章節 164: Chapter 164: Xiangjiang's Top 'White Glove'
"Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, I am Chen Deliang, Chairman of the Xiangjiang Charity Association. Welcome to all of you!"
"Standing here, I am delighted to see that the venue is fully packed, which means that all the invited guests have arrived. At this moment, I feel the warmth that fills the entire venue, a warmth that reflects everyone's enthusiasm for charity, dedication, and affection!"
"At this moment, on behalf of all the leukemia patients in Xiangjiang, I would like to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who donated auction items and to all the guests participating in the charity auction. Thank you!"
Chen Deliang concluded his emotional speech with a deep bow to the audience.
"Clap, clap, clap!"
Instantly, the venue erupted into enthusiastic applause, which continued for a long time.
After a while, Chen Deliang straightened his back. Despite his white hair and age, there seemed to be a force supporting him, allowing him to stand tall and radiate a kind of inner nobility and kindness.
"This time, all the auction items were donated by loving individuals from various sectors in Xiangjiang. The proceeds from the auction will be used entirely for the treatment of leukemia patients, and all accounts will be open to the public. Everyone is welcome to supervise!"
Chen Deliang's statement was met with another round of enthusiastic applause.
"It is my honor to have Sir MacLehose, the Governor of Hong Kong, join us for this charity auction. Let us welcome Sir MacLehose to give a speech!"
Chen Deliang gestured towards Sir MacLehose's position, then bowed again to the audience before stepping down from the stage.
At the same time, Sir MacLehose stood up from his seat and walked to the center of the stage, bowing to everyone.
"Clap, clap, clap…"
"Ladies and gentlemen, good evening. I am honored to stand here and speak on this forthcoming splendid moment. The comprehensive development and progress of Xiangjiang cannot be achieved without the joint efforts of all sectors…"
"Finally, I wish this charity auction great success and the continued growth of Xiangjiang's charitable endeavors. Thank you!"
"Clap, clap, clap…"
The audience applauded warmly once more.
After Sir MacLehose left the stage, the general manager of Sotheby's Auction House took the stage to offer his thanks before stepping down.
Next, an elderly man in a suit and white gloves, with a smiling face, walked out from the side of the stage.
Everyone in the audience became alert, knowing that the auction was about to begin.
Many collectors in the audience displayed surprised expressions upon seeing the incoming host, clearly not expecting him to be the auctioneer.
Before arriving, Xia Yu had specifically asked someone to look up information about Sotheby's Auction House, so he recognized the auctioneer at this moment, having just reviewed his resume that morning.
Cai Kemin, 55 years old, is the Chief Auctioneer at Sotheby's, with thirty years of auction experience. He is the first Chinese auctioneer to receive the 'White Glove' honor from Sotheby's in Xiangjiang, and also the first Chinese auctioneer to achieve this honor in all of Southeast Asia.
Moreover, he holds the record for the most 'White Gloves' awarded in Xiangjiang, having earned the honor in fifteen consecutive auctions. He is a highly esteemed figure in the auction world.
Whenever Cai Kemin hosts an auction, it is never of low caliber!
To provide some context about the 'White Glove' concept:
The highest honor for an auctioneer is to receive the "White Glove." Being awarded a white glove signifies that the auction has achieved a 100% sell-through rate.
It also represents a high level of recognition, akin to the Oscar for actors in the film industry, making the auctioneer's status extremely prestigious.
Although the items in this auction are not top-tier, having Cai Kemin preside over it indicates the importance Sotheby's places on this auction.
Despite the auction items not being top-notch, the presence of top-tier bidders ensures that there will be no unsold items. The auction's difficulty is minimal, and it is anticipated that there will be no unsold lots.
However, Sotheby's arranging for Cai Kemin to handle this auction suggests they want him to maximize the auction amounts.
A top auctioneer and an ordinary auctioneer handling the same item can have a significant impact on the auction outcome.
A top auctioneer can detect subtle details at any time and utilize them to drive competition, ensuring the highest possible price for an item. This ability requires both talent and extensive experience, making each top auctioneer a master of language and psychology.
Thus, top auctioneers are highly valued assets and a cornerstone for maintaining the auction house's long-standing success.
It is no wonder that knowledgeable individuals were surprised to see Cai Kemin presiding over this auction.
"Ladies and gentlemen, good evening. I am auctioneer Cai Kemin. It is my honor to host tonight's auction. This auction adheres to the principles of openness, fairness, justice, and integrity. I hope everyone will actively participate in the bidding and wish you all good luck!"
Cai Kemin smiled warmly, his demeanor inviting and refreshing. His speech was clear and well-paced, making it easy for everyone to understand.
"Next, I will read out the rules and guidelines for this auction…"
"Now, let us present the first item of the evening!"
After Cai Kemin finished speaking, a graceful hostess standing by with a tray walked elegantly to the front of the stage. She gently placed the tray on the display table and carefully lifted the red cloth covering the item.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the display table, eagerly awaiting the reveal of the first major auction item.
The first item of the auction was kept confidential and not listed in the catalog, designed to stir up excitement and enhance the atmosphere from the start.
Although the first item was not the best among the auction items, it was one of the top-tier items and was widely anticipated to set the stage for the auction, aiming to boost the final prices of subsequent items.
"Wow, so it's this item…"
As the red cloth was lifted, revealing the first auction item, some people couldn't help but gasp in surprise, while others showed signs of delight, clearly having an interest and intending to bid.
"This item is donated by the Keswick family. Before we begin, let's thank the Keswick family for their generous contribution…"
"The starting price is 500,000 HKD, with a minimum increment of 10,000 HKD per bid. I declare the auction for the first item open!"
每周推薦票狀態
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榜單 
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