Why I Don’t Trust Auction Houses… and Neither Should You

By Michael Vallone, Founder of Goodson Gallery

Let’s be honest: the major auction houses — Christie’s, Sotheby’s, Heritage — aren’t cultural institutions. They’re financial machines. And over the years, they’ve done more to harm the art and antique world than help it.

They don’t care about history. They don’t care about collectors. And they certainly don’t care about the objects themselves.

I’m not here to sugarcoat it — I’ve watched these organizations bury historically significant items because they didn’t have a prior sales record. I’ve seen them pass on culturally rare objects because they weren’t “bankable.” If it doesn’t come with a headline or a celebrity name, it’s invisible to them.

They aren’t curators. They’re sales reps for the same recycled stock — pushing the same pieces, to the same clients, at ever-inflated prices. And while they present themselves as guardians of taste, all they really care about is moving volume.

1. They Don’t Care About History — Just Market Value

Here’s the truth: if a piece doesn’t already have a sales history, most auction houses don’t know what to do with it. It could be a never-before-seen relic of a forgotten empire. It could have irrefutable historical importance. But if it hasn’t sold before? It’s worthless to them.

Their valuation systems are formulaic — a lazy feedback loop of past auction results. They aren’t digging into archives. They aren’t consulting historians. They aren’t educating the public. They’re pricing objects like stocks — with zero context, zero curiosity, and zero cultural awareness.

What should be an industry led by scholars has been handed over to spreadsheet jockeys.

2. They Ignore New Collectors and Exploit the Old Ones

Unless you’re a whale spending millions or a longtime client they can milk, you’re just another number. They ignore new collectors, dismiss smaller consignors, and actively gatekeep the art world through exclusion and elitism. Their “client care” is a joke — try getting someone on the phone who actually knows what they’re talking about.

For sellers, the commission structures are abusive. For buyers, the premiums are absurd. And worst of all, both sides get minimal service in return.

3. They Don’t Educate. They Don’t Promote. They Don’t Preserve.

Auction houses claim to support art history, but do nothing to prove it. Where are the educational programs? Where are the deep-dive articles, documentaries, public archives, or outreach campaigns? They don’t exist. Because there’s no profit in it.

Instead of celebrating human creativity, they slap a reserve price on it and hope it clears.

And if it doesn’t? They pretend it never mattered.

What We Do at Goodson Gallery — and Why It’s Different

At Goodson Gallery, we’re building the opposite of the auction house model.

We don’t treat art and antiques like day-tradeable assets. We treat them like the time-traveling cultural touchstones they are — rare windows into who we were, what we believed, and how we lived.

Here’s how we fix what they break:

We Take Historical Significance Seriously

Even if a piece has no auction history, we dig. We research. We talk to historians, not just appraisers. We track down the backstory — the era, the maker, the context — and we bring that story to life for collectors who care.

We don’t write generic blurbs. We tell stories that matter. Because when you’re dealing with something that survived centuries, it deserves more than a lazy price tag.

We Champion the Unusual, the Overlooked, and the Never-Sold

Auction houses chase familiarity. We chase authenticity. We specialize in objects that don’t fit neat categories — pieces with historical value, artistic merit, and cultural weight that the big houses are too lazy or too scared to touch.

We help collectors discover things they didn’t know existed — and sellers finally get the respect their heirlooms deserve.

We Care About Collectors — Not Just Clients

Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned investor, we treat you with respect. We don’t inflate prices. We don’t rush sales. We talk with you, not down to you.

You’ll never be handed off to some underqualified intern or pressured into overpaying. You’ll deal directly with me or my team — people who actually know the objects, love the history, and want you to feel proud of what you own.

We Tell the Truth

If a piece isn’t investment-grade, we’ll say it. If it needs restoration, we’ll explain why. We’re not in the business of pushing fluff. We’re here to build long-term relationships with collectors who care — not quick flips for people chasing hype.

If You’re Tired of the Game, Walk Away from the Table

Auction houses want you to believe they define what’s valuable.
They don’t.

At Goodson Gallery, we believe value comes from story, meaning, and cultural relevance — not from how many times something’s been resold to the same ten people.

We’re not building a marketplace. We’re building a movement — one that respects history, supports collectors, and actually gives a damn.

If that resonates with you, you’re in the right place.

info@goodsongallery.com

Text “ART” to (945)-222-2933