Does anyone have any experience of setting up or attending an auction here in France? There doesn't seem to be many small independent auctions around and I'm thinking about starting one up in Herault(34) to sell antiques and collectables.
I'm not quite sure what regulation there is around them and I would welcome any advice or experience within the network...
Hi, Brian,
I suppose I am unusual in that I don't deal in France. I've dealt in the UK for 32 years now and find that, basically, my region here produces nothing ( cows and grumpy farmers around here, no chateaux!) so every couple of months I hop on a plane, buy at Uk auction, sell whilst there, and come home to recover! In the past I used to come to France to buy but during my first year here I found my stuff so thin on the ground that I gave up wasting time, petrol and tolls and go back to Yorkshire!
As far as I know you have to have a record book which the police can ask to inspect at any time. The items has a number on it that corresponds to the book entry. Any item that does not have this number then gives them suspicions about under the counter trading. My friends in the Trade here do seem to adhere to this. They tell me that often the 'buyer' who picks something up from their stall and asks about it is 'police' without uniform.
Really, it's much the same as I do for the Uk too. Everything logged, listed and tagged with ref number. That goes back to the days when I was VAT registered and used the Margin scheme, which demanded that. I found it makes stocktaking quick and easy and the accountant has no questions at year end.
Have you seen the Fairs run by Cipolat? Good general Fairs, some dealer-only. Aladin magazine helps too with fair locations and dates. The UK Antiques Trade Gazette lists fairs and markets in Europe. Stand and listen to dealers chatting at fairs, invariably they are discussing the oncoming Fairs and you will hear about ones you don't yet know. My advice...don't waste any time in the Haute Savoie!
Thanks Mary- It looks as though setting up an auction room might be a step too far given the penchant for bureaucracy here and the tight regulation of many professions...I think I'll stick to the brocantes and puces for now and see how things progress. While you're on Mary do you use a registre d'antiquaires?... and what exactly do you put in it? According to the rules we should be listing all purchases (and their origins) and getting the book stamped at the polcie station at the beginning and end of the book. I think there is supposed to be a threshhold of about 60 euros but not sure whether this applies to the value of price paid...It certainly seems to be a little burdensome and I don't imagine local dealers record every purchase. i would just be interested to know how others use it on a practical basis.....Kind regards Brian
Hi, Brian, I'm an antiques dealer living in the Haute Savoie but still dealing in the UK, shuttling back and forth. Like other replies, mine gives little hope for you setting up an auction house, but maybe you can find a local one that doesn't do much business and get known there. One English guy I know helps out at the local auction house here and it has helped him greatly to make contacts in the Trade.
If you find any good costume, lace, fans, shawls, embroidered textiles down your way, I am always wanting to buy.....
Cheers KK
;-)
Thanks Nick- I'll drop him a line...Brian
You could do worse than contacting my friend John Slade in Limoges (Scroll down the intro to find him).
He has been in the antiques game here for as long as I can remember and showed me the ropes to buying at auctions. I'm sure he would know how they are organised.
You may say I gave you his contact details if you need an intro.
Hiya. I suggest that you search Www.interencheres.com which lists all the auctions. I attended regularly in the uk but in France its different. I understand that everyone gives in a blank cheque to get a paddle number and that is filled in by the auctioneer with your total purchase. I suppose your reporting to the police is so that they can easily find any stolen goods.
I understand its mainly dealers at auctions. I suggest you investigate bringing the French stiff to England and get the better prices here at auction.
Some ideas. Hope it helps. Happy to discuss. K. K.
Thanks David- very helpful I suspected as much as I've registered as an antique dealer and now am the proud possessor of several permits and a register in which I have to record all purchases and present periodically at the police station!
I haven't quite yet got my head around the language used in French auctions so if anyone can fill in the blanks that would be helpful too....
I think you will find there's an awful lot of regulation. Auctioneers are closely controlled. See the wikipedia article here