Edinburgh 5 Bargain Hunt

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who are the best shoppers of them all?

Will it be the Reds, will it be the Blues?

We'll find out in this 60 minute action packed special.

Let's go bargain hunting, yeah!

Today we're in Edinburgh and our teams have a mountain to climb.

They have £300 and an hour to find three items to sell at auction.

And the winners will be the team that make the fattest profit

or the slimmest loss.

But today we've changed the rules slightly.

Because we're not asking the experts

to buy one bonus buy but two to take to auction.

And then I'll discuss with them

which one I think will bring the biggest profit.

But which one will the teams choose, and will I get it right?

Here's a quick glimpse as to what's coming up.

Find out who wears the trousers in the old Red team.

-Get it now.

-The lady's spoken.

-But if it loses...

-Get it now.

He'll take it now, shake the lady's hand.

And comedy sound effects for the Blues.

SWOOPING SOUND

Oh!

But will they have the last laugh?

This is more fun than I think I've had in years!

And stay tuned for the auction,

as the Bargain Hunt lots go under the hammer.

120. 130.

-Yes!

-Oh!

Thank you!

Time to meet the teams.

Well, we have two teams today who have interests in common,

and that interest is... Farming.

Stuart and Nicola are a married couple who have an

interest in breeding rare breeds.

-And Margaret and Ina are farmers' wives.

-Yes.

-Hello, everyone.

-Hello.

-Hello.

Stuart, tell us about these rare breeds.

They're Scottish rare breeds.

I keep Eriskay ponies and Shetland cattle.

An Eriskay pony is a wonderful, beautiful, normally grey pony

that comes from the furthest island in the Hebrides,

the island of Eriskay, and there's only 15 stallions in the world.

Gosh, that's a shortage, isn't it?

To compare, there's 1,400 giant pandas,

and they are supposed to be rare.

-You were a club musician, a pianist, were you?

-I was a pianist.

I became a Butlins Redcoat, to get a good grounding in entertainment.

Then I went on to become Lonnie Donegan's keyboard player

and singing harmonies, so I had to sing down my nose.

-SINGS NASALLY:

-Have a drink, have a drink, have a drink on me.

-Oh, yes.

One forgets, doesn't one? The singing down the nose technique.

In the old days I used to work at a major nightclub.

People like The Drifters, Gene Pitney, I used to back those.

I still keep my hand in and I'm doing a Sound Production HNC

at the grand old age of 64.

Brilliant.

Now, Nicola, you're keen on the rare breeds

-but you like to write, don't you?

-Yes.

I'm an aspiring author and I'm just waiting to be discovered.

-And what's your current production?

-It's Hippity Hop.

-Is it?

-Yes.

-It's a story about a little frog.

-Would this be for children?

-Yes.

And I've got a wonderful guy who I work with who's done some

illustrations for me. So I'm going to be the next JK Rowling.

-Are you?

-I am indeed.

Modest ambition!

Now, what floats your boat when it comes to the antiques between you?

I want to buy something that's little,

intricate and a little bit quirky.

Just a little bit different.

OK, so are you going to spend all your cash?

I was brought up in my early life in a village called Kirkconnel,

a mining village.

We learned to be very, very, very careful with money indeed.

-I'm going to spend it for him, don't worry.

-Oh, all right, fine.

-We've got the usual happily married split.

-It's democracy.

Margaret, tell me, how did you and Ina first meet?

We actually met through the young farmers clubs.

Our husbands were farmers and we entered all the competitions

-and had great fun.

-How many years have you been friends for?

A long time. 40 or 50 years now.

We've been on holidays together with the families,

they've grown up together.

-Isn't that lovely?

-It is, very nice.

What sort of farming were you both involved in then?

Well, I was mainly arable and did some beef cattle.

I did a lot of the book work, I left all the physical work to my husband.

What about you, Ina, what sort of farming were you involved in?

Our farm is still involved with sheep and cattle.

Also pigs, but the pigs were basically for my pleasure.

Because I love pigs.

And my husband allowed me to have a couple of sows.

-Apart from the farming lark, you're also keen on curling.

-Yes.

You've been champions, you two, haven't you, quietly?

Yes, we've done very well, we formed our own team and were invited

to all these competitions all over Scotland to all the ice rinks.

This was in the '80s. We won quite a few competitions.

-We actually reached the Scottish finals a few times.

-What fun anyway.

Do you collect things connected with curling?

-Er... Yes.

-With curling.

We've got quite a few curling stones, trophies and various other things.

So what sort of things are you going to collect today

-in the way of antiques?

-We like old farming antiques.

Or gardening, I quite like gardening antiques.

What about you, Ina, what are you going to go for?

If I saw anything to do with pigs, I just love a pig collection.

-Here we go, £300 apiece.

-Thank you.

You know the rules, your experts await and off you go.

Very, very good luck. I'm keen on pigs, too!

And now time to meet the experts.

Keeping the Reds in line, it's Catherine Southon.

And who's in charge of the Blues?

Aye, aye, it's Paul Laidlaw.

-You are sportswomen, are you not, curlers?

-Yes. That's correct.

-A bit of this.

-That's right.

-Are you competitive on the back of that?

-Very much so.

-Are we going to spend lots today?

-We going to spend £225.50.

-She's very exact, isn't she?

-We're going to spend £50.

-It's a democracy.

-Right, we're off!

-We're off!

We'd better start.

And as the teams are let loose on the Highland Centre, they'll need to

listen to the advice of experts as this antiques fair is huge.

-Plenty here.

-Yes.

But before we've even got started,

Stuart thinks he's back is holiday camp.

Gottle of geer. Keeker, kiker, kicked a keck of kickled kekker.

OK, enough fun for now. Time to concentrate. Time to pipe down.

-Stuart.

-Yes?

-I've found my first buy.

-Go one, let me see.

-What have you found?

-Oh.

-What is that, a clay pipe?

-It's a clay pipe.

Half a clay pipe. Without the rest of the stem.

So we've got a 19th century clay pipe.

It's been chopped off at some point

but we have still got a name on that which is quite nice.

It looks like it says L. Fiolet.

It doesn't mean anything to me, I'm afraid.

But he has got a nice little doggy face, hasn't he?

Although his eyes do look a bit wonky to me.

Yes, his eyes are wonky but he's just such a character.

How can you look at that face and not love it?

-And not want it.

-Do we know the price?

-No, no.

But we're having it.

I don't know. No, because I was told it was a democracy.

-Can I ask how much it is?

-To a good home, £5, please.

£5. I'd like him, please.

-You may have him.

-Thank you!

-I do think she's not one to be argued with, is she?

-No, definitely not.

-I did get that impression.

-Can you see me shaking?

-I'm shaking!

-It's just so beautiful. That's what I wanted.

-He's lovely.

-I'm glad he's going to a good home.

-He certainly is.

And we'll find out which home the boxer dog pipe is going to

later at auction.

Now, what have our curling farmers' wives got their eyes on?

-It's a cutlery drawer.

-That's correct.

-Or tray.

I think that's walnut or mahogany.

The base I can tell is actually softwood, it's pine or deal.

But for me,

it's all this decorative fretwork here that elevates it to Georgian.

That's going to be about 200 years old.

It doesn't look as if there's many things wrong with it.

You're going about it the right way, it's all about defects.

-What's the Achilles heel if it's there?

-Yes.

Could you live with that? Would it go in a farmhouse?

It certainly would.

It's very much like what you would use in your cutlery drawers.

-I do like it as well.

-The price on that is £75.

-It's probably worth at auction as little as £40.

-Yes.

So if we wanted it there'd be a job of work to be done.

And while the Blues decide how much to offer for the cutlery tray,

Stuart has found something that reminds him of home.

-This is like Morecambe in a way.

-It is.

-I'm from close to there.

-This is quite nice.

We've got the Albert Memorial in Edinburgh on the back.

And this is like a little photo album.

-Unfortunately it's...

-We've got this one though.

Which actually has photographs in it. But it hasn't got a clasp.

-But to resell it's personal to...

-Yes.

-If it had dogs in it then...

She'd be well away.

Back to the Blues. Has Paul managed to cut a deal on the cutlery tray?

-She's been really generous. She said 45.

-45.

-I think it's close.

-That is farmhouse material. That's great.

-I'm sensing we might have done something.

-I agree.

So, deal done. £45 paid. And one buy apiece.

Now, Nicola has got her teeth into something which is not what

it seems.

-That is a piece of scrimshaw and that is a fake.

-I was going to say.

The reason you know it, one of the reasons is it's incredibly heavy.

This is supposed to be a piece of whale's tooth. It's been engraved.

But if it was a proper tooth it would have a really deep gorge

inside. One of the telltale signs, as well is the scene on it.

Here we've got cowboys.

Traditionally we'd have a whaling scene.

This is totally the wrong scene.

-Put it back.

-You're wrong.

As the Reds dump the dud, the Blues are looking for a brew.

-The kettle.

-I think that's a sweet little kettle. It really is.

Sitting in a basket rather than on a stand.

The quality of the rattan, see the split cane binding to the handle?

I reckon that's a late Victorian one.

-I think you're looking at 1890 there.

-Yes.

-It's actually rather sweet.

-Do you think it's silver?

I'm confident that's going to be plate. At auction, 30-50, 40-60.

-Yes.

-It's no money. It's crazy money.

£70. It's crazy money for what you get.

55.

-Well...

-We could come back.

-I think it's a policy.

So as the Blues go cool on the kettle,

the Reds' resident musician has found something of note.

-They are very collectable, older harmonicas.

-That's the Highlander.

-That's too much, isn't it?

-But they are tremendously collectable.

It's nice that it's in its original case.

And it's got its instructions with it still.

In German.

If it was about £20 I think there would be a slight profit in it.

That's the ticket price. We might be able to negotiate.

It's in lovely condition. I don't think that's ever been played with.

-Am I allowed to blow it?

-Yes.

Just made it. It was just to see all the reeds with it.

Can I ask a very rude question?

Would you be prepared to drop a lot on this?

I'd go to 30 and that would be it.

Can't do it but it's a lovely thing.

Would you do 22?

I could do 25.

If you do it 24, if it fetches 25 I've made a pound.

-OK, 24.

-What do you think? Do you like it?

-It's not something I would pick up and go, "Wow!"

-Because I'm

fighting an opposition would you mind holding it for 30 minutes?

-The lady's spoken.

-Get it now.

-But if it loses...

-Get it now.

He'll take it now. Shake the lady's hand.

-She's so feisty.

-You're telling me.

-There we go.

-Happy?

-Yeah.

-Halleluiah.

-Halleluiah.

Now we're heading for the halfway mark

and it's my turn to find something at the fair.

This frame makes this picture look as if it was painted in 1965.

Which is when the frame was prepared.

Also, it's filthy dirty.

So the best thing you can do if you come across a period

picture like this is to take it out of the frame.

There we go. Look.

That is the frame dispensed with and it immediately looks a lot better.

What you have to admire about this picture is

the freshness of its condition.

It is as highly coloured as it was the day it was painted.

I reckon, around 1820.

And this is the typical picture you'd expect to find

hanging in a Scottish hunting lodge.

And the way the birds themselves have been painted is quite

extraordinarily good.

The feathers on this woodpigeon are practically imperceptible.

It is as if you could sense the softness of that bird.

We have to admire the artist's skills.

And very modestly he signed this watercolour tucked

away in the corner look, P Syme.

That is Patrick Syme who was around from the 1770s

until his death in 1845.

As to how commercial it is even though it's beautifully

painted the subject lets it down.

Collections of dead birds are not exactly incredibly fashionable.

But there is a market for this artist.

In fact, quite recently, a similar watercolour sold for over £1,000.

And therefore I got quite excited

when I found it down the other end of this hall for sale for £160.

It's what I call a dead cert.

Ha! Time to catch up with the teams to see how they're making out.

They're my two new favourite people in the world. They're just a joy.

Bouncing off one another. Relaxed but assertive.

They each know what they like and are prepared to say, "I'm no sure."

So, while confidence is running high in the Blue camp,

over with the Reds tension is creeping in.

I'm having terrible trouble getting Catherine moving.

She keeps standing. We've only seen half the fair.

There's a whole two rows to go down. Catherine!

Come in.

She's trying to find a special thing for us.

-Is he like this at home?

-I do apologise for him.

-We keep losing you.

-I'm not a doggy.

Quite right. So, back to the shop, and our Red Team of rare cattle breeders

seem to have more time for dogs.

It's a 1940s pyjama case.

Pyjama case, no time for snoozing.

I don't think nightdress holders are all the rage at the minute.

-I may be wrong.

-As the cattle breeders look at doggy stuff,

our curlers are gearing up for golf.

-Are you a golfer? Married to a golfer?

-Yes, we are.

-I golf a little and my husband's a golfer.

-What's not to like?

Early 20th century silver. I suspect George VI.

Even with the naked eye I can see the marks.

These lovely little golf club shafts and terminals. What are they worth?

-£50.

-Do you think spoons sell well?

I think if they were common or garden silver coffee

spoons at the moment £30. But with the golf, double that.

-What's he said?

-65.

-It looks as though it's the original box.

I think you're right.

You could get another £10 off, you're not going to go far wrong.

-Hi.

-Hello.

-We like the spoons.

-We like your spoons.

But we're wondering

if you could come down a wee bit more than what you were saying?

We had 95, leaving you at 65.

-Could you come down another 10?

-I'll come down to 60.

They're on the floor at that.

We'll leave it just now and come back.

-Delighted to see you again.

-It can't be 55 now and seal it?

-Go on.

-Would you do that? That would be excellent.

-For a lovely smile.

Yes.

Good work from Paul there.

Closing the deal just as they were about to walk away.

So, two buys apiece and we have 15 minutes left

and as sometimes happens at the fair the teams are finding it hard

to close in on the third and final buy.

To be honest, what I don't like is that top silver doesn't match

that silver, doesn't match that silver.

It looks like three different shades of silvering.

That will be a no then.

-It's easy to blow money on jewellery.

-I know.

I said blow money but that terminology's all wrong, isn't it?

-Invest shrewdly.

-Invest shrewdly.

It's gorgeous. I have a feeling that's going to be really expensive.

-230.

-Absolutely superb.

-I've got nice taste.

I'm taking this myself. This is more fun than I think I've had in years.

-Catherine!

-Come on, teams. We need to buy, not browse. Tick-tock.

-Is that a salmon?

-In bronze, do we think?

-Just a bit different.

-I think it's really elegant. I'm not sure it's ancient.

-No.

For a bronze sculpture it's not a lot of money.

If you don't have a sculptor or antiquity what do we have to

hang our hopes on at auction?

-That's my concern. Is there a lifeline to throw us?

-65.

-What do you think?

-Not for me.

-I would like to buy it.

-You've done very well at 65.

-I think we should move on.

-We should move on.

-And let's have a look.

-OK.

While the Blues move on the Reds have gone to the dogs, again.

-He's having a scratch.

-He is, isn't he?

-Yes.

-Nice bit of detail there.

-Nicely modelled, isn't it?

-It is.

It's brass, not bronze.

If you saw that at auction, would you buy it?

No, because this detracts from it. It's too heavy for the greyhound.

All this larking around with dogs means the Reds are starting to run

-out of time.

-We've got five minutes.

-I know.

I think what we should do is find a stall and blitz it.

And the Blues need to make a decision.

-The kettle.

-The electric plate spirit kettle which Ina is a fan of?

-I'm a fan of. And the fish.

-And the bronze fish which is Margaret's.

What do you want to do?

I would rather go for the kettle than the fish.

Will it make money, do you think?

-I think it might.

-Go for the kettle. We want the kettle.

-You sure?

-Yes.

The fish is going to haunt you in your dreams.

My husband might come back and buy it.

We'd better run and see if it's there. Come on.

As the Blues jog off in search of the kettle,

the Reds are starting to panic.

You look there, we'll look here and we'll decide.

-I think we should leave him to his own devices.

-I think so.

Poor old Stuart being left on his own.

Now, Blues, where's that kettle?

-I think I can see it.

-I see it as well.

-Hello, sir. We're back.

-We're back.

Remind us, how far south did we get on the spirit kettle?

-Was it 40?

-Yes, I can do it for 40.

-I'm delighted.

-Is that mutual sighs of relief?

-I'm delighted.

-It's a nice item.

Isn't it?

-You've a deal. Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Wonderful.

-Thank you, Paul.

-That was a journey and I loved it.

With the kettle bought, that's it for the Blues.

The fish is history. We're never going to mention fish again.

And with time almost up Stuart has spotted something sparkly

but can he convince the girls?

We've got citrine. Victorian brooch here. Is it silver?

-He said 1850 he reckoned.

-Is it marked?

-Looks like there's a few repairs to this.

-Is there?

-How much is on it?

-£45.

-We've got to buy it. We have one minute.

-What do you think?

-It's not what you think. We've got no time.

We'll buy it because of the time. Go and shake his hand.

Run and shake his hand.

And as we move into the final seconds Stuart needs to

-sprint to close the deal in time.

-You said 45.

Just so if there's a pound profit will you do it at 44 for me?

That's pushing it but I'll do it.

Just in case somebody goes to 45 then there's a pound.

-Thank you very much.

-And that's the full hour, folks.

Drives you mad after a while, this bargain hunting.

Time's up! Let's check out what the Red team bought, eh?

For the clay pipe with the bowl in the shape of a boxer dog,

they boxed clever and paid just £5.

For the Highlander harmonica, they had to fork out a few notes.

£24 paid.

And for the silver and citrine brooch,

they spent a sparkling £44,

leaving Catherine a stonking £227 of left over lolly.

OK, you lovebirds, how did you get on?

-We had a fantastic time, thank you very much, Tim.

-Which is your favourite piece?

My favourite piece is the one I bought first of all,

which is the little broken clay pipe with the dog face.

-OK, that's your favourite.

-I would agree with Nicola.

And which piece is going to bring the biggest profit?

-The little dog pipe.

-The little dog pipe.

-Yes.

-I think the little dog pipe.

-Good.

Now, Catherine, here is a pile of money there,

which is absolutely fab.

-Super. Thank you.

-And on this special occasion,

I'm going to give you the additional £100 bonus buy money.

Lovely.

-So you have got a huge amount of cash.

-I have.

And what I'd love, darling, when you've shopped,

is to bring the items back, and let's have a chat about them.

-Pleasure.

-OK?

-Wonderful.

-Now, go and relax up.

-OK.

And we're going to go and check out

what the Blue team bought, aren't we?

For the mahogany cutlery tray, they forked out £45.

For the George V novelty golfing spoons,

they dished out £55.

And finally, for the Edwardian silver-plated kettle,

they poured out £40.

Well, everybody's looking very smiley here, Paul.

So, Mags, tell me, darling, which is your favourite piece?

Um, I think the spoons, the silver teaspoons.

-And which is your favourite piece?

-I like the wooden cutlery.

-I adore it.

-That's your favourite.

-Is that going to bring the biggest profit?

-Well, I think so.

-Do you?

-Yeah.

-I think the silver spoons might.

-OK.

-You're going to dig in there, aren't you?

-Yes, aye.

-Anyway, you had a good time, which is the main thing.

-Yes.

-Thoroughly enjoyed it.

-And how much did you spend?

-£140.

-Please, can I have the £160 leftover lolly?

-Yes.

Well, that's really super, isn't it?

And the big thrill is now, of course,

-what will Paul Laidlaw find to spend your £160 on?

-Oh, yes.

And we have a second wonderful moment,

because I'm going to give Paul

-an additional £100 of leftover lolly...

-Oh, nice!

..especially for him to find a second bonus buy.

Just one thing I ask you, Paul, is when you've found your items,

if you bring them back to me and we'll have a little look, OK?

Anyway, relax up, girls. Good luck, Paul.

Right, bonus buy time for Catherine, and remember,

she needs to buy not one but two items.

And her team will decide which one they want,

if they decide to go with the bonus buy at auction.

I can just hear Stuart saying no to everything that I pick up.

Well, let's hope not.

Now, first up, it's the regular team bonus buy,

and she's got a big fat wad of leftover lolly - £227.

Hi. You had a letter opener earlier, Mary Queen of Scots.

-It was, yes.

-Have you still got it?

-I do, here.

-Fabulous.

-With its little thistle.

-I like this.

-I like the wood.

-Is it a pear wood?

Well, Mary Queen of Scots stayed in this house in Jedburgh

in 1566 for four weeks,

and the house is surrounded by pear trees.

Right. It is engraved.

That looks like it's all in Latin.

Then the other side, it says, "From her Jedburgh garden".

It's obviously a tree that was around when she was there

-that's been taken down, probably 100 years ago.

-Right.

Somebody's carved this letter opener.

So we're thinking this was made turn-of-the-century,

I would have thought?

Turn-of-the-century, possibly even back as far as 1860.

I like the feel of it.

I think it feels wonderful. How much?

It's £95 on the ticket, but I know you're not going to give me that.

Can I give you £50 for it?

-It's the end of the day, yes.

-Yeah?

-Are you happy with that?

-Yes, I am.

That's wonderful. Thank you very much. Thank you.

Because I think my team will be absolutely delighted with this.

-They should be. I love it.

-I hope so.

Now Catherine's on the hunt for her special £100 bonus buy,

and I've just found something that's pretty as a picture,

and it might just help out.

Now, Catherine, darling, tell me,

how are you getting on with all these bonus buys?

I don't mind telling you, Tim, this is no easy task.

-This extra one is pretty hard.

-You've got one already?

I've got one already, it's just this extra one.

Well, listen, I just want to slip this by you,

because...I shouldn't really do this,

and don't tell Paul, all right,

but I've found this little watercolour.

What do you think about it?

My first thing is, I think it's very sweet. Who is this down there?

"Craiglockhart".

That's a little place five miles from here

on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

What I can't do is to make out the name of the artist. Can you?

Arthur Black... Somebody.

But it's painted in "80", so I'm guessing 1880.

-1880.

-1880.

-Exactly right.

It's lovely, isn't it?

I think it's quite rustic,

and I just think the little red roofs are quite sweet.

I know, and a few Scottish hills.

Anyway, I found it, I've paid for it.

If you want it, you could have it

-maybe as an additional bonus buy if you're a bit stuck.

-How much?

-£20.

-No!

-Yes!

-Where did you find it?

-Just down there.

SHE LAUGHS

I will have this. No question there, Tim.

Always nice to do a good turn for an old mate.

And now let's have a proper look at both buys.

Well, isn't that lovely?

What do you think of that? What do you make of that?

It's a queer old thing, isn't it?

Fruit wood. Nice colour.

-Very Scottish with a wee heart in it.

-I know.

I think that's charming, actually.

I love the fact that we've got the iris on one side,

we've got the heart, and then the other side

-is decorated with the thistle.

-Yeah.

-It's quite charming, isn't it?

-Yes, I've fallen in love with it. How much did you pay?

-£50.

-That's a speculative job, isn't it?

-I know.

-It's a nifty 50.

-It could go either way.

-Yes.

-I'm hoping it doubles.

-Yes.

My hope is that it doubles too.

-I mean, find another one, quite frankly.

-Absolutely.

I've never seen the like, and I think it's charming. £50 paid.

-Now, this is our friend, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Do you like it?

-I mean, you're not being nice to me, are you?

-I'm not being nice to you.

I have really warmed to this. I think it's tremendous.

I think it's a great thing.

We know it cost £20,

and we know that it needs the research done by Anita's lot

to try and find the artist's name,

and that is what the value will hinge on.

It's a Scottish painting in Scotland,

-so it should do pretty well.

-I cannot believe you paid £20 for it.

It's an absolute steal. You've got to put £60-£80 on that, haven't you?

Well, £50-£70, anyway. Something like that.

-I'm in there at £40-£60, or £50-£70.

-It's a delight.

If you then said to me, "Which one is going to bring the biggest profit?"

I have a funny feeling that the painting

might bring the biggest profit,

because it's such a cheap base price.

-Absolutely.

-Not that you might not get £30 profit out of this

and make £80 with the paper knife - that is a perfect possibility -

but you might just as well make £80 on that, and that only cost £20,

in which case you're going to make £60 worth of profit.

That is a charming thing. I think we'll do very well with that.

Well, let us hope so.

Anyway, I wonder how that poor man, Paul Laidlaw,

is getting on out there.

Poor Paul has actually got £160 of leftover lolly

for his regular team bonus buy, and he's got an arty crafty plan.

I would love to buy the ladies some jewellery.

And I think I've maybe found something that...

I don't know what their taste is, but I'm hoping they'll like it.

Well, let me tell you why I like this.

Ruskin Pottery set up in 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, something like that.

Named after Ruskin the art critic, art historian, social thinker.

A really important man.

And of course he's key in the evolution

of the concept of the Arts and Crafts movement.

Ruskin Pottery are famed for production of novel glazes,

and this is a great example.

It's a fabulous ceramic bobble

set in an Arts and Crafts-inspired pewter body as a brooch.

And a splendid big example it is, too.

I hope the ladies like it.

The ticket price is £65, but I've been told

it can be bought for £35,

and I like the sound of that very much.

HE LAUGHS

He's sounding cocky, isn't he?

Now Paul is after his special £100 bonus buy,

and he's spotted something sporty and a tad controversial.

This is a mid-19th-century goblet.

Faceted stem, round funnel bowl, plain foot.

That's the technicalities over.

But rather gruesomely, it depicts cockfighting,

and here we have two birds attacking one another,

and the end result was one proud cockerel

astride the dead body of its opponent.

That is a window into this -

thankfully bygone -

offensive sport.

And as such, an arguably rather interesting

piece of social history.

The price today is £45.

If you're not offended by it,

and you see it as rather a scarce Victorian

commemorative goblet,

I think it could be worth double that or more.

That is a deal.

And now time to have a quick squiz at Paul's two bonus buys.

-This is the team's bonus buy?

-Yes, it is.

-Looks like Ruskin.

-It is indeed.

-Rrrrruskin.

-THEY BOTH LAUGH

Potty little Wolverhampton firm.

-Not in business for long, were they?

-Yeah.

Late 1890s to about '35 - the mid 30s.

My favourite story about Ruskin pottery -

it might be a myth - is that when the firm was wound up in '35,

they burnt the formulae for all the glazes

-deliberately, so they couldn't be reproduced.

-Really?

-It could be a myth, but I like it nonetheless.

-Yeah, good story.

I didn't realise that.

So this Ruskin brooch, it's sort of stamped out of white metal,

isn't it?

Yeah, pewter, I would guess.

And then they've taken these discs, which are high-fired,

and attractive because of the colour.

That's what it is.

And really pretty. You've seen one, you've seen them all.

You'll spot them at 100 yards, these distinctive cabochon.

Rather large specimen.

-So how much did you pay for that?

-£35.

-Is that all?

-It should be easy, shouldn't it?

-I don't know.

-What do you rate them at, £60?

-Yeah, I'd be happy with that.

Yeah, but I would be happy with that. Will it make £60?

-Yeah, I think it might.

-OK, fine.

That's that, then, for the team's bonus buy.

-And this would be the special £100 bonus buy.

-Yeah.

This is special as well.

-So we have a faceted stem...

-Yes.

..which is usually a bit of a Georgian-y sign, isn't it?

Not in this instance.

-It's a 19th-century glass, isn't it?

-It is, yeah.

-A 19th-century glass that's copying a Georgian faceted stem.

-Absolutely.

Lovely, big, broad foot.

This is not a glass that's going to tip over in a hurry, is it?

-So, you know, the design is nice. But then we've got this stuff.

-Yes.

Yes. So did you pay for that...£50?

-Got it for £45.

-£45.

Well, it's in good nick.

Find another acid-etched

and wheel-engraved wee glass like that, good.

Right, I'm going to plump that the cockfighting glass

is the thing that is going to bring you the whack of profit.

And maybe the teams, if they decide to go with them.

Thanks very much, Paul.

Meanwhile, we're heading off to the smoke.

We're going to London,

where we're going to go to the military museum at Woolwich.

Boom, boom.

Do you know why the Arsenal Football Club are called the Gunners?

Well, apparently,

the club started just up the road here in a park in Woolwich.

And you don't need to look very far around here

to make the connection with guns,

because this is the Woolwich Arsenal,

where they produced thousands of barrels for cannon

and millions of rounds of ammunition

until they packed up shop in 1994.

The Royal Artillery dates to 1716,

when the Duke of Marlborough persuaded King George I

to establish two permanent companies of field artillery.

They were stationed here at Woolwich, enlisting 100 men each.

In the 20th century, as World War I spread throughout Europe,

the Royal Arsenal expanded steadily,

and at its peak, it employed 80,000 people,

more than the capacity of Arsenal's football stadium today.

Part of this site has been redeveloped

as Firepower: The Museum of the Royal Artillery.

As you can imagine, the collection of guns

and rockets on display here is vast.

Actually, over 80 field pieces,

some of which date back to as early as 1340.

And in the 14th century,

as guns first appeared on the battlefield,

they immediately changed the way warfare was conducted forever.

Firepower's collection charts the progress of artillery

through the centuries.

And we're going to start off with this gun,

which dates from the Civil War period,

so mid-17th century.

It's called a Falconet,

because it fires a shot

which is roughly the weight of a falcon.

That is about a pound.

Trotting along, we come through to the 1750s

with this gun, which is called a Galloper.

Called a Galloper because it's now mounted

on an extremely mobile carriage,

enabling the artillery to trot or gallop this gun

wherever support is needed for the troops.

Next, we have a relic from the Indian Empire.

This is called a Mysorean cannon

because it comes from the state of Mysore,

and is effectively loot.

Having defeated Tipu Sultan,

this cannon was seized

and then remounted on a British carriage.

And it's a very beautiful example, I think.

And lastly in this little run, something else from Tipu Sultan -

a mortar cast in solid bronze.

Tipu Sultan was known as "the Tiger of Mysore",

and therefore not surprisingly,

this thing is cast in the form of a tiger.

I love his toe-toes.

The fact that this enormous mouth

is cast with teeth as if his jaws are open.

Not apparently incredibly effective as a piece of artillery,

but it made the most incredible bang

when it was set off to scare everybody.

It's a question of shock and awe.

Early guns were beset with problems

like recoil, loading speed and accuracy.

Through the 18th and 19th centuries,

technology steadily improved,

and by the First World War, the problems were mainly ironed out.

I'm meeting curator Mark Smith

to learn more about the biggest artillery battle of all time.

This is the British 18-pounder quick-firing field gun.

This is the standard British field gun from the First World War.

-They made over 10,000 of these here at the Royal Arsenal.

-You jest!

No, not at all. Absolutely the iconic gun from the First World War.

And by the end of the First World War,

11th of November 1918,

had fired just about 100 million rounds of 18lb ammunition

towards the enemy.

-So this is the major tool in the First World War, then?

-Absolutely.

And did it go on much after the First World War?

Yes, as a gun itself,

slightly different carriage, it was still being used at Dunkirk in 1940.

So a real mainstay of the British Army's artillery

throughout the First World War, the '20s and the '30s.

It's been a real treat, thank you.

And I think the big question now is,

over at the auction,

just how explosive are things about to become?

So, we're back off to Scotland, to Glasgow,

to meet Anita Manning at Great Western Auctions.

-Anita, how are you?

-I'm great. And welcome to Scotland.

Now, the Reds, they've gone for a curious mixture.

First of all this clay pipe bowl. That's odd, isn't it?

The thing that makes this one interesting

is the fact that the dog's face

-has been moulded on the bowl of the pipe, and I like that.

-Yeah.

-You do. What's it worth?

-I put it around about £10-£15.

You are such a generous girl, I tell you! They paid £5.

-Ah, that's OK.

-Will they get a profit on that?

-Oh, they should.

-Good.

Next up is the Highlander harmonica.

Not very old that thing, is it?

No, it's not, but it's an interesting thing.

This harmonica has been specially tuned

so that it can accompany,

or it can play with bagpipes.

-Oh, really?!

-Yes.

-Gosh!

-What's it worth?

-I've estimated this 30-40.

£24 paid.

So that's pretty good, isn't it?

And, lastly, is the citrine and silver brooch.

That, I guess, is Scottish.

Yes, it is, and it's a nice Victorian example.

I particularly like that very pale citrine.

It gives it a subtlety.

-What's it worth?

-40-60.

-£44 paid.

So, I think it's an interesting trio.

Cost them only £73 for their three items,

but I think there's potential for profit there.

Whether they'll need the bonus buys or not is debatable,

but let's go and have a look at 'em!

-Hi, team, this is exciting, isn't it?

-Yes, it is.

You spent a miserable £73, you gave Catherine Southon £227 -

Catherine, what did you spend it on?

I bought something a little bit...unusual.

-Yes.

-I bought you...

-a paper knife.

-All right.

But I don't think it's an ordinary paper knife,

because if you look very closely...

-Jedburgh. Mary Queen of Scots.

-Uh-huh.

Now, this could've been made from a pear tree, perhaps,

in Jedburgh Gardens,

so maybe like a souvenir.

It's not as old... It doesn't date back to Mary Queen of Scots.

It doesn't date back to the 16th century!

-It wasn't her personal one.

-But it's an Arts and Crafts piece.

-It cost £50.

-So how much do you reckon it's going to make?

I can see a lot of people getting interested in this,

because of the Jedburgh connection.

So, that's the team's bonus buy.

The special bonus buy is...

watercolour.

-Oh, wow.

-Look at that.

That is lovely.

Craiglockhart is the scene,

done by a water colourist,

an amateur hand.

Catherine decided to go with this for £20.

-£20.

-I just think the colours on that are really beautiful.

-Yeah.

It's got to be worth £50, isn't it?

-Not to me!

-Not to you!

-SHE LAUGHS

-We're not selling this very well, are we?

-See, to me, it is.

Do you not think that that's worth £50? I do.

Can we have an argument... I mean a discussion about it now, please?

Happy days, then.

But right now the auctioneer, Anita Manning,

is going to tell us what she thinks about Catherine's bonus buys.

We've got the letter knife for the team's bonus buy

and that's the special bonus buy, the wee watercolour.

Now, what do you make of that, darling?

I think that this is a lovely little item.

Now, we know that Mary Queen of Scots

visited Jedburgh in the 1500s

and we know that the house that she stayed in

had a pear-wood garden.

So I think that we have a lovely association there.

-I mean, this isn't 500 years old.

-No, no.

I mean, they chopped the tree down, and in the 19th century

made it into a wee letter knife and inscribed it, which is charming.

-What's your estimate?

-£50-£80.

OK, well, Catherine paid £50 for it, so that's pretty good.

And this is the special bonus buy

which, I have to say, I found for her.

Have we discovered anything about the artist? Who is the artist?

The artist is Arthur Blackwood.

Unfortunately not a listed artist,

but what I would call a good Sunday painter,

a good amateur painter in 1889.

I guess because it's by an unknown hand

it probably doesn't have a great value, then?

25-40.

OK, well, I found it for £20.

We rated it, but actually it looks as if the paper knife

is likely to be the favourite in the auction.

Anyway, that's it for the Reds, now for the Blues.

First up is their cutlery tray.

Which is handy, isn't it?

You put napkins in it, cutlery in it, whatever you like, really?

Good, functional item, it's quite a nice item as well,

with this fretwork here,

and in the centre with the carrying handle.

-OK, so how much?

-40-60.

OK, £45 paid. So that's good.

Then we've got the golfing novelty teaspoons.

How popular are they today,

these things, that relate to golf?

Scotland loves all things associated with golf,

because, really, Scotland was the birthplace of golf.

I like these ones in particular,

because they have... The finials are these little lofting irons.

-Right.

-And I think that's rather nice.

-How much?

-50-80.

-OK, £55 paid, so that's on the right side too.

And what about the spirit kettle?

Not something anybody these days would ever use,

you'd have it on the sideboard, bit of a bore to clean.

-But it's got some nice features, hasn't it?

-That's right.

I mean, you've got this lovely cane handle, I like that.

And it sits in this smart basket

with lovely little feet.

It's a bit of a mixture of different styles.

You want it to be in the sale already, don't you?

-How much?

-20-40.

-They paid £40.

So if there's going to be a dark hole into which they plunge

the kettle will be the point of entry.

If they don't do well

they'll need one or other of their bonus buys,

so let's go and have a look at them.

OK, girls, this is fun. The reveals, look.

You gave Paul Laidlaw £160 of leftover lolly.

Paul, what did you spend it on?

The team's bonus buy.

This is it. I think this is made for you, but I could be wrong!

-Oh, yes!

-Oh, yes. Yes.

-Oh, gorgeous.

-I was right!

There's a name that we associate with these, and it's Ruskin.

Ruskin Pottery.

-Oh, yes, yes.

-Named after the great art critic, of course,

dates to 1920s, 1930s.

I love the colours. That's my colours.

-Blue, of course.

-Yes.

-The Blue team, blue.

-I love the colours.

I think it's lovely too. Nice to be worn as a brooch. Yes.

-I spent £35.

-Oh, my word.

-Oh, well, you see..

That's a surprise, yes.

Anywhere it's worth £30-£50.

Here, today, I think it's worth 40-60.

OK, well, there we got the lowdown on the team's bonus buy.

Now we have the special bonus buy, the extra £100

that Paul Laidlaw was given

to find something special for this programme.

The special bonus buy is....

-Ta-dum!

-Oh, very nice.

There you go, Paul, tell us about it.

Oh, I like that too.

It is a goblet, but it's the wheel cutting that makes it special.

Albeit it's tainted - cockfighting.

-Ah, right.

-Cockfighting!

It's a rare memento of those times and that sport.

I paid, and I think this was a gift,

-£45.

-That's a good...

-Think we'll make much profit on that?

That could do three figures.

You've got a big decision ahead of you, cos you like both of them.

But you won't get your opportunity to pick until after the sale

of the first three items and then you'll get your chance.

You'll have to stand by, cos right now,

let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Paul's bonus buys.

There's the team's bonus buy and the special bonus buy.

What do you make of the Ruskin brooch?

I think it's quite a nice thing.

It's the type of thing that the Glasgow punters like.

Very Arts and Crafts-y.

In fact, it may even have been something that was made

in evening classes in Glasgow School of Art.

-My estimate is 30-50.

-£35 was paid.

Now, the bonus buy that I backed

is the engraved glass in Georgian style.

-Do you like it? How do you rate it?

-I do.

You can't help liking the quality of the engraving

on this glass and I'm sure that will be appreciated.

OK, so £45 Paul paid for that.

-What sort of estimate can you put on it?

-40-60?

-OK.

Well, it's in the lap of the gods as to which one will do best.

It just depends on your skill on the rostrum, Anita.

-I will do my best for all of the items.

-That's undoubted.

60, 70, 80, 90.

100.

-You OK?

-I'm perfect.

-Fine, thank you.

So how's the wait for the auction served you?

Feeling a bit nervous, Stu?

Not really nervous, just worried.

-Which are you worried about?

-The brooch.

-Are you?

-Why are you worried about it?

-I just think it's a little bit dear.

-At £44?

-Yes.

-The auctioneer, she's put 40-60.

She really loves it.

-Good.

-You've got nothing to worry about.

-Fantastic.

-You can relax.

First up is the old clay pipe bowl

and here it comes.

The 19th-century clay pipe bowl

with the front modelled as a boxer dog

with a very strange expression on its face.

£30 for the novelty pipe. 30, 20.

£20?

-For all that fun? £10. 10 bid.

-We got 10!

With you, sir, at 10.

Any advance on £10?

Any advance on £10? All done at £10. £10?

-I think you're jolly jammy, you lot.

-Well done!

-Well done.

-That's £5.

This is quite an interesting item.

It's a Hohner Highlander double-sided harmonica,

tuned to accompany traditional Scottish and Celtic music

with the bagpipes,

and as you know, gentlemen,

every girl loves a guy who can play the harmonica.

Really?

£50? 50.

Start me at £20.

20 bid. Any advance on 20?

30.

-40.

-Well done.

50.

Well done at £50. Any advance on £50? £50?

Thank you!

I don't know you, but thank you!

Lovely little piece of Scottish Victoriana, ladies and gentlemen.

Little 19th-century silver and pale and subtle citrine brooch.

£80? 80.

60. Start me at £20.

20 bid. With you, madam, at 20.

-And advance on £20?

-Oh, bit sticky.

20, 30.

-40, 50.

-There you are.

Worry no more.

Any advance on £50?

£50.

-Yes!

-£50 is good enough.

-Way!

Plus 6 equals plus £37.

Your total is plus £37.

What do you want to do about the bonus buys?

-We don't know yet.

-Choose it.

-Choose it?

-You've got it worked out.

-Democracy.

-There you go.

-Undo it.

-Ooh!

Opener.

-The letter opener.

-That's it. Well, that really is a lottery, isn't it?

-It is.

-£50 paid.

-Uh-huh.

-Anita's estimate is £50-80.

-OK.

-So she's reckoning it'll make a profit.

-Backed your pick. The team's bonus buy is the chosen bonus buy.

-Mm-hm.

The other bonus buy, the lovely watercolour,

provided by moi of Craiglockhart Castle,

will be sold for charity.

If it makes a profit, that goes to charity,

but your pick is the letter opener and that's the first item up.

This Arts and Crafts pared wood letter opener

with inscriptions for Mary, Queen of Scots, there, ladies and gentlemen.

£100. £100.

£50, then?

-50. Start me at £30.

-Oh, dear.

-Start me at 30.

30 bid. Any advance on 30?

40.

50.

60.

-Oh, that gets me out of trouble.

-£70.

Any advance on £70? £70.

£70 is plus £20,

which means overall you are plus £57.

Will that be a winning score?

Anyway, you didn't select the other bonus buy,

the special bonus buy, which we're going to sell now

and if it makes a profit, it goes to charity.

This charming watercolour of Craiglockhart Castle and hill

as it was at that time and no longer is.

It's a wee thing of historical interest.

£80? 60.

Start me at £30.

30 bid.

Any advance on 30?

40.

No. It's with the gentleman at 40.

Any advance on £40? Any advance on £40? £40.

£40, then. It's plus £20.

I had to make a suggestion

as to which was going to bring the biggest profit.

I selected the watercolour which made exactly the same profit

as the letter opener, so we're quits on that.

Anyway, the £20 will go to charity, so well done for that, Catherine.

Two very nice bonus buy profits.

-You're plus £57. Don't say a word to the Blues.

-Lips are sealed.

And all will be revealed later. Thank you very much.

-Thank you very much.

-Well done.

-Thank you.

-OK, Margaret, Ina, have you found out how the Reds got on?

-No.

-Good.

-No.

-We don't want you to either.

Anyway, first up, then, will be the cutlery tray and here it comes.

This fine, 19th-century, Georgian, two-division, mahogany cutlery tray.

Nice antique item.

Bids on the books - I'll start the bidding at 40, 50, 60.

On the books at 60.

-Look at that!

-On the books on commission bids at £60.

Any advance on 60?

Any advance on £60? £60.

Oh, that's marvellous.

Plus £15 straight up.

A set of six George V golfing spoons.

Hallmark for Baker Brothers.

1913. Can we say £100? 100.

80.

Start me at £50, ladies and gentlemen.

50 bid.

60.

- 70, 80. - Oh, good.

90.

90 at the back.

- With the gentleman at £90. - Yes!

- 100 on the phone. - Thank you!

110.

120.

130.

-Margaret!

-Oh, that's...

Are you a golfer, sir?

130.

-£130!

-All done at 130? 130...

HAMMER FALLS

Oh, yes! Kiss for that!

That's 60. We've just made £75.

The Edwardian silver-plated tea kettle.

Can we say £80? 80.

Start me at £40.

£20, then.

20 bid.

30 on the other phone.

40.

- 50. - Yes, yes, yes!

-You're in profit.

-60.

- That's fantastic. - 70.

No. It's on the phone at £70.

All done at £70. £70.

-Yes!

-Well done!

-I'll gie you another kiss.

There you go, look - that's a profit of £30, which means overall,

you are plus 120.

-How good is that?

-Oh, my God.

-You made a profit of £120.

Now, chickens, what are you going to do about the bonus buys?

Are you going to go with the Ruskin brooch or are you going to go

with the goblet or are you going to go with nothing?

-We're going with the goblet.

-We're going to go with the goblet.

We really liked it.

I had to make a prediction as to which piece is going to do well

out of the two bonus buys and I selected the cockfighting goblet.

So I'm rooting with you,

but we are going to sell the Ruskin mounted brooch too,

and if that makes a profit on £35,

-it'll go to charity, OK?

-Oh, that's good.

And the Ruskin brooch is first up.

The little Arts and Crafts Ruskin ceramic brooch,

possibly made in Glasgow in the 1920s.

I have bids on the books and I'll start the bidding at £30.

30, 40, 50, 60. It's on the books at 60.

Any advance on...

It's going to charity, so that's good.

ANITA: The Ruskin brooch. 65.

Any advance on 65? All done at 65? 65?

-That is plus £30.

-Yes.

-£30 for the charity.

Thank you very much, Paul Laidlaw.

Lucky Laidlaw.

Now, the engraved goblet is your choice and here it comes.

..facet-stem glass drinking goblet.

It's engraved with fighting cocks.

Can we say £80? 80.

60.

Start me at £20.

20 bid.

30, 40, 50, 60,

-70...

-Hey, girls.

-80.

Hey...

-Any advance on 80? 90...

-£90!

- £90. - Oh, yes!

- Any advance on 90? - Well done.

Any advance on £90?

£90?

-£90, you've doubled your money.

-Well done, ladies.

-Plus £45.

-What a team!

-That is so good.

-So overall, girls, you are £165 up.

-Oh, my God!

£165.

-Isn't that amazing? You've done very, very well.

-Thank you.

Well, it's marvellous to be able to tell you that both teams

have got golden gavels.

THEY CHEER

Because both teams have managed to make a profit on every lot.

So there you go, you've got yours.

-Well done.

-Thank you very much.

-That's perfect.

That's good, well done.

There you go, Margaret. Pull it out, sweetie. There we go.

-Thank you.

-Well done, Ina.

Thank you very much.

So how about that?

So it's just a question of the scale of the overall end result

and the team that's marginally behind in the overall score

is the Reds.

THE BLUES WHOOP

-You nevertheless go home with £57.

-Thank you very much.

That's 55 and a couple more.

So a nice profit on everything.

You selected the letter opener, which made a £20 profit,

which is a top up.

-Thank you very much, Catherine, on the bonus buy front.

-Thank you.

Congratulations on all of that.

And you guys are going to go home with £165.

-Yeah!

-Woo!

-There we go.

-Thank you!

That's your £165, which is brilliant.

You had £120 in your own right,

and then you got the additional £45 from Paul, thanks to the glass.

-Well selected.

-Thank you, Paul.

It made the maximum bonus buy profit,

so you did the right thing in grabbing that.

And overall, the charity will get a benefit of £50,

thanks to the expertise of our experts

in coming up with profits on the other bonus buys,

so well done for that. That's pretty good, isn't it?

Overall, it's been a splendid result.

-Absolutely!

-And I congratulate you girls, cos that's really good.

In fact, join us soon for some more bargain hunting, yes?

ALL: Yes!