Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
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162 1766. During the American Civil War, seized goods were sold at auction by the colonel of the division. Thus, some of today's American auctioneers carry the unofficial title of "colonel." Frank Kaminski began empty - ing garages and houses several decades ago, soon auctioning off the antiques and art he found. In the late 1980s, his first highly pub - licized auction sold the contents of the home of former Boston mayor James Michael Curley. In 1996, Kaminski opened his eponymous auction house in Beverly with a staff of four. Four years ago, the company moved to a sophisticated new auction gallery on Beverly's Elliott Street; they also maintain office facilities in a historic 1850s barn on Cabot Street. The com - pany has locations in Beverly Hills, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and West Palm Beach, but—with the exception of rare events like the Oprah Winfrey or the Le Grand David sales—auctions take place at the Elliott Street gallery. Kaminski hosts 25 auctions a year, selling furniture, coins, vintage couture, jewelry, silver, Oriental rugs, art glass, oil paintings, and a range of other objects. The development of the Inter - net was a huge boost to auction- eers, who can now solicit bids from a wide range of buyers on a much wider range of commodities than was previously practical. "Things have really changed for us," Riva says. "We used to get 400 people at an auction; now we see 30 to 70 people, on average. But we now have 15 employees, many of whom watch phone and online bidding. We will soon have a mobile online bidding app. "We recently had an auction of Persian, Islamic, and Indian ob - jects," she continues. "And over 25 bidders were from Iran, bidding online. Auctions have become very global." Because of shipping costs, furniture generally does not sell except to local customers, unless a piece is of particular importance. "Right now, there are some real bargains to be had in mahogany furniture," Riva explains. "Also, in sterling silver and formal china. In fact," she says, with emphasis, "going to auctions is a great way to furnish your home. A dining table that once sold for $12,000 is now