0:00:03 > 0:00:04This is Antiques Master,
0:00:04 > 0:00:08the contest to find Britain's top amateur antiques expert.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10Tonight, the battle continues
0:00:10 > 0:00:13as the country's finest antiques enthusiasts
0:00:13 > 0:00:17fight it out at the magnificent Towneley Hall in Burnley.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20They face a series of tough challenges,
0:00:20 > 0:00:25testing their skills at identifying, dating and valuing antiques.
0:00:25 > 0:00:29Ultimately, only one will be crowned Antiques Master.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50Hello and welcome to Antiques Master, I'm Sandi Toksvig
0:00:50 > 0:00:54and this is the search for Britain's top amateur antiques enthusiast.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56Tonight, we have three more contestants,
0:00:56 > 0:01:00all hoping to show that they have the hallmark of a winner
0:01:00 > 0:01:04and can walk away with the title of Antiques Master 2011.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07And, as ever, to cast his eye over the proceedings,
0:01:07 > 0:01:08our expert, Mr Eric Knowles.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Let's meet tonight's contestants.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15Ruth Collett from Lancashire
0:01:15 > 0:01:18specialises in distinctive arts and crafts jewellery.
0:01:18 > 0:01:19It's going to be lovely.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21Some things that I've been looking at for years,
0:01:21 > 0:01:24to get my hands on them, it's going to be great.
0:01:24 > 0:01:25Matthew Wright from Devon,
0:01:25 > 0:01:29whose passion is delicately crafted French Sevres porcelain.
0:01:29 > 0:01:34The reason I love antiques is I'm a designer and anaesthetics junkie
0:01:34 > 0:01:37and I'm constantly looking back to history for inspiration.
0:01:37 > 0:01:42And Margaret Campbell from Edinburgh who loves decorative antique tiles.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44I'd like to think I've as good a chance of anyone
0:01:44 > 0:01:47of winning Antiques Master but we'll just have to wait and see.
0:01:47 > 0:01:52But who will have what it takes to win a place in the semi-finals
0:01:52 > 0:01:56and move one step closer to becoming Antiques Master?
0:01:56 > 0:01:59Their journey starts now.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07Now, your first challenge is all about your antiques specialisms.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11Each of you has a different antiques passion and we're going to put
0:02:11 > 0:02:13that specialist knowledge to the test.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16So, we have scoured the country to find five glorious examples
0:02:16 > 0:02:19for each of you and what you need to do is to study them
0:02:19 > 0:02:21and tell us the following -
0:02:21 > 0:02:24which is the most valuable, which is the oldest,
0:02:24 > 0:02:26and which one is the odd one out.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29Now, there are a total of 40 points available,
0:02:29 > 0:02:33there's ten points for each antique that you correctly identify
0:02:33 > 0:02:35and an extra ten points if you can tell us
0:02:35 > 0:02:42the value of the most valuable one within 15% of the auction estimate.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44So, let's see who's got a real eye for detail.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47First to be tested is Ruth.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51Her specialism is arts and crafts jewellery.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55Your odd one out, it's the only continental piece.
0:02:55 > 0:02:56Right, OK.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59How does the arts and crafts movement start in this country?
0:02:59 > 0:03:01It began with William Morris.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05He wanted to go back to the Medieval guild system of working.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08People learned their craft, everything was handmade.
0:03:08 > 0:03:13So, this is a silver and enamel brooch with blue and green enamel.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15I can see that there's a silver mark,
0:03:15 > 0:03:19I think I saw L and C, which is Liberty & Company.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22They were a major retailer for arts and crafts. They got together
0:03:22 > 0:03:25a whole team and this is probably designed by Archibald Knox.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27Does that mean it's not continental?
0:03:27 > 0:03:29- Absolutely.- And it's valuable?
0:03:29 > 0:03:31Yes, Liberty usually is.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33OK, let's come on to the next one.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37Is it the history of these pieces that you like or do you quite fancy wearing them?
0:03:37 > 0:03:40I'd love to wear one of these.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44This piece is hammered silver, on the front.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48I'm looking for a maker's mark.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50Ah, it's just got...
0:03:50 > 0:03:51It's a 950 mark.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53What does that mean?
0:03:53 > 0:03:57That means it's silver but it's not British silver, it's not hallmarked.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00Ah. Are we looking at the odd one out?
0:04:00 > 0:04:03- I think we may be. - All righty.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05- Now this is amazing. - What is it?
0:04:05 > 0:04:07It's a belt buckle.
0:04:07 > 0:04:12It's all silver, it's got the organic shapes that you'd expect to see.
0:04:12 > 0:04:17There's the lion for British silver and there's a Z.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19I'm afraid I don't know what that date mark is.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23I think A was 1896.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26It could be old or valuable, one or the other,
0:04:26 > 0:04:27can't be both. OK.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31Let's come on to the next one. What is that? Is it a sort of brooch?
0:04:31 > 0:04:34Yes, it's a...fine wire brooch.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38It's a blister pearl in the middle there.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41It hasn't got any marks on it and it's actually quite fussy.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43- Not very helpful is it?- No.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45Well, we'll have to rush you along very slightly.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48The colour on this one is just exquisite.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51- Yes. Ah, this is lovely, isn't it? - Yeah.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54This is by Charles Horner
0:04:54 > 0:04:57and he was one of the people who went into manufacturing in a big way.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00- Possibly not so valuable. - Not so valuable.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02Now, I'm going to get you to make a few decisions.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05Shall we begin by picking the one
0:05:05 > 0:05:07that we think is the continental piece
0:05:07 > 0:05:09and therefore the odd one out?
0:05:09 > 0:05:11- Go for this one. - All right, my lovely.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14I'm not even sure if it's silver to tell you the truth,
0:05:14 > 0:05:15I can't see any silver marks on it.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17Now, the most valuable.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23This is nice. I think that is Archibald Knox.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26- I think I'll go for this one. - Right and the oldest.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29The oldest, I'm actually going to go for this belt buckle.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33Now, have a quick look, are you happy with all your decisions?
0:05:33 > 0:05:34Yes, I think I am.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36Right, Mr Knowles will tell you if you're right.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42So, you've made your deliberations.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45You were looking for the oldest piece.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48- Well, you went with this, didn't you?- I did.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52You said that was the 1890s.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55Early-ish for a lot of arts and crafts, isn't it?
0:05:55 > 0:05:57This dates to 1899.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01The Z is the mark, as you mentioned, and this is...
0:06:01 > 0:06:03the earliest piece.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05Yay! Ten points.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07Now, the odd one out.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10We were looking for something that wasn't British.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14This created a few problems for you because you couldn't find a mark on there.
0:06:14 > 0:06:19There is a little mark but you're forgiven for not spotting it.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23You did mention on this - am I right in saying - that there was a 950?
0:06:23 > 0:06:24Yes, that's right.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27- Did you find a 950 mark in any of the others?- No.
0:06:28 > 0:06:33Bit of a giveaway. This, I can tell you, is Murrle Bennett.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37And Murrle Bennett were making their jewellery
0:06:37 > 0:06:39over in Germany and importing the pieces.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42So, that is...the odd one out.
0:06:42 > 0:06:47Which has us looking for the most valuable.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49Now, you liked this, didn't you?
0:06:49 > 0:06:53I think you're secretly in love with a man called Archibald Knox,
0:06:53 > 0:06:55- am I right?- Yes!
0:06:55 > 0:06:56It's Liberty & Co.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59I'm going to take that off there. Sorry to say.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03And if I was to put it over here that would be a Yorkshireman,
0:07:03 > 0:07:05- would it not? That would be Charles Horner?- It would.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09I can't go with that, cos I'm a Lancastrian.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11So, I'm going to go there.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15If I was to say that underneath this little pendant drop there is a G...
0:07:15 > 0:07:17Arthur Gaskin and Georgina.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21And George Gaskin. Exactly. It's a little treasure, isn't it?
0:07:21 > 0:07:24You've got ten points, so we're going to give you a chance
0:07:24 > 0:07:26to gain another five points
0:07:26 > 0:07:31if you can tell me the value of the most valuable piece
0:07:31 > 0:07:34within 15% of the auction estimate.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37£1,500.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40Could we buy it for that, Eric?
0:07:40 > 0:07:43Alas, you're a little short.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45We're looking for, wait for this,
0:07:45 > 0:07:46£5,000.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48SANDI GASPS
0:07:48 > 0:07:50Wow.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54Ruth has scored ten out of the possible 40 points.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56Will Matthew spot the oldest, most valuable
0:07:56 > 0:08:00and the odd one out in his specialism, Sevres porcelain?
0:08:00 > 0:08:03And the odd one out, one of these is a copy.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06- A copy?- Yes.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10Now, help me here. Is there a timeframe? Is there a period?
0:08:10 > 0:08:14The mid-18th century onwards, where the culture of porcelain took off.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16The thing about Sevres, it was...
0:08:16 > 0:08:20Louis XV actually owned a great part of it.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23- He bought the shares. - Ah, that would make a difference.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26And under his mistress, Madame de Pompadour,
0:08:26 > 0:08:29she was the one that, basically,
0:08:29 > 0:08:31had the factory put in the bottom of her garden.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33- It is French this, then? - Absolutely.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36- What do you see on the bottom? - Well, I see, I think it's a...
0:08:36 > 0:08:37It looks like a G.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41And so that's, I would say, fairly early.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45Goes into double figures later on.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47Now, then, I love this colour.
0:08:47 > 0:08:53Yes, that's beautiful and this colour became known as bleu du roi,
0:08:53 > 0:08:56which is the sort of blue, the king's blue.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59Technologically, it's absolutely incredible what they achieved.
0:08:59 > 0:09:05This is bleu celeste which is the more, sort of, turquois-y colour
0:09:05 > 0:09:10and to try and achieve this colour, they didn't altogether get the glaze even
0:09:10 > 0:09:12and it's slightly cloudy in places.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16- This one?- I mean, it's fairly even but I would say it's a little cloudy.
0:09:18 > 0:09:25These little encrusted lids are kind of typical of a Meissen-inspired pot.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28- That's absolutely exquisite. - And what would you use it for?
0:09:28 > 0:09:31I would probably think it was a little patch box
0:09:31 > 0:09:35full of little mouches, certainly too small for powder.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39- On to the next one.- OK.
0:09:39 > 0:09:45This little thing's rather heavy, actually, and very dense.
0:09:45 > 0:09:50And the mark at the bottom, rather splashy, a little bit rough.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52Loads of British manufacturers copied Sevres
0:09:52 > 0:09:56- and they would fake the marks left, right and centre.- Shocking!
0:09:56 > 0:09:59So, I'm afraid I have to say, possibly a copy.
0:09:59 > 0:10:03We have to make some decisions. Shall we begin with the odd one out?
0:10:03 > 0:10:06- OK, the copy.- It will come down to instinct if you're not sure.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09I'm going to go with that one, it's pure instinct.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12That's the odd one out. Let's look at the oldest.
0:10:12 > 0:10:17I would say because of the simplicity of that piece...
0:10:18 > 0:10:20..I would go for that one.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23That's the oldest. And the most valuable.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25I will say...this little beauty.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29It was a fascinating walk through the history of Sevres.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32You come and stand with me and Eric will let us know.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39A difficult subject, Sevres porcelain because there's
0:10:39 > 0:10:43an awful lot of porcelain out there, made in France, made in Paris
0:10:43 > 0:10:48that's got the interlaced Ls or whatever and was never at Sevres.
0:10:48 > 0:10:49Exactly.
0:10:49 > 0:10:50Let me look for the oldest.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54One of the great things about Sevres is that they do have year marks,
0:10:54 > 0:10:57- as you say, from 1753. - That's right.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59I might have been tempted to go for this,
0:10:59 > 0:11:03a case of is less is more, that is more the en camaieu, isn't it?
0:11:03 > 0:11:05- And you've actually got it on that piece.- I have.
0:11:05 > 0:11:06And I wanted you...
0:11:06 > 0:11:08It's not though. Damn.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10I wanted you to plonk it there.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12- OK.- Yes, believe it or not, 1763.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16- The mark in this case does not lie. - No.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19Now, odd one out.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23You hovered here, didn't you?
0:11:23 > 0:11:25- You really hovered. - Yeah.
0:11:25 > 0:11:29- But your first instinct was to go for that.- Yeah.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32First instincts are usually right.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35- And in this case you are right.- Oh!
0:11:35 > 0:11:37- Ten points!- You horror!
0:11:37 > 0:11:40It's got a very weak mark on the base.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43You're absolutely right about this...
0:11:43 > 0:11:46So we're looking for the most valuable.
0:11:46 > 0:11:52I tell you what, instincts was very much evident when it came to that piece,
0:11:52 > 0:11:56but your heart was well and truly set on this, wasn't it?
0:11:56 > 0:11:58- I love it.- You do love it, yes.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00Alas, it is not.
0:12:00 > 0:12:01It is not.
0:12:01 > 0:12:06But this particular piece, I can tell you, dates from 1767,
0:12:06 > 0:12:09the flower is in perfect condition, it is, I can tell you now,
0:12:09 > 0:12:12the most valuable piece before your very eyes.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14Well, you didn't guess which was the most valuable,
0:12:14 > 0:12:18but we're going to give you another five points if you can tell me
0:12:18 > 0:12:23the auction estimate for that piece within 15%.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26I'd say 4,000.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28£4,000...
0:12:28 > 0:12:30Well, there's good news and bad news.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33The bad news is you're wrong, and the good news is,
0:12:33 > 0:12:36at £2,200, you may well be interested.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38Yes, I think I would be.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42With Ruth and Matthew now both on ten points,
0:12:42 > 0:12:45Margaret only needs 20 points to take the lead
0:12:45 > 0:12:51with her specialism - British and continental tiles, 1600 to 1840.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53And the odd one out.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57One of these is a later copy of an earlier design.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01- This is rather an interesting one. - Why?
0:13:01 > 0:13:05It may be British because of the corner pieces,
0:13:05 > 0:13:10they're rather rich for the Dutch pieces and the details of the pomegranate.
0:13:10 > 0:13:16But I think I'll move on to the next one and have a think.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19Ah, this is a much thicker one...
0:13:19 > 0:13:25Oh, which is part of a sequence, there were probably four tiles
0:13:25 > 0:13:29and it would be set out as a series to make the whole pattern.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33Its detail, its painting is rather beautiful,
0:13:33 > 0:13:38- but I think this could be maybe 17th, early 18th century.- Gosh.
0:13:38 > 0:13:39Perhaps as a floor tile.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42Now, what kicked you off with antiques,
0:13:42 > 0:13:45what was it that spurred you to have an interest in them?
0:13:45 > 0:13:49Well, my grandmother had lots of nice old things which I used to play with.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52It's another very beautiful tile, probably Dutch.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55I'm not so familiar with this design,
0:13:55 > 0:13:58but it's in the manganese and in the cobalt blue.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02The Dutch had a tendency of putting edifying illustrations on their tiles.
0:14:02 > 0:14:07She's tending her sheep or children were playing, they were doing useful things.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10This one's slightly thicker again, is that...
0:14:10 > 0:14:12This looks as if it could be southern Europe...
0:14:12 > 0:14:15- Why?- Maybe Spain or Portugal, because of the colours.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17It looks a thicker tile
0:14:17 > 0:14:21and it could easily be a wall tile or an edging tile or a floor tile.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23I'm a little...
0:14:23 > 0:14:25I'll look at the last one.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28Get the feeling.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30Oh, wow, ghastly, the three graces.
0:14:30 > 0:14:35It reflects the period of the late-18th century
0:14:35 > 0:14:39- when you have the neo-classicism. - What shall we start with?
0:14:39 > 0:14:41- Shall we start with the oldest? - The oldest.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45Well, this is where it gets really difficult, isn't it?
0:14:45 > 0:14:48- I'll go for this one. - That one as the oldest.
0:14:48 > 0:14:49OK, the most valuable?
0:14:49 > 0:14:50Most valuable.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52One or the other of these.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54- I'll go for that one. - And the odd one out?
0:14:54 > 0:14:58Which, I will remind you, is a later copy of an earlier design.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01I'll go for that one.
0:15:01 > 0:15:02All right.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06Now, you come and stand here with me and Eric will tell us the truth.
0:15:10 > 0:15:15We are looking at a real cross range of tiles from different countries,
0:15:15 > 0:15:21but my first mission is to find the oldest tile.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24I'm afraid it's not this one.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26This is the oldest tile.
0:15:26 > 0:15:31It dates to 1605, painted by somebody called Fernando Valadores.
0:15:31 > 0:15:36Now, let me look for the odd one out,
0:15:36 > 0:15:40that looked as though it should be early, but it wasn't.
0:15:40 > 0:15:46And I can tell you now that the tile that is odd one out dates from 1890.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50No, not there, not there...
0:15:50 > 0:15:51Yes, OK.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54The design is known as the three tulips,
0:15:54 > 0:15:57but it's tricky because, at first glance,
0:15:57 > 0:16:00it looks as though it's the real thing.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03Mmm, valuable.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05You've gone with this.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07I think you really liked it, did you not?
0:16:07 > 0:16:08It spoke to you.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10It's not the most valuable.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14The most valuable - I know it's weary...
0:16:14 > 0:16:16It's not the one with the chip in it!
0:16:16 > 0:16:21It's the tile that... this dates to 1620.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24I know it's in a state, but it is so rare.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27Well, we don't want you to have no points.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30We're going to give you an opportunity to earn five.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34if you had the opportunity to bid at auction,
0:16:34 > 0:16:37what would your estimate be within 15%
0:16:37 > 0:16:40for what we would pay for that tile?
0:16:40 > 0:16:41Four.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44Gosh, £4,000 for one pickle herring tile.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48It is desirable, but it's not as desirable, I'm afraid.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52No, we had that, with its chip, at £1,000.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57Well, I thought that was an extremely tricky first challenge.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00Matthew and Ruth, you both have ten points,
0:17:00 > 0:17:03and Margaret, I'm afraid, not a scoring round for you.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06Now, one of you will be leaving at the end of the next round,
0:17:06 > 0:17:09but it is, frankly, still anybody's game at this point
0:17:09 > 0:17:13so let's go through to the green room for A Place In Time.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20In the second challenge, we've selected five antiques
0:17:20 > 0:17:22all from different periods.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25The first is a toasting glass.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27Then a jewellery box.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30Next a glass bottle.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32Followed by a tea caddy.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34And finally, a pair of porcelain inkwells.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38The antiques have been placed in random order.
0:17:38 > 0:17:42Each contestant will have five minutes to assess and position them
0:17:42 > 0:17:46from earliest to latest on the Antiques Master timeline.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49Ten points will be awarded for each one they get right.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51Matthew is first to examine the porcelain.
0:17:51 > 0:17:55Well, these immediately look Rococo, Louis the 15th period
0:17:55 > 0:17:59if they were French, 18th century, mid-18th century...
0:18:00 > 0:18:01Ah, oh...
0:18:01 > 0:18:03What do you think that was for?
0:18:03 > 0:18:06Well, it looks like inkstands.
0:18:06 > 0:18:11Oh, I was going to say trinket boxes, but I wonder if they're rouge pots.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15I think they are quite old, I'd date them to about 1750.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17The tea caddy is next for inspection.
0:18:17 > 0:18:21This is a beautiful piece of... I would say it's treen.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24Oh, it's lovely, probably early-19th century.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28Now this, I do believe, is a fruitwood tea caddy.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30It has got a lining as well.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33- Which means?- Which was to stop the tea deteriorating.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35I would say it's Regency.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39From 1811 onwards, when poor old George III apparently went bonkers,
0:18:39 > 0:18:45his son stepped in, and then the period ended in 1820,
0:18:45 > 0:18:47when George IV finally became king.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50The third piece to date is the glass bottle.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53Oh, what is that for?
0:18:53 > 0:18:55I'd have said it was a perfume bottle.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57But it's not, it's something for powder.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00- Oh, right, that's a little spoon, is it?- Yes.
0:19:00 > 0:19:01It could be Georgian.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05There was a habit of taking snuff, in other words taking something...
0:19:05 > 0:19:08- So, for naughty substances. - For putting up one's nose.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10Wow, it's rather fun.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13It's got a Lucifer, a Diablo, on the mount.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15It's giving you a very bad vibe, isn't it?
0:19:15 > 0:19:18It's giving me very bad vibes.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22The silver jewellery box has an auction value of £800.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24Oh, gosh this is heavy.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26This looks...
0:19:26 > 0:19:28Oh, padded.
0:19:28 > 0:19:29Well, it means to me 19th century.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33It's also plated because the copper is coming through,
0:19:33 > 0:19:35somebody has polished it.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39All sorts of scenes going on, I don't know if they're mythical
0:19:39 > 0:19:42or are there people going off to war perhaps in this?
0:19:42 > 0:19:45The costume suggests that it's 18th century.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48It's a little coffret, isn't it?
0:19:48 > 0:19:49What's the word?
0:19:49 > 0:19:52- Coffret, is that right? - I don't know, I like it.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54I think it's a box to put in precious things.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57The final item is the toasting glass worth £1,000.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59Oh, that's absolutely lovely, isn't it?
0:19:59 > 0:20:01Absolutely beautiful.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03It's Georgian, isn't it?
0:20:03 > 0:20:08I would say fairly early 1740, 1750 sort of period.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13It looks like a toasting glass, it's got these beautiful twists inside.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15It might be quite early.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17Well, it has a Tudor rose on it.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21So we could be looking really quite early with this.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23It's decision time.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27They must now place the antiques in chronological order.
0:20:27 > 0:20:28It might just stay there.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32Margaret thinks the toasting glass is the earliest item.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34Both Ruth and Matthew agree.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37I would say 1740.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Margaret puts the tea caddy as second oldest.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42And so does Ruth.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44Erm, OK, I'm going to go that.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47But Matthew opts for the inkwells.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50- You're not sure about those. - Not sure about these.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53Margaret places the inkwells in the middle of the timeline,
0:20:53 > 0:20:56- as does Ruth.- Put that in here.
0:20:56 > 0:20:581760 or 1770.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01Matthew's confused.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03I don't know, I just don't know.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05But finally opts for the jewellery box.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09Ruth places the jewellery box in penultimate position -
0:21:09 > 0:21:11again Margaret agrees.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14Regency, early-19th century.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16But Matthew goes for the tea caddy.
0:21:16 > 0:21:20I'm definitely going to have that as the latest...
0:21:20 > 0:21:23Finally, they all agree on the glass bottle as the latest item.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25Almost a Deco look about it,
0:21:25 > 0:21:28somewhere into the early-20th century.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30Time's running out.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32Have a little look down your line and tell me
0:21:32 > 0:21:34if there's anything you'd like to change.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38You look in a quandary, are you happy with your choices?
0:21:38 > 0:21:40I'm not terribly happy, but I'll stick to my guns.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42Thank you very much indeed.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44Time's up.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46Margaret and Ruth's timelines are identical,
0:21:46 > 0:21:48but Matthew disagrees.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50Is either version in the correct order?
0:21:53 > 0:21:55Let's put you all out of your misery.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58One or two things there I think you weren't too sure of - Eric.
0:21:58 > 0:21:59To the earliest piece.
0:21:59 > 0:22:05You were all quite confident that this toasting glass is 18th century,
0:22:05 > 0:22:09Matthew, I think you said sort of 1740 or thereabouts.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12Maybe a little bit later, we think about 1760.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15Absolutely right, that is the oldest piece.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18All three of you get ten points.
0:22:18 > 0:22:23Moving forwards in time, what did I want to see here?
0:22:23 > 0:22:28I wanted to see something that dated to around about 1810 or maybe 1820,
0:22:28 > 0:22:34and, Matthew, you came up with this as dating from that period.
0:22:34 > 0:22:35- I did.- You did.
0:22:35 > 0:22:39Because this I did want to see here
0:22:39 > 0:22:42It is Regency, the date on that is 1820.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45Ten points there to Ruth and Margaret.
0:22:45 > 0:22:49I can tell you now this is the most valuable item in front of you,
0:22:49 > 0:22:53a cool £3,500.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57It all gets very problematic when we get to this middle bit,
0:22:57 > 0:22:59so what should be in front of me?
0:22:59 > 0:23:01Well, not that.
0:23:01 > 0:23:06I'm just going to swap this temporarily for...
0:23:06 > 0:23:09One, two inkwells.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11Who said inkwells?
0:23:11 > 0:23:14Margaret you said inkwells.
0:23:14 > 0:23:15English porcelain.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17These date to 1830.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20So, Ruth and Margaret, again ten points.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22So, it gets interesting at this end of the table.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24What is it and when was it made?
0:23:24 > 0:23:25Well, you're quite right,
0:23:25 > 0:23:28it is a lovely little jewellery casket,
0:23:28 > 0:23:30or if you prefer, Matthew, a coffret.
0:23:30 > 0:23:36So the date on that, I can tell you now, is 1870.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40So, by a process of elimination...
0:23:40 > 0:23:43Not many nice things said about this poor chap.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46It is a late-Victorian little snuff bottle
0:23:46 > 0:23:49with its original silver stopper.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52Date-wise on that, 1898.
0:23:52 > 0:23:57And it is the least valuable of all the items in front of you
0:23:57 > 0:24:01because this particular piece we've got valued at £225.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03Thank you very much, Eric.
0:24:03 > 0:24:08Well done to Ruth and Margaret, you got every single one of them right.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10Let me tell you the scores.
0:24:10 > 0:24:15Ruth. In the first challenge you got ten points, you got the full 50 points on this one
0:24:15 > 0:24:17so you have 60 points and you are in the lead.
0:24:17 > 0:24:21Margaret, you didn't get any points in the first challenge,
0:24:21 > 0:24:25but you got the full 50 this time, so you have 50 points
0:24:25 > 0:24:29and you will be going through with Ruth to our next challenge.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32Matthew, not so good - ten points in the first challenge,
0:24:32 > 0:24:3420 points in this, you have 30 points.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37I'm afraid this is where your chance to grasp
0:24:37 > 0:24:40the Antiques Master title will conclude.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43- I hope you had a good time. - Yes, it's been fun.- Fantastic.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46Ruth and Margaret, to your final challenge, one of you will leave
0:24:46 > 0:24:48with a place in the semi-final.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50Let's go through to the Red Room.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57So, Ruth and Margaret, there's just one guaranteed place
0:24:57 > 0:25:01in the semi-finals and it is time for your final challenge.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03I'm going to start with an open question.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06Please could you buzz if you know the answer.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08It's five points if you get it right,
0:25:08 > 0:25:10but five points off for a wrong answer.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13If you answer correctly, then you'll be able to choose
0:25:13 > 0:25:17one of the five antique categories for a further question worth ten points.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19But, get the answer wrong,
0:25:19 > 0:25:22and the question will be passed over to the other contestant
0:25:22 > 0:25:24who could steal five points from you,
0:25:24 > 0:25:26so please choose wisely.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29The round will end after two minutes
0:25:29 > 0:25:32or when all five antiques are out of play.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36At the moment, Ruth, you're in the lead, you've got 60 points,
0:25:36 > 0:25:38but, Margaret, not far behind, you've got 50 points,
0:25:38 > 0:25:40so, frankly, everything to play for.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43We start with an open question, and the time starts now.
0:25:43 > 0:25:48What type of stoneware, patented by Mason in 1813,
0:25:48 > 0:25:52was said to incorporate furnace slag in the clay?
0:25:52 > 0:25:54- Yes, Margaret. - Ironstone.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58- Ironstone is correct. Please pick a category.- Chippendale?
0:25:58 > 0:26:01From which thoroughfare in London did the Chippendale family
0:26:01 > 0:26:03trade for nearly 60 years from the mid-18th century?
0:26:03 > 0:26:05- Haven't a clue.- No idea.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07We pass it over to Ruth, do you know?
0:26:07 > 0:26:09Regent Street?
0:26:09 > 0:26:11No, it was St Martin's Lane, so not far off.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13Open question -
0:26:13 > 0:26:15what French term is used for an upright linen press
0:26:15 > 0:26:19or cupboard enclosed by large doors?
0:26:19 > 0:26:20- Margaret.- Armoire?
0:26:20 > 0:26:23Armoire is correct. Please pick a category.
0:26:23 > 0:26:28- Moorcroft.- Which company did William Moorcroft leave in 1913
0:26:28 > 0:26:30to set up his own factory at Burslem?
0:26:30 > 0:26:31McIntyres?
0:26:31 > 0:26:34It was, James McIntyre and Co.
0:26:34 > 0:26:35What was the surname of the brothers
0:26:35 > 0:26:40whose glasswork in Nancy in France produced Art Nouveau lamps and vases?
0:26:40 > 0:26:42No? The answer is Dome.
0:26:42 > 0:26:47Which factory in County Fermanagh is known for its iridescent glaze
0:26:47 > 0:26:50and basket ware porcelain with motifs drawn from the local flora and fauna?
0:26:50 > 0:26:52- Ruth.- Belleek?
0:26:52 > 0:26:54Belleek is correct. Please pick a category.
0:26:54 > 0:26:55Christopher Dresser.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58Which subject did Christopher Dresser specialise in
0:26:58 > 0:27:00at the government school of design that is said
0:27:00 > 0:27:04to have had a profound effect on his approach to design?
0:27:04 > 0:27:06- Metalwork? - Not correct.
0:27:06 > 0:27:07Can pass across to Margaret.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10- Plant studies. - Plant sciences, I will accept.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12Botany is the answer we were looking for.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15Open question - meaning 'green of Greece',
0:27:15 > 0:27:18what term is used for the greenish powdery deposit
0:27:18 > 0:27:21on the surface of copper or brass items?
0:27:21 > 0:27:22Ruth.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25- Verdigris. - Verdigris is correct.
0:27:27 > 0:27:28Well, we are out of time.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32I have to say that was a very impressive display.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34It's incredibly tight. Ruth,
0:27:34 > 0:27:36you have finished with 70 points
0:27:36 > 0:27:40and, Margaret, you have just pipped her at the post with 75.
0:27:40 > 0:27:44So, congratulations, we will be seeing you in the semis, Margaret,
0:27:44 > 0:27:47and commiserations to you, Ruth.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50Margaret you look rather shell-shocked. How are you feeling?
0:27:50 > 0:27:52I am shell-shocked, I thought Ruth was well ahead.
0:27:52 > 0:27:54Well, let's get Eric's verdict.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57Well, there were some tough questions there, Sandi,
0:27:57 > 0:27:59but we are looking for the Antiques Master.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02Indeed we are, and do join us next time
0:28:02 > 0:28:06when we welcome three more determined antiques amateur enthusiasts
0:28:06 > 0:28:09to try and claim the title of Antiques Master 2011.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16Well, I'm gobsmacked.
0:28:16 > 0:28:18I don't know if I've got what it takes to win,
0:28:18 > 0:28:21but I'll be doing some homework before the next round.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:28:35 > 0:28:38E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk