While carefully adhering to the regulations of the declared quarantine, we strive to reorient ourselves and adapt our activities to these unusual times. Our successful work has been proven by how we managed to organise our regular, now 12th auction exclusively on a remote basis. Without a doubt, there were difficulties – after all, we prepared for this auction as if it were held under usual conditions – live in a hall, where many friends and like-minded people gather such as collectors, museum and library representatives or simply patrons of quality art.
In the finishing stretch of preparations for the upcoming auction, when we already hold in our hands a printed auction catalogue, the quarantine was declared. This did not deter us and only spurred us on to do our all to ensure the auction is held. And so we did. We believe it was successful – of 264 lots, 118 were sold, totalling 44.96% of all lots on auction.
We were very happy with the large number of auction participants, who joined in online through the LiveAuctioneers system – this shows our clients’ reorientation and desire to participate in the auction, considering the current circumstances. Of 104 participants, an entire 62 had registered through the LiveAuctioneers system, which is a total of 59.62% of all those registered. At a single time, over 200 art and collectables fans were watching the auction and participating in it.
Among the pieces on offer at the auction, the participants’ attention was drawn to Kazimieras Stabrauskas’ excellent work Grota, which was sold for 5,000 euro. Algirdas Petrulis’ representative work Vilnius Žiemą [Vilnius at Winter] was sold for 3,400 euro. As always, the works of artists K. Šimonis and A. Galdikas were popular. V. K. Jonynas’ work New York. Fifth Avenue, which had a starting price of 140 euro, was sold for 950 – a price increase of 6.7 times.
A large section of old books and periodicals was gathered for this auction. The newspaper Aušra [Dawn] traditionally garnered major interest – the newspaper was sold for 260 euro, a price increase of 3.25 times from its starting price of 80 euro. The starting price of the newspaper Ugniagesis’ three-year set was 360 euro – it was sold for 500 euro. This is a special set, with a special gift binding and a rare fire department insignia on its cover, having been gifted to United Kingdom member of parliament Sir Thomas Cook in 1938. A highlight of the historical graphics, maps and documents section was the particularly rare lithography Šv. Onos Bažnyčia Vilniuje [St. Anne’s Church in Vilnius], which was created in 1843 on the basis of artist Karolis Račinskas’ painting, was sold for an entire 1,900 euro, from a starting price of 1,200 euro. One of Lithuania’s museums will be receiving a rare map from 1744, which depicts the Baltic Sea and surrounding lands.
A novelty of this auction is the Judaistics section. Of the 19 lots on offer, 10 were sold, a total of 52.63% of the lots on offer. In this section, photos and postcards depicting Lithuanian synagogues, their interior, the Purim celebration and a Jewish school were very successful.
Of course, no internet can relay the live atmosphere of the ARS VIA auction, the excitement lingering in the air. Unfortunately, we cannot do so, however, we assure you that ARS VIA auctions will continue to be organised. The next auction is planned for early May. We believe that these difficult days present us with new opportunities, which we can make use of, rather than offering up difficulties. We are very grateful to our clients for their loyalty, enthusiasm and support. We believe that the art and collectables obtained at our auctions create a cosy home atmosphere, which will help easily overcome the challenges of this time and meet a better tomorrow, which will definitely arrive.
