Dickinson's Real Deal

David Dickinson and his team of antiques dealers travel to St Helens in Lancashire for the programme St Helens 4. While there they inspect a range of objects. Among the items, the collection includes a Coronation doll, a Lowry painting and an ancient dagger.

St Helens 4 is a television episode that follows a group of professional antiques dealers as they travel to different locations in search of noteworthy objects. The series centres on the discovery and appraisal of items with historical or artistic interest, presenting each visit as a distinct investigative journey. Viewers follow the dealers as they negotiate, research and share insights about each find. In this instalment, seasoned dealer David Dickinson leads his team of fellow antiques specialists to the town of St Helens in Lancashire. The group arrives to investigate a selection of pieces that have been gathered for assessment, aiming to determine their background and any potential relevance to collectors. The setting provides a backdrop for their investigative work. Among the objects examined are a Coronation doll, a work by the artist Lowry, and an ancient dagger. Each item represents a different facet of British heritage, from a commemorative toy linked to royal celebrations to a visual artwork and a historic weapon, providing the team with a varied appraisal task. The diversity of the items prompts varied lines of inquiry from the team. The episode records the team's careful inspection of each piece, discussing condition, craftsmanship and any markings that might indicate provenance. Through their collaborative analysis, Dickinson and his colleagues illustrate the detailed approach required to evaluate antiques, highlighting the expertise involved in forming conclusions about each item's significance and possible value. Their findings are presented to the audience, offering a clear view of the appraisal process.