Furniture Auctions Near Me
Whether you’re shivering in a musty auction house or dripping with sweat from a remote computer, there’s something incredibly exciting about finding gorgeous vintage and antique homeware at an affordable price — particularly when the piece is a one-of-a-kind find. Auctions are a great place to buy furniture because they allow you to pick through pieces that may not be available in stores, and you can often get a good idea of the condition of each item before bidding. Plus, you can often find pieces that have been in someone’s family for decades, making them truly one-of-a-kind.
If you’re considering selling your furniture at an auction, it’s important to understand the process and fees involved before you sign a contract with an auction house. Ask about the commission, which is typically 20 to 50 percent of the sale price, and see if there are any other hidden costs. In addition, you should also find out how long the house will keep your items before sending you a check — some can take 30 days or more.
It’s also a good idea to attend some sales before you sell to get an idea of what different houses specialize in and how much they’re expected to sell for. “You can learn a lot from just watching,” says Luke, who suggests looking at the variety of items in each room and how the auctioneer interacts with bidders. Also, consider how easy it is to access the auction online, and how well the house promotes each sale.
Another option for sellers is to try to negotiate with the auction house. Many will agree to waive commission or reduce the amount of the fee if they know that you’re serious about selling your items and willing to work with them to reach the best deal.
In fact, some auction houses specialize in certain types of furniture and have a reputation for selling high-end items at an affordable price. For example, Sotheby’s American Furniture, Decorative Art & Folk Art Department regularly holds specialist auctions featuring single-owner collections of antique furniture from various time periods and geographic locations. One of these recently featured a charming aesthetic movement occasional table that would make a great addition to anyone’s carefully curated space.
Other specialists include Doyle, which is known for its auctions of American and European furnishings from the 19th and 20th centuries, and Lyon & Turnbull, which frequently holds single-owner collection sales and specialises in American furniture, early English and Continental furniture. Both companies offer auctions online, as well. These are a great option for those who don’t want to brave the crowds at traditional auction houses, or if you’re in a different country and can’t make it to an event in person.
