Leominster 13 Bargain Hunt

The antiques-laden town of Leominster

is twinned with Saverne in north-eastern France.

So, will our teams to day find that je ne sais quoi?

Let's go bargain hunting. Mais oui!

The streets of Leominster have seen

their fair share of conflict through the centuries,

dating back to the Battle of Llanllieni in 1052.

Up to today, with our battle of the coloured fleeces.

The big question is, though,

will our teams reign victorious or simply be fleeced?

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

On the programme today...

The Reds drive a hard bargain.

-Any chance of 100?

-I could try for you.

-Could you?

And who exactly is the expert on the Blue team?

-Is it marquetry?

-Yes, absolutely. She's good!

-She is good.

-She's good.

-And the edges, even.

-Now, what do you call that decoration?

-If the floral is marquetry...

-Parquetry.

My gosh, you've been swotting up!

But will their efforts pay off at the auction?

And thank you.

-Is that good, Ruthie, or is it good?

-Yes!

At £50, I'll sell then...

Let's meet the teams, shall we?

Well, I'm definitely the thorn between two bunches of roses today

of the fairer sex.

For the Reds we've got friends Ruth and Caroline.

And for the blues, we've got sisters Nancy and Vanda. Welcome, everybody.

-ALL: Hello.

-Lovely to see you.

Now, Ruthie, it says here that you very often send people off to sleep, is that true?

Help them, probably.

I work as a clinician

and I deal with people that suffer from obstructive sleep apnoea.

Which is a terrible business, where people can't drop off to sleep.

Well, they can drop off to sleep, but this is where when they go into

the deep level of sleep at night, they actually stop breathing,

they snore and stop breathing,

so they've got no air going into their lungs and so...

They wake up with a terrible start.

They have to wake up to breathe, exactly.

Oh, dear. Can you imagine?

Now, Caroline, what's it like being this side of the camera?

It's great, yeah, because Ruth and I have been off to see some TV programmes being recorded.

We've been to see Pointless and Would I Lie To You?

and that was at Pinewood Studios we went to see that.

You also get to snoop around people's houses?

Yeah, I do carry out viewings for my local estate agent,

so I go and visit lots of different houses.

So, what did you do before you retired?

I worked for a dental practice, for the last 15, 20 years.

Now, what you do know about antiques between you?

-BOTH: Nothing.

-Nothing at all?

-BOTH: No.

-You're going to do very well on this programme.

-Thank you.

-And have a bit of fun, too.

-Thank you, we will.

-Excellent.

Now, you sisters, you've come with your little sister, Nancy?

-Yes, I have.

-Is she your closest little sister?

-She's my only little sister.

-She's your only little sister?

-What's the gap between you, then?

-I'm 11 years older.

Get away! Are you really?

It says here that you used to share a bedroom with your sister?

-I did, yes.

-Was that a success?

Well, she did make quite a mess because she was that much younger.

Yes, of course.

So, every time I tidied up I came back to another mess.

Now, you've made caring for others your career. Tell us about that.

Well, I started nursing a long time ago.

In fact, over 30 years ago, and I retired last year from the NHS.

-And Vanda, like your sister, you trained as a nurse too?

-I did.

But you kicked it into the long grass?

I did. It took its toll, I think, in the end.

It's quite emotionally draining, I think.

So, you did it for a few years. And what do you do now?

Now, I - I was hired as a PA for a property developer,

-but I spend my time looking after her adorable little boy.

-Very good.

-So, out of you two girls, which is going to be in charge?

-Me.

-Are you?

-Yes.

-Definitely?

-Absolutely.

-OK, that's agreed then?

-Yeah, it is.

OK, we'll have no bickering. Next is the £300 moment.

£300 apiece. You know the rules. Your experts await and off you go.

Very good luck.

So, that's the teams. Now, who are the experts?

Going, going, gong! For the Reds, it's Caroline Hawley.

And for the Blues, it's David Harper. Now, he's no dummy!

-Right, Caroline, what are you hoping to find today?

-Something quirky.

-Also, maybe a small wooden box or a piece of furniture.

-Brilliant.

-So, Nancy, and Vanda, two sisters, eh?

-Oh, yes!

-Oh, yes! Similar taste?

-No, but sometimes it does coincide.

And what about your skills as a hypnotherapist,

are those going to come into play?

In a previous life, I was. Absolutely, it's worth a go.

-Nancy's good at bargain china.

-Oh, yes. Oh, yes!

You've just realised?

Oh, no, no - I've bought some fantastic bargains. A whole box.

-Shall we go bargain hunting?

-Oh, yes!

-One hour, and it starts now.

Come on!

Dive straight in, teams, cos 60 minutes isn't long.

Right, here we are, ladies. Dive in.

Try and test me, because I'm going to be testing you, too. I am.

Well, I'll fail, but you'd better not.

Well, no, don't worry, I often do.

Crikey, David! Expectations are high with your Blues.

The Reds really aren't hanging around.

Barely through the door, and they've spotted something.

-I'd like something like this.

-It all seems intact.

-I mean, what do you think?

-I think it's lovely.

-Check that all the brass is intact.

-The legs are all intact.

There's no breaks. All these flower things are on.

It says, "Edwardian brass and copper revolving magazine stand, 145."

What do you think?

I think everything's right that you said, apart from the price.

I think the price is a little top-heavy, yeah, at 145.

-But it's great.

-So you think at the right price it's saleable?

-It needs to be the right price, yeah.

-Sure.

-I think it's saleable.

-Would you use it yourself?

-I think so.

-I think I would, actually. Yeah.

Cor, they already know the man who can.

Let me call... Stan?

Hello! Hello, Stan.

May we have your very best,

very special price on this lovely magazine rack, please? Very special?

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

-Very special.

You're using your hypnotism. Don't look into her eyes, Stan.

Thank you, very much.

The Blues are drawn to something, but it's not a pencil.

-It's got lead in it.

-You know why, don't you? You know what it is?

-It's a crib, yeah...

-Why has it got a lead lining?

Is it for plants, or something?

Doesn't that make it a flowerbed?

-It's been upcycled, it's been changed.

-OK, then.

-But do you think it's one for us?

-No.

-Ah.

I don't know. How much is it? Let's have a look.

-Oh, my gosh!

-Oh, well, we couldn't afford that.

-295.

Definitely not. We'd only have a fiver for everything else.

It's very nice, though.

Do you know, it really is great to see an outdated object

given a new lease of life.

I've got good news.

The price of this is 145, but it can be yours for 110.

Any chance of 100?

-Well, I can try for you.

-Could you?

I will see if I can squeeze it down a little bit more.

-Just a sec.

-BOTH: Thank you.

I fear you could be doing

a lot of toing and froing with this team, Stan.

Yes, ladies, I've got good news for you. It can be done for £100.

You are amazing. Thank you very much. You've made our day.

Well, I never!

Less than five minutes gone and that's your first buy, Reds.

Now, are the Blues on the scent of a bargain?

-That's a really lovely perfume bottle, I've got to say.

-Yeah.

-And I do like a perfume bottle.

-Do you like them?

-I do.

-Do you both like perfume bottles?

-Yeah, I like perfume.

-Halleluiah!

-We agree! We agree?

-That's really lovely.

-Do you two lust after that?

Talk about it, I'll go and get the keys.

Has it got snakes? Or a plant? Or a flower?

-I think it's a flower.

-I think it's a flower as well.

-"Possibly Baccarat."

-Ooh!

-Right, you two. This is Jenny.

-Hello, Jenny.

-Hi, Jenny.

-JENNY: Good morning.

-Can we open this one, please, Jenny?

-I've just read, it's possibly Baccarat.

-Oh, Baccarat?

-That's a French...

-Oh, that's gorgeous.

So, that, obviously, is silver plated, isn't it?

But it's got an iridescence to it,

almost like petrol floating on water. Do you know what?

The glass itself doesn't excite me. It looks like pressed glass.

-It's the top.

-It is the top. It's gorgeous.

-Is that the stopper?

-Let's have a look.

A good stopper should sit in, should twist maybe one and a half times...

..and it'll be tight. And that's fixed it. And that's a good stopper.

But it's very big.

I always think about the quantity of perfume you would have had to have bought to put in there,

-you would have had to have had a lot of money.

-Yeah, that's a good point.

You would have had to have had an awful lot of money.

-But it is, yeah, I would have said about the '20s.

-I think you're absolutely right.

It's got a bit of an Art Nouveau feel to it with that old Gallic decoration, the floral decoration,

which would date it to 1890 to 1900, but I feel it's a bit later.

You've got that stepped decoration on the glass

which is almost deco like.

Jenny, what kind of price could we get that for?

Let me make a call.

-Would you mind?

-No problem.

-NANCY: Could you try 30 to 50? JENNY: 30 to 50.

-Ooh!

After buying the first thing they saw,

the Reds are now taking their time to look around a bit.

Jenny's back with a price for the Blues.

-50 would be the bottom line.

-OK. 50?

I think it will go in at 30 to 50,

so you've got a chance of losing a bit,

but I think there is every possibility it'll make £70 or £80.

-Come on.

-I think it's lovely. I think we'll take a chance.

-Shall we?

-Definitely.

-Wonderful. Jenny, thank you very much indeed.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Fantastic.

Right, we'll leave that there and we shall get going.

-Come on, first one down. Nice to do it.

-Goodness me.

-That's lovely.

Smells like teen spirit to me.

Good work, Blues.

The scores are level with just over 20 minutes gone.

-That a little spoon.

-That's pretty, isn't it?

Mother of pearl handle. Pretty, pretty spoon, but £58!

-A lot of money, isn't it?

-It's an awful lot of money.

-Yeah. No, no.

I think it's too much.

42 quid. Bargain! Bargain! 42 quid!

Go on. Vanda, you go in.

-You don't like it?

-No.

-It's old. It's very old.

You two are very funny.

It just doesn't say, "Come buy me." It doesn't say, "Come buy me."

-It's not pretty but it's functional.

-You were just say it was lovely.

-I like it!

But it's not very pretty but it is functional.

-We've still got some money.

-Would you buy it?

-No.

-There you go, put it down.

-Not for myself, no.

Would you buy it to try and make some profit?

Yes, I would try and buy it to make a profit, but I'd want it for a lot less.

-Well, I mean, what is it?

-Well, it's a compote.

It's something that would sit on a table,

you could put anything on it - fruit, biscuits.

They've dated it at 1900. I've got to say, it's much earlier than 1900.

If that was 1900 it would be marked "England."

It's positively Staffordshire. How old do you think it is?

I would say early 1900, or even a bit earlier still.

It has to be earlier. What do you think?

It's earlier. We know, instantly, by looking at the base there -

"Ironstone Marino."

There's no country of origin, so instantly, its pre-1891.

If it said "made in England," but after the First World War.

There's loads of rules of thumb in this business

but that is English, made in Staffordshire,

-and it's not 1900, and it's 1840, 1850.

-And it's an antique.

I love it, I love it. Well, Vanda, what do you feel?

It's a real antique, it's 1840 to 1860.

I accept all of that, but to me, it doesn't say, "Come buy me."

Well, would you be interested if Nancy can get it for 20 quid?

If she can get it for 20, go for it.

Do you want to try and then if you can't get it for 20,

-we draw a line under it?

-Yeah, that's it. Yeah.

-OK.

Because you see these at the fairs, you know, the flea fairs.

-Do you want me to take it to the counter?

-Would you?

-You to do what you're best at, and talk.

-Bicker!

-OK, then. 20 quid?

-No.

Really not keen, are you, Vanda? But the clock's still ticking.

-Ruth, Caroline, come and look at these vinaigrettes.

-Oh, look!

-Look at that beautiful little one there.

-Oh, it's a tiny one.

Do you think I ought to go and get Stan and get a key?

-Yes.

-Yes, yes, yes!

-Please do, Caroline.

Now, will Vanda be cheesed off

if David's got the price down for that compote?

You're going to be disappointed, because we've got it.

-We've got it! I'm so sorry.

-Oh, well, oh, well. Oh, well.

-Well done.

-You should be careful what you wish for.

"Well done," she says, through gritted teeth. Good on you, Nancy.

-Go for it.

-Well, I got it for less than half price.

-I might eat my words, mightn't I?

-You might.

-Well done. Item number two, we're on fire. Come on! Let's go.

-Thank you.

Approaching the 30 minute mark, teams.

So, you're not out of the woods yet.

Reds, you really need to bag that second buy soon.

The little one on the right, please. Yeah.

-Is that the one you liked?

-Yeah.

-That's the one, yes.

-That's really sweet, isn't it?

-Beautiful, isn't it?

So, this is a delightful little vinaigrette.

It's tiny, it's got lots going for it.

It's got this little chain here,

which you could hang from a watch chain,

and it would be there to shield yourself

from those unpleasant foul smells.

In 1840s Britain, a time before proper sanitation,

vinaigrettes were used by both men and women

as a kind of portable personal air freshener.

Open it up, it's silver gilt inside, which is quite normal.

And the hallmark in the lid, with Queen Victoria's head.

A very young Queen Victoria's head, because it is, in fact, 1843,

-so how long was she on the throne?

-History? Not my forte!

Six years. And then we've got the grille here, the pierced grille.

Very pretty, but not as pretty as some. But pretty, nonetheless.

But I think it's had a little bit of damage and repair.

So, will that detract from it?

It will, any damage detracts. But it's not major.

So, I think, price dependent, a little bit of damage is acceptable.

We'll open it up and we've got the full hallmark here at the bottom.

-So the price of this one is?

-The price is £150.

So do you think if we could get that down

then we may make a small profit?

Yes, I think it needs to be £100.

-I know that's a hell of a lot to ask.

-Yeah.

Do you think we can do a deal with Andy?

-I think we ought to have a word, yeah.

-Right.

-Over to you, Ruthie!

-Andy...

HE LAUGHS NERVOUSLY

-Look into my eyes.

-Don't be too harsh.

-Look into my eyes.

-He's scared!

-Where do we need to be?

-Please.

Well, with a little bit of damage, 100.

I was thinking more of 110, we might be able to get to that.

-Hmm...

-It's got to be 100.

-It's got to be 100.

-I'm sorry.

-Is that a question or an offer?

-It's an offer.

-OK, I'll take that, then.

-Lovely.

Thank you very much. All three of you!

Well, Ruth's hypnotising strikes again

and the pressure's of for a bit, too.

Oh, I really like this. Oh, this is very pretty.

Tell me why you like it, Nancy.

You know, I like all this different types of wood.

-Do you know what they call that?

-I'm not sure, is it marquetry?

-Yes.

-Oh, right, OK.

-She's good!

-She is good.

-She's good. Yes.

-That's lovely.

-Looks a bit oriental.

-And the edges, even.

Now, what do you call that decoration?

If the floral is marquetry, what is the geometric decoration called?

-Oh, parquetry.

-Parquetry! My gosh, you've been swotting up!

Hello!

-How much is it?

-I think it's only 20 something pounds.

-If that's 20 something pounds, we're having it.

-OK.

-We'll take it, yeah, definitely.

-OK, I think going to be miles away.

VANDA GASPS

My goodness, I missed off the other two!

Well, I think we should try and get it for 25, Nancy.

-Go and do your best!

-No!

That's why I thought it was such a bargain.

When I saw it, I thought, "God, that's lovely."

You thought it was 25 quid?

I thought we would make a fortune on that.

OK, but nice to look at and well spotted. A good eye, a good eye.

Come on. We're doing a lot of gassing, not very much buying.

Sound advice, David.

Talking about hot air, how do the Reds let off steam?

I love this.

What have we got?

THEY GASP

-120.

-Oh, gosh. Caroline?

We love this. Could you give us some help?

-What do you think?

-Oh, is that you've found?

That is so typically Victorian.

-Part of the whole team making ceremony.

-It's beautiful.

You'd have that, probably in your drawing room, on a wonderful table.

You'd light the little burner at the bottom

and that would just keep it at the right temperature to make your cups of tea.

-Shall I show you how it works?

-Please.

-It's lovely.

If I just step in...

I don't make a lot of tea because I don't drink tea myself,

but it would be nice and warm water in here

and you just tip it - it's hinged here -

enough to pour into your teapot.

And back. And it's all complete.

It's in good condition.

Shall we just have a look if there's any marks on the bottom?

-EP.

-Which is?

-Silver plate.

-Electroplated nickel silver.

But if you look at it at a distance,

-it looks very much like a silver mark.

-It does.

I like that.

Now, we need to look at the price, which is £120.

So, it's certainly got to be the 100 mark,

but it really needs to be less, because I need something, too.

-How much is your minimum, then, do you think?

-I don't know.

-Shall we give it a go?

-Yes, go on Ruth.

-I'll do my best.

-Thank you.

Shame it's not full, we could all enjoy a cuppa whilst we wait.

-Did you see that picture frame? The copper picture frame?

-I saw that.

-What you think, Vanda?

-It doesn't do much for me, I must say.

-Nancy, does it do it for you?

-Depends where it's come from.

What you mean, "Where it's come from?"

Well, if it's Liberty's, it's worth a fortune, isn't it?

-But I don't think it would be.

-It is good enough for Liberty's.

-Oh, is it?

-Absolutely.

And that Liberty's mark would make this thing worth five times

what it might truly be worth, purely because you got that brand.

There's nothing there

but if that was retailed by Liberty's in 1905,

it is so desirable it is unbelievable.

But we're not interested in that?

-No, I don't think so.

-OK, OK.

-Hard work, you two. Come on.

-Sorry.

Nice try, David, but these girls certainly know what they like.

Red Ruth has better news for her team, though.

Got it for...80!

Well done! Well done, you. So, are we happy with that? Are we buying?

-What you think?

-I love it.

-I really do, yeah.

-Brilliant, so we're going for it?

-We're going for it.

-Excellent.

Fantastic. Do you know what?

got We've got all our three items in the bag, done, in 39 minutes.

Brilliant! Let's go and have a cup of tea somewhere.

-Come on, then.

-Cup of tea! I'm gasping!

How fitting, a cup of tea.

Blues, what are you stewing over?

David, look, we found these.

We really rather like them.

I know exactly what they are and I absolutely adore them.

But for those who don't, they're pincushions.

The elephant isn't as rare,

-but is incredibly charismatic.

-Yes.

Everybody loves elephants, don't they?

These things were made to be used. They weren't made just as ornaments.

I mean, look at the wear on that Velvet, which is original.

Let's think about the filling.

Sometimes they were stuffed with horsehair and if you squeeze them...

..you can hear the crunch so I think that's the original hair.

Hallmarks, let's look for those. There we are.

It looks like Birmingham.

I tell you what, let's look at the ticket.

Well, it says Edwardian, 1908, circa 1908.

They're absolutely bang on.

Let's have the little baby.

-The same model, isn't it?

-They're identical, aren't they?

-Yeah.

So is it an Indian?

It's an Indian elephant, yeah,

1908, Edwardian period.

It's the height of the Raj.

So this is reminding someone of their days in India.

So it's very romantic. I think they're wonderful.

Prices - we've got 265.

-Yeah.

-195. Right, let's get mercenary.

Would you risk a big chunk of your money

on your third and final objects?

Yeah, because I think they're very attractive.

I mean I don't know,

would people go for the larger elephant than the small?

I think if you're going to go for it, let's go with the bigger one.

-If we got it for 180...

-It would be good.

-But what if we don't?

-Because last time...

-If we don't get it for 180, then it goes back.

-Right, OK.

-How about that?

-Try for 180.

-This is a good tactic.

-So have we agreed? You're going to bid in 180.

-OK.

-If you get it, we own it.

-Yeah.

-If it's any more we don't.

-Move on.

OK then...

-Shall I try?

-Go for it.

-Go, girl.

-Here I go.

-Go, go, go.

Hurry, though, Nancy, a little over five minutes left.

It's great. You certainly were as good as your word.

Fast and furious.

-Fantastic, brilliant.

-I got my trainers on.

Brilliant, cheers.

-Cheers.

-Cheers.

Hmm, shame there's no tea.

Just as well really, because you don't like tea, do you?

No, I don't.

THEY LAUGH

Well, I've got bad news I'm afraid.

I couldn't get it for 180.

Right, so then it has to go back.

Well, actually, I agreed to 185.

-You've done it?

-Is that OK?

-Have you done the deal?

-Yeah.

-You've done it.

-She's done the deal.

-An extra fiver between friends.

-Between friends, OK.

-I thought it was quite good, really.

Well, you know what? It is a beautiful object.

It's stunning.

-I thought you really wanted it, so I had to get it.

-Aw, bless, bless.

-Well done.

Time's up, stop the shop, let's check out what the red team bought.

Nice lamp. 60 quid.

Hot off the press they got the brass

and oak revolving magazine rack for £100.

Next up, they sniffed out the Victorian silver vinaigrette,

again paying £100.

Lastly, they walked off with a silver-plated kettle

and stand for £80.

-Well, that was quite a shop-and-a-half, wasn't it?

-Yeah.

It certainly was. Now, tell me, which is your favourite piece?

I'm a bit torn between the lovely teapot,

which I would buy for myself, but I think it's the vinaigrette.

They're lovely little things. So do you agree?

-The vinaigrette?

-The vinaigrette is the best.

-Is that going to bring the biggest profit?

-I hope so.

Fine. You're like two peas in a pod.

BOTH: We are.

Welded from the hip. OK, you spent how much?

-£280.

-Fair enough.

-Who's got the £20 of leftover lolly?

-Me.

Thank you very much, that's absolutely peachy. £280.

-That's a mature amount of money.

-It is.

-Was it good for you too, darling?

-It was excellent, thank you.

-Not much, £20, is it?

-Not much, no, I shall do my best with it.

I'm sure you will. Good luck.

Meanwhile, why don't we check out what the blue team bought.

First up, they bought the 1920s scent bottle for a fragrant 50.

Next up they dished out £20 for the blue and white ironstone comport.

And topping things off nicely they settled on the elephant-shaped

novelty pincushion for a mammoth £185.

-Nancy, Vanda, how are you going, kids?

-Very good, thank you.

I mean a whole hour out with David Harper, how was that for you?

-Exhausting.

-Really? Super.

-Just how flush are you, how much did you spend?

-£255.

-I'd like £45 of leftover lolly, please.

-Of course.

There's the £45.

Now, tell me, Nancy,

which of the pieces that you bought do you particularly fancy, Nancy?

Well, actually, I quite like the perfume bottle.

Do you agree with that, Sister?

I like the elephant pincushion.

Is that going to bring the biggest profit?

No, I think it's going to bomb.

So what's going to bring the biggest profit?

I this think the horrible bowl is going to bring the biggest profit.

That's my favourite, I bought that bowl.

You're quite close you sisters, aren't you?

That's my bowl that is.

MIMICS: That's my bowl, that is.

-It is, I chose it.

-It's the same with her dollies as well.

-Genuine antique.

I believe you.

You clearly had quite a testing morning I'd say, David.

Anyway, there's 45 smackers there for you to do your worst with.

-I will do my worst, don't you worry about that.

-Good luck, David.

Meanwhile, I'm heading off to the most gorgeous

part of an antiques centre with the most divine little

collection of antiques you ever did see.

Cor! This looks nice, doesn't it?

I mean, some of the dealers in these antiques centres

really take trouble in their display.

This man has coloured the walls with this lovely, deep,

Oxford green

and he knows that this is an excellent colour to display

rustic and rural furniture and pieces.

A quintessential English, oak,

drop-leaf table in the middle,

ideal for six people to dine from.

And then as a bit of fun he's taken something

he's purchased in France,

described as a baguette tray,

circa 1900.

So a big, long, French loaf would have gone in this.

We don't have many of those in Britain,

so he's got some artificial apples as an example as to what you might do

for displaying fruit on a table.

That will cost you £38.

I love the use of his objects.

Up there we've got the front of a 17th century,

Welsh, oak, Bible box.

We haven't got the whole box, or the lid,

we've just got the lunette-carved front with the old lock plate

and it looks delightful

and that too is £38

Over here a bit of blue and white, transfer printed,

the most commonly produced willow pattern,

but a lovely clear image.

You can see the willow,

you can see the bridge with the figures running across it

illustrating the story of the distressed maiden

and that could be yours, yes, you got it, for £38.

These things are not expensive

and some of them

are seriously wacky, like this.

It looks just like a bread peel,

the sort of thing you bung a loaf into an oven

or maybe a pizza into one of those lovely wood-fired ovens.

Anyway, if you think it's a peel, it's not.

It's made of honey-coloured, English oak

and it's actually a paddle for a coracle.

Now, coracles are typically used

on the River Severn.

It's a lightweight, portable little dinghy,

normally for one person made of tarred cloth with

a lightweight frame inside and you sit on a thwart,

that's the seat in a coracle,

it's an incredibly light, little boat

and it's designed to use to cross a river.

Or to go fishing from.

Anyway, this is a coracle paddle

and I was told by a man at the door here,

who turns out to be a bit of a coracle oracle,

how to paddle a coracle.

It's got this very long handle because you stick it

underneath your armpit like that, you grip it like that,

sit down on the bench and put the paddle in front of you, not behind.

You put it in front and you execute a peculiar figure of eight

motion in the water and such is the dynamic of the paddle

that it draws you forwards, which is very peculiar.

Anyway, that's what it is, a coracle paddle.

How much would a coracle paddle cost you?

On a good day here in Herefordshire,

it could be yours for £28.

That's not expensive, if you need a coracle paddle.

And our teams have made the short trip down to Malvern

where they hope to make waves rather than ripples in the sale.

We've come over the county border from Herefordshire to

Worcestershire to be at Malvern with Phil Serrell.

-How lovely is this?

-Good to see you.

-Very lovely to be here.

Phil, we've got some real antiques here knocking about.

-They've done well, haven't they?

-As a glance it looks promising.

So we've got the magazine rack. Gilt metal, a bit of oak.

Is it yesterday's antique?

I fear it is, really.

We used to sell those for 100, £120

and now I see that making £40-£60.

They paid £100. It's very difficult because

it has a function, you do want to tuck away the old radio Times and that kind of thing

and from that point of view it works well, but who wants it?

It's clutter, isn't it?

OK, well, it'll be interesting to see how that gets on.

Now, the vinaigrette, is there a smell of that in Malvern?

Not a bad odour. I think that example is just a little bit tired

and I don't think there's a market for them now, but there was perhaps a few years back.

I would see that making £60-£90.

-They only paid £100.

-That's not too bad.

I'm not sure I'm so partial to this spirit kettle. Late, isn't it?

It's very late. I don't know what they paid for it but I think it's probably £30 worth.

-£80 they paid.

-Ouch.

So that really is into the hot water, isn't it?

-I think they're in it there.

-In fact, that could be their big downside,

and if it is, they'll need the bonus buy, so let's go and have a look at it.

-Well, girls, how are you feeling?

-Nervous.

-Are you?

-Good.

Nervous about the bonus buy reveal? Dear, oh, dear.

You spent 280, you parted with £20

and trusted Caroline to go off and find something splendiferous.

So, Caroline, what did you find?

Oh, sweet.

We needed a tea service, do you remember?

-We needed a cup of tea and we had nothing to drink it in.

-We did, yes.

Well, there's six place settings, Seaforth pattern,

all in perfect condition, Staffordshire pottery,

-blue and white, ticks all your boxes?

-I love it.

-Do you?

-£20?

-£15.

-What?

-Six cups...

-£15 for the six cups, saucers and plates.

-All in perfect condition?

-All in perfect condition.

Have a little handle because that's transfer printed, not terribly old.

What do you think? 50, something like that?

It's very in at the moment. People have these when they have tea.

-It's all this cake baking business.

-Everybody's mad on it.

Yeah, people are going for this.

And blue and white is timeless, everybody loves blue and white.

£15 for six cups and six saucers,

I mean, that's ridiculous, isn't it?

-It is.

-What do you think we'll get at auction?

I think it's going to get £30. I think we'll double our money.

Yeah, I think so

-Brilliant, thank you.

-Thank you very much.

-Well, that's marvellous, isn't it?

-It's great.

-We love it.

Let's find out for the audience at home

whether the auctioneer loves it.

Well, Phil, full set of six.

It's cups, six saucers, six plates.

-Right.

-What can you say about that? Not old.

No, there's no age at all and I suppose if you've got nothing

to have your cup of char out of in the morning

at 5-10 quid it's ideal.

-OK, £15 she paid.

-Well, you know.

-It's a bonus buy.

OK, £15 paid £5-£7 is the estimate,

that could struggle.

Anyway, that's it for the Reds.

And now for the Blues

and we kick off with this scent bottle which looks handsome.

I like that. I think it looks better from a distance

because this would have been lovely if it was silver gilt, but I think the glass is quite good quality.

I just think it's a nice thing. We've put £30-£50 on it.

£50 paid.

David found it. He's pretty canny with that.

-They're all right with that.

-Now, the comport.

I'm not sure it's really for cheese.

Is it a stilton stand?

Ah, missing its cover. Of course, that's the answer.

-It's a stilton stand.

-Yeah, should have a cloche on the top.

OK, rather faded and weedy colours, aren't they?

Yeah, and also a little bit stained.

Perhaps ten or fifteen years ago it might have made £30-£50,

but now I think £10 or £20.

OK, £20 paid. No problem with that.

And Vanda went with the pincushion.

She absolutely adored this heffalump.

He's lovely and I looked online

and I found perhaps ten or twelve of them

and all of them bar one made between £100 and £160

and one made over £300

and that was because he was sitting down and that's just the difference.

OK, good, so, estimate? How much are you putting on that?

We put 80-120 as an estimate.

-A bit of a tease that.

-It should make three figures.

It needs to make £185.

It needs to make the three figures towards 200.

That's a lot of three figures, and I don't think they'll do that.

But you do photograph this stuff, it's on the Internet.

It's illustrated in the catalogue and on the Internet.

You never know, it could be leading the herd, this.

If it's a phone bid, it'll be a trunk call.

THEY LAUGH

-Oh, dear.

-Sorry.

-Where does he get them from?

Anyway, on that happy note they could need their bonus buy,

so let's go off and have a look at it.

-Hey, you kids, you're having fun today, aren't you?

-We certainly are.

Now, tell me, Nancy, have you got the faintest idea about anything?

-Not the foggiest.

-What about your sister?

-Do you know anything about anything?

-Nothing at all.

-We make a good team, because I don't know anything about anything either.

-Stop being so modest.

Anyway, there we are, there's your bonus buy.

You had £45 to go and find it.

What did you find, Dave?

Have you ever seen anything...

quite as magnificent as that?

What do you think it is?

-Is it a...?

-I'll give you a clue. What does it say?

"Toilet".

Oh, no, that's revolting! Oh, my God!

But I'm going to tell you something.

You always think this thing is a toilet, but it's actually a pitcher

and what you'd do is you'd buy a bowl with it.

This is the water pitcher and it would sit on a cast iron frame.

You'd fill it with water and rather than using an old pitcher...

It's a jug!

It's a jug, but people always think they're potties.

Well, well, well, aren't we learning some stuff, Dave?

It's a very rare thing.

-I should think it is. Who made it? Doulton?

-Doulton.

You've got one of those metal washstands and you've got the right cradle

that that sits in, just give it a tip and the job is done.

-It's just really cool.

-What do you think, Vanda? Does it grab you?

-No.

-Oh, after all that?

-I mean its...

It's different

and I'm sure it was very fashionable in its time.

-No, it wasn't, it never really took off.

-It didn't take off.

That's why it's rare, then. How are you with this, Nancy?

-Well, now I know it's for water I'm better.

-You're feeling better?

-I'm feeling better.

-What's the condition like?

It's not brilliant. We've got a chip here.

-But it's basically only the chip on the front?

-It is.

The handle has survived, the body of the thing is all perfect,

-not much damage.

-Were missing the bowl and the cradle, of course.

The bowl and the cradle and its chipped and it's weird.

OK, Vanda, we've got a nice little summary there.

-How much did you pay for it?

-38 and I think it was an absolute steal.

Anyway, on that happy note,

let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Dave's pitcher.

Here we go, Phil, not terribly savoury.

No, the thing for me was stay away from damage and this has got a big chip in the front.

-For me it's just like £10 or £20 worth. What did he pay for it?

-£38.

So, £10-£15 is the estimate,

Harper paid £38.

Whatever will happen in the auction?

50, 60

Well, girls, it's not looking brilliant.

£100 you paid for the magazine rack. He's estimated 40-60.

-The silver vinaigrette you paid £100 for. He's estimating 60-90.

-Not bad.

And the spirit kettle you paid £80 for. He's estimating 30-45.

So, first up is the oak and revolving bookcase

and here it comes.

Edwardian brass and oak revolving magazine stand.

30 I have, 30 bid.

30 and five, 35, £35 only,

and 45, 55 with me.

-At 55, 55.

-Up we go.

-At 65.

Any more at all? At £65 and done, thank you.

65 is not so bad, minus 35.

Now the vinaigrette.

I've got two bids of the same money.

-I've got to start at £80.

-80! That's good.

90, 90 bid.

At £90. 100, 110.

Yes, yes.

At £120, there's the bid.

At £120 only.

Is there any more? At £120.

Yes!

At £120 and done, thank you.

Is that good, Ruthie, or is it good?

-Yes!

-So that's plus 20. You're still minus 15.

Here we go.

Start me off, bid me £50, someone.

Bid me £30, someone.

How much?

You're all heart, that's your trouble, isn't it?

£10?

Mr generosity the door's behind you.

At ten, I'm bid at ten.

£10 at ten,

12, 15, 18, 20, 25, 30.

At £35, there's the bid.

Go on. Bit more.

The lady's bid. At £35.

Is there any more? At £35...

That's five short of 40.

And done, thank you.

Minus £45.

That's minus 60, girls.

-Are we going with the tea set?

-Absolutely.

We're going with the tea set.

Now, I can tell you his estimate on the tea set is £5-£7.

Oh, Tim!

The part Staffordshire service. I don't know, tea's cheap.

Who's got £10?

Ten I'm bid, at ten. Ten bid, £10.

-More, More, a bit more.

-One more, come on.

Is there any more at all?

-At £10 on my right.

-Oh, no.

-Surely!

At £10 and done, thank you.

-Oh, no.

-Well, there we go.

That has established a new low for a tea service.

-I thought it was something else.

-..Me neither.

Overall that's minus 65.

The way things are shaping up that could be a winning score, girls.

One more for 40.

-Nancy, Vanda, how are you feeling?

-A bit nervous.

-Nervous.

-Are you?

-Apprehensive.

-Well, I tell you, Mr Serrell is going like stink today.

We've got a scent bottle coming up, £50 you paid for that.

£30-£45 is his estimate.

And here it comes.

Nice thing this, a little scent bottle. £50 to go.

-A good quality item.

-Come on, then.

£20.

At 20, 30, 40, 50.

Good, good, good.

At 50, 50 bid.

-A profit would be nice.

-It would be lovely.

There's the bid. At £50.

Another bid.

Done, thank you.

Bad luck, but it is £50.

Be calm, girls. It's no loss.

Comport or stilton stand, there you are.

Bid me for that, £30 to go, someone.

20, £10 to start, quickly.

Hands up.

I don't see £10.

Ten I'm bid on the net, at ten. Ten bid, £10.

At £10, and only bid at ten.

-£10.

-Oh, come on.

Ten bid, £10, yes or no?

It looks like a no.

At £10 and I sell, then.

At £10 and done, thank you.

Ouch. £10 is minus ten.

Now, the heffalump.

The elephant pincushion.

Bid me for that. 150 starts.

-100 we go.

-It's got beautiful eyes.

100 I'm bid, at 100, 100.

-At £100 only.

-At least it's got 100.

110, 120, 130.

Please, please, please.

-Come on, we're getting closer.

-It's getting there.

-Come on.

At £130.

130.

£130 and done, thank you.

It's better than I thought, actually.

That's a £55 loss.

We're not ashamed.

That's minus 65, girls.

Anyway, what are you going to do about the toilet Aquarius?

-We think it's beautiful.

-We like it.

-Are you going to go with it?

-Yes.

OK, fine. That's the decision. It's support for David, he could do with all the support he can get.

-I need it, I need the support.

-The auctioneer's estimate is £10-£20.

-Is it?

-10-20. But don't worry about that.

-Really?

-No, it doesn't make any difference.

-Don't worry about that.

£38 is what you paid and I'd be very surprised if you don't make a profit.

The Doulton patented toilet Aquarius.

Who's got £40 for it?

It's a swivelling water-holder, really. Who's got £30?

Please.

Who's got a tenner? Ah, on the net bid at ten.

Ten bid, £10, £10,

at £10, ten bid. Any more at all?

-This is sticky.

-That's mean.

At £10 and done, thank you.

That's a low flush.

We can take it on the chin.

I think we've done really well.

-Minus 93.

-Do you?

Yes, I'm really pleased.

-Minus 90.

-We've had a good time.

-We had a good time.

-A piece of cake.

-OK, that's it, minus 93.

Don't say a word to the Reds, all right. Button it.

At 100 and done, thank you.

-Have you been chatting at all?

-No.

It's been an unmitigated disaster all around, I can tell you that.

Nothing like as good as it ought to have been,

but we don't have losers any more, we only have runners up

and the runners up today are by a chalk the Blues.

ALL: Oh!

Anyway, there we go. You wiped your face once and then it went into massive,

freefall losses, which added up to -£93.

That's really good.

-These two were really pleased with that result.

-That's cool, isn't it?

-We could have done worse.

-It's a bit of fun, isn't it?

We've loved having you on the show.

And I don't know why you're so chirpy, you lot,

because you managed to lose £65.

You did make a profit, though,

hallelujah, on the vinaigrette, which is very nice.

And that's about it, really.

-Have you had a good time?

-Yes.

-Great.

In fact, such a great time

join us soon for some more bargain-hunting, yes?

ALL: Yes!