Let Skinner Lot Alert Save You Time Searching for Items at Auction

Keeping up with what is being offered at auction can be time-consuming and challenging. Skinner Lot Alert is an easy-to-use tool that allows you to set up a list of search terms, also known as keywords. Whenever lots containing your search terms are added to the website as new content, an automatically generated email is sent directly to your inbox advising you of the sale. There’s no need to keep checking the website… Lot Alert will do the checking for you and notify you when a match is posted.

How to Sign up for Lot Alert

1. Visit Lot Alert

2. Enter and confirm your email address

3. Enter the search terms (keywords) that you would like to track. You can enter as many different searches as you would like.

Now, sit back and wait for an email alerting you when items matching your interests are available. You will receive alerts even before the print catalog is distributed.

The email alert will contain a link to view the lots matching your search. If you are interested in an item, you can click “Inquire” to contact the department specialists with questions, watch or track the lot, or even place confidential absentee bids.

At any time, you can return to your Lot Alert page and modify, add or delete keywords.

Hints & Tips for Successful Lot Alert Matches

To get the most relevant alerts, it’s important to choose your keywords carefully. For example, you may wish to search by an artist’s or designer’s name (Hans Wegner), manufacturer (Wedgwood), or style (Victorian).

The more precise your search, the fewer, but more targeted lot alerts you will receive. Single words or simple phrases like “diamond” or “19th century,” will return too many matches to sort through.

Try refining your search by including more specific detail. Your refined keywords may be “Art Deco diamond,” or “19th-century Chinese Export porcelain vase.”

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is georg-jensen-sterling-silver-melon-pattern-center-bowl-300x300.jpg
Georg Jensen Sterling Silver “Melon” Pattern Center Bowl. Sold for: $8,610.
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is two-georg-jensen-sterling-silver-brooches-300x300.jpg
Two Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Brooches. Sold for: $338.

The option “all of these words” is selected by default, and means that Lot Alert will only send you results that contain all of the words you entered, regardless of the order. You can select “any of these words” to get more results. For example, a Lot Alert for “Jensen sterling silver” with “any of these words” selected will alert you to information about all silver, all sterling, and all works by Georg Jensen. Be careful using “any of these words,” though. If you had put in “Georg Jensen sterling silver,” you’d also get alerted about every single item with the name “Georg” in its description!

Lot Alert searches each and every Skinner auction, so you’ll receive an email alerting you to any pieces matching the keywords you select, no matter which auction they are in. If you are looking for “Danish Modern,” you might only browse 20th Century Design auction catalogs, but Lot Alert will email you automatically when Danish Modern is offered in one of our monthly Discovery estate auctions or even in a single-owner sale.

START USING LOT ALERT

Do you use Lot Alert? What keywords return the best results for you?

Note: This post was originally published on June 15, 2011, and was revised on December 27, 2019.

9 thoughts on “Let Skinner Lot Alert Save You Time Searching for Items at Auction

  1. I collect 18th/early 19th-century Worcester. I know that does not appear often, but would appreciate learning when you have individual pieces.

  2. Michael,
    If you’re seeking antique Worcester porcelain from the 18th and early 19th centuries I would suggest creating Skinner Lot Alerts for specific search terms such as “Dr. Wall, “Flight and Barr,” and “Chamberlain” to help provided targeted results. Here is an example of Skinner auction results for Grainger & Co. Porcelain.

    Good luck with your search!
    KAS

  3. HOW DO I SELL A PRIMITIVE PAINTING ON THE ALERT SIGHT! ORIGINAL ANTIQUE PAINTING OF THE LAST SUPPER AND THE 12 DISCIPLES! PAINTED ON SHEEP SKIN IN MILAN ITALY.THERE IS A DATE ON THE RIGHT HAND LOWER CORNER OF 1718 M.. IT HAS BEEN APPRAISED AT A HIGH VALUE WITH OUT A MUSEUM FRAME..I CAN FRAME IT WITH A MUSEUM FRAME WHICH WILL ADD TO THE VALUE OF THE PAINTING!
    PLEASE ADVISE MY BROTHER WANTS TO SELL IT ON LINE IF POSSIBLE HIGHEST OFFER..

  4. NEED INFO ON HOW TO SELL THE PAINTING FOR MY BROTHER IT WAS GIVEN TO IM FROM A WWII AMERICAN SOLDIER FAMILY OVER 30-40 YEARS AGO HAS BEEN IN STORAGE EVER SINCE NO RETOUCH OR RESTORATION DONE TO IT!!
    APPRAISER BETTY FISHMAN FROM INDIANA WAS INTRIGUED BY THE OLDNESS GREAT SHAPE AND BEAUTY IT DISPLAYS..

  5. I am a physician and have an extensive collection of autographs from historical physicians and scientists of the 18th and 19th Centuries. I am trying to build a category dedicated to 19 Century women of science and medicine. I am looking to purchase letters from Elizabeth Blackwell, Emily Blackwell, Mary Putnam Jacobi, Mary Edwards Walker, etc.

    • Hello Dr. Oran,

      You might be interested in our Lot Alert feature. Lot Alert will automatically send you an email when items that match your keywords are coming up for auction. The email will contain a link directly to the online lot listing for each matching item. You do not need to create an account with Skinner to sign up for Lot Alert.

      To sign up for Lot Alert, visit this link:
      https://secure.skinnerinc.com/asp/lotalert_default.asp

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