Melksham Flog It!


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Over the years, the people of this town have

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turned their hands too many trades - dealing in wool, delivering milk and making money out of old rope.

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Today, it's all about the antique business.

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Welcome to Flog It! From Melksham in rural Wiltshire.

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It was back in the beginning of the 19th century when Melksham witnessed

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its most ambitious money-making scheme - the attempt to turn it into a spa town to rival nearby Bath.

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Springs rich in iron and saline were discovered and it was believed that

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the worst tasting the water was, the better it was for you.

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Apparently Melksham's was even fouler tasting than most.

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The scheme failed when a day out to the seaside became a lot more favourable,

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but these Regency townhouses are a reminder of that spa project, and they are gorgeous buildings.

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Our venue is the Assembly Hall and our experts taking the plunge are Mr Philip Serrell and David Barby.

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Let's hope the good people of Melksham succeed in the business of turning antiques into cash.

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Philip's first to take a dip with two unusual decanters.

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-Chris and Bob, how are you both doing?

-Fine, thank you.

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It isn't really a great deal of use bringing me these at this time of the day, empty.

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-Should we go home and fill them for him?

-What normally sits in them?

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-At our house, nothing.

-How did you come by them?

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Got them from my parents.

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How they got them, I don't know. We believe that my father bought them, but that's all.

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-Was he a collector?

-No, not at all.

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-How long have they been in your possession?

-Three years.

-So you don't like them?

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They live in a bedroom on a ledge under the dressing table and you don't see them.

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My parents had two types of sherry in there,

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but we are not sherry drinkers, except at Christmas, and it stays in the bottle.

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-Excuse me, a big bottle.

-It's not that big a bottle.

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-I think port would sit in the one, and...

-Sherry in the other.

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-A good malt whisky in the other. Do you how to clean these?

-No, I don't.

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-You get a shotgun cartridge from someone who shoots.

-Don't know anybody, do you?

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And you cut the end of and take the lead shot out, and then just

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drop them in a water solution with soap, and just keep swirling them round and round.

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-It will clean the glass.

-I'd never have thought of using that for a cleaning agent.

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-Trust me, lead shot does the trick.

-Don't know of anybody who does that.

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These are little decanters and we've got a silver collar here that is hallmarked in London, 1905.

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The maker's mark is William Hutton.

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I just think they are really good things. Not hugely valuable.

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A lot of people don't use decanters today, whether it's because

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the contents don't stay in there for long enough...

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Or they don't get too many visitors.

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I think we can put a real good estimate on these of 60 to £90 for the pair.

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We will put a fixed reserve on them of 50.

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If you have a good day at the office, they could make a couple hundred of

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-pounds, but we got to pitch them at the right money. What do you reckon?

-Fine.

-That sounds fine to me.

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I'm rather surprised that you haven't got family photographs in these.

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Edwardian ladies wearing big hats or something like that. Are they family pieces?

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-Yes, they came from an old relation of mine.

-Right.

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And I've never used them.

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And I think they've been little used in the past, because looking

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at the back, the wood

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is incredibly new. There's no indication of polishing fingers,

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where you would carry the polish onto the back, or any rag marks.

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They are brand spanking new, except the date marks will tell me they are not.

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-They all date from the early part of the 20th century.

-They do, yeah?

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What's extraordinary, we've got two contrasts of style.

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This very ornate one here with lots of scrolls and birds

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is in a style that we call Rococo revival.

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It's very ornate, and scroll work would enhance the image beautifully.

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And then round about the latter part of the 19th century, there was a

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new style of art called Art Nouveau, which is French for new art.

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This one here, the square one, is in that new style.

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What I like about this is the way that they've used plant forms here, the iris, and then they have

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created a sort of wave line, as though ripples in a stream, interlacing all the way through.

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So these are beautiful examples of simple silversmithing.

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-When I say simple, because they've been press moulded and could do as many as, say 100 an hour.

-Right.

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They are so collectible, that now you can get copies made

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as far afield as Mexico and China.

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-Right.

-But these are pure English examples, dating from the early part of the 20th century.

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And I would reckon that they're going to sell for £40 to £50 each.

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But we'll sell them together. A lovely contrast. If you'd be happy, we'll put a reserve of £60 on them,

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-and hopefully get 80 to 100.

-That would be fine.

-You would be quite happy?

-I would, thank you.

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It's not a lot of money, but do you have it set-aside? You brought these into sell.

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Not really, I shall just go out and spend it.

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-That's a good idea, on something you really want.

-It is, yeah.

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-I shall offer to go shopping with you.

-Thank you, I'll take you up on that.

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I've just joined the crowd and it's Guess What It Is time, because look what I've found.

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What do you think that is?

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It's made of galvanised pressed steel,

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it's coopered with a bit of brass ring there,

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any ideas?

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Let's ask someone in the crowd. What do you think?

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Town crier, ring out the bell.

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-I like it. Sir, any ideas?

-I couldn't bet on an answer.

-Haven't got a clue.

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-How about this side?

-A candle.

-You think a candle could go in there?

-The other way up.

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-Any idea?

-I thought it was a medieval torch.

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It could be.

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Carrying it through the streets.

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I can tell you what it is, as soon as Philip has done this valuation.

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-Nancy, how are you?

-Fine, thank you.

-What's a young girl like you doing in a place like this?

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-It's the best place to be.

-Why's that?

-Something going on, isn't it?

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-I even missed church to be here.

-You missed church? Goodness me.

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-Do you miss church often?

-No.

-Good.

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-Are you an avid collector?

-Yes, I am.

-Sovereigns?

-I love the sovereigns.

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-Why?

-Because I'm adopted, I have no history of my own and I love the history of them.

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There's not too much you can say about them. You tell me, because you know all about them.

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-I'm going to listen to you.

-You tell me. I know there are four reigns there.

-Yes, we've got Victoria,

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we've got Edward, we've got George and we've got dear Elizabeth.

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Yes. I love the Royal Family.

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Are you a big royal fan?

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-A big royal fan.

-The value of these things is totally governed by the price of gold bullion.

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-Because they are pure gold, aren't they?

-Yes.

-You've got them mounted

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but these mounts don't deface the coin, because a lot of people solder little hoops onto them.

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-Awful, yes.

-Yeah. So you've got these four, what do you think they are worth?

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-I don't know.

-Gold's good at the minute.

-Gold's good at the moment, that's why I brought them.

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Well, I think that we can put an auction estimate on them of £300 to £400.

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-Lovely.

-And we'll put a fixed reserve of £250.

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Right.

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So, if you go and sell those for £300, what would you spend the money on?

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Well, my granddaughter is 18 next week so we are thinking of a champagne supper at the local hotel,

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and then driving lessons and perhaps university.

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I hope they make more than £300 to £400!

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-I know!

-I think you're gonna be a very interesting lady to talk to at the auction.

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-Thank you.

-Well done, Nancy.

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Thank you very much.

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-Ooh.

-There we are.

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Well, here we are. Have you guessed?

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Some of you probably have.

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You offer it up to an apple or a pear,

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it's on a long pole, so you can get the really high ones.

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You drop the apple in there, the stalk is resting over the edge and you twist.

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It's a fruit catcher and it catches the apple or the pear.

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I love it. How crazy is that?

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Judith, you don't like silver and you don't like cleaning, do you?

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I don't like cleaning, no.

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I can tell from the condition of these absolutely delicious spoons.

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Where did they come from and why did you hold on to them if you don't like silver?

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They were from my uncle who died about four years ago.

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They've been in my cupboard ever since.

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And you've never felt inclined to use them for dessert or strawberries?

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No.

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Well, these are quite attractive.

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Why I like them is because of this finial at the top of each spoon.

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They are interlaced, very much in a sort of Celtic design.

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This design was prevalent at the beginning of the 20th century,

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so you often see this incorporated into silver work of that particular period.

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We call them Art Nouveau, other people might say, "They are very much in the arts and crafts style."

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The two became almost linked at that particular time.

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Because of those designs, it puts them into a different class.

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If it was a normal set of teaspoons, probably £30 to £40.

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This just shoves them up into a price range around about £80 to £100.

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-Oh, right.

-Hopefully more.

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Now, they're going up to auction and I think the auctioneer might say,

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well, I'd like a reserve of £80 with discretion.

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That means he has 10% discretion.

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-Would she be happy at that sort of level?

-Yeah, definitely.

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I shall be delighted if these go up for sale and if we get the top end of the estimate.

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-Brilliant.

-Thank you very much for bringing them along.

-Thank you.

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The good people of Melksham have brought in some great items

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and we'll be uncovering some more little gems later.

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-I think we've got the oldest things here today in the room.

-Really?

-Yes!

-It glimmers.

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It shimmers. This is brilliant, it's like a jewel.

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But before all that, we're heading just east of Melksham to Devizes,

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where Henry Aldridge and Son Auctioneers will be our host today.

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It'll be father and son Alan and Andrew who'll be wielding the gavel, let's catch up with Alan

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and see what he has to say about one of our lots.

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Here is lot 401, Nancy's gold sovereigns.

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Philip has put a value of £300 to £400 on the whole lot.

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She's selling them because the money is going towards her granddaughter's 18th birthday,

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and the rest for some driving lessons.

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-Hopefully, we'll get her on the road.

-I know Nancy.

-Do you?

-Yeah, she's a lovely lady.

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I would agree with what Philip has said. Right on the money.

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Gold at the moment is very strong.

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People buying it purely for investment, to put it away. I've changed them slightly.

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What have you done?

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I've split them, and the reason I've split them is these three are just purely investment gold weight.

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But I think this one has got a lovely chain, so it's a very pretty thing, and

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I think that some gentleman is going to buy it for his lady, or some lady is going to buy it for herself.

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-You can wear that one?

-It will push it up slightly.

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If we get that to work we'll get a 25, maybe 50% premium

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on top of the sovereign price, so hopefully we are talking £150.

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-I see what you're doing, well worth doing, then?

-Hopefully, yes.

-We're gonna find out in a moment.

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Will splitting the sovereigns be the right move?

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Here's a reminder of the other items we're selling.

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Bob and Chris brought in some decanters but Philip wasn't impressed.

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It isn't really a great deal of use bringing me these at this time of the day, empty.

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David's convinced Joan's picture frames will appeal to the room.

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They are so collectible,

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that now you can get copies made as far afield as Mexico and China.

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And Judith's keen to get rid of her spoons.

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You don't like silver and you don't like cleaning, do you?

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I don't like cleaning, no.

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So, will our items cause a stir in the auction room?

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First to go under the hammer are the decanters.

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We've got the glass decanters, we've got Robert, but where's his wife?

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She's a care assistant, she's had to go to a client.

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-She can't make it today?

-She's been here, she's had to disappear off and she's coming back to collect me.

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We've got our expert Philip here.

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Glass decanters. £60, 70, 80 maybe?

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I'd like to own these and pay that for them, and that's the best way of valuing something.

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-They're a nice thing.

-Do it from the heart.

-Yeah.

-So hopefully, 100 plus.

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-Because I'm mean.

-We'll see what gives.

-Fingers crossed, they are going under the hammer.

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233, a very pretty pair of shaped decanters with silver collars.

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it should be somewhere around about £100, this pair.

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80 to start me.

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50 to get me away, then. OK.

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I'll be kind, 30 quid.

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30, I've got. 35, 40, 5, 50, 5, 60.

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-55.

-I'll lend them a fiver.

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60, anywhere else? At 55, they've got silver collars.

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60, she's back. 65?

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At £60. £60, it is.

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65, quickly? At £60, am I done?

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He sold them.

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It is a struggle, but that's the market at the minute, isn't it?

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-They are a bit yesterday's antiques.

-Yeah, fashion dictates market rates right now, that's the problem.

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-Whatever we got, I'm not disappointed.

-It's a shame cos they are quality.

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-But they've gone, and you wanted to sell them.

-That's the way it goes.

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-I hope Christine won't be too disappointed.

-No, I don't think so.

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She basically wasn't interested in the price.

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Sell them and...whatever we get.

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-I guess that's the spirit, really.

-Absolutely.

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I like that. He's good, this boy, you know.

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-Right now Joan is in the frame with two silver picture frames. I like these, Joan.

-You do?

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I do. Why are you selling them?

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Erm, I don't want them any more, I'm fed up with cleaning them.

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-And someone told me you wanted to go shopping.

-Yeah.

-What are you going to spend your money on?

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-I shall put it towards a new television.

-It depends how much money we get.

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-The Art Nouveau one...

-Is gorgeous.

-..is gorgeous.

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I love the contrast with that ornate one of the Edwardian period.

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-They should do quite well, I hope.

-But they're here to go at that price.

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They're going under the hammer now.

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And next a nice little piece of silver,

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two pretty piccie frames, one of them arts and crafts,

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the other just standard, but both very pretty.

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100 to start me. 60 to get my away.

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60, I've got, 60, I've got, 70. 70?

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80. 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140...

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Oh, this is more like it, Joan?

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180, 190... 200.

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At 190, at 190, at 190, at 190 I'm going...

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-Yes!

-190, that's good, isn't it?

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£190! When the bidding got going then, it was great,

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-it was going very quickly, but those sticky patches get you worried, don't they?

-They do, yeah.

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-It's when it plunges down, and you're up again like that.

-That was a bit of fun, wasn't it?

-Thank you.

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It's nearly time, the spoons are going under the hammer.

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-Is this your first auction?

-Yeah, it is.

-Really? And yours, Alison?

-Yeah.

-What do you think?

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-Exciting.

-It's a great day, isn't it?

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There's lots to see, lots of fun. Has Mum bought anything?

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-No.

-You haven't had your eye on anything. We're here to sell!

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-Definitely not buying, cos you've got four children and they all want to go shopping.

-They do.

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So we need top money, David.

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-Ooh! Right.

-Six spoons.

-Silver's doing very well today.

-Yes.

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-The saving grace is they've got wonderful twisted sort of...

-Art Nouveauy.

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Yeah, Celtic-style finials.

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They are very nice.

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-Why are you selling them?

-We won't use them, to tell you the truth.

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They've been stuck in a cupboard, so we'd like the money instead.

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At least they're a complete set, and they're here to go right now. Good luck, you two.

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The set of teaspoons in the arts and crafts manner.

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Very pretty.

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Start me at £90, then.

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£90, get me away.

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60. Right, 60, I've got.

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-70, 80, 5, 90, 5...

-They've sold.

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At £90 on my left, £90.

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Is there five anywhere else quickly? At £90...

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-Spot-on estimate.

-Yes.

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Well done. £90 to go shopping with!

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-There's a commission, so you'll lose a bit. But that's good news, isn't it?

-Great.

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Nancy, it's good to see you. Your four gold sovereigns are going under the hammer.

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Now, I know your son Roger, cos he's got a record shop in Marlborough where I buy my CDs from.

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Are you flogging Roger's inheritance?

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No, it's going to his daughter.

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-Is it?

-For her insurance for a car.

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She's just passed her driving test, and she's there.

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I had a chat to the auctioneer earlier, and Philip

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doesn't know this yet, but he's split the lots.

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The sovereign with the chain he's selling as a separate lot

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cos he feels it's an independent thing, you might get £30 or £40 more.

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I hope it gets a bit more.

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I hope it gets a bit more as well.

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But precious metal is where the money's going right now, everybody's investing in it.

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Great time to sell, so good on you, Nancy, OK? They're going under the hammer now.

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Lot 401, sovereigns.

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We have, in the first lot, two sovereigns and a half sovereign.

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Let's have £300 for these three.

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250 to get me away.

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Two I've got, thank you.

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210, 220, 230, 240.

0:20:070:20:10

250, 260, 270, 280, 290, 300, 310...

0:20:100:20:17

310, 320. At 310, 310. 312?!

0:20:170:20:23

314? At £312. £312, am I done?

0:20:230:20:31

Great result. Funny figure, but it was £312 and the hammer went down.

0:20:310:20:36

Again, a very nice sovereign,

0:20:360:20:40

set on a beautiful chain.

0:20:400:20:43

I think this one should be a couple of hundred pounds. Couple of hundred?

0:20:430:20:45

150 to start me?

0:20:450:20:48

150 I have, straight in at 150.

0:20:480:20:51

150, 160. 170, 180. 190, 200.

0:20:510:20:55

Oh, this is going well, £200.

0:20:550:20:58

215, 220,

0:20:580:21:00

225, 230. 240, 245?

0:21:000:21:06

250, 260.

0:21:060:21:08

At 250, the gentleman in the middle.

0:21:080:21:11

At 250. At 250 am I done?

0:21:110:21:15

Well, do know something, Nancy, I make that a grand total of £562.

0:21:150:21:20

Wonderful, wonderful!

0:21:200:21:22

-Thank you so much.

-Oh, that's OK, thank you for bringing them in.

-It's been great fun.

0:21:220:21:27

It's my "Sit down and have a cup of tea" time, Flog It.

0:21:270:21:30

-I think you deserve it. Oh, you watch Flog It with a cup of tea.

-Every day.

0:21:300:21:35

-We've had a great result, but will our luck continue?

-50...

0:21:350:21:39

Oh, my goodness.

0:21:390:21:42

I'm tingling, are you?

0:21:420:21:44

But whilst I'm in Wiltshire, I can't resist popping down the road

0:21:440:21:48

to catch up with some unusual local celebrities.

0:21:480:21:51

Dating back to the 11th century, Devizes is filled with history from

0:22:010:22:05

its medieval street plan, its Norman churches, Georgian architecture and of course the Kennet and Avon Canal.

0:22:050:22:12

All your fresh fruit and veg today for a pound!

0:22:150:22:18

At the heart of the town lies this imposing red-brick building,

0:22:180:22:21

home to Wadworth Brewery, and it's thanks to this family-run business that the streets of this quaint town

0:22:210:22:28

echo to the sound of a most picturesque tradition.

0:22:280:22:32

Dray horses. They get their name from the cart they pull, and they've served Wadworth for over 100 years.

0:22:320:22:38

They're amongst the last in a long history of working horses,

0:22:380:22:43

and over the centuries, horsepower has pulled barges along canals,

0:22:430:22:45

ploughs across fields and even been used down mines.

0:22:450:22:50

Despite their resurgence during the two wars,

0:22:500:22:54

the internal combustion engine put an end to horses in harnesses

0:22:540:22:58

in all but a very few places, like here in Devizes.

0:22:580:23:02

For Charles Bartholomew, the great-great nephew of the Wadworth founder, who's also the chairman

0:23:070:23:12

and current managing director, horses are still a very big part of the brewery's tradition.

0:23:120:23:18

Very pleased to meet you, thank you for taking time out to talk to us today.

0:23:180:23:22

Magnificent horses, aren't they?

0:23:220:23:24

-They are indeed.

-They really are.

0:23:240:23:27

How long has the brewery been using shire horses?

0:23:270:23:29

Well, we've been using shire horses all the time the brewery's been going.

0:23:290:23:34

We had a slight period in the late Sixties when we were down to one horse, but other than that

0:23:340:23:39

we've had horses forever, and then of course my father brought them back in

0:23:390:23:43

1971-72 properly to do the deliveries in the town.

0:23:430:23:47

And the town really lends itself to these horses, doesn't it?

0:23:470:23:50

I think it does, the streets are quite wide, it doesn't hold the traffic up too much,

0:23:500:23:54

although some people would say probably it does.

0:23:540:23:57

Well, I don't think so, it's a proper market town.

0:23:570:24:00

And I think people love them in Devizes.

0:24:000:24:03

They're VIPs, really, aren't they, in Devizes?

0:24:030:24:06

I like to think so, yeah - they're certainly more important than I am!

0:24:060:24:10

What makes a good shire? Let's just point out some of the attributes.

0:24:100:24:15

Obviously, strong legs, nice feathers.

0:24:150:24:17

Well, what we like is a nice compact horse with strong legs, good shoulders, a good head.

0:24:170:24:23

When you look at his head, do they have to have a slightly rounded forehead like that?

0:24:230:24:28

Cos it is quite round, it's like Andalucian, isn't it?

0:24:280:24:30

Well, I'm not so sure that's a sort of trait of shires.

0:24:300:24:35

-That's just Max, is it?

-Yeah, I mean it shows a bit of arrogance, doesn't it, that sort of rounded...

0:24:350:24:43

He's so beautiful, he really is.

0:24:430:24:46

Will this tradition last?

0:24:460:24:48

-Will it keep going?

-Yes, Paul, of course.

0:24:480:24:50

We're really keen,, I mean we like horses, the town likes horses,

0:24:500:24:55

and we'll absolutely keep it going.

0:24:550:24:57

We like traditional things, but we use them properly.

0:24:570:25:00

They deliver in the town as they used to pull the canal boats along and things like that,

0:25:000:25:05

so they're actually put to proper use, they're not just for show.

0:25:050:25:08

Well, they're fantastic.

0:25:080:25:10

I'm gonna take them out later, join the lads for a delivery.

0:25:100:25:14

Great, I hope you have a good day.

0:25:140:25:16

Thank you very much for talking to me.

0:25:160:25:19

Barry Petherick has been looking after the Wadworth dray horses for 20 years,

0:25:190:25:24

and he'll be showing me the ropes today.

0:25:240:25:26

Gosh, he's gorgeous! He's beautiful, look at the size of him.

0:25:290:25:33

-What is he, 19 hands?

-He's 18-1.

0:25:330:25:35

Cor, that's big, isn't it? How old is he?

0:25:350:25:37

He's six years old.

0:25:370:25:38

Oh, he's got a lovely temperament, hasn't he? Give us a kiss!

0:25:380:25:42

Oh, gosh! Right, I want to help, Barry, what can I do?

0:25:420:25:45

As long as it's not mucking out.

0:25:450:25:47

We've got a few barrels to shift.

0:25:470:25:50

-You can give us a hand with that if you like.

-Right, OK.

0:25:500:25:52

Each horse weighs approximately a tonne, and a team can pull up to two tonnes of weight.

0:26:000:26:05

Now, that's real horsepower.

0:26:050:26:06

Ready, Barry?

0:26:110:26:13

Tom, Max, walk on.

0:26:130:26:15

Well, here we are at the Castle.

0:26:290:26:32

-This is a convenient bit of courtyard, Barry.

-It is, yeah.

0:26:320:26:36

Do these horses always work in the same team, or do you swap them over?

0:26:360:26:39

We do swap them different pairs, but we find which ones go better together.

0:26:390:26:43

So you try and keep them together.

0:26:430:26:45

And also these two opened the show this year as a pair, so we work them as a pair as well.

0:26:450:26:51

What sort of reaction do you get?

0:26:510:26:53

We haven't met many people today, cos it's too busy.

0:26:530:26:56

There's always a lot of interest, especially with people that haven't seen them before.

0:26:560:26:59

Local people see it every day,

0:26:590:27:02

but you get people on holiday or new to the area, they can't believe that we're still delivering with horses.

0:27:020:27:07

You two must be familiar faces around the town, "There's Barry and Martin, wahey!"

0:27:070:27:12

Oh, well, look, this is our first drop, the Castle, so are we getting the metal ones off or the oak ones?

0:27:120:27:17

We'll get the metal ones off now, yeah.

0:27:170:27:19

Are you all ready?

0:27:220:27:25

This is empties coming out now.

0:27:330:27:35

Weather permitting, the horses deliver to pubs within a two-mile radius

0:27:380:27:43

every morning, five days a week, and they are given a two-week holiday every summer.

0:27:430:27:48

Now, that's a sight I'd really love to see,

0:27:480:27:50

but right now we've still got work to do.

0:27:500:27:54

It's the last drop of the day.

0:27:540:27:55

Barry?

0:28:080:28:09

It's a good job it's not this size, isn't it?

0:28:090:28:11

It is, Paul. It wouldn't do my back a lot of good, I don't think.

0:28:110:28:14

There's your last one, Barry. And I'm going to leave you and say goodbye now, shake your hand.

0:28:160:28:21

Many thanks to you and Martin for letting me join you on your round.

0:28:210:28:24

-You're welcome.

-It's been a real thrill.

0:28:240:28:26

I've actually delivered beer to a boozer in Devizes.

0:28:260:28:30

Well, one or two boozers, but I must thank Max and Tom,

0:28:300:28:34

these magnificent shire horses doing what they do best.

0:28:340:28:37

That's what they're bred for, and it's a tradition that's kept

0:28:370:28:40

well and truly alive here in Devizes, and long may it last.

0:28:400:28:45

We've already managed to find some great items at our valuation day in Melksham, but can we do any better?

0:28:560:29:02

Philip's hoping so with this painting.

0:29:020:29:06

Kathy, how are you? Are you well?

0:29:060:29:08

-I'm well, thank you.

-Excellent, excellent. So is this your painting?

0:29:080:29:11

-No, it belongs to my mother.

-And Mum doesn't want it any more?

0:29:110:29:13

No, she's downsizing with stuff in the house, so she thought she'd...

0:29:130:29:18

-She thought she'd flog it!

-She thought she would.

0:29:180:29:20

Right. And it's not your cup of tea?

0:29:200:29:22

I do like it, but I don't think I've got room for it.

0:29:220:29:24

And has it been in the family long?

0:29:240:29:26

No, she bought it about 18 years ago from a local charity shop because she liked it.

0:29:260:29:31

That's the best way to buy anything, isn't it?

0:29:310:29:35

I looked up Alfred Ward earlier.

0:29:350:29:37

I found out very little about this artist, other than that he was a Royal Academy artist.

0:29:370:29:42

-But I really, really... I like that a lot.

-Mmm.

0:29:420:29:46

Interestingly, 1900, 1920 period is quite in vogue at the moment.

0:29:460:29:51

One of the things that I really like about it, you've got the vibrancy of these flowers here,

0:29:510:29:56

which sort of reflect with this mass of green, and the dark storm clouds coming beyond.

0:29:560:30:03

I just think it's quite sweet.

0:30:030:30:05

I think at auction,

0:30:050:30:08

we could perhaps put a £200 to £400 estimate on it.

0:30:080:30:13

I think we ought to reserve it at £150. Would you be happy with that?

0:30:130:30:17

Or more importantly, would Mum be happy with that?

0:30:170:30:20

-She'd be happy with that.

-Now, she bought this 18 years ago?

0:30:200:30:23

-Yes.

-What did she pay for it?

0:30:230:30:25

£150.

0:30:250:30:29

So, 18 years later, she's going to let me sell it for what she paid for it?

0:30:290:30:35

-Yes.

-I think that's good, that demonstrates the real value of antiques.

0:30:350:30:39

Your mum has had 18 years of pleasure out of looking at this.

0:30:390:30:42

If she can sell it and get her money back, ownership has cost her nothing.

0:30:420:30:47

-Is Mum coming to the auction?

-Hopefully she will.

0:30:470:30:49

-So you and Mum will be there?

-Yes, and I think she'll be with me.

0:30:490:30:53

No pressure there, then. I hope it sells!

0:30:530:30:55

-Pat.

-Yes, David.

0:31:040:31:06

Are you a local girl?

0:31:060:31:08

I do live locally, but I was actually born in Birmingham.

0:31:080:31:12

And does this come from Birmingham as well?

0:31:120:31:16

Is this part of your family inheritance?

0:31:160:31:18

Well, it was actually my mother's.

0:31:180:31:21

She actually kept a pub in a place called Bishop's Castle in Shropshire.

0:31:210:31:26

There were two brothers that came to the pub.

0:31:260:31:30

The one brother passed away, and the other one went into a home.

0:31:300:31:34

There were several items that they actually left for my mum, and this was one of them.

0:31:340:31:40

This was a lovely gift. Do you not rate it?

0:31:400:31:43

-I don't very much. It's, I think, a little bit dull.

-A little bit dull?

0:31:430:31:47

I know you're going to disagree with that.

0:31:470:31:50

I'd say this is absolutely brilliant.

0:31:500:31:53

-It's like a jewel.

-You think so?

0:31:530:31:55

And I love this lustre decoration, which was perfected by Wedgwood.

0:31:550:31:59

This is a Wedgwood piece.

0:31:590:32:01

If you think in terms of the Fairyland lustre, which is the very expensive Lustre

0:32:010:32:05

with little goblins and fairies all over it, this is in the same tradition

0:32:050:32:09

but this is in the Chinese manner.

0:32:090:32:12

First of all, it glimmers.

0:32:120:32:14

It shimmers.

0:32:140:32:16

One expects that with anything exotic or Oriental.

0:32:160:32:20

We have this lovely dragon that's inside, this curling dragon,

0:32:200:32:24

based, of course, on Chinese designs.

0:32:240:32:27

The whole piece, I think, hangs together beautifully.

0:32:270:32:32

We have these lovely little sponge decorations of gilt,

0:32:320:32:36

which emphasize the gilt surround, and the actual dragon.

0:32:360:32:39

And the very fact that the dragon is not drawn in detail, it's almost

0:32:390:32:44

-in shadowy form, it's emerging from that sort of shimmering.

-Flows.

0:32:440:32:49

I think it's lovely. It's full of mystic.

0:32:490:32:52

You want to sell this. What are we going to get for it at auction?

0:32:520:32:55

Lots of money!

0:32:550:32:57

I wish I could say lots of money.

0:32:570:32:59

We're looking at this piece as a decorative item of lustreware,

0:32:590:33:03

and I'd think at auction, and I'm going to give you

0:33:030:33:06

a wide margin, I'm going to think in terms of around £80 to £150.

0:33:060:33:13

-I think we should reserve it. Would you like that?

-Yes, definitely.

0:33:130:33:17

-Let's reserve it at £80, fixed.

-OK.

0:33:170:33:21

I'd hate to see it go below.

0:33:210:33:24

No, I wouldn't like it to go below that, either.

0:33:240:33:27

I'm sure there's going to be somebody at that auction

0:33:270:33:29

that's keen on ceramics and lustre decoration as much as I am.

0:33:290:33:33

-I'm just going to watch that go sky-high.

-Thank you very much.

0:33:330:33:35

Thank you very much for coming along.

0:33:350:33:37

Jo, think you so much for bringing in three lovely wine bottles from the 18th century.

0:33:410:33:46

I think we've got the oldest things here today in the room.

0:33:460:33:48

-Really?

-Yes.

-I'm surprised.

0:33:480:33:50

Something for the purists.

0:33:500:33:52

So, tell me. How did you come across these?

0:33:520:33:55

They're part of my late husband's collection.

0:33:550:33:58

It was started by a friend of his called Bob Gee, who worked on the dredgers on the Avon River.

0:33:580:34:05

He sold part of his collection to my husband in the early 1970s.

0:34:050:34:10

And then your husband started collecting from there on?

0:34:100:34:13

Either from the river, or digging up middens,

0:34:130:34:18

old rubbish tips.

0:34:180:34:20

It makes sense that they're dredged up from the river. I tell you why,

0:34:200:34:24

because most inns and taverns would have been situated

0:34:240:34:30

along canals and rivers.

0:34:300:34:32

It was really the only means of transport, getting goods from A to B.

0:34:320:34:36

-Makes sense.

-And of course,

0:34:360:34:38

you're sitting there at the tavern with the river in front of you.

0:34:380:34:41

If you do if a few of those, you tend to chuck it in the river.

0:34:410:34:46

And it gets preserved in the mud.

0:34:460:34:48

I love them. I love the onion glass shape, typical. That's why they're called onion glass.

0:34:480:34:52

And that's all hand blown through a big metal rod.

0:34:520:34:57

There's a lot of discolouring from iron and silt.

0:34:570:35:00

It's obviously been lying in water, but doesn't it look beautiful?

0:35:000:35:06

I love the fact that it's lopsided.

0:35:060:35:08

You could never make these even, because they're all hand-made.

0:35:080:35:13

This one is of bell form.

0:35:130:35:15

That's an interesting shape as well. Typical of the 18th century.

0:35:150:35:19

Again, lots of discolouring, which I quite like.

0:35:190:35:22

There is a fair bit of damage at the top of the neck.

0:35:220:35:26

This one,

0:35:260:35:27

again this is early 18th century, and this one has its own seal.

0:35:270:35:33

That's something to look out for on any onion glass wine bottle.

0:35:330:35:37

The seal will put more value on it.

0:35:370:35:40

Especially if it's got a date.

0:35:400:35:42

This is definitely 18th century, but let's say if it had a date of 1785 or something,

0:35:420:35:49

that one bottle

0:35:490:35:51

would be worth around £600 to £800.

0:35:510:35:54

-Oh, right.

-So, it's a shame it doesn't have the date.

0:35:540:35:57

But it's stunning, that one.

0:35:570:35:59

I think that's a £200 bottle alone.

0:35:590:36:02

I would be happy to group them all together.

0:36:020:36:06

I know they'll do £300. I know that.

0:36:060:36:10

But in order to get that,

0:36:100:36:12

I'd like to put them into auction with a value of £250 to £350.

0:36:120:36:19

And a reserve at £250. I don't know how you feel about that.

0:36:190:36:21

I think I'd prefer it if the reserve was a little higher, say £300.

0:36:210:36:25

Would that work?

0:36:250:36:27

OK, let's put a fixed reserve on them then at £300, OK?

0:36:270:36:32

And hopefully, they'll do £100 more than that.

0:36:320:36:35

-That'll be nice.

-That would be nice, wouldn't it?

0:36:350:36:37

The top end of 300.

0:36:370:36:38

We've had a great time in Melksham, but now it's time to head to the auction room.

0:36:380:36:44

We know from earlier that the bidders of Devizes

0:36:440:36:46

are keen to invest their money in precious metals.

0:36:460:36:49

You know something Nancy, I make that a grand total of £562.

0:36:490:36:55

Wonderful!

0:36:550:36:57

But will they feel the same about our next lot of offerings?

0:36:570:37:00

This Wedgwood bowl lacks a lustre for Pat.

0:37:000:37:04

-I think it's a little bit dull.

-That's the complete opposite, I'd say this is like a jewel.

0:37:040:37:08

So, will the bidders agree with David?

0:37:080:37:11

It's just amazing to think that these bottles had that have spent a century at the bottom of a canal.

0:37:110:37:17

I think that's a £200 bottle alone.

0:37:170:37:20

Philip is feeling the heat with Cathy's painting.

0:37:200:37:23

-So, you and Mum will be there?

-Yes, and I think she'll be with me.

-No pressure, then. I hope it sells!

0:37:230:37:29

Time to put him and everyone else out of their misery.

0:37:290:37:33

I like this next lot.

0:37:330:37:35

For all of you fine art lovers, this is for you. It's Alfred Ward.

0:37:350:37:39

-Correct.

-And it is an oil on board.

0:37:390:37:41

That kind of rhymes, doesn't it?

0:37:410:37:43

But it's quality, it really is.

0:37:430:37:44

-It's Mum's, and she got this in a charity shop.

-About 18 years ago.

0:37:440:37:49

Why is she selling this?

0:37:490:37:51

She wants to downsize trinkets, and some of the things she's got in the house.

0:37:510:37:55

-It's not that big, you know!

-I know, it's quite small.

0:37:550:37:58

I think it's a lovely little picture and it'll suit any bedroom wall or hallway. It's the right size to sell.

0:37:580:38:05

It's got something going for it.

0:38:050:38:07

I think it's great technique.

0:38:070:38:09

-I wish it had more in terms of composition - it would have made a lot of money.

-Foreground interest?

0:38:090:38:14

It still might do very well, because it's technically very good.

0:38:140:38:17

We're looking at £200 to £400?

0:38:170:38:20

-Yes.

-It should do that. It should do that, for an original piece.

-It would be good if it did.

0:38:200:38:27

Fingers crossed, it's going under the hammer right now.

0:38:270:38:29

509, Alfred Ward, the British School.

0:38:290:38:33

Early 20th century, oil on board, a wood with flowering shrubs. A lovely, decorative painting.

0:38:330:38:38

I'd hope for somewhere in the region of £300 for this lot. 2?

0:38:380:38:44

150? 100?

0:38:440:38:46

110, 120, 130. 140, 140?

0:38:460:38:52

We're not quite close enough to the reserve on this one. £150 anywhere?

0:38:520:38:58

-Yes? Thank you, very much. £150.

-Sold it.

-Skin of our teeth, mind.

0:38:580:39:01

160 anywhere else?

0:39:010:39:03

£150, yes? No?

0:39:030:39:07

Gosh, just!

0:39:070:39:08

Skin of the teeth, wasn't it?

0:39:080:39:10

-Well, at least it sold, that's the good thing.

-Thank goodness.

0:39:100:39:15

Top name, Wedgwood. Bit of Lustre.

0:39:200:39:23

It's a great name, Pat!

0:39:230:39:25

I think we'll sell this. This came from a pub, didn't it?

0:39:250:39:28

-My mum's pub, yeah.

-Why are you flogging it?

0:39:280:39:31

I've never really liked it.

0:39:310:39:33

It wasn't in the cupboard, it was out, but...

0:39:330:39:36

On display but fallen out of favour.

0:39:360:39:38

David said if it had had fairies in it, it would have been...

0:39:380:39:41

-Fairies or goblins.

-Then we're talking big bucks.

-But not dragons!

0:39:410:39:45

But you never know, the Welsh might buy it.

0:39:450:39:49

I think the whole thing smacks of quality.

0:39:490:39:53

I hope there are people in this room that appreciate it.

0:39:530:39:57

We're going to find out right now. Good luck, Pat.

0:39:570:39:59

On to the Dragon Lustre bowl.

0:40:010:40:03

I'd have liked you to give me fairy lustre, but I'll make do with dragon at a push.

0:40:030:40:07

150? 100, to start me?

0:40:070:40:10

100, 110, 120, 130...

0:40:100:40:15

140, with me.

0:40:150:40:16

150?

0:40:160:40:18

At 140, 140 with me. Is there 150?

0:40:180:40:22

I shan't dwell on it? At 140, at £140... 150, she's back.

0:40:220:40:28

160, 170?

0:40:280:40:31

At 160? At £160, am I all done?

0:40:310:40:35

-At £160.

-I'm very pleased with that.

0:40:350:40:38

-So am I.

-You were a bit pessimistic.

0:40:380:40:42

Good news, isn't it?

0:40:420:40:43

-It is, it's very good.

-What are you going to do with that?

0:40:430:40:47

That's hopefully going to pay for... My husband and I are off to Australia next week,

0:40:470:40:52

for six weeks, so it'll pay for us to walk the Sydney Bridge.

0:40:520:40:56

-How lovely!

-The trip of a lifetime.

0:40:560:41:00

-Do you go there often?

-No, first time.

0:41:000:41:03

-Enjoy it, won't you?

-Hope to.

0:41:030:41:05

Now, for my favourite lot of the whole sale.

0:41:130:41:16

I fell in love with these, Joe's 18th century wine bottles.

0:41:160:41:19

We've got three of them, two onion glass, one mallet shape.

0:41:190:41:22

Beautiful, beautiful.

0:41:220:41:25

Thank goodness Alan has decided to keep them in a group.

0:41:250:41:27

We're selling them as a group.

0:41:270:41:28

We've got £300 to £400 on them, with a fixed reserve at £300.

0:41:280:41:32

We've had lots of interest.

0:41:320:41:35

223, very rare bottles.

0:41:350:41:38

Start me somewhere around about...

0:41:380:41:41

Let's have 600 quid.

0:41:410:41:43

600? Five? Four?

0:41:430:41:47

Four, I'm in.

0:41:470:41:49

That's good, 400.

0:41:490:41:51

450. Five, with me. 50?

0:41:510:41:54

Six? 50. Seven?

0:41:540:41:57

50. Eight?

0:41:570:41:59

Eight, off the book. In the room now at eight. 850?

0:42:010:42:05

Nine. 50?

0:42:050:42:07

-1,000, 11.

-I'm tingling. Are you?

0:42:070:42:10

-Mmm.

-12, 13, 14.

0:42:100:42:13

15, 15 on the telephone?

0:42:130:42:16

16? 16, 17?

0:42:160:42:21

1,700, 18?

0:42:210:42:24

At 1,700 on the phone.

0:42:240:42:27

Ladies and gentlemen, in the room?

0:42:270:42:29

Anywhere else at 1,800? Am I going?

0:42:290:42:33

Gosh!

0:42:330:42:35

Fantastic! I'm ever so pleased for you.

0:42:350:42:38

£1,700. Obviously, there's commission to pay.

0:42:380:42:42

My husband would have been delighted.

0:42:440:42:47

He had a great eye. What are you going to put the money towards?

0:42:470:42:50

It's going to Portland Bird Observatory, where he was the secretary for 20 years.

0:42:500:42:55

That's it, it's all over for our owners.

0:43:010:43:03

We've had a great day here in Devizes.

0:43:030:43:05

We sold everything, so all credit to our experts.

0:43:050:43:07

If you've got any antiques and collectibles you want to flog, we want to see you.

0:43:070:43:11

You can find details in your local press, because we'll be coming to your town very soon.

0:43:110:43:15

Until next time, from Devizes, cheerio.

0:43:150:43:19

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0:43:390:43:42

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0:43:420:43:44

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