Pistols at dawn

A trio of wheel-locks has Roger Field feeling proprietorial but he's not alone in his ambition. It's a sharp reminder that, in the world of auctions, an item isn't yours until you've paid for it

- By Roger Field

I AM FEELING a tad disconsolate this morning and find myself reflecting on the sometimes weird psychology of buying at auction. I've been monitoring an upcoming lot all week, ever since an auction alert led me to check it out on the internet. And there, of course, is the plot spoiler. If I got that alert then so did hundreds, if not thousands, of others. Worldwide. It was for three ancient Islamic bowls. I'll spare you the details but suffice to say, come auction kickoff earlier today, the internet pre-bidding had reached the giddy heights of £18. I almost – but not really – allowed myself to start believing I was on for bargain time. Dream on. I underbid at £300, not willing to go higher for items I had not inspected; 1,000-year-old crockery can be far more damaged and restored than the catalogue photos indicate.

Instead, I have been consoling myself with my all-too-often-repeated auction mantra: it's never yours until you've paid for it. Although, that said, I have to stop myself from getting proprietorial, pre-auction, about something I really want. I've handled it. And researched it. I've pestered one of my long-suffering experts for detailed bidding advice. I've decided to dig deep. It should be mine. And then it isn't.

Getting competitive