VOICEOVER (VO): It's the nation's favorite antiques experts... Alright viewers?

VO: ..with £200 each, a classic car, and a goal - to scour Britain for antiques.

I'm on fire - yes!

Sold - going, going, gone.

VO: The aim - to make the biggest profit at auction.

But it's no mean feat.

50p!

VO: There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

Are they papier-mache buttocks?

VO: So, will it be the high road to glory or the slow road to disaster?

Ooh!

Oh!

Here we go!

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip.

Yeah!

It's day four of our Caledonian caper in a Sunbeam Rapier, with Charlie Ross and Margie Cooper.

MARGIE (MC): Now we're going even further north, aren't we?

CHARLIE (CR): Aye!

We're going up over the Cairngorms.

MC: Are we really?

CR: We'll never be seen again!

VO: Auctioneer and porridge lover Charlie has enjoyed a rollercoaster of a week so far.

CR: Oh!

Ooh!

This is getting better by the minute!

VO: His road trip took a funny turn at the last auction, where just about everything started at £1.

But is he bitter?

"I've got here one of Monet's earlier works - poond!"

VO: While dealer and former fashion model Margie's had an equally hairy time.

Oh, my!

He's in incredibly good nick.

Aw, poor old soul.

VO: Her low point was some Rouge Royale Carltonware which made a mere £5, much to Charlie's amusement.

I just had a bad buying day, didn't I?

Did you have a migraine or something?

VO: Margie began with £200 and so far, after three trips to auction, she's amassed a total of £221.82.

You won't get fat on that lot.

Whilst Charlie, who also started off with £200, has managed to make a little bit more, with £238.28 to spend today, but what on?

TUNE OF "LAND OF HOPE & GLORY: # I like buying # Rouge Royale... # MC: (LAUGHS) VO: Sarky, Charlie!

# I think it's going to be good.

# MC: You are barking!

MC: Mad!

CR: Woof!

VO: True.

Charlie and Margie set off from Jedburgh in the Borders before traveling the breadth and length of Scotland, to reach journey's end at Hamilton, South Lanarkshire.

Today they begin in Abernyte in Perth and Kinross, and then head far north for an auction in the Highlands at Dingwall.

About halfway between Perth and Dundee, Abernyte is tucked away in rich farmland that's famous for livestock, fruit and veg, and, at the huge antiques center on the outskirts of the village, our early starters seem ideally placed for a bumper crop.

If I may say so, Gladys, it looks a little posh for you.

You'll nae find things for £4.50 here, my girl!

Have I got to go in here with you?

Yep.

Take my arm.

I'll lead you to paradise.

You're putting me off!

VO: Lordy!

Get a load of this!

Oh dear.

VO: There's no shortage of antiques here, all arranged nicely over a huge area too.

So, just as long as they don't get lost.

Think I'll go back thataway.

(SIGHS) I wonder how many items there are in this establishment.

Hundreds of thousands.

VO: There's a bit of a dealer shortage though, so manager Margaret could be essential.

Could you give me a quick whistle-stop tour, do you think?

Yes, I think we can do... Just so I get the lie of the land.

The lie of the land.

No problem at all.

Thank you.

China, furniture, then you have ancient books, vintage clothes, vintage bags...

Yes.

Obviously the cabinets, some jewelry etc, silverware... VO: Are you following this, Charlie?

Round here we've got ceramics.

There's something here for everybody.

VO: Meanwhile, Margie's unearthed something even more valuable.

Ah!

(CHUCKLES) A rare breed in one of these places.

A dealer.

VO: Margie, meet Bob.

Right, is that one of those luckenbooths?

Yeah, that's right, yeah.

MC: Yeah.

BOB: That's quite a modern one.

Yeah, it's handsome, isn't it?

VO: A luckenbooth is a Scottish love token named after the lockable stalls on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, which once sold them.

BOB: It's nice, but it is... MC: Modern.

Brand new.

BOB: It is modern.

I've actually got a...

I've just got it today or yesterday... An old one.

An old one.

Have a look at that one.

That is a little old Scottish stone brooch with a thistle.

Yeah.

And it's 19... what is it, 1903 or something?

I'm told that the Victorians always had the horseshoe round that way but then I expect you've heard the story that if you hang a horseshoe up, the luck falls out.

Oh really?

But they... Well, that's what they say.

Because you're not Scottish, so how do you know that?

VO: I don't think that only applies to Scotland, Margie.

So how much would that be if I...?

What have I got on it?

40 quid?

Yeah.

But that's way out for me.

Well what do you want to pay?

And then I'll tell you where to go.

VO: Those two are getting on famously, while Charlie practices the lowest form of wit.

(GASPS) No!

No!

Rouge Royale!

She could lose another 30 quid.

VO: He wouldn't let it lie, would he?

It's so difficult.

Well are you looking for something for 5p?

You know... VO: Or a bob, Bob.

That's a nice little thing.

Don't think you'll find any chips on it.

You can have it for a tenner.

You're getting to know me, aren't you?

VO: We all are, Margie, and Charlie looks a bit boggled.

Perhaps the scrutiny is proving too much.

They're watching us.

I know.

Shall we have a waltz?

Yeah.

VO: Oh do stop it, you two!

I can't help feeling you're not taking this entirely seriously.

This isn't buying anything, is it?

VO: No.

I really do think someone should make a start.

Oh, that's cute.

VO: Promising.

Maybe the waltzing worked.

Ah, it's a little traveling, folding book rest, I assume.

VO: Or it might just be upside down.

So maybe if you're traveling and you want to take your books with you.

Nicely made.

And they fold in.

And it's a little table as well.

Sweet, I like it.

VO: I wonder what Margaret can do on that.

I've just seen this little thing.

So what could be the best price?

The best price on that would be 30.

Hm.

And that's the end, that's the absolute...?

Hm.

I'm afraid so, yes.

It's a sweet thing.

Yeah, OK, I like it.

Thank you.

No, well done.

DEALER: Thank you.

MC: Well done!

VO: After that little triumph, Margie's left the building, which leaves Charlie still on the lookout for a dealer.

Ah, another man in residence here.

How are you doing?

Hi.

I'm doing well.

Charlie's the name.

Gavin Morris, nice to meet you.

Gavin.

Hi.

I've been having a wonderful time here but I have to confess, I have spent nothing.

Oh.

CR: Can you alter that for me?

VO: Go on, Gavin.

Ah, what about your... Is it a swagger stick?

Yeah.

It's very short, isn't it?

It's missing the little, er...

Someone's cut the...

The ferrule.

The ferrule on the end.

Yeah, yeah.

May I look at your swagger stick?

You can.

Suits you Charlie.

CR: Suits me, doesn't it?

GAVIN: It does.

Yeah, yeah.

It's all me.

Could be reasonable, Charlie.

Could it be...?

I mean, can it be stupid money or...?

I mean that's not silver, is it?

To be fair.

No, I don't think it is.

To be fair, it's plated.

That's something.

VO: Anything else on that theme?

How much is your drum over there?

Is that lots of dosh or is that...?

They make them into coffee tables, you know.

Yeah, yeah.

Probably why you sell them.

The big ones, yeah, but it's... nice drum.

I like a nice maker's name on one of these things.

Not that the maker's names mean anything to me.

Or a nice crest, but it doesn't have either.

But it's in good condition.

No, I'm going to try and buy something at your cheaper end.

VO: Not going to try to beat the price down then.

But we're definitely getting warm here.

Cor, super stool.

I think that's probably money though, isn't it?

CR: Pretty thing.

GAVIN: No, no.

No it's cheap.

CR: Is it really cheap?

GAVIN: Yeah.

Is it?

Yeah.

35.

Could be... 20, 25 quid.

It's lost a few of its bits, hasn't it?

A few of its ears are gone, yeah.

Priced accordingly, Charlie.

I like the shape.

You know?

I like the cabriole leg, it's a sort of... it's not a really bold English cabriole leg.

Having said that, it's not really a French cabriole.

I mean, it's an English stool, isn't it?

Yeah.

I'd buy that at a silly price.

I don't know... Well give me a silly offer.

It is silly, but you don't smack me, because... do you know what I think that'll make at auction?

I think it'll make between 20 and 30 quid.

OK.

I'd have to buy it for 15 quid.

I mean, that's pathetic, but if you could sell at 15 quid, I'd give you 15 quid and run.

OK Charlie.

It's a deal.

Blast, I wish I'd said 10!

(CHUCKLES) Are you happy with that?

Delighted.

VO: I think Charlie likes it here.

Now what about that old friend?

I don't think I want your swagger stick, do I?

Cuz it's...

It can be...

It can be reasonable.

Well I know but again I'd have to insult... You're a man that likes being insulted, aren't you?

Yeah.

I love it.

I think it'll make 12 or 14...

I think it's short, I think it's silver-plated, it's just a bit of fun, and if you could do it for five quid I'd take it away, but if it costs money, you know, I'm not here to steal the bloomin' thing.

10.

That's probably what it'll make, isn't it?

Um...

This is pathetic but, eight quid, then if it makes 10 I'll make a pound.

Go on then.

You wish you'd never seen me today, don't you?

We've had a good week, Charlie, it's alright.

Have you had a good week?

VO: Seems you picked the right time, Charlie.

Off the mark for just £23.

And while Charlie's been finally prying open his wallet... ..Margie's moved on, making her way south towards Perth and a bit more shopping.

Well, this is novel.

Hi, you're...?

I'm Jon.

Hi Jon.

Margie.

Nice to meet you.

VO: Farang is a Thai word meaning someone of European ancestry, and it's also this shop, selling arts and crafts from Thailand and neighboring countries.

Very nice too, although it's not something Margie's particularly au fait with.

Now what god is that?

That's Ganesh.

MC: Ganesh.

JON: That's Ganesh.

Well he's good, isn't he?

Elephants.

Love elephants.

VO: There's a mixture here of southeast Asian old and new, as well as a few items which come from a different continent altogether.

These are, unusually for me, from North America.

Yeah?

They're from Gatlinburg in Tennessee, those particular ones.

Really?

They're Native American arrowheads.

MC: Gosh!

JON: So each of those is gonna be 1,000 to 1,500 years old at least.

Gosh.

Really?

Some of them might even be older than that.

VO: Those might be a little too niche, do you think, for a general sale in Ross and Cromarty?

Anything else, Jon?

A little set of opium scales.

Those are very affordable.

OK. A set like that, even with the ivory there, that is just a £20 piece.

Right.

And that's opium scales.

The scales themselves aren't particularly unusual.

MC: That's ivory.

JON: The ivory pans on them are.

VO: Not to everyone's taste, Margie, but it is legal under the 1947 CITES agreement to trade ivory from before that year.

JON: This is very old.

MC: Yeah.

This is well sort of... Old, yeah.

Got to be careful.

It is.

VO: Margie can be indecisive at the best of times, and feeling a bit out of her depth certainly isn't helping.

These look interesting.

JON: These are old Burmese puppet heads on stands.

Yes.

They're quite good, aren't they?

Oh, his tongue's moving around.

Yeah.

I mean, these were used as puppets in Burma.

Oh were they?

JON: Yeah.

MC: What's he made of?

Wood.

All just carved.

So they're not brand new, they are...?

No, they've got some age to them.

Have they?

It's hard to tell exactly how old, but they're probably about 50 years old or something like that, but they would've been used like Burmese theater puppets, old folk tales and things they would've used them in.

Do you think they're a bit of fun?

What do you think?

I mean, you know... Antiques can be very boring.

VO: Steady on, Margie!

Still no decision though, and now she's after an opinion from the auction house.

Right.

You don't think so?

Not advisable.

Yeah.

VO: Oh dear.

PHONE: Quirky social history seems to sell quite well with us.

Right.

But not Asian social history?

VO: That's all very well, but I don't see any Scottish antiques in this shop.

Well, they probably haven't seen a lot of those in Dingwall but it might be a good thing, who knows?

VO: Good work, Jon, but now Margie's got to either buy here or else wait until tomorrow.

Right, well it's down to me to make a decision, isn't it?

VO: Yes, come on Margie.

You can do it, girl.

How much is that?

The best on that...

I'd say £12.

MC: (LAUGHS) That's bargain basement price.

And what about the old puppet heads?

They were 25.

Mm.

So why don't we say the scales and the puppet head for 25 altogether?

VO: That does sound like a very good deal, Margie.

So the two for 25?

Two for 25.

Oh for crying out... What am I worrying about?

You're a pal.

Hopefully they'll do well for you.

And which puppet head are we going to go for?

Which one do you like, John?

I think this one in the middle here's quite... that's quite a good color.

I'll have him then.

Done.

VO: But while Margie and Jon plump for a puppet... ..Charlie's heading north, making his way up through the Highlands to the village of Newtonmore, to find out about a uniquely Scottish sport.

Hello.

Hello.

I'm Rachel.

Pleased to meet you.

Welcome to the Highland Folk Museum.

VO: Shinty is a team game that's big in the Highlands and quite a few other parts of the world where Scots have migrated to, and at Newtonmore they're very good at it.

In fact, their shinty side have been the league champions for the last three seasons.

The rules of shinty became formalized during Victorian times, although the game itself is ancient.

CR: Now when did it all begin, historically?

It came from Ireland originally, with the monks and with Christianity, and it grew through the centuries to become training for the clans.

Yes.

There could be 150 a side... What?

..teams playing, clan against clan, so it wasn't... CR: It's a very, very old sport.

RACHEL: Very old, yes.

I'm just sort of looking at the odd club, are they called clubs?

Camans.

Camans.

Caman.

Caman comes from Gaelic, which means "crooked".

VO: Shinty is a close relative of the Irish game of hurling, and a forebear of ice hockey, sports which share a reputation of being a bit on the dangerous side.

RACHEL: This is an early caman.

You can... Do you want to feel the weight of that?

Looks like a caveman's club!

It doesn't look like a sporting implement!

This is more like the size of thing you'd play with.

Ah yes.

Yes.

With the two equal sides.

Is there a particular wood that it would be made out of?

Yes, ash... Ash.

..was the most popular.

And how big are the balls?

Well here we have some leathers, they're called.

Yeah.

This one here dates back to 1914 and was actually used... Hard isn't it?

Very hard, yeah.

There's cork inside, wound round with thread.

With wool?

Yeah, yeah.

Wool, yes.

This is the more modern one.

This is what they play with today.

Yeah.

It's a pretty hefty thing.

I mean, if that hits you, that's not going to do you any good, is it?

It can be very painful.

No, and it must go at some speed if you hit it.

It can, aha, yeah, it can go up to 100 miles an hour.

100 miles an hour?

Yes.

That's hugely dangerous.

Do you wear a face guard?

No.

They don't wear face guards at all.

I'd love to see somebody playing it.

Would you like to try it?

Absolutely.

I'm up for anything.

OK. VO: Blimey, Charlie, you just be careful out there.

I've been sent out here for a lesson.

JOHN: Welcome... CR: Thank you very much indeed.

..Charlie.

Very much indeed, yeah.

Thank you.

CR: Yeah.

And you are?

JOHN: John.

John.

Nice to meet you, John.

Here you've got the shinty stick.

JOHN: I've one here for you.

CR: Yes.

And the basics of the game are quite easy to follow.

Yeah.

JOHN: Is to hit the ball.

CR: Yes.

I'll hit the ball to you.

Yeah.

And stop the ball.

Now you stop the ball with your two feet so if you can hit that back to me, I'll give a little bit demonstration.

Oh with your feet?

Yeah.

Basically two feet.

Two feet always.

Really?

Push it to the side and hit.

That's very good.

Was that good?

Was I a natural?

That was natural.

You're a natural.

The third important thing is that when you get the ball and you stop it, it's important that the ball arrives in the back of the net.

It can be there all day but if it's not in the back of the net then... CR: No.

JOHN: No win.

VO: Well, at least no one is likely to get very hurt in a penalty shoot out.

With Charlie on the spot, even the goalie's probably safe.

I must say that goal looks a bit narrow though, and he looks enormous.

OK.

I'm left handed like yourself so I'm hoping that I'll be able to strike the ball here.

I'm sure you will.

Cor, blimey O'Riley!

Like falling off a log, isn't it, for you?

OK Charlie, it's your turn now.

Are you ready for me Jamie?

Here it comes.

Oh dear, that was pathetic, wasn't it?

Oh!

I thank you!

Very good, well done.

Oi, it's a goal!

It's a goal!

Well done, well done indeed.

VO: Well, perhaps there's something in this talk of his Scottish roots after all.

Ha!

CR: (CHEERS) VO: Just don't expect Margie to put up with a blow-by-blow account, Charlie.

Nighty-night.

Next morning, Charlie Ross is a man with a clan.

You know we're very near my home seat.

Really?

We're near Ross.

Do you sort of feel comfortable up here?

I do.

I really, really feel as if... As though you're back with your ain folk.

VO: Well, let's just hope we see a bit more spending in these wide open spaces, because yesterday they were both very careful with their cash.

Margie managed just £55, on three auction lots.

Are you looking for something for 5p?

You know... VO: Leaving her with £166.82 in her pocket.

Whilst Charlie spent even less, managing a measly £23 on two auction lots.

Are you happy with that?

Delighted.

VO: Leaving him with over £200 to spend today.

Later they'll be making for an auction at Dingwall but first, at their furthest point north, they're going to buy there.

Could be interesting.

(THEY HUM "MAH NA MAH NA") VO: In about 1005, King Macbeth, yes the one the Bard based his tragedy on, was born in Dingwall.

It's also been the stomping ground of the once powerful Earls of Ross.

In fact, local football team Ross County have a stag mascot called Rosco.

Charlie should look him up.

CR: Oh, antiques shop!

MC: Hey, this looks alright.

VO: Objet d'Art is a relatively new antiques shop, which appears to be thriving.

They've recently added a 30 foot shipping container to fit in extra stock, and Charlie.

What on Earth is this?

Oh my goodness gracious me!

Studio art pottery.

Unusual.

Quite nice, isn't it?

VO: All the usual suspects are here, as well as one distinct specialty.

DEALER: Taxidermy is my particular field.

Oh is it?

Yeah, that's very specialist, isn't it?

It is.

It's been well done, hasn't it?

Yes.

Indeed.

Yeah.

The condition... Sell a lot of stags' heads.

MC: Do you?

DEALER: Yes.

Well you would here, wouldn't you?

VO: A little "deer" for a hat stand.

But while Margie admires William's creatures, Charlie's crept back in.

Looks like he's found something too.

Would I normally look at a biscuit barrel?

No I would not, but when a biscuit barrel is like that, you can definitely say it is the Rolls Royce of all biscuit barrels.

It is £75, which is, I think, hugely competitive.

Is the glass damaged?

Because at that price, obviously if the glass is damaged, we have une probleme.

There is.

There's a bit of a crack in it there.

(HISSES) Everything's got a price.

And we could try William.

You never know.

William?

I was tempted by the price.

DEALER: Were you really?

CR: Until I saw this.

DEALER: Indeed.

CR: And I thought, "Oh crumbs."

Yes, yes.

To be perfectly honest with you, at auction it could make £30, £40.

I could do 30 on that, sir.

It's a great thing.

And at that, and at that, there will most certainly be something in it for you.

There was something in this cabinet as well over here...

Yes, what were you looking at here?

..that took my eye.

I love the sort of arts and crafts look of this box.

Yes.

Oh, yes.

I just love the hinges, I love the work around the... around the base there.

There's a fair bit of silver in it, apart from anything else.

It is a fair bit of silver in there as well, and the other attraction, to me anyway, is that it's Irish silver.

Ah.

So I think that will put a slight premium.

I think it, probably at auction, might make something around the £100 mark.

Yes.

I don't know where you can be on it.

Well, I could do 100 on that.

I'm going to carry on looking around and if I may, I'm going to bear those two in mind.

Fine.

And I have to say, between you and me, I'd be quite surprised if I walked out of here without them.

VO: Charlie seems smitten with those and he can certainly afford them, but what about them birds?

Going "cheep"?

MC: You've got some interesting stuff.

Yes.

Yes.

This is particularly interesting.

These are little...

These are little flower crafts.

Made... Yeah, made out of seed.

And it's made out of seeds and leaves.

I think that's extraordinary, to... All little seeds and grasses.

Yeah.

These are very nice but I'm a bit scared they're a bit modern.

Er, yeah, but I think...

They would have to be cheap.

DEALER: I think they will sell.

15?

15.

VO: Another bargain basement price.

They look alright, don't they?

You're being very kind.

DEALER: No, not at all.

MC: Yeah.

Oh, those are sweet, aren't they?

Yeah.

VO: I'm not sure that Margie could spend big money, even if she wanted to, so careful has she become - not something we could say about Charlie though.

A Victorian inlay rosewood table here with no price on it whatsoever.

I can only assume it's free.

Unfortunately not.

No, unfortunately not.

And... No.

I was looking...

It's missing its gallery on the bottom, isn't it?

There's a label here.

Oh is there?

And that's... What are we looking at?

We're looking at £90, but there's room for negotiation.

It's a great bit of rosewood.

It's beautiful and lovely-ly... beautifully inlaid.

Edwardian.

It's 1900, 1910 perhaps.

Might be just late Victorian.

What they call the Sheraton revival period.

Look at this inlay here.

It's gorgeous, isn't it?

Look at the swags and floral rosette.

It's just beautiful.

There's satinwood, boxwood... Couldn't be 50 quid, could it?

To an old man?

Yes.

Blimey, you said that a bit sharpish!

VO: I think we might be about to get down to a deal on the other items as well.

CR: I love the cigarette box.

I think it's... probably would make about £100 at auction.

Right.

In an ideal world, I would want to pay £100 for the cigarette box and the biscuit barrel.

So if we said 110 for the pair... ..that puts you back in the ascendency.

150 quid for your table, your biscuit barrel and your whatsit.

VO: Almost there, I reckon.

I think if you're buying the three pieces... Do I get a bulk discount?

I could... You...

I could do 150 for you.

I think that's kind of you, kind of you.

My pleasure.

And I've even got money!

(CHUCKLES) VO: So, £150, but what went where?

CR: I'm quite happy with the biscuit barrel at 30.

Let's call the table 40 and let's call the silver box 80.

Which is my £150.

And there should be a profit there.

VO: Back inside, Margie's made another find.

That's nice.

Papier-mache.

Which is pressed paper.

VO: The ticket price is £65.

Very popular.

But damaged.

VO: Looks like William's needed again.

DEALER: Hi.

MC: Shame about that, isn't it?

Yes.

It's a lovely...

It's a lovely color.

Yes.

It's... A lot of work gone into that, isn't there?

It's got a little bit of... A little bit?

..wear and tear and damage, doesn't it?

But... Yeah.

Some silly idiot's used it!

Well, yes, yes.

Yes, probably a long time ago.

It's mid-Victorian, which is lovely.

DEALER: Beautifully hand-painted as well.

Oh that's so nice.

35?

Increases your advantage on him.

MC: So is that the absolute...?

DEALER: I could do £30 on that for you.

Yeah, and that's absolutely the end?

So 25's out the question?

I think 25 would be out of the question on that one, yes.

Yeah.

I'm almost capitulating.

Well, capitulate, and that would be a wonderful purchase.

Yes I like that.

Yeah.

Thank you very much indeed.

VO: Another good deal for Margie although with the auction just around the corner, I wonder how those lots will fare.

But now it's time to take the short drive east from Dingwall to Fortrose, on the Black Isle.

MC: It sounds fabulous, doesn't it?

The Black Isle.

CR: Aye.

VO: Aye.

Famous for its ruined 13th-century cathedral, Fortrose also features an antique shop of that name.

I've got enough money to do what I need to do.

Goodbye my lovely.

MC: Bye.

Good afternoon.

Charlie's the name.

Hello Charlie, I'm Patricia.

CR: Patricia.

Nice to see you.

DEALER: Nice to meet you.

VO: I think Charlie's a bit disappointed to have come here last.

Sold.

Sold.

Lots of "sold" stickers.

Very good sign to see "sold" stickers in a shop.

VO: There are quite a few things still for sale, though, that he'd happily snap up - but he's looking for an item he can combine with one of his other purchases to make a joint lot.

My goodness me!

A Victorian spear.

It's what I would call a pike, I think.

VO: Well I suppose a pike COULD go with a swagger stick, but there might be a better match here.

You haven't got a biscuit barrel of any sort, have you?

Only the Wedgwood one.

Oh, the plated Wedgwood one.

It's probably quite expensive, is it, for a biscuit barrel?

Not sure what I've got on the ticket.

Typical Wedgwood coloring.

But I think Wedgwood's a little bit, you know, old-fashioned.

What's that going to make at auction?

I mean there's another cut glass... VO: Ah, that looks a bit more like it.

Would that fit with the one you've got already?

Nice thing.

It would rather.

Isn't it a lovely shape?

Pineapple shape.

It's not expensive, is it?

He said, hoping that it might be even cheaper.

£18.

How much could that be?

15.

CR: Ah.

DEALER: Ah.

No, that's alright.

You don't want to sell me that for a tenner, do you?

Nice thing.

Heavy thing.

Will it be nitpicking to say 12, or something like that?

Go on.

12, yes.

Are you sure?

Yes, yes.

Go on.

I like it, I really like it.

It's proper quality.

That's sweet of you.

OK.

Thank you.

I'm sorry I haven't spent more money with you.

That's OK.

I won't be retiring today!

VO: Quite.

And now that Charlie's shopping is complete... ..let's see what Margie's up to, just outside of Fortrose in Rosemarkie... ..where she's come to the Groam House Museum to view a remarkable collection of art by the local inhabitants of the area.

Eric.

How do you do?

I'm Margie Cooper.

VO: The museum was established to house and preserve the village's 15 carved stones, that were created by the Picts during the 8th and 9th centuries.

They were the native people of northern Scotland, in the time of the Romans and the time after the Romans.

Because the Romans never conquered this area, they survived as an independent group of people.

VO: For many hundreds of years, these remarkable artifacts were not in the least bit treasured.

Indeed the Picts themselves, so called by the Romans because of their painted bodies, were unfairly disregarded as a bunch of violent and uncultured savages.

This is a very fanciful 16th century drawing of what somebody thought a Pict looked like, and unfortunately this has colored opinion for really too long.

How could absolute barbarians be producing such wonderful sculpture, as we see here?

VO: The Rosemarkie stones are believed to have once been part of an important early monastery which dates from the first influx of Christianity to Scotland.

The Rosemarkie Cross Slab is our centerpiece.

It is a very complex piece of work because it is a fusion of Pictish art traditions with Christian art traditions.

We can recognize obvious Christian symbolism, there is a cross on each side, but on the other side there is a collection of Pictish symbols.

VO: Those wishing to learn more about the Picts have found the greatest difficulty in penetrating their long-extinct language.

But such answers as can be unearthed are surely hidden in the stones themselves.

I actually prefer the sides because we have got a conjunction of things here.

We have again Christian symbolism, very easy to identify, set inside a very complex pattern of key work, but above that, this is the bit that is purely Pictish.

This is the bit we can really see that there was an important Pictish influence here.

MC: Mm.

It has a number of symbols on it.

The easiest one is this very large crescent shape here, it's a crescent there, with what looks like a V across it a big V, and that crescent is highly ornamented with knotwork and with animals.

All meaning something?

Well, the problem is we don't really know what they mean.

You don't know.

Are you ever going to know?

Well, we think it is some form of language.

I mean they're telling you something.

They're telling you something but we're never gonna know.

The most likely thing is that it is people's names.

Ah.

So, they may well be telling you that this is, you know, somebody, the son of somebody, commemorating him either cuz he is dead or he erected the stone.

It is a monument about people.

VO: The Picts were re-discovered during the 19th century, and their sculptures, including those at Rosemarkie, restored.

A glance at some of the work at the museum confirms the influence of early medieval Pictish and Celtic design on the arts-and-crafts movement, for example.

In Ireland there was a Celtic revival, and eventually in Scotland similarly in the 19th century various scholars started looking at the stones again.

And in 1903 there was this amazing publication here.

It's called The Early Christian Monuments of Scotland.

Two men, Allen and Anderson, Allen was the main person, he went round the country, looking at as many monuments as he could find, drawing them and copying them.

So this book was really very, very important in bringing to a wider public the existence of these stones.

VO: But although the academics continue to move at a snail's pace in unlocking the secrets of Pictish art, its influence continues into the 20th and 21st centuries - as can be seen in several pieces of jewelry that the museum has acquired.

This piece here, this crescent here, that is almost certainly developed from the crescent symbol that we have on the Rosemarkie Cross Slab.

So this was made in Iona, by a silversmith in Iona, so we like this bit, cuz it is actually a piece of art directly inspired from the Rosemarkie Cross Slab.

VO: Well I think we can say with some certainty that our two have bought very little to compare with any of these.

But let's take a look anyway.

Are you ready?

CR: (EXCLAIMS) I say!

A small stool in the form of a 17th century refectory table.

VO: Not a bookstand then?

Oh, it's nicely made, isn't it?

It is.

I thought it was rather sweet.

And it was £30.

I think there'll be a profit lurking in there.

MC: Papier-mache.

CR: Saw that.

MC: Mid-Victorian.

CR: Saw that.

CR: But it's very nice.

MC: Yeah.

Ah...

Very, very nice.

And the gallery's lovely, isn't it?

We've got a lovely still life on there, which could be sort of...

This color's lovely.

..Dutch.

17th century?

I don't think so.

But... No, no, no, but it's in that style, isn't it?

Little scales.

Yeah, opium scales.

Those are ivory pans there.

CR: Oh, are they?

MC: Unusual.

That's quite unusual, isn't it?

MC: Yeah.

CR: 30 quid?

£12.50.

MC: (LAUGHS) You have done it again.

What's this?

MC: Oh, dear.

CR: I don't know what this is.

Now this is a bit of a mystery.

It's a Burmese puppet head.

MC: (LAUGHS) CR: Mm.

VO: I think he's about to be rude.

"What d'you think of it so far?"

"Ruggish.

Ruggish."

So, it's a nice mix, isn't it?

You have something for every taste.

VO: Now for act two.

MC: Oh, my word!

Followed by... that.

Oh, my goodness, you've made mine look like a charity shop now!

CR: True.

VO: Harsh but fair.

Now this is pretty.

Don't look at it too carefully.

Ah.

It's got a lot of damage here and the other thing is the little... Where's the damage?

CR: Um, here... MC: Yeah.

Little scroll's off.

But it's a nice cabriole leg.

MC: They always sell.

CR: Yeah.

Footstools always sell.

Yeah.

That's my favorite lot.

Yeah.

Lovely.

I just thought that had almost a bit of sort of Pugin arts and crafts look about it.

Yeah.

It's... it's...

I took the insides out... Yeah.

And weighed it, but it's 11 ounces of silver, so...

It's been a fabulous thing.

VO: Faint praise if ever I heard it.

What about his table?

That is rosewood, which is... puts it into a different class.

Yeah.

It's a typical Edwardian piece.

I have sold many of those in my time.

I'll bet you have.

It's going to make, I reckon, around 145.

CR: (SCOFFS) What, £14.50?

No, no, no, no, no.

CR: If that makes £100 I'll take you out for a slap-up dinner.

Now if we're going to have a bet... Yeah I think it'll make £45.

Well I'll say 85.

CR: You're on.

Come on.

MC: Right, and... you're going to have to pay for my dinner.

Love to.

VO: But what did they really think?

She bigged up my items again.

She thought the table was fabulous.

She's living in the '80s, like me.

I think he's going to make his money on his stool and on his lovely octagonal rosewood table.

Those are dead certs.

CR: It's a mixed bag, isn't it, Margie?

It's a mixed bag.

The bust on the stand is absolutely ghastly.

VO: After starting out in Abernyte, today's tussle will conclude almost 150 miles to the north, at an auction in the county of Ross & Cromarty, at Dingwall.

CR: Have you seen where we are?

MC: Isn't it fantastic?

CR: We're in the middle of a forest.

MC: (LAUGHS) CR: Have you got a rug?

Shall we just pull in and have a little romantic picnic in the woods?

MC: Instead of sitting in that auction room, MC: cringing.

CR: Yeah.

VO: Welcome to Dingwall and Highland, where, in the heart of the country, they shift lot more heifer than Hepplewhite.

Ha!

Let's hear what auctioneer Paul Spencer makes of what our two have herded in.

The bird pictures, not the most sellable item I've ever seen.

I would be surprised if they get anything more than £5 for those.

The rosewood occasional table, it should make around 150 to £180.

The miniature fruitwood refectory table, possibly my favorite item in the sale today, and I would be hoping for 40 to £60 for that.

VO: Charlie began with £238.28 and he's spent £185 of it on five auction lots.

Whilst Margie started out with £221.82, and she's parted with exactly £100, also on five lots.

Five.

VO: OK, gavels are go!

Or are they?

He's not got a normal gavel, he's just got a long stick.

I know.

Look at him.

He's quite vicious with that stick.

I think... Yeah, I think he's lost the end off it.

VO: Charlie's swagger stick.

Any sergeant majors out there?

£20, 20.

10, 10 bid.

12.

15, 18, 20, PAUL: 22, 25, 28.

CR: 22!

30, at 30, at 30, at 30, at 30, at 30, at 35, 40, at 45, 50.

At 50, at 50, at 50, at 50, at £50.

88.

Well done.

Thank you, Mr Auctioneer!

VO: Wow!

This bodes very well indeed.

What impeccable taste they have here in Scotland.

VO: Any chance of Margie's birds taking off?

I don't think much of the cataloging.

"Two bird pictures, composted from seeds and mosses."

It doesn't say, it says "composed".

Oh sorry!

£30, 30, £10.

MC: (MUTTERS) PAUL: Five.

Bid.

I've five and five, eight, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20... CR: Result.

PAUL: At 22, 25, 28... CR: Oh!

What a result!

PAUL: 28, 28, 28, 28.

MC: 28 quid!

I've got out of jail there.

At 28, 30, five, at 35, 35, 40, five, at 45, 45, 45, 45, 45, 45.

At 45, 45, 45.

275.

VO: Paul's doing a great job.

Now for Charlie's wee stool.

£100, 100.

£30 bid.

At 30, at 30, at 30, at 30, at 30, at 30.

PAUL: Five, 40, five.

CR: Oh!

PAUL: 50, at 50, at 50, at 50.

MC: (GASPS) MC: 50!

50!

CR: Yes!

50, at 50, at £50.

MC: Well done.

CR: Sold.

Thank you.

VO: Another huge profit.

That's what you can get when the auctioneer aims high.

But Charlie's biscuit barrels could be a trickier prospect.

And we'll say £40, 40, 20 bid.

At 20, at 20, at 20, at 20, at 20, at 20, at 22, 25, 28, 30.

We need to get on, come on.

Oh, my God.

30, at 30... Oh dear, I've sunk.

I've sunk.

32, at 35, 38, at 38, 38, 38, 38, 38, 38.

89.

MC: Aw.

CR: Oh, Rosco.

Failure.

VO: Crumbs!

It was almost a lot worse though.

What have the following things in common?

Burmese puppet heads and Rouge Royale?

They are both unsalable.

VO: We'll see.

But at least it'll have a novelty value.

30, £10... Five... PAUL: £5 surely, five bid.

CR: Two.

PAUL: And at five, eight.

CR: One.

10, 12, 15... Oh, don't make a profit on this.

Please don't make a profit on this.

25, 28, 30, five.

At 35, 35, 35, 35, 35, 35.

Don't believe it, I don't believe it.

40, new bidder.

CR: £40!

PAUL: At 40, at 40, I'll wait... At 40, at 40, at 40, at 40, at 40.

73.

I should have bought five.

VO: Never mind.

"Gottle o' geer."

She certainly got a profit!

Glad I came now!

VO: Will her opium scales weigh in with more?

I'll just sell you the scales, you can get your own opium.

£70, 70.

30, bid.

At 30, at 30, at 30, at 30, at 30.

Five, 40, five, 50, five.

At 55, 55, 55, 55, 55.

MC: Yes!

CR: Oh!

VO: It seems that Dingwall likes a novelty.

Charlie's table's up next but do they know it?

Enormous print for Margie's things and my table is in tiny, tiny print.

There's only one.

Only people with very good eyesight can see that the table's even in the auction.

£100, 100.

He is asking for a hundred.

Bid.

At 50, at 50, at 50, at 50.

Hold it up, man!

Hold it up.

Yes, madam.

60, five, 65, 65.

At 65, 65, 65, 65, 70.

Oh, oh, ah, ah, now we're going.

Come on, team.

At 70, at 70, at £70.

89.

VO: A lot less than the auctioneer had hoped for.

Tell me Margie, what is your secret of your success?

MC: (LAUGHS) Is it just pure luck or is there any skill involved?

It's not all over yet.

VO: Yes but her little table, the auctioneer's favorite, should do fine.

£30.

20 bid.

At 22, 25, 28, 30, five.

40, five.

At 45, 45, 45, 45.

£45 it goes then.

CR: That's alright.

PAUL: At 45.

Oh, that's disappointing.

VO: Someone's bagged a bargain.

Now what about her practical papier-mache?

£100, 100.

50, bid.

At 50, at 50, at 50.

He's got it at 50 - you only paid 30!

At 50.

Five, 60.

Five, 70.

MC: Gosh!

PAUL: Five, 80.

CR: Oh!

PAUL: Five, 90.

At 95, 100, 110.

PAUL: 120, 130, 140, CR: (LAUGHS) PAUL: 150, 160, 170... MC: Yes!

180, 190.

At 190, at 190, at 190, at 190, 190, it goes then at 190.

44.

Thank you.

(CHUCKLES) (APPLAUSE) VO: A round of applause and a whacking great profit.

Well done.

I was really quite enjoying my road trip until that minute.

VO: Margie's way out in the lead but Charlie's risky silver box gives him one last chance.

£100, 100.

50.

Bid.

At 50, at 50, at 50, at 50.

Five.

PAUL: 60, five... MC: 60.

Come on, we're not even scrap value yet.

Five, 90, five, 100.

At 100, 100...

It scraps at more than this.

At 100, £100 it goes then.

At £100.

Oh!

It's 11 ounces of silver.

It was a bit tired.

VO: That disappointment leaves Charlie firmly in second place.

Margie, I have to say, I'm working with a pro.

VO: A fine auction all round, but Margie's tray means that she's the winner today.

VO: Charlie started out with £238.28, and after paying auction costs, he's made a profit of £67.56, leaving him with £305.84 to spend next time.

Whilst Margie began with £221.82, and after paying auction costs, she made a profit of £207.50, leaving her with £429.32 and a healthy lead.

Well done, girl.

Take you away before your head gets even bigger.

Oh, go...

There you are, my dear.

Oh, thank you very much.

A pleasure, as always, to be thrashed by you.

MC: (LAUGHS) VO: Next time on Antiques Road Trip, Charlie makes friends.

Hello madam, how much is that worth?

£45?

No.

VO: But Margie fails to influence.

I'm a Yorkshireman in Scotland.

Oh no!

You can't get tighter than that.

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