Ardingly 1 Bargain Hunt

MUSIC: "La Marseillaise"

We have many reasons to thank the French. Apart from delicious wines and cuisine,

there's Louis Pasteur and, of course, Brigitte Bardot, to name but two.

And also, way back,

they gave us the origin of the English word "bargain",

without which today our teams would not have a clue.

So merci, la France.

And let's go bargain hunting. Yeah!

Today our contestants will be scouring the Ardingly International Antiques and Collectors' Fair

for three objets d'art with that little je ne sais quoi.

So what's in today's show? Well, here comes an aperitif.

I like a jugful, me.

Coming up, our teams are not going to be rushed into anything.

We'll think about it.

-Shall we mental note them?

-Mental note them.

We can have a think.

-Let's walk on, but mental note.

-But think.

-OK, OK.

Crikey Moses! But will indecisiveness come at a cost?

-We need some help. We're desperate.

-We're desperate! We are.

The pressure is on. The girls are struggling, I think.

Let's meet today's contestants.

So on today's programme we've got a team of friends - that's Gay and Jane.

-And for the Blues, a married couple, Sarah and David. Hello, everyone.

-Hello.

-Hello.

-Now, Gay, how is it that you two girls came to meet?

-We're ex-sister-in-laws, Tim.

-Are you?

-We've known each other for about 35 years.

-With mutual interests?

-Yes, shopping.

-Yeah.

-Definitely. Children. We're godparents to each other's children.

-And antique hunting.

-Well, that's lovely. And you spend a lot of time pampering pooches.

-I do.

I'm a dog groomer, Tim. I've done it for 14 years. I really enjoy it.

-Don't they ever bite?

-Yeah.

-They do. You're shaving their undercarriage and they don't want attended to

-in that department...

-The boys tend to stay quite still when you do it.

-I dare say they do! Do you use electric clippers?

-I do.

-Very sensible!

-And a thick pair of gloves.

-Yes.

-Now, Jane, you're a shopaholic for shabby chic?

-Yes, or anything.

-Clapped out?

-Yeah. That's what my husband says.

-Yeah.

I have to say you both have immaculate taste in glasses.

-Not only do you like to wear them in the right place, but you like to go for the zany colours.

-Right.

I think you'll do very well. You've got what it takes. Anyway, good luck.

-So, Blues...

-Yes.

-How are you both?

-Very well. Raring to go.

-David,

it says here you're a considerable collector who likes to get your eyeball on suitable objects.

-I do like to collect the slightly off the wall stuff. Eyeballs, ear trumpets...

-Seriously, eyeballs?

-Yes.

-How many eyeballs have you got in your collection?

-About 540.

-Do you like the blue eyes or brown eyes best?

-It's a tricky one, that.

I like blue. I prefer blue.

-They are beautifully made things.

-They used to be made of glass.

-Yes.

Then they made them into plastic. But the turn of the century ones made of glass are fantastic.

Yes. Exquisitely made.

-Now, Sarah, you are the next best thing to a Bond girl!

-Absolutely!

-You're better than a Bond girl.

-Tell us about that.

-Well, I was a stand-in for Judi Dench on the latest film, Skyfall.

-You weren't!

-It was only one day.

-But it was good fun.

-What a lovely lady to be a stand-in for.

-She was very nice.

-So are you likely to agree today, Sarah, about what to buy?

-I don't know. He'll go for quirky things.

-I'll try to find some quirky stuff.

-And I'll go for the pretty silver and glass.

-All the girly things.

-Girly things.

-This will be fun. Looking forward to it?

-Yes!

-Not half as much as us!

-Now £300 apiece. Here we go. Here's 300 smackers.

-Thank you.

You know the rules. Your experts await. And off you go! Good luck!

I'm going to keep an eye on this, I tell you.

Today's experts also have their eyes peeled for bargains.

For the Red team, a lady with a lot of know-how under her bonnet. It's Kate Bliss.

And on the Blue side is debonair man-about-fair Charles Hanson. Oh, yes.

-David and Sarah, I kid you not. This hour could change your life.

-Really?

-I'm being serious.

You only need one big find.

-We like shopping.

-Who's the best bargainer?

-I think Jane is, really. Jane's more used to it.

David, you're an oddball man in terms of collecting.

-I like something different. A bit of excitement.

-Excitement is quirkiness and quirkiness means great value.

-Does it? I hope you're right, Charles.

-We could be quids in.

-That would be good, wouldn't it?

-I'm looking forward to it!

-Yes, absolutely.

That's it. Who'll get the first buy and make the opposition green with envy?

What's this?

Oh, yeah, that's nice.

Do you know what I like about it? I love this.

-It's like an early celluloid coating. Do you know what it's simulating?

-Tortoiseshell?

-Close.

-Seal?

-Crocodile?

-Well, you're even closer.

-It's actually shark skin.

-Oh!

And it's called shagreen. It was used a lot,

late 19th century, early 20th century, in the Art Deco period,

particularly for little accoutrements like this, compacts, cigarette cases, trinket boxes.

-It looks a bit Faberge.

-Well, it was very expensive. It's such an exotic material.

This is why it's used here in a much more affordable way, simulated. They copied the texture

-with this little bubble effect. The price says 18.

-We'll think about it.

-We can always come back.

Thanks so much for your help.

There's only so much thinking time available, girls. 55 minutes to go and they'll fly by, believe me.

This is what the market likes, David. For that early indication of what is full of eastern promise.

It's this sort of stool here. Hardwood, a marble inset top.

It's probably Chinese, probably circa 1880, 1890. And it's very heavy as well.

Well, quite heavy. ..Thank you. There we are.

Give or take 40 years. The dealer will tell you otherwise. Thanks, mate(!)

-Well, what's 30 or 40 years between friends, Charles?

-And at 195, that's not a bad price.

-Really?

-That sort of thing we should look for? OK.

-Isn't your interest eyeballs? Is it only eyeballs?

Not entirely eyeballs! Any medical equipment will do.

-Is it your profession or...?

-No, I'm just slightly odd.

That's good, mate. Put it there. We're two of a kind here.

And odd is meat and drink to Bargain Hunt. You're very welcome, David.

-What have you got, girls?

-I think it's Lalique.

-Oh, Lalique. She knows her stuff.

-Well...

-Lalique's known for this opalescent stuff.

Opalescent figurines and mascots were things he was really good at.

Just looking for the name here, we've got Jobling's Opalique here.

So it's in the same vein as Lalique, but not the same sort of quality.

-Sweet. Two little lovebirds.

-She's got two budgies, you see!

-I would say with the damage that's probably enough money.

-£20?

-Well, not quite that low.

-No?

But lower than that. Some people just won't buy figurines that are damaged. It's just a no-no.

-So you're cutting down your market.

-If that was perfect, I'd go for it.

Let's see if we can find another one!

I think you'd have to be bird-brained to plump for those, girls.

-What's that box used for?

-It's a bloke box.

-To put keys in?

-I think...

-Pens?

-..that's probably a glove box.

-Do you?

-Is it?

-Not so blokey then, eh?

-What I quite like is the strapwork.

-That's nice.

-Very late Victorian.

Very grand. But the box is very slender, so it would be a late Victorian or Edwardian

lady's oak and brass inset glove box.

-So what was it?

-£20.

-20.

-I mean, isn't that cheap for what it is?

-What's the best you can do on this?

-First rule, Charles - never say it's cheap in front of a dealer.

-< He's just told you it's cheap.

-Yes! I'm sorry about that. I'll walk away.

-He doesn't know what he's talking about.

-Charles, you're slipping.

-It's cheap.

-We'll think about it.

-I'll go beat him up.

-Come on!

-Thank you very much.

One to think about, maybe.

And while the Blues see red, the Reds are discovering a penchant for green.

What about these, girls? You said a bit of jewellery, but this is for a gent, cufflinks.

Gents' jewellery. Quite striking.

-I like the colour.

-You like it? Now what you've got to look for on little things

are, essentially, what they're made of. Look at the materials to ascertain what price they'll be

and what they're worth. I'm looking at these and we have got a mark on there.

Russian, I think. And they're silver gilt as opposed to gold.

But what you've got here is beautiful green enamelling.

So very striking. Comes with a nice old box.

I think those are rather nice. Now the bad news is they're £120.

-That's a lot of money for something that's not pure gold.

-True,

but they are Russian. The Russian market at the moment is very buoyant.

They really want to buy their stuff back at the moment, so that's a good thing.

-Let me see if there's any leeway on the price.

-OK.

I wouldn't pay 120, though.

-More like 80. 80?

-You don't want much, do you?

-OK, the very best is 90.

-Yeah?

-Do you want to put them back for 10 minutes?

-We can have a think, can't we?

-Yeah, definitely.

-I do think they are nice.

-They are nice.

-OK, let's keep going.

That's another thing put by. Your backburner is looking chock-a-block, Reds.

-I'm just admiring your handsome bookcase/cupboard. What do you think?

-Doesn't do a lot for me.

-Does it not?

-Do you like it? It's a bit heavy.

-Not particularly. It's interesting.

-But it's quite a big piece.

Crikey. Are you going to carry that all the way to the auction, Charles?

-Where did it come from?

-From a stately home.

Stately home! It has pedigree! It has pedigree!

-Probably the price as well!

-Chinese?

-Yeah, Oriental.

-What are we talking age-wise? '20s? '30s?

-Probably '30s.

-'30s. How much is it?

-It would be 100.

OK. And just also, in observation, you've got the little sideboard that goes with it.

-65 on that.

-Thank you. We'll come back. Follow me, I want a chat.

-Yes, OK.

If that was going to the right saleroom with that delightful little small sideboard dresser,

-add it up - 165 for the two.

-Yeah.

-This business is about speculating.

-If that was in the right sale, I would guide that at £300-£500.

-Would you? Would you?

-Let's walk on, but mental note.

-Think, think.

-OK.

-All right, OK.

Both these teams seem to have got browsing off to a fine art.

Now how about the art of actually buying something, eh? We're halfway through the shop.

I don't know. You think it's all right? It's going OK.

I'm panicking a bit. We've had half an hour so far and we're not quite working

our respective strengths of sorting the wheat from the chaff.

We're halfway through. We haven't really found anything to purchase. The girls are struggling, I think.

-Hard.

-Very hard. Yeah, it's surprising how hard it is, actually.

-Yes.

-We've seen a couple of things, but nothing that will wow.

It's much easier when you're watching it on TV. More difficult here.

-Good luck, I say. Good luck.

-Yes, indeed.

30 minutes and three items each. Good luck with that!

Don't stop, Reds! Go green...again.

You know we were talking about shagreen? This is the real stuff.

-Can you see the difference there?

-Yeah.

-Lovely green colour.

That does fade in sunlight, but you can feel the texture of it with your fingers.

Inside, it's a cigarette case.

-I think it's probably... We haven't got any marks.

-Could it be a card holder now?

You could. Little business cards, perhaps. It is English, yes.

We haven't got any hallmarks, so it's not gold or silver gilt. That's all we've got.

-But it's shark?

-Yes. That's the shark skin, the shagreen. It's a shame it's not marked.

-It depends on the price. What can you do it for?

-30 quid.

-30? It's not silver gilt. It's not marked.

-No, it's not.

-Not hallmarked. Shame.

-15?

-25.

-What do you think, girls?

-Too much.

-What's your rock bottom?

-20.

-20. What do you think, girls?

-I think that's fine for 20.

-Do you like it?

-Yes.

-Yes, I do.

-I think for 20 it's pretty good.

-It'll stand a bit of a chance and we are under pressure, girls.

-Exactly!

Surely you can squeeze out £20.

-We ought to go for it.

-Done. £20. Thanks very much.

Anything else you fancy here?

Thank goodness, Reds! How about you, Blues? Any danger of a purchase here?

-That's nice. Quite modern, though.

-It is.

-In that swanky, Art Deco, Clarice Cliff style.

What I do quite like are those plaques. Pretty, aren't they?

-Yes, they are.

-A bit outdated, but look at this feel, eh?

-Yeah, yeah.

-It's a velvet finish.

-Like your jacket.

-Exactly, David.

-Good.

-How much are they?

-40, then. At an absolute push.

-Is that the death?

-It really is.

-I just think they're quite charming, but they are, like me, a bit outdated.

-Don't be silly!

-No, I am.

-Oh, stop fishing for compliments, Charles!

-We've got to think commercial.

-Well, that's it. If they'll sell.

-I just feel we might find something...

-Shall we mental note them?

-Mental note. Thank you.

Crikey, Blues! Your notes are driving me mental.

Have you forgotten about that Chinese piece of furniture?

The Reds have one under their fleeces. Will this be number two?

-Gay's on the case. Watch out.

-Is this the one you liked?

-Yes.

-What do you like about that?

-Most inkwells and desk stands are masculine. I think that's feminine.

-I'd be quite happy to have that on my desk.

-Would you?

-I like that.

-Very pretty.

-Let's have a closer look. A little inkwell there.

-A lovely decorative crescent moon here with your bird sitting on it. It tells a bit of a story.

-Yes.

-I'm not sure about the date.

-OK.

-It's also £70. Quite a chunk of our money.

-Yes.

-Let's just have a confab because we've seen the cufflinks. Don't forget the cufflinks.

-Yes.

-We saw those at £90.

-I like those.

-That's it, Kate. No more mooning about. Let's get down to haggling.

You wouldn't come down to 40?

-No, that's the death.

-You do really like this, Gay?

I do. It's unusual. It's quite feminine.

- You wouldn't do 50? - I won't, no. First time out. It's got to be 60. Sorry.

- 55, please! - Can't do it.

-What about 58?

-58.

-Happy, girls?

- Shall we? Go on, yeah. - That £2 will make a difference.

-Go on. Done.

-Done deal!

Cor! That £2 clincher, eh? Well done, Kate.

Full marks. Nice glasses. Now, Blues, please tell me you're closer to a purchase.

-We're almost down to the proverbial wire.

-We need help. We're desperate.

-We are! We are!

-I like...

-That. Are you looking at that?

-Yes. It's a lovely sampler, David.

-How old is it?

-It's titled Virtue. It's like what we need now.

"Virtue is the chiefest beauty of the mind, the noblest ornament of human kind."

We're struggling. A young girl would have stitched this to show off her needlework

in the early 19th century.

-What else is there? I like the picture frame.

-With Queen Victoria? That's nice.

-Sir, over here. Oh, sorry.

-Don't wreck the joint, Charles.

-It's got some damage.

-How much is it?

That's 65. It's got some damage.

-What's the best price?

-It should be nearer 60, to be honest.

-It's hallmarked?

-1903, I think.

-It is. It says London, C.

-It hasn't got a thing at the back.

-It's missing its back as well.

-Would you take £40 for it? Cash.

-I'll take 45 cash.

My, we're struggling. This poor frame has a few holes.

It's missing its strut back. It's tired. Our time is almost up. We've bought nothing!

-It's £45 and you've got minutes to go.

-£45.

-You're serious?

-Well...

-Charles!

-Look at me! David, look at me.

-Team...

-This is the dullest thing I've ever seen. This is so boring!

-Well, thanks for coming(!)

-No, no! Let's see some serious stuff.

-£40 for it?

-Ever seen a grown man beg?

-Oh, go on, yes.

-I say take it!

-David, we'll take it.

-All right.

-Look at me.

-We bought something!

-You haven't yet, Sarah.

-£40?

-I think it's quite ghastly. Quite ghastly.

-It's almost for me a panic buy.

-Get it bought. Let's do it.

-OK.

-We'll take it. £40.

-Done.

-Oh, Charles, you're so masterful when you want to be!

On the other side of the hall, the Reds have gone back for their green, maybe Russian, cufflinks.

-Good news, girls. They're still there.

-Good.

-Do you still like them?

-Yes.

£90 it's got to be, girls. We have roughly five minutes. What do you think?

-I think we'll go for it.

-Yeah.

-Happy?

-Yeah.

-OK.

-Good decision!

-Yeah, OK.

-Great! Three items!

-Thank heavens! How are you feeling?

-I'm glad we've done it!

-I was panicking. I thought we were going to struggle.

-YOU were panicking?

Er, speaking of panicking...

-We need some luck.

-We do, we do.

-We need friends.

-Please.

-Come on.

-What about that? I know these things make money at auction.

-Chinese.

-Chinese perfume.

-It's a bit speculative.

Look at this, look at this. Do you know what it is?

-A lighter. I like it.

-Isn't that unusual?

-Come on, Blues, focus!

-What's that?

-How much is this?

-£80 for that.

-Charles?

-Chinese silver.

-Lovely, isn't it? And I suppose... What would this date to? 1900?

-1900, absolutely.

-That's quite good.

-- What's the best you can do? - £80 is the best.

-- No, the VERY best. - That IS the very best.

-I'd like to definitely buy that,

but while we're on this nice stand of silver, look at some other bits that we can put with it.

A nice bridge box. For bridge. Solid silver.

-It's a nice piece. 150 for that.

-Oh.

-That's a good box as well.

This man could be our salvation. This is London hallmarked. It would date to the Edwardian period.

It's probably circa 1900, 1910.

And you can see it's beautifully mounted with your calling cards,

-with your, maybe later, pencils and pens.

-Yeah.

-And it's a lovely box.

-Yeah.

-It's amazing how an hour can end.

-We end up with a Chinese box and a bridge box.

-A bridge box.

-Well, we could do.

-We could do.

We have three minutes left, mate.

-220 the two. 80 and 140.

-We're running spectacularly short of time here.

- Is that the very best? - The very best.

-Would you go for 120?

-No.

-Please!

-120. Look at him.

-Look at the state of my wife!

-I'm in a terrible state.

-It's not this poor chap's fault.

-He's a hard man.

It's been a really hard hour. These are the best items we've seen. I really mean that.

-20 seconds. >

-Is that what we're going to do? Done.

-Done. 220.

-Deal.

-Deal.

-Thank you.

-Well done.

-Done. 220.

-Life's too short.

-I'm exhausted!

-I'm going to lie down now.

-I need a drink!

-I'll get you a cup of tea.

It's amazing how one can age five years in the space of an hour. Well done, Blues.

Well, doesn't time fly at Ardingly?

The hour is up. Let's check out what the Red team bought.

The Reds got off the mark with this shagreen cigarette case, paying £20.

Gay then spotted this desk stand and it cost them £58.

Finally, they couldn't resist these green cufflinks and snapped them up for £90.

-So how much did you spend?

-168.

-I'd like £132 of leftover lolly, please.

OK, I trust you. I won't even check it. I'll hand it over to KB.

-What are you going to spend that cash on?

-I haven't got a clue yet.

-Haven't you?

-No. I've got my homework cut out!

I know. They know what they like.

I'd better get on with it.

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

The Blues DIDN'T buy this table, glove box, furniture, porcelain paintings or cigarette lighter.

No, instead, in the last five minutes they grabbed a silver picture frame,

a Chinese silver box for £80

and a silver bridge cards box for £140.

Wow!

And you spent, in toto, what?

-£260.

-That is a very good number. So £40 of leftover lolly, please.

Thank you very much. That's good.

-A little roll for you, Charles.

-A small roll. We had a really hard shop.

-Yes.

-And we bought fairly normal things.

-I beg your pardon?!

-Aren't they all special?

-They are, Tim, what they are.

-While you're ahead, mate,

trot off with the £40 and very, very, very good luck.

So while our experts head out there to chase those elusive extra bonus buy items,

I'm going to show you something that I found earlier. This could be a stitch-up.

If you're keen on needlework or collecting objects connected with needlework,

you'll just adore these two.

Now this, on the face of it, looks like a piece of tortoiseshell.

Actually, it's a very thin sliver of iron

that's been flattened, but what is it?

Well, the secret to its use for a needle person is in all these dents running along the edges.

Because in the 18th century you didn't go to the shop and buy a bobbin of silk cotton.

What you did was to buy a skein of it and it's all tangled up.

You'd untangle it and wind the silk between those two cut points around the edge

all ready to take a short length off to do whatever work you needed to do.

A rare object.

How much? Well,

believe it or not, this could be yours for £475.

Wow.

But what's this thing sitting next door? Well, if we scroll forward a cool century,

to something like 1840 or 1850,

it's designed to make the needle worker's job easier

and each of these parts has a purpose. This bobbin-like object is covered in wax and ridges

because its purpose is to wax thread for a certain type of needleworking.

Next door is a very similar bobbin-looking object and if I draw it out

it's a little silk tape measure. How sweet is that?

Next door to that is a similar bobbin concealing

the sweetest little miniature pincushion.

And in the middle, well, this unscrews like this

and inside is revealed another pincushion.

How brilliant is that? All that skill in turning all these individual components,

all of which are in perfect condition, add up to a premium price for this sewing accessory.

£450.

So £925 sitting there on the table. You know what they say -

a stitch in time saves nine. Now what's going on over at the auction?

80. Five.

85 for the paintings. All done. And selling at 85.

We trotted a few miles - I don't know how many - down the 272

from Ardingly to Wisborough Green to be at Bellmans saleroom with the lovely JP.

-Thank you, Tim! What an intro!

-Lovely. Super, JP.

-For the Reds today we've got the shagreen-covered cigarette case.

-Yeah, shagreen's very popular,

but it's a cigarette case, which is a little negative thing and it's got to be very small,

a cheroot or something. You'd have to find an alternative use. And it's a base metal.

-I don't suppose they paid much, though.

-£20.

-And I thought £20-£30 would be a sensible estimate.

That IS a sensible estimate. They'll think so, I think so, you think so.

And that's most of the programme taken up. Next up is the inkstand.

-Here we've got a delightful tit.

-And you're saying it's a tit because...?

-It looks like a blue tit.

-They don't come out at night. I've called it a nightingale.

-A nightingale?!

-Yes.

-That doesn't look like a nightingale!

-Well...

-What's it worth?

-£40-£60.

-OK. £58 they paid. So they're in the frame. Next are the Russian cufflinks.

You've had a good bird's eye at these. Give us your lowdown.

-The mark is for around 1912.

-Is it? There's no way they're Faberge?

-Absolutely not!

-That's that parked.

-But they are good quality. Silver gilt, nice enamel, no damage.

-For a gift, quite a nice buy.

-Yes. How excited are you as far as the estimate is concerned?

-I've put £40-£60 on them.

-How much?

-£40-£60.

-For the pair?

-Yes.

-And the box?

-Yeah. What did they pay for them?

£90. And they think that's pretty cheap. It all hangs on the cufflinks today. And if they fail,

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

You gave Kate Bliss £132. She's rather good at this, I have to say.

-What did you spend the £132 on?

-Well, I know you ladies like good-looking objects

so I went for something very decorative, but also practical, of course.

It is a barometer. There it is. With its ceramic dial in the centre there.

And, of course, this lovely brass embossed surround. Pretty eye-catching, I think.

-I really like that. Really.

-Jane, grab it, darling, and hold it and feel it and love it.

-How much did you pay?

-I actually spent £40 on this.

-That is really good.

-I would hope it might make £50 and a little bit more.

-Jane?

-More.

-I'd pay more for it.

-Yeah, I like that.

-Well done, girls. You don't have to take it. You may decide later,

but for the viewers at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Kate's barometer.

-Feel the pressure rising, JP?

-Through the roof. A fair chance?

Good. But I tell you, it is a very D-U-LL object, isn't it?

Well, this is very traditional, the interior. It's quite decorative.

-Yes, it is.

-It has a hue of the English art nouveau.

-What's it worth?

-£30-£50, I'd say.

-OK. Kate Bliss paid £40 and, who knows,

she might get out of trouble with it. That's the Reds. Now the Blues.

Bit of a theme going on here - silvery.

-Queen Victoria-filled frame.

-In good condition, they're sought after.

This one, sadly, has been polished quite a lot and certain areas have little bits showing through.

-Not in the best of condition. People might say it's "honest".

-Yes! That's a lovely expression.

-So what's the estimate?

-I've put £30-£40.

-OK. £40 paid.

-Now Charles went with a rectangular box.

-You couldn't have a more English box, from circa 1900.

-Fine.

There's a certain silver value, practical use, decorative value. £60-£80.

Charles will be happy. He paid £80. Now the bridge cards.

-That's a grand set, isn't it?

-That is a very smart set. Absolutely.

Gray and Co is the manufacturer. They produced wares that would be retailed through places like Asprey's

-to that sort of high-end society. A well-respected firm.

-So how much?

-I'd say £70-£100.

-Is that all?!

-It's a good estimate.

-You meanie.

-It gets people interested.

-£140 they paid.

I've seen those things priced up at £300 in fairs. OK, super.

Well, that's it. If that box doesn't do well, they'll need their bonus buy, so let's have a look at it.

So, S&D, Sarah and David, this is exciting. Charles Hanson has prepared something rather special.

-I have.

-With £40, what did you go for, Carlos?

-It cost me half price.

£20. It's not Rest in Peace, but auctions like sleepy objects.

Sleepy objects in this.

-We were put in that!

-You were, darling.

-Do you like it?

-I like that.

-Yes, I do.

-Is that for a baby or a doll?

-I don't know. Being in sleepy Sussex, an upmarket county,

they want novel items for their dogs. It could be a little lapdog bed. It could be a little kennel.

And I just feel it was cheap and it's the ideal object to make money with.

-£20 you paid?

-£30, Tim. Do you like it?

-This could save us if it all goes horrible wrong.

-It's all vision, isn't it, Charles?

-Tim, vision is the future of making antiques more collectable.

-That's your mantra and you stick to it, Charles.

-I like that.

-Why not?

For the audience at home, let's find out how much the auctioneer loves Charles' little bed.

-There you go, JP.

-Look at that.

-Lovely. Looks comfy.

When I first thought it, I thought it was a fire basket!

But it's a little child's doll's cot. It's got a little bit of age.

I think probably it's 100 years old or thereabouts.

-And wrought iron is a bit of fun.

-How much?

-£20-£40. Not a lot, but it might make more than not a lot.

OK, fine. I think that's clear, JP.

-Charles paid £20.

-Fair enough.

-It's cheap enough.

For £20, the thing is perfect. On that happy note, we'll await your arrival on the rostrum. Thank you.

I shall sell it for £150.

All done, fair warning. £150.

-Now, Gay, Jane, how are you feeling?

-Quite confident.

-It is absolutely perishing in this space!

Thank goodness we're all wrapped up. The coldest saleroom I've been in!

-Feeling confident?

-Yes.

-Good.

First up is the shagreen cigarette case and here it comes.

OK, Lot 2065, 1930s shagreen cigarette case of rectangular outline.

Someone start me at £30 for this. Let's start at 30. 30 bid.

-Far left at 30.

-Gosh!

-Where's five?

£30 is bid. 35 on the net.

40. Against the internet now. 40. Internet, are you coming in?

-45. And 50.

-Look at this!

55? Shaking her head now. It's 55 in front now. At 55.

Any more at £55? Internet bid. £55. Fair warning. Selling. £55.

-Yes!

-55.

-Plus £35.

-Good start, girls.

Lot 2066,

a silvered bronze and black marble inkstand.

It's got a little crescent moon and what looks like a nightingale.

-- Nothing like it!

-Rubbish!

-- Possibly a tit!

£40 to start me. Nice little lot, this. Where's 40?

£40 in the room. At 40. Where's five?

Got 40 in the room. 45. 50.

-50 has it.

-It's no money.

-55.

60.

-Shakes his head again.

-You're in profit. That's marvellous.

Fair warning. I'll sell at 60.

-Oh!

-Listen, you got £2 plus on that. Very good. Two profits in a row.

A nice lot, this. A pair of Russian silver and green enamel cufflinks.

Circa 1912. So start me at...£60 for these.

Start me at £60 for these.

-Lovely cufflinks for £60.

-Russian.

30, then. Got to be worth £30, easily. There's 30.

£30 on the right. 35 in the room.

- 40. 45. 50. - Come on...

-55. 60.

-Go on.

65. 70.

-Oh, come on.

-Ssh!

75. 80.

The internet. It's probably in Russia.

£80 on my right. Anyone else? Last chance. I will sell at £80.

Fair warning, everyone. £80.

Oh, dear. £80 is minus £10. That is bad luck.

You are still plus 27 smacks.

So what are you going to do? Are you going to preserve your profits at £27

or have a punt on the barometer?

-I like it.

-Yeah.

-You like it?

-We like it.

-Don't ask me!

-Yeah, we like it. We really like it.

-You're going with the bonus buy.

-Lot 2071. Start me...

Someone start me at £30. £30? There's £30 at the back of the room.

Thank you. At 30. 35 now. 40. 45. 50.

-You're in profit. Well done, girl.

-60 at the back of the room.

Five anywhere else? Any more at 60? Fair warning at £60.

Are we all done? Last chance. At 60 and selling.

Yes! Good, good. £60.

That is plus £20.

-Well done.

-Well done, Kate Bliss.

Plus 47 is your score.

That's a very respectable amount of money. You've done very well.

Don't tell the Blues a thing. Zip. All will be revealed in a moment.

-Thank you very much. Well done, Kate.

-Not bad.

-Well done!

-Now David, Sarah, do you know how the Reds got on?

-No.

-Not a clue.

-We don't want you to. Are you worried, David?

-No.

-I'm ready for it.

-Got your shoulders organised? Sarah, you all right?

-Yes, fine.

-When you say fine like that, you look slightly shifty.

-Terrified.

-I'm very happy.

-Are you? Let's hope we can do something to warm you up.

-The first item is your silver arched photo frame.

-Lot 27,

we have an Edwardian silver arched rectangular photo frame.

I can start at...£20. With me at £20.

Surely worth more. 25. 30.

-35. 40. 45. 50.

-Yes. You're in profit. Well done, team.

55. Paid 40.

£55. I'll sell. Fair warning at £55.

-Plus 15. Now the Shanghai box.

-Lot 2088. Chinese.

Silver rectangular trinket box.

I've got 30. I'll take five. 35 and 40. 45. 50.

-Where's the other five? Against you all at 50. With me.

-I'm feeling bad about this.

-£50. Commission bid. Fair warning. Selling. £50.

-Dear, oh, dear.

That is minus 30. You're minus 15.

Look out. Bridge cards box. This has got to get stiffened up.

-Nice quality object. Interest with me to start at £80.

-Quite right.

-85.

-90.

-Keep going.

-£90. It's still at 90. One more?

I've got a commission at £90.

-Cheap.

-Selling at £90.

-I can't bear this.

It's done. It's happened. £90 is minus £50,

which means overall you're minus £65.

-What are we going to do about this doll's bed?

-Go for it.

-We've got to go for it.

-Every other prediction's gone up the spout!

So why not have one here, eh? Good move, team.

We're going to go with the doll's bed and here it comes.

Starting here. Someone start me at £40 for this.

£20, then. There's 20. Thank you. At 20.

-25.

-30...

-Go on. One more.

£25. Where's 30?

At £25 on the right.

All done at £25? I'll sell.

Well done, boy. £25 is plus £5. No shame in that.

Overall, it's minus six zero.

All right? Go out looking confident. Go out looking brave.

Don't say a word to those Reds, all right?

And particularly don't cry!

-Right then, you 'orrible lot. Have you been chatting?

-No.

-No communication about scores?

-We don't have losers any more. Only runners-up. And the runners-up today are...the Blues.

-Oh, no!

By a very significant margin!

It started so beautifully with that £15 frame.

I'm not going to dwell on this, but it went down the old proverbial. Staunched the losses at minus 60.

But you have been a fabulous team. I hope you've enjoyed it.

-Loved it.

-Very much.

-Thank you for coming.

But the victors today go home with folding money.

-They go home with £47!

-Thank you!

-Here's the 47 smackers. Good feeling, eh?

You started off brilliantly. £35 off that miserable shagreen and plated...

Well, it was a glorious object! It was great, wasn't it?

Gosh, we got excited. Loved it.

-Anyway, join us soon for some more bargain hunting. Yes?

-YES!

I know you're sitting there thinking, "I could have done better than that!" 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