Hungerford 12 Bargain Hunt

Today we're in Hungerford, a historic town in love with antiques.

They're everywhere! So let's go bargain hunting.

Legend has it that Hungerford is so called after one Hingwar,

a vicious Danish warrior,

who invaded these parts and died around here.

He was also a Berserker,

which meant he rushed around roaring his head off, literally going berserk. Get it?

Let's hope that our teams today don't go berserk in all these arcades.

Here's a quick glimpse of their warlike tactics. Oh, yes.

When it comes to haggling, the Reds let their hearts rule their heads.

-Would they go to 19?

-I'll have to ring them.

-Is it worth it for £1?

Sorry, I want it.

-But the Blues turn the screw to get the best price.

-Think we could squeeze it under 20? 19?

Then if it goes for 20, we make £1.

Well, let's meet today's teams.

Lovely jubbly. We've got two cute couples on show today.

For the Reds, we have Melanie and Tom.

-And for the Blues, Tim and Amanda. Hello, everyone?

-Hi, Tim.

-Now, Melanie...

-Hi.

-You have a very rewarding job. Tell us what it is.

-I'm a clinical embryologist in an IVF lab.

-You're not!

-I am. I've been doing that for 15 years.

-So how many of these embryos do you deal with in a typical month?

-In a month? Oh...

-Thousands, probably, in a month.

-Do you?

-We probably deal with about 800-1,000 cycles in a year.

-And each one producing maybe 10 eggs.

-Good Lord! That's a lot.

-There's a lot of this going on.

-There certainly are.

-It also says you're a bit of a daredevil.

I have been partial in the past to a bit of abseiling, a parachute jump and some acrobatic flying.

I think it'll be wing walking next.

Making a profit on Bargain Hunt might give you an adrenaline rush if we're all really lucky. Good.

-Now, Tom, you're a primary school supply teacher.

-Yes.

-You have an unusual pastime - stitching.

I have done embroidery for many years. My mother is a textile teacher.

She got me into it. I did some of my own designs. Now I mainly do kits for new-born children in our family.

-How many children have you got?

-Two of our own, but we have an extended family across the world.

-I'm about three children behind. Some are six years old that I'm still trying to catch up with.

-Good!

-Do you have any tactics in mind?

-Spend as much as we can and leave our expert with as little as possible.

You'd like to spend as much as you can. Good. We'll see! Good luck today on Bargain Hunt.

-Meanwhile, Amanda...

-Hello.

-You met Tim on a most auspicious day.

-It was a full eclipse of the Moon.

-A bit dark, then?

-It was. We went out for the evening, set up by a mutual friend.

I had a spare room and Tim needed a room to rent. She thought we could possibly work out an arrangement.

-It worked out better than we thought!

-You certainly worked out an arrangement! The rest is history.

-You're a champion of real ale.

-Yes.

-Tell us.

My uncle bought a kit back in 1979 and we've re-used it, passed it down through the family

and brewed some of our own.

-Good. It's good fun and very good for you.

-That's what I say!

-Tim, you've had some career changes, haven't you?

-I have.

I spent 12 years as a serving police officer until 2010 when I decided I'd like a change of career,

so I left there and I currently do two jobs - I work as a youth worker

and I work for the Dogs Trust charity as a canine carer. I see it as a vocation,

apart from 8am when all the dogs are crying out to be fed. It can get a bit noisy, but I love my job.

-How lovely to be paid doing that.

-I do enjoy it.

-Great. Brilliant.

What is your joint plan of campaign for today's show?

Tim does a lot of antique collecting. He likes a lot of Japanese or Oriental-type stuff,

-so we might look for that.

-Going to spend all your cash or harbour it?

-No, we're going to harbour it!

-OK.

Anyway, this is the cash moment. £300 apiece, there you go.

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

Guiding our teams today we have two eminent experts.

Steering the course for the Reds, it's Colin Young.

And keeping a handle on the Blues, it's James Braxton.

Right, teams, better get started. You've got just one hour to buy three items with your £300.

-What are we looking for?

-I've got a passion for Japanese porcelain.

-And Amanda?

-I like small, unusual silver pieces. Something like that.

-So Tom, Melanie, looking forward to this shopping experience?

-Looking forward to getting out of the snow!

Never mind the weather, Reds, it's the antiques we're interested in.

-This is one for you, Tim. Everything Japanese.

-Look at that.

-Everything I like in that picture.

-So we've got the figures there, the old kimonos

and a lot of Imari or maybe it's Satsuma, the pottery earthenware.

-Yeah, it looks good. Is that signed?

-It is. Signed by an Englishman!

-Keep looking. I think we've hit gold here.

-Don't speak too soon, James.

-And what's your game, Reds?

-Ah...!

-A game of fences. Now I've never heard of Kimbo.

-Me, neither.

But it says it's John Waddington, makers of Monopoly.

Yeah.

"The outcome is always uncertain right to the very end."

-We probably ought to be buying it, then! That IS Bargain Hunt.

-What is it?

-The magpie Blues have flown straight to the silver.

-Vestas there.

-Which one would you be drawn to?

-I like the round one.

-That's an unusual shape, isn't it?

There's lots of square ones, but the more decorative stand out more.

We need arcade assistant Alex to open up. Go for it.

-That's rather fun, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-These little vesta cases are for holding matches. Strike a light!

-Cartouche is still blank.

-He's got all the lingo, Tim!

-Does it clip shut or not?

-It's a bit...

-Loose.

-The one I would go for is the novelty shape.

-Oh, wow.

-It's like a cigar box.

Like a cigar case. £85. George Unite. He was a famous Birmingham maker.

-Is that an unusual shape?

-It is a novelty shape.

-It's nice with the push-button opening.

-Feel the weight of it as well.

-Yeah.

-How does it compare to your one?

-I'm not sure about the dents.

-That's very light. That's...

-Yeah.

-I like this pewter bowl.

-That's a big fellow, isn't it?

-A good decorative piece, surely.

A sort of big old tazza, isn't it? A standing sort of fruit bowl.

-I like that.

-Arts and craftsy.

If you missed that at home, this shape of bowl is called a tazza from the Italian for stemmed cup.

-I think that's really nice.

-Some weight to it as well.

-Residual value is what you want. Feel the weight.

-Exactly. If in doubt, scrap it!

-Exactly.

A man after my own heart. It's 58, but it has taken a knock.

-It's slightly not true. It's got a slight list.

-Oh, yeah.

If we can get it for 25, 28, something like that.

-Worth a go.

-OK.

-If we can ask on the price on that...

- Yeah, no problem at all. - Can we suggest £20? - We can do our best.

While the Blues leave Alex to get prices for the vesta and the tazza, what are those Reds up to?

-How about that?

-Quite sweet.

-Nice lady's embroidered hand fan.

-And how old would that be?

That would be Regency period. You're looking at 1820, 1830.

The whole combination is good. And priced at £44.

Hang on. We've got an embroidery expert here, haven't we?

-You're the man to be the fan.

-Well, yes.

-So what do you think, quality-wise? Is it there?

I'm not sure. It's not the sort of thing that I do. Mine is more modern than this.

-But I am taken by it. I like it.

-You like it?

-I do.

It's down to that price. If we can get that price, then I'd be interested.

-This looks like a lady who can help us.

-Hi. It's lovely.

It is. I want to know your best offer.

- My very best. Um... - Would you agree on 30? - 32?

-Oh, halve it at 31.

-Go on, then.

-OK. Thank you.

-Having done that, do you think we should ask Melanie if we've done the right thing?

That's fine by me. I like that.

That should keep you cool, Reds. You got off to a good start, but have the Blues made any headway?

-I think they're quite nice. I quite like those.

-What material?

-They're glass.

-Aren't they?

-I quite like that.

-They're Art Nouveau-y.

-That one's got a hallmark on it.

-It's got some marks.

-All I can see is a lot of pock marks!

I've got a date letter of M.

-It's around the turn of the century.

-But is that silver plate?

-No, it's silver.

-But very thin.

-Yeah.

-There's some damage on this one.

-But pairs always sell well.

-Yeah.

-I think they're nice.

-OK, have we possibly found our first buy?

-I think we have.

-See if we can get them for £15?

-Time to call in arcade assistant Rita.

-Rita, what could these be?

-What's he got on them?

-Tatty old fellows.

-£28.

-The chancer, eh?

-But it's really quite knocked around the top.

-He had a good weekend, I know, didn't he?

-Did he?

-I don't know!

-I'll go and see. So you want 15.

-That's really kind. We'll hover around here, Rita.

While Rita goes to check the prices, Colin has found something for Tom the teacher.

This is ideal for you. You can take that to work as the naughty chair.

That's too good for a naughty chair!

Victorian. Priced at £75. Very sweet-looking thing.

-French cabriole legs on it.

-But what's this Colin's spotted?

-That's definitely not a good thing.

-Oh, no, a wonky leg! This chair has certainly seen a lot of action.

-So the children will be saved from the naughty chair.

-Yes.

-Well, this time round.

-Keep going, Reds. 20 minutes and two items still to find.

And have the Blues found the Asian artefact they were after?

-Oh, wow!

-Just the work involved in that.

-That's incredible.

-And the fact that that has come by ship.

That's a find. A sculpture of a Japanese pagoda and garden. Intricately carved in cork.

That is a fabulous object. I think these will make a lot one day.

One day...as in now?

Well, I just think they're lovely, really lovely objects.

-The time and effort to carve that is just amazing.

-The fact that it's travelled so far.

-But just you've got this pine tree and the needles there.

-Yeah.

-It's all carved of cork.

-Amazing.

-Anything Chinese is interesting. You could put this on a table...

-In the middle of the room.

-Great.

We'd have to get it much cheaper than 145 to stand a chance.

-Yeah.

-I know it's beautiful. It is beautiful.

-Rita, is this one of your items?

-It is, yes.

-Would £70 be squeezing you?

-What about 85?

-85...

-75?

-I like it at 70.

-75, would that do it?

-Meet you in the middle - 75.

-Go on, then.

-75. Who's going to grab this lady's hand?

Well, whatever pops your cork, Blues. It's now one all

-and the Reds have found a curious item of their own.

-Very nice. It's a cigarette box.

-A cigarette box?

-Yeah. It probably dates from 1920s, 1930s.

Very much a sort of novelty piece.

It's really just to expose the art of the craftsman, putting different woods into it.

This is sometimes known as Tunbridge ware, but it's just parquet work.

If you think of parquet floors, it's just like that, a variety of woods.

You'd keep your stock of cigarettes in there and the bird would dip in and bring them out one at a time.

-I think he's quite sweet. £35?

-Is painful. £15-£20 is what I would expect it to be.

It's never going to make £30 in a sale.

So the bird in the box goes back on the shelf. And the Blues have news on their glass vases.

-Hi, Rita.

-The very, very best on the vases is £20.

-£20? What do you think?

-£20...

Could we squeeze it just under 20 just to give us a chance? 19?

- Even 19. Then we could make £1. - Wouldn't that be lovely?

-Let me go and try again for £1.

-OK. Well done, Rita. You're earning your money.

Time's ticking on, teams. The Reds want their second item, so can Colin jazz things up?

That's the sort of thing I like. Susie Cooper, Art Deco. Jazz-type pattern, Moon and Mountains.

-It's got a lot going for it.

-Nice piece, but have you seen the price?

-No.

-200.

-200? OK. That seems keen.

-If you can get that for... It's £100-£150 in an auction.

-OK.

So that's perhaps just a little too much on this occasion.

I can tell you don't want to let that go, Colin. Never mind. What news has Rita for the Blues?

-Hello.

-Hi.

-Bad news, I'm afraid. He's sticking at 20.

-20?

-I tell you what, I've got some good news. Do I speak for you all?

-Go on.

-We'll have them at 20.

-OK.

-I'd say so, yeah.

-Give him the good news. Thank you.

-Well done.

-Thank you.

-Well done, Blues.

Now what's caught Tom's eye?

-It's just a box.

-25 quid?

-If that's 25 quid, just buy it, even though the top tray is missing.

Looks to be in reasonable condition.

It's not fabulous, but we're running out of time. That's a decent buy.

-I think that's good.

-So how old is that?

-A late-Victorian, Edwardian, ladies jewellery casket.

Or table box. Lovely leather finish on it. Gilt and tooled.

You've got the mixture of this sort of lovely velvet interior to it. It's a bit scuffed,

but do you know what? At £25...

I'm falling more in love with it as the time is ebbing away on the watch!

-Do you need any help?

-We do indeed.

I see on here it's priced up at 25.

They would do that for £20.

£20?

-18?

-No, I don't think they'd go to 18.

-Would they go to 19?

-I'll have to ring them for that.

-Is it worth it for a pound? Bearing in mind we haven't a lot of time.

-I saw it, I want it.

-We'll have it then.

-I'm happy to accept the 20.

-£20 it is, then.

-Thank you.

-Excellent.

Well done, Reds. A bargain of a box.

Now you've got eight minutes left and so have the Blues, but is there good news about the tazza and vesta?

-Alex, what have you got?

-I've found out some prices.

-Go on.

-OK. 25 for the pewter.

-25 for the pewter. That's workable.

-I think that's OK.

-65 is the lowest we can go...

-On the vesta.

-65 on the vesta.

I mean £25, I think that's a bargain for a big piece of pewter.

-What do you think, Tim?

-I'm not 100% convinced.

-So we're thinking.

-Could you hold it?

-Lovely.

-Cheers, Alex.

While the Blues dither over their last item, Colin's trying to sell Asian enamel ware to the Reds.

Right, in here the bits that have taken my eye are the actual Japanese cloisonne wares,

which is this wire work laid over the vase and then applied with enamel. I can pass one to you.

And, hopefully, I can get hold of the other one and pass that to you.

-Thank you.

-Very nice.

-Now I can actually see some pricing in there.

-So are these a pair?

Well, they're two with two separate prices.

They're marked up at £85 each. What I want you to do is keep the skin of your hand round one

and just roll it round and make sure there's no rough edges, damages, imperfections.

If there's anything on these, we do not want to even look at them.

Price-wise, they're £85.

That's each. So it's a bit of money.

They're not the finest quality, the silver-wired examples, but they do date from probably 1900.

I can see why they have been marked separately because there is a slightly different pattern on them.

-This one here has got the start...

-I saw that.

-Just the start of some damage.

It's not going to be a problem, but you'd have to negotiate the price down a little bit heavier.

I think they are good decorative lots and they do work as a pair.

-So, money-wise, on them, where would you hope to be?

-I would say below 100 for that.

-Yeah, 100.

-Really? I'll ask one final question of Rita cos she is waiting in the wings.

- The cloisonne vases, the best price is 120. - These are warming in my hands.

-Do you want to go for this?

-Yes, I do.

-120?

-Sounds good to me.

-Let's take the money and run.

-OK, 120.

-Thank you very much.

Well, actually, Rita takes the money and runs.

-Done.

-That's it. It's a hat-trick!

-Yay!

-A cup of tea, I think.

-I think we need a lot more than a cup of tea!

The Reds have made it - all their items chosen. Congratulations.

But the Blues are still strolling about as if they've got all the time in the world.

Amanda, come in here. There's lots of brewing stuff.

-Yes, look at that.

-Ale al fresco. Get in there.

-Yeah, get in there, Amanda.

-That's quite fun, isn't it?

-There's only one minute left, Blues.

There's simply not enough time to find another item. Focus your minds and make a decision, Blues.

-We really are out of time.

-I think we should go for the pewter.

-I really like it. It's great.

-If you like it... It's handsome.

-Yeah, and £25. You can't go wrong, surely.

-It would look great on furniture.

-Absolutely.

-Shall we do that?

-Well done. You've done really well. Let's go for it.

-Thank you.

That's it. 60 minutes are up. Let's check out what the Reds bought.

The Reds paid a cool £31 for this embroidered face screen.

The late-Victorian leather jewellery box was snapped up for £20.

And £120 was paid for a pair of Japanese cloisonne vases.

-Well done, Tom, Mel. Very good. What did you spend overall?

-171.

-That's not a bad total. Can I have £129 of leftover lolly?

-You may.

-Thank you. Quite a handful.

-Now, Mels, which is your favourite piece?

-That sad, lonely box.

-It needs to be loved again.

-One sad box.

-Do you agree?

-Same box. It just touched our heartstrings.

Yes, it's obviously been loved at some point and left alone and needs to be loved again.

-I think I'm going to burst into tears. Will it bring the biggest profit?

-I think it will, yes.

You're obsessed with this box. Is this normal in your married life?

-No, no.

-That's all right.

-We don't agree on anything!

-Well, what a wonderful first.

-Was that good fun?

-It was. A nice, interesting...selection, I suppose.

-Yeah, a bit odd.

-A bit odd and erratic, but it was good.

-Will you find something soulful for this sensitive couple?

-No, I'll try to find something loud and proud...

-Oh, please!

-Completely opposite to what we've bought.

There's your challenge, Colin. Meanwhile, we'll find out about what the Blue team bought.

The Blues bought this Chinese cork sculpture for £75.

They spent just £20 on this pair of Art Nouveau glass vases.

And they invested £25 in this Arts and Crafts pewter tazza.

-Was that a good shop?

-Really good. Really enjoyed it. Great morning.

-Which is your favourite piece?

-I really like the two vases.

-Do you agree, Tim? Great name.

Very good name. I do like the vases and think they'll bring the most profit. I'll go along with Amanda.

-And they'll bring the biggest profit? Do you think so?

-I do, I do.

-But you never know with the cork sculpture. If someone really likes it...

-It could be a corker!

-..a massive profit. Fingers crossed.

-OK, so how much did you spend?

-120.

-Is that all?!

-Yes, sorry.

-'Fraid so. We tried.

-I thought you were big spenders.

-OK, fine. 180 of leftover lolly, please.

-I've got that.

-There's a nice big wodge for James Braxton. Spend the lot, Jimmy!

-Thank you!

-Going to spend it all?

-I'll endeavour to.

While James goes off to find his Bonus Buy, I want to show you something rather sweet

I found earlier here in Hungerford.

You're going to love her.

Look at this. This is a doll with a difference.

Actually, the thing to look for if you're buying a doll is the material used in the head.

And for a late-Victorian doll, the material you want is biscuit or bisque porcelain,

which is what this doll has. It's hard paste.

It's baked in a kiln, but it's not glazed.

And then that porcelain, for a doll manufacturer, is treated to give the image sometimes character.

Hence the term "character dolls".

And this girl's got character. She's got high colour in her cheeks,

which has been an applied colouring on the white biscuit porcelain.

And also she's got beautifully painted eyebrows and eyelashes

which contain her glass eyes, which are a particularly divine dark blue.

Who made this doll?

Well, the secret to that is impressed on the back of her neck,

where it says Made in Germany.

AM is the manufacturer. That's Armand Marseille,

who established a doll's head manufacturers in Thuringia in Germany

around about 1870 or so. And he became phenomenally successful,

producing these dolls heads for all sorts of manufacturers across Europe and the world

for the next 30 or 40 years.

One of the most popular moulds was the 390 and that's what this particular doll's head has

impressed on its neck.

So it's not a rare doll by any means. If you're buying one of these things,

you had to be careful about condition. No chips or cracks to the porcelain, please, at all.

The other factor when valuing a doll is the original nature of the clothes.

And these clothes most certainly aren't original. Because what we've got here is

a charming child's interpretation of how to dress the proverbial angel

to go on top of the Christmas tree.

This child's taken some cream crepe paper

and has simply folded it to make a skirt. She's then constructed a couple of wings.

And trimmed those with some silver Christmas decoration.

And the idea is that this doll sat on the top of the Christmas tree for a family,

perfectly happily, perhaps for as long as 50 years.

And at various times this doll got into the wars.

For example, this is the wooden doll's leg, which sadly got detached

when she was shoved on the top of the Christmas tree.

And in the box that comes with this doll are the remnants of other dressing up escapades.

Things made of felt and old bits of corduroy that a child had a lot of fun with this doll,

messing about with.

What's it worth? Well, you don't have to use it at the top of the Christmas tree.

What you could do is to re-dress her and have her re-strung,

so that the leg is at least replaced. In which case,

in some decent period clothes, this doll would be worth the top end of a couple of hundred pounds.

What might you buy her for today in Hungerford?

This little joker could be yours for £75.

What do you think about that, dollface? "Not much."

The big question is who will be top of the tree when we're all back together at the auction. Nice coat.

Well, what a treat to be at Lawrences in Crewkerne with Richard Kay.

-Very nice to have you back, Tim.

-Now this Red team are incredibly enthusiastic.

First up is their face screen. I suppose, in its day, when that needlework was bright and fresh,

-it was a sort of opportunity to show off your handicraft.

-I think it was.

And you'd personalise it with your own family's logo there, but it's got so dirty.

-It has. That is a shame. It will put people off because it's not worth cleaning it.

-No.

-So what's a piece of dirty old kit worth?

-Let's talk it up, eh?

-Yes!

-£20-£40.

-Really? £31 they paid. On the other hand, their next item is a very useful thing.

-It is. And although it's showing signs of its age and it's incomplete, lacking its tray...

-And key.

Nonetheless, it has that kind of country house charm about it.

-It could have come off the set of Downton Abbey.

-Very easily.

-They paid £20. Will they make a profit?

-I think that's a bargain.

-I think we'd get £30-£40.

-OK. Super duper. And their last item

is this classic of collectability, the cloisonne vases.

The problem with cloisonne is that when it's 20th century or early 20th century, as these are,

people mistake craftsmanship for value. There's a lot of skill in making that

-and it just isn't reflected in what they'll make at auction.

-What do you think, then?

I think they might be worth £30-£40.

Dear, oh, dear. They paid 120. That is going to be their comeuppance, I feel.

-I don't think they'll get close.

-They'll need their Bonus Buy. Let's have a look at it.

So, team, you spent 171, you gave Colin Young £129. Colin, what did you spend it on?

I spent it on something bright, decorative and hopefully that is going to make you smile.

-We saw that!

-We did.

-We did, yeah.

It's a Susie Cooper design. Gray's Pottery, probably late 1920s, early 1930s.

-Yeah.

-Can you remember what that was priced at?

-Something tells me 130?

-A lot more. It was knocking on for £200, what they were asking for it.

So you're going to be quite surprised that with a budget of £129

-I did manage to buy it.

-Well done.

-Guess how much for.

-129.

-129.

-OK, well done!

It's reasonably heavy money for it, but it's one of those things, if you get a couple of collectors,

-there should be profit in it.

-Pounds or tens of pounds?

-Probably pounds.

-OK.

But a reasonable gamble.

I like it. Ordinarily, I wear ties like this to school.

-Do you?

-Yes. They are very bright.

-With matching socks.

-Do they upset the children much?

-They like it!

-They respond.

-They say, "I like your tie."

-They'll say all sorts of nice things, small children.

-Yes!

On that happy note, why don't we find out what the auctioneer thinks about Colin's jazzy jug?

-What about this Clarice Cliff lookalike?

-That's the trouble. If it had the Clarice Cliff name,

we'd be on safer ground.

But it isn't. It's Susie Cooper, a good enough name. But it's Gray's.

-And that, I think, will reduce its appeal a little.

-OK. They're certainly dense colours.

-They are.

-Well, how do you rate it, then?

-I think that might be £25-£40.

Oh, lordy. Colin Young paid £129. He rates it. That's it for the Reds.

Now for the Blues.

-First up for them, this carved Chinese cork picture.

-There's a huge amount of work in that,

as in most Asian craftsmanship.

They've gone, "Look at all that detail, the time it must have taken. It must be worth £75 at least."

Yeah. The sad truth is that people don't pay just for quality any more. They want a bit more than that.

So I'm not surprised if it doesn't make quite what they did pay, £75. But what do you think?

We'd do well to get more than 40. They might get half their money back.

Oh, dear. That is a bit tough.

-Silver-rimmed mauve glass vases.

-They're hallmarked silver mounts,

-so that's reassuring at least that there's some quality.

-Yes.

-Good condition, a matched pair.

-I think the pair should make £20-£40.

-OK, £20 paid. Should be an earner.

And last, but not least, is this pewter Arts and Crafts cup.

It lacks that vital name of Liberty that would have made it desirable pewter. Despite that hammered finish

to make it look hand-done, that's all been done by a machine.

-Anyway, they only paid £25, which is the right price to pay...

-It is.

They might actually get just a little bit more than that.

-They certainly stand a chance.

-It all depends for them on whether this cork thing floats or not.

-If it doesn't...

-Cork will sink in Crewkerne today!

-I can see the headline.

Let's hope not, but if it does, they'll need their Bonus Buy.

-Marvellous. I bet you're longing to know what James Braxton's got under his little rag.

-We are.

Well, you gave him £180, which is a good old wodge of money.

-Put us out of our agony, James, and reveal all.

-You'll recognise this.

-Ah!

-It's something that we admired...

-We did, yeah.

-..in that cabinet.

It's a very nice little vesta case, but modelled as a cigar case.

-How much did you pay for it?

-£60.

-Can you see a profit? What might we get?

-A vesta should be worth, you know, £30.

-Bog standard.

A bog standard one. That's by a very famous maker with a novelty shape.

-Those two things are strings to your bow.

-And it's from Birmingham, like my good self.

-Exactly.

-Perfect.

-Seems like a natural to me.

All these elements coming together. That's quite spooky. OK, fine,

for the audience at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about the vesta case.

-OK, nice and shiny.

-It's a nice little piece of silver,

modelled as a cigar case. Made by George Unite, who specialised in small pieces of silverware

in Birmingham at the turn of the century. People like novelty pieces, but I'm not sure it's novelty enough.

-No. How much?

-In the shape of a cigar holder, it might puff up to £10 or £20.

-Fair enough.

-You'll need to inhale to get it to 60.

-We'll breathe hard!

OK, fine. Let's see if it goes up in smoke. Thank you, Richard.

-Melanie and Tom, this is exciting.

-It is.

-It is.

-A bit nervous.

-Absolutely crammed in this room.

-It is.

First will be the hand screen. Tom, you found it. You paid £31 for it.

-You spent £20 on the jewellery box. No one can believe that. He's put £30-£40.

-Has he really?

-Oh, fantastic.

-I wouldn't be surprised if it made £50. If it had a key, it'd make £100.

-She lost the key.

-I know. That's what always happens. But it's a jolly nice box.

The enamel vases, you paid £120. He thinks they're worth £30-£40.

He knows they're in good condition, he knows they're colourful,

-but they're not silver wire.

-No.

-They're not signed.

They have, he thinks, little to make them get to £100, in his opinion.

-OK...

-But, you know, it's a difficult one.

-Otherwise, you've got the Art Deco milk jug to fall back on, if you need to.

-Yes.

I think it's a bit overpriced.

OK, then. Let's kick off with the hand screen.

£15 for that? £15 for it?

£10, then? £10 is bid.

12 now. 15. 18.

20. 5.

£25. It's on my left. I'm selling at £25. All done elsewhere?

He's sold it. £25 is minus 6. Could have been a lot worse, that.

Now the jewellery box.

£30 for that? £30 somewhere? 20 then. 20?

-Come on...

-£20 is bid. 25.

Yes!

-30. I'm selling at £30, then. Are we done at 30?

-Disappointing.

£30, OK. It just made his low estimate, which is plus 10.

Overall, you're plus 4. Now stand by for the vases.

Start me here at £25 on these?

30. 35. 40 now.

£40. 45. 50.

5. £55, lady's bid.

-60. 5.

-Fresh bidder, that's good.

70. £70. It's in the door. Far right at £70.

And I'll sell. Last time at £70.

-Not good.

-£70 is minus 50.

-Better than the estimate.

-Yeah, it is,

but still minus 50, I'm afraid. So you are minus £46 as a result of that. What about this jug?

-It's beautiful, but I think no.

-OK. On your head be it, dear.

-Yeah?

-I think no.

-OK.

-OK.

-Sorry.

-Sorry!

-I'm absolutely relieved!

Well, anyway, we'll see it sold just for the fun of it. Here it comes.

Bids start me here at...£35. 35 I have.

It's on commission.

40. 45. 50.

55. 60. At £60.

-I'm out. £60 is bid.

-£60.

-In the room.

I'm selling at £60. Last time at 60. All done?

That was a good decision. That is minus £69.

But you didn't go with it, so you are minus 46.

-I think you're a wise bird.

-I think so!

-Could be a winning score.

-Don't say a word to the Blues.

-We won't.

-Lovely. Thank you.

-Amanda, Tim, do you know how the Red team got on?

-No.

-Not at all.

We don't want you to. Good. Let's run through your items.

-Tim, you went with the Chinese carved cork ornament.

-Yep.

As a type, it's a jolly nice thing.

-I think you should make £80. I think it's worth £80.

-Let's hope so!

-The mauve glass vases. £20 you paid. He's put £20-£40.

-Brilliant.

The tazza. You've got to be all right at £25. Otherwise,

you've got the George Unite little vesta to go for as your Bonus Buy.

First up is the carved cork diorama and here it comes.

Oriental cork sculpture. Lot 243.

Bids start me here straight in at 20. At £20. It's on commission.

-25 and I'm out.

-Dear, oh, dear.

At 25 and I'll sell. 30, new bidder. 35. 40. 45.

-By the door and I'm selling for £45.

-£45(!)

-Are we done?

At £45.

-£45 is minus 30.

-Oh, dear.

-Anyway, let's make it all back on the vases.

-Fingers crossed.

-Let's be positive.

£10, I must. £10 is bid.

12. 15. 18 now. At £18. Lady's bid, seated.

Come on. One more.

-25. 30.

-In profit.

-5. 35 seated.

-Go on!

-Selling at £35.

-Lady's bid at 35. Selling. Last time. 40, just in time.

-Well done, £40.

-£40.

Gentleman's bid. £40. I'm selling.

Last time at 40.

Well done. Plus £20. So overall you're minus 10.

OK, here comes the tazza.

And start me on this at £20, if you will.

20 is bid. 25 now. 30.

5. 35 nearer me now.

-Go on! Absolute zero!

-It's £35 and I'll sell.

-Last time.

-I don't believe this. £35 is plus £10.

You've sold three items and got absolutely nowhere.

-You are on zero.

-Oh, dear.

-You've wiped your face big time.

-This is the big wipe.

-Now what do we do?

-It's a rocky old road.

Do you go with the vesta case? Or do you stick at zero?

We had a plan that if we were in profit or if we were in negative. We didn't have a plan for zero.

-That's tough.

-Stick.

-Stick?

-Yeah.

-You're going to stick?

-We love it, but it's a bit...

-It's all the money, we think.

-We're normally chancers, but zero might be a winning score!

-Wouldn't it be amusing to win by making nothing?

-Win by zero.

-Anyway, you're not taking it.

-Here it comes.

-Small novelty silver vesta case by George Unite

in the form of a cigar case.

I'm bid £18 for it. 20.

22. 25. 28.

30. I'm out. £30. 35. 40.

5. £45. It's on my left. 50 now.

55. 60. No? 60. It's in the doorway.

I don't believe this! James Braxton, you're a genius.

All done? At £60.

Everybody was sniffy about your... Look at his face.

That is a happy man.

Vindication for Braxton. He said it was worth 60. What does it make? £60. OK.

Sadly, no profit in it. What an extraordinary coincidence.

Two wiped faces on the trot.

OK, super. Listen, don't say a word to the Reds because nothing might be a winning score today.

-Have you been chatting, you lot?

-No!

It's no secret that there's not exactly a dazzling total of cash to go home with for either team.

It's just a question of scale, really. The runners up today by quite a big old chalk

just happen to be the Reds.

Which is not so good. Minus £46.

But you ring-fenced your losses, which was very clever. Anyway, there we are.

But the victors today, who win by going home with nothing... They have a wiped face. In fact, two.

We had a James Braxton wiped face for his Bonus Buy. And a team's wiped face, too. Amazing.

What's the odds on that? Overall, the victors go home with nothing except our congratulations.

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

-Yes!

Ha ha ha! You got it, Braxton!

I know you're sitting 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