Each guest brings one harmless, low-value household object and invents a glorious history for it. The auctioneer sells every story to the room using equal parts detail, confidence, and play money.
Before guests arrive
- Ask each guest to bring one clean, safe object they are willing to take home again.
- Prepare provenance cards and equal bundles of play money.
- Choose a display table and number every lot before bidding begins.
The three moments
Write the provenance
Give guests ten minutes to name the artifact, date it, and invent three impressive previous owners.
Run the auction
Reveal objects one at a time. The owner delivers a thirty-second pitch before bidding begins.
Audit the collection
After the final lot, reveal the real stories and award Best Provenance, Wildest Bid, and Most Improved Object.
Host-ready schedule
Your run of show
Give owners ten minutes to invent the history of their object.
Preview the lots without revealing their real stories.
Auction each object after a thirty-second seller pitch.
Return every object, reveal the truth, and present the auction awards.