Vintage View: How to make a winning bid at auction

It’s almost auction season again, so Kya deLongchamps shows us how to snap out a smart and winning bid    

There’s a leather blue bruise to the blackberries and the school books are nestling into the bags — but forget all that natural splendour and familial responsibility — yes, it’s auction time again.

Whether you’re looking for an Irish 20th century oil, a vintage step-ladder, a sexy old Austin Healy or an Edwardian tea-set – these sales offer not only great value but a slice of juicy human drama.