For some irrational reason I have always wanted to purchase a piece at the Sotheby or Christie January Americana sale. This year was no exception. Sotheby’s had what I would describe as a high-country dressing table. It had some condition issues, a solid provenance, and its original black paint. I really liked the legs and fan carving. It presented an opportunity.
I reached out to a dealer who specializes in high country American furniture who told me that high country dressing tables are rare and that I should “stretch” in my bidding.
The estimate was $12,000 to $18,000. I left a bid and followed the auction live. At $19,000 I dropped out. With a 20% buyer’s premium my next bid of $22,000 would have been too much for me. I was disappointed. Would one more bid have made a difference? Once I am outbid online at an auction, unless there are other items I am bidding on, I log off.
Later that day I went back and took a look. The table sold for $60,000. My regrets instantly disappeared. I let the dealer know and he told me that the last such table he had sold was years ago and it went for 6 figures. Wow! The table confirmed my good eye and connoisseurship, but both paled in the face of my budget. Next time!
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