Katherine Higgins v John Cameron: Auction 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 duelling dealers are auctioneer John "The Hammer" Cameron

and princess of profit Katherine "The Great" Higgins.

I'm very competitive. I went to an all-girls school

and I was kind of brought up to like a competition

and to win, most importantly.

Katherine's vast knowledge of antiques and collectables has served her well,

whether it be writing books and articles

or revealing the true value of people's heirlooms

on the Antiques Roadshow.

I get seriously excited about retro design, really.

Things that people can use in their homes,

but have a real history behind them.

It's only through those items that you've a real living history.

You can find out who owned the items

and do lots of research attached to them.

That's what makes me buzz and that's kind of me, really -

a bit of a modernist at heart.

Her opponent started out as an apprentice carpenter,

but a back injury forced John to seek out an alternative career

and the rest, as they say, is history.

He's now a respected auctioneer and a valuer of antiques and fine art.

My route into antiques came via my grandfather,

who I spent a lot of time with.

He was an antiques dealer outside of the family's fruit and veg business

and I really wanted to be like him and I grew up.

I thought that was fascinating.

John's a firm favourite on Cash In The Attic

and when he isn't valuing antiques,

he can be found selling from the auctioneer's podium.

At 420, then...

So we have our experts, they have the knowledge,

the contacts and a fierce determination to win,

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

-Katherine The Great!

-Mr Hammer. How are you doing?

-What a beautiful day!

-It is indeed. I have something for you here.

I've got a pressie for you, too.

John and Katherine, your challenge today is to spend

up to £1,000 of your own money on antiques.

You must then resell your purchases

with the aim of making as much profit as possible.

The winner is the presenter who makes the most cash.

Today you must buy all your antiques from an auction. Good luck.

-Right, I guess we'd better find ourselves an auction.

-OK.

So, Katherine and John can spend up to £1,000 of their own money

on antiques before trying to sell on their wares

for the biggest possible profit.

The backdrop for today's epic auction battle

is Winchester in Hampshire.

There are hundreds of items on offer,

but our experts will be targeting lots with their potential buyers in mind.

As today's contest gets underway, it seems as though the early bidding

will be dominated by pictures and paintings.

John has got his eye on a Victorian picture of a donkey with children

painted by a British artist and an etching of an English battleship.

His rival has spotted a very collectable item

but she wants to keep her bidding plans to herself.

This is a moment of great excitement for me.

I'm not a picture person but I think I might have seen something that's a little bit special.

There is a portrait in there, it's very striking, a pencil drawing of a girl,

nude model, sitting down. It's catalogued as being after Epstein.

Jacob Epstein was the predominant modernist sculptor of the 20th century.

He led a very colourful life. He had several wives

and many, many mistresses. This particular drawing

was actually once owned by Lady Epstein and apparently given to a friend of hers.

I looked very closely at it. I'm not a picture girl but let's see, I might be right!

So, Katherine's not sure that the Epstein is an original,

but it's not the only work of art she's got her eye on.

Another interesting thing in there is a full-length portrait of a girl,

inscribed "Kelly" at the bottom.

She looks very far away and distant

and she's dreaming and it instantly caught my eye.

I thought that it looks like something else

and it's actually by Sir Gerald Kelly.

Sir Gerald Kelly is a very important British portrait artist.

He's known for his work in the 20th century,

right up until his death in 1972.

He painted the royal family. He's a very good, established artist.

This is a pastel drawing by him.

It's very accomplished, very detailed and I think a steal, really,

at the estimate of £150-£200.

Sir Gerald Kelly generally signs his work "Kelly" at the bottom,

and this has been catalogued as simply "Kelly."

Because it's a portrait of a girl,

someone looking at the catalogue might just think it's the girl's name, the name of the subject,

rather than the artist, so it could be easily missed.

It's only if you know about Kelly's style and his work

you would be able to attribute it to Sir Gerald Kelly.

So, I think I've spotted something.

At £30, are you all done?

Last time.

So, that's two potential picture purchases for Katherine.

In the sale room, the auction has started and it's John's donkey picture

which is about to go under the hammer.

Lot 30, young girl leading a donkey.

£60? 50 here?

40 if you like. Start me at 30 then.

£30, surely. £30? £30 here.

And selling. Is there two?

At £30, then. We'll sell at this price if you're all done.

At £30, the last time.

Nicely done, John. With no opposition in the room

he snapped up the picture, and with commission he's paid just over £35.

He'll be hoping it'll be plain sailing again

as the etching of the English battleship goes before the bidders.

We have a commission bid.

I'm going to start the bidding at £40. Is there five in the room?

At 45. 50. And five.

57. 60.

Commission bid is out.

£60 in the room. Is there five? At £60 and selling, then.

Are you all done at £60? Last time.

Got that at £60. Hopefully I'll be able to turn that, maybe make £100, £120 on that.

Yes, that's another quick purchase for The Hammer.

Including commission he's parted with just over £70,

but what exactly has he bought?

I instantly recognised the ship here. It's HMS Victory,

probably one of England's most famous ships and Nelson's flagship

at the Battle of Trafalgar.

Now in dry dock in Portsmouth's naval dockyard.

When I also saw it I thought of William Wylie -

very famous Portsmouth artist,

known for his painting of ships and known for his mastery

of this medium here, which is called a dry point etching.

However, it's not by Wylie.

It's signed down here in the border by Charles H somebody or other.

The auctioneers aren't too sure,

it's indistinctly signed, but it's a limited edition, number 56 of 75.

Now, etching is a form of printing.

A copper plate is covered with a resin, you then scratch

your design into the surface of the resin to expose the copper plate.

The plate is then dipped in a vat of acid

and the acid bites into the copper plate creating the intaglio

which would then take the ink.

The advantages over engraving?

Much more spontaneity.

As you can see here this looks like a pencil drawing.

A very nice piece indeed.

I'm sure that down in Portsmouth

I should be able to find a buyer for this.

Well, time will tell if John's confidence is well placed.

Katherine is still to get off the mark.

Her pencil sketch will be coming before the room shortly.

But first, John's hoping to pick up a print of yachts

by one of the country's most popular living maritime artists.

OK, next coming up is another maritime lot I'm interested in.

I may well have put all my stock in one theme, but hopefully

I won't have to go hard astern and tack in a different direction.

Anyway, it's a limited edition print by J Steven Dews

of the J Class yachts, very famous yachts, racing off Cowes.

Nicely framed. Limited edition.

This would probably cost about £300 to £400 in a gallery.

The estimate is £50 to £80.

I've put down £65 to £70 as my highest bid. Let's see how I go.

Lot 96,

Steven Dews.

-Let's watch his style. Does he have style?

-I'll start the bidding at £50.

Is there five in the room? At 55.

Oh, he's the action of the fountain pen.

70. And five. 80. At £75 and selling. Is there 80?

At £75 then. Are you all done?

Last time.

Well, got that for £75 plus my 15% commission.

I'm pretty happy with that.

Well, the jury's out about whether he did it with style,

but that's The Hammer's third buy of the day.

With commission, it cost just under £90.

With her rival having bagged himself another lot,

Katherine needs to start buying and it's time for the "after Epstein" pencil sketch

to go before the room.

Just coming into the Epstein lot now.

Lot 48, after Epstein. £100, surely.

£100? Thank you. And ten. At £100.

I like coming in at the last minute.

£100. No? 110. 120. 130.

140. 150.

160. £150 at the front. At £150 and we are selling.

Think I might get it!

£150 then for the last time.

Oh, wonderful!

Oh, joy of joys! 'Tis mine!

Indeed it is! And including the auctioneer's commission,

she's paid just over £175.

Time to see if she'll have similar success

with the pastel portrait of a girl.

Start me at 200. £200?

£200? 150, then.

150? 150? £100 if you like.

£100.

OK, I've started the bidding.

110. 120. 130. 140.

-Katherine's in, but once again the price is climbing.

-160. 170.

-180. 190.

-I love a bidding battle.

180 at the front here. 190. 200.

And 20. £200 is still at the front.

Shame it's not in millions, that's what I'm used to!

At £200, are you sure? Last time.

Great, I got that, as well.

Very, very pleased. That's an extremely good buy.

I know exactly who's going to buy it,

I know what they'll pay me for it

and you'll just have to watch the rest! Magic.

It sounds as though Katherine's got

a potential buyer in mind for the portrait.

And although it didn't cost her millions,

she did part with a big chunk of her budget.

A certain interest, lot 148, eight Pirelli calendars.

And continuing with her picture buying theme,

she also snaps up a collection of iconic calendars

for just under £60.

At £50 for the last time.

Excellent.

I wonder what she's got in store for those? I'm hoping she has a client.

Yes, was it me or did The Hammer seem to be speaking

through gritted teeth there?

With his rival on a bit of a buying streak,

John is hoping to strike back.

Coming up now is a little lot I'm interested in.

It's a pottery cigarette box, the Balkan Sobranie cigarettes.

I'm glad to say not a brand I'm familiar with, however I do know

some buyers of early advertising ware,

although cigarettes aren't the most popular things to sell.

However, I am going to have a go at this but I'm not going to go above the £60 upper estimate.

-Let's see how we get on.

-Start me at £40 on this. £40?

30 if you like. £30?

At £30. Are you all done? Last time.

Well, £30, not bad.

I wasn't prepared to go over the 60, but I got it for half the money!

That's another lightning fast purchase for the Hammer.

With commission, he paid just over £35

and he seems flushed with success.

It's a little piece of Edwardian history.

It's a cigarette box, but no ordinary cigarette box.

It's made of pottery by Fieldings of Stoke-on-Trent,

and the brand, the Balkan Sobranie cigarette. Interesting.

Now, I know smoking's not terribly fashionable, but there's a big

collecting market for advertising wares from the 19th century.

Now, when you think back to the Industrial Revolution,

that's when manufacturing really, really took off

and firms were quick to cash in on the decorative effect

of their packaging and everything from ginger jar bottles to paste jars, soap packaging

and the humble cigarette box had the makeover.

It's an interesting design.

It's a monochrome transfer print of, I'm guessing,

a Balkan scene with some figures in there.

It does have a little bit of damage here just on the edge,

but I think it's unusual enough to tempt my potential customer.

Both our experts are concentrating hard

and using all of their expertise and know-how

to try and snap up lots that they can sell on for a profit.

But which of them has been splashing the cash

and who's been keeping their powder dry?

Katherine and John are allowed to spend up to £1,000

of their own money in today's auction.

After three successful bidding battles,

Mrs Higgins has parted with almost £470

leaving just over £530 in her kitty.

John on the other hand has spent less than half that,

giving him over £770 still to play with.

Katherine may have spent more than her rival,

but she's bought one item less.

There are still plenty of lots to come up for sale, though,

and earlier in the day she picked out a piece

she thought could hold a potential profit.

Ah, this is interest... This is where all the ceramics lie

and it's worth spending some time looking at these.

This is a great piece, actually.

A biscuit barrel, fantastic condition.

Carltonware, a great British factory that really grew out

of a firm called Wiltshire & Robinson

which was founded in the 1890s and by the 1920s had kind of adopted

the Carltonware name.

Carltonware is dramatically underrated.

As the prices for Clarice Cliff have gone through the roof,

Carltonware is still appreciating in value.

It's a great piece, a very desirable collectable and the estimate is £40

to £60 for this and the plates, so I think if I got it for the low end

of the estimate I'd do quite well,

because I know someone who would love to buy this from me now for £60.

Well, it might not be as glamorous as some

of the other items she's bidded on,

but the aim of this game is to make a profit

and if Katherine gets this lot for the right price,

she seems confident she can do just that.

Our two experts have approached today's contest

with two very different strategies and have so far

bid on very different items, but there is one lot in the room

that has caught both the expert eyes.

It's this beautiful handmade Daum vase.

We'll find out very shortly

if either of them is able to snap it up,

but before that big showdown, Katherine has spotted

a late Victorian, early Edwardian ladies' dressing table set.

I'll start at £100. Is there ten in the room?

110. 120. 130.

The commission bid's out.

130 in the room. Is there 140? 140.

We've got commission bids and she's not in the bidding yet.

160 at the back and selling. At £160. 170.

Katherine's joined the bidding late. Will it prove to be a decisive move?

180. 170 right at the front.

At £170 and selling then if you're all done. Last time.

-205.

-Thank you.

Including commission, Katherine's paid almost £200

for the dressing table set, and next, she's hoping to snap up

the Carltonware biscuit barrel and plates with an estimate of £40 to £60.

Unfortunately for her, the bidding is approaching £300.

300...

This is something that I picked and I knew would do well, and look at it!

280 in the room. At £280, then. If you're all done, last time.

Great sadness. I had to control myself there.

Wasn't easy, but I did.

So the Carltonware was too expensive for Katherine,

but it's now time for her and John to go head-to-head

for the Daum vase.

438 is the glass vase.

It's Katherine The Great...

..versus The Hammer.

Who will emerge victorious?

It's time for the headline battle of today's auction.

-Start the bidding at £90.

-John is first to bid.

Is there 100? And ten. 120. 130. 140.

I'm so sorry. The girl has to...

140. 150.

Shall I be kind?

-I'll be kind.

-140 there. At £140.

Gosh, that's tempting, but it's over my limit.

I said I was going to be controlled.

-At £140...

-I'm going to let him have it.

So, Katherine may not have bought the vase, but she certainly

made John pay more than he wanted to.

Well, I got that at 140.

I would have got it for 120 if it hadn't been for those meddling kids!

Well, it ended up more of a polite challenge

than a clash of the titans,

but John only needed to part with just under £165 to secure the vase.

The Hammer will also be hoping to make a profit

from a Royal Doulton

limited edition plate and mug

celebrating the history of the Ashes.

That including commission set him back just under £45.

-At £37 then are you all done? Last time.

-Got that.

Both our experts have worked hard to secure

potentially profitable lots in today's auction.

With money left to spend, Katherine's keen to snap up

another item and has her eye on a 1950s German tinplate toy bird

with an estimate of £40 to £60.

Lot 617 is the tinplate bird with his twittering action.

I am going to start you here at £20.

Anybody else in? 25. 28. 30. Yes?

-Yeah.

-And two.

-Yeah, yeah. I'm game. I like twittering.

-£35, then.

Lady's bid at £35.

Anybody else in at 35? All done at £35 then.

Exactly what I wanted to pay and, fingers crossed, I can find the right buyer for it.

Including commission, the tinplate toy bird

has cost Katherine just over £40.

Finding the right buyers for all of their items is going to be crucial

for both our experts if they want to win today's contest.

With the buying part of their challenge now over,

it's time to find out how many items they've bought

and how much cash they've spent.

Katherine and John started the day with up to £1,000

of their own money in their kitties.

Mrs Higgins bought five items and parted with almost £710.

Her rival bought six items and spent just over £436.

Time will tell which of our experts bought most wisely,

but before they head home to try and sell their auction purchases,

Katherine and John are keen to sneak a peek at their opponent's wares.

Mr Hammer! What an exhausting day.

-How did you do?

-I did brilliantly.

Well, no, OK, I did extra brilliantly! Sorry!

What did I find? Well, all this array of things,

but that's a real treat and a real favourite of mine.

I just love that. It's a Sir Gerald Kelly pastel,

very eye-catching and it's got potential.

I can see why you like it, but what about the Pirelli calendars?

Oh, girls love those kind of things, you know that!

-I thought it was more your kind of garage guys sort of thing.

-Maybe a few garage guys.

-Good luck with that.

-Thank you. How about you?

My favourite item has to be my Steven Dews print,

J Class yachts off the Isle of Wight.

I'm sure I can find a buyer for that down my neck of the woods.

It makes me want to sail away. What have you got in here?

You've got quite an interesting box, or...

It's got a chip on it.

Well, we've all got a chip on our shoulder,

but that piece will do all right.

It's early advertising and I think I have a buyer for that,

so he who laughs last, last longest.

I'm laughing!

Well, we better get our gear packed up and get our buyers lined up.

Time to go.

So, as our duelling dealers head home, John's hopes of victory

rest on... a drawing of a donkey by an unknown artist,

a print of racing yachts,

an etching of an English battleship,

an early 20th century cigarette box,

a Royal Doulton mug and plate

commemorating the Ashes

and a highly collectable Daum vase.

Katherine will be hoping to sell...

a nude which she believes is an Epstein original,

a portrait of a young girl,

eight Pirelli calendars,

a walnut ladies' dressing set

and the German tinplate toy bird.

Having gone head-to-head, John and Katherine

have made their way home to prepare themselves

for the final part of their challenge -

to sell on their items and make as much profit

as possible for their charities.

I could come over. What day did you have in mind?

They're working their way through their little black books

putting deals together on the phone and by email.

Pretty much everyone they try to do deals with will be aware that

they're on a mission to try and raise money for charity,

but until they've shaken on it and money's changed hands,

no deal is truly done.

With just six lots to sell, John knows he has to maximise

the profit from every single sale if he's going to beat Katherine.

First, he's hoping to cash in on his donkey picture.

The things I'll do to make a profit!

Ah! I see donkeys.

The Hammer paid just over £35 for the picture.

Can he make a profit?

Hi, John!

Hello, Helen.

-Nice to see you.

-Good to see you.

I'm feeling a little bit nervous around all these donkeys.

You don't mind coming to see me, do you?

Every time I see you, you've got something for me.

Have a look at the detail in there.

It's 19th century, beautifully done in coloured pencils.

It's not signed, but I think the work speaks for itself.

-So what do you think of it?

-I love the donkey.

The little girls are nice. The only trouble being I've got so many donkey pictures, John.

Have another look, Helen, look. I think this is you.

I think this could be a young Helen here with

the foxgloves coming back from the garden centre

and your two daughters.

-This is made for you, this picture!

-Have I the space?

I'll tell you what, Helen. I was prepared to bid £200 for this.

I bought it a lot cheaper than I thought.

I can sell it to you today for £100.

How does that sound?

-Expensive.

-You are joking me!

You're not serious.

You're not serious! You mean you're not going to pay me...

You've got to pay me £100 for this.

I'll pay you £100, John...

-Right.

-..on the condition you do a little job for me.

I will shake your hand for £100.

Now, what... What am I have to do for my money?

Help me muck out the stables.

Help you muck out the stables.

Well, you have to hand it to him,

John Cameron will go to any lengths to bank a profit.

Well, I'm glad Katherine can't see me now, but one thing I do know,

where there's muck, there's brass.

You can't fault him for effort

and Mr Cameron has banked

almost £65 worth of profit.

He might be willing to get his hands dirty,

but his rival is taking a much more ladylike approach

to her pursuit of profit.

She's arranged for a meeting to try and sell the iconic calendars that set her back almost £60 at auction.

I hope she likes them. Fingers crossed.

Oh, hello. Oh!

-I've brought you these, but they are so heavy.

-Let me help you.

The great thing about these,

Annabel, is that you will not see these everywhere.

They were issued exclusively to the Pirelli top clients

by the UK division of the firm.

They're not quite the archetypal posed studio shots that you see today.

I mean I like this gritty realism. I love that kind of, you know,

real close up but also a play with lighting,

a play with, you know,

the way he's treated the face and captured it.

So these are lovely, how much?

Well, I was thinking of around £160.

Well, I'm prepared to pay...£90?

Could we meet in the middle, maybe?

What about 110?

-£110. I'll do £110. Done.

-Good.

-OK.

-Deal done, excellent, Annabel.

Do you want to see where I'm putting them?

-Those would look really good in the dining room.

-Fabulous.

£110 might not have exactly been in the middle,

but our very own Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is pin-up girl

has banked a profit of just over £50.

Despite her best efforts at the auction,

Katherine came away with just five lots.

Her cheapest item was the German tinplate toy bird

which she paid a little over £40 for.

What about £48?

-Perfect. Deal done.

-Fantastic.

-And we'll both be singing like birds.

-Indeed.

Well, it was a quick and easy sale,

but unfortunately for Katherine not a particularly profitable one.

You can't double your money every time and, anyway, you know what?

I think Mr Hammer's going to be struggling selling that broken cigarette box.

Oh, that's fighting talk from Mrs Higgins, but The Hammer

is a formidable foe and it seems he's also quite a jolly one.

# Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside

# Oh, I do like to be beside the sea. #

He might seem quite merry,

but our gentleman crooner is actually a little worried.

When he got his etching of a battleship home,

he had some doubts about it,

so he arranged to meet a local gallery owner

to try and find out what it was and to try and make a sale.

Hi, Richard.

In order to make a profit, he'd need to seal a deal for more than £70.

OK, this is the picture I told you about.

Now, when I saw this in the auction house, from a distance, I'm thinking

-my favourite Portsmouth artist, William Wylie.

-No, sadly not.

No, well, on closer inspection I saw the signature.

I looked at the catalogue description,

they didn't know who the artist was.

They catalogued it as "Charles H?"

-I didn't recognise the signature.

-No.

-You know, I'm hoping you do.

Yes, it's actually by Charles Herbert Clark,

a little-known etcher from...

Well, I think he was born in about the 1890s and this

etching would date from about 1920, that sort of era, 1920, 1930.

So he is contemporary with the end of Wylie's life, isn't he?

-Yes. Yeah.

-Well, on realising it wasn't Wylie,

I had a look at the catalogue description...

And it said HMS Victory, and I thought,

"Well, I must be able to sell that down my neck of the woods,"

and then I bought the painting, took it home,

and then the penny dropped.

I count two gun decks, not three.

-Well, easily done.

-So, would this picture interest you, Richard?

Um...yes, I think we could probably sell it in here.

Well, look, I was hoping for about £150 for it.

Oooh. £100, I think, would be my best offer.

Well, Richard, you've enlightened me.

I will certainly go to bed tonight wiser than I woke up.

I'd be happy to take your £100.

-Thank you very much, sir.

-You're welcome.

-OK.

-Well, he might have bought in haste at the auction,

but The Hammer's not a man to panic under fire

and he's still claimed a victory banking a profit

of almost £30 with his etching.

His profit pot receives another boost as he makes almost £27 from

his limited edition Royal Doulton plate and mug.

John might be sealing profitable deals on the south coast,

but his rival is waiting for one of her contacts at a safe house.

Or, as it's otherwise known, her home.

Her mission is to try and sell a pencil sketch which she thinks

could be an Epstein original.

If she's right, it could be worth thousands,

but she only paid a little over £175 for it.

Hang on, I'm pressing you in.

Well, I know you haven't seen it before, but stand there

and I think you're going to be completely wowed by it

as I turn it round and your client is going to want this.

-What do you think?

-Oh, yeah. No, it's lovely.

Who is it? Do you know who it is?

Well, now, this is the... This is the interesting bit.

When I saw it in the auction rooms,

kind of mixed and matched with all these other pictures...

-Yeah.

-..I thought, "Looks familiar."

And I could see when I looked really closely, if you look down here,

I could see a tiny signature,

or what I thought was the basis of a signature and it's...

On the reverse there's an indication

that it could be by the Sir Jacob Epstein.

Oh, right.

It's got this label which does kind of link it even further to Epstein.

It's a debate as to whether you can go by it, but it talks about it being ex collection of Mrs K Fields...

-Right.

-From the Petersfield Galleries in Hampshire, who was a friend of Lady Epstein,

-and that's what I've been working on to try and work out whether or not there was a direct association.

-Yes.

If there was, it makes it more likely that it might be by him.

Hand on heart, you know what I'm going to say,

I'm going to say that I don't think it is right.

So, in terms of price then, if it isn't an Epstein, what were

you thinking because obviously that changes things a little bit.

I think this is worth every bit of £400.

I'd like to buy it, but I'm thinking more sort of around the £280 mark, if it's at all possible.

You interior designers are such hard work!

So, £400 is slightly out.

I can slide down the slippery snake a bit and go for maybe £350.

The problem is, it could be anything.

It could be a student's work, it could be anything, but it is lovely.

Say £300?

Too low still. I want to meet on...

Let's meet on £320.

-Is that a fair bet?

-That's a good deal.

-Hey!

-Cheers.

-Great.

Thankfully you're right next to the mantelpiece

so get your cheque book out and write the cheque!

-OK.

-They don't call me demanding for nothing.

So, despite her best efforts

Katherine was unable to unearth any concrete evidence that the sketch

was actually an Epstein original,

but she still banked a fabulous profit of over £144.

Both experts are doing everything they can to maximise their profits from their auction lots,

but who's the selling superstar and who needs to raise their game?

Katherine has made sales totalling just under £480

and banked a little over £200-worth of profit.

Her rival, on the other hand, has sold £270-worth of goods

and made a profit of just over £120.

So, today's contest could still go either way.

In Portsmouth, John's got the perfect buyer for his cigarette box,

but he knows that any hope of a huge profit has already gone up in smoke.

Confession time.

When I bought this Edwardian pottery cigarette box at auction, I was pretty sure I'd turn a profit

with one of my specialist collector, even though the corner was damaged.

Well, that was before some poor packaging on my part resulted in me damaging the other corner,

and whilst I glued the piece back on,

I'm pretty sure this collector will seize upon the opportunity to beat me up on price,

so if I get out of this with any sort of profit, I'll be breathing a sigh of relief.

Remember, he bought the box for just over £35.

-Hi, Martin.

-John! How are you doing, mate?

-All good. I brought the box I told you about.

Brilliant. Come on in. See what we can do, mate.

Martin, every time I see the collection it looks better,

which is why when I saw this, I knew it would sit pretty amongst your collection.

-Have a look at that.

-Rightio.

-Turn of the century.

Yeah, about 1890, 1910.

-Original label is interesting.

-It is very interesting.

Not as interesting as the damage.

Were you going to mention that?

Well, I thought you might spot the damage, Martin,

but, yeah, I know it's had a chip on the corner.

-I bought it like that...

-And the other corner?

I did break that bit, but I've got the pieces there and it's glued back on.

Hasn't damaged the overall image. It's still a nice box.

I do tend to buy mint, so I think you'll have to allow for your chips.

I thought you were going to start all this, Martin, and I thought we were friends, you know?

We are, but when it comes to money...

It's not personal, right?

-It's not. Go on.

-OK. So, look, what do you see that valued at?

To me, about 30 quid.

I was hoping for 50, Martin, and I think it's worth that.

A bit... A bit over the top, John, on that.

-What can we do?

-35?

-35, you do know how to strike below the belt, Martin, I give you that, yeah?

£45.

45 is top dollar, John.

£45 and it's yours and you haven't got one,

and you can put that straight on a shelf, Martin,

amongst all this other monochrome printed advertising pottery.

You got the gift of the gab, mate.

-£45.

-Thank you, Martin!

-Cheers.

-Cheers.

Well, it's not big bucks, but that's almost £10 for his kitty.

There's better news on the yacht print though, which secured John over £72 of profit.

Mr Cameron's rival is on her way to the south coast to try and seal a deal for her portrait of a girl.

Since she got the portrait home, Katherine's been doing her research

and has decided that it's not a real Gerald Kelly,

but she's still hoping to bank a profit by selling it to a familiar face.

I must say, I'm a bit excited about going into this house because it's the home of Wayne Hemingway,

one of Britain's greatest designers and do you know what?

I grew up with his shoes on my feet.

-Hiya.

-Mr Hemingway, I'm delighted to meet you.

-How are you?

-Very well.

-That's a grand looking lass...

-She's a great...

-..on that print.

-She's a great girl.

-Can she come in?

-She can.

-Excellent.

-Wow! That...

-..is a giant Tretchikoff!

..is certainly the largest Tretchikoff I've ever seen.

Attractive women there, attractively lady here.

-Look at that.

-Oh, there she is.

-Is it you?

-It's not me.

When I bought her I was interested in the Kelly link,

that's the sort of signature at the base here,

but I explored it thinking there may be an association with Sir Gerald Kelly, who was,

you know, the famous Royal favourite or portraitist at that point when this was probably painted.

So why would that go on if it wasn't him?

It's the mystery.

It might have got... There could well have been followers of him.

I mean, he was very prolific at that point with his own work,

there's a hope that it might be by him, but I don't think it is

and I've had various colleagues that have looked at it,

who are Kelly specialists, and they feel that it isn't quite...

quite right, but they might be wrong.

If I saw this in, you know, just lying around, I'd want to buy it

because I haven't got it and it fits in with so much that I have...

that I have got that, you know, that...

I'd just have to have it as a collector.

I'll offer you £301 for it.

What does that...? That's just over the £300.

That's pretty good. Can I up you a little bit, to say £320?

Well, how about roughly splitting the difference and we'll call it at £310.50?

-£310.50.

-Yeah.

-A bargain.

-I've got a 50p upstairs.

-A deal.

-Do it.

-Deal done.

-OK.

-Perfect.

Well, it might not have been a genuine Gerald Kelly,

but Katherine still banked a healthy £76-worth of profit.

Today's contest could still go either way.

John's most expensive purchase at the auction was a glass vase

which he and Katherine went head-to-head on.

It promised to be a battle of epic proportions,

but at the crunch, Katherine graciously withdrew from the contest.

Including commission, the vase cost John just over £160,

so the big question is, how much profit is left in it?

It's Daum, one of the best French 19th-century manufacturers. I know it's 20th century, but look,

it's handmade, it's a classic inverted bell shape,

and those blue and clear air bubble inclusions, I think, are fantastic.

It will dazzle in your collection, Ian. Have another look.

It's handmade. Look at those air bubble inclusions.

John, I want to see cameo and carving.

You don't see those pieces in the saleroom - they're becoming rare.

We have to look for later pieces. Look again.

Well, he's working hard and if John's going to win today's competition,

he needs to squeeze every possible penny of profit from the vase.

His rival is also working hard to emerge victorious from today's contest

and is hoping to seal a deal for the ladies' walnut dressing table set

that cost her almost £200 at the auction.

-Ah, Robert.

-Hello, there, how are you?

-Katherine.

-You've brought the box.

I thought you'd like to see it.

-Shall we go this way and we'll have a good look at it?

-Perfect. Ideal.

It's not an ordinary box, it's got a special secret inside

and I'm sure you probably know what it is, actually.

I mean, obviously it's a typical dressing box or toilet box,

but it's got a hidden extra.

Yes, yes, I can see it just there.

You've got the secret drawer.

Obviously the lady's jewellery would go into there.

You know, it really is, for its age, in super, super condition.

What kind of money are you looking for it?

I think I'd be looking at around about £420, £400, that sort of figure.

We're not that wealthy in Lincolnshire.

That's not what Katherine wanted to hear.

Both our experts are working hard to make the profit to win today's auction battle.

We'll find out shortly if John's Daum vase

or Katherine's ladies' dressing set prove to be the decisive deal

because it's now time to tot up the totals and find out how much they've made.

Both our experts were allowed to spend

up to £1,000 of their own money at today's auction.

Katherine spent just under £710,

her rival on the other hand parted with just over £436.

All the profits they make will be going to charity,

so without further delay,

it's time to reveal who is today's Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is champion.

Katherine, how are you?

-It's lovely to see you, John, as always.

-Likewise.

-So, how did you get on from your auction challenge?

-I love auctions.

That was where I was born and brought up really and I just felt very comfortable there.

And I thought, "What better place than to bid you up on a lovely vase?"

-Thanks for that(!)

-It was rather nice.

-I would have liked to have bought it a bit cheaper.

But how about you with your Pirelli calendars?

Those were absolutely, astonishingly beautiful.

I sold them to someone who's equally beautiful and she loved them.

-She?

-Yeah, bought by a girl! Can you believe that?

Well, I never. Well, enough polite chit-chat, I want to know how much profit you got in your case.

-I'm hoping a lot. Let's count it down. OK.

-Three, two, one.

-Oh!

-Whoa!

-You slaughtered me!

-Almost double!

-Well, I'm shocked.

-Almost.

-I feel completely humbled, Katherine.

I think you were a very good rival on that day.

And you are a worthy adversary.

Right, let's go and make some more money.

I don't know if I'm up to this now!

Despite his best efforts,

John only managed to bag a little over £35 for his Daum vase.

£200, a nice even figure.

-Go on, John.

-Top man. Thank you very much, Ian.

Katherine, though, cashed in on her walnut ladies' dressing set

banking over £125 of profit.

What about towards £350?

I tell you what, I'll meet you halfway, £325, how about that?

That sounds like a great deal to me.

Well, I'm completely gutted. Katherine wiped the floor with me at the auction.

I'm delighted. Everything did really well that I bought and, yeah,

I nearly doubled my money on everything.

John, well, you know, he just didn't have my eye, really.

He just isn't Katherine The Great!

It's a victory for Katherine, but both our experts worked round the clock to sell their items

and every penny of their profit will be going to their chosen charities.

The charity I've chosen to give my money to is the Emasi Children's Project,

which is an orphanage in Cape Town in South Africa.

My charity is the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

John may have tasted defeat today, but tomorrow he'll have the chance to get his revenge

when our duelling dealers go head to head at a Parisian antiques market.

I see no ships, but I do potentially see a profit.

OK, she says in London that I'm going to be able to sell this for... 500 euros.

She'll have a tough ride because I'm coming up the outside rail and I'm not going to fall at the last fence.

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