didnt expect this to be a great sale, but not this bad

bloodbath

Pass

Damn- an ordinary sale, but very weak results nonetheless. Anyway, a few thoughts:

Part of the problem seems to be that the majority of the prints offered at the sale are available 24/7 through ebay, not to mention the various forums/on-line galleries. Dreweatts potential market for this sale is familiar with on-line pricing and with the process of buying and selling art on-line. These buyers are simply not willing to pay a premium to source an item from an auction house.

As a result Dreweatts is essentially going head to head with small time collectors/flippers etc. This raises two issues- firstly, auction houses are not commercially nimble. Auctions are planned months in advance, consignment dates close weeks before the auction. In contrast, private collectors can list and sell items within a matter of minutes. Secondly, Dreweatts has substantial overheads to cover- rents/tax/wages and so on. Private collectors selling on-line face far fewer costs.

I don't think that Dreweatts (or any other auction house) can successfully compete in these circumstances. I'd suggest that Dreweatts has two options. The first is to simply be far more selective about what's sold- to focus upon original works and in particular to refuse to sell recent prints from large runs where there are already multiple versions available for sale elsewhere. The second would be to set up an ebay-like interface through their site and to use it to sell low-value prints. This would reduce Dreweatts overheads/cataloguing costs etc and enable the auction house to take on ebay on its own ground. Dreweatts could get away with charging higher fees than ebay if they were prepared to guarantee the authenticity/condition of the work.

Sadly, I think that another sale like this runs the risk of undermining Dreweatts reputation - I can't imagine that sellers are lining up for the next urban editions auction.

Zeus' piece for the auction is amazing...

bloodbath part deux on its way.......

estimate is 800-1200, very nice canvas

Do it Manty, go for at least one!.

Micallef or Balloon Girl from your previous preferences, Micallef will prob go higher but who knows? auctions is a funny aminal, Banksy is a Banksy, worth what someone will pay.

Love the Cyclops. Wish I had the money...

Just noticed this on the Whitecross Street Party website. A HUGE hand painted piece, and the profits go to SHP

Source: www.wxstreetparty.co.uk/uprising.html



There are a few really nice pieces on there. I know this would just normally be posted of the 'auction' section of this forum, but I thought as it was for 'charideeeeee'.....

I think it is not really clever to run a print edition auction separately from an OG auction.
It is the up and down of value what makes an auction "buy-willing" atmosphere.
If you mix OGs and prints and artist it would be much more "in motion".
I havent watched live, did they really call all Micallef, all Sheps, all etc. etc. without mixing them or having a "listing on themes"?
If the auction on Thursday will develop likewhise there are rising a lot of big dark clouds for Dreweatts. Once the reputation is ruined... puh.
Urban art was ok to strong at Sothebys contemp on Sat, so will be very exciting what happens on Thursday...

really likng that mate

I think the shark canvas will do well, but not necessarily top estimate, more likely imho to be midpoint

The watchtower will be interesting, I'd like one of the 15 plain edition, but would also like to pay the same or similar amount to the last one went for at auction

I'm half thinking of going, but the bits I'd really like are probably going to go for strong amounts so I might just see the results (and then probably wish I'd been there when some go for less than I'm expecting)