Todds Auctions in Forrestfield

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There is something a bit especially exciting about going to an auction. There is the chance of anything being on sale and being knocked down to you for a bargain price.



Not that long ago, there were many auction houses in Western Australia, antiques, wine, general, white goods, Police, salvage, motor vehicles, boats and land.

A few of there remain, but mostly online auctions have taken over - online companies like EBay , Allbids and Greys Online combined with on-line 'for sale' sites like Gumtree has seen a marked decline in the number of actual, physical general auctioneers.



One company that has survived is Todds Furniture and Auctions . A now three generation family business founded in 1964 Todd's is an Aladdin's cave of opportunity.

With a general auction every Wednesday evening and an Antique Auction every few months Todd's Auctions presents what Dr Johnson called "The possibility of wealth beyond the dreams of avarice'. A dusty painting knocked down to you for $5 might be a lost Martin Heade worth $882,500.

That grubby vase may be a Tang Dynasty burial urn worth hundreds of thousands, or something from Woolworths over-priced at $2.



The chance, the speculation, the risk is all the excitement. It's like buying a lottery ticket and always winning a prize. Apart from the mystery and gamble there is always the chance of getting something you really want for the household at a very low price.

And you get to control how much you spend among an atmosphere of excitement and tension, spiced with the aroma of sausage inna bun with coffee in a paper cup.

Andy Todd, and often Adam Todd, his son, are now the chief auctioneers cajoling, entertaining and drawing the best possible price (often not that very much) from the buyers.

Probably their main source of stock is deceased estates, home clearances and people down-sizing, although often the antique auctions contain sea-tainers of goods from the UK and elsewhere alongside considerable quantities of true Australiana.

Attached to the auction house is a huge retail area of curios, furniture and bric-a-brac open six days a week.



If you are a regular auction attendee, you probably know Todd's, but if you've never been, go along to a viewing on a Tuesday and see if there's anything there that catches your eye for the Wednesday night auction.

Remember, it could be a Rembrandt.

#antiques
#auctions
#eastern_suburbs
#forrestfield
#jewellery
#markets
#second_hand
%wnperth