Eric Knowles v Danny Sebastian - Showdown Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

This is Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.

The show that pitches TV's

best-loved antiques experts

against each other

in an all-out battle for profit.

Let's make hay while that sun shines.

Each week, one pair of duelling dealers will face a different

daily challenge.

I've got a heavy profit here.

Putting their reputations on the line...

Who's there?

They'll give you the insider's view of the trade.

HE GROWLS

Along with their top tips

and savvy secrets.

That could present a problem for me.

Showing you how to make the most money...

Ready for battle.

..from buying and selling.

Get in there.

Today, prepare yourselves, as it's the finale

of our week-one contest of collectables.

Yes, it's the mighty Showdown.

Coming up - Danny makes up his own prices.

-What did you say before? 60 quid?

-No, I didn't.

Oh, didn't you? Sorry, I've got muddled up with somebody else.

Eric gets passionate about his pottery.

You know, this is a ceramic work of art

and I would consider it sacrilegious

to even think about putting a turkey on it.

And will our dealers make any profit at the Showdown auction?

You just never know who wants what.

This is Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.

CAR HORN HOOTS

Welcome, one and all, to an epic four-round bout of the bargains.

Yes, today we see our dynamic duo

face off against each other across every corner of the antiques atlas,

hoping to turn would-be rarities into real riches.

It's the Showdown and the last chance for our dealers to prove

they're the best of the best.

First up is our rummaging rogue, a thrifty grifter with more

knick-knacking nous than you can shake a stick at.

Money is his mantra, cash is his karma -

it's Danny...

Ha-ha. I've got a good feeling I've got this one in the bag.

And his opponent is the original aristocrat of antiques.

He has an exquisite eye for excellence

when it comes to pottery, there's only one man it's got to be -

it's Eric...

I've got to be mean, I've got to be keen,

I've got to be hungry, I've got to be angry.

Our experts have £1,000 of their own money to spend across four

different locations.

At auction, a foreign market,

a car-boot sale and an antiques fair.

Showdown rules dictate that at least half of their eight purchases

are put up for auction where their fate is down to the bidding public,

which could be the difference between victory and defeat.

So, here we go.

Danny Sebastian and Eric Knowles,

it's time to put your money where your mouth is.

Well done, good to see you again.

Always a pleasure, always a pleasure.

The finale, if you will, of a wonderful week together.

-A wonderful week.

-Indeed. This could either make or break us, can't it?

Well, it is, you're quite right, it is a make or break.

So, it says here, "Welcome to the mighty Showdown.

"The rules are simple.

"You must each buy two items at every one of your regular

"Put Your Money challenges.

"You have £1,000 to spend."

"You can sell up to four items wherever you want.

"The rest will be sold at the Showdown auction

"in direct competition with your opponent."

Which is you.

-And don't you forget it.

-I shan't.

-OK.

The winner is the expert who makes the most profit.

-And it says at the bottom...

-BOTH:

-"Good luck."

ERIC LAUGHS

-We're both going to need it.

-I think we might do.

Well, fortune favours the bold,

and they'll need to be as round one is the auction.

So, our collecting combatants

head to Lawrences auction house in Crewkerne's, Somerset,

to buy their first two items

and Danny knows controlling the cash flow is key.

I think my strategy is going to be to buy something relatively cheap,

that way I haven't got a lot to lose.

Eric, meanwhile, is feeling more hopeful.

When buying for Showdown at an auction, you know,

you should have the odds in your favour, because quite often

you can get a better deal than you are if you're going

to buy from a dealer.

Well, quite so, but before the bidding begins, there's just time

to view what's on offer and Eric is weighing up a set of brass scales.

At this moment in time, I'm not absolutely certain what

they would have been used for.

From an engineering point of view, this is a precision instrument.

I mean, they're by Averys, you know, big name in the world of scales

and I love the fact that they've been

almost given this bronzed effect.

Maybe, if I get it, I might do a little bit of research.

Meanwhile, across the same room,

Delboy has spotted something he likes the look of too.

A job lot of retro furniture,

including a dresser and two bedside tables.

This G Plan furniture came out about 1960s.

It's still being made today.

I know it's saleable, I know it's in vogue, I know people like it.

The beauty about this dressing table is

if you don't want it as a dressing table,

they take the mirror off the back and they just use it as a desk.

Everyone's a winner.

So, our pair have had time to check out the lots

and as the auction begins...

Morning, everyone.

..it's looking like they'll have to work hard,

as not only is it a packed room today,

there are no guide prices, so they'll have to use

all their antiquing know-how to buy at the right price.

First up, the brass scales Eric spotted earlier.

I'm not sure what they're for, but I'm going to have a go.

They're just a nice quality.

Lot three. Interest here and I have to start at £42.

45 now, at 45, on my right?

-All done, I sell at 45.

-GAVEL BANGS

Eric's balance drops by £55.54

after auction fees are taken.

With any auction, it's good to get a start,

so I'm feeling good already, it's given me a lift.

So, onwards and upwards.

Across the saleroom, Danny's interest is piqued

by a Rolls-Royce embellished men's grooming set.

It's got the double Rs on it, quality, through and through.

It's against you, sir. 18, £18 on my immediate left.

-Here, here.

-That's it, Danny, make yourself seen.

£20, in the corner at £20. Last time.

-GAVEL BANGS

-Get the hammer down.

-Thank you very much.

-That'll do me. £20, it's a lovely lot.

Well, there's a well-groomed opponent if ever there was one.

Yes, dapper Danny bags his first item for a thrifty £24.68

including fees.

But, what does he make of this high-rolling hygiene set?

Zip works perfect, it's leather-bound,

every piece is there.

Would make a nice gift for a gentleman.

So, Danny's keeping to his cheap and cheerful strategy

and it's not long before Eric edges back in front,

buying an alphabet sampler

for £43.20 with fees.

I mean, it should be round about 1800,

it's been relined as well, so, somebody's obviously thought

a lot about this sampler to go to all that trouble and expense.

So, hopefully I'll decipher who did it and what year they did it.

With two buys in the bag, Eric can settle back,

but Danny is still looking to secure his final purchase.

The job lot of furniture that he spotted earlier.

Will he stick to his buy cheap policy?

30, five, 40, five, 50.

£50, still in the corner. Selling at 50.

Last time, £50.

-GAVEL BANGS

-I'm happy with that. £50.

And that job lot of furniture

with costs comes to just £61.70,

so our auction room assailants have survived round one.

Time to look at the scoresheet so far.

From a £1,000 budget, Eric has spent £98.74,

so, has just over £901 left in the piggy bank.

Danny's haul cost him £86.38, leaving him

with over £913 for the next three rounds.

And let round two commence - the foreign market.

Our savvy spenders have converted their pounds to euros

and hopped over the Channel to a very early start

at Sint-Truiden's market in Belgium.

And it's fair to say that Eric feels like a fish out of water.

I don't know this part of the world and I don't know the way

the dealers operate, I don't know what they're selling.

Well, Eric might have a belly full of butterflies,

but Danny is positively relishing being a Brit abroad.

Plenty of nice stuff here, there's plenty of nice stuff.

After some fairly aimless antiques ambling,

Eric is feeling a slight generation gap when it comes to today's gear.

Much of what I've seen so far isn't as old as me.

Nor as good-looking or charming, no doubt.

But perhaps this piece of stained-glass will fit the bill.

It's an interesting design, probably dates to about 1910,

so it's a bit Arts and Crafts-y.

-Can't see any damage on it. So, you said 50 euros?

-Yes.

Good buy, old friend.

OK.

And that quick 50 euro sale converts to £37.04 and Eric

is off to a cracking start.

Meanwhile, Danny is sticking to his thrifty spending strategy,

hoping to shovel in the shillings with a 1939 Swiss Army shovel pouch,

putting him back £3.70.

While Eric has secured somewhere to hang his hat,

purchasing a bamboo hall stand

at 50 euros or just over £37.

I've never seen one before with a crescent-shape mirror.

Date-wise, this is probably round about maybe 1900,

1910, it's got some age to it.

What makes it even more interesting for me

is that the hooks are actually simulated bamboo,

they're actually cast iron. That's coming home with me.

Having rounded the market a few times,

Danny is still looking to collar his final buy.

Not a good position to be in, really.

But, luckily for old Delboy,

he soon stumbles on a glass display dome that he likes the look of.

-How much?

-That is 70.

-DANNY SHUDDERS

I want a good price. 45?

-No.

-65?

OK, that's OK.

65?

-65.

-Thank you very much.

And that smashing deal converts to £48.15.

Originally, I suspected it had a clock in it.

Nowadays, people put shoes in it, they put lovely perfume in it,

all sorts, really.

Very, very nice, very, very decorative

and very, very commercial.

Our talented treasure hounds have made it through round two

and whilst they wing it back to Blighty

and convert their euros to pounds,

let's see what sort of money they've got left to spend.

From a £1,000 budget, Eric has so far spent £172.82.

Leaving him with just over £827.

Danny ha forked out £138.23,

which leaves him over £861 at the midway mark.

But they probably won't need much of that cash in round three -

the car boot.

Our band of bargain seekers descend

on the midweek Marks Tey car booter in Essex.

It's a rainy start and the stalls are scarce.

Well, here we are, the midway point.

Are you happy so far with what you've bought?

The G Plan items I bought.

-Oh, yes?

-Well, I've got a bit of a bonus,

I got three items in one...

-Ah.

-..but one of the items...

I'm not really quite sure what to do with it yet,

it's just not up to par, so I'll have another think about it.

I was quite pleased with me bamboo hall stand

that I bought in Belgium.

Having said that, you know, I know that bamboo was big in the '70s,

cos we had it, but I'm not so sure today.

Well, as luck has it, it's back in vogue, it's very commercial,

people like it, so, you'll probably make a tidy profit on that.

Right, so what goes around comes around again, does it?

-There it is, what goes around comes around.

-Excelente.

-Well, lucky for you.

-Well, lucky for both of us,

we've got the best part of about £800 apiece to spend, haven't we?

We've still got plenty of dosh. Plenty to chew at.

Yeah, plenty to chew at, but is there enough to go at?

That's the question.

Listen, just go for it and remember, we're all scared, son.

-Well...

-OK.

-..talk for yourself.

-OK, bye.

Well, there's a turn up for the books,

The Knowledge Knowles getting tips from the upstart Delboy

and Danny's not just feeling flush with his advice.

I've still got a lot of money left and I want to get it spent.

I want to buy something that's quite expensive,

because if I don't speculate,

I'm not going to be able to accumulate.

You're looking for something that you think could be worth

popping into the auction.

And with that in mind, Eric decides to take the biscuit, well,

the biscuit barrel.

-How much is the tin?

-20 quid.

I like that, what does it say at the bottom?

Macfarlane, Lang and Co.

20 quid, put it there.

That's the tin that takes the biscuit, quite literally.

Yes, we've heard that one before, Eric. Now, what have you bought?

I like this one, I love the decoration on it.

During the 1920s, Dutch boy and Dutch girl scenes were very popular,

not just with biscuit tins,

but with all manner of decorative objects.

So, for £20, I think that's a pretty good start.

While Eric has secured his biscuit-y first buy,

Danny has been trekking around the car boot

and come across this figurine and pays a hefty £75 for it.

What really drew me to this piece

was that it's in the style of Franz Bergmann.

He specialised in pieces made of bronze.

This isn't bronze, this is spelter.

And what I really like about this piece,

it really reminds me of Eric The Knowledge Knowles.

Just wandering through the desert on the back of his camel,

selling his carpet wares.

What's he on about Eric on a camel?!

Oh, yes, oh.

Well, with cash on the hip,

the wise man of wares continues his journey and arrives at the dawn

of long distance communication and finds a pub sign that speaks to him.

Best price?

I'll give you a bit of time to think.

I just, you know, I mean, you know.

-What's your best offer?

-Well, what did you say before, 60 quid?

-No, I didn't.

-Didn't you? Sorry,

I've got it muddled up with somebody else.

Nice try, Delboy, making up your own starting price.

-75 quid.

-65, we've got a deal.

-Eight, 68.

-DEALER LAUGHS

A cheeky haggle and Danny secures the pub sign for £68.

Beep, beep, beep, beep, b-beep, beep, beep.

That spells money.

Nice pub sign I've got here.

This is your early communication, this is your early telephone.

Basically, you know, getting back words to the sweethearts

and so forth back home, it's quite sweet, really.

I just hope I get a sweet profit on it.

And that's Danny's final purchase for the car boot,

but Eric isn't far behind.

Having found an item from the Far East with a £40 price tag.

I've actually just gone and bought meself

a very nice Japanese lacquer panel.

Probably belongs to the Meiji

period - 1880, 1890, maybe.

It may have actually come off a cabinet,

it is beautifully lacquered.

And if I say so myself,

and I hope you're watching,

Delboy, £40 very well spent.

Yes, both our experts are brimming with competitive spirit,

and neither are sitting down on the job,

so let's see how they're doing so far.

From a £1,000 budget, Eric has spent £232.82.

Which leaves him with just over £767 in the kitty.

Danny has spent a little more - £281.23,

which gives him over £718 for the final round.

So, the majority of our dealing duo's cash is coming with them

to round four - the antiques fair - where our pair have one last chance

to barter, bargain and buy at a fair in Newark.

My strategy today is to buy some big, meaty items,

hopefully what I'm going to make a lot of profit with.

Well, that's the name of the game, Danny boy,

but what about old Knowledge Knowles?

So, I'm trying to think big and I'm trying to buy big,

but I've got a lot of legwork to do.

With our boys on similar strategies,

Eric gets to weaving his way through the wares

and the pottery prince soon zeros in on his first target -

a blue-and-white platter.

-For this Davenport blue-and-white?

-150.

So, watch carefully as Eric pirouettes into a haggle...

Is there any movement on the 150 at all?

..to which the seller reacts with a tug on Eric's heartstrings.

I'm losing money...

-Oh, I don't want that.

-Well...

-Oh, I don't want that.

-I'm only doing it for you.

-You're only doing it for me?

-Yeah.

-OK.

And Eric yields to its £150 price tag.

I do love early Staffordshire

blue-and-white transfer printed ware.

This dish actually probably dates to round about 1825 or 1830.

You know, this is a ceramic work of art

and I would consider it sacrilegious

to even think about putting a turkey on it.

Hmm, so while Eric considers vegetarianism,

Danny is finding his sea legs, having spied a wooden trunk.

This is nice, I like this.

Got all the bits and pieces here, hasn't it?

-Yeah, it's a sea chest.

-Oh, it's a sea chest. In the ships?

-Yeah.

-Back in the day?

-Yeah.

-What sort of period?

-19th century.

19th century, yeah.

-It's even got the document compartment.

-Oh, yeah.

You can lock it through there to leave it in the chest

or it lifts out so you can take it away and...

Yeah, I see. What's the base like?

Um, it's got some metal pieces on, I think.

Oh, yeah, yeah. Oh, that's all nice and solid, isn't it?

Yeah, beautiful, that.

-Million-dollar question.

-This is one for you, Paul.

-This is one for you, Paul.

-150.

Oh, Paul, that can't be the death of it, do a bit better than that.

-I can't, I'm afraid.

-I'm going to resell it.

-Yeah.

What you lose in the fire, you gain in the ashes.

You know that. Would 120 buy it?

-No, that's too low for us.

-One and a quarter?

-DEALER SIGHS

-140.

-130.

-Five.

I'll have a deal at that.

I love luggage and what I've got here is a beautiful sea trunk.

Dated about late Victorian, I would've said.

This sort of quality you don't really see a lot of these days

or if you do see it, you pay a lot of money for it.

I've paid 135, I'm going to have fun getting a big profit.

With his antique anchor well and truly lifted, Danny finds himself

a potential galley in the form of a retro kitchen cabinet.

And he's got a price in mind.

I'm not going to mess about, I'm going to come straight in,

-would you take f-fif...

-No, I won't.

Well, a tongue-twisted Delboy didn't even manage

to get the price out and the vendor's knocked him back.

-What's the best you're going to do for me?

-Do 90 quid on it.

-Oh, you can do a little bit better than that.

-I can't, it's £90.

-You can!

-It's a good price, that is.

-I want a better one.

-You can't have one.

-You can!

I want to have a little bit of profit.

OK, second time lucky, Danny, now, nice and clear.

80 quid. Oh, lovely.

-Thank you very much.

-That's OK.

-Thank you.

Yes, the cat may have got his tongue,

but his persistence is rewarded.

£80 paid for this pine European cupboard

it's in lovely condition, it's got great proportion,

even the handles are nice,

but the best part about it is this bread shelf that we've got on it.

Don't really see that with English furniture -

must be a European thing.

I think I'm going to make a load of bread with this number.

Yes, Danny's all buttered up with his final purchase.

Meanwhile, Eric has acquired a decorative pedestal for £100,

which brings his buying to a close.

It started off life at the Burmantofts factory in Leeds.

They made all manner of art pottery, this, obviously,

originally would have had a jardiniere on it.

It's an art pottery that was flourishing

in and round about the 1880s,

through to the early part of the 20th century.

But for £100, I just had to buy it, because these columns,

they're just so cheerful, they just give your spirits a lift.

So, with our bargaineers now bought up,

let's find out what they spent overall.

From £1,000, Eric spent £482.82.

Danny has spent more but only marginally - £496.23 in total.

I've got to ask you, what's your favourite buy?

Well, Knowledge, I say it's got to be the sea chest.

-Yeah?

-It's got to be.

-OK, what about your biggest profit,

where do you think it's going to come from?

The biggest profit might well come from my little Bergman-style

-figurine.

-Oh, the camel?

-That's right.

-Oh, right, OK.

For my part, I'm going to say my favourite object has got to be

my Davenport blue-and-white platter with the chinoiserie design on it.

I remember it, yeah.

And where do you think your best profit is going to come from?

-Probably going to be my bamboo hall stand.

-Oh, yes, I remember that.

-I liked it as well.

-Yeah.

-Yeah, nice buy, that was.

Yeah. Well, that, as you say, that's the buying done,

-all we've got to do now is...

-BOTH:

-Sell it!

So, with their treasure chests brimming with bargain hunting

bounty, our fearless foragers must use every

ounce of their wisdom to decide which of their items will be

sold privately and which will be offered up to the often

merciless beast of the Showdown auction.

In his Northamptonshire HQ,

Danny is contemplating this critical decision.

The four items I'm going to put in is firstly my classic car

grooming set.

You might find it a little bit odd that I'm taking from one auction

and putting into another,

but I've got a feeling it's a bit of the sleeper I bought there.

So I hope that does well.

I'm also going to put in my spelter figure in the style of Bergman.

Hopefully, someone will look at that and think to themselves,

"Oh, that is quite nice," great definition, and bid it right up.

Then I'm going to put in my Swiss Army shovel pouch.

There's a lot of interest out there with people with militaria.

So hopefully, I'm going to find

two people in the auction room who's going to be right up for it.

My pieces of G Plan. I do like G Plan - good, quality furniture.

I'm going to split it up,

I'm going to sell my dressing table either as a desk or

a dressing table, and my bedside cabs,

I reckon they're going to do quite well in auction.

Danny also needs to find private buyers for the pub sign,

his glass display dome, the kitchen cabinet and his wooden sea chest.

Over at his Buckinghamshire base,

Eric has a crystal clear plan of what's going under the hammer.

I've made my decision.

The panel, simply because it is so fragile, is going to auction,

so too the sampler.

The sampler is lovely, but I just can't decipher who it is by.

I think date-wise, it's probably around about 1800.

So it's a nice object. But that's going.

Also, the Burmantoft pedestal.

Hopefully, there'll be somebody out there online who's going

to spot it and has the jardiniere that matches it to go on it.

And then we've got our biscuit tin collectors.

I hope they're also going to be online

because I'm putting my biscuit tin into the auction.

So I've gone the distance, but can I do the business?

Hm, that's the question.

Eric will also need to find buyers for his vintage brass scales,

pre-Victorian Davenport platter,

bamboo hall stand and Chinese screen.

And so the time has come for our duo to don their haggling hats,

swig some salesmen courage

and line their pockets with as much profit as possible. Remember,

no deal is done until they've shaken on it and the money's changed hands.

It's Danny who's first out of the blocks.

He's hoping to get the ball rolling as he takes his G Plan

dressing table from his job lot of furniture to dealer Mark

in Aylesbury, hoping for a profit on the £37 it set him back.

What a lovely piece of 1960s, 1970s G Plan quality made furniture.

All right, you don't have to tell me, I know it is.

-Well, this is what I'm saying, yes.

-Brilliant. I've had quite a few.

I just need to have a quick look.

-It's got the little floating shelf.

-Yes.

-You've got your G Plan sticker.

-It's all there, don't worry about that.

Come on, what are you looking for?

-Give us 160 quid.

-What, is that 60 quid?

-No, 160 quid.

-MARK LAUGHS

160 quid?!

I couldn't even get that for it.

-Are you having a giraffe?

-Don't be ridiculous.

-I'll tell you what...

-Don't tell me 100!

I was going to be generous and offer you a oner.

-Mark, put a little bit more on top, come on.

-110 is absolutely my max.

-Is that the death?

-That's it, 110 is the best I will do.

I wanted 180.

What you want and what you get ain't necessarily the same thing.

-On that then...

-110?

-Yes, 110.

-All right, you got a deal.

-Thanks, Mark.

Danny seals the deal and walks away

with a very tidy profit of £72.98.

Eric is also chasing his first profit

and has made his way to the capital with his bronze weighing scales

that set him back over £55 in the auction.

This is Borough, in Southwark, and I'm here at to meet Magali.

Now, Magali owns the Spice Mountain.

When you're dealing with spices, you've got to measure them

out very carefully.

Well, have I got a pair of scales for that lady.

The scales owe Eric over £55.

Originally, you know, these would have seen service in a bank.

-I've always wanted a nice scale.

-Yeah.

I think it would look great in the shop.

-So what is the age of these scales?

-I would say they're probably...

They're somewhere between around about 1925 and 1935.

On the balance here, there's actually, inset into it,

a little lead seal.

-Yeah, I think we can see it.

-There it is there.

-Just there, yeah.

-So that's the Weights and Measures people,

they've been to check to make sure

that nobody's being given...short changed.

-What's the damage, though?

-Well, I was thinking maybe around £120.

But you're talking to me with your eyes,

and basically, they're saying, "No way."

I mean, would you be happy with, I'm not sure, say 70?

Oh, OK. You're talking to me with your eyes this time.

I am talking with my eyes.

Can we say 95, just under 100?

-95...

-Would you be...?

-It sounds nice. Does that sound better to you?

It's under 100, it's always better, isn't it?

So Eric spices up his profit pot

to the tune of £39.46

and bags his first sale.

And he continues his push for profit, selling his Japanese

panel to Kent-based fine art dealer

Ashton for a profit of £110.

Danny gained some ground next,

as he sells his kitchen cabinet to antiques dealer Sarah,

adding £120 to his profit pot,

and then his glass dome to Kate,

an interior design shop owner,

for a profit of £66.85.

And he's not stopping there.

For his next sale, he's down in Deptford to see antiques

dealers Alan and Arthur, or...

Commonly known as Steptoe.

I didn't dare say it, but I can see the resemblance.

AS STEPTOE: Harold, there's a fellow here trying to sell us a pub sign.

I'm going to come straight in.

I know you're going to rip me up. Give us 120.

-No, I wouldn't be giving you 120 for that.

-Why not?

-It's nice.

-Don't get me wrong.

-80 quid?

-I'm making no dough.

-Will we get a crust on that?

-Yeah, go on.

I'll go in.

Oh, Alan, you're an absolute scholar. I really appreciate that.

-I think you've had me over there.

-No way.

-I tell you...

-No way.

-It's sinking fast, I'm telling you.

I know, it's sinking fast. What was he, on the Titanic?

Not the biggest profit,

but a profit nonetheless.

£12 for the pub sign.

So, Eric is playing catch-up.

But refusing to be outmanoeuvred, he sells his bamboo hall stand

to Buckinghamshire antiques dealer Nigel.

I tell you what, 120. 120.

-Oh...

-I'm doing all the...

-As it's late at night and I'll get rid of you...

-Good lad.

THEY LAUGH

And £82.96 goes into his profit pot,

which means Eric is down to his final private sale.

Well, I'm in very fashionable Chelsea.

And I'm here to meet Sue Norman.

Now, she operates out of an antiques centre

which is just off the King's Road.

She's a specialist

in blue-and-white transfer printed ware.

And I'm hoping she is going to take a shine to my old junk.

The platter cost £150,

so will she have space for it in her tiny little kiosk?

-So lovely to see you.

-Hello, Eric, how are you?

-Listen, let me introduce you to my dish.

-That's very nice, thank you.

It's unusual for me to find something like this by Davenport.

Yes, well, this is actually quite a famous pattern by Davenport.

It's called Chinese River Scene,

but it's the Imperial Park at Gehol...

-Is it?

-I hope I pronounced that correctly.

-Yeah.

..taken from an engraving from 1806.

-What a font! You are a font.

-I know a few things.

-You do.

-Getting to the subject of money...

-Yes.

-So I was thinking...

somewhere around about...

£280, or thereabouts.

You've got your finger well and truly on the pulse of this market.

So I want to be fair.

OK. I mean, if it was an Indian view, that would be very reasonable.

A Chinese view... It's a very, very nice one.

Strangely, the Chinese are not collecting English blue-and-white.

-Maybe around the 260 mark?

-OK.

-I think that's a fair compromise.

-All right.

So, Eric makes a tidy profit

of £110 on the platter,

which means all his private sales are done.

Danny has one more item to sell - his Victorian sea trunk.

And he's sailed all the way up to Haslingden, in Lancashire,

to see antiques dealer John.

-Trunk.

-This is a bit more than a trunk.

This is a nice Victorian sea trunk.

-What do you think?

-Oh, it's nicely fitted, isn't it?

-Very nicely fitted.

-Typically, about 1900.

-They're done like a military chest, really.

-Yes.

The militaries were always...had the handles flush,

so they didn't stand out.

Right. Well, I'm learning something here now.

It is nicer on the inside than it is on the outside.

But it has quite a nice industrial look, doesn't it?

I think is a great piece.

I think there's some great craftsmanship in here.

I mean, I'd like to see about £400, John.

-If the outside was like the inside, I would've...

-Ripped me hand off.

..snapped your hand off. It's not. Can we settle on three?

-I'll grab your hand at that, John. Lovely.

-Thanks very much.

Thank you very much.

Yes, a hefty profit of £165 for the trunk,

and both our experts have made all their private sales.

But before we dive into the uncertain

waters of the Showdown auction, let's see where they stand so far.

From his four private sales, Eric has made £342.42.

Danny has made five sales and made a lot more -

£436.83 so far.

And so we reach the one thing all our experts fear the most -

the Showdown auction.

Here, the subtle art of persuasion is of no use.

All our dynamic duo can do is hope

and pray for the best from the bidders at

the Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers, in Essex.

You're a regular at auctions, aren't you?

Well, I am a regular at an auction,

but we're in a bit of a different predicament today, you know.

It's not normally a place where I'm putting my gear out, you know.

For me, of course, I spent all my working life

in an auction room, so it's another day in the office.

But it's a completely different thing

when you're selling your property without reserve.

Saying that, I've been quite... I've learned a little bit.

I've put reasonably cheap items in there.

By cheap do you mean tat?

Well, no. Listen. Not even you're allowed to say that.

You're getting personal here now.

Trust me, we're both playing on a level playing field.

And the playing field is in that direction. Let's go check it out.

Yes, the playing field is indeed level.

They each have four lots going under the hammer.

But before the game kicks off, there's just enough time

to cast a critical glance over each other's wares.

Well, this is Danny's Army leather shovel pouch.

I suppose it's the object for the man who's got everything

but an Army leather shovel pouch.

I think once you've got it, what do you do with it?

We've got a posh pedestal, we've got no pot.

That kind of says to me, "You've got a car without any tyres."

Not really my bag, but it might be something special.

I hope it is for Eric's sake.

Well, this is Danny's retro furniture.

The market is awash with this type of furniture,

so he might find this a tricky sale.

But I am going to take my hat off to him, they're very stylish.

A very early sampler in a gilded frame.

I find it a little bit dull, really. I don't find it very vibrant.

I'll tell you what, though, after looking at this piece here,

I'm feeling really good about my bits.

So is Delboy right to be optimistic?

All is about to be revealed. As the room fills up,

the auctioneer takes to the stage and readies his mighty gavel.

-There's plenty of people here, isn't there?

-There is, actually.

-Plenty of people.

-I will say that, yeah.

It is quite a well-heeled area as well, this part of Essex, actually.

Let's just hope they dig deep.

As the auction kicks off, it's one of Danny's items that goes up first.

-Your World War II Swiss Army shovel pouch cover.

-World War II.

The estimate is 20 to 40.

-So you'll be happy with that, will you?

-Yeah, definitely.

I'd be happy with that.

It cost him less than £4.

Here we go.

-30. 20.

-(Start low.)

Any bids around the room?

Or in the world, on the net. At £20.

There's a flash of interest now. Any further interest now?

-Go to five.

-No bids? £20.

-Five, go to five.

-Stop...!

-Oh, don't... Nothing.

It's all right. That's part of life.

-You win some, you lose some.

-Was that no-bid?

It was no-bid, Danny, but don't be put off because they may be

well-heeled, but they're not necessarily well-informed.

OK?

Kind words from Eric there. And not the best start for Danny.

Despite going unsold,

there are auction costs to pay.

It's a painful loss of £18.70.

Perhaps he can do better with his next item -

the gentleman's grooming kit that owes him almost £25.

Up and running, here we go.

1115, the Rolls-Royce gentleman's grooming set.

Straight in here at £25.

-We've got a bidder.

-Good lad.

-That's good enough for me.

40. Five.

Internet bid at £45.

-There on the screen.

-Still worth a bit more.

£45...

-Oh!

-Good.

-That will do.

Well, there are the fees.

And after commission,

there is still a profit, but only £4.86.

Now, Eric's first opportunity to make a profit is the biscuit tin

that cost him £20.

I'm not sure this is a biscuit tin sort of audience, you know,

-here, so...

-You just never know who wants what.

ERIC LAUGHS

-Just keep your fingers crossed.

-35. Any advance on £35?

-40 I'll take anywhere in the room, if you wish.

-35...

£35. Any interest on the net now?

-Eric, you know something that I didn't know.

-No, no.

-No, no, no.

-£35...

-35.

-Ah!

-ERIC CHUCKLES

-Well, I...I lived in hope.

-Yes.

But, you know, there's only a small profit left

when you take into account the commission and everything.

Actually, you're wrong.

There isn't a crumb of profit left after the fees are taken,

not a penny.

Oh, well.

Perhaps he can get off the starter's marks with his pedestal that

cost him £100 from the antiques market.

You know, would people buy, you know,

your pedestal without the pot on top?

Well, I'm just about to find out, Danny, aren't I?

I'm just about to find out. Here we go.

We've got interest here. We can start the bidding here at £50.

Light.

-It's a bid.

-£50 only.

-He's flogging it for you, Eric, he's flogging it.

-Yeah.

I'll sell then, on the maiden bid of £50.

-I reckon I've just lost myself about £60 on that.

-Oh!

-Yeah.

Something like that. Maybe more.

Yes indeed, Eric, a little bit more.

The Prince of Porcelain drops from his pedestal

and loses £66.50 in total.

Danny's back into the arena next with his figurine. It cost him £75.

-Here it is.

-Here we go, you're on.

And we can start the bidding here at £30.

It's on the mark. At £30.

-35. 40.

-40.

-At £40.

-Come on.

-Bid up.

-Come on. Come on.

-Come on.

-45 on the net.

-There you go, it's creeping up.

-Another five.

-It's creeping up.

-50 if you wish, sir, in the room. No?

-Go for it.

-£45. Internet bid has it.

-Come on.

-Going to sell...

-A bit more.

-At £45...

-Bit more.

Oh, what a shame!

The figurine loses Danny £45.46,

and this is turning into a bloodbath.

-I'm getting a loss on that, aren't I?

-Yeah, but not a huge one.

-Not a huge one.

-Not as huge as your big one.

-Not as big as your one.

-All right, all right, Danny.

-OK. Don't gloat.

-DANNY LAUGHS

Yes, with Danny in full Sid James mode, there is more gloating

when Eric loses a further £1.80 on his sampler.

-A small loss is always better than a big loss.

-That's true.

And so both our experts are down to one lot each,

and it's Eric's stained-glass panel up first.

You've got to think yourself,

what would I pay for a modern example to be made for me?

A lot of money.

-£35.

-Is that it?

-£35, sell?

-No mistake.

-£35...

-At 35...

-All right, I've got that.

-Money talks to me, Danny.

Do you know what it says? It says, "Goodbye, Eric."

Oh, poor Eric makes a final loss

of £17.04 for the window.

And so, to the final lot -

Danny's remaining furniture from his auction job lot.

Have you seen the price of firewood recently?

-DANNY LAUGHS

-Have you?

-There we go.

-I'm bid, £40.

-40 to start.

-Any advance at 40?

-Any advance at £40? I'll take five.

-Five.

-There they go.

-There they go.

-They're going crazy.

-Five.

-55 there?

-Come on, darling, it's worth more than that.

-At £55.

-55.

Any further interest now?

-Oh, wow.

-We'll sell to you in the room at 55.

Oh, well. I'm just looking for my tissues for you.

I can't find them anywhere.

Well, Eric, it is a profit, which was more than you managed.

The drawers made £12.76,

which brings this dramatic act to a close,

and our experts can relax until all is revealed.

So let's remind ourselves of what they spent today.

From a £1,000 pound budget,

Eric spent £482.82

while Danny used £496.23.

But now it all comes down to profit.

All of the money that Eric and Danny have made

from today's challenge will go to charities of their choice,

so let's find out who is today's Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

Showdown champion.

-Ah-ha.

-Good to see you.

-Always a pleasure to see you too.

I tell you what, that auction was a bit of a...

-a bit of a trauma, wasn't it?

-It were rough, it were rough.

-Did you do enough in your private sales, Danny?

-Well, I hope I did.

I think I did OK with my scales,

which I ended up selling to a lovely lady who specialises in spices.

I just hope the figures in this case are going to be hot and spicy.

Well, are they going to be gratifying?

-Well, they will be for one and not necessarily...

-For the other.

-Shall we give it a go?

-Let's give it a go.

-OK, let's go.

So, one, two, three...

-Cor!

-Oooh...

-There's not a lot in it.

-There's not. But hey...

I'm just slightly in front.

So Danny won the day having made some hefty profits on some

heavy items. But there's one more thing to reveal.

Eric and Danny have been accruing profits all week,

so who is the overall winner?

OK, Danny, let's find out the total for the week.

-One, two, three...

-Eee!

-Oh, no!

-ERIC LAUGHS

You've done it. Oh, well done. I tell you what...

There's less than a fiver in it!

-It is less than a fiver. I've lost.

-Oh...

But I tell you what, Eric, I don't feel like a loser losing to you.

-Pleasure.

-You are a gem.

Yes, the Prince of Porcelain, Eric Knowles, is the overall winner.

But our plucky pair have made almost £3,500,

all of which will be going to good causes.

My chosen charity is Prostate Cancer UK.

It helps more men survive prostate cancer.

My chosen charity is Beagle Welfare.

Now, they take in orphaned beagles in need of a home

and look after them to the end of their days.

It's been an extraordinary week of competitive antiques trading.

Our excellent experts have really put their money

where their mouths are and shown they can make a convincing profit

from buying and selling when their own money goes on the line.