Shopping for antiques

Shopping for Antiques

Today we are visiting Doyle Auction House – a New York institution that's been operating since 1973. It's a brilliant place to come for inspiration and to educate your eye, as well as purchase antiques.

Tips for Shopping at Auction

• If you go for things that aren't necessarily in fashion or currently desirable, you will be able to get them for a much better price than something that's on trend.

• Have a list of items to hand you're looking to source. This will keep you focused and ensure you get everything you need. However, it also pays to keep an open mind – it's often the most unexpected items that inspire you the most.

• Always try to view a piece in person before committing to buying it – this is especially true at auction, as you will need to judge its condition to decide how much you want to spend. Also, you may not like it as much in real life as you did online.

• When you find something you like, take a photograph that shows its scale and take another photo of the information card displaying the lot number. This will help you remember your find, and you'll also be able to show it to clients.

• Find antique dealers and auction houses to visit in your local area, and go as regularly as you can to give yourself the best chance of finding amazing deals.