0:00:05 > 0:00:09Today we're in the busiest passenger ferry port in the world.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12On average, 16 million people a year pass through here.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14Can you guess where we are? Of course you can.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17Today Flog It! comes from Dover in Kent.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38Dover is well-known for many things,
0:00:38 > 0:00:41but perhaps most famously for its iconic white cliffs,
0:00:41 > 0:00:43and look at how magnificent they are.
0:00:43 > 0:00:48But it's also a magnet to swimmers who see that 21-mile short distance
0:00:48 > 0:00:50to mainland France as a bit of a challenge.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53Later in the programme I'll be finding out why conquering
0:00:53 > 0:00:58the English Channel has always lured journalists and swimmers alike.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00Well, it's nearly 9.30am
0:01:00 > 0:01:04and it's time to get the Flog It! valuation day underway.
0:01:09 > 0:01:11Just look at this fabulous turnout!
0:01:11 > 0:01:15Hundreds of people queuing up outside Dover Town Hall,
0:01:15 > 0:01:18all waiting for that special valuation and if the price is right,
0:01:18 > 0:01:20what are you going to do? Flog It!
0:01:20 > 0:01:24Yes! And the two experts responsible for putting the things through
0:01:24 > 0:01:27to auction are Mark Stacey and Catherine Southon.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30Well, it's now 9.30am, so without further ado
0:01:30 > 0:01:34let's get the doors open and get everybody inside.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37We're so lucky to be in such a stunning venue today in the historic
0:01:37 > 0:01:40coastal port of Dover and it looks as though Catherine
0:01:40 > 0:01:44has already found a maritime themed item.
0:01:44 > 0:01:45Helen, good to see you.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49- Shall we have a little look what's in this box?- Yes.- Let's have a reveal.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51A nice little steamboat there.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54Powered by methylated spirits, is it?
0:01:54 > 0:01:57- Yes.- Tell me how it works, what do you do?
0:01:57 > 0:01:58Well, you lift the top...
0:01:59 > 0:02:02..here and you put the methylated spirits in here.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04Right, OK, yes.
0:02:04 > 0:02:09And then you fill up the boiler with water here.
0:02:09 > 0:02:15- So then the steam...- And the steam forces the propeller to go round,
0:02:15 > 0:02:17it turns the propeller that way.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21- That's lovely.- Shall I put this back? - This is actually made by Hobbies
0:02:21 > 0:02:23and I can see that you've got the original box.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26- Yes, but not the lid, sadly. - No, often the case.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30Tell me a little bit about it in terms of where you got it from.
0:02:30 > 0:02:36It belonged to my father and he was born in 1917 and he...
0:02:36 > 0:02:40It came to me when I was, oh, a teenager I should think
0:02:40 > 0:02:42and it's never been used since.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45- It's something your father obviously played with...- Yes.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48- Quite a lot.- Yes. I have had it in actually working, but not in water.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51- You never played with it?- No.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55Well, sadly, as you can probably tell, it has actually been repainted.
0:02:55 > 0:02:56Yes, that was typical Father.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59Typical father. Naughty father, I think we should say.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02I don't know if you know, but this is actually fibreglass.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06- It's painted on fibreglass.- Right. - We have seen other models like
0:03:06 > 0:03:10this where they've actually been painted on tin plate.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12Makers like Bing, Mark Linn,
0:03:12 > 0:03:15and they're obviously a lot more collectable,
0:03:15 > 0:03:16making big money.
0:03:16 > 0:03:21What is nice is that you've got the original box and obviously
0:03:21 > 0:03:24- on here it's got stamped, on either end actually...- Yes.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28..Hobbies, the maker, Bowman Steamboat, and then the model name,
0:03:28 > 0:03:31which is Swallow, so the boat is obviously called Swallow.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35I mean, it must be quite important to you as it belonged to your father.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38Yes. I just feel that it would be nice if it was appreciated
0:03:38 > 0:03:43- by somebody who collects model boats.- Yeah.- Or steam engines, even.
0:03:43 > 0:03:48I have known them to go for around the £100, £150 mark
0:03:48 > 0:03:51if in their original condition.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53Bearing in mind it has been repainted,
0:03:53 > 0:03:56it has got the box but without the lid,
0:03:56 > 0:04:00- I think we should probably pitch it around £60 to £80 mark.- Right.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03- Are you happy with that?- Yes. - Maybe with a £50 reserve.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06- OK.- Thank you very much. I'll see you at the auction!
0:04:10 > 0:04:13- Hello, Pauline.- Hello.- How nice to meet you here in Dover.- And you.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16- You're looking very cool in blue. - Oh, thank you very much.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19Now, tell me, why have you got this item?
0:04:19 > 0:04:22Well, it belonged to my father.
0:04:22 > 0:04:28He got it from an antique shop, I think, somewhere along the line,
0:04:28 > 0:04:32and then when I was about 16 I said to Mum,
0:04:32 > 0:04:35"I do like that horn, will you leave it to me in your will?"
0:04:35 > 0:04:40Which you do when you're young, you know? So, that's what she did.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42When she died she left that to me.
0:04:42 > 0:04:43Oh, wonderful.
0:04:43 > 0:04:48And in your family, I mean, do you have a Scottish connection?
0:04:48 > 0:04:50- Yes, my father. - Your father was Scottish?
0:04:50 > 0:04:53- Yeah, he was.- Ah, that's why he bought it, then.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55- It meant something to him.- Yes.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57Because whenever you see an item like this,
0:04:57 > 0:04:59you always know they're Scottish.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01- They're known as Scottish snuff moulds.- Right.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05They're made from the end of ram's horns or deer horns or whatever.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09Sometimes you can get big table ones, which are deer horn.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12This one is particularly nice because it is silver mounted,
0:05:12 > 0:05:15there's no hallmarks, but I have every confidence
0:05:15 > 0:05:17- that those are silver mounts on there.- Yeah, yeah.
0:05:17 > 0:05:22- And we have a little family crest there.- Oh, is that a family crest?
0:05:22 > 0:05:24We have a name here.
0:05:24 > 0:05:29James Robertson, Inverness.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32So that confirms its Scottish pedigree, if you like.
0:05:32 > 0:05:37- That's right.- The other nice thing we've found is a Latin inscription
0:05:37 > 0:05:40- which means glory is the reward of valour.- Fine, yes.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43But I found out that the Robertson clan
0:05:43 > 0:05:45are the oldest clan in Scotland.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47- Really?- And they also descend,
0:05:47 > 0:05:53I think, from the old Norse rulers of Scotland, the kings of the Norse,
0:05:53 > 0:05:56- Vikings who came over and conquered Scotland.- That's interesting.
0:05:56 > 0:06:01Or they married into them. And you've had it obviously a few years.
0:06:01 > 0:06:02Yes, I've had it a few years.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05And why have you decided to sell it with us today?
0:06:05 > 0:06:06I'll tell you the truth, now.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10I was going to leave it to my daughter and her husband said,
0:06:10 > 0:06:13"Oh, well, when you've gone we'll sell it"
0:06:13 > 0:06:15and I would like them to have kept it.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18And I thought, well, no, I'm not going to have that,
0:06:18 > 0:06:19so I will sell it myself.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22Well, it's your item. I've every confidence the auction house
0:06:22 > 0:06:26will do as much marketing as possible and I suspect we'll get some
0:06:26 > 0:06:29Robertson from America, from Scotland, from all over,
0:06:29 > 0:06:33who are interested in getting part of their family history back.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36It'll be a double good thing for you. Hopefully get a bit more money.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40- Yeah.- And you'll be reuniting an item that's been lost from
0:06:40 > 0:06:44- the Robertson family, which will be good.- Yeah.- I would like to put
0:06:44 > 0:06:47- an estimate of £200 to £300 on it. - OK.- With a 200 reserve.- Yeah.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51- Our little Scottish piece of history will do us proud, I'm sure.- Yeah.
0:06:59 > 0:07:04Rose, I do love teddy bears, so thank you so much for bringing such a beautiful example along.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07I especially like those with a bit of a question mark over their heads,
0:07:07 > 0:07:09whether this one is or isn't a Steiff,
0:07:09 > 0:07:13because I'm not quite sure and we'll have to have a little look at him.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16Can you tell me about his history, where you got him from?
0:07:16 > 0:07:19I don't really know his history, but I did find him
0:07:19 > 0:07:22in my mother-in-law's house after she died and we were clearing.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26So something that your mother-in-law has ever talked to you about?
0:07:26 > 0:07:31No, no. I didn't know he was there. He was wrapped up in an old curtain.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33- Oh, really?- Yes.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35Really collecting a lot of dust.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37He's absolutely filthy.
0:07:37 > 0:07:44He looks like he's black but in actual fact, if you look closely at him, he was probably once golden.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46You can see there he's got remnants of the golden plush.
0:07:46 > 0:07:52He's in appalling state but he's very well loved, which is nice to see.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57The question mark is, is he or isn't he a Steiff bear?
0:07:57 > 0:07:59He's got that appearance,
0:07:59 > 0:08:05that pronounced snout, which is what we find with Steiff bears.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07He hasn't got a the black boot eyes.
0:08:07 > 0:08:15He's got glass eyes, but then they did use glass eyes later on, around the 1920s.
0:08:15 > 0:08:20But one of the main characteristics that we find on a Steiff bear is, of course, the button in the ear.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23We know that the very early ones didn't have Steiff written on,
0:08:23 > 0:08:28they had a little elephant on, and the later ones actually had the name Steiff.
0:08:28 > 0:08:33There's no button in the ear whatsoever. Also, there's no real evidence that there
0:08:33 > 0:08:39perhaps was once a hole showing that there was a button in the ear.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43I can't say hand on heart that this is a Steiff.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47Nevertheless, I think we could catalogue it and we could say
0:08:47 > 0:08:53that it's in the manner of a Steiff and it's possibly a Steiff, but we can't say for sure.
0:08:53 > 0:09:00With that in mind, I'd probably estimate him at around £200 to £300, with 180 reserve.
0:09:00 > 0:09:05- Would you be happy with that?- Yes. - Not bad, considering you found him in a blanket.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08- He could have been thrown out, couldn't he?- Very easily.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11I think if he were a Steiff,
0:09:11 > 0:09:19we could say £400 to £500 estimate, and I think he'd easily make 600, 800, perhaps.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22I think it would be great to take him off to auction
0:09:22 > 0:09:25and really give him to someone who's going to love him. I'd love him.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27- Sure you don't want to take him home?- Quite sure.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31It looks like you're going off to auction. Shall we say bye-bye?
0:09:31 > 0:09:34Bye-bye! Off we go.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43What a lovely three quarter length portrait, Reg.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45Do you know who she is?
0:09:45 > 0:09:47- Lady Dover.- So how did you come by this portrait?
0:09:47 > 0:09:50This was left to me about five years ago.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53- And you've got some paperwork, I believe.- Yes, indeed.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56Can I have a quick look? By John Jackson, the original artist.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59He died in 1831. This is a copy,
0:09:59 > 0:10:03but it's a beautiful copy. It's a period copy.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06The original hangs in the British Museum, but this is done
0:10:06 > 0:10:11by George Dodson Tomlinson, a Victorian artist who died in 1884,
0:10:11 > 0:10:13so he was flourishing around the mid-1800s.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17He's exhibited at the Royal Academy, which is great news for you.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20- Good.- Because it gives the artist a little provenance,
0:10:20 > 0:10:24so a lot of weight behind him, which pushes the price up at auction.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28We even know who this is. It's a lady called Georgina,
0:10:28 > 0:10:31the daughter of the Sixth Earl of Carlisle,
0:10:31 > 0:10:33so this is the first Lady Dover.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37- Yes, and possibly the only one. - Possibly the only one. In 1831.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39Well, I absolutely love it.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43The frame is letting it down at the moment because it's been painted
0:10:43 > 0:10:46so many times with obviously coats of emulsion or something like that,
0:10:46 > 0:10:49but that's its contemporary frame.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52The frame's perfect for this picture and I can see it...
0:10:52 > 0:10:55I can see it is, you know? This has not been cut down and fiddled with.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58I have a feeling this has been hanging in a smoker's home.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01- That nicotine stain.- It has, yes. - Isn't it?- It is.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04Look at this, if you just go like that...
0:11:07 > 0:11:09..you can tell it's the nicotine.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13It needs a good clean, a professional should tackle that.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17- Do you like the portrait? - Not really, no.- Why is that?
0:11:17 > 0:11:18I find her a bit frightening.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21- It's the eyes. - That's the sign of a good painter,
0:11:21 > 0:11:24there's quality in those eyes, and the lips are beautiful.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26They're so full. The skin tones are great.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32- What sort of money had you in mind? - I've no idea of the value.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34- No idea?- No.- And why do you want to sell this now?
0:11:34 > 0:11:38- Because I'm moving to a flat. - Are you? That won't work in a flat,
0:11:38 > 0:11:41will it, with a low ceiling? It'd look a bit OTT.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43It really needs a big room.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45That is a big picture.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48If you're happy, I think we can put this into auction
0:11:48 > 0:11:52- with a value of around about £400 to £600.- Right.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55With a discretion on the 400, a 10% auctioneer's discretion.
0:11:55 > 0:11:56Right, fine.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04- Peter, welcome to Flog It!- Thank you. - Thank you for coming along.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06I do like a little object in a little case.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08Shall we just have a little open up here?
0:12:08 > 0:12:11We've got a lovely pocket aneroid barometer.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13Tell me about this, where did you get it from?
0:12:13 > 0:12:17It was from my father-in-law.
0:12:17 > 0:12:22- He's an... Well, he was an avid boot fair collector.- Oh, really? Right.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26And he collected lots of bits and pieces and when he died
0:12:26 > 0:12:29we sorted out and that's what we found in amongst
0:12:29 > 0:12:32- other bits and pieces, so... - Do you know if it's working?
0:12:32 > 0:12:36No, I don't know, no. I don't know anything about it at all,
0:12:36 > 0:12:40so I thought perhaps you might be able to enlighten me a bit on it.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44OK. Well, date wise we'd probably be looking at about turn of the century,
0:12:44 > 0:12:46so probably about circa 1900.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48We can see here the name Army & Navy,
0:12:48 > 0:12:51so it would have been actually sold in the Army & Navy stores.
0:12:51 > 0:12:57I love this little red Morocco leather case that it's contained in.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59Nice green velvet inside here.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02This is something that gentlemen would have had.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04He would have taken it with him in his pocket.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06Unfortunately, we've got a bit of wear here.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08It looks like the leather,
0:13:08 > 0:13:11- the red leather here has actually been lifted off.- Yeah.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15- Has it always been like that? - Yes.- As far as you know?- Yes, yes.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18It's quite a nice little instrument, Peter, it's a shame
0:13:18 > 0:13:22there's no signature on the dial. That would certainly
0:13:22 > 0:13:25beef up the estimate a bit, but have you ever had it working?
0:13:25 > 0:13:27- No, we haven't, no. - Do you know how to get it working?
0:13:27 > 0:13:29- No.- One of the tricks of the trade,
0:13:29 > 0:13:32what you can do is put it in like a polythene bag,
0:13:32 > 0:13:35blow up the bag and then, obviously, you've got the
0:13:35 > 0:13:38air inside it and hopefully you should see the needle move.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41See if it works before the auction.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43- That will be quite interesting to see.- Yeah.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47You do see quite a lot of them coming up at auction,
0:13:47 > 0:13:50so they're not... They don't have great value.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54- They're probably going to be worth in the region of about £60 to £80.- Yeah.
0:13:54 > 0:13:58Is that a bit disappointing to you, or are you happy to sell at that?
0:13:58 > 0:14:00Yeah, I... I will sell at that.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03Yeah, I mean, because I hadn't got a clue what it's worth,
0:14:03 > 0:14:07- so it's not a disappointment. - Let's put a reserve on of £50
0:14:07 > 0:14:09and that should easily make that.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11How does that sound?
0:14:11 > 0:14:12- Fine, yeah.- Happy with that?- Yes.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16Well, let's go for that and hope that it makes a bit more.
0:14:39 > 0:14:45I've brought you here to Greatstone near Dungeness to show you these strange looking concrete structures
0:14:45 > 0:14:49that lie abandoned at the edge of a waterlogged gravel pit, here.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53They look like early forms of abstract art but they're not.
0:14:53 > 0:14:59They played a significant part in the history of Britain's defence system.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03After the First World War, the biggest threat to Britain's security was from the air.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06What the country needed was an operational edge,
0:15:06 > 0:15:11a way of pinpointing incoming enemy bombers before they reached the English coast.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15The old system relied on sight, using spotters with binoculars.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22Enemy aircraft over the Channel. Flying due west.
0:15:22 > 0:15:27But it wasn't effective at night, or in bad weather conditions.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31The solution lay with one man, Lieutenant William Tucker.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33Tucker had spent much of the First World War
0:15:33 > 0:15:38in trenches using listening devices to search out enemy locations.
0:15:38 > 0:15:43By the 1920s, he decided to apply the same listening techniques to the skies.
0:15:43 > 0:15:48The result was a series of concrete structures, like these, along the south coast.
0:15:48 > 0:15:55They reflected the sound waves of incoming aircraft onto carefully-placed microphones.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59And various sound mirrors survive, dotted along the south coast.
0:15:59 > 0:16:04But this is the only place you can see all three designs side-by-side.
0:16:05 > 0:16:09To explain how they work, I've come to meet Owen Leyshon
0:16:09 > 0:16:12who's warden for the Dungeness National Nature Reserve.
0:16:12 > 0:16:17- Owen. Hiya.- Hello. - Pleased to meet you.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21- These are absolutely fabulous. - Brilliant, these sound mirrors.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24- I love the location.- Yes, very good.
0:16:24 > 0:16:29- This is a 20ft sound mirror. - This is the smaller one?- This is the smaller one, the first one.
0:16:29 > 0:16:34- How does the technology actually work?- Well, it's pointing out into the English Channel.
0:16:34 > 0:16:39It's collecting sound waves from the enemy aircraft, or potential enemy aircraft.
0:16:39 > 0:16:45So you had a guy standing where I am, with a sound trumpet pointing back into the 20ft dish,
0:16:45 > 0:16:50so he's got his back to the sea, and he would have a stethoscope on, and he's moving that trumpet around,
0:16:50 > 0:16:53trying to get a bearing of where the aircraft is.
0:16:53 > 0:16:58- And remember, with this one... - It's quite vertical. - It's vertical, indeed, so....
0:16:58 > 0:17:02- It's picking up things that are low? - That's right.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06So if the planes were coming in very high, they were in trouble.
0:17:06 > 0:17:13So what they did then is they designed the 30ft mirror, where they tilted the dish higher up
0:17:13 > 0:17:17into the sky, to get the higher aircraft as they were coming in,
0:17:17 > 0:17:19and also they had like a little room underneath
0:17:19 > 0:17:24where the listener was able to manoeuvre the microphone or the trumpet in the dish,
0:17:24 > 0:17:26so he was out of the elements.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30- Can I go and look at the big one? - Yeah, come on.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32- Very impressive.- How big is that?
0:17:32 > 0:17:33- That's 200ft.- My word.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40All the information gathered here would be sent back to military HQ
0:17:40 > 0:17:43at Hythe by phone, where it would be plotted out on a map.
0:17:43 > 0:17:48That would then give the RAF a chance to send up planes to meet the enemy.
0:17:57 > 0:18:02- An incredible sight when you get up you it, isn't it? - Very impressive.- 200 feet!
0:18:02 > 0:18:06Indeed, yeah. Concave lengthways but also vertically, as well.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09- I can see that when you look at the edges.- Hm.
0:18:09 > 0:18:10How does this one work, then?
0:18:10 > 0:18:14You've got a set of microphones in a big arc around the forecourt
0:18:14 > 0:18:19of this 200-foot mirror, and you would have had a guy in the office and this window up here.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22He would have had several people, as well, listeners out on the front.
0:18:22 > 0:18:27He would've directed those listeners to get the bearings of where the aircraft were coming from.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29Right. So they've scaled up the operation.
0:18:29 > 0:18:34- They've gone big now!- You can certainly say that, can't you? Yeah. And was that accurate?
0:18:34 > 0:18:39Yes, it was more of an accurate system than the smaller mirrors.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43But the length was still the same, 20, 25 miles.
0:18:43 > 0:18:48And it's back to the same old issue - the aircraft got faster,
0:18:48 > 0:18:52and so as an early-warning system it was becoming quite obvious
0:18:52 > 0:18:56that it was struggling as time went on in the 1930s.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59- Gosh! I'm so pleased they're still here.- Yeah.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02This is a real eye-opener for me.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04What was the downside?
0:19:04 > 0:19:09Well, the downside was we are very close to the sea here and the housing development
0:19:09 > 0:19:13or the pressures were creeping down the coast.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17Remember, these were built in a very bare, hostile, quiet environment.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21And also, radar came along in the late 1930s.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25So, quickly, the range that they could pick up the aircraft was much
0:19:25 > 0:19:29better than these sound mirrors, and they became obsolete quite quickly.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32- Impressive structures, though. - Oh, they are, aren't they?
0:19:32 > 0:19:35Well, I'm pleased they're here today, I really am.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39So, noisy urban development in this once-desolate area
0:19:39 > 0:19:44combined with faster planes meant the sound mirrors were already struggling.
0:19:44 > 0:19:48But it was the advances in radar that produced the final nail in the coffin.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56It was all over for these sound mirrors, and Tucker retired,
0:19:56 > 0:19:58thinking all his efforts were in vain.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03But these structures do stand as a monument to a man whose work
0:20:03 > 0:20:07was to have a profound effect on the outcome of World War II.
0:20:07 > 0:20:13The communications systems that Tucker developed between his mirrors and HQ were so effective
0:20:13 > 0:20:17that it was copied by the radar team and led directly to their success.
0:20:28 > 0:20:33We've found some quirky items and now we're heading north into the heart of Kent for today's auction.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37I can feel tension building all over the place, an air of excitement.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Today we're at the Canterbury Auction Galleries.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43Cliona Kilroy is just about to take to the rostrum, today's auctioneer.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45As you can see, we've got a packed house.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48Let's hope this lot are going to bid on all our items.
0:20:48 > 0:20:53And in case you've forgotten what's going under the hammer, here's a quick recap.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57I thought Reg's late 19th century portrait of Lady Dover was in
0:20:57 > 0:21:00remarkable condition, although the frame could do with a good clean!
0:21:00 > 0:21:04Reg is keen to get rid of it though, as it's too big for his flat.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08Catherine loved the look of Rose's 1920s' bear.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10Despite being a bit shabby,
0:21:10 > 0:21:14this chap is showing signs of being made by the German firm Steiff,
0:21:14 > 0:21:17a name that would certainly pull in the bidders.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21Pauline has been in love with her Robertson clan Scottish snuff horn
0:21:21 > 0:21:23since she was a wee lass.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25Mark thinks it may raise a lot of interest.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29I suspect we'll get some Robertson from America and from Scotland...
0:21:29 > 0:21:30- Really.- And from all over
0:21:30 > 0:21:33who are interested in getting part of their family history back.
0:21:33 > 0:21:38It's now time for Peter to sell his Army & Navy Store barometer
0:21:38 > 0:21:42in a red leather case which he got from his father-in-law.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44Finally, Helen hopes an enthusiastic collector
0:21:44 > 0:21:49will sail away with her inherited Hobbies Bowman steamboat.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52But will the botched paint job put the bidders off?
0:21:52 > 0:21:55It's time to find out as it's the first of our items
0:21:55 > 0:21:57to go under the hammer.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00I'm a big fan of this next lot.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02I've just been joined by Helen, the owner.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06Boys and their toys. I think this little steamboat is incredible.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09It works on methylated spirits. It's got the look of an early launch
0:22:09 > 0:22:11and it's known as the Swallow, in original box.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15- Yes.- Fingers crossed, OK? - Definitely, fingers crossed.
0:22:15 > 0:22:16Yeah. Here we go.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18333 is the early 20th century
0:22:18 > 0:22:21Hobbies Bowman steamboat, the Swallow. Lot 333.
0:22:21 > 0:22:25- Lots of commission interest.- Some interest in this. We'll start at...
0:22:25 > 0:22:28- We'll start at 130.- Starting at £130.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30- Yes!- I'm looking for 140. Any interest at 140?
0:22:30 > 0:22:32On my left at £130 now.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34- Any interest at 140?- Yes.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37140. 150. 160.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43- Yes.- 170. Anybody at 170?
0:22:43 > 0:22:46It's online at £160. Are we all done? Any further interest?
0:22:46 > 0:22:50If not I'm selling at £160 online.
0:22:50 > 0:22:51- Told you!- Fantastic!- Excellent.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53- You didn't have any faith. - I didn't.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57- Well done.- Well done, you.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00Thanks. It was a nice thing. It's a real gentleman's piece and I... I...
0:23:00 > 0:23:04I was looking at that earlier and I saw so many people looking at it
0:23:04 > 0:23:07as well and it brought back so many memories for them.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10Everybody buys into that. There's commission to pay.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13- Of course, yes.- But I think you can treat yourself with that.- Yes.
0:23:18 > 0:23:19This is a cracking lot.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22I've just been joined by Pauline and we're about to put
0:23:22 > 0:23:25the Scottish snuff horn under the hammer from the Robertsons' clan.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29- That's right.- Good luck, but I think this one is going back to Scotland.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32That's lovely. Yeah, it's nice to know, you know?
0:23:32 > 0:23:34Lot number 287 is the 19th century
0:23:34 > 0:23:37Scottish silvery metal mounted horn, snuff mould, lot 287.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39- Who'll start me at £100?- Yeah.
0:23:39 > 0:23:44- 100 I am bid. Who's in at 110? 110 for someone?- Come on.
0:23:44 > 0:23:45110 I have. 120. 130. 140. 150.
0:23:45 > 0:23:51160. 170. 180. 190. 200. And 10.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53The bid is on my left.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55It's gone, 210. Within estimate.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57What are you going to put the money towards?
0:23:57 > 0:24:00- I want a new carpet.- Do you? - So it will go to that.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02Yeah, I'd love a new carpet.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05- Thank you so much for bringing it in.- That's quite all right.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13So far so good. Temperatures are rising,
0:24:13 > 0:24:17which brings us nicely to our next lot, this little pocket barometer
0:24:17 > 0:24:20belonging to Peter and we've got the valuation of £60 to £80.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24- Now, your father-in-law found this at a car boot.- He did, yeah.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26- How much do you think he paid for it?- I haven't a clue.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29Unfortunately, he's not with us now, so I'll never know.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32Probably a lot less than what we're hoping to get today,
0:24:32 > 0:24:34I think, Catherine, don't you?
0:24:34 > 0:24:37Yeah, they always used to get 80 to 120, but I think nowadays they've
0:24:37 > 0:24:41gone down a little bit, so hopefully we should get between 60 and 80.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45- Case is nice.- Absolutely.- It's ready to go.- It's in good condition.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47Lot number 318 is the late 19th,
0:24:47 > 0:24:51early 20th century gilt brass case pocket aneroid barometer
0:24:51 > 0:24:54by the Army & Navy Stores, lot 318.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57- Who'll start me at £50?- Yes. - 50 I'm bid. Who's in at 60?
0:24:57 > 0:24:59It's on my left at £50, now.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02- Well, we've sold it. - Who's in at £60? 60. 70?
0:25:02 > 0:25:06- No.- Anybody at 70? Right at the back of the room at £60 now.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08Any further offer? The bid is right at the back at £60.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11And selling at £60.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14- Spot-on valuation.- Yes, spot-on. - £60. Happy with that?
0:25:14 > 0:25:18- That's fine.- There is commission to pay, unfortunately.- Yeah.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20That's going to take a swipe out of it,
0:25:20 > 0:25:24- but it's a meal out or something. - It's an experience.- Yes.- Fantastic.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33OK, for all you fine art lovers
0:25:33 > 0:25:37it's now time to find out exactly what Lady Dover is worth.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40I've been joined by Reg. This is my valuation. We had four to six on it.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44The auctioneer thinks it could do a little better, so fingers crossed.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47We always like a little more, don't we? Should be a lot of
0:25:47 > 0:25:51local interest and that's what it's all about. This is it.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53Lot number 75,
0:25:53 > 0:25:57attributed to George Dodson Tomlinson after John Jackson.
0:25:57 > 0:26:02The oil painting, the half length portrait of Lady Dover. Lot 75.
0:26:02 > 0:26:03Two bids, one at 500.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07We're going to start at £500 and I'm looking for 520. The bid is...
0:26:07 > 0:26:12The commission bid of £500. I'm looking for 520. 520. 540.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16560. 580. 600. And 20. 640.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20640? 660. 680?
0:26:20 > 0:26:21Brilliant. Come on, a bit more.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23680. 700. And 20?
0:26:23 > 0:26:26Anybody at 720? On my left at £700 now.
0:26:26 > 0:26:30Any further offer? If not, I'm selling at £700 if we're all done.
0:26:30 > 0:26:34- Fantastic.- Brilliant! And what are you going to do with that?
0:26:34 > 0:26:35Towards the next holiday.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38- Where are you going? - Gran Canaria.- Good for you.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41- He's retired, you deserve it. - That's it.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43- Thanks for bringing that in. - Thank you.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51Next up we've got the most gorgeous 1920s' teddy bear.
0:26:51 > 0:26:57He's a little play-worn but he's been loved and he belongs to Rose here. Great to see you.
0:26:57 > 0:27:02- And you.- Yeah, he has had a little bit of a going-over, hasn't he?
0:27:02 > 0:27:06Someone has loved him a lot. Mind you, you've still got £200 to £300 on him.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09He's not a bear we can put a name to, so that's still good money.
0:27:09 > 0:27:15- Here we go.- Lot number 373 is the teddy bear in the Steiff manner.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18Who'll start me at £150?
0:27:18 > 0:27:21150, I'm bid. Who's in at 160?
0:27:21 > 0:27:23170? 180?
0:27:23 > 0:27:26190? 200.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28And 10? 220?
0:27:28 > 0:27:31230, 240. 250, 260.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34- He has got a lovely face.- 270, 280.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37- 290, 300.- They absolutely love him.
0:27:37 > 0:27:42320, 340. No? The bid is on my left at £320, now.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46Any further offer?
0:27:46 > 0:27:48On my left at 320. 340?
0:27:50 > 0:27:53- Yes!- 360. 380.
0:27:55 > 0:27:56400, 420.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58Oh, this is brilliant.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01- 440, 460.- I am so pleased.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04480? Anybody at 480?
0:28:04 > 0:28:08It's on the telephone now at £460 and selling at 460.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10If we're all done at 460.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13- Yes!- £460.
0:28:13 > 0:28:14He was well worth it, wasn't it?
0:28:14 > 0:28:17He was lovely. The personality sold him, as well.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20Great face. And a good colour, as well.
0:28:22 > 0:28:26And coming up later, Catherine finds an antique pot
0:28:26 > 0:28:29which has performed some interesting functions.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32- I think I've been sick on it.- Oh!
0:28:32 > 0:28:35- In it.- Oh! I don't know if I want to touch it! In it?
0:28:53 > 0:28:56I've come back to Dover today to find out a bit more about
0:28:56 > 0:28:59one of the hardest physical challenges in the world
0:28:59 > 0:29:02and it's something every serious long distance swimmer
0:29:02 > 0:29:04would love to conquer. Can you guess what it is?
0:29:04 > 0:29:07Well, you probably can by my location here today.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10I'm talking about swimming the English Channel.
0:29:18 > 0:29:22The Channel is 21 miles across at its shortest distance and the
0:29:22 > 0:29:27starting point is over in that direction at Shakespeare's Cliff
0:29:27 > 0:29:31and, of course, it finishes over there at Cap Gris Nez, in France.
0:29:31 > 0:29:35The intrepid challengers have to deal with swimming
0:29:35 > 0:29:39in hypothermic-inducing water which is around 14 to 18 degrees Celsius.
0:29:39 > 0:29:43They've also got to swim through one of the busiest shipping lanes
0:29:43 > 0:29:46in the world, avoiding all the floating debris.
0:29:46 > 0:29:50And then they've got to battle against tides and currents,
0:29:50 > 0:29:52which change every six hours.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55On top of that, they've got to deal with getting stung by jellyfish,
0:29:55 > 0:29:59getting cramp and also swimming through floating fields of seaweed,
0:29:59 > 0:30:01so you can see it's not for the faint-hearted.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03This is a serious challenge.
0:30:03 > 0:30:05People have died doing this.
0:30:05 > 0:30:07Some, well, have conquered.
0:30:07 > 0:30:10Those include sort of seasoned swimmers and, of course,
0:30:10 > 0:30:12just ordinary people giving it a go.
0:30:14 > 0:30:19It all started on 24 August 1875, when Captain Matthew Webb
0:30:19 > 0:30:23dived in from the Admiralty Pier in Dover and swam across the Channel.
0:30:23 > 0:30:2921 hours and 45 minutes later he came ashore near Calais, in France.
0:30:29 > 0:30:33After his historic swim, Webb became a national hero.
0:30:33 > 0:30:36Many people assume that Captain Webb's success was a fluke
0:30:36 > 0:30:40and could not be repeated and though hundreds of people attempted to swim
0:30:40 > 0:30:46and many British newspapers offered sponsorships and a £1,000 reward,
0:30:46 > 0:30:51it took 36 years before the Channel was conquered again.
0:30:51 > 0:30:56This time it was a man called Thomas W Burgess who succeeded in 1911
0:30:56 > 0:30:57on his 13th attempt.
0:30:57 > 0:31:01He was a Yorkshire man who was actually living in Paris at the time
0:31:01 > 0:31:03and he worked in the motor tyre business.
0:31:03 > 0:31:05He was 37 when he swam the Channel
0:31:05 > 0:31:09and was famed for wearing motorist's goggles.
0:31:09 > 0:31:13It took him 22 hours and 35 minutes to get across to France.
0:31:13 > 0:31:17After Burgess had successfully followed Webb
0:31:17 > 0:31:21and shown it was indeed possible, many more attempts were undertaken.
0:31:21 > 0:31:23New records were made and broken,
0:31:23 > 0:31:26such as the first woman to swim the Channel,
0:31:26 > 0:31:31who was Gertrude Ederle in 1926 and who Burgess helped train.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34In the early 20th century, the men and women who completed
0:31:34 > 0:31:38the challenge became instant stars and large crowds gathered
0:31:38 > 0:31:40to greet the returning heroes.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43World War II stopped Channel swimming attempts, but following
0:31:43 > 0:31:47the end of the war, the 1950s saw the real heyday of Channel swimming
0:31:47 > 0:31:50with a great surge in its popularity.
0:31:50 > 0:31:54Races were organised and once again British newspapers offered rewards,
0:31:54 > 0:31:57alongside holiday camp magnet, Billy Butlin.
0:31:57 > 0:32:02Many of the successful challengers have had their photograph taken here
0:32:02 > 0:32:05on the seafront at Dover right next to Captain Webb's memorial.
0:32:05 > 0:32:09Sadly, the swimmers today don't make a splash they once did.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12You know, there's not thousands of people lined up along the seafront
0:32:12 > 0:32:15to congratulate them and welcome them home because that really
0:32:15 > 0:32:20is a tough challenge, possibly because more people are succeeding.
0:32:20 > 0:32:22We're a lot more savvy about nutrition, diet
0:32:22 > 0:32:26and putting in the right training regime. But, I'll tell you what,
0:32:26 > 0:32:29having a lot of knowledge doesn't make this any easier.
0:32:29 > 0:32:31It's far from it.
0:32:31 > 0:32:35Today I'm lucky enough to be meeting two people who are experts
0:32:35 > 0:32:37on all things Channel swimming.
0:32:37 > 0:32:40They are Freda Streeter and Michelle Toptalo.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43Freda is known lovingly as the General of the Channel
0:32:43 > 0:32:46as she helps hopefuls train and prepare for the challenge.
0:32:46 > 0:32:48Michelle is a local to Dover
0:32:48 > 0:32:51who had recently swum the Channel for the first time.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54Freda, great to meet up with you today. Hi, Michelle.
0:32:54 > 0:32:58Thank you for joining us as well. What perfect weather.
0:32:58 > 0:33:02- It's beautiful- Yeah, we're blessed. - It really is the perfect day.
0:33:02 > 0:33:05How long do the training sessions last? Are they here weeks on end?
0:33:05 > 0:33:10Weeks on end. We start in May, we finish at the end of September
0:33:10 > 0:33:13and we build them up and build them up until six, seven, eight,
0:33:13 > 0:33:16even 10 hour swims in the harbour here.
0:33:16 > 0:33:18Just to make sure, we give them back-to-back swims
0:33:18 > 0:33:21so that they do sort of seven one day, six another,
0:33:21 > 0:33:25which is possibly the equivalent of the Channel.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27They just had a night's rest in between,
0:33:27 > 0:33:30but mentally then it helps them tremendously.
0:33:30 > 0:33:32What are the rules?
0:33:32 > 0:33:35- One swimming costume, one hat, one pair of goggles.- That's it?
0:33:35 > 0:33:37And you do not touch the boat.
0:33:37 > 0:33:41Michelle, you've actually swum the Channel. What is it about it?
0:33:41 > 0:33:42Why did you want to do that?
0:33:42 > 0:33:44For me, I grew up in Dover.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47- Right.- I've always seen that piece of water.
0:33:47 > 0:33:49I've always been intrigued by the fact
0:33:49 > 0:33:51that you can see the weather in a different country.
0:33:51 > 0:33:55- Yeah.- I've always swum and I think I always knew one day I'd try it.
0:33:55 > 0:33:57It's the lure of the Channel.
0:33:57 > 0:34:01It just seems to get into people's blood and people do come back
0:34:01 > 0:34:03time after time after time.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05What did it feel like when you got to the other side?
0:34:05 > 0:34:09- The best feeling in the world. It's...- Did you kiss the beach?
0:34:09 > 0:34:13Did you sort of crawl up it and go, "I've done it" and pass out?
0:34:13 > 0:34:15Everybody has a different experience. For some,
0:34:15 > 0:34:18it's just sheer relief. For me, I just looked round,
0:34:18 > 0:34:20looked at that boat and just...
0:34:20 > 0:34:22I couldn't believe I'd...
0:34:22 > 0:34:23You know, it had been a long day.
0:34:23 > 0:34:27I mean, I was so lucky, the conditions were perfect,
0:34:27 > 0:34:29my crew were perfect and I just couldn't...
0:34:29 > 0:34:31I just couldn't believe I'd just achieved that.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34What makes a good Channel swimmer?
0:34:34 > 0:34:37I think it is about determination.
0:34:37 > 0:34:39- Yeah.- You know... - It's all up here, do you think?
0:34:39 > 0:34:42I mean, you have... everybody has their battles.
0:34:42 > 0:34:46We've had some really surprising people here... You watch them swim
0:34:46 > 0:34:49and you think they're never going to swim the Channel, you know,
0:34:49 > 0:34:51but their determination... They do.
0:34:51 > 0:34:5490%... I say it's 90% mental and 10% physical out there.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56It is. You negotiate with yourself.
0:34:56 > 0:35:00I remember thinking to myself out there, there's people that believe
0:35:00 > 0:35:03- I can do this.- Yeah.- If you don't do this today than every time
0:35:03 > 0:35:06you didn't go training it was the wrong decision.
0:35:06 > 0:35:08They're the kind of battles you have out there.
0:35:08 > 0:35:11- Is it expensive to do this?- Very.
0:35:11 > 0:35:15Very expensive, yes. It's the pilot boat which costs the money.
0:35:15 > 0:35:17How much does that cost?
0:35:17 > 0:35:19About 2,100.
0:35:19 > 0:35:22- Does it?- Yeah. Because that is the biggest shipping lane in the world.
0:35:22 > 0:35:26Obviously the pilot boat is essential, isn't it?
0:35:26 > 0:35:30Absolutely. The only person that's tried to cross this without
0:35:30 > 0:35:35- a pilot boat was found in Belgium about a fortnight later.- Right.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38There is no way that you can do this swim without a pilot boat.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41This is like a hedgehog trying to cross the M1.
0:35:41 > 0:35:44Did you come across any super tankers crossing your path?
0:35:44 > 0:35:47- Nothing came that close to me. - You were lucky.
0:35:47 > 0:35:51I've been on swims where we've had some very close encounters,
0:35:51 > 0:35:54but for me, I could see ferries and things in the distance.
0:35:54 > 0:35:56Is this something you can recommend?
0:35:56 > 0:35:59- Absolutely.- To all the viewers watching, to have a go?
0:35:59 > 0:36:03The torment you go through in here, and it is torture.
0:36:03 > 0:36:05For me this was more torture than the actual day.
0:36:05 > 0:36:07Entering the water in May is no mean feat
0:36:07 > 0:36:11and I've got so much respect for anybody that gets that far.
0:36:11 > 0:36:13And the boss here makes sure everybody toes the line?
0:36:13 > 0:36:15They'd be foolish to argue with her
0:36:15 > 0:36:18because she knows what she's talking about.
0:36:18 > 0:36:19Tell me about the greasing up?
0:36:19 > 0:36:24- The greasing up I think is probably over advertised.- Really?
0:36:24 > 0:36:26LAUGHTER
0:36:26 > 0:36:30For me it was just in the areas that my swimming costume would chafe.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33- Yeah.- This idea that you need to cover your body is...
0:36:33 > 0:36:36- I think it's a myth. - So, what do you eat? Can you eat?
0:36:36 > 0:36:40What we use is a very, very high carbohydrate powder
0:36:40 > 0:36:42mixed into a drink that they can
0:36:42 > 0:36:44literally swallow in three, four seconds,
0:36:44 > 0:36:49that's the equivalent of two jacket potatoes, big jacket potatoes,
0:36:49 > 0:36:53and it just goes straight through, gives them energy and we're off.
0:36:53 > 0:36:57- And that's it?- That's it. Well, they do have the occasional treat
0:36:57 > 0:37:01- if they get grumpy...- Do you? - A mini roll or something like that.
0:37:01 > 0:37:05Once you've been in a while you can't really taste anything anyway.
0:37:05 > 0:37:08- No.- Just salt!- You know, your tongue goes, goes salty.
0:37:08 > 0:37:10Right, now it's time for me to give it a go.
0:37:10 > 0:37:14So, here we go... But, do you know what? I could never do that.
0:37:14 > 0:37:18I wouldn't even make it to the harbour walls, but fair play
0:37:18 > 0:37:21to all the people that have done it, they're champions,
0:37:21 > 0:37:24and to all the people that have tried and attempted it but failed,
0:37:24 > 0:37:27they're still winners, as well. It's all about trying.
0:37:27 > 0:37:30What a brilliant day.
0:37:38 > 0:37:42Welcome back to a busy valuation day here at the Town Hall in Dover.
0:37:42 > 0:37:45It's still jam-packed full of people all hoping
0:37:45 > 0:37:48to go off to the auction room. It's now down to our experts
0:37:48 > 0:37:51to find those remaining items, so let's catch up with them.
0:37:57 > 0:38:00Yvonne, what a charming little figure you've brought in.
0:38:00 > 0:38:03- Thank you.- Tell me, where did you get it?
0:38:03 > 0:38:05It belonged to my mother-in-law.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08She passed away some 22 years ago.
0:38:08 > 0:38:11My father-in-law wasn't very keen on it and he asked us
0:38:11 > 0:38:15if we would like it and to take it away, so we did and we've had it
0:38:15 > 0:38:17for a number of years, but now it's... You know,
0:38:17 > 0:38:22we've moved into a little tiny small bungalow and it's beautiful and
0:38:22 > 0:38:26- I've just got nowhere to put her. - Nowhere to put her?- No.
0:38:26 > 0:38:29You know what it is, of course? It's a Meissen figure.
0:38:29 > 0:38:32- Yes. From the latter part of the 19th century.- Oh, right.
0:38:32 > 0:38:35It's very reminiscent of the sort of 18th century Meissen figures.
0:38:35 > 0:38:39You've got this sleeping beauty, here, who's taken her shoes off
0:38:39 > 0:38:43- and decided to have a little nap. - Right.- But if you look closely
0:38:43 > 0:38:48she's wearing this really nice floral dress and then just tucked in
0:38:48 > 0:38:52to the dress, here, there's a little letter which looks like it's got
0:38:52 > 0:38:55a little red seal mark on it, so it's a little love letter.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58- Ah!- And what we don't know, of course, is whether
0:38:58 > 0:39:03she's tucked it in there and then fallen asleep contented that
0:39:03 > 0:39:06her beau is in love with her, or of course he's tucked it in there when
0:39:06 > 0:39:10she's fallen asleep and then left her to wake up and find the letter.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12So it's a little bit of a mystery.
0:39:12 > 0:39:16It's a little bit of a mystery, but Victorians liked that,
0:39:16 > 0:39:18these little sort of sentimental touches.
0:39:18 > 0:39:21She's obviously quite an elegant lady, but then she's got
0:39:21 > 0:39:23this rustic furniture around her.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26- Yes.- They liked that sort of rustic style, as well.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29Looking underneath, we've got the crossed swords mark of Meissen.
0:39:29 > 0:39:34We've got some numbers as well which refer to shape and pattern numbers,
0:39:34 > 0:39:37- Very nice. We do have a small chip there, see?- Yes, I noticed.
0:39:37 > 0:39:40Which unfortunately affects the value a little bit.
0:39:40 > 0:39:44- There's the odd chip here and there, always the case with Meissen.- Right.
0:39:44 > 0:39:48But I think because it's such a nice sentimental subject,
0:39:48 > 0:39:52and if you look at the detail, which I think it is worth pointing out,
0:39:52 > 0:39:56of the little bow in her hair here. The little earring she's wearing.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59The modelling of her ears, the modelling of her face.
0:39:59 > 0:40:00Yes, it's beautiful.
0:40:00 > 0:40:03The modelling of her little pearl and lace necklace, there.
0:40:03 > 0:40:07- I mean, everything screams quality about it.- Yes.- But in a very sort
0:40:07 > 0:40:10of "sugar sweet" sort of way, I suppose, which is not
0:40:10 > 0:40:15- terribly fashionable these days.- No. - Now we want big, bold statement,
0:40:15 > 0:40:19- decorative pieces, not these sort of...- Delicate.- Rather feminine...
0:40:19 > 0:40:23Feminine, delicate porcelain objects. Of course, it does have a value.
0:40:23 > 0:40:27- Right.- You've had it for a long time. Have you thought of the value?
0:40:27 > 0:40:31No. We have absolutely no idea. It's only since your programmes
0:40:31 > 0:40:33have been on, et cetera, that we suddenly thought
0:40:33 > 0:40:38- well, perhaps it has got some value. - Yes, well, I think it does.
0:40:38 > 0:40:40I still think there will be Meissen collectors,
0:40:40 > 0:40:43even though there's a slight bit of damage, I would have thought
0:40:43 > 0:40:47maybe 200 to 300, with 150 reserve. Would you be happy with that?
0:40:47 > 0:40:50- Yes, yes. I think 200 to 300 would be lovely.- And who knows?
0:40:50 > 0:40:54Some other person might fall in love with it at the auction.
0:40:54 > 0:40:56They could well do, couldn't they?
0:40:56 > 0:40:59And what would you do if we got a good price for you?
0:40:59 > 0:41:03Well, we'd like to go back to Italy.
0:41:03 > 0:41:05We holiday in Italy quite a lot.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07- Well, it's a good cause.- Yes.
0:41:07 > 0:41:11Well, I can't wait until the auction and you'll fly up from Dover...
0:41:11 > 0:41:12- Absolutely.- To Canterbury.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22Angela, real quality.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25- Thank you!- William Moorcroft.
0:41:25 > 0:41:27What's happened to them?!
0:41:27 > 0:41:31- I didn't do it. I promise! Not responsible for that! - I am not accusing you.
0:41:31 > 0:41:33- No.- Tell me their story, anyway.
0:41:33 > 0:41:37And thank you so much for bringing in something so beautiful.
0:41:37 > 0:41:41Thank you! Well, I agree, I think they're absolutely glorious.
0:41:41 > 0:41:46I was given them about 40 years ago by a couple I knew in London who were antique dealers.
0:41:46 > 0:41:50And they were emigrating to Canada, and they had a very old cat
0:41:50 > 0:41:54that they couldn't take because it wouldn't have survived the journey.
0:41:54 > 0:42:01I had four cats at the time, and I was moving out to the country, and I said, "Don't have him put down.
0:42:01 > 0:42:03- "I'll take care of him." - Oh, good for you.
0:42:03 > 0:42:07So I took him along with my four to move down to Kent,
0:42:07 > 0:42:11and before we left, she came round and she gave me those.
0:42:11 > 0:42:15And they had red chintz shades with fringes!
0:42:15 > 0:42:19So did they convert them to lamp bases, do you think?
0:42:19 > 0:42:23I honestly don't know. I didn't feel it sort of appropriate to ask when she gave them.
0:42:23 > 0:42:27I was horrified when I saw what had happened, but I was so thrilled to have them.
0:42:27 > 0:42:32- Did you realise they were very early Moorcroft?- He told me. He said they were good.
0:42:32 > 0:42:36And look at that, there's the MacIntyre stamp, James MacIntyre.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39- Yes.- These are sort of around 1910.
0:42:39 > 0:42:41Unbelievable. Unbelievable.
0:42:41 > 0:42:43The condition is fantastic.
0:42:43 > 0:42:48Florianware. A little bit of sort of slip trailing in the glaze. Can you see that?
0:42:48 > 0:42:51I was just looking at this bit here that's dropped down.
0:42:51 > 0:42:54The glaze has watered down slightly and it's just dripping.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57- Well, that is known as the slip trail decoration.- Right.
0:42:57 > 0:42:59I like this, this little knot here.
0:42:59 > 0:43:03- Yes.- A Chinese influence, isn't it, really?
0:43:03 > 0:43:08- Absolutely.- But it's the blue and red anemone pattern.- Yeah.
0:43:08 > 0:43:09And that is quite rare.
0:43:09 > 0:43:11- Is it?- Yes. It's good for you.
0:43:11 > 0:43:16Well, that's probably because I've never been able to find it when I've looked it up on the net.
0:43:16 > 0:43:22- Why do you want to sell them now, though?- I need to upgrade my daughter's car.
0:43:24 > 0:43:29I know. Well, they're hers eventually, and at this point we really need...
0:43:29 > 0:43:32She has a lot of driving, heavy mileage.
0:43:32 > 0:43:36- What does she do for a living? - She works in operating theatre
0:43:36 > 0:43:41in hospital, orthopaedics, and she's got an hour and a half's journey every day from here to Maidstone.
0:43:41 > 0:43:45- Right. A lot of travelling.- A lot of travelling.- So she needs a new car.
0:43:45 > 0:43:48She needs a car with air bags and that kind of thing,
0:43:48 > 0:43:52because the motorway an hour and a half a day gives me the shivers, honestly.
0:43:52 > 0:43:55So this is going towards...
0:43:55 > 0:44:00This won't buy the car, obviously, but there's lots of other bits and pieces that I want to get rid of.
0:44:00 > 0:44:02- Big fan of Moorcroft.- I know!
0:44:02 > 0:44:07I like these. I like these a lot. And so will the collectors and the buyers, despite the damage.
0:44:07 > 0:44:09The damage is going to hold them back.
0:44:09 > 0:44:12I think if this pair was perfect,
0:44:12 > 0:44:17it'd be up around about the £1,500 to £1,800 mark.
0:44:17 > 0:44:21On a great day, they still might do £1,100 or something like that.
0:44:21 > 0:44:26But I think a sensible estimate, to get everybody excited, is £400 to £600.
0:44:26 > 0:44:29- OK.- OK?- Yes.- Fixed reserve at 400.
0:44:29 > 0:44:33- Yes.- But on a good day, we'll get four figures.
0:44:33 > 0:44:35That would be absolutely wonderful.
0:44:35 > 0:44:37And that's towards the car fund.
0:44:37 > 0:44:42- Absolutely, yes!- We can talk about what model at the auction room, depending on how well we do!
0:44:42 > 0:44:45- Exactly, yes. Yes. - I'll see you there.- Thank you!
0:44:55 > 0:44:58Lorraine, I am so excited about this Minton jardiniere.
0:44:58 > 0:45:02- Where did you get it from? - It was my great-grandmother's.
0:45:02 > 0:45:04Right, OK. And where did your grandmother...
0:45:04 > 0:45:06- great-grandmother get it from? - I don't know.
0:45:06 > 0:45:10- It's been in your family the whole time, been passed through?- Yes.
0:45:10 > 0:45:15I'm so excited because I do collect Minton Viennese Secessionist Ware
0:45:15 > 0:45:17and this is just so beautiful.
0:45:17 > 0:45:22I mean, I pounced on you in the queue because I saw it and I just thought
0:45:22 > 0:45:25those colours are absolutely fabulous. They're so vibrant.
0:45:25 > 0:45:29- Yeah.- And it's got this wonderful tube lining,
0:45:29 > 0:45:34this very typical pattern that you find in the Minton Secessionist Ware.
0:45:34 > 0:45:39Do you know anything about Minton Secessionist?
0:45:39 > 0:45:43- No.- Well, the designers were John Wadsworth and Leon Solon.
0:45:43 > 0:45:46They started really towards the late 19th century and it was
0:45:46 > 0:45:51all finished pretty much by 1905. They worked in partnership together,
0:45:51 > 0:45:55taking their inspiration from Viennese Secessionist Ware,
0:45:55 > 0:46:01Art Nouveau, so you can see lots of sort of influences from nature
0:46:01 > 0:46:06and we see these quite sort of stylised flowers and plants.
0:46:06 > 0:46:09It's quite a simple design, but it's just so very beautiful.
0:46:09 > 0:46:13Are you not... You don't seem very... I'm so excited about it
0:46:13 > 0:46:15because it's the best thing that I've seen all day.
0:46:15 > 0:46:20I do like it, but my partner doesn't like it, so he won't want it...
0:46:20 > 0:46:21What doesn't he like about it?
0:46:21 > 0:46:24He likes modern things, so he won't let us have it
0:46:24 > 0:46:28- in our new conservatory. - It is still very modern, I think.
0:46:28 > 0:46:31- Especially the colours. - He has come round about the colour.
0:46:31 > 0:46:35- But, no, I'd rather...- You want to get rid of it.- Give my mum the money.
0:46:35 > 0:46:39So, have you had this in your home for some time?
0:46:39 > 0:46:41I've had it about six months in my home.
0:46:41 > 0:46:45Before that my mum had it in her home as long as I can remember.
0:46:45 > 0:46:48Right, OK. Pride of place I hope?
0:46:48 > 0:46:51No. My grandmother had a Christmas tree in it,
0:46:51 > 0:46:54my mother's had newspapers and sweet wrappers
0:46:54 > 0:47:00- and I think she had an aspidistra in it at one time.- That's dreadful!
0:47:00 > 0:47:03Then she put it in the bedroom and it got forgotten about,
0:47:03 > 0:47:07and then she gave to me about six months ago rather than use it
0:47:07 > 0:47:11as a rubbish bin and I think I've been sick on it. In it.
0:47:11 > 0:47:14I don't know if I want to touch it. In it! Oh, God!
0:47:14 > 0:47:17Once upon a time it would have been... I mean, it's a jardiniere,
0:47:17 > 0:47:19- so it probably would have had a stand.- Yeah.
0:47:19 > 0:47:23Does anyone in your family have any recollection of the stand at all?
0:47:23 > 0:47:25No, no.
0:47:25 > 0:47:31As a piece this is really, I think, quite special.
0:47:31 > 0:47:34Do you have any idea of how much it's worth at auction?
0:47:34 > 0:47:40Well, I only thought around 50, 80 quid.
0:47:40 > 0:47:42I'll give you 50 quid!
0:47:42 > 0:47:45I'll take it from you straightaway.
0:47:45 > 0:47:48I think that it's worth around £300 to £500.
0:47:48 > 0:47:50- Wow!- With a 250 reserve, is that OK?
0:47:50 > 0:47:52- Yeah.- You're smiling.- Yeah, lovely.
0:47:52 > 0:47:55- Hopefully, smiling all the way to the bank.- Yeah, thank you.
0:48:00 > 0:48:03- Hello, Nina.- Hello. Very nice to meet you.- And you, as well.
0:48:03 > 0:48:06Now, you've brought a really, really interesting piece along.
0:48:06 > 0:48:10Tell me, how has it remained in this condition?
0:48:10 > 0:48:13Because it's just been away in a drawer somewhere
0:48:13 > 0:48:16for all its life, I should imagine.
0:48:16 > 0:48:20- And do you know how it came into your possession?- I've no idea.
0:48:20 > 0:48:25I probably first saw it when I was a teenager, about 60 years ago,
0:48:25 > 0:48:28and I'm sure my mother took it out and showed it to me and then it got
0:48:28 > 0:48:31put back and put away and whenever we did a spring clean it came out
0:48:31 > 0:48:35again and we had a look at it and that's what's happened to it.
0:48:35 > 0:48:38- I think it's in pretty good condition actually for its age.- Yes, yes.
0:48:38 > 0:48:41What we've actually got here is a little...
0:48:41 > 0:48:46What looks like a little book, but it isn't, it's a sort of diorama,
0:48:46 > 0:48:47and it's called
0:48:47 > 0:48:52Lane's Telescopic View Of The Ceremony Of Her Majesty's
0:48:52 > 0:48:54Opening The Great Exhibition,
0:48:54 > 0:49:01- of course, in Crystal Palace in 1851.- Absolutely.
0:49:01 > 0:49:04- And it's by the printers down here, Lane & Stanhope.- Yes.
0:49:04 > 0:49:08Stanhope actually went on to develop those little miniature things
0:49:08 > 0:49:11you brought from Brighton Rock and things like that were you could
0:49:11 > 0:49:13- look in and see the piers.- Ah.
0:49:13 > 0:49:16But what I found charming about this is it's such a simple little
0:49:16 > 0:49:21piece of equipment and it's been around for 158 years.
0:49:21 > 0:49:25And you open it up like this and it's so simple to modern standards
0:49:25 > 0:49:28when we look at the internet and the games we play,
0:49:28 > 0:49:31and you just take a little look through the hole there
0:49:31 > 0:49:35and you can see right the way and you have a whole sort of panoramic view
0:49:35 > 0:49:38of the Crystal Palace exhibition.
0:49:38 > 0:49:44- Absolutely.- Imagine as a child in 1851 that being brought home
0:49:44 > 0:49:47- and the wonder of it, it must have been fantastic.- Absolutely.
0:49:47 > 0:49:51If you couldn't go yourself you could have a little look through there.
0:49:51 > 0:49:55Because you can't appreciate the pretty colours inside
0:49:55 > 0:49:57from the front of it, which has faded.
0:49:57 > 0:50:00And when you look inside all those colours have been protected,
0:50:00 > 0:50:02- so they're much brighter.- Yes.
0:50:02 > 0:50:04- It's been in a cupboard for many years.- Yes.
0:50:04 > 0:50:09And I think it's time to let somebody else appreciate it and enjoy it,
0:50:09 > 0:50:10- isn't it?- Yes, yes.
0:50:10 > 0:50:12Value, any ideas?
0:50:12 > 0:50:15- £500.- Think again.
0:50:15 > 0:50:17I'm going up then, £700!
0:50:17 > 0:50:21- Well, I'm going down.- I know! - I think if we're sensible about it,
0:50:21 > 0:50:24- we should maybe think around £200 to £300.- Yes.
0:50:24 > 0:50:27With a 200 reserve, because we must protect it with a reserve.
0:50:27 > 0:50:31- Absolutely.- Well, Nina, I really hope we get a lot of money for it
0:50:31 > 0:50:34because it's one of my favourite items I've seen today.
0:50:34 > 0:50:36I think it's a really exciting piece.
0:50:36 > 0:50:38If we do, what would you put the money towards?
0:50:38 > 0:50:42I'd use it to go on my travels.
0:50:42 > 0:50:45I've seen quite a lot of the world, but I haven't been
0:50:45 > 0:50:47to Australia and New Zealand yet.
0:50:47 > 0:50:51- Well, I hope we get you part of the way.- Thank you very much indeed.
0:50:51 > 0:50:54It's now time for our final trip to the auction
0:50:54 > 0:50:58where we'll find out if Yvonne will be making it to Italy
0:50:58 > 0:51:02on the proceeds of her Meissen sleeping beauty figure.
0:51:02 > 0:51:03Although Catherine was crazy about
0:51:03 > 0:51:07the Minton Secessionist Ware jardiniere, there was no love lost
0:51:07 > 0:51:09for owner Lorraine or her family,
0:51:09 > 0:51:11although it had been put to good use over the years.
0:51:11 > 0:51:16My grandmother had a Christmas tree in it, my mother's had newspapers
0:51:16 > 0:51:19and sweet wrappers and then she gave it to me about six months ago.
0:51:20 > 0:51:24Angela was given these beautiful Moorcroft vases as a thank you
0:51:24 > 0:51:27and, despite being crudely made into lamps,
0:51:27 > 0:51:29they are real quality
0:51:29 > 0:51:33and I'm sure the bidders will be excited by my £400-600 estimate.
0:51:35 > 0:51:39And, finally, Nina's stunning diorama of the Grand Exhibition
0:51:39 > 0:51:41is now in the spotlight.
0:51:49 > 0:51:52Good luck, it's just about to go under the hammer.
0:51:52 > 0:51:55I'm talking about Lorraine's sick bowl!
0:51:55 > 0:51:58She said it! We're talking about that wonderful Minton.
0:51:58 > 0:52:00Hello, Mum, by the way. What's your name?
0:52:00 > 0:52:04- Margaret.- This is yours really, isn't it?- Yes.- Fingers crossed.
0:52:04 > 0:52:07- What do you think, Catherine? - £300 to £500. I think it should
0:52:07 > 0:52:10- do quite well, actually. - Well, let's see what this packed
0:52:10 > 0:52:13auction room thinks. It's going under the hammer now.
0:52:13 > 0:52:15Lot number 35 is the early
0:52:15 > 0:52:1920th century Minton Secessionist pottery jardiniere, lot 35.
0:52:19 > 0:52:21Who'll start me at £200? Lot 35.
0:52:21 > 0:52:24£200 I'm looking for. Any interest at £200?
0:52:24 > 0:52:26Come on, come on, come on!
0:52:26 > 0:52:28Any interest at 200?
0:52:28 > 0:52:30Thank you. 200 I'm bid. 210? 210.
0:52:30 > 0:52:33220. 230.
0:52:33 > 0:52:35240.
0:52:35 > 0:52:37- It's a bit slow.- 250.
0:52:37 > 0:52:40260. 270.
0:52:40 > 0:52:42- Yeah.- Yeah, we sold it.
0:52:42 > 0:52:44280. 290.
0:52:44 > 0:52:49300. 320.
0:52:49 > 0:52:53340. 360.
0:52:53 > 0:52:57380. 400. 420.
0:52:57 > 0:52:59- That's good.- 440.
0:52:59 > 0:53:01460?
0:53:01 > 0:53:03Anybody at 460?
0:53:03 > 0:53:05It's at £440 on the telephone now.
0:53:05 > 0:53:09Any further offer? If not, I'm selling at £440 if we're all done.
0:53:09 > 0:53:13Yes! Well done. Thank you so much
0:53:13 > 0:53:15for putting a smile on our faces, that was a funny story.
0:53:15 > 0:53:18I really loved that story, fantastic.
0:53:18 > 0:53:21Well, thank you very much. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
0:53:25 > 0:53:28I've been joined by Nina today and Mark, our expert.
0:53:28 > 0:53:33This is absolutely stunning, the little diorama of Crystal Palace,
0:53:33 > 0:53:38- the Great Exhibition. Yeah. - In great condition.- This is it.
0:53:38 > 0:53:42308 is the Lane's Telescopic View Of The Ceremony Of Her Majesty
0:53:42 > 0:53:47Opening The Great Exhibition in 1851. Unusual item. Lot 308.
0:53:47 > 0:53:51Who'll start me at £100? £100? Any interest at £100?
0:53:51 > 0:53:55100 I'm bid. Who's in at 110? 110.
0:53:55 > 0:53:56- 120?- Yes.- 130.
0:53:56 > 0:53:59- 140.- Yeah.- 150. 160.- Yeah.
0:53:59 > 0:54:01170.
0:54:01 > 0:54:03180?
0:54:03 > 0:54:05- No.- Anybody at 180? 180. 190?
0:54:07 > 0:54:10190? Anybody at 190?
0:54:10 > 0:54:12190. 200? 200 anywhere?
0:54:12 > 0:54:16The bid is at £190, then. Pass at 190.
0:54:16 > 0:54:18Oh, Nina. We just missed it by...
0:54:18 > 0:54:21- One bid.- Yeah. One bid.
0:54:21 > 0:54:24- Never mind.- Sorry about that. - It lives to sell another day.
0:54:24 > 0:54:28- Absolutely.- Will you do that?- Yes. - Another auction room, another day.
0:54:28 > 0:54:29Absolutely.
0:54:29 > 0:54:32So close! That was very disappointing.
0:54:32 > 0:54:35But can we do any better with the Meissen figure?
0:54:35 > 0:54:38Right now Meissen figure is just about to go under the hammer,
0:54:38 > 0:54:41could it be our little sleeper? I'm joined by Yvonne
0:54:41 > 0:54:45and we've got £200 to £300 on this and it is the sleeping beauty?
0:54:45 > 0:54:48- It is, it certainly is. - This figure is so evocative.
0:54:48 > 0:54:50You've got the young lady sleeping,
0:54:50 > 0:54:53- the little letter tucked into her cleavage.- I know.
0:54:53 > 0:54:56Now, is that a letter from a lover or is it just a shopping list?
0:54:56 > 0:54:58We don't know, but it's in a safe place!
0:54:58 > 0:55:00Anyway, let's see what the bidders think,
0:55:00 > 0:55:03it's just about to go under the hammer. Here we go.
0:55:03 > 0:55:06Lot number four is the Meissen porcelain figure
0:55:06 > 0:55:09of the young woman in 18th century dress, lot number four.
0:55:09 > 0:55:12We have four bids and we're starting at £400.
0:55:12 > 0:55:14- Starting at 400!- 420? Any interest at 420?
0:55:14 > 0:55:19The bid is on my left at £400 now and I'm looking for 420.
0:55:19 > 0:55:22420. 440. 460.
0:55:22 > 0:55:25480. 500. And 20. 540.
0:55:25 > 0:55:27540 with anybody?
0:55:27 > 0:55:32540. 560. 580.
0:55:32 > 0:55:34- 580, sir? 600? Anybody at 600?- Yes.
0:55:34 > 0:55:37600. And 20. 640.
0:55:37 > 0:55:43660. 680. On the net, no? The bid is with Chris at £660.
0:55:43 > 0:55:47- That's very good.- Please!- £660.
0:55:47 > 0:55:50- Hammer's gone down, Yvonne. - Wonderful!- £660.
0:55:50 > 0:55:53- Thank you so much, Mark. - We're happy with that?
0:55:53 > 0:55:56- Very happy.- The buyers were definitely here today.
0:55:56 > 0:56:00- Absolutely. Thank you very, very much.- Enjoy that holiday, won't you?
0:56:00 > 0:56:03Oh, absolutely. Lake Garda here I come!
0:56:09 > 0:56:11It's my turn to be the expert now.
0:56:11 > 0:56:14I'm not brilliant on pottery and ceramics,
0:56:14 > 0:56:18but Angela's beared with me and we know we're going to do well on this.
0:56:18 > 0:56:21- Absolutely, we have to.- At the valuation day we said, look,
0:56:21 > 0:56:25if these were in perfect condition we'd be looking at around £1,200 to 1,500.
0:56:25 > 0:56:27I know they've upped the value a little.
0:56:27 > 0:56:31They got in touch with you. But £400-600 is a great starting point.
0:56:31 > 0:56:33This is it.
0:56:33 > 0:56:37Lot number 42, a pair of early 20th century Macintyre Moorcroft
0:56:37 > 0:56:40pottery bottle-shaped vases. Four bids on the book.
0:56:40 > 0:56:41We're starting at £820.
0:56:41 > 0:56:43Straight in at 800!
0:56:43 > 0:56:45820. And I'm looking for 840?
0:56:45 > 0:56:50Any interest at 840? 860. 880.
0:56:50 > 0:56:53We said at the valuation day, keep them keen.
0:56:53 > 0:56:55940. 960.
0:56:55 > 0:56:58980. 1,000.
0:56:58 > 0:57:021,050. 1,100.
0:57:02 > 0:57:031,150.
0:57:03 > 0:57:07- I did say, didn't I, I bet it could go higher.- 1,300. 1,350.
0:57:07 > 0:57:10There are two people on the phone bidding against each other.
0:57:10 > 0:57:13Any interest at 1,350?
0:57:13 > 0:57:16Online at 1,350.
0:57:16 > 0:57:191,400.
0:57:19 > 0:57:231,450. Online 1,450.
0:57:23 > 0:57:26- Are we bidding?- Yes.- 1,500.
0:57:26 > 0:57:29You've got your lucky mud colours on today.
0:57:29 > 0:57:311,600.
0:57:31 > 0:57:341,650.
0:57:34 > 0:57:36Hey, who cares about the damage?
0:57:36 > 0:57:42- Obviously they don't.- 1,750.- Yes.
0:57:42 > 0:57:45- 1,800.- Oh, this is what auction rooms are all about.
0:57:45 > 0:57:461,850.
0:57:50 > 0:57:53- No.- The bid is at £1,800 on a telephone. Anybody in the room?
0:57:53 > 0:57:56If not, I'm selling at £1,800.
0:57:56 > 0:58:00Yes! £1,800! Give us a hug.
0:58:04 > 0:58:06What are you going to do with all that money?
0:58:06 > 0:58:09- It's for my daughter's car. - Oh, the car, the car fund.
0:58:09 > 0:58:11There's half of it paid for.
0:58:11 > 0:58:14Well, maybe not half because there's commission and stuff.
0:58:14 > 0:58:18- Yeah, you've got to pay commission here.- About £1,000.
0:58:18 > 0:58:20That's a lot of money isn't it?
0:58:20 > 0:58:22- Wow, didn't they love it?- They did.
0:58:22 > 0:58:27Angela, thank you so much for coming in. If you've got anything like that, we'd love to see you.
0:58:27 > 0:58:31It brings us to the end of another fascinating day in the auction room for Flog It!
0:58:31 > 0:58:33Do join us again soon for many more surprises.
0:58:41 > 0:58:42Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd