The current auction being held at Sotheby’s that started on 28 November and extends all the way to 9 December is not your usual auction at all; this time the famous auction house isn’t offering art or other items – instead it’s auctioning off experiences of a lifetime. Baroque Access investigates
This year, for the first time ever, Sotheby’s has collaborated with an online marketplace called IfOnly to offer once-in-a-lifetime experiences on auction. Not only is this a very rare type of auction, it also raises money for various charities at the same time.
Imagine purchasing a dream experience at the Sotheby’s auction – and the selection on offer is nothing short of superlative! Your wishes have all been granted; there are 22 experiences all there for the asking (and bidding), everything from a bespoke private dinner prepared by one of the finest chefs in the world, to a world premiere of the latest Star Wars movie in London followed by meeting the actors afterwards at their exclusive after-party.
If those items aren’t on your wish list, we’re sure some of the other experiences are… If you’re sports crazy, you can choose from a tennis lesson with coach Brad Gilbert, who has honed the skills of Andy Roddick and Andy Murray, or play golf at the course of your dreams with instructor Brian Mogg. There are adventure excursions to the Himalayas, your very own crossword created by New York Times puzzle genius David Kwong, more dining experiences than you can imagine and other thrilling options. And if whatever your heart desires is on the list, it’s best to start the bidding process now.
Whilst Sotheby’s has more than 300 years experience in selling rare masterpieces, IfOnly is a much more modern establishment that has been in existence for the past five years. They may be young, but they are very on trend, with a clientele that includes passionate collectors of unique and very special items, and that includes experiences as well as objects.
The collaboration has resulted in a 10-day auction that has already started, featuring 22 very unique adventures that have been put together by IfOnly. IfOnly runs on a philanthropic system, whereby at least 5% of the proceeds, usually up to 50%, are allocated to a global charity or cause. Bidding starts at reasonably steep prices (the VIP tickets to the Star Wars London premiere of Rogue One plus a meet-and-greet with star Forest Whitaker starts at $35,000), and is expected to fetch much more. Some of the proceeds from the Star Wars adventure will go to the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative, and if expectations are met, the final price of this experience will fetch between $50,000 and $70,000. And that’s just one of 22 different experiences, each with donations going to a different charity or fund.