Belfast Bargain Hunt

As far as profits are concerned,

we rather hope it's going to be a case of Ballinderry Upper...

rather than Ballinderry Lower.

Let's go bargain hunting!

COWS MOO

Today, we're in the Emerald Isle at County Antrim in Northern Ireland

at the rather wonderful-sounding Ballinderry Antiques.

There are four floors of collectables -

that's thousands of items for our contestants to search through.

Each team get ?300 and an hour to buy three collectables.

And if they get any cash, they get to keep it.

Here we are at the local parish church to meet the teams.

First, the Blues, mother and daughter Shirley and Jo, welcome.

And for the Reds, the cousins Miriam and Adrian.

Welcome to Bargain Hunt.

How lovely to see you. What's your business, then, Miriam?

Cunningham's Coffee Shop, which is a seaside cafe.

Would that be why you're holding this plate here?

Bit of a clue, isn't it? What is it, exactly?

This is soda bread or soda farl. This is Irish fast food.

It looks delicious. Is it for me?

It certainly is. I can't speak and eat at the same time, you know that.

I'm only a man!

You're far too well-mannered. Oh, I don't know about that.

What do you like about being the proprietor

of your own cafe business?

Most of all, I like the craic, I like gossiping with the customers.

It's a small village, so I know everyone in it and everyone knows me.

Well, I bet you're jolly good at it.

Is she good at it, Adrian? Yeah, she's very good.

Now, you're self-employed, too? Yeah, I'm an interior designer.

My showroom's in Newry, County Down.

And basically we do everything from sofas, curtains, carpets,

wallpapers, the lot. But you don't provide antiques for your clients?

No, I'm afraid it's too specific.

You need to find those yourself

and put your personality in your home yourselves.

We're going to be very interested to see what you come up with

that you want to put your personality on with regard to

some collectables, which hopefully will make some money today.

Now, for the Blues.

Shirley, you, like Adrian, are into design too, aren't you?

Yes, I started as an interior designer

but my chief outlet was in the theatre.

So I like designing things for the theatre. Brilliant.

But you've worked with some stars, haven't you?

Yes, when I was at the end of my life and they were at the beginning

of theirs, I worked with Liam Neeson and Kenneth Branagh.

Impresses my grandchildren.

The crucial question is, are you a collector?

I've had some really fantastic bargains.

Once bought the most wonderful Chinese lacquer cabinet.

My husband went to the auction every week in Leeds

and looked over what was available. Came home that night and told me,

"I've seen the most wonderful lacquer cabinet."

And I was expecting a baby any minute,

and overnight she decided to arrive,

so by next morning I was in the hospital with the baby.

And he came in that evening with a bunch of flowers and I said,

"Did you get the cabinet?" He said, "What's the baby like?"

You've got your priorities squared away. Definitely!

Is this your baby? No, no, this is number five baby.

That was number two baby.

Oh, I see, you were just early at it in those days!

We kept collecting a lot and a lot of children.

So, Jo, has all this collecting in your family over the years

rubbed off on you?

Yes, I think I was indoctrinated into collecting fairly early on.

My dad used to take me bottle digging, etc. Bottle digging?

It was great, yes, it really was.

He'd take you to the dump? Yes, that was childhood in those days.

So, what kind of stuff are you going to try and buy today?

I'm very keen on things like Dalton,

anything, really, with a nice pattern to it,

something a little bit bright, maybe.

Something a bit stylish, like you? That's it, Tim.

Thanks very much for that.

On that happy note, I think it's the money moment. Here's your ?300.

You know the rules. Your experts await.

I'm going to hang on to that, thank you. And off you go!

And very, very, very good luck.

So, my first piece of soda bread, how lovely.

Our experts today - for the Reds, the very laid-back...

And for the Blues, with the antique world at her fingertips...

The blue and white.

Can I interrupt you boys? What do you think of this little object?

That's very nice. Why did you like this?

Magpie tendencies - it's bright and shiny.

But I like the kind of baking look about it.

It's quite sort of Arts and Crafts. Exactly.

It has that Art and Crafts look about it and I love these handles here.

You're looking back almost to the 17th century

for the concept of a loving cup.

I notice it's got initials here,

which I don't really think detract from the actual piece itself.

I think this is very nice.

And I see it's Birmingham, 1906.

It's quite heavy. It's good, isn't it? So, how much is that?

It's got 65 on it. Bit much.

What do you think? I think you need to come down.

This is retail price, obviously.

You've got to sell it at auction,

which is equivalent to the wholesale market.

So you've certainly got to bring the price down.

Try and get it down to 50?

That be useful if you could. OK, well, I'll go and sweet-talk him.

But a very, very nice choice.

Ah, the loving cousins got the loving cup for ?50.

Shirley, how nice of you to get a Scottish item for our team today.

Now, I love Wemyss Ware.

It's made in Kirkcaldy.

It was made between 1880 and 1930 in the factory of Robert Heron Sons.

And it was named Wemyss after the Wemyss Castle.

There was a big rate of failure

because these were fired at low temperatures and hand painted,

so it was very expensive stuff.

So, how much is it, Mum?

Well, it's 160.

I think if you're getting maybe 110, 120, we have a good chance.

We're all in agreement? Yes. Let's go and get the price down.

Definitely.

And down it went, to ?115.

We had to find this.

I saw it when we came in and I really, really liked it.

Right, let's have a look at it.

Well, it's nicely marked silver.

But this is a stamped-out design here. OK. Not of exceptional quality.

Neither is the condition good.

Look at all these lips here.

The saving grace, for me, is the glass.

Where it's been an ordinary square decanter, and somebody's had the

initiative to create that element of excitement by pushing in the sides.

I can see why you like it.

Lovely quality. But I think ?145 is way over the odds.

We did negotiate...

and we got it down to 87.

Oh, I can see a profit margin.

So, I think for 87 it's a beautiful piece with, as you say,

stamped silver.

At the end of the day, it depends who is there at the auction. Well, yeah.

I think you've done very well. Thank you.

?87 it is for that unusual decanter.

Anita, I quite like this. Jo, that is so you! I know! It's wonderful!

I do tend to home in on things like this.

I think you could put a chain on that and hang it round your neck

as a necklace or pendant. It's wonderful.

Now, it comes from the Poole Factory and the most desirable pieces,

really, are from the '20s and '30s.

But I have noticed an upsurge in prices in this date of Poole. Great.

It's up for 68, do you think that's...?

I think that it's a wee bit dear at that.

I've had good results for this range of Poole, but for us

to make a profit and that, after all, Shirley, is what we're here for...

Yes, certainly. ..you will have to get it down a bit.

Well, I'll go and have a speak to him.

Shall I go for about 45 or 40, something like that?

Yeah, aim for as low as you possibly can.

Shirley, are you a hip kid? Do you like it?

It isn't quite my taste.

That was too gaudy for me but I'm sure it'd fit Jo's house fine.

She loves it. Let her go for that. Get the price down. On you go.

Get it round down!

Jo loves it and I love the price - just ?45.

What is it, like a doorstop or something? Pin cushion.

But what's the shape?

A pyramid. So, where would it come from? Egypt.

It was made in Egypt.

Just think in terms of the campaign, in Khartoum, Egypt,

Kitchener's forces moving down to Khartoum,

and I think this was probably made by one of the infantrymen.

But it's quite a nice memento of sort of military activity, um,

at the end of the 19th, coming to the 20th century.

You wanted something quirky. Yeah.

So, this is quirky and it's unusual. At ?68? Dear enough.

We have to knock it down a bit in the pricing.

But that shouldn't be a problem. What do you suggest?

50? Get it under 50? 49, 50.

OK, shall I do the negotiating? Yeah, under 50.

That's what I tell people - I'm the right side of 60, rather than 50.

OK, I'll see what I can do. OK. That's great, thanks.

60? 50?

David, who's counting? ?48 was paid.

So, you trio of beauties, what are you up to?

Well, we fancy this scent bottle.

It is a bit of girly thing, Tim. Do you like it?

I don't think it's all that girly.

You know, the modern man...he likes to have a splash, doesn't he?

Put aftershave in it.

That's quite a good thing, isn't it? And is it in good nick, Anita?

It's in perfect condition

and this was one of the things that attracted me to it.

It's London hallmarked so the quality is there.

It's all in very nice condition.

MIMICKING: It's all in very nice condition.

Don't you love it?

Brilliant, Anita. How much?

Well, it's 175, which is far too dear. Oh, dear.

But I do a wee bit of charm... Oh, yeah?

The charm offensive.

By Anita, with the help of these two ladies.

I think you've got lots of qualifications there.

They won't be able to resist us. They won't.

Are you ready, girls? Get the smiles ready. Let's go!

Three right little charmers. And it still cost them ?120.

Time to bring an end to the spending and tot up what they've got.

The Reds, Adrian and Miriam, started out with the loving cup for ?50.

They poured away ?87 on the silver-mounted decanter.

And they hoped to pinpoint a profit at the action

with the pin cushion for ?48.

So, you lovely cousins,

which is your favourite, Miriam?

The little silver loving cup.

Think mine's the pin cushion.

Thought it was very different. OK.

Which piece is going to bring the biggest profit?

The silver loving cup. You're in a rut with that.

I think my decanter could win the day.

We got it at a good price, a really good price, and I think...

You think it could crack it? Yeah, hopefully.

OK, brilliant. ?185 spent.

I want ?115 worth of leftover lolly,

which is a tidy sum for Mr Barby. Isn't it just? Isn't it?

I've got to find something really sophisticated for this couple.

Interior designer and goodness knows what. Well, good luck.

I'm going to make a splash.

I'm going to find something interesting, don't worry.

Good. Let's check out what the Blues bought.

Jo and Shirley started with this Poole Pottery dish for ?45.

The Wemyss preserve jar should make a good profit at ?115 paid.

And the perfume bottle was ?120. Phew!

So, Shirley and Jo, you had a very good shop.

Oh, we did, yes, nearly spent up.

Nearly spent up, ?280 is pretty good. It is, yes.

Are you satisfied with your performance, Jo?

We did some very hard negotiating. I think we did quite well.

?280 spent, ?20 only of leftover lolly.

This is a pretty thin offering for you, isn't it?

Tim, I do not mind. The girls bought beautifully, they haggled well.

What I'm going to do is to get something, some wee thing,

which might make a wee profit.

Well, you'd better have a wee shuffle off, then, hadn't you?

Well, it's lovely to be at Ross's Saleroom in Belfast,

with our auctioneer Daniel Clarke. Good morning. Good morning.

Very nice to see you. Now, the Reds, Adrian and Miriam,

their first item is this slightly oddball pyramid of pins.

It's an oddity but obviously made by a soldier,

probably in the field, for his sweetheart and sent back.

Very unusual and there are buyers for unusual things.

I would anticipate something around ?40-?50.

That's grand, they paid ?48. So, they're in the frame. I think so.

Which is brilliant.

Next, the silver loving cup.

Rather nice. I think probably ?50-?60.

That's great, ?50 they paid.

And finally for them, this rather handsome little whisky decanter.

It's an attractive piece.

I very much like the pierced silver mounting

and obviously it'll pour very nicely with these lips.

So, how much do you think? ?70, ?80.

OK, fine. ?87 they paid. Good.

Well, overall,

I don't think the predictions for that team are too bad.

But on the other hand they might need their Bonus Buy,

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

You gave David here ?115 to spend of the leftover lolly.

He looks like the cat what got the cream.

So, David, you'd better expose yourself - I mean, better show us...

Reveal all! Here we go.

These are etchings.

They were produced in 1938 by an artist called Leon Danchin.

And he was a French artist specialising in game dogs

and game birds.

I paid ?80 for the two.

Things are really good

but I don't know whether someone would have to love them

and I don't know whether they'll make more profit, say,

than some of our bits of silver, which we have to see.

Well, anyway, the choice will not come your way

until after you've sold your first three items.

But for the viewers at home,

let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about these old birds.

We have a couple of prints.

And they're limited edition and signed.

?70...?80. Might push it to 100. Might push it to 100.

Well, David Barby will rather hope you can cos he paid ?80

and they're his Bonus Buy and he really rates them.

Now, for the Blues. Their first item is the Poole Pottery plate.

It is collectable, it's becoming more and more popular.

?30, ?40.

Anita and the team paid ?45,

so they may be slightly out of the frame with that.

Not surprisingly, with our Anita Manning from Glasgow,

she has found a piece of Wemyss.

Well, Wemyss is very, very collectable.

Could make ?150 on a good day.

Gosh, ?115 Anita paid. So, that's not too bad, is it?

That's jolly good.

And anyway, it has a function. You can put your marmalade in it.

What could be nicer than that?

The wee perfume bottle. I guess it's not all that old.

But it's in good condition. And people collect them.

?80-?100. OK, fine. ?120 paid.

So, they're slightly patchy in terms of their estimate,

depending on how well the marmalade pot goes.

They managed to spend ?280

and only ?20 went to Anita to find her Bonus Buy.

That's beautiful.

Isn't that sweet? Really beautiful. Yes?

It's a little goblet.

Ruby glass with a silver overlay and a hallmarked silver base.

OK, pass it across, pass it across.

We're going to take it home, Anita, sorry! That's amazing.

With a hallmark.

That's lovely. That is great.

For that price. Very much of a challenge.

Sorry we didn't leave you any money.

So? How much profit, Anita, please?

We might make a couple of pounds.

Paid ?15, predicting a couple of pounds profit.

Very, very difficult one but for the viewers at home,

let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about it.

It's obviously a little goblet that's had the stand broken

and it has been pushed into a base of a silver spill vase.

Ahh.

?20 maximum. ?20.

Well, poor Anita only had ?20 to spend.

Actually, she spent ?15, so if you can achieve a result of ?20,

quite frankly, Daniel, you've done enormously well.

Excited? Very much so. Just on the edge of the auction,

now, the pin cushion, which David rather cleverly found,

paid ?48 for. The auctioneer's estimate is ?40-?50.

First lot coming up and here it comes.

Lot number 30. Early 20th century pin cushion.

Military pin cushion there. Unusual lot, could we say ?50? 40?

30 and bid. 5.

40. 5.

With the porter, 50.

At ?50. Any more? We're in profit.

At ?50, the bid with the porter. ?50.

At ?50.

It's the porter's bid at ?50.

That's good, that's fine. ?50 is ?2 profit. A whole ?2?

+?2. Now, the silver loving cup.

Silver loving cup. The hammered cup there, Birmingham.

We'll say 50, ?40, please.

30 to open.

20 and bid, thank you. 5.

30.

5. ?35. Any more?

At ?35. 40. It's not... Keep going. He's going. 50 with the porter.

We're selling now at ?50.

?50. That's OK, ?50. Washed its face.

Now, the decanter. Here we go.

The decanter. Late 19th century silver mounted decanter.

Very unusual shape, this.

Decorative piece. Could we say ?100? 50, follow up, please, 40 to open.

40 and bid. 50. 60. 70.

80 with the porter.

With the porter, ?80. Any more? 85.

90. You're in profit.

We have ?90. We have ?90. 5, thank you.

At ?95, bid's here. At ?95 for the decanter and selling now at ?95.

You are +?8, that means you are ?10 overall. ?10, OK?

What are you going to do, then?

You've got ?10 profit, which is brilliant.

Put a gallon of petrol in the car.

Are you going to go with these old ducks, then?

David paid ?80 for the ducks.

So, ?80 for the ducks. I don't think... No, sorry.

You don't think they'll make a profit? Sorry, darling.

I mean, are you sure? We're positive. OK, fine.

So, here they come, these old birds. Number 36, the sporting prints.

Watch these soar away.

Rather nice. Limited edition.

Signed in pencil. Pair of them.

Could we say ?100, please, for the pair of sporting prints? ?50?

40. Anyone to open and bid 40? 50. 60.

At ?60.

At ?60 and bid now for the sporting prints. Any more?

Oh, dear, David.

Dear, dear, dear. Loss.

At ?65... It hasn't finished yet.

At 70.

At ?70.

It's against you at 70.

At ?70.

For the pair. At 5. At ?75.

Getting there.

?75.

Lady's bid at 75. We're selling now at ?75.

Well, he's done really well, hasn't he?

He really did try and sell them, that's brilliant.

?75 minus ?5. So, you two did extraordinary well, didn't you?

We did. Congratulations. ?10.

Now, the big trick is, don't tell the Blues, all right?

Not a word to the Blues. All right.

They must not know that you're in profit.

Go out looking miserable.

UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYS

Now, Jo and Shirley,

how are you both? Nervous, how are you? Why are you nervous?

Well, we had some second thoughts about one of the lots. Which one?

The glass perfume bottle. Really?

Yeah, we're not sure if we made the right choice about that one.

Do you know that Anita Manning has had fantastic success

with perfume bottles in the past?

Anyway, first up is Poole Pottery and here it comes.

Number 55, Poole Pottery dish, circa 1960.

We'll open the bidding at ?10. 10 and bid. 15. 20.

5. ?25 and bid now for the Poole. Any more?

At ?25. At ?25. 28 with the porter.

At 28. 30, a new bidder. Gentleman seated. 30.

At ?30 and bid for the Poole.

At ?30.

At ?30. I have now for the Poole, any more?

With you, sir, at ?30. I'm selling now at ?30.

Oh, dear, ?30, sweetpea. Could have been worse.

You're -?15 on that but don't despair, here comes Wemyss.

The Wemyss preserve jar. Little marmalade jar there.

Wemyss, always popular. ?100, please, to open.

50 and bid, thank you. Bid's at the door at 50. 60.

At ?60.

At ?60.

At 70. At 80. At 90.

?100 to the porter. 110.

At ?110. 120. 130.

At ?130. Bid's at the door at 130. Any more?

At ?130, the bid is with you, sir, at ?130 and selling at 130.

Excellent!

?130, which is ?15 profit,

which means you have no profit and no loss.

So, it's down to the perfume bottle. Oh, dear.

Very nicely cut, in pristine condition.

Could we say ?100, please, for the perfume bottle?

?100 to the porter. 110.

120.

At ?120, it's back with the porter at 120. And 5.

At 125. 130, new bidder.

With the lady here at ?130.

At ?130 with you, madam. At 130.

I'm selling now at ?130.

130. Well done. +?10.

Which means, overall, you have ?10 of profit. Gosh!

Now, listen. Listen very carefully cos I shall say this only once.

You have ?10 in your pocket. That's ?5 each.

What are you going to do about this Bonus Buy? Shall we gamble? Oh, yes.

?15. Now, we're going to have a spin at the glass... Lot 61.

A ruby glass goblet with a silver base.

?10, anyone, to open? 10 and bid, thank you, madam.

15. 20. 20.

Lady's bid here at ?20.

At ?20. 5. 30.

At ?30 with you, madam, at 30. Any more?

At ?30.

At ?30 and bid.

All finished at 30? I'm selling now at ?30. Lady's bid at 30.

Well, that's very good. You should have a kiss.

Well done, darling. Isn't she brilliant? That was amazing!

That really is brilliant. You only had ?20 to spend.

You spent 15 of them and you doubled the money.

Which is fantastic.

Overall, then, girls, your score is +25, all right?

You are +25.

Don't tell the Reds.

Not a word. And we will reveal all in a minute.

UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYS

How exciting today's programme's been.

Two teams of winners,

which were dead heat at one particular moment in the programme.

You were absolutely snagged up together.

There was, however, the choice of going with the Bonus Buy.

And the Reds decided not to go with the Bonus Buy.

And the Reds made the right decision there in not going with it

and therefore the Reds, at this moment in time, have a ?10 profit.

Hurrah.

Here is your ?10 profit.

There you go. Isn't that lovely?

However, it wasn't enough to stop the unstoppable Blues,

who also had a ?10 profit, but they went with the Bonus Buy

and it earned them ?15, so your profit, overall, is ?25.

And I herby declare the Blues the winners of today's programme.

Well, it's really great to have two teams of winners

and to have such a close result.

Join us soon for some more bargain hunting, yes?

ALL: Yes!