Dunstable Flog It!

I love animals and today I couldn't be happier.

I'm in one of Europe's largest wildlife conservation parks.

Welcome to Flog It! from Whipsnade Zoo

Coming over. Oh, good catch.

Situated just outside Dunstable in Bedfordshire

this 78-year-old zoo attracts around half a million visitors each year

and it's run by the Zoological Society of London with military precision.

And talking of the military, later on in the show I'll be taking a look at Halton House officers' mess,

first built by Alfred de Rothschild as a country residence.

But it's been home to the Royal Air Force since 1919.

What a fabulous crowd we've got here today.

The sun is shining, everybody is in a fantastic mood

and boasting their animal magnetism today

are our two experts, Michael Baggott and Thomas Plant here,

already working the queue looking at every single item

and the lucky owners will be whisked off to auction later on in the show.

Well, it's now 9:30. I think it's time to get the gates open.

Do you want to hear the roar of the crowd? Everyone ready to go in?

CROWD: Yes!

Well, the clock's ticking, so as the crowds rush in to the Discovery Centre here at Whipsnade

it looks like Michael has uncovered a little gem.

Sam, there are some things we usually expect to see on Flog It!

like the odd bit of Carlton Ware or Clarice Cliff,

but I was completely unprepared for this magnificent clock,

which I've got to be very careful of because it is incredibly fragile,

this carved wooden frame, so we've laid it down on the table.

Can you tell me, where did it come from?

Well, I work for a local hospice, the Hospice of St Francis,

and this was donated by the wife of one of our patients

who sadly passed away a few years ago to try to raise funds for the hospice.

Well, what a magnificent donation and it's a cartel clock,

which simply means it is meant to go up against the wall.

We've got a signature here of Jacob Koch of Stockholm

and he was quite a famous Swedish clockmaker

and it's not work that you see very much over here.

These pieces tend to stay and be sold in Sweden and Scandinavia.

He was born in the 1730s,

but was working from 1762 right up to 1803,

two years before he died

and he was of such high quality

that he actually produced items for King Gustav III of Sweden.

Really the mechanism is a fairly standard 18th century mechanism.

The worth with all of these things is in the carved gilt wood surround.

The style of this is very much early neo-classical

so I think in terms of date it is 1765 up to about 1780,

so the early part of his career.

-There have been a few breaks.

-Yeah.

Leaves have gone and sadly, of course, as these always were,

it's been re-gilded and not tremendously sympathetically.

It's a little bit garish and it's been a little bit retouched here.

So it's a question now of value.

Have you had any idea or been suggested a figure?

Not really. You know it struck us as being something...

-Something special.

-Something special.

-It's a big clock, isn't it?

But no we, we...

I think certainly

£1,500 to £2,500 is a fair estimate.

And I think if we set the reserve with a little bit of discretion,

say at £1,400 fixed.

I think that gives the auctioneer some room for manoeuvre.

Well, let's hope it chimes to perfection at the sale.

-Thank you so much for bringing it in.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

So, Tony,

-you've come along with a collection of postcards.

-Absolutely.

So who do they belong to?

-Originally they belonged to one of my great uncles.

-Yeah?

He sent them to his family when he was travelling while he was in the army mostly.

He was the chap there with the...

-The one with the fag.

-Cigarette hanging out of his mouth, yes.

-So there he is and he was a sergeant there.

-Yeah.

-So what rank did he get to, do you know?

-I don't know, to be honest.

Well, obviously he travelled around the world with the British army to the empire and beyond

visiting different places, and I found this card here and it's sort of a boys' band

and there's a naughty boy up there in the window

and actually this is quite good because we've got a date there, we've got ten, that must be for 1910.

It's interesting, all those boys there, it's 1910,

some of them have either got toy rifles

or they're sitting there with real rifles.

But 1910 and four years later some of those boys would be sent to the front.

-Absolutely.

-So, you know, it's quite sobering in that way.

You've got sort of... There are some First World War cards here as well

and sweetheart cards and the like.

There's lots to go through...

-Yes.

-But I love postcards, I love the social history about them, I love why they were sent.

Obviously it's very personal to you.

What's the idea of selling it?

Well, my sons have no interest in the cards,

they've been passed down to me from my father

and I'd rather someone else had them to appreciate the cards

rather than see them go to waste.

And they do command a price certainly.

I mean we're not talking megabucks a card.

You know, some cards are worth £1, some are worth only 50 pence,

but some are worth £10 and some worth more than that.

In a general rule of thumb, you need to sort of keep the figures low

for collectors then to be interested in buying it.

If I put an estimate of £40 to £60 on it,

-I would imagine it to go a lot better than that.

-Yes.

But I believe a fixed reserve of 40 would be the best way forward.

-OK, that's fine.

-Look forward to seeing you.

-OK. Thank you.

Derek, I'm a big Beatles fan and Rolling Stones.

You're either one or the other, but I was both.

Could never make my mind up,

-but John Lennon has got to be one of my all-time heroes.

-Yeah.

How did you come by this little book?

It was left to me

by my grandmother who passed away

when I was in my early teens,

it was left to me and I've had it ever since.

-How did your grandmother get hold of it?

-She worked at Jonathan Cape, the publishers.

-OK.

-That's where she met him and got his autograph.

-I don't doubt the signature at all.

It's so hard...

-Yes.

-..because there are so many fakes, to tell whether or not it's genuine.

I've seen enough in my time to go, "I'm pretty sure,"

-but obviously the auctioneer will want to do a little more research.

-Obviously, yeah.

It's the first publication so...

-Yeah.

-That's going to carry a little bit of weight to the value as well.

-Oh, good.

But it is quite interesting to read it isn't it?

-Yes.

-It's almost madness in a way. It's goobledegook.

Well, it is. It's hard to make sense of.

-And he drew all the illustrations as well.

-Yeah.

-The wrestling dog, look at this.

Incredible.

And all credit to you because at the age of 13

I would have got my felt-tip pen out.

-I'm not joking, I would have coloured them all in.

-Yeah.

-Very neatly, mind you.

-Yeah, well...

-And accurately.

-Of course.

But I would have devalued this.

With the signature, though, that's what made me sort of a bit more keen to look after it.

Yes, exactly. Yeah.

Any idea of the value?

Have you done any research?

Slightly.

Around the £1,000 mark.

It depends as well if he's signed to somebody...

-Exactly.

-That can devalue the signature.

-That devalues them.

Because it's not personalised, it's worth a little bit more money.

-Right.

-Also, funnily enough, signatures in pencil last longer.

-Oh, do they?

-Because pencil lead won't fade so much, whereas the ink will gradually fade over time.

Oh, right.

I would like to get this into auction with a value of around about £800 to £1,200.

-That's where I feel it's going to find its own level.

-Yeah.

-So we could be looking, hopefully, in the middle at £1,000.

-Yeah.

Which is what you want, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Could I get that reserve a little lower?

Um, I'd really like to...

-You want £1,000.

-I'd like £1,000, please, yeah.

Do you mind if we set the reserve at 1,000?

No, no, I don't mind.

OK, all right, then, I'll go with you on this one.

-Right, OK.

-Let's call the valuation £1,000 to £1,200.

-OK, lovely.

-I think it will just get away.

-Yeah.

Only just.

-It's right on the borderline.

-Yeah.

It's great.

I just need a couple of hours to sit down and read this.

Barbara and John, thank you for bringing in almost a Flog It! staple,

the wonderful gold watch and chain.

I was a little disheartened not to see you sort of sporting it, John.

Well, apparently it's very popular.

-It's coming back and you...

-Weddings and things.

-Weddings.

-Yes.

-It's very difficult to find one for a wedding nowadays.

-Yes.

-So why, if it's coming back into fashion, haven't you decided

either to wear it or convert it into a necklace for Barbara?

Well, it is Barbara's, actually.

Well, it is actually through my family, as it has come down

and we've got three daughters and so who do you pass it on to?

-It's the eternal question, isn't it?

-That's right.

How do you split up a watch and chain between three daughters?

-Yes.

-Exactly.

-Well, it is a very masculine object.

If we just look at the watch, it's obviously what we call a half-hunter.

-Yes.

-Because we've got this aperture in the outer case

that allows you to look broadly at the hour.

-Right.

-Basically it's a hangover from when these were used for hunting

-and they could be pulled out without any fiddling to see the time.

-Really?

-Hence the name, yeah.

-Half-hunter.

-Right.

-Half-hunter. Wow.

And the full overcase protects the cover.

-But really by this stage nobody was hunting with them...

-No.

It was just a more fashionable way...

-Yes.

-The blue enamel numerals on the case is a nice feature as well,

-as they often tend to be black Roman numerals.

-Oh, really?

And if we open it up,

again you've got the Arabic numerals running round.

Sadly, it doesn't have any features, it's not a repeater or a stopwatch,

but it's a good, honest nine-carat gold half-hunter,

hallmarked in London in 1925,

-although it's almost certainly a Swiss movement.

-Right.

-Bizarrely the value is more in the chain now than the watch these days.

-Really?

-Oh.

-Because the price of gold has kept on rising for such a long time.

So there's more weight on the chain.

There's more weight. And as I say, you could, if they're long enough,

have them converted into either a double bracelet or a necklace.

-It's sad...

-It's a bit sad.

-..to break it up from the original.

I couldn't agree with you more.

Any idea now of what the value might be?

Well, I think we had it valued some time ago and it was sort of...

-For insurance purposes.

-..round about a hundred-ish.

-150, hundred, something like that. Long time ago.

I wouldn't go back there again unless it was a very long time ago.

Insurance values can be wildly off, but yours is wildly low, so that's the good news.

Oh, that sounds good.

I think we should proceed and put these into auction at about £350 reserve

-and put a £400 to £600 estimate on them.

-Gosh, really?

That little bit of discretion between the reserve and the lowest just will account for the gold price.

-Yes.

-If it just fluctuates a little.

-That's amazing, isn't it? It's just...

-They're very sought-after.

-If you're happy for us to do that, we'll...

-Sounds lovely.

-..pop it into the auction.

-Wonderful.

-Thank you very much indeed.

-It's a pleasure.

-Yes, thanks a lot.

Well, we're certainly having a roaring time here

and we've now found our first batch of antiques to take off to auction.

So while we make our way over there, here's a quick gander at what's coming with us.

Time to sell this Swedish clock, a donation to a local hospice

that will hopefully assist in much-needed fund-raising.

You know, it struck as being something...

-Something special.

-Something special.

-It's a big clock, isn't it?

Can the collection of postcards from around the world that once belonged

to Tony's uncle get the stamp of approval from the saleroom?

Acquired at the age of 13, Derek wants to sell his John Lennon book.

-I would have coloured them all in.

-Yeah.

-Very neatly, mind you.

-Yeah, well...

-And accurately.

-Of course.

And can this golf half-hunter watch and chain wind up the saleroom and go for a sparkling price?

That's all our items and now it's time to put those valuations to the test

and this is where we're doing it.

We've travelled south to Tring Market Auctions.

Let's go inside and catch up with the action.

Time is ticking away, but before the Swedish clock goes under the hammer,

I want to see what auctioneer Stephen Hearn makes of it.

I think this has got the look, I wouldn't mind that on my wall.

You're a man of taste, aren't you, Paul?

But I'm not keen on sort of gilding the lily

and I know this is a bit over the top, but it's fun as well.

-It's Continental, it's Swedish, as you know...

-Yeah, it's typical cartel.

Yeah. Late 18th century. Michael, our expert, has put £1,500 to £2,500.

The clock itself is a fine example of Jacob Koch.

There were one or two repairs amongst it, but one comes to expect that of a clock of this age.

Yeah, definitely on the swags, it's quite delicate, lots of undercuts.

But the face hasn't been interfered with either.

-Fantastic.

-Original clock.

-I do hope it will sell.

-Oh, this has got to sell, not "do hope".

-I do hope...

-It's got to sell.

-The decorators and the trade I think will love this.

-Yes.

I know English clocks sell really, really well, but this is a bit different.

It is different and that's why it might sell.

I will only say might.

Well, we're just going to have to wait and find out, that's all I can say.

Time will soon be up and you'll be on the rostrum and you'll be knocking this out.

Maybe to you.

No, we're not allowed to buy, unfortunately.

Well, we'll see how we get on selling the clock in a little while,

but first up it's the John Lennon book.

It belongs to Derek here and just imagine that top end.

£1,200, that's what we're looking for.

-I have been slightly worried because it is a general sale.

-Yes.

-And really we need, you know, we need a music memorabilia sale or at least 20th century modern.

-Yes.

-There is a bit more Beatles memorabilia around the place so fingers crossed.

-Yeah.

-Fingers crossed the Beatles fans will find this today.

-I'm nervous, really.

-Are you?

-Yeah, I'm wondering if it'll go or not, to be honest.

Fingers crossed.

Let's not end up being jealous guys, shall we? Let's get on with it, here we go.

Signed by John Lennon as well, there it is. Shall we start at 500?

Thank you very much. 500 we're bid, then, 520 we have now.

550, 580, 600. Let's move on.

650, 700, and 750,

800, 850, 900 bid. At 900 I am bid, £900.

Madam, 950, thank you.

At £950, at £950, £1,000.

We've got it, then, thank you. £1,000 is bid for it now.

At 1,000, 1,050, are you going to be the level?

1,050, you'll never get another chance. 1,100, that's the way.

At £1,100, then.

OK, I shall sell it, then.

Yes! That hammer went down so quickly.

Well done to the auctioneer, he's a good man. £1,100.

-Yeah. Not bad.

-Not bad was it?

-Not bad.

-Happy?

-Yes.

-I am.

I'm certainly very, very happy.

What are you going to put the money towards?

Some of it's going to go towards helping with the cost of my son's driving lessons.

The rest I don't know yet. I haven't made plans for it.

-Enjoy it, won't you?

-Thank you very much.

Quality and that always sells and what a name as well, John Lennon.

Right, I expect you've all been waiting for this one, haven't you? The Swedish clock.

It looks fabulous and we've got a cracking price on it, £1,500 to £2,500.

-I've been joined by Samantha and who have you brought with you?

-This is Claire de Silva.

-Hi, Claire.

-Hi there.

-Do you work for the same charity as well?

-Yes, we do.

So tell me a bit more about the charity, because I know you need to raise £3.3 million,

-which is a lot of money.

-It is. The hospice is based in Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire and we...

-What's it called?

-The Hospice of St Francis and we look after terminally ill adults so we are, um,

caring for people from across Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire

and we've only got 14 beds at the moment

and we really need to increase the amount of care that we can give our patients across that area.

-And how long have you both been working for the charity?

-I've been working for two years.

-Two years.

-And about a year.

Right, OK, well, look, good luck. Let's hope we can hit that top end that Michael put on, £2,500.

Well, I've done a bit more research.

Late 18th century, top Swedish maker.

-Jacob Koch is sought-after in the salerooms both here and in the States...

-Good.

And an almost identical one went in America with the same amount of distress for 2,200.

-Well, that's good.

-So we're in the right ballpark, so fingers crossed.

-Let's do it proud. It's going under the hammer. Good luck.

By Jacob Koch, 1737. What about that one?

Shall we start at £1,000, then?

£1,000 I'm bid for it, at a 1,050, is it?

1,050, £1,100 is bid for it.

1,150. £1,200. And 50.

At 1,250 and 13 is it? At £1,300.

At £1,300 and 50. £1,300. A 50 anywhere?

At £1,300, then, it's going down. Away from you all.

-It's not going to sell.

-At £1,300. And 50 there? No?

At £1,300, then. Not sold.

It didn't sell. I'm ever so sorry.

Gosh, you need the money as well. That's really disappointing.

It's got to go really into a specialist clock auction.

I mean, we've protected it with the right reserve,

just in case there wasn't someone in the room today.

We didn't want to let it slip away for £800 or £900.

If it goes in the right sale it should be making £2,000 all day long

so you've got a bit of a wait, but it will get there in the end I'm sure.

Yeah. And then the charity...

-Gets what it can. Yes, absolutely.

-Yes.

-That's a blow.

-Tricky things at auctions.

-That's a blow.

Hopefully we'll fare better with the next lot. Fingers crossed.

We've got the postcards, valued at £40 to £60.

Unfortunately, Tony cannot be with us today, Thomas. He's on holiday so he's going to send us a postcard.

-Is he?

-Yes.

-I wonder where he is.

Bulgaria, I think. We'll phone and let him know what happens.

-Absolutely.

-Going under the hammer.

All the way round the world in one album. Are we going to say 50?

We're going to say yes. Thank you. 60 I'm bid now.

70. Is there £80 in the room?

Oh, 80, oh, he's doing well.

-This is it.

-At £90 a bid, £100 is there?

£100 I'm bid, £100 pound and £10. At £110 pound.

And 20 now, 120 perhaps. Yes, or no?

£120.

Better than I thought.

Yes, OK, then I sell at £130, then.

-Yes, he'll be pleased.

-Gosh.

£130. They always do well.

I think you can get on the phone and give him the good news.

I will. Thank you, Paul.

Barbara and John, things are going so well, it's running along smoothly here.

The auction room is packed, people are buying.

They're not sitting on their hands. And let's hope there's no exception for this next lot

-because it's yours.

-It is.

-It's that half-hunter, nine-carat gold watch and chain

and we've got £400 to £600 put on this.

-Yes.

-Why are you selling it and how did you come by it?

Well, it was my family's. It came through my father, but he didn't ever wear it, it was my uncle's.

We've got some photographs of him wearing it, forgot to bring them.

But it's just sitting in a safe at home, nobody's using it so...

-Three daughters and we can't split it between them.

-Oh, you've got three daughters!

Well, we'll find out what their names are after the sale just in case, you never know, do you?

Gold watches and chains are just flying out of salerooms at the moment.

I've probably put the kiss of death on it saying that, but they are.

I mean, everybody seems to want them.

-This is quality as well.

-It's quality, it's weight, it's condition,

so it's got everything you really want in a lot and it's privately entered

so there should be, and I think there are, some good jewellery dealers here today.

-Yes, there are.

-Good.

-Hopefully.

-Here we go. Good luck.

Gold half-hunter pocket watch, and a nice one too.

400, 300 bid. Yes, I have my 300, I'm bid £320 now.

At 320, I'm bid at 350, I've got it at 350 and 80. At 380...

Oh, creeping up, yes. It's gone.

-420 we're bid now, 420...

-Gosh.

450, I've got a new bidder at 450.

-They're waving to bid on it, that's a good sign.

-Good grief.

£480, at 480.

Now the five, yes, or no?

Yes. £480, 500 we're bid.

-Gosh.

-At £500. We're out now.

At £500, I'm selling, away from you. £500. Thank you.

-Yes.

-Brilliant.

-Gosh that's wonderful.

-£500.

-We're well pleased with that.

-That is amazing.

Everybody wants them.

My uncle would be ever so pleased.

Oh, that's great news, isn't it?

OK, treat the daughters. What are there names? Let's hear them.

Debbie, Sandra and Lisa.

-OK, and don't forget, treat yourselves.

-No. We will do, won't we?

-We will, we'll include ourselves.

-Yes, we will.

Coming up later we'll be heading back to the zoo, where Carol will be revealing a family secret.

-Did you tell your father-in-law?

-Never.

-Really?

-Never ever. Till the day he died.

Oh, my!

This magnificent house behind me was never built as a family home.

It was completed in 1883 and it was designed purely as a country weekend retreat for entertaining in.

Today it's home to the officers based at RAF Halton

and it comes with quite a history.

Halton House, or Halton Mansion as it was first known, was built

between 1880 and 1883 by Alfred de Rothschild,

a member of the famous and wealthy banking family.

Impressed by nearby Waddesdon Manor, Alfred decided to create

what he called an English chateau modelled on French lines.

Working for the family bank, Alfred was quite a character.

He was sociable, flamboyant and above all a great diplomat.

He was also friends with a lot of A-list stars of the day.

People like the Prince of Wales who went on to become King Edward VII,

politicians like Asquith and Disraeli and, of course, actresses like Lillie Langtry.

He had such a generous nature and it was here, underneath this wonderful covered porch

that his invited guests would arrive, ready to be entertained in the most lavish style.

Walking in from the entrance hall on the way into the grand salon you instantly get a feeling of grandeur.

Opulence surrounds you everywhere, it's quite overwhelming.

One of the historians here at Halton House

is Squadron Leader Colin Baker and he's going to tell me a bit more.

Colin, thank you for meeting up with me today and being my guide.

You're more than welcome and welcome to Royal Air Force Halton.

I've got to say, it's got the wow factor, hasn't it?

How did this end up being in the hands of the Royal Air Force?

Well, Alfred passed away in 1918 and obviously that was the year that

-the Royal Air Force was actually formed.

-Yes.

We were looking for a home obviously for the Royal Air Force

and this was ideal because the Royal Flying Corps already had workshops here for air mechanics.

Unfortunately Alfred didn't have any heirs because he never married so it was passed to his nephew Nathan,

who didn't want the place because he couldn't grow rhododendrons in the ground.

-Is that because the soil's quite chalky here?

-Very, very much so.

-Yeah.

-So we then sort of bought this whole estate,

which was absolutely massive, about 120,000 acres for about £125,000.

-That's the bargain of the century.

-Oh, I think so.

-So how is the house used today?

Well, obviously it's the home for serving officers at Halton who either come here for a short stay,

i.e. on a training course, or it's a permanent residence for our single officers

and for those that decide they want to leave their families in a more stable environment

and they use this as a sort of a week residence.

-In addition to that, lots of film companies and TV companies come here to make films.

-Oh, such as? Tell me.

-Well, at the moment you're standing in the casino area of The World is Not Enough.

-Wow. Gosh.

We've had The Duchess filmed here, we've had The Queen here...

It's the backdrop to many movie scenes.

-I'm ever so excited. Where do we start the tour?

-I will start by showing you one of the anterooms.

-So if you'd like to go this way.

-OK. Thank you.

When the house was sold so too were most of the contents.

Now furnished minimally by the RAF, the architecture really takes centre stage.

Just such fabulous ceiling heights.

Absolutely beautiful here. And of course this is one of our anterooms.

Gosh, just standing here looking at that arched doorway, you see the perfect symmetry

with all the arched windows looking onto the grounds.

It's absolutely gorgeous and if you look notice it's very, very light in there.

The house itself if you cut it in two, the north side would look exactly the same as the south side.

It's like a big ballroom. You could start dancing at that end and sort of work your way over to this.

And that room we're just talking about, Alfred had his own salon orchestra.

-Really?

-Yeah and he used to conduct his orchestra with a diamond-studded baton.

Oh, that's decadent, isn't it?

I think it's very appropriate, actually.

This is how sort of flamboyant he was.

It was one of the first houses, believe it or not,

to have an elevator, which they used to take all the luggage up to the rooms.

He had an artificial lake, quite shallow, which used to freeze over

-in winter, which acted then as a skating rink.

-Oh, gosh. Total entertainment.

-They were way ahead of their time. Actually, I would like to show you what these doors come to.

-Just here?

Yes, indeed, just here. If you notice they've all got pop-out handles on them...

-Yeah.

-And not only do the doors slide out to close the room up,

but if we keep tugging, here we go, but they actually...

-They're also hinged.

-..hinged, which is very unusual for its time and this is 1883 technology.

I've never seen that before.

-That is so clever, Colin.

-I think it's amazing.

And just look at this magnificent staircase.

One of the features I can actually show you here is

the Rothschild arrows here face upwards,

but the original Rothschild arrows, as you can see over there,

point downwards.

-Now we know...

-Why is that? Why are these pointing upwards?

Well, these are actually imported from France and the French arrows

go up, the British arrows go down and that's the reason behind it.

This room, the former billiard room, is currently being used as a temporary bar for the officers here.

Quite a spectacular venue in which to enjoy a swift half.

But on with the tour.

-The Gold Room.

-I can see why it's called the Gold Room.

-Very much so.

-Look at that.

Well, they used this as a smokers room so if you can imagine

these partygoers used to come in, have their cigars and their brandy...

-The nicotine wafting upwards.

-Well, you couldn't see it because the ceiling's gold.

-Yeah.

When they first installed it, it was about £80,000, but the value has gone up to about 2.8 million now.

So quite an expensive way of hiding your nicotine, really.

But as you can probably see it's very much based on, um...

-It's Spanish, it's like that Moorish...

-Very Moorish.

-Sort of Byzantium.

But this room's been used for very special occasions.

Margaret Thatcher, for example, had some of the Irish peace talks

in here and, of course, a lot of the plans for the Falklands campaign were actually conducted in this room here.

-On this table.

-On this table, yeah.

-I love the Arabesque sort of arches over the mirrors and the doors.

I think it's adorable. This has to be my favourite room.

What an incredible house this is.

It's normally open for one day of the year, in September

to coincide with the RAF's Heritage Day celebrations.

Come and see it, it's an architectural delight.

Back now to our valuation day at Whipsnade Zoo

and Thomas has found a couple of paintings he's keen to get his teeth into.

Betty, thank you for coming.

How did you come to own these watercolours?

They were my mothers, she gave them to me and they were given to her by her mother.

My grandmother got them from a doctor that she used to work for, she was his housekeeper.

-Right. So that obviously ties in with the artist, Garman Morris...

-Yes.

-He was a prolific artist of the 1900s and 1930s.

-Yes.

-Do you like them?

I think the artistic work on them, the shadows under the boats

and the barrel are very, very attractive, but actual subject-wise, no.

-OK.

-They're not the sort of thing that I would want in my house

-and they've not been out on show that I can remember.

-Where have they been?

-I've kept them in a wardrobe...

-Really?

-In a polythene bag, yes.

Because they've certainly seen some sun, they're very faded.

-They have, yes.

-But they are delightful.

They are scenes of obviously fishing vessels,

um, either coming in or leaving port.

They probably look like they're leaving port, actually.

In the grand scheme of things I think if they were in tip-top condition

-they'd do at least sort of £50 each...

-Mm-hm.

But, and there's a big but, these pictures have seen better days.

Yes, they could do with a re-frame, a re-mount, a clean and they'd come up

-and they'd look a million times better.

-Yes.

But in the condition they're in,

I'm valuing them at £40 to £60 for the two.

-You don't want these back?

-No.

-Is that my feeling I'm getting?

-Yes, yes, I don't want them back, no.

-This is Operation Get Rid.

-Yes, definitely.

-So put the reserve at £20, are you happy with that?

-That's fine, yes.

-Yeah?

-Yes.

-That's brilliant, that's really quick. We'll put it in.

-Thank you.

Vivian, thank you for bringing along this,

what we would describe provisionally

as a part tea and coffee service today.

-Right.

-Are these things you use on a regular basis?

Are you going to be short of a cup of tea at home now you've brought these in?

No, they've been under the bed for about ten years now.

-Not really the best place for a teapot and a coffee pot.

-It's the safest place.

Before they went under the bed, where were they?

They were given to my mother by her great uncle, they were left to her.

-And did she use them on a regular basis?

-No.

She kept them in a cupboard as well.

I'm only asking this because I'm yet to find anybody

that used one of these services when they were presented with it.

I think the idea was that you were given this at your wedding

or your anniversary, you went,

"Oh, thank you very much," and it went on the mantelpiece

and it was never touched again.

Although having said that, if we look at it,

there are little panels of wear starting

because rather than being solid silver

they are in fact the much more economical and much more abundant electroplated versions.

-Right.

-Still, electroplate should still have a series of marks and we've got

I, D and S in Gothic punches, which may be one of the punches for James Dixon & Sons of Sheffield

-or possibly James Deakin & Sons of Sheffield...

-Right.

So it's quite confusing, but they were definitely produced in Sheffield

and we can take them from the style of them,

they're very bold and very decorative.

-They're very good-looking things, aren't they?

-Mm.

All these scrolls.

They're going to be no later than about 1850, 1855, so mid-Victorian.

-Right. Quite old.

-So they were, they had considerable age before your mother was given them.

Where's the sugar bowl and the cream jug?

I don't know, I don't know.

They're more sought-after when they're a complete set.

Yes.

I do remember them on his sideboard when I was little.

-Oh, oh, so they were...

-Yes.

Well, if you find them between now and the auction, please do bring them in.

Um, electroplate you'll always get a lot of bang for your buck.

And these, I mean, to be clear, five years ago

you probably couldn't even have given these away in a saleroom.

-Right.

-But things have picked up slightly and people are starting to

buy tea services and coffee sets in particular, again.

So I think if we put them into the auction at £40 to £60

and we give the auctioneer a little bit of discretion

-and say a reserve of 35.

-Right.

And if they don't go for £35,

they'll have to go back under the bed.

I'd say, "Why are you selling them?"

-but under the bed they're not much use to man nor beast.

-No.

-Thank you for bringing them along today.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

Carol has brought along an item that was once owned by her father-in-law.

-Hello, Carol.

-Hello.

-So was your father-in-law a dealer or was he...

No, he was a greengrocer by trade.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-Well, let's look at the object...

-OK.

-And see it working.

-All right.

BIRDSONG So it sort of flips up and then you've got this pretty songbird

-which actually should be moving and flapping its wings.

-Yes.

Yeah, and when I go like that it stops and finishes, end of story.

It did have lovely little wings and it was a lovely colour, but my son at about four decided to,

-um, pour some oil in it, some hair oil that my father used to use many years ago.

-Hair oil.

-Literally poured it in, yeah.

-Did he think he was feeding the bird?

-He may well have done.

-He's destroyed it, hasn't he?

-Absolutely.

-It does still work.

-Yes.

-That's the wonderful thing, it does still work. Did you tell your father-in-law?

-Never.

-Really?

-Never ever. If he ever used to say, you know to bring it out,

my mother-in-law used to make an excuse.

So, in actual fact, to the day he died he never knew that it was damaged.

-Oh, my!

-We were on tenterhooks every time we went to tea.

-Really?

-Yeah. In case he... Yeah.

-In case he got it out.

Well, first of all, these are singing bird boxes

and they are part of the sort of automaton tradition...

-Yeah.

-Which come from France or the Continent and this is a Continental box.

They are highly prized,

especially when they are in silver gilt or gold.

-Right.

-This looks gold, but I'm afraid it's metal.

-No, I didn't think it was, yeah.

I'm sorry about that. But what is pretty about it is this lovely,

-lovely enamel around here.

-Yeah.

Now, the other thing you don't have is the key.

-Not with me, no, I didn't bring it with me.

-Do you have a key with it?

-I do have a key.

-Oh, you do?

-Yeah.

Oh, that would be really helpful.

-OK, so let's come down to the crux, you want to sell it.

-Yes.

-My estimate for this would be £500 to £700.

-Yes.

-Of anybody's money.

-Yes.

If it was silver, I'd have no hesitation in putting 1,000 to 1,500 on it

-and also if your son hadn't put the oil in it and destroyed the bird...

-Mm.

..that would certainly change my valuation.

So in this instance, let's be cautious, let's be conservative.

-Right.

-I don't want to over-egg it and it not to sell.

-Yeah.

Put a £400 reserve on it and make that fixed

so you've got a bit of cushion,

the auctioneer's got a good bit of stuff to work with

and let's leave it at that.

-OK, that's lovely.

-Yeah?

-Yes. Thank you very much.

So with a mix of valuations we head off for the auction room for the second time.

Not to Betty's taste, she can't wait to get rid of her two maritime paintings.

-I don't want them back, no.

-This is Operation Get Rid.

-Yes, definitely.

They've been under Vivian's bed for years, but can this tea and coffee set

brew up some interest in the saleroom?

I'm yet to find anybody that used one of these services when they were presented with it.

And finally, her father-in-law never knew about the damage

to this musical box. But Carol now wants to turn into cash.

Next up, two watercolours.

They've been in the family a long time and in the cupboard a long time. What's going on, Betty?

-Have you seen them?

-Yes, I have!

I quite like them, though. I know we got a low valuation

and I know Thomas has certainly seen them. That's why he's put £40 to £60 on them.

-Pretty low, isn't it?

-It is pretty low, for a named artist.

But it reflects their condition and style.

They're going under the hammer.

There you are, Garman Morris, boats in sunset.

Ready to sail away.

-Anybody got 20 for them?

-Yes, we've sold them.

20 I'm bid, thank you very much. 20 on my left, £20, then.

Five anywhere, then? At £20, madam, surely she's not going to stop

with them at £20. They're going to have to be sold.

-He's selling.

-I've sold them, then, for £20.

There you go, 20 pounds, that's £10 each, that was a bargain.

-I think £20, it was sensible to set a little reserve...

-Yes.

-because otherwise they're going to be sold for five.

-Yes.

Next up, Vivian's tea and coffee pots, with a value of £40 to £60.

They're electroplate and they've been under the bed for ten years.

-Yes.

-What's that all about?

I had young children when they came to me so it's the safest place to keep them.

-Stashed and away.

-Yes.

-For ten years?

-Yes.

-Here we go.

A nice Victorian teapot and coffee pot in plate. Shall we say 30?

-Thank you very much.

-Yes, we've got £30.

£30 we're bid, 35, and 40 to you, sir.

At £45, 45, 45, at £50, £50. And five for you, £60...

-Wow.

-Five for you and £70.

Another one for you, can we ask you?

No? OK, then, at £70, I am bid at £70.

-Yes, fresh legs on the phone.

-Telephone bid on it. Unexpected.

Five now, at £80, at five, 85 and 90's bid.

£90 and five, yes. 100.

Well, we've done it, £100.

I think someone's got the milk jug and the sugar bowl, don't you?

At 100, then, I sell.

Away from the room, on my left, 105.

He's come in with his fiver. I'm selling at £105.

Yes. Crack. £105. That's a good result.

-That's fantastic.

-A very good result.

-That is.

-Better than what we would have expected.

-Stunning.

-What are you going to put the money towards?

-We're going to have a kids' day out.

-Are you? How many kids have you got?

-Just two.

-And what are their names?

-Helen and Hugh.

-They're here today?

-Yes, they are.

-Helen and Hugh, over there?

-Yes.

-Can we have a wave?

-There's Helen, anyway.

-There's Hugh over there.

-Well done, you.

-Lovely, thank you very much.

-Thank you.

Well, Carol, I certainly hope that little birdie makes us £500 to £700, don't you?

-I hope so, yes.

-It's just about to go under the hammer.

It's a gorgeous thing, very popular in France,

and I know Thomas loved the enamel work.

-It's great, isn't it, Paul?

-Yeah.

-I think it's going to fly off.

That little bird is going to make it take off.

We're going to find out because it's going under the hammer now.

Whistling, singing bird.

There it is, enamel to it.

What about that? A good box. Are we going to start at 300? Thank you.

300 is bid, then, 320 I'm bid for it, 350, I'm bid 380,

-there's two of you. £400. £420.

-They're both together.

£450, £480. At 480 at the back, £500, £520.

It's a lovely thing, isn't it?

£550, £580.

Are you sure?

£580 on my right.

600, 600 I am bid.

-600 on the phone.

-Gosh.

650 perhaps? 650. £680.

-Not bad.

-This is great.

At 700 now.

£700. At 720 are we back in the room?

At 720, 750, £780.

We've got a real auction fight on our hands, haven't we?

-I can't believe it.

-800 I am bid, then. 820's got it now.

850 now. At 850, £880, 900.

-£900. £920.

-Carol, 920, they love it.

-I can't believe it.

-Now we're on the phones, look.

£1,000. It's got to be 1,100, I'm afraid now.

1,100 we're bid, then. At £1,100.

No? You lose it, then.

At £1,100 I'm selling in the room.

-It's going to be sold in the room at £1,100.

-Yes.

-Yes, £1,100.

Carol, fantastic.

Gosh, what a good result.

-Absolutely.

-Wasn't expecting that.

-Were you, Thomas?

-No, I wasn't expecting four figures.

I think that is above and beyond.

-Brilliant, well done.

-Don't forget there's commission to pay...

-Yeah.

-But what are you going to do with that?

-I haven't even thought about it. I don't know.

Well done, Thomas as well,

and I hope you've had great fun watching the show as well.

Unfortunately we're running out of time from Tring

so until the next time when there's going to be plenty more surprises to come, see you then.

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