Four Rooms dealer Gordon Watson was online after Episode 3 chatting live on Twitter and Facebook with you all. Here's a transcript of the chat:
Q: @Jack_Kempton: What's the weirdest thing you've ever been offered apart from that piece of skin? A: @GordonWatson1: The Hitler head was very strange and I was once offered a pair of shoes from the weirdest lady - Greta Garbo's former cleaner.
Q: @kspooshus: I have a silver crucifix necklace pendant. Vittali or Vivianni silver, Italian, any idea of valuation? A: @GordonWatson1: Sadly not worth much, religious jewellery not particularly popular unless it's by Cartier.
Q: AlarmBee: Gordon, how did you get to be involved with the show? A: @GordonWatson1: I have to admit I think I was an afterthought and when they came to me I was dubious - but I've loved it.
Q: @ReyarnThorpe: What's the best way to start in the buying and selling trade and what areas are the most interesting to specialise in? A: @GordonWatson1: If you're asking me this question you're not going to be a dealer - it has to be a passion within you, sorry.
Q: @DoctorRad: What item would you pay the most over the odds for because you just had to have it? A: @GordonWatson1: I would pay over the odds for a work of art that I'm obsessed by, sadly that hasn't happened on the show. YET.
Q: @horfsby: Hey Gordon, what's the biggest loss or mistake your have made being a dealer? A: @GordonWatson1: After 35 years I don't really make mistakes. I'm very, very cautious.
Q: @kspooshus: Whats the most you've ever spent on an item? A: @GordonWatson1: The most I've spent on a single item is just under one million dollars.
Q: @AlarmBee: What would you say are your areas of expertise? A: @GordonWatson1: I'm passionate and I collect for myself Islamic and Contemporary Art. Unlike Jeff I do know my stuff!
Q: @Borisswartz: Gordon, is there anything you wouldn't buy on ethical grounds? A: @GordonWatson1: Ethical schmethical! I won't buy if it's ugly and I don't do Nazi.
Q: @ReyarnThorpe: Wanted to find out what you think the best area to specialise in, and what has the most interesting items and finds? A: @GordonWatson1: I find the period I specialise in most interesting - 20th century furniture, jewellery, art. Treasures to be found.
Q: @The_phyth: Great show! Do you always have an end buyer in mind? Do you get 'orders' in advance from customers? A: @GordonWatson1: No, I don't have an end buyer in mind. I buy for me and me alone.
Q: @RufusMousley: Do you have any advice for anyone looking to get into buying and selling? A: @GordonWatson1: Yes, lots. I should start an academy.
Q: @YemiOgidan: I have 3 fine gold coins that have the year 1815 on them with a 2 headed eagle and a bearded man on the other side. 2 of the coins are almost 10p size the 3rd one is twice the size of the old 50p piece, how can i get these valued? A: @GordonWatson1: I thought stamps were the most boring thing in the world but I'd forgotten about coins! Don't know dear, sorry!
Q: @LeahChriistinax: How much do you think a full set of Natwest pigs will go for? They all have original stoppers. A: @GordonWatson1: I suggest you go to Flog It. I'm having problems with Nat West, I'm the wrong person to ask.
Q: @xtraGIN: What's the worst personal buy you've bought OUTSIDE your work remit? A: @GordonWatson1: Many years ago the coolest clothes shop was Crolla. I bought a suit from there and it never fitted me.
Q: @TAlampo: I have a projector given to me by Charlie chaplin's childrens' nanny. has this item a value on the market? A: @GordonWatson1: If you have provenance, ie. a letter from the nanny proving a genuine connection, yes it will have a value.
Q: @wrestlecollect: Whats your thoughts on collectable toys? Recently 90's Wrestling figures have soared in value. An investment for the future? A: @GordonWatson1: In these troubled times there seems to be no investment for the future. Only collect if you love it and hope.
Q: Sue Lightfoot: Gordon: Do you get time to research the item? A: Gordon says: We're roughly told what we're about to see and after we've seen the items we have some time to consider, unless one of the other dealers is anal.
Q: Becci Gilmartin: What is the most money you have ever made from an item and how much did you get? A: Gordon says: I made more than 6 figures from a painting, won't tell how much exactly though!
Q: Ben Hagger: Would you pay more for an item if they had a nice personality, or is business business, and it would be the same price for who ever? A: Gordon says: Before Four Rooms a deal is a deal but personality does count and people's stories do matter.
Q: George Towey: Can you please value my Signed Bryan Robson England captain's armband, complete with signed letter from the early 80's? A: Gordon says: Listen, don't mean to mislead you: I loved the football posters, but I have no interest in football memorabilia, sorry.
Q: Steve Darragh: What happened to that fantastic Banksy wall? A: Gordon says: It disappeared into the nether world of unsold items, the world of GREED.
Q: Jonathan Buckley: Aren't you tempted to make an offer after people leave the buidling? A: Gordon says: Yes I'm a dealer so often tempted! But I've signed a contract - no contact for 6 months.
Q: Alice Thomson: How did you get into your field of work? A: Gordon says: The only things I wanted as a kid were books and antiques and it was a logical progression. There was no other option.
Q: Lyndsay Hearst: Is there any value in petrified seashells from the Libyan desert? A: Gordon says: Yes, the market for fossils is a really strong emerging field.
Q: Lisa Swan: Is there much of a market now for stamps? They're not old used ones, but ones bought as collectors packs a few years ago. They are collections for various occassions/events for the most part. A: Gordon says: Sorry stamps are even more boring than Elvis beige golf carts! Come to me when you have a Perfect Penny Black.
Q: Adrian Webb: Gordon, which item are you most gutted to miss and/or pass on to date? A: Gordon says: I was gutted that the foxy Emma snatched the Norman Foster prototype. I alerted the other dealers to its importance.
Q: Leanne Titch Dormody: Are you ever worried that an item is 'a fake'? Or are the items' authenticity validated before the deals take place? A: Gordon says: In TV reality and in my real reality authenticity is one of the biggest problems, fakes are ever increasingly more sophisticated and that's why I'm so cautious.
Q: Angeline Harrison: Where is the best place to sell books, I have a Baden Powell book. Thanks. A: Gordon says: Why don't you contact the Scout association. I'm sure they would be interested.
Q: Darren De Rozier Milliner: Whats the market like for vinyl records at present? A: Gordon says: The market is very flat at the moment but I really believe in the future these will be fabulous collectables... but sadly not in your lifetime.
Q: Dinah Cindy Lea: How do I get two signed LPs (Beatles) authenticated.. where do I start? A: Gordon says: Contact Ringo!
Q: James McHardy: If you weren't a dealer what would you have liked to do? A: Gordon says: I would have been a TV anchorman.
Q: Claire-Mary Jarrett: I have an Andy Warhol signed pen drawing of a Campbells soup can, how much am I looking at? A: Gordon says: I'm at home, where are you? I will come to see you or you come to see me. I've got my chequebook and I'm ready.
Q: Samantha Moxon: I have a coffee set which once belonged to Joan Miro. Any idea of value? A: Gordon says: Send me a photograph of the set and the signature immediately! I LOVE THIS SHOW!
Q: Sara Balga: Gordon you are funniest of all. A: Gordon says: Thank you I thought you were going to say the fattest of all! (To which I would have said...)
Q: Jason Walters: What is the photo/ painting behind gorden called? A: Gordon says: I'm so glad you asked - how astute of you! It's by one of my heroes, Dr Lakra from Mexico.
