Confusingly underpriced painting on eBay

[LemonJuiceFromConcentrate]

I realize there must be a strategic approach to selling at play here but I don’t really understand it and am curious.

A painting caught my eye while I was browsing. Bidding was at a few quid. It’s an early 20th century oil with a nice original frame and a provenance.

The seller appears to be a reputable fine art dealership with various items listed at what seem like more normal (i.e. much higher) prices.

When I googled the artist, I saw that this particular painting is still available on the dealership’s actual website, at a price of £1,200.

So … what are they doing listing it on eBay with a starting price of 99 pence? Is this really nothing more than a strategy to draw bids in? Isn’t there a risk it’ll sell for far below its value?

What are their rating and reviews like? Could there be a reserve price on it?

A lot of sellers won't sell if an item goes too cheaply at auction - they pretend it got damaged or stolen and refund the buyer's money. Is this a reputable business?

Here is the auction:

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LILIAN-OGILVIE-act-1924-1951-SCOTTISH-IMPRESSIONIST-FLORAL-STILL-LIFE-PAINTING-/174999113408?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

And here is the dealership:

www.sevenoaksfineart.com/en-GB/20th-century/lilian-l-ogilvie-act-1924-1951-/prod_10362#.YYFEhSTfUlR

Hope the links work, sorry for laziness if not (I’m lying in bed with Covid)

If I were you I'd have bid and hopefully bought it very cheaply for a few quid then sold it for it's value of £1.2k. A man bought a book from a 2nd hand book store a few years ago for 50p, turned out it was some special first edition or something and was worth £15k.

No reserve price, as far as I can see? And the seller’s ratings appear fine; and their website gives an impression of being perfectly okay/reputable. Admittedly I’ve not done a deep dive or anything.

Put a bid on for 7 quid and see if a 'Reserve Not Met' message flashes up?

www.ebay.co.uk/help/buying/bidding/reserve-prices-work?id=4018

I’ve put a bid in already just to see! There’s no reserve. I was immediately outbid though, by a prior maximum bid from one of the other bidders.

How many of their reviews are from the past month?

Is it really worth 1200? Or have they priced it as that to make prospective bidders think it's what it's worth?

Have you found any other paintings by the artist for sale elsewhere? What was the value of those?

Count yourself lucky. It's an incredibly banal work and I don't think it's worth the postage.

@PicsInRed

How many of their reviews are from the past month?

Six.

OP, I wouldn’t keep posting on this thread if I were you! The more people that see it the more that will bid

@LemonJuiceFromConcentrate

I’ve put a bid in already just to see! There’s no reserve. I was immediately outbid though, by a prior maximum bid from one of the other bidders.

Hmmm. Maybe they have a personal account and have put a 'reserve' on it by bidding on it.

I don't like it, and she's not very searchable either...

@Mumdiva99

Is it really worth 1200? Or have they priced it as that to make prospective bidders think it's what it's worth?

Have you found any other paintings by the artist for sale elsewhere? What was the value of those?

No idea, I’m not an expert. Mainly I’m just curious about the selling strategy here. The artist isn’t remotely famous or anything like that, there are only a couple of her works with an online history.

They don’t seem to be doing this with other works on their website so it strikes me as a bit intriguing/strange that they’re doing it with this one.

I think the op set up this whole thread so others will rush to bid to on it making more money than it would without this thread

It's got 6 days to go though. That's how ebay works. Start low to draw buyers in, interest builds slowly all week and price shoots up (often many times over) in the closing minutes. It's the whole model. People keep out-bidding each other because they've become invested!

It’s okay if more people bid! I’m not actively wanting it. Intrigued by the oddness more than anything, although I am always a sucker for anything with a forgotten maker’s name and actual address on the back.

I did look her up and she was a “professional member” of the Scottish Society of Women Artists back in the day. Lived with her sister, both unmarried, both died in old age.

It's a selling strategy to pull people in...you're bidding aren't you. The seller will know what it's worth, as will serious bidders. They'll get what they want for it, but probably not the full list price. In the meantime people are looking at it, looking at their shop on eBay, looking at the website and posting about it on Mumsnet, all good advertising for the seller. If it does go for less than the seller wants it will have a nasty accident before it gets posted.

@Spunout

I think the op set up this whole thread so others will rush to bid to on it making more money than it would without this thread

That seems pretty clear.

Shame it's such a deplorable painting. The frame is probably worth a solid £15, though... about a third of the highest bid at time of posting.

@Undertheoldlindentree

It's got 6 days to go though. That's how ebay works. Start low to draw buyers in, interest builds slowly all week and price shoots up (often many times over) in the closing minutes. It's the whole model. People keep out-bidding each other because they've become invested!

No, I get that, but why do that with this painting when most of the work they sell is listed at a starting price much more in keeping with its (theoretical) full value?

That is the bit I’m perplexed by. If it was a pattern with all the paintings they sell, there would be no mystery.

It looks like it was in an auction in London in July for £55

“That seems pretty clear”

I can’t tell if you’re serious but no, I’m not here to boost the price of a painting, truly. It is nothing to do with me or my business. I was browsing Scottish studio pottery last night (because I do collect that in a low-level, inexpensive way) and somehow I veered into Scottish art listings and got all interested.

@FleasInMyKnees oh really?! Aha, the plot thickens.

Lol at £1200 in that case. How strange

OP I am interested in this as well

Seems very odd.

I need distracting at the mo so thanks and I hope you feel better soon.

@amylou8

It's a selling strategy to pull people in...you're bidding aren't you. The seller will know what it's worth, as will serious bidders. They'll get what they want for it, but probably not the full list price. In the meantime people are looking at it, looking at their shop on eBay, looking at the website and posting about it on Mumsnet, all good advertising for the seller. If it does go for less than the seller wants it will have a nasty accident before it gets posted.

I missed this before. Yes that makes sense actually. So they reckon it’ll find its level, never really would have sold for £1200 — but this way it generates activity.