Art Market Monitor

Global Coverage ~ Unique Analysis

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

Robert Webeck

January 20, 2010 by Marion Maneker

An innovative Australian art dealer from a family of art dealers, Robert Webeck, died unexpectedly during an operation for cancer of the esophagus:

webeckIn the 1970s and ’80s, he and his older brother, John, operated an auction house in North Sydney under the name Spectrum Art Enterprises. Webeck was chirpy, with a mischievous grin never far away, and he soon became a familiar identity at art sales. With no grandiose designs on the art business despite his background, he frequented the secondary rooms in Sydney and also sent pictures to Melbourne for sale. Few Sydney auctions were conducted without his involvement and he was a supplier to auctions in both capitals.

The brothers were also innovative. They pioneered the use of the buyers’ premium, a commission charged by auction houses to buyers usually in addition to a vendors’ commission. They called their charge a ”split commission” and charged 6 per cent to vendor and buyer alike.

This led to challenges from other auctioneers under trade practices legislation on the grounds that an auctioneer could not act for both vendor and buyer at the same time, and the brothers were forced to stop. This, of course, no longer seems a problem in the industry and the premium is almost universal, and usually 20 per cent.

Another innovation, showing Webeck’s ingenuity, was a revolving picture stand that showed each lot as it was being sold. This speeded up the auctions in an age before even slide projection was used, ending last-minute confusion and delays over what was going under the hammer. Sotheby’s in New York simultaneously developed a similar device.

Straight-talking, Ingenious Art Dealer (Sydney Morning Herald)

More from Art Market Monitor

  • The Rise of the SuperGallery Museum Show ContinuesThe Rise of the SuperGallery Museum Show Continues
  • Russian Art and Works of Art ResultsRussian Art and Works of Art Results
  • David Nahmad Claims Ownership of Monet Feds Want to Seize from Jho LowDavid Nahmad Claims Ownership of Monet Feds Want to Seize from Jho Low
  • Bas RelievedBas Relieved
  • New York Asia Week Sales = $71.38mNew York Asia Week Sales = $71.38m
  • Bloomberg Wants to Give Your City, Town or Burg a Million Bucks for Public ArtBloomberg Wants to Give Your City, Town or Burg a Million Bucks for Public Art

Filed Under: Retrospectives

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
  • David Hockney's $20m Pacific Coast Highway & Santa Monica
  • Rare Photo Album by Dutch Street Photographer Bought at Auction by Rijksmuseum
  • Four of Picasso's Women Valued at $28m Come to Christie's from Rose-Walters Collection
  • Tony Podesta's Secret Art Buying
  • Roy Lichtenstein’s Top Ten Auction Prices
  • Christie's Announces $70m Picasso Self Portrait
  • How to Chant Like an Auctioneer
  • Norman Rockwell's Not Gay. But Is He a Great Artist?
  • Re-discovered John Constable Painting at Sotheby's in December
  • 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