My two recent successes at auction resulted in the usual post-auction scramble to make payment and to arrange delivery. In both cases there were different approaches and different outcomes. The Art Deco bull is still lying in the DHL/Deutsche Post sorting office, having apparently been dropped off there by the auction house on 20 December. The DHL Tracking very unhelpfully informs me that it has been scanned. That's it. Of course during this somnolent period between Christmas and New Year no one is working, so I have long since given up trying to find out when it might actually have a slight movement in the direction of some vehicle that might transport the little beast to this part of the world.
The picture on the other hand had to be paid for within 48 hours after the auction, with which I duly complied. Thereafter there had to be considerable shall we politely call prompting to get delivery to my address in Scotland where I have storage for this and several others. It was delivered on Christmas Eve.
I had a maturing pension scheme due on 28 December, but notification of its amount and the MI5 security checks I needed to pass in order to receive my money was sent by the investment company by surface mail, and arrived less than ten days before the payment date. One of the several requirements was their need to see a certified copy by my bank that my passport was indeed mine. All papers were provided and I couriered them the same day. I thought it very unlikely that the funds would be in my account, but it was a pleasant surprise to note that they were.
In Bangkok many people left the capital to drive "upcountry" to visit family for the New Year. My maid left on Friday night on a train that left at 7.30 pm and which she informed me would arrive at 8 am the following day. I am always very concerned about her travels during this period, because there are hundreds of fatal road accidents during these great migrations. The State Railway of Thailand has mitigated that fear by its safe arrival at its final station.
It's always a bit of a challenge to try and do anything which would normally be mundane, during this time of the year, but it's a happy outcome when it works, and to be expected when it doesn't.
I hope Twenty Twelve delivered many happy outcomes to you. And as it's against my religion to do so before, I will await the stroke of the midnight hour before expressing good wishes for what we are about to receive.
8 comments:
This post reminded me of when I first bought items from auction houses; the bidding process was fun, but the shipping part was a nightmare. The auction companies would not deliver--you had to hire a shipping agent that charged extortionate prices and arranged elaborate packing that was overkill for the kinds of objects I was buying, for example building wooden crates when a little bubble wrap would have done the trick.
Hope your Deco bull arrives o.k.
--Road to Parnassus
I haven't previously found the shipping too onerous, but on occasion I have come across people who work at these companies who clearly ought not to. But in the end everything has arrived and intact. But I agree, there does sometimes appear to be overkill in the packaging, which of course one pays for.
Columnist, does your art go to a storage space in Scotland or to a second home? Do you miss having it in Bangkok?
Your forays into buying abroad has got me checking out the auction scene in Belgium, France, UK and Germany. One difference I note at a few of these auction houses is that payments are to be made in "cash"...not as simple as paying with a credit card.
My art in Scotland is stored at my brother's place. I suppose I do miss not having it around, but there simply isn't any more available wallspace.
Yes, paying for items can be a bit of a pallaver. Some do accept credit cards, but with a 4% surcharge, so I prefer to pay by bank transfer, which of course adds to the joy! Bonhams required the 48 hour payment, and I paid them the day after the sale, as soon as I had the invoice. But they didn't acknowledge, so I had to ring them. I found them rather sloppy with that and with the shipping. The auction house Kastern in Hanover is very dizzy and unresponsive, and I will have to chase them again if there is no movement in the shipping, but nothing restarts until the 2nd at the earliest.
Hah! This reminds me of how often my career hung by a thread as I waited for the urgently needed double overhead chrome dipstick required to finish the job off to be delivered by DHL.
I love Art Deco. The only piece I have left (I have an expensive habit called divorce; did you know that 'divorce' is Latin for extracting a man's wallet through his penis?) Never mind, as I was saying, the only piece I have left is this:
http://hippo-on-the-lawn.blogspot.com/2012/09/antiques-roadshow.html
But I can find very little about the artist.
Your bull is exceptionally fine.
Hello Hippo - your bronze lady is indeed a lovely Art Deco piece, and I see your readers have identified it. I think bronze sculptures are the very best thing about Art Deco. Interior design from that era leaves me rather cold.
I can imagine how frustrating it must be to wait for double overhead dipsticks, but I find there are so many of them around here, it's not usually a problem. I'm sure there will be many to call upon as this Eve proceeds. I might even put in a cameo appearance myself.
I am known for my exceptionally fine bull.
Your Art Deco bull has not arrived yet? :( We ship about 3-4 containers (of antiques) from Europe to DC a year. In the last 5 years or so, it's been quite challenging to clear U.S. Customs. Good luck...keep us posted! Loi
Loi - no, sadly. Nada. I rather expect that some thing might move tomorrow, but that could be wishful thinking, because there will of course be a backlog...!
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