HAMMERPRICE

A provincial saleroom, twelve sales, and a float you can absolutely lose. Bid against three dealers who have their own money and their own grudges, buy what you can sell, and read the catalogue wording carefully — "manner of" and "bearing a signature" are doing work for the vendor. Reserves, condition reports, buyer's premium, fakes and a slump arrive one at a time. Run out of cash and the season ends there.

More like this
See all