online tools for auction research
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
Online Tools for Auction Research
Erika Hauser&
Deborah Vincelli
Thomas J. Watson LibraryThe Metropolitan Museum of Art
What We’ll Cover
Resources for researching:• Auction sales 1600-early 20th century.• Auction sales 1970-present day.• Information about a seller.
Types of resources:• Bibliographic.• Full-text.• Contents of catalogs.
Auction Catalogs in Watsonline
• Over 120,000 auction catalog records.• 1747 to the present.• Mostly North American and European
houses.• Digital price lists.• Digital auction catalogs.
Auction Catalogs in Watsonline
Sotheby's Paris
Collection Marc Et DenyseGinzberg : Afrique, l'art des formes
Sept. 10, 2007
Image source: http://www.sothebys.com
Researching Past Auction Sales (c.1600-early 20th
century)
Bibliographic and full-text resources
Master of the Playing Cards (German, active ca. 1425-1450)
The Queen of Flowers, ca. 1435-1440
Image source: http://www.metmuseum.org
Provenance:
Aumüller, Munich.Jan. 30, 1871lot 905Collection: Friedrich Brugger, Munich
Gutekunst, Stuttgart.May 11 - 22, 1909lot 2139Collection: A. Freiherr von Lanna, Prague.
Rudolf Ritter von Gutmann, Vienna (Lugt 2770)
Image source: http://www.metmuseum.org
SCIPIO
• Bibliographic resource containing over 300,000 auction catalog citations.
• Twenty-five art organizations, including the Met, contribute to the database.
• Catalogs from the late 16th century to present.
SCIPIO
Gutekunst, Stuttgart.May 11 - 22, 1909lot 2139Collection: A. Freiherr von Lanna, Prague
Aumüller, Munich.Jan. 30, 1871lot 905Collection: Friedrich Brugger, Munich
Image source: http://www.metmuseum.org
Art Sales Catalogues Online
• Extension of Lugt’s Répertoire. • European and American auctions from
1600-1900. • Nearly 60,000 auction catalog citations.• 27,978 auction catalogs available in full-
text.
Art Sales Catalogues Online
Aumüller, Munich.Jan. 30, 1871lot 905Collection: Friedrich Brugger, Munich
Source: http://www.metmuseum.org
Other Resources
• Online catalogs of libraries that contribute to SCIPIO.
• International library catalogs– Artlibraries.net: portal to 28
art library online catalogs, many with auction catalog collections.
• Getty Provenance Index Databases– European sale catalogs from 1650–1840;
free resource.
Researching A Recent Sale
Auction Indexes
•ArtNet•Art Sales Index•AskART •Art Fact Pro •Some auction house websites
Artist:John La Farge
Title:Winter Thaw
Country of Origin:American Medium:Painting
Source:http://www.artnet.com/PDB/FAADsearch/LotDetailView.aspx?lot_id=424392943
Auction Indexes
•ArtNet•Art Sales Index•AskART •Art Fact Pro •Some auction house websites
Artist: Katsushika Hokusai
Title: Couples on a bridge over choppy waters with fallen maple leaves
Medium: color print
Country of Origin:Japan
Source:http://artsalesindex.artinfo.com/artsalesindex/aps/lots/10701191
Auction Indexes
•ArtNet•Art Sales Index•AskART •Art Fact Pro •Some auction house websites
Plate, 18th century (1755–60)
Manufactured by Imperial Porcelain Manufactory, St. Petersburg
Made in St. Petersburg, Russia
Hard-paste porcelain, (65.47)
Source: eMuseum
Auction Indexes
•ArtNet•Art Sales Index•AskART •Art Fact Pro •Some auction house websites
Searching For The Seller
Artist:Thomas Gainsborough (English, 1727–1788)
Title:Portrait of a Man, Called General Blyth
Medium:Oil on canvas
Accession Number:60.71.7
Source: eMuseum
Resources
• The (London) Times Digital Archive (1785 - 1985)
– “Sir J. Robinson's Pictures. Impossible Reserve Prices.” (1923, July 7). The Times, pg. 12.
• New York Times Historical Newspapers from ProQuest (1851 - 2006) – “2 Museums to Toss For Millions in Art In Timke
n Estate.” (1960, May 9). New York Times (1857-Current file), p. 31.
Provenance Sir Joseph B. Robinson, Bt., Cape Town,
South Africa (until 1923; his sale, Christie's, London, July 6, 1923, no. 8, as General Blyth, for £3,255 to Knoedler); [Knoedler, New
York, and Scott & Fowles, New York, 1923–24, as General Thomas Bligh (1685–1775); sold to Timken]; Mr. and Mrs. William R. Timken,
NewYork (1924–49); Lillian S. (Mrs. William R.)Timken, New York (1949–d. 1959)
Resources
• The (London) Times Digital Archive (1785 - 1985)
– “Sir J. Robinson's Pictures. Impossible Reserve Prices.” (1923, July 7). The Times, pg. 12.
• New York Times Historical Newspapers from ProQuest (1851 - 2006) – “2 Museums to Toss For Millions in Art In
Timken Estate.” (1960, May 9). New York Times (1857-Current file), p. 31.
Any Questions?
• Consult our class guide at: http://libmma.org/portal/instruction/
• We appreciate your Feedback.
Thank You!Erika & Deborah