Greenwich Workshop

HarryGMCPF

MGF, Master Grumble Framer
Joined
Nov 15, 2004
Posts
797
Loc
Northborough, MA
How is business on this side of the art market for those who deal in it?

I used to work in a place that was an authorized dealer for Greenwhich, Sommerset, and Hadley about 10 years ago.

Just curious how it has changed if at all.

Thanks,
Harry
 
I tend to sell either posters or higher priced serigraphs and giclees, but I've had a few customers come in lately wanting to liquidate their limited edition lithos that they purchased as an investment. They said the gallery they purchased them from told them to pound salt. So, I got a subscription to InformArt and did some evaluations for people. One guy had issue price $11,000 in mostly Batemans which Informart placed a high value of $32,000 on, but just try getting that. I was almost able to sell a High Kingdom - Snow Leapord of his for $600 (Informart $850 or so) but the buyer backed out. The limited edition lithos and canvases I have been selling are because people like the art, which is a good reason!, but it could be a poster for all they care. Considering that, some of my Somerset artists are still popular, but none of 'em paint wildlife.
 
All I have to say about Greenwitch is that if they get your email address you better be ready for 4-6 emails a day. And they do not stop when you ask them to by either email or phone.

If you are reading this Greenwich....Stop sending me your %%$@!^*)( emails like I asked you to a month ago.
 
Yeah I've got one of those, but it's not Greenwich. Couple days ago I had a nice Outlook preview panel with pictures of paintings of naked kids frolicking about. Nice thing to spring open on my sales counter CRT! Thanks!
 
I used to be a Greenwich dealer. Quit about the time Bev Doolittle was the rage. Couldn't quite see selling LE's in excess of 100K/ edition, and staying in business under the same name for very long.
One of my clients that insisted on buying these continued buying them elsewhere after I got out. She and her husband were looking to buy a bigger home and she offered the bank her Bev Doolittle's as collateral for a loan...when she called me to ask the value, I had a real hard time not laughing out loud.

The LE repro market has always been manipulated...esp in the secondary. I would love to see a list of comparable sales of these works at open auction that in any way supported the supposed secondary market value...it ain't there.
 
With many artists, the market just sunk. Wildlife prints are in the hole right now. All of our publishers have dropped. Custom framing is the only thing bring us any money these days. Sure we have a few print orders here and there, but am I glad we can frame.

I am on GWs email list and get my 1 email a month at my personal mail, and a few every 2 weeks or so as a dealer for feedback or pre-orders.

Of all the publishers, GW has been the most consistent with policy, and quality. I've had very few comlplaints from clients- none from me personally. I collect Christensen, and have had no problems (nice guy, too. I met some GW artists in Scottsdale last month).

The secondary market (informart magazine, or art expediter) is controlled by those selling on it. If your client will buy it for listed price (or higher), they are contributing to the suggested market value.

In all fairness, a lot of Doolittle pieces will fetch current "value", whether or not its inflated. She's popular and 500,000 prints vs. total US population is not a whole lot. She recently released some stone lithos (editions of no more than 75).
 
In 1995, at least in my 'hood, wildlife art had already passed and Redlin was big. People were becoming wise to the so called LE print. Even the super discount stores were selling double matted mediocre wildlife prints with a sticker on the glass that shouted LIMITED EDITION! Around the turn of the century when we were all, well some of us anyway, worried about the Y2K world meltdown, the print market was slow and some publishers were trying new tactics. One confounding result were these damned mini canvas editions of limited edition prints - the ones that were promised never to be reproduced again!
John
 
Sales on L/E paper is all but gone. Only two of the artist that I sell still produce some income for me. Like Donna says, I'm glad we can frame.

It seems that the Art sales being made today must be less than $50 before framing or over $2000. All the 'stuff' in between just don't sell.
 
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