The Travelling Auctioneers

>> We're hitting the road in our trusty travelling auction house.

>> Whoa-oh!

>> Your tools are gonna be shaking around.

On the hunt for treasures hidden in homes all across Britain.

Whoa.

This is pretty full.

>> That's huge.

And our mission -- to find these unloved and forgotten gems, give them a new lease of life, and make them into money.

>> Oh, wow.

Look at that.

Transforming has-beens into must-haves.

>> It's a job well worth doing.

>> Master restorer Will Kirk.

>> Glue, glue, and good as new.

And finding value in those overlooked objects, auction supremo Christina Trevanion.

>> Is that a Fender Strat?

>> It is.

>> Here we go.

Everything we find... >> ...and fix... >> ...will go under the hammer in our travelling sale room.

�850, �900.

>> Popping up in the most surprising of places, we bring the auction to you.

>> �2,200.

[ Gavel bangs ] You know what we say -- Have gavel, will travel.

>> We're wending our way through rural Berkshire, where there's a hint of spring in the air, and Christina looks full of the joys.

>> I love early mornings.

I feel rested and raring to go.

If you weren't driving so slowly, we would be there by now.

[ Both laugh ] >> It sounds like you've had three cups of coffee today.

>> I'm absolutely buzzing.

I'm ready to go.

>> We're making a beeline for historic Reading in the Thames Valley via the B-roads.

>> And Reading, of course, famous for the three "B's."

You know what they are?

>> Uh...famous for making -- >> Something that you would drink.

>> Bullfrog?

[ Both laugh ] >> No.

>> Beer?

>> Yes.

>> Really?

>> Yep.

And something that makes daffodils.

>> Oh, bulbs.

>> Yeah, and my favorite thing in the whole wide world with a cup of tea.

>> Oh, a Bourbon biscuit.

>> Biscuits.

>> Biscuits.

Oh, what, biscuits in general?

>> Biscuits in general.

>> I know you'll have any biscuit with a cup of tea.

[ Both laugh ] >> Perhaps there will be time for custard creams and tea at our destination.

This 3-bedroom detached house and beautiful garden is home to Kerry and Tony and their dog, Poppy.

They want our help to go through the contents of Tony's childhood home, which are now stored at their house.

>> My parents passed away a few years ago.

They had a lovely house up in the countryside.

It wasn't very big.

It was just a bungalow.

My father built it back in the '50s.

It's the only home I ever knew when I was growing up because my parents never moved.

So, consequently, there's a lot of stuff in there.

>> Everywhere you looked there was china, ornaments, just anything and everything you could think of.

>> Tony and his parents, John and Kathleen, lived in a small village in Buckinghamshire.

>> My parents were wonderful.

I was adopted at a very young age, six weeks.

I never knew my biological parents, and I classify myself as being really lucky to end up in an idyllic village, where I could have ended up perhaps not having such a nice life.

>> Tony's parents, they were lovely, lovely people, and they were wonderful grandparents to our children.

And...

I lost my mom, which made me even closer to them.

They gave us a good, stable life.

And yeah, they were just lovely people to me.

>> Among the contents of Tony's mom and dad's house were some things of great sentimental value.

>> We found the paperwork for my adoption and that history within the papers when we cleared the house out, actually.

Kerry made a beautiful presentation folder for me, which I have.

>> The amount of stuff now stored at Tony and Kerry's house is testament to the difficulty of clearing the belongings of loved ones.

>> It wasn't particularly hard emotionally.

I think I was being realistic about it.

Had 54 years of my life invested in that house.

So, yeah, the final closing of the door for the final time -- I'd be lying if I said that wasn't tough to a degree.

But now is the right time for us to look at moving the stuff on.

If we could find someone who appreciates it, fantastic.

That would be wonderful.

>> They're obviously so attached to it, they just couldn't face letting go of these things.

>> I've got a feeling there's going to be some fine pieces of furniture, some lovely jewelry.

>> Yeah, both of us will be happy.

I can't wait to get started.

Now, shall I do the knocking?

>> You do the knocking.

>> Yeah?

Okay.

>> Hi, Christina, Will.

>> Come on in.

>> Thanks a lot.

>> My goodness.

>> It's lovely to have you here.

>> It's really lovely.

And we've got lots for you to look at.

>> Right.

You going to start in the shed?

>> I'm gonna start in the shed, as always.

>> I'm gonna go upstairs.

>> Alright, come on.

Lead the way.

And out in the garden, the sheds look like they're packed with possibilities.

Well, that's a serious jug.

[ Laughs ] >> In our garden, we've got quite a few sheds.

And, of course, they're all full -- aren't they?

-- to the point of I can't actually move around my potting shed anymore.

We're stepping over things to get to the deep freezer in the big shed that we've got, and that's also chockablock.

>> I'm starting at the top of the house.

And there are boxes upon boxes absolutely everywhere.

"F.J. Cradock, Palestine Police."

That's kind of cool.

I've got company.

What are you doing there?

Where's the antiques?

This way?

Okay.

>> No Poppy to sniff things out for me.

I'm on my own.

Now, this should be a garden bench, but it's missing the wooden slats.

At the moment, it doesn't have a function.

It looks nice.

It looks pretty.

But you can't really sit on it.

So, it can be repainted and be turned back into a bench, maybe?

I think I might know someone who could help out with this.

>> Nice find, Will.

Nothing for me yet -- I'm still making a thorough recce before deciding where to delve in.

Ooh.

It's like summer in a bowl, isn't it?

Hmm, look at that.

Isn't that cool?

I love this.

So, we've got a little bamboo table, which was really trendy at the turn of the century -- very aesthetic period.

It's the kind of thing that Liberty went on to retail and kind of replicate, really, because it was so fashionable at the time, that sort of lure of the East and its quite exotic nature that I think everyone sort of thought, "Ooh, we want that in our homes."

But, sadly, obviously the lacquer on the top here has been very, very worn and got some water damage here.

I mean, originally, this would have been absolutely singing with gilt and patterns on the top, and it would have obviously had a complete top rather than a top that has been split into two.

But I just think with a little bit of TLC, that could be revived.

I think it's actually a really smart thing.

I like it.

>> I'm feeling my presence may be required.

What are you up to there?

>> Hello!

What do you think of that?

>> Ooh.

Broken.

>> Yeah.

[ Both laugh ] It also looks really dull.

I mean, at one point, that would have looked quite, quite glitzy.

>> Oh, really glitzy.

I mean, this top would have been just covered in gilt, and the gilt's worn through to the sort of red lacquer underneath.

>> How much is this worth now?

>> Well, as it is at the moment, I would say it's pretty useless, isn't it?

>> It is pretty useless, yes.

>> It's pretty tired.

I think probably at auction maybe �15 to �20.

>> Really?

>> Yeah.

>> What about once these hands have... >> Done their thing?

I would say... Well, I mean, I would hope that it would be �60 to �100.

>> Come on, Christina.

These hands.

>> Yeah, alright, �40 to �60.

[ Both laugh ] >> I'll get out to the van.

Thanks, Christina.

>> Enjoy.

>> It's time to set up shop.

>> Indoors, I'm combing, and there's plenty to attract attention.

Here we are.

Look at this.

Oh, that is just so sweet.

And I love a vinaigrette.

They're always popular, always collectible.

And it's a weird name, really, isn't it, vinaigrette, because you'd expect them to hold vinegar.

But in the 19th century, walking through the smelly streets of the local town, you would have this to revive yourself and put nice-smelling perfume or vinaigrette in here and a little sponge underneath this grill.

It's beautiful, solid silver with a nice silver-gilt interior.

So, it just shows it's a really nice, quality piece.

At auction, it should fetch �30 to �40.

It's our job to help Tony and Kerry clear out and possibly make a bit of cash.

If we succeed, what might they do with the money?

>> We had an idea maybe of using any funds raised to either buy or have built a commemorative bench for Mom and Dad that could be placed in the village.

It'd be a nice way I think of maybe using any funds that we raise in that way, in that direction.

>> Lovely idea.

It's time to crack on and help raise that cash.

I won't be able to get this absolutely seamless.

However, what I can do is I can give everything a good clean and polish, and I can glue this panel back in, because if I don't glue this panel in, it's not actually serving a purpose as a table.

I'm going to make sure that both panels here are absolutely level with each other.

I don't want any step there at all.

So, you want to clamp a block of wood on either side.

And that means that that's going to be absolutely flat.

>> Clamp away, Will.

Back indoors, I've unearthed more gold and silver, and I'm assessing which pieces might make good lots for the auction.

>> My parents weren't hard-core collectors, if I can put it that way, although they enjoyed it, particularly my mom.

And she would go to antiques fairs and little craft fairs, and they would enjoy buying bits.

I think that they liked more than looking for some type of value on them.

>> Tony's mom also worked in an antique shop, and her jewelry collection reflects her taste.

You've got some really quite funky sort of 1940's -- this is what we call a giardinetto brooch.

It literally translates as "small garden."

And they were very popular in the sort of mid-20th century, 1940s, 1950s.

So, very much of its time.

So, that might have been one of your mom's pieces or maybe your granny's pieces.

>> Yeah.

>> The collection is a real mix of styles, ages, and quality.

This little box of tricks looks really rather nice.

>> Okay.

>> So, we've got four 9-karat-gold rings there and one 22-karat-gold ring there.

So, I think we probably got one lot in that one, one lot in that one.

>> Mm-hmm.

>> And then the pice de rsistance.

What is this little beauty over here?

>> I do recognize that.

My mom definitely wore that.

>> Yeah, that is beautiful.

Okay, so, this form is what we would traditionally term a little fringe necklace.

This dates to about, I would say, about 1900 and this typical colorway of the purple and the white.

So, the amethysts and the seed pearls and the little tulip surrounds here.

But these are so popular at auction at the moment.

>> Okay.

>> They really are.

They're always popular.

They're so pretty.

I think �80 to �100 for the 22-karat-gold ring, �100 to �150 for the other 4 gold rings, and �100 to �200 for the necklace.

Lovely.

Should we add these to the auction catalog?

>> Yeah, we should.

>> Let's do it.

>> Thank you.

>> How are you getting on with that lacquered bamboo stand, Will?

>> The wood glue I'm applying will stick the two halves back together, but it needs to be held in place whilst it dries.

Right, I'm going to clamp up the first side.

Be really careful with this, because I need enough pressure to keep these wooden blocks in place and to make sure that the top is level.

But I don't put too much pressure that it ends up cracking a hole through the top and causing more damage.

I see you've moved outdoors now, Christina.

>> Yes, I'm treating this like a military maneuver, and operations have now shifted to the garden sheds.

Oh, my gosh.

It's a da Vinci.

>> Not.

But I'm still hunting, so you never know.

What's in there?

Turnwright's Toffee Delight.

Look at that.

That is a really old tin.

That's quite smart.

What's this?

What is this wrapped up?

This is the only box that has been wrapped up.

I wonder if there's a reason for it.

Ooh, look at that.

That is really sweet.

What the...

Okay, that wasn't... That was not me.

That was... Oh, my gosh.

It's breaking away in my hands.

Okay, that...

Okay.

[ Chuckles ] That's a real shame.

That is a real shame.

I think this is probably the best box out of the bunch.

I think that could be rosewood underneath there.

I think it once was a tea caddy.

At the moment, I mean, it's not really a box, is it?

You know what I'm going to do?

I'm just going to completely flat-pack this now.

I'm sure I can get it back into its box shape.

Oh, let's go.

>> Caddies like this were made to keep the expensive commodity of tea under lock and key.

Imported from the Orient from the mid-17th century, tea was highly prized by the prosperous, demonstrating wealth and social standing.

And if anyone can make this 19th-century tea caddy beautiful again, it's Will.

>> I've certainly got my work cut up here.

First, I need to put all the pieces back together again.

Well, there we are.

Thankfully, I've got all the pieces to it, and, hopefully, we should have a box once more.

So long, rusty, old nails.

I better be careful with those.

Now I can take a file to the old glue, sanding it back to make a good bonding surface for the new glue.

Once the fresh glue goes in there, it's going to create a fantastic bond, and this will never break again.

>> Out here, the sheds look full, and there's interesting stuff all over the garden.

I did joke before about finding a da Vinci in the shed, but this is a cast-iron plaque depicting Leonardo da Vinci's "Last Supper."

By the 1830s, craftsmen across Europe were producing plaques such as this quite prolifically.

And some of these were exhibited at the Great Exhibition in 1851.

But by years and years of weathering and all this rust, sadly, we have lost some of that definition.

But, nonetheless, at auction, I still think it should be �30 to �50, which isn't a huge amount of money to have a Leonardo da Vinci hanging around your house, is it?

How are you getting on with your masterpieces, Will?

>> I think we're gathering some really good lots for this auction, and the Georgian tea caddy is certainly, um, coming together.

Now, when I'm gluing, using something like this, which is a lollipop stick, it's really handy to get into those little nooks and crannies.

I want to make sure I don't leave any areas unglued.

Well, all the glue is on now, and everything should fit together nicely.

Watch the first few pieces.

Lovely.

I'm gonna give myself a helping hand by using some of this tape.

This is going to keep the pieces in place whilst I'm gluing on the rest of the panels, because if I don't do this, the more I move this around, the panels are gonna keep on falling off, and I'll be chasing my tail.

So, it's almost like a spare pair of hands.

>> Meanwhile, I'm back in another of those garden sheds, leaving no stone unturned.

This is heavy.

Oh, nice.

Very nice.

Oh, my goodness.

It's rather lovely.

Kerry, are you anywhere in the vicinity of the shed?

>> Yes, just around the corner there.

>> Aha, there she is.

Come on in.

>> Hi.

>> I mean, this is a really beautiful shed.

>> Yes, and I'm really desperate for my space back.

And, you know, it is full of boxes.

>> It really is, isn't it?

>> Yeah.

>> Yeah.

Now, in one of these boxes, I have found the smartest gardening clock that you could ever hope for.

And tell me about this.

>> It's a carriage clock.

>> It is, and it isn't.

>> Oh, okay.

>> Yeah.

>> Okay.

>> I mean, yes, that's what we traditionally call them.

It's a generic term.

It's a carriage clock.

But if we look at this one, let's take it out of its very smart box.

>> Yeah, it's beautiful, isn't it?

>> Really is, yes.

See, that's its little traveling case there, which has sort of got the Moroccan leather covering on there -- really smart.

But if we look at this, I mean, really, to be a clock, it needs to strike on a bell.

And if we look at this example here, we've got a single-cylinder movement.

We need to have it -- to have it striking on a bell, it needs to be a double-cylinder movement.

>> Okay.

>> But we've only got one there.

Can you see that?

>> Yes, I can, yeah.

>> So, it's actually technically it's a timepiece.

>> Ah.

>> Which doesn't really trip off the tongue as well as carriage clock -- does it?

-- or carriage timepiece.

It also would be really helpful if there was some kind of retailer's name or maker's name on the front.

And there isn't, unfortunately.

Nonetheless, lacquered carriage timepieces like this, especially in their original box, do still do quite well at auction.

As it is, it's a lovely example of its type, and I would say at auction, maybe �50 to �70.

>> Okay.

>> Should we add it to the auction catalog?

>> Yes, definitely.

>> Okay.

Well, that's one less thing in the shed.

[ Both laugh ] >> Remember those cast-iron bench ends I found earlier?

Well, answering a call to help is blacksmith David Gregory.

Hey, David.

>> Hello, there, Will.

>> Just the man I was looking for.

At the moment, they're pretty useless.

You can't really sit on them.

Would you be able to clean up the metalwork?

>> Yep.

>> Woodwork, would you be able to... >> Yeah, oak would look lovely on that with something, maybe Brunswick green or a dark green.

>> Oh, lovely.

>> Yeah.

>> Lovely.

So, something structurally sound, and that looks lovely, as well.

Be great.

>> Yeah.

Even put new nuts and bolts on.

>> Even nuts and bolts -- look at that.

>> Yeah.

>> Top man.

Over to you -- thanks very much.

Thanks a lot, David.

Cheers, mate.

>> In yet another shed, Kerry and I are delving into more boxes.

Just unearthing the biggest meat plate I've ever seen in my entire life.

>> It's beautiful, isn't it?

>> It's huge.

>> Yes.

>> And it's jolly heavy, isn't it?

>> Very heavy.

>> Yeah.

>> It's clay, I believe.

>> Yeah, exactly.

And probably housed the biggest turkey you've ever seen at Christmas dinners.

Do you know what it is?

>> It's kaolin, but... >> It's essentially an earthenware rather than a porcelain.

And we can tell that by the weight.

[ Laughs ] The type of white clay named "kaolin" originated in China around 500 A.D.

But during the 18th century, this mineral was discovered in the West Country.

And by 1845, nearly 50 Cornish pits were supplying the Staffordshire potteries.

You look at that plate, just that one there beside you, and look at the back of it.

The mark, it says "kaolin ware."

>> Kaolin ware?

>> Yeah.

What does it say on the back of yours?

>> "Florentine."

>> Yep.

>> And I've got a "D" and a number there.

>> Brilliant.

Okeydoke.

So, "D" is for a chap called Thomas Dimmock, who made this line of ware, essentially.

And the "Florentine" is the pattern.

>> Right.

>> So, this is the Florentine pattern.

So, value-wise really depends on how much you've got and "B," condition.

Now, I think you've already spotted... [ Laughing ] Yeah.

And, unfortunately, my rather large plate here has also got a rather whacking crack in it now.

>> Crack, yeah.

>> How much have you got?

>> We've probably got about three of these boxes of it.

>> Okay.

And any tureens?

Any of the sort of... >> Oh, yes, yes.

There's at least three tureens.

>> Brilliant.

>> Platters, as you've seen, there's about three or four platters, good platters... >> Brilliant.

>> ...and about 20 dinner plates.

>> The value is going to be modest.

>> Yeah.

>> I would say maybe as one group, we're looking at �60 to �100.

>> Okay.

>> It's not going to be big bucks at all, but it just seems silly.

I mean, do you really want to move these boxes again?

>> No.

>> I mean, I'm not going to call this a box of pottery.

I'm going to call this a hernia in a box.

>> It's heavy -- very, very heavy.

>> It's really heavy, yeah.

Fab.

So, should we pop it into the auction?

>> Yes, let's.

>> And you can move it one last time.

>> Hooray!

[ Both laugh ] >> That's our mission, to move things on.

Among many boxes, I found a 19th-century tea caddy... That's broken ...a bamboo stand, and a pair of cast-iron bench ends.

I might know someone who could help out with this.

>> And I've been channeling my inner magpie among the family silver...

The pice de rsistance -- what is this little beauty over here?

...and weighing up some early Victorian china.

Just unearthing the biggest meat plate I've ever seen in my entire life.

>> However, there's still some heavy lifting needed to help Kerry and Tony clear the decks inside... >> There's breeze blocks in here, I swear!

>> ...and out.

Now, that is a serious trunk.

My gosh.

And these garden sheds just keep on giving, don't they?

That is a really sweet chair.

Structurally, it's pretty sound.

There's a bit of wear and tear.

You can see around the back where it's worn and where a child has sat on it.

It looks really dull at the moment, but I think with a light, clean wax and a buff, that would look lovely in anyone's house or a child's bedroom.

Let's stick that out by the van, actually.

It's really pretty.

>> Hey, Will of the wisp, I've got something for you.

Hello!

Don't say I'm not good to you.

Tea delivery.

>> Oh, lovely.

>> Here we go.

>> Do you think that this chair's a bit too small for me?

>> I think it might be a -- no offense, but I think it might be a little bit teeny.

[ Both laugh ] >> I found this in one of the many sheds.

There are a load of sheds out in that garden.

>> It's like shed world, isn't it?

It's gorgeous, though, isn't it?

It looks a bit Windsor-y.

Am I right?

>> Yeah, like a really Windsor-style chair.

>> Yeah.

>> Do you think it's worth anything?

>> Yeah, I think it's lovely.

>> Yeah?

>> Yeah, it's a really nice example of its type, all that pattern on there.

I would say �50 to �70.

>> Really?

>> Yeah.

>> Oh, that's quite good.

>> Yeah.

I like it very much.

What are you gonna do to it?

>> Clean it... >> Yeah.

>> ...lightly and wax it.

>> I'll leave you to it.

Enjoy your tea.

>> Lovely.

This should clean up beautifully.

And here's Tony.

Maybe he can shed some light on the chair's history.

Hey, Tony.

Was this yours, then?

>> Yes.

Well, I must have been two, something like that, you know, so.

Yeah, it was my little chair because we were closer to the Second World War then.

You used to get those little magazines of, like, the fighter planes and stuff like that, and the back of a bomber or something, you had a rear gunner, but sort of sat in there.

Was, like, with the full guns, like that, you know?

>> [ Laughs ] Are you sad to let it go?

>> I am, but you got to be philosophical, as well.

To have someone who's going to appreciate it and use it would be good.

I'd like to think that's what would happen to it, yeah.

>> It's ready to be passed on.

>> Yeah, I think so.

>> Now, with outside and downstairs done, I'm delving a bit deeper upstairs.

Some wonderful magazines.

What I find really interesting is actually the adverts.

Just gives you a tiny insight into how people lived at the time.

And I think this one is wonderful.

It says, "Grey hair restored to its natural color, neuralgia, nervous headaches, rheumatism, and stiff joints cured by Haring's patent magnetic brushes."

Sounds like me after a day with Will.

[ Laughs ] >> Missing you already, Christina.

Now that bamboo stand is looking a lot less rickety and sad.

Well, this top is now incredibly solid.

I can now apply some wax in that crack, which will ideally make it disappear.

You can get these in so many different colors, but this black is perfect.

The idea is I'm going to rub this into that damaged groove.

Once it's in there, I can use this piece of wood to smooth it in.

Ideally, once everything has dried, you shouldn't be able to see that damage at all.

Lovely.

It's now ready for a final coat of varnish.

This varnish is going on an absolute dream.

It's giving it just enough of a sheen on that surface for it to really show off that beautiful detailing and that sweet, little bird.

Well, there we have it, nearly looking as good as new.

I'm happy with that.

It's a great turnout.

I love it, and I hope someone else is going to love it, too.

>> Upstairs, I'm still turning up boxes of books and magazines.

"Illustrative of Natural History, Part 1."

Tony, can you just come and educate me about these books here?

>> Oh, right.

>> Where did you get these from?

>> Oh, crikey.

Yes, I've seen these.

My dad got these at an antique fair, and he came back with them.

>> They're absolutely incredible.

Have you had a good look through them?

>> No, not properly.

>> I mean, I think these are fantastic.

>> I've got a date of 1845 on here.

>> 1845.

>> Yeah.

>> I mean, that's really quite early.

>> Yeah.

>> What I particularly like about them is that if you look at the prints themselves, they're not prints as such.

This has been hand-colored.

>> Okay.

Really?

>> So, literally somebody has gone through every single plate and colored them in specifically.

And look.

It says price.

You get one price if it's plain, and it's tuppence if it's colored.

You have to remember at this stage the people that were doing this coloring might never have seen these animals.

>> Certainly.

Yes, a great point.

And do you know, now you said that, when I look at that, that's a little bit dark for a giraffe... >> Yeah, yeah.

>> ...nowadays.

>> I wonder if we've got some wacky-colored ones somewhere.

>> Like a pink tiger or something.

>> Yeah, yeah.

>> But yeah.

>> But the fact that they're in these folios, the fact that each one is hand-colored, I think these will have an appeal at auction.

I just think they're fantastic.

>> For their age, a bit worn around the binder, but they're not too bad, are they?

>> No.

And you're absolutely right.

What we do need to look at is the condition... >> Yeah.

>> ...because for book buyers that will be absolutely paramount.

So, what we need to look out for is something that we call "foxing."

So, you can see that this, on my giraffe here, we do have this sort of brown speckling up here, which we do call "foxing."

>> Yeah.

>> So, any tears, any rips, any foxing, things like that, that are infringing on the print itself, we do need to be careful of.

Or I'll tell you what, Tony.

That can be your homework.

You've got to check them all.

>> Okay, yeah.

I'll check off, certainly.

No, thank you very much.

Thank you.

>> They're fab, aren't they?

>> Just interesting.

They are lovely.

Yeah, they are lovely.

>> But, to be honest, Tony, I do think there's some significant value here.

>> Okay.

>> I think they're fab.

Depending on the results of Tony's homework, I would value these at �150 to �200.

>> Meanwhile, at his Oxfordshire forge, David is beginning work on bringing that garden bench back to life.

This is a needle scaler, used to remove layers of old paint.

Apparently, it's quite gentle and kinder to the environment than using chemicals.

>> You can see now much better detail there, where the paint sort of obscured it.

You couldn't see the sort of markings around the rosette.

Starting to show now.

>> Now David gets to show us his mettle.

He's forging bars to support the bench ends and hold everything in place.

>> As a blacksmith, the temperature that I work the metal is dictated by the color it comes out to the fire.

So, this is perfect.

>> Having had an undercoat, the bench ends are ready to be painted in that Brunswick green.

>> A piece of rusty metal comes in, and when it leaves the workshop, it's glossy and either oiled, waxed, or painted.

But it fulfills its primary function.

If you can't sit on a bench, it's not a bench.

So, a broken bench coming in will leave as a fully working seat.

>> All that's needed now is fine oak slats, and there will be a bench ready for auction.

>> Back in Reading, I'm watching my time...pieces.

Kerry, there are a lot of watches going on in this house.

>> Yes.

Tony's Dad wore this in his pocket because being a landscape gardener, he would constantly catch them, or the faces would get broken.

And that would be it.

>> Oh, my goodness.

So, he always had a pocket watch.

>> He favored the pocket watch.

>> I love that.

>> So, he's probably used some of these, but I wouldn't say all of them.

>> Unfortunately, a lot of these have been quite damaged.

You've got hands missing.

You've got chips to the enamel dial here.

This one is in really good condition.

I think this is an Ingersoll, isn't it?

And it looks like it's in its original box, as well.

But it is chrome as opposed to some of these being in silver.

>> Yeah.

>> These will still have a value, and we'll see how they get on at the auction.

>> Lovely.

>> Out here, I've just got that tea caddy to finish off now.

I'm gonna clean this box with my homemade furniture-cleaning solution.

This has methylated spirits, some white spirit, and some linseed oil.

The idea is that it cleans the surface, as well as nourishes the wood.

It looks really pretty at the moment, but in order for it to work properly, I need to mix it up.

There we are.

Wow, look at that.

It's cleaning all that dark dirt off the surface.

The more I clean it, the more I can see that lovely rosewood coming through.

That's absolutely gorgeous.

A soft cloth needed, nothing abrasive.

A bit of elbow grease required.

And, finally, and carefully, a coat of varnish.

There we are.

All my hard work has paid off.

This box looks absolutely glorious.

I just hope someone at auction likes it just as much as I do.

>> Good work, Will.

That could now make �20 to �30 at auction.

Well, Kerry and Tony have had the full travelling auctioneers' experience today -- almost.

>> I have a surprise for you.

>> Oh!

>> Ooh.

We love surprises.

>> Do you remember the flat-pack box that was upstairs in the box with all the other boxes?

>> Yes.

>> The one that disintegrated in your hands?

>> Yeah.

Kindling with potential.

>> Yeah.

>> Okay.

Well, I've since glued it back together and gave it a lick of polish.

>> [ Gasps ] >> Oh.

>> Oh, my word!

>> We can't set fire to that.

[ Laughter ] >> That's absolutely beautiful.

>> This is going to auction.

>> That is incredible, because it was totally unsalable before.

>> Yeah.

>> So, you've made a pile of wood salable again.

>> Yeah, basically.

>> That's incredible.

>> Someone's going to love it.

If no one does, I'll buy it.

[ Laughter ] >> Brilliant.

Well, it's been a really busy day, but, like I say, thank you so much for having us.

We've had a great day.

>> It's been lovely having you here, really lovely.

>> Oh, magic.

Well, we'll see you at the auction.

>> Oh, yes, of course.

>> Yes.

>> Thanks a lot.

>> Cheers.

Thank you so much!

>> You actually stuck your hands together?

>> My hands are actually quite clean for someone who's done a lot of work today, Christina.

And before you know it, we're back in the van and bound for our pop-up saleroom in a historic riverside setting.

>> Henley-on-Thames, I'm thinking regatta, boats.

>> Yes.

Over 300,000 people descend on Henley every year for the regatta.

>> 300,000?

>> 300,000.

>> That is a lot of stripey jackets.

Hosting our auction today is the River & Rowing Museum, housing a collection covering the history of Henley, rowing, and the River Thames.

From here, we hope that Tony and Kerry's collection will set forth for new homes.

>> The museum that we're going to... >> Yeah?

>> ...was actually opened by the queen.

>> Really?

>> What are the chances of her popping down today to bid on anything?

>> I mean, I think she would love a piece restored by Will Kirk.

>> Well, here we are, not by royal appointment.

Oh, I can see loads of boats.

>> Can you?

>> Yeah.

>> And don't distract me.

I'm supposed to be parking the van somewhere sensible.

>> Sensible is my outcome.

[ Both laugh ] >> Hand brake on.

Are you ready?

>> Brake on?

Yep, let's go.

>> Okay.

Oh, my gosh, this is very exciting.

>> And no footmen to help us set up our travelling auction.

>> Tony and Kerry are also en route to their bespoke auction, where there are 30 lots going under the hammer.

>> And the pice de rsistance?

This fantastic bench.

I can't wait to show Tony and Kerry.

Do you recognize this bench?

>> I recognize those ends.

>> But not the bench like that.

>> It's been totally restored for you.

>> I might be bidding on that myself.

>> That's not the idea!

You're supposed to be getting rid of stuff.

Well, I think the auction is about to begin.

If you grab some seats, and I'll be up in a minute.

>> Okay.

>> Okay.

>> Potential bidders are assembling, and with J.S.

Fine Art taking care of our telephone and online bids, it looks like we're ready to go.

We're looking forward to selling a lovely selection of lots on your behalf.

Should we get going?

>> Yeah, let's do it.

>> I'm excited.

>> First up is Tony's mom's Edwardian amethyst-and-pearl necklace, which Christina thought might fetch perhaps �100.

>> The bid is online at �85.

And looking for �90.

�90 is bid.

And �95 there back.

�100?

�100 is bid.

�110 is bid online and selling, if we're all settled, at �110.

[ Gavel bangs ] >> So?

>> It's exciting.

>> We're going for gold today, an excellent start.

Next, two wedding rings -- a 9-karat-rose-gold ring and a 22-karat-gold ring, which was valued alone at �80 to �100.

I've got �170, �180, �190, and �200 all bid here.

So, we're starting at �200 and looking for �220.

>> Come on.

>> It's at �200 with my absentee bidder, then, and selling, if we're all settled, at �200.

[ Gavel bangs ] Well, that exceeded expectations.

>> �100 each sold.

>> Yeah.

>> The next lot is the restored garden bench.

But this has been sent off for restoration.

So, we've got these lovely, new pieces of wood here.

>> Do we get to bid?

[ Laughter ] >> No, you're trying to declutter -- no!

>> If anyone buys this, I will personally carry this to your car.

>> Right, I'd like to start this at �60.

�60, �75, �80 is bid already.

I should be all over it for this at �85.

Looking for �90.

�90 is bid against you.

And �95, sir?

�95.

�100 is bid.

�110, sir?

Thank you at �110.

�120 is bid.

Come back to me at �130.

You sure?

The bid is online, then, at �120 and selling, if we're all settled, at �120.

[ Gavel bangs ] >> Nearly had to carry it to someone's car there.

[ Laughter ] That's a relief.

And that's not bad for two bits of metal rusting in the garden.

Time is marching on.

>> �35.

I have �40, sir.

>> And Kerry and Tony's collection of fob and pocket watches is clocking up the profits... >> At �30.

[ Gavel bangs ] >> ...adding a total of �205.

>> At �100.

[ Gavel bangs ] And now we need to find a new home for that fine bamboo stand.

Will, tell us what you did to this.

It was a pretty useless table when you found it.

>> I fixed the crack in the top, and it's quite handy to have it by the side of the sofa.

>> It is lovely, very aesthetic in style, really rather lovely example.

Well, let's start it at �15 and see what happens.

�15 is bid.

Against you online, and �20 I have.

�25 is bid.

At �25 and �30 here.

And �35.

Thank you.

At �35... >> I don't know what to expect on this.

>> �45 is bid.

I'm looking for �50 but selling, if we're all settled, all finished, at �45.

>> Yeah.

[ Gavel bangs ] >> Excellent.

Thank you, Will.

>> Thank you, Will.

>> That's down to you.

>> Yeah, thank you.

>> There we go.

Well-done, Will.

An excellent result for a formerly beaten-up, old stand.

>> The next 10 minutes was not a cast-iron success.

>> We'll pass on it if there's no interest at �20.

>> However, more of Christina's picks were on the money, including the silver vinaigrette, which went for �40.

>> And it's been sitting in a box for six years.

>> Under the hammer next is Tony's little Windsor chair, which was given a little bit of TLC.

>> But it's a really sweet chair, and I think it'd be nice for any child's bedroom.

>> It was his.

>> And this was actually yours when you were growing up.

>> Made for him.

>> Yeah.

>> Made for you, >> But no, very lovely, and he'll start me at �10.

�10 is bid.

�15 against you, sir.

And �20 and �25 and �30.

At �30 with you.

Come back to me at �35.

I've got �30 in the room, and I will sell it.

Make no mistake.

>> It's good.

Be happy.

>> At �30.

[ Gavel bangs ] >> Amazing.

And I will carry it to your car for you.

[ Laughter ] Not a big sale, but a fine gift for a lucky child to love.

It's really nice that someone's going to be using it.

>> Yeah.

>> That's really sweet in a child's bedroom.

>> Yeah, yeah.

>> It'll be great for yours.

>> And now it's time for those very heavy boxes of Thomas Dimmock kaolin ware.

At �30, any interest at �30 for the kaolin at �30?

�20, then?

�20, if we're all settled, selling to the room, where it'll be used, and I'm sure he'll use it every day to cook his dinner on.

At �20 and selling.

[ Gavel bangs ] >> That's three very heavy boxes cleared and �20 made.

The collection of jewelry and wristwatches netted Tony and Kerry another �210.

>> It was just sat in a drawer.

>> Other items excavated from Kerry and Tony's house included a Cartier pen, which fetched �110... [ Gavel bangs ] Perfect.

>> That's good?

>> Very good.

>> ...and a mirror buried at the back of a shed, which made a whopping �260.

>> That's great.

>> At 61... >> I'm looking forward to the last of the restored items now, that Georgian tea caddy.

>> When Will found this, it was in about seven pieces, wasn't it?

>> Yes.

>> So, I've glued this back together.

I've repolished it in a lovely color.

>> It looks beautiful.

>> I was very wowed.

It is now a beautiful box.

And I'm looking for �20 anywhere, �20.

�20 for the box at �20, �10 then for the rosewood tea caddy.

�10 I have.

>> Oh, brilliant!

>> At �10 is bid online, Will.

Never fear.

At �10 and �15 with you, sir.

All out online.

It's with you, sir, at �15.

[ Gavel bangs ] >> That for a bag of tinderwood.

>> The last lot today is the five volumes of mid-Victorian hand-tinted wildlife prints, which Tony's dad picked up at a fair.

There are five volumes of these books.

I have a starting bid here of �300 with my commission.

Bidder here at �300.

You've got two more bids at �320, �340, �360, �380, with my commission bid.

At �380, looking for �400 but selling, if we're all settled, at �380.

[ Gavel bangs ] >> Sold.

That's great, isn't it?

>> I think that's great.

>> What a result.

>> It really is.

>> Good work, Christina.

>> Beautiful.

>> Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen.

>> What a fantastic surprise to end the sale and what a result for Tony and Kerry.

It's time to reveal the final tally.

>> You have raised �1,667... >> Wow!

>> ...and 60p.

[ Laughter ] >> You know, we'd have got half of that, Christina, so, that's... >> That's wonderful.

That's really wonderful.

>> For Kerry and Tony, it was never about the money.

For them, it was more a process of these items that they just had in boxes for years and years and years and finding those items new homes, where they'll be appreciated, unpacked, enjoyed.

And I think we did that for them today.

Well, my duck agrees, anyway.

>> We've had a great day, haven't we?

>> Yeah, we have.

It's been fun, and we can do a nice bench for mom and dad now.

>> Yeah.

>> Which will be great.

>> Will, what a brilliant day.