Cirencester Flog It!


Cirencester

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Today, we're in Cirencester, the capital of the Cotswolds,

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an area that brought us one of the most important movements in international design.

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The bells are ringing out and Flog It is in town.

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The Cotswolds became an important centre for Arts and Crafts around the turn of the 20th century.

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Leading practitioners were drawn here by its rich craft tradition

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and its accessibility to London and Oxford.

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Many also followed William Morris who lived nearby at Kelmscott.

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'I'll be visiting his Gloucestershire home later in the show.'

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We've got a crowd of people outside the Corn Hall in Cirencester,

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eager to find out if they have any treasures in these bags and boxes.

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-If you have, what will you do?

-Flog it!

-Flog it!

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'Helping them discover if they are carrying around a small fortune are our experts

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'headed up by Thomas Plant and Michael Baggott.

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'Thomas owns his auction business, but one of his passions is fencing.

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'Will he be able to score a hit in today's crowd?

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'Michael's interest in antiques began at a very early age.

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'He's ashamed to admit that at primary school,

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'he persuaded a friend to give him his grandfather's First World War medal for three felt-tip pens.

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'I hope our crowd get rather more if they take their items to auction.'

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It is now 9.30. It's time to get the doors open and get this massive queue inside.

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'Here's just a couple of treats coming up on today's programme.

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'Auctioneer Philip Allwood is really impressed with one of our finds.'

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Medal collectors are not going for the bit of metal. They're going for owning a bit of that soldier.

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-This has got oodles of that.

-'And the auction brings some surprising results.'

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-What's going through your mind right now?

-I can't believe it!

-Money!

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'Time to get started and Michael's excavation of Audrey's box

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'has revealed an interesting mix of artefacts.'

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Audrey, thank you. I feel like I'm on an edition of Time Team

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with these wonderful archaeological specimens.

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There must be a wonderful story about how you got these.

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My husband and I used to own the Talbot Hotel in Tetbury.

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-Right.

-And in the cellar where he kept the spirits,

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there was a sort of flagstone.

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And he was intrigued and wondered what was underneath.

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And they found, eventually, that it was a well that had been capped.

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Good grief!

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And so they started to take all the gunge and mud out,

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and apparently in the olden days, the landlord would just sweep everything

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-off the floor down...

-Down the well.

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That was one of the first things that came out, this bottle.

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-That must have been a joy to come out complete.

-I rinsed it under the tap and then all this appeared.

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And then gradually, bits and pieces came out.

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I said to Peter who was doing a lot of it... He used to take buckets home...

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-Go through the gunge.

-I said, "I wish you could find a coin."

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He rang one night and said, "I've found something valuable," and it was this, like a cuff link.

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-Then about ten days later, he phoned and he had found the other one.

-No?

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-Found the matching one ten days later?

-Yeah.

-That's fantastic.

-I had them checked and they are silver.

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-My automatic silver detector in my finger is going off.

-Really?

-There's no doubt about that.

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-What about the little mug?

-Peter Wain, who used to have a business in Tetbury in ceramics,

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he got all the bits and pieces and he was able to reassemble that.

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-Oh, that's wonderful.

-Yes.

-And the tap?

-That was down there as well.

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The tap is interesting because whenever you get this faceted spout,

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that tends to be quite an early date.

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And this would be bronze.

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-Hmm.

-And I would date it at between about 1550 and about 1620.

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-Really?

-So that's a good, early...

-Good heavens!

-..late Tudor, early Stuart tap.

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-This little fellow, I mean, this would be wonderful if that would have come out whole.

-Yes.

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But that's too much to ask.

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It's lead-glazed pottery of a type that was domestic ware in England

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throughout the end of the late 17th century.

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These little fellows... You would call them cuff links today,

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but at the time, they were called sleeve links.

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Funnily enough, they're fairly common. They were made of fairly light gauge silver.

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A lot of them were made in Holland along with buttons and imported into this country,

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so whilst they are silver and they certainly date to about 1680,

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in excavated condition, they're not dramatically valuable.

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-No, no.

-In fact, at auction, I would consider the jug,

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the tap, the sleeve links, the broken pieces,

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along with some of the clay pipes and items that you haven't shown us on the table today,

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would probably go into auction and be possibly £200 or £300.

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The prize, however, was on the top, as it often is,

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which is this fantastic, early wine bottle,

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around 1680, 1690.

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This would have been bright green glass when it was new,

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but it's just a wonderful thing

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and the fact that it's been buried for nigh on 300, 350 years

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has completely changed the nature of it,

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so we have this marvellous iridescence, thick calcification all over it,

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which makes it almost a work of art.

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-There are many, many collectors of early wine bottles.

-Hmm.

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They're incredibly popular and very much sought after.

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You've got the provenance with it. We've even got a picture of the hotel.

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I think we should be conservative and put between £300 and £500 on it

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-and put a fixed reserve of £300.

-That would be wonderful.

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I wouldn't be surprised if it went possibly very much more than that.

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-Really?

-If you're happy with that...

-I'm more than delighted with that.

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-We'll put a discretionary reserve of 180 on these.

-Yes.

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But a fixed reserve of £300 on this, which may be woefully inadequate.

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-I hope so. And wait for them to take off on the auction day.

-Wonderful.

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What a fantastic collection! It's amazing what you can find if you dig around.

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Not only have we got a room full of antiques, it's awash with bright colours.

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-I love the colour of that dress. What's your name?

-Emily.

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-What have you brought along?

-This picture. We'd like to find out more about it.

-Hopefully, you will later.

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-Hello.

-Hello, Paul.

-I love the glasses.

-Thank you.

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Thomas has found a spectacular book brought in by Gemma and her partner Nick.

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You've brought along this very fine book. Where did you get it from?

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-My nan.

-Yes?

-My nan passed away just before Christmas.

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-I am sorry.

-And my dad found it in the house.

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The first thing we open is on to this marbled paper page. Do you know what that's called there?

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-Is it a crest?

-These are called bookplates.

-Ah!

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This is from a library of Henry Drummond. That's his family crest, so you got the crest thing right.

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-Yeah.

-If you have a bookplate, you normally have quite an extensive library.

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The book has had a bit of butchery done to it. It is the History Of Italian Design. That's on the spine.

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"Of original drawings by the most eminent painters and sculptors of Italy. 1823."

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Tell me about this here. What's happened here?

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Oh, well, my nan was very arty and made cards and I think she decided to cut it out.

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-Right. Do you know how she got this?

-I really, really don't know.

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-You'd never seen it when you'd gone round?

-No.

-It was very cluttered. She did have a lot of stuff.

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-We've all heard of Michelangelo, haven't we?

-Yeah.

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This is a fantastic picture by Michelangelo. It's a sketch, a drawing of a youth.

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Here - this is obviously a design for the fresco of the vault of the Sistine Chapel.

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This might be a man checking out your sins, making sure you behaved yourself.

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This is really interesting. This is St Bartholomew in the celebrated fresco of the Last Judgment.

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You've got this print as well, but I don't know why this is in here.

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It's not an etching. Is it just a print of the actual item itself?

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Why is this loose? I'm slightly confused about this.

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We've got similar examples as we go through the book.

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This book, dating from 1823,

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-it's going to be between £500 and £700 at auction.

-Yeah.

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-Would you be interested in selling it at that level?

-Yeah.

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-What do you think about that figure?

-Because I didn't know much about it, I didn't really have a figure.

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I don't think it's about the money.

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-Obviously, it needs to go to a better home to people that would...

-Cos it is such an amazing book.

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-Maybe you should sell the book and, with the money, go to Italy and have a look at it.

-Very good idea.

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If we wanted to put a reserve on it, I think we'll probably put that round about sort of £300.

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-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-So it doesn't sell below that.

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-Yeah.

-We'll put it in and we'll see what happens. You'll come along to the auction?

-Definitely.

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This is Foxy, the Jack Russell. You're having a good day, Foxy.

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We'll get you a glass of water or a bowl of water. Hello, Emily.

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-Hello.

-Hello, Mum. What's going on? What have you found out about the picture?

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-It's by David Bates.

-I'm attributing it to David Bates. It's not signed.

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What we have here is an oil that's been ruined by over-restoration.

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It's been cleaned, over-cleaned and then re-painted,

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which brings that value right down in today's market to probably £100, £150.

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-Is it going back on the wall?

-Yes.

-Good. Enjoy it.

-Thank you.

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I'd better take this little thing back to its owner.

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Sadly, not everyone gets to hear the great news they had hoped for.

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We see quite a few medals at our valuation days,

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but Michael has discovered some that pay tribute to a truly dedicated soldier.

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Patrick, thank you for bringing this wonderful collection of medals in.

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The fact that you've got First and Second World War medals, you must know something about them.

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-Tell me how you got these.

-They were handed down to me from my grandfather when I was a young boy.

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He said to me, "If you can find them, you can keep them."

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I went into the outdoor shed, rummaged around and they were lying in an old tin pot.

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-As a young boy, I can't think of anything much more exciting to find than your grandfather's medals.

-Yes.

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-I was 10 or 12.

-Fantastic.

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We've got the standard First World War medals here,

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ones that are euphemistically called Pip, Squeak and Wilfred. They're all named.

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If we turn this one over,

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-we've got there "G Cockell".

-That's right.

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-Then we've got these Second World War medals, so he served in both wars.

-Oh, yes.

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-And survived.

-Amazing.

-We've got his military buttons and cap insignia.

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-What's very interesting is we've got his Soldier's Service and Pay Book.

-That's right.

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-And at the back here, his discharge papers.

-That's correct.

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There we have... "31st March, 1931,

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"discharge certificate for No.11239,

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"Corporal George Cockell, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry."

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-That's magic.

-That's brilliant.

-"Enlisted 12th August, 1914."

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-My word, he was eager!

-Yeah, he did his bit for Queen and country.

-He did indeed.

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"Discharged 5th November, 1919. Medals..." Here.

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"1914-15 Star. British War and Victory Medal."

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So they're named in this and what's wonderful

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-is we've got under "character", which must make you proud...

-Yes.

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"Good, honest, sober, intelligent and industrious," which is just magic.

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And to have all of this extra documentation with a set of medals makes a huge difference.

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The people that collect medals, they're not buying the medal,

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they're buying the story and the history attached with it.

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Can I ask you, cos these must be immensely sentimental to you,

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why have you decided to part with them now?

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They are sentimental, but if I were to sell them, the memory sticks in my brain.

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-Your grandfather's in here and here.

-Always in my brain, in my heart. I'll never forget him.

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I'd rather they could go in a collection, so people could see them, like the British War Museum.

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10 or 15 years ago, that group of three medals was making £20 or £30.

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But since then, people have realised that they're getting rarer

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and scarcer and prices have rocketed,

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so I think we could put these into auction at £200 to £300,

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-put a fixed reserve of £180 on them, keep our fingers crossed and Grandad's medals may fly.

-I hope so.

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-Patrick, thank you so much for bringing these in.

-That's all right.

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Michael is convinced these medals will appeal to collectors,

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but will they be at the auction? It's time to find out.

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Well, here we are. My driver didn't turn up this morning, so I've had to make do.

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This is where our items are going under the hammer - Moore, Allen & Innocent just outside Cirencester.

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I'm running a bit late and the auction is just about to start.

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I'll catch up with our owners, make sure they're OK cos I know they're feeling really nervous.

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We'll leave you with a quick rundown of all the items going under the hammer.

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'The first three items are the objects extracted from the old well in Audrey's cellar.

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'The prize is a 17th century bottle, but there are plenty other things,

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'including what could be a Tudor tap.

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'That spectacular book of Italian art, still mostly intact,

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'despite Gemma's nan's fondness for scissors.

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'And Patrick's grandfather's medals.

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'I wasn't running so short of time at the preview and managed

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'to speak to auctioneer Philip Allwood about the medals.'

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Wonderful collection of medals. Great story.

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They belong to George Cockell. First World War and Second World War.

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-We've got £200 to £300 on these medals.

-Yeah.

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They're being sold by the grandson.

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Are they? Well, he must be a very proud grandson.

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Obviously, Grandfather went through the First, into the Second,

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looking at the discharge papers, was retired from the army early or discharged.

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-Exemplary report on here.

-I've never seen one of those before and that's quite interesting.

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-Individually, these medals, not worth a lot.

-OK.

-Lots of them about.

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A lot of people came back from the First with these fairly standard medals. Same with the Second.

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But put that all together with the history, who won them, what they were doing where and when

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and it suddenly gets the collectors' collecting juices flowing.

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-You've got provenance. That's where the value is.

-Medal collectors are not going for the bit of metal.

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They're going for owning a bit of that soldier and what he did.

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-And this has got oodles of that.

-Will it get the top end?

-I wouldn't be surprised.

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200 to 300? I could have easily gone with that estimate and expected to see getting on for the top estimate.

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-Wonderful thing. Good luck with these.

-They should do fine.

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'We both think these medals will march right out of the auction room,

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'but we'll have to wait and see because first to discover their fate is Audrey.

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'Buyers and sellers at today's auction

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'are subject to a commission of 15% plus VAT.'

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This next lot is totally fascinating, picked by our expert, Michael Baggott.

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It's been dug up out of the ground from the Talbot Hotel in Tetbury.

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'Michael split the lot into two parts. The first is a real mixed bag.'

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There's this wonderful manganese, treacle-glazed jug, some churchwarden pipes and...?

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Little silver shirt links.

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-But do you know what's going to make me laugh?

-And a tap.

-A tap. What's that all about, Michael?

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That is a bronze Tudor tap. It's a rare thing. For 180 quid...

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-It's a funny old lot. It really is.

-I've heard that before!

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Valuing it is like playing "pin the tail on the donkey". You never know where it's going to go.

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-That's sensible.

-Let's see what the bidders think.

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The 18th century, manganese, treacle-glazed pottery jug.

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Should be 200 or 300, really. Start me.

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150 then?

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-Start me, 100? £100 for the lot?

-He's going in the wrong direction.

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£50? At £50. A bid there at 50. At £50.

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5 if you like now? At £50.

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At £50. 5. 60. 5.

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-70. 5...

-The churchwarden pipes are worth that.

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..5. 90. 5.

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100. And 10 if you like? And 10.

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At 110. 120 now?

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At 110. At £110.

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Are you all sure now then? At £110, are you all done?

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They didn't understand.

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Well, they didn't want it today.

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-No.

-Maybe they'll want it in a week's time.

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-I'll put it out for the dustmen, I think.

-No, you won't.

-Don't do that!

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'What a shame! Let's hope we do better with the second lot from the collection, that superb bottle.'

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It's a wonderful period piece,

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but what makes it extra special is we know where the object was found.

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-Yeah.

-We know where it was discarded in the 17th century.

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And that lovely iridescent colour that you only get from burial over the years and it's been dug up.

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It's just got those colours that every collector wants.

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-Do you think so?

-Oh, it's got the look and the condition.

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Collectors want history with their objects, ideally. And that's got it all.

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200 to get on? At 200, thank you.

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At 200. At 200.

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210 now if you like? At £200. At 210.

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220. 230.

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At 230. 240. 250.

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At £250. 260 anywhere?

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At £250. 260 anywhere now for it?

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At £250. Are you sure now?

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-Oh, come on!

-At 250...

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I'm absolutely shocked.

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That bottle was worth every penny of £300 to £500, if not more.

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-If I were you, I'd be relieved I hadn't sold it.

-I would as well.

-I'm so sorry, Audrey.

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'Well, it looks like the artefacts are going home with Audrey.

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'Perhaps the Italian art will appeal more to the bidders.'

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Wonderful, wonderful book. We're looking at £300 to £500, fingers crossed. On a good day.

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-On a good day.

-It's all there. Condition is good.

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I just hope it doesn't get Stanley-knifed up and sold separately.

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You say the condition is good, but Gemma's grandma had a bit of a Stanley knife fetish

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-and cut a few letters out, but the pictures are all fine.

-That's where the value is.

-Yeah, absolutely.

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-Fingers crossed. It's been a long wait, hasn't it?

-It has, yeah.

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-Have you been tempted to buy anything?

-Yes, I saw a little kid's trike outside.

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-It looks like it needs restoring.

-I know the one. I rode here on it!

0:20:400:20:45

Oh, right.

0:20:450:20:46

The Italian School of Design, 1823. Some lovely images in this.

0:20:460:20:52

Start me. Should be 500. Start me, 3?

0:20:520:20:55

200 to get on then? At 200, thank you. At £200.

0:20:560:21:00

At 220. 240.

0:21:000:21:02

260. 270 then.

0:21:020:21:04

280. 300.

0:21:040:21:06

320 if you like? At 300 here. 320 now?

0:21:060:21:09

At £300. I thought it might have made a little more. At 300.

0:21:090:21:13

At £300. It's on my right.

0:21:150:21:17

Are you all sure now then at 300...?

0:21:170:21:20

-Brilliant.

-Just.

-Sold.

-Just on estimate.

0:21:210:21:25

There was a pause there. I wasn't sure if he was calling for 300.

0:21:250:21:29

-No, he had 300, but I think with that bit of damage, that took off the edge.

-Of course.

0:21:290:21:34

-But you should be very pleased - £300.

-Happy?

-Yeah.

-What will you put the money towards?

-Going on holiday.

0:21:340:21:41

-Where do you fancy going?

-Probably Italy, just to see where it all came from.

-The School of Design.

0:21:410:21:47

-It makes sense, doesn't it?

-It does.

-Go to Rome.

-Payback for it. Yes, go to Rome.

0:21:470:21:52

Good for them. I do hope they get to see those works of art for real.

0:21:520:21:57

Last up, we've got Patrick's grandfather's medals.

0:21:570:22:02

A classic set of medals from WWI, WWII and discharge papers.

0:22:020:22:06

-Michael, you fell in love with these.

-It's the whole story.

0:22:060:22:11

-Is it hard to sell these?

-They've been stuck in a drawer, not appreciated.

0:22:110:22:17

-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.

0:22:170:22:23

I can start you here at 130 on the book. 130.

0:22:230:22:28

At 130. 140. 150. 160.

0:22:280:22:31

170. 180. The book's out at 180. 190 now.

0:22:310:22:35

190. 200. 210.

0:22:350:22:38

220. 230. 240. 250.

0:22:380:22:41

260. At 260 on my left now. At 260. 270 now, then.

0:22:410:22:47

At £260. It's on my left. At 260.

0:22:470:22:51

-Super result. The hammer's gone down.

-I'm very happy.

-I am.

0:22:530:22:57

-That was well contested. That was his last battle.

-It was!

0:22:570:23:02

It suddenly shot up. Very pleased.

0:23:020:23:06

I knew the collectors wouldn't be able to resist that lot. A brilliant result and plenty more to come.

0:23:070:23:13

'Bernice has decided it's time to rescue this beautiful Art Nouveau tray

0:23:130:23:17

'out of the grasp of little hands.'

0:23:170:23:20

-Where does it live?

-Well, it sits on the coffee table in the sitting room and it gets knocked around.

0:23:200:23:27

'Phyllis is trying to wean herself off of her Wemyss addiction, but some things are hard to resist.'

0:23:270:23:34

If that one special Wemyss pig came along, would you buy it still?

0:23:340:23:38

-Oh...maybe.

-Maybe.

0:23:380:23:41

'And we discover a bracelet bearing the name of one of the world's greatest fashion designers.'

0:23:410:23:48

On the 16th of May in 1871, the successful writer, designer and socialist William Morris

0:23:590:24:05

set foot in the Cotswold village of Kelmscott for the first time.

0:24:050:24:09

He came here looking for a house for the summer months,

0:24:090:24:13

but when he came down this lane and looked down that garden path and saw that handsome farmhouse,

0:24:130:24:19

he knew his search was over. No wonder he stopped looking.

0:24:190:24:24

For Morris it was the start of a love affair that would stay with him for life, bringing him inspiration

0:24:280:24:34

and pleasure, but as with all great romances, there were also moments of disappointment and betrayal.

0:24:340:24:42

In fact, despite his immediate and deep affection for the place,

0:24:450:24:49

it would be three years before Morris could bring himself to spend any time here.

0:24:490:24:55

Instead, he stayed away while his wife Jane and their two daughters spent their summers here

0:24:550:25:01

with painter and poet Gabriel Rossetti, Morris's friend and business partner.

0:25:010:25:06

Rossetti and Jane had been having an affair for five years.

0:25:060:25:10

Morris was aware that it was starting to attract attention and could damage his business.

0:25:100:25:16

The lease on Kelmscott was taken out jointly with Rossetti, so they could conduct their affair

0:25:160:25:22

away from prying eyes.

0:25:220:25:25

Over the following years, Rossetti would suffer a mental breakdown.

0:25:250:25:29

He spent prolonged periods of time here at Kelmscott, forcing Morris to stay away.

0:25:290:25:35

It wasn't until Rossetti moved out in 1874 that Morris could actually enjoy his beloved Kelmscott.

0:25:350:25:42

This place became a kind of utopia for him,

0:25:420:25:46

somewhere where he could escape from the modern world, which he despised.

0:25:460:25:51

The Arts and Craft movement was driven by a dislike for Victorian industrialisation

0:25:550:26:00

and the fear that mechanisation and mass production would result in blandness and conformity.

0:26:000:26:07

Kelmscott was the antithesis of that.

0:26:070:26:11

He saw this magnificent house as a true work of craftsmanship built with local materials.

0:26:120:26:18

He just loved its vernacular style and it sits in perfect harmony with the rest of the village.

0:26:180:26:24

You could say this handsome house represents all the ideals of the Arts and Crafts movement.

0:26:330:26:39

It was built in the year 1600 and was added to in 1665.

0:26:390:26:43

Look at the lovely hand-cut roof tiles, all made of stone.

0:26:430:26:47

They graduate down - they start smaller and as they come down they get slightly larger.

0:26:470:26:53

Morris described that as looking at the scales interlocking on a fish or maybe the feathers on a bird.

0:26:530:27:00

It really is so organic.

0:27:000:27:02

On the inside, as on the outside, William Morris just loved the simplicity of this house.

0:27:050:27:12

He chose to change it very little from the way he first acquired it from the family who had it built.

0:27:120:27:19

His dream was to live here as simply as possible

0:27:190:27:23

and he described the house as "the loveliest haunt of ancient peace".

0:27:230:27:29

As you look around, you get a real sense of Morris the man,

0:27:290:27:33

from his passion for collecting traditional hand-made objects

0:27:330:27:37

to wonderful examples of his own company's furniture and furnishings.

0:27:370:27:41

The garden and surrounding countryside

0:27:440:27:48

would also provide endless inspiration for his designs.

0:27:480:27:52

It's said that the idea for Strawberry Thief, one of his most popular designs, came about

0:27:520:27:58

as he noticed thrushes stealing wild berries from his kitchen garden.

0:27:580:28:03

And according to his daughter May, the idea for his foliage pattern Willow Bough, 1887,

0:28:050:28:11

came from the willow trees growing on the banks of the Thames nearby.

0:28:110:28:16

Oh, this is a nice room. Spacious, light, airy.

0:28:180:28:21

In fact, there's a nice, tranquil feel about this.

0:28:210:28:25

It's known as the White Room. Morris is known for his colours. He loves reds and golds and greens

0:28:250:28:32

and repetitive patterns everywhere. Yet the family chose to paint the walls off-white.

0:28:320:28:38

In fact, towards the end of his life he admitted he preferred simpler colour schemes and plainer rooms.

0:28:380:28:46

The whole house, in fact, is so understated.

0:28:460:28:50

The decor is quite simple and it sits beautifully with the outside.

0:28:500:28:54

It's just so calm.

0:28:540:28:56

William Morris remains to this day a major force to be reckoned with in the world of design.

0:29:000:29:05

His legacy of work is endless, really. He was a writer, publisher, social campaigner, designer,

0:29:050:29:12

craftsman, illustrator, painter. It just goes on and on and on.

0:29:120:29:16

No wonder that towards the end of his life a doctor proclaimed

0:29:160:29:20

he suffered from the disease of being William Morris, working 18 hours a day.

0:29:200:29:25

That's why, for me, it's so special to come to a place like Kelmscott,

0:29:250:29:30

so you can understand the peace he must have had here.

0:29:300:29:34

William Morris, for me, will always remain a great source of inspiration.

0:29:340:29:41

Back at our valuation day in Cirencester, we've got a packed house.

0:29:500:29:56

Michael - a serious silver fanatic - couldn't resist this striking tray.

0:29:560:30:01

-You've brought this beautiful tray.

-You like it?

-I love it.

0:30:010:30:05

-Where does it live in your house?

-It sits on the coffee table and gets knocked around by the grandchildren,

0:30:050:30:12

so I just thought I'd bring it to you and see if you liked it.

0:30:120:30:16

-Do you use it for anything?

-No. I couldn't understand why it was a tray.

0:30:160:30:22

-You couldn't stand anything on it.

-It's all knobbly, isn't it?

-It is.

0:30:220:30:28

-A cup would fall off it.

-Unless you live in a bungalow, you've got it on the wrong floor.

0:30:280:30:34

-Oh, right.

-This belongs in the bedroom.

-Oh! Oh, really?

0:30:340:30:38

This is a dressing table tray.

0:30:380:30:41

And you can't put a glass or a cup on this, but if you think of upturned brushes,

0:30:410:30:47

which would sit quite happily along with combs on that, that's exactly what it was designed for.

0:30:470:30:54

-I didn't know that.

-Any idea about how old it is?

-Erm...

0:30:540:30:58

Judging by the design, I thought Art Nouveau.

0:30:580:31:02

It shrieks Art Nouveau!

0:31:020:31:04

This wonderful whiplash foliate order.

0:31:040:31:07

And then we've got this typically naturalistic scene.

0:31:070:31:11

I'm not sure what these birds are. My ornithological knowledge does not stretch

0:31:110:31:18

-to the lengths of my silver knowledge. Cranes or herons.

-I thought they were herons.

0:31:180:31:24

We'll go with herons. I'll bow to your knowledge. With bulrushes.

0:31:240:31:29

It's a mirror image, very organic and very naturalistic. Exactly what Art Nouveau was about.

0:31:290:31:36

First, we've got the maker's mark there, which is WA. That's for William Aitken.

0:31:360:31:42

He wasn't a very distinguished maker, but he produced on a large scale in Birmingham.

0:31:420:31:48

We've got the date - 1909. The height of Art Nouveau in England.

0:31:480:31:53

And you've got these domestic wares being produced in that style.

0:31:530:31:58

-The sad thing is, it is one part of a very large set.

-Oh, really?

0:31:580:32:03

There would be brushes and combs and hair tidies

0:32:030:32:08

and scent bottles and mirrors, so...any idea where the rest is?

0:32:080:32:14

No, I inherited it with a house.

0:32:140:32:18

-Oh.

-From dear Uncle Joe. He was ill and I decided to nurse him.

0:32:180:32:24

-And, erm, he changed his will in the last three weeks of his life and left it all to me.

-Crikey.

0:32:240:32:31

So it was really lucky. And I got divorced after 40 years, so I had this house to go to.

0:32:310:32:37

-It's just been a godsend. He's up there looking after me.

-Smiling down at you.

-Must have been.

0:32:370:32:44

Well, it's a nice thing to come with a tray! Better than a mirror!

0:32:440:32:48

-So I've got no idea where he had it from.

-It's the sort of thing that's very commercial at the moment.

0:32:480:32:54

-It never really falls out of fashion. Let's put it into auction with £100-£150 on it.

-Really?

0:32:540:33:00

-Gosh.

-Let's put a reserve of £90 on, fixed.

-Oh, amazing.

-And let's see how it goes.

0:33:000:33:06

If there are two people that love Art Nouveau, and there's a good chance, it could do a little more.

0:33:060:33:14

-Gosh, that's amazing.

-It could fly.

0:33:140:33:16

-Oh, thank you.

-Just like the herons.

-Or whatever they are!

-Or the cranes or the ibises!

0:33:160:33:22

Michael may not know his birds, but he knows his silver and I'm sure this will do well.

0:33:220:33:28

But can our crowd identify this next lot?

0:33:280:33:32

This belongs to Phyllis. We've seen a lot of this on the show before.

0:33:320:33:36

-Do you know what this is?

-No. My friend does.

-You know what it is.

0:33:360:33:41

-How about you guys? Pottery enthusiasts?

-No, no.

0:33:410:33:45

-Wemyss.

-That's not bad. Three out of six.

0:33:450:33:48

-It is Wemyss, yes, you're right. You're a bit of a Wemyss collector.

-I am a Wemyss collector.

0:33:480:33:55

-How many pieces have you got?

-Between 50 and 100.

-Really? How long have you been collecting?

0:33:550:34:00

-Since the '70s.

-So why are you selling this particular one?

0:34:000:34:06

I'm downsizing, need space and that one has to go, I'm afraid.

0:34:060:34:10

If that one special Wemyss pig came along, would you buy it still?

0:34:100:34:15

-Oh...maybe.

-Maybe. Maybe sell five other pieces to buy it with.

-Yes.

0:34:150:34:20

That's what everybody wants - Wemyss pigs. They're big ones like that.

0:34:200:34:24

This is a sponge bowl with the strainer. That's nice.

0:34:240:34:28

The strainers did get broken. And also the sponge bowls, the most delicate parts are the handles.

0:34:280:34:35

They used to get chipped and knocked, but they're very good.

0:34:350:34:40

-They are.

-I like the decoration of this. Soft.

-Beautiful soft roses.

0:34:400:34:45

Lovely soft roses. Almost translucent.

0:34:450:34:49

It's sought-after Scottish pottery.

0:34:490:34:52

-Well sought-after. And I still classify this as country pottery.

-It is.

-I'm struggling with value.

0:34:520:34:59

I think it's worth an awful lot more than £150, but I don't know what you paid for that.

0:34:590:35:05

-80.

-80. How long ago?

0:35:060:35:08

-In '95.

-'95, OK.

0:35:080:35:11

-Let's call it £100 with a reserve at £100 and see what happens.

-Absolutely.

0:35:110:35:16

-And hopefully we'll get that 120, 150.

-Absolutely.

0:35:160:35:20

-On a good day, we will.

-I think it's a unique piece. If we find a collector...

0:35:200:35:26

The artwork on this particular one is very good.

0:35:260:35:29

-This I'd date to around 1900, 1910.

-Beautiful.

-In great condition.

0:35:290:35:34

-Will I see you at the auction?

-No, my youngest son's coming.

-Is he?

0:35:340:35:38

-What does he think about Wemyss?

-Not a lot!

-We'll find out!

0:35:380:35:43

And fingers crossed there will be at least two people in the room who appreciate it more than that.

0:35:430:35:49

Next, Thomas is looking at a particularly glamorous bracelet with Angie.

0:35:490:35:55

-Tell me how it came to your possession.

-My grandmother gave it to me when I was about 10.

0:35:550:36:01

I've had it ever since. I don't know a lot more, but it's Christian Dior.

0:36:010:36:05

-Absolutely. It is. So your grandmother had stopped wearing it?

-I don't think she ever wore it.

0:36:050:36:12

It's not the sort of thing she'd have bought. I think it would be a gift.

0:36:120:36:16

She was a housekeeper for wealthy families and was often given things by guests who stayed regularly.

0:36:160:36:22

I think she was given it as a gift.

0:36:220:36:25

-Did you like it because it was pink?

-Yes! And I used to dress up and wear it, high heels and handbags.

0:36:250:36:32

I used to wear it then. But now I have to say I haven't worn it since.

0:36:320:36:38

I find it a bit garish, actually!

0:36:380:36:40

-Really?

-Yeah.

-It is Christian Dior.

0:36:400:36:42

We can see it from here, the mark there.

0:36:420:36:46

That conjures up all these wonderful fashion items

0:36:460:36:50

and high-end jewellery, but this is Christian Dior the costume jeweller here.

0:36:500:36:56

It was developed in the post-war period when the jewellery at the time, worn by Hollywood stars,

0:36:560:37:03

was all gem-set. These would have been rubies and opals, et cetera.

0:37:030:37:08

With fashion wanting to copy that, they decided to make jewellery like this,

0:37:080:37:14

so it would reflect the Hollywood style. It is costume jewellery, we should explain that.

0:37:140:37:20

You've got the mauve stones and the pink. This is glass and diamante or paste, on a base metal.

0:37:200:37:27

What would this go for in a provincial saleroom like where we're going to go?

0:37:270:37:33

It would probably make over £50, but I should have the estimate at £70-£100.

0:37:330:37:40

-OK.

-I also think we should fix the reserve at that sort of £60.

-OK.

-How about that?

-That's fine.

0:37:400:37:48

-Then with the commission taken off, you'll end up with 50.

-OK.

0:37:480:37:53

-So see you at the auction?

-OK, yes, you will!

0:37:530:37:57

'That completes our final lots.'

0:37:590:38:02

'Michael's hoping for a great result with Bernice's Art Nouveau tray.'

0:38:020:38:06

'There's the Wemyss sponge bowl and strainer, but will it clean up?

0:38:090:38:14

'Finally, we've Angie's grandmother's Christian Dior bracelet.'

0:38:140:38:18

'We're selling them at Moore, Allen & Innocent.

0:38:200:38:23

'It's a busy day and silver is selling well,

0:38:230:38:28

'so what will they make of the tray?'

0:38:280:38:30

-Good luck. The tension's building.

-It's very exciting.

-We're about to sell a silver dressing table tray.

0:38:300:38:36

-Art Nouveau flavour, beautifully decorated.

-It is.

0:38:360:38:40

-Hasn't been on the dressing table.

-No, it's been on the coffee table and the kids have knocked it.

0:38:400:38:47

-Now it's going. I bet the kids are upset.

-I don't think they noticed!

0:38:470:38:52

You don't want your children knocking your silver about!

0:38:520:38:56

-It's good because it's a good display piece.

-Yes.

-Sometimes bowls are difficult to display.

0:38:560:39:02

Put that on an easel and you get the full impact of it.

0:39:020:39:07

-That's a nice way of displaying it. There's a tip. Good luck.

-Thank you.

-It's going under the hammer.

0:39:070:39:13

Who'll start me? Should be 100.

0:39:150:39:17

100? 80?

0:39:170:39:19

At £80. A bid there. At £80. 5 anywhere now?

0:39:190:39:23

At £80. 5. 90. 5.

0:39:230:39:26

-Brilliant!

-Silver's selling well here today.

-I hope Uncle Joe's watching.

-I bet he is!

0:39:260:39:32

140. 150 now?

0:39:320:39:34

- Good heavens. - All out in front?

0:39:340:39:38

At 140.

0:39:380:39:41

-Well done!

-Top end!

-He knows his onions.

-Exactly.

0:39:410:39:45

-That'll pay for my art now.

-What sort of art? Classes?

-Yes.

0:39:450:39:49

I'm just going on some art courses and the next one was £140.

0:39:490:39:54

-It was meant to be!

-Exactly.

0:39:540:39:56

How perfect! Who knows? We could be selling one of her paintings at auction in the future!

0:39:570:40:04

OK, it's my turn to be the expert. I'm feeling nervous. Unfortunately, we don't have Phyllis,

0:40:040:40:12

-but we have her son, Paul. Hi.

-Hi.

-Good to see you.

0:40:120:40:16

-You've grown up with your mum's collection.

-Yes, filling the house.

0:40:160:40:20

Ever since she got a little pig, she's been collecting ever since.

0:40:200:40:24

-Every time I go back there, there's another cupboard of Wemyss!

-This could be your inheritance!

0:40:240:40:30

I'm a bit unsure about selling it! Why is that happening?

0:40:300:40:35

-This is it.

-Start me at 100 to get on. 100.

0:40:350:40:40

-For the Wemyss ware.

-Oh, come on.

-50, then.

0:40:400:40:43

-£50, thank you.

-I'm so nervous!

0:40:430:40:47

At £50. 5. 60. 5. 70.

0:40:470:40:50

5. At 75. 80 now?

0:40:500:40:53

-At 75. 80. 5. 90. 5.

-He's sold it.

-100.

0:40:530:40:57

On my left at 100. 110 now? At £100. Are you sure?

0:40:570:41:01

It's on my left, then, at 100.

0:41:010:41:04

-Yes. Made estimate.

-Oh, good. Well done on the estimate.

0:41:040:41:09

-I think she'll be pleased.

-I had a note saying, "Take it home."

0:41:100:41:15

-Hopefully she's had a wonderful holiday.

-And a good bit of news when she comes home as well.

0:41:150:41:21

-She'll be happy with that.

-Give her my regards.

0:41:210:41:25

Well, the Wemyss went down well, but what will the auction room make of Angie's costume jewellery?

0:41:250:41:31

-It's going under the hammer. £70-£100. This was given to you by your grandmother?

-22 years ago.

0:41:310:41:37

-It's been in a drawer ever since.

-You don't wear it?

-No.

-Fair enough.

0:41:370:41:42

-So I want to buy something to wear.

-Fair enough.

0:41:420:41:46

-Will it sell well?

-I don't know.

0:41:460:41:49

It'll be a tough call today, I think, if it does sell at all.

0:41:490:41:53

It's quite a difficult subject to sell in a traditional sale room,

0:41:530:41:57

-but we're going to give it a go.

-Here we go. Fingers crossed.

0:41:570:42:01

You never know what's going to happen at an auction.

0:42:010:42:05

We have a phone. It's the Christian Dior bracelet.

0:42:050:42:10

Phone!

0:42:100:42:12

Dated 1958. Should be over 100.

0:42:120:42:15

80? At £80, thank you. £80 the bid. At £80. 5. 90.

0:42:150:42:21

5. 100. 110. 120.

0:42:210:42:24

130. 140. 150. 160.

0:42:240:42:28

-At 160.

-Gosh!

-Lady's bid.

0:42:280:42:30

170 now? At 160. At 160. 170 on the phone.

0:42:300:42:35

180. 190 if you like. 190.

0:42:350:42:38

-200.

-They absolutely love it.

-They do know it's paste?

0:42:380:42:43

220. 230. 240.

0:42:430:42:46

250. 260.

0:42:460:42:49

270. 280. 290.

0:42:500:42:54

300. 320?

0:42:540:42:56

320. 340.

0:42:560:42:58

-I am flabbergasted.

-Di you miss something?

-380.

0:42:580:43:03

400. 420.

0:43:030:43:05

-440.

-Do they know something we don't know?

0:43:070:43:11

-Oh, I can't believe it!

-Money!

-Good old Nana.

0:43:110:43:15

All sure now, then? It's on the phone at 440.

0:43:150:43:20

Incredible! £440. Angie, that is wonderful.

0:43:200:43:24

-Thank you so much!

-Good old Nana.

-I can get something really nice.

0:43:240:43:29

-I am flabbergasted.

-That's the beauty of auctions.

0:43:290:43:33

Sadly, it brings us to the end of another wonderful show.

0:43:330:43:37

Join us again soon for many, many more surprises, but for now, from Cirencester, it's cheerio.

0:43:370:43:44

Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd - 2010

0:43:550:43:59

Email [email protected]

0:44:000:44:02

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