Have you ever sold anything at auction?

[broa_terr]

Other than a house/car, have you ever sold any item at a non-ebay auction and what was your experience like? Were you satisfied with the results, wish you had sold privately etc.. Would you recommend it?

[broa_terr]

I would!

[broa_terr]

Skip! Skip! Skip to the lu!

Skip! Skip! Skip to the lu!

Skip! Skip! Skip to the lu!

Skip to the lu my darlin'!

[iapetus_rocks · Accepted solution]

I have sold many things over the years at local b&m auction houses and found the results to be extremely variable. Really, what matters is who is there on the day who wants the item you are offering for sale. It only needs two such people for the price to soar, but take away one of those people and the item can sell for next to nothing.

The auctioneers will usualy set an estimate for you and some even accept a (realistic) reserve price set by you. I've heard it said that we tend to over-value items we have owned and loved and thus disappointment strikes when others value it less. The auctioneers usually have a good idea of what sells well in their respective auction houses.

Caveat venditor. Good luck.

[broa_terr]

Thanks iapetus! I want to sell various items to finance my new collecting venture. I want to get rid of much Asian art and furnishings and use the funds for my most recent passion!

[iapetus_rocks]

Are your Asian items antique?

There are a few different levels of auction houses and if you have high quality items, then you'd get better prices at the higher end auction houses.

Where do you live? State, nearest capital city will do.

[broa_terr]

Some of the Asian art is antique, most of it is early twentieth century up to 1930s. Technically the 30's stuff can't really be antique as it's under 100 years but it's certainly vintage.

I live in Queensland, Sunshine Beach way.

[iapetus_rocks]

I think you're in a good location to sell Japanese art/antiques. I haven't been up that way for a while now, but from memory, there were a lot of wealthy people there from Japan, either living there or holidaying.

You'd still need to take a few items in for appraisal, although if you have a substantial collection, then the auctioneer might even visit you to select suitable items. du Plessis auction gallery  recently held a sale in Brisbane or maybe the Gold Coast. They sell Aisian antiques for good prices, if the quality is there.

[broa_terr]

Thanks iapetus - all very useful advice. I will give du Plessis a call in the morning 🙂

Yes, there are alot of Japanese up here, but mainly at the Gold Coast where the big casinos are. None of my art is Japanese either; mainly Mandarin and several pieces from Thailand.

I'm mainly worried about the auction premiums - they seem awfully high and I wonder if it is really worth my while selling them privately. Only thing is I don't want a bunch of strangers tramping through my home. A girlfriend listed some items on gumtree and after several visits, her place was broken into and the items listed for sale were stolen. Might have been a coincidence but...

[iapetus_rocks]

Maybe email them a few pics of your best items. There must be quite a few auction houses near where you live, and you could also ask them.

Chinese antiques are selling very well right now, I understand.