Derby 26 Bargain Hunt

MUSIC: "Anarchy in the UK" by The Sex Pistols

Notorious punk rock group The Sex Pistols

were once banned from performing in Derby

because of their antisocial behaviour.

But we know how we'll get our kicks, don't we?

Ha-ha! Let's go bargain hunting!

This is the Derby Roundhouse,

still standing - and performing a useful function after 170 years.

Quite some service, hey?

The big question is, are our teams going to be fully functioning

after only one hour's shopping?

Time will tell.

Here's a quick glimpse as to what's coming up.

Today the Reds take a journey down the Yellow Brick Road.

# He's a wonderful wizard of Oz! #

And for the Blues it's all about girl power.

Suffragette piece of jewellery. You'd wear it as a code to say, "I'm a supporter of..."

You're talking our language.

But before they start shopping, let's meet them.

For the Reds we've got Christine and Jane.

And for the Blues we've got Helen and Lynne. Hello, everyone!

-ALL:

-Hello!

-Hello. How are you?

Anyway, now, Christine, you met when you were doing a rather unusual dance, I believe?

-We certainly did, yes. We do belly dancing.

-You met at belly dance class?

Yes, it really keeps you active, you know, and fit, and it's fun.

-We have great fun.

-Now how did you start belly dancing?

Well, I used to be very fit and active, and then I got ME

which made me very, very poorly for a long, long time.

I used to event horses but I couldn't event horses anymore

because of the energy that I needed and I was too poorly to do it.

And I heard about this belly dance class,

and I thought, "I'm going to have a go"

And I've never looked back since.

I feel like it's given me back my life, to be honest.

Jane, it's not just belly dancing that is a connection between you two.

Chris is beauty therapist and so am I,

-so we have a lot in common, don't we?

-We do.

-We love belly dancing, and the profession as well, beauty therapy.

-Yes.

I'm hoping to set up my own room now that my daughter's getting married.

-I see. Now she's leaving, you're going to do it at home.

-Yes.

-Right.

-So, you have the same interests.

-Yes.

-Do you know what you're up to?

-I'm looking for Art Deco.

-And making a profit, hopefully.

-Hopefully.

-Are you going to spend all your cash?

-We'll see.

She's quite coy, isn't she? Anyway, lovely to chat to you.

-Helen, we have met before, haven't we?

-We have, when you came to Wightwick Manor in Wolverhampton.

-Oh, yes. Do you work there?

-I do, I'm the house steward. I look after the house

and its collection, and the lovely volunteers as well.

It is a house particularly rich in Arts and Crafts objects, isn't it?

It is, it's full of wonderful William Morris interiors, furnishings, fixtures,

-and wonderful pre-Raphaelite paintings.

-And you've achieved a dream, therefore, in getting there?

I have, it's a dream job for me.

I did, particularly, Victorian History at university.

And I've always loved Arts and Crafts architecture, so Wightwick Manor is the perfect job.

Lynne, what's your role in the setup at Wightwick?

I have a fabulous title, it's Learning and Visitor Experience Coordinator.

-Gosh, that's a National Trust title if ever I heard one.

-Yes, it's a big batch, yes.

-What does it mean?

-Well, the learning side is that I look after anybody who comes on an educational visit.

That can be as young as five years old right up to university students.

-Apparently you enjoy a good old-fashioned letter?

-I do.

I spend so much of my time tied to a computer on email.

It's nice to have something personal. So I've got pen friends all around the world,

and we exchange letters and keep up with each other's news.

With all the knowledge you've gleaned from being in such a wonderful house,

are you going to go with Arts and Crafts objects when you go shopping on Bargain Hunt today?

It'd be nice to think an undiscovered pre-Raphaelite masterpiece is out there,

-but we'll have to see.

-You'll be the right people to spot it if there is.

Anyway, now, the money moment. Here we go, look, £300 apiece.

-Thank you.

-£300. You know the rules.

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

I think I might try a bit of this belly dancing.

Going for glory with the Reds, we have the reputable Charlie Ross.

And keeping his googly eyes out for the Blues,

we have the very vigilant Thomas Plant.

Now, we really couldn't have a pair of belly dancers on the show and not see them dance, could we?

Ah! No, girls.

That's better. Let's go shopping.

I think that's a Bargain Hunt first, and what a treat.

But now, let's get back down to business.

I hear that you are absolute passionate experts

on William Morris Arts and Crafts, is that right?

-Complete anoraks.

-Anoraks?

I like something with fine detailing, something pretty where a lot of craftsmanship's gone into it.

-We won't find a rare William Morris, but let's go.

-Right.

I love the style of the Art Deco, the geometrical shapes and the slim lines, so Art Deco for me.

Let's go and find some.

You just never know what you're going to turn up at an antiques fair.

But, you're on the clock so best get busy.

Come on, let's have a look, let's get down into it.

Let's get sort of... Well, this is George Jones.

He was a Staffordshire potter in the Aesthetic taste,

as you can see that is. You know,

you've got the asymmetrical design of the Aesthetic taste here,

with the blue and white and the heightened gilt.

Just checking for restoration.

Um...

Yep, that's fine.

You've got two different prices. You've got 70, we've got 65.

-You've got two different prices on it.

-Have I?

Yeah, you've got one at 70 and one at 65.

-I must have been having a senior moment.

-Surely not, not for you.

Charm will get you everywhere, Thomas.

-So what kind of price could you do?

-Well, make me an offer.

I mean, I think, at auction, that's gonna be... 30 to 50 pounds.

At auction. At a, sort of, price.

So I would like to offer you that sort of bottom estimate.

-So...?

-30.

-You're offering me 30.

-Yeah, what can you...?

-I suppose I could do that.

-Can you?

-Yes.

-Do we want to go for it?

-A definite maybe.

-A definite maybe?

You'll stick with that. All right, then. Let's carry on. Do you mind?

You mean you managed to knock the vase down to less than half price

and now you walk away? Well, I give up.

-I quite like these spoons, actually.

-Oh, yes, I like those.

They're Royal Worcester. £16.

-Yes.

-I think...

-Let's try and buy some antiques. Yes.

-OK.

-You know, those are lovely,

-but who is going to go to an auction room and buy those?

-No.

-No.

-You've got to remember, most people that are attending the auction rooms are looking for antiques.

-Yes.

They're looking for things from the Victorian and Georgian era. They're also looking Art Deco.

-Set your sights towards a bit of Art Deco.

-Yes.

-And perhaps a bit of ornate Victoriana,

-or going to the Georgian period if you want to.

-Yes.

Good advice, Charles, so let's hope they listen to it.

OK, we're ten minutes in, so now's a good time to buy, don't you think?

-Look at that.

-That's gorgeous.

-That is Japanese Arita ware.

HOLLOW SOUND Music to me ears.

Big plant pot. And it's 160, it's 1900.

It's definitely Japanese export ware.

So look at that, I love the faceting of the actual body itself,

-don't you?

-It is, it's gorgeous.

While Lynne and Helen go a bit potty, I wonder if our Reds have sniffed anything out yet?

-That's a lovely perfume...

-Perfume bottles are always good sellers.

You have to check with the perfume bottle that the stopper belongs to the bottle.

-OK, yeah.

-Absolutely vital.

Invariably they get lost or broken, and they match them up and they don't quite fit.

We take this one, and look, point in question.

Harry wobblers. It's a bit like your bellies, girls.

THEY LAUGH

-Just goes a bit...

-It's a bit like yours.

-Like mine? How dare you.

Charles, you've got them jiggling again. Sorry, I mean giggling again.

Now come on, let's get back to the job in hand.

-So there's that, you can think about that.

-That's lovely. Oh, I like that bit of green.

-That is somewhat unusual. I think it's Korean.

-It is.

It's provincial. Extremely heavy, heavily potted.

So what sort of age would we be looking at with that?

-It's a difficult one to date. In my opinion, early 19th century.

-This...

-It could be 18th.

-I'll let you do the handling, dear.

-You're used to handling objects.

-It's got a strolling dragon.

-Careful. It's got the dragon.

-It is heavy, isn't it?

Watch the subtleness of the dragon, and it's chasing this pearl here,

-this flaming pearl.

-It's beautiful, isn't it?

-Or the eternal pearl.

You see where the glaze hasn't taken?

That's not counted as damage, it's clearly where the glaze -

-It could be quite a provincial piece, couldn't it?

-It is.

-The bold colours of that.

-It's gorgeous.

-And the Chinese-like green.

-Mmm.

-Apple green in particular.

Greeny yellowy fits in with the Aesthetic movement.

-I prefer that.

-Yes.

-But I'm open to discussion.

Yeah, OK, well, what can that one be?

-That one could be 90.

-Ooh.

Could it be 70?

-You're optimistic, aren't you?

-I'm just trying.

-Some would say barefaced cheek, but...

-I'm not barefaced, it's just an offer.

-80.

-Then it's a risk cos it's...

I like the dragon, and the dragon at the moment and the pearl

is something the Oriental buyers are after at the moment.

The Japanese ware is a little bit more suppressed in the market

-because they're going through pretty horrible times.

-Times.

-You know?

-I think this, Lynne...

-Well, you've got a good feel for it, so...

-Yeah, it's good piece. Yes.

-You want to buy it?

-Yes.

Cor! At £80, you Blues are taking a chance on that, but well done!

You're up and running now, which is more than can be said for the Reds.

Blimey O'Riley, this is not easy.

"I like this, I like that. I love this." "Do you want to buy it?" "No. No."

"Love this!" "Do you want to buy it?" "No!"

-So what would that be used for, then?

-A snuff box.

Obviously a table snuff box as opposed to one

you put in your pocket.

I think it's probably got a more feminine feel to it.

Whilst you could use it as a table snuff,

-I would think it would be lovely with hairpins in.

-Or tiny earrings.

-Tiny earrings, all sorts of jewellery. There we go.

-195.

-Yeah.

-Nice.

-Birmingham, 1900. Made in Birmingham.

-I think that, at auction, would be estimated at £100 to £150.

-Do you?

-Does £110 show you any sort of profit?

-Barely, but...

-Barely?

-If 110 shows any sort of profit...

-What if I said to you 115?

-115?

I really can't believe that you... you shouldn't buy it.

I can't guarantee you a profit, nobody can in this business.

I think it's a deal. Our first item.

-The thing we like is that you love it.

-I do love it.

-I like it.

-With a passion.

-It's beautiful.

-That's good. Gary, are you sure?

-Yes, go on.

Deal done, Reds. And both teams have bagged an item.

We're at the halfway mark, which is a good time to test our Blues' knowledge.

-What do you think of that piece there? The colours on that?

-That's beautiful.

You've got the mauve, the white and the green.

-Aren't those suffrage colours?

-They are the colours.

A suffragette piece of jewellery. So a code you'd wear. You'd wear it as a code to say,

-"I'm a supporter of..."

-You're definitely talking our language, so we need to have a look at that.

Now, if I could just get the Reds to take their bargain hunting seriously.

# If ever, oh ever a wiz there was... #

Well, Charles you've certainly got courage, that's all I can say.

You deserve a medal. Or at least a broach.

Do you know what they meant? You must've known what the colours mean?

-I don't know.

-White for...

-Purity.

-Purity.

Green for hope,

-mauve for dignity.

-Dignity.

What you have here, these are paste stones, they're coloured.

-The pearls are real?

-The pearls are real.

And normally the green would have been a demantoid garnet,

which is a very, very green garnet, which has a rich colour to it.

And the mauve is always an amethyst.

It's set in silver, and it's period, obviously, to the movement.

I think it's wonderful.

So it was only ever a broach, it was never set as a pendant?

No, only a broach to wear on the lapel.

-What was on that again?

-I could do that for 120.

-Possibility of a little bit more off?

-110 for the female cause.

And that is silver?

Silver, paste stones with pearls, what do you want to do?

-Because it's a suffragette piece.

-Yes.

-So there's always more value in that.

-Always more value.

-They do sell.

-They do sell.

-I love that.

-I say yes.

I think it's fabulous. I would wear that, every day of my life.

-We're going do it?

-Definitely. Definitely.

-I thought you'd like it.

A true badge of honour. There's no keeping those two down.

Now, let's see who's holding the purse strings on the Red team.

Oh, it's quite fun. I mean, it's not gold obviously,

-or silver or whatever.

-It wouldn't go for anything, would it, much?

-Well...

-But it's £79. What would you accept?

-50.

-50?

You'd have to buy it for less than that because it's got a hole in it and your money will fall out.

-Can you see?

-Oh, yeah.

-No. 30?

-If he would sell it to you for 30 quid, I would buy it.

-30?

-35.

No, it's got a hole, hasn't it?

-It's got a hole. It's damaged, isn't it?

-Let's have another think. Right.

-Let's move on.

-OK.

-We'll remember it.

Don't forget that. Tony says you can have that for 35 quid.

-It's only £35, Christine.

-It's got a hole.

-It's 30.

Uh-oh. Do I detect disagreement in the ranks?

-It is growing on me, I have to say.

-We've got ten minutes left.

-Yes.

You don't have to buy it now, but my suggestion is that when you're walking around there,

I will keep on my toes

-to sprint here and buy that off Tony.

-OK, right.

If you want me to.

Well recovered, Charles, but remember,

you still need to find two items.

Now, Helen and Lynne, you're near the end of the journey.

What final item are you planning to take with you?

That's very nice. That's a nice piece, isn't it?

-What do you think about that?

-I think that's lovely.

-A travelling case.

-Very unusual.

-This is something you would,

-travelling around the world, you wouldn't trust somebody's other cutlery.

-No.

-Is that gold-plated?

-Well, probably, yeah.

-I think that's quite fun, isn't it?

-That's lovely.

-What can that be?

58.

-I could do 50 on it.

-Think that's low enough?

-Can do 40.

-I can do 45.

It's like watching tennis, this.

-Go on, I think it's quite good, isn't it?

-Yes.

I do collect travel. So that would fit in with things I like, so...

-So, are we gonna buy it?

-Definitely. You happy with that?

-Very happy.

-Are you sure?

-Yes.

-You spotted it.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you, Thomas.

-Thank you.

Ah! Three items done, and we've got time to spare.

Not much time, Thomas.

We're in the final five minutes, and these Reds can't seem to see the wood for the trees.

-Girls, do you like those?

-Yes, I do.

They're silver, but I don't know where they were made.

-If they were Russian they'd be fab news. Enamel decoration around here.

-Mmm.

They've obviously got some age.

I should think they're 1880, 1890, probably.

What they used for, what's it used for?

They could be sort of pen trays, caviar dishes, or sort of like...

-Dishes, something like that.

-How much are they?

-Silver and...

-They're 120 the pair.

-Right, 120 the pair.

-I can actually move on those.

-Would it be cheeky to say 80?

-I'd do 90.

-90? That's the very best?

-Yes.

-Right, girls, we got very few minutes left.

-Mm-hm, yes.

You have got a pair of very attractive enamel and silver dishes.

Whence they come we do not know.

-Er, we have also got the little...

-Handbag.

-Handbaggy job.

-The purse.

-Purse.

-Yeah.

-And you need to buy two more items.

-Mm.

The purse did grow on me, but it's the damage that I didn't like on it.

Charlie, you have the patience of a saint. Saint Carlos.

-Yes, that's true, yes.

-I think we should go for those.

So what about that and the purse, then?

-I don't think we've got enough.

-Have we not got enough for that?

Yeah! Oh, yes, you could buy those for 90,

-you could buy the purse for 30, that's 120.

-Mm-hm.

We've spent 115, that's 235,

-gives me £65-worth of pure heaven.

-OK, shall we do that?

-I think we will do that.

-Yes.

-Happy?

-It's a deal.

-This is a Ross Campbell, don't shoot me.

-Very happy.

You can't relax yet. You still need to seal the deal on that purse.

I hope it hasn't been sold, for your sake.

-The purse is still there.

-That's lucky.

Time's up. Let's remind ourselves what the Red team bought.

Jane and Christine were dazzled by

this Victorian silver dressing table box,

and splashed out £115 to get it.

Then they took a fancy to the pair of enamel and silver dishes,

and hammered down the price to £90.

Finally they snapped up the Art Deco metal purse for £30.

-You must be some girls to wear out Charlie, I have to say.

-Absolutely.

-Which is your favourite piece?

-The silver jewellery case.

-Absolutely beautiful.

-Lovely. And will that bring the biggest profit?

I think it will. I think it will, yes.

-What did you spend all round?

-235.

-£235.

-I'd like £65 leftover lolly, please. How lovely is that?

-There we go.

So, Charlie, what are you going to buy, old boy?

I haven't got a clue, I'm so exhausted.

-I need half an hour to sit down and then I'll work it out.

-Fine.

On that happy note, why don't we shove off and see what the Blue team bought, eh?

The Blues loved the boldness of this green-glazed vase,

and took a chance on it, at £80.

The silver suffragette broach had their full support,

and they paid £110 for the cause.

They finished their bargain hunting

with this travelling knife and fork set, which set them back £45.

-Did you enjoy it?

-Fabulous.

-And how much did you spend all round?

-235.

-235.

-I would like £65 of leftover lolly, please.

-It just so happens.

You just happen to have it. You're so cute. There's the 65. And, Tom, what are you going to do with that, boy?

I'm going to buy something decorative and something which has influenced,

-influenced the Aesthetic period.

-Ooh.

That'll be popular. Well done, Tom. Good luck with that.

Meanwhile, why don't we go and have a look at a little something that I found a little earlier?

Here's a neat bit of leather work, look.

Look at that. A beautifully made attache case.

It's secured by an ingenious harsp,

which is opened, very unusually,

by depressing the little bar in the middle of the lock.

That undoes the flap, and hey presto, it opens out like a concertina.

You've got, in the middle, a travelling ink pot

that's got a sprung top to it,

so that when the ink's in it and you're on the move

and it's clicked shut, the ink won't come out.

You've got a dip pen.

You've got two pouches on either side,

and in the middle there's a compartment,

open that up, and it's got some steel nibs, look.

But what might it have been used for?

Well, it would've been taken by a general practitioner in the 1920s

or 1930s, around doing his house calls,

and he kept in those two pouches his prescription pads.

And because he couldn't write the prescriptions out in pencil,

in case anybody altered them, he had to do them in ink,

hence the travelling sprung inkwell.

As a medical collectable it's desirable.

It would cost you here today in Derby £40.

But, in a medical sale, I reckon it could bring you the top end of £150.

But the story doesn't finish there,

because here's another little leather circular box that I've found.

If I open it up it has a curious shaped silver device.

Lift the gadget out and you see it expands

to form a mini vessel.

It's meant to mix something in it,

hence the silver gilt-lined interior so it won't tarnish.

And then, having mixed the potion, you need to pour it out,

hopefully onto a spoon.

And from the spoon it goes straight down the patient's throat.

Because this is another piece of doctor's equipment.

But very special. It's hallmarked. For London, 1892.

So the late-Victorian doctor would've carried this about

as a part of his medical kit.

This thing is a bit more expensive. It would cost you here in Derby £140.

Still, you know what they say.

A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.

So, a couple of weeks later

and we're all back in Derbyshire for the auction.

How lovely it is to be six miles southwest of Derby

at Etwall, at Charles Hanson's sale room. Charles?

-Hello.

-Let's have a look at Jane and Christine's objects,

-which follow a familiar Charlie Ross pattern.

-Yes.

-If you ask me.

We've got ourselves an embossed little pin dish which came out of

-an Edwardian dressing table set of 20 or 30 pieces.

-Yes.

-And this is the survivor, right?

-It's a nice object.

You've got the embossed sea scroll, you've got the near Rococo style.

It is quite light, it is very tinny, but there's no splits, it's in good condition.

And it hasn't been engraved with a cartouche.

It's Birmingham, it's 1900, it's just a pretty box.

-How much?

-I can see it now making about... £75.

-That's a pity, because they paid £115.

-Oh, no.

Next is the pair of dishes, which are interesting, aren't they?

There's that word in the antiques business.

It's "speculative". What are they? Where have they come from?

And to be frank, I really don't know.

They are beautifully enamelled, they have that almost hammered silver finish.

-I don't know where they're from.

-Are they Russian? I wouldn't know. But somebody will try and work them out.

On that basis, they're gonna want to have a go.

-They've got mileage. I can see them motoring along quite happily.

-How much?

-Between 40 and £60.

-Gosh. You have to put your foot on the old accelerator there, Charles. £90 paid.

-Oh dear.

-Yes.

Lastly we've got this mesh bag, which looks slightly on the edge of Woolworths to me.

Tim, it's quite remarkable. We had, an hour before this object came into our sale room,

an Asprey's bag, almost identical in terms of being gold and enamel,

and worth maybe between two and £3,000.

-What, the real thing?

-The real thing. But it's got the jazz feel.

We mustn't forget, it's got that exterior look of being Art Deco.

It is just a bygone from almost 890 years ago,

-and it's quite sophisticated.

-All right, how much?

-Tim, my guide price is between 20 and £30.

-Fair enough.

-They only paid £30.

-Good.

It's these other two babies we've got the disparity with.

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

-Now, Jane, Christine, you gave the boy £65.

-We did, yes.

-What did he spend it on? Charles?

-I didn't spend all your money.

-Oh, right.

-I'll tell you that in a minute, but I bought quality, quality, quality.

-Ooh.

-It's a sugar shaker.

-Right.

It has a silver top, Birmingham, 1906,

but I particularly was drawn to this rather Deco shape of the body.

-And it cost £40.

-Right. OK.

-I loved the shape and I loved the quality.

The average shaker doesn't really do it for me, but I thought that was absolutely charming.

It's got a little dent in the top which I don't think's a problem.

So you've got quality glass, silver, and 1906.

-£40? Can't go wrong.

-Ooh.

-OK, that's great.

-It's nice, yes.

-So glass in good nick, Carlos?

-Absolutely, and that's key. If it had a chip or something I wouldn't have been interested.

-Right.

-Perfect glass, a bit of bruising to the silver.

-And what about the dint? Will that affect it?

-You can push that out. I don't think it's a problem at all.

-Right.

-Do you like it, Jane?

-I love it.

-How much profit is it going to make?

Er, it's going to make a profit of £15.

-15?

-Right, OK.

-There's a prediction for you.

-Good. Well, just relish the thought, girls.

-OK.

While we, for the audience at home, find out from the auctioneer whether he is quite as optimistic or not.

-There we go, Charles. A bit of sugar on your strawberries.

-It's a good shape, isn't it?

-Unusual.

It's a square, tapered cut, and it's Edwardian, it's 1906.

And you normally see that sort of lighthouse revived Georgian form,

but I like this because it's got that hint of the modernism about it.

It's got that practical purpose which serves its form and function.

-The glass isn't chipped.

-No, it's in good condition. The hallmark's crystal clear,

literally, on the silver. The maker, John Grinsell & Sons, Birmingham, 1906, and it's just quite unusual.

-I quite like it.

-Mm. OK, how much do you like it?

I like it and I would guide it between 30 and £50.

-OK, fine. Charlie paid £40.

-Good.

-I think the team would be quite safe to go with that.

-Yes.

-Lovely. We'll see what happens.

-Yes.

-First up for the Blues is this so-called Korean pot.

-Yes.

How do you rate that, Charles Hanson?

Tim, we can often become excited by Far Eastern artefacts,

particularly pottery and if it's Chinese and very early.

And, of course, the shape of this is almost going back

to the Chinese Yuan dynasty of the 13th or 14th centuries.

We only wish it was. I think what we've got here is probably a Korean copy.

And it could be 19th, it could be early-20th century.

-It's a bit mysterious.

-What's your estimate?

Tim, I think it is what it is, and I would hopefully see it,

-on a good day, making about £50.

-OK. £80 paid.

-OK.

Next is the suffragette broach. How do you rate that?

It's quite nice. It's a charming broach, obviously with the colours of the suffragettes.

It's pretty, Tim, it's of the period,

and it's a nice piece of social history.

-Lovely. How much?

-We saw one similar about two months ago.

-I think it made £100, Tim.

-Oh, did it?

-Yes, yes.

-So there is some hope then.

-There's hope.

-OK, next is the travelling fork and knife set,

which is quite nice, isn't it?

Tim, the reason I like the object is because it has a look about it,

and by that I mean it's that modern, stylish, Continental feel.

And they just are striking, and that's their value, Tim. They're striking, from a certain period.

OK, so how much do they strike you, value-wise?

Probably German, that sort of modernist feel.

My guide price would be between, I think it ought to make between 30 and £40.

-OK, fine. They paid £45.

-OK. So they could be slightly out there.

Slightly out with the knife and fork and the suffragette, and anything might happen with the Korean pot.

-It's quite exciting.

-I can't wait. It's a rollercoaster.

-In case it all goes wrong,

let's look at their bonus buy.

Now Lynne and Helen, this is your moment,

where Thomas Plant reveals all.

You gave him £65. What did you buy, Tom?

-I've bought this rather fine plate. Indian.

-Uh-huh.

North-western. It's called Bidriware.

This is going to be a pewtery sort of base here.

Quite heavy, but inlayed with this beautiful silver inlay in here.

-Gosh, look at that.

-It's simply beautiful.

-I did say I'd buy something which had influenced the Aesthetic period.

-Yeah.

This is 19th century, this may well be the same time as the Aesthetic period.

It's the kind of object that would've influenced them when they were designing things.

This would come over, they were probably producing a similar thing in the 18th century.

-This is 19th century, though.

-It's very nice.

-Is that going to be a problem?

Some clever soul would be able to certainly make one of these and slip it in there, I'm very sure.

Yes, it is a bit damaged, but if it wasn't damaged

-it would've cost me a lot more than the £50 I spent on it.

-£50.

-OK.

-Nifty fifty.

-It should make a small ten pound profit.

So these are collected? People do collect that type of ware?

What you've got to think about now is don't think about the traditional antiques market,

think about the new emerging economies which are buying back,

so yes, it's on the internet, hopefully somebody in India, or a couple of people, have seen this.

Or a client who buys for the Indian market.

Yes, there'll be some people hot to trot, I would hope, for that.

-Wouldn't you?

-I would hope so, definitely.

On the other hand, you may not need it at the end of all your stellar success

which we are about to witness, you may not need the bonus buy. How lovely is that?

-It's a nice thought.

-A lovely thought. Anyway, on that happy thought,

let's find out, for the viewers at home, what the auctioneer thinks about Tom's Bidri plate.

-Look at that, Charles.

-I was quite taken by this when I first saw it.

It's something which, again, like with the Korean vase,

it has potential, it has that Eastern promise.

It has the opportunity of doing quite well. I have no idea what it's worth, but buyers will speculate

-on this being something quite important.

-We've got the speculation. Give it your best shot.

-It could make up to £100.

-Could it really?

-Yes. We've had some interest in it.

-People wanting more detail on the condition in particular.

-Super. Thomas paid 50.

-Good.

-He's very canny, so, on that basis, he could be right, it could be a very good bonus buy.

-Can't wait.

-Just how excited are you?

-We're excited. Very excited.

-Very excited.

-Are you?

-Would you say you're easily excitable?

-Depends.

-Fairly.

OK, now, here we go, girls.

This really is wonderful. It's a Victorian silver rectangular dressing table box and cover.

Cast in the Rococo style, it was made in Birmingham in the year 1900.

I'm only bid here £35. It's solid silver. 45, 55, 65, 70.

Yes, yes.

-75, five.

-Go on.

-85.

-Yes!

-Go on.

-It's a wonderful box. At 85? One more.

-One more, one more.

85, 95!

-Go on.

-Go on.

-I know, one more, sir.

95? No, it's 90 on the front row with the lady. I'll take five now.

It's a wonderful solid silver box. One more?

-95?

-95.

-A bit more.

Fair warning. I'll take 95. It's a wonderful box for 90.

I'll take five, or we sell.

Going once,

-going twice, we sell for £90.

-HE BANGS GAVEL

-It's minus £25, but it could've been a lot worse.

-It could.

Come on, girls, face up to this. Now...

These are an interesting pair of hammered silver dishes.

They could be Bulgarian, they could be Russian,

probably early-20th century.

And I will start these at £40.

I'll take five now. Five, 55,

I've got 65,

I'm out. £65 I'm bid.

-Do I see 70 now? Who would like them.

-Uh-oh!

You're all out. At 65... 70!

-A new bidder, yes.

-Five!

Are you sure, sir? Well, thank you for coming.

70. I'll take five or we sell at £70.

-And we say sale.

-HE BANGS GAVEL

-We say sale but, sadly, £20 under.

-Yeah.

-Mark you, he only put 40 to 60, so that's...

-Maybe on the next one.

-Yes.

Minus £20, girls. You're minus 45. Now here comes your little bag.

Probably 1930s, full of that cocktail, Art Deco swagger.

And there it is. Bid me ten pounds.

Bid me a tenner. It's a really pretty bag, Art Deco.

Ten, 12, 15, 18, 20.

Two, five.

At £22, Miss Hornblower.

-I'll take five now. 22. I'll take five now.

-Come on, Miss Hornblower.

-One more do I see?

-Come up, come up.

At £22. We'll sell it, make no mistake, at £22.

-Going, going...

-HE BANGS GAVEL

-Gone!

-That is minus £8. Bad luck, girls. 45 is 50. That's minus 53.

Minus 53 I make it.

So what are we going to do about the caster, then?

-Oh, we're going to go for it.

-We're going to go for it.

-We're going to trust in you.

-Go for it.

-Yes.

-Definitely. We've got to.

-Yes.

-I wish you good luck, girls. Here it comes.

What a nice object. Where do we start with this?

I have got interest here, and I can start this at 25.

28, 32,

five, eight's my bid.

Do I see 40 now? 38, 42, five.

One more. 45?

And I'll be out. 45. Thank you.

I look for eight now. 45. I look for eight.

-48, 50.

-Yes.

-You've come so far, sir.

I will take 50 for it. 48 in the centre.

-50.

-THEY BOTH GASP

-Yes!

-A bit more, a bit more.

-51 more.

-Higher, higher.

60, sir.

One for the row and the aisle? He says no, and that means I'm out.

You're in the centre at £55. I look for 60.

Fair warning, we're in the centre.

We'll say sell. Thank you, sir. At £55,

all done, the phones are out, going, going, gone!

-HE BANGS GAVEL

-Well done.

-He's your man, isn't he? He's the man.

-Steady, girls.

Listen, isn't that good? Plus £15 on that, which is really helped you out,

because it's taken you from 53 to a 43, and it's taken you to...

..minus 43.

It's taken you to minus 38.

Thomas found you your Korean pot.

-The jury is out as to how old that is.

-Yes.

But I think it's a speculative buy at £80. It's a jolly good thing to have a go at. And here it comes.

Probably 19th century, could be a bit earlier, could be a bit later.

-However, I'm only bid £30. That's all I'm bid.

-Come on.

£30 I'm bid. Do I see £32? £30, it's a wonderful vase.

Who would like it? For £32?

Do I see it? It's got to go.

That's my bid, bid me two now. Surely one more?

Or well sell it. One more bid, surely?

£30 I'm bid. Two and I'm out.

I'll take five... if you would like it.

Make no mistake,

it's going to go at £32.

-Going, going...

-HE BANGS GAVEL

-Gone!

-That is minus 48. That's a hit.

Uh-oh. Now, suffragette broach.

Think back to Emmeline Pankhurst and the derby of 1913,

and that was girl power. And it really reflects a period,

and we say good morning to our buyers who are live in America.

For a phone bid. So a very good morning to our friends in America

who are bidding for this very nice suffragette broach.

Where do we start? And I'm, well, I'm bid here £25, 35, 40, 45, 50,

five, 60, five, 70,

I've got five, 80.

I'm out. £80 I'm bid now. Do I see five in the room? £85.

Think suffragettes, ladies,

85, 90, and what they stood for.

-90, five...

-Go on. Go, Charles.

-100.

-Go, Charles.

-Are you sure? Make it the big one.

100, 105.

-110...

-Yes!

105 I'm bid. We'll go over the pond

to the States. 110 in the States, please.

110, 120, 130, America.

130, 140, 150.

150? 150, 160.

One for the road. You're a London lady. 170.

170! I'm going to say to you, "come again."

180?! I've got 180. 190.

-He's a good auctioneer.

-180. I'll take 190.

What we say is fair warning.

We sell, in the room,

at £180. You're all out.

-America is not coming back.

-Out in the room.

-Going, going... It's yours. Well done, madam.

-£180!

-Good sale. There you are.

-Good. Well done.

It just goes to show, you trust your judgement and you'll be all right. You just made a profit of £70.

Isn't that marvellous? Look out, here comes the travelling knife and fork set.

Do I see £15?

15, 18, 20, and I'm out.

It's cheap. 20. I'll take two now.

22, five, eight.

-30.

-Look at him go.

-Are you sure?

-Go on!

-20 I'm bid. Do I see 30 now?

-It's really neat. 28.

-I don't believe this.

-32.

One more, sir. Madam, 30, yes? 32, sir.

No. The lady at 30, I'll take two.

Fair warning, the phones are out. Miss White, you're out this time,

and we sell to a lady at £30 and say going, going, going,

-gone!

-£30. You're minus £15,

you were plus 22, which means you are plus seven pounds.

Yes, that's £3.50 each. THEY BOTH LAUGH

Isn't that cool? Now, what are you going to do about the Bidri dish?

-What are we going to do?

-Are you going to leave it?

-Yes.

-Yes?

-Fair enough.

-OK, that's it. But I have to tell you, we're going to sell it anyway.

You paid £50, Tom. The auctioneer has rated it.

He thinks it's going to be worth at least £100.

You've decided not to go with it.

We're going to sell it anyway, and here it comes!

Probably early 19th century, and a real blast from the past.

I've got three bids on this,

and I can start Lot 220

with bids at £40.

Five, 50. Do I see five now?

Five, 60.

I've got 60, bid me five. You're out and I'm in.

60, bid me five. It's a wonderful thing.

Five, 70's my bid.

Five, you're in... and I'm out.

To a lady, at £75,

-bid me 80 now. One more do I see?

-£80. Well done, Tom.

One more. 85, 90.

-£90, Tom!

-I know you want it. Five.

-One for the road.

-Tom.

-Get stuck in.

-Girls.

-95, 100, sir.

How can we get it so wrong, girls?

95 I'm bid. Do I see one more?

Or we sell it to a lady.

It's going south, and we sell, all done, fair warning,

-at £95, and thank you very much.

-HE BANGS GAVEL.

-Plus £45, Tom. That's a lovely profit of plus £45.

-Sorry.

You lost your confidence,

but the suffragette broach made all that money.

Anyway, you are seven pounds up,

nobody is going to take that away from you.

-Just don't say a word to the Reds, OK?

-No.

Well, well, well, this is lovely, isn't it? There is one message from today's programme

to all you bargain hunters, and that is take notice of your experts,

who come up with bonus buys that are indeed profitable.

And some teams that do take notice of their experts with their bonus buys

manage, nevertheless, to be the runners up.

THEY ALL LAUGH

The Reds. You did follow your expert's advice

and you got £15-worth of profit out of him,

which is more profit than you made on anything else.

So you had to be grateful to old Carlos.

-Actually, your end number is minus £38.

-Yes.

Which is not such a shameful thing, I have to say.

-But you had a nice time?

-Oh, wonderful. Loved it.

You've been the greatest fun, thank you very much. But now for the winners,

who are going home with real money. They're going home with £7. There we go.

Had you taken your expert's advice you would be going home with £52!

But you decided that he was not up to mustard and therefore you weren't going to do his Indian Bidri dish,

-but it did work out all right, Tom, didn't it?

-It did work out.

So I congratulate you on that. Thank you, Tom.

In fact, join us soon for some more bargain hunting. Yes? 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.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd