Hi Peter, Thank you for another great video. I’m a young auctioneer and valuer from Scotland, currently working at McTear’s Auctioneers in Glasgow. Nothing quite compares to doing a live auction! I put together our Asian auctions and your videos have been such a help to me over the years. Best Wishes, Stewart Atkinson.
The big auction houses, Christie and Sotheby have already done a number of online auctions and they did well. I think there are advantages to online auction too. You just mentioned the disadvantages.
The Ming Pheonix & Peony bowl. I have one very similar in size, from the same period, purchased 14 years ago in HK for a slightly cheaper price, because, the dealer assured me, there was little local interest in such a bowl! My bowl however has a different decoration, which is not as nice as the one shown. As you can see it is very stoutly potted, with an unglazed interior and, as you noted, with a flat bottom, all this ensures it can survive rough handling! Why? I had secretly hoped I was purchasing a 'gaming dice' bowl, although our dealer friend assured my wife and I it was not and it was actually the 'Mortar' from a pestle and mortar set. He explained it was the 'container' used for crushing and pulverising the pigments to a fine powder to be used in the decoration of porcelain, hence the need for it to be strong, able to withstand all the pressures applied to it. I purchased the item and took it home, still secretly hoping he was wrong - how foolish of me! Later when at home I was able to examine the item carefully and I saw on bottom of the interior of the bowl there were imperfections in its surface which could be seen because of the slight difference in colour with the white unglazed porcelain. Using a strong magnifying glass I was able to perceive miniscule bright red 'specks' and with one, larger speck, using a needle I was able to remove some of red powder material, thereby proving the dealer's assurance as to the bowl's use, it had been used to produce pigment. I believe the bowl illustrated here had a similar use in its time.
Fully agree with your rant! If auction houses focus solely on boosting revenue without fostering a space for customers to connect and engage, they'll eventually be pushed out of the market. I personally dislike the live auction format that’s been inflating the market!
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Thanks Peter, for the info and for the rant!
Hi Peter,
Thank you for another great video. I’m a young auctioneer and valuer from Scotland, currently working at McTear’s Auctioneers in Glasgow. Nothing quite compares to doing a live auction! I put together our Asian auctions and your videos have been such a help to me over the years. Best Wishes, Stewart Atkinson.
Nice video. Hope your pup stays safe.
Always!
Peter, You have no idea how hard it was for me to get registered at Freeman’s. My old account was messed up. Eventually, I had to give up
The big auction houses, Christie and Sotheby have already done a number of online auctions and they did well. I think there are advantages to online auction too. You just mentioned the disadvantages.
Thanks Peter!
Enjoyed the rant and the lovely things.
Great video. Your rant was spot on.
Migularry has just listed a bunch of nice things that didn't make it onto the weekly Bidamount news letter page
The Ming Pheonix & Peony bowl. I have one very similar in size, from the same period, purchased 14 years ago in HK for a slightly cheaper price, because, the dealer assured me, there was little local interest in such a bowl! My bowl however has a different decoration, which is not as nice as the one shown. As you can see it is very stoutly potted, with an unglazed interior and, as you noted, with a flat bottom, all this ensures it can survive rough handling! Why? I had secretly hoped I was purchasing a 'gaming dice' bowl, although our dealer friend assured my wife and I it was not and it was actually the 'Mortar' from a pestle and mortar set. He explained it was the 'container' used for crushing and pulverising the pigments to a fine powder to be used in the decoration of porcelain, hence the need for it to be strong, able to withstand all the pressures applied to it. I purchased the item and took it home, still secretly hoping he was wrong - how foolish of me! Later when at home I was able to examine the item carefully and I saw on bottom of the interior of the bowl there were imperfections in its surface which could be seen because of the slight difference in colour with the white unglazed porcelain. Using a strong magnifying glass I was able to perceive miniscule bright red 'specks' and with one, larger speck, using a needle I was able to remove some of red powder material, thereby proving the dealer's assurance as to the bowl's use, it had been used to produce pigment. I believe the bowl illustrated here had a similar use in its time.
That’s really interesting and makes sense. Thank you for posting this
thank you I collect 1890 -1920 items love and learn from your videos
Hi Peter, it’s Ken. I have a blue and white bowl that I would like you to have a look at all. It has on the bottom is a funny mark. Thank you.
Fully agree with your rant! If auction houses focus solely on boosting revenue without fostering a space for customers to connect and engage, they'll eventually be pushed out of the market. I personally dislike the live auction format that’s been inflating the market!
The best