AUCTION HOUSES

THE RISE OF CURATED AUCTION SALES HAS MADE ANTIQUE ONLINE SHOPPING MORE APPEALING. HERE ARE OUR FAVOURITE HAUNTS.

- MELISSA PENFOLD & ISABELLA WALKER-

Auctions are often a middle ground between high-end antique retailers and more mass-market stores.

Thanks to sites such as LiveAuctioneers and Invaluable, which partner with auction houses around the world, you can access hundreds of sales any hour of the day. Such sales can be rich hunting grounds for vintage and antique furnishings, from majolica plates to well-made 19th-century French farmhouse tables and Mid-century pieces that sell for three times the price on designer retail sites like Chairish.

Online auctions, such as Lawsons, are one of the most cost-effective and easy ways to buy antiques, with pictures and descriptions of the items posted before each timed sale.

Auction houses provide catalogues online with photographs, brief descriptions and an estimated market value of each item. Browsing them can be entertaining and educational - watch for patterns emerging. Whether you're a collector or a new devotee, there's an explosion of interest in online auction shopping as it offers all the convenience of mass-produced decor without the environmental impact.

The benefits of decorating with antiques are endless. There is an incalculable amount of vintage and antique furniture available, as well as art, to scroll through on your screens.

Here are the best online auction sites to browse, and to bid and buy on the secondary market. Find what gets you excited and buy the best quality you can.

1STDIBS

1stDibs provides a platform for both auctions and direct sales, allowing buyers to choose their preferred method of acquisition. While it offers an auction platform, the 1stDibs site brings together more than 3300 professional dealers specialising in design, furniture, fine art and other collectables for affluent consumers and interior designers. 1stdibs.com.