Episode 4 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?

-15 quid.

-No!

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

It's not as easy as you may think, and things don't always got 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.

This week, Anita Manning, Mark Stacey and the little Morris Minor

they call Bluebell are heading for Yorkshire after setting off

from Bonnie Scotland.

-You've got to roll your Rs.

-Leave my Rs out of this.

Anita, from Glasgow, was Scotland's first female auctioneer,

and she certainly likes to keep prices low.

What have you got for 20p?

While Mark, a dealer from Brighton,

is happy to enlist help from on high.

Please, please, huge profits.

THUNDER RUMBLES

But unfortunately, there's been a cruel twist of fate.

Anita and Mark's stately progress

has been interrupted by a breakdown that's left Bluebell in the garage,

and Mark and Anita stranded in the north-east.

# Who's going to drive you home tonight? #

Poor wee Bluebell.

The radiator's gone.

Do you know, when that water was spouting out of the grill,

-it looked as if she was crying.

-I know.

The shop's just up the road, Mark.

We should walk up there.

I'll have a good think and I'll have worked it out,

what we're going to do, by the time we've done our shopping.

Cos I can't wait to get started.

-Come on.

-OK. Let's go.

Mark and Anita began with £200 each,

and have already added a handsome sum.

Mark goes into today just ahead with £496.16 to spend

while Anita has £426.74.

This week's journey travels from deep in the Cairngorms via

the charming cities of Edinburgh and Durham to Thirsk in North Yorkshire.

Today's show begins in St Helen Auckland, County Durham,

and heads, we hope, for a canny auction in Darlington.

This is exciting, Anita. Another treasure trove.

-It's Aladdin's cave.

-You've got all those earrings to choose from!

-You go in the back, I'll stay here, then we'll change over.

-Yes, ma'am.

See you later.

Now, this shop is called Something Different,

a Pythonesque pile where bargains can be found amongst bric-a-brac.

But which, dear expert? Which?

What on earth is that?

It's a little brooch, believe it or not,

which was made of the paw of an animal.

I've no idea.

It's hideous but there could be a profit.

That's the type of thing Phil Serrell loves.

Dare I buy something like this? I'll get e-mails of hate.

Anita soon grabs Yvonne for a demonstration of the finest in low fidelity.

This is obviously the home entertainment section.

-We wind it up from here and...

-Just stop.

-Stop and start!

-You've got some 78s.

-Let's have a look.

I don't believe... I Belong To Glasgow!

I don't believe that! I do not believe that.

RECORD WHIRS

# I belong to Glasgow

# Dear old Glasgow town

# There's nothing the matter with Glasgow

# Cos it's going round and round

# A couple of pints on a Saturday

# Glasgow belongs to me. # Hooray!

THEY LAUGH

-And we've got a radio here as well.

-That's a Bush one.

-Uh-huh.

-Bakelite. Is that working as well?

-They take a few minutes to warm up.

The radio is priced at £58 and the gramophone at £45,

but if Anita promises not to sing again she might get it down.

I could be interested in both of these things for £35.

Is that possible?

I don't think I could do that.

If you was to say £50 for the two.

£50 for the two.

Could you bring it to £40?

-What about £45?

-We're nearly there. It's a nice game. Every pound counts.

-It does. It really does.

-Could we have...

-£42!

-Would you go £42?

-Would you go £42?

-That's be all right.

-Could we do that?

-We will.

That's so kind. That's great.

Next door, Mark's got sporting goods in his sights.

This is a shoulder of mutton gun case. You open it here.

Then you put your shotgun and things in there.

Not that I know about these things.

I'm not a member of the hunting and shooting brigade.

Then you'd put it over your shoulder so when you hunt

it's out of your way and when you're ready to shoot you can get your gun.

I don't like the price. It's marked up at £68.

We'll ask Yvonne if we get a moment to see her.

But whilst he's pondering that unusual target...

That's quite pretty.

..something more traditional hoves into view.

This is a Chinese vase. It's called cinnabar lacquer,

which is the red lacquer, then it's cut out with this black design.

It gives quite a dramatic effect.

It looks in...perfect condition.

I'm looking to see the delicacy of the carving.

It's quite a dramatic vase, but as we all know, the Chinese market is rather buoyant at the moment.

People are just buying anything that's Chinese thinking there's a profit in it.

Am I falling into that trap? Probably.

-Yvonne. I like this vase.

-Yes.

-I'm not convinced it's that old.

-Right.

-It's a shame it's not 19th century.

-You've got £65 on it.

-Yeah.

-What sort of movement could you do on that?

-I could do £45 on it.

-£45.

That does help me a bit.

I could maybe do you a bit better price on the gun case.

If I got £45 for that, you give me £40 for that.

-How does that sound?

-It sounds reasonable-ish.

Can I be terribly cheeky without offending you?

-I never take offence.

-Thank you.

I wonder if we could do the pair for £75.

-Yeah, all right. Yeah. You've got to have a chance as well.

-You sure?

-Yeah, that's fine.

-Give me a big kiss.

-Ah, thank you.

This is a lovely little cloisonne buckle. I love cloisonne ware.

The patterns are made by little wire sections

made up and filled with coloured, glazed enamels,

and they make this wonderful pattern.

It's not a silver back, which I would love to see. It's a brass back.

I like it as an object to look at but I worry that it's not useful.

But really quite pretty.

After a quick shuffle through the cabinet...

I've found a little bronze which I think is charming.

It's nicely modelled,

and I like the patina, which is the surface of the bronze.

I think it's probably from the 1930s but...I'm not absolutely sure.

I do like it. He's sweet, isn't he? But I need to get him for about £30.

£39 less than he's priced at. And the label on the buckle says £29.

Yvonne, I'm thinking him round about £40.

On this one I'd be looking in the region of £10, the cloisonne.

That could be £40.

-I'd probably need £20 for that.

-Can that cloisonne be £10?

-Can't be £10?

-I can't.

Could you go £12 on that, £40 on that, so we're doing £52 on the two?

-Cash again, cash again.

-Money talks!

-That's right.

£12 on that, £40 on that, £52.

-All right.

-Shall we go for it?

-We'll go for it.

-I love these items.

That's what I do. I buy things I like.

Yeah.

Anita is making great strides today,

and Mark's no slouch either with yet another Oriental find.

This is quite interesting. This isn't complete. It should have a cover on it.

It's got a hair crack.

It's a piece of Chinese porcelain. It's typically decorated in a palette knows as Imari,

the use of these iron reds and blues and a bit of gilding.

No great shakes, but it's 18th century and I was just thinking,

it's priced up at £22. I feel awful doing it, but I might ask Yvonne

if she'll take a sneaky fiver for it

and put it in with the cinnabar lacquer.

They're both Chinese so there's a link,

and two birds are better than one.

No. What is that expression? Two heads are better than one. But that doesn't fit.

I'm getting all confused.

Yvonne, I was rather hoping you'd bought this as part of a very cheap house clearance.

I was going to make you a terribly cheeky offer on it.

-Go on, I love cheeky offers.

-Do you?

-I do. I do.

I'm going to offer you... You won't slap me, will you?

I've got to hear it first! Go on!

-A fiver.

-Ah!

-I'll put it in with the Chinese vase.

-That's shocking.

-It is shocking. Aren't I awful?

-Let me examine this. Let me have a look.

-Where's this damage you was...

-You see there?

-Yes, it is, actually.

-I would have had the nice couple...

-I never noticed that before.

I'm being very cheeky with you, Yvonne,

and you have every right to slap me and say, "Go away."

-Oh, go on.

-Are you sure?

-Yeah.

-Love our kisses.

-We do love our kisses. And I think that makes a nice addition to the lot.

So while Mark's schmoozing threatens to nab him the entire stock...

-Thanks, Mark.

-My change in my pot.

-Good luck.

-Thank you very much.

..Anita has sensibly called a mini-cab

to take her to the next shop,

and is travelling from St Helen Auckland to Cleadon.

I'm very happy having Peter driving me about. Very comfortable.

Oh! Anita soon finds herself amongst a mix of antiques and gifts,

with a special emphasis on the animal kingdom.

This is Griselda Hill. This pottery brought over the name of Wemyss and the patterns of Wemyss.

Wemyss was that wonderful Fife pottery of Robert Heron and sons.

This is quite typical of Wemyss ware, with these wonderful cabbage roses,

and if this was an early 20th century Wemyss cat it would be worth thousands of pounds.

It's very jolly, it's Griselda Hill, and I love it to bits.

I might ask the price of that.

This is more local.

It's a wonderful piece of Maling which was made in Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Very, very popular, very colourful.

We can see this pattern here which is called the Maling Thumbprint.

The factory closed in 1960, which was a shame,

but people love it. And no wonder.

But the Maling plate is £56

and the big Wemyss cat £195, well outside her budget.

Time to get a move on, Anita.

This is also Wemyss ware, and at £42, a bit more realistic.

I'd love to buy a piece but I don't know if I can make a profit on it.

-I'd like to buy a piece.

-The profit's the thing, isn't it?

Because they're still being produced they're not going to reach high prices in auction.

-Would it be possible to buy that for, say, £20?

-Go on, then.

-Will we do it?

-Yes, go on.

Mark, meanwhile, has also been forced to hail a cab

with boring things like air conditioning.

You look very familiar.

-They always say that.

-He probably thinks I'm David Barby.

I wonder if I'll get away with saying,

"Is that your very lowest fare?"

Cheeky! I don't know.

Mark's travelling from St Helen Auckland

to Stanley to visit Beamish.

This open-air museum is a specially created village

made up of authentic buildings hand-picked from the surrounding area

to tell the story of the north-east from Georgian to Edwardian times.

Look at that. The village is described as a living museum

that the public can experience first-hand,

and it's the original Beamish colliery which dominates the landscape.

Dressed like that, you have to be Richard.

-Hello.

-I'm Mark.

-Hello, Mark.

-Very nice to meet you.

-Welcome to Beamish.

-I'm very pleased to be here.

Now, I understand you're going to show me some items

-the public don't normally get the chance to look at?

-Absolutely.

-We're going to go inside the Aladdin's cave that is our collection store.

-Fantastic.

Nice bowler!

Behind the scenes at Beamish is a vast archive of material

which can't be displayed in the village, and Mark is here

to find a few of the treasures they hold.

We've pulled out for you here a really special collection,

relating to a huge mining disaster just a mile up the road at Stanley.

This shows all the men and boys who died in the mine.

168 people lost their lives, a huge explosion.

Between 150 and 200,000 people turned up to the funeral in Stanley.

There were 15,000 people at the top of the mine,

while they were rescuing the people coming out. It was this huge disaster,

-and people were waiting to hear news of their brother, son...

-Their loved ones.

And their children. Children aged 13 were killed.

Neighbouring Stanley has a fine memorial to those who died in 1909,

but most other traces of the industry have now almost completely disappeared.

Well, Richard, I emphasise Wales, of course, another great mining area,

and we've had our own share of disasters in the past.

And I'm from a family of miners.

My father and a lot of his brothers were miners.

And I remember as a child going up to the pit,

and it was a very scary place, actually, very scary indeed,

even in the 1970s.

And I remember my father telling me that his brother was killed in a mining accident.

So it was very, very, very hard work. Very hard work.

Although mining was without doubt a grim business,

there's a strong tradition of miners in their spare time

creating works of art such as banners and other, more unusual items.

This is miners' folk art.

Folk art made by the range at night.

Tell me about this, Richard, because this is really quite weird, isn't it?

-Have you ever seen anything like this?

-I've never.

-Are these wood in there?

-It's wood in there.

It's dropped in the shape of a cross.

-It's called God in a bottle.

-God in a bottle.

It would sit on the mantelpiece or in the corner of the room

and was thought to have slightly mysterious magical qualities.

It is something rather eerie about it, isn't it?

It's a bit like a sort of ship at the bottom of the ocean.

The bits and pieces floating around.

Or alternatively you could maybe say it's a Damien Hirst.

A Damien Hirst. A very early one.

A very early one. I do love all this. This is old Players cigarette cards.

-They've got all the faces going so neatly around.

-Beautifully inlaid.

It must have taken them hours. It really is a work of art, isn't it? It really is a work of art.

I just think when I look at an item like that,

I think of the person that made it and how they would smile and laugh if they were stood here now.

-Appreciating it.

-In the middle of a museum.

I can't imagine what they'd call it.

I think it would be hilarious, wouldn't it?

Now, for sheer authenticity, that cab beats everything.

But it may take some time to get back to the hotel. Bye, Mark!

Day two, and there's much anticipation in the hotel car park

as Mark and Anita await Bluebell's temporary replacement.

-Where is this car?

-I don't know, but I'm dying to get spending, you know.

-Yeah.

-Well, I'm sure it'll be here shortly.

-They said it would be, didn't they?

-Yeah.

HORN BLEEPS

Oh, Anita, look.

Yes!

# Oh, yeah... #

Oh, Anita!

# Oh, yeah... #

-Oh, I like it.

-I like the wheels.

# Oh, oh, yeah. #

Can you not help? You're supposed to be a man.

-Good with his hands?

-Let me see. Soft hands.

ENGINE REVS

It sounds healthy.

-Yeah. Brum, brum, brum.

-Brum, brum, brum.

I want to try it out.

Oh, oh, gosh.

I can't get in.

Oh! Can't get in!

-Do you like it?

-I do love it.

-Oh, oh.

-Forward, Macduff.

Yes!

Yesterday, Mark bought three items for £80,

including a leather gun case.

It's a man bag. You could add a bottle of gin in there.

Anita bought five items at a cost of £114, and had a singalong.

# I belong to Glasgow, dear Glasgow town. #

But has it made them happy?

-Smile, Mark.

-Smile, Anita. Smile!

-Smile, Mark.

-Smile, Anita.

Yeah, averagely bonkers, I'd say.

Today they make their way to an auction in Darlington,

calling in first at Staindrop,

where Mark will deliver Anita to Raby Castle.

Ah, a drawbridge.

Will they let you in? The Scottish marauder.

So beautiful, isn't it? It's gorgeous, isn't it?

Raby, the home of Lord Barnard, is one of Britain's finest medieval castles.

It was begun in the 12th century by the Neville family on land given to them by King Cnut.

-Clare, it's so lovely to meet you.

-Welcome to Raby Castle.

The Nevilles were one of the most powerful dynasties in the country,

and Raby was, for several hundred years, their heavily fortified home,

until, as the castle's curator, Clare Owen, explains, the family fell from grace.

Anita, I'm now taking you into the baron's hall, which is reputedly

one of the largest rooms in a house in the North of England.

-It's 132 feet long, and they plotted the rising of the North here in 1569.

-I see.

700 knights met here to plot against Elizabeth I in support of Mary Queen of Scots,

and of course that uprising failed, and then the Nevilles, who at that time owned the castle,

they had to flee, and the castle became Crown property.

All around the gigantic room where the plot was hatched, there are now

reminders of the Vanes, who bought the place

just over 50 years later for just £18,000.

Since 1626, the Vane family have extensively remodelled

the interior of the castle and added many fine works of art.

Perhaps the most spectacular of their creations is the Gothic entrance hall.

The work was commissioned in the late 18th century by the second the Earl of Darlington

to celebrate the coming of age of his son, who was returning from a grand tour of Europe.

And when he came back, young Barney, in 1787,

he could drive into the castle like this in his carriage,

-in one side and out the other.

-And is that his carriage?

-That is his carriage, that is his carriage.

And near the corner of the entrance hall stands one of the castle's oldest residents.

It was first displayed in the Great Exhibition 1851,

and the Duke of Cleveland at the time

saw this beautiful statue there,

where it actually had been draped

for the sake of modesty when Queen Victoria visited the exhibition.

From 1859 right up to two years ago, it had stood in Raby Castle.

-I see.

-And actually in 2008, the Tate Britain asked to borrow it.

It was quite a star attraction there,

and while she was away, we took the opportunity to have her washed.

-She's had a bath!

-So now she looks really splendid, yes.

Absolutely beautiful.

While Anita admires Raby's treasures, Mark has made his way

to his first shop of the day,

travelling from Staindrop to Willington.

Hello there, how are you doing?

-Hello, I'm Mark.

-Morning!

-Nice to meet you.

Hagas Antiques is a little like the museum Mark visited yesterday,

plenty of reminders of North East life and plenty of quirky items,

like this brown glass object.

I like these sort of things, you know, because they're so ridiculous.

This is a piece of glass,

and it's a walking cane.

I don't think I'll be buying it, but rather a nice item.

Mark does, however, soon find something he is interested in,

but all that glitters isn't necessarily gold.

At first glance, it looks like a sovereign, a half sovereign.

If it is a sovereign, it's probably going to be out of my budget,

but you never know.

At the back, there are the results of several house clearances,

with plenty more to rummage amongst.

I think this is a darning mushroom,

and it's the sort of thing that a lady would have used to darn the

socks, and the socks would have gone over there and you can make repairs.

Of course, we throw them away these days,

but normally these are very plain, just very plain wood,

but actually this one is quite nice.

It's got all the sort of geometric inlay in it.

It has got a nasty crack, actually, but I mean, from the sort of

marquetry inlay, it's probably going to date to the Edwardian period.

It's got a nice feel to it, it's been well worn.

It shouldn't be really that expensive,

and I don't want to be a meanie,

but I might find something that will go with it.

Now, what's this?

It does look rather like some sort of gourd-shaped shell,

but I just wonder whether maybe a whaler,

out on the seas for many months,

has found some sort of floating shell or something

and has decided to use a bit of old brassware they've found

and make some sort of water vessel, a water-carrying vessel.

I think that's rather intriguing.

I do like these two little items,

so I'm going to see if I can secure a deal on them.

I mean, you've got £30

-on the...water carrier or the liquid carrier.

-Yes.

There's no price on this.

Well, we don't normally put prices on things

that have got some damage to them.

Oh, so I can get the two of them quite cheap.

We might be able to do something there for you.

I was rather hoping we could get the two of them for like 15 quid.

-Oh, £15?

-Is that too cheeky?

-15's a little bit too cheeky.

-Is it?

-Yes, I'm thinking those for you... er, would be 25.

-25?

25.

Could we do a round figure of 20?

I think we could, yes.

-Are you sure?

-Yes, I think we could.

-Let me shake your hand.

-Smashing.

Actually, you know, as we're placed in front of the cabinet here,

could I just have a look at the little coin in the envelope there?

You certainly can, yes.

I think this is a full sovereign, a half sovereign,

probably a full sovereign, but the weight just doesn't feel

-the right balance to me in my hand.

-Yeah.

-It feels too thin.

Mark's quite right. Gold has a certain warmth and feel to it.

Casting base metal to look like gold is quite easy

if the plating on the outer surface is a thin layer of real gold.

I mean, it's meant to look like a sovereign,

but I think it feels more like a token of some sort.

Yes, I mean, I've got to be honest with you, I couldn't be 100%.

It's about 1826.

1826 it's dated, the date's in the right place.

So what price have you put on that, do you know?

I wouldn't like to sell you that coin to say that it was a gold coin.

No, I don't think it is gold, actually.

I honestly think that it's some sort of token,

but I think you could probably have a nice little punt at that,

because it would attract

people who were interested in gold at the moment,

-so they might know a little bit more than I do.

-Yes.

So I think, er...for you to have a little bit of fun with it,

how about a £10 note?

Oh, gosh.

It is tempting, isn't it? It is tempting.

Do you know? I'm going to do that.

-Yeah?

-Ten quid.

-Yeah, smashing.

-I'm just going to have a bit of fun.

-Best of luck with it.

Now, Mark and Anita are together again

and heading for their final shopping opportunity,

travelling from Willington to Barnard Castle.

-Oh, it's a little drafty, I'll put the window up.

-Yeah.

It'll take more than that! Barnard Castle in Teesdale isn't just a castle,

but a whole town, built around a fortification.

It was founded by the Normans,

and used to make a living from spinning and weaving.

The castle's now an attractive ruin,

and there's the famous Bowes Museum nearby.

Or, round by the Butter Market, some antique shops.

-Hello!

-Mark has already had a full day.

But he just can't resist one more shop.

Let us hope that we might be able to find something I want to buy.

-BELL RINGS

-Hi.

While across the street, Anita still has lots of cash and plenty to choose from.

Oh, it's perfect.

And then, she's once more tempted by a picture.

This is a chalk drawing of a charming little boy.

He's very sweet. Well executed. It's obviously a pair.

And we do have an artist's signature on this one. I like those.

But she's not so keen on the price.

This one is £88, but for the pair, the shopkeeper will accept £140.

I would put an estimate of £50-£80 on the pair.

I'm wondering if you are able to come anywhere near

that price for me to buy them?

-Well I could possibly come somewhere near it.

-Yes?

-I would have thought 120.

-120.

I couldn't sell them for less than £120.

Could you come to the 80? That would be my top.

I can't sell them for £80. I can't sell them for £80.

Could you come down a bit more? Could you come down to 100?

If you could come down to 100, I feel that I might have a chance

-and I would be willing to take that chance on it.

-Go on then.

-I will let you off.

-Oh, thank you.

-I realise you have got strong competition.

Speaking of which, how is Mark getting on?

This is a little bottle cooler.

It's a nice little thing, it is very crisply engraved.

What they've done here is, they've put a little bit of hot glass

on there, and they have teased it out and they have made that lovely,

delicate little squirrel.

But what I do like is the lovely, engraving on the glass here.

This is priced at £25, which is not a lot of money,

but if I was putting it into sale, I would put it into £20-£30.

It might be worth the risk. I like quality of it.

Unfortunately, the shopkeeper is a bit shy.

So, we just have to wait here and listen in.

Do you think 18 is the very least you would take?

Are you sure if I can't tweak you down just one more pound? Maybe 17?

I love your stock and I wish I had more money

and more time to look at it properly.

-Go on, you've said all the right things.

-Right!

After some hard negotiation and some sweet talking,

I have bought it for 17 and I have got my £3 change,

and I'm going to get out of here pretty sharpish.

So, with a bargain struck with the mystery shopkeeper,

they are now poised to reveal their purchases.

-My first item...

-Oh, Anita!

-..is a wonderful picnic gramophone.

It's a Columbia. And Yvonne was kind enough to give me a couple of 78s

one of which is, I Belong To Glasgow.

And you certainly do, Anita. And Glasgow is very lucky to have you.

I'm going to put these two lots together, Mark,

and I've bought a little Bakelite Bush radio.

Right, how much did you pay for it?

-I paid for both of them, £42.

-£42.

-Mmm. Not too bad, is it?

-You might nudge it!

-I'm not what you call the hunted and shooted?

-You certainly are not.

I find that these things are doing well in auction.

-How much did you pay for it?

-£30.

-That is good.

Now, I note you like Cloisonne, Mark.

This is a little Cloisonne buckle.

Very, very pretty. Very, very you, if I may say so.

-What did you pay, my dear?

-£12.

-Oh, well. That is very you as well.

-It's not a bad by at all.

-Not a bad buy.

Next, Mark's Chinese lot, but there's been a hitch.

It's Cinnabar lacquer, of course.

But I put it together with an 18th-century Imari pot.

-But we can't find the pot.

-You've lost your pot?

Well, I haven't lost it. But somebody has lost it.

So, we're hoping that we can retrieve it.

Actually, Mark, that somebody should mean you.

But never fear, we have found it in the draw that you left it in,

and it will get to the auction.

-My third item has a Scottish connection.

-Unmistakably.

-It looks like a piece of late 19, early 20th-century Weems.

-Is it not?

No, in actual fact, it is a piece of Weems Griselda Hill.

Now you have pointed out to me,

I have learned something that I have never heard of Griselda Hill.

-What did you pay for it?

-£20.

-Is that good? I don't know.

-I've never heard of her.

-Well, we'll find out at the auction.

-OK.

What is your next piece?

I fell in love with this little darling mushroom.

Because it's so colourful.

But the thing that caught my eye, Anita,

was a piece of maritime history.

-This wonderful water carrier.

-I think this is absolutely charming.

I love naive art. I love naive craft.

I knew you'd like it. I paid £20 for it.

Oh, I mean, I think both of these could stand on their own, Mark, but it makes a very charming little lot.

It's a wee cheeky chappie. I paid £40 for it.

Oh, Anita, £40 to me is a bargain.

I would like to see this item, just for the charm of it, making 80, £100.

Well, my next item, Anita,

is a little late 19th century bottle cooler.

Well, it's absolutely lovely, and I do love that engraving.

-It's so beautifully done.

-So crisp.

-How much?

-I paid £17 for it.

Well done. You old charmer!

Now, I found this lovely pair of pastel portraits.

-Of little children.

-Oh, gosh.

-Not your type of thing?

-To be honest with you, can I be honest with you?

-Yes.

-They're not at all.

I think they look like they have come from the Village Of The Damned.

SHE LAUGHS I think that one looks a wee bit like you.

See if you twirl that wee piece of hair at the front,

that wee blonde piece, it would be a dead ringer for you.

-Did you pay very much for them?

-£100.

THEY LAUGH

I think that's not a bad bargain. I wanted to pay £50 for them.

-I'm speechless.

-It is a mad buy.

-Well done.

-What is your last item?

-My last item is that.

-All right.

-Have a look.

How did you manage to buy a piece of gold? The price of gold is so high.

It's George IV and it's 1826. A lot of sovereigns were dated 1826.

-It's a year I've seen frequently.

-How much did you pay?

-Well, it was a real punt, Anita. £10.

I think it was a good punt.

Oh, dear, my mascara's running.

Whoo!

She's horrid!

Those pair of paintings,

are you scared? I'm very scared. Those eyes.

I've heard about following you around the room but burning a flame into

your spirit is something completely different, isn't it, surely?

The coin, I'm just not sure about.

He's not sure either but he's taken a punt.

For £10, it's not much of a punt.

I'm going to call it a sovereign with a question mark and we'll let the auctioneer decide what he thinks.

After starting out in St Helen, Auckland, this fourth leg of our

programme will be decided at the auctioneers - Thomas Watson in Darlington.

Are you leading me astray again?

I think I'm going up a No Entry sign.

And, guess what? Bluebell is back.

Still no satnav though.

Darlo folk have crowded in to soak up the lots, including Mark's misplaced vase.

What does auctioneer Peter Robinson think about what Mark and Anita have entered, and especially that coin?

I'm not sure what it is, to be quite frank.

It's definitely a gold coin and it is definitely of a period.

It's not a fake, we know that.

What it is exactly, I don't know.

Today we're going to leave that to the bidders.

Mark has spent £127 on five lots.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

While Anita has spent £214, also on five lots.

-A pound change.

-A pound change.

-Means everything.

Time for the nerves to jangle.

I'm getting butterflies.

Mark's Chinese lot - together again.

£15 for the two pieces together. 20, 5, 30, 5, 40.

£35 second row, I have.

At £35, 40. 5. At 40.

The gentleman has it upstairs now.

£40. It's down 10, Anita.

And down a bit more after commission.

Well, I've got to now claw that back somehow.

Next Anita's bronze bust.

At £20. 25 can I have? 25, I'm bid.

25, £30 for it.

At £25, the bid's on the Net. Nobody in the room?

30 I have. Thank you. At £30 bid.

£30. 35, anywhere for it?

At £30. Going to the Net at £30.

Being sold. £35, thank you. At £35.

-Nobody loved him.

-I loved him.

-Next Mark's leather gun case.

-£30.

At £30. At £30, for the gun case.

35, 40. At £35.

At £35, for the leather gun case.

A nice furnishing item.

40 for it, 40. 45, 50.

£45, back in the room.

That's up 15, Anita. Disappointed?

-Not exactly a flying start for either of them.

-We're onward and downward.

I hope not. Next, Anita's Victorian enamel buckle.

-At £15. 20, can we say?

-20 is bid.

20 I have. 25.

30. 35 is the next bid...

-35 on the Net.

-40, Sir.

£35, unusual lot, a buckle.

40 I have now. 45.

50, Sir.

£50, the bid's in the room. £50.

-That's good, Anita. That's good.

-I'm happy enough with that.

-I think that's its money, don't you, Anita?

-Yes.

Next Mark's favourites - the darning mushroom and the maritime gourd.

At £15, the two together, 20 upstairs. 5, 30, 5.

£30 upstairs on the balcony with the two pieces together.

£30, in the balcony at £30 for the two together.

-Well, Anita...

-It's still profit. It's still profit.

But not much after commission.

I'm not terribly optimistic about the rest of it now, Anita, I'm afraid.

Anita's cabbage rose jam pot.

At £30, at £30. 35.

35. £40. 45. £50. 55. £60. At £55.

The bid's on my right, beside me. At £55, have we all finished now?

Being sold at £55. All done?

-You must be pleased with that, surely?

-I'm happy enough with that.

The star of the show so far.

There's quality in decoration.

Now for Mark's sovereign with a question mark. Is it or isn't it?

It is slightly larger than a sovereign but it is of gold, 1826.

At £50.

At £50? At 60, 70, 80, 90, 100.

£100. 150. 160, 170. 180. 190.

200.

It's on the Net at £200. 220.

Being sold now at £220.

You're out in the room. The bid's with the Net at £220. All done?

I'm absolutely staggered, Anita.

Whatever it was, someone wanted it badly.

Oh, you are a jammy besom.

I wonder where I've learned that from.

-I wonder! Now, who will adopt these two adorable scraps?

-Bid's here.

I have £40 to start the bid. £40.

At £45. At £45. At 50. Five, 60, five, 70, five, 80, five, 90.

Lady in the balcony at £90 for the pair. Are we all finished at £90?

All done?

It could have been worse, Anita.

It sure could. But an even bigger loss, I'm afraid, after commission.

Now Mark's last buy, the Victorian wine cooler.

£30. At £30. 35.

40. 5?

50. 5. At £50 in the far corner under the balcony.

At £50, the wine glass cooler.

Being sold now at £50, the lot selling at £50. All done?

Well done!

That surprised me, Anita.

Now, anyone for a good old singalong?

£30 bid. At 35 now. £35. 40. 5.

50. 5?

60. 60 at the back now. At £60.

All done at 65? 70.

£70, all finished now at £70. The two together.

-Yes.

-That's good, Anita.

Dare I say, a sound return?

I'm happy enough with that.

That's a reasonable profit.

It's not a record profit though, is it?

So, Darlington was especially kind to Mark Stacey.

Mark began with £496.16

and made £188.70 after auction costs.

So, he now has £684.86 to spend tomorrow.

Anita started this round with £426.74 and made

£32 after auction costs, leaving her with £458.74 to spend tomorrow.

So, a good result for both of us, Mark, and a very good result for you.

I'm very pleased. I'm very confident.

-3-1.

-You just got lucky.

What, three times?!

And off we go.

Join us next time for answers to these important questions.

Anita, will you marry me?

Will Anita's direct bargaining technique work out?

You told me they are rubbish.

Will Mark's wish be granted?

Stop the road trip, I want to get off.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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