MASTERING AN ART AUCTION Dr Alastair Meredith
During the FNB JoburgArtFair 2018, Strauss
Creative Feel: Could you give us a brief background on art
& Co Senior Art Specialist Dr Alastair Meredith
auctions? How long have they been in existence and how
gave an enlightening talk at the Strauss & Co Art Hub at Keyes Art Mile on ‘How an Auction Works’. As we all know, art is not just about aesthetics and can often be a
have they grown over the years? Dr Alastair Meredith: What we know today as Sotheby’s was founded in London in 1744 by Samuel Baker, while James Christie established his eponymous London saleroom in 1766. It’s amazing to think that these auction houses pre-date the city’s local museums. The
sound investment, but as a new investor,
Dulwich Picture Gallery only opened to the public in
participating in an art auction is sometimes
It’s worth noting too that international salerooms in
daunting, not only in terms of choosing the right artwork but also in understanding the very specific terminology that is used. Creative Feel sat down with Dr Meredith to find out a bit more about art auctions, get
1817, for instance, and the National Gallery in 1824. the 18th and 19th centuries were typically dominated by dealers as opposed to private collectors, and these dealers were helping to bolster major royal and aristocratic collections. Auction houses started attracting more private buyers in the 20th century, and the real fireworks started from the 1980s. Locally, the first major art auction was held by Sotheby
some advice on bidding, and clarify basic
Parke Bernet in Braamfontein in November 1971 (in
auction terminology.
London auctioneer was in the rostrum, but the sale was
62 / Creative Feel / November 2018
the space now occupied by the Wits Art Museum). A
