(cont)

With the sale due to start and over a hundred lots before Phillip handed the gavel to me, there was plenty of time to watch a seasoned professional at work. Phillip had told me that building a rapport with clients is essential, and that connecting and making eye contact with buyers was crucial. Watching him at work, it became obvious that Phillip loves what he does, and with subtle jokes, smooth transitions from one lot to the next, plus a natural ability to work with reticent bidders, it all felt very slick, very professional and very elitist indeed.

Being introduced as the auction house’s newest team member and with a few quick quips from Phillip, he whispered a few last minute pointers as I stepped up to the microphone. The desirable lots sold in rapid succession with bid after bid after bid, and I must admit to feeling a real buzz as I tried to emulate Phillip by working the floor and trying to appear relaxed and in control. Phillip had stressed to me that speed was not of the essence and that it was far more important to foster a sense of calm professionalism in which buyers feel a rapport with the house and have the time to bid before the gavel falls. With a final bid in place for each item I clapped down the gavel on the lectern and had sold the last of my ten lots… only too happy to hand back control of the sale to Phillip.

It was tremendous fun and impressive to say the least to see such expertise and quality of antiques so close to home, and with contacts across the arts and antiques trade Phillip is certain to attract national and international buyers to Boston in the future.

As Lincolnshire Pride goes to press, the sale room has one or two extremely unusual items, in the form of several lots of personal effects belonging to the wartime Pilot Douglas Bader – one of which is one of the heroic pilot’s artificial legs. Other lots include personal photographs and other memorabilia. It’s a real coup for the auction room, and with lots such as those and other high-value or unusual items finding their way into the county, it won’t be long before the reputation of the rooms is unsurpassed.

As for myself, even Phillip would have to concede that I’m a long way from a change of vocation… but all the same, with a great atmosphere, friendly team and some extremely interesting sale items, it was great fun!

See www.eleys-auctions.co.uk for more information.