More on cynical art dealing

After reading my post a friend sent me this article by Luke Johnson, the entrepreneur, on art dealing – THE TIMES

It does share some points with my piece – notably that it’s an unregulated market and the naive collector should beware the dealer.

I don’t agree with all of it as many do purchase art because it provides an aesthetic pleasure that shares never can. Our resident Rust financial expert Bob Tickler told me that many investments are illiquid – corporate bonds and property to name but two – and to find any investment with a satisfactory yield is not easy these days. If you bought a Ken Howard for £1000 in 1980 that would be worth now at least £20,000 – £25000 (John Cleese sold his for over £50,000) and you would have had all the enjoyment and pleasures of appreciation – in every sense.