Ardingly 12 Bargain Hunt

The good news is that there are hundreds of stalls.

The bad news is there's only one hour to shop.

So... Let's go Bargain Hunting!

Today we're at the International Antiques and Collectors Fair in Ardingly.

Fabulous!

And here's what's coming up.

Mark Stacey is crystal clear.

I think that's the most hideous thing!

James Braxton is reading the signs!

I like that!

"Prices may vary according to customer attitude"!

-So be nice!

-Be nice.

No trouble for our James.

Let's meet today's shoppers.

And here they are, raring to go and barking. Carolyn.

-Tim.

-On that happy note, where did you meet?

We met about 22 years ago at London Zoo.

-Did you?

-We did, yes.

It was a sales conference we were both doing.

There is something you love in life almost as much as Malcolm.

-Yes, golf.

-You do.

-I spend a lot of time on the golf course.

It's a lovely sociable game and it keeps me fit and healthy.

But there is a hobby you both share.

I used to show dogs. When I was about eight, my mother bred Labradors.

30 years ago I got Miniature Schnauzers, of which we've got three.

In fact, I judged at Crufts and showed all over the country.

-Quite professional, then.

-I was at the time. I packed that up some years ago.

-So, Malcolm, what do you get up to when Carolyn's off on the golf?

-Well...

-Wild women coming in?

-Well, yes! If I can manage it, yes, indeed!

I'm getting a bit old for that.

Too many Schnauzers, that's what it is!

-The dogs tell tales, unfortunately.

-They wag them, too.

-Yes.

-What about clocks? You're keen on clocks.

-Yes, we have three or four lovely old clocks.

We live in a very old cottage.

Occasionally we go out and spend a bit of money on a clock. We love them.

-Will you be going for time-pieces today?

-Yes, that's something I'm very keen to look for.

If they have a good selection, that would be great.

That's something we'd like to...

-You're expert on.

-I wouldn't say expert, but we've got one or two

-that we know a little bit more about.

-Brilliant.

-Good luck with that.

-Thank you.

Ken, when did you meet your co-contestant, Josie?

About six years ago. We worked at Farnborough College.

-Doing what?

-Josie was in charge of...

-I was Student Services Manager.

And I was a performing arts tutor.

Right. So you're in the performing arts, are you?

Yes. I've been a female impersonator for 30 years

-and recently I've got into classical acting.

-Gosh.

-That's quite a shift, isn't it?

-Slightly.

-So you don't have to get into a frock to go to work?

-Not any more.

Josie, what do you get up to, darling?

I'm recently retired. I help Ken with some of his bookings.

But I've been a volunteer with The Prince's Trust for 20-odd years. And I'm also "an appropriate adult".

My children were impressed when they heard I was appropriate!

I think she's inappropriate, but that's another story!

You have to apply and get clearance as an adult

to be able to be anything to do with any young person.

Absolutely. That's right. I've been working with young people for a long time. Ken and I.

How will you get on with bargain hunting?

-Marvellous!

-Yes.

-We're both competitive.

-Very.

-Are you going to beat up the reds?

-We'll beat up each other as well!

We're in for sparks today!

Now the money moment. £300 apiece. Here's your £300 coming up.

You know the rules. Your experts await.

Off you go. Very, very good luck.

Whatever's going to happen next?

Ah, look, they're all friends!

-We've got trouble. We've got stiff competition.

-We have.

- I think you need to go. - You're going that way.

-No, that way.

-They're going over there.

Maybe not. I think it might be time to split up!

I want you to choose as much as you possibly can.

Then I can blame you at the auction!

Ken, it's jewellery. You will like it!

It's a very Lalique style, isn't it?

Arts and Crafts.

-What is it, though?

-It's a belt buckle.

-Oh, right. OK.

For those of us with waists, Ken!

We're going to have fun with these two!

-That's lovely.

-How much is it?

-55.

-It's nice quality.

-It would have been silvered at one point.

-Is it paste?

-Or maybe it was just gilded.

-It's stylish, but it's a bit costume. Great fun.

-Thank you.

It's a no.

I've spotted some of the boxes and things.

-They look interesting.

-Marquetry.

-Marquetry.

-A little writing slope. 170 - that's quite a lot.

-It is.

What have we got here?

I have to say that's the most hideous thing!

The trouble is that people want clean lines now.

-Those are quite fun.

-Yes.

-A pair of decanters.

-Are decanters going well at the moment?

Reasonably well. Those are priced up at 48 for a pair, I think, yes, it's a pair.

-Shall I take one down?

-Matching lids, are they?

I'm just looking. I couldn't quite see from there.

-It fits OK.

-It's nicely cut.

-It's very typical of that period.

They've got here a pair of George III rimmed-neck decanters.

The rim neck refers to this decoration here.

I would say they're probably on the cusp.

-Right.

-George III is the most optimistic they could be.

I'd call them William IV or early Victorian.

-In good order as well.

-Good order.

-I can't see any chips.

-I like those.

-Yes.

-Why not have a little chat?

-Flash your eyelids.

-I will.

-It always works.

-No problem.

-What do I do?

-Flash your eyelids as well. You never know!

We rather like these lovely decanters.

We're wondering what your best price is.

We've got 48 - how about 148?

-Good try!

-Bargain!

I could do those at 40 for you.

-Do them at 40.

-Cheap as chips.

Would you consider 35?

-I can't do that.

-I can't flash my eyelids?

-No.

-Smile?

-I can do 38 and that's the death on it.

-Shall we go for it?

-I think 38 is very fair.

-It's a fair price.

Malcolm, your missus has just bagged the decanters for £38.

Atta-girl!

From the '50s. It's only 20 quid.

She doesn't like them because she remembers them from when she was a girl!

Hey! Ken and Josie are friends, right?

-That's not bad, is it? Under ten minutes and we've got our first item.

-Fantastic.

-We should be feeling really confident.

-We are.

-Let's keep that confidence up, OK?

-Yes.

Mark the Motivator!

It's £12. It's a theatrical make-up box.

Still got make-up in it, which is not important. The tin is very old compared to the rest of it.

The cold cream is old.

-£12.

-They might do it even cheaper.

-Would you do it for ten?

-They'll do it for ten.

-Shall we think about it?

-You want it, don't you?

-Shall we try it?

I think it's your field, Ken, this.

Certainly not Mr Braxton's colour!

-How old is the box?

-I think it's contemporary with the make-up.

-Probably 1950s, '60s?

-Even this make-up is old.

They still make sticks by Leichner, but it's not this packaging.

-Is that the Rolls-Royce of theatre make-up?

-Yes. It was made by Leichner.

The sticks have all got numbers. The main numbers people used were five and nine.

That's where you get "Five and nine, the Brighton line."

People came from Brighton to London and put make-up on on the train.

They always used sticks five and nine, hence "Five and nine, the Brighton line."

-Having said that, it's a tenner.

-It's a tenner.

-I think we should buy it.

-Then I'll spend the rest of the money!

Oh, yes. Getting on famously now!

-We'll take that.

-Well done. Thank you.

Well done, Ken. We've got the theatrical make-up.

Really good. And we've only done 11 minutes.

And all the rest of the money is mine!

-I don't think so!

-Press on.

No squabbling, now! Plenty of dosh left.

As they say, "You never know what you're going to find in one of these fairs."

Here we are in the heart of Sussex in the south of England.

Would you expect to find an 18th-century brass plaque

associated with the history of Edinburgh?

If you look at the inscription on the top,

in Latin, it says, "Sic itur ad astra."

Which means, roughly translated,

"Thus you find your way to the stars."

In the middle, though, is the real clue to the origins of this piece.

Because we've got cast in relief

the antlers and head of a stag

with a cross growing out of the top of the stag's head.

And that relates to a legend

where King David I of Scotland was hunting close by Edinburgh

in about 1140.

He was attacked by a stag and in mortal peril

and as he was trying to defend himself,

he had a vision of a cross between the stag's antlers.

That inspired him to defend himself vigorously and he was saved.

As a result, he founded a religious institution just outside Edinburgh at Holyrood.

All in all, there's an incredible amount of history wrapped up in this wee plaque.

What's it worth?

Apparently, £150.

Do you see a cross appearing between my antlers?

It's half time and this shop is hotting up.

-We've had 27 minutes. So we've got 33 minutes left.

-OK.

So we need to crack on.

-I like that.

-You do like it?

-How much was it?

-It's got 38. You can have it for 35.

Don't beat me. 35.

I wasn't going to attack you!

-You were going to!

-I'll set her on you in a minute!

-It's nice.

-It's your choice next because I've bought mine.

-I like it.

-I'm happy to talk about it.

-It's a handsome bit.

-It's in good nick.

-Classic design.

-It's plate, but in silver that would be a lot of money.

-Shall we think about it?

-We can think about it.

-Keep it in mind.

-We're doing well.

Yes, very well. You've spent a tenner!

That's had the collar broken. That's why it's got a silver collar on it.

-Shame, because it's a nice piece.

-It's quite pretty.

It's famille rose, very typical of that Chinese baluster shape

with the wing handles.

It's £55. It depends what we get it for, of course. Let's put it down.

I'm concerned about the time.

Yes, I'm concerned about the time as well.

-We saw a rather nice vase there.

-Yep. The best on that would probably be 40 quid.

-That's your very best price?

-Yep.

-You can't go to 35?

-No.

-It's no good me flashing my eyes at you!

-I'll flash my eyes!

-No, not really!

I'll show you my muscles.

Really?

-38?

-Is she with you?

-Afraid so!

-She's my wife!

-If you want it for 38, you can have it for 38.

-Happy?

-I can't flash my eyes at you any more.

-You're wasting your time!

-38.

-I won't show you my muscles.

The deal is done on the Cantonese vase for 38 smackers.

How much is your agate bracelet?

It's about 120.

-It's about 1950s, by a chap called Robert Atkinson.

-OK.

-85. I wouldn't go any lower than that.

-Really.

It's nice, isn't it? I love hard stones.

It's amazing how things like aquamarine have become really trendy.

That's quite an unusual thing as well.

This is silver.

Natural garnets and pearls. This is all enamelling.

-How much on that one?

-80 on that one for you.

I like that. And I like the agate bracelet.

-Yeah. Thank you for your help. We'll have a think.

-A big think about that.

-I'm here till three.

-We're not!

-We've got an hour!

So we've got 20 minutes.

Get a move on, then!

Thank the Lord it's not wormy!

He said we could have it for a pound!

A pound?! That is tempting! Do you want to buy it?

Presumably if you sell it for two pounds!

-It's quite fun.

-We've checked it for worm.

I've got one virtually the same. Slightly better condition.

I see. Yours is dustier than this one!

-Probably!

-I'd buy it.

-What would you pay for it?

-40 or 50 quid, possibly.

-Yeah, you probably would.

Guys, buy it!

It's a pound!!

-Shall we keep going? We've plenty of time.

-What if it's gone? Shall we ask them to keep it for ten minutes?

-Till we decide.

-People aren't queuing up for it!

I shouldn't worry!

-Can you hang onto that for ten minutes till we think?

-Yes.

-Thank you.

-Can you throw in the tuba as well?

-Ten minutes to go.

-Come on.

-Let's crack on.

Are you sure, blues? That is a bargain!

Ooh, look, four candles!

-Fork 'andles!

-Fork 'andles!

No, I do the jokes!

Really?

Sir, can I ask how much the mirror is?

-140.

-140.

-Right.

It's such a shame, really. That was made in 1860, 1870.

-Yes.

-It's 140 years old.

-A pound a year!

-Exactly.

It's a lovely antique piece of furniture.

-The woodwork.

-The scroll work. The lovely scrolled feet.

It's a beautiful flame mahogany.

It's such a shame that they're not worth very much.

-It is a shame. It's something we can come back to.

-Yes.

Very possibly.

-Let's go.

-OK.

Onwards and upwards.

Where's the mirror gone?

Oh, no!

Where's the mirror?

She's just sold it for 40 quid.

-No!

-Yes.

Oh, Ken!

I told you to buy it!

Don't be depressed, Ken.

You go, James. Cheer the poor boy up.

Your magic touch was relayed on our first purchase.

Don't worry about that.

-I'm still happy with the jewellery.

-I think we should negotiate hard with that jewellery lady.

Two items.

Do you think we could get her down to 50 quid each?

Good distraction tactics, Mr Braxton.

I would probably say this is going to be 1900 or so.

-It's an antique.

-Yes.

-But it's early 20th century.

How much is this barometer, sir?

It could be 195.

Well, no, it's lovely. It's unusual with the clock and things.

But I don't think for the sale room.

-We may see you later.

-Thank you very much.

The clock's ticking. Right, go for it, blues.

-I press the pink.

-We should just go for the one.

The bracelet stands out, doesn't it? When you look at the two together, it jumps out at you.

We're tight for cash.

The lowest I could go on this piece would be...

-um...

-50?

-No, I'm working it out.

No, no, no. It would be 80.

I wouldn't go any lower than that. It's a signed piece.

We said we'd do 145 for the two.

-I'll take another £10 off, but that is my final offer.

-135.

-135 for the pair.

-If you're really good, I'll put the bracelet in a nice box as well.

-Ooh.

-KEN:

-You OK with that?

-Yeah, and it gives him some money.

-OK.

-Give it a go. Thank you. Well done. Thank you very much indeed.

-Well done, Josie. Well done.

-You'll have to be my friend now!

You got your jewellery in the end!

So, items two and three for 135.

The bracelet for 70 and the brooch for 65.

In the blink of an eye, the blues are done!

-It's 1903, it's got here.

-That's attractive.

-Is it silver?

-Yeah, that's silver.

135.

All the marks on this should be matching.

-Yes. And they're the same?

-They match.

-Indeed.

But it's not shouting at you, is it? You didn't say, "I love that, Mark!" So we'll move on.

Careful, guys, it's quiet. The stallholders are packing up.

Four minutes left, now.

I think we should go back and see about the cruet set and inkwell.

-Malcolm, do you want to look at the barometer?

-The barometer.

Well, your choices are silver, silver or silver.

Excuse me, madam.

Now, we've got two-and-a-half minutes. I'm going to talk fast!

This is marked at 135. What would be the best on that?

-110.

-Right. You've got 30 seconds.

-I think we'll go with that.

-Go with that.

-We'll go at that.

-There was a thing you liked, but we've no time.

-No. You couldn't do it for 100?

-No.

-That's your best price?

-110 is the limit.

OK. That's it, then.

-Is that the deal?

-Yes, it's a deal.

-Lovely. Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Well, I'm exhausted.

-So am I!

-Yes.

-Time for a cup of tea.

-Most definitely. Let's go!

Phew, that was close!

This silver and glass inkwell for £110 completes the reds' shop.

And relax!

That's it. Decisions made, monies spent.

So who made the best buys? You decide.

Malcolm and Carolyn got off to a great start.

Carolyn talked the talk,

bagging the matching decanters for £38.

They spent another 38 on the Cantonese vase.

But they took it to the wire, and with seconds to spare,

settled on the inkwell for £110.

I'm really sorry, guys, we had so little time to make our decisions.

Certainly at the end. My goodness!

-But you like a bit of excitement!

-I certainly do!

-How much did you spend?

-£186.

I'd like £114 of leftover lolly.

That's it. And the coinage.

14. Very good.

You've got the time, Mark, and now you've got the money!

-What are you going to get up to?

-We nearly didn't have the time,

so I'm going to try and get them something they'd be proud of me for.

We're always proud of you, Mark!

-Bless you.

-Have a lovely time. Good luck, Mark.

Meanwhile, let's remind ourselves of what the blue team bought.

Ken and Josie started in theatrical style,

with Ken seeing a profit in this make-up box

bought for a tenner.

Then came disappointment.

But after that bargain slipped through their fingers,

two came along at once for 135.

This silver and agate bracelet for 70,

and a silver and enamel brooch for £65.

-Well done.

-We can go and get a cup of tea now!

Can we?

Too soon for tea. I want your leftover lolly.

Not me. Ask him.

-Did you enjoy your shop?

-Yes, we did. We had a good time.

-Which was your favourite piece?

-Some of us had a good time.

-Don't ask about the mirror.

No mirrors. How much did you spend overall?

-145.

-145. I'd like £155 of leftover lolly.

That's it, is it? Got a fiver in there? 155. Thank you.

-Look at Braxton's face, lighting up!

-Is that the most money you've had to spend here?

-He loves £155.

-Certainly it is.

So, £155, James. What's your target to go and buy the bonus buy?

I'll have to work hard. It looks like a lunar landscape out there.

But I'm sure I'll find something big and sculptural in a cattle shed.

Like a mirror?

I think we'll drop this mirror subject!

Very good luck, chaps. Meanwhile, we're heading off somewhere utterly sublime.

Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson,

naval genius, hero and superstar of his age,

sounds like a character from a novel.

But there's nothing imaginary about this chap!

Here we are in the attic store of the National Museum of the Royal Navy

where, via a few objects, I'm going to be able to put some flesh

onto the bones of Britain's premier naval hero.

Here we've got a later-leather-bound volume

that dates back to Nelson's very beginning in the Royal Navy.

It was presented to him in 1771

as a little stripling midshipman.

He was 12 years of age. It says here that it's a present

from Horatio's uncle, a Captain Suckling.

It's a book he would have used to help him calculate longitude

because, of course, midshipmen, as part of their long training,

needed to know how to navigate.

Nelson, of course, is a man who was forever in the wars, literally.

In 1794,

he nearly lost all his sight in his right eye, in Corsica.

Three years later, in Tenerife,

he had a terrific injury thanks to a musket ball in his right arm

which ultimately was amputated.

Here in the museum they have examples of his handwriting.

In a letter dated 1795, you can see his cursive script

using his then intact right arm.

But immediately after the amputation,

he's practising already with his left hand.

This is the first piece of paper that he inscribed using his remaining left arm.

It says, "God bless you and Freemantle. Horatio Nelson."

An incredibly brave fellow.

But a man as a human being who was also flawed.

He treated his wife abominably

and he ran off with the wife of another,

scandalising society.

As Captain Nelson he had met, a few years earlier,

the wife of the British envoy, Sir William Hamilton, in Naples.

When he returned to Naples

after the Battle of the Nile on 1 August 1798,

he fell for Emma Hamilton big time.

Here she is,

preserved by Bone, the miniaturist,

painted on ivory.

She started her life as a prostitute in a bath house in Piccadilly.

Later, she was passed on to the elderly envoy to George III in Naples,

Sir William Hamilton.

She lived with him for five years until he ultimately married her

before she met Admiral Nelson.

The three of them lived together perfectly happily

in a menage a trois.

This lovely miniature is backed by a coil of her hair

which is this lovely auburn chestnut shade,

one of her most distinctive features.

It was indeed the elderly husband, Sir William Hamilton,

who bequeathed this miniature to Nelson following his death.

When they left Italy and returned to England all together in 1801,

they stopped off in Vienna,

which is when Nelson had this plaster life mask

cast from his face.

This is a true and accurate likeness of Nelson when he was alive.

If this had been a death mask, the configuration of muscle and flesh

simply would not have looked like this.

And it's a really nice true depiction

of what Nelson actually looked like.

The question today is, at the auction, will our teams have to put a brave face on their efforts?

Today we're at Denham's sale room in West Sussex, just outside Horsham

-with Simon Langton, our auctioneer. Morning, Simon.

-Morning.

Now, for the red team, their first item are these two very similar, but not matching decanters.

It's almost a matched pair, isn't it?

Put them farther away on the table and you won't tell the difference.

-Does this cut glass sell OK?

-It's not as good as it used to be.

We're talking 30 to £50 for a pair like that.

-That's all right as our team paid 38.

-Right.

They're in the frame, anyway.

Brilliant. Now, the Canton vase

-which I suppose has got a new top rim to it?

-If you look closely, we've got the bottom half of bodies!

-Have we?

-We're missing... There's a foot!

Oh, yes!

So this thing would have gone on for a considerable distance

above where it got broken before this chap was put on.

-Another two or three inches on top.

-That's interesting.

Anyway, as an altered piece,

decorative enough. How much?

Again, it's broken, so we're talking 30 to 50.

That's OK with our team. They only paid £38.

-So they might turn a small profit.

-Quite canny.

-They're canny enough.

-They've been watching Bargain Hunt for years!

-Ah, well!

And their last item which they bought because they know that boat-shaped objects in silver

do quite nicely, which they tend to, we've got a boat-shaped inkwell.

-Right.

-Modest proportions.

-Sheffield. About 1910, thereabouts. Nice shape to it.

Cut glass inkwell still there. 70 to 90 for that one.

Ah, this could be their comeuppance.

They paid £110.

-On the money there.

-On the money for that.

-So what they make on these two by way of miserable profits, they may lose.

-Swings and roundabouts.

Could be it, couldn't it? If you're right, they'll need their bonus buy. Let's have a look at it.

Malcolm and Carolyn, you had a wonderful shop up.

You spent a magnificent £186 and £114 went to Mark. Mark, what have you got?

-Ooh!

-A backscratcher?

-No!

-I don't think so. You could probably use it as that.

-Good.

But it's not a backscratcher. It's actually... The mark is a bit rubbed,

but I think it's mid-18th century.

-It's a solid silver marrow scoop.

-Wow.

-Right.

George II, early George III.

Lovely colour.

I wanted to buy you something a bit different from the items we bought on the shopping day.

Something a bit interesting for you.

-Hopefully.

-How much did you pay for it?

-Quite a lot!

-Did you?

-For that?

-Yes.

-Go on.

-£100.

-Agh!

-Right.

-OK.

-£100.

-Is it going to make a profit for us, do you think?

I would hope there might a be a 20 to £30 profit in it.

-Good.

-I haven't seen a marrow scoop at auction for quite a while.

They don't come up every day of the week.

-That could be an advantage.

-The silver dealers, silver collectors, it might be their chance to buy one.

Scoop up a profit!

Anyway, with that happy thought,

think on, because you don't decide until after the sale of your three items.

For viewers at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Mark's scoop.

OK, Simon, no modern household can be complete without a marrow scoop!

No, we regularly have soup, so we'll always use a good marrow scoop.

Right. OK. Bottom mark a nice 18th-century mark.

-We're talking round about 50 to £75 for that one.

-£100 they paid.

A little bit top end.

Doesn't look so hot. Anyway, that's it for the reds.

And now for the blues. A mixture here.

The theatrical make-up box.

-Have you got your make-up on today?

-A bit of blusher!

Yes!

-What do you think it's worth?

-I put 20 to £30 on that one.

That's not much per stick!

-They'll be delighted. They only paid £10.

-Right.

-The little tin box is worth a tenner.

-I think so, yes.

Perfect. Next up is the Scottish bracelet which apparently is hallmarked for 1954.

-It's a bit late for this sort of work.

-Late, isn't it?

It's a classic high Victorian polished agate stones.

-But '54, a bit late.

-Pretty, though.

Yes, it's got a name. 30 to £50 on it.

£70 paid.

I mean, it might get there. What about the Juliano lookalike brooch?

Again, costume jewellery never fails to astonish me what it makes.

It's very popular at the moment.

Having said which I've put an estimate of 30 to £50 on it.

-So you're not that positive?

-It's a brooch.

-A brooch.

-Brooches are a bit...

Anyway, how much for the pin?

Right. We're talking round about 30 to 50 on that one.

£65 paid.

-It's a bit on the money, isn't it?

-It is.

They'll need their bonus buy. Let's have a look.

Now, Ken and Josie, you spent £145, which is pretty miserable.

You gave the man 155 of leftover lolly. What did you buy, James?

-Not a lot.

-Oh, we've seen this before. Yes.

-I remember this.

-The American jug.

-Exactly. Well done. Well done.

-You didn't spend all our money on this?

-No, course I didn't!

-Only the...

-60, wasn't it?

35?

I bought that for 25.

-Oh, God!

-That's all right.

-It's a nice quality item.

-How much will it sell for?

Sell for? My estimate, I don't know.

-Anywhere between 20 and £40.

-You could double your money.

-We could.

-And we might not!

We could lose 20 quid.

-That's the dodgy moment, isn't it?

-It's very nice.

-Think about it.

For the audience at home, let's see what the auctioneer thinks.

There you go, Simon. What you've always wanted to see. A genuine piece of plated silver.

Right. OK.

It's an American silver-plated jug. Um...

Does that help it, being American?

-Rather than being English silver plate?

-Not unless it's got Tiffany's written on it!

But in this case it hasn't, so we're talking 20 to £30.

OK. £25 paid by James Braxton as a bonus buy.

-You never know. The team might not take it.

-No.

Exciting! Thank you, Simon.

Before we auction today's bargains, take a look at this.

Here's a game old bird!

It's actually Japanese and it dates from around about 1900.

On the face of it,

it looks incredibly uncomfortable the way it's standing on top of this trunk

and leafage.

The reason for that is, it's not supposed to stand like that at all!

It's got a square peg

which fits into the top of the river stump

but where this front leg is positioned,

this curious twisting over, would indicate that it's fallen and got bent.

It needs some restoration.

But look at the plumage. Look at the colour of the bird's body.

This is expert Japanese gilding

where each of the feathers is individually formed

and the colour is just great.

I can't tell you how much I like the base, though.

I think that's absolutely stellar.

If I was a Japanese scholar,

I'd be able to point to that little plaque in the base

which has been inscribed with Japanese characters,

and tell you who the sculptor is.

What's a lovely ornithological bronze like this worth?

Well, I would have thought this should sit comfortably

with an estimate of 300 to £400.

But at 50 to £70, that makes this a bit of a bargain!

Let's catch up with the red team. It's their moment of truth.

-Malcolm, Carolyn, this is exciting, isn't it?

-Very exciting!

The first lot up are your two Georgian decanters. Here they come.

Lot 220 is the matched pair of 19th-century ring-necked decanters and stoppers.

There they are, being held up for you.

And I am bid ten, 12, 14,

16, 18, 20 and two.

24. 26. 28. 30.

-With me now at £30.

-Come on!

-All done and selling now at £30.

All done at 30, are we?

-Fairly close.

-£30. Very quick.

Minus £8. Sorry about that.

The Canton famille rose porcelain vase, with courtly figures.

Reduced in height. There we have it.

What do we say for this one? £30 for it, do we say?

I'm bid 30 straight in. Do I see the two?

At £30, now. Maiden bid at 30. Looking for two anywhere. £30.

-Cheap lot here at 30.

-Come on!

-Do I see the two? Art £30.

Going to sell at 30, then. And two, just in time.

34. 36. 38. 40?

At £38. Sure you won't go 40?

At £38. All done at 38 and selling now.

-£38 wiped its face!

-Yes!

The wrong thing wiped its face!

This is what we want to wipe its face, the inkwell.

I'm nervous about this!

Inkwell. There it is.

Sheffield. 1903. Nice little thing.

And I am bid 50.

And five. 60. And five.

70. With me at 70. And five.

75 left-handed. Do I see 80? 80.

And five. 90.

85 with you.

85. Going to sell. 90 is going. And five. 100?

At 95, left-handed. All done and selling now at £95. At 95, are we?

So close, £95. You're minus £15 on that.

Which means overall you're minus 23.

-So, to marrow scoop or not to marrow scoop?

-That is the question.

It is the question, and it's quite a big question.

It's £100-worth of marrow scoop.

-And you're minus 23 which could be a winning score.

-Yes, it could be.

What do you think, Carolyn?

-I think we...

-Go on, spit it out.

-..don't go with it.

-You don't go with it?

-No offence, Mark.

-Sorry, Mark.

-None taken. I won't be offended.

-I think...

-Let's keep it at minus 23.

-Keep it as minus 23.

-Ring-fence minus 23.

-Yes.

-OK. Sure about that?

-Yes.

OK, we're not going with the bonus buy, but we're going to sell it anyway.

Let's see what happens. No bonus buy, but here it comes.

The antique double-ended marrow scoop.

Nice clear Georgian marks to it.

What do I say for it? 50? I'm bid 30 and five.

40 and five. 50 and five now?

55, left-handed. Do I see 60?

And five. 70.

-And five.

-Stop!

70 to the head. All done and selling at 70, are we?

Away it goes now at £70, then.

-The right decision. Well done.

-The right decision.

-Minus £30.

But you've ring-fenced your losses at minus 23, which is your score,

-which could well be a winning score.

-Let's hope.

-Just don't say a word to the blues!

-No, never!

So, the Oriental bird.

Beautifully cast, a bit wonky in the legs,

estimate 50 to £75.

Tremendous amount of bids here. I'm bid 320, 340, 360, 380,

400 and 20.

At 420. Anybody give me 440?

-Telephone bid.

-440. 460. 480.

500 and 20.

-Second telephone!

-540.

560.

560 in the room now. 580. 600.

I thought a nought had been left off!

660. 680.

700.

-Going on!

-And 20. 740.

760?

At 740. Seated now. 740. All done at 740, are we?

£740. Now that's what you call a result!

So, let's see if the blues' items will fly. Remember,

the reds made a loss of £23.

-Josie, how do you feel?

-Absolutely fine.

-Full of confidence?

-Oh, yes!

First off is the make-up. Here it comes.

The rectangular japanned theatrical make-up box.

As we see it there. What do we say

for this one? £10 for it, do we say?

-Come along, now. Five to get us going.

-Come on!

I'm bid five pounds. Six, here.

Seven. Eight. Seven at the back.

I'm looking for eight. Eight here. Nine. Ten? Nine at the back.

-You never know who might have used it.

-No thespians here!

At £9 with you. I'm going to sell at nine. All done at nine?

-I can't bear it. £9.

-That was our best hope!

-You are minus £1.

-Criminal!

-Here's the bracelet.

-Lot 241 is the silver bracelet,

set to seven square pendants, as we see them, polished stone pendants.

What do we say for this one?

£30 for it? 30 straight in.

Do I see two? At £30. Looking for two.

At £30. Maiden bid at £30. Do I see the two?

At £30. I'm going to sell now at 30. All done at 30?

-Maiden bid! We're lucky to get 30!

-Minus £40.

-Oh, dear.

-I'll buy it off them when we go outside!

This isn't good. Here comes "Juliano".

A brooch. There we are. Handsome brooch hung with pendant.

I'm bid 22, 24, 26, 28, 30.

And two. 34. 36. 36 left-handed now.

Are we all done and selling at £36? All done at 36, are we?

36 is four short of 40. You are minus 29 on that.

40, 50, 69, 70.

Minus £70.

-Are you going with the bonus buy or not?

-Yes.

-You're going with it.

Lot 245 is the American silver-plated water jug.

There we are. Large plated water jug for you.

I'm bid ten, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20,

and two, 24. We're now at £24, then.

Are we done and selling at £24? Away it goes at 24, then.

Bad luck, James, that is minus £1.

Which means you're minus £71 overall.

-Don't say a word to the reds.

-Fair enough.

-Thank you very much.

Well, well, well, well, well!

-What fun! You been chatting, you teams?

-No.

-No.

-No communicating going on?

-No.

-That's unusual with a theatrical lot!

They're very keen on chatting! Anyway,

it is my duty to reveal who the winners and the runners-up are.

No losers on Bargain Hunt, just runners-up!

And they are, by a substantial margin today, the blues.

Sorry about that!

Congratulations.

-You have lost on every single item, which is not so hot.

-Quite an achievement!

There we are. Perhaps there is a message here about the jewellery.

-But, nevertheless, had a good time?

-Lovely, thank you.

-Good for you, Ken?

-Wonderful.

-We've loved having you on the programme. Brave,

even in adversity to the end. Thank you very much.

But the victors today, yes!

The reds have won by only managing to lose £23.

£23 is not too bad.

You didn't go with the bonus buy, which was a smart move!

And you managed to preserve it.

It's always nice to have a wiped face, and you had one of those, which is jolly nice.

-Had a nice time, Malcolm?

-Enjoyed it thoroughly.

-Good for you?

-Fabulous.

-We loved seeing you.

Join us soon for more bargain hunting, yes?

Yes!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd