Devon 25 Bargain Hunt

One, two, three, four!

A-ha! Here in excellent Exeter,

is an antiques fair with a top end of 400 stalls

offering the best in the west.

And hey, I've had a good idea.

Let's go Bargain Hunting!

It's not everyone that gets to spend £300 on three items in just one hour.

But everyone on this show does.

Because those are our rules.

Here's a peek of what's coming up.

Two couples go head-to-head, and everyone's feeling the pressure.

-You can't have it.

-Why can't I?

-I'm telling you.

You're being very mean.

Reds get riled and the blues bicker.

-I don't like them.

-You don't?

-Huh?

Hey!

Will it be happy ever after?

Time to meet our teams.

Today we've got two teams of happily married couples.

Well, they're happily married at the moment!

For the reds we have Simon and Liz,

and for the blues, Ross and Sam.

-Welcome, everyone.

-ALL: Hello!

Simon, how did you two first meet?

I first met Liz at naval college in Dartmouth, where we were at naval college training to be officers.

Really? What branch were you going into?

I was joining to be a pilot, and Liz was joining to be a nurse.

What a lovely place to meet.

-Was it romantic?

-No.

-No?

-We met over a pot of shoe polish and a nice steamy iron.

-I see. It was that sort of meeting.

-Halcyon days.

-You missed out on your first military passing out parade.

In '96, I joined as an artificer and I passed out with chicken pox at the back of the parade!

-Really?

-I ended up in sick bay corner!

-Yes.

And you passed out the second time together?

Sort of.

I'd fallen up some stairs and damaged my knee, so I missed my passing out parade.

-Not so swift.

-Not so clever.

What keeps you busy these days, Liz?

Two boys aged six and nine, and I'm a part-time student.

-What are you studying?

-Studying to be an accountancy technician.

Having a change of tack due to some newly-acquired mobility issues.

-I can't be a psychiatric nurse any more.

-A fresh career beckons.

Absolutely!

Are you in charge of the money today, as you're going into bookkeeping and accountancy?

-You'd like to think so, but probably not, no.

-I see.

-Can't be trusted.

-What tactics have you got?

-No wood.

-No wood.

-And something shiny.

Well, you've focused on it. That's your mantra. Good on you. Good luck.

-Now, moving to the blues. Ross.

-Hi, Tim.

When did you first clap eyes on Sam?

When we were at school together. I was 15. We got together when we were at school

-and we used to be told off for talking to each other.

-Really?

That's quite something. You weren't flicking pellets at her?

No, I was in front so it was her flicking them at me!

Oh, I see!

What do you do to earn your crust, Ross?

-I'm actually a baker.

-Oh, really? Who writes these questions?

That's rather good! How long have you been a baker?

-For about 12 years.

-Have you?

Do you have to get up terribly early?

Yes, sometimes I start at four in the morning. The smell of bread wakes me up.

Is it the sort of bakery where you make about three trillion loaves a day?

Yes, especially hot cross buns at Easter.

-You don't like those?

-I'm sick of the sight of them at the end!

-Sam, what do you do for a living?

-I'm a savings advisor in a building society.

-Are you?

So you're the expert with the money today?

Yeah. Well, hopefully.

It probably won't go to plan, but hopefully.

What are you two hunting for today?

I like something unusual. I like Art Deco things, something along those lines.

-Yes.

-Nothing in particular.

-So you're just waiting to be grabbed.

-Yes.

-Waiting for that moment.

Before you get grabbed I have to give you something to grab.

It's the £300 money moment. There you go. There's your £300.

You know the rules. Your experts await and off you go! Very, very good luck!

Cor, nifty driving!

We've a canny pair of professionals to pick out the prize-winning items today.

For the reds, we have Philip "first past the post" Serrell.

For the blues, it's Charlie "pole position" Hanson.

We're definitely not buying any wood.

-Is this your plan as well, Simon?

-It is now!

-It is now!

-Are you shoppers?

-Yes.

-Can you shop till you drop?

-Yes.

-Do you shop well together?

-Yeah, sometimes.

-Really?

We ladies like shiny things.

Go and find some shiny things. Off you go. Go on, then.

-Do you ever fall out?

-Yeah.

-All right.

-Definitely.

-We could be in trouble!

Phil's wasting no time in going into battle.

What about naval cannonballs?

-Yeah.

-Cannons.

-You're looking suitably moved.

-Can I just say, it's not very shiny!

-So that rules it out?

-Not necessarily. Who buys a cannonball?

Um...

I'm just going to shut up. Follow me. Will she follow us?

It's good that you've got your expert with you. And I'm sure she'll be a great help today!

-Follow me. We only have an hour, OK?

-Let's go.

Go for it, blues. There's a lot of ground to cover here.

-We'll start down here first of all.

-OK.

Phil's found something close to his heart.

These are very, very collectable.

Sometimes you have water, and sometimes whisky.

And you'd put them by the side and before bed you'd have a shot.

Oh, I like those.

At auction, I think this one, without the label,

is going to be perhaps 100 to 150 quid.

I haven't seen the prices on these, but I'd like to try and buy that for around 130, 140, if we could.

-I don't know what's on it.

-That one can be 150.

You couldn't do it for 125, then?

-We couldn't.

-That's pushing it too far?

-That's less than I paid.

Gosh, we don't want to do that to you.

-I'd buy that, which is a good sign, isn't it?

-Do you both like it?

-Yes.

-I like whisky, too. If it was full, I'd pay more!

-All three of us like it. I'd love to own one of these.

-I would, too.

-I like it.

-It's lovely.

-I would own it.

-Top makers, Gold and Silversmiths. 1908, so it's 103 years old.

-Right.

-SIMON:

-And it's shiny, so that knocks that on the head.

-I like it. I like it.

-Thanks very much.

-Pay the man!

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

Do you know what? I think they liked that! Let's hope they like the price it fetches at auction.

-That little box there.

-Sorry?

-The little box that's there.

That, I think, is probably Chinese cloisonne. Have a handle.

-I like the dragon on it.

-Yeah, I like the dragon.

-Ross, what does it pull to you?

-It looks like a tattoo.

It looks like a cloisonne box to me!

-Like a tattoo?

-A tattoo.

-Thanks for coming, Ross(!) Thanks for coming!

I'm pleased you've got some antique aura about you, Ross!

-Do you have any tattoos?

-I've got quite a few.

-Have you? Whereabouts?

I dread to think.

-Really?

-Yes. Some there.

-Oh, goodness me!

-It's a bit like that.

-Is that a real one?

-Yeah.

Wowee. Good for you. Yeah. Yeah.

-So it looks like a tattoo.

-Yeah.

-It's one way of looking at it.

-Thanks for coming!

The funny thing, when people talk tat on Bargain Hunt,

they're not often discussing tattoos.

Probably 1880s, 1890s.

-It was a wonderful skill to be able to create these.

-I don't know if I'd want it for 65, though.

Quite right. But I think at auction, no disrespect,

at auction it might only make £25.

So if there was room to negotiate, it might be worth buying.

-But I think we're a long way from that.

-That's fine.

-Thank you.

-That's unusual.

-What, the waistcoat or the tall silver...

No, the plate.

It is nice, Liz, but it's £675-worth of nice!

I think that might just stretch the budget.

It would break the licence fee!

Keep at it, reds. At least you've bought something.

-We've had so far 20 minutes.

-Yeah.

-Which means, really, we ought to buy a lot every 20 minutes.

-Yes.

-We have an hour.

-Yes.

-Seen anything so far?

-No.

-Nothing.

-Worried?

-A bit now, yeah.

-Slightly.

-Get outta here!

Aren't our couples lovely today? All smiles.

-You can't have it.

-Why can't I have it?

-You've got a shiny already. You've done shiny.

I know we've done shiny...

Me and my big mouth, eh?

-It's in the cabinet for a reason.

-It doesn't necessarily mean it's expensive.

-No, it doesn't.

-"Cheep, cheep, cheep", like the budgie. Come on.

I think you're being very mean.

This is harder than I thought it would be.

Yes, it's a tough old challenge. You've got to find three items and agree on those three.

Maybe a little exploration is in order.

There's no carpet on the floor here. I always think that's a good thing because it's cheaper,

-you might say. Let's go and find...

-Yeah, cheap works for me.

-I do cheap.

-I like his post box.

-It's a proper post box. Is it expensive?

-It's a proper price, as well.

-Is it? 750 quid.

That's about the price of a first class stamp these days, isn't it?

What about a post box that's a money box?

-I think that's two pennyworth, my love.

-OK.

It's one extreme to the other, with these reds.

-Let's have a wander.

-You've got a good eye, babe.

-A good eye for tat.

Now, these, definitely, are not tat.

What you have here is a wine glass that you may have toasted the French Revolution to.

You may have toasted Mad King George III when he came to the throne in 1760.

And that's history.

Well remembered, Charles.

And the way these wine glasses have been blown,

you'll see this writhing in the glass.

That's hand-wrought lead glass on a folded foot

and a rough pontil mark

where they've been snapped off when they've been blown on the tube, like so.

-I like the age of it.

-Yeah, I do.

-1780. Where were you, Ross, then?

-In my father's eye!

-Exactly.

Hmm. That makes your dad about 200 years old, Ross.

I don't think he'll thank you!

I wasn't sure of them until you said how old they were.

So the best price is £100.

That's a wonderful discount, because the asking on the ticket is 185.

So we can't complain there, can we?

With a bit more leeway, they could make 120 or 130.

-I think we should go with Charles.

-Go on, Charles.

-I love them because of what they are.

-I like the age of them and the history of them.

Sometimes you buy it because you like them.

-Would I buy these?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-You would.

-It is a sale.

-£100 spent. Well done, guys.

-Give me a chink-chink.

-Ooh, I don't want to break them!

-Cheers. That's history.

It certainly is. In fact, that's what this place is all about.

Everywhere you look, there's a bit of history.

This is a nice stand,

stocked almost entirely out of honest, British vernacular furniture.

And this is a typical honest piece.

It dates from about 1750, the middle of the 18th century.

It's got a straightforward rectangular top

that's made out of a single board of elm.

And it's incredibly simply made.

A series of broad elm planks which have been nailed together,

and it's raised from the floor on these elegant but very, very easy to make,

chamfered rectangular supports.

You have to admit, it is slightly odd-looking.

Fine, the top is pretty straightforward.

It's a rectangle.

But look at that depth underneath.

You can't tuck your knees underneath it.

It's got no drawers.

This is something called a dough chest.

If I pick the top up like that,

you can see inside.

There are all those crudely nailed together elm boards.

What the housewife would do is put a great lump of kneaded dough

into the bottom of this dough chest and leave it to prove.

Then she'd take lumps of the dough out, stick it in the oven and go about her bread-making.

I can see this thing being very, very useful in a modern kitchen.

Effectively, an island worktop.

Most attractive.

What would it cost you here today in Exeter?

It could be yours for £750.

That's not a lot of dough, is it?

The reds are still having a few issues about where to spend their dough.

That feels nice.

-They're not antiques, though!

-No, but people like a decent paperweight.

People like a bacon sandwich, too, but I wouldn't take that to auction!

-1988. It says it on the bottom. £75?!

-Yeah, well,

-it doesn't have to be £75.

-That was a vase when it started life!

She's not giving up. Maybe Phil should have a word.

-Do you want to make a profit or a loss?

-A profit.

-Then don't buy that. Have a look at that.

-How much is that?

£28. But if you don't like it, don't buy it.

Ooh. No, £28 is more appealing.

Good work, Phil! Disaster averted.

-Would you keep it for us for half an hour? Would that be all right?

-No problem.

Whizzie Liz has gone off again.

I thought this was a team game.

I've found a pair of pink glass matching tea-cake stands.

You can tell he's excited, can't you?

It's not going too well for the reds is it?

I'm beginning to wish I'd brought my mother instead of my husband.

-He doesn't like any of the things I like.

-Yeah...

Which is why we've only got one item.

For me, 20 minutes to go, my mission is to keep you on a tight leash,

because you seem to have an eye for tat as opposed to stuff that makes money.

-Oh, you're so harsh!

-I know!

Come on, reds. It's about teamwork.

At least the blues are getting on with it.

A nice pair of toast racks. Chester. Sweet. 1918. They're gorgeous.

-There we go. Look - toast, which is...

-Bread!

We've got the bread lots. We've got it.

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

-Tiny little things.

They were made in Chester in 1918.

Chester stopped hallmarking silver in 1962.

Somewhere, you'll see a hallmark.

There it is. Just there.

-Let's double-check the hallmarks match up.

-They certainly do.

-What do you think?

-£70 for the pair, £35 each.

70 isn't a bad price. If they came into my sale room,

I'd say to a client, "They're going to fetch between 60 and £90."

-I don't like them.

-You don't?

-Huh?

-I don't like them.

Oh, well! This is your husband's background. His pedigree!

-Don't you like them really?

-No.

Oh, it was all going too well.

You couldn't go a bit more? Look at me.

65.

That means it.

-I think we should...

-I'll leave it to you.

-VENDOR:

-There's profit in them.

-I think we should go for it.

-That's only just over £30 each.

-What do you think?

-I don't like them.

-Give the man his toast racks!

-Then the last lot is up to you.

-Yeah, the last one's yours.

-OK.

-Is it sold?

-It's a deal.

-It's a deal. We'll buy them.

-Well done.

-Shake the baker's hand. Sam, happy?

OK.

I am. They're lovely. Nice pair.

Keep it clean, Charles!

-I just didn't like them.

-The toast racks?

-No.

-OK.

-But I can live with it.

-Are you sure?

-It's your turn now, OK? It's your turn.

-OK.

Oh, dear. Both couples are having issues, and the pressure's on. Time's a-ticking!

The reds seem to be getting on with it at the moment, though. But where's Phil?

We've got "God Save The Queen,

"2nd June, 1953."

And "Denby stoneware, Made in England."

What's the price on that one?

-Looking at £20.

-£20.

Liz, she's got an eye.

I'm not sure it's an eye we all share, but she's got an eye!

-I think we've got to rein her in from buying something really whacky.

-It's a deal.

I think you might have spoken too soon, Phil.

-We may have made a second purchase.

-Really?

-We have.

-May or have?

We have, actually. We have made a second purchase.

-We'd still value your opinion, though.

-We would value your opinion.

I think it's a bit late for that!

-You bought this?

-We bought that.

-Yes.

-A little bit of Denbyware.

-£10.

-£10.

I can't see you losing more than 15 on it.

ALL LAUGH

We'll see if they've got themselves a money maker with the mug later.

Now, come on, teams. There's a third item out there for you somewhere

but only 15 minutes left to find it!

-Pig pin cushion!

-Pig pin cushion.

-Here.

-I'm having it.

Look. Look! Look at that pig!

-That's a good pig.

-I like that!

-That's nice.

-I do like that.

-Do you like pigs?

-I do. Any animal, really.

-Yeah.

A pin cushion that will probably date to around 1900.

The more popular ones are in silver.

He's charming. How much is he?

-He's 33.

-I reckon about £30.

Yeah. He's novel, he's neat

-and you could even buy him for maybe 20.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-I would say he's a really good finale to our three lots.

-OK.

-Yeah.

-See what we can do.

-Any pigs at home?

-No pigs.

-Three dogs.

-Have you?

-Yes. They look like pigs!

I think he's telling porkies!

I've spoken to her. She was reluctant to come down, but I've got her down to 25.

-25.

-That's the lowest she'll do.

Come on, guys. You said Sam could choose the next item.

-I want the pig.

-Yeah.

-OK.

I think if it is £10, it's £10.

-Hopefully the wine glasses and toast racks will bring us up.

-Yeah?

-OK?

-Go for it.

-Lovely. Thank you very much.

-No problem!

Go, girl power! Now everyone in the blue corner is as happy as a pig in muck.

Three items safely stashed. Reds, you've got five minutes. No time to disagree.

Get that final item found!

Whitefriars, Geoffrey Baxter.

They're quite nice. Are they a pair?

You could buy them as a pair, but they're separate.

You've got five minutes left and you've got to buy something.

-I would like you to buy something you like.

-I like that.

-Keep the damage down.

-How much is that?

-One of those is £28.

-OK.

-Want to look at the other one?

-Yes, please. Can I have a look?

Cos I'm sure, everything that I've listened to

is a pair is best.

I'd rather you buy Whitefriars than nobody's.

Excuse me, what's the best that you could do on these, please?

I'll do you the pair for the price of one.

-It's 28 I've got on one, so I'll do the two for 28.

-What do you think, chaps?

-Sounds like quite a good deal.

-And they're red.

Do you know, I would love to...

I like these and I'm going to say, thank you very much, sir. You've got a deal!

Well, someone had to make a decision.

There were only a couple of minutes left.

Once again, a nice bit of girl power. Fantastic.

Yay! With three minutes to spare!

Actually, in all seriousness, I'd much prefer for you to buy something you like

than something you don't like.

I think I'm in need of a good strong cup of tea.

Or if I can find that whisky thing and fill it up...

That would probably do me more good. Follow me.

Good on you, reds. From trials and tribulations to a good old titter. Good shop done.

-Excuse me, have you got the time?

-I've got lots of time, Tim. Take your pick!

So you have!

Anyway, time's up. That's your lot. Let's see what the red team have got.

They made a good start. Five minutes in and they agreed on this whisky toddy jug.

It set them back £150, though.

With half their cash gone, they went very low-key for their second item.

So low that Phil missed it altogether!

It was a £10 Queen Elizabeth II coronation mug.

But it was when indecision reigned that Liz took charge,

settling a deal for these Whitefriars vases at £28 the pair.

-It's had its moments.

-It has!

-What do you mean, it's had its moments?

-Well...

-Did we have a fall-out?

-No, no. Nothing that Relate couldn't put right!

It's a very good affair that, I'm told.

Which is your favourite piece, Elizabeth?

I think the small whisky decanter is my favourite.

-Would you agree?

-I do, yeah. I'm also torn between the vases. They're nice. They're growing on me.

-Right. Are they going to bring the biggest profit?

-No.

-I think they are.

-OK.

I think the vases will bring the biggest profit.

-And?

-Whisky decanter for me, to bring the profit.

-How much did you spend?

-£188.

-188. I'd like £112 of leftover lolly, please.

-£112.

-No discount for cash!

-Will you take 60?

-No!

You're getting into the swing of this, aren't you?

-There you go, Phil. A nice little lump.

-I'll go and try and find something a touch different.

OK. Good luck. Go and have a cup of tea, guys.

Meanwhile, we'll check out what the blue team bought.

The blues bought a pair of 18th-century drinking glasses

that cost them a nice round £100.

Charles and Ross overruled Sam

and bought a pair of silver George V toast racks for £65.

Sam spotted an Edwardian brass pig

and pinned it down for a sharp £25. Oink!

-What a pig, eh?

-What a combination.

-Yeah.

It's good, isn't it, when you have a happy shop.

-You had a happy shop, didn't you?

-Yeah.

-In most parts.

-Yeah. Mostly.

Well, a little bit of a tiff, but...

You know, nothing lasting. Where's a relationship without the odd tiff, eh, Charles?

-Quite right.

-Quite right, too.

Anyway, which is your favourite piece?

My favourite is the pig pin cushion that we bought.

-The pig pin cushion. Will that bring the biggest profit?

-I think it will.

-Think so?

-Yes.

-What's the total spend?

-190.

-190. I'd like 110, please.

-There we go. £110, which goes straight to Charles.

-Thanks, Tim.

Who's going to truffle round for a decent bonus buy.

Something you'll both like and you'll really be happy with.

A bit of romance and a bit of charm.

Good luck with your search. Good luck, team.

Meanwhile, we're heading off somewhere drop-dead gorgeous!

This is Antony, in Cornwall.

A strange name for a house, you might think.

But then it gets its name from the parish in which it sits.

Little remains of the original Antony House.

This house was mainly rebuilt by Sir William Carew in about 1720,

as a new home for himself and his wealthy wife, the heiress Lady Anne Coventry.

The house is currently the home of Sir Richard and Lady Mary Carew Pole.

In fact, there have been Poles, Carew Poles and Pole Carews here

for over 600 years.

Glad we got that sorted out!

As you enter the house, you're confronted by a series of portraits

of family and friends.

Some would say dominated by this striking portrait of King Charles I

awaiting his trial in 1648.

And it was Charles and the Civil War that led to the great divisions

in the Carew family.

The Carews became Pole Carews in 1772,

when Reginald Pole inherited the estate.

The family name remained unchanged

until 1926, when the family switched the name around once more

to become the Carew Poles.

Simple, ain't it?

Another member of the family who changed his identity,

but very much earlier,

is this character, Sir Alexander Carew,

seen here in a full-length portrait

that is supposed to have been painted at the time of his coming of age

around his 21st birthday.

He was born in 1609 and was therefore in his early 30s

at the outbreak of the English Civil War in 1642.

If you look very carefully at this portrait,

there's an incredibly crude line of stitching top and bottom

and that's because, according to family myth,

following the outbreak of the Civil War,

this portrait was simply hacked from its frame

and only later crudely stitched together and re-hung.

And that was because the family wanted to cover up, if you like,

their shame at his change of allegiance.

The Carew family was largely royalist. However,

Alexander represented Cornwall in the Long Parliament

and at the outbreak of war, Parliament gave him command of the strategic island of St Nicholas,

which was guarding the approaches to Plymouth.

The war didn't go well for the Parliamentarians

and Alexander got wind of this.

He also heard that his cousin and uncle, both Parliamentarians,

had turned coat and gone over to the Royalist cause.

So, Sir Alexander would have sat brooding and fretting on his island,

separated by half a mile of water.

He would have been fearful for his family,

the fact that his estates would have been sequestered by the Crown.

He said that he would hand over the island to the Royalists

if he got a Royal Pardon.

He thought a deal had been done.

He waited and waited for that pardon, which simply never came.

Alexander's treachery was discovered by the Parliamentarians.

He was surprised in his fort

and taken to London for trial,

where he was condemned to death.

The family story therefore says that the family members who remained loyal to the king

were ashamed of the fact that Alexander went with the Parliamentarians

and ripped the painting from the frame.

Only later, when he changed allegiance to the Crown

did they stitch it up and re-hang it.

The fact that he was beheaded is brutally true.

Whether the stitching up of the portrait is true or not,

frankly, that remains unproven.

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

are they about to be stitched up, too?

We've trotted east from Exeter, all the way to Honiton

-to Bearnes, Hampton and Littlewood's to be with Brian Goodison-Blanks. Brian, good morning.

-Good morning.

Now, Simon and Liz. Their first item is this wee decanter and silver label. How do you rate that?

It's a nice little thing. It's Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company,

well known established retailers from about 1880 in London.

Unfortunately, the label doesn't match. The label is much later.

Although we know the silver mount is 1908, the label itself is 1964.

-Ah.

-So because of that, we've estimated it at a realistic price,

we've said about 50 to £70.

-Is that all?

-Yes.

-They paid 150.

-Right. Oh.

Which is a bit tight, really.

In fact, it could be a deep, dark hole into which they're about to plunge! Anyway,

not so very optimistic there.

What about the Denby coronation mug?

We do see a lot of pieces. They tend to be collected by everybody

because it's such a national event that people hold onto them.

I've got my coin from 1977 that was handed to me when I was in primary school all those years ago!

-In your shorts!

-Indeed!

It's probably only five to £10.

-OK. They only paid £10. There ain't going to be much in it.

-No.

What about these so-called Whitefriars glass vases?

It's difficult because a lot of coloured glass is referred to as Whitefriars,

even if it's Italian glass from the 1950s, Murano glass.

Having looked at these, they do fit the Whitefriars factory

with the pontil marks being ground down.

-Maybe a bit off the boil just at the moment.

-They are a bit plain, too plain,

so really again perhaps ten to 15 on a good day.

-OK. £28 they paid.

-Right.

-So that could be a bit tight, too.

What with the predicted loss on the whisky decanter,

they're going to need their bonus buy. So let's have a look at it.

Now, Simon, Liz, you spent £188. £112 went to Philip Serrell.

-What did you spend it on, old boy?

-I did say it would be different!

-Ooh!

-Do you want to take it? I don't actually know what it is!

-Oh!

But I know where it was made. It was made in Glasgow by a company called Gilchrist

because it's stamped along there.

-Is it heavy?

-Just a touch, yeah!

-That is very heavy!

-Yeah.

-Wow.

I paid £40 for it. They guy I bought it off thought it might be an oat roller,

which it might be. But if somebody came up with a better idea,

I could equally believe that.

-I've seen those back massagers that have all those different things.

-Really?!

-Seriously, in rubber, Phil!

-Yes. Absolutely(!) Rubber.

-Rubber.

OK, fine. I think that is going to make at auction...

I think it's a quirky duff thing and it could make 40 to 60 quid.

-£40?

-It's very aesthetically pleasing.

-What's it worth in scrap?

What's it worth in scrap? We've got Simon here.

He's so hot on this!

He's clearly seen what I've bought before in this programme! Thank you!

You may have made so much profit on your first three items

-that you don't need to bother with this.

-Maybe.

-In which case, don't take it.

But for the audience at home, let's see what the auctioneer makes of Phil's oat crusher.

OK, Brian. There we go. Over to you. How do you rate that thing?

I wouldn't like to meet the housewife who could use that one-armed!

-No.

-If you were to buy an oat roller today it would be made of plastic

-and break after the first few pieces.

-I suppose so.

I'm slightly suspicious about it because it is so beautifully and heavily made.

The one thing I thought it may be part of something else

because of the depth of the spikes.

It's an unusual thing. It's going to grab somebody's attention.

I think probably 50 to £70, maybe a bit more.

Well, that cunning old Phil "the fox", Philip Serrell,

only paid £40 for it, and he knows his way around.

-So it'll be interesting to see.

-It will be.

-Anyway,

that's it for the reds. Now the blues.

And they kick off with these very nice cordial glasses,

with the faceted stems. Do you like those, Brian?

I do like them. A nice good tint to them.

We've had them under the ultraviolet so they're good lead crystal. They don't glow.

And also with the bowls, there's pincer marks just in there.

-Are they worth £50 each?

-I think so.

I think they will for a collector. It's a nice example of the pieces.

It's a shame they're not air twist stems which everybody's after,

-but they should make £50 apiece. So 100 to 150.

-Very good.

Excellent. They paid £100, so we've got some hope for a profit there.

Next, equally charming in their way, the little toast racks.

-Little, yes. They are rather dainty.

-They're fully marked.

-They are,

on the edge there as we can see. Rather nice little things.

-What's your estimate?

-I'd say 40 to 50.

-Brilliant.

-£65 they paid. They're the sort of things that could nudge on.

-Yes.

-Next up, the piggy-wig.

-The piggy-wig!

He's a charming little chap. It's a shame he's not silver.

-Yes.

-Silver is the key really, with pin cushions.

This one's probably had the pad replaced, as well.

-So what do you think he's worth?

-He's probably going to make 15 to 20.

OK, £25 they paid.

So that's not so far off. Just depends on what's going to happen with the glasses.

On that basis, let's go and have a look at the bonus buy.

-Now, Ross, Sam, this is exciting, isn't it?

-Yep.

You gave Carlos Hanson £110 to spend. Charles, what did you spend it on?

I spent the entirety. I've gone big.

I've gone for the magic of the Far East.

Look at that.

-Ooh!

-Do you like it?

-Yes, I do.

-It's really nice.

-You spent £110 on that?

-£110. It's Japanese,

it's circa 1890, 1900,

and it's what we call the magic of the Meiji period.

It's the high-brow export that was made for the Western world.

It's not just a teapot and cover.

I've also got a milk jug, a sugar bowl, six cups and saucers too,

all in a similar condition for £110.

Have a handle of the magic of the Far East.

All hand-painted, all labour intensive, and it's a jewel!

-It's really nice.

-I like it. How much could it sell for?

Well, it ought to be having a guide price of 100 to 150.

I think that's quite reasonable.

Hopefully on a good day, it could make more towards 200.

-I hope so, but you never know.

-Sam, do you like it?

-I do, actually,

-I'm quite surprised.

-Quite surprised? What are you surprised by?

I think it's really nice.

-You're surprised you like something that Charles likes?

-No, that came out wrong!

-I'm surprised!

-Dear, oh, dear! I think we'll stop while we're still friends!

-Yes!

And for the audience at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Carlos's set.

Right, Brian. Here we go. Nicely decorated

-and lots of it.

-It is, isn't it? The Geishas there, the pagodas in the background.

Always Mount Fuji in the background, and the lakes.

Also the nice mark on the bottom.

But probably a spurious mark. At this point, Westerners aren't familiar with

the katakana and hiragana on the bottom of pieces.

It dates from around 1920, 1930.

Produced probably more as a souvenir service for people doing the grand tour of the Orient.

The decoration here is very loose.

We do see better examples of this type of Satsuma ware.

-But you've got lots of it.

-We have got quite a set.

-A proper service of six.

-It's a good service. We're looking at 80 to £120.

Charles Hanson has invested £110 of their money and he's optimistic as ever, Charles!

Anyway, that's it. Brilliant. Are you taking the sale today?

-Yes, I am.

-We're in safe hands.

-Now, are you nervous?

-Yes!

-I wasn't, but I am now.

-You're so brave, but yet so frightened!

I know!

First up is your whisky decanter. Here it comes.

Interesting whisky toddy jug here. Shame the label is a little later.

Interest here with me at 40, 45, 50.

55. At £55. 60.

Five. 70. The bid is in the room at £70. Five, anybody else?

75, fresh place. 80. Five?

At £80 seated. In the room at 80.

-In the room, then, at £80.

-Uh-oh!

That means a hit of minus £70. Sorry about that.

Anyway, here comes the Denby jug.

The Queen Elizabeth II coronation mug by Denby. 1953.

What can I say for that? £10?

-Come on!

-Five pounds?

-Come on.

-Five I have. Thank you, madam. God bless you.

At five pounds, then. And eight now elsewhere?

Any advance on five?

I don't like the look of this!

-That's a five pound note.

-I thought it would do something on £10.

The pair of Whitefriars ruby and clear glass bud vases.

Five pounds? Five I have all over the place.

And five, eight, ten.

12? 12. 15.

18? At 15, then, seated.

At 15.

Oh, dear!

£15. So minus £13 on that.

That's minus 88.

-It's all going well, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Fantastic(!)

Chaps. Now, to roll or not to roll, that is the question.

-We'll roll.

-We need the bus fare home, Tim.

-Going with it?

-Yes.

-We're going with the roller.

-It's interesting.

And here comes the so-called oat roller.

The brass oat crusher or roller by Gilchrist of Glasgow.

Interesting thing. I'm sure you all want one!

LAUGHTER

Interest here with me at £50.

55. 60. Five. 70. Five. At £75. 80.

At 80 here. Five now elsewhere.

-At £80, the bid is in the room.

-He's doubled his money!

-I'm sure you want one. At £80, then.

-We've cut our loss a bit.

Selling at 80.

£80 it's gone for. Well done, P.Serrell. That's plus £40.

-Thank you.

-That's the way to produce a bonus buy

and cut 'em up. Plus 40.

Which means overall, you are only now minus 48, which could easily be a winning score.

-Just don't say a word to the blues.

-We won't!

-Not a word. Thank you.

-Thank you.

Well done. Thanks, Phil.

-So, Ross, Sam. Do you know how the reds got on?

-No.

-No.

-Haven't been chatting?

-No.

-Good.

We don't want that. Overall, I reckon you guys are going to do OK.

Then you've got the Satsuma tea-set to fall back on if you need it.

-OK? Are you cool?

-Yes.

-Everybody cool?

-Yes.

-Charles, cool?

-Very confident.

-Nobody cooler than Charles.

First up is your drinking glasses. Here they come.

A pair of George III fluted drinking glasses, circa 1780.

And here with me at 50.

Five. 60. Five.

70. Five. 80.

Five. 90 now. 90.

-Five. 100?

-Moving.

-110? 120.

-We're in profit. Good.

130. 140?

-130.

-Yes.

-Shake of the head there.

-140, do I see?

-Well done, Charlie.

-£130, then.

130. That is £30 profit straight up. That is so good.

Now, these toast racks.

Toast racks. Dinky little things, for if you're on a diet!

What do I say here? Commission bid with me

at 35. 40. 45. 50.

50 bid here with me.

Five.

55. 60. Five. 70. Five.

80. Five.

At £80 commission back with me, then.

-Five now elsewhere? At £80, then, all done.

-Love it, Charles.

-At £80.

-That is plus £15.

I love that, don't you? £15.

-You were doubting, weren't you?

-I didn't like them.

Now the pig pin cushion.

The little piggy's here. What do I see for that? £15?

15 straightaway. Thank you. 18 now?

At £15 here. 18. 20?

20. 22. 25.

-28. 30.

-You're in profit. I love it.

35. 38. 40. 42.

Oh, my pig!

At £40 in the room, then.

40.

It came to market and it sold. Plus £15.

-Well done!

-So, you've got 30 plus 30 is plus 60.

Perfect.

Now, there's a bit of a decision to make here, OK?

So, do you park your £60-worth of profit,

which is lovely, could be a winning score.

Or do you risk it to go with the Satsuma tea-set?

I think we should go with it. I really like it.

-Shall we? Shall we go with it? Really?

-Yeah, why not?

Oh, no!

-Are we sensible here?

-Probably not sensible, but...

-Not sensible.

-Quickly, you've got to decide!

-We're not going with it.

-You're not?

-I thought you were?

-I don't know.

-What do you think, Sam?

-Let's go for it.

-We're going to go for it?

-Yes!

It's not easy. You've got 60, for goodness' sake. Do you want to keep it or...

-Do we get a golden gavel if...

-Don't worry about that!

-Are you going with the bonus buy or not?

-No.

-No?

-No.

-OK, no.

-No.

-No.

-No, we're not. Quickly.

-No.

-No.

Right. We're not going with the bonus buy.

-Dear, oh, dear!

-Lot 75 is the Japanese Satsuma tea-service.

-Lot 75. Satsuma tea-service.

-Watch it make 400!

-20th century.

With the figural decoration.

What do I say for this? £80?

-Really chancing.

-It is chancing.

-Bid me 40?

-Oh, no!

-No commission bids.

£20? Thank you, sir. At 20. 22. 25.

28. 30.

32. 35.

38. 40?

Sure?

Keep going!

£38. Bid is in the room. In the room at 38.

No bid on the internet.

-Yes! 38.

-We made the right choice! Thank God for that!

-You did make the right choice.

-Painful, isn't it?

-That's two shy of 40.

-I would have paid that.

That would have been minus £72, lads.

-We did the right thing, then.

-You did the right thing.

-You parked it.

-You parked up.

-Just about!

You are plus £60, OK?

Don't let anybody say you're indecisive because that's not true!

-Listen, don't say a word to the reds, all right?

-No.

-Completely sealed up?

-Definitely.

All will be revealed in a moment. Well done.

Well, it's been a mixed bag, hasn't it?

I don't know! Been chatting, the reds and the blues, about the scores?

ALL: No.

Well, we can only have one runner-up per show.

And the runners-up today are the reds.

Sorry about that. Overall score, minus 48.

-But it could have been so much worse without Phil's roller.

-OK.

That rolled out a profit of £40, which actually was very good going.

-Yes.

-Should have had more like that.

-Yes. You were just unlucky.

-But you had fun?

-We have had fun, yes.

-Thank you, Phil for your very profitable bonus buy.

But turning to the victors today, who are going home with £60 profit. How about that?

That's the full 60. Not only do they go home with their profit,

they also go home with the very special award, which is the golden gavel!

The ancient award of the golden gavel. There we go.

Take one of those. That's great, Sam. Thank you very much.

-And another one for your collection, Charles.

-Wonderful!

And you get that for getting a profit on each of your items, which you succeeded in doing.

It's a difficult thing in the best of times. I congratulate you.

-Thank you.

-Happy with that?

-Really pleased.

-Yes, definitely.

-It's a very good result, Charles.

-It is. Delighted.

-We're all very, very chuffed.

We're so chuffed, join us soon for some more Bargain Hunting. Yes?

Yes!

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