Highly detailed description of Tiffany lamp contributed to $25,000 winning Internet bid at Bunte's

Feb. 29, 2004

According to an old auction house saying, “It only take two bidders to have a horse race.” The race went global today, as a competitor inhouse at Bunte Auction Service's sale of Decorative Arts, Fine Art & Jewelry was nosed out in the homestretch by an Internet bidder also vying for lot 1075: a Tiffany Studios Greek key-patterned art glass lamp. It's reasonable to assume the successful bidder proceeded with confidence on the valuable art object, at least in part, because of Bunte's outstanding and very thorough description of the item.

Not only were the lamp's physical attributes described in detail, with dimensions, markings and small exceptions to condition noted, but also the report included the minutiae-filled narrative from a Tiffany expert's letter of authentication. When it comes to pieces as special as a Tiffany lamp, there is no such thing as too much information – and going to the extra trouble to provide an expert report within the lot's description paid off handsomely for both the auctioneer and consignor. The stunning table lamp attracted six bids between its two suitors, ultimately achieving its estimate range to sell online, for $25,000.

# # #