Builth Wells 1 Bargain Hunt

Oh, I do love a good read. I love a good book, particularly if it's got a happy ending.

Is there going to be a happy ending today?

You're just going to have to wait and see as we go bargain hunting.

Four friends divided by rivalry,

passionate about history,

consumed with the desire to win - this story is a cracker.

Where's it set?

In the heart of Wales, at the Royal Welsh Showground, in fact here.

Coming up, Fiona and Anna run around like headless chickens

while Zoe and Loll put their feet up.

And I head off to the Lady Lever Art Gallery.

Right, let's get on with it.

I am surrounded by friends, literally surrounded by friends.

We've got sisters Zoe and Loll-Loll for the Reds,

and we've got Ann-Ann and Fifi for the Blues.

-Sounds like a panda convention but actually they're all bosom buddies, is that right?

-Yes.

Were you all at the same school together?

In junior schools, yes. In secondary school, us three were together.

-So there's lots of cross-pollination here?

-There is.

You're all great buddies, right? But you're sisters?

-We are.

-Yes.

-And you're great friends?

-We are.

-It's wonderful.

Were you close then, when you grew up, Loll?

We've not always been close.

-Oh.

-When I was younger, Zoe and my eldest sister Julia used to gang up on me quite often

-and dress up as ugly old women and pretend to come and take me away.

-Oh!

-So were you traumatised by lovely Zozo?

-Definitely.

-Perhaps this is not going to be such a happy...

-But we're really close.

-You patched it up after that.

-Yes.

-Zozo, you have a penchant for dressing up?

-I do, yes.

You also have another rather unusual hobby.

Yes, I'm a qualified blacksmith and welder.

Just what exactly is your knowledge of antiques?

-We used to go to auctions with my dad when we were little...

-I see.

..and I kind of liked dabbling for a while, so we'll see.

Well, we'll find out as we go along and very good luck.

-Now, Fiona you're determined to give these girls a run for their money?

-Absolutely,

Fiona, where does your knowledge of antiques come from?

Some years ago, I bought a gypsy caravan, which made me interested in getting stuff from auctions.

But you don't restrict your travel just to caravans?

No, I've been to a few places.

I travelled in India for six months with my daughter when she was five.

-Did you?

-I like to go places that are warm.

-Anna, are you as well travelled as Fifi?

-No, not as well travelled.

-No. I lived in France for a time, did a bit of nannying and interpreting.

-Oh, yes.

There's been a few disasters, notably when I went to a friend's wedding

and to spend New Year in Germany and left my suitcase in the car.

-Does chaos follow you?

-Pretty much.

I knocked myself out in a cookery lesson with a wooden rolling pin, pretending to be a weightlifter,

-dropped it on my head.

-Lovely.

-Yes. Most days are like that really.

We have a health and safety officer on the show today everybody will be glad to hear. They will be alerted.

Anna, what are your tactics today to beat your mates?

I'll do anything to beat them because they are determined that they're going to win, and so are we.

I love it. The battle of the wills. Anyway, we come to the money moment.

-Here you go, 300 smackers apiece.

-Lovely, thank you.

You know the rules, your experts await, off you go and good luck.

Two determined pairs of friends - we've got a fight on our hands today.

Our two teams need two experts.

Counting the cash for the Blues is Kate Bliss.

And wringing out the notes for the Reds is Jonathan Pratt.

So what do the teams think of each other's chances?

Well, Anna's taste is just appalling.

They'll find something very gaudy.

They'll think it's worth a fortune and it's not.

-We're streets ahead really, we're going to win this.

-We are.

This drama really is kicking off, but the big question is are they going to stick to the rules?

They got £300 and an hour to buy three items. Let's find out.

On your marks, get set, go.

-We've got £300. Are you thinking you might blow the lot or just keep a lid on it?

-We'll leave you a bit, Kate.

Yes, we'll leave you a bit About £2.50.

OK! At least we know where we stand!

-So it's quirky and unusual?

-Yes.

And garden ornaments. OK, let's have a look in here.

What about China?

Not overly keen on China, to be honest.

Quirky and unusual - that doesn't narrow it down.

No, it doesn't. I quite like these actually.

Well, that's quirky and unusual.

Quite sweet, isn't it? They were made during the war for...

It's made by someone in the Yorkshire Regiment

and it says, "Remember me," so it's a sort of memento.

-Because it's in the shape of a heart, it's sentimental as well, isn't it?

-Yes.

-This is machine made, but it's right for the late-19th century. It is certainly quirky.

-Yes.

I quite like that actually. We've only been going a couple of minutes,

but do you want to have a chat with someone about a price?

-Yes.

-Because it's quite good to get one tucked aside.

-Even more relaxed then.

-Yes.

Zoe and Loll could take the lead here. Watch out, Fiona and Anna.

I'd like to look at those spoons. Those spoons are quite unusual.

-These ones here, the gilt ones?

-Yes.

Georg Jensen spoons. They produced

a series of commemorative spoons, one each year, starting with 1971.

They are fully hallmarked and they're dated as well.

They did a run, I think it was for 12 years, and they're a very good name, very collectable.

-Georg Jensen is very collectable, but it is relatively modern Georg Jensen.

-Right.

As opposed to the earlier 20th century pieces.

-Is that not as popular?

-It's just not quite as commercial.

-OK.

-Do you like that piece, Fiona?

-I think it's very nice, unusual.

This is the little mark that you're looking for, which is the oval mark with the name Georg Jensen on it.

-Right.

-That's really important.

This is Danish silver and then gilded, and this flower is depicted in enamel.

It's not an antique as such but it is something which collectors will like it because it's Georg Jensen.

But it just depends on the price, and we've got here 75.

-It's quite a lot isn't it?

-What would be a fair price to pay at an auction for that?

I think between 30 to 50.

-That's quite a lot to ask him to come down.

-It is, but we can see what he could do.

-Yes, and then we can always come back, can't we?

-We can.

Girls, you're not going to win the game without making snappy decisions.

-Is it a pair?

-I think it is, it looks the same.

What you call a three tier, obviously, ceiling light with faceted prism drops. Circa 1900.

He's got them marked as £110 each for these two, but they are a pair

and it seems sensible to buy them as the two -

there's much more call for pairs and they don't come up at auction that often. They're really lovely.

They're good for a small bedroom, in modern houses, they are a good size.

And you often find it's the private buyers that go for them.

They know how much it's going to cost to buy them from a shop and it would be quite a bit more than that.

Who owns this one? I'll just quickly ask him.

The Red team on a roll here. Have Fiona and Anna bought anything yet?

That I can do for 50 and leave a little bit for me

and a little bit for you, hopefully.

I'd like to wander around a bit more.

Come on, Fifi, you need to decide, girl.

Right, ladies, they could do the pair for £90 each,

that's £180 for the pair, which I don't think is that bad.

I'd be surprised if you don't get more than £200 for them,

-and he'll do another fiver on the Valentine.

-Oh, great.

So that's £180 for those, £50 for those, £230 in total.

-Two objects bought.

-That sounds good, yes, that sounds good to me.

We can just go and chill out now,

-then find that last item, maybe a gardening piece, and just enjoy it have a nice walk around.

-Brilliant.

The red team take the lead, two down.

Fiona and Anna, are you still at the same silver stall?

-I really like that.

-That is lovely.

-How much is your hip flask?

We've 135 on that, my best discount on that can take it to 110.

OK, can we have a little look?

-That's a really neat one, isn't it?

-That's lovely.

The hallmark's slightly rubbed, but you just make it out.

-It's a great thing to have in your hand or your pocket.

-How old is it?

It's 1915, it's George V, is that right? Yes.

-That's lovely.

-What do you think?

-Yes.

-It's a nice little thing, isn't it?

-Big enough for you?

-No.

-I had a feeling you were going to say that!

It may have had an inscription at some point but it's been erased.

That can be done, and you just need to see if the silver is thin.

But to be honest with you, I don't think there are any problems there, nothing to worry about.

These make great presents for... wedding presents, christening presents,

and I think that's just a really neat example.

I wouldn't want to pay 110 though.

-No.

-Perhaps £80.

-80 sounds a bit mean, I think. I'm probably going to be a bit tight on 80.

-OK.

I can probably meet you at 100, take the 35 off.

We're after a profit, you see.

90, meet you halfway?

90 will just about do it.

-Yes, OK, we'll do 90.

-Yes.

-I think it might stand a chance.

-OK.

Great, item number one. Let's keep going.

Fi and Anna are back in the game,

but let's leave them for a moment and come and see what I've found.

We all know what a bit of lippo is, right? That's the lipstick or lip gloss that the ladies put on,

but have you ever come across a lip chair?

Well, that is what this thing is.

These are called lip chairs.

They look just like Orkney chairs,

and the Orkneys and certain parts of Wales

are where this type of constructed chair comes from.

What we've got here is, basically,

a whole lot of relatively narrow rolls of straw.

The thong-like things are all bark that had been stripped off a thorn,

so great long strands of this skin have been used instead of string.

You tie up and bind each of these sausages of straw

and then you weave those together to form this curricle,

or rather winged, chair-shaped back.

But the clever bit is this because, underneath, if you have a look,

you can see a whole framework here of pine.

The person that made this chair started off with a sturdy stool

so that no matter how big a person sits in this chair,

their weight is all borne by these thick wooden supports.

It's like a type of straw cladding that's been put on the outside.

Now these straw chairs were made, as I say, in Scotland and Wales

but over a very long period of time from the medieval period, it is thought,

right up until the end of the 19th century, which is when this Welsh lip chair dates from.

So the big question is, what is a big lipped chair like this worth?

It's Welsh, it's being sold here in the heart of Wales

and, not surprisingly, the price is £1,250.

Is that lip enough for you?

That's lovely, really sweet.

-What have you found, girls?

-Just looking at this here, it's like a sort of trowel thing, very unusual.

What are they?

It's a little bookmark actually. You do get some modern ones,

but if you've got a period one with a hallmark, that tends to sell much better.

-Is it all right if I have a look?

-Oh, yes, by all means.

This one is hallmarked, which is lovely, and it's Victorian, which is great.

It's 1895, and the handle

looks as if it is agate actually, which is rather nice, isn't it?

-That's a sweet little thing.

-It is lovely, it's really nice.

-Quite unusual.

They do sell quite well in my experience, fingers crossed.

-58, hm...

-Is that a bit...

-I'd like to see it nearer 40, to be honest.

-Or less.

We can see what he'll say, especially with the agate handle, that's a really nice feature.

Do you want to flutter your eyelids, Anna, this time?

-OK, where's the man?

-See what sort of price.

Let's be having you.

What would your best price be on that?

-What have we got on that?

-58.

-55, I'll do it for £50.

-50.

You couldn't go further down?

No, I won't come any lower.

It's a nice little piece and nice unusual handle.

-Yes.

-And it's nicely hallmarked.

-It's a gamble. I think £50 is a fair price here.

-It could be its money though, couldn't it?

But an auctioneer would probably put 40 to 60 on it, so you're in with a chance. Can you do 48 just as a push?

That'd be 20%, no £50.

I'll sell at £50.

Oh, he's hard, isn't he?

He is hard.

I've come down £8.

It's not a walk in the park this, you know.

Can you not knock off that two pounds?

No, absolutely not. I need to eat tonight.

Oh, Fiona, you're a tough woman too.

-Shall we do it?

-Yes.

-Come on.

-Lovely, thank you very much.

-Thank you.

At last, two in the bag.

Now, what's happened to Zo and Loll?

Oh, here they are, relaxing, hey?

Cappuccino, latte, hot chocolate, or tea?

-Ooh, latte please.

-OK, two latte.

This is the life, isn't it?

Ladies, you won't beat your friends while sitting in a caff.

-You love your looking around, you girls, don't you?

-We do, yes.

Listen, you've bought two items.

-Yes.

-How's it going so far, Kate?

Well, I can't keep up with them.

Are they incorrigible?

I had to leave at one point, it was getting embarrassing.

It must be getting embarrassing.

That happens quite a lot with us.

So what, is it all double entendre, innuendo, naughtiness?

No, they were actually really hammering a hard bargain.

-Are they?

-The poor chap got such a beating, he thought they were never going to leave him alone.

-It didn't work, though.

-But we have bought two things.

You've bought two things. How much have you spent so far?

-£140.

-Well done.

-£140, so you've got £160 left.

-Yes.

So there's plenty to go for for the last item, isn't it?

I'm sure we'll see a lot knowing these two.

I think I'll get out of here while I'm still alive.

SHE LAUGHS

So which way next, girls?

The clock is still ticking, stop dawdling, Reds.

It's almost like a lava one, isn't it?

It's a German lava-style lamp from the '60s.

Yes.

Quite grotesque, but quite brilliant.

It is just that, it's like basalt.

-Yes, it's a nice studio print.

-It's kind of quite cool, isn't it?

-Yes.

-You can exfoliate your hands whilst turning the light on.

You could make a water feature out of it.

I like it, I'm just wondering what sort of shade you'd put on it.

-It would have to be about that big, wouldn't it?

-Yes, it would.

-What about the chap on the end?

-That is really quite attractive.

-It is.

-And this is still German, the one at the end?

West Germany, yes.

All the same price? This one you've got 55 on.

-Yes.

-Is that the same for all of them?

-That's 30 at the end.

-The one at the end is £30?

-Yes.

-Is that advertised as 30 or 30 your best price 30?

-25.

-£25.

25. It says West Germany on the bottom.

-£30, £25.

-That's pretty good.

Is that just the remnants of a sticker or something? I think it is actually.

-That's a big lump for not very much money.

-It is, yes.

-West German and it's quite nice this sort of oily look to it.

-Yes.

It is quite fashionable, isn't it?

You could even have it as like an umbrella stand in the hall or something.

-Yes, I think you could. I like that.

-£25 is not a lot of money really.

It's not a lot of money at all, is it?

It's not something I'd buy. I wouldn't have it in my own home.

-How do you think it will sell at auction?

-I saw a West German

lava pottery of that size for I think about £75 or £80 recently,

because it is modern design and there's a lot of people interested in that sort of thing.

I think it's a new market. For £25, I'd be surprised if we don't make a tenner on it.

So we've got ten minutes left.

We'll just wander down there, see if we can see anything else,

and then just come back and buy it on the wire.

-Would you be happy?

-Yes. Yes. I think so.

-See you in five minutes.

-OK. Cheers.

So our battling friends sprint to the finish.

-That's a sprint, Reds!

-This way, guys.

We've got about just under 20 minutes.

-OK.

-So I think we better really crack on a bit.

It's getting a bit wet out there.

Just up here, come and have a look.

Isn't that the stall Zoe and Loll started on?

-"Picquot"?

-French?

It is not French, it says, "Made in England."

SHE LAUGHS

Very good, Anna, well spotted.

What have you found? Ah!

So we found something retro after all.

It's a great shape, really streamlined.

This is... You can see "Picquot Ware" on the bottom here, made in England.

The French do something similar but this is very definitely an English shape.

They started making them around 1947.

This, I would say, is '50s, perhaps '60s,

so fairly early in the run of them and quite an unusual size.

-Two minutes we've got apparently.

-How much?

-Two minutes.

-No, how much does it cost?

-Don't know. Don't know where the stallholder is.

-Let's find out.

There are only two minutes left, make a decision.

Now!

Can we take that, please?

-And that's on the nail, last minute, fantastic.

-£25.

-25 quid?

-Yes.

-Job done. Happy?

How much did he want?

-It's got to be 55.

-That's fine, we're out of time anyway.

We are out of time. Happy?

Yes, it's lovely thing, I'm very happy with that.

Well done. Fantastic!

Now they've hunted, they've haggled,

and they've finally purchased, and their time is up.

Let's take another look at what the Reds bought.

Zoe fell in love with a Valentine cushion,

they all liked the price on the pair of chandeliers,

and finally settled on the West German vase for £25.

I think we did extremely well, and we had time for tea, as well.

-We did.

-I don't know about this self-congratulation,

where is this "I think we did very well" coming from?

-Is that from him?

-It's from all of us.

-You all think you've done very well.

-Team building, you see.

-Is that what it is? Good, how much did you spend actually?

-£255.

£255, how much is there left, £45?

-£45.

-You got the £45 roll? There we go very beautifully clutched.

Which piece will bring the biggest profit do you think, Zo-Zo?

-I think the vase.

-The vase?

We're all over the shop today, aren't we? I'm not going to

ask you your opinion, Jonathan, you're already looking very pleased.

I'm going to give you £45 and wish you bon voyage in your search...

Merci.

..for a lucrative bonus buy. Good luck.

Why don't we check out what the Blues bought, hey?

The silver hip flask caught their eye at £90.

Fiona dug deep for a silver bookmark trowel,

and they paid £55 for a Picquot ware kettle.

I think you were pretty last-minute there, girls.

-There was a little bit of a...

-A bit of a rush wash?

-Yes.

You had had plenty of time and then it just ran away with you?

-That's right.

-Had to keep her under control, that's why.

-Keeping her under control.

-Keep pulling her back.

It's like calling a pot black.

-It might be.

-Thank you, Tim.

-Thank you, Fifi.

Now tell me, darling, which is your favourite piece, your bestest best?

-I really like the kettle.

-The kettle. What about you darlin'?

-The kettle definitely.

-Right we're double kettle wonder here,

and how much did you spend overall?

-195.

-OK, please, may I have £105?

-There it is.

By the way, which piece is going to bring the biggest profit?

If any of them do, the kettle.

-The kettle. I would've thought so.

-Kettle obsessed.

-We are.

-Anyway here we go, lovely Kate.

-Thank very much.

£105 for you to spend.

-Lovely.

-Is it all there? Just check.

-I think so, yes.

-Do us proud!

On that happy note, girls, I shall leave you.

But we will head off to Port Sunlight

for something really rather tasty.

Welcome to the Lady Lever Art Gallery.

It is the creation of soap baron William Hesketh Lever

who built the place in 1922

when he ran out of wall space at home to hang his art collection.

'Lever didn't catch the collecting bug until he was in his 40s,

'but once he started, he couldn't stop.

'Over 30 years, he bought 20,000 works of art.'

Lever finished up by furnishing no less than 13 of his houses,

but they weren't just ordinary houses.

Look at these period photographs from the turn of the 20th century.

Here we've got an image of the music room

at his Number One Cheshire house up the Wirral,

down the road at Thornton Hough.

This is the music room, which was built for Lord Lever

in the, what he liked to call, "Christopher Wren-style"

and crammed with Georgian and French furniture and, of course,

a never-ending series of most expensive Chinese pots

lining the room.

Take a look at this photograph. This is the Hill in Hampstead Heath,

one of his London properties. The scale of the room is breathtaking.

Lots of Georgian furniture again and the Chinese pots lined up

all the way round, almost as if they are in a saleroom.

Also at the Hill is this, the Adams-style drawing room.

We've got Adam-style mouldings in the ceiling and this is a room

that is filled with Sheraton and Hepplewhite furniture

and, of course, lots and lots of watercolours.

But the crunch moment happened for Lever in 1913.

His houses were full to the brim with treasures and then he realised

he needed yet more space, because he bought a monster painting.

This picture is some 19 feet long

and it certainly would have encouraged Lever

to set up the Lady Lever Art Gallery

for the permanent display of some of these monster works.

The gallery provided the perfect backdrop for the finest pieces in his collection.

Lever's transformation from casual art buyer to serious collector was complete.

Of course the big question today is, over at the auction, are our teams

going to be able to transform their objects into cash?

Well, we've trotted north-northeast to Shrewsbury

to be with Jeremy LeMond our auctioneer today

-at Hall's excellent saleroom. Jeremy.

-Hi, Tim.

-Good to see you.

-Very nice to see you again too.

Anyway for our lucky teams Zoe and Loll,

their first item is the Valentine's Day pincushion.

Now, that has got a story I guess, has it?

Yes, it's the Princess Alexandra,

Princess of Wales, own Yorkshire Regiment and she presented

the battalion colours to the battalion in 1875,

and this is dated 1875, in Sheffield.

Assuming it wasn't stuck on in 1975.

HE CHUCKLES

Well, we have to rely on you in that respect.

But seriously, it looks absolutely fine, doesn't it?

It does, it looks good. It's in tremendous condition.

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

-We thought £30-£50.

£50 was paid. So you need to crack on, Jeremy, if we're going to show much of a profit there,

but it's an interesting object and, quite frankly, anything can happen.

Next was a pair of light fittings,

I wouldn't exactly call them chandeliers, would you?

We'd call from waterfall chandeliers, because of the style of them.

-This rippling shower of pendants.

-Little chandeliers, we see them all the time.

Prismatic drops - quite bright and sparkly.

It could have been made at any time really.

-Yes, I mean they're down as listed as being 1920s for our team.

-Style.

Style, isn't it? Because those could be 1960s, 1980s or anything really.

They haven't gone out of fashion at all.

No. Are they desirable?

A pair like that, does that make your heart tremble when you see it.

Good decorators pieces, so yes, they could do well, £60-£80 for the pair.

-How much?

-£60-£80.

-Our guys are paid £180 for the pair.

-Well, they obviously like them.

-Have they gone completely bonkers?

-Yes.

Thank you for that honest answer.

OK. That's a big dark hole they're about to fall into

with these fellows, we fancy.

Lastly though, is the gigantic almost lava-like vase on the floor.

How do you rate that? It's a big pot, isn't it?

Yes, that's by Shurik Keramik.

German firm, West German, late '60s.

The style is not quite fat lava, which is very popular at the moment.

So they've done well to spot it.

Late '60s early '70s, and it's an up-and-coming market.

All the books on fat lava and that sort of genre of West German ceramics art - unobtainable

at the moment, so they've picked the market just at the beginning of it.

-Well, they paid a keen £25 for it, which is not much for lump is it?

-They should get that back.

-Would they?

-Yes.

-What's your estimate?

Well, is 30 to 50, but that's a market that I think will take off.

Ah, well that's intriguing.

You mean it might bring in more than £50?

-Give it five years.

-Oh, I see.

Actually we are here today, Jeremy.

Buy it.

On the face of it, they're going to need their bonus buy, let's go and have a look at it.

Now Zozo and Loll, this is the leftover loll-loll moment, Loll,

because you gave Jonathan Pratt £45 to go off and find something spectacular - his bonus buy.

Let's have a look at it, Jonathan, what have you done?

-I bought an aneroid barometer.

-Oh.

-Look at Tim's face, he loves it.

It's by Short and Mason, mahogany, boxwood and ebony strung, every home should have one.

Take it from Jonathan and have a feel. I think actually handling an object, seeing how heavy it is,

how beautifully made it is and all the rest of it is interesting.

People are moving back to a traditional style in the modern interior now.

-Yes.

-And that's it, I think it's a nice useful practical object

and I didn't pay too much for it. I wasn't given too much money actually!

-Well, you were given £45 actually.

-Yes, a real lot. Yes.

What do you think is the date for it, somewhere around 1935 or 1940?

I think it's a bit of a crossover really, the way it's laid out inside

-and the geometry because it's in an octagon.

-Angular.

-Angular,

which kind of says '20s, so I think it probably is a bit of a '20s thing.

Says "Copyright 1930" on it, so it can't be before that.

-Thank you, Tim. Can I borrow your glasses?

-What do you think, Loll?

-I don't think you'll like it very much, do you?

-Don't you love it, Loll?

-It's not my cup of tea.

-Is that not what you'd spend your leftover lolly on, then, Loll?

-No.

-OK, fine.

Well, we seem to have a moderate reaction to that, Jonathan. Of course the trick is, girls,

you don't have to take this if you don't want to.

For the audience at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Jonathan's little barometer.

Right then, Jeremy, the pressure rising here in the saleroom. How do you rate that?

I think that is Short and Mason, £30-£50 we'd put on it.

Good barometer, nice commercial shape, octagonal shape, good dial, does what it says on the tin.

Yes, that's fair enough, isn't it?

John paid £45, he spent all his bonus-buy money on it, he rates it.

-He should get it back.

-A small profit.

-Yes.

-Good.

IF the team decide to go with it... which is the million dollar question.

Next the Blue team, led by your neighbour Kate Bliss, she comes in these parts, doesn't she?

-Yes, she does.

-Close down the road.

The silver little hip flask.

Well, silver is all right at the moment, precious metals are up in the market.

-What's your estimate?

-£30 to £50.

£90 paid. Stand a chance?

-It will sell.

-It will sell, everything sells.

-It will sell.

-Difficult to make a profit on £90.

-Yes, tricky.

Next is the little silver bookmarker,

which is kind of a standard little Edwardian bit of nonsense in a way.

-Novelty really.

-Yes.

I can remember seeing those things marked up in bric-a-brac type shops for £15 to £20.

-I think that's about right.

-They paid £50.

That's enough, really, but it is a novelty, I haven't seen one recently so they might be lucky.

-Brilliant, so what's your estimate on the little bookmarker?

-£25 to £35.

-Well, another uphill struggle.

We've got two uphill struggles but you know what they say about tea and sympathy?

Their last item is a kettle.

Yes, by Berridge and Boyd, the manufacturers of the non-electric vacuum cleaner.

-Really?

-In 1932.

You are a mine of information I have to say.

-We know it as Picquot-ware which sounds French.

-It does.

-Northampton.

-Is it?

-Mmm.

Nothing very French about Northampton, I tell you.

But very stylish.

Very stylish and still going.

-Are they?

-Still going.

-We are picking up some vital facts today.

Most important thing is, though, what's it worth?

It is worth £20 or £30.

-£55 they paid.

-Yes, that's fine retail.

That's fine retail, they seem to have paid three very fine retail prices for their three items.

They'll struggle at the auction and, by jingo, they are going to need their bonus buy.

Now, Fifi and Anna, you've have spent £195, you gave Kate Bliss £105. What did she spend it on?

-I hope I've done the right thing here because I know you girls were disappointed...

-Ahh...

-..to leave that spoon behind, weren't you?

-We were.

We talked about it quite a bit in the shop so you know quite a bit about it

but it is obviously George Jensen and silver gilt so with a lovely layer of gilt over the top.

It's not an antique, it's 1971, but as a piece of George Jensen for a collector,

it's a nice affordable piece. Have a little look.

How much did you pay for that?

I managed to go and negotiate an even better deal.

-Did you?

-I managed to get it for £45.

Ooh, that is good. Yes, it's lovely, Kate, I like that.

The year I was born, 1971.

Me too.

You're shockers, you girls, I tell you.

You need to ask Kate one last final question.

-Do you think is going to make any profit?

-I think it's got the chance of making £50 at auction.

-OK.

-It depends if the right collector is there, so I think it's got a chance.

-OK.

Thank you, Kate. For the viewers at home,

let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about the Jensen spoon.

-Well, that's pretty glitz.

-Isn't it?

-And always lovely to have that Jensen name stamped on a bit of silver.

-Yes.

-Yes. Artist designed, Rigmor Andersen and Annalise Bjorne.

-These are two girls, aren't they?

Yes, they are, one sadly no longer with us.

They were well known for floral flatware.

-What is a single piece like that are worth, do you think?

-Like this? £20 or £30.

Kate paid £45, it's her bonus buy she is relying on it to make huge profits

-and dig them out of three huge black holes that they've got ahead of them.

-Well, I've been wrong before.

-There you are, the modesty of the man, charming. Anyway you're taking the sale today?

-Yes.

We are in safe hands.

OK, so how are you feeling, sweetie?

-Really nervous.

-Are you? What have you got to be nervous about?

-I don't know, I just want to make some money.

-Are you all right, Loll?

-Yes, I'm OK.

You look a bit frightened actually.

-I feel a bit nervous.

-Are you?

You spend a lot of time to get to the cliff face - what is going to happen?

And if the worst comes to the worst you, you've got the barometer to fall back on.

Anyway, first lot up, it's the Valentine.

The soldier's Valentine, Alexandra

Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment).

Already I have interest on commission at £30.

Starting at 30, at £30 it is, 40, five, on the internet at 45.

-Come on.

-On the internet at 50...

Come on, internet. Come on, internet.

At 50, it is now... £50 I'm selling it,

the internet is out... At £50...

Brilliant, it's wiped its face.

No profit no loss, no shame no gain.

The pair of 1920s style glass waterfall style chandeliers,

commission bids at £90 already, 100 in the doorway...

110...

120, 130 now...

130 with the lady, at £130...

any more at £130, selling.

Oh, no. £130, that is minus £50.

The West German Shurik vase. At £25 start me...

at 25, where is £25? At 25 bid me?

-£25.

-£20, start it, then.

Oh, Lord.

Who wants it at £20?

£20? £15, then, to go...

£15 bid here, at £15, I'll sell it.

Maiden bid at £15 and selling.

Oh, OK. £15, that is not a result.

Minus £10 on that, so you are overall minus 60 smackers, girls.

All right. Well, I'm sorry about that because that German vase was set to sail away.

And you've done a lot better with the chandeliers than I thought you would do.

The big decision now is what you're going to do with the barometer? Do you fancy going with it, Loll?

-I think we got to go for it.

-Yes.

-Minus 60 could be a winning score.

We've got nothing to lose. We'll go for it.

You're going to have a go, well, I don't blame you. Why not?

We're going with the bonus buy. Jonathan paid £45 for the barometer. Here it is.

The mahogany and boxwood strung aneroid barometer by Short and Mason, Lot 56.

Mason is a good make.

Who will start me up £20? £20... a good barometer at £20,

20 bid internet... I'm selling to an internet bidder at £20...

Using the internet...

At £20, it is to an internet bid. All sure at 20?

-Oh, no.

-£20, we've compounded the error here with another £25.

You are overall minus £85.

Oh, no. It could have been worse.

Well, it could have been, really, with those waterfall chandeliers.

Anyway, bad luck, but on the other hand this could be a winning score, no shame in minus £85.

-Don't say a word to the Blues.

-No.

-Even though you've got a chummy with them.

-OK.

-Lips are sealed. Thank you very much, kids.

-Do you know how the Reds got on?

-No.

-No idea? Lovely.

-Not a clue.

OK, fine. How do you reckon they did?

-Not very well.

-Not very well?

-No.

-How do you reckon you're going to do?

-Erm...

-Bit of a mixed bag.

-Just look at busy this room is.

-Well, yes.

They've got internet bidding here, don't be depressed, that's the secret.

And if all else fails, you got that silver gilt spoon.

Of course you have, now first up is Kate's flask and here it comes.

72 is the silver hip flask here William Neill and Son,

Birmingham 1915, starting at £55...

60 in the door, five commission...

At 65 it's a commission bid, at £65 are we all done?

It could go a bit stronger than that.

At £65 and selling to a commission bidder, at 65.

-Sorry, girls.

-Dear me, 65, you are minus £25 on that, that's disappointing, Kate.

-It is, isn't it?

-Anyway, here comes the bookmark.

Lot 73, again various commissions here 25, 35 here.

At £35 on commission...

At £35, I will sell at £35... You're all finished in the room, and 35...

He's doing it again.

-£35, we are minus £15.

-Very cheap.

-This is not looking good, girls.

-It's not.

-OK, let's hope it's all in the kettle.

Here is the Picquot-ware 1960s magnalium kettle with wooden handle,

Lot 74, again various commissions here as £20, £22, £25, at 25...

-At £25...

-Come on.

For the Picault, 25 I've got...

28, at £28... 30 now,

30 in the room against you.

It's coming to the boil!

At £30, selling.

£30, that is minus 25. 25 and 25 is 50. I make that minus £65.

-It could have been worse.

-It's difficult because this could be a winning score.

Going on the prices that we've realised so far, it's all been pretty low, hasn't it? Think about that.

-We are going for it.

-Yes.

-Are you going to go with this bonus buy?

-Yes. Yes.

-Are you really going to go with the bonus buy? Look at me, are you going to go with the bonus buy?

-Yes.

-You don't have to do go with it, you know.

-We really want to.

-You want to?

All right you are going to go with the bonus buy, the decision is made, here we go.

Jensen, dated spoon, 1971, designed by Andersen and Annelise Bjorne,

20 start me, at £20...

Where's £20 for it? £20 to start...

20? 20 bid me... 20 bid front row, in the room, then, at £20...

-Not looking good.

-Internet 25, 30 with you...

at 30 front row against the internet...

all done 30 pounds?

£30, that is minus £15, 65, 75, you are minus £80.

Minus £80, girls.

-I congratulate you because you are a couple of punters, aren't you?

-Absolutely.

-You were determined to go with that, absolutely determined.

-Yeah.

And look what happened, you lost £15. But never mind, don't talk to those Reds.

-No.

-And all will be revealed in the moment, because this could be the winning score.

Well, it's no secret to the teams that we have had some disgraceful results today,

-but do you know any specifics? Have you been talking to one another at all?

-No.

Absolutely not. Well, there are some whopping losses about and the team with marginally more losses,

and there is only £5 between the two teams today. It happens to be...the runners-up, the Reds.

No!

Minus £85, which by today's standards is not a bad score, I have to say.

But the victors today who have won by only losing £80 are the Blues.

Congratulations, I bet they look pleased about it.

I do not propose to go through the scores - they are all so appalling.

I'll ask the question, though, have you had a nice time?

-Brilliant.

-Have you had a nice time?

-Fab.

-We've all had a great time,

-so join us soon for some more Bargain Hunting, yes?

-Yes!