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Cat (ret.)This clause (quoted from their Auction Rules) has always caused me to bypass Sotheby's auctions. If this isn't shill bidding, I don't know what is:
"Some lots in the sale also have a reserve price. A Reserve price is the confidential minimum amount below which the consignor of the lot will not sell the property. Therefore an amount equal to or in excess of the reserve must be bid on a lot in order for a successful bid to be accepted on that lot. We may implement such reserve by bidding on behalf of the Consignor and may bid up to the amount of the reserve, by placing successive or consecutive bids for a lot, or bids in response to other bidders. In instances where we have an interest in the lot other than our commission, we may bid up to the reserve to protect such interest."