Disrupting the disrupters

Auction houses are increasingly embracing online platforms, offering keen bargain hunters a more affordable - or even free - way to scratch their itch, says Roger Field

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VIEWERS of the BBC's Antiques Roadshow are treated to this scene most weeks: a happy punter is talking to an obviously ‘delighted for them’ expert who asks “How much did you pay for this exquisite pot [whatever] and where did you find it?” To which the punter responds: “Oh 50p/£5 [insert tiny sum of money of choice] in a charity shop/car boot sale.” The expert then goes on to say that it is worth some eye-watering markup on the original price.

Cue joy and clapping from onlookers revelling in their five seconds of background television fame. Why the applause, I always wonder? It’s not as if our bargain hunter has just sung a note-perfect solo at the Royal Opera House. As everyone congratulates themselves I, curmudgeon that I am, wonder how many weeks, months, years even, of life that person has spent rootling through other people’s usually tasteless, certainly unwanted, detritus in countless charity shops and car boot sales before happening upon this now centre-screen treasure.

An astonishing tool

I detected a similar hint of superior incredulity when a chum, to whom I had just sent a juicy auction link, asked me how long I spent searching the internet each day, clearly amazed that I had spotted this particular gem. He has a point, but only up to a point. First, I need to monitor the auction scene to write this column. Second, the reason that some of that stuff ends up in charity shops and car boot sales is because an auction house, or a dealer, has already rejected it as substandard; auctioneers acting as quality filters. Meaning, it follows, that most of what makes it into a sale catalogue (certainly those held by the larger houses) will be of a high enough quality to make it worth my while to at least have a look, even if it is a high-speed one.