Auction Expected to Draw Big Crowd for Indiana Antique Store Inventory

Red Ribbon Antiques, a 25-year-old antique store in Greenfield, Ind., will soon go up on the auction block.

The business, which opened in 1989, will have one final sale on Sept. 6 to liquidate the inventory built up over the years by the owner, Gloria Holloway, who passed in 2013.

In order to move the items, they will be auctioned off by Metcalfe Auctions LLC, which is based in Middletown, Ind. Kyle Metcalfe, owner of Metcalfe Auctions, and his assistant will have two auction rings: one outside the store in a tent for furniture and higher-end items and the other inside the store for artwork and small items.

The store’s inventory currently includes Victorian, antique and collectible furniture and artwork, glassware and china, including flow blue, Staffordshire, Limoges, Wedgewood and crystal glass.

Metcalfe explained that the process could take a while, considering that the shop has three stories of inventory. Even the second ring inside the store may take three to four hours, depending on how quickly items are sold, he said.

The furniture and other large items could take all day to sell given their amount.

Although Metcalfe has an inventory list, he was unsure, when speaking to reporters, of just how many items would be up for sale.

“There are 13 or 14 large display cases packed full of glass and jewelry items alone,” he said.

The auction is expected to draw a fairly large crowd. Telephone inquiries have already begun, said Metcalfe.

Metcalfe also had to get the approval of city officials to use extra parking space. A similar event in Muncie, Ind., for an estate drew at least 400 buyers.

Bidders will be able to attend the event in person, or they can place absentee bids or bid by telephone if they make arrangements with Metcalfe’s auction liquidation company in advance.

Absentee bids set a maximum bid ahead of time with Metcalfe Auctions. The company will use a proxy for that bid during the actual auction.

Telephone bidders will be contacted when the item they want goes up for auction and will relay their bids through one of Metcalfe’s employees.

The store will also hold a preview session between 3 and 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 5.