According to auctioneer Stephen Drake estimating the worth or rugs is the hardest, “a complete minefield” in his opinion. He goes on to explain that despite being able to professionally distinguish its attributes (“It’s probably about a hundred years old. It’s got a pink-crimson ground; it’s got a central medallion; and it’s got a foliate triple border.”), it’s still mind bogglingly difficult to pinpoint a cost.

Take for example, a large area rug that came from one of Cambridge’s collegiate halls; he’d estimated it might sell for between £200-400. Surprisingly, he found buyers bidding higher and higher until it eventually sold for £9,500.

“As the price was going up and up and up, people who were standing on the rug were backing away … You get these things that you just can’t imagine what the price is.”

Clearly baffled by the perculiarities of his trade, Drake sighs. When he explains that the key to being a good auctioneer is realising that time is money and that he ought to be selling around 120 lots an hour in five hour stints, it becomes a very tiring occupation due to the sheer concentration it requires to be continuously looking for bids from potentially 100 buyers at any given time in the room.

Credit where it’s due, we’re not sure it sounds like the easy occupation we once thought it was.

Fortunately it’s far easier to judge the cost of a new rug because all the hard work’s done for you by the retailer and there’s none of the disappointment of someone else grabbing your dream accessory before your eyes.

Source

Meanwhile team leader of Ignite Philip Taylor was determinded to win this week, and did so although not in the best of circumstances. His team made a loss by underselling many of the antique items supplied by Sir Alan. Including a luxurious indian rug valued at £200. Lorraine had repeatedley suggested that the area rug may hold more value than Philip was willing to beleieve but no one was listening. The team eventually sold the large rug at the last hour for £50 to a member of the public.

Nine candidates remain and the competition has reached the half-way point. Who will make it through to week twelve and win the dream job?

Philip and the team get desperate trying to offload the rug