The world of auctions, a unique experience.
A veritable theatre of passions but also and above all an essential place for exchanges, knowledge and aesthetic pleasures, the auction is the favourite place for collectors.
The advent of the internet has allowed the auction world to become exponentially popular. Online auctions allow the removal of geographic and time constraints: potential buyers can bid anytime, at home, and the arrival of the Covid has accelerated this democratization. Auction houses have never worked so hard as during the health crisis!
But some do not resist the pleasure of travelling to experience the surprises and discoveries of exhibition mornings, the energized atmosphere of sales days, and to feel that adrenaline rush that everyone knows when they lift their finger. Because the auction, with its suspense and its twists and turns, is part of our heritage.
We must go back to Greco-Roman Antiquity to find the trace of a sculpture of Bacchus first awarded to the King of Pergamon. In France, the first text governing public auctions is an Ordinance of Saint-Louis in 1254. But it is really in the 16th century with, an edict of Henri II of 1536 that we find an organization of sales at auction as we see it today. Thus, in 1699, the first illustrated sales catalogue appeared with more than 290 paintings and prints. This activity will therefore continue to develop, be regulated, and innovate.
The year of watch collectors is generally punctuated by two major auction sessions which take place in Geneva in May and November, even if the Covid has given rise to several online sales which take place throughout the year. They allow professionals and amateurs to come together and share during a great weekend of sales.
Let's face it, big auctions can intimidate the layman. The sums announced only seem to be in the millions, the objects on offer come from prestigious collections and the buyers are only potential billionaires. But it is not. It costs nothing to take an interest in auctions and bidding can start from as little as a few hundred francs. It is up to everyone to choose their sale wisely and to have fun!
To learn more about Mélanie Didier