The Bold Abode

helping warm-hearted women take small steps toward positive lasting change

Auctions. are. Awesome.

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It’s a darn good thing…

Molding on Carved Oak Sideboard

that I’m not in Georgia anymore…

Sideboard Carving

Because, if I were, I’d be so poor from going to the Furniture Auction in Bainbridge…

Original Hardware on Carved Oak Sideboard

Biting my nails and bidding on amazing pieces which I’d have to turn into something useful…

Fabric skirt on Sideboard

And I’m for sure that I’d run out of room…

Carved Oak Sideboard

But, golly…

I’d have some amazing pieces… for practically nothing.

Notice, I said “practically”…

Emotions can run wild when you’re at the auction.  I have a broken German set of ceramic kitchenware upstairs in the attic to prove it.

So, if there are furniture auctions up here in Virginia, don’t you dare tell me down in the comments below.

Just send me a private email so Morgan won’t find out…

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The Bold Abode is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com as well as other affiliate networks.

What the BOLD ones say:

    • Gwen says

      It was, indeed!!! But, I always spend WAY too much money! But, the deals were always so good, and because I was usually competing against retailers, I could get what I really wanted. I didn’t have to think about the profit margin issue. The only thing I wish I had bought was an ENTIRE set of my silver pattern. I can’t believe I didn’t go for that one…

  2. Sarah says

    I haven’t been to an auction yet! You should go with me so you can teach me the ropes for my business. See there’s your excuse to go to the auction! You’re welcome! 😉

    • Gwen says

      I’m not sure I’m the right person to be teaching auction tips! I always spent way too much, got way too excited and came home with stuff I probably didn’t need…

      Having said that.. it’s so much fun! And the stuff generally is in good condition. Well, except for the Germanic Ceramics. Ugh!

  3. Jill says

    oh, the detail on that piece! I would be so scared to go hog-wild at an auction; never been and I don’t know of any round here (probably a good thing!)

    • Gwen says

      I know! I get all crazy at them! But, if you have a budget, and stick to it… and know what you are bidding on, it can be a great way to snag some cool stuff!

  4. Courtenay says

    I would so love to go to an auction! I think I’d be a little nervous about speaking up though and then I’d be mad at myself for missing out. Love your little quilt on a ladder set up there! I tried to pull that off, but it just wasn’t working. You just have the magic touch!

    • Gwen says

      It gets easier and easier! Umm… too easy, sometimes…

      Thanks, Courtenay! I’m not sure it’s working for me either… I really wanted an old wooden ladder, but Morgan just could’t wrap his head around it, so that one was cheaper. I keep meaning to paint it, but that is at the bottom of the list, apparently!

      • kitblu says

        Not that I have been to many auctions, and those all in Canada, but I got a card or a paddle or something with a number on it when I registered. I just held up the number when I wanted to bid. As Gwen mentioned, it is important to go early to check out the merchandise before you bid. And give yourself a maximum amount to spend either per item or overall.
        Have fun, enjoy the energy but don’t get trapped in it!

    • Gwen says

      They are a blast! Unless they are at night and go until, oh… midnight! Then you’re bleary eyed and prone to making poorer decisions… ugh!

  6. Jen @ Four Marrs & One Venus says

    WOW those pieces are amazingly gorgeous! Smokers- somebody put the fire out- they are HOT!

    • Gwen says

      Oh, yes. This auction had LOADS of furniture… I always meant to snag a wardrobe, but by the time they got to them, I was out of cash!!!

  8. Amy Renea says

    ummm…so Virginia is not that far from PA and PA is the KING of auction states, so I think you should just wiggle your bum up here and join me at my favorite auctions. They are a tiny slice of bliss for me and there is NO WHERE I’d rather go on date night (my poor husband). Auctions. are. Awesome. Yes! AGREE!

    • Gwen says

      Oh, DON”T tell me that! I just read your post on Auctions, girl… I would love to follow and learn from the genius that you are!!!

  9. Dear Helen Hartman says

    I’m ascared of auctions – always think I’ll do that swat a fly and end up spending a thousand dollars for a painting of two giraffes necking.

    • Gwen says

      Ha! I know what you mean! Fortunately, this auction wasn’t at Sotheby’s! But I still managed to spend some dough, yo….

  10. Melissa says

    I want to go to an auction!!!!!! They look like so much fun where you can find some amazing, cheap, rusty, crusty, vintage junk!!! Oh, and nice furniture too! That’s always a plus! 🙂

    • Gwen says

      They are so fun… And seriously, you can really get some cool stuff IF you keep your wits about you!

  11. Adventuresindinner says

    What a great piece. Hmmmmm….just what I need for the downstairs…

    • Gwen says

      Thank so much, Heather! I actually went to bid on another piece, but when this one came up, I fell IN LOVE!

  13. Tina says

    haha! I also use the term “practically nothing”. I also might stretch the truth a bit with my hubby.
    You got a great piece, though!
    Sorry to hear about your broken goodies.
    xxx, T.

    • Gwen says

      Oh… unfortunately, he was with me… and grimacing the entire time!

      But then, those ceramics came up.. and, suddenly, he liked it… UGH!

  15. Heather says

    I love your antique piece Gwen – score!!! Auctions are so fun! You get great stuff too the later you stay and people clear out and they pratically give the stuff for free to get rid of it. Here’s a funny story…we went to an auction in VA (yeah I am not telling you that!) and a guy was buying all kinds of guns, ammo and coins and told the auctioneer he was a Colonel in the Army….right…so the night goes on and after an hour (while he has almost boughten every single thing) he comes up to my hubs…who IS in the Army and says ‘Hey – you want some of this ammo I just bought…I bought too much and I will give you some” My hubs smelling something bad said, “No thanks” and the guy said – “Ok, I thought maybe you were a cop, you look like a cop, so I thought you might want some ammo”???????????? ANyways 2 weeks later the auctioneer said that he bounced the cheque he wrote for all of it and used someone else’s name and the auctioneer and the sherriff tore all over VA to hunt the guy down….found him and the auctioneer did a ‘Citizen’s arrest’ and they locked him up. I guess he was stealing stuff like that all over VA and wasn’t in the Army at all – it was all an alias! Good thing my hubs turned down his ‘free’ ammo offer right? A crazy auction story……..you never know what will happen on an auction night 🙂

    • Gwen says

      Oh, my gosh! How crazy! You never know, do you? I mean, how scary for a guy to be stealing AMMO!!! YIKES!

  16. Blliss says

    Someone didn’t break your winning item? Really? That’s a crazy person to do that.

    ~Bliss~

    • Gwen says

      Oh, no! It was partly broken to begin with! It was the one item we hadn’t seen prior to bidding, and let me tell you, I will never do that again, no matter how big and cute Morgan’s eyes get!!!

  17. Ira Morse says

    Auction is not bad but I prefer to go for giveaways, I have many of my bloggers friends do giveaways for their vintage home furniture.

  18. Bella (@weheartDIY) says

    Dude major score!

    I wonder if there any auctions around here…that would be so fun!

    • Gwen says

      Thanks, Bella!!

      You should check into it! I haven’t looked up here, yet, but just thinking about it makes me want to…

      I just spend WAY too much…

  19. Karah @ thespacebetweenblog says

    Auctions ARE the best!!! We used to be regulars at our small town auction house … furnished 2 rental houses on the cheap … and found a few treasures for ourselves. Hard not to get wrapped up in all of that fast auctioneering. 🙂

    • Gwen says

      It IS SO HARD not to get wrapped up in it, isn’t it???? Especially if you’ve got a great auction nearby! I really miss this one, but maybe, if I can keep to my budget, I should scout one out!

      Thanks, Karah!

  20. Kelly @ View Along the Way says

    YES. I have a garage full of boxes from *one* auction we attended a couple weeks ago. But I live in Georgia and this miracle in Bainbridge? Never been! GOING. Totally going.

    • Gwen says

      Are you close to Bainbridge? We lived in Donalsonville, which is about 20 min west of Bainbridge!

      Just when we were about to move, the auctioneer opened his own place, so I don’t know what happened to it! He was really good, though, and they always had amazing furniture… though now that I have been blogging, I might would not pay the prices! I’ve gotten MUCH thriftier!

  21. Paula says

    That’s a great piece and it makes a perfect tv console. I haven’t been to an auction in a while but I do enjoy them.

    • Gwen says

      Thanks so much, Sweet Paula!

      It’s been a while for me, too. I haven’t taken the gumption to look for one up here, yet! Do you know of any good thrift places around? I’ve been to Estate Specialists and some other places downtown, but they seem pricey to me…

  23. Kelly @ Eclectically vintage says

    I’m running out of room myself – so need to steer clear of auctions. Don’t want Hoarders to come knocking!
    Kelly

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The Bold Abode is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.