Della, the lady standing at the front was Paula Bingham - it was the Binghams' glass that was being auctioned. The guy who was holding the vase and walking with it as it was being auctioned was her husband, Pete. (And Della.... :lol: :lol: to what you said about shipping it to you...I don't think I have a box big enough :lol: )
It's absolutely fascinating to attend a US auction, as the auctioneers have a pacy sing-song style that mesmerises. Unlike British auctions, they "call" the figure ABOVE the one they have a bid for. That's why Jim Wroda was calling $102,000 - he was inviting a bid for that amount. In fact the bid he had was $100,000 and he was going in a two thousand dollar increment.
Not many people have ever seen something go over 100,000! At the lower prices, the increments are like $5 and then $10 - then they jump to $50 and $100 increments. I don't know what the breakpoints are, but maybe one of our US members can tell us that.
I have to say that the items on sale in that auction were top notch. Unusual and scarce colors, rare shapes and patterns. Beautiful, sought-after glass.
There was one piece that wasn't glass - and it's kind-of interesting to me, as it was a miniature painting of the carnival "Good Luck" design that I did. I had taken it with me to a USA club Convention a few years ago, and I donated it to the carnival club to raise funds in their mini club auction. Pete and Paula bought it, and it was included in their auction as item 211a, with my name. So in a tiny way, I was part of the biggest Carnival auction ever. :shock:
Glen