Newark Bargain Hunt

# Frosty the snowman

# Was a jolly happy soul With a corncob pipe

# And a button nose And two eyes made out of coal... #

Oh ho ho, it's brass monkey weather.

It is freezing.

If there's one thing, though, that will warm the cockles of your heart...

let's go bargain hunting!

Welcome to Bargain Hunt, from the International Antiques and Collectors Fair in Newark.

This is Europe's largest antiques event. It is absolutely ginormous.

If our teams can't find what they're looking out for today, they should have stayed at home!

They'll be up against it though, as their one hour of shopping time will just fly by.

So the £300 we give them had better be spent wisely, as what they do pick up

will go under the hammer at auction, and any profit they do make...

No. Going at £38. Thank you.

..they get to pocket.

I just hope they know what they've let themselves in for.

Let's meet today's teams.

And here they are then. We've got relatives Nicola and Doug for the Reds.

And friends Jenna and Eddie for the Blues, welcome to Bargain Hunt.

So, how are you two related then?

-I'm Nicola's great uncle.

-What's your interest in antiques?

I love antiques. For about 15, 16 years, I've been restoring antiques.

What sort of things have you restored?

Bureaux, linen presses, chairs, tables, you name it, I've done it.

Has any of this passion for antiques rubbed off on you, Nicola?

Yes, it has, although in a different way.

What I do doesn't last as long as my Uncle Doug's stuff.

-So what do you do then?

-I'm a sculptor.

-Right.

Yes, I carve sand, snow and ice.

How amazing. Have you got anything to show us?

Yes, I have two photos here.

Two pieces that I did.

-That is just extraordinary, girl! That's made of sand?

-There were two of us working on that for two weeks.

-Yes, that's all sand.

-However does it stay up?

Well, we compress the sand into wooden forms,

and then we work our way up to the top and we remove the wooden forms

and we're left with a solid block of sand.

You're very brave. I don't think I could bear to see it fall apart.

I think we're going to have rather a good competition today, you two!

Now for the Blues, Jenna and Eddie.

-Hello.

-How do you two know each other?

-We are housemates.

-At university?

-Yes.

-Both students at Leicester University.

I'm sporting my Leicester University hoodie.

She bought it for my birthday on Tuesday.

-Ah, happy birthday as of Tuesday.

-Thank you.

So you're both students. What are you studying?

-Psychology and biology.

-What about you, Eddie?

I do physics with planetary science.

-Phew.

-Hopefully going on to do earth observational science next year, hopefully. Fingers crossed.

We'll cross everything for you. How did you meet?

I walked into my house a couple of years ago, walked into my house,

and discovered an orange thong in the living room.

-Ah. And it wasn't yours?

-No!

I was sure of that.

I was bewildered as to where it came from.

I was walking up the stairs and at the top of the stairs, I meet Eddie.

Obviously never seen him in my life before, a random stranger in my house.

Was he looking for his thong?

Quite possibly. That's how we met, and became friends after that.

So was this your thong, Eddie, or what?

It wasn't mine at the start of the night.

I'd been out the night before with a few friends, that I know Jenna through.

I have a fascination with orange, as you can see I'm wearing orange here, there, on my gloves...

Yes, I see you've got the orange fetish.

I think I'd have seen it somewhere, and I was like, "Oh, orange,"

and decided I was going to wear it for the rest of the night on top of my suit. A bit much.

It is strange garment just to come across, isn't it?

-I can understand perhaps seeing it...

-We are good at finding random stuff.

-If you popped into our house you would see our walls...

-Covered in thongs!

With random toys, trophies of nights out.

I don't think we'd better go there frankly, Eddie, it being daytime and all that.

Now the money moment, thank you very much, onto some safe territory!

£300 apiece, £300 apiece... You know the rules, and off you go. And very, very good luck.

So will it be the Reds carving out the big bucks?

Or the Blues just turning all this into another science?

Each team won't be alone.

They have exclusive rights to an expert's knowledge to help them on their way so they don't slip up.

For the Reds, David Harper.

And for the Blues, Mark Stacey.

Right. Off they go. What delights will our teams find today?

Not round here, no.

-Do you want a piggy back, David?

-Yes, I think I do.

So shall we go up here?

I would say 1930.

-I'd say 1930.

-You would?

How much is that?

25.

-What are they used for?

-They are or sheltering your face from the flames of a fire.

They're called pole screens.

-I really like that.

-It's got great novelty value, hasn't it?

-But has it got any real monetary value, this is the thing?

-No.

It might have, in a big collection.

Ah, he's nice. I'm going to test you, Nicola.

-What do you think about him?

-So cute.

-He's nice, isn't he?

-I love it.

-What would you say if I did this to him?

Oh my God!

That's awful.

Scent bottle.

-He is a scent bottle.

-I love it.

-Can I smell it? Oh, it smells of something.

-Perfume?

Oldness and perfume.

Let's have a smell.

-It's definitely got some...

-There's definitely been some...

-Well, I've got no sense of smell.

-Haven't you really?

-How much is that?

-Let's ask him.

What's the best on the teddy?

-80 quid.

-Really?

-It's too much.

-Do think it is?

-Yes.

-What age would you think?

-I think he's early to mid- 20th century.

-Is he really?

I think forties or fifties.

-I think we all like him.

-I do.

-Well bid him, try him, go on.

I think Nicola should use her charms. Nicola, have a go.

-We want it, 50 tops.

-40.

-40 would be better.

-Go on, try him.

-50 tops.

-OK, shall I go over and stroke his arm?

-Yes, yes. Go for it, Nic.

Go for it, go for it.

Would you consider... a massive reduction on this?

Nicola secured a deal of £55, but they're sleeping on it.

Over to the Blues. Have they spotted anything so sweet?

That's a cool bottle opener.

-What is it?

-It's a bottle opener.

-Oh yes. Made in India.

-That would be put on a bar, wouldn't it?

-That's actually quite fun, isn't it?

-Because you'd attach that onto the bar. Yes.

-There's a clamp in it.

The bar that I work in at the moment, we used to have one,

but a modern-day one where we just clamped it on the bar.

I just like the fact it's old style.

It's completely different what they do now.

Is almost a piece of social history, isn't it? Because I love all this decoration.

But, let's have a look at it. It's cast steel. I like this little turned handle.

That's solid wood. That would really clean up rather nicely, actually.

I like it. I think it's quite fun.

-Yes, it does look good.

-I think got to be a purchase.

-It's bar memorabilia!

Can you tell us what your very best price is on that, please?

Very best it could be is 130.

-130?

-130.

That's quite a good lot off.

165, to 130.

I think, I mean...

It's an antiquey thing that people would like, and use as well.

Can I say just one thing to you guys?

You both love him. Your faces have lit up since you found it.

It's got to be a purchase.

I know, I quite like that.

The dealer has given you a very good discount, nearly 20% off.

More than 20% off, actually.

-That's pretty good going.

-I like it.

-Let's do it.

-Let's do it.

We'll take that, thank you.

Hats off to the Blues. They're making quick decisions.

But is it rubbing off on the Reds?

I like that teddy.

I can't believe it. They're still mulling over the scent bottle!

-I liked it.

-We all like it.

It's a bit morbid though, with its head off.

We don't to rip its head of all the time.

-Let's go for it.

-I think so.

-All right then.

-I'd better leave it up to you.

-OK.

-Low as you can.

Not bad. Only 20 minutes gone and that's the Reds' first buy for £55.

To the Blues now, who've found something.

Shame they haven't got a clue what it actually is.

-It's a bit like chemistry.

-Distilling things...

Really, it's a bit speculative for a general sale, isn't it?

If it was me, I would say, if it was a really bargain buy,

-like 30, 40, 50 quid, then I'd think, let's go for it. But at £145?

-The cheapest would be £145...

Listen guys, forget this for now.

Let me show you something I've found.

This is a pottery charger.

And this is going back to, again, the early part of the 20th century, 1910.

This is a copy of Italian majolica,

which is a sort of tin-glazed earthenware.

But then when we turn it over, we've got "Aeneas arriving in Italy."

And then you have got Verona, age 1547, and Copenhagen.

I think the original majolica plate was painted in 1547.

And this has been painted by George Rowley,

March 1919.

And I think that is quite interesting actually.

I just feel this is something speculative.

Now it is a lot of money at the moment, 120, but unless you ask, you never know.

-Shall I just shout over and find out?

-I think you should.

Excuse me. What's the best price we could have on this plate?

Well, being as I bought it with a lot of other things, I'll let you have it for £50.

50 quid. Come on, guys, we've got to.

-I'm not a fan, but for 50 quid, you can't say no.

-It's worth a gamble, isn't it?

-Yes.

-And you're the expert and you pointed that out straightaway.

-I think it's worth a go.

-I really do.

-All right.

-We'll do it.

-Yep, go for it.

2-1 to the Blues.

The Reds are playing catch-up.

What's so exciting about this business is you never know what you're going to find.

And even here, in the frozen wastes of Nottinghamshire,

in a jolly nice furniture stand, I have to say,

I've come across this baby. So what's so special about this as a piece of brown furniture?

Well, it is brown, and it is a piece of furniture.

But there's nothing ordinary about it. If you snuggle down

and look at this commode from this perspective,

you can see the most extraordinary movement across the front.

That's called serpentine shape.

It has the sort of wave form.

And what we have got here is an arrangement of drawers which are very easy on the eye.

When you look at the piece from afar, you know that it's got three lines of drawers.

But what makes it so nice for your eye is that the top drawer is a little bit smaller than

the next drawer, which little bit smaller than the bottom drawer.

And the three together are very harmonious.

This thing has been properly designed.

The other thing to note is that the outside corners aren't straight,

which is what you get on an ordinary chest of drawers. You've got some movement there.

We've got carved knuckles. And again, it is a kind of serpentine shape.

All in all, this is a gorgeous-looking object.

But the big question is, how old is it?

Because an 18th-century example by a reputable London maker,

somebody like Vile and Cobb, would cost you between £25-35,000.

Actually, this piece, I think, was made around 1900, 1910.

It looks exactly like the 25 grand piece, but you could buy it for £2,000.

That is not a lot of money and actually it's a winner.

Now then. So far the Blues have been decisive.

They've bought two items and have £120 left to spend.

But the Reds have started cautiously.

-50 tops.

-40.

Only buying one item and they still have £245 to go.

So, with 30 minutes left, it's all to play for. Ooh!

These are what we call stereoscopes.

And when we put them in the stereoscope, these will become 3D.

-I think it might suit me.

-I love it!

-Do you like it?

-I do, actually.

-You can't do it for 30, darling?

-No, I couldn't. I couldn't, promise.

-All right.

Well, I think, can you keep it for us for 10 minutes?

I think we need to start rushing around, scan and go. Come on.

-What do you think, Nicola?

-I like the colours.

-I think it's quite nice. How much is that?

-35.

-What's the best you can do on that?

-35.

You can't do 30?

It's cheap at the price.

-Is it any good?

-I like it. It's got a lot of flash about it.

-For very little money.

-I think it's a lot of money.

-Do you really? Why?

-Well, I think you could buy something similar on the high street.

-Do you think so?

-But feel the weight of that.

-Yes, OK.

-It's heavy, it's not plasticky.

No, no, it's not. I do like it.

I love it. I'm not a modern person at all. I'm not, honest.

No-one... Doug, no-one said you were!

THEY LAUGH

I don't know where he gets that from.

If it's Georgian... I love it.

But I mean, this is a fashionable thing now.

I think it will look nice once there's a light underneath.

-That's right. A light underneath will bring it to life.

-It will give it some vibrancy.

-Take it from me, it will look stunning.

-Is it broken or anything?

-It doesn't look like it.

Can you do it any cheaper, please?

-Our time is ticking. £20.

-34.99.

-Oh, come on. 20?

Best, the very best.

She's like a dog with a bone, this one.

You're the best negotiator.

Let me go and ask him a bit more.

Watch what she can do.

Can you do it a little bit less?

-Yes, he'll do 30!

-Well done.

-Thank you.

-Well done.

-Thank you.

OK, come on. We'll have that, thanks a lot.

-We've got no time.

-Go, go.

I think Nicola is the best negotiator in the room.

That's £30 for the light fitting.

Each team naturally hopes that their purchases are going to make a complete fortune over at the auction.

But if it doesn't, all is not lost because they've always got their experts' bonus buy to fall back on.

David and Mark are also under pressure to find a bonus buy

they think will make their team some extra profit.

This surprise piece will be revealed to our teams later.

Then, after the sale of their third item,

both teams will take a gamble on the money their bonus buy could make.

And, any profit it makes, they'll keep.

Yes!

But any loss will be deducted from their final score and that could decide who wins the day.

Right. Let's get back to the action and check out what the Blues are lining up next.

-Has it got any of them marks that you antique dealers look for?

-No, because it's not silver!

-Excuse me, what is the very best you can do on this? 40?

-This is 40.

-That's quite good.

-That's good.

40, it's not expensive.

-I think we want to keep it in reserve. If we can get a better price...

-OK.

-Come back to it in the last five minutes.

-OK.

And you obviously put something in here, press it down.

That's all very nice, but what about these?

Those are nice, aren't they? You like your napkin rings, don't you?

It's because they're sparkly.

-I like them, but they're only silver plate.

-Are they numbered?

-Yes. One to six.

Which is nice because that shows they are all of the same set.

And these are Victorian.

But they are only silver plate.

They're quite nice quality, the way they're decorated.

It is kind of a simple but effective design on it.

Yes, it is, and I suppose if you're having people for dinner, six is normal.

Because we don't use these sort of things very often.

In auction, I would probably put something like £30-50.

But this does have a nice little fitted case and this is the original case.

But I don't think he'll go for that. But you can ask him, go on.

-What am I asking?

-Ask him what his very, very best price is.

Whilst Jenna sorts out a deal, let's see if the Reds are any closer to their final piece.

It is unusual, do you like that?

-What is it?

-A little match holder. A Vesta. You keep your matches in there.

And if you turn the base over, that little groove, that indentation was the strike.

Vesta cases are collected, just by silver collectors.

And round ones are really very rare.

Very rare. Guess how much it is.

-A fiver.

-You're horrible, you are.

-Mind you, you'll be a very good buyer if you can buy things for that. 88.

-£88!

Don't worry, Anne is a wonderful woman, Anne, aren't you wonderful?

-You are wonderful. You are wonderful, Anne.

-What do you think, Doug?

-Yeah, I'll go with him.

-What's the best price on that?

-75.

-Ah, Anne.

-It's dented.

-I know, I know.

Well, really, I think it's got to be over to you.

It's whatever is the best bargain between this and...

I'd keep that in abeyance and come straight back to it,

but I'd like to see what we can get that...salt and pepper set...

-Is that OK, Anne, can I just put that aside and I'll see you later?

-Thanks a lot.

Come on then, Jenna. What deal did you get?

-I got him down to 55.

-55? Well, you did get him down.

Guys, we have got a few minutes left. Let's look at the options.

We've got your piano for 35.

The violin for 25.

The stereoscope box and slide but without stereoscope, for 100.

Or these for 55.

-And we've got about five or eight minutes left, so we need to make some decisions.

-What do you think?

-I reckon we do it.

-Go for them?

I like them, I mean, I'd have them.

-Are you happy?

-All right, if I was a rich person I'd buy them, yes.

-Is that case closed?

-Case closed.

-Case closed.

Top stuff.

So, with five minutes to go, all we need now is a Red decision.

Vesta or cruet?

-What do you think?

-I'm mixed with it. A, I don't like the cigarette side.

-That's what I don't like.

-But it is collectible. But these are things that are used.

I think you've got to discount the smoking thing.

When you're buying and selling to make money,

whether it's got anything to do with smoking has nothing to do with making money.

-My gut feeling is you've got to go with the experts.

-No, don't, don't!

I want to try and step aside. I want you to decide. I prefer that.

Excuse me. What is the very, very, very best...

-You can't do it a little bit cheaper?

-Not for the silver one...

Come on, there's no time for this. Make up your minds!

-Come on.

-35.

This way, this way!

Can we do 35? Please?

-OK.

-Oh, you are, you are...!

-Thank you.

That's it. Stop the watch.

None of the teams got lost.

They each got their three items.

Let's have a reminder of what the Red Team's bought.

-Teddy bear.

-Yeah, we both love it.

We fell in love with it straightaway.

Well, let's hope the saleroom loves the teddy bear scent bottle as much.

Next up was the mid-20th century glass lampshade.

-We think the matchstick thing is a bit of a gamble.

-Yes.

Matchstick thing?

Of course, Nicola's talking about the early-20th-century silver Vesta case.

-Now, Doug and Nicola, it wasn't exactly plain sailing for you that shopping was it?

-No, not quite.

-I mean, the disagreements!

-Yes, well...

-And you're relations!

-Yes, quite.

Anyway, you spent £120, which is vaguely miserable.

-Sorry about that.

-That's all right. I'm only joking.

180 of leftover lolly to go to David Harper to find the bonus buy.

I know, but 180, Tim, that's pressure, isn't it?

-Why?

-Well, I don't know. I feel obliged to spend quite a lot of it.

It's always safe when you haven't got much because you can blame the contestants...

-Because you haven't got much cash.

-Exactly!

Whatever you are gonna find, whether it does well or badly, we can blame these two.

-Anybody but yourself!

-Of course!

-Perfect!

-I've learnt that from you.

-And you went to the right school, too.

Now, in order to remind ourselves what these Reds are up against, let's see what the Blues bought.

I love the corkscrew, I absolutely love it.

Ah, no surprises for the students.

Their first piece was booze-related.

The plate, I'm really unsure of but...

-We got it for 50 quid, so...

-Yeah. Hopefully it'll go well.

We're hoping so too.

So will the 20th-century hand painted charger deliver the goods?

And, of course, the same goes for the six silver-plate napkin rings.

So, you two, how tough was that shopping?

-It was hard.

-It was very intense, yeah.

I mean, you rush round, you've got hardly any time.

You think you got more when you watch it on TV.

There you go, that's the reality of it all.

Well you didn't do too badly, you spent £235, pleased with that.

-£65 of leftover lolly...

-Jenna's got it.

-Thank you very much. You don't like handing it over!

-£65, then, Mark, which you're gonna use to find the bonus buy.

-Absolutely.

How tough are you gonna find that?

I don't think so, they're really strong characters, Tim.

-There's a lot to play on there.

-Yes.

I've learnt a lot from them, so I'm gonna grow my hair very long and the next time I might have dreadlocks.

Well, that's something to look forward to!

So don't go to the hairdresser for about a couple of years.

-Perfect! We'll look forward to that.

-Thanks, Tim.

-Thanks very much, Mark.

Now, do you fancy a stroll around somewhere absolutely charming?

If you do, then follow me.

Described as the most complete example of a typical country house,

Belton was the home to the Brownlow and Cust families for 300 years.

In 1679, Sir John Brownlow died childless

leaving his estates at Belton to his great nephew, also John Brownlow.

With his inheritance, Sir John set about building

this spanking great house on his newly-acquired land.

No country house in those days was complete without its very own chapel

and these places were often sumptuously decorated.

Not so much to aid you spiritually but more to show off.

For example, this magnificent marble reredos.

A reredos is the decorated panel immediately behind the altar.

Just look at this thing, incredibly elaborate and classically inspired

with a broken-arched pediment, centred by an elaborate cartouche

and those two little baby angels that look as if they're about to fall off the shelf

and come down at us from the firmament.

Below that, there are two clustered pairs of Corinthian columns

each with a Corinthian capital

and then pendant are two incredibly elaborate carved festoons,

and all, you think, in marble.

Well, if I tap it...

HOLLOW KNOCKING

See that, that's not made of marble, it's made of wood.

This gorgeous marble effect is entirely created using paint.

The focal point, the centrepiece of the altar is, of course, the cross.

What a wonderful example this thing is.

Made of solid silver, the whole thing looks as if it was made at one time

and as a piece.

Actually, it's in two parts and if I cunningly slide the top part away,

it reveals at the bottom a shaft of iron.

That shaft of iron runs up to the top,

making this cruciform ornament, so that the silversmith is able to cut down

on the amount of solid silver, but it is the most brilliant bit of workmanship.

This is thought to be Spanish, 16th/17th century.

It's not hallmarked but the lower part,

which is so beautifully made and heavy,

that it looks as if it was en suite with that top piece,

but actually the silversmith, here, in the 1830s

has reconstructed the lower part so that it matches the upper part

and then created a most elaborate trefoil-shaped plinth

and here is the maker's mark, RG, for Robert Garrard,

the Royal Silversmiths and Goldsmiths.

All in all, then, a most appropriate and delicious centrepiece

for this gorgeous chapel.

The big question is, are we all going to have to say a prayer for our teams now over at the auction?

'Still to come...

'Will the Reds' spend low, sell high tactics pay off?'

That's a good start. Well done, you two, you found it.

'Will the Blues find selling as easy as buying?'

Oh dear, this has not gone to plan.

'We'll find out soon, but first let's check in with Golding Young Auctioneers in Grantham, Lincolnshire

'to see how our old mate, Colin Young, values today's items.'

Now, teddy bear perfume bottle, that's whacky, isn't it?

It is, a nice little lot. There are plenty of teddy bear collectors

-that'll have a go for that and spend a little bit of money.

-Good. Will they pay £55, do you think?

No. Well, we've put an estimate not far from that.

I suppose 30 to 50 is a reasonable estimate on it.

OK, fine, so they might be a bit shy.

-Yeah.

-OK. What about this Tiffany-style lamp?

Yeah, it's more Tiffany off EastEnders, I'm afraid.

-Oh, right.

-Erm, not very old. Not very good...

So why's it got this old finish to it, do you think?

It's probably been in a pub for the last 15 years with nicotine.

Right, so that's just pub smoke that's given it that kind of aged look. OK, so a lookalike?

-Mmm.

-Not a very good copy of the Tiffany but it's in quite good nick, isn't it?

It is, we've put an estimate of 25 to 40.

-That's something, £30 they paid.

-It's got a chance.

Yeah, you get a top end, Colin, they'll be pleased with you.

The Vesta case, that's a little horror, that thing.

I mean, I call it a horror cos it's got these dents in it.

I don't know, circular ones always make a little bit more than the bog standard ones which usually make £20

-so we've put an estimate of 20 to 30, but it's not gonna sparkle beyond that.

-£35 they paid.

There's no question at all here, they're gonna need their bonus buy so let's go and have a look at it.

So, team, you spent £120 which is vaguely pathetic... No!

£180 went to David Harper, what did he spend it on?

Well, I hope you're gonna like it, Nicola, you particularly, I hope.

-Oh!

-Grand, posh piece, what do you think it is?

-Pass!

-It looks like something you'd put some dead person's ashes in.

-Ooh!

-No, you wouldn't!

-Now, there's a good sales technique.

There's a good sign... Yeah.

-It's a censer, so you'd burn incense.

-Incense.

-Oh...

-If you look inside it's

-nicely green and burnt.

It's been used an awful lot.

-So bronze, yes.

-Bronze.

Japanese, Meiji period, so late 19th century, probably 1895

and would look stunning on a nice, Georgian table with a lamp.

-It'll look a million dollars. How much would you pay for it?

-I would guess at about £100.

I would pay £80-100 for it, I really like it.

-OK, well you're very close both of you, 75.

-Oh!

-Now, I would have paid a lot more. I'd pay 150 quid for it.

-Yeah.

-I really would.

-It's gorgeous.

Well, you don't have to decide right now, you decide later after the sale of your first three items

but, for the viewers at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about David's bronze pot.

So this is the bonus buy, Colin.

-Right.

-Does that inspire you with that little thrill?

-Not really, no.

I mean, sometimes you look at these and the quality is stunning,

but the first thing you notice on this is it's fairly poorly cast.

But it has got a couple of things you can say in its favour.

I haven't seen a thatch like that on the top of one of these before and a birdcage.

There's not a lot more I can say, really.

-It is what it is.

-It is what it is.

But perfectly genuine. A kind of 1900 version.

For a bronze object that does date from 1900,

over 100 years old, you get quite a lot for your money, don't you?

You do. We put an estimate on it of £30 to £50.

It should be worth all of its money at that level, I would have thought.

Well, David Harper paid 75, you see. And he really rates it.

Anyway, that's it for the Reds.

Now for the Blues. What about this bottle opener?

Love it. I think it's a brilliant item.

If they were out looking for something a different,

that's the ideal object that they should buy at a fair.

The estimate we've put on it is £80 to £120.

OK, £130 they paid, so... They're saleable things, I mean, they're avidly collected, aren't they?

They are. There will certainly be lots of people after it.

It's just they'll probably all know the price to the shilling, and that's where they'll stop.

OK, fine. Thank you for that.

Now, we've got the hand-painted charger which has

a sort of majolica, historiato feel to it, doesn't it?

That what he's trying to do, yeah. That's it.

Its a 1920s version of historiato dishes, but...

-It ain't 1480, I can tell you that!

-I'm afraid it's not, is it?

But nevertheless, it's still a good decorative pot.

It's certainly got to be worth £40 to £60.

OK. £50 they paid, you see, so that's pretty well on the button, isn't it?

What about the plated napkin rings?

People still use them, so yeah, they're going to be fine.

They're not going to just sit in the sideboard like a lot of these case pieces. They will actually be used.

But yes, the fact that they're plated is going to bring them down in value to the low tens, really.

-Oh, low tens. How low?

-Well, sort of 20, 40, that sort of range.

Well, sadly, £55 they paid.

-Well, it's not a tenner a ring, is it, so...

-No. Good.

They could need their bonus buy. We'd better go and have a look at it!

Now, Jenna, Eddie, how are you feeling? Alright?

-Fantastic, yeah.

-Well, you spent £235, you ought to feel fantastic!

You gave £65 to Mark. What did you spend it on, Mark?

I spent it on this lovely little box here.

-Oh, that's nice.

-It's Oriental.

I rather like it, it's got a wise owl on the top there.

-I think it's rather charming. And it was only £20.

-Really?

-What would it be used for?

-Oh, you could use it for anything.

I mean, you'd probably put, you know, paperclips in it, if you're a student, I suppose.

-Or put your pound coins in there!

-Put your hair rollers in it!

How much do you reckon it will take at auction, then?

Well, on a good day, we might get £30 - £40 for it.

So we might see a bit of profit there.

See what we do on the other lots, is my advice.

Wait and see how you get on with your first three items.

But right now, for the viewers at home, let's find out

what the auctioneer thinks about Mark's wise old owl.

-T-wit t-woo!

-Well, interesting and different acquisition, really, for an expert choice.

That's Mark Stacey for you!

At least he's going for something different and not the type of thing

that you're going to find in every sale.

Origin, Indian. Only silver plated, but the fabulous work that's on there,

even though it's not one of the most desirable things,

low tens value. £20 to £40. It certainly should do that sort of region.

Great. He paid 20. So he should be in the money there for a bonus buy.

-You would hope so.

-And it's difficult enough, that job, isn't it?

Good. Almost as difficult as your job.

-You're taking the sale today?

-I am indeed.

-But I've got the easy job!

-Have you?

-Just take everybody's money!

Good on you, Colin!

-You're looking a bit nervy, darling, what's the matter?

-I'm just so excited!

-Adrenalin pumping through my body!

-Very excited and let's get going. Let's do it.

Are you predicting great profits, Doug?

-No, not great profits. A profit.

-A profit. What about you, David, how do you see things going?

Well, I see my legs quivering, as they always do!

I don't know, Tim. This is the exciting thing about an auction.

-There's a good crowd.

-It's a great crowd! Brilliant.

Three people and you'd be worried, but you couldn't get many more bods in this sale room,

so that's a very good sign.

-First lot up is your teddy bottle, and here it comes.

-Lot number 120.

1940s, '50s perfume bottle in the form of a golden plush teddy bear.

What shall we say for this? Start me at £50 for it.

40 to go, then. 40? 30 if we must. £30 bid.

35 do I see now? 35 bid. 40? 40 bid.

45. 50. 50 bid. 5. 55. 60. 60 bid.

-Yes!

-Anywhere else now? At 60 bid.

Five anywhere else? At 60, this is no money. 60 bid.

Five anywhere else? I'll take two. As a last call, at £60.

Are we done? We're finished. It's in the room and I'm selling at £60.

Well, that's brilliant, isn't it? £60! Plus £5, that's a good start.

Well done, you two. You found it.

Next lot, here comes your lampshade.

A Tiffany style modern hanging centre light this time.

Who's going to start me at £30 for this? 30? 10 to go, then.

Your bid, sir. 10 bid. At 10.

10 bid. At 12 anywhere else now do I see?

-Come on!

-£12 may I say?

At £10 bid. 12. 12 bid. 15? 15 bid.

18 bid. 20. And two now.

Have another one? No? £20 I'm bid.

It's in the front here, at 20 bid.

Two anywhere else now? I need more.

Last call then, we're going to sell.

-All done and finished at £20.

-Ow!

Bad luck, that's minus £10 on that.

You are now minus five.

Next up is your Vesta case.

Lot number 122.

An Edwardian silver case of circular form, London 1903. 20 to go, then.

-£20. 10, if we must.

-Oh, come on!

£10. Who's going to be first in at 10 for it? At 10?

£5 if we must. I've got five.

Eight bid. 10 on the net. 10.

10 bid. 12 bid. 15 do I see?

-At 12 in the middle of the room.

-Oh, please!

15. 18 with the lady. 20 now. 20 bid.

-Come on, it's worth a lot more than that.

-£20 bid. Two now do I see?

Two anywhere? 22 on the net. At 22. Five anywhere else now? At 22.

Five or not now, then going at £22 on the internet.

-How much?

-£22.

You're minus £13 on that, which means overall you're minus 18 smackers.

SHE LAUGHS

-18's my lucky number!

-She's laughing like a drain!

This answers all our questions now!

She's laughing like a drain!

-Thank you, Tim!

-This says everything!

-It doesn't say everything.

-I'm going home.

No, I think you've done extraordinarily well.

-Minus 18 is no miserable score, I can tell you.

-David will save us!

Well, are you going to go with it?

-Yeah!

-You are?

-Yeah! Love it!

-You are going to go with it?

-Yes.

-I'd buy it.

Lot number 126 is a Japanese bronze censer, this time,

with a cast birdcage finial cover. I'll take 20 to go.

£20. 20 bid. Two now do I see?

At £20 I'm bid. Two anywhere else now? At £20 I'm bid.

-Two anywhere else now?

-Oh, come on!

28 now. 28 bid. 30.

Yes! Yes! Come on!

38. 38 bid. 40. £40 bid. 42 now.

-42. 45. 48. 48 bid. 50? No.

-Yes! Yes!

48 bid. At 48. Selling then at £48.

-No!

-Oh!

-Come on!

-£48.

That is two shy of 50.

That means you're minus £27 on that.

OK, 27, 37, £45.

You're minus £45 overall.

Not bad!

SHE LAUGHS

-Jens, are you feeling confident about today?

-Erm... Yes!

-Yes?

-Possibly, I don't know! I think the corkscrew is kind of worrying!

What's worrying you about that corkscrew?

The amount of money we might have spent on a corkscrew!

130 quid for a corkscrew!

You spent £130 on it. Well, Eddie found it. You found it...

-At least I can blame him!

-You're responsible! £130 you paid.

The auctioneer thinks it's a great object. He's put £80 to £120 on it.

-My God!

-He's got lots of confidence in that corkscrew.

He's got corkscrew buyers till they're coming out of his ear holes.

The thing is connected up with the internet,

and there are a lot of internet buyers keen on these corkscrews.

-So, don't despair about that.

-Fingers crossed!

-It's your first lot up.

Lot number 145.

The original safety trademark cast iron bar corkscrew.

What shall we say for this? Who is going to start me at £50 for it?

£50, anyone? 50?

30, then! Come on, 30.

-£30 bid. Five now do I see?

-Oh dear.

-At 30 bid. Five anywhere else now?

30 bid. Five anywhere else now?

38. Multiple bids on the net. 38 bid. At 38. 40 in the room? 40.

42 now? 42. 45 now?

It's going. Just another 80 quid to go!

45 anywhere else now? At £42, are we all done?

Going at £42.

Oh dear, this has not gone to plan!

-It's disappointing, isn't it?

-£42, not good.

That's eight shy of 50.

I think that's £88 down the drain, actually! Minus £88.

Oh dear, oh dear!

Over to you Mark, with the charger.

Lot 146, a John Maddock & Sons vitreous china plaque,

very nice scene, presumably Verona.

£20 anyone? 10?

-THEY LAUGH

-Thank you. 10 bid. At 10.

12 now do I see? 12 bid. 15.

15. 18 I've got. At 18. 20 I've got. At 20. At 20 bid. Two now? Two.

Five bid. 28 bid. 30 bid. 32 now.

32? 32. 35? 38. 38.

Bid 40 now? No? At 38 bid. 40 anywhere else now?

£38. Any more now? Selling at £38.

Bad luck! That's minus £12, all right to back which, overall,

means you're minus £100.

With one lot to go. Here it comes.

Lot number 147, set of Edwardian six electroplate napkin rings.

What shall we say for these? I have quite a lot of bids.

I just have to figure out where we'll start.

£22.

-Oh!

-25, 28? 30, 32, 35, 38, bid 40.

42, 45? 42 on the book. At 42.

Five anywhere else? At £42 bid, any more now?

Are we all done?

Selling at £42.

£42 is minus £13.

So you are minus 113. Minus 113.

This is not how it's supposed to go.

I think we might have broken the record for most money lost.

Have you ever lost more than that?

It's difficult, isn't it?

Anyway, don't worry about it.

It's minus £113. What are you going to do about the wise old owl box?

-We can't lose much more.

-Let's try and lose some more so let's go for the owl.

Lot number 151 is the Indian silver-plated cylindrical patch box

with hinge cover, embossed with an owl's mask.

Let's give it a go, 30. Who's first?

-10 anyone? £10.

-Oh...

-10?

Thank you. 10, you've put me out of my misery.

Put us out of ours!

12. Late surge in the bidding. 13?

13! That's the spirit!

14, do I see? 14 bid. 15?

No? At 14, bid. 15, do I see?

15, bid. 16, do I see? It's the last call then, going at £15.

£15, bad luck, that's minus £5 on that.

Overall then you are minus £118.

Result(!)

It's so sad when we've got two such wonderful teams and we can only have one team of winners.

-You haven't talked to one another?

-No.

-No.

-Well, you won't be aware that both teams have made whopping great losses,

but just one team has made a seriously whopping loss and that is of course the Blues.

That was a victory dance over there.

Control yourself. Yes. Anyway, £118.

I'm afraid the score all the way down the line is minus, minus, minus, but you've had a great time?

-Yes, it's been awesome.

-Yeah!

Awesome?

Quite(!) Now, the Reds did manage to get a profit of £5 on one item

and then it was a series of minuses too, but it just happens that your total minuses are only minus 45.

-That's not bad.

-Which in the scale of things is, as they say, not so bad.

-Very good.

-You've had a lovely time?

-Yes.

-You've had a lovely time?

-Yes!

-That's what it's all about.

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

-Yes!

For more information about Bargain Hunt, including how the programme was made,

visit the website at bbc.co.uk/lifestyle

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd