Great Western Auctions

I was last here about 10 years ago, and it’s interesting to see how much has changed in that time.
For a start, it’s got a little busier than I remember it, especially at the start. You’re given a unique number when you register, and you can see just by how much the numbers have jumped up how busy this place has become. Undoubtedly the TV exposure is a big factor in his, and it explains why the place looks a little tidier than it used to!
If you’re a newcomer to the whole auction thing it’s a pretty laid back way of getting yourself into it. On the whole the prices aren’t massive (depending on what sale you go to), so you don’t feel like you’re spending loads of cash. Bear in mind that there is a buyers premium which is set at 20% plus VAT, so you’ll be paying 24% more than the hammer price. A paper catalogue costs £2, but you can have a look at the details of the lots from their website, which goes online a couple of days before the auction. There is also a café there if you need some sustenance — it doesn’t do anything fancier than rolls and bacon and sandwiches, but it does the job.
We were there on one of their general sales days, and was there pretty much from start to finish. It’s a long day, so if you only fancy looking at certain things you can definitely pop in when you want. There are a number of distinct sections: jewellery at the start, followed by furniture and collectibles (these run at the same time, furniture on the ground floor), paintings, then crockery and glassware.
In terms of prices, getting a bargain seems to be a bit more difficult than it used to be. This is especially the case with the jewellery, and you got the impression that some of the buyers were bulk buying items purely for their raw material value, which is a bit of shame. The main savings seem to be in the paintings and the crockery; if you’re a student or the owner of a hipster vintage café it’s definitely the place to go if you want cheap good quality crockery. Some of the furniture also looked to be going cheap, so it could also be worth a look.
Overall, it’s a pretty good way to spend a morning. Staying for the full day is a bit of a challenge, but if you go in with £100 and are prepared to have a laugh you could come out with a couple of lots of half decent stuff. While the quality of the stuff at the general sales isn’t amazing (you get the impression this is saved for the speciality auctions), you can come away with some interesting bits an bobs.

I quite often go to Great Western Auctions when they are on and grab myself a load of unusual antiques, and on a few occasions l have been lucky enough to appear on flog it buying my items. Most auction houses you have to pay a buyer’s premium but that’s the norm everywhere you go. Be advised to register and get yourself a bidding card before bidding Identification may be required. They hold quarterly Fine Art and Antique sales consisting of Fine Art, Works of Art also Jewellery, Silver, Coins, Whisky, Furniture, Clocks, Stamps, Ceramics, Antiquities and Collectors Items, you can view items the day before sale or on the internet where they give a description and value estimate. Catalogues are for sale at £2.00.

The premiums are a little on the high side here but its still as this is one of the few sale rooms where the staff seem to be honest. Bargain hunt and the like are filmed here fairly often so there is some entertainment there even if there are no lots of interest that day. Anita the little old lady auctioneer and her «Glasgae patter» are usually good for a giggle. Being run by a woman also seems to bring less of the patronising chauvonistic attitude often found in the male dominated antiques market.

Quite disorganised; we were kept waiting for a while whilst sheets went missing half way through the auction. Too many people milling about during the auction, not to mention bidders standing right in front of the auctioneer making it difficult for those seated to bid, or even see the auctioneers! Downstairs has a café where other customers used the furniture to be sold as café tables. Viewing times a waste of time as those coming in after the auction had begun were viewing to their hearts content, very distracting indeed! Wouldn’t visit again, very disappointing.

This auction house is great for buying and selling, although the jewellery and paintings can go for silly money. The saleroom is open 2 days before each auction, which are usually once a month. the website is updated just before each auction and is useful for printing out the catalogue, which is £2 if you buy it on the day. Easy to get to by bus, as it is just between Whiteinch and Scotstoun in the West End