Peterborough 14 Bargain Hunt

We've got football fans versus staff nurses today.

So I'll have to be both referee

and ward sister

as we go bargain hunting!

Welcome to Peterborough and the Festival of Antiques.

There's plenty of dealers here and a positive smorgasbord of items

for our teams to choose.

Over 15,000 people visit these fairs

so let's hope our teams are ready to go out there and go bargain hunting!

On today's show, we have two teams of colleagues

who've taken time off work to have a crack at Bargain Hunt.

For the blues, we've got Lisa and Tim. Great name, Tim!

And for the reds we've got Ros and Lesley. Welcome to Bargain Hunt.

-How did you and Ros first meet?

-I met Ros

when I started work for Norwich City Football Club

-and made some good friends there. 13 years later, we have nights out and still like each other!

-We do!

And you attend the football matches all the time?

I'm not the biggest attender of football.

I'm really behind the club, but football isn't my thing!

I leave it to people like Ros.

And Ros, what are you going to be looking out for?

I'm really interested in sport, both watching and playing,

-so I'd like to look for sporting memorabilia.

-Very good.

Some of that stuff does make money at auction,

so if you find something, go for it!

What's your job at the club?

I manage the study centre at Carrow Road.

-What does that involve?

-We work with hundreds of children and adults

and our job is to teach them various skills -

literacy, numeracy, ICT,

and we motivate children through the medium of sport and football.

Well, bravo!

We've all learnt something. Good luck on Bargain Hunt.

Lisa, tell us why you and Tim are going to make a great team.

We're nurses and I think we'll make a good team cos we're used to working together.

-What sort of nursing work are you in?

-I'm a children's nurse.

-You love it, do you?

-It's really good.

-But you're also at work both at work and outside.

Yes, I go to the Salvation Army.

Obviously that's a church but also does a lot of charity work as well.

With them, I went over to Africa

-and went to a hospital there and worked.

-Quite an experience?

-Yes.

It's another world.

-Tim, you're no stranger to a challenge.

-I once did a 300-foot bungee jump

off a crane at Chelsea Bridge for charity.

-Completely mad!

-Yes, definitely.

-Do you collect anything, Timbo?

-Mainly First World War postcards

-cos they're easy to get hold of and fairly reasonable.

-They're moving documents, aren't they?

-Yes.

Will you be looking for similar items today on Bargain Hunt?

I think we'll just be looking for anything that catches our eye and will make money.

That's the spirit!

You know the rules. You have an hour to find three objects.

You'll have £300 to spend and here is the £300. £300.

-There you go.

-Thank you.

-Off you go and very, very good luck!

Well, I never did!

Today's experts and experienced auctioneers at the ready to rummage are...

for the reds, the ever-charming Charles Hanson.

And for the blues,

the ever-affable Anita Manning.

Charles, what do you think about this?

It's very, very nice.

I love the form of it. It's got a wonderful free-flowing, organic Arts and Crafts feel.

-Do you like it?

-Yes.

Take the top off very carefully.

We can see by quality the lovely basket-woven handle.

Beautiful. Very decorative.

-Look at the joins, this hammered textured finish in that period style of about 1900.

-Really?

I'll turn it upside-down as well. There's a mark on here.

Just chiselled or etched into the base.

That's clearly a German mark

in the Bauhaus style of German modernism

but with a hint of the French Art Nouveau.

It could be Carl Deffner, the maker, or somebody else.

-What's it worth?

-The stallholder wanted 70.

-Right.

But we think we can knock him down and get it for less than that.

I think if you could buy it for around £50 and we could then

hopefully see in Grantham an auction guide price between 50 and 70.

-OK.

-That sounds as if it's... Good.

-Excellent.

-OK.

-So, shall we go and put the kettle on, then?

-Sounds good to me.

Looks like the kettle's on, with a not so scalding price of £50.

Tim, Lisa,

I found this big darling

lurking under a table.

I was immediately drawn to it because I think the colours are wonderful.

Tim, what do you think?

I just love all the colours. It's fantastic.

Something I'd have at home myself.

That's the proof of the pudding.

I think this bowl has come from the Mediterranean.

Either Cyprus, North Africa, in that Mediterranean region.

It uses these lovely muted colours

to great effect.

-Is it very old?

-I wouldn't say it's terribly old.

-Possibly made for the tourist trade.

-I see, yeah.

-That's not putting me off. I like it.

-It's lovely.

-Lisa, have a hold of it.

-It's lovely.

Really nice. You can see somebody having it in their home.

-What about the price?

-Price-wise, they're looking for £48.

I think that that is a little bit dear.

-He will come down to £30, so if you're in agreement...

-Good.

-Yeah.

-..we'll go and get it.

-Let's do it.

Ros and Lesley, what do you think?

It's a lovely Crown Devon musical mug.

There we go. From about the 1950s.

The actual design is moulded with these figures on horseback.

You'd have had it on display, played it now and again. On the base

you wind it up, this is the original musical base.

The Crown Devon mark as well. What do you think, Lesley?

-Quite interesting. A lot of fun.

-How much?

-Look at the condition.

-How much?

-Look at the condition.

-We need to know before we're convinced.

-It's on at £24.

-24?!

But I've negotiated £15.

-That's not too bad.

-At any given auction on any given day,

anywhere in the UK, it's worth between 20 and £30.

And a bit more as well.

It's not gonna lose much at £15.

-If it loses, I shall become a Norwich fan.

-Will you?

-I really will.

-Right.

-Dare I say it.

-Sorted!

-OK?

-OK, we'll go for it, then.

Good.

Gosh, Charles must be confident with the mug

cos he's a die-hard Derby fan!

-Isn't it pretty?

-It's lovely.

-Really nice.

-It suits you. Goes well with the blue.

Lisa, that's a lovely wee piece of jewellery.

-Do you like brooches?

-Yeah, I do.

I can remember when I was little, my nan had a stack of brooches

and we'd look through them.

This one stuck out cos of the colour. It's really nice, the jade.

It's a lovely wee thing. It's an Edwardian brooch

probably made 1910, 1920.

And I love the combination

of gold, jade,

and these lovely little seed pearls here.

It's a wonderful combination.

If it came in to my auction, I'd estimate it 30 to 50.

But it all depends on price. How much?

Well, it's 38 but they said I could have it for 30.

I think we've got a chance there.

That's good, cos I've already bought it!

Charles, do you have time to look at this?

-Time flies, hey?

-Hey!

Sorry!

Well, it's very nice. Tell me about it.

I just like the shape and the classic face of the timepiece.

-Is it mahogany?

-It is mahogany.

It's a nice colour.

What we have is a clock which is a late Victorian flowering, literally,

flowering into the Edwardian period

and it dates to about 1905, 1910.

The first thing to impress is the face. Look at an object or a lady,

-the face tells a story.

-Indeed.

What's the price tag?

-He's asking about £140.

-140. OK.

-My guide price would be between 100 and 150, thereabouts.

-Right.

-So if you can take it back a bit.

-We'll try for £100.

-Yes.

-OK?

-Good. I think it'll do well.

-I think so.

-OK.

The reds wound down the price

but only to £110.

Look. I wasn't sure what it was at first, but it's got a beautiful picture in it.

As I collect postcards as well, I thought this was fantastic.

What you've got here is a little home-entertainment system

from Victorian times, late Victorian, early Edwardian.

It's a little mahogany box

with a view-finder here that you can look through.

It's the type that you would pop in your pocket,

visit your friends and show them the latest photographs

of your loved ones or your holiday.

What price is it? I heard you muttering about profits!

They're asking for 24.

-But we may be able to get it for about 20.

-Well,

the collectors' market is strong at the moment

-so we may have a chance.

-Should we go for it?

-Go for it!

-Let's see what you can do.

-Lovely! Great!

But at £20, is a profit in sight for Tim's view-finder?

Time's up, Nurse. Let's recap on what the reds bought.

First up, the stylish copper kettle

and stand. At £50, will it boil over at auction?

Ros hated Charles's musical mug

but he only paid £15, so will she be singing his praises later?

The girls both liked the mantel clock

but will it tick-tock the bidders' boxes?

Charles, been honing up your football skills?

I have, indeed.

-How have you got on with Norwich?

-Very well, but I'm concerned cos you're in canary yellow, too.

I thought you were on their side against my black-and-white army of Derby.

Ah! There has been some rivalry.

Did you have a good time shopping despite Charles's football affiliation?

-A wonderful time. Brilliant.

-Very good.

-Which is your favourite, Ros?

-My favourite is the copper kettle.

Which piece will bring the biggest profit?

-The biggest profit will be the clock.

-Lovely.

-I think the teapot.

-Do you?

Lovely split up. You spent 175, which is not too bad.

-No.

-£125 of left-over lolly.

-Thank you.

-Not at all.

-Thank you.

Have you got some inspiration? As long as it's yellow, I suppose!

I might take the girl back to those golden swinging '60s years

-and find something which is an icon of that age.

-There's a challenge.

Good luck!

Let's remind ourselves of what the blues bought.

The colourful bowl is striking

but is it worth £30?

Magpie Lisa loved the Edwardian jade and gold brooch.

At only £30, it looks like a sparkling buy.

And Tim spotted the Victorian pocket view-finder

for a measly £20.

You two, did you have a good time?

-Absolutely brilliant.

-Brilliant.

Very enthusiastic! Which is your favourite piece, Lisa?

-The brooch.

-Fine. What about you, Timbo?

-My picture viewer.

-Right.

-Which will bring the biggest profit?

-The brooch.

-The picture viewer!

-Action replay, this!

You're not giving up, you two!

You spent a most miserable £80 on your three items. I'm horrified.

£220 of left-over lolly.

There we go. £220, Anita. That's a lot!

-Yes.

-What are you gonna do about it?

I have my eye on a little piece of 20th-century design.

-Will it go down well with these cheapskates?

-It will with Lisa.

Will it? OK. Good luck with that.

Thank you.

It's great to be in Grantham at Golding Young auctioneers

-with Jan Squires, our auctioneer. Hello, Jan.

-Hello, Tim.

First, we've got this copper and brass spirit kettle on the stand

-which is extremely stylish, isn't it?

-It's a very nice piece.

We've discovered that the maker is Carl Deffner,

so it is a German piece,

but stylistically it's very pleasing.

-What's it worth?

-We've put 30 to 50.

£50 they paid.

-We can always hope that it does twitch up a bit.

-It could twitch up.

How beautifully put! Next,

-the Widdicombe Fair jug.

-It's musical.

-Certainly is.

-Which really annoys everybody that picks it up!

-I won't pick it up.

-No, please don't!

-We think 40 to 60 on that.

-That would be wonderful.

-£15 they paid.

-The collectors are out there.

Charles will be very pleased. He found that. Lastly,

their Art Nouveau inlaid mantel time piece. It's quite a handsome thing.

-I'd have that on my mantelpiece.

-There's an accolade!

The estimate of that should be 80 to 120.

£110 paid.

They're just about within the estimate

-and might make a small profit.

-Yes, indeed.

Going by the estimates, they haven't done badly.

Let's look at their bonus buy.

How about this?

THEY SHRIEK AND LAUGH

-OK...

-What is it?

-You might say, "What have you done?" But it's iconic.

We think of Neil Armstrong, we think of 1969

and that all-important space mission.

The screen rolls up, or your visor, and there's your TV.

Oh, I see!

It's in really good condition. Yes, it's black and white.

But it is so iconic.

It cost me - are you ready - £125.

-What?! You've been had!

-The big advantage, girls, is that

you don't have to take it. It's brave of Charles to do this.

OK? This is Charles's experiment.

Whether you girls run with the experiment

and take this object for £125

on the basis that it may bring a profit, is your choice.

You won't decide on that till after the sale of your three items.

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

I've got a feeling I yearned after one of those when I was young.

So we've put an estimate of 50 to 80 on it.

-This was a very desirable thing in its day.

-It was.

-They were much sought after.

-Your estimate then is 50 to £80.

-Indeed.

Charles has invested £125 in this as a bonus buy.

-Any chance, Jan, do you think?

-With two people that really want it, yes.

That's it for the reds. Now for the blues.

Their first item is this bowl

which I guess came back from holiday

with a tourist in about 1960 or 1970.

I'd go with that. It's sort of Spanish, Portuguese, that sort of area.

-How much?

-20 to £40 on that one.

£30 paid. That's not too bad.

-It might get there.

-It might.

You love jewellery. You catalogue it. What do you think of the brooch?

It was described as Edwardian, but I don't think it's that old.

-It is made of gold, do you think?

-Yes.

-How much?

-20 to 40 on that.

-Not much, is it?

It's unmarked. You haven't got a nice clear hallmark

that you can focus in on.

£30 paid. Their last item is their Victorian photographic card viewer

which is quite a sweet little thing.

It is. We think it might do quite well.

-How much?

-30 to 50 on that.

-That would be wonderful

because they only paid £20.

Overall I think it looks incredibly positive.

But just in case, let's have a look at their bonus buy.

-Wow!

-I like that.

What we have here is a lovely little piece of 20th-century Scandinavian design.

This sort of stuff is hot just now so I'm hoping that it will sell well.

Big question. How much did it cost?

-I paid £45 for it.

-How much do you think it'll go for?

I would estimate it at 40 to 60.

-Is it?

-I think we'll make a profit.

-I like it.

-I like it.

-I like brooches.

-Well, you seem to have got a bit of a hit there, Anita.

Congratulations. They've asked all the right questions as you'd expect from a cutting-edge team.

You don't have to decide now.

But for viewers, let's see what the auctioneer thinks.

Quite logically, it bends the wrong way for a brooch.

Yes. You have to think of a concave area that you might place it.

-Yes.

-Rather than a convex area.

Yes, and on a lady's body there aren't many of those.

-So...

-Hmm.

..we really put it down quite low to five to £15.

Oh, dear! Anita will be absolutely mortified!

-She spent £45 on it and it's supposed to be a bonus buy.

-Hmm.

But you never know. Hope springs eternal.

Absolutely. And you can't second-guess anybody.

32. 34?

Ros and Lesley, you're looking particularly glamorous

in your red fleeces today.

How are you feeling in yourself?

-Oh, really excited.

-Are you up for this?

-Yeah.

-Absolutely.

-First up is the kettle.

-Here it comes. Good luck.

A German arts and crafts copper and brass spirit kettle on stand,

by Carl Deffner. And I can start the bidding at £30, I have. 32 anywhere?

32. 34.

34. 36.

38. 40. 42.

-44?

-Yes, go on!

Would you like 44? 46? No?

-Go on!

-44 behind you.

All done, then?

At £44.

£44. You're minus £6 there.

-That's not bad.

-Not too bad, but disappointing on the profit stakes.

-Widdicombe musical mug.

-Here we go!

Crown Devon Widdicombe Fair pottery musical mug.

We'll start the bidding on that. I've got 30. 32 anywhere?

30 I have. Anyone at 32 for the mug?

30, then, is the price.

All done and finished at 30.

That's 100 per cent profit!

-Now, the mantel clock.

-An Edwardian mahogany mantel timepiece

of Art Nouveau balloon design.

I have an opening bid of £44.

46 anywhere? 44 I have. 46?

-48? 46.

-Come on!

-48 on the book.

50. 55.

60. 65. 70.

75.

80. 85. 90?

No? Full stop? 85 I've got.

90 anywhere? All done and finished?

At 85.

You're minus £25.

But you had plus nine before.

-So actually you are minus £16.

-Not too bad, then.

£16 down. £16 down.

-We've got to make a decision.

-Stick! Stick!

I'm a bit nervous about the audience today!

-Are you going to stick?

-OK.

-OK.

-Not going with it.

-So disappointing!

-I wanted it to do well, but we'll stick.

A Philips Discoverer spaceman's helmet television.

I have 40 to start.

45 anywhere? 40 I have.

-45. 50?

-Come on!

-50 bid.

55. 60.

65. 70.

75. 80. 85?

No? 80 I've got.

80 I've got. 85 anywhere?

One more! Come on!

80, then, and I'm stopping at 80.

-Minus 45.

-Good decision.

-Good decision.

-Futuristic.

On the other hand, think about it,

with a couple of bits more enthusiasm,

that's not so far shy of £125.

It's not struggling at £8, Charles.

-It is an object...

-More than we thought.

-An object which, on its day,

-and it has yet to have its day...

-In a design sale.

..you never know what might happen.

Well spotted. I admire you for having a run at it, Charles.

-Just for fun.

-Life's too short.

And I admire you for not taking it as your bonus buy, cos it would have torpedoed you!

Your overall score is minus £16.

That could very easily be a winning score.

-Fingers crossed!

-Mum's the word.

-Are you excited?

-Very!

It's great, isn't it?

It's a fantastic programme, this! We have no idea what's going to happen at auction.

-Do you know how the reds got on?

-No.

-Not a clue.

-We kept you apart.

That's the right spirit.

The oven-ware bowl. Anita found that.

Spanish, Portuguese, whatever it is,

20 to £40, the auctioneer's put on.

You paid £30, Anita. That's in the frame.

A continental, rustic, tin-glazed, hand-painted earthenware bowl.

There we go. Shall we start that at £10?

£10 for the dish?

Bright colours.

Decorate a room. £10. Two to go, then?

Two pounds bid. Thank you. Four? Six?

Eight? No? £6 I've got. Eight, anywhere?

-Is that all?

-Eight? Ten?

No? Eight over there. Anyone at ten?

All done and finished at £8 only.

-No!

-I can't believe that!

Baby! Minus 22! Anita! Here's the brooch.

A 20th-century bar brooch

with applied pierced and carved rectangular plaque.

Shall we start at £20?

£20 bid. Thank you. 22 anywhere?

20 I have. 22.

24. 26.

28. 30.

35. 40.

No?

35 with you. 40 anywhere else?

Are we all done at £35?

£35. £5 profit.

Better than nowt, as they say! Next, the view-finder.

A Victorian mahogany pocket view-finder.

I can start the bidding on that at £22.

22 I have. 22 I have.

24 anywhere?

24. 26 in the room? 26. 28.

30. 32. 34.

36. 38. 40.

Look at that, Timbo!

40 I have. 42 anywhere else?

40, then, and all done at £40.

£40. You've doubled your money. Smashing.

Plus £20 on that.

Which means overall you are plus £3.

You have £3 in your back pocket. What will you do about the brooch?

-I think we'll go with it.

-You can just bank your money.

You bank your money, if you think you're going to win with the score you've got.

We've got a chance of winning with a profit.

-You're up £3. Stick with that?

-Yeah!

-Not going with the brooch.

OK. Not going with the brooch, with the bonus buy.

But we'll sell it anyway for the fun.

A curved brooch of '60s Scandinavian styling.

Hand painted and we'll start the bidding at £10.

£10 bid. 12 anywhere? 10 I have. Anyone at 12? 12.

14. 16. 18.

20. 20 bid.

22. 24.

No? 22 I have. Anyone at 24?

All done and finished, then, at £22.

£22. That's minus £23.

I think, team, you did exactly the right thing in sticking.

-But promise me you won't say a thing to the reds.

-Not a word.

I will reveal all in a moment.

So the blues stuck to their guns with the bonus buy and it paid off,

leaving them with a winning profit of £3,

as, remember, the reds made a loss of £16.

Coming up, two more teams take up the Bargain Hunt challenge.

But first, I'm in the mood for some exploring.

"The landscape sleeps in mist from morn till noon

"And, if the sun looks through,

"'Tis with a face beamless and pale

"And round."

Beautiful surroundings have inspired many a writer

and local man John Clare was no exception.

I'm at Peterborough Museum

to find out more about "the peasant poet".

The really great thing about having a museum like this on your doorstep

is that not only can you see rare and beautiful things,

but you can also learn a little more about the place in which you live.

John Clare was born in 1793

and grew up in the nearby village of Helpston

to almost illiterate parents.

His love of the surrounding countryside

inspired him to become a poet,

publishing four volumes to some success.

However, he became ill and in middle age

was committed to various asylums,

eventually dying in 1864 in Northampton.

Despite initial enthusiasm for his verse,

he didn't become truly appreciated

as one of the greatest of the 19th century poets

until the middle of the 20th century.

Here we've got an object in the archive that belonged to him -

a wee snuff box.

Appropriately for a man of letters,

it's in the form of a book.

If you look at the outer cover,

this chip carving is arranged exactly like the book binding

on a small leather volume.

Even the spine has been raised with these ridges

to make it look exactly like a book. In short,

it's a delightful bit of Treen.

On the other side is a sliding panel

which John Clare would have slid open

and taken out a healthy pinch.

Here we've got some more original Clare material,

including his Bible,

neatly written up, "John Clare 1813."

But most importantly in the Peterborough Museum collection

they've got the largest surviving group of original written manuscripts.

Over 150 pieces, in fact.

On this sheet we have a letter, written in his own fair hand in 1826,

a letter to Eliza. It's thought

that Eliza was connected with his publisher.

He says in the letter,

"Did you get the volume of poems I sent you a long time ago?

"I wished you to write quickly.

"As you did not write, we think you did not get them.

"I shall keep ill and am no better."

Here we've got the last thing that Clare ever wrote.

This sheet of paper was in front of him

just before he died in 1864

having been committed to an asylum.

The last line says, "Where the old cow at her leisure chews

"Ham and..."

And the poem stops.

We'll never know. Ham and eggs? Ham and chips? Ham and grilled tomatoes?

The big question is, of course, today,

are our teams going to be chewing the cud over at the auction,

or simply looking at something that's dud?

So, with hundreds of stalls to rummage through

at the Peterborough Festival of Antiques,

there should be something to get poetic about.

So let's meet our new lots of reds and blues.

Two teams of happily married couples.

For the reds, it's John and Sally, and Mary and Philip for the blues.

-Hello, Tim.

-Hello.

-Welcome to Bargain Hunt.

Sally, have you ever been to a festival before?

Not a muddy wellington boots festival, but John and I sing with the Norfolk Chamber Choir.

So we've taken part in the Norwich and Norfolk Festival

-We sing a fair bit at different things.

-So you're used to performing.

Yes. In fact, John and I met because we were in an opera called The Merry Widow together,

and we had to dance together.

Now, you're keen on antiques, in particular, antiquities.

Yes. I spend about half of the year working in Egypt.

I work with ceramics there.

I'm an archaeologist. I'm working with an excavation from Boston University.

Have you made amazing discoveries?

We've made some fantastic discoveries,

but I think one of the most exciting things we've ever found

was a cave full of ropes and they look exactly like ropes from a ship today,

but they're about 4,000 years old.

-It's amazing how things are preserved in Egypt.

-Incredible.

So, John, what do you get up to when Sal's away?

Very little now, cos I go with her as, surprisingly enough, her assistant.

But you do like your antiques too, don't you?

I do. I love Victorian items.

I like jars and bowls.

I like the colours, the extravagance of colour, quite often, in Victorian work.

Also, dare I admit it? The sentimentality attached to it.

Brilliant. You'll find lots of Victorian things to buy today.

-Good luck.

-Thanks.

-Now, Mary and Philip. How's retirement suiting you?

-Very well.

I've been retired six years now.

Mary's been retired ten years and life is very, very pleasant.

-Of course, you retired when you were 20, didn't you, Mary?

-I wish!

-Very early!

And what sort of things do you get up to now then, Mary?

Very busy. We do lots of bowling competitions, in teams.

I go out with the grandchildren. Go to the cinema.

-Generally have a rave-up.

-Yes.

-Yeah. Good for you.

Philip, what sort of things do you collect?

Coronation mugs, mainly,

of which I have a fairly substantial collection. I'm a hoarder, really, Tim.

And Mary, what sort of things will you be looking out for today?

I like ceramics and I like jewellery, very much.

-Big diamonds, all that kind of thing?

-Oh, I wish!

Anyway, here's the money moment. There you go. £300 apiece. You know the rules.

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

-Hi.

-It found her.

-Ain't she tasty, eh?

-Yes, well...

-Very beautiful.

She's got great style, great panache.

She's very slender and very elegant.

The market, John, it does adore the female form.

-John likes that, too!

-I like her very much.

-She is 1930s.

-Yes.

-Ah!

She could be 40s.

But we look at her,

she almost has a sort of Grecian revival look about her.

She obviously is carrying two jugs,

these ewers. We hope it's bronze. It's not bronze, though.

It is spelter, which is coated with this finish

to give the impression of a fine bronze of the period.

What I do like is this base. I'll turn it upside down.

Lovely. We've got these nice old rusty hexagonal screws in cast iron

which clearly have been there a long time.

So the base certainly is period.

The upper half is period.

-What's she worth?

-Well, the ticket says 125.

Right. OK. What's it worth in the current market?

Well, I think she's a figurine, in a base metal, so dare I say it?

A poor man's Priess or a poor man's Chiparus.

I would say today she ought to fetch between 70 and 100, or 80 and 120.

-A haggle, then.

-We need to get this down a bit if she's going to see a profit.

-She's very attractive.

-Yeah. John liked her straight away.

THEY CHUCKLE

Hm! A very racy start from the reds there.

The spelter figure set them back £80.

Now, are the blues in such a saucy mood?

-I think this is superb. Mary doesn't.

-No.

-OK.

-Let's have a look.

-I don't reckon it.

Well, first of all, what we have is a little Art-Nouveau desk stand.

Let's have a look inside.

No liners. That's a wee bit of, you know...

Detracts a little bit. But don't get too despondent about it.

I like it because it's handmade, it's got a beautiful design on it,

and I think it'd make a good talking point on an executive's desk.

What sort of price is it?

-They're asking 48, which I think is a little high.

-Yes.

If we can get it somewhere around 30, 25, 35, in that area, we still have a chance.

-Do you think you could do that?

-I will give it my best.

-25 tops.

-I'll give it my best shot.

-OK. On you go.

-25!

Don't worry about it, Mary.

-We'll be fine. We'll be absolutely fine.

-I've got to trust you.

The girls may be fine but it's Philip I'm feeling sorry for.

But he settled a deal on the inkstand at £35.

What we've got here is something which really is a big capital A

in the word antique cos it really rolls back the years.

It goes back to the reign of George III.

-Fantastic!

-Wow!

I adore it because what it is is a very, very fine porcelain bowl,

manufactured by Worcester,

who really were a factory in the mid-18th century,

trying to imitate,

trying to copy that fine, mystical, magical Chinese porcelain,

made by these funny men in the Far East.

We had no idea, really, who they were and what they were about.

What we did know, though, is at this time they could make

a material which was translucent and we were mesmerized by that body,

and we can see on the base here,

we've got this hatched crescent moon mark,

which is a Worcester mark for about 1765-1775.

What we've got here, John, are three cannonballs.

And a cannonball, also, on the inside of the bowl.

It's called the cannonball pattern, quite literally.

-How much did the dealer ask for it?

-80, wasn't it?

-£80, he thought.

I think, with the market today being what it is,

I would still value this, Sally, at between 70 and 90, £60 and £100.

Because it's in good condition, there's opportunity for profit.

-Shall we go for it?

-Go with that.

-It rocked my boat so I think we'll buy it.

-I think we should go with that.

-Good, OK. See you later.

-Thanks.

A nice bit of Worcester there and not bad at £70.

So one more to get. And the reds have £150 left to find it.

Phil, Mary, this is a little piece of art porcelain.

If we look at the front here,

we see this wonderful winter scene,

with the bare trees, snowy landscape,

and this lonely little church in the background.

Another wee surprise is that it is Royal Doulton.

What sort of age is it?

This would have come from, say, turn of the century. 1910, maybe 1920.

I've got quite a few Doulton pieces, but nothing anything like this.

This is so, so different.

And it's quite a substantial piece. How much is it?

Phil, I'd like you to do this one.

-I'd like you to use all your charm, Phil.

-Wish I had some!

Oh, course you have.

Excuse me. We quite like this.

What's the price on it?

-Right. Well, I'd say 75.

-I'm sure you can go a little lower.

Um... 55.

55? It's absolutely beautiful.

-Super.

-Cheers.

Well done, Philip! That was marvellous.

-You know, you really are a charmer.

-I really am!

As long as we make a profit, he's a charmer!

THEY LAUGH

-Sally, John.

-Hello.

-What do you think of this?

It's not a big archaeological Greek remain of a shard

from 2,000 years ago.

Nice. I like the feel of that. Quite modern.

First and foremost, it is very modern.

You might think it's quite plain, quite boring.

But look at these concentric lines.

Look at the form.

It's sort of vibrancy of design from a certain period.

It's Art Deco.

And it's obviously evocative of that period, late 1920s.

Believe it or not, it's Wedgwood.

-Is it really?

-That's extraordinary.

That is quite extraordinary.

John, condition, what do you think?

Condition, looks very sound.

-I can see no obvious blemish on this whatsoever.

-What's it worth, though?

-What's it worth?

-I've no idea.

It's on at £75.

That's the asking price.

But we can buy it for 60 which is a good discount of £15.

-I like it very much.

-Sounds a very good prospect.

-Do I have your consent?

-Yes.

-You do.

-Thank you. I'll buy it.

You might not like this too much

but Mary, you're going to love this. Now have a look at that.

Oh, that is lovely.

Yes, I really like that.

This is a lovely delicate Edwardian gold and seed pearl pendant.

It's made in nine carat gold with this wonderful sunburst design,

with these wonderful little graduated seed pearls inset into the star.

Now, let's have a wee look.

Philip, do you think this is something that your wife would suit?

-I think it's something I would buy her myself.

-Ah!

I think it's exquisite.

-Is he a romantic?

-He can be.

-He can be.

Now, the price on it is £138.

Yep, it's a wee bit dear. My estimate in auction would be 80 to 120.

So we're looking to get it right down to near enough the £100 mark.

-Right.

-Mary, do you want to do the bargaining?

-Yes.

-I think you'd be very good at that.

-Yeah.

-Let's go.

-Thank you.

Mary proved a formidable Bargain Hunter

and dropped the price of the pendant to £105.

If my maths is any good, that means both teams have three items each,

so let's recap on what the reds bought.

Oh, I say!

They got us hot under the collar with their first choice,

the Art Deco spelter bronze lady.

Their next piece may not be as saucy,

but it is Worcester and it set them back £70.

And last up was the Keith Murray designed Wedgwood charger at £60.

-How are you?

-Very well.

-Excellent. How did your team get on?

Very good. I was expecting a pair of fossils, but in fact

there was a great taste in objects

and we did very well with the more modern rather than archaeological objects.

-Well, your team isn't that old, Charles!

-Oh, no!

-You were expecting a couple of fossils, did you say?

-Only joking!

I think that's rather impolite!

-Did you have a nice time?

-Lovely, thanks.

Despite your expert's insults.

How could he describe you as a couple of old fossils?

-It's beyond me.

-It's too bad.

-Yeah.

Which is your favourite piece, Sal?

-The Keith Murray plate.

-Keith Murray plate is your favourite.

-What about you, John?

-A beautiful little 18th century bowl

in blue and white, which I thought was absolutely gorgeous.

-And is that going to bring the biggest profit?

-It may not.

-But I liked it very much.

-Yes.

-So what's the prediction for the most profit?

-We hope the Keith Murray.

-Good luck.

-You spent £210.

-That's right.

-Please may I have £90?

-You may.

Excellent. There we go.

-£90, Charles.

-Thank you, Tim.

What are you going to spend it on?

Something stony, shard-like, you know, more in keeping to my team.

TIM LAUGHS

-Quite old, then?

-I think so.

Fine. Good luck with that, boy.

Lovely. Let's remind ourselves what the blues bought.

The blues' haul got under way with the inkpot.

Mary didn't like it but Philip put his foot down.

Let's hope he's right.

Royal Doulton was the name of the game next

and the jug was picked up for £55.

Their last punt was on the Victorian brooch.

Will it be the star of the show?

We'll see later at the auction.

-So, Anita, are you displaying a national bit of pride here on your lapel?

-Scottish brooch.

Very smart. Now, how did you get on with your team, today?

They were a wonderful couple

but there was a wee bit of marital disharmony.

-Was there?

-Yes.

They're billed as a happily married couple. Is that not true?

Every happily married couple has a wee disagreement now and then.

Sometimes. You're right.

-Anyway, how'd you get on? Was it good fun?

-Great.

-Which is your favourite piece, Mary?

-The necklace.

-The necklace. What about you, Philip?

-I agree with Mary. The necklace.

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

-The Doulton jug, I think.

-The Doulton jug. Do you agree, Phil?

-I'd like to say my inkwell, but it is the Royal Doulton jug, I'm sure.

Right. Well, there we've got the prediction.

You spent £195, which is really good news.

£105 of leftover lolly, please.

There we go, Anita. £105. Are you all right with that?

Yes. Well, despite the fact that there was a few wee disagreements,

we did make a wonderful trail

and I have spotted something which might celebrate that.

-That means there'll be three of them, whatever it is. Good luck, Anita.

-Thank you.

Super.

We're in jolly old Grantham

at Golding Young's Auction House with Jan Squires, our auctioneer. How are you, Jan?

-Absolutely fine. How are you?

-Brilliant, thanks.

Feeling very fresh, actually.

-Yes!

-Good.

Now, John and Sally, their first item is the Keith Murray dish.

Generally, they don't do terribly well. People prefer his more curvaceous rounded items.

So we think 30 to 50.

£60 paid. So there could be a bit of a hole there.

-Mm.

-But it would be lovely for your nuts, wouldn't it?

-It's large enough, yes.

-It's large enough.

We go to the other end of the spectrum completely with the second item.

-A bit of first period Worcester.

-Yes. Round about 1770.

Really beautiful bluish hue to that porcelain.

-Yes.

-So is it going to sell well, do you think?

-I hope 70 to 90.

-That would be brilliant. £70 paid.

-Oh, right.

It's a bit of quality.

How do you rate our little Art Deco figure, here?

Old doo-dah with the jugs.

-Don't like the colour at all.

-Don't you?

No, but I know she'll find a buyer, at something between 80 and 120.

Well, £80 paid. So again, another predicted profit on that.

Well, that would be splendido.

Overall, they probably don't need the bonus buy but let's look at it, anyway.

I came across a really nice carved alabaster ornament and there we go.

And here we've got a lovely little carving of two young children,

very Victoriana, very sentimental. Anyone can live with this. It's very attractive.

Yes, it's got some wear, but we must remember it's 120 years old.

-What do you think, John?

-I can see it looking very nice in the right situation.

-Yeah.

-So what did it cost you?

It cost me £60. And my auction guide price would be between 50 and 80,

or between £60 and £80. So I can see a profit, certainly.

-That's what I'm here for.

-We've watched your lips, Charles.

We've seen you say there's a potential £20 or £30 profit in that, given a fair wind.

Just hang on to that memory because you don't decide right now,

you decide after the sale of your first three items.

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

Um, lovely subject. Always popular, young people, children.

Should probably do quite well. I think 80 to 120 on that one.

Super. £60 paid by Charles Hanson.

-He'll be absolutely over the moon with you for that.

-Good.

So, that's it for the reds.

Now for the blues.

Mary and Philip, they went with the Royal Doulton jug,

which is a good large example, isn't it?

It's a beautiful one. I think the painting's very well done.

It's a muted green rather than a bright green

which I prefer personally.

30 to 50 might be where you are.

£55 is what it's got to be if they're to make a profit.

Their second item is this pendant brooch.

It's quite light, so there isn't a lot of gold in it.

So, 40 to 60.

-How much?

-40 to 60.

It's light of £105, I can tell you that.

-That's what they paid, £105 and the estimate's 40 to 60.

-Ah!

Not so much of a starburst. I think we'd better move on quickly.

-Yes.

-Let's move on to your favourite subject, a bit of brass.

Nice bit of German brass, dating from around 1900, 1905.

Yes. Nice organic form.

The leaves are actually Japanese lotus leaves on the top, there.

And with an estimate of 30 to 50, I think it should do quite well.

-Oh, good. £35 paid.

-Oh, right.

They've done incredibly well apart from the brooch.

That brooch could drag them down into the mire.

I think they're going to need their bonus buy and let's go and have a look at it.

Oh!

-Wow.

-Well, wasn't expecting that.

Well, there you are. It's a nice surprise.

This is a very nice hallmarked silver trefoil dish.

Trefoil because there are three compartments here.

It's made by Goldsmiths & Silversmiths.

They were a very good firm and it was assayed in Sheffield in 1916.

How much, Anita?

-Well, it's a fairly substantial and chunky piece of silver.

-It is.

I paid £90 for it.

How much profit?

How much, how much, how much!

Well, we desperately need a profit.

Well, it's a nice chunky piece of silver. It has a good weight.

-I'd estimate maybe 100 to 150, so there is a chance of a decent profit.

-100 to 150?

Brilliant. You don't have to decide now. You decide later.

For the viewers at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks of Anita's nut dish.

-Jan, isn't that lovely?

-It is. And it's from a very good manufacturer.

Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company, of 112 Regent Street

-and I used to work there.

-Did you, really?

Yes. It is a lovely thing.

We think 80 to 100.

Oh, good. £90, Anita Manning paid for that as her bonus buy.

So we're predicting, hopefully, a useful little profit on that, if they decide to take the bonus buy.

Are you going to be manning the rostrum?

I will be up on the top, yes.

-Good. Well, extraordinary good luck.

-Thank you.

-# Ruby Ruby Ruby Ruby

-Ah ah ah ah ah ah

-# Do ya do ya do ya do ya?

-Ah ah ah ah ah ah... #

Welcome, John and Sally. Here we are, on the edge of the auction. How are you feeling, Sal?

-A little bit so-so.

-A little bit so-so?

-Yeah.

A bit of nervy, have we?

-A bit nervous and, you know, wait to see what's happening.

-Yes.

-Quite interested.

First up is going to be the Keith Murray charger and here it comes.

209. A 1930s Wedgwood charger.

Designed by Keith Murray.

And I have 28 to start. 30, anywhere?

28 I have. Anyone at 30?

30 bid. Thank you. 32. 32. 34. 36.

38. 40.

40 bid. 42. 44.

44. 46. 48.

50. 55. 60.

-65.

-Yes!

-70?

No. 65 with you. 70, anywhere else?

-One more!

-65 then and all done at 65.

Brilliant. £65. You doubled her low estimate and have a brilliant £5.

Excellent. Good work. Good work.

-Now, the Worcester bowl.

-Lot 210,

a first period Worcester blue and white bowl.

And I have a bid of £60 to start.

65 anywhere? £60, I have. 65, anywhere else?

-Surely, one more.

-65 at the back. 70 in the room.

-Come on, one more.

70, anywhere else?

-65 then, and all done. At 65.

-Oh!

65. God gives with one hand and he takes away with the other.

-Absolutely.

-That is minus £5.

You have no score. Here we go with the onyx figure.

Lot 211. An art deco bronzed and onyx mounted figure of a young lady

water carrier. And I start it at 75.

80 in the room? 75 I have. Anyone at 80? 75 I have.

Come on. Let's get an 80. 80 bid.

-Yes!

-85. 90.

95. 100. 110. 120?

No. It's 110 with me, then. 120, anywhere else?

110, then, and all done at 110.

-Yes!

-I love it. You have £30 profit on that.

Plus 30. So, there you go. £30.

-That's a healthy profit.

-Yeah, it is.

What are we going to do about the alabaster boy and girl?

You could bank the £30. Don't look at Charles and see pound signs!

No, no, not at all.

You can either stick or twist.

-I think...

-You paid £60.

-Paid 60, I think we should stick where we are.

-Well, done.

-I think so, too. I'm glad you said that.

-For the hell of it, we're going to sell it anyway and here it comes.

-Well done!

Lot 215 is a late Victorian alabaster group

of a young boy and young girl and I can start the bidding at £45.

I've got 45. 50. 55. 60. 65, anywhere?

-One more.

-65, anywhere? I have 60.

-Anyone...

-One more!

-..at 65?

OK. It's £60 then, with me.

-Oh!

-£60, it wiped its face.

-Shame.

Well done. Good decision.

No profit, no loss. No shame, no gain.

The big thing is here not to blab anything to the blues, all right?

All right. Not a word.

I'd go out looking rather depressed if I were you, then they won't get a hint. You can do that?

-Yes. we can do that.

-Fine. Well, congratulations.

-Thank you.

-Mary and Philip, do you know how the reds got on?

-No.

-Not a clue.

-No.

We don't want you to, either, which is absolutely brilliant.

-Let's be positive. First up is the Doulton jug and here it comes.

-It's going to do well.

-Yes.

232. A hand painted Royal Doulton jug with a winter landscape.

And I'll start the bidding on that at £50.

£30...

£30 bid, thank you. 35, anywhere?

35. 40. 40 bid. 45.

50? 50 bid. 55. 60.

-Yes!

-65?

-Look at that.

-Make it 70.

60 with you. 62?

62. 64. 66...

That's... Yes, 66. 68.

Are you very sure?

66 then and all done at 66.

-Brilliant.

-That's brilliant.

-Yes!

-£66. Plus £11.

The necklace is going to let me down.

-The brooch is coming up.

-233.

An Edwardian sea pearl and gold starburst brooch/pendant.

-We'll start the bidding on this. I have £18. £20 anywhere?

-Dreadful.

20. 22. 24. 26.

26. 28. 30. 32. 34. 36.

-No?

-That's horrible.

-34, with you. 36. 38. 40. Can I say 45?

50. 55.

-It's creeping.

-Please let me bid.

-< 60. 65? No?

60, I have. 65, anywhere else? 65.

70. 75. 80. 85. 90. 95. No?

90, I've got. 95, anywhere else?

All done and finished then at £90.

< AUCTION HAMMER BANGS

£90. Sadly, that's minus £15,

which means you're minus £4, but here comes the inkstand.

234. A German art nouveau inkstand.

Shall we start the bidding at £30 for that?

£30 for the inkstand.

Nice flowing lines on it. Anyone at 30?

20 to go.

Ten, then? £10 bid.

12. 14. 16. 18. 20. 22.

No. 20 I have. Anyone at 22? 22. 24.

24. 26. 28? No?

-26 with you. 28, anywhere else?

-Come on.

-All finished then at £26.

£26.

-Bad luck on that.

-Very bad luck.

You are minus £9 on that, which means overall, you're minus 13.

-Minus £13.

-Not bad, Anita. Not bad.

-Not so good, is it?

-No.

-Minus 13.

-What are we going to do then, team?

-It's unlucky for some.

-Unlucky for some.

-But lucky for us because we've got Anita.

Is the silver being sold?

-Yes. Do you want to go with Anita's bonus buy?

-We do like it.

-We do.

So we're going with the bonus buy and here it comes.

238. A George V silver trefoil dish.

Shall we start this at £80?

80.

50 to go, then. £50. £50 bid.

55 anywhere? 50, I have.

Anywhere at 55?

-55. 60. 65. 70. 75.

-80!

75, I've got. 80, anywhere?

-Come on.

-75, I have. Anyone at 80?

All finished then...

-Oh!

-You sure?

-I can't believe this.

-£75.

-£75.

-Oh!

-Unlucky.

At £75 you're minus £15...

-Well, it was very nice, anyway.

-Thank you.

..which is amazing.

You are minus 28, overall.

But just don't tell anybody, OK?

-No.

-We shan't.

-No. Keep this very, very quiet.

-We'll smile.

Keep smiling and I'll reveal all when we talk to the reds.

Well, what an exciting programme we've had today. Have you teams been talking to one another?

We have - not about the outcome.

-Not any significant.

-Nothing significant.

You don't know each other's scores?

VARIOUS: No idea. No.

Well, I have to reveal that the runners-up today are the blues.

-CHARLES:

-Yes!

It is a shame, isn't it, because you made such a lovely profit to start with on your Doulton jug

and then, sadly, it was downhill all the way from there.

And your overall score is only minus 28. No shame in that, I tell you.

So, minus £28. You've been a great team.

Great expert, Anita. And I'm sorry you are the runners-up.

But the victors today really have done well,

because you're going to take home a profit. A profit of £30.

-I've got 30 smackers for you.

-Oh, thank you.

-There we go. £30.

Sally's immediately going to snatch that, very sensibly.

-Have you had a good time?

-An excellent time, thanks.

-Really enjoyed it.

Good, congratulations on your victory. Join us soon for some more Bargain Hunting. Yes?

ALL: Yes!

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