Janet Ellis v Valerie Singleton Bargain Hunt Famous Finds

Welcome to Bargain Hunt Famous Finds

from the Ardingly Antiques Fair at the South Of England Showground.

Today, we've got a famous children's TV presenter,

who's not only worked with children but also animals - live.

So today should be a piece of cake.

Against her is another former children's TV presenter.

She wanted to be a dancer

but, having started her career as an actress, she joined the BBC.

So she should be able to take all this in her stride. Ha!

Our teams today may well be stars,

but they don't get any special allowances.

They do get £300 to spend on their purchases and an expert to help.

So, let's meet today's star from the red team.

For the reds, we have Janet Ellis.

Janet has presented many shows,

and is fondly remembered from Blue Peter.

It cost £1.50 to make.

-Welcome, Janet.

-Thank you.

-So, what do you collect?

-Anything sparkly, got flowers on.

-Judging by my house, it's been going on a long time.

-Largely bling?

-I'm a bit of a magpie.

-Who have you brought?

-My good friend Tricia Higgins.

-Hello.

Very nice to see you. Why is Patricia your best partner?

We get on, so we won't waste time bickering.

We run exhibitions for contemporary artists so she's got a good eye.

Stand by, the stall holders of Ardingly!

Let's check out the opposition.

For the blues, another former Blue Peter presenter, Valerie Singleton OBE.

Starting in 1962, she presented Blue Peter for 10 years.

Get down! I told you not to do that!

'Recently, she has taken up travel presenting and writing.'

The only way to experience it all is on something like this.

Welcome, Valerie. You once went on an antiques course. Was it any good?

Very good - an ILEA course in the '60s.

I've got my book with me with all my notes, genned up on them!

I had forgotten everything but it was a long time ago.

-Who have you brought with you?

-A friend of mine, Joan, who I've known since the '80s.

What experience of antiques have you had, Joan?

I was in Portobello for quite a long time and I've been here.

-To Ardingly as a stall holder?

-I have. I only dabble, really.

How will you get on against this opposition?

I do have a beef with Janet. She beat me a few months ago on the Weakest Link.

So if she wins again, I shall be furious!

-A grudge match?

-Could be.

I didn't know it had gone that deep.

Now I know! Her gauntlet has just been dropped and it's a war!

I think you look formidable.

We are!

On that happy note, we will dosh out some money. There's your £300.

You know the rules. Your experts await. Off you go and very, very good luck.

This is not going to be child's play.

'Our teams might have some experience,

'but it's going to be tough.

'They get the help of our experts.

'No cardboard cutouts for the reds.

'What better expert to have at the helm?'

Janet and Patricia, does Art Deco do anything for you?

It doesn't, but I know the people it does work for

and I think they might have a bit of cash.

-It's such a particular look.

-Yes.

-It's never been out of vogue.

-I prefer it to brown.

-Very important!

Immediately recognisable. This is a classic.

Post-war, introduced in about 1948.

The Bush DAC 90.

-Differentiable from the 90A because...

-Stop there.

It's going over us.

The common-or-garden variety is the marble brown Bakelite case.

A real premium to be paid for the ivory cased example.

-How's that sounding?

-Liking it more.

Yeah. Love it, actually.

If there's damage to the case, I'd say walk away regardless.

But I like the look of that.

-There's another thing I like the look of.

-Is that good?

-We thought it was reasonable.

-What do you get for that money?

Would have made more ten years ago.

I'd still estimate 40 to 60 and we're a tad above low estimate.

That's not bad in Bargain Hunt terms.

-Need to get it lower!

-Now we're talking.

-Are we up for a little negotiating?

-Could we leave that to you?

-This is a team effort!

-OK.

'It looks like the team effort paid off.

'They bagged their first item for just £39. Not a bad start.'

-I love a nice piece of glass!

-Is that a nice piece of glass?

-Strange!

-I don't think... Do you know what it reminds me of?

-Tell me.

Nick Park Chicken Run. What do you think?

-Well, it must be by somebody.

-Well, let's look underneath and see.

We have a maker's name here, and the maker is Daum,

one of the best French glass makers.

Started the factory in the late 1870s

and have been making wonderful glass ever since.

This area is called the pontil.

When you see a polished pontil, you know it's quality.

-It's all one piece?

-It's all one piece.

-I would say it's post-1950s.

-How much is it?

-155...

GASPS

-Is that a lot of money?

-Do you think he might come down?

-He might.

But I want you to like it, to enjoy it...

-Joan doesn't.

-I don't like it but I can see...

We're thinking of things to make money and we probably will.

-Depends what we get it for.

-I think we have a chance of a profit.

-Are you going to do it?

-I don't mind trying.

Oh, Val. You do it.

'Valerie kept a cool head and bought the old bird for £70.

-That's our sort of thing.

-We love it.

You could have it for six months...

-I sense enthusiasm!

-It's really great. Beautiful.

-Wedgwood?

-It cries out, doesn't it?

Blue Jasperware.

Thankfully, Wedgwood always mark their wares.

Nice and heavy!

-No, I suspect it's not.

-Oh.

Given the quality, I think it's their competitor, Adams.

-Would you use it?

-Yeah.

-Definitely. It's beautiful.

We both covet it.

And imagine presenting cheese thus to guests!

-My word!

-More John the Baptist, actually!

ALL LAUGH

-Oh, very good! Do we know the price?

-£75.

-Yes.

-Fine.

With my auctioneer's hat on, unless it's important and early,

it's not flying out auction rooms.

My estimate on that would be as low as 40 to 60, would you believe?

So, there's work to be done!

We can bargain a bit, I think.

-WE can! "We"!

-Let's go.

-OK!

'With Paul by their side, the girls struck a bargain.

'It was theirs for £40.

-Bronze?

-Yes.

-I like the ribbing.

-What drew you to it?

-I like bronzes and I think animals sell.

It's got age. It's nicely modelled. I feel it could be a good buy.

When I look at bronzes, I want to look to see if there's a signature.

There doesn't appear to be one on this little animal.

But it's finely moulded. It's very nicely done.

It has quality and I love the patination.

It's very tactile.

People collect bronzes, so we're appealing to that side.

And there are also people who buy animals, in particular dogs.

So we're appealing to that as well, coming at them from two angles.

It's £95.

-Hm.

-Yes.

-It's not going to sprint away at £95.

Even though it's a greyhound!

But I think if we get it down to £50, £60, we may have a chance.

-I've got to ask cos I spotted it.

-Off you go. Fingers crossed.

-OK.

-I'm going to carry on looking.

'Joan certainly knows how to talk nicely to stall holders. £65 paid.'

-I like these.

-I do, too. Very English.

Aren't they just? Victorian English cottage, isn't it?

I like his green shoes!

He tells a story because artillery, the drum, the standard.

That helps us date it. I think it's post-Crimean War.

Dalmatian effect here. Kiln dust.

Coal fired Staffordshire kiln.

A bit of soot.

-It drops on the glaze.

-You always get that crackle.

-That's just part of aging?

-It doesn't worry me at all.

-It's all right, then.

-Yes. Well looked after. Come from a good home!

My estimate - I'm going to be mean.

-30 to 50.

-He wants 45.

-He does, doesn't he?

-Fair retail price, is it not?

-I've never seen 45 in a London shop.

-Well, exactly.

-It's worth a punt, you know.

The military aspect might just help it along.

-Your turn, then.

-I feared it might be. OK.

Right! OK!

'Janet plucked up the courage and got a fiver off, paying just £40.'

I don't think anything's caught my eye here.

-Val.

-Wow! Those are a bit kitsch!

They're quite good fun, quite glitzy.

I think they are absolutely fabulous!

It's a bit of 1950s kitsch.

-Val, what do you think?

-I like things that are kitsch.

I like the shape of the tails, the way they curl around.

-Are they Italian?

-They are Italian.

I love the way they're bringing a smile to your face!

Aren't the bases different from each other? It's quite nice.

-They're hand-blown.

-Would that add to value?

-Of course.

What do you think we might get?

This type of thing at the moment is popular.

They appeal to the retro crowd. 90 is too dear.

For £90, I would be wanting bigger, more intricate, perhaps figures.

-What would be a reasonable price?

-£40, £50.

-You have to bring it down a lot.

-That sounds good.

If you can get it for that, we have a chance of making a profit.

-I'll get him because I'm terrified I'm going to break them.

-OK.

Hello, stall holder!

'Valerie does love a bargain.

'The Venetian glass fish were theirs for £45.'

Our ladies today do like to shop.

They like to shop until they drop, but they've got to stop.

Their time is up. Let's keep abreast of what the red team bought.

The reds were hopeful the bidders would be in tune with their taste.

The Bakelite radio set them back £39.

They love the Adams cheese dish.

Will it have the same effect on the saleroom?

Janet and Patricia took a gamble on the Staffordshire figurine.

Let us remind ourselves what the blues bought.

Will the Daum glass bird fly or flop? They got a smashing deal.

Valerie couldn't see the appeal but was talked round by Anita and Joan.

The Venetian fish caught Valerie's eye. Will they hook the bidders in?

Will the auctioneer approve of what our teams bought?

Well, we trotted in from snowy Sussex to be at Criterion Auctions in Wandsworth

with our auctioneer of the evening, Daniel Webster.

-How are you?

-Good, thank you, Tim.

-Lovely to be back.

First up for Janet Ellis and Patricia,

-this Bakelite radio, which I'm told is a Bush DAC 90.

-Yes.

It's nice to be in the ivory Bakelite as opposed to brown,

which appeals to collectors.

It's a good item.

They paid £39 and got quite excited. What do you think it's worth?

There's profit there. 40 to 80.

They could double their money! That's exciting.

Good. Next is the Jasperware cheese dish. Not Wedgwood.

-Adams, is that right?

-That's right.

This is in perfect condition.

The top is. Unfortunately, when we unwrapped the base,

there was a small chip to the bottom.

-Oh, dear.

-It was well wrapped, but the other piece was in there.

-You found it in the packaging. That's been damaged in transit.

-Yes.

-Does that make a difference to value?

-It devalues it by £20.

-What's your estimate for it in this condition?

-60 to 100.

They paid £40 but, in fairness to them, we ought to make up that £20.

Anyway, their last item is the Staffordshire figure.

A Highlander relaxing, how do you rate that?

It's a fairly common early 20th-century figure.

-We've got £30 to £50.

-£40 was paid.

They need a bit of luck but overall I think these items are pretty good.

Just in case, let's look at the bonus buy.

Now, girls, you were extremely thrifty in your shopping operation.

-Unusually for us.

-I thought so, too.

£119 you spent.

You gave a massive £181 to Paul Laidlaw to spend on your bonus buy.

Paul, reveal all.

Behold! 1920s hi-fi!

If you say so!

-What do you think of that beast?

-Where's the rest?

-Good question.

Up until the 1930s, speaker an optional extra.

This little beastie, introduced in the early '20s, a million of these babies were sold.

-Oh, dear.

-That means there's a lot of them!

But poor survival rate.

You have here a scarce survivor. What do you think?

Is it just an ornament now? Does it have any practical purpose?

Hardcore radio collectors, and they exist,

love these, adore them, and, yes, there is good demand.

-How much is it worth?

-It is worth £50 to £80 anywhere, in my opinion.

-How much did I pay?

-Ten?

-Well, there's confidence for you(!)

£35. You could double your money on that.

You have a jolly good mull, girls. You'll decide after the sale of your first three items.

For the viewers at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Paul's horn.

Well, this is unusual, isn't it?

A British Thomson-Houston speaker. Ha!

Good fun. Something different. Hopefully, there's a collector.

Yes. People do love this old phono gear.

-What's your estimate?

-We've got 40 to 80.

£35 paid by that cunning monkey Paul Laidlaw, so he could do well.

That's it for the reds. Now for the blues. Valerie Singleton and Joan.

-Their first item is the clear glass cockerel ornament.

-Made by Daum.

Good maker. Fairly modern.

Modern Daum doesn't sell as well as the old, nevertheless, interesting.

-What sort of date do you think it is?

-'60s.

-Really?

-What does that make it worth, then?

-A wide 50 to 100.

-OK. £70 paid. So they might get lucky.

-They may.

Next is the dog.

-How old do you think that one is?

-It's probably 1930s, Tim.

On the underside, there's a hole,

which suggests it's been part of an Art Deco group

-with a woman and another dog beside. 50 to 80 on that.

-£65 paid.

That's a bit tight, too. What about these fish jobs?

-Murano fish?

-Bright, decorative things.

-50 to 80 on those.

-£45 paid.

They'll need their bonus buy, so let's have a look.

Valerie and Joan, you spent a moderate £180.

You gave £120 to Anita. Wee Anita, show us what you spent the cash on.

Oh, wow!

This is a little brass dish

to commemorate Navy Week in 1932 at Chatham docks.

They had Navy Weeks to bring the public in and let them see what they were doing.

What I like about it, Val...

-You said it had a Blue Peter connection.

-The Blue Peter motif.

-A little ready-to-sail Blue Peter.

-It's quite heavy.

-How much did you pay for it?

-£25.

-Wow!

That's not bad. Who would collect something like this?

People who collect navy memorabilia.

-You can't resist that.

-Although I'm not a brass person.

-Not brassy!

-Certainly not brassy, if you don't mind!

We don't want any of that! You don't have to decide right now.

Decide after the sale of your items.

Let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Anita's bit of brass.

-Daniel, what do you make of that?

-A nice brass naval souvenir.

Ashtray?

MTB Chatham.

MTB probably standing for Motor Torpedo Boat.

Would have been used to promote their services.

It's a correct period piece.

-What do you think it's worth?

-We've got 20 to 40 on it.

£25 Anita paid, I think she spotted something with potential,

just depends on whether there are any former naval personnel to appreciate it.

Thank you, Daniel.

-Janet and Patricia, are you excited?

-Sure am!

-Terribly.

-Yeah!

You've got good estimates but I have to tell you,

sadly, the carrier damaged the cheese dish

and it's got a flaky chip inside the foot rim.

I asked the auctioneer how much that depreciated it, he thought £20.

In fairness, we're going to give you the £20, a kind of credit note before you start.

He still thinks it's worth £60 to £100.

The first object, the radio set, is coming up now.

DANIEL: Bush DAC Bakelite valve radio. £40 for it. 30 if you like.

30 is bid. And 5.

40. 5.

We are in profit now!

50. Don't stop, sir. You have.

At £50 we're on the telephone now.

5.

55, we're in the room.

At £55 then...

£55 is...

plus £16. Now, the cheese dish.

Adams blue Jasperware cheese dish. At 50. 40, if you like.

40 is bid. 5. 50.

At £50 are we sure? At £50, then...

-£50!

-Well...

-A profit's a profit.

You made £10 profit and you've got your £20 credit.

-You are plus 30 on that object.

-OK.

-Now, the Staffordshire flatback.

Victorian Staffordshire figure, Highlander.

£20 for it. At 20. 10 if you like.

At £10 somewhere. 10 is bid.

£10 and we're away, are we sure...?

That's such a bargain!

Dear, oh, dear, oh, dear!

-What a bargain! 10 quid!

-Minus £30, however you look at it.

-You were plus 46. You are now plus 16.

-Oh, right.

Are you going to go with the British Thomson-Houston Bakelite speaker?

I think we should.

Yeah, you did us proud with the radio, so let's spin the dice.

-You're going to risk it?

-Yeah.

Here it comes.

Bakelite and lacquered aluminium speaker. £30 for it?

At 30, surely? 30 is bid. 5.

40.

5.

At £45, telephone's money. 45, are we sure? At 45...

You have plus £26, which is amazing.

-Do you know how difficult it is to make a profit?

-I know. We're doing OK.

-Congratulations.

-Valerie and Joan, do you know how the reds got on?

-Haven't a clue. No.

Well, we're pleased about that.

The Daum clear glass bottle, Anita found it.

£50 to £100 is his estimate.

You paid £70, so that sits in the middle.

-It's odd.

-Odd?

-But it's nice.

-Quirky.

-What we used to call unusual. Here it comes.

Daum clear glass cockerel. Neat thing for £30. No money. At 30.

30 is bid. 5. 40.

5. 50.

At £50 seated. At £50...

-ALL GROAN

-£50, you're minus 20.

-£20 down. Right.

-OK, here comes the dog.

Bronze greyhound, neatly patinated and 40 I have.

The money's with me at 40. 5.

50 with me. Still here at 50. 5.

New place. 60. One more, sir. No.

At £60, the money's here. Are we all done and sure?

-You're sure.

-£60. Minus 5.

-Not too bad, but just too tight. Look out, here come the fish!

-Yes!

Pair of 1950s Venetian style glass models of fish. 30 for these.

£30 someone, surely? 20?

-Oh, dear.

-At 20. 20 is bid.

At £20 now. Are we all done for 20?

22, I'll take. 25? 25 and back.

Are we all done at 25?

BANGS GAVEL

Minus 45 overall.

-Oh, well. So we have to go for the brass, don't we?

-You don't have to.

-Minus 45 could be a winning score.

-Hardly "winning"!

-Let's go for it.

-You're going with the bonus buy?

-Yes.

A decision is made and here it comes.

Brass commemorative dish. £10 I have.

The money's here with me at 10.

At £10, are we sure? For a tenner...

Ah, no. I'm so sorry.

Minus £15. Overall, you are minus £60!

ALL LAUGH

-Minus £60!

-Never mind. Thank you, Anita. Can we go home now?

Don't go home! Could be a winning score. We'll reveal all in a minute.

We don't have winners and losers, we have winners and runners-up.

I have to reveal that today, the runners-up are the blues.

Ah! Never mind.

Congratulations, red team.

You've done so well but it hasn't been your lucky day at the auction.

You guys are minus £60, but you've been magnificent players.

-I hope you've had a good time.

-We did enjoy it, until now!

-Anyway, the victors are the reds.

-We hear the word "winner".

You're actually going to take home money, which is unusual.

You got a profit out of your cheese dish, which was great.

-You are plus £26.

-Yeah!

-I'm giving you your £26.

Everybody knows how difficult it is to make a profit at all.

What are you going to do with your cash?

I'll give it to Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres.

It might seem a small amount but it'll go a long way in their hands.

-I'm really pleased!

-Fantastic. I hope you all enjoyed yourselves.

-Join us soon on Bargain Hunt, yes?

-Yes!

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