CRANSTON, R.I. – Several weeks before Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers’ online-only Antiques & Fine Art auction on Thursday, July 23, a seller strolled into the gallery on a walk-in appraisal Tuesday holding what appeared to be a nice Chinese Qing Dynasty porcelain famille rose plaque with calligraphy. Bruneau slid it into the sale, assigning it a modest estimate of $2,000-$4,000. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.
All that changed once the bidding began. “When lot 268 opened on my computer screen it was already up to $24,000,” said Travis Landry, a Bruneau & Co. auctioneer and the firm’s director of Pop Culture. “I knew I had a determined bidder and he ended up taking it home for $96,250, including buyer’s premium. The best part is, it was a walk-in. You never know what’s out there.”
