Episode 23 Antiques Road Trip

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The nation's favourite antiques experts,

£200 each and one big challenge.

Well, duck, do I buy you or don't I?

Who can make the most money

buying and selling antiques as they scour the UK?

Sold.

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

But it's not as easy as it looks,

and dreams of glory can end in tatters.

HONKING

So, will it be the fast lane to success

or the slow road to bankruptcy?

That's the sweat over.

This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Today, ladies and gentlemen, auctioneers James Lewis

and Anita Manning are going head-to-head in Norfolk.

And it seems someone's getting a wee bit competitive.

-How much have you got to spend?

-I've got...

Not as much as me!

THEY LAUGH

Yet, James, yet!

James's overwhelming confidence perhaps stems from the fact

he's cleaned up at auction two days in a row.

-That's the excitement of the auction.

-Yeah, that is brilliant.

But don't underestimate our girl Anita.

She's as canny as canny can be.

Don't rest on your laurels.

I'm not going to!

You never know, this wee woman might creep up behind you.

So far, James has turned his original £200 stake

into a marvellous £428.20.

As for Anita, she's currently sitting on £306.84,

which makes James the undisputed champion so far.

Although, as our experts take their 1970s VW Beetle on

the third leg of their Road Trip, anything is possible.

The best laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley.

-It's Robert Burns.

-Robert who?

Oh, James!

Our journey this week is taking us from Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire,

and heading south via East Anglia and the West Country,

ending up, we hope, in Cirencester.

But today, we're kicking off in Fakenham,

and we'll end this leg with an auction in Aylsham.

Situated on the River Wensum, Fakenham owes much of its

good fortune to Henry VIII because when he abolished

the monastery in the neighbouring town of Heston, suddenly this

market town became the stopover of choice for weary pilgrims.

So, what better place for our experts to park the VW

and conduct a little commerce?

-20 dealers, James.

-That's 10 each.

-OK.

Though, one shop, two experts - things can get messy.

There's only about £100 between James and I,

and it's possible to catch up and go forward, that would be fun.

But James is a formidable opponent. Oh, he's a cracker.

-He's a hard guy to beat.

-I'll say.

Already he's found something he likes.

-It's probably French. It's Art Deco.

-And a snip at £35.

The inkwell is typically Art Deco.

They're straight lines, very architectural in style.

And inside, a little glass liner.

My problem is, again, I think my heart might be ruling my head.

I'd like to have that on my desk.

James is still at that cabinet down there.

I'm just waiting for him to go away.

I heard that!

-Hello, darling!

-Hello!

Not much longer, Anita, he's called Mandy over.

It's got a bit of something about it.

But, a bit of breakage on the top there.

-Yes, it's sad that so many things are damaged, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-That would need to be about 20.

-25?

I was thinking 15, but 20 would be my max.

Can I split it with you, £22.50?

I can't. I can't, that's...

If I was going to go for it, it would have to be that.

-OK, go on, 20, I'll do that.

-OK.

-With the deal done...

-Thanks very much.

..and the cabinet finally vacated,

it's Anita's chance to find something gorgeous.

And she's thinking Murano. Not one piece but two.

Here's another piece here.

It's got that nice weight in it, a nice polished base.

And that's rather pretty.

Together, a nice wee lot,

but it all depends on the price I can get it for.

Together, they're priced at £20, but naturally,

Anita's motto is "never pay retail".

I'd be looking to buy the two of them for 10. Would that be possible?

-OK, let me go and make a phone call.

-OK.

Not exactly high-stakes negotiation but every penny counts.

-He says the best on those would be 14.

-14?

-Yes.

-Could you ask him if he'd go to 12?

-I could do that for you.

Thank you, Mandy, thank you.

I know he will cos he already told me.

SHE LAUGHS

-He said, "Try 14 and if they won't do it, I'll take 12."

-Oh, Mandy!

Right, here we go.

Our next stop on this Road Trip is Holt,

a small market town with rather a colourful history.

Yep, from the plague of 1348,

which saw the surprising demise of 23 priests,

to the great fire of 1708 which destroyed the entire town.

Holt is no stranger to drama or antique shops.

-I'm James.

-Nice to see you.

-What a fantastic shop.

-Just how they used to be 20 years ago.

-My prices are going down!

-Good, I'll have a wander.

-Now, that's a little mercenary, James.

Although, considering you love the old-school nature of the shop,

I'm surprised - have to say delighted -

that you're ultimately drawn to this collection.

Could you tell me about these?

They don't seem to fit in your policy of glass and ceramics.

-My son has joined the business.

-OK.

-These are mammoth teeth with the roots here.

-That's wonderful.

This is a mammoth tusk.

Now, bones can be highly saleable IF they have the right provenance,

and Richard says this collection's from the late 19th century

and was purchased from a Norfolk country house.

So, given that they're new to the market,

they might stir a bit of interest.

-My son's put 480 on the collection.

-Oh, right.

-Yes.

Good heavens, that is a lot of interest.

Would you be able to do it for 200?

-Would you be able to phone him and ask?

-I'll phone my son, shall I?

-Thank you. Just see what he says.

-Right.

Well, I don't know. Maybe I'm mad, offering £200.

It's a collection of old bones, at the end of the day. It's...

But it's different.

In a way, I hope I get the answer no, they won't take £200.

Because I think to offer £200 for that lot might be slightly bonkers.

-I've been in touch with my son...

-Yes.

..and he said...£250 would be the very best.

JAMES SIGHS

It's too much. It's too much for me, I think.

So, the sensible thing to do here is walk away. Right, James?

My right hand is just waiting to come out.

-An extra 10, would it make any difference to him?

-220.

-Oh, blimey!

The more you hesitate, the more it'll go up.

215 and you've got a deal.

And I am completely insane.

-Well, I think you are making a bad mistake, really.

-Do you?

-Yes.

Well, that is encouraging! Hah!

Anyway, going in the opposite direction on this particular

Road Trip is Anita, who couldn't resist a visit to Houghton Hall,

the very stately home of Sir Robert Walpole who, in 1721,

became Britain's first ever Prime Minister.

Look at those wonderful domes. Look, they have cricket on the green.

And there's plenty more to see, with John, the curator.

-John, hello, I'm Anita.

-Hello, Anita, very pleased to meet you.

-Welcome to Houghton Hall.

-Are you going to be my guide?

Sir Robert was also the first head of government

to occupy 10 Downing Street, which George II bought for him as a gift.

But our man had much grander ideas, going on to spend, in today's terms,

about £50 million on a house that celebrates and encourages excess.

Though this tour begins in one of the more modest rooms,

the study, where the portraits

on the wall begin to tell his somewhat egotistical story.

The most important one is Sir Robert Walpole over there.

He's in the uniform of a ranger of Richmond Park,

which was an honorary position which carried with it

a grace and favour lodge in the grounds,

into which he popped his mistress, who's in the centre picture.

-That was his girlfriend?

-That's right. That's Maria Skerritt.

And the lady in the blue headdress is his wife, Catherine.

When Catherine died in 1737, Sir Robert married his mistress, Maria.

I love this room, there's a feeling of cosiness.

Now, this leads us through to the Stone Hall.

And it's in this breathtaking room that Sir Robert's guests

would first arrive.

It's only function to leave you in no doubt as to

the status of your host.

Over here, we come to the focal point of the room,

which is the bust of Sir Robert dressed as a Roman senator

which epitomises his position of power and authority in this country.

You notice that he's surrounded, either side

and all the way round the room, by genuine 2nd century AD

busts of Romans, and he's higher than all of them.

-I was going to say that, he's above them all.

-That's right.

He had a fine opinion of himself.

-Nothing is by accident in this house.

-I know.

Sir Robert's guests would then be received in the official

state rooms and invited to dine underneath the grand ceiling

of the principal dining room, which is a tribute to

Dionysus, the god of wine, feasting and having a great time.

And in this room, important guests would come,

political alliances would be made.

-In fact, at this table, and this is the original table.

-That's right.

Some people call it a political table

-because it was split into four parts.

-How apt!

So if you wanted to have different factions, you could separate them.

If you wanted to keep an eye on what everybody was talking about,

you had them together. A diarist of the time described feasting here,

guests were "up to their chins in venison, beef and lamb

"and over their chins in claret and white wine."

So many a good story will have been told in this very room.

That's right.

Such a decadent life was rather costly, and eventually

the family had to raise substantial funds, which they did by selling

the largest group of pictures from a single country house ever.

And the buyer was Catherine the Great of Russia.

-See the view to the west?

-Wow!

It's just over two miles from here to the far horizon.

The Houghton estate now is about 4,500 acres.

But in Sir Robert Walpole's time, it was nearer 20,000.

I've had a lovely time with you looking round that house,

looking out onto that.

-Do you think we have time for a wee glass of wine?

-What a good idea.

-James has certainly drawn the short straw today, hasn't he?

-Stuff him!

I'll go along with that.

Well, speaking of our good friend James, he's still in Holt.

Though he has moved on to Mews Antiques,

where Peter is proving to be quite the salesman.

-If you can find the name on it, you've got a hell of a piece.

-Yeah.

-I've been looking at that for a long time.

-I wish.

-It ought to say something, Glasgow School or something like that.

-Yeah.

-But...

-It doesn't.

-It doesn't, no.

There's a great big hole, as well.

It's been repaired, it's as I got it, on the bottom there.

And just in case you're wondering, it's an Arts and Crafts log bin,

embossed rather nicely with Viking galleons in choppy seas, ca1890.

What could that be?

-75's our very best on that.

-75, yeah.

-It's worth it all day long.

-For me, I'd be looking at about 45.

-Can't do.

-No.

I don't mind giving you a fighting chance,

but I'm not going to cut my throat.

I don't blame you, I wouldn't want you to.

Yeah, I'd be looking at 50, 55.

-Oh, you're not going to toss a coin for it! Oh, no!

-If you're game, I am.

-65 upper, 50 lower.

-45 lower.

-No, too far out.

You've got to leave me something in it.

-You've got to leave me a chance, too!

-Too right.

-60-50 then.

-Done.

Go on. I'll have heads.

-Tails, my son.

-Tails. Oh! You've got a deal, £60. Done.

-I didn't even want it!

-Nobody comes in here for anything they want!

-They certainly don't come here for anything they need.

-Like a haircut!

And something else James doesn't need is...

-This weird thing here.

-Oh, that marvellous device.

Handle him tenderly.

Now, the gong is an ancient Chinese custom used to signal

peasant workers in from the fields.

This one, however, is more ornamental, probably English

and dating to the 1920s.

-Ticket price - £42.

-£20, it needs to be.

Ooh, I really don't know, we'd have to ask.

If we get in touch with the guy,

whether he's remotely going to consider that.

It's a long way short.

-See if you can make him feel sorry for me!

-Right, I'll go and ask.

Thank you.

£20 is the absolute limit.

I'm not budging, I'm not tossing a coin.

-Just as well, when the dealer's answer is yes.

-Deal.

-There you go.

-Deal.

Leaving James and Anita to end the day's shopping

with a game of twenty questions.

-Is it some weird and wonderful, obscure thing?

-Yes.

-Is it?

-Yes!

-Is it lovely to look at?

-No.

Am I going to love it or hate it?

-Hate it.

-Am I?

-Yeah.

Day two, and our experts are back on the road, once again hoping

to relieve the antique dealers of Norfolk of many a bargain.

I have to tell you, I did not buy the most sensible of objects yesterday.

-A fool.

-No.

-A fool parts with his money very easily.

-Who dares wins.

Yes, that's the spirit.

And so far, James has dared to spend £315 on four

rather unusual auction lots.

-I think you're making a bad mistake, really.

-Do you?!

Anita, on the other hand, is off to a very slow start,

having bought just one auction lot for £12.

-The tortoise and the hare, James.

-I know, I know.

You don't have to remind me.

Today, we're once again going back from whence we came,

in order to drop James off in the village of Thursford.

It's here you'll find the Thursford Collection,

something that started as a hobby for the late George Cushing

and has ended up becoming one of the world's most important

steam and fairground museums,

though these days the man in charge is his son John.

-John, great to see you.

-And you.

-I've heard so much about this place.

-Let me show you around.

-Love to.

The tradition of fairs dates back at least 800 years

and was a chance for traders to sell their wares.

Over time, acrobats, musicians and performers also joined the mix.

But what really revolutionised the experience was steam,

providing everything from the rides to the music.

Oh, look at that! So when was this made?

Well, this would have been made before the war,

this is actually a German organ. It was overhauled

and Father bought it in '62 or '63, I think.

Just because he loved the sound.

It brought back his childhood memories

when he went to the fair and heard nothing but fairground organs.

-Does it still play?

-Indeed it does. We'll crank it up.

-Come on, then.

FAIRGROUND MUSIC

-That is incredible, it's so loud, isn't it?

-Yeah.

But I suppose, in the hustle and bustle of a fairground,

-it needed that volume to get an attraction.

-It did.

Of course, there were many other fairground organs

in the fair at that time, including inside the rides.

In the 1860s, the arrival of the steam-powered merry-go-round

had some people fearing for their children's lives.

But despite their concerns of injury and explosion,

the ride went on to become a classic.

I've never seen one of those.

Well, you wouldn't have done,

-because this is the only one in the world.

-Is it, really?

It's really an antique, yes.

-At the time, people would stand 50 deep to watch this.

-Really?

Yeah, just going round.

Not only is this penny ride the only one of its kind,

it's also a local, produced in the Norfolk factory of Frederick Savage.

It was always rumoured that when the showmen paid for these things,

they would take sacks of pennies to pay for them.

Wow.

And the people who built them

-obviously had to count all those pennies out.

-Yeah.

-Does this still work?

-Indeed it does, yeah. We run this every day.

-Would you like a ride?

-I was hoping you were going to say that!

Come on, lead the way.

Of course, the organ would be playing.

I never went to sea because I got seasick.

The feeling's coming back to me.

HE LAUGHS

Oh, James, you big old girl's blouse.

You just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Meanwhile, we'll check on Anita.

Her next stop, the seaside town of Sheringham,

a community built firmly and squarely on the fishing industry.

That is, until the locals discovered they could earn more

in the summer from renting out their cottages to middle-class Londoners

than they could from an entire year of fishing. And for Anita,

currently, she's fishing for a bargain.

This looks promising.

SHE LAUGHS

-Could be an interesting shop. Love your Dalek.

-He's gorgeous, isn't he?

-Is he for sale?

-No, no, no!

Perhaps just as well. Best we see what else Glenda has to offer.

There's certainly a diverse range.

-You never know what I might find up here.

-Lots of spiders, lots of dust.

And after the most thorough of searches,

Anita's rather keen on this.

Good quality, no name. Probably Italian. Probably Murano glass.

(I quite like that.)

While Murano glass dates back to the 10th century,

this piece practically screams the early '70s.

But not to worry, in the world of antiques and collectables,

glass is hot right now.

Which could explain why there's no price tag, or it's fallen off.

-Could I make an offer?

-Yeah.

£20. That's what I'd like to pay on him.

-OK.

-Shall we go for it?

-We'll go for £20.

-But Anita's not done yet.

Something curious has caught her eye. No, not that, this.

-This is a shortbread mould.

-Yeah.

-And it's probably late 19th-early 20th century.

-Think so?

-It's a country piece.

-It is, yes.

Actually, I think that country might be Scandinavia.

And given the size of the mould,

it was probably used by a high-street baker.

But £45? Really?

If I was buying this,

I would be looking to buy it in the region of £12-18.

-Right. I would've liked it as close to 20 as possible.

-How about 15?

-OK.

-Can we do 15?

-We'll do 15.

-That's wonderful, thank you very much.

Thank you.

After a slow start yesterday,

Anita now has three auction lots up her sleeve.

AND she's got her determined stride on.

Though things aren't going nearly as well for James,

as I'm afraid there's bad news about the fossil collection.

'I think that yesterday when you were in the shop, you asked my dad

'if they came from a local auction

-'or if they came from a country house.'

-Yeah.

'And he got muddled up, they actually came from both.

'They came from the local country house,

'but I bought them at auction.'

Oh, right. Where did you buy them from?

'I bought them from a Keys auction,

'from their antiques sale, which is in Aylsham.'

I know exactly where it is. That's where I'm taking them to.

'Ah! OK.'

-Even worse, at that auction they sold for £70.

-Oh, jeez!

But the good news is Luke's prepared to refund two-thirds

of the £215 James gave him. Wow!

If I give you a fiver profit, and took them to Keys and just...

just because they are the most wacky things I have ever seen,

-what would you say?

-'Actually, yes, let's do it.'

-Will you?

-'Yup. I would be happy to do that because this is a mess that I have made.'

Ah, yes. So that we are all clear here,

as the fossils have recently been bought from

the auction house we are going to, Luke is kindly dropping the price from £215 down to £75.

Which hopefully means all parties are happy.

A very honest mistake made by his dad.

He has been an antiques dealer there for over 40 years

and to still take a much reduced profit.

But at least he has made a fiver, it is a couple of pints in the local pub.

Oh, good, a happy ending, I think, particularly for James.

Our next stop - Cromer -

a popular resort town often referred to as the gem of the Norfolk coast.

Its popularity dates back to the 19th century when some of the wealthy Norwich banking families

decided to make it their summer home.

Oh, lovely! Lovely!

Even Edward VII once popped down for a spot of golf.

Anita is popping into Brisbane Antiques.

BELL RINGS

-Hi, Anita.

-Hey, there.

Hello, it is lovely to meet you.

-And be in this fabulous wee town.

-Yeah, excellent.

-This looks nice.

Yes, very nice and before long our canny Scot is finding herself

quite excited by Philip's knick-knacks.

This is rather sweet. It is a little ivory box.

And this cartouche here is probably gold.

I think this is probably Georgian.

It is a period piece.

And, because it is pre-1947, as far as the ivory goes

it is legal and above board.

Inside is a little toothpick.

This is the type of thing that a fine Georgian gentleman would

have in his pocket, and after lunch would take his little ivory box out,

take his little silver toothpick out and make himself lovely again.

And for the ladies,

Anita is thinking this gold brooch - Edwardian and fabulous.

It has a lovely turquoise and little row of seed pearls.

Now, this is in the shape of a wishbone.

Maybe if I buy this brooch I get my wish to make a profit.

Well, if anyone can twist Philip's arm, it's you, Anita. Watch out!

I quite like the wee ivory box. Could it be sold for £45-£50?

I'd do a straight 50 on that

and that would give you a chance on that. And 60 on that.

I tell you what, what I would like to buy the two for is £100.

-That is what I would like to buy the two for.

-I will do 100.

Yeah, that will give you a chance.

Oh, you're a darling! Thank you so much!

Don't you just love her?

As for James, he's all right, he's in Aldborough.

This charming town centres around one very well-kept village green.

And what was the grocer's store is now selling antiques and collectables.

-My word, what a collection of stone beer bottles.

-I know.

-Is this your collection?

-Well, I have gone downmarket.

So this is mainly to make the shop look a bit more interesting.

-You'll find more junk in here than the whole of Norfolk!

-Ha-ha!

Now, obviously Terry has a dry sense of humour to say the least,

but a stroll through his shop soon reveals

a cornucopia of treasures.

That's the first piece of Charles and Camilla commemorative

I've ever seen.

-How much is that, just for interest?

-I'd think a fiver.

It's Wedgwood and I've never ever seen one before.

I think it's quite good. But it is not for me today, though.

And so a wee bit of strolling and much chin rubbing later,

James quite likes the look of this.

As you'd expect for an Arts and Crafts style clock, it is carved in oak.

And at the top here we have these very stylised flag irises.

The whole shape is typical of the Arts and Crafts period - 1870, 1890.

With a very plain dial and the screws are prominent, not hidden.

Because the idea of the Arts and Crafts is you show how it's made.

It is, however, not as early as it looks.

It's 20th century, probably around 1930,

maybe even later than the Arts and Crafts style.

-How much is it?

-I could do 30 quid.

-I don't think it would make...

-By the time the commission gets taken off.

-This is the problem. 25.

I think there is a profit in that one.

OK, that is something to think about.

What is this one, this little chap here?

-Oh, it is not as nice, is it?

-No.

I'll do the two for 30 quid.

-Now there must be a profit.

-30?

Would 20 buy them?

-By the time they take the commission off.

-I know.

-Hang on, I'll get my handkerchief out in a minute.

-Go on.

-25. How's that?

-That's a deal.

-OK.

That's James done and dusted then, and just moments

after his departure, guess who's also in the neighbourhood?

Hi! Are you Terry?

-Lovely to meet you.

-What are you doing here? I just seen a friend of yours a while ago.

-Has that big besom James Lewis been here?

-Yes, he certainly has.

-Has he bought all the bargains?

-Well, he may have done.

-Oh, no!

I am not 100 percent sure.

Don't you worry, Anita, Terry has something that might be right

up your "veg and meat", as in street.

Now there is a bargain that he did turn down. Have a look at this.

Have you ever seen one of those before?

I have never seen one in my life.

ANITA LAUGHS

It is lovely, Terry. But it is not for me.

-Every home should have one.

-Now there's something that I looked at.

I don't have a lot of time so I'm pushed, I'm under pressure.

But this wee thing here, it's not a thing of any great significance.

Not going to make a lot of money,

but I have another two items which I thought

I might put this with my other items to make a wee lot.

Well, you're going to tell me you are hard up and you need to make a profit, so three quid?

ANITA LAUGHS

-How's that?

-It is a very generous sort of price. But...

I thought there might be.

I am looking to put it with another item.

-It is just to bulk up the item and I was wondering if you could give me it for £1.

-Oh, take the damn thing.

Well, that's us then.

Thanks very much.

I'm late. I'm late.

-I bought one thing.

-That's right.

It's time to bring our experts back together for a little show and tell.

Ding-dong!

You ready? Lift one corner and...

Oh! The collection of fossils.

Which, as it turns out, have already been to auction not long ago,

selling for just £70.

And what would be the worst auction in the world, a week ago,

that these could have been seen in?

-The one we are going to next week.

-Exactly. So they cost me £75.

And I think under almost any circumstance,

that would have a good chance at a profit.

You might get away, there might be a collector there who's entranced by it.

-And I think it is a very interesting lot.

-There we are.

-Slide this back.

-We will see what happens, James.

-You might be lucky.

-Well, I need a lot of luck on my side,

if I'm to do anything with those.

Yes, talk about being between a rock and a hard place, James.

-What I've bought is a shortbread mould.

-Is that what that is?

-How interesting. So what did you pay?

-I paid £15 for it.

-That is cheap.

-I can see that making 45.

-You like it?

-I do.

-Good, James.

-There we are.

-Oh, yes.

It's, er, my little elephant family inkwell.

I like the shape of the inkwell.

It has that geometric Art Deco look about it.

And that is putting a date on it. It's a nice little thing.

And continuing today's animal theme...

That is fantastic!

-It is a lovely pussy cat.

-Isn't that wonderful? So, how much was he?

-He was £20.

-Well, you know, Murano glass, in my opinion,

is very underrated.

And also the quality.

It's even got gold dust, hasn't it, in the collar here?

Let's hope we get gold dust in the price, James.

Yeah, a few sovereigns would be nice.

-How about that?

-Oh, he's great!

He's looking at me. In a very strange way, James.

-What do you think he's worth?

-Um...

I don't know, he's maybe worth 40, 45, £50?

-That is what I thought. Paid 20.

-A good buy.

-Yes. I thought it was all right.

My next item is a sweet little ivory box.

-Ahh, toothpick box, Georgian one.

-That's right.

-Oh, how lovely.

-1780?

-Yeah, about that period.

-Wonderful.

-How much was it?

-£60.

-Well, I think there is a profit there.

-You can imagine that making 100, 120.

-Now that would be nice.

-What you think to that?

-That is a big beastie.

I think that is lovely.

-I like that.

-I had to toss a coin for it.

I lost. And I had to pay £60.

But I think that I would have paid

£60 any day of the week for that. I like it.

I have gone back to my jewellery again

and I bought this little Edwardian brooch.

One of the things I liked about it is the wishbone shape,

but the wishbone has been broken.

And the best end has been left there.

Yeah, it is the winning brooch, isn't it? It is the winning end.

What do you think to that little clock?

-Its face is a bit squeegee, James.

-Squeegee? Squeegee?

-Not squeegee, squee-gee.

-Oh!

-That is better.

-What about that one?

I like that one. Yeah, it's good as well.

Probably together maybe £50 to £80.

I paid 25.

Oh, that's a good lot for 25, James.

-There we go, that is my last lot.

-That's your last lot.

As for Anita's, it's a rather eclectic mix of glass and pottery.

-That's my favourite.

-That is a nice one, I like that as well.

-What did you pay for...?

-Cumulatively, £13.

I paid £12 for this lot and a pound for that.

Should make a couple of quid on that.

Good, well what a mixed bag, eh?

Yeah, but viva la difference.

Hmm?

Let's celebrate the difference in taste.

It was the Scottish-French accent. It threw me completely.

THEY LAUGH

Very diplomatic. But what do our experts really think?

James' two clocks might struggle.

They are a standard auction fare.

And this type of item has gone down in price.

But the little clock with the enamelled face deserves £25,

but maybe only in a retail situation.

I think he might be lucky to get out of that one.

I don't think Anita's got anything that's going to make big money.

But then again,

I don't think anything's there where she's going to lose either.

She's been very canny in the way she's spent,

hasn't spent very much money at all.

Whereas I have spent loads more money. Loads more.

After teeing off in Fakenham,

Anita and James end this leg

with an auction showdown

in the country village of Aylsham.

This picturesque spot was once renowned for its linen which

Edward II and Edward III couldn't get enough of.

And the markets there have been going strong now for 700 years,

but the reason we are here, Aylsham also has a weekly auction.

So what does Roy Murphy of Keys Auctioneers have to

say about James' and Anita's booty?

I think James has got the edge on today's showing.

His Newland piece and fossils, I think they are going to well.

On the other hand, Anita has got two pieces of jewellery.

She's got a little wishbone brooch and also a toothpick case

which, they could do well.

The smaller items, little items tend to do well here.

James started this leg with a very solid £420.20.

And after paying a reduced price on that fossil collection,

his total spend comes to £200 for five auction lots.

Anita, meanwhile, began with £306.84 and has been as frugal as ever,

spending £148 also for five auction lots.

So without further ado, let the auction begin!

First up, Anita's 1960s Murano glass pussy. Meow!

£30. I'm bid. At 30 in the middle of the room now.

32 at the back. 32.

35? 35. 38? 38.

40? No encouragement from the front there. 40 there. At 40.

42? 42 now. We will take it then at £42.

We're off to an exciting start!

That is a pre-commission profit of £22.

Well done.

Let's see if James' Arts and Crafts log bin can do better.

£50 start? £30 start? £30. I'm bid at 30.

32, I have in the middle of the room now. 32.

A fresh bid at 35. 38.

At 38, the hammer is up, I shall sell then. At £38.

Well!

That was disappointing.

-I thought it would do more than that.

-I mean, really?!

-Huge loss.

-£22, to be exact, old bean.

Although, on a happier note, if you would like to make the world's

biggest shortbread biscuit,

then look no further than Anita's next lot.

Look at that!

Opening bid here beside me at 30.

We are all out at £30 in the room. £30 I have. At £30. 32.

35? 35. 38? 38? 38. 40?

42. Right-hand side, takes it then at 42.

So far our canny Anita is on the money.

That is another profit of £27. Hooray!

Time for James' collection of early 20th-century clocks.

Which even HE is beginning to doubt.

I like the stylised irises. It is a good heavy solid oak clock.

The other one's been around.

£50 is the opening bid beside me now.

At 50, 50 the opening bed is 50. 55. 60. 65.

70, 75. 80. 85. 90.

Right beside me at 90.

All done then at 90. £90 goes to commission.

Bravo, James. That's a sensational profit of £65.

That was good. That was... Stunned into complete silence.

Onto Anita's mixed lot now,

which from Murano glass to Scandinavian pottery, has it all.

£10. Five for it? Do I hear £5 anywhere for it?

Five pounds. Five. Eight?

Do you want 10, madam? Ten it is now. At 10.

12 in the middle of the room. At 15. A fresh bidder. At 15.

At 15 then and selling. 15.

I thought they were going to sell it at five for a minute.

I know. Maybe I should have taken that plaque for nothing!

Yap, a poor showing there. But moving on...

it's James' Art Deco desk stand.

Finely adorned with a family of heffalumps!

Starting me at £50 on this lot here? At 50? 30? £20 start.

20, I'm bid in the middle of the room.

20? 20? 22?

25, 28. 30. 32.

35. 38. 40. 42. 45.

48. 50. 55. 60. 65.

70. 75. No. 75.

At 75. 75 and all done. Hammer's up and away then at 75.

Well blow me down, that's a result and a half!

Not to mention a £55 profit pre-commission.

Something to trumpet about.

Yup, here is hoping the bidders are just as passionate

when it comes to Anita's Edwardian gold brooch.

-I think we both liked that.

-Yeah, the wishbone.

-Yeah!

£40 is the bid beside me here.

£40 now. At 40, 42. 45. 48.

50? No. At 50. 55, fresh bidder. 55.

60. 60 beside me. Still at 60. You're out in the room.

60. £60 goes to commission.

Not a bad result. But we were hoping for better.

-Next it's James' rather amusing table gong.

-We will start at £50.

50? 30? Is the bid at 30?

32 - I have now. At 35. 38. 38, 40?

£40. Now at 40.

40. 42. 45?

45, 48 at the back now. At 48.

48. The hammer's up, I will sell at £48. £48.

-That is a good profit.

-It is.

-I am happy with that.

-And so you should be, James.

£28, that is not to be sniffed at.

One of my favourites now - Anita's Georgian ivory toothpick box,

complete with silver toothpick.

That is a lovely classic little Georgian antique.

46 is the opening bid. 46. 46. 46. 48.

48. A fresh bid at 50. 55 now.

At 55. At 55 now. Hammer's up. We will sell then. At 55.

Oh, a bit disappointed at that.

I'll say. That was very surprising.

But the drama isn't over yet.

We are ending with a lot that's no stranger to this auction house -

it's James' infamous fossil collection.

And we start here at £100 on this lot here. £100 is the bid.

It is right beside me here. We have an opening bid of £100 now.

The hammer is up at £100 and selling. £100 goes to commission.

Never mind, you made a profit, James.

Yes, against the odds, too.

The story of James' fossils has a happy ending, for James.

Anita, though, started this leg with £306.84.

And has made a modest profit of £27.48.

Giving her a grand total of £334.32 to spend tomorrow, bless her.

James, meanwhile, began with £428.20.

And after another cracking auction,

he's made a profit of £87.82, which means the lead is still his

with £516.02 in the kitty. Cheer up!

What a day. Do you know, I will never ever try and predict an auction again.

The things that we thought were going to do well didn't.

And other things that we weren't too sure about went up in price.

-Yeah, completely crazy.

-Where are we going, James?

-Suffolk.

-That sounds nice.

-Adventure.

-Adventure.

Next time on the Antiques Road Trip - Anita finds what she is looking for.

There are a couple of Scottish items on this desk.

And James finds time for a new hobby.

-Arms straight out.

-Oh, look at that!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd