You Said It, Not Me – Banksy Prints Sales at Sotheby’s & Christie’s
Last week, Sotheby’s and Christie’s hosted online sales of works by Banksy through their London locations… they were not originals, but prints; however, given his aura, they made some impressive prices. Before we get into it, I have to say … More…
Amazing What Technology Can Do – Facial Reconstruction
In Greco-Roman times, mummy portraits were all the rage! These painted portraits were placed over the embalmed face, and since the late 1880s, over 1000 portraits have been discovered. Sadly, only about 10% are still attached to the mummy. One … More…
When I Rains, It Pours – Marlborough Gallery
Marlborough Gallery is caught up in another legal matter. Prosecutors in France have charged the gallery and their director of Asian arts, Philippe Koutouzis, with bribery. They are claiming that Jean-Paul Desroches (retired curator from the Guimet Museum) received “compensation” … More…
“Gotta Catch ‘Em All”
If the current market for the sale of collectible cards has taught us anything, it’s DO NOT OPEN the boxes or packs…or buy two, one to open, one to save. A Pokémon First Edition Base Card Booster Set, produced in … More…
You Sue Me, I Sue You!
It is unfortunate to see how fast things can spiral out of control. Marlborough, one of New York’s top galleries, decided to close its doors in June (Marlborough Gallery, Veteran New York Enterprise, to Close Amid Expansion Effort) after a … More…
Anonymity May Not Be A Good Thing
Banksy’s trademark might be at risk after he lost a case against Full Colour Black (a Gaffiti and Street Art greeting card company that reproduces his work). According to a couple of recent articles (listed below), “[i]n 2014, Banksy’s representatives, … More…
Spectacles See Far Beyond Estimate
Mahatma Gandhi (1869 – 1948), a lawyer and activist for Indian civil rights, was best known for his leadership of the peaceful resistance movement that lead to India’s independence from British rule. Over the years, some items once belonging to … More…
Dora Maar To Get $450k Face Lift
20-year-old Spanish architecture student Shakeel Ryan Massey will spend 18 months behind bars for a destructive stunt pulled on December 28th of last year. Massey, while visiting the Tate Modern, punched a hole through the protective glass in front of … More…
Three Strikes And You Are Out!
It seems that Frans Hals’s Two Laughing Boys with a Mug of Beer, in the collection of the Hofje van Aerden museum in Leerdam, has now been stolen for the third time. I personally think the phrase “three strikes and … More…