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00:02It's a truth universally acknowledged, that no one does antiques quite like the British.
00:10And nowhere in Britain does antiques quite like the English Riviera.
00:15It is the antique capital of the UK.
00:18In this sunny corner of the world, that sparkles with opportunity.
00:24Who knows what could be in here?
00:25Da-da-da-da.
00:27Where trading in treasure makes the world go round.
00:30That's fantastic.
00:32Attracting customers from far and wide.
00:34Wow, look at that. That's pretty cool.
00:37Whether buying...
00:38I'm happy at 500.
00:40Whee!
00:41Or selling...
00:42If the price is right, everything's for sale.
00:45There's a dealer for every type of antique here.
00:48Wouldn't it be marvellous if it was a real Picasso?
00:51Some do it for love.
00:52If anyone ever asks me what my job title is, I might get a treasure hunter.
00:55£514.
00:56Really?
00:57Others for the money.
00:58If we were in the region of, say, £5,000 to £6,000.
01:00I would have thought it should go for more than that.
01:02It's more than just a job.
01:03There's a little bit of me in the shop and there's a little bit of everything.
01:06It's a way of life.
01:08A state of mind.
01:11Welcome to the Antiques Riviera.
01:23If it's unusual treasures from days gone by you're after...
01:26It's magnificent.
01:29It's an earplug.
01:30Imagine that.
01:31What do you reckon?
01:32Shall I have it done?
01:33Give it a shot.
01:35Give it a shot.
01:37You need look no further than this slice of Devon.
01:41From Torquay to Plymouth, inland to Ashburton and Exeter, otherwise known around here as the Antiques Riviera, if that's not
01:50too grand.
01:50The vintage one is £4,000 and the more recent one is £3,000.
01:58Where, for dealers, buying is as much part of the fun as selling.
02:03Well, I've got to ask you.
02:05Yeah.
02:05Can I try the hat on?
02:06Yeah, of course you can.
02:07It's compulsory.
02:10I think...
02:10Oh, yeah.
02:11How's that look?
02:12Splendid.
02:17But it's not just dealers on a busman's holiday.
02:20Every year, over 4 million visitors arrive.
02:25And some never leave.
02:28Oh, look at this one.
02:30No, no, no, this is right on my street.
02:33Sophie and Miles relocated here from Berkshire six years ago.
02:37One of the main reasons we moved here, really, is because of the Antiques.
02:40If you buy it from a shop or from an antique fair, you've genuinely got a memory, a story.
02:47You can picture the moment that you bought it.
02:49So, Ruben, how much are your eggs?
02:51You can have one of those eggs, so £40.
02:54OK.
02:55So, we both work in cybersecurity.
02:57Our weekdays are pretty much, you know, 24-7.
03:00So, our weekends are all about getting out, going, searching for pieces, being outdoors, going to antique fairs.
03:07But for Miles, the thrill of the antiquing chase is blossoming into more than just a passing passion.
03:13I think there's a lot of people that they get to the point that I'm at and they look at,
03:17they don't want to retire, but they want to give something else a go.
03:21Yeah.
03:22You know?
03:22Yeah.
03:23And ideally...
03:24Like a second career, isn't it?
03:25It's a second career, yeah.
03:26Over the last few years, he's been testing the waters, buying items that catch his eye.
03:32We've got lights, we've got a little bit of art, I've got a sculpture, I've got an Eames chair.
03:38You're kidding me.
03:39No, no, no.
03:39I had two Eames chairs about two years ago.
03:41I'm still being asked if I've got them.
03:44They're very popular, so I've got that.
03:45I'd love to see the chair.
03:47But now the collection is getting out of hand.
03:49Miles loves buying pieces, and he soon amassed a ton more pieces, filling up all the, what used to be
03:57just a few bedrooms, is now overtaking the whole house, and now we just have to start selling some pieces,
04:03really.
04:03I literally now just want some space back.
04:05It's time to call in the professionals.
04:07Do you ever travel out?
04:09Yeah, I do house calls.
04:10In the hope that in a few days' time, Sophie will be able to clear some space, and Miles will
04:15discover if he has what it takes to make it on the Riviera as an antiques dealer.
04:21Antiques Riviera open house.
04:23Yeah.
04:23I like that.
04:29The Antiques Riviera is full of dealers hoping to strike gold.
04:34Tucked away near Brixham Harbour is Bob's nautical-themed cafe, The Chart Room.
04:40Proof you can mix coffee with compass collecting and somehow make it work.
04:45I think that looks better than two sets of flowers, don't you?
04:49I think she looked better if she was looking towards me a bit.
04:54Bob's hoping that throwing themed events will help him net new customers.
04:58So it's all hands on deck as he and the team prepare a Royal Yacht Britannia high tea, an afternoon
05:04tea inspired by the luxury cruise liner.
05:08How's it looking?
05:10Are we all ready?
05:11Yeah.
05:11Nearly there.
05:12They're making sure it's all ship-shape ahead of some extra special guests.
05:17There's the champagne on ice.
05:18That's in the frizz.
05:19Seem to have everything in hand.
05:25VIP sisters Laura and Amy are not just returning to the Riviera for Bob's elegant tea and scones, they're about
05:32to auction off their slightly less appetising Royal Wedding Cakes.
05:37They were served at the weddings of Charles and Diana, Princess Anne and Mark Phillips and the former Prince Andrew
05:43Mountbatten-Windsor's with Fergie.
05:45It's going to be exciting, isn't it?
05:46I'm really excited.
05:47Do you think they're going to do well?
05:49I hope so.
05:52The cakes were left to them by their late father.
05:54The sisters have already turned down a cash offer from dealer Jordan.
05:58I would try and offer you $300 apiece.
06:02On each of the Royal Wedding Cakes they're selling.
06:05Taking the cakes to auction is a gamble.
06:07Five a half, looking for six.
06:08But any money they make will go towards a family trip to Disneyland.
06:11Thank you very much.
06:14Hi, how's it going?
06:16Hello, you're righty, how you doing?
06:17Nice to see you.
06:18You too.
06:20They're throwing in their lot with auctioneer Dan.
06:23He's a self-confessed master when it comes to selling modern memorabilia.
06:27We've had a good bit of interest as well.
06:28Oh, really?
06:29But that we withdrew the Andrew cake.
06:33Yeah.
06:34Just with some of the negative publicity at the minute.
06:36Yeah.
06:37I don't think it's worth it.
06:38Yeah, of course.
06:39They're putting a brave face on, but that's wiped out what could have been £300 for their holiday fund.
06:45Ouch.
06:46I think it'll be a good day.
06:47I've got enough interest and enough commission vids that I think we'll be all right.
06:51Oh, OK.
06:52And we'll try and do what we can for you.
06:53Fingers crossed the gavel falls in their favour.
06:57Thank you very much.
06:59Also meandering their way into the Antiques Riviera are Jill and husband John.
07:05Did you pack that bag off the side that I put in the kitchen?
07:09Yeah, the one with the urn in.
07:11Urn?
07:12It was like a pink urn.
07:13It's not an urn, it's a vase.
07:15Oh, well, urn, vase, bays, whatever you want to call it.
07:20After 30 years in the police force, Jill took early retirement to care for her ailing parents.
07:25I was able to give my parents the time and be able to do everything for them at the most
07:32important time of their lives, really, when they needed me the most.
07:36But it has been difficult.
07:37It has been hard.
07:39Sadly, Jill's parents both passed away last year, and now she has the painful task of clearing their house and
07:46finding new homes for their once-treasured possessions.
07:50So we've got a big job on our hands.
07:52And not only is it a big job, it's a very emotional job as well, because there's sentimental value attached
07:57to all of these items, not just the financial side of it.
08:03Jill's dilemma is a familiar one to the dealers in the Antiques Riviera.
08:07We often come across people who are often actually at quite a vulnerable stage of their lives, either people individually
08:12or families who get stuck, you know, inherited property, houses that need to be cleared.
08:20And some of the most satisfying work is to help people to work through that and do that sensitively and
08:27with integrity.
08:29Hello.
08:29Good morning.
08:30You all right?
08:30Good morning.
08:31Hi, nice to meet you.
08:31And you?
08:32Hi, I'm Jill.
08:33Hello, Jill.
08:34I'm John.
08:35Can I put this down somewhere?
08:35Put that down first.
08:36Come on.
08:37Let's have a look.
08:37It looks heavy.
08:38Now, what have you got in there?
08:39Treasure?
08:41I hope you think so.
08:42Well, I'll give you my best advice.
08:44Good.
08:44I can tell you that.
08:44All right.
08:45Right, let's have a look.
08:47Fingers crossed.
08:49Silver plate.
08:50Ladle.
08:52Silver plate ladle.
08:55This would be nice if it were silver.
08:56Yeah.
08:56And they do come in silver, but again, you can see there the plate wearing through.
09:01Sterling silver is 92.5% pure.
09:04Plated pieces start with base metal, like copper, brass or nickel, and then get dressed in a whisper-thin layer
09:10of silver for shine, not weight.
09:14Proof that not all that glitters is gold or, frankly, solid silver.
09:19With the plated items, to be honest, you know, there's no huge, huge value to them.
09:25You could approach an auction house.
09:26You could make up some groups of stuff.
09:28I'm sure, you know, that they would take it.
09:30If you put this and the cutlery together, it's going to be below 50 pounds, I would have thought.
09:36Okay.
09:37Okay.
09:37Not the results they were looking for, but Jill and John have one more offering for Tom.
09:43It's something that my mum and dad gave to me for my birthday a couple of years ago.
09:48Okay.
09:48Do you know where they got it from?
09:50Yeah, they inherited it from one of my dad's friends.
09:53Okay.
09:53I have to say, it isn't really my taste.
09:55Mm.
09:56And what I don't want to do is for it to sit in the cupboard.
10:00No.
10:00It's not something I'd have on display.
10:01Well, let's have a look and see what we've got.
10:03Lovely weight.
10:03Lovely gauge.
10:04It is.
10:05Could this antique be the one that gets Jill and John their first offer?
10:09I don't know if you had thoughts about its value.
10:23I don't know.
10:23The Antiques Riviera.
10:27Stretching across 22 miles of stunning coastline from Brixham to Torquay, Anne is home to more
10:34antique shops than you can shake a stick at.
10:37Visitors and antiques enthusiasts flock here from all over the world.
10:41With every trade that's made, the dealers need to hunt for new treasures.
10:46After all, empty shelves don't pay the rent.
10:48A large part of my time is spent out on the road, actually sourcing pieces, going to people's
10:55houses, other dealers, shops, fairs, markets, all that sort of thing.
11:01Well, Lydia, you're in for a treat.
11:02An invite to this gorgeous grade two listed hamstone home.
11:07Rammed with collectibles and curios, nearly all for sale at the right price.
11:12But don't dawdle.
11:14Miles and Sophie have already unleashed a few Riviera dealers, including Ruben.
11:18Hi, good to see you.
11:20All right.
11:20Come on in.
11:21And it's first come, first served.
11:24Wow, beautiful home you have.
11:26Oh, thank you.
11:26Absolutely beautiful.
11:27Thanks so much for coming today.
11:29We really appreciate it.
11:30And I hope that there's something here that you like.
11:34Nothing's cost me anything.
11:35I've spent money on objects.
11:37It only costs you money when you come to sell it if you...
11:41If you make a loss.
11:42If you end up buying high and selling low.
11:46Oh, I really like that.
11:48It's a little Spanish chair.
11:49I've had it for a little while.
11:51Yeah.
11:51But it's for sale.
11:53Ah, I like that.
11:54I like all the geometric patterns and so on.
11:56That's really nice.
11:57Okay.
11:58I'll make an offer.
11:59Hmm.
12:02Miles, 300 pounds.
12:06Ruben.
12:07A deal.
12:08It's a deal.
12:09Thank you very much for that.
12:11It's a great chair.
12:12Thanks.
12:12Good stuff.
12:13We'll get there.
12:16Let me introduce you to my Eames chair.
12:20Marvellous.
12:21They're just beautiful.
12:22They're iconic.
12:23You know, American modernism.
12:25Highly influential and hugely commercial.
12:30Designers Ray and Charles Eames set out to make affordable furniture.
12:35Today, original and mint examples of their iconic 1960s lounge chairs can fetch over 10 grand.
12:43So, would you mind if I...
12:45No, help yourself.
12:46Please.
12:46Have you seen fake ones as well then?
12:48Oh, absolutely.
12:49Right.
12:50Please, please.
12:51Don't tell me it's real.
12:52I'll tell you what I would say is it's not a straightforward modern fake.
12:57Oh, you think it's a fake?
12:58No, I'm not saying it is.
13:00No, this is well made and the plywood has an age to the piece.
13:07Unfortunately, if it doesn't have...
13:09So, the stamp is right underneath.
13:11I'm looking for any kind of manufacturing information at all.
13:16Every Eames chair I've ever seen is clearly stamped.
13:19Right.
13:20I think for me, this appears to me to be more modern.
13:24Approximately, what did it cost?
13:25I paid about 1,600 quid for it.
13:28Well, that's a bargain.
13:29Something like that.
13:30But I love it.
13:31You see, what does make me wonder about it is the age of the wood, my wood.
13:38And it does have some age.
13:40And so, I'm just holding back on saying, you know, it's just a very nice copy from the 70s.
13:47Yeah.
13:48Because I don't want to say for certain...
13:51Well, take a seat.
13:53I'm going to take a seat.
13:55Having traded several original Eames chairs, Ruben is cautious about the provenance of this one.
14:01Did you have an idea of what you're looking for this?
14:05Yeah, no, I honestly thought if it's real...
14:07If it's real...
14:08So, if it's real...
14:09Oh, I'd sell that for 3,000 if it was real.
14:12Yeah.
14:13Yeah.
14:13But...
14:14Exactly.
14:14I've got other things that I'd like to show you.
14:17I'm really looking forward to this.
14:17So, let's get ourselves out of our chairs and let me take you over.
14:22Okay.
14:23Miles intends to dig into the story of his chair to prove it's no fake.
14:27And while Ruben sees what else he can buy...
14:3355 miles west in Ashburton, the Riviera's silver specialist, Tom, is interested in a piece Jill and John hope to
14:40sell.
14:41Nice, clear hallmark.
14:43It says they're the hallmarks for 1828.
14:46And really nice quality.
14:48There's Nathaniel Mills.
14:50So, he is the name.
14:51Everybody gets excited about Nathaniel Mills.
14:53Tom's clocked the maker's mark of Nathaniel Mills, a Victorian silversmith who combined innovative manufacturing with meticulous hand finishing.
15:02His pieces are as prized today as they were 200 years ago.
15:06This little box would have contained finely ground tobacco, called snuff, which was sniffed rather than smoked.
15:12Rusty habit.
15:13It would have been a table snuff rather than a pocket snuff.
15:17The castle top are the ones that you generally see and are very sought after.
15:22I've seen one with a hunting scene on like this.
15:24I've also seen one with a biblical scene on it.
15:27This one sounds rare.
15:29Come on, what's it worth?
15:31My offer on it, cash offer, would be 800 quid.
15:34And that will stand, you know, for the next year.
15:38After a quick look through the rest of their items, the 800 pounds for the snuff box is Tom's only
15:44offer.
15:45I was hoping for more than that, if I'm perfectly honest.
15:48But I think it was a good offer.
15:50So, I think what we will do is approach the auction house as well.
15:56But, you know, depending on what they say, we may end up back coming to see Tom and selling it
16:02to him.
16:03I mean, it is a really difficult thing, isn't it, when you lose a parent.
16:06But I want to do the best by my dad.
16:11And just doing proud, really.
16:14Dad's a handkerchief.
16:20Miles has one final item to present to fine art dealer and gallery owner, Ruben.
16:26OK, interesting.
16:27Here's the infamous Picasso.
16:29Well, so if this was a real Picasso, as I'm sure you know, it would be 100 million.
16:35Really?
16:36How much?
16:38Things have gone a bit surreal.
16:41What makes me interested in this is actually the, you can see the age of the paper through the glass
16:49on the corners here and the edging.
16:51And it does have some age.
16:53But the frame obviously is modern.
16:55Yeah.
16:56Wouldn't it be marvellous if it really was a signed print?
17:01Yeah, that would be spectacular.
17:02So perhaps when you bring the chair in, bring this in and we'll properly look at it.
17:07Yeah, take it out and have a good look.
17:11A hop, skip and a jump away in Paynton.
17:1590, I have. Thank you.
17:17Look for 95.
17:19Laura and Amy's Royal Wedding Cakes are about to go under the gavel.
17:23Hands up, fair warning, at £90.
17:26They're counting on the cakes to bring in enough dough to mix up a new batch of family memories on
17:31a dream holiday.
17:32Had a really busy, busy few weeks about these.
17:35I have the ladies in the room with me here that they belong to.
17:39The first slice of Royal Wedding Cake is the oldest.
17:42Princess Anne's Captain Mark Phillips.
17:44Jordan offered £300 for this 53-year-old cake.
17:48Along with those in the room are bidders logged in around the world.
17:52I have £60 with me on commission.
17:54For £75, I have.
17:55Looking for £80, please.
17:56£75, looking for £80.
17:58£75 is my last commission.
17:59Looking for £80, please, on the Princess Out of 80.
18:01I have.
18:01Thank you very much.
18:02Looking for £85.
18:03£80, I have.
18:04Looking for £85.
18:04My commission's out online.
18:05You're back in at £80.
18:07There's three of you.
18:08Someone take a pinch at £85.
18:10£80, looking for £85.
18:11What do you reckon, ladies?
18:14It's the less popular one.
18:15£80, my online bidder.
18:18Not quite the figure they were looking for, but no regrets.
18:21That's a decent bit of cash towards their holiday.
18:25It's a good bit of history there.
18:27And there's still the star slice to come.
18:30A treasured fruitcake from one of the most watched weddings in history.
18:34The slice of Charles and Di's cake.
18:37I do have a bid with me at £220.
18:40I've got £240.
18:41£240, looking for £260, please.
18:44£260, looking for £280.
18:45£80, I have.
18:46Sorry, I do have another commission with me at £300.
18:48£300, I have.
18:49Looking for £320.
18:50£300, looking for £320, please.
18:52£310, make a difference, just to keep you interested.
18:54Dan's working hard.
18:56£300, it's my commission.
18:58Are we happy at £300, ladies?
18:59Yes, we are.
19:01Yep.
19:02£300, my commission bidder at £300.
19:06Sold.
19:07Dan made that look like a piece of cake.
19:10I think it went pretty well, didn't it?
19:12We're happy with the result, I think.
19:14That's the main thing, isn't it?
19:15I think there has been a sense of closure doing this now.
19:17Yeah, I definitely do as well, yeah.
19:19It was kind of like the last thing we wanted after Dad's dying
19:22was to sell the cake, isn't it?
19:24And we made a really nice memory, which I think is really special.
19:27Yeah.
19:39Back in Ashburton, Jill and John are looking for a perfect place
19:42to sell an assortment of heirlooms,
19:44left to them by Jill's late parents.
19:47Hello there.
19:47Hello.
19:48How can I help?
19:48I've got a boot full of items that we'd like to have a look at,
19:52if possible, please, to look at their value
19:54or whether you'd be interested in selling them.
19:56Yeah, of course.
19:56That's what we do.
19:57Taking dealer Tom's advice,
19:59they're calling on valuer and saleroom manager David
20:01at Rendles Auction House.
20:03So, should we start on this box?
20:05Yeah.
20:06Right.
20:06So, it looks to be metalware.
20:09And we've got lots of brass.
20:11We've got a silver plate.
20:13Okay, right.
20:14Well, let's have a look.
20:15So, silver plate.
20:17The market's not great for silver plate.
20:19A lot of it is going for scrap.
20:21The guys that are buying it are reverse plating it,
20:23as in taking the silver plate off
20:25and then selling the nickel as well,
20:26which is underneath.
20:27That's what's happening to a lot of these things.
20:29There is a bit of a market for more decorative things
20:31like muffin dishes.
20:32Keep your muffins in that.
20:33That's a jam pot, I would imagine.
20:35A little preserved pot.
20:36I thought it was an ashtray.
20:37Very nice.
20:38No, no.
20:38No, I didn't.
20:39Make a good ashtray.
20:40No, it's a preserved pot.
20:42But that lot of silver plate, including the tea set,
20:45is probably something in the 30 to 50 range
20:48with a 30 pound reserve, something like that.
20:50And you've got a quantity of brassware.
20:52Yes.
20:53You've got a little batch there
20:54and you're going to get something in the region
20:57of about 20 quid for that lot.
21:00The next trunk of Family Treasures is full of ceramics.
21:04This is going to be Clarice Cliff.
21:06It's an early bit.
21:07It's an interesting one because it's not got a name on it.
21:09In the roaring 20s and stylish 30s,
21:12designer Clarice Cliff splashed colour across the pottery world.
21:16Bold patterns, daring shapes
21:18and a fearless flair that made everyday ceramics extraordinary.
21:22Collectors, they love it.
21:25Newport pottery, it's hand-painted
21:26and it says the word bizarre on it,
21:28so it's definitely a little Clarice Cliff jug.
21:30It's probably something like 50 quid.
21:33Really?
21:33Yeah.
21:34Yeah.
21:36This will keep David busy for a while.
21:39In the Antiques Riviera, dealers will travel far and wide
21:43to source the best stock for their shops.
21:45And with an open house to attend,
21:47Jordan's roped in Mum Nicky to mind his shop.
21:50Well, I haven't been here for a couple of weeks,
21:52so I've come in and I've gone into Mum mode.
21:56Two minutes and it's all done.
21:59While he's pitched up in Somerset,
22:01hoping Miles and Sophie have something shiny tucked away.
22:04Hi, Jordan.
22:05How are you doing?
22:06Hi.
22:06Good to see you.
22:07Good to see you.
22:07Come in.
22:08Come on in.
22:10Jordan's got his eye on...
22:12the gold.
22:13Honestly, I just thought it was all costume jewellery,
22:15so help yourself.
22:16No, there's some good stuff in there.
22:17Look rummaged through, pull out whatever you want,
22:19and, yeah, I'd love to know more about whatever you'd like.
22:21Yeah, definitely.
22:22Perfect.
22:23There is some costume, I can see,
22:24but you've definitely got some gold and some silver
22:27and some nice antique jewellery woven in,
22:30so we can definitely look through it.
22:32I think jewellery is fun.
22:34The market's always changing.
22:35The metals are up and down.
22:36People's taste on stones are up and down.
22:39It's a constant fluidity that moves in and out,
22:42like the tides,
22:43and you've got to stay on top of it
22:44if you don't want to get caught with your trousers down.
22:48We'll separate the gold into purities.
22:50All right, so 9 carat is the lowest
22:53that you sort of get in this country,
22:54and then you get 18 carat, which is 75%,
22:58and then 14 carat is 58.5%.
23:01Pure 24 carat gold is soft,
23:04so jewellers mix in cheaper, harder, more durable metals
23:08to increase its strength but retain its golden look.
23:12If there's anything I've put here
23:14that you want to take out the piles,
23:15let me know before I start doing it.
23:17Yeah, no, do that.
23:18I think anything will be your mother's.
23:19It's immediate memory, so...
23:20I think this one is my mama's.
23:23That one's my mama's.
23:24Yeah.
23:25It's more the emotion.
23:26This is where it becomes hard,
23:27because it's the emotional attachment.
23:29It is a dilemma.
23:29What I say to people is anything you've got
23:32a little bit of sentimental with,
23:35hang on to,
23:36because you can always make more money,
23:37you can't make more memories.
23:38The caveat to that is
23:39what sort of new memories can you make
23:41with sort of the equity you can free up
23:43from selling your jewellery?
23:44So, look, that chain there is £514.
23:47Really?
23:48Really?
23:49Yeah.
23:50What?
24:01We've just been looking through the window.
24:03What an amazing shop you've got here.
24:05The Antiques Riviera
24:06attracts treasure seekers of every variety.
24:09Oh, look, there's a barrel cook.
24:12Haven't you always wanted a barrel cook?
24:14Some come to buy, others to sell.
24:16We brought a few items
24:18that we'd really like your opinion on.
24:20And some come to set up shop.
24:22Look at that.
24:24Ideal.
24:29Miles and Sophie moved here
24:30for the love of antiquing.
24:32And having collected quite a hoard,
24:34Miles dreams of becoming
24:35the Riviera's latest dealer.
24:37Today, he's using his home as a showroom.
24:40That's definitely for sale.
24:42I genuinely like it,
24:43but it's definitely for sale.
24:45But before he takes the plunge,
24:46he wants to be certain he has the eye.
24:49You know, I did buy that
24:50to sell, see.
24:51And hopes local dealers
24:52will buy the treasures
24:53they've curated throughout their home.
24:55Jordan's about to give his verdict
24:57on Sophie's jewellery.
25:00So those bits come out at £727.80p.
25:06Wow.
25:07So, no, I said to you,
25:08you'd be shocked what this would start.
25:09Yeah, I literally am.
25:11I'm totally flabbergasted.
25:13It's just the way the market is, so...
25:15Absolutely flabbergasted.
25:17Oh, I'm glad I didn't go to Carbizza.
25:18I can imagine just going and saying,
25:20take whatever you want.
25:21Yeah.
25:22So your grand total is £1,738.40,
25:26but we'll round it up to £1,740.
25:28Oh, I'm amazed.
25:32It's genuinely unbelievable.
25:34That little pile of gold
25:36that hasn't seen the light of day
25:38is worth £1,700.
25:40A successful deal all round.
25:43Jordan has new stock for his cabinets,
25:46Sophie, £1,740 for unwanted jewellery,
25:50and, Miles, a successful foray
25:53into the world of antiques trading.
25:55Lovely.
25:55Bye.
25:56Bye-bye.
25:57Bye.
25:58But is there anything left
25:59for any of the other dealers?
26:04Right, are we ready?
26:1065 miles away in beautiful Brixham,
26:13it's not just the tide that's high.
26:16Have you got everyone with their reserve seats?
26:19A high tea inspired by life aboard
26:22the Royal Yacht Britannia
26:23is almost ready.
26:25They're now putting the afternoon tea together,
26:27then we'll bring that out.
26:29And Bob, a dealer who has put a cafe
26:31into his antique shop,
26:32is all set to welcome guests of honour
26:34Laura and Amy,
26:35whose spirits are high too,
26:37despite the weather.
26:38You know what to do when they get here
26:41and salute.
26:44They successfully sold their souvenir
26:46royal wedding cakes at auction
26:48and now have a tasty sum
26:50to put towards a holiday
26:51with Amy's daughter May
26:52and Grandma Claire.
26:55Should we go inside?
26:56Yeah.
26:58Oh!
26:59Hello!
27:00Come on in then.
27:02Poppy, you can take your hat off now.
27:04There's a good girl.
27:07We've been looking forward to seeing you
27:09and introducing you
27:11to our new afternoon tea,
27:13which you are on the maiden voyage.
27:15Wow!
27:15Sounds exciting.
27:16Let me show you around, okay?
27:20Bob's latest launch combines his three great loves.
27:24The high seas,
27:25selling antiques,
27:26and serving tea.
27:27This is the layout for the afternoon tea.
27:30Oh, wow!
27:31Right down to the tiniest of details.
27:35This is the pinnacle of our high teas
27:37and we're using all of the best antiques we've got,
27:41especially from the royal yacht.
27:42Wow!
27:44And Chef has actually done
27:45some really nice savoury dishes.
27:47The pastry chef has done you
27:49some fabulous desserts,
27:50champagne on ice,
27:51and we're ready to go.
27:53Bob's got all the important things covered.
27:55And for Amy and Laura,
27:57it's the perfect way
27:58to celebrate their success in the Riviera.
28:01What a celebration!
28:02Cheers again!
28:03Cheers!
28:04This is such a lovely way
28:05to end what a wonderful experience,
28:08do you know what I mean?
28:09Because I feel for me
28:09it's that we've just learnt so much
28:11on this that, to me,
28:14that's probably what's better than anything.
28:16And it's really nice today
28:17that we could have May and Mum involved
28:19because she's like,
28:20May's really enjoyed herself.
28:23She's definitely enjoyed the cakes.
28:24Yeah.
28:26What shall we do
28:28with a drunken sailor
28:29I lie in the morning
28:31I lie in the morning
28:32Woo!
28:37Let's hope there's as much
28:39to celebrate at Miles and Sophie's.
28:41Lydia is their last dealer to visit.
28:49Hi, Lydia!
28:50Hello, Sophie!
28:52Lydia's not tied down by niche.
28:54She's fluent in everything
28:55from Victorian vases
28:57to mid-century marvels.
28:58If it's got history and style,
29:00she'll spot it.
29:02Most of the stock I buy
29:04comes from private collections,
29:06people who are moving, downsizing,
29:10or just want to sell something.
29:11I find it a really interesting
29:14and exciting way to find stock.
29:16You never know what you're going to find.
29:19Well, saddle up, Lydia.
29:20You're in for a ride.
29:21So here we are.
29:23Oh, wow.
29:24Another beautiful room.
29:26Oh, thank you.
29:27This is the Liberty's horse.
29:29Oh, fabulous.
29:30It's rare to get one
29:31that is quite that size, isn't it?
29:33Yeah, yeah, yeah.
29:33And in such nice condition as well.
29:35The earliest Liberty of London horses
29:37date back to the 1920s
29:39when the iconic shop
29:40opened in the West End.
29:42Legend has it the full-size versions
29:45once fooled shoppers
29:46into thinking real horses
29:47had wandered onto the shop floor.
29:49That's nice.
29:50That's a really good size.
29:51I've seen smaller ones.
29:53You know, we never go out
29:55looking for something specific.
29:59And neither does Lydia.
30:01She's finding treasure in every room.
30:03What's the, um...
30:04There's a coat stand
30:06tucked away in there.
30:07Oh, it's an old Victorian hat stand.
30:09Yeah, I like that.
30:11There we go.
30:12So you see, it's got its original tray.
30:14Got a little bit damp, hasn't it?
30:16Oh, you've got a bit.
30:17So, and I think with a little bit of TLC
30:20I think this can be all back to life.
30:22Yeah, that can be repaired.
30:24I love a basement, a cellar, an attic.
30:28That's where things get put away.
30:30They get forgotten.
30:32Maybe they're a bit broken,
30:33a bit neglected.
30:34We've got our own workshop,
30:36so I can get things restored as well.
30:38The price will obviously reflect the condition that it's in.
30:41But I still think it's a nice piece.
30:42I can see past the state that it's in now.
30:45I can see the potential it's got
30:46to be a really beautiful object.
30:48And upstairs there's more.
30:49Hey, well, I can see things I like already.
30:51I love the chair.
30:52And more.
30:53Oh, and the mannequin too.
30:55And more.
30:56I can see some angle-poised lights.
30:59Lydia's rummage from basement to the rafters.
31:01Now all she needs to do is decide whether any of it is worth offering on.
31:08And that's exactly what's happening some 60 miles away at Rendell's sale room in Ashburton.
31:13Faluer David has been through boxes of Jill's parents' belongings and has just one final item to appraise.
31:21And I take it you don't have a bit of snuff?
31:23No, no, I don't.
31:25Dave, mate, they're ex-coppers.
31:27It's quite an early one, actually, as far as these go.
31:30You've got NM for Nathaniel Mills.
31:32Gothic script G for 1830.
31:35And you've got a little George IV head down the bottom, giving it that Georgian thing.
31:40So that would tie in with that sort of date.
31:42It's all cast in silver, and then it's got engine turning around the sides to give that lovely checkerboard effect.
31:47It's lovely because it really catches the light with that, doesn't it?
31:48Really good, yeah.
31:49Yeah, well, that's exactly what that's there for, to make it sparkle, to catch the light.
31:53So, yeah, that's a cracking bit of silver there.
31:56What's it worth?
31:56That's the big million-dollar question.
31:59Dealer Tom offered Jill £800.
32:01Will David better this, or blow it out of the water?
32:05Because it really is a really exceptionally good one.
32:09I would imagine in an auction that would be something like an £800 reserve, 8 to 12 estimate.
32:15I think it's a very, very, very collectible item, very good.
32:18Thank you very much for that.
32:20No, you're welcome.
32:20I really appreciate your advice and your honesty.
32:23Lovely thing, lovely to see it.
32:24Really nice, yeah.
32:25Jill will consign the snuffbox and her parents' ceramics, silver-plated items and other collectibles
32:30into the next auction in a few weeks' time.
32:35I'm exhausted mentally, I think, from taking in all that information.
32:41Inevitably, it's brought about emotions for both of us.
32:45They were my parents, but John was very close to them as well.
32:49So it has been an emotional journey as well, but it's one that we have to tackle.
32:54But it's nice to have memories, and this journey we've been on has been a memory of your mum and
33:02dad.
33:05Just over an hour's drive away live Miles and Sophie.
33:09They moved here six years ago, and since then have been collecting, well, everything.
33:15So they've opened the house to Riviera dealers hunting fresh stock for their shops.
33:20Lydia's spotted plenty.
33:21Now can wannabe dealer Miles cash in?
33:25So, your Liberty horse, I really like that.
33:28I like the scale, it's a big statement sort of piece.
33:31What were you thinking about me?
33:32It's a little bit of a punt for me.
33:34I like it.
33:35Yeah.
33:36I don't think I'd want to pay more than £400 for it.
33:39Right.
33:39OK.
33:40OK, Miles, let's hear your best counteroffer.
33:43You're almost there.
33:45We'd like you to come up a little bit on that to £450.
33:50But if you do that, we've got an old saddle in the cellar that we'll throw in as a bonus.
33:56£50 extra, sweetened with a saddle.
33:59Miles, you're riding your luck.
34:00Lydia may walk.
34:02The market for the real ones is good, but not slightly by the fact that there are imitations around.
34:08OK.
34:22Every hour in the Riviera, antiques change hands faster than seagulls spot chips.
34:27Whether that's in the shops...
34:29Bring it up to about £150.
34:32OK.
34:32That's the value.
34:33On the streets...
34:35Excellent.
34:36Deal was done.
34:36Or even from the comfort of your own home, where aspiring dealer Miles is negotiating
34:42the price of a Liberty-style horse with seasoned trader Lydia.
34:47So if we can agree at £450, that would be great.
34:51OK.
34:52Yeah, that sounds all right.
34:53We've got a deal there.
34:54Yeah.
34:54That's good.
34:55Yes, Miles, nice work.
34:56First haggle down, Lydia has a list of things she'd like.
35:00Starting with...
35:01Down in the basement, in the cellar, I found the hat stand, hat and coat stand.
35:06Yeah.
35:06I like that.
35:07I think that's got potential to be a really nice object.
35:10Yeah.
35:11It's not going to be a fortune offer you for it.
35:13It needs a lot of work to the veneer around the bottom.
35:15Yeah.
35:15It's £50.
35:16Happy with that.
35:17Happy with that.
35:18The hat stand will need quite a bit of work to restore to its former glory.
35:23Lydia also buys a mannequin, a farmhouse-style chair and three lights,
35:28banking Sophia Miles £1,490.
35:32Added to the £1,740 from Jordan, this gives them a whopping total of £3,230 for the day.
35:40Looks like Miles definitely has a good eye for buying after all.
35:44Bye, Lydia.
35:46I think both buyer and seller are happy.
35:48It's been great.
35:53After her successful trip to Miles and Sophie's open house...
35:57OK, come on in, Chris.
35:59It's nice and warm in here.
36:01Lydia is keen to turn her attention to the hat stand she found in the basement.
36:06Here's the first project.
36:07Oh, beautiful.
36:08It needs specialist restoration, so she's enlisting the help of furniture conserver Chris Coles.
36:15We're going to have to re-vener the hole at the bottom.
36:18Yeah.
36:18And I think the whole thing's going to need stripping and polishing, isn't it?
36:23Yes.
36:24It was good to get it out of that basement when we did.
36:26If it had been left down there much longer, it starts to become uneconomical to actually get it restored.
36:33And then it's lost forever.
36:34But actually, we got it out in time, and now it will go on to live another hundred years.
36:40It's a good revive, get rid of a lot of the grease and the marks, but to keep base colour,
36:45then we can go from there.
36:46So, do you think you can give it a go?
36:48Yeah.
36:48Yeah?
36:48Be delighted.
36:51Chris is a dab hand when it comes to a French polish, that classic wood-finishing method.
36:56Painstakingly building up layers and layers of shellac to create a glass-like shine.
37:02Shellac is no garden-variety polish, unless you live in India or Thailand.
37:06It's made from a resin secreted by the tree-dwelling lac beetles.
37:12Shellac made its way to Europe during the 18th century, where the French perfected the polishing technique and gave it
37:17its name.
37:23After almost a week of meticulous work, the hat stand is back to its former glory and ready to sell.
37:30It was a long process with a lot of work to do, but it has come up absolutely beautifully.
37:35I gave Myles and Sophie £50 for it.
37:38We've done all the work on it, got it back to absolutely 100% condition.
37:42I'm asking 495 for it.
37:45It seems like a big mark-up, but actually, the work that we've done in the middle of it is
37:50huge.
37:50It's not just dealers and restorers who've been busy with their projects.
37:56After the open house, Myles was left with a bit of homework by dealer Ruben.
38:01And now, he and Sophie are in town to reveal their findings.
38:05It's heavy, isn't it?
38:07Absolutely beautiful.
38:08So, Ruben, I've done a little bit of further research on this.
38:12I've done some myself.
38:13I've had confirmation from the auction house that I acquired it from.
38:17Yeah.
38:18And they absolutely stand firm on their description as an original Charles and Ray Ames chair.
38:25But it's a later one, isn't it?
38:26Yes, yes, it absolutely is.
38:29Based on the componentry, it's, yeah, 80s and above.
38:34Yeah, it's certainly not an early one.
38:35Yeah.
38:35Price-wise, what did you have in mind?
38:39I think selling it for three and a half, with you taking a 500 commission,
38:46I genuinely think that's a good deal for both of us.
38:48And I'd be happy with that.
38:50Very happy.
38:51Thanks, Ruben.
38:52Myles' hard work has paid off.
38:54Not only has he had a taste of the unseen graft behind antique dealing,
38:58he's leaving his now-authenticated chair with Ruben to sell through the shop.
39:03And with the Picasso verdict still to come, he's quietly hoping for two wins out of two.
39:13Two minutes' drive away at Rendell's sale room,
39:16Jill and John are preparing for a day in the auction house.
39:20I'm kind of excited, but also very nervous and worried about how emotional I'm going to be.
39:25It's just under the face of the grieving process, I suppose.
39:30Jill's putting a good chunk of her parents' past under the hammer at today's auction.
39:35Items that were an important part of the life they built over decades.
39:39And there's one heirloom she's hoping will shine above the rest.
39:43My snuff box is probably the star item, isn't it, of all of it, in terms of how much it's
39:48worth.
39:48And actually, it's an attractive item, isn't it? It's a sought-after item.
39:52Hopefully.
39:53Yeah, so let's hope that it does really well and exceeds its estimation.
40:03With the auction about to get underway, everyone in the room takes their seats.
40:08And they're joined by bidders from across the globe online and on the phones.
40:13Auctioneer Michael takes his place on the rostrum ready to get started,
40:17joined by David, the sale room manager, who's on parking duties for the day.
40:23OK, right then. Morning, ladies and gentlemen.
40:28First up, it's that Clarice Cliff cream jug.
40:31There we go. Nice thing that is. Straight in there. What's it going to be? £50 for that.
40:34I'm bid online at £50.
40:36What? £60?
40:37£60, £50, £70, £70, £50, £80.
40:40Online it is. £5, £85.
40:41All out in the room, £90. £90.
40:43Keep going.
40:45Sale of a net. All out in the room, get a sale.
40:47Fair warning then, at £90. And it goes...
40:50That's £50 over the reserve. A great start.
40:53Good for a time for a job. That's good, isn't it?
40:56Now time for the silver-plated items.
40:58Straight in there. What's it going to be? £30 for a lot.
41:01£30 to start. 30 got. 30 bid online. A £30. £30 there.
41:04A £30.
41:06£30. You're out in the room as well.
41:07A £30 then. All done. A £5.
41:09£40. £40.
41:10It's still going online. £40.
41:11£40 online. It's going there.
41:14£40. £40.
41:15It goes.
41:16Not solid silver, but a solid win.
41:21Over the next half an hour, more items go under Michael's gavel.
41:25£45 all done. Same way, I'm afraid.
41:28But fail to meet Jill's reserves.
41:30£40. Missing you now then at £40.
41:32It's the same way.
41:33£1.000.
41:35£28. £28 again. All done.
41:37£28 all done. Same way, I'm afraid.
41:40I don't know what you're doing.
41:41Looks like Jill might be taking a carload home, but there's still hope for the silver snuffbox.
41:51Down the street, Ruben is ready to turn his attention to Miles and Sophie's Picasso.
41:57OK, let's just...
41:58What's that number? There's a number over there.
42:01OK. I think that's possibly a date.
42:04But I also have a feeling that this paper isn't quite old enough.
42:09Oh, right. OK.
42:11Ruben's hunting for the telltale marks that prove that piece is legit.
42:15So, priceless Picasso or very persuasive pretender?
42:19No, this is not a Picasso.
42:22I don't need to go any further, really, with it.
42:24OK.
42:25Right.
42:25And now we know.
42:26Value?
42:28£50.
42:29Tenor?
42:30Yeah.
42:31Including the frame?
42:32Yeah.
42:33Seriously, a tenor.
42:34I'm so sorry.
42:35No, it's fine. It's absolutely fine.
42:37The petrol cost us more to bring it down in the car.
42:40Bit of an anti-climax.
42:42Thanks for giving us the verdict on that.
42:44I appreciate your honesty, your candid honesty on that.
42:48So, never mind.
42:49You win some, you lose some.
42:50But let's put it back in its frame and put it back on the wall.
42:54They're ending their adventure with £3,530 in the bank from the dealers
42:58and another £3,000 to come from Ruben when he sells the chair.
43:02Thank you so much.
43:03Thanks for having me.
43:04Really lovely to see you.
43:05See you soon.
43:06Cheers.
43:06Bye-bye.
43:07But let's be honest, just selling their items wasn't what it was all about for Miles.
43:12This experience has been so enlightening and really opened up some new avenues.
43:18So I've made the decision that I'm now going full-time into antique and decorative arts dealing.
43:26And it's going to be a new chapter in my life, a new chapter in our lives.
43:30So watch this space.
43:38In Ashburton's local auction house, Jill and John are hoping for a new chapter too.
43:43But it's not been going too well.
43:46Dealer Tom has popped up the road to lend a bit of moral support when it comes to their star
43:50lot,
43:51the silver snuff box.
43:54Talking of Tom, to be fair, here he is.
43:57You all right?
43:57We're adjusting in your praises.
43:59Oh, no.
43:59We're just saying, yes, he's guaranteed that £800 for...
44:03I have guaranteed that £800.
44:03Are you coming to buy it now for £1,500?
44:07Well, you never know.
44:08I'm hoping I don't buy it.
44:10I'm hoping it makes more money for you.
44:12Yeah, no, honestly.
44:13But we'll see.
44:13Fingers crossed.
44:14So you've got £800 anyway.
44:16Yeah, thank you.
44:16Yeah, thank you, Tom.
44:18And we do like you.
44:19Yes, brilliant.
44:21Tom's honouring his £800 offer if the auction doesn't go their way.
44:25And with his support and a £900 reserve, it's time for the snuff box to go under the gavel.
44:32Nathaniel Mills, the George IV heavy gauge silver snuff box there.
44:36There we go.
44:37Nice thing that is.
44:38Straight in there.
44:38What's it going to be?
44:39£500 to start.
44:40£500.
44:40£500 bid.
44:41£500.
44:42£500.
44:42£550.
44:42£600.
44:43£650.
44:44£700.
44:45£750.
44:48£750.
44:48£800.
44:49£850.
44:50£850.
44:50You're out of the way.
44:52At £850 all done, then.
44:54At £850 all done.
44:56I'm afraid we hold on to that one a little longer.
44:58We're very close.
44:59Oh, so, so close to Jill's £900 reserve.
45:03With Tom's offer still on the table, all that's left is for Jill and John to tot up their takings
45:08with auctioneer David.
45:10Mixed bag?
45:11Very much so, yeah.
45:12It is what it is, isn't it?
45:13A bit of Clarice Cliff, that went very well, so that was all right.
45:16It did.
45:16Yeah.
45:17I mean, we're discussing whether I sell the silver box to Tom.
45:22Yeah.
45:22Or whether we put it back in another auction.
45:24I think probably what I've decided at this time is just to take it home.
45:28I think it might be an idea just to sit on it a while, yeah.
45:32Something like that will always hold a value.
45:34Yeah.
45:34You know, you've got an offer for a good little while anyway.
45:37Yeah, exactly.
45:37And you have taken £445 before Bits and Bobs have taken off.
45:42Okay.
45:42And £334.94, considering you sell your big iron, that's...
45:47Yeah, absolutely, that's all right, yeah.
45:50They leave a few hundred pounds to the good, and no, another £800 is still up for grabs
45:54from Tom.
45:56We haven't been to an auction before, so I think moving forward, I'd probably be more
46:02confident in approaching an auction house again, and Tom said to us that he would honour
46:06his £800.
46:07He said he would honour that for 12 months.
46:09It'd be such a hardship to have to come back to the Riviera, wouldn't it, just to see Tom?
46:13We'd have to wait for the sunshine, though.
46:17We'd have to wait for the sunshine, though.
46:45We'd have to wait for the sunshine, though.
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