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 the 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 > 0:03:28Hobbies, 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.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57What a lovely three quarter length portrait, Reg.
0:06:57 > 0:06:58Do you know who she is?
0:06:58 > 0:07:01- Lady Dover.- So how did you come by this portrait?
0:07:01 > 0:07:04This was left to me about five years ago.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07- And you've got some paperwork, I believe.- Yes, indeed.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10Can I have a quick look? By John Jackson, was the original artist.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13He died in 1831. This is a copy,
0:07:14 > 0:07:17but it's a beautiful copy. It's a period copy.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20The original hangs in the British Museum, but this is done
0:07:20 > 0:07:25by George Dodson Tomlinson, a Victorian artist who died in 1884,
0:07:25 > 0:07:27so he was flourishing around the mid-1800s.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31He's exhibited at the Royal Academy, which is great news for you.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34- Good.- Because it gives the artist a little provenance,
0:07:34 > 0:07:38so a lot of weight behind him, which pushes the price up at auction.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42We even know who this is. It's a lady called Georgina,
0:07:42 > 0:07:45the daughter of the Sixth Earl of Carlisle,
0:07:45 > 0:07:47so this is the first Lady Dover.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51- Yes, and possibly the only one. - Possibly the only one. In 1831.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53Well, I absolutely love it.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57The frame is letting it down at the moment because it's been painted
0:07:57 > 0:08:00so many times with obviously coats of emulsion or something like that,
0:08:00 > 0:08:02but that's its contemporary frame.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06The frame's perfect for this picture and I can see it...
0:08:06 > 0:08:09I can see it is, you know? This has not been cut down and fiddled with.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12I have a feeling this has been hanging in a smoker's home.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15- That nicotine stain.- It has, yes. - Isn't it?- It is.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18Look at this, if you just go like that...
0:08:21 > 0:08:23..you can tell it's the nicotine.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27It needs a good clean, a professional should tackle that.
0:08:27 > 0:08:31- Do you like the portrait? - Not really, no.- Why is that?
0:08:31 > 0:08:32I find her a bit frightening.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35- It's the eyes. - That's the sign of a good painter,
0:08:35 > 0:08:38there's quality in those eyes, and the lips are beautiful.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40They're so full. The skin tones are great.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46- What sort of money had you in mind? - I've no idea of the value.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48- No idea?- No.- And why do you want to sell this now?
0:08:48 > 0:08:52- Because I'm moving to a flat. - Are you? That won't work in a flat,
0:08:52 > 0:08:55will it, with a low ceiling? It'd look a bit OTT.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57It really needs a big room.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59That is a big picture.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02If you're happy, I think we can put this into auction
0:09:02 > 0:09:06- with a value of around about £400 to £600.- Right.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09With a discretion on the 400, a 10% auctioneer's discretion.
0:09:09 > 0:09:10Right, fine.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18- Peter, welcome to Flog It!- Thank you. - Thank you for coming along.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20I do like a little object in a little case.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22Shall we just have a little open up here?
0:09:22 > 0:09:25We've got a lovely pocket aneroid barometer.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27Tell me about this, where did you get it from?
0:09:27 > 0:09:31It was from my father-in-law.
0:09:31 > 0:09:36- He's an... Well, he was an avid boot fair collector.- Oh, really? Right.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40And he collected lots of bits and pieces and when he died
0:09:40 > 0:09:43we sorted out and that's what we found in amongst
0:09:43 > 0:09:46- other bits and pieces, so... - Do you know if it's working?
0:09:46 > 0:09:50No, I don't know, no. I don't know anything about it at all,
0:09:50 > 0:09:54so I thought perhaps you might be able to enlighten me a bit on it.
0:09:54 > 0:09:58OK. Well, date wise we'd probably be looking at about turn of the century,
0:09:58 > 0:10:00so probably about circa 1900.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02We can see here the name Army & Navy,
0:10:02 > 0:10:05so it would have been actually sold in the Army & Navy stores.
0:10:05 > 0:10:11I love this little red Morocco leather case that it's contained in.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13Nice green velvet inside here.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16This is something that gentleman would have had.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18He would have taken it with him in his pocket.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20Unfortunately, we've got a bit of wear here.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22It looks like the leather,
0:10:22 > 0:10:25- the red leather here has actually been lifted off.- Yeah.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29- Has it always been like that? - Yes.- As far as you know?- Yes, yes.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32It's quite a nice little instrument, Peter, it's a shame
0:10:32 > 0:10:35there's no signature on the dial. That would certainly
0:10:35 > 0:10:39beef up the estimate a bit, but have you ever had it working?
0:10:39 > 0:10:41- No, we haven't, no. - Do you know how to get it working?
0:10:41 > 0:10:43- No.- One of the tricks of the trade,
0:10:43 > 0:10:46what you can do is put it in like a polythene bag,
0:10:46 > 0:10:49blow up the bag and then, obviously, you've got the
0:10:49 > 0:10:52air inside it and hopefully you should see the needle move.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55See if it works before the auction.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57- That will be quite interesting to see.- Yeah.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01You do see quite a lot of them coming up at auction,
0:11:01 > 0:11:04so they're not... They don't have great value.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08- They're probably going to be worth in the region of about £60 to £80.- Yeah.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12Is that a bit disappointing to you, or are you happy to sell at that?
0:11:12 > 0:11:14Yeah, I... I will sell at that.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17Yeah, I mean, because I hadn't got a clue what it's worth,
0:11:17 > 0:11:21- so it's not a disappointment. - Let's put a reserve on of £50
0:11:21 > 0:11:23and that should easily make that.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25How does that sound?
0:11:25 > 0:11:26- Fine, yeah.- Happy with that?- Yes.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30Well, let's go for that and hope that it makes a bit more.
0:11:30 > 0:11:36We've found some quirky items and now we're heading north into the heart of Kent for today's auction.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40I can feel tension building all over the place, an air of excitement.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42Today we're at the Canterbury Auction Galleries.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46Cliona Kilroy is just about to take to the rostrum, today's auctioneer.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48As you can see, we've got a packed house.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51Let's hope this lot are going to bid on all our items.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55And in case you've forgotten what's going under the hammer, here's a quick recap.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59I thought Reg's late 19th century portrait of Lady Dover was in
0:11:59 > 0:12:03remarkable condition, although the frame could do with a good clean!
0:12:03 > 0:12:07Reg is keen to get rid of it though, as it's too big for his flat.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Pauline has been in love with her Robertson clan Scottish snuff horn
0:12:10 > 0:12:12since she was a wee lass.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14Mark thinks it may raise a lot of interest.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18I suspect we'll get some Robertson from America and from Scotland...
0:12:18 > 0:12:19- Really.- And from all over
0:12:19 > 0:12:22who are interested in getting part of their family history back.
0:12:22 > 0:12:27It's now time for Peter to sell his Army & Navy Store barometer
0:12:27 > 0:12:31in a red leather case which he got from his father-in-law.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33Finally, Helen hopes an enthusiastic collector
0:12:33 > 0:12:38will sail away with her inherited Hobbies Bowman steamboat.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41But will the botched paint job put the bidders off?
0:12:41 > 0:12:44It's time to find out as it's the first of our items
0:12:44 > 0:12:46to go under the hammer.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49I'm a big fan of this next lot.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51I've just been joined by Helen, the owner.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55Boys and their toys. I think this little steamboat is incredible.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58It works on methylated spirits. It's got the look of an early launch
0:12:58 > 0:13:00and it's known as the Swallow, in original box.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04- Yes.- Fingers crossed, OK? - Definitely, fingers crossed.
0:13:04 > 0:13:05Yeah. Here we go.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07333 is the early 20th century
0:13:07 > 0:13:09Hobbies Bowmen steamboat, the Swallow. Lot 333.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13- Lots of commission interest.- Some interest in this. We'll start at...
0:13:13 > 0:13:16- We'll start at 130.- Starting at £130.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19- Yes!- I'm looking for 140. Any interest at 140?
0:13:19 > 0:13:21On my left at £130 now.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23- Any interest at 140?- Yes.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26140. 150. 160.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32- Yes.- 170. Anybody at 170?
0:13:32 > 0:13:35It's online at £160. Are we all done? Any further interest?
0:13:35 > 0:13:38If not I'm selling at £160 online.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40- Told you!- Fantastic!- Excellent.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42- You didn't have any faith. - I didn't.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45- Well done.- Well done, you.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49Thanks. It was a nice thing. It's a real gentleman's piece and I... I...
0:13:49 > 0:13:53I was looking at that earlier and I saw so many people looking at it
0:13:53 > 0:13:56as well and it brought back so many memories for them.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58Everybody buys into that. There's commission to pay.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02- Of course, yes.- But I think you can treat yourself with that.- Yes.
0:14:07 > 0:14:08This is a cracking lot.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11I've just been joined by Pauline and we're about to put
0:14:11 > 0:14:14the Scottish snuff horn under the hammer from Robertson's clan.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18- That's right.- Good luck, but I think this one is going back to Scotland.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21That's lovely. Yeah, it's nice to know, you know?
0:14:21 > 0:14:23Lot number 287 is the 19th century
0:14:23 > 0:14:26Scottish silvery metal mounted horn, snuff mould, lot 287.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28- Who'll start me at £100?- Yeah.
0:14:28 > 0:14:33- 100 I am bid. Who's in at 110? 110 for someone?- Come on.
0:14:33 > 0:14:34110 I have. 120. 130. 140. 150.
0:14:34 > 0:14:40160. 170. 180. 190. 200. And 10.
0:14:40 > 0:14:41The bid is on my left.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44It's gone, 210. Within estimate.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46What are you going to put the money towards?
0:14:46 > 0:14:48- I want a new carpet.- Do you? - So it will go to that.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51Yeah, I'd love a new carpet.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54- Thank you so much for bringing it in.- That's quite all right.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02So far so good. Temperatures are rising,
0:15:02 > 0:15:06which brings us nicely to our next lot, this little pocket barometer
0:15:06 > 0:15:09belonging to Peter and we've got the valuation of £60 to £80.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12- Now, your father-in-law found this at a car boot.- He did, yeah.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15- How much do you think he paid for it?- I haven't a clue.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18Unfortunately, he's not with us now, so I'll never know.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21Probably a lot less than what we're hoping to get today
0:15:21 > 0:15:23I think, Catherine, don't you?
0:15:23 > 0:15:26Yeah, they always used to get 80 to 120, but I think nowadays they've
0:15:26 > 0:15:30gone down a little bit, so hopefully we should get between 60 and 80.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34- Case is nice.- Absolutely.- It's ready to go.- It's in good condition.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38Lot number 318 is the late 19th early 20th century
0:15:38 > 0:15:40gilt brass case pocket aneroid barometer
0:15:40 > 0:15:42by the Army & Navy Stores, lot 318.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46- Who'll start me at £50?- Yes. - 50 I'm bid. Who's in at 60?
0:15:46 > 0:15:48It's on my left at £50, now.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50- Well, we've sold it. - Who's in at £60? 60. 70?
0:15:50 > 0:15:55- No.- Anybody at 70? Right at the back of the room at £60 now.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57Any further offer? The bid is right at the back at £60.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00And selling at £60.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03- Spot on valuation.- Yes, spot on. - £60. Happy with that?
0:16:03 > 0:16:07- That's fine.- There is commission to pay, unfortunately.- Yeah.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09That's going to take a swipe out of it,
0:16:09 > 0:16:13- but it's a meal out or something. - It's an experience.- Yes.- Fantastic.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22OK, for all you fine art lovers
0:16:22 > 0:16:26it's now time to find out exactly what Lady Dover is worth.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29I've been joined by Reg. This is my valuation. We had four to six on it.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33The auctioneer thinks it could do a little better, so fingers crossed.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36We always like a little more, don't we? Should be a lot of
0:16:36 > 0:16:40local interest and that's what it's all about. This is it.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42Lot number 75,
0:16:42 > 0:16:45attributed to George Dodson Tomlinson after John Jackson's.
0:16:45 > 0:16:50The oil painting, the half length portrait of Lady Dover. Lot 75.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52Two bids, one at 500.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56We're going to start at £500 and I'm looking for 520. The bid is...
0:16:56 > 0:17:01The commission bid of £500. I'm looking for 520. 520. 540.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04560. 580. 600. And 20. 640.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08640? 660. 680?
0:17:08 > 0:17:10Brilliant. Come on, a bit more.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12680. 700. And 20?
0:17:12 > 0:17:15Anybody at 720? On my left at £700 now.
0:17:15 > 0:17:19Any further offer? If not I'm selling at £700 if we're all done.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22- Fantastic.- Brilliant! And what are you going to do with that?
0:17:22 > 0:17:24Towards the next holiday.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27- Where are you going? - Gran Canaria.- Good for you.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30- He's retired, you deserve it. - That's it.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32- Thanks for bringing that in. - Thank you.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38And coming up later, Catherine finds an antique pot
0:17:38 > 0:17:42which has performed some interesting functions.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45- I think I've been sick on it.- Oh!
0:17:45 > 0:17:48- In it.- Oh! I don't know if I want to touch it! In it?
0:18:07 > 0:18:10I've come back to Dover today to find out a bit more about
0:18:10 > 0:18:13one of the hardest physical challenges in the world
0:18:13 > 0:18:16and it's something every serious long distance swimmer
0:18:16 > 0:18:18would love to conquer. Can you guess what it is?
0:18:18 > 0:18:21Well, you probably can by my location here today.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24I'm talking about swimming the English Channel.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36The Channel is 21 miles across at its shortest distance and the
0:18:36 > 0:18:41starting point is over in that direction at Shakespeare's Cliff
0:18:41 > 0:18:45and, of course, it finishes over there at Cap Gris Nez, in France.
0:18:45 > 0:18:49The intrepid challengers have to deal with swimming
0:18:49 > 0:18:53in hypothermic-inducing water which is around 14 to 18 degrees Celsius.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57They've also got to swim through one of the busiest shipping lanes
0:18:57 > 0:19:00in the world avoiding all the floating debris.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04And then they've got to battle against tides and currents,
0:19:04 > 0:19:05which change every six hours.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09On top of that, they've got to deal with getting stung by jellyfish,
0:19:09 > 0:19:13getting cramp and also swimming through floating fields of seaweed,
0:19:13 > 0:19:15so you can see it's not for the fainthearted.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17This is a serious challenge.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19People have died doing this.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21Some, well, have conquered.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24Those include sort of seasoned swimmers and, of course,
0:19:24 > 0:19:26just ordinary people giving it a go.
0:19:28 > 0:19:33It all started on 24 August 1875, when Captain Matthew Webb
0:19:33 > 0:19:37dived in from the Admiralty Pier in Dover and swam across the Channel.
0:19:37 > 0:19:4221 hours and 45 minutes later he came ashore near Calais, in France.
0:19:42 > 0:19:47After his historic swim, Webb became a national hero.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50Many people assume that Captain Webb's success was a fluke
0:19:50 > 0:19:54and could not be repeated and though hundreds of people attempted to swim
0:19:54 > 0:20:00and many British newspapers offered sponsorships and a £1,000 reward,
0:20:00 > 0:20:05it took 36 years before the Channel was conquered again.
0:20:05 > 0:20:10This time it was a man called Thomas W Burgess who succeeded in 1911
0:20:10 > 0:20:11on his 13th attempt.
0:20:11 > 0:20:15He was a Yorkshire man who was actually living in Paris at the time
0:20:15 > 0:20:17and he worked in the motor tyre business.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19He was 37 when he swam the channel
0:20:19 > 0:20:23and was famed for wearing motorist's goggles.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27It took him 22 hours and 35 minutes to get across to France.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31After Burgess had successfully followed Webb
0:20:31 > 0:20:34and shown it was indeed possible many more attempts were undertaken.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36New records were made and broken,
0:20:36 > 0:20:40such as the first woman to swim the Channel,
0:20:40 > 0:20:45who was Gertrude Ederle in 1926 and who Burgess helped train.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48In the early 20th century the men and women who completed
0:20:48 > 0:20:52the challenge became instant stars and large crowds gathered
0:20:52 > 0:20:54to greet the returning heroes.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57World War II stopped Channel swimming attempts, but following
0:20:57 > 0:21:01the end of the war the 1950s saw the real heyday of Channel swimming
0:21:01 > 0:21:03with a great surge in its popularity.
0:21:03 > 0:21:08Races were organised and once again British newspapers offered rewards,
0:21:08 > 0:21:11alongside holiday camp magnet, Billy Butlin.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15Many of the successful challengers have had their photograph taken here
0:21:15 > 0:21:19on the seafront at Dover right next to Captain Webb's memorial.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22Sadly, the swimmers today don't make a splash they once did.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26You know, there's not thousands of people lined up along the seafront
0:21:26 > 0:21:29to congratulate them and welcome them home because that really
0:21:29 > 0:21:34is a tough challenge, possibly because more people are succeeding.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36We're a lot more savvy about nutrition, diet
0:21:36 > 0:21:40and putting in the right training regime. But, I'll tell you what,
0:21:40 > 0:21:42having a lot of knowledge doesn't make this any easier.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45It's far from it.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49Today I'm lucky enough to be meeting two people who are experts
0:21:49 > 0:21:50on all things Channel swimming.
0:21:50 > 0:21:54They are Freda Streeter and Michelle Toptalo.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57Freda is known lovingly as the General Of The Channel
0:21:57 > 0:22:00as she helps hopefuls train and prepare for the challenge.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02Michelle is a local to Dover
0:22:02 > 0:22:05who had recently swum the channel for the first time.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08Freda, great to meet up with you today. Hi, Michelle.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11Thank you for joining us as well. What perfect weather.
0:22:11 > 0:22:16- It's beautiful- Yeah, we're blessed. - It really is the perfect day.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19How long do the training sessions last? Are they here weeks on end?
0:22:19 > 0:22:24Weeks on end. We start in May, we finish at the end of September
0:22:24 > 0:22:27and we build them up and build them up until six, seven, eight,
0:22:27 > 0:22:30even 10 hour swims in the harbour here.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32Just to make sure, we give them back-to-back swims
0:22:32 > 0:22:35so that they do sort of seven one day, six another,
0:22:35 > 0:22:38which is possibly the equivalent of the Channel.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41They just had a night's rest in between,
0:22:41 > 0:22:44but mentally then it helps them tremendously.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46What are the rules?
0:22:46 > 0:22:49- One swimming costume, one hat, one pair of goggles.- That's it?
0:22:49 > 0:22:51And you do not touch the boat.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54Michelle, you've actually swum the Channel. What is it about it?
0:22:54 > 0:22:56Why did you want to do that?
0:22:56 > 0:22:58For me, I grew up in Dover.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00- Right.- I've always seen that piece of water.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03I've always been intrigued by the fact
0:23:03 > 0:23:05that you can see the weather in a different country.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09- Yeah.- I've always swum and I think I always knew one day I'd try it.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11It's the lure of the Channel.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15It just seems to get into people's blood and people do come back
0:23:15 > 0:23:17time after time after time.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19What did it feel like when you got to the other side?
0:23:19 > 0:23:23- The best feeling in the world. It's...- Did you kiss the beach?
0:23:23 > 0:23:27Did you sort of crawl up it and go, "I've done it" and pass out?
0:23:27 > 0:23:29Everybody has a different experience. For some,
0:23:29 > 0:23:32it's just sheer relief. For me, I just looked round,
0:23:32 > 0:23:34looked at that boat and just...
0:23:34 > 0:23:36I couldn't believe I'd...
0:23:36 > 0:23:37You know, it had been a long day.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40I mean, I was so lucky, the conditions were perfect,
0:23:40 > 0:23:43my crew were perfect and I just couldn't...
0:23:43 > 0:23:45I just couldn't believe I'd just achieved that.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48What makes a good Channel swimmer?
0:23:48 > 0:23:51I think it is about determination.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53- Yeah.- You know... - It's all up here, do you think?
0:23:53 > 0:23:56I mean, you have... everybody has their battles.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00We've had some really surprising people here... You watch them swim
0:24:00 > 0:24:03and you think they're never going to swim the Channel, you know,
0:24:03 > 0:24:05but their determination... They do.
0:24:05 > 0:24:0890%... I say it's 90% mental and 10% physical out there.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10It is. You negotiate with yourself.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14I remember thinking to myself out there, there's people that believe
0:24:14 > 0:24:17- I can do this.- Yeah.- If you don't do this today than every time
0:24:17 > 0:24:19you didn't go training it was the wrong decision.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22They're the kind of battles you have out there.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24- Is it expensive to do this?- Very.
0:24:24 > 0:24:29Very expensive, yes. It's the pilot boat which costs the money.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31How much does that cost?
0:24:31 > 0:24:33About 2,100.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36- Does it?- Yeah. Because that is the biggest shipping lane in the world.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39Obviously the pilot boat is essential, isn't it?
0:24:39 > 0:24:43Absolutely. The only person that's tried to cross this without
0:24:43 > 0:24:49- a pilot boat was found in Belgium about a fortnight later.- Right.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52There is no way that you can do this swim without a pilot boat.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55This is like a hedgehog trying to cross the M1.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58Did you come across any super tankers crossing your path?
0:24:58 > 0:25:01- Nothing came that close to me. - You were lucky.
0:25:01 > 0:25:05I've been on swims where we've had some very close encounters,
0:25:05 > 0:25:08but for me, I could see ferries and things in the distance.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10Is this something you can recommend?
0:25:10 > 0:25:13- Absolutely.- To all the viewers watching, to have a go?
0:25:13 > 0:25:16The torment you go through in here, and it is torture.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19For me this was more torture than the actual day.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21Entering the water in May is no mean feat
0:25:21 > 0:25:24and I've got so much respect for anybody that gets that far.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27And the boss here makes sure everybody toes the line?
0:25:27 > 0:25:29They'd be foolish to argue with her
0:25:29 > 0:25:32because she knows what she's talking about.
0:25:32 > 0:25:33Tell me about the greasing up?
0:25:33 > 0:25:38- The greasing up I think is probably over advertised.- Really?
0:25:38 > 0:25:40LAUGHTER
0:25:40 > 0:25:44For me it was just in the areas that my swimming costume would chafe.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47- Yeah.- This idea that you need to cover your body is...
0:25:47 > 0:25:50- I think it's a myth. - So, what do you eat? Can you eat?
0:25:50 > 0:25:54What we use is a very, very high carbohydrate powder
0:25:54 > 0:25:56mixed into a drink that they can
0:25:56 > 0:25:58literally swallow in three, four seconds,
0:25:58 > 0:26:03that's the equivalent of two jacket potatoes, big jacket potatoes,
0:26:03 > 0:26:07and it just goes straight through, gives them energy and we're off.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11- And that's it?- That's it. Well, they do have the occasional treat
0:26:11 > 0:26:15- if they get grumpy...- Do you? - A mini roll or something like that.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19Once you've been in a while you can't really taste anything anyway.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22- No.- Just salt!- You know, your tongue goes, goes salty.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24Right, now it's time for me to give it a go.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28So, here we go... But, do you know what? I could never do that.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31I wouldn't even make it to the harbour walls, but fair play
0:26:31 > 0:26:34to all the people that have done it, they're champions,
0:26:34 > 0:26:38and to all the people that have tried and attempted it but failed,
0:26:38 > 0:26:41they're still winners, as well. It's all about trying.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43What a brilliant day.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56Welcome back to a busy valuation day here at the Town Hall in Dover.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58It's still jam-packed full of people all hoping
0:26:58 > 0:27:02to go off to the auction room. It's now down to our experts
0:27:02 > 0:27:05to find those remaining items, so let's catch up with them.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14Yvonne, what a charming little figure you've brought in.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17- Thank you.- Tell me, where did you get it?
0:27:17 > 0:27:19It belonged to my mother-in-law.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22She passed away some 22 years ago.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25My father-in-law wasn't very keen on it and he asked us
0:27:25 > 0:27:29if we would like it and to take it away, so we did and we've had it
0:27:29 > 0:27:31for a number of years, but now it's... You know,
0:27:31 > 0:27:36we've moved into a little tiny small bungalow and it's beautiful and
0:27:36 > 0:27:40- I've just got nowhere to put her. - Nowhere to put her?- No.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42You know what it is, of course? It's a Meissen figure.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45- Yes. From the latter part of the 19th century.- Oh, right.
0:27:45 > 0:27:49It's very reminiscent of the sort of 18th century Meissen figures.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53You've got this sleeping beauty, here, who's taken her shoes off
0:27:53 > 0:27:57- and decided to have a little nap. - Right.- But if you look closely
0:27:57 > 0:28:02she's wearing this really nice floral dress and then just tucked in
0:28:02 > 0:28:05to the dress, here, there's a little letter which looks like it's got
0:28:05 > 0:28:09a little red seal mark on it, so it's a little love letter.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12- Ah!- And what we don't know, of course, is whether
0:28:12 > 0:28:17she's tucked it in there and then fallen asleep contented that
0:28:17 > 0:28:20her beau is in love with her, or of course he's tucked it in there when
0:28:20 > 0:28:24she's fallen asleep and then left her to wake up and find the letter.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26So it's a little bit of a mystery.
0:28:26 > 0:28:30It's a little bit of a mystery, but Victorians liked that,
0:28:30 > 0:28:32these little sort of sentimental touches.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35She's obviously quite an elegant lady, but then she's got
0:28:35 > 0:28:37this rustic furniture around her.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40- Yes.- They liked that sort of rustic style, as well.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43Looking underneath, we've got the crossed swords mark of Meissen.
0:28:43 > 0:28:48We've got some numbers as well which refer to shape and pattern numbers,
0:28:48 > 0:28:51- Very nice. We do have a small chip there, see?- Yes, I noticed.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53Which unfortunately affects the value a little bit.
0:28:53 > 0:28:58- There's the odd chip here and there, always the case with Meissen.- Right.
0:28:58 > 0:29:02But I think because it's such a nice sentimental subject,
0:29:02 > 0:29:06and if you look at the detail, which I think it is worth pointing out,
0:29:06 > 0:29:10of the little bow in her hair here. The little earring she's wearing.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13The modelling of her ears, the modelling of her face.
0:29:13 > 0:29:14Yes, it's beautiful.
0:29:14 > 0:29:17The modelling of her little pearl and lace necklace, there.
0:29:17 > 0:29:21- I mean, everything screams quality about it.- Yes.- But in a very sort
0:29:21 > 0:29:24of "sugar sweet" sort of way, I suppose, which is not
0:29:24 > 0:29:29- terribly fashionable these days.- No. - Now we want big, bold statement,
0:29:29 > 0:29:32- decorative pieces, not these sort of...- Delicate.- Rather feminine...
0:29:32 > 0:29:37Feminine, delicate porcelain objects. Of course, it does have a value.
0:29:37 > 0:29:41- Right.- You've had it for a long time. Have you thought of the value?
0:29:41 > 0:29:45No. We have absolutely no idea. It's only since your programmes
0:29:45 > 0:29:47have been on, etcetera, that we suddenly thought
0:29:47 > 0:29:52- well, perhaps it has got some value. - Yes, well, I think it does.
0:29:52 > 0:29:54I still think there will be Meissen collectors,
0:29:54 > 0:29:57even though there's a slight bit of damage, I would have thought
0:29:57 > 0:30:01maybe 200 to 300, with 150 reserve. Would you be happy with that?
0:30:01 > 0:30:04- Yes, yes. I think 200 to 300 would be lovely.- And who knows?
0:30:04 > 0:30:08Some other person might fall in love with it at the auction.
0:30:08 > 0:30:10They could well do, couldn't they?
0:30:10 > 0:30:13And what would you do if we got a good price for you?
0:30:13 > 0:30:16Well, we'd like to go back to Italy.
0:30:16 > 0:30:18We holiday in Italy quite a lot.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21- Well, it's a good cause.- Yes.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24Well, I can't wait until the auction and you'll fly up from Dover...
0:30:24 > 0:30:26- Absolutely.- To Canterbury.
0:30:37 > 0:30:41Lorraine, I am so excited about this Minton jardiniere.
0:30:41 > 0:30:44- Where did you get it from? - It was my great-grandmother's.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47Right, OK. And where did your grandmother...
0:30:47 > 0:30:49- Great-grandmother get it from? - I don't know.
0:30:49 > 0:30:53- It's been in your family the whole time, been passed through?- Yes.
0:30:53 > 0:30:57I'm so excited because I do collect Minton Viennese Secessionist Ware
0:30:57 > 0:30:59and this is just so beautiful.
0:30:59 > 0:31:05I mean, I pounced on you in the queue because I saw it and I just thought
0:31:05 > 0:31:08those colours are absolutely fabulous. They're so vibrant.
0:31:08 > 0:31:12- Yeah.- And it's got this wonderful tube lining,
0:31:12 > 0:31:17this very typical pattern that you find in the Minton Secessionist Ware.
0:31:17 > 0:31:22Do you know anything about Minton Secessionist?
0:31:22 > 0:31:26- No.- Well, the designers were John Wadsworth and Leon Solon.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29They started really towards the late 19th century and it was
0:31:29 > 0:31:34all finished pretty much by 1905. They worked in partnership together,
0:31:34 > 0:31:38Taking their inspiration from Viennese Secessionist Ware,
0:31:38 > 0:31:44Art Nouveau, so you can see lots of sort of influences from nature
0:31:44 > 0:31:49and we see these quite sort of stylised flowers and plants.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52It's quite a simple design, but it's just so very beautiful.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55Are you not... You don't seem very... I'm so excited about it
0:31:55 > 0:31:58because it's the best thing that I've seen all day.
0:31:58 > 0:32:03I do like it, but my partner doesn't like it, so he won't want it...
0:32:03 > 0:32:04What doesn't he like about it?
0:32:04 > 0:32:07He likes modern things, so he won't let us have it
0:32:07 > 0:32:11- in our new conservatory. - It is still very modern, I think.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14- Especially the colours. - He has come round about the colour.
0:32:14 > 0:32:18- But, no, I'd rather...- You want to get rid of it.- Give my mum the money.
0:32:18 > 0:32:22So, have you had this in your home for some time?
0:32:22 > 0:32:24I've had it about six months in my home.
0:32:24 > 0:32:28Before that my mum had it in her home as long as I can remember.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31Right, OK. Pride of place I hope?
0:32:31 > 0:32:34No. My grandmother had a Christmas tree in it,
0:32:34 > 0:32:37my mother's had newspapers and sweet wrappers
0:32:37 > 0:32:43- and I think she had an aspidistra in it at one time.- That's dreadful!
0:32:43 > 0:32:46Then she put it in the bedroom and it got forgotten about,
0:32:46 > 0:32:50and then she gave to me about six months ago rather than use it
0:32:50 > 0:32:54as a rubbish bin and I think I've been sick on it. In it.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57I don't know if I want to touch it. In it! Oh, God!
0:32:57 > 0:33:00Once upon a time it would have been... I mean, it's a jardiniere,
0:33:00 > 0:33:02- so it probably would have had a stand.- Yeah.
0:33:02 > 0:33:06Does anyone in your family have any recollection of the stand at all?
0:33:06 > 0:33:08No, no.
0:33:08 > 0:33:13As a piece this is really, I think, quite special.
0:33:13 > 0:33:17Do you have any idea of how much it's worth at auction?
0:33:17 > 0:33:23Well, I only thought around 50, 80 quid.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25I'll give you 50 quid!
0:33:25 > 0:33:28I'll take it from you straightaway.
0:33:28 > 0:33:31I think that it's worth around £300 to £500.
0:33:31 > 0:33:33- Wow!- With a 250 reserve, is that OK?
0:33:33 > 0:33:35- Yeah.- You're smiling.- Yeah, lovely.
0:33:35 > 0:33:38- Hopefully, smiling all the way to the bank.- Yeah, thank you.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46- Hello, Nina.- Hello. Very nice to meet you.- And you, as well.
0:33:46 > 0:33:49Now, you've brought a really, really interesting piece along.
0:33:49 > 0:33:53Tell me, how has it remained in this condition?
0:33:53 > 0:33:56Because it's just been away in a drawer somewhere
0:33:56 > 0:33:59for all its life, I should imagine.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02- And do you know how it came into your possession?- I've no idea.
0:34:02 > 0:34:07I probably first saw it when I was a teenager, about 60 years ago,
0:34:07 > 0:34:11and I'm sure my mother took it out and showed it to me and then it got
0:34:11 > 0:34:14put back and put away and whenever we did a spring clean it came out
0:34:14 > 0:34:17again and we had a look at it and that's what's happened to.
0:34:17 > 0:34:21- I think it's in pretty good condition actually for its age.- Yes, yes.
0:34:21 > 0:34:23What we've actually got here is a little...
0:34:23 > 0:34:29What looks like a little book, but it isn't, it's a sort of diorama,
0:34:29 > 0:34:30and it's called
0:34:30 > 0:34:35Lane's Telescopic View Of The Ceremony Of Her Majesty's
0:34:35 > 0:34:37Opening The Great Exhibition,
0:34:37 > 0:34:44- of course, in Crystal Palace in 1851.- Absolutely.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47- And it's by the printers down here, Lane & Stanhope.- Yes.
0:34:47 > 0:34:50Stanhope actually went on to develop those little miniature things
0:34:50 > 0:34:54you brought from Brighton Rock and things like that were you could
0:34:54 > 0:34:56- look in and see the piers.- Ah.
0:34:56 > 0:34:59But what I found charming about this is it's such a simple little
0:34:59 > 0:35:04piece of equipment and it's been around for 158 years.
0:35:04 > 0:35:08And you open it up like this and it's so simple to modern standards
0:35:08 > 0:35:11when we look at the internet and the games we play,
0:35:11 > 0:35:14and you just take a little look through the hole there
0:35:14 > 0:35:18and you can see right the way and you have a whole sort of panoramic view
0:35:18 > 0:35:21of the Crystal Palace exhibition.
0:35:21 > 0:35:27- Absolutely.- Imagine as a child in 1851 that being brought home
0:35:27 > 0:35:30- and the wonder of it, it must have been fantastic.- Absolutely.
0:35:30 > 0:35:34If you couldn't go yourself you could have a little look through there.
0:35:34 > 0:35:37Because you can't appreciate the pretty colours inside
0:35:37 > 0:35:40from the front of it, which has faded.
0:35:40 > 0:35:43And when you look inside all those colours have been protected,
0:35:43 > 0:35:44- so they're much brighter.- Yes.
0:35:44 > 0:35:47- It's been in a cupboard for many years.- Yes.
0:35:47 > 0:35:51And I think it's time to let somebody else appreciate it and enjoy it,
0:35:51 > 0:35:53- isn't it?- Yes, yes.
0:35:53 > 0:35:55Value, any ideas?
0:35:55 > 0:35:58- £500.- Think again.
0:35:58 > 0:36:00I'm going up then, £700!
0:36:00 > 0:36:04- Well, I'm going down.- I know! - I think if we're sensible about it
0:36:04 > 0:36:06- We should maybe think around £200 to £300.- Yes.
0:36:06 > 0:36:10With a 200 reserve, because we must protect it with a reserve.
0:36:10 > 0:36:14- Absolutely.- Well, Nina, I really hope we get a lot of money for it
0:36:14 > 0:36:16because it's one of my favourite items I've seen today.
0:36:16 > 0:36:18I think it's a really exciting piece.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21If we do, what would you put the money towards?
0:36:21 > 0:36:25I'd use it to go on my travels.
0:36:25 > 0:36:28I've seen quite a lot of the world, but I haven't been
0:36:28 > 0:36:30to Australia and New Zealand yet.
0:36:30 > 0:36:34- Well, I hope we get you part of the way.- Thank you very much indeed.
0:36:34 > 0:36:37It's now time for our final trip to the auction
0:36:37 > 0:36:41where we'll find out if Yvonne will be making it to Italy
0:36:41 > 0:36:45on the proceeds of her Meissen sleeping beauty figure.
0:36:45 > 0:36:46Although Catherine was crazy about
0:36:46 > 0:36:50the Minton Secessionist Ware jardiniere, there was no love lost
0:36:50 > 0:36:51for owner Lorraine or her family,
0:36:51 > 0:36:54although it had been put to good use over the years.
0:36:54 > 0:36:58My grandmother had a Christmas tree in it, my mother's had newspapers
0:36:58 > 0:37:02and sweet wrappers and then she gave it to me about six months ago.
0:37:02 > 0:37:07And, finally, Nina's stunning diorama of the Grand Exhibition
0:37:07 > 0:37:09is now in the spotlight.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12I think this is absolutely remarkable,
0:37:12 > 0:37:16but before we see it sell, I caught up with auctioneer Cliona Kilroy
0:37:16 > 0:37:18to see if she shares my enthusiasm.
0:37:18 > 0:37:21- This is a bit different, you don't see many of these.- No.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24- And the condition is very good considering it's 1851.- Yeah.
0:37:24 > 0:37:28- Crystal Palace. A lovely diorama. - Yeah.- It belongs to Nina.
0:37:28 > 0:37:31I think it's just an amazing piece of history
0:37:31 > 0:37:34and a small token from the Great Exhibition.
0:37:34 > 0:37:36It's only made of paper and fabric.
0:37:36 > 0:37:39The intention to preserve it probably wasn't there,
0:37:39 > 0:37:42but it has remained intact incredibly well
0:37:42 > 0:37:45- and the colours are amazing when you look through it.- Yes.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48It must have been so exciting to have something like that
0:37:48 > 0:37:51in the Victorian period, especially for a young child, it's great.
0:37:51 > 0:37:54Just to look through the hole and go, wow, look at that.
0:37:54 > 0:37:56It brings it all to life.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59If you couldn't go there, that was as good as back then.
0:37:59 > 0:38:01You got this wonderful three dimensional diorama
0:38:01 > 0:38:02showing it all off.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05I just think it's a great little thing, a souvenir from it.
0:38:05 > 0:38:09We've put £200 to £300 on this. Do you think it could get any more?
0:38:09 > 0:38:12I think it's really interesting and the fact that it has...
0:38:12 > 0:38:14The condition is very much in its favour.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17The front and back is a little scuffed, but generally it's in
0:38:17 > 0:38:20really good order, so I think so, yeah. I would hope so.
0:38:20 > 0:38:23We have seen other Victorian dioramas on the show,
0:38:23 > 0:38:26slightly more squat, but slightly longer in perspective
0:38:26 > 0:38:30and they've reached a little more than that, so I'm hoping
0:38:30 > 0:38:32- good things for this one.- Good.
0:38:32 > 0:38:36Before we see if Nina's diorama is a hit with the bidders,
0:38:36 > 0:38:39it's time to find out how Lorraine's Minton jardiniere fares.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44Good luck, it's just about to go under the hammer.
0:38:44 > 0:38:46I'm talking about Lorraine's sick bowl!
0:38:46 > 0:38:50She said it! We're talking about that wonderful Minton.
0:38:50 > 0:38:52Hello, mum, by the way. What's your name?
0:38:52 > 0:38:56- Margaret.- This is yours really, isn't it?- Yes.- Fingers crossed.
0:38:56 > 0:38:59- What do you think, Catherine? - £300 to £500. I think it should
0:38:59 > 0:39:02- do quite well, actually. - Well, let's see what this packed
0:39:02 > 0:39:05auction room thinks. It's going under the hammer now.
0:39:05 > 0:39:06Lot number 35 is the early
0:39:06 > 0:39:1120th century Minton Secessionist pottery jardiniere, lot 35.
0:39:11 > 0:39:13Who'll start me at £200? Lot 35.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16£200 I'm looking for. Any interest at £200?
0:39:16 > 0:39:18Come on, come on, come on!
0:39:18 > 0:39:19Any interest at 200?
0:39:19 > 0:39:22Thank you. 200 I'm bid. 210? 210.
0:39:22 > 0:39:24220. 230.
0:39:24 > 0:39:26240.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29- It's a bit slow.- 250.
0:39:29 > 0:39:31260. 270.
0:39:31 > 0:39:34- Yeah.- Yeah, we sold it.
0:39:34 > 0:39:35280. 290.
0:39:35 > 0:39:41300. 320.
0:39:41 > 0:39:44340. 360.
0:39:44 > 0:39:48380. 400. 420.
0:39:48 > 0:39:51- That's good.- 440.
0:39:51 > 0:39:52460?
0:39:52 > 0:39:55Anybody at 460?
0:39:55 > 0:39:57It's at £440 on the telephone now.
0:39:57 > 0:40:01Any further offer? If not, I'm selling at £440 if we're all done.
0:40:01 > 0:40:04Yes! Well done. Thank you so much
0:40:04 > 0:40:07for putting a smile on our faces, that was a funny story.
0:40:07 > 0:40:09I really loved that story, fantastic.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12Well, thank you very much. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
0:40:16 > 0:40:20I've been joined by Nina today and Mark, our expert.
0:40:20 > 0:40:25This is absolutely stunning, the little diorama of Crystal Palace,
0:40:25 > 0:40:29- the Great Exhibition. Yeah. - In great condition.- This is it.
0:40:29 > 0:40:34308 is the Lane's Telescopic View Of The Ceremony Of Her Majesty
0:40:34 > 0:40:38Opening The Great Exhibition in 1851. Unusual item. Lot 308.
0:40:38 > 0:40:43Who'll start me at £100? £100? Any interest at £100?
0:40:43 > 0:40:46100 I'm bid. Who's in at 110? 110.
0:40:46 > 0:40:48- 120?- Yes.- 130.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51- 140.- Yeah.- 150. 160.- Yeah.
0:40:51 > 0:40:53170.
0:40:53 > 0:40:54180?
0:40:54 > 0:40:57- No.- Anybody at 180? 180. 190?
0:40:58 > 0:41:01190? Anybody at 190?
0:41:01 > 0:41:04190. 200? 200 anywhere?
0:41:04 > 0:41:07The bid is at £190, then. Pass at 190.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09Oh, Nina. We just missed it by...
0:41:09 > 0:41:12- One bid.- Yeah. One bid.
0:41:12 > 0:41:16- Never mind.- Sorry about that. - It lives to sell another day.
0:41:16 > 0:41:19- Absolutely.- Will you do that?- Yes. - Another auction room, another day.
0:41:19 > 0:41:21Absolutely.
0:41:21 > 0:41:24So close! That was very disappointing.
0:41:24 > 0:41:26But can we do any better with the Meissen figure?
0:41:26 > 0:41:29Right now Meissen figure is just about to go under the hammer,
0:41:29 > 0:41:32could it be our little sleeper? I'm joined by Yvonne
0:41:32 > 0:41:36and we've got £200 to £300 on this and it is the sleeping beauty?
0:41:36 > 0:41:39- It is, it certainly is. - This figure is so evocative.
0:41:39 > 0:41:41You've got the young lady sleeping,
0:41:41 > 0:41:44- the little letter tucked into her cleavage.- I know.
0:41:44 > 0:41:47Now, is that a letter from a lover or is it just a shopping list?
0:41:47 > 0:41:50We don't know, but it's in a safe place!
0:41:50 > 0:41:52Anyway, let's see what the bidders think,
0:41:52 > 0:41:55it's just about to go under the hammer. Here we go.
0:41:55 > 0:41:58Lot number four is the Meissen porcelain figure
0:41:58 > 0:42:01of the young woman in 18th century dress, lot number four.
0:42:01 > 0:42:04We have four bids and we're starting at £400.
0:42:04 > 0:42:06- Starting at 400!- 420? Any interest at 420?
0:42:06 > 0:42:11The bid is on my left at £400 now and I'm looking for 420.
0:42:11 > 0:42:13420. 440. 460.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16480. 500. And 20. 540.
0:42:16 > 0:42:19540 with anybody?
0:42:19 > 0:42:23540. 560. 580.
0:42:23 > 0:42:26- 580, sir? 600? Anybody at 600?- Yes.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29600. And 20. 640.
0:42:29 > 0:42:35660. 680. On the 'net, no? The bid is with Chris at £660.
0:42:35 > 0:42:39- That's very good.- Please!- £660.
0:42:39 > 0:42:42- Hammer's gone down, Yvonne. - Wonderful!- £660.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45- Thank you so much, Mark. - We're happy with that?
0:42:45 > 0:42:48- Very happy.- The buyers were definitely here today.
0:42:48 > 0:42:52- Absolutely. Thank you very, very much.- Enjoy that holiday, won't you?
0:42:52 > 0:42:54Oh, absolutely. Lake Garda here I come!
0:43:02 > 0:43:05It's all over and what a fantastic day we've had here in Kent.
0:43:05 > 0:43:08All credit to our experts, they were on the money today
0:43:08 > 0:43:11and it's not easy because it's not an exact science.
0:43:11 > 0:43:13I hope you've enjoyed watching the programme.
0:43:13 > 0:43:15We enjoyed being here.
0:43:15 > 0:43:17So, until the next time, it's cheerio.
0:43:29 > 0:43:32Subtitling by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:43:32 > 0:43:36E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk