Antique Auctions

We have gone to a few antique auctions while we've been in Richmond. The first time we went we couldn't even understand the auctioneer. When our item came up for bid our hearts were racing and we almost didn't bid. We got overbid on both of the things we wanted-- by the same couple. I guess they have good taste :)
Here is a video of the auctioneer. It will sound a little "scratchy" but that's just how fast the auctioneer was talking.

As each thing is being auctioned off, there are employees carrying them up in the air for the audience to get a better look. The employees have to carry practically everything. The only thing we haven't seen them hold up is large stone urns. But they lift up dressers, chests, bookcases, desks, armoires. We were wondering if the employees have to take a weight-lifing test to be hired.

There are a few terms and gestures we had to learn in the auction business. Here are some of the lingo at what it means:
"That's no money" - The bid is too low
"All one money" - All the items in a set are all for one price
"Three times the money" - Each item in the set is sold separately and you pay the whole multiplied price
Hand swept across horizontally - Tells the auctioneer to go half (ie. the auctioneer is bidding something by going up $50 each time. A person gives them the "sign" and he drops it down by half ($25))
Hold up fingers to show a certain number - The auctioneer will start the bid at that number

We have been able to get two things that we wanted. We were pretty excited. We got a marble-top plant stand and a sofa table.