Belfast 17 Bargain Hunt

Today we're in beautiful County Down in Northern Ireland.

Strangford Lough, actually, en route to meet today's contestants.

So, let's go bargain hunting!

We're on the banks of Strangford Lough,

at Hoops Courtyard Antiques Centre in Greyabbey...

..where there's a clutch of antique shops providing an amazing selection

of antiques and collectibles for our two teams to choose from.

The rules - each team gets £300 and an hour to shop for three items.

If they make a profit at auction, they get to keep the cash. Let's meet the teams.

Today, for the Blues, we've Mags and Hels, mother and daughter.

Otherwise known as Margaret and Helen. Welcome.

For the Reds, the sisters Isabel and Barbara. Welcome to Bargain Hunt.

Barbara, you've already got a head start in today's programme?

I think so. I do a lot of buying and selling.

What's your speciality collection?

Coins. I've collected coins for many years

and I've quite a few Hibernia pennies,

I have tokens, John Wilkinson... Quite a few.

I think we've got an experienced burglar today!

Now, Isabel, you've got a tremendous head for figures. Tell us about it.

Until recently, I worked as a civil servant in the finance department.

I recently left that job and am hoping to start up on my own, accountancy business.

-Everybody needs help with their books, don't they?

-Hopefully!

And you're a collector also?

Yes, my husband and me collect old cars.

-What sort of motors have you got?

-A Mark 2 Jag, an XJS, a Midget, a Mercedes...

-Really?

-Yes! The list goes on.

But there's one form of travel you're not keen on.

Yes, that has to be flying.

I'm one of these people, when I get on a plane, I pull the blind down so I don't have to look out.

You can rest assured you'll be keeping your feet on the ground today.

-Good.

-The only high flying you'll get is hopefully at the auction when you're going for high profits.

-Now, the Blues. Hi, girls.

-Hello.

Margaret, you've got a background which should help today?

When I left school many years ago, I started working for an auctioneer, and we did house clearance sales.

-You must be pretty sharp if you're an auctioneer's clerk!

-That was a long time ago.

-Helen, what's your work?

-I'm a student at the minute and I work part-time for my mother.

Has the collecting bug bitten you yet?

-It has. I collect whisky jugs.

-Full ones?

Sort of half-full, half-empty!

They start off full?

What are you going to be looking out for on Bargain Hunt today?

Old whisky jars, ceramics, different things like that.

That's a good strategy. Ceramics can make loads of money at auction.

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

£300. Grabbing that. You know the rules,

your experts await - and off you go! And very good luck.

So let's meet today's experts.

Taking the strain for the Reds, it's David Barby,

whilst cracking the whip for the Blues, it's Anita Manning.

And they'll have their work cut out, as they'll be helping not one but two lots of teams today.

-David...

-There's no time to play!

What do you think of this?

-Did you have something like this?

-I did.

-I think it would appeal to people in the auction.

-Who'll buy it?

Anyone who collects dolls.

I must confess, you occasionally see these in a nursery crammed with teddy bears or something like that.

There's that sort of market, interior decorators or toy collectors.

This is a miniature copy of a coach-built built pram of the '50s or '60s,

no longer fashionable at the moment, as they take up too much space on the pavement.

What's the price?

It was £38 on it, but we'd hope to get it down to about 30.

-What do you think?

-If you can get it down to 30, I think there's a profit margin in it.

It's a very well-built pram.

-We'll go for it.

-The dealer is over there. Let's go and have a look.

I'll wheel the babies!

Well, as long as they're not mine!

Ah, my little ones!

£30 paid for the pram.

This is what's called a vinaigrette.

It was used for smelling salts.

In bygone times, when ladies wore very tight corsets

and were often perhaps out of breath and fainting,

they would open it and they would take a...

of the smelling salts which would revive them.

The date on this box is 1817.

It's a Georgian vinaigrette.

And that's a big plus.

It's also made by one of Birmingham's

most prestigious silversmiths, Samuel Pemberton.

What about price, Margaret?

I've done some haggling with him and £90, he's looking for it.

Were you chatting the bloke up?

She's always chatting those blokes up!

Well done, Margaret. That's great. I think that's a smashing little item.

Let's get it.

Must have been a good chat-up line - they got the vinaigrette for £90.

I had a collection of these arranged on ledges in the house.

Do you know what they are?

I believe they're Staffordshire.

That's right. Produced around 1845, 1860.

These are known as hearth dogs,

so that ordinary working-class people could emulate their betters

by having dogs in the house.

These were put either side of the hearth.

They're called flatbacks.

If you look at the back,

there's no paintwork, just moulding.

It was only the front that was ever seen.

The beauty is that these are russet-coloured ones,

and it's the russet colour which is more desirable.

-How much are they?

-£38.

You've got a very good buy. At £38. Even if you make £5...

You'll make a profit. £38 is so cheap

-for a pair of Staffordshire dogs of this quality.

-Hmm...

-I haven't convinced you, have I?

-No, not at all!

I think you should have a discussion.

I'm going to comfort these dogs.

Barbara finally gave in,

and the two Staffordshire dogs went "walkies!" for £28.

Helen, look what I've found!

What is it?

This is the most glamorous bed jacket that you're ever seen.

Elizabeth Arden, now she was one of the iconic ladies

of the 20th century.

In the 1950s, she did a lingerie range.

This is a wonderful crepe silk lining, feels beautiful on the skin.

It's the type of thing that one of the 1950s glamorous film stars

would have worn.

Let's see you trying it on.

Go on!

-I'll hold your coat.

-My goodness...

-Oh, it's lovely!

-What does that feel like?

It's gorgeous!

Do you feel like a 1950s film star?

Oh, yes!

I could wear that out!

It's in very, very good condition.

They're asking £48 for it.

That's not very expensive, when you think if you were buying a luxury garment today...

I will try, for the purposes of making a couple of bob - and that's what we're here for.

But the main thing is to buy this lovely thing.

-You have to take it off now.

-I don't want to take it off!

OK, my little starlet.

If you won't take it off, you'll have to come and help me.

Let's go.

Helen seems to have fallen in love with the jacket.

But at £40, will the buyers love it?

# Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. #

What a lovely thing. Whose choice was this?

-This is my choice, David.

-Really?

-Oh, yes.

-Are you from a farming background?

-Yes, we're country born and bred.

-Right, right.

Would you use it at home for its proper use, a butter dish?

I don't think I would use it in general.

But certainly...

-dinner guests and that.

-Lovely, smear everything with butter.

It's a good mark. It was produced in Sheffield, not in Ireland.

The date letter is for...1851.

We have "HW & Company". That would be Henry Wilkinson and Company.

A very, very prominent maker.

Now, I've just caught, as I handled it, that the actual cow

is also solid silver.

It's modelled as a milk churn.

-Yes.

-So you've got the two grips there for handling.

What they've done is to create a frosting effect, as well.

Beautiful quality glass, with a cut decoration star on the bottom.

A lovely, lovely example.

Well chosen. Now, can we afford it?

-What's the price?

-We are hoping to get him down to about 170.

170? It doesn't sound too bad.

But we've got to think in terms of who's going to buy it at the auction.

Belfast has got a lot of expensive houses

and you've got a very strong farming community.

Very close to the city centre, which is unusual.

If you have all the right elements on the day, you'll make a profit.

Good. Sounds just what we're looking for.

Thank you very much for drawing my attention to that as well.

You'll have to MOO-OOVE along quickly to get a profit out of that.

£170 paid.

Now, for the Blues.

Looks like Helen has found what she's been looking for.

Look - old ginger bottles.

-One's from Larne.

-You collect bottles, Helen.

Are these stoneware examples the type that you would have?

Yes. I would love to buy them myself.

There're lovely.

These are stoneware bottles and they were made for holding liquids

before glass became more widespread.

This one, interestingly enough, was made in Glasgow!

The one that you kept spirits in!

Maybe Scotch whisky.

And it was made by the Barrowfield Pottery in Glasgow.

But it was obviously made for the Irish market,

because it is marked for Larne.

How old would they be?

These would be Victorian ones.

Victorian and later. At least from the turn of the century.

What price are they?

He said 60 for the four.

But he would take 40 for them. So quite a good price, I think.

What do you think?

It's not bad.

They are collectibles.

So you have a chance at £40.

I think, if you like them, have the courage of your convictions.

I think they'll make a profit.

So, a tenner each. That's £40 for all four stoneware bottles.

Oi! Time's up. Let's see what the teams have bought.

Our Reds, Barbara and Isabel, pushed off with the child's pram for £30.

Barbara hated them, but they paid £28 for the Staffordshire dogs.

And that butter dish is the most expensive item of the day at £170.

Isn't it gorgeous?

So, you two, did you have a good shop up?

-We did indeed.

-Did you?

Which is your favourite piece?

The butter dish.

-What about you, Barbara?

-The butter dish, definitely.

Which piece is going to bring the biggest profit?

It could be the pram.

-The pram?

-Yes.

I think the butter dish.

I hope the butter dish.

You're being quite coy about that.

-Oh, yes.

-Lovely. You spent £228, which is brilliant.

£72 of leftover lolly, please.

-There we go. Only £72. You did have a good spend-up, didn't you?

-Yes.

And such a diverse array of goods.

-Yes.

-And they're country girls, I've got to find something that reflects that.

-Yes.

Something agricultural, perhaps?

-Bordering on.

-Bordering on?

-Yes.

-You're such a tease.

Off you go, good luck.

Let's remind ourselves of what the Blues bought.

Helen and her mum Margaret splashed out £90 on the Georgian vinaigrette.

Anita's clamour for glamour got her the film star jacket for £40.

Very nice. And the four stoneware bottles were £40 too.

But will they hold water, or beer, at the sale?

-So, girls, did you have a great time shopping?

-Yes, we did.

-Was it really good?

-Yes.

-Which piece is your favourite?

The pink cardigan, I think.

-What about you, Ma?

-My vinaigrette box.

-Your silver vinaigrette box? That's your favourite?

-Yes.

Which piece is going to bring the biggest profit?

It's a bit of a split decision. I think the whisky jugs.

You would have whisky jugs, wouldn't you?

-No?

-No, the vinaigrette.

-You'll stick with your vinaigrette?

We'll see what actually happens in the auction. Anyway, you spent £170, which is perfectly respectable.

£130 to give to wee Anita.

I assume you had fun with the girls?

It was wonderful. We had a great time.

-A few disagreements.

-Really?

-But we all came together in the end.

-No fallings out?

-No falling out at all.

£130 is quite respectable. What are you going to spend it on?

Well, before the auction, us girls might like to do

a little primping, a little painting.

And I know exactly the object that will help us do that.

Well, you girls are experts in all this titivation, aren't you?

Anyway, very good luck, Anita.

Well, it's lovely to be in Belfast at Ross's Auction House, with auctioneer Daniel Clarke.

-Good morning.

-Good morning.

-Very, very nice to be here.

Now, Barbara and Isabel have gone with this pram.

A child's pram.

Unfortunately, it's not perhaps in pristine condition.

The chassis has had a coat of paint and it's slightly tired-looking.

-£20 to £30.

-Really? Is that all?

They paid £30 for it. So, they might just wash their face?

-They might get out.

-They might get out.

What about these Staffordshire dogs?

Because these aren't late modern pot, are they?

All of this feathering and the detail in the decoration.

Yes. I think they're certainly 1860, anyway.

What do you think they're going to bring, Daniel?

Probably just £20 to £30.

Is that all? £28 they paid. They could be in trouble on that.

Their stellar item, however, has to be the silver and glass butter dish.

I have to say, this is one of the lots that has really appealed to me.

This beautifully cast milking cow.

I could see this doing £200. I would certainly estimate at 150 to 200.

Very good. Well, they paid £170.

Depending on how the butter dish does, will determine whether they really need their bonus buy or not.

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

Well, I had to think of the ladies' interests, so I bought this beautiful example of horn.

That's a cow's horn, being turned and then mounted with silver. So this is a very special cup.

And this would date from what period?

-Round about 1800, 1830, that sort of period.

-Quite early.

Think about that, 1800, 1900.

-So it's over 200 years old.

-That's right.

Well, how much did it cost?

£55. I think that was a bargain.

Do you think we'd make a profit?

I've seen these retail at about £165, if you go to one of these antique fairs.

So somewhere between the two, we ought to make a profit.

-Well, let's be optimistic.

-Yes.

But you girls don't have to decide right now.

For the audience at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about it.

Great piece of horn, in great condition.

Rim's a bit loose but intact.

I mean, usually horn splits or you have a problem with it, don't you?

You rarely see it in such good condition, yeah.

£60 to £80, possibly.

OK, £55 David Barby found it for, so with any luck, he'll get away with a small profit?

-I think that will perform well.

-Lovely.

Well, that's it for the Reds. Now for the Blues.

Now, Daniel, I would say that you are an ideally qualified man in the bed jacket department.

Is that what it is, a bed jacket?

Ah!

I'm sure £20, £30, somebody is going to pay for it.

Well, £40 was paid by the team.

Anyway, we go from the sublime to the ridiculous - or the other way round,

depending on how you look at it - next, with the little vinaigrette.

Good maker, Samuel Pemberton?

It's in pristine condition, and a lot of people collect these.

I think it will perform very well, £60, £80.

OK, £90 paid. Just depends on who's around, really, doesn't it?

Now, I would know absolutely nothing about these stoneware

bottles, because they're all really local market stuff, aren't they?

Stamped Larne, Londonderry and two Belfast bottles.

-So, £50, £60...

-£50, £60. That's brilliant. They paid £40.

So that stands a good chance, doesn't it?

-I think those should perform.

-Brilliant.

Either way, they may or may not need their bonus buy, so let's go and have a look at it.

-Ah!

-Wow.

This little silver box is a lovely ladies' compact from the 1950s.

It's machine silver, and when we look underneath this gauze,

we will see a very interesting name.

It's the name of Dunhill.

And people collect this type of thing, so I think this Dunhill name is very important.

Let's have a look at that. You see, it's heavy.

Lots of silver in it, right?

-Plus that little band of gold.

-What did it cost you?

£70.

It may go to £80 if the buyers have spotted that it was made by Dunhill.

We've got a small profit being predicted, but you don't have to make up your mind right now.

You'll choose after the sale of your first three items,

so you know whether you're in profit or loss at that moment.

But for the viewers at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about it.

An Alfred Dunhill piece, dated 16th of the third, 1950.

It's been a gift. £30 to £40, I think.

-I'm not sure that there is any great following for a piece like this in Belfast.

-Oh, dear.

Anita's going to be disappointed about that, she paid £70.

And it's supposed to be a bonus buy!

Anyway, good luck at the auction.

Now, Babs and Belle, how are you feeling?

Are you confident about what's going to happen today?

-On a scale of one to ten?

-Yes, please.

Going on 11.

-Going on 11?

-12, 12.

-We'll cross everything.

First lot coming up, though, is the doll's pram, and here it comes.

We're opening the bidding, please, at £40. 30? 20? 10?

15? 20? A new bidder at five.

£25, I'm bid for the pram.

30 here. Five? 40?

On my right at £40, the pram.

-I don't believe it!

-All done at £40?

What about that, Babs? Plus £10.

OK. Settle down, girls. Settle down. Here come the dogs.

Can we say £30, the dogs? 20, I'm bid. Thank you.

At £25, I have, for the Staffordshire dogs. At 25. 30, here.

At £30 on my right.

At £30, I have for the Staffordshire dogs. Any more?

At 35? The lady seated, 35. At 40?

-40!

-At £40.

-It's against you, madam, at 40.

-Go on!

-Come on! Come on!

£40, on my right at 40?

Well done, £40. I mean, £40 is £40, and it's a profit of £12, so I do congratulate you.

Now the butter dish - this is where it gets hairy.

Early Victorian butter dish at £100.

Come on!

120? 140?

New bidder at 160.

-180? £180, I have.

-Come on!

-Come on!

-£180. Handsome piece.

-We have £180.

-Come on! Come on!

£200? The lady seated, £200.

-Isn't that fantastic?

-At £200.

Last call at £200.

£200, congratulations.

That is plus 30 smackers on that.

30, 40, that is £52.

£52 worth of profit.

These sisters are really lucky.

Now, what you gonna do about the old beaker?

Are you gonna have a go with it or not?

-No?

-What do you think?

-I'm leaving it up to you, this one.

-OK. Leaving it up to you.

-I'm not disappointed, don't worry.

We have no bonus buy, but here comes the horn beaker, and here we go.

40, I'm bid, thank you. At £40, I have. 50.

It's already got 40.

At £50, the horn beaker?

At 60, new bidder.

At £60.

At £60, I have, for the horn beaker.

-At £60.

-She's gonna kill me!

-At £60 for the Georgian beaker, here.

We have £60.

Hit the hammer, hit the hammer!

Well done, David. £60.

At least I was vindicated.

Yes, you were vindicated. Bad luck, girls.

You missed out on a fiver, but it was a bit of a risk, wasn't it?

So there you go, you are £52 up.

-Now, don't mention a word to the Blues.

-No.

-Zip.

-See this face?

I'm convinced.

Do you know how the Reds got on?

-No.

-No idea at all?

-No.

-Good, we don't want you to.

Just as a team, are you feeling good?

-Well, as a team we feel good, but maybe one of the items is just not right.

-Which one's that?

-The vinaigrette.

-You think the vinaigrette?

-You've got it in for that vinaigrette, haven't you?

-Yeah.

What don't you like about the vinaigrette?

It's tiny, and I can't see it making a profit.

Small and perfectly formed, that's what it is.

First up, though, is Elizabeth Arden, and here she comes.

£30, the bed jacket, please? 20 anywhere?

I'm bid 10, thank you, madam. £10, I'm bid. 15?

-At £15.

-Go on!

-At £20.

-Come on, that's miserable.

-We have £20.

-That is so cheap!

-Go on!

-Go on!

At £20, I have.

At £20 for the Elizabeth Arden jacket. I'm selling now at...25.

Yes!

£25.

At 30? At five? £35. At £35.

Gentleman's bid here at £35 for the Elizabeth Arden jacket.

£35, I'm selling.

That is such a good auctioneer, he really did try.

£35, you are minus £5. Never mind.

Now, the vinaigrette, your hated object.

Vinaigrette, £60? 40 to open?

40, I'm bid. 50? I'm bid £50.

At £50 I'm bid. 60.

At £60.

At £60? New bidder at 70. 80?

At £80, against you, sir.

We have £80.

It's back at £80. I'm selling now.

£80.

Well, that's close enough, minus £10.

Stoneware bottles, our last hope.

-Here they come.

-40, I'm bid. 50?

60? At £60.

At £60.

At £60, I'm bid now for the bottles. £60?

-All finished at £60?

-Well done, girls.

You made £20 profit, you were 15 down, so you are £5 up.

Yes!

What do you want to do about this compact?

We'll stay on the right side of it, we're happy with a fiver.

-You're gonna stay with your £5 note?

-Yes, I think so.

I'm sorry. It's nothing on you!

-You're definitely not doing the bonus buy?

-No, I think we're on the right side of it.

We're gonna sell the compact anyway.

-Here it comes.

-£40. 40, I'm bid.

50? 60? I'm bid £60.

I'm bid £60. Any more?

At £60.

New bidder at 70. At £70. At £70 for the Alfred Dunhill compact.

Sell it!

I'm selling now.

Well done! That's really good, Anita.

Congratulations. No profit or loss on that.

You stuck at £5, you have £5 profit.

The big question is, is that a winning score or not?

Don't tell the Reds, all right? Go out looking miserable, right?

So, it's a very commendable profit of £5 for the Blues,

but it's not enough to beat the Reds, who, remember,

made a great £52 profit.

Coming up, two more lots of Reds and Blues go bargain hunting,

but first, I'm getting the last ferry across the lough.

Well, I made it. I'm heading across Strangford Lough.

-Now, how much is that?

-£1.10, sir.

£1.10, there we go.

-Thank you very much.

-One way.

-And your ticket, sir.

-Super.

I'm heading off somewhere really special.

Castle Ward, actually.

And there it is.

The house was built for the Ward family in the 1760s

and has commanding views of the lough and surrounding countryside.

And like most landed families of the time, they didn't hold back on the decor.

Traditionally, these houses contain serried ranks of portraits.

Portraits of ancestors who have been involved in the place,

often over many centuries.

Here at Castle Ward, the family have been knocking about

for nigh-on 400 years, so there were a lot of portraits.

They've also got their own copy of Leonardo's famous picture, the Mona Lisa.

Is she smiling or not? Well, she might be smiling, actually.

Because she's looking out onto this lovely Gothic drawing room.

Out of all the pieces in this room, I think this one is my favourite.

It dates from a very particular period of time between about 1680 and 1710.

It's called a double-domed bureau bookcase.

These traditionally mirrored doors, they've been mirrored so that when

you pull out these candle slides and place a candle on top,

instead of just getting one candle power,

you double up the amount of illumination.

The lower part opens up like this.

Often these interiors can be rather boring.

But this is a brilliant example.

The pair of doors in the middle are called tabernacle doors.

They open up to reveal pigeonholes.

But the most dramatic thing about this bookcase has to be the upper part.

Because when you open those mirrored doors, it reveals the most extraordinary fitted interior.

It would have been so easy simply to put some boring shelves to hold your books. But oh, no.

They've taken an extraordinary amount of trouble over it.

And there are even some tricks in here.

The pilasters look solid and real, don't they?

But if I tweak that out,

it's got the traditional secret compartment.

Tuck away some sovereigns in there.

Ha-ha!

The big question is of course today,

are our teams going to make many sovereigns over at the auction?

Back at Hoops Courtyard Antiques Centre,

there are plenty of items that could make a bob or two.

So let's meet our new lot of Reds and Blues.

For the Reds, it is Barbara and Caroline. Welcome.

And for the Blues, Donnie and John.

Lovely to see you.

Now, Barbara, you've got a certain similarity in interests to your daughter, haven't you?

I have. We're both teachers. I teach in Hillsborough.

Are you going to be any good at this?

I hope so. I have an interest in antiques. I collect ceramics.

I particularly like Irish glass and little pieces of Irish silver.

-Keep your eye out! You never know what you will find.

-Thank you.

-Caroline, what's it like living under the shadow of your very successful mother?

-I know!

-I don't know if I'll meet her standards. I've been teaching for two years.

-What age?

-6 and 7.

You regard teaching as a vocation.

I think it's a calling and in the blood. It's very rewarding.

You wouldn't do it if you didn't enjoy it.

It's really nice to hear that. Congratulations.

Now, Donnie, you're not exactly related yet,

-but you do share interests.

-We're both fanatical about rugby.

We support Ulster and Ireland.

But we both also like cooking. I do boeuf bourguignon.

Boeuf bourguignon! Delicieuse!

-Does that have a link with your work?

-Yes, a very close link.

I've been a languages teacher, mainly French, for 35 years now.

-using puppets.

-Using puppets?

-So that's what that hairy thing is that you're hanging onto.

-Exactly.

-What's this monkey called?

-Laurent. Tu dis bonjour a Laurent?

-Bonjour, Laurent!

-Bonjour, Tim.

-Comment ca va?

-Ca va tres bien.

-He would be a little singe. He's a monkey.

-Un orangutan.

Un orangutan. Enchante!

Is he friendly? Oh, my God! Little brute!

A little birdie tells me - a little monkey, actually - that you'll be awfully good at this.

Could be, could be. Lots of experience in local auctions, buying furniture to refurbish,

most of which I give to my two daughters and prospective son-in-law.

John, we have discovered that you and Donnie have a lot to talk about.

-Yeah, a great deal.

-Tell me about this rugby link.

I was playing rugby since I was four or five.

This led to me playing into my teens and 20s

-and I played professionally for a couple of years.

-Did you?

-Yeah.

-Are you experienced in auctions?

-Donnie's got the experience.

-I tag along with him at auctions.

-Happy to be the bag man.

-Yes.

-No better spot today.

Now the money moment. 300 smackers. Look at Caroline grabbing that.

Your experts await. Off you go! Very, very good luck.

-Look, Mum, what about this?

-What does that remind me of?

-The shoes I bought!

-Absolutely.

-What do you think, David?

-Do you know what it's for?

-Is it a pin cushion?

-It is.

Normally they come very plain or they are novelty items in the shape of pigs or chickens.

I like the buckle on it - it's beautiful.

That's a little bit loose, but just needs pinned back there.

-It is a collector's piece. It's very nice.

-Is there a maker's mark on it?

-Yes.

A silver mark for Birmingham, 1903.

Birmingham was renowned for doing toys, little objects called toys.

-Mum, do you like this?

-I like it. It reminds me of Caroline's shoes, so there's a tie-in there.

Would it make a profit, David?

It depends on the price!

If it's under £100, consider it. If it's over £100, don't.

-Work your charm.

-We will!

The Reds walked away with the pin cushion shoe for a mere £68. Good work, girls!

Have a look at this.

Now...

it's a dessert server, it's made of sterling silver.

It may have been part of a set in a fitted box.

-How old would that piece be?

-I would say 1920s, 1930s.

If we turn it over, we see a magic name.

Tiffany and Company.

Now, this was an expensive item at the time. It's a prestigious firm.

And this will attract the buyers.

I think that, when it comes to auction,

brand is important, so hopefully,

Tiffany's can get us a couple of pounds.

And it's beautifully made. We have this lovely gilded bowl.

The shape is beautiful. And we have this very nice handle.

There is a set of initials on it,

which detracts a wee bit from it, but not too much.

What they will like is the Tiffany and Company name.

-Will we make money on it?

-Well, price...£78.

-That's a bit steep.

-I don't think it's terribly dear for an item of this quality,

but we are on Bargain Hunt and we want to make profits,

so I'll see if I can get something off.

Well, Anita did her very, very best

and dished out £65 for the dessert spoon.

I've been married to a schoolteacher for 35 years.

-So I know when a teacher gives me orders, I've got to comply. What did you want?

-Irish glass.

You wanted to find a piece. I think I've found a piece for you.

Now this is typically Irish. We're looking at the latter part of the 18th and into the 19th century.

Unmistakable because of this type of diamond pattern and etching all the way through.

Now, I think that this was part and parcel of a tantalus.

That means a cabinet containing as many as four bottles.

-Now, the price they are asking is £98.

-Yeah. We need to get it down.

And it's still on offer.

-Just look at that label. What is it?

-Faded.

-Faded.

That means it's old stock. They've had it a long time... or the pen's running out.

Ladies, over to you. It's got all the elements of Irish glass.

-Do you both like it?

-I love it.

-I think it's lovely.

-Oh, good, good. Mother and daughter agree. Do your best!

-Thank you.

The Reds knocked £20 off the price of the decanter, getting it for £78.

-Anita? Come and look at this vase.

-Aw, John!

Lovely, innit?

Now, it's not strictly antique. It comes from the '60s and '70s.

It's 20th-century design.

And many young people are attracted to this type of item.

-Do you know anything about it?

-Very little, but the lady pointed out the Poole stamp on the bottom.

-I'm just intrigued to know what this is here.

-This mark?

The Poole factory employed a designer called Robert Jefferson.

He made a range called Delphis and Aegean.

And this type of colouring and this type of abstract work

is typical of these wares.

What's the best price?

-The best they can give it to me for is £70, Donnie, so...

-That seems a very attractive price.

I think if it came into my auction, I would estimate it £80-£120.

So off you go and buy it before she changes her mind.

Nice job, John. £70 for the Poole vase.

That's right! Get a move on, Reds! You've still got one item to find.

Look at this. I really like this. What do you think?

Well, it's one of the loveliest images I've seen.

A bit different, I know, but there's something I like. Is it silver?

It's solid silver. I just caught the mark here. They hide it.

They've got it down as Birmingham, date letter E - 1904.

Bevelled glass here.

-And you've got a little bit of...

-Damage.

-I think that could be taken out by re-silvering at the back.

-No great problem.

-Good.

-The only problem being...

-We've spotted it.

-A section of silverwork missing. I've seen these go for nearly £350, £400.

-Oh, really?

-But not like this.

-Damaged goods.

-This is damaged.

-Yes.

-Is there a price on it?

-Yes, £100.

-£100.

-Too expensive for the damage.

-It is too expensive.

-But you know us, David.

-You frighten me to death!

-What would be a good price?

-Well, round about 60.

-OK.

-If you get any less, you're brilliant.

-And hopefully a very handsome man will buy it!

Good bargaining skills, those Reds. £50 paid for the mirror.

What about this soda siphon?

Maybe Boo could tell us something about it. How old is it?

I'd have thought 1930, 1940.

It's moulded glass,

with this etched decoration.

We have a little circle of shamrocks round here.

-And there's the harp.

-Oh, the harp, yeah. Uh-huh.

We have etched, "Mineral Water, Distributed in Dublin".

It's an item that would appeal to collectors of Irish memorabilia.

And an item which will appeal to people who drink.

It'll appeal to most Irish people!

Well, let's look at the price.

£15. It does seem dear.

I don't know.

-I need to give you a good deal.

-Yes, I think so!

10. How about that?

-That sounds fine to me.

-£10 is not a lot of money.

-I think we'll go for it.

-OK. We'll take it.

-Good luck with it.

-Thank you.

-That was a really good deal.

Right, that's it. Time's up. Let's recap on what the Reds bought.

The lady's shoe cost £68,

but will it find its Cinderella?

Hopefully, the decanter will have the punters in high spirits.

£78 paid.

Mirror, mirror on the wall, will you bring a profit at all for £50?

-Did you have a great shop?

-We did.

-Wonderful, yes.

-A brilliant time.

-Which is your favourite piece, Caroline?

-Definitely the mirror.

-And you, Babs?

-Ditto!

-Ditto? You're not just saying that?

-No. I love it.

-Which will bring the biggest profit?

-Erm, probably the mirror, if people overlook the damage.

Well, you did incredibly well. £196 you spent.

Lovely jubbly. We have £104 of leftover lolly.

-That's a lot of money, David.

-I'll need all of it.

They're such an exacting couple.

-Mother and daughter.

-And schoolteachers.

-Yes!

-You know what they're like.

-I remember. OK, off you go.

Take it gently all the way there.

Meanwhile, let's remind ourselves what the Blues bought.

The Blues are hoping their Tiffany dessert server

will spoon out huge dollops of profit.

They paid £70 for the Poole vase, which will brighten up the auction!

But will they be fizzing with the success of their soda siphon?

-Donnie, John, how was the shopping?

-Marvellous.

-Which is your favourite piece?

-Poole vase.

-John?

-Yes.

-We're united on Poole. Which will bring the most profit?

-I think the soda siphon.

-Got a strategy with that?

-Try and sell it. Good strategy.

You only spent £145. £155 is leftover lolly. Now, that is a pile of dough, Anita.

-Well, I've been blethering away to Donnie all day in French.

-Och, aye?

So I'm going to buy something stylish and with a little... je ne sais quoi!

Ah, yes. I give that dix points for pronunciation.

Anyway, very good luck.

-So we're back in Belfast at Ross's Auctioneers with Daniel Clark. Hello.

-Good morning.

First up for the Reds is this sweet little pin cushion.

Well, very elegant. I love the little buckle. I think that's really nice. Elegant shape.

-And these are very collectible.

-Yes.

£60-£80, but if you said it would make 150, I wouldn't say you were wrong.

-A couple of collectors...

-They could go bonkers.

-They could.

-Our team only paid £68, so they've done well.

-They have.

Now the Irish spirit decanter.

This very much reminds me of the cutting on Irish mirrors.

I'm sure it's inspired by that.

-Pity about the stopper.

-You don't think it's right?

-No.

-£50-£60.

-OK, £78 paid.

The dressing mirror...

Beautiful, but, unfortunately, in very bad condition now.

A lot of work needing done.

-£50-£80.

-They paid £50.

Frankly, anything on the top end of 50 is good news.

But overall, depending on how the shoe fits,

will determine whether they need their bonus buy.

Now, this is one of 11 pieces.

I think it's Spode.

It dates from round about 1830.

Just as they changed over from hybrid hard paste into bone china.

You have two of these,

two square serving dishes, an oval dish and then you have six individual plates.

-All decorated with this wonderful sort of chinoiserie style.

-Yes.

Well, I can reveal to you, girls, now...

-that the plates, the remainder, are on display on that dresser.

-Oh, my goodness!

-See that?

-I really like the colours.

-They're brilliant.

What sort of profit are we thinking about?

-I'd like it to go for £150-£160.

-Maybe £200. On a good day.

-Ever hopeful.

-With the wind up its tail.

-I think it's lovely.

-I like it.

You won't, however, decide until the sale of your three items, but what does the auctioneer think?

11 pieces in total, nice piece in good condition.

-I think it will do well. £150, maybe £200.

-No!

Well, that's brilliant. That canny old monkey Barby only paid £104.

That's it for the Reds. Now the Blues.

Their first item is the Tiffany scoop, which I fancy was made particularly for ice cream.

Yes, I'm sure an ice-cream gateau rather than a scoop out of a tub.

It's in nice condition, and I like that the gilding is pristine.

-Yeah, it's hardly been used.

-Being Tiffany, it will have a following.

-£50 or £60?

-OK. £65 they paid.

Now some more Poole Pottery.

I'm not personally madly keen on it.

-£50, £60.

-They paid £70. I think they paid too much. We'll see.

-The soda siphon.

-These are becoming very trendy.

They're reproducing them now for high street stores.

Nicely etched on the front with the Dublin Mineral Company.

-I would imagine £20-£30.

-Really? As much as that? £10 they paid.

I fancy they'll need their bonus buy. Let's look at it.

-Bonjour, les Bleus!

-Bonjour!

-Comment ca va?

-Ca va bien.

Vive les Bleus! Now, you spent 145, Donnie.

-Correct.

-You gave £155 to the wee girl here.

-We did, yes.

-And she's spend the lot.

-No.

-Reveal your bonus buy, sweet pea.

Hmm.

It's a very sweet little letter opener or paper knife.

And I find the combination of tortoiseshell and silver irresistible.

-What do you think?

-It looks like something you get free with Hello!

-How much did you pay for it?

-£45.

That's...that's not bad. Do you think it would make a profit?

There's a possibility. Not a huge profit. A small profit.

-It could make £5 or £10 profit.

-OK, £50-£55, all right, may be in it.

She spent £45, she rates it.

But for the viewers at home, let's see what the auctioneer thinks about it.

A nice little piece.

It would make a lovely gift, in pristine order. £40-£50 maybe.

Anita paid £45. Slap bang in the middle, a relief all round.

-Will you be taking the sale?

-I will.

-Very good luck. Thank you.

-Feeling confident, darling?

-Excited!

-Caroline, you and your pin cushion shoe.

-Yes.

-Still think it's fab?

I think so. Some glamorous lady in the room can pick it up and enjoy it.

-With taste and discernment.

-Yes.

Lot 180. A silver miniature pin cushion.

Birmingham, 1903.

Very elegant little piece with the buckle on the top of the shoe.

Open the bidding at £50?

£50, please? I'm bid £50.

-50-60.

-70. 80.

At 90. At £90. Keep going!

£95. 100, new bidder.

110. 115.

115.

At 115. The bid's here. A collectible lot. We have £115.

-£115!

-125.

-130.

-Caroline! That's bonkers!

At £130. I'm selling now. At £130...

-£130.

-Doubled your money!

-Stand by for the spirit decanter.

Lot number 181. Early 19th-century Irish glass spirit decanter.

£50, say? 40?

30? 30 I'm bid, thank you.

5. 40.

At £40 I'm bid. Any more? At £40 for the decanter. And 5!

Lady's bid. At 45.

It's with the lady at £45. I'm selling now at 45.

All finished at £45. To you, madam.

That's 28...

That is £33 loss on that. Now the dressing mirror. Here we go.

Lot number 182. The Edwardian silver-mounted dressing table mirror.

Shall we say £50? 40 for it? 30 I'm bid. 40. At £40.

At £40. 5. The lady seated, at 45.

At £45.

At £45. Any more?

-At 45. I'm selling now. 50. New bidder at 50.

-Yes!

At £50, against you. I'm selling now at £50.

Well, wiped its face. £50. No profit, no loss.

But lots of pain! You are plus 29.

Oh.

What are you going to do about this Spode service?

-We'll gamble.

-Have a punt? Here it comes.

Lot 186. Part Spode dessert service, circa 1830. Very nice set.

Can we say £200? 150? Take £100, please.

With you at 100.

110. 120. Against you, madam. 130.

140. 150.

-At £150.

-Come on! It's worth more.

£150 for the dessert service.

£150.

Letting it go at £150.

-£150. You have just made...

-Oh, ye of little faith.

You have just made £46 profit out of that item.

So that's 15...4, 5, 6... That's £75.

You have £75, you two, in your back pocket.

-That's nearly a tank full of petrol.

-It is, indeed.

-Just about.

Now, do us a favour, don't mention anything to the Blues.

-Are you feeling confident?

-Fine.

-Hot for this, John?

-Can't wait.

-Been training?

-Yeah.

-I like it.

First up is the Tiffany dessert serving spoon.

Lot number 205. Sterling silver server, Tiffany and Company.

Say £50? 40 for it?

30 I'm bid. 40 against you.

-£40 I have. Any more?

-I don't like the look of it.

At £40. And 5. Thank you, sir.

At £45. Gentleman seated here. Against you, madam. All finished?

-Selling now.

-Don't like this.

-Selling at £45.

45. That's minus 20.

-Number 206.

-Poole Pottery.

1960s Pool Pottery vase. Can we say £50 for the Poole vase?

40? 30 anywhere? 30 I'm bid.

40. 50.

60. At 70, new bidder.

-At 80.

-Yes! You're in profit!

At £80. Selling now. At £80.

-£80.

-Well done!

-That's £10. You are a hero.

Only minus £10 now. Soda siphon.

The Dublin soda siphon. 30? £20?

10 I'm bid. At £10. 15.

At 20. £20 for the soda siphon.

At 25. New bidder. With you, madam.

£25.

£25. That is plus £15.

So, overall, you are plus £5.

-Wo-ho!

-Right, that's not too bad. Now, what are you going to do?

Bank your £5 or go with the letter opener?

No, we'll go with it.

Yes, OK. I'll go with his opinion, cos I took the last decision.

-No, hold on again... Go with it.

-Definitely going with it? They're going with it!

211. A silver and tortoiseshell letter opener.

Shall we say £50 for it? £40? Say 30?

20 I'm bid. Thank you.

5. 30. At £30 for the letter opener.

And 5. At £35.

Letting it go at 35. Worth more.

All done at £35.

Oh, guys, I'm so sorry!

-That's all right.

-Minus £10.

Unfortunately, it wipes out your £5 profit.

A loss of £5.

The helter-skelter of life on Bargain Hunt. So cruel.

Gosh! What fun we've had today! Had a good time? It was stupendous!

One team is marginally ahead.

Sadly, the runners up today are the Blues. Sorry to reveal this.

I know this is a crushing blow. You didn't do too badly.

A profit on the pottery vase and on that soda siphon, which was something else, Donnie.

At one stage, you were plus £5. You had a whole £5!

Then you went with the bonus buy.

Moving on to the Reds. Look at this, mother and daughter!

-And the expert!

-Yes!

-So chuffed!

£62 on that pin cushion. Not so good on the spirit decanter.

Nevertheless, you were fine. You were £29 and went for the bonus buy, that fantastic service.

That took you to £75. So it's a great pleasure to give you this.

-Thank you!

-Look at the hand! We've had a brilliant day.

-Join us soon for more bargain hunting! Yes?

-Yes!

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