麻豆约拍

Antiques dealers Adi Higham, James Gooch and Jacqui Harries are on a buying trip to the south of France. Their base is a historic French farmhouse in Provence - perfectly located close to some of France鈥檚 best antiques markets, or brocantes, as they are locally known.

The trio are heading to a beautiful market in Villeneuve-l猫s-Avignon, which opens weekly in the shadow of Fort Saint-Andr茅. They compete to find two hidden treasures each to buy and then sell for a profit online.

The trio鈥檚 first challenge is to find something they know will appeal to their loyal customers and social media followers. First to find a quintessentially French piece is James. He is drawn to a stunning stone sculpture which he thinks may have come from a church, but the four-figure price tag is outside of his budget for this trip, so instead, he settles for a set of vintage skittles. Not only do they have great age and wear, but James hopes they will help him get one over on toy lover Adi.

Adi, however, has a much less playful set in his sights: some alarming-looking eel forks. Adi speaks French and has been buying antiques in France for over 20 years, so he knows what sells well back at home. Even though the large, serrated forks used for hunting these slippery serpents of the sea may be an acquired taste, Adi is convinced he will find a buyer for them and makes his bid.

Queen of all things mechanical, Jacqui sticks with what she knows and zones in on a portable French gramophone, complete with records. But with very little French, can she talk her way to a good deal?

As if the pressure of negotiating in an unfamiliar language weren't enough, the dealers take turns each day to dial up the heat and set each other a challenge to shop to a brief. It is James鈥檚 turn, and he has decided that all three of them need to scour Villeneuve-l猫s-Avignon for an 18th-century treasure. Will any of them find anything from that period they can flip for a profit?

With six items bought between them, it is back to the farmhouse to size up the competition. The 17th-century farmhouse is set amongst vineyards and olive groves and provides the ideal backdrop for our dealers to take photographs and videos they hope will make their Proven莽al pieces stand out when they come to post their objects to sell online.

With just a day to secure a sale and the battle on to make the most profit, which of our trio will come out on top?