HAVE YOU READ MY BOOK RAGS OR RICHES?
ELEFTHERIOS VENIZELOS
IN THE 1980s I WAS BIDDING EASILY ON ART UP TO TEN THOUSAND POUNDS AND NEVER GOT SCARED OF MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS AND THE RIGHT CHOICES. IT WAS AS IF I WAS BORN TO DO THAT, IF I HAD THE MONEY. HOWEVER, I CAN EASILY REMEMBER TWO OR THREE CASES WHERE I HAD TO STOP BIDDING BECAUSE THE FUNDS WERE THERE AND I KNEW I WAS ON THE BEST ART THE MARKET COULD OFFER. I AM TALKING ABOUT TENS OF THOUSANDS HERE, NOT A COUPLE OF THOUSAND POUNDS. AS IS THE CASE WITH ANY TRADE, MONEY IS THE POWER BEHIND ANY INVESTMENT.
THAT LEADS ME NICELY TO THE LAST LOSS OF HEART AND BALLS TO BUY SOMETHING I KNEW WAS WORTH MY WHILE MULTIPLIED BY FIVE TIMES AT LEAST. SO, WHY WAS I SCARED OR RATHER LOST MY BALLS AND STOPPED THE BIDDING?
WAS I SERIOUSLY INTERESTED IN THE SCULPTURE I WAS AFTER?
WAS I SCARED OF THE PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE LOGISTICS INVOLVED IN BRINGING A SCULPTURE FROM FRANCE TO LONDON?
I AM STILL TRYING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT MYSELF IN ANGER, IN DISBELIEF, IN FRUSTRATION AND TOTAL DISGUST WITH WHAT I DID.
CAN I BLAME THE AUCTIONEERS? CAN I BLAME THEM FOR CUTTING ME OFF WHILE I WAS PLAYING THE GAME OF ANY BUYER AT AUCTION?
WELL, ALL THE ABOVE ARE SWIMMING IN MY HEAD AND I AM TRYING TO SOLVE AND NOT TO REPEAT AGAIN. THE LAST TWO PAINTINGS I BOUGHT WERE IN FRANCE AND THE AUCTIONEERS FAILED TO CALL ME. AS IT HAPPENED THAT ACCIDENT SAVED ME ABOUT 1000 POUNDS AS I BOUGHT THE TWO PAINTINGS AT A DISCOUNT AND ON MY TERMS.
28TH MAY 2020
I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS SALE FOR SOME MONTHS. I EXPECTED TO BUY THE VENIZELOS SCULPTURE CLOSE TO ITS ESTIMATE OF 3000 EUROS. IT WAS A GOOD SCULPTURE BY A VERY GOOD ARTIST.
THE AUCTION CALLED ME AND IMMEDIATELY I FELT UNEASY AS THE ASSISTANT ON THE PHONE WARNED ME: WE ARE TOO LATE, WE HAVE TO BE QUICK IN BIDDING. NOT A GOOD OMEN, NOT A GOOD BEGINNING.
IMMEDIATELY THE BIDDING IS AT 2500 AND THEN 3000. QUICKLY TO 4000 AND I AM BIDDING IN 500 EUROS. AT 5000 I STOPPED FOR A BREATHER AT WHICH POINT MY LINE WAS CUT AND I WAS LEFT FUMING AT THE END OF THE LINE.
WHAT HAPPENED?
NO, IT IS YOURS SIR.
NO, SORRY IT WENT TO ANOTHER BIDDER IN THE ROOM AT……
STILL FUMING AND STILL DISTRUSTING THE FRENCH AUCTIONEERS. I AM STILL TRYING TO GET AN ANSWER FROM THEM BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY REMAIN SILENT. THAT IS FRENCH AUCTIONEERS FOR YOU. WONDER WHY THE BEST FRENCH AUCTION SELLS IN LONDON AND NEW YORK?
REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE AUCTIONEER DID, HAVE I LOST LOST MY PUNCH? HAVE I LOST MY BALLS AT THIS STAGE OF MY DEALING IN ART AND STRENGTHENING THE DEPTH OF THE COLLECTION?
THERE IS PLENTY OF TIME TO TEST MYSELF AND MORE BARGAINS AROUND WILL APPEAR. IT IS THE AUCTION AND THERE ARE ALWAYS OPPORTUNITIES. I AM ASKING MYSELF:
DO YOU HAVE THE GUTS OR HAVE YOU BECOME A BIDDING COWARD?
PETER CONSTANT
