How to Sell Antiques & Collectibles
At Auction Houses

Find out here how to sell your stuff at a real auction.

This is the old fashioned, original, unplugged, acoustic, real-life version of eBay selling. I find it a fun, relevant and rewarding change from eBay!

"The single most important aspect of getting the best possible hammer price for your item is the marketing skills of the auctioneer." Continue reading below ↓

This page discusses this interesting subject with help from auction experts and online valuers Valuemystuff (Patrick Van Der Vorst) . I am asking the questions and Valuemystuff are kindly supplying the answers.

...continued from the previous page choosing the right antique auctions

Sell Antiques Through Correct Marketing

Q. When a person has to sell antiques or vintage china through an auctioneer's saleroom, I presume the marketing of an item by the auctioneer is important - mailings, catalogues, the internet etc. What are the things to look out for?

A. The most reliable auction houses will sell antiques and collectibles through an online catalogue (even though we are talking about offline auction rooms). It is quite important if you are consigning an item for sale, to get your item seen online, as it significantly contributes to the publicity. Online catalogues can be viewed all around the world and many dealers check them regularly and buy items that they have spotted that way. Ask the question to your local auctioneer.... Find out how they market and sell antique and collectible lots online. What process do they use? Note down the web addresses and see what sort of a job is being done.

Q. So, it's important for an item for sale to be properly catalogued?

A. Yes. You must make sure your item is catalogued if you are a seller, preferably online. Buyers often seek bargains in uncatalogued lots. They go to the exhibitions, and inspect for hidden treasures. Also an important key to marketing is the description. The important part of the description of any item in a catalogue is the very first line, which is called the 'guarantee line'. It often appears in bold and is what the auctioneers guarantees about the item, i.e. date, manufacture/artist. This is the auctioneer's responsibility, so check how good they are at this.

Q. Specialist sale or general? What are the pros & cons...?

A. Ceramics can be found both in generalist and specialist sales. If you are buying, the general advice often is you may have more chance to find bargains in generalist sales, where all items might not always have been catalogued. So, by a process of deduction, the seller may conclude from this advice that the general sale might not be the one to go for as the vendor. A bargain for the buyer means perhaps a less satisfactory hammer price for the seller - especially if your item is not going to be catalogued. Buyers looking for their very specific maker or style tend to pour over the specialist antique auction catalogues and exhibitions.

Q. What are the pitfalls of selling ceramics at antique auctions?

A. Buyers will require (especially if they have not inspected the item in the flesh), a 'condition report' from the auctioneer. In this document, which a buyer can request at any time before the sale from the expert or the auctioneer, the item's condition is described in detail. Hence it will avoid the buyer from discovering unexpected damages (cracks, chips, etc.) Get on the wrong side of this requirement and you are making life difficult for yourself. Keep it real.

This article is continued in the 3rd part of this series:- "The Antique Appraisers". The previous article is available here: Choosing the Right Antique Auctions.

This page is part 2 of a 4 part article series The 1st article in the series tells you how to find the best auction room for selling your items. The 3rd article looks at the auctioneers assessment. The final part is about auctioneers commissions and consignment agencies.

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