Norfolk 22 Bargain Hunt

'Welcome to Norfolk. Our teams have one hour to find three bargains.'

Their only limit is £300

and also how good they are at bargaining.

'Coming up on the show, Paul Laidlaw bargains for Britain.'

But I'd need you to take some pain on that.

What's the death on it?

Here's me trying to pull a deal off, you're not helping.

'Whereas Jonathan Pratt is, well, just showing off.'

-Hello, ladies.

-You look like the Artful Dodger.

-THEY LAUGH

-Thanks very much.

So, today, for the Reds, we've got Sue and Lex.

In-laws. So, Sue, you've got connections with Japan.

-I have, yes.

-Tell us about that.

-My youngest son, David, lives in Japan.

Have you developed a taste for things Japanese?

Yes, I do. I love Japanese porcelain. I've got a small collection.

-And when you go to Japan, do you check it out, what's it worth over there?

-Yes.

-It's very expensive in Japan to buy it.

-Is it?

-Yes.

Is there a bit of a tip here. Should we be getting some Japanese ceramics perhaps today on Bargain Hunt

-and telling the Japanese it's coming up in the auction?

-Absolutely.

-Yes.

-There is an idea. Lex, you've got links overseas, too.

Yep, my parents and all of the rest of my family live in Australia.

-You had a nice life there?

-Yes, we were out there for a few years, Mum and Dad came back

-so I came back with them, and they went back out there again and I stayed.

-Very nice, too.

Tell me, how is the dynamic going to work between the in-laws?

-Well...

-The mother-in-law, of course.

-I think Lex knows who's in control.

-Yeah. He's ready to submit.

-THEY LAUGH

-It'll be very interesting to see how it pans out. Nice to chat to you.

Now for the Blues, two drama queens, June and Brenda. How did you meet?

-We met at a local amateur dramatic society about ten years ago.

-Oh, yes?

I'd been there a few weeks and my first impression of Brenda was that she was a bit stuck up

and I wouldn't really get on with her. That was completely dispelled

-when we did a pantomime.

-Called?

-Sleeping Beauty.

-Ah, yes.

-And there was a scene where we had to lay on the floor and be very quiet.

-Difficult.

-Well, it was rather.

Our heads were together and we were supposed to be asleep, when a member of the cast stood on Brenda's hand.

-Ah.

-To which Brenda whispered very loudly a rude word which I couldn't possibly repeat now.

-Not on daytime.

-And we've been friends ever since.

-That's the togetherness of am-dram.

-Absolutely.

-Brenda, you're retired now.

-Yep.

-What do you do to keep out of mischief?

I play the piano for some singing groups.

-Tell us about your singing groups.

-The amateur dramatic group where June and I met,

I've been there for 32 years, a founder member, and I'm now their musical director,

so I play the piano and have other musicians with me.

Who's going to be the most competitive?

-Both of us.

-We're both equally competitive.

-Are you?

-And we love shopping.

-Do you?

-Yeah. And spending other people's money.

Well, that's what it's all about. Talking about money, this is the money moment.

Here's your £300. £300 apiece. You know the rules, your experts await. Off you go and very good luck.

All the world's a stage, and the men and women on it merely players.

Guys, what's on the shopping list today?

-I quite like bronze, if we can find something at a good price.

-Fingers crossed.

Art Deco, 1920s, lovely stuff.

Deco bronze. Everyone wins.

I think just look for small, novelty items, bits of furniture,

-anything that catches your eye, let's go for it.

-OK.

That's lovely.

-What is it? Is it bronze?

-There's no age to it.

It's too good to be true at that price.

'Always is.'

There's that fish lamp over there. I mean, it's £150.

-It's horrible.

-I know, but we mustn't think of horrible,

it's whether it's going to make any money. Doesn't matter if it's horrible or if you or I like it.

-Not really, no.

-Actually, it is pretty horrible. Not, that it horrible.

'I'm glad that one missed the net.'

Have you seen anything interesting? No.

We've not seen anything that we're sold on yet.

That's pretty.

Ruby glass.

Victorian glass jug. If it was on the table over there for a fiver, I'd have liked it.

But £28. We may be able to go lower than that, but I'm not a great fan of that sort of thing

and it's not the easiest thing to sell. What's the deal on it? Under a tenner?

He might be able to do a deal on that. He says he's had it quite a long time.

-How long? Since the war, I suppose.

-I've been waiting for you to appreciate it.

He said three years, so I can leave you to do the deal. You're far too honest.

-Some things hang around a while, some things don't.

-I'm saying £5.

They mentioned £5. You might not do it for £5.

But you'd make money out of it. I'm going to leave you to negotiate.

So, what would be your best price on that? A fiver?

-How much is on it? 28, is it?

-28, yeah.

-Ten is a good discount. I think it should be perfect.

-It's really sweet.

You don't want to take it home. You've got so much stuff here. We could take it off your hands for £5.

-Just for you.

-Yes!

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you!

'You weren't going to take no for an answer, were you, girls?'

No, nothing for you? Fine, then.

'Nope, I can't see anything, either.'

Looking over my shoulder at that telescopic stand.

That was a Victorian telescopic oil lamp once,

sitting next to the bed.

-Wow.

-I'm just trying to throw you possibilities.

-Shall we have a little look?

Make a quick decision. Do you want it, what will you pay for it? If you don't like it, let's get sprinting.

-OK.

-'Step away from that lamp.'

-We're running out of time.

-We're running out of time, we haven't got anything yet.

'Ah, Sue, the penny's dropped. Focus, guys.'

-The teapot, that's nice.

-It's a good country style.

You make this stoneware body then apply these moulds on the outside.

It's Royal Doulton, which is as good as it gets for this date,

early 20th century reproducing 18th century style. It's decorative, it's good kitchenalia.

-Are they all in good condition?

-Yeah.

-What's the price?

-£55. £50.

-Is that your best price?

-50.

-I like it, actually.

It's kind of slightly outside my field because I tend not to concentrate on ceramics,

-but I like it, as well.

-I quite like it.

-I do. We both like this.

I would say an auction estimate would be £40 to £60.

If you pay 50 for it, you could make a tenner, but you might make 20.

-I'd be disappointed if it didn't break even, to be honest.

-Is that your best price?

-Can you go a little lower?

-A fiver. 45.

-45?

-What do you think?

I'd bid for that and I'd use it in my kitchen.

And I think there would be a market for that. Yes.

-Good, OK.

-Good. Yes. Thank you very much indeed.

-We're getting there.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much.

'Girls, you are on fire!

'Second bargain sorted.

'And have the Reds found a sleeper?'

-A bed.

-It's £120.

-There's no slack in there?

If you were going to put it in auction,

-it would be a difficult thing to make a profit on, the way the market is.

-On that price.

-It's got to be that sort of money, has it?

-100 and that'd be it.

-Yeah.

-What do you think?

-That is still too much, really, isn't it?

-Much interest in it, apart from me?

-It's not the biggest thing on here.

THEY LAUGH

-"I didn't sign up for this," she said!

-THEY LAUGH

Do me a favour with the bed, I'd love to sell it to these guys.

They're the boss, I haven't even asked them. I'd love to break the rules.

But I'd need you to take some pain on that. I don't know what sort of slack you've got.

-Pain? He wants me to break a leg.

-THEY LAUGH

'That's it, Paul, get them a bargain!'

-Show me the name.

-I haven't found a stamp on it,

but you know as well as I do that a bed like that, five or six years ago, would be £200, £300

-and they'd be queuing up to grab it.

-10, 20 years ago, you'd be laughing.

-But that's then and this is now.

-It just needs a polish.

Do us a massive favour. Give us the bed at a real knock-down price

and let's all watch the programme in six months and see what happens.

-70 quid.

-It's sort of on the money that, isn't it?

Ignoring where you started, just thinking about moving forward,

-can it ever be 40 quid?

-When I look at this bed, because of the recession and what it's done to us,

if I was to weigh that in at the scrap yard, that'll weigh in about £70.

But let's not get into that. Let's not do that. Let's talk buying something.

-Yeah, it's a little bit worn.

-It's the lacquer that they put on them.

-I'm trying to pull a deal off, you're not helping.

-If the price was better...

-SHE LAUGHS

-You can tell he's on the Red Team, red for danger.

Look, can that ever be 40 quid and let's see what we do?

-No, it cannot!

-What can it be, then?

-60. It owes me 50.

-Can you meet us in the middle?

-I'll tell you what I'll do.

-Only cos it's you, £55.

-The lady's being really nice to you and time's ticking.

-The ball's in your court.

-You've put so much effort into this, we'll have to say yes.

-If you put it in the right saleroom... Thank you very much.

-That was good craic.

-HE LAUGHS

-Thank you very much.

-Firm handshake.

'Wow! Now that was what you call a haggling master class from Bargain Hunt grand master Paul.

'Talking of grand masters...'

So, what do you think about this? It's got a tremendous amount of work on the top, hasn't it?

Just look at the fine Islamic script running around the outer edge.

Then you've got a circular division

and yet more script in the middle,

looking as if it's arranged over a chequer board surface.

On the back, there's a pierced panel with a flower head

with yet more Islamic script running around the outer edge.

If I move back this clasp and open it up,

it reveals a completely plain interior.

But the thing to note is that where the design has been engraved in the top from the outside,

so thin is this silver, you can see the indentation inside

of the pressure that was put on the metal when the engraving was done from without.

If I shut it up again, the other thing to note outside

are these two oddball hinged lugs. What are they for?

And why is it slightly concave on the bottom?

Well, the secret becomes clear

when you consider its religious connotation.

This is a little solid-silver Qur'an box.

And if you were an Islamic warrior in the 18th or 19th century,

you would take with you to battle on a sheet of paper

a text from the Qur'an,

put it in this box and then lash it to the forearm using those little lugs.

So you might be gripping your sword or your pike

or your shield in your hands,

but attached to your forearm would be the Holy Qur'anic text.

Marvellous, isn't it? Now, these things, in this country,

are as rare as a hen's tooth.

How many hens do you know with teeth? Not many.

So what's this worth? Well, this is a 19th century one,

but it's not top, top quality

and I suppose, in an Islamic sale,

you might get perhaps £300 to £500 for it.

What's it worth in a fair like this?

Well, it could be yours for between £60 to £80.

That really did strike us when we walked past.

-Oh, it's all...

-It's really lovely, isn't it?

LOW TUNELESS NOISES

THEY LAUGH Sounds like me after I've had a few.

The Lost Cause.

THEY LAUGH

'This master's voice is a bit off-key today.'

-What about a metronome?

-No.

-No.

I don't know what to say. It's worth £20 at auction on a good day.

-Right.

-They just keep turning up.

-It's coming down to time.

-Yep.

-I'll open it up.

-OK.

-That's pretty.

-Pretty.

-Yeah. It's quite new. What's the death?

-£50.

It's just a Georgian-style boat in silver, English marks.

As such, there's no great substance to it. It's worth £40, £50.

But by Asprey and it's a fact, at auction, in the high street, a name is what they're looking for.

-It maybe doubles its appeal. How do you feel? Is that making any sense?

-Yes.

-I love it. It's very pretty. As long as the auctioneer mentions that it's...

-No issue with that.

The auctioneer's going to do you a good job. It'll be spotted and well-sold.

-Yeah, it's good, that. It's very dainty. It's nice.

-It has no great substance to it

but that's compensated for by the name.

-I think we've got a winner.

-It came out of the blue, that.

I think that was divine intervention. Shake the guy's hand.

-Do the deal.

-Thank you.

-Thanks for that, I think you helped us.

-Thanks very much.

-Thank you.

'Something the Reds like. A miracle indeed!

'Both teams just need one more item. Hurry along now. Ten minutes left.'

-What is that there?

-That's just a little silver box.

-Pill box.

That's kind of cute. A little silver buckle.

Asking 48 for it. Early 20th century. Quite pretty.

-You probably could use it.

-How do they go?

-They can do quite well.

-The heart motif is quite cute.

-I think it's really pretty.

It conjures up the feeling of the Arts and Crafts of that period, where the heart motif was used.

-You could use it, couldn't you?

-Yeah, absolutely.

But the important thing is it's got a full set of marks and some age.

It's a Chester hallmark and it's just a Times Roman A.

So it's 1897. That's what it is.

-Oh!

-So it's late Victorian.

-That's quite old.

-Yeah.

-I think that's lovely. What's the price?

-48.

-48. Is that your best price, my love?

-You stand a chance with this.

-Do I? Excellent!

-I bought this one well, I think.

-40 quid.

-40 quid.

-35, maybe?

-38.

Yeah, I think that's fair. It's a nice object.

-Yeah? What do you think?

-I think it's lovely.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you very much indeed.

'Now, those girls know what they want.

'All three items now buckled up.'

-Two things bought, two and a half minutes left.

-What?

How long have you got left? Two and a half minutes?

-THEY LAUGH

-What have you been up to, you characters? This is terrible!

-Trying to stay out of the rain!

-That's no excuse! You have to get wet like me, get a mackintosh!

Oh, dear, this is terrible, isn't it? Two minutes to go.

-Don't hang around here. Get on with it!

-THEY LAUGH

-Oh, yes!

-Ow. Jam it on.

-Dapper. Look at that.

-You look like the Artful Dodger, actually.

-Thanks very much.

'Very funny, ladies. But will you steal the show?'

-There's that lamp again.

-Oh, yes.

-We haven't got much time.

I tell you what, this is down to the last minute.

-What is your very, very best? We ain't got time to...

-50 quid.

-Is it? That's not too bad. There's £38 on it.

-No, no.

-30 quid for them?

-30 quid.

-You can't sell brass, that's the problem. You can't sell brass, can you?

-I can melt it down.

Not for 30 quid. What's the death on it?

25, I'll do it for. You've got a deal.

-And I'll smile for the camera.

-THEY LAUGH

-I don't think you've got any choice.

-Let's go for it.

Done again.

Our teams' time is up.

Let's hope they spent their time and their cash wisely

Let's check out what the Red Team have picked up.

'The Reds made their bed, but will they have to lie in it?

'£55 paid.

'The silver Asprey sauce boat was £48.

'And the brass lamp could light up the auction for £25.'

-We did it all right, then. We got there.

-By the skin of our teeth!

-By the skin of your teeth!

Every two minutes on this programme, I'm jumping back at you.

-Did you get your last item?

-Yes, we did.

-Is it fab?

I think it'll be good. I think it'll do the business.

-A bit different.

-What does Paul think?

I think it could all come very good

-or crash and burn.

-Ah, good. That's enigmatic, as usual.

-Anyway, how much did you spend overall? Wasn't much, was it? £128?

-£128, yes.

So who has got the £172 of leftover lolly, please?

-£172? Have you got it?

-Nope.

Stop joking now. It's £172. Come on, Sue!

-Who's got the cash? Romain?

-You've got the money, Romain! All right.

Dear, oh, dear. We're all over the shop today.

You have that. Pop it in your pocket.

This is what we do on Bargain Hunt. Pop it in your pocket.

Then I ask you for the £172, OK?

-Have you got the £172?

-Yes.

-Oh, lovely, £172, that's good.

I pass it over to higher authority.

-There you go, Paul.

-Thanks, Tim.

-£172, that's a decent wodge.

-It's certainly a budget, yeah.

-It's a budget!

And a budget for north of the border, I tell you!

Anyway, what are you going to spend it on?

Lots of good things out there, Tim, but I've been on a mission with these guys running past them.

-I now need to go back and see if any of them are bargains.

-Check out the prices.

You guys can go and relax. Meanwhile, why don't we check out what's going on with the Blues, eh?

'£5 took the red glass jug off the dealer's hands.

'Will the Doulton harvestware reap them a profit at £45?

'The silver buckle cost £38, a highly polished performance, what?'

Now, you naughty girls, what did you finish up spending overall?

BOTH: £88.

It may be a strategy which takes you forward to profit.

-Hopefully.

-All right. We will hope for that.

-What's your favourite piece?

-My favourite piece, I think, is the little jug.

-Great. And what's your favourite?

-I like the belt buckle.

-Good.

-£88.

-Three objects, all very nice objects, all good examples and bought well.

That's the thing, you see? We could've spent £150 if you'd liked, but we bargained.

-Oh, right.

-Right?

I'd like £212 of leftover lolly, please. £212.

All right. What are you going to spend it on? Not sweeties, I hope.

I don't know. I mean, they like jewellery, we didn't get a chance to look at any.

I might go and have a look at that sort of thing, as that's one of my favourite things. Who knows?

You'll just let the cross currents of the fair take you and sweep you off somewhere.

-Yeah.

-All right. Standby for a shipwreck.

-THEY LAUGH

-Anyway, very good luck.

Meanwhile, we're heading off to the depths of Wisbech,

where there's something really gorgeous awaiting us.

'Welcome to Peckover House in Cambridgeshire.

'It was named by the National Trust after its last owners,

'a Quaker family who lived here for over 150 years.'

When wealthy banker Jonathan Peckover acquired this property in 1794,

he stayed true to his Quaker beliefs

and furnished it modestly.

But certain original fittings were both respected and restored.

And the most stunning original feature in this, the withdrawing room,

has to be the over-mantel mirror.

The room itself dates from the 1720s

and if you look, for example, at the over-door, with its broken arch pediment,

this is strictly angular and regulated.

If you compare that with the later over-mantel,

which dates from the 1750s,

you see a completely different style.

The decoration starts at the top with a massive eagle

holding a swathe of material in its beak

as it sweeps across the top

to be tied with ribbons in each corner

and then you get it descending, full of movement,

down the outside until it terminates in two tassels.

Similarly exuberant is the inner frame,

actually containing the mirror itself.

You've got two flower-wrapped vases at the top

and then lattice-filled shaped platforms

with more and more C and S scrolled mouldings,

until you get to the bottom, which is centred by the mask of a muse.

All of this has been created out of carved pine,

which is then sealed before it gets painted.

This over-mantel arrangement

can only be described as riotous and exuberant.

But it was in situ for 40 years

before the Peckovers bought this place

and, therefore, instead of ripping it out, they respected it,

even though it would've gone against their Quaker tradition.

But there is something in here that definitely dates from the Peckover period.

Which include this very nice window seat.

Now, if I carry that out and you stand back

and look at the shape of that window opening, it tapers, right?

So when Peckover ordered the window seat, he ordered it bespoke to fit.

So it's straight at the back, it's tapering on the sides

and you get a little bit of movement along the front edge, but not a lot.

If we crouch down and have a look at the legs, though,

they're incredibly plain.

This is not a fancy piece of furniture that's been made out of polished show wood,

it's simply made of beech or another wood so that it can be painted,

and it stands on simple feet.

There is one indication of some luxury, though,

and that's in this raised side rail

where you've got a dished piece like that

where you'd be able to rest your elbow comfortably.

But, in terms of the style, it's in complete contrast with the over-mantel mirror.

So what sort of paintings do you hang in a room

that's got such a spectacular Rococo over-mantel mirror?

Well, the Trust have selected a series of four pastel paintings

by the celebrated Venetian artist Rosalba Carriera,

who lived between about 1675 and about 1750.

These pictures represent the epitome of early Rococo taste

and you see the subjects are each an attractive young lady representing an appropriate season.

The symbol from the lady behind me is a bunch of summer flowers,

hence she's summer.

This girl has got her fur pelt around her, and she represents winter.

On the far wall, the spring flowers hint at springtime.

And in the far corner, we've got a girl baring her bosom

that's supposed to represent autumn,

although quite why she's clutching a rabbit so closely to her bosom

I couldn't tell you. Lucky fellow.

Now, we mustn't rabbit on about this, but the big question is,

which of our contestants today is going to make a thumping great profit?

So let's hop along to the auction and find out.

'No, we're not in Antarctica,

'we're in Abbotts Auction House in Suffolk.

'And warming us up today is auctioneer Jeffrey Barfoot.'

-Good morning, Jeffrey.

-Morning.

-Very nice to be here.

-Good.

-Lots of people viewing.

-Yes.

-That's encouraging.

-That's what we want.

Sue and Lex, for their first item, bought the brass bedstead, which is on view down the way.

-How do you rate it?

-Hm. Rather plain, simple, single Edwardian brass bed.

-Don't see it doing anything great.

-No, it is a problem, isn't it,

because you've got to get the base fixed, you've got to get a mattress that fits

and, quite frankly, who wants to go through all those hurdles

if you're going to simply go out and get yourself a single bed? It's a hassle.

-Yeah.

-What do you think it might bring?

-£30, £40.

-Well, they paid £55.

-Could be a struggle.

Next is rather more straightforward, the little gravy boat. Asprey's.

-Asprey's, yeah.

-But thin.

-Good make but very thin and lightweight.

Nice little thing. Gravy boat, cream jug, could use it for either.

-Silver's up.

-Silver's up, but it's very light.

-How much?

-I've got it in at £40 to £60.

-Well, they paid £48, so they paid the right price.

-There's a chance.

Their last item is the Surrey with the fringe on top, the brass standard lamp.

-Again, incredibly difficult to sell, I've noticed, at auction.

-Yeah.

-Brass is not flavour of the month.

-No.

-With that shade on it, it might be even more difficult.

-Shall we take the shade off?

-It probably would be an advantage.

No, we can't. Somebody loves that.

-How much?

-I put it in at £30 to £50.

Would you say that's an optimistic punt, Jeffrey, or not?

-I wouldn't stake my mortgage on it.

-No, quite. £25 paid.

So they paid the right price. You'll get it away for £25.

-Hopefully, yeah.

-Hopefully.

-Hopefully.

Well, we've got some dodgy issues here. They might need their bonus buy, so let's have a look at it.

Now, Sue and Lex, you spent £128. You gave Paul Laidlaw £172. What did you spend it on, Paul?

Right at the off, we had a chat about what we were looking for and bronze came up,

as did Art Deco.

Well, I think I came pretty close. What do you think, folks?

-THEY LAUGH

-Do you like?

-It's dandy, isn't it?

-THEY LAUGH

Well, I do like this. I think this is really rather charming

I say we came close. It's not bronze, it's bronzed spelter, base metal alloy.

OK? Not the finest of media, but that is academic.

What I really like about this is the quality of the modelling.

-There's nothing cheesy about that.

-Is it heavy?

-There's a good weight to that.

-Lex, you hold one end.

-Gosh.

-It's a good thing, that.

-So we've got some onyx here mixed with marble

-and marble veneered all the way round. Looks in good nick.

-It's all right.

-So, the next question is...

-How much was it?

-£30.

-30? Result.

THEY LAUGH £30?

-There you go.

-£30.

-£30, huh?

-I'd put it on the mantelpiece, I like it.

And what's your prediction of profit in this?

-I'd go £50 to £80.

-£50 to £80. But in your heart of hearts, you could see it making £100.

I'd like it to. If two people took a shine to it, if you came to me and said,

"I really like this. What should I pay for it?" I'd say, "If it cost you 120, you'd never regret it."

Well done, Paul. You don't have to decide right now, you decide after your first three items.

But for the viewers at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about the Art Deco sculpture.

There we go, Jeffrey, look at this.

We've got Daddy Deer, Mummy Deer and a little deer.

-Do you like it?

-It's very stylish.

-Yeah.

-Spelter, obviously, rather than bronze.

-Soft metal. But nice and stylish.

-Really nice.

With the marble and onyx veneered based, that's a good-looking thing.

-It's a bit grubby. Somebody would tickle it up.

-Yeah, I think they would.

Art Deco being the flavour of the moment, I can see that on a mantelpiece in a 1930s house

-looking absolutely splendid. What's your estimate?

-£60 to £80.

Paul Laidlaw's a mighty canny man. He only paid £30 for it.

-I think there's a good profit there.

-If this was in bronze,

-would it be worth £300 or £400?

-Yes.

I think he's done very well there. Will be interesting to see whether they take it

when they get their opportunity to go with the bonus buy.

That's it for the Reds. Now for the Blues, June and Brenda.

-Their first item is the little jug.

-Quite sweet, but not the most popular of things.

-Can't see a lot for that, really.

-I don't suppose you'd normally make it a single lot.

-Probably not.

-It'd be in a box with a few others.

-A few other groupings with it, yeah.

-What's your estimate?

-Very pretty. I'd put it in at £10 to £20.

OK, well, they only paid £5, so it's neither here nor there really

but interesting to see what it does bring.

Next is the stoneware tea set, which is Doulton and looks to be in pretty good nick.

But not old Doulton. Not a Victorian set.

-What would that be, 1930s?

-Yes, I would imagine so.

-But in good order.

-Yeah. And the nice thing about this stoneware is it is indestructible, practically.

You wouldn't want to drop it, but you could practically use it every day to make a cup of tea

-and it would go on for years and years.

-It's very useable.

-What's your estimate?

-£20 to £30.

-They paid £45.

-Could be struggling with that.

-Oh, dear.

-And what about the belt buckle?

-It's very nice. Chester, 1897. So late Victorian.

It's what every staff nurse used to wear in the hospitals.

Absolutely. That was always essential equipment for a nurse, to acquire the buckle.

-Nicely ornate.

-Celtic almost.

-Almost, with the design.

-So that's fully marked, is it?

-Yep.

-What's your estimate?

-I've put it in at £40 to £60.

-OK, £38 paid.

-So they should get a reasonable profit out of that.

-I think so.

-It may count to balance any losses from the tea set.

-Absolutely.

Nevertheless, they're going to need their bonus buy, so let's have a look at it.

Sadly, June and Brenda are stuck in their village in a show drift.

-So, on that basis, Jonathan, you're going to have to do your bonus buy reveal to me.

-This is a novelty.

Now, the team only spent £88. You were given £212 to spend.

-I'd like to know what you spent it on.

-I got quite excited when I saw it.

-Oh, my God.

-THEY LAUGH

-What is that?

-It's a little netsuke, Japanese.

-I can do some Shakespeare selling here.

-Can you?

-Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him well, Horatio.

I always knew you were well-educated. This is a really wacky thing.

The Japanese are amazing, aren't they, in terms of their symbolism,

the miniature forms of art that they produce.

-But the funny thing is, when I bought this, I don't know if I overpaid. I paid £150.

-How much?

-£150.

-Did you really?

-When I bought it, I was assured it was 19th century,

and if it's 19th century, it's worth about a grand.

But it's not. It's actually early 20th century.

And it's not ivory elephant, it's ivory from a mammoth.

If I was a team member and I was standing here,

I would ask you, "Jonathan, how much profit is there in it?"

-I think maybe this is an omen, because the mammoth's from the ice age...

-Just answer the question.

How much profit is there in this bonus buy?

-Well, at the right sale at the right time of year...

-See what I mean?

Trying to squeeze an honest answer out of the boy, I'm getting nowhere. How much profit?

I'm in fear that I might lose money on this, Tim.

In these unusual circumstances, I am going to have to make the decision for the team in their absence.

So I'll be standing by and I'll see their first three items sell

and then I'll have a value judgement as to whether I go with your £150 bonus buy

-in the form of a Japanese skull.

-OK.

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

Now, here's something to jolly you up, Jeffrey. A skull and cross bones. Arrr!

-How do you rate that?

-I think it's got a quirky appeal.

-Yeah.

-I can see that doing quite well.

-The netsuke is often very strangely carved,

for showing off your skills as a carver. How old do you think it is?

I would think possibly 20th century.

-No 21st century.

-Not 21st century.

-That's a relief.

-How much?

-£40 to £60.

-£150 paid.

Jonathan has seriously pushed the boat out.

-That could be a bit challenging.

-You don't mind a challenge.

-No. Auctioneers thrive on a challenge.

Well, I think the best thing to do is keep taking the tablets.

Thank you very much.

Lex and Sue, you got any regrets? Anything you wish you hadn't bought?

We're a little bit worried about a certain item. The bed.

-The bed?

-The bed.

-Mm. Well, £55 you paid for it.

-Yes.

The auctioneer's put £30 to £40 on it.

Now, that's pretty hopeful, I think.

But, to me, this lot look pretty hard-bitten. Here it comes.

There we are. Nice little Edwardian brass single bedstead.

Right in the middle of the room. How do you see that one? £50?

£30 then for a brass bedstead.

£20 and up we go, then. Come along. £20 I'm bid, standing at 20.

At £20 I'm bid. At 20 on the maiden bid.

20 only and selling away.

-Oh, no!

-I loved that bed.

-It was a steal!

-That's minus £35. That's not good. Here comes Asprey.

Super quality lot. The silver sauce boat by Asprey and co.

Birmingham 1916. How do you see that one? Put me in at 50.

30 to go, then. 30 I'm bid. At £30 I'm bid.

2 in front. 32. 35. 38. 40.

5. 50.

-In the doorway at 50.

-We're just in profit.

And other bids? At 50.

£50 equals plus 2.

Which means, overall, you're minus 33

The Edwardian brass telescopic standard lamp,

right in the middle of the room. How do you see that one? 30?

10 to go, surely. 10 he says.

Only £10. At 10 I'm bid. 12 to the lady. 14. 16.

-Yes.

-Not dear. 18.

20. And 2.

-25. 28.

-You're in profit.

-Wiped its face.

No, it's better than that.

£28. Are we all done, then?

Plus £3, which is eroding your losses to only minus £30 overall.

Minus 30 is the score. What are you going to do about the little deer?

-We're going to go for it.

-You'll have to. But you want to, though.

-This is it, the big moment.

-You know that this is a peach.

-Here it comes.

-Art Deco style sculpture

with the deer all in a row there.

Handsome little lot. 50 to start surely.

Well, 30 and up we go. Come along, do.

£30, in the front row at 30. At £30, a cheap little lot at 30.

5. 40. Still cheap at 40. Do you want 5, sir? 45.

At 45. 50.

5. In the front row at 55 only.

At 55 only seated.

-Are we all done at 55?

-One more, come on! Come on!

-One more.

At 55.

£55. That is such bad luck, cos that's plus 25,

which means, overall, you're still minus £5.

That is so close, though. I honestly thought that thing was going to make £100.

And I would've loved it to. Anyway, there it is.

Minus 5 is not a shameful score on this programme, I can tell you.

-Still, there we go. Don't tell the Blues a thing.

-Wouldn't dream of it.

Go out looking as if you've just made 300.

Are we all done?

-You're June and Brenda wrapped into one.

-Yes.

-This is exciting. It doesn't happen much, this.

-What, snow?

-No, I mean missing contestants in snow drifts.

-Mm.

Not an easy one for us but, still, there we go.

-We have to struggle on manfully.

-Exactly. It might soften the blow for me.

-Quite.

First lot up is June's jug.

There we are, a pretty little lot,

the Victorian baluster ruby flash cream jug. Put me in at £20.

10 to go then, surely. Will look nice on the dining table.

-10 to start, surely.

-He's trying hard.

Well, 5 and up we go, then. At 5 I'm bid. Only at 5. 6.

At 6. 8 is seated in the middle. At 8. Do I see 10 anywhere?

-At £8 only, then.

-Good auctioneer.

-At £8.

Are we all done at 8?

-That's plus 3.

-That's fair enough.

Well done, June, you've done very well with your jug.

Now, next is your tea set.

Royal Doulton stoneware three-piece tea set.

Harvestware design. Very durable lot.

Put me in at £20 to start, surely.

20. Well, 10 and up we go, then.

Anyone start me 10? Cheap little lot, surely.

10 I'm bid only for a Doulton tea set.

12. 14.

16. 18.

20. 22.

The break point will be 25, you wait and see.

24, he's back in. 5 I'll take, sir. 25.

-It's got to the break point.

-No, it hasn't.

-26.

-Oh, it's going.

28.

Still cheap at £28. On my left here at 28.

Are we all done, then, and I sell away at 28?

£28 is 2 shy of 30. That is minus 17.

The Victorian silver buckle, Chester 1897.

Little silver belt buckle there. How do you see that? Put me in at 40.

40 to start, surely, for the belt buckle. 30 and up we go, then.

-Come along, do.

-Come on.

-20 and up we go.

£20 is in the middle. 25.

-They're after a bargain today.

-30. 5.

-40.

-You're in profit.

-Oh, good.

£40 only seated. Seated at £40.

Are we all done at 40? I shall sell at 40.

You're minus £12 overall. No shame in that, I tell you,

cos it could've been a lot worse, June and Brenda.

June and Brenda, what are you going to do?

-Are you going to take your bonus buy?

-I'm definitely not going with the bonus buy.

-Come on.

-Even penny would help. Come on, June.

-No, I'm not doing it.

-Sorry about that. No bonus buy.

-I know.

I can now tell you, because I've talked to the auctioneer,

-he very generously put £40 to £60 on that.

-Yeah.

-I suppose it's not really...

-He says he gets them coming in the post from somewhere to his auction house.

-Does he really? I don't.

-Do you not?

-No.

-You want to get on his...

-I'm not on his mailing list.

The mammoth ivory Japanese netsuke modelled as a skull.

There we are. Has created interest on the book

and I open the bidding at £50.

-There we go.

-50 with him.

At 50 an opening bid. 60.

70. 80. 90. 100.

-Look at this.

-And 10. 120.

-In the room now at 120. On my left.

-Keep going.

-Go on!

-This is unbelievable.

-Are we all done at 120? Selling here at £120.

-I sell.

-I'm going to have to eat humble pie.

-Well...

-Well done!

-It clawed itself back to some extent.

They said £30 to £40. I mean, you have got a phenomenal eye.

When you've got the experience that I have, Tim, you know these things.

Ooh, you can be so barbed, can't you?

-It's still a loss.

-I know, but I thought it was going to be a loss of at least £100.

It's got to be worth 100 quid, it's great craftsmanship.

Yes, good. Anyway, minus 30

-means, overall, they are still minus 12.

-OK.

At this stage in the game, I usually ask the Red Team whether they have been talking to the Blue Team.

-As we have no Blue Team, you've not been chatting to them, have you?

-No.

-No.

And I can move very swiftly to the chase here,

because I have to reveal that the runners-up today just happen to be the Blues, who aren't here.

So, you are going to have to take the flack here single-handed, Jonathan.

-Hang on a minute.

-Lots of kissing going on over there.

-You lot!

OK, fine, well, you made a profit, June, on your jug of £3, which is very good.

And Jonathan, you made a profit on your buckle of £2, which is very good.

-But it didn't do terribly well overall, cos you're minus £12.

-Yes.

And then I selected that you were not going to go with the bonus buy, and that made a loss of £30,

-but it didn't do as bad...

-As you thought.

-As I thought.

All right! Super-duper. Lovely to see you, Jonathan. I'll leave you to give the bad news to the team.

But the victors today, only £7 between you, actually,

-and you win by only losing £5.

-Excellent.

-Never, ever, ever buy any more beds.

-THEY LAUGH

-Anyway, great show! Join us soon for some more bargain hunting, yes?

-ALL: Yes!

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