Melksham Flog It!

Over the years, the people of this town have

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

Today, it's all about the antique business.

Welcome to Flog It! From Melksham in rural Wiltshire.

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

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

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

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

Apparently Melksham's was even fouler tasting than most.

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

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

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

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

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

-Chris and Bob, how are you both doing?

-Fine, thank you.

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

-Should we go home and fill them for him?

-What normally sits in them?

-At our house, nothing.

-How did you come by them?

Got them from my parents.

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

-Was he a collector?

-No, not at all.

-How long have they been in your possession?

-Three years.

-So you don't like them?

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

My parents had two types of sherry in there,

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

-Excuse me, a big bottle.

-It's not that big a bottle.

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

-Sherry in the other.

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

-No, I don't.

-You get a shotgun cartridge from someone who shoots.

-Don't know anybody, do you?

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

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

-It will clean the glass.

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

-Trust me, lead shot does the trick.

-Don't know of anybody who does that.

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

The maker's mark is William Hutton.

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

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

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

Or they don't get too many visitors.

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

We will put a fixed reserve on them of 50.

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

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

-Fine.

-That sounds fine to me.

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

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

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

-Right.

And I've never used them.

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

at the back, the wood

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

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

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

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

-They do, yeah?

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

This very ornate one here with lots of scrolls and birds

is in a style that we call Rococo revival.

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

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

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

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

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

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

So these are beautiful examples of simple silversmithing.

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

-Right.

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

as far afield as Mexico and China.

-Right.

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

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

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

-and hopefully get 80 to 100.

-That would be fine.

-You would be quite happy?

-I would, thank you.

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

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

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

-It is, yeah.

-I shall offer to go shopping with you.

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

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

What do you think that is?

It's made of galvanised pressed steel,

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

any ideas?

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

Town crier, ring out the bell.

-I like it. Sir, any ideas?

-I couldn't bet on an answer.

-Haven't got a clue.

-How about this side?

-A candle.

-You think a candle could go in there?

-The other way up.

-Any idea?

-I thought it was a medieval torch.

It could be.

Carrying it through the streets.

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

-Nancy, how are you?

-Fine, thank you.

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

-It's the best place to be.

-Why's that?

-Something going on, isn't it?

-I even missed church to be here.

-You missed church? Goodness me.

-Do you miss church often?

-No.

-Good.

-Are you an avid collector?

-Yes, I am.

-Sovereigns?

-I love the sovereigns.

-Why?

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

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

-I'm going to listen to you.

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

-Yes, we've got Victoria,

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

Yes. I love the Royal Family.

Are you a big royal fan?

-A big royal fan.

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

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

-Yes.

-You've got them mounted

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

-Awful, yes.

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

-I don't know.

-Gold's good at the minute.

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

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

-Lovely.

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

Right.

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

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

and then driving lessons and perhaps university.

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

-I know!

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

-Thank you.

-Well done, Nancy.

Thank you very much.

-Ooh.

-There we are.

Well, here we are. Have you guessed?

Some of you probably have.

You offer it up to an apple or a pear,

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

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

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

I love it. How crazy is that?

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

I don't like cleaning, no.

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

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

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

They've been in my cupboard ever since.

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

No.

Well, these are quite attractive.

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

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

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

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

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

The two became almost linked at that particular time.

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

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

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

-Oh, right.

-Hopefully more.

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

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

That means he has 10% discretion.

-Would she be happy at that sort of level?

-Yeah, definitely.

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

-Brilliant.

-Thank you very much for bringing them along.

-Thank you.

The good people of Melksham have brought in some great items

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

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

-Really?

-Yes!

-It glimmers.

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

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

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

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

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

Here is lot 401, Nancy's gold sovereigns.

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

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

and the rest for some driving lessons.

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

-I know Nancy.

-Do you?

-Yeah, she's a lovely lady.

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

Gold at the moment is very strong.

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

What have you done?

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

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

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

-You can wear that one?

-It will push it up slightly.

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

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

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

-Hopefully, yes.

-We're gonna find out in a moment.

Will splitting the sovereigns be the right move?

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

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

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

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

They are so collectible,

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

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

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

I don't like cleaning, no.

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

First to go under the hammer are the decanters.

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

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

-She can't make it today?

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

We've got our expert Philip here.

Glass decanters. £60, 70, 80 maybe?

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

-They're a nice thing.

-Do it from the heart.

-Yeah.

-So hopefully, 100 plus.

-Because I'm mean.

-We'll see what gives.

-Fingers crossed, they are going under the hammer.

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

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

80 to start me.

50 to get me away, then. OK.

I'll be kind, 30 quid.

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

-55.

-I'll lend them a fiver.

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

60, she's back. 65?

At £60. £60, it is.

65, quickly? At £60, am I done?

He sold them.

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

-They are a bit yesterday's antiques.

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

-Whatever we got, I'm not disappointed.

-It's a shame cos they are quality.

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

-That's the way it goes.

-I hope Christine won't be too disappointed.

-No, I don't think so.

She basically wasn't interested in the price.

Sell them and...whatever we get.

-I guess that's the spirit, really.

-Absolutely.

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

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

-You do?

I do. Why are you selling them?

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

-And someone told me you wanted to go shopping.

-Yeah.

-What are you going to spend your money on?

-I shall put it towards a new television.

-It depends how much money we get.

-The Art Nouveau one...

-Is gorgeous.

-..is gorgeous.

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

-They should do quite well, I hope.

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

They're going under the hammer now.

And next a nice little piece of silver,

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

the other just standard, but both very pretty.

100 to start me. 60 to get my away.

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

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

Oh, this is more like it, Joan?

180, 190... 200.

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

-Yes!

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

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

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

-They do, yeah.

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

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

-Thank you.

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

-Is this your first auction?

-Yeah, it is.

-Really? And yours, Alison?

-Yeah.

-What do you think?

-Exciting.

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

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

-No.

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

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

-They do.

So we need top money, David.

-Ooh! Right.

-Six spoons.

-Silver's doing very well today.

-Yes.

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

-Art Nouveauy.

Yeah, Celtic-style finials.

They are very nice.

-Why are you selling them?

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

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

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

The set of teaspoons in the arts and crafts manner.

Very pretty.

Start me at £90, then.

£90, get me away.

60. Right, 60, I've got.

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

-They've sold.

At £90 on my left, £90.

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

-Spot-on estimate.

-Yes.

Well done. £90 to go shopping with!

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

-Great.

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

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

Are you flogging Roger's inheritance?

No, it's going to his daughter.

-Is it?

-For her insurance for a car.

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

I had a chat to the auctioneer earlier, and Philip

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

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

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

I hope it gets a bit more.

I hope it gets a bit more as well.

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

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

Lot 401, sovereigns.

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

Let's have £300 for these three.

250 to get me away.

Two I've got, thank you.

210, 220, 230, 240.

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

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

314? At £312. £312, am I done?

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

Again, a very nice sovereign,

set on a beautiful chain.

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

150 to start me?

150 I have, straight in at 150.

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

Oh, this is going well, £200.

215, 220,

225, 230. 240, 245?

250, 260.

At 250, the gentleman in the middle.

At 250. At 250 am I done?

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

Wonderful, wonderful!

-Thank you so much.

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

-It's been great fun.

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

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

-Every day.

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

-50...

Oh, my goodness.

I'm tingling, are you?

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

to catch up with some unusual local celebrities.

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

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

All your fresh fruit and veg today for a pound!

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

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

echo to the sound of a most picturesque tradition.

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

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

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

ploughs across fields and even been used down mines.

Despite their resurgence during the two wars,

the internal combustion engine put an end to horses in harnesses

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

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

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

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

Magnificent horses, aren't they?

-They are indeed.

-They really are.

How long has the brewery been using shire horses?

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

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

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

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

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

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

although some people would say probably it does.

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

And I think people love them in Devizes.

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

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

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

Obviously, strong legs, nice feathers.

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

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

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

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

-That's just Max, is it?

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

He's so beautiful, he really is.

Will this tradition last?

-Will it keep going?

-Yes, Paul, of course.

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

and we'll absolutely keep it going.

We like traditional things, but we use them properly.

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

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

Well, they're fantastic.

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

Great, I hope you have a good day.

Thank you very much for talking to me.

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

and he'll be showing me the ropes today.

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

-What is he, 19 hands?

-He's 18-1.

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

He's six years old.

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

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

As long as it's not mucking out.

We've got a few barrels to shift.

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

-Right, OK.

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

Now, that's real horsepower.

Ready, Barry?

Tom, Max, walk on.

Well, here we are at the Castle.

-This is a convenient bit of courtyard, Barry.

-It is, yeah.

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

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

So you try and keep them together.

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

What sort of reaction do you get?

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

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

Local people see it every day,

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

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

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

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

Are you all ready?

This is empties coming out now.

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

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

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

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

It's the last drop of the day.

Barry?

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

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

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

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

-You're welcome.

-It's been a real thrill.

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

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

these magnificent shire horses doing what they do best.

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

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

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

Philip's hoping so with this painting.

Kathy, how are you? Are you well?

-I'm well, thank you.

-Excellent, excellent. So is this your painting?

-No, it belongs to my mother.

-And Mum doesn't want it any more?

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

-She thought she'd flog it!

-She thought she would.

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

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

And has it been in the family long?

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

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

I looked up Alfred Ward earlier.

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

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

-Mmm.

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

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

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

I just think it's quite sweet.

I think at auction,

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

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

Or more importantly, would Mum be happy with that?

-She'd be happy with that.

-Now, she bought this 18 years ago?

-Yes.

-What did she pay for it?

£150.

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

-Yes.

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

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

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

-Is Mum coming to the auction?

-Hopefully she will.

-So you and Mum will be there?

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

No pressure there, then. I hope it sells!

-Pat.

-Yes, David.

Are you a local girl?

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

And does this come from Birmingham as well?

Is this part of your family inheritance?

Well, it was actually my mother's.

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

There were two brothers that came to the pub.

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

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

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

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

-A little bit dull?

I know you're going to disagree with that.

I'd say this is absolutely brilliant.

-It's like a jewel.

-You think so?

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

This is a Wedgwood piece.

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

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

but this is in the Chinese manner.

First of all, it glimmers.

It shimmers.

One expects that with anything exotic or Oriental.

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

based, of course, on Chinese designs.

The whole piece, I think, hangs together beautifully.

We have these lovely little sponge decorations of gilt,

which emphasize the gilt surround, and the actual dragon.

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

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

-Flows.

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

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

Lots of money!

I wish I could say lots of money.

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

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

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

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

-Yes, definitely.

-Let's reserve it at £80, fixed.

-OK.

I'd hate to see it go below.

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

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

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

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

-Thank you very much.

Thank you very much for coming along.

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

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

-Really?

-Yes.

-I'm surprised.

Something for the purists.

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

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

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

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

And then your husband started collecting from there on?

Either from the river, or digging up middens,

old rubbish tips.

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

because most inns and taverns would have been situated

along canals and rivers.

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

-Makes sense.

-And of course,

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

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

And it gets preserved in the mud.

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

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

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

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

I love the fact that it's lopsided.

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

This one is of bell form.

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

Again, lots of discolouring, which I quite like.

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

This one,

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

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

The seal will put more value on it.

Especially if it's got a date.

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

that one bottle

would be worth around £600 to £800.

-Oh, right.

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

But it's stunning, that one.

I think that's a £200 bottle alone.

I would be happy to group them all together.

I know they'll do £300. I know that.

But in order to get that,

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

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

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

Would that work?

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

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

-That'll be nice.

-That would be nice, wouldn't it?

The top end of 300.

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

We know from earlier that the bidders of Devizes

are keen to invest their money in precious metals.

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

Wonderful!

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

This Wedgwood bowl lacks a lustre for Pat.

-I think it's a little bit dull.

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

So, will the bidders agree with David?

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

I think that's a £200 bottle alone.

Philip is feeling the heat with Cathy's painting.

-So, you and Mum will be there?

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

-No pressure, then. I hope it sells!

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

I like this next lot.

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

-Correct.

-And it is an oil on board.

That kind of rhymes, doesn't it?

But it's quality, it really is.

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

-About 18 years ago.

Why is she selling this?

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

-It's not that big, you know!

-I know, it's quite small.

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

It's got something going for it.

I think it's great technique.

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

-Foreground interest?

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

We're looking at £200 to £400?

-Yes.

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

-It would be good if it did.

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

509, Alfred Ward, the British School.

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

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

150? 100?

110, 120, 130. 140, 140?

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

-Yes? Thank you, very much. £150.

-Sold it.

-Skin of our teeth, mind.

160 anywhere else?

£150, yes? No?

Gosh, just!

Skin of the teeth, wasn't it?

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

-Thank goodness.

Top name, Wedgwood. Bit of Lustre.

It's a great name, Pat!

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

-My mum's pub, yeah.

-Why are you flogging it?

I've never really liked it.

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

On display but fallen out of favour.

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

-Fairies or goblins.

-Then we're talking big bucks.

-But not dragons!

But you never know, the Welsh might buy it.

I think the whole thing smacks of quality.

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

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

On to the Dragon Lustre bowl.

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

150? 100, to start me?

100, 110, 120, 130...

140, with me.

150?

At 140, 140 with me. Is there 150?

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

160, 170?

At 160? At £160, am I all done?

-At £160.

-I'm very pleased with that.

-So am I.

-You were a bit pessimistic.

Good news, isn't it?

-It is, it's very good.

-What are you going to do with that?

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

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

-How lovely!

-The trip of a lifetime.

-Do you go there often?

-No, first time.

-Enjoy it, won't you?

-Hope to.

Now, for my favourite lot of the whole sale.

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

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

Beautiful, beautiful.

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

We're selling them as a group.

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

We've had lots of interest.

223, very rare bottles.

Start me somewhere around about...

Let's have 600 quid.

600? Five? Four?

Four, I'm in.

That's good, 400.

450. Five, with me. 50?

Six? 50. Seven?

50. Eight?

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

Nine. 50?

-1,000, 11.

-I'm tingling. Are you?

-Mmm.

-12, 13, 14.

15, 15 on the telephone?

16? 16, 17?

1,700, 18?

At 1,700 on the phone.

Ladies and gentlemen, in the room?

Anywhere else at 1,800? Am I going?

Gosh!

Fantastic! I'm ever so pleased for you.

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

My husband would have been delighted.

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

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

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

We've had a great day here in Devizes.

We sold everything, so all credit to our experts.

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

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

Until next time, from Devizes, cheerio.

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