Once upon a time in old Belfast before chain stores ruled the High Street, auction houses were at the heart of the fashionable city centre.
Under The Hammer is a new four-part series from BBC Northern Ireland which tells the story about one of those places – Ross’s Auction House – about those who pass through it, those who love it and those who make a living or just a few quid from re-selling what they buy.
Under The Hammer meets the auctioneers, dealers, painters, attic explorers, enthusiasts, cyber auctioneers, valuers, collectors, and enthusiasts. They are as diverse as the goods on offer and are united by one thing – their ‘consuming passion’ for the things of yesteryear.
Like much of its stock, Ross’s began in a time when the world was a different place. Yet here, at the corner of May Street and Montgomery Street the old game is still played out every week.
Ross’s Auction House have sold everything from the collectible to the incredible – to people from around the corner – and around the world. It is the last of its kind located in city centre Belfast and has occupied its landmark site since the 1930s. It is an institution.
Every Thursday Ross’s hosts two auctions. In the stately room upstairs Daniel Clarke – owner and auctioneer - oversees the bidding of antiques and art, and downstairs, auctioneer Jonathan oversees the sale of everything else – the daily bread of the auction house.
The market for this kind of live auction has been dwindling. The trademark patter of the city centre auctioneer has been trailing off, - going, going and although not quite gone, in downtown Belfast Ross’s is alone.
For those with a particular passion the auction room is a place where they can strike it lucky – or at least indulge themselves in the hunt.
In this day and age chain stores may provide more choice but true variety comes and goes ‘Under The Hammer’.