Where do objects sold at auction come from?
Before appearing in an auction sale, a painting, a piece of jewelry, a watch or a sculpture usually goes through a key first step: valuation. At Expertisez Enchères, these appointments help identify the items that have real potential on the market.
Browse upcoming auctions
Discover the catalogues and upcoming sales organized by Expertisez Enchères.
Where do auction lots come from?
An auction sale is never assembled at random. Lots come from private owners, collectors, estates, inheritance divisions, and sellers who want to obtain a market price through competition between bidders.
Before any item is offered for sale, it is examined, assigned to the appropriate category, compared with similar results, and assessed according to several criteria: authenticity, condition, quality, rarity, provenance and market demand.
This valuation stage is decisive. It makes it possible to distinguish between objects that are simply interesting and those that are genuinely suitable for public auction.
What types of property are most often presented?
The items brought in for valuation cover a wide range of categories, but some appear more frequently than others.
Paintings, drawings, sculptures and works on paper.
Jewelry, gold, collectors’ watches and signed pieces.
Handbags, leather goods and accessories from major luxury houses.
Collectors’ bottles, vintage prints and modern photographs.
Not every object submitted for valuation is necessarily offered for sale. However, those with genuine market appeal may then be included in a sale suited to their category.
How does an object move from valuation to auction?
- The item is presented and examined by the auctioneer.
- Its market potential is assessed on the basis of comparables and public auction results.
- If an auction sale is appropriate, the lot is directed to the most suitable sale.
- It is then photographed, catalogued and included in the auction calendar.
- On the sale day, bidders compete in the room, by telephone or online.
Free valuation Wednesdays in Paris
Every Wednesday, Expertisez Enchères welcomes private clients by appointment for a free valuation of works of art, jewelry, watches and collectors’ items.
Why this matters to bidders as well
For enthusiasts and collectors, understanding where lots come from helps explain the logic behind an auction sale. Objects do not appear out of nowhere: they are selected, studied and then directed into the auction process when they are consistent with the market.
Following upcoming sales also makes it possible to identify, in advance, the types of property regularly brought in for valuation and likely to appear again in future catalogues.
View upcoming sales
Would you like to follow upcoming catalogues, bid on a work, or track lots in your field of collecting?
Do you own an object you may wish to sell?
A professional valuation helps determine whether your property could be suitable for auction.