Going, Going, Gone
Auctions have become a natural means of recycling furniture and bric-a-brac in my community and I have caught auction fever. For years I've been able to furnish my home relatively inexpensively, and I have discovered some interesting pieces that I might not have been able to afford at their original prices.
Chairs
This is a good place to shop for any style, size or type you might need. Most are in good condition and now that I've amassed more than is needed to fill an auditorium I don't mind letting you in on this little secret. However, I am a real sucker for baby size chairs. There is always at least one small chair at every auction. Sometimes my husband and I accidentally bid against one another which is the reason we now have four different sets of chairs in our basement. It's a good idea for husbands and wives to talk to each other before the auction, or at least try to sit together.
Glass and Chinaware
There seems to be a never ending supply of glasses and dishes, soup tureens and commodes at every auction. Always go to the preview so you don't bid on something you think is perfect only to find it is chipped or cracked.
Quilts
You might think that quilts are rare in this country. Not true and the prices are still reasonable. It doesn't seem to matter whether they're new or old, all the quilts at every auction are gobbled up. It's often difficult to know the date of a quilt unless you know what to look for , but if it doesn't matter to you, decide which one you like and how much it's worth to you and stick to your price or let it go by. (See pages 188-90 for how to buy a quilt).
Small Gems
Vases, silverware, baskets, jewelry and other small gems easily transported go for large sums. If you have your heart set on something in this category, pray that your item comes up at the very end of the sale when most of the bidders have gone home.
Large Pieces of Furniture
You can get a real buy on large pieces of furniture like bureaus that are not of any particular period and are difficult to transport. If you're handy at repairs, paint finishes, etc. you can do very well.
Rugs
I've seen some wonderful Oriental, Persian and Boukara rugs that sell for a fraction of what you'd pay through a dealer. The better the condition of the rug the higher the price will be, which is also true of size.
Copyright Leslie Linsley, author
Reprinted with permission, HouseNet, Inc.