French Art Auctions

Paper Summary:

This paper explores the effects of the opening of the French auction market to foreign auction houses on local French auction houses, the international auction market and the French art market in general. Specific problems that are investigated in include the impact of the French auction market reform on local French auction houses and whether they have thrived in competition with their larger international counterparts.It also looks into related issues, such as whether the change in French legislation has led to the export or import of more works of art into France for sale and whether the high taxes and stringent regulation regarding the sale and exportation of works of art from France offset any increase in the market share that would have come from the liberalization of their auction market.

Outline:
Introduction
Background Information
A Brief History of the Auction Market in France
Changes Brought By the Reform
Impact of the Reform
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Ever since the profession of auctioneer was invented in France, some five hundred years ago, they have been government officials, a kind of civil servants appointed by the Ministry of Justice because the art auctioning business was viewed as a public service just like justice and internal affaires. This monopoly was established by a royal edict of Henri II in 1556. All the profits from the activity went to the French state. All these authorized auctioneers were holding a monopoly over the art sales that were conducted on the French market. They were not only controlled and appointed by the government, they are actually considered to be government officials. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Matlack, Carol, Resh, Inka, Storming the Barricades of French Auctions, Business Week Online, International - European Business, the 25th of October 1999, Retrieved on the 30th of July 2006, available online at: http://www.businessweek.com/1999/99_43/b3652196.htm
• Adam, Georgina. "The French Auction Market: The Battle for Drouot." Art Newspaper, March, 2002: 39.
• Global Fine Art auction sales turnover: up 48.2%! , Art Market Insight, Artprice, July 2006, Retrieved on the 31st of July 2006, Available online at: http://web.artprice.com/ami/ami.aspx?id=ODA1ODcyNDkzODAzNzk=
• Bianchini, Annik, The art market in France picks up, boosted by big sponsors, The Weekly Telegraph, 27th of June 2001, retrieved on the 29th of July 2006, available online at: http://www.nepalnews.com.np/contents/englishweekly/telegraph/2001/jun/jun27/international.htm
• Lefranc, Celine. "Sotheby's et Mes Poulain-Le Fur dans le Sens de l'Histoire." Connaissance des Arts, March, 1999: 126

More papers on French Art Auctions:

• Essay # 19143 : "Modern French Art"
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• Term Paper # 146333 : "Rococo and Neoclassical Art"

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