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PIFS goes dutch (auction)

This year the Philadelphia Invitational Furniture Show is trying something new and different: an online Dutch auction of exhibitors' pieces. 

In a live Dutch auction, the auctioneer starts high (at the appraised or estimated price), then calls out lower and lower numbers until someone in the crowd bites. In an online Dutch auction, the price decreases each week . A bidder claims a week/amount, and if no one claims a higher one, they win when that week approaches. Here's a bidding demo. Everyone who bids automatically gets free tickets to the show in March.

This pretty little accent lamp by Raul Casas, worth $175, just went for $140.

No one has bid yet on this one, also by Casas, made from Bolivian rosewood and handmade paper from Thailand. It's worth $265 and is now down to $230.

A blanket Chest by Bill Russell, worth $800, is up for grabs for $500.

As artisans begin to register this fall for the show (in March at the Cruise Ship Terminal at the Naval Yard), Director Joshua Markel expects many to elect to put up pieces for auction. I'll definitely keep checking back to see what's new, but now's a great chance to get a deal on one of the current lots as the auction site is in early stages and is largely undiscovered.

Posted on Friday, September 4, 2009 at 8:27AM by Registered CommenterCaroline Tiger in , , , | Comments2 Comments

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Reader Comments (2)

Interesting. If that dresser sells for under $500 during the auction, what will be my incentive to pay full price for a piece by the same maker at the next PIFS show? I think I will just haggle the price down at the show since the maker has made it public that they're willing to take much less money for a piece.

It seems like a great way to de-value the work.
September 4, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterTim Dunleavey
Putting certain items on sale is a tried and true technique of American marketing for items which haven't moved quickly. If not over used it generally has the effect of increasing traffic for other items and the seller either has the option of discontinuing the item on sale or seeing if the market for it has strengthened at the original price. I think the real problem is that somehow it feels wrong to apply normal merchandising methods to the art world. Part of the aura of that world is that somehow the value of these items should not be subject to the whims of the marketplace. Alas, it ain't that way.
September 4, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterJosh Markel

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