The benefits of buying homeware at auction in Yorkshire and how to bid

“We now have a broad spectrum of people buying at our auctions, from dealers operating their own business to people who want to furnish their own home and one-off buyers who want to bid for a specific item,” says Jane Tennant, director, auctioneer and one of the valuers at the family business.

She points out that buying pre-loved items is eco-friendly because there are no demands on the planet’s resources. It can also be more affordable and offer better quality than buying new pieces that are mass produced abroad, shipped here and are rarely made to last.

“At an auction, you can get a 300 year-old piece of furniture that is well made and will still be around in another 300 years,” says Jane.

The other great bonus is that you are likely to get something special with its own story, something definitely different from the mainstream.

Tennants and other auction houses encourage people to go along to a sale in person, if possible, rather than bid online, not least because there are many benefits.

“If you see an item in person, you can touch it and get a feel for it. It makes a difference,” says Jane.

There are trends in the auction world with mid-century furniture being one of them that blossomed in the late 1990s and has not yet disappeared, not least because it works well in apartments and both new-build and traditional homes.

As for what’s up and coming, traditional period furniture that had been languishing in the doldrums is picking up.

“Nice early furniture, including 17th century oak, is becoming more popular because of its patina, texture and warmth. You can pick up items for a few hundred pounds while a plank top table from that era might cost a few thousand,” says Jane who warns buyers not to paint period furniture unless it is modern pine, otherwise the value will plummet.

She is also seeing a return to the country house look with more pattern and colour sought after. Antique and vintage textiles too are in vogue, especially Suzani, hand-embroidered textile panels from Central Asia with the best examples coming from Uzbekistan.

These work beautifully as wall hangings but expect to pay between £200 to £2,500 depending on size and quality.

With a more modest value, hand-sewn quilts are also selling well as is vintage clothing, including Chanel and 1950s tea dresses.

For those still afraid to buy from an auction house because they don’t know how, try and attend a sale and observe and/or visit the auction house on a none-sale day and ask questions when the staff are not quite so frantic. “Auctions are not exclusive and they offer something for everyone and are a great day out,” says Jane.

If you do buy then make sure you can either carry your item away or engage a local firm to deliver it for you. The auction house will no doubt have a list of couriers.

The next sale at Tennants in Leyburn is on November 15 and features an eclectic and decorative mixture of antiques and contemporary art via the selected contents of Bell Hall, Naburn.

The collection was put together over several decades and includes good period oak furniture, folk art, 19th century sampler, and Asian art alongside modern and contemporary paintings, ceramics and works of art, many pieces with an animal theme.

There is also a late 17th century joined oak refectory dining table with an auction estimate of £1,000-£1,500, which brings to mind the saying “they don’t make them like that any more”. You could buy a modern version of this but it is unlikely to rise in value, which is another reason to bid.

Here is a short guide on how to bid in person at an auction house. Each saleroom may operate slightly differently so do check beforehand..

You can often see and read about the items coming up for auction online and that will give you an idea of what you might be interested in. You can also look at them in person on the day if you get there early before the auction starts.

There may also be a sale catalogue available to buy which has all the items for sale, their lot numbers, a description and an estimated value. You must register with the auction house's reception before the auction to receive a bidding card with a number on it. You can then bid on items you like. If you win, the auctioneer will ask you to state your number and you can pay and collect your treasure.

Other ways to buy antique and vintage homeware includes antique shops and antique and vintage fairs, which are always enjoyable.

You can also buy via Facebook Marketplace, Ebay and Gumtree, though some of these carry risks and frustrations due to scammers.