Princess Fine Art Auctions...Buyer Beware!

[Nechita dealer]

Hello, Karen...

 

I was sorry to hear of your troubles buying art on Princess. I have always found Princess to be first-rate. I happen to be the person who discovered Alexandra Nechita when she was nine, managed her, and have contracts to publish much of her art to this day, including some of the art on Princess. We have always taken her public relations very seriously so if there is anything we can do to be of assistance to you, please don't hesitate to let us know.

[DANofNORTH]

I tracked down this NY Times artice from a post that I read here a few weeks ago.

 

Princess does not use 'Park West' but most of the other cruise lines do. Princess have their own people. Kincade will only sell through Park West or never sells through Park West, I'm not sure which. I'll check with MDW & get back to you on this one. ... LOL She will remember on which cruise we bought a couple.

 

Article in the NY Times on ship art auctions

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/16/ar...th&oref=slogin

[rdsqrl]

Hello, Karen...

 

I was sorry to hear of your troubles buying art on Princess. I have always found Princess to be first-rate. I happen to be the person who discovered Alexandra Nechita when she was nine, managed her, and have contracts to publish much of her art to this day, including some of the art on Princess. We have always taken her public relations very seriously so if there is anything we can do to be of assistance to you, please don't hesitate to let us know.

 

Since when are people allowed to troll for customers on these boards? We're here to talk about cruises, art dealer person, not help you grow your business.

[MoonPet]

Since when are people allowed to troll for customers on these boards? We're here to talk about cruises, art dealer person, not help you grow your business.

 

 

Unless I'm reading this wrong, this person is not trolling for business.

 

Karen - Although we do not participate in the on board art auctions, I've found your posts to be quite informative. I'm glad that ultimately things worked out for you. I am sure that there will be others who will also find the report of your experiences quite valuable. Ultimately, the exchange of information, experiences, and opinions is what this board is all about.

[Colo Cruiser]

What other reason would a person that joined the boards today dredge this thread up from over 1 year ago. :rolleyes:

[Teetype]

why not buy from local artists? they always need the income and unlike what you buy on the ship you are getting an origianl piece, not a copy. You never know when you are getting a piece from the next great master

 

Bingo! I really wish more people thought this way. Sure a lot of street art is junk, but there's a lot of diamonds in the rough out there too, just waiting for a discriminating eye and a generous wallet!

 

Tee

[bhopal21]

What other reason would a person that joined the boards today dredge this thread up from over 1 year ago. :rolleyes:

 

Hmmmm, let's see. . . . . . . . .I can't seem to think of a reason, unless:rolleyes:

 

Mike:)

[tprmd]

Hello, Karen...

 

I was sorry to hear of your troubles buying art on Princess. I have always found Princess to be first-rate. I happen to be the person who discovered Alexandra Nechita when she was nine, managed her, and have contracts to publish much of her art to this day, including some of the art on Princess. We have always taken her public relations very seriously so if there is anything we can do to be of assistance to you, please don't hesitate to let us know.

 

Nechita Dealer,

We purchased a nechita sculpture 3 years ago and were lead to believe it was Bronze. I now see that the medium says "sculpture" and not the material. We spent close to $35,000. for this piece and hope we were not misled.

TPRMD

[bhopal21]

Nechita Dealer,

We purchased a nechita sculpture 3 years ago and were lead to believe it was Bronze. I now see that the medium says "sculpture" and not the material. We spent close to $35,000. for this piece and hope we were not misled.

TPRMD

 

You bought an expensive piece of art not knowing ahead of time what it was made of??

 

Led to believe?

 

In other words you were not familiar with the work before the auction and relied on the auctioneer's embellished description?

 

Mike:rolleyes:

[AmazingJourneys]

Sorry about your bad experiences. I've purchased several pieces of art from Princess Cruise Fine Art Auctions and the works have had good values. I've only purchased one orignal. Most of the pieces I've purchased are Seriagraphs and Lithograpsh and I like them in the house. I've collected them as I love art and have learned a great deal at cruise ship auctions.

 

They are a great value as I've compared the prices to gallery prices once I get home.

[Colo Cruiser]

Sorry about your bad experiences. I've purchased several pieces of art from Princess Cruise Fine Art Auctions and the works have had good values. I've only purchased one orignal. Most of the pieces I've purchased are Seriagraphs and Lithograpsh and I like them in the house. I've collected them as I love art and have learned a great deal at cruise ship auctions.

 

They are a great value as I've compared the prices to gallery prices once I get home.

 

In case you missed it...

This thread was started over 2 and a half years ago. :)

[Times Prince]

I have an issue to discuss with Princess Fine Arts and recently sent a certified mail letter to the following address, only to have it returned to me. I got the name and address from a letter accompanying a piece of art we purchased on Emerald Princess last December 2008. This letter was the one stating if we are unsatisfied in any way to let them know.

Princess Cruises Fine Arts

1410 SW 29th Ave.

Pompano Beach FL 33069

Attention: Mr. Mark Bronson

Director, Princess Cruises Fine Arts

 

Does anyone have a name and address from a recent purchase that is either the same or different than that shown above?

 

Thanks for the assistance.

 

Bob

[Hlitner]

I like the art auctions. I go for the free champagne.

 

That free "Champagne" is simply a cheap sparking wine (not even close to real champagne) that costs the cruise line about $2 per bottle. We are always amazed how passengers who pay thousands of dollars for a cruise will wait hours for a free glass of lousy wine, stand in line for 20 min for free ice cream, wait in line for 20 min before the doors open for their fixed sitting/reserved table dining, etc etc. And than, those same folks purchase art that is usually overpriced (and under quality) and tell themselves that they have bought a bargain. Ain't people-watching fun. By the way, if you want to see some interesting stories about art auctions on ships just google "Park West and fraud." Since Princess does not use Park West, you would have to draw your own conclusions about the Princess art auctions.

 

Hank

[hondian]

You are all doing it wrong! LOL I have lots of fine art from cruise ships, for FREE. Several have the artists signature, I received in person because the artist was on the ship. I “won” a 24x 36 signed Bellet,

A 9x9 Bellet, 2 Gockel’s 9x9, etc. The thing is I really like them in my office, AND they ARE worth more then I paid for them. Can’t beat FREE.

[envy4u]

OP May 28, 2007 :confused::confused::confused:

 

Guess it has good info :eek:

[jagsfan]

I answered the trivia questions on Carnival one time for fun. Wound up getting to choose

3 prints that cost me $8.00 total for mailing.

One is actually a photograph, The Prince at the Cathedral.....a stunning picture of

two people dressed and masked for Carnivale in Venice. I had it framed by my local

framer, and I've received more compliments on it than anything else I own.

The other two are still in their very sturdy mailing tubes. When the first 2 of my

grandchildren get their own apartments, they can have them.

I watched a friend and her husband bid on just about everything, and wound up with

2 originals and 2 prints. Spent a lot of money for purchases they really didn't know

enough about. They also paid for framing. One is hanging in their house, the other 3

are against the wall in their garage. A closer look in a better light and they didn't really

like them.

You can only hope you get what you pay for.......especially when buying art.

[cruiserus]

HMMM?? It appears to me that at least six times they have done everything you asked of them. The only complaint left, after reading through all you say above, seems to be a scratched frame on a $200 painting that you decided to live with.

 

It appears to me that the Art Company (Park West, I think ...?) really values you as a customer and rolls over on its back to accomodate you, even when you decide you just don't like the colors.

 

I certainly agree with all your final points, and personally I restrict my on board purchases to t-shirts, but I don't understand why you feel unvalued as a customer.:confused:

 

My sentiments exactly! Princess Art seems to have tried to rectify every issue you have had. They tell you upfront that if you receive a piece of art and then decide that you do not want it ( wrong size for house, or whatever...you will be refunded your money for the art, but not the premium as that covers administrative costs, etc. Sounds like on most occasions, you have had a change of heart about the piece you picked out, not that there was a problem with it. Concerning the case of the Roxy lithograph, Princess will repair/replace any damaged frame, glass, or piece of art. They want you to be happy. You again chose not to let them know there still was a problem.

 

We have purchased several pieces of art onboard and have checked prices on-line in galleries before buying. Shipboard prices have always been lower. It is just a matter of each individuals likes and dislikes, and what they want in their house...hand-embellished serigraphs or less expensive posters.

[wheels afloat]

Does Princess still sell Michael Godard? I've heard he has taken cruises and sold art and signed on board. He is easy to research for good deals if you see any and they are very popular. Wine and Martini giclee always hit the spot!

We have purchased little stuff like cells and Disney type stuff for gifts. Not much for Peter Max.

[Rusty]

My wife and I go for the "theatrical presentations" of the artwork and not the drinks. We have bought just one piece of artwork for $135, which we loved, on a Princess ship. The auctioneer was a gentleman named "Mitch" and we wonder what Princess ship he is on now? He was a wonderful showman.

 

He also mentioned "special connoisseur art cruises" for passengers who have purchased a certain dollar amount on past Princess cruises. Has anybody ever been invited to one of these special sailings?

[hughdm]

Does Princess still sell Michael Godard? I've heard he has taken cruises and sold art and signed on board. He is easy to research for good deals if you see any and they are very popular. Wine and Martini giclee always hit the spot!

We have purchased little stuff like cells and Disney type stuff for gifts. Not much for Peter Max.

Saw some this spring on Golden.

[UT-Volsfan]

My wife and I go for the "theatrical presentations" of the artwork and not the drinks. We have bought just one piece of artwork for $135, which we loved, on a Princess ship. The auctioneer was a gentleman named "Mitch" and we wonder what Princess ship he is on now? He was a wonderful showman.

 

He also mentioned "special connoisseur art cruises" for passengers who have purchased a certain dollar amount on past Princess cruises. Has anybody ever been invited to one of these special sailings?

 

We didn't receive an invite before the cruise, but it turned out our trans-Atlantic cruise last year was one of the special connoisseur cruises. There were 5 artists on board, and they had nightly receptions for each during the crossing. Plenty of original artworks were on board and they painted some more during the trip. One artist, Allison Lefcort, even took commissions during one auction to paint originals for passengers that seemed to be a great deal. The "special invite guests" I believe have to buy over $20,000 in art on previous cruises to receive this cruise free.

[m steve]

a while back. Stopped to have a drink in lobby bar and saw an asst. CD and a salesman from jewelery store also taking a break. Got into a conversation and it turned to the art auctions. Both had started working for the gallery and laughed about what garbage they sold and how they couldn't wait to move on. Barnum was right.

[G'ma]

I simply can't relate.....:D

[arizonaperson]

Does Princess still sell Michael Godard? I've heard he has taken cruises and sold art and signed on board. He is easy to research for good deals if you see any and they are very popular. Wine and Martini giclee always hit the spot!

We have purchased little stuff like cells and Disney type stuff for gifts. Not much for Peter Max.

yes Princess still was selling Michael Goddard(spelling?) as of april 2009 on The Sapphire. Aren't they fun. I don't have any of his work, but they would look great in a bar area.

[woodofpine]

I simply can't relate.....:D

 

Ditto that G'ma...

 

But I sure hope these folks KEEP SPENDING a Ton; it's keeping your and my cruise fare down!

 

I'd love to know the professional psychology work performed by the cruise lines to determine what sort of high ticket (exorbitant markup) stuff is readily saleable when passengers mentally go into 'cruise mode'. I'd love to know the history of these 'products' placement with cruise lines for sale. I put product in quotes because in 'dream state' we don't buy functional 'products' but many will apparently drop a LOAD on jewelry and art...

 

I don't think art auctions existed historically on ships pre-1980's... Any 'old timers' recollect the history?

 

How do we place value on non-functional things? Things with no real market liquidity (esp. in the present economy). When one says, "The artists web site say this work has double in price..." Where? When? Are they willing buy it from you right now for that doubled price (less 5%)? Or are these statements just thrown out to support the present hucksters schtick for 'other pieces' by the artist. Ever seen factory produced lithos or other Kincaidistic painting sold in estate sales for the sort of values the decedent was quoted on cruise and post cruise a year or two earlier? What are the true values of copies, lithos, etc.

 

Art is a funny 'business' and the business side of it historically has always been as much about puffing and fraud as polish and true art. I suppose there's always been the equivalent of cruise ship art sales out there... burying the Theo Van Goghs of the world.

 

This game is too rich for me... It's not as transitory a pleasure as the casino, but it shares something with the croupier...