Bidding strategy at art auctions

[artypharty]

Support your local artists! Go to an art show in your town. There is a lot of original art for sale and you even get to talk to the artist about their inspiration and methods!!!:)

[Kartgv]

We quit going to auctions years ago, but did have one that was memorable. The bidding on most items was dominated by one large family - they bid on, and won, almost everything that was even remotely attractive. What made it memorable was that at the next port, we watched the entire family being escorted off the ship with all their baggage by the ship's security and being turned over to police officers on the dock. It turned out that they had to give the auction representatives their credit card information at the close of the auction. When they ran the credit card, they found that it was a stolen card. Don't know how they thought they'd get away with it!

[cruisinwithmaandpa]

Many pieces have a reserve on them, meaning if it doesn't meet their minimum it won't sell. Learned this the first auction we went to. Bought a piece, went up to pay for it, and they said sorry NO sale it didn't reach the reserve. Never went again.

Edited July 2, 2015 by cruisinwithmaandpa

[shipshape sam]

I always wondered why they would sell something valued at $2,000 for $800 as an example?! Or even a bigger difference.

 

I kinda feel sorry for those purchasing, but then again we have met some who buy a painting/print by a artist they like on most cruises they take. We have even seen them hanging in their home on a visit. So.........some feel good about purchases, some don't once they get home.

[Sailor_Sally]

It is a fun people watching experience on a quiet dreary afternoon & you get free champagne !

[krazy4kruisin]

I LOVE the art auctions......free sparkling wine......lot's of entertainment.....like Nolesrule stated just decide if you want the print at the price requested......they do frame the articles nicely.........and don't forget to DRINK HEAVILY;)............enjoy...............:)

 

 

Ditto! Just keep your $$$$ in your own pocket. I don't cruise to purchase art....

[John&LaLa]

Didn't they stop having them for a while? Why are they back

[Coralc]

We bought a piece in 1998. A signed litho from Jim Davis with Norman Rockwell and Garfield. It was on Song of America.

 

I don't know how it is run now. It was our first, last and only onboard art auction experience. We had met the auctioneer at a bar earlier in the cruise and asked him about the piece. He said it usually went for about $60.

 

On the last auction of the cruise, we went and picked up the piece from the easel and took it up to the podium. It was the last item up. There were about 12 people in the audience, and it was $60 with no other bids.

 

So it was just like buying it. And surprisingly, if the internet is at all factual, it is worth quite a bit more now. It still makes me smile when I look at it:D

[BrissyCruiser]

My stategy is ....Don't Bid....

[cruisegirl1]

Didn't they stop having them for a while? Why are they back

 

I had the same question.

 

Of course there's the obvious – the cruise line makes money either from the sales, or gets a flat amount of money from the art company, or both.

 

M

 

M

[Clarea]

Didn't they stop having them for a while? Why are they back

I remember that Royal dumped Park West for a year or two and tried to do the art thing themselves. Don't know the reason, but they went back to Park West.

[Hotel CA]

they have hundreds of paintings on the boat. The only way to guarantee one you want will come up is to put in a "pre-bid". That's how they get people to place those pre-bids to get an item up there. Now, beyond that, some go for the entertainment of bidders in a bidding war, some go for the free champaign, some go for the drawings, some dont' go at all. eh. there is plenty of entertainment on board - look at it this way - if someone is sitting in the art auction, they aren't taking up a deck chair at the pool.

 

Unless of course they have left their towel and belongings on the chair while they attend the art auction (AKA -Artchairhoggs) :)

[alfaeric]

So nobody here goes to the casino to drop a few hundred, right?

 

Based on the size of Vegas, that is a bigger scam.

[Bookish Angel]

Run and hold on to your wallet! Run run run ....

 

Just casually mention the phrase "may I see the certificate of provenance, please?" and they will get all flustered and give a lot of doublespeak as to why it is not with the "art."

 

Having degrees in Art History, I can ASSURE you that no original art by known artists such as Picasso, Matisse, etc. will be in an environment that is not strictly temperature, humidity, light and theft-controlled.

[sail7seas]

My strategy is to never attend. :)

[Scrapnana]

Most of the "artwork" I see in the galleries on ships, I would not want in my home!

[John&LaLa]

Most of the "artwork" I see in the galleries on ships, I would not want in my home!

 

I like the olives artwork. :cool:

[Charles4515]

I like the olives artwork. :cool:

 

Michael Godard who does the Olives artwork was onboard a Princess sailing I was on to market his stuff. He has or had some kind of deal with Princess. Princess does their own auctions and they don't use Park West.

Edited July 2, 2015 by Charles4515

[Bevv]

You can read some "behind the scenes" info in the book "The Hull Truth"

 

http://www.amazon.com/Hull-Truth-Chronicles-Cruise-Member/dp/0692323163/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1435858617&sr=8-10&keywords=cruise+auction

[Shorex]

The cruise line gets a cut, the "art" company gets a cut, and the auctioneer gets a cut. A few years ago we had drinks with an auctioneer who was previously a shore excursion manager. He disclosed that he made a lot more money as an auctioneer. "Art" is a very lucrative business -- except when the buyer tries to resell his shipboard purchase.

[NightOne]

This is an old article but still a good read:

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/16/arts/design/16crui.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

 

I was shocked to hear that some businessman for SoCal spent almost $73,000 at a cruise ship auction.

[hubofhockey]

Michael Godard who does the Olives artwork was onboard a Princess sailing I was on to market his stuff. He has or had some kind of deal with Princess. Princess does their own auctions and they don't use Park West.

 

Princess did their own auctions for a while. They are back with Park West. :D

 

They do run special cruises and series with artists. This is independent of the Park West auctions.

 

If you really want a souvenir of your trip, you should purchase art in ports from local artists and then frame them at home.

Edited July 2, 2015 by hubofhockey

[Charles4515]

Princess did their own auctions for a while. They are back with Park West. :D

 

 

 

They do run special cruises and series with artists. This is independent of the Park West auctions.

 

 

 

If you really want a souvenir of your trip, you should purchase art in ports from local artists and then frame them at home.

 

 

 

Too bad they went back to Park West. Yes, the cruise I was on was one of those special cruises and several artists gave lectures which I attended although I didn't care for those particular artists work they were interesting and they didn't have auctions at the lectures. The Olive guy was too corny for me.

 

 

 

I was in Bermuda last week on the Summit and there were local artists selling work at the Wednesday street fair in Hamilton and at the craft center at the Dockyard.

 

Edited July 2, 2015 by Charles4515

[hubofhockey]

I'd bet that it was Carnival Corporation that had Princess go back to Park West. This has all of the marking of a corporate move. Quite honestly, I have noticed the corporate Carnival culture slowly but surely eat away at Princess. It's sad.

 

That photo you posted of the street vendor is exactly what I like - pictures of local scenery. I have pretty decent taste on what I think is worth hanging and what will remind me of a particular city. My favorite is a print in Tallinn.

[paul929207]

My strategy is to stay away