Blackburn Flog It!

Today Flog It has come north to Lancashire to a boom town of the Industrial Revolution,

where cotton became king. Welcome to Blackburn.

Textiles have been manufactured in Blackburn since the 13th century.

First it was wool and linen, but by the 1700s it was cotton.

And with it Blackburn grew from a small market town to become a cotton-weaving world capital.

In the good times, Blackburn's cotton industry also led to a building boom in the town,

including in 1905, King George's Hall, our location for today's valuations.

And hoping to weave their magic today are Michael Baggott and Adam Partridge.

I think it's time to get the doors open, get this massive crowd inside and see what these two have spotted.

And once inside, Adam has spotted a man who is a good spotter himself.

-Morning, Steve.

-Morning.

-How are you?

-Fine, thank you.

-You're a bargain hunter.

-I try to be.

-You have a companion who goes with you.

-My 7-year-old granddaughter.

-Did she spot this one?

-No, but she's spotted others in the past.

-This is a car boot find.

-It is, yes.

I find that amazing because anybody knows about Clarice Cliff.

Everybody knows about it.

Even if you don't know anything about antiques, if you say, "Tell me about antiques,"

they say, "Clarice Cliff!"

-Yet you still found that. Tell me where you got it.

-Local car boot sale. Sunday morning, 10 o'clock.

-So that's been out for three hours, probably.

-Correct, yes.

-How much was it?

-It was £1 cash.

No!

And we've been banging on about Clarice Cliff for 10 years or more.

Well, that's amazing. It's not your most valuable piece, but is clearly worth more than £1.

This is a piece of 1930s Clarice Cliff pottery. It's that painted geometric design

from the Bizarre range.

Don't really need to tell the viewer too much about Clarice Cliff.

The whole world knows about it, apart from that person at the car boot and the hundreds who walked by.

That must have been waiting for you. Had your name written all over it. What do you think it will make?

-£50? £100?

-Right. I think you're right. I was thinking £50-£80.

Put it in at a realistic level and let them fight over it.

-£50 is 50 times your money.

-That's right.

-Less commission.

Steve, thanks very much for coming. I look forward to the auction. Over 100 quid'll be a great result.

Thanks.

Ann, Alison, thank you for bringing in this wonderful mirror. Who does it belong to?

It belonged to my mother, who died a few months ago. It's part of the estate that we're selling off.

Then we can share it out.

You either love it or hate it. Do you know what style it is?

Is it Art Nouveau or Art Deco?

You're very close. You were just one away.

It's Arts and Crafts. That movement comes in about 1870

and goes through to about 1900, 1910, when this mirror dates from.

It's typified by this beaten finish.

Now this looks as if it was all wrought delicately by hand and hammer.

Actually, they had machines to do it!

They made the shape and put it under the hammering machine.

That's basically told by the fact that it isn't uneven.

It's a very even planishing. What would have been hand-made

are these little panels. You see these on absolutely loads of Arts and Crafts mirrors.

They're called Ruskin pottery.

It was really a cheap alternative to using semi-precious stones.

And you could get different colours, glazes and sizes. Whatever you required for your mirror.

And it's really untouched. So it was your mother's.

-Did she particularly go for this sort of thing?

-No, they had all sorts of antiques.

-Loved antiques. Always at auctions.

-A vast amount of things.

-Always out buying whatever took their fancy.

-Yes.

-It's the best way to do it.

-They didn't specialise. Whatever they thought was beautiful.

So one day they thought, "We'll have that."

Any idea of the value of it?

No, some years ago a lady did offer my mother £400,

-but I don't know...

-Crikey.

-That was what my mum said to me.

-That must have been a very committed collector.

-Right.

-She probably has been.

I think what we really need to do is pitch this, let's say, £120-£200.

-Let's put a fixed reserve of £120 on it.

-Yes, I want a reserve on it.

And let's hope... Let's hope that lady isn't committed and she'll be at the auction!

Renee and Harry, thank you for coming in and bringing in a piece of regional furniture.

This is a lovely Macclesfield chair, dating from the late 18th century.

-I expect you've sat on it for quite a long time.

-Yes. A few people have sat on it.

-It's a good bit of kit, isn't it, Harry?

-Yeah.

-This will last another couple of hundred years.

I'm nearly as old as that chair!

-How old are you, Harry?

-Guess.

72.

72?! I wish I was.

-How old are you?

-I wish I was.

-82?

-93.

-93?!

-Yeah.

-Are you really 93? What did you use to do for a living?

-Antiques.

-Did you?

-Antique furniture.

-You were in the trade. You know what I'm talking about.

I dealt a lot in Portobello.

-He has the gift of the gab!

-He has, too!

-So why do you want to sell this?

-To be quite honest, I'm so afraid of it getting damaged.

-Where I had it before, people used to sit on it.

-Yeah.

-And I'd go, "Oh, that chair..."

-If you lean back a little bit...

-I don't want it to get damaged. So I took it upstairs.

-There is a little bit of damage.

-I know that.

-I'll just point out a couple.

I'll start with the fact that it has been what we call re-toed.

-That would have come right down to there.

-Yes.

-In the 18th century.

But over the next 100 years, it's worn so much that somebody has glued a block on here.

-The Victorians have done that. It wasn't done recently.

-No.

-But it has taken a lot of wear and tear.

-Yeah.

Also, looking at the top rail,

-can you see?

-A little crack.

-It's got a nasty split in it which has been screwed.

-Together.

-I see that.

-It's screwed twice.

-Yeah, yeah.

-So, unfortunately, it has devalued it.

-I noticed. It's obvious.

-What I love about this

is this one rail has had so many people's feet on it

it's completely worn flat in sections.

This is a flattened bobbin turning, like a bobbin in a loom.

-Yes, yes.

-In the mills.

-I see.

I think if we get this into auction, we should put £100-£200 on it with a reserve at £100.

-OK.

-If you say so, yes.

-Can I expect to see you at the auction?

-We can try.

-If I'm still alive by then!

-Don't forget.

-It's only a month.

-We're only a few weeks away.

-So you're Dorothy.

-I'm Dorothy.

-Who's this fella?

-This is Derek, my husband.

-Hello, Derek.

-Hi.

-How long have you been married?

-45 years.

-Have you got nicknames?

-No!

-He sometimes calls me Dolly!

-Dolly?

-He sometimes calls me Dolly.

-And have you got a name for her?

-No, I just think she's lovely.

Well, I do, I do.

-Yeah. She's very striking.

-Very tactile, isn't she?

-Some areas have been rubbed more than others!

-My son!

-Is it your son's piece?

-Yes, it is.

-Where did he get it from?

-A car boot.

-Did he really?

-How long ago?

-A couple of years.

-And how much for?

-£25.

-£25.

-Yeah.

-Goodness me. It's probably worth that in weight alone.

-It is! I've carried it!

It's a big bronze figure of this reclining maiden.

-She's rather nice, isn't she?

-Yes.

-She's not signed anywhere, is she?

-Not that we know of.

-I don't know if she's a great age.

-Does age make all that difference?

A name makes a difference and age will. I haven't seen reproductions of this figure, though, so...

She's certainly 20th century, but to be more specific than that is going to be quite tricky.

-Why has he decided to sell it now?

-I think he might have gone off females!

He's out fishing now. That's why he's not here.

Right, he's out fishing. So he's gone from females to fish.

Does he have a high expectation? Does he think it's worth an awful lot?

He did think it was worth... that it was worth in the region of £500 or something like that.

Well, it's certainly worth more than he paid for it, but £500 would be really going some.

-You never know with an auction. All it takes is two people to fall in love with it.

-Yeah.

You never know. But I'd be more conservative and suggest £100-£200.

We'll put a reserve of £100. It must be... SHE must be worth £100.

-Mm, lovely. Thank you very much.

-It's a pleasure. See you at the auction.

You will, yes.

You could say we're now up and running. While we make our way to the auction room,

here's a quick reminder of all the items going under the hammer. Or the "bear" essentials.

BEAR GROWLS

It wasn't so much a growl as a gasp of disbelief

for Adam as he hears what Steve paid for this.

-Tell me, how much was it?

-£1 cash.

-No!

And Michael was also shocked when he heard what was offered

for Ann and Alison's Arts and Crafts mirror.

Some years ago a lady did offer my mother £400, but I don't know...

-Crikey.

-That was what my mum said to me.

£120-£200 is Michael's estimate.

I'm hoping Renee and Harry's Macclesfield ladder-back chair will climb up to £100-£200.

And, finally, Dorothy and Derek have struggled in with their son's statue, our second car-boot find.

We'll soon find out what the bidders make of all our owners' items

as I cross into Yorkshire.

Our auction is housed in a former mill for spinning cotton waste

and it's now recycling antiques.

I've spotted something. It's this 19th-century tin oval tray.

It's beautiful. If I pick this up I can show you this. Look at that.

You're not just buying a tray. You're buying an oil painting. That's beautifully painted by hand.

This is circa 1820, 1830. It's a hunting scene.

It's not that PC. I don't particularly like it, but it's beautifully executed

and price guided at £40-£60.

There's a bit of wear here and the gilding's lost its colour.

In perfect condition, it's £500-£700. I want to follow this through later in the sale.

I've a feeling this could do a couple of hundred pounds easily.

It may even go to £300. I'd like it to because that's what it's worth.

Auctioneer Ian Peace is today's Master of Ceremonies. First up is the copper mirror.

I've been joined by Ann and Alison. We're just about to put that mirror under the hammer.

We've got Michael Baggott here.

-Is this a true reflection on the value - £120-£200?

-It's beautiful and in the perfect place.

-It's got the look.

-It might fly away.

Fingers crossed for the top end.

The next lot, 323, is the Arts and Crafts period

oval copper bevelled mirror.

Turquoise stones. What am I bid?

80? 60, thank you. £60.

70. At 80. £80.

At 80. And 90.

-£90.

-Come on, we're nearly there.

At £90. 95 there.

100. And 5.

-At 105. Are we all done?

-No!

-110.

-In the fifth row at 110. All done?

-Ohhh...

-And 15 here. 120.

Anybody else now? 120.

At £120. Are we all done at 120, then?

All credit to that man on the rostrum.

He worked some magic. That really was struggling.

-I nearly bid myself!

-I was like that!

My turn to be the expert now. Some wonderful regional furniture. It dates back to the 18th century.

It's that gorgeous chair. And it belongs to this lovely couple, Renee and Harry.

-You all right?

-Thank you.

-It's great to see you.

-You really put a smile on my face on the valuation day.

-I'm always looking at your photo!

-What's he been up to? Getting up to mischief?

-Always!

-Always in trouble.

-We keep a strict eye on him.

-..Making love, he said!

-Right! Enough of that now.

-Oh...

-We'll talk about that later.

Here we go. We're looking for £100-£200.

The antique Macclesfield ladder-back chair with rush seat.

There we are.

100, may I say? 80? 60, thank you.

£60. 70. 80. Are we all done at £80?

At £80, then. We're not quite there at £80.

It's so useful and nobody's appreciating it today.

Everyone was sitting on their hands. And that's a nice example.

-Can I take that back today?

-Yes.

-Do I have to wait to the end?

-We'll get it in the car for you.

Next is the extraordinary car-boot bargain,

the £1 Clarice Cliff vase.

Steve, it's great to see you again. You've brought your wife, Carol.

He's got great eyes, hasn't he? My word! This is about to make a lot of money, I think.

It was bought for £1. Can we get £50-£80? Fingers crossed.

It's on the internet. All the Clarice Cliff hunters are out there. Going under the hammer now.

The small Clarice Cliff Bizarre bud vase. 362.

Being shown.

Open this at £50? £50?

£50. 60, do I see? 60 over there.

70 on commission. 80. 90.

100. And 10. 120.

130 on the phone. Anybody else now...? 140.

150. 160.

170. 180.

£180 in the room. At £180...

Yes! £180! And that was bought for £1.

Remember that tray we looked at? The oval 19th-century one?

-Let's watch this.

-The hunting scene. That's an interesting piece.

50 in the doorway. £50. 60. 70.

-It's worth an awful lot more.

-100. 110. 120.

-130.

-More like it now.

150. 60. 170.

-Catalogued at £40-£60.

-190. 200.

210. 220. 230.

240. 250. 260.

270. 280. 290.

-That's better, isn't it?

-And 10. 320.

330. 340.

-Great.

-350. 360.

370. £370.

£370 in the room. Going for 370.

Fantastic. That takes it to about £420 with commission.

That's a good price. No-one got that cheap.

But our next item was definitely bought on the cheap!

Hopefully, you'll be on the phone to your son later on saying that £25 has been turned into

the top end of Adam's estimate, £200. Fingers crossed. Here we go.

The bronze model of a nude girl with sabre.

I'm opening this at £100 on a commission bid. 110. 120.

-130. 140.

-Brilliant.

-150. 160. 170.

170. 180. 190. 200.

And 10. 220.

230. 240, sir. 240.

250. 260. 270.

280. 290. 300.

And 10. 320. 330.

340. 350.

-360.

-This is great.

-370. 380. 390.

400. And 10. 420. 430.

440. 450. 460. 470.

I can't believe that.

At £480. Have you all done? At 480, then.

Brilliant. Absolutely fantastic.

£25 purchase at a car boot.

-You've got to get on the phone!

-I will!

Sadly, we're coming to the end of another show.

It's all over for our owners. We've had a bit of a mixed day,

but that's auctions for you. You win some, you lose some.

If you've got anything you want to sell, we would love to see you.

Come to one of our valuation days and you could be on the show. Until the next time, cheerio.

Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd - 2010