Grimsthorpe 30 Bargain Hunt

Welcome to Bargain Hunt Challenge.

Now, teams,

your starter question for ten.

Which is the arts movement that starts in 1925

and finishes in 1939?

'Nottingham, Todd-James.'

-Art Deco.

-Correct!

Now, your bonus question for ten.

Which is my famous catchphrase?

Come on!

I'm sorry, we don't know!

Hope you're better with antiques than you are at answering questions!

The famous catchphrase is, of course,

let's go bargain-hunting!

Hello! Welcome to Bargain Hunt.

Today it's a battle of the university graduates

who've joined us in the splendid grounds of Grimsthorpe Castle

in Lincolnshire. Oo-arr!

It's here where the real challenge will be for our two teams

to spend 300 smackers on three objects each

and to get it all done in just one hour.

Then they'll whisk their pieces over to the auction

and the team that makes the most profit

will not only graduate with a diploma in profit,

but they'll also win the programme.

Let's go and meet the teams.

Well, we have Phil and Matt for the reds

and Gerald and Gavin for the blues. Welcome to Bargain Hunt!

-ALL: Hi!

-How do you guys know each other?

We work at the University of Nottingham Students' Union.

I'm the Athletic Union officer.

I sit with Phil. I'm the Societies' Officer.

-I'm the Democracy and Communications Officer.

-I'm the president.

Matt, what have you got up your sleeve to win today?

I've got a pretty good eye for a bargain.

But also I do a bit of magic so maybe I could conjure up a bargain.

Got one up your sleeve?

I need a hand. Phil, stick out your hand.

It's a three-coin trick. You take the two coins. Very simply,

I tap it on there. You hear it clink but the whole thing vanishes.

This coin I don't normally vanish, cos then I'd be broke.

But watch as it comes through my top

and last of all, vanishes completely.

Well, look at that!

You sure you're not Finance Officer for the Union? That's what you want to be doing.

Gerald, you like an auction. Tell us about it.

Well, yes, this is my first time.

But I've been auctioned off myself at a student function, for charity.

-Mm-hmm.

-I didn't reach a very high price.

One of my friends had to step in and I had to slave away for her for a day.

Which was all fairly demeaning. Let's not touch on that much further.

It wasn't really worth the £18 which I fetched.

-£18?!

-Yeah, that was all. I was a bit of a steal!

-You certainly were.

-Yes.

-Gavin, you're used to this TV lark, aren't you?

Yeah, I've been to film school.

-Where did you go to film school?

-New York. The best place to go.

Good Lord. Tell us about it.

Basically, I went there for two months, did the directing course.

You make a few films and one big final film at the end.

That's brilliant.

Now, the money moment. £300 apiece. There you go. £300.

You know the rules. Your experts await. Off you go!

There's only one way to sort this out.

Give them an expert!

He may be with students, but wakey-wakey, it's Mark Stacey.

Will he see bargains ahoy?

With the blues, it's David Harper.

What have you there, Mark?

-What have you found?

-I've found a cruet set.

We've got here a three-piece condiment set.

A little egg for the pepper,

a little egg for the salt,

and a little turkey in the middle for the mustard.

The spoon forms part of the tail.

It's in nice condition. It's continental, with an impress number

and a little painted number.

-Where do you think it's from?

-I'd say it's from Czechoslovakia.

Basically, it's made around about 1900. So it's 100 years old.

-Wow.

-It's very old school.

-And it could be awesome!

-It could be awesome!

It looks like it's got awesome potential.

Unfortunately, it's marked up at 48 quid.

What do you reckon we could get off that?

-If we're lucky, we'll get it for 40.

-What's the chance of making a profit?

There are people who collect them

and at £40, we might gobble up a little profit.

-I'll be keen as mustard.

-OK, wish me luck.

Good luck! We trust you, Mark.

-What do you reckon?

-No chance.

-Not a chance!

Oh, dear. The reds haven't much faith in Mark,

but he did peck the dealer down to £40. Now, to the blues,

who look like they've pulled a tasty bird, as well!

Don't worry about the candlesticks.

We've got this. It's a kestrel, I think.

-A kestrel.

-Do you think it's a kestrel?

You two are a couple of city slickers. Have you ever seen a pheasant?

-It's road kill. OK.

-Road kill, yes.

-What's it made of?

It's kind of bronze. I don't think it's solid bronze.

Can you hear the shaking around inside?

However, the subject is absolutely brilliant.

Pheasants, in bronze, on marble plinths, from the 19th century. Wow!

-Can be worth thousands of pounds.

-Sounds like a good deal.

This isn't one of those, of course!

-Got our hopes up!

-Exactly.

This is absolutely brand-spanking-new.

I could buy 100 today, fill my car, from any wholesaler in the country

for about 80 to 120 each.

It's priced at 250. If you really want it and want to have a go at it,

then you've really got to be hard.

This is the kind of thing that I'd refer to as a mug's eyeful.

-I mean that in the nicest sense of the word.

-Gerald did pick it!

It's bright and it's flash.

The big problem here, boys, is the price.

£250. We need to really get this price down. Can I come and help you?

-Yeah.

-Go on, then.

They're up for a gamble, but will it pay off at auction?

Well, they landed the bronze bird for half price

at £125. So who knows?

-What have you found, guys?

-It's a sort of tiny chair!

Or even a jewellery box. It's rather fun, isn't it?

You open it up and put your jewellery knick-knacks in there.

I like it. Looking at the style of the chair,

we're probably looking at something that's made in the 1920s or '30s.

What do you reckon about auctioning it?

-Would anyone buy it?

-I think they will buy it.

-It's marked up at £65, which is on the heavy side.

-Expensive.

If we go for it, we need to chuck the dealer down, if we can.

Who is going to negotiate on the price?

-I don't mind negotiating on this. Give it a go.

-Good luck!

Do me proud, mate. Put your whole weight behind it!

Matt worked his magic again

and took the jewellery box for £50.

Tell me what you feel about that.

It looks quite nice. If I was at an auction, I might buy it.

Made by Poole Pottery.

Poole Pottery are renowned for their very innovative designs.

So this is a 1968 piece.

-I think that's a really good example of Poole.

-What's it worth?

I don't know. 40, 50, 60, £70, would be cheap for something like this.

I don't know how much it is. We'll find out.

-Let's see what it's worth.

-Come on, boys.

The Poole dish was priced up at 90. But the blues bagged it for £45.

Oh, gosh, are you students on the fiddle again?

-Sweet music.

-Just another string to our bow!

I thought it was a cat that needed to be put out of its misery!

-It's harsh to talk about Matt like that!

-What have you got?

It's an old-school violin!

Is it just the violin?

No. It comes with two bows and a nice little cheeky case.

It has got, importantly, a signature inside there, which looks genuine.

Leon Gauche.

But it's not bad, actually. These are very speculative.

They can take off at auction.

-How old do you think it is?

-I think it's early 20th century,

not an old Georgian one or anything.

But how much is it?

190.

That's a gamble. We've got a lot of money left, but it's still a big gamble.

It's a lot for what could be a bit of junk.

We could treat this as a speculative lot.

But if we could get it down a bit, who knows?

We might have something good on our hands.

-I'll use every instrument at my disposal to get the price down.

-I'm off before the puns get any worse!

Phil and Matt whittled down the violin to 150.

I reckon it could be one to keep an eye on at the auction.

Aye, aye, what's Gerald found now?

Do you recognise these two chaps? They look like team red.

You've got Matt there and Phil there.

They are dogs of foe, or Buddhistic Lion Dogs.

-Buddhistic Lion Dogs.

-Sounds good.

They're not ancient, they're very new.

I'm very interested to know how much you can buy them for.

They're 65, but the dealer said for a cheeky smile, I could get them for 35.

-Have you got a cheeky smile?

-I have.

-Go and get them for 35. They are a cracking bargain. Shall we have them?

-Yeah.

Gerald's cheeky smile did the trick

and he's snapped up the canine couple for £35.

OK, time's up! The hour is spent.

But have they spent their 300 smackers wisely?

Let's recap on what the reds have bought.

First up for the reds was the turkey cruet set.

But will it come with all the trimmings at auction?

Next, Matt spotted the jewellery box.

It set them back 50 quid.

Lastly, they're hoping to not play second fiddle

to the blues with their violin.

£150 paid and played.

Phil and Matt, was that good fun?

-Great fun.

-Had a good shop, didn't you?

-Some interesting things.

-What will bring the biggest profit, Phil?

The violin. You have to speculate to accumulate.

Do you agree with that, Matt?

It's expensive to start with. I don't know if it'll make much at auction.

I reckon the cheaper items might be better for us.

You spent a magnificent £240. I'm so pleased about that.

I want £60 of leftover lolly, please.

-Reluctantly.

-That's all of it. There's the £60, Mark.

-Had trouble with these boys?

-They've been awful, but we've loved it!

We've had absolutely great fun.

-I've learned a whole new language - "old school" and "awesome".

-You've been rejuvenated.

-I have.

-What will you spend the £60 on?

-I've no idea.

I'm torn by three or four items.

Have you been torn?

-Torn.

-Have you? You'd better tear off

because they might be sold!

Let's remind ourselves of what the blues bought.

The reds claimed the blues had no culture.

For Gerald and Gav's first buy, they could be right!

But for £125, will it be fair game at auction?

David's sure that Poole pottery fans will lap this up.

And at £45, he's in with a chance.

Finally, Gerald found these ugly mutts

and shelled out 35 quid.

OK, G-Gs, how was the shopping? Pretty good?

-Not too bad.

-Brilliant.

-Harder than I thought it would be.

You had fun, though. You were in the hands of the master.

-Good man.

-Which is your best piece, do you reckon?

The dogs of foe are probably my favourite of the lot.

Which will bring the biggest profit? These old dogs?

No, I reckon probably the pheasant.

You did spend £205, which ain't bad.

-£95 of leftover lolly. Is it all there?

-Maybe!

Give or take a fiver!

-I suggest you count this!

-They're a pair of likely lads, these!

Yes, I can tell the type.

Well, have you got anything in mind?

We've got a bit of an animal thing going, with the bronze pheasant

that these two were drawn to, and of course, the dogs of foe.

-So I'm gonna buy them a cat.

-Are you? A bit of a pussy.

You shove off, and very good luck.

Here we are in the heart of Derbyshire,

-at Charles Hanson's sale room with Charles Hanson himself.

-Good morning.

-Good morning, Charles.

Phil and Matt have high hopes for today's auction for the red team.

Their first item is this little Victorian, very late Victorian,

turkey cruet stand.

-It's decorative.

-Yes. And there are people that collect cruets.

My guide price, it's one of those guides which an auctioneer likes to use,

between 20 and 30. Good day it might make 30, bad day, a fiver.

-Well, they paid 40.

-Right. OK.

-So it's got to be a really, really good day today!

-But we can rely on you, Charles.

-I hope so, Tim!

The jewellery box, I think, is a seriously funky and fun object.

-I hope it will make 40, 50, £60.

-Yes.

-On a good day.

-It needs to make

at least £50.

-OK.

-It is a difficult thing to value, I'll grant you that.

-It is.

Lastly is this old fiddle.

Great things, these violins.

We always have a tremendous pull of internet interest

and whatever violin we sell, there's a massive market for them online.

-What's your estimate?

-My guide price is really up to £100,

but it might make 150 to 200.

-£150 is what they're after.

-OK.

Depending on how well you do with your international internet interest,

will determine whether this team need their bonus buy or not.

I think you'll love it, guys.

It's a Beswick Horse Group, Black Beauty and a foal.

I only spent £45 and I knew it would thrill you.

Is it antique in any way?

No, is the answer.

But it is by Beswick, and they are very collectible.

How much profit do you think there is in this, Mark?

Well, a collector... Beswick buyers looking for that model,

if you collected a series of models, there could be a tenner in it.

Anyways, boys, you don't decide now. You decide after the sale of your first three items.

Let's find out what the auctioneer thinks of the Beauty.

With any Beswick, it's the usual see. Condition is paramount.

This is in good condition. The ears, the tail's OK, and it's what it is.

-It's a standard model of its type.

-What's a standard price?

Tim, our standard guide price on this sort of ornament

would be 30-50, 40-60,

and I've gone for between 40 and £60.

That's very sensible cos Mark Stacey paid £45 and he rates it.

Now for the blues, Gerald and Gavin.

First up, their Poole pottery bowl.

-What's it worth?

-Between 60 and £100.

-You're joking!

-No.

-£45, they paid.

So there's potentially a double-your-money situation here.

-I think it's a good thing.

-That is brave of you, Charles.

-Next is the old pheasant.

-Yes, it's fairly modern,

-but it's quality, isn't it?

-How much?

-Well, Tim,

-my guide price would be between 60 and £100.

-Would it? OK. £125 they paid.

Their third item, Charles, are these dogs of foe. Chappies.

They're purely ornamental. Really. Again, it's one of my guide prices with these.

-15 to £25.

-Really?

-Would you agree?

£35 is what they paid.

I've a funny feeling overall this team are gonna need their bonus buy. Let's have a look.

Oh, God!

'SCREAM'

-That's horrific!

-Horrific?!

-It's grotesque!

-Like something out of The Exorcist!

He's fantastic! Look at Tim's face. He loves it.

Imagine the hours of fun you'd have playing with that as a kid.

Hold him. It's not just a stuffed cat.

He's early, made by Schuco, the German manufacturer.

They started manufacturing in 1912.

This little character dates from the 1920s or 1930s.

But remember, that in its day, Tim, was state-of-the-art.

Yes, that was expensive. Have you said how much you spent?

-I haven't. How much do you think?

-Guess, boys.

-20 quid?

-Ah.

-It's higher, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-55.

-OK.

-55.

-OK. 55.

What do you think this deranged cat is worth?

The loony cat. I think he might be worth 75.

Ideally, you'd want to be in a toy sale, of course.

-Yes.

-But have you ever seen one? When will you see another?

I'll see one again in my nightmares!

Well...

I can only do my best, Tim.

You're doing extraordinarily well.

You don't decide now. Decide after the sale of the three items.

Let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about the demented cat.

It's in working order.

It's decorative. There's lots of cat lovers.

-It's what it is, really.

-It's got those teeth, though!

-It has!

Those horrible stubby teeth.

-It has.

-And the eyes!

-The eyes are quite off-putting.

-It's scary!

Yes. My guide price would be about £25.

-Let's not be catty, Charles. David Harper paid £55.

-Goodness me!

-I think your estimate is probably right.

-I hope so.

-Stand by.

-Harper will scratch your eyes out if you're wrong.

-He'll grin and bear it!

Good luck in the auction.

Phil and Matt, here we are at the auction. How are you feeling?

We're very nervous cos it's been a big day. Lots of chat in the house.

-That blue team have given you some welly?

-We're driving home together and we live together. It's awful.

It's quite tribal.

First lot up is the cruet stand.

-Here it comes.

-A very novel Victorian continental cruet stand.

I'm bid £22. Do I see five?

25. Eight I've got. Do I see 30? No more.

At £28 all done. Fair warning. At £28 to the lady down here.

-It's yours.

-£28. Minus £12. Not to worry.

Now, the jewellery box. Stand by for this.

This is a good object.

Lot 51. A very handsome leather armchair.

Interest here, I'm bid 22. 5, 8, 30.

Do I see two? Five. 38.

40.

Two. Five. 48 with you, sir.

Do I see 50? All in there.

At £50. I'll take two now. At 50,

fair warning. £50.

Thank you for coming. We are selling at £50. All done.

£50. Wiped its face. Wiped its face.

That's OK. Now, the violin.

A very fine violin and two bows in a case.

I shall start this lot at £60.

60. I've got 70, 80, 90.

100. 110. 120.

130, 140, 150.

160. 170.

180, 190, 200. And ten.

220, 30. 240, 50.

260, 270.

280, 290.

£300 with me.

Do I see 310?

I'm at 310.

Do I see 320?

Come on! 320, 330, 340.

Again!

350. 360.

380. 400.

420. 440.

460. 480.

480. 500.

520.

540.

560.

580.

I'll take £600. Phone's out.

We are selling £580.

On the front row. Sold!

£580! How much is that? It's an awful lot, isn't it?

That is £430.

I never do big maths like this.

430.

Overall, you are £418 up!

£418.

Now, £418, Phil. How do you feel about that?

-Very happy.

-That is amazing.

-My God!

-That is awesome!

Phenomenal. What are you going to do about the bonus buy, the Black Beauty? Go with it?

-Go with it.

-Yeah, go with it.

We're going with Black Beauty. Here she comes.

A handsome lot, this.

I'm bid for this lot. I'm bid 28.

32. Do I see five, please?

£32. Do I see five? Come on, now. At £32.

Five. Eight. 40.

I'm out. Do I see five?

40. I'll take five. Come on!

40 bid. Surely a fiver? All done

at £40. Selling, all down to you, sir.

Oh, no. £40. Minus £5.

You are still £413 up, all right?

That is something else, isn't it?

That is amazing. That is awesome. So awesome!

That's what this programme is all about. Well done.

Fantastic. Now, you have to promise me something.

-Don't tell the blues anything.

-We won't.

-Not a word!

How about that for a surprise?

Ha! The violin went to a collector

who recognised the quality of the maker, Leon Gauche.

-Gavin and Gerald, do you know how the reds got on?

-No.

-No.

-You've been carefully separated.

-Yep.

-Just as well. Anyway,

first up is the pottery bowl. Here it comes.

A very stylish Poole pottery bowl,

glazed in abstract design.

I am bid £45. Do I see 50, please?

Surely £50?

-Surely!

-50. Five. Do I see 60?

60. Five. 70.

Do I see 70? On the book we sell.

Fair warning.

At £65.

Well done, boys. £65. Plus 20. Super, David.

-That's very good.

-Couldn't be better!

OK, Geraldo. Stand by for this.

A handsome pheasant, bronze.

20th century. Continental.

I am bid £35.

-No!

-40. Five. 50. Five. 60

Come on! At £55. Who's got 60? Come on!

At £55. Sale!

£55. That is terrible, isn't it?

That is minus £70.

Not so good, that.

Now the pottery dogs.

A handsome pair of splashed green glazed pottery dogs of foe.

They are what we call decorative. There they are.

I'm bid £12. 15.

18. 20.

One more. Make sure you buy something today.

At £18. Fair warning.

Selling. All done. At £18.

Minus £17 on that.

Overall you are minus £67. Minus 67.

What are we going to do about this clockwork cat?

I don't want to meet the person who would pay £55 for that.

-You're not doing the bonus buy?

-I'm here!

-Not doing the bonus buy?

-No.

-Are you sure?

-Absolutely.

-No bonus buy. OK, fine. No bonus buy.

We're gonna sell it anyway. Here comes the old pussy cat.

There it is. Still purring, still working,

with its dish on its paws for milk.

A bit of interest here. I am bid ten, 12, 15, £18.

Do I see 20? Come on!

A super thing, this. 18, 20.

2, 5.

One more. Come on!

Are you all out? At £25. Sale!

So, David, minus £30. It's a disaster, isn't it?

-Devastation!

-You did well not to take the bonus buy

which means you are minus £67.

Which could be a winning score. Don't tell the reds a thing.

-We won't.

-Go out of here looking...

-We won't tell them anything!

What a turn-up for the books, eh?

Such an exciting programme.

-Now, have these teams been talking to one another?

-No.

-Do you have any idea?

-None at all.

No idea as to how things have panned out today.

Well, it is my duty, I'm afraid, to say that the runners-up today

are the blues.

-Yes!

-Get in!

I have to say by a considerable margin. Let's run through the scores.

David, the Poole pottery pot that started off so nicely for you won you £20.

-Yep.

-That £20 looked so promising.

It was downhill pretty well all the way after that.

Your wisest move was not going with the bonus buy

which meant you ring-fenced your losses at £67.

Which ordinarily on Bargain Hunt, is not a bad score, minus 67.

But today we are creating a legend in terms of winnings.

It's not so often I stand here and say,

you've made a profit of £430!

These guys made a profit of £430...

-I can't believe it!

-..on their violin.

-Look at him.

-On the violin?

-The violin.

-It's so much profit, I split it into two.

-Thank you very much.

Matt, that's your 200. And here is £213 coming up for you, Phil.

What about that?

Tell me, old fruit, how are you feeling now?

Unbelievable. This is so good. The car journey home will be amazing!

-They'll never live this down.

-What a great programme!

-Join us soon for some more bargain hunting, yes?

-ALL: Yes!