Home is Where the Heart is Flog It!

Welcome to Sherborne Castle in Dorset

and to another special edition of ten of the best from Flog it!,

set within these beautiful, magnificent grounds.

This house has been home to the Wingfield Digby family

for nearly 400 years.

Although the family don't live here today,

they do return for special occasions -

proof, if any were needed, that the home is important to us all.

That's going to be my theme for today's programme.

I've been searching through the archives,

looking for items firmly related to the home.

Used and loved as part of everyday life,

simple or grand, they prove home is where the heart is.

So let's start in Bangor, back in 2010, where Mark Stacey

found a lovely piece of silver.

It was left to my mother-in-law by a friend of hers in the late '60s.

-So you don't know the date or the age of it?

-It is probably

-early 20th century.

-I think you're absolutely right.

There's an indication with the design that leads

to think it is early 20th century,

because it's got this rather nice Art Nouveau design.

It is hallmarked, which is a good clue. I have looked the hallmark up.

It's Birmingham, 1904. It has a maker's mark AJ&Z,

which is AJ Zimmerman and Co.

Quite a prolific silversmith of that period.

The mirror itself is interesting, because this is just a small piece of sheet silver.

This would have been made in a press

and then applied to the wooden carcass.

Then you've got the velvet background, which unfortunately has faded

but there are signs it would've been a vibrant bluey-purple colour.

It's a charming little object. Sometimes they're photograph frames.

In this instance, we've got a rather nice mirror with a bevelled edge.

Altogether, a very appealing little item.

You've obviously had it as an inherited piece

for a number of years. Why have you decided to sell it today?

We just thought we would come along and see what it was worth.

-We didn't know if you would like it or not.

-I love this period.

I very much like what is generally refer to today as decorative art,

the Art Nouveau period, the Art Deco period.

Have you ever thought about the value?

We think, possibly, about 150.

-In terms of value, I would probably suggest £200-£300.

-Oh.

With a reserve of 200, with a 10% discretion on the day.

But I would hope, actually, that it would see its way clearly past the £200 mark.

Because it's a really nice, honest piece. There is no damage.

It's not over-cleaned. That's what we want with an item coming into auction.

People just think it's come from a deceased's house.

Altogether, a very nice, commercial object.

I'll show you a bit later if Mark's estimate was right.

I had a giggle in Chester, in 2004,

about some rather sad-looking pieces of furniture,

which I loved.

Just look at this, we've got four mid-Victorian,

good-quality mahogany chairs

and they belong to sisters Sandra and Amanda.

-How did you inherit these?

-They came from our great-aunt Alice.

They were given to her by our great-grandparents.

They used to loan money and receive furniture in dues.

So Aunt Alice had them for years and then she gave them to Mum,

but Mum thought they were too big, so she put them in the loft.

They've been in the loft for 30 years, until she moved recently

and she gave two to Amanda and two to me.

-And I put them in the shed.

-Yes, they've been in the garage for a while,

so we need to get rid of them.

I can see that. This one has the bottom rotted out of it.

It's absolutely had it. It's hanging on for dear life. They have castors.

They are heavy. Have you pushed them here?

Some of the castors are falling off.

-We have got some of the castors.

-With the brass shoe and porcelain castor?

It's important we have those

if we're going to put them into auction. It will help put the value up.

-These are mid-19th century.

-Mm-hm.

Circa 1860, no later, possibly 1850.

They are good-quality West Indian mahogany,

which was so fashionable then.

They're built so well. There is good, tensile strength in mahogany. It's lovely and crisp.

Craftsmen love to work with mahogany. And they weigh a ton.

Feel the weight of that. What I love about this

is it's got a sabre back-leg, which sweeps back like this,

typical Regency fashion chair.

What they've done is given it a kick-back, so it turns back in.

It's got a turned, fluted, front column leg,

which terminates on this lovely little toe.

Here we've the one existing the brass shoe and castor!

Unfortunately, it's not got its original seat covering.

It would've been leather or needlepoint.

This is what is known as Rexine.

It was probably re-covered in about 1920.

Rexine is a hessian that has a plastic coating,

so it's like a faux leather.

Any idea of what they might be worth?

Even just a normal chair nowadays would sell for 50 quid.

Yeah. This might sound really cruel,

but furniture like this is just not selling right now.

It's called brown furniture.

The trade for brown furniture is on its knees.

I think we could put a valuation of £80 to £100.

Then somebody else can put some work on them

and, hopefully, increase the value.

This is going to be interesting.

There are hundreds of people country that have chairs like this

in sheds and garages and they want to skip them, but I think it's worth

putting them into auction and let's find out what they do.

Let's find out what the market think of them.

'I had my fingers crossed for those girls.'

Now, at the end of a busy day on the Isle of Man,

Catherine Southern got to talk

to Dawn and Hilda about their unusual toast rack.

Don and Hilda, I can't make up my mind

whether this is regimental silver, or just a nice trophy.

What I know is it's a super novelty toast rack.

What are your thoughts on it?

I think it's almost certainly from an army officer's mess.

And quite possibly from a rifle regiment, looking at the guns.

Where did you get this from?

We got it 54 years ago as a wedding present.

Its history is it came from Sudbury in Suffolk.

It was given to me by an uncle.

Otherwise, I know nothing about it.

What do you think... Where do you think it's come from?

I can imagine it in an officer's mess.

Yeah, I think you're probably right.

This laurel leaf makes me think it might be a trophy of some description.

Have you ever used it as a toast rack?

Yes, it has been used.

You probably know that it's not silver,

-but electroplated nickel silver.

-I did know.

It's got these markings down here.

We can date it easily, it will be too difficult, because it has

the date stamped on it, saying 1871, so that is not too tricky.

Nevertheless, it is a really unusual piece. It's a novelty piece.

It's something that would stand out at auction, because it is so unusual.

I would expect it to do quite well.

I think we should put an estimate of £60-£80. Does that sound reasonable?

Yes, it does.

I think perhaps just to safeguard it,

we should put a reserve on of £50.

-Yes.

-Just to make sure that it doesn't just go for nothing.

Sounds reasonable.

In this sort of country, Isle of Man, I think a lot of people would

be interested in it, because it is a novelty, interesting piece.

And I would hope it would make £80, £100.

-Let's hope it makes the money.

-Let's be optimistic.

Absolutely. Why not?

Let's hope the forces were at the sale

when we return to the Isle of Man later.

In Kilmarnock, back in 2009,

Rita made James's day with a couple of items from overseas.

What are a fabulous pair of French Grecian maidens

doing here in Kilmarnock?

I would have to ask myself that!

No, no. I went along to the antique fair in Edinburgh,

which I go to every couple of months.

-I bought them there.

-How long have you had 'em?

-Five years.

-OK, so why are you flogging them now?

They have been on my wall five years.

-I thought it would be nice to get something different to look at.

-Fantastic.

Well, I love them. I have to say they are really wonderful quality.

I'm sure you've seen the signatures at the bottom.

I have, indeed.

F Barbedienne for Ferdinand Barbedienne.

Ferdinand Barbedienne was a sculptor, but he started in France

as a wallpaper designer.

-Really?

-He was a trainee saddle-maker, as well.

-Wow.

From the start, having made saddles

and going into interior design and wallpaper making,

his influence was on the overall look,

rather than the actual sculpture.

He was an interior designer. So it is something that always has what we call "the look".

These are typical of his work.

They're influenced by Ancient Greece.

They're made, probably, 1840 to 1860.

They're wonderful quality. As you say, they're just wall plaques and they are lovely.

I think they are great. Tell me, are you a massive collector of antiques?

The house is stuffed full of antiques and bits and bobs.

We say to the children that all the stuff is their inheritance.

They just say, "But Mum, it's a load of rubbish!" LAUGHTER

Well, it's all about investment and getting the money back you paid. What did you pay for them?

I paid £160 for them.

-We need to get you that money back.

-Yes, please.

I think we'll do that easily.

I would put an estimate of £180-£250,

with a bit of discretion, and, fingers crossed, they might do even better.

-Is that all right?

-Yes. Yes, please.

-Brilliant.

I couldn't wait to see what those made at auction.

Here's a reminder of my first selection of homely treasures

that we took off to the sale rooms.

Was Mark's estimate of £200-£300 the fairest of all?

Did anyone agree with me

when we went back to North Wales to sell those four chairs?

And did Catherine's estimate of £60-£80 warm the sale room up

on the Isle of Man?

And James loved these two bronze plaques

that Rita brought in to Kilmarnock.

But did the bidders agree?

Well, first up, it's Glyn and Pamela's mirror,

which I would have loved to have taken home with me.

-I wouldn't be selling this.

-It isn't of sentimental value to us.

It's just stuck in the cupboard

and if I had it out, it would have to be cleaned

and that devalues it, doesn't it?

I had a chat to David, the auctioneer.

We both agreed, top end of the valuation.

Yes, I think I was a bit "come and get me" on this one, £200,

because it is fresh to the market and they love that.

It's going to find a new home and we're going to see right now.

An extremely fine Art Nouveau silver easel mirror.

You do not get quality like this if we date of the week in all honesty.

Art Nouveau style, it belts it out, doesn't it? Birmingham, 1904.

Hold onto your whatevers. Lot 332 starts at 540.

540 bid.

Oh, ho, ho! Straight in at 540.

You do have to pay for quality.

560. 600. 600 bid. At 600.

625. At 625.

650 anywhere? At 625.

Everybody done?

-625 on the telephone.

-£625!

£625.

You don't get chances like this every day for this quality.

625 on the phone.

Everybody done? Final call.

At 625.

£625.

Bang! And that's a sold sound.

-What do you think about that?

-Well, amazed.

-A bit shocked?

-Yes.

I think we are a bit taken aback, as well. Gosh.

What will you put the money towards?

We're going to put half towards the Prostate Cancer Fund.

-OK.

-Oh, that's nice.

And, um, half towards taking the family out for a very nice day out.

-Yes.

-And Glyn's going to buy something later on.

-Something for you?

-No, something for him...well, something for us.

HE LAUGHS

-Wonderful result.

-Yeah, yeah.

-Thank you very much.

-It is our pleasure.

Thank you for bringing such a quality item.

Next up, it's my chairs, but before we find out how they sold,

auctioneer Anthony Parry had a word or two to say.

Four Victorian mahogany chairs.

They were going on a skip and our expert said, "£80 to £120, let's try and sell them."

-You're not saying anything!

-I'm speechless.

That you actually picked four Edwardian chairs to bring to me.

-I picked them.

-You picked them?

-And I'm sure because they were two attractive young ladies.

-No, it's because...

That was the appeal.

No. It's furniture. We need more furniture on the show.

They made a big effort to bring four chairs in.

I think there is a little bit of money left in these

if somebody does them up themselves.

-Well, yes, but they do need doing up.

-They do.

-But you are getting each chair for £20.

-Well, yes.

And you brought them off the skip.

Well, we will sell them, won't we?

Well, Paul, as we've got no reserve of them,

I will sell them for you.

It'll be interesting to see if we get the £80 mark

-and they don't just go for 30 quid.

-Right, it will be interesting, yes.

Well, I had everything crossed.

As, with no reserve, I didn't want them to go for nothing.

I got stick for picking this next lot from auctioneer Anthony Parry.

He actually said I picked the chairs

-because I just wanted to be next you two good-looking girls.

-LAUGHTER

Well, he's right, really, but it is furniture.

-Are you confident?

-No.

-SHE GIGGLES

-You set no reserve, so they are not going home with you.

-Hopefully not.

-No, they won't. I can assure you they won't go home.

They are going under the hammer and they are going to sell.

170, a set of four mahogany chairs.

Again, well, we've got the four, this time, in the room.

What shall we say for the four mahogany chairs?

Put them in, £100 for them.

Oh, dear. Oh, dear.

50. Thank you very much.

£50 I'm bid. £50. 50. £50.

£60. 60. 70.

£70. 80.

90. 100.

£100. 110.

120? 110 in the centre.

£110. 110.

All done at £110 then, are you quite sure?

Yes! £110. That's brilliant. That is so good, isn't it?

I am so pleased.

-Thank you so much.

-I'm made up!

-The pressure was certainly on me then.

That was a relief and a very fair result.

I was so chuffed for Sandra and Amanda.

Now it's Don and Hilda's novelty toast rack,

which went up for sale on the Isle of Man.

I think our gorgeous expert Catherine Southern knows

which side her bread is buttered.

She will be the toast of Don and Hilda's novelty toast rack

when this sells, and where is Hilda, Don?

She's at home, waiting to see what the result is.

-Oh, the excitement is a bit much?

-Well, yes.

Catherine's auction estimate, £60-£80.

Pretty confident we're going to get that.

I had a chat with the auctioneer earlier.

He's confident we'll get the top end plus a little bit more.

He had something quite interesting to say. Listen to this, Catherine.

He said someone pointed out it could be a letter rack from an officer's mess.

-It just might be.

-I don't...

-It's a toast rack.

-I think it's a toast rack.

-Or it was a target-rifle-club prize.

-Somebody in the shooting competition.

-Exactly, yes.

Anyway, fingers crossed. We're going to find out

and hopefully you can take some money to Hilda.

-Good luck.

-Thank you.

This is an interesting lot, Victorian toast rack

with the garland handle and we go straight in at £50.

Yes!

£50. 60, 70, 80.

90, 100, 110, 120.

120.

Any more at 120? 130. 132. 135.

Well, that's surprising.

140, please. At 140.

Five?

145 for the ladies. At £145.

-That's very good, actually.

-Excellent.

-Jolly good.

-Brilliant.

145. He is out of 145.

-Hammer's going down.

-Are you done?

Brilliant. That is much more than I thought.

-Thank you very much indeed.

-Good result, everybody. £145

-Jolly good.

-That is going to come in useful, isn't it?

Yes.

Hilda is going to be pleased with you.

Not if I spend it on my computers.

I was waiting for this. There was a pause. You went, "Yes."

You were hoping I was going to poach something out of you.

I wasn't falling for it. It is going on YOUR computers.

-What about Hilda?

-She'll catch something, as well.

-Of course she will.

-He's a gentleman.

-He really is, isn't he?

Yeah. I try my best.

Well, toast rack or letter rack, that was a great result

and, finally, we have the beautiful pair of bronze plaques.

Did the bidders in Glasgow see their quality, too?

-Rita, are you ready for this?

-Absolutely.

It's the moment of truth.

The bronze plaques are going under the hammer.

We've got 180-250 on them. Will we get that top end?

If we get top end, we've done really well.

I think 200, 220 is a about the mark for them.

-But, you know, a great auctioneer.

-Yes.

-She's great. From Glasgow, you see.

-She is, isn't she?

We're going to find out what Anita can do for us. Let's see some magic. Good luck.

Lot 583. A beautiful pair of cast-bronze wall plaques.

They're by Ferdinand Barbedienne.

They are depicting two classical maidens.

Start me at £200.

£100 apiece. Start me at 200. One bid.

One bid.

110. 120. 130. 140.

150. 160. 170.

180. 190. 200. 210.

220. 230.

240. 250.

260.

270.

280.

290. 300.

-These are my things?

-310.

-These are mine?

-These are yours. Yes.

-320?

330. 340.

350. 360.

-370.

-370!

-380.

390. 400.

-Oh! Get me a chair.

-420. 440.

460.

480.

-500.

-It's frightening, now.

-It is, isn't it?

-520.

540.

£540.

All done at 540? 540.

£540! The hammer's gone down of Rita's plaques.

-What do you think of that?

-I'm speechless.

-Cor!

-So am I. I think James is.

-You often see great results,

but that, I just cannot see that amount of money on those plaques.

You know what it was, it was our bonnie Glasgow girl,

Anita Manning, on the rostrum.

-We should give her a round of applause.

-We should, shouldn't we?

Well Rita was absolutely delighted with her sale

and I know James was genuinely shocked.

That's what auctions are all about. That's why they are so exciting.

You never know what's going to happen.

Over the years on Flog It!

I have visited many a grand house,

but not all as beautiful as Sherborne Castle here.

Nevertheless, they all have a story to tell.

Back in 2004, I visited a Glasgow tenement flat,

unchanged for decades,

and as much a lesson in history as any stately home.

Today, Glasgow is a prosperous city

with a population of about half a million people.

It's busy, it's sprawling and its vibrant.

However, 200 years ago, it was a totally different story,

with barely a population of 50,000 people.

Then, along came the Industrial Revolution in the mid-19th century,

turning a small city into this sprawling urban metropolis

and by 1901, there were one million people living and working in Glasgow.

Most people worked in the manufacturing industries -

cotton, chemicals, glass and soap.

At its height, the cotton industry alone

employed a third of the workforce.

Shipbuilding and other heavy industry also thrived

and that was due to local resources of coal and iron ore.

Industry was being driven at full pelt, so it wasn't surprising

that Glasgow became one of the richest cities in Europe.

But the unequal distribution of wealth created

an even greater gap between the rich and the poor.

Many people still lived in cramped, disease-ridden slum conditions.

Tenement housing was the traditional Scottish solution

for the ever-increasing lack of space

and they realised by building upwards,

they could house a lot more families on a small plot of land.

The tenements building is a distinctive feature

of Glasgow's architecture.

But although redevelopment has changed the landscape,

many Victorian buildings still remain, like we see today.

Most of them have been updated and modernised.

But lucky for us, one has remained unchanged for almost 100 years.

Look, I've found it. 145 Buccleuch Street.

This tenement block was built by James Ferguson in 1892.

We don't know much about the original occupants, but we know

that a Glasgow lady named Miss Agnes Toward,

lived here for 50 years.

She had a flat on the first floor, so let's go inside and have a look.

The National Trust for Scotland bought the flat in 1982

so it could be preserved as part of Scotland's national heritage.

Lorna Hepburn manages the house today.

-What do we know about Agnes?

-We know a lot about Miss Toward.

Oh, I got told off then.

-We can't say Agnes, because I don't know her.

-That's right.

She was a very private person and I think we need to give her respect.

We know a lot about Miss Toward, because she kept all sorts of things

that other people would have thrown away. She kept letters,

recipes, she kept newspaper cuttings.

-Did she live here by herself?

-She didn't at first.

When she moved in in 1911, her mother lived with her,

but her mother died in 1939 and, after that,

Miss Toward lived here on her own.

-Did she get married?

-She never married.

-Isn't that sad?

-No, I don't think so.

-What would you call this?

It is a lovely tenement block.

This little flat is a one-bedroom flat.

Does it have a special name?

-This is called a "two room and kitchen".

-A two room and kitchen.

-Talk me through some of the objects in the room.

-Oh.

The chairs are probably one of the most typical features.

-Button back.

-Horsehair covered.

When we tell the schoolchildren about that, they are kind of horrified

but at the same time fascinated that this is hair from horses.

It was the best interior substance to use.

It was comfortable, it was impervious to vermin.

-I never thought of that.

-And it didn't smell.

It's beautiful. You've done a fantastic job here.

Try and paint a picture of the daily routine. What went on?

Well, we know Miss Toward moved here in 1911

and she worked as a shorthand typist.

Presumably she would get up in the morning

she would put the kettle on.

Maybe make some breakfast for her mother before going to work on the tram.

I imagine she would have to clean for an hour

before she went to work, because that's where the coal storage is.

That's built in the kitchen units next to the cutlery drawer.

I imagine it would be a constant battle against dirt

-and it would be hard luck if you were trying to dry washing.

-Yes.

The washing would be filthy if it was hanging up there.

I don't know about sleeping in the kitchen, but I if the flat

was really cold in the winter, that's the place to be.

-Very cosy.

-Isn't it?

People did like to have the shelves looking attractive.

-You display your items of virtue. That's a way of showing off.

-Yes.

-There are some interesting items.

-The tatty champer.

-HE LAUGHS

-I like that!

-For mashing potatoes.

Andy do you see hanging beside it, that's a very Scottish thing.

-That wooden stick.

-What's that for?

It's called a spurtle.

We use it for stirring lumps out of porridge.

-Which you've got to have every morning up here.

-Indeed, yes.

-I like the bed.

-Do you? Would you like to sleep on straw mattresses?

Oh, is it straw?

But, on top of that, if you were lucky, you had a horsehair mattress.

You had to have something. That would make you itch and fidget.

I guess you had to be privileged to have your own inside loo.

Indeed. A lot of people thought they were posh if they had a toilet

inside the house.

-But this flat has a bath. This beautiful basin.

-It's gorgeous.

-It did have some hot water heated by the range of the kitchen.

-Luxury.

-Absolute luxury.

-We talk in here with children.

They are shocked to hear that toilet roll was very expensive

and that a lot of people couldn't afford it and used to use newspaper.

And once people come in and start going round the house

and talking about it and discussing it, that's what brings it alive

and that's what makes it meaningful and important.

It takes you back there. You say, "I remember things like that."

-"Grandma had something like that. Mum's got something like that."

-Yes.

-Everybody does that.

-It evokes those memories.

-That's right.

The tenement house here in the heart of Glasgow

is one of those increasingly rare places,

which enables us to see antiques of today within their original setting.

It really does transport you back in time, bringing history alive.

It's definitely well worth a visit.

In Burton on Trent in 2005,

Kate met Margaret and Aubrey, who had bought along

something straight out of a Victorian kitchen -

two jelly moulds.

-Tell me when they came from.

-They came from an old friend.

We were clearing the house out. I've had them for 30 years now.

They weren't in use.

I can't remember whether they were in the pantry or the garage,

They've been in my pantry for 30 years.

Where do you think they came from before that?

The friend was a chauffeur for Baroness Burton.

I think there is a connection with Dunstall Hall.

Which isn't far from here.

About five or six miles away.

And he had one or two little bits and pieces of interest.

I think they were given to him by Baroness Burton and came from the hall.

These certainly would have been used in a Victorian kitchen

to make gelatine jellies.

But not as we know them today.

They'd make savoury jellies as well as sweet ones.

I particularly like the horseshoe. It's fun.

It's the more novelty shapes, and the more elaborate designs,

which are most commercial today.

Quite a lot of people collect them, in fact.

This one is a good, large shape.

I wonder if it would have been used in the hunt ball, perhaps.

-To make jellies.

-Possibly.

This one is a more ordinary design

and a typical jelly shape with that inside hollow.

What about value?

I've no idea. No idea at all.

I think the horseshoe, particularly, is going to be

sought after in today's market, but I would suggest we put them together

in one lot and I'm going to put an estimate of £40-£60 on the two.

That is not to say there might not fetch a little more,

-but, if we are conservative, we will encourage people.

-Yes.

-So are you happy to sell them?

-I think so.

-I would rather somebody have them who can appreciate them

-Excellent.

If we put a loose reserve of £40 for you with a little bit of discretion,

so if the auctioneer gets a bid that's close, he can sell it. Would you be happy with that?

-I think so, yes.

-Great. It's a good story.

That's what I love about Flog It!,

you never know what is going to come in to the valuation day.

On a visit to Lincoln in 2003,

Michael Baggott thought these open salt cellars were gorgeous.

I'm sad to say if they were Georgian examples

they'd probably be about £400-£600.

As the Edwardian copies, in the region of about £100-£150.

Very good.

Leanne was delighted when they reached £240 at auction.

Back in 2004, on a visit to Worcester, Colin brought in

this beautiful Edwardian occasional table that Adam valued at £300-£500.

It's Edwardian, made of mahogany,

it's called a Pembroke table, which is a wide top and small flaps.

It took everyone by surprise when it sold for an astonishing £1,120.

And at King's Lynn in 2006,

Charlie Ross spotted these Serpentine shelves, which were valued at £50-£100.

It is a charming little job. How much?

-£30?

-£30. Any advance on 30?

But with no reserve, I was a little nervous.

Luckily for Charlie, they sold for a respectable £250.

It' s Elizabeth's turn now and in Clacton in 2009,

Maureen came to our valuation day with a lovely piece of furniture

fit for any home.

I really like this. I've been having a good look at it.

But there's obviously a story behind it. Have you inherited it?

No. I went to an auction.

I'd just bought our first house and we went to an auction

and it came up and I liked the carvings on the legs.

-Is it an old house you had?

-It was a Victorian house.

-Only a small Victorian house in Walthamstow.

-How long ago was that?

-In the '70s.

-Did you re-cover it?

No, I've never touched it. It was like that when I bought it.

I liked the colour. I know it's not what it was originally.

But it blended with the interior, so it was fine?

I think there's actually the original leather top, or a leather top under there.

If you feel it, it you could feel the horsehair, which is what you'd expect.

It dates from the William IV period, so it's about 1820, 1830.

It's getting on for 200 years old,

-so it's lived a little while now.

-Yeah!

What I'm struck by is the weight of it.

It's made of solid walnut, rather than walnut veneer,

-which gives such a hefty...

-Yeah, it is heavy.

Unusually so, but it adds to its charm

and it has been beautifully carved.

The tops of the legs have these wonderful lotus-leaf carvings.

-Yes, that's what attracted me.

-You liked that?

-I did.

What I like about this is it's not just carved on the outside,

it's actually carved all the way round each side of the legs.

It's sort of no expense spared.

They've gone all the way round the leg and carved all the same, which is nice.

It goes down to these solid, ring-turned legs,

which stand firm and it looks very stable.

I like that. The auction open-market value would be about £80-£120.

-Oh. Lovely.

-Would you like a reserve?

-Yes, I would like a reserve. About 60?

-About 60?

-£60.

-With discretion.

We will have an £80-120 estimate, and agree with the auctioneer

a discretionary reserve of £60, so it has a safety net

and see what people think of it.

Lovely. That will be quite exciting.

I really liked that walnut stool and had high hopes for it

when it went off to auction.

Thomas Plant took a shine

to our next fun and quirky item.

It was brought into Warwick by sisters Miranda and Ruby.

-Girls, tell me who actually owns this item?

-Our late mother.

-So you girls are sisters?

-Yes.

-And this, you are talking about your biscuit barrel.

-Yes.

Well, if I take the lid off, it helps us here.

Look. McVitie & Price, Biscuit manufacturers,

HM the King and the Prince of Wales.

Edinburgh and London. So nicely printed.

-Obviously, it is a biscuit tin.

-Yes.

But what I liked about it was the object itself.

A biscuit tin can be a plain, simple, rectangular or square tin.

But people decided, "We don't want to do that, we want to make interesting objects."

That's what's important about this,

the design and the lithography, which is the feathers,

the painting, the printing on it and the moulding.

-So it's quite a difficult thing to have done.

-Yes, it is.

It would have been quite expensive as a biscuit barrel.

It would, yes. Yeah.

Because it's more difficult to make

and there are more integral parts.

There's a base. We have the sections and the lid.

-When was she married? It's a good way to...

-1952.

-I think it could have been her mother's.

-It might have been.

If it wasn't that, it was the people she worked for.

She worked for different people, you know, when she was younger, so...

-What was she doing there? Was she in service?

-Like service.

-In service.

I think it might have been that

because this would have been quite an expensive item.

-It's a frivolity to spend money on a biscuit barrel.

-Yes.

So it would have been something that maybe the household were getting rid of,

moving on, and she acquired it that way.

-Yes.

-But it is from that period, the pre-war, 1920s I would've thought.

Maybe earlier.

I would have thought you are going to get

between £50 and £80 at auction.

-How does that grab you?

-Yes. That's fine.

-Is that all right?

-Yes.

Can we put a reserve on it?

-Yes.

-Around about £40? That gives the auctioneer

-a bit of leeway.

-Yes.

Then he might be able to start it and move on from there.

-But it's quite nice.

-Yes.

Yes, that's good. Thank you.

What a quirky piece and in great condition.

We'll find out in a moment what the bidders thought.

First, let's refresh our memories of the other items

we took to auction.

Margaret and Aubrey hoped someone would appreciate

their jelly moulds when they went up for sale in Derbyshire.

£80-£120 was the estimate on Maureen's walnut stool, with a £60 reserve.

Surely this was going to sell.

And Thomas was really taken with this bird-shaped biscuit barrel.

But did anyone else find it quite so attractive?

So, first up, the Victorian jelly moulds.

This is Margaret's first auction and she's got the wobbles.

She's bound to have, because you are about to flog two jelly moulds.

That's right.

-You're not that scared, really.

-Not really. I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

There is a great atmosphere in the room.

It's a kaleidoscope of colour. Lots of exciting things.

And two of them are your jelly moulds. We need £40-£60, Aubrey. Do think we'll get it?

-We hope.

-We hope.

-We hope.

All our faith lies with our Kate Alcock, our expert. Kate, come on.

A bit more money do you think 60, 70?

-I think it's a fair estimate and it should bring a fair price.

-Good.

Well, they look great on the Welsh dresser.

-If the country dealers are here, they will buy them.

-Right.

Let's hope they are. This is it.

The 19th-century copper jelly mould in the form of a horse's shoe

and one other and interest on commission.

I can start the bidding at £40.

40 and 5 in the room do I see? At £40 and 5.

5. 50. 5. 60.

5. 70. 5. 80.

-5. 90.

-Wow.

5. 100. 10.

110 has it. 120. 120.

130. 140. 150.

Oh!

At 140. 150 do I see?

At 140. Do I see 150 anywhere?

At £140.

-The hammer's gone down. £140!

-That's incredible!

You have a good eye, Kate, obviously, for that.

Well, yes, jelly moulds have gone down in the last few years,

they have become less popular, which is why I was cautious.

But the horseshoe is a rare example

and I hoped it was going to do a little better.

People don't like polishing them. They're getting lazy!

-It's incredible.

-Enjoy the money and enjoy the rest of the day.

-Thank you.

-You might even buy something here.

-I might do.

-You never know.

Brilliant. Margaret and Aubrey were really surprised at that result.

Next we travel to Colchester to see the sale of Maureen's walnut stool.

Coming up next, my favourite lot in the sale.

I'm in love with this tiny walnut stool.

-It belongs to Maureen. It's beautiful.

-Thank you.

If I was allowed to buy this, I would.

I just think it's so understated. It is so English.

Something beautiful about this. The colour is just right.

I think, with the right covering, you are looking at a winner.

It's in a genuine condition. That top cover could come off and it would be an earlier cover.

A lovely-looking piece, yes. Just how we like to find it.

I'm hoping for a little more than the top end, it's quality.

-Fingers crossed.

-It's auctions. We don't know what will happen. That's why we love them.

-Anyway, it's going under the hammer now.

-Is it?

-Right now. This is it.

-My goodness.

The Regency mahogany stool in the manner of Bullock.

The stool is shown.

I have two commissions with me. And I start the bidding at £150.

ALL: Ah!

At 150.

160. 170.

At 170. 180. 190.

At 190. 200. 210.

At 210. 220?

230. 240. 250.

At 250. 260. 270.

At 270. 280. 290.

At 290. 300.

I'm out at £300. On the telephone.

320. 320 bid. 340.

At 340 on the telephone. £340.

Are you all done?

-Yes. That's what it's all about.

-That's lovely.

-I knew it was quality.

When I saw that at the valuation. I was drooling, wasn't I?

-What a surprise.

-That is a surprise.

That is what auctions are about. Two people who fall in love with something, and won't give in.

They keep bidding and bidding. You get a lot more for your money.

-I really enjoyed watching that go.

-I bet you did!

What a marvellous result! I was so pleased for Maureen.

She thoroughly enjoyed herself. Last, we are off to Stratford

to see Miranda and Ruby's wonderful biscuit barrel go under the hammer.

What a thing. It's full of nostalgia and quirkiness.

It is so British and so much fun.

Let's find out what the bidders think.

It's going under the hammer. Let's hope we fall off our perch! Here we go.

The McVitie & Price biscuit tin.

Fashioned as a bird with a detachable head lid.

Very unusual item. I can start at £80.

180, we've gone.

-180.

-180. 200. 220.

220. 230. 240 and I'm clear.

250 there. 260. 270. 280.

290. 300. 320.

340. 360.

I didn't expect that much.

400. 420. 420? 420.

440. 460. 480?

480. 500. 520. 540. 560.

-Is this our lot?!

-Yeah!

620. 640. 660. 680.

680. 700? 700. 720.

-740.

-You didn't have sovereigns in there(?)

-No!

800. 850. 900. 950.

950.

1,000.

Ah!

£1,000!

1,050. By the stairs at 1,050. Are we all done and finished?

-The hammer's gone down. 1,050.

-APPLAUSE

Well done, you two.

There's money in biscuit barrels!

-Thomas. Phew. I'm shivering. You guys must be shivering.

-Yes.

-Wow, wow!

-What is going through your minds right now?

I don't know.

-It's just shock.

-Unbelievable. Unbelievable.

Thomas is lost for words.

Super. What a fabulous result for Miranda and Ruby.

That really was a special Flog It! moment.

That colourful bird is a great example of things once seen

as normal household items becoming very desirable collectables.

That's what it's all about.

I hope you enjoyed our trip down memory lane,

looking at my favourite homely items.

Join me again soon for another Ten Of The Best

as we look at gems from the past.

But, until then, from Sherborne Castle in Dorset, it's goodbye.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd