auction house experience

corrado26 · 29th March 2016, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by estcrh

You never bought anything from Ebay? There is not much difference between Ebay and an auction house except the buyers premium.

Oh yes there is a very, very big difference between auction houses and eBay in Germany, because eBay in Germany does not allow to offer weapons because of German laws. So nobody is able to buy pistols, swords, daggers, knifes etc. at eBay.
In the last 50 years I managed to build up a well functioning net of connections in the field of arms collecting in whole Europe that I am not forced to buy at auctions and so I avoid to make rich the owners of auction houses.
corrado26

VANDOO · 29th March 2016, 04:23 PM

FROM A DEALERS OR COLLECTORS POINT OF VIEW GOOD TRUSTED CONNECTIONS OR HAVING HANDS ON THE ITEMS IS TRULY THE BEST WAY TO GO. ONLINE AUCTIONS ARE A RISK AND OFTEN THE PICTURES ARE TAKEN BY AMATEURS OR TOO SMALL SO NO GOOD ASSESSMENT CAN BE MADE. THE COST OF SHIPPING IS OFTEN HIGH USUALLY BECAUSE OF HIGH SHIPPING CHARGES BUT SOMETIMES MADE INTENTIONALLY HIGH BY THE SELLER TO BEAT EBAY OUT OF SOME CASH AND ENHANCE THEIR PROFIT. IN THE EARLY DAYS OF EBAY MOST DEALERS DID NOT BID BUT SOON HIGH END ETHNO ART GALLERY DEALERS GOT IN THE GAME AND LATER SOME AUCTION HOUSES AS WELL. ONE PARTICULAR AUCTION STOCKS UP REGULARLY AND IS EITHER OWNED BY OR EBAY OR OWNS IT ? I OFTEN AM OUT BID ON A RARE ITEM AND LATER SEE IT ON THEIR AUCTIONS PRICED WAY OUT OF MY RANGE . THEY ALSO BUY UP ITEMS AND PUT THEM TOGETHER AS A NICELY DISPLAYED COLLECTION FOR SALE IN NATURAL HISTORY AUCTIONS. ITS FUN TO LOOK EVEN IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO BID , OFTEN THERE ARE SOME UNIQUE
ITEMS.
AUCTION HOUSES HAVE GOTTEN GREEDY WITH THEIR COMMISSIONS AS THEY CHARGE BOTH SELLER AND BUYER. IF ITS 25% FOR EACH THEY TAKE HOME HALF OF THE MONEY FOR EACH ITEM. ITEMS THEY BUY ON EBAY AND PLACE HIGH RESERVES AND ESTIMATES ON ALSO LINE THEIR POCKETS AND STILL BRING IN A 20 TO 25 % COMMISSION FROM THE BUYER AS WELL.
THE ITEMS I BID ON IN THIS AUCTION WERE INCOMPLETE BUT RARE AND WITH SOME PROVENANCE.THEY WENT HIGH FOR INCOMPLETE ITEMS BUT REASONABLE IF THEY HAD BEEN COMPLETE. I HOPED THAT DEALERS OR HIGH END COLLECTORS WOULD NOT WANT THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT COMPLETE. BUT SOMEONE EVEN FINDS THE CRUMBS TASTY

EBAY HAS BEEN GOOD FOR ME AND I HAVE ONLY GOT SCAMMED AND BURNED TWO TIMES AND NOT FOR A LOT OF MONEY. MOST ITEMS I WIN ON EBAY THESE DAYS ARE LOW END ITEMS OR NOT OLD ANTIQUES BUT ARE AT A FAIR PRICE. THERE ARE FEW ITEMS AT THE LOCAL GUN SHOWS SO EBAY AT LEAST LETS ME KEEP MY HAND IN AT COLLECTING AND I OCCASIONALLY GET A GOOD TREASURE.

mariusgmioc · 29th March 2016, 05:00 PM

I bought many items from Czerny's. Some at fairly moderate prices.

Unfortunately, in most cases the prices go much higher than a normal collector would expect, as Czerny's is one of (if not "the") most reputed auction houses for weapons.

Moreover, their sales regularly include exceptional items that would be the pride of any reputed museum.

Like most auction houses, they add a hefty premium to the hammer price, but the shipping is reasonably priced and handled hassle-free in-house.

In my oppinion they also provide the best quality photos for the lots they sell.

However, it may happen that the lots are erroneously described.

PS: In thir latest auction I placed about 12 bids and didn't win any single lot...

digenis · 29th March 2016, 07:00 PM

I have picked up several items at Czerny's, Auctions Imperial and Hermann Historica. I do think the prices have gone through the roof. Nonetheless, you do find excellent quality items in these auction venues. I agree with the previous post the EBay has some excellent finds if you are persistent and know your stuff.

A. G. Maisey · 29th March 2016, 11:16 PM

In respect of my ebay comments, I feel that I should be fair by saying that at a different stage in my collecting life, I would probably have bought from ebay, and from on-line auction houses.

However, I've been collecting for more than 60 years now, and I'm at a different point in my collecting than I was 30 or 40 years ago.

Roughly three times a week I get queries from other collectors asking me to comment on keris that they have bought from ebay or some other on-line source, sometimes the keris that I am asked to comment on are pretty nice keris, and at the price paid, they were a good buy, but even so, I have yet to see any keris referred to me in this way that I have had any desire at all to add to my collection.

Similarly, when I do take the time to browse the on-line sources I never see anything that I would be tempted to bid on.

The simple fact of the matter is that I collect on a different level and in a different way to most other collectors, so although ebay and other online sources might be good for a lot of people, they are pretty useless for me.

For many other people these on-line sources might very well be worth attention.

Its all a matter of what one wants or needs.

silberschatzimsee · 14th April 2016, 11:30 AM

Wow quite an interessting discussion going on since my last login. I apologise for not answering since I had some health and personal issues.

Concerning the eBay discussion, since I also collect coins I know that 90% off all forgeries come from that place. I prefer to miss out "bargains" and maybe pay 10-20% more in an reputable place than having sleepless nights over the authenticity of an piece.
Off course I admit there surely nice bargains to be made but you always have to check that site for not to miss it.
Furthermore since I am a still a completely novice on the field of swords there is an very high chance me getting ripped off on eBay or the 'fleamarket'. Off course getting misguided at a major auctionhouse is also possible but the chances are quite smaller. That's why I asked you guys about czernys initally since I didn't know them. Thanks again for your advices

I ordered now myself the 2 books of Peirce and Oakeschott and will read into it. I am planning to participate at bonhams in 1 month so there is still some time for me.
Also I am comparing the realised prices of the last few years to get a feeling how far I can go and when my piggybank is starting to cry.

Somehow I don't really understand them yet. I was under the impression that thousands of viking swords were found. So why is a rare? 'ulfberth' cheaper than a seemingly nameless vikingsword?

And to stay with this topic, at what do you look at a viking sword to judge it's quality?

Many thanks in advance

Cheers
Silberschatzimsee

29th March 2016, 05:00 PM	#3
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,906	About Czerny's I bought many items from Czerny's. Some at fairly moderate prices. Unfortunately, in most cases the prices go much higher than a normal collector would expect, as Czerny's is one of (if not "the") most reputed auction houses for weapons. Moreover, their sales regularly include exceptional items that would be the pride of any reputed museum. Like most auction houses, they add a hefty premium to the hammer price, but the shipping is reasonably priced and handled hassle-free in-house. In my oppinion they also provide the best quality photos for the lots they sell. However, it may happen that the lots are erroneously described. PS: In thir latest auction I placed about 12 bids and didn't win any single lot... Last edited by mariusgmioc; 29th March 2016 at 05:12 PM.

29th March 2016, 04:23 PM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	FROM A DEALERS OR COLLECTORS POINT OF VIEW GOOD TRUSTED CONNECTIONS OR HAVING HANDS ON THE ITEMS IS TRULY THE BEST WAY TO GO. ONLINE AUCTIONS ARE A RISK AND OFTEN THE PICTURES ARE TAKEN BY AMATEURS OR TOO SMALL SO NO GOOD ASSESSMENT CAN BE MADE. THE COST OF SHIPPING IS OFTEN HIGH USUALLY BECAUSE OF HIGH SHIPPING CHARGES BUT SOMETIMES MADE INTENTIONALLY HIGH BY THE SELLER TO BEAT EBAY OUT OF SOME CASH AND ENHANCE THEIR PROFIT. IN THE EARLY DAYS OF EBAY MOST DEALERS DID NOT BID BUT SOON HIGH END ETHNO ART GALLERY DEALERS GOT IN THE GAME AND LATER SOME AUCTION HOUSES AS WELL. ONE PARTICULAR AUCTION STOCKS UP REGULARLY AND IS EITHER OWNED BY OR EBAY OR OWNS IT ? I OFTEN AM OUT BID ON A RARE ITEM AND LATER SEE IT ON THEIR AUCTIONS PRICED WAY OUT OF MY RANGE . THEY ALSO BUY UP ITEMS AND PUT THEM TOGETHER AS A NICELY DISPLAYED COLLECTION FOR SALE IN NATURAL HISTORY AUCTIONS. ITS FUN TO LOOK EVEN IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO BID , OFTEN THERE ARE SOME UNIQUE ITEMS. AUCTION HOUSES HAVE GOTTEN GREEDY WITH THEIR COMMISSIONS AS THEY CHARGE BOTH SELLER AND BUYER. IF ITS 25% FOR EACH THEY TAKE HOME HALF OF THE MONEY FOR EACH ITEM. ITEMS THEY BUY ON EBAY AND PLACE HIGH RESERVES AND ESTIMATES ON ALSO LINE THEIR POCKETS AND STILL BRING IN A 20 TO 25 % COMMISSION FROM THE BUYER AS WELL. THE ITEMS I BID ON IN THIS AUCTION WERE INCOMPLETE BUT RARE AND WITH SOME PROVENANCE.THEY WENT HIGH FOR INCOMPLETE ITEMS BUT REASONABLE IF THEY HAD BEEN COMPLETE. I HOPED THAT DEALERS OR HIGH END COLLECTORS WOULD NOT WANT THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT COMPLETE. BUT SOMEONE EVEN FINDS THE CRUMBS TASTY EBAY HAS BEEN GOOD FOR ME AND I HAVE ONLY GOT SCAMMED AND BURNED TWO TIMES AND NOT FOR A LOT OF MONEY. MOST ITEMS I WIN ON EBAY THESE DAYS ARE LOW END ITEMS OR NOT OLD ANTIQUES BUT ARE AT A FAIR PRICE. THERE ARE FEW ITEMS AT THE LOCAL GUN SHOWS SO EBAY AT LEAST LETS ME KEEP MY HAND IN AT COLLECTING AND I OCCASIONALLY GET A GOOD TREASURE.

29th March 2016, 07:00 PM	#4
digenis Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 48	I have picked up several items at Czerny's, Auctions Imperial and Hermann Historica. I do think the prices have gone through the roof. Nonetheless, you do find excellent quality items in these auction venues. I agree with the previous post the EBay has some excellent finds if you are persistent and know your stuff.

29th March 2016, 11:16 PM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,989	In respect of my ebay comments, I feel that I should be fair by saying that at a different stage in my collecting life, I would probably have bought from ebay, and from on-line auction houses. However, I've been collecting for more than 60 years now, and I'm at a different point in my collecting than I was 30 or 40 years ago. Roughly three times a week I get queries from other collectors asking me to comment on keris that they have bought from ebay or some other on-line source, sometimes the keris that I am asked to comment on are pretty nice keris, and at the price paid, they were a good buy, but even so, I have yet to see any keris referred to me in this way that I have had any desire at all to add to my collection. Similarly, when I do take the time to browse the on-line sources I never see anything that I would be tempted to bid on. The simple fact of the matter is that I collect on a different level and in a different way to most other collectors, so although ebay and other online sources might be good for a lot of people, they are pretty useless for me. For many other people these on-line sources might very well be worth attention. Its all a matter of what one wants or needs.

14th April 2016, 11:30 AM	#6
silberschatzimsee Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 90	Wow quite an interessting discussion going on since my last login. I apologise for not answering since I had some health and personal issues. Concerning the eBay discussion, since I also collect coins I know that 90% off all forgeries come from that place. I prefer to miss out "bargains" and maybe pay 10-20% more in an reputable place than having sleepless nights over the authenticity of an piece. Off course I admit there surely nice bargains to be made but you always have to check that site for not to miss it. Furthermore since I am a still a completely novice on the field of swords there is an very high chance me getting ripped off on eBay or the 'fleamarket'. Off course getting misguided at a major auctionhouse is also possible but the chances are quite smaller. That's why I asked you guys about czernys initally since I didn't know them. Thanks again for your advices I ordered now myself the 2 books of Peirce and Oakeschott and will read into it. I am planning to participate at bonhams in 1 month so there is still some time for me. Also I am comparing the realised prices of the last few years to get a feeling how far I can go and when my piggybank is starting to cry. Somehow I don't really understand them yet. I was under the impression that thousands of viking swords were found. So why is a rare? 'ulfberth' cheaper than a seemingly nameless vikingsword? And to stay with this topic, at what do you look at a viking sword to judge it's quality? Many thanks in advance Cheers Silberschatzimsee