Episode 30 Antiques Road Trip

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

-What's my wife up to?

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

But it's not as easy as it looks and dreams of glory can end in tatters.

Do I hear £1,500?

So will it be the fast lane to success or the slow road to bankruptcy?

I can't keep this posture up for much longer!

This is the Antiques Road Trip.

This week, we've been out on the road with a pair of old codgers,

auctioneers Charlie Ross and James Braxton.

I can't see where we're going!

Charlie Ross is an auctioneer who oozes charm and sophistication.

-Well, sort of.

-You are what they call a temptress!

Auctioneer surveyor and general fashionista James Braxton

goes straight to the point.

-You don't mess about, do you?

-No.

-I go straight in there, don't I?

-You do.

-Straight in.

Charlie's week kicked off to a flying start when his £8

Staffordshire elephant roared away for an astronomical £2,700.

-GAVEL STRIKES

-I fear my Road Trip is already over!

James, bless him, had a week of exciting ups.

Well done, James. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

-And devastating lows.

-Oh, dear.

-Dear, oh, dear.

But coming into the last leg, they're two-all in auction victories.

-It's all to play for on the last one.

-All to play for.

-How exciting!

Two-all with five minutes to go!

After his win at auction number four,

-James' original £200 has increased to a whopping £245.76.

-GAVEL STRIKES

After his amazing victory in the first auction, Charles' £200

rocketed and he starts the last leg with an enormous £2,227.10.

It's their last voyage together today

and they're zipping along in their beautiful 1954 Sunbeam Alpine.

Can there really be an antiques shop in the middle of nowhere?

There can. It's amazing.

You're m-m-m...

Do you want to get that out again? THEY LAUGH

This week's route has taken our experts from Cromarty

down the stunning north-east of Scotland over to the west,

to their final destination in Ayrshire.

On today's last leg, they're heading for the final auction in Ayr.

First stop is the village of Kilbarchan.

SPLUTTERING Oh! My hat's come off.

There must be easier ways to make a living, mustn't there.

A village in the west Central Lowlands,

Kilbarchan's church steeple dominates the village skyline.

Built in 1755, it houses a bronze statue

of Robert 'Habbie' Simpson, Kilbarchan's famous left-handed piper.

Not a lot of people know that!

(SCOTTISH ACCENT) There's plenty for you to get your teeth into.

Established in 1950,

Gardners Antiques has a vast array of antiques and collectables.

And with its strict "no haggling" policy,

I wonder how the chaps will get on.

-It goes a long way.

-Goodness me.

-Look up there!

Oh, oh, oh, God.

-Good luck, Brackers.

-Good hunting.

And with that, Charlie gets straight to work with owner, David.

-That's rather a sweet, very sweet little propelling pencil.

-Mm-hmm.

Tell me,

it would be too much for me to expect that to be gold, wouldn't it?

-I think probably.

-It looks gold to me.

-I'll have a look.

-I certainly don't see any marks on it.

-It's not priced, no.

-It's not priced as gold, certainly.

-It isn't but I was just wondering whether it might be!

-I don't see any marks on it.

Perhaps I should be taking a little gamble.

Lets do a bit of Sherlock Holmes work on here.

I think that's absolutely charming.

And the price of that is...£20.

This would've been kept in a small purse belonging to a lady,

perhaps if she went out dancing and had a little dance card

and wanted to write down the names

of the people that she had been chosen to dance with.

That's the sort of thing you'd find in a smart purse.

I think it's a charming little lot.

-I'd like to make an investment, if I may?

-Absolutely welcome to do that.

It's not a big one but hopefully, I'm going to find more.

£20 well spent, Charlie.

David's "no haggling" policy sure makes for speedy negotiations.

This looks interesting.

I'm going to sit down. Look at this!

Oh, 'ello! Ha!

All damages to be paid for. Oh!

Slightly vulnerable to damage, this one.

Erm, but what a piece!

Ahem! Damage caused by you, I think, James.

This is what the impressionists and the Victorians,

that 1850 period to 1900, this is what they love.

We've got some deterioration, like a sort of dry rot, there.

Putting the dry rot, the cracks and the other damage aside,

this is still quite a nice piece, isn't it?

-Yeah, OK then, James. So what is it?

-What have we got on this?

£68?!

This is my first purchase.

I love this piece and it's going to make me a large profit.

I really hope so, James.

This rare early Meiji period Japanese container

could've been used to house kimonos or even Japanese jim-jams.

David, can you tell me about this fellow?

It's rather taken me eye.

Erm, Japanese. Probably early 20th century, possibly a bit earlier.

Quite a lot of Japanese import brought into Glasgow.

With it being a bit port city.

A lot of ships captains and crews bring back, brought things home.

-You haven't got the lid for it?

-We don't have the lid to that.

This one's as it stands, I'm afraid.

-A few wee knocks and bumps but a bit unusual.

-Yeah.

-I know the terms. There you are, my good man.

-Thank you.

I shall take the ticket off it, then.

£68 spent. Well done, James.

What about Charlie?

There's something rather ornate and small.

I imagine an inkwell.

Yes, it is an inkwell. French.

Champleve enamel.

Not brilliant enamelling, but really not bad quality.

And then we've got a little porcelain plaque at the bottom, here.

It's really quite a charming object. It is... £54.

I think this is worth more money than £54. I really do.

Champleve is a technique in which troughs or cells

are carved out with a metal object and filled with enamel.

-I think that's really quite sweet. I'll have that, sir, if I may.

-Thank you very much indeed.

That's two very nice purchases under your belt, Charlie.

Brackers, take me away before I spend any more money.

-THEY LAUGH

-How many items have you bought?

-That's for you to find out, Brackers.

-I haven't spent much money but I'm pleased with what I've bought.

-No!

But then I'm always pleased with what I've bought until the hammer falls!

Until the hammer falls.

On the road, the boys are heading seven miles east to Paisley,

where Charlie's giving himself a little treat.

Now Paisley is the largest town in Renfrewshire,

with a beautiful 12th century medieval abbey.

By the 19th century, Paisley had established itself as a centre of the weaving industry

and today, Charlie Ross has come to the Paisley Museum to find out more.

Mm. Agile for his age.

-Don't forget to pick me up!

-Will do, bye.

-Bossy!

The Paisley Museum is home to the world's finest collection

of Paisley shawls and pattern books.

Charlie is meeting curator of textiles, Dan.

Dan, where did it all start? That's what I want to know.

The Paisley shawl was an imitation of the Kashmir shawl,

which came to Europe in the 1770s.

It was a really expensive item

so the European manufacturers tried to produce a cheaper version

-of this, and that's what gave birth to the Paisley shawl.

-Right.

Mechanical production techniques cut the time taken to weave

the intricate designs which include the boteh, resembling a teardrop.

The kidney-shaped Paisley pattern is therefore Indian in origin,

copying the costly silk and wool Kashmir jobbies.

These are designs done out the same size and colour

-as they will appear in a finished cloth.

-Right.

And then you'll see there's a grid,

a pencil grid, superimposed on it.

This has now to be put on what we call point paper or design paper.

The design is transferred from the point paper

into a series of punched cards.

You put in a blank card into this here,

and then I read across each line and I have eight punches here

at the back and I punch the card according to the design.

The cards are punched one at the time,

usually one for each horizontal line in the design.

The thing about the Paisley shawl

is you need one card for every colour.

We have five colours in the line, you're going to have five cards.

That's why some of the Paisley shawls have over 50,000 cards.

50,000!

When the whole of the design has been punched into the cards,

they are placed in sequence

and laced together to form a continuous band.

The chain of cards is then placed on top of the loom.

The card select the threads to be raised

to produce the pattern on the cloth.

If you look here, you have a gap, which we call a shed.

-There's some yarns raised and the others are down.

-Yup.

The ones that are raised are where I've punched the holes.

The ones that are down is where I've left blanks.

The weaver throws the shuttle carrying weft yarn through the shed.

This action is repeated

for every card until the pattern is produced on the cloth.

How long would it take?

It depends on what type of cloth you're producing,

because if you're weaving a tweed,

-you could weave maybe 30 yards a day.

-Really?

If you're weaving a figured velvet,

you'd be working equally as hard and you'd produce an inch a day.

Creating these amazing shawls was an incredibly complex process

and weavers in the 19th century were highly skilled,

weaving 12 to 18 hours a day. Poor loves.

When the shawl was finished, all these extra threads

had to be clipped off so it leaves a fuzzy back.

This is a very typical Paisley shawl

and it's one of the characteristics which distinguishes it

from the original Kashmir.

The Kashmir won't have a fuzzy back like this but this,

the Paisley or the European shawl will always have a fuzzy back because it had to be cut.

The shawl may have gone out of fashion in the 1870s

but the pattern that has decorated them is still popular today.

-That's glorious, I think.

-Different to the original.

-Stunning.

So, while Charlie's been enjoying himself,

James has headed 15 miles south-west to Kilbirnie.

Kilbirnie is a small town in North Ayrshire.

Amongst many old buildings stands the Walker Hall,

a memorial hall dedicated to Dr Walker,

one of the first physicians in the town.

Stirrup Cup was originally a dairy farm and is now a horse livery yard.

Five years ago,

owner Greta opened up an antiques shop in their 18th century barn,

which is now home to Stirrup Cup Antiques.

-Greta Logan.

-Greta. Very nice to meet you.

I like this, though. Very nice art nouveau sort of like a table centre.

It's definitely art nouveau, very continental colouring, the green and the gilt.

So it's definitely French.

Nicely finished underneath. I rather like that.

It's got a good look to it. It's got £45 on it.

Let's see if I can get something off on that.

Before he gets down to the nitty gritty,

something else catches his eye.

-Look at these bottles.

-Well they're Drew of Piccadilly, 1905, I think.

-Drew.

-Something like 1905.

They look it. They are fittings out of a travelling case, aren't they?

-I would say so.

-Yeah.

In your leather travel case, around the edges,

you had these sort of pockets and they fitted into these things.

Those five, there, and I like your stand there, your nouveau stand.

What sort of price could you do for the two sort of lots there?

Well...

-Very difficult...

-Yeah, uh-huh!

The two at the back, I had £120 on just on the two.

Good on you, Greta.

For all five silver bottles, James is looking at a total price of £245.

That's £67.24 more than he's got to spend.

Are you going to put your hand in your pocket for over £300, James?

-No, I haven't got 300.

-You haven't got 300. Here we go, here we go!

-How much have we got left?

-I think she's got the mark of you, James.

£250 on the lot.

I won't buy all of them.

Haven't really got the money and all that sort of thing,

but that's pretty.

Greta, would you take 140 for that, that, that and that?

-160?

-160...

-In the middle?

-OK, then.

-Ha ha ha!

£150 lighter, and James is still spending.

I'll tell you what, I've hardly got a penny left,

and I forgot about these.

I saw your rather nice, your sort of Hercules doorstops.

What do you call these? Is this a Scottish thing?

I think that's got to be for tying a horse.

You'd put them in the field, and it was just for tethering an animal?

-They did come out of a coach house.

-How much are you selling these for?

-30 for the two.

-30 for the two?

-Yeah.

-Greta, would you take a tenner for this one?

-20.

-20. I can't do 20.

15, then.

Could you do 12?

-OK, James.

-12. That's really kind. Thank you.

-Three items!

-Are you happy now?

-You need some cash!

-I would like some cash, thank you.

-Take me to your till.

-OK!

Great work, James. It's the end of day one, and you're nearly spent out.

Charlie's going to be busy tomorrow, though. Night night.

Dawn breaks on the chaps' final push before the grand finale.

James got stuck in to his first day shopping, spending £230 on four lots.

The Japanese box, the silver bottles,

the mirrored stand and the horse tether.

He has a small £15.76 left to spend.

Charlie, meanwhile, has spent £74 on two lots.

The small 19th-century pencil and the enamel inkwell.

He has £2,153.10 left to show us who's boss.

The road trip is moving us on once more, leaving Kilbirnie

and burning a short 10 miles west to Fairlie,

where James has given himself a little treat.

Here we are. Lovely. Nice big gates. This is more me.

-Ah!

-This is more me.

-Oh, it's a bit like going home for you!

Situated fairly near Fairlie,

Kelburn Castle is James Braxton's first port of call.

What a great, great morning! This will look superb, won't it?

Originally built in the 13th century, Kelburn Castle is the seat of the Earl of Glasgow,

and is thought to be the oldest castle in Scotland

to have been continuously inhabited by the same family.

The present 10th Earl of Glasgow

is meeting the lucky James Braxton to show him round,

and tell him more about two of his extraordinary relations.

Now, who's your fine fellow here?

Oh, I see. This, in fact is my great-grandfather,

and he was a naval captain, and near the end of his career,

-he was made governor of New Zealand.

-Oh, fabulous!

He was loved. He had a huge family and he was loved by the Maoris,

and he went round and visited all these various Maori communities all over New Zealand.

Well, he looks a very splendid fellow, doesn't he?

He does. I think he was painted to look splendid.

-Did he bring anything back from New Zealand?

-Yes, he brought a lot back.

One of the most interesting ones was this one, which is a Maori cape.

This is... One of the Maori chiefs gave this to my great-grandfather,

and it actually doesn't look particularly interesting,

but it is unique, and this is all made out of Kiwi feathers,

and I don't think you'd be able to do that now.

I think legally, it would be impossible to have a cape like that.

-So this is all feathers?

-Absolutely. All kiwi feathers.

A national symbol of New Zealand, the kiwi is a flightless bird

that holds a special significance for the Maori.

It is symbolic of their elder brothers and sisters,

representing protective spirits.

And is this one of many in the world?

There was a Maori who came here to see it,

and he said there were less than a dozen of these in the world.

My great-uncle Alan

was one of those magnificent men in their flying machines,

and he was one of the pioneers of aviation in the very early days,

and he held the record for three weeks when he'd flown his aeroplane

something like 400 yards, and that was the record,

-but the record was broken three weeks later by somebody else who did it better than he did.

-Oh, no!

-So they were accumulating...

-So he had a glorious three weeks.

Alan Reginald Boyle was born on 8th October 1886,

and was the son of the seventh Earl of Glasgow.

What really fascinates me about it is the fact that

the wheels are just like sort of bicycle wheels.

They're tiny, aren't they? You can see how treacherous they were,

but you can imagine them hitting something and just pitching.

Well, I think that's actually what happened to my great-uncle.

Unfortunately, his aeroplane turned over, and he landed on his head,

and from that moment on, he had a slight memory problem,

so it was jolly dangerous, as you can see, they were hardly protected.

-It must've been a very exciting period if you had the courage.

-Yeah.

-Those pioneering Edwardians.

-That's right.

The castle is steeped in history, both inside and out,

but one of the more modern aspects is on the south side of the place.

This is a great departure from your normal Scottish castle, isn't it?

Yes, well, it was actually the idea of my son and daughter,

who got to know these Brazilian graffiti artists

who were longing to paint a Scottish castle and do a...

It's a mural, isn't it? We call it graffiti, but it's really a mural.

They came and stayed here.

Anyway, they managed to persuade Historic Scotland to let them do it,

which surprised me.

-Where you rather hoping they might be turned down?

-Yeah, I was.

Anyway, he wasn't turned down, and they went ahead with it.

But now that it's been done,

I actually think it's really very, very good.

It's tremendously imaginative.

So, James, a mixture of old and new.

Meanwhile, Charlie is cruising 15 miles south to Kilwinning.

Situated just outside Kilwinning

is the beautiful Dalgarven Mill.

Rising through four floors and powered by a six-metre waterwheel,

this is one of the oldest and tallest grain mills surviving in Scotland.

It's a beautiful rural location,

and it's also home to Byre Antiques And Collectables.

His first shop of the day.

Nice to see you. It's Shane, isn't it? Now, this looks interesting...

What appears to be a leather volume...

I'm going to open it up and see what's what.

Gosh!

Ah, that's good, it's instructions.

This looks a really interesting compendium.

Roulette.

Cribbage boards, chessboard.

Fantastic!

And I suspect here we will have the roulette table.

It's fantastic! And the pack of cards. I think the pack of cards is probably original.

What date is this?

1920s.

I notice, Shane, that it hasn't got a price on it.

It's just in, in actual fact.

-Oh, is it?

-It is, it's a new piece in.

-What sort of money's that?

My best trade on it for you, Charlie, would be £40.

-And that, the £40 is the absolute death...

-Absolutely.

-Leave the door if you don't pay.

-Exactly.

-Sold.

-Thank you very much.

Thank you very much indeed. I think that's great.

-I love it.

-I'm glad you like it.

Another great purchase, Charlie.

-I think all your furniture's been restored, hasn't it?

-It has.

-I'm a furniture restorer.

-Yeah, yeah.

Have you got anything that's waiting to be restored?

The one piece I have got is the Georgian washstand.

-It doesn't really look as if it needs restoration.

-Just tidying.

-If you see the beading...

-Oh, yes, I can see.

The drawer fronts...

This lovely piece of Georgian mahogany is being sold

without the bowl and the jug.

Well, I'd better ask, I'm not intending to buy any furniture,

-but that might be irresistible.

-I could make it very appealing.

-Could you make it very appealing?

-I could.

If I could do it for £50?

CHARLIE SIGHS

I... It's...

-I can see you're struggling with it.

-It's a great price.

I mean, I would say I'd give you £35 cash for it,

and if it could be done for that...

Well, if I said to you, if you met me halfway

and we do it for £40, for a piece of Georgian furniture?

I couldn't actually say no, could I?

I think it would be rude to say no.

I think it would be very rude to say no!

This has got to be the deal of the day. Well done, Charlie.

With the auction just around the corner,

our chaps are back on the road, heading north to Largs.

James, you got any money left for this last shop?

-A tiny amount. I've got just over £15 and some pence.

-Yeah.

I think, I do want to spend up.

A town on the Firth of Clyde, Largs's most famous monument

is the Pencil - ha -

built in 1912 to commemorate the Battle of Largs

when the Scots defeated Norway's troops on the shore at Largs in 1263.

What took them so long!

This is glorious, isn't it?

Very Scottish Riviera.

A former cinema, Narducci Antiques has been open since 1969

and is the scene for our final show-stopping showdown of the week.

-Are you feeling lucky, Mr Braxton?

-I am. Oh, look, there's a staircase.

Do you think there are things up there?

Oh, that's where the bargains will be! Unseemly rush there.

What have you got for £15.76?

Well, we cater for most pockets so, nothing take your eye?

-Even smaller ones.

-It hasn't, really.

-Bargain rack at a fiver?

-Sorry?

In the bargain rack for a fiver?

What attracts you to any of these items then, Franco?

-That's over to you, you're doing the buying.

-Yeah.

Well said, Franco. Come on, James!

Good. Well, I think I'll keep looking but that's very kind.

Thankfully, it's not long before something takes his fancy.

An old Ayrshire salt pot.

Unfortunately, it's cracked but it's Ayrshire glazed.

For keeping salt in.

So was Ayrshire your Stoke-on-Trent, was it your potteries?

-It was, it was.

-Was it?

-I can do that for a tenner, if it's any good?

It's quite fun, isn't it? You say a salt box.

-Just for keeping the salt dry, keeping the dampness from it.

-Yeah.

What about a fiver, Franco?

-Eight quid. I'll meet you in the middle.

-Seven and I'll do it.

-On you go, we're here to sell.

-Thanks.

Excellent piece of negotiating there, James, and very clever

taking Ayrshire pottery to an Ayrshire auction.

A pair of quite fancy wall brackets over here.

They look as if they're brass.

They are. They're pretty blooming stylish. Chunky!

I think they are originally made for electricity,

but early electricity. They're early 20th century and I like those.

God, I'd love to buy those for less than 100 quid. Ho-ho!

V little chance, I suspect.

Well, if anyone can seal the deal, you can, Charlie.

-You probably forgot they were even here, did you?

-No, no, no.

-I know my stock, I know my stock.

-Oh, do you!

-They've got nothing on them.

-They're nice, aren't they?

Yeah, I mean, they're early 20th century, I suppose.

-What sort of money are they?

-£60?

I quite like your opening gambit there. They've got good weight.

-Good look too.

-And they're a very good look, aren't they?

I think those are great. They could be cleaned up a treat.

If I pulled out 40 Scottish notes, would that do the deal?

-No, but if you put a friendly 50, you can have them.

-A nifty 50?

-A nifty 50 and it's a deal.

-I think they're fantastic.

-Thanks.

-Thank you very much indeed.

-Thank you.

-You look spent up.

-I am almost spent up. And you?

-You find something?

-Yes, I did, and I'm very pleased with what I bought.

And with that, it's time to go, and for the very last time

in a rather theatrical fashion, reveal all from two old thespians.

-This is it.

-This is it.

First up is Charlie's Games Compendium.

-I love this.

-That doesn't spin.

-How much did you pay for that?

-I paid...

-Don't say under £30.

-£40 for it.

-£40.

I think that's a very good buy.

Time for your Japanese box, James.

Here we are. I just bought this very curious item.

-That's gorgeous, where's the lid?

-No lid, unfortunately.

-It didn't have a lid.

-It's glorious. I'd love that in my house.

-And you paid?

-£68.

-Well done, Brackers.

Charlie liked your box but what will you make of his wall sconces?

-They look nice.

-They're heavy brass wall sconces.

-Oh!

How did I miss those?

They are 20th century and made for electricity,

-they haven't been converted.

-They're nice.

-I just thought they were the business. Do you like those?

-They're a lovely weight.

-I would estimate those at 80-120 at auction.

-Yeah.

-How much?

-50 quid.

-Well done.

-Now for James's mirrored plateau.

-Ayyyy.

-Yes.

-Ay-ay-ay.

-Art nouveau handles are glorious.

-Yeah.

I would expect to pay between 60 and 80 pounds for it.

Really, you're being kind. I paid £40 for it.

-I've gone to France for my next lot.

-Ohh.

-It's a little inkwell.

That's pretty.

Unusually, it's on a little serve style plaque at the bottom

with a couple of decorated puti.

-How much did you pay for that? 50-80.

-54 quid.

-Really?

-Yeah, what do you think?

-I think that's a fair price.

I wonder what he'll make of your stone horse tetherererer.

-There we are.

-Good grief!

-There we are!

-Magnificent.

-I quite like it.

-It's quite like a large egg.

-A ship? A horse?

A horse. Well done.

-It's a livestock tetherer.

-That was... 25 quid.

You're teasing me.

-It was £12.

-Was it really!

-What's your next...

What's your next item?

-It's a little propelling pencil.

-Is this gold?

There's no hallmark on it.

-That's rather nice, isn't it?

-Wonder whether it might be gold.

I paid 20 quid for it.

From possible gold to definite silver.

Hello!

You've got a hundred quid's worth of silver there before you start.

-I paid 110.

-Well done. 160, they'll make.

-Do you think so?

-Yeah.

Now for Charlie's mahogany washstand.

You as an auctioneer will look at that and say,

"Rosco, that's unsaleable."

No, no, I like a washstand. That looks a nice Regency washstand.

-Is it Regency?

-It's George III, Regency - it's 18...

-whatever you like. 1810?

-Sheraton, isn't it?

Well, it could be 1790, but you know.

Let's put it at 1800, let's split the difference.

In today's market, what will it make?

-I would say it would make...

-Be realistic.

-£150.

-Don't be silly, Brackers!

-Yeah.

-£150!

-I think so, yeah.

How much did you pay?

-40 quid.

-Well, I think that is a sensational buy.

Indeed, kind words, James, but will Charlie say the same

for your last lot, the Ayrshire lead-glazed bin

which you've eccentrically decided to sell lidless.

Nice object, and presumably if he'd had it for a few years,

-you took that away from under his nose.

-I did.

-And you bought that for less than £50, I'll warrant.

-Less than 50.

-Did you, what did you pay?

-I bought that for less than £10.

You're a thief, Mr Braxton. You are just missing your mask!

The final curtain is about to be drawn but first,

it's time to hear what they really think.

I liked his washstand and at £40, that was daylight robbery, I think.

Dear old Rosco, he likes to pretend he's a bumbling old idiot

but he's on the money, isn't he?

James has bought some really great lots. I like his stoneware trough.

It cost £7! Robbery.

It's been an eventful final leg for our two excited experts,

from Kilbarchan via Kilbirnie, Kilwinning and Largs.

Auction day is here and it's the final showdown for James and Charlie in Ayr.

I've been chasing furniture down for some decades now.

Every time I see something, I say I'm never going to buy any more

English brown furniture and then a piece comes in so cheaply

that you really think that there is a profit, and there never is!

Established in 1933, Thomas R Callan

is a family-run business of auctioneers and valuers,

selling over 25,000 lots every year.

Auctioneer Michael Callan is the third generation of the family

to handle the gavel and he's kindly cast an eye

over our experts' choices.

The Japanese lacquered box is one of my favourite items.

It just oozes quality.

Unfortunately, it hasn't got a cover, it's missing a handle

and it has got issues with condition.

Today, in its present condition, about £100.

I quite like the propelling pencil.

Late-19th century, beautifully decorated with light engraving

and a beautiful little purple amethyst at the end.

It's still in perfect working condition

and it should make between £20 and £40.

James started this last leg of the road trip with £245.76

and spent £237 on five auction lots.

A rolls. Got a rolls for you...

Charlie began with £2,227.10

and spent £204, also on five auction lots.

Frankly, James was never going to catch Charlie after his mammoth win.

the best he can do is to try to win this final auction.

They're two-all in auction victories,

so, for the last time, let the auction begin.

First to go under the hammer is James's Ayrshire lead-glazed bin.

-Look at that.

-It looks gorgeous.

-Lovely.

Is there 60 for it? £60.

40? £40?

40 I'm bid in the corner.

At 40, any advance? 45. 50.

Cost seven.

Any advance on the 50? Corner at 50. Are we all out at 50?

I think he's over-egging it a bit.

All finished, then, at £50?

-GAVEL BANGS

-Well, well, well.

-Mr Braxton!

That's very nice. Sensational.

It certainly was, James.

That's a brilliant profit to start on.

-That's wonderful.

-That's good, isn't it?

Now for Charlie's inkwell.

Decorative wee piece with a hand-painted porcelain base,

with its cherubs.

30. £30.

30 I'm bid. 35. 40. 45. 50.

55. 60.

At 60. Any advance on 60?

65. 70.

75. 80. 85. 90.

95. At 95, behind me at 95. At £95.

Any advance on 95? All finished, then, at £95.

Well done, well done, my word.

-My word.

-95.

I didn't think that was going to happen, did you?

Oh, ye of little faith.

Fantastic result, Charlie. Just £2, now, behind James.

-We've got a battle on today, Brackers, haven't we?

-I know.

We are in lot 103, then. A lovely late-19th century propelling pencil.

There you are. For the pencil, 50 for it?

£50? 40? £20?

£20?

20 I'm bid. 25.

30. 35. 40.

At 40, any advance on 40?

# Double your money and try to get rich... #

At 40. Are you all out? All finished, then, at £40.

-GAVEL BANGS

-449.

-Very good. Very good.

I'm warming to this auctioneer on every lot he sells.

You're on to a winning streak here, Charlie,

and are edging out in front.

Oh, I tell you what - they look the business.

Let's see if James's silver bottles can shake things up.

£100. £100 for three. 100 I'm bid. At 100.

110. 120. 130.

At 130, any advance on 130?

140.

At 140, any advance on 140?

-At 140, any advance?

-140 plus the premium...

All finished then, at £140?

-GAVEL BANGS You got a profit. Got a profit.

-Got a profit.

-I got a small profit on that.

-But it's a profit, yep, you're all right.

-A couple of quid...

-Yeah.

-..after commission.

Yes, James. The auction house must take its earnings,

but chin up - it's still a profit.

Lot 177, the games compendium.

Up next is Charlie's games compendium.

80 for it? 80? £60.

£60, compendium?

40? £40?

20, then. 20. 25. 30. At 30.

35, behind me at 35.

40. 45.

At 45, behind at 45. All finished?

-Selling, then, at £45...

-GAVEL BANGS

475 at 45.

-Wiped its face.

-Yeah, I'm not wildly thrilled about that.

I thought it was a good lot.

What a pity. I really thought that would do better.

I think, with commission, I've lost a couple of quid, there.

A national disaster, Brackers. Never mind.

Time for your mirrored platter next, James.

This is your chance to race into the lead.

-80 for it. 80?

-Ooh, that's lovely.

40? £40? Beautiful condition. £40?

Giving me the heebie-jeebies, this is.

-£20.

-But that's ridiculous.

At 20. 25. At 30.

35. At 35, are we all out?

All finished, then, at 35...

-GAVEL BANGS

-477, 35.

-James, I'm disappointed with that.

-So am I.

Chin up, James. Despite the £5 loss, you're still out in front.

-Cor, it's coming down to the wire, this one, Brackers.

-I know.

Next on display are Charlie's brass wall sconces.

80 for them, 80? £40?

40 I'm bid. 40, any advance on 40?

45. 50.

At 50. Corner at 50. Any advance on 50?

At £50 for the pair.

They're cheap, aren't they?

-At £50, it's the corner, 55, new bidder.

-55, new bidder.

At 55, any advance on 55? Are we all out?

Middle at 55, finished, then, at £55.

-GAVEL BANGS Oh, dear. I really had confidence in those.

-A squandered opportunity.

-Another opportunity gone.

-I'd have bid more than 55 for them.

So would I. But I couldn't, sorry. Sorry.

And to think, it started off so positively.

I find the wind taken out of my sails.

Next is James's horse-tetherer.

It's an ancient throwing stone from the Highland Games.

-THEY LAUGH

-I'll take 40 for it? £40?

20. £20, a tether?

10. At 10, I'm bid, at 10.

15.

Bidding? 20 in the corner.

25. At 25, lady at 25. Any advance on 25?

-Good investment.

-Are you all out?

All finished, then, at £25.

-GAVEL BANGS

-Well done, that lady.

-Well done, madam.

-Well done.

What are you going to tie on to it?

Your husband?

Behave yourself, Roscoe. James, that was a very good investment.

-So, we are down to the wire?

-We are down to the wire.

A week's solid toil and we're down to the last lot.

James is currently in the lead, and his Japanese box is up next.

-Oozes quality.

-Oozes quality - it's a bit like its owner.

£100 for it? 100?

80?

£40?

£40?

40 I'm bid, at 40. Any advance on 40?

You're away. 45.

50. 55. 60.

65.

70.

-75. 80. 85.

-Brackers!

-90.

On my left at 90, any advance on 90?

Keep going.

At £90, any advance on £90? Are we all out?

All finished, then, at £90.

GAVEL BANGS Oh...

It's not a bad result, Brackers, to be honest.

JAMES LAUGHS But compared with your purchase price?

-Come on, it's a profit, old boy.

-I know, I know. I'm pleased.

-Chin up, Brackers.

-I am pleased.

James, you've ended on a high. With one lot to go, you're in the lead.

Charlie, it all comes down to your washstand, mate.

You'd need to make a profit of £36

to be able to declare victory in today's show.

80? 50, then.

-50, I'm bid.

-£50.

-At 50. 55.

60. 65.

At 65. 70.

75. 80.

85. 90. 95.

-Well done.

-100. 110.

120.

-130.

-Oh, Brackers!

-130, any advance on 130?

At £130, any advance? It's the back at 130.

Are you all out? All finished then, at £130.

-GAVEL BANGS

-Well done. Well done. £130.

Down to wire, though, Brackers. Absolutely down to the wire.

What a result, Charlie, and a fantastic profit

to end this road trip adventure.

-Well done, Roscoe. A deserved winner.

-Gosh.

-Down to the last lot though. Doesn't come closer than that, does it?

-No.

-Fabulous.

-Very good indeed.

James began his last voyage with £245.76.

After paying auction costs, he made a profit of £41.80.

He ends this week with a not-to-be-laughed-at £287.56.

HE LAUGHS

The legendary Charlie Ross

was always going to be a tough nut to beat.

He started this leg with £2,227.10 and made a healthy profit of £95.30.

Charlie wins the week in spectacular fashion

with an enormous £2,322.40,

and all monies raised will go to Children In Need.

-I feel rather deflated now, Brackers.

-Where's everybody gone?

-I don't know.

-Is it all over? Your last lot was that.

Do you think we can go up to the Black Isle and start again?

JAMES LAUGHS

Yeah, I'll be buying Staffordshire.

THEY LAUGH

MUSIC: "Price Tag" by Jessie J

What a week it's been.

Since leaving Cromarty, our experts have travelled over 600 miles

through the glorious Scottish countryside.

They've embraced the good and the bad of Scotland's weather...

I've never had a better view of the Highlands, Brackers!

..James discovered a soft spot for nice items...

That's a nice start. It's nice to see something I like.

It's very nice.

It's just a nice item.

I like this shop. It's really nice.

It's got some nice things, all nice and clean.

It's lovely.

Nice one, Cyril. ..whilst Charlie went straight for gold.

For the last time, £2,700.

GAVEL BANGS

-APPLAUSE

-Take your stand, take a bow.

They laughed from start to finish

and bonded in the most unusual of ways.

Brackers, are you with me? I can't keep this posture up for much longer.

My body is normally like this, over there, but at the moment...

# Price tag

# It ain't about the Cha-ching, cha-ching

# It ain't about the Ba-bling, ba-bling... #

Amazing.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd