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Today, Flog It has come to St Albans, | 0:00:32 | 0:00:34 | |
a city rich in cultural heritage, with Roman ruins, | 0:00:34 | 0:00:38 | |
a magnificent medieval cathedral | 0:00:38 | 0:00:40 | |
and lots of fascinating buildings and architecture. | 0:00:40 | 0:00:45 | |
We're standing outside the superb 19th century town hall | 0:00:45 | 0:00:48 | |
which has recently undergone a total refurbishment and facelift. | 0:00:48 | 0:00:51 | |
The iconic frontage certainly does look the part | 0:00:51 | 0:00:54 | |
with the splendid portico entrance | 0:00:54 | 0:00:56 | |
and the wonderful ionic columns above it, | 0:00:56 | 0:00:59 | |
but it looks even better | 0:00:59 | 0:01:00 | |
with this massive great big Flog It! queue standing outside in front. | 0:01:00 | 0:01:04 | |
Who knows what treasures we'll find in all those bags and boxes? | 0:01:04 | 0:01:08 | |
Well, it's time to get everyone inside the town hall, | 0:01:08 | 0:01:11 | |
which used to double as a courthouse | 0:01:11 | 0:01:13 | |
and still retains the old courtroom... | 0:01:13 | 0:01:16 | |
Which is really handy because today on trial | 0:01:17 | 0:01:20 | |
will be the valuation skills of our two experts, | 0:01:20 | 0:01:24 | |
Kate Bliss and Mark Stacey, who swear the tell the truth, | 0:01:24 | 0:01:28 | |
the whole truth and nothing but the truth. | 0:01:28 | 0:01:30 | |
Judging by the numbers packed into the hall, | 0:01:30 | 0:01:33 | |
they've got a lot of evidence to sift through. | 0:01:33 | 0:01:36 | |
First into the dock is Margaret, who has called up an unusually exhibit. | 0:01:36 | 0:01:41 | |
-Margaret, hello. -Hello, Mark. | 0:01:41 | 0:01:43 | |
Here we are in the middle of Hertfordshire, | 0:01:43 | 0:01:46 | |
and we're looking at a lovely pair of items that have come | 0:01:46 | 0:01:49 | |
from far, far away from here, far more eastern. | 0:01:49 | 0:01:52 | |
They're Russian, of course. Now, where did they come from? | 0:01:52 | 0:01:55 | |
They came from my father's side of the family. | 0:01:55 | 0:01:59 | |
They came through... He was known as Uncle Sam, and he was | 0:01:59 | 0:02:03 | |
my grandmother's uncle and he had businesses in Moscow. | 0:02:03 | 0:02:09 | |
Whenever he came home, | 0:02:09 | 0:02:10 | |
he always brought presents and things from there. | 0:02:10 | 0:02:13 | |
When I was growing up, | 0:02:13 | 0:02:14 | |
-they were always on the sideboard with salt in them. -Of course. | 0:02:14 | 0:02:17 | |
And they are salt cellars. And it wasn't until I was nearly a teenager | 0:02:17 | 0:02:22 | |
my mother was told if we kept salt in them, it would corrode them. | 0:02:22 | 0:02:28 | |
So she packed them away and that was it. | 0:02:28 | 0:02:31 | |
They're gorgeous but they're very small, so it's not easy | 0:02:31 | 0:02:34 | |
to display them so we can enjoy them. | 0:02:34 | 0:02:36 | |
I think with objects like this, when they're so, so beautiful | 0:02:36 | 0:02:40 | |
and such beautiful workmanship, they really do deserve | 0:02:40 | 0:02:44 | |
to be in a collection with other pieces like it. | 0:02:44 | 0:02:47 | |
If we have a little look at this one, what we've actually got is | 0:02:47 | 0:02:51 | |
a Russian kovsh shape, K-O-V-S-H, | 0:02:51 | 0:02:55 | |
that's an old, antique Russian drinking vessel. | 0:02:55 | 0:03:00 | |
And it refers to their shape. | 0:03:00 | 0:03:03 | |
We've got silver bases and then a champ-leve enamel, | 0:03:03 | 0:03:07 | |
all this wonderful enamel all over them. | 0:03:07 | 0:03:10 | |
It's even shaded it in various colours. | 0:03:10 | 0:03:13 | |
Underneath, we've got the Russian mark for 1890 to 1917, | 0:03:13 | 0:03:17 | |
so they're pre-Revolution. | 0:03:17 | 0:03:20 | |
Also, if that wasn't charming enough, | 0:03:20 | 0:03:22 | |
we've got these lovely little spoons that go with them. | 0:03:22 | 0:03:25 | |
-They're gorgeous. -Aren't they divine? They are lovely pieces. | 0:03:25 | 0:03:29 | |
You're quite right also about not keeping salt in them. | 0:03:29 | 0:03:32 | |
This is why often interiors like this | 0:03:32 | 0:03:35 | |
are gilded or have a glass liner. | 0:03:35 | 0:03:37 | |
-Would they have been gilded or had a glass liner? -No, I don't think so. | 0:03:37 | 0:03:41 | |
I think, even if they had been gilded and they'd been rubbed, | 0:03:41 | 0:03:44 | |
there would have been traces of it. | 0:03:44 | 0:03:46 | |
-Right. -Having said that, they're lovely objects, | 0:03:46 | 0:03:49 | |
and the Russian market is quite hot at the moment, | 0:03:49 | 0:03:52 | |
which is a good thing. | 0:03:52 | 0:03:53 | |
I think we should put them in with a sensible estimate of £400 - £600 | 0:03:53 | 0:03:58 | |
with a £400 fixed reserve, so we don't sell them for a penny under. | 0:03:58 | 0:04:04 | |
-Right. -I'm hoping that there'll be two or three Russians | 0:04:04 | 0:04:07 | |
who discover them through the internet. | 0:04:07 | 0:04:10 | |
But there are specialist dealers as well. | 0:04:10 | 0:04:12 | |
But I suppose from our point of view, | 0:04:12 | 0:04:14 | |
what we want is somebody to want them. | 0:04:14 | 0:04:16 | |
That's right! As I say I grew up with them on the sideboard, | 0:04:16 | 0:04:19 | |
and we all enjoyed them as a family. | 0:04:19 | 0:04:21 | |
That's a nice memory. | 0:04:21 | 0:04:23 | |
-It is. And I think there'll be a lot of interest at the sale. -Good. | 0:04:23 | 0:04:28 | |
Angela, we have the odd sampler that comes to Flog It!, | 0:04:35 | 0:04:38 | |
but I have to say I haven't seen one as detailed as this for a long time. | 0:04:38 | 0:04:42 | |
Is needlework something that you're interested in? | 0:04:42 | 0:04:45 | |
It is, although I can't do anything this good. | 0:04:45 | 0:04:47 | |
Yes, I do a bit of dressmaking and that sort of thing. | 0:04:47 | 0:04:52 | |
Where did this particular sampler come from? | 0:04:52 | 0:04:55 | |
I joined a yoga class and I mentioned that I had been | 0:04:55 | 0:04:57 | |
looking for a sampler, and a woman in my class said she had a couple, | 0:04:57 | 0:05:01 | |
so I went to her house to have a look. | 0:05:01 | 0:05:03 | |
And I bought one, which is a bit older than this, | 0:05:03 | 0:05:06 | |
and I'm keeping that one because I really like that one. | 0:05:06 | 0:05:09 | |
I went away without this one, got home and thought, "Well, | 0:05:09 | 0:05:12 | |
"the work's so fine, maybe I should buy the other one as well." | 0:05:12 | 0:05:16 | |
So I went back the following week and bought this one. | 0:05:16 | 0:05:20 | |
Right. So how long ago was that? | 0:05:20 | 0:05:21 | |
About six months ago. | 0:05:21 | 0:05:23 | |
-OK. So fairly recently. -Yes. | 0:05:23 | 0:05:25 | |
-So why have you brought it along today? Do you want to sell it? -I do. | 0:05:25 | 0:05:28 | |
As you can see, it's a hunting scene, and that rankles with me a bit. | 0:05:28 | 0:05:34 | |
That's why I want to sell it. | 0:05:34 | 0:05:36 | |
-It's the subject, really. -Yes. -I think it's super. | 0:05:36 | 0:05:38 | |
We've obviously gentlemen shooting, | 0:05:38 | 0:05:42 | |
they could be a flock of ducks or geese they're shooting at. | 0:05:42 | 0:05:45 | |
And we've got the dogs here collecting the birds | 0:05:45 | 0:05:48 | |
down the bottom here. | 0:05:48 | 0:05:49 | |
And the landscape and the subject is worked in so much detail, isn't it? | 0:05:49 | 0:05:54 | |
-Yes, yes. -It's silk work of course rather than wool work, | 0:05:54 | 0:05:58 | |
so you get that much finer stitch, | 0:05:58 | 0:06:00 | |
and, of course, the moth loves silk work. | 0:06:00 | 0:06:02 | |
But this appears to have escaped the moth's munching for now. | 0:06:02 | 0:06:06 | |
-It does. -But I have to say, unfortunately, the downside | 0:06:06 | 0:06:10 | |
of it is that the colours have faded hugely, haven't they? | 0:06:10 | 0:06:13 | |
Yes, they have. I can imagine it was quite vibrant when it was first done. | 0:06:13 | 0:06:17 | |
Yes, exactly, particularly the landscape | 0:06:17 | 0:06:19 | |
has gone very dull brown and green. | 0:06:19 | 0:06:21 | |
I think this would have been vivid greens and blues, perhaps even red | 0:06:21 | 0:06:25 | |
here that you can see on the gentlemen's jacket. | 0:06:25 | 0:06:28 | |
And you can see we've got some water damage here as well, | 0:06:28 | 0:06:32 | |
where the colours have just bleached out onto the canvas. | 0:06:32 | 0:06:35 | |
But perhaps the most significant point is that it's signed, | 0:06:35 | 0:06:41 | |
-"Martha Wheeler's work, aged 13." -I know. It's incredible, isn't it? | 0:06:41 | 0:06:45 | |
Isn't it just? When you step back and think about that, | 0:06:45 | 0:06:49 | |
a 13-year-old girl working that. That's what I like about it. | 0:06:49 | 0:06:52 | |
Not only do you have this work of art, | 0:06:52 | 0:06:55 | |
but you have a little glimpse into social history. | 0:06:55 | 0:06:58 | |
Who was Martha Wheeler and where did she live? | 0:06:58 | 0:07:01 | |
What was she doing when she did this? | 0:07:01 | 0:07:03 | |
So what about value, Angela? | 0:07:03 | 0:07:05 | |
Let me ask you, if I dare, how much did you pay for it? | 0:07:05 | 0:07:08 | |
I paid £120. | 0:07:08 | 0:07:10 | |
OK. If it was in what I call good condition and the colours | 0:07:10 | 0:07:13 | |
were fairly vibrant, I would say you would certainly be talking | 0:07:13 | 0:07:16 | |
about several hundred pounds. | 0:07:16 | 0:07:18 | |
-Right. -In this condition, I'm going to be a bit mean and say at auction | 0:07:18 | 0:07:23 | |
probably anything from £50 to £100. | 0:07:23 | 0:07:25 | |
I'd hope on a good day you might get your money back, but I'm gonna be | 0:07:25 | 0:07:29 | |
a little bit cautious because the colours are very, very dulled. | 0:07:29 | 0:07:34 | |
But would you be happy with that? | 0:07:34 | 0:07:36 | |
Yes, I'd like to give it a try. | 0:07:36 | 0:07:38 | |
-You're not keen on this shooting, are you? -No! | 0:07:38 | 0:07:42 | |
Maybe if we can get you a good price, you can buy you another one. | 0:07:42 | 0:07:45 | |
-That's what I was thinking, yeah. -Well, we'll do our best for you. | 0:07:45 | 0:07:49 | |
OK. Lovely. Thank you. | 0:07:49 | 0:07:50 | |
Bill, you've watched Flog It! many times, haven't you? | 0:07:58 | 0:08:01 | |
Yes, many a time. | 0:08:01 | 0:08:02 | |
And I can see straight away you're a fan of Flog It! | 0:08:02 | 0:08:06 | |
You've brought in William De Morgan tiles. | 0:08:06 | 0:08:08 | |
I have done quite a few William De Morgan tiles before, | 0:08:08 | 0:08:11 | |
but they've been more of the classical iconic ones | 0:08:11 | 0:08:14 | |
you'd expect De Morgan to have, with the mythical beasts, | 0:08:14 | 0:08:17 | |
the dragons, the Viking boats with the slight red lustre to them. | 0:08:17 | 0:08:21 | |
But these are quite unusual, | 0:08:21 | 0:08:22 | |
and they are so typical of the Arts and Crafts movement. | 0:08:22 | 0:08:25 | |
So tell me the story. How did you come across them? | 0:08:25 | 0:08:29 | |
They were found under a floor in an empty house. | 0:08:29 | 0:08:33 | |
-In an empty house? -Yes. I was working on it as a builder. | 0:08:33 | 0:08:35 | |
We had to clear out the floor space. | 0:08:35 | 0:08:38 | |
Great. So you're a builder | 0:08:38 | 0:08:40 | |
-and you were in the right place at the right time? -Yes. 40 years ago. | 0:08:40 | 0:08:44 | |
-What have you done with them? -They've been in coffee tables. | 0:08:44 | 0:08:47 | |
You built a coffee table and set them in it in a panel? | 0:08:47 | 0:08:51 | |
-More than one coffee table. -More than one? What, three...? | 0:08:51 | 0:08:54 | |
We just changed coffee table styles. | 0:08:54 | 0:08:57 | |
So where is your coffee table now? | 0:08:57 | 0:09:00 | |
Gone, gone. We finally bought one. | 0:09:00 | 0:09:02 | |
You actually bought... | 0:09:02 | 0:09:04 | |
Oh, I like the DIY ones best. | 0:09:04 | 0:09:06 | |
Let's have a look at the back. Yes, look, there you go. | 0:09:06 | 0:09:09 | |
You can just see it, "Merton Abbey". | 0:09:09 | 0:09:12 | |
And we're looking at about 1892 to 1897. | 0:09:12 | 0:09:16 | |
And William De Morgan, | 0:09:16 | 0:09:18 | |
the godfather of the Arts and Crafts movement | 0:09:18 | 0:09:21 | |
along with William Morris, really. | 0:09:21 | 0:09:23 | |
And you're going to see this design on a lot of fabrics as well. | 0:09:23 | 0:09:26 | |
This one, sadly... Did you find it like this? | 0:09:26 | 0:09:29 | |
-No, it broke some years ago. In your coffee table days? -Yes, probably. | 0:09:29 | 0:09:33 | |
Interestingly enough, you can just make out the DM - De Morgan. | 0:09:33 | 0:09:39 | |
I think they're absolutely divine, I really do. | 0:09:39 | 0:09:43 | |
Have you any idea of their value? | 0:09:43 | 0:09:46 | |
No, not really, only having seen your programmes recently. | 0:09:46 | 0:09:50 | |
As I said earlier, not the iconic William De Morgan tile | 0:09:50 | 0:09:54 | |
that everybody is fighting for. | 0:09:54 | 0:09:56 | |
-That's right. -But nevertheless they have their virtues. | 0:09:56 | 0:09:59 | |
I can see this one being restored | 0:09:59 | 0:10:01 | |
and it will make quite a nice panel, won't it? | 0:10:01 | 0:10:05 | |
They're lovely, they really are lovely. | 0:10:05 | 0:10:07 | |
A little bit of arts and crafts history. | 0:10:07 | 0:10:10 | |
And I think, safely, we could put them into auction with a value | 0:10:10 | 0:10:15 | |
of £200 - £300 for the set. | 0:10:15 | 0:10:18 | |
-Lovely. Yeah. -So, shall we flog them? | 0:10:18 | 0:10:21 | |
-Yes, certainly. -Why do you want to flog them? | 0:10:21 | 0:10:23 | |
We need a new patio out the back. I'm doing it myself, so... | 0:10:23 | 0:10:27 | |
Of course you are! | 0:10:27 | 0:10:29 | |
-You see, you've got all the practical skills. -That's right. | 0:10:29 | 0:10:32 | |
Lynn and Elizabeth, you're best friends, aren't you? | 0:10:40 | 0:10:43 | |
We've been friends for a very long. | 0:10:43 | 0:10:46 | |
-How long? -Since we were 16. | 0:10:46 | 0:10:49 | |
When we were at school. | 0:10:49 | 0:10:50 | |
So you know each other's tastes very well, I should imagine? | 0:10:50 | 0:10:54 | |
Sort of, yes, we do. | 0:10:54 | 0:10:56 | |
Who does this beautiful vase belong to? | 0:10:56 | 0:10:59 | |
It actually belongs to my mother, who is a very old lady. | 0:10:59 | 0:11:02 | |
-She's going to be 94. -Is she really? | 0:11:02 | 0:11:05 | |
And it's always been in my parents' home, | 0:11:06 | 0:11:09 | |
but it wasn't given a specially prominent place. | 0:11:09 | 0:11:12 | |
Where did your mother keep it in the house? | 0:11:12 | 0:11:15 | |
-She kept it underneath the coffee table. -On the floor?! | 0:11:15 | 0:11:18 | |
I think it was on the floor, | 0:11:18 | 0:11:19 | |
you could see it when you sat on the sofa. | 0:11:19 | 0:11:22 | |
What can you tell me about it? Do you like it, first of all? | 0:11:22 | 0:11:26 | |
I think it's very pretty, | 0:11:26 | 0:11:28 | |
but it's not something I would have in my house, I don't think. | 0:11:28 | 0:11:32 | |
-It's very, very nice. -And do you know who manufactured it? | 0:11:32 | 0:11:36 | |
I know it's a Lalique, | 0:11:36 | 0:11:37 | |
and it's written on the back that it's Lalique. | 0:11:37 | 0:11:39 | |
OK. The name of the design - | 0:11:39 | 0:11:41 | |
and Lalique usually gave his pieces design names - is called Malherbe, | 0:11:41 | 0:11:46 | |
which in French I'm sure translates into this type of leaf. | 0:11:46 | 0:11:50 | |
And the geometrical pattern of it, the way the design | 0:11:50 | 0:11:54 | |
is integral to the vase, is typical of the natural forms | 0:11:54 | 0:11:58 | |
that are used in the 1920s and '30s. | 0:11:58 | 0:12:01 | |
And then we've got what's called blue patination. | 0:12:01 | 0:12:06 | |
So this is a staining put on top of the actual glass | 0:12:06 | 0:12:09 | |
to give it this lovely blue colour and tone. | 0:12:09 | 0:12:13 | |
-It looks much nicer since I gave it a good wash. -Does it? -Yes, it does. | 0:12:13 | 0:12:17 | |
Well, you have to be a bit careful about washing this too vigorously, | 0:12:17 | 0:12:22 | |
because this patination may come off, with too much scrubbing. | 0:12:22 | 0:12:26 | |
No, I was careful. | 0:12:26 | 0:12:27 | |
Let's have a little look at the mark on the bottom. | 0:12:27 | 0:12:31 | |
That told you it was Lalique. | 0:12:31 | 0:12:32 | |
We have a stencilled mark there. | 0:12:32 | 0:12:35 | |
R Lalique. | 0:12:35 | 0:12:37 | |
That also helps to us date it | 0:12:37 | 0:12:39 | |
because after 1945 when Lalique died, | 0:12:39 | 0:12:41 | |
all genuine pieces are just marked Lalique, | 0:12:41 | 0:12:44 | |
they don't have his initial R, | 0:12:44 | 0:12:46 | |
so we know this is pre-1945 just from that. | 0:12:46 | 0:12:48 | |
And we've a lovely little retailer's label here, made in France, | 0:12:48 | 0:12:53 | |
which is super, which is probably an original one or close to it. | 0:12:53 | 0:12:57 | |
-Amazing how that survived. -Isn't it just? From the '20s. | 0:12:57 | 0:13:01 | |
I think it's a super piece. I would love to own it myself, | 0:13:01 | 0:13:04 | |
and there are hundreds of people out there who would feel the same. | 0:13:04 | 0:13:08 | |
What about value, have you any idea? | 0:13:08 | 0:13:10 | |
I have no idea at all what it's worth. | 0:13:10 | 0:13:12 | |
What do you think, Elizabeth? | 0:13:12 | 0:13:14 | |
-£500 or so? -Well, I don't think you're far off at all. | 0:13:14 | 0:13:17 | |
I'm going to be slightly conservative, | 0:13:17 | 0:13:19 | |
although the market is very buoyant for this sort of thing. | 0:13:19 | 0:13:23 | |
I'm going to say £300 - £500 at auction. | 0:13:23 | 0:13:26 | |
But I wouldn't be surprised if we made the top estimate | 0:13:26 | 0:13:28 | |
and a little bit more. | 0:13:28 | 0:13:30 | |
I'd like you to have a nice surprise rather than a nasty one. | 0:13:30 | 0:13:33 | |
So if you're happy with that, | 0:13:33 | 0:13:34 | |
I think we ought to certainly set a reserve at the lower end | 0:13:34 | 0:13:38 | |
of the estimate, so the very minimum would be £300, | 0:13:38 | 0:13:41 | |
and we should be able to realise that very easily, I think. | 0:13:41 | 0:13:44 | |
-Right, right. -And will you be able to come to the auction? | 0:13:44 | 0:13:47 | |
I won't be able to come to the auction. I shall be in Costa Rica. | 0:13:47 | 0:13:50 | |
Will you? Lucky thing! | 0:13:50 | 0:13:52 | |
So my friend Elizabeth is going to come, | 0:13:52 | 0:13:54 | |
and she's quite used to auctions, aren't you? | 0:13:54 | 0:13:57 | |
Yes, I've been to a number of auctions. | 0:13:57 | 0:13:59 | |
So you know what happens. Great. | 0:13:59 | 0:14:01 | |
I'm sure Elizabeth and I will keep a very careful eye on it for you. | 0:14:01 | 0:14:05 | |
That'll be nice. | 0:14:05 | 0:14:06 | |
Well, what a variety of items we're seeing here today! | 0:14:10 | 0:14:14 | |
Right now, it's time for our first visit to the saleroom. | 0:14:14 | 0:14:17 | |
Let's put those valuations to the test. | 0:14:17 | 0:14:19 | |
These little Russian suits are exquisite, | 0:14:19 | 0:14:22 | |
such an unusual item is not going to go unnoticed. | 0:14:22 | 0:14:26 | |
Despite the fading, I still think the bidders will be prepared | 0:14:26 | 0:14:29 | |
to take a pop at Angela's little sampler. | 0:14:29 | 0:14:31 | |
And found under the floorboards, Bill's William De Morgan's tiles. | 0:14:31 | 0:14:35 | |
All we need to do now is find the right buyer. | 0:14:35 | 0:14:39 | |
I've got a feeling they'll be forming a long queue | 0:14:39 | 0:14:42 | |
for Lynn's lovely Lalique vase. | 0:14:42 | 0:14:44 | |
It's a real stunner. | 0:14:44 | 0:14:46 | |
For today's sale, we have come to Tring and our venue | 0:14:46 | 0:14:49 | |
is a Flog It! favourite, Tring Market Auctions. | 0:14:49 | 0:14:52 | |
We're in the experienced hands of local auctioneer, Stephen Hearn | 0:14:52 | 0:14:57 | |
who's been working this patch for well over 40 years. | 0:14:57 | 0:15:00 | |
Very nice, for £70. | 0:15:00 | 0:15:03 | |
I love this, this is one of my favourite lots. | 0:15:06 | 0:15:08 | |
I think it's special. Belongs to Angela. | 0:15:08 | 0:15:10 | |
Not for much longer with £50 to £100 riding on this as an estimate | 0:15:10 | 0:15:15 | |
-put on by Kate. -Oh. | 0:15:15 | 0:15:17 | |
Angela paid £120 for this about six months ago. | 0:15:17 | 0:15:21 | |
And I thought that was a fantastic buy. | 0:15:21 | 0:15:23 | |
It's quality, isn't it? An accomplished needlecraft there. | 0:15:23 | 0:15:28 | |
You'd be at the age of 13, if you took this up at the age of eight. | 0:15:28 | 0:15:31 | |
Is she portraying a memory of the autumn? A shooting party. | 0:15:31 | 0:15:36 | |
I think this is worth somewhere in the region to £300 to £400. | 0:15:36 | 0:15:41 | |
That's what I'd like to see that for sale for. | 0:15:41 | 0:15:44 | |
It would be nice to achieve £300 to £400. | 0:15:44 | 0:15:47 | |
I think probably the fading among the work | 0:15:47 | 0:15:50 | |
may hold it just under the £300. I hope I'm wrong. | 0:15:50 | 0:15:54 | |
You still think around £300? | 0:15:54 | 0:15:56 | |
I still think it could quite easily get around £300. | 0:15:56 | 0:16:00 | |
Well, all said and done, I think it's up to you | 0:16:00 | 0:16:03 | |
to weave your magic on the rostrum, don't you? | 0:16:03 | 0:16:06 | |
Oh dear, the magic. | 0:16:06 | 0:16:08 | |
Get the wand out. | 0:16:08 | 0:16:10 | |
I'm sure Stephan will be able to charm the bidders. | 0:16:10 | 0:16:13 | |
First under the hammer - something small that put a spell on Mark. | 0:16:13 | 0:16:18 | |
Russian salts that belong to Margaret. | 0:16:18 | 0:16:21 | |
We've got £400 to £600 put on these by our expert, Mark, | 0:16:21 | 0:16:24 | |
who has just joined us here. | 0:16:24 | 0:16:26 | |
I love that cross, did that come from the same place? | 0:16:26 | 0:16:30 | |
It did. | 0:16:30 | 0:16:31 | |
Spotted that? | 0:16:31 | 0:16:33 | |
Yes, it's lovely, isn't it? | 0:16:33 | 0:16:35 | |
Turquoise is associated with Russia as well. | 0:16:35 | 0:16:37 | |
The salts are fantastic quality. | 0:16:37 | 0:16:39 | |
Pre-Revolution, of course. And the Russian market is very strong. | 0:16:39 | 0:16:43 | |
So we should do very well with them. | 0:16:43 | 0:16:45 | |
They're going under the hammer. | 0:16:45 | 0:16:47 | |
Let's hope they find a good home with a collector. | 0:16:47 | 0:16:50 | |
Now we have the rather interesting Russian silver with enamel. | 0:16:50 | 0:16:54 | |
The table salts and the spoons, lot number 531. | 0:16:54 | 0:16:58 | |
I think we ought to be looking for £500 to £600 for them. | 0:16:58 | 0:17:01 | |
£300 for them. Yes, £300 is bid then. | 0:17:01 | 0:17:04 | |
£300, £320, £350 I'm bid on them. | 0:17:04 | 0:17:08 | |
£380, are you 400 now? At £380. | 0:17:08 | 0:17:13 | |
£400 bid, at £400, if there's no further bid. | 0:17:13 | 0:17:20 | |
At £400 then. | 0:17:20 | 0:17:22 | |
£400, we had a fixed reserve. | 0:17:22 | 0:17:25 | |
-Just got them away. -Yes, sold for £400. -That's OK. | 0:17:25 | 0:17:29 | |
-We've sold them, haven't we? -It's fine. | 0:17:29 | 0:17:31 | |
I'd have liked £500, actually, I'd have to say. | 0:17:31 | 0:17:35 | |
I just hope they've gone to a good home. | 0:17:35 | 0:17:37 | |
I think they will. The other thing with Russian things, | 0:17:37 | 0:17:40 | |
we all think of just a handful of names. One of them is Faberge. | 0:17:40 | 0:17:44 | |
And of course, if they were Faberge, we'd add another nought. | 0:17:44 | 0:17:48 | |
Exactly. Nevertheless, £400, what will you put that towards? | 0:17:48 | 0:17:53 | |
My youngest daughter has a dog, | 0:17:53 | 0:17:56 | |
and she'd to have a very expensive operation not so very long ago. | 0:17:56 | 0:18:00 | |
So we're going to put the money towards.... | 0:18:00 | 0:18:02 | |
Vet's fees. | 0:18:02 | 0:18:04 | |
-OK. -A good cause. -A very good cause. | 0:18:04 | 0:18:06 | |
We all love our doggies. | 0:18:06 | 0:18:08 | |
OK, it's Angela's needlework sampler. | 0:18:16 | 0:18:19 | |
-You look absolutely stunning. -Thank you. | 0:18:19 | 0:18:22 | |
You look like a woman who really appreciates and loves her textiles. | 0:18:22 | 0:18:25 | |
I really don't understand why you're selling this. | 0:18:25 | 0:18:28 | |
I know it's the hunting scene. | 0:18:28 | 0:18:30 | |
But it's so beautiful, I know you loved it. | 0:18:30 | 0:18:32 | |
We've got £50 to £100 on this. | 0:18:32 | 0:18:34 | |
You paid £120. You'll settle for £120, will you, quite easily? | 0:18:34 | 0:18:39 | |
-Yes. -I had a chat with the auctioneer before the sale | 0:18:39 | 0:18:42 | |
and we both thought you had a really good buy at £120. | 0:18:42 | 0:18:44 | |
-Do you think so? -Yes, I'd pay £120 any day of the week. | 0:18:44 | 0:18:48 | |
I know it's a bit faded but I just think so special. | 0:18:48 | 0:18:51 | |
It is, it's beautifully done. It's very faded though. | 0:18:51 | 0:18:54 | |
Just think what it would have been like when it was first done. | 0:18:54 | 0:18:57 | |
We should have kept it. But it's going under the hammer right now. | 0:18:57 | 0:19:01 | |
Isn't that a good needlework? | 0:19:01 | 0:19:02 | |
There it is. Typical of the period. | 0:19:02 | 0:19:06 | |
What about £150 for it? £100. | 0:19:06 | 0:19:08 | |
£50, £70, £80, are you 90, sir? | 0:19:08 | 0:19:12 | |
90 I'm bid. £90, 100 to bid. | 0:19:12 | 0:19:15 | |
110, I have, 120, are you 30? | 0:19:15 | 0:19:19 | |
140, 150, 160, | 0:19:19 | 0:19:22 | |
at 180, no. £170, | 0:19:22 | 0:19:25 | |
And 80 now? 80 is it, I'm selling, £170! | 0:19:25 | 0:19:30 | |
No further bid, it's down for £170. | 0:19:30 | 0:19:33 | |
Hammer's gone down. You're right, Kate. | 0:19:34 | 0:19:36 | |
A bit of damage put them off. | 0:19:36 | 0:19:38 | |
-Nevertheless, top end, and a bit more. Happy with that? -Yes. | 0:19:38 | 0:19:41 | |
Got your money back. | 0:19:41 | 0:19:42 | |
That's quite hard to do in auctions. | 0:19:42 | 0:19:44 | |
Even though you pay your commission on that, | 0:19:44 | 0:19:46 | |
you still got a bit more than what you paid for it. | 0:19:46 | 0:19:49 | |
It was a jolly good buy. | 0:19:49 | 0:19:51 | |
What are you going to do with it? | 0:19:51 | 0:19:53 | |
-With? -The money. | 0:19:53 | 0:19:54 | |
I'm going to put it towards another one, but with a picture I like more. | 0:19:54 | 0:19:59 | |
-No hunting scenes. -A garden scene, maybe. | 0:19:59 | 0:20:01 | |
-Because you're a gardener. -Yes. -Good luck. | 0:20:01 | 0:20:04 | |
It's my turn to be the expert and we've got something | 0:20:11 | 0:20:14 | |
for the serious collector, something for purists. | 0:20:14 | 0:20:16 | |
Three William De Morgan tiles. | 0:20:16 | 0:20:19 | |
Buy two, get one free. It is bust, but we can fix that anyway. | 0:20:19 | 0:20:24 | |
Great story. Found while working in an empty house, | 0:20:24 | 0:20:28 | |
they've been a coffee table! | 0:20:28 | 0:20:31 | |
-Long time, long time. -Sad moment? | 0:20:31 | 0:20:35 | |
Er... Yes and no, things change. Styles change. | 0:20:35 | 0:20:40 | |
You can't ever see yourself in a few years' time | 0:20:40 | 0:20:43 | |
going out and buying any more William De Morgan tiles? | 0:20:43 | 0:20:46 | |
No. I have actually gone purist, Shaker, | 0:20:46 | 0:20:50 | |
-mostly reproduction, I'm afraid. -I was gonna say, before you said that, | 0:20:50 | 0:20:54 | |
still following the same principles though. | 0:20:54 | 0:20:57 | |
Art made by man, not made by machine. | 0:20:57 | 0:21:00 | |
Then you go for the reproduction. So they are... | 0:21:00 | 0:21:03 | |
-What you're saying is the Shaker style... -In kit form from America. | 0:21:03 | 0:21:08 | |
Let you off. | 0:21:08 | 0:21:10 | |
Now these William De Morgan tiles. | 0:21:11 | 0:21:14 | |
Three of them, two and two halves. | 0:21:14 | 0:21:16 | |
How are we going on those? Are we going to say £250 for them? | 0:21:16 | 0:21:19 | |
£200 for them. What about £100, 110, £120, are you 30? | 0:21:19 | 0:21:25 | |
£140, 50, 160, Sir, thank you, 170, | 0:21:25 | 0:21:31 | |
180, are you 90? | 0:21:31 | 0:21:33 | |
200, 210, at 210 and you coming again, 220. | 0:21:33 | 0:21:41 | |
230? No, 220 and I'm going to sell them. | 0:21:41 | 0:21:46 | |
Gentleman has them at £220. | 0:21:47 | 0:21:51 | |
Sold. Short and sweet, really, | 0:21:51 | 0:21:52 | |
-but that's predicted, isn't it? Are you happy with that? -Yes. | 0:21:52 | 0:21:56 | |
I'm happy with that. It's settled. | 0:21:56 | 0:21:57 | |
That's a good price, really. | 0:21:57 | 0:21:59 | |
We've got Elizabeth, we've got Kate and we've got the Lalique vase. | 0:22:05 | 0:22:08 | |
Unfortunately, we don't have Lynn. | 0:22:08 | 0:22:11 | |
-She's in... -Costa Rica. | 0:22:11 | 0:22:13 | |
Lucky Lynn! | 0:22:13 | 0:22:16 | |
A place I'd love to go. | 0:22:16 | 0:22:17 | |
I love this bit of Lalique, and so does Kate. What do you think? | 0:22:17 | 0:22:21 | |
It's lovely, it's absolutely beautiful. | 0:22:21 | 0:22:24 | |
She's put the reserve up to £400 so hopefully we're going to get that. | 0:22:24 | 0:22:28 | |
I don't think that's out of the way. My £300 to £500 is conservative. | 0:22:28 | 0:22:32 | |
It's really to encourage the buyers. | 0:22:32 | 0:22:34 | |
But 400, bang in the middle. | 0:22:34 | 0:22:36 | |
Let's hope somebody today picks it up for £500 plus. | 0:22:36 | 0:22:42 | |
-Plus! -That will pay for the holiday in Costa Rica. | 0:22:42 | 0:22:45 | |
It's going under the hammer right now. | 0:22:45 | 0:22:47 | |
This is an interesting piece of glass, isn't it? | 0:22:47 | 0:22:50 | |
My word, there you are, a Lalique blue tinted. | 0:22:50 | 0:22:53 | |
I think we ought to be looking for £500, £300 are we...? | 0:22:53 | 0:22:59 | |
We're in. 300. | 0:22:59 | 0:23:01 | |
Are you 50? £350 bid for it. 380 bid for it, 400. | 0:23:01 | 0:23:05 | |
Another 20, £450, 480, | 0:23:05 | 0:23:09 | |
are you 500? 520, bid for it. 550. | 0:23:09 | 0:23:14 | |
I've got a new bidder at 550. | 0:23:14 | 0:23:16 | |
And 600 now for you. 600. | 0:23:16 | 0:23:20 | |
Perhaps 20, yes, 620, | 0:23:20 | 0:23:22 | |
just another one, 650, and 80 it is. | 0:23:24 | 0:23:27 | |
680, and 700... | 0:23:27 | 0:23:30 | |
Bit more. Come on, Liz. | 0:23:30 | 0:23:31 | |
Finished? 680? I shall sell it away from you at £680! | 0:23:31 | 0:23:37 | |
£680! | 0:23:37 | 0:23:40 | |
That was a good result! | 0:23:40 | 0:23:41 | |
-Fantastic. Who's going to get on the phone, then? -I will. | 0:23:41 | 0:23:45 | |
Did she take her mobile with her? | 0:23:45 | 0:23:48 | |
I don't know. She'll be back tomorrow evening. | 0:23:48 | 0:23:51 | |
-Will she?! -Belongs to her mother | 0:23:51 | 0:23:54 | |
and the money is going towards her mother's care. | 0:23:54 | 0:23:57 | |
Her mother is in her 90s, and has constant care. | 0:23:57 | 0:24:03 | |
The money's going to come in very useful. | 0:24:03 | 0:24:06 | |
It's quality, and quality always sells. | 0:24:06 | 0:24:09 | |
What a great result. That certainly got my heart pumping | 0:24:09 | 0:24:12 | |
and after that breathtaking excitement, | 0:24:12 | 0:24:15 | |
I could do with chilling out for a while. | 0:24:15 | 0:24:17 | |
And what better way to calm the nerves, recharge the batteries, | 0:24:17 | 0:24:21 | |
than to take time out at a health spa. | 0:24:21 | 0:24:23 | |
# You make me feel so young You make me feel so.... # | 0:24:28 | 0:24:32 | |
For decades people have been pummelled and half-starved | 0:24:32 | 0:24:36 | |
in these establishments, in the pursuit of health and beauty. | 0:24:36 | 0:24:40 | |
Nowadays, it's all about relaxing and pampering. | 0:24:40 | 0:24:43 | |
But in the early days the focus was on natural healing | 0:24:43 | 0:24:46 | |
and providing cures for a number of conditions | 0:24:46 | 0:24:49 | |
and it all started here at Champneys, just outside Tring. | 0:24:49 | 0:24:52 | |
And it's still a health spa today. | 0:24:52 | 0:24:55 | |
In 1929 a naturopath Stanley Leaf along with a grateful patient | 0:24:55 | 0:25:00 | |
purchased the mansion along with 170 acres of landscaped gardens | 0:25:00 | 0:25:04 | |
from Baron Rothschild, and set out turning it into a Mecca for those | 0:25:04 | 0:25:09 | |
that wanted something alternative than normal medicine, really. | 0:25:09 | 0:25:14 | |
And Stanley's idea was to promote treating the body as one. | 0:25:14 | 0:25:17 | |
Holistic health. Mind, body and spirit. | 0:25:17 | 0:25:22 | |
Stanley had been an obese child with a weak heart. | 0:25:22 | 0:25:25 | |
It was the desire to strengthen his body | 0:25:25 | 0:25:27 | |
that led him to seek natural cures. | 0:25:27 | 0:25:31 | |
An early incident in his life convinced him that they worked. | 0:25:31 | 0:25:35 | |
Stanley's arm was badly injured during the First World War | 0:25:35 | 0:25:38 | |
with shrapnel and he believed he avoided its amputation | 0:25:38 | 0:25:42 | |
and regained its use with a strict exercise and diet regime. | 0:25:42 | 0:25:47 | |
# Keep fit, take exercise | 0:25:47 | 0:25:48 | |
# Keep fit and you'll be wise | 0:25:48 | 0:25:50 | |
# That's it, grow twice your size | 0:25:50 | 0:25:53 | |
# Whatever you do keep fit... # | 0:25:53 | 0:25:55 | |
I'm here in the games room which is pretty much how it was back in the 1920s. Nothing much has changed. | 0:25:56 | 0:26:02 | |
Behind me there's a bronze bust of Stanley Leaf the man himself. | 0:26:02 | 0:26:06 | |
To find out more about him, I've come here to talk to Dennis Kylie... | 0:26:06 | 0:26:10 | |
Hi, Dennis | 0:26:10 | 0:26:11 | |
..who was trained by Stanley and worked here back in the 1950s. | 0:26:11 | 0:26:16 | |
Does it bring back many memories? | 0:26:16 | 0:26:17 | |
Yes it does, actually. | 0:26:17 | 0:26:19 | |
Obviously it's more modernised than when I was here 50 years ago. | 0:26:19 | 0:26:24 | |
But nevertheless it's good to bring back the nostalgia. | 0:26:24 | 0:26:27 | |
What was he like? Tell me a little bit about Stanley. | 0:26:27 | 0:26:30 | |
Obviously he was a pioneer. | 0:26:30 | 0:26:33 | |
I always thought a very nice gentleman. | 0:26:33 | 0:26:35 | |
He was a natural healer but he liked discipline | 0:26:35 | 0:26:39 | |
and he ran this place like a little rod of iron. | 0:26:39 | 0:26:42 | |
But he was a most approachable character. | 0:26:42 | 0:26:46 | |
Explain a little bit more about his treatments. | 0:26:46 | 0:26:49 | |
Well...um... | 0:26:49 | 0:26:50 | |
Basically naturopathy or nature cure is wholeness. | 0:26:50 | 0:26:54 | |
You treat the person as a whole. | 0:26:54 | 0:26:56 | |
So all the treatments involved were things like manipulative treatment. | 0:26:56 | 0:27:00 | |
There was psychotherapy, | 0:27:00 | 0:27:02 | |
we used to have all the hydrotherapy, of course. | 0:27:02 | 0:27:06 | |
There was gymnastics, there were walks he arranged. | 0:27:06 | 0:27:09 | |
There were a lot of disciplines. Did you really have to the regime? | 0:27:09 | 0:27:13 | |
It was a strict regime in those days, yes. | 0:27:13 | 0:27:16 | |
Not so nowadays is it? | 0:27:16 | 0:27:17 | |
No, it's a little bit more loose nowadays. | 0:27:17 | 0:27:19 | |
But he was very, very strict indeed. If he said to a patient, | 0:27:19 | 0:27:23 | |
"Look here I want you in bed by 9.00." Then 9.00 it had to be. | 0:27:23 | 0:27:27 | |
-By golly you were in bed! -You're in trouble, yes. | 0:27:27 | 0:27:29 | |
# Keep young and beautiful | 0:27:29 | 0:27:32 | |
# It's your duty to be beautiful... # | 0:27:32 | 0:27:34 | |
Being afraid of Stanley wasn't the only thing that had his patients turning hot and cold. | 0:27:34 | 0:27:39 | |
These are the famous sitz baths that we have. | 0:27:39 | 0:27:42 | |
We have the hot and the cold water. | 0:27:42 | 0:27:44 | |
The patient has a minute in the cold, four minutes in the hot | 0:27:44 | 0:27:47 | |
and alternates them, three times in each. | 0:27:47 | 0:27:50 | |
It's for the repletion, depletion of the abdomen | 0:27:50 | 0:27:53 | |
it improves circulation and I think, on the whole they enjoy it. | 0:27:53 | 0:27:57 | |
You see if you'd contrast bathing like hot and cold | 0:27:57 | 0:28:00 | |
you're going to stimulate an area. | 0:28:00 | 0:28:02 | |
In other words, if I put my hand in say cold water, | 0:28:02 | 0:28:04 | |
well, then, the blood will go away from it. | 0:28:04 | 0:28:06 | |
If I put it in hot, the blood comes... | 0:28:06 | 0:28:09 | |
It's like an internal massage. | 0:28:09 | 0:28:11 | |
It does sound like a bit of a shock treatment. | 0:28:11 | 0:28:13 | |
Hot one minute, perspiring, and then freezing cold. | 0:28:13 | 0:28:17 | |
It wasn't that strong. No, no, you could do it nice and gently. | 0:28:17 | 0:28:21 | |
How much can anybody stand in that that machine? | 0:28:21 | 0:28:24 | |
No more I would say than about 15 minutes to 20. | 0:28:24 | 0:28:26 | |
I'm on low at the moment, you see. | 0:28:26 | 0:28:28 | |
We have three different temperature gauges on them. | 0:28:28 | 0:28:33 | |
Do you feel faint when you come out? | 0:28:33 | 0:28:35 | |
No, I feel invigorated afterwards, | 0:28:35 | 0:28:37 | |
as long as you have shower... a cold shower and lie down. | 0:28:37 | 0:28:40 | |
What about diet here? What did most people eat? | 0:28:40 | 0:28:43 | |
Diet. Well, first of all, today they use this word detox. | 0:28:43 | 0:28:47 | |
They used to put people on a fast, which is probably a similar thing. | 0:28:47 | 0:28:50 | |
So you're detoxing. So you're resting the body. | 0:28:50 | 0:28:53 | |
So some people just had water. Water fast only. | 0:28:53 | 0:28:56 | |
Others maybe just fruit juices and so on. | 0:28:56 | 0:28:58 | |
Jolly good health. | 0:28:58 | 0:29:00 | |
Then he would reintroduce the diet very slowly. | 0:29:00 | 0:29:03 | |
That would be things like fruit first of all. | 0:29:03 | 0:29:06 | |
And then he may go on to salads for two or three days. | 0:29:06 | 0:29:10 | |
Whatever you thought the patient required, so that the individual | 0:29:10 | 0:29:14 | |
is the most important thing, which is lost today unfortunately. | 0:29:14 | 0:29:18 | |
It seems very soporific to walk around during the day, not working, | 0:29:18 | 0:29:23 | |
-wearing a dressing gown and slippers, and just relaxing. -Oh yes. | 0:29:23 | 0:29:27 | |
It's a wonderful thing to do. | 0:29:27 | 0:29:29 | |
I know people check in here for two or three days. | 0:29:29 | 0:29:31 | |
But back then, did they check in for a lot longer? | 0:29:31 | 0:29:34 | |
A lot longer. You may have people come from a fortnight, | 0:29:34 | 0:29:38 | |
three weeks, four weeks, sometimes longer. | 0:29:38 | 0:29:40 | |
They came from all over the world for his treatment, yes. | 0:29:40 | 0:29:43 | |
I don't think I would have lasted four weeks of Stanley's treatments. | 0:29:43 | 0:29:47 | |
Thankfully Champney's today is more beauty camp than boot camp, | 0:29:47 | 0:29:51 | |
with the emphasis on relaxation, and providing an escape | 0:29:51 | 0:29:54 | |
from the stresses of a busy modern life. | 0:29:54 | 0:29:57 | |
Right now I'm going to enjoy the grounds | 0:29:58 | 0:30:00 | |
in a way that Stanley would have approved. | 0:30:00 | 0:30:03 | |
On my bike, getting lots of fresh air and exercise. | 0:30:03 | 0:30:07 | |
Back at the Valuation Day, | 0:30:12 | 0:30:14 | |
Mark has found something that might inspire him to keep fit. | 0:30:14 | 0:30:17 | |
-Hello, Barbara. -Hello, Mark. | 0:30:17 | 0:30:19 | |
-And now for some monkey business. -Right. | 0:30:19 | 0:30:22 | |
This wonderful, little cane, tell me about it. Where did you get it from? | 0:30:22 | 0:30:26 | |
There's not much history. My mother in law died and my late husband | 0:30:26 | 0:30:29 | |
just brought it home when he was clearing out the house. | 0:30:29 | 0:30:33 | |
-When was that? -Over 20 years ago. -Over 20 years ago. -Yeah. | 0:30:33 | 0:30:36 | |
-You'd never seen it in the house, your mother in law had never shown it to you? -No. | 0:30:36 | 0:30:40 | |
-I wonder where she got it from? -No idea. -Strange, isn't it? -Yeah. | 0:30:40 | 0:30:43 | |
Actually we've got a nice, little baton here | 0:30:43 | 0:30:47 | |
-which has this nice, wooden shaft. -A baton? All right. | 0:30:47 | 0:30:49 | |
-Then it's set with this solid silver monkey on the top. -Right. | 0:30:49 | 0:30:56 | |
-Which is hallmarked in London in 1887. -Really? | 0:30:56 | 0:30:59 | |
So it's a late Victorian piece, actually, and highly collectable. | 0:30:59 | 0:31:03 | |
People like these novelty objects. | 0:31:03 | 0:31:05 | |
Have you ever looked at the monkey in detail? | 0:31:05 | 0:31:07 | |
No, not till I was polishing it last night. | 0:31:07 | 0:31:09 | |
He's very nicely made, a lot of texture in his fur, his little feet. | 0:31:09 | 0:31:14 | |
-Yes. -Nice little face with the ears, I think it's rather fun, actually. | 0:31:14 | 0:31:19 | |
-I think it's really nice. So it's not worth anything, then. -Not to me. | 0:31:19 | 0:31:23 | |
-It's been under your stairs. -Exactly! | 0:31:23 | 0:31:25 | |
-And you can't wait to see the back of it. -Exactly. | 0:31:25 | 0:31:29 | |
Well, I think there'll be a lot of people interested in this. | 0:31:29 | 0:31:32 | |
I think you might be surprised. I'd like to put £100 to £150 on it. | 0:31:32 | 0:31:37 | |
-Goodness me. -Is that a surprise? | 0:31:37 | 0:31:39 | |
-Yes. -But I hope that we might even double that. | 0:31:39 | 0:31:43 | |
-Really? -On the day, yes. | 0:31:43 | 0:31:44 | |
If what I've seen happening in the salerooms recently occurs. | 0:31:44 | 0:31:48 | |
I think a lot of people will want to buy it. | 0:31:48 | 0:31:50 | |
Because it's a monkey, or... | 0:31:50 | 0:31:52 | |
Because of the monkey. Because it's a bit of Victorian novelty silver. | 0:31:52 | 0:31:57 | |
-Right. -So, whereas you hate it... | 0:31:57 | 0:31:59 | |
Oh, I don't hate it. I just haven't given it a thought. | 0:31:59 | 0:32:01 | |
-Other people would be climbing trees to get it. -Very good. | 0:32:01 | 0:32:06 | |
Susan, is Troika something that you collect? | 0:32:15 | 0:32:18 | |
No, I don't collect it. I really like it. | 0:32:18 | 0:32:20 | |
It was a present I bought for my mother | 0:32:20 | 0:32:22 | |
when we went down to Cornwall in about '72, '73. | 0:32:22 | 0:32:25 | |
So have you brought it on behalf of your mother? | 0:32:25 | 0:32:28 | |
No, my mother's dead and I really love it | 0:32:28 | 0:32:31 | |
but I'm saving up for a VW camper van | 0:32:31 | 0:32:34 | |
-so that I can travel round France and Italy. -Oh, lovely. | 0:32:34 | 0:32:37 | |
And this is going to be my fund, go towards my VW fund. | 0:32:37 | 0:32:40 | |
-OK, so you're having a bit of a declutter? -Yes, absolutely. | 0:32:40 | 0:32:43 | |
-So what do you like about this, do you like it? -Yes, I do like it. | 0:32:43 | 0:32:47 | |
I've been humming and hahing whether to sell it or not but I just | 0:32:47 | 0:32:50 | |
like the design because it reminds me of the tin mines in Cornwall. | 0:32:50 | 0:32:54 | |
Yes, this side particularly does, doesn't it? | 0:32:54 | 0:32:57 | |
I can see exactly what you're saying here. | 0:32:57 | 0:32:59 | |
-This could be a mineshaft, couldn't it? -Yes. | 0:32:59 | 0:33:01 | |
This side I love it because it's so different. | 0:33:01 | 0:33:04 | |
-It is sort of Islamic-y, isn't it? -It looks like an Islamic mosque. | 0:33:04 | 0:33:08 | |
-It does. -And then you've got that | 0:33:08 | 0:33:11 | |
-incorporated into this very Celtic motif. -Exactly. | 0:33:11 | 0:33:15 | |
With four leaves, a quatrefoil motif. | 0:33:15 | 0:33:18 | |
That combined with the glazes, I think, makes it | 0:33:18 | 0:33:21 | |
quite an attractive piece. | 0:33:21 | 0:33:23 | |
Well, I have it on my windowsill | 0:33:23 | 0:33:25 | |
and it depends on my mood which side I have. | 0:33:25 | 0:33:27 | |
-Oh, that's interesting. That's a nice way to look at it. -Yes, I do. | 0:33:27 | 0:33:31 | |
Well, I think the glazes aren't that unusual. | 0:33:31 | 0:33:35 | |
Some of the more commercial pieces are a very strong blue colour | 0:33:35 | 0:33:40 | |
or have a very strong contrast in glazes and design. | 0:33:40 | 0:33:44 | |
It's known, of course, I'm sure you know, | 0:33:44 | 0:33:46 | |
as a wheel vase because of the shape of it and it's a medium size. | 0:33:46 | 0:33:50 | |
What is it about eight inches? | 0:33:50 | 0:33:52 | |
There's a set estimate price which these pieces go for. | 0:33:52 | 0:33:58 | |
Any ideas yourself? | 0:33:58 | 0:33:59 | |
I thought about the 200 mark. | 0:34:01 | 0:34:03 | |
I think you're about right. I'm gonna say, conservatively, | 0:34:03 | 0:34:07 | |
150 to 200 but I wouldn't be surprised at all | 0:34:07 | 0:34:09 | |
-if two collectors went for this it would make 200 plus. -OK. | 0:34:09 | 0:34:12 | |
But, I think, 150 as a reserve would be a safety net | 0:34:12 | 0:34:16 | |
-and it would certainly get them interested. -OK. | 0:34:16 | 0:34:18 | |
-Are you happy with that? -Absolutely, yeah. | 0:34:18 | 0:34:21 | |
-Well, I wish you luck with your camper van fund. -Thank you very much. | 0:34:21 | 0:34:25 | |
-Hello, Gill. -Hello. | 0:34:31 | 0:34:32 | |
We love boxes on this show. | 0:34:32 | 0:34:34 | |
-Shall I open it and show everybody what it is. -Yes, please. | 0:34:34 | 0:34:38 | |
There it is a lovely little bar brooch. What's the history of it? | 0:34:38 | 0:34:41 | |
It was left to me in the 1960s by an elderly aunt. I've never worn it. | 0:34:41 | 0:34:46 | |
It's been in a jewellery box and it's just such a shame | 0:34:46 | 0:34:50 | |
to see it shut away and I thought, "No, it's going to go on Flog It!" | 0:34:50 | 0:34:55 | |
So you've had it for quite a long time, 40 odd years? | 0:34:55 | 0:34:59 | |
-Yes. -And you've never worn it. -No. | 0:34:59 | 0:35:01 | |
Brooches are difficult, | 0:35:01 | 0:35:03 | |
-they're not always the most fashionable thing to wear. -Yes. | 0:35:03 | 0:35:06 | |
I mean, what we've got is a very nice simple bar brooch there | 0:35:06 | 0:35:10 | |
-with a floret in the middle of rose cut diamonds. -Right. | 0:35:10 | 0:35:13 | |
The actual main body of it is gold, then we've got a thin top sealing | 0:35:13 | 0:35:17 | |
-of platinum and little platinum rims around the diamonds. -Wonderful. | 0:35:17 | 0:35:22 | |
The reason is that diamonds draw in colour from what's around them. | 0:35:22 | 0:35:26 | |
So if you mount them in a yellow metal, they'll look slightly yellow. | 0:35:26 | 0:35:30 | |
-Right. -So this is actually quite a nice little piece. | 0:35:30 | 0:35:33 | |
Now have you ever thought of selling it before, | 0:35:33 | 0:35:36 | |
or have you had it valued? | 0:35:36 | 0:35:37 | |
I've had it valued many years ago and I put it into an auction, | 0:35:37 | 0:35:42 | |
-a reserve of about 450... -Right. -..which it didn't quite make. | 0:35:42 | 0:35:46 | |
So, I'm just looking sort of maybe it might fetch that. We don't know. | 0:35:46 | 0:35:52 | |
We hope so. The buyers on the day will decide what it's worth. | 0:35:52 | 0:35:56 | |
I've discussed it with some of my colleagues who are good on jewellery | 0:35:56 | 0:35:59 | |
and we feel a more sensible estimate would be 300 to 400 | 0:35:59 | 0:36:03 | |
-with a 300 fixed reserve. -Right, OK. | 0:36:03 | 0:36:05 | |
-How would you feel about that? -Yes, I'm quite happy. | 0:36:05 | 0:36:07 | |
-To give it a go. -I'm happy with that. | 0:36:07 | 0:36:09 | |
If we get a reasonable price, would you get another piece of jewellery | 0:36:09 | 0:36:13 | |
or do something else with it? | 0:36:13 | 0:36:14 | |
If it reached its price, no, I'll treat my little new grandson | 0:36:14 | 0:36:19 | |
that was born this week and also my elder son is running the marathon | 0:36:19 | 0:36:24 | |
for the British Heart Foundation and I'd like to contribute to that. | 0:36:24 | 0:36:27 | |
I look forward to seeing you at the auction and thank you so much. | 0:36:27 | 0:36:31 | |
You're welcome, thank you. | 0:36:31 | 0:36:32 | |
Let's take a last look before our items head off to the auction rooms at Tring. | 0:36:34 | 0:36:39 | |
There was no monkey business from Mark, | 0:36:39 | 0:36:42 | |
he thinks Barbara's cane will walk straight out of the auction. | 0:36:42 | 0:36:45 | |
Troika is an old favourite in the salerooms | 0:36:46 | 0:36:49 | |
but the rarity of the pattern should help Susan's vase. | 0:36:49 | 0:36:52 | |
Let's hope the rose cut diamond brooch sparkles on the day. | 0:36:52 | 0:36:56 | |
The money is going to charity and Gill's new grandson. | 0:36:56 | 0:36:59 | |
This should walk out the saleroom, shouldn't it? The walking stick! | 0:37:07 | 0:37:11 | |
Remember it's got the little silver monkey on its head. | 0:37:11 | 0:37:14 | |
We're looking at £100 to £150. | 0:37:14 | 0:37:16 | |
-Who have you got here? -These are my granddaughters. | 0:37:16 | 0:37:19 | |
This is Georgia who was 11 yesterday and this is Lauren. | 0:37:19 | 0:37:23 | |
-And how old are you? -Seven. | 0:37:23 | 0:37:25 | |
Oh, a big seven, aren't you? Yes... | 0:37:25 | 0:37:29 | |
-I think this is quality, Mark. -Oh, I love it. -It's cheeky. | 0:37:29 | 0:37:32 | |
It's very cheeky, it's very Victorian. | 0:37:32 | 0:37:34 | |
It's just really caught my eye, the little monkey perched on the top, | 0:37:34 | 0:37:38 | |
fully hallmarked which is rather nice. | 0:37:38 | 0:37:41 | |
Late Victorian, it should easily do £120, £150. | 0:37:41 | 0:37:45 | |
-It's got to, yeah. Are you ready for this, girls? -BOTH: Yes. | 0:37:45 | 0:37:48 | |
The auctioneer's gonna flog it. Here we go. | 0:37:48 | 0:37:50 | |
Here's a good cane. | 0:37:50 | 0:37:51 | |
This is one for Sunday. There you are, lot 705. | 0:37:51 | 0:37:55 | |
The silver monkey terminal, 1887. | 0:37:55 | 0:37:58 | |
There you are, Jubilee year, yeah. | 0:37:58 | 0:38:00 | |
It's Golden Jubilee year, 1887. | 0:38:00 | 0:38:02 | |
What shall we say for this one, £100 for the monkey... £100? | 0:38:02 | 0:38:06 | |
£50? 60 I'm bid for it. | 0:38:06 | 0:38:07 | |
70 I'm bid. 80. 90 I'm bid. 100 I'm bid. | 0:38:07 | 0:38:10 | |
100 I'm bid and 10 now. 110 I'm bid for the monkey. 110... | 0:38:10 | 0:38:15 | |
-And 20? 120 I'm bid for it. -This is good. -130 and 40... -Wow. | 0:38:15 | 0:38:19 | |
130 I'm bid for it. | 0:38:19 | 0:38:20 | |
Are you out at 130? The monkey's going. | 0:38:20 | 0:38:23 | |
For £130 then... | 0:38:23 | 0:38:26 | |
The monkey's gone. | 0:38:26 | 0:38:27 | |
-Bang, the hammer's gone down, £130. -Thank you. | 0:38:27 | 0:38:30 | |
Who gets all that? | 0:38:30 | 0:38:33 | |
I think we'll perhaps go out for a meal, what do you reckon? | 0:38:33 | 0:38:36 | |
-Yes? Family meal, -Family meal. And a little present, I think. | 0:38:36 | 0:38:40 | |
-Perhaps. -Along the way, don't you? | 0:38:40 | 0:38:42 | |
-A good result. -It wasn't bad but I bet you, Paul, | 0:38:42 | 0:38:45 | |
those two can be cheeky monkeys when they want to be, can't they? | 0:38:45 | 0:38:49 | |
-Are you cheeky monkeys? -Sometimes. | 0:38:49 | 0:38:51 | |
Sometimes! | 0:38:51 | 0:38:53 | |
They say diamonds are a girl's best friend, | 0:38:59 | 0:39:02 | |
we'll find out right now. Gill, a whole brooch full of them. £400. | 0:39:02 | 0:39:06 | |
-I know. -That'll be nice, wouldn't it? -It would be nice, yes. | 0:39:06 | 0:39:10 | |
500 hopefully, Mark. | 0:39:10 | 0:39:11 | |
Well yes, I mean, let's be realistic. It's a very, very pretty brooch | 0:39:11 | 0:39:15 | |
with some nice diamonds in there but brooches aren't the most fashionable. | 0:39:15 | 0:39:20 | |
No, but lots of diamonds that could get broken down | 0:39:20 | 0:39:22 | |
-into maybe some earrings or a ring. -Yes, certainly. | 0:39:22 | 0:39:25 | |
-You could take the floret off and have it mounted into a band which would make a nice ring. -Yes. | 0:39:25 | 0:39:30 | |
You haven't worn this, have you? | 0:39:30 | 0:39:34 | |
I've never worn it and it nearly got lost once in the shed, in a box. | 0:39:34 | 0:39:39 | |
-It nearly got thrown away. -Gosh. | 0:39:39 | 0:39:41 | |
So I thought let's get rid of it. I've had it 40 years. | 0:39:41 | 0:39:44 | |
-You've had it 40 years. -40 years. | 0:39:44 | 0:39:46 | |
-Never worn it. -Never worn, no. | 0:39:46 | 0:39:48 | |
Everything goes around in circles, fashion changes. | 0:39:48 | 0:39:51 | |
Hopefully, it'll start today and somebody will wear this. | 0:39:51 | 0:39:54 | |
It's going under the hammer now. | 0:39:54 | 0:39:56 | |
Now we have a gold and old cut diamond daisy brooch. | 0:39:56 | 0:40:00 | |
There we are. Where do we go for this brooch? | 0:40:00 | 0:40:02 | |
Do we do 350 for it? | 0:40:02 | 0:40:03 | |
300, there's some stones. | 0:40:03 | 0:40:06 | |
250 I'm bid for it, then. Thank you. | 0:40:06 | 0:40:08 | |
250 I'm bid for it. | 0:40:08 | 0:40:09 | |
260 and 70. And 80... | 0:40:09 | 0:40:12 | |
That's better. He started going in the wrong direction for a minute. | 0:40:12 | 0:40:15 | |
-290 for the diamonds. -Come on. | 0:40:15 | 0:40:18 | |
300 this end. At £300. | 0:40:18 | 0:40:20 | |
And 10 now, at 300 then, thank you. | 0:40:20 | 0:40:22 | |
Going down for £300 then... Thank you. | 0:40:22 | 0:40:26 | |
Yes, the hammer's gone down, just. | 0:40:26 | 0:40:28 | |
We have a valuation of 300 to 400. | 0:40:28 | 0:40:30 | |
-So it's on the reserve there. -Jolly good. | 0:40:30 | 0:40:32 | |
We were a bit too optimistic, thinking four to four and a half. | 0:40:32 | 0:40:35 | |
-It's gone. -I'm pleased. -What will you put the money towards? | 0:40:35 | 0:40:39 | |
I'm going to treat my little grandson who's a month old today. | 0:40:39 | 0:40:42 | |
-What's his name? -Oliver. | 0:40:42 | 0:40:44 | |
Oliver, good old Ollie, yeah. What are you gonna buy him? | 0:40:44 | 0:40:47 | |
-Oh... -You don't know. -I don't know. -Let him choose! | 0:40:47 | 0:40:50 | |
Susan I hope you get a lot of money | 0:40:56 | 0:40:58 | |
-to put towards that camper van to do a tour round Europe. -I hope so. | 0:40:58 | 0:41:02 | |
A Volkswagen camper van, will it be one with a pop up roof? | 0:41:02 | 0:41:05 | |
-Oh, yes... -And with the accessories. -Oh yes, absolutely. -A proper picnic. | 0:41:05 | 0:41:08 | |
-Flowers on the side. -Let's hope this Troika vase gets you there. | 0:41:08 | 0:41:12 | |
I like it, Troika is a great studio name. | 0:41:12 | 0:41:14 | |
It's got quality, it's got everything going for it. | 0:41:14 | 0:41:17 | |
-We're looking at £150. -It should really do that. | 0:41:17 | 0:41:20 | |
-There's quite a lot of Troika in the sale as well. -Yeah, I saw that. | 0:41:20 | 0:41:23 | |
-So the collectors will be here. -Fingers crossed. | 0:41:23 | 0:41:26 | |
We just need a proper job done from our auctioneer, don't we? | 0:41:26 | 0:41:29 | |
In traditional Cornish fashion. It's going under the hammer. | 0:41:29 | 0:41:33 | |
A Troika wheel vase and that's a nice example. | 0:41:33 | 0:41:36 | |
-Are we gonna start at £200 for it? -Yes, yes, yes! | 0:41:36 | 0:41:39 | |
£200, £100 for it... Yes, 100 is bid for this piece of Troika. | 0:41:39 | 0:41:43 | |
Thank you. 100 is bid for it. | 0:41:43 | 0:41:46 | |
Now, 110. At 110, 120... 130, 140. | 0:41:46 | 0:41:52 | |
150 perhaps? Yes? | 0:41:52 | 0:41:54 | |
150 surely. 150. | 0:41:54 | 0:41:57 | |
-Yes! A fresh bidder -160, you're all in a group. 170 now. | 0:41:57 | 0:42:00 | |
170, 180? 180. 190, is it? | 0:42:00 | 0:42:04 | |
190. It's gonna be 200, surely. | 0:42:04 | 0:42:07 | |
-It is, yes. -At £190. 200, I'm bid. -That's great. | 0:42:07 | 0:42:10 | |
210, 220 and 30. | 0:42:10 | 0:42:13 | |
Are you going to be 40? 230, and 40 now. No? 230, sir. | 0:42:13 | 0:42:19 | |
240 I'm bid now. | 0:42:19 | 0:42:21 | |
-250 and 60 is it? 260 and 70. At 270... -He's doing a proper job. | 0:42:21 | 0:42:27 | |
280 now. 280... 290. | 0:42:27 | 0:42:30 | |
300, £300 and 310... | 0:42:30 | 0:42:33 | |
Are you gonna be 20? | 0:42:33 | 0:42:35 | |
-320? No. -I can't believe it. | 0:42:35 | 0:42:37 | |
It's holding its value at £320 and I shall sell it away from you. | 0:42:37 | 0:42:42 | |
It's going at 320 then. | 0:42:42 | 0:42:45 | |
-Yes, £320! -Fantastic. -Ah! | 0:42:45 | 0:42:47 | |
-Almost double its estimate. -Absolutely. | 0:42:47 | 0:42:50 | |
Oh, Susan, I tell you what you've got to do... | 0:42:50 | 0:42:52 | |
-Thank you so much. -That's OK. | 0:42:52 | 0:42:53 | |
When you buy your camper van, use it, tour all over Europe. | 0:42:53 | 0:42:56 | |
You can resell it and hopefully get your money back. | 0:42:56 | 0:42:59 | |
-I'll flog it on Flog It! -Exactly! | 0:42:59 | 0:43:01 | |
-Bring it along to one of our Flog Its! -I will. | 0:43:01 | 0:43:03 | |
We'll sell the camper van. | 0:43:03 | 0:43:04 | |
-Shall we do that? -Thank you so much. | 0:43:04 | 0:43:06 | |
-That's a great price. -Good price. | 0:43:06 | 0:43:08 | |
We've sold absolutely everything. | 0:43:10 | 0:43:12 | |
All credit to our experts, they were certainly rocking today! | 0:43:12 | 0:43:16 | |
We've had a great time here in Tring and I can't wait to come back. | 0:43:16 | 0:43:19 | |
See you next soon for plenty more action on Flog It! | 0:43:19 | 0:43:22 | |
For more information about Flog It, including how the programme was made, | 0:43:22 | 0:43:27 | |
visit the website at bbc.co.uk/lifestyle | 0:43:27 | 0:43:31 | |
Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd | 0:43:44 | 0:43:47 | |
E-mail [email protected] | 0:43:47 | 0:43:51 |