Archive for May, 2007

Collusion: Still the Procedure for Sotheby’s & Christie’s

Thursday, May 31st, 2007

May 30, 2007 There is no way to deny that the Sotheby’s /Christies conviction of collusion was just a hollow financial road block. Ever since being proved guilty of the crime, they now are able to flaunt their activities with total impunity (lost the battle; won the war). The most obvious examples of colluding are [...]

Dealer liquidations, Only The Diverse Can Survive

Tuesday, May 15th, 2007

May 14, 2007 The great phenomenon of dealer liquidations that have been going on for the last several years has one very interesting trait; they all lacked a diversified stock. Today, the decorative art dealer who is pigeon holed into one area or period of the decorative arts is going to have a tough go [...]

Deceived or Hoodwinked, by the Reserve.

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2007

May 1, 2007 The art of deception is the most import tool in the auctioneer’s bag of unregulated practices. I have to tell you that I feel like I was duped at one of the last aspects of getting a deal at auction; buying a bought-in item. What if there was not a secret reserveĀ, [...]