Episode 2 Antiques Road Trip

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

-I'm going to declare war.

-Why?

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

-15 quid.

-No.

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

'But it's not as easy as you might think

-'and things don't always go to plan.'

-Push!

'So, will they race off with a huge profit or come to a grinding halt?'

-I'm going to go for it.

-'This is the Antiques Road Trip.'

'Welcome to Scotland, where the mountains are tall,

'the lochs are long and even if, for the non-native, the dialect can be a bit tricky to master,

'folk are always happy to help out.'

You've got "wee good" but have you got "murder" right?

-Murder.

-No. Open your mouth more.

-Murder.

-Enjoy it! Embrace your Rs!

-Murder!

'Ha! Mark Stacey and Anita Manning

'are driving their marvellous Morris Minor through sumptuous Scotland this week.

'Bargain-seekers and sightseers.'

Mark, I thought we'd stop for a wee minute just to take in this scenery.

It's a beautiful Scottish day. Little fluffy clouds in the sky.

-Everything's gorgeous, isn't it?

-It is beautiful, Anita. Start of the second day.

-You dying to spend your money?

-I'm absolutely itching to get my wallet out.

Drive on!

'Anita is an auctioneer from Glasgow with a fondness for Scottish jewellery.'

-Could you that for in the region of £12?

-No.

'And the personality to light up a room.'

-Do I look like a standard lamp?

-SHE LAUGHS

'On yesterday's programme, she employed some unusual negotiating tactics.'

It's a wee bit wibbly-wobbly. Oops.

-'Before ending up quids in.'

-HAMMER BANGS Yes!

'Mark Stacey is a valuer and dealer from Brighton.

'No surprise, then, that Regency is one of his favourite periods.'

I tell you what, I always go for a shapely leg.

'Mark's new to Scotland but learning fast.'

Naughty me.

'Thanks to some canny buys, Mark's on top, but we all know what pride comes before, don't we?'

-I can't believe this.

-'They began with £200 each

'and have already made a nice profit.

-'Anita goes into today's show with £294.40 to spend.'

-HAMMER BANGS

'And Mark is just ahead on £324.40.

'Now, if they could just find their first shop...'

-It's here. It's right turn!

-I know, but I got my left and my right mixed up.

'This week's journey travels from the Cairngorms,

'via the charming cities of Edinburgh and Durham,

'to Thirsk in North Yorkshire.

'Today's show starts out in Wiston, South Lanarkshire,

'and ends up at an auction showdown in Edinburgh.

'The hamlet of Wiston, under Tinto Hill, is the home of Sunnyside Antiques.

'Anita drops Mark off there before heading to her own destination.'

And I want you to have a lovely time

and I want you to spend, spend, spend.

Oh, Anita, you are terrible! But remember, my darling,

I've got more money than you to spend, spend, spend.

-Dash it!

-See you later!

-Bye!

'So with Anita's words ringing in his ears,

-'Mark strides purposefully off.'

-Hello.

-Good morning!

-It's a bit chilly out there, isn't it?

-Hi. I'm Mark.

-I'm Mark, as well. That's a good start.

'Sunnyside is the sort of shop where anyone could happily while away some time

'surrounded by the essentials of a bygone era.'

Oh, that's a beautiful thing, isn't it? Oh, sorry, I'm looking at the mirror and it's me.

'Mark Stacey's disposition is verging on the sunny side, too, with his nose just in front.'

Oh, look. Above it. I don't think it's quite the weather for a boater, do you?

Now, this is really the height of luxury.

You and I would normally go to work

with our sandwiches wrapped up in silver foil.

But if you were the man or lady who had everything,

you'd actually take your sandwiches

very delicately prepared with the crusts cut off

in a solid-silver sandwich box.

For me, it would be a very small sandwich.

I'd probably keep my fondant fancies in there.

'Very nice, but £185? A man might struggle for a real bargain here.

'Not that Mr Stacey seems to care.'

I do love these sort of shops. I mean, there is something for everyone.

Although most of the things are out of my price range, it's not because they're over-priced.

They're a fair retail price.

But I simply never have enough money in these shops.

BELL DINGS

It's not my time up already, is it? Surely not.

'Anita has motored on from Wiston

'to arrive at the town of Innerleithen,

'her first shopping destination.

'In the 12th century, the son of King Malcolm IV

'drowned near Innerleithen in what's now known as the Droont Pool.

'And when the locals recovered his body,

'the king bestowed the rights of sanctuary on the town.

'It also has two antique shops. Phew.'

-Hi there.

-Hello, Brian. It's lovely to meet you.

-Nice to meet you.

-Lovely to be back in Innerleithen.

'ABK Antiques is a little lesson in Scottish rural history.

'A fitting contrast to Sunnyside and packed to the rafters with practical stuff,

'like Brian's fine tool collection.'

-I mean, isn't that beautifully made?

-150 to 200.

-Yeah.

Most of them are over 100 years old.

I love them. I'm not an expert on tools, but I love to look at them

and I think it's sort of thinking back to my childhood, seeing tools in the house.

-Feel the weight of that.

-SHE LAUGHS

'Brian's esoteric collection includes items so obscure

'that he can happily quiz his customers as to their use.'

It's obviously a... Is it a measuring device?

No? OK, right. Don't tell me.

I don't... Is it an instrument of torture?

-That's what it looks like!

-That's what it looks like!

Thumbs screws for a hoof or something like that.

You better tell me.

It's to hold a horse's mouth open when you're doing dental work.

-Is that right?

-And it was a thing that was used quite regular.

'South Lanarkshire is a great horse-rearing area

'and Brian has plenty more tack, including a pair of leather hoof boots.'

I love these horses' shoes. I think they're great. What does that say?

Red Rum?

'Unfortunately not. They'd be worth a fortune.

'The leather over-shoe could be used when a horse-drawn lawnmower was employed

'so that the imprint of hooves didn't damage the lawn surface.'

I think this'll bring a smile to Mark Stacey's face.

'But £45, Anita?'

Can you sell me these horse boots,

these very useful horse boots, for...15 quid?

-No.

-SHE LAUGHS

I was only kidding you on. I was only kidding you on.

I need to buy them at round about the 25-ies.

Round about the 25-ies.

-26?

-No, 30. Bottom line.

£30 and you're getting a wonderful bargain.

Nobody else will have them. It's an item that's really unusual.

-Could you...

-Guaranteed money-maker.

Well, you see, they might be because they're so crazy.

Could you take another couple... Could you go 28?

-OK, 28.

-28. That's great. We'll seal the deal at that.

-Deal done.

'After making one of her stranger buys,

'Anita spies something she's a bit more familiar with. Also practical but a bit more decorative.'

That's rather pretty.

I mean, it's quite light for a paperweight.

-It's probably the latter half of the 20th century.

-I would think so.

-And we've got this nice...

-Cairngorms.

-..smoky topaz.

'Topaz is easily confused with Scotland's own smoky quartz from the Cairngorms.

'But the stone in this £30 paperweight is almost certainly European.'

Silversmith's work. It's got the nice stone on it.

A wee bit of detail. What I'd put on it is £12 to £18.

Could you do that for in the region of £12?

-No.

-No. Uh-huh.

-I'll do it for £25.

-What is the very best...

-£20.

-20 is the...

If you could even come down to,

perhaps take a wee bit more,

a wee bit more, it would be...

I'm not wanting to make huge amounts of money because I won't make it on that,

-but I'm trying not to lose...

-18. OK?

That's you getting an excellent buy.

-It is pretty, isn't it?

-It is, very nice.

-It's at the top end of my estimate.

-And the bottom end of mine.

Do you know, a couple of pounds might make a difference.

It makes a difference to me, as well.

-No, 18 is the bottom.

-18's the bottom?

-Yep.

-That's lovely.

'So, Anita is now the proud owner of one paperweight and a pair of horse boots.

'And Mark is still in the paddock thinking seriously about a box.'

That's quite a sweet little thing. It's a simple little mahogany box.

Then on the top we've got "Dr R Mill Murray."

So whoever owned this might have been a doctor.

I don't know why but something's telling me that.

It might have actually contained little bottles originally

as a sort of apothecary box.

So he might have kept some of his favourite medicines

and lotions and potions in there for curing his patients.

So there might be a little chance there. Mark, what about the little mahogany box?

-The little mahogany box is 135.

-Oh, gosh. I would love that but I think I can't do anything with that.

I don't think it would make money at auction.

-'Saved by the bell.'

-BELL DINGS

'Anita doesn't go far, just a few steps to MC Collectables.

'Unlike the next door neighbours, this is the traditional antique shop,

'less paraphernalia, more Victoriana.'

-See this wee brooch here.

-Yes, my love?

We see there's a photograph there. Is it a soldier or a sailor?

That's a boy scout by the looks of it.

It's the type of thing that you would put a lock of a loved one's hair.

It's what we call a mourning brooch. A Victorian mourning brooch.

And that little boy scout is in there. I wonder what happened to him.

'Pendants and brooches containing portrait miniatures and locks of loved ones' hair

'have been popular for centuries, particularly in the Victorian period.

'The price of £20 reflects that Michael probably thinks it's pinchbeck,

'a brass imitation of gold.'

It looks as if somebody's maybe tested that there.

-Did you test it?

-No, I didn't, no, but I think it has been tested.

It is, it's definitely pinchbeck.

I still quite like it.

I still quite like it. It depends on the price.

-It's something that I could maybe go for.

-I'd do it for 15.

-Uh-huh.

-Mm-hm.

-Yeah. Erm...

-25 percent off.

Could you do it for £10?

-Go on then.

-Can you do it for 10? Thank you very, very much.

-It's all right, my dear.

'Anita's eye catches the glint of amber glass. And if there's a bargain to be had...'

I collect glass myself. This is quite pretty.

There's no maker's name on it. And I prefer it to have a maker's name.

But I think it's quite pretty and I am a sucker for glass.

'No name and also no price. Anita's on the case.'

-Michael, could you do that one for a tenner?

-I think I could, yeah.

-Yeah? OK. That's great.

-OK?

-No maker's name but it's still a bonny bit of glass.

-That's lovely.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

'So, Anita's on a roll today.

'Four in the bag at a cost of a mere £66, even with her hoof boots.

'And meanwhile, at Sunnyside,

'Mark has decided it's time to finally plump for one or two of the luxuries he's been longing for.'

I've found a little agate or onyx box

very nicely made, with these little gilt brass hinges.

'It's made of alabaster actually, Mark.

'Like onyx and agate, a mineral that's been carved by man since ancient times.

'And the name may derive from an Egyptian goddess called Bast.

'Believe that, you'll believe anything.'

Now I am looking for a maker's mark. HG and S. Made in England.

I would have put this around about 1910, 1920.

It's really a bit of a nonsense piece

because it's just for one of those people who had everything,

for your desk, or even you could keep cufflinks in it.

But it's just a very, very pretty little thing.

The price on that at the moment is £40, which is not too bad, actually.

The difficulty is you're relying really on people that have the same taste as me,

who would like the finer things of life.

'And what could be even more frivolous than that?'

It's a little sort of purse that you'd have your sovereign for your carriage fare home after a ball.

So you'd have this in your little elegant

Edwardian or Victorian handbag, evening bag.

We've got this little taffeta silk inside, a lovely blue,

and of course, because it's been inside this little case, it's remained remarkably fresh,

and the colour is just absolutely beautiful with that lovely...

You've still got that water effect when you move it round in your hand.

Well there's no price on it. So I'm either going to be leaving here very happy, or "greetin'".

-'Yes, Mark. That means crying.'

-Is that right?

'Those lessons from Anita are clearly paying off. Looks like he's learnt something else from her too,

'Scottish glass can make a tidy profit.'

Anita did very well with her Strathearn vase yesterday,

but I think that was because she was the local girl.

Not that I'm in any way bitter.

I mean, I love this because I love the shape of it,

and it's very much that Monart glass style, it's got that nice ground pontil on the bottom.

But is it a £100 piece?

A £20 piece or a £200 piece? I simply have no idea.

'Monart from Moncrieff owes its distinctive look

'to a family of Spanish glassblowers called the Ysarts,

'who came to Scotland in 1915.

'Their paperweights, scent bottles, vases and the like

'were soon in huge demand at shops like Liberty and Tiffany's in the 20s and 30s.

'And Mark's also tempted by something he does know a fair bit about.'

It's quite nice detail on here, actually, even though it's a very simple, plain piece of silver.

It's Sheffield but I think, looking at that mark,

it's probably George V, late teens, early 20s, I think.

So we'll put that there for the moment because that's 45.

Mark, I need to start considering decisions now. I mean, this one I like.

You've got 40 on it, which is a reasonable start.

What would be the absolute lowest on that.

-30?

-Not 25?

-Not even 28.

-HE LAUGHS

-Not 29?

-No. 30.

-£30, OK.

-And what about this one? You said 45 on that.

-That's correct, erm...

-I would come down to 38.

-38.

-It would be worth more in scrap.

This is the thing I absolutely adore, Mark.

You've got it priced up at 105. What would be your absolutely lowest price on that?

The best I could do would be...

..90. If it helps, I'll go the extra 5 at 85.

-Thank you, Mark. And this Monart.

-I would do for 60.

-60.

Gosh, Mark, you are giving me a conundrum.

OK, so we have 153 for those three...

Erm, and I'll put that one in, £200 the lot.

I'm going to go for it.

I've blown most of my budget, very close to my budget on four items in my first shop.

Am I mad? Yes, of course I am. Completely.

'I couldn't possibly comment, Mark.

'So, while we give Mark the opportunity to pay up in haste and repent at leisure,

'Anita is back on the road,

'driving from Innerleithen to Roslin in Midlothian

'to visit its world-famous, 15th century chapel.

'If you've ever seen the movie of The Da Vinci Code,

'then you'll probably recognise the chapel, which featured in a fairly climactic scene.

'For centuries people have puzzled over the meaning of the rich and abundant carvings here.'

Oh, Simon!

This is the most extraordinary,

-extraordinary place.

-Yes, it's quite a place, isn't it?

'Dan Brown, like many before him,

'concluded that the carvings must be the key to a great secret,

'usually involving Knights Templars and the Holy Grail,

'but there's a confusing amount of Pagan imagery too,

'as Anita's guide, Simon Beatty explains.'

This green man, it's a symbol that pops up all over the world.

It's a Pagan symbol originally. It's a god of nature, a god of fertility.

Usually you get one or two in a church, we've got over 100.

Do you sometimes feel that the eyes are following you around? SHE LAUGHS

There are occasions when you do feel someone's watching you, certainly.

'Amongst the incredible detail of what remains a working chapel are numerous quirks and curiosities,

'like this, the oldest known carving of a Scottish bagpiper,

'as well as a reminder or two of the nameless craftsman who built Roslin.'

What a magnificent pillar!

-The Apprentice Pillar.

-Is that the Apprentice Pillar?

-Yeah.

-That's wonderful. I believe there's a story behind that?

-There is, yes.

The master mason was given the task of recreating a pillar that was in Rome.

So he went off to Rome to look at this original pillar.

While he was away, an apprentice mason carved this pillar,

without permission of the master mason, the master mason came back,

was very upset that someone had carved in his spot, and killed the apprentice for doing it.

-That's very gruesome.

-That is not a nice story, really.

'He got his comeuppance, though.

'This is the face of the master, condemned to stare forever at his apprentice's work.'

'Those two could have done with making a study of Mark and Anita's harmonious working relationship.

'Although the auction is still to come. Right now though,

'Mark's reached Innerleithen, hot on Anita's shopping trail.'

Anita Manning is in the vicinity.

There's a number of shops on this street.

I'm heading for the nearest one which is Keepsakes. And let's hope she's not in there.

-Hello. You must be Margaret.

-Hello, nice to meet you.

-I'm Mark.

'Even though he already has four items, Keepsakes has plenty to catch Mark's eye.

'Like some typical Scottish pottery, as well as famous names like Susie Cooper and Clarice Cliff.'

And what's on the Clarice Cliff clog, do you know?

-The clog I think is about 400.

-Oh, gosh! But I think it's a wee bit over my budget.

'Mark's now getting even warmer,

-'following Anita's hoof steps to ABK.'

-Hello.

So this is just the sort of shop Anita Manning would love

because it's got lots of little knick-knacks and interesting objects

and Anita is very good at getting into shelves

and finding something that a lot of other people would miss.

But I tell you what I have found.

These are a pair of brass lighthouse door fittings.

And I think they're rather fun.

The problem is, will they be a beacon at the saleroom?

-What sort of price are you hoping to get for those?

-About 85, I don't know.

I do love them, actually, but choices, choices. What's this?

-Don't you know what that is?

-I don't think I do.

-It's a prayer stool.

-Oh, it is a prayer stool.

I don't think I've ever seen one that shape before.

-So is that Victorian, do you think?

-I think so. It's well-upholstered.

-Quite nice, isn't it?

-It's quite well upholstered. Probably an oak frame, I would have thought.

-Beautifully made, yes.

-So how does it work?

-Well, I think you actually... I think you just kneel like that.

-Fun wee thing that, isn't it?

-Different.

-You've got it priced up at £25.

-Can you be charitable with me?

-I could do you it for 18.

I've just seen that little box with N on it. What's it for?

-It's for cigarette holders.

-See, I like these two things.

Brian, I wasn't intending to buy any more today. I was going to save my muster for tomorrow.

-A bird in the hand, Mark.

-Yes, I know. Oh, Brian, you are terrible. You're leading me astray.

You'll go tomorrow, find nothing and say, "I wish I'd bought that stuff in Innerleithen."

-Can I be cheeky with you?

-Aye.

-Very cheeky.

-Course you can be cheeky.

Could we do the two for 18?

Do you the two for 20, how's that? That's an excellent bargain.

I'm going to do it. Brian, thank you very much.

Oh, my giddy aunt, what have I done? I've been rash again! I promised I wouldn't do this!

And now I'm stuck with the consequences.

'Day two finds our hero and heroine heavy in baggage and light in funds,

'after a bumper start to their bargain-seeking tour.'

We really don't know what's round the corner as far as antique shops go

-and that's just such a pleasure.

-Well, it is, but also quite a worry.

'Mark has already splashed out £220 on six items.

'Not least a potentially lucrative prayer stool.'

WHISPERS: Please, please, huge profits.

'Leaving him with just over £100.

'While Anita spent £66 on four items,

'including some fairly unusual hoof boots.'

-Guaranteed money-maker.

-'Leaving her with just under £230.'

'Today's canter is from Roslin to Edinburgh,

'calling in on Thirsk, on the outskirts of Dalkeith.'

-I tell you what, you save your legs, you go in there, I'll go in here.

-OK.

'Mark makes first for Drum Farm Antiques,

'a vast barn of a place mostly filled with furniture

'that's sure to appeal to trade buyers wanting to refurb and sell on.'

If you need a chair, this is the place to come.

'Retropolis, next door, certainly lives up to its name.

'Not fine antiques but everyday items arranged decoratively,

'with an emphasis on fun and kitsch.'

Do I look like a standard lamp? SHE LAUGHS

'A long way above standard, surely?

'But after the fashion, Anita wastes no time in unearthing yet another very practical box.'

In the west of Scotland they love Arts and Crafts beaten metal.

I wonder if they'll like it in the east coast, as well? It is hand-hammered.

And I love the text, I love that stylised text.

'At the turn of the 20th century, Scotland experienced a flowering of Art Nouveau design.

'The Scottish blend of Arts and Crafts, Celtic revival and Eastern influences

'became known as the Glasgow School.'

-Think we can do that for £20.

-£20?

-Yeah.

-Could I make an offer of a tenner on it?

-Oh!

-LAUGHS

-My wallet's contracting there.

-SHE LAUGHS

-If you can come to ten.

-12, 12...

-If you can come to ten, it would give me a chance.

I mean, I might make 18 on it. I might not get £18 but it might go to 18.

-It's still 12.

-It's still 12. SHE LAUGHS

-Squeeze 12 out. I think you'll...

-Can we come in between 10 and 12?

-All right, £11.

You'd think we were buying a Lamborghini or something.

-I know, it's a blooming slipper box, but OK. £11, it's yours.

-11? Thank you very much.

-I haven't got any change.

-Do you want to just go for ten quid? HE LAUGHS

-'While Anita notches up another saving...'

-OK, Anita. Good luck with it.

'..Mark has decided that his dwindling funds are unlikely to be dispersed in Dalkeith.

'Instead, he's liberated the little Morris for a trip to the university.

'Mark travels from Dalkeith to Edinburgh, Scotland's capital.'

'Dominated by a castle and a rock,

'not forgetting the extinct volcano of Arthur's Seat,

'Edinburgh is famous for its arts festival and its rich literary tradition.

'Writers like Boswell and Sir Walter Scott lived here.

'JK Rowling still does. It's also the birthplace of Robert Louis Stevenson,

'author of the chilling Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,

'and where two real-life sinister characters, Burke and Hare,

'went on a grizzly murder spree to supply corpses for medical research.

'Mark's here to visit the Department of Anatomy,

'where Gordon Findlater, the museum's curator, can show him plenty of old bones.'

And it's the skeleton of William Burke.

-Oh, gosh.

-He's been hanging here for the last 190 years.

-Yes. Gosh!

He started on a murdering spree, as fortuitous as it was,

an old soldier died in his lodging house owing money to Hare.

One way of getting his rent back was to sell the body on to the anatomists.

Shortly after that, another lodger in the lodging house took unwell with an infection,

not good for business, so rather than wait until he died, they murdered him

and again took the body along to the anatomists.

I mean, what sort of price would they be paid per body?

Well, they reckon £10, £12 in the winter and down to £7 in the summer.

Mind you, even £7, if we're looking at the 1820s, that was an awful lot of money.

Some people were probably paid £7 a year back then.

I'm not sure, but I think I read somewhere that it was the equivalent of £10,000 or £12,000.

'Burke and Hare murdered 15 people

'over the course of nine months before they were finally arrested.'

Burke was sentenced to...

He was sentenced to be hung. In fact, his sentence was to be hung,

dissected and put on display, hence why we have him here to this day, that was part of his sentence.

'Incredibly, William Hare, who had testified against his partner, escaped punishment entirely.'

Here we have the life masks of Burke and Hare.

And above is the death mask of Burke.

-Showing the...

-Garrotte marks going around the back of his neck.

25,000 people were in the Lawnmarket to watch Burke's hanging.

So it was a public spectacle.

-He wasn't very popular.

-Very, very unpopular.

'From body snatchers to bargain grabbers.

'Anita now has five items. So will she stop the shop? Not likely!'

I have one more shop. I have five items.

However, I have a cunning plan.

What I was thinking, if I see a nice piece of jewellery,

then I can buy it, I can put it in with my little brooch just to bulk it up a bit.

'Anita is travelling from Dalkeith to North Berwick

'to visit Lovage & Lace.'

-Helen, can I have a wee look around?

-Yes.

-This looks absolutely wonderful.

'Lovage & Lace sells a mixture of antique, vintage and reproduction.

'Anita, though, has eyes for only one thing.'

I want to have a look at the jewellery now.

That's a lovely thing. That's not dear.

I'm looking for something specific. SHE LAUGHS

And I'm being pulled away by this marvellous vintage costume jewellery, which I absolutely love.

Can we look at that wee cat brooch?

I think that's lovely. I think it looks French.

-I know.

-SHE LAUGHS

-It's very tempting, but it won't...

-You can have it for... What's on it? 16.

You can have it, as it's you, for 13. How about that?

-It's got that sort of je ne sais quoi.

-Yes, it does.

-It's very stylish.

-A bit of style.

-Everything from France is stylish.

Can I look at it in the daylight?

I think it's from the 1930s

and I like the form. It's a stylised cat.

Would I be able to make you an offer for it?

-£10?

-No. I'll do it for 12 for you.

-I can't. Because it's such a bargain already at that.

-Yes.

Would you take 10? I could take a chance on 10.

-On 10.

-No. I'll take 11.

11? Shall we just go for it? Let's go for it! THEY LAUGH

'With the cat in the bag, it's time for Anita to meet Mark

'and reveal what she's been up to for the last few days.'

-Shall I start?

-Yes.

-OK. I'll dig into my wee bag

and take out a little silver decanter holder.

The price of silver is high just now. Did you have to pay a lot of money?

-I paid £38 for it.

-£38? That's not bad at all.

'And now for Anita's paperweight.'

It's continental silver. Marked 925.

-OK.

-So we have this rather nice work on the silver here,

-this lovely smoky topaz.

-But the crucial question, Anita,

-how much?

-I paid 18 for it.

-That's very reasonable.

-Do you think so?

-I do.

-I was hoping to get it round about £12.

-I think you're being very mean, Anita.

'One of Mark's luxuries, the alabaster box.'

When you open it up, it's marked with a marker's mark and made in England.

So I think that fits the 1920s. I paid 30.

-Well, it's not too bad.

-It's on the border, isn't it?

My next item is a piece of 20th century design.

When I lifted it up, it's a good weight.

-Yes.

-I saw this beautifully finished base here.

-Yes.

-Smoothed off with a pontil.

-Mm-hm.

So there is quality there.

-How much did you pay for it?

-£10.

-Well, it's nothing, is it?

-My third item is also a piece of glass.

-That's Monart.

I just fell in love with that sort of banister shape.

It's very curvaceous, it's very touchable.

You want to stroke it and feel it. I paid 47 for it.

That's a very conservative price. That's a very good price.

-Do I see a wee nick here?

-No, you didn't see a wee nick there.

-SHE LAUGHS

Right, my next item,

very useful item, no home should be without them.

-SHE LAUGHS Clip-clop, clip-clop.

-Oh, Anita!

Anita Manning! I mean, you're going from the sublime to the ridiculous here!

-What on earth did you buy them for?

-These may have belonged to

a very famous racehorse. In fact, I'll just have a wee look.

-Red Rum. Look!

-Oh, no, murder.

-THEY LAUGH

-So you paid nothing for them?

-£28.

-Do you like them?

-Er, no. But shall I gallop on to my next item?

'A little prayer stool from the very same shop.'

-I think it's been reupholstered by a carpenter.

-Do you think so? Do you?

The dealer said I could have it for £18.

And then I spotted this. He said I could have them both for 20.

-Uh-huh.

-And I thought it was a little bit of fun.

-Are you going to put them as one lot?

-Yes.

-I think that's a lovely wee box and I like pokerwork.

Although, you didn't do too well in pokerwork in your last sale.

-Thanks for reminding me.

-Sorry for reminding you.

-You carry on. Shall I get you the tab of salt now?

-SHE LAUGHS

'Next, Anita's Art Nouveau slipper box.'

It's rather sweet, actually.

I like beaten metal work and it goes for very good prices at auction.

-Did you pay a lot for it?

-£11.

-Well, I can't really say anything.

-It's a good price for that.

-It is. It's a little ladies' sovereign case.

-Oh, that's so sweet.

-With a lovely blue organza silk inside.

-And that's the original material.

-It is.

-I have to ask you now, how much?

-I paid £85.

On a good day with a good wind behind the sails,

-you could go to £150.

-Oh, thank you, Anita.

'Anita's jewellery joint lot.'

Now, it's a typical Victorian mourning brooch.

I'm sending it to the auction as yellow metal.

But it has some quality.

I bought it for £10.

-Oh, Anita.

-Yeah.

-Are you going to be adventurous at all in this leg?

And you've got another one here.

It's a little stylised cat. It is continental

and it may well be a little Parisian moggy.

-£11.

-So that's £21.

-21 for the two.

-OK.

Well, Anita, I think it's a tale of two buying trips this time.

I mean, I think I've gone for reasonable quality pieces.

You've bought wisely, as I expected. And we'll find out what happens at the auction.

'And here's what they really think.'

The Red Rum two-legged horse clippety-clop things,

I wouldn't have touched them for £24.

But Anita's had wacky things before and made a profit.

That kneeler, it's more like a cat scratcher.

It's absolutely horrible.

Comparing the two lots, I've really bought better items.

Whether that'll result in better profits, it's anyone guess, really.

I'm not taking as much chance as Mark is on this one

and I think that I probably have the edge on this sale.

'After starting out in the Lanarkshire countryside at Wiston,

'this leg of our bargain battle will be decided in Edinburgh

'at the auctioneers Thomson Roddick & Medcalf.'

-Are you excited?

-I'm very excited. I'm always excited.

You've bought lovely items and I'm sure you'll make a profit.

-And, of course, you didn't, Anita, and I'm sure you will make a profit. Shall we get in?

-Yes.

-I'll hold your hand, darling.

-Come on, lead the way, darling.

'The Edinburgh public are gathering. to inspect the goods and the hammer is poised to fall,

'but Mark and Anita are keen to grab a quick word with auctioneer Sybelle Thomson.'

-How are they going to do?

-We'll keep our fingers crossed.

You bought one or two nice quality items.

-Well, I did.

-Well, I don't know who bought what.

-THEY LAUGH

I particularly like the little Georgian ivory purse,

which is particularly special and probably inlaid with gold.

The horse hoof covers, I think they're great fun,

they're a real novelty collectors item. They're interesting and so we'll see.

-'Anita has spent £88 on five lots.'

-We'll seal the deal at that.

-Deal done.

-'While Mark has lavished £220 also on five lots.'

-There we are. Crisp notes.

-'Let's go.'

-One minute to go. Are you excited?

I am excited. And nervous, of course, as usual.

'Kicking off with the hoof boots.'

-I've got 20 bid on commission.

-20 is bid.

-20 bid.

25. 30.

5. 40. You're all out seated. Make no mistake.

They're on commission at 40. Anyone going on? At £40.

Well, that's not bad, Anita.

'A profit of £12 before commission on the boots.'

It's more Red Rum than Dobbin.

'Next, Mark's Monarch vase.'

100. 50. 50.

-Come on.

-30 bid.

-35.

-40.

-Oh, no.

-£40. Any advance on 40?

45. £50. Bid's with the lady at 50. 55.

-Any advance on 55?

-Come on.

-Selling to my right at 55.

-60.

-Oh, new place.

-£60. Right at the back at 60.

65. 65.

-Any advance on 65?

-HAMMER BANGS

'Almost £20 made. Not to be sniffed at.'

So it's a small profit but at least it's a profit.

'Next, Anita's anonymous glass.'

Who'd like to start me? £30 for it. 30.

-20. 20 bid.

-20 bid.

-20.

20 bid. Who's going on? At 20 bid. 25. 30.

£30. Still on commission at £30.

-Yes!

-'Also a good return.'

Not huge profits, but reasonable, decent, working profits.

'Now Mark's favourite item, the sovereign purse.'

Quite a lot of bids on it and I'm going to start it at £65. 65.

70. 5. 80. 5.

-85. With me on commission at 85.

-Come on.

-85. 90. 5.

-On the phone.

-100. 100.

-Come on, a bit more. Come on.

-On the telephone at 100.

-A little bit more.

-At 100. Any advance on 100?

-Oh, no.

-On the phone at £100.

Oh, that's disappointing.

'Certainly not what he'd hoped for.'

Technically, after commission, that's a loss.

'Anita's Scottish slipper box.'

-20 bid. 20 bid.

-We're in at 20.

-25. 30.

-That's good.

On the right at 30. Anyone else going on?

At 30. The bid's on my right at £30.

Well, you were spot on there, Anita. Absolutely spot on.

'Thanks to some shrewd bargaining,

'another small gain for Anita.'

I would've liked a wee bit more, but then again, I'm happy with that.

'Mark's silver coaster is under the hammer next.

'But Mark's head, it seems, is elsewhere.'

5. 50. 5.

-60. 5.

-Ooh.

-70.

-Is this mine?

-5.

-75.

-Never.

-Standing on my left at 75.

-No. Is it?

Would anyone else like in? At £75.

-Yes!

-£75, Anita.

'Full marks for silver. £37 profit before commission.'

That's pushed me right back in the game, Anita.

'Anita's smoky topaz paperweight.'

£30 to make a start. 30. 30 bid.

30 bid. 35. 40.

5. 45. 45.

At £45.

-'Not a hefty profit, but over twice the cost.'

-What do I know, Anita?

-I clearly know absolutely nothing.

-Oh, well, as long as you admit it.

'That tasteful alabaster box.'

-20 bid. 20 bid.

-Oh, please, a bit more.

£20. First and only bid of 20.

Anyone going on for a nice alabaster box at 20?

At £20.

Damn.

-'A £10 loss before commission.'

-No, that's disappointing.

'Anita's little jewellery lot.'

The mourning brooch and cat brooch at 45.

-45.

-50. 5. 60.

-5. 65. Still on commission at 65.

-That must've been gold, Anita.

At £65. 901.

A very sharp profit.

Oh, dear. I knew this was going to be a bad day.

'Now, does this lot have a prayer?'

-£85.

-I don't think I can even look, Anita. I can't even look.

Who'd like to start me at £40 for these? 40.

-20. 20. £20.

-Oh, come on.

20. £10. Beautifully upholstered. At 10.

£10. £10. Anyone for 10?

-I don't think it's going to sell.

-£10. 10 bid. 10 bid.

-Oh, no.

-10 bid. First and only bid of 10.

-Come on.

-12.

-12!

-Come on!

-12. Have another, sir. At 12.

-It's lovely! Come on!

-At £12.

-Oh, that's terrible.

'An £8 loss before auction costs.

'Seems like he wasn't listening, Mark.'

£12, Anita.

I can't say that I'm surprised.

'Anita's less than consoling words are tempered by the knowledge

'that she now leads by about £50. Call it a short head.

'Mark began with £324.40

'and made £3.04 after auction costs,

'so he now has £327.44 to spend tomorrow.

'Anita started this round with £294.40

'and made £84.20 after auction costs,

'leaving her with £378.60 to spend tomorrow.'

Never mind, Mark. Not much ahead.

-Don't be depressed. We'll go for a wee spin and have a nice cup of tea.

-Wonderful.

-The ride's on you.

-SHE LAUGHS

'Join us tomorrow when Mark celebrates a bargain find.'

-And a kiss.

-Absolutely.

'And Anita unlocks a little bit of history.'

-This is actually a piece of Napoleon's hair?

-That's amazing. We didn't know that was there.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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