Anglesey 20 Bargain Hunt

Today, we're on the island of Anglesey, off the North Wales coast.

Apparently, one million people visit this place every year

to enjoy its delights,

which is exactly what we're going to do in just a second.

Right now, though, let's go bargain hunting! Yeah.

Anglesey is said to be the last refuge of the Druids from the Romans.

Well, there's one thing for certain,

there'll be no refuge for these stallholders

from our contestants today.

Do you fancy a sneak preview?

The Reds resort to magic to get the best deal.

Repeating it now. Over and over.

I'm going through the deck in my mind while we're doing this.

Isn't that cheating?

While the Blues seem to be hearing voices.

Just try and find a piece of silver that sings.

-And we take it up to the wire at the auction.

-Yes!

That is just marvellous, isn't it?

All that is coming up,

but, first of all, let me remind you of the rules.

Each team gets 60 minutes

to find three items, which they take away

and sell later at auction and, hopefully, make a profit.

The team that wins that makes the most profit or the least losses.

Right, let's go and meet the jolly old teams, shall we?

So on today's show, we have married couple Rob

-and Rowena for the Reds. How do you do?

-Very well.

-And good mates Tracey and Janet for the Blues. Hi, girls.

-BOTH: Hi.

Lovely to see you. Now, Rob, how did you to meet?

We met originally ten, 15 years ago at the pagan camp that Ro's dad organised.

-Really?

-Yes.

-What goes on at a pagan camp?

This one was a May Day celebration, so lots of people coming together

to dance around maypoles and drink and eat and share good times together.

-Lovely.

-Yeah, great.

-So are you a pagan yourself?

-Yes, yes.

I spent ten years studying and practising Druidry

and have continued on into other areas, but, yes.

So what do you know about antiques? Lots, then?

Um, not as much as I should, but my interest comes

more from finding things that tell stories,

things that have a tale to be told around them

and to use them in the work I do.

What work do you do?

-I'm a magician and hypnotist.

-Are you?

-Yes.

-Does that mean you are a member of the Magic Circle?

-Not yet. It scares me.

Oh, does it?!

What's scary about the Magic Circle?

It's the thought of having to perform in front of magicians

-to get the thumbs up.

-Oh, I see.

-I can perform in front of 1,000 people. Three magicians...

-Very interesting.

I'd never thought about it like that. So Ro, what do you do, darling?

I'm a sales manager, accounts manager,

I work with an environmental business network

promoting local sustainability.

-Is that good fun?

-It is. I enjoy the banter with the customers

and bartering the prices up rather than down.

From the other side today.

You don't do anything on stage in the magic shows?

I haven't got my sparkly leotard out yet.

So how do you think you will get on today, Rob?

Brilliantly. I am feeling good about it, really positive.

-We work well as a team.

-Yeah, we do.

-And you're going to spend the lot, are you?

-Ooh, no.

-You're not? You're going to be coy and careful.

-Possibly.

-We'll see.

Anyway, welcome. So, Janet. How did you two meet?

We met at a post office in Hampshire.

I was living in Hampshire, a place called Four Marks,

and was looking for a job and Tracey was the sub-postmistress

who advertised for the post, so we became very good friends in the process.

-Isn't that nice?

-Yes.

-What do you know about antiques?

Not an awful lot. I like what I see -

it sings to me and calls my name, and goes, "Janet, come and buy me."

-Does it?

-Oh, yes.

-Does this happen often?

-Yes. I'm the impulsive one.

Tracey is the steady, reliable one.

-Well, you're the sub-postmistress.

-Former sub-postmistress.

I mean there is a very steady job.

I go into my sub-post office, the complexity of what you have to do

in that job in the way of forms, stamps, bits of paper, it's incredible.

It is, yes, there is an awful lot to it.

-How do you think you'll get on as a bargain hunter?

-LAUGHTER

I think... Yeah. Janet's very good at spending money,

I'm good at not letting her spend money.

-Between the two of us...

-She's pure Yorkshire, you see.

This is what it is.

Is that going to stand you in good stead today

when looking out over this ocean of treasures?

Without a doubt, without a doubt.

Especially if there's a tea shop round the corner.

I don't know whether you will be able to spend your £300 on tea,

but, anyway, here comes the £300.

-There's your £300.

-Thank you very much.

You know the rules.

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

Well, well, I've never met a Druid before.

Offering a guiding hand to our teams today,

we have a pair of experts waiting in the wings.

The Reds are relying on the magic touch of bold-as-brass Anita Manning.

And Jonathan Pratt is keen to make a good impression on the Blues.

So vain!

I can't believe you're a magician.

I hope you're going to work some magic today.

And you could be the glamorous assistant.

I like Moorcroft and ceramics.

So I'd like to find something that's got that quality that really sings to me.

I think find something shiny, sparkly, that's going to attract

loads of people at the auction house and sell for lots of money.

She knows exactly what she wants.

There's loads to see. Let's dive in and see what we can find.

-Let's get going.

-Brilliant stuff.

-They're off already. Look.

-HE CHUCKLES

-I like those plates.

-I hate them.

-No, yeah.

That's fair enough.

-Carry on looking here?

-Move on, I think.

Ladies, I quite like these as a pretty, fashionable sort of thing.

It's six bowls.

But it's Swansea pattern, OK,

so it's copying 18th-century Swansea porcelain.

It's part of a dessert service and, frankly,

most dinner and tea wares are cheap.

But I think that's a fashionable... I see the reactions on your face.

It's just part of a service.

Six bowls for dessert. And he said he'd do it for £12.

Yeah.

So that's £2 a bowl. You go to a department...

I paid £4 a bowl for breakfast bowls.

So it's quite cheap.

You can, in a dresser, put them up. They're traditional 18th-century.

You're not going to get £40 or £30 for them,

but what I'm saying is it's the sort of thing that is a safe buy,

-not a great investment.

-Yes.

If you get 10, 15, then you're on a way to making a little profit

and you have confidence to go on with.

But I'll hand them over. Have a look at them.

-If you don't buy, them he'll be disappointed.

-THEY LAUGH

I'm feeling pressure. I feel we need to buy something.

-It's not bad for £10, is it, Martin?

-£10! £12.

-You are a robber, Jonathan!

-We'll take them. Thank you.

Nice try, JP, but the price agreed was £12.

I hope you're going to let your team have a say over what they buy.

It can be overwhelming, coming into a place like this.

There's a lot to see and the lights

and I suppose there's apprehension about what you want to buy.

Um, I think I'm sort of helping them into it more than I'd normally like to.

He's lovely, isn't he?

And didn't cost us much.

Thrifty Tracey is keeping an eye on the dosh,

but Rowena's has been caught by something.

Bright and colourful. I like it.

Does she like all that colour?

-Colour, shining and sparkling.

-It's happy.

-I think she's a colourful character.

-Definitely. Definitely.

OK, feast your eyes on that and tell me what you like, but, remember,

-we've got to think about price and making a profit, as well.

-OK.

-I'm liking this one.

-The orangey one?

-Shall I get that?

-Yeah, yeah.

Let's have a look.

So we've got Clarice Cliff.

-This is a later plate.

-Yeah.

It's made by Wedgwood and it is in the Bizarre pattern.

I think that's very nice and I think that it's appealing.

I think that, at 33, it might be a bit dear,

but if you can get it from between 20 and 25,

-you might have a chance of making a profit in the auction.

-Yes?

-Yes.

-Shall we have a go at that?

-Yes?

Yes, well, its Wedgwood, it's a Clarice Cliff design.

All the information is on the back.

-And so is the price.

-Is there anything we can do on that?

Yes.

-What about 28?

-Oh! Any better?

-Go on.

-I thought you were going to say that.

How about 20?

-We're having to sell it in auction.

-Yes, yes, I know.

I would prefer 25, more or less in the middle.

22 and you've got a deal.

-24 and I've got a deal.

-Oh!

What do you think?

I'm admiring your battling skills already.

LAUGHTER

-ROB: 23.

-In the middle.

23, will you go to 23? Please!

-DEALER: Oh, go one then.

-Fabulous.

That's wonderful. Thank you very much.

Nice haggling, Ro-ro.

It's certainly bright and colourful.

Do you like modern glass?

-I do.

-Yeah.

-Do you like the vase at the top there. The red one?

-You know Mdina.

-Yes.

-Maltese glass?

I've bought loads of those in the past.

I really like them

and it's quite unusual, because it's got this drizzled glass covering.

They said they had a good day yesterday,

so, "Right, surely you could knock a few things down!"

So they could almost do that at half price. Have a look at it. I don't want to push you.

But that's the sort of thing glass-wise I'd be looking at.

-See what you think.

-You're a glass person.

-You can always come back. Go on have a look.

Sounds to me like you're taking over again, Jonathan Bossy Boots.

Anita's at it, too.

-There's something I'd like to show you and it's just up here.

-OK.

I'm wondering if Rob might like it.

-If I...

-Oh!

-..wobbled this wand, what do you think of that?

-I really like that, actually.

-Oh, yeah.

We're in Wales and Wales is the land of song and this is

-a chorister's baton. It could double up as a magician's wand.

-Absolutely!

-Very easy.

-It might just for us.

-I think so. I like it.

I think it might be quite nice to buy it.

-It is lovely.

-It is lovely.

-She's a great haggler.

Do you want to bargain, or do you want to send your beautiful assistant?

-Do you want to?

-I think maybe you should try and work some magic with it.

-Completely.

I've got 28 on it. OK.

Yes. Er, 25?

Oooh. 20.

I could do 20.

-20 sounds good.

-Yes?

-20's good.

-OK, then.

-Excellent. Thank you very much.

Hm. That was suspiciously easy. Did Rob hypnotise her, or something?

12 minutes, two items, what a team.

The Reds are on a roll, so the Blues have got some catching up to do.

-I quite like the colour. Feel it.

-Oh, gosh, it is heavy isn't it?

-Yes.

-What age is it?

-Late 1970s and early 1980s.

-Right.

Mdina orange. I do like it.

-How much is on it? 48.

-£48!

-Send in the postmistress.

-Do your best voice.

-I could do it for 24 for you.

-Could you?

-24.

-Yeah.

Would you take 20 for it?

-No, I got it for £48. 24.

-Yeah? OK.

-Yes, you like it?

-I do like it.

-It's your buy.

OK. Thank you.

-We've got a good price for it.

-Have you actually said you'll have it?

-That's number two. So how much for?

-24.

-£24. Very good.

I think you chose that vase, didn't you Jonathan?

It's completely down to you now. I am only going to give you advice.

LAUGHTER

Huh, a likely story.

I told them to buy the last object themselves.

I'm a little bit nervous about that now.

I'm quite sure you don't need to be, JP.

It's amazing what you can find at these fairs.

Look what I've stumbled across.

Most these antiques fairs are crammed with ceramics,

but it's not so often that you come across a pot that looks like this.

Handsome, isn't it?

The first thing that ought to draw your eye is the extremely luscious colour scheme.

Look at that gorgeous mottled blue.

This is a type of maiolica ware, made by Mintons,

and it is Britain's greatest contribution, strangely enough,

to the Art Nouveau movement.

You think of Art Nouveau and you think of France.

Well, Minton, just at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries,

produced a range of wares called tube-lined maiolica.

Now, tube lining is rather like icing a cake.

You get one of those cake ices bags and you fill it with a molten clay.

There's a little orifice on the end and you squeeze the bag

and out comes a little squitter.

And that green line is the squitter of clay.

You then fill inside the squitter with a colour

and move on to the next section.

All of the swags, all the tall, organic roots,

which seem to grow from the bottom of the vase

are all outlined with this tube-lined process,

which is very labour intensive and actually liable to damage.

But, joy of joy, this Minton tube-lined pot,

made in about 1902, 1905, something like that, is absolutely perfect.

What's it worth? Well, here in Wales, you can have it for £200.

What might it bring somewhere else?

Probably not a lot more, maybe between £200 and £400,

but there's definitely a profit in it.

I wonder if the same will apply to our team's purchases?

'And profits are the order of the day for our teams.'

Dive in now. There's no pressure. No pressure.

Guys! We've only spent 40-odd quid and got two items.

I think we should splash out a bit now.

-Do you want to spend big?

-Yes.

Spend big, make big.

Remember what Jonathan was saying about leaving the Blues to it?

I picked this up because I like strong design,

I think it's probably one the things that makes things sell really well.

This, I don't know what you describe it as, but you've got this

bronze figure and this on the top is the gymnast doing a tumble of sorts.

And the trophy on the front,

the presentation, put it down as a competition between

Canada, hammer and sickle, Russia. But it's bronze.

The other thing is, it's not signed.

They're saying is possibly by... If you find out who it's by, it might be worth £300.

If it's by someone that someone says, "That's his work

"and that's really good."

-That's what I think about it, what do you think?

-I absolutely love that.

I think it's fabulous. The shape is amazing.

I would actually have that in the house. I think it's fabulous.

-It's pretty classy.

-Beautiful, yes. Really, really lovely.

The fact is it's bronze and not smelter, as well.

-You can still turn round and ask for a discount.

-Yes, of course we well.

It's not silver. You wanted silver.

It's not silver. It's OK, I'll get my paints out.

-Your decision.

-No, I like it. I think it is very stylish.

I did say I was going to leave it all down to you.

-Now I've just done it again.

-Never mind, eh?

See what you think. You have plenty of time. We could come back.

Jonathan is leaving it all up to the girls,

but will they ignore his advice?

-If we look in the box, we have a writing slope.

-Mm-hm.

And it's the type of thing you would take when you went travelling

on your Grand Tour in Europe.

You have the ink wells here, you have this pen tray.

If you look under here, this is where you'd keep your letters

and other bits and pieces.

The price is 165.

It also has the original key, so that's another plus for it.

-But if you look at that, isn't it just...?

-It's exquisite.

-It's perfect.

DEALER: I could do it for 150.

Would you be willing to go down a bit more

if my magician here performed a trick for you?

Magic the price down a little bit more?

-He doesn't look convinced, but he could be a Druid.

-It wouldn't go down an awful lot.

-This I must see.

-Just say stop for me, very quickly.

Stop.

Fabulous, take the card, have a look at it. Marvellous.

I'll put those there.

Just have a look at it

and once you've had a look, place it down on the deck for me.

-That's marvellous.

-I'll put it on your box.

-On our box! Yes.

Wonderful. If I can take your arm, just rest it on mine, just like that.

I want you to say the card in your mind over and over again.

Just keep saying it, repeating it, repeating it over and over.

I'm going through the deck in my mind whilst you're doing this.

-OK, thank you. Seven of hearts.

-It certainly is

-It is?

-Is it?

Let's have a look.

-Yes.

-How did you do that?

-Well..

How much has Rob's magic saved the team?

I'll do 145. That's the very best.

Hm. Not so much then.

-Was that worth the extra fiver?

-SHE LAUGHS

-Yes?

-Yes.

-Well that's three items bought.

-Fantastic.

It's good.

-You guys don't hang about, do you?

-No.

LAUGHTER

-I'm happy with all of your items.

-Excellent. Thank you.

-Well done.

-Thank you.

-You did it all.

Well, they said they wanted to spend big.

So the Reds have pulled one out of a hat

and finished with time in hand.

How are the Blues getting on?

I don't know. It's a case of I'll know it when I see it.

Nothing's singing to you, Blues?

Maybe not.

SHE LAUGHS

-It's got noughts on the end of it.

-Yes.

-I know, I just found something that was 895.

-Ooh! None of that.

Nothing to see here. Walk on. Nothing to see.

Spendthrift Janet is struggling to part with the money.

The bronze it is. Yes. Come on.

-Go and deal it.

-Thank you!

Hiya, we're back!

Hello.

Yes, we do want it, please. What's the best price you can do on it?

-65.

-I think that's fair. It's nice.

I think it's just a quality object and £65 seems a fair price to me.

There is a lot of work in it. Yes? We'll take it, thank you.

Right, no need to stop clock as the teams have already finished.

Let's take the time to remind ourselves what the Red team bought.

Rowena showed her haggling colours

and paid £23 for this reproduction Clarice Cliff plate.

-A colourful woman likes this colourful plate.

-I think so.

The ebony and silver-plated baton is just wizard

and Rob mysteriously persuaded the dealer to sell it to him

for only £20.

But, despite his best efforts,

Rob's magic didn't do the trick with this dealer

and they hand to hand over £145 for the Victorian writing slope.

Wow.

-Well, well, that's handsome, isn't it?

-Isn't it just?

-Are you happy with your three objects?

-Very happy. Really good.

And how's Anita been for you? All right?

Magic. LAUGHTER

Magic. How corny is that? OK, so what did you spend overall?

£188, I believe.

You spent 188. Who has the £112 of leftover lolly.

I look after the cash.

-Oh, yes? Here we go.

-There's the two.

-There's a bit more magic.

ROWENA LAUGHS

The money goes over in safe and reliable hands to Anita Manning.

what are you going to do with?

I don't know. Buy another box of tricks!

LAUGHTER

-Were you taken in by all that?

-Yes.

-He's got me, too.

Anyway, have a good time, have a nice cup of tea. Good luck, Anita.

Why don't we check out what the Blue team bought.

At two pounds apiece,

Jonathan persuaded the Blues that these six modern Wedgwood bowls

wouldn't break the bank,

or should that be post office? Ha!

Tracey kept a tight hold on the readies

and got Mdina-style ruby vase for half price. £24.

And Janet finally splashed some cash

on this bronze sculpture of a gymnast, bought for £65.

Will it prove money well spent?

-Let's see if you can build your muscles up with that.

-It can join the team!

That is a lump, girls. How exciting.

-Have you had a nice time, Trace?

-Yes, a great time, thank you.

-Good.

-Which is your favourite piece? That?

-Absolutely. I would take it home.

We've got to prise it out of her hands to take it to auction!

Which is your favourite?

-Um, for think of value of money the plates.

-Right.

-But the glass. I like the colours in the glass.

-What will bring the biggest profit?

-The plates.

-Is it?

-What did you spend all round?

-£101.

-101. Almost like a bingo call. 101.

-Room 101!

OK, can I have 199 of leftover lolly, please?

Quite complicated with you and your lovely trophy.

That's OK, JP. What are you going to buy? Any idea?

The ladies said they like silver

and we've not managed to buy any,

so I might look at some silver, maybe.

But I want to make money and it's got to be right, so you never know.

In your capable hands.

Meanwhile, I'm heading off to Eastnor Castle and at it's fab.

The size and splendour of a country house was often used

to illustrate the fortune and vigour of the family living within it.

And Eastnor Castle here in Herefordshire is no exception.

It was built by the first Earl Somers between 1810 and 1824,

specifically with a view to catapulting his family

into the highest echelons of the ruling classes.

The earl employed the 29-year-old architect Robert Smirke,

who proposed building the house along the lines of a Norman keep

to create the impression of a mediaeval fortress guarding the Welsh borders.

In the aftermath of the French Revolution,

this style was seen as an assertion of the power of the old guard

and the symmetry of the design certainly emphasises authority.

Robert Smirke's references really work impeccable.

He'd recently rebuilt Lowther Castle for Lord Lonsdale

and in Lonsdale's letter to Lord Somers

he says, "Mr Robert Smirke's management of the works

"under his direction at this place, and his personal attention,

"entitle him to every commendation it is in my power to give him."

Which is a pretty good reference, isn't it?

And of course Robert Smirke was renowned for his ability

to produce a building to estimate.

And here I've got the original estimate.

And he breaks it down into sections.

Masonry, £13,000, for all this lot.

Carpenter, plumber, slater and smiths' works, £18,500.

Joiners, plasterers, painters and glaziers' works, £27,500,

then you've got the terraces, the walls and the landscaping,

that's another £6,000.

And a further £17,000 for the stables

and all the domestic offices.

Which totals £82,000.

Well, can you believe it?

It took 15 years of hard labour,

and what was the end bill for the whole lot?

Some £86,000.

This man Smirke, he's a genius!

The main building works were completed by 1820.

But such was the enormity of the cost

that the family decided not to incorporate, largely,

Smirke's decorative scheme for the interior.

It was simply costing far too much.

Anyway, the family must have been fed up,

because they'd been living in the west wing

for the previous seven years,

the castle was still a shell,

and they decided to finish the interior

in a much plainer, and in fact, more medieval style.

So what remains in the castle that actually was touched

by the hand of Smirke?

Well, the furnishings include this suite of oak seat furniture.

And what Smirke has incorporated, surprise, surprise,

is an enfilade of gothic pierced work.

And then you've got a couple of rails

interposed by stained fruitwood balls,

and indeed, each of the feet have a ball foot.

They are charming, and integral to the design of the castle.

The big question today, of course, for our teams over at the auction,

is it going to be frowns, or are we going to be "Smirke"-ing?

It's lovely to be back in Knutsford,

at Frank Marshall's saleroom, with Nick Hall. Good morning, Nick.

Welcome, Tim.

First item is Rowena's, which is this reproduction plate.

Yes, it's a modern slant on Clarice Cliff.

-I think they bought the rights to the patents, didn't they?

-Any good?

OK. There's a bit of a slim margin for it. £10, £15.

OK, £23 they paid, might not be so hot.

Next up is the silver mounted conductor's baton.

They're nice when they have a plaque

relating to a specific symphony or orchestra,

or even a major show,

much more sought after and valuable.

But it is at the low end of collecting, still.

-What do you think it is worth, Nicholas?

-We've put 30 to 50.

Oh, brilliant. They only paid £20. Pity it's in plate though.

-Can't have everything.

-Quite right.

Now, what about this over-polished box?

Erm, possibly over-priced, as well.

Yeah, used to do fantastic trade, these Victorian boxes,

writing slopes, jewellery boxes, all that sort of thing.

Obviously the market is not what it was, but it's a reasonable example.

-Nice veneers.

-How much?

-Well, £60, £80, is about its market worth.

Oof! There's a hit coming here. They paid £145 for this!

-What, recently?!

-Yeah! Last week!

That is its retail price, absolutely right,

-but to buy it with profit in mind?

-Forget it.

-Yeah.

So, a bit of a loser with that, and they may have a loser

with the Clarice Cliff lookalike.

Overall, they will need the bonus buy.

Let's have a look at it and hope for the best.

Now, you two love birds, you spent £188.

£112 went to Anita Manning. What did you spend it on?

Ooh!

Ha-ha! A little bit racy,

but I know Rowena loves the art deco period,

and this figure is from that time, 1930s.

The art deco period, they loved anything exotic,

and a little racy.

Tell me what you think.

It's very pretty. It's a good shape.

So, a wee bit of restoration there,

and obviously this base has been painted,

this sort of silvery colour.

-So it's had a wee bit of...

-..pimping up!

-Yes!

-And you paid how much for it?

-£75.

-75, OK.

It's not going to fly into the hundreds,

but I think, at 75, not too bad.

-OK.

-Team, think about it. Don't pick now, pick later, if you want to.

But for the audience at home,

let's find out what the auctioneer thinks of the art deco figure.

Here is something to titillate you.

I'll be careful where I hold this, Tim.

Quite right, this is a family daytime show!

What's happened to the top, then?

Well, she is topless, in more ways the one, Tim.

Where do you get these lines?!

-She's missing her shade. That's what you mean!

-Yes, there should be

a nice big globular glass shade on the top there,

long-since missing, sadly, and it's plaster, not bronze,

of course, importantly.

Yes. It's amazing that it's survived in that sort of nick then,

because if that's plaster, one little tweak on that and that's...

All over, yeah.

-What's your estimate?

-Er, 60 to 100, as it's stylish.

Well, good for you, Anita paid £75,

which is about spot on with that estimate.

Anyway, we shall see.

There you go, my dear, you sit down over there. Lovely.

Now, moving on, that's it for the reds, now for the blues.

And first for Tracey and Janet,

the six Swansea plates.

It would have been nice if they were Victorian and hand-painted,

then we could have got away with it.

But second hand, 20th century? Just buy them to use them, really.

Quite. And you've only got those oddball plates. So, how much?

Reasonable quality, but not terribly collectable, £10, £20.

-Couple of pounds apiece?

-Thereabouts.

-That's what they paid.

Perfect. Good.

£2 each. Next up is the vase. Your favourite.

We've got a specific 20th century design section within the sale,

so we'll have the target audience for it.

It's not the best example of Maltese glass,

but there is a market out there.

-One's got to start somewhere.

-Absolutely.

-Your estimate?

-20 to 40 for that one.

-£24 paid.

-Good.

-They're spot on in the middle.

-Yeah.

-And the last item Jonathan Pratt got really excited about,

we're rather hoping you've had a chance to do a bit of research.

Stylish thing, bronze of course.

When it came in there was a loose attribution to Gordon Lochhead,

and we just questioned it.

So actually we tracked down and phoned him, spoke to him.

You rang old Lochhead up?

Well, we're diligent. Doing our homework, our research.

-Impressive! What did he have to say?

-He said it wasn't him.

Ha! Really?

But what he did tell us was fascinating.

He thought he knew who the designer for this particular piece was.

A lady called Steiger. So we tracked down and spoke to her, as well.

Did you? And she confirmed that she was the sculptor?

Yeah. She knew and remembered the piece,

and confirmed it as one of her designs.

Just as well it's not a very old piece,

-you wouldn't have found them in a telephone book!

-A Ouija board, then!

Ha-ha! Quite!

Anyway, so after all that work on your part,

what's the estimate?

After all the work we hope someone buys the thing,

but we've put a wide spread, £100 to £200.

-Well, £65 was paid by Jonathan, so if you're right...

-Yeah.

And by virtue of your hard work

you jolly well ought to be able to sell it,

-so, we'll be rooting for you!

-Good, thank you.

Cos depending on how that gets on will determine

whether we need the bonus buy or not, so let's have a look at it.

Tracey, Janet, this is exciting, isn't it?

It is, yeah. You only spent £101,

you gave Jonathan Pratt £191,

a small fortune by anybody's standards,

-Jonathan, did you spend the lot?

-Would you be disappointed if I did?

-No!

-Oh, no, look at that!

Well, I didn't, I'm afraid. I bought a little silver broach.

It's from Iona, the Scottish Island of Iona

in the Northwest of Scotland. Again it's in the tradition

of Arts & Crafts, which is very collectable. Scottish jewellery

-of this type is very collectable, too.

-OK, how much?

£24, in my eye it's worth £40.

-£25!

-Yeah, yeah.

I think there's a profit of £10 or £15, quite possibly.

Let's cross our legs, and for the audience at home find out

what the auctioneer thinks about Jonathan's little brooch.

Now, there you go, Nick.

Very delicately take that. Sweet little thing, isn't it?

Isn't it nice? If you like Scottish jewellery it's just a peach.

It's all the way from Iona, to Knutsford, it's Sterling silver,

a nice design, you'd be forgiven for thinking

it's the Arts & Crafts periods, it's got that look about it.

-Certainly has. How much do you think it might bring?

-£20 - £40.

OK. £24. I thinks that's quite a sensible buy.

-We'll find out in minute, won't we?

-Absolutely.

-Absolutely.

£45, I have.

With you, sir. Sold. £45.

So how excited are you two on a scale of one to ten?

About twelve!

-Are you?

-Definitely.

-It's quite a moment, isn't it?

You look out of this busy sale room

and you just don't know what's going to happen.

First up is the Wedgwood Clarice Cliff look-alike and here it comes.

Lot 176 is the modern Wedgwood limited edition

Clarice Cliff plate. £10. Where are we bidding? Online, thank you.

Online bidder at £10. Someone from Staffordshire, I expect.

15, 18, 20 all online still bidding at £20.

Any advance with you? It's online. The bid's at £20. Any further?

We're hovering, flickering, £20, the bid's online,

the room's out, £20 I'm selling. Sure?

Minus £3, very close. Bad luck.

Come on, here comes the baton.

Smart thing, this conductor's baton. What are we going to say, £30?

£20 online, thank you. 2 with you, madam? Be kind.

Going for good cause, look at their faces. £22, thank you.

£22 bidding in the front row, you're going to get this,

you lucky lady, at £22, front row all done if you're sure.

£22, plus £2, which is great, overall you're minus £1!

Wow!

Lot 178 is the Victorian inlaid walnut and marquetry

ladies' travelling writing slope at £80 on the book.

Any advance on £80?

£80 I'm bid, at £80, go on,

£5 I have, at £85, 90, go on, 95, thank you.

I've got 100 against you. At £100, 110?

5, if it helps, 105, 110, still commissioned against you, though,

at 110 the bids are with me, are you sure? 110 holding,

110 I'm selling, all done, sold.

Bad luck, you're £35 pounds down,

overall you're minus 36.

That is tough, isn't it? That's really tough. Sorry, Rob.

OK, so what are you going to do about the Deco plaster figure?

Fancy having a go at that?

Yeah, let's go for it.

Yeah, we'll go for it.

-No pressure.

-No pressure.

It's got the look, hasn't it? Yeah.

We're going with the Deco figure, here it comes.

The Art Deco patinated plaster table light, 40 I'm bid.

-Red-blooded male bid at the back. Thank you, sir.

-£40.

£45, they're clambering now.

50, 5 in the doorway. 55 the bid, go a bit more.

At 60, £60, a fantastic shade.

65, 80, I have, £ 80, 85, don't be shy, bid up.

85, 90, 95, back in the room at £95.

At £95, in the room standing, in the doorway, at 95..

100, bid on line, shakes his head,

at 110 he's back in, well done, sir,

110, at 100 I'm selling, if you're sure?

-Yes!

-Thank you!

That is so close. That is plus £35, well done, Anita,

but you had minus 36, so overall you're minus £1!

Oh, no! £1!

That's 50p each!

Listen, this could be a winning score,

so don't say a word to the blues, all right?

Janet, you've got any precitions on how you're going to do today?

If we break even Tracey doesn't want the bronze to sell cos

she wants to take it home herself.

Listen, it will sell for something.

She's brought a big bag with her.

No, no no, Tracey, none of that's going to happen, baby,

it's going to go.

First though, are the plates and here they come.

Six Wedgwood Swansea pattern circular transfer printed bowls.

£20 for the six? £20.

15, at £10, nice little pattern, good make, Wedgwood,

good condition as well. £10 for the six.

You're not going to make me beg again, are you?

10, I'm bid, thank you. It's 10, it's going, I'm selling at £10 only.

Oh, dear, he's sold it. Minus 2, bad luck, girls.

I think you were lucky to get away with that. Now here comes Dina?

Nice bit of multi studio glass here by Dina.

£20 for it?

10, I'll take, thank you. Any advance on the 10? 15.

20, 25,

lady with the scarf in the front row for 25,

come on, chaps, where's your spirit? I've got 25, 30, new bidder.

35 right at the back, new bidder with the white coat. 35.

At 35 at the very back standing.

At 35 the bid, you sure in the front row? You're hesitant, go on,

have a bid, if in doubt, bid. Thank you. Front row at £40.

All done, if you're sure. Front row it is, 40 I sell.

£40 is lovely, that is plus 16.

A very respectable profit which means overall that you are plus £14.

Now, what is going to happen with the exciting bronze? Here it comes.

A smart little thing, this.

Good bit of artwork, I've got commission interest as well.

I'm going to start the bidding straight in at £180.

At £180, any advance? With you at 180.

190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240,

at £240 you're sure?

You're out at the back, nothing online,

the bid's at £240, I sell.

£240, that is just marvellous!

That's fantastic, isn't it?

£240, you're £189 up! £189.

Now, what are you going to do about the brooch? You're going to risk

anything on that? Or you just going to pocket all that cash?

-Yes.

-Yeah.

-We're going to chance £24 on the brooch and here it comes.

Scottish Stirling silver circular brooch. £20 for it, 20, thank you.

20 I'm bid, at 20, it is solid silver.

25, 30, 35, 40.

45, 45 standing right at the back, anyone else?

50 seated, 55.

Look at his face!

55 standing, yes, sir?

You out, madam?

55 I've got right at the back, £55, all done.

Get in there!

25 and 25 would make it 50,

so, hang on a minute, 24, 30, 25,

£31 plus £31...

nine and one is ten, and eight, twelve,

that is £220.

How good is that! Don't say a word to the reds, all right?

No point in spoiling their day.

-What excitement Have you been chatting you lot?

-No.

You haven't been chatting?

It's just been so much fun, and the runners up, sadly, are the reds.

Ah!

Minus £1 is just so bad luck, isn't it?

-When you've made profit, largely out of Anita.

-Thank you!

-Have you had a nice time?

-Yes!

We've loved having you on the show, you've been really good sports.

Brought some colour into our lives, which is lovely,

-I hope you've enjoyed it.

-Very much.

-Good, But the victors today who

go home with the unbelievable £220!

Thank you, very, very much, Jonathan, for finding that bronze

and thank you very much to the auction house for properly

researching it and getting the buyers all lined up

because it was a result, wasn't it?

-This has been J Pratt's day, hasn't it?

-It has.

-Are you proud of him, girls?

-We absolutely are.

You go home with a wedge of cash. You're looking rather jealous!

Not really, anyway, we've had such a good time.

-Join us soon for some more bargain hunting. Yes?

-Yes!