Curtis Dowling v James Lewis: Antiques Market Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

We've all seen them on TV, but how will the country's favourite antiques experts fare

when they're challenged to make a profit with their own cash?

Excellent.

He who laughs last, laughs loudest.

From car-boot sales to auction houses, our experts will be recreating some of their real-life

deals as they go head to head and try and make the most money for their chosen charities.

Purchase of the week.

Fantastic. I'm thrilled with that.

The challenge to our experts is clear.

Dealers, put your money where your mouth is.

Today's experts are animal-loving auctioneer James "The Lionheart" Lewis

-and antiques investigator Curtis "the Detective" Dowling.

-It's a fake.

Curtis was in his teens when he first became interested in antiques,

but it wasn't until a few years later, after a stint in the military police,

that he finally solved the mystery of antiques and collectables.

Stop thinking antiques are some really, really mystical thing.

All they are is lots of old stuff, so if you think of it like that,

it's lots of quite expensive second-hand stuff,

you've taken the madness and the pompousness out of antiques.

Curtis's nickname, the Detective, comes from his expertise in spotting fake antiques.

He's also an expert valuer and can be found hunting cash in the attic.

Condition, condition, condition.

If it's chipped, cracked or damaged, don't touch it.

His opponent is a seasoned auctioneer who runs his own sale room.

548.

When he's not selling from the podium, he likes to relax at home with his four-legged friends.

My two major loves, really, in life have been animals and antiques.

I always wanted to be a vet, but somehow I've fallen into this, the auctioneering.

James has over 20 years' experience in the antiques trade and he's a regular expert on Flog It!

Anything that's titled, anything that has a name...

has a good chance of selling.

So our rivals are ready, and the stakes are sky high.

With their reputations at risk and their own money on the line,

it's time for us to find out the aim of today's game.

Ah, Lionheart.

-Good to see you.

-Ready to do battle again?

Absolutely. Shall we exchange terms?

Marvellous. Who's reading first?

-Let's have a look. Shall I?

-After you.

-"James and Curtis..."

-Most important one first!

-Oh?

"Your challenge today is to spend £750..."

That's the bit I don't like... "..of your own money on antiques.

"You must then re-sell your purchases with the aim of making as much profit as possible.

"The winner is the presenter who makes most cash."

-Shall I read mine?

-Go on.

-OK.

"Today you must buy all your antiques from," quite logically, "an antiques fair."

-Fantastic!

-Good luck.

-May the best man win.

-And to you.

Curtis and James will be going head to head at the Swinderby

antiques fair in Lincolnshire, which has over 3,000 stalls.

Pretty much everybody that our experts

try to do deals with will be aware that they're on a mission to make as much money as possible for charity.

James and Curtis will be doing everything in their power to persuade people

to give them the best possible prices

as they buy and sell the items they hope will drive them to victory.

Finding the best bargains is going to be hard work,

so what battle plans have our intrepid experts drawn up?

My strategy is to buy one expensive thing and five smaller,

so hopefully that will spread the risk a bit.

What am I looking for today?

Well, I keep coming back to two themes for no reason...

maritime and Art Deco.

I don't know what it is, I just keep getting drawn to those items.

So Curtis's strategy is to home in on Art Deco and maritime items,

whilst James is planning to spread the risk by buying one expensive item and five cheaper ones.

What he didn't tell us is that this is his local market and he knows a lot of the stall-holders,

but always one step ahead of the game, the Detective has a secret of his own.

Cos I'm not from round here, James may think he's got the advantage.

He knows this market and he knows the people here.

Is that an advantage? Well, time will tell.

Maybe he doesn't know that I used to do this market myself as a stall-holder

up until about ten years ago.

Yes, something tells me we're in for a battle royale today.

There are thousands of stalls to browse in today's market, and James thinks he's found

something with a rich vein of potential profit running through it.

Now, this is an interesting object.

To all intents and purposes from the outside, it looks like a penknife,

and it is a type of knife, but not the normal.

If you have a look at that, it has three triangular-shaped blades,

and the design of those is for one particular purpose...

for inserting into a vein to make you bleed to release the pressure,

so that, if you had a nervous disease

or some form of infection, the idea was, by releasing the blood, you would get rid of the infection.

I'm very glad to say it's not being used today,

but it was used right the way back 3,000 years ago in Ancient Egypt and it was used throughout

periods of time, right the way up until the end of the 19th century.

This one, however, isn't for humans.

This is probably for horses. The name of it - a fleam.

Comes from phlebus which is a Latin word meaning vein.

So that, as a George III fleam,

should certainly create some interest.

So The Lionheart thinks there could be a profit in the antique fleam, but can he cut a deal?

-What are you asking for that?

-Well, I'm asking £20.

OK. How about 15?

-OK, you got a deal.

-We have.

-Thank you, James.

Fantastic. Thank you.

Nicely done, Mr Lewis. That's a good discount and an interesting purchase.

Elsewhere in the market, it looks as though Curtis is hoping to climb aboard the good ship profit.

MUSIC: THEME TO "CAPTAIN PUGWASH"

Now, this is the kind of thing I've been looking for.

It's a mahogany and brass chapter-ringed ship's wheel.

Must be 100 years old and it's beautiful,

but it's £450. I'll just keep looking.

The Detective may be steering clear of that ship's wheel,

but there's plenty more fish in the sea, and another item has taken his fancy.

Now, that last ship's wheel I looked at was £450,

but why?

This one's mahogany but just painted.

This one's got a lovely chapter ring around it, but it's not as attractive and it's not in as good condition.

I tell you what I particularly like about this one, though.

It's £100 and not £450.

And another thing I like about it is I think there's profit in it.

But probably the best thing I like about it is I've bought it already, and it's mine.

Yes, well, I think he's quite happy with that purchase, don't you?

His rival, though, is also busy scouring the market for game-winning items

and has snapped up something that he thinks is a potential money-maker.

Whenever you're buying something to try and make a profit, the key is to who you're going to sell it to.

This is a classic piece for a private buyer.

It's ornate, it's decorative and it's a centrepiece, probably made in England or France around 1890, 1900.

It's what we call hobnail cut.

This is almost dog-tooth sharp cutting around the border.

It's got a star-cut base around the edge there, with that wonderful curved cutting. Not easy to do.

The mounts are lacquered, gold-plated brass, not ormolu.

Ormolu is gold-plated bronze, but that is just about second best.

Now, I paid £40 for this.

I would hope to sell it for near on 100.

The Lionheart is in a confident mood,

and he's also aiming to snap up a late 19th-century teacup and saucer.

Do you know, £30 and it's a deal.

-I can do 35.

-Do you know, the thing that slightly concerns me...

it doesn't have a recess for the cup.

I'm sure it is a saucer, but it might be a side plate.

-That's why I'm only going to the 30.

-Yeah, go on, then.

-Yeah?

-Go on, then.

Deal. Fantastic.

That's top haggling from James,

and by pointing out WHY he wanted a reduction,

he was able to negotiate a good price.

He's not the only buying ceramics, though.

His rival has picked up this Clarice Cliff-inspired jug for £15

and he's also got his eye on another Art Deco-inspired item.

-Excuse me.

-Hi.

-Lovely item.

-It is, it is.

I know how much I want to pay for it.

What are you going to charge me?

I was offered 200 about an hour ago from a guy.

-He hasn't come back, so it can be 200 to you.

-Well, I'm not going to argue with that, to be honest.

It looks like a great centrepiece, and I've got a good idea for it,

-so I'm going to shake on 200.

-Good. Well done.

-Thanks very much.

I'll pop back and get it later. Lovely. Thanks a lot.

So Curtis has bagged himself a very stylish woman, and what a fine figure of a lady she is.

Now, the Detective might be hoping that the 1930s style figure will help him waltz to victory,

but his rival, The Lionheart, is applying his ruthless business brain

to the job of buying at today's market.

About two months ago, I went on holiday to a villa in Portugal

with some friends, and there was a set of these around the pool.

One of my friends said, "If ever you see these, get me a pair."

As long as there's a profit in them, we've got a bit of a chance. Now, these are not old.

These are probably five or six years old, imported from the Far East

and they're imported in vast numbers, but they are solid bronze.

If we were talking about period ones, Meiji period, Japanese of around 1880,

a pair like this would be at least £1,000 to £1,500.

But, you know, these things have a great historical value as well.

The traditional crane from Japan was symbolic of long life, good fortune

and peace, so let's see if these bring me a bit of good fortune.

-How much are they?

-120.

-120?

-It's nice bronze.

-Oh, they're nice bronzes, but they're not very old.

-Yeah.

-We've got a bit of damage on this one, so would you do a little bit off for that?

110?

Do you know, £100 and you've got a deal.

-You'll give me cash?

-Of course it's cash.

-That's OK.

-Yes?

-Yeah.

-Deal done.

-Thank you.

-Fantastic.

So, with a potential buyer in mind, James has waded in and bought the pair of cranes.

Curtis is also hard at work and is casting his eye over some antique taxidermy.

It's pre-'47, the owl...

-Right.

-..which basically means you don't need any Article 10 or licensing from Defra.

-So if it had've been stuffed after 1947, I would need a special licence to sell this item?

-Yes, you would.

-Right, I've got you.

-Which is called an Article 10.

-But I don't need it with this little lady, cos she's Victorian.

-That's correct.

-How much is it?

It would've been £150, but you can have it for 100.

-Well, that's very good of you.

-You're welcome.

I can only say thank you very much.

That's brilliant news.

So time to give you the money.

As Curtis is on a mission to raise as much money as possible

for charity, the dealer has given him the Detective a good discount.

Taxidermy may not be everyone's cup of tea, but this Victorian specimen is very collectable.

With today's contest now well under way,

it's time to find out who's flying high and who's having a bumpy ride.

Both Curtis and James started the day with up to £750

of their own money in their pockets.

Mr Dowling has spent £415,

leaving him £335 in his kitty.

His rival, on the other hand, has parted with £185,

leaving him with £565 to play with.

With plenty of stalls still to search through and thousands of items on offer,

our experts are scouring the market, hunting for the pieces they hope will win them today's competition.

Look at him! Way-hey!

They're both determined to emerge victorious,

and, after putting in some serious leg work, James is about to make what could be a big move.

I said at the beginning of the day that I wanted to spend a significant amount of the budget

on one key item and I think I may well have found them.

These are fantastic ormolu candlesticks, English, around 1850.

You may well be thinking, "Haven't we seen these birds before?"

Well, yes, they are cranes, and again they're inspired

by the Japanese, like those big garden ones we saw earlier on.

But these are far better.

These are ormolu. These are wonderful quality and they're not reproductions, they're genuine.

Candlesticks are always good sellers,

and ormolu candlesticks go to a certain type of buyer -

somebody with a very glitzy interior, with gold mirrors,

fancy gilt carved furniture... these'll look fabulous.

And in this case, the dealers have actually done some research for us.

"Regency candlesticks, Abbot of Birmingham.

"£650 the pair," but there we are.

But Birmingham was the headquarters of the ormolu-manufacturing industry of not only the UK,

but the whole world, from the 18th century right the way through until the 19th century.

I love those. At £650,

I think they're a little bit steep,

but let's see if we can get them for a shade less.

Are you up for a deal on these?

Well, James has only got £565 left in his kitty,

so he's going to have to haggle hard if he wants to buy the candlesticks.

The best I can do these for is five and a half.

-Five and a half?

-Yeah.

550 is still quite a lot.

How about 450?

No, I couldn't do them for that.

No, not 450. No, they're a good make, Abbot.

-Yeah, they are. How about a little less?

-Bit more.

If you give me a better offer.

My top offer would be 490.

-490. Er...yeah, I could do them for that.

-Yeah?

-Yeah, 490.

-I think we've got a deal.

-OK, then.

-Fantastic. Thank you very much.

-# Gold!

-Gold!

-Always believe in your soul... #

At £490 for the ormolu candlesticks, James has really struck gold.

He'll also be hoping to profit from a Chinese Qing Dynasty vase

that cost him £40.

Elsewhere in the market, Detective Dowling, true to his strategy,

has been back on the Art Deco trail.

Two lovely Art Deco clocks, and there's absolutely no way

you could confuse it with any other period.

We've got this rather simple mahogany clock here

and then we've got this rather lovely walnut clock here.

Now, they both work, and that's essential,

obviously, if it's a clock, because not only are they very attractive,

they're also very useful as well.

I paid £50 for this clock and I think that's going

to go for something like 80,

and I paid £30 for this slightly simpler clock

and I think this is going to go for about £60.

So, between them, we've probably got £60 worth of profit.

Well, Curtis may be counting on his latest purchases to clock up some profit,

but James is a determined opponent and isn't playing games today.

He's buying them instead.

Now, that is just about the most striking colour you'll ever see,

and, believe it or not, that is totally natural.

This is made of malachite and it's a gaming board with these

little square inlets, probably in alabaster or white marble.

This is a stone that's probably mined from North Africa.

You see a lot of Egyptian things in malachite, and it was mainly used in the Art Deco period.

You can imagine cigarette boxes

and veneers of tables and things in malachite.

It really is a wonderful stone.

Now, it's got a mark of £45 on it. What would be your best?

Well, I'm looking for about 30, so...

-30.

-..um, around that mark.

-OK.

I'm going to offer £25.

-Go on, then.

-Deal.

-Yeah, that's fine.

Elsewhere in the market, the Detective has got cash burning

a hole in his pocket and he's hoping to seal a deal of his own.

You don't see Victorian road signs come up very often. Why?

Because when they were taken down and replaced in the '50s, '60s and '70s,

they were just melted down or thrown away.

Why would anybody ever want to buy one?

Which makes them now actually quite unusual,

so when you find one with a particularly famous name on it,

-you might have a buyer in mind. ..Excuse me.

-Yeah?

It says 75. What sort of deal are you going to do on me?

Well, I think the best I could do is about 50.

It would need to be 40.

Well, it's the end of the day, we're all packing in, so, er...

it's very heavy to take home. I think, yeah, it's the end of three days.

So if I waved £40 at you?

Yeah, I think I might've paid more, but...

Ah, so I've done you?

-Or got myself a good deal.

-Yeah, I think so.

-Let's call it a day. Super. Thanks very much.

-Thank you.

Another heavy thing I've bought. How am I going to get this home?

It may be heavy, but Curtis was definitely in the right place

at the right time and has grabbed himself a bargain to round off his buying at today's market.

Our experts have done a sterling job of scouring the market,

but who's managed to bag the items with the most potential profit?

Both our experts started the day with up to £750

of their own money to spend.

Curtis "the Detective" Dowling has spent £535.

James "The Lionheart" Lewis, on the other hand,

has splashed the cash and spent almost his entire budget.

After a hard day trying to seal the best deals,

it's time for our experts to pack up their purchases and head home.

But before they do, they're keen to check out each other's wares.

-Ah, Lionheart!

-Good to see you.

-Have you had a good day?

-It's been a long one, hasn't it?

Yeah, well, it's a big fair, isn't it?

My feet really ache, I have to say.

So do you like my eclectic mix of items?

-Well, I wouldn't exactly call it eclectic. I think they're all very much of a muchness, really.

-Do you?

Yeah, I do, because we've got this Art Deco style figure, but very modern.

-Very modern.

-We have this Art Dec style jug.

-But very modern.

-But very modern.

I would say that the majority of this stuff belongs in Albert Square,

but I have to say, THAT I quite like.

-Let's have a look at your collection.

-Have a look.

-I have to say, I like your ormolu candlesticks.

-Ah, good.

I think they are really nice.

That's a relief! You don't know how much they cost!

Maybe I don't want to know, but I think they're really nice and they're definitely right.

-You've been round your nan's and picked up one of her cups.

-Yeah!

And you've bought some sort of broken thing.

-But that I love.

-Do you?

-Yeah, I mean, it's Chinese, it's got a great

feel to it, and of all the things here, that's my favourite lot.

You might be in a minority of one. All I can do is wish you luck with the sale.

-And you.

-See you soon.

-Great.

So, as they head for home, Curtis will be aiming to cash in on...

a mahogany ship's wheel in need of some TLC,

a colourful vase in the style of Clarice Cliff,

an Art Deco style sculpture,

a pair of Art Deco clocks,

a Victorian street sign,

and of course his Victorian stuffed tawny owl.

James's hopes of winning today's contest rest on a George III fleam,

a 19th-century Royal Worcester cup and saucer,

a pair of reproduction bronze cranes,

a pair of 19th-century ormolu candlesticks,

a Qing dynasty Chinese vase and cover,

a late 19th-century glass and gold-plated centrepiece,

and a striking Art Deco malachite Chinese chequers game.

So, having bought their items, the challenge now

for James and Curtis is to sell their goods for the biggest possible profit.

They'll be working their way through their contact books, setting up deals on the phone and by email.

However, until they've shaken on it and the money is in their pockets, no deal is truly sealed.

No, of course it's not expensive.

Both our experts are determined to be victorious and, with plenty of items to sell,

this contest will have more twists and turns than a soap opera.

MUSIC: THEME FROM "EASTENDERS"

So it's only fitting that Curtis is about to try and sell his street sign at a well-known pub.

Nice to meet you, Curtis. Is this the sign we were talking about?

-It is. What do you think?

-I'm pleasantly surprised, actually.

Although you do know, before we start talking prices,

I am a Coronation Street fan.

I had the Coronation Street one.

It was £450, if you want to look at that.

-Let's go back to this sign.

-I think it's probably wisest.

-This one is an original Victorian street sign.

-Right.

Now, with the Queen Vic sign up outside, you've only been here a few

months, I thought it's a bit of fun and it adds to the place.

Well, now I've actually seen it, I have got a spot for that possibly, if the price is right, of course.

It's going to be good. Any idea what you'd be prepared to pay for it?

Well, I wouldn't... About...

I could probably use it for about £60.

-I think we're a little bit out at the moment.

-Are we?

Well, I was looking for at least double that, actually. I was looking for about 120 quid.

How about 100?

-Um...it's still a bit too high.

-OK, go on.

What's the price you want to pay me for it?

-85?

-Call it 90, and you've got a deal.

-90.

-Well, let's see the colour of your money and then we'll get this thing hung up.

Well, that's a decent sale for the Detective, and he's come up

with a plan which he hopes will seal him a whole load of deals

in just one day.

He's set up a stall at the Devon County antiques fair.

We've only got to sell a few things to make it a very, very good fair for us.

Curtis sounds confident, but he's not the only one trying to sell here today.

There's tough competition from the other stalls, and, although there are

plenty of people at today's fair, no-one is actually buying anything, at least not off Curtis.

In Derbyshire, The Lionheart is tending to the other great passion in his life - his animals.

-Today, they're being checked over by the vet.

-Hello, James.

Beating Curtis is never far from Mr Lewis's mind,

and he's going to try and sell the vet the fleam that set him back £15.

It's the antique tool that was once used to let blood in an effort to get rid of infections.

I've got to be honest with you, there is another reason.

-It's not just sheep I want you to look at today.

-Right.

-It's this. I remember you telling me that you had...

-Oh, my word!

I think it was a friend at college, wasn't it, who had one?

It was indeed. Where did you get this from?!

Swinderby Antiques Fair.

I haven't seen one of these for absolutely years.

-Do you know what it is?

-It's called a fleam.

-Do you know what it was for?

-For blood-letting.

-Do you like it?

-I love it, it's absolutely brilliant.

So, um, is this payment for the work I've done today, then?

Well, it could be seen as that, but what I'd really like is a bit of the old-fashioned cash.

-I'll give you £20 for it.

-Ah, no, that...

The vet sounds interested, but will he be prepared

to dig a little deeper and give James a decent profit?

Ah, no. You're so...you're so mean!

That's so... No, that's too low. I was thinking three figures.

I'll give you a tenner a blade, James.

OK, I'll take that.

Tenner a blade, but I want another 30 quid for the handle.

-What?! So what do you want?

-60.

I'll meet you halfway. 40?

-Tell you what...

-My maths isn't that great.

-£50, and I'll allow you to have this bit of kit back as well.

-I didn't realise you still had that!

That's worth about the same.

-50?

-50.

-Done.

-Thank you.

-Fantastic.

Nicely done, James.

That's a £50 sale and a beautiful £35 profit.

At the Devon antiques fair, after a slow start,

there's interest in Curtis's Art Deco style lady,

but can he sell it for more than the £200 he paid for it?

I like this. Where's this from?

Well, my story here is a bit sad, really, because I saw her

from a distance at an antiques fair and I think she's lovely.

-Yeah.

-The guy bought six, there was one left, and he told me,

true or not, that a guy was coming back from Holland

who was going to buy it, so I had to make a decision.

-I bought it cos I liked it. That's it, really.

-How much is it?

295, sir.

It's a bit much. 295?

Yes, sir. What would you do with this item if you had it?

I think I'd have to spray it a different colour.

-Oh, really?

-Look at it. The silver is glowing at me.

-So you want a discount to buy the paint?

-Well, I would think so.

-It's a bit bright, isn't it?

-I quite like it for that reason, you know.

-I think it's...

-I was thinking about putting it outside.

-It might tarnish on its own, mightn't it?

-Yeah, it might do that.

-It's spelter.

It's just a spelter - zinc alloy mix.

265 you said?

-No, I think I said 275, sir, didn't I?

-I thought you did.

Yeah, how's that sitting with you?

Not bad. I'm not that comfortable with it.

265. What's it made of?

-Spelter - zinc alloy mix.

-Yes, mmm...

-You want me to shake hands at 265, don't you?

-Yeah.

-You've got a deal, sir.

-OK, 265.

-Fantastic, and it's going to look great in the garden.

I guess all I need to do is ask to see the colour of your money.

I was afraid you might. I thought you might.

Well, it was a long wait, but Curtis's patience finally paid off,

and the lady has delivered a £65 profit.

The Detective's stake-out at the antiques fair has been

a bit of a disappointment, though.

He hasn't secured any more sales and he's decided to call it a day.

In Derbyshire, The Lionheart is on the prowl for profit.

He's hoping to sell the brass and gold-plated centrepiece that cost him £40 to an old friend,

but this lady is an estate agent and is used to haggling hard,

so James is going to have to be on top selling form.

-What can you tell me about it?

-It's French, it was made about 1860-1880.

I just love it. It's such a dressy piece as well as being great quality, and listen to that ring...

-Lovely quality in that.

-It is super.

-It'll look lovely in the light, and I think it will sparkle rather nicely on the...

-What do you mean "will"?

It already sparkles! I've been washing that especially!

How do I know that it's real?

Well, I'M selling it to you for starters, so that should be your first point.

Of course it's real, and if we turn it over... we'll start on the base, look.

This has got a wonderful raised foot rim, and do you see on the

pad of each one of these, you can just see little tiny scratches?

That is the only part you will not be able to polish, because that is

150 or 140 years of it doing that on a table surface, so that is something you really can't fake.

And if you look along the top here, it has this wonderful mellow colour.

It's wearing through. And the quality of the cut as well...

I mean, that is just great.

You know, if somebody was going to fake this,

they wouldn't be selling it for what I paid for it at an antiques fair.

It looks very good.

Well, what do you think a fantastic French centrepiece like that would be worth?

-Um...

-It's difficult with you, because you're a mate!

Well, yes, and an estate agent, so...

Oh, yes, OK! I lose all sympathy!

So what do you think something like that should cost?

What would you pay?

If you were dressing a client's house, what would you spend on that?

-£50?

-What?!

That's painful! You can't do that to me.

I'm remembering you're an estate agent now.

Um, well, OK.

-I need a profit on it.

-Mm-hm.

-Um...

I was hoping to get...

Well, shall we start at 180?

We could start at 180... and I'll start at 100.

And we'll finish at 170. How about that?

Hmm...

I think I'll offer you...110?

I think I could get more than that at auction.

120?

Go on, then. Deal.

That's another great deal for James,

and I think it's fair to say he's a happy man.

I bought that centrepiece for £40 and sold it for £120.

Look and learn, Dowling!

Well, The Lionheart has thrown down the gauntlet, but Curtis isn't a man that's afraid

of a challenge and he's hit the road to try and secure another sale.

# Hit the road, Jack

# And don't you come back no more, no more... #

Having consulted his little black book,

Curtis is visiting an old friend from his days on the set of Lovejoy.

He's hoping to sell him one of his Art Deco clocks.

Remember - he paid £80 for the pair.

So is this the Deco clock you're trying to flog me, then?

-Well, I took a bit of a flyer on it, to be fair.

-Oh, yeah? Here we go.

Picked it up at Swinderby Antiques Fair...

-Yes.

-But actually what happened, there was a big clock collection, and it was just one guy selling them off.

I can't help myself with Deco clocks - or Deco anything, to be honest.

I was hoping that, if we come to the right price, you could be taking this home today and not me.

-Yeah, well, the first question is, does it work?

-It definitely works.

All the bits are in the back, I've tested it, and even when we were bringing it in, it was bonging.

-What are you looking for, then?

-About 80 quid, I would think, Chris, to be fair.

80 quid! You're a comedian.

You always were a comedian.

80 quid. Let me have a look at it.

OK. You're thinking a bit more?

A bit more? Yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah, let's go 120...

Hang on, that's the wrong way to negotiate, isn't it, yeah?

It's nice. I like it, I like it, but...30.

They're going up in price all the time. We could be here all day, couldn't we?

Here all day with a little joke, yeah.

I'll tell you what, I'll go up to 45, and that's got to be the top of where I can go with this.

I'd rather not take it home, so can we call it 50 and then we're done?

-Why do I feel like I'm being done here?

-No, absolutely not.

You're ending up with a great clock that's going to make an awful lot of money in the future.

-All right, 50 quid.

-Fantastic. Colour of your money, sir.

That's a good result for the Detective, but if he wants to make a profit

from BOTH his Art Deco clocks, he needs to make more than £30 from the sale of the remaining one.

Both our experts are clocking up profitable sales,

but just how much cash have they got in their profit pots?

Curtis has racked up £405 worth of sales and banked £115 profit.

James, on the other hand, has made sales of £170,

which has also netted him a profit of £115.

With both our experts sealing profitable deals, today's contest is hanging in the balance.

James and Curtis are doing everything in their power to find the right buyers for their items,

and they're working their way through their little black books, putting deals together

on the phone and by email, but until they've shaken on it

and money has changed hands, no deal is done.

Curtis has got the wind in his sails

and has travelled to Rochester in Kent to try and sell his ship's wheel.

It's seen better days, but rather than spend money

restoring it, the Detective is hoping it could turn him a quick profit.

He bought it for £100.

I thought of you, because I bought this ship's wheel.

It's obvious what it is. What's your first impressions?

It's a nice wheel. I've had a look at it. I can see the potential.

We've got one very much like it in the club house at the moment,

and it would match it quite nicely.

What would be your best offer for it?

I was hoping to get about £180 for it.

Well, that's a bit high

-for what I'd like to go to.

-OK.

I would offer £130.

You know, if it's more than that, I'd have to think about it.

Well, I don't want to carry it all the way back.

Would you settle on 160?

I'll slap hands with you for £150.

-And I can leave it on deck?

-And you can leave it on deck.

-Right, job done. Thanks ever so much.

Thanks very much, Curtis.

So that's another £50 for the Detective,

and the tide could be turning in his favour...

..because he's also sealed a deal for the Clarice Cliff style vase.

Another deal done, and the almost Clarice Cliff nearly doubles its money.

Curtis isn't the only one pulling out all the stops to make as much profit as possible.

James has headed to an auction house on the south coast

to try and sell the Chinese chequers game that he paid £25 for.

Chinese chequers, a nice little malachite one.

I've had a little bit of interest with me.

I've got a couple of bids very close together, so I've got to start at 24.

£24.

That's £1 loss.

26 is bid.

Oh, into profit!

-I'm out at 30, can I see 32?

-Go on!

£30. Are you all done at 30?

Thank you.

Well, a fiver isn't the biggest profit

The Lionheart has ever made, but he's happy enough.

£30! That's not a massive profit, but £5 is better than nothing,

and the auction room have waived their commission, so that is £5 clear profit.

I'm happy with that.

In the battle to be today's

Put Your Money champion, every penny counts,

and James banks more cash from the sale of his pair of bronze cranes,

a bronze Chinese vase...

..and the Royal Worcester teacup and saucer.

£75. That's more than double my money. That's a great result.

When it comes to selling, it appears The Lionheart is the main man, and he's not done yet.

He's hoping to make a big profit from his most expensive purchase

by selling the ormolu candlesticks to a hotelier contact.

Remember - they cost him a whopping £490.

They are, in my opinion, the best thing that I've bought

They're 1870, they're ormolu.

They're English and not French, which makes them

a little bit better, and if you have a look under this one, look,

we've got a maker's name... Abbott of Birmingham.

-Yes.

-They were well-known for doing this very model.

The quality of the casting is something that I love.

Look at the leaves. You can see every little vein in those leaves.

The feathers, the little coronet around there. Do you like them?

I think they're superb.

I think they're absolutely delightful.

-They're very you, aren't they?

-Unfortunately, yes.

When I got back home, I looked at what they were making.

The cheapest pair I found were in the 400s, but they weren't marked

and they weren't in such good condition.

The ormolu had started to wear, and that was about ten years ago.

They go right the way through into the 900s plus 15%, sometimes plus 20% commission.

-Are you working up to something?

-I'm working up to saying I think they're worth £2,000.

I... Tell you what.

We'll do a deal at £750.

You see, I feel that, if they were in a top London gallery, they'd be £2,200, something like that.

I tell you what I'll do. I'll give you 900 for them.

OK. I think they're worth a bit more than that.

Well, all right.

Just because it's you, James, 950.

-1,200.

-950 is my last offer.

The Lionheart is working hard to maximise his profit here, but his

potential buyer clearly knows his stuff and is driving a hard bargain.

Oh, they're worth £1,000. They're worth it, you know it.

-I'll give you 975. Go on.

-990.

-Done.

-Fantastic!

-Come on, let's strike the deal, then.

Come on, then.

£990 - what a fantastic result for James!

It gives him a fabulous £500 profit and piles the pressure on Curtis...

who is in London at an auction house, hoping to make enough profit to win today's competition.

Well, here I am at Chiswick auction rooms. We've got two fantastic lots to sell here today.

One of them is that stuffed owl. Let's keep our fingers crossed we've got a buyer.

As Curtis is raising money for charity, the auctioneer has kindly reduced his fees,

and the Detective needs two strong sales if he's going to win today's contest.

First to go before the room is the second of his Art Deco clocks.

He paid £80 for the pair and has already sold the first one for £50.

10, now 12. 12, 15?

15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 28, 30,

32...

This looks good for Curtis. the price is climbing.

32, anyone at 35? I'll come back to you, sir.

35, 38, 40, 42?

42? That's the money there, at £40.

At £40, all out? £40.

After deducting the auctioneer's reduced fees,

Curtis has made a profit of almost £8 on the two Art Deco clocks.

In order to try and maximise the profit

from his Victorian stuffed owl, Curtis has spent £10 and painted the case.

Will his feathered friend turn out to be a costly mistake or a stroke of buying genius?

Here comes the owl. £100 - I've spent a bit.

It was a bit of a chance, really. I've never bought taxidermy before, ever.

It's been done up a little bit since you last saw it, but, to be fair, I'm not even sure if it's going to sell.

It's pre-1947 - we've got the paperwork for that.

There's been a lot of interest here, so fingers crossed

that this one leaves and gives me a decent amount of profit. Here it comes.

Number 280 is a stuffed tawny owl in a glazed display case. Somebody, £100 for it? £100 for it?

Well, we'll find out very shortly if Curtis's owl sent him soaring to success,

because it's time to tot up the totals and reveal

who is today's Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is champion.

Fantastic!

Both James and Curtis were allowed to spend up to £750

of their own money at an antiques fair.

Mr Dowling spent £535 at the fair

and a further £10 painting his owl case.

His rival, meanwhile, managed to spend £740.

The all-important question, though, is who made the biggest profit?

It's been a no-holds-barred contest, and without further ado,

it's time to unlock the cash cases and reveal today's winner.

-The lovely Mr Lewis.

-Curtis, how are you?

-I'm very well.

-Good to see you.

-Good to see you. How did the selling go, then?

Do you know, I really didn't find it as easy as I thought I was going to.

-How about you?

-Same thing, really. I think this was definitely very, very hard.

-I've just bought the wrong things. That's what it came down to.

-No!

I realised pretty sharpish.

-That Albert Square sign, how did that do?

-OK.

-What?

-Mmm, OK.

-I thought that was a fantastic lot.

-Mmm, yeah...

-You're winding me up.

-No, I'm not. No, I'm being absolutely honest with you.

-Those candlesticks...

-I loved them, and I have to say,

-if I'd been allowed to keep them, I would've done.

-That was the find of the day.

Well, shall we see how much profit we've made?

-Let's see.

-OK. Three, two, one...

Ah!

How did that happen?! I'll tell you how.

-Do you remember the owl?

-Yes.

-Lost the lot on it.

-No!

-Absolutely. You know, I bought it, because I've never bought anything like that before.

-Poor owl.

-I won't be doing that again either.

-No.

-Come and give me lessons, will you? Thanks, mate.

-Oh, Curtis...

So it's an incredible victory for The Lionheart.

Sadly for Curtis, his owl failed to take off in the sale room

and made a loss of over £60.

£50 bid. At £50, take 55.

Bid there at £50. At £50, all done?

At £50... I'm going to sell at £50.

-It's goes at £50.

-That's bad news.

Both our experts have worked their socks off, but it's The Lionheart who's won today's contest.

Over £800 profit is a great result, but the main thing was the candlesticks.

They really, really won it for me.

£500 profit in those. What a wonderful pair of sticks.

If I could, I'd have kept them.

That was a disaster for me.

I bought all the wrong items, and the one thing I did hang my hat on actually lost me most of my profit.

I'm never buying owls again.

James may have won, but both he and Curtis have done brilliantly,

and every penny of their profits will be going to two very good causes.

My chosen charity is ACE Africa, and over £800 is going to make such

an amazing difference to that orphanage.

Disability Challengers down in Surrey,

they're going to do a lot with that money to help parents with disabled children in that area.

So it's a triumph for James, but tomorrow Curtis will have the chance to strike back,

as our experts go head to head again, this time at a French antiques market.

Job done. Thanks ever so much.

Now, that's a good deal and that is coming home, and it's got some profit in it.

Detective Dowling... I don't think he stands a chance.

He's going to be whimpering into his beer when he sees what I've paid for these.

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