The auction by Adelaide-based Bruce's auction gallery, the first in Australia over the Internet - was expected to attract bids from up to 12 prospective buyers from overseas. But within minutes of calling for an opening bid of $ 149,000 US auctioneer Ian Bruce ``passed in'' the American-owned vases after nobody bid.

``Passed in'' means an item being auctioned is taken off the market because no bid reached the ``reserve'' price the minimum amount the vendor will accept to make the sale.

Michael Ludgrove, Bruce's employee who spoke to a phone bidder during the auction, said that despite no bids being made, would-be buyers were still interested and would submit expressions of interest later.