Postby buckler » Wed Oct 20, 2010 9:11 am
The selling of silver by weight in Auction Houses continued into the post WWII period. The writer can just (only just ! ) remember the practise at Christies. All lots had a weight given, and you bid at so much an ounce. So a bid of £2.00 on a 42 ounce coffee pot was actually for £84. Also the serious bidding was in guineas (£1.05) until decimalisation I think.
Makes trying to remember you are going to have a premium, plus VAT on the premium a simple matter !
Even now some of the older dealers still estimate value by weight X condition X rarity X beauty.