Barnsley Flog It!

Where we are today is going through a major period of regeneration, as you can see by the cranes behind me,

and the plan is to make it a 21st-century market town.

Welcome to Barnsley.

We're certainly in a modern part of Barnsley for our venue,

the Metrodome Leisure Complex,

where, hopefully, there's a lot of people waiting inside. Fingers crossed.

# Ta-da! # Flog It! is here.

Wow, look at this! A full house, and everybody's sitting patiently,

laden with bags and boxes, ready to see our two experts, Mr Philip Serrell and Michael Baggott.

Chaps, are you ready for this?

-BOTH: Absolutely.

-And what have you got here?

Just a lovely beer jug, isn't it?

-Gorgeous. And Michael?

-Fantastic bit of 19th-century bronze.

-Well, half a bit.

-Well, you've got a full house.

There's plenty of antiques. Get diving through those bags and boxes.

Lily, I hope, um...

we haven't brought your savings with these two. Robbed any banks today?

They're charming things, albeit that one's a little worse for wear. Where did they come from?

I don't really know. I know there's some family history, but a cousin gave them me 16 or 17 years ago,

and yeah, they've been passed down through the family, somehow.

-They're nice because they're local.

-Yeah.

We've got an impressed mark on the bottom of a daisy.

-Yeah.

-That stumped me, but we've got a very good off-screen expert on porcelain,

-and she said they're Mexborough pottery.

-Yeah.

-That was founded

in about 1795. These are typical of the 1830s, 1840s.

-Yeah.

-And they've got this sponge decoration to the base,

which you see on Staffordshire Prattwares, cos they're called the Pratt colours,

and you also see it in Yorkshire, and we're in Yorkshire today,

-so these are wonderful bits of naive craft.

-Yeah.

-And I don't really think they were meant to survive any length of time.

-Sure.

You know, you bought a money box.

There's a fairly big gap on the back, and you could probably get a couple out with a knife but not a lot.

And they were, as I think this one was, smashed to get it open...

-Possibly.

-..and glued back together. But they're a lovely bit of naive English folk art.

-Yes.

-And it's fabulous to have a pair, cos they were never meant as a pair.

-No.

I mean, you can see at the front here we've got a black window frame and the yellow curtains on this example.

But we've got pink here and the green and the little faces poking out.

We've got the applied decoration here of a little tree, and I think this is lovely and crisp -

this sprigged and applied decoration.

That's absolutely marvellous.

And then, somewhat mournfully, we've got this ghostly, classical figure that seems to be laying flowers down.

I hope it's a cornucopia of bounty and not a wreath, but I could be wrong.

THEY LAUGH

I've said the date. I've said where they're from.

Any idea of what they're worth?

Not really. No. You hear things, but you don't know, do you?

No. I think we've got to value them, really, as one good one...

-Yeah.

-..with a little chip, and buy one, get one free...

-because this is really in quite rough condition.

-Yeah.

-I think at auction we should be happily in the £150 to £250 area...

-Right, my love, yeah.

-..with a fixed reserve of £150.

-Right, love.

Why have you decided to sell them?

Because we're going into a bungalow and we've got to let some things go.

-Right.

-My family are not wanting them.

-Really?

-So they'd only just go in the attic, you know, so it's a shame when somebody could love them.

-It is, especially when British pottery of this period's so keenly sought after.

-Yeah.

It wouldn't surprise me if they went on over the 250 mark,

-but we've got to be cautious, with the damage.

-I understand.

-So if you're happy, we'll put them into the auction...

-Yes, love.

..and see where they end up -

see if you get enough money to fill both of them up!

Blimey, Christine, these are imposing!

-Yeah. Very nice.

-How long have you had these?

20 to 25 year.

-And were they a family heirloom?

-No. We bought them at a sale.

-At a sale?

-Yes.

-And how much did you pay for them?

£120.

We thought we'd paid a lot for them when we bought them.

-You know what auctioneers are like!

-Yeah.

So with a bit of inflation today, these probably ought to be worth

-somewhere between 500 and £1,000.

-Yeah, but they'll not be.

-Why did you like them?

-Well, we've got a cottage, terraced house,

with beams and with old-fashioned sideboards, and I wanted something for on the end of my sideboards,

and I've had them there ever since. And I've loved them.

They are known as lustres.

-Yes.

-And the light hits these droppers and sort of refracts in all sorts of different ways.

When you bought these 25 years ago, they were very fashionable.

They've fallen from grace along with copper kettles, copper warming pans,

and part of the reason for that is there's this whole sort of late Victorian clutter scene.

You know, people buy their houses, they buy their cottages,

and in the '70s and '80s, they went out and filled them to the gunwales with everything, didn't they?

-Yes.

-Knick-knacks here - everywhere. And now tastes have changed.

People are very much into minimalism and rather than have perhaps ten bits

-that might have cost them £100 each, they'd rather have one statement piece at £1,000.

-Yeah.

You know, and the way that we decorate our homes,

the way that we decorate our houses, has changed dramatically.

So I think the way we've got to look at this is that you bought these for £125 25 years ago,

-so very roughly they've cost you £5 a year...

-Mm-hm.

-..just to have the pleasure of owning them.

-Yeah.

-So that's the way you've got to look at this.

-Yeah.

-Cos you're going to lose some money here.

-Oh, yeah.

In my eyes, these are very late.

-They're simply decorative.

-Yeah.

-And I'm not sure you won't throw one at me when I tell you what I think they're worth.

-Go on. Try me.

-Really?

-Mmm.

I think that they might make £50 to £80, and you should put a £40 reserve on them. Ouch.

Yeah. Well, I've had my pleasure from them.

-So you're happy to sell them?

-Yeah, because...

Just let them go. Let somebody have some pleasure, instead of them being wrapped up in the loft.

-Yeah. I bet they're a pig to clean, aren't they?

-Yeah.

-It's worth you get rid of them for the cleaning.

-Yes.

-Right. We'll settle on that, then.

Carol, Staffordshire lions.

-Are they yours?

-Yes.

-How long have you had these, then?

Well, actually, I've only had them two years.

That was when my father died and obviously they were inherited...

-from his parents.

-So they've been in the family and passed down through the generations.

-They have.

-I'm the fourth generation.

-Can you remember these as a little girl?

I can, on my grandparents' sideboard.

Well, I guess that's where they belonged, really, didn't they,

-or on the mantelpiece on a windowsill or down by the side of the fireplace.

-Yeah.

Aren't they lovely? It's a lovely pair.

One of the glass eyes is missing...

-Yes.

-..on one of the pair. This one here.

-Yeah.

-But otherwise...

Apart from them... It's like crazed paving...

Don't worry about that. That's the craquelure.

-Right.

-That's acceptable.

-I wouldn't buy any Staffordshire figures without that craquelure, that glazing.

-Right.

That's part and parcel of this country pottery from Staffordshire.

There wasn't any one maker.

There were a few little factories producing these wares around Staffordshire,

known as Staffordshire pottery, and they made the classic flatbacks.

-Can you remember seeing those?

-No.

It was almost like these, but the figure wouldn't have a back to it.

-Oh, right.

-They were only meant to face away from the wall.

-I see.

-They were a country ware that most people could afford.

-There's no markings on them.

Nobody knew they were Staffordshire.

-You won't get any marks on them.

-Is that because of the age?

-No. No.

These date to round about sort of 1870, 1890, somewhere around there.

They weren't stamped because there wasn't one particular family maker.

-They were all small potteries.

-Right.

So there were half a dozen within Staffordshire producing flatbacks and figures like this.

-Why are you flogging them?

-I don't particularly like them.

-You don't like them?

-Not really.

I wouldn't have them in my house, no.

-You've had them two years, haven't you?

-But in a bag.

-Oh, I see.

-In a cupboard.

-In a cupboard?

-Yeah.

-They look fun if you've got a cottage and you've got them in the window.

-I've got a modern bungalow.

My brother... I mean, obviously, whatever I do get for them,

I'll share with my brother, but he won't have them in his house, either.

-Wouldn't he?

-No.

-They're not particularly beautifully modelled, are they?

-No.

When you see the lion's mane and his face, there's not a lot of detail.

Would it be disappointing if I said

you might be lucky and get around £150 for the pair?

No. Not at all. No.

-On a good day, you should do that.

-Right.

But I'd like to put them into auction with a value

-of £100 to £150.

-Yes.

-With a bit of discretion on the 100.

Yeah. That's fine, Paul. Yeah.

-Yeah?

-I'm happy with that, yeah.

Valerie, you don't often see things like this, do you?

No, you don't.

Can you tell me where you got it from?

Well, my father-in-law, who's been dead about ten year,

he were a big gardener.

And he had allotment, which is built on now.

And he were digging to put some potatoes in

and he struck something. And he thinks, "Is it a rock?"

And he's digging around this rock, and it were that,

that come out of ground.

And when he got it home, somebody told him to clean it

with water with lemon in.

And that's the result, and it's not been touched since.

It's been put in a hut and passed from pillar to post. Nobody wanted it.

And I heard Flog It! were coming

and I said, "I know what I'm going to do."

-Now is the time...

-And here we are.

..to get the allotment vase out and see what it is.

And see what it is.

Right. Well, as you rightly say, it is half a vase.

This is all beautiful cast bronze.

Yeah.

That's a bit of cast iron from the hardware shop,

that someone's put it on.

-It's what I would say was a homemade repair...a restoration.

-Yes.

Any ideas of how old it is?

Well, I've been told it's Grecian.

In our mind, we're thinking it's at least 150 years old.

You're not far off.

If it were Grecian, absolutely a Grecian vase,

-it would be 4,000 years old. What this is, is Greek revival.

-Yeah.

And we started to get it in this country and on the continent

in about 1810, 1820.

More so in France, and the revival - the Classical revival at this time -

is rather chunky and hefty and less delicate.

-So we've got these very thick, chunky handles.

-Yeah.

And those, to me, are absolutely 1820, 1830.

Apart from saying that it's either English or French, I can't be any more specific than that.

Because what would have had a foundry mark on,

would have been the base,

which is now probably...

-Still in allotment.

-Still in the allotment.

Or under houses.

What it is, as it stands, is half a good vase.

So - value, value...

What's a sack of potatoes now?

-Cos that would have been the alternative.

-Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I think we can pop that into auction,

-and it's going to take somebody's eye at maybe £40.

-Yeah.

-So, if we put that on as the reserve...

-Yeah.

-..at an estimate of £40-£60 and see where it goes.

-Yeah.

Who knows? Someone might have dug the foot up a few years later,

and they go, "At last!"

Splendid. Well, we'll put it into the auction and keep our fingers crossed.

-That's lovely.

-It's an old one. I don't think it looks very nice.

Well, the thing I like about that is that it's understated, because, you know, you go and buy

these watches today that cost you thousands and thousands of pounds - diamonds all around them,

mother of pearl faces - they're not very subtle, are they?

-No.

-I'll talk about it in a minute,

but I want you to tell me the history of this piece first.

Well, my father inherited it, and it's come to me after his death, of course, and I've never worn it.

It came down through the family, and you don't want it.

-You want to sell it.

-Yeah.

-Oh, Henry, that'd break my heart to sell that.

It's not a very nice-looking watch, I don't think.

-Do you know how old it is?

-I believe it's about 1930.

Well, let's just have a look.

We haven't told the viewers at home yet who made it, have we?

We'll leave that to surprise them.

Shall we leave them to think it's a Timex?

The face just comes off and, in fact, just above the second hand sweep here is the maker's name.

-Yeah.

-It is a Rolex. It's a Rolex. I think it's absolutely lovely.

What I love about the second hand sweep, on all quality watches, it doesn't go tick, tick, tick.

It just sweeps round.

-Very smooth.

-And that's just absolutely lovely.

And if we have a look at the case here,

we can see again the maker's name and their import mark. So you reckon it was 1930?

I believe so.

-I think you're probably three years out. There are import marks here for Glasgow 1927.

-Oh, right.

Right. Now, the bracelet is clearly a cheap replacement.

That, with a nice strap on it, nice black strap, I would love to own that.

Yeah, well. There you are.

And if that were in my family, there's no way I'd be selling that.

-There's only one thing we haven't discussed.

-What do you reckon?

-What do I reckon?

-Yep.

I think this sort of retro look, vintage look, is really popular at the moment.

I think that we can put an auction estimate on that of £200 to £400.

-Oh, right.

-We'll put a reserve on it of £200

-and we'll give the auctioneer 10% discretion if he needs it.

-Of course. Yeah. Yeah.

But you know, that catalogued, on the internet, I'm sure it'll do well.

What are you going to spend the money on if it makes £200 or £300?

-Well, car needs a service.

-Car needs a service.

-I'm a pensioner.

Well, good luck, and I hope it does really well.

Well, there are still plenty of bags and boxes

for our experts to rummage through, but right now,

we've found enough antiques and collectables for our first visit to the auction room.

Imagine digging up this bronze vase.

It's not an antiquity, but it should make more than a bag of spuds

when it goes under the hammer.

Although one of Lily's money boxes is a bit worse for wear, I still think this lot has real appeal.

So I hope they do well.

Christine's lustres have fallen out of favour, so let's hope that's not the feeling in the sale room!

The Staffordshire lions have been part of the family

for four generations, but it's time for them now to join a new pride.

And finally, Henry's watch is a great make.

Fingers crossed it makes great money.

Well, they say money makes the world go around, so let's hope the planet

is definitely spinning today for our owners, because they've come here

to ELR Auctions in the heart of Sheffield to flog their earthly possessions.

And first to go under the hammer is Valerie's bronze vase.

Your husband dug this up, didn't he? Or was it the father-in-law?

-Father-in-law.

-In a patch of potatoes.

I think that's a classic find.

Well, it's the cheapest way to acquire antiques, isn't it?

-Dig 'em up.

-Yeah.

Will we get the top end?

I don't know. I mean, it's a speculative thing,

because we've got half of it,

and the base is a replacement.

But I think it's perfect if somebody wants it for their garden.

How long have you had this?

-30 years since.

-Where's it been, then?

In a hut, in garage...

chucked out, fetched back.

-So this really is time to get rid of, isn't it?

-Yeah, yeah.

Well, let's hope we get you the top end of Michael's estimate. Good luck.

Early 19th-century, Greek revival bronze urn.

£100 for it? It has all gone quiet.

£50 for it? Let's start at the bottom.

We've got 30, can we see 32?

Can we see £32 in the room?

Any interest?

32, 35, 38, 40,

42, is it? Looking for 45. New bidder, 48?

45 on the phones.

-Telephone bidding. I didn't expect that.

-No.

-Anybody for 48?

All done at 45?

Sold.

-Yes!

-Brilliant. Well done, Michael, spot on.

That is a cracking bit of garden art, actually,

if you wanted to stick it outside.

Yes, I just hope the poor chap on the phone can pick it up.

Cos the postage on it... It weighs a ton!

Going to cost you £300.

-Yeah, it does, yeah.

-Well, you got rid of.

That's the best thing, isn't it?

Mum's 80 in February, so it'll do for a do...a birthday do.

Ah, wonderful. A birthday do.

-Yeah.

-Proper knees-up for Mum, who's 80 years old.

-80, yeah.

And her boyfriend as well, 80.

We've got the two little Yorkshire money pots which you fell in love with.

-I absolutely adore them, Paul.

-Lily, good luck.

-You've had them for 16 years.

-Yes.

-I'd have a tear in my eye, selling these.

-I wouldn't sell them. Would you?

-No. They'd have to pry my fingers off them to get them.

They're not a pair, but they'll look fantastic on a mantelpiece.

I like the smashed one best, with the two little cheeky faces.

A pair of Mexborough pottery Prattware money boxes. Lovely pair.

Top quality.

£130 is your start price for them.

Let's have 140. 140...

for the Mexborough. 140. 150. 160.

Yeah! They were a bit slow to put their hands up to start with.

160. 170. 180, sir. 190. 200. 210?

Too soon to be out.

Top of the room at 200. Anybody else for 210?

They're going to go, reluctantly, at £200.

Have we finished? Hammer's dropping.

-Yes. There was a delayed reaction.

-There was!

-Lily, £200. Not bad.

-We got mid-estimate.

-It is, because there's a good one and...

You liked the glued one, but there was a lot of glue in the glued one!

But that's what I love about it.

You know, it's a sort of a naive repair and it was done by somebody that loved it

and wanted to make use of it - a classic bit of recycling.

-Yeah.

-Well, that's £200, Lily. What are you going to do with that?

We're moving down to a bungalow, so it's going to help with expenses.

Yeah. And that haemorrhages money, doesn't it, moving?

-It is. It's hard work.

-A stressful time, as well.

-Yeah.

-Have a good drink, won't you?

-I will, love.

Someone else who's selling the family heirlooms is Carol here.

Now, these Staffordshire lions have been in the family...

-what, four, five generations?

-Yes. That's right. Yeah.

-Grandmother's...

-I've forgotten, was it wedding present?

-It was. Oh, yeah, it was.

-Why, why, why? Do you know,

-I would keep these even if they were in the wardrobe.

-I don't want them on display.

My children don't want them on display. My brother don't want them.

I think they're fun, but I'm a bit sort of...

I like my country pottery. I'm sort of stuck in the past.

I noticed when I was viewing the sale room yesterday, there's another pair.

-Yes.

-Did you see that?

-Yes, I have. Yeah.

-Not as good as our lot, though.

-Right.

-Not as good as our lot. Let's hope that we get that £150.

Lot number 62. Pair of 19th-century pottery lions.

Unusual how they're resting on those balls.

£200 for them.

For the pair.

100.

The bidding has started at 70.

£70. I'll take 75 elsewhere.

75 for the pair.

I'm struggling if I can't get 75 for these, help me out, somebody.

Any interest?

With me at 70 on the book. Have we finished?

Didn't sell.

-Right.

-They're going home. It's a good job we put a reserve on them.

-Yes.

-We've protected it.

-Right.

-They're worth £100 any day.

Well, we've got a Rolex watch for sale, but it's not mine, it's Henry's here.

-And it was made in Glasgow in 1920s, 1930s.

-Older than I thought, yes.

-Philip, £200-400 sounds cheap for a Rolex.

-Yeah.

-It's got a bit of style, hasn't it?

-Yeah. It's got a replacement strap. That's no problem.

No problem at all. Why are you flogging it if it works so well?

I don't think it's a very attractive watch to look at.

I know it's a Rolex and it looks nice.

-I've got another.

-Oh, right. OK. You like that style more?

-Yes.

-What does Philip wear? Philip needs a watch.

I can't afford a watch.

Lot number 275. The gentleman's Rolex silver-cased wristwatch.

Import mark for 1927. Another beauty.

-Lots of interest on the book.

-Good.

I'll start this one at £420. 420.

I'll take 440 elsewhere.

440 I'm looking for.

This one's going to sell.

Anybody fancy 440?

With me at 420. Hammer's dropping.

Brilliant. We've done it. At the top end. That's a good result.

-Thank you very much.

-£420.

What will you put that money towards?

I need a lot of repairs on my car so mostly go towards that.

-And then I've got a couple of great-grandsons, so give them a bob or two.

-What are their names?

-Jack and Billy.

-Jack and Billy. Well, give them our love, won't you?

-And get the car fixed.

-Thank you.

-Thanks very much.

Will we get Christine her money back for those Victorian lustres?

I don't think Philip thinks so. We're looking at £125 refund.

-But she's had the pleasure of owning them.

-50 to 80.

50 to 80 we've got on them.

We've got a full house here. I think we might just do it.

We're going to find out... find out right now.

This is it. Good luck, everybody. It's going under the hammer now.

Pair of Victorian-style mill glass table lustres with the crown tops.

Here they come. Lots of interest.

Lots of interest. See.

£130 is your start price for them.

-Well done.

-Anybody fancy 140 in the room?

-Brilliant.

-140 for them.

So with me on commission at 130.

No-one's putting their hands up, but it's on the books with commission.

With me at 130. Hammer's dropping.

Yes.

-Fantastic.

-You've done really well. Well done, you.

-Oh, that's lovely.

And I know what you're going to put the money towards. Tell us all. Come on.

I'm going to go to the Cotswolds for a long weekend with my husband, Alan.

And it will be nice spending money.

-Well done, you.

-And tour all the antique shops in Stow.

-We'll have a look. Yes.

-Yes.

This is a room with a secret.

In there, two men are mixing a secret recipe.

A recipe for what, do you think?

A recipe for snuff.

Well, I've left the hustle and the bustle of the auction room behind me

and I've come here to Wilsons and Co.

One of the last remaining independent snuff manufacturers left in the country.

The family run business here at Sharrow Mills, in the heart of Sheffield, has been producing snuff

from a secret recipe which dates back as far as 1737.

The original machinery used to grind the tobacco to make snuff still survives.

It's left as a testament to a bygone age.

Now, although snuff taking isn't as popular as it used to be,

one aspect of it still is very popular

and extremely collectable, and that's snuff boxes.

To tell us more about it is a familiar Flog It face

and a good friend of mine, James Lewis.

James, thank you for bringing a small part of your collection, cos I know it's massive, isn't it?

It is. I think I've got about 300-500, 400-600 altogether.

Something like that. I'm not sure exactly how many.

When did you start to collect snuff boxes?

When I was younger, I had a passion for wood, just like you.

And the problem is, when you're a schoolboy or just about to go to university,

you've got nowhere to put furniture.

If you're going to collect wood or treen or anything like that,

you have to collect small things. I thought what better than snuff boxes.

So, I had an interest back as a teenager,

but the passion for snuff boxes really came from one of my first ever visits that I made as an auctioneer.

I went to see a lady in a little tiny cottage and halfway through the valuation I heard this...

HE SNORTS

I turned round to see this lady with snuff dribbling down the nostrils, all over herself, and she went...

-"Want some, lad?"

-And did you?

-No. I didn't. I didn't.

Today, I probably would have, but back then, I was too shy and I said, "Oh, no, thank you."

And left her to it. But it started a strange fascination.

Gosh. Well, let's talk about some of the varieties and maybe pick on half a dozen.

OK. There are two types, really.

You get the pocket snuff, which always have a very tight- fitting cover, for obvious reasons.

And then you have the table snuff.

The table snuff is normally bigger and sometimes has a loose cover.

These three at the front here are all table snuff boxes

and they're by one of the most important snuff box makers of the early 18th century,

a chap called John Obrisset.

He was the son of a Huguenot silversmith and specialised in working in horn and tortoiseshell.

And he was snuff box maker to Queen Anne.

Oh, really. So that certainly is a name to look out for.

Yeah. Queen Anne herself was a snuff taker.

-Can we have a look at one of those?

-Yeah. And wonderful detail.

-That really is nice, isn't it?

You can hold that up to the light.

-Yeah.

-Look at that. You can see right through it and look at the detail.

Great quality. Just as we find today that smoking is really quite a controversial subject,

snuff taking itself was controversial throughout the ages.

And although Queen Anne was a snuff taker,

a hundred years earlier, King James, he despised it with a passion.

So if you were caught taking snuff in the presence of King James, you would end up in the Tower.

-Really?

-Yeah. Oh, he loathed it. Wherever he went, he would have messages sent forward,

"Do not take snuff, do not even indicate snuff in the presence of the King."

But in its heyday during the 18th century, snuff taking developed into an important social grace.

It remained popular well into the 20th century

and it was said you could tell a lot about a man's social status by the way he took his snuff.

Open the lid.

Take a pinch between the finger and thumb.

Hold it for a moment so the warmth of the finger will bring out the bouquet of the snuff,

so you get the benefit of the flavour and inhale it.

Close the snuff box.

And then, if you like, just a little flourish with your coloured handkerchief.

I'm not a snuff box snob.

I know a lot of these people say it's a silver gilt,

it's solid gold, it's this, it's that, it's encrusted with rubies.

And to be honest, that actually leaves me quite cold.

-You like the tactile items.

-Yeah.

-Working man's snuff box.

-Absolutely.

I've seen a few of those. That's like the poor man's pinch.

Yeah. Absolutely. Now, you generally call these Scottish snuffs.

-I'm pleased you said that.

-I can get away with it as a pure 100% Scot, so I can get away with it.

-The mean pinch.

-That's exactly what they called them. Mean pinch.

And they were made in brass and horn and treen.

The idea was that you would close the gap in the centre,

so when you take the pinch of snuff, you can't take too much. Bit of fun.

-Very eye-catching. I love the ram's horns.

-They're brilliant.

Classic Scottish ram's horn snuff moles, they were called.

With a lovely silver mount. That's quality all the way through?

Yeah. I think I've got about 30 of those altogether, and they come in different shapes and sizes.

Somebody has attached a silver watch chain to that so that they can carry it and put it over their arm,

because that one doubles as a snuff box on top, but also the end screws off and you can fill it with whisky.

That's a good idea, isn't it?

A lot of these are English and Continental.

Where else in the world were they made?

Well, they were made almost everywhere. The interesting thing is,

in China, they don't have snuff boxes, they have snuff bottles,

simply because a sign of status in China

was to have wonderful, long, decorative fingernails.

If you have long fingernails, you can't take snuff from a snuff box.

-You can't even...

-No. You have a little shovel and straight up.

Now you're talking about that, we're in the best location possible

to show this sort of thing, and this is obviously ground-down tobacco.

-Do you think we should try some?

-THEY LAUGH

-Didn't know you were a noseologist.

-Is that what it's known as?

Yeah. A snuff taker in the 18th century was known as a noseologist.

I don't fancy trying any of this stuff.

-Go on.

-No, we should try some fresh stuff when we get outside or we'll sneeze our heads off.

We're antique people. We should be trying the old stuff. Go on.

Oh, I don't rate that at all.

No.

Whatever you do, don't try that at home.

Back at the valuation day, Philip has sniffed out

something small and collectable, but it's not a snuff box.

-He's good, isn't he?

-Like circles.

-Yeah.

That's what I keep going round in. Roger, tell me about him, then.

Right. He belongs to a friend, who was given him when she was one.

-Yeah.

-And she's now 61.

So we can date it to about 1940s, perhaps earlier.

Perhaps earlier, because I think it wasn't new when she was given it.

-So perhaps somewhere between 1920s and '40s.

-I would think so. Yeah.

-Not played with much.

-No. She tends to keep things in boxes.

Yeah. What intrigues me is that she's kept this for 60 years.

Why sell it now? Why not sell it 20 years ago?

Nobody wants it in her family.

-Yeah.

-And she doesn't want it to end up in a skip.

-Quite right too.

-She loves him.

-Yeah. She loves him.

-Yes.

-So she loves him that much that she's going to do the Solomon trick

-and make sure that somebody else now enjoys him.

-Exactly.

-He's clearly tin plate.

-Yeah.

And what we call a gold plush teddy.

And I would think that he is probably German, certainly European, but probably German.

-Does she have any idea what he's worth?

-She hasn't a clue.

-I think...

-Is he a he? We'll call him a he. Does he have a name?

-She calls him Ted.

-Ted. That's original, isn't it?

-I think that Ted will make £50-80 at auction.

-Lovely.

And I think we'll put a reserve on Ted at £45. How's that?

-That's magic.

-Do you think she'll be pleased?

-Very pleased.

-Shall we just send him on his merry way again?

-Lovely.

I like to see him go.

He seems to have a slightly concerned look on his face.

The thing is, he's not going anywhere, that's the problem.

Jackie, have you been on holiday to lots and lots of different places or did you get these somewhere else?

I got them from my grandad.

Right. Was he an avid collector of these things?

-Yes. I've got a lot more at home.

-Oh, my word.

-Are they something you like?

-Yes, but they're just in a box in the attic.

-Not doing very much.

-Not doing very much at all.

-Did your grandfather tell you anything about them?

-No.

-No?

-Don't remember anything.

Basically, they fall under the term "crested china" and they are souvenirs for when you go on holiday.

They're produced in fairly large numbers and the first manufacturer was William Henry Goss.

This piece here was the only bit by him, but it's a good illustrative piece.

He developed this very fine parian body which was perfect

for slipcasting into all sorts of designs, and we've got the Goss mark on the bottom, which is a falcon,

cos he was working at the Falcon studios in Stoke,

from about 1862 up to 1934, when he was bought out,

but these other pieces are contemporary with him by his competitors.

So we've got, here, this fantastic ambulance which is by Savoy China,

and that, I would think, with the red cross on it, would be something made during the First World War.

So it would be quite a patriotic thing to buy this, and, possibly,

-some of the proceeds would have gone to our boys in the Front.

-Oh, I see.

-Similar thing with this shell.

What's tremendous fun and probably the most sought out

of all of these is this little ship, and we've got on it Wembley, April 1924,

so that was made for the Wembley Exhibition.

And it's actually marked Wembley China,

with the appropriate mark underneath.

I have to say, Goss has done a bit of a rollercoaster as far as values have gone.

In the early '80s, late '80s, it was really sought after, and individual pieces were making a fortune.

Now it's all settled back down again.

-Any idea of what they might be worth as a group?

-I have none at all.

-Not any idea.

-No.

Just come down through the family.

And it's just something that you've inherited, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-If these pieces were by Goss, they would be a lot more valuable than they are.

-Yeah.

So I think the thing to do is put all these together in one lot,

cos a couple of them have got chips and cracks,

and these really more commonplace pieces are worth £2 each.

I see.

Really, I think we'd be looking at auction between £50 and £80 for them,

as they are, and you never know, if one collector desperately wants a Wembley battleship,

they might pay a little bit more, so if you're happy, we can put these in to the auction with a £50 reserve,

so they won't go for any less, and see how they go.

Yeah. Yes. That's fine by me.

That's splendid. Thank you so much for bringing them along.

You're welcome. Just glad to get rid of them.

-Hi. Hello.

-Hello.

-What's your name?

-Christine.

-Can I ask you, Christine, you're clutching that purse...

-I am, aren't I?

-..what have you brought along for our valuers to look at today?

-I'm a big fan of Flog It!

-Yeah.

-I'm also a collector.

-Right. Of what?

-Salt and peppers.

-Oh, are you?

-Salt and pepper shakers. Cruets.

-Cruets. Yeah.

Yeah. And I bought this one recently.

-I'm never going to sell it. It's not for sale today.

-In auction?

-Yes. On eBay, actually.

-OK.

-I thought you might like to see this one.

-Oh, go on, then.

Oh, yes. Oh, look at that.

I'm sure our experts would like to see that one as well.

-It's a little gavel.

-The ends untwist.

And that's the salt and pepper.

-Oh, look at that. So you put the salt in there.

-Yeah.

And pepper in there.

-That is a cruet for an auctioneer, isn't it, if there ever was one?

-It feels nice.

-Can I have a hold?

You can. Go on, since it's you.

Oh, look at that. How much did you pay for this?

-A fiver.

-It was a steal!

-Post included.

-You're joking.

-No, I'm not.

Thanks for bringing it, and I'm sure if you ever put it into auction, all our experts would bid on that.

So, Barry, enjoy a drink?

-Oh, yeah.

-Oh, yeah.

-Oh, yeah.

What...port, sherry AND claret?

All in one glass, yeah.

Ruddy hell.

-Where'd you get these from?

-Car-boot sale.

Car-boot sale? How much did you pay for them?

-£6.

-You're a man of generosity, aren't you?

-Yeah.

He wanted eight, actually, but...

-And you beat him down?

-Yes, aye.

-How'd you do that?

-That's the Yorkshire man in me.

Do you have Horlicks to make you sleep at night?

-Like that advert.

-Don't need it.

-You don't need it?

I've a wife.

Did you buy them because you thought they were cheap or because they were nice?

-I liked them.

-You liked them?

-Yeah.

Plus, I knew they were a give-away at £6.

Well, they were at eight as well. Where do you think they were made?

I'd imagine Staffordshire.

I think so. There's something written on the back of this one

that could well be Copeland.

-They're certainly English. What date do you reckon?

-1850s?

Spot on. Absolutely spot on, and I think they're great.

They would have been used... probably in a wine merchants.

Possibly even in a big country house, in the wine cellar.

They would have been hanging on the barrels.

And you can just see the remains here, and it is very, very faded.

It would have had... who the shipper was, the year,

which vineyard it came from.

And these would have been annexed to each barrel.

And I think they're really, really collectable. I think...

-that we can put £40-£60 estimate on them all day long.

-Yeah.

I think we can reserve them at £30.

-I think that's a real come-buy-me estimate.

-It should be.

It's a real come-buy-me estimate. And if you have a bit of luck,

they might just go and make £100.

-Yeah, yeah.

-So you'd be pleased with that?

Definitely, yeah. I've a wife and eight kids, so I need some money.

-Eight?!

-Aye.

-Don't need to ask what your hobby is, then.

I tell you one thing... don't you get home and get confused

-as to what the difference between port, sherry and claret is?

-No.

Janet, you've made my day bringing this little fellow in.

-Oh, good.

-Can you tell me where you got him from?

It was brought to us at the church we attend.

People bring us things to sell at bric-a-brac sales, coffee mornings,

and we're never sure what we're going to find when we open the box.

This particular box arrived, and I was sorting it out, and this little fellow appeared.

Good Lord.

So it was actually given to us.

-That's marvellous. And it'll be sold on behalf of the church.

-Correct.

That's super. What a generous gift. I wonder if the giver knew how generous they were being.

I don't think so, and considering how it was in the bottom of the box,

there was all sorts of jewellery and broken toys and all sorts of things.

And that was just amongst them.

Well, they could be forgiven, because it's only a little silver pincushion,

and these things shouldn't be worth a great deal of money.

-The animals that you get in pincushions, they started to be produced about 1895, 1900.

-Yeah.

And Boots, would you believe it, produced them?

-Really.

-Year on year.

And they would introduce a different animal or two different animals every year to the standard line.

Some are very common.

You see chicks.

You see pigs in different poses.

You see elephants.

You occasionally see hedgehogs, and they're the more standard patterns that were produced year on year.

There are rarer ones.

The rarest, I think, is the lizard, the spider, the lion.

And they're very sought after, but not far behind them is the camel.

Now, of course, you get two varieties of camel.

You get a standing camel and a seated camel, and, of the two, the seated camel is rarer.

-Really.

-So that's a lovely feature.

Now, it should be by one of the big makers, Levi & Salaman of Birmingham.

They produced a multitude of these small pincushions and other small work.

We've got the Birmingham town mark and the date letter for 1903.

So, that's absolutely right.

The only thing to hold against it is the cushion itself.

-Right.

-Cos that is not original.

But they do perish when they've been used. Pins in and out.

So that's understandable. The rest of it's in super condition.

There are no splits or little solder repairs.

-Often with these pincushions, the necks go.

-I see.

Cos they're given to overzealous children at the time,

and of course they play with them, and this sort of thing happens,

but that's quite a rare one and it will be sought after at auction.

So, it's being sold for the church funds. Let's see how well we can do.

I think we should put that in to auction for no less than £250-350.

We should have a fixed reserve of 250,

and, as I say, if two pincushion collectors haven't got the seated camel,

it could make much more than that, so we'll have to keep our fingers crossed.

-If you're happy, we'll do that.

-I certainly am happy.

-Splendid.

Pop it into the auction and hope it does really well.

-Thank you so much.

-That's wonderful. I'm glad I've made your day. You've made my day.

Anybody's silver makes my day, but a pincushion doubly so.

Another selection of items fit for the saleroom.

Someone's got to fall in love with this little chap. He's a real bit of fun.

At £50-80, this selection of crested china is a collector's dream.

With a wife and eight kids to support,

let's hope Barry makes the top end of the estimate with his wine cellar labels.

Finally, it's said all good things come in small packages,

and that's certainly true of Janet's camel pincushion.

What a gorgeous little thing.

Right, we're scooting along nicely, which brings us to Ted the teddy bear on the scooter.

-It belongs to Roger and hopefully for not much longer.

-Hopefully not.

Not with a sort of a £60 valuation.

Well, I think we put 60 to 80 on it, with a reserve of 45.

-That's going to sell, easily.

-Should do.

It's not going to be Roger's for much longer, that's for sure.

It still works. That's the beauty of it, and I love it.

-Good tin-plate toy.

-It's lovely. Yes.

-Why are you selling this now?

It actually belongs to a lady I know, who's decluttering.

She's getting rid of stuff, so she wants to get rid of it

-rather than it be thrown away at some point in the future.

-Yes.

-Exactly. Yes.

-He wants to be loved.

-Yeah, and that's what happens, isn't it?

-I think Ted will find a new home today.

-And be loved.

-And be loved.

-She would like that, I know, very much.

-What's her name?

-Angela. Angela Holland.

-Angela. Well, best of luck. Fingers crossed.

Little Ted's going under the hammer right now.

385. Mid-20th century clockwork scooter teddy.

Must start the bidding here at £35.

38. 40. 2. Looking for 45. 48.

50. 5. 60. 5. 70. 5.

80. 5. 90. 85 seated. Anybody else want to join in?

All done at 85.

Hammer's dropping at £85.

-Yes! £85!

-Ted's pedalled off.

-Little Ted did the business, didn't he?

-He did the business.

Oh, that's a great result, isn't it?

-It's magic. It's superb.

-He was quality, though.

-He was.

-He was quality.

-He was also fun.

He was fun, yeah. Puts a smile on your face.

Hope we put a smile on your face, as well, watching.

There's lots more in the attic and this is just the start for Jackie.

Those Goss collections. How many more are in that attic?

About 50 pieces, probably. Yeah.

So, if we get a good result today, you can get the rest out.

-Yeah. Yeah.

-What are they doing up in the attic?

-They've been sat in a box since they were handed down from my grandad.

-You haven't put them on display?

-No. Not at all.

-Don't really like them?

I like them, but I haven't got room for them and I think somebody else who collects it should benefit.

There's a couple of nice ones. The little ship and the lorry. They peaked, didn't they?

They had a high in the sort of late '80s and they've petered out.

Hopefully, with such interesting models, some Goss collector would leap out and say...

"I haven't got the leopards, I haven't got the car, I've got to have that one."

A huge amount of crested china.

Goss and other items included.

The bidding has started at £65.

-That's good. We've sold them.

-70 I'm looking for in the room.

70. 5. 80. I'm out.

-Anybody else for 85?

-Come on. Come on.

-It's a standing bid.

All done at 80? All done at 80?

He's going to put the hammer down.

-We'll settle for that. Top end. £80.

-Pleased with that.

-Happy?

-Yes.

We could be in for a little surprise now.

Just been joined by Barry. I have Philip, our valuer.

£40-£60 on these five wine labels...

-which you picked up for, how much? Remind us all.

-£6.

£6 for the lot.

-A poorly octopus...£6.

-I think... Yes. I think, you know...

we could do £150, if there's two buyers that like these right now.

I think if you get two people who are interested in, sort of, wine memorabilia and the like,

-I think... Let's just hope we have some spirited bidding.

-Yes.

And I think each little label could be worth £30-£40 each.

-So, add that up...

-400.

-Ching, ching.

-I think they'll do £100.

-Hopefully, hopefully.

There's a good crowd here, a good crowd of people here.

-So they'll make what they're worth.

-Yup. I'm hoping for 150.

-You know what Philip wants, let's find out.

-We know what I want.

Yeah, more the better.

Let's find out what this lot want. We've got a packed auction room.

Let's see some hands go up in the air.

Three earthenware wine cellar labels,

together with two circular numbered bin discs.

Some nice 19th-century pottery.

Other people like them,

-there's lots of interest on the commissions.

-Great.

-I'm forced to start them at 140.

-Oh!

-Get in there.

I'll take 150, from somebody in the room. 150, is it?

-Come on.

-With me at 140, 150.

I'm out. Looking for 160?

150 at the top. Still cheap.

Finally, at 150. Have we finished?

Yes, hammer's gone down. £150.

-You were right.

-Well, you've got...

great eyes for spotting a bargain at a car-boot sale.

I went to Specsavers.

-Janet, it's great to see you, and you look fantastic.

-Thank you.

-Michael.

-Yes.

-You love this.

I love it. A lot of pincushion collectors love it.

A little silver camel. 250 to 350.

The auctioneer rated this. I had a chat to him, and we both thought,

"So unusual, you see lots of pigs, lots of hedgehogs, all sorts of animals..."

You see a lot of camels, but you don't see a kneeling camel. That's the key thing.

-All the money's going towards the church restoration, isn't it?

-That's correct.

-Fingers crossed.

A good lot, this one.

Other people like it.

The commission's forcing me to start this lot off at £420.

-Oh.

-Bang. Straight in.

430 I'm looking for elsewhere.

430 is it? 430 is it?

-With me at 420.

-Oh, come on. Come on.

-Get your bids in quick.

Bid now or lose him.

-Not bad at all.

-I can't believe it!

-The top end of the estimate.

Fantastic. £420.

-I'm so pleased for you, and it's going to a good cause as well.

-Yes.

It is. Yeah. I couldn't believe when you said 250 to 350, but 420 is fabulous. I'm thrilled to bits.

-Oh, and name-check the church again.

-Hillsborough Tabernacle.

It's obviously in Hillsborough.

Hillsborough Tabernacle Congregational Church,

and we've got a big restoration programme,

and one of the things we want is a lift to meet the Disability Act.

-Right, OK.

-So that's, you know...

-Money's going towards that.

-Yeah.

-So it's really for a good cause.

-Thank you so much for coming in.

We've had a great time here in Sheffield, haven't we?

-We have.

-I hope you've enjoyed watching the show. Join us again for more Flog Its coming up soon.