Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2013 | Page 60

ANTIQUES Antiques and Collectables with Philip Hoare F.T.V.I THE RISE AND RISE of the art market The market for fine art and higher end claim that the number of big time buyers for expertise of the specialists who research antiques is truly in ascendance again with investment is relatively small, that there is a and catalogue, as a large percentage of the both the major auction houses Sothebys and significant shift towards private individuals, buyers purchase online using London agents Christies having record sales in 2012. buying art for love. This is maybe true at the as their intermediaries. As in many spheres The 2013 season is predicted to be an even e-commerce has changed the art and antique more successful year, with many important world completely. The traditional ways are fast sales in the pipeline and an ever hungrier disappearing, replaced by online shops and international client base eager to acquire the galleries. From my own experience embracing best and the finest on offer. the new technologies I’m able to research on The prices being achieved across the behalf of my clients and now have access boards for the finest art works in each to the Far Eastern market. It has opened so particular field are quite extraordinary; many doors which were once inaccessible. £1million is no longer considered exceptional. Interestingly the market for general antiques We are living through a vastly changing has improved too, after going through world with the media continually predicting the doldrums for quite a long time. Many economic armageddon at any moment. overseas clients are now furnishing their So why is the art market booming? The houses in the European taste, so things upward trend is from the Far Eastern buyers lower end of the market, £10,000 or less, Victorian, considered passé for so long are with vast, almost inexhaustible, amounts of but in my opinion the big hitters, and the now having a renaissance. disposable cash. Art seems a more solid way outrageous prices are from the investment of investing as currency and bullion markets market locking into what seems to be an and antiques so if you have anything old and continually fluctuate and the financial future impregnable, ever-rising market (remember interesting, give me a call. seems so uncertain. house prices in the 1990s). The spin-doctors at the auction houses * I’m happy to advise on all aspects of art The buyers rely entirely on the vast PHILIP HOARE VALUATIONS Find out what your antiques are really worth VALUATIONS • COMMISSION SALES • RESEARCH CHANGE OF ADDRESS Unit A15, Spithead Business Centre, Newport Road, Lake, IW PO36 9PH MOBILE: [phone] EMAIL: [email protected] www.philipahoare.com VALUATION DAY on February 20, 11am - 5pm at Spithead Business Centre, Lake. Including a long established silver and jewellery specialist/buyer from Knightsbridge, London. For more information please email Philip on [email protected]. 60 www.visitislandlife.com