Brackley 23 Bargain Hunt

Here in Brackley, they have the sole remaining

morris-dancing ring in Northamptonshire

and, what's more, it's been here since the early 1700s. Oh, look out.

Let's hope that our teams today don't have to hop,

skip and jump their way around the stalls en route to a bargain.

So, let's go bargain hunting. Is he all right?

Brackley Antiques Centre has over 30,000 square feet

bursting at the seams with items for our teams to get their mitts on.

One problem, though, they've only got one hour and £300,

so let's take a look

at what's coming up, shall we?

On today's show, the Reds fall head over heels.

-I think it's very, very pretty.

-They're really, really beautiful.

-Are you both in love with them?

-I think they're absolutely gorgeous.

-But the Blues just can't commit.

-Decision time.

Put them on the back burner for now.

-If we need to, maybe. Maybe leave it and come back.

-OK.

Let's meet today's teams.

On today's programme, we have two mothers who happen to be teachers

and they have with them their sons.

For the Reds, it's Chrissy and Billy and, for the Blues,

-it's Adam and Anne. Hello, everyone.

-Hello.

-Lovely to see you.

Now, Chrissy, you're into linguistics.

Yes, most recently, I taught at Stowe School,

which is a rather posh school, but, you know,

basically, it's a breeding ground for Prince Harry's girlfriends.

-Oh! That posh!

-Yes, that posh.

How many languages do you teach?

Erm, I taught French and Spanish, but I speak German from schooldays

and also Russian, because, when Billy and his sister were small,

we lived as a family in St Petersburg and Moscow for a few years.

Did you really? How lovely.

I swear that you linguists have a development to your brain that

the normal person doesn't have,

-which is what makes you so brilliant.

-Oh, thank you,

I feel the same about musicians,

-cos I just don't have that gene, so, you know...

-It's strange, isn't it,

-how it kind of develops?

-Yes.

-Now, Billy, you're a student.

-Yes, I am.

-And your lovely mother taught you.

-Yes, she did.

-I happened to be in her Spanish GCSE class.

-Ah.

And it was a strange experience, to say the least.

Did she used to clout you one with the duster?

Oh, no, she used a slightly different medium

of an inflatable hammer.

-That was her teaching tool, was it?

-Yes, yes.

That and interpretive dance.

To say it was a perfectly natural environment to grow up in

would be completely and utterly wrong.

Sounds like a riot, your class, I tell you.

You have a penchant for the dramatic?

Yes, I absolutely adore the theatre and, if all things go well,

I'd really like to work behind the scenes of the theatre.

-So that's the ambition.

-It is.

-And what's your tactics today, you two?

Essentially, buy anything that you don't like.

Yes, generally what I like tends to make no money when

I watch the programme, so I'm trying a bit of reverse psychology there.

-Oh, this is going to be interesting.

-Yes.

-Anyway, good luck.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Great.

Now, Anne, we know you're a teacher, what do you teach?

I teach science to age 11 to age 19 and it's a fabulous job.

You get to burn things, blow up things.

-You're also into big cats.

-Oh, I love big cats.

-Tigers and leopards and things?

-Maine Coons.

-Who?

-Maine Coons.

-They're a breed of cat, they come from Maine.

-Oh, yeah.

And Shango is 41 inches from his nose

to the end of his tail and Harley is...

41 inches?! I mean, that's about four feet. Is he that long?

-Yeah, 41 inches.

-How high is Shango?

-They're very long but quite low.

-That's quite something, though, isn't it?

-They're lovely.

-And do you have to take them walkies?

-No.

Do they go out walkies on their own?

They would, but they've got no road sense, they would get squished.

-Oh, how sad.

-So they stay in the house,

they're quite happy just wrecking all my stuff.

Now, Adam, is it true that animals flock to you?

Yeah, I'm a postman as a profession.

Unfortunately, I tend to get a lot of negative attention from animals.

My first encounter was with a dog.

-It was actually a dachshund, sausage dog.

-Yeah.

Luckily, I had boots on at the time, so he couldn't do any damage

-to my ankles.

-No. Now, you have a passion for small motor cars.

Er, yeah, I own a classic Mini and I go to all the shows.

It's coming up to the 55th anniversary of

the original Mini now, so... There's nothing like them to drive.

What's the year of your Mini?

Mine's a 1980, so it's a bit of a baby, really.

About halfway through the reign of the Mini.

My mother bought her Mini in 1959. They are great little cars.

-That's the first car I ever drove.

-Everyone's got fond memories.

It's not so much a car as it's a piece of art,

-it's a piece of British history, really.

-They're great fun.

What will be revving your engines today?

I think I'd like to get something nice and glass perhaps,

-something quality.

-Mm-hmm.

Maybe something military.

Something with precision that's got history to it, I'd like.

-Gosh, you set the bar quite high, you too, don't you? Eh?

-Yeah.

-But you're going to have fun.

-Yes, definitely.

And we're going to have fun watching you. Now, the money moment.

Here comes your £300. £300. You know the rules.

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

Ooh, I did love those early Minis.

Now, let's meet today's experts.

Hoping to ring up a profit for the Reds, it's Anita Manning

Looking for more than face value,

it's Catherine Southon for the Blues.

So, teams, what's on the shopping list today?

We've got 300 quid to spend, what do you want to spend it on?

I'd quite like something Russian, if possible.

Anne, what are you looking to find today?

Something nice, something good quality, something glass, maybe.

Who's the good bargainer?

I could talk the hind leg off a donkey,

so it would probably end up being me.

What about you, Adam?

I'd like to find something military, maybe, with a history.

OK, teams, time to face the music and start the clock.

-He's my style of man.

-Absolutely, yes.

-Are you ready for this?

-Yes.

-Come on, then, let's go shopping.

Only a couple of minutes into the shop

and our Reds have found something fitting from Red Russia.

-Oh, a balalaika.

-It is a balalaika, isn't it?

A balalaika is a three-stringed instrument traditionally

used in Russian folk music. Do you LAIKA?

It's £99. "This balalaika was purchased in Leningrad

"and brought back to the UK in the 1970s."

-Just for the connection, it's gotta be worth a look, hasn't it?

-Uh-huh.

But it's a very simple one and it looks late.

-Yeah.

-We don't see any of that wonderful inlay or decoration.

-No.

-No, that's true.

-Although I do rather like...

-I like the back, the back's rather lovely.

-That's psychedelic.

ANITA GIGGLES

So they've obviously been influenced by the wild '60s.

You're not convinced.

I like it, because it's Russian and it comes from Leningrad,

but that's not a good enough reason, I don't think.

-But it would be nice to get that Russian influence.

-Yes.

So, no to the balalaika, but on to the Blues.

Have they found something to pique Adam's interest in the automotive?

-That's quite funky.

-Oh.

-"Look both ways."

-Be nice in your kitchen.

-How much is on that?

£130.

It's a very decorative piece, though, isn't it?

It's really decorative, isn't it? Would you have in your bedroom?

-I think I would, yeah, I like it.

-It would go in your room?

Shame about the damage on the top, but...

I do worry with some of these

whether they are the genuine article or not.

I'd like to know a bit more about the provenance about that one -

where they've actually got that from. Are you interested in that?

I definitely like it, yeah, I'd have it in my house.

-I don't think Mum's that excited, are you, Mum?

-It's...

It's not awful, but it's not my cup of tea.

-It would be in your bedroom, it wouldn't be in mine.

-Yeah.

A vote of confidence there.

Do you think it might be a bit punchy, actually, the price?

-It's 1... What is it? 130?

-130. Yeah.

-Yeah.

-Shall we move on?

-I can see Anne's not over keen.

-No, I'm not sold on it.

-No.

You're obviously way off track with that one, Catherine.

Can Anita do any better for the Reds?

-Do you like jewellery, Chrissy?

-I do, yes. That is pretty, yes.

Could you pick it up for us?

-Yes, because you're young and you can bend down.

-I can bend down that far.

-Although we're much closer to the ground.

-That's right.

-Oh, that is beautiful.

-It says silver,

-do you think this chain is silver as well?

-Yes, I think so.

-Oh, I do like it.

-There's a bit more enthusiasm with the Reds.

You could be onto a winner, Anita.

I like the combination, the coolness of the turquoise

-and the mother-of-pearl.

-Yeah.

-I think it's very, very pretty.

It's blue and silver. It's not a lot of clashing colours.

Yes, and there's no sort of little chips or bits missing.

-No, not that I can see.

-We'd need to get a bit off it.

-38, that's retail price...

-Yes.

-..so we need to get it down a bit.

Sweet talk the man a bit. Yes, we'd like that. (Depending on the price.)

Depending on the price.

While they get a price from the dealer, let's fly over to the Blues.

Are you having any success, Catherine?

RAF World War II pilot goggles, they're quite nice, aren't they?

-I do like that.

-Oh, hello.

Here's Debbie from the Antique Centre to lend the Blues a hand.

Well, Adam's interested in the goggles.

Have a feel, Adam.

-Do they feel heavy?

-Surprisingly light. I suppose it's the...

Aluminium, isn't it? It's going to be aluminium.

I like the fact they've got a lot of history behind them.

If you could see what these goggles had seen,

-it's just incredible, I think.

-Yeah.

I see where you're coming from, I mean, I think,

if you think of them in context and you think about a pilot

actually wearing them and what was going through his mind at the time,

it kind of brings it alive, doesn't it?

-Yes, definitely.

-Looks like this item could really take off.

Come on, then, put them on, let's have a look, test them out.

Oh.

Hello, Biggles.

Oh, yeah, you look the part.

No, crack, right there.

-Oh, that's a shame.

-Oh, dear, and I thought you'd cracked it.

-I think probably not a good idea, then.

-Yeah, damage.

Yeah, there's a damage. That's unfortunate.

What do you think about...?

-It's all been sort of held in place, hasn't it? With some tape.

-Yeah.

-What do you think?

-Put them on the back burner for now.

So, shall we sort of keep them

-in reserve depending on what the price is?

-I think so, definitely.

-Yeah.

-OK. Would you be able to find out the best price for us, Debs?

Yeah, no problem.

Now to the Reds.

Here comes Jim, their right-hand man with a price on that

-silver necklace.

-I phoned the dealer and the best he can do on it is 28.

-Is that the lowest he's going to go?

-It is, I'm afraid.

-Are you sure we can't get him down to 25?

-I did ask him.

-No, 28 is the lowest, sorry.

-OK, all right.

-Let's go for it.

-Let's go for it, guys.

-I think we're all in agreement and we think it's a bonny thing.

-It is.

-A bonny wee thing.

-A bonny wee thing, thank you very much, thank you.

Crikey, these Reds don't mess about.

14 minutes in and one item down.

Have the Blues had any good news on the goggles, though?

I phoned the dealer and he'd be glad to do those for £50 for you,

-if that's any use.

-That's a bit steep, I'm afraid,

is there any chance he could do it for any lower at all?

-I've already asked him the question. No, that is his bottom line.

-OK.

-Think we'll have to leave them for now.

-I think with that crack...

-Yes.

-It might be a wise idea. Thank you very much, Debs, anyway.

-Thanks.

-OK, shall we crack on?

-Yes.

Walk away. £50 is too much for damaged goods.

The Reds are one ahead and I think they're about to dish out another.

Anita, have you ever heard of David Andersen?

Yes, he is one of the most prestigious Scandinavian

silversmiths and he was renowned for his enamel work.

And what you have are these wonderful

enamelled coffee spoons here.

They are very, very decorative, they are absolutely lovely

and they are made by a master. They're marked up at £140.

-It seems quite a lot.

-It's quite a lot for some spoons.

-It's quite a lot.

-And what sort of age would they have?

-They're from maybe the 1930s.

-Oh, gosh.

In that Art Deco period that you like so much.

I'm liking them more and more, actually.

You're liking them more and more. Uh-huh.

-Are you both in love with them?

-I think they're absolutely gorgeous.

These Reds certainly have gusto.

Well, I think, if you can get a bit off of that,

-I think these are a lovely thing to buy.

-Yup.

If we can get them near enough 100. Is that what you were thinking?

-Yeah, I was thinking 100.

-Good lad, good lad.

I feel a bit of a theme coming on with these Blues.

Paper light.

-Really light.

-Well, they'd have to be, for your face.

I think they would have leather round them usually,

possibly missing.

I like the helmet, I think the helmet's fabulous.

Oh, it feels lovely. Feel the quality of that leather.

-Oh, that's really nice.

-Isn't that lovely? What do you think?

-I think this is beautiful, I think it is really nice and soft.

-Yeah.

They're not feeling good?

No, I think just because they're incomplete.

Now Anne's interested but Adam's not so keen.

If we could get the two at a decent price...?

-Very reasonable price, yeah.

-What's very reasonable? 78's on them.

-Yeah.

Maybe about £30 or £40, just because of the damage.

The hat's good, get the goggles thrown in free maybe?

I mean, I'm not sure what these would go for, to be perfectly

-honest with you. And we don't even know what era they're from.

-No.

-No.

They might buy it for the hat.

If they've got goggles like the other one,

-they might want a hat to go with it.

-Shall we see if we...

-How low we can get it?

-Yes.

And then we can make a decision from that?

-Definitely, it might be worth a gamble.

-OK.

Debs, is it possible that you could find out a price on these two?

-Yes, certainly.

-Yeah? Super. Thank you very much indeed.

Well, let's hope it doesn't crash and burn

like the last pair of goggles.

Now, Jim's about to dish out a price on the spoons.

What do you have for us, then, Jim?

-The very best price is 95.

-Oh.

They're really, really beautiful.

-And I would say that they have never been used.

-Yeah.

-Oh, it says the white spoon has damage.

-Oh, right.

-I still think for 95...

-It's come down substantially.

-So it's in the original Harrods box, so what do you think, guys?

-Yes.

-Shall we just go for it?

-Yes, please.

-Let's go for it.

They are beautiful.

-It's going well.

-One more lot to get.

-Result.

-Let's get going.

-Yes.

How about that for silver service, eh? That's two items in 25 minutes.

Well done, Reds.

Now, whilst the Reds are flying through the shop, are the Blues

having any luck getting off the ground with the second item?

I've found out some prices for you.

The helmet and goggles, the dealer can do it for £50.

-What do you think?

-£50 for the goggles.

-I don't know whether you want to take a go at it.

-Yeah, it is a gamble.

It's mainly the helmet, I think the goggles are just

a tagalong item that maybe we're paying for, unfortunately, yeah.

-Is the helmet worth 50?

-It's got no provenance, has it?

-We don't know...

-We don't really know, no, I mean, it's just vintage.

-Yeah.

-Is that your best price on the helmet as well, definitely?

Yeah, it is, I'm afraid. Yeah.

We're really getting a bit tight on time.

-I don't know if you want to be sort of going for an item soon.

-Er...

It's up to you, do you want to go for it?

Maybe leave it and come back.

OK. All right.

Oh, lordy. While they dither, dally and dawdle,

come and see some smoking-hot stuff I found on my travels.

What we've got here is a model of a device.

It's a sphere that's covered in metal bands with rivets on.

This is something that is either going to operate at

high pressure or at high temperature.

Round this side, we've got, apparently, a cover that looked

as if it would unscrew and then it stands on a trestle here,

look, and a trestle there, so that this riveted sphere would spin.

And to make it spin, it's got this cogged wheel.

The idea being that we've got a steam-engine out here

and that engine turns a long pulley, the long pulley turns that cog

and that, in turn, turns our friend here, this big reinforced sphere.

But what's it used for?

Well, the clues to this thing are around and about,

because here is a tree.

And that evergreen tree has been chopped up into logs. Got it?

Not quite? OK, fine.

You'd undo that little bit and you'd bung those logs inside

and then you'd light a fire under our sphere to create charcoal.

Lots and lots and lots of charcoal.

And charcoal was extensively used in the 19th century,

particularly in central Europe, for cooking and heating.

The other interesting thing about it - it's made, apparently,

out of solid silver. And if you look carefully, down this end is a stamp.

It says E&C, which stands for Elkington & Co,

the celebrated Birmingham silversmiths,

who were well-known for making all sorts of novelties

and I guess that this device is a one-off.

It's a model of a charcoal-making machine that was presented

to a charcoal maker, perhaps on his retirement.

I can't relate the history as to how it came about,

all I can tell you is that this is a riveting - ha-ha - example

of a Victorian industrial model and, I tell you,

it's cheap at £750.

And, at that, you are not going to burn your fingers.

Back to business in Brackley. It's two up for the Reds.

-Now, what's Anne found?

-Art Nouveau copper watering can, that's lovely.

-Why are you drawn towards this?

-I think it's beautiful.

I think it's very tactile, I think it's well-made.

-It's got some good weight to it.

-Very nice.

I don't think this is one that you'd possibly use for gardening,

as such, I think it's more for hot water or something like that.

-It's very decorative, it's nice.

-You're excited.

-I am!

-A smile!

-We have a smile, I'm happy.

-This is lovely.

-It's a bit pretty.

-It is.

-I'm guessing it might not be for you,

as you like your military pieces.

-Anything we can make a profit on's for me, at the end of the day.

-Yeah?

Well, it's got 35 on it, but if we can pinch a little,

it might be worth it.

-Definitely.

-With three items and 20 minutes to go, the Blues are going

to get into hot water if they don't buy something soon.

-Can Debs put a smile on their face?

-I have some good news for you.

- How does £20 sound? - Oh, excellent, excellent.

-Yeah, definitely.

-Oh!

-Definitely. Fabulous.

-You have made our day.

-I'm shaking your hand.

-Thank you very much.

-Thanks very much.

-Yes, definitely.

Finally, one item in the can.

There's just 20 minutes left of the shop

and the Reds are going potty for Russia.

I think that they are delightful things.

Now, you know about the Russian way of life.

Have you seen things like this on the table?

Yes, because Russians drink their tea black.

And they don't tend to put sugar in so much as jam.

And what happens is, instead of putting the jam in the tea, which you

might think was an odd thing, what they do is take a spoonful of jam

and you put it in your mouth and then drink the tea through the jam.

-And are you saying that this might possibly be for jam?

-Yes.

Cor, Chrissy is full of interesting information. We'll bring her again.

I think these are charming, and I love it, because of the Russian association.

-135 seems very expensive.

-Well...

Can I tell you something?

Russian silver items are greatly sought-after.

And, although you think that's a big price, I think it is

-worth taking a punt on these.

-Yes.

We did so want something Russian.

How do you say, "They are Russian?"

-Russkiy.

-As simple as that?

-There is no verb "to be" in Russian.

-Is there not?

To be or not to be, that is the question.

-So, let's go for them, let's ask the dealer what he can get off.

-Yes.

While the Reds are almost finished,

the Blues are getting completely lost in the shop.

-Is it this way?

-No, it is... Oh.

I think it was this way.

There is only ten minutes left, and they still need two items.

-Any help, Catherine?

-There's quite a bit of dithering going on.

We need to make more decisions.

They need to start running.

And not walking.

And if they don't make up their minds soon,

(I'm going to strangle them.)

The shop is going really slowly,

it is a lot harder to spend money than I thought it would be.

-There is so much choice.

-Definitely. The amount of items, you could look through it all day,

-let alone in an hour, I'd say.

-Yes.

-And now we're starting to panic a bit...

-We are running out of time.

-Running out of time.

-You certainly are, Blues.

There had better be some decision making soon or you will be

going to auction with one item. Hurry up.

How is Jim doing on the price for the Reds' Russian pots?

I've phoned the dealer, Anita,

and the best price he can do was £100 for the pair.

-We are getting a reasonable discount on that.

-A big chunk off that.

-Should we go?

-He's only just put them into the cabinet.

-Lovely.

-Thank you very much. Thank you very much.

-Lovely.

Now, there's a team who know how to make a decision.

It's all over for the Reds. Now, get a move on, Blues.

Oh, a blue pumpkin.

I think the colours are super.

-And it would fit in any home.

-Really nice flambe colour.

Who's it by? Has it got a name?

-Royal Venton.

-Oh, Venton. Yes. So it is about 1900s...

in date. Why do you like that?

-Again, very tactile.

-Just like it.

Really nice colours, aren't they?

I mean, blue for the Blue Team, which is great,

but we've got this claret colour running through, which is super.

-What's on it?

-£67.

-67.

What sort of price do you think it would fetch at auction?

Auction price, I'd put that in, happily put that in at £50-£80.

-It would look good in a modern home today.

-Definitely.

-Go and see what you can get for it.

-I'll go and get a squid deal.

-Don't break it.

-I won't.

-We haven't got a lot of time.

No, you don't, there's just six minutes left

and you still have two items to go. Get a wiggle on, Adam.

You've got a Royal Venton vase on your unit, priced at 67.

Obviously with 10%, I can do 60. What would be your very best?

Yes, that's it, looks like a pickled onion.

Or a pumpkin.

-Thank you.

-Bye.

-£40 on that, then.

-Sounds a really good price, I'm just going to have a word with my mother,

but I think we'll take it.

-Mum does know best.

-Is he pretty good at haggling?

-He's quite good at haggling.

-OK.

-So they can do it for £40.

-Oh, I think we should have that.

I think that's good. Are you happy with that? Are you happy with that?

Yeah. Yes, definitely, I'm happy with that.

I think we'll make some money on this. We'll take that, thanks.

Finally, a second item.

-Now, what are you going to do about your third item?

-Goggles.

Are we going for goggles?

-Would you rather go for the hat? You are the expert.

-No,

it is entirely up to you.

I mean, my only advice to you would be,

with the goggles and the hat.

OK, the goggles aren't in great condition, but you've got that hat.

OK, which is pretty much OK.

The strap is all all right, it's all working.

A bit of wear, but it is fine.

But with the other goggles, the goggles are damaged

and there is nothing else to go with them.

So they are both £50, so...decision time.

I still like the original goggles, I think. I prefer them, definitely.

Just the goggles by themselves. This is our last decision.

-I think so, yes.

-Are you sure?

-Yes, definitely.

-In my heart of hearts, I think definitely.

-Right, fantastic,

so that is three items we've bought in the nick of time.

-Oi, oi, time's up.

-I didn't think we were going to do that,

so I think we deserve a cup of tea.

-Definitely.

-Come on!

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

They sparkled with a turquoise and mother of pearl silver

necklace for £28.

They dished up a set of enamel spoons for £95.

And a pair of white metal Russian pots were theirs for £100.

-So was it a question from Russia with love?

-Certainly was.

So, which is your favourite piece?

-I really like the enamel spoons, just love them.

-Do you agree?

No, I think the mother of pearl and turquoise necklace is the best.

-And did you spot that?

-No, I did not, Anita did.

-Anita, oh, well done, Anita.

-A woman of impeccable taste.

-Quite right.

And which piece is going to bring the biggest profit, then?

-Definitely the spoons.

-The spoons, yes.

-OK, brilliant.

We are united on that. Which is a relief. And you spent how much?

-£223.

-223.

I'd like £77 of leftover lolly, please.

-There you go.

-That's good. Straight over to Anita, then.

There you go, darling. So, this is a good place to come and shop, isn't it?

Absolutely wonderful. And Mum and son bought lovely things.

So I really have to find something nice

-for your bonus buy.

-Oh, good.

-Yes, please.

-There's your challenge. Good luck, Anita, because right now,

we are going to check out what the Blue Team bought, aren't we?

They poured away £20 on an Art Nouveau copper hot water can.

A Royal Venton pumpkin vase was theirs for £40.

And they flew off with a pair of late 20th century goggles,

just in the nick of time, for £50.

-So, you dynamic duo.

-THEY LAUGH

-Which is your favourite piece?

-Mine is the copper watering can thing.

-The Art Nouveau, it is beautiful.

-Is it? OK, that's your favourite.

-It is.

-Do you agree with that?

My favourite is probably the goggles I bought, the military ones.

Take a chance on them, a bit of a gambling man.

Are they going to bring the biggest profit?

-No, I don't think either of ours are. I think the vases will bring the biggest profit.

-Do you?

-I think the watering can.

-Do you?

-Yes.

Stay faithful to the watering can.

-And how much did you spend in total?

-£110.

I'd like £190 of leftover lolly, please. Thank you.

-Which is a good old wodge. Catherine.

-That certainly is.

Well, I'm going to try and blow the lot.

-If not, I'm going to get very, very close to it.

-There's a prediction

to keep us on the edge of our seat

until we arrive at the auction very, very soon.

Thanks so much.

Well, how lovely is this?

To be here on the outskirts of Newbury,

with our old friend Tom Plant. Tom.

-Tim.

-Special auction services.

-Thank you very much for coming.

-First up today, for our Red Team, is this wee necklace.

-Yes.

Do you love it to bits?

It's very sweet, but I don't really love it to bits, no.

It is quite modern. But we've put £25-£30 on it,

because it is a very wearable piece of jewellery.

Well, we like that, because they only paid £28.

So, £25-£30 could mean that they make a profit.

-Wouldn't that be a miracle?

-It would be a miracle.

-Lovely.

Then moving onto the next miracle, is these very smart coffee spoons.

They are delightful.

Silver and enamel, Scandinavian, beautiful pieces.

And they've been retailed through Harrods. You've got a fabulous box.

The only one problem out of all these things is this

bit of damage on this white and enamel.

-That is a terrible thing on the enamel.

-So annoying.

But the thing is, though... David Andersen, huge

producer of silver

-and enamel, and these are 1920s, I would say.

-So the estimate is?

-60 to 80.

-£95 paid.

-Mmm, difficult.

Now, next are these enamelled and white nettle salts.

-Which look like Russian jobs.

-We've catalogued them as Russian style.

They are not stamped with Russian silver hallmarks,

but they look Russian style, in that lovely champleve enamel.

-Yes.

-They are pretty.

-I...

-Are they pretty nice?

-We put £50-£80 on them.

-That's not very generous.

-No. But I think that's what they are worth.

OK, fine, our lot paid £100 for them.

That's a bit of a dark hole to fall into.

I kind of like their desire to buy shiny, quality objects.

-OK, are you happy with that?

-Very happy.

-They won't be.

-No.

-THEY LAUGH

-Super.

In fact, it may be so ghastly that they need their bonus buy.

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

Now, Billy, Chrissy, this is exciting. You spent £223, a magnificent total.

-And you gave Anita Manning £77 of leftover lolly.

-We did.

Anita, show us your worth.

Ooo!

Well, you guys like nice things of quality.

What I've bought is a lovely little hallmarked silver bonbon dish.

It is Birmingham 1907.

And what I like about it, and what makes it a wee bit special,

are these lovely little handles. Tell me what you think.

Oh, it is slightly heavier than I thought it was.

-So how much did you spend on it?

-I paid £45 for it.

-Can I have a little...?

-You can.

Oh, yes, there is a bit more to it than...

-It looks like it's made of foil or something.

-It does.

-Or lace.

Whatever it is trying to be, all those little pierced bits.

-Is this to your taste?

-Yes, it is very sweet.

-It is lovely.

And in my house you would always be able to see it,

-because the bonbons wouldn't last five minutes.

-Ah!

Fill it with Maltesers, it will be gone in two seconds.

-A little functional item as well.

-How much profit do think it may make?

Well, I think that we could have a fiver or a tenner on that.

-We need everything we can get.

-Yes, we do.

Well, you pick later, but right now, for the audience at home,

let's find out what the auctioneer thinks about Anita's bonbon dish.

-One lump or two, Vicar.

-Well, this is a delightful bonbon dish.

-More bonbon than sugar.

-Well, you could put sugar...

-It would all fall through.

Well, not if they are the big cubes, or that really lovely sugar,

that cane sugar, which is sort of all different colours like pebbles.

-Oh, yes.

-It is solid silver, it is Edwardian. What I like about it is

the tapered design of these sweet little ovals.

The work in that is really good. We've put £40-£60 on it.

Good on you. £45 was paid by Anita. She rates it.

That's it for the Reds.

Now the Blues, who have gone for the rather more chunky, manly look.

Let's start off with that copper can.

Because, in Edwardian society,

every single bedroom would have had one of those,

and the parlour maid would have brought up, in the morning,

some hot water from the kitchen so that the gentleman could shave.

-Do you think that's a watering can you could have had in a very smart greenhouse?

-No.

-Too smart.

-I don't think it had anything to do with watering plants.

-It is quite big, though.

-It is quite chunky.

Art Nouveau, copper, hasn't been too polished, which I quite like.

-So what is your estimate?

-£40-£60.

-That's fantastic. They paid £20.

-Oh!

-They could double their money.

-They could do.

-Marvellous.

Now, next, they've got this thing that they call a pumpkin vase.

-I think this is wonderful.

-Do you?

-It is so mad, it is so out there.

-Yes. It also looks a bit dribbly to me, in the glaze department.

-Drip glaze.

On the base, Royal Venton, with a little lion.

And you've got John Stevenston. That is the factory and sons.

And Royal Venton is the type.

Do you think this is going to appeal to the kids, then?

Um, it could do.

We've put £30-£50 on them.

OK, that is spot-on, that is right in the middle, they paid 40.

Now, what about these goggles? Said to be military, you know.

-They are not.

-Oh.

-No. They are stadium.

-We have got a little bit of damage here.

-Oh, right.

One of our lenses is cracked.

-But these are speedway goggles, or display motorcycle.

-OK.

And there are people that want these period bits of kit, aren't they?

-Yeah.

-It's collectable.

-Collectable. At 30 to 50.

-30 to 50. OK. £50 paid.

That could be their only loss. But, on the other hand, you never know.

But what I do know is that we now have a chance of going

to have a look at their bonus buy.

This is a double A moment. It is an Anne and Adam moment. Ha-ha.

You spent £110, you gave Catherine £190.

-What did you spend it on, Catherine? Can I help you?

-Would you mind?

-Not at all.

-There it is.

-BOTH: Ooo!

-It is a bit of an "ooo".

-Interesting.

-So what we've got is a pair of scent decanters,

in this lovely domed...

burr walnut veneered case.

-Anne, I think you should have a little look...

-Can I take one?

-Please do.

-Oh, thank you.

-That's beautiful.

-Isn't that nice?

-They are quite stylish.

And they're quite simple,

the pattern is not too over the top, they are about 1920s in date.

But they are quite elegant, I think, and they just look lovely.

So it sort of follows a Victorian style,

but sort of 20th-century chap.

-Isn't that lovely, though? Perfect condition.

-Not chipped.

People who buy scent bottles want them to be in perfect condition.

-So you almost blew the whole lot.

-I did. I did.

-£170.

-170.

How much do you think they will make?

I think...

it is going to be a bit of a gamble, to be honest with you.

-But I think they are beautiful.

-They are lovely.

-Like a bit of a gamble anyway, so...

-Do you? Oh, good man, good man.

Anyway, it'll depend on how well you've done at that moment in time, I suspect.

But, for the audience at home, let's find out what the auctioneer thinks

about the scent bottle set.

There's something fragrant about this, don't you find?

Well, these...

in here are lovely.

A very fine pair of moulded glass, admittedly they are moulded.

So it leads me to believe that they are probably continental...

scent bottles. They are dead sweet.

In this fabulous walnut and feathered strung box,

-which is rather good.

-And that's in ace condition, isn't it?

It is in ace condition.

My only slight caveat with the whole thing is that they are moulded

-rather than cut.

-Exactly.

-I think they're 1920s.

Yeah. And there is something quite girlie about them, isn't there?

-Very girlie.

-So can you give us a really good girlie estimate?

Well, it is a good auctioneer's estimate, it is £80-£120.

TIM LAUGHS

-It's your favourite, Tom.

-Well, yes, it is.

Well, the real girlie price is £170.

-Which kind of knocks a hole through your estimate of 80-120.

-It does.

-You'll be lovely to everybody, won't you?

-I will push and push, and the internet will be spoken to. OK.

-Lovely, can't ask for more.

-No.

-We'll get going in a minute, then.

90, 5,

100.

And 10 and 20.

130. All done at £130?

Selling!

-Chrissy, Billy, feeling good?

-No.

-No.

-No? What's the matter, Mum?

No, concerned that we're going to crash and burn today.

Don't worry about it.

Anyway, here we go, then, here comes the necklace. Looking good!

With mother of pearl and turquoise and marcasite floral drops.

And I can start the bidding with me here at £10.

At 10 and at 10.

THEY GROAN

And at £10, at £10 for the silver necklace.

At 10 I have, lady's bid.

12. 15 it is.

15, 15...

Come on!

It's at 18, 20,

2.

£25 I have. 30 it is.

-Yes!

-You're in profit.

-In profit!

-35 it is online.

One more, it could be yours.

40 it is, at £40.

-THEY CHEER

-How lovely.

At 40, at 40, at 40 we have.

£40, once against you, internet.

It's in the room.

£40, twice against you, internet,

and I'm selling at 40. Lady's bid.

£40 is +£12.

Thank you very much. No trouble at all.

Now, let's go with spoons.

A set of six

beautiful silver gilt and enamel spoons.

And I can start the bidding with me here...£50.

50 I have, 5 and 60 and 60 it is.

65, 70.

70, 70 we have.

And 5.

75, it's here at 75. Is there 80 anywhere?

-Is there 80 anywhere? At 75, at 75 there is.

-Can't bear it.

Looking for £80 anywhere else in the room.

-Are we done?

-One more!

-He goes, "One more," at 80.

-Yes!

-Yes!

One more at 80, at 80, at 80, at 80 and 5 now online.

-85!

-85, 85, go on.

-90 now.

-Go on!

No, thank you. LAUGHTER

"No, thank you," at 85, 85 it is.

All done, then, at 85, 85 I have.

Oh, bad luck, team.

That means you are +£2.

You're still ahead, though.

Now, the Russian pots.

Russian-style silver salts here with lovely green-and-red enamel design.

And start the bidding with me here at £30.

At £30, £30, £30.

Any advance on 30? Surely, ladies and gentlemen.

30 I have, lady's bid.

At 30 there is in the room.

Is there 5 anywhere?

Nobody's RUSSIAN to buy these.

30 twice.

Yours, madam. 30.

-THEY GROAN SOFTLY

-30 is -70,

which means you are -68.

So, you're -£68, what are we going to do about the bonbon, then?

-Definitely go for it.

-You're going to go for it?

Here we go, then, here comes the bonbon dish and charmant it is.

Twin-handled bonbon dish marked, "Birmingham 1907."

And I can start the bidding with me here at £30.

£30, somebody.

£30, £30, somebody bid me £30.

Surely it's worth 30?

At 30, 30 I have.

30 I have in the room, at £30 it is.

Gentleman's bid has it at 30.

Is there 5 anywhere else?

35, 35 I'll take.

At 35... 40, sir?

40 it is, at £40. 5, madam?

Yes. 45, 45, 50.

Good. You're in profit.

55, 55. £60 in front, at 60 it is.

Once. All done, then, at 60.

-THEY CHEER

-£60, +£15, I'm loving it.

-53. And, genuinely,

-53 could be a winning score, all right.

So, say nothing to the Blues, all right?

-Absolutely.

-Thank you very much. Great sports.

-OK, so. Anne, Adam, do you know how the Reds got on?

-No, not at all.

Not a clue.

-No.

-No.

-Well, we deliberately keep you apart, you know.

Ha-ha-ha. And it's worked.

Anyway, first up is the hot water can and here it comes.

Nice little watering can, this one here. A hot water can.

And start the bidding at £30.

-Come on.

-Good copper one. Is there £30 anywhere in the room?

30 I have.

There we are. We are in profit.

At 30, at 30, at 30.

Is there 5 anywhere?

At 30, at 30 once.

-You can be delighted at 30.

-Ooh!

£5 bid, anybody at 35. No?

-Well done, Tom.

-Profit.

-£30 is +£10, we like it.

Very nice.

Now, pumpkin.

A Royal Venton pumpkin vase, circa 1920s.

Start the bidding with me at £20.

£20, £20, £20.

It's a great looking lot, this one here. At 20, at 20.

-I don't believe nobody wants this pumpkin...

-Nor do I.

-No.

-Neither do I.

-Unbelievable.

20 we've got, lady's bid at £20.

Is there 2 anywhere else?

At 20, once there is. Any advance? At 25 I've got.

-Yes, come on.

-Madam, make it 30.

You liked it to begin with.

No? 25 once. 25 twice.

25 is -15

which means overall you're -5.

-Uh-oh.

-Which is small beer, but here we go.

A pair of late 20th-century automotive goggles.

£20, any advance at 20 for the goggles?

Any advance at 20?

2, 5, 8.

28 I've got. Any advance at £28?

Oh, dear. Dirty shame.

£28 twice... 30, I do.

-Oh, come on.

-Late bid.

£30 it is, at £30 bid. At £30, all done, then.

£30 is -£20.

With the -5 it equals -£25.

Ouch.

Now, scent bottles. What do you fancy doing?

-I think we should ring-fence our losses. We'll stick.

-Not feeling.

-OK.

We're not going with the bonus buy, but we're going to sell them anyway

to find out what's what about what.

And here comes the domed scent bottle set.

239, a pair of moulded glass and enamel-decorated scent bottles.

And start the bidding with me here at £60. At 60.

Start the bidding at £60.

At £60, ladies and gentlemen, surely it's worth 60?

-Surely.

-Oh, £50.

50 I have, 50 I'll take.

But is there 55 anywhere else?

55, 60, 5.

70, 5.

80, 5.

90, 5.

Better.

95 I have.

At 95, is there £100?

95 once, 95 twice and I sell.

-That's a cool...

-Bang on his estimate.

Bang on his estimate and it's -£75.

You did well in parking that, all right.

Your real score is -25 which could be a winning score.

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

-Everybody happy?

-ALL: Yes.

You bet your life we are. Well, what a lovely show we've had.

Sadly, no profits going to any team today.

THEY GROAN

So, the demarcation is the scale of the losses.

And the runners up today by a considerable margin

are the Reds.

GROANING AND CHEERING

-£53 is the grand total. But you did have a punt, didn't you?

-We did.

-We did.

-You did spend £223.

Just didn't quite go your way.

But the bonbon dish, Anita's little favourite, that did all right,

+£15, so well done for that. Anyway, it was great to see you.

-Lovely, thank you.

-And good luck with everything.

-Thank you.

-We had a great time, we had a great time.

-I'm pleased to hear it.

Now, the victors, who go home by managing to lose £25, are the Blues.

-And it started out pretty promisingly, didn't it?

-Definitely.

Then you resisted the bonus buy

and that's how you come to go away with only -25.

-Yeah.

-Funny old business, isn't it?

-It is, very funny.

-But you've enjoyed it?

-Very much so. It's been good.

-It's been amazing.

-Well, we've loved having you.

In fact, it's been such fun, why don't you join us soon

for some more bargain-hunting, yes?

ALL: Yes!