Episode 7 Antiques Road Trip

-It's the nation's favourite antiques experts!

-All right, viewers?

With £200 each, a classic car

and a goal to scour Britain for antiques.

On fire! Yes!

Sold!

The aim, to make the biggest profit at auction.

-But it's no mean feat!

-50p!

There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

You've had it a while!

So, will it be the high road to glory

or the slow road to disaster?

Ooh!

Oh, no!

This is the Antiques Road Trip!

Yeah!

On this road trip, we're journeying with two antiques maestros,

who are eagle of eye and quick to the punch.

When I got out of bed this morning,

I felt as if I'd been through a round with Mike Tyson!

-Why was that?

-I went through round one with you!

Anita Manning is a flamboyant Scot

who owns her own saleroom

and who's always proud to showcase her unique sense of style. Here we go.

Too exotic!

While James Lewis is a Derbyshire auctioneer

who has an eye for quality and is never afraid of making a cheeky offer.

Both our jolly chums began this epic road trip with £200.

Anita stormed ahead on the first leg

and now has a whopping £321.60

burning a hole in her sporran. Do girls wear sporrans?

But James also made consistent profits.

He boasts a budget of £293.50.

I don't know what he's moaning about, really. But he will moan!

Not quite out for the count,

but you certainly won the round hands down!

This top-trading twosome

are driving a sweet little '60s - check - the 1969 Volkswagen Beetle.

The whole road trip will see them sally forth

through the glories of southern England,

from Oxfordshire and the south-east,

then west, and then back to hopeful triumph in our nation's capital.

In today's show,

they begin in the leafy London district of Wimbledon,

heading stoutly for their auction near the town of Alresford in Hampshire.

We're on Wimbledon Common!

-Yep.

-Is that where the Wombles came from?

What do you mean, "came" from?

-Are Wombles real things, James?

-Of course they are! They're as real as your haggis!

Good point.

# Underground, overground, Wombling free... #

When Darwin discovered them in the 19th century,

they'd really been underground...

Overground? Wombling free?

-James, I think you're kidding me on.

-In what way?

Listen, if you see a Womble, give me a shout and we'll stop.

Best ask for some local knowledge, eh?

Have you seen any Wombles about?

Just one earlier, collecting some rubbish.

-Lovely. In which direction?

-Straight down on the left.

-Wombles are real?

-Of course they're real!

-Told you!

-Wimbledon is where they live.

Well, you've won that argument, James!

They've arrived in the centre of lovely Wimbledon,

where James will begin his search - for antiques, hopefully!

He's heading into his first shop of the day, the haltingly named Just Pause.

Ready to greet him is proprietor Maria. Hi, Maria!

-Hi, I'm James. Nice to see you.

-Nice to see you.

And he's shortly spotted something that appeals.

How much is the decanter box?

-Negotiable.

-OK. There's a lot of damage, isn't there?

It's a portable mahogany liqueur casket,

probably dating from around the 1830s,

containing six glass decanters.

A smart way of transporting one's grog when one's travelling.

There's no ticket price on it

and it sounds like Marie is open to a haggle.

With an auction estimate of 40 to 60, would you consider 40?

-How about 45?

-That should be worth that.

It is!

That's a great, great bargain.

James is tempted, but he's going to think on that and browse further.

There's a large item in the basement that seems to have caught his beady eye.

Gosh.

Cor blimey!

Cor blimey, guv'nor!

A big lump of Chinese.

Got a bit of age to it. You've had it a while, haven't you?

Well, it's Chinese blue and white, ticket price £85.

But neither James nor Maria are sure of its age.

James is optimistic in hoping that it might turn out to be an antique piece,

dating from the 19th or even 18th century.

But if it is the latter, it could be seriously valuable.

Still, it's a gamble, isn't it?

Or is it?

It's either worth thousands or nothing!

Well, I hope it's thousands for you!

Well, the fact that it's been here all these months, probably means it's not!

What would you like to offer?

You are bubbly, Marie!

Well, it's been reduced three times. You've had it ages.

How about a cheeky 30 quid?

OK.

-Sure?

-Done!

I was thinking you were going to say 50!

I was, but then I thought we'd do a deal.

I'll give you - this is a rare thing for me - I'm going to give you 40.

-Thank you!

-40.

Highly maverick move, I'd say, for the Road Trip.

He's voluntarily raised his own offer.

Let's hope that bit of good karma sees James right with the vase

at the auction.

But this pair are getting on swimmingly

and James has soon found something else nearby.

Oh, they've both had their ears off.

Do you know, a long time ago,

I really desperately wanted one of these.

-Aw!

-They're carved out of a block of serpentine. They're from Florence.

It's a pair of figures of dogs.

Indeed modelled from the dark green mineral serpentine

and dating from the Victorian period.

Perhaps brought home from some lucky traveller's Grand Tour of Europe.

Marie has got £90 on the pair.

I really like them. There is that damage. I'll have to think on those.

James has the Chinese vase in the bag.

But he seems to have been struck by indecision with regards to the other items he's seen.

I like the decanter box.

I like the dogs, but they're too much money because of the ears.

-The dogs could be cheaper.

-Could they?

-Yes.

-Thirty?

-Forty?

35.

-OK.

-Deal!

-Done!

But what about the portable liqueur casket he also liked?

Marie last offered a price of £45 on that.

And 45 on that. You've got a deal.

-There you go.

-Thank you.

-Brilliant. Well, that's three.

Three items indeed. And as if to complement James's doggie figures,

-someone else has come to bid him farewell.

-Hello! Hello!

What's your name?

That's my baby, Paws. There you go! Say hello to James!

Hello!

You're a good boy.

You're a good boy, too, James.

-You've been lovely. Thank you so much.

-Thank you so much! Wonderful!

Meanwhile, Anita has driven on to the London district of Battersea,

otherwise known as "Battercia"!

Ha!

The area's most famous disused power station

is often likened to an upturned table.

This well-heeled postcode seems a good place to start her morning.

She's strolling off into her first shop of the day,

the sizeable Northcote Antiques Market

where she's meeting dealers Donald and Diana.

Hi, folks! I'm Anita.

-Nice to meet you!

-Nice to meet you.

-It's lovely to be here.

Best get hunting, girl.

And she's soon spotted a glittering little bauble.

I always think that silver and crystal is a lovely combination.

This is a little dish that would possibly belong to a lady.

This possibly could have been an ashtray.

It bears silver hallmarks, though, dating it to 1909.

Though the marks have been slightly damaged by over-polishing.

Ticket price is £58.

This would have belonged to a rather racy type of female, you know!

Much like yourself, Anita.

Dealer Donald doesn't know what he's in for. Stand by, boy!

It's had a bit of a knock.

And also the hallmark has been rubbed.

-You know what's coming, don't you?

-I know exactly what's coming!

-Can I tell you what I'd like to pay for that?

-Sure.

I would like to pay £20 for it.

OK...

-You haven't fallen down.

-I haven't fallen down.

He hasn't agreed to the offer, either!

Less than half price is quite a discount.

I'd be tempted to offer it to you for about 30.

Um, could you come to 25?

That might give me a wee bit of a chance.

-OK.

-Will we do that?

-Only cos we like you!

-Oh, thank you so much, Donald!

Anita's charm does her proud yet again.

And she's got the racy little number for £25.

But she's really on fire this morning

and she's soon found something else.

I'm quite interested in this item here.

It's a bronzed censer.

I think that it's Oriental.

Yes. A censer is a vessel for burning incense.

The ticket price on this one is £35.

It's a good weight, and I think it's got a bit of age about it.

I'd like to be getting it for round about £20.

I'll have a go at that. See if I can get it 18, 20.

Time to attract Diana's attention.

-How can I help you?

-I fancy this wee pot.

The price that I'd like to pay would be round about 18, 20.

The stallholder is away at the moment.

Is it possible to talk to him?

Absolutely. Absolutely. Of course.

Let me just try and get them on the phone.

Diana will call Peter, the dealer who owns it. Great phone!

All right. Here she is.

Hello, Peter. It's Anita from the Antiques Road Trip.

There's a little kind of brass pot

and I was wondering if you could come in the region of 18 to £20?

Is it possible, Peter?

Going well?

It's still too much for me.

Can you come to, say, 22?

OK. Let's go for 25, Peter.

Smashing.

Peter knocks a tenner off the asking,

and Anita's got both ashtray and censer for a nice round £50.

-Thank you very much.

-It's been an absolute pleasure.

-OK, bye-bye!

Now, James is still over in Wimbledon.

Wombles notwithstanding, the area is really synonymous with one thing.

So it would be criminal if he didn't nip off to visit the most famous real estate in SW19,

the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

Tennis-mad James is in for a real treat today.

He's meeting the commercial manager of the club's museum, Ashley Jones.

-Ashley.

-Nice to meet you.

-How are you? Nice to see you.

Gosh, you have no idea how excited I am!

The club is, of course, home to the annual Wimbledon Championships,

the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament in the world.

And lately, the scene of a long-awaited British triumph.

Oh, there he is, Andy.

-Gosh!

-Our most recent British champion, of course.

My hands were like this, just watching! I couldn't believe it!

But, oh, what a time!

Anyway, let's have a look around.

As its name attests,

the club originally played croquet when it was founded back in 1868.

Ashley's taking James to see an object

that oddly enough caused the club to change its focus to lawn tennis

and gave rise to one of the world's greatest sporting events.

I've brought you to see this because this is why the championship exists.

-In what way?

-The pony roller was donated to the club in 1872

-when it was a croquet club, to keep the croquet lawns flat.

-OK.

And then they adopted tennis in 1875.

But in 1877, the pony roller broke.

It was going to cost £10 to fix it, and the club couldn't afford it.

So, they decided to hold a little tournament for gentlemen that year.

And that tournament was the first men's singles tennis event played at Wimbledon.

And it's from that that all the subsequent glory sprang.

Famously, players on court at Wimbledon

must dress almost entirely in white

and this tradition also originates in the club's early days.

It has to be more than tradition that they wear white.

-Was there a reason?

-Yes, there was a reason.

The gentlemen originally would wear the same clothes they wore for cricket.

So the men were wearing white anyway.

But the ladies would wear whatever clothes they happened to wear on the day.

So the style of dress at the time, 4.9 kilos of clothing.

So, if you're running around on a warm summer's day like today,

and you're wearing that weight of clothing, you're going to sweat.

So, the ladies switched to wearing white because it doesn't show the sweat so badly.

They still looked elegant when they came off court.

-It was about looking attractive and healthy and fit.

-Yeah.

-And therefore marriageable.

They obviously didn't realise that "love" means nothing in tennis!

Very good! I have to say there's a lot of "courting" going on around here! Come on.

Look, I'll do the jokes, thanks.

There's one last place Ashley's going to take you, James.

And it's the one that James has been desperately trying to get to

for quite some time - the legendary Centre Court.

So, here we are.

-The place itself, the Centre Court.

-Wow!

Gosh!

Like so many thousand people have and do, I've queued up outside,

I've camped outside,

trying to get into this very court.

Whilst the other grass courts are open to play for members from mid-May,

Centre Court and Number One court are almost exclusively reserved

for use during the championships.

Setting foot within it is possibly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

So over here we've got the royal box.

And the players' family box right in front of it.

-So that was Andy's box, wasn't it?

-Yes.

-And he came leaping over here.

-That's right.

-That's his mum's seat, isn't it?

-That's where she was sitting.

Oh, my goodness!

Wonderful.

But sadly for Ashley, now James has finally made it onto this hallowed ground,

he seems quite...set.

But now I'm in here, you're not getting me out!

I'm just going to stay!

I've waited too long for this.

Best alert security, eh, Ashley?

Now, Anita's still about four miles away in Battersea.

And she seems to be feeling very positive.

What I do know is it's going to be another great adventure in London!

I love it!

Marvellous.

She's en-route to Eccles Road Antiques,

and greeting dealer Helen.

-Ah, hello! I'm Anita.

-Hello, I'm Helen. Nice to meet you.

-Lovely to be here!

Introductions done, time for a truffle about.

I quite like these.

These are what we call firedogs.

They would sit on either side of the hearth

and you would lay your poker, the shovel and the brush there.

So that your fire tools would lie across these.

These are very nice. They're quality, they're ornate,

they're possibly French.

Ticket price is £75.

But Anita's hoping that Helen might be able to do a deal.

-Helen?

-Yes?

I was having a wee look at these firedogs.

I think possibly 19th century?

They are French. Definitely French, the French Empire.

So mid-19th century.

I'd like to buy them. Can I offer a price? Can I make an offer and you can tell me if I'm...

-Tell you to leave the shop?

-You can do that if you want!

I would like to be paying around the 50 mark for these.

Can we do sort of 55?

-Yeah.

-Will you do 55?

-55 and I'll shake your hand.

-Thank you very much.

A nice deal done, very amicably.

Helen's recommended that Anita take a look in the basement

where there's a lot of stock that's been in the shop for some time

and on which a good deal might be struck.

Helen just said, "Good luck. You may be some time!"

Maybe she thinks that a giant spider will capture me!

Well, let's hope not!

But something has captured Anita's heart.

That's quite a nice wee thing.

It's from the 1920s

and it's a child's sliding, folding chair.

Isn't it just so cute to see something like that in the miniature?

Ticket price was £195 before it was confined to the gloom below stairs.

I think that wee child's chair is just absolutely lovely.

-It's charming, isn't it?

-Have you had that for a long time?

Yes, since God was a boy, basically!

If this has been here since God was a boy,

this chair is costing you money.

Yes, I take your point.

So you're going to make me an offer, aren't you?

Do. Make me an offer and I'll see...

Do I need to be sitting?

Yes! Can I buy it for 40 quid?

Yes.

It does need a bit of a clean.

Helen's assistant Mark will be put to work. Go for it, Mark.

Tea for the ladies.

-I can see Mark has already started.

-Yes.

That's what we like. There's nothing like spectator sport, is there?

Mind that wee bit at the side, Mark!

If you've quite finished, Anita,

it is time to get on the road.

-Bye-bye!

-Bye-bye!

Stick at that, Mark!

And that brings their first hectic day's buying to an amiable close.

Night-night!

But they're up with the larks the next morning

and chirruping with enthusiasm.

Or at least, Anita is!

James, James, wake up! Look!

-I'm awake!

-We're by the side of the Thames.

Just along as we stay by the side, and not in it, I'm happy.

What is it with you about getting up so early?

It's just not natural!

So far, James has spent £120 on three lots.

The Chinese blue and white vase...

.the two serpentine dogs...

..and the mahogany liqueur case.

While Anita has splashed out £145 on four lots.

The silver and crystal ashtray,

the Oriental censer,

the child's leather chair

and the pair of bronze firedogs.

It's lovely to get out in the morning!

The fresh air.

Get the wind in your hair, if you've got any!

Hey, we'll have less of that!

Don't squabble! Honestly!

This morning, they're aiming for Molesey in Surrey,

which can be dated to the 7th century.

On the banks of Old Father Thames,

Molesey is a south-western suburb of central London.

Anita's jumping out of the car at a stunning local landmark,

Hampton Court Palace.

That looks absolutely fantastic.

We'll come back to you in due course, Anita.

While James is driving off into the centre of the town.

James is beginning his day in Hampton Court Emporium,

an antiques centre fit for a king.

He's meeting dealer Lesley.

SHOP BELL RINGS

-Good morning, James. I'm Lesley.

-Good to see you, Lesley. Hi.

James is hoping to sniff out some bargains this morning.

Smell that!

No, thanks!

Jeez! Tea tree oil.

You're looking for antiques, rather than unguents, James.

Eughh!

He's soon spotted an unusual little item, though.

What's this funny little ewer in here?

A ewer is a type of pitcher,

this one modelled from gilt metal in a neo-classical style.

The dealer has a ticket price of £95 on it.

Oh!

A French inkwell. That's taken you by surprise!

The top of the jug hinges to reveal this gilt-metal socle.

And then inside is a clear glass inkwell.

So it's a bit of a novelty.

What would you think?

I'd put 30 to 50 on that at auction.

-Really.

-Hmm.

It might make a bit more.

So it would need to be heavily discounted.

Lesley will call the dealer who owns it.

Yes, James, she'll come down to 60.

-Bye.

-Thank her very much.

She did say last thing, at a pinch, 55.

-OK.

-As it's you.

That's...

That's a fair price, it really is.

But he's still not sure he can turn a profit on it.

So he's soon back to Lesley for round two.

He's got a price in mind. Could the dealer match it?

Can we push you down just a wee bit further?

He has got a price in mind which he's written on his hand.

What is your very, very... Obviously we don't want you to lose money on it.

Right, James.

£45. That's...

Snap!

-Fantastic!

-Shake!

Brilliant.

So, James's rather unusual haggling method

lands him a price that both he and the dealer are happy with.

Put her there, then!

Anita, meanwhile, is over in the rarefied environs of Hampton Court Palace.

She's meeting exhibition curator Sebastian Edwards.

-Hi, I'm Anita.

-Hello, Anita. Welcome to Hampton Court.

Oh, what a splendid and wonderful building!

The palace has been shaped most notably by Cardinal Wolsey

during the reign of King Henry VIII in the 16th century

and later under William III

from 1689 to 1702.

I really can't wait to get inside.

Today, Anita's here to see a specific exhibition

that Sebastian curates.

And it's one with a rather lively premise!

"The Secrets of the Royal Bedchamber"!

We have a special exhibition, just for you!

This sounds very interesting!

Come and have a look.

I say!

The exhibition largely looks at the 17th and 18th centuries,

a time when monarchs' bedrooms became almost public spaces

into which the great and good of the kingdom would vie to be invited.

The bedchamber of the king, or even queen,

became the place where some of the nation's biggest intrigues were played out.

And the monarch received members of the court actually lying in the royal bunk.

It was a real privilege to meet the king in his bedroom.

He was off his guard, he was relaxed, and in theory, informal,

and that's where everybody at court wanted to be.

Anita's particularly interested in seeing a bed

that belonged to Mary of Medina,

the wife of King James II.

It's the bed in which Mary gave birth in a very public fashion.

Poor old love!

There were 70 witnesses around it,

which included many important men of the kingdom.

-Let's have a look at that.

-Come and see.

James and Mary's son was born in this bed in 1688.

The nation in this period was Protestant

but James and Mary were Catholic,

and the prospect of a Catholic heir to the throne caused a political crisis.

Many in Government were keen to deny that the royal baby was a legitimate heir,

so the King planned to crowd the birthing room with 70 important witnesses

immediately after his son was born.

This includes ministers of state, the Archbishop of Canterbury, ambassadors,

he wants everybody to know that this is an absolutely regular birth and that it's his child.

So, it was very important that this child was seen to be the king's son.

But unfortunately, it didn't work in this case.

Despite the King's efforts, a lurid rumour spread

that threw the parentage of the baby into public doubt.

The bed has a special name, the warming pan bed,

because there was a great story at the time

that the baby was not hers, that the baby had died or there was no baby.

And that a changeling, somebody's else's child, had been bought

and slipped into the palace in a warming pan.

One of these great metal dishes on a stick that you put hot coals in to warm the bed,

as a suitable container to hide the baby in.

Of course the story wasn't true,

but the suspicion surrounding the royal birth paved the way to a revolution.

In 1688, the forces of James' son-in-law, the Protestant William of Orange, invaded,

and he became King William III alongside his wife.

James and Mary, though, fled to France, where they lived in exile.

And it all started in that bed?

It all started in this bed. So the course of this nation's history changed in this bed.

Indeed it did.

Anita's had a dizzying romp through 17th-century history this morning

but it's time for her to be on her way.

Do you know, Sebastian, it's enough to make me want a wee lie down!

But thank you for those stories. Bye-bye!

But James is still back in East Molesey proper,

and wandering into Palace Antiques.

Whoops! Mind your feet, James!

That fella's the shop's dachshund.

I know how it is, girl.

James is also meeting dealer Ash - or is it Elm?

-Hi.

-Hello, James.

-Nice to see you.

-Nice to meet you.

-Nice to see you, Ash.

-Nice to meet you.

James is looking for a final item.

Perhaps this little brass box for tapers or matches.

It's about 1850.

Embossed brass. Provincial.

Could even be Dutch, something like that.

It was just to hang next to the fireplace.

It's 150 years old and it's seven quid.

So there'll be a bit of trade on that.

But...

..that's the sort of thing that...

..might make 20 quid at auction.

Ash, can I borrow you for a second?

I know "last of the big spenders", and all,

would four quid be all right?

Just sounding on it.

Yeah. Actually, five pounds, James, would be just right.

OK. I'll take it. Thanks very much.

He certainly seems to have overcome his indecisiveness. Look at this!

Time to say goodbye to Bella.

Gosh, we have had some happy canines on this trip!

Now, Anita's only a short stroll away

and heading into Bridge Road Antiques,

in search of her last buy of the day. She's meeting dealer David.

Hi, Dave!

-Hello.

-Hello, I'm Anita.

Hello, Anita. Hi, nice to meet you.

-Lovely to meet you, too.

-To see you in the flesh, it's great.

What's Anita on the lookout for today?

You like pretty things, don't you?

-I like pretty things.

-You can buy a mirror!

You old charmer!

He is, isn't he? We'll have to watch this one, Anita!

Too exotic.

Maybe just a shade! Could be a lamp shade, actually!

Not to be outdone by James's Wimbledon adventure yesterday,

Anita's spotted something.

So I had a look at this old tennis racket here.

Yes, this is a very old-fashioned racket. Beautiful.

It is indeed a mid-20th-century tennis racket

fitted with a square, wooden press to protect it. Ticket price is £10.

Worth a whack, eh?

-Could we take that off? Could we maybe test it?

-We could. I'm sure we could.

Lordy! I hope this shop is well-insured!

Thankfully, they can't find a ball, so they're using a faux fur hat.

Naturalement!

Just doing a wee bit of bat and ball.

-I've got a better one.

-Bat and hat.

BOTH GIGGLE

-That was good.

-That was good. I think that was very good.

He would say that. Careful with that hat, Anita. If you break it, you have to buy it.

Speaking of which, are you planning to make any purchases

or just have another game with your best friend?

Would you like something else as well with it, perhaps?

-You know, to sort of...

-Is there any other tennis-y things?

-What about this?

-There was a photograph you were interested in.

That's nice, isn't it?

Look at that. The Surbiton championships.

-1904.

-So it's sort of Edwardian.

It's a set of photographs depicting players at Surbiton tennis club,

dating from 1909.

Ticket price on that is £20.

Now, what could good old sport David do on the prices of the racket and the photos?

-I'd like to buy that for about a fiver.

-Would you?

-Mm-hm.

-Cos it's not going to make any money!

It's not going to make any money in auction, but it's good for a bit of fun.

Yes, it is.

Deal done, then, at five pounds on the racket.

-Oh, thank you.

-Thank you, Anita.

And the photos?

How about ten pounds for them? Would that do it for you?

A fiver would do it.

All right, then, we'll do that for you, as well.

Will you? The two of them for a tenner?

All bought, then.

Give us a kiss!

Tongue sandwich.

That's love-all.

-Bye-bye!

-Bye-bye!

So, now it's time for our duo to reveal their purchases to each other.

James will lead the charge.

-There we go.

-Oh, James, that is beautiful.

The glaze is marvellous.

-It has age.

-Yeah.

-It's got a great base to it, hasn't it?

-A great backside!

Yeah!

And James, it seems, has been doing his homework.

I took a photograph of it and I sent it to my head of Chinese.

She's come back and says it's 1775, 1780 Chinese.

Well, I never!

It must be worth a couple of bob, then, James?

Well, what it's worth and what it makes we know are two different things!

James, I think these are all super buys.

Do you think, my darling, that you will be snapping at my heels?

Well, depends what's under there, doesn't it?

It certainly does. Let's have a peek, then.

Oh... Ooh!

-Wow.

-James, I couldn't resist buying this

for my own wee international athlete!

Because I know that you loved Wimbledon and had a great time there.

-I did.

-So that had to be bought.

And what about the brass firedogs?

-I like those.

-Quite nice. You like them?

-Yeah.

How much did you pay for those?

I paid £50 for those.

That's a profit.

You two are positive today.

-So.

-Quite different items again.

-Very different.

-We'll just have to wait and see on the day.

-We will.

But I think we need a nice cup of tea after this. We deserve it.

Definitely.

But after they've shared their mug of the good stuff,

what do they really make of each other's buys?

Anita's things, they're a good mix.

For me, the strongest lot is the pair of French chenets.

They should sail over £100.

The tennis lot is great fun.

I've been to Wimbledon, so it's a very apt thing to buy. A bit of fun.

I've got a lot to worry about in the next auction.

That is a wonderful, wonderful pot. He's lucky as well as being good.

I can see a bigger profit in James Lewis's stuff. Oh, he's a devil!

On this show, Anita and James have toured west London

before leaving the smoke to head for their auction in nearby Alresford

in Hampshire.

The attractive small town of Alresford

hosts a yearly watercress festival

to celebrate local production of the peppery leaf.

Let's hope Anita and James can be as fresh and sprightly today

as they head for Andrew Smith & Son's auctioneers.

There we go!

Are you ready, darling?

Yeah, doesn't it look good?

Best get inside, then.

Today's auctioneer is Nick Jarrett.

Before he takes gavel in hand,

what does he think of James and Anita's lots?

They've brought some very interesting items with them.

We've got hopes for the blue-and-white vase.

Hopefully somebody here will be attracted to it.

The child's chair is jolly nice.

Children's chairs are always popular. Often they make more than the large ones.

And it's a good example, I think.

All very encouraging.

Anita started this leg with £321.60.

She spent £155 and has five lots in today's sale.

James began with £293.50.

He spent £170 on the nose

and also has five lots at auction.

The sale is about to begin.

First up is Anita's silver and crystal ashtray, or dish.

£10. Ten I have. 12 can I say?

12, 14, 16, 18, £20 and two.

25. 25, new bidder. 28.

£30. And two.

At £30.

£30 I have. At £30. Have you done?

-Yes! I'm happy.

-Well done.

It ekes out a £5 profit.

Not a bad start for her.

But she will have to pay auction costs on that.

Next is James's pair of Florentine dogs.

Will the buyers be straining at the leash?

Bid on the book at £30.

-32. I'm out at £32.

-Come on!

Anyone else here? 35. 38.

40. Two. 45. 48. £50. He's back in.

Was cheap, wasn't it? 55. 60? At £55, then, with the gentleman. All done?

Selling at 55.

-Dear me.

-I know. Those two missing ears were worth another £45!

It's a decent profit, but not what he'd hoped for.

Ruff!

Now, it's Anita's Oriental censer.

Does she scent a winner?

£30. Take five on that.

35. At £35. 40 can I say now?

All done at 35. Have you done?

Last chance.

Again, not the flyer she wanted.

But a profit's not to be sniffed at.

-Still, no losses so far.

-No loss.

Now, it's James's bargain little bronze taper holder.

I'm going to start you here at £32.

35 can I say now?

At £32. Anybody else in at 32?

At £32. Have you done?

What can you say about that?

It strikes right with someone

and earns James a very nice mark-up.

One for Anita, now, as her 1920s child's chair is up.

£50. 50, surely? 30, then?

30, I have. 32. 35. 38. 40.

And two. 45.

48. 50. And five. 60.

And five. 70?

65, gentleman's bid, yes?

£65. Selling at 65.

Another very nice profit for Anita. Well done.

Profit in the furniture section? That isn't easy to do. Well done.

Now, it's James's novelty inkwell,

modelled as an Etruscan jug.

£30 for it, can I say? £30?

-20?

-Oh, no!

You're right!

-Ten?

-Oh, no!

-Can I have... 12. 15.

18. 20. They're in, now.

James!

-It's running away.

-Are you in at 28?

-£30. £35.

-It's still a loss!

38, new bidder. And 40. Two.

The lady's bid at 45. All done.

There you are.

It climbs up to what he paid for it.

But that'll mean a loss after auction costs.

Now it's Anita's tennis-themed lot.

Has Wimbledon fever followed them to Hampshire?

Five pounds? Five pounds.

A pound if you like.

-One pound I have.

-Boo!

-One pound. Two, three.

-Thank you, darling!

Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. £10.

Yes!

At £10, all done. A tenner.

Yes!

Thanks to the charming lady to Anita's right,

that barely breaks even.

I think you owe her a glass of something.

Maybe "deuce"?

Now, it's James's portable liqueur casket.

Will the punters be tempted to take a swig?

50 I have, thank you. I'll take a fiver on that.

At £50, gentleman's bid.

55 just in front. 60 and five.

70. Five. 80. Five.

90. Five. 100. And ten.

120. 130. 140.

150? 140. All done?

At 140.

-Yeah!

-Well done, you.

-Good result.

-Happy now?

-That's a brilliant result.

A terrific result for James.

And he's definitely in the lead.

It's nice to see a wee smile on your face.

Now, can Anita repeat the trick

with her set of bronze firedogs?

£42. 45, can I say?

45, now. Lady's bid. 48?

-At £45.

-That's cheap.

At £45. Are you sure at 45?

-Come on!

-At £45, then.

No!

Oh, you poor thing!

What a shame. They didn't set the saleroom alight.

It's the excitement of the auction!

There, there, Anita.

Lastly, it's James's great hope.

His Chinese blue and white vase.

We have got a phone bid, which is good.

And I can start you here at £400.

-Yes!

-420, can I say? 420.

Blimey!

450. 470.

500. Thank you. And 20.

520. 550.

570. 600?

570, then. At £570 have you done?

At 570. All done.

Wow!

An enormous profit on the vase that sat unloved on a shelf for months.

What a spot, James!

Give him a wee clap!

Thank you!

Anita started this leg with £321.60.

After paying auction costs,

she made a small loss of £3.30

and finishes today with £318.30.

Whilst James began with £293.50.

After costs, he made a profit of - drum roll, please -

£520.44,

giving him £813.94 to carry forwards.

Although it does seem to have rather gone to his head!

-I'm going in the back, not the front.

-OK.

There you are.

-OK, darling?

-Come on, then.

Till next time, eh?

Next time on The Antiques Road Trip,

James is ready to strike!

I know a few auctioneers who could use that!

And Anita's feeling the force.

Do you like this? Do I look good in this?

Yeah, it suits you.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd