Truro Flog It!

This magnificent cathedral in the heart of Truro was built by the Victorians, believe or not, in 1880.

Look at it, it's stunning! They did a pretty good job of copying the Gothic style.

It's known as Gothic revival, and today we're hoping to do a pretty good job.

As we're in Cornwall I should say 'proper job', shouldn't I?

We're doing a proper job because Flog It! is in town.

Well, what a great turnout we've got today.

OK, it might be raining but we won't let that dampen our spirits!

I'm eager to see what's inside all these bags and boxes because

there might be something really valuable.

Our team of experts today are David Barby and David Fletcher. It is Team David.

Hello, what have you got?

David Barby has always been into old things, including fossils,

but he's no fossil himself. In fact, he's one of our sparkiest experts.

Don't get it out we'll have a look at that inside.

David Fletcher loves his fine art and antiques but he's also a sucker for a soft toy.

Does it growl or squeak? That's academic because it doesn't do either now, it's mute now.

And coming up on a cracking show today...

Are you thinking of selling today?

I do like it, depending on its valuation.

I don't think anyone's ever said to buy myself a birthday present.

I'm the first selfish Cornishman then that you've interviewed.

Well, it is now 9:30. Its time to get the doors open because

these people are eager to ask a very important question, which is?

-What's it worth?

-Let's get them inside.

First up, David Barby is weighing up an item brought in by Pauline.

Thank you very much for coming along particularly into such a wonderful building. Isn't this beautiful?

-Gorgeous.

-Do you live in Truro?

-I do, just outside.

And do you have any connection with the cathedral?

Oh, yes, my husband's the warden of the lay assistants.

We've been here ten years and we used to worship at

St Augustine's at Kilburn in London which is a Pearson church,

and he built that one first before he built this one.

Oh, you came because of the architecture.

-Because it was just like coming home again.

-Oh, yes, we're going off the beaten track.

You've brought this in for sale - just tell me where did it come from?

Well, it was my father's. I can always remember it being there.

-Right, in his office?

-No, no, at home.

The only thing I can think he got it from is that he had an aunt who had a little sweet shop.

So, I think there might have been a post office attached.

Most likely because this is postal scales

with all its weight on, a little board you can move round from one table to another.

So, I think it's a rather nice example and you've got all the notes

of the charges down the side here, and the weights.

Then here you've got book rates here.

So, I think you're right, it could have been in a stationer's shop or

similar, just to tell the customer how much it would cost to send it.

-Yes.

-Or a small post office. But, these are also for domestic reasons as well.

What I like, first of all, is the oak base.

The brass work and all this decorative element here.

Here we have Samuel Mordan & Co.

They were renowned manufacturers, in this country, for producing small

objects, like these postal scales, small pens, penknives.

They made these exquisite objects in gold, silver and base metals.

So, that does enhance the interest.

And have you got all the weights?

-I think I have.

-Oh, yes, you have you've got the half ounce.

That's brilliant! Brilliant, brilliant.

So, it's a complete postal scale.

At auction I think we're going to realise, not too much at the present,

probably £50, £80, that would be its maximum, I think.

-Right, that's fine.

-Shall we put that up for auction?

-Yes.

I think we've got to put a reserve of around about £45. Would that be agreeable?

That would be lovely. Yes, thank you.

-OK, keep your fingers crossed.

-OK.

It depends who is looking on at the time, doesn't it really?

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

Pauline's hoping that with a little help from above we'll see her scales fly out of the sale.

Now, there's nothing I like better at the start of the day than to have a good old nose around.

I just noticed, this caught my eye. I had these as a kid.

I collected these tea card albums, very nice as well.

-Hello, what's your name?

-Hello, Clara.

Hi, Clara. I'm being very nosy. I'm joining in on everything.

-That's very nice, isn't it?

-It is.

-And of course Polperro, do you live in Polperro?

-No, I live in Truro but it was bought in a charity shop in Windsor.

-Really?

When we were visiting family, so we brought it home.

Probably cheaper in Windsor. There's a premium for it in Cornwall, everybody wants it.

-People recognise the scene. Isn't that lovely?

-It is, yes.

That's quite loose, sort of a pencil sketch but then coloured in with water colour.

-With water colour, yeah.

-That's very me. That's the kind of thing I would buy if I saw that in a shop.

-Yeah.

-Is it something you're thinking of selling today?

I do like it...

but - depending on its valuation...

If the price is right.

Do you know the art market is a very funny thing to value, it's all about confidence nowadays.

-People like to invest in a name that's got a good book price.

-Yeah.

Where they know the history of the artist.

He's exhibited at the Royal Academy or other fine institutes around the world.

Then they've got the confidence.

They know they can spend two or £3,000 on something that will be a good investment.

I have never heard of this guy, Dale. I don't know if he's a Cornish artist.

It's dated 1960 so hopefully he's still alive and quite prolific.

-In order to do a price comparison, you need an artist with form. You see?

-Yeah.

So, I'm going on a gut feeling here, if you walked past an art gallery and you saw that for sale at, say,

£200 to £300, you'd think, "That's not bad, I'll buy that".

But, in order to get £200, £300 for it, you've got to remount it, put it in a better frame.

-So that's going to cost you around £80 to £100, isn't it?

-Yeah.

I think it's got an auction value of around £100 to £140.

I think somebody who lives in Polperro would love to buy that but only spend that sort of money on it.

Then they'll spend another £100 on getting it reframed and remounted so it's very presentable.

So, what do you do? Get it reframed and mounted and put it back on your wall, or put it into auction?

Let Jefferys' auction rooms do a bit of research on the artist, they're bound to know.

-If anybody knows, they will.

-They know all the local artists.

If it were to go into the auction I'd want a reserve of £100 on it, would that be...?

-I'd go with that with you.

-Would you?

Yeah. I was frightened to say that.

No, I mean it only cost £7 and I do like it.

-Well, what are you worried about then?

-Because I like it.

Yeah, I know. You've got to protect things with a reserve and there's a big lesson there.

OK, £100 reserve and somebody will have a nice image then, won't they?

-Hopefully, yeah.

-And you'll be in pocket, with a lot of profit.

I might buy another piece of art instead.

In another junk shop in Windsor.

I'm glad I bumped into Clara and with a firm reserve she can look forward to the thrill of auction,

knowing her painting won't go for less than £100.

Not a bad investment on £7.

Next up Clyde has brought in a little plate with an unusual provenance to show David Fletcher.

I had it nearly 40 years ago.

Someone gave me a pot plant and it was standing on this plate.

So, it came free with your pot plant.

It came with a pot plant. I think it was a cacti in those days.

That's long since gone I expect?

The cacti has gone, but the plate, once one realised the age of it,

one put it away and took a bit of care of it.

I'm glad you did.

It would have been made not in Cornwall, as you might expect, but in Staffordshire.

It is a type of pottery known as pearlware, and that refers to the nature of the glaze.

It has a moulded border,

decorated with leaves and these might be oak apples.

The centre is transfer printed in blue and white.

It commemorates the death

of the late, and as it says, much lamented Charlotte of Saxe Cobourg,

who was George IV's only daughter,

and who died, as it tells us here, in 1817,

the day after she gave birth to a son, who tragically died.

And her death was indeed much lamented.

I think very largely because, had she survived,

she would eventually have become Queen Charlotte of England.

And, commemorative china relating to the Royal Family

from this date is rare, it's early.

-You had an idea that it was of some value obviously.

-Mmm.

It's true to say that it has got a bit of damage.

-Bit of damage, two cracks.

-Two longish hairline cracks -

which are a problem.

I must say condition is always important but in a case like this,

I think it's less important than it might otherwise be because the plate is rare and highly collectible.

-Collectors will put up with a bit of damage.

-Just as well.

I think the time has come to be able possibly to sell it and let somebody else have the pleasure of it.

Just want to get the benefit of a few quid from it.

I've got a special birthday this year, so...

Have you? What's that, 60?

No, no. A nought but not 60, go up a bit. But, that's beside the point.

So, I think just be able to treat myself to something.

-A birthday present to yourself.

-Just to myself, it can be, yes.

Good for you. I don't think all the times I've asked people what they are selling things for,

I don't think anyone's ever said to buy myself a birthday present but that's a good idea.

I'm the first selfish Cornishman that you've interviewed or what have you!

I don't think you're being selfish You're being very realistic. You treat yourself.

If you haven't got children... If not, why not.

They are not buying you presents, no children to buy you presents.

-That's right.

-Good for you.

It's now time for us to work out exactly what you'll be able to buy.

I think the damage on this plate is important but not crucial.

We have got to be mindful of it.

I would like to say £200 but I don't think I can really.

I would like to go £100 to £150.

I'm certain it will find a buyer within that price range, who knows someone might pay a bit more.

A bit more on the day, yes.

So, let's hope for the best, put an estimate of £100 to £150 on it and a fixed reserve of £100.

Yes, I wouldn't like for it to go for less than that.

If we're not bid £100, you can have it back.

-I'll take it back, that's right.

-Bring it back in ten years when you have your next special birthday.

-Right will do, but hopefully it will sell.

-Hopefully it will sell.

-Thank you very much indeed.

-OK, Clyde, see you at the sale.

Well, £150 would be a great birthday present for Clyde so fingers crossed

for the top end of the estimate at the saleroom.

And here's a quick recap of all the items we're taking with us.

Pauline's scales valued by David Barby at £50 to £80.

Clara's painting which I put a valuation of £100 to £140 on.

And Clyde's plate valued by David Fletcher at £100 to £150.

Today's auction is at Jefferys in Lostwithiel and auctioneer

Ian Morris is concerned about the damage on Clyde's plate.

This has surprised me, it's pearlware as you know, it belongs to Clyde.

I don't know a lot about ceramics but I am learning all the time.

I guess this is quite rare. We've got £100 to £150 on this, even with the hairline cracks.

Commemorative ware is, though not so collectible as in the past,

certainly when you get back to the kind of dates that we've got, erm, it is collectible.

Again because of the subject, not so many commemorative wares,

or the quantity were not made, therefore makes the piece rarer, and then the price higher.

Will this get the £100 mark?

-Without the crack it will make £200 or £300 easily.

-Wow.

So, it's going to do it then?

Hopefully, it's just the crack there for the purists, for the collector,

They don't like cracks, even though the items are old, it does put people off.

-I hope to get there, yes, but...

-Are you confident?

Because of the date and the subject, yes, I think we'll get there.

Will the bidders be put off by the damage or will the rarity of the plate still attract attention?

We'll find out shortly but first under the hammer it's Pauline's scales.

It's all in the balance right now!

I'm talking about the postal scales belonging to Pauline.

-And I've got to say you look fabulous, I love the deep purple look.

-Thank you.

OK, tell me a bit about the postal scales, why are you selling them?

I've always had them, my dad had them. I've played with them and my grandchildren have too.

They seem to throw the weights around and I thought they might get lost.

OK, so you brought them along to our Flog It! valuation day, where Mr Barby fell in love with them.

Well, I think they'll find a market,

because the name's an important maker's name.

And the condition's good.

And we've got the complete set of weights, which is essential.

So, hopefully we'll find a buyer here today

who is going to love them, look at them and play with them again

for another couple of generations. Going under the hammer now.

Oak and brass postal scales by S Mordan.

What do you say for those, very quickly? £50.

£30 to start me? £20, I'm bid.

At £20. I'll take five to get on.

£20. 25. £30.

35. 35. £40. 45.

45. £50. 55.

£50 in the middle there.

At £50. 55. seated, 60. Five.

£60 at the back, then.

£60 at the back. Going at £60.

-BANGS GAVEL

-£60.

-Oh, that's good.

-Happy with that?

-Lovely, thank you.

Don't forget there is commission to pay, though.

That's fine, I can get a couple of bricks for Truro Cathedral.

Wonderful, wonderful.

-I think that's divine intervention, actually.

-It is.

A great start to the sale.

Now, let's see if Clara's painting will also "sale" away.

So far, so good. Now it's my turn to be the expert,

this is where it can go slightly wrong!

I'm joined by Clara and we're going to get the top end of that estimate,

-or at least a sale.

-I hope so.

-That's what we want.

£100, £150 is on this and I know you got it from...

-A charity shop.

-Yes, it was a very good buy.

If it's going to sell, it will be right here, right now -

-a lot of local interest and there can't be a better place really, can there?

-No.

I'm nervous, do you know? I am slightly nervous.

I'm sure it's going to go. We're going to find out now, this is it.

Dale signed watercolour of Polperro harbour,

a local harbour there, Lot 92.

What do you say, can I say £80 away?

£50 to start me. £50, I'm bid.

At £50, of Polperro.

60. 70. 80.

90. At £90.

100 now?

At £90, I'm bid.

£90, I'm bid.

Got a reserve at 100.

All done at £90?

Can't sell it for that, I'm afraid, £90.

Didn't sell it.

-He put the hammer down but he didn't actually say "sold".

-No.

Gosh, I thought for a moment he might use a bit of discretion.

Yeah, so did I. I would have gone for £90.

Would you? We had a fixed reserve at 100.

-Yeah, I know.

-I wish you'd told me at the valuation.

It might be too late, but if we can find the under-bidder,

we'll try and do the deal, but if we can't, it has to go home.

-OK.

-Is that OK?

-That's no problem.

In the end, Clara decided not to part with her painting

and guess what - it's back on her wall.

Next up, it's Clyde's plate, but will the damage put people off?

I'm quite excited about this,

because I've learned something here today.

I never knew this would be worth so much

even with two hairline cracks in it.

We had a chat to the auctioneer and he says it's really rare.

Well, I hope I'm right.

The great thing about this particular plate is it's early.

You see lots of commemorative ware

which relates to the late 19th century,

but very little from as early as this. That's what I'm pinning my hopes on.

Thank goodness you've looked after it.

Yes, it's lasted fairly well.

-Nearly 200 years old.

-Nearly 200.

Well, I'm starting to tingle now.

This is what auctions do. It won't be long.

In fact, we can't talk any more, because it's going under the hammer.

Let's find out what this lot think.

Rare pearlware commemorative tea plate there.

Princess Charlotte.

Got a crack in, otherwise it'd make a lot more money.

Can I say £100 to start, £100.

£50, I've got, 50. 60.

60, here. 70, there, 80.

90. £100. The bid's with me.

£100. 110 to get on, at 110.

The bid's in the middle.

Someone at the back of the room wants this.

£110, I'm bid. 120 now.

Are we done? At £110.

£110, the hammer's gone down, well done.

-Right.

-Brilliant valuation.

-Thank you.

-You've got your 100.

-Thank you very much indeed.

-Pity about those cracks, but we can't put the clock back.

-No, age will tell.

In the end, David Fletcher was spot-on with his valuation.

Clyde goes home without the plate, but with a pocket full of cash.

That's the end of our first visit to the auction today.

You could say it's the end of Act One - part two is to come later on

and hopefully we'll have one or two surprises going under the hammer.

While down here in Cornwall, I took the opportunity

to go and visit a theatre with a real difference.

Take a look at this.

Just a few miles from Land's End,

and perched precariously on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Atlantic,

is what seems like the remains of a Roman amphitheatre.

It's not Roman. In fact, it's not that old at all.

It's the brainchild of one woman, Rowena Cade.

Rowena Cade was born on 2nd August, 1893, in Derbyshire,

into a large and loving family.

After Rowena's father passed away during the First World War,

the family were living scattered all over the country,

but eventually, Rowena and her mother moved to Lamorna,

just a few miles along the coast in that direction.

When Rowena discovered the Minack Headland, which I'm standing on now,

she fell in love with it and you can see why, can't you?

It's absolutely breathtaking.

She had to own it and she bought it for £100,

and in 1923, she built a house for herself and her mother

using granite from the local quarry.

Between the wars, Rowena used the house and its grounds

to stage a variety of plays to provide entertainment for her family and friends.

She discovered she had a knack for designing

and making the costumes needed for the productions.

Then in 1931, an opportunity arose for a much more ambitious project.

Rowena wanted to put a production on of The Tempest

and looking for an appropriate setting,

she had this vision of creating a stage out of the gully above Minack Rock.

At the age of 38,

a determined Rowena set about building the theatre by hand.

with the help of just two men - her gardener Billy Rawlings

and a local craftsman called Charles Thomas Angove.

All this work took place on the slope

above a sheer drop into the Atlantic.

It took the three of them six months, working through a harsh winter,

to make the stage and some basic seating cut out of the rock.

The production was a huge success.

The unique setting at the Minack Theatre here

brought something magical to the performance

and, of course, the public and the press absolutely loved it

and they wanted more.

Rowena and her gardener Billy worked tirelessly over the next few decades

to improve and expand the theatre,

which played host to many performances.

When Billy died in 1966,

Rowena inscribed one of the seats as his memorial.

By now, Rowena had developed her own innovative building techniques.

For example, these carvings were done

when the cement was wet with the tip of an old screwdriver.

Rowena passed away in 1983,

but her legacy is thriving today

and the theatre is still extremely popular.

Phil Jackson is the current theatre manager.

Well, you knew her, what was she like?

She was a seriously determined woman,

which you have to be to create a place like this.

A lot of people remember her as a Victorian headmistress type, tall and thin.

-Formidable.

-Formidable woman.

She was to me, because I first knew her as a child,

and she gave me my first summer job, when I was in my teens.

Everyone looked up to her and the companies were in awe of her that came here to play.

She had great vision, didn't she?

Indeed and she never designed it, she never wrote it down on paper.

-It just evolved.

-She used what she had

and what we've got is a concrete set for certain plays.

I mean, most of what's left on stage was built for a '51 production

of Tristan of Cornwall, sort of Celtic motifs around the place.

If she didn't like what she was making,

she would smash it up, chuck it in the sea and build something else.

-She wasn't precious about it.

-Did she make any money from it?

No, not during her lifetime.

She was funding it out of her own pocket

and actually in the 1950s, she tried to get someone else to take it over

because it was draining her pocket

and by then, she was in her 60s, late 50s, 60s.

Later on, it became a Charitable Trust,

then it had to stand on its own two feet,

and now it's financially self-sufficient.

Let's talk about the theatre today.

I've been here a few times and I've seen many,

so what are you trying to do now that's slightly different?

Early on, she put on one show a year, a Shakespeare,

and built bits for what we do...

As the theatre progressed and had to become more financially sound,

we extended the season.

You needed variety. We've got a lot of people who come every week.

I mean we do 17, 18 shows for the summer

and some people will be here every Friday night for 17, 18 weeks.

We still do Shakespeare, two or three a year,

but we also do musicals, drama, comedy,

the full gamut of the repertoire really.

This is just so stunning, isn't it, on a day like this?

-This is your office.

-It is, this is my office.

In my office at the top of the car park, I get a sea view.

A lot of people say to me, "You actually get paid to work here?"

-Is it a job for life?

-I'd like to think so.

Nowhere else I'd rather be.

-I could sit here all day long.

-We could sit here and chat all day long, as well.

Gosh, this brings back so many happy memories for me.

I first came here when I was about 14 years old with my mum and dad.

And they bumped into Rowena on several occasions and talked to her,

and she was always busy doing something, wearing scruffy clothes

and always covered in muck.

I just wished I'd spoken to her at the time, really.

I guess if I did speak to her, I wouldn't really have much to say at the age of 14.

But we saw many performances here,

wrapped up warm, I would have sat around here with my mum and dad,

a good view of the stage, blanket on,

cos it'd get really cold in the summer on those evenings.

And the odd glass of wine for Dad and a flask of tea.

Oh, I wish I could put back the clock.

Well, they say the world's a stage

and back at the valuation day in Truro Cathedral,

it's June's turn to take the lead role

with an item that has caught David Barby's eye.

I'm going to disappoint you.

-These are not diamonds and they're not sapphires.

-Dear, dear, dear.

-But it's a lovely piece of bling.

-Right.

This is German and I'm just going to check on the mark,

which I think is...

Yeah, it's German silver, 935 -

which is a purer silver than English, which is only 925.

-Oh, right.

-So, this is German and it's beautifully set

with diamante

and then these blue stones, which are imitation sapphires.

So, the amount of workmanship that went into this

is almost as much as a real jewel itself.

But, this is quite small, it's highly sophisticated.

Where did you get it from?

Well, it was an old aunt.

She left me quite a lot of glitzy jewellery, if you like,

a lot of marcasite and what have you,

and this was among it and I have never worn it,

-never bothered with it.

-That's disappointing.

-Today, it is costume jewellery, which is sought after, isn't it?

-Yes, yes.

-Not these little pieces of glitzy.

-That's right.

There is still a market for this

and if this was polished up, it would look absolutely stunning.

-It's not going to sell for a fortune.

-Oh, that's a shame.

Not going to sell for a fortune because it is paste, its sham,

but the effect is what we're selling.

Right.

To lot of people seeing a small piece on a lapel,

they'd think it was genuine and this was the idea of the manufacturers.

Right, yes.

The impression that you had got diamond and sapphire jewellery.

As regards value - at auction,

it might do £40 to £50.

Right.

That sort of price range, but it could do less.

-Right.

-I think we've got to protect it,

-because we don't give it away for £5, do we?

-No, no.

-We want to make the auctioneer work for his commission.

-Yes, yes.

-I am going to suggest we put a reserve of about 35 on it.

-Yes.

It's very little. Very little amount of money for such a beautiful object.

The sort of piece I might buy my wife. It's very nice.

-Right, thank you.

-But I can't.

-No, no.

-We're not allowed to.

Oh, well, that's a shame.

-Isn't it just?

-Do you want me to take it back, then, and sell it to you?

Oh, you shouldn't even have suggested that, no!

-I shall look forward to seeing you at the auction.

-Yes.

-Keep your fingers crossed.

-Right.

It may not be diamonds, but even David Barby is tempted by June's sparkly brooch.

Let's hope others feel the same in the auction room.

Next up, Edith has brought in a pair of candlesticks.

David Fletcher takes a closer look.

-You're not planning on having a dinner party this evening.

-No.

-Otherwise you wouldn't have brought these in.

-Not tonight.

OK. What can you tell me about them?

Well, they were a wedding present to my parents in 1915.

They wanted to get married before he went to the trenches

-and that's all I can tell you about them.

-And did he go off to the trenches?

-He did.

-Did he survive the war?

-He came back, thank you.

-Very good. Thank heavens for that.

-This is a pair of silver-plated, not silver...

-Yes.

..candlesticks and if we turn these upside down

-we see underneath EPNS, electro plated nickel silver.

-Yes.

-So, sadly they ain't silver.

-No.

And it's interesting you say they were bought in 1915

-because I suspect that they were brand spanking new in 1915.

-Oh, yes, yes.

And they are in the Adam's style.

-Right.

-They incorporate devices that Adam copied

from the ancient worlds, in the third quarter of the 18th century.

Most significantly of all this lyre shape

and you can almost imagine yourself plucking these.

Not very tuneful and I'm not suggesting you are meant to do that,

but that was the inspiration.

They are certainly not the sort of thing we tend to use today,

because in my experience, these days people don't entertain at home much anyway,

they take their chums out to a restaurant, if they're going out.

But, I think even if we were entertaining at home

-they'd be a bit ostentatious for most people's taste.

-Most people, yes.

So, there's no-one in your family that would like them?

-No, because I'm a member of a religious order.

-Are you, right?

So, I have no immediate family.

My brother told me they wouldn't be worth anything,

so I don't imagine he or his children will want them.

-He's got children.

-He's got children.

I've been in this business for a long time

and youngsters never were really interested in antiques.

We've never really succeeded in winning them over.

That's strange considering if there's money involved,

I would imagine youngsters would be interested.

It's a very good point, I hadn't thought of that.

The next time I see some youngsters and try and interest them in antiques

I shall say, "There's money to be made!"

So, we mentioned that they were plated and not silver

and that is very important really because it does make

an enormous difference to the value.

If I say to you I think they're worth getting on towards £100

what will you tell me you might spend the money on.

Well, as I'm religious I can't have the money myself

so it will go to an educational charity.

Fantastic, that's really good. I think that's what I would suggest.

-I would suggest an estimate of £70 to £100.

-Thank you.

And even though the money is going to a good cause,

I would be inclined just to put in a covering reserve of say £50.

Yes, that's fine.

They'll make that, I'm sure. OK, we'll go ahead on that basis and I'll see you at the sale.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

I hope Edith's candlesticks do well at the auction and we'll find out in a short while.

Now, I've spotted a very attractive looking book.

Can I take this seat? Hello, what's your name?

Hello, my name is Cas Chivers.

And what are you holding there?

Yes, it's The Toys Adventures At The Zoo.

It's a 1929 book.

Oh, that's nice with all the block work?

Yes, it's got some really nice illustrations.

Has this been in the family a long time?

No, my husband went to an auction and he found a box of jumble.

-Bits and bobs.

-Bits and bobs, exactly.

-Ephemera, as we call it.

-Yes, yes, exactly.

And he saw this book and bought the box for this book.

-And how much did he pay for the box?

-He paid £8 for the box.

-Gosh, that was a bargain.

-It was, yeah.

For a child's book, the condition is absolutely incredible.

I don't think anybody's played with this because most children get a crayon...

well, my little boy does and I did as a child.

-But each page is absolutely perfect.

-Yeah.

-Wonderful art work.

-Yeah.

So, it's a group of toys that go the zoo for a day out.

Go to the zoo and have some adventures

and it all ends happily ever after, I'm pleased to say.

Well, I think that's a fantastic investment.

If it had the dust jacket, something like that

would be worth around about £40 to £60. Without the dust jacket maybe £20.

-But still a profit, isn't it?

-Yes, still a charming thing to have.

Cas didn't want to sell her book and I can't say I blame her,

but Fred is definitely here to sell

and David Barby can't wait to get his mitts on his extraordinary object.

This is an absolutely exquisite object.

How did it come into your possession.

In actual fact, I was touring the south coast,

and we called into Worthing and we saw this in an antique shop there.

My wife fell in love with it so we bought that there.

This is a souvenir piece

bought probably towards the end of the 19th century.

Let's say anything from about 1870.

And, its carved out of a shell with a high density of mother of pearl.

I think it is rather appropriate that we have this piece brought into

an atmosphere like this and into this building.

And this is really what attracted me to this particular piece.

It has undoubtedly Christian significance

and also the fact that it was bought in Bethlehem, as well.

So, somebody on a grand tour maybe of the Middle East

would have visit Bethlehem,

gone to one of the monasteries, then purchased this as we do today.

I do like it because of the intricate detail,

the carving where you see this pierced section here

with the flowers and then this detail of the nativity scene

which I think is quite exquisite.

I love this sort of iridescent quality with it as well.

It almost gives it a sort of ethereal feel, doesn't it?

You get a brilliant sort of sheen comes off it

when the light shines on, and you get different tones.

Where do you have this at home?

Well, until this became separated from its frame,

it really needs to be refixed, we used to have it standing up

on top of a sideboard.

-Right.

-But since we've moved, we've now moved and we've got

more modern furniture, and it just really doesn't sit right.

I can understand that, quite often you find

that antique pieces do not blend into a modern home.

Now, I've ranted and raved about it, and at the end of the day,

we've got to find out how much this will realise at auction.

-You bought it from an antique shop, what 40 years ago?

-Yes.

-And how much did you pay for it then?

-I paid £20 for it then.

-That was a lot of money.

-Lot of money, yes.

-A lot of money.

-Yes.

-I can't say that it's kept up with inflation.

So, when we look at this I think the price is going to be about £80 to £120.

Not a vast increase.

Of course, the difficulty is that religious beliefs

in certain directions is in decline.

Unfortunately, yes.

So, the price reflects that attitude of today's general public.

£80 to £120 and I think we've got to protect with a reserve.

I think we should put something in the region of £80 as reserve.

Now, would you be agreeable?

Yes, I feel that we've had 40 years of enjoyment from it.

That is such a sensible way of looking at it.

Let's hope we've got somebody who really likes the workmanship

and has the religious fervour that it requires.

It would be nice to find someone with both.

-Absolutely, Fred, thank you very much.

-Thank you, David.

Well, those are our last three items to take off to auction.

June's brooch, valued by David Barby at £40 to £50.

Edith's candlesticks, valued by David Fletcher at £70 to £100.

Also Alfred's 19th century carving,

valued by David Barby at £80 to £120.

First up, June's hoping her sparkly brooch will catch someone's eye

when it goes under the hammer.

June is not a silver girl, that's why you're selling

-the silver brooch. You are more gold?

-Yes, yes.

-And you like your brooches.

-I do.

-Some people suit gold, you suit gold, I can see that.

-Thank you.

I'm more silver, I've got some silver things on. What's David?

Pewter. LAUGHTER

He's already passed a remark today that I look rather grey.

I think you look good.

-Well, a bit of blue coming through there, though.

-Thank you.

You normally wear brighter colours.

Well, yes, but I thought this was quite OK today.

So, are we selling this to buy some more gold jewellery?

No, no, I don't think it'll be quite enough,

but it'll go nice towards an evening out I think.

OK, well, good luck both of you.

This is something for the ladies

and I know there's hundreds here, so it should sell. Good luck.

Can I say £40 away? £40 away.

£20 I'm bid. At £20.

At £20 a bid, I'll take five now.

£20. 25. £30. 35

-35, 40...

-Sold it.

At 35 seated, is it 40? 40.

At £40, 45. £50.

At £45 seated. At 45. If you're not, we're done, at £45.

-Yes. £45, we did it, June.

-Yes.

That sold really well, well done, David.

What a great start, next up it's Edith's candlesticks.

Let's hope this next lot lights up the saleroom.

It's the silver-plated candlesticks

and we've got £70 to £100 on these.

The money is going to fabulous cause, tell us all about it.

It's an educational, because I belong to an education congregation,

any money I acquire I can't keep,

so it will go to a young student in need.

Well, the pressure is certainly on David.

The extra weight on the shoulders of the expert when he has to value these things,

knowing that they are going to be sold for a good cause,

is beginning to get me down a bit.

Hopefully we should get the top end, fingers crossed, here we go.

A pair of oval silver-plated oval designed candlesticks.

A nice pair of candlesticks there, Can I say £80 away?

£50 to start me.

£30 I'm bid, at 30 I'm going to take five.

35. £40, 45.

£50, 55. 55. 55.

At 55, the bid's in the middle. At 55, £60.

At 55. Are we all done at 55?

I'm selling at £55.

-£55, you had a reserve at £50, didn't you?

-Yes.

Could have done better,

but the weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

At least the money is going to something fabulous.

-Yes.

-Good for you.

That's a good result for Edith and the candlesticks were well protected with their reserve.

Now, next up, our last item, Fred's carving.

Well, our next lot has got a classic £80 to £120 valuation.

We've been joined by Alfred whose hoping to sell that mother of pearl nativity carving.

At the top end of the estimate, we hope.

But you got it for about £20, didn't you?

Yes, but that was a long time ago?

Why have you decided to sell then, don't you like it any more?

Yes, I've always loved it, it's just that we've retired now

and moved into a smaller bungalow and the new furniture

that the wife chose, it just looks so out of place.

Well, the detail of this is exquisite, absolutely exquisite.

I love that sort of lustre you get with mother of pearl.

We've downsized and our garage is choc-a-bloc with boxes.

They've been there three years and we haven't unpacked them.

He's downsized from a 20-bedroom-house

to a six bedroom three bathroom house, haven't you?

Absolutely.

Anyway let's find out what the bidders think shall we, here we go?

This is a 19th century carved mother of pearl nativity scene plaque.

Can I say £100? £50 to start me. £50 I'm bid.

At 50, 60, 70. At £70 I'm bid, I'll take 80 now.

At £70 I'm bid, £70, £80.

£80, 90, £90. 100? 100.

110? 110. 120? 120.

130? 130.

140? 140.

150? 150.

160? 160. 170? 170. 180? 180.

190?

190. 200? 200. 210?

£210. 220?

220. 230?

230. 240? 240.

250?

This is excellent.

260. 270...

This is what auctions are all about.

260 then?

At 260. All done?

£260.

Whoo! £260 put it there.

-That's good.

-Double what I expected.

Excellent, excellent.

If you've got anything like that at home, we want to see it,

bring it along to one of our valuation days.

You can get details from your local press or you can log on:

Follow the links and hopefully you'll see the information

that we're coming to a town very near you soon.

Turn up, we want to see you.

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