Episode 27 Antiques Road Trip

The nation's favourite antiques experts, £200 each,

and one big challenge.

-I'm here to declare war.

-Why?

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

-It really is very good!

-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!

Will they race off with a huge profit or come to a grinding halt?

-Do you think I'd believe that?

-This is the Antiques Road Trip!

We're in the Republic of Ireland with the two Davids,

David Harper and David Barby.

Together, they're touring the Emerald Isle in a Triumph TR3.

Oh, David!

-You're getting all fired up here!

-I'm doing 50 miles an hour.

-Come on, baby!

David Harper is a dealer with an infinite knowledge of antiques.

What on earth is that?

While co-driver David Barby is an auctioneer,

well-known for his tact and charm!

-Is that collectable in England?

-HE GASPS

It is here.

There's no doubt who's had the best start on this trip.

Yesterday's auction in Northern Ireland was a great success for David Barby...

-I'm getting anxious about these.

-All finished at 240.

Someone's got taste.

..but a calamity for David Harper.

-No, don't.

-Yes.

-Come on!

They began with £200 each,

but David B goes into today with a whopping £417.10.

The other David has made just £6.80

to add to his starting cash.

Both of these piles have been converted into euros today

as the road trip heads south of the border and into new territory.

This week we're travelling from Northern Ireland,

heading south towards the county of Meath,

then across to the north coast of Wales

and once again heading south, ending our road trip in Llanelli.

Today's show starts out in Athlone and heads for an auction at Kells.

# Half a mile from the county fair And the rain came pouring down...

Slap-bang in the geographical centre of Ireland,

Athlone is famous for its castle and its very strategic bridge over the River Shannon.

Reasons why, over 300 years ago, the city was besieged twice.

# We just stood there getting wet #

Ireland is apparently also noted for its precipitation. That's rain.

-I am wet.

-I think you should put the soft top up.

-Do you think so?

-Yes.

Let's not suffer too much, for goodness sake. That's it.

There you go! That's nice!

When you've got the facilities, you can use a vintage car all year round!

Mm. I'm not sure the Garda would necessarily agree with you, David.

This warm and dry shop, though, is packed with top-quality stuff at prices that match.

Brianna and Thomas are keen to help.

-Who gives the best discounts?

-I most certainly do.

-Really?

-THEY LAUGH

OK, I'll have the good-looking one!

Ahh, the David Harper charm, tried before but with mixed results.

Do you want to come for a ride in my car?

I'm sure I've heard that line, too.

I wonder what she'll think when she discovers that after yesterday,

he doesn't have much else to offer.

That is a crackling Majolica thing. Is it Majolica?

It's going to be out of my price range, isn't it?

-Bear in mind I've only got 200-and-something euros.

-OK! Right!

-She's not very impressed with me now, is she?

-We're not fussy here!

I'd love to pay 150 for it.

-I'll see if I would like to give it to you for 150.

-I bet you won't.

Ooh. No. I think I might be disowned if I did!

Even David Barby, who has twice as much cash as his namesake,

couldn't afford 750 euros!

There's an interesting piece of some bog oak.

-I mean, it's very difficult to put an age on it.

-Ohh!

Now, there can be few things more typically Irish than bog oak,

but the price of 295 euros makes David all shy.

It's timber that's been in a peat bog

-probably for thousands of years.

-Absolutely.

And it's soaked in all the sort of peat preservatives,

so it becomes quite hard and it can be carved,

and this is a piece of bog oak.

What would be your discretion on that?

-I'm sure we could do 10 or 15 percent.

-Is that all?

Well, we could start at 10 or 15 and see what's the level of your interest,

-and it might be matched by the level of our discretion.

-I think that is quite...

-It rolls off your tongue!

-It's called blarney!

I know! It's called blarney! My goodness me!

What's this? A carved, signed wooden tray.

I've never seen anything like that before.

It doesn't look terribly practical.

-It hasn't got a huge amount of age, I don't think. A real quirky little number.

-It is.

-Would you have that in your house.

-I don't think I would!

Refreshingly honest. Now, what's David B up to?

A Victorian... What's a pod saw?

No! Pad saw!

Well, it's all the way through here.

That's a retractable blade that was the forerunner of the Stanley knife, perhaps.

I'd like to know what it is before I buy it.

Finding out what it is after you've bought it is more fun.

There's that blarney again. But David is a bit of a stickler.

Brian, we have a query here from a customer.

Perhaps the shop owner can shave a few of the 48 euros off the price.

Oh, right. So there's a hole in the actual handle,

so you pass the blade all the way through?

So you could adjust it accordingly.

Can you do it at 20?

I'm not tough at all. OK, that's very kind.

I'll put you back to Thomas to confirm the price in case he doesn't believe me.

Hello, Brian. Is that really you that's there

and we're not just talking to a recording?

Oh, you drive such a hard bargain. I can't believe he took so much off!

-He said 20.

-He said 20 on that.

So while David B reflects on his first purchase, David H, with plenty to prove,

has finally found something which, at 40 euros, is in his bracket.

-That's an unusual thing. I think it's alabaster.

-Yes.

Three naked ladies climbing up a...

-Is it some sort of...

-A cliff or...?

What is it? Has it got a religious significance?

-It's a very unusual thing.

-It is.

-I like that.

I'd love to know what's going on. Whoever carved it carved it for a reason,

he didn't think of this scene and think,

"I'm just going to carve three women climbing up a mountain."

Actually, David, it's inspired by a detail

from Rodin's huge unfinished masterpiece the Gates of Hell.

The original measured six metres by four

and features 186 figures.

That, though, is in the Musee Rodin and is definitely not for sale.

I'd take a chance on that at 20 euros.

20 euros...

-OK, let's make a deal.

-Are you sure?

-Yes.

-Marvellous! Marvellous!

While David Barby dodges the Athlone showers...

Hold on, it's raining. Just thinking of my perm!

..his friend, that's the one in the cap,

has grabbed the keys to the Triumph,

travelling from Athlone to Barley Harbour.

David's making his way through the lowlands

to visit the studio of bog oak artist Michael Casey.

Hello there. David Harper. Nice to meet you. Can I come in?

Oh, my gosh! This is amazing.

Tell me about bog oak. How do we get to that?

When we lift it out, it's covered with clay and peat.

And it's been buried under the earth for six or 7,000 years.

The forests were growing at that time.

They fell, and the bogs have grown on them 30 feet.

When the wood first comes out of the ground,

it's very soggy and needs to be seasoned for a few more years

before Michael can begin his work.

Oh, my goodness me! Michael, what is that?

-This is absolutely as it comes out of the ground?

-More or less, yes.

How long has this been weathering for?

Some of the pieces are here 10 or 15 years.

So you might get an inspiration that you want to make a sculpture based on a subject

-and then you would root through looking for something to grab you.

-Yes.

You can almost see the human head and the shoulder.

OK. I can see that.

And then other pieces are sitting for years and years

and you might come out with a drink at night or something

-and sit down with it...

-Yes.

-..and then it suggests itself.

I help it along, you know, the suggestion, just maybe the head and the arms.

When you say you help it along, it's got your direct input, hasn't it?

Things struggled in the bog off of nature

and the handy human hand adds a little to it.

Eventually, the supply of oak

and the rarer yew and pine will run out,

but not any day soon,

because several thousand years ago Ireland was one huge forest.

A monkey could swing from tree to tree.

-This is the River Shannon out here. Now, you only had to swim the Shannon...

-You're kidding?

-..and you could go the whole way to Galway.

-Without touching the ground?

-Yes.

David is fortunate enough to have a lesson in sculpture from the master himself.

So, you're not afraid of the wood at all? I mean, that is serious stuff.

That'll take the skin off.

-Don't go backwards.

-Don't go backwards?

-Forwards.

-Always forwards?

-Yes.

-Tell me why.

-Why would you always go forwards?

-The teeth are facing that way.

Yes!

I see. I'm getting with it now, Michael.

I think it might take me some time to become like you.

I suppose if you were to make what you might think of as a mistake,

-you'd just work around that?

-Yes.

-There's no mistakes in this.

-No mistakes.

-No.

It's nature telling you exactly what she wants to be.

Whilst David Harper goes with the grain,

David Barby has carried on shopping...

..making his way from Athlone to Mullingar.

The biggest city in the Irish Midlands,

Mullingar was once a great cattle-trading centre and is still famous for its pewter.

James Joyce was very fond of the place, too,

and it gets several mentions in Finnegans Wake and Ulysses.

Speaking of heroes...

-Hello, I'm David Barby.

-Dermot Holmes. Pleased to meet you.

-And you own this store?

-Yes. Delighted it could bring you to Mullingar.

If David was a bit taken aback by the prices in Athlone this morning,

by Mullingar, he's getting seriously worried.

That's well over what I have to spend.

Well over.

How much is that? Oh, it's coming round. Ohh!

-Er, 495.

-HE GASPS

Yes. You pay for the frame.

-It's in its original glass.

-HE GASPS

You're in Ireland now. You're not in the UK where there's plenty of volume!

I'm looking at the sort of prices they're asking in Southern Ireland

and I'm thinking, "Ohh! How much would that go for back home?"

I realised the market back home has a long way to go before it gets to these prices.

Luckily, shop-owner Dermot has plenty of suggestions

for what might sell well at the Kells auction.

Like an early Rudyard Kipling collection, various dishes

and even some novelty tableware.

-Is that collectable in England?

-HE GASPS

-It is here.

-Ohh!

-Isn't it extraordinary?

-It's just a cabbage.

-Ohh!

-Do you like it?

-I don't.

-I think it's hideous.

-People are mad about them. They collect them.

-35 euro! By God!

Oh, well. Each to his own.

David, for example, really likes this barrel.

-I used to collect Doulton.

-Ah, right.

-This is a little Doulton piece.

-Yes.

-Salt glaze.

-It would've originally had corks in it.

-Yes. Those are gone. You'd have a spigot there.

-Yes.

But the very fact it is Doulton indicates that it's quality.

And I love the barrel shape! I think that's quite good.

I see you've got 35 on there. What's the best you can do?

That's the best I can do. We had 45.

30?

25, then. That's the best. Because it's a piece of Doulton.

Ha! But it hasn't got its spigot. And it hasn't got its cork.

-And it hasn't got its proper stand.

-No, it hasn't got its proper stand.

You make me an offer.

-I'll say 15.

-I'll say 20.

-18.

-Right, you're done.

-What have I done?

-What have you done?

-Yes.

Too late to change your mind now, David.

What else is there to wax lyrical about?

These are Georgian brass candlesticks.

They're out of fashion to a certain extent in England

because people don't like polishing brass.

I remember seeing two of these up at that auction in the north, I think they went for about £12.

So those have got to be round about 10 euro.

I'm saying 12 euro. I'm matching 12 pounds with 12 euro.

-I can't do it.

-You can't do it?

-No. I know how much the other ones went for.

At the moment, the euro is at parity with the pound!

Near enough. When you go to buy, it's different.

We'll introduce you to these two

and let you make a decision.

-Do we throw the cat among the pigeons?

-You have.

-Slightly smaller.

-I like those, as well.

Right, so, if I bought those, that would be 20 euro for four?

-For the four?

-Yes.

-OK.

-Deal done?

-Yes.

A modest haul from Mullingar,

but maybe David Barby, as the leader, doesn't have to try too hard.

Day two, and the Davids still seem to be thoroughly enjoying

their Gaelic gallivant.

-You're very suave, aren't you?

-No, no.

-You are.

-Don't you have a shell suit at home?

-Oh, I've got one of those, yes.

-I undo the zip halfway down.

-Do you?

-To show my hairy chest!

THEY LAUGH

Yesterday, the hirsute David Barby bought three items

at a cost of just 58 euros.

So he still has 394 euros and 30 cents to spend today.

David Harper spent 20 euros on this...

I'd love to know what's going on, because there's a significance here.

..unaware that it's after Rodin's pose.

Mwah. Thank you.

And so he has 204 euros and 25 cents.

-Time to spend, surely?

-I need three or four items.

I would like to spend it all,

but so far, I've spent a tiny amount.

I'm not going to blow the money on things just for the sake of spending.

No, quite!

Their triumphal trail will conclude today at an auction in Kells,

but first stop for hot-to-shop Harper

is the little town of Knockdrin.

No mention yet of the prices, but where he finds this sort of eclectic mix,

it behoves him to find a bargain, big or small.

What is that? It's a miniature drum. A metal miniature drum.

Hand-painted. The Gordon Highlanders.

Anything to do with militaria,

there are collectors out there worldwide for things like this.

Hand-painted. Quality.

Let me find Mary and see what she can do on this one.

-Mary?

-Yes, David?

-Can I just talk to you about this?

-Yes. The drum.

What's it used for? Do you think it's been a box?

-Or is it just a novelty thing?

-I think it's a novelty thing.

-What sort of money is it to me?

-10 euros to you.

-10?

-20 euro?

You don't say ten and then 20. I'm not likely to give you 20!

-10 euros! Right.

-10 euros.

-It's a little buy. A good start. I'll have it. Thank you.

-Thank you.

These things are not quite what they used to be, but there's a pair,

one there and one in there. Typical green glass. Victorian.

They're good. All hand-painted. Nice bubbles in the glass.

Let me see what she can do on this one.

On the vases, 15 euros.

15 euros for a pair of 120 year old

or 130-year-old glass vases,

absolutely a stonking bargain!

-15 euros?

-15 euros.

Goodness me! Cheap enough, isn't it? I mean, it's just crazy.

Why tell her that? I think he thinks they're cheap.

-Do you want 10 euros for them?

-No. Not cheap enough, apparently.

Yes. I'll take 10 euros.

It's absolutely pathetic! I am ridiculous. Thank you. That's another one.

That's all very well, but come on, David,

you need to think bigger than that if you're going to catch up with the great David Barby.

-Mary, what on earth is that?

-It's a wool winder.

-What do you do with a wool winder?

-Wind wool from the spinning wheel.

You might've guessed that, David.

I thought it was a light fitting at first.

-What would you do with it? Could you make it into something?

-I honestly don't know.

It works just beautifully. Look at that.

Small wooden items, hand-made, there's a market for it, isn't there?

-I've no idea how to value that. What's that worth?

-Make me an offer on it.

15 euros?

Go 20.

-Go 15.

-Go 20.

-Go 15.

-Go 20.

-I'll have it for 20. Do I get another kiss?

-You do.

-Marvellous.

Oh, not again. He'll wear his lips out!

While his rival accrues an increasingly strange collection,

David Barby is heading back to Mullingar

to visit Belvedere House...

Pretty.

..and investigate some dark doings in the country over 250 years ago.

We really are in the depths of the Irish countryside.

This is wonderful, this overgrowth and the trees.

It makes you think of Arthur Rackham. You expect to see little pixies jump out.

Or should I say little leprechauns!

This 18th-century gem-in-the-woods is now owned by the local council

and open to the public all year round.

David is here to meet the curator

and learn more about Belvedere's history.

-Welcome to Belvedere.

-And you are?

-Bartle D'Arcy.

-That's very 18th century, isn't it?

-It is. Joycean character!

-Lovely name!

The house itself is lovingly preserved

with many of its original mid-18th century features.

Diocletian windows, and all intact.

But most people flock here for just one thing...

Oh, my! Just look at that ceiling! Just look at that ceiling!

The fabulous Rococo ceilings.

You're looking at around 1760 for getting these ceilings done.

The artist would lie on the flat of his back on the scaffold

and would mould them as they were on the ceilings.

The only thing made on the ground would be the grapes.

Very light style, isn't it? What I like about it is, it's not heavy.

It's absolutely fantastic.

But behind the beautiful Georgian architecture...

This is the drawing room.

..is the gothic tale of Belvedere's builder.

This is Robert Rochfort, the Wicked Earl, who built Belvedere House in 1740.

-Did you say wicked earl?

-The Wicked Earl.

What do you mean?

He earned the title for locking up his wife, Mary Molesworth, on a spurious charge of infidelity

and he locked her up for 31 years.

Before revealing more of the story,

Bartle needs to show David the view from the master's bedroom.

I'm just going to show you something out the window here.

-What am I looking at?

-You're looking at the Jealous Wall.

This is the largest folly in Ireland

and it's a reminder of the relationship where he fell out with his brother,

who had built a much larger house on the far side of that wall.

Why was he so jealous of his brother that he had to build a huge wall?

The jealousy worked on both sides, because George, the brother, was jealous of Robert

-because he had married Mary, who George had his eye on her.

-Right.

-What happened to Mary Molesworth?

-Mary was accused of having an affair with a younger brother of Robert's

by letters written by George across the way.

Robert ended up believing the allegation

and the poor lady was locked up for 31 years

at Gaulstown, the family estate.

That is beautiful. Terrible story, but quite beautiful.

When poor Mary was freed, she was quite mad,

spending her time talking to paintings.

Sounds like most of the people I know, actually.

There's the Jealous Wall.

I can hear the rooks nesting. That's good!

David is on his way to join David Harper,

who has gone ahead to their final shop at Portlaoise.

No, this isn't another Irish country house,

but an out-of-town industrial unit with a modest exterior

that's been fully furnished inside.

What a place!

It seems to work for antiques and reproductions.

I genuinely have not seen anything like this in the antiques business.

Because that dining table, as fantastic as it looks now,

put it in a dusty antique shop and it wouldn't look much at all.

It's difficult to get your head around.

It's very good. He's very, very good.

David didn't start this leg with much cash,

but most of what he did have is still in his pocket.

That seems surprisingly cheap,

a little desk set made out of papier mache.

If I'd seen this yesterday, I think I would've put it into the kitty.

But it's not going to fly. I really need a flier to catch up with David Barby.

While he continues his desperate search,

who should arrive but David Barby...

-Hello.

-Hello.

-What a fabulous place!

-Thanks.

..equally keen to get the bargain which will trump his rival.

-I can see immediately that hat box.

-Certainly.

-Can I have a quick look?

-Absolutely.

-Have you polished this up?

-We have. Just a little bit of cream.

-OK.

"Dublin Retail", which is good.

"Charles McDonald. Saddler."

This is nice. People use these to decorate a bedroom.

They use them as waste paper, jardinieres,

er, a multitude of uses.

-What sort of price range are we looking at?

-60.

Could you take less than 60? Is that the best you can do?

No, probably not.

I can do it for 50, if you really pressure me.

Can I pressure you even more to 40?

-Meet you in the middle.

-IN UNISON: 45. 42.

THEY LAUGH

-45 any good?

-42.

-42.

-Thank you very much.

Well, that was fast work.

Five minutes after entering the shop, he's the owner of a hat box.

That's lovely. Lovely, lovely, lovely.

I like that. This is a late 19th-century oil lamp.

It's such a nice piece. It's in onyx and gilt metal.

This would've been in an important house.

This is not a cottage piece. These would've gone out of fashion

certainly by 1920

when they would've installed electric lights in the average home.

But that is such a lovely example.

-This little lamp, missing so much of its originality.

-It is, unfortunately.

-Yes.

-So we haven't got the shade and we haven't got the chimney.

-That's right.

-What sort of price are we looking at?

-It's probably pretty much intact after that.

-You can get the globes. Is there a price on it?

-Not that I can see.

I suppose since you've bought the top hat...box,

we could...

..do it for 75 euros.

Is that the very best?

Close to it.

Is that the very, very best you can do - 75?

HE SIGHS

-60 OK for you?

-50's better.

-Give me a little small bit.

-A little.

58.

Let's split the difference at 52.

-BELL RINGS IN BACKGROUND OK.

-52.

-52.

-TIM WHISTLES

-That was tense.

Now, with David B satisfied,

David H has finally uncovered something to spend big on.

A good marble carving can command several hundreds of pounds, even when new,

and several thousands from a known artist.

That is a flier, but all subject to price.

It's not an antique, maybe only 20 years old,

but it may sell well.

-She's not too badly priced.

-What sort of money?

-180.

-180.

-Euros.

Now, she's not dear, but could she be a bit better?

-How much better?

-She couldn't be 60 euros less?

Less. Not 60 euros to buy. Sorry! You almost collapsed!

Can she be 120?

-She could be 120 cash.

-Done deal.

-Yep.

-Good man. Thanks, David.

At last, those two have done with shopping.

Time to show off.

David, how did you get on today?

-Very, very well.

-Did you?

-Be very, very afraid.

-Well, no, I shall be very pleased for you.

Liar. First, the cut-price pad saw...

-Very interesting.

-I think it is.

I love it because it is a functional item.

It's very tactile. It could be used.

Mm. And very good quality, too. I think that's worth...

..20 quid.

-I paid 20 euro for it.

-I wasn't far away, then, was I?

No. I think that's so little!

Well, it's a bit more than you paid, so be pleased!

Now, now, calm down.

Clap your eyes...on that.

Oh, that is lovely. That is very, very nice.

I think the yellow has been painted on afterwards.

I think that's a bit of restoration where the enamel's chipped off.

-You can see where it's gone over some of the decoration underneath.

-Yes.

Next, the barrel, without spigot or stand.

-It's Doulton, obviously, isn't it?

-Yep.

-Why "obviously"?

-It screams Doulton.

-You saw the label.

It hasn't got a label.

Do you not think I could spot a piece of Doulton?

-How many times have I handled Doulton?

-Shirty!

-I didn't recognise that immediately.

-Why not?

-It didn't come over as Doulton.

-It's stone glaze...

-Guess what I paid for it.

-I would want to pay,

erm, £15 for that item.

Blast.

-Well, you're bang on. I paid 18.

-Euros?

-Yes.

The sculpture...

-But after who?

-These relate to a certain thing.

-I know, but I don't know what that is.

-Ahh.

-Do you know?

-Yes.

-What?

-Childish.

-I'm not going to tell you.

You are priceless!

OK, I'm going to test you now. How much did I pay for that?

-40 euro?

-20.

-That's very good going.

-I think there's profit in that.

Barby's brass bargain next. Or is it?

-Do you want me to take a guess?

-You're going to shock and upset me.

-Do I really want to listen?

-Do you want to listen?

-Do you want my valuation?

-As long as you're nice about it.

I think at auction, £10-20.

-That would be my instinct.

-For the pair?

-For the four.

-That would be my instinct!

-Ooh! I hope they're going to make more.

A little test for David Barby...

Now, please marvel.

Yes! That is superb.

-Do you know what it is?

-It's for fixed onto a wall.

-Yes.

-And it's for winding wool.

-Very clever. I'm impressed.

I didn't know what it was. I had no idea at all.

-That's a very good hat box.

-Isn't it nice?

This would've been worn by a dandy! Somebody in fashion of the period.

-You would've worn one of these, wouldn't you? A very large one.

-Yes.

-I'd like to see it do round about 80. 80 euro.

-It has a chance.

The curiously cheap vases that David was so keen on...

-You love 'em, don't you?!

-No. HE MOCK GASPS

You don't love them? Hand-blown, Victorian, hand-painted...

-And cracked.

-Yes, I didn't notice that.

-A great crack.

-Stop it. Don't.

-All the way round. Terrible crack.

-Stop it!

You're enjoying this, David Barby. Sadist.

-It's going all the way round.

-I know!

-I know.

-HE SIGHS

-What did you pay, 15 euro?

-10 euros.

Well, even though one is absolutely shattered,

they're nice! They're nice!

-HE GROANS

-Careful, David.

You could do yourself a damage.

-What do you think?

-I like it a lot.

It would look fantastic electrified

and it would look even better with a flute, a shade and lit with oil,

because that would just sparkle.

I paid 52 euro.

I think, in a reasonable sale, that would make 1-150. Pounds.

Finally a flier, he hopes.

Very, very nice indeed.

-Isn't she well carved?

-Stop stroking the back! Yes, she's beautifully carved.

-How much did you pay for that?

-I think you're going to be blown away here. In a bad way.

Let's have a guess. 100 euro?

-Bit more. 120.

-I think that's wonderful.

-That is my star item.

-I think you've got several, actually.

The best piece I've bought in a very, very long time.

Modest, too. Now, let's find out what they really think.

I am recovering from shock!

I thought I'd done well, but I think David has done brilliantly.

The Corinthian column lamp is absolutely gorgeous. That's a real antique.

What else did he buy? Nothing really memorable, as far as I'm concerned.

The piece I find fascinating is the little piece of alabaster,

from Auguste Rodin's Gates of Hell.

I don't think it's well carved, but he paid so little, it's bound to make a profit.

I think he's the winner. He's the winner on this round

and I think he'll overtake me.

Turn out the lights! I'm going to sleep.

After starting out in the rain at Athlone,

this leg of our road trip will be decided at an auction

in the historic town of Kells.

-It'll be interesting to see if that little Rodin-type alabaster piece -

-What?

-What did you call it? You know what that's after, don't you?

-Yes!

Who is it, Barby? I want the information so I can pass it on to the auctioneer.

-You little horror!

-Yes!

Kells has several early-Christian associations,

like the abbey founded by St Columba,

where the famous manuscript of the New Testament,

known as the Book of Kells, was once kept.

The Gaelic translation of the town's name means "Great Chief Abode",

which makes sense when you consider that Jim Connell,

the writer of The Red Flag, was born here.

There you go, Mr Barbers. Time to have a good look around.

So while the Kells folk take a closer look at the lots,

let's hear what the auctioneer, Oliver Usher, makes of what the Davids have entered.

The modern sculpture should appeal to the gentlemen in the audience.

I would hope it would make a few hundred, maybe 200,

but I don't know if the interest is going to be here this evening.

The candlesticks... Last month, I had a big box which sold for about 30-40 euro.

They wouldn't be my favourite piece.

David Barby has spent 152 euros on five lots,

including a top hat box and a Doulton drinks barrel.

-What have you done?

-Yes.

David Harper has spent 180 euros also on five lots,

including several carved naked ladies.

Good man.

OK, eyes down, everyone.

Here we go. You're on. You're on. You're on.

First, the Victorian pad saw.

-Look at the way it's made, ladies and gentlemen.

-It's a bit of wood.

-20 bid straight off.

-That's good.

30 bid. 30 bid now.

-40 over here.

-40? I can't believe it!

40 bid. 45 there. 45. 50 back here.

-50 bid now. 55 out here.

-They know what they're buying.

55. 60 over there. 60 bid now.

70 bid now. At 70...

All out now at 70.

80. Just in time. 80 bid now. 80 bid over here.

-Stop it!

-90.

-No!

-90 bid.

95. 100.

-Yes!

-At 100. 110.

-Ah, for...

-110. 120 now.

120 on this side. All out? All done.

-That was really good.

-That was fantastic.

Phew! Pad-saw fever! Who saw that coming?

Now, what do they make of David Harper's mini Rodin?

30 bid. 40 bid. 40 bid.

-40 in front. 50 back there. 50 bid now. 60.

-Come on!

-70 down here.

-Yes!

-70 now.

-Don't get overexcited.

-Don't touch.

90 up here. 90 bid.

-At 90... 100.

-Ohh!

110. At 110 now. Selling at... 120.

-Yes!

-120. 130.

-130. 140.

-Yes!

-150 here. At 150.

-Get a load of that!

-160.

-Yes!

All out now at 160. All out? All done.

160. Dear, oh, dear!

This is shaping up nicely.

-Is that a cracking result? Give me that pen!

-No.

Give me the pen!

-Now for all that brass.

-50 for the pair.

50 down here. 50 bid.

50 bid. 60 bid.

60 bid. 60 bid. 70 bid. 70 bid

I'm in shock. I'm in shock. I'm in shock.

80 bid. 80 straight down. 80 bid now. 80 bid.

Selling at 80. All out?

All done.

That was way beyond the auctioneer's estimate.

I sell those for £25 a pair.

-Now you've got to up your price.

-I'm going to double the price!

Could the drum beat the stakes?

40 bid. 50 bid. 60 bid.

70 bid.

70 bid at the end. 70 bid now. All finished... 80. New blood.

-80 now. 80 on the right.

-Come on, baby!

-At 80. 90 on the other side.

-Yes, baby!

-90 bid now.

At 90, all out now at 90.

-That's very good.

-Marvellous.

Everything is making a profit, especially Harper's lots.

-That's fantastic, isn't it?

-It's very good.

-We're on a roll!

Roll out Barby's barrel!

40 bid. 40 bid. 50 back there.

50 bid now. 60 we have.

60 bid now. 60 bid.

A unique piece. At 60. All out.

-All done.

-Well done. That's amazing!

Will anything fail to make a profit here, I wonder?

-This is a fantastic auction.

-It's our best so far.

Next, the wall-mounted wool-winder.

I'm bid 50 with me. 60. 70. 70.

-70 bid.

-That's enough.

-No, it isn't.

-80 bid. 90 bid.

90 bid. 100 all the way. 100 we have. 110.

-110. At 110. Are you coming in? 120 over here.

-Ohh!

-120. 120 back this side. 130 we have.

-Yes!

-130.

-130. 140. 140 now.

-Yes, baby!

140 back this way. At 140...

All out? All done.

-Well done.

-Well, congratulations.

-Thank you!

120 euros profit! I think he's catching up.

-We should do this for a living. Don't you think?

-I couldn't stand the strain!

A very sumptuous box.

100 bid straight away. 100 bid.

110. 120. 130. 140.

140 we have. 150 out here.

160 with me.

160. 170 over there. 170. 180 now.

190 over here.

-I knew it was a good one.

-190 on the right-hand side.

All out? All done.

-Cheap, wasn't it?

-So cheap! David, well done.

David B's still ahead!

Surely David H's vases can't hurt him.

50. 40. 30. 20.

Even 10 to start?

10 bid. 15 bid. 15 bid. 20 bid. At 20, seated here.

Selling at 20 now. 25. 30 bid.

-30 bid now.

-What have I done?!

30 bid over here. Selling at 30 now.

-At 30 only. 35.

-Yes!

-35. 40.

40 bid now. Shaking his head firmly there! 40 bid at this end!

All out? All done.

-40! Get in there!

-That was good going.

Four times what he paid!

Now, a Barby favourite.

150 for it. 120. 100 to get it going?

-Come on!

-WOMAN: 50!

-Oh! She's hard, this woman!

50 bid 50 bid. 60 bid.

70 bid now. 70 bid. 80 down here. 90 on the left.

Selling at 90. 100. 110. 120. 120 now. Telephone bid.

-120.

-Yes!

-No.

-120 now.

-All finished.

-I can't believe this!

-All done.

I'll take the telephone bid.

-At least it started at 20.

-Thanks for that(!)

Cor! Strike a light! Even with quite a bit missing...

You've got to be happy with that.

Yes!

It's neck and neck.

But David Harper's biggest spend may well decide who's victorious.

300? 200? Get at 100.

-Start me at 100.

-20.

-20?!

-100.

-Thank you!

100 I'm bid. 100 offered.

-I sell at 120!

-No, you don't! There's bidding over there!

-140. 160.

-Get it going!

180. 180 there. 200. 220. 220.

-At 220.

-Bang!

-240.

-Yes!

-240!

250. 260. 260 here.

-One more!

-270. 270.

-270. 280.

-Whoa!

-280. 280 now.

-Don't sell it at...

-290.

-Yes!

-Make it to three.

-300!

-LAUGHTER

300 in front.

-At 300. Thanks very much, lads.

-Well done!

Well done!

She's a beauty!

She certainly is. And she's made him 180 euros profit!

-David.

-Well done.

-Thank you very much.

-Well done.

-Thank you. Beautiful.

A great day in Kells, especially for David Harper

who's gained on his rival, winning the battle if not the war.

He began today with 224 euros and 25 cents

and made 418 euros and 60 cents, after auction costs.

So after conversion back to sterling,

he has £592.82 to spend tomorrow.

David Barby started this round with 452 euros and 30 cents

and made 315 euros and 40 cents, after auction costs.

So in sterling, he still leads,

with £707.95 to spend tomorrow.

There they go, no doubt for a well-earned pint of the dark stuff

before play resumes with round three in yet another country,

this time Wales.

Whooo!

Join us tomorrow when David Barby gets a shock...

What have I done?

-..David Harper's found a national treasure...

-Is Cliff's jacket for sale?

..and the boys are try a new tactic. Star signs.

My horoscope today said I should be fearless and brave!

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