Devon 7 Bargain Hunt

We're in Devon today, home of the cream team and also home

to some recognisable names like Sir Francis Drake, Sir Francis Chichester,

Agatha Christie and, would you believe it, yours truly.

So before I head off down memory lane, let's go bargain hunting!

We're bargain hunting in the town of Honiton today.

It's not a very big place, but in the middle of the nineteenth century

there were no less than 29 coaching inns in this town,

and the spirit of hospitality is still rife in the place.

-Morning!

-Morning! See what I mean?

And also, Queen Victoria, no less, had her wedding gown trimmed in Honiton lace.

We're at the Honiton Antiques Centre

and the Fountains Antiques Centre in Honiton today.

As usual, each of our teams get £300 and an hour to shop for their three bargains.

They'll also get to have the pleasure of an expert to coach them.

But which team will have the best eye for the bargains?

Let's go and meet 'em!

So it's the girls versus the boys, the battle of the sexes, today,

and for the Reds we've got Tina and Linda. Welcome to Bargain Hunt.

And we've got Melv and Paddy for the Blues. Welcome.

Now, you two girls, how did you first meet?

-Well, I was selling my house, Tim, and Tina was my estate agent.

-Right!

You get to meet all sorts of people, as an estate agent?

Yeah, some weird ones, some nice ones

Tell us a story or two, then.

-Disasters we like.

-Linda's son, actually.

I turned up at Linda's house with the clients to do a viewing, knocked on the door, and he said,

"Have you got any identification?", to which I replied,

-"No, but I really am the estate agent."

-Yeah!

-He said, "You're not coming in," and shut the door in my face!

-Did he?

-Yes!

What do you do, Linda?

I'm a business consultant with an oil company in London.

And you're particularly keen on shopping.

I love shopping, Tim. I'll buy anything.

I think you're going to do terribly well, and good luck.

Now for the boys, Pads and Melv. It says here that you describe

yourselves as "charming, handsome, cheeky, full of knowledge..."

-Have I left anything out(?)

-How about modesty, Tim?

-Modesty! Yeah!

That WOULD be a good one!

Now, Melv, you're the practical joker?

Yes, I am, Tim, yeah. There was one occasion some twenty years ago

when I was working in a general hospital

and we played a joke on one of our colleagues. We told him that there was a body in one of the fridges

wanting to go to the chapel of rest.

Unknown to him I was in the fridge, and when he pulled me out

I let up a great sigh and moved, and that was it, he was gone.

-He was gone. I think he's still running now!

-I wouldn't blame him!

Paddy, you've got a passion for the past.

Yeah. Ever since I was a kid I've always been interested in history

and just being in old places.

I used to do medieval re-enacting.

Do you collect anything yourself?

Weaponry and tribal art, primarily.

-Weaponry and tribal art?

-Specialist areas, aren't they?

-Yeah.

Takes a long time to learn about tribal art especially.

You might find it today in Honiton, wouldn't that be exciting?

We've got an expert on the Blue team, which is lovely.

Now the money moment. £300 apiece.

There's your £300. You know the rules.

The experts await. And off you go!

our experts will have their work cut out today

because they will be helping not one but two pairs of teams.

Hoping to spin a win for the girls is James Braxton.

And fighting for a profit for the boys is Philip Serrell.

Hey, come on! Put those pictures down.

-What do you think to this?

-Yeah. Is that kind of Arts and Crafts?

It has a look, doesn't it? I love the handles.

-It's got a sort of Arts and Craftsy line, hasn't it?

-Mm.

And a very Arts and Craftsy sort of material, copper.

I think it would look great on a hall table, wouldn't it,

-with flowers in it?

-Yeah. Yeah.

-Big grasses or something like that.

-I like it.

It's an interior designer's dream.

-It is. Heaven, isn't it?

-So how much is it?

-Er, £38.

-Do you think it could make it at auction?

I think I could buy it for less. I should be able to buy it for under 30.

-And I think as a good architectural piece, nice copper, I think it'll look tremendous.

-Yeah, great.

-Permission granted?

-Yeah.

-Go for it.

So with the Reds' support, James hammered out the copper vase for £25.

But I wonder what the Blues are brooding over.

Isn't this "egg-citing"?

Cracking good find.

That's a really good yolk!

What is it?

A lot of people think these are ostrich eggs, but this is an emu egg.

I think it's amazing. What would it have been used for?

-You'd just put it on a desk, wouldn't you?

-Yeah.

-I think it's really interesting.

-Do you?

-Yeah, I like it.

-Why?

-Well, it'd look nice

-on somebody's desk.

-Yeah.

-It might be unique. What sort of price do you think would be a good price to purchase?

-On a bad day...

Well, it's priced up at £22.

I think on a bad day at auction it's a tenner. On a good day at auction it might be 30.

-Right.

-I reckon 30.

-Erm, but do you wanna buy this?

-Yes.

-Yeah, I reckon.

-If we can get it for cheaper than £22,

-I think we're onto a winner.

-No pressure on me there, then(!)

Philip shelled out £15 for the egg, let's hope he doesn't end up with it on his face!

Now, you look very smart.

-Mr Bradford.

-Mrs Bingley.

Come on, guys, stop messing around. Look what I've found.

I found this fantastic vase. What do you think?

-Do you know who has made it?

-No.

-Early Branham wear. Do you know much about Branham?

-No.

You should do. West Country farmer, he is.

In Barnstaple, north-west of here.

So he might appeal to somebody local?

Yeah, local buyers.

Just on the base here I can just pick out 1882.

-Excellent.

-Well, yeah.

-What do you think about the condition, James?

-Yeah, it's funny,

it's almost got a sort of bad touch of pox.

I think it's probably a problem in the terracotta. In the actual earthenware body.

These are fired at big degrees, 800 degrees centigrade,

it's got a tin oxide skin over it, here. It's just burst through, hasn't it?

-That's been there since it was made?

-Definitely since it's been made.

I'm a little concerned about the condition, the general look of it.

It's kind of a little bit rough, isn't it?

-Bit of rough!

-I'm done with bits of rough!

-HE LAUGHS

-think you're right. It's got a good type, though.

-Linda, I think if we could get this for the right money I think we should buy it.

-And what is the money?

Well, at the moment, it's £89 but I think maybe around 70,

I'd be happy.

I think that's really nice. It could do quite well, couldn't it?

-Photograph well.

-Yes. It's attractive.

OK, go on, Tina. You go and buy it.

-Let's get back to fun.

-Back to the fun.

-Back to the hats.

-I like this one.

-£30 only, this one.

-Wow, that's not bad, is it? Good for a night out, you know.

Hats off to Tina.

She fashioned the price down to £70.

But I think the Blues might need something medicinal after what Paddy is about to show them.

-Hello you two.

-Are they one lot or three lots?

-Three lots.

-All individually priced?

-So, what is the first one?

-The first one is this.

-I think I'll take the money. What an earth is that?

-Oh, my God.

Well, I think it's some kind of optician's tool. For looking at eyes.

So that, can I have a look...

that presumably screws on there.

-Battery goes in there and it sort of lights up a bulb or something?

-How old do you think it is?

I don't think there's any great age to that but it looks like it's perhaps 1960s, doesn't it?

£9.50. We think that's for looking at your eyes. OK. What's your next offering?

Move that out the way, then.

-Oh, my life!

-This is...

That looks like it's going to hurt!

-I think its veterinary.

-Veterinary.

-Because you think how much

liquid the reservoir holds, you're certainly not going to be injecting that amount into a human. Painful.

Inside you've got some needles...

which look quite painful.

Makes the buttocks clench, doesn't it?

Makes everything clench a bit.

-How much is this?

-£8.

-How much was the last one?

-£9.50.

-£9.50 and £8 is?

-£17.50.

-You could get a job on Countdown, you.

What's our next thing?

-Well, this is a haemocytometer. That's what it says on the lid.

-Something to do with blood.

-I think it's for measuring the number of blood cells and it's good quality and it's only £7.50.

-Come on, Carol.

-£25.

-This is vaudeville, well done.

-Thank you.

I think, I think if they came into my sale they'd be one lot

and they'd be 15 to 30 quid or 20 to 40 quid or something like that.

If you can get the three for five pound a piece,

-15 quid, we're in business, do you reckon?

-Yeah.

What a conundrum.

But Paddy wrote out the prescription for £15.

So, come on, James. Can you cast your expert eye on this bad boy, please?

Fabulous, isn't it? Arts and Crafts theme we are developing, aren't we?

Nice bit of copper, isn't it?

-What is it, then?

-I don't know.

It's got some isolators, hasn't it?

I suspect they're either ceramic or horn. They look almost like horn.

To stop the transfer of heat - that would suggest a hot water jug to me.

-It's rather nice. So, what would you think would be a good price on that, then?

-So, £45 we've got on it,

well, you know, as low as possible. I don't know, 30, 35?

It's a good job because we've just bought it for 32.

-No! You naughty people!

-Yes, we did.

-Naughty people!

-We did.

-£32?

I think that's all right, isn't it?

I think that's rather nice.

It goes well with our items. We'll have Arts and Crafts people pouring

from all parts of the country for our three items, won't we?

Excellent. Thank you.

I do love an expert full of optimism but are the Blues projecting a profit on their last item?

Blimey.

What's that?

It says on the label it is a magic lantern.

A light source would have sat on there, wouldn't it?

-Yeah.

-That bit's missing and that goes in there.

And then here, lovely little bit of brass engineering so you can just see your light source there.

And then that lifts up.

-Is that a focus, or...?

-That winds in and out.

What's the price? £68.

I think it's a quirky object.

I could see that on somebody's sideboard.

Somebody who's got an engineering interest. It's quirky.

-I don't like it.

-You don't like it?

-I don't like it.

-Say what you think(!)

-It's incomplete and there's no slides.

I don't think anyone would want it.

I have doubts about its originality.

-I think it's probably going to make between 30 and £40.

-OK.

-But I think someone will buy it.

-Yeah.

-If Melv's happy, I'm happy.

-Aw.

-Isn't that nice, eh?

-Gonna buy it then, aren't you?

-Yes.

-Try and do get it for as close to 30 as you can.

-OK, will do. Do my best.

So, with a warm glow, Melv lit the deal for £45.

But time is marching on and I'd better check in with the wife.

-Hello, Doris?

-At the third stroke, the shopping's over.

THREE BEEPS

Right! Time's up.

HE SNIFFS

The Reds are hoping to see gold with a £25 copper baluster-shaped vase.

Have they thrown away £70 on the Branham ware vase?

And finally, will any profits be tarnished

with the Arts and Crafts-style jug?

-Have you had a good time shopping?

-We did.

-Yeah, very giggly, aren't you?

-Great fun, actually.

-Was it good, actually?

-It was.

-That's lovely, actually.

Which is your favourite piece, actually?

-I think, even though it's quite rough, the vase.

-Rough vase, right.

-What about you, Tine?

-I chose the vase so I have to pick the vase, don't I?

Not necessarily. OK, it's your favourite. Anyway, you spent £127.

I'd like £173 worth of leftover lolly. James, there you go.

-Lot of cash, isn't it?

-Yup.

-Gonna have to trot off and have a go then, aren't you?

-I will do my best for the girls.

-I'd like you to know that we're all behind you.

-Thank you.

Meanwhile, let's checkout what the Blues bought.

Could the Blues be incubating a huge profit with the emu,

or is it the ostrich egg?

Will temperatures be rising after paying £15 for the medical objects?

And finally will the magic lantern conjure up a profit?

-So, Pads and Melvs, how did you get on, have a good time shopping?

-Yeah.

-Fantastic.

-Which is your favourite piece, Pads?

-I liked the medical bits.

-Medical bits?

-Yeah.

-Lovely. What about you, Melv?

I love the magic lantern.

Magic lantern is your favourite?

Which piece is gonna bring the biggest profit?

I think we have to go with Pad's medical pieces.

-Is that what it's going to be?

-I think so.

-OK, you spent £75, which is pathetic.

£225 worth of leftover lolly.

That's 225. I don't think I've ever handed over so much leftover lolly.

What is going on around here? Eh?

-Well, we tried to spend it.

-Yeah?

-Yes. He tried to buy a pot.

Tried to buy a pot? For thruppence?

-No, it was a £300 pot.

-Oh, was it? Oh, a proper pot.

-A real pot, yeah.

-Didn't have enough for the pot.

-No, I'm going to try and buy one now.

-That's good, isn't it?

You've got all this money to spend. Extraordinarily good luck. That's all I can say.

-Thank you.

-Goodbye.

-Bye-bye.

-Goodbye. Bless your heart.

Well, it's lovely to be back in Bearnes sale room in Exeter with Martin McElroy.

-Morning, Tim.

-Morning Martin. Now, the Reds, Tina and Linda,

-their first item is this copper job.

-As a decorative item, it's a nice shape...

More industrial though, isn't it?

More than that, it needs cleaning and people just do not like cleaning copper and brass.

And at auction we may get 10 to £15 for it. I think we'll be hard pushed.

Yeah, pushed is the word. £25 they paid.

Now, no better saleroom in the UK to sell a nice a piece of Branham

than Bearnes in Exeter.

This, unfortunately, is the worst example I think I've ever seen.

The glazing has been pitted and potted.

Yeah. I mean, something exploded in the kiln, didn't it?

-Either the wrong temperature or in the wrong part of the kiln.

-Yeah.

I'm amazed they didn't throw it away.

-What, regard it as a second?

-Maybe even a fifth.

-A fifth? Oh dear.

But even so, I suppose, to somebody who wants to start

-collecting Branham, you can turn it in one direction and it looks fairly OK, so maybe 30 to £40?

-Maybe?

-Maybe.

-We'll have to cross our legs cos they paid £70 for it.

-Ouch.

-70 smackers. But there we go. We're all on a learning curve.

It's rather like this Arts and Crafts jug here.

That looks more like shed work to me than Arts and Crafts work.

It is Arts and Crafts, beaten copper.

-Beaten to death?

-Beaten to death, yeah.

-Again, it needs cleaning and we will be struggling at £10 for that.

-Oh dear, £32 they paid.

So overall, I'm afraid, we have deep gloom and despair

relating to all three of these contestants' items.

So they're almost certainly going to need their bonus buy, let's look at it.

God, it's ugly. THEY LAUGH

Is it...? What is it?

I thought its only saving grace was the ribbon in its mane.

-Speechless. Speechless.

-Tell me about it, James.

It's Beswick, so, a big collectors' pottery and I thought we're coming...

It's quite a rural area, Exeter, nd I thought shire horse, nostalgic.

The crunch question, what did you pay for it?

-£30.

-It's a clever choice, girls. You've got to admit that. The boy's done good, hasn't he?

-Yeah. Yeah.

-Don't be too fulsome with your praise.

-You've done well.

-I think he's done good.

-That's the ribbon. That's the mane, yes.

-Oh, my Lord.

-I like that sort of fleck of colour.

-Gorgeous. Both of you.

Anyway. For the viewers at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about James's old horse.

These are becoming extremely popular for some reason. It's in good order.

As far as I can tell there's no signs of repair or damage to it.

And I think at auction it should fetch in the region of 40 to £60.

That would be wonderful if you could achieve that because old Braxton paid £30 for it.

He sees it as a runner. So, that would be wonderful. Moving on to the Blues.

We've got some seriously wacky things here, Paddy and Melv.

The ostrich egg. Is this going to be ostrich or is it going be emu?

Ostrich. And it's going to be hard to sell.

-Is it?

-It is. I mean, they're very decorative, they're fun things, a good conversation piece.

But at the end of the day, it is an egg. Just large.

Yeah. I mean, you can't look at that without feeling some sense of pain, can you?

Constipated, yeah, exactly.

-How much do you think it's going to bring?

-I think we will be getting about 10 to £20.

10 to £20? Well, that's fine.

It's £15. That's all they paid for it.

Medical equipment.

We've got three little pieces of kit here which you can stick up basically any orifice you like.

I got a bit of rubber, we've got this nice thing you can squeeze into your ear hole.

-Basically, wherever you are, leaving out gynaecology, I think we've got it here.

-Yeah.

-Cracked.

-Yeah.

Medical equipment is quite popular but this is 20th century rather than 19th century.

At best, we're going to get maybe 10 to £15.

That's great. £15 is all they paid.

If you get anything like that that's absolutely super.

-We'll see what we can do.

-The last item, thank goodness, is this magic lantern which is missing its guts.

But it's quite a decorative thing, isn't it?

That is basically what most people buy them for, purely to look decorative on a shelf.

Normally they have been converted to electricity.

-Everybody likes them but nobody actually wants to buy them.

-Yes.

-They think they're wonderful, but nobody likes to pay for it.

-No.

-"I like it but I wouldn't buy it".

-Yes, exactly.

So I think we'd be... I think we'll get about 20 to £30 for that.

Do you? Well that would be brilliant because they paid £45,

-shows them a substantial loss, but it could be worse.

-Yeah.

-Anyway, overall, we've got a mixed bag here, haven't we?

-Yes, we have.

A lovely mixture.

Overall though, I've a funny feeling they're going to need their bonus buy, so let's have a look at it.

Paddy, I'm going straight past you, I know you won't like that.

-I bought it for Melv.

-It's pottery isn't it?

-I bought that for Melv.

-Lovely.

-You like Charlotte Rhead.

-It is a Charlotte Rhead.

No, it's his father... HIS father? ..her father, Frank Rhead.

And it's just Amstel pottery. I just think it's quite sweet.

I love it. I think it's lovely. Why didn't I see that on the day?

-You did, you walked straight past it.

-Did I? That's beautiful. What did you pay for that?

-35 quid.

-Would you have bought it?

-Yes, I would have, definitely.

You wouldn't have, would you?

I think that will make between £30 and £50.

-And there's maybe £15, £20 in it?

-I think so, yes.

-And Paddy, you're shutting up.

-I'm saying nothing.

You're saying nothing? Well, there we go.

This is what's lovely about teamwork. Anyway, you don't decide now but, for the viewers at home,

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

-Boring.

-Boring birdage.

The pattern is really kind of indistinct, it's blobby.

-Yeah.

-And quite honestly, I think we will be struggling at about £10.

Philip Serrell will be gutted at that. £35 he paid.

-I'd like to be proved wrong on that one.

-It must be more of a Worcester taste than a West Country taste.

-Quite possibly.

-Are you our auctioneer today?

-Yes, I'm afraid I am.

-We're in safe hands.

-Now, how are you feeling?

-Confident.

-Tense.

-Are you feeling excited?

-Very.

-Are you?

-Yeah.

Are you on the edge of excitement?

-I'm quivering.

-There you go, see. This is Bargain Hunt for you.

First item, and it's coming up now, is the copper jug. Here it comes.

On to lot number 50 now, the large eastern copper two-handled vase.

We can do this.

Lot number 50 and, again, who will start me at £20? £20 anybody?

-Come on.

-£10?

-£5?

-Oh, no.

A couple of pounds?

Two anywhere? A pound?

A pound I'm bid. Thank you, ma'am. £1. Two anywhere now?

With the lady standing at £1?

Two anywhere? Two. Three.

We're up to three.

Get excited.

With the lady standing at £3.

Four now? All done and selling then at three.

Oh, dear. That's minus £22.

-James's item.

-Oh! Don't be like that.

Next up is your Branham.

On to lot number 51, it is the Charles Branham vase.

£20 for this Branham vase?

£10?

£5? Arms everywhere now.

Five I'm taking with you, sir. £5. Six. Seven, eight, nine.

We've got two people fighting.

12, 14, 16, 18, 20,

22, 24, 26, 28, 30.

-32, 34, 36, 38.

-Come on, come on.

-Push it up more.

-The gentleman seated at £40.

Do we have 42 anywhere? With the gentlemen seated at £40.

£42 anywhere? Last chance at £40.

All done and selling then.

-Cringe.

-£40 minus 30. Well, it could have been a lot worse, couldn't it?

-Now here comes the jug.

-The Arts and Crafts style copper lidded jug.

£10 for the jug?

£5 for the jug?

A couple of pounds for the jug?

Ridiculous.

£2. Two I'm bid. Thank you, ma'am. Three, now there's competition.

Three, four, five.

At £5. Six anywhere now?

-£5. Six?

-Oh, come on.

-It's got to be worth more than that.

£5. Six? Go on. Go on.

At £5. Six?

With you then, ma'am, at £6.

All done and selling.

-I'm so sorry, girls. That's not great, is it?

-Well, we tried.

You did try, and you tried so beautifully, too.

But we're minus £78. Bad luck, girls.

So what are you going to do?

Are you going to go with the cart horse or not?

-I think so.

-I'll go with James.

Go with James' cart horse? Here it comes.

Lot 56 now, the Beswick pottery model of a brown gloss shire mare.

Lot 56, £20?

£10?

£5? Nobody's left to bid so I think we're scuppered.

Seven, eight, nine, 10.

At £10, lady in front at £10.

12 anywhere now? All done at £10?

We're selling for 10 then.

Bad luck. It's minus £20.

So overall you're minus 98.

Oh. It was lovely though.

-Whatever you do, don't tell the Blues.

-No, we won't.

Keep the suspense. Because minus £98 could be the winning score.

-I see the pigs flying.

-Yeah.

Now, Paddy and Mel, do you know how the Reds got on?

-I haven't a clue.

-You don't want to know, I'll tell you.

OK, how are you feeling, all right?

-Yeah, optimistic.

-Got a good feeling in your waterworks?

-Mediocre.

Mediocre in the waterworks. What about you, Mel?

How are your waterworks?

-Quietly optimistic.

-Are you?

I'm hoping we'll do all right.

Lovely boys, aren't they?

So stand firm. Stand by and first up is Phil's egg.

Now we go on to lot number 72,

the ostrich egg mounted on a turned-stem finial.

There we are.

We start at £10.

Bid with me at £10 for the ostrich egg. 12, 14, 16, 18, 20.

-Look at that.

-At £20, commission bid still has it.

-22 anywhere now?

-Profit.

Commission bid has it at £20.

Done and selling then at £20.

Excellent, £20. Plus £5.

That's a rarity, Phil. Lovely.

-Absolutely.

-Now, medical. Stand by.

-Medical instruments, lot number 73.

-And again £20 starting for this.

-Profit already.

-£20 I have.

Starting at 20.

22, 24, 26, 28. At £28. With me again, at the back, £30 or no?

At £28 then and selling.

All done at 28 and selling.

Thank you very much, plus £13.

This is like shelling peas.

-That surprised me.

-Now, here comes the lantern.

We're going to go to lot number 74

which is the glass and tinplate magic lantern.

At £10 anybody?

For the magic lantern, £10? A bid, thank you, ma'am, at £10.

12 anywhere now? At £10.

With the lady at £10.

All done. Selling at 10 then.

I do not believe that, £10.

-Minus £35 overall.

-I am flabbergasted at that.

So what are we going to do about the vase?

Do you think it'll make a profit?

-Gonna stick with the tin?

-Quickly.

I think it's going to wipe its nose and make a fiver.

Are you sure about this?

-I'm hoping.

-Well, we're going with it.

-Here it is.

-Now we come to the Burslem ware pottery

Amstel ovoid vase, lot number 78.

There we are, with a bird amongst foliage.

And again, £20 for this one?

10 pounds?

The vase, £10? Nice decoration. £5?

Final bid. Thank you, ma'am, at £5. Six anywhere now?

At £5, six anywhere? At £5,

six or no? Are you all done with it at £5?

Six or no?

£5. That's OK. Minus £30 on that.

-Oh, dear.

-Minus £47.

-Oh, and the rest.

-Minus £47 overall.

I only asked you whether you liked it.

I didn't say you had to go for it.

-You talked us into that.

-I never did. How could you say that?

Minus £30. Overall, you're minus £47.

-But the big thing is, don't tell the Reds about it.

-OK.

Because minus £47 could be the winning score.

And indeed, it is a winning score, minus £47 for the Blues. But remember, the Red girls lost £98.

Coming up, another set of Reds and Blues take on the Bargain Hunt challenge.

But first, I'm off to somewhere stately.

Just outside Plymouth, standing high above the River Plym, is Saltram.

A wonderful example of an early Georgian house.

Originally, the house dated from the Tudor period.

But in the 1740s, the local squire, John Parker, decided he was going to Georgianise it.

Typically Georgian because it's symmetrical but it is unbelievably unfussy.

If you strip out this central stone section, the porch,

which is a Regency addition, it would have been unbelievably plain.

What I want to show you, and what is special about the place, is inside.

Welcome to the saloon.

And what a magnificent space it is. The saloon.

Not the saloon you might expect to have in a Western movie. Oh no.

This is the most sophisticated of spaces,

that only the very rich and elegant would have enjoyed.

Of course, the Parkers wanted the very best and that's why

they employed none other than the famous Scottish architect, Robert Adam.

He gave you the whole wrap-round classical experience.

Because if you look up at that ceiling, we've got

a central roundel contained by a concave-sided lozenge.

Look down at the carpet and blow me, we've got another roundel,

again contained by a concave-sided lozenge.

One Thomas Whitty of Axminster made this carpet to mirror

the Adam design in 1770 and he was paid 126 quid for it.

You might have thought that Robert Adam, having done the major detail work

in the ceiling and the carpet, for example, would just give up and go back to London. Not a bit of it.

He was a perfectionist.

Now, get rid of the hat and show you this door knob.

Who'd think that the man would bother with a door knob?

Well, he did.

He specified something in cast brass

that was then mercury gilt.

Here we've got a roundel on the end of the knob

which more or less matches the roundel on the door.

The back plate itself is scrolling foliage.

If you wanted to lock the door,

you'd simply hinge up that bottom petal and there's the keyhole.

Let's say all you wanted to do was put the door on the latch and not

use the key, you simply slide that and out comes a bolt from the lock

itself enabling you to secure it from the inside

if you wanted a bit of privacy. Amazing, isn't it?

The big question is, are we going to see anything as amazing

with our teams today?

Hopefully, both the new teams will find amazing bargains a-plenty back at the Honiton Antique Centre.

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

For the Reds, we've got Pippa and Jill, welcome.

And we've got Debbie and Pam for the Blues.

Now, Jill, you were once upon a time an airline hostess.

I was, Tim, yes. I worked for British Airways for seven years.

But you've had one or two experiences with the passengers on the plane.

Yes, I have. There was a child travelling by himself and we went

down with the drinks trolley and I asked him if he wanted a drink.

He said, no. So, I thought, fair enough.

I went back up and suddenly there was a call

on the stewardess button and it was his seat and he said, "I do want a drink."

I said, "I beg your pardon?" He said, "I want a drink."

I said, "Haven't you forgotten one little word?"

He said, "Oh, yeah, I want a drink now!"

-Charming!

-Delightful.

-Yeah, he's probably grown up to be really ghastly, too.

Yes, I should imagine so.

Now, Pippa, I'm told that your lips are famous.

Well, my lips are actually on

the front cover of all the Cancer Research UK leaflets in England.

-Are they?

-Yes.

-So, were they specially selected, then?

-In a way, I suppose.

My grandma works for Cancer Research and they were doing a new campaign

and needed a model for their leaflet and she suggested me, so...

OK, give us a pout!

Hold it!

See, it gets better and better!

-I understand you go in for a bit of pole dancing, too.

-Yes, it has been known!

Oh! I'm quite interested in pole dancing myself.

Do you do this professionally, or how...

-Just amateur, although I am rather good!

-Oh, are you!

And modest with it, which is lovely! So, what's this for, fitness is it?

Yeah, just fitness and fun, really.

That's very interesting. I think you're going to do very well.

The future is bright!

Now, for the Blues!

It says here Pam "Bat" Jones and Debbie "Shovel" McCann, so what's all that about, Pam?

-Well, we've been playing in a darts team.

-Darts!

Yes, and I'm blind as, and she didn't hit a barn door with a shovel!

-Now, Debbie, you're a school dinner lady.

-I am, yeah.

And you have a house in Croatia.

-Yes.

-And you own a bar out there.

-Yes.

-Tell me more about all of this.

I'm a dinner lady at my daughter's school

and we have a house in Croatia which we built about five years ago and we

decided to go into partnership with someone over there with a bar in Zadar.

Is that where they chuck all the glasses and plates on the floor?

-No, I think that's a different country.

-Oh, is it? That's Greece, yeah.

-But you are a very competitive person.

-I am, yes.

-And you are determined to make profits on all three items today.

-I am, yeah.

-I'm feeling a bit frightened by this.

-So am I. I'm her partner!

-But these girls, they're not scared.

-We're not scared.

-No!

A mother-and-daughter team. This is the money moment. Here is your £300. £300 apiece.

-Thank you.

-You know the rules!

Your experts await and it's off you go and very, very, very good luck!

What have you found?

A lovely bit of tree.

Whoo!

-Lovely tactile bit.

-Oh, yes! That's gorgeous.

-That is nice, isn't it?

Often this sort of tureen is associated with dairy, you know?

Butter making, cream, all this sort of thing.

But this one feels as though there's been some chopping going on here.

-Oh, right!

-So maybe, you know, sometimes

you get those wide-bladed choppers with a handle like that.

Maybe they were chopping herbs in this or something,

-and then you could just...

-Scrape it out.

-Scrape it out.

It's just a lovely bit of elm. I think it's early-to-mid 19th century.

It's temptingly priced at £35.

-Good.

-Which I think isn't bad anyway.

-No.

-But, I think I can get that lower, and I must say, in one of our

tureen sales, we'd sell this for 50, 70, maybe 80, 120.

-Really?

-Goodness me.

-Crikey! In that case, that's a definite.

And I do, I think it's lovely.

-So do I.

-Yes, please, James!

-It could be our first bargain!

It could! One of many!

James spoke very nicely to the owner and knocked the price down to £25.

It's a massager!

As you roll it over your body, I suppose they pucker the skin

and they would just massage it. I think it's a great thing, isn't it?

How old do you think this is?

I should think it's 1950s or '60s, isn't it?

-I think it's a talking point at a dinner party.

-You can say that again!

-I picked it up half in jest. It's a fiver.

-A fiver!

How much do you think it'll bring?

If they give it away, you'll only lose a fiver, which in Bargain Hunt terms is a real result!

-As a matter of course, you should try and negotiate some discount on the price.

-OK, then.

-Off you go.

-Thank you.

I don't believe I'm doing this!

Happy days!

Deborah managed to half the price and got it for just £2.50.

It's a heavy old fellow, isn't it?

Yeah, it is. I love this.

It's crudely done, all of this. It's almost chip carved, just sort of hand carved.

Probably been made by somebody with about two or three tools.

I thought it was a cot at first, but it's actually a little window seat.

-It does look cot-like, doesn't it?

-What sort of wood would this be, then?

-Well, it's hardwood.

So, it's not our English oaks and elm or ash, this is a hardwood.

-Sort of mahogany.

-How old do you think this is?

I don't know. I think most craftsman

could have been working from the 18th century onwards.

-Ah! It's got £68.

-Ummm.

-What do you think?

-£68?

It's a decorative item and somebody may fall in love with it,

but the further you can get it down, the greater the chance of profit.

-See if we can get them down to 60. I'll give it a go.

-I'll leave it with you.

-Thank you.

-Thanks.

Pippa's pout must have done the trick because she bought it for a solid £60.

Phil?

What do you think to this? Just for ornamental...

-Just for ornamental?

-Yeah.

-It would be nice if it was Christopher Dresser.

-Who is Christopher Dresser?

-A designer at the end of the 19th century

who did a lot of sort of teapots and kettles in metalware, silver plate, copper, brass.

When I started in this business, not that long ago,

copper kettles made, like, 90 quid and they're now a tenner.

This isn't copper, clearly, it's brass.

I've noticed that the burner's not there, but apart from that, I like that.

-You haven't said much yet.

-Well, it's OK, but I'd like to know how much it is.

-That makes two of us. How much is it?

-£24.

Yeah, get it down a bit. I mean, what do you think?

I think it's got other problems because I think

that this and that have got nothing to do with one another.

-It almost should carry a health warning.

-And what about age?

I would think it's probably 1920s. 1900, 1920s, something like that.

-Yeah.

-You know, in terms of antique merit, I don't think it's got too

much going for it because of its problems,

but I think that in any auction it ought to make £10 or £20.

-Yeah?

-I'll get that down.

-You will?

-No problem. OK. Come on, let's do the business.

-OK.

-I've got every confidence in them.

Deborah confidently negotiated the price down to a cool £15.

Step away from it! Step away from it!

-Isn't that fantastic?

-It is fun, isn't it?

Evocative of which era, Jill?

The '70s I'd say, definitely?

So, we've got a rather fun globe.

It's quite... It's nicely made.

You would have had your glasses round the edge here and then you could have bottles.

So, what would they have had, Cinzano, gin?

Everything, and they're all hidden away.

-£85.

-Oh! No.

-That's a lot of money.

-That's going to be terrible.

-It's got to be really, really cheap, hasn't it?

-Yeah.

You never know, it could have lain here for five years.

-Yeah, he made might be glad to get rid of it.

-Go really low.

OK, we'll give it a try because I think this will sell.

-Go on, Pippa, let's leave your mother to her fate.

-Good luck!

Jill was really cheeky and charmed the owner down to a staggering £20.

-Hi, girls!

-Hi!

-You like it?

-She doesn't like it. This is my choice, for once.

-I am pleased because you've got to choose something.

-Yeah.

It's a big old punchbowl or a fruit bowl

and it's probably early part of the 20th century.

What would you use it for?

You can stick it on a hall table and have flowers in it if you want.

One thing that occurs to me, right, hold it there, right?

If you're going to fill that with something,

all you've got is this thin band and this great big white expanse.

And the minute you filled it, you'd lose everything that's inside it.

No, you wouldn't want to fill it, but you could stick it on a dresser, or...

-The bottom line is, how much is it?

-38 they're asking, which I think is too much, anyway.

Yeah, I think it's £15 to £30 worth, but more important than that,

I have seen just that glimmer of enthusiasm seeping through.

But I'm thrilled by that!

I'm really, you know, I'm moved

and on that basis and that basis alone, I think we should buy it.

I don't care how much it costs, get it. Off you go.

-I'm going to get some money off!

-Go on!

Pam managed to get a tenner off and bought it for £28.

Time doesn't half rush by when you go pole dancing! Anyway, time's up!

Let's go and see how the Red team have performed.

They spent £25 on the 19th-century tureen elm bowl.

The Indian hardwood seat cost them £60.

Let's hope someone at auction does fall in love with it.

£20 paid for the globe drinks cabinet. Obviously,

they were keen to get rid of it, but will anybody else want it?

I doubt it.

-Did you have a lovely shop, you girls?

-Fantastic, thank you.

-What was the best bit for you?

-I think finding that fantastic globe.

-Is that your favourite?

-Absolutely.

-Your favourite. What about you, Pip?

-I like the window seat.

-That's your favourite?

-Yes.

Will that bring the biggest profit?

No, I think probably the wooden bowl.

-The wooden bowl?

-I think so, too.

Mother and daughter united.

That's a miracle! Anyway, you spent £105, which is pretty pathetic.

-So, here you go.

-Thank you, Tim.

-£195, James Braxton.

-Lovely.

Tell us, Mr Braxton, what are you going to spend all that money on?

I almost intimately know the antique centre I'll buy it from.

Almost intimately? Are you friendly with the owner?

Yeah, getting that way.

That's how we'll have to buy it. We'll buy it on price.

-On price and charm.

-Another loss, then!

-Another loss!

OK, well, you'd better shove off and be charming round the corner.

Let's recap on what the Blues bought.

Deborah was sucked in by the back massager at £2.50.

Let's hope the people at the auction share her sense of humour.

A brass kettle set set them back just £15.

Finally, Pam found something she liked

and negotiated the Japanese style bowl down to £28.

OK, Pams and Debs, did you have a good time shopping?

-Very, yeah.

-Very, very good.

-Great day.

-Great day.

Which is your favourite item, Pam?

Hmm, well, actually, it's probably the massage stick.

-What about you, Debs?

-The massage stick.

Right, that's your favourite.

Which piece is going to bring the biggest profit?

The massage stick, the biggest smile that's going to bring!

-Really? Well...

-It can't lose that much, so, effectively

it will be the biggest profit.

Well, as you only spent a miserable

£45.50 out of the 300, please may I have £254.50?

I don't know why I bother handing out this 300 any more.

I know what they like, now.

-Do you?

-I'm off up to the Ann Summers shop. I'll be right back.

Today we're with Martin McIlroy

at Bearne's Auction House in glorious Devon.

Good morning, Martin.

-Good morning, Tim.

-Very nice to see you.

-You too.

-Pippa and Jill bought this window seat. Indian?

-Just about.

-And I would say awful.

-Absolutely.

And absolutely modern.

They import these by the container load.

-Yes.

-Badly made, badly carved and probably overpriced.

Well, what is your price on that?

£20 if you were lucky.

£20, if you're lucky. They paid 60.

-Ouch!

-So, that is a bit of a disaster, isn't it?

-Yes.

Now, for the viewers at home who are of a sensitive nature,

they might close their eyes just for a second or two while I reveal one

of the most repulsive objects I've ever seen, a terrestrial globe drinks cupboard.

-How about that?

-Awful.

-Awful?

-Absolutely awful.

-Diabolically awful?

-Diabolically awful.

It is genuinely the most ghastly object conceivable.

That's got that out of the system. Will it make a five pound note?

-Yes, just about.

-So, you'll put £10 to £20 on it and hope for the best?

-And hope for the best, yeah.

-OK, well the team paid £20 for it

and, frankly, good luck to them.

Next is this elm bowl, which I suspect came from the subcontinent, too.

Yes, and probably came in the same container as the window seat.

-So, it's a handy thing to put your keys in.

-Yep, fruit.

If you have those sort of parties in the West Country! How much?

I think it's probably worth in the region of £20 to £30, Tim.

-So, they paid £25. They might just be in with a chance.

-Yeah, yeah.

Bearing in mind how terrible the other things are, they certainly

are going to need their bonus buy, so let's go and have a look at it!

So, Pips and Jills, you gave James Braxton £195. An awful lot of money.

What did James spend it on?

Here we go! I spent it on many things.

-Ooh!

-A little clutch of items. Only two each.

Gosh, these are beautiful. Look at the beading. Oh, this is just my sort of thing.

-James, this is a little pin cushion, am I right?

-Exactly, exactly.

How old these then, James, would you say?

Late 19th century.

-What's this one then, James? What's that for?

-A little sewing companion.

Ah, it's absolutely lovely. And this, I presume, is a needle case?

-I can hardly see it let alone...

-Oh, get a grip, James!

This is James Braxton at his best!

This is what we like to see!

-How much did you pay for these, James?

-£85 for the four.

-I love them, James, well done.

-What a great expert!

But for the viewers at home, let's find out what the auctioneer

thinks about this heap of sewing accessories.

Wonderful. It is absolutely superb, the details of that.

Leather, stitched, tiny, tiny little stitches.

-Yeah.

-Just the quality.

-A miniature pincushion.

Then we've got this fellow which is for needles, isn't it?

Yes, it's a needle case, with this beadwork on here

again, which have all been stitched in, and has taken ages to do.

I think we'll get somewhere in the region of about £50 to £70.

Braxton will be disappointed. He paid £85.

It just depends on the day, who's here, but they are very, very collectable.

Good. Well, I'm glad you like them.

-Yeah.

-Anyway, that's it for the Reds. Now for the Blues.

Dear old Debbie and Pam, they've gone for some wacky items.

First of all is this punked roller massaging device.

-There's not a lot more you can say on that!

-I don't think it's been overused.

-No, it's in very good condition.

-It's in good nick.

-It is. Everything the collector wants,

unfortunately, I don't think anybody collects them!

-At auction, maybe five pounds. Novelty item.

-Well, £2.50 they paid.

I mean, it's a silly thing to bring to auction, really.

-Yeah.

-But these girls are particularly silly, which is what's so lovely about them

-Next is this spirit kettle.

-Yep.

It's missing its spirit burner, which is a tragedy.

It's covered in dents and you want to clean it.

-Who'd buy it, quite honestly?

-Who'd buy it? Nobody wants it.

-It might make a couple of quid, mightn't it?

-If we get to £10, we'll be happy.

They paid 15.

The last piece is this big old bowl, transfer printed.

-Is that any good?

-It is. It would be better if it was complete.

There should have been a soap dish and a jug to go to match it.

It has got this kind of Chinoiserie

transfer print decoration, which has been over-painted in ochre and black.

It will fetch probably somewhere in the region of about £20.

Well, that's not too bad. They paid £28, so they didn't go over the top with that.

-No.

-Who knows, you might get somebody to take you to 30.

-Yes.

But, overall, I've a funny feeling they're

going to need their bonus buy, so let's go and have a look at it!

Da da! 30 quid, girls. What do you think?

-Oh, I like that!

-Do you? Birmingham silver, 1911.

Oak cased calendar, and it works! £30.

-How much do you think it'll make?

-I think it will make between £30 and £50.

A good prediction.

-Well, we'll consider it seriously.

-That's all you have to do, think about it.

Right now we're going to find out what the auctioneer thinks about it, at least the viewers at home are.

Desk furniture,

items that sit on the top of the desk, are very much in demand.

This is oak, silver mounted.

It's a perpetual calendar. It just epitomises...

I mean, it's George V, it's probably about 1935, and I think at auction

this will do really rather well and I think we should get somewhere

in the region of about £60 to £70 for it.

-Will you really?

-I think so, yes.

-Well, that canny old dog

-Serrell only paid £30 for it.

-That's a good buy.

-He'll be really chuffed. Well, isn't that exciting?!

-It is.

Anyway, we'll find out in a minute at the auction.

Now, Pips and Jills, this is the auction.

Look at this, mother and daughter smiling like cats!

-Are feeling confident?

-Yes!

-Yes!

That's what I love about you two.

-Anyway, so, you're going to win by a huge margin?

-Absolutely.

-Unbelievably big margin!

-Definitely.

First up is going to be your window seat stroke shoe cleaning box and here it comes!

Lot number 94 is the Indian carved and stained wooden window seat.

There we are, £50 to start me?

40 somewhere?

£30?

20, anybody?

-£20 somewhere? £10?

-Yes, come on.

You can jump in at any time. £5? £5 I'm bid. Thank you, sir.

At £5. Six anywhere now? Six?

Seven. Eight. Nine.

10. 12. 14 anywhere?

At £12? 14?

Are you all done at £12?

-Oh, dear, £12.

-For heaven's sake! What's wrong with these people?

It's minus £48.

-Oh, that's not good, Pip.

-It's not a good start.

Anyway, now, your globe.

The reproduction terrestrial globe drinks cabinet.

Who'll start me at £20 for this one? £10?

-Come on! It's wonderful.

-£10 anybody? £5?

Oh, no, nobody wants it.

A couple of pounds? It's quite big!

Anybody? A pound?

Thank you, ma'am.

Please, do not leave the room!

At £1. Two anywhere now? At a pound with the lady.

At £1. Two anywhere now?

At £1 and selling then.

Well, done, that's £1.

-Minus £19.

-Well, done!

This is not looking good.

-So, here comes the bowl.

-Lot number 96 is the elm bowl.

£20 somewhere? £10? A nice wooden bowl at £10?

Five anywhere? Five I'm bid, thank you, sir.

At £5. Six. Seven.

Eight. Nine.

10. 12.

14. At £14. In the doorway at £14.

-Look out, James.

-16? At £16.

18? You're out in the doorway now?

At £16 and selling.

£16. That is minus £9.

-That's a try, really.

-That was 28, 68, 76. Minus £76.

-Oh, brilliant.

-Minus 76, overall, right? Minus 76, girls.

-Yeah.

-What do you think about the sewing kits?

-I love it.

-You love it.

-We both liked them, didn't we?

-Yeah.

-You both liked them?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-We need this to redeem ourselves.

We do. We've got nothing to lose.

-£85's worth is being risked on this.

-It's a lot, but I love them.

We're going with the bonus buy, yes?

-We're going with it.

-Here it is.

On we go to lot 100 now, which is the small Victorian patchwork

and steel beaded pin cushion, needle cases, ribbon and threader.

All sorts there. £50 somewhere?

It's a nice lot. £30?

-£20?

-Oh, I don't believe it.

-£10?

Five anywhere?

Five I'm bid, thank you. At £5. Six anywhere now? Six. Seven. Eight.

Nine.

At £9. ten anywhere now? It's selling then for nine.

Selling for £9. £9.

-Never mind.

-So, that is minus £76, which rather neatly makes this

£152-worth of losses. Let's not despair.

Minus £152 could be a winning score!

-All right? Anyway, don't tell the Blues a thing, all right?

-No.

-OK.

-Do you know how the Reds got on?

-No.

You have no idea how the Reds did?

-No.

-We're pleased about that.

First up then is Phil's massager. Here it comes.

We now move on to lot 116.

Lot 116, what we've all been waiting for, the massaging device!

No home is complete without one of these!

£10 for the massaging device?

A bit of fun. £10 somebody?

Roll your own. £5?

£5 somebody? A couple of pounds?

-They don't enjoy themselves much in Exeter, do they?

-No.

-£1?

-Yes!

-Oh, thank you. You can always use it for pastry if nothing else.

-At £1. With the lady at £1. Two anywhere now?

-Go on!

Are you sure you don't want to bid? Selling for at £1.

Sold for £1, that's minus £1.50.

-Now, the tea kettle.

-There we are.

And, again, £10 for the brass kettle? £10 somewhere for it?

£5? Five I'm bid. Thank you, ma'am, at £5.

Six anywhere now? Are you all done with it at £5?

-We will sell at £5 if you are all done.

-Minus £10 on that.

-That's not too bad!

-Is it not?

-No! Now, the bowl!

Your bowl. Come on, Pammy.

Now we come to lot 118, the transfer printed toilet bowl

and, again, £20 for this one.

It will look good somewhere. £20?

£10 for it?

£5?

Five I'm bid, thank you, ma'am. At £5. Six?

-Have we recruited this lady?

-At £7.

With the lady standing at £7. Eight anywhere?

-Go on!

-At £7. Eight, or no?

I don't believe it!

With the lady by the cabinet at £7.

All done and selling then at £7.

Minus £21. £31. Minus £32.50.

-Oh, you... It's got to be risible!

-£32. No, you'd think...

When you spent £45.50, you'd think it would be difficult to lose £32.

But we got there!

So, what are you going to do about this calendar?

-Oh, well, I can go for that. Why not?

-Why not?

-Are you going to do it?

-Let's humiliate Phil as well!

-No!

Now you've decided you're going with your bonus buy,

the auctioneer's estimate is £50 to £70 on it, all right?

On to lot 122, now.

We come to the oak and silver mounted perpetual desk calendar.

And again, various commissions.

The bid's with me at £20. £22 anywhere now? 22. 24.

26. 28. At £28. 30 anyone now?

Oh, another one!

£30. 32. 34.

-You're in profit, Phil, well done!

-38. 40? At £40.

-Still with me a commission bid for £40.

-It should go on. Go on!

-42 anywhere, now?

-Go on!

-At £40 then and selling.

Well, done, Phil!

-Better than nought.

-Was that a profit?

-It was!

-Was that a profit, really?

-It's the key word!

-£10 profit, actually.

Very good, Phil. Well done!

So, overall then, you are only minus £22.50 thanks to Phil's

generous interpretation and input. Minus £22.50.

-That might be a winning score. Don't tell the Reds, all right?

-No.

-Keep quiet for the fun.

What fun we've had today, haven't we? Haven't we had fun?

-We have!

-It's been super. Now, have you been talking?

-No.

You don't know who the winner or the runner up is?

Unfortunately, both with losses today,

-but the team with the stupendous losses has to be the Reds!

-Hooray!

-Sorry about this, girls!

The total is minus 152, which doesn't sound too bad if you go

quite quickly! As for the victors who, after all, you did make a

profit, Philip, on your bonus buy, which was an achievement.

-Overall, you went with that bonus buy and your final score is minus £22.50.

-Excellent!

Which, really, in the scale of things, is absolutely nothing!

Anyway, it's been great!

-Join us soon for some more Bargain Hunting, yes?

-Yes!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd