Friday 1st May was an auspicious day for Spicers as they were the first Fine Art auctioneer to return to the rostrum in East Yorkshire. Director, Andy Spicer, had continued to work throughout the lockdown, with only one other member of the team continuing as a home worker, the remainder are on furlough.

He had been watching other auctions happening online and the successful ones had good quality illustrations and cataloguing. Deciding this was achievable he put together a 305 lot Home Furnishing auction, covering tools, garden features, boxed lots of china, jewellery, silver, paintings and furniture. On the day, with the help of his wife, who had not left the family home until sale day, his home worker inputting bids, his part time accounts lady manned the telephone and his IT support company dealing with the internet bidding the statistics make interesting reading and totally justify the idea to hold the auction.

Interest was overwhelming with the sale being viewed 48,834 times and 488 bidders registering from the UK and Ireland along with countries such as Australia, Dubai, France, Italy, Hungary, Chile, Austria, Poland, Canada, USA and Singapore. 97% of the sale sold with 94% going to internet bidders, who bid on 298 of the 305 lots on offer. The final sale total was nearly double the bottom estimate and a record for this type of auction.

Every part of the auction had highlights, some of which were a Myford Milling Machine selling for £600, a pair of concrete lions at £360, a banjo and violin at £360 and the highlight of the day a Barker & Stonehouse dining room suite at £1,440.

The next Home Furnishings auction will be held on the 15th May followed two weeks later with a Fine Art & Antiques one, entries are being accepted according to Government social distancing guidelines. For more information contact Andy at andy@spicersauctioneers.com or call 01377 593593.