麻豆约拍

Antiques dealers Ian Humphries, Harry Khwaja and Jo Roberts are on a buying trip to the south of France. Their base is a historic farmhouse in Provence - perfectly located close to some of the country鈥檚 best antiques markets, or brocantes, as they are known locally.

The trio are heading to Sommi猫res, a centre of trade since Roman times, where they compete to find two hidden treasures each to buy and sell online for the most profit.

The trio鈥檚 first challenge is to find something they know will appeal to their loyal customers and social media followers.

Harry haggles hard on an oversized jewellery box he thinks his American clients will fall in love with, and romance is in the air for Ian too, who takes home a large plaster cherub statue. But will it prove too traditional for the modern market? Today鈥檚 buy proves child鈥檚 play for Jo, who goes for a hand-built toy washstand she plans on reselling as a decorative piece to her dedicated followers.

As usual, the dealers don鈥檛 only have to contend with the language barrier and a short selling period. Each day, one of them gets a chance to turn up the heat and set them all a challenge to shop to a specific brief. It is Jo鈥檚 turn, and she has tasked them with uncovering something beautiful but not functional to sell on.

With six items bought between them, it is back to the farmhouse to size up the competition. The 17th-century farmhouse, set amongst vineyards and olive groves, provides the ideal backdrop for our dealers to take the 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?