Date of Award

6-1989

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Valuation Sciences

Department

Valuation Science

First Advisor

Richard Rickert

Second Advisor

Chris R. Kukuk

Third Advisor

Patricia C. Soucy

Abstract

This study, Continental Ceramics at Auction: A Statistical Analysis of the Effects of Property Designations Upon Final Sale Price by Margaret Scott Wallace, explores the relationship between auction catalogue property designations and the final sale prices of 18th-century continental ceramics. Conducted as part of the Master of Valuation Sciences program at Lindenwood College, the research focuses specifically on sales held by Sotheby’s and Christie’s in New York between 1984 and 1986.

The central hypothesis posits that identifying the seller—especially when associated with prestige or recognizability—positively influences the auction outcomes. The study utilizes statistical methodologies, including crosstabulations and regression analysis, to measure how various ownership designations (e.g., “From the Estate of…”, “Property of a Collector”, or “Sold to Benefit a Charity”) correlate with the actual sale prices relative to their high estimates.

Data were compiled from auction catalogues and price lists, resulting in an analyzable sample of 1,407 individual lots. The findings suggest a statistically significant correlation between named or prestigious ownership designations and higher-than-estimated sale prices. Conversely, vague or anonymous designations often corresponded with lower sale outcomes. Other variables analyzed include factory origin and object type, though these showed weaker influence than ownership designations.

The research concludes that auction houses strategically leverage seller identity to enhance perceived value and buyer confidence, reaffirming the market's sensitivity to provenance. This insight holds implications for collectors, appraisers, and institutions alike, offering a data-driven perspective on how social perception and marketing influence art valuation.

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