Episode 7 Antiques Road Trip

It's the nation's favourite antiques experts

with £200 each, a classic car and a goal to scour Britain for antiques.

Going, going, gone!

How do I look?

The aim, to make the biggest profit at auction,

but it's no mean feat!

Yes!

There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

I'm going to become a bin man.

So, will it be the high road to glory or the slow road to disaster?

I like it when you're chasing me!

This is the Antiques Road Trip!

Yeah!

The Garden of England awaits on the third leg of their Road Trip

for our antiques experts Mark Stacey and Will Axon.

There is some nice countryside around, isn't there?

Yes. Let me know when you find it!

Road Trip veteran and antiques expert Mark knows exactly how to uncover a bargain.

And he has a great moral fibre, to boot.

I promise not to nick anything!

Newmarket newbie Will, though,

has been suffering from a bit of cabinet fever so far

and needs to get his head back in the game.

It's bad. I need to focus.

Both Mark and Will started the week with £200

and despite making a profit at the last auction,

they still find themselves in the red.

Let's do the biz.

Mark's opening losses were nearly offset by his second-leg profit.

But he still only has £188.14 to start this leg.

A disastrous beginning to Will's Road Trip means he'll need to get in gear

to improve on his budget of £144.32.

With such a poor start to their Road Trip,

it seems ironic that they're sitting pretty in a classic Triumph!

And this 1963 TR4 is certainly attracting some admiring attention.

Wa-hey!

What-ho, boys!

"What-ho, boys"?!

WILL LAUGHS

Our travelling treasure-hunters

are cruising through a whopping five counties.

They started the week in Hastings, East Sussex,

and will circumnavigate the south-east,

before ending up at an auction in the London suburb of Ruislip.

On this leg, they'll start in the coastal town of Deal

and end up at an auction in Chiswick,

clocking up nearly 130 miles along the way.

-Mark, you're on that way.

-Am I? Good luck. Happy hunting.

-Happy hunting, mate.

-Don't find too much!

-See you later!

Mark's found an antiques shop, run by Mick,

and he's hoping it's flush with bargains that get him back in the black.

-Hello.

-Hello, there.

-I'm Mark.

-Mick. How do you do?

-Nice to meet you, Mick.

The shop seems well stocked with items to catch Mark's eye,

and even has a canine security system,

attack dog Jasper.

The wagging tail's a bit of a giveaway, though!

Heading for auction in Chiswick, the boys need to tailor their buys

to the demands of that fussy London market.

You've got to look for those quirky items that just might appeal there.

Found something quirky, have you, Mark?

It's a pottery garden seat.

These were used in the Victorian period as conservatory seats.

They're often made of majolica.

This has got a nice high-fired blue glaze on it

with bubbles on the top where the glaze has blistered.

It's a lovely octagonal shape,

in a sort of Chinese style.

It's priced up at £55. It needs to be a lot less than that.

So I might have a word with Mick.

And right on cue...

Go on, then. Make me an offer.

What about 20 quid, Mick? Cash.

-25.

-Oh, come on. You know you want me to win. You want me to win.

-OK.

-Shall we shake hands at 20, then?

-Done.

Thanks a lot. I'm really pleased with that.

Well, it looks like there's a good deal to be had in Deal! Eh, Mark?

Meanwhile, Will's arrived at Inside-Out Antiques.

I wonder if he can make a quick deal, too.

-Hello, there.

-Hiya.

-Hi. You must be Vince.

-I am.

-I'm Will. How do you do?

-What's that, a skull?

-Yes.

Would have been the lid of something or other?

-A poison bottle?

-I would say more of a walking stick.

-Cane handle.

-Cane handle. Very interesting.

-That is quite interesting. Quite quirky.

I've got 60 on that.

Let's have a look in there. Why can't we get in there?

Well, it's bronze.

A sort of memento mori.

Maybe to perhaps just remind you of your own mortality,

every morning as you take your cane out of the cane stand.

Yeah. I'm asking 75 for it.

I thought it was 60 a minute ago!

So did I!

Play that back! I want proof!

-I've got 60 on that.

-'I thought so!'

Who said antiques was a fair game?

Yeah. Might be.

What sort of age do you think it's got? Early 20th, late 19th?

Always difficult to tell on that type of thing. Very difficult to tell, in fact.

Got a bit of wear on the... the "pateena" there. The patina.

Potato, "potahto". Either way, looks like he's holding on to that one.

That's got something about it. Where did that come from?

China, I'd say.

20th century. Looks like a bronze censer case, or incense burner, as it's better known.

What's the ticket price?

No price on it?

-No.

-It must be cheap.

55.

SHARP INTAKE OF BREATH

What if I came in, really cheeky, and said I could have them both for 50 quid?

I'd say, "Bloomin' cheek!"

Can't do it. Can't do it.

75, you've got a deal.

70 quid.

70 quid, Vince. Go on. Five quid luck money.

-Luck money?

-For me. 70 quid.

Yeah! You're a man! You're a man! Good work.

Crikey Moses! £70. That's nearly half your remaining budget, Will.

Although they do say, "Go big or go home."

With items in their bag already,

the chaps are making the short trip 16 miles up the Kent coast

to Margate.

Mark's hotfooting it to his shop, Paraphernalia.

I suppose it's meant to look like a fan.

Often fans are framed in frames like this.

The frame is later, I think. But it suits it quite well.

There's a little bit of damage on the frame.

So I think it's a 19th-century engraving of an 18th-century scene.

But I just think that's rather fun.

If it was - how shall I put it delicately? - cheap.

Well, it's one to bear in mind.

But owner Andrew has a jasperware flask

that's caught Mark's eye.

Gosh, that's rather fun, isn't it? It's a Wedgwood-type thing.

Yes, it is. And it's got a silver top.

It's rather sweet, isn't it?

Sweet, but not antique. '70s, I'd say.

So it's really like a model of an 18th-century one?

-That's correct, yes.

-They obviously did a little series here.

"Jasperware perfume bottle collection."

-It's a nice collector's piece.

-I rather like that, Andrew.

Oh, dear! I've just seen the price!

Really. Do tell.

I'm disappointed cos it's got two figures.

I'll put that over there. Can we?

The two figures being 2 and 5.

But knowing you, Mark, you can get that price down.

Where do you need it to be?

I need it to be £20, really.

And then I would pay 15 for that.

-OK. Let's do that.

-Are you sure?

-Yeah, yeah.

-Happy with that?

-And I can come back and visit you again?

-You can any time, and I can eat tonight.

-We've got a deal. Thank you, Andrew.

-You're welcome.

Nice work. That's two items bought for just £35.

Take note, Will.

He's popped along the road to try and uncover the mystery

surrounding one of Margate's top tourist attractions,

where something quite extraordinary exists

two metres under a garden.

Will's meeting up with Sarah for the guided tour.

Thanks very much. I'm really looking forward to this visit.

I've read and seen a lot about The Grotto.

-Nothing quite prepares you for the actual thing, though.

-I can imagine.

The story goes that in 1835,

James Newlove lowered his young son Joshua into a hole in the ground

that had appeared during the digging of a duck pond.

Joshua emerged describing tunnels adorned with shells.

He had discovered the Shell Grotto.

However he came upon it, James Newlove could see the commercial benefit of his find.

The Grotto, with its 4.6 million shells, opened its doors to the public in 1838

and came as something of a surprise to the people of Margate.

How do you bring four-point-whatever million shells

to a small garden or a small point,

without anyone knowing or noticing or...?

That's... That's a difficult question.

I just don't know the answer to that.

Maybe it was built long enough before the 1830s

-for it just to have been forgotten.

-Forgotten in local folklore.

-Yeah.

Or maybe it was built in secret. But that's difficult to imagine.

In modern times, grottoes have served as chapels or shrines.

But at first glance, the design here only adds to the confusion,

with cockles, whelks, mussels and oysters

creating an array of patterns.

Since the first paying customers descended the chalk stairway,

debate has raged about its origins,

whether as an ancient temple or a meeting place for a secret sect.

There's one theory that the grotto was meant to represent a journey through life and death.

So you crawl down your chalk passage, that represents birth.

-Yes.

-This rotunda, this circus, we're in a circular passage here,

this has got lots of flowering forms,

a couple of phallic symbols over there.

The panel that I'm standing in front of is generally referred to as a womb.

I can see it now, yes!

And as you go further down, the bottom room becomes much more geometrical

with suns and stars and moons.

So the theory is that you travel through life and death to the afterlife.

But people who think this was some kind of garden fancy or folly

just see patterns.

And with nearly 180 years' worth of embellishment,

there seems little chance of discovering the truth behind its mysterious beginnings.

For what it's worth,

it might have been dug out for smugglers to hoard their secret stash of contraband,

a practice rife for centuries along the south coast.

But whatever its origins, it's certainly a magical, mysterious place.

With three purchases already in the old bag,

Mark's still scouring the shops at Margate, looking for more bargains.

Hello, Mark. Pleased to meet you. I'm Ron Scott. How are you?

Well, I'm so underdressed!

Nice hat!

There's lashings to see, but trust Mark to find

one of the smallest things in here,

a silver-topped dressing table jar.

Now, this is broken.

Probably beyond repair. But it is silver-topped, actually.

And nicely, it still has its stopper in it, which is unusual.

That's only priced at 15 quid.

You must admit that is realistically priced.

It is realistically priced, Ron.

But it is broken!

-Let's be honest.

-If 12 quid's good for you, it's good for me.

-I think we're going to do that. Are you happy with that?

-I am. Good man.

-Thank you.

-Thanks, Ron.

-Thank you very much, Mark.

That didn't take long.

Thanks very much, Mark. Let me get the door for you!

-Thank you, Ron. See you again.

-Bye! Thanks very much.

Oh, I need a lie-down!

No rest for the wicked though.

The boys are making the long journey across Kent, to the town of Brasted,

where young Will's checking out the wares of Courtyard Antiques.

That's quite interesting.

Stoneware. Blue and white. Obviously got a bit of age to it.

Probably mid-19th century.

Nicely decorated, and I love this sort of deep blue

contrasting with the lighter blue.

It gives a bit of depth to it.

You've got this almost stylised chinoiserie decoration,

and these have a slightly European slant on them, the flowers.

It's got a ticket price of £45,

so shopkeeper Barry puts Will in touch with the owner.

I was wondering if I might be able to take a punt on it as such

at sort of £20.

That's really kind of you. Thanks very much. I'll pass you back to Barry to say goodbye.

Cheers. Thank you. Bye!

Result!

Hello, Chris? Is that all right?

I wish I'd known you were that accommodating!

I'd have bought it myself a long time ago!

That man is making a move now! Too late, Barry, I'm having it! Thank you!

Well, I never! I'd pay up quick, if I were you!

Uh-oh. Something tells me he's not finished yet.

Elaine's the lady to talk to.

I've been looking at your canes. Some very nice ones there.

But yesterday, I bought a cane handle but without a cane.

You wouldn't happen to have in your workshop or knocking around anywhere

a cane without a handle?

-Actually, I do have an ebony one.

-Really?

-Any chance I could have a look at that?

-Actually, yes.

Elaine's gone off for a rummage.

But where's Will going?

Now what's he up to?

Come on, mate.

This is interesting.

Do you know what? I've got a good feeling about this.

-He seems to fit on there pretty well.

-Very nice. Yes.

What sort of money are you asking on the cane?

25.

£18.

-Then at least you know it's gone to...

-20.

20...

You shook my hand before I could even think about it.

Elaine, I'm not going to quibble over a couple of quid with you.

I think £20 is a fair price,

because together, they stand a chance.

Do you know, Will, I think you might be right,

but at the expense of most of your budget.

Meanwhile, Mark's travelled the seven-mile journey ahead to Otford.

Located on the River Darent,

it was voted Village of the Year in 2006

and the sort of place where you can find a bargain on the street.

Otford Antiques.

These are quite funky.

As soon as you see this type of shape,

you're imagining the 1960s, '70s.

It's got that sort of '70s look about it.

When we look underneath,

yes, we've got a maker's name here.

"Uldum Mobelfabrik. Made in Denmark."

If you're going to do these things, you've got to go on your own gut feeling.

But we'll go in and find out and see whether we can pick up four chairs.

-They belong to this place, do they?

-Yes, they belong to Jackie here.

-They're mine.

-Oh, Jackie is my favourite girl's name!

Oh, he's a smooth operator.

Jackie, how much do you really want for them?

-60 would be the price.

-If I could get them for about 50 quid...

-Can't do 60?

-I'd love them for 50, honestly.

That look tells me Elaine has an opinion on this, too.

If you add another £10 onto that, you can have them. That gives Jackie a little profit

and gives you a good chance of a profit as well.

-Ooh. We've got a businesslady here!

-It's like the Mafia!

We've got a "Donness", here, not a Don!

I can't believe this!

-I'm being... I'm... I'm...

-She's my friend!

I'm being mugged! What's the number for Crimewatch... Crime Fighters?

-Could we split in the middle?

-Tell you what... Yes.

So we'll say 55.

-Would you be happy at 55? Promise me, Jackie?

-Yes, fine.

Look out! The opposition has arrived,

but with £34.32 left in his pocket,

he'll have to dig deep to find a bargain here.

Will's heading upstairs to see what Mark has overlooked.

Hello.

I think we may have hit a minor jackpot here.

Make sure Mark's not around.

Look at this. This is a book slide, yeah?

Blimey, he's excited.

It's obvious what it does. You put your books, it can go left or right.

But what has got me quite excited about this,

it's cracking quality.

It's actually in coromandel wood,

which is a family of the rosewood.

It's similar to my cane, actually.

And this I have not seen very often.

It has got a cracking little label,

"Farthing & Thornhill, Makers. Cornhill", in London.

To put a maker's mark on a book slide,

you know this has got to be super quality.

And do you know the best bit?

It's 28 quid!

That could be a bargain.

Whoo!

Now what's this Mark's got his eye on?

Looks like Denby pottery.

Denby's striking designs graced the 1970s with flair.

Although typically painted in browns and oranges, the bulb pattern is somewhat unusual.

Do you know, I'm rather taken with this vase.

But I don't know why, really...

..because I don't know anything about it.

It's got £28 on it at the moment.

It goes... CLANGING

Careful!

Who did that?

It goes quite nicely with the chairs.

Yes, put it down!

It's time to do battle with our Jackie again. Stand by!

-Hello, Jackie. I don't know what it is, but I'm in a '70s mood today.

-Good! Retro.

I'm looking back. Looking back, you know.

-Of course, I wasn't around in the '70s(!)

-Of course not!

-What about 15?

-No, can't do 15.

-You're adamant!

-It's far too cheap.

-Adamant.

-Yes.

-What about 14?

-No. 18?

We're very close.

-We want to do a deal on this, don't we?

-We do.

How much did we say? 16?

No. 17.

-Are you going to be determined on 17?

-Mm.

-Really?

-Yes.

-It's a good price.

-Go on, then. 17. Thanks, Jackie.

But whilst Mark's tipping over the edge,

Will's on the slide.

-I found a little book slide upstairs.

-OK.

Buried under... Now,

28 that's got on it.

What's the absolute death on this?

A sliding book... We've got 28.

-20 quid?

-20? ..Yes.

OK. So that's a deal. That's a deal, £20.

He's still not finished, yet, don't you know?

Chinese rice paper paintings.

They're usually for export, and they show traditional Chinese customs,

traditional Chinese costumes,

and the really sought-after ones traditional Chinese tortures and crime punishment.

There's no...

no price on it...

..which might be a good thing.

That's worth an ask. I'm going to go and say, "Can that be 15 quid?"

I reckon that's worth a go.

Hey, Will! You do know you only have £14.32 left, don't you?

Beryl's calling the painting's owner, so fingers crossed.

OK. Thank you. Bye.

-All done. 14.

-Ooh, thank you very much!

-What did he say the price was on it, ten?

-15.

Was it?

Well, it's better to be lucky than good.

Will's finished shopping, with a whopping 32p warming his pocket.

Mark Stacey set out on this leg with £188.14

and forked out £139 on six items for his five lots.

A blue garden seat, the Denby vase,

the fan-shaped engraving, the Danish dining chairs

and the combined scent flask and silver dressing-table jar.

Will Axon began this leg with a lowly £144.32

and spent all but a few pennies also on six items that comprise his five lots.

The chinoiserie platter,

the bronze censer case,

the book slide,

the pith painting

and the cane with the skull handle.

So, what do our experts really think?

The walking stick is genius, absolute genius.

To marry a 19th-century cane

with what I think is a very modern cast skull, is genius.

I'm fairly confident that this auction will be mine.

It's time to head to the den of antiquity, Chiswick Auctions.

On the third leg of their road trip,

our dealers have crossed the breadth of Kent and into London,

starting in Deal and ending in Chiswick for the auction.

-This is it.

-Here we are, Mark.

-Let's rock this sale room.

-Rock something, anyway.

Chiswick Auctions have been in business for only 15 years,

but have gained an excellent reputation,

and are frequently featured on TV.

They specialise in fine art, antiques and collectables.

The man at the helm of today's auction,

with his gavel at the ready, is William Rouse.

-Are you fluttering?

-No.

-No?

-Confident.

Really?

Right, chaps, let battle commence.

First up is Will's chinoiserie platter, circa 1840.

I've got interest on this on the book,

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know. And I'm straight in at £15.

-Oh, well, that's good.

-£15.

18. 20. 22. 25.

25 is bid. 28 I'll take.

28. 30. 32.

In the doorway, then, at £32.

£32. Are you all done and finished at £32?

32.

Well done. I'm surprised at that.

A steady £12 profit for Will's platter. Good start.

It's Mark's garden seat next,

with pierced decoration.

-Interest in this on the book. I'm straight in at £35.

-That's good.

35. 40. 45.

45 is bid, then. At £45.

Anybody else, then? At £45 I'm going to sell it. 45.

A healthy £25 profit for Mark. This is going rather well!

45. I thought it might be more. They'd just started to bid then.

Then they realised what they were doing!

Now, now, boys!

It's time for Will's bronze censer case.

What's it worth? Start me. £30 for this lot.

-Speculative lot. I'm bid 30.

-This is worth 30.

35. 38. 40.

42. 45. 48.

50. £50.

£50 in the middle of the room. At 50.

Anybody else? All done and finished at £50. I'm going to sell.

At 50 it goes.

-You were lucky with that one.

-I was not!

I'm not sure about luck,

but I do know it's another profit for Will.

Told you we'd have a good day!

Cheer up, Mark. It's your fan-shaped engraving next.

What's it worth? Start me at £30.

£20, the lot to go for £20, surely?

For this framed fan, anybody?

-Oh, dear. £10 start me.

-Oh, no!

-Start me at ten here.

12. 14. 16.

18. 20. 22.

-£22 in front of me. Anybody else at £22?

-It's another shame.

25 there. 28. 30.

32. 35. 38.

40. 42. 45.

45 there. Away there at 45. Bit more respectable. £45.

-That was close!

-I hope you brought a change of trousers!

Fear not, Mark. You're on a roll.

Another £25 profit.

I thought that was going to struggle.

-You hoped it was going to struggle!

-I did not!

-Of course not, Will(!)

-45...

-Let the viewers make up their own mind.

That's you told, Will.

Handbags at the ready,

let's see if the auction room gets as excited about the book slide

as you did, Will.

Nice quality object.

And I'm straight in at £60.

£60 I'm bid. 65. 70.

75. 80 is my last. 85 in the room.

-That's very good.

-Need someone to go with him, now.

At £85 in the room. Anybody else want to come in?

I can sell the lot. 85 it goes, then.

I think that's a jolly good price.

Well, how sporting of you, Mark.

A cracking result for Will there.

Do I smell a profit here?

It's Mark's scent flask and dressing table jar.

Must be worth £30. £15 each for them.

-30 I'm bid. 32.

-That's good.

-32 I'm bid.

At £32. Come along.

£32 is all I'm bid.

Seems so cheap. Can't believe it.

35. Thank you.

35 there. In the middle of the room.

38. It's amazing where they come from.

40. 42.

£42. Here we are.

At £42. Are you all done and finished?

£42.

I was very lucky with that one.

A £15 profit, Mark. But you'll need to do better to win this auction.

Eyes up. It's Will's pith painting next.

Somebody likes it. I've got a start-off bid of £30 with me.

-That's all right.

-I'm pleased with that.

-32 I'll take in the room.

It's with me, then, on a commission bid of 30.

Anybody else want to come in against commission?

With me, then, at £30. I'm going to sell it at 30. Sold.

A commission bid is a bid left by someone

who can't be at the auction.

How will the Chiswick bidders react to Mark's big purchase,

the Danish dining chairs?

Somebody offer me £20 to start me.

£20 for the four chairs.

That's absolutely... £10, then?

Uh-oh!

Bruno can't resist a bargain.

12. OK. Suddenly things are beginning to move.

Someone's had a go...

Too much. Dear, oh, dear. £12.

£14 in the blue.

16. £16 standing, then.

At £16. Oh, dear!

£16. I'm going to sell them.

Oh, dear, indeed. The dining chairs were a sitting duck.

That's a loss of £39.

Mark, you were unlucky with them.

Well, that's the way it goes. It's life.

Now, how will the bidding go on Will's last lot of the day,

his cleverly amalgamated skull and cane?

-This is a nice bit of fun.

-Yes, it is!

Somebody likes it. I'm straight in at £40. With me at £40.

I've got bids everywhere.

Leaping to bid on it. 45.

-50.

-They all want it.

-55. 60.

65. 70.

75. 80.

85. 90.

95. 100.

-110. 120.

-This is ridiculous!

-130.

-140.

-Go on!

-150.

160. 170. 180.

-190.

-Oh, it's a good thing, Mark.

-It's not a good thing!

-£200 there.

Thanks for the bid. At £200. Anybody else want to come in?

Unusual lot. £200. I'm going to sell it.

Ooh!

Now I know what it feels like!

I think it's brilliant, Will.

Say it like you mean it, Mark!

A stonking profit for Will. Bravo!

It's Mark's last chance to catch up.

But his Denby pottery vase will have to go some

for him to stand a chance of victory at today's auction.

-There we go. £20 for this. The Denby vase for 20.

-Come on!

20 I'm bid here.

22. 25. 28. 30 in front of me here.

At £30. Still at 30.

-It's a profit at least.

-£30. I'm going to sell it for 30.

Well, it's a profit, Will.

Little consolation there for Mark.

After auction costs, that's a small profit

and nowhere near enough to win today

as Will takes the spoils.

It's been a tremendous auction for our new boy of knick-knacks

against the Titan of treasure.

So, the tables have turned.

Mark started this leg with £188.14

and after costs made a disappointing £6.96 profit,

giving him £195.10 to play with on the next leg.

Will Axon, though, went forth and multiplied.

He kicked off this leg with £144.32

and after auction costs made a whopping £181.54

and starts next time with a bumper £325.86.

Well done!

What a contrast, William.

My first taste of victory, Mark!

It was quite a taste of victory as well, you know.

-But it's raining. Shall we go?

-Get in the car.

So, we've got a real contest now.

In your own time, Will!

The fourth leg of the trip starts in Crystal Palace in London,

before heading to Essex and an auction showdown in Southend-on-Sea.

-This looks like it, Will.

-Antique Warehouse, I like the sound of that.

-Are we shopping in here together?

-I think we are, Mark.

-Is this place big enough for the both of us?

-I'm sure it is.

The boys are starting out at Crystal Palace Antique & Modern.

With four floors of treasure, it's south London's largest antiques emporium.

So, Will's starting at the top, to find out what treasures

his £325.86 can afford..

Very nice.

Little cheese board there.

If I tell you it's got a carved mouse on it,

you'll know who's made it, and Tim's going to tell you all about it.

If you insist!

The carved mouse is a trademark of Robert Thompson, the Mouseman.

Famous for his oak furnishings,

Thompson featured the creature on almost every piece he made.

This cheese board is an early example of his work. Will has offered £100.

Bear with me.

Dealer Nick is making a phone call to the owner.

And it looks like it's good news.

Meanwhile, he may have £195.10 to spend but seems uninspired.

SIGHS: Oh, dear!

Flush with success,

Will's already on the scent of his next purchase.

That's sweet, isn't it?

I mean, it's of no great consequence.

It's a little country house, little pen sketch.

What I love is this frame, this birdseye maple.

You've got this lovely figuring.

I don't know, it just appeals.

Looks like it's been in that frame for ever.

It's only 23 quid!

I could bear that in mind, but I'll hang it up there.

This caught my eye.

Obviously, Art Deco. You can tell just by looking at it.

This clock garniture

with this stylish looking woman perched atop this tree stump.

It's got a ticket here. It's had a price on it and it's been reduced.

I was almost tempted to make a cheeky offer of about £100.

Will gets on the phone to the owner, Ian,

but he wants £120.

Could we meet in the middle and say 110?

It's gone and you've got a space on your mantelpiece to fill with more treasure.

110?

Yeah. That's really kind of you, mate. Thanks very much. Cheers.

Hey, big spender! That's nearly two-thirds of your budget on your first two items.

Before we get to the office, Nick, this caught my eye.

-Ah.

-Sweet, isn't it?

-It is. Yes. Let me have a quick look at it.

I'd be inclined to say it could be £20. As a starting thing.

-To round it off.

-Yeah?

Well, I think 15. You say 20.

-Let's meet at 18.

-I think we can do that.

-Let's do it.

-So I've got to settle up for everything now.

-Yes, indeed.

In the office? Perfect.

While Will pays up, it looks like Mark's mood is as grey as the weather.

Maybe he'll cheer up on his next visit.

His antique search may have gone to the dogs,

but he's making his way north into central London, to Piccadilly,

to the oldest recognised Kennel Club in the world.

-Hello.

-Hello.

-I'm Mark.

-Hello, I'm Louisa.

-And who's this charming fellow?

-This is Louie.

-He's going to show you round the Kennel Club today.

-Hello!

-He's shivering. Shall we go in?

-Yes.

Oh, isn't he sweet?

Oh. That's embarrassing.

From prize-winning pooches to lovable scruffy mongrels,

Britain's always had a love affair with its four-legged friends.

With an estimated 28,000 dogs competing each year at Crufts,

it's not hard to see why a national body had to be set up

to legislate in canine matters.

The Kennel Club has its roots in dog shows

that became popular in the 19th century.

While initially dogs were only recognised by their kennel names,

since its formation in 1873,

the club has identified 211 distinct breeds of dogs.

Louisa is showing Mark the Club's art gallery,

which displays Victorian and Edwardian canine art -

including hundreds of oil paintings, engravings and prints.

This room has a Victorian feel to me, the pictures and the panelling.

It is very Victorian, and Victorians loved their dogs.

Queen Victoria was a huge dog fan and owned a large number of dogs.

She had at least 28 breeds of dog.

I never knew Queen Victoria loved her dogs so much.

She didn't just have them in kennels. She had lots of pets.

That's quite early. Victoria came to the throne in 1837.

She owned dogs before she was Queen.

When she was Princess, she did have a large number of dogs.

-And this book lists her various breeds?

-Yes. It does.

This would have been given as a gift, anybody that visited Windsor.

There's some exotic ones in here.

A lot would have been given to her by various people,

other royalty from overseas, things like that.

-Bedouin dogs.

-Gosh! That sounds rather exotic.

We also have a Hungarian sheep-dog. We're not sure which breed that is.

That's January 1943, so again, that's very early.

-Did she get involved with the Kennel Club when it was founded?

-She did. Yes.

She did show her dogs at Crufts.

She was involved in the dog-showing world.

This medal here was given to Queen Victoria from the Pomeranian Club,

awarded at the Kennel Club in 1891 for her Pomeranian, Windsor Marco.

-He won first in his class at that show.

-Wonderful!

It's a bit like our current Queen, who loves Corgis.

I suppose that's led to an increase in interest and ownership of Corgis.

BARKING

It's estimated today

that there are approximately 10.5 million dogs owned in the UK,

accounting for over a third of all the nation's household pets.

Dogs truly still are our best friends.

Meanwhile, Will has decided to do a spot more shopping.

One of them should!

He's travelled nine miles east to Chislehurst, looking to spend more

in Wrattan Antique & Craft Mews.

They're quite nice, aren't they?

I've got one at home which we use. They're, basically, breadboards.

-Does what it says on the tin!

-A tin of bread?

They've got something about them.

I've gone for a cheese board, haven't I, so why not go for three breadboards as well?

There might be a kitchenalia lot I could get together.

Oh, no. Not another theme, surely?

It's time to get Graham and Maureen involved.

What about a jelly mould?

Oh, lordy! He's quite out of control.

Stop him, before he picks up the...

And one of those. What is it?

It looks like a butter press without its mould to me.

Chuck that in as well and we've got a deal - 20 quid.

I'm a hard man... Oh! It's done!

So Will's impromptu raid on Graham and Maureen's pantry

has resulted in three breadboards, a jelly mould and a butter press.

All for £20. Top marks!

-It's even aesthetically pleasing stacked.

-It is, isn't it?

Would you like a bag?

Back together again, the boys are heading in to Essex,

to the town of Great Baddow.

-Great Baddow?

-That's right, antique centre.

Sounds like some sort of '70s rock group!

-The Great Baddow!

-The Great Baddow and the Baddettes!

LAUGHS We could be the Baddettes.

Saddettes, more like!

Now, this should be interesting.

Our sparring partners are heading to the same shop, Baddow Antiques.

Let's hope Will leaves something for Mark to buy.

-I think you should go that way.

-All right.

-See you later.

Oh, I love those glasses!

I bet that's not for sale. Yeah.

"Not for sale." They're fab, aren't they?

What's this? A bit of art glass?

It's quite speccy, the art glass, a real up-and-coming market.

I suppose it's a Vaseline glass.

No price on them, of course.

That might be a theme for one of my items, a sort of art glass lot.

Oh, lordy! Struggling to make his first purchase,

dealer Ron has pointed Mark in the direction

of an Edwardian cut-glass ship's decanter.'

-That's rather fun. What's this?

-It's a quarter decanter.

It's like a small version of a ship's decanter.

-It would have sat like that and it wouldn't spill over.

-Yeah.

-It's a ship's decanter in miniature.

-It's rather sweet.

I must admit, I haven't seen one dinky like that for ages.

-That might be a possibility, Ron. Can we reserve that for me?

-Yeah.

At an asking price of £25,

you could consider letting go of those purse strings, Mark.

Ron!

Boy! Ron's being run ragged today.

Will's found some more glass items for his - dare I say it? - theme.

That was what caught my eye.

It's the texture and the design. It's got something about it.

I'll tell you the other bit I quite liked.

-Unfortunately, it's damaged.

-Is it?

-It has a little neck crack.

-Yeah.

-So that might be quite affordable with the crack in there.

-Absolutely.

It's a good shape, isn't it?

All this 1960s art glass is making me nostalgic.

Not.

Not sure what I'm doing, but let's go with the flow!

Deary me, there's more?

-OK, a little sort of...

-Remarkably, it still has its lid.

So what have we got? One, two, three, four, five pieces.

-You've seen the programme. I'm on a budget.

-35 quid the lot.

30 quid?

-32 and that is the deal.

-Let's do it. It's a deal.

After Ron gave Will another pound off for luck,

our dapper dealer has got the lot for just £31 and is all shopped-out.

So he can relax.

Mark can't. He hasn't bought a thing.

What about that ship's decanter?

-The fact that it's perfect.

-Yes.

I know you don't like £25, but I know your position.

So I will say, money back, £18.

-£18.

-And I think you've got...

-I think we'll shake hands on 18.

You read my mind.

-LAUGHING:

-I'm quite good at that.

-You're a very canny dealer, Ron.

At last! One lot down, and with the clock ticking,

Mark's made a dash across the courtyard

to see what dealer Steve has to offer.

-Immediately, what I like about it immediately is the shape.

-Yeah.

It's very Chinese, that baluster shape.

-Do you know much about this?

-Not at all.

Oh, good. That's a positive sign! STEVE LAUGHS

-You know it's damaged, don't you?

-I do.

I don't know if that's the right lid.

It's a little bit on the wobbly jubbly side.

-It doesn't look quite right.

-But it is the same type of pattern.

With that little dog on the top.

How cheap could it be?

EXHALES

I'm thinking really cheap, Steve.

-I was thinking about 12.

-MARK LAUGHS

Oh, they do say people of Essex have a sense of humour, don't they?

I'll tell you what, Steve, because I'm in a rush and I like you,

I'll take it off your hands for a fiver.

Then it gives me a little bit of a chance at auction.

-Cheeky.

-Go on, then.

Put it there, quickly.

That could be a bargain, Mark, wrong lid or not.

Now that Mark's on a roll,

he's going to put up a fight in Battlesbridge.

Today, the village is best known as a centre for antiques,

though its present appearance owes much to centuries of riverside industry.

But will the tide turn for Mark within the Battlesbridge Antiques Centre?

That's quite fun, isn't it? Look at that! That shelf!

Gosh, I really like that.

What I've found is a wall bracket, probably part of a pair or more,

made of pottery then glazed to look like metal.

It's like a suit of armour.

I think that's really nice.

More importantly, I think it's got some age.

I think we're looking at something that was made...

probably around 1900 - 1890, 1900?

I'll tell you what else is making me rather excited.

WHISPERING: It's only marked up at £30.

Ooh!

But you just know he's not going to offer £30.

Yeah...

He's asked Valerie to phone the owner with a bid of £20.

-It's like being at a job interview.

-Thank you very much.

-Oh!

Please say yes. Bye-bye.

-You're in luck.

-Am I?

-£20.

-MARK GASPS

We've got a deal. Thank you SO much.

Thanks for all your help. Things are on the turn.

Oh! Looks like Mark's got his mojo back.

He's on a roll and has found this Japanese box with a blue glass liner.

What would it be estimated at auction?

Probably £20 or £30.

There's no price on it, so I want to try and get it...under £10, really.

I've got to claw my way back here.

I'll go and see if the dealer's around

then come back and let you know what happens.

And after a quick negotiation with the camera-shy dealer...

Good news.

I said I wanted to pay around £10-ish for it.

I tried a sneaky £5, but the dealer was having none of it.

So we compromised and settled on £8.

If I knew how to say "I'm very happy" in Japanese, I would, but I can't, so I won't.

Let's try watashi wa ureshii desu.

I'm not just a pretty face, you know.

That's quite fun, isn't it? Have you seen this before?

You might have done, because it's a sliding book rest.

This is lacquered wood.

Quite cheaply done, actually.

The fact is, it's only £12, as well.

I don't think this is going to make anywhere near the £85 Will's made.

If I could get that, say, for...a fiver.

Then even if it made £15, it would be quite a good profit margin.

Cos we've got the dragon here

chasing the pearl of wisdom.

Just like I am, but I'm chasing the pearl of profit.

Ooh! How poetic! But with another cheeky offer of £5,

it's a wonder Val's not chasing you out of the shop!

-I tried.

-Thank you, Valerie.

-£8 was her best.

-Oh, well! £8. What do I do?

The only thing I do like about it, it has the original paper label,

which says, "chung chan hen".

Which I know from my Chinese is, "Please do not buy me."

-Actually, it says, "Please buy me."

-MARK LAUGHS

I don't know why I'm even on this show

because I'm too generous to a fault here.

Just for your cheek saying "please buy me", I'm going to say yes to £8.

-That dealer had better buy you a gin and tonic.

-I truly hope so, too.

Phew! You'll need a swift G&T after pulling your five lots out of the bag, Mark.

Will Axon set out on this leg with a whopping £325.86

and forked out £279 on his five lots.

A collection of kitchenalia,

the Art Deco clock,

the pen drawing,

the selection of art glass

and the Mouseman cheeseboard.

Mark Stacey began this leg with £195.10,

and finally got round to spending a mere £59 of it

also on five lots.

The Japanese casket, the ship's decanter,

the book slide, the porcelain vase

and the wall bracket.

Let's hear how our experts think they'll get on.

Listen, he stands a chance, just as much as I do.

We're at the hands of the auctioneer now.

Could be a flip of a coin.

The Mouseman breadboard is wonderful.

At £100, I think that's a steal. An absolute steal.

It's time to get back to Southend, and head to today's auction.

On the fourth leg of their road trip, our hardy hagglers

have cut a dash across London and into Essex,

starting in Crystal Palace and ending up in Southend-on-Sea

for the auction.

This looks like it.

And I'll just pull up outside here, shall I?

At a jaunty angle.

-Whoa!

-How's that?

-Perfect.

Don't worry about the parking bays. Leave the car anywhere you like(!)

Our experts are going head-to-head at Chalkwell Auctions.

Established for 25 years, it has grown to be an important saleroom

in the south of England and on the internet.

Putting the boys under the hammer is Trevor Cornforth.

The Japanese casket with blue glass liner is up first.

Will it fester or fly?

Start me at £10. Ten to start, surely?

-Any interest at £10?

-Oh, come on.

I've got a bid of ten at the back. We're in the room at £10.

That's an interesting little item. At £10. All fini...

15. 20? 15 in the front with the lady, then.

At £15. Selling at 15...

20 back in on the net. 20 against you. Are you out?

An internet bid now at £20. 25, fresh place. 25 on the left.

Oh. £25.

Are we done at £25? 30 on the net.

35? All done at 30 on the net. Selling at 30.

-Well done, Mark.

-I'm pleased with that, Will.

"Arigato," says Mr Stacey.

That's a handsome mark-up to start.

And it's Mark's next lot, the quarter size ship's decanter.

It's bound to float someone's boat.

For an elegant lady to pretend she doesn't drink.

Start me at £20 on it. See what happens.

-20 I'm bid straight away.

-Oh!

At 20 seated. Here at £20.

It's a sweet piece. 25. And 30. And 35?

40. 45? 50.

45 at the front. We're selling at £45.

All done at 45?

-I'm happy with that, Will.

-Should be.

You certainly should! Another sturdy profit there.

Well, Mark, my moment of truth is soon to arrive.

-Oh, Will, I don't think you've got any problems.

-Oh, the tension!

It's Will's first lot.

Can this selection of kitchenalia serve up a profit?

I've got £20 bid. 25 in the room.

I've got 25 seated. I need 30. 30 here.

35? It's against you at £30 on the internet.

We're at 35. And 40 now.

-£40 on the internet.

-Internet.

At £40. Looking for 45.

At £40 at the moment. We're selling...

-Doubled your money.

-Bet you're happy with that.

-I'm happy with that.

Looks like you've got a profit on a platter there.

It's the Art Deco figural clock next, Will.

Start me at £30. Let's give it a chance. 30. 35. 40. 45. 50.

60? £50 on my right. In the room at £50.

At £50. We're looking for 60.

£50 bid on the clock set. Must be worth more than that.

60 on the left. 70?

60 with the lady seated, then. In the room at £60.

-We're selling at £60.

-BANGS GAVEL

Oh, gosh!

The clock failed to chime with the bidders.

Never mind. I'm learning.

You might be learning, but you're not earning.

Let's see if Mark's Chinese book slide can be a best-seller.

Pretty little item, very practical.

Start me at £20 on it.

Nice little piece. £20, surely. 20 I'm bid. In the room at £20.

Surely that's not going to be it at £20? Are you done at 20?

All finished.

-Well, that's fine.

-Well done, Mark.

After auction costs, it's a modest profit, but a profit, nevertheless.

It's the Chinese vase, which actually is there.

-It looks rather nice on there.

-I think someone's given it a polish.

Start me at £50 on it, see what happens. £50 to start.

-Any interest at £50? Must see £50, surely?

-Come on!

Start me at £20. I've got to start somewhere.

-50 came in at the last minute.

-£50!

-We're at £50.

-Come on. You know you want it!

I have a bid of £50. I'm looking for £60.

-It's lovely.

-Wonderful news for you.

-Finished...

Cor! You're in the pink, Mark - considering the lid's wrong!

Can Will get back on track with his next lot?

It's his maple-framed drawing of a country house.

Start me at £20 on it. £20 on the little drawing.

It's very sweet. £20 to start? Have to see a start of £20.

It's with me, personally, at £20...

While unusual, it's not illegal for an auctioneer to bid on an item.

-..With me on the rostrum at £20.

-Not my day today.

-25 on the net.

-Oh!

-I've got 25. And 30 with me. It's at £30 at the moment.

I'm looking for 35.

-Are we done at £30? All done.

-BANGS GAVEL

-Well, that's a fair price.

-You were right.

A picture-perfect buy for our auctioneer.

He's made you a neat profit, Will.

How will the bidders react to Mark's biggest purchase?

At a costly £20, his pottery wall bracket is next under the hammer.

Start me at £20 on this. I'm starting you low. 20 I'm bid.

In the room at £20. At 20. 25. And 30. And 35? And 40.

£40 in the room at the moment. Any advance on £40?

Come on. It's a lovely thing.

Are we done at 40? At £40.

At 45. And 50? £50 seated.

-Bit more! Come on! Bit more!

-I'm selling at 50...

That's all right.

All right for you, Mark. That's you done.

You've not had any trouble making a profit today.

Now, how will the bidding go on Will's lot of five glass items?

Nice little lot. Start me at £20? See where we go.

20 to start. 20 I'm bid. In the room at £20. At £20 here.

At £20. Surely more than that.

And 25. 30?

-£30 seated. It's at £30.

-Small loss.

At £30. All finished?

Do you know what? I'm not surprised any more.

Maybe you needed more luck money on that, Will.

Another loss, I'm afraid.

It's Will's last lot, the Mouseman oak cheese board.

If that flies, he could still win today's auction.

Start me at £30 on it straight away. 30. 35. 40. 45. 50. 60.

60 seated in the room. Any advance on £60?

We're at 60. 70. 80?

£70 on the internet. Are you on the telephone on this?

It's 80 with me. I'm bidding now, personally. At £80.

Gosh! He's at it again!

I like this little piece. It's a current bid with me of £80.

Any advance on 80? 90 in the room. That's sparked your interest!

-LAUGHTER

-90 back in the room.

90 against me now. In the room at £90.

I'm 90. Looking for 100. At £90. All finished?

Will, I'm sorry. I think that was an absolute steal for somebody.

That's the luck of the auction, though - or lack of it.

Hard cheese, old fruit.

It's worth £200 to £300. I know that. You know that.

I've sold them for 300 quid all day long in North Yorkshire. That's what they're worth.

-I would have bought it.

-C'est la vie.

-I would have done the same.

-You know, I know and Tim knows.

-HEAVENLY CHOIR SINGS

-All I know is Mark's the winner of today's auction.

Will Axon's lead didn't last long.

He kicked off this leg with £325.86p,

but after auction costs, made a shattering loss of £74,

and starts next time with £251.86p.

Mark Stacey made an incredible comeback.

Starting this leg with £195.10p,

he earned a fantastic £100.90p profit after auction costs,

giving him exactly £296 to play with on the last leg.

Well, ups and downs, ups and downs, ups and downs.

-The heavens are going to open.

-Oh, no!

-Let's go!

-It's hailing, Mark. Ay-ay-ay!

-It's your fault, Will. Come on!

Let's go, Will.

It's onwards and upwards!