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Sotheby's Hong Kong Auction 2 June 2017

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wgeoff
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« on: June 10, 2017, 07:47:56 am »

I've just been sent the results from a Sotheby's Hong Kong auction on 2 June as here - snuff bottles are Lots 457 to 509

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/2017/chinese-art-hk0732.html?cmp=email_HK0732_HK0771__aur_chinese-art_9-jun-2017

Results look very poor, many Lots not sold.
Any comments as to why?

(One comment from me - I wasn't even aware the auction was taking place!)

Geoff
 
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Wattana
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« Reply #1 on: June 10, 2017, 09:23:37 am »


Results look very poor, many Lots not sold.
Any comments as to why?

(One comment from me - I wasn't even aware the auction was taking place!)
 

Geoff,

I think you have answered your own question! I too was unaware of this auction. It slipped under my radar. I did not receive any notification, let alone a catalogue. Considering that I have bought bottles from Sotheby's HK on several occasions in recent years, this is marketing incompetence on their behalf.

By contrast I receive numerous catalogues each year from Bonham's and Christie's, even for auctions where there are only two bottles out of 450 lots!

Tom
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Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司
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« Reply #2 on: June 10, 2017, 01:51:11 pm »

Dear Geoff,

    I agree with you and with Tom - I also got no catalogue. And Bonhams and Christie's are very good (and consequently
I buy from them).
Best,
Shabbat Shalom,
Joey



Results look very poor, many Lots not sold.
Any comments as to why?

(One comment from me - I wasn't even aware the auction was taking place!)
 

Geoff,

I think you have answered your own question! I too was unaware of this auction. It slipped under my radar. I did not receive any notification, let alone a catalogue. Considering that I have bought bottles from Sotheby's HK on several occasions in recent years, this is marketing incompetence on their behalf.

By contrast I receive numerous catalogues each year from Bonham's and Christie's, even for auctions where there are only two bottles out of 450 lots!

Tom
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wgeoff
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« Reply #3 on: June 10, 2017, 06:13:43 pm »

Thanks Tom and Joey

I thought perhaps I had inadvertently deleted the catalogue in my emails. But it seems not.

An amazing mistake by a professional auctioneer like Sotheby's.
If I had bottles for sale, I would be asking for some compensation, particularly if my bottle had been sold at a low price.

Geoff
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« Reply #4 on: June 10, 2017, 10:23:37 pm »

And you'd be right, Geoff. Not that you would get any compensation unless you could afford to sue or were powerful enough that they did not want to piss you off.
Joey


Thanks Tom and Joey

I thought perhaps I had inadvertently deleted the catalogue in my emails. But it seems not.

An amazing mistake by a professional auctioneer like Sotheby's.
If I had bottles for sale, I would be asking for some compensation, particularly if my bottle had been sold at a low price.

Geoff
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« Reply #5 on: June 13, 2017, 09:22:11 pm »

Dear Geoff and Joey,

Pursuant to the earlier comments on this thread, yesterday I received a hefty envelope from Sotheby's. Opening the package I was expecting to see the late arrival of the catalogue for the June 2 sale in HK.

Instead there were two catalogues for upcoming auctions at Sotheby's in Paris! Out of the 260-plus lots on offer there were only THREE snuff bottles, and they bothered to send me these catalogues. Yet the Sotheby's auction in HK, according to Geoff, included 53 snuff bottles, and nobody received any notification.

I have nver bought anything from Paris, but have bought from Sotheby's HK several times.

The notification blunder appears to be limited to the Hong Kong office. Does anyone know if Julian King is still with Sotheby's HK? It's worth pointing out this issue to him.

Tom       
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wgeoff
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« Reply #6 on: June 14, 2017, 05:00:48 pm »

Thanks Tom

I sent an email to Sotheby's Hong Kong a few days ago asking whether they had distributed any emails or catalogues before the 2 June Auction but have not had any reply.

I last received a message from Julian King, Sotheby's HK, in March of this year. I think he is still at Sotheby's HK - you could try sending a message to him if you know him.

Geoff   
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« Reply #7 on: June 14, 2017, 07:46:59 pm »

Dear Geoff,

     I know Julian passably, and more important [ Roll Eyes Grin] - he knows me. I will send him a message asking why I and many other collectors received no prior notice or catalogue for the sale of 2.June.2017.
Best,
Joey
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« Reply #8 on: June 15, 2017, 03:31:51 am »

If I also send him a message he should, well, um.....get the message !!!
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« Reply #9 on: June 15, 2017, 05:31:26 am »

Hi Guys

I did manage to get a copy of the catalogue after requesting for one. However, it is quite annoying as everytime they will reply that a proforma invoice will be issued with the cost. It is only after stating that I am a client of theirs then did they say it's complimentary.

Sometimes it just makes me wonder who are their marketing guys as they should be sending these catalogues to the right potential customers, i.e. snuff bottle collectors (or at least ICSBS members who are listed in the directory).

Instead, sometimes I received catalogues on wine and jewellery which I have no interest in.

Regards.


Richard
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« Reply #10 on: June 15, 2017, 06:02:14 am »

Dear Tom,

     It can't hurt.

Dear Richard,

     I wonder if those categories have a big PR budget?  I too have  received catalogues in those two subjects!
Odd,
Joey
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« Reply #11 on: June 15, 2017, 10:32:02 am »


     I wonder if those categories have a big PR budget?  I too have  received catalogues in those two subjects!



Me too....!   
Maybe they are trying to say, "Look guys, why not diversify your collecting - we've got some great rubies, and wine to match!"     Grin
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« Reply #12 on: June 15, 2017, 04:38:56 pm »

Good one, Tom!  Roll Eyes Grin
We need to restore the 'Joke a Day' Thread.
Joey



     I wonder if those categories have a big PR budget?  I too have  received catalogues in those two subjects!



Me too....!   
Maybe they are trying to say, "Look guys, why not diversify your collecting - we've got some great rubies, and wine to match!"     Grin
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wgeoff
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« Reply #13 on: June 15, 2017, 05:25:09 pm »

It costs them nothing to send an on-line pre-sale catalogue by email - instead, they sent me a "results" catalogue by email.

I think in this case they forgot to send out pre-sale catalogues to many people - quite an error.
Some people knew it was on - the photos with the post-sale catalogue show a full room of bidders. But so many unsold items and low prices for anything that did sell!!

It will be interesting to hear the story from them - hope Joey or Tom get a reply with the personal touch, unlike me.

Geoff
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Tom B.
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« Reply #14 on: October 07, 2017, 03:41:27 pm »

Dear Geoff,

I was just catching up on market results when I came across the results for this June Sotheby's Hong Kong sale.  I agree - shame on them!

I was about to chalk it up to a lack of interest in Hong Kong, but then I noticed Lot 509 AN INSIDE-PAINTED GLASS 'LANDSCAPE' SNUFF BOTTLE
BY ZHOU LEYUAN, CIRCA 1900

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2017/chinese-art-hk0732/lot.509.html

I thought that everyone knew that Zhou Leyuan stopped working in 1892, so I looked for a date and found "Xin Mao qiu yue" or Autumn of 1891.  I am sure most specialized dealers would snap that one up for the low estimate of $3,850.00 (30,000 HKD)

That is when I decided to see if my friends here on the forum had an explanation and naturally you had discussed this.  I wonder if maybe some sneaky dealer bribed the PR person to "forget" to send out information so they could buy many of the choice lots with after sale low bids?

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Tom B.

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« Reply #15 on: October 07, 2017, 08:41:12 pm »

This does not look like Zhou Leyuan painted to me Tom..
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« Reply #16 on: October 08, 2017, 01:44:07 am »


I thought that everyone knew that Zhou Leyuan stopped working in 1892, so I looked for a date and found "Xin Mao qiu yue" or Autumn of 1891.  I am sure most specialized dealers would snap that one up for the low estimate of $3,850.00 (30,000 HKD)



Dear Tom,

I have not seen you on the Forum  for a while, Hope you are doing well. Cheesy

I was actually watching the sale myself, and trying to bid the bottle too, I think that there was a reason the bottle's hammer price is fairly low, the condition on the painting is not that perfect on the back side, the gold fish's tails are all missing, that really bothers me. Other than that, I think its a very decent Zhou leyuan bottle.

Best,

Steven


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« Reply #17 on: October 08, 2017, 02:40:38 am »

Dear Tom B.,

     Actually, Zhou Leyuan worked till 1893, but I see your point.  Roll Eyes
Best,
Joey



I thought that everyone knew that Zhou Leyuan stopped working in 1892, so I looked for a date and found "Xin Mao qiu yue" or Autumn of 1891.  I am sure most specialized dealers would snap that one up for the low estimate of $3,850.00 (30,000 HKD)



Dear Tom,

I have not seen you on the Forum  for a while, Hope you are doing well. Cheesy

I was actually watching the sale myself, and trying to bid the bottle too, I think that there was a reason the bottle's hammer price is fairly low, the condition on the painting is not that perfect on the back side, the gold fish's tails are all missing, that really bothers me. Other than that, I think its a very decent Zhou leyuan bottle.

Best,

Steven
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« Reply #18 on: October 08, 2017, 07:44:56 am »

Steven,
I'm glad you think it's legitimate, because I think the signature, and palette, at least look right
Cheers,
Rube
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« Reply #19 on: October 08, 2017, 08:02:34 am »

Dear Rube,

     There was also a period when Ye Zhongsan the elder painted with a blue palette, but the calligraphy is 'right' for Zhou Leyuan.
Best,
Joey
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