[thecatspajamas]

To my mind, the most likely reason one might employ a proxy for a live auction is simply because you can't spare the time and/or travel expense to attend the event yourself. Having a proxy that you trust attending the auction enables them to 1) inspect the merchandise in person and report back any findings that were not evident in the auction catalog and 2) bid live where there would be less possibility of any technological hiccups (dropped cell phone call, lost internet connection, unavailability of either). It may be cheaper/safer to have a proxy who is already attending the auction bid on your behalf than to attend yourself or risk something unexpectedly being wrong with either the item or the bidding.

And let's face it, there are also plenty of people in this world who have the means and the desire to have the high-profile items that come up for auction, but if it means having to go fetch it themselves, won't put forth the effort. That's what lackeys and employees and proxies are for. If you pay someone to do your shopping, drive your car, clean your pool, order flowers for your mother's birthday, etc., how is paying a proxy to bid on something in an auction for you that much different?

There is also something to be said for anonymity when it comes to rare and/or high-priced items. If nobody (well, other than the proxy) knows you have it, nobody can bug you about seeing it, selling it or trading it, and nobody would know where to go to steal it if they were so inclined. Doesn't make much sense if you're one who wants to show off their collection, but everybody doesn't want to do that. There is a certain satisfaction that comes from having something of value that you treasure and that nobody else knows about (picture Gollum in his cave with his "precious").