Australia 1 Bargain Hunt

Today, we've swapped pounds for dollars, Australian dollars,

because we're in Sydney.

So, let's go bargain hunting. Yeah!

MUSIC: "South Australia"

G'day!

We've travelled round the globe to Sydney, the largest city Down Under.

But I'm not here for the sun and surf,

I'm here on the hunt for Aussie bargains.

Well, we've changed countries, but we haven't changed the rules.

Each team still gets £300, so that's 500 Australian dollars,

and an hour to buy three items.

Shall we have a sneak preview as to how they got on?

Our host today is the Sydney Antiques Centre,

two huge floors cram-packed with Australiana and old-world antiques

for our Aussie bargain-hunting teams to explore.

The Reds start off in smashing style.

ITEM CLATTERS

Panic, panic. It's a team effort now.

And it's hats off to the Blues.

That is stunning. That is stunning. You look like some movie star.

But who will come out on top with their items when they go to auction?

-Go on, go, go.

-Well done.

Yes!

Welcome to a very special edition of Bargain Hunt.

For the Reds, we've got husband and wife Narelle and Mark,

and for the Blues, we've got Ian and Beck, who are just good friends.

-Now, Narelle. You've been married for 15 years?

-That's correct.

And it don't seem a day too long, right? Is that right?

-That's right, yes.

-And how did you two meet?

We met through friends.

Mark was sitting at one end of the table and I was at the other,

and I liked the look of him,

so I thought I'd better move to where he was sitting,

and ten months later, we were married.

So, was it before the dessert course that you moved up?

Did you allow him to have the main course alone

and then you nabbed him?

-I think I moved before the entree.

-Did you?

-Oh, yeah.

You're a fast worker, then, girl, aren't you?

Now, you live in Sydney, but you've got a very responsible job.

-Tell me about that.

-I do, I work for corrective services

and I do all the paperwork for inmate transfers.

We'd better, for the UK audience,

define exactly what corrective services are.

-The jails.

-The jails?

-The Department of Corrective Services.

-Oh, right.

So, is it true then, Mark,

that you saw Narelle having such a great time in her job

that you decided to join her?

You probably could say that. I was in the corporate world before.

I'd had enough of the corporate marketing world

and decided to go for something completely left-field.

-Yeah? Finished up in prison too?

-Yep, finished up in prison.

-Been a prison officer for ten years, now.

-Have you?

-Yeah.

And what's the best part of the job?

-Uh...the money?

-Is it? Oh, good.

That's perfectly honest, then, isn't it?

Brilliant. Anyway, very good luck.

Now, for the Blues. Ian, tell me how you two met.

Um, I met Beck about 10 years ago,

and that's when I came across from Auckland in New Zealand to...

-So you're not an Aussie, then?

-Well, I am now.

-Oh, you are now.

-I became and Aussie in 2007 but, you know, a Kiwi as well.

-Yes.

So, you're well prepped for this Bargain Hunt deal

that we've got in front of us today, yes, Beck?

Yes, I think so. My life has been surrounded by antiques and art, so...

What, from your parents?

Yes, yep. They were very passionate about collecting things.

Yes? What sort of things?

Um...marbles, pie funnels, pudding dolls.

-They're serious.

-Their house is like a phone box.

They keep bringing more stuff, and the house is just getting smaller.

-They're not antique dealers?

-No, but they should get involved.

They've got enough stock to have a shop, yeah.

Ian, you're a bit of an adrenalin junkie, tell us a bit about that.

I love it. I did my first bungee jump at 12 with my family in Taupo

in New Zealand and ever since that moment, I've just got the bug.

Don't you worry when you jump off on that rubber band

that it might break?

That's the whole thrill of it. You know, adds more flavour to it.

Anyway, what is your strategy between you?

What are you going to go for today?

Well, I like the low-spend strategy,

but we're in a very challenging venue.

-Yes. You think it's going to be pricey today?

-I have a feeling, yes.

OK, well, that leads us perfectly neatly to the money moment.

Here are your A500

to trot off with, all right?

You know the rules, your experts await, and off you go,

and very, very good luck!

What is going to happen with our cobbers today?

Well, I don't know. But they're going to need some expert help,

so we've brought two of our best.

Paul Laidlaw's mucking in with the Reds.

David Barby's lending a hand to the Blues.

Oh, wait a minute. So you don't bring a second.

LAUGHTER

So, everyone's in high spirits. Let's get this Aussie shop underway.

Ooh, ooh, we're on the clock.

-Right, let's go and have a look at this stand over here.

-OK.

Spoilt for choice, which is good! You're the bosses.

They may be the bosses, but you're the experts.

I hope you and David have done your research

into what sells well Down Under.

So, how do you know this is Australian?

I think it's got the classic glaze

and the matte, and it sings landscape,

which is very Australian.

-Cos I see sunspots in it.

-Definitely. I see trees.

-Yeah.

Nice eucalyptus up here, just beautiful.

The Olgas and the outback, I think it's just really beautiful.

-It's very heavy.

-A little koala in the bottom corner.

-Look really closely.

-You have such a vivid imagination.

You are a dreamer.

Well, I think this is what you look at a piece of art pottery.

You explore it and you use your own imagination.

Just let's turn it over and explore it a little bit more, if we can.

-Ooh, gosh, that is heavy!

-The muscle man! Come on!

-Show us your muscles.

-Looks better on this side, actually.

-Oh, it's stunning.

-Well, what I like is the fact

that you can see it's been turned on the wheel.

And that's where it's been cut off the wheel,

that small blobule of clay, there.

-I like this. What's it say there?

-I don't know. It is a signature.

-Robinson.

-Robinson, and it's, what, 85?

-85.

-You have si... Ooh.

Gosh, it's heavy, isn't it?

You have a similar type of pottery in England as well,

but I think this is very striking.

Let's see where the owner of this stand is.

Could we just chat about this particular pot?

-What's the price on this, please?

-80.

-80?

-Mm-hm.

-Is that the very, very best you can do?

-Um...

I can go down a little bit. 60?

-Come on, help me out here.

-I don't know, I don't know.

Is that really the very best you can do?

-I wonder where he's got that from.

-I'm thinking...

-I'm thinking, maybe, 40. I don't know.

-Deal.

-Yeah? Oh!

That's too eager, we might have got it for 20!

Well done, Blues. Let's hope the rest of your shop is as easy.

Narelle and Mark, how are you getting on?

-So, we're on a mission to make some dollars.

-Serious coin, yep.

-How are we going to do that?

-Open mind. Just...

-Open mind.

Just see something that looks all right, just grab it.

Liking your style. That so works for me, because we've...

-What does that mean? We've no blinkers on, have we?

-Nope.

-Yes, but no direction either, Paul.

-What've we got...

She'll probably spot something first.

Reds, it all seems a bit relaxed to me.

What about this?

I think that's nice. So what period is that? That Audrey Hepburn type.

-Yeah, it is. It's...'50s?

-And that would fit you, wouldn't it?

Well, I don't know. My waist size doesn't fit with the '50s waist.

-Does it not?

-I've tried so many '50s dresses.

-Because after the war, after the war, people were on ration.

-Yes.

-It's true. It was the healthiest type for them.

-I'm not. I'm on...

-And they were very, sort of, stick-like.

-..good living.

Shall we not go into that, please.

Let's have a look at the hats, since you're so keen on the hats.

That's right, David. Move on, boy.

-What do you feel, Narelle?

-Nothing yet.

-We'll find something.

-Just looking...

looking...

It's all very well looking, looking.

You need to start buying, buying!

Looking...

looking...

Hmm...

Ooh! Book ends!

-Oh, no. Cats.

-Oh, they're cats, they're cats. Oh!

-ITEM CLATTERS

-Panic, panic.

It's a team effort now.

It's a pincer action.

Oh dear, oh dear. Pull yourselves together, Reds.

-I think that's lovely on you.

-It's lovely, isn't it?

-Uh, it's your colour.

-It brings out your eyes.

Mmm. Big eyes.

-Would you like to try?

-No, I would not!

You know, us Aussies, we love to dress up.

No kidding.

-Oh, that looks good.

-Yeah.

-That looks good.

-No, you look like one of the Diddy Men.

-Coneheads.

-Coneheads.

-Yeah.

-That's... You can't tell the difference.

-No.

-It does look like a toupee, doesn't it?

-It just blends.

You actually remind me of my mother.

let's have a look. That is stunning. That is stunning.

You look like some movie star.

-And that little bling-bling BH.

-Yes.

Some nice ties in there.

I've got to be honest with you, Narelle, this is a boy's toy.

What are we looking at? A little desk ornament,

and I'm going to be honest with you, this is tourist fodder.

This was a tourist piece, probably bought in France,

possibly during the First World War, but as likely in the '20s

when there was a lot of touring of the Flanders and French battlefields.

Does this little ammunition box do anything? It carried...

-What do you think went in there?

-Ink.

-Ink.

Absolutely. There you have, we know for sure, it's an inkstand dish.

Um... Given that, I said earlier on, it's tourist fodder -

it's not fine art, it's nothing spectacular -

does it have a fine art price or does it have a price commensurate

with its humble origins? And I would need this to be...

A very humble price.

-..a double-digit price, yeah.

-Ooh. Could we go to a hundred?

Look, can I just be really cheeky?

Maybe we can leave open this and see if we add to it,

and then, all of a sudden, things start to work for both of us?

-That would be fine.

-Right, OK.

I'll give you that back. Don't put it back in the cabinet,

let's hope it goes that way, and let's see what else we find?

-Yep.

-OK.

-Good lad.

-Excellent. Happy hunting!

-Thank you!

Well, I suppose that's some sort of progress.

Blues. What have you found, now?

-I just want to know why on earth you like these?

-Me, too.

They're just...hideously ugly but stunning. I've got the wrong one.

-OK. Here... I better not... I'll try not to speak.

-Speak no evil.

-Yes.

-Hear no evil.

-And then see no evil.

-I think they're appropriate for the three of us.

-Do you think so?

-Well, they were made yesterday.

-Were they?

Taiwan or somewhere like that. Far East.

-Let's not risk it.

-No.

Well done, Barby. Reds, have you made a decision on the inkstand yet?

Do you want to take the reins? Do you want to try and...?

-Narelle, are you comfy?

-Cool, I'll try it.

-Yeah, off you go.

-Yeah? Do think we should try and buy it?

-Yeah, yeah.

-Good luck, my man, yeah? We'll just mill.

-Yep.

-Yeah.

Right, Mark. Go in all guns blazing, mate.

-No word of a lie, I do like that.

-OK.

But I don't want to pay any more than 75.

-Wow. That is blazing.

-I'll see what I can do for you.

Right, now...finish her off.

It's our first item we're buying.

-All right.

-All right? 75?

-75.

-Done deal. Excellent. Done deal.

-You're up and running.

-First item bought.

-Yes.

-Yay!

-First one bought.

-Feeling good.

-Well done.

Excellent. Each team is neck and neck,

and now it's my chance to check out what's on offer.

There you go, look. Twinkling Eyes.

But what's inside? Something to do with twinkling eyes, methinks.

And, yes. Inside the box, we have got a pair of specs.

Now, if there's one question

that I am asked more often than any other question, it's,

"Tim, how many pairs of spectacles have you got?"

And the classic reply to that is, "Quite a few."

Well, I've just acquired another pair of spectacles.

What do you think about these babies?

Aren't they fun? This thing was simply a toy

made for children in the 1940s or early 1950s,

but what I like about these things is that they're such fun.

Now, are you getting the winky-eye method?

Is that fun or is it fun?

I think they're great.

What will they cost you? Here in Australia, 22 dollars.

Multiply by 6. That's about £12. What might they be worth?

Look it up on the internet

and you'll find that some pairs can make 20 more.

So, there's not a lot of profit in it but a lot of fun!

You said you liked sailing ships.

Wow, a lantern. Isn't that great?

-David, that's fantastic.

-Do you like that?

-Yeah.

-That's moulded glass.

-And look at the fish on the bottom. I do like that.

I can see that in one of those houses with a wrought-iron balconies at the front.

-Yes.

-Nice spotting.

-David, what are we looking at?

Well, we are looking at the lantern. It's 169.

-What's the very best you could do on that?

-We could make that 120.

-I'd like it tucked under 100.

-Oh!

-Please!

-Starting with 99.

-It ought to be around 80.

-Please?

-90.

-80. 90. 85.

-All right, 85!

-85! I think that's good.

-58?

-No!

-You're very good at this!

-85!

-And cheeky!

Excellent! Item number two.

Whilst you're doing that, could we have a look in the far cabinet?

-Of course.

-There's a pair of earrings.

Oh! And a third may not be far away.

-Two thirds of the shopping is done.

-Anything you see, woman?

Reds, is that the scent of panic in the air?

I don't know. It's too much.

I'm worried about the time - we're dawdling. Dawdling!

-You find something. You lead the way.

-I'm trying.

-You've lost your marbles?

-No, one's missing!

We're looking at the solitaire set, are we?

There needs to be one missing, because...

Because! LAUGHTER

Kind of a frustrating game.

So, look,

we know what we've got.

I'm going to cut straight to the chase here.

The prices are frightening me, as is your mania

for breaking the place up!

LAUGHTER

180, £120!

Worth £120, you know. The marble collectors like them.

I don't see rare glass marbles.

But I do like...

You see all these little marks of age here? All these cracks.

I think it's a 120-140 year old. I think it could easily be.

-Right, the clock's ticking. Do we send the missionary off here?

-Yep, and we'll go cruising.

And we'll keep looking. And we want to pay £40 or £60.

If you can get down to that, I think it's worth a punt. See what you can do.

We'll fall for your mission.

You've got to take the reins sometimes.

Well, someone needs to, because the Blues are nearing the finish.

-I think those are stunning.

-They need a bit of shine to them.

-What about the backing?

-I think the backing's OK. Sterling standard.

It's got that bit of gold colouring.

I like the fact it's got the amethyst-type stone.

Right, let me go and find the dealer and come back. Do you like those?

-Yes. Do you like these?

-I do. I think they're cute.

-Do you think that would have an appeal in an auction?

-Hold on to that, please.

-I feel comfortable in 60.

-60? That's less than half price!

-Yes, we are looking for a bargain.

-You sure are.

-Erm...

-It's cold cash.

It could be sitting there for another month or two.

Probably could be. OK, I'll do 60.

60? Cool, sweet. Deal done.

-OK.

-Thank you.

Crikey, Mark, you Aussies are amazing hagglers.

-How did you go? What did you get it for?

-60.

-Well done.

Get in!

LAUGHTER

-Is there a dead body round there?

-Yeah! Got it for 60.

-Well done.

-I've got a good feeling about this!

-Get in!

-Your turn next.

-I'm not negotiating!

Now, Reds, don't count your chickens.

You're into the final minutes and you still need to find another item.

I have Don here, and he says 45 on the silver earrings.

Is it 45 and an even hundred for the lamp as well?

Ian, you cunning monkey!

-100 for the two would be really...

-We'll do 100 for the two.

-All right!

We'll do the lamp for 60 and the earrings for 40.

-Excellent.

-Excellent. Good man!

Cracking finish, Ian.

That's another 25 off the lamp. Reds, are you panicking yet?

Quickly, folks, four minutes, three minutes, I don't know.

Those glasses that you spotted.

-What about this?

-What, what, what?

-She's off in the wrong direction.

-Oh, no, it's 245!

-Just pick something, Narelle.

-I don't know!

This is typically Finnish. You can still buy good glass like this.

There's nothing to suggest... It could be...

Oh, there's another...

Sorry, sorry, sorry.

There's a wee imperfection. There's nothing...

The could be 1960s, but they could be 2010 as well.

That can be a problem. 20th century is such a problem in that respect.

How much were they going to be?

We can do those ones for...

You could give us a gift price given there is five and a chipped one.

40.

We'll do them.

Unless... With that chip, about 30?

-30?

-30 with the chip, done.

-Done.

-What did we buy?!

LAUGHTER

Thanks!

Well, time's flown by.

Mark and Narelle certainly have taken it to the wire, and time's up!

Now, what did they settle on in the end?

The boys agreed the novelty inkwell was worth a shot at 75.

If anything, I feel I steered that, it is my penchant, but at least

I knew Mark was going to like it,

and Narelle, I think she saw the sense in the purchase, so get in.

The mahogany solitaire set became item number two.

-30.

-30 with a chip.

-Done.

-What did we buy?!

And for the finish, they panic-bought six Finnish glasses.

I'd like 335, please. 335, yes? That's very nice.

That goes straight across to the Laidlaw.

There you go, Paul.

Have you any idea what you are going to spend your 335 on?

Um...no!

Tim, have no idea where I am or what time of day it is.

Well, we will know that feeling. But knowing you,

you'll truffle around and come up with something lovely.

Anyway, go and have a cup of tea and good luck, Paul, with your search.

Meanwhile, why don't we check out what the Blues bought?

The Australian charger got them going for 40.

You imagine that on a low level sideboard from the '50s or '60s,

on a stand, it will look stunning. A good piece of artwork.

Then Ian negotiated hard

and eventually got the 1930s lamp for 60.

And they finally walked off

with a pair of 1980s sterling silver earrings.

40, that was a ridiculous price to pay.

Sterling silver 40, they will make a profit.

I think they might end up with...

a golden pin.

Steady on, Barby, don't let yourself get too carried away, boy.

-I want 360, please. Thank you very much.

-Count it.

Don't worry, I trust him. Millions wouldn't, but I do.

-£360 with your own personal challenge.

-Yes.

Have you seen anything you might pounce on?

-Yes, it's got to be bling, bling, bling.

-Has it?

-Yes.

-And cheap, cheap, cheap.

-Absolutely.

-For you!

Anyway, good luck, guys.

Good luck, David. Meanwhile, I'm heading off to Government House.

How grand can you be?

Government House sits within the Botanic Gardens in the heart of the city.

It's 1834.

You're the governor of a fledgling colony 10,500 miles from home

and you want to put your colony on the map.

What do you do?

Well, you commission architect Edward Blore,

architect to King William IV, to design you a house.

Not some ordinary house, though -

this house! Government House!

Oh, yes.

Conceived here in Australia, designed in England

and built using local materials,

this Government House superseded two predecessors.

Captain Arthur Phillip first erected a canvas and timber structure

when he landed in January 1788,

but he quickly replaced this with a two-storey brick building

later that year.

It became the first Government House of the new colony.

But after nearly 50 years, they wanted something grander.

New Government House was designed to send a message across the globe

as to how far Sydney Cove had come in the 50 years

since the arrival of the First Fleet.

Sydney was now most definitely on the map.

Wow!

Just look at this! It is grand, isn't it?

It very much has the feel, to me, of that Scottish gothic baronial.

The plans arrived in 1834-5.

Works started pretty soon after that and went on for a decade

until the mid 1840s.

And the cost?

Well, it was astronomic.

Some £46,000 and that was without the furnishings.

One of the obvious furnishings from the period in this,

the drawing room, is the gasolier.

In the 1850s, this was connected to Sydney's main gas supply,

and each of those globes would have had within it

an incandescent mantle that would have illuminated the room

for grand receptions with a hard, white light.

Out of the furnishings in this room that date from the 1840s,

Governor George Gipps commissioned a suite of handsome rosewood furniture,

and this looks very typically high Victorian.

But there are one or two tell-tales that tell you that this table

comes from the Antipodes.

The timber is not much help, because this is Brazilian rosewood.

But it has been most beautifully veneered

and applied to the carcass, so that it shows off the lovely

black styrations on this gorgeous, almost red-brown colour.

The drawer itself is concealed within the frieze,

and if I take it out,

you can see that the lining is in an unusual timber.

If this had been made in Europe,

it undoubtedly would have been in oak, if it was a top quality piece,

or in deal or pine for a junior quality piece.

But this is in Australian cedar.

But the true giveaway is this label inside.

Now, this is a very nice thing to find,

because it absolutely identifies the maker, Andrew Lenehan,

who was an Irishman who came to work here in Sydney

between about 1830 and 1860.

I love these labels for all the information that they give you,

because not only did this man make exquisite pieces of furniture,

he also supplied hair mattresses, feather pillows and floor cloths.

And also, here, it says, "Sprung vans on hire."

Special suspension so your goods wouldn't be damaged

in the pot holes in the Sydney streets.

The big question today is, of course,

over in Lawsons Auctions in Sydney,

are our teams going to have a bumpy ride?

That depends on whether our experts have done their homework

on what sells well Down Under.

We've headed across town to Annandale

where auctioneer Martin Farrar

awaits us at Lawsons Auctions.

-Martin, good morning.

-Good morning and welcome.

-Thank you.

First up for Narelle and Mark

is this machine gun in gilt spelter,

which is a bit of a wacky one, isn't it?

It is very wacky. I would classify it as deskenalia.

I don't know if that is a proper word, but we use it here.

We made it up ourselves.

I'll have to take that one home, because I've never heard of it!

Deskenalia, that's brilliant!

-What sort of estimate would you put on that?

-40-60.

-Is that all?

-Mm.

75 paid.

Well, you never know. These things can come good, can't they?

-They can indeed.

-Moving on, then, it's the little solitaire board.

-Mm.

The big question is, have you lost any of your marbles?

No, but we have here.

Yes. What you'd like is a matching set of marbles, right?

That would be beneficial.

And you'd like Victorian marbles to go on the board.

-Exactly.

-And if you had all of that,

you might be boosting up the price a bit.

You might. I've, er...I suggest 20-40.

Really? They paid 60.

This is two not looking so happy.

And I regret to say, we've had a bit of a disaster

in the transportation department,

carting these glasses across the city.

-Because once upon a time, they bought six of these babies.

-Ah!

And one, I'm afraid, is no longer with us.

So the only way I can sort this out fairly for the team

is to ask you, what would this set of glasses

be likely to bring at the auction

if it was complete and a set of six?

I think 80-100, 100-120.

OK. So if we took the mid point there

-and called it 100 as an estimate for the six perfect...

-Yeah.

We've got five, what are they going to bring, do you think?

-I think 50-80.

-Right.

We are 50 light by virtue of losing one of the set.

We will have to compensate our contestants

to the tune of 50.

It looks as if they may not need the bonus buy,

but let's go have a look at it, anyway.

You spent 165,

you gave the man 335.

Paul, what did you spend it on?

-Well, we were looking for good glass to suit your taste.

-We were.

-Does that do anything for you?

-Yeah.

-Heavy, solid, fancy.

-It is.

And more than that, it's got a name. Whitefriars.

Perhaps THE name in English glassmaking in the 20th century.

This piece here, circa late '40s.

Designed by one of the greats

within Whitefriars in the 20th century, James Hogan.

And for my money, I think it's timeless.

-It looks good.

-Can I sell it to you?

-Yep. How much did you pay for it?

-The nitty-gritty.

-40.

-Well done.

-Wow! Excellent!

-We're on to a winner here.

-I hope so.

-Definitely on to a winner.

Anyway, there we go. Thank you very much, Paul.

He rates it, you saw his lips, but for the audience at home,

let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Paul's glass vase.

-That's a lump.

-It's a heavy piece.

Well, it's mid 20th-century design and it's very popular at the moment.

Whitefriars. English. It must be good.

That's what you say to all the visitors!

-Now, what's your estimate on that?

-I think 30-50.

Well, Paul paid 40, so that's a modest, in-the-middle piece.

And who knows, he might make a small profit, which would be lovely.

Anyway, that's it for the Reds. Now for the Blues.

And they kick on with this monster of a charger.

-Does that float your boat?

-Not yet.

-Sink your boat?

-It's growing on me.

I mean, it's got kind of like spinach, drizzles of spinach,

over a kind of custard splodge.

It's an interpretation of an Australian landscape.

-Is it?

-I haven't been there, but...

OK, then, Martin, how much?

60-80.

Really? 40 is all they paid.

That's a miracle. That's a very nice start. Thank you very much.

What about this so-called nautical lantern. Have you got any age?

1930s is what we've been told.

But nautical is popular in Sydney.

With your marvellous harbour, yes, of course.

How much do you think it's worth?

30-50.

60 they paid.

So what they've perhaps gained on the Australian landscape,

they're about to lose on the nautical lamp,

which leaves them with these earrings.

-They're quite chunky.

-Mm.

Not to everybody's taste, but there we go.

Contemporary-looking, anyway. So, how much?

-20-30.

-40.

We've got one or two problems. I think they'll need their bonus buy.

Let us go and have a look at it!

360 worth went to David. What did you spend it on?

I didn't spend the whole lot, but I wanted to buy something Chinese.

So I bought this rather attractive bowl.

Now, the mark on the back is from the Ming dynasty.

But I don't think this is a Ming piece. This is later.

So we're looking at 19th, 20th century for this piece.

Apparently, there's a great demand for Chinese ceramics.

Whether there's going to be a great demand for this particular piece,

because I paid 225 for it, I don't know.

But I think I got somewhat carried away at the Sydney Antiques Centre,

where there are some wonderful Oriental ceramics.

How much do you think it would make?

Gosh, it all depends on the day, doesn't it?

And who's going to buy Chinese ceramics at that particular sale.

You have to decide, depending on where you are at that moment.

Well, fingers crossed, we'll be very ahead.

-You'll have so much profit, you may not even need to sniff it.

-Yes.

Anyway, for the audience at home,

let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about David's Chinese bowl.

-Heavy, isn't it?

-It is, it is.

It's got the Ming mark on the back.

And it's certainly not Ming. I can tell you that straightaway.

But these things are very popular. The reproduction market is very strong.

So if you had to have a guess at it, even though it's not very old

but is nevertheless decorative, how much do you think?

I'll be very conservative and say 80-120.

Oh, right. That's very conservative.

So, there is some hope for David,

-with his purchase price of 225.

-Absolutely.

-He might get there.

-He might.

-Are you taking the sale today?

-I am indeed.

We're in safe hands.

We have a problem with the glasses.

You started off with six of these glasses,

and our carrier has managed rather brilliantly

to smash one of them, so now you're down to five.

Now, forget the fact you paid only 30.

We are 50 light in the auctioneer's opinion

and will top up whatever you get by 50.

-OK.

-The first lot up

is your World War I machine gun emplacement inkwell.

And here it comes.

I must start the bidding here with me at 20, 30, 40. At 40. 50.

60. 70, 80.

-90.

-You're in profit.

-100. 100, 110.

120. 130.

-140, the bid. 150, the bid now.

-Look at this!

-You've doubled your money, mate!

-The bid is here with madam at 150.

At 150, I will sell.

150. That is plus 75. Well done, lads.

Next up is the solitaire set, here we go.

Bidding starts with me at 20, 30 only, the bid. 30.

Plenty of room left in that one, 30 the bid now. At 30, the bid.

40, the bid. 50.

-Good girl!

-Madam's bid at 50. 60, the bid.

All done at 60, are you sure, you done? And...

Yes, wiped its face. Lovely. Smashing job.

Now...the glasses, the fated glasses.

Here they come, all five of them.

Nice little set, I've got an interesting bid to start me away.

27.5, which I'll raise up to 30. At 30, the bid, 30, the bid, now.

-At 30, bid only. Where do we go now? 30 bid.

-Come on!

At 30. At 30. All done?

-All finished at 30?

-Tenner! Come on!

You got your 30.

So, technically, you wiped your face,

but you've got your credit of 50 for that,

because we know that he would have done better if he'd got the six.

So you've got plus 50 there, you are plus 125 without a cough.

Now, what are you going to do about the bonus buy?

-We're going with the bonus buy.

-What do you mean?!

-We're going with it.

-It would be an insult to the man not to take it.

-He doesn't mind being insulted, do you, Paul?

-All the time!

He gets insulted and abused all the time.

They are so gentlemanly here in Australia.

-Here comes the Whitefriars.

-I'll start the bidding on this one.

At a very respectable 20 only, at 20 the bid.

At 20, 30, 40 on my absentee. 40, the bid. No money at all.

-Come on! It's cheap!

-No, all done.

At 40, any further bidding? Any more?

Bad luck, Paul. No shame. No pain.

Anyway, overall, you are plus 125.

The next thing is, don't say a thing to the Blues. Not a word, zip it.

-Yep.

-Lovely.

-OK, cool!

-So how are you feeling, then, Becks!

-Oh, I'm not sure, yet.

We're just going to have to wait and see.

-What do you mean, you're not sure? You were so confident!

-I know!

-So bullish!

-I know, I know!

First up is the thumping great charger, and here it comes.

Who's got 50 for it? 50 I bid to start, 50 now bid.

-At 50, the bid, only. 60?

-60!

-Very much just warming up here.

70 the bid, at 70.

80, 80 the bid. 90 the bid, new bidder at 90. 90.

At 90. At 90, all done, then?

Last chance, madam, at 90? At 90?

-Come on, one more bid.

-One more bid. 100, the bid.

-100.

-Yes!

-At 110. 120, here we go, 120 the bid.

-Dear, oh dear!

-Yes!

-130. 140, the bid. 150.

160. 170.

-Come on, come on!

-At 170.

-It's worth more than that.

At 170, any more? 170 is there. Quickly, 180 the bid.

-Yes!

-200. 200.

-Has he got 200?

-200, the bid.

At 200, any further bidding now? Are we done at 200?

Done? Sure? Congratulations.

Is that 200? Woo-hoo!

OK, that's 200, that's very nice. Plus 160.

Dear, oh dear! Now, here comes the lantern.

30 to start me away. 30, the bid.

40, the bid. At 40, now 50. Another one? No? 50, the bid.

-Who else? 60, I'm bid now.

-60!

At 60. At 60. At the back, 60, the bid.

At 60? Are you sure?

-And sold.

-There we go, look. Wiped its face. We can't be greedy.

Yes, yes.

Sterling silver and garnet pair of triangular earrings,

lot 26 in your catalogue, 100 for the pair.

50 for the pair, I bid.

I am bid 50 for the pair, off we go. 60. At 60.

70, the bid. At 70, 80 the bid, now. Quickly.

At 80, anyone else? At 80.

-90, the bid.

-90!

-Oh, wow!

90. At 90. All done?

-Finish at 90.

-Look at that!

-Whoo!

-Plus 50. That is plus 50.

-We're not going with the bonus buy!

-Now, listen, girls and boys. We have plus 210 here.

-How much?

210. 210 up. What are you going to do about the old Ming job?

I think we're just going to leave it to Ming over there.

-It might be a bit minging!

-Minging? Where did you pick that up from?

-It's Aussie slang.

-Don't worry, it's slang for us too.

I thought you said minging! That's rather clever on a Ming bowl.

Let's leave it to Ming over there.

-Really?

-I think so.

But we're going to sell the Ming vase whether it's minging or not.

-Here it comes.

-Plenty of interest in this, 110, 120, 130, 140 I bid.

At 140, the absentee starts, 150, 160. 160 here.

160. 170, 180 the bid there.

190, 200. 200 with the absentee.

At 200 I wait now, 220 the bid.

Lost my bid, at 220, it's on the floor.

Any further bidding now? 220.

-It's done, 220.

-You made the right decision.

I know, it's great fun, though, isn't it?

-Well done, David Barby. Well spotted.

-Beautiful bowl.

220, it's minus 5. You've made the right decision.

-210, but don't say a word to the Reds, all right?

-Poker face.

-Good luck!

-Thank you.

Well, both teams know that they've made substantial profits.

CHEERING

-Well done.

-But which team is ahead?

We can only have one winner and we can only have one runner-up,

and the runners-up today are...

the Reds.

THEY CHEER

LAUGHTER

What a dirty shame.

Plus 125 is really super. Are you happy with that?

-Excellent.

-125 going safely to Narelle.

-There you go, darling.

-Thank you.

-Don't forget to share it with the old man, will you?

-OK!

-Have you had a nice time?

-Yeah, we've had a great time.

We've loved having you on the programme.

But the winners today who win by a substantial margin,

that is plus 210.

-Thank you!

-210, I tell you!

-210 is a substantial wodge, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Are you pleased about that?

-Absolutely.

-Very, very impressed.

-You're impressed with yourself?

-Yes!

-And modest with it! No, a fantastic outing.

-All Aussies are!

And I do congratulate you.

I congratulate both teams, because we've had a lovely programme.

Such a lovely programme that indeed you should join us soon

-for some more bargain hunting, yes?

-ALL: Yes!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

E-mail [email protected]