Yorkshire Antique Auctions

We have rented a large house. A much larger house than the one we own back home. And we only brought half of our stuff. What were we thinking?? Thank goodness for the local antique auction house nearby! 

Every Friday, the auction house has between 800 - 900 lots up for grabs. Most of the lots are a single item, but some lots are groups of stuff, so if you want to bid on Lot Q because you like piece X, you'll also have to take piece Y and Z home, too. You can check out the items online or in the warehouse the day before the auction. You can bid by paper or online before hand, or in person during the auction. Of course, bidding in person is the most nerve wracking, but best chance to get something if you really, really want it. 

We have been able to pick up quite a number of items, both practical (things we needed, like a TV stand, not pictured), and decorative. Old, solid wood items (we're talking Georgian and Victorian era) are abundant and it seems most of the young people here want to get rid of their grandparent's old fuddy-duddy furnishings in favor of new things. Whereas those of us who live amongst an abundance of Pottery Barn, Ikea, and the like, welcome the rich, old history of these pieces. Well, at least Bill and I do, anyway.

We picked up this carved oak hall unit last week. Bill and I had agreed my highest bid could be £100; I had to raise my bid a few times, but thankfully it was ours for just below that price. The hall unit's mirror is reflecting our staircase bannister, so the picture's a little Escher-esque. 

Carved oak hall unit

We also got this drop-leaf oak table, oak sideboard, and bookcase (not pictured) for a steal at £32 for all three!

Oak drop-lead table

Oak sideboard

Unfortunately, the bottom cabinets of the sideboard are locked and there is no key :-( Add another item onto Bill's to-do list! Our Highlands mahogany chiming wall clock (not pictured) is also beautiful, but never chimes the right hour three hours in a row. Argh - the auction gods were not smiling upon us that day!

Over the last several weeks, we have bid on four separate oak or mahogany pedestal desks for Bill before we were finally successful. This was our most expensive auction purchase to date, but it's a beautiful leather-topped, oak pedestal desk with a matching leather-topped filing cabinet (not pictured). 

Leather-topped pedestal desk

The top right drawer-pull is in the drawer; we just need a new screw to re-attach it. (Oh, how I love adding things to Bill's to-do list!)

I have also been looking for a desk and am kicking myself for not bidding just a bit more a few weeks ago on a Victorian mahogany ladies writing desk that was beautiful. I'm keeping my eyes peeled for something similar to come up for auction and am keeping my fingers crossed. 

We also picked up this mahogany inlaid bookcase for really good deal.

Mahogany inlaid bookcase

And last, but not least, an old timey telephone seat / table. This piece will become my client chair when we get back to California and I re-open my massage practice. I love it!

Telephone seat / table