Message #51303

[Wattana]

Hi Adrian and Luke,

I don't know how I missed this thread from last May. I may have been travelling on business. Hell, that's no excuse! I have never heard of Bernard Buckman. But I'm surprised Joey hasn't. Not often an older collector passes under his radar.   

I think you are right about some of these smaller provincial auctions attracting Chinese mainland buyers. There appears to have been a significant slump in the snuff bottle market in the last few months. Two recent high profile US auctions had a high proportion of 'no sale' lots (ones that didn't meet their reserve), and lots which had 'no reserve' went for crazy low bids. For example, reasonably good 19th century blue-&-white porcelain bottles going for US$300 - US$400.....for a group of three!

Any collector who is planning to sell off some of their bottles may do well to place them with one of the minor auction houses. The Chinese mainland buyers seem to sniff out these auctions - perhaps assuming they can pick up better bargains there than at the high profile sales. Who knows - but worth following to see if there is a pattern.

Re your comment:
"Chinese buyers go to their Asian auctions by the van load, none speaking English and all with Chinese bank accounts. I don't know if they are buying for themselves, buying on behalf of people in China or looking to sell what they buy in China."
They are definitely not buying for themselves. The last two scenarios are correct.

Best,
Tom