Art, Auctions, $$ and General Bitchin'
Smorgass Bored
I bought a small painting (5"X8") in an ornate frame signed C. Preti. I
spent 6 months researching the artist and the atellier on the paper
label on the back of the champhered wood painting from Florence,Italy.
It turned out to be by Cletofonte Preti who lived to about age age 30 in
the mid 1800s.
I sent pictures of the front and back of the painting to
Sotheby's,Skinner's and Weschler's.
Sotheby's said my painting didn't meet their $5000 min. requirement for
auction and I sent it to Weschler's who had estimated it at $800- $975
and I believe that it sold for $800 (I don't have the exact figures in
front of me) I 'think' I received about $675... Well, anyway........
While looking through the ADEC art at auction site the other day,it
appears that this Same painting was re-auctioned about 5 months later
'across the pond 'and the price was double. I realize that you never
know what an item may bring at any given moment in an auction and I did
make a profit,however, I can't help feeling that ' I should have made
that Double money'.
I currently have 3 more items (a watercolor,an oil and a charcoal
drawing) that I want to send to auction. How do YOU determine when is
the 'best time' and which auction house to send your artwork to ?
For example: I have a painting by an woman painter of the northwest
named Myra A. Wiggins b.1869-d.1956 dated 1923 and I've waited 4 years
for a recent book that has been written about her to come on the market
to offer my painting at auction. An art gallery in the northwest has
some of her paintings from her family and the paintings sell for
$2000-$10,000
I don't know of any 'major' auction houses in the NW area and if I ship
it to Weschler's or Skinner's, how do the people (possible buyers) in
the region she was from find out that the painting is at auction ? I
haven't been able to find ANY record of her work at auction on the
secondary market. Any opinions as to my next step in order to receive
the optimum amount on this painting ? Of course, I'd like MY painting to
bring $20,000......<g> It could HAPPEN !!!!!
Doug W.
~>*) Big Fish EAT Little Fish (*<~
OXSHUNEER
>I don't know of any 'major' auction houses in the NW area and if I ship
>it to Weschler's or Skinner's, how do the people (possible buyers) in
>the region she was from find out that the painting is at auction ?
Hi Doug,
I'm at Skinners at least 4 times a month & their painting department is not the
most reliable. I realize I'm leaving myself open for a lot of flak on this
comment because they have set some major records for some artists. There are a
lot of lesser known valuable art works that fall through the cracks. Most of
the more reputable auction houses that sell paintings have a very high turnover
of staff & end up hiring a lot of shall we say less than well seasoned people
to staff their art departments. So beware ! Art is one of the most difficult
catagories in the antiques business & fortunes can be made or lost. ( IMO )..
David
David R. Ayers / New England Auctions of Brookfield
Vist our web site at http://members.aol.com/oxshuneer/index.html
Auctioneer, Appraiser, Dealer / wholesale & retail. Auctions, shows, tag
sales, retail & wholesale shops.
Gillam Kerley
Smorgass Bored wrote:
>
> I currently have 3 more items (a watercolor,an oil and a charcoal
> drawing) that I want to send to auction. How do YOU determine when is
> the 'best time' and which auction house to send your artwork to ?
Try calling the Psychic Antiquers Network, 1-800-BEATS-ME.
GK
Smorgass Bored
Gillam (feeling his oats) wrote: Try calling
1-800-BEATS-ME
Gillam,
THAT line is ALWAYS busy,what's YOUR secret for getting through ?
Kris Baker
Nah, Gillam.
It's NOT necessary for Doug to CALL psychics! If they're at
all any good, they're receiving Doug's signals right now and
will be calling HIM!
Kris
Laurie Brown
Doug,
On the subject of selling pictures in general, it's well-known that
landscapes, town scenes and the like sell better in the locale in which
they originated. Likewise, pictures sell better in the country of
origin. Given the exception of Old Masters and truly great
"international" art, you may well be better selling such an item (as the
subsequent auction demonstrated) a little closer to "home".
It boils down to our old favourites... Research, knowledge and instinct
(plus not a little luck).
Cheers, Laurie.