Eric Knowles v Chuko Ojiri - Foreign Antiques Market Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is


Eric Knowles v Chuko Ojiri - Foreign Antiques Market

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This is Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is,

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the show that pitches TV's best loved antiques experts

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against each other in an all-out battle for profit.

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Think I see a bargain.

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Each day, one pair of duelling dealers

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will face a mighty challenge...

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-Oh, yeah!

-..putting their reputations on the line.

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Ready for battle.

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They'll give you the insiders' view of the trade...

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I'm a big boy. I'm a player.

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..along with their top tips and savvy secrets.

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It's not all about what you spend. It's about what you make.

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Showing you how to make the most money...

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It really is war.

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..from buying and selling.

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You've got to be in there like a whippet.

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Coming up, Eric comes over all continental...

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So French.

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A little naughty, you might say.

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..Ochuko gets carried away in the buying...

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I love it. Please!

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..and Eric tries not to scare off the customers.

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John, I'm creeping forward in trepidation here.

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This is Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.

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The fortress town of Villeneuve-les-Avignon

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in the hills of southern France is bracing itself.

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The locals have been prepared for battle since the 14th century,

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but they never expected an antiques attack as bold as the one afoot.

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With a cloudless summer's day expected,

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this scrap is set to be a scorcher as our two commandos

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of collectables clash once more.

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Blimey, it ain't half hot, Mum!

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Our first dealer to answer the call to arms

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is the sergeant major of souvenirs,

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a stiff-upper-lipped bastion of Britishness who's primed

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and ready to face the French heat.

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It's Eric "The Knowledge" Knowles.

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I am buying for Britain today.

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And ready to take the fight to foreign soils but maintain an entente cordiale

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with the locals, it's our new cadet on the block.

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Any vintage item in his firing line had better take cover, and quick.

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It's Ochuko "The Hat" Ojiri.

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In francais, Ochuko le Chapeau!

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All of the profits made from selling today's items will go to

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our experts' chosen charities, so the stakes couldn't be any higher.

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This is not a drill. Repeat, this is not a drill.

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This is the early bird trying to catch the worm.

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Morning, Eric. Beautiful, isn't it?

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-It's lovely.

-How great is it to be here?

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It's wonderful to be here in La Belle France.

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I mean, you're a regular in this part of the world?

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I'm more Italy, really.

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That's more my comfortable stomping ground to buy bits.

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I know what I'm looking for, but I don't know until I see it.

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It takes an awful lot of rooting and...

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-Is that not the fun? I like that.

-I love this job.

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The painful bit is spending your own money, but hey-ho.

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It's the rules of the engagement.

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-Yes!

-OK.

-Good luck, Eric.

-Enjoy yourself.

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With £750 worth of euros to spend,

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our duelling dealers have each drawn up their battle plans.

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I'm looking for French objects.

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And by that, I'm looking for French objects

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that I'm not going to be able to find back in the UK.

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It's not an easy task,

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but I'm there and I'm going to ferret

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like there's no tomorrow.

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So, Eric's strategy is to use his surroundings to his advantage,

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while Ochuko is on a reconnaissance mission.

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What I really want do now is to just quickly spin around.

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Not commit to anything.

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And just get a feel for the market.

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And is it giving off any particular vibe so far?

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-I feel a tingle.

-Sacre bleu!

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It seems France is appealing to The Hat's flamboyant side.

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Nice little PVC chair.

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Gold, sparkly, like me.

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Yes... With our boys armed with very different tastes,

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both advance deep into the market,

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but with every overseas campaign comes the element of surprise.

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Ooh-la-la!

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Another one of my brilliant French expressions.

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Ochuko's first sortie has uncovered one of the market's more colourful characters.

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He's got a curious little cabinet, and The Hat wants to know more.

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What year do you date this?

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BC!

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Um...

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(Walk away!)

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Ochuko retreats quickly, but is soon on the attack again as he spies

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an unusual folding bed, and he's all fired up.

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This is so interesting.

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It's almost like a sun bed.

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Looks 1930s to me.

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And this is what I love about it. Look at this.

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And it's got age and it's all intact.

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Something like this at the right price,

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I'm all over it. Something I wouldn't see in the UK.

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C'est combien?

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-200 euro.

-Ouch!

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I think I might need another tactic.

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I'm going to ask about a couple of items and maybe we can do a job lot.

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Canny Ochuko knows a double deal might mean a better price,

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and thinks this vintage hostess trolley could be

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the perfect second item.

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-Quel age?

-It's 1950.

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1950s.

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That's an interesting one.

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This, I can do 80.

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80?

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My brain's ticking. I've got to get a good price.

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-A price for the two-piece.

-For the two, please.

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-200.

-200. 150?

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-180, best price.

-180.

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Let's meet, 170.

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-OK.

-Thank you, sir.

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Ochuko's new tactic pays off.

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His cracking double vintage deal

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secures the 1930s folding bed for just under £95

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and the 1950s hostess trolley for a smidge under £52.

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Got two really great pieces.

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1950s, 1930s.

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Right up my street. Look at the work on this.

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Beautiful iron, lovely patina.

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And these trolleys are all the trend right now back in the UK.

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And this is just so quirky.

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All intact, original.

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Gorgeous pieces. So happy.

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Ochuko is ahead, but there's no time to relax and soak up the rays,

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because Eric is on the prowl.

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I'm just wondering how Ochuko is getting on.

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I hope he's doing OK.

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Not too OK.

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Well, Eric, Ochuko is leading 2-0

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and is in his stride as he spots an unexpected collection.

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Love this coral. Reminds me of a cabinet of curiosities.

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Just the shapes...

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-Bonjour.

-Bonjour.

-Parlez-vous anglais?

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-A little bit.

-A little bit. Is he from Hackney?

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Well, he's not from Paris, that's for sure.

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I love this coral.

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Any information on it?

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-The thing I can tell you is the price.

-Go on.

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-150 euros.

-150 euros.

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London guy...

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London prices.

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THEY CHUCKLE

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There are seven pieces on offer and Ochuko has a better deal in mind.

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10 euros apiece.

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-That's...

-That's 70 euros.

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-I can't...

-From a dealer to a dealer.

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I can't do that.

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-Meet me in between the two.

-90.

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Well, we said 80, didn't we, in between? Go on.

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Well done. Thank you, sir.

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-Brilliant.

-You have to wrap them yourself, though.

-Oh, no!

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Ochuko captures the vintage coral for just under £69,

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but can he see a profit?

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I love these bits of coral that I just bought.

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£69 for all of this

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and on a good day, I can get £69 for this one piece.

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£69 apiece is a bold claim,

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so can Eric boldly catch up with an art deco coffee set?

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That's a good shape, that.

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You know? If that was in pottery,

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it would be almost a bit of Clarice Cliff, wouldn't it?

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That very angular handle.

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Nice quality. And then, there's the sugar box.

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Or as we say up north, pass me the sucriere, Mama!

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The north of where, Eric?

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-Bonjour.

-Bonjour, monsieur.

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Could you tell me a price?

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One, two, three, what would they...?

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-50, the three.

-50, the three.

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OK, I'll take those.

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Eric's got himself a deal.

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50 euros, or just over £43 for the coffee set.

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But his work here is not done yet.

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Eric's eagle eyes have spotted

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another piece of silverware, and he swoops.

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That's very Art Nouveau.

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This, I can do 40.

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40?

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-30?

-30?

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Oui. It's a French plate dish.

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It's attractive. Pure Art Nouveau, pure organic,

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and it's worth 30 euros of anybody's money.

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And 30 euros of Eric's money is £25.86 sterling.

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Well, I've just gone and bought myself a very stylish French

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art deco silver-plated coffee pot with milk and sugar.

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Date wise, around about 1925, 1930.

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It needs a jolly good clean.

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I'll get it gleaming,

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it will look far more desirable and obviously far more saleable.

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Now, I bought this silver-plated dish

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which is obviously Art Nouveau period.

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That comes before art deco.

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We are looking at around about 1900 with something like this.

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And I assumed it was French.

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And then I turned it over and the mark is in English.

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Not that this was made in England.

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It was made in the United States of America.

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Um, Eric, what was your strategy?

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I'm looking for French objects.

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Not a huge profit to be had there.

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I'm not quite sure what the market's like for American plated Art Nouveau

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dishes, but no doubt within the next few days, I will find out.

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So, Eric makes the score 2-3 and brings us to the halfway mark.

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So, let's find out who is charging into the lead

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and who's waving the white flag.

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From a £750 budget, Eric's bought two items and spent just under £69.

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Leaving him with just over £681 in his kitty.

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Ochuko has spent considerably more -

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£215.52 on his three items.

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Leaving him just over £534 for the rest of the day.

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-Hi.

-How are you doing?

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-Halfway there.

-Yeah, we are, aren't we? Yeah.

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-How are you getting on?

-A slow start but I'm slowly getting there.

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-It's different.

-It is.

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It's multi-various.

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It's a lovely market.

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I didn't see a lot of pottery.

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-No. No.

-No.

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Ooh!

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Well, hey ho, you know.

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There is life after crockery...

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-There is.

-..you know. That's the important thing.

-That's my life.

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It is your life. Problem is that there's so little time.

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-Yeah.

-So don't think the rude, but it's always a pleasure.

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-Move on.

-Time's pressing!

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Yes, the day is getting on and both our experts have their work cut out

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if they are to escape from this mission with enough ammo

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to stand them in good stead when it's time to sell.

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So, how does the new recruit feel he's doing against the old guard?

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I don't see a lot of pottery here.

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And what I do see is maybe not the quality that Eric is used to.

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I think I've got an advantage on him there.

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Well, I'm having to learn about Ochuko

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because he does keep his cards very close to his chest.

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But I think he was being absolutely genuine insofar as we are working

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very, very hard here today.

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The Knowledge and the Hat are, indeed, toiling away and next,

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Ochuko spies something that's right up his street,

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a mid-century hatstand.

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I think you're going to start to notice a bit of a theme.

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'50s, colours, screams at me.

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At the right price, I can do very well with this in my London market.

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Let me try and find out how much it is.

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-How much?

-Er, 100.

-100 euros.

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Petit small, small. Please, please.

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Oh, where's he gone?

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I love it. Please!

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45? So I can sell.

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-It's a good price.

-70.

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So, she put 70.

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We're nearly there. We are close.

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This... Please, one more, one more.

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You won't mind.

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One more.

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You are very, er...

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Yes!

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Thank you very much.

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So, 65 euros.

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Ochuko they're proving it really can help to get down on your knees

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and beg as he hangs 65 euros, or just over £56 on the hatstand.

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What a lovely item.

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Hatstand. It's like a harp.

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1950s harp.

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Something I wouldn't find in the UK.

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Very happy to find it here.

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Look at these.

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Gorgeous colours.

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Tactile item.

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It's not a lot to do to it.

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It needs a bit of a clean-up.

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I love the age.

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I think this old clothesline could do with a little bit

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of a spruce up, but apart from that, it's good to go.

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I can see in a lovely east London hallway.

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Finally got somewhere to hang my hat.

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It might be better to keep your hat on as with the sun creeping higher,

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Eric's getting rather hot under the collar.

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Oh, I like those. Somebody being somewhat coquettish.

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So French.

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A little naughty, you might say, but still demure.

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Interestingly enough...

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The artist here is called Casanova.

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Casanove, anyway.

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Paris 1927.

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Yeah, don't doubt that one.

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Anyone for tennis?

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Don't you love that? Yes.

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More Virginia Wade, I think, than Andy Murray.

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-120.

-120.

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Do I want those? Yes, I want those.

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Oui. Oui, oui, oui. Merci beaucoup.

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Eric is clearly quite taken by the cheeky French Mademoiselles,

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shelling out just over £103 for the pair of pastel sketches.

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Well, I don't normally go for graphic things,

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but this is all original.

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It's not a print.

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Um... And I like the frame.

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It's not burr wood.

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It's all been done to resemble burwood...on both of them.

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Does it matter?

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No. They're good, they're stylish, they're ready to hang.

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What more could you want?

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Eric's French flappers flip his number of buys up to three,

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but he's still trailing behind Ochuko.

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Maybe he can draw even with this glass dish.

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Oh, Schneider.

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Very interesting.

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This is probably around about 1925, 1930.

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I love this frosted effect.

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-Bonjour.

-Bonjour.

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OK.

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Monsieur. Merci beaucoup.

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And without even the merest whiff of a haggle,

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the decorative plate is Eric's for just over £86.

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Not cheap, but will it serve up a profit?

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Well, I've gone down the art deco route once again

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with a piece of glass that, from a distance,

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I felt sure was going to be by Daum.

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D-A-U-M.

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Now, they are a maker in Nancy.

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But when I turned it over, I find the name Schneider,

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which is a good glass-maker.

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I'm not normally happy to spend money, but I was very happy to spend

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100 euros on this dish.

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I think it's got potential, with a capital P.

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Eric's P purchase makes it 4-all,

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until Ochuko finds a vintage TV unit with a T and V.

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He turns on and tunes in, buying it for just under £69,

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then drops out with his final item.

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So, what's he got?

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I think what's really working for me in this market, in a sea of brown,

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these beautiful bright mid-century colours are really singing to me.

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Look at that yellow primary, look at the blue.

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So strong.

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Classic 1950s.

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Back in those days, you put your magazines down there,

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you put your big TV on here.

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It's all original. It's all in good condition.

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And in my market, I think I can get anything from 250 to 300 for that.

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Maybe a bit optimistic, but watch me.

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Ochuko's finished spending, and just in the nick of time.

0:16:270:16:32

Everybody is packing up, going home.

0:16:320:16:33

Midday sun is beating down.

0:16:330:16:35

I'm all bought up. Started strong, ended strong.

0:16:350:16:40

Eric, on the other hand, is still beavering away and he needs to get

0:16:400:16:43

a wriggle on.

0:16:430:16:44

So far, my strategy has been working.

0:16:440:16:47

I've been buying some good objects, I'm very happy with the prices I've paid.

0:16:470:16:50

So I now go into the final phase.

0:16:500:16:53

I have to buy more and so I am going to go into what I call

0:16:530:16:58

desperation phase!

0:16:580:17:00

Yes, it looks like it's D-Day for Eric, but being such a seasoned campaigner,

0:17:000:17:04

he knows that some of the best bargains can be bagged

0:17:040:17:07

at the very end of the day.

0:17:070:17:10

What have you got here that you think should have sold today?

0:17:100:17:13

Traders really don't want to take their unsold stock home again,

0:17:130:17:17

so Eric is wisely using this to his advantage.

0:17:170:17:20

The seller directs him towards an antique fishing basket.

0:17:200:17:24

I've seen these. Looks like it's got some age to it, this.

0:17:240:17:27

A creel. Ooh!

0:17:280:17:31

120. That's a bit heavy.

0:17:310:17:33

Bonjour. You must have very little fish in France.

0:17:330:17:37

Could you stick a fish in there?

0:17:370:17:39

You are obliged to fish a special size.

0:17:390:17:41

Bigger. So if it goes in there, you cannot keep it.

0:17:410:17:44

Oh, is that it? Oh, I see.

0:17:440:17:46

How old is this? Do you know?

0:17:460:17:48

-How old?

-I think beginning of the 20th century.

0:17:480:17:52

Yeah. Um... What is your best?

0:17:520:17:54

Your demi prix?

0:17:540:17:56

Your demi, demi prix?

0:17:560:17:57

-100.

-I'm going to take a risk on this because, do you know,

0:17:570:18:01

I don't really know what that's worth.

0:18:010:18:04

I just think it's an interesting object.

0:18:040:18:07

In for a penny, in for 100 euros.

0:18:070:18:09

Yeah. Let's see what I've got.

0:18:090:18:11

Goodbye, old friend.

0:18:130:18:14

Eric nets the fishing basket for just over £86

0:18:160:18:19

and he's all bought up.

0:18:190:18:21

And a little puzzled.

0:18:210:18:23

What have I bought?

0:18:230:18:25

I mean, living dangerously.

0:18:250:18:26

I've bought myself quite a handsome, I think, woven basket fishing...

0:18:260:18:31

They're called a creel, aren't they?

0:18:310:18:33

It's got some age to it.

0:18:330:18:34

I dare say this could have been around in the early part

0:18:340:18:38

of the 20th century. I'm very happy with it.

0:18:380:18:40

I mean, whether I paid too much or not, I don't know.

0:18:400:18:42

And on top of that,

0:18:420:18:44

it all got better because the lady I just bought it from

0:18:440:18:47

gave me a fishing line!

0:18:470:18:49

Anyway, she said the Mediterranean was that way.

0:18:490:18:53

What she didn't say was that it was 45 kilometres away.

0:18:530:18:56

And as Eric sets off for sea, the buying battle of

0:18:570:19:00

Villeneuve-les-Avignon is over.

0:19:000:19:02

But there's just time to tot up the totals.

0:19:020:19:04

They both started the day with £750 worth of their own euros to spend.

0:19:060:19:11

Eric hopes his five finds will have that foreign flair

0:19:110:19:14

that he was looking for.

0:19:140:19:16

His total spend was £344.83.

0:19:160:19:20

But Ochuko hopes his portfolio will win the day.

0:19:200:19:23

His five sellables cost him £340.52.

0:19:230:19:27

Time for a bit of show and tell.

0:19:270:19:30

-Hey!

-Eric!

0:19:300:19:31

-Good to see you again.

-Got there!

-We did!

0:19:310:19:33

Hot work. Still is, isn't it?

0:19:330:19:34

I want to know what you paid for that very nice little trolley there.

0:19:360:19:40

Lovely, isn't it? Roundabout £50.

0:19:400:19:42

-Is that all?

-Yes, I think I've done well with that. Yeah.

0:19:420:19:45

That would have been a very expensive item when it was new.

0:19:450:19:48

It's going to be an expensive item now.

0:19:480:19:50

And what about a good night's sleep?

0:19:500:19:52

Do you think you'll get a good night's sleep on that sort of camp bed?

0:19:520:19:55

I just love it. It's all original.

0:19:550:19:57

Well, I'd like to give it a try, but I mean, how long does it extend?

0:19:570:20:00

Enough for you, not for me.

0:20:000:20:02

OK. All right.

0:20:020:20:03

Well, I can't compete with the organic side.

0:20:030:20:07

Although I can now go fishing.

0:20:070:20:09

Yeah, fishing for customers.

0:20:090:20:11

Well, I'm going to... I stuck my neck out with this.

0:20:110:20:14

That cost me the equivalent of about £87.

0:20:140:20:18

Where would you find it in the UK?

0:20:180:20:19

Well, probably on the shoulder of a fisherman.

0:20:190:20:22

It will be now.

0:20:220:20:24

But I did go very much with the art deco, with my dish.

0:20:240:20:28

That's by a firm called Schneider, a very good glass-maker.

0:20:280:20:31

-Where would you date that?

-About 1930s.

0:20:310:20:33

-Yeah.

-Thereabouts.

-Nice smoked glass.

-Yeah.

0:20:330:20:36

-Three years earlier, 1927...

-These, I like these.

0:20:360:20:39

I particularly like this lady.

0:20:390:20:41

-She is very coquettish, isn't she?

-Yes, she is.

0:20:410:20:44

So, I think it is fair to say...

0:20:440:20:46

We've both done OK, haven't we?

0:20:460:20:48

-We came, we saw and we conquered.

-We did.

0:20:480:20:51

And so, our French foragers make a sharp exit back to Blighty,

0:20:560:21:01

leaving the Continent behind in order to see what wide range

0:21:010:21:04

of opportunities they can cook up at home.

0:21:040:21:07

They must both now attempt to turn their goods into gain,

0:21:070:21:10

selling them for profit that's destined for their chosen charities.

0:21:100:21:14

In his London lair, Ochuko is planning ahead.

0:21:140:21:18

I love France. I got absolutely amazing pieces.

0:21:180:21:21

My mid-century TV stand has been repainted but very true to the time.

0:21:210:21:26

It could be a shop display.

0:21:260:21:28

Someone may even use it as a desk.

0:21:280:21:30

Love this coat stand.

0:21:300:21:31

I considered changing these strings, but in my experience,

0:21:310:21:36

people that collect these kind of items want them all to be original.

0:21:360:21:40

Out of everything that I bought in France, this is my favourite.

0:21:400:21:43

Done some research on it.

0:21:430:21:45

And it is actually called a cabinetta.

0:21:450:21:47

Early 20th century.

0:21:470:21:48

They were used for military campaigns.

0:21:480:21:51

A real high-ranking officer would have this as his camp bed.

0:21:510:21:55

What a brilliant way to rest your head in quite a traumatic situation.

0:21:550:21:59

My coral. Very rare and valuable thing.

0:21:590:22:02

A lot of people would love this in their home.

0:22:020:22:04

People just have it on the side, people use it as bookends.

0:22:040:22:07

Now, all I've got to do is sell it, and that's the difficult bit.

0:22:070:22:11

And he's also got to find a buyer for the vintage trolley.

0:22:110:22:14

In his High Wycombe kitchen, Eric is cooking up plans.

0:22:140:22:18

Well, of all the buying venues,

0:22:180:22:20

I've got to admit that my favourite is the overseas market.

0:22:200:22:25

Took a bit of a flyer, I went out and I bought myself a fishing creel.

0:22:250:22:29

A French fishing creel. What did I pay for it?

0:22:290:22:32

Probably a tad too much.

0:22:320:22:35

I boldly went where I shouldn't have gone in my right mind,

0:22:350:22:38

but having said that, it's still a nice saleable object

0:22:380:22:42

to the right person.

0:22:420:22:44

But my favourite items have got to be

0:22:440:22:46

my two drawings by a man called Casanove.

0:22:460:22:50

He is listed and he seems to have been a very proficient

0:22:500:22:54

commercial artist, working in France, I think in Paris,

0:22:540:22:59

during the 1920s and the 1930s.

0:22:590:23:02

The silver-plated tea set is art deco.

0:23:020:23:04

You can tell that by the sort of cubistic shape, the panel forms.

0:23:040:23:08

The use of what appears to be a Makassar-type ebony.

0:23:080:23:12

I intend to polish this up

0:23:120:23:14

and once that is gleaming, it will look the money.

0:23:140:23:19

And Eric will also be looking for money

0:23:190:23:21

from his silver Art Nouveau bowl

0:23:210:23:23

and glass art deco dish.

0:23:230:23:26

And so both our experts apply the necessary elbow grease,

0:23:260:23:29

along with the leg, phone and web work

0:23:290:23:32

to find the match for each item.

0:23:320:23:34

They'll both try to turn their purchases into profit,

0:23:340:23:37

but no deal is sealed until they've shaken on it

0:23:370:23:40

and the money's changed hands.

0:23:400:23:42

And first off the mark is Eric,

0:23:430:23:45

who's in Kent, hoping to sell his pastel mademoiselles.

0:23:450:23:49

I'm going to show them to a man that I know for a fact recognises

0:23:490:23:53

good, freehand drawing when he sees it,

0:23:530:23:56

so, fingers crossed, we can do a deal.

0:23:560:23:58

The pictures cost Eric just over £103,

0:23:580:24:02

so will fine art dealer Ashton help him draw out a profit?

0:24:020:24:06

Ashton, hi. Good to see you.

0:24:060:24:08

-Good to see you.

-And you too. And you too. I come...

0:24:080:24:11

I'd like to say I come bearing gifts,

0:24:110:24:13

but I come bearing two women, in actual fact.

0:24:130:24:16

-Really? Wow!

-At first glance, you might think,

0:24:160:24:19

that's an interesting print, but if you look very carefully...

0:24:190:24:24

it is a drawing. This one is a bit more lively.

0:24:240:24:26

-As in, anyone for tennis?

-Right. OK.

0:24:260:24:30

My tennis player has got a wonderful sense of movement,

0:24:300:24:33

but as for this girl, there's a sort of demure, if I might even say

0:24:330:24:37

sensuality about her.

0:24:370:24:39

I love the styling of it.

0:24:390:24:40

Very confident line, as well.

0:24:400:24:43

And dated, it's by the same artist.

0:24:430:24:45

I'm amazed that they are by the same hand.

0:24:450:24:47

-They look so different.

-Yeah.

0:24:470:24:49

Sort of thing you'd be interested in?

0:24:490:24:51

I would. They are jolly nice quality.

0:24:510:24:53

I can see that hanging in a little boudoir somewhere.

0:24:530:24:56

-Me too. Me too.

-And that in the games room.

-Yes. Exactly.

0:24:560:25:00

I reckon them around about 250, maybe a bit more.

0:25:000:25:03

-Gosh, wow!

-We'll start at 250. That's for two.

0:25:030:25:06

Two originals.

0:25:060:25:08

I would be looking more at the sort of 140-ish.

0:25:080:25:11

Right. I'll go down to 190.

0:25:110:25:14

-Go on.

-I think we'd need to go to about 160.

0:25:140:25:19

We'll split the difference. 170.

0:25:190:25:21

-170, OK.

-170?

0:25:210:25:22

-Yeah.

-It's a deal.

0:25:220:25:24

That's a profit of £66.55 for the two pictures.

0:25:250:25:30

It was difficult to say au revoir to my two mademoiselles,

0:25:300:25:35

but a profit is a profit. So, bonne chance, mademoiselles.

0:25:350:25:40

The Hat is hoping for his first sale

0:25:400:25:42

as he arrives in London's hip and happening Hackney.

0:25:420:25:46

I'm here with my lovely 1950s atomic coat stand.

0:25:460:25:50

I don't want to sell it but I've got to.

0:25:500:25:52

I paid about £56.

0:25:520:25:53

I'd love to double my money.

0:25:530:25:55

So, Ochuko's got profitable aspirations for his retro stand,

0:25:550:26:00

but will vintage shop and bar owner Hannah agree?

0:26:000:26:03

It's a coat stand. I call it a hatstand.

0:26:040:26:06

Of course you would.

0:26:060:26:07

How old would you say this is?

0:26:080:26:10

-To me, it's '50s.

-OK.

0:26:100:26:11

-What would you say?

-I would say the same.

0:26:110:26:14

I have seen reproductions, but this kind of looks like the genuine article.

0:26:140:26:17

This is what I love -

0:26:170:26:18

to find something in such original condition.

0:26:180:26:21

We're always looking for interesting ways of displaying things.

0:26:210:26:24

-Yes.

-We are a music venue at nights, so it's quite useful for people

0:26:240:26:26

-to have somewhere to put their coats and hats.

-Yeah, brilliant.

0:26:260:26:29

So it might be something that we could accommodate.

0:26:290:26:32

I'll be really straight. I wanted to go 180.

0:26:320:26:34

Ooh!

0:26:340:26:36

But I'm going to start 165.

0:26:370:26:40

-It's...

-I've done your bit already.

0:26:400:26:42

It's a bit steep. You have, you bargained yourself down, I like it.

0:26:420:26:46

I know. It'll be £40.

0:26:460:26:48

I'll just shut up. I mean, I'd hoped to be around the £100 mark.

0:26:480:26:52

-£100, OK.

-It is something I'm going to use.

0:26:520:26:54

So, in that sense, I can justify spending a bit on it,

0:26:540:26:57

-more than I would if I was going to be resell it.

-Yes.

0:26:570:27:00

What about if we say...

0:27:000:27:02

130?

0:27:020:27:04

120 and I could definitely meet you.

0:27:050:27:07

Let's say 125. In the middle. Brilliant.

0:27:070:27:09

-Thank you so much.

-Thank YOU so much.

0:27:090:27:11

Ochuko makes a profit of almost £69 for his first sale,

0:27:110:27:15

making it one all in terms of sales

0:27:150:27:17

and giving him the slight edge in terms of money made.

0:27:170:27:21

I virtually doubled my money.

0:27:210:27:23

I've got nowhere to hang my hat, but I've made a great profit.

0:27:230:27:26

I don't know how the Knowledge is doing though.

0:27:260:27:28

Actually, Ochuko, Eric is in Kent,

0:27:280:27:30

embarking on a journey into the world of art deco.

0:27:300:27:35

Well, this is Westerham,

0:27:350:27:36

and for years this has been something of an antique centre.

0:27:360:27:40

But today a lot of people deal online,

0:27:400:27:42

so it's always nice to have the opportunity

0:27:420:27:45

to go into an antique shop or a gallery.

0:27:450:27:48

I'm here to meet John, and he specialises in art deco.

0:27:480:27:51

And I've got one very special art deco dish.

0:27:510:27:54

So I'm off to do a deal.

0:27:540:27:57

The dish owes him just over £86,

0:27:570:28:00

so will art deco specialist John want to plate him up a profit?

0:28:000:28:04

-John, hello. Hello, hello.

-Eric, great to see you.

0:28:040:28:07

-How are you?

-Nice piece of furniture that, isn't it?

-Thank you.

0:28:070:28:10

Yes, that's a modern burr walnut.

0:28:100:28:12

Talking about quality, John,

0:28:120:28:14

I've brought what I think is very much a quality glass dish.

0:28:140:28:18

Now, who would you have thought would have made this?

0:28:180:28:21

First impression would be Daum, something like that.

0:28:210:28:23

Daum? Absolutely.

0:28:230:28:25

That's exactly what I thought.

0:28:250:28:26

-Yeah.

-And then I turned it over

0:28:260:28:29

-and it says Schneider.

-Oh, right.

0:28:290:28:31

I've never seen a piece of Schneider glass like this before.

0:28:310:28:33

No, more colourful usually, isn't it?

0:28:330:28:35

Date-wise, I think it's probably round about 1930.

0:28:350:28:38

Yeah. There or thereabouts, absolutely.

0:28:380:28:40

And it's in great condition as well.

0:28:400:28:41

It's a bit of a statement, when you see them

0:28:410:28:44

on a good art deco piece of furniture.

0:28:440:28:47

One lifts the other.

0:28:470:28:49

-Absolutely.

-Let's have a look.

0:28:490:28:51

Yeah, subtle. That is subtle, isn't it?

0:28:510:28:54

Well, I have to say, it does complement it very well.

0:28:540:28:56

It does do that. In a modern context, it just works,

0:28:560:29:00

particularly with the more geometric detail to it.

0:29:000:29:02

Yes. So, would this be on your shopping list?

0:29:020:29:05

-Absolutely. No, it's just got to be the right price, Eric.

-OK.

0:29:050:29:07

I was wanting somewhere around about the 300 mark for it.

0:29:070:29:12

Yeah... I mean, that's not far away from a retail price.

0:29:120:29:15

So I'm looking at, say, 175.

0:29:150:29:18

-Is that too far for you?

-I would...

0:29:180:29:21

I would be happier if we could get nearer the two.

0:29:210:29:26

I'm happy to do the two.

0:29:260:29:27

-You're happy to do two?

-Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's worth it.

0:29:270:29:30

Good lad. Excellent. Well done.

0:29:300:29:31

-Thank you, Eric.

-Thank you very much.

0:29:310:29:33

Eric makes an impressive profit of almost £114 for the dish.

0:29:330:29:38

Well, I think it's fair to say that I've made quite a good profit there

0:29:380:29:41

but the main thing is that John is also left

0:29:410:29:44

with an object from which he will also make a good profit.

0:29:440:29:47

And in my business, that's the name of the game.

0:29:470:29:50

Yes, Eric makes the biggest profit so far

0:29:500:29:53

and sends the ball flying back into Ochuko's court.

0:29:530:29:56

So, from the charming market town of Westerham

0:29:560:29:59

to super-stylish east London.

0:29:590:30:01

Back in my home turf of Dalston,

0:30:010:30:03

I've come to one of the hippest hairdressers on the strip,

0:30:030:30:07

and I'm going to sell them my trolley.

0:30:070:30:09

You may think, drinks trolley, hairdressers? Watch this.

0:30:090:30:13

The drinks trolley cost Ochuko almost £52,

0:30:130:30:16

so will salon owner Andy want it

0:30:160:30:19

and will he think about getting his hair cut?

0:30:190:30:22

I've got something perfect for you.

0:30:220:30:24

I know that you serve your customers drinks.

0:30:240:30:26

-You're all about customer service.

-That is a big part, yeah.

0:30:260:30:29

-So, I've got a drinks trolley.

-Nice.

0:30:290:30:32

-How old is this?

-I was told, as I bought it, 1950s.

0:30:320:30:35

-OK.

-But the more I've looked into it, I think it could be even 1930s.

0:30:350:30:38

-All right.

-This style, with the wrought iron, is a bit earlier.

0:30:380:30:42

And I just... I love the oxidisation.

0:30:420:30:44

-I love the green.

-Yeah, man, I love the colour.

0:30:440:30:47

Like you said, it's nice oxidation.

0:30:470:30:50

Perfect to serve, like, a cocktail or a fruit smoothie.

0:30:500:30:53

I think it would be perfect, yeah.

0:30:530:30:56

-How much do you want?

-200.

0:30:560:30:58

200?

0:30:580:30:59

Well, I was more hoping for half of that, £100, my friend.

0:31:000:31:04

£100.

0:31:040:31:06

I want you do have it. Let's say 175.

0:31:060:31:08

-120...

-120.

0:31:080:31:11

165?

0:31:110:31:13

150, I'll have it straightaway.

0:31:130:31:15

Can you put a fiver on for luck?

0:31:150:31:17

155?

0:31:170:31:19

-Let's call it 160.

-160!

0:31:190:31:21

Look at that! That's how you make a profit.

0:31:230:31:26

Indeed it is.

0:31:260:31:28

That's a top profit of just over £108 for the trolley.

0:31:280:31:32

While Ochuko is plying his trade in the Big Smoke,

0:31:320:31:36

Eric's art deco pilgrimage continues

0:31:360:31:38

and it's led him, and his polished-up silver coffee set,

0:31:380:31:42

that cost just over £43, to the door of a man named Bevis.

0:31:420:31:46

I feel a little bit like a time traveller because I'm surrounded by

0:31:460:31:49

wonderful early-medieval buildings in the Hospital of St Cross,

0:31:490:31:54

just outside Winchester.

0:31:540:31:56

Now, I'm here to meet a gentleman who in the late 1960s wrote

0:31:560:32:00

the very first book in English on art deco.

0:32:000:32:02

So, if Eric is the Prince of Porcelain,

0:32:020:32:05

Bevis is the Godfather of Art Deco.

0:32:050:32:09

Well, I have to admit, Bevis,

0:32:090:32:10

that you have always been a mentor to me.

0:32:100:32:13

In the early days when I became interested in deco,

0:32:130:32:17

your books were the only ones that were available at that stage.

0:32:170:32:21

Thank you very much, Eric.

0:32:210:32:23

I wrote the first book on art deco when I was 28, in 1968.

0:32:230:32:28

And I've still got a bit of art deco.

0:32:280:32:30

Well, in all fairness, I've brought a few bits of deco.

0:32:300:32:33

That's rather stylish. And French, I imagine.

0:32:330:32:36

It is French. So, Bevis, what do you think?

0:32:360:32:38

Well, I've always liked the later phase of art deco.

0:32:380:32:43

I regard deco as essentially domesticated Cubism.

0:32:430:32:48

And to me, Cubism doesn't belong in the frames, as pictures,

0:32:480:32:52

it belongs in objects like this.

0:32:520:32:54

And I think they are marvellous.

0:32:540:32:57

So, what sort of price are you looking for?

0:32:570:33:00

Well, I was thinking around about the 120 mark.

0:33:000:33:05

I would be more in line for £80.

0:33:050:33:08

Do you think we might nudge it one more £10 note?

0:33:090:33:11

Do you think we might get 90 for it?

0:33:110:33:13

-I'd agree to that.

-You'd agree to 90. Shake, OK.

0:33:130:33:16

That's a profit of almost £47 for the coffee set.

0:33:160:33:20

It's been a great privilege actually

0:33:210:33:24

to meet up again with the great Bevis Hillier

0:33:240:33:27

and the cherry on top of the cake is - I doubled my money.

0:33:270:33:32

And the end of Eric's art deco journey

0:33:320:33:34

brings us to the halfway mark of ours.

0:33:340:33:36

So, let's see who is at the top of the leaderboard

0:33:360:33:39

and who is at the bottom of the pile.

0:33:390:33:42

So far, Eric has sold three items and made a profit of £227.24.

0:33:420:33:47

Ochuko has only shifted two, but has made £177.25.

0:33:470:33:53

So, Eric is in the lead, but there's plenty more work

0:33:530:33:56

for both our boys to do, and it's still very much anyone's game.

0:33:560:34:00

Eric is all wellied up and hoping to cast a line

0:34:000:34:03

and haul in some more profits with his next sale.

0:34:030:34:07

Well, I'm actually crossing the River Itchen,

0:34:070:34:10

which is one of Hampshire's wonderful chalk streams.

0:34:100:34:14

I'm here to meet John Hotchkiss.

0:34:140:34:15

Now, he's an expert on fly fishing.

0:34:150:34:18

I'm hoping he's going to take an interest in my wicker creel

0:34:180:34:22

and obviously I'm hoping that I'm going to hook myself a sale.

0:34:220:34:26

# Gone fishing

0:34:260:34:29

# By a shady-wadey pool... #

0:34:300:34:34

The fishing basket cost Eric just over £86,

0:34:340:34:38

but will John bite?

0:34:380:34:39

John, I'm creeping forward in trepidation here.

0:34:410:34:43

Only because I know you can't startle the fish, can you?

0:34:430:34:47

-Yes.

-Good to see you anyway.

-Yeah, good to see you.

0:34:470:34:50

This is the fishing creel.

0:34:500:34:51

-That's rather nice.

-You have a handle of it.

0:34:510:34:54

You can see that...

0:34:540:34:56

..it's got what almost looks like an army issue canvas strap.

0:34:570:35:00

-Yeah.

-I mean, date-wise, I'm thinking maybe '30s...

0:35:000:35:05

Yeah, I would have said that. Mid '20s, '30s.

0:35:050:35:08

This is so splendid because I've got a lot of split cane rods,

0:35:080:35:14

older rods, but that would sit perfectly in my fishing room.

0:35:140:35:18

This is music to my ears. It really is.

0:35:180:35:21

Well, I mean,

0:35:210:35:22

my opening gambit on something like this would be £140,

0:35:220:35:26

-something like that.

-OK.

0:35:260:35:28

I think I would be prepared to pay about...

0:35:280:35:31

-85.

-85.

0:35:310:35:34

Let's say 120, are we getting anywhere near the mark, or...?

0:35:340:35:38

-90?

-90.

-How does that sound?

0:35:380:35:41

If we can just round that up to £100...

0:35:410:35:45

-OK.

-..I think we've got a deal.

0:35:450:35:48

-Eric, you've got a deal.

-OK.

0:35:480:35:50

Eric catches a tiddler of a profit, making just shy of £14.

0:35:500:35:55

So, he has just one item to go - the silver dish.

0:35:550:35:59

In London, Ochuko still has three,

0:35:590:36:01

but he's hoping to sell two in one next,

0:36:010:36:03

as he arrives at Spitalfields market with the vintage coral and TV stand.

0:36:030:36:08

Together, the items owe him just under £138

0:36:080:36:12

and he's visiting the shop where he used to work,

0:36:120:36:15

in the hopes of squeezing a profit out of his old mentor, Fiona.

0:36:150:36:19

It's just great to be back, you know. It's been a long time.

0:36:190:36:22

This is where I've really learned to do what I've done.

0:36:220:36:25

-I know, you've set it out.

-I've set it out neatly for you.

0:36:250:36:28

So, what do you think? It's a 1950s TV stand.

0:36:280:36:32

It's something you can retail or a great display.

0:36:320:36:34

Yeah. It pops out. It would be more of a prop for the shop.

0:36:340:36:37

-Yeah.

-It looks great.

0:36:370:36:39

And as you know, coral is so on trend.

0:36:390:36:41

And it's just... Look how sculptural it is.

0:36:410:36:44

-Just how different... Different pieces.

-Yes.

0:36:440:36:46

Like you said, it's on trend.

0:36:460:36:47

-Yeah.

-We've got a little fish story going on.

0:36:470:36:50

And we're going to continue that in our autumn/winter season.

0:36:500:36:53

So, it's something that would fit in with what we do, definitely.

0:36:530:36:56

OK. So, let's talk money.

0:36:560:36:58

-What are you saying?

-Let me go individual first.

0:36:590:37:02

The coral, I want 200 for the lot.

0:37:020:37:06

That'll be a bit of a struggle for us to sell it on at that price.

0:37:060:37:10

I'm thinking maybe 120.

0:37:100:37:12

I'm thinking 150.

0:37:120:37:15

-135.

-135.

0:37:150:37:18

OK. We've got 135 for the coral, possibly.

0:37:180:37:21

This desk... I think 190.

0:37:210:37:25

I was thinking more 130.

0:37:250:37:27

OK, 130. So that's 265 for both.

0:37:270:37:30

It's lower than what I wanted.

0:37:300:37:32

310.

0:37:340:37:35

And that is pushing me.

0:37:350:37:38

You're skinning me. Round figures. You know I like round figures.

0:37:380:37:41

£300, you've got a deal.

0:37:410:37:43

Come on, you want to do it. Come on.

0:37:430:37:45

Yeah. Very happy with that.

0:37:450:37:47

So, Ochuko makes just over £81 on the vintage coral

0:37:470:37:50

and the same again on the TV stand.

0:37:500:37:53

And he rounds off his sales in Taunton

0:37:530:37:55

where he sells his camp bed to Sir Benjamin Slade,

0:37:550:37:58

who hires out his family home for large events.

0:37:580:38:01

Could possibly be very practical for the wedding business, yes.

0:38:010:38:04

Agreeing £150 for the bed,

0:38:040:38:06

Ochuko makes a final profit of a shade over £55.

0:38:060:38:10

Thank you very much. Gentleman.

0:38:100:38:12

Ochuko's splendid sale means he's all done.

0:38:120:38:15

But Eric is also surrounded by splendour for his final sale.

0:38:170:38:21

Well, I'm in one of the many hallowed corridors

0:38:220:38:24

of Cliveden house here in Berkshire.

0:38:240:38:26

I'm here to hopefully do a deal on my American silver dish

0:38:260:38:30

because there is a strong American connection with this stately home.

0:38:300:38:35

Yes, it used to belong to a notable American family.

0:38:350:38:39

Whether that will help Eric find a profit on the £23 it cost him

0:38:390:38:43

from general manager Sue remains to be seen.

0:38:430:38:46

The house itself, tell me, when did it all start?

0:38:480:38:50

So, there's 350 years' worth of history.

0:38:500:38:53

So, 1666, Duke of Buckingham.

0:38:530:38:55

So he was the first to build here.

0:38:550:38:57

But I think the period in time which is really so very interesting is

0:38:570:39:00

really the Astors. So, so, first bought by William Waldorf Astor,

0:39:000:39:03

wealthiest man in America.

0:39:030:39:05

He came over with his family and bought this house in 1893.

0:39:050:39:08

Queen Victoria was not impressed...

0:39:080:39:10

-No?

-..that it had gone to an American.

0:39:100:39:12

-Dreadful!

-Well, for me,

0:39:120:39:14

I have to say I would probably look at this piece as something of...

0:39:140:39:17

Well, a piece of Americana.

0:39:170:39:19

But when you look at it, it is pure French Art Nouveau.

0:39:190:39:24

Stylistically, something like this, you would say dated to about 1900.

0:39:240:39:29

It is only plate, but it is quite a rarity.

0:39:290:39:32

-Do you just want to have a...?

-It's a very attractive piece, isn't it?

0:39:320:39:35

And I might imagine a house like this would have had

0:39:350:39:38

a great store of silver, once upon a time.

0:39:380:39:40

In fact, we still have a room below stairs

0:39:400:39:43

which we know to be the silver room.

0:39:430:39:45

I just saw that as... winging its way to Cliveden...

0:39:450:39:49

-Something that might sit here?

-Yeah, I did.

0:39:490:39:51

Do you have an idea of what the value of this might be?

0:39:510:39:54

Well, I've got a starting price.

0:39:540:39:57

I thought that it would probably be in the region of maybe £80

0:39:570:40:01

-or thereabouts.

-Well, I was wondering

0:40:010:40:04

if that might be somewhere nearer 45.

0:40:040:40:07

-I was wondering.

-What about £55?

0:40:070:40:10

Well, I think, at 55, I'd be pleased to have that in the house.

0:40:100:40:14

-You would.

-I would. I think we can agree on that.

0:40:140:40:16

-Well, I want you to be pleased, Sue. OK?

-I am.

0:40:160:40:19

Eric makes a smidge over £29 on the dish

0:40:190:40:21

and brings the selling to an end.

0:40:210:40:24

Well, I've had a fascinating time here

0:40:240:40:27

learning about the Astors, and in all fairness,

0:40:270:40:30

I don't think I will ever look at Cliveden house again

0:40:300:40:34

with the same eyes.

0:40:340:40:36

And on top of that, I actually managed

0:40:360:40:38

to make a reasonable profit on my dish.

0:40:380:40:40

So, all that remains now is to find out

0:40:400:40:43

who made a mountain of profit

0:40:430:40:44

and who is left with a molehill of despair.

0:40:440:40:47

They both started the day with £750 worth of their own euros to spend.

0:40:470:40:52

Eric bought five items and spent a total of £344.83p.

0:40:520:40:57

Ochuko matched the number bought, but spent slightly less,

0:40:570:41:00

picking up five for £340.52p.

0:41:000:41:04

But all that matters now is the bottom line.

0:41:040:41:06

All of the money that Eric and Ochuko have made

0:41:060:41:09

will go to charities of their choice,

0:41:090:41:10

so let's find out who is today's

0:41:100:41:12

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is champion.

0:41:120:41:15

-Hiya, Eric. How are you doing? We've made it.

-We've made it.

0:41:160:41:19

We have as well, yeah.

0:41:190:41:21

So, quite an experience, buying over in La Belle France.

0:41:210:41:24

I loved it. What I liked is that maybe trends that we have here,

0:41:240:41:28

they don't have there.

0:41:280:41:29

So it's a good opportunity to make money, to make a good profit.

0:41:290:41:32

-That's what I found.

-So, what was your favourite sale?

0:41:320:41:35

I did very well on that 1930s, I think, actually, drinks trolley.

0:41:350:41:41

-Oh, I like that.

-A lovely thing. I made a great profit on it.

0:41:410:41:43

-A lot of work in that, wasn't it?

-Yeah, really ornate.

0:41:430:41:46

-How about you?

-Well, my art deco silver-plated coffee set,

0:41:460:41:50

sold it to a mentor of mine called Bevis Hillier.

0:41:500:41:54

-Did he love it?

-Yeah, he did.

0:41:540:41:56

And I was really pleased that he wanted it.

0:41:560:41:59

He really did want it.

0:41:590:42:00

-So, shall we see how we got on?

-Shall we see? I'm curious.

0:42:000:42:03

-I'm scared.

-OK, well, don't worry,

0:42:030:42:06

as they say in certain movies, we're all scared, son.

0:42:060:42:09

OK. One, two, three.

0:42:090:42:12

-Whoa!

-The boy got there.

0:42:120:42:15

-He came good.

-He did.

0:42:150:42:17

-That's a healthy profit, isn't it?

-That is a healthy profit.

0:42:170:42:20

-A very healthy profit.

-I think we've both done well there.

0:42:200:42:22

Well, I think, all things being equal,

0:42:220:42:24

-I'm game to do another one in La Belle France, aren't you?

-I'd love to go right now.

0:42:240:42:28

Yes, Ochuko takes it again

0:42:280:42:30

because even though Eric took the single highest profit

0:42:300:42:32

on the glass dish, Ochuko made more overall.

0:42:320:42:36

Wow! Can't quite believe that.

0:42:380:42:40

I won by not a massive margin, Eric made a very respectable profit,

0:42:400:42:45

but to beat someone of his knowledge and his stature is just an honour.

0:42:450:42:49

So, I'm staring into the jaws of defeat,

0:42:490:42:52

but it wasn't by a huge margin.

0:42:520:42:55

And full credit to the new boy.

0:42:550:42:56

I think he did very well,

0:42:560:42:58

because that really was a tough French market.

0:42:580:43:02

But Eric gets to fight once more

0:43:020:43:04

when he takes on his opponent on his own turf,

0:43:040:43:06

as they go head-to-head at the auction tomorrow.

0:43:060:43:10

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