Auction houses

Auction houses operate on a rhythm most shoppers never see. Catalogues go online weeks before the sale. Viewing days open a few days prior—sometimes by appointment, sometimes during set hours—so you can handle the lots, check condition in person, and decide what you're willing to pay. Then the sale itself: live in the room with a paddle, or online from home, or by leaving an absentee bid if you can't attend. The format suits buyers who want access to estate dispersals, unusual pieces that don't fit retail categories, or a transparent price-discovery process where the market decides value in real time rather than a dealer setting a fixed ticket.

The live room moves faster than most first-timers expect. An experienced auctioneer works through fifty to a hundred lots an hour depending on the category. You register beforehand—usually just ID and contact details, sometimes a credit card for higher-value sales—and get a numbered paddle. When your lot comes up you raise the paddle to bid. Increments are set by the auctioneer and climb quickly once two serious bidders are competing. The hammer falls, the room moves on, and if you've won you're legally committed to pay within a few business days. That immediacy is part of the appeal for some buyers and a source of regret for others who bid impulsively without reading the condition report.

Online auctions stretch the timeline but compress the research advantage. You get high-resolution images, detailed descriptions, and often the ability to request condition reports for specific lots. Bidding windows run for days or weeks rather than minutes. Platforms like Catawiki handle continuous category-specific sales; aggregators like Invaluable connect you to hundreds of regional houses running their own online rooms. The major international names—Christie's, Sotheby's, Bonhams—offer online bidding for many sales, though not every department or lot is available digitally. You're trading the live-room adrenaline for the chance to compare, research, and decide without the pressure of a packed saleroom and a fast-talking auctioneer.

The cost structure is non-negotiable and often catches new buyers off guard. The hammer price is just the start. Buyer's premium adds another fifteen to twenty-five percent depending on the house and lot value, sometimes tiered so the percentage drops on higher amounts. VAT may apply depending on the seller's status and your location. Shipping or collection is your responsibility, and payment deadlines are strict—typically three to five business days. If you're comparing auction to retail, factor in the full landed cost including premium and logistics before you decide the auction route is cheaper.

Auctions reward preparation in a way casual browsing never does. The catalogue estimate gives you a range, but it's a guide, not a ceiling—competitive lots regularly sail past the high estimate. A reserve price protects the seller, so bidding sometimes stops before a lot sells if it doesn't reach that undisclosed minimum. Viewing days matter more than many buyers realize: photos are useful, but they don't show restoration quality, structural issues, or the way a piece of furniture actually feels when you open the drawer. The buyers who do well are the ones who show up early, inspect carefully, set a maximum bid before the adrenaline starts, and walk away when the room gets overheated. The format isn't for everyone, but for the right buyer with the right lot it offers access and transparency that fixed-price retail simply can't match.