Episode 11 Antiques Road Trip

The nation's favourite antiques experts, £200 each and one big challenge -

who can make the most money buying and selling antiques as they scour the UK?

Looks like something from Silence Of The Lambs.

The aim is trade up and hope each antique turns a profit.

But it's not as easy as it sounds and there can only be one winner.

So will it be the highway to success or the B road to bankruptcy?

Oh, fresh blood, fresh blood!

This is The Antiques Road Trip.

In the starting blocks this week are antique experts Kate Bliss and James Lewis.

They've got the pleasure of "beetling" about

in this classic 1979 Vee-Dub convertible.

Do you know, I love the smell of these old VW Beetles?

And the sound of the engine.

An experienced auctioneer, James has been interested in antiques since he was a nipper.

On holiday in St Tropez, his souvenir purchase was an English pocket watch at the age of five.

I always buy things I like or things that are interesting

rather than things that are going to make me a profit. That's my problem.

James' competitor Kate is new to the Antiques Road Trip concept.

She's an experienced antiques expert but she's in unfamiliar territory

on the road trip and geographically. How will she fare?

I just don't know what people buy up here. This is the tricky thing.

Each starting with £200, our experts compete to find antique bargains

worth selling on at auction at the end of the programme.

Here to be sold. You all done?

Whatever money they have after today's leg

will be their buying budget for tomorrow,

and so on until the end of the week.

May the best man or woman win.

And any profits made at the end of the week will be donated to charity.

No, I can't make a loss on my last lot!

James and Kate's road trip this week will see them explore bonny Scotland.

Do you know, I haven't got a clue where we are, James?

We can not be much further north.

From the Highlands in the north,

our experts will wend their way past lochs and munros all the way to Ayr.

Their journey begins today in Sutherland,

from Helmsdale to Golspie,

and they'll sell their items at the auction in Buckie.

We're just south of John O'Groats.

Gosh, we're right up there! Wow!

I knew my geography was pretty bad but...

-My worry is, I don't know how many antiques shops are going to be up here.

-Well, you never know.

There might be all sorts of places tucked away here nobody gets to.

Now, Kate and wee James have found out that 20th century collectibles sell well at the Buckie auction.

I can't get a hang of these gears.

Good start.

But antiques of any description could be few and far between quite literally up here,

because despite being Scotland's fifth largest historic county,

Sutherland's total population is only around 14,000.

But the area does have a definite claim to fame -

the author MC Beaton was inspired to write the Hamish Macbeth series

of books when she visited the area.

However, it's real towns and real finds that Kate and James are interested in.

-From the word go, it's each man and woman for themselves.

-Oh, well, have fun.

-Lovely, all right.

-Have fun. Good luck.

-You too.

-Bye!

-Bye.

James is striding off in search of Loth Station near Helmsdale.

I was tipped off that this would be a really good place for me to go.

Time alone will tell.

Hello.

Ooh, hello.

But will you manage to get near the place, James?

I'm a friend,

I'm a dog lover!

Don't matter what sort of lover you are, I'm going to bite you.

-Is he vicious?

-Yes! He's a killer.

Rowland Chamberlain calls the station master's house home,

but these days, the trains only whistle through Loth Station rather than make even a whistle stop.

Built in 1872 on the Inverness to Wick far north line,

the station served the local area until it was closed in June 1960.

Rowland is originally from Burton on Trent

but he's lived in Scotland for many years, and bought the station on impulse in '94.

I was walking up Glen Loth and looked across and saw it,

came down to have a look at it and there was a for sale sign, so I bought it.

-Just like that.

-Just like that.

Now the ticket office and waiting room are home to a strange collection of antiques.

-There we go.

-Oh, my goodness!

What interesting things.

It's the sort of stuff that I sell that I like.

Not everybody's cup of tea.

Certainly not. Remember what the auctioneer advised.

Go for 20th century collectibles.

Guillotine slicer.

Very different.

What would be your best on that?

22, I think, is a good price for something you're not absolutely certain about.

I think it should be less because I'm not certain about it!

-Now something else has distracted James.

-What do you think that is?

You know about these things.

It looks like a...

It's a pit pony muzzle, isn't it?

I think it is. Why is it reinforced?

Because I think, so that they don't bang themselves.

It's a pony muzzle definitely, isn't it?

Yes, yes.

From the mines, I think.

I just don't know who on earth would want it.

Looks like something from Silence Of The Lambs.

It does. Oh, dear.

Meanwhile, away from the horrors of the station house,

Kate is taking a more casual approach to the competition.

Her first stop is Dunrobin Castle in Golpsie, and her tour guide is

none other than the lord himself, Lord Strathnaver of Clan Sutherland.

-Very nice to meet you.

-Thank you so much for having us here.

Not at all. Come in. It's a pleasure to have you.

Dunrobin Castle has been in Lord Strathnaver's family for seven centuries,

and some parts of the building still date back to the 1300s.

But the French style chateau you see now

was mostly constructed in the 1800s, designed by Houses of Parliament architect Sir Charles Barry.

And it's now open to the public.

I find it great fun. It's like putting on a piece of theatre.

-The only problem is you can't take it off!

-Yes!

Over the years, the castle has accommodated a naval hospital and a boys' boarding school,

and today, what was once essentially a hunting lodge now boasts 189 rooms.

This is the green and gold room.

The outstanding piece of furniture in it is this fantastic bed.

Gosh, it is incredible.

Well, it was made for Queen Victoria, who came here in the 19th century for a week.

Sadly, there are bits of it missing.

You can see there's a hook there and a couple of screw holes,

and I think the whole thing was more elaborate and has been simplified.

I have a vision, no evidence, but I have a vision of an enormous

purple tent or something hanging from the ceiling, with Queen Victoria tucked up inside it.

I love the oak leaves down here, which, of course, are very English.

I know you have a lot of oaks in Scotland, too.

But the birds are beautifully done, aren't they?

They're lovely, absolutely lovely.

Doves for peace, and it's a miracle they've survived.

They are absolutely as new. No bits knocked off them.

At the station house, James is finding even more bizarre items.

Did you used to watch Hawaii Five-O?

-I did.

-It's like something you would...

But it's a hardwood, isn't it?

It is an oar, isn't it? But it's an oar from what?

-I don't know, I don't know.

-Because it's like the old...

Maori sort of paddles, isn't it?

Not many Maoris in Buckie, James.

What on earth is that?

You're a dealer, you should know.

I'm an auctioneer. I love tribal art, I love African art,

and it doesn't feel African to me.

But it's the flint that's really making me think, gosh, that's unusual.

The asking price is £48.

I think I'm probably mad to buy that.

But I like to buy things that are different,

and that's certainly different. How much are these?

-24 quid, is that for the pair of them?

-Yes.

A pair of oars, two oars. Oh, dear, am I going mad?

If I did something totally bonkers and bought that, these and that...

-how about 50 and I'll take all three?

-Oh, dear.

-Were you a dentist in an earlier life?

-No!

-60.

-Oh...

Be sensible, James. 54 quid, how about that?

Brilliant. Lovely.

And it's three sales and well done.

Fingers crossed. God, what have I done?

Who is going to want these up in Scotland?

I don't think I've done the right thing at all.

Oh, dear. Well, at least I didn't buy the horse muzzle.

Hmm, there's still time.

You ought to put that on your dog.

-How much?

-15.

-15.

Round it up to 60 and we've got a deal.

What am I doing? I shouldn't be doing this.

I've just bought a horse's muzzle!

Who's going to buy this?

You just did!

I should be wearing that muzzle.

Well, you said it, James.

Meanwhile, back at the fairytale castle...

I think I would have to have a map if I lived here

or I would be going round in circles.

Well, you certainly can't afford to get lost, Kate - you've got some shopping to do.

That's my mum's collection of Wemyss Ware from Fife.

Wow. Gosh, she's got some really important pieces there.

Wemyss Ware originated in Fife in 1882.

The free flowing, naturalistic hand painting makes it very sought after Scottish pottery.

I love the pigs. Everybody loves the pigs, don't they?

Any of these pieces would go down a treat at auction,

but sadly for Kate, they're way out of her price range.

And at Loth Station, it's James' turn for a history lesson.

Rowland was careful to hang on to any railway memorabilia,

and a previous stationmaster's son has given him some old photos.

The station master's hat.

I actually found it in the bothy when I first moved in.

-Fantastic.

-And it had been thrown at the back, but as soon as you picked it up, it started to crumble.

A very great shame. Well and truly moth-eaten.

Gosh. Aww, their little dog.

-Looks a bit more friendly than yours.

-Yes.

Kate's castle tour is over.

Well, this is my pride and joy, the formal garden.

Oh, dear, spoke too soon.

All right, then, have a quick look at the Versailles-inspired gardens,

but get a move on because there's shopping to be done.

Well, it's been fascinating and really informative to

look around the castle, and I feel really lucky to have seen it in my travels up here.

But I suppose I'd better get on and go hunting for some antiques.

I have a feeling I'm not going to find anything as impressive as what I have seen here.

-I hope you do.

-Thank you very much.

I hope she does too, because she's already got this to compete with.

What have you bought?!

Oh, don't ask.

-You just do not want to know.

-Packages?

I really wish I could show... I really wish I could tell you.

Are these going to fit in the car?

-That's exactly my worry.

-What are they, fishing rods?

-I wish they were fishing rods.

-Skis?

-Again, they would probably be better sellers in Scotland but no.

-Just don't.

-I'm intrigued.

As well you might be.

But you won't see them till all the buying is done.

Right, where to next?

From Golspie, they head south down to Dornoch.

Look at this blue sky.

Dating back 1,000 years, the small town of Dornoch

is the site of the last witch burning in Scotland in 1727.

Although whoever engraved the stone marking this claim to fame got it wrong by five years.

And more recently, a certain Madonna christened her son Rocco in Dornoch Cathedral.

Let's hope here is where our "virgin" buyer "gets in the groove".

We're talking Kate here.

-Happy hunting!

-And you!

James heads for Castle Close Antiques,

which has over 170 square metres of furniture, jewellery, porcelain and silver.

This looks promising.

A mixture of everything.

While Kate plans to comb the shelves of Sue and David Williams'

somewhat smaller and more tightly stocked Dornoch Antiques.

You've got this place stuffed full, haven't you, with all sorts of things?

Ooh, has Kate spied her first buy?

Now this is quite an interesting piece. This is a bit of Midwinter.

Very much in the modern style,

quite a geometric pattern on it, known as Homespun, is the pattern,

and it's an area, really, of antiques that have become a lot more buoyant just recently.

It's a cake plate, which has also become a lot more commercial

with the rise of Cath Kidston and Emma Bridgewater china.

This is really something that would fit into a really contemporary home.

If it was pink or blue or a bit more vibrant, I'd have it straight away, but it is a bit of a dull brown.

Kate needs to get a move on, though.

She hasn't bought anything yet, while James on the other hand,

has already bought four items and is looking for his fifth.

Prices are quite high.

They're almost out of reach of bargaining, really.

There has to be a bargain somewhere.

There will be.

I just need to keep looking.

Golly.

Kate's finally spotted something she likes -

Carltonware, a pair of 1970s novelty soldier pepperettes.

But they're not cheap at £45, and Kate's also spotted a novelty car teapot at a whopping £110.

So what would be your very best for the teapot and if I took the pepperettes as well?

30 and 60, so, 90, but that would be really the best.

30 and 60.

Hand wringing may not be the best course of action here.

You can cut the atmosphere with a knife.

Which way will it go?

Don't know. Have to have a think, I think.

Time wasting, Kate. You have to get into the game somehow.

Mr Lewis, however, has decided to walk away empty-handed for a change.

Scenery, brilliant. People, brilliant.

The buildings, brilliant. The weather?

Awesome. The antiques?

Hm.

Or maybe, James, you've just met your match

in this town and you just can't find dealers to come down to your prices.

I'm feeling a bit for Kate, really, because this is her first buying chance

and if this is her first experience and she's feeling the pressure

that we're at the end of day one,

I think she's going to really start thinking that she's got to buy something.

For me, that bit of pressure's off.

So although I've bought things that I think are totally stupid,

a little bit bonkers - I can't see anybody in this community that's going to want a horse's muzzle -

but at the end of the day, I'm in a better position than Kate,

-at least I've spent some money.

-Maybe, James.

But she has a deadly approach to bargaining. Just watch and learn.

What about the pepperettes, if I just took the pepperettes?

What could you do for me on those?

35, really.

-I'm thinking 15.

-No, no, no. We're too far apart.

-No...

Frustrated he can't find any buys himself, James has come to find Kate

but doesn't want to interrupt the negotiations.

It's gone half past five.

Kate's been in there since half past eight this morning.

Slight exaggeration, James.

What's your chintzy bowl here? Is that a more modern one?

Kate's spotted an Empire ware comport, a fancy name for a fruit bowl, really.

Although attractive in the Lilac Time pattern, it's not quite level on its base.

So what can you do for me on that?

What have you got, 40 on there?

20 there.

Five?

25.

As it's a bit dodgy...

Five?! Oh, dear me!

What is she doing in there?

Be patient, James.

Don't interrupt her flow.

Five to take that off your hands?

I can hear lots of Sellotape being torn

and lots of bubblewrap,

so she's definitely bought something.

Yes, Kate's tactics have paid off, and she's bought the wobbly comport

for a fiver, the Carltonware peperette soldiers for £20,

and at the last minute, spotted an early 20th century porcelain baby plate for which she's paid £10.

What a deal! What a baby!

Well, actually negotiating is the bit that I really don't enjoy.

But I think you've just got to stick to your price.

Something's only worth what somebody is prepared to pay for it,

at the end of the day, whether that's me buying it to then put it in auction

or whether it's a tourist who may come through and be prepared to pay more.

It's each to their own, and that was my price

and it was just a question of whether David was going to meet me or not.

In the end I think, poor chap, he was hammered so hard he just gave up.

Yes, he just shrivelled up. But it paid off,

and at the end of day one, they both have purchases under their belts.

The second day doesn't get off to a racing start.

Kate isn't happy.

-Morning, Kate.

-Hi, James.

How's things? Are you going to drive?

Well, no, I don't think I am. Take a look at this.

The left-hand driver's seat has left its moorings.

-OK, well, I'm absolutely useless with cars.

-Are you?

But he is good with the phone, and calls for a garage.

In the meanwhile, that only leaves one option to get to the shops. Taxi!

Yesterday, Kate and James began heading south from Helmsdale

and today they're heading east to Auldearn,

just outside Nairn

in Morayshire and ultimately,

onto the auction in Buckie, where they will sell their antiques.

Situated in the stunning setting of an old church and grounds,

Auldearn Antiques sells anything, from antique toys,

to linen, to bric-a-brac, to architectural and antique furniture.

Previous clientele include Tilda Swinton and Kate Moss, dontcha know,

but chances are their budgets were slightly higher than ours.

Oh here we go. Look! Ooh it looks a really good moochy place.

Mmm. Moochy, eh?

Of their original 200 apiece, James starts the day with £140 and Kate with £165.

You have to speculate to accumulate in this game, so buck up.

-There seems to be quite a lot down there.

-Yes.

It says shops this way.

-OK. Do you want to try that way and I'll try this way?

-All right. I might come and catch you up.

-Bye.

-Good luck.

Looks a good mix in here.

What a building.

Amongst the furniture, a decanter catches James' eye.

There's no movement there at all and it's nice and straight.

Star-cut sides.

It's got the ground pontil mark,

so imagine that's been blown on a pontil iron or blown on a glass iron.

So blown from this end, so you're blowing it and the shape is coming out.

Rolling it on the surface there to give it some shape

and then when you take it off your blowing iron,

you attach it to a second iron called a pontil iron,

and when that eventually breaks off, when the glass is cold,

it leaves a rough mark, so that rough mark

doesn't scratch your table when your decanter's been sliding around, like that,

they grind it down and its known as a ground pontil mark.

If you look around the edge,

you can see all the scratches of 200 years of wear.

And that is a classic regency shape.

That's 1815 to 1825.

Wonderful facet cut, triple ring neck, mushroom stopper

and a typical classic piece of design from the 1815-1820 period.

The difficulty is people don't decant as much now.

If they did,

that would be a cert. 20 years ago, that was worth £60 or £70.

It's just fashion,

but you know,

25 quid, not a lot of money.

Meanwhile Kate has been drawn into a barn full of crockery. Smashing!

Iooking for something a little bit unusual, I think. A bit quirky.

I don't think I want to spend too much, so this looks like quite a good place to start.

These little jam pots are actually quite good sellers.

I mean, Clarice Cliff was making them, but more affordable factories

also did the same sort of thing with bright glazes like this one.

Oh, it's Carltonware? It is Carltonware, on the bottom there.

So that's quite fun, with the flower finial.

Put that there, that's a possibility, perhaps for a couple of pounds.

Ooh, now, this looks OK.

Now, this is Crown Devon

and you've got the "Made in England"

on the bottom there, so you know it's post 1940s

and you've got quite a nice fuschia decoration there,

this dull grey pattern perhaps isn't the most saleable

but the fuschia makes up for it because that is not only a nice

bright glazes but it's also moulded and it's in good condition

as far as I can see, which is the most important thing.

So I might just ask him if he could do something on that,

cos that would go quite nicely with my marmalade pot.

We have a more confident Kate today, don't you fancy?

But James is really going for gold. Oh what's this?

He's accosted a stranger outside the shop. What's he up to?

Gentleman's just been to a car boot and bought this for ten quid, which is absolutely fantastic.

Victorian games compendium.

-Nice named one.

-Yeah, it's lovely.

Mmm. So lovely, that before you know it...

How about 80 quid?

Make it 100 and it's yours.

90, split the difference and we've got a deal.

95 and that would be it.

Go on, I've got to make a living!

You've just made 900% profit!

Well, I know but you don't do that every time, do you?

And it is a nice one.

-Make it 90, go on.

-Go on then, 90 quid.

90 quid. We've got a deal.

Thank you. Oh, my goodness, what have I done here?

Fools rush in and all that, James.

Kate meanwhile has found a Falcon ware covered bowl to go with her other two ceramic items.

Here we go again look, she's got him on the ropes!

Couldn't you do a nice round figure of 20?

Go on then. We'll make an effort to make it work for you.

Yes. All right. That's really kind, thank you very much.

James, on the other hand, is not so sure about his purchase.

Now, like an idiot, what I didn't do was make sure that all the chess pieces were there

and this could well be my downfall if they're not,

so I should have nipped round the corner and done this without anyone looking, but here we go.

This could be a costly mistake.

Hoping, please let them all be here.

It must be catching this, Kate's just spotted a board game. Well, sort of.

You've got a bagatelle board over here.

What can you tell me about this?

Originating in 18th century France, bagatelle is an indoor table game

and was, in fact, the precursor to pinball.

This one's priced at £25. Wizard.

So what's your best on that?

I could probably take three or four pounds off it.

-Couldn't be less.

-Really? I was thinking 15.

No. Can't help you at that.

Not that sort of amount. 17 would be the absolute best.

17.

Meet you in the middle at 16?

I'm meeting you already in the middle at 17.

-Hmm.

-Hmm.

The silence tactic again.

It's deadly and effective.

-Go on, 16.

-16?

As an absolute... The best we can do.

-OK.

-That can help a little bit.

-That'll do, thank you very much.

-16 it is.

-Great.

-Thank you very much.

Game to Kate...and James, well the excitement finally got to him.

Well, I certainly have an assortment.

I seem to have majored on ceramics somehow,

so I'm really putting my eggs in one basket to a certain extent,

apart from my bagatelle board

and I'm just hoping that what the auctioneer has advised,

that it 20th century sale, it's a collectibles sale,

these fall into that category,

so I'm just hoping that the buyers are going to be there for my ceramics.

The bagatelle board, because it's American,

because the colours are so nice on it, it still works, the spring's great,

it's got the trade name really clearly, I'm hoping that might be my secret weapon

and that might give me the best profit.

James also decided to go for the Regency era decanter

and some Victorian clothes hangers, of all things. £28 all in.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

Lovely day, lovely place. And er...

-Good luck.

-Thanks for the deal.

Thank you. Have a good day.

Bye.

After the frenzy of buying, a familiar friendly face awaits.

Hey, there she is!

Repaired and returned in the spirit of Highland hospitality. Och, aye!

With only £22 left in his coffers,

James is prepared to call it quits and reveal his purchases to Kate.

But Kate has almost £130 to spare and just before they park up

for some, "I'll show you mine if you show me yours,"

she spots just one more buying opportunity. Sneaky.

-Don't be long.

-All right, I won't.

-10, 20, 30 notes.

-Thanks very much indeed.

-Thanks very much for your help.

-That's great.

Cor, that was quick and we'll see what she bought shortly.

With the shopping marathon over, let's have a little show and tell, or perhaps a big show and tell,

I've lost count of how many items have been purchased!

I have to say to you, you got to understand that I had a rush of blood to the head.

James starts the ball rolling with his kooky quartet from Loth Station.

-They're paddles.

-Paddles. I'm afraid it just goes on.

-Wow, look at that.

-It's an interesting thing.

The blade I think is made from obsidian, glass.

So I think it's from somewhere volcanic

and this bit looks South Sea island, almost sort of Maori in its design.

The paddles and spear are unknown quantities,

but at least James is now more sure about one of the station buys.

A little...

tobacco cutter. From a shop counter, 1930s shop counter.

I didn't know what it was for sure when I bought it,

but I looked on the internet afterwards and there were lots of them.

I think that's a potential profit for me, I think that should do well.

-But, the star of the show...

-I'm going to have a look at your guillotine.

What does absolutely everybody need?

Kate, are you ready?

A pit pony muzzle. I don't know why I bought it, I just did.

So what are we talking money wise? So, all this was a deal?

It was one deal. I really wanted those three.

They were coming at £54 and that made it 60.

So, it didn't break the bank.

Nevertheless, will anyone want to buy them at the auction?

Kate's turn.

Oh, they're great!

They're Carltonware, it's a gold back stamp,

which I think they put on what they call their best ware as it were,

but they're fairly late, they're '70s, possibly even later.

-How much did you pay?

-£20.

-They not going to make less, are they?

Well, who knows? I've gone for a bit of...

-Ah, a bit of chintz.

-..chintz.

It's not Royal Winton, it's Empire.

The same sort of thing, the pattern is called "lilac time",

which I thought was really pretty and well, what do you think?

-Nice. Like it. Ah! You like those.

-I do like these.

-I remember you saying before.

-But, I mean, this has no important factory,

it's simply continental.

The comport only cost a fiver and the baby plate, a tenner.

What will Kate make of the games compendium James impulsively bought for £90 from a man on the street?

You open it up and it's nicely fitted.

-That is very nice.

-So I like it, but I think I probably paid too much.

I think it's very nice.

Come on Kate, the game's not over yet. Onwards and upwards.

-Back to safe.

-Ah, Carltonware.

-Back to safe.

More Carltonware.

Mmm. Don't like that. Like that though.

So, £20 pounds for the three. Don't think I'm going to make a fortune.

-You won't make a loss.

-But in that shop though, I didn't have somebody walking in with a games compendium.

-Oh, is that where you bought it, same place as that?

-Exactly.

James' last impulse buy were three brass and wood Victorian coat hooks and the Georgian decanter.

I love it.

That is very nice.

If the Victorian hangers were £15 and James got both lots for £28, the decanter only cost him £13. Got it?

-Well I would buy it, you would buy it.

-I would buy it.

But again, will anyone buy it at auction?

So, you've got 3 guesses.

Well looking at that shape,

-it's a bagatelle board.

-How can you tell that?!

-Is it?

But it's an American one. From Connecticut.

Lindstrom's Gold Star and it's in pretty good nick

and the little spring is still working.

Useless.

Finally, here's Kate last minute buy,

a marble art deco clock garniture.

-I stayed with the 20th century...

-Brilliant.

-..but art deco.

-Brilliant.

-Absolutely brilliant. French?

-And it's a clock garniature.

-French 1930s art deco at it's best.

-"Garniture" refers to a group of decorative objects

made as a set, for display on something like a mantelpiece.

How much?

£30.

That is a steal! I think you should put a one in front of that!

I think that is the best buy by miles.

-But you know as well as I know, that anything can happen at an auction.

-It can, yeah.

That was all very nice and matey, now what do they really think?

I think James' objects are obviously very different from mine.

He's gone for very eclectic items and I think the difference is

I played safe and I've gone for a pretty main stream market.

I've gone for hopefully things which will be fairly well known in the sale room, where we're going.

James' things however, if they go on the internet,

have a lot more potential, I think than mine to make a huge profit.

I've got a risk of blowing loads of money and losing loads of money.

Kate, I don't think will loose much, if anything on any of her lots.

James knows the market may not be here in Scotland for his risky buys.

And before the day of the auction, he's called, as dealers do,

some industry contacts, hoping to generate some phone and internet bidding.

A good business move, but perhaps not in the spirit of our game, eh?

-So, off to Cluny.

-Off to Cluny Auctions.

For the auction, Kate and James are beetling

to the fishing village of Buckie in Banffshire. Or are they?

-Aren't they lovely?

-Aren't they lovely?

There's a big one lying on his tummy out there.

Well that was a bonus, wasn't it?

-We'd better hit the road again.

-I prefer animals to antiques.

There's no time to get distracted.

Lovely as it is to see the seals, there's an auction about to start

and hopefully if all goes to plan, profits to make.

The heart of Buckie is Cluny Harbour.

Built by the Cluny family in 1877,

it was once one of the finest harbours in Scotland

and today still bustles with fishing boats and an active shipyard.

And right on Cluny Harbour is Cluny Antiques, where the antiques and collectibles sale will take place.

-I can smell the sea.

-Me too.

It's anyone's guess whether Kate and James' finds

will sink without a trace or prove to be catch of the day.

What does auctioneer John Ferguson think?

I think unusual things is best nowadays because nobody knows the price of them.

There's a few bits of china there,

which is quite common really.

Although a bit of Carltonware there,

it's a bit old hat these days.

I think we've got a Melanesian spear and a couple of paddles there as well and there is

a bit of interest in that, so I think they should do quite well.

All four of James' items bought from Loth Station job lot will be sold

separately by the auctioneer, making a combined total of 13 lots for Kate and James.

Let's hope it doesn't prove unlucky for anyone.

The muzzle is first.

Why did I buy a pony muzzle? Why?!

As part of the job lot for £60,

this, er, collectible, only cost him £6 in real terms.

30, at £30. Anybody else at 30?

Gosh, an unexpected hit in the Highlands.

The gentleman has a bidder here at 32, 34.

34. All finished and done now at 34?

-There we have it. 158.

-Haha!

A £28 profit before commission, far from the pits indeed.

The first of Kate's buys to go under the hammer

is the floral menage a trois.

Oh, look at them, don't they look good?

But just how good do they look

to a crowd that's just gone for a pit pony muzzle?

...at £40. He knows a good thing.

-42.

-Go on! Yay.

There you have it then.

Well done, you.

Kate's off to a good start with a nice little earner.

Costing only a fiver, her Empire Ware,

chintz patterned comport was cheap for a reason.

You can really see, it's slightly wonky.

£18. 18, 20, 22, 22?

I'll get you...is that a bid? 24.

At £26, all finished?

-169.

-Fantastic.

26! For a drunken comport.

Next up is James's mahogany, Edwardian games compendium.

This is going to be my achilles heel.

No, you never know.

Five there? Five bid.

-Six?

-I want to go home!

Don't be disingenuous, James. You know it's a good lot.

And five. 225, with me at 225.

225 with me and 30. Is that a bid?

260.

All done at 260?

-Come on.

-265 is with me.

265. Shakes her head at 265.

Is there anybody else in the room at 265 then?

-No. Lot number...

-Oh, my god.

Fantastic.

-Well done.

-Indeed.

Phone bids helped push the price

for the games compendium into a different league, seeing James

score a cool profit of £175 before commission.

The competition has really started to hot up.

What will the bagatelle board fetch?

Kate hoped it might be her secret weapon.

26 at 28, 28, 30, £30, up in the middle there.

At 30, all finished and done then?

A solid profit.

That's a little profit after commission.

The art deco clock will have to hand over an even better one to keep her in the game.

Come on, the clock.

50 pounds, now at 50.

Anybody else? And 5... 70 and 5.

80. £80 then?

The clock's chimed in with a decent profit,

but James is very much in the lead still with plenty of items to sell.

These 19th century Pacific island wooden paddles

were part of his £60 job lot.

So average out, the cost of the paddles would be £14.50.

55, 60. £60. Bid's on the phone at 60, £60...

Only at £60 then?

All done away then at £60?

-There you have it.

-Well that was quite a little lot

you spotted in the old station.

Also from that little lot is the tobacco cutter.

All finished and done then?

Ah! At 32.

-34. You bludgeoned him into submission.

-Go on!

At £36. All done then?

No more?

Again, a good cut for James.

Can Kate's Carltonware soldier pepperettes bag her a profit?

£40 then?

Uniformly doubling their selling price,

the soldiers present a decent salute.

James' Victorian hangers make him a profit too.

As does the Georgian decanter. Very good.

At 25?

-I think that's cheap.

-It is cheap.

Will Kate's last item spell out a final resounding success?

£10.

Five then? I'll start you anywhere, I'll get them up. Five to get going.

-5, I'm bid, at 5...

-Oh, come on.

-Go on.

-12, I'm bid.

No money. Fresh blood, fresh blood.

At 24, 28 at 30, £30.

At £30?

Well done, you.

£30. So the plate trebled its selling price,

but can it compete with the spear?

The auctioneer thought this might do particularly well and James did some homework.

I did a little bit of research after I bought this as I didn't

know what it was at the time, but it's Melanese

and it's obsidian top and that binding is nut binding,

set with cowry shells and in the right sales, these do quite a lot of money.

His "research" was a bit more than that, actually.

Tapping into his connections has generated interest in the spear

and some serious collectors are likely to be bidding.

-I can start you here at 190.

-190!

-At 190.

220, at 220. At 230.

240, 240. All done?

£240. Well done, you.

A remarkable result.

Those calls to your contacts really did pay off, James.

So the grand totals:

Kate's total profit after commission came to £103.29,

so she now has a solid £303.29 to play with on the next leg.

James' whacky gambles and "research" paid off to the tune of £403.57.

So the competitive Mr Lewis has an amazing £603.57 in his kitty.

That's bumper profit for James and shoots him into the lead.

Two absolute fliers and I have to say,

if I saw that spear in a shop, would I have bought it?

I don't know whether I would have done, so well done you.

But Kate ain't beaten yet.

That was one nervous person in there...

Well, it may not be today, it may not be tomorrow,

but one day Mr Lewis, I might just give you a good run for your money.

I've won the battle, but the war is yet to come.

Look at the sky!

-Oh, it's lovely, isn't it?

-Fantastic.

-Off to the next!

-Yeah.

-More buying.

Tomorrow on Antiques Road Trip, James can't keep away from the ethnic items.

I get tingles every time I pick up tribal art, I love it.

And is Kate thinking she might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb?

It's interesting, because some of the sheep

are quite nicely done, but this one I think is quite amateurish.

It looks, not very well, does he?

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