The Bidding Room

Dealers are given the opportunity to bid on a vintage table hockey game, an early‑20th‑century glass chandelier and a collection of antique sketchbooks that once belonged to the artist Henry Thomson. All three pieces are available for auction together in the same sale.

The programme centres on a competitive format where a group of dealers are presented with the opportunity to purchase distinctive objects. Each episode sets the participants against one another, giving them a limited window to evaluate and place bids on items that are both historic and unusual. The focus is entirely on the dealers’ decisions and the items up for sale. In this particular instalment, the dealers are invited to bid on three specific pieces. The first is a vintage table‑hockey game, a classic pastime piece that dates back to an earlier era. The second offering is an early‑20th‑century glass chandelier, a lighting fixture that reflects the design sensibilities of its time. The final lot consists of a collection of antique sketch books that once belonged to the artist Henry Thomson, providing a tangible link to his creative work. Each object carries its own character. The table‑hockey game, with its worn wooden surface and metal rods, hints at countless hours of play in a bygone household. The glass chandelier, with its intricate crystal work, showcases the craftsmanship typical of the period just after the turn of the century. Meanwhile, Thomson’s sketch books, bound in aged leather and filled with his original drawings, offer a rare glimpse into the artist’s process and personal archive. The dealers must weigh the historical value, condition and potential resale appeal of these pieces as they decide how much to offer. Their bids determine who, if anyone, will walk away with the vintage game, the chandelier or the artist’s sketch books, turning the episode into a concise showcase of appraisal and negotiation.