Episode 7 Antiques Road Trip

It's the nation's favourite antiques experts, with ?200 each...

I love that. ..a classic car and a goal -

to scour Britain for antiques.

Yippee! I can see better with those.

The aim - to make the biggest profit at auction.

But it's no mean feat. There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

I think I'm going to have a row!

So, will it be the high road to glory

or the slow road to disaster?

He's just about killed that, hasn't he?

This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Yes!

It's the third leg of our road trip, and experts James Braxton and James Lewis

are in their sunshine-yellow 1980s Beetle convertible

and on the road to Bournemouth.

How are you feeling? Chipper? Yes. Yes, I like the sea.

Only when you're on the land, though.

James Braxton has been in the antiques business for 25 years,

to-ing and fro-ing and largely forging ahead.

Blood to the brain! Blood to the brain! Right, I'm ready.

His rival on this trip is James Lewis,

a seasoned auctioneer with 20 years of experience under his belt.

You haven't seen this, right?

Don't let that smile fool you. He's ruthless and he's out to win.

James Braxton started this trip with ?200,

but he's not having the best time of it.

With two auction losses so far,

he begins this leg with a rather parlous ?123.34

with which to turn his fortunes round.

However, James Lewis has been far more prosperous.

Two auction wins have increased his initial ?200 to ?421.94.

The route for the week takes our intrepid road-trippers from Ampthill in Bedfordshire,

across the Channel to Jersey, and back again

to the final showdown in Leamington Spa,

covering almost 1,000 miles of land and sea.

But this road trip begins in Bournemouth, Dorset,

and will end at the all-important auction in Wokingham, Berkshire.

Bournemouth's location on the south coast of England

has made it a popular tourist destination since Victorian times.

A recent survey found it to be the happiest place in Britain!

It's certainly put a smile on James Lewis's face.

Well done. Brilliant!

Now, do you want me to let you into a secret? Fire away.

I've been to that shop before.

I last came to this shop 20 years ago.

Really? Yes!

Well, let's hope, James, the stock has changed!

Let's hope so! BOTH: Good luck!

If its prices are 20 years old, you're bound to bag a bargain.

Morning. Nice to see you. I'm Bonnie. Hello, Bonnie.

Is it OK if I have a wander round? Yes, do! Have a wander. Thank you.

How much is that little thing? Erm, that is...

..twenty...pounds. Is it?

You don't sound so sure, Bonnie.

This is on, erm...

Is that whale's tooth? Mammoth tooth, I think. Oh, OK.

The paperweight appears to be made of a section of cut-and-polished tooth,

on which sits a carving of an elephant in ivory

which predates the 1947 ban on trading worked ivory.

All right, Nellie?

Anything else in there?

What could that be? Er, let me have a look.

I've got 30 on it. It can be...

..25.

HE SIGHS

It's a nice quality.

It's lost its cover, that's the thing!

It can be 20, in that case.

I'll give you 15 for it, if that's any good.

All right. As it's you!

OK. OK. That's one.

I thought that might... ..might go with it. Yes.

It's very similar enamelling, isn't it?

Is it French? French Champleve.

Champleve is French for "level field",

"field", in this sense, meaning the overall surface

which, when enamelled, is polished completely smoothly.

How much is that? Erm...

That can be 15.

15. Yes. OK.

25 for the two?

Yes. Yes? Deal. Yes.

So that's the Champleve bagged.

What's that at the back of the case, then?

I don't know much about those.

No. Is it Chinese or Japanese.

Japanese... Yes, I thought so. ..unfortunately! Yes.

Kutani is a style of Japanese porcelain

known for it's vibrant orange colours and bold designs.

How much are they?

They're 50 for the pair.

They've got those chips in the side. Oh, yes. That's a shame.

Point out the flaws, eh? Knock down the price, eh?

Would you consider a cheeky bid of 25 for them?

I hadn't noticed the chips, so I will do them for 25.

I was expecting you to say 30. I know! I thought you might be!

Can I give you 30 for them? That's very nice! Thank you.

I was just expecting you to come back with 30! That's very nice. Is that all right?

Very generous, James. Do you know something we don't?

If they don't make 30, then it's not your fault. It's mine and the auction's.

I'll try a cheeky ten.

I think that would have to be 15. That's fine. OK!

The fact that it's a mammoth tooth is interesting. It is.

That transverse section... It's lovely, isn't it?

Meanwhile, just down the road, James Braxton tries his hand at Robin's Antiques.

Morning. Hello! James. Robin. Hello, Robin.

This looks the sort of shop that I might like. I'm sure you'll find a bargain.

Well, he needs to on his budget, believe me!

I've actually got something that might be of interest to you. Oh!

Come on, Robin, fulfil my dreams. There's a box of goodies. A box of goodies.

Nice miniature. That's a nice miniature, isn't it?

I think that tells you who it is.

Yes. He looks a wily old bird, doesn't he? Doesn't he?

He's a man of the law, I would say. Or a well-to-do fellow.

That's rather nice. Morocco case. Nice little silk-lined interior.

Moisture is its enemy because it's watercolour.

Georgian, perhaps? I don't think as early as Georgian.

Early Victorian? Dear old William IV. Yes.

How much have you got on this fellow? Is that 50?

You haven't come for a deal! You've come to have a row!

Erm, no, I don't think I could do it for that, James. Erm...

Look, I'll do it for 90 quid and I think I'm giving you a birthday.

Could you do it for 80, Robin?

Reluctantly, yes.

Many happy returns, James.

I would love to buy it at 80. Thank you. That's kind.

You're welcome.

So after making quite a hole in his dwindling budget,

James Braxton is taking time out

to drive 11 miles north to Wimborne Minster.

Wimborne Minster is a market town

situated at the confluence of the rivers Stour and Allen,

and is also the name of its magnificent church.

Well known for its chained library, it boasts a 1st edition of the History of the World

written by Sir Walter Raleigh whilst imprisoned in the Tower of London,

and damaged when a clumsy reader dropped a candle on it.

But James is here to learn about its rare astronomical clock

and to find out more about a rather bizarre burial.

Head guide Christine Oliver is on-hand to show him around.

How old is this building, Christine? The building you're standing in is around about 1120

and been added to every century since. Oh, really?

Originally established as a nunnery in 705 AD,

it shows Saxon, Norman and Gothic development

as the structure was added to over the centuries.

In prime position is an astronomical clock,

which tells the time using the position of the sun relative to the earth.

So, this is your... This is the astronomical clock.

It's very pictorial, isn't it? How old is this?

Around about 1320-ish.

1320?! Mm-hm. And still going.

How was this powered? There's a set of cogs behind the face.

The mechanics are up 72 stairs,

so you have to climb 72 stairs to make the workings work.

So, the mechanism is all up there in the tower? In the bell tower.

And this is merely the indicator down here, the dial?

That tells you the hour, only the hour.

The sun is the hourly hand.

In the summertime, it's an hour out

because it didn't know about summertime when it was made. Ah!

What do we have in the middle? The middle is the earth, because it's pre-Copernicus.

They thought the earth stood still and everything revolved around it. Yes.

Why so many hours? That's interesting.

It's one of the first 24-hour clocks. The cross at the top is 12 midday.

The cross at the bottom is 12 midnight. Very good.

The next circle in is the night sky,

with a fully black ball with a ridge of gold around it.

That will tell you what phase the moon will be tonight.

The moon was very important for planting seeds and harvesting

and the odd bit of smuggling!

We had some very good smugglers in Dorset, but they wouldn't do it on a full moon!

I heard a whisper about a man in a wall or something?

Yes, there is. Would you like to see him? I'd love to.

The minster is full of amazing sights

and there's always another wonder lurking just around the corner.

The Man in the Wall was an eminent local barrister and magistrate,

well known for his cantankerous and argumentative nature,

who had a falling out with the church.

This is the Man in the Wall. The Man in the Wall.

Anthony Etricke fell out with everybody in the town

and he declared that when he died, no way was he ever going to be buried in nor out of the minster

and certainly not in the ground or above the ground.

So, Mr Awkward? Absolutely! I like him for that.

In later life, he changed his mind. But in order to save face and keep his promise,

he relented and got permission to be buried in the wall.

So he's buried half inside the church and half outside,

half above ground and half below.

How weird!

What is the material? Apparently, it's slate. Right.

He had this made, and he had the date he was going to die

because the Bible told him he would live three score years and ten.

But he lived another ten years, so when he did die it all had to be altered.

Interestingly, I think stubborn people live slightly longer, don't they? He did, obviously!

Well, it's a theory.

James Lewis has left Bournemouth and made his way to Branksome Antiques,

a couple of miles further west.

He's no sooner through the door before he makes an interesting discovery.

It looks as if it could almost be a tomb guardian

from a crypt or something like that,

and the hands may well have been resting on a sword.

Interesting.

I think that's quite early.

Go and ask Brian for his best price.

Hello. James. Hi.

You've got a stone figure in the window.

Very best - 50 quid. 50 quid?! Yes.

Wow, 50 pounds. Obviously charging by weight.

Best have a closer look.

It's a weird sort of thing. It is weird.

It's the way it's been hewn out,

I think it's a tomb figure. Do you? Yes.

Look, it's got a flattened side

that would've been at the base of a tomb.

If you get ten grand for it, you'll get a phone call from me!

Ten grand?! He'll get a call from all of us!

That's a funny shaft, isn't it? Yes.

Palmwood. Do you reckon that's what it is?

It could be, yes.

Something exotic, isn't it, that? Yes!

What could that be?

?70. 70...

I think it would have an estimate of 50 to 70 at auction. Yes.

I'll give you the 50 for it.

You can have it for 60 and that's it.

100 quid the two. Come on.

Oh, what the...! Go on, then. You've got a deal. OK.

100 quid the two. Yes. There you go.

Splendid work, James. Now he's met up with the other James

to set off on an adventure across the Channel.

I hope you've got your sea legs, boys, as it's "all aboard!"

and off to Jersey.

There we go. HUMUROUS GROANING

Taking in the refreshing sea air from the deck,

this is not so much a road trip as a relaxing boat trip,

as it takes the boys five hours to cross the Channel

and dock in much warmer climes.

This is fabulous! I spied some mighty...

..Bond-like pads on the cliff tops. Really?

The sun is really warm.

I can feel it now. Feel the difference.

Basking in the sunshine, the island of Jersey has everything,

from glorious beaches and scenery, to its own currency.

Abroad, but British...

The boys are definitely going to enjoy this trip.

After alighting in Jersey's capital, St Helier,

they set off northwest to the parish of St Mary,

where James Braxton hopes an antique fair will provide rich pickings

to match his meagre budget of ?43.34.

Can I look at the bracelet at the back? Certainly.

There we go. Help yourself. Thank you. That's very kind.

Ah, that looks rather more in keeping with his budget.

We've got a big old maker there.

"David Andersen. Norway. Sterling."

It has a sort of '50s, '60s look about it.

It's by a Norwegian silversmith.

Yes, it's sort of two stylised leaves, really.

And it's quite attractively done.

Are you open to offers on this? Good start. You've made him laugh.

We're waiting, sir. Come on. You're waiting for the killer blow, are you?

Don't hold your breath.

Now, you've got 35 on this.

Would 25 buy it? No. No.

That was a quick response! You've been practising!

I've seen you. You've seen these programmes! I've had a chance to rehearse.

I'll take 30. I'll give you 30 for that.

That's really kind. Thank you, sir. Thank you.

Hello. James. Pleased to meet you. I'm Julie. Hello, Julie.

I like your chess set. Yes, it's unusual, isn't it?

Can't see a price on it. She might be open to persuasion.

Very, very strong, erm, crucifix there. Mm.

Do you know the materials? No, I don't.

I don't know whether it might be ebony or...

..it could be just a resin, I suppose.

I don't think it's resin because I've got a grain here, and resin is very easy to turn.

Quite nice turning there. It isn't ivory.

It's bone, with the open grain down there.

In that case, I think these will be ebony, won't they? Definitely.

Definitely. Yes.

Julie, I ain't got a lot of money! That's an understatement.

Can I show you what I have... Go on, then.

..and see if we've got a deal? Let's see if we've got a deal.

I've got a ten. Yes. I've got...

I've got ?13.34 left.

If I have this and you have that, would that be a deal?

That would be very kind. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you.

Result! One chess set, and he's still got 34p left!

Leaving James Braxton at the antiques fair in St Mary,

James Lewis has driven ten miles back across the island to St Martins.

His final destination is Brown's Antiques,

where its proprietor Mick awaits.

Ahh! Hello. Hello! Welcome. I'm James. Nice to see you. Mick.

Dear me, you've got everything!

I'm looking for something

that might be more common here but rarer in the UK.

Something like a little bit of Jersey silver? OK.

I've got some in the shed. Brilliant.

The Channel Islands have a long history of silver manufacture,

with more than 150 makers having either worked on

or been associated with the islands.

James is going to enjoy a rummage through Mick's drawers... in the shed.

They're 1825, 1830, but mint.

That's the kind of thing that in a UK sale

would make a few more quid than it would here.

So, how much are they? 100 quid.

You've got a good chance of making a profit on that.

100 quid...

I mean, if we were to put a little package together,

erm...

Little silver box... Not any great age, but pretty.

Sweet, though, isn't it? Mm-hm.

And a lady's rouge pot with enamel...

That's pretty, too. Mm-hm.

I think they're quite interesting, those silver spoons. Right.

And I think they're quite nice.

They're a standard pair, but they're a nice size,

aren't they? Yes. Usable.

Er, so 130 and 100...

What about the little pair of bon-bons?

Let's go into the shop, have a look in there

and see what we can find. OK. No problem.

What about a bundle price, a group price?

The whole lot? Yes.

Phew... Geez!

What about 250 on the lot? JAMES SIGHS

I couldn't. I'd be nearer 150.

No. We can't do any business at 150.

220?

Go on, James, don't give up.

180 any good? 200 quid. That's it. Dead.

If that's your best, I'll take it.

Thank you, sir. Thank you. Thanks very much.

Gosh, Jimmy, you're giving it away today.

200. There we go. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you.

With nearly all his money spent

but clutching his newly acquired silver,

it looks like James Lewis has finished his shopping for the day.

James Braxton will definitely be pushing his luck at his next shop,

Cohu Antiques in St Lawrence.

Ahh!

This looks a fabulous antique shop.

But I've only got 34p to spend.

I wonder what 34p buys you in a very splendid antiques shop.

Yes, it is rather splendid, isn't it?

And far more splendid than you can afford, I suspect.

Best to come clean with the owner from the start, James.

Hello. James. Hi. Steve Cohu. Very nice to meet you, Steve.

This is a very splendid antique shop. Thank you.

Come on. There's no point fiddling around.

We could browse and browse and everything will be too expensive.

Do you have something you want to get rid of for the principal sum of 34p?

34 pence? 34 pence. Right. Erm...

This could be the winner for me! I'm sure we could find something for you for 34 pence.

So honesty is the best policy.

But what's he going to offer?

A job-lot of Chinese porcelain bits and pieces, mostly damaged.

I bought a big lot from one place,

stripped out all the perfect pieces and jobbed all this lot together.

It's Chinese, is it? It's all Chinese, yes.

There's two bits of New Hall. Oh, New Hall? OK.

Didn't they use bone or something?

New Hall actually invented the bone china.

They sort of... I think Bristol did the first hard-paste in England

and then New Hall prospered with it

and were the first successful producer.

And just such a similar design, as well, isn't it?

How much have you got on that? 20 for the lot.

?20? I thought you told him you'd only got 34p!

Think fast here, James.

You stay there, Steve. I think I've got something that might help you.

Funnily enough, I bought this earlier.

Right. Now, I've got this and some money.

Here it is. It's not an ivory fellow, but it's a bone one.

But what I liked about it is,

it comes from Mayfair, West 1,

and anything that generally retailed in Mayfair can't be all that bad.

I bought it for ?13, that.

I don't think Steve quite believes this.

Barter is obviously the way forward.

Now, would you do a trade?

The chess set plus 34p?

OK. That's slightly more than my usual discount, but...

..I suppose.

Does this owe you a lot of money, then? It doesn't.

So, it's sort of free. Yes.

Am I yielding you too much? You're probably getting a deal!

I actually probably could do without your 34p!

But it's been offered now, so...

You take it! ..I'll take it.

34p... Thank you very much. I'm not even going to ask for a box!

You want me to bubble-wrap each piece individually! I'm not!

Well done, James. Going for broke, but still grinning.

Fingers crossed for the auction.

Here's a quick reminder of how the boys have been spending their money.

James Braxton started out with ?123.34 and has spent the lot,

giving him three auction lots on which his fortunes are now pinned.

James Lewis started this leg with ?421.94

and bought various items for ?370, now organised into six lots.

And were they impressed by one another's selections?

Without question, James is on the comeback.

He has picked up some wonderful little bits there.

I think he's done really well.

James has bought six good lots, I think.

I like his sculptural lot, the sandstone lot.

Well, we'll see.

Sadly, the time has come to leave the idyllic shores of Jersey,

make the return voyage back to the mainland, and journey up-country

to the auction showdown in Wokingham, Berkshire.

Wokingham has been a market town for over 700 years,

but was a settlement long before that.

The boys will now settle their score today at the auction house of Martin and Pole.

The man with the hammer is Garth Lewis.

First up for James Lewis,

it's the 19th-century French Champleve items.

?30 to start, please.

?30 if you like.

20? 20 bid. Thank you. Is there any further?

At ?20?

Are you all done at ?20? No! For two?

22. Thank you. 25.

28? 30 now. 32.

35. 38.

38. It's on my left here at 38. Are you all done?

What? Small profit of about a fiver, maybe.

A small profit, but still a profit. First blood to James Lewis.

Next is this walking stick.

James Lewis again, with the Edwardian novelty walking cane.

The old palmwood shaft! Yes! A good bit of palmwood shaft.

May I say ?100 for it, please? 100?

80 if you will? Not looking good, palmwood shaft or not.

Nobody wants it. Try 60, perhaps. No interest at all?

At 50 we'll go. Start me somewhere. Nobody wants it.

What? 40 bid. "20, sir!"

On my extreme left here at 40. Is there any further?

I can sell it at 40. All done? No way!

That is insane! 40 pounds...

Wake up, everyone! LAUGHTER

Did you feel you'd spotted a right old rip-roaring bargain? I really did.

Apparently not.

But it's still a novelty to see James Lewis making a loss.

Third leg, first item about to come up to the rostrum.

Your turn next, Brackers,

with your collection of damaged Chinese porcelain

and the New Hall bowl.

Any little profit and I'm there.

Condition a bit of an issue. They are as viewed. Yep.

Can I say ?20 for them, please?

Go on, say ?20. 20 anywhere?

15 if you like, I don't mind. Come on.

No interest?

Ten will do. Start me off at ten, then. Cheeky.

I have ten. Is there any further? 12 now. Yes, 15.

In profit. ?15 only, then. On my left at 15, if you're done.

I'll have to sell at 15, then.

HE BANGS GAVEL Story of my life. A break even.

A story with an unhappy ending.

After auction costs, that's actually a loss.

Happy with that?

Am I happy with that? No, I'm not!

Now, will the tooth fairy shift the desk weight into profit

for James Lewis?

Here we go. Elephant desk stand on a colourful canted base.

Sweet little thing.

What can I say to start? ?30 for it, please? 30?

Surely? Oh, dear. I've seen more excitement at the dentist.

20 if you like, I don't mind.

Yes, in the front row. 22 now. 22.

25. 28. 30.

32. New place.

35. 38. 40. 42?

42. Standing on the aisle at 42. Are we all done?

That's more like it!

That's all right. Pleased with that.

So you should be. A clean extraction of a tidy profit!

Will James Lewis stay on a roll

as his Japanese Kutani vases go under the hammer?

Any damage? Yes. Really? Damage, as well. Yes.

20, if you like. There's 20 on the aisle.

Any further? Just ?20?

22. 25. 28. 30.

?30. Still on the aisle.

Selling at 30, if you're done...

Very poor. Very poor.

Crash and burn. Don't worry, you've banked some big money.

Don't sound too cocky.

Next, it's the 1960s Norwegian silver bracelet for James Braxton.

I can start the bidding here at ?30.

Is there any further? 32 in the doorway.

35 here. 38.

Takes me out. 38. Keep going. 40, halfway down. 42.

45. 48. 50.

Lady's bid at ?50, halfway down, if you're done...

Yes! Well done!

That is a result for me.

50 pounds. Well done. Profit. Profit!

A profit, indeed. Just what James needs to boost his flagging morale.

Next for James Lewis

is his assorted collection of silver.

I can start here at ?160 against you.

170, 180, 190.

Takes me out at 190. 200 in the doorway.

200. 220. 240.

250 I'll take. Ten more. 260. 260.

280. 300. 320. 340.

360. Halfway down at 360. Are we all done at 360?

It's in the room here at 360...

Well done. OK.

360... That's good. ?100 profit.

Slightly more than ?100, actually, Mr B, but who's counting?

And now the sandstone carving, bought by James Lewis.

Problematic because it's dated between 200 and 700 years old,

which makes it mighty difficult to value.

Let's see.

I can start at ?150 against you. That's good.

Is there any further at 150? 160. Thank you. 170. 180.

190. 200. 220. 220.

240. 260.

260. 280. 300.

At ?300, then. It's with me, against you.

320. That's not a 19th-century price, is it?

340. 360. 380.

At 380, then. Are you all done? I'm selling at 380.

Well done, well done, well done. That's good. Not a bad profit.

I'm pleased with that. I bet you are. ?330 profit.

Thanks, James. Well done.

A fantastic result, that!

Well done, James! That puts you well in the lead.

However, next up is James Braxton's portrait miniature,

with a lot of interest in it, according to our auctioneer.

The miniature. It's going to happen. I think it will.

I can start the bidding here at ?95. Straight into profit.

Is there any further?

100. Thank you. 120. Telephone, as well!

130. 140.

Takes me out at ?140. Any further?

150. It's on the telephone now at 150. Keep going!

Go on!

150. I'm happy with that. Brilliant.

Doubled your money, James. Double your money! Well done! Great!

An excellent profit.

But will it be enough to snatch victory from James Lewis?

Let's do the maths.

James Braxton started this leg with ?123.34.

After auction costs, he's made a profit of ?52.96,

sending him through to the next leg with ?176.30.

James Lewis started with ?421.94.

After costs, he's made a profit of ?359.80,

taking his total to a whopping ?781.74

and giving him his third victory in a row.

Well done, James. Well done, you!

Good results all round, isn't it? Yes.

And they're off again.

It's the fourth leg of our road trip

and experts James Lewis and James Braxton

are once again hitting the highways in their 1983 Beetle convertible

as they discuss their fortunes so far.

I think there is a small ocean between us.

You're on the up, though. You're on the up. Comeback. Hot on your heels.

This road trip takes our happy campers from Ampthill in Bedfordshire

over the channel to Jersey and back,

to the final destination in Leamington Spa,

covering almost 1,000 miles. Wow.

We begin in Barham in Kent

and ends up in auction at Tring, Hertfordshire.

The two Jameses are en route to their first shop of the day,

Stablegate Antiques, but the old Beetle isn't meeting Lord Braxton's very high standards.

Why can't we have a bloody Bentley like normal people?

Normal people, James?

Champagne tastes on a bare income. I'll say no more.

Antiques. Come on, then. Stablegate Antiques is a family affair based on a farm

and run by Michael Giuntini and his son, Christian.

Right, let's have a look in here. The Aladdin's cave.

He'd better rub an old lamp and hope for a genie, then. Go for it, James.

James is positively weighed down by his winnings

with ?781.74!

What could that be? ?70.

How about a cheeky 50?

Oh, I might have to consult the management about that.

By management, he means his dad.

Whilst he does that, why don't you enlighten us on your find, James?

It's a clock that is in the French style.

This brass and tortoiseshell

is known as Boulle work,

that was invented by a chap called Andre Charles Boulle,

who was cabinetmaker for Louis XIV.

This one has the brass laid into the tortoiseshell.

I've said it before and I'll say it again,

it's been illegal to work with tortoiseshell since new laws were introduced in 1947,

but anything produced before that time can still be traded. There we go.

Just in case the first clock is too expensive,

he's found a second one, and this one in lacquered walnut.

All right. What news?

It'll be 60, ?60 possibly. 60. How about that one?

About the same sort of figure, around the ?60 mark. ?60.

What's happened here at the front? Is it just... Is that doable, do you think, that lacquer?

It's a bit of water damage.

Maybe a little bit of polish on there, maybe. Let's just...

A good bit of spit normally... HE LAUGHS Spit's always good!

If in doubt, spit on it! HE LAUGHS

Disgusting! Stop spitting and start buying. He's thinking, though.

Something's ticking. He's thinking. Yes.

No! He's sunk. Don't drop it. I think I'm going to leave that one.

Well, that was worth the wait, wasn't it?

That's worth about ?40 to me, but I can understand if you don't want to take that.

I'll give you 50 for that, though, if that's any good to you.

OK, we'll do it for 50. 50, you've got yourself a deal.

Thank you very much. Brilliant. Thank you. There you go.

Thank you very much, sir. Thank you.

I've got 40 in hand. Is 40 any good for you on the other?

I think we can do that for 40. Could you? With the water damage, yeah.

In that case, hang on, I won't put that back in my pocket.

There's some more. Thank you very much! All right.

Elsewhere James Braxton is slumming it in a barn

with Christian's dad, Michael, and he's got a rather paltry

?176.30 to spend.

What about this fella?

Well, I wrap myself at night in that just to keep warm. JAMES SNEEZES

Bless you. Well, it would keep you warm. Yes.

Yes, it's a... Is that the moth or the dust playing with me?

I should say it's the dust probably. But nice colours.

Kilims are produced by nomads for use as carpets, bags and tent curtains,

with different tribes doing different designs.

Nice but dusty.

It's just raw wool, isn't it, totally unbleached.

You've got a bit of damage there. Yeah.

Terrible old damage. But I did notice... Here we are.

Magic carpet beater. Oh, yeah. See, look.

You keep a well-stocked garden shed, I must say.

I used to get hit with that one. MICHAEL LAUGHS

No, we don't want to know about your hobbies, Michael.

Cheeky! How much is a blanket these days?

I don't know, something like that, 10... Fiver? Yeah, ?5, ?10, I suppose.

Yeah. I think I'd be happy to give you a fiver for this.

Good. I am known for my generosity.

Yeah, well, I'm sure you are. JAMES LAUGHS

From Barham, our boys travel 16 miles across country

to Faversham in the Swale district of Kent.

First, James Braxton has some shopping to do

at Squires Antiques, run by Anne and her son, Connor.

Little Mouseman.

God, that's a well-used breadboard, that, isn't it?

And it's still fabulous. There's the little mouse.

Thompson of Kilburn was a very famous maker in Yorkshire

and he created furniture

and these were more his novelty things, breadboards,

but his signature was putting a mouse on an item

and that's how the name was coined, Mouseman.

And is there some dramatic movement on the price, Connor?

Oh, I'm sure there can be, yes. Really? What would you...

You can have that for 45. There's a good chance you'll...

Yeah, it's nice, isn't it? Yeah. It's a lovely piece, that.

Have you got anything market-fresh? Something you've bought recently

snuggled away? I'm going to let you look at... It's very small.

Very small. A little locket,

believed to be gold, but it's not marked,

but it's a pretty little thing.

It's very pretty, isn't it? How much do you want for that, Anne?

I think if you had it for ?35, there might be a profit.

It's sweet and tiny

and its size is a novelty, isn't it? Mm.

Very pretty. Anything else market-fresh?

Erm, well, we've just put this out this morning. This is collectable because it's LNER.

Oh, yeah, that's the London North Eastern Railway to you and me.

It's a railwayman's lamp.

We have Cheshunt.

Do you think that might be the man who owned this?

I suggest it's probably the name of the station.

Ah. Is there a station there?

Could be, couldn't it? It's on a plate that's been put on after the event.

It has, hasn't it?

I might just see if there's a train station. Don't you just love smartphones?

New technology to research the old - good move, James.

He's our modern man, you know? Cheshunt.

Cheshunt Station, Hertfordshire.

Which is where the auction is.

Spooky!

It's funny how the stars align occasionally, isn't it?

Stars align.

And what did you think on that? It could be a similar price to the locket.

It could be 35, as well. Do you a good discount on that. Yeah.

Yeah. Right, could I do the whole lot for ?110?

Give me 115, then. 115, I'm very happy to do that. Yes.

That's really kind. Thank you very much indeed, Anne.

So, that's the rail lantern at ?40, the Mouseman cheeseboard at ?40

and the gold locket for ?35. Nice work!

Back on the road, though, James Lewis has Beetled into Herne Bay

for some bracing sea air and hopefully some more antiques.

James is having a nosy in Interior Interiors,

run by Roger and Lynne Hampshire.

So what's James got his eye on now?

This is what you need for piles, a good suppository mould. I'll have to take your word for it.

Uh-huh. Apparently, the guy that had those in the war was making lipsticks.

Was he really? Suppository-shaped lipstick, eh?

You wouldn't need a handbag to carry them around, would you?

Instead, what about a vintage sewing machine by makers Wheeler and Wilson?

It's got those bits

and it's got a belt drive on it,

which is very unusual.

Right. And it's very rare.

I'd let you have that for 150 quid.

Cor. That is rare. Yeah.

Well, make me a bid. Make me a sporting bid.

I could see that making 50 quid at auction.

Someone's playing the long game.

Keep looking. Yep. Keep looking.

So, he does.

But he ends up right back where he started for another look at the suppository mould.

20 quid.

I can do you 30 quid for these folders.

Roger's thrown some other pharmaceutical items into the mix.

The cork crusher would've been used to mould corks into the right size for medicine bottles

and the paper folders were for, well, folding medical papers.

And what about the sewing machine?

All right, I'll offer you ?100 for the sewing machine and these.

120 it's got to be. I'll give you 105. Hm.

This is where you say, "Split the difference," I think. OK, all right, how about 110?

Go on, then, you've worn me down.

So, that's the three pharmaceutical items for ?30,

but has he got himself stitched up with that sewing machine at ?80?

Travelling on from Herne Bay, James Lewis is heading for Rochester

on the River Medway to continue his shopping.

Rochester is best known for its cathedral and castle and an epic siege in 1215.

But the only person likely to be under siege today

is Bill Mcskimming of Cottage Style Antiques once James starts bargaining with him.

Ah, hello! Hello. I'm James. Nice to see you. I'm Bill. Nice to meet you.

Gosh, what a place!

Eventually, James is caught in a pile of tribal art.

Can you guess what it is yet?

You look at the shape and you think immediately Aboriginal, Australian.

It's called a throwing stick,

and they were like a boomerang but not quite the same.

Not all of them were designed to come back.

This has a much nicer feel to it. It's much heavier.

Sort of a lignum vitae feel, which is the only wood that doesn't float.

But the little bits of decoration there

still feel fairly sharp.

That might just be pre-war, but those two are certainly later.

You don't think that's a shield, do you? Or do you?

No. Cos if you held it, they'd hit your hand and you'd drop it.

Yeah, there's no way of... Or something to knead the dough?

Yeah, it could be, couldn't it? Something like that.

I do like my tribal stuff. How much are they?

They could be 50.

Mid-haggle James spies a tiny tortoiseshell snuff box.

And you know what we say about tortoiseshell.

It's classic George II, sort of 1720, 1740.

That lovely flattened hinge. And the shape is typical.

You often see these with silver piquet decoration in the top, which make a fortune.

But a moulded edge. And, again, the way it just shuts so perfectly.

300 years of shutting and it still works.

That's a lovely little box.

How much would that be? 20. 20.

You say 15 and I'll say OK.

In that case, 15. HE LAUGHS

Yes? You've got a deal.

And then he goes back to the boomerang.

Funny - shouldn't it come back to him?

Would 20 quid be all right for those bits of tribal art?

Yeah. Yeah? In that case, you've got a deal on those.

Well done. Brilliant. Thank you. It's...

I don't think they're greatly old, but you never know.

Having completed all his shopping, James Lewis is travelling on to Yalding near Maidstone

to take a well-earned tea break. As you do.

He's here to meet Sue Blazye

who's just warmed up one of her many teapots.

Hi, how are you? Hi! Welcome to Teapot Island.

Hi. Thank you very much.

Sue is absolutely teapotty.

She bought the tea room in 2002 and has since transformed it

into a treasure trove of novelty teapots, over 6,000 of them!

JAMES LAUGHS My goodness!

Oh, and you sell them, too! Oh, yes.

The first one of everything belongs to me and then we sell them.

They're completely mad, aren't they?

HE LAUGHS I think they're lovely. In the nicest sort of way!

Britain is a nation of tea-brewing eccentrics,

drinking an estimated 165 million cups of tea every day,

a heck of a lot of tea, calling for a heck of a lot of teapots.

When did it all start? It started in 1983

when my grandmother gave me a teapot.

And that's how it started.

So all these are just in 30 years? Yes. But this is not part of the collection.

The collection is through that door. Come on, then. Go through the door.

Originally, teapots were tiny

and it's said that tea was drunk directly from the spout.

In the mid-18th century, makers such as Wedgwood and Whieldon

produced pots shaped like pineapples, cabbages and cauliflowers.

So the novelty teapot was born.

Wow.

They are crazy. Crazy designs.

Fairly modern or... Yes. 1950s.

Oh, OK. Not very old ones, just different shapes. We just wanted to collect the different shapes.

Just ones that you liked. Yes. I love them, but now it's become our life.

Really? How many have you got altogether?

Over 6,800 now.

So this is only the first little bit of it.

That is a life. These three are really rare.

By somebody called James Erin.

So we've got the walrus, rhino...

And the rain bird. The rain bird's the most expensive.

She's the rarest. And cost Sue ?1,000.

So when was James Erin? In the 80s. In the 80s, was he?

Most of the novelty ones started, I think, 70s, 80s, 90s.

That was the heyday. And that's what I know more about, the novelty.

They're more fun than the 18th century ones. They are. They're really exciting.

I wouldn't be surprised that if one day

this is in one of the big museums of our country

as an important catalogued collection of teapots of this generation.

And with that, it's time for James to wave goodbye to Teapot Island.

James Braxton has made his way to Charing, 20 miles away.

His final shop of the day is SV Antiques,

managed by Nigel Mullarkey. Hello.

Nigel. Good to see you. Good to see you again.

You find me at the end of my buying phase.

I've been to Faversham, bought some quite nice things.

Have you got any odds and things?

Yeah, I think if you look out the side there, we might find something. There? I think so. OK, brilliant.

That's where your cheaper items are. They'll need to be cheap. He's only got ?56.30 to spend.

Jungle.

Oh, that looks cheap. Onyx from the Atlas Mountains.

There's something really comforting about the shape.

Yeah, if you happen to be a chicken.

Hasn't quite got enough in there. But if we just pepper them up a bit.

He's padding out the odd little lot with some old glass bottle stoppers.

Now, Nigel, how much for that lot? Make it cheap.

20 quid the lot. 20 quid the lot. Is anybody going to buy that?

Or am I the stupidest man in antiques?

'Er, no comment.'

Could you do 15, Nigel? I thought I was a bad buyer.

THEY LAUGH

Go on, let's have a deal. 15, go on. Let's put it there.

I think the joke could be on me. Or me.

THEY LAUGH

With shopping completed, here's a quick reminder of how much they've spent.

James Braxton started this leg of the road trip with ?176.30

and has spent ?135 on five lots,

leaving him with a cash reserve of ?41.30. Tight!

James Lewis started with ?781.74 and bought six lots

costing ?235,

leaving him with a seriously healthy balance of ?546.74.

So come on, let's hear what they really thing of one another's antique booty.

I love that little book locket.

It's one of those things that appeals to more than one collecting angle.

I think that is probably the star lot for him.

I don't think James has much to fear with a boxed sewing machine,

belt-driven, which is very unusual.

There's only one way to find out who will be victorious in today's competition.

From Charing, our experts embark on the final 100 miles of today's trip

to the auction in Tring in Hertfordshire.

This is it. Righty-ho!

Whoa! How about that?

Perfect! Perfick! Well done.

See, I haven't lost my technique of stopping this damn car. I'm hoping for better luck in there.

Today our experts are going head-to-head at Tring Market Auctions.

Established in 1832, it's one of the best-known salerooms in the home counties.

Auctioneer Stephen Hearn is in charge.

What's your first lot? Aboriginal club. G'day! G'day!

First up for James Lewis, it's the selection of tribal objects,

boomerang, club and carved bowl.

I'd like to see 100 for it. 50 or 40?

Yes, 40 we've got for that one, surely. Yes. And 5.

50. 5. 60. 5. 70.

5. 80. 5. 90.

At ?90 on my left, then. At ?90. Thank you.

GAVEL BANGS Good job!

That was quick and easy, wasn't it? Tribal art - it's the future.

Strewth! A bonza start for James Lewis.

It's the first lot now for James Braxton,

the gold and enamel book pendant.

A nice lot. It's worth ?70.

Or 50. Or 40.

30. 5. 40. 5.

50. And 5. 60. And 5 now.

Sitting down. ?60 if there's no further bids, then.

It's yours, sir, at ?60. Thank you. GAVEL BANGS

Not quite what I was hoping for.

But, but still a profit. Well done, Brackers!

Time for the first of James Lewis's clocks to go under the hammer.

The red Boulle work jobbie.

What about 100 for it? Or 50 for it? Yes, 50 I've got for that one.

Thank you. 5. 60. 5.

70. 5. 80.

Shall we go 90. Yes. And 100?

No more? ?90. 5. Just a fiver. It all helps, you know?

95, then, I'm selling it. It's going to sell for ?95, then.

GAVEL BANGS Thank you. It's a working profit.

Double your money, isn't it? Yeah.

Yeah. I thought that might have made a bit more.

Don't get too excited, will you, James?

There's nothing wrong with a ?45 profit.

James Lewis's other timepiece now, the walnut jobbie.

5. 60. 5.

70. Well done. 5 now. At 70, and 5 it is.

At ?70, then, you're out at ?70. And 5.

75. 80. 5.

See? At ?80. It's doing well. And I shall sell.

For ?80 then, thank you. GAVEL BANGS

?80. Yeah. Another profit, which is good.

That's good! That's good!

No time to celebrate, though.

Victory for James Lewis isn't a foregone conclusion.

Next it's James Braxton's pine bowl

with the green onyx eggs and the glass stoppers. Groovy.

There you are. Useful lot to somebody.

Where will we start? ?20 for them? Tenner for them?

8 for them. 9 for them. 10 for them.

Madam, you're missing that... 12!

15 anywhere? 15 I'm bid for those.

18 I've got for them!

Oh, go on! Go on! 20?

No, 18's got them, then. I'll sell them for ?18, then.

A tiny profit, but at least it's not a loss.

HE LAUGHS

No wonder he's still smiling.

James Lewis's Georgian tortoiseshell snuff box is up next.

It's smaller than I remember it. It is.

Have I got ?70 for it? Or 50? I'd give you 70. Oh, no!

Come on! 40, yes.

40 we're bid, then. 5 now. At ?40. No!

45. 50. 5. 60. And 5.

And 70. And 5. And 80.

And 5. 90?

At ?85. I want it! 5, is it? Too much.

No more, then, at ?95. Are you out, madam?

Sir's got it for ?95. Thank you. GAVEL BANGS

A good profit, but... ?80 profit. That's a great profit. Yeah. Yeah.

A great profit on the snuff box. ?80 is not to be sneezed at.

Next for James Braxton, it's the railwayman's lantern

from Cheshunt Station, just over 30 miles away from the auction.

There you are, local object there. ?80 for it. 80.

Railway piece. Yes, 80 or 50?

40. 5. 50.

5. 60.

5. 70. Well done. 5. No more?

OK, then, ?75. That's all right, isn't it?

At ?75. Thank you! Well done.

Pleased with that. Yeah, that's a find.

James Braxton's fortunes have really taken a turn for the better.

He'll struggle to win the war, but at this rate, he could still take the battle.

Next up for James Lewis is the collection of pharmaceutical items,

including paper folders and suppository mould.

Now, no jokes about this being a bum deal.

There you are. You can take that one home and do as you please.

What about ?60 for them? ?40?

5. ?50. 5. ?60.

5. ?70. 5. ?80. Really?

Madam, one more.

No? At ?80, then, they're going to be sold.

That's good, isn't it?

For ?80, then. Very good. GAVEL BANGS

Thank you very much. It's really good, really good. Well done him.

And how much did you buy those for? 30.

Piles of profit from the suppository mould.

If that doesn't leave James Lewis smiling, nothing will.

It's time for James Braxton's next item, the Mouseman breadboard.

There you are, what about ?80 for it? 80? Or 50? Or 40?

40 I'm bid for it. Not a lot of money, you know?

5. 50. 5. 60.

5. 70. 5. 80. 5. 90 now.

85. 90 is it?

90 I'm bid for it! Are you five?

Sorry, no. No? 90 has it, then. THEY SNIGGER

I shall sell it. Down it goes. We sell at ?90, then.

?32. More than double your money.

Double your money, gosh. Braxton's back!

Brackers is indeed back with a vengeance.

This is his best auction so far.

Next it's James Lewis's Victorian sewing machine.

We ought to be talking ?100 for it, surely.

100 or 50? I thought so. At 50. Yes, 50 I'm bid.

60 I'm bid. 70. 80. Hey? One more. 90.

It's got to be ?100. 100 I've got, there you go.

100 we're bid. 10 is it? Yes.

And 20. Are you 30? 130.

Consultation. Yes? 140!

There you go, then, at ?140.

And 50. You've lost it, then. At ?140, then.

Thank you. Well done!

I'm stunned at that.

I was absolutely convinced that was going to make 30 quid. Get away!

He seems to have surprised himself with that one, then,

but he doesn't have the competition stitched up yet.

Last for James Braxton is his kilim rug.

It needs to sell for more than ?232

if he stands a chance of winning this leg.

Nice rug, that one. Lovely.

What about ?100 for it? 50 for it?

40, surely, then! Yes, it's 40.

Oh, well done! Well done!

We're not there yet, surely. 50 I'm bid. 60. And 5. 70.

5. And 80 from madam.

?80. Never mind the hole.

Shh! Shh! 5, anyone?

At ?80 then, madam.

I shall sell it, then, for ?80. GAVEL BANGS

Well done. Very pleased with that. Well done, James. Brilliant!

That really is a magic carpet,

giving Brackers a ridiculous 1,500% profit!

Not enough to win today's auction, though, but it's a victory of sorts.

It's the first time on this road trip that he hasn't made a loss!

James Braxton started the show with ?176.30,

and after auction costs, he's made a profit of ?129.86,

Sending him through to the next round with ?306.16.

However, James Lewis started with ?781.74,

and after auction costs, he's made a profit of ?240.60,

taking his total to an almighty ?1022.34

and his fourth victory in a row.

Ah, pleased with that. Well done, you.

Very pleased with that. Yeah, that's good.

You take the leg, but I am definitely showing better performance.

Healthy profits. Healthy profits. Come on. Good.

So, it's onwards and upwards!