Auction #3: Phillips de Pury
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Huh. I called this one wrong: the results are in, and this was a pretty damn successful sale. They even managed to sell the most expensive Nakashima table I've seen in eons within auction range, albeit at the bottom of it. (Once again, listed sale prices include buyer's premium. At Phillips it's 25% up to $50,000, and 20% for the portion over that.) Still, some pricey lots didn't sell, and the cover-model star of the show went for well under the low estimate (and its twin, also up on the block, didn't sell at all). I was right about the estimate on the Wilson Breakfast Chair being too high -- we'll see if the one at Sotheby's sells next week -- as well as the general lack of interest in the likes of six-figure Marc Newson tables.
The best part about attending auctions live in person -- which I admittedly haven't done lately -- is watching when a completely inexplicable bidding war breaks out (invariably between A-type men who can't stand losing), and this relatively small sale of 128 lots had three: a pair of Joe Colombo chairs; an innocent-looking 10-inch glass vase that sold for $100K+, including premium; and an ampersand teapot, of all things.
The best part about attending auctions live in person -- which I admittedly haven't done lately -- is watching when a completely inexplicable bidding war breaks out (invariably between A-type men who can't stand losing), and this relatively small sale of 128 lots had three: a pair of Joe Colombo chairs; an innocent-looking 10-inch glass vase that sold for $100K+, including premium; and an ampersand teapot, of all things.