SELLING BY DATE OR STYLE?
In all trades there are secrets, details and unknowns to many uniniated people. It is a puzzle when you see a piece of art selling by x artist selling for 100,000 dollars but other similar works of his fail to reach 50,000 dollars. What makes art sell better and at higher prices than others by the same artist? Take into account these facts and they might explain the case:
PROVENANCE
EXHIBITIONS
LITERATURE
SIGNED
DATE OF EXECUTION AND PERIOD OF WORK
STYLE OF WORK
SIZE OF PAINTING
COLOURATION
SUBJECT MATTER
FRESH ON THE MARKET
AUCTION THEY SELL AT
The above are just a few facts that might affect the price of a work of art.
YOU WONDER HOW SOME ARTISTS ARE SELLING FOR MILLIONS FOR THEIR ART OF X STYLE AND SUBJECT BUT THE SAME ARTIST IN A DIFFERENT STYLE, SUBJECT OR PERIOD HARDLY MAKES THE SALESROOMS.
MANY ARE THE NAMES THAT COME TO MIND BUT A COUPLE OF THEM MAKE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT THE STYLE OF THE ARTIST MAKES THE PRICES.
ARTHUR SEGAL IS SUCH AN ARTIST SELLING IN THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS FOR HIS SORT OF CUBIST ART BUT CLASSICAL, GENRE WORKS STRUGGLE TO SELL EVEN THOUGH VERY GOOD IN QUALITY!!!
HERE ARE TWO EXAMPLES TO MAKE THE POINT AND WARN INVESTORS WHO ARE NOT THAT FAMILIAR WITH THE ISSUES TO BE CAREFUL.
ARTHUR SEGAL AT HEFFEL AUCTIONS SELLING RIGHT NOW TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER AT ABOUT £15,000. OF VERY GOOD QUALITY AND VERY LARGE IN SIZE IT MUST BE VERY, VERY DESIRABLE BUT….
SOLD FOR £14,500
IT IS NOT ONE OF HIS MORE DESIRABLE STYLES LIKE THE ONE BELOW THAT MIGHT HAVE SOLD AT AUCTION FOR A COUPLE OF HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS AND MUCH SMALLER TOO.
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE FACTORS THAT INLUENCE ART AT THE TOP IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!!!
PETER CONSTANT
