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00:01Hello and welcome to Bargain Hunt. Now it's that time to get comfy and grab a
00:08cuppa because today's show is all about tea. Tea is often thought of as being a
00:15very British drink but it was actually created in China more than 5,000 years
00:21ago. Today in the UK we drink about a hundred million cups a day. In our busy
00:28lives it's hard to imagine life about it. So come on let's get this party started.
00:34Let's go bargain hunting!
00:58In today's special program we'll be traveling around the country and picking
01:03out some of the best tea related antiques and collectibles. And along the way we'll
01:09see if our teams brewed up a profit. That's definitely the social history thing isn't it?
01:14Yeah I just think it's quite an interesting thing. Or got themselves into hot water.
01:18We've just found this Victorian tea caddy. I'm glad you found something because I know we're running out of time.
01:24And we'll see which one made the biggest profit and hit number one in our chart
01:29countdown. And if you're thinking of splashing out on some fancy cups and
01:34saucers, tea caddies or stylish spoons will stir in some top tips just to help you out.
01:42Right. Let's tee off our tour at an antiques fair in Wetherby, West Yorkshire.
01:49Struggling to keep up with partners Robin and Daniel. We're wasting a lot of time walking.
01:55Was expert David Harper. Oh my god look at those long legs!
02:01It's nice to be warm actually isn't it? Yes it is.
02:04Were these opera glasses David's aria of expertise?
02:08Oh wow. Can you spot any bargains down there?
02:11Oh, some in the distance.
02:13If you flip them over you can extend them.
02:16It might help if you had them the other way round.
02:19Oh here we go.
02:22Like this.
02:23Isn't that lovely?
02:24Er, still not quite right Robin.
02:27Is that the one?
02:29Yeah.
02:30Don't you look for the lift there?
02:32That's right.
02:35That's it finally!
02:36With the opera glasses the right way round they spied some silver.
02:41When you find a really early tea caddy, generally they're very small, made out of silver, occasionally
02:48gold or fruit woods and they're just delectable because if you could afford to drink tea then
02:54why would you want some metal canister to hold it?
02:57Do you want them to take it out of the cabin and have a look at it?
02:59Well, what do we think?
03:00Well, good idea.
03:02Good idea.
03:02This guy has been in the business a long time.
03:04He knows.
03:04He can't be bothered to waste any time.
03:06Do you want to buy it or don't you want to buy it?
03:08I like your style.
03:09The team decided to have a closer look.
03:12Possibly had a little repair at some point but it's a very beautiful thing.
03:16Is there a market for these?
03:18Anything tea related.
03:19Right.
03:20It's good news.
03:21David's right.
03:23First introduced to Britain in the early 17th century, tea was so expensive that only
03:28the rich could afford to drink it so they kept it in a tea caddy under lock and key.
03:34Caddy spoons typically have a short handle and a wide shallow curve.
03:40You want to look out for those from the Georgian era up to about 1837 as they're particularly
03:47sought after by collectors.
03:50OK.
03:51So, back in Wetherby, what's the news on the blues caddy spoon?
03:55Well, 1810, Georgia third period, depending on how much it could be.
04:00Ticket price is 110.
04:03I'm checking my Bible.
04:06OK.
04:06Yeah.
04:07£70 would be the absolute death on it.
04:09There is the other caddy spoon, which is a little earlier.
04:12Where is that?
04:13Right next to you.
04:16That one's 1793.
04:18Why not?
04:18I'm going to buy the two together and spend big.
04:22Right.
04:23OK.
04:23That's an interesting idea.
04:24Two caddy spoons.
04:25Well, can I have a look and make a bid if we like them for the pair?
04:29Yeah.
04:29OK.
04:30Robin, you've gone very quiet.
04:32This is not like you.
04:34Daunting.
04:35Daunting.
04:36OK.
04:36The pair at an auction is more likely to sell than a single.
04:40Would they both be sold together?
04:42Would somebody buy them together?
04:43Yeah, they would.
04:43You could do that.
04:44A pair of good Georgia third tea caddies.
04:47What could they be?
04:501.40 the pair.
04:51It's tight, tight, tight.
04:54Can you come down any lower?
04:551...
04:561.10.
04:571.10 would be nice.
04:59It's not going to happen at 1.10.
05:001.15.
05:01It's not going to happen at 1.15.
05:03When's it going to happen?
05:04I'll tell you what's going to happen.
05:04It's going to happen at £120.
05:06That's £60 each.
05:08One's 18.10.
05:09One's 17.93.
05:11It's history in your hands.
05:13I would spend my own money.
05:14I would pay £120 of my own money for them.
05:16Right.
05:17Shall we do it?
05:17You've convinced me.
05:18Thank you very much indeed.
05:19Will do.
05:20Thank you very much.
05:21Thank you very much.
05:22Thank you very much.
05:22Appreciate that.
05:23Awesome.
05:24So not one, but two Georgian Caddy spoons.
05:28Keep watching to find out whether or not they turned a profit in the sale room.
05:33Next, we're off to Newark fair in Nottinghamshire.
05:37Where dance partners Pritesh and Petra were in the mood for a cup of cha cha cha.
05:44And joining them for a waltz around the fair was Izzy Barmer.
05:50Minutes into their shop they were distracted by a music stand.
05:54But was it too many notes?
05:56It looks like a bit of a weird amalgamation if I'm really honest.
06:00So you've got this turned baluster style stand and then you've got...
06:04It looks metal.
06:05It looks metal but I don't think it is.
06:07I think it's painted wood and it's all heavily carved.
06:09And then you've got your brass music stand here and it's got quite a cool mechanism on the back.
06:14Ticket price £200. Best price £160. What do you think about it?
06:20It's lovely but it's steep isn't it?
06:21It's a bit too high.
06:22I think it's too high for you.
06:23I think you've made the right decision, the right call on that one.
06:27The price wasn't exactly music to their ears.
06:29But then Petra spotted an unusual alternative to a kettle.
06:35It's what's called a samovar and typically you use them for tea.
06:39So you pop your hot water in there and your tea leaves.
06:42You know, they're great at parties, they look cool in a funky bar.
06:46It's a bit of you isn't it?
06:47It's nice.
06:48This one is an early one.
06:49So it's sort of early to mid 1800s.
06:52I mean they are a typical Victorian item.
06:54But what's nice about this one is that sort of orb circular shape.
06:57That's quite unusual as well.
06:58It's on its stand.
06:59You've got the option to pop your candle underneath to keep the contents warm.
07:04It looks in good nick.
07:05There's a few little dents which you'd expect for its age.
07:08It's been used.
07:10Samovar is a Russian word which loosely means self boiler.
07:15Invented in the 18th century, it burned charcoal to heat a teapot full of highly concentrated tea.
07:22Samovars can be collectible if they're complete and in good condition.
07:27It's a big plus if the teapot is present too.
07:31The blues samovars seem to be in good order.
07:34So did they snap it up?
07:36Excuse me.
07:37Could you tell me how much this item is please?
07:39I certainly can.
07:40It is 95.
07:42I can do it for 70 pounds.
07:4470 pounds.
07:46What do you think?
07:47I'm in it for 60.
07:48I think that would give us a good chance at auction.
07:51Would you take 60 for it?
07:52I won't.
07:53Sorry.
07:53I can't do it for that.
07:54Would you do it for 65?
07:56Yes.
07:57I really like it.
07:58Let's do it.
07:59Yeah.
08:00Yeah.
08:00Fantastic.
08:02Yeah.
08:02Thank you very much.
08:03And we'll find out later if it brewed up a profit and where it charts in our top six tea
08:09countdown.
08:15But before we make our next stop, I've come to the Winter Garden in Eastbourne, which for decades has held
08:22a very British tradition.
08:23The tea dance.
08:29The tea dance.
08:30The tea dance started in the Victorian period and was part of afternoon tea parties.
08:35To make the tea parties more fun, the hostess would encourage her guests to dance to piano music.
08:43Soon, though, party goers began to tire of the polka and the Viennese waltz.
08:50Then in the early 20th century, new dances took the country by storm, like the tango.
09:02Sorry, folks.
09:03Excuse my two left feet.
09:05Anyway, pretty soon, venues like this one, the Ornate Floral Hall, were holding tea dances.
09:13Organist Chris Mannion has for many years been the musical host of tea dances all along the south coast of
09:21England.
09:22Tell me, how long have you been tinkling the ivories?
09:25Well, I started playing when I was 21 professionally.
09:28Now I'm 73, so that's quite a long time.
09:31And tea dancing took over from playing on the pier in about 1996 when I started here in the Winter
09:38Gardens at Eastbourne.
09:40What sort of music do you play at tea dances?
09:43Usually, it has to have a tune and it has to have a rhythm.
09:46And for sequence dancing, it has to be in 32 bar segments.
09:51So if a tune runs over the 32 bars, everyone trips up.
09:57And then there's ballroom dancing, which is more freestyle, and people love that, but they need a lot of space.
10:03And then there's the more modern dances.
10:05On top of that, there's line dances.
10:07And in my tea dances, I try to mix them all together.
10:10How does it work?
10:11Well, we have an hour's dancing solid, and then the tea is served.
10:15And then there's about half an hour where everybody goes and gets their tea, or it's brought to them.
10:20And they'll have maybe cakes.
10:23But the dancers are very keen to dance, and they want to get back on the floor as quickly as
10:28possible.
10:28I mean, how long would one of these events go on for?
10:31If I have one or two dances today, I'm tired.
10:34Oh no, these are three-hour events.
10:36Are they?
10:36With a half-hour interval.
10:38Wow.
10:39Well, they're like the money's worth, you know.
10:40Well, we all do.
10:41We all do.
10:44Tell me, Chris.
10:45I mean, what is the atmosphere like at a tea dance?
10:47Well, the atmosphere is very warm and friendly.
10:50With me up on the stage with the lights on me, I felt enveloped by it, you know.
10:55And the atmosphere of the people all enjoying themselves, that is something you can't repeat.
11:02I think tea dances will always be popular, and they're sort of like an underground thing that's not generally talked
11:10about.
11:11There must be thousands of people go to a tea dance every week and really enjoy it.
11:15Chris, it's been absolutely wonderful talking to you. I've really enjoyed it.
11:19Can you play us one of those melodies, just to send me on my way?
11:22Yeah.
11:50On that high note, let's continue our tea tour around the country.
11:55Now, what goes with tea?
11:57Cake and biscuits, of course.
12:00In Edinburgh, steaming ahead with their shop were mum and son, Dorothy and Graham, and expert John Cameron.
12:08A bit of Rawayana there.
12:10My grandfather walked in the railways.
12:11Really?
12:12Yeah.
12:13It's unusual, but I'm not sure.
12:15There are a lot of Rawayana collectors.
12:18It is a strong area.
12:19Maybe you wouldn't think so, but a lot of people and a lot of guys have these scale model steam
12:23in their gardens.
12:24And they like to have authentic items to decorate around.
12:29I don't think we'll be buying it.
12:30Is that a tea?
12:31It's £250.
12:33That doesn't surprise me.
12:34No.
12:34As I say, I've never seen one.
12:36No.
12:37And it is the sort of thing that in a real specialist Rawayana auction would do very, very well.
12:42So, not one for us, but an interesting thing.
12:46Angling for a win, John was instantly hooked on this novelty biscuit tin.
12:52Now that, I like.
12:54It's tinned.
12:55It's Huntley and Palmer's.
12:57I like it.
12:58It's novel.
12:58And novelty biscuit tins are what sell.
13:01You know, it's modelled on an old fishing basket.
13:03Rain basket, yes.
13:04It's a fly fisherman's basket.
13:06And it's okay with a little bit of scuff.
13:08It is a little bit scratch, but one would expect that.
13:10It's probably a hundred years old.
13:13This would be dating to probably the 1920s or something like that.
13:16Biscuit makers Huntley and Palmer's were famous for designing ingenious tins in the guise of all sorts of objects.
13:24Take a look at this.
13:26It looks like a piece of Wedgwood, Jasperware, but it's actually a biscuit tin.
13:33Made around 1950s, 1960s.
13:37And if you look closely at the back, you can even make out the maker's mark.
13:42Huntley and Palmer's.
13:44They issued their first Wedgwood tin in 1949.
13:48And went on to make more than 20 different versions in similar designs.
13:54Because so many were made, this one's only worth about 10 to 20 pound.
13:58But a very rare one from 1929 in the shape of a double decker bus.
14:03At auction, made 1500 pound recently.
14:07Now that's what I call a tasty profit.
14:10Back to the Reds and their biscuit tin.
14:12Did they manage to hook a deal on their fishing creel?
14:16We got 70 pounds on there.
14:19I think if you got a wee bit off that.
14:22Big bit.
14:23Big bit.
14:24Big bit off it.
14:25You're saying a wee bit.
14:26Mum's saying big bit.
14:27Big bit.
14:28Big bit.
14:28How much is a big bit?
14:30Well, I think if we started at 50 and then see how it goes from there.
14:36That would be a good price.
14:37What's the very best you can do on this?
14:39Death would be 55.
14:41That's the death, is it?
14:42That's the absolute death.
14:44That's the death.
14:45Can we get some biscuits in it?
14:48I think it's worth a punt.
14:50I think so.
14:5055, yeah.
14:51I'm happy with that.
14:5355 pounds.
14:54Then we've got ourselves a deal.
14:55Yeah.
14:55Thank you very much.
14:5815 pound off sounds like a sweet deal.
15:01Find out later if it paid off.
15:03Right.
15:03I'm on me tea break.
15:05So why don't you lot grab a cuppa and enjoy a trip I made to North Yorkshire to see a
15:11rare collection of teapots.
15:17There are many places to get a cuppa in Harrogate and today I've come to Betty's Tea Rooms.
15:23They've been serving customers for over 100 years and knows a thing or two about teapots.
15:29I'm meeting Lynne Shelverton to find out more.
15:32So Lynne, what have we got here?
15:34We've got a collection of 600 teapots.
15:36A lot of them are in each of the cafe tea rooms on display.
15:39I mean that is a collection.
15:41It really is.
15:41That is a vast collection.
15:43We love them.
15:43And it seems like they're all different shapes, sizes, probably values.
15:49Yes.
15:49I've picked these ones out because each of them tell a little bit of a different story.
15:53I know these ones.
15:55They've got that Art Deco feel to me.
15:581930s, that type of period.
16:00Yes.
16:00And they're arguably some of the most recognised novelty style teapots.
16:06So they were created using real silver on the luster which was notoriously difficult to fire.
16:11They're quite rare and we're lucky to have two of them that match.
16:16This is a right fun one I find.
16:18It's Margaret Thatcher isn't it?
16:19It is.
16:19This is a caricature from Spitting Image in the 1980s.
16:23Oh yes, I remember the programme.
16:23Yes.
16:23So quite rare and very collectible.
16:27What sort of value?
16:28So that's around £200.
16:31It tells a story about a point in time.
16:34Absolutely.
16:34I want to know which one's the most expensive.
16:37I mean I'm gathering that that one's probably the oldest.
16:41That doesn't necessarily mean it's the most expensive.
16:43That one was from the 1700s and that is the oldest one that we've got in our collection.
16:47It is really pretty.
16:49It's got these pretty little flowers and then the top is in the shape of a flower as well.
16:54And what's the value on it?
16:56So that's around £400.
16:58The most expensive one is actually this teapot and that's called the Aesthetics Teapot.
17:03It's absolutely exquisite the design on it and it's very cleverly done.
17:08On one side it's a lady and then on the other side is a gentleman but using the same silhouette.
17:16Who's it made by?
17:16So this is Royal Worcester.
17:18Oh wow.
17:19So this one's valued at £3,000 so I am holding there carefully.
17:23No it's not.
17:24£4,000.
17:25Yeah.
17:25It's very rare.
17:26It's around 1880.
17:28Bit of an expensive cup of tea wouldn't it?
17:30It's an expensive cup of tea.
17:32It's been fascinating to learn about this beautiful collection of teapots.
17:37But before I go I need to settle a debate that's raged for centuries.
17:42Come on then Lyn, you're the expert.
17:44How should you make the perfect cuppa?
17:46Milk in first or last?
17:47It should be milk first because back in the day China was so delicate if you poured hot water straight
17:53in there was a chance it would crack the china.
17:56So really it should be milk in first but I think as long as you get a lovely cup of
17:59tea out of it it doesn't really matter.
18:01Well that's me told.
18:07Milk in first, who knew?
18:10Okay, let's get back to our teams and head back to Weatherby Racecourse.
18:16Trotting around the fair with dad and daughter Simon and Sammy was their expert Jonathan Pratt.
18:22And a few minutes into their shop this servant's bell box caught their eye.
18:28That's definitely the social history thing isn't it?
18:30Yeah, I just think it's quite an interesting thing.
18:32What do you think?
18:33People like these features in their homes and if you're buying an Edwardian townhouse you'll find one of these up
18:38in the scullery up on the wall.
18:40A nice object and maybe something we should think about.
18:42Okay, okay.
18:43Until the mid 19th century, sprung bells were used to summon servants.
18:49But later an electric bell box like this was used.
18:53It wasn't just posh folk in stately homes who had bell boxes.
18:57By Edwardian times, middle class families in townhouses.
19:01They had them too.
19:04Nowadays you can expect to pay 100 to 200 pounds for one in decent nick.
19:09But do remember, if you want to use one in your house, get the wiring checked first.
19:17With time running out, the Blues decided to dash back for another look at the bell box.
19:23I think originally said a price of 120 pounds.
19:25Yes.
19:26Could it be 99?
19:27That would really help us.
19:28I'll be honest with you, I'm really struggling on it.
19:32Struggling to sell it?
19:34Yeah.
19:35I'll do 1.15.
19:37We've got to make a decision because we're running out of time.
19:40You've got two minutes.
19:41This has been scrubbed up considerably.
19:43Yeah.
19:44You can see that.
19:45That's the thing that got me.
19:46It's not the original.
19:47It's got no pattern whatsoever on the wood.
19:49But the glass is original and fine and you've got the bits inside.
19:53OK.
19:54Did you say 110?
19:56100...
19:57Did you say 110?
19:58Don't want to be a real number.
19:59Let's say there's a minute left, guys.
20:01What about 107?
20:02No, I can't hear that.
20:03110, you can do.
20:04115, it's got to be.
20:06101, no!
20:07We're having it.
20:09We're having it.
20:10We're having it.
20:10We're having it.
20:13Well, it looked like Sammy and Simon was having a right ding-dong there.
20:17Let's see if their bell box is a ringing success at the auction.
20:21But before that, we're off to meet another team in Surrey.
20:27I joined mum and daughter Elizabeth and Charlotte in Dorkin.
20:31What are you thinking, Charlotte?
20:32I'm quite enjoying these microscopes.
20:35What do you think of them?
20:36They're quite interesting.
20:38I don't think they're really going to be used for practical work, but they will.
20:42You know, great props.
20:43People do like them and they seem to be all there.
20:45You know, it's quite nice.
20:47What's the price on it, Charlotte?
20:48£85.
20:50Maybe we need to move on.
20:51Maybe.
20:52Yes.
20:52We've just got here.
20:53We've got time.
20:54I like the fact that you're looking, you're looking, you're talking, you're feeling,
20:57you're touching.
20:58That's great.
20:59It was downstairs, though, that the team made a terrific discovery.
21:04We've just found this.
21:05It's Victorian tea caddy.
21:06I'm glad you found something because I know we're running out of time.
21:09Charlotte spotted this.
21:10I thought it'd be quite a nice thing to, I'd love to give this to a friend or a sister.
21:14Do you think it's interesting?
21:15Very interesting.
21:16I mean, tea caddies, they're quite popular.
21:18Lovely wood.
21:19Great colour.
21:20You know, I like the blend of the inside colour of the wood and the outside sort of darker
21:25colour with nice little bun feet on it.
21:28Yeah.
21:28It's in nice condition.
21:30Nice sort of, nice shape on it, which is a typical tea caddy shape really.
21:35Shame it's missing the glass bowl.
21:37This caddy is made of rosewood.
21:39Objects made of this exotic timber after 1947 can only be legally traded with a CIT certificate.
21:47But this caddy dates from the early 1800s when tea was very much a luxury item.
21:55200 years ago, tea was really expensive.
21:59Import costs were through the roof.
22:02Smuggling and theft was rife.
22:04They had to actually put locks on the tea caddies.
22:08Imagine doing that with your tea bags today.
22:12Now, back to the Reds.
22:13Did they scoop a good deal on their tea caddy?
22:16Let's find out.
22:18So, what's the best price that you can do for us on this?
22:20It says £50.
22:21OK.
22:22I've contacted the dealer and bearing in mind it's missing its glass bowl,
22:26the dealer would be prepared to accept £30.
22:29Yes, I think we should be happy with £30.
22:32I think so.
22:33I think there's room now to make a profit at Ocean with it.
22:37I really thought that tea caddy was going to make a profit.
22:41But was I right?
22:43Mum's the word.
22:45Now, for the final stop on our tour, we're off to Anglesey in North Wales.
22:52Keeping Richard Madley's spirits up were paranormal investigators Les and Tracy.
22:59I've got my EMF meter.
23:01Wow.
23:02Is there any ghosts here?
23:03Oh.
23:03Ooh.
23:04Oh, oh.
23:05Got a bit of a flash on you.
23:06Really?
23:08These sparky ladies had great energy.
23:10And Les had another passion.
23:13Teapots.
23:13The first teapot of the day.
23:15What are you thinking about this one?
23:17No, it's not.
23:18No, I don't like it.
23:19It's not special?
23:20No.
23:20What makes a special teapot?
23:22It's the make, isn't it, as well?
23:23The make?
23:23Like Lorna Bailey or something like that.
23:25Or Susie Cooper.
23:26I've got all the names.
23:27All the names here.
23:28In all the lingo.
23:29And the age.
23:30This is more like Rockingham, Staffordshire, old fashioned.
23:34Not for you.
23:35No.
23:35You're more a 20th century girl, are you?
23:37Yeah.
23:37Okay, so you're looking for more colourful and sort of art deco, geometric colours.
23:43Yes.
23:43Very much so.
23:44Indeed.
23:44It's a teapot.
23:45It's a teapot.
23:46Yeah, okay.
23:47It makes a cup of tea.
23:49Tracy poured cold water on that idea.
23:52But Les percolated up when she spotted more designer teaware.
23:57Lorna Bailey.
23:58Tell me about Lorna Bailey.
23:59They're going to be the antiques of the future.
24:01Are they?
24:02Right.
24:02I think so.
24:03So she's contemporary.
24:04You know her work.
24:05I've got two teapots of hers.
24:06Which pieces are you looking at that's appealing to you?
24:09I quite like the skier.
24:10What do you think of the skier?
24:11I don't like it.
24:13Well, you don't like it.
24:14Don't say that.
24:14No, you don't like.
24:15No, it's just not.
24:17Well, you don't actually like the skier or you don't like the pattern?
24:20I don't.
24:21Yeah, the pattern.
24:21I don't like the skier.
24:24Oh.
24:25Stapleshire based designer Lorna Bailey began producing pottery in the late 1990s.
24:32This sugar sifter is a really good example of Lorna Bailey's work.
24:37It echoes the Art Deco 1920s, 1930s style.
24:42Just look at those bold geometric lines.
24:46A sugar sifter in this condition can fetch about £25 at auction.
24:50But her eye-catching teapots can fetch £70 or even more.
24:57With the clock ticking, there was no holding back the blues.
25:00We need to get a buy.
25:02We need to get a buy.
25:02Yeah, we need to get a buy.
25:03Okay.
25:04Over here?
25:04I've sent a teapot over there.
25:06Another teapot.
25:07Patience now, Richard.
25:09Well, this is a Lorna Bailey.
25:11It's really unusual.
25:12I've not seen a robin before.
25:15Right.
25:17It's signed.
25:18How much would that be?
25:20Do it for 90.
25:2190.
25:22If that's what you want, then you go for that.
25:24Shake the gentleman's hand.
25:26Oops, sorry.
25:26Thank you very much.
25:27Cheer the smash dick.
25:29In fact, all our team smashed it with their shopping.
25:32We'll find out how they got on at the auction later.
25:35Before that, Natasha found refreshments at a cafe in Kent
25:39that houses the largest collection of teapots in Britain.
25:54Peace.
25:55I think I can quite honestly say I've never seen so many teapots.
25:59And of course, I have to know, where did it all start?
26:02Well, we bought a house with a display cabinet in the kitchen
26:06and we had nothing to put in there.
26:07The wife's name come round and she said,
26:09I've got just a thing for that little cupboard you've got there.
26:12And then she come and gave us her teapot.
26:14And from there onwards, acorns have grown.
26:17Acorns have grown.
26:18Well, teapots, certainly.
26:20The idea of a pot to brew tea can be traced back to China,
26:25where tea has been drunk for nearly 3,000 years.
26:28It wasn't until the 17th century that Britain got its taste for tea.
26:32Some early English teapots didn't even have a lid.
26:36They were in something shaped like this.
26:38And it's called a caduggan.
26:40OK, which almost doesn't look as though the water can get in.
26:43Well, the water actually in the tea gets put in the bottom.
26:47You pour the tea and the tea leaves, of course, then,
26:50and the hot water.
26:51And for a tube in the centre, when you stand it up,
26:54the water doesn't come out because the tube is lower than the spout,
26:57so it pours out the spout instead.
26:58And at the time when teapots like this were designed,
27:01who would have been able to afford to drink tea?
27:04Rich people, because tea at that time was very, very expensive.
27:08So I can't see that anybody else, the poorer people,
27:11that's why they put it in caddies and they locked it up, wasn't it?
27:13Because of the value of the tea.
27:15It was the tax on tea that made it so expensive.
27:18But when the price did come down,
27:20it became a drink everyone could enjoy.
27:22As the nation's tea-drinking obsession grew,
27:25English craftsmen saw an opportunity to get in on the trend
27:28and started to make their own porcelain teapots.
27:33Keith, it's a beautiful day to sit outside and talk about teapots,
27:37so let's do just that.
27:38You've picked three from the collection.
27:39Let's talk about this, I know this, this is the brown betty.
27:42I think the main reason they call it a brown betty
27:44is because it's actually made of brown clay.
27:46They must produce more teapots in this shape than any other shape,
27:49and it bruises he good.
27:50And it was used by thousands and thousands of households
27:53through the years.
27:55OK, so that's the brown betty, the icon that she is.
27:58But let's move on to another icon,
28:00not the shape of this teapot, but the designer.
28:03It's made by Claescliffe.
28:05We struggled to get this actual design for our museum.
28:09Eventually we did find one.
28:11This particular pot was originally made for the Canada market.
28:14Oh, greetings from Canada.
28:15Greetings from Canada.
28:17When people hear Clarice Cliff,
28:19when people hear sought after and hard to get a hold of,
28:23they might be thinking,
28:24what is the value of that teapot?
28:26We believe it's worth about £1,200.
28:28£1,200.
28:30I mean, it's quite an expensive cup of tea, isn't it?
28:32It certainly is.
28:34Tea drinking is certainly a very British institution,
28:37so it's not surprising that the royal family has inspired
28:41plenty of teapot designs.
28:44This woman defined an era, Lady Di.
28:47So, tell me about this one.
28:50Well, Princess Diana by this point.
28:52Well, this is actually my wife's favourite teapot.
28:55Made by Richard Parrington.
28:56He was based in Kent and we don't believe there was many made.
29:01And to have something made in ceramic,
29:02which you can actually recognise the figure,
29:04is quite a difficult job to do, I think.
29:07It is.
29:08And teapots like this, modelled in such an eccentric fashion,
29:13are they made to be used?
29:15I would say some of them are made to be used,
29:18but some of them are totally impractical.
29:20Keith, thank you for showing me around
29:23one of the most individual and unique collections I've ever seen.
29:27I really appreciated it.
29:28And I'll never, ever, I promise you this,
29:30just dunk a teabag in a mug ever again.
29:33Always from the pot, right?
29:34Very good.
29:35I promise you that.
29:36I hope you've learnt the lesson today.
29:37I have.
29:43I'll never look at a teapot in the same way again.
29:47Well now, it's time to see whether our teams
29:50can sell on their purchases at auction.
29:54First, we're heading to Beverley in East Yorkshire,
29:57where Charlie showed the Georgian Caddyspoons
29:59to auctioneer Caroline Hawley.
30:02They've got age, they've got quality.
30:05They're nice, aren't they?
30:05They have.
30:06I like this little one with the mother of pearl handles.
30:09Yeah.
30:09Samuel Pemberton, good maker, 1810.
30:12Yeah.
30:12And I think they're great.
30:1480 to 120.
30:15Paid 120.
30:17Okay.
30:17So, just top end of right.
30:19Yes, let's hope.
30:20Fingers crossed.
30:22So, did the spoon serve up a profit?
30:25Or a loss?
30:26The internet has lit up.
30:29150, I have.
30:32150, 160 anywhere.
30:34150 pounds.
30:36Come on, baby.
30:36I have 160 anywhere.
30:39150 pounds.
30:40Make no mistake.
30:44What a great buy for David and his team.
30:47But will it be enough to make the number one spot?
30:51Next up, the Blues at Newark thought they had a hot deal on their samovar.
30:57Natasha asked Charles Hansen, the auctioneer, what he made of it.
31:02Have you ever sipped tea served from a samovar?
31:05No, I've never sipped tea from a samovar and I should do because I love the history of tea drinking.
31:09It's got a wonderful history about it.
31:11And of course, in the Regency period, bigger tea caddies came along.
31:14Tea was cheaper.
31:15It came from India and the samovar was very much brewing hot water.
31:20It's circa 1810.
31:21I really like it.
31:23I love it.
31:24So what's your restaurant?
31:26Between £20 and £30.
31:2865 paid?
31:30Is it too much?
31:30No, I just think because we see them and we think, what can you use them for, we go in
31:35a bit low.
31:36Do you reckon the samovar will get your bidders hot under the collar?
31:41Yes, I do.
31:42It might cause a sweat.
31:45So, were the Blues flushed with success?
31:48Over to the sale room.
31:50I'm in at 35.
31:5245.
31:5355.
31:5465.
31:56Yes.
31:5675.
31:57Yes!
31:58£50 is my bid.
32:00£80.
32:01I'm asking five now.
32:02Yes.
32:03I'm good at this.
32:04£80.
32:05I'm bid.
32:06Fair warning.
32:07We sold at £80.
32:10Sold.
32:10Yay!
32:11Fist bumps all round.
32:13The samovar was a really nice example in brass and copper instead of iron.
32:18So the bidders were bubbling with excitement.
32:21Moving on to our Edinburgh Reds and their Huntley and Palmer biscuit tin.
32:25I need to man it and show it to our auctioneer, Dennis Clark.
32:30What do you think of this?
32:32Yeah, I like this item.
32:34Novelty biscuit tin.
32:34Models are a fish and creel.
32:36And I think Huntley and Palmer were the first company to market biscuits in this way.
32:41And we're hopeful on the day.
32:43What's your estimate on this one?
32:45£30 to £50.
32:45Well, they paid £55.
32:47Is that a bit too much, Dennis?
32:49It could be, but I'm hopeful that we might get close to that.
32:54Did the creel tin reel in the bids when Dennis took the rostrum?
32:58And you'll start me at £30.
33:00Nice item there, start me at £30.
33:02£30 is bid online.
33:03In advance, £35 fresh bidder.
33:06It's in the room.
33:07£40 online.
33:08£45.
33:10£50.
33:11£50.
33:12£55.
33:12Yes!
33:13£60.
33:13Yes!
33:14£60 takes the bidding online now.
33:16In advance, £60.
33:18We're all done at £60.
33:21Profit well done.
33:23The biscuit tin landed the Reds a modest profit.
33:27Remember, it's the novelty tins that get people well and truly hooked.
33:34Let's take a break from the heat of the auctions and head off to find out all about tea etiquette.
33:41I'm no expert, but luckily enough, I know a person who is.
33:47I'm dropping in on the British Tea Museum in Hastings to pick up a few more tips.
33:54Best get my pinky ready.
33:58Museum founder Rebecca Gilday runs masterclasses on tea etiquette.
34:04Afternoon, Rebecca.
34:05Good afternoon, Danny.
34:07I really thought the British were great tea drinkers.
34:09What have you learned? Please tell me.
34:11Well, tea is certainly alive and brewing in the UK.
34:16We used to have a really ornate, lovely tea culture using real leaf tea
34:22because that's the only thing we had in Britain when tea first arrived in 1650.
34:27And we had these wonderful mixture of teawares that had landed on the London docks.
34:33So we developed a ritual by the sort of 1650s, 1700s of a lovely tea culture.
34:41But sadly, in the last hundred years, we've sort of ditched it for a mug.
34:47And may I say a tea bag?
34:50Oh, please don't tell me you've got tea bags in your tea closet.
34:53Well, I mean, some of these tea bags, they make fabulous tea.
34:57Oh, no, I'd have to stop you right there, Danny, and I might have to ask you to leave.
35:04Because, you see, what you're actually drinking in your mug, generally, are the leftover remnants of your real leaf tea.
35:13So tell me, Rebecca, what are the tea traditions? Because I'm a little bit lost.
35:20Well, we have three tea traditions in the UK.
35:23We have your cream tea, which is your scone with cream and jam.
35:28And then we drink tea.
35:30There's then afternoon tea, which is celebrated very much.
35:33And that's cream tea with sandwiches and petit fours.
35:37The third tradition is high tea.
35:40And that's afternoon tea with tea and champagne.
35:44And that's really what us Brits enjoy on a very sort of special occasion.
35:50But that tradition is not lost, is it? Because it's big business at the minute.
35:54It is. It's huge business.
35:56And we do reserve that right and enjoy that occasion.
35:59And we dress up and it's fantastic.
36:01But what I'd like to see, Danny, is people introducing a daily ritual of tea drinking.
36:08Rebecca, I'm sure you can settle something for me.
36:12Tell me, is it pinky up or pinky down when you're having a cup of tea out of a cup
36:16and saucer?
36:17Well, what do you do, Danny?
36:19Oh, it depends how nice it is.
36:20No, it's absolutely pinky down.
36:22But there is a reason, a historical reason.
36:25When tea cups first arrived in England in 1650, they were small handle-less clay bowls.
36:32So the etiquette developed to hold them like so with the pinkies up.
36:38You can imagine that it was the rim and the bottom that were the coolest places to hold the cups.
36:43We didn't quite have the saucer at the time.
36:46Now let's see what happened when the handle was actually invented.
36:50Using the first three fingers.
36:53The other two, including the pinky, are down.
36:57Elbow down.
36:58And then we're keeping our head nice and up.
37:01We're going to take a sip.
37:03Of course, quite uncomfortable.
37:04Relax your shoulder, though.
37:06You're sort of a bit tense.
37:07A bit tense.
37:08Relax.
37:08You're getting me frightened.
37:10There we go.
37:10Take a sip.
37:13Delicious!
37:15Oh, yes, indeed.
37:16No, no, no, no, no.
37:20Rebecca, it's been wonderful.
37:22Thank you so much for the mini masterclass.
37:24From now on, it's always going to be pinky down and also elbow.
37:28Indeed.
37:33Back to the action at the auctions to see our final three items go under the hammer.
37:41The Weatherby Blues hope their servant's bell box would summon a good price.
37:46But did auctioneer David Elstub agree?
37:50This one is largely intact.
37:53Often they're in a sorry state.
37:55This one's good.
37:56People buy them what?
37:57Just purely decorative?
37:59Decoration.
37:59They look the part in a Victorian house.
38:01What sort of estimate up here in Darlington?
38:03I've put 40 to 80 on it.
38:06Yeah.
38:06We've had a lot of pre-sale interest.
38:08Have you?
38:08So I'm expecting it to do well.
38:10They're going to need a lot of pre-sale interest because they paid £115 for it.
38:16Well, fingers crossed.
38:19Let's see if David's estimate chimed with the bidders.
38:22We're inundated with commission bids on this one.
38:25There's been a lot of interest.
38:26I'm going to have to start you at £200.
38:28Oh!
38:29£200 on bid on commission.
38:31£200 on bid.
38:32I'll take £220.
38:34£200 bid.
38:35£220.
38:36£240.
38:36At £240, £260.
38:39£300.
38:39£320.
38:41£340.
38:41At £340 bid.
38:43My book's out.
38:43It's your bid, sir.
38:44£340.
38:45Are you all done and finished then?
38:46I'm selling at £340.
38:51£340.
38:52£340.
38:53£340.
38:54£340.
38:55Ding-dong blues.
38:56The fine condition of the bail box was a key factor in its three-figure profit.
39:02The tea caddy was next under the gavel.
39:05Anita Manning showed it to Jonathan Pratt.
39:08Very typically Regency in style, but what's nice about it is it's just, you know, it is in rosewood
39:14and it's very clean and sharp edges still in a nice condition.
39:18Now, estimate?
39:19£50 to £80.
39:20Well, they only paid £30.
39:21Wow, okay.
39:24Jonathan's estimate was certainly generous, but we're the bidders.
39:28I've got £25, £35.
39:30£35.
39:31£35.
39:33£35 on commission.
39:35I was expecting more here.
39:37£45 with me.
39:38One more.
39:38£50 and £5 with me.
39:40£60 and I'm out.
39:41Yes!
39:41£60 in the middle.
39:43I was on the commission at £60.
39:44And selling to the room, no other bids in the room.
39:46Are you sure?
39:46You're selling £60.
39:49Lovely.
39:50£60.
39:50Geltie have doubled your money.
39:51I knew that tea caddy would unlock a profit, even without the glass bowl.
39:57It did well because it still had the original key and lidded compartments.
40:01And finally, it was that colourful Lorna Bailey teapot.
40:06Auctioneer Chris Large gave Charlie his estimate.
40:09And it's Robin.
40:10It is.
40:10Yeah.
40:11Do you like it?
40:12It's not really my cup of tea.
40:14Your cup of tea.
40:15You wouldn't have your Lapsang Souchong in there.
40:17No, I prefer gunpowder tea, to be honest.
40:21No damage?
40:22No restoration?
40:22No, it's in perfect condition and I think it'll sell for £30 to £50.
40:26I saw two people lovingly looking at it as I walked in.
40:30Ah.
40:30Right.
40:31Perhaps they might get nearer to the £90 that they paid.
40:35Wow.
40:38The teapot was £40 above Chris's top estimate.
40:41So were the bidders prepared to pay top money for it?
40:45And £50 has bid in the room.
40:47£55 we're looking for.
40:49And £55.
40:50£60.
40:51£65.
40:52£70.
40:53£75.
40:54£80.
40:55£85.
40:56Oh, come on.
40:57Oh, come on.
40:58£85 at the back.
41:00£90.
41:00£95.
41:01Shakes his head.
41:02£90 for the teapot.
41:04£95 do I hear?
41:05Any further bids?
41:09£90.
41:11Poor Les.
41:12She loved that teapot.
41:14But it wasn't quite the bidder's cup of tea.
41:18So there you have it.
41:20A tea-rific collection of teaware.
41:23But which of our items made the most profits?
41:26Time for our tea chart countdown.
41:29In at number six was the robin-shaped teapot.
41:32£50 has bid in the room.
41:34£55 we're looking for.
41:36Oh!
41:38It wasn't cheap and it only broke even.
41:41At five was the Huntley and Palmer's tin.
41:44It took the biscuit.
41:47Profit well done.
41:49Only fetching a £5 profit.
41:52Up two places to number four was the Brass and Copper Samovar.
41:58Salty!
42:00The Russian kettle boiled up a profit of £15.
42:04In at number three was the pair of Georgian tea caddy spoons.
42:10Oh!
42:12They scooped the team a £30 profit.
42:17In at number two, it was the Regency tea caddy.
42:2260 in amount.
42:2360 pounds.
42:24It also made a £30 profit.
42:26But crucially, it doubled its money.
42:30And hitting the top spot in our tea-tastic chart was the Serpent's bell box.
42:37I'm selling at £340.
42:40It rang out a whopping £225 profit.
42:50I'm afraid that's the end of this tea party.
42:53I hope you're feeling refreshed and ready to spot some fantastic finds at fairs and also auctions.
43:00As always, make sure you follow us on Twitter and join us again soon for some more bargain hunting.
43:05Yes?
43:06Yes!