Episode 6 Antiques Road Trip

It is the nation's favourite antiques experts with ?200 each and

a goal, to scour Britain for antiques. It is a bit like fishing.

The aim is to make the biggest profit at auction. There will be

worthy winners. Will it be the high road to glory or the slow road to

disaster? Look out. This is the Antiques Road Trip. Today we begin a

brand-new week with a brand-new coupling of antiques officially in

our donors. Anita Manning is a Glaswegian auction expert who knows

what she likes. James Braxon is an auctioneer hailing from Sussex whose

charm is matched only by his sunny optimism. Might be the opportunity

of a bargain. Today they are driving a sophisticated French starlet and

she is already proving a bit of a handful. Look out. I cannot be in

first gear, I am in third, but I am in the wrong speed. It is taking me

a while to get used to this. You are doing very well. I am not sure that

car is used to the inclement weather. This week they travelled

through the East Midlands, East Anglia and East Essex to find out --

end up in Greenwich. On this first road trip, they are in Lincolnshire

heading for the auction in Boston in the same county. Both are experts

begin with a budget of ?200 each. Sadly, this has also brought some

unseasonable weather. Lovely weather, isn't it? Snowing on our

first day, James. I am not used to snow. It is always good weather in

Glasgow. Anita, that is a lie. They are approaching Stamford, a pretty

town with more than its fair share of antique beauty. Well, James. Well

done. Good luck. Good luck, darling. James is kicking off this shopping

extravaganza in Saint Martins antiques centre where he is meeting

dealer, Lucinda. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. Get comfortable,

there is a lot to see here. He seems to be heading back for the door.

Lucinda? I prefer the personal shopping touch. Don't we all, James.

Where will I find the bargains? We are selling in Boston and I want

small things, 15 to ?20. We have the pesto and mortar, they seem to be a

favourite. This is a fun bell. First impressions is an amazing choice.

Lovely variety. It is funny how some standout, they are flowing with

goodies. I would look at the price tags and then take a look to see if

the price tags match the items. If they do, I will concentrate on the

stand, because that is where I will find the bargains. He sounds like a

man with a plan. Chinese ceramics, a porcelain plate. Very pretty. Late

18th century, early 19th century. It is ?8, and it is old. That is over

200 years old. Right, you have sussed out the shop, how do you feel

about your first bite of the day? No problems or fears, it is just

challenges. Before long, James is going nuts for an unusual pair of

items. That is rather attractive. Brazil nuts, they are the colonels,

the raw state. They are, the pods of the Amazonian Brazil nut tree.

Inside these pods, up to 30 Brazil nuts would grow. They are the seeds

of the tree. You learn something everyday. It drives you, this! They

have been mounted on turned, wooden bases. Somebody has scratched 1910

on them, they are very unusual. They are natural history specimens. Not

sure they have many uses, ticket price is ?38 50. If I can get them

at 25, something like that they will be a candidate. He is rousing on.

And something on the other side of the shop has caught his eye. Nice

quality, but no prices on them. It might be the opportunity of a

bargain. Let's hope so. He is interested in a 1970s letter opener.

I want to feel the weight of it. It is substantial. Sheffield maker,

modern. But it is a nice letter opener, modelled as an old meat

skewer. Offering 30. OK. If she said 30, 35, I would consider it. What

did he say? He said yes, he will take 30. ?30. I will have it. One

item scored, but James cannot keep his hands off those nuts. These are

fun, I wouldn't mind by them for 25. Why don't we go for 30? Two items at

30? What about 28? Go on then, 28. The nuts are in the bag and he has

entered the game. The shopping machine is away. You have forgotten

your coat, James. I has also had a busy morning in another local shop.

But due to ongoing legal issues we cannot identify the shop or any

items and did not buy. But we can show you what she did pick up,

starting with this Victorian combination pen and pencil made with

metal and an insert gemstone. The propelling pencil would be hidden

within the hollow part of the pen, which also has a Fountain neighbour.

With no ticket price, and need to agree ?20 with the dealer to secure

her first by. Nice nails. I like that. Next, to catch her I was a

matching set of four silver salted dishes dating from the late Vic

Taurean or Edwardian period. -- Victorian. End of the 19th,

beginning of the 20th century. What is nice about them is they have the

liners, that is important. They also have a silver hallmark, showing they

hail from Birmingham. Birmingham was a famous centre for the manufacture

of small, silver pieces. These ones are hers for the bargain price of

?40. Anita's I is often caught by striking pieces of 20th-century

design, so her next purchase is possibly no surprise. It is a set of

1960s plates and platter produced by a Norwegian company. The charming

pattern known as Corsica was created by a designer, Mr Oliver. Today's

market loves this type of Scandinavian stuff. And I love it.

She bought the lot for a very reasonable ?60. That is an

impressive three lots at a total cost of ?120. Woodwork, Anita.

Normal service will now resume. -- good work. Having scored two items

he is very happy with, James is driving the 13 miles onwards to

Peter borough in Cambridgeshire. He seems to be enjoying the car. Bit of

a beast this. As much as I do hate it, I do love it. This gear shift

exercises your brain every time you come to change gear.

Here we are, approaching a dual carriageway and we are doing very

well. Now in third gear. That engine is sinking. Nice little canvas top.

He is having such fun! The imposing cathedral dates from the 12th

century and is far from the only beautiful piece of history the city

boasts. James is going towards the museum where he will spend the

afternoon visiting a unique local collection. He is meeting

interpretation manager, Stuart. Loving the doors. Hello, James

Braxton. I am Stuart, pleased to meet you. We have some real

treasures to show you. If you would like to come this way. Stewart is

taking James to a room in the museum which tells the story of Norman

Cross prisoner of war camp which operated during the Napoleonic wars.

These awards, which pitted France and its allies against a coalition

of powers, including Britain raged through the 18th and 19th centuries.

The prisoners of war were enemy combatants, mainly French soldiers

and sailors who had been captured by British forces. The camp operated

between 1796 and 1814, and held 7000 prisoners at any one time in its

location near Peter borough. The museum houses a vast collection of

Kraftwerk, made at the prisoners at the camp. We have a remarkable

collection of items, collected over the last century that were made by

the prisoners at Norman Cross. Why did they started making these

things? They were encouraged to make these things, it was a tradition.

The prisoners were allowed to sell the items they made to local people

or trade them for items like tobacco. There was a market held up

the east gate of the camp once a month and local people and traders

would come along and buy these items. The sculptures are made from

discarded beef and pork bones, polished until they look almost like

ivory. The prisoners were not allowed to keep knives so carved

them using crude tools they often fashioned themselves. The rigging on

this model of a Napoleonic era warship is made of plaited human

hair. Amazing! What an item. It is beautiful, many of them were sailors

so they would have intimately known ships like this. About a third of

the prisoners at the Battle of Trafalgar ended up at Norman Cross.

The flags on the top British and that would seem strange for a French

sailor making these. They are not daft, they are selling to the

British market. So they try to make everything look as British as

possible. It is an enlightened way of keeping prisoners fully occupied

so they have a good mental well-being and allowing them to

produce fabulous works of art. And whilst you're doing this, if you are

keeping the prisoners happy they have less reason to try and escape.

If you have ever seen the film, The Great Escape, everything they try to

escape in there, was tried by French prisoners at Norman Cross first.

Apart from the motorbikes. The Industrial Revolution was

transforming society and brought a new passion for ingenious machines.

That was reflected in the objects made by the prisoners. Here we we

have an iconic item. This is the Palace, as we referred to it. It

might look like a glorified dolls house, it was a working machine. It

is now too fragile to operate but would have been fully automated when

it was made. You turn the handle and it would have given water inside

over the water wheel. All the other characters in here would almost come

to life, if you like. They would start moving, dancers turning

around, soldiers going over the top. All of the mechanisms were powered

by one mechanism. They were working in a wooden hut by candlelight with

tools they could either be, borrow or steal. It is a triumph for the

human spirit. Thank you very much, it has been very enlightening. With

that, James needs to be off. He still has a bone to pick with Anita.

And speaking of Anita, she has now gone to St Ives, a market town which

was once home to Oliver Cromwell. She is aiming for this antiques

centre, and she is meeting the dealer there. Hello! Nice to meet

you. How are you? This is a lovely place, it is a bit chilly out there

but it is lovely and warm in here. What I a city you have got, there is

a bit of everything. I am sure there is something for you. You can spend

some of your money! I will do my best. I have got to pick up the

bagpipes! How do you hold these? Well, don't ask me, Lassie. Now,

that goes around there. Oh, yes. Now, that, I blow through there. Be

honest, you really have no idea what you are doing. Blow through there.

Oh, dear. But on the other side of the shop, Rod has got something

which might be more than just hot air. I have left this one out for

you. This is genuine World War II, in its box. It has got 28 quid on

it, that has got to be a good price. Every house should have one. Every

house? This is a conversation piece at dinner? That is it. Look at that

one there! Oh, my god. It looks like a big fly. Steady on. That is also

World War II, and again, it is ?38. Well, the market loves strange and

quirky items. That's right. This dealer, who specialises in this, she

will sail three or four gas marks a month. -- she will sell three or

four gas masks a month. Well, I knew there was a lot of pollution in the

air! I will tell you, that is such a mad thing, it has got a chance. I

can find out the best price for you. See if they will do it for 20

quid? Which one, this one? That one there. Let me give the dealer a

call. I am thinking that it is so mad that it might be a bit of fun to

buy that. Will you do 20 thanks. What have I done?! You have bought a

gas mask, Anita. Pay attention! Thank you so much. It has been

terrific. That is yours. That is three kisses in this shop, Anita. I

think you have got a fan. Anyway, that brings the first day to a

satisfying close. An absolutely freezing morning

greets them back in the 2CV and raring to go. James, it is freezing,

it is snowing. That is not nearly enough to stop them, though. So far,

Anita has spent ?140 on four lots. The Victorian pen or pencil. The set

of silver salts, the Norwegian plate and platter, and a World War II gas

mask. James, meanwhile, has been quite miserly by comparison,

spending only ?58 on two lots are the ornamental Brazil not pods, and

the silver paper knife. Unusually for the Road Trip, James actually

seems to know where he is. This area, Lincolnshire, is very famous

for things like potatoes. All of this, it is a great agricultural

food basin, isn't it? Pay attention, Anita. I would not want to be a

sheep today. Implying there are some days you would want to be a sheep,

James? Anyway, they are driving towards Spalding in Lincolnshire.

Amongst other things, Spalding has the proud boast of being the place

where the first bar code used in Britain was used. This is their

first stop, in the snow. Here we go, graceful as ever, James! Since

Anita had a good day of buying yesterday, she is going to be

spending this morning putting the spring back in her step at the

Flower Bulb Museum, where she is meeting the curator. Hello. As James

was trying to tell Anita earlier, Spalding sits in an area known for

its agriculture, and in particular for the cultivation of flowers and

bulbs. It is this industry which the museum celebrates. Of course today,

it is hardly the weather for growing flowers, but Anita is keen to find

out what makes this area so blooming ideal for the job just like anything

in farming, it all comes back to the fertile soil. That is how it started

off, you had good soil. We did, about 18 inches of the finest land

in the world. I think I can hear the pride of a Lincolnshire man! Flower

bulbs have been cultivated in this area since the late 1800s. The

industry boomed in the 20th century, when up to 10,000 acres of local

land was given over to flowering beauty. For much of the century,

Spalding was particularly famous for its wide fields of colourful tulips.

In order to cultivated tulip bulbs, the farmer must turn one bulb into

several. First you have to plant your bulbs and grow a flower. Once

the flower head is mature, the real work begins. They take the heads off

and leave the bulbs in and let them die down. Then they develop. When

you lift this bold, you have got the old bulb, the mother bulb, which has

died. That is the part that is left. And it has created three more bulbs.

So, with each bulb, you are getting three, it is propagating itself as

Chew Magna that's right. If only we could do that with you, Anita. Once

the bulbs are separated, they must be cleaned and graded for size. This

was an invention by a Mr Tennant, who came from a village up the road.

He created this thing. There are three different sizes. The

medium-sized ones would be next, and the big ones would be left at the

top? That's right. I suppose you could be stirring the pots, lighting

the fire, doing the washing up the same time. Simple but effective.

Tulip bulbs grown in this area must be cleaned by hand, which is a

labour-intensive business, and this contributed to the eventual decline

of the British tulip industry. Daffodils, however, are still grown

in quantity in Lincolnshire, and George is taking Anita to an area of

the museum which shows how different daffodil bulbs were produced from

the nineteen twenties. We have got a box of bulbs there. What do we do

with these ones? These are daffodil bulbs, and they have been lifted.

Now, they are going to be put through a machine which cleans them.

The original use was for cleaning potatoes. And then, they realised

that by changing the workings on the top, they could actually put

daffodils through it as well. Then, when the bag is full, they take it

over to these scales here. This is used for weighing it. There is a 100

weight at the back, they way it and then they go off to market. Now, it

is time for Anita to get onto her it has been a most interesting visit.

Absolutely fascinating. So, thank you so much. Meanwhile, James has

driven about 13 miles to Long Sutton in Lincolnshire. Through just about

the worst weather the Road Trip has ever seen.

The market town of Long Sutton can trace its history back to the Norman

period and further, making it the ideal location for James to seek out

his next item. He is striding off into Long Sutton

Antiques Centre, where hopefully it is a little bit warmer. He

immediately heads upstairs to the area run by his namesake James.

James! I am James. That makes it very easy. Dealer James 's an Xbox.

Best not to make any cheeky offers here. -- an ex-boxer. This one is

slightly lopsided, isn't it? James the Younger has a collection of

items to show old Brackers downstairs. This is a little

collection. Founded in 1894, John Beswick is a London company which

has produced collectables are ramming figures for more than 100

years. I think your best bet if you were to buy them, not to teach your

granny to suck eggs, but I could do them cheaper as a little bundle. The

whole lot? The whole lot. You have got little birds, various states,

and then you have got this fellow, God bless her, with Sandringham not

far away. You're right Thomert just down the road. The Queen might be at

the sale, you never know. Unlikely, James. I have heard she visits

Boston auctions quite a lot, to be honest injection I doubt it. Anyway,

you have got some good doggies there. And I suppose you have got

people doing racing pigeons around here. If you check the book prices

on Beswick, I know that is cheap, but you are going to buy the lot for

less than a pigeon. How much could I have the lot for? ?80, the whole

lot. Ten items. James, I am not going to fiddle around with you. I

am glad you're not. That's lovely. He who dares wins. So, James

acquires the ten pieces for a bargain ?80. He can now flicked off

to his next shot. Still snowing! Anita is about 27 miles away, and

she is taking refuge from the weather in this antiques shop. It is

cold out there! Nice to see you. Can I have a look around? You certainly

can. Very kind, Alan. I really like this stuff. It is 20th century,

latter half of the 20th century, but look at the colours. Look at these

wonderful greens and blues. Made in Malta. The colours that they used

reflected the blue of the sky, the green of the sea. And also, the gold

of the sand. I think it is just lovely. Very nice. Clearly, not nice

enough. Upstairs, Anita has found a plate

that she might just checked out. Alan, I quite like this plate. This

is Czechoslovakian, and I would say that it is fairly new, am I right?

You are probably right, I do not think it has got any age to it.

Quite. It is a cabinet plate, transfer printed with a cobalt and

guilt ridden. The ticket price is ?12. Am I able to buy that for in

the region of five or ?6? I would rather ?6 and ?5. ?6, I will go for

it. Thank you very much. Smashing. In terribly efficient fashion,

Anita's last buy is in hand. So, James had better get a move on.

James is visiting Jack. Hello, James. Hello, Jack. One of the more

unusual antique shops I have been into. This is a huge treasure trove.

It is a vast collection of mad stuff. Lovely. Whether I can find a

bargain here is another matter. Most items in here don't have prices, Sir

James will have to check them as he goes around and Jack is no pushover.

He could be tough. He could eat off. I don't think I will be walking

away with anything too cheap. I hope not. That seems quite priceless.

James remains optimistic. This is where the cheap stuff is, is it? I

don't have any cheap stuff. You do now! Be careful, that bottle

survived, but you might be able to milk a profit. It still has the

stopper in. There is one mineral bottle hailing from Boston along

with other vintage glass bottles. Slight crack in that. How much for

that one? ?5 for the lot. All of those? Yes. I will take them. I

quite like this. It is a brass name plaque which would have hung out a

solicitor's offers. What sort of data do you think they are? 1950s, I

would have thought. I think you are right, I think they are more likely

to be 1930s. What could Jack let it go for? ?10. I was hoping for ?5.

You hoped wrong. ?10? Go on, I will give you ?10. I want you to eat

tonight. So, James spends a total of ?15 on his collection of bottles and

a brass plaque. There you go. And now he has all of his lot for

auction. So, it is time for experts to reveal that purchases to each

other. Here we go. I like it. It is quite a variety isn't it. Some of

them from Austen. What are they? Nuts. Just like me and you. And you

have a zoo of creatures. Did you pay a lot of money for them? ?80. Ten,

that was a good buy. She is impressed, now for Anita's lots.

Shall I reveal mine? That is a mixed bag. Covering all fronts here,

especially the home front. Very good, James. How much did you pay

for that? I paid ?20. That seems cheap to me. Just a bit of daftness.

I like your plates? They are Norwegian plates. And the propelling

pencil and pen. Is it silver? I would say 22? ?20. I nearly had it.

Maybe best auctioneer win. It is all smiles face-to-face but what is

their appraisal behind closed doors? I think I have the edge. The salt

holders might do well, the pen might do well. The letter opener in silver

for ?30. And all of that Beswick and ?80, he has done very well. Anita

and James had travelled through eastern England to Boston in

Lincolnshire. The historic town of Boston gave its name to its larger

relative, the city of Boston, Massachusetts in the USA. They have

seen rain, hail stones and snow on this leg, and now, glorious

sunshine. God bless the English weather! Look at it now, it is

beautiful. It is isn't it. It is still a bit cold. They are aiming

for Boston auctions. Here we are, James. Glorious sunshine. Our very

first auction. How exciting. Good luck. They are sweet. Graham

Somerfield is the auctioneer, so what does he make of their lots? I

think the collection of Beswick will do well. The 60s Scandinavian

plates, 40 to ?50 I think we'll fetch on those. Both Anita and James

started with ?200. James spend ?153 and has five lots to show for it.

While Anita spends ?146 and also has five lots in this sale. The auction

is about to commence. Here we go. First up is James's solicitor's

sign. I will start at 20 on a commission, have I got 22? 22 on the

Internet. 25, off 28 on the Internet. ?30 anywhere? A profit the

James? Very pleased with that. 28. ?18, I wasn't expecting that. Now,

I's Victorian combined pen and pencil? I can start the bidding at

?35. ?38 on the phone. 40 on the Internet. 402I have got on the

phone. 45 on the Internet. 48 anywhere? I have got 50. 55, 55

anywhere? Write on! There is a lot of smooching going on today. Now,

James's silver paper knife. Will it cut the mustard? I will start at 32,

have I got 35? 35 on the Internet. I will let it go. It manages to carve

out a small profit. We are heading in the right direction. It is the

Brazil nut pods up next, will the audience go crazy for them? I will

start at ?30? 32 on the phone, have I got 35? 35 on the Internet, have I

got 38? 40 in the room, I have got. NUT fanciers everywhere. Last and

final, 42. A cracking profit per James. My nuts came home. Now it is

Anita's turn with hope ass Maskell. ?30? Surely? 15 on a commission. 18

on the Internet. ?20, anybody anywhere. Yes, we have ?20. 25? 25,

yet we have 25, is it 28? 208I have got, is their 30? It has got to go.

Some determined work from the auctioneer get Anita a neat little

profit. You got out of that one, Anita. Next it is Anita's check is a

vacuum plate. ?5. ?6 anywhere? Seven I have got, is it eight? Eight I

have got, is it ten? ?10 I have got with the lady at the front. ?12

anywhere? Let it go. Check it out. A profit all the way. It is all

happening or you. Another four Anita as her set of four silver salts go

up. Start at ?28. Have I got 30? 35 on a commission. 38 pounds, 38 on

the Internet. 45 is it 48? 48 anywhere? Anita earns a small trough

it. Now James's collection of vintage glass bottles and one marked

with the name of this town. 20 I have got in the room, is their 22?

Abhay got 28? 28 at the back, standing. 30, is their 32? ?30.

Local pride wins and sees him clear to a very smart profit. ?30, it is a

good turn. I wasn't expecting that. From the frozen land of Norway,

Anita's 1960s plates and platter will stop will they serve up a

profit? 30? I have 30 on the phone. 35, is their 38? 40 on the phone, is

their 42? 42 in the room, is their 45? Last and final. Bad lot, and

that obliterates her profit. Was that 45 or 42? I think it was 42. To

conclude, James's collection of Beswick figures. A lovely one this

one. We have had a lot of interest. ?150. Crikey! 170 on the phone. 180

anywhere? It absolutely flew. Wonderful, wonderful. Happy with

that. I should think so. James's zoo of Beswick figures cements his wing

and he is now the expert to beat. Anita started with ?200 and after

paying costs she made an unfortunate loss of ?2 50, giving her ?197 to

carry forward. James also started with 200 pounds, but managed to make

an impressive profit of ?97 giving him ?297 to be going along with.

James, you are absolutely wonderful. Lucky. Modest. A new strategy, wide

Beswick animals? It worked for me. We are off again. Goodbye, see you

on the next leg, you two. Next time on the Antiques Road Trip, Anita has

got a one track mind. Is he married? James is trying to multitask.

Concentrating and not trying to stick my tongue out, which is what I

do when I am concentrating.