James Lewis v Jonty Hearnden - Auction Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

This is Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is,

the show that takes the titans of the antiques trade,

and pitches them against each other

to see who can make the most money

from buying and selling.

That's amazing. Truly amazing.

Today's all-out battle for profit pitches antiques powerhouse

James Lewis against super-smoothie Jonty Hearnden.

Coming up,

a page one lesson for buying under the hammer...

Yeah, there is one major rule when buying at auction.

And that is to make sure you look at it.

..we find out how curious little gems can hold weighty profits...

So for £60 investment, there or thereabouts,

it has to be a profit because gold is so expensive now.

..and Jonty kicks the opposition into touch.

Yes!

This is Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.

Today, we've got two juggernauts of the trade

battling it out across the auction room.

It's the man with the golden gavel,

James 'The Lionheart' Lewis,

versus the smooth-talking fancier of furniture,

Jonty 'The Hitman' Hearnden.

Prepare to be astounded as this duelling duo attempt to outdo each other

with their dealing-derring-do!

In one corner, our highly competitive expert in fine art auctioneering.

That should show a great profit.

And in the other, our supreme sophisticate dealer,

a man who started in the business over 30 years ago as an auction room porter.

-Bric-a-brac.

-Hello.

-Yes?

Today, the gavel is falling at Tring market auctions in Hertfordshire,

where our brave boys are really going to have to be on their toes.

Five different auctions and three different auctioneers will be

kicking off at different times throughout the day.

So Jonty and James are going to have to be on fire to bag the best bargains.

They've each stumped up £1,000 of their own money

and every penny of profit goes to their chosen charities.

James Lewis and Jonty Hearnden,

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

-Jonty, how are you?

-Good. How are you, James?

-Very well.

Well, here we are in Tring, at the auctions.

Yeah, have you got that £1,000 burning holes in your pocket?

As well you know, it's not exactly £1,000 because there is a buyers' premium.

-Ah, yeah. 850-ish.

-Yes, there or thereabouts. So what are your plans?

Absolutely everything. I am not going to limit myself to anything at all. How about you?

Well, there's an awful lot here.

-I think there's what, four rooms?

-About 2,000 lots.

-Quite, quite a lot.

Well, you have two rooms. I'll have the best two rooms and good hunting!

Time here is of the essence.

The first auction starts in less than 45 minutes.

But four more will start soon after, simultaneously selling jewellery, furniture and miscellanea.

There's even an outside auction of garden furniture,

so our boys need to use every second of this crucial viewing time.

There's quite a lot to deal with today.

Over 2,000 lots, four rooms and, what's more, Jonty the Hitman.

If it wasn't difficult enough, I've got him to deal with.

Determined to seize the advantage,

James is first to spot a potential profit-maker.

Here we have something that's quite interesting.

We have a set of four early 20th-century coaching prints.

Here we have scenes from Dickens. So we have Nicholas Nickleby.

We have David Copperfield, arriving at the Blue Boar.

And two more down at the bottom here.

These are original, from about 1910, 1915, something like that.

OK, who might buy these?

First of all, you've got the equestrian interest and the coaching interest.

But then you've also got maybe a Saracen's Head pub.

But also anybody interested in Charles Dickens.

At an estimate of £50 for four, they're worth a go.

It's a good first spot from the Lionheart but,

in order to walk away with any one of the items that take his fancy,

he's not only got to outbid the hundreds of other buyers circling the best goods,

he's also got to fend off the Hitman who, not surprisingly, is focusing on the furniture.

Tables like this were always designed to be folded away.

That's the reason why you've got the tabletop sitting on its side, like so.

It has been repolished, the top,

and you can tell that because the patina is all too even.

But it's mahogany. And look at the base here. It's really quite attractive.

It's in good condition. What have we got in the catalogue?

80 quid, lower end estimate.

So if I get it around that sort of price, that's absolutely fine.

The boys have to buy low and sell high to ensure a hefty profit margin but,

with all sorts of weird and wonderful miscellanea packing the shelves,

that's going to be no mean feat.

A toilet. Just what everybody needs, a second-hand toilet(!)

Carving through the rooms with total focus,

the Hitman homes in on an item with bags of character.

Now this is a travelling trunk. We've got the initials EEB on the top. That was obviously the owner.

But look at all these labels on the side here.

Tavistock, Exmouth, so somebody who travelled to the West Country.

We've got these straps on the top here,

designed to protect the top because the actual carcass is a fabric.

Estimate in the catalogue - 50 quid.

Not bad.

Possibility.

Hm, Jonty's got the bit between his teeth and soon finds

a ripe little pine chest that ticks all the right boxes.

Now this is what you should be looking for when you're trying to deal.

This is a Victorian chest of drawers. Classic proportion.

It's been painted but underneath this is a pine carcass,

so this is absolutely ideal to sell on to a dealer that just deals in painted furniture.

Estimate in the catalogue - 30 quid.

Don't tell James.

Our undercover Hitman has covertly marked up three potential furniture purchases but,

as he moves through the lots,

like a profit predator, the Lionheart, isn't far behind.

He's rooted out a piece which really speaks to him.

What we have here is a 19th-century sculpture that somebody

would have brought back as a tourist souvenir and this one is signed,

and inscribed, "Napoli", Naples, "1889".

And even with a tiny bit of damage like that,

it's worth the auction estimate of 100 to 180.

If it makes that, it's worth a bash.

Much more - I think I'll have to drop out.

In the main room, the first auction has begun

and the place is full to bursting.

Our antiques moguls now need to get in there and get bidding on their favourite items.

The Lionheart is gearing up to strike.

His coloured prints are one of the first lots to come up.

£55? 60, five, 70.

Five? £70 it is. £70. 70, are we all done?

Sold! Number 649.

It's a quick and decisive first buy for James.

The set of early 20th century coloured prints

cost him just under £83, including fees.

But what of the Hitman?

He's tucked away in a different room where auction number two,

the furniture auction, is now getting under way.

Our stone-cold predator is waiting silently for his Georgian occasional table to come up.

113 - a Georgian mahogany tripod table, £50.

I'm bid five and 60, five and 70. Five?

£75. I'm bid 80, 90, 100. £100, I'm bid. 10 anywhere else?

£100, are we all done? Selling it, then. All done at 100.

Cooking on gas, the Hitman snaps up the

Georgian occasional table for £118, including fees.

But he can't rest on his laurels because the dome-topped trunk

he looked at earlier is next.

40, I'm bid. £40, I'm bid.

42, 45, 48, £50.

And five, and 60, and five, 70.

Selling at £65. At £65, are we all done, then?

Selling at 65 quid. All done at 65.

I'm pleased.

Like a pro, Jonty's stuck to the items that he's had the chance to assess up close.

He's bagged the trunk for just under £77, including costs,

meaning he's now got two major buys under his belt.

But, while the Hitman commands the furniture room,

the Lionheart is also sticking close to what he knows.

He's spotted a miscellaneous box that just might earn a profit,

but how much is he willing to pay for it?

Any advance on 25?

28, 30, five.

Any advance on 35?

38. Any advance on £38, then?

Sold, then, at £38.

Cool as a calculating cucumber,

James snaps up the miscellaneous box for just under £45, including fees.

I'm happy with that.

Great!

And, while the Lionheart waits to pounce on his next treasure,

the Hitman's holed up in the furniture room and his pine chest is up next.

80 for it? 90, 5, 100, 10.

£105? 10, 15.

£110, chest at £110. Have we got 110, then?

Here, sir. 115, 120?

All done, then. Selling at 115.

The pine chest costs him just under £136, with fees.

It's more than he bargained for but he'll be hoping

that it will still turn a healthy profit.

Both our boys are on fire but the antiques action isn't confined to indoors.

The garden furniture auction has started outside and,

like the profit predators they are,

both Jonty and James have sniffed out the fresh fare.

I don't think I've actually seen an outside sale for at least 20 years but here he is,

he's standing on the top of a garden bench with a clipboard in his hand, banging a gavel.

But my first lot is coming up right away.

James has got his cat-like eyes on a fire grate and the guide price is £20.

I'm bid £10. 12, I'll take now.

15, 18, 20, 2, 5, 8, 30, 5, 40?

£35 here. £35, it's only a cheap lot. £35, 40 now?

£35, 40, are you going back? No.

£35, I'm going to sell it, then. All done at 35.

-649.

-649, thank you, sir.

That's great.

James bags his third impulse buy

of the day for just over £41, including fees.

And our fearless warrior wastes no time racing back inside to

tie down his fourth purchase of the day.

He snaps up a pair of leather riding boots for just under £65,

including costs.

There's one lot in the main auction room that James cannot miss,

the bronze figure.

It's a firm favourite from earlier in the day and its estimate is £180.

But will the lion claim his prize?

160 bid, 170 bid, 80 bid. 90?

No. 220, then. You're out. I sell away from you at £220...

Thank you.

It's a massive spend at just under £260, including fees,

for the bronze, a whopping £80 more than the estimate.

But the all-knowing James is certain of profit.

I think I might get four for it.

I might get five. We'll have to wait and see.

Jonty and James started the day with £1,000 of their own cash.

It's been a manic morning and James has forked out just over £495,

including fees, on a mighty five items,

leaving him just under £507 for the rest of the auction.

Jonty, on the other hand, has been more cautious.

He's only bought three items, spending just over £330, including

fees, leaving him a handsome amount of just under £670 still to spend.

It's a mammoth battleground today with five auctions all

racing along simultaneously and several thousand items up for grabs,

from big bits of furniture to precious pieces of silver.

But the action isn't always where the gavel is

and the Lionheart is busy seeking out his next potential target.

People often say that Georgian furniture is expensive

and something only for the rich, but here we look at a...

-Bric-a-brac.

-Hello.

-Yes?

-Why are you looking at bric-a-brac?

-No, I'm looking at the table.

-The table?

-I think it's all right.

-Well, you're missing the middle bit and the other end, James.

-I know.

-You realise that?

-Yeah. But it's still a Georgian side table.

It's worth £500, £600, isn't it?

Not quite sure about that.

The reason why I wouldn't go for a table like this is,

-the colour on the top, it's really quite difficult to get that type of colour.

-Yeah.

The only thing you can do that with that is, sadly,

splatter it with paint, which is a huge pity.

But, at the right price, it's absolutely fine.

-I think £30 is the right price.

-Yes!

Hmm, furniture expert Jonty has slammed the side table.

But, in a game like this, that could just as likely be a ruse

to put James off the scent of a potential hawker.

The Hitman's next call is the miscellaneous lots room.

But he's approaching with the real caution.

This is full of house clearances, so we've got trays, boxes of objects.

And it just doesn't excite me.

I'm going to have a look for those bargains but, funnily enough,

it just doesn't turn me on.

Fuelled by a steely determination to come out on top,

the Hitman begins the arduous process of rifling through

the lots to root out that star piece that really hits the spot.

It's like finding a needle in a haystack but,

as the auction races along around him,

the Hitman targets a silver caddy spoon that's just his cup of tea.

He bags it for just under £12, including fees,

and he reckons he's onto a winner.

It's dated about 1820, 1830.

One can tell that by the Greek key pattern that runs around the outside of the spoon.

The pierced decoration has been done at a later date.

It's just a quirky, fun item. Not bad, huh? I like that.

Hmm, it's all systems go here!

And, with at least two auctions going on at any given time, neither

of our antiques giants are taking their eye off the ball for a second.

Excuse me, please. Thank you.

The Lionheart has entered the furniture auction.

He's determined to have a go at the side table that Jonty tried to put him off earlier on.

20? I'm bid. Do I take it now? £20, I'm bid.

£20 only, I'm going to sell it. Are you all done? Last time at 20...

It's worth £100 to £150 any day, so that should show a great profit.

James bags the mahogany side table for just under £24, including fees.

That is his sixth purchase of the day.

Jonty may have called it a dud but James wasn't about to be put off.

Jonty's staked a spot in the main auction room and

he's launched into a rapid-fire buying spree of silver and gold.

He ties down a silver cat figure bookmark for just under £26,

including costs.

£35, thank you.

And then a pair of silver knife rests for just over £41, with fees.

Jonty's buying straight from the catalogue,

ticking them off as he goes.

Next up is a gold horseshoe-shaped vinaigrette,

which is estimated around £100.

110 from madam and 20 from sir. 120 from sir. At 120 I'm selling it.

Going at £120...

The vinaigrette sets Jonty back just under £142, including costs,

and he's delighted with it.

This is one of the tiniest investments I've ever made.

Now vinaigrettes were very fashionable in the 18th and 19th century.

And, essentially, they were there for smelling salts,

to cover up bad smells that you would certainly have

out in the big, bustling streets of major cities.

I think it's beautiful. It's gold.

£120, plus premium.

It's all the money but if you want to find something different,

if you want to find something that's class, you've got to pay for it.

Jonty completes his buying spree by scooping up

a white gold and blue stone ring for £59, including costs.

Light on his feet, the Hitman is constantly adapting his buying as this auction progresses.

He's moved off the furniture to chalk up four trinkets, meaning he's now got eight purchases to his name.

James has taken pole position in the main room.

Like his opponent, he's buying blind from the catalogue and he's spotted a Japanese plate.

Five now. Eight?

I have 25, 8, is that £30?

And two. Five now, and eight now.

You're out. It's going, then. Sir has it.

Sir, thank you.

Well, that little bit of blue and white looked like Japanese from a distance.

I don't know if it's marked. I don't know if it's cracked.

But for £38 it's worth a gamble.

For better or for worse, James has won the Japanese plate

and it's set him back just over £41, including fees.

But the big test of a blind purchase like this is

what you make of it once it's in your hands.

Yeah, there is one major rule when buying at auction,

and that is to make sure you look at it.

And, if you don't, you might end up buying something

that's cracked or chipped, or completely worthless.

And, I'm afraid, well, that's what I've done here.

I bought a Japanese charger with a great big star crack in the back

and you flip it over and there it is, it comes all the way through into the front.

Well, it's not worthless but there's certainly no profit in it

and if I get my money back, I'll be happy.

Ooh, a crushing blow for the Lionheart,

but he's not about to roll over.

His keen eye has glimpsed an unusual pottery tea set that might just be a winning ticket.

It looks like a Clarice Cliff Celtic harvest.

Sir has it, then. I sell for £45.

James bags his eighth item of the day,

the tea set for just over £53, including fees.

As all five auctions hit their final leg,

it seems that the Hitman has decided to bow out of the bidding.

I'm completely and utterly spent up.

But James, the old Lionheart, bids on the second lot and he's still

in there somewhere bidding and I think we're up to 2,000 and something.

It's quite bizarre. The man is fixated!

Jonty's made the calculated decision that he's bought enough.

But the relentless buying machine that is James Lewis refuses to retire.

He's biding his time, waiting for that final purchase.

I have one lot left, and that's an old 17th-century chair that's been

reupholstered on the seat and on the back.

It's an estimate of £20-£30 so...

might as well just wait and see what happens.

Lot number 2170, the 18th-century oak chair. 30, I'm bid for it.

5, 40, I'm bid, and 5?

50, I'm bid. Are you 5?

And 60, I am bid.

55 on the... 60, I'm bid. And 5?

Out, then. I shall sell away from you. It's going at £60...

Sir, thank you.

James takes a chance on the oak chair which sets him back

just under £71, including costs.

I have to say I think this is probably the oldest

piece of furniture in today's auction.

It's had a few alterations.

This padding and this wouldn't originally have been here.

The top piece here - classic 1680.

1670, 1680.

There's open-mouthed dragons and the tongues come out and a spewing, fruiting vine.

It's got a great look to it.

If it was perfect, if the back panel was right, you'd be looking at £400.

Like this, I think it's worth 120 to 150.

The auction rooms have finally closed.

The final lot has been called, the last hammer has fallen

and the buyers are departing with their trophies.

Time for us to take a look at our boys have fared.

James and Jonty both started the day with £1,000 and,

for such a frantic clash, it's a pretty level playing field.

Including fees, James spent just over £682 on nine lots.

And Jonty spent just over £610 on eight items.

The race is just too close to call and, before they graduate

on to the next leg, our duelling dealers size up each other's wares.

-Best buy?

-The best buy is the table that you quite rudely decided to diss.

I'm going to let you into a little secret now - I think that's a fabulous table.

-What did you pay for it?

-£20.

I shouldn't have asked you that question because I was bidding in this room here.

I knew that I wanted to bid on that table as well.

No, it's great. Well done.

-What's your best buy?

-I have to say my little vinaigrette here.

-Look at that.

-I love that.

-Really nice quality.

-It's a really pretty little vinaigrette.

-So tiny.

-Yeah. It's a good lot. I think you'll do well.

-Very nice.

So this is not all your purchases, is it?

No, they're everywhere, strewn over all four salerooms, I think.

On the walls, under tables, everywhere.

Well, I think it's time to do a bit of gathering up.

I think it's going to take a wee while to load up our vehicles, don't you think?

Well, you start off and I'm just going to rest.

-I'll, I'll guard your knife rests, I think.

-You relax, my son.

Yeah, I will. Go on. Load my car, chap.

JAMES LAUGHS

Our brave boys have negotiated the rushing rapids of buying

but they're as nothing compared to the raging sea of selling that now awaits.

Back at their respective bases, Jonty and James set to work,

planning out how to sell their wares for maximum possible profits.

In his Derbyshire den, the Lionheart ponders his artillery.

That Narcissus bronze is a wonderful piece of 19th-century sculpture

and I've still got enough money left to do the restoration.

That demi lune side table, almost 200 years old and, at less than £30,

if I can't make a profit out of that, there's something seriously wrong.

My favourite lot of all is the box of miscellaneous.

In amongst all the real junk, and overlooked by an awful lot of people,

three little silver overlay scent bottles.

I hope I can sell the scent bottles alone for more than twice what I paid for the entire box.

James also has to sell four coloured prints,

a fire grate,

a pair of riding boots,

a Japanese charger,

and a carved oak chair.

That just leaves the Clarice Cliff tea set.

When James collected it after the auction, he discovered that

the salad servers were broken in transit so he got a refund of just under £80,

reducing the overall cost of the tea set to just over £35.

Over in Oxfordshire, Jonty is hard at work in his capacity

as coach for his local under 12s rugby team.

And, as you can see, the mind of the Hitman is never far from

the serious business of the total annihilation of his opposition.

And, once the Hitman's done beating his opponent into the beyond, he's got to sell...

a Georgian tripod table,

a dome-top trunk,

a painted pine chest,

a caddy spoon,

a silver cat bookmark,

a pair of silver table knife rests,

a horseshoe vinaigrette,

and a white gold and blue stone ring.

All's fair in love and antiques, James.

And now our two big hitters get down to it, bashing the phones,

pounding the pavements, dogged in their pursuit of pure profit.

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

no deal is truly sealed.

First to spring from his lair is the Lionheart.

He's on a deadly mission to kill two birds with one stone.

When I first saw the chair and the iron fire grate at the auction, I had one man in mind.

And he's recently moved from a very small cottage into something slightly larger.

And, unlike most of my contacts with antiques,

I haven't met him through the auction world.

He's actually my vet.

Well, I told you he'd upsized a bit.

What better target could James have picked for his oak chair

and fire guard than the antiques-filled stately home of local vet Graham?

Remember, he paid just over £41 for the fire grate

and just under £71 for the chair.

-Now, I haven't done anything to this.

-Have you sat on it?

No, well, if it'll take my weight, it'll take anybody's.

Let's give it a go.

-Yeah, that...

-Ah, woah, woah, woah!

-That's fine!

-It just got cheaper, didn't it?

This is a really interesting early piece of furniture.

Made around 1680, it's a chair that really is for a look rather than for use.

-It's nice.

-Good.

-And I think it fits in well in this location.

-So you like it?

-Yes.

-How much do you like it?

THEY LAUGH

I was hoping for towards 200.

Mm-hm. You've always been a really hopeful sort of guy, haven't you?

Oh, 150?

Let's think on that and look at this one.

-It's 20th century.

-Yes.

And it's made in the Gothic style.

I mean... I can give you 100 quid for that.

That shows me a profit.

-Yeah?

-That shows me a profit. You've got a deal.

I'm not going to argue with you.

Yes! Our silver-tongued soldier pulls off a stomping

great profit of just under £138 for both items.

# There's a voice that keeps on calling me... #

Oxfordshire's baddest furniture bandit is also out of the traps

like a well-dressed whippet, taking the dome-top trunk

he bought for just under £77 to old contact Niall in nearby Wallingford.

That's if he can muster the strength to actually get it there.

# Maybe tomorrow I'll want to settle down

# Until tomorrow, I'll just keep moving on... #

There we go. If you look on the outside,

we've got these fabulous travel labels as well. What have you got?

Exmouth, Tavistock and East Budleigh.

-Not quite Mauritius or exotic places.

-Well, how exotic can you get?

-Yeah, no, absolutely.

-Can I have a look inside?

-Certainly.

-There we go.

-OK.

So it's been relined at some point but it's clean.

Price to you, sir - £230.

-230?

-Yes.

I was hoping more sort of 180 mark.

Can we sort of, like, meet in the middle there somewhere, something like 200?

I'm sure we can meet in the middle and 200 sounds very fair, actually.

-£200?

-200.

-Excellent. Thank you, sir.

-OK.

That's a great start for Jonty, landing a profit of just over £123.

The Lionheart is on a mission to get a sale for his four prints

of the Charles Dickens scenes which cost him nearly £83.

Featured in one of them is a pub called the Saracen's Head,

so no prizes for guessing why James is headed to this particular hotel to meet owner David.

# Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name... #

They're a tad loose.

Yeah, I can see that.

But the thing is, what I always like to do is leave them exactly how I found them,

unless there's something significantly wrong with them.

Wouldn't they look fabulous along that wall? Two either side of that clock.

What sort of money are you looking for them?

I think, individually, in a shop, they would have price tickets of about £75 each on them.

-Yes.

-Something like that.

-Yes.

So would it be possible for you to do the...the work on them?

-The tissue?

-The tissuing and the...

-Yeah, I could do that.

£75 each, times four, that's £220, isn't it? Is that right?

-75...

-Times four...

-..is 300, isn't it?!

Oh, my dear! Well, I was never very good at maths.

-Yes, I'll give you that for them.

-Would you really?

-Yes, indeed.

-I was expecting a bit of a haggle from you.

-No, not at all.

-Are you sure?

-I like them.

-Gosh. Fantastic!

And back home, James recruits his dad to help him with the restoration.

Oh, they're not going to see the crease!

-Well, I see the crease.

-Sorry.

They always say, never work with animals...or your dad!

It's a nightmare! Nothing's ever good enough.

He spends just five pounds from his remaining budget on paper and tape,

leaving him with a thumping great profit of just over £212.

In Oxfordshire, Jonty is about to tempt dealer contact Peter

with his painted chest of drawers that cost just under £136.

225.

It's more than I'd want to pay.

-Well, there's a surprise.

-There's a surprise, yes.

What about 150?

200 is the death, really.

-OK, because the sun's shining.

-Brilliant! It's yours, sir.

-OK.

-Thank you very much.

-All right.

When it comes to a chest, Jonty's one of the best.

The Hitman banked just over £64 profit.

When I bought that chest of drawers, I knew exactly who I could sell it to.

It's all about connections, James. Connections.

# Gonna get myself Gonna get myself connected... #

Yes, the Hitman's full of fighting talk

but the Lionheart's not a man short of connections of his own.

He's invited some of his contacts round to his saleroom to

take a look at some of the pieces from his box of miscellanea,

purchased for just under £45.

First up is the chamber candlestick.

I'm thinking of buying it for my husband for a wedding anniversary present.

Oh, right! How much do you love your husband?

Well, that's a very good question!

I'm hoping you love him an awful lot. How about £40?

Oh, that's a lot of love!

It's not that much love!

I hope he's not going to watch this!

-Well, how about 35, then?

-I'll take it. Thank you.

# Love is in the air... #

That's one item sold and £35 in the bag.

And our collectables carnivore goes on to sell

his blue glass carafe to glass collector Ray for £115.

-That's great. I'm happy with that.

-That's perfect.

-Lovely.

That's two items from the box sold and ten to go,

but our James has already made just over £105 profit.

With the bit between his teeth, James corners collector Martin with his Japanese charger.

He paid just over £41 for it

but will the crack he found damage his sale?

It's got a crack in it, it's late 19th century. I don't know, 40 quid?

-That, instantly, is below what I paid for it.

-Right, OK.

50?

-The 50 is above what I paid for it.

-OK.

-But I paid too much for it.

-Right, OK.

I want £30 for it.

Well, you can have... you can have £30.

-Because I think that's what it's worth.

-Fab.

No, I'll, I'll be very happy to take that home at £30.

What a fine, upstanding chap he is, our James.

He takes a loss of just over £11 on the chin.

I've made a loss but Martin's got a charger. It's worth £30. He's happy.

So am I.

Hmm, and you can bet next time that he'll check before he buys.

James is surging away but his opponent is hot on his heels.

# And it's hi ho silver lining... #

Morning, boys.

Jonty is in Wallingford, bringing his four smaller pieces -

the cat bookmark, a pair of knife rests, the horseshoe vinaigrette,

and the blue stone ring - to precious metals dealer Andy.

All four items together cost him just under £268.

I'm looking for 80 quid for that,

the knife rests - 60, bookmark - 45,

and my vinaigrette - 300.

Let's start with the worst.

This ring is obviously made in the Far East somewhere.

-It's only worth the scrap value.

-Yes, I bought it as such because I find it really quite a hideous ring.

We're looking at about £20 for the stone, £20 for the gold.

£40 is the most I can give you on that.

Oh, dear! That would be a loss of £19.

-Knife rests. Now...

-60 quid is what I'm hoping for.

-I guess if we said what, £40 for the pair?

-OK, OK.

Hmm, that's just over a one pound loss.

The little cat/bear - I'm intrigued with this fellow.

I can take an offer on that, obviously.

-Well, what about 30?

-OK.

-OK.

-Yep.

What about my piece of resistance? I mean, I think that's beautiful.

I'm looking for 300 for that.

This is a Victorian piece. Beautiful handwork. All hand-engraved.

In their heyday, these things were worn around the waist or on a chain,

to be close at hand if, you know, a lady was overcome with emotion.

-I'm sure this sort of thing might be handy for you!

-Er, yes.

Because we all know you're the housewives' favourite.

-Yeah, you know how emotional I get!

-Swooning ladies. 200?

No.

Er, I need a bit more, really.

-What about 250?

-Yeah, that's splitting the difference, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, OK, 250.

-250?

-Deal?

-You're on. Thank you very much, sir.

-You're welcome.

-That's brilliant.

Yes! The day is saved.

A whopping profit of just over £108 on the vinaigrette sees

the Oxfordshire Don reap just over £92 profit across the four items.

-Can you melt that down as quick as you possibly can?

-I will, don't worry!

So far, our boys have been engaged in a selling frenzy,

with sales flying left, right and centre.

Lethal assassin Jonty has sold six of his eight items so far

and has a respectable profit of just under £280 to his name.

Roaring Lionheart James has shifted six items, including two items from

his job lot box, netting him a profit of just over £444.

But we're only halfway through the race

and everything could still change.

The bell rings out for round two of this almighty selling challenge.

James has had his favourite buy, the bronze statue of Narcissus,

restored for the sum of £65,

bringing the total cost of the piece to just under £325.

It's a huge investment and he's desperately hoping his gamble

pays off as he visits bronze collector Andrew in Nottingham.

I have to say, this is my favourite lot that I bought at the auction.

I absolutely love it!

I'd much rather just have him on my sideboard at home!

But I've got to sell him! I've got to sell him.

-It's certainly superb.

-It's great, isn't it?

-I mean, what sort of age?

1889.

-I do like him.

-Good. Excellent.

-Yeah, yeah.

-I would like to own him but...

-Good.

I have a figure in mind that I thought this was worth.

I would think I'd be looking somewhere in the region of about 500.

That's low.

That's low. I think he's worth considerably more.

Hm, that's not the best of starts but we'll find out

whether James was able to get a better deal later on.

In Oxford, his opponent is taking the caddy spoon he purchased

for just under £12 to Stephen, an expert in tea and coffee blending.

# With tea for two And two for tea... #

Have a look at that spoon there.

I've had it tested to discover that it's solid silver. So do you like it?

I do. It's very ornamental.

I'm looking for £35 for it, which is not too bad, I hope, for a silver spoon

-Could we make it 25?

-Oh, I just need a bit more than that. What about 30?

-29.

-Oh! 29.

I tell you what, you're on for 29, as long as you make me a nice cup of tea.

-Right.

-We've got a sale but, yeah, let's do some tasting. Fabulous!

That's just over £17 in the pot for the Hitman.

-Now, how about a nice cup of tea?

-Cheers.

The Lionheart is gearing up to launch a one-man assault

on an antiques arcade.

First, he shows his scent bottles to dealer Ann.

-Let's start at 150 for the three.

-I'm not going to haggle.

-That shows me a great profit and I'm pleased with that.

-Good.

Deal. That's three job lot items sold and nine to go.

So far, James is just over £255 in profit on his box of delights.

So far, so good.

But James comes a cropper when he tries to interest dealer Dennis

in the riding boots he paid just under £65 for.

-No?!

-I'm terribly sorry.

-Righty ho. Bloody boots!

Hmm, it definitely a tally-no!

But, just as he thought all was lost, James bumps into customer Charlotte.

I'm doing some costumes for a Tom Jones for a play we're doing, so this might be useful.

-What are you asking for them?

-100 quid.

-I'd only want to pay 50 for them.

-70 quid and you've got a deal.

-60 and a kiss.

-65 and a kiss.

-All right, then.

-OK.

-Thank you. Lovely.

-I've just bought a pair of boots.

-Yaaaay!

-For goodness' sake.

-Brilliant.

It's a 10p profit and who knew the Lionheart was such a babe magnet?!

Two happy buyers and I'm thrilled.

Furniture guru Jonty has just one item left to sell and

he's in Gloucestershire to see if he can persuade his friend Steve

to shell out for the Georgian table that set him back £118.

The beautiful, mahogany, George III, occasional table, dated 1790.

-You think this is the original top?

-It is. It's absolutely in proportion.

-OK.

-Price tag for this table is £450.

I was thinking something in the region of 350.

But I would be happy to sit somewhere in the middle. What about 400?

OK, I don't like around numbers.

And I'll feel as if I've got a bargain if we said 395.

-You've got a deal.

-Excellent. Good. I'm thrilled!

And that's an incredible £277 profit for

the smooth-talking table-trader and that's it!

He's over the finishing line.

Unaware his rival is home and dry,

the Lionheart is gearing up for his final push.

He's also table-trading and he's taken his mahogany sidetable,

purchased for just under £24, to hotel owner Tim.

It's a good, practical 18th-century lump, something that is so solid,

that I think you could just about chuck it off a cliff and it would last.

-Yeah.

-Which is why it's still here, I guess, 200 years later.

What about this?

Yeah. I mean, somebody has put a hot plate down at some stage but,

you know, it's a practical piece of furniture.

It's not a Chippendale museum piece. I'd like to have £170 for it.

-But you can haggle.

-Yeah, I think I probably will.

Yeah, I think you probably might!

I mean, it looks like £100 to me.

-What about 160?

-What about 110?

-Ooh!

-You don't need the money.

-150?

-135 and you've got a deal.

You've got a deal. Well done.

Hmm, could Jonty's furniture crown be under threat?

That's just over £111 profit.

Last stop for the Lionheart is to take his tea set, which cost him

just over £35, to Tony, a dealer who trades in Clarice Cliff.

I have to say I'm slightly embarrassed about bringing you

-what is not exactly not the best of Clarice Cliff's work.

-No, I agree.

-I think they're fun.

-I'll give you 70 and that's my final.

How about 80?

No, I can't do it.

-I'll split it with you, 75.

-Deal.

Deal. Thank you.

James pockets a profit of just under £40 and our determined

Derbyshire dandy manages to sell more items from his job lot,

leaving him with an outstanding overall profit of just under £355.

And, with that, the Lionheart storms home

and this frantic selling frenzy is over.

Our gladiators have given their all today.

They both started out with £1,000 of their own money.

Hitman Jonty spent just over £610 on his eight purchases.

James the Lionheart went one further, buying nine lots,

and spending a total of just over £734,

including restoration costs, but now it's all about profit.

All of the money that James and Jonty have made from today's challenge

will be going to a charity of their choice.

So, without further ado, it's time to find out who is today's

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is champion.

-Hi, James.

-Jonty, how are you?

Now, auctions - that's your patch, isn't it? Your turf.

No, completely the opposite.

If I'm in an auction room, I want to be on the rostrum.

I do not want to be down there bidding. I'm just useless at it.

-What were the highlights for you?

-I think the best thing that either of us bought

was that wonderful vinaigrette that you got.

Oh, yes. Lovely. Really lovely.

I was hoping to find somebody that would take it away

-and spend lots of money but I managed to get it away well.

-Good.

-Right.

-Shall we see?

-Moment of truth.

-Go on, then.

On the count of three. Three, two, one.

Ohhh! James, you've done it again!

Hats off to you, young man.

But was it Narcissus that helped swing that landslide victory for James?

How about 750?

700.

I'm not going to argue any more. You have a deal.

-Brilliant.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

Andrew fell in love with the mythological figure

which saw the Lionheart to a phenomenal profit of just over £375.

I was so pleased to see that Narcissus bronze

transformed from something that was damaged

and unsaleable into a beautiful work of art.

James has a habit of foraging in boxes and I just can't do it.

I just can't go there.

James stormed this round but, next time, it could be Jonty's turn

as our duelling dealers cross swords at Saint Ouen antiques market in Paris.

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