MT GAMBIER LIBRARY - PENOLA LIBRARY SA

The Antique Roadshow Seminars held an Antique evaluation session at Mt Gambier Library and Penola Library Tuesday 17th May 2011

Which was a fantastic success for all concerned.

Both Libraries had a combined attendance of 120 Library Patrons on the day of the evaluation session.

The Antiques and Collectibles we evaluated at both venues were very interesting, ranging from Sterling Silver to Paintings, Porcelain, Pottery.

The most interesting item on the night was an American Flag which had a significant association with world war two, and for the owner well worth researching.

We also had the pleasure to see a very early pair of Australian earrings made from Australian Colonial gold decorated with seed peals and black enamel, housed in there original box - Date 1860s.

I would like to thank Management and Staff members from Penola and Mt Gambier Libraries, the staffs planning and attention to detail for this Antique evaluation session, was outstanding to say the least.



The items we normally uncover are items like this large Sally Herman oil painting to interesting photos like the group of natives above.

My Antique Roadshow evaluation events that I hold are not compromised in any way by me trying to buy from these Library Patrons who are wanting to receive an honest market appraisal, they all receive a true market value for auction.

So we are all on the same page relating to evaluating Antiques there are 3 values that are relevant, they are Insurance - Retail - Wholesale which is an Auction price.

Most people make the mistake of valuing their item closer to retail than wholesale ? I have known people that have valued their item which equals the same value as their written Insurance evaluation, which is a totally incorrect value comparing to the market value, which is what the market is paying right now.

SYDNEY REPRESENTATIVE OF MOSSGREEN - CASTLE HARRIS

The age news paper has had a number of stories of late about some questionable dealings from a few Melbourne based Art Dealers 2010-2011 which in my World the Art/Antique trade is not uncommon, this practice has been going on for years, faking & signing paintings, as we call it in the trade duding up paintings.

Most of those traders are known to the Melbourne Antique trade and some are even liked, but now we have another Antique trader in the market place and this sort of trader has been here for many many years, they are Antique Dealers that represent Antique Auction Houses.

One dealer in particular representing Mossgreen Auctions of Toorak Rd Sth Yarra, which opened there doors a few years ago as a boutique Art/Antique Auction House selling private Collections for clients living in Melbourne, selling in opposition to Leonard Joel, Sotheby's, Deutscher and Hackett, and Menzies Art Auctioneer's.

This interesting concept which Mossgreen Auctions have adopted, is the experts promoted on Mossgreen's website or via there printed Catalogue while having a specialist auction, are business people in their own right ''Antique Dealers'' who specialise in a particular area of the Antiques trade and what is wrong with that you may say ? and yes, I would say the same thing.

But over the short time Mossgreen Auction's have been conducting on site house auctions and antique auctions in there rooms in Melbourne and Sydney, there has been a few things that have come to light in the last few months, that is at least one of there ''Representatives''

An expert in Australian pottery and Australian Furniture, who is also a representative of Mossgreen Auctions.

In my opinion, this can be a problem when wearing two hats, as you will discover.

When a Mossgreen representative like Graeme Dodd who is an expert in his field of Australian pottery and Australian furniture, who is promoted on Mossgreens Website and in there Catalogue as a leading expert in his field, and a Representative of Mossgreen either part time or on a full time bases.

Now, when giving evaluations he is bound by Law to give all clients who walks through his front door of business a true Auction appraisal, that is if this representative for Mossgreen Auctions is ''honest and transparent'' in his dealings with clients wanting to put Antiques in to Mossgreen up-coming Auctions.

Any representative of any Auction House trying to buy from a client before their item is offered to the market via the auction system, is a conflict of interest.

I also believe this underhanded practice can be answerable in a Court of Law.

Any member of the public wanting a true market appraisal of their Art/Antiques from any Auction Company or representative should be able to receive a honest and correct value of what the market will pay.

Which is not the case here, what has happened in this case, is highly questionable and a conflict of interest in any one's language.

There is a standard business practice which is adopted by most Antique Auctions in Melbourne or their Representatives such as Leonard Joel, Sothebys, Deutscher and Hackett Art Auctions.

Where Auctioneers giving appraisals to clients either at their Auction rooms or in the clients house have a standard code of ethics, which is the representatives of those Auction Companies do not try to buy items of considerable value from clients out right.

This is one of two true stories which need to be told so other unsuspecting clients don't become victims of rip off practise's.

A client walks in to a representative of Mossgreens in Sydney a Mr Graeme Dodd for an Auction evaluation ? for a Castle Harris 3 Koala figured statue, the representative values the item around $7000 and strongly suggests to the client, that's all they will achieve at Auction, less Mossgreens selling commission.

Mr Graeme Dodd assessed the Castle Harris figured group at $7000 and not a penny more ? and strangely enough the representative Graeme Dodd who values this Koala group as not worth a penny more than $7000 at auction, wants to buy the item ?

The client sells to the representative of Mossgreen ''Graeme Dodd'' who has a hidden agenda, which is to sell the item through Mossgreen Auctions him self via the Randwick Auction in 2010.

And that's what happened on the 30.8.10 Mossgreen Randwick Auction in Sydney.

Graeme Dodd of Graeme Dodd Antiques situated in the Rocks Sydney was to buy from the client, a Castle Harris Koala Figure, for $7000.

Which if this happened in any other Auction House would be instant dismissal, he resold the Castle Harris Koala figure in Mossgreens Sydney Auction for $25,095 including commission.

This is not the first time this sort of practise has happened relating to this representative of Mossgreen Auctions Graeme Dodd, not to long ago Graeme Dodd took on consignment a Deerbon Koala jug consigned by the vendor for a Mossgreen Auction or that's what the vendor thought that's what was going to happen ? with an offer from Graeme Dodd to purchase from the client before Auction for a few thousand dollars but was not accepted by the vendor, the vendor wanted the Deerbon jug to go to Auction.

So in Graeme Dodd's wisdom he offers the Deerbon jug to a collector in Sydney, this is what we call in the trade a 'private treaty sale' before Auction, with out consulting the vendor, for a whopping price tag of $17000, which I may ad $12,000 over the reserve price.

This practise offering an item before it goes to Auction for a set price with out consulting the vendor is extremely uncommon.

I also may ad, offering the item a Deerbon Koala jug too a private collector before Auction is unusual, but too be offered for $12000 above the reserve price with out consulting the vendor is not only unusual but highly questionable.

Antique Auction Houses like Leonard Joel, Sotheby's, Deutscher and Hackett have a code of conduct where this business practice normally does not happen, without consulting the vendor.

But this practice is not uncommon when offering an item at a reduced price after the item has been offered at public Auction, and not sold via normal conditions of Auction, referred to as ''testing the market'' in fact this practice is very common for Antique Auctions to sell items after Auction for a lesser price than the set reserve price, given the item has not reached its reserve price.

But the Auction Company will always contact the vendor to receive instructions so they may sell the item for less than the reserve price.

The interesting thing here is we are all left wondering if Mr Graeme Dodd had achieved a private treaty sale, which he did not.

What would the vendor be payed out ? would it be $17000 less commission, or the $5000which was the reserve, I wonder ?

If this scenario was to have happened in any other Auction House, at the very least heads would roll and I would suggest grounds for suing the representative.

Honest Art/Antique Auctions have policies they strictly adhere to, the standard practice of most Auction Companies relating to selling before auction, normally only occurs after testing the market via public auction.

You should be highly suspicious with this practice of a ''Valuer'' or ''Auction representative'' from any Auction Company who is wanting to buy any item from you which you have taken to be valued.

Mr Graeme Dodd is an expert in this area of Australian pottery and Australian Furniture.

Alarm bells should ring loud and clear when a ''valuer'' evaluates your item and wants to buy that same item from you.

I would be very very careful, always get a second or third opinion.

And for those who give Graeme Dodd the benefit of doubt, that does not wash with me, if you look at all the important Castle Harris pottery items sold over the last 5 years all have sold for more than $20,000 and some for $30,000

COLAC TO BENDIGO 2011-PENLEIGH BOYD 1890-1923 ATHENAEUM HALL 1922

I would like to thank Library managers and staff who made their Libraries available for Lester's Antique Roadshow, evaluating Antiques and Collectibles for Library patrons.

From Colac through to Bendigo, there were some impressive Library venues for local Library patrons to have their Antiques and Collectibles evaluated.

Lester's traveling Antique Roadshow evaluation tour started on the 18th February in Colac and finishing at Bendigo on the 23rd February 2011, and it was to say the least, a super success.

Attendance at Colac and Warrnambool Libraries by Library patrons was impressive.

The same can be said with Portland and Horsham Libraries, Lester also evaluated Antiques at Warracknabeal - St Arnaud - Maryborough and Bendigo Libraries.

The Library patrons turned up some very interesting Antiques and Art which was valued by Lester Devere, like this unsigned Penleigh Boyd most likely exhibited on the 14th-25th August 1922 Athenaeum Hall, Collins St Melbourne - Number 6 in the 1922 Exhibition Catalogue Sirius Cove 40 Guineas.

There were many interesting Antiques and Collectibles that people wanted evaluations on, like tin toys, paintings, china, sterling silver, Jewellery and many other items.

AUSTRALIAN ART - SIGNED OR UNSIGNED ?

I have been informed over the years by different art dealers that it's only Australian art collectors and dealers that have concerns, when they are considering to bid on an unsigned art work in auction, attributed by the auction company to a noted artist.

Apposed to buying a signed work by that same artist,

overseas collectors and dealers think completely differently when it comes too buying unsigned art work.

International collectors and dealers are not concerned at all when buying unsigned art by noted artists.

My point is overseas collectors or dealers will back their knowledge and professional judgement when buying an unsigned painting by noted artists ?

So my question is this, is an unsigned painting by a noted artist not worth the same money as a signed painting, painted by the same artist ?

I would beg to differ, and my opinion is this, that an unsigned painting is no different to a signed painting, painted by the same artist.

As long as it's a finished painting opposed to an unfinished painting and the only fault you may find with the painting as a personal point of view is it's not signed.

Example; what is your point of view with this scenario, a ''Picasso'' is offered for auction and this particular painting is not signed ? but looks like a ''Picasso.''

And mark my words there are plenty around the world authentic ''Picasso's'' and many FAKE ''Picasso's'' but can you tell the difference, is the question, I'm just using ''Picasso'' as an example.

There has been many good artist's over the years that have not signed their paintings for one reason or another.

And the auction house in this case, does not have the expertise to say it is ''Picasso'' or not a ''Picasso'' ?

But the auction company will be offering the painting for sale regardless, who do you think determines the value of that unsigned work ''Picasso'' well as in the past and will do in the future, the expert collectors and art dealers who have a knowledge when buying and selling and collecting works painted by ''Picasso'' who are experts in their given field are the people who determine whether the painting is right or wrong, REAL OR FAKE.

The value of a signed painting compared to unsigned painting depends on a few things, which is the quality of the work, the subject or location of that work, the size of the work is also a factor in evaluating the unsigned work, when comparing the two painting, signed and unsigned.

Another factor relating to the value of an unsigned painting is if the Auction Company or art dealer who has it up for sale, attributes the unsigned work to the correct artist ?

This post is for you the viewer too make some judgements about some of the paintings that I have uploaded, and lets see how you go with attributing the correct artist to the correct painting.

Lets pretend all the paintings I have uploaded are unsigned, and your task is to name the Artists ?

Do you think you can, the four paintings I will upload will not show any signatures, so you will need to have some idea who the artist is in the first place, to have any chance of putting a name to the paintings.

leave your comments or your guess to whom you think these paintings are painted by down the bottom of the post and I will reply, you can be anonymous.

Go on have a go, test yourself

Kind regards Lester

KNOX CITY LIBRARY - VIDEO

This video will give you the viewer, some idea how I conduct the Antique Roadshow Seminar for Libraries Inner Melbourne and Country Victoria.

My Antique evaluation talk is a two hour evaluation session for Library patrons, my experience spans 30 years in the Antique trade.

The evaluation talk has no hidden agenda's, what I mean by that statement is I do not try to buy items from Library patrons.

I am payed a flat fee by the Library to talk about the Antique trade in general, telling Library patrons how to research their Antique's or Collectibles, and some interesting insider stories.

I show the library patrons the best way to sell their particular Antiques, the reason I explain to the Library patron, how and where to sell there Antique bedroom chair opposed to giving details how and where to sell their sterling silver America's Cup is because the two Antique items are completely different Antiques.

You will need to consider Auction Companies are not all the same, some can auction furniture better than they can sell sterling silver and others can auction paintings better than they can sell china.

There are many different ways of selling Antiques ? like a Antique Auction, Garage sale, the News paper or the Trading post, selling out right to an Antique dealer.

Some Antique items sell better sending them over seas, some items sell better in a Collectible Auction, some items sell better in a weekly Auction.

Example; Its possible that you would not sell your Picasso painting at the same Auction Company, as you sell your bedroom chair ? and its likely you would not sell your sterling silver America's Cup in the same Auction Company as your 3 piece lounge suite ?

My point is there are many different ways of selling, depending on what the Antique item is that your trying to sell ?

We also touch on how to research Antiques and Collectibles, there are many ways to research your particular Antique.

I can evaluate most Antique items the Library patron bring to the evaluation session, in most cases I can tell the patron about the age and the value, the best way to sell, that's if your wanting to sell your item in the future.

I also explain a process how you can research your Antique item, so you do not get caught selling cheaply, to dishonest people in the Antique trade, who are happy to rip you off.

Who will, and are happy to tell you anything, so they can buy your item as cheaply as possible.

Be very careful of any valuer or dealer even a representative of any Antique Auction Company who will say, this item you have is worth $2000 dollars and in the same breath wants to buy it, at the value he or she has just placed on it ?

A REAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR ANY VALUER TOO VALUE ANY ANTIQUE AND THEN WANTING TO BUY THAT ITEM, ON HIS OR HER OWN EVALUATION.

ALARM BELLS SHOULD BE RINGING BY THIS TIME IF ANY VALUER OR REPRESENTATIVE TRY'S TO BUY FROM YOU BEFORE GOING TO AUCTION.

Lester Devere - Email me at AntiqueRoadshow@hotmail.com

SATSUMA 1890s WHY HIRE AN EXPERT WHEN BUYING ANTIQUES 2011

So why would you hire an expert to help you in Auction ? when you can go to Auction your self, to view and bid on any of the Antiques & Art that is offered and sold via the Auction system,with a view of buying for a long term investment.
You can do all that on your own, view items and bid and buy your self at any Antique Auction in Melbourne but I would like you to consider this, if you are not familiar with buying at Antique Auctions.

I would not expect you as a new comer to the Antique Auction system to know any of the problems that you may come up against, believe me you may fall over in a big way.

There are many things you will need too know before you bid at any Antique Auction.

One point I will make is if you are not careful when viewing the Antique Auctions with the intention of buying ? there is a very good chance you will buy badly and the odds are you will, unless you take your time.

LOOK - LISTEN - AND LEARN WHEN IN AUCTION; you will be amazed what happens when you use your eyes ? ears ? and sometimes you will need rat cunning

Firstly do you know what your looking at ? is it an Antique or a Reproduction.

Because not always what you read in the catalogue is correct, there are many different description's and term's that the Antique Auction's use when writing there catalogue description's.

And some description's can be seen as misleading in the real world or at the very least confusing to a new buyer when trying to buy from Auction.

As I said there are many hurdles before you be-come a discerning buyer in any Antique Auction and keep in mind for a dealer who has be-come a self educated expert in his or her own field of expertise.

This dealer will have made many mistakes over the years when buying at Auction and spent many thousands of dollars buying the wrong thing, what we call a mistake.

Because you don't gain your knowledge by buying mistakes over a few months ? its over several years of heartache and disappointments, which makes the Antique dealer, if their still in business ? look at things very closely, so they don't make the same mistake again.

It makes the dealer learn about what he or she is buying ? educating them self for many hours a day reading books on their particular subject, so they do not make mistakes in the future.

So if you have just started your Antique hunting in and around the Antique Auctions you need to keep in mind that you will make mistakes when you buy from Auction.

The mistakes can be cut to a minimum if you have an experienced dealer or Agent helping you.

When you make your first mistake, lets hope it's not a big one, because the bigger your mistake the more money you will loose.

Some of the things that can happen in Auction not only here in Australia but any auction in the World so be careful, reproductions sold as original, misleading description's in Catalogues, Fake Art sold as originals, Dealers and Dishonest Collectors bidding on their own items too push up the price.

Auction Companies that own the item you are wanting to buy and not declaring to the market they own that item, leaving absentee bids on Art or Antiques at Auction and the Auctioneer bidding on the absentee's behalf and making the absentee bidder pay the full amount when there are no other bidders for that particular item, can be standard.

Just a few points you will need to consider when buying at Antique Auction's, or you may consider using an expert who has a wealth of knowledge buying at Auction, this knowledge you can only gain over many years.

Yes I am a Commission Agent for Antique Dealers and Collectors in Melbourne with 30 years experience, I'm also the preferred and recommended Commission Agent for Leonard Joel Antique Auctions Melbourne for there weekly Antique Auctions.

I subcontract my Independent Bidding Service via Leonard Joel Antique Auction's, executing telephone bidding for Leonard Joel clients, weekly Auctions only.

The Independent Bidding Service offers a confidential bidding service in Melbourne's Art and Antique Auctions for a flat fee which can differ from Auction to Auction, the fee charge is under $100 per Auction House, depending on what kind of service you need or want.

Contact details - Lester Devere are Antiqueroadshow@hotmail.com

DATES - TIMES FOR VICTORIAN LIBRARIES IN 2011

SATSUMA VASE - KINKOZAN 1890s - 29.8 cm high bought in Melbourne 2002 for $700 dollars, resold in Christies London in June of 2002 for $ ............ happy too tell you what the vase realised at auction when you come to my Antique Roadshow evaluation talk.

This Blog site shows videos of the Antique Roadshow Seminars held in Libraries which outline what you would expect to see in Lester's Antique Roadshow evaluation sessions for Libraries Inner Melbourne and Country Victoria.

Lester has been invited to speak at more than 50 Libraries over the last 2 years.

These Antique Evaluation Sessions are a sit down antique evaluation session conducted for an audience of 50 plus Library patrons, evaluating each antique item in front of the patrons of that particular Library, this is a two hour session talking to around 50 to 70 Library patrons in each Library.

On Friday 18th February 2011 the Antique Roadshow will travel to Colac Library and many other Libraries over 5 days, speaking to Library patrons in the Western District.

Dates - Times are given below.

Colac Library Friday 18th February 12pm-2pm

Warrnambool Library Friday 18th February evening session 6pm-8pm.

Portland Library Saturday 19th 10.30am-12.30pm

Horsham Library Monday 21st February 12.30pm-2.30pm evaluating Antiques and Collectibles for Library patrons living in the Western District.

Warracknabeal Library Tuesday 22nd February 12.30pm-2.30pm.

St Arnaud Library would like to hold an evening session on Tuesday 22nd February 6pm-8pm.

Maryborough Library Wednesday 23rd February 10am-12noon.

Bendigo Library Wednesday 23rd February 4.30pm-6.30pm.

Times will be announced soon for Seymour and Kilmore Libraries.
Most of the above Libraries have confirmed there involvement in this extraordinary
Antique evaluation event in February 2011.

Other Melbourne venues in 2011 are below, most venues are free

Brookfield Retirement Village Wednesday 16th February at 1.30pm-3.30pm
111 Coburn Rd Brookfield.

St Mary's Church Sunday 20th March Greensborough.

Clayton Library Tuesday 12th April 2pm-4pm.

Cranbourne Library Wednesday 11th May 2.30-4.30pm

Ballarat Library Wednesday 25th May 10.30am-12.30pm.

Wendouree Library Wednesday 25th May 2.30pm-4.30pm.

Pakenham Library Tuesday 21st June 1pm-3pm.

Belgrave Library date to be announced possibly Monday 11th July or Tuesday 12th July 2pm-4pm.

Wangaratta Library early August 2011 - Date to be announced.

Email; Antiqueroadshow@hotmail.com

LEONARD JOEL ANTIQUE AUCTIONS 2011 - ROBERT PRENZEL - LESTER DEVERE

Leonard Joel Antique Auctions will offer an interesting and varied selection of Antiques in Melbourne 2011, this Robert Prenzel panel will be offered in Leonard Joel's next Decorative Art Auction with many other rare and important items.

Dates and times for the up coming Leonard Joel Art & Antique & Collectible Auctions to be held at 333 Malvern Rd Sth Yarra.

Leonard Joel conduct Auctions every Thursday commencing at 9.30am,Selling more than 1000 lots per week.

Sunday 27th February 12 noon Toys & Collectibles.
Sunday 27th February 2pm Special Art Auction.

Sunday 3rd April 1pm Special Jewellery Auction.
Sunday 3rd April 2pm Special Art Auction.
Sunday 10th April 12 noon Decorative Arts & Fine Furniture Auction.

Sunday 22nd May 12 noon Collectible Auction.

Sunday 5th June 12 noon Decorative Art & Fine Furniture
Sunday 19th June 1pm Fine Jewellery Auction.
Sunday 19th June 2pm Special Photography Auction.

Sunday 14th August 12 noon Modern Design.
Sunday 28th August 1pm Fine Jewellery Auction.
Sunday 28th August 2pm Special Art Auction.

Sunday 4th September 12noon Collectible Auction.

Sunday 16th October 1pm Fine Jewellery Auction.
Sunday 16th October 2pm Special Art Auction

Sunday 20th November 12 noon Collectibles Auction.
Sunday 27th November 12noon Decorative Arts & Fine Furniture Auction.

Sunday 4th December 1pm Fine Jewellery Auction.
Sunday 4th December 2pm Special Art Auction.

My Email; Antiqueroadshow@hotmail.com