On the Hunt for Auction Treasures

Casper Behrendtzen is a fairly new addition to the team at Bruun Rasmussen, but he has over 25 years of experience in the auction business. An experience, which he often draws upon while estimating items at Bruun Rasmussen, participating in valuation events around the country and appearing on TV in programs such as "What is it worth", "Gold on the Estate" and "Treasure or Trash".

Bruun Rasmussen as a Workplace

Casper has long been a familiar face in the auction business. He has travelled around the country to visit customers, and this particular geographical breadth in the customer base is also something that he works with at Bruun Rasmussen. "In Sweden we are currently seeing a growth in interest in the use of Bruun Rasmussen’s services instead of the Swedish auction houses. This creates a bit of a competitive edge to your work, when you are out on visits at the customers’ homes and valuating their private collections. But this is also what I think makes the job of external valuation so exciting." But the first and foremost goal is to make sure the customer has a satisfactory experience. "The valuation we supply has to match the price when the final hammer falls."

The interest in art and Danish design came early for Casper. It has from the beginning been paired with the interest in the commercial side of the auction business, where it is important to know one’s art history, while also being able to close a deal at the crucial moment with the seller and the buyer. This combination is also prevalent in at Bruun Rasmussen, says Casper. "I like the house's philosophy regarding expertise and credibility. This goes hand in hand with creating a positive financial result for the client."

On the whole Bruun Rasmussen is a good place to work for a veteran specialist such as Casper. "It is very rewarding to be part of a workplace with so many talented people. It keeps you on your toes.

Valuation in front of the Camera

Casper has, in parallel with his external valuation for the customers in their homes, also visited the Danish population's living rooms through his participation in numerous TV programs dealing with antiques and valuation events. These programs have had an impact on his work, although the service you provide is basically the same, "just with a slightly larger audience," as Casper describes it. His participation in the programs has had a positive influence on his meetings with customers. "I can tell that they have learned something from the programs, and they often contact me personally after a program has been shown on TV." The job at Bruun Rasmussen has only increased this positive reception. "You can really feel the trust people have towards the house when you meet them in their homes and at valuation events. Bruun Rasmussen is a good name to be representing, and it also raises the bar for one's own performance."

On the Road

Casper's work sends him all over Denmark and abroad, where he does outreach work with both private customers and larger companies. "It's always interesting to walk into a new home, and there's a certain element of a treasure hunt to this line of work. Especially when you are visiting a new customer to view their collections. "

Southern Sweden is a growing market, but there are also many places in Denmark that offer great finds. "There are quite a lot of impressive things hiding around the country, even when you move away from the larger cities. Actually this distance to the departments of the auction house often means that people have kept the highlights of their collection a little longer. We were, for instance, recently on the island of Bornholm with an evaluation event, where we could feel an increase in interest with a ton of inquiries, which include a couple of rare chairs by Hans J. Wegner. "That kind of discovery is what makes it extra fun for Casper Behrendtzen to be on the move and on the hunt for art in the work of external valuation.