Art Market Monitor

Global Coverage ~ Unique Analysis

  • AMMpro
  • AMM Fantasy Collecting Game
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us

Scenes from the Contemporary Art Sales in London

July 6, 2009 by Marion Maneker

Colin Gleadell offers this precious moment from last week’s London sales:

Some frustration with reluctant bidders was evident at last week’s contemporary art sale at Sotheby’s when auctioneer Harry Dalmeny found no one prepared to bid for a magazine-and-newspaper collage by Albert Oehlen, whose large paintings can fetch six-figure sums. The collage, perhaps no more than a piece of ephemera, but signed and dated nonetheless, was estimated at £3,000 to £5,000, but Dalmeny could not solicit bids at £1,000, or, then, at £500. Finally he asked for just £100. “Our catalogue cost more than that you rude bunch,” he exploded, finally triggering a bid to a round of applause. “That’s how Saatchi started,” he offered bluffly to the bargain-buyer in the front row.

Old Masters Challenge to Contemporary Art (Telegraph)

More from Art Market Monitor

  • Pink PiquePink Pique
  • In Defense of University MuseumsIn Defense of University Museums
  • Absent DealerAbsent Dealer
  • Where the Analysts See the Sotheby’s Fight GoingWhere the Analysts See the Sotheby’s Fight Going
  • London Contemporary Sales Analysis: The Compressed, Cautious Contemporary Art MarketLondon Contemporary Sales Analysis: The Compressed, Cautious Contemporary Art Market
  • Forza ItalianForza Italian

Filed Under: General

About Marion Maneker

Want to get Art Market Monitor‘s posts sent to you in our email? Sign up below by clicking on the Subscribe button.

Top Posts

  • Keith Haring’s 1989 Retrospect Comes to Sotheby’s London Prints Sale
  • $10 M. Picasso Portrait Unseen for Decades to Sell at Bonhams
  • Four of Picasso's Women Valued at $28m Come to Christie's from Rose-Walters Collection
  • Norman Rockwell's Not Gay. But Is He a Great Artist?
  • Tony Podesta's Secret Art Buying
  • The Billion-Dollar NYC Apartment of Ben Heller
  • David Bowie Talks About Art (with Julian Schnabel)
  • Christie's Announces $70m Picasso Self Portrait
  • About Us/ Contact
  • Mapping a Career in the Art World
  • About Us/ Contact
  • Podcast
  • AMMpro
  • Newsletter
  • FAQ

twitterfacebooksoundcloud
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
California Privacy Rights
Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Advertise on Art Market Monitor