Episode 2 Antiques Road Trip

The nation's favourite antiques experts

£200 each, and one big challenge.

Testing! Testing!

Who can make the most money

buying and selling antiques as they scour the UK?

Can I see 80? 75?

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

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

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

Job done. I'm now broke.

This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Our two antiques experts this week are Charles Hanson and Jonathan Pratt.

Auctioneer Charles Hanson is our youngest Road Trip expert

and keen to ingratiate himself with the locals. Cheesy!

What's the best price on it, between friends?

Between friends... Between friends... Between friends...

Between friends, Jonathan Pratt, whose expertise is in jewellery,

has an encyclopaedic knowledge of all things hallmarked.

It's a capital D which is...

..1924.

F... A, B, C, D, E, F...

1905.

Both experts started this week with £200

and there's still everything to play for

after the auction in Belfast on yesterday's show.

Jonathan started well and walked away slightly up with £218.29.

Charles, however, made the fatal mistake of not listening to his gut instinct.

70, 80, 90...

At £30, cheap lot now at £30.

Cheap lot. Cheap lot.

HE SIGHS

So, Charles starts today's show a bit down with £194.16.

This week's Road Trip is around gorgeous Northern Ireland

and north-west England.

On today's show, Charles and Jonathan

are hitting the antiques trail, starting in Londonderry,

or Derry as it's known, and heading for auction in Omagh.

The names of these cities are familiar because of the Troubles,

but Northern Ireland has now put its recent unhappy past behind it.

Derry is the country's second-biggest city

and the only walled city in the country to survive intact.

As a result, it's known as the Maiden City, because its walls were never breached.

But more of that later.

I wonder if the city is ready for its next assault?

-Go right?

-That way?

-That way?

-That way.

First stop for Jonathan is antiques dealer Simon O'Dowd.

-Nice to meet you, Jonathan Pratt.

-Jonathan. How are you?

Very good, thank you.

Pretty much anything and everything in here.

Bit of everything, yeah.

When a shop's as stuffed as this, where does a chap start?

If you walk around looking at the table tops and stuff,

you don't see above your head.

You look up, you're not necessarily looking in the cabinets.

Finally, something does catch his eye, though.

-Is that a pocket watch stand?

-It is.

-The style of them is quite pretty.

-30 quid.

Dating from around 1890,

the pocket watch stand is a splendid example of Arts and Crafts.

You stand this on your mantelpiece.

You hang your pocket watch from the back, and the little dial

appears in this aperture, and you've got a mantel clock.

When you go out, take it off,

put it in your pocket on the end of the chain. Nice little thing.

Just the job for the modern man about town.

What would be your best on that?

30... I would say 25.

OK. Right, well, that's...

-I'll have a think.

-Sure.

-I might make you an offer in a minute.

An offer I can't refuse?

Well, you probably will.

BELL CHIMES

There are only a few antiques shops in this part of Ireland,

so Charles is heading south of Derry

towards the pretty little village of Lack.

Good Lack, Charles!

-Good morning, sir.

-Hello, how are you?

-Good to see you.

-Welcome to Lack.

I'm looking for...

a bargain.

With Jonathan taking the lead after yesterday's auction,

Charles has a lot to prove.

This... When we think of what the Irish like, we think of glitz, of glamour.

This, to me, is delightful.

We've got this hanging oil lamp with a glass opaque shade.

It's in good condition. Delightful bell flower design.

What we call semi-lobed.

This lamp is either late Victorian or Edwardian.

Dating, I suppose, to around 1890 to 1900.

Most people might say it's vulgar.

It's over the top.

Look at the colour.

It's not for me,

but the market here I think will like it.

Hmm. The market won't like you insulting them, Charles!

-And is the lamp even in your budget?

-What's it worth, Paul?

-170.

Yeah. What's your absolute best on it, Paul?

-The rock bottom?

-Rock bottom.

-150.

-That's probably over two-thirds of my budget.

And can I really risk it all on that one item? I can't. But I like it.

Back in Derry, a modest little job catches Jonathan's eye.

That's quite sweet.

-Page-turner.

-A little page-turner.

Ladies in the 19th century were far too delicate to leaf through books,

so to protect their gloved hands from becoming soiled by printing ink,

they used page-turners like these.

Only £6, though.

That's another possibility.

Suddenly, Jonathan spots something shiny.

It's pewter, silvered pewter.

It's WMF, which is, um,

a recognised manufacturer of quality metalware.

WMF stands for Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik.

That is "Wurttemberg's metal goods factory" to me and you.

They were the world's largest producer of Art-Nouveau metalware in the early 1900s.

How much is that chap? Don't bother looking at the bottom!

-30 quid as well.

-Best price is?

-27.

-27.

-And you can clean it yourself.

£25...

Call that haggling, Jonathan?

-For that?

-Yeah.

-OK. We can do that.

Thank you very much. That's another one bought.

I quite like... Just as a novelty and a curiosity,

because it's got some age and it's a page-turner. It's a little bit worn.

-£4.

-£4.

OK. OK. Two things, there we go. Thank you very much.

Can I pinch a bit?

Give it some elbow grease!

There you are. Isn't that lovely?

It's scrubbed up nicely, Jonathan, like you!

So, 2-0 to Jonathan. Hadn't you better get a move on, Charles?

I think Jonathan's strategy will be to really spend.

We think alike, we work alike, we enjoy each other's company,

but at the same time, we are really at it together to win.

Then stop chatting and start spending.

-I want to show you an interesting piece.

-OK, come and show me, Paul.

-Is that...?

-That's Regency.

-Isn't that nice?

I can do a deal on that one.

Isn't that gorgeous? So, Paul, tell me, is that a face screen?

I'd call it a fire screen.

A fire screen made out of glass may not seem the most obvious way

of protecting ladies from the glare of the fire,

but that's what they were used for in the early 19th century.

This screen would in fact protect the female face.

I suppose ladies back in those days, when make-up

was fairly intensely used, to hide all those imperfections...

Steady, Charles!

Although make-up then, made of beeswax,

was prone to running in the heat.

You've got this here for your tea, obviously. I presume this is for...

What's the best price, Paul?

-Rock bottom?

-Rock bottom.

Between friends.

-120.

-120, gosh.

120, Paul. You're talking my language. I like it!

Back in Derry, Jonathan is at the first shop he visited,

but this time with an intriguing new tactic up his sleeve.

-I've still got some time left. I'm going to keep looking around.

-Sure.

I'm so competitive with Charlie. I just love to be able, to sort of,

see if I can find maybe what he might buy as well.

I'd be very surprised if he didn't buy something like this.

Little silver strut clock, with orange enamel on it.

That's a portable timepiece with a strut

that hinges out to support it, and dates from 1936.

Completely silver apart from a base metal case for the movement.

Ticking away beautifully.

A little bit of damage on the top.

I think that's rather sweet.

I might have to beat him to it on that one.

-It was at 85.

-It was at £85.

Would you take a little bit on that?

I can do a fiver on that for you.

So it would be £80.

Yes, indeed.

85 minus five is in fact 80.

I can't just can go round buying everything I think Charlie might buy!

That would be silly!

But I really like it.

Go on, then!

All right, OK.

That's it. I will leave and I shall never return.

-Are you sure now?

-Yes, definitely.

£80.

-Thank you.

-Bye-bye.

-Take care.

Good luck.

Jonathan is off to a flying start.

Down the road in Lack, however, Charles is still lacking.

Here we've got a delightful gentleman's hatbox, isn't it?

-That's correct.

-The lid opens up like so.

It's leather and tooled inside.

And here's your hat.

-Look at that for quality, isn't that nice?

-Yes.

If you're a gentleman, I suppose, from this period,

you would not be seen without a fine top hat

in a wonderful Morocco box like this.

How lucky can I be on this, Paul?

65. That's it.

Paul, what I might do, on a really serious note, what I might do...

I like the hatbox very much and the screen over there.

I'd buy them both...probably... with your blessing,

for around £120?

-No.

-No. OK. Doesn't matter.

If you don't ask the question, you never know.

What's the best if I bought them both together?

-150.

-150. I'll think about it for a second.

Do you mind?

-I'll think about it.

-But a good dealer buys right away.

-A good dealer buys right away?

-He knows...

Well, I know too.

But you know, Paul, sometimes life is a bit pressurised.

Charles may just have met his match here!

140.

-40...

-With a luck's penny?

As Charles feels the strain, Paul offers to throw in a luck's penny -

money and good luck given back as a gesture when a price is agreed upon.

I'm going to give you 125,

and a luck's penny. It's called an Irish luck's penny, isn't it?

-There you are.

-That's a deal! Have £3 back.

That makes it 128.

-Thank you very much.

-I really appreciate your time.

His shopping in Derry is now complete.

Jonathan is heading south to the pretty little village

of Ballinamallard,

where he gets stuck in what passes as a traffic jam in rural Ireland.

I think the small one's going to win. He'd really pushing them along.

Oh, love, that way.

Back a bit, back a bit.

Go on, in you go. There's a good girl.

I don't think they're listening. They don't give an udder.

OK...

Go on, in you go. Stop flapping your arms, mate!

Right, there we go.

Good luck.

With three items already in the bag,

Jonathan is easily distracted.

Didgeridoo...

Never even been to Australia.

Just comes naturally to people like me.

I don't know what you had for breakfast,

but Rolf Harris wouldn't like this.

You pick up these things occasionally just because you never know.

They might just have missed out the fact that it might...

It's not plated silver. It's not likely.

Not this time, though.

It is plated silver and costs just £9.

If that was silver, you'd probably be getting

£300 for it at auction.

The silver market itself is in a funny state of affairs.

The metal is actually outstripping the value of the object now.

It's getting to a point where people

are having to really think long and hard now.

When you've got a tea service which at auction's making 350, and the metal's worth 500.

It's breaking their hearts, but people are doing it.

Scrapping it because, crikey, if you don't, someone else will.

It's a shame, but it's going on.

St Charles is taking a break from the world of antiques

to visit an oasis of calm back in Derry.

St Columb's cathedral was named after Columba,

a leading religious figure from the 6th century

who converted much of Scotland and northern England to Christianity.

Charles is off to find out more from Daphne Gillick, senior tour guide.

Hello, you must be Charles. I'm expecting you here today.

-Nice to meet you.

-Welcome to St Columb's Cathedral.

What a magnificent building.

It normally is wonderful.

At the moment, we're in the middle of major restoration,

so it's a bit different from normal.

I suppose after 400 years, one expects it.

-Well, it's like your own house, it needs a lot of work.

-Exactly.

Finally completed in 1633,

the cathedral is the city's oldest building

and the first Protestant cathedral to be built after the Reformation in the British Isles.

Its most valuable object is stored safely away under lock and key

and tells the story not just of the cathedral,

but the origins of Derry itself.

Now, this is it.

This is the Promise Chalice.

This is no replica?

No replica, no. This is the real thing.

It was sent over from London by the Honourable The Irish Society,

who provided the money and manpower to build the city,

which is why it's called Londonderry.

It was the first thing to come across from London

before they built the church.

That's why it's called the Promise Chalice, it was sent as a promise.

This is 1613. To think that this was manufactured

50 or so years before the Great Fire of London...

And it's still used to celebrate Holy Communion.

You can see over time, where hands have held here,

to reveal the silver underneath.

Even on the rim, where mouths have drunk from it.

If it's worth whatever, it doesn't matter.

It's what it stood for.

And what it did for the oldest building, of course, in Londonderry.

And there's still more to see.

So, we go forward how many years from 1613?

This is up to 1688,89.

This is a mortar shell from the time of the Siege of Derry.

In March 1689, the exiled British Catholic monarch James II

arrived in Ireland to reclaim the throne.

But Londonderry had always been a Protestant stronghold

and refused to accept his authority.

James lay siege to the city

in an attempt to starve its inhabitants into submission.

Towards the end of the 105-day siege,

this mortar shell was fired into the city.

It weighs 270lbs in weight.

This is hollow inside, as you can feel.

These would normally have been filled with explosives.

This one didn't have explosives.

Instead, this one had a letter inside,

asking the people in the city to surrender,

giving them favourable terms for surrender,

to which they said no. That's where the term "no surrender" came from.

And that was just outside here?

-In the graveyard, yes.

-And then transported what, ten yards inside?

And here it's been for the last 400 years.

-Thanks ever so much for the tour.

-You're welcome.

To have had these hands handle two such important objects

really has made my trip so, so worthwhile.

Jonathan, however, isn't ready to say his goodbyes just yet.

He's still poking about.

I just picked up

quite a modern glass vase and I'm thinking to myself,

there are plenty of modern glass factories which are quite saleable,

like Merano and Whitefriars are popular. Modern glass is attractive.

And when it's hand-made and fashionable like this vase, it's eminently saleable.

It's the sort of thing someone would just walk into

a department store and go and buy.

And looking at that barcode on the bottom,

it looks as if they did just that, yesterday.

However, the wear on its base suggests

that it's at least around 30 years old.

-You've got £24 on it.

-That's right.

Yes?

Yes?! Would you...

consider £15? You'd consider £15.

£15, yeah. We'll go for 15.

Deal.

£15. Thanks very much.

Well, £9 off, eh? Not bad at all.

Is our Road Trip rookie finally learning the dark art of haggling?

Over in Derry, Charles is...

Hello, haven't we been here before?

-I'm Charles Hanson.

-Very pleased to meet you.

-Great to be here.

-Welcome to Derry.

-Thank you very much.

And you're open to a bit of negotiation?

A little bit, yeah.

-Between friends, a bit more?

-A little bit more.

-You seem like a nice chap.

-Oh, thank you. You too. You too.

But you'll only be able to negotiate

if Jonathan's left you anything to buy, Charles!

-I love this big, what appears to be some sort of blotter.

-Yeah.

The embossed work is very good.

Hopefully it's hallmarked.

It's there. 1894.

Heavy, beautifully embossed, with its repousse design.

-Is that your price, there?

-That's us.

That's 345.

Yes, Charles. That's 345.

And just a little out of your price range,

given that you've only got £66.16 to spend.

Our chap Jonathan, though, is racing off towards an antique shop in Drumduff.

It's a little village in deepest County Fermanagh.

Yet it's proving very hard for him to find.

Where exactly are these roads leading to?

Are you sure there's an antiques shop around here?

-Jonathan Pratt, nice to meet you.

-How are you?

-Good, thank you.

I didn't believe my satellite navigation when it sent me here.

And you've got this amazing stock here.

Yes, we're always pleasantly surprised

by the reaction of people when they come in.

But will Jonathan, who has only £94.29 left,

find anything he can afford?

Obviously I can stand in here and say it's unlikely

that, in my budget, I'll be able to buy anything.

No, certainly. We'll show you a few other things.

-We will always try and get into your budget.

-I'm sure, of course.

You're a businessman.

-I will show you a definite bargain.

-I like a good bargain.

Oh, yes. Within your budget.

Where is he taking you, Jonathan?

Beautiful.

Untouched.

Walnut, Victorian.

How bizarre is that?

Would you believe it?

A fire screen, just like Charles bought earlier.

Synchronicity or what?

It looks like a dressing mirror except that instead of a mirror,

it's got two sheets of clear glass.

I would be inclined to say it was perhaps stuffed with little stuffed birds.

Not very PC now, nor much fun for the birds when you think about it.

But back then, all forms of taxidermy were wildly fashionable.

There's half a moth in here.

-Yes.

-You won't charge me for that, will you?

No, we never charge for extras.

I will take off you today, for that, £80.

Blimey.

If that hasn't possibilities...

As much as that? Ooh, dear.

-No, no.

-Bless me!

Where do I get my heart tablets?

We shall see

at the auction. Go on, then.

-I wish you luck.

-Thank you very much.

-I wish you luck.

It's now the end of a rather frenetic first day. But so much fun.

Time for our chaps to put their feet up and reflect on their purchases.

It's the second leg of the road trip and our experts are raring to go.

-What have you bought so far?

-A complete secret for you to see tonight.

When I show you my hoard,

you will be impressed by Hanson's hoard.

Maybe I'll be impressed by Pratt's package.

So far, Charles has spent an impressive £128 on two items.

A 19th century rosewood fire screen and top hat, complete with box.

-There y'are.

-That's a deal.

So, he's left with a respectable £66.16 to shop with.

Jonathan, meanwhile, has gone for broke and spent a staggering £204 on five items.

Like I'm a compulsive buyer or something.

You sure are. A decorated page-turner,

a silver jar, a sweet little enamel strut clock,

an Italian glass vase and, finally, another fire screen.

And he's left with the princely sum of £14.29....

How do you blow these things?

..and sore lips.

Today, our two young blades are heading confidently for Enniskillen.

It's a town whose name is familiar because of its recent troubled past.

These days, though, this picturesque little town

on the banks of the River Erne is better known

for more tranquil pursuits,

such as hosting the Water Ski World Cup. Wow!

What makes Crannog Antiques so special

is that it's also the owner's home.

LOUD DRONE

Cor, blimey. That's going to wake the dead, isn't it?

-Good morning.

-Hello, good morning.

-Charles Hanson.

-Nice to meet you.

-Hi, Jonathan Pratt.

It looks just like a home, rather than a shop.

And that's because it is.

David and Evelyn Hassard actually live here.

Although they're quite happy to let people come in for a few hours a day

and buy furniture. Extraordinary!

I can't afford to hang around in each room.

I need to be quick and scan.

If I'm not, JP is around before I am.

And he will unearth those really star treasures.

Haven't got time, OK?

Treasures, Charles?

Doesn't really fit, does it?

Focus, Jonathan, please.

This is rather groovy.

People aren't really buying decanters any more.

You've got blue flash glass over a clear glass bottle.

£69.

It would cost a hell of a lot more in a department store to buy this.

It's got more colour than ordinary cut-glass.

I think Charles has spotted something.

What I like are the objects inside.

There he is, look. Jonathan, will you stop looking?

Get out of here! Close that door. I can't go anywhere, and there he is.

David, that's a nice little meerschaum pipe.

-Yes.

-Isn't that sweet?

Very interesting character, carved in meerschaum. This would be, what, 1880? 1885?

Meerschaum is a soft, white stone which looks like sea foam.

In fact, it's what it means in German.

It's soft when first extracted, but hardened when exposed to heat.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Charles.

And back in the 1880s, 1890s, you'll smoke it like so.

What I like so much

is the fact that this face

-is so well carved, isn't it?

-It is.

That's nice as well. Carved late Victorian one.

That is a nice skull one. Look at that skull.

-Aren't they sweet? Look at his glass eyes.

-A scary one.

Imagine smoking him.

I quite like them, David. They might do quite well at auction.

Jonathan doesn't see anything in his budget,

so he's leaving Charles to get on with it.

This is very traditional. It's a very, very nice tray

-which, I hope, is certainly 19th century, isn't it?

-Definitely.

Mahogany, what we what we call this piecrust border. I think it's great.

It tells a whole story. The etiquette of tea-drinking or dining.

Back in the late 18th century, all tea was a treat.

It was exotic and expensive, the preserve of the upper classes,

and tea trays like this were all the rage.

It's a snip at £70.

I'll be honest, my budget is £66.

My tactics, really, are to buy two items for around £30 each.

Could I take your money from you

if I were to give you the collection of pipes and the tray for 60?

David, you are a good man.

I'll think about it for the time being.

That's a really good offer.

Thank you, David. I'll have a think.

I love my job.

It's intrigue,

the suspense, the fascination with history.

But, also, do I or don't I?

Who knows, Charles? Will you or won't you?

As Charles deliberates, Jonathan's off to visit a very big house in the country.

# He lives in a house, a very big house in the country...

-Nice to meet you.

-Pleased to meet you.

-Welcome to Florence Court.

-Thank you very much.

Jonathan's guide for the day is Martin Storey.

Florence Court House, built in the mid-18th century,

was the ancestral seat of the Cole family.

I'm glad you didn't unleash one of these on me

as I was coming up the driveway.

Some people suggest it's a bit aggressive pointing down towards the main entrance driveway.

They were won in a bet from a local family just over 100 years ago.

-Goodness me.

-It's an impressive sight, isn't it?

William Cole, a peer and politician, was given the title

Earl of Enniskillen in 1789.

Five generations of the family would live here,

until falling agricultural prices

and rising wage costs made it too expensive to maintain.

It was given to the National Trust in 1953.

This is my favourite room. This is the library.

Isn't this lovely? It's not unlike mine at home, actually, I have to say.

Very much a man's room, really.

A bit like something out of a Hercule Poirot murder mystery.

"The family gathered in the library",

perfect for something like that.

Even in such a grand room, there are still traces of the Cole family,

such as this measuring stick in the corner.

Children's names, dates, ages and heights recorded,

-going back over the last century.

-So, where am I, then?

I've got my heels on.

Have I shrunk? Just about six foot, I suppose.

I like to think, anyway.

There's just time for a quick squint upstairs.

And this is the Countess's bedroom.

And the last thing in here, just wanted to point out, the chamber pot.

-Crikey.

-Yes.

-Who's this chap, then?

-Gladstone.

-This is Gladstone, is it?

William Gladstone, Prime Minister of Britain in the late 19th century,

had antagonised many aristocratic families

over his support for Irish Home Rule.

It threatened their supremacy and this was certainly

one of the more imaginative ways they expressed their disapproval -

urinating on him.

That will wipe the smile off his face, won't it?

That's quite a rare object.

Enough of chamber pots,

Jonathan has something rather more pressing to do.

This is why, on a nice sunny day,

you want to have bought all your stuff early.

I guess Charlie's not going to be having this luxury.

# In the country

# In the country

# In the country! #

Charles is making one final dash for a bargain.

DOORBELL

Hello, Charles.

You're welcome back.

The tray, I like. I also like, on my tray, to take away...

-A nice little collection of pipes?

-And my offer...

..is £50.

I would be very sad if I turned you away without a deal,

because you mightn't make any money at the auction.

-So I'm going to deal with you and hope...

-Are you sure, David?

It's a very good price to pay.

I really appreciate it. Thanks again, bye. Pleasure, bye.

With only £16.16 left, Charles finally calls it a day.

I've now finally got something to play with.

Something to really cherish.

Something to stand by.

And, Jonathan, watch out. Because...

..I'm coming to get you.

Almost!

Now the buying is over, it's time for our chaps

to show off their purchases.

But have they spent wisely?

-I thought you had a pretty busy day.

-It's been fraught.

But I hope for the right reasons.

-What have you bought?

-Can I go first?

-Please.

-I like it.

-It's Victorian, walnut, circa...

1840. 1850. Well, 1860. The quality is very nice.

What I think you've bought there is a magnificent structure.

-What did you pay for it?

-£80.

-Oh, well played!

-There we go.

-Oh, very nice. Has it got a hat in there, though?

OK, a little top hat.

Leather case. Christie's of London.

Actually, a very good maker. I get these down in my saleroom.

With less moth on it, though.

Isn't the box lovely?

-It's a slightly small hat.

-It's all right. Good top hat.

-First half of the 19th century.

-I would have thought 1880.

-I paid £43 for it.

-That's very good.

You either like it or you hate it. Glass vase.

I can see some wear. It's not new. It's got some age.

-What is it? 1950s? '60s?

-I would say so.

It's a great decorative piece.

-Thank you.

-When I use the word decorative, I mean it very loosely.

-I mean it loosely. How much?

-15.

OK. Oh, perfect. Perfect.

Next up, Charles's fire stand.

But is Jonathan impressed?

-How bizarre.

-Look at that.

-How bizarre.

-That goes up for your face screen.

You've got the little rest here as well.

Very well made, I'll give you that. How much did you pay?

-£85.

-Bang on, Charlie.

Oh, nice.

I'm hoping it's silver-backed.

-Have a look, Charlie.

-It is silver. London. What year would this be?

-1912, 13?

-Later, about 20-something.

-Can't remember the date.

-Gorgeous quality.

-I paid £80 for it.

-Did you?

I love it. I really like it.

I saw that, you bought that at that chap's house this morning.

I just think it's good quality.

-Got some age to it.

-I reckon you paid £40.

-30. Not so keen, are you, on that?

-I don't like it, no. Sorry, Charlie.

That's nice.

A little page-turner.

-It's got some age to it.

-Yeah.

Could be 1900, 1910.

-I reckon this may have cost you £20.

-No.

-More?

-No.

-A lot less?

-Lot less.

-How much?

-£4.

-You're joking.

£4? I like it very much.

-Look.

-Cool. That's cool.

That one's worth a tenner.

OK.

-These are the ones you should buy for a few pence.

-Correct.

Dig up the garden. I found a few at home.

A couple of quid for that one.

She's worth...

£20, £25.

The skull, he's got a chunk out the top, another 10 for that.

How much did you pay?

-£20.

-You're on a winner there, definite winner.

I think so.

Golly. Is it WMF?

Have a look.

It is, isn't it?

That's nice quality.

So we're very much in and around 1905, 1910.

-Original liner?

-I think it is, yeah. And this banding.

-I love this Liberty style design.

-Yeah, that's what I liked about it.

-I spent £25 on it.

-Bargain.

-I think so. I think so.

But what do the two chaps really think?

There's probably two items which I would not ever touch.

One would be the glass vase, because it's fairly nondescript.

It's fairly boring.

Piecrust shape mahogany tray, George III style.

But 19th century made. To be honest with you, I was being polite.

I didn't like it at all.

The fire screen also. It's really crisp, really well carved,

but again, it wouldn't be to my liking.

Hate saying it, I think I'm going to win.

Brave words indeed from our Road Trip novice!

But has he spoken too soon?

It's been a fabulous road trip.

Our two chaps started off in scenic Londonderry,

and stopped off in Lack,

Ballinamallard

and finally, Enniskillen.

Today, Charles and Jonathan are rolling in to Omagh for auction day.

Ah, well done. We're here!

Viewback Antiques was established in the early 1970s by Geoffrey Simpson.

He started his career in London's Portobello Road,

before moving back to his native Omagh.

Geoffrey sells everything, from furniture, to ceramics, to jewellery.

Plus everything in between.

But what does he think of our chaps' purchases?

The first fire screen, the rosewood one, it's a quality item.

I could see it making £120 to £140.

I think the WMF piece is a reproduction item.

I'm just not happy with the article,

it seems to be a little bit too fresh. But that's only my opinion.

£30 to £40, perhaps.

Charles started this leg slightly down, with £194.16,

and spent a confident £178 on four items.

Jonathan started with a respectable £218.29,

and blew it all, bar £14.29, on five items.

As a nervous hush descends, our two chaps can barely contain themselves.

-Oh, dear!

-Here we go!

Be doing a jig by the end of the night!

-Can we have a wee bit of hush, please?

-Sorry, sorry.

Do behave, boys.

First up is the decorated page-turner,

which Jonathan bought for a whopping £4.

Start me at ten. £10 bid.

15 over here in the middle.

Come on, keep going, keep going. 15, 18, 18 something?

Keep it low!

I'm going to sell at 15, if we can't...

£20 over here.

£20 it is once, then.

-£20 twice, then.

-Get it sold, get it sold!

-£20. Sold to the lady.

-Get in there!

-No, no!

Well done, Jonathan. The first profit of the day. But can it last?

Next is Jonathan's WMF silver jar, which cost him £25.

£20 bid. I have 25.

At 25. At 30, at 30.

-Bit more, bit more.

-Keep it low.

Down the back, at 35.

Come on, 40 something.

At 40. At 40, at 45.

45, who'll give me 50?

-Come on, someone.

-All finished? Everybody happy, at 45 for the WMF.

Sold at £45, BP.

Are you starting to worry, Charles?

Seems like I know what I'm talking about, doesn't it?

Jonathan didn't like it,

but will Charles's £30 mahogany tray help him stay in the race?

-£30 bid here. 30.

-No way!

At 35, at 35. At 40, at 40.

At 45. Any advance on 45?

It's the lady's bid of 45.

All finished and done at 45.

£45, Charlie boy.

Not bad, Charles. Not bad at all.

Now for Jonathan's enamelled strut timepiece,

which cost a respectable £80.

£40 bid. At £40.

-It's got to be worth another 45 or 50.

-At 60, right at the back. At 60.

60. We've got a long way to go here.

65. 70. At 75. 75. All finished, all done at 75.

Sold at 75.

JONATHAN GROANS

Oh, Jonathan. Is it time's up for your profits?

Jonathan's hoping to reclaim his winning streak

with this Italian vase, which he hopes was a bargain at £15.

20. £20 bid. At 25 down here.

At 25. At 30 over here. At 35.

At 35. At 40 in the middle.

-At 40, at 40 it is. 45, new blood.

-No!

At 45, 45.

All finished and done at 45.

-Get in there!

-Well played. Good price.

-Thank you.

Next up, Charles's job lot of meerschaum pipes,

which he bought for £20.

40. 30.

Start me at 20. £20 bid. At £20.

£20 bid?

At 25. 30.

-At 30, 35.

-Yes!

At 35.

At 40, at 40.

-At £40, it's the lady's bid.

-Time for the lady.

At £40...

Another profit for Charles.

But it's still too close to call.

Now it's time for the battle of the fire screens to begin.

Jonathan's walnut fire screen cost a tidy £80,

and it needs to do well if he's to stay in the race.

Here we go. This is it.

Oh, man.

Start me at £50. £50 bid, instantly. At 50. At 60, down the back. At 60.

At 70 here at the front. At 70.

£80 over here. £90 at the front.

Keep going, keep going.

And £90, then. £100.

-Thank you.

-£100.

-That's good.

No, it's not, it's not enough! Keep going!

-At 100, I cannot get more money!

-Of course you can!

Is there another bid? All finished and done at £100.

-Broke even on that baby.

-A £20 profit.

But Jonathan had hoped for more.

Next up, the rosewood fire screen, which Charles bought for £85.

This is the moment when the second auction will be decided.

It's that simple.

-£100 bid instantly. At 110.

-£100?!

-110. 110.

No!

At £110. 120. At 120, any advance on 120?

Charlie, Charlie, Charlie. 130.

-You jammy so-and-so.

-Sold to Mr W.

-How much did you pay for that?

-130.

-£85.

-Makes £130.

He's cooking, Hanson! He's in that car, he's cruising into fifth gear.

-Hanson's cooking!

-Argh!

As Charles surges ahead, next up is his hat and box, a snip at £43.

And there's a sudden change of auctioneer, too.

Shut your eyes, Charlie. Sounds like you're at the races!

I'm praying. I'm praying!

At 20, I'm bid. 30 now.

40, seated. Now at 40.

-Aw!

-Yes! Keep going.

-£50 bid.

No, no, no.

Yes! £70!

75 now. 80 bid. 80 it is.

-At £80.

-Thank you!

And that's a handsome profit of £37 for Mr Hanson.

-Well done, Charlie.

-Well played.

-Well done.

A triumphant Charles steals the lead from Jonathan.

He started today's show with £194.16.

After paying the auctioneer's commission,

he's made a tidy profit of £65 and a penny.

And takes £259.17 forward to tomorrow's show.

Jonathan didn't do quite as well.

He started today's show with £218.29.

He made a profit of just £30.78, after commission,

and takes £249.07 forward to tomorrow's show.

So, just £10 and a few pence between them.

The competition is still too close to call.

-Back to England?

-Let's go, come on.

-The Mother Country?

-I'll be back.

In the next show, Jonathan hits new heights.

Get in there!

And Charles hits one height too many.

I could be in trouble.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media

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