Bangor Flog It!


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Welcome to Flog It, the show that values your

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unwanted antiques and collectables and then whisks you off to auction.

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And today we're in the most stunning part of the world,

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North Wales. This auction room is where we're putting our valuations

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to the test a little later on in the show.

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First, we need some antiques to sell, so it's off to Bangor.

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Bangor lies on the coast of North Wales near the Menai Strait,

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which separates the Isle of Anglesey from Gwyneth.

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It's one of the smallest cities in Britain but that doesn't stop it

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boasting a cathedral, a university and a rich cultural life.

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Well, for such a small city, I'm delighted to see such a large crowd

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gathering here outside Bangor University's Pritchard Jones Hall.

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I can't wait to see what's inside these boxes,

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because hopefully there's going to be something interesting

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that's going to bring big results for our owners

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when we put them under the hammer later on in the show.

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Our team of experts are here in force and are led by Mark Stacey,

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who enjoys both the antiques and the tales behind them.

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-Where did you get this from then?

-That's a long story.

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Is it? Do tell.

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And Adam Partridge, a tenacious auctioneer who searches

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high and low for the right item to take off to auction.

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Normally this wouldn't be right, would it,

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rummaging in a lady's bag like this?

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Coming up, Mark's got something rather enjoyable.

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It's really rather grand, isn't it? You've got this wonderful

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classical scene, revolving round in sort of silver plate.

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They're having a really good time there.

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But unfortunately most of them are clothed as well, which is a bonus.

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And I find something top rate.

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I like that a lot. Yes, yes, I do. Isn't it super?

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It's a lovely example.

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We also take the opportunity to visit Portmeirion to find out about

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pottery designer, Susan Williams Ellis.

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One of our reps was rather intelligent. He said,

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"What we want is a very smart coffee set."

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I thought, all right, I'll try and do one.

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Mark's up first with Dora, but not at the table because she's brought

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in an old family trunk, which is full to the brim.

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-Is it going to be a treasure trunk today, Dora?

-I hope so.

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Shall we have a look? I can't resist any longer.

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Well, we'll open it up here. There we are.

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Now, tell me about this lovely set.

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Well, my cousin bought it for my boys.

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And it was second hand.

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She bought it off somebody else whose children had outgrown them.

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Wonderful. Your sons were very well behaved children, weren't they?

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They had to be, we only had a small house!

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Once they finished playing with it,

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they all had to go back into the boxes.

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Fantastic. It's lovely because this is what collectors

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-really want to see, is these original boxes.

-That's right.

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And there are a few bits of scuffing on this but at the end of the day,

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it's 50 years old or more

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and it's going to have that sort of damage and when we open this up,

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we've got the locomotive here and some of the carriages

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in its box there. I particularly like seeing these sort of boxes,

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because you never know what you're going to find in them, do you?

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Oh, that's wonderful, isn't it?

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Look, one of the little station units, what have we got here?

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The goods depot.

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And really in quite good condition. These are transfer printed on here.

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When kids play with them,

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you know, they get scuffed, chipped and scratched.

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Thanks for struggling in with it all. You've obviously had it

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a long time. Why have you decided to sell it today?

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Well, I had three boys.

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I couldn't give it to one without the other, so I said I'll keep it

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and I'll sell it one day and they can have the money.

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And what are you hoping it might be worth?

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Do you have a specific figure in mind?

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The more the merrier.

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Of course. I like your answer.

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It's not the earliest type of train

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but there's a lot of it here. I think we should be looking

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-at an estimate of somewhere in the region of £150 to £250.

-Yeah.

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Would you be happy with that?

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£150? More than that.

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More? Well, we'd always like more.

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How much more do you think it's worth?

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Um, well...

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I don't know.

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Over £500, I'm sure.

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Oh, well it might make that but I think we've got to be realistic.

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We could try maybe at £200 to £300 and put a reserve of £200,

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because then we won't sell it below that figure and hopefully

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-we'll chug into the station in first class.

-I hope so.

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It's a lovely collection but I think Mark is right to be conservative.

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It looks like a watercolour.

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Adam has found some nice-looking silver belonging to Jim and Eileen.

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Tell us about this little cruet set?

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Well, we bought this about ten years ago in an antiques fair.

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We saw it and thought it was very attractive

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and were rather taken with the design.

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It has a lot of nice qualities to it.

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It's a very attractive design

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and these are not engraved with any initials on any of them, are they?

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-That's right.

-The shields are blank.

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All nice matching hallmarks, good condition for the blue liners

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and most unusually really, the amount of these we get through

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the saleroom that have the wrong spoons. They've lost their spoons.

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The hallmarks on these are the same make,

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the same year as everything else.

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So everything matches, doesn't it?

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I wonder if once it might have been in a fitted case,

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that's the only other question I have.

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Perhaps originally you see them in those fancy fitted cases

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-but it's a lovely set, isn't it?

-It is, yes.

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-Have you dated it?

-I think it's 1907.

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That's what I looked up. I checked it as well. Birmingham 1907.

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And the initials CEW on there, which is CE Williams of Birmingham,

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who was in operation from 1901 to 1909, I had a quick look.

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So that all ties up very nice.

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So, ten years ago you purchased it.

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-Who spotted it?

-You did.

-Well, I did really. Yes.

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Do you have a shared interest or are you more of a small silver...

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No, it was shared, it's one thing we agree on.

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One thing! You don't agree on much else?

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-Sometimes.

-Off and on.

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I think most people agree with us that these are pretty nice,

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aren't they? What did you pay for them? Do you mind if I ask?

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I think it was about £150 we paid.

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Well, that's not too bad for a fair.

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I'd suggest a lower estimate.

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I think we should put a reserve of £100, as long as you don't mind

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potentially losing £50, but that's the name of the game, isn't it?

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An estimate of £100 to £150 and I think there's every chance

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of getting the £150 you paid for it, which would be quite nice.

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What would be extra nice would be a small profit so that after your

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commission, you end up with what you paid for.

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Yes, so we'd have broken even. That's right.

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Why are you selling them?

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Because we've moved on now to collecting silver,

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-pin cushions, animals, birds.

-Very nice.

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We'll put these in the auction, 100-150.

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Thank you very much for coming.

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-Nice to see you.

-Yes, lovely.

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I'll have my fingers crossed that they do break even.

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These are nice. Parry and Webb?

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Yes, indeed, yes, but no-one's owned up to them sadly.

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What, they're just sitting here?

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Well, let's hope the owners turn up soon.

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Liz has brought in an interesting piece of jewellery

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which has caught Mark's eye.

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You've brought this rather nice brooch in. Is it a family heirloom?

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No, I actually bought it in a charity shop about ten or 12 years ago.

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-Really?

-I just thought it was really pretty.

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It is. Dare I ask what you paid for it?

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-I think I paid about £5 for it.

-Not bad, is it?

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This is really rather nice. We've got a sort of shotgun here

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and then you've got a pointer or something like that, a hunting dog.

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It is actually nine-carat gold, did you know that?

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No, I didn't. I knew there was a hallmark on back

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but I didn't know what year.

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Yes, it's stamped 375 at the back, which says nine-carat gold.

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I mean, it's a quirky item. It appeals to those people who are into

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hunting and shooting, I suppose. Not the most politically correct subject

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these days but there are a lot of people who like country pursuits and

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I think a lady would like that on her hunting jacket or whatever.

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It's quite well modelled.

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The little dog has had his body chased, so you can see

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the texture of the hair on it.

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Is all this gold or is some of that silver?

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I think it's a mixture.

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Certainly the butt here is gold, but it does go up to this white

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metal which is not marked.

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It could just be that it was silver gilt that has come off.

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I think we've got to value it as a decorative piece of jewellery.

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-It's not going to send you to the Bahamas, I'm afraid.

-Right.

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You might get to Prestatyn.

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Oh, right, I quite like Prestatyn, so that's fine.

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THEY LAUGH

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Well, you've had it for about ten years.

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After all this time why have you decided to bring it along today?

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Because I've never worn it, it's just been in the drawer.

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I'd like somebody to buy it and actually wear it,

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somebody maybe, as you say that shoots guns

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or does the hunting or shooting that would actually appreciate it

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and wear it. I think it's a shame, it's very pretty.

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Certainly I think somebody living in the country

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who likes that sort of thing would appreciate it.

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In terms of value I would probably say around about £70 to £90,

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£70 to £100, something like that.

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We'd need to put a reserve on it

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because we don't want to sell it for nothing.

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So maybe a £70 discretionary reserve which gives

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the auctioneer 10% leeway on the day. Would you be happy with that?

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I would be happy. Just as I said,

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I don't wear it, I'd like somebody to buy it, wear it and appreciate it.

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All I can say is I look forward to seeing you in the auction

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and let's hope we get a lot of hunters on the day.

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That's a very bad joke!

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I can understand why Liz bought it. I liked the dog too.

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Right, this is where we up the tempo, this is where it gets

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exciting because we are now going to put our valuations to the test

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and we're doing it right here in this building.

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Roger Jones's auction room in Colwyn Bay.

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Right now, I know our owners are feeling

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really nervous or really excited.

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That's auctions for you, it's a roller coaster ride of emotions.

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I'm going to go inside to make sure they're feeling OK, join up with

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them, settle their nerves and leave you with a quick rundown

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of all the items going under the hammer.

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Dora is hoping to get a good figure for her Hornby train set so we need

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the toy collectors on the day.

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Jim and Eileen's collecting has moved on to other things,

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so the little silver cruet set will go to the highest bidder.

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And finally, there's plenty of countryside around here, so we

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have a good chance of finding a new owner for Liz's gold hunting brooch.

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It's always a good sign to see plenty

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of browsers at the auction house.

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Start at £100. 100, I'm bid. At 110.

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There's quite a buzz in the saleroom.

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Our auctioneer on the rostrum is David Rogers Jones.

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First up it's Dora with her wonderful Hornby train set.

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-And boxed up as well, isn't it?

-Oh, yes.

-Beautiful.

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A good collector's item. 200 to 300? Good luck, Dora.

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It's going under the hammer now.

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Ladies and gentlemen, the Hornby Clockwork train set.

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A lovely selection of boxed rolling stock in lovely condition.

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Station accessories.

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There's a water tank, a large quantity of track.

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Everything is here for the model railway enthusiast.

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It's a great lot for somebody to invest in to start a collection.

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£300.

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The Hornby Clockwork, lovely condition.

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Come on, they're not battered and flake, mint to good condition.

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250?

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Push me off at £200?

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£140. I'm bid at 140. At 140.

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140. 160, 160. Is there 80?

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At 160. 160. 80 anywhere?

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At 160. Is there 80?

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-We want a bit more money than that, don't we?

-We do.

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At 160. I would've thought this is a very, very cheap lot. At £160. 170.

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170 bid. At 170. Struggling badly.

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At £170 online. 170.

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It's not going to sell.

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All I can do is sell it subject to approval or otherwise...

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No, we don't want to sell it.

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£170 online.

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80, anybody?

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£170.

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Final call.

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Has to be with owner's approval, if at all.

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-No.

-170.

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£170. Doesn't want to sell. OK. 170.

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Any advance? Passed on at 170.

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The auctioneer was calling for £170. We didn't get it.

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We had a reserve of £200. I think you're right.

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I think so, don't you?

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Yes. Good on you for bringing that in, Dora.

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Oh, all right. Thank you very much.

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You live to fight another day in the auction room though,

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if you need to get rid of it. That's auctions for you and it's not

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worth giving things away.

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Next Jim and Eileen with the silver cruet set.

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Here we go. Let's find out what the bidders think.

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We need someone with a posh bed and breakfast to show it off.

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-Or a castle.

-Yes, that's right!

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A four-piece silver condiment set.

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All with Bristol blue liners and the nice twist handled salt spoons.

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The right spoons as well, wasn't it?

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So often they come without the right spoons.

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With me at £70. 70 I'm bid. 80.

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Straight in.

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90. 100. £100. At £100. Is there 10?

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£100 seated in the room.

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At £100. I'll take 10. Anybody new?

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£100. Everybody done?

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I'll take 10 before they go.

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Anybody coming in? Final call at £100.

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Well, we got away with the estimate, that's the main thing,

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and hopefully someone's going to use that as well.

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It is a practical thing to use.

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It is showy but practical.

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-I'm glad it didn't sell for too little.

-That's right.

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Hopefully it's gone to the castle down the road.

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I'm sure you use yours all the time.

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In fact there are about ten castles within 16 miles.

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-We live near one.

-Do you?

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Oh, lovely. Thank you for coming in.

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Here comes Liz's hunting brooch.

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She's had a little crisis of confidence

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and has dropped the reserve to £50.

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Liz, fingers crossed. It's going under the hammer right now.

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Let's hope there are some dog lovers here

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because that'll put the price up.

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Nine-carat gold bar brooch. Very nice bit of novelty jewellery in

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the form of a shotgun with a gundog. A lovely bit of novelty jewellery.

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It starts with me at 60. £60 I'm bid.

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At 60, 70, 80, 80 I'm bid.

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90 anywhere? At 80.

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80. Come on, you've got to have this if you are a sporting type.

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At £80 only. Is there £90?

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Final call , £85. I'm bid.

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90. 90 bid. You want five again?

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It's going then at £90.

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Everybody done at 90?

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Yes. Thank you very much indeed.

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-Thank you.

-We're happy with that?

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I am very happy. Thank you.

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Well done, Mark. That sold at the top end of the estimate.

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Now something for all you pottery fans. I'm off to Portmeirion.

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I've come to the village of Portmeirion,

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just down the coast from Bangor, to find out about a remarkable woman

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called Susan Williams Ellis.

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Susan was an imaginative and multi-talented designer.

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She's most famous for being the creative force behind Portmeirion

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pottery, which hit the big time when Susan launched

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her Botanic Gardens range in 1972.

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Her inspiration may well come from her love of horticulture.

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Her father, Clough Williams Ellis, the creator of Portmeirion village,

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had nurtured Susan's gardening ambitions.

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To find out more about Susan, the woman and the artist I've come

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to have a chat with her son, Robin Llewellyn.

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Robin, thanks very much for meeting up with me today,

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especially right here, your mother's favourite spot.

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I can see why. It's rapidly becoming one of mine.

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What did this mean to her?

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Well, this is where she enjoyed

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putting a bit of her creativity into Portmeirion.

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She was very heavily involved in the gardening

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and in developing the formal gardens within the village.

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She studied at Chelsea School of Art

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under Henry Moore and Graham Sutherland,

0:17:520:17:55

so shapes were important to her, but she didn't really want to

0:17:550:17:59

become an artist who was simply producing one-off pieces.

0:17:590:18:02

She wanted to become an industrial artist who could design

0:18:020:18:06

elegant and functional pieces for daily use.

0:18:060:18:10

One of our reps, who was rather intelligent, he said,

0:18:120:18:15

"What we want is a very smart coffee set."

0:18:150:18:18

I thought, I shall try and do one.

0:18:180:18:21

It was something that nobody had done before.

0:18:210:18:24

That was a tremendous success.

0:18:240:18:25

This desire to make useful art works led Susan to establish

0:18:290:18:32

the Portmeirion pottery brand with her husband in the early 1960s.

0:18:320:18:38

When they first started out they were producing innovative patterns

0:18:380:18:41

such as Cypher and Totem. Those striking shapes are now iconic.

0:18:410:18:45

But it was the Botanic Garden design which made Portmeirion

0:18:450:18:48

a household name.

0:18:480:18:49

The Botanic Garden is a classic and it has continued to flourish.

0:18:500:18:53

That was when she wanted to do other things.

0:18:530:18:56

Was she proud of that legacy?

0:18:560:18:58

She was proud of it but she always thought, "Well, why can't people forget Botanic Gardens?

0:18:580:19:02

"I want to design something else!"

0:19:020:19:04

40 years on, Botanic Gardens is still a top seller,

0:19:040:19:07

but thank goodness its success didn't dampen Susan's creativity.

0:19:070:19:12

What was she working on, in her final years?

0:19:150:19:17

Well, her passion during the last decade or so

0:19:170:19:21

or more of her life's work, was underwater painting.

0:19:210:19:24

-Really? She took up snorkelling?

-She did.

0:19:240:19:27

At times she felt more at home in the water than she did on the surface.

0:19:280:19:31

It was another world

0:19:310:19:33

and she invented a method of drawing underwater

0:19:330:19:37

using a special crayon and a board.

0:19:370:19:40

And my father would look up in the books the exact names of the fishes,

0:19:400:19:45

the colours and annotate the drawings.

0:19:450:19:47

So it was quite a scientific process as well.

0:19:470:19:49

But that was her passion, the underwater painting.

0:19:510:19:55

On November 27th in 2007, Susan Williams Ellis, sadly passed away here in Portmeirion,

0:19:550:20:02

the village she dearly loved.

0:20:020:20:04

Leaving behind a wonderful legacy for all of us to enjoy today.

0:20:040:20:10

Our experts are deep in their studies at the Pritchard Jones Hall at the University of Bangor.

0:20:180:20:25

Coming up:

0:20:250:20:27

One of our owners gets more than just a financial reward at the auction.

0:20:270:20:31

The condition made that sell. It was in perfect condition.

0:20:310:20:34

-Your luck has changed forever now.

-I hope so!

0:20:340:20:37

Alun and Gwyneth have brought in a little treat for Mark.

0:20:390:20:44

You have brought in this spectacular cup.

0:20:440:20:46

-Yeah.

-Is it a treasure of your family's?

0:20:460:20:49

No, not at all.

0:20:490:20:51

I'm representing here today St David's Hospice in Llandudno.

0:20:510:20:55

This has been donated, really.

0:20:550:20:57

It came in a box with lots of other items in this last week or so to our distribution centre.

0:20:570:21:02

So my staff there were looking at it and they thought,

0:21:020:21:05

"This might be an item for Flog It!"

0:21:050:21:07

Wonderful, so you thought,

0:21:070:21:08

-"I'll come along and see whether it is worth anything."

-Yes.

0:21:080:21:12

Were you as excited as Alun when you saw this piece?

0:21:120:21:14

I love the cup, I think it's beautiful.

0:21:140:21:16

Fantastic.

0:21:160:21:18

-It's a remarkable object, isn't it?

-Is it a loving cup?

0:21:180:21:21

No, it's not really a loving cup.

0:21:210:21:23

I know why you say that because it has two handles.

0:21:230:21:28

It is a remarkable looking object.

0:21:280:21:30

It's really rather grand.

0:21:300:21:32

You have this wonderful classical scene

0:21:320:21:34

revolving around it in silver plate.

0:21:340:21:36

I don't think it is silver. Then you have the sort of gilt bronze

0:21:360:21:41

or gilt metal which forms the rest of it.

0:21:410:21:44

I'm a little bit concerned about one thing.

0:21:440:21:47

There's a little rim just underneath here which is plain.

0:21:470:21:50

-I think that would have sat on a bigger base.

-Oh!

0:21:500:21:54

I think it's copying an old Roman or Etruscan drinking cup...

0:21:540:22:00

..of years BC.

0:22:020:22:04

I think it was probably done in the 19th century.

0:22:040:22:07

It's very much in the style of the early 19th century,

0:22:070:22:10

the Empire period in France, but I think it could be a little bit later than that.

0:22:100:22:15

I wouldn't be surprised if it was English.

0:22:150:22:18

And possibly by a firm called Elkingtons.

0:22:180:22:20

There are very few marks underneath.

0:22:200:22:22

Some scratch marks. There is a little mark which has been partially obliterated that says "B".

0:22:220:22:28

-And what a lovely thing to have donated.

-That's right.

0:22:280:22:32

It's lovely, this almost whole almost Bacchanalian scene

0:22:320:22:36

going along there, with all these figures.

0:22:360:22:38

In various positions. They're having a really good time.

0:22:380:22:41

Unfortunately most of them are clothed, as well, which is a bonus,

0:22:410:22:45

so we will not get offended by them.

0:22:450:22:48

If I was putting it into auction, I would suggest a realistic estimate

0:22:480:22:53

for something like £150 to £200.

0:22:530:22:57

That's fine.

0:22:570:22:58

And we'll put a reserve on it of £150.

0:22:580:23:02

-OK.

-With 10% discretion if that's OK, for the auctioneer,

0:23:020:23:05

and I think if he catalogues it well and puts it on the internet

0:23:050:23:09

-we should get quite a lot of interest.

-Excellent.

0:23:090:23:11

Well, Alun and Gwyneth, it is a pleasure meeting you

0:23:110:23:14

and I look forward to seeing you at the auction.

0:23:140:23:16

-Let's hope we can really raise a good amount of money for the hospice.

-Lovely.

0:23:160:23:20

It's always nice to hear of a charity benefiting from the auction.

0:23:210:23:25

Next, Adam's enjoying examining a scientific item belonging to Gillian.

0:23:280:23:32

-This is an interesting collection, isn't it?

-Yes. I think so.

0:23:340:23:37

How have you accumulated all of this?

0:23:370:23:40

The man who had the factory next door to my father

0:23:400:23:43

collected microscopes.

0:23:430:23:45

He had a big collection of them, and he knew I was interested

0:23:450:23:48

and he gave me all this.

0:23:480:23:49

-How long ago was that?

-About 40 years ago.

0:23:490:23:51

Right. Excellent. Well, I think this is a nice little collection.

0:23:510:23:55

Firstly, you've got this mahogany cased microscope,

0:23:550:23:58

which is a lacquered brass microscope.

0:23:580:24:00

A nice quality instrument.

0:24:000:24:01

-About 100 years old now.

-Oh, right!

0:24:010:24:03

Getting on a bit.

0:24:030:24:05

Retailed by Baker of High Holborn in London.

0:24:050:24:09

A good quality thing, and the case is fitted

0:24:090:24:12

with your extra bits and pieces, accessories and lenses.

0:24:120:24:16

But what people find of particular interest these days,

0:24:160:24:19

I mean, these are fairly common, but the slides.

0:24:190:24:23

People are really getting more interested in the slides, and whenever microscopes...

0:24:230:24:27

-I nearly didn't bring those.

-..slides come up, they're getting much more inquiries about.

0:24:270:24:32

-It's funny, isn't it?

-I nearly didn't bring those at all.

-Really?

0:24:320:24:35

-Yeah.

-Well, they've improved the value of this fairly significantly.

0:24:350:24:38

Because this one on its own, without being rude, it's a fairly ordinary one.

0:24:380:24:42

Yes, well, I thought that.

0:24:420:24:45

Still a nice example, but you've got a whole load of slides here

0:24:450:24:48

and they're from all around the world.

0:24:480:24:50

Yes, there seems to be different countries.

0:24:500:24:52

In this one we've got insects. Quite easy.

0:24:520:24:55

Butterflies and bees.

0:24:550:24:57

And all that sort of thing.

0:24:570:24:59

This one looks like...

0:24:590:25:02

little micro-organisms of some sort.

0:25:020:25:05

These are privately prepared ones, so they're not going to be...

0:25:050:25:07

-There might be one or two - not sure whether...

-..of great value these ones.

0:25:070:25:11

No, I think most of these are the man himself.

0:25:110:25:13

I think the value is mainly in these ones and these ones, that were purpose made.

0:25:130:25:17

This one's from Santa Monica, from Venice, from Colombia.

0:25:170:25:21

Coast of Dalmatia. Sweden. So there's a whole geographic selection here.

0:25:210:25:26

We'd have to have a really good look through, and some are rarer than others.

0:25:260:25:29

Have you any idea what it might be worth?

0:25:290:25:32

Not at all. No idea at all. I've never looked at them or anything.

0:25:320:25:35

Well, based on the fact that this is worth 60, 80, maybe 100,

0:25:350:25:39

-and I would think these are worth similar amounts.

-Very good.

0:25:390:25:43

-So you've got 150 to 250, probably.

-Very good.

0:25:430:25:45

And it might go on. I wouldn't be surprised if it went on a bit longer.

0:25:450:25:49

-So does that sound all right?

-That sounds very good. Yes.

-Good.

0:25:490:25:52

I wasn't thinking they were worth anything at all.

0:25:520:25:56

Now, why have you decided to sell them?

0:25:560:25:58

I don't have time to look at them now, and they've been sitting at my mum's house for years now.

0:25:580:26:03

-Right. So time to get rid.

-I think so.

0:26:030:26:05

-They'll go to a collector, I'm sure.

-Lovely. It would be nice if they were.

0:26:050:26:10

If they made a few hundred pounds, would you have any plans for that?

0:26:100:26:13

Doing things in the garden really.

0:26:130:26:15

-Are you a keen gardener?

-Well, I bought an old house with a field behind it,

0:26:150:26:19

and I'm making a vegetable plot, and doing, you know, my own little allotment in the back.

0:26:190:26:24

That's great to hear.

0:26:240:26:26

Thanks for coming in and I really hope that they take off. I think they probably will.

0:26:260:26:31

-Oh, lovely.

-We'll put a reserve of 150 just in case.

-Lovely.

0:26:310:26:34

Thank you very much. Thank you.

0:26:340:26:36

What a fascinating collection of slides.

0:26:360:26:39

Someone's going to really enjoy looking at those.

0:26:390:26:43

Gill and Peter must have had me in mind when they decided to bring in

0:26:430:26:46

this next item.

0:26:460:26:48

I just love it.

0:26:480:26:50

Tea caddies are so collectable.

0:26:500:26:52

They come in all various shapes and sizes, and different materials.

0:26:520:26:56

We've seen them in pewter, seen them in silver,

0:26:560:26:59

I've seen them in sort of pottery items,

0:26:590:27:01

but my favourite obviously are wood.

0:27:010:27:04

But this is particularly nice because it's a Regency one,

0:27:040:27:06

and it's got a lot of paper scroll work on it.

0:27:060:27:09

-Quilling, isn't it?

-Yes. Can you see that, where all the paper's folded up very neatly?

0:27:090:27:13

-Yes.

-Well, I like that a lot.

0:27:130:27:15

-You like it?

-Oh, I do. Yes. Yes, I do.

0:27:150:27:18

That sort of 1815, 1820s.

0:27:180:27:21

-And that would have been used in this country?

-Oh, yes, it's English.

0:27:210:27:25

Made in this country. Yes.

0:27:250:27:27

Someone with a lot of money and a lot of quality and a very good eye would have owned this.

0:27:270:27:32

Looking at this, I suspect this has been gilded

0:27:320:27:34

-slightly at a later date. You see this gold leafing.

-Yes.

0:27:340:27:38

It's not - to me, that doesn't look like gold leafing.

0:27:380:27:42

That looks more like gold enamel paint,

0:27:420:27:44

which is probably put on in around the '40s or '50s by somebody.

0:27:440:27:48

Then inside you've got this small lid.

0:27:480:27:50

Yes. Well, that would have sat on a little recessed rib there,

0:27:500:27:56

so the lid wouldn't drop down, and that would house your tea.

0:27:560:28:00

This is a single blend caddy.

0:28:000:28:02

Now some tea caddies are double blends. You can have green tea and black tea.

0:28:020:28:05

You can have a large one with a bowl in the middle and mix the two blends together if you want.

0:28:050:28:10

"Caddy" comes from the Malay word "kati",

0:28:100:28:12

which is the amount of weight the tea was sold in.

0:28:120:28:15

-Can you see there's traces of tin foil there and there?

-Yes.

0:28:150:28:19

Well, that was all lined in tin foil to keep the tea fresh.

0:28:190:28:22

So that would have sat there, that would have kept the tea fresh,

0:28:220:28:26

a single blend, maybe a green tea or black tea.

0:28:260:28:29

The lid would shut down and it would be put under lock and key,

0:28:290:28:34

because tea was so expensive. It was such an expensive commodity.

0:28:340:28:37

Only people in the sort of upper echelons

0:28:370:28:41

could really afford it, to start with in the 1600s.

0:28:410:28:44

It became very fashionable in the 1700s

0:28:440:28:47

and by the 19th century everybody was drinking it.

0:28:470:28:51

-But isn't it super? It's a lovely example.

-Yes.

0:28:510:28:54

It's quality all round.

0:28:540:28:56

Whoever made this was a master of his genre, put it that way.

0:28:560:29:00

-There's a bit of restoration here. Whoever buys this...

-Yes.

0:29:000:29:04

-..has to spend a couple of hundred pounds on it.

-Yes.

0:29:040:29:07

They have to spend 200 on it.

0:29:070:29:09

If they get it at £400 in the auction room and they spend £200 on it,

0:29:090:29:13

it has cost them £600. They're going to be wanting to sell this for £1,200 maybe.

0:29:130:29:17

And it will probably be worth that after a lot of TLC.

0:29:170:29:22

I think the collectors will love this.

0:29:220:29:24

£300-400 is the valuation.

0:29:240:29:27

Reserve at three but not a fixed reserve. Use a bit of discretion.

0:29:270:29:31

-Yes.

-So it might sell at 280.

0:29:310:29:34

-That's fine.

-Is that OK?

-Yes, that's fine.

0:29:340:29:36

And we'll let them fight over it, and hopefully one of them will be a good restorer, pay top money for it,

0:29:360:29:41

which benefits you.

0:29:410:29:42

And cuts the middle man out.

0:29:420:29:46

-Yes. Lovely.

-OK.

0:29:460:29:48

Even needing restoration, it still looks fabulous.

0:29:480:29:52

Let's have another quick look at our items before they head off

0:29:520:29:55

to the auction house.

0:29:550:29:57

The silver-plated trophy cup is stylish, so it should raise

0:29:570:30:01

a reasonable amount.

0:30:010:30:03

Gillian's microscope is of little interest to her,

0:30:030:30:06

so it's time to move it on.

0:30:060:30:08

And finally, my choice, the early 19th century tea caddy,

0:30:080:30:11

which is pure quality and a beautifully crafted thing.

0:30:110:30:16

Alun and Gwyneth are first with the classical cup.

0:30:160:30:20

Let's hope this next lot is a real winner, it should be.

0:30:200:30:23

It should be, shouldn't it?

0:30:230:30:25

It's a trophy, for crying out loud.

0:30:250:30:27

We want to hold it up high and say "Yes, we won."

0:30:270:30:29

£200, top end of the estimate.

0:30:290:30:31

That's the top end. We know you'd like to get the top end each time, but I don't know.

0:30:310:30:35

It's a speculative thing. But I think it should make 150.

0:30:350:30:38

I can't imagine you'd want it.

0:30:380:30:40

Well, look, there's no accounting for taste.

0:30:400:30:43

Someone here in this room will absolutely love it and they'll display it beautifully.

0:30:430:30:47

We hope so, we need the money.

0:30:470:30:49

-All proceeds to the hospice, anyway.

-OK. Good luck.

0:30:490:30:52

Something very, very good quality about this.

0:30:530:30:56

The quality of the figuring is brilliant. Six inches high. 200?

0:30:560:31:01

200?

0:31:010:31:03

It smacks of quality, doesn't it?

0:31:030:31:05

150?

0:31:050:31:07

100, I'm bid. 100. 100, bid.

0:31:070:31:09

100, hope you're lucky. It's at the bottom though.

0:31:090:31:12

-100 bid. 20 anywhere?

-Now, just go upwards.

0:31:120:31:15

120, 140. Is there 60?

0:31:150:31:18

140, 140 bid. 60 anywhere?

0:31:180:31:21

£140. 60 now.

0:31:210:31:25

£140. I'll go 50, even. At 140. 150.

0:31:250:31:31

We've got 150, so we've made our reserve.

0:31:310:31:34

150. I'm selling at £150.

0:31:340:31:37

Just, on the reserve.

0:31:370:31:39

60, a new bidder at 160. Worth every penny of 200, in my view. At 160.

0:31:390:31:46

All done at 160 and going.

0:31:460:31:50

-It's gone.

-There we are.

0:31:500:31:52

-We're happy. It's gone within estimate.

-Yes, it has.

0:31:520:31:55

Good estimate.

0:31:550:31:56

Well, that's £160 towards the hospice.

0:31:560:32:00

Now, Gillian's been holding on to the next item for about 40 years.

0:32:020:32:06

So let's see what she gets for it.

0:32:060:32:08

-Gillian, good luck.

-Thank you.

0:32:080:32:09

We're talking about the microscope with the three boxes of slides,

0:32:090:32:13

which are wonderful.

0:32:130:32:14

-You must have had so much fun looking through those.

-We could've sat there for hours.

0:32:140:32:19

Shame we had other people to deal with.

0:32:190:32:21

In a way, the interest is in the specimens.

0:32:210:32:23

Yes, they're collected nowadays as well. Microscopes appear a lot.

0:32:230:32:27

A lot of interesting styles, especially the named ones, the specially produced ones.

0:32:270:32:31

I guess it's harder to pick up these early slides now.

0:32:310:32:34

Yes. Always great demand for them.

0:32:340:32:36

I'm quite confident today.

0:32:360:32:37

Also, it's a named instrument as well, so that's in its favour.

0:32:370:32:43

-I'm not good at selling things.

-Do you do not win things like raffles and lotteries?

0:32:430:32:48

-I've never managed to sell things.

-Actually, I don't either.

0:32:480:32:51

Neither do I, but now's the time for Gillian's luck to change.

0:32:510:32:54

We're going to find out, it's going under the hammer right now.

0:32:540:32:58

This is by Baker.

0:32:580:32:59

Lights, lenses and a very nice parcel of mixed slides.

0:32:590:33:05

Bid me 200?

0:33:050:33:08

Got to be.

0:33:080:33:09

It's all gone quiet, hasn't it?

0:33:090:33:12

Start me at one and a half?

0:33:120:33:14

120, I'm bid at 120.

0:33:150:33:18

If you pitch it at one and build them up...

0:33:180:33:21

180, 180 bid.

0:33:210:33:23

We're back up there now.

0:33:230:33:26

-180 bid.

-190.

0:33:260:33:28

190, 200. 200 bid.

0:33:280:33:30

Online, the bidding now at 200.

0:33:300:33:33

200 bid. Is there 10 there? £200.

0:33:330:33:36

-210.

-210. Still online.

0:33:360:33:38

That's good.

0:33:380:33:40

And again now.

0:33:400:33:41

250.

0:33:410:33:42

250, 250 bid. Online at 250. 250 bid. 250.

0:33:420:33:47

Again? Two online.

0:33:470:33:50

260.

0:33:500:33:51

We've got an online battle here.

0:33:510:33:53

Is there 70? At £260?

0:33:530:33:57

Online, the bid at £260.

0:33:570:34:00

70, if you like. All done?

0:34:000:34:03

-70.

-70. 270 bid.

0:34:030:34:06

I think there might be a little tickle in this yet.

0:34:060:34:08

It's gone very, very quiet. At 270.

0:34:080:34:12

-Trying to get more...

-Sit there and...

0:34:120:34:15

-I've never been to an auction before?

-Haven't you?

-No.

0:34:150:34:17

280. And again now. You could hear a pin drop.

0:34:170:34:21

At 280.

0:34:210:34:22

It's a baptism of fire, isn't it?

0:34:220:34:24

In at the deep end.

0:34:240:34:26

Final, final call at 280. All done?

0:34:260:34:30

£280.

0:34:300:34:33

Yes! That's a good result, top end of the estimate.

0:34:330:34:35

We're really happy with that. Condition made that sale.

0:34:350:34:39

It was in perfect condition.

0:34:390:34:40

-Your luck has changed forever now.

-I hope so!

0:34:400:34:43

I'm glad that that Gillian's first trip to auction

0:34:430:34:46

has been so successful.

0:34:460:34:48

Now, remember that beautiful tea caddy that I picked out earlier?

0:34:480:34:51

Well, it's time to see what auctioneer David makes of it.

0:34:510:34:54

We've seen a lot of tea caddies on Flog It! before but I've never seen

0:34:570:35:00

one with rolled paperwork.

0:35:000:35:02

Wonderful filigree work.

0:35:020:35:04

Partially gilded, in good condition, that's well over £1,500.

0:35:040:35:10

But there's a few bits missing.

0:35:100:35:11

I've put £300 to £400 on this.

0:35:110:35:14

Yes, I don't blame you, Paul. Tea caddies are very in and the workmanship on this one

0:35:140:35:19

is really unbelievable.

0:35:190:35:21

And we've got people in this locality

0:35:210:35:23

who will take on the restoration of this, no question about it.

0:35:230:35:26

We've had internet interest in it so it augurs well.

0:35:260:35:29

Happy with the price? 300 to 400?

0:35:290:35:32

I think so. You're paying for workmanship

0:35:320:35:34

and in fairness it's a fantastic bit of workmanship.

0:35:340:35:38

It's an unusual tea caddy.

0:35:380:35:40

As I say, tea caddies are all the rage at the moment.

0:35:400:35:44

Watch this space. It's time to put the kettle on,

0:35:440:35:47

settle down into the chair and enjoy this auction.

0:35:470:35:50

Well, it's all sounding positive.

0:35:500:35:53

I'm quite confident about this tea caddy, it belongs to Jill and Peter,

0:35:530:35:56

and hopefully for not much longer.

0:35:560:35:59

-The auctioneer liked the lot as well.

-Oh, good.

0:35:590:36:01

There's a great deal of work that's has gone into it.

0:36:010:36:04

I know it needs a little bit of TLC,

0:36:040:36:06

that's why we've got £300 to £400 on it.

0:36:060:36:08

It's a wonderful thing. Have you had second thoughts?

0:36:080:36:11

No, it's going towards our anniversary.

0:36:110:36:13

We're going on a trip for our 50th anniversary.

0:36:130:36:16

-Oh, congratulations. 50 years together.

-Yes.

0:36:160:36:19

Wonderful. Where are you going?

0:36:190:36:21

On a cruise. Not far, though.

0:36:210:36:23

-OK. Not around Anglesey, a bit further.

-No!

0:36:230:36:27

A bit further than that.

0:36:270:36:28

Hey, look, good luck. Let's find out what the bidders think.

0:36:290:36:32

Very nice quality.

0:36:320:36:36

Early tea caddy with filigree scrolls and filigree decoration.

0:36:360:36:40

OK, it needs a bit of attention but it's a lovely, rare piece.

0:36:400:36:44

Fingers crossed.

0:36:440:36:45

£400?

0:36:450:36:47

350?

0:36:470:36:49

300, I'm bid. At £300.

0:36:510:36:54

£300, I'm bid. 350.

0:36:540:36:57

400. 425.

0:36:570:37:00

450. 450.

0:37:000:37:04

75, if you like. At 450.

0:37:040:37:07

75, anybody? At £450.

0:37:070:37:11

That's a good price.

0:37:110:37:13

Very.

0:37:130:37:14

Final call at £450.

0:37:140:37:18

Once again...

0:37:180:37:19

Yes. £450.

0:37:220:37:24

I'm very pleased with that.

0:37:240:37:26

Thank you very much.

0:37:260:37:28

Good tea caddies always sell well and that's quite a rare one.

0:37:280:37:31

Even though it had a bit of damage.

0:37:310:37:32

-Yes.

-That could be sorted out.

0:37:320:37:35

That was on you. You take the credit for that.

0:37:350:37:38

Not at all. I've just seen them sell for that kind of price before.

0:37:380:37:42

The more you go round the block, the more you get to know, really!

0:37:420:37:46

Well, that's it. It's all over.

0:37:520:37:55

All of our owners have gone home and they've gone home happy.

0:37:550:37:58

OK, there were one or two sticky moments but that's what auctions are all about.

0:37:580:38:02

You get lots of highs and lows and lots of surprises.

0:38:020:38:05

And I hope you've enjoyed today's show, because we've loved being here

0:38:050:38:08

in North Wales, and all credit to our auctioneer and our experts.

0:38:080:38:11

Everyone was on the money today.

0:38:110:38:13

Until the next time, it's goodbye.

0:38:130:38:15

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