An Auction Junkie in the 1930s

Have you been to auctions? If you're into vintage, I suspect you have. It's the best place to find things you've never seen before. Now I'm being shown an entirely new perspective on auctions: the view of an auction junkie from the 30's and 40's.

She was the mother of the estate heir I'm helping. She had quite an eye. She loved attending auctions held and would often drive for miles to find them. Walking through the long ranch style home in the California hills, I can pick out immediately which pieces were hers.

The large Mexican metal bird swaying in the foyer is signed by famed artist Sergio Bustamante. Inside the main living room, I spot gorgeous antique lamps, cranberry pink couches and a large inlaid coffee table from the 19th century.

Books overflow the shelves, pile on the floor and sit on every table. Rare limited edition publications so popular in the 1940s, all bound in fine leather and gilt pages. Oil paintings hung across the fronts of the bookcases, giving it a Victorian air. English Sterling pieces were tucked around here and there.

The bedroom jewelry boxes were amazing. An early 19th century handpainted Madonna and China pin, an antique solid sterling belt from Thailand, a timeless Zuni Sterling & Turquoise squash blossom necklace, and hundreds of more pieces.

I cherish the brief glimpses my job affords me. I get to walk back in time and enter another persons life. What an experience.

Learning to Be an Auctioneer

Two weeks ago I hopped into my minivan and headed East. My nerves were all afire, dreading what was ahead of me. I was on my way to Auctioneering School at the World Wide College of Auctioneering, ready to give chanting a try.

Nevada was the longest part of the drive and very beautiful

I was attempting it because I'm opening an Auction House, Barn Owl Auctions,  in Northern California. My uncle John came along at my request. He's from outside London and has the most charming accent. What a great voice for an auctioneer! 

Working Mechanical Sign in Wyoming

The school is located in Mason City, Iowa, but we attended their Denver class. It was held at a very nice hotel near the airport. We checked in the night before and just crashed. Two days of driving had tired us out. We had made the decision to drive because John had never seen that part of the county. It was so beautiful-but as John pointed out: "there's too much scenery!" Which cracked me up.

The class at auction school consisted of 35 students, a myriad of people from around the country. All ages were present, from 17-72. My favorite group was all the cowboys. They arrived in jeans, giant belt buckles & cowboy hats, nice as pie and all great auction chanters. 

This young auctioneer is from Nebraska

Every day was started with fast tongue twister drills. The drills were supposed to loosen up our mouths and teach us to enunciate. Got started at 8am with dozens of different confounding chants, including 40 repeats of: How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? A woodchuck would chuck as much wood as a woodchuck could if a woodchuck could chuck wood. Huh? Did I mention class wrapped up at 9:30 every evening? We were zombie chanters. Happy zombies, chanting away! 

Paul, our award winning instructor with John from Kansas

We started auction chanting on the second day. Imagine standing in front a group of relative strangers and trying to sound like the teacher. (Paul C Behr, who has won 3 International championships!) Pride had to be tucked safely away and courage embraced tightly. Slowly, practice after practice, day after day, we got better. Still nervous as a deer in front of a lion, but better.

This is Lisa & my Uncle John, enjoying some R&R after class

Besides learning how to be an Auctioneer, the other amazing part of the trip was the friendships we made. The whole class became a tight knit support group, cheering one another on and rooting for each others success. One woman I met, Lisa, is launching a Vintage Event company up in Seattle. Others are joining auction companies. Many are planning on becoming contract auctioneers. 

Class being taught by Ronnie Wood, one of the best livestock auctioneers ever

By the time Friday rolled around we were sounding like we knew a little bit about auctioneering. Friday night was a live auction held for the public where each of us was to auction off 3 items. Saturday was even more nerve wracking. In the afternoon we took the written exam, followed closely by the oral exam. We had to auction off an item to a silent room. No one was allowed to bid-we just had to make it up in our heads. It was so weird to be auctioning in a dead silent space with everyone staring at me! I forgot a bunch, but I got through it. Phew! 

Jacquelyn, a high school senior, auctioning off live!

Trey, owner of a Safari Park in Oklahoma

Sunday was Graduation. We all happily graduated and are now licensed auctioneers!! It was such an amazing experience: total immersion, tons of practice, great friendships made & new skills developed. What a perfect week of learning.

Here's my diploma! I definetly earned this!! 

Entering the World of Live Estate Auctions

It's been a long time since I've been to a live auction. For 12 years I attended them weekly and often more than one a week. I was part of the gang that hung out at the back, trying to bid undetected.

That changed when I had my first daughter. I learned that auctions are great for newborns that sleep all the time but a disaster for wiggly toddlers. I soon stopped attending and just got used to having my weekends to myself again.

These Raggedy Ann & Andy dolls sold for $1300.

This past Sunday I reentered that world I'd once held so dear. (My husband was hanging out with the kids for the day) My uncle & I drove 2 1/2 hours to an antique estate auction being held by one of my favorite auction houses. The auction was due to start at 1, so we arrived at 12:15 to have time to preview what was being offered.

Very old Georgian Period doll sold for $3500

The auction contained a toy collectors estate. Dolls of all kinds, dating back to the Georgian Era of the 19th century. Black Americana toys, Victorian mechanical toys, & lots of old teddy bears.

Folk Art doll that went for over $5k

The doll collectors came out in force. I watched as folk art dolls made around 1910 went for $5000. (note to self: pay attention to old folk art toys!) I saw the Black Americana toys get skipped over for lack of interest. (which illustrates how subjective value is-with the right audience these toys should have gone for thousands)

Black Americana folk art dolls didn't sell

I was surprised to see a Victorian mechanical rocking chair toy not getting bids. The auctioneer kept offering it lower and lower. Just as they were about to pass it I raised my paddle. I won! I wasn't planning on buying her, but I'm sure glad I did. She has the sweetest hand painted porcelain face. Her body has the original clothing, all her arms & legs and she sits in a wooden rocking chair. When gently wound she rocks back and forth with a loud tick tock sound.

Victorian Mechanical Toy that I won! 

Then they came to the teddy bears. I watched as the ones 12 inches and under in height sold. I waited. I checked out my competition. Two women were behind me bidding but they seemed more interested in the dolls. I listed and watched as they bid $11,000 between them on dolls. When the next bears came up, they were all spent and didn't even try to bid.

Small bears that sold for $300-400 each

I was waiting for the large bears. The largest was 38 inches high, giant for a bear. Perhaps he was a studio model for a store display? The others all ranged from 17 inches to 27 inches. When each one came up for bid, I waited for the British auctioneer to start. "Who will offer me $2000?" "Okay then, who will offer me $1000?" "$500?" "Come on now, no price for it!" "$250?" Okay then, who will give me $100?" Then the bids started to fly. I was able to win them for under $200 each. I couldn't believe it.

Here they are! For size I've included my 23 month old daughter. She's posing since I told her smile big.