The Bidding Room

Editorial

Simulcast of network BBC One in high definition. From 03/11/2010

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Factual: Antiques

Sellers come face to face with five dealers who battle it out to make the highest bid.

Nigel Havers presides as sellers come face to face with five dealers who battle it out to make the highest bid.

Nigel Havers presides as members of the public with interesting items to sell come face to face with five dealers who bid against each other to try to bag themselves a bargain.

Before facing the dealers, each seller has their item valued by auctioneer Simon Bower. Simon also gives them top tips on the history and key characteristics of their piece, so that when they enter the bidding room, they have all the information they need to try to haggle the best possible price from the dealers.

All the dealers are spending their own money but have no idea what the sellers have brought in.

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Nigel Havers

Simon Bower

Claire Egerton-Jones

Rob Butterfield

Emma Walsh

David Sayer

Ricochet Limited

The Bidding Room: Series 1: Episode 12

Episode 12

BBC One - The Bidding Room, Series 1, Episode 12

The dealers bid on a watercolour painting, a vintage walking stick and a classic toy.

Can four new sellers persuade the dealers to part with their cash for a watercolour painting, a vintage walking stick, a classic toy and some retro furniture?

Nigel Havers welcomes four more sellers to the Bidding Room, where they try to sell items to five professional dealers who are on the look out for interesting pieces, with help from expert Simon Bower. 

Jeremy from Reading has brought in a painting by a Royal Academician, William Russell Flint, of a scene in Rome. The watercolour dates from the turn of the 20th century, and both Nigel and Simon reckon it’s an original rather than a print. That pushes the price up considerably, with Simon valuing the painting at between £4,000 and £6,000. Jeremy knows he should hold out for that price, but he also knows it’s a big ask for the dealers, who aren’t specialists in art. So can Jeremy do a deal for the price he wants? 

Sam collects vintage toys and has brought in a rocket racer made from tin and with a friction motor that still works. Dealer Adi loves dealing in toys and immediately takes a shine to the rocket, but his rivals aren’t so sure as there are pieces missing. 

Justin is selling some retro formica furniture. The sideboard, table and four chairs are all mid-20th century, but now seem to be back in fashion. And Anthony from Essex wants to sell a carved walking stick he picked up from a charity shop for just £2. Simon thinks it is Japanese in origin, and is very jealous of it, as he collects walking sticks. He values it at least £150, and Anthony will donate part of his proceeds to charity.

The dealers today are Adi Higham, Ian Humphries, Lucy Ryder Richardson, Moses Otunla and Tash Francis.

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