Episode 28 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?

I've got to make a profit.

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.

That could have done better.

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

-That's 100.

-Not 40 then?

This is the Antiques Road Trip. Yeah.

Our two antiques experts this week

are David Harper, reigning Road Trip champion, and feisty auctioneer Anita Manning.

I enjoy my blethers with you.

-Blethers!

-And I quite enjoy this wee car as well.

# On white horses, snowy white horses, let me ride away... #

This is the New Forest, and its iconic ponies,

which have roamed free for many hundreds of years.

It's an area of outstanding natural beauty, which extends to about 580 square kilometres.

Its landscape is unique - a living and working remnant of Medieval England,

with an extraordinary diversity of plants and animals.

Anita is known for her straight talking

and yesterday David was on the receiving end.

I'm not convinced about the age of it.

I knew you were going to say that.

Let's hope, though, they can stay friends.

In the course of his 20 years in the business, David has perfected the art of bludgeoning

the dealer into submission.

How about this for a deal? Would 15 get it?

Both experts started this week with £200.

David consolidated his lead in yesterday's auction when his hand-painted moon flask

almost doubled its money.

-I made a profit anyway.

-He starts this leg with a whopping £407.97.

Anita, sadly, didn't do particularly well with any of her items.

If you're all done, fair warning. I sell online at £32.

I'm disappointed with that one.

Her day's spending money is a less substantial £226.18.

I haven't disgraced myself.

-You haven't at all.

-I haven't disgraced myself.

-You're making money Anita.

-I've made...

It's not going to keep the wolf from the door.

No, it's not going to pay the mortgage, is it?

This week's road trip is a fascinating drive from the south east

to the south west of England, from Dover to Bideford.

Today's leg kicks off in Bournemouth, and our two chaps

end up in Wells for auction.

Bournemouth is a prime tourist destination

with its seven miles of sandy beaches,

and rainfall at half the national average,

it's the perfect place to relax.

Oh, David let's stop here and have a look at the sea.

Oh, isn't that just...?

That is wonderful.

-A traditional beach holiday.

-It is.

According to a 2007 survey, it was also found to be the happiest place in the UK.

Well, David this is the life. This is the life.

Look at that. I would love to be in that water.

-Well, I hope you don't get in too much deep water with your buying.

-Oooh!

Um, guys, aren't you supposed to be...shopping?

First stop for both our experts is dealer Bonnie Cook.

Her shop's not very big. This is going to be interesting.

These are the kind of thing I find fascinating when you're wandering around antique shops.

It looks very dull and boring and obscure, really, just a plain black box.

But it's made out of papier mache, very fashionable in the late 19th century.

Probably around 1880 and it's a snuff box.

But open this thing up and inside we find two pictures,

obviously man and wife, and they've probably been there for possibly 100 years.

These are the kind of thing that keep me going in the antique business.

You find these items and they touch something

and suddenly you've got a connection to people who lived a very long time ago.

Across the shop, Anita also glimpses something that takes her fancy.

Nice wee Greek key pattern there. It's like a silver overlay.

There's a wee art deco look about it, quite nice. But glasses aren't all that popular.

I don't want to buy these goblets. But they are nice.

There's no time for window shopping.

I love him.

Yes, it's a little night light.

He is a bit mad, isn't he?

So he's a little glass owl, I mean, it's cheaply manufactured,

but it's got a real charm, hasn't it?

Yes, I should imagine it's '30s or '20s.

I would have thought so and he'll be quite nice lit up.

Is he incredibly cheap or not?

-Yes.

-Is he?

-He can be.

Keep your voice down cos Anita Manning's listening.

I hope I'm not cramping your style, David.

Well, not yet, but I think you might be.

-Really, 20?

-Yeah.

Could it be drastically cheaper? Could be absolutely horrendously, drastically cheaper?

Well, it can be, I suppose, ten because I bought it with some other things.

Could it be five? I mean, did he... I just think.

That's a hoot.

I mean, I know fiver's no money but...

No, it's not, is it?

I know but if he came in a house clearance he probably doesn't owe you anything.

-Yes, OK.

-Shall we do that?

Let's put him down but don't tell Anita.

He's chatting up the dealer. He's chatting her up.

I know what he's doing.

Right, can I have a look at this? Of course.

It's a Black Forest... As you probably know,

he must have had a bowl of some sort.

I wonder what he could have had. He's Black Forest, for sure.

So dates... They were making these things prolifically, weren't they, in the early 20th century?

Black Forest carvings were very much sought after in the 18th and 19th centuries.

However, they're made in Switzerland,

and not, as you'd think, Germany's Black Forest. How confusing!

Is he cheap enough or...?

Um...

-I don't know how cheap you want to be but it can be ten.

-OK.

Get a move on, David.

Anita wants to do some buying, too!

I think that's an artist's easel. This is my daughter's cabinet, actually.

I'm trying to get her to do unusual jewellery.

Anything that's a wee bit unusual, that's the thing that's selling.

-That's right.

-I like buying jewellery.

I think that's got a bit of style about it.

And it's very reasonable at £12.

You can't see a silver hallmark on it.

No, I thought it did have one. Perhaps my daughter's stupidly put the ticket over it.

It's maybe a wee bit hard for silver.

-Yes, possibly.

-And precious metals seem to be what's attracting our two experts today.

Let me show you this thing here, I don't know how much it is.

It looks like it might be bronze, but it isn't. I think it's bronzed.

And it's obviously quite modern but incredibly stylish.

And just in case you were wondering, it's a candelabra.

I'll tell you what that, if it's dead cheap in an auction,

it might be a cheeky number because people might just think, wow, that is a design piece.

When Anita's stopped gassing, I'll get a price.

How rude, David.

But I don't think Anita's going to let Bonnie go just yet.

-Certainly silver.

-Yes.

Judging by the hallmark, these earrings are continental rather than British.

What sort of price are these?

They can be ten for the pair.

What I was thinking was...

To put it in, that would make a nice wee a sort of lot comprising,

so what could you do them for?

I'll do them both for ten.

-ANITA MOUTHS

-OK.

Now that Anita's finished shopping, David finally has Bonnie to himself.

It's nice quality, and there's no damage on it.

It's a good shape.

Well, it's gilded and it's sort of dimpled.

-It's hand painted, isn't it?

-Um... It is Victorian anyway.

-Yeah, it's got to be, hasn't it? Circa 1900.

-Yes.

And used for what? I mean, it's throwing me a little bit.

I should imagine it was for jam. It's got a slightly Japanese influence.

It goes back to our fascination with anything oriental in the late 19th century.

Although we know it's not Japanese, it was made either here or on the continent,

but in the Japanese taste.

-What sort of money is it?

-I'm afraid that's 45.

Oh, you do right to be afraid, Bonnie! That is absolutely... You should be petrified, not afraid.

Bonnie that couldn't be drastically cheaper, could it?

-How about this for a deal?

-I don't like your deals.

You'll like this one, you'll like it a lot, are you ready for it?

-The owl.

-Yes.

-The bear.

-Yes.

The glass thingamabob from the late 19th century, and the absolute stark raving mad

-standing candelabra thing...

-Right. For a grand sum of...

You say.

I daren't say it. 30.

-30.

-30?

You are pushing it, David. The shop price for these four items is a staggering £115.

Can we do £30?

I suppose I'm going to have to.

-Four items, 30, will you do it?

-Yes, I will.

-You're a dreamboat. Thank you very much indeed.

-OK.

Smoothie.

So, that would be £5 for the bear, £5 for the glass owl lamp,

£10 for the candelabra and £10 for the glass jar.

Wish me luck.

-Yes, I wish you all the best.

-Thank you very much.

I hope you make a huge profit, unlike myself.

You don't take any prisoners, David, do you?

-Oh.

-Hello, you.

David, you've been a long time.

Just looking, haven't bought anything.

OK, I loved listening to your patter.

-Really? Did you learn anything?

-Yes.

Anita's got some catching up to do if she wants to dent David's lead,

so she's shopping again.

This time at dealer Clare Midgley's, who's also in Bournemouth.

Morning.

There was a lovely wee settee in the window.

-Yes, that's so sweet.

-Can I have a look?

-Yeah, sure, yeah.

I think it's been made by a dad for his wee girl.

-He hasn't been a cabinet maker.

-No, I'm afraid not.

-But it's been made with love.

If you look at this, I mean it's quite roughly, toughly made.

And he's stapled it. There's a staple gun at the back.

Because it's a cheap plywood, so it's not...

From a distance, it looks good though, doesn't it?

I think even from here it looks quite nice.

And this is the wee dolly, did the dolly come with it?

-No.

-I quite like cloth dolls. Again, this is quite a simple thing.

20th century, anyway. No great age. But appealing.

The doll and settee cost £20.

Now, I don't think they're dear, I don't think your prices are dear

-but we have to go to auction.

-Of course.

Would I be able to buy these both...for 12?

Let's say 15.

Could you do it for 14?

Oooh.

Oh, no, I hate doing this. Throw me out of your shop.

-You've got to.

-Throw me out of your shop.

-OK, um... Yeah, I'll do that for you.

-Could you do those for 14?

-That's fine. Yeah.

That's one deal done and she's not finished yet.

Claire, could I have a wee look at that bug brooch?

Is that a wee hallmark I see?

I don't know, it's so indistinct. I don't think it's gold.

These are just glass. These are just paste glass.

I find that people like bug brooches.

Oh, yes.

Bug heaven, eh, Anita?

Could I have a wee look at that one?

-That one?

-Uh-huh.

That's quite an interesting piece.

It's supposed to be an opera mirror, that's what I was told it was.

-But what that means, I'm not quite sure.

-Right, OK.

So you would have it as a pendant, and then put on your lipstick.

Maybe even have a look at the chap behind you.

Of course. It's quite interesting.

I've never actually come across an opera mirror before.

But it's a lovely story.

As Anita haggles, David finishes his shopping for the day.

He's leaving Bournemouth and is heading towards Weymouth.

The town has had a long history as a fishing and trading port.

It was also one of the first modern tourist destinations

after George III started spending his summers here.

Now it's hosting the Olympics sailing events in 2012.

I've left Anita because she's hardly bought anything.

I bought four items and here I am in Weymouth.

David's next destination is another antiques shop but he's not here to buy.

-Ah. You must be David.

-Yep.

-Hello, David. David Harper, I've heard a lot about you.

-Oh, great.

The Nautical Antiques Centre is as much a museum as a shop.

Owner David Warrick is an ex-seafarer, with a passion for all things maritime.

He joined the Merchant Navy when he was just 16

and travelled all over the world in the course of his career.

Is that a real stuffed parrot?

That's not real, I'm glad to say. That was a souvenir from one of the voyages into the Baltic.

Oh, he's fantastic!

It has taken him more than 50 years to build such an impressive collection.

His passion has become a business.

and he wants to show David his treasures.

Well, this is the bane of my life. That is woodworm.

Ship's woodworm.

Ship's woodworm, I take it, are bigger than normal woodworm.

That's the actual thickness of a ship's hull, so you can see that the worm

going through there would eventually sink a ship.

This was one of the clipper ships - this was actually the Lightning.

They made these ships as light as possible to cross the ocean as quickly as possible.

The Lightning was built in 1854 from soft pine wood,

which made it fast but vulnerable to worm and often timbers had to be replaced.

What were the clipper ships doing? What was their job?

They were mainly to collect tea from China.

-Tea in those days was, as you know, was like gold dust.

-Absolutely right.

One of my favourite items in the antique business are tea caddies.

When you look at very early tea caddies, they're tiny because tea was so expensive.

As we get into the 19th century, we see tea caddies getting bigger

as tea becomes cheaper, because all these clippers were booming all around the world,

bringing the stuff back in huge quantities.

One of the things when I was at sea as a cadet,

we used to have to sweep out the holds and after a tea cargo had been discharged in London,

we used to take our pillow cases,

and fill a pillow case full of tea sweepings and take home.

It kept my mother in tea for a year.

And there are still more treasures to discover.

Tell me about what you've got down here.

This actually here is a cannonball.

Cannonball...wahay! My goodness me.

You wouldn't like that around your neck.

Oh, my gosh.

The whole principle of this is that these were fired

to slow a ship down

when you were chasing it to try and catch it.

That would take the mast?

Take some of the rigging out and take some of the sails.

That was a shock, you gave me a shock there, David.

I tell you what, if you were a sailor on the receiving end of that,

you probably wouldn't know about it, to be honest.

-Bearing in mind most sailors couldn't swim.

-No, that's true.

-Why couldn't they swim?

-Didn't think it was necessary.

Why not? What if they fell overboard?

Confidence. Uh...

They very often preferred to drown

because their ship could never turn round quick enough to pick them up.

Oh.

Just before you go, there's one final thing I'd like to show you.

-You can imagine fishing, can't you?

-Yeah.

-In the middle of the ocean miles from anywhere.

-So what's that?

-And you get attacked.

-By what?

-By a saw tooth.

Oh, it's a sword fish.

And this fish has just gone straight through it like that.

And the fish has attacked the boat and it's lost the end of its sword?

-Correct.

-"Was struck by a sword fish in July 1859."

You're kidding.

They've actually sunk boats and drowned sailors.

It's been a fascinating visit.

Absolute delight.

I'm so glad you came and it was a fine day, and you saw some of my treasures.

But it's time now for David to head back to Bournemouth,

where his partner in crime is sniffing out her own little piece of nautical history.

This is an interesting wee lot here.

What we have is a jigsaw puzzle and it's off the Queen Mary,

Clyde built, just like me, but we have the box here.

Now this would have been sold or given away to passengers on the Queen Mary.

And shipping memorabilia, especially Cunard shipping memorabilia, is very desirable.

White Star is best known as the shipping company which commissioned the Titanic.

By 1934, when the Queen Mary was being built, it had merged with its rival, Cunard.

The box is in perfect condition and that's important when you're buying toys.

And all the pieces are there.

It's priced at £40. But Anita makes a cheeky offer of £20.

Is it possible to buy it at that price?

You can't... What about £25? Is that not...?

I wonder if I could do a deal on a couple of items?

I like this. Bug brooches, always interesting.

What I'm looking for is round about £50.

And that's me taking a wee bit off of everything.

You certainly have, Anita. The combined cost of these items is £85.

But you want to pay £10 for the brooch, £20 for the silver mirror pendant and £20 for the jigsaw.

So, really in my head, you are going to get that for £20 now which is what you wanted.

Uh-huh, yeah, but what I'm doing is I'm buying two more things.

I can do that, yeah, I hope you make some money on it,

and I hope you beat the other chap.

So do I. So do I, Claire.

-So that's 50 and 14 is 64.

-64, lovely, thank you very much.

It's been an absolute pleasure.

Both our chaps have shopped until they've dropped.

So let's leave them to put their feet up, and have a rest.

I just hope they don't get too comfortable.

It's the second leg of David and Anita's journey across Dorset and Somerset.

So far, David has bargained hard.

And spent just £30 on four items.

His spending money for the day is £377.97.

Anita has been rather more of a spendthrift and spent £74 on five items.

She's left with £152.18 to spend.

David, I'm going through to Poole today.

I know you are, you're a very lucky girl.

-Are you going to go and visit the pottery?

-Yes, yes.

And you are actually going to drive the motor vehicle, aren't you?

SHE STARTS CAR

Yes!

-Bye bye!

-Bye bye!

This morning, Anita's leaving Bournemouth

and heading west to Poole.

It emerged as an important port in the 12th century because of the wool trade.

And by the 18th century, it was one of the busiest ports in Britain.

But before Anita sees the sights, there's shopping to do.

First stop, dealer Brian Neale.

This is an interesting item.

And I always love this type of thing.

-It's a Victorian home entertainment system.

-It is, yeah.

This is a particularly nice example.

It's a graphoscope.

Otherwise known as a stereoscopic viewer, a 19th-century parlour instrument

used to magnify images.

You put the cards in there, and you get a 3D effect.

-And these cards are perhaps of...

-Grand Tour.

-The Grand Tour. So, it's what you would show your pals.

-That's right, yeah.

How much do we have on that?

Well, that, I'm afraid, would be about £280.

It's a wee bit rich... for my budget.

Back in Bournemouth, David's at Lionel Geneen Antiques.

And on the hunt for something that won't break his budget.

Let me just have a grab of these.

So, we've got the Xixi dogs again, haven't we, lion dogs.

Yeah, a pair of soapstone dogs, Chinese, sort of, turn of the century.

Last century, 1900-ish, maybe between the wars, little bit later.

-I think so, probably more so, but good decorator pieces.

-Absolutely.

I love these dogs. You've always got a male and a female.

People think they're nasty looking things, but they're actually warding off evil spirits.

So if you own them, you're in luck.

I mean, they're decorative things.

I can do those for £40 the pair.

They're cheap enough but...yeah.

You still don't think there's a profit?

I don't, I think 20 quid we might have a chance.

I admire your optimism!

Do you?

As David bargains hard, Anita's still in Poole, admiring another impressive creature.

That's a beauty.

Yeah, it's the largest rocking horse that's ever been in the shop, and I actually think it's for adults.

Another parlour game?

Yeah, another parlour game.

The horse costs a rather steep £1,500. Wow.

He's obviously won some sort of competition, he's got his rosette.

-Did you put that on him?

-Yeah, I did. Yeah.

Back in Bournemouth, David's still hunting for antiques.

Can I have a look at this?

Yes, that I think is actually very interesting.

I mean, it's obviously just some sort of loving cup or...

-A tyg they call them.

-A tyg, yes.

But if you look at it closely,

it's got a huntsman on horseback with dogs and a hare.

It's not got a factory mark. Obviously, English stoneware.

About 1860ish, a little bit before Dalton.

Look at the dog handles, I mean, aren't they great?

And, of course, a tyg would be to pass to you, pass to you,

all have a swig of it.

It was probably used for a drink either before or after they went out hunting the hare.

What sort of trade would he be?

£30.

-£15 wouldn't get it?

-No, it wouldn't!

I thought it wouldn't, I'm just asking!

What would be the absolute death trade?

-It's marked £50.

-It isn't marked £50!

I said 30.

25 quid.

Do it for 20 and I'll have it.

All right. It's yours for £20.

-Good man!

-You're just...

And David fights to the death.

Anita heads for Poole Museum.

She's here to see its collection of ceramics from the town's eponymous pottery manufacturer.

And Poole Pottery is a bit of a Road Trip favourite.

Her guide is Museum Manager, Michael Spender.

Michael, it's absolutely lovely to meet you.

And it's wonderful to be here.

I'm a great fan of Poole Pottery.

Jesse Carter, a builder's merchant and ironmonger, founded the company in 1873.

It started out by manufacturing tiles.

What a great display here, Michael. Which were the earliest ones?

Well, these lustre tiles are very, very early, and then moving into the art nouveau here.

Isn't that absolutely exquisite?

I love the colours.

The colours are singing to me.

And I love the almost stylised pattern of the peacock.

All these lines here are done by hand and then it's all hand coloured in,

so it's an incredible hand made piece.

By the early 20th century, the company had begun to produce pottery.

And Poole Museum has the largest collection on display anywhere in the world.

Poole Pottery has always had a strong design ethos.

From the art deco pieces of the '20s and '30s,

to the clean modernist lines of the '50s,

it has always reflected the spirit of the age.

Michael, in this case, we're moving on to the psychedelic insanity of late '60s and '70s.

And these wonderful colours and patterns reflect that age.

This inventiveness came at a price.

The retail cost of one plate was more than a week's wages for the artist.

This is a perfect example with these loud oranges, blues and yellows.

And I love this piece, I think it's great. It cheers me up.

There's just time for Michael to show Anita one final piece.

This is a coat of arms of Poole, of the town of Poole,

made by Poole Pottery in the mid-'60s.

The lady up there is reputed to be Miss World of 1964

Ann Sydney, who came from Poole.

She's a good looking bird!

She's lost her top!

Steady!

Anita's been so inspired, she can't resist a visit to the company's studio

to have her very own piece of original art made.

Master potter Alan White is on hand to help her out should it all go wrong.

Throw it on really firm and get as close to the centre as you can.

That's lovely. Now this is where you get messy.

Hands in the water.

You can still see my nail varnish.

Don't worry about that, by the time you finish this, you won't have nails.

Just get that hand inside there.

Don't like the look of that!

-We're going to make a smaller pot than we anticipated!

-OK!

Now lift and both hands come up together.

-God. I'm making a pot.

-Look at that, there we are.

That's beautiful.

It's a wee bit wibbly wobbly, but Alan's keeping me straight, aren't ya?

I think we'll leave it at that because it's a bit on the point of collapse.

That's not on the point of collapse, that's a work of art, Alan.

I think that's great, thank you so much.

It's been wonderful being your wee apprentice.

Well, we'll get that one decorated in the style of Poole,

-and we'll make sure you get it.

-That's great, I love it.

What fun.

It's the end of the day, and Anita meets up with David for the all important show and tell.

Now my first purchase, a wee bit wee, David, but...

-A wee bit what?

-Wee.

-Wee.

Small? I just need to translate.

-Now, I love jewellery.

-I know.

-And I decided that I would buy these silver pieces.

-Can I handle?

I wouldn't say that it's terribly old but it has got bags of style.

-OK, so what sort of money?

-I paid £10 for the two things.

Oh, for goodness sake. Well, I think they're a very good buy.

-Quite a nice buy.

-Here's my first. Now then Anita, what can I say?

-I quite like it.

-Well, I love it.

I mean who knows who made it, where it was sold.

-It cost me a tenner.

-I think it's a cracking buy for a tenner.

-Thank you.

Now I know you're a furniture man, David.

I sense a test coming on, OK, give it to me, baby.

-Well, the auctioneer said that small furniture items go well in the auction.

-Oh.

Well, that's small.

This wee settee and you can't get much smaller than that.

Well, you can't. It's a copy of a Victorian double-ended chaise.

That is a monstrosity, but I think for me the doll is the star!

-Do you think so?

-I mean look. Hello. There's your twin sister!

Spooky... Next up the bear!

Oh, he's gorgeous.

-He's a little sweetie. Black forest, carved bear.

-How much?

-Fiver. There's got to be profit there, Anita?

-You cannae go wrong there.

Well, I'm a long way from Glasgow, David,

and when I saw this item,

it took me back. It's a jigsaw puzzle

-and it's of the Queen Mary.

-Oh, wow.

Which was Clyde-built, just like me.

Yes, well constructed, I've got to say.

-I love the box, what kind of price?

-Well, I got this to about £20.

-OK.

-What you think about that little sweetie.

-It's a wee lamp.

And it's a novelty one and it's got to date to the 1930s.

It's got a deco feel to it.

David, I do like that.

I'm pleased. That came as part of my job lot.

-How much?

-A fiver.

-Oh. David Harper!

Hm! Next up, Anita's bug brooch,

which is an even better buy than she first anticipated.

-Yeah.

-It's oriental, David.

Is that a real pearl or not?

Yeah the pearl's good, it's got a wee bit of jade there.

Can I just test the pearl, do you mind?

I think it's got a bit of grit there hasn't it?

-I think that's a real pearl.

-This thing, don't know what you're going to think about this...

It could be called a piece of jewellery.

-Well, it's silver Birmingham.

-It's silver and it's Birmingham 1908,

but I really don't know if it is an opera mirror,

-I've never heard of that before.

-I've never heard of that before.

Or it's just the lid of something.

THEY LAUGH

Well, I tell you what, if it is a lid of something,

-which is probably a very good chance.

-It's a nice lid.

-It's a blinking very good lid.

-So for the two of them I paid £30.

OK. Well.

Ahh. What a nice wee thing.

-It's quality. I think it's...

-Can I hold it?

Please do. I mean it's hand painted in the Japanese style

and I date that to late 19th century, possibly early 20th.

-Silver plated.

-How much did you pay for that?

-£10 note.

-Och, David. You've done really well this time.

-Do you think so?

-You're a bism.

A bism? You teach me so much what does bism mean?

-A wee devil.

-Eh, have you got any more?

-No, have you got any more?

-I've got one more, and this is my favourite item...

-Is it?

-..Of the trip.

Oh, right.

So it's English probably mid 19th century Tyg cup or loving cup.

-It's a good traditional antique thing.

-Proper thing.

Did you have to pay a lot of money for it?

I think it's also my best bargain. I really do.

-Tell me how much?

-£20.

-Yeah, that's great.

It's got to be, Anita.

They're all smiles now,

but what do they really think about each other's auction items?

Hand on heart, I can't honestly say that I would have bought any of these items...

I'm not being critical, I promise.

The loving cup is a wonderful item. £20. He's worked that old Harper magic again.

Anita's most quirky item has got to be

the opera mirror/lid. Who knows what it is.

If it is only a lid then I tell you what, that was the lid of a very fine item.

When I think of the big picture,

I think Harper might beat me once again, aargh!

But will he? Only time will tell, Anita. Don't despair, love!

On this leg of the road trip,

our two experts started off

in Bournemouth and bargained their way to Poole.

Today, they're heading into Wells for auction.

Wells is one of the smallest cities in England,

nestling under the Mendip Hills in Somerset.

Its most impressive building is its cathedral.

Built between 1175 and 1490.

It's been described as "the most poetic of all the English Cathedrals".

So we're going to our third auction.

-It should be interesting, David.

-Well, it's a good area this, have you noticed?

It's nicely spread out, good countryside, nice houses, so you never know.

But will they be wanting to spend money at the auction today?

Here we are.

Ooh, ooh, come on, baby!

Not you, Anita!

McCubbing & Redfern hold monthly sales of antiques and collectables,

and offer everything from model steam trains

to motorbikes and first editions of Winnie the Pooh.

How does auctioneer Alan Mechan reckon our chaps will fare?

I like the lid, very well made piece. Very pretty piece.

Should fly out. The Tyg, if we do get £40 or £60 on it,

we would have done very well.

The little sofa and the doll itself,

remarkable resemblance to Anita there.

I've not said that. The owl lantern. He's got a chance there.

But I don't think he's going to beat Anita.

And that's good news for Anita, who has some catching up to do if she wants to beat David.

She started this leg with £226.18

and spent £74 on five items.

David, however, had £407.97 and spent just £50 on five items.

So, there's the money.

The auction's about to start,

and our two experts can barely contain themselves.

You're starting to get excited now, I can tell the way you're shuffling about.

First up, David's candelabra.

It cost just £10, but David hopes it will make a lot more.

I'll start the bidding on this at £12,

14 anywhere?

£12, 14, 16. 18 with you, sir.

At 18 with the gentleman, do I hear 20, no?

£18.

And that's an £8 profit before commission.

But David's disappointed.

That, that...was all right.

It's bad!

Next up, Anita's jigsaw puzzle.

Her little piece of Clydebank at £20.

RMS Queen Mary for Cunard White Star Line.

Starting the bidding at £20.

20, 25, into the room. 28, 30.

£30 I've got, 35 anywhere?

At 30. Thought it might go for a little bit more.

-Are we all...? 35?

-Yes, yes.

At 40. 45. £40 to my left.

-Yes!

-Well, done. Well, done.

And you've doubled your money there, Anita. Splendido!

David fell in love with this little carved bear.

But will it appeal to the bidders?

£16 I'm starting on, 18 anywhere?

18, 20, 22, sir with you.

I'm out, 24 anywhere? At 22, 24 anywhere...

All done at £22.

A £17 profit for you.

It's not bad, but it's not quite enough for David.

-Are you OK?

-It's good. It's all right.

Next up, Anita's job lot of the child's settee and doll.

It cost her £14, but how much of a bargain was it?

Starting the bidding on this one at £10.

£10, £10. 15 anywhere, 15, no I will sell at 10...

All done at ten.

And that's a loss. Oh, dear, Anita.

-Awww.

-What a shame! What a shame.

-I know.

Now for David's novelty owl lamp.

But will it frighten off the bidders.

Starting the bidding on this one at £22.

24 into the room, at 22, 24.

24. 26, 28. Madame, yup, you've got it £28.

No, all done at 28... Sold at £28.

And there's nothing frightening about

a £23 profit before commission.

That's about 20 quid profit, isn't it?

-That's all right. Are you happy now?

-I'm getting happier.

Now for the opera mirror, the pendant...

or the lid? No-one seems quite sure.

I'm starting the bidding at £10,

15 anywhere? 15, I'm now out.

20, 25, 30, at £25.

Sold at 25.

And that's a tidy little fiver for Anita.

There's no harm in that.

I've made a profit. I'm happy.

Next up, David's Tyg,

and he's keeping his fingers crossed.

I'm starting the bidding at £30, 35 into the room.

Are we all finished at 30?

35, anywhere.

I'm selling at 30, last chance.

Sold at 30.

It's a £10 profit, but that's not enough for David.

I had such great predictions and such expectations.

Are you going to burst into floods of tears?

-Would you mind if I did?

-Or as they would say in Glasgow, burst oot greetin'.

HE LAUGHS

-I've no idea what you've just said.

-Now for Anita's bug brooch.

Her very own creepy crawlie.

Here we go, fingers crossed.

I'm starting the bidding at £20.

25 anywhere?

20 I've got.

25, 28. 30. 28 I've got here.

30 anywhere else?

At £28, are we all finished? Sold at 28.

-Well done.

-Yes, yes.

-Anita seems to be recovering her winning streak.

-Yes!

Now, David's glass jar.

I've got £10. 15 into the room.

At £10, 15 anywhere?

At £15. Sold at 15.

And that's another profit, David.

A trickle of profit.

But all these little profits are adding up!

Finally, it's Anita jewellery set.

Her earrings and brooch.

I'm starting at 20.

At 22 into the room at £20.

£20. 22 into the room.

I will sell at 20.

And it's another £10 profit before commission.

I'm really quite happy here.

I've doubled, double, doubled...

-I can't get my words out, I've doubled my money.

-Really?

Maybe I should give up auctioneering.

No, I don't think so.

But who actually did the best at today's auction?

Anita started the day with £226.18.

After paying auction costs and commission,

she made a profit of just £27.33

and takes £253.51

forward to tomorrow's show.

Despite being so gloomy throughout the auction,

David fared better than Anita.

He had £407.97 spending money.

After commission, he made a profit of £43.09.

He takes £451.06 forward to tomorrow's show.

I'm learning from you, Anita,

and be grateful for all small mercies, I suppose, which is no losses.

We can't make huge profits on everything.

We should be able to. That's what I want to do.

Anita and David are more than halfway through their road trip.

And David's still winning.

OK, David, on to stage four.

It will be a new adventure.

Well, it always is with you, Miss Manning.

Start first time, are you ready for this?

On we go.

In tomorrow's show, Anita and David get physical.

Do you think I could whack David Harper with them?

We'll have to have an arm wrestle over this.

OK, go.

But it all ends up in tears before bed time.

I'm really happy.

THEY LAUGH

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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