0:00:02 > 0:00:07This medieval castle overlooks the city of Lancaster's truly eventful history,
0:00:07 > 0:00:10through the War of the Roses to the Industrial Revolution
0:00:10 > 0:00:14and right now it's about to witness another great historic event,
0:00:14 > 0:00:17because today "Flog It!" is in town.
0:00:54 > 0:01:00Lancaster made its fortune during the 18th century, when its port was one of the busiest in the country
0:01:00 > 0:01:04and its civic buildings certainly show off their wealth and their pride.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08Today's venue is the very imposing town hall.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19Rummaging through the bags and boxes of this massive queue today,
0:01:19 > 0:01:23we've got our two experts, Mr Philip Serrell and Anita Manning.
0:01:29 > 0:01:34And Anita's quick to hog today's first item.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36Jill, Sarah...
0:01:37 > 0:01:39..this is a great laugh.
0:01:39 > 0:01:48- It is!- "Flog It!" is so much fun, especially when people bring in a group of very sinister pigs.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52- Yeah, they're hideous, aren't they? - Sarah, tell me all about these.
0:01:52 > 0:01:58When I was little my mum started a bank account and we got this little piggy first.
0:01:58 > 0:02:03And then when you saved a certain amount, you got
0:02:03 > 0:02:05another one and another one, until you got the whole set.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09- And by the time you got, I suppose, to Dad...- Yeah, you had...
0:02:09 > 0:02:12- You were worth a couple of bob? - Well, yeah.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16As a child, yeah. 100-odd quid, yeah. It's not bad.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20So what happened when your kid got to £100?
0:02:20 > 0:02:23We went to an account that gave better interest.
0:02:23 > 0:02:29Very good, very good. Wise mum. Always listen to your mum.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31Exactly, yes. Will do.
0:02:31 > 0:02:39So really what they were was a saving incentive and your darling mum
0:02:39 > 0:02:42decided that she would start off
0:02:42 > 0:02:45- and get you into saving. Is that right?- Oh, yeah.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47And it's worked reasonably well.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50- Yeah, relatively. - Did you have them in a row?
0:02:50 > 0:02:53Yeah, they were on the shelf in the bedroom,
0:02:53 > 0:02:58peering down at us as we played with our little toys.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01- To me they look a bit sinister.- Yeah.
0:03:01 > 0:03:06- Do they feel like that to you or do you love them?- No. - Do you love them, Sarah?
0:03:06 > 0:03:12In a very special way I'm sure, yeah. I mean, you've got the boys
0:03:12 > 0:03:17and then you've got Mum and then you've got the funny-looking uncle.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20I'm not sure what he is, but I'm not particularly keen on him.
0:03:20 > 0:03:22- Is that not the sister?- I don't know!
0:03:22 > 0:03:27I think it's supposed to be, but he just looks funny.
0:03:28 > 0:03:33Well, they're great fun, they're great fun and they are collectable, they are.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37They were doing a little better three or four years ago.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40They are made by Wade, who made little animals.
0:03:40 > 0:03:47They made little Wade Whimsies which children collected, little humorous objects and so on.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51And I think these are in that sort of vein.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55Price - I would say that we should put them in
0:03:55 > 0:03:59with an estimate of perhaps £50-£80.
0:03:59 > 0:04:04They may do better than that, they may do better, but I think that's reasonable enough.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06A tenner apiece for all that fun.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08Yeah, exactly.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11Ladies, shall these little pigs go to market?
0:04:11 > 0:04:17- I think they will, yes.- Absolutely. Definitely.- Let's flog them!- OK.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27- How are you doing, Richard?- Very well thank you. Very well.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29Ever thought about silver polish?
0:04:29 > 0:04:33- No. I've never seen 'em for I don't know how long.- What do you mean?
0:04:33 > 0:04:39Well, I moved house about 18 years ago and they went up into the loft
0:04:39 > 0:04:42and when I saw your advert, I decided to go and dig them out.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45So these haven't been cleaned for 18 years?
0:04:45 > 0:04:47I'm guessing it's between 16 and 18.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49- I'll let you off. - They've been wrapped up.
0:04:49 > 0:04:55I think they're nice. They're a 20th-century copy of an 18th-century stick, OK?
0:04:55 > 0:05:02If these were 18th century, which they're not, they'd be £1,000, £2,000, right?
0:05:02 > 0:05:08These are very much 20th century. If you turn one over,
0:05:08 > 0:05:12we can see they're not actually solid silver. This is loaded.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14It's almost like a plaster base.
0:05:14 > 0:05:19So they are loaded silver, 20th century. What are they worth?
0:05:19 > 0:05:24I think in auction we could put an estimate on them of £100-£200.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27We'll put a reserve on them of £100. Are you happy with that?
0:05:27 > 0:05:31- I'd like a reserve a bit higher perhaps.- What?!
0:05:31 > 0:05:37- You said up to £200.- If you have your reserve higher than the estimate, you're breaking the law.
0:05:37 > 0:05:42- OK.- So I think 100-200.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46I don't mind you putting perhaps 120 on them and then we'll estimate them at 150 to 250.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49- OK, put it at 120. - Are you happy with that?
0:05:49 > 0:05:53- That's ideal, yeah. - So 120 reserve, 150-250 estimate.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55- They might go and make more. - That's OK.
0:05:55 > 0:06:02- But the beauty of an auction is that the market will dictate what they're going to make.- Yep.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04Because people will bid on them on the day.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07They will be catalogued. They'll go on the internet.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11And all those things will ensure that they make what they're worth.
0:06:11 > 0:06:16- Fine, yeah.- So 18 years ago, why did you put these in the roof?
0:06:16 > 0:06:19They're not something that you stick around as an ornament, are they?
0:06:19 > 0:06:24- That's just what they are. - I know they're not functional. I'm not going to stick candles in them.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28- Did you never have a power cut? - Yeah, but I've never stuck candles in them.
0:06:28 > 0:06:33I'm going to let you off for not cleaning them, but let's hope they do well at the auction.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44Eileen, this has certainly caught my eye.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47For one reason - the little label on the back of this.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50So I want you to tell me how you came by this toilet mirror.
0:06:50 > 0:06:55I bought it in a local auction warehouse, because I liked it.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57- How long ago?- About three years.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01- Were you looking for something like this?- No, but I saw it and liked it.
0:07:01 > 0:07:06I didn't like these bits on the top especially, but the drawers and just the general look of it.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08- It's just a nice mirror. - They're slightly over the top.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11Sort of brass, the neo-classical finials.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13- Yes.- They don't quite sit that well, do they?
0:07:13 > 0:07:15But it is an over-the-top piece.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17It's not what I would say is a period piece.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19It's not a 17th- or 18th-century piece.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22- No.- Unfortunately, this is early 20th century.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26So it's going to have all those elements of nouveau riche and over the top about it.
0:07:26 > 0:07:31It's got a nice bit of cut, bevelled glass though. That's a bit of quality.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34Let's just take the drawers out and have a look.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38The whole construction is made of mahogany, which is nice.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41That's good. It's an exotic hardwood. This is a Spanish mahogany.
0:07:41 > 0:07:46It's not that sort of lovely flamed, figured Cuban mahogany you'd expect from the West Indies.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48- So it's a cheaper mahogany.- Right.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52But it is quality. Look, it's all dovetailed, as you can see.
0:07:52 > 0:07:58- And from a wonderful furniture maker local to this area - Gillows of Lancaster.- Yes.
0:07:58 > 0:08:03They later joined forces with a company from Manchester called Waring.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05And this is a Waring and Gillows.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08I'm just going to look at the back. If I can turn this around, Eileen.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12I won't say goodbye. I'll just hide myself.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14Yeah, in fact, I'll take that out.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Then I can see you. How about that?
0:08:17 > 0:08:18If you hold that.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20Right.
0:08:22 > 0:08:27And I just do that. Yes, that's the all-important little label. If you clean that up...
0:08:27 > 0:08:33It says "Guaranteed, designed and manufactured at our Lancaster factory"...
0:08:33 > 0:08:36- Right.- "Waring and Gillows".
0:08:36 > 0:08:38So there you go. There's its little tag.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42Purely because of that, we hopefully will get your money back.
0:08:42 > 0:08:48We've got to put this into auction with a value, I personally believe,
0:08:48 > 0:08:52- of £150-£250.- Right.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55And if you want to, we can put a reserve on of 150.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57- Yes, please.- Protect it a little bit.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01- Cos it is useful and I'm sure you use it, do you? - Well, we used to use it,
0:09:01 > 0:09:06but we've since moved and don't have so much need for it any more. That's why I want to "Flog It!".
0:09:08 > 0:09:12- OK. Well, we'll try our very best for you.- Fine, thank you.- Thank you.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20- David, welcome to "Flog It!".- Hi.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22Tell me, is this a family piece?
0:09:22 > 0:09:29No, it isn't. We bought it about 15 years ago for our Victorian house that we lived in at the time.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33- Uh-huh. Did you use it as a coal box?- No, it was purely ornamental.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36It just fitted in nicely with the fireplace.
0:09:36 > 0:09:42Did you have a wonderful Victorian fireplace with a copper canopy and your coal box sitting at the side?
0:09:42 > 0:09:44Absolutely, yes.
0:09:44 > 0:09:45- Absolutely.- OK.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48Well, let's look at it closely.
0:09:48 > 0:09:55It is a coal box and if we lift the lid here, we can see the compartment,
0:09:55 > 0:09:59- complete with liner, and we would keep our coal here.- Right.
0:09:59 > 0:10:03We have this handle affair at the back, which in actual fact
0:10:03 > 0:10:09is not a handle, but it was the slot that we would put a little shovel in.
0:10:09 > 0:10:15- And there would be a matching shovel, so there's something missing for a start.- OK.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18Now it's not the best of boxes.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20- Right.- But it's not the worst.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23- Um-hm.- It's made of oak
0:10:23 > 0:10:27- and we have this carved detail here, which is Victorian.- Right.
0:10:27 > 0:10:34But this is a little Arts and Crafts going into Art Nouveau motif,
0:10:34 > 0:10:39where we have these more flowing lines in the handle and these details here.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41Would they come originally with this?
0:10:41 > 0:10:43Yes, I believe that it is original.
0:10:43 > 0:10:48I mean, as well as being functional objects, they were decorative as well.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52This box has no function these days.
0:10:52 > 0:10:58People are not using coal fires and they have fallen from favour.
0:10:58 > 0:11:06I remember, maybe ten years ago, this would have done perhaps £70 or £80.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08- It's not going to do that now.- Right.
0:11:08 > 0:11:14They have fallen greatly from favour and this one is not complete.
0:11:14 > 0:11:19It doesn't have the shovel, so that's going to affect the price as well.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23- Have you moved to a smaller house? - Well, moved to a modern house.
0:11:23 > 0:11:24A modern house, uh-huh.
0:11:24 > 0:11:29- So it hasn't got any fireplaces at all and it doesn't fit in with the house.- Yeah.
0:11:29 > 0:11:34I would, I'm afraid, only estimate this in the region of £25-£40.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37Now, are you happy to sell it at that?
0:11:37 > 0:11:42- Yes. Yes.- Let's just sell it. Let's just go for it. - See what we get for it.- Yeah.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44We'll put a reserve of £20.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46If it doesn't do £20, you can take it back
0:11:46 > 0:11:48and hand it to your charity shop.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57- Are you local lassies? - No. Well, we are...- No, yes, no, yes?
0:11:57 > 0:12:00- Come on, make your mind up. - We're from Bolton-le-Sands.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04- Bolton-le-Sands. Where's that then? - About four miles down the road.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08- That's on the sands then, on the sea, is it?- Yes.- Is it nice? - Very nice.- Bracing walks?
0:12:08 > 0:12:10- Lovely.- Tell me about these then.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14- They belonged to two old ladies that I...- That's not you two, is it?
0:12:14 > 0:12:16- No!- No, I just wanted to establish that. Go on.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19..That I'd known for about 30 years.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22- Yeah.- I used to go and help them when they had a holiday flat.- Yeah.
0:12:22 > 0:12:28- They were two really lovely old ladies.- They clearly liked you, cos they gave you these, didn't they?
0:12:28 > 0:12:29Yeah, yeah.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31What do you know about them?
0:12:31 > 0:12:37Not a lot, except that their father worked for the Leeds Fireclay, which became Burmantofts.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40- I thought you said you didn't know very much?- Well, that much.
0:12:40 > 0:12:47So if we just turn one of these over, we can just see on the base here, it says "The Leeds Fireclay Company".
0:12:47 > 0:12:50- That's right.- And as you so rightly say, they became Burmantofts.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54- Yes.- And Burmantofts produced those sort of...what? about 1890, 1900...
0:12:54 > 0:12:59those really decorative, big, bold vases in real in-your-face colours
0:12:59 > 0:13:02- with dragons and serpents.- Yeah. - Have you got any of that?
0:13:02 > 0:13:04- Just a dragon.- You've got a dragon?
0:13:04 > 0:13:06- Yes.- Blimey.
0:13:06 > 0:13:11- I think that these are in-house paperweights.- Right.
0:13:11 > 0:13:19That were almost like advertising for the Leeds Fireclay Company
0:13:19 > 0:13:22and I think that these might have been given away or possibly sold.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25Their condition leaves a bit to be desired, doesn't it?
0:13:25 > 0:13:31- They scrubbed everything, these ladies.- I'm sure they did.- Spring cleaned and everything was scrubbed.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33- Yeah?- So I think that's why they were...
0:13:33 > 0:13:37They're chipped and nibbled everywhere, but I think they're quite a bit of fun.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41- Yeah.- I think you've got to put a £50-£80 estimate on them
0:13:41 > 0:13:45- and I think that you put a reserve on them of £40.- Right. - Why do you want to sell 'em?
0:13:45 > 0:13:48My son has qualified for the World Triathlon Championships.
0:13:48 > 0:13:53- World Triathlon Championships? - Yeah. They take place in June in Vancouver, in Canada.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55So he is in the World Championships
0:13:55 > 0:13:58- and you want to sell these to go and watch him?- Yeah.
0:13:58 > 0:14:03So we've really got to hope then that our little Leeds lions do very well for him.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07- I think they will.- I hope so. - Do you not like them? Is it just to raise money?
0:14:07 > 0:14:10I like them. We just want to raise some money. I want to help her.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14I think that's brilliant and, on the basis of that alone, I hope they make a fortune.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16- Oh, I wish they would.- Thank you.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45Quicksand, swirling currents and deep tidal channels.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48They're just some of the perils that await anybody without
0:14:48 > 0:14:55lifelong knowledge of the beautiful, as you can see, look at that, but notorious Morecambe Sands behind me.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59Now, I certainly wouldn't go for a walk out there without the expert
0:14:59 > 0:15:04knowledge of an extraordinary man, and his name is Cedric Robinson MBE.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12Cedric descends from generations of fishermen.
0:15:12 > 0:15:16When he was a young boy, his father used to take him out on the Sands
0:15:16 > 0:15:21in a horse and cart looking for early morning cockles, shrimps and small fish.
0:15:21 > 0:15:26They brought home their catch and cooked it, ready to sell on their market stall later on in the day.
0:15:26 > 0:15:32In 1965, Cedric was invited to take over as Queen's Guide to the Sands, an ancient
0:15:32 > 0:15:36royally appointed position that dates back to the 16th century.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40Then, the job entailed safely guiding local residents
0:15:40 > 0:15:43who wanted to take a short cut across this dangerous shore.
0:15:43 > 0:15:48Nowadays, Cedric leads groups of up to 400 people at a time,
0:15:48 > 0:15:51as he has done so for the past 44 years.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00Cedric, tell me all about the work of a sand pilot.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02Exactly what do you do and how did you get into this?
0:16:02 > 0:16:05Well, when I left school I didn't want to do anything
0:16:05 > 0:16:09but be a fisherman, the same as my father, and that's where the learning came in.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12Right, good local knowledge of the tides and the sand.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16Yeah, dad followed the Sands all of his life so he was a great help to me.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20Exactly how big is this area? How many square miles of sand have we got here?
0:16:20 > 0:16:24Well, it's very deceptive but it does cover approximately 120 square miles.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27That's a lot. Do you know all this like the back of your hand?
0:16:27 > 0:16:30Well, I've probably been over every inch of it in my lifetime.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34You need to know it and you need to live it to know it.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37How do you know where the quicksands are? How do you learn that?
0:16:37 > 0:16:42- Well, you don't, do you?- They say you learn by your mistakes,
0:16:42 > 0:16:46but luckily I haven't had many mistakes but I've seen incidents over the years,
0:16:46 > 0:16:50I've seen horses go down in quicksand, I've seen taxis disappear in seconds.
0:16:50 > 0:16:55If you follow the Sands regularly, you know day by day.
0:16:55 > 0:16:59If you're only a part time fisherman, you don't learn the same.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03- How do you test if the sand's moving? - Well, I can read it. As we come out
0:17:03 > 0:17:07I'm reading these sands like you would open a newspaper in the morning and read the newspaper.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10In the lower areas where the tide comes in and goes out.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14The tide comes in a lot faster than it goes out and that's where the main changes are.
0:17:14 > 0:17:19So, that's where... and always test with a stick, never just go walking or never drive a tractor straight
0:17:19 > 0:17:24through a river, you'd find you'd suddenly go down and lose the lot. So, you test with a stick.
0:17:24 > 0:17:31Sometimes it's disappointing, you get ten yards off the side and that stick would disappear up to the hilt.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35Then you have to retrace your steps and start again and look in a different area.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41As a fisherman, it's vitally important to know these sands.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45You may remember the dreadful tragedy of the 19 Chinese cockle pickers
0:17:45 > 0:17:50who lost their lives during a cold, wet night in February, 2004.
0:17:51 > 0:17:56It was a dreadful tragedy. Were you involved with the emergency services at all there?
0:17:56 > 0:18:01I wasn't able to go out... I am a Honorary Fellow of the University
0:18:01 > 0:18:04of Central Lancashire and we'd been invited away that day, we didn't get
0:18:04 > 0:18:09back till evening and my son said the phone had been non-stop and he told me of the terrible tragedy.
0:18:09 > 0:18:14We saw lights out in the bay. It was dark and terribly cold.
0:18:14 > 0:18:19I was able to assist by telling them about the area and how the tide would come in.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22You've obviously seen a lot of tragedy in your days and it's made
0:18:22 > 0:18:28the news headlines, especially with the cockle pickers, but what about local incidents which never make
0:18:28 > 0:18:33- the press and news, it must happen day in and day out, doesn't it? - Yeah, it is a dangerous environment.
0:18:33 > 0:18:38There were four young lads and they came on the other side, Bolton le Sands, near Morecambe.
0:18:38 > 0:18:44They thought they'd walk along the coastline to Morecambe and two of them were a bit more
0:18:44 > 0:18:50adventurous and went out into the bay but within ten minutes of leaving the shore they'd drowned.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53That's how dangerous it is, you just go out for a paddle for ten minutes.
0:18:53 > 0:18:58Absolutely, yes, without knowing what you're doing, always stick to the safety of the shore.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02What sort of preparations do you make before you take people out on a long walk?
0:19:02 > 0:19:07Well, a walk doesn't just happen because the river moves every day. The tide comes in and goes out again.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11So, I go out with a tractor and I've got some good pals to help me.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15- That's your team, isn't it? - That's my team, yeah.
0:19:15 > 0:19:20We arrive at the river, trousers rolled up, barefoot, a stick apiece.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23And I will say we'll go at it
0:19:23 > 0:19:30so many yards apart and we'll walk slowly, not fast, and test with the stick.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32So, do you plant these laurels as a marker?
0:19:32 > 0:19:38Yes, I plant them out for the benefit of my driver because he has to come out this side sometimes on his own
0:19:38 > 0:19:41and he wouldn't be able to find his way to the river without the markers.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45So, you have to renew them for every walk in the lower areas.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49And I gather you've taken some famous people out on your walks, haven't you?
0:19:49 > 0:19:51Well, there seems to be so many over the years.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55Yes, crossed the Sands with His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57And that was a wonderful experience.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01He did get a bit annoyed with the helicopter flying above us, so noisy,
0:20:01 > 0:20:04but they were there for protection really, I think.
0:20:04 > 0:20:09In case he'd gone down in the quicksands but as long as he was with Cedric he wouldn't do that.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11What are you going to do with all your knowledge?
0:20:11 > 0:20:14Are you passing this on? Is anyone else going to be doing this?
0:20:14 > 0:20:19No, very sadly my own family, they've all got good jobs and
0:20:19 > 0:20:26I mean it would have been ideal if my son had followed the sand and he'd taken in my footsteps but I'm...
0:20:26 > 0:20:32People say to me, "Who's going to come along after your time, when are you going to retire?"
0:20:32 > 0:20:37Well, that time hasn't come. I know when that time will come, you know, and it hasn't come.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39There's life in the old dog yet.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42My father lived to 102 so I've a few years left yet.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44Did he? Gosh. That's a good innings.
0:20:44 > 0:20:51'While Cedric has an often dangerous and responsible job, it doesn't pay the bills.'
0:20:51 > 0:20:55So, to supplement the princely sum of £15 per year that Cedric receives
0:20:55 > 0:21:01from the Duchy of Lancaster, he cultivates the land behind his grace and favour home.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04But his true passion is following the Sands.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12'What a remarkable job in a very unusual part of our island.'
0:21:14 > 0:21:15It's the crew.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22'Long may Cedric be able to continue his vital work guiding
0:21:22 > 0:21:24people across this beautiful landscape.'
0:21:38 > 0:21:43Well, it's time to leave the packed valuation day and head off to the auction.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47These Wade money boxes may have been designed as promotional gifts,
0:21:47 > 0:21:50but we don't want to give them away today.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52They might not have been cleaned for 18 years,
0:21:52 > 0:21:56but Richard's hoping his candlesticks will certainly shine in the saleroom.
0:21:56 > 0:22:01Eileen's mirror's got a great label, so that should be reflected in a decent sale price.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04And I like these paperweight lions, so let's hope for Margaret's sake
0:22:04 > 0:22:06they're a roaring success.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09Richard hopes his coal box will stoke up today's bidders
0:22:09 > 0:22:12and create a bit of heat in the saleroom.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21I've just been joined by Philip, our expert, along with our owner Richard.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24About to go under the hammer - the silver 20th-century candlesticks.
0:22:24 > 0:22:30A valuation of £120-£180. Richard, why are you selling these? These have got the look.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33They are only ornaments after all, aren't they?
0:22:33 > 0:22:36And they just stand there in a display cabinet.
0:22:36 > 0:22:40They're doing no good. Somebody else can have the benefit of them. I'll have the money.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44I would use them. I would light them - put a candle in and use them at the dinner table.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46- I daren't do that.- I would!
0:22:46 > 0:22:52The pair of period-style... They are 1960s, but in the period style
0:22:52 > 0:22:54and I have interest in these lots
0:22:54 > 0:22:59I'm going to start the bidding with me on this one at 130. 130. 130.
0:22:59 > 0:23:01Not a lot of silver collectors today.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03No, there aren't, Richard, you're right.
0:23:03 > 0:23:07130. 40. 150. 150. You're all out in front on this lot.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10- We're selling then. Are we all done? - They're going.- At 150!
0:23:10 > 0:23:13The hammer's gone done. That was short and sweet.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15- I think they've sold well. - They've sold well.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19Richard, £150, what are you going to put the money towards?
0:23:19 > 0:23:25- It'll have to go towards a holiday. - Where do you fancy going? Saving up for?
0:23:25 > 0:23:31- Possibly end up in Majorca or somewhere like that.- Oh, lovely.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42Right. Now going under the hammer is a very handy piece of kit.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46It's the little coal bucket and it belongs to David, £25-£40.
0:23:46 > 0:23:51It's cute. It doesn't have its shovel. Nevertheless, it should sell.
0:23:51 > 0:23:59It's not a lot of money and five, six, seven years ago, this would have made maybe 60, 80, perhaps even 100.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02- But they've gone out of fashion... - Yeah.- ..a little bit.
0:24:02 > 0:24:09But this one has very nice copperized Art Nouveau strapping, so I'm hoping that that will help it along.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13It's got the look, hasn't it? It's quite decorative. It's not a boring, carved oak one.
0:24:13 > 0:24:18Lot 475 is the late Victorian, probably Edwardian, coal podonium.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20The Art Nouveau strapwork decoration.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24And I have interest in it. I'm going to start the bidding with me at £30.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26- Oh, yes!- It sold straightaway.
0:24:26 > 0:24:3035. 40. Five. 50. £50 now.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32£50 bid. £50 and we sell away.
0:24:32 > 0:24:36No further interest and we sell away then at £50.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39- Cracking! Excellent!- That's really good. It did have the look.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42Imagine if you had the little shovel with it.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45Maybe double your money. But that's fantastic.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48- There you go.- Are you surprised? - Thank you. Excellent.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57We need top money now for Margaret, cos we've got two little Burmantofts lions.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00They're paperweights. We're looking at £50-£80.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03I love them. The money's going to a great cause, isn't it?
0:25:03 > 0:25:05Well, my grandson has won a competition...
0:25:05 > 0:25:10He's a triathlete... to go to the World Champion games in Vancouver.
0:25:10 > 0:25:16And it's costing a lot of money and I thought anything would help, so that's what the money's going to.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20How much do you think he has to raise? A couple of thousand pounds?
0:25:20 > 0:25:22Oh, that's just the start.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26- Hopefully he can get the £80 for that, at the top end of the estimate.- I bet they don't sell.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28Here they go. This is it.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30Yeah, the paperweights. Models of Empire lions.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33And can I ask £50 for a start?
0:25:33 > 0:25:36- 50, if you like. 50.- 30.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38£30. Thank you, sir. £30 bid. 35.
0:25:38 > 0:25:4040 now. £40 in the room. 40 bid.
0:25:40 > 0:25:4240 bid. 40 bid.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44- Five anywhere?- Come on.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47£40. Going this time then at 40.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51- He sold them at 40. - Yeah.- Yeah.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54- Well, every little helps, doesn't it?- A little bit, yeah.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56- It really does. - Yeah, it's something.
0:25:56 > 0:26:01I hope that's a start and he can raise a bit more locally and get himself to Vancouver.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03That's what we want. Thank you.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06- You're a good gran, aren't you? - Well!- Top gran!
0:26:12 > 0:26:16Well, I've just been joined by Sarah and Jill, mum and daughter.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18Hello. You're both looking fabulous.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21We've got the Wade money boxes, five of them.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23£50-£80.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26It's not a lot of money, but it's just about the right money.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29£10 apiece. You've got the full set there.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33They've gone down a little in price, but I'm sure they should do 50.
0:26:33 > 0:26:38And I'm sure they've had a lot more money in them in their day, haven't they?
0:26:38 > 0:26:40How much did you manage to save?
0:26:40 > 0:26:42Oh, actually a few pennies.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44About £100 or something like that.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46Well, that's not bad going, is it?
0:26:46 > 0:26:49- Yeah!- What did you save up for? Can you remember?
0:26:49 > 0:26:51Oh, probably sweets, knowing me.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56Well, we're going to find out what the bidders think right now, OK?
0:26:56 > 0:27:00Good luck. Let's hope we get the top end of the estimate. Here we go.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03Thank you. Lot 280, the five Wade money boxes. NatWest piggies.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07Start me for this please. £80. 50.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09I'll go with the commissions at £40 now.
0:27:09 > 0:27:1240. 45 now at the back of the room.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15- 50 now with me. 55. - 50, we've done it.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17In the second row, with the lady at 55.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21Little money, but it's going now at £55.
0:27:21 > 0:27:26- Yes, sold! That got rid of them, didn't it?- It did. They're gone!
0:27:26 > 0:27:28Are you saving for anything now?
0:27:28 > 0:27:32I don't know. We'll find something to spend it on I'm sure.
0:27:32 > 0:27:33That's nice. You include Mum.
0:27:33 > 0:27:38- Mm-hm.- Good luck with the career. I know you're off to do a Masters soon, aren't you?
0:27:38 > 0:27:40- I am, yes.- So good luck with that.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42Thank you very much. Cheers.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51Eileen, I think we need a bit of luck on our side right now.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54- Do you think so?- Waring and Gillows, it's a great make.
0:27:54 > 0:28:02- Yes.- But is £150-£250 a true reflection on the price of this little toilet mirror? I think it is.
0:28:02 > 0:28:03Well, you paid that for it.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05You paid 250, didn't you?
0:28:05 > 0:28:07- No. Not quite.- 200?- Yes.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10- But with commission, it was about 230...- Yeah.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12..in auction three years ago.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15- Had a chat to Kevin the auctioneer before the sale.- Right.
0:28:15 > 0:28:19And he said he thinks it's worth somewhere in the region of 60-90.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22- Is that all?- I know.- Ooh!
0:28:22 > 0:28:26But I don't know. That's his opinion. Obviously, he's an auctioneer.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29He knows the local scene, but you bought this not far away
0:28:29 > 0:28:32and a different auctioneer had a different opinion,
0:28:32 > 0:28:36- because he sold it to you for £200 plus commission.- Yeah.
0:28:36 > 0:28:40So where do we stand? Hopefully, somewhere in the middle.
0:28:40 > 0:28:46- Yes.- And we've got a valuation of 150-200, fixed reserve at 150.- Mm.
0:28:46 > 0:28:47- I hope we get it.- Now lot 500.
0:28:47 > 0:28:51It's the early 20th-century, mahogany toilet swing mirror.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54It does bear the Waring and Gillow label. What can I ask for it?
0:28:54 > 0:28:58Nice little mirror. 200 if you like. 150.
0:28:58 > 0:29:00Start me £100, somebody.
0:29:00 > 0:29:02100. We'll start at £70 then.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05£70 on the bid. 70 bid. 70 bid.
0:29:05 > 0:29:09- 70 bid. £70...- I can't see anybody bidding. Can you?- No.
0:29:09 > 0:29:11- No.- £70. Gone this time at 70.
0:29:11 > 0:29:14Sadly, that has a reserve and we can't sell I'm afraid.
0:29:15 > 0:29:18Oh, dear. You win some, you lose some, don't you?
0:29:18 > 0:29:21It's a great name in cabinet-making.
0:29:21 > 0:29:24It doesn't deserve to be sold for 60 quid.
0:29:24 > 0:29:26What are you going to do with it?
0:29:26 > 0:29:30Just take it home. Perhaps sell it another time.
0:29:32 > 0:29:37Well, I'm disappointed. I really thought that name would sell it.
0:29:37 > 0:29:38And here's why.
0:29:38 > 0:29:43Gillows of Lancaster is one of the most illustrious names in the history of cabinet-making.
0:29:43 > 0:29:46Now here at the Judges' Lodgings Museum
0:29:46 > 0:29:50they have one of the finest collections of Gillows furniture in the world.
0:29:50 > 0:29:51I have hit the jackpot.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04The story really begins in 1728, when Robert Gillow
0:30:04 > 0:30:08opened his cabinet-making firm right here in the heart of Lancaster.
0:30:08 > 0:30:12And through a combination of exceptional craftsmanship,
0:30:12 > 0:30:17good business sense and access to exotic hardwoods imported from the Americas
0:30:17 > 0:30:25via the port of Lancaster, Gillows rapidly became one of the leading cabinet-making firms of its day.
0:30:25 > 0:30:31Robert married Agnes Fell in 1730 and they had two sons, Richard and Robert Junior.
0:30:31 > 0:30:36Richard trained as an architect and was made a partner in the firm in 1769,
0:30:36 > 0:30:38the same year his brother Robert was.
0:30:38 > 0:30:44But he was based down in London, the fashionable capital city and soon, with clients all over the country,
0:30:44 > 0:30:51the business rapidly expanded, producing the most exquisite pieces of English, 18th-century furniture.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06Now take this stunning example.
0:31:06 > 0:31:09It really is the centrepiece of any gentleman's study.
0:31:09 > 0:31:14It's a library table and it's meant to be a centrepiece. It's an island.
0:31:14 > 0:31:18You're supposed to walk around it and appreciate it from every face, side -
0:31:18 > 0:31:22those wonderful serpentine shapes.
0:31:22 > 0:31:28This was commissioned by Sir James Ibbetson of Denton Hall and is known as the Denton library table.
0:31:28 > 0:31:34Now he originally approached Chippendale, another leading cabinet-maker of the day.
0:31:34 > 0:31:39It's from a line drawing from Thomas Chippendale's book, first published in 1754,
0:31:39 > 0:31:47but the year is now 1778 and Thomas Chippendale declined to make this.
0:31:47 > 0:31:49He felt his styles had moved on.
0:31:49 > 0:31:51He was more fashion orientated.
0:31:51 > 0:31:56This is where Gillows comes into the frame, because they made this piece,
0:31:56 > 0:32:01enhancing their reputation as a cabinet-maker rather than a designer.
0:32:01 > 0:32:07And they've copied very closely Chippendale's early 1754 design.
0:32:07 > 0:32:09I absolutely adore it.
0:32:09 > 0:32:13What I love about it is the fact that the top is so rough. It's not been restored.
0:32:13 > 0:32:20I love the fact that leather has a variegated hue with wear and it almost takes on the patina of wood.
0:32:20 > 0:32:24That obviously is the front, flanked four drawers on each column with a central drawer.
0:32:24 > 0:32:29Here we've got two base cupboards on each column with a central drawer.
0:32:29 > 0:32:32This is quite interesting. If I pull the drawer open this way,
0:32:32 > 0:32:34it disappears on your side.
0:32:34 > 0:32:36And vice versa.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41I think that's very, very clever.
0:32:41 > 0:32:49They have selected the finest Cuban mahogany possible to build this piece.
0:32:50 > 0:32:55And that was just one of the many new materials that had started to come into the country.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58The 18th century was the age of discovery and exploration.
0:32:58 > 0:33:03Lancaster was a busy port with ships coming and going to the New World.
0:33:03 > 0:33:06Gillows were in the right place at the right time.
0:33:10 > 0:33:13A perfect example of how the company took advantage
0:33:13 > 0:33:17of the growing trade of different exotic imported hardwoods
0:33:17 > 0:33:21is shown here in this little lady's workbox. It's absolutely stunning.
0:33:21 > 0:33:27There's 72 different variations of wood here, imported from all over the world -
0:33:27 > 0:33:30the Americas, the tropics, Australia, the Indian sub-continent,
0:33:30 > 0:33:33along with our own woods from the British Isles.
0:33:33 > 0:33:37They're all numbered so you can find out exactly what they are.
0:33:37 > 0:33:41Now we're all familiar with elms and oaks and yew woods,
0:33:41 > 0:33:44but there's some woods on here that I've not come across
0:33:44 > 0:33:48and 200 years later, this little box is educating me.
0:33:48 > 0:33:49Number 30 here.
0:33:49 > 0:33:53Now that's a purple wood. Just look at the grain on that.
0:33:53 > 0:33:57That's an exotic hardwood from the Americas, but it's like a volcanic explosion.
0:33:57 > 0:34:00It's sort of erupting all over the place.
0:34:00 > 0:34:02A very tight, dense and decorative grain.
0:34:02 > 0:34:08Here is a classic ebony. We've seen that from the Americas before, used for stringing an inlay detail.
0:34:08 > 0:34:11But here's a softer version that I've not come across -
0:34:11 > 0:34:13number 26, and that's a green ebony.
0:34:13 > 0:34:18You can actually see the grain in this. It's slightly lighter.
0:34:18 > 0:34:20What a wonderful box.
0:34:20 > 0:34:26It's no wonder Miss Elizabeth Gifford commissioned this to be made by Gillows in 1808.
0:34:26 > 0:34:30And if I open it up, it's not just the cabinet-maker's swatch,
0:34:30 > 0:34:33so he can show off to clients what woods are available,
0:34:33 > 0:34:37it's got a practical use as well, because just look at that.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40A lovely fitted interior. Isn't that splendid?
0:34:40 > 0:34:45Little compartments, all beautifully dovetailed.
0:34:45 > 0:34:47Sliding lids.
0:34:47 > 0:34:50And there's the example, look, of the ebony stringing.
0:34:50 > 0:34:51Very fashionable.
0:34:51 > 0:34:55Everything fits so beautifully.
0:34:55 > 0:35:01And here's the all-important thing, the stamp - "Gillows, Lancaster".
0:35:06 > 0:35:12Gillows ability to exploit new materials from overseas certainly enhanced the company's reputation
0:35:12 > 0:35:15as one of the country's leading cabinet-makers.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18But it was its patronage from Lancaster's high society
0:35:18 > 0:35:22which really gave the firm a seal of approval amongst social circles.
0:35:22 > 0:35:24Now take this lady, for instance.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27Mary Rawlinson. Looks very formidable, doesn't she?
0:35:27 > 0:35:31But at the time, she was one of Lancaster's most wealthiest women
0:35:31 > 0:35:35and her husband made his fortune in the West Indies slave trade.
0:35:35 > 0:35:39And he was also Lancaster's biggest importer of mahogany.
0:35:44 > 0:35:48Mary commissioned Gillows to make this magnificent bookcase
0:35:48 > 0:35:53and it is considered to be one of their finest pieces. It's absolutely stunning.
0:35:53 > 0:35:56By now the firm is well established by some 40 years or so
0:35:56 > 0:36:00and Gillows spared no expense in making this wonderful piece.
0:36:00 > 0:36:05Their top craftsman, brothers Thomas and John Dowbiggin, built this and I've got to say,
0:36:05 > 0:36:10just standing back and looking at its architectural proportions, it's mind-blowing, it really is.
0:36:10 > 0:36:16The whole carcass is solid Cuban mahogany, but they've used a decorative veneer
0:36:16 > 0:36:19laid on the top. Just look at the grain, the way it's curling.
0:36:19 > 0:36:22This is called a flamed curl and you can see why.
0:36:22 > 0:36:29There's a natural join here, where this piece has been cut from one piece and opened out,
0:36:29 > 0:36:31so it's mirrored on this side.
0:36:31 > 0:36:35It really has the most wonderful inlay detail up there.
0:36:35 > 0:36:37That's inlaid in satinwood.
0:36:37 > 0:36:41Now that is a lifetime's experience.
0:36:41 > 0:36:44Working your way down, the handles are beautifully silvered
0:36:44 > 0:36:48and the quality of the casting is absolutely tremendous.
0:36:48 > 0:36:49Very, very crisp.
0:36:49 > 0:36:54The bulk of the piece, where the weight is, has been softened architecturally with canted corners.
0:36:54 > 0:36:57It doesn't meet at a right angle. It's softened.
0:36:57 > 0:37:00And it also gives you a chance to show off more inlay skills,
0:37:00 > 0:37:04because it's been decorated with sort of ribbons and swags.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07Not too much, not too over the top, because this is a gentleman's piece.
0:37:07 > 0:37:12It still retains a sort of masculine feel to it.
0:37:12 > 0:37:17And the whole thing stands so proudly on wonderful, over-the-top bracket feet.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20Look at the dragooning on the top there, with a little tear.
0:37:20 > 0:37:23That's so beautiful.
0:37:23 > 0:37:26It's commissions from rich and powerful patrons like this
0:37:26 > 0:37:28that have cemented the firm's success,
0:37:28 > 0:37:33guaranteeing Gillows of Lancaster a place in English cabinet-making history.
0:37:33 > 0:37:35Well, from the sublime to the ridiculous.
0:37:35 > 0:37:40It's time for me to go back to the valuation day and join up with our experts.
0:37:47 > 0:37:49- How are you doing? - Very well, thank you.
0:37:49 > 0:37:53- How did you come by it?- An employer I used to work for threw that out,
0:37:53 > 0:37:55and some other books out, so...
0:37:55 > 0:37:57- Throwing it out? - Throwing it out, yes.
0:37:57 > 0:38:01- Why?- I've no idea, whether because it was damaged or not, I don't know.
0:38:01 > 0:38:03We'd better have a look and see what it is!
0:38:03 > 0:38:05Let's just be very careful with it.
0:38:07 > 0:38:12And it tells us here, it's Collections...of Genealogy...
0:38:12 > 0:38:19and Topographical...for Bedfordshire, by Thomas Fisher, 1817.
0:38:19 > 0:38:23It's got wonderful aquatint engravings
0:38:23 > 0:38:25and there's over 100 of them.
0:38:25 > 0:38:26Basically this is a book,
0:38:26 > 0:38:32that tells us all about the history of Bedfordshire.
0:38:32 > 0:38:35It's got lots and lots of wonderful plates in there.
0:38:35 > 0:38:39- That's right!- I've marked this one earlier, because I think that one,
0:38:39 > 0:38:42if I just spin it round...
0:38:43 > 0:38:45I think that's absolutely lovely.
0:38:45 > 0:38:47We've got our bridge here,
0:38:47 > 0:38:53and this wonderful, old - I guess Elizabethan - hall,
0:38:53 > 0:38:55which is Radwell Hall and Bridge,
0:38:55 > 0:38:56in Bedfordshire.
0:38:56 > 0:39:00You've got this really moody sky over it.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03I think it's a really beautiful engraving.
0:39:03 > 0:39:05Condition of this is not great.
0:39:05 > 0:39:10It's got damp, there's quite a bit of staining to some of the plates.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13- Yeah.- But it's absolutely lovely.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16If we turn the page, here's another one -
0:39:16 > 0:39:20it's Newbury in the parish of Flitton, Bedfordshire.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23The sad thing is, a lot of these houses aren't there any more.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26What I really want to happen, is I want someone in Bedfordshire
0:39:26 > 0:39:29to get on the internet, and to come and buy this book from us.
0:39:29 > 0:39:33I want them to take it home and enjoy it, to love it...
0:39:33 > 0:39:35Because, to me, that's what should happen to it.
0:39:35 > 0:39:39This spine, here, is splitting,
0:39:39 > 0:39:41- and it's really not in the best condition.- No.
0:39:41 > 0:39:44Someone's got to look after it, and love it.
0:39:44 > 0:39:46We need the auctioneers to check on it,
0:39:46 > 0:39:49- make sure all the plates and engravings are there.- Yes.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52I'm sure they are, and I think it'll do quite well.
0:39:52 > 0:39:57- I think an auction estimate of this is perhaps 120-180...- OK, yeah.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00..and I think a reserve ought to be £100.
0:40:00 > 0:40:03- But I think you need to give the auctioneer some discretion.- Right.
0:40:03 > 0:40:11- If he gets to between £80 and £90, I think you ought to let it go.- OK.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14So, if that makes £100, what will you spend it on?
0:40:14 > 0:40:17Well, we just had a carpet fitted in the living room,
0:40:17 > 0:40:18and I need one for the stairs.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21So, your book on Bedfordshire is going to become a carpet?
0:40:21 > 0:40:22- That's right.- Well, well.
0:40:22 > 0:40:24It's a funny old world, isn't it?
0:40:24 > 0:40:29- Let's hope it does really well, might do the landing as well! - It might do!
0:40:39 > 0:40:40- Sue.- Hi.
0:40:40 > 0:40:46- They say that diamonds are a girl's best friend.- So they say.
0:40:46 > 0:40:48And you brought us a diamond.
0:40:48 > 0:40:50It's absolutely lovely.
0:40:50 > 0:40:52- Good.- Tell me, where did you get it?
0:40:52 > 0:40:57I was given it by my great aunt before she passed away, but I don't use it.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59How long ago was that?
0:40:59 > 0:41:03- Probably about 15 or 16 years, I'd say.- Have you worn it at all?
0:41:03 > 0:41:07Only once. I wore it to a wedding on a black dress and it looked lovely.
0:41:07 > 0:41:12- But I was afraid of it falling off, cos it is quite big.- Yeah. - And though it's got a safety pin...
0:41:12 > 0:41:16- You were frightened of losing it. - Mm, I was.- Ah. Time to sell it. - I think so.
0:41:16 > 0:41:23Now, when we look at a diamond, we look at the cut and we look at the size.
0:41:23 > 0:41:29- OK.- In this one, it's mounted on 15-carat gold and platinum.- Right.
0:41:29 > 0:41:36- It's a brilliant, round-cut...- Right. - And people will like that.- OK.
0:41:36 > 0:41:40To size the diamond we need a special tool,
0:41:40 > 0:41:44but I would say it's in the region of a quarter of a carat.
0:41:44 > 0:41:51- So it's a reasonable size.- OK. - It could be changed into a ring.
0:41:51 > 0:41:55I thought about that, but I wondered whether somebody would do it justice.
0:41:55 > 0:42:01- You've got to make sure you get the right jeweller who's doing the right job...- Absolutely.
0:42:01 > 0:42:05- ..and that he's going to look after the stone.- I wouldn't want it spoilt. - Yeah.
0:42:05 > 0:42:10- It belonged to your aunt. Did you know her?- Yeah.- Do you think a loved one may have given her that?
0:42:10 > 0:42:15- Possibly, although she was never married, but you never know. - She was a maiden lady?
0:42:15 > 0:42:21- She was, yeah, she was.- But I mean, if you don't wear it, I always say, pass it on to someone who will.
0:42:21 > 0:42:27And what you can do is perhaps to use the money to buy something that you would wear.
0:42:27 > 0:42:29- Mm-hm.- And that you would enjoy.
0:42:29 > 0:42:32- Or pass it on... - Or pass it on to me.
0:42:32 > 0:42:33Sure I could make use of it.
0:42:33 > 0:42:37Would you like this diamond brooch to be passed on to you. Is it Ross?
0:42:37 > 0:42:39- No, it's Josh. - Joshua.- Josh, yeah.
0:42:39 > 0:42:43Well, probably, but only to sell it in the future, so...
0:42:43 > 0:42:47It's him and his sister, so, probably the money will be going to them anyway.
0:42:47 > 0:42:51Yeah, yeah. Well, estimate...
0:42:51 > 0:42:53Have you had it valued before?
0:42:53 > 0:42:55A long time ago for insurance.
0:42:55 > 0:42:58- And that was about £200. - Yeah, uh-huh.
0:42:58 > 0:43:04- I would estimate this brooch in the region of £200-£300.- Right.
0:43:04 > 0:43:07- Would you be happy to sell it at that?- I think I would be.
0:43:07 > 0:43:14- We'll put a reserve of, say, 180 on it, which means that we can't sell it below that.- OK.
0:43:14 > 0:43:22Two to three is a conservative estimate and I think that someone will fall in love with this.
0:43:22 > 0:43:25- OK. I hope so.- Thank you so much for bringing it along.- Thank you.
0:43:25 > 0:43:27I'll see you at the auction.
0:43:27 > 0:43:29- OK.- Thanks a lot.
0:43:35 > 0:43:37How long have you owned this?
0:43:37 > 0:43:42It's been in the family, I think, for about 60 or 70 years.
0:43:42 > 0:43:44And why do you want to sell it?
0:43:44 > 0:43:47- Because I don't like it.- Why?
0:43:47 > 0:43:51- I think cos the wood's too dark and it's just ugly.- Do you agree, John?
0:43:51 > 0:43:53I agree. It's too dark, dour.
0:43:53 > 0:43:56- Can I throw my threepenny worth in? - Absolutely.
0:43:56 > 0:43:57I think it's horrible.
0:43:57 > 0:44:03I think the problem with this is that the key part of this long-case clock
0:44:03 > 0:44:09is this really nice brass dial with an eight-day movement by Thomas Lister of Halifax.
0:44:09 > 0:44:14- And I would guess he might have been turn of the 1800s, somewhere around there.- Yep.
0:44:14 > 0:44:22But your eyes are averted from that by, can I say this, this dreadful case, right?
0:44:22 > 0:44:28And you've got an oak case here that may or may not be original for that movement. I suspect it might not be.
0:44:28 > 0:44:31But the Victorians got bored very easily.
0:44:31 > 0:44:38They had no television and they either bred or they got hold of furniture and they carved it.
0:44:38 > 0:44:45And the Victorians got wonderful 18th-century oak bureaus that today might be worth £1,000
0:44:45 > 0:44:49and they turned them into £200 bureaus by carving them.
0:44:49 > 0:44:58And this case has all been carved, I would guess 1880-ish, to look Jacobethan, which is a nothing term -
0:44:58 > 0:45:00a cross between Elizabethan and Jacobean.
0:45:00 > 0:45:05So you've got, in my eyes, a really lovely movement
0:45:05 > 0:45:08and this awful case.
0:45:08 > 0:45:14And I think it's interesting, cos you've had this in your family for 70 years and it's come down the line.
0:45:14 > 0:45:18- I suspect that everybody's thought the same thing.- Probably right.
0:45:18 > 0:45:23- I would have thought so. - And you're thinking, "Oh, my Lord! I've got the clock."
0:45:23 > 0:45:26You know, but you can't sell it, cos it's a family heirloom.
0:45:26 > 0:45:31We've tried to give it to other members of the family, but nobody wants it.
0:45:31 > 0:45:35In my eyes, you've got to make this a really attractive proposition
0:45:35 > 0:45:39to the buyer to sell it and hopefully create a bit of competition,
0:45:39 > 0:45:44otherwise, I'm afraid to say, it's coming back home.
0:45:44 > 0:45:45No, it's not.
0:45:45 > 0:45:49Well, you have to be sensible about this, right?
0:45:49 > 0:45:57And my view would be that you put a £400-£600 estimate on it and you put a £300 reserve on it.
0:45:57 > 0:46:00- OK.- Now, that still doesn't guarantee that it's going to sell,
0:46:00 > 0:46:05but I think you'd be silly to sell it for less than £300.
0:46:05 > 0:46:07- That's fair enough. - But that's your call.
0:46:07 > 0:46:10- Yes.- Are you happy with that? - We'll go with that.
0:46:19 > 0:46:20Pauline, Paula.
0:46:20 > 0:46:23- That's right.- Welcome to Flog It.
0:46:23 > 0:46:30- Thank you.- It's lovely to have you along and for you to have brought this cute little pair of clogs.
0:46:30 > 0:46:35Now, there's something special about these, they are made by the magic name.
0:46:35 > 0:46:38ALL: Clarice Cliff.
0:46:38 > 0:46:40Tell me, Pauline, where did you get them?
0:46:40 > 0:46:42They were given to me by a friend.
0:46:42 > 0:46:48They were his sister's, and he passed them on to me.
0:46:48 > 0:46:52- Yes, that's a long time they haven't seen daylight. - Was it a chap that fancied you?
0:46:52 > 0:46:55I don't know.
0:46:55 > 0:46:59- Did he know they were worth a couple of bob? - Well, they weren't in those days.
0:46:59 > 0:47:03- Oh, right. - Going back a long time, you know.
0:47:03 > 0:47:06- Do you like these? - No, not particularly.
0:47:06 > 0:47:08Not particularly.
0:47:08 > 0:47:10Paula, what do you think of them?
0:47:10 > 0:47:15I don't like the colours, they are too bright for my liking. I like something more subdued.
0:47:15 > 0:47:18Well, I think that's fair enough.
0:47:18 > 0:47:25- Yes, we find that with Clarice Cliff items, you either love them or you hate them.- Yes.
0:47:25 > 0:47:32- I love the shape, a pair of clogs, they're so sweet. - They are nice, yes.
0:47:32 > 0:47:34You know, you could do a wee sort of...
0:47:34 > 0:47:38- Clog dance.- Clog dance with them.
0:47:38 > 0:47:42The thing which is going to sell them, in the main,
0:47:42 > 0:47:45will be the magic name of Clarice Cliff.
0:47:45 > 0:47:51The work that she did is greatly sought after,
0:47:51 > 0:47:55particularly the bright patterns with geometric designs
0:47:55 > 0:48:02and although these are quite small objects, they do reflect the patterns that people like.
0:48:02 > 0:48:08Now, if we look at the back stamp here, we can see "Bizarre by Clarice Cliff".
0:48:08 > 0:48:14Now, the Bizarre range was introduced in 1927
0:48:14 > 0:48:18and there were various patterns within the Bizarre range.
0:48:18 > 0:48:22This particular pattern is called Sunburst.
0:48:22 > 0:48:27And this was introduced in the 1930s.
0:48:27 > 0:48:31So, we can date it exactly.
0:48:31 > 0:48:38Price, you look like a canny sort of wee woman, what do you think these will get?
0:48:38 > 0:48:43I don't know about £100, £120?
0:48:43 > 0:48:45- About £300.- Ooh!
0:48:45 > 0:48:51Right, you think £120, you think £300. I think we should go somewhere in the middle.
0:48:51 > 0:48:57I find that if you estimate conservatively,
0:48:57 > 0:49:03that will encourage the bidders, because they'll think I'm going to get it cheap.
0:49:03 > 0:49:08- Yes.- So, I would like to put them in at £200 to £300
0:49:08 > 0:49:14- with a firm reserve of £200.- Yes.
0:49:14 > 0:49:18- And I think they will go higher than that.- Yes.
0:49:18 > 0:49:21But let's keep our estimates at a...
0:49:21 > 0:49:23- Reasonable.- Invitation level.- Yes.
0:49:23 > 0:49:27Do we three ladies agree?
0:49:27 > 0:49:29Do we agree, Mother?
0:49:29 > 0:49:34- Yes, yes.- Let's go for it, let's flog them, let's clog it.
0:49:38 > 0:49:43Just before we head back into the auction, here's a quick reminder of our remaining lots.
0:49:43 > 0:49:46There's nothing rough about this diamond.
0:49:46 > 0:49:51Let's see if today's bidders can spot its potential, so that Joshua can make a bit of money.
0:49:51 > 0:49:55This is an intriguing piece, but unfortunately the damage to the spine
0:49:55 > 0:49:59of Jilly's Bedfordshire book might just affect the final price.
0:50:01 > 0:50:04Talking of potential, this clock's well and truly hidden behind
0:50:04 > 0:50:09its ugly Victorian case. Sue and John really don't want to have to take it home again.
0:50:09 > 0:50:13And I'm hoping Paula's unusual Clarice Cliff clogs
0:50:13 > 0:50:16will spread some sunshine in the sale room.
0:50:23 > 0:50:28From Bedfordshire to Lancashire, it's that gorgeous topographical book belonging to Jillian. Hi there.
0:50:28 > 0:50:33- Hiya. - We've got a value put on by Phil, of £120 to £180, fingers crossed.
0:50:33 > 0:50:35It really is quality.
0:50:35 > 0:50:38So, why are you selling this, just remind us again.
0:50:38 > 0:50:41Because it's too big for my bookshelf and it's just gathering dust.
0:50:41 > 0:50:44Really, that's the real excuse, is it?
0:50:44 > 0:50:47Look, fingers crossed. We've got a room packed with bidders.
0:50:47 > 0:50:49It's a gorgeous book, great topographic scenes.
0:50:49 > 0:50:52I see this going back to Bedford, do you know.
0:50:52 > 0:50:54- I hope so.- I hope so.
0:50:54 > 0:50:57- It's going to be a real bind if it doesn't sell. - Phil, leaf it out.- Ohh.
0:50:57 > 0:51:00Anyway the bidders are here, let's hope the hands go up for this one.
0:51:00 > 0:51:04- Here it is.- Lot 15 which is the historical volume,
0:51:04 > 0:51:09with nice illustrations as well, almost 200 years old.
0:51:09 > 0:51:12What can I ask here for a start? Couple of hundred. £100 to start.
0:51:12 > 0:51:16£100... We'll start then at £50 only.
0:51:16 > 0:51:18£50 bid, I'll take a 5... 60...
0:51:18 > 0:51:22£60 now, 60 bid... 60 bid. 60 bid.
0:51:22 > 0:51:245 if you like, 65... 70...
0:51:24 > 0:51:295...80... 90... £90 at the very back, £90 are we all done?
0:51:29 > 0:51:32Are you all out this time? Have you all done at £90?
0:51:32 > 0:51:37Phew, well done Philip, hard thing to value but we got there, we got there.
0:51:37 > 0:51:39- That's not bad, is it? - No.- What are you going to
0:51:39 > 0:51:43put the money towards? There is a bit of commission, it's 15% here.
0:51:43 > 0:51:45That's how the auctioneers earn their wages.
0:51:45 > 0:51:47It will go towards a carpet for my stairs.
0:51:47 > 0:51:49Carpet for the stairs.
0:51:54 > 0:51:58Next up, a family heirloom. It's a wonderful diamond pin. It's belongs to Susan.
0:51:58 > 0:52:03- And you've brought Joshua along. Good to see you both again.- Thank you.- Why are you selling this?
0:52:03 > 0:52:07Cos I wasn't wearing it really and it was just sitting in a drawer.
0:52:07 > 0:52:10Because it was so heavy and I was just frightened of losing it.
0:52:10 > 0:52:12It's absolutely gorgeous.
0:52:12 > 0:52:14- I mean, it really is.- Very pretty.
0:52:14 > 0:52:17Obviously, it's not something Josh is going to want to inherit,
0:52:17 > 0:52:21- but I'm sure he could do with the money, couldn't he, Mum? - He could, yeah.
0:52:21 > 0:52:22Would you wear this?
0:52:22 > 0:52:26It's lovely. Yes. I don't wear a lot of diamonds, you may have noticed.
0:52:26 > 0:52:30- Yes.- But I like this one and the auctioneer has measured it.
0:52:30 > 0:52:32We have half a carat there.
0:52:32 > 0:52:35- That's good. - So that's a substantial size.
0:52:35 > 0:52:39- That's good.- And it's in a classic, simple setting.- Right.
0:52:39 > 0:52:42So do we get the 300 or the 200?
0:52:42 > 0:52:44Well, it should go...
0:52:44 > 0:52:46- It's got a sparkle.- Yeah, yeah.
0:52:46 > 0:52:49- It should go over, shouldn't it? - It should go mid-estimate.
0:52:49 > 0:52:52Oh, right. OK!
0:52:52 > 0:52:54- That's you told! - I know. It is, isn't it?
0:52:54 > 0:52:57I'm going to stick my neck out and say we want a little bit more.
0:52:57 > 0:53:01- We always want a bit more. Good luck.- Thank you. - It's going under the hammer now.
0:53:01 > 0:53:05We now come to lot 235.
0:53:05 > 0:53:07Yellow metal and diamond bar brooch.
0:53:07 > 0:53:10Stamped 15 carats and half a carat. 200 for this please? 200.
0:53:10 > 0:53:13Start me £100 then. Thank you. 100.
0:53:13 > 0:53:15You bidding, sir? 110. 120.
0:53:15 > 0:53:17- Come on.- 130. 140.
0:53:17 > 0:53:20140 in the pink there. 150.
0:53:20 > 0:53:24160. 170. 180. 180 now in the pink.
0:53:24 > 0:53:27In the pink, £180. Any advance?
0:53:27 > 0:53:31Gentleman in the pink now at £180. It's going.
0:53:32 > 0:53:34He's put the hammer down. That is a sold sound.
0:53:34 > 0:53:37Right on its fixed reserve, £180.
0:53:37 > 0:53:39- It's gone.- Um-hm.
0:53:39 > 0:53:41- That's fine. - That's fine. That's a good result.
0:53:41 > 0:53:43I was waiting there, weren't you?
0:53:43 > 0:53:48- There's me talking it up. You said it was going to do bang on in the middle, but we've sold it.- Yeah.
0:53:48 > 0:53:50- We sold it on the reserve.- Yeah.
0:53:50 > 0:53:55I don't think the jewellery lovers were here today.
0:54:02 > 0:54:05Next up, Sue and John's eight-day long-case clock.
0:54:05 > 0:54:08It's a great movement, great dial, shame about the case.
0:54:08 > 0:54:14The Victorians got to this one, but we've £400-£600 on it, a reserve of three.
0:54:14 > 0:54:16John disowns this clock. You don't like it.
0:54:16 > 0:54:20- I don't. Not at all. It's appalling. - He refuses to talk about it even!
0:54:20 > 0:54:22Let's hope we get it away for you today...
0:54:22 > 0:54:26- I hope so.- ..cos you don't want to be putting it back in the car. - No.
0:54:26 > 0:54:28We've actually pitched this to sell it
0:54:28 > 0:54:31- and if we don't, then it really isn't a good day, is it really?- No.
0:54:31 > 0:54:33- It's pitched to sell. - We would like to sell it.
0:54:33 > 0:54:38- It's a giveaway price. - We would all like to see it go.- Yes. - Every single one of us.
0:54:38 > 0:54:43We come now to lot 463, which is the dark oak, long-case clock.
0:54:43 > 0:54:46Heavily carved, rather attractive clock there.
0:54:46 > 0:54:49May we say 600 for this, please? Start me 400 then, please.
0:54:49 > 0:54:52400 anywhere? We'll take three then. £300.
0:54:52 > 0:54:55- Ooh, we're in! We're off to the races.- 350. 400.
0:54:55 > 0:54:57450. Are you bidding?
0:54:57 > 0:54:59- 500.- Wow!
0:54:59 > 0:55:02500 now on the rail. It's on the rail at £500.
0:55:02 > 0:55:07- And selling at 500.- Yes!- Yes!- Here to be sold at £500 now and going.
0:55:07 > 0:55:09Hammer's gone down mid-estimate.
0:55:09 > 0:55:13£500! We were all being so negative.
0:55:13 > 0:55:16- We'll help him load!- Oh, yeah, yeah! - Thank goodness for that.
0:55:16 > 0:55:18- That's great. Thank you.- Well done.
0:55:18 > 0:55:24£500, less the commission, of course, which is 10% on £500.
0:55:24 > 0:55:26- That's fine.- That's fine. - So there you go.
0:55:26 > 0:55:28- Thank you very much for that. - Thank you.
0:55:28 > 0:55:33He says he wants to leave the case with the vendors! He's only taking the movement.
0:55:33 > 0:55:36- Don't blame him.- We'll store it for next winter's firewood.
0:55:45 > 0:55:48I've been waiting for this one. It's Flog It, it's Clarice Cliff time.
0:55:48 > 0:55:51It's got to be the star of our show, the two little clogs.
0:55:51 > 0:55:59£200 to £300 on this lovely Sunburst pattern belonging to Pauline, Paula and here's Paul, the three Ps.
0:55:59 > 0:56:04We are Ps in a pod, over to our expert Patricia...
0:56:04 > 0:56:07It's Anita.
0:56:07 > 0:56:10It's quite funny, isn't it? Paul, Pauline and Paula.
0:56:10 > 0:56:12Yes. Well, they are good names.
0:56:12 > 0:56:15£200 to £300 we've got on this.
0:56:15 > 0:56:19We should get you the top end of Anita's estimate.
0:56:19 > 0:56:23- Very good.- I think that's a bit of a come and buy me.
0:56:23 > 0:56:25- We'll get a good result for you both.- Very nice.
0:56:25 > 0:56:28I'll hold you to your word.
0:56:28 > 0:56:29OK, all right.
0:56:29 > 0:56:35Lot number 310 is the pair of Clarice Cliff, the Bizarre range,
0:56:35 > 0:56:39the Sunburst pattern and we have bids on the books for this one.
0:56:39 > 0:56:43We are going to start the bidding with me at £320...
0:56:43 > 0:56:46Straight in over the top end of the estimate.
0:56:46 > 0:56:52£320 bid, 320 bid. 340... 350...
0:56:52 > 0:56:55360.. 360 in the room now... 360...
0:56:55 > 0:56:59- Come on. - 360... 380 for you sir, 400...
0:56:59 > 0:57:03I'll take 20... 400... 420... 450...
0:57:03 > 0:57:06480... 500...
0:57:06 > 0:57:08550... 600...
0:57:08 > 0:57:15The phones are out, the bid's in the room and we're selling at 600.
0:57:15 > 0:57:19- £600, the hammer's gone down. - That's good, isn't it?
0:57:19 > 0:57:26I said to my daughter I'd have to get a plastic carton to bring them home in case we didn't sell them.
0:57:26 > 0:57:30Oh, ye of little faith. You know what? That's a brilliant result, they really did love them.
0:57:30 > 0:57:35Thank goodness you looked after them and tucked them away because it's all about condition.
0:57:35 > 0:57:38Those Clarice Cliff collectors are really fussy.
0:57:38 > 0:57:41So, there's 15% commission to pay in today's sale.
0:57:41 > 0:57:44That's how the auctioneer earns their wages and pays for all of this.
0:57:44 > 0:57:48What are you going to do when you get the cheque, in the post, in three weeks' time?
0:57:48 > 0:57:50- Oh, my daughter will tell you that. - Go on then.
0:57:50 > 0:57:53We're going to donate it to animal charities.
0:57:53 > 0:57:56- Oh, brilliant.- Yes.- One in particular or split the money?
0:57:56 > 0:57:58Maybe the Brook Hospital for sick animals.
0:57:58 > 0:58:00And where's that based?
0:58:00 > 0:58:02Well, London, but they help all over the...
0:58:02 > 0:58:04- Country.- All over the world.
0:58:04 > 0:58:09Oh, lovely, oh, do you know what? You've definitely made my day, thank you so much for coming in.
0:58:09 > 0:58:11And you have made my day, too.
0:58:11 > 0:58:14Oh, bless you.
0:58:14 > 0:58:17We've had a fantastic time here in Kendal.
0:58:17 > 0:58:19I hope you've enjoyed watching the show today.
0:58:19 > 0:58:23There's plenty more surprises to come but for now, it's cheerio from all of us.
0:58:29 > 0:58:32Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd