What do you buy somebody for Christmas who already has everything? Perhaps that somebody is a collector with a particularly niche interest. In both cases, the high street is effectively ruled out as a place to do your shopping. Even online retailers won’t be much help. But there is another hunting ground that tends to get overlooked in favour of the big shops, and that is auction houses.
Of course, the run-up to the big day is fraught enough without having to worry about waving a bidding paddle around or watching the clock count down on an online auction only to be pipped by a higher bid at the last second. That is why the “buy now” marketplaces offered by a handful of reputable auctioneers can be particularly interesting. Take Sotheby’s for example.
Christmas gifts for collectors at buy now marketplaces
“What sets Sotheby’s Buy Now marketplace apart is our curation,” says Cynthia Houlton, global head of demand generation and marketplace at Sotheby’s. You can find the marketplace on Sotheby’s website. Simply peruse the listings and add items to your basket. Just remember that VAT is not included in the listed pricing and the marketplace is global, so some items may take a little longer to get to you.
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“Every piece is sourced to be the best of the best, from rare first editions and exceptional jewellery to objects with remarkable provenance,” says Houlton. “Clients come to us for treasures they simply can’t find anywhere else – whether that’s a coveted vintage Rolex watch, a gemstone-encrusted Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, or a Gibson guitar signed by Paul McCartney. It’s the destination for truly unforgettable holiday gifting.”
That McCartney guitar can be had for £21,368, and the Van Cleef & Arpels necklace is priced at £418,742. If your intended recipient has been particularly nice this year, perhaps they deserve an F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance wristwatch, with an asking price of £447,863. For James Bond fans, Sotheby’s has a collection of first edition 007 novels for £84,281.
CJ Hendry's new juju collectables
In a similar vein, Dropshop allows living artists to sell new, limited-edition creations directly to collectors on a “buy now” basis through auction house Phillips. “What makes Dropshop truly special is its direct connection to living artists – each drop is a unique moment that brings the artist’s vision straight to the collector,” says Christine Miele, retail sales director for e-commerce at Phillips. “In today’s art world, that immediacy and intimacy are more valuable than ever before.”
The artist CJ Hendry is returning to the platform, having helped launch it a couple of years ago, with a collection of “juju” collectable toys that currently make up a “towering” Christmas tree in Hong Kong. In January, collectors will be invited to “adopt” a juju, with the proceeds benefiting a local charity. “It’s a bold, playful series in which fine art meets collectible culture,” says Miele.
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