Shrewsbury 12 Bargain Hunt

Welcome to Shrewsbury.

I'm about to let two teams loose on this fair.

Their task? To find three items to make a profit with at auction.

Easy! Let's go bargain hunting.

If you had £300 and an hour to find three items

to make a profit on at auction, how would you go about it?

What would be your plan of attack?

Will today's teams stick by their plan?

Let's have a quick sneak preview, shall we?

In the Red corner, we have two tussling sisters

taking advice from that giant of auctioneering, Colin Young.

-It's quite modern but...

-It's a bevelled mirror, that's one thing in its favour.

-No, you don't like it.

-What do you think? No.

And in the Blue corner, two good friends looking up to David Harper

for big decisions.

I need some advice.

And here we are. Today's Red team, Janet and Denise, already a legend.

-Hi, girls.

-Hello.

-Hello.

-How are you?

-All right, thank you.

-So, Janet, any sibling rivalry between you two?

-Not at all.

No. We're different as chalk and cheese.

We like different things but we never argue about anything.

-Now, Janet, you're retired now.

-I am.

-What did you used to do?

I used to own a dress shop, a ladies' dress shop, for 35 years.

-And what do you get up to now?

-I go bowling, walking, cycling.

-What's this about the National Trust?

-I've just become a volunteer at the National Trust.

Isn't that smashing?

-Now, Denise, you're retired, darling?

-Yes, I am.

What did you used to do?

I used to be a carer for people with Alzheimer's.

But you're retired, so now what do you get up to?

Oh, we've got this cottage and we've been doing that up for 11 years

and then we've got quite a number of animals.

So apart from all this wildlife you look after, what do you collect?

-Crystal. I love crystal.

-Well, there we are.

-Well, very good luck.

-Thank you.

-Isn't that smashing?

-Now, Laura and Sharrie. How are you?

-Very well.

-Fine, thank you.

-Good friends, you two girls, right?

-Yes.

We've only known each other for about 18 months.

We became friends when my daughter started nursery.

Her daughter was already there and we're inseparable.

We're always on the phone. "I'm on my way over. Put the kettle on."

It's always nice when the children bring you together.

If the kids get on, it's almost guaranteed that you'll get on, too,

-which is lovely.

-Yeah.

You're a busy mother but what else do you get up to, Laura?

I'm studying part time at the moment, retraining in accountancy

and also in my spare time, I quite like arts and crafts.

I dabble in my own card-making.

Now, is it true that you're double-jointed? Or triple-jointed?

-It would appear so, yes.

-Are you going to give us a demo?

-Sharon's been desperate for this.

-Stand by, stand by. Look out.

Oh, my Lord.

I don't think I recommend the audience at home tries that.

No. I haven't found anyone else that can do that.

-You might have a few joints out of place.

-There we are.

It should help you pick up a bargain or two

by doing it when nobody's watching.

-Now, Sharon, you're a busy mother.

-I am indeed.

-Tell us about the kiddy-winks.

-I have two children,

a little boy, Declan, who's nearly two,

and Carrie, who's nearly five.

-So quite a handful, then.

-Yeah. They take up most of my time.

I've been with my husband, Andy, for seven years.

He's a local musician. He writes his own songs and plays in the local area.

And as well as that, and running the house,

I also work part time in a local pub.

So have you two got a plan to beat these sisters?

Our main tactic today is not to spend over £100 on one item.

-So that's your strategy?

-Yeah.

Talking about the hundreds of pounds, here come your 300, look.

-There's your money moment.

-Thank you.

You know the rules. Your experts await and off you go

and very, very, very good luck.

Two teams, all girls - my favourite.

-Well, I like crystal, you like paintings.

-I like paintings.

-Right.

-Paintings and vases.

-What are we looking for, girls?

-Just anything pretty, eye-catching.

-Something nice and blingy and shiny?

-Yeah.

-They're very valuable, they are.

-Are they?

-Yeah, when they're full.

-It all looks very modern on here.

-Yes, they're modern collectables.

-We want something a little bit older.

-Come on, then. OK.

I just like the colours in it.

'Ah! Janet's drawn to an intriguing vase.'

-It says Medina on it.

-So that's Italian, isn't it?

-It's actually Maltese.

-Oh, is it? Right.

'Colin's got his best suit on, his giving-financial-advice suit -

'let's see if it works.'

I'll be honest with you, you know, price wise,

sometimes this can be quite overpriced at the fairs.

It's not overpriced in fair terms

-but it's still going to have to...

-Come down.

-Yes.

You're going to have to negotiate down a fair bit to go to auction.

Shall we just pop it down and keep it on the shopping list

-and come back to it later, maybe?

-Yeah.

-Yes.

-OK.

-I like that.

-Yeah.

Oh, she's a decision maker, this one.

'Laura's an accountant, so she's not scared of lots of numbers.'

-Anything else?

-That's the thing that caught my eye.

I think that's quite different.

I like that it's incorporated in the steering wheel.

-Yeah. That's a ship's wheel.

-Yeah.

-Obviously, a clock.

Looking at that, what sort of age would you think it is?

It... It looks fairly new, just not been that looked after.

Yeah.

Well, I think you're absolutely right. It is fairly new.

It's probably '80s or even '90s.

And obviously, it gives you Tokyo, New York, London and Paris,

the standard four time zones that people would use.

Erm, it's a nice thing but I don't know if it would do well in auction.

I'd be a bit more drawn towards it if it didn't have the...

-the, sort of, quite noticeable damage.

-All right, OK.

-So we'll give that one a miss?

-Yeah. But I think that's really nice.

-Yeah.

-You quite like these?

-Yes.

The colour scheme's lovely. I love them.

'Now Janet's found some pictures. What will sister Denise think

'and what will their financial advisor say?'

-The image is the all-important thing.

-Yes.

-You've got steam ships on there, so it's a good marine collection.

-And they're signed.

-Yeah.

-It's not a name that I recognise.

-What's it like at the back? Oh!

-That's fine.

-Is that OK?

-That's fine.

These boards that you find on the back of these,

where the split comes in the boards,

there's often, over time, moisture going in there

and a little bit of dirt and grime.

In turn, what you then find,

is you'll find the vertical lines coming through the image.

For instance, here, you've got a little bit of foxing coming through.

So, they're pretty original and in that nice fresh state.

-My only concern is going to be that they could well be out of our budget.

-Oh, right.

-But it's worth enquiring...

-OK.

-..if you'd like to enquire.

-Yes.

Yes? OK.

-Individually, they should be worth £100-£150 each.

-Right.

So if they're priced at a couple of hundred pounds, that's great,

then I think we should go for them.

Let's see what I can do for you.

I couldn't find a price tag, so...

-There's one here.

-Oh, you've got a price tag on it. 285.

-Oh!

-250.

-It's your call.

-'Can Denise strike a deal?'

What is the very lowest you can go to?

What about 220, for you? That's a good price for those.

-220.

-What about 200?

-I will accept 200.

-Will you?

-OK.

-That's great. You're very kind.

-Thank you very much.

-Thanks very much.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Thank you. I think you'll do well with them.

'He would say that, wouldn't he?

'That's two thirds of their cash gone on item one. Was that wise?

'Now, Sharrie's got her eye on some big barrels.'

-Yeah, a bit of a chip, there.

-I know.

But it's stone glazed. It will often chip. You can get away with it.

Grosvenor, Bridgeton Pottery, Glasgow. That's quite unusual.

You'd think in this part of the world, they'd be Staffordshire,

but Glasgow is a much rarer district for making pots.

Because I work in a pub, it's just like... They represent me.

-Drinking.

-I don't drink!

-You're teetotal?

-I am.

-You're not?

-I am.

-That's probably sensible because a lot of people who work in pubs drink too much.

I could never work in a pub. It would be a total disaster.

-Good for you.

-Yeah.

I think, like, if I have those as my item,

then you choose an item and then do a team item.

What would be the price on these two?

To give me a small profit, I can do £50.

-Do you like it with 50 on it?

-I still like it.

-Your decision.

-Thank you very much.

-Marvellous. Good.

Good decision making. Nice and quick. Brilliant.

Thank you very much. Good show.

Now, the Reds are reflecting on how best to use their remaining £100.

What do you think? It's quite modern.

Well, it's a bevelled mirror, that's one thing in its favour.

-You don't like it.

-No.

-Nice furnishing lot. Definitely not a good auction lot.

-All right.

-Yeah.

Meanwhile the Blues, with £250 still to use,

are now entering the costume department.

-Oh! I like that.

-Oh, wow.

It's like out of a pantomime.

If you had a mask, you could be a highwayman.

-I've been called a highwayman before.

-I thought you might have.

-How much is it?

-20 quid for the two.

-That's... It's a bit jazzy,

-I like them.

-A bit different.

Oh, look at you!

-Wow.

-Do you think that looks nice?

-Oh, that's fantastic.

-That's nice.

-Do a twirl.

-Let's have a look.

Lady of leisure.

-I like it. I really like it and...

-Well, we'll have a look round and come back.

Now, remember the Reds have £100 to split between two items

and their bonus buy.

-That's quite a sweet little trinket box.

-What sort of price is on that?

I've got 180 on it, so...

-Oh, we haven't got enough money.

-We've spent so much.

-It seems very strange to be saying this.

-It does.

-So early.

-You know, there are sweet little brooches here.

-Yeah.

-The one with the pearls in, I like.

-Yeah, yeah?

-I prefer the one with diamond in the middle.

-Do you?

-OK.

-Well, I'm going to split the decision here.

-Oh, right.

We'll be here all day if we don't,

-because I think that's the better of the two.

-Do you?

And a nice little diamond chip in the centre of it,

just a good sort of period-looking thing from the Edwardian period

and it's worth enquiring what sort of money they're asking for it.

'It's £75.'

There's no way you can go down to 50, is there?

TRADER: 55 would be the very best.

-I think 55 being the very best is actually very good.

-Do you?

-I do.

And I suppose the only thing you can do is be really cheeky and split the difference at 52 if possible.

-Mm-hm?

-Please.

-All right.

-Pretty please.

Yeah, that's fine.

-Are you agreed as a team? Is this a 52 purchase?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-It is.

-Thank you very much.

-You're welcome.

So the Reds have now spent £252,

while the Blues have only used up 50.

How much is the vase, David?

That's £25.

That's a nice... That looks really modern.

Now, think about it - when was that made?

1917 - what was going on? The First World War.

Can you imagine what the world was like? Something completely alien to the world that we live in,

-yet that looks really contemporary, doesn't it?

-I really like that.

It's different.

What's your best price on that one?

TRADER: Er, 20.

Oh, look at that face. Did you see that face, then?

Will you take 15?

-18.

-17.50.

-Go on, then.

-Thank you very much.

-Cheers.

-Thank you.

-CLATTERING

-Ooh!

-I think it's really nice.

-Yeah, I like that.

It's a good, stylish thing.

For £17.50, it's an absolute bargain.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

I might make antiques dealers out of you yet.

Two items nabbed and more than £200 still in their kitty,

while the Reds anguish over their limited funds.

The maximum we can offer you is £47.

I've got one of these in my bathroom.

I really like them. Not as old as this

but I think they're really nice.

-I think it's nice.

-Depending how much it is, really.

Have we got a price tag anywhere? No, there isn't.

It's worth asking the question, though.

-TRADER: I don't think it is.

-You don't?

-You don't?

-You know me.

-Go on, then. How much?

-125 is the very best.

-Ooh!

-It's Arts and Crafts.

Yeah, I know. Yeah, we've run out of money.

We've run out of money. Sorry.

'The Blues have found a drunken brick-layer.

'Not literally.'

Now, they were made in the 1960s, real trendy things,

but in the last few years, they've become incredibly fashionable yet again.

It's a remake of a classic '60s design

-but it's very now, as well, isn't it?

-Mm.

-Yeah.

-Yeah, I can see a lot of people being interested.

What would be the best trade on that one?

-What have I got on that?

-85.

-Er... 60.

-60.

-That would be the bottom. I won't go down below 60.

OK. All right.

-So is it...? Are you feeling it?

-I do like that.

And you spotted that straight away, didn't you?

You liked it when you saw it.

It's got beautiful markings. Do you think it will do well?

I think it has a chance. It's worth £60, of course it is.

-I think you'd regret it if we didn't go for it.

-I think I would.

-You'd regret it if we didn't buy it.

-Yeah.

-Would you?

-That's the decider.

-Yeah.

-Don't live in regret.

-No.

-Let's got for it.

-Yeah.

-Live for the moment.

-Marvellous.

We'll have that one. Thank you very much.

Good. That's a decision, then.

-Oh, hang on.

-Ooh!

-What's Sharrie spotted?

-What have you seen? You like that?

-That.

-Oh, dear.

-LAUGHTER

-Right.

-The colours are great.

I'm loving those.

So are we just putting a hold on that one?

We'll look at that one first. TRADER: Take it out of the box.

-OK, so that is its original box.

-Yeah.

-Wow.

-Wow! I love that.

-Wow.

Bohemian glass.

-Wow, that's quite a... quite a thing, isn't it?

-Yes.

Have a feel of that.

-In its original box?

-In the original box.

-'60s. That's weighty.

-OK.

-I like that one better.

-Do you really?

Under the light, that looks fantastic.

-Let's have a look. So Bohemian glass.

-That's heavy.

-Yeah.

Czechoslovakian.

-Er, dates - same period as that. It's '60s, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Yeah.

That is so '60s. I mean, that is just psychedelic, baby, isn't it?

-I love it.

-I'm feeling that a lot more.

-Are you really?

-Yeah.

-Are you feeling it? Are you?

-Yeah.

-Are you feeling it? My gosh.

-Let's have it under the light.

-It's just gorgeous.

-It's stunning.

You're building it up too much, here. We haven't had a price, yet.

There's a price on the box. 65.

What can we do that one for to give us a chance? Give us a chance.

Er... 55.

55. In its box. Now, I've got to tell you,

that, for me, makes all the difference,

because that box should have been chucked away 40 years ago.

But because it hasn't, it makes it much more appealing.

Would you take 50 for it? Can we go 50?

-Go on.

-Thank you.

-Now, are we definitely going to go with this?

-We've decided, we've decided.

-Right, that is it.

We're going to have it. Thank you very much.

-I'll quickly pay for it.

-I'll shake on that.

-Thank you.

-Marvellous.

-Thank you.

So the Blues have completed their trio with a lot of money left over.

And look. The Reds are reduced to revisiting that Maltese vase.

Yes. What can you do on that?

38? I can do...

It's our last item we've got to buy and we've not got a lot of money.

-You know it's Medina, Maltese glass?

-Yes.

-It's the trellis shape,

the design on it.

I'll do 35... 33.

Could you go down to 30?

-Erm...

-30 would be... 30 would be better.

If I look at the stock number, I'll tell you what we paid for it.

-I need a little bit of leftover lolly.

-You need a little bit.

Yeah, that's it.

-There isn't going to be a lot of it though.

-No.

-Yes, we can do 30 on that.

-You can do 30.

Thank you very much. Yes. Brilliant. Lovely.

-Wow.

-Yeah? Are you happy with that?

-Definitely.

There's the £30.

-Yes, yeah.

-Hand over the lolly.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

-Shall I wrap it up for you?

-Yes, please.

Thank you.

They've done it. Six items bought and time to have a closer look.

Janet and Denise hurled a huge share of their cash

at these marine paintings.

They've bought a gold brooch for £52

and finished off with a nice Malteser at £30.

-You've done phenomenally well.

-I think we were brilliant.

-Six minutes to spare, team.

-Yes?

-That was good, wasn't it?

-It was.

-Absolutely.

-I'm glad it wasn't my money, though, I was spending.

-Did you fall out with your sis at all?

-No, not really, did we?

-A little bit. I got my own way for a change.

-Yes, you did.

-Don't you get your own way normally?

-Never.

-Ah!

-Never.

-She rules the roost.

-Poor Janet.

-Anyway, which is your favourite piece?

-Oh, the pictures, I think.

-They're nice, aren't they?

-That's your favourite.

-What about you, Denise?

-Mine was the glass vase.

I love the colours in it and I like the pattern on it

and I think that's going to make quite a nice little profit.

-The biggest profit for the vase. Do you agree?

-No. Definitely the pictures.

-The pictures.

-Oh, yes.

-So you've had a nice morning.

-It's been great.

-And bumper spending, yes?

-Mm.

-How much did you spend in total?

-282.

-282. That means I only get £18 of leftover lolly.

-I know.

But I think this is marvellous. Don't be moody about it.

-It's very good to spend up.

-He nearly only had

-£1. Yes!

-It was getting there.

-Well, that would have bought you a small cup of coffee.

-Anyway, £18 is not a lot, Colin.

-No, it's not.

But even you, the maestro, will find something for 18 smackers.

Now, you relax up, you girls, and good luck, Colin.

Meanwhile, why don't we remind ourselves

what the Blue team bought?

Two Glasgow barrels came in at £50.

The Dutch vase was just £17.50.

And the colourful glass vase cost them £50.

-Now, listen, girls, you had a great time, right?

-Yeah, definitely.

Which is your favourite piece?

Erm, personally, I think we both agree,

-the third item, the vase.

-Do you agree with that?

-Absolutely.

-We adore that. It's gorgeous.

-Yeah.

And, Laura, which one is going to bring the biggest profit?

I've no idea. All of them, I hope!

Have you got a favourite that's going to make the profit, Sharrie?

My favourite is the vase

but I'm hoping my personal choice of the two barrels

-are going to bring in the most.

-Bring in the numbers. OK, fine.

-And what did you spend, all round, Laura?

-£117.50.

£117.50. Well, that's a complicated one, isn't it?

Can I have £182.50, then?

-Do I have £182.50?

-You do indeed.

-Is that what we've got?

-Yes.

-You've got it tucked away there. All nice and warm.

-There's the notes.

-Good. There's a stack of those.

-And your change.

I don't know why we gave you £300.

-I'm going to give you all this cash.

-I know, it's...

-I hope you spend the lot.

-It's going to be difficult.

-It's typical because we didn't buy what we set out to buy.

-I know.

-Blingy, silver, glamorous, pretty things.

-We'll leave it to you.

-It's down to me, as ever.

-As ever.

Well, safe hands, that's all I can say. Good luck, Dave.

We're returning to Shrewsbury, to Hall's sale room,

in the company of Jeremy Lamond.

Now, for Janet and Denise, they have punted hard

with these marine watercolours.

Well, they're not in the best condition, Tim.

This particular one has burn marks,

which means the planking has split at the back

and exposed the paper to the air

and given it this sort of unusual browning effect across the picture.

-Not good in a watercolour.

-Not good at all.

The other problem is Mr Vernon wasn't the best

of marine portrait painters.

-I mean, his ships are...

-Yes.

-..a bit quirky, really.

And the wind should be just going in one direction,

-not many, as you can see in the background.

-Yes.

The boats are bit tub-like.

I think we're going to have to sail away with those.

Yeah, OK, well, dig deep. What's your estimate?

Not much, I'm afraid. 40 to 60.

Ooh! £200 they paid.

OK, well, stand by for that. That's not good news.

OK, next item up is the little 15-carat gold brooch.

-Any good?

-Yes, it is. It's a good little object

and it's a precious metal, so it will make its money.

-It's a nice little bar brooch.

-Yeah. How much?

-£50-70.

-Fine. They're clawing it back. £52 they paid.

-That's fine.

And their last item is this variegated glass vase.

Well, not a rare thing. It was probably made in Malta.

It's the sort of thing that Medina made in Malta.

They were working from the late '60s onwards,

so it's a relatively modern vase.

-Quite jazzy looking.

-A nice thing. £20 or £30 we thought.

-OK, £30 paid.

-That's all right.

So the big number here is the watercolours

and they're likely to drag them down irrevocably

and they'll need their bonus buy.

So, Janet and Denise, you spent £282.

-I know.

-You gave poor Colin a miserable £18

to find you your bonus buy.

Colin, what did you find?

I needed a little bit of divine intervention,

-so I found it with the Good Book.

-Oh!

-Oh, right!

Victorian, tooled leather, nice gilt decoration on it.

A bit of scuffing around there, I'm afraid,

but what do you expect for something of this age?

With that £18, I thought this was a good investment

because, again, prices have just gone up that little bit.

They always made £20 at auction

but they've now started making 40, sometimes £50.

-So I think there's got to be a short profit in it for you.

-Hopefully.

-Decent clasps on it, metal clasps.

-OK.

Open her up and you've got a whole variety of things here.

I'll just give you a snapshot of it, really.

-Oh, I like that.

-You've got a full-colour chromolithograph,

so it's good and decorative.

But as well as that, you've got in here a lot of family history,

-so collectors of social history will be interested in it.

-I love it.

-You do?

-Yes.

-Do you?

-I do.

-Well, I like it.

-I really like it.

I say yes. Trust me.

-OK.

-Do we trust him?

-I think we do.

Well, you've watched his lips, you believe the man.

-He does not speak with forked tongue.

-Oh, good.

Ah, there you go. There's your prediction.

£18 spent and think about it but for the viewers at home right now,

let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about the Bible.

Now, Jeremy, what do you make of the old family Bible?

Well, it's a weighty tome, isn't it? It's got family names in it,

so it may appeal to somebody for that

and it's also got coloured lithographs in it,

which unfortunately are often taken out and put in slip frames and sold separately.

-So...

-How much, do you think?

-We think £30 or £40.

-Oh, Lordy. £18 paid by Colin.

-Well, that's not so bad.

No, absolutely right.

So that's it for the Reds, now for the Blues.

Their first item are these Glaswegian barrels.

Well, they are what they are. They're marked for Glasgow.

-Nice pottery coopered effect on them.

-Yeah.

And if you collect named memorabilia, they're quite good objects, aren't they?

-They're in good condition.

-How much?

-30 to 50, we think.

OK, £50 paid, so not likely to have a whopping profit in those.

-Now, the Gouda vase.

-We see quite a lot of these art vases

from the early 20th century and that is a fairly typical one.

It's a very subtle colour

and you just want, really, a collector of these to be in the auction and it will take off.

-They're not terribly popular, though, are they?

-They're so numerous, I suppose.

-We've only put £10 or £15 on this.

-They only paid £17.50,

-so you don't have a great mountain to climb.

-Not really.

-What about the glass vase?

-Well, that's quite striking.

You couldn't miss that on a bright day or even a dark day.

It's not particularly old. It does come with a box,

so that might help the collectors.

-£15-£25, that sort of region, we think.

-Our lot paid 50.

It's an emerging market, as you might say.

-But is it emerging enough?

-We'll see today, won't we?

-We will.

In fact, first of all, we're going to have a look at the bonus buy,

which, I fancy, they're going to need.

-So, you girls, are you happy?

-Yes.

-Yeah.

You should be ecstatic.

You spent £117.50, which is a very awkward number,

giving David Harper £182.50 of leftover lolly.

-David.

-Something nice and silvery and shiny.

-Oh!

-Ooh!

-Do you like it?

-I can see my reflection in it.

Exactly, exactly. It's beautiful.

-Does it open up?

-Yes, it does open up.

What I want you to do is hold it like that and then squeeze.

-Ooh!

-Oh!

-Isn't that lovely?

-That's clever.

-It's gorgeous. It's a snuff box.

-And it's hallmarked.

-Hallmarked Birmingham, 1904

by a company called James Deacon.

Good quality. It's very plain.

It's George III in its style, it's so refined,

but it's much later - 1904.

-And it's shiny.

-It's tactile - feel it, it's like a pebble,

a thing you'd pick up out of a river bed.

So imagine a gentleman having it in his pocket.

It's sturdy, it's tough, yet it's very refined.

-Is there much profit?

-Have I told you what I paid for it yet?

-No.

-No.

70. It could do £20 profit.

-OK.

-It's not going to make a fortune but it could make a profit.

-Any profit's good.

-There's nothing wrong with the item.

-I love it.

-Happy?

-Happy.

-Very good.

For the viewers at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about David's little box.

It's quite tactile, isn't it? Birmingham, 1904.

Let's see if it will spring a surprise on us.

-There we go.

-It does, too.

-It works so well after all these years.

-Yes. And it's had quite a lot of wear, too.

-It's been bashed about.

It has been described as a snuff box but for me, that's tobacco.

-It's too big for snuff, isn't it?

-They were still using snuff in 1904

but I suppose either substance could go in there

and nobody would complain.

With both of them, it has to be airtight and this is an airtight box.

-Yeah.

-So it's dual purpose, perhaps.

-So how much, then?

-£30-50.

-Oh, Lord.

He's bitten off more than he can chew here, David. He paid £70.

-OK, let's see how this works out.

-120, 120.

£120. At 120.

At 130. It's a telephone bidder.

Now, Denise, Janet. How are you feeling - all right?

-Excited.

-Are you? Because I know you sisters are very close, right?

-Yes.

-We are, yes.

-And I need to know, Denise, your innermost thoughts

about the things that you bought today.

Honestly tell me how you think Janet has done in her selections.

Right, well, Janet did all the selections,

I didn't get a look-in.

Well, I have to say, Janet, those marine watercolours

which you had a do at for 200 notes,

-the auctioneer's put £40-£60 on them.

-Oh, dear.

-Oh, no.

-Yes!

Now, the 15-carat gold bar brooch, no problem about that. £50-£70.

-Oh!

-You paid £52. That's very nice, Janet.

And the Maltese lattice-pattern vase,

£30 paid, he's put £20-£30. That ought to be fine.

If all else fails, you can fall back on the Bible.

It's been reliable for centuries to fall back on

and it's going to be there for you today.

-Great. OK.

-If you need it.

-Right.

First up, though, are the watercolours and here they come.

Marine watercolours, shipping at anchor. A pair.

A pretty pair of watercolours here, shipping watercolours.

Who's going to start me at £40 for them?

A pair. 40 is bid immediately.

Five, 50, five, 60.

Five, 70.

£70. On my left at £70.

-It's looking pretty grim.

-Marine watercolours at £70.

Any more? At 70.

Sure?

-£70 is minus 130.

-I told you!

She's going to shout at me now. She's never going to speak to me again.

Hang on, here comes the bar brooch.

Yellow gold and diamond-set bar brooch.

Already I'm bid £45.

Oh, things are looking up.

At £45. 50 at the back of the room. At £50.

At 50 it is. £50. It's with you, sir.

On the aisle at £50. Any more now? At 50.

This is disappointing. £50 is minus £2.

That's not so swift. Oh, dear. I thought that was your banker.

Now, here comes the vase.

A bid is with me already at £20.

At 20. It's a commission bid.

At £20. At 20.

Any more? At £20.

It's a pretty vase. At 20. All sure?

£20...

£20. You're on a slide here, girls. Minus £10.

That's 142. Minus 142.

Doesn't sound too bad if you say it quickly.

OK, 142...

-Yes.

-Oh, dear.

-Sorry about that, Janet.

-What about the Bible? Are you going to have a go?

-Definitely.

-Yes.

-We're relying on the Bible.

-Yes.

-A miracle.

-Yes.

I'll send up a prayer for you. But we're going with the Bible?

-Yes, definitely.

-We're going with it and here it comes.

I can start this at £30.

At £30.

We saved the best till last.

£30 I have. It's a commission bid.

At £30.

Are we all finished, then, at £30?

Sure? 32.

35. At £35.

At 35. Any more?

At £35. I am selling it at 35.

That is plus £17, which is very, very nice.

Which means that is down to five, that is down to two.

-That is minus £125.

-That's not too bad.

-Oh, no.

-£125 down.

Don't you know you've broken up a sisterhood, here?

No, I don't believe it. She'll get over it.

-The big thing now is don't say a word to the Blues.

-We won't.

Keep quiet about that.

Now, Laura, Sharon, do you know how the Reds got on?

-No.

-No.

-Good. We don't want you to.

-Are you feeling confident about your stuff, Sharrie?

-Yes.

-You are?

I'm a little nervous but yes.

Any particular object you'd like to swap or wish you hadn't bought?

No, not at all.

-What about you?

-There's nothing I want to swap.

One of them I'd like to take home but everything else...

You can't talk about me like that.

Which is your favourite piece, do you think?

-Definitely the glass vase.

-Definitely the glass vase. OK, fine.

Well, £50 was paid for that, yeah?

His estimate is £15-£25,

so I'm afraid your favourite is not his favourite.

-He loves your Glasgow buff barrels.

-That was your choice, wasn't it?

£50 you paid for those. He thinks £30-£50 but they could do better.

And so there is some hope there.

And it's the barrels that are the first item and here they come.

£30 bid me. At £30 for these rather useful spirit barrels.

£30. 30.

Who's got £30?

-30. £25 for two spirit barrels. Good condition.

-Oh, come on!

£25. 25.

20? £20.

No? 20 I've got on the internet. At £20. A UK bidder.

At £20. Who'll go two? At £20 it is.

I'm calling it at £20. Are you all sure at 20?

-THEY GROAN

-I don't believe it. That is minus £30, girls.

-What bad luck.

-You can take responsibility for that one.

-Next is the Gouda.

-Art pottery vase, around 1917,

First World War period.

I'm already bid £10 on it. At £10.

£12. £15. £18, now.

At 18. £18 it is. At 18. Any more?

At £18. 20, internet.

£20 I've got. It's an internet bid.

At £20 in front of me. At 20. All done in the room?

Ooh!

Plus £2.50. Every little helps.

A Bohemian flared art glass vase in original box

by the Krivsky glassworks.

-Who'll start me at £15?

-How much?

-15.

-15.

-You get the box as well.

At £15. At £15. A modern collectable at £15.

Any bid? 15?

£15.

10, then. Ten is bid.

At £10. Who'll go 12?

At £10, I've got. At 10.

Are we sure at £10? Any more?

At £10.

-THEY GROAN

-£10 is minus £40, which means overall, girls,

you are minus £67.50.

-Oh!

-I need to sit down. I can't bear it.

-Yeah. £67.50.

-Oh.

You only spent £117 and you're £67.50 down the drain.

-Have we done well, then?

-No.

Well, not so far. What are you going to do about this snuff box?

-Yeah, we'll do that.

-You're going for it?

We put our trust in you.

-Yeah, we're relying on you, now.

-Yeah, right.

-So you're going to go with that intriguing opening box?

-Yes.

All right. Trust David, that's the motto.

We're going with the bonus buy and here it comes.

This pretty and practical silver snuff box

by James Deacon and Sons, Birmingham. Lots of interest here.

45 immediately. At £45.

On commission at 45. 50 on the internet.

5 on commission.

55. 60. Here at 60.

-70 already.

-Yes!

-Internet. 70. Commission's out.

At £70 it's jumped to now. On the internet at 70.

I need a profit, Tim, I need a profit.

At £70. I'm selling.

At 70...

-Oh!

-Yes!

-It wiped its face, David. What bad luck.

Well, that's close enough. No shame, no gain.

Overall, then, girls, you are minus £67.50.

-That could be a winning score...

-Yes.

-Do not talk to the Reds at all.

-OK.

-Well, teams, been chatting?

-No.

-No.

-You have not been communicating about the score at all?

-No.

-No.

-Well, it's no secret that both of you have made whopping losses.

-Oh!

-Excellent.

-But which team is marginally ahead?

And you've not communicated and therefore it will come as quite a surprise

-to the Reds that they are behind.

-Yes!

Oh!

-Yes, I'm afraid minus £125 is a fairly well-torpedoed hole.

-Yes.

Despite your profit of £17 on your bonus buy, Colin.

It was not sufficient to staunch the flow.

And I know you sisters love each other really...

-I do not want to be about in the car when you go home.

-No.

It's been great fun. It's just the taking part, not the winning.

-Absolutely.

-We've loved having you.

But the victors today, who win by only losing £67.50,

are the Blues.

The only profit you made was £2.50, so don't get snarky about that.

David came very close. You wiped your face on the bonus buy,

so there's no shame in that.

-Have you had a nice time?

-It's been good fun.

-Fabulous.

I hope your children enjoy watching you.

Join us soon for some more bargain hunting, yes?

Yes!