Since Monday and until Tuesday, the auctioneers and experts of the Ivoire house estimate the value of the objects that individuals bring them. It’s free.
Adorable little plush Mickey, although a little worn by the years and the dust. Martine Artru brought it up from her cellar to bring it, along with a handful of other old objects, to the Hôtel des Ventes in Nîmes, where the traditional Expertise Days are held this Monday and Tuesday. “He has a good headshe points out. It belonged to a friend whose mother was American…”
Among the many experts available to visitors for two days, Olivier Vergnes specializes in toys. He measures the toy (36cm), he auscultates it then leaves to peel its registers. “It’s a stuffed animal from the 1930she reveals on his return, and yes, he may be American. But it’s not particularly sought after. You will probably get a hundred euros for it…”
All types of objects
The Expertise Days are a national event organized each year by the Ivoire group (13 auction houses across France) to which the Hôtel des Ventes de Nîmes is attached. The principle is simple: everyone can make an appointment and bring one or more objects to be appraised, free of charge. The objects are seen by women and men of the art, according to their specialties: an estimate is then given to the owner and he may also be offered to put it up for sale. All types of items are welcome.
Pléiade the experts
Here are the specialties of the various experts who are present in Nîmes to answer questions: 20th century decorative arts, jewellery, ceramics and earthenware, Dinky Toys and old toys, Far East, books and manuscripts, furniture, gold and numismatic coins, objects of art, old, modern and contemporary paintings and finally, carpets and stamps.
This Monday, the establishment of the rue de l’Agau, with its four auctioneers and their various experts, received a hundred people in total. “There were some traffic jamsconstate Me Frank Puaux. We have the impression that after the Covid crisis, people are back, with their questions. And interesting things sometimes.” As soon as the doors opened, for example, he received two sisters who had come with a collection of old photos of Tonkin, which they had inherited from their father. Market value, hammer: between 1000 and 2000 € according to him.
“A Lalique vase at 5000€”
“We see a bit of everything and nothing, but sometimes there are very good things, abounds Thierry Roche, expert in modern furniture, art nouveau, art deco and design, who came especially from Lyon. This morning, for example, they had me appraise a vase by Lalique that will certainly sell for around €5,000. What is fun, for us, is the rhythm: during the Expertise Days, we see 40 or 50 pieces passing by during the day.”
Mickey left with his owner.
