Vintage view: Auctions

MAKE a day of it at an auction.

The start and the end of an antique or general auction often features sleeper items to oil those bidding hands early on and to tickle interest to the end. However, by the final lots, many dealers will have full vans and empty wallets. Stick around.

1. Larking at the fair. Dealers are larks, rising early to set up for boot sales and fairs. Get there before the crowds when the retailers are looking through each other’s goods to net those best buys. A 4am start is standard practice for serious street markets in the UK and Europe, such as Bermondsey in London.

2. Prowl at the pack-up. When sellers are clearing their tables at the end of an indoor or outdoor market or boot sale, they are faced with the prospect of re-wrapping, packing and heaving larger pieces into the vehicle. It’s a perfect time to offer a low but not insulting price.

3. Make an offer after the auction. If something doesn’t reach it’s ‘reserve’ at an auction, wait around until the auction finishes or talk to the porter on the spot, making a reasonable offer. If the seller is contactable, they may well compromise. Auction fees will still apply.

4. Find a great dealer. Making a relationship with a dealer, especially if you are collecting or sourcing very particular pieces, is invaluable. With their network of contacts and miles on the clock, they can often find pieces before they even become public. The commission charged is well worth the piece of mind of getting the genuine article from experienced hands.

5. Perfect imperfect. If you’re content to take the less than perfect and don’t have an eye to re-sell, the price on slightly weary antiques and vintage collectables can be a steal. Just ensure the piece is functional, stable and attractive. Broken glass, ruined veneers and rocking and rolling joints may be a step too far but there’s a lot of country in between.

6. Educate yourself. The more you know, the greater your powers to find what you’re looking for and judge its assets. Despite the encyclopaedic help of the Internet, no seller can know everything, and sometimes a great piece can be more apparent to you than to the vendor. Research your area of interest online, through books and television shows and get out into the market to train your eye.

7. Travel to Blighty. We have some wonderful small fairs here in Ireland, but if you’re prepared to skip over the pond (bring a van or an estate car), a world of regular super-fairs awaits throughout the UK. Choosing a quieter day can save up to 75% of the entry fee. Fill up the other days car booting. www.carbootjunction.com.