0:00:08 > 0:00:11We're hip! We're hot!
0:00:11 > 0:00:14We know where it's at.
0:00:14 > 0:00:20London's trendy Portobello Road, which is stiff with hipsters.
0:00:20 > 0:00:24So I should fit right in. Let's go bargain hunting!
0:00:53 > 0:00:57Yes, today we're at Portobello in Notting Hill.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01Home to one of the world's most iconic markets
0:01:01 > 0:01:03and popular with folks
0:01:03 > 0:01:06both for bargain hunting and also trendsetting.
0:01:06 > 0:01:12So our teams should have no difficulty in finding something chic and cheerful.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14Who writes this stuff?
0:01:14 > 0:01:18Coming up: disagreement in the Red camp.
0:01:18 > 0:01:24- Go for a wander, then come back. - I think we should get it. - Come back.- Get it.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26- Let's come back.- Domestic dispute.
0:01:26 > 0:01:30And the Blues' expert gets heavy with his team.
0:01:30 > 0:01:38- Guys, half an hour left.- Yeah. - This is serious!- OK, let's get going. Let's do it.- Money making!
0:01:39 > 0:01:44But will it all come good when the auction swings into action?
0:01:44 > 0:01:48Let's meet the contestants.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55Well, we've got two groovy young couples for you today.
0:01:55 > 0:02:01For the Reds, we've got Ollie and Carla. And for the Reds we've got Roberto and Nadine.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05- Hi, everybody.- Hello.- Happy? Now, Ollie, how did you two meet?
0:02:05 > 0:02:10We met at a heavy metal music awards ceremony.
0:02:10 > 0:02:15- Did you?- Yes. And neither of us like heavy metal.- So why were you there?
0:02:15 > 0:02:21Well, it was free beer, which was good, but I work in the music industry,
0:02:21 > 0:02:24and at the time Carla did as well.
0:02:24 > 0:02:29My job is to get bands on the radio. so I go out and find new bands and new acts
0:02:29 > 0:02:36- and then run off to Radio 1 and 6 Music and convince people to play them.- What a lovely job.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41- How long have you done that for? - Since leaving uni. About ten years now.
0:02:41 > 0:02:47- Are you fond of collecting things connected with music?- Yeah, well, my record collection's a bit silly.
0:02:47 > 0:02:53- I've got thousands of vinyl and CDs, probably about 5,000. - Have you really?- Yeah.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57- So, Carla, do you still work in the music industry?- No, I don't.
0:02:57 > 0:03:02- I work for a very well-known alcoholic beverage company.- Ah!
0:03:02 > 0:03:09- Would that be a spiritual company? Or a beery company?- Spirit. - What a nice job!
0:03:09 > 0:03:15- Beautiful job.- What do you have to do?- Cocktail tastings... - You don't?- Yes!
0:03:15 > 0:03:19- Always before lunch as well. - Really?- Yes!
0:03:19 > 0:03:23- And what are your tactics? - Well, I'm not really sure.
0:03:23 > 0:03:28Maybe try to find something silvery. Maybe not spend too much.
0:03:28 > 0:03:34- Ahh.- And Carla will do the haggling. - Good luck. Excellent. How did you two meet, Robert?
0:03:34 > 0:03:39We met at a tennis tournament six years ago in Dusseldorf.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43You played for your university and at the after-party
0:03:43 > 0:03:50we met each other and we kind of twinned. We continued to have email contact
0:03:50 > 0:03:55and then we went to the same uni in England, here in Regent's College,
0:03:55 > 0:03:58and then we got together.
0:03:58 > 0:04:04- Do you still play tennis a lot? - Em, I do sometimes. Robert played...
0:04:04 > 0:04:08- So the tennis has gone off the boil, but you remained on it.- Absolutely.
0:04:08 > 0:04:13- That's what I like to hear. So you grew up in Germany?- Exactly.
0:04:13 > 0:04:19- Nadine, you met in Germany. Are you German?- No, I'm Dutch. I'm half-Dutch, half-American,
0:04:19 > 0:04:23- but I grew up in Holland. - In antiques, what do you like?
0:04:23 > 0:04:30- Em...- Have you developed any taste for silver or...?- I like silver, I like gold as well.
0:04:30 > 0:04:38- What are your tactics? - I think we'll look for something shiny in the gold, silver area.
0:04:38 > 0:04:43We'll see whether that works out or not. Now the money moment - £300 apiece. You know the rules.
0:04:43 > 0:04:49Your experts await. And off you go! Wow! We're going to have an international!
0:04:50 > 0:04:58Wearing suitable headgear and preparing to stalk a bargain is Anita Manning helping the Reds.
0:04:58 > 0:05:03Meanwhile, the Blues will be assisted by the ever-excitable Charles Hanson
0:05:03 > 0:05:08who is looking for antiques that try to stand out from the crowd.
0:05:11 > 0:05:17Guys, Portobello Road! The most exciting market in the world!
0:05:17 > 0:05:21The sky is blue. And we've got 300 quid to spend.
0:05:21 > 0:05:28- Robert, Nadine, this is it. Isn't it awesome?- Absolutely. - You're bargain hunting!
0:05:28 > 0:05:34- What are our tactics? - I think if we spend a little we won't lose a lot.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36Don't be negative, darling!
0:05:36 > 0:05:43- What are we going to buy?- I think we're going to look for some gold, silver, shiny bling bling stuff.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46Follow me!
0:05:47 > 0:05:54Well, here we go, bargain hunters. And with huge crowds here at the ever-popular Portobello Road,
0:05:54 > 0:05:58our teams will have to be decisive and eagle-eyed.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11Back in the olden days, years ago, you may have gone to bed with this.
0:06:11 > 0:06:18Gone upstairs with your candle in there. It's a chamberstick, porcelain. This, believe it or not,
0:06:18 > 0:06:22- would go back to about 1820. - Really?- Wow.- I think it's French.
0:06:22 > 0:06:28- Possibly.- I think it's French, porcelain. Two centuries old. It's so old.- Amazing.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30- How much?- £30.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33- £30...- I like it.
0:06:33 > 0:06:38- It's 200 years old!- It's in your hands.- It's two centuries, Nadine.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41I like it. Not for £30, I think.
0:06:41 > 0:06:46Not for £30?! That's less than a pound a year!
0:06:46 > 0:06:50- £15 I'd give for it. - What's up with it, Nadine?
0:06:50 > 0:06:55- I don't really like orange. - Orange? That's the only reason?!
0:06:55 > 0:06:57Well, thanks for coming.
0:06:57 > 0:07:02- If it could talk, What could it tell you?- "Buy me!"
0:07:02 > 0:07:06I think it says, "Buy me." I'm being serious.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10Hold on. "Buy me." But listen, guys, it's your day.
0:07:10 > 0:07:16We'll put it down and if it's gone later, don't blame me! Thank you very much.
0:07:16 > 0:07:23Well, it's early days and with loads to see, it's going to take a lot to impress posh Roberto and Nadine.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31Meanwhile, Anita has spotted something tasty amongst the crowds.
0:07:31 > 0:07:39Can you imagine cupcakes on that? Or, as we call them in Scotland, fairy cakes.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43- It's really decorative. - It's got bags of style.
0:07:43 > 0:07:48- Made of chrome. Is that very expensive?- Probably!
0:07:48 > 0:07:54I had 120 on it. I can come down a bit on that. I can negotiate.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57- What would you be willing to do? - 90?
0:07:57 > 0:08:02- 90?- It's a great-looking thing, but we have to sell it at auction.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06Tell me what you think, Ollie. Hold that.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08Don't break it!
0:08:08 > 0:08:13Maybe if it was something around... getting closer to 70.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15It looks really nice, stylish.
0:08:15 > 0:08:21It's lovely and very contemporary. People are getting more eclectic with what's in their houses.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24Can we go lower than 90 on it?
0:08:24 > 0:08:26- 80? - 75?
0:08:26 > 0:08:30- Smile at me nicely. - Please? So we can make a profit.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33Go on, then. 75.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37- Who could resist this face?- I know. - She couldn't! She couldn't!
0:08:39 > 0:08:42OK, Ollie? Get the money out and pay the lady.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46- The next one's my choice! - All right.
0:08:46 > 0:08:53So that's the Reds' first purchase, but will the stand tempt the right buyer at auction?
0:08:56 > 0:09:01- Sweet, isn't it?- Yes, very nice. - Nine-carat gold.
0:09:01 > 0:09:06- 1906.- For a lock of hair, maybe a portrait of a loved one.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10But of course it's all in the weight.
0:09:10 > 0:09:15- That's quite light.- Quite light. - It's delicate.- Good quality. - A sweet thing.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18Nadine, come on. Why do you like it?
0:09:18 > 0:09:22- It's shiny!- Why would it make money?
0:09:22 > 0:09:27- Because it's old.- Yeah.- The detail. - All the engraving is quite detailed.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31I like the fact that it's quite secret, whatever you put into it.
0:09:31 > 0:09:37- You could put a picture of Robert in there.- Exactly. - And it would be love.- Exactly.
0:09:37 > 0:09:42A quality item. And it's an antique because it's pre-1911, OK?
0:09:42 > 0:09:47- It's a bit of a gamble, but if you like it...- What's the best price?
0:09:47 > 0:09:52- £75.- Look, guys. I'm the gooseberry. Decide, OK?
0:09:52 > 0:09:56- I like it, Nadine.- You like it? Let's just do it.- Take it.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00- We'll take it, yeah?- Yes. - First item. Fantastic.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04And the Blues are off with their first buy.
0:10:06 > 0:10:13While the teams are hunting for that elusive bargain, I've found something pretty interesting.
0:10:13 > 0:10:21It's sometimes just nice to get away from the hustle and bustle if you have something special to look at.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24Like her.
0:10:24 > 0:10:29Carved out of a single lump of igneous black stone.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33Where does it come from? Well, it's a bit of a mystery piece.
0:10:33 > 0:10:38As you see from the dealer's label, she's put on it "puzzle sculpture.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40"Greek?"
0:10:42 > 0:10:44It's all Greek to me.
0:10:44 > 0:10:49What we've got here is an object of considerable antiquity.
0:10:49 > 0:10:56This is a thing that I think was carved literally hundreds of years ago.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00The difficult bit is, though, where does it come from?
0:11:00 > 0:11:03Do I think it's Greek? No, I don't.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07I think it doesn't come from the European civilisation at all.
0:11:07 > 0:11:12I think this comes from south-east Asia, but if you could feel it
0:11:12 > 0:11:19you'd appreciate the probability that this was carved hundreds of years ago and is as worn
0:11:19 > 0:11:23and tactile as it is as a result of hundreds of years of handling.
0:11:23 > 0:11:28What's it worth? Well, you could go out on a limb for this
0:11:28 > 0:11:32and cough up a whole £110.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34Wow.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38Right, back to the bargain hunting. How are our teams getting on?
0:11:38 > 0:11:43It's getting busier down here, so I hope they're easy to spot.
0:11:43 > 0:11:47Guys, half an hour left. Half an hour!
0:11:47 > 0:11:53- This is serious! - OK, let's get going. - This is money making, guys.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00- Perfect for my job.- Yeah.
0:12:00 > 0:12:06- So tell me about your job.- I work for a well-known booze company. - Oh, right. Uh-huh.
0:12:06 > 0:12:13- So we're in familiar territory. - Absolutely, yeah. A bit of cocktail shaking!
0:12:13 > 0:12:19- That is nice.- But is it that old? - Yes, it's maybe from the 1950s, 1960s.- Really?
0:12:19 > 0:12:23- I think that's very cool. I really like that.- Really like it?
0:12:23 > 0:12:28- I like it much more than the cakestand!- More than the cakestand?
0:12:28 > 0:12:31Yeah, if we'd come here first...
0:12:31 > 0:12:35- Is everything going to be food or drink related?- Basically, yes.
0:12:35 > 0:12:40I think we've got a theme here. I think we've got a theme.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42I should have had breakfast!
0:12:42 > 0:12:47People are making cocktails at home all the time now. How great is this?
0:12:47 > 0:12:50- Very cool.- How much?- I don't know.
0:12:50 > 0:12:55- I could do 40. - Would you go for 30? 35?
0:12:55 > 0:12:57- 40. - 40.
0:12:57 > 0:13:03- I think it's something we could come back to.- We didn't come back to your cakestand.- No, we didn't.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06I'm not getting involved!
0:13:06 > 0:13:11- Go for a wander and come back. - Get it.- Come back.- Get it.
0:13:11 > 0:13:17- Let's come back.- Let's get it. - It'll still be there.- Get it. - No, not yet.
0:13:17 > 0:13:24I tell you what. We'll leave it just now and give ourselves another few stalls to look at.
0:13:24 > 0:13:29Wise words, Anita. We don't want Ollie and Carla shaken or stirred for the rest of the shop.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38It looks like the Blues are looking at things from a different angle.
0:13:38 > 0:13:45- Guys, look at all this. It's mechanical, Robert.- I'm in my element.- But why mechanical?
0:13:45 > 0:13:52- Why this sort of thing? - I Love working with numbers and measuring, having everything exact.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56- How early is it?- Thirties. - 1930s.- 1930s. Really beautiful.
0:13:56 > 0:14:03- Its function is purely a...? - It's a rule, obviously. And it has a level and protractor.
0:14:03 > 0:14:09- Correct. And isn't it well made with these mounts in gilt brass? - It's very sturdy.
0:14:09 > 0:14:15It's on at 110. And that's a fair price in a retail market. So what is best price?
0:14:15 > 0:14:20- We're going to auction. - Normally, I'd say the obvious - 100.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23But...90. I'll do it for 90.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27He's a good man, you see. He's trying to help us.
0:14:27 > 0:14:31Time is of the essence, OK? 10 minutes to go.
0:14:31 > 0:14:36Today we're struggling, but this is great. A lovely object.
0:14:36 > 0:14:42- And the best price is...? - The best price would be £90. - Would you take 80? It'd really help.
0:14:42 > 0:14:47- I can't do it...- We're in the highest-end retail market,
0:14:47 > 0:14:53- and we respect your profit margin. - OK, I'll take 80. - Thank you so much.- We'll take it!
0:14:53 > 0:14:57We've done it. Thank you. Good man. Give him a handshake, Nadine.
0:14:57 > 0:15:02- Thank you.- Give me a high five. Thanks again. We've done it.
0:15:02 > 0:15:07With 15 minutes to go, the Blues have made their second purchase.
0:15:09 > 0:15:15And guess what the Reds have decided on. They're back for the cocktail shaker. Hic!
0:15:15 > 0:15:20- See if you can get another wee bit off it. You'll negotiate? - Absolutely.- Do your best.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24- Big smiles.- I think she'll drive a hard bargain.- Uh-huh.
0:15:24 > 0:15:30Brilliant. It's still here. I know you said it was 45...
0:15:30 > 0:15:35- It's looking good. - She's got a smile on her face.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38- 35? Yeah? - OK.
0:15:38 > 0:15:42- Ah, right, then. - I got him down to 35.- Well done!
0:15:42 > 0:15:49- Nice one.- Good girl. - Bit of a wink and a smile. - But you loved it.- Yeah.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53Let's hope the cocktail shaker stirs up a profit at auction.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03Time waits for no man, especially not a bargain hunter.
0:16:03 > 0:16:08With only minutes left, the Blues are back to square one.
0:16:08 > 0:16:13- That chamberstick.- Gone.- You've sold it?- Yeah. You had your chance.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16Oh, no! I don't believe it.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20- Has it gone?- Yeah. - It's gone. It's gone.
0:16:20 > 0:16:25- - Oh, no!- It was so good. - - I do sell things occasionally.
0:16:25 > 0:16:31- We should have listened to you. - These are a good buy. - Are they brass?- Victorian, brass.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35- Patinated, are they? - And they're only 15.- Really?
0:16:35 > 0:16:39- Only £15.- That's the pair. What's important is they're tall.
0:16:39 > 0:16:44- Quite heavy.- What do you think, Charles?- I quite like them.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48- What happened? What's this orange finish?- They're patinated.
0:16:48 > 0:16:54- Yeah, they're patinated with this orange glow. - And as you said, they're tall.
0:16:54 > 0:17:00- How early are they? 1900. - I think a bit older.- 1890?
0:17:00 > 0:17:04They're called Jack of Diamonds, I think. This design. A good pair.
0:17:04 > 0:17:09- And do you know what... - For £15 a pair, £7.50 each.
0:17:09 > 0:17:14For a good pair of late-Victorian candlesticks, they must make money.
0:17:14 > 0:17:19- I think...- They've got to make money. He sold our chamberstick,
0:17:19 > 0:17:23which would have made hundreds. OK? Hundreds! No, I'm joking.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27It may have made a bit of profit, but that's gone now.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31- This could be our next best find. - Go for it.- There's three minutes.
0:17:31 > 0:17:36- There's 180 seconds to go.- Yeah. - All right? Nadine, do the deal.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40- Sir, we will take it. - We'll take the pair, yes.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44- Congratulations.- £15. Are you happy?
0:17:44 > 0:17:48- Absolutely.- Really?- Yes. - Which means what?- Group hug!
0:17:48 > 0:17:54- Well done, guys. Time for a cup of tea?- Yes. - After you.- Cheers.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57That's it. The Blues are all done.
0:17:57 > 0:18:04With two minutes shopping time left, I'm not sure if the Reds really have time to be playing.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06Look at this!
0:18:09 > 0:18:14- That's quite good.- Very good! - They're like kids in a toy shop!
0:18:16 > 0:18:20- Oh, he's not a happy one. - No, no!
0:18:24 > 0:18:27- Is it going to go?- Oh!
0:18:29 > 0:18:35- How much is that one? - I have to look...- £10? - £10. They're really cheap.
0:18:35 > 0:18:41- That's not bad at all. - These will be good buys. For £10, they're very good buys.
0:18:41 > 0:18:48- Food, drink and fun.- Yeah! - I think you're right.- Drink the cocktails, play with the toys.
0:18:48 > 0:18:54- I think we should go for that one. - Let's get that one.- I think that's a good buy.- Would you take £8?
0:18:54 > 0:18:57- Yes.- Yes? Brilliant.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01- A couple of pound off. That was nice and easy.- Good.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05Yee-haw! That's the third buy for the Reds.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14Hang on a tick! Well, two ticks, actually.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18Time's up! Let's remind ourselves what the Reds bought, eh?
0:19:20 > 0:19:25The Reds spent £75 on an Art Deco chrome and glass stand.
0:19:25 > 0:19:30They hope to shake things up with a 1940s cocktail shaker for £35.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36And the grand sum of £8 was paid for a tin-plate toy stagecoach.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38Giddy-up!
0:19:38 > 0:19:42- Quite happy, then?- Yes. - Happy? Happy?
0:19:42 > 0:19:45- Was it good for you, darling? - Yes, wonderful.
0:19:45 > 0:19:50- Which is your favourite piece? - The cocktail shaker.- Ollie?
0:19:50 > 0:19:53I think it's actually the cakestand. I like it.
0:19:53 > 0:19:58- Will that bring the biggest profit? - It'll probably lose the most.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01- Lose the most?!- Yeah.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05- I like it, though, I like it. - Well, what will MAKE the most?
0:20:05 > 0:20:10- I think it could be...- The toy. - The little tin-plate toy.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12And the cocktail shaker.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15- You can't give it up.- No.- Fine.
0:20:15 > 0:20:20- How much did you spend in total? - £118.- Is that all?!
0:20:20 > 0:20:23- That is a miserable amount of money! - Thrifty!
0:20:23 > 0:20:28So I'd like, please, £182.
0:20:28 > 0:20:34Straight over to you, then, Anita. Such a brilliant place to shop, Portobello, isn't it?
0:20:34 > 0:20:39Yes, and I've got tons of money. I'm sure it'll be great fun.
0:20:39 > 0:20:45Good luck with that, Anita. Meanwhile, I'll check out what the Blue team bought.
0:20:45 > 0:20:50The Blues spent £75 on an Edwardian gold locket pendant.
0:20:50 > 0:20:57They forked out a precise £80 for a spirit level with measuring ruler and protractor.
0:20:59 > 0:21:04And, finally, they blew £15 on a pair of Victorian candlesticks.
0:21:05 > 0:21:10These guys are so sharp on prices, Charles! Have you had a good time?
0:21:10 > 0:21:15- Absolutely.- A lot. - He's great, isn't he?- He is. - At cantering around.
0:21:15 > 0:21:21- Nadine, which is your favourite piece?- Em, the pendant. I like that the most.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25It's like you have a secret around your neck when you wear it.
0:21:25 > 0:21:30- I bet you haven't got many secrets, have you?- No, no!
0:21:30 > 0:21:35- Roberto, which is your favourite piece?- I like the old-fashioned font of the numbers on the ruler
0:21:35 > 0:21:40- and the multi-function that it has. - Will that bring the biggest profit?
0:21:40 > 0:21:44- I hope so.- I think the candlesticks will.- The candlesticks?- I think so.
0:21:44 > 0:21:49- You're keen on this candlestick lark?- They're tall, stiff and they're a pair. We like them.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53Good. And what's the total amount that you've spent?
0:21:53 > 0:21:58- We've spent 170. We have 130 left. - Lovely. 170 is such a good number.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02- Can I have your £130, please? - Absolutely.- Thank you very much.
0:22:02 > 0:22:08- £130, Charles.- A lot of money, isn't it?- Yes, but it's a buzzy place, this market. Don't you love it?
0:22:08 > 0:22:12- Yes.- There's everything here, there's a real buzz.
0:22:12 > 0:22:18We've bought with romance, we've bought with a team who are in love and may that love continue!
0:22:18 > 0:22:22Oh, Lordy! He's off again. We'd better let him have a cold shower.
0:22:22 > 0:22:27Meanwhile, we're heading off to Fenton House in Hampstead. What could be nicer than that?
0:22:37 > 0:22:40Built at the end of the 17th century,
0:22:40 > 0:22:46Fenton House in Hampstead is home to a number of wonderful collections,
0:22:46 > 0:22:51but I'm here today to look at a group of pieces of needlework,
0:22:51 > 0:22:54created across the ages.
0:23:06 > 0:23:12One of the lovely things about the collection of Stuart needlework at Fenton House
0:23:12 > 0:23:17is that it all came from one collector, George Salting,
0:23:17 > 0:23:20who gathered the pieces together in the 19th century
0:23:20 > 0:23:24and eventually, they were bequeathed to the National Trust.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28When you talk about 17th century bits of needlework,
0:23:28 > 0:23:32you almost inevitably get drawn towards God
0:23:32 > 0:23:36because so many of the subjects were Biblical.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38Indeed, if we look at this picture,
0:23:38 > 0:23:42it comes straight from the Old Testament
0:23:42 > 0:23:48because here we have the prophet Elijah and he was fed by a group of ravens,
0:23:48 > 0:23:53which are these birds, and also by the widow Zarephath.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56Here she is, the central character,
0:23:56 > 0:23:59coming out with a basket hung over her arm
0:23:59 > 0:24:04which contained food which she gave to Elijah to keep him going.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08But not all the subjects are Biblical.
0:24:08 > 0:24:14For example, this picture is a splendid example of a pastoral scene.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17The colours are absolutely stunning
0:24:17 > 0:24:23because I don't think this particular needlework picture has ever been exposed
0:24:23 > 0:24:25to any bright sunlight.
0:24:25 > 0:24:30This is a stunning example of a wool-worked needlework,
0:24:30 > 0:24:32done on a canvas,
0:24:32 > 0:24:35whereas the fella next door is a classic example
0:24:35 > 0:24:38of silk stitching on a silk ground.
0:24:38 > 0:24:45What's particularly interesting about this piece of needlework is that it's only half-finished.
0:24:45 > 0:24:51We know that the work that was done on it was done by a woman called Catherine Owen
0:24:51 > 0:24:54and is dated 1637.
0:24:54 > 0:25:00It does not record why, sadly, she was unable to complete the picture.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03The panel on the left is of course interesting
0:25:03 > 0:25:08because it shows the unfinished state of the silk sheet itself.
0:25:08 > 0:25:14Professional pattern markers would have marked out on the silk
0:25:14 > 0:25:19where the needlewoman was to do her stuff, so it's almost like painting by numbers,
0:25:19 > 0:25:25but of course, you still had to have the skill to complete them stitches.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30But if you thought Catherine Owen's stitching was good,
0:25:30 > 0:25:34just have a look at the stitching on this casket.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38Here we've got an absolute tour de force,
0:25:38 > 0:25:43a timber carcass completely covered in needlework,
0:25:43 > 0:25:48but the fineness of this needlework just takes your breath away.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51Look at this fellow at the front here.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55It's a wee bird astride a grassy mound.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00Every part of that grassy mound is a stitch.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04Every bit of the bird's body is stitched.
0:26:04 > 0:26:11And the way that the needleworker has raised all those elements of its tail
0:26:11 > 0:26:15into different coloured, individual stitched sections
0:26:15 > 0:26:20and then brought the whole thing together is quite extraordinary.
0:26:20 > 0:26:25I mean, it is truly amazing how skilled these people were,
0:26:25 > 0:26:31each piece in this room crafted between about 1620
0:26:31 > 0:26:34and about 1670.
0:26:34 > 0:26:39And for the areas that have been unaffected by the light,
0:26:39 > 0:26:44just look at the brilliance inside the casket itself.
0:26:44 > 0:26:48The big question today is, of course,
0:26:48 > 0:26:52are our teams over at the auction about to be stitched up?
0:27:04 > 0:27:10- We've trotted out of London today to Tring to be with Stephen Hearn, our auctioneer.- Good morning.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14How lovely to have such a busy viewing going on for the sale today!
0:27:14 > 0:27:21Yes, it's a good cross-section. You've got a lot of private buyers and the trade are well represented.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25How do you think you'll get on with Ollie and Carla's cake stand?
0:27:25 > 0:27:31I wouldn't want a cake to sit on that one because in fact, I think that's a caviar serving dish
0:27:31 > 0:27:34- Is it?- Yes.- How interesting!
0:27:34 > 0:27:38I believe it is because the handle and the frame is detachable.
0:27:38 > 0:27:43One used to put the actual dish into a refrigerator to cool it down
0:27:43 > 0:27:47- because caviar normally is served cooled.- That's really clever.
0:27:47 > 0:27:54- Yes, it is.- That in a freezer has the effect of a block of ice. Thank you for looking into that.
0:27:54 > 0:27:59I'm sure they did think it was a cake stand, which it obviously isn't, now you've explained it.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02It's worth a huge amount of money?
0:28:02 > 0:28:06- It could do £40 to £60. - OK, they paid 75.
0:28:06 > 0:28:12Good. That's great. Moving on in the same vein, now to cocktails. What a shocker this thing is!
0:28:12 > 0:28:19It's a very, very ordinary glass base and an incredibly ordinary chromium-plated top.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21- What's it worth?- £20 or £30.
0:28:21 > 0:28:28- OK, £35 they paid.- Oh, dear.- It is an ordinary one.- That's a good way to describe it - very ordinary.
0:28:28 > 0:28:32Their last item, very different, is the stagecoach.
0:28:32 > 0:28:36- A clockwork, tinplate stagecoach. - Yes, it's a Japanese piece.
0:28:36 > 0:28:42- It's something which is becoming more collectable. - Japanese tinplate?- Yes, it is.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45- Particularly those in jolly good order, which that one is.- Yes.
0:28:45 > 0:28:51- I think we're going to be sort of £4 for it.- Gosh! They only paid £8. - They did very well.
0:28:51 > 0:28:57That is extraordinary. That could get them out of the soup in which case they won't need the bonus buy.
0:28:57 > 0:29:00But let's go and have a look at it anyway.
0:29:00 > 0:29:02- This is exciting, isn't it?- Yes.
0:29:02 > 0:29:08What do you suppose Anita Manning does when she's given £182 to run around with?
0:29:08 > 0:29:10OK, Anita, show us your wares, love.
0:29:10 > 0:29:17Do you know, I was so enchanted by Carla's enthusiasm for her cocktail shaker
0:29:17 > 0:29:24that I decided that I would buy this little set of silver cocktail sticks.
0:29:24 > 0:29:28They're in this lovely, little shagreen-style box.
0:29:28 > 0:29:30They're probably from the 1920s
0:29:30 > 0:29:35and they have these wonderful cockerels on top.
0:29:35 > 0:29:41- They're amazing.- Have they brought a smile to your face? Excellent! - They do look brilliant.- Yeah.
0:29:41 > 0:29:47- I really like them.- Won't they go beautifully with your cocktail shaker?- How much were they?- Well...
0:29:47 > 0:29:49- Here we go. - LAUGHTER
0:29:49 > 0:29:57- I paid £100 for them. - Wow!- That's all right.- But we have six silver, little cocktail sticks.
0:29:57 > 0:30:01- I think they're rather swish. - A cocktail is a special treat.
0:30:01 > 0:30:05And those are special things to use in that drinking experience.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08They're better than the little wooden ones.
0:30:08 > 0:30:11More expensive as well!
0:30:11 > 0:30:16Let's find out what our Tring auctioneer thinks about Anita's cocktail sticks.
0:30:16 > 0:30:19There's something to excite you, Stephen.
0:30:19 > 0:30:23I'm going to take one out and have a little bird's eye myself.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26It takes a bit more to excite me than cocktail sticks!
0:30:26 > 0:30:31- Really?- Yes.- How do they strike you if they don't excite you?
0:30:31 > 0:30:35They strike me as a typical 1920s...
0:30:35 > 0:30:38- American, do you think? - Yes, almost certainly American.
0:30:38 > 0:30:42Value-wise, it will be a struggle to be much over £50 for those.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45Oh, dear. Anita paid 100.
0:30:45 > 0:30:49- I mean, it's quite fun.- Certainly. - But not very commercial.
0:30:49 > 0:30:53- Cocks on sticks aren't commercial, are they?- I don't know.
0:30:53 > 0:30:57I've never tried a cock on a stick before in my life, actually.
0:30:57 > 0:31:01- One of those things... - You could enjoy it with your caviar.
0:31:01 > 0:31:07Moving on, that's lovely. Thank you very much for that, Stephen. That's it for the Reds.
0:31:07 > 0:31:10Now for the Blues. We've got a bit of nine-carat gold.
0:31:10 > 0:31:15- Bright cut, the pendant.- It's going to benefit from the gold trade.
0:31:15 > 0:31:19- Hmm.- It's going to be towards £80, £90 for it.
0:31:19 > 0:31:21That'll be a relief. £75 they paid.
0:31:21 > 0:31:25- A little profit goes a long way. - It certainly does.
0:31:25 > 0:31:32Next, the spirit level and measure combo. Rabone are known good quality makers of tools.
0:31:32 > 0:31:37- Yes, they are the best. - What's your angle? What sort of amount do you think it will bring?
0:31:37 > 0:31:40I wouldn't be surprised if that breaks £50.
0:31:40 > 0:31:42OK, well, Nadine and Robert paid 80.
0:31:42 > 0:31:50- Lastly, the pair of Victorian candlesticks. Pretty standard type, aren't they?- They certainly are.
0:31:50 > 0:31:54- I couldn't convince you to buy those - No, I don't think you could.
0:31:54 > 0:32:00- I don't think we'll convince many to pay over £20 for them.- That's OK. Nadine and Robert only paid 15.
0:32:00 > 0:32:04- Oh, well, it's a profit. - They did the right thing.
0:32:04 > 0:32:10On that happy note, I think they're likely to need their bonus buy, so let's go and have a look at it.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13Morning, Robert. Morning, Nadine.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16Sadly, Robert and Nadine can't be with us today,
0:32:16 > 0:32:21so Charles, we'll have to play this show entirely between the two of us.
0:32:21 > 0:32:27- Yes.- So you two gave Charles Hanson £130 of leftover lolly.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30Charles, what did you spend it on?
0:32:30 > 0:32:32Ta-da!
0:32:32 > 0:32:38- Tim, our team had great taste. - Did you?- I blew the lot because I bought a bit of folk art.
0:32:38 > 0:32:44It's a collection, a little amalgam of great country art
0:32:44 > 0:32:48which will suit this great country auction house we're at in Tring.
0:32:48 > 0:32:51- Yes.- Tim, this is earthenware.
0:32:51 > 0:32:55It's beautifully slip-incised, maybe circa 1780.
0:32:55 > 0:33:02- What about the bowl?- Tin-glazed earthenware, made before we found out the secrets of making porcelain.
0:33:02 > 0:33:06- OK, fine. This little fellow is made of sycamore, right?- Yes, Tim.
0:33:06 > 0:33:09They're clearly wildly enraptured by this.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12How much did you spend, Charles?
0:33:12 > 0:33:15- Tim, I spent £130.- Oh!
0:33:15 > 0:33:19- They can't believe it.- She likes it. - I'm not so sure she does, Charles.
0:33:19 > 0:33:23You don't have to decide until after the sale of your first three items,
0:33:23 > 0:33:29so let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Charles's collection of country wares.
0:33:29 > 0:33:34Charles Hanson seems to have bought an entire antique shop for his bonus buy.
0:33:34 > 0:33:38First up is that mug. What do you make of that?
0:33:38 > 0:33:41It's got some damage. The handle's almost off.
0:33:41 > 0:33:43It's an interesting display piece.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46Next up is the piece of treen, look.
0:33:46 > 0:33:53This is English. This is sycamore and this would be late 19th century, no doubt. Very nice little piece.
0:33:53 > 0:33:59- Isn't it?- Yes.- And not chipped and not marked and ready to go. That's the second piece.
0:33:59 > 0:34:04Then in a complicated and eccentric Charles Hanson fashion, we've got a piece of tin glaze.
0:34:04 > 0:34:10Yes, and he went to the 18th century for this because this one is almost certainly English,
0:34:10 > 0:34:16late 18th century. I think it'd do quite well, but we've got them as one lot.
0:34:16 > 0:34:18What's your estimate on them?
0:34:18 > 0:34:21Very cautiously, something around £100,
0:34:21 > 0:34:25but it could possibly fetch another £50 or £80 on top of that.
0:34:25 > 0:34:32- So might even be 100 to 180?- Yes, easily.- Charles will be delighted because he paid 130 for the three.
0:34:32 > 0:34:34Possibly he's going to be in profit.
0:34:34 > 0:34:39If Robert and Nadine decide to go with it and that is the big question, isn't it?
0:34:39 > 0:34:42- Yes, it is.- Yes, it is.
0:34:51 > 0:34:54OK, Ollie, Carla, you are at the precipice.
0:34:54 > 0:34:59- How excited are you?- Very. - I'm very excited to see how we do.
0:34:59 > 0:35:03You've got some pretty extraordinary estimates.
0:35:03 > 0:35:07That cake stand thing, it turns out it's not a cake stand at all.
0:35:07 > 0:35:12- Oh.- It's a very rare caviar stand. - Really?
0:35:12 > 0:35:14I think that's really interesting.
0:35:14 > 0:35:18If anybody here in this room twigs what a special thing that is,
0:35:18 > 0:35:22it should make a lot more than his estimate of £40 to £60.
0:35:22 > 0:35:25First up is the caviar stand and here it comes.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29Number 1704 now.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32That is for caviar. How about that?
0:35:32 > 0:35:34£50 for it? Have we got £30?
0:35:34 > 0:35:39Yes, 30 I'm bid for it. Thank you very much. 30 I'm bid. And 5.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42And 40. 5. And 50.
0:35:42 > 0:35:46No? 50. I've got £50 now. 5 anywhere then? At 50.
0:35:46 > 0:35:51- Are you going to bid 5, sir?- Go on! - No. You're too mean for the caviar.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54It's going down then to madam. I sell it for £50...
0:35:54 > 0:35:56- Thank you very much.- That's cheap.
0:35:56 > 0:36:01- It's annoying, £50.- It is annoying. - Minus 25. I'm sorry about that.
0:36:01 > 0:36:06We have a cocktail shaker, a decent little cocktail shaker. £30
0:36:06 > 0:36:1020 for it? Anybody got £20 for that one? Anyone got a tenner?
0:36:10 > 0:36:14Yes, a tenner I'm bid. 12 anywhere? 12 I'm bid.
0:36:14 > 0:36:16Not a lot of money at 12. 15.
0:36:16 > 0:36:20Sir? Yes? No? 15 for you then, madam. At £15...
0:36:20 > 0:36:25£15 is minus £20 on that. You're minus 45.
0:36:25 > 0:36:28Now, the tinplate stagecoach.
0:36:28 > 0:36:30This will win it all back for you.
0:36:30 > 0:36:34The little Japanese, painted tinplat stagecoach. It's in good order.
0:36:34 > 0:36:38£30 for it? £20 for it? 15 bid. 18. 20.
0:36:38 > 0:36:40All of you. 2. And 5.
0:36:40 > 0:36:42And 8, madam? At 25.
0:36:42 > 0:36:45No. It's for nothing.
0:36:45 > 0:36:47Another 2 surely? Yes, 28.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50You can't resist it, can you? At £28
0:36:50 > 0:36:5330 I'm bid now. And 5, is it? No?
0:36:53 > 0:36:56OK then, at £30. Are you sure?
0:36:56 > 0:36:59At £30, it's going. You have it, sir, at £30.
0:36:59 > 0:37:01There we go...
0:37:01 > 0:37:05'A profit of £22 for the tinplate stagecoach,
0:37:05 > 0:37:10- 'leaving the Reds with a total of minus £23.'- Well done, Robert.
0:37:10 > 0:37:15You are risking now £100. Are you going to go with these sticks for 100?
0:37:15 > 0:37:17Be careful.
0:37:17 > 0:37:23I think because we've lost so much on the cocktail and the cake stand, I don't think they'll go for 100.
0:37:23 > 0:37:27- You won't go with them? - I don't think so. - Even though you love them so much?
0:37:27 > 0:37:32They are really nice, but we run the risk of making a loss on them.
0:37:32 > 0:37:34Yeah? You are so sweet.
0:37:34 > 0:37:38- Do what Ol says?- Yeah. - Ol knows best?
0:37:38 > 0:37:41Then if we're wrong, it's his fault.
0:37:41 > 0:37:44- LAUGHTER - Anyway, here they come.
0:37:44 > 0:37:48A box of sterling cocktail sticks with cockerel terminals to them.
0:37:48 > 0:37:51£30? 20?
0:37:51 > 0:37:53Bid. 5. 30. 5. 40.
0:37:53 > 0:37:555. 50. 5.
0:37:55 > 0:37:5760. 5.
0:37:57 > 0:38:02No? £65 for those then. 70 anywhere?
0:38:02 > 0:38:06No more? Madam has those then. I sell for that £65.
0:38:06 > 0:38:10- Thank you, madam. - £65. You made the right decision.
0:38:10 > 0:38:14- Yes. Good. - Overall, you are minus £23.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17OK? Which could be a winning score.
0:38:17 > 0:38:20Just don't say a word to the Blues.
0:38:26 > 0:38:30Right, one lot to go and it is going to be the pendant.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33- Come on, Nadine.- Come on, Robert. - Come on, Nadine.
0:38:34 > 0:38:39- Sorry. Sorry, Tim. Sorry, Robert. - Don't worry. Here it comes.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42Now we have a little gold pendant locket.
0:38:42 > 0:38:46What about that? I think possibly we ought to be around £80 for it.
0:38:46 > 0:38:4880 or 50? Or 60.
0:38:48 > 0:38:52Yes, we're 5 now. We have 70. And 5. 80 I'm bid now.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55- Yeah, that's good, isn't it? Yes.- Yes.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58£80. Just another 5? No, he says.
0:38:58 > 0:39:01That's it. It's going down for the £80.
0:39:01 > 0:39:06- Thank you.- £80 is plus £5. This is so fantastic.
0:39:06 > 0:39:10The Rabone folding rule with a spirit level and a protractor.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13That's a rather nice example, isn't it?
0:39:13 > 0:39:17I thought something nearer £50 for that one. 50 for it? 30?
0:39:17 > 0:39:2020? Yes, 20 I'm bid then.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23Thank you, sir. 20 we're bid for it. 5.
0:39:23 > 0:39:2730 I'm bid now. 5. 40. And 5.
0:39:27 > 0:39:30- And 50?- Come on.- Yes or no?
0:39:30 > 0:39:33At £50. And 5 now, ma'am, no?
0:39:33 > 0:39:37I'm selling then to you, sir, for £50. Thank you very much.
0:39:37 > 0:39:39Bad luck, Robert. That's minus 30.
0:39:39 > 0:39:44Minus 30, which means, overall, you two are minus £25.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47- Sorry.- Now the candlesticks.
0:39:47 > 0:39:51The patinated brass candlesticks. Stretch a point, £30?
0:39:51 > 0:39:5320 for them? 10 for them?
0:39:53 > 0:39:56- Come on.- 10 I'm bid for those. 12. 15.
0:39:56 > 0:39:5918. 20.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02- You can have them for another 2, sir - One more.- No?
0:40:02 > 0:40:0620 for madam then. At £20. They're going down then for the £20.
0:40:06 > 0:40:10- Thank you very much.- That's very good. That's a profit of £5.
0:40:10 > 0:40:12Fantastic. That's great, guys.
0:40:12 > 0:40:16Overall, you two are minus £20. This is a difficult moment.
0:40:16 > 0:40:23Now I am made to feel like the team feel because minus £20 could be a winning score.
0:40:23 > 0:40:28Of Charles's three items, I rate most of all the pestle and mortar.
0:40:28 > 0:40:34I think that's worth £120 to £150 any day of the week, then we get those other two items,
0:40:34 > 0:40:36so if I was Nadine and Robert,
0:40:36 > 0:40:40I would be urging them now to go with the bonus buy.
0:40:40 > 0:40:46Therefore, we're going with the bonus buy and we're going to see what happens. Here we go.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49We have a collection of three items now.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51Interesting lot. £80 for them?
0:40:51 > 0:40:5480 or 50? Yes, I've got 50 I'm bid for those.
0:40:54 > 0:40:5660 I'm bid. 70 bid. 80 bid. 90 bid.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59100 bid.
0:40:59 > 0:41:01100 I'm bid for those. And 10 now?
0:41:01 > 0:41:04At £100. 10, madam? Yes or no?
0:41:04 > 0:41:06No?
0:41:06 > 0:41:10Madam in front's got them then. I shall sell them for £100.
0:41:10 > 0:41:14- 633...- Disappointing. - Oh, dear, that's a bad result.
0:41:14 > 0:41:18I bet you wish, you two, you hadn't picked those!
0:41:18 > 0:41:23Anyway, £100 is minus £30 on the bonus buy. Thanks, Charles(!)
0:41:23 > 0:41:29That means, overall, we are minus £50 for the absent Robert and Nadine.
0:41:29 > 0:41:35It will not be a difficult thing for you two not to say a word to the Reds, will it?
0:41:42 > 0:41:46- Well, teams, present and absent... - LAUGHTER
0:41:46 > 0:41:50- Both teams are in minus score situations.- Oh, no.
0:41:50 > 0:41:55That is no secret, but it's a question of scale, do you see?
0:41:55 > 0:41:59And the team that is running up today...are the Blues.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01Oh, dear. I'm sorry.
0:42:01 > 0:42:06Yes, they are running up with a minus total of 50,
0:42:06 > 0:42:11largely as a result of me selecting to go with Charles's bonus buy.
0:42:11 > 0:42:16- Yeah.- Because if I hadn't gone with Charles's bonus buy,
0:42:16 > 0:42:19Nadine and Robert here would be winning
0:42:19 > 0:42:22by a handsome margin of, I think, £3.
0:42:22 > 0:42:28- As it is, I selected to go with the bonus buy which was a bum decision, Charles.- It happens now and again.
0:42:28 > 0:42:33- I'm never believing you again, boy. Seriously, keep smiling, boy. - I will.
0:42:33 > 0:42:39Now, the real smilers though are the Reds who started off with all these minus scores,
0:42:39 > 0:42:46but you did not go with the bonus buy and as a result, your grand total of minuses only total 23,
0:42:46 > 0:42:50- which is a resounding victory, really, isn't it?- Yes.
0:42:50 > 0:42:55- Have you loved it?- Yeah, it's been brilliant.- It's been great having you on the show.
0:42:55 > 0:43:02And anybody who is lucky enough to snuggle up to Anita Manning is bound to have a good show.
0:43:02 > 0:43:06Enough of this jollity. Join us soon for some more bargain hunting, yes?
0:43:06 > 0:43:09- ALL: Yes! - Whoops, Charles!
0:43:29 > 0:43:33Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd 2012