Update on my valuable painting

[bif]

I've been in contact with both Sotheby's and Christies. Sotheby's responded immediately and wants to include the painting in an auction in October in London. Christies finally responded and made me a way better offer. They'll pay to ship it to NYC, do any cleaning of the painting, frame it, and won't charge me a commission for selling it. I.E. no cost to me at all! They want to include it in a big auction of Southeastern art in September. I'm waiting for Sotheby's to make a counter offer.

Any opinions on which auction house is better? Thoughts in general?

[dweller]

1. Catch me up

What painting ?
Link ?

tia

✌🏻

[bif]

3. It's a painting I've had for 40 years

It's by F.N. Souza. I paid $100 for it. I don't have a pic of it on the net anywhere.

[FalloutShelter]

5. You're golden.

I say go for it.

[dweller]

7. Is it titled ?

n/t

✌🏻

[bif]

10. It's called "Landscape (Red Building)"

[dweller]

11. There are quite a few

as in many with landscape, red, and building of his on the net, all different
Have you searched for it before?

✌🏻

[bif]

12. Yep.

I've never seen in on any website. The person at Christies did find a reference to it from the 1960s as part of a consignment to a Detroit Gallery.

[FalloutShelter]

2. I had a relationship with Christies when I was

still working in my porcelain restoration business, and they are really great to work with.
I think fOr art sales, they are better than Sotheby's. If they are going to clean, restore, frame, etc., at no cost to you, that is a huge indication that they see good potential for the sale of this item and want it to bolster their catalog for the September show. The only thing that does not make sense to me is that they are waving their commission. I would nail that down.

My gut says, go with Christie's and great good luck, Mark.

[bif]

4. I asked them about the commission

And they said they charge the buyer. Sotheby's wanted 6%. They said it was usually 10% but since I'm an artist, they'd reduce it. They also said I'd have to pay to ship it to NYC and pay for the framing. The Christie's offer looks way better. I had my daughter who is an attorney look it over, and she agrees.

[FalloutShelter]

6. See my answer above... oops.

[Cracklin Charlie]

8. Very cool!

Hope it all works out, and you get a great sale price!

[blm]

9. So, you'll be treating us all to lots of hearts next Valentines.

Heheheh
❤️❤️❤️❤️

[lunatica]

13. Christie's seem the best bet

It sounds like they really want the painting. Their offer is nice. It saves you money and gets the painting out there. I hope you make a lovely profit off your initial investment! Go get em!

[bif]

14. Ha! My initial investment?

I think I paid $100 for it back in 1980. Even back then it wasn't a lot of money. My wife never really liked it but I hung on to it all these years. I'm sure glad I did. You can't imagine how much money we're talking about here. However, I'll believe it when I see it. As an old friend of mine used to say, "Nothing is anything until it's something!"

[lunatica]

15. "You never know..."

is a great mantra to live by! That and “Why not?”

I can’t wait to see how this story develops!