Couple of hundred grand on a baseball card?

[LEHR]

Originally Posted by packs

Yes but if you read the account of the sale it was 2 bidders going head to head for more than 10 minutes. You would have to duplicate that scenario in order for a similar sale to take place.

That was my point. This sale will only fuel the desire to own this piece or another piece from the artist in the future. Just because these were the only two bidders today doesn't mean they would be the only two bidders if the piece was put up for auction a year from now. At times the modern art market seems to me like a giant d**k measuring contest with far more money changing hands than in our sports hobby/industry.

Again, just my personal opinion.

[packs]

Ah, that is a really good point actually.

[2dueces]

I started collecting prints and as my expendable income grew I now only collect originals. I specifically collect oil paintings by R. Atkinson Fox. You will see his prints all over ebay and sometimes confused with Maxfield Parrish with the same style with Art Deco girls. I now have 11 originals by Fox. Don't think I'm completely done yet. One did wander into the ARS a few years back and I'm sure you can google it.

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by LEHR

That was my point. This sale will only fuel the desire to own this piece or another piece from the artist in the future. Just because these were the only two bidders today doesn't mean they would be the only two bidders if the piece was put up for auction a year from now. At times the modern art market seems to me like a giant d**k measuring contest with far more money changing hands than in our sports hobby/industry.

Again, just my personal opinion.

Ah, but is that where we're heading in the next 2, 3, or 4 decades? The most valuable coin in a very well researched book on the top 100 coins was at around $20,000,000 7 or 8 years ago--it wasn't until the 1970's, as best I can recall, that one topped $100K. Watch out for the 1914 Baltimore News Ruth!

I know we hate to be priced out of the market, but thoughts, anyone?

Regards,

Larry

[brass_rat]

Don't get too excited, everyone. It may be telling that "Tobacco" -- also by Basquiat -- only sold for $1.2m.
http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/...761/lot.9.html

Seriously though, here are some quotes, papers, and links to consider. No opinions on my part.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/18/a...t-auction.html

"...Mr. Maezawa, the 41-year-old founder of Contemporary Art Foundation, who last year set the previous auction high for Basquiat, paying $57.3 million for the artist’s large 1982 painting of a horned devil at Christie’s."

"Whether one active collector makes a market remains to be seen. It will take another major Basquiat to test the sustainability of this $100 million level."


http://www.brandeis.edu/departments/...ndeis_WP71.pdf

"One recent development is the third-party guarantee, also known as the irrevocable bid. The auction house finds a potential buyer who
agrees to pay a guaranteed price if the hammer price is lower. If the hammer price is higher, the seller and the guarantor split the difference after the commission, with some exceptions."

Would it be possible then, that the phone buyer was the third-party guarantor with knowledge that Mr. Maezawa would be a likely candidate to be bidding to win? Googling high-end art auction information leads one to a variety of interesting information. Several tactics in the art auction world may surprise people, myself included.

I believe the Sotheby's catalog did indicate that a third-party guarantor was utilized on this lot.

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/...61/lot.24.html

Cheers,
Steve

[steve B]

Well, someone has to be the one saying it.

That painting is ugly as (expletive deleted)*
There's a few million other things I'd spend 110 mill on if I had that kind of money.

How can you tell if art is "expensive"?
If I really like it it's at least fairly expensive.
If I really hate it...it's REALLY expensive.

Steve B
*No, not actually deleted, I figured I'd save time and not write it.

[Kawika]

Originally Posted by steve B

There's a few million other things I'd spend 110 mill on if I had that kind of money.

Like thirty-thousand Kreindlers.

[timzcardz]

I don't get it.

Oh well.

[Exhibitman]

[uniship]

Originally Posted by timzcardz

I don't get it.

Oh well.

Bahaha.
Me neither.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Kawika

Like thirty-thousand Kreindlers.

Odd, I hadn't noticed that the painting is maybe on-topic. I'm thinking it's not a skull, but a ballplayer. That is a line score above isn't it? With the home team winning.
Now which player?

Of course, the Kreindler is pretty amazing. Wish I had the dough for one of those.

Still not getting it at all.

Steve B

[Snapolit1]

Know nothing about modern art but I think it's pretty cool. All 100% subjective of course.