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A LIVELY SALE
We introduced live bidding as an experiment for the first day’s
sale – what were the results? Of the 825 or so lots on offer 122
were internet purchases. 243 bidders registered achieving a
total of 1,387 bids and in 93 cases internet bidders were under
bidders to a purchaser in the room.
So where does that leave us? At the
time of writing we are assessing the additional amount of work
necessary to deal with the situation i.e. additional phone
calls, foreign payment situations, organising collection and
dispatch etc. Will we do so again? Almost certainly yes, but not
until the new year following staff training, installation of a
large television screen, etc. For every one person who thinks it
is a bad idea more than one thinks it’s good! Although it will,
I think, change the dynamics of the saleroom i.e. smaller
attendance at the actual sale. Traditionally a large company of
people in front of the auctioneer creates the atmosphere, the
tension and to a large degree, the prices, reading prices from a
screen is not the same as actually encouraging bids out of
purchasers, something all good auctioneers have done for
generations!
However, to return to the sale, it
was two internet bidders who pushed the price of an oriental
vase together with a teapot, from around £300 to £4,000, the
purchaser an American.
A large jewellery section of 120
lots saw a total of £19,323 paid which included a diamond brooch
at £1,000, a mixed lot at £1,040. Silverware again sold well, a
George II silver coffee pot made £3,000, a bachelors three piece
tea set at £1,060, a canteen of cutlery for eight at £1,500, a
nutmeg grater and seal box at a £1,060. The 54 lots totalled
£14,574.
An interesting collection of toys
arrived from a farmhouse attic and elsewhere, some still with
boxes, some rather battered, mainly 1950’s onwards, this section
totalled £3,660.
Furniture can be temperamental – and
when a 1940’s oak haberdashery cabinet makes more than a
Victorian mahogany breakfront bookcase, you know things are all
a little strange, the cabinet made £1,000, the bookcase £940. A
modern 1980’s Yamaha piano sold at £700.
The November sale includes
clearances from London, Minchinhampton, Lechlade, Bristol to
name but a few, the saleroom will be full. Viewing is November
14th
or the full illustrated catalogue is online from the 11th
November.
Continuing good sellers are silver,
gold and other jewellery, Chinese ceramics and good quality
items of all types. Next jewellery valuation with Judith Kilby
Hunt is on Monday November 21st
– call for an appointment at the saleroom. |
