STATE OF THE ART
The art of collecting from the perspective of those who w ield the gavel – plus auction houses to v isit in the capital and beyond
FEATURE PATRICK HAMILTON COURTNEY
OFTEN the first port of call for buyers both green and practised, auction houses are prime hunting ground for those seeking to add new treasures to their collections. Despite the fact most of us have already dipped a toe or two into the frenetic world of auctions, there still remains a certain mystique around how to get the most out of sale day. It all really starts with good research and preparation, according to William Summerfield, head of sale and specialist in modern British and 20th century art at Roseberys. ‘Most auction houses now have a significant online presence, and this provides a useful tool for the first-time auction-goer. You’ll be able to find easily accessible catalogues, and at Roseberys we also have an online calculator that helps in understanding buyer’s premium, VAT, artist resale rights and other associated fees.’
But what if you don’t have time to trawl through every auctioneer’s website on the off-chance they might have that perfect Bridget Riley print you’ve been coveting? ‘There are various third-party platforms like The Saleroom and Invaluable that are easily accessible and allow you to search for specific items across a huge network of auction houses and set up lot alerts to notify you of anything that comes up,’ suggests Otto Billström, head of 20th century design at Sworders. This effectively takes care of all the ‘hunting’ for you, and lets you focus on working out what it is exactly that you’re interested in buying, and indeed, auction houses can help with that too. ‘Buying at auction has so many advantages. You’re able to see a significant number of items, honing your eye and allowing you to discover new passions,’ says William. ‘Sales can be a great forum for rediscovering forgotten artists who may longer be en vogue and difficult to find elsewhere.’
And if any of the new information becomes overwhelming, help is on hand. ‘Speak to our specialists. Our teams are always available to help and have great expertise in their chosen areas,’ says Joy McCall, associate director and senior specialist in design at Lyon & Turnbull. Some of us already have enough – or even too many – enthusiasms, and aren’t looking for breadth but rather depth. Auctions often hold highly specialised sales, such as Lyon & Turnbull’s Lalique offering and Sotheby’s STONE sales, focused on art and objects made from marble and hardstone. There are even entire auction houses devoted solely to one discipline. ‘Maak has been dedicated to building our niche in contemporary ceramics for 15 years,’ says Marijk
