10 items on LiveAuctioneers ending this week I think are undervalued, or affordable — auctions ending soonest first. (Instructions on bidding at email bottom — if you buy any of this stuff, let me know), but first, housekeeping.
Housekeeping:
SNAKE USA shirts are still on sale and available to buy here.
https://snakeusa.bigcartel.com/
https://snakeusa.bigcartel.com/
They will only be on sale through early next week. Pics in previous email, on my IG or on the link above.
Auctions
Ginori tea set, LA from Chi, in-house shipping: I’ve written about Ginori, who made Ferrari settings, and which can’t be improved upon. Puzzlingly, his China shows on LA for cheap often. This one’s the most traditional set I’ve seen—full high tea—and the cheapest, at $10
Venturi grandma chair, Skinner auctions from Ma.: As recently as five years ago Bob Venturi’s grandma chair (above) was considered hideous or outré, and sometime lately it’s graduated to “over.” Maybe a McLuhan question and not a design one; though for me nothing’s changed. Chippendales are better but these are undeniable. $850, a deal, but needs to be done through Skinner’s site, so register now.
Sottsass Callimaco lamps, LA from NJ: The importance of knowledge: these two ES lamps are selling for $550 without attribution; another house that has the name right is listing just one for $500. One for 5 is still a deal; they always go for more than that.
Cantu slipper chair, LA from CT, IHS: New to me, and very harsh but in an ideal Italian way. Though it skirts camp/Star Trek. LA sees this going to 500. If it does that’s still a good deal; at 150 now
Bocacina Pierantonio Miss B office chair, LA from Fl, IHS: One of the better office chairs I have seen, Knoll Executive meets Belotti spaghetti. Designed by Tito Agnoli, who’s good, so it makes sense. Not sure if it’s practical—read my fitness writing for my stance on office seating—but does it matter? Only one’s sold before on LA. Deal at $150
Christophe Pillet Zanota chairs, LA from NJ: Nothing earth-shattering, just a pair of very good chairs from a minor designer (Pillet’s mostly stinkers) in a nice color that works with anything but is loud enough and which is fairly affordable, at $400. This is the best type of furniture to buy.
Piva B&B Italia Andy sofa, LA from CT, IHS: An almost deco couch from Paolo Piva, known for the Alanda (I suppose), from a house good for this sort of aesthetic. Near NYC, with in-house shipping, a technical issue with one of the cushions, and the SNAKE Lock of the Week. cheaper than the identical $4k Hay sofa at $70
Stacy Dukes Efebino for Artemide stools, LA from PA: Wendell Castle Molar-looking stools with nice white patina. Dukes isn’t well known, and passed a couple years ago. These never go for much, though this color is the least exciting. Still, $150
Joe Colombo tube chair, LA from PA: You used to be able to throw a rock on eBay and hit five of these; now they are rare. This one needs help and is the only one on LA this year. Others have gone as high as 13.5. A giant, giant chair, even in this condition. $2,750
Sonneman for Kovacs desk lamp, LA from St. Paul, Mn.: Wild one from Robert Sonneman, a very flexible and approachable lighting designer, but a sober one. Never seen him do something like this. As a rule, I like out of character designs, they have a better story and take more chances. Like all his lamps, this one’s affordable, $200
Euro Wild Card:
If you feel like spending cash to ship something overseas but still want a deal, buy:
Michael Graves Memphis bed, LA from Rome, IHS: Man, Graves is the king. I wonder sometimes why there are any other designers. One of the greatest social critics of our age. Produced by Memphis—single bed, 20 lightbulbs, looks like the hotels he built at Disney World though a bit less evil. Foul shit… €5,000
Odds and ends:
Wolfgang Hoffman chrome deco side table, Georgia, $150
Minottither cube Ottomans, Irvine CA, $1,500
Carraline (?) coffee table, marble, NJ $150
2 Gio Ponti 50s Pee Wee Herman kitchen chairs PA $900
Carlo de Cari simple wood chair PA $125
Paul McCobb sugar jars (Brazil colors), $10
Thanks. Buy my shirts: snakeusa.bigcartel.com
Snake
Info on how to bid on LA:
Sign up to LA with your credit card ahead of the auction, register for that auction on the item page — there’s a button/prompt on every item page — before bidding. Houses usually accept registrations within a day.
Bidding happens live, in a pop-up window, though prices sometimes jump up before. Both app and website have good bidding UX. Sometimes items go for a lot, sometimes they don’t. Not much different from eBay. Because of buyers’ premiums (~25%), and freight, expect to pay over list. After winning you have ~a week to get the item. Houses can recommend third party shippers; some ship themselves. If so, In-House Shipping will be below the register button. Sometimes it’s affordable, sometimes it’s not. Picking it up yourself is cheapest.
As with anything, insane deals are rare, nice deals are occasional, and fair prices are frequent. If you have more questions, email me.