Ok folks, why hasn’t anyone told me about auctions before? Many of you have written about going to auctions on your blogs and I’ve seen some of the great items you come home with but no one ever told me how totally awesome they are!!
Last week the hubs and I had a new experience and attended an auction for the first time. All I can say is that I’m hooked and will definitely be making this a regular part of my schedule.
The auction we attended is held in an old warehouse that at first glance was a little suspect. The place was not pretty, the lights were low and the crowd was pretty diverse. All I kept thinking as we approached the building was, “I’m glad I didn’t wear sandals just in case a varmint runs across the floor” and “I’m so glad the hubs came along”! But once we walked in the door I knew we had entered someplace special. Just image thousands of items stacked to the rafters. I’m not talking junk people, I’m talking furniture (antiques and newer), lighting, artwork, rugs, decorative pieces and just about anything else you can image. This was a thrift shoppers dreams and I was living it!
As we made our way to the back of the building we passed a food buffet that is apparently a signature element on auction night. And, there was also a bar serving all kinds of beverages.
The back of the auction house had rows and rows of chair set up for bidders and in front of that were all the items that were going to be auctioned off that night. I immediately registered, got my bid number and began looking thought the auction items. I was overwhelmed with not only the number of items but also the range of pieces. As my heart began to beat faster I started jotting down the numbers for the items I was interested in. OMG I was beyond excited at the possibility.
Precisely at 6:15 pm the auction began and as I sat there I couldn’t believe my ears. The auctioneer started the bidding at $5.00 for most of the items and $25.00 for the larger furniture pieces. Are you kidding me!
Long story short, I bid on 5 or 6 things, only won the bid on two and we left the auction house at 11:00pm with the bidding stilling going on.
If you live in Atlanta and are wondering where this auction is, word on the street is that this auction is a well-kept secret and those in the know don’t share the name or location so I’m sworn to secrecy!
Just to give you an idea of the “awesomeness” of it all, I snapped a few photos of some of the items up for grabs. Hold on, you are going to be blown away by the prices these pieces sold for.
Everything you see in the photo, plus the stuff on the walls were being auctioned off and this was just a fraction of the items.
This antique settee sold for $100.00. The frame was in great condition and all it needs is a new upholstery job.
This wood cabinet sold for $85.00.
There were 4 of these vintage kitchen chairs and they sold for $90.00 for the set.
Here’s a look at some of the others items up for auction. The globe sold for $10 and that vintage dresser sold for $45.00.
I loved this old wood umbrella stand with shelf and bid on it. It sold for $80.00. I only wanted to pay $50 so I didn’t win the bid.
This vintage desk was beautiful. It sold for $150.00 and I think it could sell for $500+ at an antique market.
I also loved this vintage wood display piece and could just image my spools of ribbon on it. Too bad it wouldn’t fit in my car. It sold for $95.00.
This was one of the steals of the night. This arch top secretary desk sold for $125.00. I saw a similar one on eBay for $2200!
This wall clock was not working but had a really great style and design to it. It sold for $35.00.
Two guys bought this massive piece of original oil art (7.5′ x 5′) for only $120. The frame alone was worth hundreds!
After the majority of the big items sold the crew brought out racks of smaller items like glassware, frames and pillows and decorative objects. Each shelf on the rack was auctioned off in total with most of the shelves selling for $5.00 or less. There were lots of shelves that sold for $1.00.
My purchases for the night included a vintage wood magazine rack something like this one for $12.00
and I bought a “lot” of picture frames and framed art for $12.50 (14 pc. in total).
Attending my first auction reminded me of a few life lessons:
1. Never Judge a Book by It’s Cover–Inside that “old warehouse” was a stash of fabulous items.
2. True Friends Share–A good friend that was “in the know” shared the date and location of this auction with me.
3. Growing up my mom used to tell me that nothing good happens after dark–In the case of this auction, some of the best bargains can be found after 10:00 pm!
4. My husband is my best friend!
5. The Core Of Man’s Spirit Comes from New Experiences–Chris McCandless
6. Dreams do come true!
Now that I have my first auction under my belt, I think it’s appropriate to call me an Auction Hunter!
This wood dough bowl was also a purchase that will be going into the shop.
These vintage cookie molds were old and rusty but I loved their charm.
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