Sometimes when I’m sitting at an auction waiting for an item to come up, I’ll saunter over to the furniture sale. The stuff sells so cheaply that the auction house might as well give it away.
At one of my favorite auction houses recently, I watched as the auctioneer and buyers approached some furniture I had noticed beforehand. It was a like-new child’s bunk bed that I figured would pull in a couple hundred dollars. I could hear the auctioneer describing the set and asking for bids. The set had a bed on top and a slide for the little one to “slide” to the floor. It was open air at the bottom, which could easily become a kind of playroom. Alongside it was a bookcase with shelves for storing toys or books.
The auctioneer started high and aimed lower, stopping at $25. One man – the sole bidder – tossed out $20. Can’t sell it for less than $25, the auctioneer said. The man studied the set for a few moments as the auctioneer egged him on. (And I’m sitting there thinking to myself: It’s only $25!) Finally, the man relented and bid $25.
Later, checking Google, I found similar bunk beds – most a little fancier than this simple one – selling for hundreds of dollars and some for more than $1,000.
What a steal!
Another amazingly cheap buy that day were what looked to be two vintage (or antique) dining-room pieces: a mahogany breakfront with a beautiful cut-glass front and a matching buffet. I missed the actual bidding, but someone mentioned that both sold for about $20 total. I’m not a furniture expert, so I couldn’t tell if they were vintage, antique or reproductions.
I thought they were a lovely combination, but I’m wondering if formal dining rooms or heavy furniture are out of favor. I recall talking to an auction staffer once about a sturdy old bedroom set waiting to be auctioned. He noted that it would not likely sell for much because no one buys that stuff anymore.
But if you do, auctions are a good place to look. But be sure to do your homework to make sure you know what you’re buying. If the vintage or antique designation isn’t important, go for it. You’re not likely to find these prices anywhere else.
The prices at these places just amaze me. I’m on the lookout for a new office desk, so you know where I’ll be hunting.
Sherry, so true. We run bi-weekly estate auctions and always have a good selection of antique and used furniture. Unfortunately for us there’s not much interest in the big bulky pieces like your bunk beds, bureaus, etc. It’s a buyer’s market out there, right now. Oh, how times have changed in the antique and auction business.