sure of a big surprise at auction.

These little bears are very collectable,

especially in this lovely green colour.

There's plenty of animal passion to come on Flog It.

Rochdale in Lancashire and Doncaster in South Yorkshire

are going to do battle today, just as the houses of Lancaster and York did

back in the 15th century during the War of the Roses.

And we're set to see some thrilling results.

Wow! Betty, what a magical moment. That is what Flog It is all about.

And although the rivalry between the two counties is not quite so fierce these days,

we'll have to watch our Ps and Qs because around here

they're not afraid to call a spade a spade.

-Do you think I need a haircut?

-It could do with something doing with it!

But which of our two northern towns will turn up the best treasures for the saleroom?

First we're off to Rochdale, with its proud history of textile manufacturing

and where the locals can't wait to show us their antiques.

Looking at the size of this massive queue,

it seems that the whole of Rochdale has turned out to the town hall,

all eager to learn as much as they can from our two experts,

Anita Manning and Nigel Smith.

And something that glitters has already caught Anita's eye.

These items belong to a grander time where gentlemen

wore their watches in their pockets,

and they were attached to these wonderful chains on their waistcoat.

Ray, tell me where you got this wee lot.

Well, it was handed down to my father

from his uncle, or my great-uncle.

He was born in a place called Hindley, Wigan, and that's where they took his name.

He then emigrated to America...

-As a young man?

-As, yes, I would think so.

I mean, obviously I never met him, he's long gone,

but he joined the navy out there, made a fortune of some sort,

antiques, this, that and the other, brought them all back

and they were dished out to like four or five brothers

and my father ended up with this, other odds and sods...

Now it's mine! I've two sons - who do I leave it to? I can't leave it to one and not the other, so...

-Well, you don't want them fighting over it!

-Well, this is it, so it's got to go.

-We'll look at them each individually.

-OK. Fine.

American watch.

It's a Waltham, which is a good make, and they made a wide range.

They made very simple ones with simple mechanisms which were called traveller watches,

right up to the Rolls-Royce of watches, which were the Royale ones.

-Now, this one's sort of...

-In-between.

It's in-between, it's in-between.

If we look in the back here, we can see that it's made of 14-carat gold.

Now, this was favoured by the Americans.

We open the other little lid and we can see that it's still ticking away there.

Nice mechanism, and in good condition, and in working order.

One of the interesting things here, you have the original receipt for that watch,

and it was bought in New York,

and it was bought in 1900. And 65 dollars!

-That was quite a lot of money at that time.

-Probably!

Yeah! If we look at the albert here,

and these were called alberts, rather than watch chains,

and they were called after Queen Victoria's husband,

who favoured that type of jewellery.

Now, this is what we would call a double albert,

-with a graduated curb link.

-Curb link, yeah.

This appendage here is a ten-dollar piece.

This will be 22-carat gold and your albert is 9-carat gold.

So, price-wise...

I would like to put these in as one lot

and I would like to make an estimate of £450 to £550.

-Would you be happy with that?

-It sounds reasonable, that, yes.

It sounds reasonable? It will find its own level.

We'll put a reserve on it, Ray,

and I think if we put a reserve of, say, 420?

Would you be happy enough with that?

Yeah! If it was no less than the 420.

No less than 420. 420, firm.

-I'm sure it will go beyond there.

-OK. Yeah. Fine.

-Thank you for bringing this along.

-My pleasure.

Heather, this little group of bears is absolutely stunning.

I'm so pleased you've brought some oak in for me... It's my favourite wood! Did you know that?

-I know you like wood.

-Oak?

-No, I didn't! No, I didn't! No.

It's typical of the Black Forest carvings from Austria. What's its story and how did you acquire it?

An old lady gave it to me who I used to look after.

-I just said how nice it was and she said...

-She said you could have it?

How long did you look after her? Did you do that for a living?

-No, no! Five years.

-What did you do for a living?

-I was a hairdresser.

You're a hairdresser! That's why your hair's so neat!

-Do you cut your own hair?

-Neat!

Well, it's a good cut! Do you think I need a haircut?

Yeah! It could do with something doing with it!

Right. Let's talk about your Black Forest carving.

Did you know they're called Black Forest carvings?

-No, I didn't know!

-Austrian... and this dates from about the early 1900s.

It's done with just quite basic chisels and gouges and it's known as "chip carving".

-Oh, right!

-And they're very, very collectable.

-Are they really?

-Yeah! It's a lovely inkwell. It's a nice group.

-You've got mummy and daddy bear and a couple of babies...

-Yeah, that's right, yeah!

With a naturalistic log, which has been hollowed out, which holds the inkwell. Now, if I take that out...

Unfortunately you've got the pin missing.

-Did you acquire it like that?

-No... Yeah.

-The hinge is still there.

-It just needs the pin sliding in.

-Yeah, it was like that...

That'll make it work... And a bit of solder.

You can see that's cut glass.

That's all done by being offered up to a little wheel, a little grinding wheel.

You only get one attempt at that, otherwise if you muck it up,

-you've got to grind it all off and start again.

-Start again, right!

-So that's not going to devalue it.

-No.

It would if the top was missing.

-Yeah, yeah.

-Cos you'd have to find another vessel to put in, really.

That can be sorted out. I think the chip carving, the detail in the work is super...

it really is super.

It's one of the nicest little groups I've seen. It's complete.

It puts a smile on your face and that's very important, cos that puts the value up.

So the all-important question, then, I guess...

What's it worth, isn't it? That's what you're all here for!

-Yeah! Go on!

-Go on! Well, you tell me!

-I don't know!

I've no idea! You're the expert. You tell me!

If I thought I... I'd tell you...

When you were in the queue this morning, you were thinking, "Could I get a cruise out of it?"

No! Come on! You must, you must.

-No, honest to God! I've no idea at all.

-You've not given it any thought?

No, no, I haven't!

-I think this will do £250 if you put it into auction, yes.

-Do you really? Oh!

-And I'd like to put a valuation of £200 to £300 on it...

-Oh, very nice!

-We might just get that top end!

-Thank you!

Why do you want to sell it, though?

Well, because we've gone from a big house to a small bungalow,

I'm frightened of it getting broken now.

There's nowhere to put it. It's just been stuck in the cupboard.

I thought it's a shame, really.

We're going to protect this with a fixed reserve of 200, OK?

-OK.

-If it doesn't make 200, it's going home.

-That's right!

-Are you happy with that?

Yes! I'll sell it to you, if you want to have it!

John!

-Nice to see you. Well, thanks for struggling in with this.

-Right, yes!

-Did you come on the bus?

-No!

It's a great thing, isn't it? You've done some work on this -

-it's a restored piece?

-Yeah.

I bought it originally at an auction and it was in quite a state, really,

so a lot of this top was quite dark.

It's only since I cleaned it up and polished it up that you can see a lot of the features.

Is it your hobby, furniture restoration?

Yeah. It's just something that I like to do.

A lot of the furniture in the house arrived this way.

It's lovely burr walnut. It's quarter-veneered.

I'm not sure about this panel, whether that's a later inlet.

It's got what we call seaweed marquetry...

this very fine sort of flowery marquetry on the top,

and if we turn it round, it's got a well in there for your playing cards, and then we flip it over...

..and there we are! It's a cracking card table.

The baize is a bit sad, a bit faded, but it's original, I think, isn't it?

-Well, that's how it was.

-Is that how it was? We've got these nice, flush hinges.

It's a nice-quality thing. It's on standard supports,

these end turn supports, nicely turned,

and then just one turned stretcher

and these lovely sort of quite elegant outswept splayed feet.

It's got original casters with ceramic rollers on, so it's not a bad thing.

It's worth you spending a bit of time and effort and money on it, really!

Can you remember how much you paid for it in the sale?

-The total paid with the additional percentage on top was about £90.

-£90?

-Altogether, yeah!

-That was a bargain, wasn't it, really?

Well, I think it was in such a bad state, you know, nobody else looked twice at it, really!

All your efforts may have paid off because I would have thought

it ought to be worth 200 or 300 now,

although the market's been a little bit up and down for furniture.

This is quite an attractive thing, so we could put a reserve of a couple of hundred on it.

If it did more than that, I'd definitely be happy,

but, yeah, I've been buying this stuff, cluttering up the house,

so I think if I got something back, yeah, my wife would be happy, anyway!

-And what are you going to do with £200? Buy another piece of furniture?

-Yeah! Buy another project!

Sue, I love this type of thing...

a beautiful, delicate Edwardian drop pendant.

Where did you get it?

Well, my grandad bought it for my grandma in about,

I think, round about 1920 time.

He bought it from a local market from Salford, where I live.

It sold things like fruit and vegetables and antiques, all in the same place.

-It was called the Flat Iron...

-The Flat Iron?

Yes, because the little church that stood at the side of it resembled the shape of a flat iron,

like the one in New York, I hope.

He gave it to my grandma and she wore it all her married life.

So it was originally a love token?

-Absolutely, yes!

-Aw.

-Did you ever wear it?

-Just once!

I was so frightened of it being so delicate.

-I was constantly checking that it was still there.

-That's right.

Well, this is a feature of this particular type of jewellery.

It's 9-carat gold.

They were made in 9 carat and 15 carat. 15 carat - more desirable.

What I do like about this one, however, are these beautiful sapphires.

I think they're absolutely lovely.

We've got this central one here

and it's surrounded by a circle of seed pearls.

We've got the chain coming up here to another little sapphire here.

-Now, I like that!

-Pretty!

What I am worried about, however,

was there another little appendage here at one point?

Yes, there was! It came down, and then it scrolled to both sides

and I think maybe had another tiny seed pearl in each side.

I do remember that, but I can't remember where it got lost or...

They're so delicate, these things. It's come off.

Well, when we were talking about commercial value,

this will make a difference.

It's not complete, but having said that, I think,

if I put an estimate of 80 to 120,

would you feel happy enough with it to be sold at that price?

-I would, yes!

-Would you like us to put a reserve on it?

I think so, because I wouldn't like it to go for nothing, yes.

We'll put a reserve to safeguard it and I would suggest a reserve of 70.

-Would you be happy at that?

-Yes. That would be fine.

OK. Hopefully it will go much more.

It will find its proper market.

Now let's see how proud we can make our owners

as we head off for the saleroom.

Will the pendant put a sparkle in somebody's eye?

Or will the bidders be hedging their bets on this lovely card table?

Heather's sure of a big surprise with her group of Black Forest bears.

-Sock it to 'em, boy!

-Wow!

-Well, lovely!

And Ray's watch and chain should get a solid gold result.

For today's sale, we've left Lancashire and crossed just over the border to Yorkshire

and playing host is the Calder Valley Auctioneers.

And today's auctioneer is Ian Peace.

I've just been joined by Sue, who's just about to flog some family heirlooms, aren't you?

-This was Grandma's and Grandad bought it?

-Yes.

Can you remember Grandma wearing this drop pendant?

-She wore it all the time.

-Did she?

-She did, yes. That's why I've always admired it.

Lots of memories! I know it took Anita's eye, didn't it?

-Yes.

-Well, you've got £80 to £120...

Well, I love these little pendants. I think they're very, very charming.

I would have estimated it higher if we hadn't been missing the little drop at the end.

-That's going to bring it down a bit...

-Condition is everything!

I've had that little piece for a long time and I just couldn't find it anywhere!

-Dropped it somewhere?

-Yes!

-Fingers crossed. It's going under the hammer now!

-Thank you.

Edwardian 9-carat gold drop pendant.

May I say 50 to open?

£40, thank you. 40 I'm bid.

At £40. I'm going 5s. At 45 do I see?

At 40. And 5, 50 and 5, 60,

and 5, 70 and 5, 80, 5, 90,

5, 100 and 5, 110, 115.

£115. Anybody else at 115?

£115 I'm bid for this lot. Are there any further bids?

£115 and it's selling.

-Yes!

-That's great, thank you!

-It's good, good, excellent!

-£115!

Right, John. It's time to put the cards on the table, literally.

We've got a wonderful burr walnut card table, £200 to £300, which you've restored.

It looks fantastic over there. I agree with you, Nigel, wonderful valuation.

-Yeah, it's quality!

-It is quality, isn't it?

Ready-to-go condition now, so...

-It's tactile...

-All you need is a buyer!

-It's been loved! I love my wood.

I would buy it if I was allowed to, but I'm not allowed,

and it's just there staring at me saying, "Please buy me!"

-I'm staring at it!

-"What am I doing, flogging this now?"

-That's what it's all about.

-No, no. It's got to go.

-It's going under the hammer, right now!

DM foldover card table. Lot 334.

Lovely condition, it's in, so what am I bid for this?

Couple of hundred?

Let's open at a hundred pounds. £100 to open the bidding?

£100 bid, £100.

At 120, at 140,

160, 180.

At £180. Do I see 200 in the room?

£180. I have £180. Any advance?

I have £200 in the room. £200.

210 if you like, 210 do I see?

210... 220.

£220. £220 I'm bid at the back of the room. Any further bids? £220.

Are you all finished at £220, then?

220! It's gone! Sold!

That is a sold sound! John, what are you doing with £220?

If it had sold earlier, I might have bid for something else, but no!

Are you buying something else?

Er, well, everything's in too good condition, really.

I'm looking out for something that I can have another go at, yeah.

I'll hang on to it for now.

Well, time's up. Yes, it definitely is for Ray,

and your gold pocket watch - we're looking at £450 to £550.

-This has been in the family some time?

-Some time.

100-and-odd years, yeah, right from the start.

Why are you flogging a family heirloom?

I've got two sons, I can't leave...

-You can't share that.

-I've got five grandchildren.

Whatever it goes for, they get it.

That's a very diplomatic answer!

Good valuation as well. It's a lovely item.

Well, we've got three items here, really.

We have this very nice key pocket watch, American pocket watch.

We have a good, long albert, and we have the American ten-dollar as well.

-There's a lot of value in the chain.

-Oh, yes, yes!

Heck of a lot! This is it, Ray!

Things are certainly heating up - I'm feeling the pressure.

The gentleman's 14-carat gold pocket watch,

nice 19-inch chain, mounted with a 10-dollar gold piece.

What am I bid for this lot here? 400? 300?

200, thank you. £200 I'm bid.

I have £200. I have £200.

At 220, 240, 260, 280, 300...

And 20, 340, 360? At £360?

At £380, at 400, £420. At £420.

420, I'll take 10, at 420.

430 anywhere? We'll mark it at £420 first and last time. All done.

It's gone! We were getting hot there!

Getting slightly worried!

-That's not bad, is it?

-Yes, it's OK.

You can divide that up amongst the family.

Who've you brought along for a bit of moral support?

The lady captain of our golf club - she knew the way so I thought, well, best thing, you get me here!

Next up it's my turn to be the expert and we've got some real quality on the show, haven't we?

-Like me!

-It's Heather!

And, your beautiful carved Black Forest bears. It's a lovely little group.

Gorgeous inkwell, £200 to £300. We are going to breeze that, because these always sell well.

I had a chat with the auctioneer earlier, off camera,

and he said really nice, something he'd like to own.

-200 to 300, no problem.

-Ooh, brilliant! That's great!

It is, isn't it? We've got a packed saleroom.

I don't think they're sitting on their hands because most of them are standing.

Anyway, the money's going towards the holiday fund, isn't it?

-Yeah, yeah.

-For the grandkids, for the kids!

-Yeah, yeah!

-Good luck! I love what you're wearing!

-Oh, thank you!

-Right.

Easy, tiger. This is it. Here we go.

Late 19th-century Black Forest carved inkstand.

Lot 49. What am I bid for this?

A couple of hundred? 150?

£100, thank you. £100. £100, 120,

120, 140, 160, 180, 200.

At £200, 220, 240...

-Go on!

-260, 280, 300 and 20.

340, 360...

-Give it some welly!

-380, 400,

-and 20.

-Are you whistling?

-At £420.

Any further bids at 420?

We're selling 4-2-0. First and last time.

-Yes!

-Whee-hee!

LAUGHTER

-Easy, tiger.

-Brilliant.

-£420!

-Sock it to 'em, boy!

-Wow!

-Well, lovely! Thank you very much.

-Isn't that a good result?

What are you going to spend that on?

As I say, it's going towards the kids' spending money for Benidorm.

That's what you said! Treat yourself as well!

-I treat myself every week...

-I bet you do.

-..so I'll give it to t'kids!

-I bet you do!

-Life's for living, Paul, you know!

-Exactly! It's not a rehearsal, is it?

-No, not at all, no!

Wow, what a result! No wonder Heather was over the moon.

There's plenty more excitement to come,

as we're off to rival town Doncaster to see what's in store for us there.

Doncaster's heritage is rooted in the transport industry

and the town is well known for building some very fast locomotives,

including the Flying Scotsman.

Today we're right on track for a first-class show.

And the good people of bonny Donny have turned out in their hundreds.

We've got a massive queue here.

Our experts are Catherine Southon and Adam Partridge.

They've already sifted through the queue hoping to find the best antiques to sell at auction.

Right now it's 9:30. It's time to get the doors open and the show on the road.

Let's get inside!

Carrie and Carol, thank you very much for coming along today.

Welcome. At the beginning of the day I like to find something special.

I certainly found something special here.

It even tells us that on the box.

The box is written in German.

It says, "For you, for you, here's something special."

Inside we have this fantastic little green teddy bear.

Can you tell me where you got him from?

Yes, my dad brought it back from the war for my mum.

It's always been in the little china cabinet.

That is about as much as I know.

OK, it's probably German, but he's a bear which was manufactured by the company Schuco.

Schuco were a German factory making bears in the early part of the 20th century.

This bear is about 1930s in date.

That would correspond with your father coming back from the war.

He's no ordinary bear. He's not just your average green bear.

Let's just have a look inside and we can see he's a lovely little scent bottle. Isn't that beautiful?

What I like to see about it, it's all in perfect condition.

We don't have the perfume any more,

but never mind, it's in good condition.

It's not broken or anything.

These little bears are very collectable, especially in this lovely green colour.

Who does this belong to now?

When Mum died, I said to Carrie and my other daughter

if you want to choose something out of the cabinet by all means do so.

-So Carrie chose this.

-I chose the bear.

-You chose this bear.

-I think it was very well chosen.

-It's been on display always

leant up against something.

The lid was damaged then.

She showed me it and I said I would like the bear because it was a girlie thing.

It's fantastic that you kept it in its box. It has the Schuco stamp on the box.

That really is a fabulous thing. Amazing that you've got the box.

Amazing that it is in pretty good condition.

There is a bit of wear to the paws but the scent bottle is still there. They do come in other colours.

You've got the red and golden ones.

What bear collectors like is this unusual colour and also the fact that

it's not just a bear, it's a scent bottle holder as well.

I shall put you out of your misery.

-I would like to see it at auction for about £200 to £300.

-Wow!

I'd hope it would make a bit more than that.

-I'd probably put a reserve on of about 150. How does that sound?

-Wow!

-Are you pleased?

-Yeah.

I hope it makes more because it is in good condition. It's in its box.

If bear collectors are there, who knows what it will make?

It's a great piece and thank you for bringing it along. You've made my day!

BOTH: Thank you.

And ours, yes.

Welcome to Flog It!

-How are you doing?

-All right, dear.

-And what are your names?

-Betty and Charlie.

-Nice to meet you both, my name's Adam.

-Pleased to meet you.

These are lovely.

-They look like a pair, but I'd sell them separately.

-Would you?

Yeah, I'd sell them consecutively, one lot after the other.

Royal Worcester. Where did you get them from?

I think we got them from Spencer's at Retford auction.

-That's not going any more, is it?

-No, we used to go regular, each week.

-How long ago do you reckon you got them?

-About 20 years.

20-odd years ago, weren't it?

-Definitely.

-Who bought them? Was it you, Betty?

-No, pair of us.

We always buy things together.

-Joint decision?

-Yeah.

-OK. You have been together a long time?

-Yeah, nearly 50 years.

-Goodness me.

What attracted you to these?

I just liked them. We bought something else with cattle on.

And then I went and I saw them. And they've got the sheep on them.

And with it being Davis I was told that it was a good name.

Yes, it is a good name.

So I decided to have a bid for them.

What did they cost, do you remember?

I think they were about 600 for the pair.

-So not cheap.

-No.

-But they're never going to be cheap, these,

because Royal Worcester always makes good money.

Hand-painted by Harry Davis, one of the top Worcester artists,

specialist in sheep.

A lot of Worcester artists specialised in different things.

Some did flowers and fruit, cattle, sheep, game birds.

Different ones. Harry Davis was mainly a sheep man.

And they're both signed and nicely marked on the bottom as well.

We've got the signature just there on this one.

And it'll be in a similar place on the other one. You've got this puce-coloured mark on the bottom.

The shape number on the bottom and all these dots.

You can add the dots together to get a date code.

I reckon they date to about 1910. Something about there.

I would sell them separately, as I said, with an estimate of 4-6 on each.

-Very nice.

-So there's a bit of a return there.

What's made you decide to sell them, please?

Well, we've got a grandson, Jamie.

He's six months old and we want to give him some money for in the bank.

Then we've been married 50 years next year. So there's a golden wedding coming up.

What are you going to do for that?

-I might go on a cruise. Or go to the Caribbean.

-I used to work on a cruise ship in the Caribbean.

I'll have to talk to you about that later.

-We've heard all tales what you do on those Caribbean cruises.

-Really?

-Yeah, we've heard a lot of tales.

-Have you?

-Oh, not half.

I won't say any more! OK.

Well, £400 to £600 each estimate.

Reserve of 400 on each.

-If they don't make that, they're not worth selling.

-That's right.

Let's hope they make a good price. I'll be at the auction. I'll stand with you there and they'll do well.

Lovely. I hope they do.

This is absolutely stunning, Rosemary.

You are with your son, Alexander. Hi. Whose is this?

It's mine. It has been in the family a very long time.

It belonged to my grandfather and I understood it was his christening present.

-Wow!

-But what is it? I don't know.

-It's a feminine piece.

-It's a jewellery casket.

-Right. OK.

It would stand on a table top or a dressing table.

-We always put it on the mantelpiece.

-It's absolutely stunning.

It is a jewellery casket.

It's made of mixed metals.

It's been gilded and silvered.

Obviously it's losing its glint.

That can be sorted out.

It's the quality of the moulding that I am interested in. It's absolutely divine.

Look at the figure on the top. Isn't she beautiful? A little cherub.

You think it's a woman.

We understood it was supposed to be my grandfather.

-Do you think so?

-But they wouldn't be purpose commissioned.

It looked factory made.

Yes, it was made by Elkington's. I've established that because...

It's on the foot. And numbers, but I didn't know what any of them meant.

It's a serial number. Elkington registered in Birmingham and Sheffield and also London.

They were a London family, originally.

Originally Frederick Elkington and then it went to Elkington & Co.

This one is just right for the Great Exhibition. What a showpiece.

Look, at every face side you see these little caryatids holding up the whole thing.

Look at the swags. Look at the ribbons and look at the decoration.

-It's beautiful.

-It collects the dust.

-Ah, well, it would, wouldn't it?

-All the detail.

I don't mind that because that's added the character to it.

And I'm pleased you haven't polished it. I really am.

You can see it's typical of Elkington's.

This would be lined and padded and silk lined.

I have never known it to have anything. Obviously, this metal is corroding and looks not very nice.

Why do you want to sell this?

Because I think it's a bit of a liability sitting on the mantelpiece.

I don't know how to clean it. I'm terrified I'm going to damage it.

Which brings me to the all-important question.

What is it worth? Have a guess, Alex, what do you think?

-50 quid.

-50 quid. You'd take 100 right now, wouldn't you?

-Yeah.

On an average day that's still £300 to £400.

My goodness me, that is amazing.

If I gave you £400 and said, "Go and find me one, could you?"

-Er...

-No.

-I've never seen one - that's why I was interested to know.

-It's beautiful.

You could have said it was somebody's remains and I wouldn't have known!

£300 to £400 we'll put on this, with a fixed reserve of 300.

-Brilliant!

-If it doesn't sell at 300, it's going home.

-You must not sell for any less.

-No.

-Shall we flog it?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-See you at the auction.

Hi, Gwen, hi, Daniel, thanks very much for coming along today.

We've got in front of us this lovely lady in a very classic Art Deco pose.

Tell me about her. Where did you get her from?

Two years ago I had the chance of a house clearance and I couldn't resist it.

I love ladies, but all my ladies are pale

green and flowing clothes. She just didn't belong so I thought...

She sticks out like a sore thumb, does she?

Yes, yes. She just doesn't belong with my other ladies, does she?

I am glad you didn't resist the house clearance because

you have brought in this beautiful Art Deco piece.

She has got that wonderful classic pose and she is 1930s.

I do like her, but she just doesn't fit in.

-She just doesn't fit in. She doesn't fit in, so she's got to go.

-Yeah.

You will probably know she's made by Sitzendorf, which

is a very good German maker, and she's hard paste porcelain.

She does seem to be in good condition, although there is

a bit of wear to the gilt around here and it looks like somebody has tried to touch it up in various places.

It's not me. I was going to paint that gold, but I thought, no.

I'm glad you did leave well alone. That is the best thing you could have done. She is a beautiful piece.

It's very classic, and obviously Art Deco is collectable.

To me, I don't think the ball looks brilliant.

I'm not that sure about this ball.

I don't think it's in keeping with the whole design, but

-nevertheless she is very elegant and really in quite good condition.

-A funny place to have a ball as well.

It is a funny place to have a ball, on the end of your leg.

I don't think I'd like to do that pose.

No, I wouldn't.

How much do you think it's worth? Any idea?

-No, I've no idea.

-I think £300 to £400 is probably about right.

Do you know how much you paid for it? Can you remember?

No, because it was in the whole house clearance.

-You got it in a job lot?

-Yeah.

-I think about £300 to £400 with a 250 reserve. How does that sound?

-Good to me.

-Sounds good to you. Does it sound good to you, Daniel?

-Is it something you like?

-No, not really.

-Not really.

I'm sure you'd prefer to have the cash.

Maybe Granny will give him a little something.

Yes, definitely, he has been such a good boy.

Well done, Daniel, I hope it makes lots of money and you can get something special. Thanks for coming.

Before we go off to the auction room, let's take another look at these four fabulous items.

Can this little green bear do better than the family of bears we sold in Rochdale for £480?

We'll soon find out.

Adam is confident that the Worcester vases will do well, and I'm sure they'll attract the collectors.

The jewellery casket is an unusual item

which I hope someone will love as much as I do.

And there's always a market for Art Deco figurines like the one brought in by Gwen.

But first here's something you don't see me doing very often.

Sadly I can't persuade all of you to go down the antique furniture route.

Besides, we don't have the space for it nowadays and the kids might ruin it. So what do we do?

We get in a car and drive to a giant shed on an out-of-town retail park and pick up one of these.

A flat-pack.

Then of course you spend the rest of the weekend looking at diagrams, making sure there's no bits missing

and wondering where you put that Allen key.

I am pleased to tell you there's a third way. It's the Steve Handley way.

He takes old bits of wood, bits of junk, metalwork, kitchen utensils,

puts them all together in a very unconventional way and makes unique kitchen cupboards,

chunky chairs of distinction and tables made of abandoned bits of boats.

That's great recycling, isn't it?

Steve, it's a real pleasure to meet you. A true artisan at work in his workshop. Look at this.

This is organised chaos, isn't it?

-So how long have you been doing this?

-12 years, full time.

I originally trained as a sculptor and I taught that for a long time.

And I got tired of that.

But I'd always had this thread of interest in furniture,

particularly Irish country furniture and later folk art,

Eastern European furniture.

And I always had the thread of recycling.

My dad taught me a lot in post-war austerity, how to mend the shed with bits of wood.

-Heath Robinson!

-Yeah.

Some are just quirky ideas. I've made nearly 2,000 of these cupboards.

The doors are all old pastry boards or chopping boards.

That's the basis they're sold on.

And all the materials, apart from the hinges, are recycled materials.

That's like a little cupboard door for spices.

-Yeah, yeah. Herb and spice cupboard.

-The way you've put two ventilation panels...

These are cheese graters, which I thought were quite an architectural shape.

Some people think it looks like a confessional box.

I invented this. I started making hooks out of cutlery.

I call this the Handley Patent Cutlery Latch.

-It's quite a satisfying click.

-Who are your main clients?

My main clients are women, who buy 95% of my cupboards.

Some of them won't even tell their friends where they got it from,

because they just want it for themselves.

Being herb and spice cupboards, they are also functional,

which is what I like having moved away from more fine-art things.

It was coming up to my wife's birthday and I made her a cupboard.

The door was a pastry board and I sawed a rolling pin in half, and put some other things on.

Then people saw it and said, "Oh, I really like that.

"Can you make me one?"

Then the whole thing developed.

-And a bed.

-The big cross piece on the top, with the iron hoop, is from a wagon, a turning table.

This is from a Lincolnshire cart extension.

I cut the cocks out, because this end of the bed is supposed to be morning

and the swallows used to come in the barn where I was.

That's an old breadboard. This piece which is like a ploughed field,

because it's very much a landscape, the headboard,

my mate with a sawmill, he'd sawn up timber on it with a chain saw for ages.

I went in the yard one morning and he was about to saw it up and throw it on the bonfire.

-And you went, "No!"

-So I said no.

You could play around for hours trying to get that.

So I just sanded the top off and linseeded it.

-Steve, thank you so much for showing me around.

-You're welcome, it's been a pleasure.

You've given me so many ideas, I don't know where to start.

I'm going to go home and look at my junk in a different light.

Steve Handley's furniture is never going to be available in flat-pack form. That's its beauty.

It's individual, it's unique and it's got its own character.

That's what gives it its appeal and value.

Talking of value, we're off to auction.

Let's find out if the Art Deco figurine will score with the bidders.

And whether there's a new home for the jewellery casket.

We could be scenting success for the German Schuco bear.

They love it!

And how much will the collectors be prepared to cough up for the Worcester vases?

It's time to find out.

We've left Doncaster and we've come to Matlock

to catch up with our Flog It favourite James Lewis

the auctioneer for today at Bamfords salerooms.

Before the sale gets under way, let's ask Steve Iredale, the principal valuer,

what he's got to say about a couple of our lots.

Art Deco figurine, she's beautifully modelled.

We've got £300 to £400 on this. It belongs to Gwen.

She came along with her grandson, Daniel. It is well modelled.

I love the fingers and the pose but I'm not sure about 300 to 400.

I hope it does it. I'm a little dubious.

-Do you want my honest answer?

-Yeah.

-I think it's too much.

-Do you?

-It's too much.

It's got the style. Art Deco is all the rage.

It could be a very, very good thing.

I just think it's too much. There is some rubbing to the gilding.

-Yeah.

-It just doesn't excite me the way a £300 to £400 Art Deco figure should.

OK, if this came into your saleroom tomorrow, you're a principal valuer here and auctioneer,

what would you put on this if it came through the door?

I would probably put something more like 100, 150.

I see it perhaps making a couple, but 300 to 400 is just a bit too strong.

-We'll try our best.

-Yes, James has his work cut out, hasn't he?

-If James can't do it, nobody can.

That's what good auctioneers are about. We'll find out in a few moments.

It was brought along by Gwen and grandson Daniel. Hello.

Day off school for the auction?

This is exciting, isn't it?

Fingers crossed, Daniel. It's going under the hammer now.

Lot 165, the German Art Deco figure of the ball dancer.

It really is a stylish lot.

-A stylish lot.

-We've got a single bid.

We can just let it go at 250.

-At £250, just.

-Come on, a bit more.

At 250, 260 do I see? A little bit of wear to the gilding but she's still a nice lot.

-260, yes.

-260.

-270. 280 in the room.

-We're going to sell it.

-290 for you.

Just 290, one more, go on.

-Come on, push it up a bit more.

-300.

-310.

-We've sold it. We've sold it.

At £300 at the back.

At 300 with you. At £300, all sure?

-We've done it.

-That's good.

-Sorry we couldn't get you a bit more.

-I don't care.

-We've sold it.

-We wanted her to go.

-There's a holiday coming up!

-Rosemary, I'm feeling a little bit nervous.

-Don't be!

Your lot's up in a few moments' time.

It's the jewellery casket. We've a fixed reserve on it of £300.

-Fine.

-So it's going home if it doesn't sell.

We don't mind having it home, the mantelpiece looks empty without it.

I wouldn't sell it, as I told you.

Right, yes. I've also found some more family history

and I'm trying to work it out, because it wasn't my grandfather's.

You said it was, didn't you?

Yes, but I think it belonged to his mother. She was born in 1870.

I wondered if it was her christening present and whether he had taken it on when she died.

Having second thoughts!

This is the problem when you put family heirlooms into auction, isn't it?

We'll find out.

Lot 532 is the Elkington & Co gilt metal casket.

Starts at £200 with me. At 200, 220.

At 200 and 20 do I see?

At 200, with me at £200.

Do I see 220?

Is that all, no interest in that?

That's life, isn't it?

No, that's not sold.

Going back to a good home.

-I feel awful.

-Don't worry.

Please don't say that!

Some good has come out of this.

My over-valuation has protected it.

Now we're looking for the sweet smell of success.

£200 to £300, we want that top end.

I've just been joined by Carrie and Carol, mum and daughter.

-This is a little gem, isn't it?

-It is.

Catherine loves it as well. You put the valuation on? Should do it.

-Do you think?

-Yeah.

-Should do it.

-Any feedback?

No, we didn't chat to the auctioneer or valuer.

So he agrees with Catherine's value.

Fingers crossed we're going to flog it!

Lot 319 is this little Schuco bear scent bottle.

Unusual to have his box. And £150 is bid. 150. 160 do I see?

160 in the room, 170, 180.

180 has it. 190? 190, 200.

Keep going. Come on, a little bit more.

In the room at 190. 200 on the phone.

Yes, we've sold it. We've got our 200, we've got the lower end.

-Now it's climbing.

-240. 250.

250, 260.

270, 280.

We're going to do the £300 mark, aren't we?

I was worried. That's excellent.

I feel really sick.

They love it!

Money, money, money.

-Fantastic.

-Oh, my God.

-It's the box that's done it.

-380.

-390.

-Wonderful.

400. And 20?

They're not going to stop.

I hope not.

We could be here all night. That would be good.

-Shall we take a break?

-Oh, my Lord.

Excellent.

-470.

-God bless Grandma.

500. 510.

-That's wonderful.

-520.

530. At 520, are you all out?

At £520.

Oh, that's brilliant. Well done!

I don't believe it.

Oh, my knees.

-OK. OK, you both would have settled for the 200. I know that.

-Yes.

What are you going to put that money to?

Don't forget there is commission to pay.

But you've got a lot of money.

Well, it was my grandma's

and she was a great horse fan.

And my son owns his own pony.

So we are going to go to Olympia at London at Christmas time as a treat for the family. Cos we're all...

Yeah. My daughter that's come with us as well.

We're all going to Olympia to...

-Watch the horses.

-Take Mum

with us in spirit as well.

That's wonderful. A nice idea.

We've got some real quality on the show right now.

I've just been joined by Betty and Charlie. We've got some

Royal Worcester vases, two of them, both decorated by Harry Davis, both with a value of £400 to £600.

Sounds like you're selling up your collection.

Yes, two more to go, but these are the best.

If everything goes all right, so much for us golden wedding and so much to the grandson, our first grandchild.

Aw! What a lovely occasion, then.

Be Grandad. Looks like you've been on holiday.

-Have you?

-No, golf.

-Golf!

-Golf every day.

Well, good luck. Let's hope we get that top end. Adam, what do you think? Will we?

Well, I like to think I know the Worcester market.

-We've put our neck on the line with the valuations, but I think we'll be just fine.

-OK. Good luck.

Lot 55 and 56.

Please be sure that you realise they are two separate lots.

Lot 55, the Worcester slender vase.

Where shall we start it? 500?

-Fantastic!

-6. 6. 7. 800. 9.

1,000.

11. 12.

-Fantastic!

-13. 14.

15. 16.

17. 18.

-Oh, dear!

-There's a lot of Worcester collectors here.

2,000. 2,2. 2,4.

Oh, I say!

2,3. 2,4. Phone two.

-2,5?

-I can't believe it.

-At 2,400.

Phone two. At 2,400 on phone two. Are we all sure?

-Two thousand...

-2,5.

-2,5.

-2,6.

They're still going.

2,7. He's wavering. One more.

At 2,600. All sure? Phone two at 2,6...

Come and buy me! Yes!

Fantastic! Fantastic!

-Brilliant, isn't it?

-Yeah!

OK, there's one more to go, Betty. Here's the second lot.

Lot 56, a similar one.

£1,000 somewhere straight in.

At 1,000. 11 at the back.

1,200. 1,400.

1,400. 1,600. 1,700, new phone.

-1,700. 1,800.

-Incredible.

1,800. 19. 19. 2,000.

2,000. 2,1.

2,1? At £2,000. All done? 2,000.

£2,000. The hammer's gone down.

-That's not bad, is it? A grand total of 4,600.

-Marvellous!

Wow! Betty! What a magical moment. That is what Flog It is all about.

That's the end of another amazing show.

The bears certainly had a picnic, both in Yorkshire and Lancashire,

making way over estimate.

But who'd have thought another county would swoop in and take the honours

with the Worcester vases fetching £4,600?

it's a resounding success for everyone,

especially for the white rose of Yorkshire and Doncaster.

Sadly we're running out of time right here.

I hope you've enjoyed the show, so from everybody here at Matlock...

Round of applause?

Cheerio!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd