Skegness Flog It!

MUSIC: "Better On Holiday" by Franz Ferdinand

Today, Flog It is in the home of the holiday camp.

Mention Skegness and what springs to mind? Butlins!

In 1936, Billy Butlin opened his first holiday camp here in Skegness

on the site of a former turnip field. It provided value for money,

good accommodation and entertainment for the holidaying masses.

Clearly, a winning formula!

And here at the Embassy Theatre,

I'm hoping for a winning formula with our experts, Elizabeth Talbot

and David Barby, and it looks like the happy campers

have turned out in their droves! There are hundreds of people here!

Bags and boxes full, brimming with antiques.

Hopefully, they're off to auction.

Amongst these antiques, David has already made his first find.

A collection of intriguing, tiny boxes.

-Daisy, this is a lovely echo from the past.

-Yes?

Both 18th and 19th century, and all with an element of personal hygiene.

Do you collect objects of this nature, or did you just acquire these through family inheritance?

Family inheritance, from an aunt.

And what was the appeal to you to hang on to them?

They intrigued me, these little boxes that people put small tablets in, patches and so forth.

-That's right.

-And if you move, you can take them with you.

That's true. It's the expertise in construction I find so intriguing.

-Yes.

-Particularly with this little box here, which is ivory and it has

-a delicate inlay of gold all the way around.

-Yes, exquisite.

-Absolutely!

So, when you open this up...

..you've got an interior where on this little velvet section,

you would put your toothpick, normally silver.

-Yes.

-And then this mirror, which is very much, sort of, discoloured now.

But just enough to show my teeth.

-Yes.

-So, I'd take the toothpick out and then just clean.

So, that fogging is actually to one's advantage?

If you've got filthy teeth, you can't see them very well!

Well, not really!

The one I find fascinating is this box here.

-Yes?

-Because this is a simple little oval box and this velvet lining here

could have had, sort of, personal implements,

maybe for nails or teeth or something like that.

-Yes.

-But what is so intriguing,

again with this one, you have this gold mount all the way round

-and it's encasing under glass a little watercolour drawing.

-Yes.

Of a coastal scene.

-It would have been lovely if it was Skegness, but it's not.

-No!

Because this is an estuary and on the other side of the estuary,

there is a range of hills or mountains.

-Yes.

-Right in the middle of the scene there's a little frigate,

which has a steam funnel,

so you're looking at the, sort of, middle of the 19th century.

About 1840, 1850, that sort of period.

This piece, I like immensely, because I love enamel boxes,

and if we open it,

it's got a little mirror inside.

-Yes.

-So, this would be used for patches that you would take out

and put on all those spots.

And so easy just to pop in a purse.

Oh, waistcoat. Waistcoat pocket.

-Waistcoat. Absolutely.

-Waistcoat pocket. So, this is quite nice.

And then, the absolute wonder

of your collection is this little case here

-which is called an etui.

-Etui?

And inside...

..There's a little press catch there.

-Yeah.

-I can open it and there you have a lady's delightful

-pair of scissors.

-Tiny!

If she snagged her sleeve, her lace,

she would be able to take out these various implements and use them.

I think it's gilt metal.

It would be lovely if it were silver or gold, but I don't think it is.

Very nice indeed. Now, how much are we going to realise for these pieces?

Well, I think somewhere between £500 and £600.

How splendid!

How it is to be sold, well, I'm going to leave that to the auctioneer.

-Yes?

-Because he may decide to put them in as one collection,

-or to sell them individually.

-Yes.

But he knows his market for these.

-Right.

-So, I'm going to leave it up to him to say how he wants to sell them.

-Excellent.

-Now, are you agreeable to that?

-Perfectly.

-Will you be at the auction?

-Of course!

-So shall I!

-Good!

I'll look forward to seeing you.

-Thank you very much for bringing these.

-Thank you.

Sheila, hello. Thanks for bringing

your Staffordshire flatback figure group. What can you tell me about it?

Not much, except that it belonged to my parents.

Now, given the age of it, which I think is probably from about 1880,

presumably they must have inherited it themselves?

-Oh, I'd say from their parents.

-OK.

So, possibly three generations of the family.

Yes, it's been there as long as me!

And, so, we come to today and you've decided you want to sell it.

-I do.

-And why is that?

-Because I don't like it!

-You don't like it?

-No, I don't like it.

-Oh, dear!

-I know.

-It's a Staffordshire flatback figure, which will be familiar to a lot of people.

-Yes.

What I like about it is that it's not the rarest of models,

but it's slightly unusual and it brought a smile to my face,

because we have the two figures here on a daybed

and it's the way the drapes are sagging in the middle, but it just

looks as though it's straining under the weight of two people.

-It does.

-I like the lady, the young woman up here.

A parakeet on her arm, a pretty little tiered skirt and who I take

to be her suitor, who's taking a break from his lute playing there

to kneel and have a chat!

As I say, he's not the rarest of figures and Staffordshire has taken a bit of a tumble over

the last few years, much as a lot of goods have, but they are picking up slightly.

It's in good order so I think it still would find a market quite comfortably at the moment.

You don't like it, but have you any idea of what it might be worth?

-Have you sort of given it that thought?

-Well, I thought probably 60 to 100, maybe.

It might be. I think it's more likely to fetch comfortably around 50 to 70.

I mean, splitting hairs slightly, but I think more like £50 to £70.

And, if it were about £50 to £70, would you still be happy to sell it?

-Yes, I would, yeah.

-You would.

Would you like a reserve on it so it's protected and if it doesn't sell, you have it back?

Not really, no!

-Testing you there!

-I know you were!

No, no. I think it has to go.

-It has to go. See how the market takes it?

-Yeah.

-OK, well, in that case, we'll take it, we'll put it in auction, £50 to £70.

-Yes.

-See if we can find a nice new home for it.

-OK.

Susan, you've just put a big smile on my face

cos you've brought in some furniture which I love.

-It's a classic low back Windsor stick chair.

-Right.

So, how long have you had this?

I've had it for ten years and I was left it from two old ladies.

I was their domestic for ten years and they left me it in their will.

And you've used this and sat on it for the last ten years?

And I've polished it and looked after it, so I'd like

it to go to somebody who's going to care for it just as much.

It's a very late Victorian chair.

We're, sort of, talking about 1890s.

This is what I would call a local chair to Skegness.

This is made in that triangle from Lincoln to Nottingham to Newark.

It's come from that area.

I can tell it's a Newark chair because of these two ring turnings.

It's as simple as that. And this particular Christmas tree splat.

-Oh, that's what you call it, is it?

-Yeah, I can identify this as 20 miles around Newark.

When these were originally made,

they would have been made in the forests by travelling workmen

that would travel around villages. They would set up a pole lathe,

fell the tree and this would be made while the timber was still very fresh and green.

Quite a few people were involved in making a chair.

One person would have used an adze and he would have made this seat.

This is made of elm.

His job description was called a bottomer.

He purely made these seats.

-Just the end bits.

-The bottoms for your bum! Like a tractor seat.

-Can you see that?

-Yes, how it's curved, yeah.

The next guy on the job would have been the turner, the wood turner.

-Now, he turned the legs and the arm supports, OK?

-Right.

He also turned the sticks.

Then, along came the guy who's job description was the assembler.

-He put the whole thing together, yeah?

-Oh, right.

-And I think this is a great practical kitchen chair.

-Right.

If you've got kids and dogs and you're not precious

and you want to use a chair and make it functional,

but invest in a piece of history, this is the chair for you.

-Oh, that's nice, then.

-And I think it will do somewhere in the region of £120 to £150.

-That's lovely.

-I think we should put a reserve of £80 on this.

Don't let it go for anything less.

That's fine. Thank you. Yes, that's it.

-Let's put it into auction.

-Thank you.

-Sue, hello.

-Hello.

-Are you having a lovely day?

-I'm having a lovely day.

-Excellent.

-Very enjoyable.

Well, I've picked out what you've brought cos I think this is charming.

Tell me what you have here?

I don't really know what it is. I know the name

Vesta has been mentioned.

-OK.

-Dad died in '96 and we were sorting out the drawers,

and Mum said, there's a bit of rubbish in there, just clear it out, you can have what you want.

-OK.

-So, I liked the colour of it.

And basically, it's been in a drawer for 12 years.

It caught my eye because of this electric blue.

-It's a stunning colour.

-Yes.

You mention the word Vesta and you are quite right.

What we have here is a late Victorian, Edwardian Vesta case.

-Right.

-It would have taken a little book of matches that would sit in there quite comfortably

and on the outside is this stunning...

-Do you know what this is made of?

-Is it ceramic?

-No, it's not ceramic.

Good guess. It's enamelled.

-Oh, enamel, right.

-Now, enamel is, in effect, molten glass.

-Oh, right, yes.

-So, what they did was they painted

this wonderful greyhound in a little landscape

with this wonderful blue surround.

I think it works beautifully.

It's amazing that in its history it hasn't come to any grief.

There's no damage, no crack and that is just lovely. So, that's what I am excited about.

-I see.

-The box itself is fairly straightforward.

-The lid is lovely.

-Yes, yes.

When it comes to assessing it for open market value at the moment,

because it's not a solid silver or a solid gold case,

I think the value will be restricted to round about £60 to £80.

-Right.

-And with that in mind, would you like a reserve on it?

-Yes and I would value your opinion.

-OK, then.

Well, I think that if we put a £60 threshold on it, but perhaps asked the auctioneer to use his discretion

of one bid maybe, so that if it got close enough and there would be one bid difference, he'd sell it.

If it were any greater discrepancy, it would be saved and kept

back for you, so it wouldn't be sold for a huge amount less than £60.

-That's fine.

-But I'm hoping for it to be £80, nearer, so...

But £60 to £80 with a £60 discretionary reserve.

That would be lovely, yeah. Thank you.

The queue is still pouring in through the door,

so we've got plenty more to see, but right now it's time to take our first lots off to the auction.

David definitely had a happy start to the day with the discovery of the exquisite boxes.

I wonder if the auctioneer will sell them as one lot or split them up?

Good luck to Daisy.

It's such a shame Sheila doesn't like her Staffordshire flatback, but I think if you inherit things

which aren't to your taste, it's better to sell them on to someone who will appreciate them.

What a great little chair! It's the kind of piece with real rustic charm which needs to be used and loved.

Let's hope we find a good home for it.

And finally, the enamel Vesta case.

It's in perfect condition, and I think well worth the £60 to £80 Elizabeth valued it at.

For today's sale, we've travelled to Golding Young in Grantham.

It's a wonderful bright, breezy morning.

People are queuing at the burger van, working up an appetite for the day ahead.

Fingers crossed we're going to be on the money and I think we're going to be in for a few surprises.

And the man weaving the magic here today is auctioneer Colin Young

and the first lot going under his hammer is the Vesta case.

5 anywhere else now? At 32 bid.

Last call, then. Going at £32!

Sue, why are you flogging this? It's a lovely Vesta. Nice box.

Well, it's been in the family for a while, but it's been in a drawer for

the past 12 years since Dad died, and I'd like to buy an ornament to remember him by.

Let's hope we can get you around £100.

It might be pushing it, that's the top end. We've got £60 to £80 on it.

I would hope so. It's in good order. The enamelling is very, very nice,

and I think it's got many positives, so I'm quite optimistic.

We've got two sets of collectors after this. The little enamel boxes and animal lovers.

Yes, so that will always help!

Fingers crossed! Straight out of the traps and there we go!

Lot Number 95 is the late 19th century gilt metal Vesta case

with a greyhound on grass. Who's going to start me at £50? 50?

Thank you. £50. 5 bid. 60...

-We're in! We've done it!

-At £60 I'm bid. 5 now, surely?

At £60, I'm bid. I'll take 2 if it's going to...

It does! 62. 65. 5 bid. 65. 68. 68. 70. At 70 bid. 2. 72. 75. 78?

78 bid. 80 bid. Make it 5? Let's make some progress.

-85, I see? 85 now.

-Come on, one more!

I'll take 2, then. No, it doesn't work. £80.

We're on the market and we're selling. Make no mistake. At £80.

The top end of our estimate! Well done, Elizabeth!

A good part of the country for greyhounds!

Yes. And well done Colin Young.

So, you've got £80, less a bit of commission.

-Yes, that's fine.

-That's a good day out.

That's lovely. Yes, it is, yes.

A good day at the races!

55. 55 now. £80 bid. At 110.

It's my time to be the expert and this little Windsor chair needs a good home. It belongs to Susan.

-Hi.

-You've had it for 10 years?

-I have.

-You've enjoyed sitting on it?

-I have.

-Very practical?

-Yes.

-Had a little chat to Colin about it. He likes it as well.

So, it's good pedigree, you know?

It's just lacking colour, and that comes with age, that patina.

So, give it 100 years and everybody will be going,

oh, isn't this wonderful!

It's got a personality, like I said to you at the valuation day.

But at a reserve of £80, it's got to sell.

-I hope it goes.

-It's a good, practical chair.

We're going to find out right now. It's really down to the bidders now.

Lot Number 600 is a late 19th century

low back Windsor chair with pierced vase splat.

Who's going to start me at £100? 100? 80 to go then, surely. 80?

50? Thank you. £50 I'm bid. 50 bid. 5 do I see now? 55 bid.

60. At 60 bid. 5 bid. 70 bid.

5 bid. 80 bid. 5 bid. 90 bid. 5, do I see? At £90 I'm bid. 5?

At 95. 100. 110 make it? 110. 120.

130 now? 120.

Any more bids? At 120 bid. 5? This is cheap.

At 120. We've done, we're finished and we're going then at £120.

-Spot on.

-That's good.

-Pleased it's gone?

-Yeah.

It'll go to a nice home and it'll have another 200 years of use

because that chair is built to last.

Well, next up is Sheila's Staffordshire flatback figure with a value of £50 to £70.

I like this and Sheila's not keen on it,

as we found out at the valuation day.

It took a lot of persuading to look at it!

Proper, proper country pottery.

-It looks fantastic on a Welsh dresser.

-And I'm a country girl.

-A country girl! Why don't you like it?

-I just don't!

There's plenty of collectors though that love Staffordshire figures.

It's a big area. And again, it's the condition that's so good.

A nice, colourful example.

And it's got the parrot! I like the parrot.

-There's a home for it in anybody's house.

-I think so.

-Except mine!

-Except yours!

Lot Number 265 is a 19th century

Staffordshire pottery flatback group. It's a courting couple.

30 to go? 30? 20, then, surely? £20 bid. At £20 bid. 2 do I see now?

-Come on!

-2 bid. 5? 5 bid.

28 bid. 30 now. £30 bid. At £30 bid.

32 do I see? At £30 bid.

2 anywhere else now, surely? 32 bid?

-Come on!

-35. 38.

40, may I say? 40 bid. 2 now, do I see? At £40 bid.

-A bit more!

-No, at £40 we're on the market.

We're going to sell, make no mistake.

Last call, then, all done and finished at £40.

Well, it found a home.

-It did.

-That struggled, didn't it?

-Yes.

-Still, it's gone and you're pleased cos you didn't like it,

-but we could have done a bit more?

-It could.

-A bit gloomy.

-Yeah, a bit gloomy.

-It's gone, Sheila. It's gone.

We did our best!

80 bid.

Well, it looks like Daisy's selling part of her collection?

-Absolutely.

-Yeah?

-A small selection.

Small. Why did you start with these four items?

The first one, the enamel one, is my favourite, actually, because it's been much used.

-And I think there must be so much history with it.

-Yeah.

And it's sweet and I love enamel,

but yes, that's the first one to go.

Well, we're starting off with that one, then there's a couple of ivory

little cases and that lovely little etui, which I love.

-You valued all of these, David, £500 to £600 in one lot?

-Yes.

-Colin's decided to sell them separately.

-Which is sensible.

Well, you knew he was going to do that.

-Yeah.

-So, we're going to start with the little enamel box.

Lot Number 140 is the 19th century

French enamelled and gilt metal box. 30?

-30, surely?

-Come on!

-Come on!

-20 to go then, surely? 20 bid.

22. 25. 28. 30. 2. 35. 38.

Bid 40. And 2. 42. At 42.

This is cheap. 45 now, surely. At 42 it's on the market and selling. 45.

45. 48. 48. Bid 50. And 5. 55.

Bid 60. And 5.

Bid 70. 70 bid. 75. Bid 80, now. No?

75. 78, if it helps, then? At 75. Last call, then.

All done and finished and selling then, £75.

That's one gone, 75.

The next is the tooth pick.

What shall we say for this one? Start me at £50 for it. 50?

30 then. 30, Who's first in? Thank you. 30. 35, now.

35 was on the net. 35. Bid 40. 45.

Bid 50. And 5. Bid 60. 55 bid.

60, now, do I see? 60. At 60 bid.

5 bid. 70 bid. 5 bid.

80 bid. 5? £80, I'm bid. 5 anywhere else now? £80, I'm bid.

Any more bids? 5, do I see?

5 now, surely? Thank you. 85. Bid 90. At 90 bid.

-95? 95. 100.

-We've got to 100.

And 10 now? Thank you. 110.

At 110. 120 now? 110.

Are we all done and finished, then?

At £110. Last call.

I'm selling at £110.

Well done, that man!

-Yes! The internet does work.

-Yes, doesn't it?

The next one is another ivory box. It's the one with the D end.

Who's going to start me at £50? 50 straight in. 50.

I'm bid 50. At £50 I'm bid. 5. 55 bid. 60 bid. 65. 70. £70, I'm bid.

At 70 bid. 5, anywhere else? At £70 bid. 5 anywhere else?

At 70. Are we all done? At 70. Last call, then. Going at £70.

That's OK. We're still on track for your £500 to £600.

Lot Number 155 is an 18th century

lady's gilt metal and banded agate etui. £100, surely. 100.

Thank you. Down there at 100. 120 now, may I say? At £100 bid.

120? 120. 140? 140. 160?

-160 now. Do I see 160?

-180, come on!

180. 200. 220 now. £200 I am bid.

At 200. 220? 220. 240. 260. 280.

-We've done it.

-300. 320.

340. 360 now. 340 is all I'm bid.

-At 340. 360 or not now? 340. Any more bids?

-Thank you!

-At 340.

At 340. Last call, then. I'm selling, make no mistake, at £340.

Brilliant! We got your top end, then.

-Oh, that is good!

-We have gone toppies!

-We have!

-That is good.

You were spot on. You said £500 to £600.

I think we've just topped £600...

-For once in my life!

-The prayer was answered!

-It was!

-I am so pleased!

-For once in my life! Bless you!

Thank you both so much. What fun!

The great thing about Flog It is that I get the chance to go

out and about all over the British Isles

to explore weird and wonderful things which people

are passionate about and today is certainly no exception.

The place I'm going to visit is a real gem and you wouldn't

expect to find this in the heart of Lincolnshire.

The Parrot Sanctuary was set up in 2003.

It's home to almost 1,700 birds and is the result of one man's extraordinary passion.

So, how did it all start, and what drove Steve Nicholls,

the man behind it all, to set up this national sanctuary here, just outside Skegness?

Steve, I've met some collectors in my time before on the show, but nothing like this!

You and your extended family!

-It is quite big now, yes.

-Where did a passion for parrots start?

-I've always been an animal oriented person.

-Yeah. Did you have a parrot as a kid?

We had budgies, we had cockatiels, things like that,

but then, in my early 20s, I started to become more fascinated.

And then it developed, and I quickly identified that

-we didn't have a lot of knowledge of the pet parrot.

-Yeah.

And no matter how fabulous they are and how nice we are with them,

there was a big mismatch with parrots and people.

I wanted to further my studies, so I actually bought one parrot, which was a cockatoo.

-That's one of those over there.

-That's right, one of the large ones.

There was a reason for what I was doing. I didn't collect them as pets.

I wanted to study them and try to help them, and help people that kept them.

And I realised that there needed to be a place like this.

So, all of these are unwanted birds that people give you?

They're unwanted, but loved.

The people genuinely do love them, but they realise that they can't give them what they need.

They need things to do.

It's a case of they're a very social, interactive creature, so all day, they will be playing with each other.

They will be biting, pinching food. They will be doing things that keeps them preoccupied.

In a cage, you can only play with that plastic yellow toy so many times before you become demented.

What state are they in when they arrive?

That's the main state that they come in. The self-mutilation.

They'll sit there, just bored, and pull a feather out.

It becomes a habit and then they'll turn up to us with no feathers on.

So, the self-mutilation is the worst, but it is a physical deformity, there's a mental deformity.

Most of them sadly actually do suffer from mental diseases where it's stereotypical to a human,

where they rock backwards and forwards, and don't know

-how to present themselves with other animals.

-Yeah.

They're beautiful, aren't they? Striking colours.

Well, that's their downfall.

If they were just a plain, dull brown, nobody would be interested in having them in.

What would one of these cost in a pet shop now?

Between £1,500 and £2,000.

-It's a lot of money, isn't it?

-It is a big commitment.

We actually get people that will buy these on Sunday and then phone me on a Monday

and say, can they eat fruit, and what size cage do they need?

We have to say, right, let's start it from scratch. Why have you bought one of these?

-Yes.

-And they saw it because it's sat here and it's fabulous while it's in the shop. Very difficult.

We don't want to say, yes, we've got nearly 1,700 parrots here

and we should have them all and nobody else should have any.

But here are certain birds out there that are far better suited to being with people

than others that are better off in this kind of environment.

Name me some of the breeds you've got here.

Well, we've got 101 species.

Now, if you imagine there are 334 species of parrot in the world, that means we've got a third of them here.

-Yeah.

-And we've got all the macaws from South America and the Amazons from South America.

The cockatoos from Australia, and then, we've got the Indian ringnecks from India.

We're absolutely surrounded! Shall we take a look at the rest?

-Yes, certainly.

-I'm absolutely fascinated by them all.

-That's OK.

PARROTS SQUAWKING LOUDLY

Gosh!

These are noisy, aren't they?

-These are the real noisy ones.

-Look at this one!

-That's Peter, that!

-Now, he's got more of an Elvis Presley haircut!

-He has.

-Do you see how gentle he was?

-Oh, they're very dextrous with their beaks.

It's just they're also very loud.

-Wow! They're quite aggressive, aren't they?

-They can be, yes.

They're very, very aggressive.

-Watch your head as you come in.

-I'm surprised they aren't fluttering everywhere!

No, these are quite relaxed, steady birds, these.

This is a lovely big colony, and they get their own nice feeling, being together.

It's really nice that they can actually fly around and interact with each other.

-Well, just this is just their play area for them to chew...

-Gosh!

-This is Rio!

-You know, I felt that! I thought, what the hell was happening there?

He won't let anybody go on telly without him being there.

-Do you know the names of all of these birds?

-Only the characters.

I think you are the most eccentric collector I've ever met, Steve.

And, you know, I take my hat off to you! I really do.

You and the family.

Where does it go from here?

-Well, all we can do is keep collecting, but on a good side.

-OK.

Ultimately, we'll be the largest rehabilitation centre

for parrots in the world, and it'll belong to the UK,

to all the guys that come to see them, and more than anything, to these lovely birds.

This fascinating place is a real testament to Steve's passion and drive.

What an inspirational, unique individual.

Back at the Embassy Theatre, we've still got a room brimming with people.

David and Elizabeth have certainly got their work cut out getting through this lot!

James, are you into the classics?

Not desperately, no.

I didn't think you were, otherwise you wouldn't be selling this!

This is quite a good model, actually. It's hard paste porcelain.

It's German.

Dating from the earlier part of the 19th century.

And you've got this distinctive sort of raised circular plinth

with the sort of Greek key pattern,

which was a feature of porcelain produced at that particular time.

And also, it's part and parcel of the neo-classical movement.

This is an extremely elegant figure.

When you look at the detail, the hair, wonderful!

-And of course, there's his wonderful feet.

-What, those long toes?

Yes, those long toes.

James, have you got a foot fetish?

No, I don't think so!

-But I think, to a certain extent, there is an element of restoration.

-I think maybe you're right, yes.

Yeah, and dare I be so bold as to take it up and start passing it through my mouth?

The reason I do that is to test to see if there's any restoration.

-You know how you test pearls, whether they're synthetic or cultured?

-Yeah.

If there's a slight give, it feels plasticky, that's synthetic pearls.

And exactly the same sensation on this one here.

I haven't left any indentation there, but I do think that possibly is a restored section.

But it's such an exquisite figure, I can understand why somebody went to great expense in having it restored.

-With the restoration, it does affect the value.

-I'm sure it does.

-And I think the auctioneer will be happy to put it up for sale with a guide round about 80 to 120.

-Right.

-If it goes for more, I shall be delighted.

-So will I!

Do you want to place a reserve on it, or just want it to ride in the sale room?

-No, I think...

-Is it something that you want to get rid of?

-I don't...

Not for nothing, no. I mean, you know, maybe it's £80 or something.

-OK, let's put a reserve of £80. I think that's sensible.

-OK, thank you very much.

And if it doesn't go, you can put it back on the mantelpiece!

-Mary, hello.

-Hello, Elizabeth.

I've been sitting, drooling over this lovely - what is called an object of virtue -

this lovely gem of craftsmanship, and I'd like to hear your story about it, because I think it's lovely.

Well, I bought it in the 1960s, the mid 1960s,

from an antiques fair in Chichester, and it just caught my eye.

I love its sort of tactile shape, you know, and it sits in the palm of my hand.

I used to use it when I put my make-up on before I went out.

-I used to go round the folk clubs, singing.

-Really?

I was very much part of that scene in those days.

And yes, I've always loved it.

You must have been the best equipped folk singer in the time, then, because what we have here,

which isn't obvious from just looking from the outside,

is a little vanity mirror, and I think that is just charming. Do you know what it's made from?

Well, I know it's tortoiseshell, and I understand it's not really tortoiseshell, but turtle shell.

That's one thing I have learned from Flog It!

And I presume it's inlaid with silver.

Absolutely. The silver is so fine, that it is impossible for it

-ever to have been assayed, so you cannot look for a mark to date it.

-I see.

The silver is inlaid, and then it's chased, so the bird, which I think is...

I don't know what kind of bird you thought it was?

I don't know. I think it looks like an imaginary bird.

It's kind of part eagle, I think.

Part ho-ho bird, part lots of...

-I know!

-But the silver is then chased to give the detail of the feathers,

just to give it that three-dimensional appeal.

-Yes.

-Absolute charming thing. So, you used to use it, does that mean you don't use it anymore?

I like having it, but at a certain age, you don't look in mirrors so often.

Oh, get away! I can't believe that at all.

-But you're thinking of selling it now?

-I think so, yes.

-It is very much a collector's piece.

It is, as I said at the beginning, classed as an object of virtue,

and I think that it would go to a specialist collector,

-who would, at the moment, be prepared to pay somewhere between £70 and £100 for it.

-Right.

Would you like a reserve on it?

-I'm not really bothered, I'd leave that to the auctioneer.

-I think that's a good idea.

He will monitor it and we can have a chat nearer the time and he'll look after it for you,

but £70 to £100, and we'll see what response we get.

-Splendid!

-See you at the auction.

-Thank you.

Well, Dee,

you've travelled the world, haven't you?

-No, not me.

-Oh, not you?

No, my grandmother.

-Well, she travelled the world, didn't she?

-No, she was born in India.

Her parents lived in India.

Her father owned a tea plantation,

and she was born and brought up out in Lahore, Bangladesh.

Well, why I say travelled the world is because this is quite a sort of eclectic selection of objects,

and I can see that she may have travelled to India,

in this little bracelet here with lacquer detail.

This little necklace with the carved flowers, this may be Indian.

This certainly is Indian. Extraordinary little thing.

It's like a little mace, it's got holes at the end and you put your pins in there.

Oh!

This is a buckle and a brooch

with a red lacquer centre, and that was produced in China.

I never heard of her going to China.

And these lovely carved ivory pieces,

which include a little mirror, a shoehorn,

and then these exquisite buttons,

but rather frightening, because each is a carved baboon head!

So, can you remember those as a child?

Yes, I can, and they were sewn on to a cardigan that my mother had made for me.

-Really?

-And my grandmother used to cut them off every time the cardigan went for washing,

and then sew them back on again.

-Goodness me!

-And I was never frightened by them!

You probably just thought they were pretty buttons.

Yes, they're lovely.

Well, that really is quite a lovely collection,

but the most amazing piece is this bangle here,

which, although it's not marked gold, I think is gold,

and it's set with turquoise and ruby.

-And the most wonderful sort of snarling snake's head.

-Now, that's horrifying!

-It is horrifying, isn't it?

-Yes.

But this was a sort of fashionable bracelet to be worn by Victorian ladies. A lovely collection.

Why do you want to sell them?

It lives in a little wicker basket box, and that's just where it is.

I don't do anything with it, and I thought, what's the point of it being there?

-The bracelet is too small.

-Was that worn by any member of your family?

-My grandmother.

-Oh, right! You remember that, can you?

-Yes, but she was very small.

I think with the jewellery, it ought to be sold, maybe,

-as one lot of ethnic jewellery, and this bangle probably sold separately.

-Mmm-hmm.

OK. So, when I say ethnic jewellery, obviously, the Indian pieces and the ivory sections here,

and these pieces, I think they'll realise something in the region of about £60 to £100.

Well, there's a thing!

-When we come to this snake bracelet, not everybody's choice.

-No.

But I think it's fantastic.

I think this is probably going to sell for 80 to 160 on its own.

-Oh, lovely.

-So, you'll be happy at that?

-Mmm.

I would suggest that the ivory jewellery has a reserve, let's say,

-round about £50.

-Mmm-hmm.

Your snake bracelet, we'll put a reserve, a definite reserve, fixed at £80.

Oh, lovely.

-Don't forget, this is all part of your history going.

-I know, I know. I've got other stuff, as well.

Have you really?

Well, let's get to the auction room and see how this next selection of items goes down with the bidders.

This porcelain figure is really a beautiful thing,

but I wonder if its restoration will hold it back

when it goes under the hammer.

Mary's vanity mirror was used a lot during her career

as a folk singer in the 1960s, but now it's time to sell it on.

And this selection of ethnic jewellery

and this striking snake bracelet belonged to Dee's grandmother, and they've certainly had a history.

I hope Dee doesn't regret letting them go.

James, you're selling some inheritance. Your aunt gave you this Meissen figure.

-David has put £80 to £120 on it.

-Yeah.

-Why do you want to get rid of this?

-Not particularly fond of it.

-No?

No, it's not really something I would, you know, miss.

-Have on display, or...

-I've had it on display, but I won't miss it.

Well, plenty of people out there will love this, and at £80 to £120, it's going to sell.

Lot number 245 is a 19th century Meissen figure of Apollo.

Who's going to start me at 100 for this little beauty? 100.

-100 on the internet. Straight in at 100.

-Oh, wow!

-In at the top end!

-110. 120 now?

120 bid. 130 anywhere else now?

At 120 is all I'm bid. At 120. 130 now, do I see anywhere else?

At 120. It's an internet bid, then. You're all out in the room, then?

Selling, make no mistake, at £120.

Yes! Fantastic! The top end of the estimate.

Straight in and straight out. Blink and you'll miss that one!

Quickly! 12 bid. 12 in the room. And 15 now.

This item is absolutely gorgeous.

We all love it. Mary loves it, myself and Elizabeth.

It's a 19th century vanity mirror.

Why are you selling this, Mary?

It's been on the road with you, you've loved this and cherished it.

Well, I think it deserves a new face. Mine is completely worn out!

Nothing wrong with your face!

Lot Number 125 is the 19th century tortoiseshell

and silver pique work vanity mirror.

A very pretty little lot.

Who's going to start me at £50 for it? 50?

Straight in, 50? Thank you, 50. 60?

We've sold it. Straight in!

55. 60. And five now. 65. 70.

Five, surely? 75?

75 bid. 80 bid. Five. 90.

Five. 100. Ten now. 110 bid.

20 or not, now? 120, surely?

110 at the back of the room. 120.

130. At 135.

We may have an internet bidder. We do!

135, 140, thank you, sir. At 140. 145?

145. 50 now? 150.

155. 160. Thank you. 170.

180 now in the room? 180. 190? 190.

200. 20 anywhere else, now?

220, it's the last call.

At 200, my bid's in the room, then.

At £200. All done. Selling then, in the room.

And definitely selling at £200.

-Thank you very much.

-£200!

Now that's a real, true reflection of its value.

I think someone is buying all the love that little piece contains, you know?

-The feelgood factor is there.

-Yeah, it's a charming thing.

-Well, Mary, that was a nice encore, wasn't it?

-It certainly was.

Next up, some ethnic jewellery belonging to Dee here.

-They were your grandmother's?

-Yes.

She was born in India, and this is where they originate.

Been in the family a long time, but Dee's flogging them.

We've got the little snake bracelet which is, oh, I think, a come and get me at £80 to £160.

It's lovely. Typical Victorian.

-They loved these snake bracelets.

-Talk me through the next lot.

The other item that's coming up, these are a miscellaneous collection of ivory.

Some buttons with monkey heads, and some other bits and pieces

that were collected from, I suppose, the Far East when your...

That's it. My grandmother got given them as presents from the local Raj,

because she used to go to school with his family.

Let's hope they create an awful lot of interest here in Grantham.

Ethnic art is something to invest in right now.

-It's hard to put a price on.

-Absolutely.

-So, well done, David.

The snake's coming up first.

Lot number 45 is a Victorian hinged snake bangle this time.

No hallmarks, but a fabulous looking item. £50, surely?

Thank you. £50 bid. At 55. 60.

At 60 bid. Five?

Bid 70, do I see? 70? 70. Five. 80.

Five. 90. Five.

100. And ten on the book. 120. 130.

140. 150. 160 in the room.

-160! That's good!

-170 now?

Surely 170? Thank you, 170. 180.

190. 190, do I see?

190 on the net. Two, now?

-Two? 220 now?

-This is very good.

-They like it.

-Yes, they love it.

It's beautiful, actually.

Another bidder. 240. 260. 280, now?

280. 300. 320, now?

320. 340. 360, now?

360, do I see? I have 340 here.

-360!

-We're at 340. 340 here.

-360, now.

-360!

-380, now? 380. 400?

400. 420? 420. 440. 460.

480. 500.

-550.

-I don't think it's that ethnic!

600. 650, now? At 600, I'm bid.

At 600. Are there any more bids? 50 anywhere else, now?

Either net or room? At 600 in the middle of the room, then.

Last call, then. Going at £600.

-Oh!

-Oh, wow! Wow!

Would you like a seat?

-No, no!

-And well done that man, Colin Young, as well.

He really teased that bit out of people.

£600 for the first item, for which we were hoping to get

around about 80 to 100, and now we have, we're hoping for £60 to £80 for the next of the lots.

What shall we say for this one? Starting me at £50 for it. 50?

30, then. 30? Who's first in? Thank you. 30. 35 now?

35 was on the net. 35. Bid 40. 45.

-Anything now is a bonus, isn't it, really?

-Yes.

55 bid. 60, now, do I see? 60? At 60 bid. Five bid. 70 bid.

Five bid. 80 bid.

Five, now, surely? Thank you.

-85.

-Ooh! It's topping now!

-You are topping it up now, Dee!

100. Ten, now, do I see? Thank you. 110. 120. 140? 140.

160? 160, now? Do I see 160?

At 140. Last call, then. I'm selling, make no mistake, at 140.

-Wow!

-Gosh!

-Thank you.

Those are the moments we love, actually.

I told you were going to be in for a few surprises today, didn't I?

-I think it's made Dee's day here, don't you?

-It certainly has!

It's made your year! What are you going to put all that money towards?

-I've no idea, but I'll spend it!

-£740!

If you've got anything like that at home, please bring it along to one of our valuation days.

You never know, you could end up in the auction room,

just like Dee here, with a wonderful surprise. £740!

We've had a great day in Grantham, I hope you've enjoyed the show. We certainly have.

Until the next time, it's goodbye.

-Thank you.

-So good!

For more information about Flog It, including how the programme was made,

visit the website at bbc.co.uk

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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