Dorchester Flog It!

Welcome to Flog It, the show that values your unwanted antiques and collectables for auction

where hopefully there will be surprises for you or you.

Today we're in Dorset's county town of Dorchester.

It's believed that the origins of Dorchester date back to prehistoric times some 4,000 years ago.

After the Roman invasion, the town became an important market centre and staging post.

There's still a weekly market here.

We're continuing the trading theme here at the Dorford Centre.

It underwent a £1 million refit not so long ago

so let's hope we can trade great items for great prices.

'Coming up on today's show: a surprise for Lillian.'

That is good news.

'David ticks off an art critic.'

-Mr "Owski" would be very cross with you.

-I expect he would be!

-He spent hours painting this.

'And one owner gets really excited.'

We'll go with the spirit of the programme and flog it!

We have a team of valuers helping us today and they're ably led by two of our finest experts.

Mark Stacey's provenance includes years at a famous auction house, Sotheby's.

I've got the whole world in my hand!

David Fletcher has spent his whole life working with and loving antiques.

Hilda's brought in an unusual collectable that Mark is keen to take a closer look at.

-It's one of the nicest things I've seen.

-Well, I rather like it.

-It's so quirky.

-That's right.

-Absolutely.

The bowl says it all. This is a souvenir of the Boer War, 1899-1900.

-We've got an exact copy of a gun which is...

-Lee Metford.

-Lee Metford.

Right down to the bayonet. And all these little details of how the gun worked.

You'd have gone like that to fire.

When we turn it over, we've got all the details on the back here - a full set of hallmarks

and a registration number as well.

-It's a lovely bit of commemorative silver.

-Anybody who collects spoons or militaria, I thought,

-would be interested.

-You don't need me at all. You've stolen my line!

-There are people who collect things to do specifically with the Boer War as well.

-Do they?

-Tell me the history of it.

-I only know that my mother had it.

She would have been about 14

-at the end of the Boer War.

-Yes.

-And that's all I know.

-It came to me.

-You would have bought this as an act of patriotism.

-I expect so, yes.

-So your mother or a member of your family would have gone out

and been proud to have it on display at home, showing you were behind Britain.

-So for a little object, it's got an awful lot of history.

-Yes.

-I think I'm going to be cautious and say maybe £60-£80.

-Oh!

-It's a lot for a spoon.

-It is, but it wouldn't surprise me on the day if it went

-for over £100.

-Really?

-Absolutely. Why do you want to sell it?

-My daughter doesn't want it. My son would have loved it, but I lost him a couple of years ago.

-I'm sorry.

-So what happens to it after?

-And also it's quite nice

-to know it's going to go to another collector.

-They'd appreciate it very much so, wouldn't they?

So it's time to pass it on. It's just such a lovely, honest collectable item.

'Valuation days are the perfect opportunity for all those unwanted antiques to get a proper airing.

'There's nothing I like better to do than have a good old rummage to see if there are any hidden gems

'among the bags and boxes in the queue.'

-What have you brought along?

-A little vase. Quite delicate.

-A Parian vase.

-Oh, is it?

-Yeah.

-Oh, isn't that lovely?

-Parian is a Victorian invention.

-Yes.

It's a cheaper version of white marble. White marble comes from the island of Paros, basically.

Isn't that lovely? Is that something you're going to sell?

-Possibly, yes. If the price is right.

-If the price is right!

Back inside, expert David is taking a closer look at Michael's truncheon.

-Thank you for bringing this in.

-Pleasure.

-Did you smuggle it in in your trouser leg?

-Yes!

Well done. I'm not sure if it's an offensive weapon or not.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I'm right that this is the type of truncheon issued

to Navy men

who were responsible for getting together companies to man ships

-in order to supplement the King's Navy.

-Yes.

I know that it's initialled WR.

And above that we have IV for four,

-which I take to be William IV.

-Yes.

-Or related to William IV.

And beneath that it's marked or there's a painted inscription, "St Martins".

-It would be a relatively small force, wouldn't it?

-Yes.

It would not be hundreds of people. A small group of 10 or 20 peacekeepers.

I don't know if it was one man for every press man, but if you'd been having a quiet drink

and woke up in the morning going towards the Bay of Biscay, you'd be unhappy!

And you'd need people to keep you away from the officers who did it.

-Yes. So how did it come into your possession, Mike?

-My mother gave it to me. She was a nurse in Canada.

-Was she?

-And she obviously knew I was in the Navy.

And I think this was a gift from a patient to her. She gave it to me for its naval connections.

-That was a lovely gesture. You're a Navy man?

-Yes.

-Hence the beard!

-Yes.

-What's a beard like that called? A full set?

-It is a full set if you don't shave every day.

-All right, OK.

And this is something you're no longer interested in?

I'd like to think somebody with a lot more knowledge about these would add it to his collection.

He may not want to pay a lot for it,

-but it would be nice to think it's going to a good home.

-So what I suggest we do is

put this in the sale at an estimate of £100-£150.

-Would that be all right?

-Yes, fine.

-Good. You're very philosophical. Reserve of £100?

-Wonderful.

But I'm sure we'll find someone out there who has a similar collection of similar items

and, who knows, might even have another St Martins truncheon to make a pair.

-So I look forward to seeing you at the sale.

-Yes, indeed.

-And safe journey home.

-Thank you.

Michael wants to see his truncheon go to a better home. There's a mystery about a painting of a house

brought in by Martin and Elizabeth.

-They're signed Henry J Sage.

-Yes.

-1907. And have you done any research?

-Only this.

-He was based in Surrey. In Guildford.

-Yeah.

-And he painted gentlemen's houses.

-And I think he's a very good watercolour artist.

Lovely muted colours. The condition is very good. And a double aspect of the same house!

We need to find the house. We need to find the current occupant.

This is the side around here.

-Do you like that?

-Lovely.

-Do you know whose house that is?

-No, but I know a chap who would.

-Do you?

Hey!

-And what's your name?

-Margaret.

-How do you know a chap who would?

There's a course on architecture in old country houses in Dorset.

He can show you pictures of every single house. He's studied them.

-Bob Machin.

-This is spooky, isn't it?

-Are you serious?

-Yes.

-OK, we'll take your details, the auctioneer will get in touch with you.

-Yes, OK.

-And you can refer it to him.

-Yes.

-Can you do that?

-Yes, sure.

-Thank you very much.

'What a stroke of luck! It just goes to show valuation days are always full of surprises.

'I hope Martin and Elizabeth are able to track down the location of the house in the paintings.

'Next, Mark has an object brought in by Michael and Josephine that has some magnetic qualities.'

Before we open this, I want to ask where did you get it from?

From an old friend in the Fire Brigade of British Leyland.

-That's going back.

-Late '70s.

-Early '80s.

-Yeah.

Why did you get it from him?

He asked me if I'd like it because I did a lot of sailing, but I never used it.

It's too nice to use. Giving a clue as to what it is!

It's a little travelling compass, which explains the nautical flavour.

The reason I wanted to look at it unopened is because we can tell

an awful lot by the box. It's a circular wooden box,

covered with what is almost like skin. It is, in actual fact, skin. It's sharkskin.

Otherwise known as shagreen. Originally it would be very bright when it was originally made.

It's a little bit fragile, but it's fundamentally there.

When we take it out, we've got a little maker's mark on the back as well - J&W Watkins, Charing Cross.

And this may well be silver. I can't find a hallmark and we shouldn't open the back.

That might affect the sensitive nature of the instruments inside.

You've done some research. What have you found out about it?

We found that J&W stood for Jeremiah and it may have been William

-or Walter.

-Yes. What age do you think it is?

The only date that we could find where they mentioned a pocket compass

was 1803.

OK. Well, I think it's a bit earlier than that. One of our fellow experts who is not here today,

Catherine Southon, is a great expert on scientific instruments.

And she's looked it up in her books

and actually it dates to the last quarter of the 18th century.

So we're looking at about 1780, 1790.

These are great collector's items. This is a really nice, original piece to have.

I'm not too worried about the case. The people will get it restored

and it will go to a specialist dealer or a specialist collector.

Have you ever thought of the value?

-No, we haven't any idea.

-I think we can put an estimate of £200-£300.

-Fantastic.

With a reserve of £150, just to protect it on the day.

If we put that in, it shows it's a privately-entered lot.

Hopefully we'll get a good collector and a good dealer bidding on it.

-Are you happy?

-Fantastic. I didn't even know we had it.

-And we've been married 23 years!

-Boys and their toys.

-Absolutely.

Hidden away.

-In a shoebox!

-I'm delighted you brought it. Thank you so much.

Our first items are in the bag, ready for auction.

We're selling at Duke's sale room just up the road.

Two auctioneers are sharing the rostrum - Gary Batt and Matthew Denny. Gary likes one of our lots.

I absolutely love this. I bet you will as well. It's a travelling compass by Watkins.

Made in Charing Cross, late 18th century. Valued at £200-£300.

-I hope that's pointing in the right direction. Plus a bit more!

-It could be.

It's a really lovely period piece. It's small, comes to hand nicely.

-It's in its original shagreen case.

-It's got the feel about it. Everything is so right.

-It's plain,

understated, restrained. Everything English antiques should be.

-A proper gentleman's piece.

-A silver case, nicely inscribed.

It's nice that one of the S's is an F, as you would expect. I think that's a very good thing.

-Sensible money as well.

-I think it's a reasonable estimate.

It's always going to be slightly limited because what do you do with it? How do you display it?

It's a small collectors' field.

It was possibly an academic's piece and I think it still will be.

Whoever buys this will display it properly and it won't come to any harm,

which is really nice.

Also going under the hammer, Hilda's souvenir Boer War spoon

and Michael's military truncheon.

First up, it's Hilda's spoon. Matthew Denny is on the rostrum.

I know at the valuation day, Mark said everybody would be salivating over your silver spoon.

It's about to go under the hammer. £60-£80, somewhere around there, but it's absolutely divine.

My mother gave it to me when she gave up her home

-because I had been a gunner in the war. My husband was an infantryman.

-Why sell it?

-I don't want it any more.

-We're only custodians for a little while of certain things.

274. Silver teaspoon, souvenir of the Anglo-Boer War.

Interesting thing in the form of a rifle. Lovely thing.

I've got 30 to start. Shall I take 5? 35.

40. 45.

-Somebody wants it.

-A few people.

55.

-Come on.

-It's got fresh legs there.

60.

65? At £60 on my left. I'll take 5. 70.

75. 80. 85.

-90. 95.

-This is very good.

110. 120?

£110, lady's bid. 120 anywhere? All done?

Thank you very much.

-That was very nice.

-Amazing.

-£110.

-I know!

-Isn't that a lovely surprise?

-I wanted it to do £100, Paul.

-Bless you.

Mark's cautious estimate meant Hilda got a super surprise.

Next up, it's Michael's military truncheon.

We're looking for £100-£150 for that wonderful military truncheon belonging to Michael. Great story.

-This came over from Canada.

-Yes.

-It dates around the 1830s.

-Yes.

-So why are you selling this?

-Well, I've had it a long time, since the early '70s.

I think it should go to somebody who knows perhaps a bit about it and maybe has others.

Normally people who like truncheons tend to have a collection. They only look good in collections.

It's such a functional thing. What could be more functional?

Yet they took the trouble to decorate them and they have become decorative items.

-And very collectable. So let's hope we get the top end.

-I hope so.

-Good luck. Here we go.

310. William IV truncheon. St Martins on it.

Nice little thing there. Nice condition, nice painting.

Still nice and visible. 310. I've got bids to start at £50.

60. 70. 80? At £70. I'll take 80.

And 90. 100.

-Phone bidder.

-Oh, good.

110? On the telephone at 100. I'll take 110.

At £100, are we all done?

You're out there. At £100 on the telephone.

Yes! The hammer's gone down. £100. Just in there. Happy?

-Yes. Hope it's got a good home.

-Squeezed out, but we got there.

What a good result.

Next up is Michael and Josephine's lovely shagreen travelling compass.

If I could own any item today it'd be this. The travelling compass.

It's Georgian. Made by Watkins of London. And it belongs to Jo and Michael. What a lovely item.

-Scientific instruments, such quality.

-And a London maker.

London makers add a little premium to anything, don't they?

-How did you come by it?

-One of the guys I worked with on the Fire Brigade,

he used to go around antique shops and because I was interested in sailing, walking and climbing,

he thought that he might be able to sell it to me and I'd use it.

-Did you ever take it out in the field?

-I never actually used it!

-Thank goodness!

Imagine losing it! Gosh! Well, good luck, everybody. Here we go.

The next one is 238. Lovely little travelling compass.

Nice little case on this one. Charing Cross.

Good thing. 238. I've got £60 and will take 70.

£60. 70. 80. 90.

-100.

-It's climbing. Going in the right direction!

120. 130. 140?

At 130 at the back. I'll take 140.

150. 160. 170.

180. 190?

At 180 here. I'll take 190.

190. 200. 220?

No, it's £200 on my left. I'll take 220. At £200 here.

All done? Lovely thing. At £200.

-200 and it's gone.

-Yeah.

-Happy?

-Yes, that's good.

Nice find. Well done for looking after it.

-Get searching all his cupboards.

-I haven't got any more!

Just a few miles from Dorchester

is a place that held great significance for one of the most famous names of the 20th century -

Lawrence of Arabia.

Thomas Edward Lawrence was known throughout the world as a war hero,

successful for his campaigns in the Middle East during WWI.

He was nicknamed Lawrence of Arabia and mythologized in the 1962 movie by David Lean,

but there was another quieter side to Lawrence, a side that rejected fame and fortune.

He sought solitude and anonymity and it was here in Dorset that he came closest to finding it.

Lawrence pursued a lifelong passion for the Middle East.

During WWI, working for the government, he gave up everything to fight alongside the local Arabs.

They were fighting the Turkish army in a campaign that led to Arab independence.

Lawrence became a high-profile figure after the war. He was lionised by the British public

and relentlessly pursued by the press. But the stresses of the war and his unexpected celebrity status

started to get too much for him.

He was desperate for a new life.

In an attempt to avoid any more attention, Lawrence joined the RAF in 1922,

even changing his name to John Hume Ross,

but he was exposed by the press and forced to leave.

So Lawrence came here to Bovington Camp in Dorset in 1923

where he rejoined the Army as a private soldier in the Tank Corps.

But he was desperately unhappy, wanting solitude and privacy

and somewhere to nurture his writing talents. Really Lawrence wanted somewhere to hide.

About a mile from here in Wareham, he finally found it.

Clouds Hill was a derelict gamekeeper's cottage.

It was built in 1808, but it was in a dilapidated state when Lawrence first saw it.

However, he found here the peace and the solitude he so craved.

He immediately went to work making it habitable.

By 1934, most of the work had been completed and since then,

the appearance of the cottage has hardly changed. It's now looked after by the National Trust.

Lawrence came here to retreat from Bovington Camp, to live quite minimally.

He spent most of his time reading and writing and listening to music, resting and daydreaming by the fire.

Although he lived alone, he loved to entertain

and some of his most illustrious visitors were George Bernard Shaw, Thomas Hardy and EM Forster.

Gosh, it's quaint. It's very small and dark.

Actually, as soon as you get over the threshold, the whole place seems to embrace you.

Oh, I like this.

Lovely exposed beams.

Instantly, walking in here, you can get a taste on Lawrence's inspiration for interior design.

It's sort of medievalism. That's what strikes me first.

Meets a little bit of Arts and Crafts, some William Morris.

There's no plaster on the walls. It's more organic.

This is nice. That's Henry Scott Tuke.

He was based in Falmouth in the late 1800s, early 1900s, a very important artist.

This is reputedly Lawrence sitting on the beach at St Mawes which is just opposite Falmouth.

This is quite low, this shelf over the fireplace.

That's because Lawrence would love to rest here, perch, with a tin of beans or a tin of soup.

Just have a spoon and a tin because there's no kitchen here.

He felt there was no need for one because the camp is only literally a mile up the road.

Here is his music system. Look at that. Wow! I'd love to hear that.

This was state of the art at the time. He was a man of good taste.

Let's get it up to speed.

He probably sat here with a book, a cigarette.

CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYS

Look at this.

This is where the final draft was typed by Lawrence for The Seven Pillars Of Wisdom,

based on his times out in the Middle East.

It's a very special place, actually. It does embrace you.

There's an energy here.

This is Lawrence's drawing room with a large day bed here,

so he could relax during the day, maybe fall asleep in the afternoon,

but he did spend his nights back at the camp because of the curfew.

The bookshelves would have been lined with books. There would be well over 2,000 books.

And I'm pretty sure Lawrence would have read most of them.

Lawrence designed this chair specifically for one purpose -

to be tucked in by the fire,

so he could sit there, his feet would be keeping warm by the fire,

but he could have his drinks and his food which he cooked warmed up on the fire,

resting on these nice, big, flat, wide arms.

Then he made a little bridge across the two,

screwed this piece of metal down to make a book rest, so he could sit there and read by candlelight.

Isn't that marvellous?

Despite Lawrence's attempts at anonymity, he was still hounded by the press.

When he retired in February 1935 at the age of 46,

he expected to live quietly at Clouds Hill,

but he returned to find news reporters camped outside the front door.

Sadly, Lawrence was never able to realise his wish for a tranquil retirement.

Just three months after he did retire on May the 13th in 1935,

he was involved in what would prove to be a fatal accident on this very stretch of road.

He collided with two schoolboys whilst riding his motorcycle home to Clouds Hill.

He was taken back to Bovington Camp where he was treated in the military hospital,

but sadly, he never regained consciousness and he died six days later.

One of Lawrence's lesser known legacies is that the surgeon who tried to save his life at Bovington,

Sir Hugh Cairns, started a campaign and his research led

to the compulsory wearing of motorbike helmets.

As a consequence of treating Lawrence,

Cairns would ultimately save the lives of many motorcyclists.

Had motorcycle helmets been compulsory at the time,

Lawrence's life may well have been saved and hopefully, he would have ended up fulfilling his dream

by spending the rest of his days living peacefully at Clouds Hill.

At the Dorford Centre in Dorchester, the crowds are still coming in,

keeping our team of valuers very busy.

Expert David Fletcher is casting a critical eye over Ann's painting.

-You're making a bit of wall space at home, are you?

-Yes, yes.

-OK.

-You've decided to have a bit of a clear-out?

-Yes.

It was my father-in-law's and I'm not particularly... It's not my cup of tea, really.

-And do you know how he came by it?

-I don't really, no.

So he acquired it and didn't particularly like it himself?

No. It was always on his wall, but it was just something to hang up, I think.

-Not in pride of place.

-No.

-We're looking at an oil painting painted on canvas.

-On canvas.

-It depicts, as we can see, a Highland scene.

-Yes.

-And it's very well painted without being a masterpiece.

-Yes.

If you know what I mean.

I mean, sometimes one is just a little bit rude about pictures like this.

We use the term "the work of a good amateur hand",

which is a bit disparaging, really.

-When you think about it, I certainly couldn't paint like this.

-No.

I sometimes feel a bit guilty for saying it's only by an amateur hand,

but I think it's true to say that.

It is signed...

by an artist whose name finishes in "owski".

And I can't make the signature out.

-No, I couldn't read it.

-And it's dated 1885.

-You think that's correct?

-Absolutely. That's when it was painted.

The Victorians loved this sort of romantic subject.

Queen Victoria spent her holidays in the Highlands and she would have loved this sort of landscape.

-Are you going to miss it or not?

-No, no.

-Do you have it hanging up?

-No, we don't.

-OK.

-It's tucked away in a back room?

-Tucked away by the side of a wardrobe.

Mr "Owski" would be very cross with you. He spent hours painting this!

And you've got it tucked away in the airing cupboard. Never mind.

It's not going to make - I'd like to say it would - £300 or £400.

-But I think it could well make £100.

-Right.

-And I would like to suggest an estimate of 60 to 100.

-OK.

-If that's OK.

-Yes.

-And as ever, we need to think about a reserve.

-It would be a shame to under-sell it and I would suggest that we put a reserve of £50 on it.

-Right.

-And your unloved picture will, I hope...

-I hope somebody will...

-..go to someone who will love it. I'll see you at the sale.

-Thank you very much.

Although neither Ann nor David are enamoured by the painting,

on the other side of the room, Mark is impressed by the craftsmanship of an item brought in by Lilian.

-Where did you get this wonderful little cane from?

-A friend gave it to me 40-odd years ago.

What for? Any particular reason?

Because I liked antiques and things, but I hadn't got anything very much,

and they had it and they said, "Would you like it?"

-You've had it all those years?

-Yes.

-Have people admired it in your home?

-A lot of people haven't noticed it because I've had it in a corner.

-I'm afraid it would get broken.

-You'd need to protect it because it's very delicate.

We've got here what I think is a piece of fruitwood,

-so it's come from a walnut tree or an apple tree or something like that.

-Yes.

Somebody, first of all, has carved down and once he's got it down to a particular shape,

he's then started to carve all these little details out.

-I think this is a love token.

-Oh, do you?

I think somebody in the 19th century, a young man,

-wanted to create something interesting for a loved one.

-Yes.

You find these are very regional. I've from South Wales, for example.

In Wales, you come across what are known as knitting sheaths.

Those were little things that people would keep or store their knitting needles in.

These would be beautifully and intricately carved like this.

This is absolutely charming, this little polygonal design here.

In each of these, there's a little leaf and a different animal.

-The one I find particularly charming is the squirrel.

-Lovely.

Then this is where I think it's a friendship or a love thing.

We've got these entwined hands,

then all the way down here, they've done a spiral twist with this lovely decoration of hops.

-And look, there's a little frog there.

-Hmm.

And a little lizard carved after him.

-All this intricate detail keeps going on.

-Yes.

The reason I think it's got a bit of age is the sheer quality of it,

-the fact that people have handled it over the years and you've got that lovely patina.

-Yes.

You've had it 40 years. Why are you thinking of selling it?

Well, because I haven't got lots of room

and I'm beginning to think I should sell some of my bits and pieces.

-De-clutter?

-That's right.

-What do you think it's worth?

-I don't honestly know. I didn't think about it.

I just brought it to see what you said.

-So, if I said I'll give you £20 for it...?

-I don't think I would have accepted that.

Fantastic. And you shouldn't have.

I'd certainly want to put it in at £100 to £150.

-Yes? Oh, lovely.

-And maybe with a reserve of 90 fixed.

-If that's OK with you.

-Yes.

-I really hope that somebody would appreciate it.

-I do think there's a lot there.

-It's just fabulous.

I would love it. If I saw that at auction, I'd certainly be very happy to pay £100 for it.

-You're happy to flog it?

-Yes.

Fantastic. I look forward to seeing you at the sale

-and I really hope people appreciate it as much as you and I do.

-So do I.

-Thank you, Lilian.

'On Flog It, our experts are highly knowledgeable and they are backed

'by a team of valuers who know their stuff if we are in doubt about an object.'

Yeah, I thought that was good.

What have we found there?

Well, something comfy to sit on.

'Well, I'm glad I asked. I hate to create a stink by getting it wrong.

'However, there's no doubt about what the item brought in by Cathy and Paul is.'

Now, Cathy, you're far too young for this doll to be yours.

-And I assume it wasn't yours, Paul.

-I hope not, no.

Some boys do play with dolls.

-It wasn't me.

-Who did it belong to?

-My mother-in-law. Paul's mother.

She always thought it was worth keeping because of its age and how well-preserved she thought it was

and I think it is, and "Maybe one day," she said, "when I die,

"you'll inherit it and you can do what you want with it."

-But we've got four sons and two grandsons, so...

-Gosh!

-No point.

No. That's interesting.

-When was your mum born? Do you know?

-Oh, '22.

1922.

This doll was manufactured a bit before then

in, I suspect, about 1900.

It was manufactured by a firm called Armand Marseille.

-Although that sounds...

-French?

-..as if they should be French, they were in fact German manufacturers.

-Is there a lot of these dolls in England?

-There are a lot.

They were expensive when they were made.

They were not the sort of thing you would have bought at the corner shop. They were aspirational toys.

-So, a middle-class family toy?

-That's a good way of putting it.

What about the clothes? This doesn't look old.

The clothes date, I would have said, from the 1920s

and that makes me think that it might have been dressed when your mum was young.

-Was this for playing with or was it more a keep...?

-I think they were for playing with.

-It's not very playable.

-No, they're very fragile.

-The hands and the legs are papier-mache.

-Really?

-Really?

The head is a bisque porcelain.

She's had a bit of a crop at some stage, hasn't she?

She hasn't had her hair done lately!

It's time she took a trip to the hairdresser's!

I think a serious buyer would probably put a new wig on this.

OK, it's time to think about what it's worth.

There are no chips or cracks, but she is a bit worn.

-Just a little bit tired, isn't she?

-Yeah.

Following on from that, she is not particularly rare.

And for those reasons, I would suggest a competitive estimate

-of £60 to £100.

-OK.

Do you want a reserve put on it?

-I don't want to give it away.

-£50? How about that?

-£50, yes. OK.

-OK.

-Yeah, we'll go with £50.

-Jolly good. We'll go with that.

-OK.

-I look forward to seeing you at the sale.

-Thank you.

That's the last of our items going to the saleroom,

so here's a quick recap of what else is going under the hammer.

Ann's Highland painting, valued by David at £60 to £100,

and this carved wooden cane, brought in by Lilian, valued by Mark at £100 to £150.

First up, it's Ann's unloved painting.

-I hope this next lot sells because it belongs to Ann and she does not like it. Do you?

-No, not at all.

This Highland scene, oil on canvas, £60 to £100.

It hasn't been on the wall where it belonged. Where has it been?

-By the side of a wardrobe.

-Tucked down the side, so you can't see it.

To buy an original oil on canvas, a work of art, a one-off, that you can't do your comparables with,

I think is really cheap because everybody can own a print or a photograph and stick it on the wall.

-You can have an original work of art for £60 or £70 which is lovely. Yeah?

-Yeah.

-So let's big it up.

Let's put it under the hammer right now.

394 we come on to, Scottish scene,

oil on canvas, landscape there.

Nicely presented, 394.

I've got overlapping bids to start you at £50. I'll take 60?

At £50 with me. I'll take 60. 70.

-80.

-Good.

-85.

90.

90 with you at the back and I'll take 5? At £90.

5 anywhere? All done then at £90 right at the back...? Thank you.

-£90. That's going home and that's going on someone's wall.

-Lovely.

-Isn't it?

-Yeah.

-You've got £90, less a bit of commission.

-It's destined to be seen in its true light, not lurking behind your wardrobe.

-A country house probably.

-I don't know about that.

-No. Well, you never know.

-You never know.

'Everyone's a winner on this show.

'Ann gets to pocket the dosh and the painting will find a fresh lease of life on someone else's wall.

'Now it's Cathy and Paul's German doll.'

Good luck, you two. We're about to find out if there are any doll collectors in the saleroom.

We've got that German doll going under the hammer. We're looking for £100.

Dolls are very collectable. This sale's been online. People around the world know about it.

-Really?

-Yes. Collectors will find them. You've got a lot of sons and grandsons?

-Four sons, two grandsons.

-Not the sort of thing a son would want to inherit?

-No.

-But my mum used to enjoy the programme.

-Oh, right.

-We're going with the spirit of the programme and we're going to flog it.

-Brilliant.

Armand Marseille doll...

There we are, nice Armand Marseille doll. What shall we say for it? 358.

I've got bids to start you at £40. I'll take 5. 50...

-We're there.

-60.

-It's going up.

-5.

-70? £65, commission bid. I'll take 70?

-Come on, 70.

At £65, commission bid. 70 anywhere...?

All done at 65...

-Yes, £65. Well done, David.

-Good.

-I'm happy with that.

-What are you going to do with the money?

-Well, we've had a thought...

-We're going to get a cat from the Cat Protection. Two cats.

-Rescue them, yes.

-We've seen them, two strays. We'll give them a lovely home.

'It makes a pleasant change from putting the money towards decorating the house.

'There will be two very happy moggies running around Cathy and Paul's house thanks to Flog It.

'Last to go under the hammer is Lilian's carved cane and auctioneer Gary Batt will be on the rostrum.'

They say you can tell a man's profession by his walking cane and this is absolutely gorgeous.

-It's a labour of love, whoever carved this.

-I just hope this one flies away.

-We've got £100 to £150 on this and you've had this for 40 years.

-Yes.

If only it could tell a few stories of where it's been!

-We know there's a lot of collectors out there for walking canes.

-Is there?

-A very big market.

They will like this a lot. It will go to a collector.

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

The wooden cane we're on to now. This is fun.

Lot 226.

A very delicate cane with a nice, carved decoration all over it.

226. Could be a continental piece.

What for this then?

I've got overlapping bids. Interest expressed in this at 150 to start me.

-Straight in.

-150, that is good news!

I'll take 160 now. 160 is bid.

170, anyone in the room? 170, anyone in the room?

170 on the book then. 180. 190.

200. And 20.

-There's someone right down at the front there.

-Gosh!

240. 260. 280?

At £260. I have 260. 280, anyone?

280 bid. 300.

With me at £300, against you in the room.

-Gosh!

-£300, Lilian!

At £300, commission bid. Are we all out and clear, I sell...?

Thank you, £300. Excellent.

-Yes! I love those moments.

-You were spot-on.

Absolutely fabulous. What are you going to do with that?

-There is commission to pay, don't forget.

-Probably help me go on holiday or something.

-Get a bit of sunshine.

-Yes.

-What a wonderful end to a lovely day here in Dorchester!

I hope you've enjoyed the show. There's plenty more surprises next time on Flog It!

Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd 2010

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