Tonight, Thursday, September 22, 2023, at Lynda Trouvé Auction House (France), an auction titled INDOCHINE (16) will take place. Before officially announcing the works that will be included, information about 19 oil paintings created by King Hàm Nghi was widely discussed by public opinion. The analysis of the values from 19 paintings by King Hàm Nghi make art lovers eagerly wait for the auction. You may like to join Viet Art View to review some information milestones about King Hàm Nghi’s artistic creations (through the media):
- In 2010, King Hàm Nghi’s painting Sunset was auctioned at Millon.
- In 2019, the book Hàm Nghi Empereur en exil artis à Alger was published, the author is Amandine Dabat (born in 1987 in Paris, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Vietnamese studies in France in 2012), granddaughter – 5th generation descendant of King Hàm Nghi.
- In 2022, the book Hàm Nghi, Prince D’Annam (1871-1944) was published.
- In January 2023, the documentary Hàm Nghi – the Emperor who sought freedom through art (Interview and editing: Minh Thư, Cinematography: Sam Robinson and Phil Darley) was posted on Vietnamese BBC News’ YouTube; The artist portrait of King Hàm Nghi has been clearly formed in the hearts of those who love him.
King Hàm Nghi. Self portrait, July 24, 1896
Therefore, the event of 19 paintings created by King Hàm Nghi being auctioned on September 22, 2023 received a lot of attention.
Not discuss the starting price from the auction house, because the hammer price is the final. Whether the estimated price is high or low for special works like this is only up to the auction house.
So, on what basis will these 19 paintings be valued and collected? Whether it follows established basics for pricing or depends on the bidder’s personal feelings. Let’s try to discuss with Viet Art View on the basis of valuation for works of art being applied.
- Considering the Work of Art Itself
While a valuer considers the market, valuations begin and end with the work of art itself. In order to complete any kind of valuation, the valuer must consider: where does this work art come from, who made it and what kind of work is it?
*Answer: They were created by a king.
S.M HÀM NGHI (1871-1944).
Rivière un après-midi d’été.
Huile sur toile signée en idéogrammes et datée 1909 en bas à droite.
Dimensions: 27×35 cm.
(Usures, pliure centrale et réseau de craquelures).
Estimate: 2000 – 4000 eur
- Who made your work of art?
In the art world, we like to separate artists into three tiers: Emerging, Mid-Career and Established. Doing so, can help regulate the value of works and inform fair valuations.
*Answer: King Hàm Nghi’s special status is at any level other than these three levels? Historical value is the most special level of those 19 paintings.
S.M HÀM NGHI (1871-1944).
Soleil couchant sur la campagne.
Huile sur carton datée 1911 et signée en idéogrammes en bas à gauche
Carte de visite de Henri Aubé au dos. Tampon de la Maison Lefranc.
Dimensions: 24,5×19 cm.
(Angles légèrement usés).
Estimate: 3000 – 5000 eur
- Quality
Is that ‘je ne sais quoi’. It refers to those intangible traits that inspire people to stand in front of a painting for hours on end, head tilted. Sometimes quality arises from the formal traits of a work, such as the artist’s technical execution and composition or else from the poignancy, uniqueness or pertinence of its subject.
*Answer: The feeling that you have when standing in front of an artwork created by a king will largely decide.
- Rarity
Is self explanatory. If a work is especially rare, it is more desirable and those, probably more valuable.
*Answer: It’s definitely rare. Because if King Hàm Nghi created a thousand paintings, then compared to 100 million people, if reduced to 1/10 of the (possible) buyers, there would still be 10 million people.
- Condition
If a work of art is damaged, fading or punctured, its condition is affected. Ideally, your work of art will be in stellar condition.
*Answer: Viet Art View can’t see the paintings directly so we don’t dare to answer. According to photos posted from the auction house, 19 paintings have acceptable surfaces.
- Provenance
Provenance is an interesting aspect of valuing art. While objects are typically more valuable if new, artworks operate a little differently. If a work of art has passed between notable collectors or celebrities, it becomes more valuable. In this way, a work’s provenance or history of ownership can prove influential.
*Answer: Provenance is very simple, given as a gift by a friend. Has been forgotten. Descendants found them and bring them to auction.
- Exhibition and Publication History
If a work has been displayed in any significant place, its value may increase.
*Answer: Not yet
- Size
Finally, the value of a work of art can be influenced by its size. If an object is large, it may be more valuable – but this rule isn’t hard and fast. A tiny work by John Olsen will almost always be more valuable than a large canvas by an emerging artist. Similarly, if a small work is high-quality or quintessential to an artist’s oeuvre, it may be more valuable than a big poor quality or obscure work.
*Answer: 19 paintings auctioned are all small in size, about 20 cm and not exceeding 50 cm (one dimension).
Some conclude
Before the auction, quite a few collectors and art lovers talked with Viet Art View. But it is possible that paintings will be bidded mostly by individuals who put the historical value of the work of art in the first place.
And at whatever level the hammer hits, the answer will be available tonight (at 8pm in Việt Nam).
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