I would be very interested to hear if anyone could explain why this definition developed.
My (presumably obsolete) understanding of the term was that it referred to a sale of items the quality of which demanded (or should demand) white gloves to handle them.
Nicholas Oddy
Head of design history and theory, Glasgow School of Art
ATG replies: we believe it refers to the traditional award of a pair of white gloves to an auctioneer after every lot had sold, but we welcome the views of our readers.
