New-York tribune., 1903-01-20
( GERMAN ART SALE
Hosc Engrauings 4re DISPOSED of
an STUTTGART

in such enterprises have special interest our
readers viii recall article which showed IN
detail what they like in this city serious
differences are TO be noted in all the great Eu-
ropean marts. The procedure at Christies. IN
London departs in essentials from that fol-
lowed at the Hotel Drouot. in Paris, ano en-
vironrnent IL nothing else serves to give each
OF these famous places its particular cacheI
Perhaps an even greater individuality is to be
eiiscerned fin the incidents surrounding an auc-
ton sale Of art objects in Germany. There Is
something decidedly unconventional about such
3 sale of ergravings. for example. as may oe
attended at Stuttgart in wiirteunburg. where
the annual sale of prints. or prints ana draw
ings has become almost an institution
In the first place the print dealer. who is also
5ae auctioneer in this case may have himsen
bought the collection Of engravings which Is to
be scattered cataloguing it for sale under the
hammer, and relying for bis profit on the hish
prices which may be paid for the 'pluns or
rarities as well as for the balance of the prints
since the celebrity of collection goes long
way toward making prices rule high when Ii is
out I'D for public sale Sometimes. IL the prints
belong to some collector who wishes to dispose
Of his treasures in this way. the pronts may De
divided between MIN and the auctloneer, lhe
latter having the privilege to add things from
his own stock which in this way profit by the
excitement of a more or less important occa-
sion. In any case. the auctioneer can protect
the different lots they are put up. either by
bidding himself or having his clerk do So 1t
is q recognized privilege. and no one seems TO
think that It is improper. Besides. many Of
these bids may be commissions from collectors
or dealers who cannot attend the sale. An
other feature that strikes the stranger as rather
odd is that on all lots Sold extra per cent
must be paid by the purchaser. over and above
the price at which these lots are knocked down
to him 1t is distinctly stated in the catalogue.
SO that no one can claim to be abused Ihis Is
done il is said, in order to defray the expenses
of the sale which include the rental OF the auc-
zion room the printing of catalogues. the send
ing of prints TO London. Paris. Berlin and else
where for inspection, and other minor matters
1t viii be SEEN therefore. that the man who
makes the sale runs practically no risk IL he
gauges his public with accuracy. which is pretty
sure to be the case when old hand has
matters IN charge, The koenigshau is oullo-
ing in the centre OF Stuttgart, with coionnaoe
and shops which are reached by steps on three
sides the other side being level with the street.
Above are rooms in which balls. parties. we'd
dings and so on. be held, and 1t IS in one
OF these rooms that the annual print sale usually
takes place.
The method of selling is somewhat different
appear at the sale at all. 1t being apparently
GOT ND for the benefit of the handful Of men
who sit around the outside Of the table (shaped
like a very long horseshoe), inside Of which an
attendant moves, showing to each person the
lot to be SOLD, as he rapidly passes from one
end of the table TO the other. While this is
going on another man. also in the centre. calls
the bids in a loud voice and before knocking a
lot down always gives warning by saying for
the second time" and then, 'for the third time
calling out the name of the purchaser after
ward. In front of the latter is a large sheet OF
brown paper in which to put such lots as may
t,e secured. Each man al the table has one OF
these wrappers with his written on it, The
purchasers represent dealers from all parts OF
Germany. some few German amateurs and the
heads of the print departments of the German
museums Dealers are present from London,
Paris and Vienna who buy for stock or for
amateurs who have given commissions New
Workers at the table if there are any, repre-
sent themselves only. far as is known,
the rich American not having yet got so
far as to buy prints through the eyes of a
third person In England gentleman" does
not bid at sales even if he should be present
himself: his dealer or commissionaire does
for him It is the same IN France the service
requiring a slight percentage of recompense
in both countries
The sale begins al $50 O'Clock in the morn
ing and continues until II. when the auction
eer SAYS: we Will have some refreshment,"
and the company cheerfully disposes Of the
sandwiches beer and wine which have been
brought in on a long table by attendants after
which the sale is continued until 12:45 o'clock.
when eu adjourn to their different hotels for
dinner which is eaten in Germany at / O'Clock.
AT O'Clock the sale is resumed. continuing
III 4:30; again beer. wine and sandwiches make
their appearance, and the hungry element goes
TO work with enthusiasm, so that by the time
they return to business trays and table
cleaned completely of edibles and drinkables
Al $50 or 4 o'clock. according TO the rapidity
Of the bidding. the sale is concluded for the
day. and the bidders melt away into groups,
the New-York London and Paris people going
off by themselves, the Germans by themselves.
and the Herr directors ditto This is not on
account Of any antagonism, but simply that few
of the English speaking visitors understand
German. but many understand French and the
Frenchmen certainly do not understand Ger
man. The Germans. however. are good lin
gusts most Of them speaking English and
French.
One feature Of the sale. TO a non-smoker.
one whose nerves are affected by smoke.
disagreeable. is the continual smoking. Nearly
every one smokes. and the effect may be imag-
ined in a with ventilation ANY effort
10 introduce fresh air meets with a storm of
protests, so that one has 20 go through the sale
inhaling cigarette and cigar % smoke the
deflement OF every garment. and disturbance
Of the centres How can any one not
accustomed TO it endure the smoke of q hash
or tobacco. carpets old paper etc, commingled?
Not even threat TO smoke good cigar can
terrify these smoke cured Herren, there is
nothing 10 do but to bear it
On the other hand. a pleasant episode is the