Harlow Flog It!

Today we're 20 miles from London, in a town that was at the forefront

of Britain's post-war plans to reinvent urban life.

Welcome to Flog It!, from Harlow.

Many of the buildings in Harlow were designed by world-famous architects.

This is known as The Chantry, designed by

husband and wife team, Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew,

both social idealists

who believed the better the quality of the building, the better the quality of your life.

Maxwell and Jane helped bring Modernist architecture to Britain in the 30s,

introducing us to the bold new ideas of iconic figures such as Walter Gropius and le Corbusier.

They also designed many award-winning public buildings around the world

and today we're in the thoroughly modern Latin Bush Centre(!)

And looking for the best items to take to auction are our two experts,

Mr Charlie Ross and Mark Stacey.

Sorry to interrupt, guys. We've got a massive queue. Good luck.

There's no time to lose, so let's get going with our first valuation.

Chris, you bought this wonderful pot in to show us. Why have you brought it in?

Really to find out a little bit more about it.

-My husband's done a little bit of research on the internet.

-The good old internet!

Yes, and we think it's Satsuma, we're not 100% sure, obviously we'd like you to clarify that.

Well, you're spot on, it is Satsuma.

Now, Satsuma is a Japanese earthenware pottery

which tends to be a very creamy texture,

and a key point to identify Japanese Satsuma ware is this mark here, Chris.

You see that circle with the cross in it? That's the Princess Satsuma,

so that tells you that it's come from the Satsuma region, and this, of course, is the maker's mark.

I can't read it, I'm afraid, but it is a very nice piece.

What I can tell you is it won't be one of the major artists,

it won't be by Kinkozan or Yabu Meizan.

They produced top-quality pieces, very finely painted and all-over decorated.

This is typical of that slightly earlier to mid period,

sort of 1880, 1890, because of these deep rich

blue enamels, very thick enamels on that, and basically,

obviously if I could read Japanese it would help,

because this is obviously telling a story.

As we move it around you can see you've got these various

gods and mortals in various scenes going round it.

The whole thing is wonderfully put together, very tactile.

Why are you selling it?

It's a little bit big for our home and it doesn't

hold any sentimental value for myself or my husband, really.

It was his grandparents' and we don't want it, to be truthful.

To be truthful... fair enough.

We live different lives these days.

Our Victorian and Edwardian grandparents wanted the house filled with aspidistras...

-That's what was in there.

-You know, and I can tell.

I'm coming onto the bad bit next because inside we've got

-a nasty stain and there's been some water-staining on the outside.

-Yeah.

But I just think it's such a lovely pot, it's a really nice, perky piece.

In terms of value, now what do you think?

I don't know about two, three, £400... I don't know!

That's a typical auctioneer's thing two, three, £400, whatever!

-It depends on the day, yeah!

-It depends on the day.

I think it's somewhere between those, actually.

I'd put an estimate of £300 to £400 on it with a reserve of £300,

-with 10% discretion on the day.

-Yeah, yeah...

Would you be happy with that?

Yes, my husband's told me that he doesn't want it to go for nothing.

Let's hope it does really well at the auction.

Let's hope so!

These are very visual objects, Peter.

I think they're delightfully coloured, very stylised.

-Do you know what they are?

-Flagons.

Flagons? Well, that's absolutely right, they're whisky flagons.

-Have you looked at the bottom of them?

-I think they're Royal Doulton.

They are, absolutely right. Have you had them a long time?

They belonged to my mother, who is 90 this year.

-Oh, really!

-Yes, and she recently...

because of that she had to downsize, and these flagons she offered to my son,

Christopher and he said to her, "Ooh, thank you ever so much",

and then when Mum had gone, he said, "They are absolutely hideous!

"I would not give them house room, dispose of them!"

-So...

-Is mum still alive?

-Oh, she is, very much so!

-Oh, my goodness me!

She'd better not hear of this story!

Do you know how old they are?

Not at all. I know nothing about them whatsoever.

Right. They're 1920s.

Right...

You can tell from the Doulton stamp with Doulton England underneath it...

they're 1920s with a lovely sort of stylised poppy decoration -

not that the colour's poppy at all,

and then this fabulous crisp acanthus leaf decoration running up the body.

They're not that practical, to be honest, they haven't got spouts.

I suspect they don't pour that well, and I don't suppose you've ever used them for that?

No. They've got no lip, have they?

No, they haven't. What surprises me is the condition.

You would expect, over a hundred years, these to have been chipped.

There are no chippings or damage to them whatsoever.

Now, going onto the value, I would say you ought to have a guess.

My wife guessed about £20 and I guessed about £120, so...

-You've won the valuation award!

-If you split the difference...

No. I think we can do better than split the difference,

because I would attach a value of certainly £100 to £150.

I think they might make a little bit more, but I think a safe valuation is £100 to £150 and reserve at £100,

perhaps a bit of discretion, because after all, your son would rather have the money than the pots!

-Yes, I'm sure!

-Yeah...

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

20th century modern world, it doesn't get better than that, does it? Concorde memorabilia...

what an iconic plane and do you know something, if I had the money when

that plane was in service, I would have been on it!

I missed out, but somebody who didn't is Sylvia here.

She flew on that aircraft and here's the memorabilia to go with it -

a certificate, in-flight magazine, Concorde brochure and, of course,

the Concorde menu as well.

Let's see how they travelled in style, shall we.

Oh, look, Kiwi fresh fruit for an appetiser, garnished asparagus and

cucumber as a main course, cheese and crackers, glass of champagne...

all on board Concorde.

If this was part of the plane itself, the fuselage or

part of the interior, it's worth thousands of pounds.

There are so many Concorde collectors out there.

But this little package alone with its menu is worth £60 to £80

and I think the memories that you've got are worth far more than that.

It's a trip of a lifetime.

I can see you've got tears in your eyes, reliving it, re-flying it.

How many of you would love to fly on Concorde?

All of you! Has anybody? No, no, no!

What lovely memories! Sylvia, thank you so much.

Thank you very much.

-Hello, Keith.

-Hi.

You've brought a very interesting object in,

a medal from the Battle of the Nile. Where did you get it from?

I bought it in a shop in Cornwall some three years ago when Nelson was quite popular.

Yes, 2005, the bicentenary.

That's it, yeah, and my view was to buy it with a view to selling it on at some stage.

-And that's why you've brought it in to us today?

-Yes, indeed.

Of course, it's the Battle of the Nile, 1798, one of Nelson's famous victories.

At the time, these would have been handed out to different classes so

for Nelson and the other admirals, they would have had a gold version.

For the junior officers, there would have been a silver version, so we

-know, of course, as a bronze medal, it would have been for a rating.

-Yes.

We'll have a little look here.

Now we've got here, you know,

Rear Admiral Lord Nelson of the Nile and obviously a portrait of him.

He did actually like

advertising himself, he wasn't shy at the time,

and then we turn it over and then of course we've got

"Almighty God had blessed his Majesty's Arms" and then we've got

the details of the battle underneath and obviously a representation of the ships that were involved.

These do come up from time to time and at the moment, they don't always make a huge amount of money.

This one, for example, we would suggest an estimate of £200 to £300.

-Now does that sit comfortably with you?

-It does.

We'll put a £200 reserve, of course, because we want to protect it.

We don't want to give it away, so we should put a £200 fixed reserve.

-How would you feel about that?

-Fine, very happy with it.

Thank you for bringing such an interesting

and historical item in and I look forward to the auction.

Thank you very much.

Outside, people are still arriving laden with treasures,

but right now we're heading off to the auction room,

and here's a quick recap of all the items we're taking with us.

First off, it's Christine's piece of Satsuma pottery, which I'm sure

will cause a happy stir in the auction room.

Even though Peter's son thought these whisky flasks were hideous,

they'll hopefully be plenty of Doulton collectors at the sale

who are gonna snap them up!

And finally, it's amazing how much historic medals can fetch,

and I'm sure Keith's is no exception.

All your family heirlooms will be going under the hammer here

and hopefully reaching top prices.

Fingers crossed at Reeman Dansie Auctions in Colchester.

The man on the rostrum is auctioneer James Grintner.

Next up that wonderful Japanese Satsuma jardiniere.

We have that in the sale valued at £300 to £400 but unfortunately,

we don't have its owner, Christine, but we do have Robert, her son.

Now where's Mum? On holiday?

-Grand Canaria.

-Oh, lovely!

-Getting a good tan?

-Yes, indeed.

-So you're looking after the house, are you?

-Oh, yes, yes.

Say no more, then!

Keep quiet, then!

Do you like this jardiniere Mum's selling?

It's not that pretty, but it's OK.

Nothing you want to inherit, really, is it?

-No...

-Get the money and spend it, that's what I say!

Mark, we're looking at £300 to £400.

Had a chat to the auctioneer, James Grintner, he agreed with the value.

He did say, though, that the market has slightly dropped.

The Americans and the Japanese aren't buying any more because

of the credit crunch, so it's affecting us all.

It is, and Robert sums it up as well, because he says I don't want it.

The younger generation don't want things like this so that does affect its marketability.

Yeah, and what do you do with them?

Put them in the bay window and put an aspidistra in them!

I love it, I think it's such a lovely shape, that melon shape.

-It's your thing.

-So I like it.

OK. Fingers crossed. We're gonna find out.

The good quality late 19th century Satsuma jardiniere.

One there, what do you say for it?

I have two commissions and I'll start the bidding at £200.

Two commission bids!

At 200, 210, 220, 230, 240,

250, 260, 270, 280, 290.

At 290 there's a bid over here now at 290. At £290, are you all done?

GAVEL FALLS

Yes! Would have liked a bit more, but we crept in there,

just under the lower end, £290.

I think you should get on the phone to Christine, now...

And tell her, yeah...

She'll be by the pool and you can actually say,

"Christine, it's gone, £290, less a bit of commission, of course."

-OK?

-Thank you.

-Thank you, Robert.

# Don't ask me because I don't know what

# But it's like that and that's the way it is. #

It's a great name, Royal Doulton,

it's about to go under the hammer. It belongs to Peter.

We've got the whisky decanters, valued by Charlie Ross here,

our expert, between £100 and £150. Could be drinks all round!

It's going under the hammer.

It's the pair of late Victorian Royal Doulton flasks, with stoppers,

the art nouveau floral decoration, as shown.

What would you say to start me? £100 to start me?

£100, £100 I have, 110, 120, 130...

Bit more, bit more, bit more!

140, 150.

At 150 down here now, at 150.

At 150 as bid.

Are you all done now at 150?

Yes. Hammer's gone down.

£150!

-Top end of the estimate!

-Spot on!

Drinks all round, Charlie!

-Interesting story, though, because they were your mother's.

-Yes.

-She's now 90.

-Yes.

Congratulations, and she passed them onto your son?

-She did.

-Why did you miss out?

Basically because I thought they were gross,

so I said to my son, "You're more than welcome to them!"

Oh, brilliant! Good name, good make?

-There are always collectors of Doulton, aren't there?

-Brilliant.

We're all ready to do battle.

We've been joined by Keith in the nick of time.

It's that bronze medal from the Nile.

-£200 to £300.

-That's right.

Why are you selling this?

-Put some money in the bank.

-Right, OK. Save it for a rainy day!

-Absolutely!

-Saving up for something.

We've seen a lot of medals before in the past.

It's kind of a hard thing to value?

Very. I was all at sea with this one, I have to say.

I think he's a brave man! I think you need one as well!

I'm gonna pin one on you if we get it.

-You never know with these things.

-No, you don't.

I mean fortunately, we had some help from the off-screen team.

-Which helped out.

-Which does help us a lot, actually.

The unsung heroes you could say.

One thing I can say to you both is, if we do have a discrepancy on the valuation day,

and you know this at home, we talk to the auctioneer, get his opinion.

He didn't say anything, so he must agree with Mark's valuation.

-That's a relief, anyway!

-Right.

Here we go. We're off. This is it.

The George III Davidson Nile Medal.

I have two commissions with me...

-Oh, great!

-I'll start the bidding at £180. At 180, At 180, 190.

At 190 I have, at 190, 200?

-Come on.

-At 190 I have.

190. £200 I have. At £200 down here.

Do I hear 210 anywhere? At £200.

-You're spot on, Mark!

-At £200, are you all done?

Absolutely spot on! £200, right on the money.

-Right on the money.

-Well done!

Had you any idea it was worth that much?

I wasn't sure, to be frank, but I'm glad with what I've got.

Comfortably optimistic, weren't we!

Absolutely, yes.

-Well, good luck and...

-Thanks for all your help.

-And put it towards that rainy day!

-That's right!

Hello and welcome to the Combined Military Services Museum here at Maldon in the heart of Essex.

This place really is a treasure trove of British military history

and behind me is an awesome Thunderbird missile,

and there's plenty more weaponry like that inside, but today

we're going to be taking a peek at something a little more mysterious, so follow me.

'We're inside a unique espionage collection, a genuine spy museum.

'It's one of the most impressive displays of covert

'operations equipment in the world

'and at the centre of the collection are the amazing gadgets and gizmos

'used by two real-life spies who came in from the cold to share their darkest secrets with us.

'Captain Peter Mason and his wife, Pru, were the real thing,

'undercover agents who risked exposure, torture and death for their country's cause.

'Peter and Pru have hung up their reversible jackets now

'and kindly donated more than 250 items of equipment, clothing

'and deadly weaponry to the museum.

'Many of the exhibits here were actually used in secret operations,

'as well as inspiring the exploits of Ian Fleming's fictional hero,

'James Bond, played here by Sean Connery.'

To show me around this fabulous espionage collection

is my own very own Q, manager, Marilyn Bullivant.

Hello! This is absolutely fascinating because it's real,

this is not fictional, it's not made for the movies, is it?

No, not at all.

All these items, everything you see here belonged to two real-life spies.

You must have been so surprised when items started arriving from Peter and Pru?

We were, because to start with we didn't think it was real,

we thought it was a bit of a hoax and then all these items that

you see before you started coming through the post.

But they're dangerous!

-Did you have a specialist to open them?

-No, no, just us.

We sort of started opening the parcels and took out a suit and

a pair of well-worn shoes, and they just appeared to be everyday items.

Talk me through just a small part of the collection you've got in front of you.

OK, this one.

Looks like an ordinary tin of cigarettes.

-Is it gonna go off?

-No, you're all right, you're safe with this one.

-Is it a camera or a gun?

-It just takes a picture of you.

It's a camera. You pull that down and the lens is there, so that would take

the image, and of course these are fake cigarettes but with a couple of real ones in there.

So that's your camera.

Now the shoes, these look like an ordinary pair of shoes.

As you can see, they're really well worn,

but when I looked at them closely, concealed in the heel is a blade.

-Oh, yes, look at that. Locked into the heel!

-Yep.

What would that be used for, then?

Well, mainly if they're in a situation where they were tied with rope, they could cut through.

Oh, I get it, yes, so using...

That's it, yep, and I think sometimes if they're in hand to hand combat,

they would take the blade out to inflict a nasty injury.

Now this looks like an ordinary pipe -

it's actually a pistol.

Take that off and you just pull that, and that would

detonate the projectile which would come out through a hole there, which could be a bullet or cyanide capsule.

It seems extremely dangerous!

You need the Marigolds when you're handling some of these!

This is affectionately known as "the kiss of death".

Looks like a lipstick.

You take the cover off, and it reveals a pistol.

-Are you gonna put some on?

-And blow my head off!

It probably wouldn't kill someone, but it would certainly inflict a nasty injury.

Or slow them down so you could make your escape.

That's right.

But that was also used when Pru wore this suit.

These are their clothes as well?

Yeah. Their actual clothes. She was actually interrogated when she was wearing this outfit.

'In fact, the KGB took this photograph of Pru just before the interrogation began.

'Another of Pru's covers behind the iron curtain was a bare-backed rider

'in the Circus Americana, and this is the disguise she used.'

-This is hers as well?

-This is hers as well. This is a reversible jacket.

You can see here, you've got the plain grey.

One side to the other.

One side, and then if she wanted, if she was being chased or followed

and she wanted to change her appearance,

she would very quickly take it off, turn it inside out...

And mingle in with the crowd so they're not following someone in checks any more?

No. The skirt does as well, but you couldn't whip that off in the street,

could you, but again, you could change her appearance.

-Clever.

-And looking at Pru's clothing, this is some of Peter's.

Again, a reversible coat.

If he's wearing the tweed coat, he would wear this hat

which, as you can see, is no ordinary hat.

-There's a little gun holster in there?

-Yep, metal carry case, which would have the holster.

He would have the pistol in there, or he would change his appearance to

a sort of flat cap and scarf and the gabardine rain mac.

Yes, yeah. It's beautifully made!

It's very good quality, isn't it? Yes, he did like his good clothes.

-So, what else have we got here? More cigarettes?

-More cigarettes, yes.

-This is...

-I guess every spy smoked really, didn't they!

That's right. This really is bad for your health, this one.

These are real cigarettes, but that's actually a gun.

If he was in a situation where perhaps he needed to have access

to the gun, he would open the case, and if you notice, the end is burnt.

-Yes, so he knows which one to pick up?

-Exactly!

-How does it work?

-It twists.

Wow! These things actually worked?

Yes, they're real, that's what we're trying to get across to people.

This is where the James Bond bit finishes.

These are real, and people really used these.

It's only when you walk around this fascinating place, you know,

your head gets around the fact that people risked their lives.

-Yeah.

-What's this?

This is just an ordinary hip flask,

but it actually belonged to Ian Fleming, and Fleming gave it to Peter

as a present and Peter would advise Fleming on the type of weapons

and gadgets and guns.

Used in the movies!

Exactly. The real Bond,

and it has still got some whisky in there!

Not only do they end up with Ian Fleming's whisky flask,

but like his Bond character, Captain Peter Mason carried a licence to kill.

Peter was originally a member of the SAS, Britain's crack special forces unit.

Just after World War II, he joined the famous Baker team.

Their task was to hunt down Nazi war criminals and, how shall I put it, dispose of them.

When the Cold War began in the 1950s, Peter and his wife were once again on the front line.

Many of their assignments were so secret that they are still under

wraps, but what we see here gives us a vivid idea of the challenges and dangers they faced.

Spying is difficult, dangerous work with the constant risk of being discovered.

It's nothing like the glamorous Bond movies we see or the books we read.

With the need for total secrecy, its heroes and heroines often

go unnoticed and that's what makes this spy museum so unique -

it gives us a glimpse into a world we rarely see.

After all that intrigue, we had better race back to the

valuation day where Mark has spied something fishy.

Hello, Sally.

-Hello Mark.

-Who is the young man next to you?

This is my grandson, Aiden.

-Hello, Aiden.

-Hi.

-Nice to see you.

Now what have you brought along to show us today?

Well, I've brought along this set of Poole pottery which I've had for some years.

It's very unusual, I think, and I don't know whether it was

bought or a gift to perhaps my mother or even my grandparents.

I don't think my grandparents, they were passed on by then.

By then, yes. Because we've got...

I mean it's not that old, of course.

I would say it goes back to the sort of '50s and '60s.

There's various indications for that - the use of colour.

I love this period because it's actually very sparsely decorated but

it sums it up very nicely, actually, and also the mark on the back.

We've got the typical Poole mark, the dolphin in the middle, and then we've got some artists' initials.

-What I particularly like about it, it's a fish set?

-Um hum.

You would have your salmon or your lobster or your crab or whatever in

the middle, and then you would serve it on the plates

and I just think these animals are wonderful.

I mean they're so naive, but in some ways, so quirky, aren't they?

They are, yes.

Have you got a favourite animal?

I like the frog. That attracted me to it in the first place,

but when you look at all of them individually, they are so unusual.

Yes, they are.

Do you have a favourite one?

-The snail.

-You like the snail, do you? Do you eat snails?

-No.

-I think it's great.

It dates from about sort of 1950s as I said, '60s period,

and I think it's very quirky and I think Poole collectors will like it.

-Really? That's good.

-Very difficult to value, I'll be honest with you,

Sally, we don't see them often and the market does fluctuate on this.

I mean, I just like it. I think it's got a lot of fun and I'm just hoping

-somebody else will pick up on the imagination of it as well.

-Yes, yes.

My gut feeling is that we should put it in maybe at £80 to £100.

-How would you feel about that?

-Yes, yes, I'd be happy with that.

Did you have any particular views yourself of the value?

Well, l didn't think it was going to be madly valuable, but I thought

as it was unusual that somebody might think, ooh, I'll add that to my collection.

-Yes, absolutely.

-Somebody who can appreciate it, have it on display, perhaps.

Are you sad that your granny's selling it? Are you?

Or would you use it when you grow up, do you think?

-No.

-No. So all I can say is let's hope

they're not shellfish out there and bid a lot of money!

Indeed, that would be good. Thank you.

Alan and Lesley, which one's the golfer?

Me!

-Lesley, you've never tried?

-No.

Took his golf clubs round once on the green, but they were too heavy!

-Too heavy?

-Yes.

-You can get a little cart, can't you?

-They were on my shoulder!

-Didn't use you as a caddy?

He tried!

The rotten man! I love these clubs you've brought in.

-Have you ever played with them?

-Yes, I did.

-And how did you get on?

-Not too bad.

-They're a bit different to use from the modern clubs.

-Yes, yes.

These would date from 1900 to 1920.

-Oh, yes.

-Yeah.

-We suspect about that age.

-That's about right, and the shafts are hickory.

-They're hickory shafts.

Hickory shafts, and leather-bound handles which must have been very difficult in wet conditions.

They would have been very slippery, wouldn't they?

-Nowadays with firm rubber grips, you can play in any conditions.

-Yes.

And yet they still manage to go round golf courses in 67, 68 shots?

Oh, yes, they did, yes!

And given you're a greenkeeper...

-I was a greenkeeper, yes.

-Whereabouts where you greenkeeper?

-Locally, in Harlow.

-In Harlow?

Yes, Cannons Brook.

So with all this time on the golf course, your gardening must have suffered at home!

-We haven't got a garden!

-You haven't got a garden?

-No!

A golfer without a garden!

I think he's grateful for that!

So he couldn't practice in the back garden!

Now getting onto value, these are of huge academic and sporting interest.

-They're not, sadly, worth a huge amount of money.

-No.

I think for these to be worth lots of money, and clubs can make lots of

money, they really need to date from the other end of the 19th century,

early 1800s.

Then you can be into hundreds of pounds for a club and of course you can go earlier with the golf balls,

-the feathery balls.

-The feathery balls.

If you find one of those, then you're into serious money.

You've got some books, which you'd be happy to sell with the clubs?

Yes, I would.

It would be a great collection for somebody to perhaps start with. That's it, a starter.

You've got one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight clubs.

Sadly I think the collection is worth £50 to £100.

-Are you happy with that?

-Yes, I'd be very happy with that.

-If you're not going to use them.

-No.

We ought to put a reserve on them, don't you think?

-Yes, I'd like a reserve.

-£50 with auctioneer's discretion.

So we don't perhaps sell for less than £40.

There's a lot of history in these books, isn't there?

-Oh, yes, there is.

-Who Won What? Did you ever win any competitions?

Locally, yes. I won a few club competitions and I've

got my name up on one of the clubs I belong to, one on the board as well.

-So that will be up forever?

-That's it, yes.

-Long after you've gone, your name will be on there.

-For a long while!

-Lovely to meet you and thank you very much for bringing them along.

-Thank you very much.

-Hello Maureen, hello Darren.

-Hello.

-You're mother and son.

That's right, yeah.

God, I feel like Bruce Forsyth on the Generation Game!

Now, a pair of vases.

Tell me about them?

Well, I bought them about 15 years ago in an antique fair at

-Sawbridgeworth, just up the road, yeah.

-And why did you buy them?

Because I fell in love with the colour and the feel of them.

-They are nice.

-We both thought they were beautiful.

We thought they were gorgeous when we saw them.

Well, they are. I love this sort of turquoise colour it is?

-That's right.

-It's a starry blue colour and this lovely...

it's almost got what is known in the trade as a sort of satin finish.

-That's right.

-Very smooth to the touch, and you've got this lovely

lattice work going underneath the pattern, so you've got not only a nice colour but you've got

-a two-tone type pattern, with of course the terribly Victorian frilly edge.

-Yeah, that's right.

-These were almost certainly made in the Webb factory in Stourbridge in Gloucestershire.

-Well, that's funny!

Our last name is actually Webb!

Well, that's spooky, isn't it! That might be an omen on our favour.

-We didn't know that when we bought them, though.

-It wasn't on the ticket?

-No.

And it's almost nice to get a pair, because often one gets broken...

Or it's chipped or something like that, yeah.

-Exactly. Now what did you pay for them, 15 years ago?

-£120.

£120, which is a reasonable sum of money to pay for porcelain.

-I thought...

-A bargain, and it wasn't cheap.

I thought it was a lot, but I loved them that much,

that's why I didn't mind. I thought they were worth it.

I can see how you loved them, and the family love them.

Why are you possibly considering selling them?

Well, they're just packed away in a box.

I thought if nobody sees them, no point in leaving something pretty packed in a box.

But why are they packed in a box?

-They don't go with my colour scheme.

-You've changed your colour scheme?

-Yeah I have, yeah.

-You see this is the thing.

They went then, but now you've changed it to bright orange...

Not quite!

Well, now it's time to let them go to another collector, who will appreciate them.

Well, yeah and I hope they love them as much as I do, you know.

They're too nice to stay in a box.

Sophia, what a wonderful tea set!

-Thank you.

-Where did you find this?

Well, my grandfather has given it to my mother as a wedding gift.

As a wedding gift! When was that?

-1956.

-Right.

Handed down from family...

I was going to say, this is not 1950s.

-No.

-Do you know how old it is?

-I think it's '20s or '30s, I think.

It's 1920s, very much. It's a real...

The Indians were very influenced by the art deco period.

-Right, OK.

-So 1920s we've got

pure art deco lines, particularly if you look at the handle.

-Yes.

-This is very art deco, squared form...

Right, OK.

..of the handle, which I love.

There are two things, really, that set it aside and make

-it absolutely obvious that it's not an English tea set.

-Right.

One is this very intricate Indian chase decoration in the panels.

If you took that decoration out, then you would think it was completely

English and also, this extraordinary, very Indian-looking spout.

You just wouldn't have a spout like that finishing off an English teapot.

-Oh, I see, OK.

-It's the combination itself.

It's as if to say this is a pure piece of English workmanship

-but we've just put a bit of Indian, just...

-Just put something in.

It looks more or less complete, as far as I can see.

Perhaps there was another plate originally?

-Yes.

-And a spoon?

-Yes, and a spoon.

-It's quite a weight of silver.

-Yes, yes.

-Well, of course we can't date it exactly,

because unlike English silver which would have had to have a hallmark,

and if it had a hallmark we would be able to tell you exactly

where it was made and we would be able to tell you the date and who made it.

None of that information is available here, other than of course the

bottom, where it says "Made in Kashmir".

Well, we know Kashmir for other things, don't we, rather than silver?

-Yes, yes.

-Lovely sweaters.

But because of this design, it is a Kashmir design.

-It is a Kashmiri design? Is it?

-Yes, it is.

-That's very interesting.

-Because they do on a piece of cloth as well, you know, the design.

So we said that this is a Kashmir design, you know, so...

That's very interesting.

You yourself can look at that and tell it's Kashmiri?

-It's Kashmiri, yes.

-Well, I'm learning all the time!

I think it's wonderful. I think with regard to valuation, now I suppose

of all the pieces of silver that are least saleable, it's tea sets,

simply because people don't use them any more,

hence it's been in your loft.

-That's right.

-When did you last have a cup of tea out of a silver teapot?

-We never.

-A long time ago, probably never, so I think

you're really looking at a value of a few hundred pounds.

-£200 to £300.

-Yes, OK.

-It might take off and might make a bit more.

-Bit more, yes.

But I think £200 to £300 is the sensible estimate.

-Yeah, fine.

-All right?

-That's fine.

Why are you selling it?

I want to send the proceeds to Mother Theresa's charity

in Calcutta, where my mother used to work.

-Your mother worked there?

-Yes.

Let's hope we can leave that £200 to £300 estimate way behind, because it's such a wonderful cause.

-Cause, yes.

-For Mother Theresa?

-Yes.

-£500 would be nice, wouldn't it!

-Oh, it would be! Very nice!

Well, it's goodbye to the valuation day so let's remind ourselves

of all the lots we're taking off to auction.

I'm sure Sally's unusual fish set will attract a pool of interested bidders.

Alan's golf clubs and books would look great decorating the bar

of a local golf club, but will the worn handles handicap the price?

They no longer suit her colour scheme, and have been in a box for 15 years, so can Maureen's vases

find a sympathetic home for £150 to £200?

And finally, Sophia's extraordinary silver tea service is a real gem

and I'm sure will attract plenty of interest.

Next up another of my favourites,

a bit of studio pottery. It's Poole Pottery from Dorset.

We don't have Sally our owner with us today, but we do have her

daughter, Sarah, so where's Mum gone?

-She's unwell today.

-She's unwell?

-Oh, I'm sorry about that.

-So I'm taking her place, she'll be fine.

-Get well, Sally, and hopefully the top end of the estimate will cheer her up!

-I hope so!

We're looking at £80 to £100, Mark?

-Yeah, I love it.

-There's a lot of pottery here for that.

Is this a "come and buy me".

I hope so. I like it.

You've got the serving dish for the fish and all those quirky animals in there. We like them on Flog It!

-We like quirky.

-We do love quirky and I think quirky adds to value.

It makes it slightly more individual.

We just need an individual or two right now to bid against each other.

We do, absolutely and it might swim away!

Or to shell out top dollar!

This is it. It's going under the hammer.

The 1950s Poole Pottery fish service, there you are, Poole Pottery there.

What do you say to start me? £60?

60, 60 I have down there now, at 60, at £60. Yeah, 65, 65, 70...

I think this is so cheap for what it is!

At £70 down here now.

At 70, 75, 80, at £80...

Come on!

80. At £80 is bid.

All done now at £80. All done?

Well, we got it within estimate, well done, Mark.

-We did, but...

-I think that's an affordable collectable.

-It should have been more, but that's auctions for you.

-That's fine, yes.

-We needed another couple of people to put their hand up.

-Fight over it.

Put their hand up, yeah, a couple more times and we would have got £120, £140 for it.

-As you say, that's auctions for you, but wish Mum all the best.

I will do.

-OK, get well soon!

-Thank you.

20, 30, 40...

Well, good luck, Alan and Lesley.

We've got the eight golf clubs with some books, all from the early 1900s, just about to go

under the hammer, with a valuation of around £50,

£60, hopefully £70 odd for the lot.

I think it deserves that kind of money, Charlie, really!

-It should be enough.

-Hickory shafts, there's some quality there.

-And some good makers' names, we should be fine.

-Yeah.

You were a greenkeeper, weren't you?

-I was, yes.

-Good job?

-It was a nice, pleasant job working outside, yes.

What are you holding there in your hand?

-It's a little golf tee for Charlie.

-Spin it around... there it is.

Oh, it's a little sexy lady, look!

-It's a present.

-There you go, Charlie!

-That's fantastic, thank you.

-I think you're blushing! Oh, she's beautifully modelled.

-I'd be afraid to lose it, that's the trouble!

-There you go!

That's a novelty in itself, isn't it?

It'll make me keep my eye on the ball, won't it!

Yes, it will. Something to aim for!

Well, look, good luck, you two!

-Is he always like this?

-Yes.

-Is he?

Here we go, it's going under the hammer now. Let's tee off.

The collection of eight vintage hickory shafted golf clubs and the various books to go with them.

-I have two commissions and I start the bidding at £80.

-£80!

£80... do I hear 85?

At £80 is bid. 85 anywhere? 85, 90?

At £90, are you all done?

Yeah! The hammer's come down at £90!

-That's a cracking result, isn't it?

-It is, isn't it!

Well, done, Charlie. I think he's got a little lucky emblem there! Ever so proud of that!

Perhaps you should try selling that and not the golf clubs!

-That is for the golf clubs!

-Brilliant!

Next a pair of glass vases made in Stourbridge by the Webb factory

-and they've been stuck in a box for years, haven't they, Darren and Maureen?

-15 years.

-15 years?

-That's right, yeah.

-15 years they've been stuck in a box!

You opened the box, brought them along to the valuation day.

Were you happy with Mark's valuation... £150 to £200?

Yes, certainly, it's fine, yeah.

Why have they been stuck in a box?

-They don't go with my decor any more.

-Don't they?

-No.

I don't want them. I'd be frightened to break them.

And you don't want them, you don't want to inherit them?

They don't fit the decor.

They don't fit the decor and they don't always fit in today's market.

It's one of those funny areas, Paul, that we bump into.

Lovely quality, very Victorian,

but not the most desirable.

A few years ago these would have been sought-after,

so I don't think we're gonna have any flyers.

But you never know with antiques, do you? They go round in circles.

Fashion changes and in five years, might be worth a bit more money,

but we're gonna find out exactly...

-I don't think I'll keep them.

-You don't want to, but you might change the decor

and all of a sudden they'll fit in in five years time!

We've got to flog them, that's what we're here for.

-That's right.

-Let's do it, Maureen. They're going under the hammer.

Victorian blue satin glass oval formed vases.

What do you say to start me?

£100 to start me? 100? £100 I have now, at £100.

At £100. Do I have 110?

At £100 as bid. 110, 120, 130, 140, 150.

At 150, seated now at 150.

Is there 160 anywhere? At £150 are you all done?

Just £150!

You see, you didn't need the boxes.

-Brilliant. No.

-Maureen whispered in my ear,

"I brought the boxes, I had a feeling I might be taking them home."

£150, less a bit of commission, that's fantastic.

-Very nice.

-What are you going to treat yourself to?

Well, I've had an extension done to the house, so the money will go towards finishing off the interior.

-Get some kitchen work.

-Good luck.

90, five, 100.

Sophia's Kashmir silver is certainly becoming a big talking point, isn't it, just?

We had Charlie's original valuation...

£200 to £300 on the day.

It's worth probably £500 in weight of silver, if it was English Sterling silver.

You've cottoned onto this, haven't you, because you rang James up,

because I had a quick chat with the auctioneer just before the sale started.

Sophia is now upped the valuation, we've got a fixed reserve of £450.

So it just might struggle, but you don't know, because you can't tell

the quality, can you, of Indian silver, you don't know if it's equal amount or slightly less?

It's not easy to sell something in this country that's "Made in Kashmir"

on the bottom, as a rule, but, it's stylistically interesting...

-Very...

-And it weighs a lot.

-And there's a lot there, yes.

So what really made you change your mind?

Was it the fact that it was the weight or the sentimental value

or you just didn't want to let it go for £200?

Yes, I think so. All of it, really.

If I'm giving them the Mother Theresa Charity, why not give a

little bit more than £200, you know.

What's the point actually letting it go?

And tell us a little bit more about the charity. Are you involved with it?

My mother was involved with it.

She actually worked with Mother Theresa, looking after children

who are very, very poor and couldn't really afford anything, so literally

picking them up from the street and looking after them and in fact I was part of it as well.

Oh, wonderful, so you can remember that as a little girl?

-Oh, yes, from age 13.

-Did you ever meet Mother Theresa?

-Yes, yes.

-Oh, wonderful!

What lovely memories! I can see why you're very protective over this.

-Fingers crossed, OK. Let's see if we get that £450.

-Thank you very much.

It's all going to charity, Charlie.

It's made me tingle, actually.

Lot 184 is the 1920s Indian white metal tea service.

I have two commissions on the book and I start the bidding with me at £450.

Oh, yes! Worry over.

460, 470, 480, 490, 500, 520, 540...

-What do I know!

-560, 580, 600.

At £600, with me on the book at £600. Are you all done?

Our worries are over! The hammer's gone down.

£600! Well done!

Thank you, thank you. I'm really pleased.

-Giving all the money to Mother Theresa, brilliant!

-Yes. That's brilliant.

We've had great fun here at Reeman Dansie in Colchester, so until the

next time, there's plenty more surprises to come on Flog It!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd