Builth Wells 10 Bargain Hunt

What am I doing, standing in the middle of a Welsh field?

Well, if I tell you that in a minute, this field will be crammed with antiques, does that give you a clue?

You're right! Let's go bargain hunting.

Welcome to Builth Wells, set in the heart of the Welsh countryside.

Famed for being home of the Royal Welsh Show,

today the showground has been taken over by the antiques stands.

I hope our teams have got their wellies with them.

We take two teams and we give each of them £300

and an hour to search the fair high and low for the best bargains,

which they sell later at auction

and if they make a profit at auction, they get to keep it.

Today it's ladies' day

and for the reds, we've got Eve and belle Helene,

who are good friends at the moment,

and for the blues, we've got mother and daughter, Kim and Gabrielle.

Welcome, girls.

Now, Helen, you've always been involved with caring for the elderly.

Well, I worked on the district caring for the elderly for over 20 years

and then I thought of retiring

but decided to sort of downsize, if you like,

to work in a day centre for the elderly.

-So you're taking it gently?

-So I'm taking it gently

and it's wonderful, I love it.

-Now, Eve, you're retired.

-Yes.

-But what do you do?

-Well, I used to be a finance director

and then I decided to go for it

and turn my hobby of 3-D decoupage into a business.

So I opened a little craft shop and it really did well.

-I had it for nine years.

-Did you really?

Well, just tell us about 3-D decoupage

because not everybody will know about that.

It's basically building up designs into a picture or a fire screen or whatever

and making it into a 3-D image.

-And you made your business out of that?

-I did.

-Brilliant.

Now for the blues. Gabrielle, you applied to come on the programme

and you invited your mother as a surprise.

-Tell us about that.

-In 2006, my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Last year, in the January, she went into remission,

so that was a nice surprise.

I filled in the application form to come on to Bargain Hunt.

-And I hope it has been a nice surprise.

-Yes, shock. Nice surprise.

Good! Well, welcome, anyway.

Now, Kim, you run an estate agency with your husband

-but travelling is what gets you going, isn't it?

-It is.

I do love to travel

to unusual places.

-In 1999, I hitch-hiked round Belize and Guatemala.

-Did you?

I went down the Macal River in a canoe.

-And what sort of things do you collect?

-At the moment I collect Babycham.

Anything to do with Babycham - glasses, the Babycham deer.

-Yes.

-So I've got '50s, '60s, '70s

and my recent one is the millennium Babycham with the top hat.

-And do you drink Babycham?

-I have... I have in the past.

I've had... I've had one or two.

It's one of the first drinks you try, isn't it, Babycham, everybody.

I don't know about that! LAUGHTER

Anyway, now it's the money moment.

Here we go, 300 smackers.

There you go, £300, you know the rules.

Your experts await and off you go and very, very, very good luck.

So each team benefits from an expert

who will help them choose their three items.

If anyone can get a word in for the reds, it'll be David Barby.

And hoping for three out of three for the blues is Jonathan Pratt.

And, as they'll be helping two lots of teams today,

they're going to be busy.

-Now, girls, what do you think of this?

-I like that.

-It's very unusual.

-It is unusual and you wanted something quirky.

-We did.

-Indeed.

-Yes.

-Well, this is called a top hat...

posy holder.

-Oh!

-Ah!

-So in there you would put your primroses, your snowdrops.

They date from the end of the 19th into the 20th century.

-This is 20th century.

-20th century.

It reminds me very much of a company called Powell and Company

that produced glass in this semi-opaque style, this blue tint,

and they've used these opaque sections here,

which are called inclusions.

-That adds to its attractive quality.

-It's absolutely gorgeous.

I think it's great.

Right, 65 quid, you've got to get the price down.

-Right.

-OK?

She's over there and she's waiting for you. Come on.

-Shall I go and do a deal?

-Are you going to do it?

-We'll all go.

They vowed to get the price down and they did. £37.50 paid.

Glass seems to be popular today.

That looks like a piece of Scottish glass.

It reminds me of Monart or Vasart.

It's always good to look at the base

because if it's going to be signed or have a label,

you're going to see it fairly obviously. There's nothing underneath.

The foot rim tells us a nice story that...

-What's a foot rim? The base?

-Yes, it's slightly concave.

From years of moving it around, you get this build-up of scratches

and to get that network of scratching,

it's got to be 50, 60 years old.

And this shows the construction of it, as well.

This mark here is where they polished away what they call a pontil.

They have this big rod that sits in the bottom of it,

so it's like a sort of giant wine glass,

and then as they're finishing off the bowl, they polish that away.

-How much do they want for it?

-They're asking 40.

-She wants £40 for it.

-What do you think it'll make at auction?

I think we should be able to get £40-£60 for it.

-OK. Are you going to have a go?

-Yes.

-See if you can get it down.

-See if I can get some money off it.

Gabrielle managed to get a tenner off and bought it for a flirty 30.

Excuse me, girls and boys, what do you think of this?

-I think it's absolutely gorgeous.

-It's quite sweet, yes.

-I love the combination...

-I do.

-..of crystal and silver.

-Now, have you found the silver mark?

-No. Where is that?

-OK.

It's stamped into the metal.

So the whole combination is solid silver with that crystal section.

What's the date on it?

They've got Birmingham, 1909, good set of silver.

But I'm looking at this and it's not in the fashionable style of the day,

which would've been Art Nouveau or Arts and Crafts movement.

This has a very conventional, almost Georgian look.

-So this is quite nice, I like it.

-I'm not sure.

-Why don't you like it?

-I don't dislike it.

I just don't feel, with so many people eating their dinner in front of the television,

that they would use something like this on their tray.

Oh, that's common.

Well, I thought that, but I didn't say anything.

-No, this is for dinner parties...

-Oh, yes.

-..and supper parties.

But what a nice, nice little piece.

-What about the price, though, David?

-What is it, £95?

-It's quite high, isn't it, really?

-Mm.

-Mm.

I think you've got to get it down by a third.

-So we need it under 60, then?

-If you can.

£40 off. Now that's food for thought.

In the end, they spent £55 on the condiment set.

-Look what I've found.

-Oh, hello.

-A pheasant.

-And I can tell you it's Beswick...

-Yes.

-..and it's perfect.

-Oh, brilliant. Is this something that you like?

-Yes.

Well, I've got Beswick.

It's slip moulded, so it's basically made into a mould and they pour in a wet paste.

It's quite nicely defined and nicely decorated.

The condition's good.

So there's a swing label on there, what's it say?

-£65.

-£65, OK. Well, I think we might get £50-£70 for it.

-Great.

-Little bit of work, over to you. We're going to go and find our next item.

-I'll speak to the chappie.

Kim obviously is not afraid of a bit of hard work.

She took the stallholder down to £42.

-What do you think of this, David?

-What is it?

-It's a perfume spray.

Oh, right. How does it work?

You just press the top and twist and it pops up.

-Gosh, that's clever.

-Then you spray.

-Well...

-Do you know, it's much...

-Push it in.

Ooh! Do it again.

There's an element of perfume from the past, there.

-Is there still?

-Mm, yeah, there is, actually.

-Mm.

-It's nice to know it still works.

-Again, you've got this combination of crystal and silver.

-Mm.

Birmingham, 1908.

1908. Now...

1908. Who do you associate with that particular period?

-Somebody like Lillie Langtry.

-Lillie Langtry, yes.

-The Duchess of Duke Street.

-Exactly.

As soon as you start thinking that, you're thinking of the social scene

behind that particular piece.

-Would you use it at home?

-I'd have one on my dressing table. It's lovely.

-Right, what's the price?

-It's 130.

£130, I thought it would be. It's such a choice object, isn't it?

-Get the price down.

-I don't think anybody would...

-Come on, negotiate.

-OK.

-Negotiate.

Those ladies have expensive taste. £93 paid.

Look what I've found. I think it's French, Jonathan. Is there anything else you can me about it?

OK. That's rather fun.

-That is, essentially, a copy of a French armoire.

-Armoire?

-Armoire.

-What's an armoire?

-Wardrobe.

-Armoire?

-Armoire.

-Wardrobe.

-What gives it away is this scroll and this wavy frieze,

which is very typical of French provincial furniture.

I think it's quite nice. What about that? Is that damage?

This is just shrinkage of the wood.

It's just the way the wood's seasoned. It shows it's got a bit of age.

Wood shrinks as it gets older, as most of us, do.

-Are these...additions?

-Yeah.

-They fitted the inside for whatever they wanted to use it for.

-Right.

That doesn't matter too much.

What you're buying is a good-looking box.

-And how much is it?

-The dealer's asking £72.

-£72.

Well, I think that's a nice item

and at auction, it's going to be under £100 but I would say £60-£80.

60 to 80 and it's 72.

£72. So if we can get it under 70, we may well get a profit.

-So over to you.

-Let's go and...

-..knock some money off it.

-Go on.

And she did. But has she got the price down enough?

It set her back £60.

SIREN SOUNDS

Time's up. Let's remind ourselves what the reds bought.

Keen to ensure their profit margins blossom,

the reds cut a deal of £37.50

for the top-hat posy holder.

Eve wasn't sold on the condiment set

but that didn't stop Helen.

She negotiated the price down to £55.

Nostalgia took over and the ladies splashed out £93 on the atomiser.

-Eve and Helen, did you have a good time shopping?

-Brilliant.

-Oh, yes.

-Which is your favourite piece, Eve?

-The atomiser.

-What about you, Helen?

-Oh, the cruet set.

Which piece is going to bring the biggest profit?

-I think the top hat.

-The top hat.

You're agreed on that. Well, you spent an extraordinary £185.50.

I want £114.50, thank you very much, of leftover lolly.

-Coming your way.

-Thank you very much.

-Which is a nice sum.

It is indeed. Although I have one problem.

-Oh, do you?

-These ladies have been so astute,

-I feel as though they've seen everything in that fair.

-Really?

-Anything I buy, they'll have seen.

-You'll be able to rummage, I'm sure.

-It's your best subject. Rummaging, I mean.

-Thank you.

-Goodbye.

-And very successful, too.

Let's remind ourselves what the blues bought.

The blues were split on the vase

but Gabrielle bought it anyway for £30.

Kim was optimistic that the Beswick pheasant would make a tasty profit.

It set them back £42.

Gabrielle stumped up £60 for the miniature wardrobe.

So, Gabrielle and Kim, you two naughty ones,

-which is your favourite piece, Gabrielle?

-Mine's the vase.

-That's your favourite?

-Yes.

-What about you, Kim?

-The Beswick pheasant.

-The pheasant is your favourite.

-And which piece is going to bring the biggest profit?

-The vase.

-The vase.

-The pheasant.

Ah, you're digging in here, aren't you? You spent £132, which is modest.

I want £168 of leftover lolly, please, Gabby.

All of it. Lovely.

Thank you very much. It goes over to JP.

-Thank you.

-What are you going to do with it?

-Well...

-I've seen lots of things, I've got lots of clues.

-Have you?

-Yes.

-That's very enigmatic.

-That's me, the enigma.

As they say, off you trot.

We've come to sunny Malvern to Philip Serrell's saleroom with the great man himself.

-Hi, Phil.

-How are you?

-Very well, thanks.

-Lovely to be here.

-Good to see you.

First up, then, for the reds is this so-called Powell and Co novelty top hat in glass.

-Do you rate that?

-Well, it's decorative enough

but I see that making £20-£40, really.

-£37.50 they paid.

-Mm.

-I mean, it's a novelty.

-Yeah.

I don't know about Powell and Co, I have to say,

cos that stuff's usually opalescent, not white.

Next is the little condiment set.

-I love these things when they're complete in a box.

-It's quite sweet.

I mean, it's always nice to have a bit of salt, pepper and mustard

-and they're quite grand-looking pots.

-They're good. We put 30-50 on it

and I think they'll do all right.

Bit mean, 30-50. £55, they paid.

We've got to keep them on their toes.

-I can see that making 60 or £80 on the day with a bit of wind.

-Yes.

And lastly for them is this atomiser.

-What did they pay for that?

-They paid £93, I dread to admit.

-That's a bit strong. That's a lot strong.

-It's a big smell.

-Might be atomising.

-Yes.

-I think £30-£50.

-Yes.

So overall, they're going to need their bonus buy and let's have a look at it.

A pair of Georgian candlesticks.

Now, I rather like these because of the triangular-shaped base

and underneath there's this interesting metal section there,

which has been put on, I think, later.

But it must have acted somewhat as a sort of wall-mounting sconce

or something like that. Do you like them?

-I think I do.

-Ah!

Faint praise, Eve, methinks.

I can't see that going on a wall, can you?

-It would be the other way.

-It's quite tactile.

-Like this.

-There'd be something there so it would mount onto a wall.

-Oh, right.

-But those sections are later.

-How much were they, David?

£80.

-Look, that's only a tank full of petrol. It's nothing.

-True.

We don't have to go with them. We'll see how badly we do first!

You're absolutely right, Eve. You'll decide after the sale of your first three items.

But for the audience at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks.

-Are these going to light up your life?

-I quite like them.

-What do you reckon this is all about?

-It's odd, isn't it?

Erm, it's a fitting to go onto a fitting.

So perhaps an architect's desk or a bureau, instead of having a candle slide,

you'd fit that to a bracket so your candles would fit either side.

-And illuminate your writing.

-Illuminate your darkness.

-That's fair enough.

-I think they should make £50-£80.

That's not too bad. £80 was paid by David Barby.

He's of course got high hopes, you know, the usual,

-but he's a cunning monkey.

-Very cunning.

That's it for the reds, now for the blues, Kim and Gabrielle.

Their first item is this glass vase.

Er, it's a latter-day market. I see that at £20-£40.

£30 paid.

Beswick pottery. Your favourite subject, I know.

Oh, yes. You can't beat a bit of Beswick. You can't beat it enough.

It's a pheasant. Lots of people go in for all that round here.

-Do they?

-Bird spotting.

-Pheasant shooting?

-That type of thing.

Coming from Worcester, I have a problem looking at that at £20-£40

when that could buy an 18th-century Worcester tea bowl and I can't see the comparison.

-No.

-So for me, that's very much a...

-Is that your estimate, £20-£40?

-Yes.

-£42, they paid.

What about the armoire?

I quite like that in a bizarre sort of way.

-Erm...

-I'd rather have it that size than full size.

I'd rather move it that size than full size.

-We had a gentleman in a few moments ago from Greece...

-No!

Yes, and he wants a cabinet or chest to display his coins on,

so I was trying to suggest that this could be the ideal purchase.

I don't know if he's got a shipping line or not.

-He could put it in his pocket, certainly in his suitcase.

-Yes.

-So you could get that one sold to a Greek.

-We live in hope.

-Erm, how much?

-£40-£60.

-£60 paid.

So they're pretty well on the cusp all the way through.

-They're on the money.

-I've a feeling they're going to be all right

but in case not, let's have a look at the bonus buy.

It is a Whitefriars glass vase.

Whitefriars is the longest-standing English factory,

glass making in the 20th century.

Nice amber colour, designed by a chap called James Hogan,

so it's got... Not Hulk Hogan, James Hogan.

It's got... So it's got a name to the design as well.

Gabrielle's looking distinctly underwhelmed, here.

-I'm...

-Handle it, feel the weight. How much glass is in that, eh?

-Don't drop it.

-It's a chunk, isn't it?

-How much did you pay for it?

-I paid £50.

-Oh!

The thing is, it's a known name for collectors,

-it's got a designer's name.

-It's not marked.

No, but the polished-out pontil and the way it's made is very typical.

And the colour, too. That's a real '30s amber.

-What would you use it for?

-Whatever you like.

Put sweets in it, or flowers.

-How much do you think it'll make?

-We'll get £15 or £20 out of it.

And on that happy note, we'd best let the auctioneer say what he thinks

about Jonathan's pot.

What a chunk, Phil.

-That is a lump of glass.

-That's a belter, isn't it?

-It certainly is.

-Do you like it?

-No.

-No.

It's just not my thing, Tim. I think I was born too soon.

-Right.

-You know, I mean, it's...

I can see that making £30-£50.

-£50, he paid.

-50.

-He's got to hope to make a profit.

-Who does he think it's by?

-Whitefriars.

-Oh, right.

Whitefriars, 1925 to 1935, I guess.

Again, it's going to get picked up on the internet

-and if someone wants it, they'll be there for it.

-Brilliant.

-And you'll be there.

-I shall be working hard for you.

We'll look forward to that.

Eve and Helen, how many auctions have you been to, you girls?

-I've been to quite a lot.

-So you are quite experienced.

-Helen's been to one.

-Oh, one.

And she kept quiet the whole time.

-Was it a good experience, the last time?

-Frightening.

-Frightening.

-Frightening.

-Are you feeling scared now?

-I'm afraid of bidding on anything.

Here we go with the posy holder.

Modelled as a top hat, there you are.

Bid me for that lot. Wherever you want to be. Start me off. I don't know - £20 to start with.

-Where is it?

-It's being held up.

-Oh, dear.

-Who's got a tenner?

Ten, I'm bid, ten.

20. 30, sir? 20, I'm bid far right.

-20. At £20. Is there any more?

-Powell and Company.

At £20 only, at £20. There's the bid over there.

At £20 and I sell then at £20.

-And done. Thank you.

-Oh, dear, bad luck. £20.

Minus £17.50.

-The condiment set.

-This is a nice lot.

The cut glass and silver-mounted condiment set.

Where do you want to start me for that?

Who's got £100 to start with?

Bid me 50 straight in.

-Bid me 30 straight in.

-Oh, this is ridiculous.

30, I'm bid. 30 bid.

At £30. 40, 40 bid.

50, £50 over here. 50.

At £50, it's your bid, seated, at 50.

£50 only. Is there any more?

At £50 only. At 50. 60, someone?

At 50. I'll take a fiver, only because it's Barby.

At £50. Five, anywhere?

At £50 and I sell at 50.

-Done.

-It's not looking good. £50, minus £5, it's minus 22.50.

The atomiser. Well, there we are. The atomiser.

Bid me for that lot. Start me off. The atomiser. I don't know.

Who's got £50? You?

No, all right, then.

Who's got £30? 30, I'm bid, at £30.

At £30 only. 30 bid.

At £30 only. I'll take five off someone.

At £30, there's the bid. Any more at all? At £30, I sell then at £30.

Done.

That is minus £63,

which means overall, you are minus £85.50.

-This is not good, is it?

-Definitely.

What do you think about the bonus buy?

-It's got to be better than ours.

-We've got to go for it.

-You're going to do it?

£80 paid for the candle holders, we're going to go for the bonus buy.

Lot number 360, these really nice 19th-century candlesticks.

They really are a nice lot.

Who's got £100 to start me?

Well, bid me 50, someone.

Bid me 50.

Pardon? A tenner, I'm bid. At ten. Ten bid. At ten.

At ten. £20, someone.

He bought these for cheap. 10, 20, 30. Your bid at 30.

£30, 40. 40 bid.

At 40, seated. At £40 only. At £40.

I'll take five anywhere. At £40 only.

40 bid. Your bid, seated, sir. At £40.

-Is there any more? At £40...

-Oh, dear.

-Done.

-It's not been your day today, has it?

Between you all, it hasn't been your day. Minus £40 on that.

-The only good thing is it's not our money!

-That is minus £125.50.

-Oh, wow!

-That's the biggest loss I've ever made.

-No!

-£125.50.

-So have we won the booby prize?

Not necessarily, because the way things are going,

minus £125.50 might be a winning score.

-Yeah.

-Well, it might be.

Gabrielle and Kim, do you know how the reds got on?

-No.

-We've been in a cupboard.

-You haven't been chatting?

-No.

-They hid you in a cupboard?

-Yes.

-So you couldn't hear?

-No.

-Did they really?

-Yes.

-In a soundproof box.

-Who were you in there with?

-Jonathan.

-No wonder you're looking so perky.

-I know!

-Anyway, all well?

-Yes.

-Confident?

-Er, no.

-Do you wish you could change any of your items?

-Yes.

-What?

-Which would you like to change?

-The box.

-What, the miniature armoire box?

-Yeah.

You'd like to change that? Why, don't you like it any more?

-Mm...

-No.

-You found it with Jonathan.

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

-Having second thoughts.

First lot up, though, is your glass vase and here it comes.

A Vasart-style glass vase and I'm bid £10 for that. At ten.

15, 20. 20 bid. At 20. I'll take five.

-At 20. Five, anywhere? Surely.

-Surely.

I'm bid five, 25. At £25 only. Is there any more?

It's your bid, seated, madam. At £25, going for 25 and done.

Gabby! £25, you're minus £5 there.

That's no problem. Hang on in here for Beswick.

A cock pheasant. There you are. What will you bid me for that, someone?

The pheasie. The Beswick pheasie. Who's got £50 to start?

No?

30?

Right, OK. I think this market's got shot all of a sudden.

Who's got £20? The Beswick pheasant, £20.

Thank you. 20, I'm bid. At £20 only.

There's the bid. At £20 only for the Beswick pheasant.

-Is there any more at all?

-Nobody likes the pheasant.

30. 30 bid. Have another, sir. At 30, 30, bid. It's your bid, madam.

At £30 only. Is there any more?

-Come on, come on.

-At £30, I sell then. At £30... We're done.

£30, he's sold it. That's minus £12, minus 17 overall.

Now, your armoire. Your joint armoire.

And I'm bid £20. Who'll bid for that at 25?

Here's a cheap lot at £25 only.

At 25. 25 bid. Is there any more at all?

At 30, 5, 40, 5.

-50, 5, 60, 5.

-Come on.

70. £70 bid. At £70 only.

Any more at all? At £70...and it's £70 and done.

-Great! A profit of £10.

-Hooray!

-Ah!

-That is fantastic.

That takes you back to only minus 7.

-So what about this Whitefriars vase?

-Stick.

-No.

-We're going to stick.

-We'll stick at minus £7.

-You're not going to go with it?

-Do I have a reputation or something?

-No.

-Why not?

-I don't think it's going to make a profit.

-No.

We're only £7 down.

We're going to sell it anyway. Here it comes.

The Whitefriars piece. Who's got £30 to start?

20, someone?

20, I'm bid, at 20. I'll take 5. At 20, bid. And 5.

30, 5, 35. Lady's bid seated there.

At 35. At 35. 40, someone, quickly.

At £35 only. At 35.

Is there any more? At 35. 40, may I?

At £35. We're all done at 35. Done. Thank you.

-That is minus £15...

-Well done.

..which doesn't count because you've ring-fenced your losses at minus 7.

That could be a winning score.

-Don't tell the reds a thing. Promise?

-Promise.

-Promise.

-Loose talk costs shows.

So, a loss of £7 for the Blues.

Not bad though, as remember the Reds lost a whopping £125.50. Ouch!

In a moment, two more teams go in search of bargains,

but first I'm off somewhere really interesting. Want to join me?

I'm at Capesthorne Hall

on the outskirts of Macclesfield in Cheshire.

Just look at this lot. Isn't it staggering?

It's a house that evokes a mixture of opinions from visitors.

Some just love it for its extraordinary features,

but however you feel, it sure is strong.

Lenette and Walter Bromley-Davenport,

who were the current owner's parents, really loved Capesthorne,

and they wanted to capture the beauty of the place in a painting.

In 1954 they commissioned artist Laurence Stephen Lowry,

he of the matchstick men fame, to paint Capesthorne.

Lenette met Lowry to discuss the commission,

and they agreed that he would position himself the other side

of the middle pond, and look at the hall from the east.

And this is the elevation that he recorded.

Hasn't he done the most brilliant job?

What's glorious about Lowry's work is his use of the colour white.

That vast expanse of sky looks white - right?

But actually, there are about 30 different tones of white

included within that white expanse,

all of which have been carefully worked out by Lowry.

And he liked to plaster the paint on, but in layers,

which gives it this textured and rather crumbly appearance.

This picture epitomises the very best of modern British painting in 1954.

Why don't we scroll back a cool 420 years,

and see a perfect example of another art form?

This room is called the Dorothy Davenport room, largely

on account of these extraordinary needleworked bed hangings.

Dorothy Davenport married William Davenport around 1585,

and she started her odyssey of needlework, we think, in that year,

back in that far corner.

If you follow this needlework pediment around,

occasionally she dated it.

Here we've got a date of 1610.

So it took her 25 years to complete that section.

She then put a bit of a spurt on, and that date to this is 1614.

But from 1614 down to the finish date,

which is here - 1636 - this section, took a further 22 years.

Awfully long time, I hear you say.

But of course, Dorothy Davenport didn't just work the pelmet during

that period, she also had to work the backcloth, which we have got,

and probably at least six curtains to pull between the posts,

a bed cover, which we no longer have,

and probably a valance going down to the floor.

An extraordinary tour de force of needlework.

Meanwhile, back in North Wales two more teams are hoping

they will be a real tour de force in the hunt for bargains.

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

For the Reds, we've got mother Linda and daughter Catherine.

And for the Blues, father Chris with his daughter Claire. Welcome, teams.

Astonishingly nice to see you. Now, Catherine, you come from an outgoing family.

-Tell us one of your life-enhancing experiences.

-I'd have to say joining the Navy.

-What did you do in the Navy?

-I was a writer, like a pay clerk.

-Is that what they call them?

-Writers, yeah.

-Oh, brilliant. How did you get on with the sailors?

-They were nice. We never fraternised!

-No fraternisation on board.

-No.

-What a shame. You love the sea, but you're not so keen on the air.

I'm absolutely petrified of flying.

I actually flew with my mother once, but she'll never fly with me again.

-You were in such a state?

-I was such an embarrassment.

-Linda, how are you on flying?

-I absolutely adore it.

When I was 50 I gave my job up and bought a round-the-world ticket.

And I was away for seven months, went to loads of countries, backpacking, I went on my own.

But your survival skills are honed to a very high pitch.

Luckily, I've read a few survival books.

-But I got stuck in a lift overnight for 18 hours.

-No!

I had everything you'd want if you were stuck in a lift.

-Had you been out shopping?

-I had been, yes.

-But 18 hours?!

-It was very cold.

And I needed to have a pee, but I had a casserole dish...

-and...

-You had a pee in your casserole dish?

I did, but when I eventually was freed, one of my colleagues rang up and said,

-"Please tell me you haven't put it in the dishwasher!"

-Quite!

What a business! Both of you I think will do terribly well today.

-Thank you.

-Welcome. Now the Blues. Or should I say, "'ello, 'ello, Chris"?

Evening, all.

-How long were you a policeman for?

-30 years.

-Were you really?

-That's right. I retired in 2002 as a Chief Inspector.

What do you do in your spare time?

-I play petanque. French boules. I play for Wales.

-Really?

-They play that in Wales?

-Yes. It's a big sport.

-Now what do you do, Claire?

-I work as a senior dental nurse at the dental hospital in Cardiff.

-But I'm on maternity leave and watch Bargain Hunt every day!

-You'll be a great expert, then!

-I hope I picked up a few tips.

-We'll find out in a minute.

-What do you like to collect?

-I like Poole pottery. I also like cats, if they're quite quirky and ugly.

-Yes, ugly cats.

-Yes.

-Will you go for an ugly cat today?

-If I see one, the cat's in the bag!

-Good for you!

Now the money moment. Here's your £300. You know the rules?

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

Oh, this is really nice! It looks like really good quality.

-Well, tell me what you think it is.

-I think it might be a sugar shaker.

It is a sugar shaker.

So it is still functional today. The sugar would have been ground very fine,

almost like icing sugar. So you could cover the whole of the fruit.

There's the mark. You can just about see it.

If I breathe on it, you can see...

Oh, look, it's a Georgian piece. It's round about 1822.

-Gosh, that's really old.

-Who do you associate with that sort of period?

-Jane Austen?

-Which character might have used this?

-Darcy?

-All the girls think of Mr Darcy, don't they?

Now, I wonder what the price is?

-160.

-£160?

This dealer bought it, probably, from another source.

It depends what his profit margin is and whether he can come down. It's up to you two!

-Do your very best.

-We'll try.

-I'll search for another object.

So they're off! The Reds were stirred into action and got the sugar shaker for a sweet £105.

-I spotted this horse. You can see that it's Beswick.

-OK.

-But it's unusual.

-You like Beswick?

-I do.

With all these things, the most important thing is condition.

One has to look over...

See the glaze pools around the tail. It's nicely modelled, really.

The mark is post-war. Nice, big example in good condition. What's he asking for it?

-130.

-£130. OK, I think you should take this one by the reins and see what you can do.

-If you can get it down to £100, we can make a profit.

-I'll make sure it's not for a pony!

-All right!

Stop stealing my lines, you lot! They might be trying to do me out of a job,

but Christopher managed to buy the Beswick horse for £110.

"Choose an author as you choose a friend."

-So this must be a book stand.

-We'll have to get David's opinion.

-About what?

-David, I really love this.

-Catherine's not so keen.

-OK.

-And it's very expensive.

-I know what it is immediately.

-What's that?

-I saw it and thought, "That's a good little find!"

-Now, what's it for?

-It looks like a book stand because of...

-OK.

-..the comments on the front.

-And where would you place it?

-Catherine?

-I thought a sofa table.

That's right. You'd see the front here with that legend.

"Choose an author as you choose a friend." Lovely compliment.

And your tomes would be at the back here, facing you.

Now, this was made for soft-backed, leather-covered books, called Everyman books.

Their symbol was these little leaves here.

-When would that be?

-Turn of the century, around about 1900.

-So how do you feel about the price?

-What is the price?

-220.

-220? That's a lot of money.

-But have you seen one like this?

-I've never seen one like that.

I'd like to see it under £100.

If you can't get it under £100, do your very best. A nice object.

Linda managed to get the copper book trough for £160,

but what have the Blues been investigating?

-Oi!

-What a beautiful bird.

-Beautiful bird, yeah.

-Very regal.

-What I'm particularly keen on with this bird

-is that it's a Whyte and Mackay Scotch whisky promotional bird.

-OK.

It's Royal Doulton, so good quality.

-Hasn't got any whisky in it!

-No. They made also kestrels, merlins, golden eagles, all sorts of things.

-I didn't know that.

-You should have read the box - it says so here!

"Royal Doulton ceramics - Scottish birds of prey." This is the osprey.

The box isn't in bad condition. Let's have a look at that one in more detail. Yeah.

Pottery figure, slip moulded, decorated then glazed.

Modelled by D Lyttleton in 1977.

-What does he want for it?

-£32.

-All right. Who's going to haggle?

-I will.

-Are you good at haggling?

-You swoop over there.

-Off I fly!

-And see what you can do.

-Yeah.

The boozy bird in the box was picked up for £22.50.

I have to say I really don't like these at all. I can't imagine who would buy them.

-Do you not use a toast rack at home?

-I'm afraid not.

-Because that's just right!

-It doesn't look sturdy enough.

-Think in terms of a breakfast tray and you just want...

-Triangles.

-Yes.

-I think it could make a profit at auction.

-I think they're very nice, actually.

-Silver, is it?

-Solid silver, yes. And they look very Art Deco.

Sort of Cubist and angular. These were well spotted. Don't take any notice of your mother!

These would have been a sort of wedding present.

Oh! I think these are rather nice,

but £95 is too much. Forget it, unless you get it really, really low!

-We could have a go.

-A bargain price. That's the name of the game.

Let's hope THEY'RE not toast at the auction, after buying them for £30.

-Look at this - sitting down on the job.

-I think I found something.

-Did you get a round in?

-Sorry.

OK, we've got a stool here. What's drawing you to it?

I think it could be quite functional. If you had a rustic kitchen, it's certainly comfortable.

Well, I must say, I love this sort of piece of furniture.

Very simply constructed, big heavy piece of wood, this.

Lovely shape. You've got the legs which have these revealed joints.

You have a little slit, basically, where you bang a peg in for a tight joint.

It's rather good at this end. I quite like that.

If look around underneath as well. The way it's finished on the edges is rather nice, bevelled.

So it doesn't hurt the hand when you sit on it. That is illustrated by this darkening here.

-It's finger grease.

-Ah!

I'd like to say it's 19th century, might be latter part of, but nice.

-How much is he asking for it?

-£80.

Well, I still think that's a possible sale at that,

but we need to get something off it. So let's nick off and see what we can do about it.

At £65, will the country-made stool leave them sitting pretty with a profit?

This pigeon is definitely dead. It's time's up.

For the pigeon and our teams. Let's remind ourselves what the Reds bought.

Both Reds loved the £105 silver sugar shaker,

but that was the one and only item they agreed on.

Daughter Catherine wasn't keen on the £160 copper book trough.

And mum Linda just didn't see the point of the toast racks,

but at £30 they were too much of a bargain to resist.

-Now, did you have a good time?

-Brilliant.

-Very good.

-Which is your favourite piece?

-The sugar shaker.

-Sugar shaker?

-I agree. We'll make the most on it.

You spent a magnificent £295, which is really beezer.

Only £5 of leftover lolly. Well done, Catherine. And it goes across to DB.

-Well, I think it's going to set a challenge.

-Yes.

But there are things at that fare for £5.

-Yes, lots of them(!)

-A huge selection.

-Thank you.

-Let's remind ourselves what the Blues bought.

For the Blues, a bit of Beswick

has got collector Chris excited at £110.

Will the £22.50 Doulton osprey soar?

Or is it just too "whisky"?

Last up was the elm bench, which £65 bought.

Let's hope there are enough bums on seats at the auction.

-Claire, which is your favourite?

-The Beswick horse.

-Chris?

-The Beswick shire horse. The dapple grey will swing it.

-That's your favourite piece?

-That's nice.

You spent a very comforting £197.50.

I want £102.50, which goes straight to Jonathon.

-Thank you very much.

-It's a reasonable amount of money.

-You can get quite a lot for 100 quid.

-Quite. That's what we expect.

And are you going to perform?

Well, I thought I might see if I can buy some...copper!

Oh, really? That would be good. Off you trot.

What could be nicer, to wend our way to Malvern, to Philip Serrell's sale room?

-Phil.

-How are you doing?

-I'm looking forward to today.

-I am. We've got some good things here.

-First for the Reds is the silver caster.

Just a bit tired, that thing.

I know how it feels - a bit bruised and battered.

-I think £50-£80.

-They paid £105.

-Might be bad news.

-If it hasn't got good, clear marks, and has got a bit of damage - it's been well used...

-Absolutely right.

-So it could be difficulty there.

-Yeah.

-Next is the pair of toast racks.

-I think they're lovely. Small bits of toast, mind. A bit mean!

-Yes, absolutely, but slimline is the way forward, Phil.

-Is it?

-£30-£50.

-Oh, brilliant. They paid £30.

-I think they'll make a profit.

-But the really speculative thing...

-I love that.

-..is this book trough.

It's just flavour of the moment. It's well made, oak lining here.

We've put £100-£200 on it.

Yes. Well, Linda's taken a bit of a flyer on this.

-£160 they paid.

-Mmm.

-It's got this kind of Voisey feel. Definitely feels 1910.

-Yeah.

-So £100-£200.

-Yes.

-Bit of a tempter?

-"Come and buy me."

-We'll see what happens.

In case all else fails, let's look at their Bonus Buy.

What do you think?

Oh, it's like a pepper pot.

-Like that? But you can't put the pepper in.

-Ah.

-So what is it?

-So it's to hold something.

-Yes.

-Thin. Hat pins?

-Yes!

-Good girl! Top of the form!

So this is a hat pin holder. For those long hat pins,

more to the Edwardian period. That's when it dates from.

-Is it Vena... North Devon, is it?

-Is it Branham ware?

-Oh!

Well, that's very close! It's a very indistinct mark.

Branham ware, you're quite right.

-How much might it bring?

-I think it will do in the region of £10-£15.

-So there's a profit margin.

-Watch his lips - he said he thinks there will be a profit margin.

Don't decide until after the sale of your first three items, but let's find out what the auctioneer thinks.

-It's a plain Jane, unlike the purchaser.

-Quite. That's true.

-We've put £10-£20 on it.

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

-Mm.

-Who have bought some modern collectables here.

-You know how much I love those(!)

-I know how much you adore Beswick.

-Oh, absolutely(!)

-The old grey mare.

Yes. I know there is a huge army of Beswick fans out there and I'm hoping

that one or two of them will take a little punt at this at £80-£120.

It needs to trot on. They paid 110.

That could be a problem. But moving very swiftly to the next modern piece of ceramics,

another factory which I know you love - Doulton.

-I think that'll make £15-£30.

-It doesn't need to make a lot. £22.50, in its original box,

-is all they paid. So that at least stands a good chance.

-Yeah, yeah.

And the last thing is this elm bench.

Rustic furniture you know all about. This is the place to sell rustics.

-I think that's £20-£40 worth. What did they pay?

-£65.

I think there may be trouble ahead.

There certainly could, so they'll definitely need their Bonus Buy. Let's have a look at it.

LAUGHTER

-Making a prat of yourself now!

-Jonathon Pratt, what are you up to?

Well, it's a motor oil sign for Pratt's motor oil company,

sort of like in the '30s and '40s in the heyday of motoring.

And I have a vested interest in this sort of thing,

being a Pratt myself.

The other side is better, you see.

-Will the condition take away from it?

-All the flaking?

It's patina. Good, honest patina.

It's only got part of a P on this side, but a full P on that side.

-And only part of an S on that side.

-OK, it's not in the best condition,

-but it was the only one I found.

-Right.

I paid £40 for it and I reckon there's a profit in it myself.

For the viewers at home, while you think about this until the auction,

let's find what Philip Serrell thinks about the motor oil plaque.

Is somebody going to buy a motor oil advertising sign that's kind of rotted away?

-Half-chewed.

-Difficult one.

-There's no doubt someone will buy it. It's how much they will pay.

We've put £20-£40 on it.

-As much as that?

-Lots of car people around here.

If you get to the top end, he'll be well pleased. He paid £40.

-Right.

-But there is a bit of a struggle here, Phil.

-We're looking to you for your usual performance.

-Thanks, Tim(!)

240. 250.

260. 270. 280. At £310 and I sell.

At 310 and done. Thank you.

-Are you nervous at all, you girls?

-No.

-No, I'm not nervous.

-You're perfectly happy.

-We don't have great expectations.

-Don't you?

-No.

-David Barby does!

-I always have, Tim.

-You have to start from a bullish point.

-Absolutely. Confident.

Anyway, first item up is the sugar caster.

A George III sugar caster.

£50? Give me £30.

30 I'm bid. At 30. 30 bid.

At 30. £40. 50.

50 bid. At 50. At £50.

Is there any more?

-At £50, then. And I sell. At 50 and done.

-Oh, bad luck.

£50. That's minus £55.

Never mind. Here come the toast racks.

Lot number 407, this lovely little pair of toast racks. There we are.

A lovely pair of toast racks. Bid me 30, someone.

A pair of silver toast racks. 30 I'm bid. At £30. 40.

-We're in profit!

-50? 50 bid here.

-60.

-Doubled your money.

-At £60.

And I sell, then, at 60. And done!

£60. You've made £30 at a stroke. Congratulations, you two.

Here's a lovely lot. Lot 408. The Arts and Crafts book trough.

"Choose an author as you choose a friend." And I'm bid £100.

At 100. And 10. 120.

130. 140. 150. 160.

-At 160 bid.

-Come on.

-Is there any more?

The bid is here at £160 on the book. And I sell, then, at 160 and done.

Oh, bad luck. 160. You paid 160. You wiped your face.

-That's all right.

-You were predicting a loss. That's great.

-We're delighted with that.

-Overall, you're minus £25.

There's no shame in that score, I can tell you. What are you going to do about the Bonus Buy?

-The £5 lot.

-Catherine?

-I'd like to have it.

Would you? You'd go with it? What do you think, Ma?

-Well, I think it's lovely.

-I bet he doubles it up! He'll make £10 or £15.

-Going to go with it?

-Yes.

-We're going with the Bonus Buy!

Lot number...412 is the Branham Pottery hat pin holder

in a deep blue glaze. Bid me. Who's got £20 to start?

Help the old girl out. That's you, Barby!

Who's got a fiver, quickly? 5. 10.

-At 10.

-Worth more.

-10 I'm bid.

At 10. One more. At 10. 10 bid.

-£10. 15. Thank you.

-Quadrupled our money!

It's your bid. At £15. I sell, then, at 15. And done.

Oh, David. £15 - well done.

That contributes a tenner, which is welcome.

You are minus £15.

Considering you had that nasty £55 loss,

you clawed it back brilliantly, and minus £15 could be a winning score.

-Claire and Christopher, have you been talking to the Reds?

-No.

-They haven't mentioned a word?

-No.

-Very good.

First up is the dapple grey mare from Beswick. Here it comes.

Number 232. The cantering grey shire horse. Beswick again.

Bid me for that lot.

Who's got 30? Bid 30.

30 bid. At £30. At 30.

-40. 50. At £50.

-Come on!

I'll take 60. At £50 only.

At £50. And it's done and dusted. And I sell then at 50.

Oh, no, Chris, that is minus £60. Dear, oh, dear.

Lot number 433

is the Royal Doulton osprey Whyte and Mackay decanter.

Two bids on the book. 40 started.

-At £40 bid.

-Well done, Chris.

At £40. I'll take 50 anywhere. At £40.

At £40. The bid's on the book and done, then, at 40. And done.

£40. That is brilliant. That is plus £17.50.

Plus £17.50. Now, look out.

Here's yours stool.

Lot number 434 is this rather fine elm bench. There you are.

Grace any cottage. Bid me for that.

Start me off. Who's got £40 for it?

40?

Give me 20. 20 I'm bid. At 20.

£20. At £20 only.

20 bid. Is there any more? At £20. 5 I'll take.

Come along. And 5. 25.

Just one more and it might be yours. 30. At £30.

Any more at all? At £30, then, and I sell at £30. And done.

£30. You're minus £35 on that.

Which means overall you are minus £77.50.

It's quite a mountain to climb with the oil sign, I'd say.

I think we'll rely on Jonathon to get us out of the mire.

So we're going to go with the Bonus Buy? Yes? Here it comes.

Now then, 438, Mr Pratt's Pratt sign.

There we go. A good bit of motoring automobilia, isn't it?

Start me off, someone. £20 I'm bid. At 20.

At £20. Who's got 30?

30. 30 bid. 40 here.

-It's on the book at 40.

-Come on, come on, come on.

Is there any more? At £40 and I sell, then, at 40 and done.

Who would have thought that? £40. Wiped its face.

No contribution, I'm afraid. You're still minus £77.50.

Congratulations, Jonathon. Don't tell the Reds a thing.

-Drama. That's how I'd describe today. Been talking, you lot?

-No!

Not to each other, anyway.

That's just as well. Both teams went with the Bonus Buy.

But the team with the running-up score are the Blues.

I'm really sorry about this.

You made a nice profit on your whisky doo-dah of £17.50. That was perfectly reasonable.

But one wiped face from Jonathon and a few losses means that you're minus £77.50.

-I'm sorry about that. We've had good fun.

-Yes, lots of fun.

Thank you very much. Now the victors, the Reds, who won by only losing £15.

It's pretty good going.

You should really, I feel, be taking home money today,

but you're ahead, you're the winners with only minus £15. Feeling good?

-That's excellent.

-And you, Ma?

-Delighted. We had a wonderful day.

We've enjoyed having you.

-Join us soon for some more bargain hunting. Yes?

-ALL:

-Yes!

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