Experience the thrill of auctioning

Caroline
18 févr. 2018
3 min de lecture

Today I bring you to the biggest cabinet of curiosities in Paris, a kind of eclectic museum where everything is for sale, the auction room of Drouot.

Follow me to discover the history of this incredible auction house created in 1852, visit the exhibition rooms, see this exciting market in action and immerse yourselves in an unusual and frenzy atmosphere.

You will know everything about the auction house functions, auctioneers, experts and antique dealers.

(photo Drouot.com)

The Drouot auction house is THE auction house to visit in Paris, and not only because it is located in a convenient, central and vibrant location!

Drouot, one of the oldest institutions within the world of public auction house sales, proposes a unique model that brings together 74 auction houses and over 2000 professionals dedicated to auction sales. 500,000 objects proposed each year, offering an incomparable access to the art market to 5,000 daily visitors, from grand collectors, to amateurs or simply novices.

(photo ©Behind the Seine)

Drouot has come a long way and was ranked fifth in sales among Paris auction houses after Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Artcurial.

(photo ©Behind the Seine)

How it works?

In the days leading up to each auction, the items are put on display in rooms dedicated to the sale so the public can visit, see, examine in detail.

The on-site experts from the auction houses are available to give any additional information to the visitors.

(photo Drouot.com)

All the collections are expertly curated and have an expert assessment when the sale is about a classified theme.

(photo ©Behind the Seine)

There are 2 types of sales:

*The classified sales were a specific category of items have been selected and appraised. Those sales have in general an edited catalogue.

*The all comers’ sales are much more about a mish mash of items, often following inheritance, moves, liquidations…

(photo Drouot.com)

So on any given day, you can walk along rooms that showcase all the items ahead of time that will go to auction the day after.

To prepare your visit you can check on Drouot website for upcoming auctions or buy the weekly Gazette de l’Hôtel Drouot (every Friday a- newsstand distribution or online) for the schedules or details of what’s on when.

Attending a sale will surprise you immediately regarding the speed at which the auction takes place.

(photo Drouot.com)

The rooms are a bazaar with a mix of treasures and cast-offs, but always a frenzy of activity during the auctions, with standing-room people as the auctioneers call out prices.

(photo ©Behind the Seine)

If you hesitated just for a second, it can be too late and the item had already closed.

(photo Drouot.com)

All this excitement is just fascinating and many times I wonder if I am not in a theatre show, on a long-ago era theatre stage with crimson walls and criers circulating among buyers.

To my experience the auction room Drouot is almost a museum with a miscellaneous collection of buyers.

Lovers, collectors, antique hunters or simple curious come to see, learn from experts, and who knows for the lucky ones, bid to get a large variety of art objects for ten euros or a few thousands.....

or millions…

If you’re into antiques and collectibles, Drouot is a must-see for anyone visiting Paris to

experience the swirl and the thrill of auctioning for extraordinary objects !

(photo Drouot.com)

Everything is for sale, and thanks to the passion and dedication of its auctioneers you might be inspired to get in on the action and buy something from this inexhaustible reservoir of art works and collectable items.

Entering in Drouot is like journeying into the magic.

Friendly advice: The visit can be extended to the surrounding neighbourhood with many places of interest as some of my preferred galleries, typical Parisian covered passages...

Hôtel des ventes Drouot - 9 rue Drouot 75009 Paris - Subway Station Richelieu Drouot

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