Final Auction of Flog It! Star's Silver Collection Raises Over £112k
The final instalment of the silver collection belonging to the late Flog It! television star Michael Baggott has been sold at auction for an impressive £112,891. This successful sale marks the conclusion of a series of auctions that have collectively fetched more than £200,000 for Baggott's esteemed private hoard.
Exceeding Expectations at Woolley And Wallis
The latest lots went under the hammer on Tuesday at the renowned auction house Woolley And Wallis in Salisbury. The sale significantly outperformed pre-auction estimates, which had been set between £71,100 and £97,700. This follows two previous auctions of items from Baggott's collection, each achieving strong results and highlighting the enduring appeal and value of his curated pieces.
Michael Baggott, who passed away in January 2025 at the age of 51, was a respected authority in the world of antique silver. His expertise was particularly focused on early spoons, boxes, and provincial and continental silver pieces, making his collection a significant event for collectors and historians alike.
Highlight Lots from the Collection
Among the standout items sold was a Charles II provincial two-handled porringer, crafted in York in 1672 by the silversmith Thomas Mangy. This shallow silver bowl, which would have been used for dining or as a display of status, achieved a hammer price of £3,810.
Another notable piece was an engraved James I West-Country silver dish, dating from circa 1620 and made by the renowned silversmith Edward Harsell in Bristol. This dish sold for £5,334, comfortably exceeding its top estimate of £4,000 and demonstrating the high demand for rare early English silver.
A particularly intriguing lot was a silver ingot produced in June 1840 at Mr Treffry's Smelting House in Par, Cornwall. This practical block, used for storage or trade, fetched £762, well above its £300 top estimate. It was accompanied by a handwritten note detailing its origin as the first produce from the smelting house, where silver was separated from copper mined at Fowey Consol mine.
A Lifelong Passion for Antiques
Michael Baggott's passion for antiques began in his youth, famously saving £22 from his school dinner money to purchase a Chester silver vesta case. He built a distinguished career, holding positions at Christie's and serving as head of silver at Sotheby's in Billingshurst. The Birmingham-born expert authored several respected titles, including An Illustrated Guide To York Hallmarks 1776-1858 and As Found: A Lifetime In Antiques.
He became a familiar and beloved face to television audiences as a regular expert on the BBC's Flog It! during the 2000s. The programme, which launched in 2002, followed the format of Antiques Roadshow, with members of the public having their items appraised by experts before being offered the chance to sell them at auction.
In 2025, Rob Unsworth, the head of BBC daytime and early peak commissioning, paid tribute to Baggott, describing him as one of Flog It!'s "most memorable characters" and an expert with "unrivalled knowledge and enthusiasm for antique spoons and silver."
The Legacy of the York Silver Collection
Baggott's York silver collection, comprising over 550 pieces dating from the late 17th century to 1858, was described by specialist Rupert Slingsby as "the most comprehensive collection of silver assayed in York ever to come onto the open market." Its successful dispersal across multiple auctions has not only realised significant financial value but has also shared an important part of British silversmithing heritage with a new generation of collectors and enthusiasts.
