What is a rostrum?

A rostrum is the raised platform an auctioneer stands on to preside over an auction. The term originated in ancient Rome, when public speakers would address crowds from a platform called the rostra.

Today, a rostrum ensures an auctioneer is visible and heard by the bidders. For auctioneers at Christie’s, they stand on a mahogany rostrum, which is inspired by the original rostrum made for James Christie, who held our first ever auction in 1766.

Rostrum vs podium

While both platforms are intended to raise the speaker, a podium and a rostrum have different histories and functions. Originating from the Greek word podion, meaning ‘little foot’, a podium refers to a physical base that someone stands on — its primary purpose is to elevate the person on it, such as at Olympic medal ceremonies.

Though a rostrum is also a raised platform, its origin is found in public speaking in ancient Rome. This means that a rostrum is often used in more formal settings today, such as the U.S. House of Representatives or at auction houses.

Rostrum design

Functionality is a key part of a rostrum’s design, with a speaker needing to be given height and visibility. It can be constructed from a range of materials, such as wood or stone, and a design is typically chosen that reflects the architecture of the room.

A rostrum also acts as a symbolic focal point and needs to draw attention to the speaker — historically, rostrums were often given decorative flourishes to signify the speaker’s authority.

At Christie’s auctions across the globe, the rostrum is modelled on the one originally designed for James Christie in the 18th century. Designed for Christie by his friend Thomas Chippendale, the rostrum helped bring a sense of showmanship to proceedings, with Christie turning auctions into a form of entertainment. He was depicted on the rostrum taking a sale in a 1782 cartoon, titled Eloquence or the king of epithets.

In summary

A rostrum serves an important practical purpose during an auction, ensuring the auctioneer is in the sightline of all the bidders. The design of the rostrum also adds to the spectacle of the event — though the original Christie's rostrum was destroyed in 1941 during the London Blitz, models of this rostrum are still used today in Christie’s salesrooms across the globe.

For more key terms and definitions, visit our full auction glossary.