Trip to the Auction House

Well, yesterday I worked up enough guts to go to my first auction.  I went to the preview at Direct Auctions the day before and scouted out a few items that I thought would fit well either in my Etsy shop or in my booth at upcoming fleas...and most items turned out to be well out of my bidding price range - leading me to question if I know anything about pricing anything...

The first lot of interest was a collection of deer cocktail glasses of assorted colors... the reserve was $50 for the set - which is what I felt would be a fair retail price for them.  No one took them home...

The second lot up was a small box of crystal door knobs, which went for $150!

Other lots I had an eye on:

 a set of 7 manual typewriters - $450...

...Two retro green swivel chairs (in excellent condition) - $280...

...White metal plant stand - $170...

...2 French shabby chic and chippy looking nightstands - $150.

And finally, the lot I won: a set of five Del Monte advertising posters with adorable kittens on them~

Well, this one has a puppy on it...

I would love to post more pics of them but there wasn't enough light in my apartment - so sadly all the pictures turned out blurry and grainy.  Since I can't share them today, I'll share this instead ~

Overall, it was a good learning experience. It was interesting to get a feel for the people there and what kinds of items they were bidding on.  I might go back and either place all absentee bids so I don't have to sit there for hours, or I will go back and try to pick up a bargain on items no one else seems interested in yet still appeal to me.  There were some steals to be had  if I were more mentally prepared to raise my bid paddle for them.  I would have loved to have been the person to get the vintage iron and wood theatre seats for only $15...

Oh - and on a side note - some of you Danish modern lovers might be interested to hear that a pair of "Johannes Hanson Denmark" signed end tables went for $725. You can see them in this picture.