A record

June 6 2012

Last week at Philip Mould & Company we sold 28 pictures. That's a record for us.

I don't mean to boast, but it's an illuminating statistic. In these troubling economic times, does it suggest that art, even old stuff, is increasingly seen as a safe haven? 

Update - a reader writes:

Buying art as  a "safe haven"?  Very possibly, if what you have in mind is the idea that art will rise in value more than other sorts of investments these days, or at least not drop in value (like people pulling money out of euros to hold their money in USA dollars).  But there is another take: if directly financial investments are seen as going nowhere, or worse, then maybe some of those with money on hand feel they might as well spend it on something with substance that may provide lasting enjoyment.  From this point of view, those with a great deal of money might buy expensive art -- including from Mould Galleries, and congratulations for that !! -- while those with much less might buy from lesser-known artists they like.  Maybe this view is too optimistic, if that is the right word.  And of course, you know your own buyers!

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