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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.
00:23Who knows what could be in here?
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'm actually a treasure hunter.
00:55514 pounds.
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.
01:20From the coast of Torquay down to Plymouth and inland to Ashburton and Exeter,
01:26the Antiques Riviera is awash with holidaymakers.
01:30Some come for the sea air, some for the cream teas, others, they're here for the antiques, obviously.
01:38And the dealers have been grafting, polishing, primping and dressing their shops to within
01:43an inch of their lives.
01:49Standing out on the Antiques Trail isn't optional, it's survival.
01:54And every dealer has their own idea of how that should look.
01:58I'm really fussy with how things look.
02:02You tend to get everything sort of just right and then it sells.
02:07I like to have everything laid out, dressed properly, flowers on the table.
02:13I don't know, maybe it's a woman's touch.
02:15We all have a different way of doing things.
02:19The shop is full of what I consider to be real antiques.
02:27It's an adventure.
02:29It's impactful.
02:30It's a small space full of thousands of objects.
02:32And each one of those objects is saying something.
02:38Please, Fett.
02:41I think the new cabinets have added another dimension of height,
02:44as well as a little bit more class to the front of the shop.
02:48There's nothing better than having someone come in and say,
02:52we love your shop.
02:53It's the biggest compliment anyone can give you.
02:57Standing out on the Riviera isn't about doing it right.
03:00It's about doing it your way and hoping it pulls in the customers.
03:13Oh, Claire, what a view.
03:14I know.
03:16Making their way from Hertfordshire to the Riviera.
03:18I hope you know where you're going, sort of thing.
03:22You know that your sat nav is not that good.
03:24If they can find their way there.
03:26It caused us to have a row last time.
03:29Ben and his daughter, Claire.
03:32Yeah, and who was right?
03:33Well, I'm never wrong, am I?
03:36At 86, he's been collecting gramophones, radios
03:39and other audio equipment since he was 16.
03:43Ashburton.
03:43Here we are.
03:44Pretty little place.
03:46It is.
03:47With over 100 pieces, it's a passion that's quietly taken over.
03:51The collection sort of came over the years,
03:53so there was always a radio being sneaked into the house.
03:56The problem with having too many items
03:58is that I like to display them round the house.
04:01And my wife didn't like me to display them round the house,
04:05so they ended up being stored in the garage.
04:08Oh, look.
04:09Start the antique shops.
04:11My wife says, please get rid of.
04:13But I love them,
04:14so we need to move these products on for other people to enjoy.
04:19First stop, In A Nutshell Antiques.
04:23Where dealer Lydia is poised to strike
04:26before you've even finished saying,
04:27oh, that's nice.
04:28Hello, In A Nutshell Antiques.
04:31Here's an antique shop that gives us a go.
04:34Go on.
04:35Go in and have a look round.
04:38I collect gramophones, radios, phonograph, all bits and pieces.
04:44I don't know if that interests you.
04:46Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
04:47It's something I love, the sound, the crackle.
04:50You're lucky, because today is your big day.
04:54We've got a carload of stuff.
04:56Oh, sounds great.
04:57I say, bring the car round, let's bring it all in.
05:00Yeah, you buy the whole lot, a bargain price.
05:04We'll see.
05:06Ben's on the hard sell already,
05:08which is the name of the game on the Antiques Riviera.
05:11You'll love this one, Lydia.
05:12That looks like a nice one.
05:13This is just the thing for you.
05:16Yeah.
05:18By letting the collection go and being sold,
05:20it will be part of my history.
05:23But, you know, when you get to a certain time in life,
05:26the only thing you get when you get older is wisdom.
05:29We're running out of room, Ben.
05:30You can put it on the armchair if you like.
05:32You've got to know the time when to move on
05:35without regrets.
05:36And then time has come to move these on without regrets.
05:40Right.
05:41OK.
05:41We'll call it a day.
05:47There are definitely some pieces that are jumping out at me.
05:49The ones you like.
05:50Do you want me to tell you a bit more and show you a bit more?
05:53If we sort of start from the oldest and work forward.
05:55Now, look, Edison.
05:58It's 1905, this one.
06:01That goes on there.
06:04Oh, and that supports it.
06:05I see.
06:06It's a really impressive-looking piece.
06:08Listening to music, once needed assembly.
06:10Now it just needs Wi-Fi.
06:12Progress, apparently.
06:13It's quite incredible to think, actually, back to 1905.
06:16This must have been so groundbreaking
06:19to actually be able to have music recorded like that.
06:22Yes, that's true.
06:27In 1877, Thomas Edison invented the phonograph,
06:30the first machine to record and replay sound.
06:34Its heyday ran from the 1890s to the First World War
06:37as music entered the home for the first time.
06:40The moment history politely asked technology
06:42to keep the noise down.
06:46We'll let this down slowly.
06:52Shall we dance?
06:54It's a waltz.
06:56This isn't strictly necessary.
06:58I think you're probably better at dancing than I am.
07:00No, no.
07:01And not strictly dancing.
07:07Ten miles away, as the gulf lies, sits Painton.
07:10Once a Celtic fishing village,
07:13now a full-blown English seaside classic.
07:16Sand, charm and mild nostalgia.
07:18And just behind the postcard perfect waterfront,
07:21tucked inside a modest industrial estate,
07:24is NLB Auctions.
07:26Not glamorous, but surprisingly exciting.
07:3015.5, looking for 16.
07:3118.5, 22.4, 6.
07:34Auctioneer and owner Dan knows all the tricks
07:37to get the best prices.
07:41And with a specialist knowledge of pop culture
07:44and memorabilia, this family-run business
07:47is the place to go for collectors across the country.
07:50I think locally, we are unique.
07:54There are lots of specialists here,
07:56whether it be antique furniture,
07:58they might be record collectors,
07:59they could be gold and silver dealers.
08:01But our very unique speciality
08:03is these great big toy collections.
08:06Bring in your specialist collection
08:08of antique or vintage or highly collectible toys
08:10to us, you are going to get a better result
08:11with us than you are with a local antiques dealer.
08:17Dan's USP can be a big draw
08:19and helps attract sellers from far and wide.
08:24Starting their antique journey by the sea
08:26are Margot and Nick from Dorset.
08:29It's a beautiful, beautiful place.
08:31I love seeing all the boats moored up.
08:34They've made the two-hour commute down the south coast,
08:37hoping that the Antiques Riviera
08:38might be the solution to their problems.
08:41Boat for sale, Mark.
08:43Look how tiny it is.
08:44I know.
08:46Margot moved by the sea a few years ago
08:48in the hope that it would help
08:49with many of her ailments.
08:52My health isn't awfully good
08:53if I'm away from the sea.
08:55I have problems breathing.
08:58I bought a boat
09:00to breathe fresh sea air
09:02that's clean
09:03because I lost half my right lung
09:05to lung cancer
09:06and I have breathing issues
09:09as well, apart from that.
09:11And it's the only time
09:12I can live freely, breathe freely
09:15without having to take medication.
09:18Unfortunately, time has caught up
09:20with the vessel
09:20and it's no longer watertight,
09:22desperately needing repairs.
09:25It's now reached the point
09:26where I've got to carry this work out
09:28and I'm hoping to raise enough money.
09:30I need about £10,000
09:33to do all of the repairs
09:35that I want to do to my boat.
09:39Margot has a fortune to find,
09:41but her prize collection
09:43may just hold the key.
09:49I first started collecting Barbies
09:52about 20 years ago.
09:53I was still at work
09:54but I wasn't really very well
09:55and I retired shortly afterwards.
09:56That gave me more time, didn't it?
09:59I can go in a charity shop,
10:00there's a Barbie upside down again.
10:02Poor little thing, I'll have that.
10:03There must be about 600 or 700 items.
10:06I did go a bit mad.
10:08I saw it, I bought it.
10:10It's Barbie.
10:12The van is absolutely packed to the roof,
10:16stuff behind the seats.
10:17It's a full camper van.
10:19I think you could get
10:20a pair of shoes in there now.
10:22No, I tried that, they fell out.
10:23Oh, all right.
10:28Dan's expertise beckons.
10:30Will the auction house launch them
10:32on their journey to find the money?
10:36Oh, so this is it.
10:39Splendid.
10:40Yeah.
10:42Interesting.
10:43Hello, are you all right?
10:45Hello.
10:46Dave, how can we help you?
10:48Margot, Nick.
10:49Yeah.
10:49Hi, I'm Luke.
10:50Luke, nice to meet you.
10:51You're the guys that sell collectible things.
10:55We do indeed, what have you got?
10:56I've got a van full of Barbies things in there.
10:59OK, how many have you got?
11:01Six or 700 items.
11:03It's not just dolls,
11:05it's vehicles, clothes,
11:07all the paraphernalia that goes with that.
11:10Everything.
11:10That sounds great.
11:11Do you want us to take a look?
11:12Yep.
11:12Certainly.
11:15I don't know what I was expecting,
11:17but not that.
11:18It's quite a lot.
11:28With its palm trees, promenades, and positive vibes,
11:31few places evoke a more elegant age than the English Riviera.
11:36And with its trail of antique shops, dealers, and auctioneers,
11:40few places draw the antiques crowd as the Antiques Riviera.
11:47Oh, the sea.
11:48I am.
11:49Sea.
11:50Oh, so beautiful.
11:51It just brings a calm and peace to everything.
11:53It's a sight you want after a long trip, isn't it?
11:55It's that view of the sea.
11:57Feluki and her husband, Alex,
11:59have made the five-hour drive from Manchester to the Riviera.
12:03And there is the view.
12:05There's the view.
12:07Sorry, actually, keep your eye on the road.
12:09I'll do the looking for you.
12:14The couple share a long-standing love of antiques
12:16and have chosen Ashburton, a busy antiques town,
12:19to spend the day browsing.
12:22Shall we go in here?
12:23Yeah, yeah.
12:24This looks interesting.
12:26Hello.
12:26Hello.
12:27Hi.
12:27We treat antique shops like museums.
12:30And wherever we go, actually,
12:31all the towns that we go and visit on holiday,
12:33we like to have a little bit of a rummage
12:35and to see what things are there.
12:38Oh, what's that there?
12:39Yes.
12:40Oh, shit.
12:41How much is it?
12:43My love of antique boxes
12:45started about maybe 25 years ago, approximately.
12:49It just all began
12:50because I've always loved going into antique shops.
12:52I really couldn't afford a lot of things that were in there.
12:56Boxes.
12:58So I decided that, you know,
13:00I would buy something small.
13:02That is the sort of thing I would buy.
13:04Well, that something small became a big collection.
13:08Now, Feluki and Alex are looking ahead to retirement,
13:11reclaiming space in the house and moving on.
13:13Well, at least one of them is.
13:16I think, personally, as a hoarder,
13:18I would probably keep them.
13:20But Feluki's deciding we need to declutter,
13:23so I have to go with that.
13:26It's a new season in that respect,
13:28the end of the boxes.
13:29I feel a little sad.
13:31It's mixed emotions about...
13:34For me, they represent part of your identity.
13:37When we met, you had this collection.
13:39Yeah.
13:39And I always associate the collection with you.
13:43The boxes hold huge emotional value.
13:45Whether they hold much cash value is less certain.
13:50A little round one.
13:51Yeah, I've got one like that.
13:52I wonder if they would look at ours, maybe.
13:55But their journey is not just to enjoy the Devon air.
13:59Are you going to be able to manage that?
14:01All right.
14:02I hope so.
14:03Feluki is hoping to sell her prize collection of antique boxes
14:06as they declutter in preparation for retirement.
14:10Right, to the left.
14:11Yeah.
14:12To the left.
14:12I didn't buy them because they were of value,
14:15but I'm hoping that the dealers will see something of worth in them
14:19and would be prepared to make me an offer for the whole lot.
14:25They set off with a hamper of takeaway pizza boxes,
14:30each containing a slice of the past, her collectible antiques.
14:34OK, here we go.
14:35Feluki is hoping to sell all 206 little boxes in one hit.
14:39First in line, military a specialist and all-round realist, Jordan.
14:44Hi.
14:44Hi.
14:44I'm Feluki.
14:45This is Alex.
14:46Lovely.
14:46Nice to meet you.
14:47Nice to meet you.
14:47You too.
14:48I wonder if you could help us.
14:50We've seen some of the little boxes that you have.
14:52Yeah.
14:53And we've got some boxes that we would like to show you.
14:55I'd love to have a look.
14:56Oh, great.
14:59Wow, we've got a lot of things to look through.
15:01There's 200.
15:02We haven't bought everything as well.
15:04Yeah.
15:04There's some still in the boot, as it were.
15:07Well, you've got a good variety of stuff.
15:09Mm-hmm.
15:10I appreciate they might not be worth a great deal, but as a collection, I'm kind of looking
15:17to sell them.
15:18Yeah.
15:19Okay, we've got some Wedgwood ones and stuff.
15:23So, like, Messiah Wedgwood's, like, founded Wedgwood in, I think it was the late 18th century.
15:29Very well made at the time.
15:30Still expensive to buy now, because they are still produced now.
15:33But unfortunately, they don't hold a massive commercial presence with this later stuff.
15:38Mm-hmm.
15:38They are sellable, but it's quite hard work.
15:42Jordan's approach is methodical.
15:44He's looking for quality, rarity, and reasons not to take all 206 boxes.
15:50There's a mix in here, and, you know, it's kind of a split between snuff boxes and pill boxes.
15:56It's just on first glance, it's evident that some of them might not be of the best quality.
16:03You'd think, statistically, that something in this collection might catch his eye.
16:07That's quite cool.
16:09It's from Ireland, that one, Blarneystone.
16:11It's done in probably bogwood, because it's quite dark.
16:15Interesting.
16:16And then you have got a little silver one here as well.
16:19It is English Hallmarked on the back, but we've got a 925 stamp in the inside.
16:25So, although the design is very Victorian Edwardian, it's going to have been reproduced in probably the mid-20th century,
16:34slightly later.
16:35So, these would be the...they would be what I would be interested in cherry-picking.
16:39That's the small silver box and the Irish bogwood box.
16:42I would do £40 a pair.
16:46Yeah?
16:47Mm-hmm.
16:47What do you think?
16:49It's your collection.
16:50It's your collection.
16:52Valuki wants one buyer for the whole collection.
16:55But is she willing to break it up for £40?
16:58You see, that is pretty good, because what I was looking for is £200 for the whole lot.
17:03That's less than a quid a box.
17:05Jordan?
17:09I would pass on it, but I think your price is reasonable.
17:12I don't think it's out of the question, because of how many you've got.
17:16Okay.
17:16That's brilliant.
17:17I shall pack them all up then.
17:19I'll give you a hand.
17:20But no, thank you so much for showing me.
17:21And, as I said, it only takes one thing for me to pull out, and it's exciting.
17:28So, never write anything off.
17:30Unfortunately, we couldn't make a deal.
17:32For me, I wouldn't want to buy the whole collection.
17:35They'd just be in the shop forever.
17:38So, have you any advice as to where we might go next?
17:42Well, as a collection, if you want to sell a whole lot, I think probably E Street Antiques
17:46would be your best bet with those.
17:48Okay, thank you so much.
17:49Thanks for your time.
17:51No deal.
17:52But at least Valuki and Alex leave with a lead.
17:54And when you've carried 206 boxes this far, you might as well keep going.
17:59Nice guy.
18:08Half an hour away in Paynton, it's a very different kind of collection that's on the move.
18:14A classic English seaside town on the South Devon coast, Paynton is known for its beaches,
18:20its pier, and today, an unusually large number of Barbies heading into Dan's auction house.
18:29If you're happy, we'll start laying a few of them out and see what we've got.
18:33And you can... If you spot anything special...
18:35Yeah.
18:36I'm sure they're probably all special to you, but...
18:38Oh, well.
18:39She's special. She's one of my favourites.
18:42Introduced by Mattel in 1959, Barbie has spent more than six decades as the face of a global brand,
18:49spanning fashion dolls and accessories, television and film franchises,
18:53and more than a billion sales worldwide.
18:56For collectors, the rule is simple.
18:58The older the doll, the more valuable she's likely to be.
19:01But for every collector, there are certain niches you just have to have.
19:06Star Trek.
19:07Oh, there you go.
19:08It's the one I spotted in the box.
19:10I spotted that one.
19:11Yeah.
19:12And that one.
19:13And that one.
19:13Oh, wow.
19:14I mean...
19:15I always kept them together.
19:16Who doesn't want a Mr. Spock Barbie?
19:19Yeah, I called my boat Seaship Enterprise because I'm a Trekkie,
19:23and that's why I've got Star Trek dolls.
19:25How come you're selling them now, anyway?
19:27I'm selling them because I need to have some repairs done urgently to my boat.
19:32And what are you hoping to get out of this collection?
19:35As much as possible.
19:36Yes, as much as possible.
19:38I believe they're worth about £5,000, I've been advised, as a complete collection.
19:45I believe they could well be.
19:46Ooh, careful.
19:47That sounds a touch ambitious.
19:49You've not checked through everything yet.
19:50Have you got any of the really early ones?
19:53Yes.
19:55This is one of the very early ones that they first started making Barbie to copy a German
20:01doll.
20:02That's right.
20:02That's early 60s.
20:03And she came with three wigs when she was new, and here they are.
20:07I've still got the wigs.
20:08The wigs are the bit that normally goes missing, so really good to have them, and it'll really
20:13help our value as well, to be honest.
20:15Margot's collection spans celebrity dolls, Christmas editions, Barbies from around the
20:20world, and all the accessories you can imagine.
20:23Dan thinks the figure could be achievable, though with so much still in boxes, it depends
20:28on what turns up.
20:31So what's the plan?
20:32Are you happy for us to aim for around £5,000, and we can certainly curate it and find
20:41it a good home?
20:42Yes, please.
20:43And if you can get more, that's even better.
20:46If you're happy, we'll go and sort the paperwork out, and we'll see you in a couple of weeks.
20:50Yes.
20:51Fab.
20:51Yes.
20:52All right, let's get that done.
20:53We head that way.
20:54Thanks, guys.
20:54You can wave it goodbye.
20:56But for now, it's goodbye.
20:58Dan takes custody of the Barbies, and Margot performs the most dramatic act in collecting,
21:03Letting Go.
21:05Are you nervous about it, or excited?
21:08I will be nervous on the day.
21:10I will also be excited, but I'm also now feeling reassured that I've done the right thing, I've
21:18come to the right place.
21:20Totally agree.
21:21With you all the way on that?
21:22Yep.
21:23Yeah.
21:28Back in Ashburton, audiophile Ben, with daughter Claire, is hoping to get Lydia dancing to
21:33his tune, and buy his collection of music boxes, gramophones, and radios.
21:39There's another piece I want to show you.
21:41Okay.
21:41Everybody looks at them and thinks, camera.
21:43Yeah.
21:44But it's a gramophone.
21:46Oh, wow.
21:47It's Peter Pan.
21:49For Ben, parting with his beloved collection isn't just about clearing space, it's about
21:54finally making a long-held ambition a reality.
21:58Whatever we raise, we'll go forward to the ambition to fly in a Spitfire.
22:04I would love to go in a Spitfire because it was part of my life as a child, and it's
22:08been something I've thought about, and I'm now 86, and if I don't do it soon, I'm not
22:14going to do it.
22:14I can imagine somebody taking something like this on a picnic or something.
22:18Well, that's what it would.
22:18It was the first portable type of gramophone, right?
22:21Time to get down to brass tacks.
22:23The goal is £3,000, so we've got to sell hard and do a good job on these dealers.
22:31But will Lydia want to buy anything?
22:34I'm going to just have a little look at some of the ones that I'm interested in.
22:38I'll come up with some prices.
22:40Okay.
22:40And then see what you think.
22:43Ben, presumably over his lifetime, has bought these items as a customer.
22:48I have got to buy these items as a dealer.
22:51There has got to be a profit left in it to sell them on.
22:55They're not the easiest items to find homes for.
22:58They're quite specialist, so I've got to be very careful with what I pay for them.
23:02How much do you say with the Peter Pan?
23:04£150.
23:07I'd like to see £200 on that.
23:08Okay, I'll drop that down.
23:10They're clearly not quite tuned to the same frequency.
23:13Now, the Edison Gem, how much do you say on that?
23:18£100.
23:19Yeah, again, you won't buy one in that condition at that price.
23:23That's got to be nearly £250, at least.
23:26I can tell you that, right?
23:29How much was the music box?
23:31The cylinder one.
23:32Yeah.
23:33£400.
23:34£400, yeah.
23:36I'd like to see about at least £500 on that.
23:40The Edison Fireside, that was the only other one.
23:43Oh, yeah, and what do you want on that?
23:44£200.
23:45How much?
23:45£200.
23:48You'd never find one at that price.
23:50They go from £800 upwards.
23:54Honestly, I do know that, you know.
23:56And it's rare, okay?
23:58You won't find it at that price, so I think we're too far out on that.
24:03I think some of the items he had perhaps put a little bit too high a value on,
24:09just given the market at the moment.
24:11We're agreed on the Sinfonian at £250.
24:14£250, and I'll tell you what, we're ticked that.
24:16That includes all the discs.
24:19Fantastic.
24:19We were quite close on the cylinder music box.
24:22I said £400, and you were thinking closer to £5.
24:25Hmm.
24:27We're not too far away on that.
24:29So you say £400, and I want £5.
24:32Is that the difference?
24:46Devon, home of Dartmoor.
24:49Big skies, wild landscapes, and the sort of holidays where time politely gives up.
24:59It's known for its beautiful coasts and a laid-back way of life.
25:04But tucked away among the postcards and cream teas is something far less relaxed.
25:10Hey, you all right?
25:12How you doing?
25:13A fiercely competitive antiques world, where everyone's hunting for a bargain,
25:18auctioneers pour over the past,
25:20and collectors do battle with dealers for every last pound.
25:25So you say £400, and I want £5.
25:29In Ashburton, Ben is looking for more than dealer Lydia's willing to offer
25:33on his antique audio equipment.
25:36Can they strike a deal?
25:42Well, um...
25:45£450?
25:46Yeah, yeah, I'll do £450.
25:48Let's split the difference, that's fine.
25:50And there was one other item, the Peter Pan gramophone.
25:53Do you think we could do £180?
25:55I'll tell you what, I like you.
25:59£1.75.
26:00That's very fair. Excellent.
26:03OK.
26:03Yeah, £8.75 for those three, I'd be very happy to buy them.
26:07That will only get me the front seat in the Spitfire.
26:10We're trying to get into the...
26:12Oh!
26:12We're spying to get a flight in the Spitfire, you see.
26:15Oh, wow!
26:15So we need £3,000.
26:17Goodness.
26:18So we've a way to go.
26:19We've made a bit of a dent.
26:21That's not too bad.
26:22We've made a dent, and I take donations.
26:25So that's £875 for the Symphonian, the Victorian Music Box and the Peter Pan portable gramophone.
26:34Not enough for a Spitfire, but enough to make a start.
26:37You've got cold hands, but you've got a warm heart and a big wallet.
26:42I'm certainly not going to get rich off of anything that I've bought from Ben today, but I'm really pleased
26:47to have been able to buy the items, because they're really interesting for the shop.
26:51I guarantee you people will want to hear them played. It's a conversation piece.
26:56Ben went in high with Lydia, and while today didn't quite get him airborne, if he can get his prices
27:02right at auction, he'll be one step closer to his £3,000 goal.
27:05And the flight of his life.
27:12Next stop, and a brisk 30 minutes towards the coast, Paynton.
27:18Home to NLB Auctions.
27:20With the boxed Barbies neatly laid out in his auction house, Dan turns his attention to the rest of Margot's
27:26treasures.
27:28Question is, will the dolls deliver the £5,000 he optimistically agreed?
27:32These are a lot more modern than we'd hoped, and they're not in the greatest condition.
27:38They're just a bit more beaten up than we sort of hoped they would be.
27:42Barbie's latest look, distressed.
27:44I do hope some of these improve, because the more I'm going through these, the more the values drop in
27:50a bit.
27:51And for me, there's so many condition issues all the way through.
27:56Dan needs to photograph and catalogue the dolls, carefully and accurately describing them in a way to entice collectors to
28:02bid.
28:02Let's see if all this treasure's hidden in the bottom of it.
28:09It's pretty much an entire box of mostly 90s, 2000s.
28:14That's a little bit of an older one there.
28:16I think we might have to try and have a word with Margot and sort of speak about it,
28:20because I think these are going to be quite difficult to get £4,000 or £5,000 out of, to
28:24be honest.
28:24They're going to be a much trickier sell.
28:27Collectors might call these well-loved.
28:30Auctioneers call them low estimate.
28:32Either way, the figure needs adjusting, and Margot needs to hear about it.
28:42Back in Ashburton, Faluki is on the hunt for a dealer that will buy her 200 pill and slough boxes
28:47as a complete collection.
28:49After backing away from a deal with Jordan, she's taken his advice and headed to another shop just around the
28:55corner.
28:56Good afternoon.
28:57Hi.
28:58Is it John?
28:58Yeah, that's me.
28:59Hi, I'm Faluki.
29:00Ah, Faluki.
29:01All right.
29:02Good to meet you, my dear.
29:03Pleased to meet you.
29:04And Alex.
29:05Alex.
29:06Nice to meet you.
29:06Nice to meet you, Alex.
29:07You've been recommended to us.
29:08Good, yeah.
29:09And we've got a few things to sell.
29:10Well, let's have a look.
29:14Right, you take that one.
29:18Nothing says treasure like a stack of pizza boxes.
29:23Oh, we have got a lot of those, haven't we?
29:25We have.
29:26Yeah.
29:29How long have you been collecting these?
29:31About 20, 25 years.
29:3320, 25 years.
29:34And what made you choose these?
29:37Because when I went to antique shops like this, there wasn't a lot that I could afford about 25 years
29:42ago.
29:43I would always find something little to buy.
29:45Ah.
29:45And so I would buy a little box.
29:47This is one that I have.
29:50Quite an old one.
29:50Yeah.
29:51Which is cute.
29:52This one here is silver.
29:55Tony Hallmark on there, isn't there?
29:57Yeah.
29:57Yeah, well, see, they've got a little bit of value.
29:59Yeah.
30:01Unfortunately, let's start from the beginning.
30:02This is not going to be for me.
30:04Oh, OK.
30:05Ooh, John.
30:06Not one to mince his words.
30:09I would suggest that you put them in an auction.
30:12All right.
30:13If you can't find someone to buy the whole lot off of you in one big hit.
30:18Because this is only a fraction of them, isn't it?
30:20Yeah.
30:20There's a lot more.
30:21Yeah, it's 200 altogether.
30:24People collect snuff boxes normally because they can be beautifully made from all sorts of things.
30:29Wood, horn, silver.
30:32Why do people collect anything?
30:33But it's something to do, isn't it?
30:36It's something to go out and find and add to their collection.
30:39I suppose, really, the bottom line is if you had to sell the whole lot, how much would you expect?
30:50200 pounds?
30:50To get for them all.
30:52200 pounds.
30:53It's a pound a box.
30:54A pound a box.
30:55Yeah.
30:55You would definitely make a profit on that.
30:57Even if you sold them for two pounds each, three pounds each, you're doubling your money.
31:03Yeah.
31:03And some of them are worth a lot more than a pound.
31:06Faluki's decided to push, but has she tickled John's interest?
31:10It's really out of my field, in a way, because, you know, it's not old enough.
31:15They're not old enough.
31:15But you've actually said the magic word, how much you actually want for the whole lot.
31:20Yeah.
31:21If I'm feeling weak...
31:22Mm-hmm.
31:23Which you are.
31:24I'll just say.
31:30And brave.
31:31You look like a brave man to me.
31:33Well, look, I'll tell you what, I'm not going to mess about.
31:35I'm going to buy more.
31:36Whee!
31:38Excellent.
31:39200 quid.
31:39That's amazing.
31:41Well, there you are, look.
31:42Oh, wow.
31:43Deal done.
31:44Deal done.
31:44Look at that.
31:45Marvellous.
31:46What's the point of messing about?
31:47Oh, you're such a...
31:48Oh, you're a wonderful man.
31:49Another shake.
31:52Remarkably, it seems Faluki's charm offensive worked.
31:54She just had to find someone who would take the job on, and that just happened to be me,
32:00because I liked her.
32:01She made me laugh, and I thought, well, I'll have the lot and get me money back.
32:07Maybe make a little profit, maybe I won't.
32:10Wow.
32:11Okay.
32:11That's been fun, hasn't it?
32:12Yeah, it has.
32:13It's a good time.
32:14It's nice meeting you both.
32:14You too, John.
32:16Today has been amazing, but the creme de la creme has to be.
32:20selling all of my boxes as a job lot.
32:23Now, I'm actually starting to feel the loss of them.
32:26But I was surprised as well.
32:28I thought he wasn't going to, and then he was a lovely man, and we sold them all.
32:33And so it's amazing.
32:35It's been really worth it.
32:36Really worth coming.
32:38That's what we like to see on the Riviera.
32:4830 minutes away, as the crow flies, sits Exeter, home to a gothic cathedral that survived a
32:54direct bomb hit in World War II.
32:57Coming in hot, Ben and his daughter, Claire.
33:00He's on a mission to sell his antique audio equipment, all to fund a flight in a spitfire.
33:07Things, these things are heavy than you want them to be.
33:12Next on his radar, auctioneer Brian.
33:15Yeah, it's the last one.
33:16I'll put that there, Claire.
33:18Hello there.
33:19Hi.
33:20Brian, nice to meet you.
33:21Ben, that's my daughter, Claire.
33:23Nice to meet you.
33:23Hello there.
33:24We bought a few bits and pieces to get your advice and see if it's worth putting him in
33:31auction.
33:32Will Ben's charm and spitfire quest work more magic here than it did with Lydia?
33:36We'll try our best for you and sort of see, manage your expectations, yeah.
33:40So do any of these actually working models as well?
33:43Well, this one does.
33:44And of course, the trouble is, you've got to have the strength to crank them.
33:50That's the thing, isn't it?
33:51There we go.
33:52It's a diamond stylus, lasts forever.
33:55Yep.
33:57Let's put it...
34:04This is a waltz.
34:07Ben's trying out his prized Edison fireside on Brian, but it looks like he's got a different
34:12dance in mind here than with Lydia, the dance of the deal.
34:16I can see it's got a little bit of wear.
34:17That's called patina in the trade.
34:20It's worth a lot of money, let me tell you.
34:22Yeah, we don't charge for dust.
34:24It's extra, isn't it?
34:25He's on the sell already.
34:27But as an auctioneer, Brian's bang up to date with the market.
34:31So will his valuation be as low as Lydia's?
34:34Obviously, you've got the fireside.
34:35£800 was Ben's goal for this one.
34:38Because it's in a nice working condition, I would probably say that that's more in this
34:42sort of 200 to 300, 300 to 400 estimate.
34:44But the top estimate is better than Lydia's offer of 200 pounds.
34:49Next, under Brian's eagle eye, is the Edison Gem phonograph.
34:53Lydia offered £100, whilst Ben wanted closer to 250.
34:57So, yes, you're looking around from 100 upwards with the aluminium horn.
35:02Moving down the table, we've got, obviously, we've got the two Bakelite radios here.
35:07So, this is an Echo...
35:0986.
35:1186, isn't it?
35:12Yeah.
35:12So, that one, again, auction values vary from sort of £150 upwards.
35:17Yes.
35:18So, £150, and then this one, which is the much more aesthetically pleasing Odeon, similar
35:23sort of price, maybe sort of £150 or maybe £200 to £300.
35:26So, OK, we're sort of roughly similar.
35:29We're in the same ballpark.
35:31Ben seems happy with Brian's estimates on the older antique equipment.
35:35Moving on to the more modern stuff.
35:37They're fairly common.
35:38We see a lot of those.
35:39Yes.
35:40So, they come down in value.
35:41You're under £100, maybe as little as £30 to £40, even as little as £20.
35:46And even though the newer, more common models would fetch less...
35:50Getting into the sort of veneered cabinets of the 1930s, 1940s, aren't you?
35:55Again, that's working, produced in large numbers.
35:58At the moment, we are under the £100.
36:00Yeah, yeah.
36:01And with a spitfire to catch, Ben's keen to get them all into auction.
36:06Fantastic.
36:06I mean, it's a lovely collection, and thank you for sort of bringing it in to us today.
36:10You've got one or two nice little surprises in there that hopefully, you know, when the
36:14sale goes onto the internet, it attracts worldwide attention.
36:18After totting up his estimates and agreeing reserve prices with Ben, what does Brian think
36:22the collection stands to make at auction?
36:26Looking at the conversation we had, and reserves come to about £1,600, which hopefully
36:30will get him, you know, to get his ride in the Spitfire.
36:33But, you know, ultimately, it depends on the day.
36:36I'll try my best to get us the best price that we can.
36:48The Antiques Riviera, a slice of Devon, set against natural beauty and shaped by the lives
36:55of its local antique community.
36:58Sometimes, that means lending a hand.
37:00Where are you going to put it?
37:02I've got a gap for it, just back here.
37:04Yeah.
37:05And other times, it means making the hard calls.
37:10Over in Paynton, Dan's biting the bullet and calling Margot.
37:16Her prized Barbie collection isn't quite as valuable as either of them hoped.
37:20Hello.
37:21Hi, Margot. It's Daniel from NLB Auctions.
37:23How you doing?
37:24Oh, hello.
37:26Yeah, so just a quick one.
37:27I finally got through all of your stuff for you.
37:30But there was a good portion of the value that we sort of attributed to a lot of the loose
37:35ones.
37:36A good amount of them are far more modern than we realised.
37:39I was a little concerned about our high-end estimate of 5,000 quid, to be honest.
37:44We're probably more in the region of sort of £3,000 to £3,500.
37:49I mean, hopefully on the day, they do do better, but I'll be eating the words and we'll be laughing
37:56about it.
37:56Okay, Dan, yes, please proceed.
37:59All right, that's great.
38:00Thank you ever so much, and I will see you in a couple of weeks, all righty?
38:04See you soon.
38:05Cheers, Margot.
38:05Take care.
38:06Bye, Joe.
38:07Bye.
38:08Bye.
38:08Bye.
38:09Bye.
38:10Well, that went about as good as it could.
38:12Yeah, I think she's happy, and hopefully we can deliver a decent result on the day that's
38:15better than my expectations, but we'll see.
38:19Half an hour inland.
38:22Oh, that's lovely.
38:25It might not be cider, but it's finally time to clock off.
38:29Well, I won't see you tomorrow, so happy birthday for tomorrow.
38:34Happy birthday for the day after.
38:36Thank you very much.
38:37Cheers.
38:39I've saved myself going shopping to look for a birthday present for you.
38:46So, here it is.
38:48Ta-da!
38:49Oh, it's a little silver box.
38:51Look at that.
38:52You could have polished it.
38:53Pardon?
38:54I don't polish things, you know that.
38:58Thank you very much.
38:59I had to spend £200 on that box.
39:03Because I had to buy 200 of them.
39:05Oh, hey.
39:06Well, cheers, then.
39:06Here's to a very good, successful day.
39:13Countless items go under the gavel each week on the Riviera.
39:19No matter what you're selling, there's an auction.
39:22A 28, 30.
39:24And a skilled auctioneer, working hard to get the best price on your items.
39:29Selling at a 40 and it goes.
39:30They don't just compete, they complement one another.
39:33I was looking for £110 on the good Rolling Stones poster there.
39:37With their own distinct areas of expertise.
39:40I've 110 if you're in.
39:41Thank you, 110.
39:42120.
39:42Whether that's specialist antiques.
39:44Selling at 120.
39:46Or vintage collectibles.
39:53The big day is finally here.
39:55And Dan and his team are gearing up for what promises to be an intriguing sale.
40:00Eight, nine, and ten.
40:02I think we might be all right.
40:03We've got a lot of interest in it.
40:05Obviously, we don't think it's going to make the initial £5,000 based on after we've been
40:09through it.
40:09However, it does have a lot of interest from some really serious collectors.
40:12And had a lot of people come to have a look at a really extensive collection of Barbies.
40:16So, yeah, I think we'll have a really positive day with it in the end.
40:20While Dan sounds optimistic about the Barbies, let's hope his blonde ambition rubs off on
40:25Margot and Nick, who've just arrived for the auction.
40:30Dan has grouped Margot's dolls into 37 separate lots.
40:35Now she'll be hoping bidders in the room and online are ready to splash the cash to help
40:40fix her leaky houseboat.
40:42This is a single-owner Barbie collection.
40:45There is absolutely tons of it.
40:47All of it's in lovely condition.
40:49First under Dan's gavel, a trio of fashion fairytale Barbies.
40:54Make a wish, Margot.
40:55Can we get away at 25?
40:57Never mind, I've got 55, 60.
40:5955, 65, 65, 85.
41:02There we go.
41:03Never mind, online is absolutely flown away with it.
41:0585, 90.
41:06Strasse.
41:07Can I see 95 anywhere, please?
41:09Never have thought they'd have gone that far.
41:11Fair warning.
41:12£90.
41:14Good God.
41:16Excellent.
41:165-0-3.
41:18After that fairytale start, Dan's taking us to the decade when everyone, including Barbie,
41:24was swinging.
41:26It's a 1960s vintage Barbie fashion queen.
41:28I have 55 with me.
41:3155.
41:31Are you happy with 55, Margot?
41:33Yeah, let her go.
41:34Let someone else love her.
41:37Sounds like Margot's happily making peace with her dolls finding new homes.
41:42Three box Barbie dolls here.
41:43A little bit like a box where I've got 40 with me.
41:4540 pounds with me.
41:4642, 4, 6, 8.
41:4748 pounds is my commission.
41:4950 online.
41:49Thank you very much.
41:5050 pounds.
41:50Looking for 55.
41:52One more go at 55 pounds.
41:54Fair warning.
41:56Thank you very much.
41:57She's almost done well there.
41:58Done well.
41:59It's been a little up and down so far.
42:02Maybe some famous faces can help steady the ship.
42:0630 pounds.
42:07My baby.
42:07Come on, come on, come on.
42:1030 pounds.
42:14We've got the Marilyn Monroe and gentlemen preferred blondes.
42:17I've got 44, 46, 48.
42:18Looking for 50, please.
42:20Fair warning.
42:21Hands up.
42:2150 pounds.
42:24Elvis.
42:24Everyone loves a bit of Elvis, don't they?
42:26Good.
42:2736, 38.
42:27Looking for 40.
42:29Commissions are out at 38.
42:30Fair warning.
42:30At 38 pounds.
42:33The celebs didn't exactly bring in the big bucks.
42:36So, will the Star Trek lot beam up any better offers?
42:40For all you Trekkies out there.
42:42They're Trekkies.
42:43I have 46, 8.
42:45Looking for 50.
42:4650 I have.
42:47Five with me.
42:48Yes, yes, yes, yes.
42:49I'll split the difference for you.
42:50Will a couple of quid make a difference?
42:5158.
42:52And you can have some Star Trek Barbie.
42:5455.
42:55It's my commission, but I'm at 55.
42:57Thank you very much.
42:58A decent sum.
42:59And the auction is ticking along nicely.
43:03Hopefully, the boys won't let the side down.
43:05There's a load of Ken and male fashion dolls.
43:08There's vintage, modern and a bit of everything there at 22 pounds.
43:10Can I see 24, please?
43:11Oh, come on.
43:1222 pounds.
43:13The Kens are just never as popular, were they?
43:16It's always my auto bid and my maiden online auto bid.
43:18Thank you very much.
43:1922 pounds.
43:20Goodbye.
43:21That's disappointing.
43:23Not a great showing from the lads.
43:25Maybe this Barbie army will score bigger.
43:2870 Barbies.
43:29Absolutely tons of them.
43:3175 pounds.
43:32Looking for 80.
43:33It's right in the middle of the estimate.
43:34Anyone else want to come in?
43:3675 pounds.
43:37Fair warning.
43:38Thank you very much.
43:40Now that's more like it.
43:42Hopefully, this final lot can seal a blockbuster of a sale.
43:47We've got the two Barbie collector pink label museum collection dolls.
43:49We've got the Leonardo da Vinci and the Vincent van Gogh editions.
43:52Both boxed as new.
43:52Excellent stuff.
43:53And I've got, I was going to ask for 50, but I've got 75 anyway.
43:56We've got 80.
43:5780.
43:58Look for 85.
43:5880 pounds.
44:00Looking for 85.
44:00Anyone?
44:0185.
44:01We've got.
44:02Auto bids out.
44:02Online, you're in at 85.
44:0390.
44:04Looking for 95.
44:0495.
44:05I have 100.
44:06Marco, congratulations.
44:07100 pounds.
44:08Looking for 110, please.
44:09I'll give you the opportunity at 105.
44:12105 I have.
44:13Looking for 110.
44:14110's come back.
44:15Oh.
44:15If I have to do this five at a time, we can do it for at least another hour anyway
44:18before
44:18anyone gets upset.
44:19I'm not going anywhere.
44:21115.
44:22Give me the last opportunity at 115.
44:23Oh, 115 I've got.
44:24Oh, well done.
44:25Well done.
44:26Well done.
44:26Somebody really wants them.
44:28120.
44:31They doll-livered.
44:33That's okay, isn't it?
44:34Yeah.
44:35It's better than okay.
44:36Every single one of those 37 lots has been snapped up and shipped off to new homes.
44:41How are you feeling?
44:44Relieved.
44:44Relieved?
44:45Relieved.
44:46And you don't have to take any home with you either?
44:47No.
44:48I think nearly everything fell bang in the middle of where it should.
44:51There was a few that exceeded.
44:52They did quite well.
44:53Some of them really surprised me.
44:55Some things I didn't actually pay very much at all.
44:57I went whoosh.
44:59Do you want to know how much money you've taken home?
45:00Yes, please.
45:02We'll be sending you home with £1,797.
45:08I'm really, really, really, please.
45:11And it's going to help me with my boat.
45:12I really hope it does.
45:14Thank you ever so much.
45:14It's been an absolute pleasure.
45:16You've been lovely.
45:18And we've had a lot of fun helping you in the meantime.
45:20Take care.
45:20Thank you for being with us.
45:21Thank you so much.
45:22Catch you later.
45:23I was filled with trepidation about whether anybody would be the slightest bit interested
45:28in buying it.
45:29And it's all gone.
45:31It's all sold.
45:32It's been a wonderful day.
45:34And seeing the beautiful area around here.
45:37I love the sea anyway.
45:39So to be by the sea for this, it's just put the cherry on the cake.
45:46When auction day arrives, sit down and wait for the show to begin.
45:52Will Ben and Claire's gramophone make all the right noises?
45:55I can see interest here.
45:57120, 130, 140, 150.
45:59This is going well.
46:00New arrivals to the Riviera.
46:02This is a magic lantern.
46:04Put on quite a show for the dealers.
46:06I like it.
46:08And it's fighting talk from Lydia.
46:10Oh, yeah.
46:11This is amazing.
46:12Oh, wow.
46:13As she and Ruben clash over antiques.
46:15If you don't want it, Ruben, I will offer on it.
46:18But that's not to put you under pressure.
46:20Yeah.
46:20But I would certainly buy it if you didn't.
46:49But I would certainly buy it if you didn't.
46:50One.
46:51I would certainly buy it if you don't want it.
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