London 29 Bargain Hunt

What do you do when you're in

one of the world's most famous antique markets?

What you do is, go bargain hunting! That's what you do.

Today, we're in west London

with our Red and Blue teams,

who are about to do battle with these massive crowds,

here at Portobello Road.

So, stand by, and let's see what's coming up.

The glamorous Reds are hard to please.

-OK!

-Next.

-Not us.

Anything catching your eyes here, girls?

-No, not me. You?

-No.

No? Come on, then.

I really don't know which direction to point them in.

They know what they want, and they can't see it.

The Blues get in a spin as time runs out.

-Was it that way?

-Was it this way?

-This way.

-Was it?

-We've got five minutes.

-I know. We are truly panicking now!

-Woah!

-Watch the cars.

But that is all to come. First, I must remind you of the rules.

Each team gets £300, and an hour to shop for three objects,

which they sell later at auction.

The team wins that makes the biggest profit. Got it?

Right. Let's go and meet today's teams.

I feel a bit of a vintage retro feel coming on.

Because for the Reds today, we have friends Harriet and Amy.

For the Blues, we have Janeka and Duncan. Welcome!

-ALL: Hello!

-Lovely to see you guys, and girls.

-Harriet, how did you two meet?

-On the first day of university, I spotted her in vintage clothes,

and thought, "We have to be friends".

Were you wearing vintage clothes?

I was. I marched over, and was like,

-"I like your bag."

-What did she say? "I like your hat"?

-Something along those lines.

It's been a mutual admiration society ever since?

It has. We started a blog. We write together, do everything together.

So, Harriet,

when you're not blogging with Amy, what do you get up to?

Recently started working

as a freelance seamstress.

If you're keen on retro clothing,

being able to sew is jolly good, isn't it?

Cos you can do your own alterations.

It is VERY handy.

You end up finding a hole, or ripping a seam every time you wear something,

so it's very handy to be able to fix it yourself.

-I think you look marvellous.

-Thanks!

-Amy, what do you do with yourself?

-I'm a keen swing dancer.

-Is this Glenn Miller, and that kind of thing?

-Yeah, the jazz era.

-Are you studying at the moment?

-Literature and creative writing.

When you're not studying, what do you get up to?

I also work as a corsetry assistant,

and I spend my time taking inches off many attractive ladies.

You're giving them the squeeze?

Literally taking about four inches off their waist,

maybe anything up to eight.

That's interesting. What about your strategy?

-Are you going to buy just vintage, retro items?

-The strategy is,

we want to get something macabre and creepy.

Oh, do you?

Yes. Then something quite glamorous.

The third item will be random, whatever we see.

-Good luck with that.

-BOTH: Thank you!

So, you two. How did YOU meet, then?

We met on the dancefloor, of swing dancing.

-Don't tell me you're swingers too?!

-We're all swingers here.

I don't believe it!

-Have you met each other before today?

-No.

-No.

So, you met when dancing?

-Yes.

-Did he take you in his arms,

and that was it, "Caramba!", Janeka?

No. Our paths just kept crossing, on the swing dancing scene,

and eventually, he wore me down, I guess.

-HE LAUGHS

-I'm only kidding. Of course not.

-Many a dance partner's said that to me before.

-That's sweet.

What do you collect, old fruit?

Apart from my vintage 1930s and '40s men's clothing,

I have an extensive collection of 78rpm shellac records

of the late '20s

to the early '40s.

So, Janeka, you're obviously a vintage fan too?

I am a HUGE vintage fan.

Apart from dressing up in old clothes,

what do you do for a living?

I'm A PA in a property company, in London.

Do you wear your vintage clothes to work?

No. I think that might raise some eyebrows.

How do you two think you'll perform today

against our dynamic duo of the Reds? Are you scared?

-We ARE a bit scared.

-Shaking in your boots?

-A little bit.

They look quite intimidating there, don't they,

these kids?

Next up is the money moment. Here's your £300 apiece.

Thank you very much.

You know the rules. Your experts await.

Off you go! Very, very, very good luck!

We are going to have a dynamic day today, I tell you!

Today, the Reds receive expert advice

from the queen of bling herself,

Anita Manning.

And who's this?

The king of swing.

The inimitable Mr Charles Hanson.

The original Jive Bunny will be sharing his expert moves and advice

with today's Blues.

Ooh.

What lovely movers!

What's the plan, then? What are you after?

-Something really stylish.

-Something interesting.

-A decent amount of money.

-Yeah.

-Leave you a little bit at the end.

I thought we'd get things which are quite stunning.

-So, we're going retro?

-Oh, definitely!

So, the Blues are going retro.

Surprise, surprise(!)

We're being timed. Come on, guys!

Whereas the Reds aren't going anywhere.

It's packed! Elbows out, lads!

Cameras were the essence of what, the '40s, '30s?

-Yeah!

-Some of these hand-held bellows cameras,

I think these are really collectible.

They're reasonably priced, between £30 and £45.

Is it worth a go, Duncan? Look at me!

Straight in the eyes, I'd say no.

-I think let's keep hunting, OK?

-OK.

-I think so.

Let's just go round here.

-OK.

-Round the bend?

I'm already round the bend!

Do you mind if I...?

There's something I've never seen before. What would it be used for?

VENDOR: It's a silver purse.

Oh, right! There's leather on the inside.

-That's lovely, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Do you think that leatherwork's original?

-Absolutely!

You can see the old dirt, where fingers have taken out money,

or a note, or a card.

-It's in really nice condition.

-Solid silver?

There's your all-important hallmark.

That's the lion passant, facing left,

-so we know it's sterling silver.

-OK.

-So, it's 92.5% pure.

On the other side it might tell you...

It's probably Edwardian, or 1915, the date.

It's a good hallmark, as Chester now don't hallmark silver.

It has added silver value.

-What do you think?

-I like it.

A small indentation. Look at the condition, OK?

How much is it?

It's on at... What's your best offer on it?

What's on the ticket price?

95.

I could probably do a bit better

-Could you do 75?

-No.

THEY LAUGH What about 80?

-I'd take 80, yeah.

-You would?

-Yeah.

-That would be good.

-What do you think?

You ARE dressed to impress.

Would this purse satisfy you, as an accessory, at £80?

-It would satisfy ME at £80.

-Really?

-Yes.

I think we should do it.

£2 off?

£80.

-78, now, cash.

-Cash.

-It WILL be cash.

-It will be.

-78?

-I think it's a great accessory. I think it's a wonderful thing.

To buy a silver purse in London, at £78,

today, or back in 1915, isn't a bad price.

I think it's very good.

-Thank you very much.

-Deal. Thank you.

The Blues are off the mark with a stylish accessory.

Talking of style, how are the Reds getting on?

Oh, the silhouettes, Amy.

-Yeah, I love silhouettes.

-Those are lovely.

-£80 a pair.

-For the pair?

I don't know. Maybe we should ask Anita.

BOTH: Anita!

-What do you think of these?

-Oh, miniatures!

You like those?

We're making ones of us at the moment, so they're quite fitting.

Are they as good as these, or are these as good as yours?

These are probably better.

Before the time of photography,

people could only look at drawn images,

or drawn portraits of their friends and families.

These are cut-outs, from an image.

They probably will be

mid to late 19th century.

Now, that type of thing is still popular,

so I think you've made quite a nice choice,

but I want you to tell me why YOU like them.

They're quite creepy.

You like them because they're creepy?!

-Yeah!

-So, we've got macabre.

They're also nice and hand-made as well,

-and we're into things like crafting.

-Crafting, yeah.

I really like them, but I'm worried about the price.

-Have you spoken to the...?

-We have not!

< You can get them for 70.

-BOTH:

-70?

What d'you think?

These are collectible, and I think they're a good choice.

They're not too dear at £80 for two.

-Could we go to 60 for the two?

-VENDOR: 65?

Let's take them for £65.

Do you realise you were supposed to have said, "How about £62?"

SHE LAUGHS

We're not THAT mean. We know a fair price when we see it.

It may be a fair price,

but will it be a winning price?

Only time will tell.

So, guys, there's all sorts here.

-Some glassware.

-There's even some records, shaped into bowls.

As a record collector, I don't like to see that.

You could say no record should go to waste.

It must be bad music, when they do that to it.

It's probably Vera Lynn or something.

THEY LAUGH

I love Vera Lynn! That's typically 1940s, isn't it, Janeka?

That's outrageous!

It's a slur on great music, I know.

But I had to say it!

Come on!

Hey, leave our Dame Vera alone.

She's a national treasure, you know!

-OK!

-Next.

-Not us!

Is there an "us" on here?

BOTH: No.

We're very particular. We know what we like.

Anything that's catching your eyes here, girls?

-Not, not me. You?

-No.

Come on, then.

That old cake stand is nice.

Beautiful, but who needs cake stands now, apart from us?

-People who eat cakes.

-Let's move on. Go, go, go, go, go!

Anita has her hands full with those Reds.

They've got high standards.

How's young Charles going?

We're switched on. We're firing on cylinders.

I have a team who are madly passionate about 1930s, '40s.

I am as well. I'm feeling really confident.

There are some wonderful things you can still discover

at Portobello.

Take these little fellas, for example.

Looks bit like a pair of scissors, don't they?

And it does have a scissor action.

Indeed, the design includes

two loops of solid silver

applied onto a plated base.

Those loops have been finely reeded

and are reminiscent of the work of the Birmingham silversmith,

Matthew Boulton.

The two loops are conjoined at a wee disc,

which is also solid silver,

and that's been engraved with an armorial device.

In front of that, we've got a domed, coffin-like box.

And in front of that, a pointy bit.

Because this thing is a pair of candle snuffers.

In the 18th century, if you were burning a candle,

it would tend to "gutter",

which means that the wick in the candle

didn't naturally disappear,

which is what a modern candle would do.

It hung around

and needed trimming.

Which is where this thing is so clever.

If I open up the scissor action,

you can see the snuffer arm comes out, like that,

until you hear a click.

Then when I close the scissor action,

a curious guillotine plate rises up,

until we've trapped the wick inside that plate,

and a little bit further it goes...

The guillotine falls.

It exactly trims the wick

in the correct position.

Then you take it away from the candle

and can use the pointy bit

to straighten up the remnants of the wick,

ready for it to be lit again.

Clever, hey? What's the thing worth?

Well, it could be yours today, here, at Portobello, for £60.

Is that expensive? Not really.

£100 to £150 in a specialist silver sale,

easy.

Time's marching on, but the Reds seem relaxed.

I wish I could say the same for Anita.

We don't know what we want to buy.

-We need to head down and look at some more stalls. When we see it, we'll know.

-Definitely.

I really don't know which direction to point them in

because they know what they want and they can't see it.

We're going to have to carry on.

Only 25, 30 minutes left.

Got to go. Got to help them.

You get to it, girl. Go rescue those Reds, Anita.

You need to tell them it's a competition.

-Cufflinks and jewellery things here.

-They're quite nice, aren't they?

-May I look at...

-Those?

-Yes, those.

Nice box.

-The box is from Winchester.

-There's a mark.

-There IS a mark there.

-Where's my eyeglass?

-You're going to need it.

-They're nice, aren't they? They're Birmingham.

-Lovely.

And they would date to around 1900, aren't they?

About 1885, 1890.

I quite like them. I like their box especially.

-Look at that lovely, chaste ornament, Janeka.

-That IS nice. But what about this?

-Is that mother-of-pearl?

-That's mother-of-pearl.

With a tiny lapis lazuli, or little sapphire style of droplets.

They're really stylish cufflinks.

They're nice.

-How much are they, madam?

-The best?

-Yeah.

-The best?

-The best.

75.

I think that's quite good.

I would guide them between 40 and 60,

and hopefully they might make 80 or 90.

-So, it would be a bit of a risk?

-Yes, it would be.

Name your very, very best price, madam.

70.

-BOTH:

-70?

-No less.

I think they're beautiful and I would pay that,

but at £70? This is the thing.

Are we in it to win it?

-Guys, think about it.

-Yeah.

-I gave you my thoughts.

-Thank you.

-I'm over here, OK? Think about it.

-OK.

So, the Blues are in it to win it.

They've rejected the cufflinks. They want retro.

They're pourers as well.

-You put this into the bottle.

-Absolutely.

-Take this off when you pour.

-They're really bold, aren't they?

-They really are.

-What, 19...?

-'50s.

-Looks like '50s.

-The colours are the '50s, aren't they?

Are they Bakelite, or are they enamel?

Give them a little chew. Are they quite hard?

-Feels almost glass-like.

-Yeah, enamel on porcelain.

Wonderful. What are they? Just purely stoppers?

And pourers. See? You take this top off.

-And then you can pour through the...

-I never knew that!

-They're fantastic.

-I've never seen anything like that.

-They're neat.

I think they're what we're after.

They're a bit quirky. They're of an era we know about.

-They're bold.

-Very bold.

And they're houseware, which we we're quite interested in.

Something people used regularly in the cocktail cabinet, in the '50s.

-Yeah.

-What's your best price on them?

Best on them would be £60.

-60?

-Yeah.

-And your very, very best?

-It IS the very, very best.

-I think they're great, and they're bold. Be bold.

-Yeah!

It'll be a real chance,

but if you really want them, go for it.

-It'll be nice to see if anyone else likes them too.

-Let's do it.

-Your buy?

-Yes.

-Your choice.

-Let's do it.

-Thank you, sir.

Just ten minutes left.

Anita needs to get those girls buying!

Anita, I love these dolls.

-Oh, my God! That one's so creepy!

-Yeah!

The dolls are a wee bit scary.

-We love dolls.

-Yeah, we love those. Those are brilliant.

-Harriet has a big collection.

-A collection?

-I want them for myself.

Are there any there which terrify you?

-No. We want one with a pretty porcelain face.

-Give us that one out.

-She's VERY expensive.

-This is a German doll.

The Germans were great doll makers.

-Oh, I love her. She's a flapper.

-Look how scary she is.

-She's a slapper?!

-BOTH: She's a flapper!

220, though.

This is the one the girls like the best.

-But they can't afford that one.

-We could come down in price.

How much is it marked?

You've got "£220" written. We haven't got a lot of money.

This is only our second buy.

I can come down to...

160...160?

-What do you think of the doll, Harriet?

-I love her.

-I'm just worried about the price.

-She's so beautiful.

-We'll leave that. We know that we do like that one.

-We do like her.

-But it's maybe too dear at 160.

-Mm-hm.

I like the one over there in the paisley print dress.

-She's lovely!

-She is!

-Tell me why you like her.

Her dress. I want it!

-Have a look at her knees!

-So, she moves!

It's made of leather.

She's even more expensive than this one.

Yes. 230.

See this one here?

Could you come to round about 130 on that?

Can you go 150, or no?

140? All right. I'll do that.

-Shall we take her for 140?

-Yeah.

-Do you love her?

-BOTH: We love her!

-Let's go for it.

Maybe if we present them at the auction,

-somebody will buy it!

-Buy it, yeah!

-Do a little dance!

-Yeah.

A German doll makes it two for the Reds.

Not much time left. Get your skates on, Blues!

But no panic buy.

The cufflinks are back in the fray.

Which one of these ladies was selling the cufflinks?

-It was one of those.

-We need to know which one.

-It's that lady there.

-Yeah.

-We've got five minutes.

-I know.

-We are truly panicking now.

-Watch the cars.

Don't panic, Mainwaring!

Focus. Focus.

We don't have an awful lot of time.

Is there anything that you can see, girls?

I just noticed this compact in here.

Could we have a look, please? Thank you.

The person who sold it to me said it was tortoiseshell,

but I think you're right, it's only plastic.

Yeah. Maybe it smells of formulide.

Give it a rub with your thumb.

-It's an early plastic...

-BOTH: That's Bakelite.

-Isn't that super?

-I love it.

I think old plastics are in vogue. It's a shame it's a bit damaged.

Try the different things, see if they all open.

It's £48 at the moment, but the lady priced it up as tortoiseshell.

-OK.

-So... I'll take it down to 38.

You can do 38? Yes.

What d'you think?

If it was in perfect condition, but because it's damaged...

It's not damaged, so much as it's need of some repair.

Tender loving care.

-I'll go for 30, then.

-I think for 30, it looks good.

What do you think, Anita?

-I think that that is just you.

-Yeah.

We've got the macabre, and I think that that's the glamour.

-Right, OK.

-That means we have fulfilled...

We've fulfilled our purpose.

All the goals.

So, who'd have thought it?

That's all three items purchased for the Reds and they've finished shopping.

But the Blues are still trying to find the cufflink stall.

-Where has she gone?

-With a case and cufflinks. Was it that way?

-Or was it this way?

The serene Reds have been skilfully steered across the finish line

by Anita, but those Blues are still hopping around.

We are still interested in those mother of pearl silver earrings.

-Earrings?

-Cufflinks!

-You don't even know what it is!

-We'd only be able to offer 65?

-I can't. £70?

THEY LAUGH

You are a hard woman!

-I think we've met our match.

-I think we have!

In a sale room they could make £100. It's a real gamble, but don't worry.

Leave me all that leftover money and I'll make your day.

-You'll make it up?

-We need you to rescue us if need be.

Yes, absolutely, but these are great. It's up to you.

-I think we should do it.

-I think we should just do it, too.

-OK. We'll take them, thank you.

-Thank you.

Right, time's up

and the missing link proves to be a final purchase for the Blues.

With the shopping time over, here's a brief reminder of what the Red team bought.

The Reds spent £65 on a pair of Victorian silhouettes

in original frames.

They forked out £140 on a 1920s French porcelain doll.

And finally, for a faux tortoiseshell compact case,

they paid a compact £30.

-OK, how much did you spend all round?

-235.

235 you spent, so please may I have £65 of leftover lolly? Thank you.

£65, that's good, check, check, check.

Straight across to the lovely Anita. What are you going to spend the £65 on?

Well, I think it's going to have to be something glamorous.

Well, anything selected by you, I am sure, will be perfect.

Anyway, good luck with that, Anita. Meanwhile,

why don't we check out what the Blue team bought, eh?

A George V silver purse set them back £78.

They paid £60 for a set of 1950s bottle stoppers.

This pair of Victorian silver cufflinks cost them £70.

-Now, how much did you spend over all?

-£208.

That's a very mature amount of money. So I would like, please, £92

-of leftover lolly.

-There we go, sir.

-£92 which goes straight across to young Charles here.

Thank you very much. Tim, we really bought with passion,

romance. We bought what my team are all about - a style and period.

-So I'll continue in that vein and go floral and chintzy.

-Are you?

-Yes.

-Sound good to me!

Well, that will suit you down to the ground then, Charles!

Anyway, good luck, good luck! Meanwhile, we are heading off somewhere divine.

It's called Fenton House and it's not too far from here.

I'm on the balcony at Fenton House in Hampstead

where you get the most beautiful view of London.

Isn't that beautiful? Framed by the simplicity and elegance of trees.

And it's the product of trees that I'm going to talk to you about

in the house today. Wooden musical instruments.

Ha-ha! Well, if that strikes the right chord, then follow me.

Fenton House has an amazing collection of early keyboard instruments.

It was put together by George Henry Benton Fletcher

in the early 20th century.

Very little of the provenance of these instruments is documented,

but most were probably acquired at auction. No receipts survive,

but it is said that he never paid any more than £20 for an instrument.

Now, one of the rarest and certainly the earliest English stringed

instrument in the collection is this fellow.

Which, on the face of it, looks like a bit of a boring,

coffin-like, sombre box.

But if I open up these hasps, and I have to do this pretty carefully,

because the interior really is spectacular.

We lower that front board to reveal a painted surface.

And then carefully lift up the lid,

which once upon a time was coffered and curved

to reveal a stringed instrument, known as a set of virginals.

For a kick-off, the inside is painted, naively,

with an elaborate landscape, and because the lid has been reduced

from a curved surface to a flat surface,

slivers of timber have been lost

and, for example, that horseman has lost a slice of his head.

All of which adds to its charm.

On the jack rail here, you can see it's inscribed,

"Robertus," Robert, "Hatley, Londini," London,

"fecit," made, "1664."

Now, if I remove the jack rail,

we can see the end of all these little fellows called jacks.

Now, if I play a note, and depress a key,

that little jack pops up and makes a noise.

He makes a noise by plucking a string.

And having raised the jack, if I take it out,

you can see that the jack is simply made of a thin piece of wood

and inside that is a white piece of wood,

which is probably holly,

and attached to the holly is that little black tooth-like thing,

which is part of the spine of the quill of a feather,

and that little piece of quill

is the piece that plucks the string.

But the clever bit is, to keep that perfectly pert

and in position to pluck,

on the back of the piece of holly is another filament,

and that is a bit of bristle from a boar's back.

Ha!

And that little bit of bristle is the spring,

if you like, that keeps the piece of holly vertical,

in the right place for that little pluck to happen.

This is what you call marvellous.

Now, time to find out

whether the auction can string some profits together for today's teams.

We're in the company of Stephen Hearn

at Tring market auctions.

-Good morning, Steve.

-Good morning.

Great pleasure to be in Tring.

Now, for the Red team, their first item are these two cut-out silhouettes.

-How do you rate those?

-Not too well.

The condition is a little bit untidy.

-If they had been painted, different story altogether.

-Yes.

-How much, then?

-40 or £50.

They paid 65. That's a bit tight, isn't it?

Well, moving on neatly, then, to the old doll.

They have to be pretty special when it comes to the condition

-and the original manufacturer, don't they?

-Yes, a little bit grubby.

OK, so what sort of estimate are we likely to have for that?

Well, I would like to have said 120, 150,

-but I'm going to say 90-120.

-OK, because the team paid £140

and they hope to get a result on that.

Anyway, lastly for this faux tortoiseshell make-up cabinet.

-Yes, faux, plastic.

-Yes, nice work for plastic.

-Plastic.

The hinge has got problems, too.

-Otherwise, you know, it's a period piece, isn't it?

-Of course it is.

And if you were obsessed with the 1930s and 1940s,

-it's a must-have object.

-Must have for young ladies.

It won't be any good to you and me unless we take up make-up.

Anyway, overall, I fancy if the doll doesn't do what it's supposed to do,

they're going to need their bonus buy, so let's go and have a look at it.

Now, Harriet, Amy. Gosh, you're looking gorgeous.

You've changed your entire style. Where did you get that cloche hat?

-From a charity shop.

-Charity shop.

-And how much did you spend in the charity shop?

-I paid £17 for it.

-Do you think you'd get a profit on it?

-I'd never sell it.

-You'd never sell it?

-No, it's my favourite one.

That is your loyalty to vintage clothing indeed. Anyway, you two petals,

you spent £235 and you gave the lovely Anita 65 smackers.

-Anita, what did you spend it on?

-When I saw this little item,

-I just couldn't resist it.

-How about that!

I have a blonde and a brunette,

and it did remind me of Harriet and Amy.

-I love it.

-Me too. It's pretty perfect.

It's from between 1930 and 1937.

It was made by Crown Devon.

And it has this cellulose finish, which, at that time,

was a very shiny finish, meant to look like the finish on a motor car.

-Do you like it?

-I love it.

-It's brilliant.

-It's pretty us.

That's what I thought.

It was just you.

And I paid £65 for it.

(Ask her how much she thinks it'll bring.)

How much is it going to bring?

I think it could do around about 80.

We CAN make a profit on it.

I think you deserve a prize for finding something so appropriate for our two lovely girls.

Anyway, for the audience at home,

let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Anita's group.

How about that?

Can you smell 40 fags a day being smoked

in the vicinity of this thing?

-Perhaps a few more.

-All that orange stuff is fag smoke, isn't it?

Yes, it's been discoloured by the nicotine, but, again,

this is representative of the '30s, isn't it?

-Possibly purchased by someone who had limited resources at the time.

-Yes.

We've still got the original label on the bottom of it.

-We haven't got any damage as such, but...

-Evocative of the period.

-As I describe, a good windowsill piece.

-Yes, good windowsill...

That's a nice description. I must hang onto that one.

-Anyway, what do you think, as a bonus buy, it might make?

-£40-£60.

-Or even 50 to 80?

-Well, yes, yes.

-£65 was paid by Anita.

-Well, let's be hopeful for Anita, then.

-OK, that's it for the Reds.

Now for the Blues.

First up for them is a pretty traditional piece of silver -

-the purse.

-Well, yes, it's going to benefit from the silver trade.

It looks as though it's had a violent clean.

-You've got a big dink on the bottom of it as well.

-Yes.

And when you do open that purse, it's a little bit scruffy inside.

What do you think it might bring?

-Close to 100 but possibly £80 or £90.

-Very good.

Well, Duncan and Janeka only paid £78,

so they'll be delighted with any upside you can produce.

Next up is the bottle stoppers in their original box,

so how do you rate those? Difficult to value, aren't they?

-We might get a little more interest than expected on those.

-Right, but your estimate is £30-£40.

Do you think they might get towards 50?

-Yes, I wasn't being very generous.

-Don't let me put words in your mouth.

I think they could go over £50.

They paid 60, actually, so even at £50, they're making a loss.

Still, we'll see what happens.

And their last item for Duncan and Janeka are these cufflinks.

-They would fit in well with modern costume.

-They would.

And if a cufflink can be attractive, they are,

and I think if you're talking value on them, we could be £80, possibly, for them.

Well, they paid 70.

I don't think they're going to need their bonus buy

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

-Now, Duncan, Janeka, how are you, all right?

-Yes.

-Great.

-Now, are you excited about this?

-Yeah.

What could Charles Hanson possibly have spent your £92 leftover lolly on?

Just look at this.

-That really is nice.

-Do you like it?

-I love it.

-I really like it.

-What we've got here is only part of the ensemble.

Namely, we have 16 parts making up this wonderful little tea set.

I think it's wonderful because it's laborious, it's hand-painted,

its Japanese, and it's about 120 years old,

and what you get for your money in terms of quality, this is it.

-Have a handle.

-That's really nice, what do you think?

-I really like it.

-I love the two-tone effect, and this is actually handpainted?

-It is.

We have five cups and saucers,

sugar bowl and cover,

and a small little milk jug, and this wonderful coffee or teapot.

-It's wonderful. What did you pay for it?

-Well, we have no change.

It was my license to thrill you, and I spent the entire lot.

-£92?

-Correct.

-The whole lot, Charles?

-The whole lot.

-Now, that's called Satsuma, isn't it?

-It is.

-Nothing to do with the oranges.

-OK.

-A description of the earthenware type and this elaborate decoration.

Very often very elaborately decorated, isn't it, Charles?

There were some wonderful artists.

Yabu Meizan, Kinkozan, important names that can fetch many thousands, but this is more middle rate,

but the quality and the attention to detail

really puts it at a fine level.

I would guide it happily between...

80 and 120.

And with the wind blowing, I feel that's a fairly realistic guide.

-We'll see, won't we?

-Anyway,

we have two extremely stylish contestants in the Blue team today

who are clearly intrigued by a stylish object

-produced by Charles, so that's all a very successful package.

-I hope so too.

-Congratulations on that so far.

But for the viewers at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Charles' coffee set.

Well, they're colourful, aren't they?

-This is just three bits of the 16 in the set.

-It's a nice set.

Good dense decoration to them and the quality is good.

The gilding is good. There's little rubbing on it

and they are of the quality where they could be split

and this one will split into different lots,

which is going to help with its value.

Well, what's your estimate?

Well, I would be very disappointed

-if I don't go over the top of 120, possibly over 150 for it.

-Really?

Because the clever Charles Hanson only paid £92 for it,

-which is cool, isn't it?

-Very good.

-I mean, really cool.

There's a potential there for a considerable profit

if the team go with it. Are you taking the auction today?

-I will be, yes.

-Jolly good, we're in safe hands.

At 30 I bid, at 40 now.

Now, Harriet and Amy, how are you feeling?

Excited.

Not nervous at all, are you?

-Er, a little bit!

-Little bit.

Ah. Is there any piece you wish you hadn't bought?

We wish we didn't buy the doll because we love it so much.

We don't want to sell it.

You're not worried about the price at all?

We're worried about all the prices. It's too late for that.

Anyway, first up are the silhouettes, and here they come.

Little silhouettes, little cut-out ones,

you'll find a little place for those somewhere next to that fireplace.

There you go, what about £50 for them?

30? Are you 20?

Go on!

15 I'm bid? 18? Are you 20? I'm bid.

Five I've got, it's two of you.

30 at the very back. 30 we're bid.

Five now then, Madam? No?

At £30 then I shall sell them.

-Oh no.

-Boo!

£30 then.

£30 sold. I think £30. £30 is minus £35. That's not so hot, is it.

Oh dear, cherubs.

We have the little French dolly, there it is.

What about that? Rather nice little Paris doll there.

Will we pay £100 for her?

I would've thought so. £100 for her, or £50. I have 50 for her.

This is going to have to...

60 I am bid. 70 bid. 80 bid.

Are you 90? At £80?

Go on!

90 anywhere?

She's beautiful!

£80. At 80. That's it I do believe at £80.

I don't like the look of this, girls.

£80. Thank you very much.

Oh no. £80. That's minus £60.

Minus 95.

LAUGHTER

One for the ladies. Well, I don't know these days.

The faux tortoise shell compact, nice little one for someone.

£30 for someone. Are you giving me 20 for it?

£20 now I'm bid 20, and five now.

Those estimates, 40 to 60.

Yes, sir. At £20. Thank you very much.

Minus £10. That means overall you're minus 105.

Amazing.

That is quite a disaster, isn't it.

But Tim, the girls bought things that they loved.

-Yeah.

-That's true, and I love them too.

You'd never make any money on Portobello Road, come on now.

LAUGHTER

What are you going to do about this Crown Devon deco figure?

-Let's go for it!

-We'll go for it.

We can't get any worse!

You're a couple of punters! So we're going to go with the bonus buy?

-Yeah!

-We're going with the balloon girls.

Now we go back to Crown Devon, a little piece of Crown Devon.

There it is, typifies the 1930s, doesn't it?

Interesting figure, that one. I should think possibly £50 for it.

What about 30? 20 for it?

That's a start. 25, 30. I'm bid. 40 I'm bid.

50. And 60.

Are you sure? I'll take a fiver.

I'll take a fiver.

Go on!

60 on my left then! Are you five?

No! Oh dear.

Oh, come on!

£60 then, it's yours.

For £60. Thank you very much, sir.

605.

Bad luck.

It certainly is.

You came through for us the most though!

-It hasn't been your day today, has it?

-Not today.

Anyway, that is minus £165.

And that's us!

Doesn't sound so much when you say it quick.

Now the big secret is don't say a word to the Blues, all right?

OK. Try our best.

Not a word.

The tears might give it away.

LAUGHTER

Going to be sold, you're out!

Now, Duncan and Janeka. Are you excited?

-Yes.

-Yes.

Do you know how the Reds got on?

No.

No, good. You don't want to. Your silver purse. 1912. You paid £78.

The auctioneers put 80 to £100, which is lovely, isn't it?

Oh, yes.

He rates it. He says silver's up.

Just the job for tripping out in Tring of an evening.

First up then is the silver purse and here it comes.

There we are, one for the girls. A nice silver purse.

I believe that one is George V. What about that?

I think possibly £80 for it.

Come on!

£50 for it. 40 I've got.

And five. There's two of you - five.

There's three of you. 60. And five.

70 and five. 80!

Yes! It's a proper...

£80, and five now then.

£80. Another fiver in the corner.

No? He's hiding. It's going down then for £80. Thank you.

£80 is plus £2.

That's OK.

Yeah. No point in looking too happy for it.

OK, next - the bottle stoppers.

How about that? Interesting, aren't they?

£40 for those. 30. 20.

Five. 30. Five. 40.

Yes. Come on!

-Go on!

-Are you going to give me 50?

Yes. 50 I'm bid. Five.

Yes!

You're out? Yes, you are. It's going down then for £50.

Thank you.

Yes!

Only minus ten.

That's a surprise.

-A damn sight better than we thought.

-Yes, it is.

Yeah.

Look out. Now. Cufflinks. Lovely. Marvellous.

The cufflinks with mother of pearl and a little blue stone centre.

Nice ones, those are. What about £80?

Or £50? £40? Yes, and five. £50?

And five. 60. Five. Two of you. 70. Five?

80, is it.

No? 75 for Madam? 80 anywhere?

75, 80, is it?

Yes, I've got me 80. Anywhere?

Yes! 80!

And 90, is it?

85. Are you thinking? You've lost them.

They're going to Madam then for £85.

Well done, Madam. That's very good.

Plus 15, which is absolutely marvellous,

so you are overall plus £7.

Yes!

So you are plus £7. Who would've thought that?

Yeah!

Based on those estimates, which were pretty rotten,

you were down the proverbial, weren't you?

As it is, you have £7 to take home.

What are you going to do about the Satsuma?

-We've got to go for it.

-Yeah.

We love it and we think it could do well.

OK, you're going with the bonus buy and here it is.

Now we have a Japanese Satsuma part tea set.

These are rather nice.

Look at that lovely dense chrysanthemum decoration.

That one would split nicely, wouldn't it?

I think £150 for that one.

Oh, yeah.

Do we say 150 or do we say 100? We say 80. Yes, we do.

80 I have it then.

80, I'm bid for that one.

90, I've got it. Are you 100?

-Come on!

-Ten, 20!

Yes!

30 I'm bid, at £40.

No more? £140 then it is.

One more!

Don't be greedy, Charles.

140 has it! 50 now then.

You've all gone quiet. I sell at £140. Thank you.

£140, that's very good.

Plus 48, yes, on that.

That means you are plus £55.

I tell you guys, we're going to have this folding money.

How lovely is that?

It's good, isn't it!

Yes. It's marvellous.

Listen, the big thing now is don't say a word to the Reds.

-No.

-Absolutely not.

No point in spoiling their day.

Two of you! 30 at the very back.

Well, it's been...interesting.

Have you kids been talking to one another about scores?

-No.

-No idea.

-No.

As you know on Bargain Hunt, we don't have losers now.

We only have runners-up and the runners-up today,

by a considerable margin are... the Reds.

Yeah! Oh, well!

It just never went your way!

No.

Tring is not attuned to your taste.

I don't think so, no.

I don't think it is. So we won't dwell on it, really.

Amy, I want to know whether you had a nice time.

I've had a lovely time.

Harriet?

Yeah, it was wonderful.

Thanks for brightening up our lives.

But the winners today,

who go home with a resounding £55 worth of smackers...

Yay!

Whoo!

..in cash, which is quite remarkable,

and I do congratulate you.

To come out of central London and make money in Tring,

out of your purchased items, I think is a real achievement.

-Are you happy about that?

-Really happy!

Very good. Well done, Duncan.

Delighted with that.

Extremely nice to have met you. Well done, Charlie!

Join us soon for some more bargain hunting! Yes?

ALL: Yes!

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