Gallery 63, Auction Kings

A few days ago I attended an auction with my friend, Maryellen.  The auction was ITP as Maryellen likes to say: inside the perimeter...meaning in Atlanta.   It's been years since I went to an auction and I've never attended one quite like this.  The auction was held at a place called Gallery 63...have you heard of it?  Just look at all those wonderful chandeliers!

As you can tell in the pic below, we were sitting fairly high up.  We were sitting on wooden bleachers and it turned out to be an awesome vantage point for viewing the auction.

Gallery 63 auctions are apparently a pretty big deal.  Turns out, they are on the Discovery Channel every Tuesday evening at 9PM!   See the camera man below?  Their show is called Auction Kings.  Have you seen it?   Since I watch so little TV, I only subscribe to basic cable so unfortunately, I don't get the Discovery Channel.

It was super crowded.  Maryellen told me when she attended the auction two years ago with a friend, there were lots of empty seats...maybe 25 people were there.  It's very different now, by golly.  We were packed into those bleachers like sardines!  Everyone was so friendly though, extending a hand to help you climb up to sit wherever you could squeeze in.  You have to be willing to get pretty cozy with your neighbor...either that or stand, which wouldn't be much fun.  Lot's of folks who arrived closer to the actual auction starting time, did end up having to stand.

I'm not sure when this past Sunday's auction (September 18th) will air, but when it does, you'll probably be able to see us in the bleachers because we had LOTS of TV cameras pointing our direction throughout much of the auction. You can see three of them in the picture below.

The auctioneers have a lot of fun joking with the crowd.  The older gentleman started things out and the younger auctioneer (with the raised hand) took over after about half an hour.

This mantle clock went for around $70...not a bad price.  That's about what I paid for my mantle clock 30+ years ago.

See the guy  in the navy short-sleeved t-shirt who is pointing to the left (his right) in the pic below?  His name is Paul Brown and he is one of the owners.  If you've seen the show, Auction Kings, you probably recognize him.

We didn't stay long enough to see what the human skeleton went for...talk about a Halloween prop!

One thing we noticed about the auction...they sell everything from expensive oriental rugs and furniture to Saturday Night Fever posters featuring John Travolta.

Once the auction began, everything moved at a rapid pace.  The people you see in the royal blue shirts bring all the merchandise out onto the stage.

The auctioneers walk up and down the center isle and across the front, always moving, always talking.  Everyone running the auction is moving and in constant motion...and I do mean constant!  The term, "organized chaos" come to mind.

Anyone need a sideboard?

How about a Viking helmet, complete with a pony tail and horns?  Yep, you can find almost anything at Gallery 63...even a Vampire Killing Kit.

Have you ever attended an auction at Gallery 63 in Atlanta or watched their show, Auction Kings, on the Discovery Channel?   The auction was a lot of fun...I would definitely go back.

Love auctions?  You'll enjoy this post covering the "how to" of Buying and Bidding at auctions.

Did you have a chance to visit all the wonderful Before and Afters for yesterday's Metamorphosis Monday?  Click HERE to check them out!