Why sell direct to me rather than an auction?
There are many good reasons to sell at auction, but in my opinion there are better reasons to sell directly to me. These include a very personal service, an agreed price (that is usually higher than you would achieve at auction) and a fast payment. I would also add that I really care about the pieces I buy so if there is an interesting family story to go with your ceramic I would love to hear it!
Selling at auction
The pros
- It’s a straightforward and easy route, with the auctioneer taking care of everything from the valuation to the sale to sending the final settlement.
- Your item will be marketed through the auctioneer’s catalogue to their own network of dealers, collectors and subscribers.
- Your item will also be marketed online, opening it up to potential buyers around the world.
- There is an element of theatre around an auction that can be good entertainment value – it could be exciting to see what happens on the day.
- If you set a reserve price (that the auctioneer can’t go below) you avoid the risk of selling for less than you wanted – although you could end up with nothing.
The cons
- If an auctioneer is not able to describe and price your item accurately, due to a lack of specialist knowledge, there is a good chance it will be undersold.
- Buyers are limited to those who were aware of the auction and in a position to buy on the day, and a lack of competition can work against you.
- The auctioneer will charge both you (the seller) and the buyer a commission on the sale, which can amount to 40% of the final SALE price. If you set your reserve too high, hoping to offset your portion of the commission, you could price yourself out of the market.
- It’s not a fast process – the time between sending your item to auction and receiving payment after the sale can be many weeks.
- Buyers sometimes change their mind about an item they have successfully bid on, so even though the sale is agreed you may not get your money.
- If your item does not achieve the reserve price first time round you could wait months for the next scheduled auction. To increase the chance of a future sale the auctioneer may push you to lower the reserve, which means you will wait longer to get less than you wanted.
- If you decide to take your unsold item back (rather than put it in the next auction) the auctioneer will still charge you a fee – so the worst case scenario is that you will end up paying to take your own property home!
Selling to me
The pros
- The service I offer is just as straightforward and easy but also very personal, because most of my work involves buying individual pieces from private sellers.
- I have specialised in 20th century ceramics for more than 30 years, which means I am a genuine expert in my field and you can trust my knowledge and my appraisals.
- If you bring me something that is outside my field of expertise I will refer you to an appropriate specialist (there is a lot of teamwork in my profession, we know who knows what).
- I pay top rates for the kind of top quality items I need to have in stock to satisfy my long contact list of private and institutional collectors around the world.
- I actively encourage sellers to get an auction valuation before they bring their pieces to me because I have nothing to hide; in fact, sellers often find that my offer is higher than an auctioneer’s top estimate – and higher still when you consider that there is no sales commission to pay.
- I don’t delay when it comes to payment – once the ceramic is in my hands the money will be winging its way into your account.
The cons
- There is only one possible ‘con’ that private sellers occasionally raise, so I would like to address it here, head on. The conversation starts like this, ‘If I go to auction there is no upper limit, I’ve seen rare finds going for millions on the news’. This is true, and what has happened in all of these cases is that the auctioneer has recognised the extraordinary value of an item, marketed it appropriately, and international collectors have reacted accordingly. But rare discoveries are exactly that – rare. And I promise, hand on heart, that if you bring me an item that has the potential to set the world alight I will be the first to tell you! I may even drive you to Sotheby’s myself!
Recent pieces purchased
Here are a few examples of the prices I have recently paid for good pieces. (Please note, future prices will vary in line with the prevailing
market trends. As with all antiques, ceramics fall in and out of fashion and demand and prices are always fluctuating).
Clarice cliff Sliced Circle design vase
£2000
Lenci Nella figurine
£2500
Large Louis Wain cat
£3000
William de Morgan plaque
£3500
Lenci Sul Mondo figure
£10000
Clarice Cliff vases
£800 - £3000
Large William Moorcroft Hazeldene vase made for Liberty & Co
£4000
Lalique electric blue Perruches vase
£12000
Martin Brothers stoneware bird
£15000
Ruskin Hi-Fired vase
£1000
I hope this simple explanation of the pros and cons of selling by auction or directly to me has convinced you that you have nothing to lose – and potentially plenty to gain – just by showing your items to me for a professional valuation, free of charge or obligation.
I am passionate about what I sell and excited to see new things that haven’t surfaced before. I buy anything that I consider to be a good piece. Even if you show me something that is outside my area of expertise I will be able to introduce you to someone who specialises in that field, also free of charge.
You can call me on (44) 7976 956208 or fill in my online form.
What my customers say about me...
There are many good reasons to sell at auction, but in my opinion there are better reasons to sell directly to me. These include a very personal service, an agreed price (that is usually higher than you would achieve at auction) and a fast payment. I would also add that I really care about the pieces I buy so if there is an interesting family story to go with your ceramic I would love to hear it!
Alan B
Virtual Valuations by Zoom or WhatsApp
There’s no need to bring your ceramic to me for a valuation. Thanks to the magic of video calls (by Zoom or WhatsApp) I am able to examine your pieces virtually. So please get in touch. It could be the most rewarding call you make this year!
