Norwich Flog It!

Take a look at a £5 note.

I have one there. There's Her Majesty the Queen on the front.

But if I turn it over, on the back, ever wondered who Elizabeth Fry is?

Well, you're about to find out because today we're in a city which was her birthplace and her home.

Today Flog It! is in Norwich.

Born into a wealthy Quaker family,

Elizabeth Fry was one of this country's great philanthropists.

And after visiting London's notorious Newgate Prison in 1813,

she became Europe's chief campaigner for inmates' rights.

So in 2002, in recognition of her work,

Elizabeth Fry took pride of place on the £5 note.

Now, if we have some great finds here today,

some of you could be making a whole wodge of these, couldn't you?

-Yes.

-That would be good.

-Yes.

-Well, we're here in Norwich at St Andrew's Hall.

And helping out with all the valuations, our experts, Mark Stacey and Philip Serrell.

And it's not taken Philip long to find something rather unusual with an intriguing story.

-Helen, how are you?

-I'm very well, thank you.

-Is this a fine Norfolk cow?

-Well, they're Jersey cows.

-A Jersey cow?

-And black Angus.

-Black Angus?

-I have never heard of a Norfolk one.

I think this is absolutely lovely.

Do you know its history or anything about it?

-I do happen to have the history.

-Let me have a look.

-I have it written down.

-We can see here you've got all this recorded.

-Yes.

How did you find all this out?

Well, the gentleman who it belonged to, he was going to have it thrown away.

-You've got a lovely accent.

-ANGLO-AMERICAN ACCENT: Thank you. I'm half and half.

Half and "heff." So it's half...?

I'm half Norfolk and half American.

-Really?

-Yes.

-That's a nice mixture. It's a lovely accent.

-So this says, Jack Marks...

-Mm-hm.

-Where did Jack Marks live?

-He lived in England.

Jack Marks was the first owner of this prized cow.

-The first owner, yes.

-And in 1853...

-Yes.

-..so this piece of paper says, he was awarded the cow at a farm show.

And then in 1855 this cow embarked on a bit of trip, didn't it?

-Went to America.

-Yeah?

They must have emigrated to America.

-It says here it went in a barrel of flour for protection.

-Mm-hm.

-So you're half American and you're half Norfolk?

-Yes.

-Which half came first?

-Norfolk.

-Then you went to America?

-Then I went to America.

-Why did you go over there?

-I married one of those awful Yanks.

What was it? "They're all over here," or something?

-"Over-sexed and over here".

-Hey!

This is an afternoon programme. You can't say that(!)

-Yes, you can.

-Enough of that! You'll embarrass me.

Let's move on. I've gone red. I can feel myself colouring up.

If you look just here, we've got papier-mache for the base

-that clearly is not English, is it?

-No.

I'm not the biggest linguist in the world, but it's either French or German.

And these cows were made in leather

and they're like a pull-along-toy almost.

-You would have pulled it...

-Yes

..and occasionally the head would move backwards and forwards.

-This is really, really fragile.

-Yes.

And sometimes the tail would wag, as well. And if we have a look at a sort of...

-There's...

-I think there's one missing.

-There's two udders missing.

-Two missing?

-And two horns missing.

-Yeah. Two horns and two udders.

-Yes.

Because of the condition, I think you need to estimate her at £30 to £50.

-OK.

-And put a, sort of, a £30 "with discretion" reserve on it.

And there's a "but" coming now.

I sold one of these, I think, last year,

and it was slightly bigger, but in a similar condition

and my Daisy made about £200, £250.

You know, the proviso is she could do really, really well for you.

-But because of her condition, you've got to put on her what I call a "come and buy me" estimate.

-Right.

-Yeah. Are you happy with that?

-Yes.

-Yeah?

-So Daisy's going to go to pastures new?

-I'm afraid so.

Joanna, what a bit of fun you've brought in for us today.

-Lovely isn't it?

-I love it. It's so, so wacky, isn't it?

Tell us a little bit about it. How do you own it?

-I own it, it's part of a much larger collection.

-Oh, brilliant.

I shared it with my ex-husband, so I've got half of the original collection.

-And we were collecting in the early 70s.

-Oh, right.

-We bought things in ordinary retail shops, but often found things that were rather older than that.

-Yes.

People were not selling them and we used to root around the backs

of shops and find things propping up shelves and all sorts of things.

But you haven't got these on display at home?

I have very few of them out on display.

Things of this size are hard to display.

-It's not much older than that. It probably dates to the early 60s.

-Yes.

And what we've actually got is quite a simple toy.

It's press moulded, and then transfer printed and not hand painted.

I think you ought to show us how it works.

-Show us the aeroplane taking off.

-I'll see if I can remember, yes.

I did remember the key this morning.

Ah, good.

-Oh, and then you guide it do you?

-Yes.

-And it goes up and down and... whoops.

-Oh.

And then, as the mechanism runs down, you hopefully bring it in to land.

-In the right spot.

-Yes.

There we go.

-Touchdown.

-There we go.

-Well done.

-You've got the original box with it as well.

-Yes.

-Which I think is wonderful because, again, it sums up that whole era, you know, of the early '60s.

-Yes.

Now, I notice the actual plane is undecorated,

but of course we have got some of these funky stickers here, which I suppose a kid could have cut out...

Yes, different airlines.

..and used them. We've got Alitalia here and SAS.

But altogether, it's quite a fun item.

Now, you've had them quite a long time.

Why are you deciding to sell it?

Well, most of the things are away put in cupboards. This is very large.

Now, in terms of value, I don't think we're looking at a huge amount.

-No.

-Maybe sort of £50 to £70, something like that.

I would suggest putting it in without reserve.

-Right.

-It is a bit of a gamble because obviously if the highest bid

-on the day is £20, then they'll sell it for £20.

-Yes.

-But you want it to go.

-Yes.

-Are you happy with that?

I'm happy with that yes, because I've got other things

and I'm interested in testing the water, really.

I look forward to seeing you at auction and let's hope it takes off

-and we fly first class all the way.

-That would be lovely.

# Asereje ja de je de jebe tude jebere seibiunouva

# Majavi an de bugui an de buididipi... #

-How are you, Jackie, are you all right?

-I'm fine, thank you.

-Where do you live, then?

-Swaffham.

-Swaffham. Where's Swaffham?

Um, west of Norwich.

-West of Norwich.

-Yeah.

-So what brought you out here?

-We inherited a house in Swaffham so we moved up.

-Really?

-Yep.

-Did these come with the house?

-Yes.

-And you don't like them.

-No.

-Why?

Too old fashioned.

Too old fashioned? It's people like you that's ruining my business!

SHE LAUGHS

Why are they too old? I mean...

Well, you don't have things like that for marmalade any more, do you?

-Yeah.

-No way.

-Yeah.

-Not me.

-No? What do you have, then?

-The jar.

-The jar, yeah. So you like modern stuff.

-Yeah.

-You don't like clutter.

-No.

-But you must watch Flog It!

-Yeah.

-Why?

-Just interested in what things are worth, really.

-So it's all down to money, is it?

-Well, yeah.

So you don't mind...

So that could be the rarest thing in the world, but it's, "How much is it worth?"

-Yeah, that's right.

-Cor, blimey. Well, at least you're honest, Jackie.

These three are silver. They're hallmarked. They've got the little line on them.

We've got two spoons, and do you know what that is?

-No.

-That's a little pusher out of a christening set.

-Oh, yes.

-So the little baby would have a spoon and you'd push the food onto the spoon with that.

Oh, right.

And here, we've got a little silver ring there.

So in terms of value there, not colossal.

I mean, those three spoons are perhaps a couple of pounds.

That might be £10 to £15.

I like this. How old do you think it is?

My mother-in-law and father-in-law got it for a wedding present

and they'd been married over 50 years, so...

-Well, I think you're 50 years out because...

-Oh, right.

There's a date on here.

-This is hallmarked in Chester in about 1905, 1910.

-Oh, right, oh.

So it's about a hundred years old.

It would be really stylish on a Sunday morning - lazy breakfast,

fill that full of marmalade. You know, "Would you like some marmalade, would you?"

-No?

-I'm not posh enough for that.

-Get out of it.

And I think that on its own, almost got a bit of an Arts and Crafts look, that might make £30, £40.

-So I think what we do is we put the whole lot in one lot, estimate £30 to £50.

-Yep.

If you have a good result, might make just over top estimate, but it'll sell.

-And we'll put a reserve on it for you - fixed reserve of £30.

-That's fine.

If I had told you this collection was worth £5,000, what would you have spent it on?

-The house.

-The house. So what's this £50 going to do?

-Buy a shower curtain.

-You're going to buy a shower curtain?

-That's correct.

I'd rather have this, thank you.

-Hello, Don.

-Hello.

-Now, you've brought a super pair of Moorcroft vases in to show us.

-Yeah.

What is the history of them?

Well, they belonged to my auntie.

Um, she died, I think, when she was 90.

-Gosh.

-Some time ago. Where she got them from I only surmise, because she used to be what we call tweeny.

They lived in the top of the house and they were maids.

-Oh, yes, yes.

-You know. But she worked her way up to the top

and her husband was a driver for gentry.

-Yes, so the chauffeur and chief maid.

-Yes.

And they did this nearly all their life. And I think that a lot of this stuff was given to them as...

-So it could have been a gift, a thank-you gift.

-Yes.

I think looking at the vases, we can tell straight away they're William Moorcroft.

We've got this lovely Art Nouveau baluster shape,

this lovely tube-line decoration, and this particularly attractive design of lilac.

-Yes.

-And interestingly with these, when you actually look, normally this Florian Ware...

-That's right.

-..is just light and dark blue.

Now, on these ones, particularly, we've got this added colour.

We've got this reddish tinge, the yellow and the sort of pinkish tinge on the bottom here.

-And that turns them into what I think William Moorcroft used to call Hesperian Ware.

-Oh, yes.

And they do come up from time to time, but I'm not quite sure that they were as popular at the time

as the complete Florian Ware.

It was under the same range, but he was just trying to introduce new techniques in there.

When we look underneath, we have a nice clear mark again,

-"W. Moorcroft, des" - designer.

-Yes, that's right.

And the Florian Ware mark. And we're looking at a date about 1900.

Yes, that's quite old.

-So very early.

-Yes.

-For Moorcroft.

And a lovely pair. One of them is slightly damaged. We've got a chip.

I don't know how that happened.

It happened a long time ago because it is very stained.

-Yes.

-But, fortunately, it's on the rim, so it can be restored quite nicely.

Oh, I see, yeah.

I like these a lot and I think there's going to be quite a few potential buyers for these.

And if I was suggesting we put them in, I would say £800 to £1,200.

-With a reserve of 800.

-Mm, sounds good, that does.

-Sound all right?

-Yes, that sounds fine.

But you've had them for quite a while. Why have you decided to flog them now?

Well, in our house, it's more of a modern house and these things don't sort of suit our...

-Taste.

-Yes.

And the ambience of the property.

Funny how we change, isn't it, over the years?

-Yes.

-And would you put the money towards anything in particular?

At the moment, my computer's just blown up and I'm looking for a new computer.

But other than that, it could go towards a nice holiday in Spain, I think.

Well, you know, I hope we'll get more than that.

-I think probably, on a good day, we might reach the top end.

-Oh, yes.

-We might be able to upgrade your computer quite a bit.

-I hope so.

I've been lucky enough to get away from all the hustle and bustle

and head out into the beauty of the Norfolk Broads.

The various habitats of the Broads are linked together by rivers, streams, ditches and, of course,

the Broads themselves, shallow lakes which hold vast amounts of water,

which is essential for the continued existence of the wetlands.

But the Broads themselves, they need a little bit of help

from mankind to make sure that these waterways remain navigable.

Reed has been harvested for centuries wherever settlements grew up near wetlands.

In the Broads, reed was extensively used to thatch houses, agricultural buildings and churches.

Eric Edwards has been a marsh man for the last 40 years and he's only just recently hung up his scythe.

He's going to show me some tricks of the trade

of harvesting this reed and tell me a little bit about its history.

He's waiting for me at the Living Marshes building, here at How Hill.

So let's catch up with him.

And here he is, he's in here. Hi, Eric.

-Morning, Paul.

-I've heard lots about you and it's all good.

Yes. Nothing to say.

Thank you for bringing what I've been told is a very small part of your collection.

Tell me, what is a marsh man? I know what a Martian is.

-A marsh man is a man who generally looks after the marshes.

-Yes.

He cuts reeds, he cuts sedge, he cleans the dykes.

He does all the jobs that a marsh man would do.

-Yeah, yeah.

-Cut reed, it helps to bring the wildlife.

When you cut the reed, you get a material you can use on thatched roofs.

I've been told this is your handiwork up here.

Yes, this reed was cut across the river, just over the river there,

I think probably about two years ago.

It's flecked, the term is "flecking", like the old buildings years ago.

-Yes.

-And there's a thousand bunches of reed on here.

-How long did that take you to do?

-It took me a couple of weeks.

-That's not bad going, is it?

-No, you know, you'd probably get 500 a week.

-Let's take a look at a bundle of reed first.

-Yeah.

-Now, how many could you cut in a day?

-Approximately a hundred.

-A hundred a day.

-A hundred bunches a day.

And how much would a bunch like that cost?

When I first started a bunch of reed, about one ninepence, two bob.

And now it's roughly about £2 a bundle - it varies.

-£2 a bundle.

-Yeah.

-When you think there's a thousand bundles here...

-Not bad, and you can do a hundred a day.

Yeah, I was working on a salary so...

Well, we should have a look at the most important tool of the trade, the scythe.

Yes. A lovely old tool.

Have you used this one?

-I used this for probably ten or 12 years.

-Gosh.

And the old man cut this handle.

-Nothing much bought, it's an alder cut out of the marsh.

-Yep.

They bought very little years ago.

It's hedgerow materials, really, what was growing around.

-Yes. This is called a boil and that's called a pricker.

-What does that do?

This is actually, when you swing the scythe...

Shall I keep out of the way?

-Well, when the reed travels along...

-I'll hold the reed.

-When it travels along, you see, Paul, you swing and that piece of reed comes along the blade, look.

-Yeah.

Travels along, hits, locked into the peg and it all comes round.

So that catches the reed.

So it folds the reed over once you've cut it.

Yeah. I still love this way.

You're at peace with nature working with something like that?

You see everything working away, the little bearded tits.

Yeah, all the wildlife.

I always think wildlife works around you. You're part of their scenery.

Let's get out on the marshes and bring the scythe along, come on.

'The heyday of the marsh men was the 19th century when hundreds of men worked across the Broads.

'With the onset of World War I and mechanisation, marsh men's numbers began to dwindle.'

Now, this is a sort of a greeny colour right now.

You would normally cut the reed when it's golden,

so is there a certain part of the year you do this?

Yeah, you cut reed about mid-December till about the first week in April.

It's a winter crop.

OK. This has to be cut down because it's good land management.

-Well, yeah.

-Otherwise the marshes would disappear, get overgrown.

Well, they'd grow up alders and all manner of things

-and they'd dry out and you'd lose your commercial crop.

-Yeah.

-You going to show me how to use this?

-This is the old way.

Shall I step right back?

You spit in your hand,

and basically you would get right in, look.

You never hurry, you just...

-Looks easy.

-You cut low, you see.

If you cut there you'll snap it. You've got to get right down, look.

So it's right in. Nice and steady.

A lovely little swing, look.

I've never used a scythe, can I have a go?

Yes. Make sure you keep your heel down, as old boys used to say.

Keep your scythe like that.

If you go like that, you'll hit the ground.

-OK.

-So keep your heel down.

Yeah, you're quite welcome. Just mind your feet and go steady

and hit that front bit and just draw it into the reed.

Yeah, you've got to get lower. Ain't as easy as you think, is it?

Cor, it's not, is it? You made that look really easy.

-Yeah.

-Right, let's have another go.

Yeah. You see, the art is keeping it right low.

You've cleared a bit, you see.

But you would learn.

The longer you done it, it will come to you, you see.

Oh, do you know, I've done about a very poor metre

and I'm puffed already.

And it's not a good job either, is it, Eric?

Well, it is reasonable, as we say in the trade.

I'm puffed.

Yeah, it's hard work.

-I'm going to hand this back to the master, full of nettles.

-That's all right. No problem.

-Eric, thank you.

-That's all right.

-You've made my day, actually.

-It's lovely to meet you.

Keep passing the message on to all the youngsters out there -

traditional skills and values which are sadly being lost.

-But you're protecting our heritage, so thank you.

-Thank you very much.

We had a busy time at our valution day

and now we're heading south to Diss in Norfolk, where we're the guests of TW Gaze auction rooms.

And here's what we're selling today.

This little papier-mache cow is a favourite of mine.

Let's hope the bidders are in the MOOD for it.

The child in me loves Joanna's toy airport.

I'm sure it will fly away at the auction.

Jackie's silver bits and pieces are cluttering up her home,

and with a reserve of only £30,

someone's bound to snap them up.

And finally, Flog It! wouldn't be Flog It! without Moorcroft,

and these two vases are certainly fine examples.

Holding the gavel at today's sale is our old friend - auctioneer Elizabeth Talbot.

-Helen, this is nearly your lot. The time has arrived.

-I guess it has.

This little papier-mache cow - this is my favourite lot.

-She's sweet.

-I love it, I love it, I love it.

£30 to £50. I'd like to see this doing £200 because I just think

it's, sort of, a very early 19th century papier-mache Continental toy.

It's like me, though - it's a bit tired, isn't it?

We're all fraying around the edges. Why are you flogging this gorgeous little cow?

Because he's a bit of folk art. He's special.

-I'm packing up.

-You're packing up?

-Because of house subsidence.

-Oh.

-And so I thought I would sell a few things.

-That sounds serious.

-It does, doesn't it?

-It sounds very serious.

-You're on the move, literally.

-The house is on the move. The bricks are moving.

-Wow.

-Blimey.

-It's going under the hammer.

We have the papier-mache model of a cow, starting at £22.

25, 28, 30-2, 35, 38 and 40-2, 45 and I'm out.

I have 45 above, at 45 now, 48 - new bidder.

50-5, 60-5, 70-5,

-80-5, 90.

-That's good.

5, 100, 110,

120, 130, 140, 150...

-Oh, my word.

-..160 above, at 160 now. Where's 70?

At 160 in the gallery, at £160.

Yes! I love it, I love it. It's like a game of ping pong, table tennis.

-Very good.

-Helen, £160.

-Yes.

-That's a lot of dollars.

-Can you believe... Yes, double that.

-Double that.

Two dollars for the pound. Goodness.

You'll have to bring some more things to Flog It!

-They're all packed.

-Oh, they're all packed.

-We can come round the house and unpack.

-Absolutely.

It's your very own runway with aircraft and it belongs to Joanna.

-It's a lovely thing from the '60s, a good metal toy, and it's still working.

-Yes.

And we've only got £50 to £70-odd.

-Yes.

-Not a lot of money, is it, for happy memories?

It's a great thing. You fell in love with it.

Well, it's great fun. You can imagine at that time, of course,

air travel wasn't as widely used as it is now.

-We're all used to jumping off...

-It's like getting on a bus.

Exactly, I mean, it's getting on.

And I've always wanted to say,

the emergency exits are located here, here and here.

Lot 220 now, we have the Technifix tin-plate international airways

clockwork model, it's great fun, this one and interest on the sheet,

low start here at just £22.

At 22, 25, 28, 30, two.

35 and I'm out. 38 new bidder.

40 got. 42, 45, 48, 50.

This is good, Joanna. This is good.

-Five, 70, 70, the lady at 70.

-This is great.

At £70 in the gallery, at 70. Any advance?

-£70.

-That's the top of the estimate.

-Brilliant.

-Well done, you.

Good value, good valuation.

-So, £70.

-Fantastic.

Why did you want to flog this tin-plate toy in the first place?

I've actually got a large collection.

Ah, you're a toy collector?

-Yes. Well, I was with my ex-husband in the early 70s.

-Right.

And got lots and lots of toys, and I really... It's time to start

moving some on, so this is testing the market and I'm really pleased.

Great. What a good start.

'As Elizabeth leaves the rostrum to take a well-earned rest,

'our last couple of lots will be auctioned by Steve Stockton.

'So how is he going to do with Jackie's collection of silver?'

-Right, Jackie, feeling nervous?

-Yes. Very.

It's Jackie's turn now. Teaching assistant from Norwich, aren't you?

-Yep.

-Do you enjoy the job?

-Yeah.

-It's a cracking job, I bet.

-Yep.

-What sort of kids are you looking after, what age group?

-Five and upwards.

-They're the best, aren't they?

-They're less trouble.

-That's correct.

-When they get to our age, we're major trouble, aren't we?

-Speak for yourself.

We've got a collection of silver belonging to Jackie's in-laws about to go under the hammer.

-£30 to £50?

-Yeah. It'll sell, it'll sell.

-Yeah? OK.

-Yeah, no worries at all - it will sell.

-That's good.

Why are you having a clear out of the family silver, then?

It's just been left in the cupboard for years and years so we've had to sort it out and...

-Don't use it.

-No, never used it.

-Don't want it.

-No.

-Let's get rid of it.

You've come to the right place at the right time.

A quantity of miscellaneous silver, eight pieces in total,

and interest on the sheet so I'm going to start with me at £15 now.

Oh, that's not interest.

18 straight in, 20, 22, 25, 28 and 30.

32, I'm out. 35.

Now we've sold.

38, £40, 42, 45, 48, £50.

-50 in the room, do I see five?

-Spot on for him.

55 back in. 55, now where's 60?

It's £55 now, any advance on £55?

-Yes. £55.

-That's good.

-Not bad.

It's interesting, because I suspect if you break it up,

-you wouldn't make more and it's the fact that it's all as a package.

-Yes.

55 quid - not a lot of money, and you've got to pay a bit of commission.

-That's fine.

-But I think there's lunch or supper out, don't you?

-Yep, that'd be great.

-Happy?

-Yes, very.

Well, I've just been joined by Edna.

Unfortunately Donald cannot be with us, your husband.

It looks like you've just flown in from somewhere hot and exotic.

-Yes, we have, Spain.

-Oh.

-Look at the tan.

-Wonderful, isn't it?

Mark's off to Spain in a couple of weeks' time as well, on his holidays.

I am. Well, actually, a couple of days' time.

Oh, a couple of days? Well, we've got two lovely Moorcroft vases.

They are quality - £800 to £1,200 you've put on these, Mark.

Yes, nice and early again.

They are called Hesperian Ware because, not only do they have that two-toned blue colour...

-It's a lovely colour.

-..they have that pinky colour as well.

-Sounds collectable.

-Very collectable.

But they can be a bit hit-and-miss.

You're sounding like an auctioneer now.

-No, I'm not. I'm just saying, for some reason... I love them.

-OK.

I think they're adorable. But there's not always the same amount of collectors for that particular work.

-OK.

-It can be in the right pattern and these have got a good pattern on them.

Edna, it sounds good.

Why are you flogging them, though?

Well, because I collected Lladro, and so I want to buy another piece of Lladro.

OK. Will Donald mind that?

No, he won't. He won't have to, will he?

-No choice, then.

-No choice, then.

-I'd rather have the Moorcroft, I must admit.

So would I, actually. Let's hope we get £1,200 for the top end plus a bit more.

-So you can have a lunch out.

-That's right.

We have the pair of Moorcroft Florian Ware,

lilac pattern, baluster form vases.

And starting with... Let me see, starting with me at £520.

550, 580, 600, 620.

The damage is holding it back.

650, 680. 700, 720.

-750, 780.

-Come on.

£800 I'm out.

£800, they're sold. We've done it.

800 in the room, do I see 20? 820.

-Now the phones come into play.

-850.

880.

-900.

-Oh, Edna.

920.

950.

980. £1,000.

And 50. 11 hundred.

Wonderful, wonderful.

Brilliant. And the damage is not holding them back.

£1,200.

-And 50.

-Oh.

£1,300.

Incredible.

And 50. £1,400.

It's not going to stop.

And 50. £1,500. And 50.

£1,600.

Cor, they love them, don't they?

And 50. £1,650. It's on the telephone at £1,650.

I'm selling at £1,650.

Wonderful.

They wanted that, didn't they?

-Oh, lovely.

-Wow, that's a lot more than we expected.

Fantastic, isn't it? I take it all back. They love this, they really do.

-Yes.

-Edna, what a lovely moment.

-Donald will be so pleased with that, won't he?

-Oh, yes.

Well, as you can see, the auction is still going on, but it's definitely all over for our owners,

and they've all gone home very happy because we've sold absolutely everything.

All credit to our experts - they were spot on the money today.

And it was great to see a big smile on Edna's face when she sold

her Moorcroft vases for a staggering £1,650.

What a surprise. Join me for many more surprises next time on Flog It!

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