0:00:03 > 0:00:09Being on the south coast an hour from the capital, no wonder this place is a day-tripper's paradise.
0:00:09 > 0:00:13Welcome to Flog It from London-by-the-Sea - sunny Brighton!
0:00:46 > 0:00:53Brighton has been a fashionable destination since the Prince Regent brought his mistress here in 1783
0:00:53 > 0:00:56for maybe the first dirty weekend
0:00:56 > 0:01:01and the exotic Royal Pavilion which he built was certainly the place to be seen in.
0:01:03 > 0:01:09But the most fashionable place to be seen today is outside the Regency Corn Exchange
0:01:09 > 0:01:13where looking through the bags and boxes for something in vogue
0:01:13 > 0:01:16to take to the saleroom are Catherine Southon and Mark Stacey.
0:01:30 > 0:01:35- Hello, Ed.- Hi, Mark. - I always like seeing boxes like this
0:01:35 > 0:01:37because you never know what's going to be inside.
0:01:37 > 0:01:42And even more interesting, lots of inscriptions. Tell me what you know.
0:01:42 > 0:01:47It was offered to me at a reasonable price of £20.
0:01:47 > 0:01:53- Good Lord!- I spoke to the lady about it. They were going across to France to live.
0:01:53 > 0:02:00I obligingly bought it, opened it up and it appeared to have never been used or seen the light of day.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03We'll come on to that in a second.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06We have this nice inscription,
0:02:06 > 0:02:11which is, "First prize presented by Baron Profumo."
0:02:11 > 0:02:18I don't think he would have given it as a personal gift. He was probably the grandee at the event.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22It was presented as a prize for something.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24It's a very interesting case.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28When we open it up, we see exactly what we've got inside -
0:02:28 > 0:02:32this very nice little Art Nouveau morning set.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35I think these are grapefruit spoons.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39We've got a butter knife, sugar tongs
0:02:39 > 0:02:43and then preserve spoons for your marmalade and jams.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47And a little cruet set which I am going to take out for one moment
0:02:47 > 0:02:51because I don't think this was originally part of this set.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54Stylistically, it's completely different.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58We've got a more angular shape with the stepped section.
0:02:58 > 0:03:03On the top I would have expected a similar Art Nouveau motif.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05When you look at all those pieces,
0:03:05 > 0:03:10they are very, very typical of that sort of 1890 to 1905 period.
0:03:10 > 0:03:15Very high Art Nouveau. They are silver plate, rather than silver.
0:03:15 > 0:03:21But it's obviously lived in there because it fits very snugly in there to protect it.
0:03:21 > 0:03:26We also have this little cut-out of three gentlemen in uniform.
0:03:26 > 0:03:31- They look like musicians from a regiment.- They certainly do.
0:03:31 > 0:03:38And unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to ask the previous owners what the connection was
0:03:38 > 0:03:42because it was laying in the bottom underneath this cruet set.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46Well, it's got a date on there, "May 24th, 1900."
0:03:46 > 0:03:50So it does tie in a bit with 1906.
0:03:50 > 0:03:55I thought he may have been the sportsman who this was presented to.
0:03:55 > 0:04:00This is the mystery and what makes antiques so interesting.
0:04:00 > 0:04:06You find these clues and if you've got an investigative mind, you see if you can develop it any more.
0:04:06 > 0:04:11- Looking at value, you didn't pay very much for it.- That's right.
0:04:11 > 0:04:18If we were putting it in for auction, I would suggest maybe 100 to 150 with a 100 reserve.
0:04:18 > 0:04:23If two people like it, it could go a bit above that.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27But with a 100 reserve, we're not giving it away.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31- How do you feel about that? - I feel very happy at a 100 reserve.
0:04:31 > 0:04:36- At the auction let's hope it makes a lot of money for you.- I hope so too.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39- Thank you.- Thank you for your time.
0:04:46 > 0:04:51Stella, welcome to Flog It. Thank you for coming along.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55You've brought along some rather nice little pieces here.
0:04:55 > 0:05:01- Where did you get them from? - They've come down through the family.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04They've been there ever since I can remember.
0:05:04 > 0:05:10Although they look like Meissen, I don't think they are. I'm not sure.
0:05:10 > 0:05:16If you turn these over, we can see that it's got the mark of "AR".
0:05:16 > 0:05:20Do you know "AR"? Do you know what that stands for?
0:05:20 > 0:05:24I think it stands for "Augustus Rex", but I don't know much else.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28Augustus Rex was involved with the Meissen factory.
0:05:28 > 0:05:33These aren't actually Meissen. They are a later reproduction.
0:05:33 > 0:05:38They would be early 20th century, up to 1920s.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41But obviously of that Meissen style.
0:05:41 > 0:05:47They would be by another Dresden factory, so still German, but very late.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50This piece really caught my eye,
0:05:50 > 0:05:54this lovely little chamber stick here.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58You put your finger through the hole and your thumb rests on the top
0:05:58 > 0:06:03and you would've carried this as you go up to bed, the candle in here.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06- This piece looks much finer.- Yes.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09Flowers you can see. Much more intricate.
0:06:09 > 0:06:14The colour is a lot finer than on these flowers here.
0:06:14 > 0:06:19- If you turn it over, it has got the crossed swords.- Meissen mark?- Yes.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23A lot of people have copied this, but I think,
0:06:23 > 0:06:27I would put money on it, that this is actually Meissen.
0:06:27 > 0:06:34- Good.- Unfortunately, I think it is a late piece and these are all of the same sort of period.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37So again, early 20th century,
0:06:37 > 0:06:41but I think that, unlike these pieces, is actually Meissen.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45Yes, when you see them together, it's so much finer.
0:06:45 > 0:06:50These aren't so nicely painted, not such good quality.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52So taking that into account,
0:06:52 > 0:06:58I would like to put on the whole lot probably £100 to £150.
0:06:58 > 0:07:03- OK.- With an £80 reserve.- That sounds fine.- Does that sound OK?- Yes.
0:07:03 > 0:07:08- These have been in your family a long time. Why are you selling them?- They're very delicate.
0:07:08 > 0:07:15You couldn't use them and I don't want them any more, although they're pretty.
0:07:15 > 0:07:22- I've got too many other things to show and I don't want to show those. - The time has come.- Yes.
0:07:28 > 0:07:33- Good morning, Peter.- Good morning. - This is a charming watercolour.
0:07:33 > 0:07:40- What happened here?- After surviving on Granny's wall for decades, it took a tumble in the back of my car.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44I suspect somebody would want to reframe it anyway
0:07:44 > 0:07:47- and put a new backing on it.- Yeah.
0:07:47 > 0:07:54- You inherited the picture?- Yes, it was one of two or three paintings hanging up in my grandmother's house.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58That was the one I always liked, so she gave it to me.
0:07:58 > 0:08:03- How long have you had it? - I think probably about 25 years.
0:08:03 > 0:08:10- Why have you decided to sell it now? - It's been in the attic for so long and it's not my style of painting.
0:08:10 > 0:08:16- I've seen something I'd rather buy. - Something more contemporary?- Yes.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20You've kind of hit the nail on the head in some ways.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24This type of painting is a little bit out of fashion.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28It's dated 1871 by Collier who isn't that well-known.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31But it's a rather charming subject.
0:08:31 > 0:08:36We've got this nice robin's nest on your side with the eggs inside
0:08:36 > 0:08:42and these rather nice wild flowers cut in that very framed setting as a watercolour.
0:08:42 > 0:08:47You wouldn't find that in real life. Have you thought of the value?
0:08:47 > 0:08:54No, not at all. I just thought I ought to bring it along and investigate further really.
0:08:54 > 0:09:01It is slightly out of vogue at the moment and it does need a little bit of cleaning and remounting.
0:09:01 > 0:09:06Even if the glass hadn't been broken, I think some people would want to reframe it.
0:09:06 > 0:09:11At auction, we'd be looking at around £200 to £300.
0:09:11 > 0:09:15- How does that grab you?- That sounds great.- Is that OK?- Yeah.
0:09:15 > 0:09:21- Would you want to put a reserve on it?- Yeah, I think probably 175.
0:09:21 > 0:09:27- I think that sounds sensible. We'll put a fixed reserve of 175.- Right.
0:09:27 > 0:09:34- If we can't get that for it, put it back in the loft and see what happens in a few years.- Good idea.
0:09:40 > 0:09:45Ann, thank you for coming along. This jumped out at me in the queue.
0:09:45 > 0:09:51- Tell me where you got it from. - It belongs to my mother.
0:09:51 > 0:09:57She gave it to me a few weeks ago to have valued and I hadn't done anything about it.
0:09:57 > 0:10:02I saw an advertisement in the paper that Flog It was coming here.
0:10:02 > 0:10:06I thought, "Let's go along and see what happens."
0:10:06 > 0:10:10It belongs to your mother, but where did she get it from?
0:10:10 > 0:10:17It's been in the family for three generations, but we think it came from an antiques shop.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21One of our ancestors had an antiques shop in Cheltenham.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24We used to try and blow it as a horn.
0:10:24 > 0:10:30- We now know it's a powder horn. - It's a scrimshaw powder horn.
0:10:30 > 0:10:36These things were done by sailors on either whale's teeth or indeed on this wonderful horn
0:10:36 > 0:10:40for their sweethearts and loved ones back home.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44This has got wonderful sunshine on the back.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48It's very naively done, but that's its charm.
0:10:48 > 0:10:55On the front of this, this man has engraved "Lucy" and perhaps this is Lucy underneath, the sweetheart.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59What's rather nice about it is it's got colour
0:10:59 > 0:11:02which is something you don't always find on scrimshaw.
0:11:02 > 0:11:09This has got red across the belt and also around the arm of Lucy.
0:11:09 > 0:11:14These things are very brittle, so they do damage quite easily.
0:11:14 > 0:11:19I often see ones with cracks down them or little parts broken.
0:11:19 > 0:11:24We can see that there is a little bit that's been broken off this sort of scalloped edge,
0:11:24 > 0:11:27but that's not a major problem.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30Is it something you're interested in?
0:11:30 > 0:11:34No, I'm not interested in it. It's just the tale that it tells.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38Lucy's got a spade and there's a graveyard.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42- You turn it over and there are some graves.- There's a fort.
0:11:42 > 0:11:48- There's the old Union Jack.- That's also coloured in with this red wax.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52- Does your mum not like it? - It's in a cupboard.
0:11:52 > 0:11:58It's in a polythene bag in the cupboard, she moves it around and it gets damaged.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01- Yes. - And she just thinks it ought to go.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03- It's time to go.- Time to go.
0:12:03 > 0:12:08What would you think it is worth? What would you like it to be worth?
0:12:08 > 0:12:11I'd like it to be worth over £200.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14- How does £800 sound?- My word!
0:12:14 > 0:12:19- No!- That's what I would like it to fetch at auction.- Wow!
0:12:19 > 0:12:22These things are very sought after.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26- My goodness me!- It is in lovely condition.- I can't believe it.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30It's 1830s, 1840s and it should be worth about £800.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32My word! How exciting!
0:12:32 > 0:12:37Let's put it in the auction at around £800 to £1,000.
0:12:37 > 0:12:42Let's put a reserve on of 650 and let's not let it go for any less.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45It's a great piece. You've made my day.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48- You've made my day too!- Thank you.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58- Hello, Paul.- Hello.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00- Thank you for coming to see us in Brighton.- Happy to come.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03Before we talk about your Edwardian tantalus,
0:13:03 > 0:13:07you've got a little bit of family history about it, haven't you?
0:13:07 > 0:13:12Well, it belonged to my great uncle, Uncle Will, who died in the '50s.
0:13:12 > 0:13:17And the story is that he won this, as third prize, in a bowls tournament.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21And I know this is featured here in the little clipping from the paper.
0:13:21 > 0:13:27It dates from 1912 and it states the fact that he won third prize in this tournament.
0:13:27 > 0:13:33- And to reinforce that, of course, we've also got a little plaque on the front.- That's right.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36- Which mentions him. - His name there, yeah.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38Third prize. You don't often find this.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42It's really nice to see something like this that ties in.
0:13:42 > 0:13:47Now, looking at it, it's a fairly straight forward produced tantalus.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51And we've got an oak case, with silver plated mounts.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55This is quite nice. This is quite a nice feature, the handle there.
0:13:55 > 0:13:59And, of course, it was meant, really, to protect your valuable alcohol.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03- Absolutely, yeah. - So, when you went out for the evening, you locked this up.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05- That's right.- And the servants
0:14:05 > 0:14:10then couldn't get their hands on any of your port or sherry or whiskey.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14As you're closer than me there, can you show us the mechanism?
0:14:14 > 0:14:20- Yeah, sure.- So, if you open that. - You have a couple of keys here. You simply just turn it, it opens,
0:14:20 > 0:14:22- and that allows that to come out. - Absolutely.
0:14:22 > 0:14:27But it's so closely fit that once it's closed, you can't do anything about it. It's, you know, secure.
0:14:27 > 0:14:33Now, we do see these quite a lot and they're always reasonably popular items.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37We know, actually, that it was made around 1912.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39I think it was relatively new at the time.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41Could be a few years older than that.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43It could have been donated as the prize.
0:14:43 > 0:14:51In terms of the value, I think we're probably looking at something like £100-£150. Something like that.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54It might make a bit more, because we've got the family history there.
0:14:54 > 0:14:59- And I think it would sell very well at auction. Are you happy to put it in?- I think so, yes.
0:14:59 > 0:15:00Wonderful.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18I think a swim in the sea is one of the great pleasures of coming to the seaside.
0:15:18 > 0:15:23And it all took off really in the early 18th century, when doctors encouraged their patients
0:15:23 > 0:15:28to have a dip in the salt water to improve their health and wellbeing.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31Now, early bathers were encouraged to bathe naked.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34But that wasn't as straightforward as it sounds.
0:15:38 > 0:15:42It wasn't appropriate to have people walking naked along the beach.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44So a more discreet solution was needed.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48Bathing machines - basically beach huts on wheels -
0:15:48 > 0:15:50were invented to provide the occupant with the modesty,
0:15:50 > 0:15:54and as a way of getting from the top of the beach down to the water.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57But fashions changed and by the turn of the 20th century,
0:15:57 > 0:16:02it became acceptable to wear a bathing costume and be seen in it.
0:16:07 > 0:16:12But people still needed a place to change in, and the answer was static beach huts.
0:16:12 > 0:16:17And these soon became a sought after accessory to any seaside holiday.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20And nowadays, these brightly painted beach huts
0:16:20 > 0:16:24are an iconic symbol of the great British seaside resort.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27We tend to take their presence for granted.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30So, I'm here to find out a little bit more.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37And the person to tell me is Dr Catherine Ferry,
0:16:37 > 0:16:40a seaside historian, who's an expert on beach huts.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44Catherine, you're so passionate about beach huts.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48- You've even written a book on them. - That's right. - Do you have a beach hut?
0:16:48 > 0:16:52Oh, I wish I did! I don't. I feel a bit of a fraud, admitting that.
0:16:52 > 0:16:59But there's something that appeals to me about these tiny buildings, on the margin between the land and the sea.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02They could get blown away, but they're bright and cheerful.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04They do put a smile on your face.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07I mean, what a backdrop we've got. Bit of golden sunshine?
0:17:07 > 0:17:10- Exactly, exactly. - That keeps you snug.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14On some of our summers days, you know, you want to be in there. if the sun doesn't come out.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18I think that's why the British love them so much. Cos when the rain comes down, it doesn't matter.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21You just go inside and you can make yourself cosy.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25And you can see all the other poor people walking in the rain.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27But you're, sort of, snug inside your hut.
0:17:27 > 0:17:33- Your research has taken you all over the country, studying beach huts. - That's right. Absolutely.
0:17:33 > 0:17:38You spent months on the road, going around to, well, virtually a tour of the coast, haven't you?
0:17:38 > 0:17:43That's right. I did actually count the beach huts as I went.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45OK, come on. Let's, let's hear it.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49There were... I counted just over 19,000.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52But I think I missed a few...
0:17:52 > 0:17:55and, actually, that's quite a surprisingly low number.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57There's so much interest in beach huts these days,
0:17:57 > 0:18:02- you imagine there'd be hundreds of thousands.- I like the brightly painted ones.- So do I.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05They remind you of a stick of rock, kids playing in the sand
0:18:05 > 0:18:08- and put a smile on your face.- They do. They're summery, aren't they?
0:18:08 > 0:18:12- Even in winter, they look summery. - I think that's what it's all about.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15Lots of people do lots of different things in them, don't they?
0:18:15 > 0:18:20They do. It depends what your idea of the beach is, I suppose.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24I mean, a lot of people use them as a place to relax.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26Surfers use them these days.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29It's a great place to change into your wetsuit, isn't it?
0:18:29 > 0:18:31- Write a book in them? - Well, absolutely.
0:18:31 > 0:18:36PD James has a beach hut at Southwold, where she writes her books.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39I think, really, most people don't do very much in their huts.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42Because they get here with good intentions.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44- They bring a book or... - They just want to relax.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48Yeah. And you can just... It's the perfect place to watch the world go by, isn't it?
0:18:48 > 0:18:52- Look out to sea, and why would you want to do anything?- You wouldn't!
0:18:52 > 0:18:57- Yeah. It's... A nice glass of wine. - I'm having this image now... Yeah, I'd have my glass of wine.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59Mine would be like a little artist's studio.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02I'd do all my painting here and stick it on the walls in there.
0:19:02 > 0:19:06- A little gallery space.- A gallery! That would be perfect, yeah.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08Beach huts aren't just places to relax in.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11They're also highly sought-after pieces of real estate.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14Prices have rocketed in recent years, with some
0:19:14 > 0:19:19in popular locations now selling for well over £100,000.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22So, I'm keen to have a look inside a hut and meet some of the owners.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27This is what I like to see. Look, a whole family together enjoying their beach hut.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29- Hello, how do you do?- Hi, Paul.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33- Is it Paul?- Yeah.- Hello, what's your name?- Sarah.- Sarah. What's his name?
0:19:33 > 0:19:35- Alfie.- Even the dog's come along!
0:19:35 > 0:19:39Hello, everyone. Can we see what you've done to your beach hut?
0:19:39 > 0:19:42Yeah, delighted. Yeah, yeah.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44So, what have you managed to do in here?
0:19:44 > 0:19:48- I rebuilt it about five years ago. - Yeah.- It was falling to pieces.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51And rebuilt it in my garden, assembled it down here,
0:19:51 > 0:19:54- and painted it. - You've done a really good job!
0:19:54 > 0:19:56How much did you pay for this?
0:19:56 > 0:19:59about 12 years ago I paid £300 for it.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01I think that was a bargain, don't you?
0:20:01 > 0:20:05Best investment I've ever made, considering they're worth between £8,000-£10,000 now.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07It's a family heirloom. Hey, you two.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10- Yeah.- This is your inheritance here.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12Hope you look after it.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15- Would you ever sell it? - No, we'd never sell it.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17- The idea is to keep it in the family. - Yeah.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20Children, grandchildren, forever. This is our bolthole.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23Paul, thank you very much for showing me around. Thank you.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26Enjoy the rest of the day. Thanks a lot.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39Oh, Christine and Ian, this is the life, isn't it?
0:20:39 > 0:20:44- Just the business.- Sun shining down on us, outside your own beach hut.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47What could be better? Well, apart from a chocolate biscuit.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49- There we go.- Do you mind?
0:20:49 > 0:20:52So, how long have you had this one?
0:20:52 > 0:20:57We've had it six months. We moved to Brighton in October, last October.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59And we decided we'd like to retire by the sea.
0:20:59 > 0:21:04Can't get any closer to the sea than this, can you! It's just there.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08I come down when the weather's nice like this and, if it's windy, then I just sit in the hut.
0:21:08 > 0:21:13- Yup.- Just inside, out of the wind. Otherwise, out here. Sandwiches, food, wine.- Oh, lovely.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17Champagne. You know, just have a lovely time.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19It's no wonder you look so happy.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22- It's a good life. - I've got to try some of this.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24- I've got to try some of this. - You have to.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27Yeah. Slow your ageing process down.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30Relax, you know, sit and look at the water shimmering.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34That low sunlight coming down on us. So, where's that champagne, then?
0:21:34 > 0:21:37- Coming up. - It's chilling down, right now.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48Well, I've got to say, this definitely is the life.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52I've just had a fascinating insight into what life is like,
0:21:52 > 0:21:56owning a beach hut, by a few very, very enthusiastic owners.
0:21:56 > 0:22:01And I can honestly say, if I lived anywhere near the coast, I would definitely invest in one of these.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05And my dogs? They would absolutely love it.
0:22:13 > 0:22:17I'm hoping we're going to be making EVERYBODY'S day at the auction,
0:22:17 > 0:22:20so let's see what we're taking with us.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24The Art Nouveau morning set should be a winner
0:22:24 > 0:22:27as Ed only paid £20 for it.
0:22:27 > 0:22:32Of Stella's china, only the chamber stick was Meissen,
0:22:32 > 0:22:35but its quality should light up the saleroom.
0:22:35 > 0:22:41Peter's granny's watercolour definitely needs reframing now.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44It's charming and it should attract interest.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48The bidders are bound to be knocked over by this fantastic tantalus,
0:22:48 > 0:22:53which Paul's great-uncle won as a prize, at a bowls tournament.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57The scrimshaw powder horn was such an exciting find.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01I'm certainly feeling very bullish about this one.
0:23:05 > 0:23:12Now it's time to put our experts' valuations to the test. Everything is about to go under the hammer.
0:23:12 > 0:23:17Today's sale comes from the Worthing Auction Galleries and Scarborough Fine Arts.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21I hope this lot will be bidding on all our items.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23Today's auctioneer is Nick Hall.
0:23:23 > 0:23:29I want to find out what he thinks of the piece of scrimshaw.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35- I think this is absolutely stunning. - Yeah, I agree.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37One of the best pieces of scrimshaw.
0:23:37 > 0:23:43It's been in Ann's family for three generations. It's proper folk art.
0:23:43 > 0:23:47Catherine Southon, our expert, has put £800 to £1,000 on this.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51You would expect it to make that and more.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55Folk art is so popular at the minute. Good, early folk art.
0:23:55 > 0:24:00It's so hard to find genuine, quirky pieces. This fits the bill.
0:24:00 > 0:24:07We've got the named lady we assume it was made for. It's cow horn, not marine bone.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10- It would add value if it was marine bone.- Yes.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14It's more tactile to touch cow horn rather than whale bone.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18- It's softer and lighter.- There's a little bit of damage around one rim.
0:24:18 > 0:24:24But I've got high hopes. Sometimes these things just fly away.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27And rightly so. They're wonderful and rare things.
0:24:27 > 0:24:31If it made 2,000, 3,000, no-one would be surprised.
0:24:31 > 0:24:36- Where will you find another? - On a one-horned cow!
0:24:38 > 0:24:42Let's hope the bidders are all in the room.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45Before we find out, here comes the boxed morning set.
0:24:47 > 0:24:53We'll turn 20 quid hopefully into £150 if we get the top end of Mark's estimate on Ed's morning set.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56I'll put a little pressure on you here.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59£100, £150 - will we get that top end?
0:24:59 > 0:25:05- I don't know. You always want the top end.- Yes.- It is nice quality.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09- I love that sinuous Art Nouveau design.- That's your thing.- It is.
0:25:09 > 0:25:14- You've got keen eyes to spot this for only £20.- Absolutely, yes.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18- Seven months ago? - Seven months ago, I bought that.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22People going out the country offered it to me and I snipped it up.
0:25:22 > 0:25:27- Knowing you were going to flog it. - Yeah.- It's not your thing.
0:25:27 > 0:25:34Certainly not, no, but it's welcome to anyone who is a collector of Art Nouveau.
0:25:34 > 0:25:40We've got a change of auctioneer. It's Andrew Scarborough giving us some hammer action.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42- Good luck, Ed.- Thank you, Paul.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45The Art Nouveau plated, cased breakfast set.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49Lovely quality. Shall we start it at 80?
0:25:49 > 0:25:5260 then?
0:25:53 > 0:25:5550 it is to start. 55.
0:25:55 > 0:25:5860. 5. 70.
0:25:58 > 0:26:005. 80. 5.
0:26:00 > 0:26:0490 standing in the middle. 5. 100.
0:26:04 > 0:26:08Right in the middle at 100. Are we all done at 100 then...?
0:26:11 > 0:26:15- We did it, £100. It was touch and go.- What a result!
0:26:15 > 0:26:18- We turned £20 into 100.- Not bad.
0:26:22 > 0:26:28Next under the hammer, two cups and saucers and a chamber stick belonging to Stella
0:26:28 > 0:26:31valued by Catherine at £100 to £150.
0:26:31 > 0:26:36- Let's find out what this lot think, Stella.- Yes.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40- Why are you flogging these? - They're just going to get broken.
0:26:40 > 0:26:45- I've got eight grandchildren, so it's a bit vulnerable.- Time to move them.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49I think it is. We should get that top end, shouldn't we?
0:26:49 > 0:26:55I would hope so. There's quite a few people here today. It's very pretty.
0:26:55 > 0:27:00Yes. I think that's going to get them away. We'll find out now.
0:27:00 > 0:27:05Some nice Meissen porcelain, floral chamber stick. Start me at 100?
0:27:05 > 0:27:11- £100? 40 I'll take. It's a low start. - That is low.- It's an "in" though.
0:27:11 > 0:27:1350. 5. 60. 5.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16- 70. 80.- We've sold.- 90?
0:27:16 > 0:27:2180 it is in the front row. 90 behind you. 100 in front.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23110. 120.
0:27:23 > 0:27:28120 in the front row. 120 I'm bid on this lot. Are you all sure?
0:27:28 > 0:27:31At 120 I'm selling...
0:27:31 > 0:27:37- Fantastic.- £120. Great result. Well done.- I'm pleased about that.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40What are you going to put the money towards?
0:27:40 > 0:27:42I'll take my family out for a slap-up meal.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54Something for you art lovers - real quality and immense detail.
0:27:54 > 0:28:01It's a Victorian watercolour that belongs to Peter and not for much longer, valued at £200 to £300.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04It really is there, isn't it? I saw this in the queue.
0:28:04 > 0:28:10- It had glass on it.- Bits.- It was cracked on the way in.- It was, yeah.
0:28:10 > 0:28:15We've had to take the glass out in the auction room for health and safety reasons.
0:28:15 > 0:28:20The auctioneer thinks it might sit at the lower end.
0:28:20 > 0:28:25He's probably right, which is why we put a fixed reserve of 175.
0:28:25 > 0:28:29It should be worth a lot more. It is nice quality.
0:28:29 > 0:28:34But unfortunately, this sort of Victorian genre is out of vogue.
0:28:34 > 0:28:40Keep hold of it for another five years, it's back in fashion and worth £400 to £500.
0:28:40 > 0:28:47Or you can do what Peter's doing and sell something that isn't being enjoyed and buy something that is.
0:28:47 > 0:28:53- You're after a new modern artist? - Yeah, there's an artist in Eastbourne that I like.
0:28:53 > 0:28:57- To invest in?- Yes, and just because I enjoy the work.
0:28:57 > 0:29:01Good luck. It's going under the hammer right now.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04The still life by Collier.
0:29:05 > 0:29:09The nest with the eggs and flowers. Pretty little picture.
0:29:09 > 0:29:11Shall we say 100 for it?
0:29:11 > 0:29:14Thank you, 100. 110.
0:29:14 > 0:29:17120. 130. 140.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20150. 160.
0:29:20 > 0:29:24- 170. 180.- We've done it. - We've done it.
0:29:24 > 0:29:26190. 200.
0:29:26 > 0:29:28- Oh.- On my left at 2...
0:29:28 > 0:29:31210.
0:29:31 > 0:29:35At 210 at the back. 220. 230...
0:29:35 > 0:29:38- Keep going, keep going. - 240.- It's creeping up.
0:29:38 > 0:29:44250. At £250, right at the back of the room...
0:29:46 > 0:29:51- Yes! £250, Peter.- Excellent.- Middle of the estimate.- I'm pleased.
0:29:51 > 0:29:54- So am I.- Very pleased with that. - Good valuation.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57- That's something towards the picture.- Thank you.
0:29:57 > 0:30:01- Thank you for taking part. - It's been good fun.
0:30:04 > 0:30:09This is a cracking item and it's turning out to be a family affair
0:30:09 > 0:30:13because we've been joined by Ann who we saw at the valuation day
0:30:13 > 0:30:18with that beautiful bit of scrimshaw, the carved powder horn.
0:30:18 > 0:30:22- But it is Mum's?- Yes.- Who have you brought along?- My mother Ruby.
0:30:22 > 0:30:27- Hi, Ruby. This is gorgeous, brilliant.- You think so?- Yes, I do.
0:30:27 > 0:30:31- And who's this?- This is Ella, the great-granddaughter.
0:30:31 > 0:30:37- How many great-granddaughters do you have?- Eight. Five boys.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40The money's all going to be divided up.
0:30:40 > 0:30:41That's where the money's going.
0:30:41 > 0:30:46We've got a valuation of £800 to £1,000 put on this by Catherine.
0:30:46 > 0:30:51I had a chat to Nick the auctioneer and we both waxed lyrical over this.
0:30:51 > 0:30:57- It's fabulous.- It's so good. It really is. I just hope it goes well above Catherine's estimate.
0:30:57 > 0:31:03- It should do. If it doesn't, don't sell it.- It was only in a cupboard.
0:31:03 > 0:31:08All credit to you because you've looked after this, haven't you?
0:31:08 > 0:31:11- No.- No? What happened? Tell us the story.
0:31:11 > 0:31:15The children used to blow down it and try and get a tune.
0:31:15 > 0:31:20Did they? Well, all I can say is... let's watch this.
0:31:20 > 0:31:24Lot 270 is the piece of scrimshaw.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27Lovely item. Super bit of folk art.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30What are we going to say? 700 to start me?
0:31:30 > 0:31:33£700? Is that 5?
0:31:33 > 0:31:38It's a start. It's 500 I'm bid on the far side.
0:31:38 > 0:31:42Any advance on 500? At 500 in the far corner.
0:31:42 > 0:31:44510 I'll take, thank you. 520.
0:31:44 > 0:31:46530. 540.
0:31:46 > 0:31:52- 540 on the side. At £540. - It's struggling.- Come on.
0:31:52 > 0:31:56Any further bids on 540 quid? It's worth more.
0:31:56 > 0:31:57It's not going to go.
0:31:57 > 0:32:02Anyone else coming in at 550? At £540...
0:32:02 > 0:32:06A little disappointing, this lot. At 540.
0:32:06 > 0:32:08Can't let it go. The reserve's higher.
0:32:08 > 0:32:10At 540, we're going to pass it.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14Unsold, I'm afraid.
0:32:14 > 0:32:17- Don't worry.- I can't believe it.
0:32:17 > 0:32:19I'm pleased it didn't sell at the lowest end.
0:32:19 > 0:32:24- We all think this is worth about £1,500, £1,600, £1,800.- Absolutely.
0:32:24 > 0:32:28In the right sale. It's just the wrong day.
0:32:28 > 0:32:32It's not worth a few hundred. It's worth a lot more.
0:32:32 > 0:32:37- This just means it stays in the family. It didn't want to be sold. - It didn't want to be sold.
0:32:37 > 0:32:42But don't use it as a trumpet. It's too fragile.
0:32:47 > 0:32:54I'm in the trendy Kemptown area of Brighton and have found an antiques shop with a difference.
0:32:54 > 0:32:58It belongs to Alex MacArthur. I could spend hours in this shop.
0:32:58 > 0:33:05Alex has created a unique look by mixing traditional antiques with heavy industrial furniture
0:33:05 > 0:33:07and many other intriguing items.
0:33:07 > 0:33:12Alex's talent is seeing beauty in the unusual.
0:33:12 > 0:33:17But it's hard to visualise how some of these pieces would fit in a home,
0:33:17 > 0:33:24which is why Alex's house doubles as a showcase where buyers can see the stock at its very best.
0:33:27 > 0:33:28Alex, you've got a great eye.
0:33:28 > 0:33:33When you walk into your house, it's got the wow factor, as has the shop.
0:33:33 > 0:33:39You know how to knit things together but it doesn't work for everybody.
0:33:39 > 0:33:42You've got to have a very good eye.
0:33:42 > 0:33:46That's what makes it fascinating. It's about balance.
0:33:46 > 0:33:52- I don't like it when people think they can put me into a certain category.- Put you in a box.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55Then I go, "This is me as well."
0:33:55 > 0:34:02Because in a way, it's all about self-expression, expressing all of the facets of who we are.
0:34:02 > 0:34:09So I might have my gym equipment and my sports benches and my antlers and my horns.
0:34:09 > 0:34:15But I might also have my Little House On The Prairie piece like this piece here.
0:34:15 > 0:34:20It's homely, it's authentic, it's simple, it's English.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23And that is also part of what I am.
0:34:30 > 0:34:34Now, that's nice. That is very me, very traditional.
0:34:34 > 0:34:38I love the way you've created symmetry and balanced it up.
0:34:38 > 0:34:40I love that and what it says.
0:34:40 > 0:34:45"No poisons are used. Family prescriptions prepared daily."
0:34:45 > 0:34:50- Pharmaceutical cabinet. - It's so simple.- It is, isn't it?
0:34:50 > 0:34:56That chemist was in Bond Street from the late 18th century to the early 20th century.
0:34:56 > 0:35:00I think that piece is Georgian. It's very simple.
0:35:00 > 0:35:03George IV, yes, it's really nice.
0:35:09 > 0:35:13So everything in this room is for sale?
0:35:13 > 0:35:17- Absolutely everything except what is already sold.- OK.
0:35:17 > 0:35:22And that is the downside of dealing from home.
0:35:22 > 0:35:27These two Chesterfields, I had to move the whole house around to accommodate them.
0:35:27 > 0:35:31They look like they were meant to be in this room.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34It's quite rare, two matching button-back Chesterfields.
0:35:34 > 0:35:40They're a lovely colour. And I love things in pairs, in collections.
0:35:40 > 0:35:45- Pairs sell so well.- Unfortunately, they're already sold.- Are they?
0:35:45 > 0:35:48I sold them last Saturday.
0:35:48 > 0:35:53I only had them for two weeks and they made me happy for two weeks.
0:35:53 > 0:35:57I was skipping around because I had two lovely Chesterfields.
0:35:57 > 0:36:03I can sympathise. I used to deal from home. I had my flat above the shop.
0:36:03 > 0:36:07And good clients came up to the flat. At first, it's hard to let go.
0:36:07 > 0:36:14You strive for these nice pieces, then someone wants to buy it. It's cash flow.
0:36:14 > 0:36:19You need to let go to buy more, but it's a hard principle to follow.
0:36:19 > 0:36:24My philosophy is you need to let go and there might be a period of void,
0:36:24 > 0:36:29but something equally gorgeous will take its place. You need that faith.
0:36:29 > 0:36:35Where do you buy a lot of your stock from? Do you go abroad or search auctions?
0:36:35 > 0:36:42I do a little bit of auctions, but mainly I buy in Europe, I buy in France. I'm constantly buying.
0:36:42 > 0:36:48- You've got a good gym theme going, lots of leather, old benches. - That comes from Eastern Europe.
0:36:48 > 0:36:54I have somebody who sources it for me, but the supplies are running out.
0:36:54 > 0:37:00The guy who supplies me used to have 20 or 30 leather gym mats to choose from at a time.
0:37:00 > 0:37:02Now he has two or three.
0:37:02 > 0:37:09'The gym equipment shows Alex's vision - seeing style, beauty and new uses for obsolete things,
0:37:09 > 0:37:15turning old leather benches and mats into chic tables and sofas, which he can then show off at home.'
0:37:17 > 0:37:21There's so much space here. You can create themes in different rooms.
0:37:21 > 0:37:28That's something I quite enjoy. At the top of the house, there are two smaller rooms.
0:37:28 > 0:37:32One of them is a study and the other one is my daughter's bedroom.
0:37:32 > 0:37:39- My daughter's bedroom is the girliest...- Pretty pink with '50s mirrored tables
0:37:39 > 0:37:42for putting make-up on and things.
0:37:42 > 0:37:48And that lovely 19th century, four-poster bed which I couldn't sell. She loves it.
0:37:48 > 0:37:55You have to draw the line. You can't take clients up there, your daughter comes home and everything's gone!
0:37:55 > 0:37:59I know. I feel guilty because it's quite an insecure lifestyle,
0:37:59 > 0:38:04feeling as though the sofa from underneath you might be sold.
0:38:04 > 0:38:10- So with certain things, I do have to draw the line. I can't sell my daughter's bed.- No.
0:38:10 > 0:38:16It's nice the way you can incorporate a slightly more industrial look in certain rooms.
0:38:16 > 0:38:22- Yeah.- Hard-edged metal.- That's right. But it's about finding the balance.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25It's a bit like being the conductor of an orchestra
0:38:25 > 0:38:30and realising that you have trombones, but also violins.
0:38:30 > 0:38:35And if you can see that and accept that, you can get them to play very well together.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47I found Alex's taste absolutely fascinating.
0:38:47 > 0:38:52It's creative, exciting, pushing boundaries and embracing the avant-garde.
0:38:52 > 0:38:56It's so distinctive that you either love it or you hate it,
0:38:56 > 0:39:00but there is now an Alex MacArthur look.
0:39:06 > 0:39:10There is still plenty to look at back at the valuation day.
0:39:10 > 0:39:15Catherine has a piece of jewellery brought in by Sally.
0:39:15 > 0:39:20This is a very charming Victorian bracelet. Where did you get it from?
0:39:20 > 0:39:25I remember getting it, I think I was a teenager, from my grandmother,
0:39:25 > 0:39:27- who is my mother's mother.- Right.
0:39:27 > 0:39:32But I've never worn it because I don't wear jewellery at all.
0:39:32 > 0:39:36I've always thought it was really pretty, but it was your mother's.
0:39:36 > 0:39:41I can remember as a child looking through my mother's bits and pieces
0:39:41 > 0:39:44and thinking how pretty that was.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47- It was the turquoise that I liked. - Absolutely.
0:39:47 > 0:39:52Date-wise, it's from about 1870, so it's been passed through...
0:39:52 > 0:39:56- It could have been my mother's mother?- Yes.
0:39:56 > 0:39:58I just remember it with my mother.
0:39:58 > 0:40:05What I particularly like are these lovely little turquoise stones which are in a criss-cross pattern.
0:40:05 > 0:40:12It's going to be 15-carat gold. I've had a good look and I think that's probably what it is.
0:40:12 > 0:40:19Unfortunately, here there's one of the links missing which would join the chains together.
0:40:19 > 0:40:24That's not a huge problem. I can't believe you want to sell it.
0:40:24 > 0:40:29- Why are you selling it? - Just because it's literally shut...
0:40:29 > 0:40:33It was in a drawer under the bed. I had to move furniture to get it out.
0:40:33 > 0:40:37It's not seeing the light of day.
0:40:37 > 0:40:42- Somebody else should enjoy it.- It is quite a chunky piece of jewellery.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45It's not everybody's cup of tea.
0:40:45 > 0:40:49But I think a lot of people will be interested in the wonderful turquoise stones
0:40:49 > 0:40:54and it's a good, collectable piece of Victorian jewellery.
0:40:54 > 0:40:59Value-wise, I'd like to see it make £200-plus.
0:40:59 > 0:41:04So I'd suggest putting it in the auction at around £150 to £250.
0:41:04 > 0:41:09- How does that sound to you? - Yes, I think so.
0:41:09 > 0:41:13But as it's been in the family for such a long time, it would be a shame to let it go,
0:41:13 > 0:41:19- so maybe put a reserve on of £120? - That would be fine, yes.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22Mum looks like she's having second thoughts.
0:41:22 > 0:41:26No, I'm not having second thoughts. It's Sally's decision.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29It's silly if it's not worn.
0:41:29 > 0:41:34It's a piece of jewellery that should be worn and enjoyed.
0:41:34 > 0:41:38You're not enjoying it as it's under the bed, so it's time to flog it.
0:41:38 > 0:41:43- Thank you very much for coming along.- Thank you.
0:41:47 > 0:41:48- Hi, Paul.- Hi.
0:41:48 > 0:41:52We won't win any prizes for guessing what's in here.
0:41:52 > 0:41:56- It's a concertina.- Yes. - This one is a nice example.
0:41:56 > 0:42:01You know it will be good quality because the case is rosewood.
0:42:01 > 0:42:03- OK.- Then when we do open it up,
0:42:03 > 0:42:09you can see this rosewood concertina inside. I'll pull it out delicately.
0:42:09 > 0:42:15It's quite important when you look at these to look at certain features.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17Why have you brought it along?
0:42:17 > 0:42:23Because it's been sitting in my cupboard for the last ten years since my father died.
0:42:23 > 0:42:29He was an open-air missioner who travelled up and down the country preaching the Gospel
0:42:29 > 0:42:34to various places like Rhyl, Redcar and during...
0:42:34 > 0:42:39- All the exciting places?- Yes. He'd be on the beach preaching to people.
0:42:39 > 0:42:45They would have services and my father would play the concertina in order to produce the hymns.
0:42:45 > 0:42:51We've been clearing out the house and as Flog It was coming to Brighton,
0:42:51 > 0:42:55I thought I could get a valuation and see where we go from there.
0:42:55 > 0:42:59We've got this nice pierced top to it
0:42:59 > 0:43:02and I'm sure that'll match underneath, which it does.
0:43:03 > 0:43:07We've got the nice maker's label, which is a London maker, Wheatstone.
0:43:07 > 0:43:10Looking at the type of wood used,
0:43:10 > 0:43:15it's towards the end of the Victorian period, the 1890s.
0:43:15 > 0:43:18You also have to look for the number of keys.
0:43:18 > 0:43:21They can be as low as 14 for quite poor quality ones
0:43:21 > 0:43:28and over 30-something for very high quality ones which can make over £1,000.
0:43:28 > 0:43:32This one is mid-range. There are 25, I think, here.
0:43:32 > 0:43:35Also you must look at the bellows.
0:43:35 > 0:43:40You've got a bit of damage on the actual pull-out, so I'll be careful when I open it.
0:43:40 > 0:43:46The bellows is in quite good condition and quite decorative.
0:43:46 > 0:43:49- So it's time for it to go to a good home?- I think so.
0:43:49 > 0:43:55- Somebody that will treasure it. - What would you hope it was worth?
0:43:55 > 0:44:00I had a feeling that it could be around maybe £300, £400?
0:44:00 > 0:44:02- I think you're spot-on.- Right.
0:44:02 > 0:44:08An estimate of £300 to £400 with a 300 reserve would be perfect.
0:44:08 > 0:44:12- How would you feel about that? - Entirely happy.
0:44:12 > 0:44:17Thank you for bringing it in. I look forward to seeing you at auction.
0:44:17 > 0:44:19Let's hope we make sweet music.
0:44:27 > 0:44:32Tess, this puts a big smile on my face. I absolutely adore it.
0:44:32 > 0:44:37Why have you brought this in to Flog It in order to flog it? Why do you want to do that?
0:44:37 > 0:44:44I've got a lot of other paintings and this one doesn't fit in with some of those.
0:44:44 > 0:44:49And it's been up in my attic for at least two or three years.
0:44:49 > 0:44:53Shame on you. This is gorgeous. Where did you get this from?
0:44:53 > 0:45:00I found it in a junk shop in Brighton. I happened to see it and the shop was closed.
0:45:00 > 0:45:06I rattled the door and the chap who lived above the shop came down. That was about ten years ago.
0:45:06 > 0:45:14- You said, "How much is that?"- It was a time when I didn't have a lot of money. I think I paid £50 for it.
0:45:16 > 0:45:18Just because I fell in love with it.
0:45:18 > 0:45:22I can see why. I've fallen in love with it as well.
0:45:22 > 0:45:28It's very much along the lines of the Newlyn School who copied the French Impressionists.
0:45:28 > 0:45:32I've looked up the artist and it's Margaret Sheffield.
0:45:32 > 0:45:36And there is a Mary Sheffield, her sister.
0:45:36 > 0:45:38They lived in Blackheath in London.
0:45:38 > 0:45:45They both flourished around the 1890s with great painters like Stanhope Forbes and Walter Langley.
0:45:45 > 0:45:50They went down to Cornwall for the light. Maybe this is Cornwall.
0:45:50 > 0:45:56- The cliff range doesn't look high enough.- I thought it might have been East Anglia or Suffolk.
0:45:56 > 0:46:01- That's the feeling it gave me. - Low horizons, typical of that area.
0:46:01 > 0:46:06I love this character. It looks like his trousers are rolled up.
0:46:06 > 0:46:12He's either a fisherman digging for ragworm or he could be an artist. That could be an easel.
0:46:12 > 0:46:15- Yes, painting for the day.- Yes.
0:46:15 > 0:46:21There's a little bit of damage there, but other than that, the paintwork is very thick, very bold.
0:46:21 > 0:46:26If I walked past a gallery in the West End and saw this
0:46:26 > 0:46:30and it had a price ticket of £500 on it,
0:46:30 > 0:46:34I'd be inclined to buy it and that's my gut feeling.
0:46:34 > 0:46:39Obviously, for auction purposes we must pitch it lower than that.
0:46:41 > 0:46:46I think if we put it into auction, we've got to be asking around £250 to £350
0:46:46 > 0:46:50- and hope that it tops that £400 mark.- Right.
0:46:50 > 0:46:54- Happy?- Sounds good. - Do you really want to sell it?- Yes.
0:46:54 > 0:46:55Shall we put a fixed reserve...
0:46:55 > 0:47:02- Yeah, I'd like a reserve.- Of £250? - Yeah, 250 would be great.
0:47:02 > 0:47:08- I'm pleased you brought this in and I can't wait to see this sell. - I look forward to that.
0:47:13 > 0:47:15- Firstly, hello, Margaret. - Hello, Mark.
0:47:15 > 0:47:17- Welcome to Brighton Flog It. - Thank you.
0:47:17 > 0:47:20- What a wonderful treasure you've brought in.- Yeah.
0:47:20 > 0:47:23- It's lovely, isn't it? - Where did you get it from?
0:47:23 > 0:47:25Well, it belonged to my father.
0:47:25 > 0:47:30But the strange thing was that, we none of us saw it when we were children. We only, unfortunately,
0:47:30 > 0:47:34discovered it after he'd died and we were going through his things, to sort through them.
0:47:34 > 0:47:40- No! It was hidden away, was it?- Yes, that's right. Bottom of the wardrobe and we'd never seen it before.
0:47:40 > 0:47:44He never got it out at Christmas, so all the family could play along?
0:47:44 > 0:47:46- No, no.- And what did you think when you first saw it?
0:47:46 > 0:47:49I was just amazed, that he'd actually had something.
0:47:49 > 0:47:51And we didn't know anything about it.
0:47:51 > 0:47:54But yes, I thought it was lovely. So...
0:47:54 > 0:47:57And did he have a lot of antiques?
0:47:57 > 0:48:00Not... A few things, which are mainly from his father, I think.
0:48:00 > 0:48:04- So, this probably would have been passed down the family? - I think so, yeah.
0:48:04 > 0:48:06- Your father died when?- 1987.
0:48:06 > 0:48:10So, about 20 years ago or so? And what was it probated at then?
0:48:10 > 0:48:13I think it was £150, if I remember.
0:48:13 > 0:48:15- Not a lot of money.- No.
0:48:15 > 0:48:20The other nice thing to see, straight away, is the little inset brass plaque here.
0:48:20 > 0:48:26- Engraved with the maker's name, which is?- Tourmin and Cale from Cheapside in London.
0:48:26 > 0:48:29Well, there's nothing cheap about this box, is there?
0:48:29 > 0:48:34- Because the other thing you see immediately is the case is made of rosewood.- Right.
0:48:34 > 0:48:37Rosewood is one of those very expensive, exotic woods
0:48:37 > 0:48:41that was used only for very good quality pieces.
0:48:41 > 0:48:46And you can tell this with that lovely, sort of, black fleck in the graining.
0:48:46 > 0:48:51Then, of course, we've laid it out here, just to touch on some of the pieces that are in the set.
0:48:51 > 0:48:57We've naturally got a full set of chess. We've got a set of dominos,
0:48:57 > 0:48:59a full set of draughts, of course.
0:48:59 > 0:49:03- This one I can never remember. - I think it's the cribbage board.
0:49:03 > 0:49:05Cribbage, that's the one. Cribbage board.
0:49:05 > 0:49:09Then we've got a bezique game, which I never know how to play.
0:49:09 > 0:49:11No, I know, no.
0:49:11 > 0:49:14But my favourite, I have to say, and I'm not a betting man...
0:49:14 > 0:49:16Is the horse racing.
0:49:16 > 0:49:19- But I love this horse racing game. - Yes, it's lovely.
0:49:19 > 0:49:24We've only put a few horses out there, and a few of the jumps, but there's more fitted inside here.
0:49:24 > 0:49:27- There's more there. - And even the, sort of, beakers for shaking the dice.
0:49:27 > 0:49:31- It's just absolutely superb. It's wonderful.- It's lovely.
0:49:31 > 0:49:34So, we've got to think of a price.
0:49:34 > 0:49:36We're quite excited about this.
0:49:36 > 0:49:38We've got to think of a price.
0:49:38 > 0:49:42If I was putting it into auction, I would put it in with a come and get me estimate.
0:49:42 > 0:49:44Which means you're telling people it's private.
0:49:44 > 0:49:48- It hasn't been out of the same family for a number of years.- Right.
0:49:48 > 0:49:52- And it's to get their taste buds watering, if you like.- Yes.
0:49:52 > 0:49:57- So, I would put something like £400-£600 on it.- OK. That's good.
0:49:57 > 0:49:59With a £400 fixed reserve.
0:49:59 > 0:50:03And I think that will really tempt the bidders in. How do you feel about that?
0:50:03 > 0:50:05- I'd be happy with that. - Is that OK?- Yes.
0:50:05 > 0:50:09- I wouldn't be surprised if we got a lot more than that.- Really? Yes.
0:50:11 > 0:50:14Let's have a final look at what we have to offer the bidders.
0:50:14 > 0:50:19The Victorian bracelet is too pretty to keep under the bed.
0:50:19 > 0:50:22I'm sure someone is going to snap it up.
0:50:22 > 0:50:29Paul's rosewood concertina is in good condition, so Mark hopes it will squeeze the right price!
0:50:29 > 0:50:34Mark may not be a gambling man, but my money is on this magnificent games compendium,
0:50:34 > 0:50:36which is in superb condition.
0:50:36 > 0:50:40Finally, my choice...the Margaret Sheffield oil painting -
0:50:40 > 0:50:42I love it and I think others will too!
0:50:45 > 0:50:48First up, it's Paul's concertina.
0:50:48 > 0:50:52We've got £300 to £400 put on this by our expert Mark
0:50:52 > 0:50:56and this is another quality item. It's rosewood.
0:50:56 > 0:50:58It pushes all the right buttons.
0:50:58 > 0:51:03- Let's hope two people push it higher.- It strikes a chord with me.
0:51:05 > 0:51:12- I'm glad we're all singing from the same hymn sheet.- I think we should get on with it. Here we are.
0:51:12 > 0:51:17Musical lot, it's the 19th century concertina, by Wheatstone.
0:51:17 > 0:51:21Nice fretwork. Rosewood case. 300 anywhere?
0:51:21 > 0:51:25- Come on.- 250 then? 250 offered. - That's it, we're off.
0:51:25 > 0:51:28£250. 250 I'm bid. 260 I'll take.
0:51:28 > 0:51:30270. 280.
0:51:30 > 0:51:34300 standing. All done? At 300 I'm selling here...
0:51:34 > 0:51:38That was short and sweet. £300, on the money.
0:51:38 > 0:51:41What are you going to do with the money?
0:51:41 > 0:51:45Hopefully, I'm going to get a painting to fit into my lounge.
0:51:45 > 0:51:49- What...?- I'm not sure I've seen anything here today.
0:51:49 > 0:51:55- Nothing tickles your fancy?- I think that the painting over there,
0:51:55 > 0:51:58that's quite a nice little painting.
0:51:58 > 0:52:02- Will you be getting a bidding paddle and having a go?- I might do.
0:52:07 > 0:52:11Coming up right now is that wonderful gold bracelet.
0:52:11 > 0:52:17- We've got Sally here, but not Shirley. Where's Mum? - She's looking after my daughter.
0:52:17 > 0:52:24OK. It is a bit of a family affair because the bracelet was Great-grandmother's, wasn't it?
0:52:24 > 0:52:28- Yes, I think so. - Not going to your daughters?- No.
0:52:28 > 0:52:33It's just too fussy. I don't think it's going to be their cup of tea.
0:52:33 > 0:52:37- You don't like it?- I think it's pretty, but not to wear.
0:52:37 > 0:52:42I'd prefer to get a photo frame to put a photograph of Grandmother in
0:52:42 > 0:52:45and remember her that way.
0:52:45 > 0:52:49Rather than have the bracelet put away in a drawer. Optimistic?
0:52:49 > 0:52:52It's a nice little piece. It's very pretty.
0:52:52 > 0:52:56- I just don't know... - You were looking around there.
0:52:56 > 0:53:03- I don't know that the jewellery collectors are here.- We've got a reserve of £120. Here it is now.
0:53:03 > 0:53:08The 15-carat gold and turquoise bracelet. There we are showing...
0:53:08 > 0:53:11- Shall we say 150?- 200, sir.
0:53:11 > 0:53:15- 2 is a good start.- Oh, that's nice. That's a surprise.
0:53:15 > 0:53:19It's always nice to have bidders like that!
0:53:19 > 0:53:23At 200 on the book. 210 standing. At 210 at the very back.
0:53:23 > 0:53:25Are we all done at 210...?
0:53:27 > 0:53:32They're not mucking around here. The hammer's gone down at £210.
0:53:32 > 0:53:34That was incredible. The bid came in at 200.
0:53:34 > 0:53:36He just shouted out.
0:53:36 > 0:53:42- Got to be happy with that.- I am. We can get a nice frame with that.
0:53:46 > 0:53:53I think this Margaret Sheffield oil on canvas, which I valued at 250 to 350, should do the business.
0:53:53 > 0:53:58- Hopefully.- We just need fingers crossed for the top end of the estimate,
0:53:58 > 0:54:00plus a little bit more.
0:54:00 > 0:54:03This is the next lot. Good luck.
0:54:03 > 0:54:06The Sheffield oil on canvas.
0:54:07 > 0:54:09Shall we say 200?
0:54:09 > 0:54:13- Yes, please.- 2 it is then. Thank you. On the right.
0:54:13 > 0:54:16210. 220. 230.
0:54:16 > 0:54:20- 240. 250.- Sold.- 260.
0:54:20 > 0:54:22270. 280.
0:54:22 > 0:54:26290. 300.
0:54:26 > 0:54:29320? Thank you, 320.
0:54:29 > 0:54:31340.
0:54:31 > 0:54:35At 340 on the commission bid. Are we all done?
0:54:39 > 0:54:44- Yes! There's a delayed reaction. - Excellent.- £340, that's great.
0:54:44 > 0:54:47Top end of the estimate. You're happy.
0:54:47 > 0:54:48Really good.
0:54:48 > 0:54:52Did I ask you what you were going to put the money towards?
0:54:52 > 0:54:59Probably split. I've got a new granddaughter, Aoife, who is three weeks old.
0:54:59 > 0:55:04She's going to get some of it and I'm going to plant a tree for my dad who died,
0:55:04 > 0:55:08- so it's going to go between the two of them.- Lovely.
0:55:16 > 0:55:18I've been waiting for this moment!
0:55:18 > 0:55:23That wonderful rosewood games compendium. It's all there, Margaret.
0:55:23 > 0:55:27- £400-£600. It's got to sell. - It's got to.- It's got to sell.
0:55:27 > 0:55:31I had a chat to Nick, the auctioneer, just before the sale started. You know what he said.
0:55:31 > 0:55:34Agreed with Mark totally. Hopefully we'll get there...
0:55:34 > 0:55:37- top end of the estimate. - I hope so. It's worth it.
0:55:37 > 0:55:40- That would be nice.- But it's not going for a penny less, is it?
0:55:40 > 0:55:41- Nope, absolutely not.- Than £400.
0:55:41 > 0:55:45- Nope.- Margaret put her foot down. - Quite rightly so.
0:55:45 > 0:55:48It's a lovely... My only, I suppose, slight criticism,
0:55:48 > 0:55:50is the box is actually quite plain. It's lovely.
0:55:50 > 0:55:55- I mean, a nice rosewood, but it is wonderful to see all those pieces untouched.- Yup.
0:55:55 > 0:55:57- It's a real collector's item.- It is.
0:55:57 > 0:56:01And it's here to sell right here and right now. This is it.
0:56:01 > 0:56:06Lot 240. Nice quality lot this Victorian games compendium.
0:56:06 > 0:56:10What we going to say? Start me at £300? 250's a start.
0:56:10 > 0:56:13Thank you, sir. A little low, but I'll take it at 250.
0:56:13 > 0:56:15Come on, where are all these hands?
0:56:15 > 0:56:19260 bid. 280 now, 300, 320 bid.
0:56:19 > 0:56:22- 340 against you in the room. - We're climbing.
0:56:22 > 0:56:26360, 380, 400. With you at £400.
0:56:26 > 0:56:30At £400 on commission. 420 the lady.
0:56:30 > 0:56:35- 440, 460 now, 480. - That's a bit better.- This is better.
0:56:35 > 0:56:40500, 520, 540, 560 against you, madam. Are you still in?
0:56:40 > 0:56:43580, £580, 600 on my right.
0:56:43 > 0:56:46You going 620? 620 with you, thank you.
0:56:46 > 0:56:49- This is great.- 640. - Doing all right, isn't it?
0:56:49 > 0:56:53660 now, 680. 700, 720, 740,
0:56:53 > 0:56:55800 offered. Against you at 800.
0:56:55 > 0:56:58- 800.- 820 now.
0:56:58 > 0:57:00On the phone still at 850.
0:57:00 > 0:57:03At 850, go 860? 860 I'll take.
0:57:03 > 0:57:05880 on the phone. At 880 now.
0:57:05 > 0:57:08900, 900 seated. Latest bid at £900.
0:57:08 > 0:57:13- This is absolutely brilliant. - 920 offered, 940 the lady.
0:57:13 > 0:57:15At 940 I'm bid.
0:57:15 > 0:57:17This is absolutely brilliant.
0:57:17 > 0:57:21- 940, 960.- Still going, Paul. - Oh, please, let's do a 1,000.
0:57:21 > 0:57:23We might get to it. We might get there.
0:57:23 > 0:57:25Lady's bid at 980. 1,000.
0:57:25 > 0:57:29- 1,000!- Yes! Fantastic.
0:57:29 > 0:57:33It's £1,000 against you. Lovely lot. Don't let it go. £1,050, thank you.
0:57:33 > 0:57:351,050, I'm bid. I'm looking for 1,100?
0:57:35 > 0:57:38- It's 1,050 in the room.- Wow!
0:57:38 > 0:57:41Lady seated. At £1,050.
0:57:41 > 0:57:45All out at the back? If you're all done, at 1,050 I'm selling.
0:57:45 > 0:57:48- How amazing!- Crack! £1,050.
0:57:48 > 0:57:50- Margaret, I'm tingling.- Amazing.
0:57:50 > 0:57:52I am absolutely tingling all over.
0:57:52 > 0:57:55- You must be as well. - Yeah. That's amazing.
0:57:55 > 0:57:58What a great feeling that is? That's a surprise, isn't it?
0:57:58 > 0:58:01That's more than I thought it was going to be.
0:58:01 > 0:58:02Wow. What comes to mind?
0:58:02 > 0:58:05What's the first thing that comes to mind? Gosh!
0:58:05 > 0:58:08I'm giving it to the children. It would have been their inheritance.
0:58:08 > 0:58:11I'm giving it to the children, so they can buy something they like.
0:58:11 > 0:58:14- OK, how many children?- Two. - Two. What are their names?
0:58:14 > 0:58:16Claire, there, and Antony.
0:58:16 > 0:58:18What a lovely present!
0:58:18 > 0:58:20I wish I was one of the children.
0:58:20 > 0:58:22- Have to adopt you.- Thank you.
0:58:22 > 0:58:26That was game on. I certainly hope you've enjoyed today's show.
0:58:26 > 0:58:29- We've enjoyed it here, haven't we? - Absolutely.
0:58:29 > 0:58:33So, until the next time. Join us again for many more surprises on Flog It.
0:58:57 > 0:59:00Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd