0:00:07 > 0:00:11Today, we're in Cirencester, the capital of the Cotswolds,
0:00:11 > 0:00:16an area that brought us one of the most important movements in international design.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20The bells are ringing out and Flog It is in town.
0:00:39 > 0:00:45The Cotswolds became an important centre for Arts and Crafts around the turn of the 20th century.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48Leading practitioners were drawn here by its rich craft tradition
0:00:48 > 0:00:52and its accessibility to London and Oxford.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56Many also followed William Morris who lived nearby at Kelmscott.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00'I'll be visiting his Gloucestershire home later in the show.'
0:01:02 > 0:01:06We've got a crowd of people outside the Corn Hall in Cirencester,
0:01:06 > 0:01:10eager to find out if they have any treasures in these bags and boxes.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14- If you have, what will you do? - Flog it!- Flog it!
0:01:14 > 0:01:19'Helping them discover if they are carrying around a small fortune are our experts
0:01:19 > 0:01:23'headed up by Thomas Plant and Michael Baggott.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27'Thomas owns his auction business, but one of his passions is fencing.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31'Will he be able to score a hit in today's crowd?
0:01:31 > 0:01:34'Michael's interest in antiques began at a very early age.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38'He's ashamed to admit that at primary school,
0:01:38 > 0:01:45'he persuaded a friend to give him his grandfather's First World War medal for three felt-tip pens.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49'I hope our crowd get rather more if they take their items to auction.'
0:01:49 > 0:01:55It is now 9.30. It's time to get the doors open and get this massive queue inside.
0:01:55 > 0:02:00'Here's just a couple of treats coming up on today's programme.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04'Auctioneer Philip Allwood is really impressed with one of our finds.'
0:02:04 > 0:02:10Medal collectors are not going for the bit of metal. They're going for owning a bit of that soldier.
0:02:10 > 0:02:15- This has got oodles of that. - 'And the auction brings some surprising results.'
0:02:15 > 0:02:20- What's going through your mind right now?- I can't believe it!- Money!
0:02:20 > 0:02:24'Time to get started and Michael's excavation of Audrey's box
0:02:24 > 0:02:28'has revealed an interesting mix of artefacts.'
0:02:28 > 0:02:33Audrey, thank you. I feel like I'm on an edition of Time Team
0:02:33 > 0:02:36with these wonderful archaeological specimens.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40There must be a wonderful story about how you got these.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43My husband and I used to own the Talbot Hotel in Tetbury.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47- Right.- And in the cellar where he kept the spirits,
0:02:47 > 0:02:50there was a sort of flagstone.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53And he was intrigued and wondered what was underneath.
0:02:53 > 0:02:58And they found, eventually, that it was a well that had been capped.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00Good grief!
0:03:00 > 0:03:04And so they started to take all the gunge and mud out,
0:03:04 > 0:03:08and apparently in the olden days, the landlord would just sweep everything
0:03:08 > 0:03:11- off the floor down...- Down the well.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15That was one of the first things that came out, this bottle.
0:03:15 > 0:03:21- That must have been a joy to come out complete.- I rinsed it under the tap and then all this appeared.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24And then gradually, bits and pieces came out.
0:03:24 > 0:03:29I said to Peter who was doing a lot of it... He used to take buckets home...
0:03:29 > 0:03:34- Go through the gunge.- I said, "I wish you could find a coin."
0:03:34 > 0:03:40He rang one night and said, "I've found something valuable," and it was this, like a cuff link.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44- Then about ten days later, he phoned and he had found the other one.- No?
0:03:44 > 0:03:50- Found the matching one ten days later?- Yeah.- That's fantastic.- I had them checked and they are silver.
0:03:50 > 0:03:56- My automatic silver detector in my finger is going off.- Really? - There's no doubt about that.
0:03:56 > 0:04:02- What about the little mug? - Peter Wain, who used to have a business in Tetbury in ceramics,
0:04:02 > 0:04:06he got all the bits and pieces and he was able to reassemble that.
0:04:06 > 0:04:12- Oh, that's wonderful.- Yes.- And the tap?- That was down there as well.
0:04:12 > 0:04:17The tap is interesting because whenever you get this faceted spout,
0:04:17 > 0:04:21that tends to be quite an early date.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23And this would be bronze.
0:04:23 > 0:04:29- Hmm.- And I would date it at between about 1550 and about 1620.
0:04:29 > 0:04:35- Really?- So that's a good, early... - Good heavens!- ..late Tudor, early Stuart tap.
0:04:35 > 0:04:41- This little fellow, I mean, this would be wonderful if that would have come out whole.- Yes.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43But that's too much to ask.
0:04:43 > 0:04:49It's lead-glazed pottery of a type that was domestic ware in England
0:04:49 > 0:04:53throughout the end of the late 17th century.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57These little fellows... You would call them cuff links today,
0:04:57 > 0:05:01but at the time, they were called sleeve links.
0:05:01 > 0:05:07Funnily enough, they're fairly common. They were made of fairly light gauge silver.
0:05:07 > 0:05:13A lot of them were made in Holland along with buttons and imported into this country,
0:05:13 > 0:05:18so whilst they are silver and they certainly date to about 1680,
0:05:18 > 0:05:22in excavated condition, they're not dramatically valuable.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26- No, no.- In fact, at auction, I would consider the jug,
0:05:26 > 0:05:29the tap, the sleeve links, the broken pieces,
0:05:29 > 0:05:36along with some of the clay pipes and items that you haven't shown us on the table today,
0:05:36 > 0:05:41would probably go into auction and be possibly £200 or £300.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44The prize, however, was on the top, as it often is,
0:05:44 > 0:05:48which is this fantastic, early wine bottle,
0:05:48 > 0:05:51around 1680, 1690.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55This would have been bright green glass when it was new,
0:05:55 > 0:05:58but it's just a wonderful thing
0:05:58 > 0:06:04and the fact that it's been buried for nigh on 300, 350 years
0:06:04 > 0:06:07has completely changed the nature of it,
0:06:07 > 0:06:12so we have this marvellous iridescence, thick calcification all over it,
0:06:12 > 0:06:14which makes it almost a work of art.
0:06:14 > 0:06:19- There are many, many collectors of early wine bottles.- Hmm.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23They're incredibly popular and very much sought after.
0:06:23 > 0:06:28You've got the provenance with it. We've even got a picture of the hotel.
0:06:28 > 0:06:33I think we should be conservative and put between £300 and £500 on it
0:06:33 > 0:06:38- and put a fixed reserve of £300. - That would be wonderful.
0:06:38 > 0:06:43I wouldn't be surprised if it went possibly very much more than that.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47- Really?- If you're happy with that... - I'm more than delighted with that.
0:06:47 > 0:06:52- We'll put a discretionary reserve of 180 on these.- Yes.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56But a fixed reserve of £300 on this, which may be woefully inadequate.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00- I hope so. And wait for them to take off on the auction day.- Wonderful.
0:07:02 > 0:07:07What a fantastic collection! It's amazing what you can find if you dig around.
0:07:07 > 0:07:12Not only have we got a room full of antiques, it's awash with bright colours.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16- I love the colour of that dress. What's your name?- Emily.
0:07:16 > 0:07:22- What have you brought along?- This picture. We'd like to find out more about it.- Hopefully, you will later.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26- Hello.- Hello, Paul. - I love the glasses.- Thank you.
0:07:26 > 0:07:31Thomas has found a spectacular book brought in by Gemma and her partner Nick.
0:07:31 > 0:07:36You've brought along this very fine book. Where did you get it from?
0:07:36 > 0:07:40- My nan.- Yes?- My nan passed away just before Christmas.
0:07:40 > 0:07:45- I am sorry.- And my dad found it in the house.
0:07:45 > 0:07:51The first thing we open is on to this marbled paper page. Do you know what that's called there?
0:07:51 > 0:07:54- Is it a crest? - These are called bookplates.- Ah!
0:07:54 > 0:08:00This is from a library of Henry Drummond. That's his family crest, so you got the crest thing right.
0:08:00 > 0:08:06- Yeah.- If you have a bookplate, you normally have quite an extensive library.
0:08:06 > 0:08:12The book has had a bit of butchery done to it. It is the History Of Italian Design. That's on the spine.
0:08:12 > 0:08:17"Of original drawings by the most eminent painters and sculptors of Italy. 1823."
0:08:17 > 0:08:21Tell me about this here. What's happened here?
0:08:21 > 0:08:27Oh, well, my nan was very arty and made cards and I think she decided to cut it out.
0:08:27 > 0:08:32- Right. Do you know how she got this? - I really, really don't know.
0:08:32 > 0:08:38- You'd never seen it when you'd gone round?- No.- It was very cluttered. She did have a lot of stuff.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41- We've all heard of Michelangelo, haven't we?- Yeah.
0:08:41 > 0:08:47This is a fantastic picture by Michelangelo. It's a sketch, a drawing of a youth.
0:08:47 > 0:08:52Here - this is obviously a design for the fresco of the vault of the Sistine Chapel.
0:08:52 > 0:08:58This might be a man checking out your sins, making sure you behaved yourself.
0:08:58 > 0:09:04This is really interesting. This is St Bartholomew in the celebrated fresco of the Last Judgment.
0:09:04 > 0:09:08You've got this print as well, but I don't know why this is in here.
0:09:08 > 0:09:14It's not an etching. Is it just a print of the actual item itself?
0:09:14 > 0:09:18Why is this loose? I'm slightly confused about this.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22We've got similar examples as we go through the book.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24This book, dating from 1823,
0:09:24 > 0:09:29- it's going to be between £500 and £700 at auction.- Yeah.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33- Would you be interested in selling it at that level?- Yeah.
0:09:33 > 0:09:39- What do you think about that figure? - Because I didn't know much about it, I didn't really have a figure.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42I don't think it's about the money.
0:09:42 > 0:09:48- Obviously, it needs to go to a better home to people that would... - Cos it is such an amazing book.
0:09:48 > 0:09:54- Maybe you should sell the book and, with the money, go to Italy and have a look at it.- Very good idea.
0:09:54 > 0:10:00If we wanted to put a reserve on it, I think we'll probably put that round about sort of £300.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03- Yeah.- Yeah. - So it doesn't sell below that.
0:10:03 > 0:10:09- Yeah.- We'll put it in and we'll see what happens. You'll come along to the auction?- Definitely.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14This is Foxy, the Jack Russell. You're having a good day, Foxy.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18We'll get you a glass of water or a bowl of water. Hello, Emily.
0:10:18 > 0:10:23- Hello.- Hello, Mum. What's going on? What have you found out about the picture?
0:10:23 > 0:10:28- It's by David Bates.- I'm attributing it to David Bates. It's not signed.
0:10:28 > 0:10:33What we have here is an oil that's been ruined by over-restoration.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37It's been cleaned, over-cleaned and then re-painted,
0:10:37 > 0:10:43which brings that value right down in today's market to probably £100, £150.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47- Is it going back on the wall?- Yes. - Good. Enjoy it.- Thank you.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50I'd better take this little thing back to its owner.
0:10:50 > 0:10:55Sadly, not everyone gets to hear the great news they had hoped for.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59We see quite a few medals at our valuation days,
0:10:59 > 0:11:04but Michael has discovered some that pay tribute to a truly dedicated soldier.
0:11:04 > 0:11:09Patrick, thank you for bringing this wonderful collection of medals in.
0:11:09 > 0:11:15The fact that you've got First and Second World War medals, you must know something about them.
0:11:15 > 0:11:21- Tell me how you got these.- They were handed down to me from my grandfather when I was a young boy.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25He said to me, "If you can find them, you can keep them."
0:11:25 > 0:11:31I went into the outdoor shed, rummaged around and they were lying in an old tin pot.
0:11:31 > 0:11:38- As a young boy, I can't think of anything much more exciting to find than your grandfather's medals.- Yes.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40- I was 10 or 12.- Fantastic.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43We've got the standard First World War medals here,
0:11:43 > 0:11:49ones that are euphemistically called Pip, Squeak and Wilfred. They're all named.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51If we turn this one over,
0:11:51 > 0:11:55- we've got there "G Cockell". - That's right.
0:11:55 > 0:12:00- Then we've got these Second World War medals, so he served in both wars.- Oh, yes.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04- And survived.- Amazing.- We've got his military buttons and cap insignia.
0:12:04 > 0:12:09- What's very interesting is we've got his Soldier's Service and Pay Book.- That's right.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13- And at the back here, his discharge papers.- That's correct.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17There we have... "31st March, 1931,
0:12:17 > 0:12:21"discharge certificate for No.11239,
0:12:21 > 0:12:26"Corporal George Cockell, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry."
0:12:26 > 0:12:30- That's magic.- That's brilliant. - "Enlisted 12th August, 1914."
0:12:30 > 0:12:35- My word, he was eager! - Yeah, he did his bit for Queen and country.- He did indeed.
0:12:35 > 0:12:40"Discharged 5th November, 1919. Medals..." Here.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44"1914-15 Star. British War and Victory Medal."
0:12:44 > 0:12:48So they're named in this and what's wonderful
0:12:48 > 0:12:52- is we've got under "character", which must make you proud...- Yes.
0:12:52 > 0:12:58"Good, honest, sober, intelligent and industrious," which is just magic.
0:12:58 > 0:13:05And to have all of this extra documentation with a set of medals makes a huge difference.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09The people that collect medals, they're not buying the medal,
0:13:09 > 0:13:13they're buying the story and the history attached with it.
0:13:13 > 0:13:18Can I ask you, cos these must be immensely sentimental to you,
0:13:18 > 0:13:21why have you decided to part with them now?
0:13:21 > 0:13:26They are sentimental, but if I were to sell them, the memory sticks in my brain.
0:13:26 > 0:13:31- Your grandfather's in here and here. - Always in my brain, in my heart. I'll never forget him.
0:13:31 > 0:13:38I'd rather they could go in a collection, so people could see them, like the British War Museum.
0:13:38 > 0:13:4210 or 15 years ago, that group of three medals was making £20 or £30.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46But since then, people have realised that they're getting rarer
0:13:46 > 0:13:50and scarcer and prices have rocketed,
0:13:50 > 0:13:55so I think we could put these into auction at £200 to £300,
0:13:55 > 0:14:03- put a fixed reserve of £180 on them, keep our fingers crossed and Grandad's medals may fly.- I hope so.
0:14:03 > 0:14:08- Patrick, thank you so much for bringing these in.- That's all right.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12Michael is convinced these medals will appeal to collectors,
0:14:12 > 0:14:15but will they be at the auction? It's time to find out.
0:14:17 > 0:14:22Well, here we are. My driver didn't turn up this morning, so I've had to make do.
0:14:22 > 0:14:28This is where our items are going under the hammer - Moore, Allen & Innocent just outside Cirencester.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32I'm running a bit late and the auction is just about to start.
0:14:32 > 0:14:38I'll catch up with our owners, make sure they're OK cos I know they're feeling really nervous.
0:14:38 > 0:14:43We'll leave you with a quick rundown of all the items going under the hammer.
0:14:46 > 0:14:52'The first three items are the objects extracted from the old well in Audrey's cellar.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56'The prize is a 17th century bottle, but there are plenty other things,
0:14:56 > 0:14:59'including what could be a Tudor tap.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03'That spectacular book of Italian art, still mostly intact,
0:15:03 > 0:15:07'despite Gemma's nan's fondness for scissors.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11'And Patrick's grandfather's medals.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17'I wasn't running so short of time at the preview and managed
0:15:17 > 0:15:21'to speak to auctioneer Philip Allwood about the medals.'
0:15:21 > 0:15:24Wonderful collection of medals. Great story.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28They belong to George Cockell. First World War and Second World War.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31- We've got £200 to £300 on these medals.- Yeah.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34They're being sold by the grandson.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37Are they? Well, he must be a very proud grandson.
0:15:37 > 0:15:42Obviously, Grandfather went through the First, into the Second,
0:15:42 > 0:15:48looking at the discharge papers, was retired from the army early or discharged.
0:15:48 > 0:15:54- Exemplary report on here. - I've never seen one of those before and that's quite interesting.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58- Individually, these medals, not worth a lot.- OK.- Lots of them about.
0:15:58 > 0:16:05A lot of people came back from the First with these fairly standard medals. Same with the Second.
0:16:05 > 0:16:11But put that all together with the history, who won them, what they were doing where and when
0:16:11 > 0:16:15and it suddenly gets the collectors' collecting juices flowing.
0:16:15 > 0:16:21- You've got provenance. That's where the value is.- Medal collectors are not going for the bit of metal.
0:16:21 > 0:16:26They're going for owning a bit of that soldier and what he did.
0:16:26 > 0:16:32- And this has got oodles of that. - Will it get the top end? - I wouldn't be surprised.
0:16:32 > 0:16:39200 to 300? I could have easily gone with that estimate and expected to see getting on for the top estimate.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43- Wonderful thing. Good luck with these.- They should do fine.
0:16:43 > 0:16:48'We both think these medals will march right out of the auction room,
0:16:48 > 0:16:53'but we'll have to wait and see because first to discover their fate is Audrey.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55'Buyers and sellers at today's auction
0:16:55 > 0:17:00'are subject to a commission of 15% plus VAT.'
0:17:00 > 0:17:05This next lot is totally fascinating, picked by our expert, Michael Baggott.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09It's been dug up out of the ground from the Talbot Hotel in Tetbury.
0:17:09 > 0:17:14'Michael split the lot into two parts. The first is a real mixed bag.'
0:17:14 > 0:17:20There's this wonderful manganese, treacle-glazed jug, some churchwarden pipes and...?
0:17:20 > 0:17:22Little silver shirt links.
0:17:22 > 0:17:28- But do you know what's going to make me laugh?- And a tap.- A tap. What's that all about, Michael?
0:17:28 > 0:17:32That is a bronze Tudor tap. It's a rare thing. For 180 quid...
0:17:32 > 0:17:36- It's a funny old lot. It really is. - I've heard that before!
0:17:36 > 0:17:42Valuing it is like playing "pin the tail on the donkey". You never know where it's going to go.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45- That's sensible. - Let's see what the bidders think.
0:17:45 > 0:17:50The 18th century, manganese, treacle-glazed pottery jug.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54Should be 200 or 300, really. Start me.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56150 then?
0:17:56 > 0:18:00- Start me, 100? £100 for the lot? - He's going in the wrong direction.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04£50? At £50. A bid there at 50. At £50.
0:18:04 > 0:18:065 if you like now? At £50.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10At £50. 5. 60. 5.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13- 70. 5...- The churchwarden pipes are worth that.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15..5. 90. 5.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19100. And 10 if you like? And 10.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21At 110. 120 now?
0:18:21 > 0:18:24At 110. At £110.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28Are you all sure now then? At £110, are you all done?
0:18:29 > 0:18:32They didn't understand.
0:18:32 > 0:18:34Well, they didn't want it today.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37- No.- Maybe they'll want it in a week's time.
0:18:37 > 0:18:42- I'll put it out for the dustmen, I think.- No, you won't. - Don't do that!
0:18:43 > 0:18:49'What a shame! Let's hope we do better with the second lot from the collection, that superb bottle.'
0:18:49 > 0:18:52It's a wonderful period piece,
0:18:52 > 0:18:56but what makes it extra special is we know where the object was found.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00- Yeah.- We know where it was discarded in the 17th century.
0:19:00 > 0:19:05And that lovely iridescent colour that you only get from burial over the years and it's been dug up.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09It's just got those colours that every collector wants.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13- Do you think so?- Oh, it's got the look and the condition.
0:19:13 > 0:19:19Collectors want history with their objects, ideally. And that's got it all.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22200 to get on? At 200, thank you.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24At 200. At 200.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27210 now if you like? At £200. At 210.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30220. 230.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33At 230. 240. 250.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36At £250. 260 anywhere?
0:19:36 > 0:19:39At £250. 260 anywhere now for it?
0:19:39 > 0:19:41At £250. Are you sure now?
0:19:41 > 0:19:44- Oh, come on!- At 250...
0:19:45 > 0:19:47I'm absolutely shocked.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51That bottle was worth every penny of £300 to £500, if not more.
0:19:51 > 0:19:57- If I were you, I'd be relieved I hadn't sold it.- I would as well. - I'm so sorry, Audrey.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01'Well, it looks like the artefacts are going home with Audrey.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05'Perhaps the Italian art will appeal more to the bidders.'
0:20:05 > 0:20:11Wonderful, wonderful book. We're looking at £300 to £500, fingers crossed. On a good day.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14- On a good day.- It's all there. Condition is good.
0:20:14 > 0:20:19I just hope it doesn't get Stanley-knifed up and sold separately.
0:20:19 > 0:20:25You say the condition is good, but Gemma's grandma had a bit of a Stanley knife fetish
0:20:25 > 0:20:31- and cut a few letters out, but the pictures are all fine.- That's where the value is.- Yeah, absolutely.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35- Fingers crossed. It's been a long wait, hasn't it?- It has, yeah.
0:20:35 > 0:20:40- Have you been tempted to buy anything?- Yes, I saw a little kid's trike outside.
0:20:40 > 0:20:45- It looks like it needs restoring. - I know the one. I rode here on it!
0:20:45 > 0:20:46Oh, right.
0:20:46 > 0:20:52The Italian School of Design, 1823. Some lovely images in this.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55Start me. Should be 500. Start me, 3?
0:20:56 > 0:21:00200 to get on then? At 200, thank you. At £200.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02At 220. 240.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04260. 270 then.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06280. 300.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09320 if you like? At 300 here. 320 now?
0:21:09 > 0:21:13At £300. I thought it might have made a little more. At 300.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17At £300. It's on my right.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Are you all sure now then at 300...?
0:21:21 > 0:21:25- Brilliant.- Just. - Sold.- Just on estimate.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29There was a pause there. I wasn't sure if he was calling for 300.
0:21:29 > 0:21:34- No, he had 300, but I think with that bit of damage, that took off the edge.- Of course.
0:21:34 > 0:21:41- But you should be very pleased - £300.- Happy?- Yeah.- What will you put the money towards?- Going on holiday.
0:21:41 > 0:21:47- Where do you fancy going?- Probably Italy, just to see where it all came from.- The School of Design.
0:21:47 > 0:21:52- It makes sense, doesn't it? - It does.- Go to Rome.- Payback for it. Yes, go to Rome.
0:21:52 > 0:21:57Good for them. I do hope they get to see those works of art for real.
0:21:57 > 0:22:02Last up, we've got Patrick's grandfather's medals.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06A classic set of medals from WWI, WWII and discharge papers.
0:22:06 > 0:22:11- Michael, you fell in love with these.- It's the whole story.
0:22:11 > 0:22:17- Is it hard to sell these? - They've been stuck in a drawer, not appreciated.
0:22:17 > 0:22:23- I think it's time for them to go. - OK, let's hope they go to a good collector or end up in a museum.
0:22:23 > 0:22:28I can start you here at 130 on the book. 130.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31At 130. 140. 150. 160.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35170. 180. The book's out at 180. 190 now.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38190. 200. 210.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41220. 230. 240. 250.
0:22:41 > 0:22:47260. At 260 on my left now. At 260. 270 now, then.
0:22:47 > 0:22:51At £260. It's on my left. At 260.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57- Super result. The hammer's gone down.- I'm very happy.- I am.
0:22:57 > 0:23:02- That was well contested. That was his last battle.- It was!
0:23:02 > 0:23:06It suddenly shot up. Very pleased.
0:23:07 > 0:23:13I knew the collectors wouldn't be able to resist that lot. A brilliant result and plenty more to come.
0:23:13 > 0:23:17'Bernice has decided it's time to rescue this beautiful Art Nouveau tray
0:23:17 > 0:23:20'out of the grasp of little hands.'
0:23:20 > 0:23:27- Where does it live?- Well, it sits on the coffee table in the sitting room and it gets knocked around.
0:23:27 > 0:23:34'Phyllis is trying to wean herself off of her Wemyss addiction, but some things are hard to resist.'
0:23:34 > 0:23:38If that one special Wemyss pig came along, would you buy it still?
0:23:38 > 0:23:41- Oh...maybe.- Maybe.
0:23:41 > 0:23:48'And we discover a bracelet bearing the name of one of the world's greatest fashion designers.'
0:23:59 > 0:24:05On the 16th of May in 1871, the successful writer, designer and socialist William Morris
0:24:05 > 0:24:09set foot in the Cotswold village of Kelmscott for the first time.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13He came here looking for a house for the summer months,
0:24:13 > 0:24:19but when he came down this lane and looked down that garden path and saw that handsome farmhouse,
0:24:19 > 0:24:24he knew his search was over. No wonder he stopped looking.
0:24:28 > 0:24:34For Morris it was the start of a love affair that would stay with him for life, bringing him inspiration
0:24:34 > 0:24:42and pleasure, but as with all great romances, there were also moments of disappointment and betrayal.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49In fact, despite his immediate and deep affection for the place,
0:24:49 > 0:24:55it would be three years before Morris could bring himself to spend any time here.
0:24:55 > 0:25:01Instead, he stayed away while his wife Jane and their two daughters spent their summers here
0:25:01 > 0:25:06with painter and poet Gabriel Rossetti, Morris's friend and business partner.
0:25:06 > 0:25:10Rossetti and Jane had been having an affair for five years.
0:25:10 > 0:25:16Morris was aware that it was starting to attract attention and could damage his business.
0:25:16 > 0:25:22The lease on Kelmscott was taken out jointly with Rossetti, so they could conduct their affair
0:25:22 > 0:25:25away from prying eyes.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29Over the following years, Rossetti would suffer a mental breakdown.
0:25:29 > 0:25:35He spent prolonged periods of time here at Kelmscott, forcing Morris to stay away.
0:25:35 > 0:25:42It wasn't until Rossetti moved out in 1874 that Morris could actually enjoy his beloved Kelmscott.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46This place became a kind of utopia for him,
0:25:46 > 0:25:51somewhere where he could escape from the modern world, which he despised.
0:25:55 > 0:26:00The Arts and Craft movement was driven by a dislike for Victorian industrialisation
0:26:00 > 0:26:07and the fear that mechanisation and mass production would result in blandness and conformity.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11Kelmscott was the antithesis of that.
0:26:12 > 0:26:18He saw this magnificent house as a true work of craftsmanship built with local materials.
0:26:18 > 0:26:24He just loved its vernacular style and it sits in perfect harmony with the rest of the village.
0:26:33 > 0:26:39You could say this handsome house represents all the ideals of the Arts and Crafts movement.
0:26:39 > 0:26:43It was built in the year 1600 and was added to in 1665.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47Look at the lovely hand-cut roof tiles, all made of stone.
0:26:47 > 0:26:53They graduate down - they start smaller and as they come down they get slightly larger.
0:26:53 > 0:27:00Morris described that as looking at the scales interlocking on a fish or maybe the feathers on a bird.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02It really is so organic.
0:27:05 > 0:27:12On the inside, as on the outside, William Morris just loved the simplicity of this house.
0:27:12 > 0:27:19He chose to change it very little from the way he first acquired it from the family who had it built.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23His dream was to live here as simply as possible
0:27:23 > 0:27:29and he described the house as "the loveliest haunt of ancient peace".
0:27:29 > 0:27:33As you look around, you get a real sense of Morris the man,
0:27:33 > 0:27:37from his passion for collecting traditional hand-made objects
0:27:37 > 0:27:41to wonderful examples of his own company's furniture and furnishings.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48The garden and surrounding countryside
0:27:48 > 0:27:52would also provide endless inspiration for his designs.
0:27:52 > 0:27:58It's said that the idea for Strawberry Thief, one of his most popular designs, came about
0:27:58 > 0:28:03as he noticed thrushes stealing wild berries from his kitchen garden.
0:28:05 > 0:28:11And according to his daughter May, the idea for his foliage pattern Willow Bough, 1887,
0:28:11 > 0:28:16came from the willow trees growing on the banks of the Thames nearby.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21Oh, this is a nice room. Spacious, light, airy.
0:28:21 > 0:28:25In fact, there's a nice, tranquil feel about this.
0:28:25 > 0:28:32It's known as the White Room. Morris is known for his colours. He loves reds and golds and greens
0:28:32 > 0:28:38and repetitive patterns everywhere. Yet the family chose to paint the walls off-white.
0:28:38 > 0:28:46In fact, towards the end of his life he admitted he preferred simpler colour schemes and plainer rooms.
0:28:46 > 0:28:50The whole house, in fact, is so understated.
0:28:50 > 0:28:54The decor is quite simple and it sits beautifully with the outside.
0:28:54 > 0:28:56It's just so calm.
0:29:00 > 0:29:05William Morris remains to this day a major force to be reckoned with in the world of design.
0:29:05 > 0:29:12His legacy of work is endless, really. He was a writer, publisher, social campaigner, designer,
0:29:12 > 0:29:16craftsman, illustrator, painter. It just goes on and on and on.
0:29:16 > 0:29:20No wonder that towards the end of his life a doctor proclaimed
0:29:20 > 0:29:25he suffered from the disease of being William Morris, working 18 hours a day.
0:29:25 > 0:29:30That's why, for me, it's so special to come to a place like Kelmscott,
0:29:30 > 0:29:34so you can understand the peace he must have had here.
0:29:34 > 0:29:41William Morris, for me, will always remain a great source of inspiration.
0:29:50 > 0:29:56Back at our valuation day in Cirencester, we've got a packed house.
0:29:56 > 0:30:01Michael - a serious silver fanatic - couldn't resist this striking tray.
0:30:01 > 0:30:05- You've brought this beautiful tray. - You like it?- I love it.
0:30:05 > 0:30:12- Where does it live in your house? - It sits on the coffee table and gets knocked around by the grandchildren,
0:30:12 > 0:30:16so I just thought I'd bring it to you and see if you liked it.
0:30:16 > 0:30:22- Do you use it for anything?- No. I couldn't understand why it was a tray.
0:30:22 > 0:30:28- You couldn't stand anything on it. - It's all knobbly, isn't it? - It is.
0:30:28 > 0:30:34- A cup would fall off it. - Unless you live in a bungalow, you've got it on the wrong floor.
0:30:34 > 0:30:38- Oh, right.- This belongs in the bedroom.- Oh! Oh, really?
0:30:38 > 0:30:41This is a dressing table tray.
0:30:41 > 0:30:47And you can't put a glass or a cup on this, but if you think of upturned brushes,
0:30:47 > 0:30:54which would sit quite happily along with combs on that, that's exactly what it was designed for.
0:30:54 > 0:30:58- I didn't know that.- Any idea about how old it is?- Erm...
0:30:58 > 0:31:02Judging by the design, I thought Art Nouveau.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04It shrieks Art Nouveau!
0:31:04 > 0:31:07This wonderful whiplash foliate order.
0:31:07 > 0:31:11And then we've got this typically naturalistic scene.
0:31:11 > 0:31:18I'm not sure what these birds are. My ornithological knowledge does not stretch
0:31:18 > 0:31:24- to the lengths of my silver knowledge. Cranes or herons. - I thought they were herons.
0:31:24 > 0:31:29We'll go with herons. I'll bow to your knowledge. With bulrushes.
0:31:29 > 0:31:36It's a mirror image, very organic and very naturalistic. Exactly what Art Nouveau was about.
0:31:36 > 0:31:42First, we've got the maker's mark there, which is WA. That's for William Aitken.
0:31:42 > 0:31:48He wasn't a very distinguished maker, but he produced on a large scale in Birmingham.
0:31:48 > 0:31:53We've got the date - 1909. The height of Art Nouveau in England.
0:31:53 > 0:31:58And you've got these domestic wares being produced in that style.
0:31:58 > 0:32:03- The sad thing is, it is one part of a very large set.- Oh, really?
0:32:03 > 0:32:08There would be brushes and combs and hair tidies
0:32:08 > 0:32:14and scent bottles and mirrors, so...any idea where the rest is?
0:32:14 > 0:32:18No, I inherited it with a house.
0:32:18 > 0:32:24- Oh.- From dear Uncle Joe. He was ill and I decided to nurse him.
0:32:24 > 0:32:31- And, erm, he changed his will in the last three weeks of his life and left it all to me.- Crikey.
0:32:31 > 0:32:37So it was really lucky. And I got divorced after 40 years, so I had this house to go to.
0:32:37 > 0:32:44- It's just been a godsend. He's up there looking after me. - Smiling down at you.- Must have been.
0:32:44 > 0:32:48Well, it's a nice thing to come with a tray! Better than a mirror!
0:32:48 > 0:32:54- So I've got no idea where he had it from.- It's the sort of thing that's very commercial at the moment.
0:32:54 > 0:33:00- It never really falls out of fashion. Let's put it into auction with £100-£150 on it.- Really?
0:33:00 > 0:33:06- Gosh.- Let's put a reserve of £90 on, fixed.- Oh, amazing. - And let's see how it goes.
0:33:06 > 0:33:14If there are two people that love Art Nouveau, and there's a good chance, it could do a little more.
0:33:14 > 0:33:16- Gosh, that's amazing.- It could fly.
0:33:16 > 0:33:22- Oh, thank you.- Just like the herons. - Or whatever they are! - Or the cranes or the ibises!
0:33:22 > 0:33:28Michael may not know his birds, but he knows his silver and I'm sure this will do well.
0:33:28 > 0:33:32But can our crowd identify this next lot?
0:33:32 > 0:33:36This belongs to Phyllis. We've seen a lot of this on the show before.
0:33:36 > 0:33:41- Do you know what this is?- No. My friend does.- You know what it is.
0:33:41 > 0:33:45- How about you guys? Pottery enthusiasts?- No, no.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48- Wemyss.- That's not bad. Three out of six.
0:33:48 > 0:33:55- It is Wemyss, yes, you're right. You're a bit of a Wemyss collector. - I am a Wemyss collector.
0:33:55 > 0:34:00- How many pieces have you got? - Between 50 and 100.- Really? How long have you been collecting?
0:34:00 > 0:34:06- Since the '70s.- So why are you selling this particular one?
0:34:06 > 0:34:10I'm downsizing, need space and that one has to go, I'm afraid.
0:34:10 > 0:34:15If that one special Wemyss pig came along, would you buy it still?
0:34:15 > 0:34:20- Oh...maybe.- Maybe. Maybe sell five other pieces to buy it with.- Yes.
0:34:20 > 0:34:24That's what everybody wants - Wemyss pigs. They're big ones like that.
0:34:24 > 0:34:28This is a sponge bowl with the strainer. That's nice.
0:34:28 > 0:34:35The strainers did get broken. And also the sponge bowls, the most delicate parts are the handles.
0:34:35 > 0:34:40They used to get chipped and knocked, but they're very good.
0:34:40 > 0:34:45- They are.- I like the decoration of this. Soft. - Beautiful soft roses.
0:34:45 > 0:34:49Lovely soft roses. Almost translucent.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52It's sought-after Scottish pottery.
0:34:52 > 0:34:59- Well sought-after. And I still classify this as country pottery. - It is.- I'm struggling with value.
0:34:59 > 0:35:05I think it's worth an awful lot more than £150, but I don't know what you paid for that.
0:35:06 > 0:35:08- 80.- 80. How long ago?
0:35:08 > 0:35:11- In '95.- '95, OK.
0:35:11 > 0:35:16- Let's call it £100 with a reserve at £100 and see what happens. - Absolutely.
0:35:16 > 0:35:20- And hopefully we'll get that 120, 150.- Absolutely.
0:35:20 > 0:35:26- On a good day, we will. - I think it's a unique piece. If we find a collector...
0:35:26 > 0:35:29The artwork on this particular one is very good.
0:35:29 > 0:35:34- This I'd date to around 1900, 1910. - Beautiful.- In great condition.
0:35:34 > 0:35:38- Will I see you at the auction?- No, my youngest son's coming.- Is he?
0:35:38 > 0:35:43- What does he think about Wemyss? - Not a lot!- We'll find out!
0:35:43 > 0:35:49And fingers crossed there will be at least two people in the room who appreciate it more than that.
0:35:49 > 0:35:55Next, Thomas is looking at a particularly glamorous bracelet with Angie.
0:35:55 > 0:36:01- Tell me how it came to your possession.- My grandmother gave it to me when I was about 10.
0:36:01 > 0:36:05I've had it ever since. I don't know a lot more, but it's Christian Dior.
0:36:05 > 0:36:12- Absolutely. It is. So your grandmother had stopped wearing it? - I don't think she ever wore it.
0:36:12 > 0:36:16It's not the sort of thing she'd have bought. I think it would be a gift.
0:36:16 > 0:36:22She was a housekeeper for wealthy families and was often given things by guests who stayed regularly.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25I think she was given it as a gift.
0:36:25 > 0:36:32- Did you like it because it was pink? - Yes! And I used to dress up and wear it, high heels and handbags.
0:36:32 > 0:36:38I used to wear it then. But now I have to say I haven't worn it since.
0:36:38 > 0:36:40I find it a bit garish, actually!
0:36:40 > 0:36:42- Really?- Yeah.- It is Christian Dior.
0:36:42 > 0:36:46We can see it from here, the mark there.
0:36:46 > 0:36:50That conjures up all these wonderful fashion items
0:36:50 > 0:36:56and high-end jewellery, but this is Christian Dior the costume jeweller here.
0:36:56 > 0:37:03It was developed in the post-war period when the jewellery at the time, worn by Hollywood stars,
0:37:03 > 0:37:08was all gem-set. These would have been rubies and opals, et cetera.
0:37:08 > 0:37:14With fashion wanting to copy that, they decided to make jewellery like this,
0:37:14 > 0:37:20so it would reflect the Hollywood style. It is costume jewellery, we should explain that.
0:37:20 > 0:37:27You've got the mauve stones and the pink. This is glass and diamante or paste, on a base metal.
0:37:27 > 0:37:33What would this go for in a provincial saleroom like where we're going to go?
0:37:33 > 0:37:40It would probably make over £50, but I should have the estimate at £70-£100.
0:37:40 > 0:37:48- OK.- I also think we should fix the reserve at that sort of £60. - OK.- How about that?- That's fine.
0:37:48 > 0:37:53- Then with the commission taken off, you'll end up with 50.- OK.
0:37:53 > 0:37:57- So see you at the auction? - OK, yes, you will!
0:37:59 > 0:38:02'That completes our final lots.'
0:38:02 > 0:38:06'Michael's hoping for a great result with Bernice's Art Nouveau tray.'
0:38:09 > 0:38:14'There's the Wemyss sponge bowl and strainer, but will it clean up?
0:38:14 > 0:38:18'Finally, we've Angie's grandmother's Christian Dior bracelet.'
0:38:20 > 0:38:23'We're selling them at Moore, Allen & Innocent.
0:38:23 > 0:38:28'It's a busy day and silver is selling well,
0:38:28 > 0:38:30'so what will they make of the tray?'
0:38:30 > 0:38:36- Good luck. The tension's building. - It's very exciting.- We're about to sell a silver dressing table tray.
0:38:36 > 0:38:40- Art Nouveau flavour, beautifully decorated.- It is.
0:38:40 > 0:38:47- Hasn't been on the dressing table. - No, it's been on the coffee table and the kids have knocked it.
0:38:47 > 0:38:52- Now it's going. I bet the kids are upset.- I don't think they noticed!
0:38:52 > 0:38:56You don't want your children knocking your silver about!
0:38:56 > 0:39:02- It's good because it's a good display piece.- Yes.- Sometimes bowls are difficult to display.
0:39:02 > 0:39:07Put that on an easel and you get the full impact of it.
0:39:07 > 0:39:13- That's a nice way of displaying it. There's a tip. Good luck.- Thank you. - It's going under the hammer.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17Who'll start me? Should be 100.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19100? 80?
0:39:19 > 0:39:23At £80. A bid there. At £80. 5 anywhere now?
0:39:23 > 0:39:26At £80. 5. 90. 5.
0:39:26 > 0:39:32- Brilliant!- Silver's selling well here today.- I hope Uncle Joe's watching. - I bet he is!
0:39:32 > 0:39:34140. 150 now?
0:39:34 > 0:39:38- Good heavens. - All out in front?
0:39:38 > 0:39:41At 140.
0:39:41 > 0:39:45- Well done!- Top end! - He knows his onions.- Exactly.
0:39:45 > 0:39:49- That'll pay for my art now. - What sort of art? Classes?- Yes.
0:39:49 > 0:39:54I'm just going on some art courses and the next one was £140.
0:39:54 > 0:39:56- It was meant to be!- Exactly.
0:39:57 > 0:40:04How perfect! Who knows? We could be selling one of her paintings at auction in the future!
0:40:04 > 0:40:12OK, it's my turn to be the expert. I'm feeling nervous. Unfortunately, we don't have Phyllis,
0:40:12 > 0:40:16- but we have her son, Paul. Hi.- Hi. - Good to see you.
0:40:16 > 0:40:20- You've grown up with your mum's collection.- Yes, filling the house.
0:40:20 > 0:40:24Ever since she got a little pig, she's been collecting ever since.
0:40:24 > 0:40:30- Every time I go back there, there's another cupboard of Wemyss! - This could be your inheritance!
0:40:30 > 0:40:35I'm a bit unsure about selling it! Why is that happening?
0:40:35 > 0:40:40- This is it. - Start me at 100 to get on. 100.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43- For the Wemyss ware. - Oh, come on.- 50, then.
0:40:43 > 0:40:47- £50, thank you.- I'm so nervous!
0:40:47 > 0:40:50At £50. 5. 60. 5. 70.
0:40:50 > 0:40:535. At 75. 80 now?
0:40:53 > 0:40:57- At 75. 80. 5. 90. 5. - He's sold it.- 100.
0:40:57 > 0:41:01On my left at 100. 110 now? At £100. Are you sure?
0:41:01 > 0:41:04It's on my left, then, at 100.
0:41:04 > 0:41:09- Yes. Made estimate.- Oh, good. Well done on the estimate.
0:41:10 > 0:41:15- I think she'll be pleased. - I had a note saying, "Take it home."
0:41:15 > 0:41:21- Hopefully she's had a wonderful holiday.- And a good bit of news when she comes home as well.
0:41:21 > 0:41:25- She'll be happy with that. - Give her my regards.
0:41:25 > 0:41:31Well, the Wemyss went down well, but what will the auction room make of Angie's costume jewellery?
0:41:31 > 0:41:37- It's going under the hammer. £70-£100. This was given to you by your grandmother?- 22 years ago.
0:41:37 > 0:41:42- It's been in a drawer ever since. - You don't wear it?- No.- Fair enough.
0:41:42 > 0:41:46- So I want to buy something to wear. - Fair enough.
0:41:46 > 0:41:49- Will it sell well?- I don't know.
0:41:49 > 0:41:53It'll be a tough call today, I think, if it does sell at all.
0:41:53 > 0:41:57It's quite a difficult subject to sell in a traditional sale room,
0:41:57 > 0:42:01- but we're going to give it a go. - Here we go. Fingers crossed.
0:42:01 > 0:42:05You never know what's going to happen at an auction.
0:42:05 > 0:42:10We have a phone. It's the Christian Dior bracelet.
0:42:10 > 0:42:12Phone!
0:42:12 > 0:42:15Dated 1958. Should be over 100.
0:42:15 > 0:42:2180? At £80, thank you. £80 the bid. At £80. 5. 90.
0:42:21 > 0:42:245. 100. 110. 120.
0:42:24 > 0:42:28130. 140. 150. 160.
0:42:28 > 0:42:30- At 160.- Gosh!- Lady's bid.
0:42:30 > 0:42:35170 now? At 160. At 160. 170 on the phone.
0:42:35 > 0:42:38180. 190 if you like. 190.
0:42:38 > 0:42:43- 200.- They absolutely love it. - They do know it's paste?
0:42:43 > 0:42:46220. 230. 240.
0:42:46 > 0:42:49250. 260.
0:42:50 > 0:42:54270. 280. 290.
0:42:54 > 0:42:56300. 320?
0:42:56 > 0:42:58320. 340.
0:42:58 > 0:43:03- I am flabbergasted. - Di you miss something?- 380.
0:43:03 > 0:43:05400. 420.
0:43:07 > 0:43:11- 440.- Do they know something we don't know?
0:43:11 > 0:43:15- Oh, I can't believe it!- Money! - Good old Nana.
0:43:15 > 0:43:20All sure now, then? It's on the phone at 440.
0:43:20 > 0:43:24Incredible! £440. Angie, that is wonderful.
0:43:24 > 0:43:29- Thank you so much!- Good old Nana. - I can get something really nice.
0:43:29 > 0:43:33- I am flabbergasted. - That's the beauty of auctions.
0:43:33 > 0:43:37Sadly, it brings us to the end of another wonderful show.
0:43:37 > 0:43:44Join us again soon for many, many more surprises, but for now, from Cirencester, it's cheerio.
0:43:55 > 0:43:59Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd - 2010
0:44:00 > 0:44:02Email subtitling@bbc.co.uk