Norfolk 21 Bargain Hunt

The Norfolk antiques fair. Two eager teams!

What are we missing?

Oh, yes! Expertise! Then...

THEY ALL SHOUT Let's go bargain hunting!

This is a game of two halves.

Buy three items here...

and make profits here. Easy!

Hah! Today we're kicking off in sunny Norfolk...

Rainy Norfolk. Sunny Norfolk!

Rainy Norfolk. Oh, Lord...

But even the weather won't stop these wives from taking the lead.

-Meet Jean.

-Can we have it?

She'll stop at nothing to get a bargain.

-£90.

-I'll give you a kiss for that.

Give him two kisses and make it 80.

-Would you like three?

-No!

Naughty! And introducing Becks.

-Yeah. I'm good with that. Are you?

-Yeah.

Or do you want to think for another eight minutes, keep looking?

IN AMERICAN ACCENT That would be no!

And, gee, she means no!

And here they are - happy, smiling, married faces,

which is great. Now, Rebecca, tell me about yourselves.

Tim and I have been married 28 years, and we have four children

between the ages of 11 and 21.

And you're living here, which is lovely.

We are. We are missionaries,

and we work with the US military.

Now, um, you're keen on shabby chic.

Is this something you've fallen in love with while you've been here?

Yes, it is. I really was not that familiar with it,

and then we moved here and I saw more of it at antique fairs and shows,

and I just think it looks very country, and I like that whole look.

-I think it's very pretty.

-Good.

So, Timbo - great name, I have to say.

-Yeah!

-What did you do before you became a missionary?

I was a designer and builder, so I built houses.

I loved it. I loved the design process.

So, what are your tactics going to be today?

Well, I come from the States. The exciting thing here is,

things are actually really old. We don't want to take any huge chances,

-but buy well, buy good quality.

-Will you take your expert's advice?

-Yes, absolutely.

-THEY LAUGH

That could be your first mistake!

No, only joking. Anyway, very, very good luck. Lovely.

Now, guys, you're not scared by this international presence, are you?

-No, no.

-Because you're not from round these parts, are you?

-No.

-Where do you come from, darling?

-Well, I come from Essex.

-Lovely.

Essex girl.

You've been together, you two, for 50 years, yes?

-51 years.

-51 years.

When you first met, was it kind of "caramba"?

-No.

-No.

-Couldn't stand the sight of him.

-Couldn't you?

-No. No, um, he was an apprentice,

and I worked in the medical block.

So all the apprentices had to come in and be weighed,

because it was a lead firm, and blood-tested and everything.

And he used to pester the life out of me!

-Did he?

-I couldn't stand him!

Was it to do with your nurse's uniform, do you suppose?

I don't know. He said it was my teeth!

THEY LAUGH

-It was...

-THEY LAUGH

-It was your teeth?

-Yeah. Yeah.

-Right!

-They were all there then.

Anyway, let's not dwell on teeth. It's not my best subject,

personally. Now, Cliff,

I'm told that you're usually to be found at the bottom of a garden.

Yes, yes. Since, um... Well, before I retired, actually -

been an engineer for years -

I carried on making models of various types,

and I've made a series of small model houses,

one for each daughter,

and seven for the grandchildren.

Real scale models, 12-scale and 24-scale.

So, proper jobs, then.

-Oh, yes. Take some time to make.

-Yeah.

-Well, it's kept you out of mischief.

-Yes, yes, yes, yes.

And kept me quietly away.

-Yes. From her indoors.

-From teeth. From teeth!

-From teeth!

-THEY LAUGH

-Not fair, is it?

-No, it's definitely not fair!

I think you're going to have a very jolly time today.

We certainly are, yes.

We all are. I'm rather looking forward to this.

Now, here we go, chaps.

Here's your 300 smackeroos. There you go.

£300 - several hundred dollars. You know the rules.

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

I can't wait to get my teeth into this lot.

So, who did we "chewse" as experts?

Paul Laidlaw, the Scot, on hand for Team US,

and Sussex boy Jonathan Pratt for Team Essex.

Norfolk awaits!

How very international!

-Right, then. We're off, yeah?

-Yeah.

-Sounds good!

'Right! Down to business.'

-Not there.

-Not there?

-No teddy bears.

-'Ooh, 'ello!'

-A cute little footstool.

-No.

-That's quite... How much is that?

-It's 25.

-25?

-See, that -

-That's right, for 25.

-It's a little footstool.

It needs re-upholstering, but the legs are all right.

-The legs are good, though.

-Victorian frame.

-Yeah, it is, innit?

-That would be quite good for £20.

No woodworm in it, is there?

-No.

-Well, I had to check.

-Of course. Have a look.

-No, there isn't, is there?

If you could get that for £20, that would be a good buy.

-If I wink at you, would you...

-I suppose I could -

-Where is she?

Wherever she's run off to... Hey! 20?

-It's all right.

-20. OK.

-You happy, I'm happy, anyway.

-20. You got a good deal.

Oh, good girl! There we are! That was good bargaining, wasn't it?

-Shall we have it?

-I think it's a good buy for £20.

-We'll have that, then.

-OK. Thank you!

'Ooh! You big spender, Jean! £20, and they're off!'

-Right.

-Let's get out of the rain.

-Let's get out of this rain!

A touch of Arts and Crafts.

-Pewter...

-What is this? Is that enamel?

High-fired glass enamel. Silvered face, silvered bezel.

-Liberty Tudric ware.

-Is that good or bad?

It's very good.

-I bet you it doesn't run. It's £95.

-SHE GASPS

-Believe me, the market's all about brand.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-Brand sells.

Well, I'm surprised. It's running. Let me tell you about the faults.

The good news is, it's got the right name.

Britannia metal, glass cabochon, very nice.

And it runs. But...kink here,

and severe oxidation and wear to the face,

and I don't know to what extent that can be improved.

And yet I'm still holding it, still talking to you about it,

because of the name, and how pretty damn sexy I think that wee clock is!

Does it do anything for you? Ignore the condition.

-I like the look of it.

-I do, too.

-You picked it up.

-I do. I like it.

-Got the eye!

-But...

-It's a lot of money.

Er, I think it might be worth 80 to 120 quid

if people are forgiving of that wee fault.

'Come on, guys! Get bargaining!'

I'm bigging it up to these guys,

but I'm kicking the hell out of the price tag. Can you help me?

-95...

-A big... A big ask.

60.

-What do you think, Tim?

-I'm not sure about the money.

-It's a brand name I know.

-That's what we're saying.

It couldn't be 50?

-At 50, I think -

-55, so it gives me a fiver.

You've heard how I'm feeling about it.

-Yeah.

-I've got this massive plus -

brand and look. But you don't know to what extent

people are going to go, "Wonderful! What a shame," and keep moving.

I'm worried it's going to be 30, and that's what we'll end up with -

a £25 loss. But that's probably more than fair.

-If it was 50, would you buy it?

-Yeah, I think so, at 50.

-I would feel better.

-Can we be really...

Go on, then. I just won't eat for a week.

THEY LAUGH Come to my house.

-I'll cook for you.

-Send you a food parcel.

'But have they cooked up a bargain, or is it a dog's dinner?

'Have they clocked a recipe for success...

'OK. I'll stop. Sorry.'

That was ten minutes or so, and I think you've banked a little...

-That's got to be good for morale.

-Yeah. I'm excited!

It's a shame about the rain, though. Is inside looking good now?

Yes, it is.

'So, with spirits undampened, rain halts outside play.'

That's what we need to go outside in.

Get some wipers!

Look, Jean. Look. 1959 - that's the year we got married.

-That's the year we got married, so it's 51 years old.

-Yeah!

Crikey.

What's drawn my eye is the little box with silver inlay.

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

-It's pretty.

-A snuffbox.

It's a snuffbox! Oh, that's quite nice.

-It's rather cute, actually.

-That is rather nice, isn't it?

Tortoiseshell and silver-inlaid snuffbox,

circa 1800. They're asking 190 for it.

Hmm!

-Look at that!

-That's lovely, isn't it?

-That's fantastic, that is.

-Gold-mounted hinge.

-Yes.

Or it could be silver gilt, possibly,

but the wear suggests it's not,

and the little tablet in the top there, which is rather cute.

Would you do anything on that at all?

-170 is the best.

-170.

Tortoiseshell is like hair. It can dry out and get brittle.

-It can crack, it can fade.

-Yeah. Years, innit?

The thing that makes me worry now is that it's dried out, basically.

Oh, that's a shame, innit?

As... As there's some markings on here,

and obviously it needs some type of work doing on it,

will you ask your friend if he will accept 150 for it?

Because it requires some work to do around that edge.

-That's my only concern with it.

-Otherwise, it's quite -

-I'll have to make a phone call.

-And then we could come back.

-OK, I'll make a phone call.

-Thank you very much. Lovely.

Thank you very much indeed. Thank you.

'So, one snuffbox on hold.'

We need to find our second item. I'm getting stressed.

'Hey! Chill, man!'

Those are pretty. What is that on the bottom?

-That's a pontil. These are hand-worked.

-Hmm!

-Um, I love these.

-OK. So...

I absolutely love this. That is a little percussion, a bruise.

That's not killing it for me. A star-crack...

-It's not a chip.

-A chip.

It's just a percussive little shatter.

-Right.

-But it's skin-deep. That...

-If we got it for £20, would that be -

-I am loving these.

That's cased glass. You've got layers of glass here.

You've got, er, blue opaline,

and then you've got this fabulous chevron design here.

The form's nice. It's pretty. Some people would call it twee.

These flanking your clock...

-Oh, come on! Yeah?

-We're a bit twee anyway, aren't we?

-THEY LAUGH

-That's OK.

-What are you thinking of those?

-There's a bit of marking there.

-Yeah.

-Is that anything -

-That is...

Er, is it kiln dust, or is it just stour?

You see, if it's in the manufacture, who cares?

-I think that's -

-If it's in the manufacture,

does that lend some authenticity to it?

Yeah, absolutely. These... I mean, the work that went into that!

-I mean, fabulous stuff. No money.

-And because there's a pair -

Glass is good value at the moment. It's incredible value.

-Try for 20?

-Do you want to go for it?

Hello? Hi!

-OK. We'd like to talk.

-PAUL LAUGHS

You got the pair of them, and that one with the bruise...

-Uh-huh?

-What could you do for price?

So, what have I got on those, actually?

I've got 35.

Um, I'd like to take 30, but if 28 helps you,

then, I could do that.

-We'd like to pay 20.

-Oh, my word!

Um...

I don't think I can go to that. I think...

Probably... Oh, gosh.

-I think 25 is going to be the best.

-What do you think?

-25 for both of them.

-Doing it for me!

THEY LAUGH It was his find, you know.

-I like those.

-Yes, I like them. They're a gorgeous colour, as well.

I think you've got to forgive them the bruise.

You've got to hope the audience does if they go to auction, but -

Now, that's scary to say at this minute!

-THEY LAUGH

-Can we be decisive?

Are we going to buy here? The lady's given you -

-OK.

-You think 25's fine?

-Yeah.

-OK. We'll do it. It's good.

-Thank you very much.

'Item two. Ahhh!

'Now, relax. Really pretty.'

That's a shame.

Not worth the money.

-You could look like Tim Wonnacott.

-TIM LAUGHS

'Takes more than a hat, Jonathan. What do you think of him, Jean?'

-He's worse than a woman...

-At what?

Getting all her bits and pieces, shopping.

'Yeah. You tell him, girl!'

-We've nearly bought two objects!

-I know, I know,

-but you're always looking!

-Oh, come on.

-Stop moaning. Let's get a move on.

-No, I'm not moaning!

'Not much, you're not. Right!

'The results are in. Drum roll, please!'

-OK.

-DRUM-ROLL SOUND EFFECT

-Ah, she says yes!

-She said yes.

OK, cool. Should've asked for more, shouldn't we?

-'Some people are never happy.'

-No, that's good.

Shall we have it?

Yes. I think it's a good thing. I like it.

-I like it, cos it's very dainty.

-That's right.

-You could use it for anything.

-OK. Thank you.

It's a deal.

It's a deal!

'OK, two items each, and 15 minutes to go.

'Ah, and the sun's come out!

-'Time for a confession, methinks.'

-I didn't think about it till now,

how much I'm attracted to some of this junky stuff.

'Yeah, we've noticed!'

We could go to the "everything £5" table.

-What are we at?

-Ten minutes.

Ten minutes?

OK. We're going to have to make a decision here pretty quick.

-I know.

-Something will jump out at us.

It's going to have to.

Oh, quick, quick, quick, quick, quick!

I know! I'm getting stressed!

Ten minutes! Ten minutes!

Don't be chary.

'All you have to do is to find something.

'Anything! Hello!'

Fantastic little rocking chair. Is it expensive?

It's come down to this price. It was 150.

But he'd have to come down a lot more on that before I'd buy it.

Um, so, period, mid-19th century. It's an early Victorian thing,

1850, 1860.

Um...

I mean, the pattern is lovely, and this turning...

It's a country piece. There's a naivete about it,

and it's bold here. Lovely wear there.

Er...

Rush seat's OK.

I mean, it's straight.

I mean, it is what it is.

Um, and if it's a country salesroom...

That could be cute, yeah.

You'd need to be really brutal on that price.

It is what it is, but, now...

-Give me two minutes here.

-OK.

-Keep looking!

'See you, Paul.

'Hello, Sherlock!'

People like these. When people get to a certain age,

-they find reading a little harder.

-Yeah. I do.

And something like this is a good size, not a little one.

So, Birmingham, F... 1931.

The label says Sampson Mordan & Co. Good makers of small silver objects.

-It's a good, clean-looking thing.

-Could you reduce it slightly more?

-DEALER LAUGHS

-Slightly more?

-Slightly more.

-Just for us.

-Er, £90, then.

-£90.

-He's come down to £90.

-I'll give you a kiss for that.

-Give him two kisses and make it 80.

-Would you like three?

-No, no!

-THEY LAUGH

Is 90 reasonable?

90. 90, 90... That's a possible. Put that one there. That's a possible.

'Ah. How much is the chair, then, Paul?'

It's £50. You're not losing any money at £50.

If it's a country-type sale, it's worth £120,

but on any day of the week, it's worth 50 to 80.

-I'm good with that. Are you good with that?

-Yeah.

Or do you want to think for another eight minutes, keep looking?

THEY LAUGH That would be no!

-Right. We doing it?

-Yeah.

Thank you very much. You've a deal. Thank you.

Well, then! Five minutes?

-THEY LAUGH

-Blood pressure?

Yeah. Can I breathe now?

'Team USA is done and dusted!

-'Now it's close to the...'

-# Final countdown! #

'OK. I think they've got the message.'

That little teether there's got an owl on. Has it got any age?

-What, that one?

-Yes.

That is nice.

That is Birmingham, 1920.

-Oh, I like that! That is very nice.

-It's different.

You're looking at a gift. It's a christening gift,

but could be given at all times of the year.

He would've started off life with something in his eyes.

He probably would have had a bit of onyx or something in there.

-Probably.

-That can be 100, OK?

-That can be 90, maybe, then?

-Maybe, yes.

-Maybe 90.

-Oh, I'll give you three kisses.

-We'll have both of them.

Even four! I'm brushing my fingers through your hair!

Anything else in there?

Oh, hang on. What about this hair set? Has that got any age?

Er, it has, yeah, but the only problem is,

it hasn't got any maker's name or anything.

-Oh, what's that?

-I'm sorry. We've only got five minutes.

Come on. Make a decision.

You see, that's quite sweet, as well.

See, that's enamel on silver.

-Ooh!

-Very simply made.

The way it's attached to the back of that,

it's very, very straightforward. It's quite stylish. Er...

-Well, it's your decision.

-Is it my decision?

-This is boiling down to me now!

-I like all of them.

-No, no.

-OK, a quick summary.

-Slightly narrow market...

-Yeah.

-..but it is unusual.

At 140. You'll do it at...

-At 80.

-He'll do it at 80.

OK. Then you've got this Sampson Mordan magnifying glass, £90.

I really like that. And he's also got this silver teether,

which is £90. I also really like that.

I think my money, personally, is... The profit's in that one.

-Yeah. We'll...

-Probably I'd say that one.

-We'll go for that one.

-All right.

-And leave the gentleman enough money...

-Uh-huh?

-Perhaps come back for that one.

-Oh, yeah!

-Anyway, it's a deal. There we go.

-Lovely.

-Thank you very much indeed.

-Let's give him a kiss.

Thank you.

And, do you know what? We only have a minute to spare.

-I think we've done a good job.

-Do you?

-Give him a kiss.

-HE LAUGHS

-Thank you very much!

I'm never going to wash again.

Ooh!

'Finally the shopping and the kissing is over -

'I hope.'

'Rebecca led from the start,

'and spotted this clock by Liberty.

'£50 and a promise.'

Come to my house. I'll cook for you.

The work that went into that!

'And they got a pair for £25.'

'Finally Becks called time on the shop

'and went with the rocking chair for £50. Rock on!'

How much did you spend? Pretty miserable, wasn't it?

-No, I thought it was decent. 125.

-That's kind of average,

but £175 of leftover lolly, then. Have you got that, Timbo?

-I do.

-Great name.

Good. Lovely. There we go. 175 smackers.

Which is your favourite piece that you bought?

-The clock. It was very pretty.

-That's your fave?

And which piece is going to bring the biggest profit, Timbo?

-Probably the "vayses".

-You reckon?

-You have to say "vahses".

Vahses, vayses. Potaytoes, potahtoes.

-Anyway, there you go, Paulus.

-Thank you.

-175. A decent squidge for you, for a change.

-Yeah.

Seen anything that you might be going for?

-Something to tease us with?

-No, I've a blank canvas

to go at at the moment, Tim. But I'll find something.

A blank canvas! That could mean he's going to buy a painting.

You never really know, with Laidlaw. Have a great time,

and very good luck, Paul.

Now, why don't we check out what the Blue Team bought, eh?

'Jean got things going with a footstool for £20.'

That was good bargaining, wasn't it? Shall we have it?

'Then Cliff stepped forward.'

As... As there's some markings on here...

'And the snuffbox was theirs for £150.

'Jean went for a final smooch...'

I'll give him a kiss.

'..to get the magnifying glass for 90.'

I think you're a jammy lot. I really do.

Well, you've got to, haven't you, Tim?

You do, but I'm longing for somebody to go over the hour,

-then I can just cut you off, right?

-But we didn't.

-But you didn't!

-No.

-That's good.

-You're pleased with that, Cliff?

-Very pleased indeed.

-Lovely.

-And how do you rate your expert?

-Oh, hi, Jonathan.

-I think he's very good.

-Oh, you do?

-Yes.

-How much did you spend?

-240.

-£240? Is that right?

-No, you didn't. 260.

-He's a director. You never see them.

-Sorry!

OK. So there's £40 of leftover lolly.

-Ooh, Lord! Just like that!

-Just like that.

I thought I'd better give it to you in case he goes back and spends it.

Which is your favourite piece?

Ideally, the box.

Ideally, the box. And what's your favourite piece, Jean?

-I think I like the footstool.

-You like the footstool.

That's your favourite. Will that bring the biggest profit?

-I think it will.

-Do you? Do you agree?

I think that should get the most money, yes.

-Relative to the cost of it.

-Relative to the cost of it.

Yes, absolutely. Good. Now, here you go, JP.

-Here's your £40.

-That's a rather mean amount.

Not at all. It's a splendid total, is £260.

I'm so proud of you kids. You be careful with your £40, all right?

Very good luck, kids. Now we're heading off to central Wisbech.

"What goes on in central Wisbech?" I hear you shriek.

Well, we're about to find out. And it's lovely.

In 1777,

Jonathan Peckover established a small grocery business

here in Wisbech.

With the requirement to hang on to his customers' money

for safekeeping, before long, the young Quaker businessman

had set up the town's first official bank.

Jonathan Peckover needed an address befitting a successful banker,

and he thought this riverside mansion was just the ticket.

The bank operated its business

from a building adjacent to the house,

so Jonathan could kind of work from home.

Handy!

What a gorgeous house this would be to live in!

Slightly strange for a Quaker banking family to own,

because the principles of Quakerism embrace simplicity,

honesty, probity,

and a certain unostentatious way of living.

But then, of course, the Peckovers bought it. It was already built,

and all these interior mouldings

and the elaborate nature of the decoration were already here.

But what I like about this space

is the way the National Trust have got it furnished today,

because it looks exactly how an interior ought to look

in the 1770s -

not a lot of furniture, and what is here is symmetrically organised,

and, to my eye, looks just perfect.

Take this pair of satinwood demilune games tables.

They fit exactly where they ought to fit,

just underneath the dado rail,

and if you look at the oval patera at the top of each of the legs,

that looks just splendid

alongside the Hepplewhite sideboard,

which also has oval patera on the top of its legs.

In short, it's pretty near perfect.

The quality of this building is stupendous.

Just look at these sash windows!

Each of the glazing bars are made of solid mahogany.

Being a hardwood, they're less likely to rot,

and also they're a bit stronger,

which means that the glazing bars can be of smaller section,

and that means more glass and more light coming in.

But that didn't exactly suit the Peckovers,

because they'd got the customers going by these windows

on the ground floor, going to the bank,

and they didn't want to be overlooked.

So they had fitted, in mahogany,

these hinged screens.

Isn't that dinky? So you'd bring across the screens like that

during the banking hours, and then twiddle this knob on the top

and shut out the public altogether. Marvellous!

They're referred to as snob screens,

because I think, with the customers outside not being able to look in,

they would regard the banker's family inside

as being snobs, and therefore called them snob screens.

The big question today is, of course,

are our teams going to get a look-in over at the auction,

and any profits?

Well, we're at Abbots saleroom in Campsea Ashe in rural Suffolk,

with our auctioneer, Geoffrey Barford.

-Good morning, Geoffrey.

-Good morning!

-Nice to be here.

Now, our first item for Tim and Rebecca

-is the little Liberty timepiece.

-Yes, indeed.

-How do you rate that, Geoffrey?

-Well, the style is good -

-condition awful, quite frankly.

-Right.

So, all this discoloration on these enamel bits is not good news?

-Very, very dull, isn't it?

-But it has got the magic name.

It has. We have had numerous telephone requests for condition.

-So, how have you estimated it? What's your estimate?

-40 to 60.

-£40 to £60.

-And they paid £50.

-Yeah.

So, we'll stand by for that, then.

Next are these rather nice pale blue, silky Victorian glass vases.

-Do you like those?

-Yes. Sort of satin glass,

-a bit fussy with the frilled rim...

-Yes.

Probably 20 to 40, somewhere in that region. Got a chance, I think.

OK, fine. So some hope there. We've got two hopefuls.

And what about the, er, the old rocker?

Yeah. Nice little cottage piece. We're in a rural location.

I see it being, hopefully, sort of £40 to £60,

-somewhere in that region.

-OK, great! £50 paid.

So, they haven't overpaid, on the face of it, at all.

I don't think so, no. No.

So for a change they might not need their bonus buy,

but let's go and have a look at it anyway.

Now, Tim and Becks, you've spent £125.

You gave the boy £175. What did he spend it on?

Behold!

SHE GASPS Oh! It's beautiful!

That's an excellent reaction. Tell your friends!

-I like it a lot!

-We know what it is, don't we?

-It's an inkstand.

-Yeah.

And a very smart one, at that.

Silver plated, but it bears a good name,

and you know my opinion about brands in this field,

as all others. WMF,

one of THE names in late 19th, early 20th century.

Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik!

-A good name.

-Could you say that again?

Been practising for it,

and I think it's a really smart piece.

-How much was it?

-It was all of £50.

-Wow!

-50.

-OK. What do you think at auction?

Well, it's worth 50 to 80 in its sleep, in my opinion.

-We trust your opinion.

-THEY LAUGH

We value your opinion!

So you're seeing a pretty swift £20 to £30 out of it.

Yeah. I hope so, yeah.

It seems to me that Laidlaw,

with his usual eloquent and rather smooth side,

-has found you something rather special here.

-Yeah, I like it!

-Good! I like it!

-You did well.

-We all like it!

-THEY LAUGH

For the viewers at home, let's find out if the auctioneer likes it.

How about that for an inkwell? It's pretty good, isn't it?

-Very stylish, isn't it?

-Yeah.

Plated, WMF?

Well, let's just give it a bit of a bird's-eye.

-Oh, yeah. There's -

-The mark there.

-There's the little triangular mark.

-Missing its little inkpots,

but that's not a huge problem. I've put it in at £60 to £80.

-Have you?

-I'm confident it will on that.

Well, that would be great, if they decide to go with it.

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

Their first item is the little footstool.

Yeah. Little Victorian walnut footstool.

Needlepoint top.

-Little bit worn, battered...

-But incredibly cheap.

They only paid £20 for it. What do you think about that?

I think that's a reasonable buy. I've put it in at 30 to 50,

-so hopefully there's a profit there.

-Yeah? Good. Good.

Next is the little tortoiseshell snuffbox.

How do you rate that?

Very nice, silver inlaid. Bit of gold as well.

Um, the only problem with it is this mark round the outside,

this blooming, which I think is going to detract.

If the rest of it was the same condition as the top,

I think we'd be on a winner, sort of 200 to 300.

Yes. A shame, really. So, what's your estimate in that condition?

Right. I've put it in at 80 to 120.

Ooh, dear! £150, Jonathan's paid on that.

-Right.

-And the last item is the little table magnifying glass.

Yeah. Sampson & Mordan, well known maker.

Nice little item. I've put that in at 60 to 80.

-60 to 80? £90 paid.

-Right.

So the big problem, if they've got a problem at all,

-is going to be that snuffbox.

-Yes, I think so. Yeah.

In which case they'll need their bonus buy,

so let's go and have a look at it.

Now, Jean and Cliff, your leftover lolly totalled £40.

You entrusted it to JP. What did you invest in, Jonathan?

-Ooh!

-That's lovely!

I like that.

It's an embossed-silver thermometer frame, OK,

made circa 1900 in London. That's what the hallmark says, anyway.

I thought it was quite funny,

because it makes a good photograph frame for a very skinny person.

But nonetheless, this frame itself is in nice condition...

Oh, it's lovely!

It's got a little strut on the back for standing up.

It wouldn't take much to finish it back off again.

Having given me the budget of £40,

and not being the biggest of hagglers,

I spent the princely sum of £40.

-Ooh, you've done well.

-You blew the lot.

I blew the lot.

I think there's, you know... There's £10 profit in it.

-It's better than nothing, innit?

-I'd be surprised to see a loss.

I think that's nice. I think you done very well.

-It's unusual, anyway.

-It had a thermometer in it.

That got bust. Somebody threw it away.

They're using it for another purpose,

and the dealer's done well to put an appealing child within it.

He saw me coming. "There he is. He's a man who's got children."

Well, let's face it, he didn't have much, did he?

I don't know! £40 is quite a lot for Jonathan.

-Is it?

-Long as he makes a profit on it...

-And he's just out of shorts himself, as you can see.

-He's my toy boy.

Oh, is he? That's enough of that, Jean, thank you very much.

For the viewers at home, let's find out

what the auctioneer thinks about JP's little frame.

There. That's a rather fancy little fellow.

Nice little late-Victorian silver thermometer frame.

-But he looks sweet, doesn't he, that little fellow?

-Indeed.

So we've got another use for what would have been a broken object,

so that's fair enough. And it sits up nicely on its...

I quite like these things with a strut on the back.

-Strut, yeah.

-Strut holds it and presents it perfectly.

-Put a picture of one of your nippers in there, look jolly nice.

-Yeah.

Good. And what do you think it's worth?

-Um, I've put it in at 50 to 60.

-Jonathan Pratt paid £40.

It's his bonus buy. Will you be taking our sale?

-Yes, indeed.

-Ah, brilliant. We're in safe hands. Thank you.

70 standing, 80 seated,

90,

100 seated, 110,

120, 130,

140. Are we all done, then, at 140? And I sell...

-So, how you feeling, guys?

-Nervous.

Are you?

I mean, what is going to happen? We've got snow out there,

we've got reduced crowds... This is all pretty tense, isn't it?

-Yeah. I want to buy my clock.

-You want to buy your clock?

-Anyway, here it comes.

-Lot number 50, then,

is this little handsome Liberty's pewter clock.

I open the bidding at £40, with me. At 40. And two.

45.

45. There's a commission bid at 45. 50's in the room.

50 in the room. At 50, I'm bid. In the room at 50.

60. Brand-new bidder. 70.

-80. 90.

-SHE GASPS

-Hey!

-Get in!

-110.

-I'm excited!

On the right-hand side now at 110. 120's on the phone.

-On the phone.

-Get in!

-On the telephone at 120.

Are we all done, then, at 120 for the clock?

Hammer's on it, then. Make no mistake. At 120...

£120. That's pretty cool, isn't it? And you were worried?

£120. You just made £70 profit.

Now, look out. Here come the glass vases.

This is looking good.

Several bids on the book. I open the bidding at £30.

-Hey!

-At £30 with me.

-Good job, Paul!

-Thanks for bidding, sir. 35.

40. It's with me at 40.

Commission bid is with me at 40. You're out in the room now. 40.

With me at 40 for the pretty vases, then.

Sounds cheap to me. At 40 only...

I love it, don't you? £40. That is plus £15.

Well done, Paul, for spotting that.

-Now, this rocking armchair.

-This was our last-minute buy.

-Is it going to rock on?

-Early Victorian elm rocking chair,

with the rush seat. How do you see that one, then? Put me in at £50.

30 to start, then, surely, for the rocking chair.

Will anyone start me 20? Come along, do. 20 I'm bid.

20 I'm bid. At 20. 25 with the lady. At 25.

Lady's bid now at 25.

30's in the middle. 35.

At 35. 40's on the left here.

40's in the doorway. At 40. Still a cheap lot at £40 only.

In the doorway, then, at 40. Are we all done at £40?

Oh, bad luck. That is minus ten. You are still plus £75.

That is a number, that is!

Our American cousins! Oh, yes. Plus £75.

What are you going to do about the inkstand?

-£50 at risk with this.

-We're up 75!

-Yeah. We'll go for it.

-You going to go for it?

-You sure about this?

-Are we... Are we sure?

Are you sure about this? We're doing the bonus buy, and here it comes.

WMF Art Deco inkstand. There you are. How do you see that one, then?

Put me in at £100 to start. 100.

Well, 50 to go, then, surely.

30, and up we go. 30 I'm bid.

At £30, I'm bid on the right-hand side. 30.

At 30. 40.

At 40. 40 at the back now. 40. 50.

At 50. At 50.

You're out at the back. Still a cheap lot at £50.

-Hey!

-On my right-hand side at 50.

Are we all done, then? £50 only for the handsome inkstand.

-At 50, and selling away.

-£50. It wiped its face.

Well, there we go. No shame in that.

But nevertheless, plus £75. That is an absolute wizard.

Now, look, you have to do us a favour.

Don't say a word to the Blues, and all will be revealed in a moment.

-OK.

-OK? Well done. Congratulations!

Now, Jean and Cliff, you nervous at all?

-No!

-Not really, no.

You're pretty bullish about most stuff, aren't you?

Any particular piece you think will do really well?

Well, I think the stool might gain us a bit.

You reckon? Well, it's the first item up, and here it comes.

Lot 71 is that nice little Victorian footstool.

How do you see that one? Put me in at £30.

30 for the footstool. Well, 20 to start, then.

It's all in. Nice little footstool. 20 to start.

20 I'm bid. At £20. Do I see two anywhere?

At £20 only for the footstool. At 20.

At £20. It's on the main bid at 20.

Are we all done, then, at 20? Selling away, then, at £20...

£20. Wiped its face. No profit, no loss.

-No shame, no gain.

-Oh, what an anticlimax!

-Never mind.

-Here comes the tortoiseshell box.

Rather handsome George III tortoiseshell,

gold-mounted and silver-inlaid snuffbox.

I have two identical bids on the book.

I open the bidding at £86.

Oh! Come on, then. Come on!

88. 90.

Two. I'm off the book and in the room at £92.

At £92. 95.

98.

100. And five.

-Still a cheap lot for 105.

-Keep going!

Right in the middle of the room at 105.

-Keep going!

-Are we all done at 105?

Hammer's on it. 105, and I sell at 105...

Oh, dear. Minus £45. That's a bit of a torpedo, that, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Now the magnifying glass.

By Sampson Mordan & Co, Birmingham, 1930,

well known makers of pretty little objects.

How do you see that one, then? Put me in at 60.

Or 30, and up we go. Come along, do. 30. Five.

40. Five. 50. 60.

70. 70. It's right in the middle at 70. Any other bids?

-Come on!

-Right in the middle at £70. Are we all done at 70,

for the magnifying glass? Hammer's on it, then, at 70...

Oh, blast it. Minus £20 on that.

You are, overall, minus £65. That's really tough.

What are you going to do about the thermometer?

-Oh, we'll go with it.

-You're going to go with that?

-Yeah.

Because that last piece of silver did really well, didn't it?

-Let's go with it.

-Well, we might just as well, mightn't we?

-Thank you.

-OK. We're going to go with it.

We're going with the thermometer frame, and here it comes.

Pretty little late-Victorian silver- mounted easel thermometer frame,

which easily converts into a photograph frame.

-I feel the temperature rising.

-How do you see that lot, then?

-Put me in at 50.

-Yeah, go on, then.

-30 to start, then.

-30, surely, for the little frame.

-Oh, come on, come on!

30. 40, front row.

At 40 in the front row. 50. I've got two places.

-You want to bid? 60 in the doorway.

-Oh, 60!

Five if you like, sir. At 60 in the doorway, then.

-Come on!

-Are we all done at 60?

-Well done, Jon.

Are we all done, then? 60 and I sell.

-Well done, Jonathan. Plus 20.

-Well done!

Thank you. Redeemed myself slightly there.

Minus £45 overall, but don't say a word to the Reds.

-No, no, no.

-We'll have a catch-up in just a minute.

Well, it's been a day of swings and roundabouts, hasn't it?

-Have you lot been chatting?

-No!

No chatting, so you have no idea of the incredible poles apart

that our two teams are today.

And I have to reveal that, at the bottom end of the pole,

just happen to be the Blues.

Ohhhhh!

"Ohhhhh", they say.

I mean, it says minus, minus, minus here.

All those minuses add up to minus 45,

and I'm afraid that is the bottom of our league table today.

-But we've had a great time, haven't we?

-Yes.

-Fantastic.

You've been great. Cliff, thank you for giving us your pearls of wisdom

and overall humour. It's been lovely.

And Jonathan, thank you for yours. Have you had a good day?

I've had a wonderful day, Timothy, as always.

Very good to see you, anyway. Now, but the victors today,

our friends from across the pond, are going to go home with £75.

How about that? That's folding money, isn't it?

Does that make it 100? It's more than 100, isn't it?

-More than 100.

-More than 100 bucks!

-Have you had a good time, Timbo?

-Real good time, yeah.

Real good time. We've had a real good time, too.

-A very good time.

-What about you, Rebecca?

-Yeah, it's been really fun.

-Oh, we've enjoyed it.

Thank you for joining us, and join us soon

-for some more bargain hunting, yes?

-Yes!

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