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Welcome to a special edition of Flog It! | 0:00:05 | 0:00:08 | |
On this immaculately laid lawn on one of our sunniest evaluation days, | 0:00:08 | 0:00:12 | |
I came across something that promised to be | 0:00:12 | 0:00:15 | |
one of the most exciting finds we've ever had in the history of the show. | 0:00:15 | 0:00:19 | |
Something so exceptional, we've dedicated the whole programme to it. | 0:00:19 | 0:00:23 | |
What is it? Stay tuned and you'll find out! | 0:00:23 | 0:00:25 | |
Where does this extraordinary story begin? Balbirnie House | 0:00:49 | 0:00:53 | |
in the middle of Fife, a beautiful stately home and now a hotel, | 0:00:53 | 0:00:57 | |
was the venue for one of our valuation days in the summer of 2010. | 0:00:57 | 0:01:01 | |
1890 to 1900. | 0:01:02 | 0:01:04 | |
With experts James Lewis and Anita Manning on board to value items. | 0:01:04 | 0:01:08 | |
-They're very cutesie, aren't they? -They're lovely! | 0:01:08 | 0:01:11 | |
We had a lovely welcome from hundreds of local people who came along with some great objects. | 0:01:11 | 0:01:17 | |
A wonderful little pair of vases. | 0:01:17 | 0:01:19 | |
They are, of course, Moorcroft, which is one of my favourites. | 0:01:19 | 0:01:25 | |
I was not expecting to find a piece of Japanese art here in Fife. | 0:01:25 | 0:01:31 | |
-What did you use that for? -Well, I wouldn't like to tell you! | 0:01:31 | 0:01:35 | |
What's your name? | 0:01:39 | 0:01:41 | |
Lucky? | 0:01:41 | 0:01:43 | |
Lucky. How appropriate. This day was going to be a very lucky one indeed | 0:01:43 | 0:01:47 | |
for one man. | 0:01:47 | 0:01:49 | |
I was doing my usual thing, meeting as many people as I could, | 0:01:49 | 0:01:52 | |
delving into all their bags and boxes to see what they'd brought in to show us. | 0:01:52 | 0:01:57 | |
Little did I know I was about to uncover the most incredible treasure, | 0:01:59 | 0:02:03 | |
something I always dream about finding. | 0:02:03 | 0:02:05 | |
I got chatting to a lovely chap called Tom | 0:02:05 | 0:02:08 | |
who'd brought along something that his grandfather had owned. | 0:02:08 | 0:02:12 | |
Let's see the moment where our story started. | 0:02:12 | 0:02:15 | |
It doesn't get much better than this, does it, everybody? | 0:02:17 | 0:02:21 | |
We're blessed with gorgeous sunshine, a wonderful backdrop for our valuation day | 0:02:21 | 0:02:25 | |
and we're surrounded by some superb antiques. | 0:02:25 | 0:02:28 | |
I've been joined by Tom and I think this has to be | 0:02:28 | 0:02:32 | |
one of the nicest things I've ever seen on Flog It! | 0:02:32 | 0:02:35 | |
and possibly one of the most valuable items | 0:02:35 | 0:02:37 | |
we've ever had on the show. | 0:02:37 | 0:02:39 | |
-You know what this is, don't you? -It's a libation cup. -Yes. | 0:02:39 | 0:02:43 | |
Did you know that? It's a ceremonial drinking vessel. | 0:02:43 | 0:02:46 | |
Do you know what it's made of? | 0:02:46 | 0:02:49 | |
A shell or something? | 0:02:49 | 0:02:51 | |
-No. -Wood? -Whale bone? -No. | 0:02:51 | 0:02:54 | |
It's got a grain in it. | 0:02:54 | 0:02:55 | |
There's a grain detail. Lots of compressed hair. | 0:02:55 | 0:02:58 | |
But it's in fact, rhinoceros horn. | 0:02:58 | 0:03:01 | |
Yes. And this dates back to the late 18th century. | 0:03:01 | 0:03:06 | |
The last quarter of the 18th century. | 0:03:06 | 0:03:09 | |
Let's talk about the damage. You can see how it was used as a drinking vessel. | 0:03:11 | 0:03:15 | |
-Yes. -There are one or two chips. | 0:03:15 | 0:03:19 | |
Bits of damage to the horn. | 0:03:19 | 0:03:21 | |
Here are some mythical beasts climbing the side of the cup, | 0:03:21 | 0:03:24 | |
terminating into this head. | 0:03:24 | 0:03:26 | |
Half a head is missing there. Can you see? | 0:03:26 | 0:03:29 | |
But if you turn it over, you can actually see | 0:03:29 | 0:03:32 | |
the compressed hair and almost the grain of the horn. | 0:03:32 | 0:03:37 | |
-See that? That's definitely horn. -Uh-huh. | 0:03:37 | 0:03:40 | |
But look at this wonderful Greek key-cut pattern | 0:03:40 | 0:03:43 | |
in repetitive form, all around the edge, not just the top edge | 0:03:43 | 0:03:47 | |
but also on the side. | 0:03:47 | 0:03:49 | |
-See that? -Oh, yes. | 0:03:49 | 0:03:51 | |
It's a lovely architectural detail. | 0:03:51 | 0:03:53 | |
I think that's one of the rarest things | 0:03:53 | 0:03:57 | |
we've ever seen on the show. | 0:03:57 | 0:04:00 | |
-Tell me about yourself. Are you a local lad? -Yes, | 0:04:00 | 0:04:04 | |
I'm a local from Glenrothes. | 0:04:04 | 0:04:06 | |
I've been there all my life. | 0:04:06 | 0:04:08 | |
I received it down through from my grandfather and great-grandfather. | 0:04:08 | 0:04:14 | |
Where do you think he got it? | 0:04:14 | 0:04:16 | |
It's hard to say, since he was all round the world. | 0:04:16 | 0:04:20 | |
He could have obviously got it in one of the African countries. | 0:04:20 | 0:04:25 | |
Where's it been in your house over all these years? | 0:04:25 | 0:04:28 | |
This has been many years in a glass cabinet | 0:04:28 | 0:04:32 | |
-kept in our living room. -So you've been looking after it. | 0:04:32 | 0:04:35 | |
Of course, it's totally illegal to trade in rhino horn now. | 0:04:35 | 0:04:39 | |
Totally illegal. This was done back in the 18th century. | 0:04:39 | 0:04:44 | |
Many of them come on the market now. | 0:04:44 | 0:04:47 | |
They're highly sought-after in the Chinese market. | 0:04:47 | 0:04:50 | |
The market in the Far East. | 0:04:50 | 0:04:51 | |
How much do you think that's worth? | 0:04:54 | 0:04:57 | |
Well, listening to what you've said... | 0:05:00 | 0:05:02 | |
You've said you think it's slightly valuable. | 0:05:04 | 0:05:08 | |
A couple of hundred pounds? | 0:05:08 | 0:05:10 | |
A couple of hundred. Yeah? | 0:05:11 | 0:05:13 | |
A couple of hundred pounds. | 0:05:13 | 0:05:15 | |
I've got to be so careful here. We've got to do an awful lot more research. | 0:05:16 | 0:05:20 | |
OK? But do you know what my gut feeling is? | 0:05:20 | 0:05:24 | |
It's a lot more than that? | 0:05:24 | 0:05:25 | |
A heck of a lot more. My gut feeling is this is worth | 0:05:26 | 0:05:29 | |
eight to £12,000. | 0:05:29 | 0:05:33 | |
Yes. | 0:05:33 | 0:05:35 | |
I'm not pulling your leg. | 0:05:35 | 0:05:37 | |
I've seen these in good condition, | 0:05:37 | 0:05:39 | |
period ones from the 18th century, | 0:05:39 | 0:05:42 | |
go as high as £20,000. | 0:05:42 | 0:05:44 | |
There's a lot of money's-worth here. | 0:05:49 | 0:05:51 | |
-Well... -It could be even more. | 0:05:51 | 0:05:54 | |
It could be even more than eight to £12,000. | 0:05:54 | 0:05:57 | |
-I'm quite happy! -Quite happy! | 0:05:57 | 0:05:59 | |
I've always had a sort of inkling | 0:06:01 | 0:06:04 | |
but all I knew was that it was a libation cup. | 0:06:04 | 0:06:06 | |
-Yeah. -And of course I knew it was slightly damaged | 0:06:06 | 0:06:09 | |
so that's what stopped me bringing it anywhere before. | 0:06:09 | 0:06:13 | |
-Really? -Yes. -Otherwise you may have tried to sell it on? -Of course. | 0:06:13 | 0:06:16 | |
Gosh. If somebody had offered you two or three hundred pounds six months ago, | 0:06:16 | 0:06:21 | |
-would you have taken it? -Probably, yeah. | 0:06:21 | 0:06:23 | |
Oh, dear. This is why it always pays... | 0:06:25 | 0:06:27 | |
Do you know, I do think the antiques trade in general is very honest. | 0:06:27 | 0:06:32 | |
No-one's going to take you for a ride. | 0:06:32 | 0:06:34 | |
But in order to get a proper market value, | 0:06:34 | 0:06:37 | |
the easiest and purest thing to do is take it to an auction where the public can bid on it. | 0:06:37 | 0:06:42 | |
The auctioneer will get this on a website that will go all over the world. | 0:06:42 | 0:06:47 | |
So people in all countries can place their bids. | 0:06:47 | 0:06:52 | |
We won't even bother discussing a reserve and putting pen to paper at the moment | 0:06:52 | 0:06:57 | |
because I do need a second opinion on this. | 0:06:57 | 0:07:00 | |
Let's wait for that. We'll get on the phone to you in a couple of weeks' time | 0:07:00 | 0:07:05 | |
and hopefully we'll find out exactly what this is worth. | 0:07:05 | 0:07:10 | |
I can tell you, my heart was racing. I was so excited. | 0:07:10 | 0:07:13 | |
I didn't want to get Tom too excited at this stage. | 0:07:13 | 0:07:16 | |
I'd never given such a high valuation in my ten years on the show. | 0:07:16 | 0:07:20 | |
So we sent the cup to an auction house in London | 0:07:20 | 0:07:23 | |
who informed me it definitely was Chinese and the best place to sell this | 0:07:23 | 0:07:27 | |
was a specialist Chinese art sale which was coming up in a few months' time. | 0:07:27 | 0:07:31 | |
Coming up later in the programme, | 0:07:37 | 0:07:39 | |
does our Chinese art specialist agree with my hopeful valuation? | 0:07:39 | 0:07:43 | |
We have to remember that there are chips to it and it has sustained some damage. | 0:07:43 | 0:07:48 | |
I discover why a cup made from rhino horn was so popular in previous centuries. | 0:07:48 | 0:07:54 | |
There are certain beliefs about rhino horns that it can detect poison. | 0:07:54 | 0:07:58 | |
As far-fetched as it may seem, there could be truth to this. | 0:07:58 | 0:08:02 | |
And I find out why Chinese items like ours are such hot property at the moment. | 0:08:02 | 0:08:07 | |
The Chinese antique, for them, is a brand | 0:08:07 | 0:08:10 | |
and it's an expensive object to show you've made your money | 0:08:10 | 0:08:14 | |
and you can afford to collect a status symbol. | 0:08:14 | 0:08:17 | |
But first, we have to find out a bit more about libation cups | 0:08:20 | 0:08:24 | |
and why examples like Tom's are particularly well regarded. | 0:08:24 | 0:08:27 | |
Tom's cup, a Chinese carved example, | 0:08:29 | 0:08:32 | |
might well be described as simply a rhino horn cup. | 0:08:32 | 0:08:35 | |
It might not have fulfilled a ceremonial function. | 0:08:35 | 0:08:38 | |
But instead may have been a prestigious item on display | 0:08:38 | 0:08:41 | |
in a wealthy home, used for honoured guests. | 0:08:41 | 0:08:44 | |
To find out more about these exotic objects, | 0:08:50 | 0:08:53 | |
I went to Bath to meet Michael Lee, the curator of the Museum of East Asian Art. | 0:08:53 | 0:08:58 | |
Where do you start? Let's look at a few examples. | 0:09:00 | 0:09:02 | |
Talk me through this one. | 0:09:02 | 0:09:04 | |
If you invert any of these cups, you see the shape of the rhinoceros horn. | 0:09:04 | 0:09:10 | |
So if a carver wants to create something out of rhino horn, | 0:09:10 | 0:09:14 | |
it's almost like he has to consult the shape first and carve according to the shape. | 0:09:14 | 0:09:19 | |
It's such a valuable material, they save as much of it as possible. | 0:09:19 | 0:09:23 | |
I've seen some with naturalistic bases with leaves and foliage. | 0:09:23 | 0:09:27 | |
I guess that's the gnarly parts of the horn that they've left on. | 0:09:27 | 0:09:32 | |
Absolutely. In some pieces, such as this one, they didn't even bother to carve. Essentially, | 0:09:32 | 0:09:38 | |
they kept all the nodules and the rough bits | 0:09:38 | 0:09:42 | |
and then polished it and smoothed it off, so you still get the natural shape of the horn. | 0:09:42 | 0:09:48 | |
These are 16th-century examples. | 0:09:48 | 0:09:50 | |
The three back here which are carved tend to be 18th and 19th centuries. | 0:09:50 | 0:09:56 | |
-So later there's more of an emphasis on carving. -Let's talk about the colours, the tone of it. | 0:09:56 | 0:10:03 | |
Generally speaking, rhino horns will have a lighter, honey colour. | 0:10:03 | 0:10:07 | |
But much of it is also stained, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries. | 0:10:07 | 0:10:12 | |
-For instance, this piece is quite a dark colour. -That's been heavily stained. | 0:10:12 | 0:10:16 | |
This has been stained, yes. | 0:10:16 | 0:10:19 | |
-That one, that's not rhino horn, is it? -No, it's actually made from bamboo. | 0:10:19 | 0:10:24 | |
I think two reasons why they would have used bamboo to make cups that are reminiscent of rhino horn. | 0:10:24 | 0:10:31 | |
First of all, because bamboo grows in sections. | 0:10:31 | 0:10:34 | |
Each section is self contained, so if you cut a section off, | 0:10:34 | 0:10:38 | |
you get a cup-like form already. | 0:10:38 | 0:10:41 | |
But also, if you look closely at the internal structure of rhino horn, | 0:10:41 | 0:10:46 | |
you get a grain in there and you get a similar grain in bamboo. | 0:10:46 | 0:10:50 | |
It's not meant to be a fake by any means... | 0:10:50 | 0:10:53 | |
No, it's obvious. It's obvious. | 0:10:53 | 0:10:55 | |
It's obvious it's bamboo, so this was made in reference to rhino horn cups. | 0:10:55 | 0:11:01 | |
That's stunning. | 0:11:01 | 0:11:03 | |
-Master craftsmen. -Yes. | 0:11:03 | 0:11:05 | |
Bamboo is quite difficult to cut because of the nature of the material. | 0:11:05 | 0:11:11 | |
-At least there's a lot to practise on! -There is, yes! | 0:11:11 | 0:11:14 | |
Let's look at some other examples. | 0:11:16 | 0:11:19 | |
So this is another cup that would be similar to the function of a rhino horn cup. | 0:11:19 | 0:11:26 | |
This is made out of jade. | 0:11:26 | 0:11:27 | |
It dates to the 11th or 12th century. | 0:11:27 | 0:11:30 | |
Would you find carvers in rhino horn working in jade and vice versa? | 0:11:30 | 0:11:35 | |
No. Each material has very specialised carvers | 0:11:35 | 0:11:38 | |
because you need a lot of technology and knowledge | 0:11:38 | 0:11:42 | |
according to the material. | 0:11:42 | 0:11:44 | |
For instance, jade is so hard, you need to abrade it instead of just carving it. | 0:11:44 | 0:11:49 | |
So that involves a whole set of technology and tools and so forth. | 0:11:49 | 0:11:54 | |
-A lifetime of skills. -Absolutely. | 0:11:54 | 0:11:56 | |
Whereas rhino horn sometimes can be shaped by soaking in brine | 0:11:56 | 0:12:01 | |
and manipulated in certain ways that a jade carver wouldn't necessarily know. | 0:12:01 | 0:12:05 | |
The craftsmen were very specialised in the material they were working with. | 0:12:05 | 0:12:10 | |
The prestige of rhino horn as a material | 0:12:12 | 0:12:15 | |
dates back over 2,000 years to when rhinos once roamed mainland China. | 0:12:15 | 0:12:20 | |
Their horns would have been used in traditional medicine | 0:12:20 | 0:12:23 | |
and works of art. | 0:12:23 | 0:12:25 | |
However, the Chinese tradition of carving rhino horn cups pretty much died out | 0:12:25 | 0:12:29 | |
at the end of the 19th century | 0:12:29 | 0:12:31 | |
and now, thankfully, China bans trade in the material. | 0:12:31 | 0:12:34 | |
Why was rhino horn so popular as a material? | 0:12:36 | 0:12:39 | |
Well, first of all, it was very difficult to obtain. | 0:12:39 | 0:12:43 | |
Rhinos had died out in China a very long time ago. | 0:12:43 | 0:12:48 | |
So it had to be imported from either south-east Asia or Africa. | 0:12:48 | 0:12:53 | |
Also there are certain beliefs about rhino horns that they can detect poison. | 0:12:53 | 0:12:58 | |
This belief was not only in China. It was prevalent in the Middle East | 0:12:58 | 0:13:03 | |
and even reached Europe in the 12th century. | 0:13:03 | 0:13:06 | |
Now, as far-fetched as it may seem, | 0:13:06 | 0:13:08 | |
there could be truth to this. | 0:13:08 | 0:13:11 | |
Rhino horn is composed of mainly keratin, the same material as is in your hair or fingernails. | 0:13:11 | 0:13:17 | |
Most poisons are alkali, alkali based. | 0:13:17 | 0:13:22 | |
So when alkali comes into contact with keratin, | 0:13:22 | 0:13:25 | |
it actually does have a fizzing effect. | 0:13:25 | 0:13:28 | |
So it's not so far-fetched to think that rhino horn cups can actually detect poison. | 0:13:28 | 0:13:34 | |
There are also certain beliefs around rhino horns such as longevity. | 0:13:34 | 0:13:39 | |
The superstition that rhino horn leads to long life | 0:13:39 | 0:13:42 | |
dates back thousands of years in China. | 0:13:42 | 0:13:44 | |
It was first referred to in an ancient Chinese book of poetry | 0:13:44 | 0:13:47 | |
called The Book of Songs. | 0:13:47 | 0:13:49 | |
It states that people would visit the palace of their local prince | 0:13:49 | 0:13:54 | |
on the tenth month of each lunar year | 0:13:54 | 0:13:57 | |
to offer wine and raise a rhino horn cup wishing the prince a long life. | 0:13:57 | 0:14:02 | |
Gosh. Michael, thank you so much for spending a bit of time with me | 0:14:02 | 0:14:06 | |
and explaining all about the libation cups and drinking vessels. | 0:14:06 | 0:14:10 | |
Well, that was a real treat, seeing so many beautiful and intricate objects. | 0:14:10 | 0:14:15 | |
But the bonus for me was meeting up with Michael today | 0:14:15 | 0:14:18 | |
because he's spent his life studying Asian and Chinese artefacts. | 0:14:18 | 0:14:22 | |
It's his passion. Those two hours that I spent with him, I hope some knowledge has rubbed off on me. | 0:14:22 | 0:14:28 | |
I now feel more comfortable talking about libation cups and what we're putting into auction. | 0:14:28 | 0:14:33 | |
But I haven't covered that all-important question about how much they're worth. | 0:14:37 | 0:14:42 | |
I needed to do some research. | 0:14:42 | 0:14:44 | |
Just looking at auction results, things in the last 12 months. | 0:14:45 | 0:14:49 | |
Some of them are fetching 15 to £20,000. | 0:14:49 | 0:14:52 | |
The world record is £3.2 million, | 0:14:52 | 0:14:55 | |
but they seem to be going all the way back to mainland China. | 0:14:55 | 0:14:59 | |
I can't help feel excited. I'm on this rollercoaster ride. | 0:14:59 | 0:15:02 | |
Goodness knows what Tom's feeling. I'm frightened it's not going to sell, | 0:15:02 | 0:15:06 | |
but at the same time I want it to do 20 to £30,000. | 0:15:06 | 0:15:09 | |
I want a real shock result. | 0:15:09 | 0:15:11 | |
You know what auctions are like. It isn't an exact science, as we say. | 0:15:11 | 0:15:15 | |
I just hope, I just hope it sells. | 0:15:15 | 0:15:18 | |
Tom's agreed to put the cup into the specialist sale and his sister, Evelyn, will share the results. | 0:15:26 | 0:15:31 | |
I saw them to find out how they were feeling. | 0:15:31 | 0:15:33 | |
Tell me more about you both. | 0:15:35 | 0:15:37 | |
I started work as a television engineer. | 0:15:37 | 0:15:40 | |
Then I joined the army. | 0:15:41 | 0:15:43 | |
I spent a lot of time in Germany. | 0:15:43 | 0:15:46 | |
I was in the nuclear regiment, | 0:15:46 | 0:15:48 | |
-which some things I can't talk about. -Really? Top secret. | 0:15:48 | 0:15:51 | |
Yes. | 0:15:51 | 0:15:53 | |
-What about you, Evelyn? -I used to work in Thomas Russell's paper mill on 12-hour shifts. | 0:15:53 | 0:15:58 | |
-Did you? -Yes. -Doing what? | 0:15:58 | 0:16:00 | |
Just packing the paper and things like that. | 0:16:00 | 0:16:03 | |
But it was quite heavy work. | 0:16:03 | 0:16:05 | |
But about eight years ago, I got Parkinson's Disease. | 0:16:05 | 0:16:11 | |
-So I had to stop working. -Sorry to hear that. -I'm now disabled and work in a local charity shop. | 0:16:11 | 0:16:18 | |
The valuation day, about six weeks ago. What was going through your mind in the morning? | 0:16:18 | 0:16:23 | |
I actually thought it would be worth quite a lot | 0:16:23 | 0:16:26 | |
because I looked it up in an antique book | 0:16:26 | 0:16:30 | |
and there was one that had sold at Christie's which was similar. | 0:16:30 | 0:16:33 | |
It had sold for about 5,000. | 0:16:33 | 0:16:35 | |
-I looked at the photograph and I thought, "That looks like the one we've got." -Yes. | 0:16:35 | 0:16:40 | |
He didn't think it would be very valuable cos it had a bit of damage, obviously. | 0:16:40 | 0:16:45 | |
-Did you ever make use of it or put anything in it? -No. | 0:16:45 | 0:16:49 | |
The thing is it sat in that wall unit for years without you realising what you've got. | 0:16:49 | 0:16:54 | |
While I was in Scotland, | 0:16:54 | 0:16:56 | |
I got to hear how Tom and Evelyn think the cup came to be sitting in that cabinet for so many years. | 0:16:56 | 0:17:02 | |
Their grandfather, John, grew up in Scotland | 0:17:04 | 0:17:07 | |
and inherited a knowledge of antiques from his father. | 0:17:07 | 0:17:10 | |
The cup may have been found by either of them. | 0:17:10 | 0:17:12 | |
However, the story told to Tom is a global one. | 0:17:18 | 0:17:21 | |
John was a painter and decorator, | 0:17:21 | 0:17:23 | |
and along with his father, bought tickets from Glasgow to New York | 0:17:23 | 0:17:26 | |
in 1906 to try their luck in the Big Apple. | 0:17:26 | 0:17:30 | |
After working there, John decided to move to San Francisco | 0:17:30 | 0:17:33 | |
in the wake of the famous earthquake. | 0:17:33 | 0:17:36 | |
From the west coast of America, John travelled to Cape Town in South Africa in search of work, | 0:17:36 | 0:17:41 | |
most likely during a period of racial segregation before apartheid became law. | 0:17:41 | 0:17:46 | |
The story goes that John shared his food with a black African man who sat behind his bench, | 0:17:46 | 0:17:51 | |
a gesture that would have been frowned upon. | 0:17:51 | 0:17:54 | |
It seems that John was rewarded for his humanity with gifts | 0:17:55 | 0:17:58 | |
and Tom thinks the libation cup was amongst them. | 0:17:58 | 0:18:01 | |
No matter how it came to previous generations of their family, | 0:18:03 | 0:18:07 | |
it's clear that Tom and Evelyn are proud of their inheritance. | 0:18:07 | 0:18:11 | |
Some people have the family silver. You've got a libation cup! | 0:18:12 | 0:18:16 | |
Yes. | 0:18:16 | 0:18:17 | |
Have you been to an auction before? | 0:18:17 | 0:18:20 | |
I've only been to one, in Perth. | 0:18:20 | 0:18:23 | |
Did you get the buzz? | 0:18:23 | 0:18:25 | |
It's exciting watching it on TV, | 0:18:25 | 0:18:27 | |
but when you actually go to it in the flesh, and see it, it's more exciting. | 0:18:27 | 0:18:32 | |
-I think I could get addicted to going! -I think so. Well, I'm addicted to it, the atmosphere. | 0:18:32 | 0:18:37 | |
Thing is, we've seen this in the past on this show. | 0:18:37 | 0:18:40 | |
It depends on the bidders and what they think. | 0:18:40 | 0:18:43 | |
But it's safe to say eight to £12,000, which is a staggering amount of money. | 0:18:43 | 0:18:47 | |
What will that sort of money mean to you? | 0:18:47 | 0:18:49 | |
A nice holiday some place. | 0:18:49 | 0:18:51 | |
I'll maybe buy a laptop. | 0:18:51 | 0:18:54 | |
Then you can get on the internet and do some more research about antiques. | 0:18:55 | 0:18:59 | |
There'd be no stopping me! | 0:18:59 | 0:19:01 | |
I'm so excited for you, but at the same time I'm so nervous. I am so nervous. | 0:19:01 | 0:19:06 | |
I think somebody will buy it. | 0:19:06 | 0:19:07 | |
But who? And just how much will they pay? | 0:19:07 | 0:19:11 | |
Tom and Evelyn aren't the only ones to find that something they haven't paid much attention to | 0:19:16 | 0:19:21 | |
is worth a lot of money. We've had quite a few on Flog It! | 0:19:21 | 0:19:24 | |
Some of the trickiest items to value have been from overseas. | 0:19:24 | 0:19:28 | |
It's really interesting. | 0:19:28 | 0:19:30 | |
There's a lot of lots in this next lot! | 0:19:30 | 0:19:33 | |
Sue's Cantonese porcelain. There's loads of it. | 0:19:33 | 0:19:37 | |
We've got tureens, vases, plates. | 0:19:37 | 0:19:39 | |
We're looking for 200 to £300, as Mark put on it on valuation day. | 0:19:39 | 0:19:44 | |
-Happy with that? -Yes. -I think the buyers are here to spend money so I hope we'll eclipse that. | 0:19:44 | 0:19:49 | |
It quickly did that, heading over the top end of the estimate. | 0:19:52 | 0:19:55 | |
500? | 0:19:55 | 0:19:56 | |
520. | 0:19:57 | 0:19:59 | |
540. | 0:19:59 | 0:20:01 | |
-It's not going to stop! -560. | 0:20:01 | 0:20:04 | |
1,000. And 50. | 0:20:04 | 0:20:07 | |
-Do you need a seat? -Against you in the room. | 0:20:07 | 0:20:09 | |
1,250 at the back. 1,300. | 0:20:09 | 0:20:12 | |
(1,300!) | 0:20:12 | 0:20:13 | |
1,500. | 0:20:13 | 0:20:15 | |
And 50. | 0:20:15 | 0:20:17 | |
Against you all at £1,500. Selling. | 0:20:17 | 0:20:21 | |
Yes! On the phone, £1,500! | 0:20:21 | 0:20:25 | |
-That's great. -I don't believe it! -That is just great! | 0:20:26 | 0:20:29 | |
'Joy brought along a needlework box | 0:20:29 | 0:20:32 | |
'which was Anglo-Indian. She'd bought it in a car boot sale years before.' | 0:20:32 | 0:20:37 | |
How much did you pay for this? | 0:20:38 | 0:20:41 | |
-Four pounds. -Four pounds. | 0:20:41 | 0:20:42 | |
Well, shall we add a 0? | 0:20:42 | 0:20:45 | |
And then add another 0. | 0:20:45 | 0:20:47 | |
-It's £400. -No! -Base level. | 0:20:49 | 0:20:52 | |
When it came to the auction, there was an even bigger shock in store! | 0:20:53 | 0:20:57 | |
-£800. £800. 850. -They're keen. They love it! | 0:20:57 | 0:21:03 | |
1,000. 1,100. | 0:21:03 | 0:21:05 | |
1,200. | 0:21:05 | 0:21:06 | |
-Yes or no? At 1,200. -It's getting exciting. It's getting hot! | 0:21:06 | 0:21:12 | |
-Still five people bidding. 1,600. -1,600. -Give me 17 for it. | 0:21:12 | 0:21:15 | |
2,000. 2,100. 2,200. | 0:21:16 | 0:21:19 | |
It's against you. | 0:21:19 | 0:21:22 | |
No? All done at £2,200, then. | 0:21:22 | 0:21:24 | |
Finished? You've got it. | 0:21:24 | 0:21:26 | |
-Well done! -Thank you, Paul! -They gave you a round of applause! | 0:21:26 | 0:21:30 | |
£2,200! | 0:21:30 | 0:21:33 | |
I just don't believe it! | 0:21:33 | 0:21:36 | |
And more recently, Shirley's scarab pendant which she bought for 40p! | 0:21:36 | 0:21:41 | |
That one really surprised us all in Oxford. | 0:21:41 | 0:21:44 | |
The Victorian pendant, | 0:21:45 | 0:21:47 | |
decorated two rearing cobra | 0:21:47 | 0:21:49 | |
flanking a scarab. | 0:21:49 | 0:21:51 | |
-560 I've got. -No! | 0:21:51 | 0:21:54 | |
-600. 610. -I can't believe it! -It's so beautiful. | 0:21:54 | 0:21:57 | |
1,000. | 0:21:57 | 0:21:59 | |
1,100. And 50. | 0:22:01 | 0:22:04 | |
Shirley, what is going on? | 0:22:04 | 0:22:06 | |
1,600. 1,700. | 0:22:06 | 0:22:08 | |
1,800. | 0:22:08 | 0:22:10 | |
At £1,800. On the telephone at £1,800. All done at 1,800? | 0:22:10 | 0:22:14 | |
Wow! | 0:22:14 | 0:22:16 | |
That's the sold sound. Well done, Shirley! | 0:22:16 | 0:22:19 | |
I can't believe it! | 0:22:19 | 0:22:22 | |
£1,800. And how much did it cost again? | 0:22:22 | 0:22:24 | |
-40 pence. -40p! What can you buy for 40p? | 0:22:24 | 0:22:27 | |
My estimate was a bit out, but I don't care! | 0:22:27 | 0:22:30 | |
What a great result! Have you got anything like that at home? | 0:22:31 | 0:22:35 | |
Think about Flog It if you're clearing out your attics and cupboards of unwanted antiques. | 0:22:35 | 0:22:40 | |
We'd love to see them. Bring them to one of our valuation days. Dates and venues are on our website. | 0:22:40 | 0:22:46 | |
All the information will be there. We'd love to see you! | 0:22:50 | 0:22:53 | |
I've touched on the fact that our libation cup is made of rhino horn. | 0:22:57 | 0:23:02 | |
Now, as an animal lover myself, I bet some of you at home are feeling awkward | 0:23:02 | 0:23:06 | |
about the fact that such a beautiful antique was made from part of an animal. | 0:23:06 | 0:23:10 | |
At the time it was made, animal conservation was not a priority. | 0:23:11 | 0:23:15 | |
Things have changed in recent years | 0:23:15 | 0:23:17 | |
as poaching and hunting threaten endangered animals. | 0:23:17 | 0:23:21 | |
That's why strict measures are now in place for the use of animal-based products. | 0:23:21 | 0:23:25 | |
I think it's worth finding out what these rules are. | 0:23:25 | 0:23:28 | |
I'm at the Animal Health Offices, | 0:23:30 | 0:23:32 | |
which is part of Defra, the government department for the environment, food and rural affairs. | 0:23:32 | 0:23:38 | |
They set the controls in dealing with items made from or with materials from endangered species, | 0:23:38 | 0:23:43 | |
which affects us when it comes to the antiques trade. | 0:23:43 | 0:23:46 | |
John, you're head of Animal Health, Bristol. What measures are in place? | 0:23:51 | 0:23:55 | |
The UK is a signatory to CITES, | 0:23:55 | 0:23:59 | |
and is one of 176 countries around the world. | 0:23:59 | 0:24:02 | |
The whole purpose of CITES is to ensure that international trade | 0:24:02 | 0:24:07 | |
does not further endanger wild populations | 0:24:07 | 0:24:10 | |
of already endangered species. | 0:24:10 | 0:24:13 | |
'By the way, CITES stands for the Convention on International Trade | 0:24:13 | 0:24:18 | |
'in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora. | 0:24:18 | 0:24:22 | |
'It's been running since 1975. | 0:24:22 | 0:24:24 | |
'One important rule for legally selling items made from endangered species here in the EU | 0:24:24 | 0:24:30 | |
'is that they must have been made before 1947.' | 0:24:30 | 0:24:35 | |
We see a lot of items turning up in our valuation days made of animal products. | 0:24:35 | 0:24:39 | |
But, thank goodness, they're antiques with provenance, pre-1947. | 0:24:39 | 0:24:44 | |
Let's just go through that particular law, shall we? | 0:24:44 | 0:24:48 | |
Yes, certainly. That's the absolute key, that the item has to be pre-1947. | 0:24:48 | 0:24:53 | |
But it also has to be significantly changed from its original state. | 0:24:53 | 0:24:58 | |
-To a work of art. -Absolutely, yes. | 0:24:58 | 0:25:01 | |
So if we take a tea caddy, for example, with tortoiseshell lining, | 0:25:01 | 0:25:05 | |
obviously that's changed from its state. | 0:25:05 | 0:25:08 | |
But if we take ivory, and here's a good example in front of us, | 0:25:08 | 0:25:12 | |
-where we have here... -An elephant tusk. -Yes, which was recovered from the sea. | 0:25:12 | 0:25:17 | |
-Really? -Yes. That was recovered from The Benine which sank in Liverpool Bay in the 1870s. | 0:25:17 | 0:25:24 | |
This is unworked and it would be illegal to sell this in the European Union. | 0:25:24 | 0:25:28 | |
Whereas this horn, for example, where you can probably see it's carved... | 0:25:28 | 0:25:32 | |
-About the same age. -Yes. -But it's been worked. -Absolutely. | 0:25:32 | 0:25:37 | |
So that could be sold within the European Union legally. | 0:25:37 | 0:25:40 | |
Our item is a libation cup made of rhinoceros horn. | 0:25:40 | 0:25:43 | |
It's changing, the laws on rhino horn is changing rapidly. | 0:25:43 | 0:25:48 | |
One's just been introduced, we can't export overseas any more. | 0:25:48 | 0:25:52 | |
-Correct. -Unless it's works of art. -That's absolutely correct. | 0:25:52 | 0:25:55 | |
The minister has expressed his concerns | 0:25:55 | 0:25:58 | |
about the serious state with an increase in rhino poaching | 0:25:58 | 0:26:03 | |
-fuelled by the belief in some countries that... -It's a medicine for ingestion. -Absolutely. | 0:26:03 | 0:26:09 | |
-It can be ground down. -Yes, and that's creating a market in its own right. | 0:26:09 | 0:26:14 | |
As a result of which, we here in Animal Health have imposed a stricter measure | 0:26:14 | 0:26:20 | |
and every dealer, every person who is intending to sell something | 0:26:20 | 0:26:24 | |
has to come along with that individual item, a description, | 0:26:24 | 0:26:28 | |
probably a digital photograph as well, | 0:26:28 | 0:26:30 | |
and get permission in order to be able to sell it. | 0:26:30 | 0:26:33 | |
But I think where you have something of genuine artistic merit | 0:26:33 | 0:26:37 | |
and cultural background, | 0:26:37 | 0:26:39 | |
there shouldn't be a problem. | 0:26:39 | 0:26:41 | |
If you have an antique at home and you're unsure is it old or not, is it legal to sell, | 0:26:41 | 0:26:46 | |
take it to a specialist dealer, an auction room or somebody here at Animal Health. | 0:26:46 | 0:26:50 | |
-That's right. -Somebody can help. -Always get advice, is the message. | 0:26:50 | 0:26:54 | |
We've seen lots of interesting items on the show made of things like ivory and tortoiseshell | 0:26:54 | 0:27:00 | |
which were perfectly legal to own and sell. | 0:27:00 | 0:27:02 | |
I think we should treasure beautiful antiques and make sure they're kept safe | 0:27:02 | 0:27:06 | |
for future generations. However, with the knowledge we have now about endangered animals, | 0:27:06 | 0:27:12 | |
we should support the measures and laws in place that protect them. | 0:27:12 | 0:27:16 | |
Check the provenance before you buy. | 0:27:16 | 0:27:18 | |
Make sure objects are as old as it's claimed. | 0:27:18 | 0:27:21 | |
And that they can be legally sold. | 0:27:21 | 0:27:24 | |
It's the day of the auction and I have my fingers crossed for the sale of the libation cup. | 0:27:35 | 0:27:40 | |
Thinking about it, why has Asian art, and more specifically Chinese art, | 0:27:42 | 0:27:46 | |
become so popular in the last ten years? | 0:27:46 | 0:27:48 | |
And what are the key things to invest in? | 0:27:48 | 0:27:50 | |
The capital is a magnet for Asian art buyers | 0:27:53 | 0:27:55 | |
because of Britain's long history of Chinese porcelain collecting and our trade links with Asia. | 0:27:55 | 0:28:01 | |
Why is Chinese art booming right now? | 0:28:01 | 0:28:04 | |
Alistair Gibson is a dealer who specialises in Chinese works of art. | 0:28:04 | 0:28:08 | |
The Chinese themselves, having come out of the communist era, have money, | 0:28:10 | 0:28:15 | |
their economy is booming, there are billionaires being made on a yearly basis | 0:28:15 | 0:28:19 | |
and they can afford now to buy their history and their art back into China. | 0:28:19 | 0:28:25 | |
The Chinese love branded products | 0:28:29 | 0:28:32 | |
and this is an extension of that. | 0:28:32 | 0:28:34 | |
The Chinese antique, for them, is a brand. | 0:28:34 | 0:28:37 | |
It's an expensive object to show that you have become wealthy, | 0:28:37 | 0:28:41 | |
you've made your money and you can afford to collect a status symbol. | 0:28:41 | 0:28:46 | |
Everybody knows about the Ming dynasty vase. | 0:28:46 | 0:28:50 | |
That's primarily still one of the main collecting areas today, Chinese ceramics, | 0:28:50 | 0:28:55 | |
and especially Chinese imperial porcelain | 0:28:55 | 0:28:58 | |
made for the court, made for the emperor. | 0:28:58 | 0:29:01 | |
That has a very huge following. It's a status symbol, again, | 0:29:01 | 0:29:04 | |
like talking about the Gucci shoes or Hermes handbag, something like this. | 0:29:04 | 0:29:09 | |
A good example of Chinese imperial porcelain is this blue and white bowl here | 0:29:09 | 0:29:14 | |
which was made in the 16th century. | 0:29:14 | 0:29:19 | |
It's a classic piece of Ming blue and white. | 0:29:19 | 0:29:23 | |
As you can see, it has the imperial symbol, the dragon, | 0:29:23 | 0:29:26 | |
with his five claws being displayed. | 0:29:26 | 0:29:29 | |
I was at Sotheby's this morning and there was a very similar bowl in the Sotheby's sale today | 0:29:29 | 0:29:34 | |
which made £50,000. | 0:29:34 | 0:29:38 | |
What advice has Alistair got for collectors with more modest bank balances | 0:29:42 | 0:29:46 | |
who fancy owning some Chinese porcelain? | 0:29:46 | 0:29:49 | |
Try and buy the best you can possibly afford | 0:29:50 | 0:29:53 | |
and an object without any damage if you can afford to do so. | 0:29:53 | 0:29:58 | |
That would be my number one tip. | 0:29:58 | 0:30:00 | |
If you still love the object and you don't have bottomless pockets, | 0:30:00 | 0:30:05 | |
then buy something chipped and cracked and really enjoy it. | 0:30:05 | 0:30:08 | |
The moment we've all been waiting for is fast approaching | 0:30:18 | 0:30:22 | |
when we find out what the bidders think our libation cup is worth. | 0:30:22 | 0:30:26 | |
But first, let's hear more about its prospects. | 0:30:26 | 0:30:29 | |
Chinese art specialist Angela McAteer | 0:30:29 | 0:30:32 | |
has been looking after our cup ever since the valuation day | 0:30:32 | 0:30:35 | |
and with her expertise, she'll have some insider knowledge. | 0:30:35 | 0:30:39 | |
It dates to the 17th/18th century, most probably to the period of Kangxi Emperor | 0:30:39 | 0:30:45 | |
who was the first great emperor of the Qing Dynasty. | 0:30:45 | 0:30:48 | |
His reign spanned both centuries. | 0:30:48 | 0:30:50 | |
He reigned from 1662 to 1722. | 0:30:50 | 0:30:54 | |
You have on either side | 0:30:55 | 0:30:57 | |
taotie masks and you've got chilong dragons carved in high relief | 0:30:57 | 0:31:03 | |
which are typified by their split tails | 0:31:03 | 0:31:06 | |
and their single horns. | 0:31:06 | 0:31:08 | |
And their heads poke up over the rim. | 0:31:08 | 0:31:13 | |
'Remember the damage when we first saw the libation cup? | 0:31:13 | 0:31:18 | |
'Well, the auction house recommended restoration to Tom and he agreed.' | 0:31:18 | 0:31:22 | |
We've used a person who is really the top restorer in the country for any organic Chinese ware. | 0:31:22 | 0:31:28 | |
He's used conservation grade epoxy resin | 0:31:28 | 0:31:31 | |
and if you looked at it and didn't know it was restored, it would be very difficult to tell. | 0:31:31 | 0:31:36 | |
'But why does Angela think restoration was the best bet and would it put some bidders off?' | 0:31:36 | 0:31:40 | |
Well, in offering something like this at auction, | 0:31:40 | 0:31:44 | |
you really want it to appeal not only to trade buyers | 0:31:44 | 0:31:48 | |
but to private buyers. | 0:31:48 | 0:31:50 | |
In recent years we have seen a large number, or a surge in the numbers, | 0:31:50 | 0:31:53 | |
of private collectors, a lot of whom are buying to put on display | 0:31:53 | 0:31:58 | |
and want it to look aesthetically very pleasing. | 0:31:58 | 0:32:01 | |
And virtually all the restoration that's done now can be undone | 0:32:01 | 0:32:05 | |
should you so wish. | 0:32:05 | 0:32:07 | |
The really positive thing | 0:32:07 | 0:32:08 | |
is that the horn hasn't dried out over the years. | 0:32:08 | 0:32:11 | |
What we often see in Western collections that have rhinoceros horns | 0:32:11 | 0:32:15 | |
is that they've been put in direct sunlight or near a radiator | 0:32:15 | 0:32:20 | |
and it really sucks the life out of them and they lose their colour | 0:32:20 | 0:32:25 | |
and their appeal. | 0:32:25 | 0:32:27 | |
This has a wonderful lustre and a wonderful texture. | 0:32:27 | 0:32:30 | |
So it's obviously been kept in a fairly humid environment | 0:32:30 | 0:32:34 | |
which, over the years, has retained its nice qualities. | 0:32:34 | 0:32:37 | |
'It sounds like sitting in a cabinet in Scotland for years has been in its favour. | 0:32:37 | 0:32:42 | |
'But will this specialist work to repair it be worth it?' | 0:32:42 | 0:32:46 | |
The restoration costs were around £600. | 0:32:46 | 0:32:49 | |
That amount is deducted from the final proceeds of the sale. | 0:32:49 | 0:32:54 | |
Really, it may sound like a lot of money, | 0:32:54 | 0:32:58 | |
but when you think of the difference that it will make in the final hammer price on the day | 0:32:58 | 0:33:03 | |
I think it's a very sensible investment. | 0:33:03 | 0:33:06 | |
'So, does Angela have the answer to that all-important question - what's it worth?' | 0:33:06 | 0:33:11 | |
Whilst it looks like a rhinoceros horn in wonderful condition now, | 0:33:11 | 0:33:15 | |
we have to remember that there are chips to it and it has sustained some damage. | 0:33:15 | 0:33:20 | |
So I was quite happy to stick to the eight to £12,000 estimate. | 0:33:20 | 0:33:26 | |
I am, however, confident that on the day it will far exceed that. | 0:33:26 | 0:33:30 | |
'Well, for Tom and Evelyn's sake, I hope Angela's right. We can only wait and see.' | 0:33:33 | 0:33:37 | |
The main gallery is setting up and expectations are high | 0:33:45 | 0:33:48 | |
especially as the sale is taking place during London's Asian art week. | 0:33:48 | 0:33:52 | |
Like many of the capital's leading auction houses, they hope serious buyers are in town. | 0:33:52 | 0:33:58 | |
Some beautiful and high-end examples of Asian artefacts are being sold in the specialist fine art sales. | 0:33:58 | 0:34:04 | |
13,000, new bidder. | 0:34:04 | 0:34:07 | |
But the star lot in this sale has to be an imperial jade seal, | 0:34:07 | 0:34:10 | |
an 18th-century object that was once owned by a Chinese emperor. | 0:34:10 | 0:34:14 | |
It's small, but it's perfectly formed! | 0:34:14 | 0:34:17 | |
It's a fantastic object, first and foremost, a great piece of imperial art. | 0:34:17 | 0:34:21 | |
You actually know that the emperor had that in his hand in an area of the Forbidden City. | 0:34:21 | 0:34:26 | |
ANGELA: It's an absolute masterpiece. | 0:34:26 | 0:34:30 | |
Not only its provenance, who it belonged to, but the work of art itself | 0:34:30 | 0:34:34 | |
is truly spectacular. | 0:34:34 | 0:34:36 | |
Listen to where the bidding starts for this very special piece. | 0:34:36 | 0:34:41 | |
Somebody like to start this? | 0:34:41 | 0:34:43 | |
One million pounds for this. | 0:34:45 | 0:34:48 | |
1,100,000. | 0:34:48 | 0:34:50 | |
1,200,000. | 0:34:50 | 0:34:52 | |
1,500,000. | 0:34:52 | 0:34:54 | |
1,600,000. | 0:34:55 | 0:34:57 | |
One million, nine hundred thousand is the bid. | 0:34:57 | 0:35:00 | |
Two million? | 0:35:00 | 0:35:02 | |
Selling it. Two million pounds is down here. | 0:35:06 | 0:35:09 | |
It's down here at two million pounds. | 0:35:09 | 0:35:12 | |
Selling it for two million. | 0:35:13 | 0:35:15 | |
I'm going to sell it for that. | 0:35:15 | 0:35:17 | |
2,100,000. | 0:35:17 | 0:35:19 | |
2,200,000. | 0:35:19 | 0:35:21 | |
Two million, two hundred thousand pounds. | 0:35:22 | 0:35:25 | |
2,300,000. | 0:35:26 | 0:35:29 | |
2,400,000? | 0:35:29 | 0:35:31 | |
2,400,000. | 0:35:32 | 0:35:34 | |
Not yours. | 0:35:34 | 0:35:35 | |
Not yours. The bid's down here. | 0:35:35 | 0:35:38 | |
For two million, four hundred thousand pounds. | 0:35:38 | 0:35:42 | |
Sold! | 0:35:44 | 0:35:46 | |
It was very tense in the room. | 0:35:47 | 0:35:50 | |
There were hundreds of people in there, plenty of spectators, | 0:35:50 | 0:35:54 | |
so it was very difficult to see what was going on and who was bidding. | 0:35:54 | 0:35:58 | |
But the final price including our buyer's premium | 0:35:58 | 0:36:01 | |
was £2.7 million. | 0:36:01 | 0:36:03 | |
Which for such a small piece of jade was an absolutely phenomenal amount of money. | 0:36:03 | 0:36:09 | |
So we're absolutely delighted. | 0:36:09 | 0:36:11 | |
I bet you weren't expecting a seven-figure sum! | 0:36:11 | 0:36:15 | |
Both buyers and sellers have commission to pay. | 0:36:15 | 0:36:18 | |
The result shows how buoyant the Chinese art market really is. | 0:36:18 | 0:36:23 | |
But there's no guarantee our cup will sell. | 0:36:23 | 0:36:27 | |
I'm outside the auction room and I'm expecting Tom and Evelyn to arrive any moment now. | 0:36:28 | 0:36:33 | |
I'm feeling really nervous for them | 0:36:33 | 0:36:36 | |
but, fingers crossed, this is going to fly through the roof. | 0:36:36 | 0:36:40 | |
This looks like their cab. | 0:36:40 | 0:36:42 | |
It is. Hello! | 0:36:43 | 0:36:45 | |
Here's Evelyn here, look. | 0:36:45 | 0:36:47 | |
Hi. Hello! | 0:36:47 | 0:36:48 | |
-Great to see you again. -Nice to see you. | 0:36:48 | 0:36:51 | |
-Are you excited? -Yeah. -Tom. | 0:36:51 | 0:36:53 | |
-Good journey? -Yes. -Good journey? -It was, yes. -Been looked after? | 0:36:53 | 0:36:58 | |
-Yes. -Would you like a cup of tea? -That would be fine. | 0:36:58 | 0:37:02 | |
-We'll find a little cafe. -As long as you're paying! -I'm paying, yes! | 0:37:02 | 0:37:06 | |
We are literally in the right place at the right time selling this. | 0:37:10 | 0:37:13 | |
It's Asian art week in London. All the big major auction houses have got an Asian artefacts sale. | 0:37:13 | 0:37:19 | |
So all the key buyers and all the collectors are here in London this week. | 0:37:19 | 0:37:23 | |
-Good. -Good, isn't it? | 0:37:23 | 0:37:25 | |
-Good. -It's going to be good for you two. | 0:37:25 | 0:37:27 | |
Secretly, what do you think it might go for? | 0:37:27 | 0:37:30 | |
After what you've said about Asian Art Week, | 0:37:30 | 0:37:33 | |
and quite a few collectors... | 0:37:33 | 0:37:36 | |
-I would probably be happy with something about ten grand. -OK. | 0:37:37 | 0:37:42 | |
You're so laid back, aren't you? So calm about this. | 0:37:42 | 0:37:46 | |
It's like it's not happening. I don't feel excited, actually. | 0:37:46 | 0:37:50 | |
-You don't feel excited? -I probably will when I get in there. -I think so. | 0:37:50 | 0:37:54 | |
-And they start bidding. -I think you will. | 0:37:54 | 0:37:56 | |
Are you going to miss this, Tom, because it was in your house | 0:37:56 | 0:37:59 | |
in your cabinet for all those years. | 0:37:59 | 0:38:02 | |
Now that it's going, well, I'll miss it. | 0:38:02 | 0:38:05 | |
I wonder what your past generations of the family would think about us | 0:38:05 | 0:38:09 | |
bringing it to London and selling it here. | 0:38:09 | 0:38:12 | |
My mother would probably be quite happy that she's left us something. | 0:38:12 | 0:38:16 | |
-You know. -Too many of these things lie dormant in people's homes. -That's the beauty of the show. | 0:38:17 | 0:38:23 | |
I can't wait, personally, to get inside the auction room | 0:38:23 | 0:38:27 | |
and soak up the atmosphere. | 0:38:27 | 0:38:29 | |
-Shall we drink up? -Yes. -Where's my wallet? | 0:38:29 | 0:38:32 | |
Where's my wallet? I think it's in the car! | 0:38:32 | 0:38:34 | |
-Oh, no! -Where's your purse, Evelyn? -I've not got a purse. | 0:38:34 | 0:38:37 | |
Well, I can't believe how calm they both are. | 0:38:38 | 0:38:42 | |
But I think I'm nervous enough for all of us! | 0:38:42 | 0:38:45 | |
Our lot is getting closer. | 0:38:45 | 0:38:48 | |
3,800. 4,000. | 0:38:49 | 0:38:52 | |
4,800. 5,000. | 0:38:54 | 0:38:56 | |
Doesn't it look good? There's the image in the catalogue. | 0:38:58 | 0:39:01 | |
Wonderful catalogue. Look at the quality of the printing. | 0:39:01 | 0:39:05 | |
This is your restored libation cup. The auction house obviously believed in this. | 0:39:05 | 0:39:10 | |
Something here today, a piece of jade, has gone for £2.5 million. | 0:39:10 | 0:39:14 | |
Let's hope those heavyweight buyers want to go home with your libation cup as well. | 0:39:14 | 0:39:19 | |
-Fingers crossed. -Exactly. Gosh. | 0:39:19 | 0:39:22 | |
Crunch time. | 0:39:24 | 0:39:26 | |
Tom and Evelyn's cup is now going under the hammer. | 0:39:27 | 0:39:31 | |
Here we go! | 0:39:32 | 0:39:33 | |
Now we move on to the first of the rhino horns. | 0:39:35 | 0:39:37 | |
Lot 470. | 0:39:37 | 0:39:40 | |
Who'd like to start this? | 0:39:40 | 0:39:42 | |
-£5,000 for it? £5,000. 5,000 is offered. Thank you very much. -We're in. | 0:39:42 | 0:39:47 | |
6,000. 500. 7,000. | 0:39:47 | 0:39:51 | |
500. 8,000. | 0:39:51 | 0:39:54 | |
500. 9,000. | 0:39:54 | 0:39:56 | |
Lady's bid now at £9,000. | 0:39:56 | 0:39:59 | |
The phones are coming in now. 9,500. | 0:39:59 | 0:40:01 | |
-10,000. -Phones in. | 0:40:01 | 0:40:03 | |
11,000. 12,000. | 0:40:03 | 0:40:05 | |
13,000. New bidder. | 0:40:06 | 0:40:08 | |
-14,000. 15,000 on my left. -Put a smile on your face! | 0:40:08 | 0:40:12 | |
-16,000. -She smiled! -17,000 on the left. | 0:40:12 | 0:40:15 | |
18,000 against you. 19,000 here. | 0:40:15 | 0:40:17 | |
At 19,000 now. | 0:40:17 | 0:40:19 | |
£19,000. | 0:40:19 | 0:40:21 | |
Against the phones. 20,000, new bidder. | 0:40:21 | 0:40:24 | |
22,000. 24,000. 26,000. | 0:40:24 | 0:40:27 | |
-26,000! I'm tingling! Are you tingling? -Aye! | 0:40:27 | 0:40:32 | |
£26,000. | 0:40:32 | 0:40:34 | |
-Oh, come on. Take it. -Two bids in the room. | 0:40:34 | 0:40:39 | |
-30,000 behind you. -30! -£30,000! | 0:40:39 | 0:40:43 | |
34,000. 36,000 over here. | 0:40:43 | 0:40:47 | |
-38,000 standing. -Can't believe it! -£40,000. | 0:40:47 | 0:40:51 | |
At £40,000 on the left. | 0:40:51 | 0:40:53 | |
Against the phones, against both the ladies. | 0:40:53 | 0:40:56 | |
The bid is at £40,000. | 0:40:56 | 0:40:58 | |
40 grand! | 0:40:58 | 0:41:00 | |
-42,000. -42? -Just in time. | 0:41:00 | 0:41:03 | |
42,000. It's the lady's bid here. Against the telephones. | 0:41:03 | 0:41:07 | |
Against you far left and against you standing. | 0:41:07 | 0:41:10 | |
-42! -Lady's bid in the centre. £42,000. | 0:41:10 | 0:41:14 | |
I can't believe it. £42,000. | 0:41:14 | 0:41:16 | |
No? 42,000. I'm selling it. | 0:41:16 | 0:41:20 | |
Lady here in the Bonhams board room - er, sale room. | 0:41:20 | 0:41:22 | |
44,000. | 0:41:22 | 0:41:25 | |
-With the hammer. -£44,000! -One of my Bonhams colleagues over here. | 0:41:25 | 0:41:31 | |
At 44,000 on the telephone. | 0:41:31 | 0:41:33 | |
Selling it, then, for £44,000. | 0:41:33 | 0:41:37 | |
-Quite sure, madam? -I can't believe somebody wants it that badly. | 0:41:37 | 0:41:42 | |
£44,000. The auctioneer is asking for 45. | 0:41:42 | 0:41:46 | |
Here's the bid on the telephone at £44,000. | 0:41:46 | 0:41:51 | |
All done? Sold! | 0:41:51 | 0:41:53 | |
-Well done! -Thank you very much. | 0:41:53 | 0:41:54 | |
What's it worth? £44,000. | 0:41:54 | 0:41:58 | |
Congratulations, Tom. Congratulations. Do I get a kiss? | 0:41:58 | 0:42:02 | |
What a lovely kiss that was! | 0:42:02 | 0:42:05 | |
-Happy? -Yes! | 0:42:05 | 0:42:06 | |
-A great surprise. -Yes, it went for more than I thought it would. | 0:42:06 | 0:42:11 | |
Are you happy? | 0:42:11 | 0:42:13 | |
-Yeah, yeah. I just don't look happy, but I am. -I know you are. | 0:42:13 | 0:42:18 | |
I didn't think it would get as much as that. | 0:42:18 | 0:42:21 | |
You said you'd be jumping up and down if it got 30-odd thousand! | 0:42:21 | 0:42:24 | |
-Yeah. -I said, "Will you be running around if it does 40-odd thousand?" | 0:42:24 | 0:42:28 | |
-We got 44 grand! -It went that fast. I didn't get time to run about. | 0:42:28 | 0:42:32 | |
Yes. | 0:42:32 | 0:42:33 | |
£44,000. That is what it's worth. | 0:42:33 | 0:42:37 | |
If you've got anything like that, we'd love to see it at our valuation days. | 0:42:37 | 0:42:41 | |
I hope you've enjoyed this one-off special. Evelyn and Tom have come down from Scotland | 0:42:41 | 0:42:46 | |
and it's been the journey of their lifetime. You've had bad news lately? | 0:42:46 | 0:42:50 | |
Hopefully it will get better and better. | 0:42:50 | 0:42:52 | |
OK? Bless you. | 0:42:52 | 0:42:54 | |
The libation cup achieved an absolutely fantastic price. | 0:43:01 | 0:43:04 | |
There was plenty of competition for it on the phones and in the room. | 0:43:04 | 0:43:08 | |
For a libation cup of its type and in its condition, | 0:43:08 | 0:43:12 | |
and that style of carving, it is a very, very strong price. | 0:43:12 | 0:43:16 | |
Our cup will be returning to Asia, snapped up by a Far Eastern buyer. | 0:43:16 | 0:43:22 | |
How about that? £44,000. | 0:43:23 | 0:43:26 | |
I think they're in shock! | 0:43:26 | 0:43:27 | |
What a day, what a moment. | 0:43:27 | 0:43:29 | |
This is the icing on the cake for me. Ten years of hard work on the show. | 0:43:29 | 0:43:34 | |
It just goes to show, you never know what you're going to find. | 0:43:34 | 0:43:38 | |
Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd | 0:44:01 | 0:44:04 |