Auctions can be a great way to sell items, but it does take a good auctioneer and publicist. I am surprised they didn't have minimum reserves on them. An auctioneer always starts out higher, then it usually drops and goes up from there. A good auctioneer will know when to stop dropping the price and go on to the next item. About the only time they do not is when it is an estate auction and are doing it to liquidate an estate. When the audience finds out they are not going to "give away" the items they start bidding or go home. They aren't fools, if they can buy it for $10 why pay $100?
For years we had an Amish group bring quilts and other items made by the Amish and Mennonites. I loved to go and look, I couldn't afford much. It was fun to go and look but I would listen to people that were totally shocked by the prices. They quit coming about 5 years ago.