An Alternative To The Highstreet

The interest in buying at auction is growing at an increasingly fast rate. Here we discuss the many advantages of buying at auction, including environmental sustainability, extensive categories and departments and varied yet affordable prices


 

 

Frustrated by the lack of real choice on the high street – and conscious of the need to end the throwaway society - more and more members of the public are discovering the world of auctions. Buying at auction is a great way to find unique and environmentally sustainable items at a great price.

Fine art auctions can be the place to purchase important works for large sums but they are also the source of more affordable antiques and vintage furnishings. You’ll find everything for your home and garden, from furniture and objects d’art to garden benches, branded handbags and wristwatches.

 

 

 

 

Most will provide great style and value for money. Whether you have set your sights on Georgian elegance, mid-century Scandinavian chic or a diamond ring for someone special, prices at auction are typically well below those at retail. Remember too that buying second hand has the advantage of sustainability. In addition to quality craftsmanship and a sense of history, research has proved that the carbon footprint of antique furniture is a tiny fraction of its flat pack equivalent. 

 

Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers, based in Essex, Hertfordshire, London and Kent, offer a varied sales calendar from regular ‘interiors' sales to those catering to a range of specialist collecting areas from 20th century design to jewellery. No longer is it necessary to turn up to bid in person. Sworders offer remote bidding via their website, giving buyers the chance to participate from home, ensuring they can enjoy the auction experience safely during this Covid time.

 

Remember to register well in advance of the sale, check terms of buying, and don’t forget to ask for more detailed images and a condition report to help you make an informed purchase. 

 

Browse Upcoming Auctions

 

 

 

 

 


 

Recent News

 

Ken Bolan | Nature Follows Form

Few figures in the art and antiques world have shaped taste and defied convention quite like Ken Bolan. From the glamour of continental showrooms to the quiet beauty of rewilded West Country landscapes, Ken’s journey has been one of bold vision and creative instinct. This landmark sale, to be held on Wednesday 24 September, opens a window into that world – a personal collection amassed over five decades, filled with sculpture, furniture, and design with soul and story.

7 July 2025

John Ruskin | A Remarkable Archive Comes to Auction at Sworders

A major highlight of our forthcoming 'DREAMS | A Unique Private Collection' sale on 9 July is a remarkable archive of letters and manuscripts by John Ruskin (1819–1900), the celebrated Victorian polymath. This unparalleled group – numbering in the hundreds – is believed to be the largest collection of Ruskin correspondence in private hands and spans a vast range of topics from art and architecture to politics, religion, and personal reflection.

2 July 2025

Valuation Day Discovery

'The Scented Garden of Abdullah the Satirist of Shiraz' - also known as 'The Bagh-i-Muattar' - quickly caught the attention of our book specialists, when a copy bound in full vellum was brought in by a local client to our weekly valuation day.

2 July 2025

 


 

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