[ Horn honks ] -[ Laughs ] -We’re back on the road in our trusty traveling auction house... -Go, go, go!

-Come on, man!

-...on the hunt for treasures hidden in homes all across Britain.

-Finding value in those overlooked objects... -...Auction supremos Christina Trevanion... -Oh, that’s brilliant.

-...and Izzie Balmer.

-Ta da!

-Transforming has-beens into must haves, restorers JJ Chalmers... -I’m delighted with that.

-...and Robin Johnson.

-Look at that.

Doesn’t she sing?

-Our mission?

-Huh.

-To give those unloved and forgotten gems a new lease of life.

-And make their owners some much-needed money.

-We’ve probably got about £1,500 to £2,000.

-Everything we find... -...and fix... -...will go under the gavel in our traveling saleroom.

-Popping up in the most surprising of places... -...we bring the auction to you.

-I’ve got to start this at £700.

-I can’t believe it.

-At £1,500, sold.

-You know what we say -- have gavel, will travel.

♪♪ Today, Robin and I are headed for the bustling borough of Ealing in West London, which has many a claim to fame.

-Birthplace of the Rolling Stones.

-Pretty good one.

-Charlie Chaplin went to school here.

-Oh, Charlie Chaplin’s pretty cool.

Though, currently, none of them require the services of a travelling auctioneer.

-We’re actually here to meet Mridula, as well as Megha, her bestie for more than 40 years.

-More like a family rather than friends.

It's half a lifetime -- over more than half a lifetime.

-Antique.

[ Both laugh ] -Not only are they combining their possessions for auction, this is a friendship that’s helped Mridula through the darkest of times, when, in 2020, at the height of the pandemic, her husband, Ravindra, became ill. -He suddenly seemed to have been drained of his energy.

I just couldn’t understand it.

So I had to get the ambulance in.

When they took him to the hospital, he tested positive for COVID.

-Over the next seven days, his condition continued to deteriorate.

-I couldn’t go to see him, or was not allowed to see him.

And I was thinking that he’s going to come home.

It was quite difficult because, uh, he passed away in the hospital.

It was quite sudden.

♪♪ He was a family man, loving -- loving father, loving husband.

-And a good friend.

-And a friend.

You’ve been married for over 50 years.

We have two children, a boy and a girl, and three grandchildren.

I felt a loss terribly, and I suddenly lost confidence.

I just couldn’t think.

-Let's toast.

-Which is when Megha, a widow herself of more than 15 years, offered her support.

-You think, "Oh, what is the next stage?

How do I see my life afterward?"

You know?

-Megha was a great help and knew how to sort of come out the other end and carry on with your life.

You know?

So... -There is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

-She was like my guru.

[ Both laugh ] -And the first thing this guru suggested was travel.

At first, a short cruise, but now something much more ambitious.

-Our plan is to go to Japan, if possible.

To see the cherry blossom?

-Cherry blossom, yes.

-Aren't they lovely?

Yes.

Oh, I love travelling.

And that keeps us young, really.

-And to help fund this holiday of a lifetime, the girls have decided to go to auction.

-My house is full of stuff that I don’t think I’ll ever use.

-We want to put our resources together, try to get good homes for the items we got.

-And then we'll be on our way to Japan to complete our dream.

-Which, of course, is where we come in.

-Got 50 years of stuff to sort through.

-Yeah, I can’t even get my head around that.

Good thing she’s got in the dream team.

-Absolutely.

When are they getting here?

-Roughly about 20 minutes late.

♪♪ So as we finally pull up at Mridula’s house, even worse than Robin’s jokes is this weather.

♪♪ -Hello.

-Hello!

-Wow.

-Hello.

Hello, Robin.

-Lovely to meet you.

-Nice to meet you.

-We came.

-You’re so, so welcome.

I must tell you.

We’ve got so many things.

-Yes.

-Oh, fantastic.

-Come on, come on, come on.

-They're very keen.

I like it.

Oh.

Not only does Mridula have a house... -And a garage, Izzie... -Yes, a garage full of possessions.

But Megha has brought along dozens of boxes, as well.

Right, how are we going to do this, then?

-Uh, as always, I’ve seen an outbuilding, so... -Of course you have.

-...I’m going to go and have a look out there.

-Well, I’ll stay in the dry, and I’ll look 'round the house.

-Fantastic.

Aw.

Raining.

-While Robin braves the rain and goes in search of those items requiring a little TLC... -Oh, wow.

It’s a workshop.

...Izzie’s on the hunt for anything that will fly at auction so that these besties can fly to Japan.

-It’s so exciting... -It us exciting.

-...for them to be here and be able to give us all their knowledge.

-Expertise.

-Yes.

That would be really good.

-Well, girls, already something has caught my eye.

Ah, what a beautiful brass and surprisingly heavy spice box.

Not to mention enough brass cookware to whip up a banquet for a hundred of your closest friends.

So, naturally, I want to know more.

Mridula?

-Yeah?

-Have you got a moment?

-Of course I have, yes.

-Well, I can’t help but notice your extensive cookware collection.

-From my mother-in-law.

She divided all her stuff within her family.

-This is just part of her collection?

-Yes, yes.

-How much did she have?

-I wonder.

-Passed down through the generations, some of this cookware is over a century old.

-Many, many people to feed.

So they were used in those days.

But now, I mean, mine is only a single-unit family, so it’s difficult to, you know, use these.

-So, yes, how would you use them?

Is it on a cooker, or is it on an open fire?

-It’s on the fire.

They call sigri, you know, which has coal, and they’re made of iron.

It’s like a barbecue, really.

-In Indian culture, brass is often associated with spiritual energy and good fortune.

Meanwhile, cooking with brass, a tradition for easily 3,000 years, is thought to infuse these qualities into the food itself.

It’s a really wonderful collection, and it really sings to me that it’s multiple generations that have used this.

So, I’m thinking we sell the spice box as a separate lot, £20 to £30 on that one to encourage the interest and then do all the rest... -Mm-hmm.

-...I'm being a little bit conservative, just because they are so huge.

-Yeah?

-All of the rest with a guide of £40 to £60, giving us a potential total of £90 at auction.

-That’s really, really very good.

I'm so excited, you know, you’re going to help us with this.

You know, it’s really fantastic.

-Aww.

-Thanks so much.

-Me too.

And, hopefully, Robin’s doing his part, as well.

-Of course, Izzie.

I’m exploring the workshop that once belonged to Mridula’s husband, Ravindra.

Certainly got a lot of tools.

Wonderful.

A top-notch mechanical engineer.

What’s that?

It’s a really nice little apprentice case.

Missing a handle.

Lovely little finger joints, though.

I love the wear on it.

Well, I think this definitely deserves a bit of a clean-up.

First project found, time to set up shop, though, given the weather, I think I’ll park my mobile workshop and use this one instead.

Now, let me tell you why an apprentice chest... Oh!

Gosh, that is heavy!

...is such a thing of beauty.

Starting a new job in a new workshop, as an apprentice, the first thing you’ll make is your apprentice box.

Not only does it teach you the basics of joinery, everything from design to joint making, it’s also extremely practical.

As an apprentice, you're expected to start accumulating tools as you learn your trade, and this is a really good example of that.

Or at least it will be, once I’ve worked out why the drawers are no longer sitting flush.

Aha!

I see the problem.

There you go.

That was the drawer runner that this groove slots into, and that keeps the drawer in place.

Now that should go there.

But you can see the tiny little pins.

They’re not strong enough to hold all this weight.

So that’s job number one.

Job number two is to re-create another little knob to replace this broken one.

And then this little kit be ready for auction.

-And could attract some bidders.

While Robin gets to work, a deep dive into the downstairs storage room... Oh, hello, you.

...tells me Ravindra had many a string to his bow.

Literally.

Inside there is a label, which, if I believed it, would be very exciting.

It’s trying to say "Stradivarius," but there is a typo in the label, which sort of gives it away.

And that’s not the only thing making it less valuable.

The instrument only has two strings.

It should have four.

The other thing is that you can see the brushstrokes of the varnish.

It’s all kind of just faking an older-looking instrument, but I don’t think they’ve done a very good job.

As for the genuine article, that would be the work of Antonio Stradivari during the 17th and 18th centuries, whose violins are considered the finest ever made.

Of the thousand or so he crafted during his lifetime, around 650 of them still exist.

I would love to get my hands on one.

Strads are worth millions.

The cheapest Strad is about £2 million.

You do see them in museums, but they’re also kept in private collections and they are loaned out to the world-class musicians.

And some of them are even lucky enough to have their own.

Though even this bold imitation has value, and it could fetch between £30 and £50.

Chances are, it’s going to be purchased by a restorer, or someone who just wants a sort of a cheap fiddle to play along to.

I think it’s got potential.

Speaking of which, I wonder how my second fiddle is getting along.

-Cheeky.

Though, to answer your question, I’m reinstating a drawer runner.

Mind you, that’s the easy part.

Well, that’s pretty solid now.

Now let’s see if that really heavy drawer goes in effortlessly.

Oh, hey, how about that?

Very smooth action.

Which brings us to the real challenge.

A drawer on this apprentice chest is missing a knob.

So I’m going to make an exact copy, completely from scratch.

To do that, I’m going to use my little lathe and a little scrap bit of hardwood.

Though, to get the dimensions spot-on requires a caliper.

It’s a really useful tool.

These close and open up as you adjust it.

Great for jobs like this, to make sure all the knobs match.

But my favorite part... Off we go.

[ Lathe whirring ] ...firing up the old lathe.

The ultimate tool for wood turning, it dates all the way back to ancient Greece.

Perfect for sanding, drilling, cutting, and turning.

Not to mention making a knob.

Yeah, very happy with that.

But the real magic is yet to come.

I’m going to just dip my brush in some mess and a little bit of black pigment powder.

The powder itself, when it’s just slightly wet, gives it a nice matte finish.

And when this dries, I can polish it to the exact same sheen as the original knobs.

-So, in other words, ka-ching, ka-ching.

Meanwhile, Megha says she has a little surprise for me in the living room.

-Izzie, this is all the stuff I brought from my home.

-I love what you and Mridula are doing.

You’re combining forces to sell your bits together, to try and get a holiday of the lifetime.

-Yes, we’re hoping to go to Japan to see the cherry blossom.

-Oh!

-So that would be really lifetime holidays.

Magical, yes.

Yeah.

-It sounds a very special friendship the two of you have.

-Yeah.

I mean, in life, friendship is the most important thing, isn’t it?

-I imagine, because you two are so close, you’ve also supported each other when Mridula's husband died, and she for you when your husband died.

-Yes, absolutely true.

That is really -- She’s a real trouper.

-Which is why I’m hoping, somewhere in this sea of boxes is a hidden gem that gets them in reach of that cherry blossom.

You and Mridula go and have a cup of tea.

I will have a search through here and see if I can help with that plane ride.

-Wonderful.

♪♪ -Behind door number one... Well, this seems quite fitting.

It’s a Japanese teacup.

Eggshell porcelain.

It gets its name because you look through it, and there at the base is a geisha girl.

She’s lovely, though, being a very popular souvenir, the market is absolutely flooded.

So, moving on.

[ Coins jingling ] Chink of coins.

There's a handful here of Indian coins.

These have got a value, at auction, of £50 to £80.

But, hopefully, there are a couple of collectors out there that would like to pay even more for them.

Now we’re getting somewhere.

I’m happy with that find.

We’ve got 12, 13, 14 plates, soup bowls.

We’ve got vegetable tureens.

We’ve got sauce boats.

It looks like we have got a complete dinner and tea service here.

A lovely example of Richmond china, first introduced in the 1950s and, to my mind, an underrated and very pretty classic.

If these were Royal Albert, they’d be worth a lot more.

But there is so much here and it’s in lovely condition.

I think this should be selling for £50 to £70.

Even better, there are still plenty of boxes to go.

-Meanwhile, in the garage... -Hi, Robin.

-Hello.

-Alright?

-Yes.

-Mridula has come to check out my handiwork.

-Oh, this is so fantastic what you’re doing.

You know, my husband would be so pleased with that.

-It’s quite a fantastic collection.

This probably was your husband’s pride and joy.

-Absolutely.

He did use that box a lot.

Yeah, but he used to always be tinkering around here, you know?

And he was, like -- turn his hand to anything.

-Ravindra served his apprenticeship, and no doubt created his chest in Mumbai.

Then, as a qualified engineer with a desire to see the world, he moved to London, returning home just briefly, six years later, to tie the knot.

-Although, it was an arranged marriage, I would look at it as destiny.

We loved each other, and we were married for over 50 years.

He was a very good-looking man.

-Handsome.

[ Chuckles ] -Very handsome.

-While this chest carries as many memories as it does tools, Mridula is keen to find the entire collection a new home.

-I’d rather somebody had them and used them.

And I’m sure my husband would be very happy with that, as well, you know?

So, yeah, it’s just finding the right person who would want them.

-That’s what auction is all about.

-Yes.

That’s lovely.

So good.

Thank you so much.

-You’re more than welcome.

My pleasure.

Though I’m not finished yet.

With the new handle the perfect color, I also need to give it the right sheen.

And when you really want wood to sparkle, there’s nothing quite like a bit of French polish.

Lovely.

Then, after a quick clean, time to give this baby a coat of wax to revive its appearance and protect from any future damage.

And with that last little bit of wax on the side, the box is ready for auction.

I’m really happy with how that little knob has turned out.

-As always, Robin, loving your work.

With this apprentice chest positively sparkling, it could fetch anywhere between £20 to £30.

On a good day, even more.

-Right, I’d better go and find something else.

-As for my own search through every last one of Megha’s boxes... Well, I found the good stuff finally.

And it’s in my area of expertise -- jewelry.

I’ve got an Indian gold necklace, a gold citrine ring, and a diamond ring.

I’m quite excited because this could be a plane ticket to Japan, right here in my hand.

Even better, this piece of good news is perfectly timed for a cheeky cuppa and a digestive.

Milk, no sugar, for me, please.

Hello, you two.

-Oh, hi.

-Hi.

Hello.

-I found some treasures.

-Wow.

-So, I’m wondering, so, who do they belong to?

-They belonged to my late husband.

Um, his name was Babulal, but everybody called him Bob.

-Bob?

[ Chuckles ] So, I had this chain made in 1960, when we got married.

-It’s really lovely, because this is a seed, isn’t it, from a fruit?

-Yes, it is, and it’s supposed to bring a good luck.

And it’s a good omen.

Now, this ring, he bought it in a antique shop because topaz is very auspicious.

-According to Indian folklore, topaz assures long life, beauty, and intelligence.

But I have a bombshell to drop.

It’s interesting you say it’s a topaz, because... -Yeah.

-...it’s not.

-Oh.

-It’s a citrine... -Yes.

-...which doesn’t have as much value as a topaz, I’m afraid.

Though it is supposed to bring wealth and prosperity, in this case, quite literally.

This one is in a lovely high-karat, 22-karat gold.

Easily £300 to £500 on that one.

-Okay.

-Maybe even £4 to £600.

-Yeah.

-And there’s more good news.

Indian gold is always a high-karat gold, isn’t it?

-Yes.

-So, for this, I would suggest a guide of £700 to £1,000 on this one.

-Mm-hmm.

-I love old cut diamonds.

And you’ve got three old cut diamonds here.

So, for this one, I would suggest a guide of £400 to £600.

-So we have all the excitement.

-Yes.

[ Laughter ] Overall here, we’ve got £1,500 to £2,000 there on your kitchen table, Mridula.

-Yeah.

Yeah.

[ Laughter ] -So, come auction day, if I can also get enough bidders to the table, the ladies might soon be packing their bags for Japan.

-Thank you for doing this for us.

And look forward to it to keep my fingers crossed.

-Aww, no.

Thank you.

-Thank you.

-To maximize the appeal of the jewelry, I also want to give each piece a clean and a polish.

Hello, you.

Fortunately, I know just the man for the job.

I think I might have a flight to Japan here.

-Rest assured, Izzie, this van has a fix for every occasion.

So one jewelry-cleaning solution and a soft toothbrush.

Not a problem.

♪♪ Well, that has come up really shiny.

The diamonds really sparkle now, and the gold’s got a really lovely sheen to it.

Didn’t take a lot of effort, but it has made a lot of difference.

-Having so far discovered gold jewelry, brass cookware, and an imitation Stradivarius, I’m leaving no box or cupboard unopened, in the hope of finding another big hitter to help Mridula and Megha get to Japan.

Looking for treasures is a little bit like a fairy tale.

I feel like you have to kiss a few frogs before you find a prince.

But after exploring almost every corner of the ground floor, there’s also everything from Wedgwood to these little beauties.

Hummel figures by Goebel.

Even a brass statue of Ganesha, the Hindu deity known as the remover of obstacles.

Made out of really solid brass.

They can do very well.

I rather like him.

Fortunately, these smaller lots can definitely add up, and I think I’ve just spotted another one.

Hmm.Waterman.

That’s promising.

There is a Waterman ballpoint pen in there, but I’m more interested in this one, which is actually a Montblanc.

It’s a Montblanc Meisterstück.

German for "masterpiece" -- it seems a reasonable claim for a pen that’s coated in platinum, individually tested, and about to celebrate its 100th birthday.

Apart from the banding, the real giveaway is this snowcapped peak along the end there.

And all Montblanc have that.

It’s a shame that it’s a ballpoint.

The fountain pens are much more collectible, much more valuable, but it’s a nice pen.

I’m thinking £60 to £80.

Meanwhile, the Waterman could give us another £30 on top.

It’s a nice little lot or...two.

But I could do with a few more of them.

-Don’t worry, Izzie, I’m also on the hunt.

Oh, nothing in there.

Oh, wow.

A typewriter and a guarantee certificate.

But the item most in need of my unique skill set... A little gramophone.

It’s a little on the dirty side, but it’s a very nice-looking thing.

A deep clean, some essential repairs, and this vintage HMV could be as good as new.

I might take this one out to the van.

-Great find.

Nice choice, Robin.

Named after a painting by Francis Barraud, called "His Master’s Voice," HMV has gone on to have one of the world’s most famous logos and over 120 years in the music biz, making this portable sound system highly collectible.

Robin, time to rock 'n' roll.

-With ever so slightly soapy water and a sponge, I’m just getting the worst of the dirt and grime off.

But then comes the real challenge.

Inside the case, which is considerably worse, there’s a lot of mold in there.

a couple of spiders' webs.

Fortunately, soapy water will do the trick.

Oh, yeah, it’s coming off straightaway.

But for a more stubborn mold, add a couple of drops of vinegar.

Fantastic.

Alright.

-While Robin revives his leatherette, I’m headed upstairs to the bedrooms, though, of course, a travelling auctioneer’s job is never done until you’ve been up in the attic.

And that’s because, like most rooms in this house... up.

Ah.

Then there was light.

...it’s often filled with huge potential.

Ceramics.

More ceramics.

Sure enough, there’s a whole host of treasures to explore.

All very eclectic, as well.

You’ve got these lovely little 1930s figures here.

Even though these look British, they’re actually made in Japan.

You’ve got these really rather fabulous hand-painted birds.

And then here I’ve got World War II Japanese soldiers.

Though my favorite has to be this rather charming miniature Singer sewing machine.

This is really lovely.

This was actually Mridula's herself when she was a child.

These can be strung up with cotton thread, and they work, so it’s a lovely way of teaching a child to sew.

These were first introduced in the late 19th century as -- wait for this -- a sewing machine women could take on holiday.

They soon became more popular as a child’s toy, often with brand names such as Junior Miss and Little Lady.

They vary in value.

There are some rarer models, as well.

So, to a collector, if this is a model that they’re missing, it might make good money.

But my feeling, in the condition that it’s in, without its box, this is probably a £20 to £30 item.

But, of course, there are other toys, which I estimate could bring in up to an additional £30.

-Back at the van, my leatherette is much improved.

Thanks for asking.

But we’re still a long way from dropping the needle.

The turntable felt has come unstuck, so I need to glue that.

And whilst I’ve got my glue out, there’s a little bit of the inside lining -- or quite a lot, actually -- that’s peeled up.

The best glue for the job -- contact adhesive, as it’s ideal for binding different materials together, even non-porous ones.

So, metal and turntable felt, not a problem.

You let it go a little bit tacky on both surfaces.

Should take about 15 minutes.

And then push it together and hold it.

And the bond is pretty much instant.

That’s gone on really well, and to make sure it’s nice and even, I’m just going to use the record just to flatten it off.

As for reattaching the lining, a small block of wood, held in place with two spring clamps... Get the clamps on.

One...two.

...guarantees a professional finish every time.

And once the glue is dried, it’s the moment of truth.

Now the real test.

It's cleaned up, but does it work?

Pop the record on.

Do a little crank-up.

And drop the needle.

[ Up-tempo music plays ] ♪♪ -Your dance moves aside, Robin, loving your work.

Not only has this vintage record player been saved from the skip, it could now fetch up to £30.

Music to my ears.

Meanwhile, for my next lot, I’m thinking couture.

Isn’t that just stunning?

All that beautiful gold and silver thread wirework.

What a beautiful bobby-dazzler, little evening bag.

And then these beaded ones here, as well.

They’re super intricate.

I would put all three of these evening bags together as one lot, with a guide of £20 to £30, although secretly I’d be hoping for a little bit more, perhaps £30 to £40.

But handbags aren’t the only fashion piece going to auction, as Mridula has one last item she wants me to see.

What have you got here?

-I’ve got some saris.

This one is a crepe silk with gold thread.

-Which, by the way, is the traditional dress color for an Indian bride, symbolizing passion, prosperity, and new beginnings.

Though this one is extra special.

-And I wore that on my wedding.

-It was your wedding sari.

-And, um... -Hang on, hang on.

I’ve just seen a photograph.

Is that you in it?

-That’s right.

-You look stunning.

How old are you there?

-22.

[ Chuckles ] -The year, 1968.

And this other gorgeous woman -- Mridula mum.

Honestly, that’s like your older sister.

-No.

She’d always look young.

You know, she was very, very glamorous herself, way ahead of her times, I think.

You know, she always knew what to wear, colors, things like that.

You know?

-Though, nothing quite compares to this dress, now 55 years old.

-Since my husband passed away, I have started looking at life in a different way.

I’m thinking that maybe I should make the most of what I’ve got left in my life, so that we could then take our trip together, as well.

-Yes, and have a new experience of the way we deal with our problem.

-Is this something that you’re thinking of selling?

-Yes, because I don’t think I’m going to wear it again.

-If we set a guide of £60 to £100, would you be happy to sell it for that?

-Yes, I think I would.

If somebody who pays for it would obviously appreciate it.

So, yes, I would.

-Having been through every room, every box, best friends Mridula and Megha are now one step closer to their dream holiday in Japan.

-Amongst two lifetimes of memories, Izzie found many a gem, quite literally.

-And Robin's brought the sparkle, giving well-worn objects a brand-new lease of life.

Top work, Robin.

-Thank you so much.

You know, I hope it’s been a good day for you.

-It’s been fantastic.

-We’ve had a smashing time.

Thank you.

-Thank you so much.

-And we’ll see you at the auction.

-Yes, of course.

-We’ll make sure there’s some sunshine.

-Yes, please.

[ Laughter ] -I always bring it.

-Okay, bye-bye.

-See you later.

-Thank you.

-Bye-bye.

-Bye.

-Oh.

You’re thinking it’s going to be hot in here?

-It’s always hot in here.

Air-con stopped working in 1985.

[ Engine starts ] -Yeah.

♪♪ -It’s the big day, and we’re in sunny Oxfordshire, headed for the breathtaking Blenheim Palace.

-The grounds were used as a scene in "Harry Potter."

-Really?

-If you can whittle me up a wand, I’d use it instead of my gavel.

-You don’t need a wand.

You bring magic to any auction.

-Aww.

Originally a gift from Queen Anne to the 1st Duke of Marlborough, Blenheim Palace is the only palace in England to be non-royal, though perhaps earns the title from its 187 rooms and 90 acres of award-winning formal gardens.

-I’m really looking forward to seeing Megha and Mridula again.

There’s such lovely ladies, aren't they?

-Oh, me too.

Hopefully, we can raise enough funds to get them on their trip to Japan.

Teamwork, Robin.

You and I together.

-Teamwork makes the dream work.

-My thoughts exactly.

Come on, then, give me a hand getting my office out.

-Though it’s not just us doing the heavy lifting.

Helping with today’s sale -- our good friends Joe and Carl from JS Fine Art Auctions.

-Bringing with them, via an online platform, buyers from around the globe.

I’m really looking forward to Megha and Mridula's auction today.

The friendship that those two have, combining forces so that they can go on a dream holiday together.

-While it’s almost kickoff, there’s just enough time to show the ladies my handiwork.

This is one of my favorites.

-Oh, wow.

-Lovely, polished and clean.

-I think this is a really delightful item.

And I’ll let you into a little secret.

There is already a bid on this wonderful toolbox.

-Oh, how wonderful.

-So someone definitely wants it.

-That’s great news.

-Fantastic.

So, how are you both feeling about today?

-Oh, I’m excited, but a little nervous, as well.

But, yes, I’m looking forward to it, being very hopeful, of course.

-Well, if anyone is going to look after this auction for you, it’s Izzie.

She’s fantastic.

And I’ll be sitting next to you the whole time, as well.

-That's great.

-That is really wonderful, yes.

-As the buyers take their seats on Blenheim Palace's stunning water terraces, those phone lines are open to our international bidders, and Izzie gets ready to wield her mighty gavel.

Time to find more than 50 lots a new home.

-Welcome, ladies and gentlemen.

And a massive welcome to Megha and Mridula, who’ve also brought along a few family members for moral support.

Lovely to see you all here today.

-Kicking off today’s sale, one of the smallest but most collectible items.

-It’s the fantastic Montblanc Meisterstück ballpoint pen.

We’ve had loads of interest in this.

Let’s go straight in at £50.

£50, I’ve got.

Let’s keep it going now.

It’s a good start.

Can we make it 5?

Looking for 5 at £50.

Selling, then, if we’re all sure, all done, happy and smiling, at £50.

Sold.

-It’s a promising start.

Cherry blossoms of Japan, here we come.

That’s pretty good for a pen, isn’t it?

-Yeah.

-You probably weren’t using.

-No, just sitting in the drawer.

-And we still have a group lot of Waterman pens up next.

-£30 at the back of the room.

Thank you, sir.

Come on, Internet, it’s down to you.

I know he would love a bit of competition.

He’d love to pay more than £30 for this one.

-I told you, she’s good at it.

-Yes.

-All done, then.

It's going to sell at £30.

-Fantastic.

A few items in, and already we have 80 quid.

-Next up, Mridula's brass cookware, divided into two separate lots.

First up, five of her largest pots.

Some of these are huge.

You could cook for a dinner party with these.

Mridula, what did we decide?

How many could you feed from the largest one?

-I think, 50 people easily.

-50 people easily.

Starting with these at £40.

Let’s go £30, then.

£30 -- thank you is bid.

£32, £35.

Looking now for £38.

All done then.

It’s here on the Internet, selling at £35.

-Now we’re cooking, and we also have the accessories -- everything from water jugs to a brass spice box.

-At £30.

All done, then, selling at £30.

-Though to complete the party, how about a brass statue of Hindu deity Ganesha?

-£10.

Thank you.

£12, £15, £18.

-Ooh!

-At £18, then with you, sir, selling.

Thank you.

-That’s another £80-plus in the pot.

And how about this little beauty?

A citrine ring in 20-karat gold that used to belong to Megha’s husband?

-Start me, please, at £200.

£200 is bid.

£220, £240.

Looking now for £260.

Selling at £240.

Sold.

-Well done, Izzie.

The girls will be booking their airfares any minute.

Japan is getting closer.

-Yes.

-And to sort out their spending money, we have dozens... -Our vintage Singer sewing machine at £18.

-...and dozens... -A traditional Indian dhol drum for £12, to you, sir.

Thank you very much.

-...of smaller but compelling lots.

-With bow and case, £20 to start.

-...that soon add up to a very nice chunk of change.

-All done, then.

Selling at £25.

[ Gavel bangs ] -And amongst these many, many gems... -Well done.

-Yeah.

-Izzie's even discovered this duo -- a Royal Copenhagen dish and Wedgwood jar.

-Start me, please, at £10.

£10.

Thank you.

£12, £15, £18.

Hold on, sir.

The Internet’s jumped in -- £28, £30, £32, £35, £38... -Wow!

-Ooh!

-We're doing well here.

-£48, £50.

Looking for £5, £60 and 5. and £70 bid.

£85, £90 bid.

And we’re still going.

-I can’t believe it.

-£120, £130, I’ve got.

At £130.

Are we all sure?

Selling?

Sold.

Thank you very much.

-Brilliant.

£130.

Nice work.

-Have you got any more of them?

[ Laughter ] -While that’s a tough act to follow, looks like I’m up next.

-We have our portable gramophone.

Start me please, at £15.

-Oh, I've got to -- I’ve got to model this.

-No, it’s not a bid.

£15, £18.

-It does work.

-I’m up to £25 on the Internet.

How about £28?

£28?

Thank you sir.

Looking for £30.

£30.

Thank you, Internet.

£32.

Thank you.

Looking for £35.

All done then.

And selling at £32.

-Yeah.

-Nicely done, Robin.

That’s even more money in the pot.

And a little piece of history saved from the skip.

-But my real pride and joy is the apprentice chest that once belonged to Mridula husband, now beautifully restored.

-A lot of pre-sale interest in this one.

-Oh, good.

-Start me at £20.

£22, £25, £28, £30 is bid.

-Oh, gosh.

£32, £35.

looking now for £38.

£38, £40 bid.

Looking now for 2.

£42, £45.

Looking for £48.

At £45.

All done.

Selling at £45.

Thank you, Internet.

-Sad to say goodbye, but I’m definitely happy with the price.

-Would you buy it if you could, Robin?

-I absolutely would, yeah.

[ Laughter ] -It’s followed by another special lot -- a wedding sari in traditional red and embroidered with gold thread.

Simply stunning.

This was actually worn by Mridula on her wedding day, and it’s exquisite.

1968, and it is in impeccable condition.

Start me, please, at £50.

£55 is bid.

Looking now for £60.

£60, Internet.

Would you like £65.

£65 is bid.

I’ve got £70... -She’s good -- Izzie.

-£75 is bid here on the Internet.

Looking for £80.

All done, then.

Selling at £75.

[ Gavel bangs ] -Wonderful result, Izzie.

One step closer to Japan, -Yes, yes.

-One step closer.

-Indeed we are, Robin.

But with two lots still to go, this auction is far from over.

Starting with Megha's three-stone diamond ring in 22-karat gold.

It’s a bobby-dazzler, this one.

Start me, please, at £200.

£200, £220, £240, £260, £280.

£260 on the Internet.

Looking for £280.

-After a strong start, the bidding has stalled.

And with a reserve of £400, this isn’t looking good.

-Keeping hold of this one?

I think that’s the right decision.

All out at £280.

Gavel bangs.

While the diamonds may be headed home with Megha, we still have one more lot.

-And that’s this stunning 22-karat gold necklace with a carved seed pendant.

Though can it meet its £800 reserve?

-Start me, please, at £800.

I’ve got £700.

Looking for £750.

-With the bidding just shy of the reserve, now it’s Megha's call as to Izzie's next move.

But after a quick confab with her family... -Okay.

-...we have a sale.

-At £700, then, here on commission and selling.

Sold.

Thank you very much.

-Making today’s auction an absolute success.

-[ Laughs ] [ Applause ] -We just watched Izzie work her absolute magic, teasing every last pound from the bidders.

And it sends those ladies well on their way to Japan.

-Lifelong friends are going on another journey to see the cherry blossom, and I’m just delighted.

-But the best part is still to come -- a post-match chat with the ladies.

-How did you find that?

-It was good.

-Really exciting, wasn’t it?

-It was brilliant.

-And you were great.

-Great.

-Aww, thank you.

-And of course, revealing just how much we raised for their dream holiday.

After fees and commission... -Drum roll.

-...we raised you over £1,300.

-Wow!

That’s really good.

-Brilliant!

That’s good news, isn't it?

-Yes.

We’ve been planning this trip to Japan for a long, long time, and now it seems possible.

-We’ll certainly send postcards to Izzie and Robin.

Now we can get on our way.

Get that 5,700 miles covered, and off we go.

[ Chuckles ] -All this talk of Japan.

Fancy sushi?

-I certainly do.

-Alright.

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