The auction market for real things is very hot - at the high end - for almost any real thing you can imagine. Even on TV, four of the top six rated reality shows depict people buying and selling real things - treasure hunting.
It's interesting that the top show Pawn Stars, has dislodged a show, Jersey Shore, which is about uneducated, unemployed 20 year olds who drink, party, screw and vomit, all day and all night, with no visible means of financial support. Suddenly that's less interesting than people desperately trying to raise money to pay rent and eat by hunting down and trading for real things.
Now, some people like Chris Rupke of Misubishi Bank of Tokyo would argue this is because the global economy is firing on all cylinders - witness the pick up in employment and car sales lately. The idea that 200,000 new jobs is barely enough to accommodate new entrants into the job market and the fact that a significant portion of the jobs figure is comprised of fantasy jobs added in by the Government's "Birth/Death" ratio, doesn't phase him at all. "What's not to like about the economy?" he asked on Bloomberg this week. Indeed, when you work at a bank, you might well wonder.
However, if you happen to be on of the two hundred million Americans whose inflation adjusted incomes and stock portfolios and purchasing power have declined steadily over the last 10 years, (unlike Mr Rupke, whose bank salary has been steadily rising) maybe you get why everyone is so fascinated by the idea of converting worthless paper into real things.
And maybe it's beginning to dawn on you that real money - gold - is and idea whose time has come - again. It's certainly dawned on the folks over at the Bank of China. And maybe you're one of those responsible for pushing the newest reality show: Gold Rush Alaska into the 12 slot in the ratings.
But gee, maybe it's time to do something more than watching.
Cable Top 25: 'Pawn Stars' Edges 'Jersey Shore' To Top Weekly Cable Viewing
Categories: '
After getting close last week, the 10:30pm Pawn Stars edged out Jersey Shore as the week's most-watched cable telecast. The top scripted show? Victorious at #16.
Top 25 Basic cable shows for the week ending January 29, 2012:
| Rank | Shows | Net | Day | Time | Viewers Live+SD (000) | HH Rating |
| 1 | Pawn Stars | HIST | MONDAY | 10:30 PM | 7,089 | 4.2 |
| 2 | Jersey Shore SSN 5 | MTV | THURSDAY | 10:00 PM | 6,528 | 4.1 |
| 3 | Pawn Stars | HIST | MONDAY | 10:00 PM | 6,372 | 3.9 |
| 4 | American Pickers (AIRSTREAM DREAM) | HIST | MONDAY | 9:00 PM | 5,668 | 3.5 |
| 5 | FLORIDA GOP PRES DEBATE(S) | CNN | THURSDAY | 8:00 PM | 5,357 | 3.4 |
| 6 | Storage Wars | AEN | TUESDAY | 10:30 PM | 4,975 | 3.2 |
| 12 | Gold Rush (BEDROCK GOLD) | DISC | FRIDAY | 9:00 PM | 4,242 | 2.5 |
World Record Auction Price of $4.3 million For A Photograph
On November 9th, 2011 a new world record price of $4.3 million was paid for a photograph during a Christie’s New York auction. The total price for the Christie’s Auction was $4,338,500 for the “Rhein II” a photograph of a German river that was created in 1999. The photograph is signed by Andreas Gursky and face-mounted on Plexiglas.
Elizabeth Taylor Diamonds Fetch Record Prices At Auction
Last night in New York a pearl necklace that Richard Burton gave Elizabeth Taylor in 1969 sold for $11,842,500. “La Peregrina,” as the 50-carat Spanish bauble is known, set a world record for the sale of a pearl jewel at auction; it closed after just four minutes of bidding.
Ferrari Prices Accelerate at Record Auction as Others Stall
By
Scott Reyburn
-
Aug 29, 2011 8:31 AM ET
A 1964 "Semi-Lightweight" hardtop
Jaguar E-Type was offered by Bonhams at its Sept. 16 auction of classic
autos, held during the Goodwood Revival Meeting in Sussex. Capable of
165 mph, it was one of just two road models built as variants of the 12
"Lightweight" E-Type competition cars that the factory created to take
on Ferrari at Le Mans and other sports car races. The car failed to
sell. Source: Bonhams via Bloomberg
A 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa
Prototype. The car is the star lot of Gooding & Company's auctions
Aug. 20-21. It is expected to fetch a record price of more than $13
million. Photographer: Pawel Litwinski/Gooding & Company via
Bloomberg
Chateau Latour sets new price records in Christies Auction
Bordeaux Wine News, Feature Articles — By Jeff Leve on May 29, 2011 at 10:19 am
Chateau Latour achieves record auction prices from Christies sale.
World Record Prices Achieved in Keno Auctions' Americana Sale
New York
, New York -- 24 January 2012
A Fancy Painted and Gilt Card Table (Lot 80) attributed to Thomas Seymour sold to a private New England collector for $347,200.
(Keno Auctions)
click to enlarge
|
WILLIAM MASON BROWN (AMERICAN, 1828-1898) STILL LIFE WITH WATERMELON, FRUIT AND CALLA LILIES (Lot 8) fetched $59,520.
(Keno Auctions)
|
click to enlarge
|
FREDERICK CHILDE HASSAM (American, 1859-1935) SUNSET, ISLES
OF SHOALS, 1904 (Lot 32) is typical of Hassam’s Isle of Shoals plein air
paintings which were painted on a cigar box top; achieved $74,400.
(Keno Auctions)
|
Exceptional prices were achieved in a two-session sale on January 17, 2012, held by Keno Auctions in New York, including world record auction results for a 17th century joined chest, a Federal painted table and a lynx/bobcat effigy ladle.
Call us when anyone can't pay for this stuff with US cash.
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