[TuRo]

Thanks Stt. As ever it's brilliant sleuth work by Jose. Correct on sigma, thousand cut pushers etc etc...

The higher the pyramid (rarity/cost) the more gullible and self-regarding/peacocking the audience are, is what I've found at high status auctions for cars/watches/guitars/motorcycles.... having attended many over the last 40yrs !

You get lazy buyers (who are usually parking their money as a new fangled investment), who rely on 'experts' - many of whom are on their own payroll, or on commission.... goading them to bid against another self-regarding peacock.... until one is the 'winner' of a hugely overpriced 'prize' that they'll be buried in until the next high profile auction snaffles another naive millionaire !