Episode 2 Antiques Road Trip

The nation's favourite antiques experts, one big challenge,

who will make the most profit buying and selling antiques as they drive around the jolly old UK?

-£6.

-£5.

-Done.

Is that the very best you can do?

At the end of their trip, they should have made some big money.

But it's not as easy as it sounds.

And only one will be crowned champion at the final auction in London.

This is the Antiques Road Trip.

We start today's road trip with antiques experts Anita Manning and David Barby.

Do I smell romance in the air?

Anita Manning is Scotland's first ever female auctioneer, living and working in Glasgow.

She has a passion for decorative arts and design.

That's lovely. It's functional, it beautiful and it's a good make.

David Barby qualified with the Society of Valuers and Auctioneers

at the very young age of 21, and is often referred to as "The Master"

for his depth and breadth of antique knowledge.

This is what we term as a sort of Arts and Crafts, or Vienna Secessionist influence.

Anita and David began their journey with £200 each,

and David has been surging ahead at auction so far.

-Yes!

-Anita has been fighting her basic instinct, to let loose the purse strings.

I love that colour.

At our last auction,

Anita staged a great comeback from near bankruptcy.

But she's still a long way behind, with £197.18 to start today's show.

Calm and cool. Take your time, Anita.

Don't be Mrs Scattercash.

Look and try to get cheaply.

Front-runner David has been in his own little world so far,

looking for objects that he personally loves

with that certain je ne sais quoi.

That, to me, has "wow" factor.

David had a fantastic auction on yesterday's show

and throws himself back into the world with £369.96.

But I've got over £350 to spend.

I don't want to lose it.

No, course you don't.

This road trip travels from Aberdeen in northeast Scotland

to Leyburn in North Yorkshire.

Today, they're leaving Edinburgh and heading first to Glasgow

on their way to the next auction in Ayr.

# Just the two of us

# We can make it if we try

# Just the two of us... #

Striking, historic Glasgow

sits handsomely either side of the River Clyde.

The trade, industry and wealth brought to Glasgow

by this arterial river has also been

a stimulus for great revolutions in design.

And, of course, Glasgow is Anita Manning's home town.

She's a local girl, so she knows where to find the best antiques.

Lurking beneath a cabinet, Anita finds a collection of mystic stones.

Andrew, what have we got here?

Here, Anita, we've got four rather bruised and battered curling stones.

-Still functional?

-Well, they could be, without too much effort, I think.

-But, we're missing one handle.

-Right. OK.

Curling is thought to have originated in Scotland in the late Middle Ages,

and was played with flat-bottomed river boulders,

before these sculpted granite jokers came into use.

D'you know, these have probably been lying outside somebody's house? Do you think so?

-Oh, yes, people use them as garden ornaments and door stoppers.

-Yes.

In the Victorian era, curling stones began to be thought of more ornamentally,

and decorative versions were manufactured as doorstops,

paperweights and inkwells amongst other things.

See, since they're in such rough nick...

-Go on...

-She will!

Could you give me them for 20 quid?

-Go on.

-I don't know.

-It means they'll be...

-20?

-They'll be out of your life.

They'll be out of your life and you won't have to move them!

They can be £30. I'll make them £30.

30? Andrew, could you go 25?

You know this isn't like me.

Oh, I think it is(!)

-Why not?

-Shall we go for it?

-We'll give it a go.

-Andrew, it's a deal.

-It's always a pleasure.

-They're awful heavy, Andrew.

Ach, I'll put them in the car for you.

So far, so good.

Anita is sticking with the game plan to buy cheaply.

And she's suggested David might visit a local Glasgow exhibition

at the Kelvingrove Museum that he might just love.

The late Charles Rennie Mackintosh

is an internationally renowned architect,

artist and designer from the world famous Glasgow School of Art.

David meets Alison Brown, curator and Mackintosh expert.

He's equally associated in place with the Art Nouveau and the Arts and Crafts movements.

He comes up through the middle.

He's the central icon of the Glasgow School of Art.

He studied there as an evening student, learning metalwork and enamel work.

It was the reassociations with the more traditional crafts and that of the country.

Mackintosh's style used these decorative paintings and patterns as well as strong,

straight outlines helping to define the Art Nouveau style that swept through Europe in the 1900s.

One of his most significant commissions

was to create entire interiors and table settings for a chain

of stylish Glasgow tea rooms.

The piece we're looking at here is part from the ladies' luncheon room of 1900 that Mackintosh designed.

We have a table setting here with medium height backed chairs and high up were these gesso panels.

They are absolutely stunning.

There's all sorts of hidden motifs in these.

They're very textured.

Typical Glasgow style motifs - hearts, roses, butterflies.

Mackintosh's style was very popular in Austria and Germany

particularly with fellow Art Nouveau artist and designer Gustav Klimt.

-Can I say thank you very much indeed.

-Thank you.

-I hope to come back.

-I hope you do.

-Thank you.

With all things Art Nouveau firmly in his heart,

David sets off to finally - and I mean finally - get on with his shopping.

Meanwhile, Anita is on a roll and has found a pair of decorative Edwardian uplighters.

That way.

That's UP lighters, Anita!

What do you do there?

-You hook that into these.

-Right.

-Like that there.

So, that looks to me as if it would be the type of thing that might be in a public building.

Is that a dear thing? Don't tell me!

I probably can't afford it.

150 for the pair.

Anita?

150, the pair, did you get that?

-They're really nice, aren't they?

-Yeah, I like them.

-Could you sell them for 50 quid?

I'll sell them for 75... for the two.

Anita? We're on 75 now.

Got that? Anita? Oi!

-60 quid, Kate?

-Fine. A deal.

-That's a deal. That's absolutely great.

I just think they're absolutely wonderful.

I've just done it. I've done what I said I shouldn't - make an impulse buy.

I couldn't resist these things. They're absolutely lovely.

Yeah, Anita is breaking her own rules already.

But at least she's started buying.

David Barby has only just made his way to this wonderful antiques warehouse.

He's about to walk in there any time...now.

# They call me the seeker... #

And now he's here, time for some tactical play.

David calls ahead to the auction house in Ayr for some inside info.

Naughty.

What's going to sell best in your sale room?

Thank you very much for your advice. I think I shall look for good quality ceramics.

This is what we term as a sort of Arts and Crafts.

Very much in the sort of Mackintosh design here.

Art Nouveau is definitely catching David's eye now.

This is very much in the Art Nouveau style.

I love the concept of this female form, these flowing robes.

This is the new look, the comfort for women.

They weren't heavily corseted.

But at £145? If this had been cheaper I'd have said, "Wow, let's go for it."

But it doesn't have that for me at this price.

I've got over £350 to spend.

I don't want to lose it.

There's the rub.

I really, really like this.

It's a Gray's pottery table lamp.

What's so nice about Gray's, it's a contemporary of Clarice Cliff.

It's all hand-painted, lustre detail.

Albert Edward Gray

began making hand-painted decorative ceramics in the early 1900s

and employed the prolific British designer Susie Cooper

from 1923 to 1929. She produced a vast array of their popular designs,

including this little gem.

That, to me, has wow factor.

The price is £145.

For me, I'd want it half.

At the back of my mind, I've suspicions that Anita is probably doing better than I am.

She's already bought three items and I haven't bought anything!

I've reached that panic situation.

Well, it's never too early to start panicking, I suppose.

Let's see if Jean can help you.

-Hello. Well, I think we could come down a little there. Shall we make it...

-Just a little?

Um, a little. 120?

Would you come down to about 80?

-It's just a wee bit too low.

-OK.

Jean's just not budging.

So David tries a new and ever so slightly cheeky tactic.

If I can't get the price I want from THE WIFE, I'll phone her husband.

Would you take £80 for it? ..£80.

OK. That's absolutely super. Do you want to confirm this with Jean?

All right, OK.

Your husband says £60!

No, no, no! Only joking. Only joking!

Having broken new ground in the field of price negotiation, David shuffles off to find the local girl.

The shutters are falling on the antiques emporiums of Glasgow and the day is drawing to an end.

I'm telling you absolutely nothing because I know if I give you

any information you'll use it as part of your strategic plan.

How on earth do you make that out? You must have bought something.

-Yeah.

-There you are, you said, "Yes!"

You've lost the game! You've lost the game!

A new day dawns and it's straight to work for Anita and David

with perhaps a little pleasant scenery on the way.

The road trip moves on.

Leaving Glasgow behind,

Anita and David head first to Kilbarchan

on the road to Ayr.

Kilbarchan is a town of classic duos.

It has exactly two churches, two pubs and two antique shops

and, now, a dynamic duo of a bargain-hungry road trippers.

Where do we go, have you been here before?

I haven't visited the shops but there are two dealers here and I think they sell very good quality.

-I don't believe a word you say.

-And neither should you!

-Best of luck.

So far, Anita has spent £85 on two items -

the granite curling stones and the Edwardian uplighters.

She has £103.17 left rattling around in her purse.

Whilst cavalier David has shamelessly spent £80 on one item - the pretty Gray's pottery lamp.

David has £289.96 still tucked away in his lovely salmon-pink pocket.

# They call me the seeker. #

So David gets straight to work and finds a stunning wall plaque known as a charger.

This is a lovely piece of Art Nouveau repousse work.

Repousse means the design has been knocked out from the back.

Thinking in terms of Mackintosh and the Art Nouveau movement it's all coming through here.

This gives me the wow factor.

Yes, it's lovely, David.

But it's £300!

Am I going to make a profit on that at auction?

Don't think so.

Anita is very, very well known on this leg of the road trip

as a local Glasgow auctioneer. But will this earn her some favour and good quality knock-downed bargains?

Billy! All these years and I've never been in your shop.

It looks absolutely wonderful.

Anything that you've had lying about for years?

Yes, there is some stuff.

Is there any wee sort of back cupboard or something like that?

Not really.

Anita wants to delve in ALL the cupboards.

And David has turned up something from his rummaging.

Possibly a ladle, but where's it from?

The metal itself, I think, would be silver.

I think this is probably Scandinavian.

I think it's been made up about 1900 or so or just after.

The handle, I'd say, would be more of a Scottish ladle.

One would think probably of that connection with Scandinavia and the north of Scotland

and you have this sort of trading between the two.

-Absolutely.

-You might have had a marriage somewhere along the line

from Denmark or Finland or Norway come over to Scotland.

And where are you going with this, David?

The whole thing has got a story to tell.

I'm going to commit myself and have that.

You have £68 on this. Would you take 50?

Yes, I'd do that as a special for you.

-Thank you very much indeed.

-Thank you.

Now, Anita is taking her bargain search to the next level.

Enough of this chitchat, I've got to get down to business.

I always like a nice piece of porcelain.

-I think that's a lovely bit of Losol ware.

-A nice piece of Losol ware, yes.

-Is that a good seller?

-That's a good seller. Yes.

Losol ware is a range of pretty ceramics made by Staffordshire potters Keeling and Co

from 1912 until the company's eventual closure in 1936.

That can be £25.

In this game, Billy, you wouldn't believe but every pound counts.

Could you sell that to me for...£20?

-OK.

-Will you do that? Is that a deal?

-Yes. It's a deal. OK.

That's wonderful. Thanks very much. You're a darling.

That's lovely. It's functional, it's beautiful and it's a good make.

Anita is happy with all of her items but how does she fancy David's chances?

We have to wait until the next auction to see what happens.

I hope he spends lots of money on one item and it bombs.

Oh, no, that's terrible.

Do you know what it's like when you have such a fixation in your head that you want...

to buy something

and you only think of one thing. It's this.

This is such an extraordinary piece. If I can negotiate...

The actual price asking is £300.

I think I can get it for around about 260.

But here's the rub.

I've only got £233 so I'll negotiate.

That's a big, big item, David. Are you sure you want to risk so much?

I have a problem.

I have exactly £233 left

after buying the other object.

That's all I've got.

Unfortunately, it's £260. To be honest, I think it's a very fair price.

I can't do anything with it. I only have £233 to spend.

I can't help you with that one, unfortunately.

It's a shame but there you go.

You won't take 233?

Go on, you smiled well.

Have I really?! That was almost a scowl.

Thank you very much indeed. Thank you.

Wow, there's a man who's willing to take a gamble. Good on him.

Could Anita be getting her wish for a dangerous item?

The objects I've bought today intrigue ME.

The plaque, if there's somebody there that likes Art Nouveau it could do exceedingly well.

It's time for our experts to finally let each other know what they've been up to.

-David, enjoying a nice cup of tea.

-I am indeed.

-Your things arrived ahead of you.

-Oh, yes.

Are you ready for this?

Close your eyes.

That is absolutely stunning!

I love those.

Well, for the four stones, three handles, £25.

You've done it again.

If you were going to ask me the price I would have said about 50 or £60 each.

That's absolutely beautiful.

I think this top section here is typically northern Scottish.

This, however, I think is possibly of continental origin.

Was this article found on a shipwreck on the north coast of Scotland?

I think you're going into the realms of fantasy now, darling.

Was it a marriage between someone from Scandinavia and Scotland?

Could be. How much?

A lot.

-£50.

-David, I don't think that's a lot for that.

-Do you not?

-I really don't. Second item.

-Losol ware.

I like it. It's lovely and fresh. It's in good condition. It's functional.

Do you like it?

Yes. I think it's slightly old-fashioned.

Yes, uh-huh, but I think it will still appeal to people. £20.

That is very, very good.

-Gray's pottery, David.

-Yes.

-Designed by...?

-Susie Cooper.

-Yes.

I think that's absolutely lovely.

-It's jazzy.

-I love Gray's. A bit wild for your taste, I might have thought.

No, I like the '20s.

-Price?

-I paid £80 for it.

I think it's absolutely lovely.

Oh.

-I have a pair of them.

-How much did you pay?

-£60 for the pair.

-You've gone with your head

-in buying these objects and not necessarily your heart.

-Yeah.

-You're a very practical woman.

Close your eyes.

-Hurry up, David.

-Open them.

Oh, David. That's wonderful.

-My love is for...Art Nouveau.

-Arts and Crafts.

-Arts and Crafts.

It cost me £233.

With all the pieces I've bought, I wanted to buy quality.

And I think you may get a surprise with that.

I hope so.

Well, OK. But what do you really think?

The light fittings, I didn't like.

Susie Cooper. Nice lamp base but it hasn't got that "wow" factor.

I'd have thought with the money she had, she could have splashed out on something more exciting.

I feel that David is such a gentleman

that he would wish me to do well as well.

Well, I wouldn't be too sure! Remember, this is a competition.

Back on the road, it has been a very scenic journey from Edinburgh.

They have shopped around Anita's home turf of Glasgow

and on to lovely Kilbarchan.

Anita and David finally arrive in Ayr for a decisive auction day.

Ayr has a fascinating past, visited by historical celebrities

from William Wallace to Oliver Cromwell

to world-famous and universally loved

Scots poet Robert Burns who was born just down the road in Alloway.

OK, David, the auction is up here.

Let's go!

Callan's auction house first opened its doors in 1933,

selling furniture and furnishings.

Profits from its first ever sale amounted to £22 5s 9d

and David and Anita could do with a bit more than that.

David.

Best of luck.

Michael Callan, a descendant of the original Thomas R Callan,

now runs the auctions here.

He has a few thoughts.

The one item that got all the attention yesterday was the Arts and Crafts charger.

Unfortunately, it hasn't got the maker's mark on it but I expect that to do really well, 120 or 150.

On a good day, up to £200.

Oh, dear! David paid £233 for it and he's got to pay commission on the sale.

What about Anita's curling stones?

They are very highly decorative for in and about homes. People use them as doorstops

on the steps for decorative items so I think they will do well.

Probably 10 or £15 for each stone. I think David

will just edge it if we can get a good price for that charger.

Starting this leg with £197.18,

Anita has cautiously spent just £105.

David started with £369.96 and blew the budget.

He spent the lot.

Thank you.

Hands moisten, eyes widen, stomachs rumble and buttocks clench...

probably! The auction is about to begin.

Oh, the anticipation!

First up, the auction house has split Anita's curling stones

into two lots of two stones each.

Will someone get swept away by the first pair?

22. 24. 26. 28. 30. 32. 34.

36. 38. 40. 42...

All finished then at £42?

Yes! Not a bad start.

That is good.

And it's only half the item.

Now the other set. Will someone else see their ornamental potential?

20, I'm bid. At 20. 22. 24. 26. 28. 30.

At 30. All finished then at £30?

A good profit from a wisely-purchased item.

Next up, David's first item.

It's that peculiar hybrid ladle.

£40 the punch ladle. £40?

£40?

£20?

-I want to put my hand up!

-At 20.

22. 24. 26. 28.

At 28. Any advance?

Oh, God!

32.

34. 36. All finished then at £36.

That's terrible.

That is terrible!

Not a great start for Mr Barby.

Anita got a perfect deal

on this beautiful jardiniere.

Will her good luck continue today?

40.

-45. 50.

-Oh...

At 50. 55.

-60. 65.

-(Yes! Yes!)

-70.

75. 80.

(Well I never!)

All finished then at £85.

-Goodness me!

-Excellent!

An amazing result for Anita.

Quadruple money and she is staging another fight back.

David saw this Susie Cooper painted lamp

and fell in love with it.

He worked hard, very hard, to get the price he wanted.

-£60? £40...

-DAVID: BLEEP!

-for this Susie Cooper table lamp?

Language, David!

I can't believe it.

20, I'm bid. At 20. 25. 30...

45.

45. 50. 55. 60. Any advance on 60?

Sell it then at £60.

That's a total wipe-out, isn't it?!

Oh, David. Some lucky bidder just got a great deal

on that lovely lamp.

This is mine.

A lovely pair... The upturners,

the ceiling bowls.

Come on, uplighters! Light up Anita's day!

60. 65. 70. 75. 80. 85.

90. 95.

100, new bidder. 105. 110. 115. 120.

125. 130. 135.

Selling then at £135.

-Yeah!

-Anita, you know your stuff. You know your stuff.

Unbelievable! From way behind,

Anita Manning has just bolted into the lead.

Lot 17, then. The Arts and Crafts wall plaque.

It's devastating.

No pressure here, David. Well, actually, quite a lot of pressure.

You really, really need

to turn a large profit on this one.

£100.

50? 50 I am bid.

At 50. 55. 60. 65. 70.

75. 80. 85. 90.

95. 100.

-At £100. A small price at £100.

-Oh, dear.

-All finished then at £100?

-Oh, dear!

Oh, that was cheap.

I hope he spends lots of money on one item and then bombs! Oh!

Oh, dear! Oh, dear! Oh, dear, David! Oh, dear! Oh, dear!

It's devastating.

Absolutely devastating.

New bid at 70.

All done for today. All bar the shouting and we have

a new reigning road trip champion, a new angel of the auction.

Anita Manning has finally completed her comeback

and pushed David into second place with a complete reversal of fortune.

Thank you, darling, but hard luck. You know what it's like.

You're up, you're down and every buy is a potential snakes and ladders.

A potential loss.

Anita started today's show with £197.18

and made a fine profit, after commission, of £136.63

and now she has a massive £333.81 to take forward.

46. 48. 50...

David began with £369.96,

spent the lot and made a tragic loss, after commission, of £200.81.

David limps away with just £169.15.

Oh, never mind, David. Don't worry.

-You will bounce back.

-Oh!

-But it is sore, isn't it?

-Sore, yes.

-I've been there.

-I know how you feel.

Forward to the borders, David.

# Just the two of us We can make it if we try

# Just the two of us... #

It won't be long before Anita and David break for the borders

with all the pressure on David to stage his comeback.

David casts a glance at some saucy items.

It has a phallic head which was always a symbol for good luck.

Anita casts a leisurely line.

I'm totally exhausted, David.

It has been non-stop.

Ha-ha! Hang on to your flies, Anita.

There's no let-up for the experts.

The heat will soon be back on to find out

who will come out top at the next auction.

Let's have a quick reminder.

We're on the road with antiques experts Anita Manning and David Barby.

Anita Manning is an auctioneer

who loves that tingly feeling from finding something rare.

And she knows where to look.

What have you got under the counter, Margaret?

David Barby was an antiques child prodigy.

His early career took him from Rugby to London and eventually Leamington Spa.

He's a man who says it like it is.

My name's David Barby.

-Pleased to meet you.

-Hello. I've come to buy something from you.

Anita and David began their journey with £200 each.

They've both been heading in different directions with their tactics.

Anita's been fighting back from near bankruptcy

-and trying to buying cheap.

-That's lovely.

So far today, it's all going well,

and she's way up on her original £200

with a marvellous £333.81 to start the next leg.

Dashing, daring David has been throwing his money around

on big risky items.

Guess what?

BLEEP.

David had a shockingly bad auction and lost all his previous profits.

From his original £200 he has just £169.15 to start this leg.

I've learned my lesson.

You do not put fine art pieces into a household sale.

The market's not there.

This week's road trip travels from Aberdeen in northeast Scotland

to Leyburn in North Yorkshire.

Today, they're leaving Ayr and heading across the Scottish Borders

en route to their first English auction in Carlisle.

Browse around. See if there's anything. Go canny!

I will do! I've learnt my lesson.

Because he's so far behind,

David gets to have first dibs in the first shop of the day.

This is a possibility.

It's Moorcroft and it's a table lamp.

It's stamped Moorcroft. It's a fairly late one

so it's Walter Moorcroft, not William Moorcroft.

He was the son who took over the business after the war in 1945.

The connoisseur will go for early Moorcroft,

late 19th, early 20th century. Bearing in mind

I lost heavily on the last table lamp that I bought,

this has got to be at a very reasonable price.

I noticed the Moorcroft table lamp. That's a fairly late one. What sort of price is that?

-That one's £225.

-Oh!

Well, there goes that idea! Now it's Anita's turn.

Don't be too long - I'm starving!

-Five minutes, promise.

-Are you sure?

-100%.

-I'll give you a starter for ten. Come on!

One...

-Best of luck. I'll count you out now.

-I won't be long.

One, two, three...

Four, five, six...

Actually, just take your time, Anita. David can wait!

-These are Mauchline boxes.

-They are.

I love Mauchline ware and I love these lovely hand-painted boxes.

Mauchline is a pretty town in Ayrshire.

Two local men, William and Andrew Smith,

set up a snuff-box-making factory in around 1825.

They made a considerable name for themselves with boxes,

both plain and decorated.

We had a very pleasant surprise

when we opened that box ourselves.

-His mother...

-Helen Burns, sister of Jean Armour Burns.

-Bonnie Jean.

-Bonnie Jean, wife of the poet.

So this box was painted by Robert Burns's nephew.

The letter appears to be written to the author's uncle,

the world famous Scots poet, Robert Burns.

I suppose this will be quite expensive.

We were about to put a price tag on it. It's a very good example of the period and that type of box.

-But the note adds another special dimension.

-That's right.

So potentially the box is worth a small fortune.

Better put it back and not keep David waiting unnecessarily.

He's got no patience, that boy!

Anita moves on to a larger Victorian stationery box

but someone's done an interesting patchwork job on it.

This is not original here.

Someone has put this on at a later date.

And...I think that's curtain tape!

They've put a bit of a billiard table or card table there as well!

-It's not a fine item. It's never been a fine item!

-No.

Would you sell this to me for £10?

-25.

-It's still a wee bit steep.

-Too steep.

Can you improve on your £10?

-At the end of the day.

-£12.

-Dearie me!

-I know.

On a good day, if it reaches 15 it will be very happy. And so will I!

-We'll do a deal.

-For 12?

-One less thing. We'll do it for 12.

Thank you very much. That's wonderful.

-£12 and thank you so much.

-Thanks very much.

The new super-confident Anita is staying on course

and making the wee canny deals she needs.

Be careful, you've got valuable cargo on board!

GEARS GRATE

I think it needs to go into reverse.

It's back on the road. What a nightmare!

Continuing across the Borders,

the Road Trip heads for Innerleithen in pretty Peeblesshire.

-OK?

-OK. I'm looking forward to this.

-Oh, my. Best of luck!

As David races off to find something to revive his fortunes,

Anita is taking a trip to a doll's house

disguised as an antique shop!

-These dolls are absolutely wonderful.

-This is Jean.

Is that the original dress?

It's not. It's a dress I smocked when I was a child.

With another little friend.

-What date is she, Margaret?

-About 1953.

-So that started your passion for dolls?

-Yes, it did.

Anita and Margaret are happily drifting back into their childhoods!

Whilst David takes a mature peek at some grown-up antiques.

This is a little model of an immortal.

It has a phallic head

which was always a symbol for good luck.

-There's something to sell at auction for a profit. The belt.

-What?

A school belt.

Remember these?

-Oh!

-Sore, eh?

Christopher Columbus!

Whilst David's punishing search continues,

Anita's enjoying some more innocent pastimes.

This is great fun!

Oh, dear!

Is he able to be bought for 20?

Um...

I think he would have to be 30.

I mean, I absolutely adore him.

I absolutely adore him. The only thing that worries me about him

-is that there's no maker's name.

-No.

What if we split it half way? 25.

It's a deal. Thank you so much, Margaret.

I absolutely love him. He's such a cheery little chap.

Talking of cheery little chaps...

This is a 19th-century blotter.

It's very ornate.

These little desk requisites are quite collectable.

What's the very best you can do on that, sir?

Your very best. 20 quid.

-I'll do 15.

-15.

Would you take ten for it, please?

-Yes, seeing as it's a special day.

-Yes?

-Right. Can I put that on one side with you?

-Sure.

I'd like to have a look round. Thank you.

The all-new David Barby is being very cautious with his money

and got a good deal for that.

Back down the road, something sparkly has caught Anita's eye.

It's a decanter and tray

and it's silver overlaid.

In 1883, John H Scharling from New Jersey

patented a technique for overlaying silver on glass

without the underside tarnishing and going dark.

Companies on the American east coast produced popular ranges

with silver foliage and fruit patterns.

-Got these lovely big strawberries.

-And cherries.

And I think there's plums on there as well.

Anita's already agreed a purchase on the cheery wind-up rabbit.

-We're on 25 at that.

-All right.

What about £50 for the two of them?

-OK.

-Shall we go for that?

-That's a double deal.

-It's a double deal.

-It deserves another shake!

-Thank you.

-A twice deal.

Anita's brimming with confidence

and certainly leading the charge on this leg of the road trip.

Can David find a killer item to tip the balance in his favour?

Here we have a set of rather interesting early 20th-century scales,

possibly used for weighing tobacco.

So they weigh a dram of baccy, or something?

Would it be a dram of snuff?

-I think possibly it's snuff.

-I think snuff, too.

-I'll do it for 30.

-For 30. £30 it is.

-We'll have that.

I think this is quirky enough for people to use in a kitchen

as a decorative item.

30.

And 40 for the blotter. Thank you very much.

-Bye!

-Bye!

-Thank you.

So that's it for this day's antique hunting.

The shops are closing and the sky is darkening.

Rise and shine! It's back on the road and back on the hunt for killer antiques.

David and Anita's first English auction awaits them down the road in Carlisle.

David has so far spent just £40 on the silver ink blotter

and the snuff scales.

With £129.15 left to focus on something profitable.

Anita has confidently spent £62 on three items.

The leather stationery box, the wind-up rabbit and the glass decanter set,

with £271.81 left to spend.

However, Anita's been on such a roll

that she's decided not to buy anything more before auction day.

So she gets dropped off in pretty Peeblesshire

for a little bit of "me time" instead.

Well, Anita, we're here. Have a marvellous time. I know you will.

-I'm envious.

-I'm really looking forward to going in here and having a look at everything.

-Bye-bye, darling. Have fun.

-Bye-bye.

Our lady of leisure is visiting Traquair House

for a look into the life of her favourite historical figure,

Mary, Queen of Scots.

Anita meets Catherine, the 21st laird of Traquair.

It's her family home, which also opens to the public.

-They take you over, these houses!

-Yes.

-They're all-consuming!

-So you went away for ten years.

-Yes, then I came back because my father died in 1990

and I'm the only child, so I came back.

Traquair House has been a royal hunting lodge

for over 900 years.

Mary, Queen of Scots visited many times with her young son, James,

who became James VI of Scotland and James I of England.

-Is this Mary, Queen of Scots' bed?

-It is, yes.

This is where she stayed when she slept here in 1566.

She was on a hunting expedition.

She came with her husband, Darnley.

-And this crib?

-This was where James was rocked when she came.

She'd just had him. He'd have been a few months old when they came.

Her life must have been dreadful.

But you still have a wonderful romantic feeling about Mary, Queen of Scots.

Mary lived in dangerous times

as Britain was going through the reformation

and religious persecution was rife.

Even a century later, the Traquair family were cautiously practising their faith.

They had to worship in secret so they had a priest, or family chaplain.

So he would live here.

And for a lot of that period he was living in fear of a raid or search

so he needed to have a quick route of escape.

They built in these bookshelves here

and then behind the bookshelves you open the door.

-I see! He was able to escape.

-He escaped through there.

This joins on to the original staircase of the tower.

Originally the River Tweed flowed at the back of the house

so you were onto a boat and off down the river.

Anita certainly enjoyed her escape from today's antique shopping.

Meanwhile on the road, desperate David heads eastwards

through the Borders to Coldstream in Berwickshire.

Anita's just wallowing in sheer pleasure. She's having a whale of a time.

I'm struggling!

Coldstream is right on the border of the Borders

and the site of the famous bridge into England.

In 1787,

the bridge became the inaugural crossing point

for the first visit to England by universally-adored Scots poet, Robert Burns.

Whereas, the universally-adored David Barby

still has massive losses to claw back from yesterday's show

and needs to find a knee-wobbling bargain today.

'Well, I'm full of great expectations.'

So nice. So expensive!

This is a nice little beaker.

Engraved. And that's its protective cover.

That's £35.

But that's what it would sell for at auction.

That's £180.

Isn't that lovely?

It's all too expensive, David.

What next?

Is there anything on your premises that you can sell me

that I can guarantee to make a profit?

-They're menu...

-Menu stands.

-£60. Is that the best you can do?

-Afraid so.

Is that really the very best you can do?

-58, and that's it.

-50.

No!

No, 58.

58.

-Not 50?

-No. Sorry.

The famous Barby pleading stare just hasn't worked in Coldstream.

Time for a new town. Or maybe a new country!

The Road Trip races towards Wooler, in Northumberland.

Across the Scottish/English border, David is still desperate for a bargain to save his fortunes.

Fingers crossed that I'll find something here.

But I haven't come across an antique shop yet.

So that's a bit disconcerting!

Now, that's what I call taking it easy!

But there's still a bargain antique that needs to be caught.

Right, David?

Excuse me, sir. Is there an antique shop here?

That's good. I've found an antique shop.

I'm limited with money.

I've got to buy something which is going up for auction.

I've got to guarantee to make a profit.

Have a look round. Have a look at the back of the shop. You may find something.

Lead on, Macduff!

Gosh! There's treasures everywhere!

-An old church lectern.

-Yes. I like this shaped carving here.

Gothic tracery.

-Gothic.

-Yes. It's pitch pine.

-I think that's quite startling.

-Mmm.

What date do you put on it? About 1880? 1890?

Yes.

Double-sided church lecterns were thought to have been originally used

for displaying the Old and New Testaments simultaneously.

The reason I look at that is because I've been into posh restaurants.

-Yes, and they use them...

-They use it as a sort of menu holder.

-I've seen that.

-Or bookings.

What's the very best you can do on that?

Because of the damage, I could probably do that for 75.

Could you do it much less than 75?

Could you do it at 40?

-Phew...

-£40.

MAN LAUGHS

-40 quid.

-40 quid. Done! It's done.

It's done! Ah!

God, I've never bought anything so quickly!

David knows a great antique when he sees one.

This could turn the big profit he desperately needs.

Thoroughly relaxed and refreshed,

Anita has arrived early for that special time on the Road Trip.

Our two experts finally get to reveal their secrets to one another.

Ah, what a day I've had!

Oh, David!

First item. I love writing boxes, David.

I thought this one was quite sweet.

-There is a little restoration work done on it.

-That's restoration.

-But the inside's been tidied up.

-Lovely.

-How much?

-£12.

Oh, Anita!

That is so cheap.

This is a little blotter.

It's continental. All this revived Rococo work.

-What do you think?

-I think that's absolutely lovely.

-I paid a lot of money for that.

-How much?

£10!

-Have you learned a wee trick or two from me?

-I have, I have!

-Oh, isn't that sweet? Do you wind it up?

-Yes, it's clockwork.

-That is brilliant. What did you pay for that?

-25.

-25!

Hurry up, David! Hurry up!

-This is a snuff scale.

-It's in remarkably good condition.

-Isn't it just?

-How much, David?

-Well, he was asking £70.

-And he didn't give you anything off?

-£30, I got it for.

Och, that's great! You're teasing me!

It's a little tray and decanter.

It's overlaid silver and it's marked sterling.

-So this is American?

-Uh-huh.

-How much was it?

-£25.

-You've done so unbelievably well!

-I want to give up and go home!

-No!

-Yes, I do!

-Show me your third item.

-OK. It's outside, actually.

I ought to say, "Close your eyes."

-Have you got your eyes closed?

-Yep.

Not yet. Not yet.

Open your eyes.

(Ooh, that's lovely!)

It's Gothic revival.

It's in pine and mixed wood.

-I love this. I love it.

-Really?

-Uh-huh.

I can see it in a restaurant, a hotel...

-That's a most unusual item.

-You told me to buy something cookie!

I would estimate it somewhere between 150 and £200.

What did you pay for it?

40!

Well done! Well done!

All right, that's enough!

Now, tell us what you really think!

I think the lectern for £40!

That was absolutely fabulous!

I thought the writing box she bought, I saw at Sunnyside.

I rejected it, because it was so over-restored.

But she got it for £12!

He's given himself a wee shake,

price-wise.

And I think he'll do very well.

Finally, it's auction day.

Our two experts complete this leg of the trip from Ayr.

They've whizzed around the Scottish borders

before crossing into England and on to Carlisle.

Carlisle is an historic town, all right.

Originally a staging post for the Roman army to defend Hadrian's Wall,

it has been variously part of England and Scotland throughout its existence.

Who it belongs to now depends on who you ask,

but technically, it's in the north of England.

Good auction house. Good auctioneer.

I'm full of expectancy.

Auctioneer Paul Laidlaw has his own thoughts to add to the proceedings.

The lectern worries me. It's a difficult one to call.

If you love it, where would you see another? So buy it. Pay what you have to pay.

But how many people are looking for a Gothic lectern? I don't know.

If the lectern crashes and burns, Anita's stolen it.

Starting this leg with £333.81,

Anita has wisely spent a mere £62.

David started with £169.15, and with a complete reversal of his former tactic,

spent just £80.

-I caught some fish.

-I know you did. You keep telling me.

Christopher Columbus!

Shh! Conversations are hurriedly cut short, mobile phones switched to silent,

and if anyone's not been to the little room, then it's too late now!

The auction is about to begin.

You never know what's going to happen until the hammer falls.

-Perfectly true.

-That's what draws people to the auction.

First up, Anita's leather stationery box.

It's been heavily restored, possibly too much. The buyers will decide.

£10 for a start. At £10 bid.

£10 I'm bid. £10. Nice little lot, this. 15.

20. Five. 25. This is good value,

let me assure you.

Sure you're done? It's below my expectations. Selling at £25.

-Yes!

-That is very good.

-That will do me. That will do me.

An excellent start.

Clearly, someone likes the ingenious restoration work.

Now, David's first item. A blotter for a tenner.

Let's hope it makes a bit more than that.

David has a lot of ground to make up at this auction.

Lovely little Rococo-style silver-topped desk blotter.

-He's so astute.

-£10 for a start, the silver blotter.

£10 I'm bid.

12. 15. 18. 20.

22. Good value here.

-It is.

-The Rococo silver desk blotter. 25.

-25. 28.

-Can we knock 30?

-30.

He's teetering. Quite sure you're all done? Another? 32.

-Paul? He was out once.

-Go on! Go!

All done now at £32.

552.

-Yes!

-The hammer's down.

-Well done!

Excellent. David's new cautious approach to buying is working. So far!

Next, Anita's rather lovely decanter and tray set.

She got a good deal. Now, can she make a good profit?

£10 bid. £10. 12. 15.

18. 20. 22.

Lovely little decanter. 25.

Selling now at 25. 28.

30. Selling. Last time, sir. £30.

Thank you, madam.

-You haven't lost anything.

-It might have gone further.

Not bad. Not great, but not bad.

Now, David's fate hangs in the balance.

Will the scales do him justice?

A scarce set of scales.

-Can they see them?

-Tobacconists.

£10. 15.

20. Five.

30. I'll take two, remember.

32. 35.

-It's worth more.

-At £35.

Oh, dear. After commission, all chance of a profit has been snuffed out.

# Pa-rum-pah-pah-pum! # Can this little bunny

drum up a bit of auction glory for Anita?

-Lot 550A.

-Yes, come on, my little darling!

10. 12. 15. 18.

18. Are we all done? 20.

22. 25.

25 here. It goes now at £25.

I loved that wee thing, as well.

I think I was carried away with it!

Oh, dear. The drumming's stopped

and after commission, it's a loss on the bunny.

Now, it's all down to the lectern.

David's hoping that his killer item will propel him back into the lead.

-How is that lectern going to do?

-Don't get me excited.

-Don't get me excited.

-Are you nervous?

Yes!

Well, what think you of this?

-Love it.

-What a handsome specimen.

At £20 to start. £20 the lectern.

25. 30. Five.

40. Five.

-50.

-Come on!

-52.

55. Sounds cheap to me. 55.

-It is cheap.

-55. 55.

55. Last chance and selling

at £55.

HE SIGHS DEEPLY

-You made a profit.

-£15!

Well...

Don't cry!

A minor profit there, but not the silver bullet that David needed.

I don't think we should be too unhappy about that.

-At least we did not make a loss!

-Yeah.

That's it, folks, for this auction at least.

Despite new tactics and best efforts,

Anita has kept her solid lead over poor old David.

But there's one more leg to the journey to go,

so it ain't all over yet!

Anita started this leg with £333.81.

She made a hilarious profit after commission of £4.20!

She now has £338 and a wee penny to take forward.

David began with £169.15

and made a minor profit, after commission, of £20.96.

Dave fights on

with £190.10.

-Will you stand there and back me round?

-Don't move quickly.

I don't like going backwards.

Hard!

-OK!

-Come on!

In the next episode,

it's Anita and David's last journey together.

Anita gets down to business.

If I can maybe make you a wee offer?

David gets down the market.

-You're a hard man!

-Don't say that! My wife says that.

And they both get on down the road to Yorkshire.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd