This is for collectors and future collectors - who may want to establish lace and lace equipment values. If you are one of these people, you might like to copy this on paper and put with your estate/inventory papers for future reference.
Years ago, I learned about auction practices by attending in person. This included going to large auctions in New York City. I remember the first time I purchased an auction catalog before an auction. This was a beautifully-published book, not the mimeographed sheets of paper given out in less-prestigious places. One with a lesson to learn from: In 1981, I went to a preview of an important sampler auction of the collection of Theodore H. Kapnek - at Sotheby Parke Bernet. It should be noted that this collection had been the subject of a full museum exhibition at the Museum of American Folk Art in NYC in 1978, the same year an Embroiderers' Guild of America national seminar was held in NYC. The exhibition was accompanied by a softback book by Glee Krueger. Later, the book was published in hard cover. The collection was well-known. A lot of research into provenance had been conducted, which added to each sampler's story. I carefully looked in the Sotheby's catalog at all the "conditions of sales", photos, descriptions, etc. and at the list of estimates calculated by the auction house. At home, I checked against the book, and selected "low cost" samplers to bid on. On auction day, there I was, sitting beside and behind all the museum representatives and the famous collectors. And, I never got my numbered bidding paddle out of my lap! Pre-auction bidding had taken place. Bidding started at higher prices. All the "predictions" were totally incorrect and far too low. The prices all soared. I learned one could *get a typed list of the hammer prices*. (That refers to when the auctioneer uses a wooden hammer struck on the podium to indicate an item is "SOLD!" to bidder #__ for $___). This list became a souvenir and a reminder of my low economic status. The next interesting development: There are publishers who like to offer books of specialty items and insist the authors give "values". I often buy these, just to round out knowledge (or so they can be debunked and discussed with friends). In came a book with samplers - and many were familiar. From the Kapnek collection. So, I went to look at my list of the hammer prices. All the prices in the book were from the estimates list; not the hammer prices. That meant the author really did not know how to obtain accurate information. Any sampler owner or sampler dealer reading the book might have gotten the impression their samplers were of less value and insured them for less, or sold them for less. (This story is meant to alert you that the same thing could happen with laces and lace equipment in this type of book.) When the Kerry Taylor/Sotheby's catalog was ordered, they were asked to *wait until after the auction* to send it, and enclose a list of Hammer Prices. It has come in. What is interesting is the high number of items that were "Bought In" - meaning there was not a bid to match the seller's reserve price, and so the auction house closed the bidding on that item. Many of the Springett bobbin lots were "Bought In". So, one would conclude that there are not that many collectors and dealers willing to pay for bobbins and the like at such an auction. This auction was announced in lace organization bulletins on at least two continents. Other types of venues may be better places for selling bobbins and the like. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace & Embroidery Resource Center - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
