0:00:10 > 0:00:12We're in an area which can lay claim to one of
0:00:12 > 0:00:14the world's most famous literary families.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17Today, "Flog It!" is in Bronte Country.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45'We're holding our valuation day here in Todmorden,
0:00:45 > 0:00:47'which lies at the foot of the Pennines,
0:00:47 > 0:00:51'just a few miles away from the Brontes' hometown of Haworth.'
0:00:54 > 0:00:56Over the years, hundreds of thousands of people
0:00:56 > 0:00:59have visited this area to get a little insight
0:00:59 > 0:01:02into this incredible family, and later on in the show,
0:01:02 > 0:01:05I get the opportunity to explore the Brontes' home.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09'But right now, the main attraction is "Flog It!"'
0:01:09 > 0:01:11What a magnificent turnout today!
0:01:11 > 0:01:15Hundreds of people queuing up outside the town hall.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17The queue stretches all around the corner.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20Into the building and we've got hundreds of people in here,
0:01:20 > 0:01:22all wanting to know the answer to that
0:01:22 > 0:01:25- very important question, which is...- ALL: What's it worth?
0:01:28 > 0:01:30'And helping them find out is our team of experts,
0:01:30 > 0:01:34'headed up by our very own Cathy, Catherine Southon.'
0:01:34 > 0:01:37THEY LAUGH
0:01:37 > 0:01:39'And Heathcliff, Adam Partridge.'
0:01:39 > 0:01:44- It's something you want to sell? - Yes, I want to get rid of it.- OK.
0:01:44 > 0:01:45Brilliant! Give us a kiss!
0:01:45 > 0:01:49You're first in the queue. Walk up the aisle with me! Come on.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51HE LAUGHS
0:01:51 > 0:01:52Let's get down to business.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59'Coming up, the locals gang up on Adam.'
0:01:59 > 0:02:02- I would like you to be embarrassed. - Yes, I'm sure everybody...
0:02:02 > 0:02:04Everybody in Todmorden would!
0:02:04 > 0:02:06'And Catherine gets nervous.'
0:02:06 > 0:02:10- Do you think your grandmother would mind?- No.- You hope!- I hope!
0:02:10 > 0:02:13THEY LAUGH
0:02:18 > 0:02:21And I love Tod!
0:02:21 > 0:02:24As you can see, everybody is now safely seated inside,
0:02:24 > 0:02:25except for young Daniel here,
0:02:25 > 0:02:28who's looking for his mum, who I think is over here.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31Here you go. I've got to be on top form today,
0:02:31 > 0:02:34because I think he's after my job. Aren't you?
0:02:34 > 0:02:37Give him a round of applause, everybody.
0:02:37 > 0:02:38APPLAUSE
0:02:38 > 0:02:41It looks like Catherine Southon is our first expert to the tables.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44Let's take a closer look at what she spotted.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46John gets us off to a galloping start
0:02:46 > 0:02:48with his collection of comical figurines.
0:02:51 > 0:02:56- So, who do these belong to?- I bought them for the wife, my wife, Anthea.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59Right. These are quite modern, as you probably know.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03They're 1980s, and designed by Norman Thelwell.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06And they're all rather cute, these little figures...
0:03:06 > 0:03:09- That's why she loved them. - ..on ponies. Is she a horse-rider?
0:03:09 > 0:03:12Oh, no. She's not into horses, but she took a fancy to these.
0:03:12 > 0:03:17So you bought one for each birthday, or...?
0:03:17 > 0:03:20Something like that. Christmas, birthday, and just got up the set,
0:03:20 > 0:03:23back in the, as you say, the early '80s.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27- What a nice man you are! - Oh, I know. I'm brilliant, aren't I?
0:03:27 > 0:03:29- Brilliant.- Very nice.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31Well, as you know, Beswick is very collectable,
0:03:31 > 0:03:34as long as they are in perfect condition,
0:03:34 > 0:03:37no breakages or anything like that, no cracks.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40For example, I'm looking at this one in particular,
0:03:40 > 0:03:44because there is a slight little fault on the jacket.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47It's hardly worth talking about, but it's there, isn't it?
0:03:47 > 0:03:51But even so, they do pick up on these little things.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54- With Beswick you have to be... - Spot-on.- You do have to be spot-on.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57The thing is about Beswick as well,
0:03:57 > 0:03:59people look at the marks very carefully,
0:03:59 > 0:04:02and see whether they are an earlier mark
0:04:02 > 0:04:04or perhaps whether they were redesigned
0:04:04 > 0:04:09at a later stage, because you might get one that was done in 1981
0:04:09 > 0:04:11and then again they remade it in '82,
0:04:11 > 0:04:14perhaps with a slightly different colourway, for example,
0:04:14 > 0:04:18a slightly different colour jacket, something like that.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20So that really depends on the price.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23But you do get a lot of people going for these,
0:04:23 > 0:04:25even though they are still very modern.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29Now, the big question value-wise. I would have thought, in the '80s,
0:04:29 > 0:04:33- you paid quite a lot for these. - I know it probably broke my heart.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35THEY LAUGH
0:04:35 > 0:04:38Probably about 20-ish, I think, maybe even...
0:04:39 > 0:04:43I know it was a lot. It was a treat, a good treat for my lady wife.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46So how does she feel about you selling them now?
0:04:46 > 0:04:48They've been on the cupboard for a long time,
0:04:48 > 0:04:51and we've come along to see all this, and yourself...
0:04:51 > 0:04:53Oh, thank you! You're so kind.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56And it's been lovely just to see how it goes on.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58We nearly watch every antique programme going,
0:04:58 > 0:05:02so to a certain extent we've got a fair idea what they're worth.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06- I think the thing to do for this is to split them in half...- Lovely.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10..and sell them as two separate lots at £100 to £150 each.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13- How does that sound? - That sounds pretty good!
0:05:13 > 0:05:16- Happy with that? - Yeah. We've been here and seen you,
0:05:16 > 0:05:18and all the rest of it. And it's been gorgeous.
0:05:18 > 0:05:19Let's hope they gallop away!
0:05:19 > 0:05:22THEY LAUGH
0:05:22 > 0:05:27'Adam is looking at an unusual pair of slippers brought in by Susan.'
0:05:27 > 0:05:30- How are you today?- I'm fine, thank you.- Good.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34- How are you?- I'm all right, enjoying being in Todmorden.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36So how have you come to own
0:05:36 > 0:05:40these very pretty little Chinese embroidered silk slippers?
0:05:40 > 0:05:44My mum sadly passed away a few months ago
0:05:44 > 0:05:48and it was amongst her possessions that I inherited from her.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50Right. And do you know how your mother got them?
0:05:50 > 0:05:53I think it might have been at a jumble sale.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56But she loved anything Chinese
0:05:56 > 0:06:00that was silk embroidered. She loved things like that.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02Well, a lot of people watching,
0:06:02 > 0:06:06I think, are going to think, "What a pretty little pair of slippers."
0:06:06 > 0:06:09- Don't you think? - They're not really, no.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11You don't like them, do you?
0:06:11 > 0:06:15No. Because they're actually Chinese lotus shoes,
0:06:15 > 0:06:19and they're for little girls
0:06:19 > 0:06:22that had their feet bound at about three years old.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24That used to be the custom in China.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28- To restrict growth.- To restrict growth. The foot was bandaged
0:06:28 > 0:06:31and the toes pulled back towards the heel,
0:06:31 > 0:06:35so it made a very tight bundle on the end of their foot.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38So these shoes were made specifically for that.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41So, very pretty things, but hide a bit of a barbaric past, I suppose.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44- Yes.- Which is possibly the reason
0:06:44 > 0:06:46- you're not that keen on them. - No, I'm not.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48Well, you've certainly done your research on them.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50I'm very impressed.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52Not bad condition considering
0:06:52 > 0:06:55they're made from silk, which is easily damaged.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58- We've got a bit of fraying on here. - It deteriorates.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01- But, overall, they're pretty good.- Yes.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05- I would typically estimate those at £20 to £40.- Mm-hm.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08Which is pretty cheap, but I think it's quite accurate.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11We'll see what the market does.
0:07:11 > 0:07:12I believe your mother
0:07:12 > 0:07:15- was a fan of the show, as well. - Oh, she really was, yeah.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17She used to watch "Flog It!" all the time.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20She would be pleased that her possessions are on the show.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23- Excellent. Thanks for coming. - Thank you very much.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34Anne, this is an amazing collection of Dinky Toys.
0:07:34 > 0:07:39Thank you for bringing them along to "Flog It!" and really making my day,
0:07:39 > 0:07:41certainly brightening up my day.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44It's a wonderful collection. Where did you get these from?
0:07:44 > 0:07:47Well, my parents used to have some shops,
0:07:47 > 0:07:54and when they sold the businesses, all the old stock went up our attic
0:07:54 > 0:07:57and it's been there ever since.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00So, this was the surplus stock that was never sold.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03- No, that's right.- And it's just been in your loft.- Yes.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05Obviously very well protected
0:08:05 > 0:08:09in bags and boxes, because it's in absolute mint condition.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12And this is a Dinky Toy collector's dream!
0:08:12 > 0:08:18I mean, every single one is just totally mint and boxed!
0:08:18 > 0:08:21And the boxes themselves are just superb.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24They're really in lovely condition.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26- So, are you a collector yourself? - Oh, no.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28Not really interested in them.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32I mean, I've kept them all these years cos, really, they're sort of sentimental,
0:08:32 > 0:08:33because I can remember, as a child,
0:08:33 > 0:08:36- seeing them in the shops. - Did you used to play with them?
0:08:36 > 0:08:40I played with some of the toys, on the quiet.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44We used to ride the bicycles round in the attic.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46THEY LAUGH
0:08:46 > 0:08:49This is particularly interesting for me,
0:08:49 > 0:08:51because my dad used to have a toy shop.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54- Oh, right.- And used to sell Dinky and Corgi toys.
0:08:54 > 0:08:59But, stupidly, never kept hold of any of them
0:08:59 > 0:09:02which, now, would be worth a fortune.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05But these are just fascinating to me.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08So colourful and in lovely condition.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11Just pick out one of them, for example, this one here,
0:09:11 > 0:09:13number 157,
0:09:13 > 0:09:16and this one is actually a lovely Jaguar,
0:09:16 > 0:09:20and these two different colourways of the grey and yellow.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23Dinky made these in lots of other different colourways
0:09:23 > 0:09:25and some are more collectable than others.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28This one just by itself is worth around £150.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30Gosh!
0:09:30 > 0:09:33There are others that aren't so collectable.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35Some of them are only worth £50, £60.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38Something like this, for example. But the racing cars,
0:09:38 > 0:09:43these ones here, they're more desirable and more collectable.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45Some of my favourites, though,
0:09:45 > 0:09:49are really these lovely vans, the Royal Mail van here
0:09:49 > 0:09:51and also the lovely Nestle van here,
0:09:51 > 0:09:56which I just think are real icons of their period.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58I mean, these date from the '50s.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00Do you have any one that's your favourite?
0:10:00 > 0:10:03- The Royal Mail van. - You like that one, too.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06It is nice, isn't it? A nice little thing.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10Now, my feeling would be, when it comes to valuation,
0:10:10 > 0:10:13to separate them into two separate lots,
0:10:13 > 0:10:17so that you've got a nice selection in each lot of different items,
0:10:17 > 0:10:21each with a pre-sale estimate of £500 to £700.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24- Right.- And a reserve of £400.- OK.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27However, I think we should also leave it
0:10:27 > 0:10:29to the auctioneer's discretion,
0:10:29 > 0:10:32so if he wants to pick out some lots
0:10:32 > 0:10:35which he thinks he may be able to get more for,
0:10:35 > 0:10:38- we should leave it up to him to do. - Yes.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41And I hope that they make big money, because they really deserve it.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44- They're a lovely selection in fantastic condition.- OK.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47- Thank you so much, Anne. It's been a pleasure.- Thank you.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58I thought I'd have a quick chat to Ken here about
0:10:58 > 0:11:00his advertising poster in the balcony,
0:11:00 > 0:11:02far away from the madding crowd.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04- It looks good down there, doesn't it?- Excellent.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08Everybody is working their socks off, including me.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11Now, I very much like this. How did you come by it?
0:11:11 > 0:11:14I salvaged it. It was going to be thrown on a bonfire.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16- You're joking?- No, promise.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20It cost me a couple of quid to give them to get some fireworks.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23Unbelievable! This is the great thing about "Flog It!" and antiques.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25Classic recycling!
0:11:25 > 0:11:28It doesn't get any greener than this show.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32- And what a lovely thing it is, as well!- It is fabulous.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35- What have you done with it since then?- I've had it
0:11:35 > 0:11:38stuck in the loft for about 15 years
0:11:38 > 0:11:42and I didn't know what to do with it,
0:11:42 > 0:11:44so I seen "Flog It!" and I thought, "Why not?"
0:11:44 > 0:11:48Why not? I think, with a little bit of gentle TLC,
0:11:48 > 0:11:52if someone had a small sponge and just gently rubbed off
0:11:52 > 0:11:56some of this dirt and grit,
0:11:56 > 0:12:00it would start to glow. It really would.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04And he's a handsome fella, isn't he, Sir Christopher Wren? Look at that!
0:12:04 > 0:12:08Nice hair. Mind you, that was a wig, wasn't it? But isn't that lovely?
0:12:08 > 0:12:12"Wren gave us St Paul's. Give me Oxo to build myself."
0:12:12 > 0:12:17Oxo is an iconic brand and it's going to be highly sought-after.
0:12:17 > 0:12:22I think we put this into auction with a value of £100 to £200
0:12:22 > 0:12:25- and hopefully get the top end. - Yeah, great!
0:12:25 > 0:12:27- Happy with that? - Yes, great.- Thank you.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30- Thank you very much, Paul. - That's all right.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39This magnificent building in the centre of Halifax
0:12:39 > 0:12:43was once home to the largest carpet manufacturer in the world.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47It's been refurbished now and is now a complex of design studios,
0:12:47 > 0:12:50offices and galleries, and today I'm here to see the work
0:12:50 > 0:12:56of one of the 20th century's greatest graphic artists.
0:12:56 > 0:13:01Abram Games was born of Latvian parents in Whitechapel, London,
0:13:01 > 0:13:05in 1914, and was effectively self-taught.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08His career spanned six decades, and he was responsible
0:13:08 > 0:13:10for some of the most remarkable graphic images
0:13:10 > 0:13:12ever produced in Britain.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56It all started in 1936.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00He left St Martins School of Art after only two terms,
0:14:00 > 0:14:04his only formal art training, so he really was self-taught.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06He went to work as a junior in a graphics department,
0:14:06 > 0:14:09and helped his father as a photographer's assistant,
0:14:09 > 0:14:13but his breakthrough came in 1936. While still working as a junior,
0:14:13 > 0:14:17he won a competition to design a poster for London County Council.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19This was the launch. It gave him the confidence
0:14:19 > 0:14:22to start what would be a flourishing career.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25He went on to design for Shell, and as you can see in this poster,
0:14:25 > 0:14:29introducing airbrush technique for the first time in his work,
0:14:29 > 0:14:32which he developed from his photography background.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20The 1940s, the war years, and an important period in Games's career.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24To date, he has been the only official wartime poster artist,
0:15:24 > 0:15:27and between the years of 1941 and 1945,
0:15:27 > 0:15:30he designed 100 posters for the War Office.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32There are hundreds here I'd like to talk about,
0:15:32 > 0:15:35but this one has caught my eye - the ATS.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38It's the Auxiliary Territorial Services.
0:15:38 > 0:15:42It's designed to get women involved in the war effort,
0:15:42 > 0:15:46working on the home front. This one's known as the Blonde Bombshell,
0:15:46 > 0:15:48and I don't have to explain that, with luscious red lips
0:15:48 > 0:15:50that you just want to kiss. Games' philosophy was
0:15:50 > 0:15:52"maximum meaning" with minimum means",
0:15:52 > 0:15:55less is best. You can see why, can't you?
0:15:55 > 0:15:57It's so impactive.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16The 1950s, a very prolific time in Games' career.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19There was a feel-good factor going on in the country.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21Not only had we had the Festival of Britain,
0:16:21 > 0:16:26but also the government was encouraging people to go out and spend money, get out on holiday,
0:16:26 > 0:16:29and what better way to do it than by train? Look at this!
0:16:29 > 0:16:31Maximum meaning. You don't really need any text.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34Just look at the picture! You're seeing Britain by train,
0:16:34 > 0:16:37and if you look out the windows, you see all the counties.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41Absolutely love that. And then on to the '60s, '70s and '80s,
0:16:41 > 0:16:44bringing art to the masses, and this is where I can remember him,
0:16:44 > 0:16:47growing up in London, touring the Underground,
0:16:47 > 0:16:51and seeing all his posters as I go up and down the escalator.
0:17:03 > 0:17:07This stunning touring exhibition, comprising of over 70 posters,
0:17:07 > 0:17:10sketches, and other product designs,
0:17:10 > 0:17:13was curated by Games' daughter, Naomi.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15THEY LAUGH
0:17:15 > 0:17:17You've got to be so proud of your dad.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20He was head and shoulders above everybody else in the game.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24Thank you for saying so. We're very proud of him,
0:17:24 > 0:17:27- my brother and sister and I. - Did you ever get involved
0:17:27 > 0:17:29in his artwork, try and do some doodles for him?
0:17:29 > 0:17:34He worked in a studio in our house, and we grew up with his work.
0:17:34 > 0:17:39And when he designed a poster, he would show the children,
0:17:39 > 0:17:43and if we didn't understand it, he would tear it up and start again.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46- Really?- Because if children didn't understand,
0:17:46 > 0:17:49- nobody would.- So you were one of his biggest critics!
0:17:49 > 0:17:52- And my mum.- And your mum! - HE LAUGHS
0:17:52 > 0:17:56Tell me about those early years. Why did he only spend two terms
0:17:56 > 0:17:59at St Martin's? Because they've turned out many great artists.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03He didn't believe in art schools. He realised, after two terms,
0:18:03 > 0:18:07that the students were much richer than he was - he was very poor -
0:18:07 > 0:18:12and they lost their individuality. They didn't think for themselves.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15- No.- They looked at magazines, and they didn't think.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19- And he became very anti-art college. - It's probably a silly question,
0:18:19 > 0:18:22- but did he have a favourite poster? - He was often asked,
0:18:22 > 0:18:25"Which are your favourite posters?" He designed 300 posters at least,
0:18:25 > 0:18:30and he said, "They're all my favourite. They're like my children."
0:18:30 > 0:18:33But one was the war poster
0:18:33 > 0:18:36for "your talk may kill your comrades",
0:18:36 > 0:18:39that actually had a self-portrait
0:18:39 > 0:18:42on it that Abram airbrushed.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44And that's the talk
0:18:44 > 0:18:46spiralling out of control.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49I know he wanted to go off and fight, didn't he?
0:18:49 > 0:18:52But he ended up being the official war-poster artist.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55Well, the Second World War was a war that Abram believed in.
0:18:55 > 0:19:01He was Jewish and he was a Londoner, and he wanted to fight.
0:19:01 > 0:19:06He went to his superiors and said, "Send me back to the front line."
0:19:06 > 0:19:10And they said, "No. What you're doing is very important."
0:19:10 > 0:19:13- Too valuable to the nation. - It's too valuable,
0:19:13 > 0:19:15and that was a great source of pride to Abram,
0:19:15 > 0:19:19because he didn't realise his posters were doing a good job too.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21Incredible.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24Fighting with a pen rather than a gun.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27- The pen is mightier than the sword, isn't it?- Exactly.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29- Yeah.- Did you follow in his footsteps at all?
0:19:29 > 0:19:32I was trained as a graphic designer, but I couldn't compete with him.
0:19:32 > 0:19:37That was the problem. A very hard act to follow, so I gave up.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40But you've helped put this exhibition together.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43That's what I do now. I look after his work.
0:19:43 > 0:19:45SHE TALKS UNDER BACKGROUND MUSIC
0:19:45 > 0:19:49Seeing students make notes and look at things and copy things...
0:19:49 > 0:19:53Abram would be smiling down now. He's left a fantastic legacy.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56- Oh, he has.- And I'm so proud of him.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59- It doesn't get much better than this.- Thank you!
0:19:59 > 0:20:04- Thank you so much for meeting me. - My pleasure. Thank you. Thanks!
0:20:16 > 0:20:18This is my father-in-law's,
0:20:18 > 0:20:21I got this going for him before I married his daughter.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24- That was the test of skill, was it?- That was it.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27- "Get this going, you can marry my daughter."- Decent chap.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30Well, we are chugging along nicely.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34We are now halfway through our day,
0:20:34 > 0:20:37which means it's time to put our valuations to the test.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40We're going to make our way over to the Calder Valley
0:20:40 > 0:20:42and leave you with a quick rundown of all the items
0:20:42 > 0:20:45that are going under the hammer before we...
0:20:45 > 0:20:47- Flog it!- Well done.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51And the items we're taking with us are...
0:20:51 > 0:20:55those Chinese silk slippers which Susan's keen to get rid of...
0:20:55 > 0:20:59that amazing collection of pristine Dinky Toys complete
0:20:59 > 0:21:03with their equally pristine boxes....
0:21:03 > 0:21:07the Thelwell Beswick figurines John bought for his wife...
0:21:07 > 0:21:10and the Oxo advertising sign dating from the 1920s.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15And this is where we're putting all of our owners' antiques
0:21:15 > 0:21:17under the hammer - the Calder Valley auction rooms.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20On the rostrum, the man with all the local knowledge, Ian Peace.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22Hopefully it's a full house and we get some great results -
0:21:22 > 0:21:24fingers crossed.
0:21:27 > 0:21:31'Before the auction got under way, I had a chat with auctioneer Ian Peace
0:21:31 > 0:21:34'as it seems one of our lots has shrunk in size.'
0:21:34 > 0:21:39What fabulous condition. I mean, these are in mint condition.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42There were 16. It seems a few are missing.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46When I came to do the cataloguing, I rang the vendor and asked
0:21:46 > 0:21:50how she would like them dividing, she said she had made up her mind,
0:21:50 > 0:21:52- she wanted to keep ten back. - Oh, right.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56So her instructions were that she now wanted six to go through.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58We've got an estimate of £500 to £700.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01Just the six of them hopefully will get £500 to £700?
0:22:01 > 0:22:04I hope so. I don't think I've ever seen them
0:22:04 > 0:22:07- in such fine condition.- Make you smile.- Yeah.
0:22:07 > 0:22:11'We'll find out how they do in just a moment, but first up,
0:22:11 > 0:22:13'Susan's hoping to get rid of her slippers.'
0:22:13 > 0:22:16Susan, good luck. That's all I can say.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18There's not many other textiles.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20It's those wonderful Chinese slippers.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24They're about to go under the hammer. £20 to £40. Not a lot of money, but real quality.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28- Yeah. And Chinese. - Why do you want to sell them?
0:22:28 > 0:22:31- I don't like them. They give me the creeps.- Do they?- Yes.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33Really interesting, weren't they?
0:22:33 > 0:22:35And we don't have many pairs on the show.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38- We've only had one other pair of slippers before.- Right.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40Fingers crossed. Here we go.
0:22:42 > 0:22:47A pair of early 20th century Chinese silk embroidered slippers.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50There we are. Look at the tiny size.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52What am I bid? 30?
0:22:52 > 0:22:5520? Open me at 15? 15 I'm bid.
0:22:55 > 0:22:5715. 17.50.
0:22:57 > 0:22:5920. 2.50.
0:22:59 > 0:23:0125. 7.50.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05£30 bid there. At £30.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08All done at £30, then, on my right?
0:23:08 > 0:23:10At 30.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14Spot on, mid-estimate! He's good, isn't he? Knows his slippers!
0:23:14 > 0:23:17THEY LAUGH
0:23:17 > 0:23:20'Good result. Now, how will those cars go down?'
0:23:20 > 0:23:23Next up, something for all the toy collectors.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26It's those marvellous Dinky Toys belonging to Anne here.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30You look absolutely gorgeous! Look at that. Don't you look smart?
0:23:30 > 0:23:33- And who's this?- This is Derek, my husband.- Pleased to meet you.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36- What do you think about these cars, then?- Oh, fantastic.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40- We've had them there a long time and...- Boys and their toys!
0:23:40 > 0:23:42You obviously didn't let him play with them,
0:23:42 > 0:23:44they're in mint condition.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47The boxes have hardly even been opened. Absolutely fascinating.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49- But you've since taken ten away. - Yeah.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52- Because you only wanted six to go to auction.- Yes.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55- I just want to test the market.- OK.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57- Which is a good thing. - Very wise.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59Just drip-feed the market bit by bit.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02- If you flood the market, the prices go down.- Mm.
0:24:02 > 0:24:07- I don't have to tell you that, do I? - She's done her homework.- She has.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09Marvellous things! Ever so pleased with them.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11The best Dinky cars I have ever seen on "Flog It!"
0:24:11 > 0:24:14in nine years of filming. The best.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16And they're going under the hammer right now.
0:24:19 > 0:24:24We've now got the Dinky Toy collection in lovely condition.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28Superb condition for their age. They obviously haven't been played with.
0:24:28 > 0:24:33There's six in total. So what will we bid on this one?
0:24:33 > 0:24:36£300 to open? 250?
0:24:36 > 0:24:40200 anywhere? £200 for the six. £200?
0:24:40 > 0:24:46150. 175 do I see? 150. 175. At 175. Do I see 200?
0:24:46 > 0:24:49At 175. At 175.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52200. Are there any further bids? At £200.
0:24:52 > 0:24:57At £200. We're off the mark at £200.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01Are we all done for the six Dinky Toys?
0:25:01 > 0:25:03£200.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07Didn't sell. Well, I'm so pleased they didn't sell at £200.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10- They had a fixed reserve.- Yes.- Gosh.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13Nobody here today wanted Dinky Toys.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17They'll be there for my grandson to play with. HE GASPS
0:25:17 > 0:25:19You can't say that!
0:25:19 > 0:25:22- He wasn't allowed to play with them, were you?- No.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25- No, you'll devalue them.- The money was going to go to him, anyway,
0:25:25 > 0:25:28so he might as well just have the cars.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31- I don't know about that.- Maybe not.
0:25:31 > 0:25:36Well, I'm amazed by that. Our bidders today obviously weren't in the mood to play.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40Now it's John's turn to find out if his figurines will romp away
0:25:40 > 0:25:43with a top price.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46Something to brighten up the day! I'm surrounded by red.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49I've just been joined by John and Catherine. Good luck, John.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52We've got the Beswick horses going under the hammer,
0:25:52 > 0:25:55- two separate lots, each bought for your wife.- Yeah, they were.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58Why have you decided to sell, or why has she decided to sell?
0:25:58 > 0:26:02We've both decided to sell. We're downloading again,
0:26:02 > 0:26:04like everybody else, but also we wanted to meet you lot.
0:26:04 > 0:26:08- Oh! What a nice excuse! - What more can you say?
0:26:08 > 0:26:10Had a chat to the auctioneer earlier.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13He said should get the top estimate, plus a bit more.
0:26:13 > 0:26:17As you know, the dapple greys always fetch more than the bays.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20Interesting, that, isn't it? So you bought well.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22- I think so, yeah. - Well, the dapple greys, obviously.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24Let's find out what the bidders think.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27Let's hope they don't fall at the first fence.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30Lot 319,
0:26:30 > 0:26:33the Beswick Thelwell bay equestrian figures,
0:26:33 > 0:26:35Kick Start, Pony Express and Angel On Horseback.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38Charming little group there, lot 319.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40Might be going home with lots of money!
0:26:40 > 0:26:43- I'm going to open this at £70. - I thought he said £7.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46- So did I. So did I.- I have 70.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49And 80. Do I see 80? And 90. At 100.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52- 110. 120.- Commission bid.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55At £120 on my right.
0:26:55 > 0:27:00£120. Are we all done at £120?
0:27:00 > 0:27:01130 at the back of the room.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04140. At 140.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06At 140.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09At 140, then. He says no.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12£140 on my right. All done.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15£140! That's good news, cos that's the bays.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18The dapples should fetch more. They're up right now.
0:27:18 > 0:27:23Three more Beswick Thelwell figures.
0:27:23 > 0:27:27Again, the same subject matter. These ones are in grey.
0:27:27 > 0:27:28The three dapple greys.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31I'm going to open this at, er...
0:27:31 > 0:27:33at £90. At 90.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35100. 110.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38At 110.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41At 110. 120.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44120. 130, sir. 130.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46140. 150.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50At 150 in the middle.
0:27:50 > 0:27:51£150.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54All done at £150, then?
0:27:54 > 0:27:58Hammer's gone down. £150. That is a good result!
0:27:58 > 0:28:00- It is.- Really good result. Happy?
0:28:00 > 0:28:04- Yeah.- And Anthea? Where is she today?
0:28:04 > 0:28:07- She's just across there. - Anthea, give us a twirl.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10- Remember that? - THEY LAUGH
0:28:10 > 0:28:13- Nice to see her, to see her, nice. - To see you, nice.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15THEY LAUGH
0:28:15 > 0:28:17What will Anthea do with the money? Treat herself?
0:28:17 > 0:28:20We could do with some new boots, cos we go walking a lot.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23- Oh, do you? - Yeah. Walking in the Dales.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26Oh, lovely. And they're starting to leak, are they?
0:28:26 > 0:28:28They let water in when you're going through wet grass.
0:28:28 > 0:28:30It keeps you fit and healthy, doesn't it?
0:28:30 > 0:28:35It gets you out and about, from the towns into the valleys and hills.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37- He's right.- Keep walking.
0:28:37 > 0:28:41- Thank you so much for coming in. - Thank you.- Top money.
0:28:41 > 0:28:43You're a star. Thank you.
0:28:46 > 0:28:50Next up, will Ken leave with a smile on his face?
0:28:50 > 0:28:53Well, one of the things I discovered back at the valuation day
0:28:53 > 0:28:55was the most wonderful Oxo advertising sign.
0:28:55 > 0:28:59And I've just been joined by its owner, but hopefully not for long,
0:28:59 > 0:29:03- because here we are in the auction room, ready to sell it. Hi, Ken.- Hi.
0:29:03 > 0:29:08- You salvaged this from...- A bonfire. - Going on the bonfire, literally!
0:29:08 > 0:29:12Sending it up in smoke. I just hope there's somebody here
0:29:12 > 0:29:15that wants a massive Oxo sign, that's all.
0:29:18 > 0:29:22The large advertising Oxo sign here.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25What am I bid for this lot?
0:29:25 > 0:29:27I've got a phone bid. Are we connected?
0:29:27 > 0:29:30Phone bid! That means it's going to sell.
0:29:30 > 0:29:34- £100.- It's gone.- Nice one.
0:29:34 > 0:29:37105. 110. 115.
0:29:37 > 0:29:42115. 115. 120 if you like. 115 in the room.
0:29:42 > 0:29:46- 120 here. 125. - Back on the phone.- 130.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49135. 140. 140. 140.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52- Ooh, they're keen.- 145. 150.
0:29:52 > 0:29:56£150 I'm bid. At 150 in the room. We're going at £150.
0:29:56 > 0:30:00£150, then.
0:30:00 > 0:30:05£150. The Oxo had the X factor, didn't it? It really did.
0:30:05 > 0:30:09'Thank goodness Ken rescued that poster from the flames.
0:30:09 > 0:30:12'Now someone else can enjoy it.'
0:30:26 > 0:30:29That is a stunning backdrop, isn't it?
0:30:29 > 0:30:32The secluded hills and moorlands of Yorkshire are absolutely beguiling
0:30:32 > 0:30:35and it's no wonder that that has been a source of inspiration
0:30:35 > 0:30:38for many great works of literature over the years.
0:30:38 > 0:30:42But, of course, there's one exceptional family with whom this landscape
0:30:42 > 0:30:45will forever be associated. The Brontes.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52'When you come to the pretty town of Haworth,
0:30:52 > 0:30:56'everywhere you look, you're reminded that it was once home
0:30:56 > 0:30:58'to this incredible family.'
0:31:03 > 0:31:07It's a place of pilgrimage for literature fans from all over the world
0:31:07 > 0:31:09who flock here, desperate to get a little insight
0:31:09 > 0:31:12into the private lives of these incredible writers.
0:31:12 > 0:31:16And it's been like that for a long time, ever since the 1850s
0:31:16 > 0:31:21when the success of the novels shot the Brontes into the limelight.
0:31:24 > 0:31:29'Things were very different when the family first came here in 1820.
0:31:29 > 0:31:31'It was the height of the Industrial Revolution
0:31:31 > 0:31:35'and the town was a very unhealthy place to live.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39'The Reverend Patrick Bronte brought his wife, Maria,
0:31:39 > 0:31:43'and the six children to live here in the town's parsonage.
0:31:44 > 0:31:48'Yet barely a year later, Maria Bronte died,
0:31:48 > 0:31:53'and within four years, she was followed by the two eldest children.'
0:31:54 > 0:31:58'For the remaining family, this would be their home
0:31:58 > 0:32:00'for the rest of their lives.'
0:32:01 > 0:32:05This house provided the family with a simple but comfortable safe haven
0:32:05 > 0:32:09in which their imaginations could simply flourish
0:32:09 > 0:32:13to produce some of the most progressive and important works in English literature.
0:32:13 > 0:32:14This is the very first time
0:32:14 > 0:32:17that I've ever set eyes on the Parsonage Museum,
0:32:17 > 0:32:19so it's going to be a real thrill
0:32:19 > 0:32:22to cross that threshold and step back in time. Here goes.
0:32:37 > 0:32:41'The Reverend Bronte was a self-educated man
0:32:41 > 0:32:43'from very working-class roots in Ireland
0:32:43 > 0:32:46'who managed to make his way to Cambridge University.'
0:32:48 > 0:32:51Now, like every father, he wanted the best for his children
0:32:51 > 0:32:54and he encouraged them to educate themselves,
0:32:54 > 0:32:56which they did to a very high standard.
0:32:56 > 0:33:00But what's not known is how aware he was of his daughters' literary ambitions.
0:33:00 > 0:33:02Every night at nine o'clock,
0:33:02 > 0:33:05he would walk up these stairs and wind up this old longcase clock
0:33:05 > 0:33:10and then suggest to his three girls that they not stay up too late.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17But after their father retired upstairs,
0:33:17 > 0:33:19it's said that the girls, Charlotte, Emily and Anne,
0:33:19 > 0:33:22would walk around and around this table reading their prose
0:33:22 > 0:33:24out loud to gauge each other's opinion.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27So it's quite safe to say that their masterpieces
0:33:27 > 0:33:30were created right here in this very dining room.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33It certainly makes your heart beat faster.
0:33:48 > 0:33:53'In 1847, all three sisters had works published,
0:33:53 > 0:33:57'Charlotte's Jane Eyre, Emily's Wuthering Heights
0:33:57 > 0:33:59'and Anne's Agnes Grey.'
0:34:02 > 0:34:04But, sadly, within two years,
0:34:04 > 0:34:06Charlotte would lose both her sisters to TB,
0:34:06 > 0:34:09and soon her identity would become widely known.
0:34:09 > 0:34:13People would come from far and wide just to try and catch a glimpse of her.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16The Bronte phenomenon had just begun.
0:34:21 > 0:34:23Things started to gather momentum
0:34:23 > 0:34:26after Charlotte's own passing and the death of her father.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29Their objects became the desire of fortune-hunters,
0:34:29 > 0:34:33including one of the most infamous Victorian forgers of all time.
0:34:33 > 0:34:34I've come here to talk to Anne,
0:34:34 > 0:34:37who's the head of collections here at the Parsonage.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40So, what happened to all of their personal belongings?
0:34:40 > 0:34:43After the deaths of all the Brontes,
0:34:43 > 0:34:49their personal items, mainly the manuscripts and letters, were taken by Charlotte's widower
0:34:49 > 0:34:53back to Northern Ireland, where he'd come from.
0:34:53 > 0:34:56And Ellen Nussey, who was Charlotte's oldest friend,
0:34:56 > 0:35:00she had a large collection, about 500 letters.
0:35:03 > 0:35:08She was constantly being sought out by biographers and scholars,
0:35:08 > 0:35:11all wanting access to her hoard of letters.
0:35:11 > 0:35:15- Was she duped into selling them? - She was. She was.
0:35:15 > 0:35:19Thomas J Wise was a very well-respected book collector.
0:35:19 > 0:35:24He persuaded both Nicholls and Ellen Nussey to part with their collections
0:35:24 > 0:35:29on the understanding that they would be deposited in a national collection,
0:35:29 > 0:35:31but he sold them to the highest bidder.
0:35:31 > 0:35:35- He was a master forger, wasn't he? - He was a master forger.
0:35:35 > 0:35:37Old rogue. Let's have a look at some of the items
0:35:37 > 0:35:39you've shown me today. This little book.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42This is a tiny little book by Charlotte Bronte.
0:35:45 > 0:35:48- Written in 1829. - Why did they make them so small?
0:35:48 > 0:35:52Because, originally, they were intended for toy soldiers.
0:35:52 > 0:35:55Oh. So the toy soldiers had to read them, they had to be to scale.
0:35:55 > 0:36:00Yeah. It all just sparked their imaginary world.
0:36:00 > 0:36:03- I presume that's written with a quill.- It would've been, yeah.
0:36:03 > 0:36:07- I think... - Can you make that out?- Erm...
0:36:07 > 0:36:10- No, I can't.- Let's have a go.
0:36:10 > 0:36:15"On the great something..." The glass town...
0:36:15 > 0:36:19- The glass town's their imaginary kingdom.- Oh, was it?
0:36:19 > 0:36:21They were actually in their early teens
0:36:21 > 0:36:22when they started producing these
0:36:22 > 0:36:24and I think a lot of the things
0:36:24 > 0:36:27- they were writing about were probably unsuitable.- Oh, right.
0:36:27 > 0:36:31- If their father came across... - They could hide them. - He couldn't read them.
0:36:31 > 0:36:35- What's here?- This is an example of what collectors,
0:36:35 > 0:36:39and Wise in particular, did when they acquired manuscripts.
0:36:39 > 0:36:43- They had these handsome bindings produced.- Leather-bound.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46Leather-bound, gilt-tooled and you've got...
0:36:46 > 0:36:49- Look at that filigree work.- ..one of the little books.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52This is a poem by Charlotte Bronte.
0:36:54 > 0:36:57Look at that. Incredible.
0:36:59 > 0:37:02When you think of the thousands of pounds
0:37:02 > 0:37:05that have changed hands for these manuscripts
0:37:05 > 0:37:10and how little the Brontes ever made from their writing...
0:37:10 > 0:37:14Now, these are a collection of Charlotte's letters.
0:37:14 > 0:37:19This is the very first letter that she wrote to Ellen Nussey in 1831.
0:37:19 > 0:37:23Very formal and schoolgirlish.
0:37:23 > 0:37:26- These are quite faint.- These are actually the very last letters
0:37:26 > 0:37:29that Charlotte ever wrote to Ellen Nussey.
0:37:29 > 0:37:34At this point in her life, she was actually dying. In fact, there's actually a note on the back here
0:37:34 > 0:37:36in Ellen Nussey's handwriting.
0:37:36 > 0:37:39"Dear CB's pencilled letters from her bed of death."
0:37:40 > 0:37:43- Very important document.- Yep. - Exceptionally important.
0:37:43 > 0:37:47Because virtually nothing was known of them during their lifetime.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50- They didn't really make any money at all, did they?- That's right.
0:37:51 > 0:37:55- You must be a real expert on the Brontes.- I'm very privileged.
0:37:55 > 0:37:56You are, aren't you?
0:37:59 > 0:38:01Well, that was a real thrill for me,
0:38:01 > 0:38:04to have the opportunity to see the house
0:38:04 > 0:38:07where the Brontes wrote their incredible novels
0:38:07 > 0:38:09and to see some of the original writing
0:38:09 > 0:38:13and lovely personal items, as well. Very tasteful ones.
0:38:13 > 0:38:17We are so lucky in this country that organisations exist, like the Bronte Society,
0:38:17 > 0:38:20which help protect our literary heritage,
0:38:20 > 0:38:22so it's not just tucked away in private collections,
0:38:22 > 0:38:26so that we can all see it and enjoy it.
0:38:40 > 0:38:44'Back at our valuation day at the town hall in the heart of Todmorden,
0:38:44 > 0:38:47'the crowds are still pouring through the door,
0:38:47 > 0:38:50'bringing along a huge variety of weird and wonderful things.'
0:38:50 > 0:38:52Looks like Rusty's falling asleep.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55Wake up, Rusty! You can go home soon!
0:38:55 > 0:38:58We get all sorts of things turning up at a "Flog It!" valuation day,
0:38:58 > 0:39:00but I've never seen a couple of donkeys.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03Time to go back inside and catch up with our experts.
0:39:03 > 0:39:05Hopefully Adam Partridge isn't making an ass of himself.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12'Adam is surprised to have come across
0:39:12 > 0:39:14'his second Chinese item of the day.'
0:39:14 > 0:39:17- Well, it's Barbara, isn't it?- Yes. - Good morning.- Good morning.
0:39:17 > 0:39:22So, how does a jade pendant from China end up in Todmorden?
0:39:22 > 0:39:26About 30 years ago, I was sent it.
0:39:26 > 0:39:28Some people I knew moved out to Hong Kong
0:39:28 > 0:39:31and they sent it to me as a thank you.
0:39:31 > 0:39:35I didn't think I'd done anything particularly for them, but they sent it to me
0:39:35 > 0:39:38and they put the paperwork in it,
0:39:38 > 0:39:41- saying that it was... - Let's see paperwork!
0:39:41 > 0:39:43It was to come through customs,
0:39:43 > 0:39:46of course, and it just said that it was over 100 years old.
0:39:46 > 0:39:52So our receipt here says it's "old jade pandent".
0:39:52 > 0:39:55Pendent. They spelt it wrong. Their English wasn't so good.
0:39:55 > 0:39:57Over 100 years old.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59Well, I think it's about 100 years old, a touch more,
0:39:59 > 0:40:02but I don't think it's an ancient piece of jade.
0:40:02 > 0:40:08- When was the last time you wore it? - Oh, 1979, 1980.
0:40:08 > 0:40:10So soon after you got it.
0:40:10 > 0:40:13- I had a Chinese dress, you see? - Oh!- So I wore it.
0:40:13 > 0:40:18When I went to parties, I put the Chinese dress on and the pendant.
0:40:18 > 0:40:23You've got to marvel at the skill involved in carving jade,
0:40:23 > 0:40:26- which is very hard stone to carve.- Yes.
0:40:26 > 0:40:29- And it's been done rather nicely. - It has.
0:40:29 > 0:40:31You do see jade pendants out there quite often.
0:40:31 > 0:40:36And they vary in terms of age and quality and intricacy of carving.
0:40:36 > 0:40:40- And this is sort of middling, without wishing to be rude.- No, no.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43You get them a lot better and cruder, too.
0:40:43 > 0:40:48- Have you got any idea what you think it might be worth?- Nothing at all.
0:40:48 > 0:40:53- The Chinese market is a little bit scary at the moment, because it's very, very strong.- Right.
0:40:53 > 0:40:57And anything Chinese tends to get people quite excited.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59A lot of the Chinese buyers from abroad now,
0:40:59 > 0:41:01from China and all over the world,
0:41:01 > 0:41:05- wherever they've settled, are buying things back.- Right.
0:41:05 > 0:41:09And some early jade can make frightening sums of money.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12But I'm pretty sure this is quite a later one,
0:41:12 > 0:41:15so I'm going to be cautious with the estimate.
0:41:15 > 0:41:19- My view is it's worth £50 to £80. - Ah, right. Not very much at all.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22- Hopefully, a bit more.- Right. - You look a bit disappointed.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25- Well, it would've been nice to be more.- It would be!
0:41:25 > 0:41:28Sometimes, jades can make fortunes.
0:41:28 > 0:41:30So I could be really embarrassed here.
0:41:30 > 0:41:32I'd like you to be embarrassed.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35- That'd be wonderful. - I'm sure everybody here would.
0:41:35 > 0:41:38- Everybody in Todmorden would. - Thank you, Todmorden.
0:41:38 > 0:41:42- We might have all the flights coming in from Hong Kong to buy it. - You never know.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45- Leeds Airport could be as busy as ever.- It could.
0:41:51 > 0:41:52- Hello there!- Hi!
0:41:52 > 0:41:55There's Walter Langleys here! Newlyn School!
0:41:55 > 0:41:57- Everybody enjoying themselves? - HE LAUGHS
0:41:57 > 0:42:02Hello! That's really nice. That's a little pepperette.
0:42:02 > 0:42:04And that was the man that bought it?
0:42:04 > 0:42:07Yeah. He's my grandfather. Isn't he nice?
0:42:07 > 0:42:10Oh, he's got your eyes. Yes, I can see!
0:42:10 > 0:42:15He'd gone all through the war. He lost his right arm.
0:42:15 > 0:42:19- You're not selling this?- Oh, no! - That's a treasure for life! - I'd never sell.
0:42:19 > 0:42:24Hopefully, we've made your day today. You made mine, anyway.
0:42:24 > 0:42:28- Do you say that to everyone?- Yeah. - THEY LAUGH
0:42:33 > 0:42:36'Gloria had a vase by a famous designer,
0:42:36 > 0:42:38'but can you guess who it is?'
0:42:43 > 0:42:47Before we even come close to this, we can see from a distance
0:42:47 > 0:42:49that it screams Charlotte Rhead.
0:42:49 > 0:42:52Have you had it in your family for a long time?
0:42:52 > 0:42:55I've had it a long time and I used to have a plant in it
0:42:55 > 0:43:00and then one day, a niece came and said, "Nice piece of Charlotte Rhead"
0:43:00 > 0:43:02so the plant came out and in a cabinet
0:43:02 > 0:43:04it went and that's where it's sat.
0:43:04 > 0:43:06SHE LAUGHS
0:43:06 > 0:43:08No sentimental value whatsoever.
0:43:08 > 0:43:11So, as soon as you knew it was by somebody in particular,
0:43:11 > 0:43:14you chucked out the plant and preserved it in the cabinet.
0:43:14 > 0:43:17- Yes.- I like that. Great story.
0:43:17 > 0:43:20But it's interesting that your niece picked up on it straight away,
0:43:20 > 0:43:24because this is so characteristic of her in every way
0:43:24 > 0:43:27and you can spot it from a distance,
0:43:27 > 0:43:29you can see that it is Charlotte Rhead.
0:43:29 > 0:43:33It's the colourways, first of all. That sort of murky brown on the top.
0:43:33 > 0:43:37You don't mind me calling it murky brown? But that's what it is.
0:43:37 > 0:43:43And then the greens here and the bright oranges.
0:43:43 > 0:43:46And just the whole pattern, which is know as Tudor Rose.
0:43:46 > 0:43:50We know that she did quite a lot of this, what we call the tube lining,
0:43:50 > 0:43:55which is where the decoration here is individually outlined,
0:43:55 > 0:43:58almost as if it's squeezed through the icing tubes,
0:43:58 > 0:44:02it's got that slightly raised relief feel to it.
0:44:02 > 0:44:04Let's just have a closer look,
0:44:04 > 0:44:08and we can turn it over and we can see there her signature.
0:44:08 > 0:44:13Charlotte Rhead. And this, to me, is definitely a 1930s piece.
0:44:13 > 0:44:16Charlotte Rhead's designs are very popular at auction,
0:44:16 > 0:44:22but often it's the big chargers or the large vases that really command the high prices.
0:44:22 > 0:44:25Something like this I would be happy to value at £60 to £80,
0:44:25 > 0:44:28- with a reserve of £40. How does that grab you?- That's fine.
0:44:28 > 0:44:30- Are you happy to sell at that?- Yes.
0:44:30 > 0:44:32Not bad for something you just had your plant in.
0:44:32 > 0:44:37- That's right, yeah. - OK, I shall put it in the auction in a couple of weeks
0:44:37 > 0:44:41- and we'll get together and hopefully it'll make a bit more than that.- OK.
0:44:41 > 0:44:43- Thanks, Gloria. Good to meet you. - Thanks.
0:44:46 > 0:44:50'Kate has brought along another 1930s classic
0:44:50 > 0:44:52'for Adam to have a look at.'
0:44:52 > 0:44:55- Kate, are you from Todmorden? - No, I'm not.- How far have you come?
0:44:55 > 0:44:59I've come from Halifax, but I actually live in Norwich,
0:44:59 > 0:45:01but I'm visiting a friend in Halifax.
0:45:01 > 0:45:03- And you knew it was on?- I did.
0:45:03 > 0:45:06- You just happen to have your Clarice Cliff?- I had it about my person.
0:45:06 > 0:45:09I'm quite interested to find out more about it,
0:45:09 > 0:45:11because it's quite an unusual pattern
0:45:11 > 0:45:14- and we've been searching for the pattern and can't find it.- Yes.
0:45:14 > 0:45:18- And I just thought it was a nice shape.- It is.
0:45:18 > 0:45:22- So I was quite interested to know... - It's a classic deco shape.
0:45:22 > 0:45:25It's the Bonjour shape from the Clarice Cliff range
0:45:25 > 0:45:27and I'm sure this is the biscuit box,
0:45:27 > 0:45:29what they refer to as a biscuit container.
0:45:29 > 0:45:31I thought it was a vegetable dish,
0:45:31 > 0:45:33cos I've got it as part of a dinner service.
0:45:33 > 0:45:35Well, the last one I had of these
0:45:35 > 0:45:37was certainly referred to as a biscuit box.
0:45:37 > 0:45:40I don't know if you could get that many vegetables in here.
0:45:40 > 0:45:42Probably not. More biscuits, really.
0:45:43 > 0:45:46Well, this is a slightly later piece of Clarice Cliff,
0:45:46 > 0:45:48as we can tell from the bottom,
0:45:48 > 0:45:52because it's the Biarritz range, the Royal Staffordshire range,
0:45:52 > 0:45:58which was a later revival of the good shapes from the high years.
0:45:58 > 0:46:02With regards to the pattern, we've had a good searching ourselves
0:46:02 > 0:46:05- and so far, we haven't come up with it.- No.
0:46:05 > 0:46:09If you were optimistic, you'd think, "Isn't that great? A rare pattern!"
0:46:09 > 0:46:12but I think it's probably not the case,
0:46:12 > 0:46:16- it's just a pattern that isn't instantly recognisable.- Yeah.
0:46:16 > 0:46:19- I would expect that to make about £100.- OK.
0:46:19 > 0:46:23- That's fine.- Is it?- Yeah. Absolutely. - I was waiting for that reaction.
0:46:23 > 0:46:25No, no, no. That's kind of what I was expecting.
0:46:25 > 0:46:27- Happy with that?- Very happy.
0:46:27 > 0:46:29So the classic 80-120 estimate and see what it makes
0:46:29 > 0:46:32on the day. Hopefully we can find the pattern.
0:46:32 > 0:46:33That would be good.
0:46:35 > 0:46:40Patricia has brought in a projector with slides to show Catherine.
0:46:40 > 0:46:43Tell me, where did you get this from?
0:46:43 > 0:46:47- I bought it from a farmer near Haworth, the Bronte Country.- Right.
0:46:47 > 0:46:51And he was clearing an old barn out, and I paid £30 for it.
0:46:51 > 0:46:55You paid £30 for it. Right. OK. Let's just have a little look at it.
0:46:55 > 0:46:59Made in Germany. Probably dates from the early part of the 20th century,
0:46:59 > 0:47:031920s, that sort of date. Now, the glass slides here...
0:47:03 > 0:47:05- Let's just have a look.- Right.
0:47:05 > 0:47:08Let's just put them in front of our special light we've got here,
0:47:08 > 0:47:12and we can see here, these cute little figures
0:47:12 > 0:47:16of gentlemen playing instruments and ladies dancing,
0:47:16 > 0:47:20really quite nice scenes. Are they all quite similar?
0:47:20 > 0:47:23- Yes, I think they are. - Right. So, we'll put that here.
0:47:25 > 0:47:29- Windmills and things...- Yes. - All of a similar sort of nature.
0:47:29 > 0:47:33Sometimes these are hand-painted, but I think these are transfers.
0:47:33 > 0:47:36- Yes.- Looks like there should have been another couple here.
0:47:36 > 0:47:39- It does. - We're missing a couple of slides.
0:47:39 > 0:47:42- Have you ever had this working? - Yes, I've had it working once.
0:47:42 > 0:47:46There was smoke coming out of the top of it,
0:47:46 > 0:47:50and a white screen up on the wall. We got gassed with the fumes,
0:47:50 > 0:47:54- so we stopped using it.- Right. Because the way that it works is,
0:47:54 > 0:47:58you would put some paraffin inside and then light it,
0:47:58 > 0:48:01and then you mentioned that the smoke all came out of the top.
0:48:01 > 0:48:04And you would put your glass slides in here.
0:48:04 > 0:48:08There are people who collect magic lanterns.
0:48:08 > 0:48:10It's actually got a really big following.
0:48:10 > 0:48:13- There is the Magic Lantern Society. - Oh, is there?
0:48:13 > 0:48:15People go crazy for lanterns,
0:48:15 > 0:48:18but they're really interested in collecting novelty ones.
0:48:18 > 0:48:20I've sold on in the shape of an Eiffel Tower...
0:48:20 > 0:48:22- Oh, yes? - ..Buddhas and things like that.
0:48:22 > 0:48:26But this is really, you know, a small example,
0:48:26 > 0:48:31- a child's toy, really. It's probably a child's magic lantern.- Yes.
0:48:31 > 0:48:34- Now, you say you paid £30 for it. - Yes.
0:48:34 > 0:48:37That's probably quite a lot of money to pay for it,
0:48:37 > 0:48:41as I wouldn't expect it to make a lot more than that at auction.
0:48:41 > 0:48:46I would suggest putting a pre-sale estimate on of £40 to £60.
0:48:46 > 0:48:49- Right.- Thank you for coming along, and I hope it does well at auction.
0:48:49 > 0:48:52- So do I. Thanks very much.- Thank you.
0:48:52 > 0:48:55- BELL RINGS - Does anyone fancy a biscuit?
0:48:55 > 0:48:57Yay!
0:48:57 > 0:48:59Give us one of your mean stares.
0:48:59 > 0:49:03- Now, our experts are normally on the money, aren't they?- Certainly are.
0:49:03 > 0:49:08- Who's your favourite?- Er... Adam. - Ohh! And Catherine on this side.
0:49:08 > 0:49:10You see, it's a nation divided.
0:49:10 > 0:49:12Let's see what happens right now, shall we?
0:49:12 > 0:49:16Here's a rundown of all the items before they go under the hammer.
0:49:17 > 0:49:21'And our remaining lots are Barbara's Chinese jade pendant
0:49:21 > 0:49:25'that she's hoping will sell for rather more than Adam's estimate.
0:49:25 > 0:49:29'The lovely Charlotte Rhead vase that Gloria used as a plant pot.
0:49:30 > 0:49:33'The 1920s magic lantern, with slides.
0:49:34 > 0:49:41'And lastly, the Clarice Cliff biscuit barrel with the unusual pattern.'
0:49:41 > 0:49:45This is where all the action starts, the Calder Valley auction rooms,
0:49:45 > 0:49:47and everybody is in good spirits,
0:49:47 > 0:49:49the sun is shining, optimism is in the air.
0:49:49 > 0:49:52But for our owners, it's a roller coaster ride.
0:49:52 > 0:49:54For you at home, it's an armchair visit.
0:49:54 > 0:49:58Sit back and enjoy this. Someone's going home with a lot of money.
0:49:58 > 0:50:01'First up, it's the Clarice Cliff,
0:50:01 > 0:50:04'and further research has revealed the pattern.'
0:50:04 > 0:50:07- It's called Grill.- It is. - Which is a boring name.
0:50:07 > 0:50:10- I've never heard of that.- No.- Grill.
0:50:10 > 0:50:14- So I've been looking for 20 years for that.- Does that change the valuation?
0:50:14 > 0:50:18- Does it make it anything special? - No, it's not a significant design.
0:50:18 > 0:50:21- It's nice.- Well, let's put it to the test, shall we?
0:50:21 > 0:50:24- It'll make its money.- Let's see if the Clarice buyers
0:50:24 > 0:50:27are here, it's going under the hammer right now.
0:50:27 > 0:50:32The Art Deco Clarice Cliff lidded terrine
0:50:32 > 0:50:35decorated with a Grill pattern.
0:50:35 > 0:50:37Good-looking piece there.
0:50:37 > 0:50:41What am I bid for this lot here? 100? 80?
0:50:41 > 0:50:45£50, thank you. £50. At £50. At 50.
0:50:45 > 0:50:48And 5. 60. At 60.
0:50:48 > 0:50:51And 5. 70.
0:50:51 > 0:50:55£70. And 5. At £75.
0:50:55 > 0:51:00Are we all finished at 75? The Clarice Cliff at £75.
0:51:00 > 0:51:03One further bid will do. At £75. Are we all done?
0:51:06 > 0:51:09- There's always a first. - I can't believe that.
0:51:09 > 0:51:11- I can't believe that. - Would you have let it go at £75?
0:51:11 > 0:51:14- No.- No.- No, not really.
0:51:14 > 0:51:18- It's worth £80. It's worth 80 to 120, surely.- Exactly.
0:51:18 > 0:51:21- I trust my expert.- Thank you, Kate.
0:51:21 > 0:51:26'What a shame. Just £5 off. Still, Kate seems quite relieved.
0:51:26 > 0:51:29'Finger crossed we get a better result for Barbara.'
0:51:29 > 0:51:32Right now, something from the Orient has come to the Calder Valley.
0:51:32 > 0:51:34Can you remember what it is?
0:51:34 > 0:51:37It's that lovely bit of Chinese jade belonging to Barbara.
0:51:37 > 0:51:39Not a lot of money, but hopefully,
0:51:39 > 0:51:42we'll get the top end of Adam's estimate.
0:51:42 > 0:51:44And I know what the money's going towards,
0:51:44 > 0:51:47because you want some underground heating,
0:51:47 > 0:51:50not under-floor heating, we're talking real eco-friendly here.
0:51:50 > 0:51:53- Yes.- You're the greenest person I've ever met in my life.
0:51:53 > 0:51:55We have our own wind turbine for electricity,
0:51:55 > 0:51:58our own water supply and our own sewage system.
0:51:58 > 0:52:03- It puts us to shame. I try to be as environmental as possible, don't you?- Yes.
0:52:03 > 0:52:05And we have little smallholdings and things,
0:52:05 > 0:52:07but we're nowhere near up to Barbara's level.
0:52:07 > 0:52:11It's just recycling and feeding the chickens with the leftovers!
0:52:11 > 0:52:14THEY LAUGH We have all those going on, as well.
0:52:14 > 0:52:17Well, this is a little part towards it.
0:52:17 > 0:52:20Fingers crossed we can get the top end, around £60.
0:52:23 > 0:52:25Chinese circular jade pendant.
0:52:25 > 0:52:2814-carat gold mount.
0:52:28 > 0:52:31Right, we have a phone connected.
0:52:31 > 0:52:36- And I'm going to open this at £100. - Yes!- £100 bid. 120.
0:52:36 > 0:52:41- That's a great start. - 120. 140. At £140.
0:52:41 > 0:52:44Any advance on 140? 160 if you like. 140. 160.
0:52:44 > 0:52:47- 180. At £180.- This is excellent!
0:52:47 > 0:52:53Against £180. 180. 200 if you like. At £180.
0:52:53 > 0:52:59£200 on the phone. £200. 220 on the commission bid. 220 against you.
0:52:59 > 0:53:01220.
0:53:01 > 0:53:04- 240. I have 260.- This is incredible.
0:53:04 > 0:53:06They are falling in love with this.
0:53:07 > 0:53:11- £280 on the phone.- £280!
0:53:11 > 0:53:13- That is a surprise.- At £300.
0:53:13 > 0:53:18- Are we all done? 320. - 320!- Yours at 320.
0:53:18 > 0:53:22Any further bids? At £320 then on the phone.
0:53:23 > 0:53:27How exciting was that? Chinese artefacts are so sought-after
0:53:27 > 0:53:29because their economy is so strong right now,
0:53:29 > 0:53:33- they're buying everything back, aren't they?- And it's so unpredictable.- Yes, it is.
0:53:33 > 0:53:35Another jade will make 20 quid,
0:53:35 > 0:53:38and the difference between them is very hard to distinguish.
0:53:38 > 0:53:42- There was something about it. - You've got to be so happy!- I am.
0:53:42 > 0:53:44It's a start towards the borehole.
0:53:44 > 0:53:47I hope you get it, I really do.
0:53:47 > 0:53:49Thank you.
0:53:49 > 0:53:52Next up, it's the 1920s magic lantern.
0:53:52 > 0:53:54On the preview day I caught up with auctioneer Ian
0:53:54 > 0:53:56to discuss its prospects.
0:53:56 > 0:53:58It belongs to Patricia, she bought it from a farmer.
0:53:58 > 0:54:02We've got a valuation of £40 to £60.
0:54:02 > 0:54:06She rang me up and said, "Ooh, look, I've found these additional slides,
0:54:06 > 0:54:09children's slides." "Ooh," I said. "Bring them down."
0:54:09 > 0:54:14And in my opinion it's actually well and truly enhanced that lot,
0:54:14 > 0:54:19possibly by double. There's a new auction estimate of 80 to 100,
0:54:19 > 0:54:23and I think the reserve is now 75 with slight discretion.
0:54:23 > 0:54:27Very pleased that this lady took the trouble to come across on the bus
0:54:27 > 0:54:30all the way from Burnley, in the rain, to bring this.
0:54:30 > 0:54:33- We took her back to the bus stop. - Did you? That was kind of you.
0:54:33 > 0:54:36That's what I call an auctioneer earning his commission!
0:54:38 > 0:54:42'We're about to discover whether those new slides will make all the difference.'
0:54:43 > 0:54:46- Thank goodness you found them! - I did.
0:54:46 > 0:54:48Have you spent many hours looking at them?
0:54:48 > 0:54:53- No. I've had them about 20 years. - Did you ever look at them?
0:54:53 > 0:54:56Not in detail, but I have seen them on the projector.
0:54:56 > 0:55:00- We did have it going once. We did take them out.- Good luck.
0:55:00 > 0:55:03- Thank you. I'm so pleased about the slides.- So am I.
0:55:03 > 0:55:05Let's find out what the bidders think.
0:55:05 > 0:55:08Plenty of collectors would love to get their hands on this.
0:55:08 > 0:55:10We're going to find out right now.
0:55:12 > 0:55:15The early 20th-century German portable magic lantern,
0:55:15 > 0:55:20plus ten boxed slides, Three Little Pigs, etc.
0:55:20 > 0:55:23- Rather nice little lot, this. - So sweet!
0:55:23 > 0:55:26And... Right. Let's have an opening bid, please,
0:55:26 > 0:55:29of £50. 50. £40.
0:55:29 > 0:55:32Thank you. 40 I'm bid. £50. £50. 55.
0:55:32 > 0:55:3455. And £60.
0:55:34 > 0:55:37- Keen bidding.- And 65.
0:55:37 > 0:55:39And 65. And £70. 70.
0:55:39 > 0:55:42I have £70. And 70.
0:55:42 > 0:55:45Any further bids? 75?
0:55:45 > 0:55:48At £70, then, the back of the room. We're selling at 70.
0:55:48 > 0:55:51Are there any other bids? At £70. At £70, then,
0:55:51 > 0:55:53back of the room...
0:55:55 > 0:55:58The hammer's gone down. £70. You've said goodbye.
0:55:58 > 0:56:00Oh, are you a bit upset about that?
0:56:00 > 0:56:03I thought it would've gone for a little bit more.
0:56:03 > 0:56:05So did I, to tell you the truth.
0:56:05 > 0:56:08'I loved that lot. Shame it didn't make a little bit more,
0:56:08 > 0:56:11'but Ian used his discretion and sold it.
0:56:11 > 0:56:14'Now it's time for our last lot to go under the hammer.'
0:56:14 > 0:56:17- Good luck with your Charlotte Rhead vase, Gloria.- Thank you.
0:56:17 > 0:56:21I wonder if it would make any more money than the
0:56:21 > 0:56:23£60 to £80 that we're looking at
0:56:23 > 0:56:26- if you'd kept the plant in it. - THEY LAUGH
0:56:26 > 0:56:30- That was so funny at the valuation day!- Brilliant story, wasn't it?
0:56:30 > 0:56:33But I guess you use things like that. They're practical.
0:56:33 > 0:56:35If there's no sentimental value
0:56:35 > 0:56:38and you don't really like the thing, why not use it as a planter?
0:56:38 > 0:56:42- That's what I thought it was for. - Well, it is. It is a vase.
0:56:44 > 0:56:48Charlotte Rhead signed vase.
0:56:48 > 0:56:50It's the orange and beige Tudor Rose pattern.
0:56:53 > 0:56:58- Am I bid £40 to open? 30? 20, thank you.- We're in.
0:56:58 > 0:57:00At 20. And 5.
0:57:00 > 0:57:0330. And 5. 40.
0:57:03 > 0:57:06And 5. 50. And 5.
0:57:06 > 0:57:0860. And 5.
0:57:08 > 0:57:10At £65 bid.
0:57:10 > 0:57:13At 65 at the back of the room.
0:57:13 > 0:57:1570, fresh bid. £70.
0:57:15 > 0:57:1775. 80.
0:57:17 > 0:57:19£80. 85.
0:57:19 > 0:57:24Lady's bid at £85. Are you all done at £85?
0:57:24 > 0:57:26It's going for £85.
0:57:27 > 0:57:31- Yes! £85! Spot on. - I'm pleased about that.
0:57:31 > 0:57:35And I'm pleased for you, as well. Somebody else is going to enjoy it
0:57:35 > 0:57:36but you can enjoy the £85.
0:57:36 > 0:57:40Don't forget, there's commission to pay, 15 percent plus VAT.
0:57:40 > 0:57:44So you've got to factor that into what you receive in the post,
0:57:44 > 0:57:47- but this was your first auction experience, wasn't it?- Yeah.
0:57:47 > 0:57:50Sum it up, first auction.
0:57:50 > 0:57:53- Exciting?- Brilliant, yeah. - Going to come back?- Yes.
0:57:53 > 0:57:56- Going to sell some more things, or coming back to buy things?- To buy.
0:57:56 > 0:57:59- Ooh.- It's that buzz, isn't it?
0:57:59 > 0:58:01Don't get carried away, though!
0:58:01 > 0:58:05'What a fantastic roller coaster ride it's been today.'
0:58:10 > 0:58:12That's it. It's all over for our owners and, sadly,
0:58:12 > 0:58:14it's the end of another show.
0:58:14 > 0:58:16We've had a fabulous time here in the Calder Valley,
0:58:16 > 0:58:19and I can't wait to come back to Yorkshire.
0:58:19 > 0:58:20But for now, it's goodbye.