BATTLE OF THE BRONZE

I have always loved Antiquities. These items speak to me because they give us a glimpse into the human race, a culture that influenced our own, and a way of life that has long since vanished. When I was in college, I loved learning about the ways in which sculptors created their works, how the techniques progressed, and the way in which those techniques influenced the aesthetics of the day. Contrapposto is one of those techniques.  This term is used to describe the pose as seen in the sculpture above whereby one knee is bent, the hip is lifted, and the weight of the figure is seemingly on one leg. This pose was a breakthrough in sculpture as it was the first to express a human emotion through a physical gesture.  One can only imagine the excitement such a development caused the first time a sculptor created this type of work.

A Defensive Posture 
In the antiquities world, the buzz surrounding a special item can only be outdone by the modern spectacle of a battle between countries and cultures over who owns which items.
On May 3, an Italian court upheld a ruling that a bronze statue of an athlete, said to have been created by Alexander the Great's personal sculptor Lysippus, belongs to Italy and should be seized from the J. Paul Getty Museum. The statue, purchased in 1976 for $4 million is alleged to have been illegally exported from Italy before the museum purchased it. On the other hand, the Getty maintains that they purchased the statue legally and will likely petition the highest court in Italy. The Getty's belief that the statue was not exported and sold illegally should not be taken lightly. They have, in fact, returned 49 items which they admit were the product illegal excavations. The Getty does not believe that the export of this item was illegal because it was originally found by fishermen in international waters off Italy's Adriatic coast.

SEAL DISCOVERED ON TEMPLE SITE

 

When I was a child, I was fascinated by a signet ring that my father wore.  The gold band was inset with a dark brown stone.  The stone's face was carved with the family name and crest.  Little did I know the tradition which inspired this ring was thousands of years old, and similar jewelry was being worn by men on the other side of the world during that time.

Discovering an Ancient Seal
A tiny seal measuring 2 centimeters is making a huge impact in the antiquities world. The seal was unearthed in an archeological dig on the Temple Mount in Israel and is from the late first Temple period over 2700 years ago. Seals of this type were mounted on rings and were used to sign documents during that period. According to archeologist Eli Shukrun, "The name Matanyahu, like the name Netanyahu, means 'gift to God.' These names are mentioned several times in Scripture. They are typical of names in the Judean Kingdom at the end of the First Temple period – from the late 8^th century BCE until the Temple's destruction in 586 BCE."
Engraved gems were predominantly made of semi-precious stones. In the Western tradition they were usually made with images on one side. However, many Middle Eastern seals display their own traditions. In fact, in the Bible, seals with words are mentioned bearing the names of the Tribes of Israel instead of images.

Although the Matanyahu gem will likely not be sold, it is interesting to see what other gems sell for in the marketplace.  In December of 2011, Christies sold a late Roman Chromium Chalcedony Magic Gem from circa 3rd century A.D.  The stone, pictured above from both sides was described in the sale as a "convex oval stone engraved on the obverse with Chnoubis, the lion-headed serpent with his radiate head in profile to the left; the reverse with the sign of Chnoubis, framed by his name in Greek: XNOYBIC". It sold for $2,750.00. This seems a small price to pay for something of such interest and beauty.  When comparing the carved gems to other types of antiquities, the price point of many seems unusually reasonable.

THE ASIAN MARKET

Moonflask sold $2,658,500 at Christie's New YorkSept. 15-16, 2011

Call it the "Antiques Roadshow effect" but In recent years everyone wants to know which markets are hot and which markets are getting hotter. If you are new to the art market you might be interested in what's a steal as opposed to what purchases might rob you. Today, much of the talk in the art world surrounds the Asian market. The growing population of wealthy Chinese consumers has piqued the interest of art sellers from auction houses to art galleries. The excitement also includes lesser known but no less influential games players such as high end art fairs and investment funds.

Despite this, there seems to be a lot of confusion in the art world about what is actually happening, what is really selling, and if Asian buyers are invested in the market for the long haul or are just participating in a buying frenzy. Many see the Asian art market as the next bubble. Others see the Asian market as the next best bet. Below are some facts to help sort out the confusion and to help you understand if you are willing to take a risk.

THE MARKET

There is no doubt that the summer was slow in terms of art sales and that the Asian art market has become more volatile. However, this fall, Chinese art works stole the show. The sale of Chinese classical painting held at Sotheby's nearly doubled the pre-sale estimates while a moonflask dating from 1736-1820 sold at Christies for $2.7 million and an 18th-century jade melon box sold for $2.1 million. Further, if the location of high- priced, high- profile contemporary galleries are an indicator of where the market is going, then Asia is the place to be. Gagosian Gallery now has a location in Hong Kong while White Cube and Lehmann Maupin continue to say that they have plans to follow suit next year. In May the Art HK fair was purchased by the most prestigious of art shows, Art Basel. It is also important to note that that there are at least forty art investment funds now in China.

THE POTENTIAL SLOW DOWN

With every boom there is, if not a bust, then a slow down. ArtTactic's latest consumer confidence report indicates that there has been a downturn in consumer confidence since June. This decreased confidence is likely a direct effect of the slowing Chinese economy which has propped up the art community's confidence in the art market. There has also been growing debate about why the Chinese are collecting; many believe that the growing wealthy class see art as nothing more than an investment and that once they see a better opportunity they will sell, causing the market to flood with works and prices to go down. Further, while there continues to be an aggressive market at auction for the best pieces, recent results have proved that other works are selling below their low estimates or are being "bought in" by the auction houses.

THE CONCLUSION

The art market can be confusing during normal economic times. However, when the economy is volatile and a new group of wealthy investors begin to enter the marketplace, opinions about the state of the market can change with every sale. What has become clear over the last year is that auction houses, art galleries, and a number of collectors have made significant investments in the art and antiques of Asia. While current speculation in the market will likely ensure future investment in Asian art overall there is a good chance that today's results will be seen as the peak of a bubble tomorrow.

ETCHING-WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE & HOW IT IS MADE

An etching begins by coating a copper plate with an acid resistant material such as wax. Once the ground is dry, the artist uses an etching needle to begin drawing a picture into the surface. Once the image is complete, it is dropped in an acid bath so that the acid will "bite" the exposed areas. The artist will then clean the plate, roll it with ink, and will put into a press. Numerous images can be formed this way.

There are several types of etchings but drypoint etching is one of the most desirable in the market. The lines produced by printing a drypoint are formed not only by the depressions in the plate as discussed above but also by the burr, or raised lines at the edge of the incised lines. If examined under magnification, the incised lines look like depressions in the earth made with a plow while the raised lines look like the dirt thrown to the side of the depression. Once printed, the drypoint appears rich in tone and a bit fuzzy.

Dry point etchings such as this one are often highly sought after as the raised lines more quickly disappear after each impression, rendering a less and less desirable image after each pass.
Many drypoint etchings have a sepia tone as seen in this work.

SEEING THROUGH THE VALUE OF MONROE'S X-RAY

Marilyn Monroe's chest, x-ray, 1954, sold at Julien's Auction "Hollywood Legends" sale on June 27, 2010 for $45,000

One of the most talked about auction lots in recent weeks was the set of Marilyn Monroe chest x-rays that sold at the Hollywood Legends auction run by Julien's Auction at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. The selling price was $45,000. It seems that even the auctioneers were surprised by the figure as their estimated price was $800-$1000. Also, in Julien's Auction press release about the sale, the x-rays are just briefly mentioned while an entire paragraph is devoted to the therapy couch Monroe used in her doctor's office from 1960 until the time of her death.


When I first read about this auction I wondered about the provenance of the x-rays. With a selling price this strong, I assumed the proof of successive history of ownership was pretty solid but I was eager to find out exactly how the x-rays were obtained. According to news reports, the x-rays were taken in November 1954 at the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Florida and prove Monroe was suffering from endometriosis. According to London's telegraph newspaper, a young doctor obtained the x-rays for use in classes he taught at the center. When the doctor died, his daughter inherited the x-rays and put them up for sale. Although Monroe was in the process of divorcing Joe Di Maggio, the name on the x-rays read "Marilyn Di Maggio".

I also wondered how the auction house came to its estimate. Certainly an item like this is a little more unusual but was there anything of "like, quality, and kind" in which to compare? Certainly there have been many artists producing x-rays of flowers, still life, and other objects and turning them into fine quality photographs. A good example of this is the photograph below created by Helmut Newton of a hand wearing a Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Bracelet. In April of 2010 this silver gelatin print sold at Phillips de Pury & Company for $18,000.

Newton was a famous German-Australian fashion photographer who's work was seen in magazine's like Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. Despite the artist's fame, it is not a good comparable. Although the image is of an x-ray the actual medium is a silver gelatin print photograph. Next, it is important to point out that there is an arm and a hand in the x-ray but the actual subject is the very expensive bracelet worn by the hand. In the case of the Monroe x-ray, it can be assumed that the primary attraction was not the person taking the x-ray but the actual subject of the x-ray. Therefore, a better and more logical comparable would be a different x-ray of Monroe or another equally famous person which has sold at auction. Believe it or not, such an x-ray exists. On September 4, 2008 the "Fame Bureau" in Dartford England sold the below x-ray of Elvis Presley's arm. Because Elvis lived during the same period as Monroe and is arguably just as famous as Monroe, this x-ray is a good comparable. The selling price on that day was £3,500 (approx. $5,300).

Finally, it is important to note all of the media attention this auction received in advance of the sale. From serious news organizations to comedy parody shows (see the Stephen Colbert coverage here), the attention surrounding these x-rays created a buzz that could not have been achieved otherwise. Although media coverage is not something appraisers usually discuss in relation to valuing objects, the effect of the media coverage and the excitement it creates should not be ignored. It would be impossible to look at an auction result of $45,000 for chest x-rays and not to acknowledge the effect of such publicity. Or, in the words of Stephen Colbert, "Good for you, whoever is making money selling a dead woman's private gynecological X-rays."

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU--THE VADAR PROJECT

On July 10, the 100 artworks of "The Vadar Project" will be auction at Freeman's in Philadelphia. The works, created by artists from the underground art scene as well as notable pop and surrealist artists will be sold beginning at 12:00 p.m. According to the press release, many of the lots will begin at $1,500. Most estimates range from $3,000-$5,000 with a few lots estimated to potentially reach $8,000-$15,000. Although the sale follows a ten day auction preview in Los Angeles, the exhibit has actually been touring the world since its premier in 2007. The exhibit was curated by Dov Kelemer and Sarah Jo Marks of DKE Toys.

The Vadar Project is a good example of an auction that will appeal to a wide variety of collectors. Those interested in Star Wars and toy memorabilia, pop art and underground collectors, as well as those who collect the works of individual artists.

You can find a full color catalog online here.

ARTWORKS ABOVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ARE AS FOLLOWS:

JOSH AGLE (SHAG), (B. 1962), Darth Tipua, Estimate: $4000 - 6000

ANTHONY AUSGANG, (B. 1959), Darth Vader is Gay, Estimate: $3000 - 5000

JOE HAHN, (B. 1977), The Revenge of Mr. Hahn, Estimate: $8000 - 10000

WADE LAGEOSE LAGEOSE DESIGN, (B. 1966), Untitled, Estimate: $10000 - 15000

PLASTICGOD, (B. 1973), Praise the Lord, Estimate: $10000 - 15000

CAMERON TIEDE, (B. 1972), Darth InvadedEstimate: $3000 - 5000

PARODY & THE WORKS OF JULIE HARVEY

Parody (also called send-up or spoof), in contemporary usage, is a work created to mock, comment on, or poke fun at an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation. -Wikipedia

Julie Harvey, Damien Hirst, 2005

Damien Hirst is a British artist best known for cutting up animals and displaying them in "vitrines". In the 1990s he became one of the leading figures of the "Young British Artists" and shot to fame with the help of "super collector" Charles Saatchi

Parody has a long history in art. From political cartoons of politicians to humorous paintings of self-aggrandizing individuals, artists have used their medium and their wit to call attention to the absurdities of those who they deem ridiculous, who take themselves too seriously, or who commit heinous and unconscionable acts. In recent years, parody has again taken a front seat in popular culture. Television shows like the Colbert Report (which mocks popular political pundits) to the Simpsons (which satirizes everything from the family to celebrities) have hit a nerve with the public. In these shows, "wit" is directy toward "folly".

Julie Harvey, Charles Saatchi, 2005

Charles Saatichi was the cofounder of Saatchi and Saatchi advertising agency until 1995. He is known as a "super collector" and owner of Saatchi Gallery. He helped boost the careers of many artists including Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin.

Similarly, a few artists have begun to create works which poke fun of the things that they deem worthy. A good example of this are Julie Harvey's "Go-Go Nudes", a series created in 2005. In these paintings, Harvey parodies big name artists, art dealers, and art promoters to spotlight them as media hounds and sensationalists. She does this by creating naked portraits of the subjects in silly poses. At the time of their creation, Harvey also created what one could think of as an interactive performing art piece choreographed to compliment the paintings. On March 11. 2005 Ms. Harvey hosted an art show entitled "Julie Harvey's Go-Go Party". It can be found here but is best described as an Austin Powers extravaganza with actors and dancers who schmoozed with guests. "

Julie Harvey, Tony Shafrazi, 2005

Tony Shafrazi is the owner of Shafrazi Art Gallery in New York. Although he handles the works of many art luminaries such as Francis Bacon and Keith Harring, he is best known for spray painting "Kill Lies All" on Picasso's Guernica. He said he did this to protest the commuted sentence of William Calley (who was sentenced for his role in the My Lai massacre) by Richard Nixon. Later, Shafrazi became the Shah of Iran's art advisor and assembled a 20th century collection on his behalf.

What does all of this have to do with appraising and valuing art? The fact is, every person involved in putting a value on items must understand what is going on in the marketplace as well what trends are becoming "hot" in popular culture. To understand the marketplace, appraisers must understand what subjects interest those who are willing to buy art. Although Julie Harvey's series, Go-Go Nudes caters to those who "know" the art world, it also speaks to the larger popular trend of "parody".

In case you are wondering, Julie Harvey's works range from $7,000-$14,000 depending on size. Her work is carried at Bernarducci Meisel Gallery on West 57th Street in New York. You can find it by clicking on "featured artists" here.