Leominster 12 Bargain Hunt

We're in border country today - Herefordshire,

where we've got the best of both worlds.

Glorious countryside and some cracking good antique shops.

So...let's go bargain hunting! Yeah.

We're in Leominster today,

which nestles on the border between England and Wales.

The area around this place is called the Marches.

It's here that there's been many a battle between the two countries

over the centuries.

The battle today, though, is between the Reds and the Blues.

And here's a quick squint as to what's coming up.

Caroline comes between the Reds.

Ooh, I don't want to be in a marital dispute.

HE LAUGHS I'll leave you to it!

And whilst searching for bargains,

the Blues are asked a very searching question.

-Do you like living life on the edge?

-Yes.

-Well, you know what you need to do, then, don't you?

-Don't you?

Will she or won't she? Let's meet today's teams.

Well, on Bargain Hunt today,

we have a married couple and a pair of friends.

We have Craig and Sally for the Reds,

and we have Barbara and Diggory for the Blues. Hello, everyone.

-ALL:

-Hello.

-Lovely to see you all.

Sally, you've been married now for 40 years,

-and it don't seem a day too long, right?

-30 years.

-Oh, 30 years.

-Very good. You were still a child bride, though.

-Absolutely, yes.

Good. And how did you two get dragged together?

Well, I was working in a pub as a barmaid at the time,

and Craig came in.

He'd just finished his last exam as an apprentice engineer.

And he became very drunk very quickly,

and he asked me out and I said yes, because he did catch my eye.

I said, "That's alright.

"You can take me out," but I said, "Because you're very drunk,

"I want you to leave your name and address and telephone number."

-Postcode and National Insurance number.

-Absolutely.

-So that I could track him if he stood me up.

-Yeah.

-And he didn't stand you up.

-He didn't, no.

Now, Craig, what do you do for a living?

I'm a sales manager selling engineering and design software.

-Do you?

-Yeah.

-That all sounds rather brainy.

-Uh, no, not really.

Not really?

I mean, you've just got to say "software" to a person of my generation

and we completely...go into the complete collywobbles.

-The normal thing today, isn't it?

-Is it? Well, it is for you guys.

-And what do you get up to when you're not working?

-I enjoy cooking.

-What's your favourite dish?

-I like a Sunday roast, actually.

-Do you?

-I do like...

-Traditional roast?

-Yes, I do.

So you ease the missus out of the kitchen.

Do you say, "I'm taking control now"?

She's never been one for cooking from the day we met.

HE LAUGHS

Well, don't put her down. She's looking crestfallen.

-Sounds like this is...you just married a dream here.

-I know.

I'm so lucky.

There are six million women tuned in right now wondering,

-"Why can't I get hold of a man like that?"

-Maybe they could ring in.

Yeah. You don't do hoovering as well, by any chance, do you?

-Occasionally.

-HE LAUGHS

See what I mean? This is fantastic! I love it.

Anyway, very, very, very good luck.

Now, Babs, how did you two meet to become such firm friends?

-We're both councillors - part of the same ward.

-Oh, right.

Tell me about your time when you were civic mayor of Cheltenham.

-Stand to attention!

-Yes, it was great fun, actually.

Did you get a car? Chauffeur-driven car with a flag out the front?

Well, the flag's not there anymore. No, they took the flag off.

-Somebody nicked it?

-SHE LAUGHS

Not quite.

-Now, you've raised a lot of money for charity during your time?

-Yes.

-I think it was £46,000 in a year.

-Really?

That's folding cash, isn't it?

It's more than I'm going to be giving you here on Bargain Hunt.

Well, then, be like that, then. SHE LAUGHS

All right. Now, Diggory, this is a lifetime spent in music, I'm told.

Yes, indeed. About 40 years.

I discovered that my hobby, which was playing percussion,

which is orchestral percussion - that's symphonic percussion, not,

uh...not pop music, I'm afraid. And, uh...that took me over.

-You got your own triangle?

-I have got my triangle.

That's where it started, actually.

Well, that's where it starts for a lot of people.

How perceptive of you, if I may say so.

You know, kiddie-wids in orchestras, the smallest ones get the triangle.

-Yes, indeed. Yes.

-Yeah. So, you two, how are you going to get on today?

Like two councillors - mature, upright stanchions of the community - ought to?

Oh, yes. We're going to, of course, think about it deeply.

-Yes. No bickering.

-Chance of a rest.

-Very reasoned decisions.

Very reasoned decisions. That is the right answer.

Now, here comes the £300. So there's £300. You know the rules.

Your experts await. And off you go! And very, very, very good luck.

Gosh, what fun.

Now, let's meet our experts.

Brimming with confidence for the Reds is Caroline Hawley.

And there are no strings on David Harper as he assists the Blues.

So, Sally, Craig, what are you looking for today?

-Something that's definitely going to sell.

-Oh, right.

-That's the name of the game.

-At a profit.

-Yes.

-Well, this is a bit posh, isn't it, in here?

-Very nice.

-Well, there's some fancy bits, aren't there?

-I know. And it's nice and warm as well.

This is like luxury treatment for Bargain Hunt.

I'm into the furniture,

-but whether that's a sellable thing or not, I'm not sure.

-OK.

So we may do a bit of silver or jewellery.

-Is he a bit of a nightmare to work with?

-Mm-hm.

-Really? Is he?

We could always ditch him. You and I can go off together.

See you, Diggory. Come on, Barbara. BARBARA LAUGHS

-Right, well, let's go and look for it. CRAIG:

-Yes.

-Let's go.

Armed with their £300 budget,

both teams have just an hour to find three items to take to auction.

-And Babs is quick off the mark.

-That jug there.

-OK, yeah. Yeah.

-Clarice Cliff.

-Looked rather nice to me.

-It is nice. It's later.

You want the '20s and '30s Clarice Cliff with the bright oranges

and blues and golds and the shapes. But I like you, Barbara.

You're straight in there. There's no mucking about.

-Can the Reds already smell success?

-The doubled scent bottle.

What do you think?

See, that's a good sign - little tiny stopper in there.

-So has it got the stopper?

-Yeah.

Now, have a look, because the end...this repousse silver end very

-often rubs through and you can see some damage.

-Right.

So if we hold it up to the light,

that's probably a very good way of seeing if there's damage.

-Doesn't appear to be, does there?

-No.

-OK.

Now, the price on that is £190.

-SHE SIGHS

-That's a big sigh, Sally.

It's not the best price.

Well, I can see if we can do a better price for you.

-Would you like me to find out?

-Yeah. Yeah.

-Could you?

-Yeah.

-Thank you very much.

-Lovely.

So whilst we await a price from our man Stan,

who works at the antique centre, Barbara's on a mission.

-Well, what...

-She just turns up with things.

HE LAUGHS Oh, Barbara.

-Well, it just looked sort of different.

-I like it.

I'd say it's a wooden mould. Mould for what? I think it's bonkers.

-I don't mind bonkers - will it make money?

-Yes, how much is it? A fiver?

-Yes.

-That's going to make more than a fiver.

-It is.

It's gonna make more... Barbara, don't just put it back. Bring it - let's have a...

Keep on going - we have to decide whether we're going to have it or not.

Diggory, you're the furniture man. Talk to us. What kind of wood is it?

-I would've thought it was oak...

-Yep.

-..myself, actually.

-Um...in a naive design.

-"Naive".

-Naive.

Well, it's fairly crudely carved, isn't it?

-I would've thought middle of the 19th century.

-I think that would...

-Yeah, that's what I would've thought.

-Yeah, that would be safe.

-Not that I know much about it.

It's got a bit of an African Ashanti tribe, Nigerian tribe feel to it.

-Yeah.

-It does.

-Yes.

-And that's more likely.

-It's more of an African games box.

-Do you want it or not?

All right, then, we'll take that.

I mean, we're going to make money on that one.

-Barbara, we're here to make money, right?

-You bet!

-Let's make some money. Shall we have it?

-We'll get it.

-First purchase. Let's take it.

Come on. SHE LAUGHS

My word, there's no messing about with those Blues.

First purchase made, and in just under ten minutes.

Meanwhile, Stan's back with some price news for the Reds.

It says £190. I'm going to let you have it for £150.

SHE GASPS That's good.

Well, it's double ended, so that's only £75 each end, isn't it?

-It is, yes. Oh, yes.

-Yes.

-That's one way of looking at it, Stan.

It's a certain possibility, isn't it?

-And do you think we could squeeze any more?

-I can try.

-If you wouldn't mind.

-Would you try very hard?

I'll try very hard for you.

-So, something to think about, Reds.

-It's a good thing.

It's lovely, isn't it? It's really attractive as well.

Meanwhile, Barbara is fishing for nautical knowledge.

-That's quite nice.

-Yeah, yeah. Lovely Windsor chair.

-Oh, the captain's chair?

-No, it's a Windsor.

-A Windsor?

-A Windsor chair, yeah.

-What's a captain's chair?

-Well, more of... Made for a captain.

-Aye, aye.

Ask a silly question, you get a silly reply.

Well, it's good news.

We can be squeezed very hard and reduce it by another £20.

So it'll be £130, but you mustn't ask for any more.

That's the very best.

Will you honour that price if we just have a little look round?

-Of course.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-I think that's the right decision.

-OK, let's do that.

-Thank you very much indeed, Stan.

-Thank you.

Thank you.

-TIM:

-Keep on thinking, Reds, but don't leave it too long.

The Blues, however, are still looking at wooden objects.

That screams...a certain period in time, Barbara,

-and a certain part of the world. Does it to you?

-Not really, no.

-THEY LAUGH

-But you're the expert, not me, here.

-The Far East.

-Yeah, you're getting there. I think it's more India.

-India.

I can see you in India circa 1880, 1890...

-I know I'm pushing it, dear, but not that much.

-HE LAUGHS

-It's called scene setting, Barbara.

-Hang on a minute.

-Hold that a minute. I'll be back.

-What... Where's she going now?

-Oh.

-Do you see?

-It's all about dressing an item up, actually. Yeah.

-No, no, no.

-HE LAUGHS

It's all right.

There's no time for a G and T now, Barbara.

Meanwhile, the Reds are checking out more perfume bottles.

-SALLY:

-They are lovely.

-CAROLINE: Check the stopper.

-Ah.

Always best to check.

It's taken a knock at the bottom.

So it does affect the value, but it doesn't affect the look.

I would think they're sort of...well, with that style, 1920s, 1930s.

See what best price they can do, as it has got a bit of damage?

-Best price?

-I'll see what I can do for you. I'll try very hard for you.

Thank you.

Well, Stan's certainly keeping busy,

-but Diggory has spotted some glassware.

-OK. Barbara. Barbara.

-Diggory's leading us in this direction.

-Oh, right.

-Glassware.

-Obviously.

-That's the end of day ware. The purple piece.

-Oh, yes. Yes.

-Sowerby. It's got the Sowerby mark on the bottom.

-Let's have a look.

-The lozenge there.

-Very good. That's a registration number, isn't it?

-You can date it from that.

-It should be a peacock.

-It's late, um...19th century.

-Very good.

What price are we looking at here?

-£35.

-Oh.

-So tell us what you know about that, Diggory.

Well, at the end of the day,

they would throw the bits of glass into the furnace and sort of melt

it down, and then they'd press these little moulded things out.

They come out in this purple colour, and the colour I prefer,

-which is a dark green.

-Do you have quite a collection of this glass?

-I've probably got 20 pieces, yes.

-So date-wise we're thinking 1890.

-Ish.

-Yeah, about that.

-And look how clever that is, Barbara.

Can you see the actual...the bag straps? Cos it's a handbag, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Very detailed. Love the colours.

-Yeah, I do.

The first Sowerby glassworks opened in Gateshead at the start

of the 19th century.

From 1846, Sowerby produced pressed glass.

But it's the glass made in the 1880s, moulded in various shapes

and designs, for which they're most famous.

Now, back to the Reds, who are waiting on price news.

Yes, we can reduce the price.

It says £70 the pair, we can make that £50 for you.

-CRAIG:

-What do you think?

-SALLY SIGHS

Oh, I don't want to be in a marital dispute here. I'll leave you to it!

-We're going to think? SALLY:

-We're going to think.

-We're going to think.

-That's fine.

-Thank you.

I think out of the two, I think I'd go for the perfume.

-The double-ended perfume.

-TIM:

-Decisions, decisions, eh?

Halfway through shopping time,

and it seems both teams are reaching "Make your mind up!" time.

Are we going to make money on that?

I thought if we managed to persuade the powers that be

-to come down a bit on this one.

-Well, I'll see what we can do.

-I'll have a chat with the owners.

-If you wouldn't mind, that would be super.

-Leave it with me. I'll come back.

-£25 would be wonderful.

-TIM:

-As poor old Stan heads off yet again for a price check,

the Reds have spotted something new.

-You guessed it - another scent bottle.

-Look at that.

-Now, what's that?

-"Art Nouveau scent bottle".

-That's a beauty, yeah.

But it's £78.

I mean, it was a silver top, you'd be talking £300ish.

See what Stan can get for it all.

Well, you'll have to wait your turn, Craig.

Stan's a little busy at the moment.

-Here he comes again, though - like lightning.

-Oh, hello, Stan.

-I've got some good news for you.

-You have, I hope.

-You said that you'd like it at £25.

-Yes?

-And it can be done.

-Put it there.

-That's wonderful.

-Brilliant. Thank you so much.

-Thank you, Stan. That's very lovely. Thank you.

-Super.

-Good.

-Well, sold.

-TIM:

-Well done, Blues - that's your second item bought,

and it's now two-nil.

-Now, I've got a price for you on this.

-Good price.

£78. It can be £60, and that would be the very best price.

So we have to think about the double-ended.

We've seen this beautiful one, and...which was the other?

The pair of Deco ones? Now, have we ruled out the Deco ones?

-Yeah, the Deco ones I've ruled out.

-Right, so we've got 25 minutes left.

-I'm not wanting to pressure.

-OK. Can we continue looking?

It's definitely those two,

but...I feel it's been the decision on my part so far.

-So let's see if there's anything that you love.

-Decision, Sally?

You haven't bought anything yet.

Also looking at glassware, Barbara and Diggory are in the firing line.

You know why they're called firing glasses? Diggory?

I can't remember why.

The turn comes from the noise it makes as it hits the tavern table.

Right. Like the shot of a gun.

And it sounds like the firing of a musket.

So you get a firing glass first of all, and then a shot glass,

-and that's where we get the idea of shot glasses.

-Why would you do it?

To get drunk, Barbara, and have a great time!

Yeah, but why would you want to bang it down?

It's what you did in a tavern. "Come on, boys, drink up."

-Smack it on the table.

-You men do some funny things.

-We have a good time. Don't we, Diggory?

-Yes, indeed.

-SHE LAUGHS

-We might, Barbara, but you girls do too!

-Don't panic!

We've got 20 minutes left.

Ooh. Ooh. What about this? I like that. Now, that is singing to me.

-French, burgher.

-Sweet.

-That is sweet. Now, look at this - £165.

-I think we could do with it a bit lower. CRAIG:

-Yeah.

-I do, really.

But it's great. It's a gilt wood chair onto a softwood base.

-I would say it's about 1870.

-Gosh.

-1880. Do you like it, Craig?

-I do.

I'd like to move away from glass a bit. I'm into the furniture.

Stan, may I bother you again, please?

Can we offer £100 and see what they come back with, Stan?

Yes, you can offer. I'll find out for you. But I'm not very hopeful.

Well, if you don't ask, you don't get. That's what I say.

It also appears that the Blues are showing

interest in a couple of chairs.

Yes, test it, and just see what you think.

-Yeah.

-It's holding up, too. That's good.

THEY LAUGH

That's rather ungentlemanly of you, Diggory.

-I like it, but I'll bow to you.

-Oh, no. Don't.

-I'm sure you do what you want, Barbara. I'm quite sure.

-Moi?

-Oui.

So, it's a no to the chairs, then, Barbara.

How could we question the face of an angel?

Talking of which, here comes our Stan.

-The offer of £100 is not acceptable.

-OK.

But an offer of £130 would be acceptable.

-Well, Caroline, you love it. Craig?

-CRAIG:

-I love it.

-You love it.

-It's a sellable item.

-I think so. Shall we go for it?

-Yeah.

-You're on.

-Good show!

-Thank you, Stan. SHE LAUGHS

At last - 40 minutes into the shop, the Reds make their first purchase.

Phew! Meanwhile, a silver cabinet has caught the Blues' eye.

What's on it? £260? Right, Barbara. Tell us why you love it.

-I don't know, but I do love it.

-We have Birmingham 1899.

It's useful, it's pretty, it's silver. It's everything.

-It's got nice hallmarks on that.

-But it's too expensive and we need to talk to the gentleman.

That would be our Stan, I guess.

-You play cards, do you?

-I play bridge, yes.

-Bridge?

-Yes.

I love the idea that it's made for cards, playing cards,

and bridge particularly, which adds a huge amount of interest and value.

The interior is absolutely as new.

That gold plating will rub off very, very quickly.

I'd love it at £150, because I think at an auction,

it's going to be estimated at probably £150, £200.

£120, £160, that sort of money - to be a "come and get me" kind of thing.

-Unfortunately, I think you're right.

-But I think you're right.

Because it's a card case, because it's got great quality and condition,

it could make well over £200.

-So let's...Stan.

-See what we can get it for.

-Would you mind giving us your very best on that?

-Yes, please.

Go on, then, Stan, do your stuff.

Further down the showroom,

the Reds are looking at a very similar cabinet.

Look - there's a wishbone and a four-leaf clover there.

It's a brooch. I think we need both of those, don't we?

I don't wish to panic you. We do have only ten minutes left.

-It's only £22.

-It is.

-How lovely is that?

-And how much do we need it?

-Yeah.

-Silver-marked, wishbone and clover.

-Wishing anyone good luck.

The card box, it's at £260. The very best price would be £200.

It's a real punt. I love that, though, Barbara.

I'd love you to have a go at it, because I think you might lose £50,

-£60. You might gain £50, £60.

-Mmm.

-Genuinely.

Now, here's a question.

Do you like living life on the edge, Diggory?

I do to a certain extent, actually,

-but I'm also a safe-ish person as well.

-HE LAUGHS

That was a rubbish answer.

I was going to say - he's a politician, what do you expect?

-Yes, I know.

-She's a politician.

-I'm going to ask you - do you like living life on the edge?

-Yes.

-Well, you know what you need to do, then, don't you?

-Don't you?

-Do it.

-Right.

-Do it, Barbara. You know you want to.

-I think we're there.

-Yeah? Shall we do it?

-Ooh. Ooh, thank you.

THEY LAUGH

You are there, Diggory. Your three items are well and truly in the bag.

You councillors are obviously used to making decisions -

unlike the Reds, who still need two more pieces.

Well, you have a closer look,

-and I'll see what we can do with the price. £22.

-Yes.

-If you could do a really good price, please. SALLY:

-Oh, it's lovely.

-Do you like that a lot?

-Yeah, it's cute, isn't it?

-Stan, you're back.

That was quick.

-I know you're struggling, so we can make that for £15.

-Oh.

-Oh.

Stan, you're a beauty. Mwah. Thank you!

-Yes?

-Done.

-Yes? CRAIG:

-Done, done.

-Done.

Done. That's the second item for the Reds.

But you still need one more, and now you have just five minutes to go.

You sure need to get cracking.

There we are. Have a look, and I'll find out the price for you.

-Thank you.

-How old is it?

-About 1890. 1900.

And that's the walnut pick, so you break your nut - or nut pick -

and you pick out the bits with that. How sweet is that?

-Are we allowed to touch? Hallmarks?

-No, no, no. That's just plated.

And it...it wouldn't ever be in silver, because silver isn't a strong

-enough metal to crack nuts or any other thing.

-Aye, aye. Here he is.

-Hello, Stan. Back bearing glad tidings.

-As always, yes.

-That is £30, and for you it could be £22.

-£22.

-Thank you very much.

Right, guys, I do not want to pressurise you now,

but I'm really starting to glow.

We have got less than three minutes left. We need to make a decision.

Now, there's these, which are going to be £22.

They're plated, they're great. Or there's the double-ended scent.

-Silver ends, good quality. Victorian.

-I cannot make a decision.

Craig, it's going to have to be you. What do you think?

-I prefer the glass, myself.

-OK. Scent bottle.

-Are we doing that?

-Yep.

-We've made a decision. The scent bottle, please! Whoa!

-And I'll give you that back.

-THEY CHEER

Thank goodness for that.

At last the Reds have all three items. Well done. Disarm the troops.

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

A gilt salon chair cost them £130.

They pinned £15 on a silver wishbone brooch set with marcasite

and green glass.

And finally, they spent £130 on this 19th century scent bottle.

-You happy?

-Yeah.

-Hey. Too late now if you're not.

What a ding-dong that was - to get a decision out of you two.

-Oh, it was very difficult in the end there.

-I know.

-But you're pleased with it, aren't you?

-Yeah, it caught my eye.

-Yes.

Almost immediately.

We just had to wait an hour for you to make the decision.

Yeah, we bought other things in the meantime.

You spent in total, including the double-ended scent bottle, how much?

-£275.

-£275. Who's got the £25 of leftover lolly?

-Me.

-Can I have it?

-OK.

-Would I be right in saying that is your favourite item, Sal?

-It is.

-It's beautiful.

-How do you feel about it? You feeling warm?

I'm very pleased with it, but also the chair as well.

-That's your favourite, is it?

-It is.

Is your chair going to bring the biggest profit?

-Uh, I'd like to think so.

-You would?

We could have a little wager on the side, couldn't we?

£25 straight over to Caroline.

So you going to spend it in here or are you going to go elsewhere?

Have a bit of a stroll around?

Yeah, I'm going to have a little bit more of a stroll here,

and then I might go elsewhere. But I've seen one or two items...

Have you? You've got a very sharp eye, Caroline, which is lovely.

-Anyway, good luck with that.

-Thank you.

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

The grand sum of £5 was spent on this wooden tray.

A Sowerby pressed glass handbag set them back £25.

And this late 19th century Birmingham silver playing card box

set them back £200.

-We had to get something.

-That had some quality.

-We did.

You look very, very pleased with yourselves, you three.

-Did you have a good time?

-Oh, it was brilliant.

-Was it?

-Yes.

I'm so pleased, Babs. Now, tell me, Babs, which is your favourite piece?

-Probably the card holder.

-Card holder's your favourite.

What do you think?

It sounds as though one's going for the thing one chose oneself,

-but it was the slagware handbag.

-He chooses a handbag and I use...

-THEY LAUGH

-Such is the way of things these days.

Um...which is going to bring the biggest profit, Babs?

-I think...I hate to admit it, but...

-The handbag?

-Yes, the handbag.

Diggory's handbag.

Do you think that's going to bring the biggest profit, your handbag?

I think it will, actually, cos we took a risk on the silver,

which is quite a high-priced item,

and therefore the pro rata return will not be quite so good.

This man sounds as if he's delivering something at a board meeting, doesn't he?

"Pro rata return"!

Dig, very, very, very amusing. And what did you spend all round?

-Uh, £230.

-Good. I'd like £70 of leftover lolly, please.

If you insist.

I'm afraid I do, because I have to give this to my friend David Harper.

£70 isn't going to go very far, but I promise you I will blow it well.

It's all very interesting, though, isn't it? Fantastic.

And off you go, Dave.

And now I'm going to show you something wonderfully wooden

and a little flighty that I found earlier on.

Do you know, this antique centre is rather good.

Nearly every stall that I'm visiting,

there's something of interest.

Now, if you're sharp-eyed, and you grab a little watercolour like this,

which is what I've done, you might look very carefully at these birds'

beaks. See, that looks a bit like a dove, doesn't it?

But it's got a very peculiar pink bit, like a spur,

sticking out above its beak, as well as its mate up here.

Have you ever seen a bird in Britain or Europe

with this curious split beak?

I never have, and I guess these birds come from a faraway land.

Probably the Indian subcontinent, because in the background we've got

a broad expanse of water and a wee city or palace beyond.

To unpick the true value of a watercolour like this,

you have to do a lot of research.

But I can tell you with an asking price of £40 for an 18th century

ornithological original watercolour, that is not a lot of money.

So that can go into the basket.

Now, if we remove some of this stuff, I can reveal a very, very,

strange object.

This thing was crafted at least three to four centuries ago.

I guess probably about 1650 to 1680.

It's a series of lumps of oak

that now go to form an architectural fragment.

In another words, it's a bit of a very much larger carved scheme.

And you can imagine the other half of this fragment going to make up

the complete half circle that perhaps might have

sat on top of a doorway.

But it's the quality of the carving that gets me excited,

because in this top mould, it's crisp and crisp.

Underneath here, we get these fully formed eggs and darts.

Then the roundel itself, which is wrapped with wreath,

and then above that, a spandrel,

which is flat-carved with lots of foliage and what's called strapwork.

If you look at the back,

you get a semblance of just how old this thing is.

We've got four lumps of wood crudely nailed together.

There's loads of woodworm, and this very strange grey colour.

Now, the grey colour is what weathered oak becomes.

But the weathering on this oak has taken it to a very oddball

silver-grey colour, and that's because this thing, I think,

has been exposed to seawater.

And this is why you have to be a bit lateral.

Because if it's not an architectural fragment from a house,

could it be an architectural fragment from a boat?

It is just the sort of embellishment that was applied to

Admiralty vessels in the latter half of the 17th century.

This could be part of the vessel, the Royal Yacht, that brought

Charles II over from France when he regained his crown in 1660.

How about that?

Well, it gets kind of interesting, doesn't it, as a historical feature?

How much might it be worth?

Well, here in the antique centre, it's priced up at £245.

It's been here for yonks.

Nobody's bought it,

and I guess the dealer might sell it to you for £150.

At that, it's a lovely piece of carving.

But if you did research the necessary and you came up with

a bingo, then this thing could be anywhere between £1,000 and £2,000.

How's that?

Well, we've come from Leominster

and we've popped up to Malvern to be at Philip Serrell Auctions with

-the great man, and it's lovely to be here.

-Good to have you, Tim.

Thank you very much.

Now, we've got a nice mixture here with these Reds.

-This salon chair with the burgher split cane stuff.

-Yeah.

-Very delicate that, isn't it?

-It's a decorative sort of lot.

-We put £50 to £70 on it.

-OK, they paid £130.

That's a good price to pay, isn't it?

And I think somebody might pay £100 for it. £100 to £150, I think.

-That's what you think?

-I do. I do.

-If it had a leg broken off it or the cane was bad...

-It's in good order.

..I'd knock it down in price. Otherwise, I think...

It's in good order.

Next, we've got the wishbone, four-leaf clover brooch.

-Yeah, that's covering all angles.

-It certainly is, isn't it?

I mean, if you're about to get married and you want a bit of good

-luck, that's your good luck totem, isn't it?

-Yeah.

I don't see it as being the best thing in the world,

and we've put sort of £5 to £8 on it.

Yeah, and I think you're right. You see, marcasite is marcasite.

-It isn't as if there's any gemstone in there.

-No.

So it was never expensive in its day.

£5 to £7 is your estimate. £15 they paid.

-So, you know, it's just pretty.

-Yeah.

Now, the double-ended scent bottle, that is a bit of a struggle,

I think.

Cos clear glass ones are nothing like as sought-after as the coloured

-ones, are they?

-It's all down to what they paid for it.

I mean, we've put £50 to £80 on it, and I think, you know,

if they bought that for...I don't know, 40, 50 quid,

-I think they're in with a good chance.

-Mmm.

-Unfortunately, they paid £130.

-Oh, right.

And that's why there's a bit of a problem about it.

Because although the condition's pretty good,

the colour's wrong for £130 double-ender, in my opinion.

-Absolutely right. I agree with you.

-So £50 to £75.

That could torpedo their chances.

But on the other hand, if the chair does really rather well,

maybe it'll balance it out, and they won't need their bonus buy.

But let's go and have a look at it anyway.

Well, this is great, isn't it?

You are so brave, spending £275 and giving the girl only £25.

So, Caroline, your challenge - the proof, please, and a bit of pudding.

-Oh. We did look at that, didn't we?

-Love it.

-We passed it over.

-Do you like?

-Yeah. It's the nutcracker set, isn't it?

-It is.

Nutcracker...or they could be used for lobsters.

And there's the little pick here as well. Original silk velvet lined box.

Mid to late 19th century. Lovely little set.

-I don't think it's ever been used.

-Good gift for somebody.

-Well, I love it.

-Do you? Did you like it when you were shopping?

-We did like it.

-Just have a little handle, Craigie.

-Reintroduce yourself to the nutcracks.

-Nutcracker.

-They work, don't they? Yes.

-Yes.

-In brilliant condition, Caroline, yes?

-Yes, absolutely.

-How much did you spend?

-Go on, then - how much?

-£22.

£22.

-Ask her what they're going to bring.

-What do you reckon?

-I think they'll get £30, £35.

-Profit in there, then.

-Yeah.

-Yeah, I think there's profit in them.

-I think it's a pretty item, you see, as well - just to display.

-Anyway, we better crack on...

-SALLY LAUGHS

..and find out for the audience at home what the auctioneer

thinks about Caroline's nutcracker.

Here you go, then, Phil. Look at that nice little set.

Well, do you know what - these came in as nutcrackers,

and I wasn't sure whether they were nut or lobster.

You could use it for lobster - course you could. Bit of crab.

We put £15 to £30 on them, so I don't know.

I think they're very nice. £22, Caroline paid.

I think she's alright with them. I think they're alright.

She's got the right colour to the interior to the box, too.

It's lovely to have this colour coding for the Red Team, isn't it?

Exactly. And she's thought it through.

-For the Blues, first up, a native container.

-Yeah.

-Not native to Malvern.

-No.

-No.

-Um, do you think it's for beans?

Well...I've seen one of these things once where

they used it for putting beans in and it's some sort of calculating device.

How it works, I don't know.

-Uh...I think that that is limited in its appeal...

-Me too.

-..and I think it's like a fiver's worth.

-Fortunately, they paid £5.

-Well, they're home and hosed on that.

-Barbara went with it. She invested £5.

-They'll be lucky if they get a profit out of it.

-Absolutely.

The Sowerby pressed glass basket.

It's quite sweet, but it's yesterday's antique, isn't it?

It's yesterday's antique.

They're quite common, particularly around here.

I think that's between £10 and £20.

£25 they paid, so they paid a tad too much for that.

-Yeah, absolutely.

-Anyway, stand by for the sweet little box.

-That's stunning quality.

-You love this stuff.

-I do.

I think it's really, really lovely quality.

Hallmarked silver card case box.

Mark's a bit rubbed if you want to be picky,

-but that's probably where it's been overpolished.

-1899.

-Yeah, I just think it's really, really lovely.

-Yeah.

-And we've put, what, £50 to £80 on that.

-How much?

-£50 to £80. Nice thing.

-Is that all?

-Why? What did they pay for it?

-Do you want to know?

-Go on.

-£200.

-Sorry?

-£200.

HE CLEARS HIS THROAT OK.

-£200?

-You're selectively deaf, you know.

I think we need to look at the bonus buy.

Right. On that happy note, perhaps we should.

-Now, Babs, Digs, how are you feeling?

-Fine, thank you very much.

Are you? You spent £230, which was mature. You gave him £70.

-David, what did you spend it on?

-OK, here we go.

Something I think very on-trend right now.

-Oh. Why?

-SHE LAUGHS

Well, over-enthusiasm, I see.

Yes, I'm finding it very difficult to get enthusiastic about it.

Oh, Diggory, come on - you can appreciate that.

-Early 20th century, probably 70 or 80 years old.

-Yes.

Anything 20th century now is super trendy.

It's obviously a milk glass lamp base.

Pressed glass, but it's got the look, it's got the colour, and that thing

electrified with a lovely shade on there will look the business.

-Where's the wire go?

-Modern and funky.

-Where does what-ee?

-Where's the wire go?

-There. Just there.

-So it's on the outside?

-Yeah.

-Oh, charming.

-It's a bit of an extra, that.

-What did you pay for it?

That's the big thing.

Well, what would you pay for it, then, seeing as you love it so much?

-OK, so I paid £25 for that.

-Mm-hm.

£30 to £50 - it's got to be all day long.

It might look better once it's got a bulb on and a light looking down.

-You've got to use your imagination.

-Use your imagination, Barbara.

Now, you're getting with it eventually. You're getting there.

-OK, well, I think we're a little underwhelmed.

-Shall I be honest?

So am I. THEY LAUGH

OK, seriously, fact of the matter is if you need it,

it's there to fall back on, but knowing your luck,

you'll have so much profit in your back pocket at that moment -

when the moment comes to decide - you won't be bothered with it.

But right now, let's find out

whether the auctioneer can be bothered with it.

-OK, Phil. It's not Lalique, it's not Sabino.

-No.

-It's Woolworth's.

Yeah, I think that's probably... I don't know.

-We might get £20 to £30 for it. What did they pay for it?

-£25.

David Harper's bonus buy.

-You know, we might get him out of trouble on that.

-You might do, mightn't you?

I'll have to swim the Channel to do it, but we'll get him out of jail.

-You're in good condition, though, aren't you?

-Fighting fit.

Fighting for breath and fit for nothing.

We'll look forward to the outcome in a minute. Thanks very much.

Is there any more? At £600. All done at £600? And done. Thank you.

The lot number is...

Quickly, then - the salon chair you paid £130 for,

he's estimated at £50 to £70, but I think he's quite wrong.

The wishbone brooch, you paid £15 for that.

He's put £5 to £7 on that. I think he's quite wrong.

The double-ended scent bottle, you paid £130 for that -

-he's put £50 to £80 on that.

-And that's completely wrong.

-Yeah.

Anyway, first up is your salon chair, and here it comes.

Nice-looking chair, that, actually. Good-looking thing. Bid me for it. Start me at £100, someone.

-£100.

-Come on.

-£100 I'm bid on the net. At £100, £100. £100 only.

There's the bid on the net. At £100 only. At £100. Is there any more?

-Come on!

-Any more?

-Come on, come on.

-£100!

And I sell to the maiden bid on the internet and done there.

-Oh, that's cheap.

-Done. Thank you.

-Oh, dear. £100. That's not good.

Minus £30. Bad luck. Now, wishbone brooch.

358 is...well, you've got wishbone and clover here,

so you've probably got a double dose of good luck. Bid me.

Start me off with that...I don't know, wherever you want to be.

-Give me £20 to start.

-Come on.

-£20?

£10.

£10 I am bid. At £10. £10 bid. At £10 only. At £10. £10 bid.

-£10. £12. £15.

-Yeah.

-This is better. Come on.

-£18.

-Now you're in profit.

-£18. There's the bid at £18 only. At £18.

There's the bid. Any more at all?

-At £18. And done, then. At £18, and done. Thank you.

-That is plus £3.

There, you've broken the ice.

-That's lovely. Minus £27, that's all.

-Right.

-Start me. £150 starts.

-£100 starts.

-Needs to make £157.

-Give me £50, someone.

-Oh, come on.

£50 I'm bid just here, at £50. £50 bid. At £50 only, at £50.

-And £5.

-£50's awful.

-I'm devastated.

-Yes, Ned?

-Not half as devastated as I am.

-£60. There's a bid at £60. £60 bid.

-In the room at £60. Any more at all?

-Bad smell about.

-The net's out.

-At £5.

-Come on.

-£65 only. Is there any more? At £65.

-I can't bear it.

-£70, may I? £70. £70 bid. At £70. Fine anyway now.

-£70.

-At £70, and I sell then at £70. And done. Thank you.

£70 is minus £60. To £27 is minus £87.

What are we going to do about the nutcracks?

Oh, we've got to go for it, haven't we? In for a penny, in for a pound.

-See if we can crack it with the nuts.

-We're going with the bonus buy.

I can now tell you that his estimate is £15 to £22

on the bonus buy, so you're in the money there. You should be.

Here we go. Look.

-Here comes the nutcracks.

-Start me off. £20 for them. Bid me a tenner.

£10, £12, £15, £18, £20. £25. One more, go on.

-Well done, Caroline - you're in profit, girl.

-There's the bid.

-Lovely.

At £25 only, at £25. Any more at all? At £25.

-There's the bid. And I can sell, then.

-She can spot 'em, I tell you.

-Yeah.

-£25 is plus £3. It's a success.

Now, so that is minus £84,

which doesn't sound too bad when you say it quick, does it?

-No.

-Anyway, minus £84. You might beat the Blues.

-Never know.

You never know. OK.

So mum's the word, and we will reveal all in a moment,

you lovely couple.

On the face of it, this is going to be a bloodbath,

and you're really, really going to need the lamp base -

the one that you were so sniffy about earlier. All right?

You could be on your hands and knees, going towards David Harper.

-You never know.

-You never know.

I hope not, but I've a feeling it might turn out that way. All right?

Anyway, buck up, lads.

First up is your bean counting tray, and here it comes.

-Bid me for that lot - £10 to go to someone. £10. £5.

-Come on.

Help. THEY LAUGH

I don't think it's very Malvern, do you?

Who's got a couple of quid to start? £2 I am bid. At £2.

Who's got £5? Go on, Dunc. At £2. I'm bid at £2. £2. £2.

-At £2.

-They don't like it, Babs.

-They don't like it.

-HE GROANS

At £2 and I sell, then. At £2 and done. Thank you.

I can't believe that. It's minus £3.

Look out. Now the slag glass.

-Little basket. Bid me for that lot. £20. £10 to go.

-You paid £25.

-We paid £25, yes.

-£5. Oh, come on!

-£5, I am bid at £5.

-Well, Diggory did.

-Yeah, let's blame Diggory.

-At £5. Any bid at £5?

£5 bid. £5. £5, and I sell to... £8. £8 bid. £8. £10.

-£10 bid. At £10.

-Come on!

-At £10 on my left.

-Uh-oh.

-This is not looking good, lads.

-Done.

PHILIP BANGS HIS GAVEL

That's £10. It's minus £15. You're minus £18.

-This is a lovely thing.

-OK, stand by for the bloodbath.

Got bids on the book. I start at... £75. £75. £75. £75. At £75 only.

At £75. Is there any more?

At £75. £80. £85. £85. £90 with me. At £90. £90 bid.

-Any more at all?

-It's no money, is it?

-£90 and £95. £95 on the net. Bid at £95.

-Getting a bad feeling, Babs.

-At £95.

-Don't like the sound of this, Babs.

-Come on. No, no, no.

£95 on the net.

-And done. Thank you.

-Oh, no!

-That's minus £105.

-Do we get a golden gavel?

-No, you do not.

Now, what are we going to do about this lamp base?

-I had a horrible feeling about this. Nothing?

-No, we've gotta take it.

-Yeah, of course.

-We're going with the bonus buy. £25 you paid, David.

His estimate's £20 to £30. So you should be splat in the middle.

-And here it comes. Look out.

-Table lamp. Nice thing, that.

-Bid me for that. Bid me £30 to start, someone. £30. £20.

-Come on.

-Give me a tenner.

-Oh, come on.

-SHE LAUGHS

-Who's got a fiver?

-Oh!

-SHE LAUGHS

Who needs a light? £5 I am bid, Dunc.

£5. £5 bid. £5. At £5. I sell, then, at £5.

-And done. Thank you.

-Oh, no!

-Minus £20. It is...

-Bad.

-Minus £143 in to-to. Yeah? Which is bad.

On the other hand, don't say a word to the Reds, alright?

-Oh, I wouldn't dream of it.

-Quite right.

You have it.

-Well, well, well. Happy, teams?

-ALL:

-Yes.

-Goodness only knows why.

-THEY LAUGH

-This has been a disaster all round.

-Oh, no.

-Yes.

Yes, yes, yes. Whopping losses.

It's just a question of the scale of the losses.

I'm afraid the team with the greatest whopping loss are the Blues.

-Oh, no!

-Oh!

-I thought we did so well.

THEY LAUGH

-Did we do well?

-THEY KEEP LAUGHING

Minus £143.

And in fact, you've had a series of body blows,

but I can't believe how well you've taken it.

-You've been really British about this.

-Well, we're used to defeat.

THEY LAUGH

-Anyway, it's been a good time, anyway.

-Thank you very much.

Very nice to see you.

The victors, who managed to win by losing only £84.

THEY CHEER, LAUGH

They got £3 on a brooch and £3 on some nutcrackers,

which just about sums it up, really.

-The rest of it was not so brilliant, was it?

-No.

-No. Had a good time?

-Fantastic.

-Very nice to see you.

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

-ALL:

-Yes!