Anglesey 13 Bargain Hunt

TIM: Ah, isn't this lovely?

Beautiful Welsh countryside,

the Menai Strait, a grand old house.

Don't you wish you could be here?

Well, you will be in about half an hour's time

cos I'm going to show you around.

But right now, let's go bargain hunting.

Today's show comes from the Mona Showground

on the island of Anglesey.

But there's no time to chillax for our experts.

James Lewis is not listening to his own advice.

Isn't that right, Maggie and Toni?

-Don't buy anything broken!

-Yeah.

I say, "Don't buy anything broken and don't buy things cos you like them."

-What did you do?

-I bought a broken thing I liked.

James should never have bought that box. We wanna kill him.

David Barby is tied in knots by looting Lyn and Kathleen.

-Shame.

-'It's a shame' in Welsh.

No. No G at the end. D. Bechod.

-Bethog.

-No. Bechod.

-WOMEN MAKE GUTTURAL NOISE

-Bethog.

-No.

Someone's going to win big money at the auction. But who will it be?

250. Is that all finished and done?

THEY LAUGH AND APPLAUD

Let's meet those teams, shall we?

-And here we all are. How lovely. Hello, everyone.

-Hello!

Mags, how long have you known your mate Toni?

I've known Toni for eight years

and I met her in the pub where we both work.

Basically, we just hit it off straightaway. She's as mad as I am.

Toni, you don't just represent the pub behind the bar?

No, I'm the captain of the ladies' darts team.

Oh! "I'm the captain of the ladies' darts team"!

-Yes. I got 180 once.

-Did you?

-Yes.

-What happened?

-I went to pieces.

I'd never got it before. And I lost the game.

-That is a monster score, isn't it?

-I know, yeah.

Now, Maggie, you've taken up some more dangerous pastimes?

I have. I love anything with an adrenaline rush.

I did a bungee jump years ago

and then I skydived from 12,000 feet...downwards,

and did it for charity.

Do you have an instructor on your back?

Yeah, it was a tandem jump

because you can only go from 2,000 feet if you're on your own.

-Yeah.

-Yes.

What happens when you come in to land with this bloke?

-He tells you to lift your legs up.

-Does he? Yeah.

-So, do you manage that all right?

-Just about do.

Yeah, good. Lovely.

Do you collect anything apart from male skydivers?

I like Elvis stuff and we also collect pop memorabilia.

You collect something unusual too, don't you, Toni?

Laurel and Hardy memorabilia. I have them tattooed on my back.

-Do you?

-Yes, I love them.

-Keen on tattoos?

Yes. I have over 20.

Not on visible parts of your body,

so there's a lot of space taken up elsewhere, as they say.

-Yeah.

-Yeah, lovely. Anyway, good luck.

You never know, you might find some Laurel and Hardy.

-I might do.

-And would you buy it?

-Depends on the price.

-Oh, she's sharp.

They're gonna do well, these girls. Now, the Blues.

Lyn, how did you meet Kathleen?

Well, we met at a swimming group.

I think there's more chatting done than actual swimming.

It's two or three breaststrokes and chat, chat, chat.

-Is it?

-THEY LAUGH

Inhaling a lot of water while you talk?

-Now, you're retired now, Kathleen.

-Yes, yes.

And what's this about genealogy, then? What's so keen about that?

Well, I knew nothing about my grandparents on my father's side.

I didn't even know what their names were.

So, it's been very interesting finding out about them.

Yes. And how far back have you got?

I've gone to about 1780.

-Have you?

-Yes.

-And you're Welsh, right?

-I'm proud to be full... Yes.

-Full Welsh.

-Full-blown Welsh.

-Yes, yeah.

-Very good.

Lyn, what do you do in your spare time?

I thoroughly enjoy watercolour painting.

It's my passion at the moment.

It's all water with you, isn't it? It's either the swimming pool or watercolouring.

I'm trying to develop my technique at the moment,

my ambition being

that I can paint something that I'll be proud enough to frame.

Ha, ha! Now, the money moment.

OK? £300 apiece.

-Here you go. £300. There's 300.

-BOTH: Thank you.

-£300.

-Thank you.

You know the rules. Your experts await, and off you go!

And very, very, very good luck.

All-girl teams, you see.

My favourite.

OK, well, the fair beckons. Come on, let's go and have a look.

-What are we looking for?

-Profit.

Anything that's gonna make us money.

You know, I think we're gonna get on. Come on.

That's the right attitude, girls.

But can our teams calculate a winning formula?

They are given £300 to spend.

That's 300.

They are supposed to buy three items.

That's three items.

And they have 60 minutes to go shopping.

That's 60 minutes.

Tally-ho, what?

-What do you think?

-That's nice.

-Unusual.

-Is it a genuine...?

-Is it?

-What's the back of it like?

-Well, it's been redone.

-Has it? Yes.

But underneath is the original label, you see?

WOMEN: 1863!

Mmm!

It's lost its attachment to hang on the wall.

-Yes.

-But I think it's quite a startling...

Now, that's an oil painting on a panel.

-Yes.

-It's not on ivory.

-But what is interesting, you see...

-Is this brass here?

No, no, no.

If you look carefully, instead of brass, it's lined with horn.

-Yes.

-Oh, gosh!

It's signed down there and it's dated 1837.

-Yes.

-But I think that's quite nice.

-What do you think?

-Yes, that's quite nice, actually.

-Would you fall for him, Kath?

-Um...yes, he's not too bad-looking.

-THEY LAUGH

-He'll pass.

Excuse me, sir? What's the best you could do on this?

I can do 75 and that's the rock-bottom.

-How much?!

-75!

-Is that the rock-bottom?

-That is the rock-bottom.

-You couldn't do it for less?

-I couldn't.

-75.

-I don't think... Do you see any profit in that?

-Oh, it's very...

-There's marginal profit.

The thing is, look, he's a handsome guy...

Yeah, yeah.

-It's the original frame.

-Mmm.

And it's unusual to have this horn mount all the way round.

Sir, would you do it for 70, please?

You're gonna twist my arm, aren't you?

-Yes.

-I'll do it for 70.

I think we're going to make a profit.

-Shall we have it?

-OK. We'll go with that.

OK, lovely. Thank you.

Wow! Just three minutes in and the Blues have found their first item.

Now, how's that Red team getting on?

-Wide?

-JAMES: £2.

Yeah, but they're only £7, anyway.

-They're worth 2.

-Oh.

-We're not having them, then.

-No.

James?

Cigarette case. Cigarettes don't fit into them at the moment.

-No.

-And the RAF does limit it.

Is it a cigarette case? I wouldn't imagine it'd be that small.

-Tiny.

-Excuse me, could we have a look at this, please?

-MAN: It's a compact.

-See!

-James, you were wrong.

-You were wrong.

-Well, I mean...

-There you go.

-I like it.

-But is there any profit in it?

They are a great pair of girls. I love 'em to bits.

They're the perfect pair to go out for a drink with.

-A load of photographs in North Wales.

-I was only looking.

Are you gonna take 'em to Cheshire to make a profit?

Whether they're the right guys to do Bargain Hunt with...?

They love what they love and it's hard to persuade them to come away

and buy something that'll make a profit.

Well, you never know how many people in Cheshire come...

Come on, you. You're mad. Come on.

That's right, James. You keep 'em in line.

Now, then, David's heading indoors.

And so am I.

You would not believe just how incredibly difficult it is in a Welsh fair

to find something that is quintessentially Welsh.

But, fortunately, I've found it.

This is it.

It looks like a little oak box, doesn't it?

But to the Welsh, this is a really important piece of furniture.

It's called a 'coffor bach'...

I think that's the right pronunciation.

..which is Welsh for 'small coffer'.

And it is, isn't it? A miniature coffer.

If it was English,

it would have a thumping great hinge whacked onto the back.

But because it's Welsh

and it's made with some considerable economy as a result,

if I open it up, that hinge inside is, in fact, simply a fulcrum.

What you've got underneath the oak

is this bar that's been hollowed out there

and that fits neatly into the backboard,

which is simply a slab of oak

that's been cut with that little ridge

so that the two mate perfectly.

They form as a hinge,

and as it comes down, the bottom part of that hinge engages

so that when it's shut and you lock the lock at the front,

you can't pick up the back.

It has exactly the function of a hinge

without the expense of having to go to the ironmonger

and buy a pair of hinges in brass or iron.

If you found a similar-sized box from a similar period,

i.e. around 1750 to 1800, in England,

an English little coffer might cost you, perhaps, £400 to £600.

But because this is Welsh,

the price here is £2,200.

Now, what's the Welsh for 'cor blimey!'?

Well, perhaps I should ask Welsh speakers Val and Kathleen.

But they're just a bit busy at the moment.

-LYN: Oh, that's nice.

-Do you like that?

Yeah. Can I...can I... Do you mind if I...?

-This would've been for toilet water.

-Yes. Yeah.

Within a silver coaster.

So, that makes a difference.

So, I think that's quite nice.

KATHLEEN: Is there a hallmark on it?

WOMAN: It has got one but it's quite hard to find.

-You can see it's across there.

-Ah, yes. Yes, yes.

I think that's quite nice. So, what's the price on this, please?

-45.

-45?!

-SHE INHALES

-Is that the very best you can do?

-What about 30?

-Oh, no. What about 40?

-Could we do it at 30?

-I can't do it at 30.

-35.

-35.

OK. I think so.

What do you think?

-SHE LAUGHS

-We didn't have a chance to think!

Sorry, David!

Well...I think it's very nice, actually. I like it.

-Yes.

-Do you think...?

Do you see a profit in this?

I think, because it's a Birmingham hallmark, not Chester...

Uh...what about 30?

-OK, 30.

-30.

-OK, OK.

-Thank you.

I've never known anything bought so quickly in all my life!

-We don't have time to draw breath!

-SHE LAUGHS

You might have to watch our Kathleen, Mr Barby.

Kath is bubbling and my problem is to hold her back

cos she'll look at something on almost every stall

and negotiate a price and want to buy it.

-That's quite interesting.

-MAN: 25.

-25.

-20.

-I-I-I...

-I'm sure you can make it 20.

Delightful couple. Well-balanced. Complete opposites, I would've thought.

Well, talking of opposites,

barmaids Toni and Maggie haven't bought a thing yet!

How about the mustard? Do you like that?

-The mustard pot.

-Yeah.

-But it's 130 quid.

-£130. See? Expensive taste.

-It's nice, though.

-It is nice.

-You said you wanted silver.

Ooh, you want to feel the weight of this.

-And it says 12...

-Plated, though.

Because all the weight that you've got in that...

Hang on, what's the thing on the front, though?

It's still lovely.

Oh, it's got a flag on the front.

It's actually from a sea... It's from a liner.

-So, that would've been on a ship?

-On a ship, yeah.

And, you see, it's quite hotely, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Walker & Hall made these for hotels, cruise liners and railway carriages.

I actually sold a cruet set

that was taken onboard the 'Terra Nova' to the South Pole

with Scott of the Antarctic

a few weeks ago, and this very make made £4,000.

-Wow.

-So, it's all about the logo that's on the front.

I've got a lens.

Let's have a look, see if we can work out what that flag is.

-Get our bit of silver we wanted.

-Silver plate, though.

-Silver plate, yeah.

-Yeah.

12 quid. Hmm. It's only silver plate. Will you take a fiver for that?

MAN: Yes, why not?

He'll take a fiver, so it makes it buyable.

-Yeah.

-It's not gonna make us a lot of money.

No, but we like it.

Go back. Whether you like it or not...

-BOTH: I know!

-You know?

We think it's gonna make more than a fiver, so...

Well, it can't make much less, can it?

-Exactly.

-No, no.

Tim will really have it in for us

if we just spend five quid here and there.

-Let him have it in for us.

-Unlucky!

-Yeah, unlucky!

-Unlucky.

-HE LAUGHS You tell him. I'm not.

-I will.

TIM: Actually, there's nothing wrong in spending a fiver, girls,

if it makes you puppies a profit.

DAVID: How much have we got left?

-You've spent £30, 70. We've got £200.

-Yes, 200.

We've got £200 and you leave me so much.

-Yes.

-Yes, yes.

So, that, as nice as it is, it's going to take a wallop, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Bechod!

-Yeah, yeah.

-It's bechod. 'Shame'.

Yeah. 'It's a shame' in Welsh.

-Bechog?

-Yes.

-Bechod.

-Bechog.

-I pronounce it bechog?

-It's a pity.

-No. No G at the end. D. Bechod.

-Bethog.

-No. Bechod.

-WOMEN MAKE GUTTURAL NOISE

-Bethog.

-No.

-MAKES GUTTURAL NOISES

-Give up girls! He's a hopeless case.

Where's my Blue team?

How about that?

WOMAN: There's a bit of a story to that.

Go on, then.

About four hours ago, I had 595 on it

and then I picked it up and dropped it.

-No!

-Therefore it is now...

I can do it for 150.

It's about 1790, 1800 in date.

The thing that I love about this

is it appeals to so many different collecting fields.

We've got the people that are gonna collect it

because of the picture in the top, an original watercolour.

It dates from about 1780, 1790.

And the subject... See that?

It looks like a funny little smiley-faced moon

when you hold it upside down,

but that's meant to be one of the first-ever balloon flights.

But we don't just have an 18th-century watercolour.

This is set into a wonderful 18th-century ivory box

and the pique work, this silver and gold inlay,

is in wonderful condition.

What is your best?

I'll toss you a coin for it. 150 or 100.

-HE GASPS

-Ooh.

That's too much risk. You don't like it at 100 quid, do you?

-No.

-You don't like it at 100 quid, either?!

-No, because it's broken.

-Yeah.

Oh, but it's 200 years old.

I know but it wasn't broken before.

But you didn't know that. She didn't have to tell you.

-She did, though.

-I'm too honest.

Toss you a coin - 100 or 120. No?

100 or 130, final offer. I'm meeting you halfway.

-I'm trying to do it.

-Go on, then.

-Who's tossing the coin?

-Don't mind. Do you want to?

TIM: Hello, hello. This is a rare moment.

Mr Lewis is gonna get his wallet out.

-Oh, no, he isn't.

-Well, could you give us a hand?

I was gonna toss a coin for this box.

It's either gonna be £100 or £130.

-Right.

-So, it's all on the toss of a coin.

Oh, is it? So, I might save you £30?

You might do. You might cost us £30 as well!

Well, call while it's in the air. What are you having?

-WOMAN: Tails.

-Tails.

-And...tails it is.

-HE GROANS

-Come on!

-I feel a complete heel.

For £130?!

-I like it.

-Well, it's not what you like.

-Oh, I know!

-It's not what you like.

Cos you're not taking it home, are you?

I think it's got a potential, I really do.

It's a lovely watercolour in the top.

It's in good order,

apart from it being in three bits about half an hour ago.

Well, you're obviously getting on terribly well.

-Don't buy anything broken!

-Yeah.

I said, "Don't buy anything broken and don't buy things cos you like them."

-What did you do?

-I bought a broken thing cos I liked it.

James should never have bought that box. We wanna kill him.

Toni and Maggie may be unhappy with James,

but there's no time to argue on this show.

DAVID: We've got ten minutes.

-Oh, dear.

-We have ten minutes.

16 minutes, we found two objects

and now we come to that third, elusive object.

Oh, it was all going so well too!

JAMES: Girls, come on!

Jewellery's always saleable.

-That's quite good, isn't it?

-Yes.

-You like that brooch. That's at...

-WOMAN: 74.

Right, ladies, we haven't got much time.

JAMES: We've got three or four minutes left.

Now, this is just about one of the earliest things at the fair.

It's Ancient Greek. It's about 3,000 years old.

And the price tag is 100 quid.

So, it really is a fantastic object.

Shape-wise - just look at that.

It's fabulous, isn't it?

-Mmm.

-Yeah.

-What was it used for?

-Oils.

Oh, right. I see.

-I quite like it. Do you?

-Yeah, it's different.

For me, I'm talking from the heart, I think it's lovely.

Yeah, I like it.

And if I was going to buy something for me here, I'd be buying that.

Mind you, I made that mistake with the snuffbox.

-Yeah.

-SHE CHUCKLES

I personally love it. It's one of my favourite things here.

There are lots of interesting things on this stand.

-Right. And what's it made of?

-It's clay. It's terracotta.

And it's black-glazed

and you often had these Attic red-figure decorations

on this black ware.

-Yeah.

-But it's...it's a lovely shape.

How can you date something like that?

It's...as much as anything, it's on shape.

And you have to go on archaeological finds

of what's been discovered at other places

where we can date them pretty precisely,

like Herculaneum and Pompeii and that type of thing.

-Will it sell at auction?

-It might make 30 quid.

It might do. It depends how educated the people are that are there.

And that's not an insulting thing to say, it's a genuine thing to say.

Because, you know, anyone can turn something over

and say, "Look, it's Carlton Ware,"

or "It's Worcester," or "It's Beswick."

A lot of people don't understand this stuff. I think it's fantastic.

-What do you think, Tone?

-I'd go for it.

-Are you sure?

-Yeah. Cos I like it, yeah.

-Should we ask him if he'll...

-Do a deal?

It's worth that. He's done us a good price. But we can ask.

Will you take another tenner off it, at 90 quid?

-OK.

-You will? Hey!

-You should've gone for 80!

No, these guys have got to make a living.

-I know.

-You can't knock 'em down too much.

That's fantastic. Thanks very much.

Well done, Reds, you've finished your shop,

finally agreeing on something.

David, over to you.

KATH: It's something that a gentleman would buy

for his wife or girlfriend or whoever.

There's a mixture of oyster and river pearls.

-Yes, yes, yes.

-A set of hearts?

-Twin hearts.

-Yes, yes.

-What carat gold would that be?

-15.

-15?

-Yes.

Is the pin, is the clasp, all right?

Take it out and try it against your blue.

-I think it's quite nice, don't you?

-I do, yes.

-Do you like that?

-Yes, I do.

-Would you go for that?

-I think so.

Yes, because I could imagine a gentleman buying that for a wife,

like I say.

-OK.

-An anniversary or birthday coming up.

We have got very little time now.

We've got this one and you've got the double-bar one.

-BOTH: Yes.

-OK.

I think that one would go better.

This one is nicer. It's something that would go with most outfits.

-Right, quick, she'll take 60 for it.

-Yes.

-OK.

-I think that's...I think that's...

Would you pay £60 at auction?

-Yes, I would.

-Yeah, I think so.

-You like it. You both like it?

-BOTH: Yes.

-Twin hearts united?

-BOTH: Yes.

OK, right, it's done, then. £60.

OK, fine?

What did I say?

We bought the first two in 16 minutes and at the last second...

Well, better late than never, David. But your work isn't done.

You and James have still to find

your team's bonus buys with any leftover lolly.

Let's find out how much loose change the Reds have from their shop.

-See? Expensive taste.

-It's nice, though.

Toni and Maggie fought James for this mustard pot at £5.

Then he fought them to buy the snuffbox at 130.

And they finally agreed on this little Greek urn-er at £90.

-Have you had a lovely shop?

-Brilliant, fantastic. Enjoyed it.

-Really good?

-Really, really good.

How much did you spend overall?

-225.

-Yeah.

£225? I want £75, please.

Have you got 75? Look at that! Look at the nails.

Wow, where did you get those nails done?

That's scary, isn't it? OK, fine.

-Here's the £75. Thanks, Jimmy.

-Thank you.

-That's a good wad for you.

-It is.

-What are you gonna spend?

-I've seen something really cheap.

-And quite a bargain.

-You're gonna go for it.

Always intrigued by what you're gonna dig out.

-All right, wish me luck.

-Good luck, girls.

Why don't we remind ourselves, in the meanwhile,

what the Blues bought, eh?

Kathleen and Lyn's first buy

was a miniature, bought for £70.

They were then drawn to a water bottle coaster for 30.

And their final buy was the twin-heart brooch at 60,

making their total spend £160.

-So, Kath, have you had a good time?

-Yes, lovely.

-Has Mr Barby looked after you?

-Oh, yes. Very good.

Yes, he's good at that.

OK, so, 160. £140 leftover lolly, please.

There we go. That's £140. I've no need to count it?

-No.

-A lady with your probity.

Thank you very much. So, David, what are you going to do with £140?

There is so much here.

You know, the silver boxes, there's New Hall porcelain.

Well, that will get you going, won't it? Good luck, David. Good luck, girls.

We're going to stay on the island of Anglesey.

We're gonna go out of the fairground. We're gonna go south 800 yards, turn right...

'Yak, yak, yak. Let's get cracking!'

This is Plas Newydd, home of Lord Anglesey.

Many of his ancestors have dutifully served their country

but none in so illustrious a fashion as Henry, the Earl of Uxbridge.

But what did Uxbridge do that was so incredibly heroic?

Well, it's partially recorded in this brilliant picture -

a picture by Denis Dighton

that was painted from life

on the afternoon of 18 June 1815.

It, of course, records the Battle of Waterloo.

On the far side here,

we've got Lord Wellington himself directing operations.

And on this side of the painting, we've got Lord Uxbridge,

who, apart from being Wellington's second-in-command,

was also commander of the allied cavalry.

And what a brilliant job he did too.

A few hours later, the British scent victory.

But sadly, for Uxbridge, it was not such a great day.

(CANNON FIRE)

Practically the last shot fired by the French cannon that day

narrowly missed Wellington but shattered Uxbridge's leg.

He's supposed to have famously declared to Wellington,

"My God, sir! I seem to have lost my leg."

Wellington replied, "My God, sir. So you have."

And, indeed, in this cabinet,

we've got the trouser that Uxbridge was wearing,

still spattered with Waterloo mud.

Uxbridge was taken to a farmhouse,

where his shattered leg was amputated above the knee.

On his return to London,

he was honoured with the title Lord Anglesey

by a grateful Prince Regent.

One of the most extraordinary objects in the collection

is Lord Anglesey's artificial leg,

which was made for him by the leg-maker James Potts of Chelsea.

Potts first made an example of a leg like this in 1800

and when he sold an example to Lord Anglesey in 1815,

forever after, this thing became known as the Anglesey leg.

The upper part here is in leather,

into which his lordship would insert the stump.

But the lower part is crafted out of beechwood

and has this very sophisticated articulation.

In other words, when his lordship moved the stump above,

the joint in the knee activates a ligament

that runs within the shaft of the artificial leg

and as that shaft moves, so it impacts on the heel

and makes the toe extend.

In short, Potts' craftsmanship has become a work of art.

The big question is, today, of course,

will our teams over at the auction need a leg-up or not?

Well, we've whizzed from Anglesey, down the expressway,

all the way to Nantwich, to Peter Wilson's saleroom

where we are with Robert Stones, our auctioneer today.

-Robert, good morning.

-Good morning, Tim.

Now, Toni and Maggie, their first item is this little mustard.

What have you got to tell us about that?

I think it's a very charming little thing. It's made by Elkington & Co.

The big thing about it is Anchor Line were a transatlantic shipping line.

They had three luxury liners, so it's got quite a nice bit of history to it

but here it is, just a lonely mustard pot.

Absolutely. It will help that you've taken the trouble to look it up.

So, thank you very much for doing that.

How much do you think it's likely to bring in the auction?

Well, we're thinking about £15 to £25.

It's not worth a huge amount but that sort of value.

Well, I don't know. That's pretty good.

They only paid a £5 note for it.

-Well, let's see how we get on, then.

-Well, good luck with that.

Next up is this fascinating ballooning box.

I guess it's a table snuffbox, really, is it?

I think so and I think especially the fact

that it's got a ballooning scene on the top of it is very important.

Those people that are interested in hot-air ballooning,

which is so fashionable today, will be very interested.

What do you think this thing's worth, then?

We're saying £80 to £120. It's a nice, collectible thing.

Yes. Well, Lewis went very strongly with this. James Lewis.

He thinks it's a fantastic job. He paid £130.

And who knows, in the thrill of the sale?

Lastly, this item's a bit tricky, I find.

I mean, all these really ancient artefacts...

Is this thing 2,500 years old?

-It's terribly difficult, isn't it?

-I get nervous about these things.

When you look at it, if it's 2,500 years old,

how on earth has that lovely, slender handle survived?

I mean, these were reproduced in vast quantities

to attract the tourist industry

and, you know, the fact that it's got this sort of distressed glaze on it,

you could easily think it's old, but is it?

It's very difficult to know, isn't it?

James Lewis loves these things.

He's paid £90 for it. What's your estimate?

Well, we put 20 to 40 on it. He's a daring man, isn't he?

-We'll see what happens.

-Mmm.

Overall, though, that Greek pot might drag them down

and they may need their bonus buy, so let's go and have a look at it.

Now, Toni and Mags, you spent £225, a magnificent total,

and you gave the man £75.

-What did he spend it on?

-When I saw this, I thought of you.

SHE LAUGHS

What do you think? THEY LAUGH

Have a little itchy? How about that?

-I've got a bigger version at home.

-THEY LAUGH

Well, you can use it in the bath, you can use it if you have an itchy head.

Whatever you want to do with that, you can do with it.

There it is. It's a Georgian backscratcher or wig scratcher.

So, if you were wearing one of those big, hairy, nasty wigs,

you can stick that under there and have a good old itch.

-It's a great thing. I thought it was fun.

-What do you think, Toni?

How much did you pay for it?

Well, I thought £70 wasn't a lot.

-You never paid £70!

-£70?!

-No, I paid a fiver.

Oh, that's OK!

-And are we gonna make any money?

-What do you think?

It's 1780, 1790.

Yeah, but they sell them for a pound now - the bigger version.

I'll take it home. HE LAUGHS

No, I think there's a profit in that. There's gotta be.

On that happy note, hang on to those thoughts, girls,

cos the audience at home need to find out what the auctioneer thinks about James Lewis's backscratcher.

There you go, Robert. A bit of a tester for you.

These are all over the place. They vary enormously.

This has a bone handle on it.

If you look really closely at it,

there is actually a very fine scrimshaw spiral

that runs up and down the length of it.

Oh, yes. Look at that.

Sadly, the end of the thing has been broken off.

So, what would that have had? A little knob?

-I think so, yeah.

-Yes.

-How much?

-We've gone modestly at £20 to £40.

He'll be delighted. He paid a £5 note.

I think we're going to have a bit of fun here.

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

If we tickle up these lots, they've got a bit of a mixture here.

I'm very, very keen, Robert,

to find out what you have to say about the miniature.

This miniature is a very difficult piece, really,

because we're looking at something that's got a 19th-century frame

but it is a more modern print that's inside it.

Now, I have to say, that if you look at it at first glance, as I did,

I actually thought it was a genuine oil painting on card.

But in truth, if you get a magnifying glass on it,

you can see the little pixels,

and so, therefore, it is clearly a more modern copy of an early picture.

But if we look at the back,

which I know you shouldn't necessarily go by,

but that's a nice grubby old bit of paper, isn't it?

Well, I think they've done a good job, haven't they?

It does look, to all intents and purposes, like an old piece of newspaper.

I thought it could've been worth £200 or £300

but when I realised it was a print and probably not that old,

my heart sank a little bit.

Well, good on you for spotting that.

That'll affect the value. How much do you think?

-We put 20 to 40 on it.

-Right.

£70 paid.

Moving on to sweeter things,

we've got the scent bottle.

I quite like this, because if you look at it closely,

you can see the profile of the silver

is the same as the profile of the bottle.

So, firstly, bottle and container, which is silver, match.

However, sadly, the stopper is either the wrong stopper

or it's jammed in in such a way, we can't get the stopper out.

We've put a date on it - 1903, Birmingham.

A pretty thing. Could do with a good clean.

-How much?

-40 to 60.

-£30 paid. That's good.

-Well done.

Their last item, looking rather nice on that velvet pad,

is the bar brooch.

Brooches are not very commercial.

However, I always think there's a great romance with jewellery

and this has two hearts entwined, which, as far as I'm concerned,

makes it attractive.

It's gold and we've got these pearls on it.

There will be somebody out there that would like it, I'm sure.

-Some lover somewhere.

-Exactly.

-We hope.

-Yeah.

-How much?

-40 to 60.

£60 paid.

I mean, their torpedo in this is that miniature.

On that basis, they'll need their bonus buy, so let's look at it.

-You spent £160, girls.

-BOTH: Yes.

You gave David Barby £140. What did he spend it on?

I spent the lot.

THEY GASP That's gorgeous!

-Moorcroft?

-It's Moorcroft, yes.

-THEY GASP

-I like that.

And it's blue for the Blue team.

-Gorgeous! May I?

-Yes, of course.

-Oh!

-Isn't that nice?

-It's lovely!

-And how much?

-£140. The whole lot.

-Ooh!

But isn't that lovely? I love the colours.

-Is that quite old?

-It's quite an old piece, yes.

You're talking in terms of probably late '40s, '50s.

But what I love is this glaze that runs...

-It's lovely.

-I love these subtle colours.

-Oh, I love it.

I've seen these go for about £180, £200.

So, there could be £40 or £60 or £80 in it.

You watched his lips there? We all watched his lips.

It's gonna be proven true or false any minute now.

Let's find out, for the audience at home, what the auctioneer thinks about David's little pot.

There we go, then, Robert.

A standard piece of Moorcroft. Rather nice.

It's not damaged. It's in good condition.

We sell a lot of Moorcroft.

Moorcroft made in Cobridge,

which is literally less than 10 miles from here, I would think.

We like it a lot.

You like it a lot. How much do you like it?

-We like it £100 to £150 worth.

-Do you really?

Well, £140 was paid by David Barby. He's the ceramics guru.

How lovely to know

that we're in the right saleroom for a commodity for once.

-It'll do well for sure.

-We look forward to that.

-Are you taking the auction today?

-I am, indeed.

-We're in safe hands.

-HE LAUGHS

270, 280.

I'll start at £800. Done!

Any lots that you're at all doubtful about, Lyn?

I think the plaque, the first item we bought.

-You're not so happy about that?

-No.

It's the first lot up and here it comes.

ROBERT: Number 72 is the miniature portrait, ladies and gents.

It's a print but it's a jolly nice thing.

£20 bid on commission straightaway at £20.

22, is it now? 22. 25. 28. 30, on commission.

32. 35. 38. 38, your bid.

38. On bid at 38. 40 anywhere now?

40. A fresh bidder. 42?

40, your bid. In the middle of the room at £40.

-At £40 there.

-Come on!

At 40, going to be sold at 40, then.

-That was a mistake.

-Is minus 30.

-Oh, dear.

-You were right in your estimate.

-Yes, yes.

-Early days.

Early days.

Number 73, ladies and gentlemen, this delightful perfume bottle.

£30 to start it off. At £30 there.

-Straight up, 30.

-Yes, yes! Come on!

£30. Your bid at £30. 32 anywhere now? Do I hear it?

£30 bid is there. 32. 35. 35? 35.

-38.

-Come on. Up, up, up.

40 now? 40 bid. 42 now.

At £40. 42 anywhere else?

£40 bid's there and it will be sold, make no mistake.

At 40...

-£40 is plus £10.

-That's good.

That's very nice, plus £10.

You're overall minus 20, but here we go.

This charming bar brooch with pearls inset on it, ladies and gentlemen.

A lovely thing. £30 to start it off, please, at £30.

£30 anywhere? Now, quickly now at £30.

-There's a bid over there.

-Straightaway £30. 32, thank you.

-35, 35. 38.

-Come on. Buy it for your wife.

40 now? 40 bid. 42 now. 42? Yes. 42. 45.

42 there. At 42. 45 anywhere else?

At £42, then.

-Oh, dear. £42. That's minus 18.

-Oh, dear.

-Overall, you're minus £38.

-Oh, dear!

So, what are you going to do about the Moorcroft pot?

-Are you going to go with the Moorcroft pot?

-Oh, yes! Definitely.

-"Oh, yes!" she says. You happy with that, then?

-Yes!

Yes, we're doing it and here it comes.

Lot number 78, ladies and gentlemen,

is the Moorcroft vase, signed Walter Moorcroft.

£100. Bid on commission straightaway at £100.

105 bid there. 110. 115. 120.

115 there. 115 and bid at... 120, thank you.

125. 130. 135. 140.

145. 150.

-155. 160?

-You're in profit.

At 155, bid's there.

-£155.

-It's worth more.

-At 155...

-£155 is plus £15.

So, I make that minus 23.

But don't worry about it. That could be a winning score.

You never know. That could be a winning score.

-We'll find out in a second, all right?

-OK.

-OK.

-OK, girls. Are you excited?

-We are. Very.

-Very.

Good, good. Here it comes. Your first lot is the mustard pot.

Lot number 50, ladies and gentlemen. There we are.

The Elkington Anchor Line EPNS mustard pot.

-£10 it is.

-It's good!

10. 12 anywhere now? Do I hear it? 10. 12.

15 anywhere now? 15. 18. 20.

20 bid. 22. 20, your bid.

Cheap at £20.

-22 anywhere now? Do I hear it?

-Come on, come on, come on.

-22 there. 25? 25. 28? 28.

-I'll be crying in a minute.

30 bid. 32? 32. 35?

You can't take it with you, you know, if you don't buy it. 35.

-35. 38? 35. Your bid at 35.

-35! That's so good.

35, going to be sold. At £35, all quiet and done.

At 35...

-Get in!

-SHE LAUGHS

-Good start.

-Plus £30.

-Get in!

Lot number 51, ladies and gentlemen.

There we are, the snuffbox of a hot-air balloon flight.

That's the one there. We think it's probably 18th century.

£50 to start it off. 55, I'm looking for. 55 there. 55.

60. 5. 70. 5. 80. 5. 90. 5.

100. 110. 120. 130.

-140. 150. 150.

-TIM: You're in profit.

-160. 170.

-Come on!

170. 180. 190 now. 190.

200? 200. And 10?

-At £210. You can change your mind.

-Go on!

-220. 230. 240.

-Yes.

-Yes!

250 now?

250.

260?

-JAMES: I think it's worth it.

-£250.

And gonna be sold at £250, then. All finished and done?

-£250.

-YES!

THEY LAUGH

-Good.

-Plus 120 on that.

You are £150 up.

Get in!

52 is the Greek oil bottle.

That's the one. The Greek oil bottle.

I've got several commissions on this. I can start the bidding at £40.

At 40, I'm bid. At 40. 42 is it now? At £40. The bid's with me at £40.

42 anywhere now? 42? Yes? No? 42.

45. 48. 50's here.

55 anywhere now, do I hear?

At £50 only and will be sold. 55 on the internet.

55. 60 on commission.

-Come on, come on, come on.

-At £60, bid's here with me.

At £60 only, it will be sold.

At £60 only. Last chance.

-£60.

-OK.

£60, just £30 light-on there.

-Which overall means you are plus 120.

-Get in!

-Which is pretty good.

-Brilliant.

What are you going to do about the backscratcher? Are you going to risk another £5 note?

-Yeah.

-We're going for it.

-Go with it?

We're going with the bonus buy and here comes the backscratcher.

Number 56, ladies and gentlemen.

Victorian bone backscratcher.

If I may say so, a very useful item.

THEY LAUGH

£40, a bid straightaway.

At £40. The bid at 40. 42, is it now?

42 anywhere now? Do I hear 42 quickly now?

42 bid. 45. 48. 50's with me.

At 50. 55, do I hear?

At £50. The bid's with me at £50.

£55 anywhere now? 55. 60. 65?

At 60, the bid's still here. At £60 on commission.

At £60 only and will be sold. At £60 only. All quiet and done at 60?

-£60 sold.

-Done.

-Yes!

THEY LAUGH

-Well done.

-You can't stop yourself, can you?

-Ah, well done, James.

£55 profit on that bonus buy. Very good.

So, that's £175 up.

The big thing now is don't say a word to the Blues, all right?

-No.

-No point in spoiling their day.

Well, teams, this is excitement, to be out in the fresh air.

Isn't it lovely? Now, have you been talking to one another?

-ALL: No.

-No, no communications.

Well, there is a world of difference between our two teams today.

And I'm afraid to say

that the runners-up by a long chalk are the Blues.

Yes!

-Bad luck, team.

-Oh, dear.

You have an overall score of minus £23,

despite a nice little profit from the Moorcroft vase.

And you got a profit out of the bottle coaster,

that was a very nice buy.

But I'm afraid it wasn't anything like enough

to stem the flow of riches coming from the Reds.

Great team, though, and I'm sorry about that.

Because I'm actually going to hand the Reds £175.

-Get in! Get in!

-THEY APPLAUD

We've been down to the hole in the wall

and raided it for you especially.

You nearly had pluses on every single item, didn't you?

Which would have been a thrill.

You were £120 up before James stormed in with his backscratcher.

I mean, how could a man spend £5 on a backscratcher

and sell it for £55, on one backscratcher?

That is a considerable achievement. It was great, wasn't it?

-Yeah.

-Fabulous.

It's been a serious scratch all-round today and we've loved it.

-All of you.

-Yes, well done.

-Yeah!

Join us soon for some more bargain hunting. Yes?

ALL: Yes!

For more information about Bargain Hunt, including how the programme was made, visit the website at bbc.co.uk

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