Derby 8 Bargain Hunt

Antiques at lunchtime? It can only mean one thing.

Yes, let's go bargain hunting.

We're at the Jaguar Antiques Fair at Derby University,

and we're going to be testing our teams today with one hour,

shopping for three items, with £300.

Are they going to pass or fail?

Students, Kerry and Julia, have no idea about budgeting.

-That is very nice.

-It's Wedgwood.

-I daren't and ask the price then.

-Well it's £295, apparently.

-Oops!

Do look at the prices first.

Yes, sorry!

Husband-and-wife Ben and Joanna have no concept of time.

How many items have you bought?

-Just the one.

-One piece, 12 minutes left?

I think I'm getting nervous.

Auctioneer James Lewis doesn't mince his words either.

I think that's far, far, far too much money.

Far, far, far? There were three fars in there, that's far too much.

And if that leaves you gagging for more, let's get on with the show.

Welcome, guys. Lovely to see you.

Now, you two are both self-confessed history geeks.

That's right, history and museum geeks.

Why?

Well, for me, partly it's because my parents used to drag me around as a kid to museums and castles.

-Then I started wanting to go myself.

-What about you, Julia?

The same, wherever we went, my parents would take me to the local museum and I thought that was great.

So where do you originally hail from?

Originally, I was actually born in Moscow in the Soviet Union.

Born in Moscow, but you hail from where?

-From Canada.

-You're a Canadian?

Yeah, I was brought up in Calgary.

But your background in Calgary, I mean you just didn't go out out skiing a lot, did you?

No, I didn't.

I sat at home and read books.

So that's what you do then, if you're not going to a museum, Jules, you're reading your books?

Exactly, I like to trawl second-hand bookshops.

I have a problem, my name is Julia, I am a bookaholic, I cannot leave

a bookshop empty-handed, it's just not possible.

But the great thing about second-hand bookshops is that often the books are so incredibly cheap.

-Yes, yes.

-I mean, you can...

I don't know what bookshops you have been to!

-They're so expensive.

-It says here that you're reading now the History Of Celibacy.

-Yes, I just finished reading it.

-Which I would imagine is quite a cheap number.

It was quite a thick book, Tim.

-Really?

-Yes, it was, surprisingly.

You're also a Doctor Who fan.

I am, and Kerry and I watch Doctor Who together.

-Yes, you do that together?

-We're not geeks at all.

-No, no.

Kerry, are you a big collector yourself, darling?

I wouldn't say collector, more of a hoarder.

I suppose you've got lots of books, too, being a brain box.

Yeah, lots of old books, but I much prefer books that have been read by someone else.

The ones that have been written in and clearly loved by someone.

I like feeling like I am rescuing them from the charity shops.

I think we're going to have great fun with you girls today.

-Do you think you'll give the Reds a run for their money?

-I think so.

We're certainly going to try.

Because they're clearly academically over-qualified to be here.

Janet, you are incredibly knowledgeable about antiques.

I'm quite knowledgeable.

-I worked in an antiques gallery about 20 years ago now.

-Did you?

I did, in London, specialising in Art Deco, Art Nouveau.

But you are a shopaholic, aren't you?

-Just a little bit...

-LAUGHTER

Ben says you're not kidding!

It's rude to walk past something if it's being offered a fraction of the price it should be.

-Are you obsessed by clothes, or what?

-Just slightly.

-I'm quite obsessed by jeans.

-Jeans?

-Jeans.

To give you an idea, Tim, I think we've got 60 pairs of the same-sized blue ones alone.

-Really?

-I think that's 63, I found some more this week.

-And that's not obsession?

-No.

Brilliant. So, Ben, what do you get up to when Jo's out shopping all the time?

I run a software company that makes interactive 3D software for simulation and training systems,

mainly in the aviation industry and what have you.

-Was that a yawn?

-No, no no.

It does get very technical and I'm told I can get very boring about it.

Just glaze over.

No, no, no, well if it pays for the shopping that's absolutely dazzling, isn't it?

Well, yes, there is that, I suppose.

Of course you watch Bargain Hunt a lot.

Well, because I work from home, it means I have my lunch at around midday so I can come

and watch Bargain Hunt, and I have been for many years.

Good, you too are going to be expertly qualified to take on these Reds.

Well, we don't have the academic qualifications, so we need something else, don't we?

It's all down to practical skills. Now the money moment.

Here you go, £300 apiece, you know the rules, your experts await, and off you go.

Very, very, very good luck.

What intriguing teams.

I wonder what our experts will make of them.

The Reds have an old master in David Barby.

And in Nick Hall the Blues have a rare find.

-What are you going to look for?

-I think we'll look for kind of quirky things.

-The odd hunting prints, things like that.

-Something with social history.

-That's good.

-You like your Art Nouveau and Art Deco, don't you?

-I do, certainly.

-Chop chop chop.

-This way?

-Yeah.

They really know what they want, but will they find it?

Look at the social history there in those shoes.

-They're lovely actually.

-They're very pointed.

-They're very pointed.

-So what date would they be from, about 1900?

Something like that, yeah, maybe even 1910, because by the 1920s

-you get a much more open shoe.

-A sort of court shoe?

Yeah... This is very cool, what is this?

Do you think shoes would sell at auction, though?

Well, there are people buy costume.

Look at this carving.

This is quite interesting. It's Japanese and we're looking at around about 1880, 1900.

But it's quite expensive, it's 285.

285. Do look at the prices first!

Yes, sorry!

This is something you might like, Joanna.

It has that Art Nouveau look to it.

-Yes.

-This little pendant here.

I think it's really pretty.

My only problem is I have a real problem with green.

-Oh, right.

-And automatically that would probably, for me, make it slightly more difficult.

-Remember, we're selling it, not wearing it.

-Absolutely.

I'm sure there'll be hundreds of people saying, "I think that's really charming".

It depends, as all these things do, what the price can be.

What do you think we would need to buy it at to make a profit?

I think if that was going to sale,

the auction estimate is going to be around the £70-80 mark.

That's smashing, thank you. Have a look, see what you think.

I think the form and the shape is lovely.

I can see people wanting to buy an item like that, yes.

What we need to do now is find out what the price can be.

Hello, there. We're quite interested in this,

but we're just wondering what your best price could be on that.

What do I need to do to persuade you to come right down.

Now there's an offer you don't get every day.

Given that her husband is standing right next to her.

Well, he'd have to disappear for starters.

I had a feeling that might be coming.

-What do you think is a sensible sort of price?

-£65.

How would you feel about if we gave you for cash, here and now, straight in your hand, £50.

Wow, I was going to go for 55.

I'd feel slightly nauseous, actually.

I will give you 55, love.

-£55. What do you think, have we got a deal then?

-Yeah, I think so.

Shake the man's hand, let's give him some cash.

Well, no messing about there.

It is catch up time, Reds.

-Autographs.

-Look.

-Signatures.

Do we know whose autographs they are?

Well they have got Lords, Earls and Dukes of anything.

That fits your criteria, doesn't it?

"A list of persons residing in the ward of Bishopsgate

"who have subscribed for a piece of plate to be presented to

"William Taylor Copeland, Esquire."

Lord Mayor 1836, wow!

-That's quite old. It's nice having an inscription as well.

-It looks like it has been cut out.

They would have been cut out of letters, probably from the subscription letters.

-OK.

-I don't know if they'd mean much to 21st century people.

-No, I'm not sure they would.

-Is that Palmerston?

-I think it is, yeah.

Well, he was Queen Victoria's first Prime Minister.

-I wonder how must this is.

-How much would that be?

You've missed the three most important letters, which are on the label -

POA, price on application.

Normally it would be around 250, 270, but today it's 150.

Do you think it would make a profit..

if we bought it at 150?

It's either going to fly, or it's going to sink.

Well, that is the fun of it, isn't it? It's a gamble.

Sink like a bomb.

-I think we should take the risk.

-Yes, we should.

Gosh, you're very positive, aren't you?

'Or bonkers, but I do love a risk taker.'

I'm not seeing that country pursuit sporting object yet.

No, nothing jumping out here, is there?

Now, you can't help but be impressed by these.

-Very cheeky.

-And they do say you get more for a pair.

-He reminds me of you, darling.

-Oh, thank you.

'Too much information, Joanna, thank you.'

Look at that bagatelle.

Actually I spotted that. Yeah, I do like that.

Sort of 70 years old, you expect a bit of wear and tear.

You do. Does the mechanism work?

We'll give it a ping, see what happens.

-Well, that's important. That works. The other problem is there's no balls with it.

-No.

There should be a cover that slides on the top. It's been used and abused.

I think this is going to be one we have to reject purely on condition.

Before we move on, there's just one or two things on the stalls that I rather like.

Thank you. Look at this.

It's so typically Japanese, but this is interpretation by an English potter.

If we look at the back it's Mason's Ironstone China,

one of the most important potters of the 19th century.

But what's so good about this piece is that it's got this Japanese influence.

-It looks very modern as well.

-It's quite a quality piece.

This is sheer quality. People do collect Mason's.

-Do they?

-Yes.

What sort of age is this, do you think?

The biggest influence was around 1880 through to about 1890.

-What do you think?

-What do I think?

Erm...I think it's quite nice.

It doesn't instantly grab me,

but...I do like the kind of geometrical patterns.

I like it. It's got the horses on it.

-I noticed the little...

-The little person?

Yeah, well, couldn't tell if it was a person or a monkey, actually.

It's an immortal? It's an immortal.

Then you've got the typical Japanese garden.

What I like about it is that the more you look at it, the more you see.

-So we should probably check what the price is.

-Before we get too excited!

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

-Well, the price starts at £42, but I can come down to 35.

Is that the very best you can do?

Well, you might force me...

-But look at our charming smiles.

-I know, it's working already.

Let's do 30.

I think for £30, really, it's going to "wipe its face", as Tim says.

'I'll do the catchphrases, thank you.'

Can we have it gift wrapped?

-You certainly can.

-In bubble wrap.

Great plate, but time now to spice things up a bit.

Throughout the 18th century, half the population were addicted to something. What do you think it was?

Alcohol? Probably.

Tobacco?

Increasingly.

And the other addictive thing that people went for was spices,

in particular nutmeg.

If you were wealthy, you'd have a little silver box to keep your nutmeg in.

This one is by Samuel Pemberton.

He's a well-known Birmingham silversmith.

Inside there's a little steel rasp.

If I unhinge the bottom, open that up, and out falls a nutmeg.

You rasp that nutmeg on top of the steel quite firmly,

gather up the dust in the bottom of the box then open up the bottom,

and dunk that into your drink or put it on top of your fruit.

Interesting, isn't it?

This one is another variety of the same idea.

But this is more of an industrial-sized model.

Look at that. Just roughly made, pierced steel,

and if I give that a good rasping and then tap it out,

a whole lot of nutmeg appears.

All very efficient. These things now are very, very collectible.

I guess of all the small boxes there would be plenty of snuff boxes about but very few nutmeg graters,

and as a result the price is pretty frightening.

This oval one is over £1,100,

and this big fellow would cost you 1,450.

Hm... Now, that's what I call spicy.

Oh, that's lovely. That's a very nice.

-What's the make?

-It's Wedgwood.

I daren't ask the price, then.

SHE LAUGHS Well, it's £295.

-Oops.

-'Oops indeed.'

What have you spotted there, Jo?

-Those candlesticks.

-It looked better from a distance.

-Yes, it did.

-We were squinting with one eye shut.

It was worth a look.

'Well, it certainly was. You've only bought one thing so far.'

Needs a bit of dusting but it's fantastic.

Gold medals, Paris 1878, Sydney and Calcutta.

Very stylish, isn't it? But why would you want to buy anything like this?

-Because it's got a box with it.

-Let's have a look.

I actually like the box better than I like the hat.

-Right, yeah.

-Typical museum person.

How much could you sell that for?

-58.

-I probably wouldn't be willing to go above 50.

Maybe we should look at something else.

-Can we have this in reserve and come back? We've got half an hour.

-OK.

Wow. Goodness me.

This is an interesting stall. There are some early maps.

Have a look, what do you think?

OK, so the map is... Where is it of?

What we want is a nice local theme.

Staffordshire there, Leicestershire is here.

-It must be Derbyshire.

-That's a great find, really, and it's of local interest.

This will date from the late 17th or early 18th century.

-I'm concerned by the tape mark.

-Hm.

That has been torn, but presumably that will be reflected in the price.

The price is an issue.

They're asking £125 for it, which is way too much.

We need to get it to the other side of £100. What would be your best price?

The very best is £90.

-It's down to you, really.

-I think it's a lot of money.

-You've got the money.

-What do you think?

-I think it's too much.

I think it's too much.

Right... We're also running out of time as well.

I know, I knew you were about to say that!

I was thinking, "oh, my goodness me".

Can we scoot on and come back because it's still here?

Absolutely, we can leave it there. We can have a look at what else is around the fair,

-fingers crossed, if we do come back, it's still here. There's no guarantees.

-No.

They're happy to do that and I've got to be guided by you.

'So, get guiding. You still need two more pieces.'

-We have how much?

-120.

-We've got £120.

You've got to allow me some money to spend. Just look at the price.

-That's £350.

-Yes.

That's 260.

Do you think this bottle stopper is original?

-Oh, yes, yes, yes.

-Really?

-Probably replaced cork, I'd think.

-That's quite nice, actually.

-It's very small.

Whether in fact it originally came with a decanter base I don't know,

or whether it was sold as a stopper to be used is questionable, but it's a nice piece.

I do like it. I like it more than the hat, and it's very sinuous and

it's got all the things about Art Nouveau that are really lovely.

Yes, that organic feel.

Exaggerated plant form.

It's not silver, is it?

Oh, no. This will be pewter.

That's very stylish, isn't it?

-It's stylish, yeah.

-How much is it?

-£50.

-It's only £50.

I think that's why you picked it up.

Yes! And also because it's small.

Would you like to ask if you can have a deal on that?

A deal to be done. I hope so.

We're quite interested in this stopper. What's the best you can do on that?

45.

But it's nice that you can use it as a bottle stopper in your wine, on the patio.

It's lovely.

All right, you negotiate. You're better at this.

-35? I'll go 40, meet me in the middle at 40.

-Can I chip in and say 38?

I'll do that for you. 38.

I think that's probably worth it.

-I think it's very stylish.

-Definitely.

And since we have 15 minutes left we can go and spend some more time in the sun.

Oh, that's typical girly, really.

-What's your best price?

-175.

175, I still think it's going to be too dear.

It's a nice thing but it doesn't leave anything in it for us.

-This is lovely.

-It's beautiful.

-Oh!

-Ah!

-That's not so clever, is it?

-No.

This is lovely, isn't it? Oh...

We're so pressed for time.

I know. I'm beginning to get nervous, to be honest with you.

Getting nervous, Ben? What have you got to be nervous about?

You've only got 12 minutes left.

How many items have you bought?

-Just the one.

-One piece, 12 minutes left.

I think I'm getting nervous.

This looks interesting. This of course is Denby Pottery.

Can you just bring that one over there?

This has got this lovely post war typical 1970s designs with these swirls and things.

That's an area of collecting that's quite in vogue at the moment.

What sort of price do you think we need to buy that at?

Well, what are they asking for it?

£30. That's probably not too bad.

If we can get it down nearer sort of £20, I think there's profit in that.

I actually quite like that.

-You like the design of it?

-I like the colour as well.

Let's have a word with the chap and see.

-Hello. You've got £30 on there.

-Yeah, we can do something on that.

That's good. We were thinking something around about £17 or £18.

I'd think it's around 20-ish.

Will you go to 19?

Oh, go on, yes.

-We can shake your hand on that one.

-If we're driving hard on that, then yes.

Well done there. £19.

We've got a bit of profit in that, and we've got about two minutes left

-to find our third thing.

-OK.

Let's get the chap paid and let's get on.

Yes, time is against you.

So hurry up!

This is reproduction.

That needs to be 80 quid, not 280.

Do either of you two like that red vase on the top right?

I like the red vase.

-Isn't that...

-It's Doulton.

-What price do we need it for?

It's worth about a hundred quid, I think.

The decoration on the top interests as well.

Do you like it?

I do. It's very medieval looking, almost.

The object itself doesn't have any great age.

This flambe was first introduced sort of 1920, 30.

Then they started doing again in the '90s and 2000s.

But collectors collect the modern glazers.

Let's find the chap and have a word.

We quite like the flambe vase.

Are we OK at around 80 quid, something like that?

No, it'll have to be £110.

-The simple reason is when it was in production, it was around the £400-£500 mark.

-Would 100 buy it?

100, yeah, I'd do it for 100.

Do you want to go for it?

It's not a bad thing. You have to be happy with it, you have to like it.

-Would you drop under the 100?

-To be quite honest,

you've only got to get two after them, after that piece, you could double your money.

Possibly optimistic, but you never know.

Auctions are funny places. Anything can happen.

I think so. I like it.

I prefer that to the map.

Just to verify what I'm saying, you've got the certificate there,

and what you've got to watch, that the number

matches the number underneath.

That helps as a selling point. That's a good plus.

So where are we agreed - 95?

No, we said 100. You're good, but you're not that good.

-What about 98?

-No, it's got to be 100.

I think we need to pay the man, don't we?

Phew!

That's it. Shopping's over.

Let's hope that the teams do well later at auction.

But just in case not, any leftover lolly will be given to the expert

to find that bonus buy which could get them out of a sticky situation.

Right now, though, let's recap on what the Reds bought.

Julia and Kerry signed up to the autograph album for £150. Wow.

A Mason's Ironstone plate was their next choice for £30.

And finally, before they popped out for a spot of sunbathing, they plumped for a WMF bottle stopper.

-Hello, Tim, sorry, you caught us.

-Are you all right, old thing?

-Did you have a lovely shop?

-It was wonderful.

So you spent over £200.

-What exactly did you spend?

-£218.

And do you reckon it was well spent?

-I think so, yes.

-Which is your favourite piece, petal?

My favourite piece is probably the Art Nouveau bottle stopper.

-Do you agree?

-No, my favourite was the book we got of Lord Palmerston's autographs.

Very good. I'd like about £80 left over, actually.

Gosh, that's tightly hemmed in. And boilingly hot, if you don't mind my saying so.

There you go, David, 82 hot pounds.

No time to lie around.

You have to find this bonus buy. How difficult is that?

Very difficult because they're so academic and they know their subject, which is medieval history.

Good luck with that. But first, why don't we check out what the Blues have bought, eh?

Ben and Joanna made an early start with a £55 Art Nouveau pendant.

It took a while to find their second buy, but eventually they went for a Denby vase.

And finally they stuck with the ceramics,

picking out a limited edition Doulton flambe vase for £100.

-How much did you spend overall?

-£174.

Is that all? That's tiny.

£174, so I want £126 of leftover lolly, please.

£126. You don't really like handing this over, do you?

-Not really.

-OK, thank you.

And we'll have the one, sir. Which is your favourite piece?

I think my favourite piece is actually the last piece, the Doulton,

which I'd never have chosen ordinarily.

-But I really like it.

-What about you, Ben?

I think the money will probably come on the Denby.

There you go, old friend, that's a nice sum.

Have you got anything in mind?

Yes, spotted a couple of possibilities which I think you two will like.

If I can get them at the right price, I think we're OK.

That's the secret, the right price.

We'll leave it with you, Nick. Good luck, team.

For us, we're going to have a treat, a visual treat in an Arcadian landscape.

The Wilbraham family have lived at Rode Hall for generations.

Back in the 1860s, Sybella Wilbraham became chummy with a young illustrator called Walter Crane.

Walter Crane first visited Rode in September 1866.

Sybella Wilbraham was keen on China decorating before that date,

and she effectively started Walter Crane off with this teacup and saucer.

This is a Wedgwood Queen's Ware blank teacup that Crane took

and exquisitely decorated using his own colours.

The scene itself depicts figures in period costume, but each of these figures

are supposed to represent a member of the family.

In the foreground you can even spot this little woolly hound, which is the family's pet, called Cuba.

Next door to that is Crane's signature, his mark in the form of a crane with W underneath it.

Crane became a leading light in the Arts and Crafts movement.

In 1889, he created a set of seven vases for Moore & Co,

and this is the only complete set anywhere in the world.

Until recently, Sir Richard Baker Wilbraham only had six of them.

Where did the seventh one come from?

Fate, really.

I was reading a trade gazette one week and saw an advertisement put in

by a provincial auction house in Sussex, and one of the illustrations was of the seventh pot,

catalogued as Moore & Co, estimate £150.

Needless to say, the message got round that this was a sleeper, and the following day,

when the auction took place, there were six other telephone bidders,

and so I was in competition.

-But you did prevail, didn't you?

-It was obviously going to be worth a lot more to me

than it was to the other bidders,

and eventually I prevailed, and delighted that I was able to complete

the only complete set that there is of these vases that Walter Crane designed for Moore & Company.

So would it be impolite, Sir Richard, if I were to ask you

how much you had to pay for the last pot?

I think the hammer price was £7,600.

I think it has been published.

Well done. What a thrill for a collector to get all seven together here at Rode,

which was clearly such a special place for Walter Crane.

Thank you very much for sharing that with us.

Cor, what a lovely story.

But will there be a happy ending for our teams over at the auction?

Before we hear from auctioneer James Lewis,

let's find out what David Barby did with his leftover lolly.

Girls, you spent £218. That's £82 of leftover lolly for David. What did you blow it on, Dave?

Well, a nice little casket.

-It's beautiful.

-It is beautiful.

This upper section here in high relief has been carved out

of the actual solid panel top, and it's been stained,

and then the most intriguing thing -

all these little circles here, all hand done, overlapping. What do you think?

Beautiful. Where does it come from?

It's referred to as oceanic.

In other words, we're looking at Fiji or maybe New Zealand Maori.

It's well travelled, then?

Well, it's come here!

How much did you pay for it, dare I ask?

-£50.

-£50! Wow.

Do you think that's cheap or expensive, Jules?

I do collect boxes, but I don't think I'd pay £50 for it.

What would you pay for it, Jules?

-25, maybe.

-You think it through, you girls. You don't have to decide now.

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

So, James, pretty little box.

Where do you think that comes from?

Do you think it might be Scandinavian? Norwegian?

Yeah.

-Does it smell Norwegian? What's a Norwegian smell like?

-Smell.

-Ah, yeah.

-Fusty, musty.

Old socks.

-But Fijian, definitely not?

-No.

What sort of amount of money, do you think?

-£15 or £25, something like that?

-Oh, lordy. £50.

Barby's obviously got over-excited.

-Now, the Reds. The first item is this autograph album.

-Yeah.

Does this light your boat?

I think it's a really interesting historical document.

It's got all these funny signatures cut out of letters and other documents.

It's a strange sort of assortment.

It's going to be £30 to £50.

Oh, dear. £150, they paid.

-I think that is far, far, far too much money.

-There were three fars in there.

Far, far too much.

What do you think about the Ironstone plate?

Yeah, I think it's OK.

It's got that Japanese influence. That aesthetic influence.

But it's one of those things that almost has a set value.

I think it's worth £20 to £30.

Well, they paid £30, in fairness.

Yeah, it's got a chance.

Good. Their last item is the bottle stopper.

It's stylish, it's useful. It's the sort of thing that private buyers might go for.

-I would say 20 to 30 again.

-£38 paid.

-A bit much.

-So on three occasions I presented you with an object. On each occasion you've slightly winced.

-Sorry.

Anyway, that's it for the Reds.

Now for Ben and Joanna. Their first item is this little pendant.

It's sweet, isn't it?

Gold prices are at an all-time high.

So I think it's got everything going for it. £50 to £70.

-OK, £55 paid.

-Good chance.

-Next is the Denby vase.

-Yeah.

Nobody knows more about Denby than you, James. Tell us about it.

It's not a great early piece.

This is way post-war. This is 1960s.

It's known as Flamstead pattern.

-Put £15 to £20 on it. It just depends what they paid.

-£19.

-Oh, that's fine.

-Excellent.

The last item is the Dalton flambe vase. Which looks '20s. What is it, actually?

It's a very modern 2001 limited-edition reproduction.

There is a great collector's market for these.

But nothing like there is for the originals.

No, quite. What do you think it might bring, James?

-£30 to £50. Something like that.

-Is that all?

Because they got excited. £100, they paid for that.

I might be missing something.

They're going to need their bonus buy.

Let's go and have a look at it.

So, Ben and Joanna. You spent £174.

You gave Nicholas £126 of leftover lolly. What did he spend it on?

-Now, I've bought a true 20th century design icon.

-Oh, wow.

This is by the great Danish designer Georg Jensen.

Solid silver gentlemen's tie clip.

I think it's a fantastic little lot.

What do you think?

-I really like it, actually.

-I like it as well.

Jensen's got a great name.

-How much did you pay for it?

-The big question.

What do you think it's worth?

I'd certainly pay £50 for that.

I bought it for £40.

Got to be in the mark, then, hasn't it?

I would be surprised if it doesn't push on to £70, £80 even.

And what's the date on the hallmark?

It'll be mid-20th century, '60s, '70s.

Right, OK.

And the Viking longboat, is that something that's quite popular in terms of Georg Jensen?

It's just a nice design feature

from a fantastic designer.

It'll appeal to chaps at the sale.

-I think that's very good.

-Yeah.

Well done, Nick.

Your team seems to be extremely happy, which is lovely.

For the viewers at home, let's find out right now what the auctioneer thinks about it.

There we go, James. Ideal for your tie.

A lovely, stylish lot, isn't it?

Nicely marked and it's got everything going for it.

-Tie clips are not so popular as brooches and bracelets, but it's a good thing.

-Good.

-Great lot, like it. £30 to £50.

-Very good. £40 paid.

-That's fine, isn't it?

-He should be all right with that.

We're standing by for the auction. Are you in good voice?

-I am.

-Great.

5. 38 and 40. 45.

45, 48. 48 and 50.

How are you feeling, you two dolls?

A bit nervous.

Now, do you feel like this when you walk into a museum? No.

-Not at all.

-You only have to look at stuff then.

Not sell it!

Remember, all that stuff in the museum came from somewhere.

-They came from auction, just like this.

-Probably.

-Are you excited about this, Jules?

-I can't wait to see what happens.

I think it might be a bloodbath.

Here we are, 892. This is the collection of autographs.

It's an interesting album.

It has been viewed in the collectors and autographs auction that we had last week.

I've got one bid below estimate and two bids higher.

£50 starts it. At £55 now.

£55, do I see? At 50.

£50 and 52.

55, 58. At 55, 58 anywhere?

-That's it at 55. Sorry, David.

-£55.

£55.

That is a loss of £95, I'm afraid.

£95 is quite a dark hole, actually.

-It's a big hole!

-Let's pull ourselves out of it with the Mason's plate.

The Mason's Patent Ironstone plate.

£20 is bid. At £22 now? At £22, do I see?

22, 25, 28 and 32.

£30. A good looking plate at £30, 32, now.

At £30. It's with me at 30.

£30, wiped its face. No profit, no loss.

-No pain, no shame.

-That's right.

-They're not going to let us buy any objects for museums now.

-Ever.

The bottle stopper, all right?

Art Nouveau bottle stopper, 894.

In the manner of WMF.

I can start the bidding at £22.

24 do I see? 24, 26, 28 and 30. 2?

£30 against you. £30, 32 now.

At £32. 34 do I see? 34.

Any interest? Any advance at 32?

-And selling.

-£32 is minus £6.

Which, overall, takes your minus total to 101.

-101.

-That's quite a good number.

101 is, isn't it?

It's quite a creepy number.

Yin and yang, 101.

What are we going to do about the casket?

The box? What do you reckon?

In for a penny, in for a pound.

We did say to the Blues that the winner would be the person with the biggest loss.

-We're going to go for it.

-Is that your deal with the Blues?

-You did get chummy with them, didn't you?

-We did.

What's your scheme, girls? You going to go with it?

I think we should. Just go for broke.

-Going with the bonus buy, here it comes.

-This is the little rectangular carved box.

Possibly Norwegian.

Where shall we start that? £30 for it? 30.

£30. 20, then?

Who wants it? 20. £20.

15, then?

15 bid. 18 now.

£15, is that it?

At 15, 18 anywhere?

At £15, 18 do I see? 18, 20.

20 bid. 22.

-Creeping up.

-At £20.

-But not enough.

-£20 is minus 30.

-Which, overall, makes it 131.

-That's not a bad number, either.

Less than we thought.

Now, listen, don't be in despair.

Because minus 131 could be a winning score today.

I don't think so, somehow!

It could be. Mum's the word, all right?

Go out looking very bubbly.

-Oh, yes.

-Don't we always?

They're a great team. Well done, girls.

Mum's the word. Thank you, David.

Ben and Joanna, do you know how the Reds got on?

We don't want you to, either. First up is the pendant. Here it comes.

The Art Nouveau nine-carat rose gold pendant,

set with the peridots.

I've got three bids on it.

I can start it £55 now.

At £55 do I see? At £55. 60.

Against you at 65 now.

£60. 65 do I see?

-In profit!

-At 60.

All sure at £60?

£5 profit.

Very good, Nick. Very nice start.

915 is the Denby Flamstead vase, showing to the left.

Where should we start it? £20 for the Denby? 20.

£20. 15, then?

15 bid, 15 and 18 do I see?

At £15, 18 now. At £15. 18, is it?

18 with me. 18 and 20.

18 I have and 20 now.

20, is it? At £18. 20 do I see?

£18. That is minus £1.

-Blood from a stone!

-I know, this is the place for it, too.

Overall, you're plus four.

-Don't despair.

-This is the Royal Doulton flambe vase.

It's got its certificate as well.

£30 is with me, start it at 30.

And 5, sir. 35, 45.

55. 65.

75. 85.

95. 95. 98, I'm sorry to do it to you.

£100 takes it. At £100 in the room.

-Yes!

-110 do I see?

At £100, £110? 105, do I see?

With you at 100. All done at £100?

All sure?

Ye of little faith.

-£100. Wiped its face.

-I apologise.

We're all speechless, aren't we?

-I'm gobsmacked.

-Marvellous.

Nothing to apologise about, this is brilliant.

-I was being so rude about that.

-We're apologising to Nick.

We knew it was going to do all right, didn't we?

Anyway. You are, overall, plus four.

So you have £4 profit after that.

Which is a bit of a worry, isn't it?

Are you going to park the £4 in your back pocket and just call it quits?

No, we've got to go with our expert now.

No pressure on there, then!

Lot number 920. The Georg Jensen gentleman's tie clip.

And £30 is bid. £32 do I see?

A bit of Jensen silver. £30, 32.

32, 35. 38.

38, anywhere? At 35.

At 35. All done at 35? 38.

£40. 42.

42, now. £40 with me and 2.

One more, go on. No?

No. At £40, it's with me. At 40. Any advance at £40?

It's wiped its face.

-No profit.

-Sorry, guys.

It doesn't matter, it's no loss.

That means overall you are plus £4.

Just ridiculous.

But a profit is a profit and it could be a winning score.

-So don't say a word to the Reds.

-Absolutely not.

-Not a word.

I detect considerable rivalry between these teams.

-I don't think you've been chatting, have you?

-No.

Therefore, you have no idea of the poles that separate you.

I have to reveal that the Reds are running up by a long chalk today.

Minus 131.

It started out so optimistically.

Maybe too optimistically!

It went completely down the plughole.

-It really did.

-Have you had a nice time?

It was wonderful. Thank you.

-Well, I hope you stick to the museum services.

-Yes.

But the victors, who are actually going to take home some money...

Not much money - £4.

Four very well hard-earned pounds, I have to say.

You made a £5 profit on one piece, then you didn't lose a lot after that. That was the clever part.

-I hope you had a nice time.

-It was great fun.

Congratulations to be the winners, taking home the cash.

-We've had a grand day. Join us soon for some more bargain hunting, yes?

-Yes!

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