Featured How and where to sell?

https://books.google.com/books/about/La_vita_e_la_produzione_artistica_di_Pie.html?id=FJibngEACAAJ
Not sure what this says, but maybe you could locate a book.

 

@808 raver, Unless the item IS something they usually do not sell, I'm VERY surprised at the response from whomever at Christie's!!! Of course, I've only sold a piece or two of jewelry before, but still........I find it hard to believe they wouldn't have a category for your piece!!!!!

This is what it says on Christie's Auction site when looking to sell something:

Interested in selling at Christie’s?
The first step to selling at Christie’s is to submit images and information to our complimentary auction estimate service.

Complimentary auction estimates will be provided for items that Christie’s has a category of sale and that meet our minimum consignment value.

Please have the following information available:

• Clear, colour images of the front and back, and a close-up of the signature or maker’s mark
• Details such as dimensions and materials
• Any information about the history of the item including when, where and how it was acquired
• Electronic copies of any appraisals, literature related to the item, or certificates of authenticity, if available

Please note:

• Christie’s will review up to 6 items
• We regret that we do not provide auction estimates or sale information for items that are of a type or value that are typically not sold in Christie’s auctions
• All estimates are provisional and subject to revision on examination by a specialist
• Photographs and other materials sent to us by post will not be returned
• Never send property to us for review
• Please allow 4-6 weeks for a response

 

Now, at this point, MY question would be, is it copacetic to send identical images to several big auction houses at the same time (as long as they are free!!) and see what each comes back with for an auction estimate???? I've never done THAT!!!!! Open to one and ALL!!!! PLEASE???

 

There's the rub. Probably the first research they do is check on the results for past auctions of other similar items.

 

The minimum I've never heard or seen on their website, but then I've only dealt in their jewelry dept. too...........

 

So, thing to do is find the auction house where it made the £3600!!!

 

They do not want to appear snobby but the fact is, there is a 5k minimum for a single object, end of story. Both Christie's & Sotheby's sell examples at the top of the market, the top 10%, they are simply NOT INTERESTED in middle market examples which comprise 80% of the market.

ABSOLUTELY IT IS!!!! Not so much for an estimate, auctions are a crap shoot even for the best examples but, you want to play one against the other in terms of fees charged, which auction/catalog, how will it be photographed, bla bla bla.

 

A nice way of saying, please don't contact us with your junk, we are NOT INTERESTED!

 

All of this does bring up a very good point though, it's important to pick the correct auction house for the objects you are trying to sell. Where you sell is kinda important if you want to get the most value for the object you are selling.

 

Hi Guys, sorry to have not answered but it's been hectic all day. I have read through all the great comments and I'd like to address than all in this post. Firstly the authentication, I believe it's by him but that doesn't matter at all when it comes to convincing a top auction house so I have done further research thanks to "Huntingtreasure" the book is a good lead, I have found out that there isn't a E copy and I haven't found a copy for sale and the nearest copy to borrow is in Siena (735 miles away) So I have emailed the Uni that holds the book in a vain attempt that they will look up my piece in it and hopefully there will be some reference to it. Failing that Giusti made some 290 drawings of his works, they are also held in Siena so I may get lucky there. If all that fails then my second line of attract is to get some specialist to give their opinion. I now understand the value isn't in it's beauty as a work of art it's who done it, I know that sounds obvious but it will all be down to steadfast evidence whether it's accepted by a good auction house or not. Art learning curve lesson number one

 

You didn’t answer those of us who asked which international auction house had something similar, and whether you have contacted them?

 

Sorry, here is the link https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/47269139_a-fine-and-rare-19th-century-italian-carved-walnut

 

Here is a link to the previous post about this plaque https://www.antiquers.com/threads/eureka.27449/

 

Excellent. So have you contacted Hannam's Auction (not a name I recognize here in the US) to see whether they are interested, and what they would use as an opening bid: http://hannamsauctioneers.com/selling/

I don't think you will convince Christies to be interested no matter how much research you do. I didn't get the impression it is because of who made it, but simply that they aren't interested in this kind of item (supported by the fact that they don't seem to have sold anything like it in the past?)

 

Agrees, you will get more for your antique/object if you research a bit to find out the best place to sell. No point trying to sell at an auction where it ends up as a passed lot anyway., just a waste of every ones time.

 

Hannam's are known in the UK, they aren't huge or that prestigious, unlike the big 3. I suppose it depends on what value his work goes for, if it's a case of a few thousand then I can see Christies point but I'm not sure you can value a picture frame by him against a work of art by him. I am yet to find a ball park price, I haven't had the courage to contact these people http://www.eurodecart.com/european-ivories-19c/siena-primavera-wall-plaque They are the only one to who have something like mine (although theirs is better) that might give me some idea as to what mine might be worth ie 100's, 1000's or 10,000's.
Christies is a fine art sale room, I just don't see an artist who has his work in the Met and the V&A being to low ranking for Christie's but I may well be wrong.
Anyway first I'll have to pin it down to Pietro Giusti, if I can do this conclusively by my piece being documented by him in his papers then it will be a lot better than someones artistic opinion.

 

Sounds wonderful, That might have to be done if I can't get verification by email.

 

I dove to Portugal and back once, and yes it's a wonderful thing to do. I've never been to Italy before but I bet it's fantastic, I love their artistic flare, the problem with Italian art is the cost I have 3 pieces 2 boxes and one plaque