Sotheby's planned sales service on the Internet has been causing considerable concern among French dealers and auctioneers.
Sotheby's announced that some 1500 dealers had decided to join their Internet sales service and said that some French professionals such as Fremontier, Segoura, Montbrison and J.M.G Piltzer were among those interested in this ambitious project due to be implemented next summer.
British dealers of the LAPADA AND SLAD associations had however expressed serious reserves. Sotheby's have invested some US $ 25 million in this project to be managed by Susan L. Solomon, Vice chairman of the Sotheby's Holding Corp. They are offering a three-year contract to dealers who would be able to sell pieces through their Internet service.
Sotheby's plan to attract buyers in the US $ 3000-10 000 region but such project has been strongly criticised by the Union of French dealers the representative of which said that there were some destabilising risks for the market.
«In the long run collectors might be induced to sell their belongings directly through the Internet thus eschewing dealers and galleries», he added.
British dealer and collector Peter Nahum said that Sotheby's were acting against the interests of the profession in trying to grab a share of the market. He stressed that such project was contrary to usual codes of conduct, which provided for seriousness and discretion.
Home
