0:00:04 > 0:00:11This Lancashire town has been home to lots of famous people and played host to many as well,
0:00:11 > 0:00:16including Mahatma Gandhi and Italian violinist Nicolo Paganini,
0:00:16 > 0:00:20but today it's Flog It's turn. Welcome to Blackburn!
0:00:42 > 0:00:48Home-grown talent includes Russell Harty, Superbike champion Carl Fogarty
0:00:48 > 0:00:55and fashion designer Wayne Hemingway. And a well-known face was Labour's Barbara Castle,
0:00:55 > 0:01:02who was the town's MP for more than 30 years, becoming Baroness Castle of Blackburn in 1990.
0:01:03 > 0:01:08I wonder if we'll find any famous names linked to today's antiques.
0:01:08 > 0:01:15There's only one way to find out - get along to King George's Hall, our venue for today.
0:01:16 > 0:01:21Where I'm joined by Adam Partridge and Michael Baggott,
0:01:21 > 0:01:28who are already rummaging through all the bags and boxes in search of some big names.
0:01:30 > 0:01:36No prizes for guessing where I am, but what does Accrington have in common with New York?
0:01:36 > 0:01:41Well, here's a clue. It involves another famous name.
0:01:41 > 0:01:48In fact, it's a German name associated with our first item, as Michael is about to reveal.
0:01:48 > 0:01:54- Betty...- Yes. - These wonderful, rather in-your-face copper vases!
0:01:54 > 0:02:00- They're not something you'd walk by. - No, they're not. - Are they family things?
0:02:00 > 0:02:04- No, just got them yesterday. - You got them yesterday?- Yes.
0:02:04 > 0:02:10- How did you get them yesterday? - Each Saturday we go shopping in different towns.
0:02:10 > 0:02:15- We got them near Wigan yesterday. - In antique shops...?- A charity shop.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19Oh, my word. Charity shops. Still, I say that,
0:02:19 > 0:02:23but charity shops now can be quite expensive.
0:02:23 > 0:02:28Can I ask the rude question, the one everyone's asking at home? How much?
0:02:28 > 0:02:34- £10.- Good grief. They say there are no more bargains, but I think they are out there.
0:02:34 > 0:02:40- We found one yesterday.- I think you did. Well, if they were nothing more than a pair of decorative
0:02:40 > 0:02:46copper and brass vases, £10 is still too little to pay for them,
0:02:46 > 0:02:50but we can see this wonderful Art Nouveau form.
0:02:50 > 0:02:55We've got these sensuous, naturalistic whiplash handles,
0:02:55 > 0:02:57with all these tendrils going off.
0:02:57 > 0:03:03And then we've got, I have to say, a machine-done rather than hand-hammered finish.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06And again the foliate stems,
0:03:06 > 0:03:10the handles are echoed there.
0:03:10 > 0:03:15If we turn them over, we might be lucky. 125.
0:03:15 > 0:03:21- That's the pattern number. And we've got a little ostrich in a diamond. Do you know what that means?- No.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25- No idea.- Not that they were made in Australia!
0:03:27 > 0:03:33- It's an early mark for the WMF factory. The Wurttemberger Metallwaren Fabrik.- Yes.
0:03:33 > 0:03:38So they're German. There were made in about 1900, 1910.
0:03:38 > 0:03:46The only downside is that everybody loves the highly-polished pewter from WMF. It looks like silver.
0:03:46 > 0:03:52The mixed metals, the copper and brass, is not so keenly sought after.
0:03:52 > 0:03:58- Oh.- But when you've only paid £10 for them, you haven't got to worry.
0:03:59 > 0:04:04I think bearing that in mind, I would put these into auction at...
0:04:04 > 0:04:11- £60-£100.- That's lovely. - Let's put a fixed reserve on of £50, so they don't make any less.
0:04:11 > 0:04:17- If they go for that, you've quadrupled your money.- Yes. - That's a good return.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21I think they should do really well. They've got a lot of style.
0:04:21 > 0:04:27- Let's hope on a good day they make £100. - Lovely. Thank you very much.
0:04:36 > 0:04:42- Welcome to Flog It, gentlemen. You're...- Sidney.- And...- Will. - Sidney and Will. Are you related?
0:04:42 > 0:04:45- Yes, we're brothers.- Excellent.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49You've brought in this tea service. A joint inheritance, is it?
0:04:49 > 0:04:53- Yes.- Well, it will be. My mum's still alive.
0:04:53 > 0:05:01I didn't like to jump the gun. But if you're two brothers with a tea service, it must be a family thing.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05- So it's Mum's.- Yes.- OK. And how long has Mum had it?
0:05:05 > 0:05:09- 70 years.- 70 years. How did she get it?
0:05:09 > 0:05:14- She was given it by an aunt. - OK.- On her 16th birthday.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18Do you know where the aunt got it from? Have you tried to trace it?
0:05:18 > 0:05:25Well, my mum's told us the story that it was brought as a gift for the family
0:05:25 > 0:05:32by an Irish horse dealer, who came over supplying Liverpool Police with horses.
0:05:32 > 0:05:37- Oh, really?- A gift to the family. - That's a very plausible story.
0:05:37 > 0:05:42It is Irish porcelain. The Belleek factory.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46- Yep.- Famous for its translucent qualities.- It is.
0:05:46 > 0:05:52- And that it's easily breakable! I'm not going to demonstrate that... - I hope not!
0:05:53 > 0:05:58But the translucence of it. It's really very fine bone china.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02- And on the bottom here you've got the Belleek mark.- Yep.
0:06:02 > 0:06:07It's the second period black mark. They've evolved through the ages
0:06:07 > 0:06:13and turned from black to green. This is post-1891 because they've added Ireland on.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15Without Ireland, it's pre-1891.
0:06:15 > 0:06:22This is your second period, so it's in the collector's bracket for an old piece there.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26- Any idea what it's worth? - Em, well...
0:06:26 > 0:06:31- Possibly 300 plus?- Yeah. I think that may be slightly hopeful.
0:06:31 > 0:06:38- I was thinking £200-£300.- Right. - I think that's probably a realistic starting point.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42- Does that sound all right with you? - Sounds fine, yes.
0:06:42 > 0:06:49I do advise a reserve of 200. I think any less than that and it's probably best to...
0:06:49 > 0:06:54- My mum wouldn't want it to go too cheap.- Don't upset Mum. - Definitely not.
0:06:54 > 0:07:01- Will she do anything specific with the money?- Home improvements. It'll go towards some improvements.
0:07:01 > 0:07:07- Well, it's a lovely shape, lovely design. Let's hope it finds a good home at the auction.- I'm sure.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11- Thanks for coming.- Thank you.
0:07:15 > 0:07:21- Don't you just love him? I've got three sisters here. Help me with the names.- Josie.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23- Josie.- Susan.- Susan.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27- Pauline.- And Pauline. Three in the family or more?
0:07:27 > 0:07:32Five of us altogether. We have another sister and a brother.
0:07:32 > 0:07:37- OK. So all five of you played with this bear at some stage.- Albert.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39- He's called Albert?- He is.
0:07:39 > 0:07:44We've started with Albert's good side. He only has one ear.
0:07:44 > 0:07:50We used to ride him as children and we used to use his ears as handlebars, unfortunately.
0:07:50 > 0:07:55- So one fell off. - Somewhere along the line, yes.
0:07:55 > 0:08:03It's a good job this ear is intact. Because that's the ear with the all-important Steiff stud.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07- You know it's there.- Yes. - You pointed it out to me.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09It's just inside there.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12Where is it? Just there.
0:08:12 > 0:08:17And that says Steiff on it. That puts the value up. It's the Rolls Royce of teddy bears.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21He's got all the attributes you want of a good Steiff bear.
0:08:21 > 0:08:26Good colour, that cinnamon colour. He's got his hump still.
0:08:26 > 0:08:31He's got his original glass eyes. He's got a great long nose.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35There's one little surprise left. He's still got his growl.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39- Yes.- Who wants to pull it for the last time?
0:08:39 > 0:08:42For the last time!
0:08:42 > 0:08:47- BEAR GROWLS - Maybe you'll get a go in the auction room as well.
0:08:47 > 0:08:54Now this is, I would say, 1950s. Would that correlate to when you had it?
0:08:54 > 0:08:57- Somewhere around there?- I think so.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00Late '40s maybe? '50s?
0:09:00 > 0:09:04- He was at Grandma's. - It looks it. The wheels on this
0:09:04 > 0:09:11and that H framework look to be typical 1955, somewhere around there.
0:09:11 > 0:09:17- I think we'll put him into auction, if it's OK with you, with a value of £200-£300.- Right.
0:09:17 > 0:09:22- Hopefully, we'll get that top end. - Yes.- Great.- And all the money will be divided up?
0:09:22 > 0:09:27Yes, we'll probably go out and have a nice meal.
0:09:27 > 0:09:34- That would be nice. - I'm feeling sorry for him now. You're off to a new home, mate!
0:09:34 > 0:09:38If I turn him round, do you feel guilty now?
0:09:38 > 0:09:44- Now we've got his bad side. He'll feel grumpy cos he's on camera. - BEAR GROWLS
0:09:49 > 0:09:53- Norma, how are you today?- I'm fine, thank you.- Good. Now...
0:09:53 > 0:09:57- where did you get this little piggy from?- It belonged to my mother-in-law.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59And she bought it at a jumble sale.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02- Never!- Mm-hm.- Really?- Yes.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05- How long ago?- About four years ago. - No!
0:10:05 > 0:10:07How much was it?
0:10:07 > 0:10:12- 50p.- And she bought it because she liked it or because she knew it was Wemyss Ware?
0:10:12 > 0:10:17- Um...because she liked it.- Really? - Mmm.- Well, that's the best reason to buy something, isn't it?- It is.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19So...has she passed it onto you, or...?
0:10:19 > 0:10:21No, it's still my mother-in-law's.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25- OK. Do you know anything about it yourself?- Not really.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27So you brought it along to Flog It,
0:10:27 > 0:10:29to see if it's owt or nowt.
0:10:29 > 0:10:30- Mmm, yes.- OK.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32Well...it's owt.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34Mmm! THEY CHUCKLE
0:10:34 > 0:10:37It's a good thing. It's a Wemyss pig. Made in Scotland.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39Wemyss started at the end of the 19th century
0:10:39 > 0:10:42and they made loads of pigs, with different, varying designs.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46- This one has your shamrock design on it.- Yeah.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50- And very collectable things in their own right.- Mmm.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53And it's always clearly marked.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56There you've got the Wemyss stamp. And this oval
0:10:56 > 0:11:00printed mark is the retailers, Thomas Goode and Co,
0:11:00 > 0:11:04who were a firm in London that retailed all the Wemyss pottery.
0:11:04 > 0:11:09So we've got good right markings on it, and the condition appears to be excellent as well.
0:11:09 > 0:11:14Which is also quite unusual, because these are very prone to damage, particularly around the ears.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16And the trotters.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20- Yeah.- So...she's selling it because...?
0:11:20 > 0:11:24Well, she has a lot of pottery and a lot of things, so she's just selling it to...
0:11:24 > 0:11:28- So it's just one ornament out of many on the shelf...- Yes, it is.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32- So...any idea what it's worth? - I've no idea, really, no.
0:11:32 > 0:11:39Well, Wemyss is pretty highly prized at auction. If I was to be very realistic, I'd put £200-300,
0:11:39 > 0:11:42but really, I think it'll make more than that.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44- Yeah, brilliant.- How does that sound?
0:11:44 > 0:11:45- Fantastic.- Yeah?
0:11:45 > 0:11:47- Yeah.- Good. She's smiling!
0:11:47 > 0:11:51Excellent. I would say we'll put a reserve on it. £200 fixed.
0:11:51 > 0:11:56- Whatever happens, it shouldn't sell for less than that.- Right.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00D'you think there'll be a little bit for Norma for bringing it along?
0:12:00 > 0:12:03- Er, maybe. Maybe.- Let's hope so. Let's hope she's watching.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06- What's her name?- Olive.- Hi, Olive! Nice pig, good find.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08See you at the auction.
0:12:15 > 0:12:21Jo, I suppose I should say, "Stand and deliver!" You've brought this along today.
0:12:21 > 0:12:26Can I ask what you are doing with such a gruesome weapon as this?
0:12:26 > 0:12:30I found it, after my dad died, in the bottom of his drawer.
0:12:30 > 0:12:35Not really sure where he got it from, but it might have been left to him.
0:12:35 > 0:12:40- So down through the family. - Could be. We'd never, ever seen it.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44- It was never put on show. - Any idea when it was made? Where?
0:12:44 > 0:12:49All I know is it's probably an 18th-century officer's pistol.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53- That's what I've been told. - Not a bad punt.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57The Pirates of the Caribbean have something similar!
0:12:57 > 0:13:02We all learn from film and television. It's slightly later than that period.
0:13:02 > 0:13:07It's early 19th century. And the reason we can tell
0:13:07 > 0:13:13is sometimes we're lucky and the trigger guard is made of silver with a full set of hallmarks.
0:13:13 > 0:13:20In this case, all the furniture of the trigger guard, escutcheon plate, housing for the ramrod,
0:13:20 > 0:13:25they're all in brass, but all nicely engraved. If we look at that first,
0:13:25 > 0:13:29we've got a little sunburst there. And then we've got trophies.
0:13:29 > 0:13:34We've got the Union Jack and a drum and trophies of war.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38- What's most important, we've got the name HW Mortimer.- Right.
0:13:38 > 0:13:44In terms of early 19th century gunmakers, if we compared it to cars today,
0:13:44 > 0:13:48- Mortimer were the Ferrari...- Ooh! - ..of gunmakers.
0:13:48 > 0:13:54He was working at 89 Fleet Street in London.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56And he was gunsmith to George III.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00So he was pretty much top of the tree.
0:14:00 > 0:14:05This, having said that, isn't one of his best pistols.
0:14:05 > 0:14:10- It's by a very, very good maker, but...- One of the more basic range. - A basic pistol.
0:14:10 > 0:14:17The other thing is it has got quite a lot of faults. We've got quite a bit of corrosion here.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21We've got a few knocks and, most importantly,
0:14:21 > 0:14:27the bit wot holds the flint, that makes it go bang, isn't there any more.
0:14:27 > 0:14:32This is a flint lock pistol that would have fired a flint
0:14:32 > 0:14:38- on that strike plate with igniting powder there.- OK. - Any idea what it's worth?
0:14:38 > 0:14:42- No.- A ten-pound note? Twenty-pound note?- Probably 50.
0:14:42 > 0:14:47- £50.- Because of the heaviness of it. - I've got my wallet... No.
0:14:47 > 0:14:52I think we should certainly put it into auction, with that name,
0:14:52 > 0:14:59- for £200-£300.- Right. OK. - We should put a fixed reserve of £180 on it.- OK.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03- And let's hope it stands and delivers at the auction.- Great.
0:15:09 > 0:15:15I think we've found some cracking antiques today. It's time we put our valuations to the test.
0:15:15 > 0:15:21So I have left the valuation day and I've walked, on foot, across the border into Yorkshire
0:15:21 > 0:15:25and we've found ourselves at the Calder Valley Auction Rooms.
0:15:25 > 0:15:30It's an old converted mill house and look - we ARE here today!
0:15:30 > 0:15:35On the rostrum is auctioneer Ian Peace. While I get in position,
0:15:35 > 0:15:41I'll leave you with a quick rundown of all the items going under the hammer.
0:15:41 > 0:15:48Our owners have usually owned their antiques for quite some time, but not Betty's £10 copper vases.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52They're not something you'd walk by. Are they family things?
0:15:52 > 0:15:55No, I just got them yesterday.
0:15:55 > 0:16:01By contrast, brothers William and Sidney's Belleek tea seat has been their mum's for 70 years.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03But now she needs the cash.
0:16:05 > 0:16:10Adam can't believe that Norma's mother-in-law found this Wemyss pig in such a humble location.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13- She bought it at a jumble sale. - Never!- Mmm.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15- Really?- Yes.- How long ago?
0:16:15 > 0:16:17- About four years ago.- No.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20- How much was it?- 50p.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24Sisters Susan, Josie and Pauline grew up with their bear, Albert.
0:16:24 > 0:16:31We used to ride him as children and we used to use his ears as handlebars, unfortunately.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35- So one fell off. - Somewhere along the line, yes.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39But the vital Steiff tag had survived!
0:16:39 > 0:16:43Another great survivor is this early 19th century pistol belonging to Jo,
0:16:43 > 0:16:47made by another famous name, HW Mortimer.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50If we compared it to cars today,
0:16:50 > 0:16:55- Mortimer were the Ferrari...- Ooh! - ..of gunmakers.
0:16:55 > 0:16:59Let's hope it puts our bidders' wheels in a spin!
0:16:59 > 0:17:03First up today is Betty's charity shop find.
0:17:05 > 0:17:10It's those two lovely WMF vases, the copper ones. They're stunning.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14Michael, you put £100-£200 on these. How much did you get them for?
0:17:14 > 0:17:18- £10.- £10! You see, it IS all out there. In Wigan?
0:17:18 > 0:17:24- Yes. A charity shop.- Do you go there often?- We go to different towns every Saturday.- Do you?
0:17:24 > 0:17:31- To the charity shops?- Yes. - I couldn't get the precise location! - We need the postcode.- We do.
0:17:33 > 0:17:40- Can you make much money from doing that?- Well, we usually buy what we like.- Oh, I see.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44- And you keep it.- And keep it.- This is the first thing you're selling.
0:17:44 > 0:17:50- You got this the day before our valuation day.- Yes.- Let's hope we get that £200 top end.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52It's WMF. It's quality.
0:17:52 > 0:17:57A pair of Art Nouveau design beaten copper vases. There we are.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00Who'll open me at £50?
0:18:00 > 0:18:0250 I'm bid. At 50.
0:18:02 > 0:18:0555. 60.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07And 5. 70.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10And 5. 80. And 5.
0:18:10 > 0:18:1585. The lady's bid at £85. Have you all done at £85?
0:18:16 > 0:18:21- Sold.- Fantastic. All for a tenner. - Did you polish them up like that?
0:18:21 > 0:18:25- No, Billy did.- You've got to give him £10 for that.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29- They are gleaming. Aren't they?- Stunning.
0:18:29 > 0:18:36Look, congratulations, Betty. There is commission to pay, whether you buy or sell.
0:18:36 > 0:18:41- But I think that's a nice meal out for you and hubby.- That's true.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51I've just been joined by William and Sidney, selling the Belleek.
0:18:51 > 0:18:56It's early and we've got £200-£400 on this. Why are you selling this?
0:18:56 > 0:19:00We've just moved from a large farmhouse to a house half the size.
0:19:00 > 0:19:07- And my mum daren't wash it. - No! You can't wash or clean Belleek! - It's a bit of a liability.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11- So we've decided to let someone else enjoy it.- OK.
0:19:11 > 0:19:16Lot 603. A Belleek porcelain 15-piece tea service.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20Attractive teapot included. Lot 603.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23Open this at £100, then. £100.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26At 120. I have 140. 160.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28180. And 200.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32At £200. 10 anywhere? It's going for £200.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36At £200. First and last time.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40It's gone. That was short and sweet. Straight in and straight out.
0:19:40 > 0:19:45- Not a lot of competition, but it's gone.- Someone else can enjoy it.
0:19:45 > 0:19:51- And have the problems cleaning it! - That's what you really mean! Be honest.
0:19:51 > 0:19:56"I want someone else to enjoy it." You just don't want to take it home!
0:20:00 > 0:20:06Now it's my turn to be the expert. We've got two of the three sisters, Josie and Sue.
0:20:06 > 0:20:11Unfortunately, Pauline can't be with us. Couldn't get the day off work.
0:20:11 > 0:20:16But we do have Albert the Bear! And he's looking stunning.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20Oh, dear. This is a sad moment, parting with things like this.
0:20:20 > 0:20:26I wouldn't do it, but I know you've got to split the money up, so poor old Albert goes under the hammer.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28Right now.
0:20:28 > 0:20:33Now we have Albert the Bear, the Steiff push along plush bear.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37I'm opening this at £100. At 100. And 10. 120.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40130. 140. At 140. 150.
0:20:40 > 0:20:45160. At £160. 170. At 170. 180.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47190. At 200, do I see?
0:20:47 > 0:20:52At £190. At £190. At £200. At £200.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55210. At £210.
0:20:55 > 0:20:59At the back of the room at 210. Are you all done?
0:20:59 > 0:21:03It's selling at £210. First and last time. ALBERT GROWLS
0:21:03 > 0:21:08Awww! He growled as he went. Oh, brilliant.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11Oh, dear. Isn't that lovely?
0:21:11 > 0:21:15Just within estimate. A bit of damage held it back.
0:21:15 > 0:21:20- The ear, the tail. But otherwise...- Great.- He did well.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24- And I'm sure he's gone to a lovely home.- I hope so.
0:21:24 > 0:21:29- Poor old Albert!- I know.- He's off on a new adventure.- Absolutely.
0:21:38 > 0:21:43Now we've got the little Wemyss pig going under the hammer, and I've just been joined by Norma and Adam.
0:21:43 > 0:21:50We've got £200-300 on this. We've seen Wemyss do well before, and they're an old Flog It favourite.
0:21:50 > 0:21:55- So collectable. Especially the pigs. - It's nice with shamrocks. Let's find out what the bidders think.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57Here's the Wemyss model of a pig.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00I'm opening this at £100.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03£100. The Wemyss pig at 100. I have £100.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06120, 140.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08At £140.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10At 140...160.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12180 here.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15£180. The Wemyss pig at £180.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17At £200, the gentleman at the back of the room.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19At £200.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21We're in the market. 210 if you like.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24At £200, the gentleman's bid at the back of the room at 200.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27Any further bids for the Wemyss pig?
0:22:27 > 0:22:29First and last time.
0:22:29 > 0:22:30GAVEL STRIKES
0:22:30 > 0:22:33It's gone. £200, Norma.
0:22:33 > 0:22:34It was a bit deflated towards the end.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37- We were expecting that top end.- Yeah.- But it's gone.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41- Good.- I guess there was only one person that wanted a piece of Wemyss here today.
0:22:41 > 0:22:45- If somebody else had pushed that bidder, it'd have gone up more. - Yes, it would.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48- Got to be happy, though.- Yes.
0:22:52 > 0:22:57It's time for the Ferrari of guns to go under Ian's hammer.
0:22:57 > 0:23:04In the firing line right now is Josephine with her sights set on £200-£300 with Dad's old pistol.
0:23:04 > 0:23:10- It's a nice old find, actually. I know Michael loved this. It's by Mortimer, isn't it?- Yes.
0:23:10 > 0:23:17It's by the best maker. A really nice thing. I'm under pressure - if it doesn't go, you have a gun!
0:23:17 > 0:23:23- It stands alone here. Fingers crossed it has been spotted. Good luck.- Thank you.- Here we go.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27Next we have the antique flint lock pistol by HW Mortimer.
0:23:27 > 0:23:32I'll open this at £100. At 110. 120.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34130. 140. 150.
0:23:34 > 0:23:38160. 170. 180. 190.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40200. And 10. 220.
0:23:40 > 0:23:45- 230. 240. 250. - It's the name. A great name.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48280. 290.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52- 300. And 10. 320. - Well done.- £320 here.
0:23:52 > 0:23:56On the phone at £320. Your bid, then. It's selling.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00Great maker. One to look out for.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04You've got a lot of money now. What will you spend that on?
0:24:04 > 0:24:11- I'm at uni, so...- It'll come in handy! What are you studying? - 3D design. Jewellery making.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15- Wonderful. Good luck with the career afterwards.- Thank you very much.
0:24:15 > 0:24:22That's what a great name does for you. Later, Michael's excited by an anonymous hospice donation
0:24:22 > 0:24:26with the great Moorcroft name attached.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30The shame is these star cracks.
0:24:30 > 0:24:36Somebody's used them as a vase, dropped something slightly heavier in and it's just pinged.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40Will this pair ping with the bidders or will the cracks put them off?
0:24:40 > 0:24:43Later we'll find out.
0:24:48 > 0:24:55Remember that puzzle I set you earlier? What does Accrington here have in common with New York?
0:24:55 > 0:25:02It's got something to do with this building - the Howarth Museum and Art Gallery - and an umbrella.
0:25:06 > 0:25:12What I'm talking about is this - Tiffany glass. It's the largest collection outside of New York.
0:25:12 > 0:25:17It's the biggest in Europe, but how did it end up here in Lancashire?
0:25:17 > 0:25:22And what's it got to do with an umbrella? All is about to be revealed by curator Jennifer Rennie.
0:25:22 > 0:25:30- Hello. Thank you for inviting me. - Thank you for coming.- How did this magnificent collection get here?
0:25:30 > 0:25:35It's all down to a young man called Joseph Briggs who was an apprentice designer.
0:25:35 > 0:25:41When aged 17, he went off from Accrington to seek his fortune in America, landed in New York.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44Briggs was coming out of Tiffany Studios.
0:25:44 > 0:25:49Coming from Lancashire, he had his umbrella on him, and it was raining.
0:25:49 > 0:25:55Up drew this horse-drawn carriage and out stepped this very well-dressed man of about twice Briggs' age.
0:25:55 > 0:26:00So he was able to step forward and offer his umbrella to this gentleman for shelter.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04And so they got talking and that's this incredible chance meeting.
0:26:04 > 0:26:10- One minute either side, it would never have happened. - It was a complete fluke.
0:26:10 > 0:26:16'So if you're going to share your umbrella with anyone, pick a great man like Louis Comfort Tiffany
0:26:16 > 0:26:20'when he is looking to expand his business and experiment with glass.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24'After this chance meeting, Briggs was given a job by the great man,
0:26:24 > 0:26:27'working in the stained-glass workshops.
0:26:27 > 0:26:33'Briggs already knew how to draw, having been an apprentice designer in the cotton industry,
0:26:33 > 0:26:38'so he used to stay late and make mosaics from bits of leftover glass.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42'This impressed Tiffany and Briggs became head of the mosaic shop
0:26:42 > 0:26:46'and was made a director when Tiffany retired in 1918.'
0:26:46 > 0:26:53- Did Briggs ever come back to Accrington?- Yes, he did. He made one return journey only in 1900.
0:26:53 > 0:26:59He brought his family back and, at this point, the owner of Haworth Art Gallery, Hollins Hill...
0:26:59 > 0:27:03- This house.- Yes. ..William Haworth, an important cotton manufacturer,
0:27:03 > 0:27:09met with Briggs and he at the time was thinking about an art gallery for Accrington
0:27:09 > 0:27:13and I'm sure they discussed the Tiffany coming back to Accrington.
0:27:13 > 0:27:18- Having a collection brought back here, so everybody could enjoy. - Absolutely.
0:27:18 > 0:27:24'Louis Comfort Tiffany was one of the most important and influential American artists
0:27:24 > 0:27:27'of the late 19th and early 20th century.
0:27:27 > 0:27:31'A leader of the Art Nouveau movement, his work is held in high regard.
0:27:31 > 0:27:36'The collection in Accrington consists of tiles, vases, samples and mosaics.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40'The company designs all kinds of objects for the home,
0:27:40 > 0:27:45'but the popular imagination associates Tiffany particularly with their lamps.'
0:27:45 > 0:27:51You've got two beautiful millefiori vases. That's a technique adopted from ancient Venetian glassmakers.
0:27:51 > 0:27:56Yes, Tiffany adopted this technique from Venetian makers.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00- The paperweight one?- Yes. He very much made it his own.
0:28:00 > 0:28:06This is the thing that he did that other glassmakers didn't do, the way he used these techniques.
0:28:06 > 0:28:11How do you achieve...? You see on the small vessel, you see the flowers.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13They're in layers of glass.
0:28:13 > 0:28:17- That's correct.- Two different layers. The white one is even deeper.- Yes.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19So how do you get that?
0:28:19 > 0:28:23Well, the glassmaker has started off with some orange glass,
0:28:23 > 0:28:26then he's dotted the surface with white flowers,
0:28:26 > 0:28:30then gone back to the kiln for more orange glass,
0:28:30 > 0:28:34then put more white flowers on, all the time blowing a little bit,
0:28:34 > 0:28:38going back, putting the white flowers on for the second time...
0:28:38 > 0:28:42- You just get one chance at this, don't you?- Absolutely.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44There's only so much control you have
0:28:44 > 0:28:50because the final shape of the flowers depends on the amount of blowing, the amount of air,
0:28:50 > 0:28:54so the ones on the outside are more perfectly formed and are pure white,
0:28:54 > 0:28:57whereas the ones inside are a sort of beige colour,
0:28:57 > 0:29:01- so it's a good demonstration of the technique.- It's a very good example.
0:29:01 > 0:29:05- The larger vessel is the same technique.- Absolutely the same.
0:29:05 > 0:29:10- But it's harder.- You don't get the same amount of layering.
0:29:10 > 0:29:14In both examples, there's only so much control that the glass blower had.
0:29:14 > 0:29:18- That's typical of the Arts and Crafts Movement.- Absolutely.
0:29:18 > 0:29:24The idea that the material should play a part does help people understand very clearly
0:29:24 > 0:29:30what it is that Tiffany did that's so special, why we rate him so much as a glassmaker.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34'Tiffany glass is hard to date.
0:29:34 > 0:29:40'All the research and development was done at the beginning and the designs tended to stay the same.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43'His hand-made pieces have "Favrile" stamped on them.
0:29:43 > 0:29:50'Tiffany patented Favrile glass in 1880 and he derived the word from the French for "hand-crafted".'
0:29:51 > 0:29:58This is a cracking example of Tiffany iridescence. Where did he get the idea for the technique?
0:29:58 > 0:30:03Well, he was inspired by visits to archaeological sites around Rome
0:30:03 > 0:30:07where glass had been buried for thousands of years. It's pitted.
0:30:07 > 0:30:10- It has this iridescent effect. - It goes like that.
0:30:10 > 0:30:15The surface is damaged slightly and you get this lovely, iridescent effect.
0:30:15 > 0:30:20That's the thing that made him want to make glass in the first place.
0:30:20 > 0:30:23- That's a lovely effect with the sort of the lava.- Yeah.
0:30:23 > 0:30:28The idea with this is that the lava is actually coming out of a volcano
0:30:28 > 0:30:33which is a very ambitious idea for what is just a domestic object, and they're very rare.
0:30:33 > 0:30:38We're fortunate to have two very fine examples of lava glass vases here.
0:30:44 > 0:30:49What's special about this vase, apart from the fact that it's just so incredible
0:30:49 > 0:30:53and it does capture the beauty of nature so well?
0:30:53 > 0:30:58It's a flower-form vase. There were quite a lot of them made around 1900
0:30:58 > 0:31:02and this particular one is inspired by the convolvulus flower
0:31:02 > 0:31:06which, as you know, closes at night in the dark and opens in the morning.
0:31:06 > 0:31:12It's marvellous the way that movement is implied in the top of the vase. There's this lovely, irregular...
0:31:12 > 0:31:15- It's quite fluid, isn't it? - It's very fluid.
0:31:15 > 0:31:20It's very reminiscent of the movement that the actual flower makes.
0:31:30 > 0:31:36This is an aquamarine and I'd love you to explain quite simply to me how this is made
0:31:36 > 0:31:39because it looks incredibly complicated.
0:31:39 > 0:31:42The piece is made in three parts.
0:31:42 > 0:31:48There's a central core and round that there's an extra piece of thick glass, like just-roll pastry,
0:31:48 > 0:31:54before you roll it out, and the fish are inserted into that and then arranged around the central core.
0:31:54 > 0:31:59It's at that point you have problems with temperature control and you get explosions.
0:31:59 > 0:32:04It's very, very difficult to make. This was completely unique.
0:32:04 > 0:32:06It's very big for an aquamarine.
0:32:06 > 0:32:10- And incredibly rare, I would imagine.- Very rare indeed.
0:32:10 > 0:32:16One came up in America about three years ago with a slightly longer neck,
0:32:16 > 0:32:21so it's not totally unique any more, sadly, but they're very difficult to make.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24It's just beautiful. I love the little bubbles.
0:32:24 > 0:32:28It's almost as if there's seaweed moving. You can see it in the water.
0:32:28 > 0:32:34Yes, it's very lively. Again it's like nature. It's like you're looking at actual water.
0:32:38 > 0:32:44Jenny, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and your passion with me today.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47- You've taught me something. - Thank you for coming.
0:32:47 > 0:32:50I'll now look at Tiffany glass in a different light.
0:32:50 > 0:32:56This is just hand-blown, molten glass using techniques that have been around for thousands of years,
0:32:56 > 0:32:59but in the hands of one genius artisan.
0:33:04 > 0:33:10Back at our valuation day, Adam is in period with Tiffany with another beautiful Art Nouveau item.
0:33:10 > 0:33:14This one is our second find today from Germany.
0:33:16 > 0:33:20- Welcome to Flog It, Michael.- Thank you very much.- I love this mirror.
0:33:20 > 0:33:27- It's an absolute beauty. Where did you get it from?- A dear friend gave it to me about a year ago.
0:33:27 > 0:33:31Why would you want to sell something as nice as this?
0:33:31 > 0:33:37- It's basically just to find out if it's worth anything.- OK. - And then go from there, really.
0:33:37 > 0:33:42I can tell you a bit about it as this is one of my particular areas of interest.
0:33:42 > 0:33:46I nearly said "expertise", but that sounds arrogant.
0:33:46 > 0:33:49This is a piece of Art Nouveau metal ware.
0:33:49 > 0:33:53The Art Nouveau period was the turn of the century, about 100 years ago,
0:33:53 > 0:33:58and this design here is typical stylised designs of the Art Nouveau period.
0:33:58 > 0:34:05- Right.- Now, this one was made by a firm known by the initials of WMF.
0:34:05 > 0:34:09It's a big firm from Germany that was established in the 19th century.
0:34:09 > 0:34:15They made a lot of these wares at the end of the 19th, beginning of the 20th century, in pewter.
0:34:15 > 0:34:17In silver plate as well.
0:34:17 > 0:34:24They also made cutlery. There was a whole metal ware business. They became a massive business.
0:34:24 > 0:34:29- There's a lot of this stuff around on the market and it's quite highly prized.- Right.
0:34:29 > 0:34:34- Have you got any idea what it might be worth?- I haven't got a clue, no.
0:34:34 > 0:34:38- Now what you've said...- You think it's better than 50 quid?- Maybe.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41Yeah, it is better than £50.
0:34:41 > 0:34:46I would put a wide range on it. I think it's going to make £200 to £300.
0:34:46 > 0:34:51I'm going to put 200 to 400 because it could just go on a bit more than £300.
0:34:51 > 0:34:55I've handled a lot of this stuff and sometimes it does pretty well.
0:34:55 > 0:35:00I think that's a sensible guide and you shouldn't sell it for less than £200.
0:35:00 > 0:35:04Even if it doesn't go in this sale, it doesn't mean it's not worth £200.
0:35:04 > 0:35:09It's worth that. We'll put a reserve price on it, so it doesn't go for less.
0:35:09 > 0:35:14- Are you happy with that?- Yes.- Let's get on with it.- No problem.- Thanks.
0:35:20 > 0:35:25Dawn, you've brought in these two very austere vases today.
0:35:25 > 0:35:28Where did you get them from?
0:35:28 > 0:35:33I work for East Lancashire Hospice and we were donated them anonymously.
0:35:33 > 0:35:40Somebody just walked into the hospice one day and left them for us to do what we want with.
0:35:40 > 0:35:43And you thought, "Ah, Flog It is in the area!"
0:35:43 > 0:35:49Yeah, we realised that they were worth perhaps a bit more than the average donation.
0:35:49 > 0:35:53- Right.- And at the same time, we realised Flog It was in the area,
0:35:53 > 0:35:57so it was a good opportunity to see what they were worth.
0:35:57 > 0:36:02Anybody that's watched Flog It might be screaming at the screen what these are,
0:36:02 > 0:36:06but let's satisfy ourselves and turn it upside down.
0:36:06 > 0:36:09There we have the signature - W Moorcroft, designer.
0:36:09 > 0:36:13What's very interesting is this Florian Ware mark.
0:36:13 > 0:36:17- That's fairly early in his production.- OK.
0:36:17 > 0:36:22These are going to date to about 1905, that sort of date?
0:36:22 > 0:36:28So, fairly early on. The shame is that they've got these star cracks on the bottom.
0:36:28 > 0:36:33Basically, somebody has used them as a vase, dropped something slightly heavier in
0:36:33 > 0:36:35and it's just pinged.
0:36:35 > 0:36:40They're Honesty pattern because of all the honesty over it.
0:36:40 > 0:36:45But what's nice is this very porous, vermiculated finish.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48- Yeah.- Which we don't see on much Moorcroft
0:36:48 > 0:36:52and it's a sort of early experimental glaze, if you like.
0:36:52 > 0:36:57They're decorated in the round and the colour scheme is quite pleasing.
0:36:57 > 0:37:01- Do you like the...?- Yeah, it's quite modern.- Yes, quite classic almost,
0:37:01 > 0:37:04the sort of dark and light blue.
0:37:04 > 0:37:06And it's a very pleasing shape.
0:37:06 > 0:37:10So they win, apart from the star cracks, in quite a few areas -
0:37:10 > 0:37:14nice and early, unusual pattern, unusual finish.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17- Right, OK. - And also we've got a pair.
0:37:17 > 0:37:19And to the best of my knowledge,
0:37:19 > 0:37:23they haven't been chipped, so they're fairly good.
0:37:23 > 0:37:29The only damage is where you can't see. If you're going to have damage, that's where you want it.
0:37:29 > 0:37:34When they were dropped off and you said they're worth more than the usual charitable donation,
0:37:34 > 0:37:40- did you have any idea what they might be...? - We thought over 100. £100, £150.
0:37:40 > 0:37:46Bearing the damage in mind, but they're a large pair, they're early and they're a rare pattern,
0:37:46 > 0:37:49let's put them into auction
0:37:49 > 0:37:53with £700 to £1,000 on them.
0:37:53 > 0:37:59- Right.- Let's give the auctioneer a bit of discretion with the reserve. Let's put the reserve at £600.
0:37:59 > 0:38:03- Yeah.- If two people really get behind these,
0:38:03 > 0:38:07we could be cracking through the top estimate.
0:38:08 > 0:38:10- So, hopefully...- Excellent.
0:38:10 > 0:38:15- ..for you, for me, today, and for the hospice, we'll do really well.- Absolutely.
0:38:15 > 0:38:19- You're happy with that? - Absolutely fantastic. Really happy.
0:38:19 > 0:38:30- No pressure on the day then(!) - No, absolutely not.- Thank you for bringing them in.- It's been good.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33I gravitated towards this when I saw you. Who am I talking to?
0:38:33 > 0:38:37- Mandy. This is my daughter Rebecca. - Hi, Paul.- Hi, Rebecca.
0:38:37 > 0:38:41Let's talk about this whale vertebra, because it's great.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43- It's a piece of sculpture.- It is.
0:38:43 > 0:38:47OK, there's a lot of people thinking,
0:38:47 > 0:38:51"I'm not keen on natural history objects, it's cruel,"
0:38:51 > 0:38:54- but let's face it, that was killed in the 19th century.- Yes.
0:38:54 > 0:39:00That's been an educational tool for Victorian families for a long, long time.
0:39:00 > 0:39:01So how did you come by it?
0:39:01 > 0:39:05- I bought it at a car boot sale. - Recently?- About five years ago.
0:39:05 > 0:39:07OK, five years. Can I ask how much you paid for it?
0:39:07 > 0:39:09- 65.- 65.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12OK. What do you think of this?
0:39:12 > 0:39:16I think it's brilliant. Obviously, people... It's a sort of wow thing.
0:39:16 > 0:39:20It's like Marmite, you either love it or hate it.
0:39:20 > 0:39:24Exactly. I bet I know where this has been, actually.
0:39:24 > 0:39:29If you've got an open fireplace that doesn't work, you put that in the fireplace.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32- You do.- It's a good space for it. - It is.
0:39:32 > 0:39:36And I think that's fantastic, cos that's what it should be used for.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38- It's a piece of sculpture now. - It is, yeah.
0:39:38 > 0:39:43But when it's up this high, and you can walk around and view it from every angle,
0:39:43 > 0:39:48for me, it's like being in Barbara Hepworth's sculpture garden down in St Ives.
0:39:48 > 0:39:54You can understand shape and form. And you can see different things when you look from different angles,
0:39:54 > 0:39:58different shadows. That's the quality of good sculpture. This has it. This has it.
0:39:58 > 0:40:02Although, you know, nobody made this. God made this animal.
0:40:02 > 0:40:06But I love it. I think it's great.
0:40:06 > 0:40:10And I know the auctioneer's going to pick me up on this and have a go at me.
0:40:10 > 0:40:13He's going to say, "What have you brought to my sale room?!"
0:40:13 > 0:40:19But if we put this into auction, I think we put it in with a valuation of... What did you pay for it?
0:40:19 > 0:40:23- 65.- We put it in at 65, with a valuation of £65-100.
0:40:23 > 0:40:27- Right.- We'll get your money back and hopefully,
0:40:27 > 0:40:28the top end of my evaluation.
0:40:28 > 0:40:30- Excellent. - And a bit more on a good day.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33- Fantastic.- Happy with that? - Yes, happy with that.
0:40:33 > 0:40:37But I can't wait to see the auctioneer's face!
0:40:37 > 0:40:38He'll say, "Wow!"
0:40:42 > 0:40:47- Marjory, welcome to Flog It. Hello. - How are you?- Fine, thank you.
0:40:47 > 0:40:53You've got a lovely pair of watercolours here by a well-known artist called Rowland Hill.
0:40:53 > 0:40:57- Where did you get them and what can you tell me about them?- Not much.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59They belonged to my grandmother.
0:40:59 > 0:41:03And they were always on the wall in the living room.
0:41:03 > 0:41:07- You remember them then?- Yes. I don't know how she got them.
0:41:07 > 0:41:14- When you're a child, you don't ask the right questions and then it's too late.- Isn't that always the case?
0:41:14 > 0:41:20Lots of people agree with that. So many people you meet, "I wish I'd have asked Grandma this."
0:41:20 > 0:41:24- That's right.- Then it's too late and the history's gone.
0:41:24 > 0:41:27Rowland Hill - do you know anything about him?
0:41:27 > 0:41:32That he was Irish and that he was successful in France, rather than here.
0:41:32 > 0:41:37- OK.- I just went into the reference library in Blackburn and looked him up.- Good.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40Rowland Hill was born in 1873
0:41:40 > 0:41:43and died in 1952,
0:41:43 > 0:41:46so these were sort of later in life perhaps.
0:41:46 > 0:41:51- What's that one there? County Antrim, is that Murlough Bay?- That's it.
0:41:51 > 0:41:55Then down here we've got Fair Head in Ballycastle.
0:41:55 > 0:42:00A very pleasant pair of coastal scenes, both 1936.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03And both in pretty good order.
0:42:03 > 0:42:07I think we've got a little bit of fading on there
0:42:07 > 0:42:11and a little bit of damp, but he's quite a desirable artist.
0:42:11 > 0:42:17He appears at auction quite regularly, which makes them quite an easy thing to value
0:42:17 > 0:42:21- because it's all about comparing with what they've made before.- Yes.
0:42:21 > 0:42:26I think I would say they're probably worth £200 or £300 each,
0:42:26 > 0:42:30so I will put £400 to £600 as an estimate on the pair
0:42:30 > 0:42:35and they might make a bit more than that. How does that feel to you?
0:42:35 > 0:42:40- A very pleasant surprise. - Did you not think they were worth as much as that?- No.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44I think that if they don't make £400, you should have them back,
0:42:44 > 0:42:49so we'll put a reserve of £400 because I really think they're worth that
0:42:49 > 0:42:55and I'm hoping we get a nice little surprise for you and they make a little bit more.
0:42:55 > 0:43:00- Thank you for bringing them in and I'll see you at the auction. - Yes. Thank you.
0:43:00 > 0:43:03Time for me to take these well-named pieces across the great divide -
0:43:03 > 0:43:05the Lancashire/Yorkshire one -
0:43:05 > 0:43:09and head back to Calder Valley auctioneers near Halifax.
0:43:09 > 0:43:12Right now, I'm going to meet some canines
0:43:12 > 0:43:17that have a wonderful, interesting past. Let's check it out.
0:43:20 > 0:43:24The British coal industry has certainly had a chequered past.
0:43:24 > 0:43:29This colliery here at Astley Green in South Lancashire was once part of a thriving community.
0:43:29 > 0:43:33But with changes in demand for British coal, it was inevitable.
0:43:33 > 0:43:37This place went to the dogs and closed in 1970.
0:43:37 > 0:43:39But today, the dogs are back!
0:43:39 > 0:43:41Come on, fellas, come over here!
0:43:41 > 0:43:43Here you go. Look at these lovely whippets.
0:43:43 > 0:43:46You're probably thinking, what have these dogs
0:43:46 > 0:43:49got to do with coal mining? We're about to find out.
0:43:49 > 0:43:53Dogs belonging to the greyhound group have often been bred along
0:43:53 > 0:43:56pure lines and have been associated with the aristocracy and gentry.
0:43:56 > 0:44:01But the one exception is the small English greyhound known as the whippet.
0:44:01 > 0:44:04Although some mystery surrounds the origin of the breed,
0:44:04 > 0:44:08it's generally accepted that it's a cross between the greyhound
0:44:08 > 0:44:13and a terrier, giving the breed a great combination of speed and intelligence.
0:44:13 > 0:44:17It was first recognised by the Kennel Club in 1890.
0:44:20 > 0:44:25And here's the connection - the whippet became the pet mostly preferred by the working classes -
0:44:25 > 0:44:29the mill workers and the miners, who loved to race their dogs in their spare time.
0:44:29 > 0:44:32And of course, they could catch the odd rabbit or two.
0:44:32 > 0:44:37It's because of this the breed became known as the poor man's greyhound or racehorse.
0:44:37 > 0:44:41It's fair to say whippet racing has been on the decline in recent years.
0:44:41 > 0:44:47At one point, there were around 70 clubs in the country. Today, there's about 20. This is one of them.
0:44:47 > 0:44:51The Astley and Tyldesley Miners' Whippet and Dog Racing Club.
0:44:51 > 0:44:53And it's doing rather well.
0:44:57 > 0:44:59Keith Woodward is the club chairman.
0:44:59 > 0:45:03It's partly down to him that this group is still thriving.
0:45:04 > 0:45:09Keith, it's great to meet up with you, and I can't wait to see the dogs later and see what they do.
0:45:09 > 0:45:14I bet they're fast! But tell me a little bit about whippet racing, a little bit about the history.
0:45:14 > 0:45:17The history goes back to 1860 or so.
0:45:17 > 0:45:21Everybody turned up and there might be 10 or 12 dogs in a race.
0:45:21 > 0:45:25- The first past the winning post was the winner. They came in all shapes and sizes.- Really?
0:45:25 > 0:45:30Everything was called a whippet, even if it was a collie or something else.
0:45:30 > 0:45:34And then late '20s, early '30s, with what they called tape racing.
0:45:34 > 0:45:39They put five lanes down by elastic tape
0:45:39 > 0:45:40with wooden stumps.
0:45:40 > 0:45:44- Yeah.- And the dogs had to stay in that lane.
0:45:44 > 0:45:47- Right.- If a dog jumped over into the next lane,
0:45:47 > 0:45:50it was automatically disqualified. The race was re-run without it.
0:45:50 > 0:45:55In the summer, the dogs are raced on a straight grass track of 150 yards.
0:45:55 > 0:46:00Whereas in winter, when the ground is too hard, the dogs are raced
0:46:00 > 0:46:05on an oval sand track, commonly referred to as racing on the bends.
0:46:05 > 0:46:09- Actually, bend racing is a lot quicker.- I think it's fun as well.
0:46:09 > 0:46:13You put your dog in the trap, stand behind the trap, the hare comes round,
0:46:13 > 0:46:17- the dogs run and they actually near off finish where they started. - Yes, exactly.
0:46:20 > 0:46:25240 yards - a good whippet will do in 15 seconds.
0:46:25 > 0:46:26Yes, quick, isn't it?
0:46:30 > 0:46:33Which do you prefer, racing on the straight or the bend?
0:46:33 > 0:46:35Any. Any kind of whippet racing.
0:46:35 > 0:46:42Vicky Harper and Mark Warren are great whippet racing fans, having just achieved their 20th champion!
0:46:42 > 0:46:44They have an impressive track record.
0:46:44 > 0:46:47Vicky and Mark, it's good to meet up with you.
0:46:47 > 0:46:53With all those champions you've had in the past and currently, you must be the envy of these people here.
0:46:53 > 0:46:57What is it with whippets? How many have you got?
0:46:57 > 0:47:01- We've got 12 at home.- Really? - They're just really good pets.
0:47:01 > 0:47:04- Do they live in the house?- Yeah.
0:47:04 > 0:47:06- Do they come on the bed at night? - Oh, yeah.- Do they?!
0:47:06 > 0:47:10- Under the duvet.- Taking turns. - Not all of them!- All at once.
0:47:10 > 0:47:12Does it run in the family?
0:47:12 > 0:47:17My grandad, he was an ex-miner and he started breeding
0:47:17 > 0:47:24- them for racing years ago.- My dad's been doing it from 1967.- Really?
0:47:24 > 0:47:27So it's in the blood, they're passing all the tips onto you.
0:47:27 > 0:47:31- That's how we both got together as well.- That's how you met. Fantastic.
0:47:31 > 0:47:34Lovely story. How many times a month d'you come here?
0:47:34 > 0:47:40- All year round?- We come here every week.- We come here every Wednesday during summer. Then during winter,
0:47:40 > 0:47:43we go to West Houghton Greyhound Track. And race round the bends.
0:47:43 > 0:47:46So this is just straight racing today.
0:47:46 > 0:47:49- This is straight racing.- And we're going to see some of that.
0:47:49 > 0:47:51Whippet racing is purely for fun.
0:47:51 > 0:47:52It's a fun day out,
0:47:52 > 0:47:56- unlike greyhound racing, where lots of money changes hands.- Yeah.
0:47:56 > 0:47:59I can feel the tension rising. There's lots more people arriving,
0:47:59 > 0:48:02we're getting surrounded by dogs, so should we get your two out?
0:48:02 > 0:48:06- Yeah.- And we'll meet up with Keith and see what he's got to say about his as well.
0:48:08 > 0:48:12When not attending race competitions, Vicky and Mark are often to be found on the edge
0:48:12 > 0:48:16of the football field, putting the dogs through their paces.
0:48:37 > 0:48:41It's certainly getting exciting now, There's four dogs in this race.
0:48:41 > 0:48:47I've got to pick a winner, and the fairest way is to pick one of these bones from this bowl.
0:48:47 > 0:48:50Each bone has a name tag relating to one of the dogs.
0:48:50 > 0:48:52So it will be a lucky dip for me.
0:48:52 > 0:48:57I'll probably go for this one, which is Mebs Rosie. Who's Mebs Rosie?
0:48:57 > 0:49:01Right, OK, Keith, this is my choice. Hello!
0:49:01 > 0:49:05That's a good start, it's got number one on it.
0:49:14 > 0:49:17Right, the dogs are under starters' orders and they're off!
0:49:17 > 0:49:21But my dog's not come out of the trap. Oh, my goodness!
0:49:21 > 0:49:23What's happened? Here he is!
0:49:29 > 0:49:32I don't believe it!
0:49:32 > 0:49:34Hey, hey, hey!
0:49:34 > 0:49:38Trying to throttle the thing they chased!
0:49:39 > 0:49:41Oh, dear!
0:49:41 > 0:49:44Oh, I don't know. Guess where I came.
0:49:44 > 0:49:46Last. Can't believe it.
0:49:46 > 0:49:51Oh...my trap didn't open.
0:49:51 > 0:49:55Nevertheless, that was so exciting.
0:49:55 > 0:49:58I can see why all these people get together every weekend
0:49:58 > 0:50:00to race these dogs, because it is just great fun.
0:50:04 > 0:50:08It's time to return to the auction room.
0:50:08 > 0:50:16As well as Marjory's beautiful Rowland Hill seascapes, we're taking Dawn's two donated Moorcroft vases.
0:50:16 > 0:50:20She thought they might be worth between £100 and £150.
0:50:21 > 0:50:24Let's put them into auction
0:50:24 > 0:50:28with...£700 to £1,000 on them.
0:50:28 > 0:50:30Right.
0:50:30 > 0:50:37And this whalebone wasn't found at the bottom of the ocean, but unbelievably at a car boot sale!
0:50:37 > 0:50:42And last but not least, Michael's stylish WMF Art Nouveau mirror.
0:50:42 > 0:50:46Which item is your money on to bring in the biggest return?
0:50:48 > 0:50:54I've just been joined by Michael and Adam, our expert, and we've got a WMF mirror going under the hammer.
0:50:54 > 0:50:58- It's got the look, the name, the condition. Ready for this?- I am.
0:50:58 > 0:51:02We can't debate about it any more. It's down to this packed saleroom.
0:51:02 > 0:51:08Hopefully, someone's going to put their hand up and it will go for £400 maybe.
0:51:08 > 0:51:10Good luck, Michael. Here we go.
0:51:10 > 0:51:13Lot 440, the Art Nouveau, WMF,
0:51:13 > 0:51:17oval frame mirror there being shown.
0:51:17 > 0:51:19150, I'm opening. 160. 170.
0:51:19 > 0:51:23180. 190 there. At 200 on commission.
0:51:23 > 0:51:26210. 220. 230.
0:51:26 > 0:51:28240. 250. 260.
0:51:28 > 0:51:31- 270...- This is more like it. - 280. 290.
0:51:31 > 0:51:34300. 310. 320.
0:51:34 > 0:51:36330. 340.
0:51:36 > 0:51:41No? At 340, fourth row. At £340.
0:51:41 > 0:51:43We're selling...
0:51:43 > 0:51:47- Brilliant. We're happy with that. - Yeah.- Well done. £340!
0:51:47 > 0:51:52- That's brilliant.- That's very good. Thank you for bringing that in.
0:51:56 > 0:52:00Remember that whale vertebra? It's just about to go under the hammer,
0:52:00 > 0:52:03and I've been joined by Mandy, its present owner.
0:52:03 > 0:52:07I'm saying present - I'm hoping it's going to sell well today.
0:52:07 > 0:52:11I remember saying I can't wait to see the auctioneer's face
0:52:11 > 0:52:14when he sees this. Unwraps the bubble wrap and goes...
0:52:14 > 0:52:20And he did. Ian's face was a picture when I saw him this morning.
0:52:20 > 0:52:23He said, "I knew that was you. I knew you'd pick that."
0:52:23 > 0:52:26But he didn't give any clues away.
0:52:26 > 0:52:30So fingers crossed. We've pitched it to sell £65-100.
0:52:30 > 0:52:33Just wondering what this lot will make of it.
0:52:33 > 0:52:36- We'll find out right now. Good luck! - Thank you!
0:52:36 > 0:52:44466 is the whalebone vertebra sculpture on stand. There we are.
0:52:44 > 0:52:47And I think it looks fab. I really do.
0:52:47 > 0:52:51I'm opening this at £40. And five, 50.
0:52:51 > 0:52:53And five, 60.
0:52:53 > 0:52:56And five. At £65.
0:52:56 > 0:52:58At 65 and 70.
0:52:58 > 0:53:00And five. 80.
0:53:00 > 0:53:02And five.
0:53:02 > 0:53:0490 and five.
0:53:04 > 0:53:07100 and five.
0:53:08 > 0:53:10110.
0:53:10 > 0:53:13- 110.- Brilliant.- 115.- Bit of competition.- £115 on my right.
0:53:13 > 0:53:17- 115. - GAVEL STRIKES
0:53:17 > 0:53:20115. Brilliant! Top end of the estimate.
0:53:20 > 0:53:23- Yes.- That's good, isn't it?- It is very good.- Pleased with that?- Yeah.
0:53:23 > 0:53:26I was a bit dubious to start with, but hey, it's gone!
0:53:26 > 0:53:32'And now something for all you fine art lovers - Marjory's Rowland Hill watercolours of the Irish Sea.'
0:53:34 > 0:53:38Our expert put £400 to £600 on this. Why are you selling these?
0:53:38 > 0:53:42These should be on your wall at home in the sitting room.
0:53:42 > 0:53:48They were, but we've moved from a family-sized home to a tiny bungalow and there isn't space.
0:53:48 > 0:53:54I think they'll go to a new home round here. They're going under the hammer now.
0:53:54 > 0:53:58Right, Rowland Hill, the two Irish watercolours there.
0:53:58 > 0:54:01What am I bid on these?
0:54:01 > 0:54:04£200 anywhere? £200.
0:54:04 > 0:54:07220. 240. 260.
0:54:07 > 0:54:10- At 280.- They're struggling. That's unbelievable.
0:54:10 > 0:54:14£300. All done at £300? At 300.
0:54:14 > 0:54:17Are you all done, ladies and gentlemen, at 300?
0:54:18 > 0:54:22I'm so sorry. At least you protected them with a reserve.
0:54:22 > 0:54:26Maybe it's worth getting in touch with a few auction rooms in Ireland.
0:54:26 > 0:54:30- Send them some images and see if they want to take them in.- Right.
0:54:30 > 0:54:36- At least they've not been undersold. - Exactly. Thank you, Marjory. I'm ever so sorry.- Thank you very much.
0:54:36 > 0:54:41'I can't believe those Rowland Hill watercolours didn't sell
0:54:41 > 0:54:47'and now everyone's rather nervous about our last lot, namely Dawn's donated pair of vases.
0:54:47 > 0:54:54'Although cracked, they are quality items and are inscribed with one of the best names in the business.'
0:54:54 > 0:54:58It's Moorcroft. It's a pair of vases. They belong to Dawn.
0:54:58 > 0:55:04We've got a valuation of £700 to £1,000 and they're Macintyre period, so they're early 1900s.
0:55:04 > 0:55:10That's what the collectors love. All the money's going to charity. Give the charity a plug.
0:55:10 > 0:55:13It's East Lancashire Hospice based in Blackburn
0:55:13 > 0:55:17and it provides palliative care for Blackburn, Darwen and Ribble Valley.
0:55:17 > 0:55:21- Fantastic. We need top money for this.- We've got to do really well.
0:55:21 > 0:55:24- But it's the name, isn't it?- Yes.
0:55:24 > 0:55:30It's a name that we know and love. We know Moorcroft and we know that size with Moorcroft matters.
0:55:30 > 0:55:34If it's a miniature, it's a lot of money, if it's big, it's a lot of money
0:55:34 > 0:55:40and it's a wonderful, big pair of vases with an unusual pattern, so it's got everything.
0:55:40 > 0:55:44It's got a star crack in the base, but we'll say that in a quiet voice,
0:55:44 > 0:55:47so the £600 reserve reflects that.
0:55:47 > 0:55:50And hopefully, people will judge for themselves.
0:55:50 > 0:55:56We've seen it before. We've been cagey with our pricing and we've seen Moorcroft go through the roof.
0:55:56 > 0:55:58Let's hope it happens today.
0:55:58 > 0:56:01A fine pair of early 20th century,
0:56:01 > 0:56:05Macintyre Moorcroft vases. The Honesty pattern there.
0:56:05 > 0:56:08Lovely looking. What am I bid for these?
0:56:08 > 0:56:11Do I see £400 to open? 400 I have.
0:56:11 > 0:56:14£400. At £400. At 425.
0:56:14 > 0:56:17425, 450. 475.
0:56:17 > 0:56:20I have 475. 500. And 25.
0:56:20 > 0:56:23550. At 550. 575.
0:56:23 > 0:56:27At 575. At 600. At £600. Any further bids?
0:56:27 > 0:56:30625. 650.
0:56:30 > 0:56:33675. 700. And 25.
0:56:33 > 0:56:36750. 775. 800.
0:56:36 > 0:56:38And 25. 850.
0:56:38 > 0:56:41850... 875, a fresh bid.
0:56:41 > 0:56:44900. And 25.
0:56:44 > 0:56:48950. 975. 1,000.
0:56:48 > 0:56:51- We've done 1,000.- 1,025. 1,050.
0:56:51 > 0:56:54And 75. 1,100. And 25.
0:56:54 > 0:56:571,150. 1,175.
0:56:57 > 0:56:591,200. And 25.
0:56:59 > 0:57:011,250. 1,275.
0:57:01 > 0:57:06- 1,300.- Wow!- And 25. - Don't you love these moments?
0:57:06 > 0:57:081,375. 1,400. And 25.
0:57:08 > 0:57:12At 1,425, central back.
0:57:12 > 0:57:14At £1,425. Are we all done?
0:57:14 > 0:57:181,425 at the back there...
0:57:20 > 0:57:23- £1,425! Congratulations. - Thank you very much.
0:57:23 > 0:57:27All that money is going to the hospice. How do you feel?
0:57:27 > 0:57:32- That's really good news. - What's going through your mind? - I can go back to work safely.
0:57:32 > 0:57:35Walk in tall and go, "Yes, I've done it!"
0:57:35 > 0:57:42Michael whispered in my ear. I said, "What do you think it'll do?" We didn't want to build your hopes up.
0:57:42 > 0:57:45- Guess what he said?- 1,400.
0:57:45 > 0:57:50- Well done. Well done, Michael. - I'm so pleased for you. - Thank you very much.
0:57:50 > 0:57:54If you do put these things in attractively, people get excited
0:57:54 > 0:57:57and it's a good result at the end.
0:57:57 > 0:58:03What a fabulous day we've had in the Calder Valley! Dawn, you're going back to your hospice a proud lady.
0:58:03 > 0:58:09- Give us a plug one more time.- East Lancashire Hospice in Blackburn. - Michael, thank you so much.
0:58:09 > 0:58:11I hope you've enjoyed today's show.
0:58:11 > 0:58:15There'll be plenty more surprises in the future. Keep watching. Cheerio.
0:58:32 > 0:58:36Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd 2010