SKU: 24996817929

The $12 Million Stuffed Shark: The Curious Economics of Contemporary Art

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Description

The $12 Million Stuffed Shark: The Curious Economics of Contemporary ArtWhy would a smart New York investment banker pay $12 million for the decaying, stuffed carcass of a shark? By what alchemy does Jackson Pollock's drip painting No. 5, 1948 sell for $140 million? Intriguing and entertaining, The $12 Million Stuffed Shark is a Freakonomics approach to the economics and psychology of the contemporary art world. Why were record prices achieved at auction for works by 131 contemporary artists in 2006 alone, with

Why would a smart New York investment banker pay $12 million for the decaying, stuffed carcass of a shark? By what alchemy does Jackson Pollock's drip painting No. 5, 1948 sell for $140 million?

Intriguing and entertaining, The $12 Million Stuffed Shark is a Freakonomics approach to the economics and psychology of the contemporary art world. Why were record prices achieved at auction for works by 131 contemporary artists in 2006 alone, with astonishing new heights reached in 2007? Don Thompson explores the money, lust, and self-aggrandizement of the art world in an attempt to determine what makes a particular work valuable while others are ignored.

This book is the first to look at the economics and the marketing strategies that enable the modern art market to generate such astronomical prices. Drawing on interviews with past and present executives of auction houses and art dealerships, artists, and the buyers who move the market, Thompson launches the reader on a journey of discovery through the peculiar world of modern art. Surprising, passionate, gossipy, revelatory, The $12 Million Stuffed Shark reveals a great deal that even experienced auction purchasers do not know.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Palgrave MacMillan
Published: 04/13/2010
ISBN: 9780230620599
Pages: 268
Weight: 0.69lbs
Size: 9.20h x 6.56w x 0.74d
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SKU: 24996817929

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I got this as keeper for my bedside items, glasses and remotes. Can also keep it on the bed or next to my easy chair when watching TV. Stores all my stuff in nice divided compact area. I like the brown leather look as well.
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Arrived well packaged in a sturdy box and wrapped in waterproof padding. The appearance of the wood and stain is high quality and matches pretty close to the walnt dresser. When I opned the box, it did not have any mysterious smells that make me sneeze. Adequate organizer that fits what I need. It is very balanced and sturdy with no warped wood. The notch for the phone charger cable is a nice touch Overall, I was presently surprised and would recommend this valet tray.
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The SEEDWAVE valet tray really impressed me with its sturdiness. The wood feels solid and well-crafted—there's no worry about cracking unless you decide to use it as a frisbee! The only minor issue I encountered was that my tray didn't sit perfectly flat on my nightstand at first. I noticed a slight warp in the middle, but that was easily fixed by adding stick-on rubber footers, which leveled out the tray nicely. Since then, I've continued to use it as my valet tray in the kitchen, and it's held up beautifully over time.
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