Eric Knowles v Charlie Ross: Foreign Market Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

How will the country's antiques experts fare when challenged to make a profit with their own cash?

-I'll be switching on my bargain-ometer.

-Knocker Knowles, I'm right on your heels!

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

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

-You watch out, Miss Bliss!

-So the pressure is really on.

The challenge to our experts is clear. Dealers, put your money where your mouth is.

Today's experts are king of the ceramics world, Eric Knocker Knowles

and the smooth-talking Charlie The Charmer Ross.

Charlie is a true auction professional, having run his own Bedfordshire saleroom for 25 years.

My most memorable sale would be an auction where the car started at about 3 million

and eventually ended up selling at just over 8 million.

It took about ten minutes to sell. It was thrilling for me.

He's often seen sharing his knowledge on Flog It and the Antiques Roadshow.

Well, Eric, now you can see my daytime job.

Eric's antiques know-how comes from 32 years working for one of London's top auction houses.

I just love the hunt. I've never lost it.

I'm very happy whether I'm at antique fairs or car boots.

It makes no difference. It's the thrill of the chase.

He still works as an independent valuer and he is a regular member of the Antiques Roadshow team.

I love having a rummage. I can't help it.

I'll go into your front room, do a 360-degree turn and I'll have worked out what there is there.

Our gents have hopped across the Channel for a continentally-themed challenge.

It's time for us to find out exactly what that entails.

-Ah, Monsieur Le Toc-Toc!

-What is this "Le Toc-Toc"?

It is French for "Knocker".

Then you must be Monsieur Charmeur, yes?

-C'est moi.

-Here we are in la belle France and I have to give you "zis".

-And I give you "zat".

-OK, and I think if you go first...

-I will try.

"Eric and Charlie, your challenge today is to spend up to £750 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 the most cash."

Right, well, let's see.

It says here, "Today, you must buy all your antiques from a French market."

And it says there, "Bonny chancey(!)"

"Bonne chance!"

-But £750. I hope you've brought euros.

-Of course.

-And so has "moi".

-Oh, Monsieur Clever Clogs!

No, I'm just an old Boy Scout. "Be prepared."

-Good luck, Eric.

-Au revoir.

So our British gents each have to spend up to £750 of their own cash buying antiques,

which they'll then try to sell on for a profit when they get back to the UK.

Almost everybody Charlie and Eric try to do deals with will know they're on a mission

to raise as much money as possible for charity and our experts will do all they can to persuade people

to give them the best prices when they buy and sell the items they hope will drive them to victory.

Today's challenge will take place in the antiques markets of Paris.

With a combination of street stalls and indoor boutiques to peruse,

our experts have got plenty to search through.

Nice if you like cats.

Zis is quite the nicest chapeau I have found 'ere, but it is too much money.

350 euros?!

To bag the best bargains, Charlie will rely on his mastery of the local language

and his silver-tongued charm.

-Pardon, madame...

-Bonjour.

-Bonjour.

Eric, on the other hand, will be looking for some Art Deco pieces

and he's hoping they'll have a red, flashing light above them to help him find them.

Do I need one? No.

I've worked with one or two in my time.

Who could Knocker be referring to? I can't imagine.

Whilst Eric goes for wild animals, Charlie's got his hands on a more domestic beast.

I've picked up on this, a couple of spelter dogs.

I'd like to think late 19th century, but I think probably more like 1910.

They are very well modelled. I'd like to think they were bronze, but they aren't.

They would be hundreds of euros if they were bronze.

-This poor chap has lost his tail. We can stick that on when we get home. Combien?

-Quatre-vingts.

I've asked him how much and he said "quatre-vingts" which is four times 20, which is 80. That's too much.

-I think I'm going to offer him 20. Vingt euros, monsieur.

-Non. Soixante si vous voulez.

-60, coming down.

-Very cheap.

-Very cheap? Whose side are you on?

What about trente? I'm trying 30.

Pour moi. Je suis anglais!

-I'm English.

-Ah, quelle horreur!

-LAUGHTER

-He didn't like that.

-Quarante if you want.

-Quarante?

-Quarante.

-That's 40.

I think there's a profit there at 40.

-Monsieur...

-It's OK?

-It's OK. Merci, monsieur. Quarante euros.

-Quarante, yes.

-Excellent!

Sticking to strategy, Mr Ross used his silky French-speaking skills

to bag the spelter dogs for 40 euros,

which at the current exchange rate is just under £38.

He's clearly feeling at one with nature today

because he has also snapped up a 19th-century parrot figurine for just under £19.

Now, who's a clever boy?

The Charmer's having a whale of a time in this market and he's found a few more items to try on for size.

# Allons enfants de la patrie... #

Vive la France!

-MIMICS TOMMY COOPER:

-Ha-ha-ha-ha. Ha-ha-ha.

30 euro. 20 euro.

It's a nice hat.

# Thank heaven for "leetle" girls... #

Ha-ha-ha. Bet you can't guess who I am!

Good "moaning".

He's wearing my hat. Cheeky bounder!

OK, sir, we're taking off now. Come on, Knowles.

It looks as if Charlie's successful buys have gone to his head.

Whilst his rival continues to browse the stalls, he's pounced quickly on another potential purchase.

Beautiful 19th-century blotter.

I think that's a real work of art.

-Pardon, monsieur...

-Oui?

-C'est francais ou allemand?

-C'est francais. C'est Napoleon III ou peut-etre...

-Napoleon III?

-Oui.

Quality doesn't come much better than that, but at 150 euros...

It's well worth the money if you wanted to keep it, but I can't see a profit in it.

Charlie, where's that famous charm?

Luckily, our smooth-talking gent can't resist chancing his luck with a haggle.

-Quatre-vingt-dix.

-Non, quatre-vingts.

-La marge n'est pas grosse.

-Non, je sais...

-Allez-y, quatre-vingts.

-Oui?

-Merci, monsieur.

-It looks like he's gone for it.

I got a bit cheeky and I offered him 80 and he said "non", but he would take 100.

I stuck with 80 and he said, "No, 90."

And I stuck with 80 and I bought it for 80.

Quality, profit.

Yes, that, ladies and gents, is what it's all about.

The exchange rate means that 80 euros is just over £75.

Mr Ross is storming through this market,

but after browsing stall after stall after stall, Knocker has decided to put his hand in his pocket.

I think that's rather nice.

This is part of a desk set.

This is the blotter pad. Oh, it's got original blotting paper.

Date, what's that? That's going to be about 1900.

And I like this design.

I like anything with conkers on. It brings out the small boy in me.

I'm mindful of the fact that it is actually Art Nouveau and I really am looking for Art Deco here, but...

At 20 euros, I'm not even going to bother haggling. I'm having that.

I think it's such a great piece of design

and with the initials JB...

Who do I know - JB, JB...?

John Bly!

Yes, my colleague and mentor.

But I can see that on his desk.

And every time he opens it, he'll think of moi!

Fantastique!

Mr Knowles has bagged himself an Art Nouveau blotter pad,

spending almost £19.

With Knocker trailing a long way behind his opponent,

he needs to make some purchases and fast.

Unfortunately for Eric, Charlie has honed in on another potential purchase,

and this one could have his adversary in checkmate.

What a large chessboard! 1910, 1920.

Just into the 20th century.

Mahogany inlaid with boxwood

and with ebony.

And we'll just open it up

and there is the baize backgammon interior.

Little bit of moth damage, but not too bad.

And the original counters, beautifully turned.

They could polish up as well, I think. And the leather shakers.

So it's pretty complete.

Un peu trop cher pour moi.

-Trente euros?

-Quarante.

-Trente!

-Quarante.

-Oh, trente!

-Quarante.

-Monsieur?

-Quarante.

-La derniere fois, trente-cinq.

-Pas possible.

-Trente-cinq?

-Quarante.

-Give me your hand. Quarante.

-Quarante?

-Good price.

-Oh, quarante!

-OK...

-Monsieur!

-Excellent.

-Voila, super.

Cinquante pour vous et dix pour moi.

The dealer stood firm, but just under £38 is still a bargain price.

Charlie is making friends with all the sellers and Knocker is beginning to worry.

Do you know, that Charlie, I've not seen hide nor hair of him for absolutely ages.

What worries me is that he's somewhere at the far end of this market packing his pantechnicon.

Yes, he might be using big words, but unfortunately, he's not spending big money,

unlike his rival, who's splashing the cash.

Un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq.

Soixante euros.

-Soixante?

-Soixante.

-That's 60. I think we're going to try 40.

-Quarante?

-Ah, non.

-Non?

-Pour moi? Je suis anglais.

-Vous seriez breton, normand, c'est pareil. C'est pas quarante.

He says wherever you come from, it's the same price, which is a bit of a disappointment.

-Peut-etre cinquante?

-Bon, cinquante, oui.

-Cinquante?

-Oui.

-Excellent. 50, we've got a deal. Merci, Monsieur Norbert!

When my wife has finished with these, they'll look fantastic.

What a lucky lady Mrs Ross is!

But at just over £47, the saucepans sound like a bargain.

Elsewhere, Eric has spotted something with that all-important, red, flashing bargain light.

Now, that is one very pretty vase.

And without being clever, it's the sort of thing if you turn it upside down,

you should know from the colours that have been used that it must be Scandinavian.

And is it Copenhagen

or is it Rorstrand?

It's Copenhagen. It's all there on the base. It's what you'd expect - the wavy blue lines.

And that design is just so very 1905, 1910.

It's a delightful vase.

But Copenhagen is difficult to sell.

It's so under-appreciated. I promise you, it really is.

That is very nice. What's the price on it?

-230 euro. I like it a lot. Excuse me, monsieur!

-Yes?

We have 230 euro. Is there a best price on this?

-A best price?

-A best price.

-Maybe it could be 200 euros.

200 euros. I was thinking of an even better price.

-Even better?

-Even better, even better.

-For you or for me?

-For both of us.

HE LAUGHS But primarily for me!

It's not Art Deco, but ceramics king Eric has clearly fallen in love with the vase

and he's in full haggling mode.

On the street stalls, the Charmer has bought an unusual but pricey lamp.

I think I've got a bargain here.

I walked past it earlier and thought that man is going to be asking 300 or 400 euros, I won't even ask.

I was pleasantly surprised when he said 250. I really wanted it for 150, tried like mad,

tried 175, settled at 180, and I've just had a little bit of a bonus.

I was wondering how to get into it?

It's been electrified. We'll take the gubbins out for the electricity

and put a large candle in there, repaint it.

Wouldn't it look sensational in a conservatory?

Onward...

Charlie's sealing deal after deal in today's market. Eric's working hard to get a pretty piece of porcelain.

-150?

-150 euros?

-150 euros.

-Euros?

-Euros.

-OK.

-OK?

-Yeah.

-Put it there.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much.

-You're welcome.

-One very nice vase.

His heart melted at the sight of the vase and he splashed out over £140.

He's clearly found a shop he likes and also bags a 1920s silver and glass tray for almost £85.

What I see... I see a few nachos at each side

and a little bit of a salsa dip or maybe a bit of guacamole there in the middle.

I'm off to organise a house party.

Well, it sounds as though Eric is getting into the swing of things,

but just how much cash have he and his rival parted with?

Both our treasure-hunting titans started the day

with up to £750-worth of euros in their pockets.

At the prevailing exchange rate, Knocker Knowles has spent just over £245,

leaving him a little over £500 still to play with.

But Charlie is still sealing deals

and has smooth-talked his way into over £386-worth of purchases,

leaving a little over £360 in his kitty.

So both our experts still have plenty of cash in their pockets.

Eric might not have bought as many items as his smooth-talking rival, but he can make up some ground

because Charlie has got a little sidetracked.

C'est tres jolie, madame. Oui.

I'm selling now. The lady holding the stall is selling something else, so I'm working for her.

I might pick up a few euros.

It might seem as though the Charmer has lost the plot, but it's all part of a cunning plan.

After a bit of voluntary work, he's bagged a silver-plated jam pot for just under £25.

And on the next stall, he spots an inlaid wooden notebook cover.

It's only got a 20-euro price tag, but the Charmer is determined to get a discount, whatever it takes.

-Voyez avec le monsieur...

-Dix-huit, madame!

Pour moi!

She won't even take 18. She's the hardest lady in the world to deal with!

Oh, I'm going to buy it for 20. There must be a two-euro profit in it.

Souvenir...

of the hardest lady in France.

Merci, madame!

At less than £19, the Italian olive and fruitwood notebook cover isn't going to break the bank.

Elsewhere, Eric has seen something else that has taken his fancy.

I'm quite excited to find this

because this is a piece of Art Nouveau spelter.

Spelter is a sort of derivative...

It's basically zinc. In other words, it's not bronze.

But if you tap it, it gives a tinny sort of sound.

Bronze would have more of a resonance. It would ring like a bell.

But looking at it, it's all to do with nature.

This vase is sort of evolving. I love that little beetle.

Acorns on one side.

If you turn it, we've gone Christmassy on the other side with holly and berries.

It's seen better days, but something like this,

it's not by a big name, so it's not the sort of thing that's going to be copied.

It's right for age, but is it right for price? There's only one way to find out. Excuse me, monsieur!

-Oui? Bonjour.

-Combien? Combien?

-Ah, the price - 50.

Dernier prix?

-Dernier?

-Ah, the last price. You want to know the last price.

-The very last price.

-OK, I can do for you 40 euros.

-40 euros, monsieur...

-Is OK?

-Is OK.

-OK.

-Yeah. Excellent.

So, Art Nouveau rather than Art Deco seems to be the flavour of the day for Eric.

And at less than £38, he's pleased with the vase.

He'd better keep his cool, though, because his rival is squaring up for battle.

Eric, I am the greatest and I'm coming to get you.

I'm going to knock you out with a quick purchase and another purchase

and another purchase and two more to the body

and Eric, you are on the...floor!

Fighting talk from the Charmer.

He's in confident mood and he's looking to land a knock-out blow on Burnley's finest.

Oh, that's nice. That's very nice.

It is a lovely Daum vase,

Daum, of course, made down there in Nancy

in the Alsace-Lorraine region.

And that is a classic piece of Art Deco.

I love this glass. That colour, that smoky grey.

I'm not getting too excited until I know for a fact that it's all there

cos you're looking for internal cracks.

This stuff doesn't come cheap. It never did.

There's the mark, look, just to confirm it. "Daum, Nancy, France."

So the question is, can I afford it?

Let me just find the "owneur".

Excusez-moi, monsieur. Combien, le prix?

Huit cents euros.

Huit cents, that's about 800 euros.

Le dernier prix? Le dernier prix?

-Cinq cents euros, dernier prix.

-Cinq cents? OK, that's about...

We started off there at 800, we've gone down to 450... Hmm...

Hmm, indeed! This sounds like an awful lot of money to spend on one item.

Inside, the Charmer is lining up a big potential purchase.

What a delightful frame!

French, Charles X,

about 1830.

It's rosewood, marquetry inlaid in satinwood.

Priced up at 350 euros,

so you'd think 200 euros would buy it,

but sadly, the man I've just been trying to buy it off had bought it from his neighbour just over there

and paid him 250, so there was little likelihood of me being able to buy it for 200.

I'm not entirely sure how Mr Ross is going to get a good discount on this frame,

but never underestimate the Charmer's powers of persuasion.

Eric is trying to seal the deal for the Daum vase.

Le dernier, dernier prix?

Je vous enleve vingt euros. Quatre cents quatre-vingt. Voila!

OK, OK. Oui. At that price... Yes, I think we're going to say yes to that.

That works out at about £450, so to be frank with you, I think we're quids in.

-Monsieur, monsieur...

-OK.

-Voila.

Eric has just spent a huge chunk of his budget on the vase,

but the good news is he's bagged a quality piece of Art Deco glass.

With time almost up, has Charlie been able to get a good price for that quality rosewood frame?

I went back, pleaded with the man

and he let me have it at cost - 250 euro,

which is about £235.

I think there's a slim profit there, so all's well that ends well.

Yet again Charlie's charm-offensive strategy has done him proud and he's bought a very elegant item.

Our two messieurs took two very different approaches to today's continental challenge,

but with the buying over, who has spent the most cash?

Both started out with up to £750-worth of euros.

Eric has splashed the cash and spent almost his entire kitty.

At the prevailing exchange rate,

Charlie has parted with just over £665.

Our gents have plenty of packing to do before they head back to Blighty.

First, they want to check out each other's treasures.

Charlie, 'ow was eet for you? This was your first time buying in Paris.

It was. And for me, Eric, eet was wonderful!

-Listen, what I want to know is what's your favourite?

-Without doubt, my blotter.

-That's lovely.

-1860. Whoever was on the throne over here.

-Lovely thing.

-Fabulous.

-Yes.

-What about you?

I think my best buy is my Daum vase. I hope it is, anyway.

But my favourite buy, believe it or not, is that.

I thought that was a treasure of a vase. Copenhagen, not the best of sellers back home.

-A bit old-fashioned, isn't it?

-Well...

-My granny would love that.

I mean, in retaliation, what about that? What on earth possessed you to buy a green parrot?

The colour. I think it's absolutely charming.

-And that is going to fly away!

-Ha-ha! In your dreams, I think.

-Anyway, what about a drink?

-Yeah.

-Excusez-moi, garcon!

So Knocker is heading home with a German silver and glass tray,

an Art Nouveau Copenhagen vase,

a blotting pad initialled JB,

an Art Nouveau spelter vase

and that magnificent Art Deco Daum glass vase.

Whereas Charlie will be trying to sell a set of five copper saucepans,

a 19th-century blotting stamp,

a silver-plated jam pot,

a spelter desk sculpture,

an inlaid notebook cover from Sorrento,

a 19th-century painted model parrot, a boxed walnut backgammon and chess set,

an unusual metal standard lamp

and an inlaid rosewood frame.

Back on English soil and our two battling bargain hunters

now have to sell their purchases for as much profit as possible, but how did they rate their trip?

I had a fantastic time in France. Really enjoyed it, probably even more than old Knocker.

The thing I'm a little bit worried about is that frame. It's a good frame, lovely quality,

but I think it was a bit too much.

If I can double my money all the way round, I'll be doing well,

so well that, if you're watching, Charlie Ross, be afraid.

In fact, be very afraid.

Oh, fighting talk, Knocker!

Eric's sounding confident about his double-your-money strategy

and with mainly glass and porcelain to sell, he's in his comfort zone.

Both will be pulling out all the stops to find the right buyers

and they're working the way through their little black books for deals.

But until they've shaken on it and the money has changed hands, no deal is truly sealed.

I've come to just the right place with my backgammon set.

A restorer who likes a bargain.

Good quality, needs a little bit of work, and it's cheap.

Charlie paid almost £38 for the backgammon set.

-Want to have a look inside?

-Certainly.

-You're tempted?

-I am!

-Good man.

Original catches either side. Look at that!

-Original baize.

-Yes.

-A little bit stained, but quite fun.

-I think it's very nice.

How much do you want?

£100.

-OK, deal.

-That's the quickest deal I've ever done! That's fantastic.

Just over £62 in the bank is a real result. Nicely done, Mr Ross.

I knew he'd find that irresistible. £100!

Well, he's a happy man, but there's a long way to go and Knocker Knowles is hot on his heels.

Eric paid almost £38 for the spelter vase,

so will he be able to put his double-your-money plan into action?

-Let me show you the piece I told you about on the telephone.

-I'm excited to see it!

-Ah, there we go. It doesn't get more organic than that.

-Crikey!

That's...that's quite spectacular.

-You've probably noticed that it's still got its original liner.

-So you could put a pot plant in.

-Yeah.

-Rather than a bunch of flowers.

-It's in what you would describe as perfect working order.

A bit like a clock, really. Anyway, as I said to you,

I'm looking for no more than £80 on it. If you're happy with that...

-Deal.

-OK!

-All right, Eric.

-Excellent.

Mr Knowles more than doubled his money, making a profit of over £40.

Impressive stuff, Knocker. Will your opponent have similar success at his next appointment?

I'm on my way to see Paolo and Giovanni, Italians I've known for years. They came to my sale room.

I've got a couple of things, particularly the blotter, that they might be interested in.

They're staying in a hotel, but they go back tomorrow morning,

so we've got to catch them now.

Good luck, Signor Ross. I hope the dealers fall in love with your purchases.

Time to turn on that famous charm.

# When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie

# That's amore

# When the world... #

-Paolo! Giovanni!

-Charlie!

-How are you?

-Not too bad.

-How nice to see you! Mind your head! Great to see you.

-You're enjoying an English pub.

-Yes.

-I've got some nice things. Do you like that?

-Hmm, very nice.

How about buying it? £300.

-Charlie, for me it's very expensive.

-Expensive? How much do you want to pay for it?

-150.

-150?!

-Sorry, sorry. Charlie, sorry.

-It's too much?

-I think yes.

-It's a very beautiful piece.

-Let me try something else.

-Not the best start, but the Charmer isn't one to give up easily.

-How about that?

-That's lovely. Lovely quality.

-It's French.

It's French. Charles X.

-How much you want?

-£150.

Sold?

-My price for that...

-Yes?

..70.

That's less than half.

Let me try something else. Olive wood?

-Olive wood.

-And what is this here?

-Pear.

-Pear wood.

-You like it?

-Yes.

-It's very cheap.

-£40.

-£40?

£40, maybe.

-For the two?

-I'm going to be really kind to you, because I like you.

£120 for the two.

-OK.

-Not too bad.

-Can you do that?

-Not too bad, Charlie.

-Give me your hand, yes?

Fantastic!

-Grazie.

-Grazie!

The Italian buyers drove a hard bargain and Charlie walks away with little more than £25 of profit

and the unwanted frame.

There's better news for Mr Ross when his silver-plated jam pot sells at a local auction house,

topping up his profits by over £32.

The Charmer is in the lead, but don't underestimate Knocker.

He's lined up a potential purchaser for his glass tray, which cost him almost £85.

Can he double his money again?

-I've got a piece of WMF.

-Mmm!

And...

Some small chips on the top. I was going to have them ground down,

but as I was passing, I thought I'd give you first refusal on it.

-What sort of date would you put on it?

-It's about 1900, 1905.

-Yeah.

-It's on the market... I was looking for something round about £170.

-OK.

I think with the flea bites I might be looking for a bit better.

Well, a bit better... would probably be about 150.

Yeah, OK. That's fair. It's lovely quality glass. That's fine.

-Thanks again.

-I'll leave you to it.

-Right, see you soon.

-Bye.

Knocker didn't quite double his money, but made a healthy profit.

His opponent, though, is about to unveil his newly-restored and rather tropical lamp.

# Club Tropicana, drinks are free

# Fun and sunshine There's enough for everyone... #

As a favour to Mr Ross, the restorers have removed the rust and given it a base coat for free.

But it cost almost £170 in the first place, so I hope the potential buyer likes tropical chic.

-A bit different, isn't it?

-Very nice, very nice.

-I'm really thrilled with it.

-Yes.

-They haven't wired it up yet.

-No.

-But you want it wired up, don't you?

-Yes!

-You won't just put a candle in there?

-No, no, no, a bulb.

If you buy it, I will get it wired up.

Let's say 300.

I just think it's worth more than that. £350.

-How about that?

-325.

-As it is, but wired.

-Yes.

-Go on.

-Thank you. Very good.

Wow! That's a fantastic result. Charmer Ross has just banked a fabulous profit of over £155.

That sale puts him in pole position for the Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is crown.

-Very good! I shall look forward to it.

-Thanks. Bye!

I thought there was a profit in that lamp when I bought it. Should I have asked a bit more?

But 325 is a profit of £150 or so.

Quite good.

Charlie's being a little modest.

That sale was more than just quite good. And he also got the lamp professionally wired for free!

Now Eric Knocker Knowles has made sales totalling £230

and has almost £110 of profit in his pocket,

which means that Charlie has taken an early lead with a whopping £611 of goods sold

and a profit of just over £275.

Eric may be trailing behind, but he's still got his star item to sell.

He paid over £450 for the Daum vase and hopes to double his money.

He's looking for a buyer with taste, style and a healthy bank balance, so must do some legwork.

The Charmer is on his way to try to tie up another sale. The restorer working on his spelter dogs

is interested in buying them, but until the money has changed hands, the deal isn't sealed.

# Walking the dog

# Just a-walking the dog... #

-Charlie!

-Geoff, how are you?

-Come on in. They're ready.

-Thanks.

-There you go.

-That's fantastic!

How long did that take?

-All in all, a few hours.

-That's wonderful.

Will you make me an offer for them?

100 quid?

I'd have expected to pay 100 quid for that so let's shake on it. That's fantastic.

So the restorer has repaired the spelter dogs and he and Charlie have struck a deal

that gives a profit of over £60.

-Thanks a lot, Geoff.

-You're welcome.

-All the best.

-See you soon.

Charlie is securing sales, but Knocker is not done yet and brings out the big guns.

He's headed to a village in Essex with the Copenhagen vase which cost him over £140 in France.

-Hello, Robbie.

-Hello, Eric.

-Nice to see you.

-And you, too.

-I brought the Copenhagen.

-Lovely.

-Let me give it to you like that, pull it straight out.

-Oh, Eric, that is lovely.

-I thought so.

-That's very, very nice.

The mark tells you that it's got to be before 1910.

-I just thought it was ceramic perfection.

-I love that.

-Can I put it down there?

-Yeah, do.

-See it in all its glory.

-Isn't that lovely?

-But it's looking for a good home.

-Well, I think you've found it.

-Have I? Good.

A fellow enthusiast! Time to talk money.

I've got to be firm about this one. It's a one-and-only price, OK?

It has to see me with £200.

Eric, if you're asking me 200, it's cos that's what it's worth.

-I absolutely trust your judgment.

-Oh, good.

Almost £60 profit isn't bad, but what happened to your double-your-money plan?

Will our Lancashire hero manage to stick closer to his strategy with the blotting pad?

-This is the blotter!

-The blotter you told me about.

I was in a Paris flea market, I see this, then the initials and I'm thinking...JB, JB...

-And, of course, there's only one JB.

-I'm very pleased. That's lovely.

Let's have a look inside. They make the covers and put them on professionally-produced interiors.

A lot were done by amateurs.

-Really?

-Yeah, sure. Better than a vicar's carving class!

-I'll give you 35 quid for it. There you are.

-35?

-Yeah.

-We go back. You're my mother's favourite and her mother's before that.

-I know!

-Whatever.

-35 quid.

-All right, Eric.

-It's a done deal.

-OK.

-Thank you for thinking of me.

-That's more profit for Eric.

He's just got one item left to sell.

It's the impressive Daum vase, which he hopes for a massive profit on.

He's waiting for a call from a potential buyer.

In Oxfordshire, his rival is hoping for another sale

and has met up with a pub landlord that he knows.

-Look what I've got for you!

-You've been at the scrap merchant's!

-They're in pretty good condition.

-Great. Lovely.

-And I thought you, pub.

-Yeah.

-Would they look good hanging up?

-I know where they're going to go.

If the price is right. CHARLIE LAUGHS

I'd like a couple of hundred really.

-You're breaking my heart, Charlie.

-One, two, three, four, five of them. Forty quid a pan.

-I think that's a bit rich.

-Do you?

-We'd settle on around 35, I think.

-What, per pan?

-Oh, dear, dear.

-For the lot?!

-Yeah!

You crook!

-How about 65 quid?

-They've got to be worth more. I'm prepared to come down a bit.

150 quid?

I don't want to make you sweat too much.

I'll do you for a ton ten.

-110?

-Yeah. I think that's a good deal. There's a lot of work putting holes in walls and things.

-Unless you're...

-That is...! Go on, 110 quid! Fantastic.

Nicely done, Mr Ross. That's more profit for the kitty.

Charlie's stormed ahead in today's challenge, but with the end of the contest in sight,

he suddenly stumbles. He pockets a very slim profit for his parrot

and makes a loss of more than £35 on his most expensive purchase - the ornate rosewood frame.

Mr Ross is now all sold up.

Knocker's chances of victory rest on his striking Daum vase.

With pound signs in his eyes, he's headed to a rather posh part of the capital.

# Money

# It's a gas

# Grab that cash in both hands and make a stash... #

Our northern gent sent the vase ahead for the buyer to have a look.

When he spoke to the shop on the phone, Eric gave them a ballpark figure of the price he wanted,

but until they've shaken on it, the deal isn't done.

-Good afternoon, sir. Nice to see you again.

-Thank you.

-Hello. Are you Claire?

-Yes. Hello. Welcome to the store.

-Nice to meet you.

It's palatial in here, isn't it? It is quite breathtaking.

-Yes, it's very special indeed.

-Has my special vase arrived?

It has, yes. Come and have a look.

-Is it safe and sound?

-Yes. We've got a special place for it.

Now I have to admit, Claire,

-that that vase looks so dramatic there.

-It does, doesn't it? Thank you very much.

We're very pleased with it.

-Good. That was going to be my first question. Do you like it?

-Yes.

It's amazing how well it's fitted in, a 1930s piece with modern-day Daum.

-It just looks fantastic. The team were really pleased with it.

-Good.

I have to admit, I'm a bit of a fan. I've been to the factory in Nancy and I've seen how it's made

and I've followed the history. I give talks about the history.

But when it comes to art glass, certainly in the Art Deco period,

nobody does it better than Daum.

-So, em, I mean, we had a telephone conversation.

-We did.

-Yes, indeed.

-And I did make it clear

-that I was looking for £1,000 on this piece.

-£1,000.

He's gone in for the kill. £1,000 would give Eric a resounding victory,

but as the vase cost him over £450, if his asking price scares off the buyer, he has a massive loss!

We'll find out very shortly what happened.

Right now, it's time to tot up how much profit our warriors made

and reveal which one of them will be crowned today's winner.

Eric splashed out over £735 in the Parisian market.

His opponent, though, spent over £665.

Remember, all their profits today will be going to charity.

Now, both our gents have worked their socks off and after a titanic tussle

it's time to find out who is today's champion.

-I feel compelled to say allo, allo, Charlie.

-Bonjour!

-'ow was eet for you?

-Very difficult. To the extent that I made a loss on one lot.

-Oh, no!

-Dare I ask what that was?

-Remember a rosewood frame? Beautifully inlaid...

-Yes!

I thought it was a picture frame. Do you know what it was?

-Tell me.

-It was to go round the face of a Comtoise clock. If you don't have a Comtoise clock, useless!

-Ah!

-Tell me about your vase.

-I'm not going to say too much.

-I hope the profit may be reflected in this little box.

-I remember you looking at that and thinking,

"I might even double my money."

-We'll have to find out in a moment.

-Come on.

-Let's go for it.

-Voila!

-Sacre bleu!

Eric, you have, 'ow you say, thrashed me!

Within an eench of your life!

-That's a really good performance. Well done.

-Not bad.

-For an English speaking gentleman, remarkable.

-Come on. I'll take you off for a meal.

-Good lad. OK.

So Knocker Knowles fought his way to victory and it was

the much-loved Art Deco Daum vase that led him to success.

Sticking with my original asking figure, is that acceptable?

-Absolutely. I think we will shake on that.

-We'll definitely shake on that.

Knocker more than doubled his money, which made him champion,

but both our experts made sizeable profits and every penny they made will go to their good causes.

My chosen charity is the Prince's Trust. I've been an ambassador for 15 years.

My chosen charity is CLIC Sargent, a national charity looking after children with leukaemia.

So, after a slow start, Eric stormed to victory,

but tomorrow our experts go head-to-head again

in a final antique-buying showdown.

Oh, ho ho.

This makes this probably one of the most rare David Shepherd signed prints.

I really like the look of this. A bit of glamour!

Our experts can buy whatever they want from wherever they want and sell them at one-off events.

1,200. 1,300. 1,300. 1,400?

For the last time. Speak now.

It's yours, madame!

For the final time this week, we'll be saying to our experts - put your money where your mouth is!

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