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The Interior Designer’s Guide To Buying At Auction

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Are you interested in buying items for your clients at auction but not sure where to start? Curious about how auction houses, auctions and sale rooms operate but not sure where to begin? Anthony Thompson is a specialist art tour guide to auction houses, museums and galleries and headed up the Islamic department at Christies for over 10 years. He will lead a small group of interior designers around the leading London sale rooms to view preview sales and auctions in progress.

Attendees will be introduced to the main salerooms operating in London and shown how they operate on a daily basis. Time will be spent learning about the legal aspects of buying and selling at auction for designers and their clients. There will be time to examine items on view and learn how to gain more information than is provided in the catalogue, and make use of little known facilities offered by each company.

Auctions will be analysed as they take place, helping attendees understand what is actually happening. The different selling styles of each auctioneer will be examined, and attendees will learn how to spot when a lot is not selling, finding out if there are genuine bids against you and how to make that winning bid.

The history of the London Salerooms will be covered as they evolved from local auctions to highly sophisticated technological and international events.

Please note:

Places are strictly limited to 15 people

The group will travel from venue to venue via London Transport and the cost of this travel is not included in the ticket price. The day will involve a reasonable amount of walking time

About the speaker:


Anthony is a specialist tour guide to London and UK museums, galleries, art fairs and exhibitions and offers a unique insight into the workings of the London art market. He also regularly gives lectures and talks on art related subjects. From 1977-1990 he was Christie's (King Street) Director and head of the Islamic Department. He also acts as an agent and broker supplying Oriental and European rugs to the interior design industry and private clients.



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