Here at the Glasgow School of Art we've worked closely with Bonhams and formerly with Phillips the international auctioneers who, for the past two years, have staged an annual design sale ('Design 1860 to the present day') within the School's prestigious Mackintosh Building. A third sale (by Bonhams) takes place later this month.
 
In effect, the School simply supplys the auctioneer with an attractive and unique venue for the viewing and actual sale in return for a standard commercial rental of our gallery space and we've even managed to persuade the auctioneer to become one of the School's corporate partners.
 
However, the School has found a number of additional benefits to be had from such a commercial agreement. In particular, the School's curatorial and exhibitions staff make every effort to mingle with the auctioneer's staff and clients. Introductions are made so that private collectors (who maybe interested in buying from the sale) are made aware of the School's own important, and permanent, design collections and likewise the School get to learn of private collections which may become accessible (via loans) for exhibition purposes in the future.
 
All-in-all the arrangment works well. The Glasgow School of Art benefits from its links with the auctioneer, gets plenty of free press and publicity associated with the sale, whilst the auctioneer secures added value by being associated with an internationally respected cultural and educational institution.
 

Peter Trowles MLitt., FRSA
Taffner Curator, Mackintosh Collection
Glasgow School of Art
167 Renfrew Street
GLASGOW
G3 6RQ
Scotland

Tel: +141 353 4524
Fax: +141 353 4746

www.gsa.ac.uk
 

 
 
 -----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Starlyn DAngelo
Sent: Thursday, November 07, 2002 2:23 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Antique Shows/auctions

I am wondering about the general consensus re: having antique auctions and festivals on museum grounds.  Does anyone have experience with on site auctions in which items that are similar to the museum collections are sold?  Do visitors understand that the museum is not selling collections or is there confusion about the role of the museum in such events?  I would appreciate hearing any thoughts about this.  Thanks.
 
Starlyn D'Angelo,
Curator
Shaker Museum and Library
========================================================= Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).

========================================================= Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).