Alex Cooper sells very fine estates and their auctions are well attended by high end dealers and collectors. I have been to their sales and have also been to many hundreds of other auctions. Shady practices are fairly common among auctioneers and you really need to look out for your own interests and be aware of what the auctioneer is doing. This is one house where you need to be especially aware.
Their sales also tend to run slow. The auctioneers do not for the most part have a fast-paced banter, which makes it easier for newbies to understand them but it also drags the sale out. They are also generally not too interested in being helpful if you have questions or want to examine a piece after the official preview period is over. They don't usually mention damage when selling and pieces in the cases are turned so that damage isn't visible. You really have to be very careful and aware that things may not be as they seem.
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