At a general sale in Worcester, Eric Knowles and Alan Herd buy a 19th Century mahogany chest for a bargain price and Eric can't resist buying a monstrous hallstand that Alan hates! The chest has a disastrous finish, possibly caused by fire damage. Alan gives it thorough clean and gets some copies made of the brass handles with Britannia motif while the hallstand just needs a few hours work. Eric visits the Queen's restorers to be see the repair of a Venetian glass mirror. Both the chest & the hallstand are sent to auctioneers Cheffins in Cambridge, but which will make them a bigger profit?