Lincoln 31 Bargain Hunt

THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER PLAYS

The Americans are mighty keen on the name Lincoln,

what with their president,

the motor car

and rather a splendid university.

But all of that would mean nothing

were it not for this place -

the genuine, the original, the cathedral city of Lincoln.

So let's go bargain-hunting!

It's not just the Americans that have taken to Lincoln. Oh, no!

I tell you, the dealers have flocked here in their droves,

with hundreds of thousands of objects

for our teams to take a squint at with their £300.

But what are they going to select?

Let's have a quick peek at what's coming up.

The Reds get shopper's block.

We've seen so many things, we don't know where to start.

It doesn't matter. Who knows where to start? We'll be all right. Let's have a look.

While the Blues get fussy.

There's a little bit of a split, though, there.

-Restored.

-No.

Not your sort of thing? Not really, no.

Let's meet the teams.

Today we've got a couple of friends for the Reds

and partners for the Blues.

-Hello, everyone.

-ALL: Hello!

Lovely to see you all.

Now, Jane, I gather that it was a denture disaster

that led you into joining Ruth's brass band.

Yes, it was. We played in bands for many years,

but it was about six years ago

that I got a call from a conductor to say,

"Please help us out! One of our players is having trouble with his teeth."

I hadn't played for ten years, so I had to very quickly remember how to play

-and help them out for a competition.

-Isn't that lovely!

Now, Ruth, it says here you're in the hospitality industry.

-I am indeed. I am general manager of a hotel, bar and restaurant in Doncaster.

-Lovely.

So, what keeps you ticking outside work, then, Ruthie?

Brass band is key for me for the evenings,

and I love entertaining, having friends round and entertaining at home.

Well, that sounds like fun.

Anyway, you're going to have fun today, I hope, and welcome to Bargain Hunt.

Now, moving on to the chaps.

What made you move here from Germany, Karsten?

I came here to study towards a degree in biology at the University of Bristol

and, at the same time, I wanted to improve my English.

And it was during my degree that I started to work at Grey-Harris & Co,

which is an antiques shop,

-and cleaned the silver there.

-Did you?

Which sparked my interest in antiques, really.

-What do you like collecting?

-I collect Henry III pennies.

Get away! You don't!

You are the only person I have ever come across

who collects Henry III pennies.

What period are we talking about here?

1250s.

I've got about 600 or so, all from different mints.

Interesting. Now, James, what do you do for a living?

I work as a concerts co-ordinator for an orchestra

called Britten Sinfonia.

And, basically, my job consists of planning and organising the concerts for the orchestra.

Are you a musician yourself?

Well, I am. I would probably call myself a lapsed musician,

in the sense that I don't really get much chance to play now

with my work so demanding.

But from a young age... I played the saxophone from age nine.

I reached Grade 8 in both that and piano.

And I enjoy it immensely, and still get the chance to experience music a lot.

Yes. Good fun.

Now, the money moment. Here we go. £300 apiece.

£300, girls. Look at that.

£300, chaps. You know the rules. Your experts await. And off you go!

And very good luck.

I feel a bit of a tune coming on myself.

Our experts today are both ready to spend some cash,

to the tune of £300.

For the Reds, a man who ranks highly amongst antiques experts.

It's David Harper.

And she may be off the peg,

but she's on the ball. It's Kate "for the Blues" Bliss.

-Nervous, anxious?

-A little bit.

-Yeah?

-Excited!

Is there anything you're looking at particularly? What about you, James?

Well, I think I might like something silver.

-Have you had much experience of buying antiques?

-Not really.

-Just a little.

-OK.

-What about you?

-Maybe some small piece of furniture. Something profitable, definitely.

-What about you, Jane?

-I just like anything shiny.

Shiny, and preferably sort of diamonds.

Ooh, yes!

I might have spotted something over here. It's a bit of silver. Come and have a look.

The Reds, despite all their talk of shiny and diamonds,

have headed straight for a moth-eaten monkey.

I think he's supposed to go...

Ah, he's sweet, though, isn't he?

-I'm not sure I'd call him sweet.

-Really?

-What would you call him?

-Revolting!

-Aw!

David, you're going to have to try harder than that

to please your girls.

How about you, Blues?

Easily pleased or particularly particular?

They're English hallmarked, and they're really nicely enamelled.

-Not your sort of thing?

-Not really, no.

-No?

-There's not much I'd give house room to!

-OK, keep going.

I've got a feeling both our experts have their work cut out here.

-I can't see anything at the moment.

-Oh, no!

I think it could be a long show.

Is it really an hour?

Yes, Jane, 60 minutes for shopping for three items with £300.

That's a lovely shape. Have a look at that.

-It's got some weight to it.

-Yeah.

It's got a registered design number there.

You know your silver, Karsten.

I used to work in a silver shop. I used to polish it.

There's some damage there.

I wouldn't worry too much about that.

I can see what you mean. There's a little bit of roughness there

on the silver, where it's just had a slight bash.

-What do you think?

-Bear it in mind and come back to it.

-I think that's a very good plan.

Mmm. Still not happy.

You also need to bear in mind that the clock is ticking on, chaps.

I'm worried about you two, because you've suddenly gone from really chatty

to, like, "Oh, my lord, I'm scared stiff!"

Don't be scared. Just be you.

I think we've seen so many things that we don't know where to even start.

Doesn't matter. Who knows where to start?

Come on. We'll be all right. Let's have a look in here.

You wanted a Georgian jug. That's a Georgian jug.

What about that, Karsten?

See if it's cheap enough.

Can we have a look at the jug, please?

-This jug here?

-Yes, please.

Oh, yes, it's been soldered.

What's the soldering like?

Can you definitely make it out?

-It's a lovely style, isn't it?

-What do you think of this?

The shape is lovely.

It's neoclassical in style.

These boys know their stuff.

The decoration is quite fine as well.

Shall we think about it?

OK, well, let's have a think about it.

We know where it is.

Thank you very much. We may well come back.

That's if someone else doesn't get their mitts on it first.

All of a sudden, the sun is shining. Do you like those?

They're quite interesting, aren't they?

-What are they?

-I suppose a dressing table set.

-It's got a hallmark.

-Yes, it has got a hallmark there.

But that's not a British hallmark.

There's a maker's mark, and it's probably continental - German or French.

-French.

-Are they French?

-Monique.

-Monique.

-FRENCH ACCENT:

-Ah, Monique, huh? Ah, could not be more French.

-You'll have to fill it up.

-I know.

-Just think of the cost.

-What could it be?

-It's got to be liquid, surely.

Good quality.

-Has that one got a stopper as well?

-A stopper. It's for liquid.

So, date-wise, they're probably circa 1950.

So they're about 50 years old.

But they've got a good Deco-y sort of look. If they were silver and hallmarked,

-we're looking at £200 worth there.

-Really?

-Yes, for sure.

And they're big and they've got their stoppers.

So what kind of price have we got here?

£40 for the four pieces.

Is that your best price today for these lovely ladies?

You've got such lovely eyes, I'll take £30.

-Oh, fabulous!

-He was talking to me then.

ALL LAUGH

If we offer £20, would you take £20?

£25.

We meet in the middle.

Go on, yeah!

-£25?!

-Yeah, let's do it.

Are you happy? They're desperate to buy something.

-They are lovely.

-Isn't it nice to actually get a purchase in?

-It is.

It's good, isn't it? Break the duck and all that.

-It's lovely.

-Well done. £25, I think you're fine.

Four jars for £25, eh? Sacre bleu!

-Do you like that, Karsten?

-Yes, I do quite like that.

-I think it's quite smart.

-Is it silver-mounted?

-Yes.

-It says 1911.

-I quite like that too. Yeah, it is nice.

It's a little bit corroded here, so this bit,

I'm not sure if it's actually silver.

-But the band is silver, isn't it?

-Yes.

-The band is silver.

-It's a useful and modern object, isn't it?

-Yeah.

Your idea of modern might differ to many people's, James.

Well, maybe.

It's not been used recently.

What's your best on that?

£35. >

£35.

-Can I have a look?

-Yeah.

Well, it's interesting, actually, because it's stained

to look like oak,

but I'm not sure whether it actually is oak.

But I think it's been stained to enhance the grain.

And then you've got a lovely clear English hallmark there

for the silver banding.

And a pepper mill like that stands low.

It doesn't matter what kind of salt you put with it.

-So what was the best the lady said - £35?

-£35.

If we can squeeze another £1 off...

We can't!

She's shaking her head.

Well, because it's silver-mounted,

it gives it a little bit more oomph, I think, as a piece.

I think if you like it and you both agree,

bearing in mind the time, I think you should probably get it and press on.

Let's go for it. That's one down, then.

-So, happy?

-Yes, absolutely.

-OK, £35. Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

Well done, Ruthie!

It's a bit lighter than your usual instrument,

but still a jolly good blow, girl.

-Do you want to buy the trombone?

-I don't think so.

-No?

OK, come on, then, because we're mucking about here.

Exactly. That's enough blowing notes.

Now go and spend some, please, Reds.

That is Deco,

and I have £128 on it.

And it does work,

and it is £128,

but I can do it for £95.

And that green vase over there...?

Well, if the pepper mill was modern,

this is positively futuristic.

If you want to have a look at it.

Is that a bit more affordable to us?

-It's quite nice, isn't it?

-I love green things.

How much is this?

If I could see the...

It's got £49 on it.

£49. Yeah.

I'll do it for £40.

Just have a close look at this.

It's folded into... This is what's nice about it. Can you see?

It's nice - rounded, isn't it?

Rounded, yes.

I quite like touchable objects.

I love the way you can feel the...contour mark on the bottom.

The tube line is nice too.

Yeah, this is quite a complicated method of manufacturing,

because this is all overlaid over the top.

But I would just call this studio glass. It's difficult to associate it...attribute it.

So you're relying on somebody at the auction to really take a fancy to it.

As it is, it's a decorative piece of glass.

And do you want to pay over £40 for it?

We're running out of time. Yes or no? What's your gut feeling?

It's nice. If it was closer to £30...a little bit closer to £30?

We would shake on it now.

I know. Shake of the hand. I'd like you to shake my hand at £40.

I'll do £39. Again, you have a piece of good luck.

-Shall we do it?

-Let's do it.

OK, thanks a lot.

Thank you very much.

Let's hope all those buyers turn up at the auction.

Second item bought, Blues.

There's nothing jumping out at me.

OK. I'll have a scour as well.

Ruth wonders about that, but I'm not...

Ruth, what are you wondering about?

It's just cute.

It's got a hallmark on it.

OK. Is it silver?

-I can't see. Have you got your glasses?

-I have.

But they're only for distance.

-Oh, right!

-Let's have a look.

What date have we got on these?

I haven't got my eyeglass. Is that Queen Elizabeth II,

-or is that a Victoria head there?

-Victoria.

-Is it Victoria?

-Older.

That could be 65.

It's quite a sweet little presentation box,

so date-wise, it has to be 1837 to 1901.

But we'll date it accurately with a book.

Actually, there's a date there.

1842.

That's earlier than...

Always read the label first, David.

Page one, paragraph one.

-Jane, don't you like it? Jane!

-She's giving me those eyes that say, "Hmm..."

-Don't you like it, Jane?

-It's not something I'd buy.

-OK.

-But then again, if it'll make a profit,

then I would be tempted.

I think it's got everything going for it, because, obviously, it's silver. It's Victorian.

The original presentation box is lovely

with a silver cartouche here

that has not been engraved, so if you really want to the whole hog, you could engrave that now.

-Do you think we could get it lower than £65?

-Yeah.

-What would be the absolute best?

-No.

Not even if we smile very sweetly?

No.

-Really?

-I'll take a fiver off.

-So is that £60?

-£60.

£60.

I really like it. And it's blingy. It's shiny.

Oh, it's definitely shiny.

And you found it, so do you think...?

No pressure, Ruth.

I think it's cute, but it needs to be you as well. It's not just about me.

I will let you have this one.

-Are you going to have this?

-Yeah, I think so.

-I'd have it.

How can that be expensive at £60?

How can it be?

-£60.

-Let's do it.

-Thank you very much. We'll have that.

Thank you. Very good of you. Thank you.

Thank you.

That's two each.

What have we seen that you liked before?

-Anything stick out in your memory?

-The Georgian silver jug.

So there's the helmet-shaped jug. OK.

Which was...

We've seen that pepperette, which was also silver.

-The Art Nouveau pepperette?

-Yes.

Apart from that, I'm not quite sure.

There's not anything we've got our eye on.

Has Kate finally found something that will pass muster with the Blues?

This is very Arts and Crafts in period.

It's Tudric pewter, which is basically retailed by Liberty.

-Possibly had a liner. It's got quite a sharp edge there.

-Oh, yes.

But I love these supports here.

And the pedestal base.

It's very Arts and Crafts in style, which is very early 20th century,

late 19th century, and this hammered finish, of course,

was very important to the Arts and Crafts movement,

because it gave the look of something

that had been hand-finished, handmade,

which was what it was all about -

going back to handmade things rather than machine-made,

which the Victorian industrialism had really championed.

So what do you think about that? That's £55. What could you do for us on that?

As a special Bargain Hunt deal, I could do £40 on that.

£35, for cash?

Seeing as it's you, £38.

-What do you think, guys?

-I like it.

I think that's a fair price.

I think if I was going to put an auction estimate on that, I'd put £30 to £50 on it.

So I think it would have a good chance at auction.

-And you think it's genuine Tudric?

-Absolutely, yes.

Well, we should go for it.

-You quite like it, James.

-I like it. I'm going to push you into getting this.

-Karsten is wavering.

He's weighing it up. Let me have it.

Go on, James, take control. Only minutes left.

I didn't realise it was as weighty as that.

I think that's a sign of quality as well,

something with a bit of weight.

-Shall we go for it?

-We shall.

I think we should.

-Thank you very much. £38 it is.

-Thanks so much.

-Hooray!

Three pieces - well done!

Just in time.

Well done, guys. You've been great.

Well done, Blues. And you didn't have to go back for anything,

like that silver jug, for example.

What about the little silver...

milk jug there?

Bit of silver. More silver.

There's a bit of damage on it.

Is there?

It's a Georgian one.

What date is it? Have you dated it?

It's 1794.

1794?! That's lovely, then.

I like it even more now.

-So that's George III.

-Yes.

Very elegant, in that classical style.

-That's almost Greek, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-So the Georgian revival.

-It's got a little bit of a dent on it.

-It's had some repairs.

-Has it?

It would be good at £40, if we could ever buy it at £40.

-No way.

-Not ever in a million years?

Someone tell him - less than a minute to go.

How many? 45 seconds?! Wait.

Don't panic.

-I won't panic.

-Ruth, do you like it?

It's your choice this time.

I quite like it, actually.

Can 50 quid buy it?

Give me £65.

-Meet in the middle and we'll have it.

-£55.

Thank you.

Oh, right to the wire!

Right to the wire.

Now you look a bit more relaxed.

£55, at 59 minutes and 55 seconds.

I make that your last stand, Reds.

Time's up. Let's check out what the Red team bought, eh?

So, the Reds sniffed out

a set of chunky continental dressing-table bottles

for £25.

They bought this Victorian three-piece cutlery set

for £60.

Finally, with the time running out,

they snapped up this George III silver cream jug. £55 paid for that.

-Girls, you had a good time?

-Fabulous.

-Really good time.

So what was the total spend, then, Ruthie?

-£140.

-£140.

OK, £160 of leftover lolly, please.

Which goes straight over to our fighting machine,

-which is otherwise known as young Harper.

-Thank you very much.

£160 - you'll be able to buy half the fair with that, boy.

You never know! But I don't know what I'm going to buy, Tim, because I'm still in recovery mode,

with these two, with seconds to go!

If that silver jug wasn't there, we were in deep trouble.

Yes. No, quite.

That's what you call risky. Anyway, you go and have a nice lie-down

and a bit of a rub off.

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

The Blues didn't buy the cream jug.

Say "thank you", Reds.

They did buy a silver-mounted pepper mill for £35.

Then they chose this modern glass vase for £39.

Their third purchase was a Liberty Tudric pewter bowl

for a splendiferous £38.

-Did you enjoy that, Kate?

-I did.

I mean, these guys certainly know what they like.

-Yes, smashing couple of chaps.

-Quite a bit of knowledge there.

-What did you spend all round?

-£112.

-£112. So please may I have £188 of leftover lolly?

-Yes.

-That's quite a wodge, isn't it? Gosh!

-Now, Kate, that's exciting.

-Woo!

Hope you're going to go and blow the lot, girl.

-Well, I'm going to try.

-Are you?

-See you later.

-See you.

-Good luck.

Meanwhile, we're heading "Oop North"

to West Yorkshire to Lotherton Hall. Ooh-ah!

Once a gentleman's country residence,

Lotherton Hall is now an art museum

and home to a number of fine collections.

Welcome to Yorkshire.

Whilst I'm here, what could be more appropriate

than going to have a look at some exquisite furniture

that was made by a most distinguished firm of local makers

for a most distinguished local family?

Yum-yum!

And the head of this distinguished family was Titus Salt,

a leading figure in the wool industry.

Much admired by his fellow Victorians, he built and ran,

along with his son, Titus Salt Jr,

one of the largest mills of its kind in the world.

Not short of a bob or two,

Titus Jr resided at Milner Field in West Yorkshire.

He filled his home with specially commissioned furniture,

made by the exclusive Leeds cabinet-makers Marsh and Jones,

and thanks to the city of Leeds,

some of these pieces can now be seen at Lotherton Hall.

In the 1860s,

when your average house parlourmaid earned about £12 a year,

Titus Salt Junior spent some £4,000

on his commission for furniture.

Extraordinary sum of money!

And the most beautiful of all the extraordinary pieces

that were made, I guess, is this.

The grand piano.

The designer was Charles Bevan,

and he created in this furniture

something that is medieval-looking.

But the surprising thing from your perspective,

looking at the piano sideways on,

is how much variety there is.

Down here, at the treble end,

we've got a neo-Norman arcade,

recessed, and divided by split columns,

which go to make up a kind of cloister.

And that is so very different and contrasting

from these rectangular coffers

that go to make up the curved part of the grand piano case.

Moving to the top,

this is relatively unornamented.

We've got a series of vacant panels,

contained by the geometry of the outer edge.

This section hinges up,

which is quite normal,

but what's really nice is the design that's neo-Norman

continues in this music score support.

Down at the keyboard end,

you see the designer here is recorded - C Bevan.

And the maker of the musical instrument bit -

Erard and Co of London.

If you were going to show off, though,

as a cabinet-maker and inlayer,

this is the place that you'd do it.

The keyboard cover is the most complicated area

that you could possibly ever veneer and inlay.

It's got this double curve, look,

and the complexity that Marsh and Jones

have decided to inlay this with is breathtaking.

Well, from superb inlays

to outlays.

Will our teams today manage to recoup theirs?

It's my pleasure today to come to Lincoln

to Golding, Young and Mawer's saleroom

to be with Colin Young.

Pleasure to have you once again, Tim.

Our legend.

In my own lunchtime?

In your own lunchtime, in your own parish. Why not, Col?

Anyway, thank you very much for having us.

The Reds today have gone rather silvery,

including this toilet set.

Well, estimate-wise, very easy. Got to be worth £10 a bottle,

so we've gone for £40 to £60.

-All right.

-But it's an interesting lot,

in that you've got the star cuts to the base of three of the jars.

-Yes.

-But you haven't on the fourth.

So something perhaps doesn't quite ring true on that.

And it might be a marmalade jar or something like that

that's been put under there.

Well, three of them at least are all original and ready to go.

-What's your estimate?

-£40 to £60.

-£25 paid.

Super. Next up is the little christening set.

What a sweet little set that is, isn't it?

It's brilliant, isn't it?

It has the age, it has the look,

it has the style. It's got a nice little case.

The estimate we've placed on it is £30 to £50,

-Anyway, £60 paid.

-OK. It's going to be a bit tight, I think.

-It's going to be tight.

But on the other hand, it's a sweet little thing, and find another one.

The last item, though, you could find replicated many, many times,

because this type of shape of cream jug,

Georgian or Edwardian, or whatever it may be, is pretty common.

Yeah. This one is a period one.

Dates from the 1790s,

and it's that typical neoclassical helmet shape,

but it has quite a few faults with it, unfortunately.

What - dents, splits?

Dents, splits, so I've put an estimate of £25 to £40,

and I just know that's going to be a bit of a struggler

when it comes for the buyers.

-They paid £55.

-Yeah.

Which could tip them back into the red, them being the Reds.

In which case, they're going to need their bonus buy.

So let's go and have a look at it.

OK, Janey, Ruth.

You gave the boy £160 of leftover lolly. Did he spend the lot?

-This is an unusual object.

-Oh, my word!

What kind of a response was that?!

That is a very unusual object.

Er, yes!

With a half-burnt candle!

Uh-huh, because it's been used.

So it's a night light.

But you can carry him up the stairs to bed. Yeah?

Can you get the idea?

You've got your matches... Try and be impressed if you can!

You've got your matches here

and it's a stylised dragon in bronze,

from the Arts and Crafts period.

-But I did pay the money for it.

-I was going to say - how much?

Just take it, Ruthie. Hold it, darling.

I think the dealer's been quite clever

to put a half-burnt old candle on.

It's got the look. Exactly.

-So how much was it?

-How much?

-£120.

-Oh, my word!

-£120?!

-You never!

-I did. I did.

And it took me a very long time to get it for £120.

-So you think it's worth...?

-I think it's worth, for me,

-every penny of it.

-Right.

Well, you don't have to pick it, you know.

But you may be in such a parlous state

after the sale of your first three items...

We might well be!

..you'll grab the dragon with some glee.

But right now, for the audience at home,

let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about David's old dragon.

Cor, strike a light, Col!

Hmm. Well, it has a bit of a look about it.

Nicely patinated copper.

Looks a bit dangerous, having your matches

next to your candle, though.

But find another one. That really is an interesting lot.

We haven't been able to attribute it to anybody individually,

but I couldn't find anything comparable,

so we've put an estimate on of £40 to £60,

but that's not really out of a great deal of knowledge.

-Right.

-More a little bit of guesswork.

OK, well, let's hope it does tease some interest,

because Harper paid £120,

which is a big old price, but I don't blame him in going for it.

No, I think it was a worthy gamble,

-but we'll only find out when the hammer falls.

-Quite right.

Anyway, that's it for the Reds.

And now for the Blues.

And first up for them is the pepper mill.

Always popular,

and there are always plenty of arms plucked from the audience,

bidding for these sort of things.

So what you've got here is quality in silver, and hallmarked.

So £30 to £50 I think would be appropriate.

Excellent. £35 paid.

-And that was a very sensible amount to part with.

-Yeah.

Now, that dribbly-looking green glass vase, though,

-is another matter, isn't it?

-It is.

When you look at the lower section of it,

it does have that sort of Lurtz glass look to it,

but the more you go up it,

the more you can see it's a sort of modern drizzle effect,

made in Eastern Europe.

What are we talking about - 1960s?

Might not even be that old.

Really? So it's brand Harry Spankers, then?

Well, it's not that old.

OK, what's your estimate?

£25 to £40.

Well, our lot paid £39,

-which is a big old bite, isn't it?

-It is.

-Yep.

-OK, well, we'll stand by, cross everything.

And the last item is the hammered pewter bowl.

What would you put in there - your nuts?

There's a whole variety of things you could put in there - fruit...

-Nuts and bon-bons.

-Yeah.

-The only part of the mix I want is lots of arms going in the air and bidding for it.

-Of course.

-Tudric is the name to conjure with.

-It is.

So you've got that going for it. How much?

Well, £40 to £60 is what we've placed on it,

and I think I'll be surprised at much in either direction.

Well, you are a marvellous man, Colin, because they paid £38.

Well, we'll have to see what happens when the hammer falls.

That might not be the case, as we know so well!

OK, fine. Well, if you're wrong,

we can always slump back

to the bonus buy. Let's go and have a look at it.

OK, James, Karsten. You spent £112. Miserable.

You gave £188 to the Bliss.

What did she find?

You were desperate to find some silver.

And really, the best we did was find that silver-mounted pepper mill.

So I have bought you a little bit of silver.

Have a little look, James.

It's blissful!

You've been working on that!

-You were going to say that anyway!

-A leaf out of your book!

A leaf out of my book, because...

-What is it?

-It's a bookmark.

Yes! Gosh, he's on the ball, this boy, I tell you.

-You're not where you are today, James, for nothing.

-Is it Edwardian?

-It's actually 1905.

-OK.

So you're bang-on.

-Clearly hallmarked.

-Very nice.

And lovely little embossed handle there.

-Do you like it, Karsten?

-I do.

-How much did you pay?

-I paid £30.

-Right.

-How much?

-£30.

-Right.

-How much do you think it's going to make?

I think there's a wee bit of profit in there, myself.

-You liking it?

-Yes.

-Is she clever or is she clever?

-She's clever.

-She's clever.

Let's find out, though, for the audience at home,

just how clever the auctioneer thinks Kate Bliss is.

Well, that's sweet, isn't it?

Isn't it just.

I don't know how many thousands of these bookmarks were made,

late in the Victorian period,

but they must have been incredibly popular.

Indeed. We see so many of them come through the sales.

-This one, I would place at maybe £25 to £40.

-Right.

-That sort of price.

-Is that good?

Desperately good. I mean, Kate Bliss,

she's pretty hot on these little small collectables.

She paid £30, so she's paid the right price. I see a profit in that,

if the team decide to go with it.

And that will depend, Colin Young, on your skilful auctioneering.

That's very worrying, Tim.

Thanks, Col.

£50...

Now, Jane, Ruthie, how are you feeling?

Quite nervous. Excited.

Not too optimistic.

You're not too optimistic?

So is your cup half-empty?

It is definitely half-empty.

Oh, dear, I'm sorry to hear that. What about you, Ruthie? You're more bullish, aren't you?

I think we've got a really good chance. I'm quite excited.

Well, your scent bottle, with the old screw top

and the others, all inscribed "Monique" and all the rest of it,

he's put £40 to £60 on.

Wow!

And you paid £25. And here they come.

The glass scent bottle and combination

of other jars and covers.

Very interesting little lot there. Who's going to start me at £40?

£20, anyone?

£20? £20?

Please!

£10?

£10 bid. £10 bid.

£12 bid. £15, £18.

£20. Two bid. Five bid.

£28? No?

£25, I'm bid. £28 bid.

£30 bid. £32.

At £32 bid. Five bid. £38. £40.

Come on!

£42 now, do I see it?

At two bid. Five. £45. £48.

£48 now, surely?

At £45, are we all done?

At £45, it's the last call. £48?

£48 bid.

At £48 bid. No?

At £48 bid - any more now?

£48. £50 bid.

£50?!

And five now. At £50 bid.

Girls!

You're out in the room this time, make no mistake.

Is there another bid from the room? No. At £50 we're done and finished.

-And we sell this time to Australia at £50.

-Australia!

I love the Australians.

There's lots of Moniques over there.

+£25.

That's super - doubled your money!

The Victorian silver cutlery set there.

Nice little christening gift, this.

Ought to be £50 at least of anybody's money. Start me at £50.

£50. £20 to go, surely. £20.

£20 in the middle of the room. At £20 bid. And two now. £22.

£25. £28. £30. At £30 bid. £32?

What did we pay - £60?

£38. £40.

£40 bid. £42 now?

No money. No money.

£45. £48 bid.

£50, do I see now? £50 bid.

£55 bid.

£60 now. At £55 bid.

£60 anywhere else? Are we all done and finished?

We're going to sell then at £55.

What a tease that is, isn't it?

Just... I can't bear it.

Anyway, -£5 on that. It still means you're +£20, though.

The silver helmet-shaped cream jug. It is George III period.

Who's going to start me at £20 to go? £20. Two bid, five bid. £28.

£28. £30. At £32. £35. £38 bid.

£40 bid.

£42 now. £42, do I see?

£42. £42. £45. £45, do I see?

At £42 bid, at the back of the room.

At £42, £45. £48 bid.

It was £55...

Are we all done at £48?

£50 bid.

And five now? At £50 bid. Any more now?

At £50. I'm asking five. At £50 bid.

Any more bids now? We're up to £55 and £60.

Hey!

At £60.

That's £60 bid.

I'm sure there's going to be another bid. There are two people hovering

and looking like they're going to go.

Going once, twice, third and final chance.

£60. Thank goodness for the internet. That is +£5 on that.

So you were £25, then you lost five, then you just made five,

so you're back at +£25.

-Wow!

-Now, what about the bronze dragon lamp?

-No.

-You're not going with it. Sure?

No, we're not going with it.

£25 in your back pocket.

You're going to preserve that. Yes? Are you sure?

Yes. Definitely.

-Definitely.

-Definitely, you think.

-OK.

OK.

The Arts & Crafts copper night light in the form of a stylised dragon.

Who's going to start me at £100 for it?

£100. Who's first in?

I don't see a lot of hands.

£50 then.

That should entice you. £50.

Don't be afraid of the dragon, ladies and gentlemen.

£20.

THEY GASP

This isn't right, David.

It's not right.

-£10 if you like.

-Oh, come on!

Sorry!

It just makes it more exciting, because I've now got five arms.

£10. £15. £20.

£25 bid. £30.

Five? No. £30 bid. £35 now, do I see?

At £32 anywhere else?

Five, do I see five?

At £32. Five bid. £38, do I see now?

At £35 bid, it's the last call.

Come on, Colin!

Are there any more bids?

Last call, then, going at £35.

That is -£85.

Well, goodbye, everybody.

-£85.

Is that good or...

bad?

I'm sorry for you, mate, because it was a marvellous thing.

-It was a marvellous thing. You've got to take risks.

-You do.

Well, you can brighten up,

because you have £25, and £25 in your pocket could be a winning score easily today.

Welcome, chaps. You're not feeling too nervous, are you?

Um...reasonably.

Reasonably, yes!

It's a strange moment, isn't it?

To be at the abyss,

not knowing where your opponents are.

But I think you've got some good things. I think you'll be all right.

Cross your legs, anyway. First lot coming up...and here it comes.

A silver mounted oak pepper mill this time.

Birmingham, 1911. Who's going to start me at £40?

No? £30, anyone, for this? £30.

Come on!

£30 bid. Two now, do I see? At £30. £32.

£35. £38. £40.

-£42. £45. £48.

-You're in profit.

£48 bid. Is there £50 anywhere else now?

Surely we're going to top it up. £50 on the net.

£50!

£60, do I see?

£60. We've managed to grind out another one. £60.

£65, do I see now?

Two, if you like.

No!

Selling then at £60.

+£25 straight up.

-Karsten, that was your find. Well done.

-+£25.

Good work.

The studio glass vase this time. Tapering cylindrical form,

with the tinted and tube-line decoration to it.

Who's going to start me at £80 for it?

£80, anybody? £80?

£30, if you like.

£30?

£30? £20, anybody?

£20 bid. Two, do I see now?

Two, do I see? £20 bid.

Five bid. £28, do I see?

At £28 I'm bid.

£30, do I see?

-God, he's so quick!

-He's good.

£30. £32, do I see now?

At £30 and two now, do I see?

Is that a bid in the back row? No.

At £30 bid. Selling at £30.

£30...that's -£9.

That's 25, 15...

You're +£16.

We're still up overall.

The Liberty Tudric piece.

Circular pedestal bowl there. Quite a nice lot.

Who's going to start me at £80 for it?

£40 to go, then. £30.

£30 bid.

Anywhere else now?

At two bid. Five bid, at five.

£38. £38 bid. £40, do I see?

Good!

£40 bid. Two. Five. £45. £45. £48.

At £48 bid, and £50.

-Your last call. Selling in the room at £48... £50 bid.

-Yes!

-Five, may I say, sir?

-£50!

It's £60 now. £60 bid.

We can't wait forever. Selling then, at £55.

+£17, which is marvellous.

17 and 17 would be 34.

You're +£33.

Now, what about the trowel bookmark?

We've got a bit of a strategy, and we agreed we'd go for it. Yes, I think we should go for it.

Really? Are you sure?

I think we're going to go for it.

We trust you.

Here we go, then. Here it comes.

Edwardian silver trowel bookmark,

with embossed silver handle. Birmingham, 1905.

What shall we say for this, then?

£50.

-£50?

-He's pushing for £50, isn't he?

£30 to go, then. £30. £20 to go, then, surely.

£20 bid, At two. Two bid. Five. £28.

£28. £30.

£32. £35.

-Yes!

-Yes!

At £38 bid. £40 now, do I see?

He's like a conductor.

£40!

Great!

£45. £48.

There's something melodic about him, isn't there?

No? That was a definite no.

Done and finished, and selling this time at £50.

Look at that!

+£20.

-You are +£53...

-Wow!

..at the end of the day.

Bonzer!

Bonzer! Unbelievable.

-You must be really chuffed.

-Very happy!

How's this, eh? A double whammy

of substantial successes from both teams today.

ALL: Ooh!

-Have you been talking to one another?

-No.

I can't tell you the warm and blissful feeling I have when both teams are going home with cash!

Because you've both made profits,

which is really brilliant.

So it's just a question of the scale of your successes.

And in life,

there can't be two winners. There has to be a runner-up.

And the runners-up today, I'm afraid to say,

are the Reds.

REDS: Oh!

You've still got £25 of profit to take home,

and that's something to be proud of.

-There's your £25.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Did you have a nice time?

-Brilliant.

-We had a lovely time. Thank you.

Bad luck, because you were not able to scale the heights achieved by our chaps.

-£53 worth of profit.

-Yay!

There you go, Jimmy.

There's your £50, and here's the £3...

Thank you.

-So that was very good, wasn't it?

-Yeah! Great fun.

-Yeah.

-You enjoyed it?

-Totally.

-Yes.

We've had such a swell time.

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

ALL: Yes!

I know you're sitting there thinking,

"I could have done better than that!"

Well, what's stopping you?

If you think you can spot a bargain, go to our BBC website and apply.

It'll be splendid to see you!