Bonnefin Gallery Vs unpaid artists...

druidwolfart · Joined: 22 Jan 2012 Posts: 20 Location: bundaberg

just posted the newspaper stories on facebook

whereismycoa · Joined: 07 Feb 2012 Posts: 3

I've been chasing up a Certificate of Authenticity for a Downton painting we purchased mid last year. Several phone calls and many promises. First it was a broken wrist or something, the latest today is that they had a 'IT disaster' and 'lost all their records' so he has asked me to send him a picture of the painting and has promised in return I will have the COA by the end of this week. I don't want someone's life drama, I just want them to do their job.

I know from personal experience it really is not hard to pop in to Officeworks and pick up two cheap USB hard drives to use as onsite and offsite backups, at the very least. "IT disaster" these days is the modern "dog ate my homework" excuse. Either an excuse or an admission of profound stupidity.

I hope we do get the COA by Friday, for his sake.

I was slightly disturbed when I typed his name in to Google looking for contact details and the like, and wow... not a well regarded person is he.

I certainly won't be buying any more art off this person and will be more diligent in my research from now on.

gggraph

art8dave · Joined: 01 May 2006 Posts: 1335 Location: Sydney

I can't make any comment on the gallery in question, but John Downton the artist is a person held in the highest regard by his peers.

If you don't get any satisfaction with the gallery perhaps try and contact the artist directly, he lives on the South Coast of NSW near Berry.

whereismycoa · Joined: 07 Feb 2012 Posts: 3

Another day and more unanswered messages. I am growing concerned that something is amiss.

If I do not receive confirmation of postage tomorrow I will contact the artist directly as suggested.

Very disappointing.

Devilbiss · Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 3236

druidwolfart · Joined: 22 Jan 2012 Posts: 20 Location: bundaberg

wow... they just don't learn then Confused

whereismycoa · Joined: 07 Feb 2012 Posts: 3

Devilbiss · Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 3236

RobK · Joined: 18 Nov 2011 Posts: 90 Location: Armidale

Letter of demand is the way I'd go. Tell them you expect specific performance.

Devilbiss · Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 3236

RobK · Joined: 18 Nov 2011 Posts: 90 Location: Armidale

Just changing the subject slightly... is a COA actually worth anything these days unless it has a DNA signature in it?

druidwolfart · Joined: 22 Jan 2012 Posts: 20 Location: bundaberg

RobK · Joined: 18 Nov 2011 Posts: 90 Location: Armidale

Oh I'm not certain but I believe some companies can include the artists DNA via a hair strand onto the hologram on the artwork itself.

After all what good is a COA if it can't be verified by the owner of the artwork. I know several artists that just run their COAs off on a printer. So many more use fancy paper etc., etc., but what good are they if there isn't some way of checking the validity of the COA itself?

No doubt the cost would be prohibitive to many artists, bar those that have made the grade.

Devilbiss · Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 3236

A gallery in Broome asked me to provide them with a C.O.A. with every painting that I consigned to them.
I thought that it was a bit silly but people up there seemed to expect them. It was probably because most of the art sold up there was indigenous.
I just put all of my details (and the details of the painting) with an image of the painting on the certificate and signed it then laminated the certificate.
If it's not signed by the artist then it's worthless.