Leominster 11 Bargain Hunt

Today's show is a show with a difference

because we've got two teams of former Golden Gavel winners.

That means the last time we met them

they made a profit on absolutely everything.

But will their streets be paved with gold today?

Let's find out. Let's go bargain hunting.

This is made of plastic.

We are in Herefordshire today. Leominster, to be precise.

And these historic streets will prove to be today's battleground.

But will our teams, former Golden Gavel winners,

be able to create another bit of history today by perhaps

scooping up one or two more Golden Gavels? Stay tuned to find out.

Here's what's coming up.

On today's show, the Reds are feeling the pressure.

-Do you like the chair?

-This is a nightmare.

-Right, well, don't panic.

-We can just get anything.

-No, we can't just get anything.

And the Blues seem to have forgotten the rules.

-Tell us why you like it.

-We haven't got a massive house and I think...

We're not buying for your house. Get with the programme!

But when we reach the auction, even Philip Serrell is bemused.

I haven't the first idea what that is.

I haven't got the first idea what it's made of

or where it's come from, other than Leominster.

Let's meet the teams then.

Well, isn't this fun?

Returning today for the Reds

is the grandmother and grand daughter duo

of Maureen and Sophie.

And for the Blues, the divine husband and wife combo

-of Stephen and Lucy. Hello, everyone.

-Hello.

Now, before we reacquaint ourselves,

why don't we remind ourselves of how we got on last time?

2011 was a golden year for today's bargain hunters.

The Blue team walked off with £73, earning a solid profit on each item.

With you at £70, 75 now.

-That's 70 to you.

-60? Come on.

-Go on then.

The Reds haggled hard and scooped a whopping £177,

mainly due to their bonus buy making £110 profit.

-You can have that for your holiday.

-That is so brilliant.

Wasn't that fun?

Anyway, now, Sophie, you've done your textiles and fashion degree,

now you're going to learn about how the things are made, right?

Yes, I'm on my third year at the moment

and most of my degree is based on the industry.

So it would be interesting

to learn how garments are actually constructed,

-so that would be interesting.

-So that's an ambition, to move forward to.

-Yes.

Will you go for retro things if you come across them in the shops today?

Yes, like last time, I keep my eyes out for something vintage probably.

-Didn't do too badly last time, did it?

-No, it didn't.

Maureen, there's been a big change in your life since we last met.

-I know. I'm a pub landlady.

-You're not!

-I am.

-You were a carer last time I saw you.

-I know.

-Now you've become a carer of other people.

-I like variety.

-Are you enjoying it?

-Yes. It's good.

And you have to be the loveliest gran around

because last time you give your share of your winnings to Sophie.

-I did.

-What did you spend it on, Soph?

-On a holiday.

-I know, I shouldn't really say that, but I did.

-And you had a good time?

Yes, a very good time, thank you.

Well, last time you spent big and you won big.

Is that the tactic this time?

-Yes.

-Definitely.

-Very good.

Whatever happens, we are going to have loads of fun.

Now, Stephen, winning Bargain Hunt so spectacularly last time

has had an effect on your social life, hasn't it?

Yes, I've become a bit of a minor celebrity.

Let's just say all the kids at Matravers School have probably seen

the episode of Bargain Hunt a couple of years ago.

And at parents evenings, it's the first topic of conversation every time I see parents.

This is just going to reignite your fame, do you know that?

They are just never going to let go of you.

Lucy, you also get recognised around the workplace.

Yes, and at meetings people just come up to me and say,

-"I know your face from somewhere."

-Yes.

-And you say, "Could it be the television?"

-Kind of.

We've whittled it down, "Do you watch Bargain Hunt?"

"Oh, yes, that's it." So yes, I've had a few of those.

And I'm told, Stephen, you've splashed out your profits.

You say profits, I don't remember seeing any of it.

We did put it together and spend it on a gate for our drive.

-Well, that's not bad, is it?

-One of the gates.

-One of the gates, yes.

So many drives and so many gates.

Now, any change of tactics for today's hunt, Luce?

I remember last time we bought a lot of quite masculine items,

so this time it would be nice if we bought something a bit more feminine.

A bit girly. How important is it to the two of you to do well again?

Very much so. We want to show it wasn't a one-off and a fluke.

No, no fluke. Is that the sentiment all around?

-The pressure is on, isn't it?

-The pressure is on.

Anyway, now the £300 special moment.

And before you trot off in your specially pimped-up

Golden Gavel fleeces - look at that - I have to tell you

your experts await you.

You know the rules, and off you go and very good luck.

Well, this is our first Golden Gavel special.

Whatever is going to happen next?

Well, what happens next

largely depends on the guidance they receive.

So, hoping to be the toast of the town for the Red team

it's Caroline Hawley.

And there's no mystery why he's won so many Golden Gavels,

its golden boy David Harper.

So, golden girls, what are your tactics today?

Apart from getting another Golden Gavel.

I don't know, just go with the flow, really, see what we can find.

Do you realise you are much better at this than me?

You've done it once and you get a Golden Gavel.

I've done it 54,000 million times and got four.

It's nice of you to say so.

I feel more competitive this time than I did last time, strangely.

-Great, that's good. That's brilliant.

-This is fabulous.

-It is really good.

-Shall we get going?

-The pressure is on, isn't it?

-It is a bit.

Let's hope we can have a repeat of last time.

-Are you feeling the nerves?

-I am a little bit, yes.

-Very competitive.

-Are you?

-Yes, very.

-Marvellous.

For me, it's dead easy because all the pressure is on you.

You have to prove yourselves. Let's go.

-It's 375.

-Then it's still too much.

Well, I like this place because it's an antique centre,

but not everything is in cabinets. You can grab it and hold it.

You don't have to ask for keys all the time.

-What's that at the back, that Lucy bag?

-Oh, that's sweet.

-That's really nice.

-Do you like that?

-Yes, we do.

-It's Lucite. £85.

Now, that looks like it's an American bag, possibly,

from the 1950s. '50s is your period, isn't it?

Yes, I think it's worth having a look at it.

-Do you want me to fetch somebody?

-Definitely.

-I'll do that now.

I can see Caroline being a busy bee today.

Mind you, the Blues are still discussing who's in charge.

Who makes the decisions basically in your life?

Well, I like to think I do, but obviously I don't.

-Yes, that's about it, actually.

-I have to run everything by Lucy.

-Do you?

-Yes.

Back with the Reds and shop manager Stan has the key to their success.

Yes, please.

There we are.

-It's very light. There's nothing to it.

-Is the condition all right?

-No.

-So maybe not.

-And a lot of cracks underneath as well.

-OK.

-No, thank you.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

Good tactic, Reds. Quality always sells.

A little side table?

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

-Well, tell us why you like it.

Its size, I think. We haven't got a massive house and I think it...

We're not buying for your house. Get with the programme!

It's quite a funky design, isn't it?

It's basically an occasional table

that is disguised as a ladies' sewing table,

-but it could be used for anything.

-Magazines.

Magazines, yes. So, what date is it then? Come on, you are the experts.

I don't know, 1930s? May be a little bit later.

Lucy, what do you think? I don't know, 1950?

-Yes, I think you are bang on.

-OK.

It's got a bit of an art deco feel to it,

so I can see where you're going.

But a lot of the furniture from the 1950s

was inspired by the '20s and '30s furniture.

And right now, it is absolutely on trend.

What's it made from?

-You're a teacher.

-It's not going to teal or something, is it a hardwood?

-No, if you look, there's the tell-tale, it's plywood.

-Oh, right.

So it's still wood, but of course made during a period where

-actually wood wasn't very easily accessible.

-Of course not.

It's still very expensive. These are still times austerity, the 1950s.

-Do we like the look, Lucy?

-It's not a wow piece, is it?

I like it personally, I could see it in my house.

If we like it ourselves, that's what worked last time.

And I think the price is reasonable.

We haven't talked about the price. How much is it?

-£35.

-That's not bad.

If you look at the top, they've actually cut the veneers

in such a way that you've got that lovely design.

-I like it.

-Yes, I quite like it.

-I quite like it.

-Let's go for it then.

OK. Shall I take that?

So, Lucy pops downstairs to try and better the £35 price tag.

-Wahey! Hello.

-She's got a big smile.

-Do you think you've done well?

-Don't tell us yet.

-I think so, yes.

-What do you think she's got it for?

She's very persuasive. I think 25.

I think...22.

-23.

-No wonder you got the call to bring you back again.

Come on, lead the way, Lucy, let's get out of here.

Only the very best for this show, David.

That's the first Blue buy all sewn up.

-I like the look of that.

-Ah!

It says Newark on it. We're not going to be selling it in Newark

and it would be better if it was going to Newark, possibly.

I tell you what, though, it's got a big hole on that corner.

Right, we'll move on.

No damage, no buy.

Sounds like a Bob Marley song.

Anyway, there's no mystery that you've set your sights high, Reds.

The Blues, however, are taking a rather enigmatic view.

Tell me what you think about that.

-It looks quite crudely made.

-It's been described as a treen enigma.

So, in other words, we have no idea what it is,

but don't you just love it for that? I do. Why was it made? Who made it?

When? Why was it constructed in that way?

It's an oddity, because of that, I think it's smashing.

It looks old. Is that just because it's crudely made?

Yeah, yeah, I think so.

It certainly has an ethnic feel to it, doesn't it?

Yeah, I thought that.

-That sort of wood that you get in churches.

-It looks ancient.

I think it's far from British. Which continent do we think it's from?

I'd say Africa.

I think you're probably right. I think West Africa, Nigerian.

Let's just remove that.

Oh, I think it really does have a West African look.

-What age would you say then?

-It's very difficult.

It could be a tourist piece made 30 or 40 years ago.

I would never have picked it up, but now you see that...

-We always said trust the expert.

-Yeah.

Really?

-Yes.

-You haven't seen me then, have you?

-What do you reckon?

-Yeah. It's quirky.

-Well, it's 26 on it.

Lucy, that's just in your price range.

-Is it your go?

-Shall I go an do it this time? OK.

You keep on looking. I'll go and see what I can do.

-I better take that with me, in actual fact. Stay there.

-Good luck.

Thank you.

I can't see anything.

Keep looking, we're OK. We're OK.

Yes... The golden girls seem to be feeling overwhelmed already.

..Then we'll go down here.

Leaving an offer of £20, David has joined has team in anticipation.

Will the wait be worth while?

I've spoken to the dealer and she will take £20.

Brilliant.

-Does she have any idea what it is?

-Absolutely not, no.

-Thank you very much.

-You're welcome.

-Thank you.

-I'll give you the ticket.

-I'll have that back.

That's good, isn't it?

Fantastic. OK, let's do a time check.

We have had 27 minutes.

That's so much better than last time.

-I think we didn't buy our first item till 40 minutes.

-You're kidding.

-The pressure was really on.

-Oh, we're doing better then, so far.

We can relax a little bit.

While the Blues take it easy, are the Reds still feeling

the pressure or building a head of steam?

-That's interesting, isn't it?

-That's beautiful. It's functional.

It's a very unusual shape. Caroline?

-First thing bought, then.

-Oh, brilliant.

Have you found something?

-This kettle.

-Oh, wow. What a current shape.

-Shall we get Stan?

-Yes, yes.

Hang on, have a proper look first.

Hopefully that's what the Blues are doing.

-It's heavy.

-That is heavy.

Why do you think it's so heavy?

Well, it's the material that it's made of. Let's have a look.

I've got my little glasses. Yeah, it's Picquot Ware.

Despite its continental sounding name and styling,

Picquot Ware is in fact a British company who started out

producing non-electric vacuum cleaners in the 1930s.

The tea services are quite common.

-I haven't seen a kettle for a very long time.

-No, that's beautiful.

-What's that?

-That's a wooden handle, which won't conduct the heat.

You're safe to hold that, you can lift it.

We need a price, don't we?

-That's too high.

-I'll see what we can do for you.

-Could you, please?

What down to, Caroline, do you think?

What do I think it should be?

Well, it really would be very nice if it was nearer 60, or 50.

-Were you going to say 50?

-50.

Oh, that's a big ask, girls, but if you don't ask, you don't get.

Shall we move on to the next place? Shall we do that?

We can always come back if we've got time.

-Yeah.

-All right, let's do that.

You may have the luxury of being two items up,

but time is rapidly disappearing, Blues.

You can have it for £70.

-Are you happy?

-Should we do it?

-If you really like it...

And that's the very least he'd go? - Yes, can't go any more than that.

He wouldn't go any lower? - No, no.

-It's top end, but I think it's gorgeous.

-It's beautiful.

-You like it. As you say, we all...

-You decide.

-Would you like it?

-Yes, we'll have it.

Jolly good. Right, I'll keep it for you.

Fingers crossed we'll make money on it.

Stan did deliver a lower ticket price.

Where are our other dandy highwaymen though?

It's quite nice wandering down town going to antique shops, isn't it?

-Yeah, bit different.

-Come on, after you.

Look, "Best prices in the area."

Wahey, that's a good sign.

-Here, what about this?

-Yeah, Nan bought one like that last time.

-Did she?

-Yeah.

-Call her, quickly.

-I'll go and get her.

Quickly, very quickly.

-I found Nan. I couldn't find Stan, but I've got Andrew.

-Right.

I hope he can help.

You've got Gran, couldn't find Stan, but we've got Andrew. Hello, Andrew.

First of all, what do you think about this? It's oak.

-This is copper, is it?

-Yeah.

This is copper banding here in the Art Nouveau style.

Let's have a look.

It's got all the bits in there.

It's nice quality. It's going to Philip Serrell's Auction.

-He's keen on furniture.

-Oh, is he?

These pull out here so you can put the fold down on to that.

It's had a bit of restoration here and there.

So you could actually put your laptop on that, couldn't you?

Yeah, you could.

What's best - you could close it up and put it away.

It doesn't take up a lot of space in a modern home.

It's useful so you've got it for books.

-Do you like it?

-Yes. Yes, I do.

I know you bought one similar in the last show that you did.

-Dark wood, roll top.

-Right, yeah.

-Well, should we find out the price and see?

-Yes.

Andrew, could you give us your very, very best price on this, please.

115, really. That's where I need to be. Where I'm comfortable being.

Would you do it for 100 and we'll have it?

OK. Yeah, go on, then.

-That's brilliant.

-Yes.

-Thank you very much indeed. That's very kind of you.

Thank you. Brilliant. Excellent.

-Thank you.

-I'll shake your hand as well.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

That's pretty. Lovely. Thank you.

That's more like it, Reds.

Just ten minutes left to get hold of your final item.

Well, with the Red team gaining momentum,

those buoyant Blues are sitting pretty.

What do you feel about that chair?

-Quite a manly chair.

-It is quite manly.

I prefer more ornate chairs.

-OK.

-It's not...

-It's got quite a high seat as well.

Have you noticed that?

There's a reason for that. Would you just model that for us?

Comfortable, though.

They're always more comfortable than you'd think. Do you like it?

Yeah. I like the carving up the back.

Where's it from?

Are we saying it's not Britain? It's not British?

-Is it Chinese or something?

-It is Chinese.

It could be loosely described as a Mandarin chair.

You've got the height. It's for an official.

There'd normally be two of them.

There he would sit, elevated slightly above everyone else,

dishing out orders. It takes you to another place.

It's made of a hard wood. Probably a Chinese equivalent of a beech.

Let's just turn it over, if I can.

Bring it down.

It's not... I've got to tell you, it's not the best one in the world.

It's been shaved off here because it's been sat on a damp floor.

It's got some age.

I think this was probably made

in the earlier part of the 20th century.

More for us, but it's still got a Chinese feel.

You've got a carved bat in the back there, which is

an incredibly important feature in Chinese culture.

It's an auspicious creature. All the good things - it's there.

You're not looking over sure, Lucy.

I'm just worried because you said it's not the best example

you've seen and it's still marked up as £90.

I'm just thinking about what price you might get at auction.

If we can get it for 50 or 70, I think

it stands a chance of making 100-ish

as a decorative chair.

Do you want me to go and have a word with the dealers

-and see what I can get it for?

-Yeah.

You try it out, Lucy. I'm sure you'll find it more comfortable.

-You need to sit down.

-I do need to sit down.

Don't hang about, David. Five minutes soon disappears.

Only now is this becoming apparent to the Reds.

We can't just get something. No, we can't just get anything.

-We have to... Don't panic!

-Did you see anything on the way in?

No, I didn't.

-Do you like the chair?

-Oh, this is a nightmare.

Right, well, don't panic.

Is it seat of the pants time for both teams?

OK, you two.

Two bits of news - first bit of news is you have two

and a half minutes to buy the third object.

Second bit of news, the best I can do is £10 off. £80.

Yeah, we'll go for that.

Yeah, we're happy.

Two minutes to spare.

That's how it's done, Reds.

Less than a minute.

Crikey, we're going to have to think of something fast. Silver bracelet.

I saw that. Yes, I like that.

Right, we're going to... Stan, bracelet, best price, please. Quick.

22.

-20 and it's a deal.

-Done.

-Done!

Thank you.

It's too much stress. It's too much.

Stay with me, kid. There'll be lots of stress. Maureen, are you OK?

Brilliant.

I think that's absolutely brilliant. Super. I haven't even seen it.

This is your item. Meet your item.

There you go, Nan.

-Oh, that's nice.

-No, that is.

You'd wear that, wouldn't you?

-Would you wear it?

-Yes, I would.

That's super.

STAN: Jolly good for 20 quid, isn't it?

Yeah, that's brilliant. Well done, Stan.

-You've got more money now. And more time.

-And more time.

More money, more time.

Excellent stuff.

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

After much searching,

they got the Picquot Ware kettle for a scorching £70.

Hot on its heels, they honed in on the bureau for £100.

With seconds to spare, they shook on the silver bracelet for £20.

Hey, girls, is this a good place to shop or what?

Yes.

It's lovely, isn't it?

-Have you enjoyed it?

-Yes, really enjoyed it.

-Of course, you're old hands at this game.

-Well...

So which is your favourite piece, Mo?

-The kettle.

-The kettle is your favourite.

-Soph, what's your favourite?

-The last-minute buy - the bracelet.

Very spontaneous.

-Certainly was last minute. OK, so how much did you spend?

-190.

Good number.

-You know you can trust Caroline with this, don't you?

-Implicitly.

-You

have a load of confidence in her, as I do.

So, good luck with that, Caroline, £110.

A lot of responsibility is on your shoulders.

-I know.

-These Golden Gavellers, you know.

You never know where they're going to start or finish.

Anyway, good luck with that.

Why don't we check out what the

Blue Team Golden Gavellers bought, eh?

I'll be darned. They bought the sewing table for a snip at £23.

Next they took a punt on the Treen enigma for £20.

And finally they carved out a deal at £80 for the Chinese chair.

You could do with one of those. Just one, not a pair.

-One for you in your house.

-I think I look good in it.

They do like to chatter on, our Golden Gavellers, don't they?

I suppose you've done it before so you're really relaxed?

-More relaxed as we got going.

-Was it good?

-It was OK.

Of course, you've got the maestro with you.

-With his Golden Gavel scarf.

-That's right. And how much did you spend?

-£123.

-£123, so I would like £177 of left over lolly, please. Thank you.

-£177, goes straight over to David Harper.

-Thank you very much.

Two hands outstretched.

-And trembling with anticipation.

-Excitement.

-Oh, excitement.

-I hope you're going to blow the lot.

-You know what, I might.

-You never know.

-Anyway, you've got that dough, Dave.

-You're happy for the off?

-Raring to go. Very excited.

-Definitely raring.

Anyway, good luck. Meanwhile, I'm going to show you what you can

buy in five minutes shopping here in Leominster.

If you ever fancied being a lolly pop lady,

this would be a definite buy for you today in the antiques centre.

Isn't that marvellous?

Actually, not used to direct traffic and children

but to direct bread into the oven.

So, commercially the baker in 1820 or 1840

whenever this thing was made would have shoved this in

and out of the oven and hey presto, except it got split.

So he went to the man that repaired the ceramics in the village

and he came up with two metal staples here which kept

the paddle part of the bread shoveller together

and then he carried on working for another 50 years

and all of a sudden one morning there's a disaster.

The stem itself breaks

but he isn't going to throw away his favourite bread paddle, Oh, no.

He takes a Huntley and Palmers biscuit tin,

batters it into a flat plate and then hammers that flat plate

over the break in the stem with a whole load of nails like that.

And hey, presto the thing can carry on for another 100 years.

Isn't that a marvellous object?

Does that not tell the tale of village baking in one lump?

Well, it does for me.

And the other thing that's good about it is that it's

available here for only £18.

Now, on this stall we've got ourselves a Georgian garden roller.

That's a solid lump of stone that's been crafted

and then the metal frame is out of a single piece of wrought iron

that's up to there forged and then cut by the blacksmith and

made into that frame and bolted onto the roller.

That, without negotiating, is £138 and I bet you

if you wanted that period garden piece for as little as £100.

But the ultimate mystery in this section of the antique

centre has to be this thing. Looks a bit like a propeller.

The central boss though is eccentrically mounted with

these vicious hand wrought iron nails.

They are sharp.

It's been wrought by a village blacksmith type with this

crude band.

The handles have got what's called poker work decoration.

Where red-hot rings have been applied as

if you were branding a horse or sorting out a horseshoe.

So, that's quite rustic.

But the purpose of the thing itself, I can only imagine,

is for scraping something.

You're carding wool.

It's a bit too vicious for wool

but perhaps bark or coconut husks to make coconut matting.

Something like that.

And if you can work out exactly what it's used for you would be

able to decide whether it's worth a cool £68 to you.

Because that's the asking price. But it's fun, isn't it?

I've now headed to Malvern to meet up with my old mate and mukka,

Phillip Serrell.

Well, well, well, aren't the teams lucky?

The Golden Gavel former winners are coming to a Golden Gavel sale room.

-With Phillip Serrell. How are you, boy?

-Really pleased to see you.

-Did you enjoy Leominster?

-I did. God, isn't it a lovely place?

It is a lovely place.

And, of course, these guys have high expectations

-because they've done it in the past.

-Yeah.

-They've done it big time.

-Have they?

-Some of them.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-This kettle is very stylish, isn't it?

-It's a cool look.

If you had a pound for every Piquot tea set Aga kettle that you've ever

seen in your life, you'd have a bob or two, wouldn't you?

You would and the trays, the tea sets

and the rest of it normally sell for between £60 and £90.

-If you're lucky.

-For the lot.

The way I would look at that is if you've got an Aga at home

and you want to go but a cheap Aga kettle at £20-30, it's worth buying.

-That's your estimate, is it?

-I think so.

-£20-30, they paid 70.

That Golden Gavel might have tarnished a little bit.

I think it's just flown, frankly.

On the other hand, the wee bureau, I quite fancy that.

It's quite a sweet little thing and it stands out from the crowd.

I've put a fairly mean £60-90 on it.

-Wouldn't surprise me if it made 120, if they're lucky.

-They paid £100.

On the other hand it might make 80.

In which case they're not going to get their Golden Gavel again, are they?

-No.

-No. OK, and then you're got this little link bracelet here.

It's something of nothing really.

I think there's probably less than an ounce of silver in it.

-And it's going to make 10 to 15 quid.

-£20 paid.

-It's sort of in the frame.

-It's there or there abouts. In the mix.

If their anticipation is to repeat the Golden Gavel experience,

we think it's unlikely with this trio, right?

I think they've won their Golden Gavel

and I think it's going to remain singular rather than plural.

OK, fair enough.

And if all else fails they've got the Bonus Buy to go with

so let's have a look at that.

Well, girls, you're old hands at this. You know what happens next.

You spent £190, £110 went to Caroline to buy your bonus buy,

Caroline, what did you buy?

-I saw you looking at that last time.

-Did you? Do you like?

-Lovely.

A beautiful set of Art Nouveau 1908 silver buttons and you

and your fashion career, Sophie.

How lovely would those look on a black dress, a black jacket.

-They would, actually.

-Delightful, Caroline.

-I saw you looking at those.

Did you?

-How much were they?

-How much?

-£105.

-OK.

-Well done, Caroline.

Ask her how much she's going to get.

And what do you think they might make at auction?

I think they might get 120, 130 on a good day.

You don't think anybody who knows what's what wouldn't

pay £200 for them, Caroline?

I think we'd be very lucky to get as much as 200. But I just love them.

I think they appeal to lots of people.

-You'd like them yourself, wouldn't you?

-I would. I love them.

You would too, Sophie.

You lucky Golden Gavellers, I think we've got

something here that's pretty special, don't you? Good.

Right now though, let's find out, for the viewers at home,

what the auctioneer thinks about Caroline's buttons.

-There you go. Look, Phil.

-Thank you.

-Handsome.

When they first came in I wasn't sure how old they were.

The hallmark is saying 1908

and I thought this box isn't 105 years old.

But I got someone to look at them and they're absolutely fine.

We've put an estimate of £60-£90 on them.

-They're a collectible thing, really.

-They are.

£105 is what Caroline invested.

I mean, she's bought a quality item, perfectly genuine and if you want

those buttons, then they're about the best you'd be likely to find.

It's a good lot to put your name by in a Golden Gavel competition.

It is indeed. I don't see a huge profit but I think they'll do their money.

That's it for the Reds.

Now, for the Blues and something completely different.

-The sewing table.

-We've tried to hide that, Tim.

Is it the worst you've ever seen?

It's not as good as that, regrettably.

The top and the bottom don't match one another.

-It's an oak base with a walnut top. £5.

-£5 is your estimate? Oh, dear.

£23 paid. What about this African bowl thing?

You know what, I haven't got the first idea what that is.

I haven't got the first idea what it's made of and I haven't

got the first idea where its come from.

But you've got a first idea as to what it's worth.

Well, I don't think it's the best quality in the world.

And in my eyes it's going to make between £15 and £25,

-something like that.

-OK, that's fair enough.

-What did it make?

£20 they paid. It's like all this native stuff, isn't it?

-It's all a bit of a mystery.

-Nice colour.

-It's a nice colour.

Anyway, there we are. It's got, I think, potential.

And from that point of view you bung it on the internet, you describe

it nicely, you take a photograph of it and anything could happen.

It's an internet sale. So, we're online and that's the key to this.

We'll see what happens. It's rather like this Chinese chair.

I think I might have bee a bit mean with that. I put £30-£50 on it.

I don't think its got great age but, you know,

we've had some interest from condition reports from people

so that might resurrect the Golden Gavel for them.

The trouble is I think they've shot themselves in the foot with

-that first buy.

-Yes. It's got the look, hasn't it?

-It has.

-£80 is all David paid.

-I've probably been a bit mean in retrospect.

-It's quite a lot of object for £100.

-It's a cheap chair, isn't it?

-It is, really.

-It's a cheap chair.

-OK, fine. We've done that.

We think they're not going to get their Golden Gavel because

they're going to do so badly with that work table but there we are.

Stranger things have happened. They might just get there.

In any event they'll have the Bonus Buy to fall back on so let's go

and have a look at that.

You lovely Golden Gavellers, you know what the form is.

He's got it hidden away there. You have him £177.

Now, Dave, show us what you bought.

OK, I'm going to show you one of four almost identical Chinese

early 18th century antiques.

-Circa 1725.

-I really like it, actually. First impressions.

-What do you think it is?

-For tea.

-It's a tea bowl.

Pre-handles. So 1725.

-George I in OUR period. But made for us, not the Chinese.

-OK.

So, tea in the early part of the 18th century was only for the very rich.

-It was a novelty drink.

-Ooh, look at that.

-It's delicious.

-So jolly nice thin Chinese porcelain, isn't it?

-Just tell me.

-Yeah.

-This bit of white encrustation on it,

-that's a bit of a clue here, isn't it?

-Yes.

Bearing in mind these things were made in 1725,

how long do you think it took them to get here to the UK?

We're talking several years, probably, aren't we?

Quite a few several years. About 250 years.

-Oh, really?

-Because about two weeks into the voyage,

the ship sank off the coast of Vietnam.

-Oh.

-And in 1998, some salvagers found the wreck

and brought up literally tonnes of this porcelain.

And that's why we've got some carbuncles.

Yeah. So, a little bit of coral started to grow in the 250 years

under the water on the bottom of this tea bowl.

-So how much do you think you would pay? I've bought four.

-No idea.

-Tea bowls and saucers.

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

-60 quid.

-I paid 20 apiece.

-Oh.

£80 for a set of four original early 18th-century Chinese tea bowls and saucers.

-A drop in the ocean.

-Oh! You've been dying to say that!

Stephen.

Very nice find. And actually, for the audience at home,

let's find out whether the auctioneer thinks £80 is a drop in the ocean.

-Fancy a cup of tea, Phil?

-Ciao. Cha.

-Cha.

I mean, you can't believe that they had their tea

in such tacky little things in the 18th century.

-It's not a proper cup, is it?

-No.

-It should be a mug with handles.

-I know. So we've got four cups, four saucers.

-Yeah.

-Nothing really goes with anything, does it? It's a mishmash.

-Yes.

Removed from the depths of the ocean, as a part of this cargo.

There were several 100,000 pieces that came out of the water

as a part of this cargo and were then sold off in huge job lots.

I love the fact that it's still got the old auctioneer's label on the side.

-Just as well, isn't it?

-Well, it sort of...

-Yeah, in a way, it adds to the value, doesn't it?

-It certainly does.

But one thing is for certain - this slightly grey, faded texture,

which is what 200 or 300 years of saltwater immersion does,

-that isn't going to go away, is it?

-No.

And that tells you it comes from an underwater cargo.

-I quite like them. Do you?

-I think they're fun. I do like them.

I don't think they're going to be massively valuable.

I think in a way these things peaked in value

at the time that they were sold through great marketing.

But I think these are now worth sort of £10 or £15 a tea bowl and saucer.

-What did he pay for them?

-£20 apiece.

-Really?

-Mm-hm. And it just depends on whether the team select or not.

Yeah. I worry about that table, though.

Don't. You'll be all right on the night.

-Well, this is exciting, isn't it?

-Yes.

How many times in your lifetime do you expect to be standing here

on the edge, you two?

THEY LAUGH

-A lot more times, I hope.

-You reckon?

-Yeah.

If you get a Golden Gavel again today, who knows,

you might be asked back to another Golden Gavel special, mightn't you?

-That would be nice.

-Wouldn't that be nice?

-Now, the Picquot Ware kettle is your first item.

-It's our problem.

-And I think it could be your problem.

-Hmm.

I think you could be in hot water with this.

Ha-ha-ha!

So, first up, then, is the kettle,

and here it comes.

Kettle. I've got three commission bids and I start at £50 bid. At 50.

50 bid. At 50.

-60. 70. At £70 only. 80 on the net if you like.

-Yes!

-At £70.

-Well, I take it all back.

-At £70 and I sell.

-Oh, no. What about the profit?

-Thank you.

-Oh, no, 70 doesn't give you a profit.

-I thought it was 80.

-70.

-I thought it was 80. 70.

-I thought it was 80.

No, he sold it for 70.

-OK, here comes the desk.

-Here we are, the little oak desk and I'm bid

on the book £60. Bid at 60. 60 bid. 70. 70 bid.

-80, 90.

-Look out.

-100, 110.

-120. Any more?

-I told you so.

-At 120 only. It's your bid, sir.

At £120.

-There's the bid. At £120.

-Look, he's going to sell it.

£120 and done, thank you.

Plus £20. Well spotted. Anyway, that's a relief. Now, the bracelet.

Little gate-link bracelet. Bid me for that.

£20. Quickly. 20.

30, then!

HE LAUGHS

It sometimes works. Who's got a tenner, quickly? Thank you.

-A tenner I'm bid. At ten. Ten bid. At £10.

-It's no money.

In the room at ten. Is there any more?

-At £10 and I sell.

-I can't bear it, girls.

-Thank you.

So, well, £10 is minus £10. It means you're plus £10.

But I'm afraid your hopes of a Golden Gavel have just disappeared down the pan.

-Disappeared down the drain.

-They have. Sorry about that.

-But let's try and make some money now, shall we?

-Yes.

So what about the Art Nouveau jobbie?

-Are you going to go with those buttons?

-Yes.

-Yes?

-Without a doubt.

-You're going with them?

-They are lovely, aren't they? OK.

His estimate is £60-£90.

-You paid £105, but we believe in them, don't we?

-Yeah, we do.

We think they're fab. And off we go.

The Art Nouveau silver buttons.

Bid me for those. £100 to start me. Who's got 80?

-Surely.

-Who's got 60?

SHE GASPS

60 I am bid on the net. At 60. 60 bid for the buttons.

At £60. Only at 60. 60 bid. At 60. 60 bid.

70 on the net.

- Bid at 70. 70 bid. - Struggling.

80 on the net bid. At £80 only. Internet bid. At 80. 80 bid.

-£80. Any more at all?

-Come on.

-At £80...

-Oh, dear, girls.

-It's a steal. It really is.

At £80 and done. Thank you.

-Bodice ripper, that's what it is.

-Oh!

-There you go.

-£80...

-Never mind.

-..is minus £25.

Which means overall your plus ten has disappeared,

and you are back at minus 15.

-Anyway, let's not despair.

-No.

-Cos minus £15 could be a winning score.

-It could.

The way things are going today, it could easily be.

-So don't say a word to the Blues, all right?

-OK.

One more, sir. 40.

-Now, you Golden Gavellers.

-Yeah.

-You can't nervous because you've done this before.

-Yes.

Yeah, you are cool, calm and collected, right?

Everybody universally hated the sewing table. £23 you paid for that.

And he's got to £5 at a very optimistic rate.

Anyway, I think it's OK. But it's just a bit of a marriage job.

..Is the little sewing table.

Bid me for that. The little sewing table.

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

-Who's got £20?

-Go on.

Who's got £10? Ten. I'm bid at ten. Ten bid.

-Yes!

-£10 only at ten.

-Oh, no, it's not good. We need more than that.

At £10 only. At £10 only. Bid at ten.

Ten bid. At ten. Ten bid.

Any more at all?

At £10 on the net and I sell, then, at £10 and done. Thank you.

That's twice what he thought,

but sadly minus 13.

So bang goes the next Golden Gavel.

An African carved wooden thingamajig-jobbie whatsit.

There we go. Bid me for that lot. Start me off. I don't know.

£20, someone?

Who's got a tenner?

-Uh-oh.

-Uh-oh.

-Who has got a tenner?

-Oh, go on.

-Who's got a fiver?

Right, one of you two has got a tenner, surely?

Oh, behave! Five I'm bid.

-Oh!

-Five bid. £5. At £5.

I'm only bid at five.

-Five or 500.

-There you go.

-I know.

-I was hoping 500.

I know...

THEY LAUGH

At £5. And done. At five and away.

-That's minus 15.

-You've got to take chances in this game.

-That's minus 28.

-You have really got to take chances.

That's two chances you've taken.

Chinese chair. Good lot. Bid me for that. £100 to start me.

Bid me £50, someone, straight in.

Chinese hardwood chair. Bid me.

-Go on.

-Bid me 30.

-What? I can't bear this.

-I can't bear that.

Who's got £20? 20 I'm bid at 20.

-At £20. I'll take 30 anywhere. At £20 only. At 20.

-Oh, dear.

-Come on.

At 30. 30 bid. At £30. 40 now.

-Go on.

-No internet bidding. Nothing. Dead as a doorknob.

-Go on, 40.

-Thank you. 40 bid. One more, madam. 50. 50 bid. At £50.

-At £50, and I sell, then...

-Uh-oh.

-..at £50.

£50 is minus 30. That's minus 58, lads.

OK, now, what about these tea bowls?

-Are we going to have a go at that?

-Definitely.

-You reckon?

-We've got nothing to lose.

-We like the story behind it.

-The fact they've been under the ocean.

-Exactly.

And if he puffs it up a bit, we may be OK.

-You're going to go with the bonus buy?

-Yes.

Well, let me to have you, £50-£75 is his estimate for the four.

-That's OK.

-So £80 paid for the four. And, you know, we are close enough.

Four Chinese export tea bowls and saucers. Buying history with these.

Bid me for them. Who's got £100 to start?

-100 I'm bid. Thank you.

-Yes.

-100 straight in. At 100.

-Lordy, Lordy, Lordy!

-At £100 only.

At 100. 100, 100. Is there any more?

-Go on.

-At 100, 100. At £100

and I sell, then, at £100, and done. Thank you.

It's all it takes. It's 100, which is plus 20.

-I fancy we were lucky there.

-Yeah.

-It means overall you are minus £38, children.

-It's not that bad.

-It could have been worse.

-Exactly. You've been here before.

-You know that minus 38 could be a winning score.

-Yes.

-Say nothing to the Reds and all will be revealed in a moment.

-OK.

-All right?

-Yes.

-Stand by.

At 100, and done. Thank you.

Well, well, well, what a day we have had with our experienced players.

-Sadly, though, that experience has not paid off...

-Oh, dear.

..because it is no secret that, I'm afraid, none of our Golden Gavellers

today are going home with a profit, leave alone a Golden Gavel.

And nobody has told anybody what the minus score is?

Right. But the runners-up today, by a reasonable chalk,

are the Blues.

BLUES GROAN

We're the winners!

Which is not so hot, really.

It's just wasn't your day today.

-Anyway, you're OK about it?

-Oh, yeah. Still enjoyed it.

-You still...

-Yes, we had a good day.

Well, it's been great seeing you again.

And thank you very much for coming and playing once more.

But the victors today are the Reds, who have won by only losing £15.

-Have you had a nice day?

-Fabulous.

-Been all right for you?

-Definitely.

Cracking to see you. In fact, so much fun, join us soon

for some more bargain-hunting, yes? Yes!