0:00:06 > 0:00:10Welcome to Malvern, famous for its ancient hills and beautiful clear spring water.
0:00:10 > 0:00:14Today, Flog It is drinking up the atmosphere as we head into town.
0:00:37 > 0:00:41The magnificent ancient Malvern Hills and Malvern pure spring water
0:00:41 > 0:00:43go hand in hand, really, because let's face it,
0:00:43 > 0:00:46without the hills there wouldn't be any water
0:00:46 > 0:00:49and the hills are a mind boggling 600 million years old
0:00:49 > 0:00:54and they consist of a very hard rock formation which have formed into a network of fractures
0:00:54 > 0:00:59and the rainwater runs down through these fractures and eventually out into a series of springs
0:00:59 > 0:01:01which are dotted all around the town.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08Now, because of the unique hardness of the rock in the Malvern Hills,
0:01:08 > 0:01:12the spring water is quite pure actually, which is good news.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16Not a lot of minerals filter into the water and the great news is,
0:01:16 > 0:01:21if you're a local, you don't have to buy this stuff at the supermarket, it's absolutely free.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24Just queue up and help yourself and get fully refreshed,
0:01:24 > 0:01:28but I'm going to now join up with our experts over at the valuation day
0:01:28 > 0:01:32and see what antiques and collectables are springing up over there. Join me later.
0:01:36 > 0:01:41And this is where we're valuing all the antiques and collectables today, the Malvern Theatres,
0:01:41 > 0:01:45which host many different events throughout the year from pantos to musicals
0:01:45 > 0:01:49and even highbrow theatre, but topping the bill today for one day only
0:01:49 > 0:01:53the fantabulous Adam Partridge and the glamorous Kate Bateman.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57Well, it is now 9.30, it's time to get the curtain up,
0:01:57 > 0:02:00get everybody in the seats and let's start the show.
0:02:00 > 0:02:08Our team of experts are raring to go. Leading the way are Adam and Kate.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11Adam's first-ever job was as an auction porter.
0:02:11 > 0:02:16Since then, he's risen to the dizzy heights of owning his own saleroom in Cheshire.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20- Do you do any needlework yourself? - No.- She can't even sew a button on!
0:02:20 > 0:02:25- Really?- Shocking.- We've got something in common there then.
0:02:25 > 0:02:30And Kate nearly became a ballet dancer, but instead fine art and antiques won her heart
0:02:30 > 0:02:34and now she runs a successful saleroom with her father in Lincolnshire.
0:02:34 > 0:02:39Show and tell, what have you got at the back here? Oh, pictures!
0:02:39 > 0:02:44While everybody's getting seated, let's have a sneak preview of what's coming up on today's show.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48A father and daughter team bring Kate a curio.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52You just basically focus it so your eye focuses
0:02:52 > 0:02:56and then look through here and it actually looks like the girls are, like, standing out at you.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59And I'm lucky enough to stumble across a real treasure.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02And I'm very envious, June, very envious.
0:03:02 > 0:03:09But, first, Adam is curious to see what Richard has in his Moroccan red leather box.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12- Can you open it up for me, please? - Certainly, my pleasure.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16- There we are. - You've got a lovely silver jug.
0:03:16 > 0:03:20A lovely silver tankard there. A christening tankard.
0:03:20 > 0:03:21Can I take the tankard out?
0:03:21 > 0:03:23- Sure.- Let's have a look at it.
0:03:23 > 0:03:28It belonged to my step-grandfather, so my father's stepfather.
0:03:28 > 0:03:33It's an interesting link because it's been in your family for a long time then, hasn't it?
0:03:33 > 0:03:37- Since a couple of generations at least.- We see these initials and monograms
0:03:37 > 0:03:42on lots of pieces of silver and you always think I wonder who owned that, but you can actually tell us.
0:03:42 > 0:03:43So what are the initials on here?
0:03:43 > 0:03:48Well, we have four initials. My step-grandfather's name was Edward Graham Frazier Thompson.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52He sounds like a dashing character just from the name! What can you tell us?
0:03:52 > 0:03:57I suppose his major contribution was he was a pilot during World War I,
0:03:57 > 0:04:01and a reconnaissance pilot, a specialty.
0:04:01 > 0:04:08- We have some old photographs of his where he has actually photographed the trenches...- Oh, really.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11..and some of the artillery placements and things of that nature.
0:04:11 > 0:04:18He actually even went on to write a book about his experiences as a pilot under the pseudonym Spin.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21- Really?- So if anybody comes across...- There we go.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23..an author named Spin, that was my step-great-grandfather.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25Your step-great-grandfather.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29These photographs of the trenches sound fascinating.
0:04:29 > 0:04:35I mean something like that, that's more personal to me, whereas this is not necessarily of sentimental...
0:04:35 > 0:04:39- Yeah.- ..or important history, family history.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41You've helped answer my question -
0:04:41 > 0:04:45isn't it a shame that you're selling it? But now you've explained that...
0:04:45 > 0:04:46I have so many other memories.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50Well, it must have been quite an affluent family, because this is quite a posh...
0:04:50 > 0:04:53I don't know too much about the Thompson family.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56- Do you know when he was born? - I couldn't tell you that, even.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00- So...- Well, the hallmarks on the cup may help.- Right, yes, I was wondering about that.
0:05:00 > 0:05:05Typically late Victorian in its packaging, late 19th century, and then we've had a look at the marks.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09We've got the M and W of course for Mappin and Webb, the Sheffield crown,
0:05:09 > 0:05:15the lion, of course, and that date letter is for 1895.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19- Right, OK.- So, christening mug we may presume he was born in 1895.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23So, it's a lovely object, but I think the story really makes it
0:05:23 > 0:05:28- because commercially it's not hugely valuable.- No, no. - Any ideas yourself?
0:05:28 > 0:05:31I was thinking anywhere sort of between £40 and £80.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34Bang on, Richard, well done. Absolutely great.
0:05:34 > 0:05:39I think that on its own, 40 to 60. With the box, it might improve it to 60 to 80.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43- Fine, yeah.- Put a reserve there at 50,
0:05:43 > 0:05:46stop it from underselling because it must be worth £50.
0:05:46 > 0:05:51- So, thank you very much for bringing it.- You're very welcome.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55As silver christening mugs go, that one's a real beauty. A good find.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59But there's still plenty of people to see.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03What have we got in here?
0:06:05 > 0:06:07Oh, you've got...some pets in there!
0:06:07 > 0:06:09- Yeah.- You've got your cat, a little pig.
0:06:09 > 0:06:15Kate is examining a stereoscopic viewer belonging to father and daughter James and Molly.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19- I've brought a stereoscope.- Did you inherit it, or you bought it?
0:06:19 > 0:06:23I bought it from a house sale in Aberdeenshire about 30 years ago.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26Can you remember what you paid for it all those years ago?
0:06:26 > 0:06:28I just can't remember. It...
0:06:28 > 0:06:33I didn't have a lot of money at that time, so it would have been very little. £15, £20 I suppose.
0:06:33 > 0:06:38- Oh, that's quite a lot back then, I suppose.- I just can't remember.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42Trip Around The World Through The Stereoscope.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46We often see the cards loose, but you have the box as well,
0:06:46 > 0:06:50made to look like a book. And if we open it up, we've got all of these cards.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53Do you know how it works?
0:06:53 > 0:06:57Yeah, well, this is my favourite one. The two little girls.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59- OK.- So, if you put it in here
0:06:59 > 0:07:04and then you look through this bit,
0:07:04 > 0:07:07so then you just basically focus it
0:07:07 > 0:07:11and then look through here and it actually looks like the girls are standing out at you.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14- So it's 3D.- Yeah.- Yeah, and you have to adjust it to get it to work.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Yeah, so your eyes focus to it.
0:07:17 > 0:07:24You've got a lot of very interesting different views. So I presume you've looked through all of them?
0:07:24 > 0:07:30Yeah, there's some fantastic images of the Boer War, the San Francisco earthquake,
0:07:30 > 0:07:33and just various pictures from around the world.
0:07:33 > 0:07:38That is quite sweet that one, with the girls at tea, that's quite cute.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42Girls today do still have dollies' tea parties, but it's a bygone era.
0:07:42 > 0:07:47- Look how they're dressed with perfect dresses and little bows in their hair. It's really sweet.- Yeah.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49Any ideas on price?
0:07:49 > 0:07:51Well, I wasn't sure.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55- About 80 to 100?- It's hard to know. You've got a whole mixed lot.
0:07:55 > 0:08:02Maybe put it slightly lower, 60 to 100, a slightly wider estimate for the auction, maybe a £50 reserve.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05Yes, that's fine. 60 to 100 estimate for the catalogue. Yeah.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09I think it should go. It's one of those things, there are collectors out there.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13It'll depend if they're interested in the particular cards you've got.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16Apparently you're getting the money when it sells, is that right?
0:08:16 > 0:08:21I'm going on a ski trip next year with the school, so it'll go...
0:08:21 > 0:08:25The money will go to, like, the hat and the salopettes to go...
0:08:25 > 0:08:27OK. An expensive business, then!
0:08:27 > 0:08:30We might be able to get you one ski pole or something, but we will try!
0:08:30 > 0:08:35- That's a really good thing to aim for, so hopefully it will sell.- Yes.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39- Send you off whizzing down a mountain! Thanks very much.- Thanks.
0:08:45 > 0:08:52Now this is the bit I love about Flog It, dipping in and out of the crowd, joining up with them
0:08:52 > 0:08:57and having a chat to people like June who have brought in something that I recognise instantly
0:08:57 > 0:09:00because it's a Robert Lenkiewicz, it's a watercolour.
0:09:00 > 0:09:05I had the good fortune of filming at the Plymouth Museum recently, the Lenkiewicz retrospective,
0:09:05 > 0:09:09and I was thoroughly impressed and I learnt a lot.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12I'm very envious, June, very envious!
0:09:12 > 0:09:16- How did you get to own such a wonderful thing?- It was in 1978,
0:09:16 > 0:09:23- I was travelling with my late husband, who was also an artist, to sell paintings in Cornwall.- Right.
0:09:23 > 0:09:24And we stopped at the Barbican...
0:09:24 > 0:09:29- In Plymouth.- At Plymouth, and we met Robert Lenkiewicz, spent the day with him
0:09:29 > 0:09:34and he was telling us all about his work and his books and his writing.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36Oh, I wish I'd met him, I really do.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39- And we also met Diogenes. - Yes, the tramp that...
0:09:39 > 0:09:43- the down and out that he used to paint.- Yeah, yeah.
0:09:43 > 0:09:50I like the works that he did, the social history aspect of Plymouth. He embraced down and outs -
0:09:50 > 0:09:53- at one stage he had about 20 living in his studio!- I know.
0:09:53 > 0:09:58£25 you paid for this. £25!
0:09:58 > 0:10:03Do you know what it's worth today? Is that what you're here to ask?
0:10:03 > 0:10:05- Just as an enquiry, just to see.- OK.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08Because it holds great sentimental value for me.
0:10:08 > 0:10:16If you put this into auction, it would have a price tag of around £3,000, possibly £4,000.
0:10:16 > 0:10:21I think if you had to buy it in a gallery, maybe just over that.
0:10:21 > 0:10:22- Really?- Yeah.
0:10:22 > 0:10:27- It's got very happy memories for me. - Well, it's put a smile on my face.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31- Well, look, enjoy it. Put it on the wall.- Thank you.- And thank you so much for bringing it in.
0:10:31 > 0:10:36You look really colourful, as well. In fact, you match, look at that!
0:10:36 > 0:10:40- I look like him, do I?- No, no, no! You've got the same lime green.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43Same figure, as well!
0:10:45 > 0:10:47That really was a real treat.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51I just can't believe some of the things that turn up at a Flog It valuation day.
0:10:51 > 0:10:58Adam is chatting to Maxine who's brought in her ten Wedgwood plates with a nautical theme.
0:10:58 > 0:11:04- Is shipping in the family?- My father was a sailor. He was a captain on oil tankers out of New York.
0:11:04 > 0:11:11- Were these your father's plates?- No, he bought them for me as a birthday present.- OK. What every girl wants!
0:11:11 > 0:11:14Yeah, well, he didn't have any sons, he had four daughters.
0:11:14 > 0:11:22So, birthdays, we'd have plates or ships in bottles or something with...that had a nautical feel.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25And I suppose sometimes that was nice
0:11:25 > 0:11:29- and sometimes perhaps you'd have liked...- Oh, no, I liked it, yes.
0:11:29 > 0:11:34- Is this your father's address in New York?- Yes. He was living in New York
0:11:34 > 0:11:40so he wrote to Wedgwood in England to see - he'd heard about them, I suppose -
0:11:40 > 0:11:47to find out how much it would be to ship them and how much they were and, in 1969, they were £11/11s.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51"Sailing ships and clipper ships in fine earthenware by Wedgwood."
0:11:51 > 0:11:54So they did two sets, they did a set of 12 of sailing ships
0:11:54 > 0:11:57- and a slightly smaller set for clipper ships.- Yes.
0:11:57 > 0:12:05- So, it was a set of 12?- Yes, and unfortunately two got broken. The cat knocked them off the dresser.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08They're a printed design on an earthenware plate.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12- So they were of a mass-produced type.- Yeah.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15They were all designed by a chap called George Whales.
0:12:15 > 0:12:20- Really nice things for the collector because all the information about every plate is on the back.- Yes.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23So we could pretend to be great experts here
0:12:23 > 0:12:25and say, well, the Mayflower...
0:12:25 > 0:12:28"The Mayflower brought the pilgrims to Plymouth.
0:12:28 > 0:12:34"Based on the model built in 1922 by Anderson for the Pilgrim Society in Plymouth."
0:12:34 > 0:12:37- So, you can learn from your antiques, as well.- Yes!
0:12:37 > 0:12:43- Did you ever have them on display? - Yes, I had them on a Welsh dresser.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47I've recently moved now to a smaller house, no dresser, so...
0:12:47 > 0:12:52- The dresser's gone.- So they're just sitting in the cupboard, which seems a shame, really.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56Now, to value. I'd like to think they'd make £100 plus.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58Oh, that would be good.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01I think perhaps we should go with our old 80 to 120 estimate.
0:13:01 > 0:13:06The auctioneer's favourite, which is around the £100 mark,
0:13:06 > 0:13:09- and then pop the reserve in at about £80.- Yeah, that'd be great.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11- Does that sound all right?- Yes.
0:13:11 > 0:13:16Maybe put a little bit of discretion on there in case it gets to 75.
0:13:16 > 0:13:21- You don't want them going for nothing, do you?- No.- OK, thanks for coming.- Thank you.
0:13:21 > 0:13:26We've found our first three items and we're taking them off to sale
0:13:26 > 0:13:28at Philip Serrell's Auctioneers and Valuers in Malvern.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31Same town, just different weather!
0:13:35 > 0:13:37Before we see auctioneer Philip Serrell in action,
0:13:37 > 0:13:41I want to hear his thoughts on Richard's christening mug.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45I like this a lot and I think this is tremendous value for money.
0:13:45 > 0:13:51It's a silver christening tankard with original Moroccan red Mappin and Webb case.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53- Great name.- £60 to £80. If you...
0:13:53 > 0:13:56If you had to buy a christening present today,
0:13:56 > 0:14:01something like that by Mappin and Webb, that's £300 to £400, isn't it?
0:14:01 > 0:14:03- All day long.- Yeah.- All day long.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05I think the case is worth 100 quid, isn't it?
0:14:05 > 0:14:09- I think it'll go into three figures. - Good.- Not wildly into three figures.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12You get the expression mint and boxed
0:14:12 > 0:14:16- which, as you and I know, always refers to toys.- Yes.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18But in this instance it's just...
0:14:18 > 0:14:22- It's just the whole package, you know?- It's so right.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25- It's so tactile, isn't it?- Yeah, it's just lovely and I think it's...
0:14:25 > 0:14:28That on its own probably isn't worth 100 quid,
0:14:28 > 0:14:32but put the whole lot together and it's just really, really lovely. So I think it'll do well.
0:14:32 > 0:14:37Well, I certainly hope Philip's right and that Richard's christening mug will fly away.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40We'll find out shortly.
0:14:40 > 0:14:46As well as the mug, we've got Maxine's ten plates, two short of a dozen thanks to her cat!
0:14:46 > 0:14:50Let's hope that doesn't put the bidders off.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53James and Molly also have high hopes for their stereoscopic viewer.
0:14:53 > 0:14:59Let's find out now how it does as it's the first of our items to go under the hammer.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02Is there any more at all for it?
0:15:02 > 0:15:04I have £100.
0:15:04 > 0:15:09Did you not want to persuade Dad to hang on to them and not sell them?
0:15:09 > 0:15:14- Well, we've had them a long time. - Yeah, we need the money.- What's the money going towards, then?
0:15:14 > 0:15:19I'm going skiing with the school, so to get a new hat or something like that.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23Oh, are you? Sounds really exciting. Are you on study leave right now?
0:15:23 > 0:15:25- Yes.- So that's why you're here. - Yeah.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28- Yeah. And what do you think of the auction room?- Good.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31- It's- jam-packed. It's exciting. - Full of electricity and excitement.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34- Yeah.- Kate, feeling any pressure?
0:15:34 > 0:15:36- No, none whatsoever.- None at all.
0:15:36 > 0:15:41Good luck. Let's hope we turn that into a couple of hundred. Here we go.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45Great things these.
0:15:45 > 0:15:50The stereoscopic viewer, lot number 310. There we are. Bid me.
0:15:50 > 0:15:5450 or £60 to start. 20 I'm bid.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56At 20. And five. 35.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59- There we go.- 40. Bid five.
0:15:59 > 0:16:0050. 50 bid five. Anywhere five? 60.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03Five. 65. Any more?
0:16:03 > 0:16:08At 65. Your bid, sir, at 65. 70.
0:16:08 > 0:16:12Five. 80. Five. 90. Five.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15This is more like it.
0:16:15 > 0:16:1895. 100, is it? 100. 110 now, sir?
0:16:18 > 0:16:20At £100 only. At 100. Any more?
0:16:20 > 0:16:22110. 110.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25Fill it up, sir, at 20 now. At £110.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28And I sell then at £110 and done.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30Oh, I'm ever so pleased we got 110.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32- Brilliant!- Well done, Kate.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35A lot of these images find their way back to the States
0:16:35 > 0:16:38- because the Americans love buying these. I hope you enjoy the trip. - Thank you.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41Well, that might get two ski poles or something!
0:16:41 > 0:16:45I don't know the cost of things, but that sounds like a good sum.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48Wow! That got us off to a very good start.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51Let's hope the result is a taste of things to come.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54Next it's Maxine's Wedgwood plates.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56They've got our valuation of around £100, which is good!
0:16:56 > 0:17:00- We've got the old 80 to 120, haven't we?- You have, yes.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03However, I'm not very confident.
0:17:03 > 0:17:04- Aren't you?- I'm sorry.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07- Adam should know. - I've got a gut instinct.
0:17:07 > 0:17:14- They are a bargain if someone picks them up for £10 each.- We might just get them sold.
0:17:14 > 0:17:15OK, OK.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17Wise words. Here we go, Maxine.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19Good luck, Adam.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23A set of ten Wedgwood plates.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25Start me off for them. The ten Wedgwood plates.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27£100 for them.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29£50 for them.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31- £20 for them.- Oh, no!
0:17:31 > 0:17:33There's no hands going up.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35At 20. 20 bid. And five. 25. 25.
0:17:35 > 0:17:3930. 30 bid. And five. 40. 40 bid.
0:17:39 > 0:17:44At £40 only. At 40. 40 bid.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47At 40. Five.
0:17:47 > 0:17:5050. 50 bid. At £50 only. And five.
0:17:50 > 0:17:5360. 60 bid. Five. 70. 70 bid.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55We're looking at £80 with discretion, aren't we?
0:17:55 > 0:17:57Any more at all?
0:17:57 > 0:17:59At £70. At 70. Is there any more?
0:17:59 > 0:18:02At £70. Any more at £70.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04No? I'm sorry, I can't do those.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06Sorry, Maxine.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09Are they going home or will you leave them for another sale?
0:18:09 > 0:18:11I might leave them.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15You're selling them because you sold your Welsh dresser...
0:18:15 > 0:18:17- That's right, so I've nowhere to put them...- Yeah.
0:18:17 > 0:18:22- Leave them with Philip and see what happens there.- Yeah.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25That was disappointing. So close!
0:18:25 > 0:18:29Hopefully Maxine will have better luck on another day.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31Next, it's Richard's silver christening mug.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34This should do well.
0:18:34 > 0:18:39- I hope it does really well.- I hope so too.- Because in a way you shouldn't be selling it.
0:18:39 > 0:18:44- No, I have a lot of other items that belonged to my step-grandfather which are more personal.- OK.
0:18:44 > 0:18:49And this will actually help to maybe refurbish the photo album that I have of his.
0:18:49 > 0:18:53- Oh, brilliant!- It'll contribute to his legacy even further.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55OK, we're going to find out what the bidders think right now.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59Silver's up in value, let's hope it's working for us now. Here we go.
0:19:02 > 0:19:07Lovely christening mug in its little leather case.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09Mappin and Webb, bid me for that. £100 to start me.
0:19:13 > 0:19:14Come on, Philip.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18Give me 50 to go, someone. 50 I'm bid. At 50. 60. 70. 80.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21Good, it's gone! Quickly as well, how about that?
0:19:21 > 0:19:24- They like it.- 110 with me. At 110.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28- 110. 110.- More than double.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32If you're all out in the room at £110. The bid's with me.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34At £110. And I...
0:19:34 > 0:19:3720. Hello! At 120. 120. 120.
0:19:37 > 0:19:42The bid's just there at £120 only.
0:19:42 > 0:19:47Any more? At £120 and I sell then at £120 and done.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51Superb. That's real quality and well worth £120.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55What can you buy in a modern jewellers now for £120?
0:19:55 > 0:19:57- You wouldn't catch me in a modern jewellers!- No.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00But what could you buy? Nothing.
0:20:00 > 0:20:04- Not much.- Nothing as good as that. - A battery powered clock, probably.
0:20:04 > 0:20:09- At best.- At best, yeah.- Certainly nothing of this quality.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13- I hope that can, you know, give you the chance to compete that album. - It certainly will.
0:20:13 > 0:20:18- Go a bit further than that I think. - That's a good price.- Yes, thanks.
0:20:18 > 0:20:23Good result. I love it when things sell well over the estimate.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26It shows there's a real market for them.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30Later, Adam finds an item which is bound to get a good return.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33- So it cost you how much?- £2.- £2!
0:20:33 > 0:20:34We can improve on that.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36Stick a couple of noughts on that.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48It's this eight mile ridge of some of the oldest rocks in Britain
0:20:48 > 0:20:52which give us spring water that's world famous for its purity.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57I've come here to find out more about the unique relationship
0:20:57 > 0:21:00between the town of Malvern and its refreshing spring water.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04It's the cold water that sprouts from the fissures in these hills
0:21:04 > 0:21:06that's made the fortunes of that town.
0:21:06 > 0:21:10You could say, in fact, that Malvern was built on water
0:21:10 > 0:21:15and the development of two very different water-related industries.
0:21:19 > 0:21:24Now, in both cases Malvern was the first place in the UK to start both of these industries.
0:21:24 > 0:21:31The first sounds a little bit like a form of medieval torture - the cold water cure. More about that later.
0:21:31 > 0:21:36The second business to put Malvern on the map was the commercial bottling of its spring water.
0:21:41 > 0:21:47The lucky locals have always been able to pop along and collect their water for free
0:21:47 > 0:21:54because there's around 100 wells and springs all around this area, but what about people further afield?
0:21:54 > 0:21:57How could they get to drink some of this refreshing water?
0:21:57 > 0:22:00Well, the answer is crystal clear -
0:22:00 > 0:22:02look at that - bottle it and sell it to them.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06And this is where water was first commercially bottled.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08The Holywell Spring.
0:22:08 > 0:22:14Strangely, this water has been so highly valued not for what's in it, but for what's not in it.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21And it's this same pure water that, back in the Victorian era,
0:22:21 > 0:22:25enticed many visitors to Malvern when the cold water cure arrived.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27Argh!
0:22:28 > 0:22:33The cold water cure, or hydrotherapy, was an alternative treatment which two doctors -
0:22:33 > 0:22:38Dr James Wilson and Dr James Gully - brought to the town in 1842.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42To find out exactly what the terrifying sound of the cold water cure is,
0:22:42 > 0:22:48I've come to meet up with retired GP and Malvern resident Dr John Harcup, who's a bit of an expert.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54And I'm meeting him in the building which began life
0:22:54 > 0:22:59as Britain's first purpose-built water cure establishment.
0:22:59 > 0:23:05John, we're sitting in the bow window of the original building where all this treatment went on.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09Yeah, it is, and you can see the bay window where we are.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13Incredible, absolutely incredible! And that's a lovely view, as well.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15What was this cold water cure all about?
0:23:15 > 0:23:20It was a Victorian health package. It was very popular.
0:23:20 > 0:23:25Everybody was woken between five and six in the morning, stripped naked,
0:23:25 > 0:23:28wrapped in a cold, wet sheet for an hour.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31So, people from all over the country would come here to this building...
0:23:31 > 0:23:34be woken up at six in the morning!
0:23:34 > 0:23:35Yes.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37It wasn't a good start.
0:23:37 > 0:23:44No, a wet start and a cold start, but you relaxed. It was amazing the effect of the cold wet sheet on you.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46Then you were unwrapped by your bath attendant
0:23:46 > 0:23:52who popped you in a shallow bath and poured cold water over you and rubbed you down with a rough towel,
0:23:52 > 0:23:59it was called a friction rub, and you went up the hills before breakfast...
0:23:59 > 0:24:00drinking at every spring.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04- You must have been exhausted by ten o'clock in the morning!- Yeah!
0:24:04 > 0:24:10And then after you'd been here for about three weeks, you were fit enough to have the douche, which...
0:24:10 > 0:24:12- This is the big one! - This is the big one, yes.
0:24:12 > 0:24:20Water falling 20 feet from a pipe 2½ or 3½ inches in diameter for about three minutes.
0:24:20 > 0:24:26And about 150 gallons of water fell on you at that time.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30Gosh! If that's freezing cold, that would have hurt.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33Yes. In winter, you got icicles coming down
0:24:33 > 0:24:39and people were scored by icicles and there was blood on the floor, as you can imagine.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42- But no complaints, everybody loved it.- Oh, yes.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45It was a social occasion, to put it mildly.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49What sort of ailments was this cure going to solve?
0:24:49 > 0:24:53Well, rheumatism and gout were premier things.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57- Yeah.- Neuralgia, TB.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59Virtually everything, you know?
0:24:59 > 0:25:02You name it, we can cure it was the motto here.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04- It's fascinating, isn't it? - Absolutely, yes.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07It was amazing who came here -
0:25:07 > 0:25:13Charles Darwin, Florence Nightingale, Alfred Lord Tennyson came here.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15- Some big names.- Yes.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18Tennyson said he was half-cured, half-destroyed by the cure.
0:25:18 > 0:25:23- Wow. In your expert opinion, obviously, it does work.- Yes.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27In the context of Victorian medicine, this is the important thing,
0:25:27 > 0:25:30because treatment was so bad in those days.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32How long did you have to be here for, then?
0:25:32 > 0:25:35Well, about three weeks, three to four weeks.
0:25:35 > 0:25:40I mean, Darwin came for three weeks and stayed for 16
0:25:40 > 0:25:42and he got on so much better.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45He was depressed and he was...
0:25:45 > 0:25:50He went back to Down House a new man, basically.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54He was writing a book on barnacles and he went back to the barnacles.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57Yeah, I don't know about 16 weeks here though!
0:25:57 > 0:26:01- One day with that cold water! - Malvern grows on you, so you'll stay!
0:26:06 > 0:26:10So, there you have it, some British towns are built on coal,
0:26:10 > 0:26:16some on steel and some on the farming industry, but the majestic town of Malvern is built on water.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26Back at our valuation day, there's still a huge queue
0:26:26 > 0:26:30and the great thing about my job is I never know where the next antiques will be lurking.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35- Oh, my gosh, look at this! - This is...
0:26:35 > 0:26:38And some items are just too big to fit in a box.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41It's so nice to see furniture brought in to Flog It
0:26:41 > 0:26:45because you do have to make a bit of an effort to get this in the car.
0:26:45 > 0:26:50That's why we always get lots of ceramics, but whoever brought this,
0:26:50 > 0:26:54I'm going to go and shake their hand because this is what we need to see - more furniture.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57Please bring us in more furniture.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01Adam's talking to Simon who's brought along an item that we see often on Flog It.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03Yes, it's a piece of Troika!
0:27:03 > 0:27:08This is quite an interesting one for a number of reasons.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10Firstly, because of where you got it from.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13Well, a car-boot sale, yeah.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15Not a bad little earner, there.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18- And did you recognise it as a piece of Troika?- No.
0:27:18 > 0:27:22- Basically, we just liked the look of it, the bits and bobs on it and... - Do you still like it?
0:27:22 > 0:27:25I don't know, I've gone off it a bit now. It's...
0:27:25 > 0:27:30We'd seen the markings on the bottom of it. I'd never heard of it.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34I thought, "Yeah, somebody's written that on in marker pen."
0:27:34 > 0:27:38- Well, it does look like that, doesn't it?- It does, yeah. - Look at that.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41- Kind of crude, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44Pretty... Pretty good condition, isn't it?
0:27:44 > 0:27:47I've noticed one little bit of damage, where is it? There.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49A little bit of a chip, there.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51But that's nothing too major.
0:27:51 > 0:27:56- So you're going to sell it, take the money.- Yeah, take the money and run!- It cost you how much?- £2.- £2.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00We can improve on that. Stick a couple of noughts on that.
0:28:00 > 0:28:04- That's not bad.- This is what is called the large rectangle vase.
0:28:04 > 0:28:10On the bottom, you've got that decorator's mark there, which is RGB for Roland Bence.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13Roland Bence was one of the main men at Troika.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15He was the manager there for all of the '70s.
0:28:15 > 0:28:22He is one of your premier names. So not only have you chanced upon a 2 quid vase worth 200 or 300...
0:28:22 > 0:28:25- I've got the main man on it, yeah. - You've got one of the main men.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28- I think we should put it in at 200 to 300.- Yeah, sounds good, yeah.
0:28:28 > 0:28:32Put a reserve in of £180. If it doesn't make that,
0:28:32 > 0:28:36- it's worth hanging on to.- Yeah. - Well done.
0:28:36 > 0:28:40It just goes to show that quality kit is still out there
0:28:40 > 0:28:44waiting to be found if you have the time and the patience to look.
0:28:44 > 0:28:48Right, next it's Jim who's brought along a collection of First World War postcards.
0:28:50 > 0:28:52So, what's the history here?
0:28:52 > 0:28:57They belonged to my wife's uncle who was a private in the Medical Corps
0:28:57 > 0:29:04and he served on the hospital ship, the Letitia, and they went all around the Mediterranean.
0:29:04 > 0:29:08- During the First World War? - During the First World War.
0:29:08 > 0:29:12And this is basically postcards to and from him and his wife.
0:29:12 > 0:29:18We've seen lots of First World War postcards, especially in the embroidered silks,
0:29:18 > 0:29:22for the guys to send home to their wives, but these are slightly different.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24You've got more topographic scenes.
0:29:24 > 0:29:27He obviously was travelling, going all over the place.
0:29:27 > 0:29:28He's in the Middle East here.
0:29:28 > 0:29:32He's at the Sphinx in the Pyramids.
0:29:32 > 0:29:36It's like a diary of his journey. Has he written messages on the back?
0:29:36 > 0:29:40- He has, yeah.- Oh, how lovely. Is it something you really want to sell?
0:29:40 > 0:29:45Basically, it's lying in the bedroom, we don't look at it that often.
0:29:45 > 0:29:49We'll maybe go and see our grandchildren, perhaps buy them a present out of it.
0:29:49 > 0:29:51Oh, well that's a nice idea.
0:29:51 > 0:29:53- Yes.- This is nice. That's George IV, isn't it?
0:29:53 > 0:29:56Yeah.
0:29:56 > 0:29:58It's personally addressed to him.
0:29:58 > 0:30:02"With our very best wishes for Christmas, 1914.
0:30:02 > 0:30:07"May God protect you and bring you home safely. Mary and George."
0:30:07 > 0:30:12Oh, that's lovely, isn't it? That really does complete this book.
0:30:12 > 0:30:14I'm pleased that's on the last page.
0:30:14 > 0:30:18Well, look, if you're happy to let this go and you want it to go...
0:30:18 > 0:30:21- Yes, we do.- Let's price it to sell.
0:30:21 > 0:30:23- Let's put 100 to 200 on it.- Yeah.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26Fixed reserve at £100 because you're not going to give this away.
0:30:26 > 0:30:31- No.- You'll have to keep it otherwise, but on a good day I think this boat will float.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34I just loved Jim's postcard collection.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37Fingers crossed it's going to do well.
0:30:38 > 0:30:42But before that, Kate's valuing the biggest lump of gold
0:30:42 > 0:30:47I've seen in a while, and it belongs to husband and wife Bill and Jan.
0:30:47 > 0:30:51- How have you come by it? - It was my second cousin's.
0:30:51 > 0:30:54- She was very, very elegant. - We remember Frances very well.
0:30:54 > 0:30:58We can remember her smoking Woodbines out of that.
0:30:58 > 0:31:04- Brilliant.- But we have other things that she's left to us, so we would like other people to enjoy it.
0:31:04 > 0:31:09Well, it's a classic case of very elegant Roaring Twenties gold,
0:31:09 > 0:31:13set with what looks to be rubies.
0:31:13 > 0:31:17If we open it up, what have we got inside? There we go.
0:31:17 > 0:31:23So it is hallmarked gold and the hallmark's Chester and it's 1923.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26So, exactly that sort of Roaring Twenties.
0:31:26 > 0:31:31You would have had very small, thin lady's cigarettes in it,
0:31:31 > 0:31:32possibly with a holder.
0:31:32 > 0:31:38But it's a lovely thing. You're not keen on keeping it?
0:31:38 > 0:31:40Not particularly.
0:31:40 > 0:31:46Well, gold prices are quite high at the moment and you've got the inset rubies to add a little bit of value.
0:31:46 > 0:31:51You've also got machine decoration on the top and then this Greek key pattern along the edge.
0:31:51 > 0:31:55So it's a very attractive thing. Any ideas on value?
0:31:56 > 0:31:58- No.- No.
0:31:58 > 0:32:03Your estimate for the auction would be maybe between £550 and £650,
0:32:03 > 0:32:07something like that, which for quite a small thing is quite a high price.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10- It is indeed.- Is that the kind of figure you'd be happy with?
0:32:10 > 0:32:11- Yes, certainly.- OK.
0:32:11 > 0:32:13What sort of reserve would you suggest?
0:32:13 > 0:32:18I would say just below that, so maybe a 450 reserve.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21- Sounds very good.- A lovely thing to have been passed down, isn't it?
0:32:21 > 0:32:24- Indeed, yeah.- Let's hope it sells. - Oh, yes. Thank you.- OK.
0:32:28 > 0:32:32Well, that's our final items ready to take off to auction
0:32:32 > 0:32:36and going under the hammer is Simon's Troika vase which he paid just £2 for at a car-boot sale.
0:32:36 > 0:32:43Next it's time for Jim's collection of inherited World War I postcards to find a new home.
0:32:43 > 0:32:47Finally, Bill and Jan's elegant gold cigarette case with inlaid rubies
0:32:47 > 0:32:50will be testing the current gold prices.
0:32:54 > 0:32:59We're now back at Philip Serrell's auction rooms in Malvern.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02Let's find out how much profit Simon will make.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07I think this is a great lot, Roland Bence.
0:33:07 > 0:33:11- What's great is it was bought for £2 in a car boot.- Yeah.
0:33:11 > 0:33:17It is unbelievable, isn't it? I would love to have a bit of time to go to a car boot once every...
0:33:17 > 0:33:20- You and me would never get anything. - You'll never pick a bargain out.
0:33:20 > 0:33:25- They'd put the price up, wouldn't they? Good luck.- Thank you. - And well spotted. Here we go.
0:33:28 > 0:33:32The Troika vase, hugely popular.
0:33:32 > 0:33:33Bid me.
0:33:33 > 0:33:35£50 I'm bid. At 50. 60. 60 bid.
0:33:35 > 0:33:3870. 80. 90.
0:33:38 > 0:33:42100. 110. 120. 130. 140. 150.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45160. 170.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48Yes? 180. At 180 bid seated.
0:33:48 > 0:33:54At 180. At 180. At 180. At £180 only. Any more at all?
0:33:54 > 0:33:57We're struggling at 180 right now.
0:33:57 > 0:33:58I can't believe that.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01- £180 and done. Thank you.- Just!
0:34:01 > 0:34:06- I thought it'd do better. - Yes, so did I.
0:34:06 > 0:34:09- But, it's gone. That's the main thing.- Yeah, it's gone.- It's gone.
0:34:09 > 0:34:13- And it's an improvement on the two quid.- A vast improvement.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16Yeah, big improvement. Are you back at the car boots at all?
0:34:16 > 0:34:19Oh, I might have a pop round to see if there's any more out there!
0:34:19 > 0:34:22- And what will you put this money towards?- Something for the kids.
0:34:22 > 0:34:24- How many have you got?- Three.
0:34:24 > 0:34:26- Go on, name check them, what are they?- Brandon, Harrison and Roly.
0:34:26 > 0:34:30- OK. Enjoy the money.- Thank you very much.- Well done, Simon.
0:34:30 > 0:34:36We just got Simon's Troika away. Still, it was a very good return on the £2 he paid for it.
0:34:39 > 0:34:43Now for Jim, the owner of that brilliant postcard collection.
0:34:43 > 0:34:48Hopefully, for not much longer because this lot should put their hands up and bid.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50I see you've brought the wife along. Hello.
0:34:50 > 0:34:55I know you're getting really excited because you want to see your daughter out in New Zealand.
0:34:55 > 0:34:56Well, I hope we get you there.
0:34:56 > 0:34:59I hope this is part of the airfare. I don't want to let them down.
0:34:59 > 0:35:03I hope it's not return to sender, it's going under the hammer now.
0:35:03 > 0:35:09Lot number 300 is the Victorian postcard album. Bid me for it.
0:35:09 > 0:35:11Where do you want to start me?
0:35:11 > 0:35:13Give me £100 to start straight off.
0:35:13 > 0:35:16100 I am bid. At 100. And ten now?
0:35:16 > 0:35:19100. 100. £100 for the postcard album.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21At 100. 100. 100.
0:35:21 > 0:35:23It's your bid, sir.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26At £100. The maiden bid's got it at 100.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29I'll take ten anywhere.
0:35:29 > 0:35:31At £100 only. At 100. At £100.
0:35:31 > 0:35:35And I sell then at 100 and done.
0:35:35 > 0:35:39Yes, we just got it away within estimate, £100,
0:35:39 > 0:35:41but I guess it's better than nothing.
0:35:41 > 0:35:45- That'll cover the airport tax. - Just about!
0:35:45 > 0:35:49Well, I think some lucky buyer got a real bargain with those postcards.
0:35:49 > 0:35:54Now it's time to see if Bill and Jan's gold cigarette case will tickle the bidders' fancy.
0:35:56 > 0:36:00We've got some real quality going under the hammer right now.
0:36:00 > 0:36:04It's that gold cigarette case. Absolutely love it.
0:36:04 > 0:36:07We're looking for top money here, somewhere around £500 to £600, Kate.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10I hope so. Gold's high though at the moment, so fingers crossed.
0:36:10 > 0:36:13And these are real collectables. They look great in display cabinets.
0:36:13 > 0:36:19All the waiting is over because they're going under the hammer literally right now!
0:36:21 > 0:36:25Lot number 466 is the nine carat gold cigarette case
0:36:25 > 0:36:29and I'm bid £400 for that. 410.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32420. 430. 440. 450.
0:36:32 > 0:36:34£450 bid.
0:36:34 > 0:36:38Come on, Philip, work 'em!
0:36:38 > 0:36:42470. 480. 490. 500.
0:36:42 > 0:36:45520. 550 on the net, is it? 550.
0:36:45 > 0:36:47£100 over the reserve already.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49580, is it?
0:36:49 > 0:36:51Is there any more?
0:36:51 > 0:36:55At £550 and I sell, then.
0:36:55 > 0:36:57- At 550 and done.- He's selling. Yes.
0:36:57 > 0:36:59- Yes.- Very nice.- That was short and sweet, really.
0:36:59 > 0:37:03- There was a lot of competition straight away, wasn't there?- Yes.
0:37:03 > 0:37:05Smoking is not so fashionable.
0:37:05 > 0:37:10- Why have you decided to sell now, though?- Oh, I don't really...
0:37:10 > 0:37:15- We wanted to come to Flog It, didn't we?- Did you, really?- Yes!- You could have come just to say hello!
0:37:15 > 0:37:19- Well, we could have done, yes. - I'm glad they didn't though!
0:37:19 > 0:37:23- Jolly good.- We've enjoyed it. - I hope you've had a great day here.
0:37:23 > 0:37:26- We have indeed, thank you, Paul. - We have, we've enjoyed it.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29- And you got a bit of spending money now.- Oh, yes.
0:37:29 > 0:37:31- Cheers. Thank you very much.- Yes.
0:37:31 > 0:37:33Oh, thank you!
0:37:38 > 0:37:42Well, that's brought us to the end of another show.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44As you can see, people are still eager to bid.
0:37:44 > 0:37:48There's plenty more lots going under the hammer, but all credit to Philip Serrell, he did us proud today.
0:37:48 > 0:37:52It's wonderful being back here in this lovely old saleroom in Malvern.
0:37:52 > 0:37:57Now, if you've got any antiques or collectables you want to turn into cash we would love to see you,
0:37:57 > 0:38:02and hopefully we're coming to an area to do a valuation day very near you soon so keep an eye out for us.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05So, until then, from Malvern, it's cheerio.