European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 15, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Bidding for bargains painting of John Wayne in a cavalry uniform  few Wurt. It is a convivial Outing. 33 Are most auction by Lew Mew who As Vladimir arts sell limited edition prints at . Military installations throughout Germany a table in the Center of Frankfurt s Terrace club overflows with wine grapes cheese and crackers Courtesy of Iwlew. Outside on this sunday afternoon is a slate Gray sky and Light rainfall. The threatening weather takes its toll. Only 16 people attend. They Mill about in anticipation. On display Are prints Lor Sale. No auction. No bidding. What they see is what they pay. Also on display Are prints for auction. Each bears an identifying number. Each has an artist s resume. Each tells the size of the edition and the medium. At Iwlew s auctions prints Are put up Lor bid by request Only. Each person gels a Catalon. Iwlew works hard to make it seem simple relaxed worry free. But outward appearance belies the preparation he brings to his Job. His auctions he says Are unique providing More information More details better guarantees and More Assurance of Quality than others. His Catalon lists the average Selling Price of he print in the slates and the minimum opening bid these bids Don t change despite the size of the crowd Iwlew Tayi he opening bid prices Are about so percent to 60 percent less than the average retail Price. Prices Don t change irom auction to auction either. Once the bidding reaches the ceiling of the projected retail Price the bidding stops for example. I he says the fair Market value is $100, advice to the Buyerl it the buyer beware is Good advice to Consumers especially for those purchasing Art in Europe whether at an auction Bazaar or gallery. Based on interviews with Lew Iwlew of Vladimir arts Josef Mensing of the Mensing gallery and Art dealers in new York buyers should Only buy in they really like apiece not because of the artist s reputation or an assertion that ii will increase in value. What a piece is Worth at resale usually bears Little relation to its Selling Price. Be wary of claims a piece is Worth for example. $1,500 but today it s priced at $500. Inspect the piece and the Frame quietly without stress without an intimidating Salesman at the Elbow. Never buy on impulse or under pressure. Know the firm s reputation. Never buy from door to door salesmen people who live out of the trunk of their car. Obtain the artist s biography from the seller the More detailed the belief if one in t available find out Why. Obtain a certificate of authenticity. Ask Lor definitions of terms not understood. Don t fall for sales pitches using fancy but meaningless terms. Avoid dealers who Don t display prices. These could change from show to show or moment to moment. Ask to see a Usa Reuh permit and a German sales registration card. Find out what guarantees come with the Purchase and what must be done to get the guarantee honoured. Can the piece be returned for Cash a Trade in what s the deadline does the seller have a stateside representative or must problems be dealt with by mail the bidder reaching that figure gets the print. He will not accept a bid of $105. Prints bought at auction can be traded in within live years. Prints bought outright can be returned Lor Cash within 30 Days. Opening bids he announces at the Frankfurt auction Are generally less than to value of the  he explains to the Small gathering the difference Between lithographs etchings and serigraphs. Iwlew cautions against buying decorative oils saying they will never appreciate. You have to be careful who you buy from Mew says hell accept Post dated checks for pieces sold Lor More than $150. And he Leils people he n Send them Art appraisal for insurance purposes. He jokes. He banners. He puts on a show. There s no Gavel no pressure no intimidation. It s time. The first print arrives at the easel. It s the Eagle a signed Zimmerman lithograph. Opening bid is $5. Two couples want it. $5. $10. $15. Like a Ping Pong match the bidding is spirited. Within minutes the bid is $45. One couple drops out. Iwlew tells the Winner they got a bargain. Thai same framed print retails irom $75 to $105 in the states he says. Bidding on the next print is equally spirited. Two couples want Yaryan s friends. Opening bid $50. The winning bid is $85, another bargain since the stateside retail Price ranges from $115 to $145 for the framed print. But that s it for Competition. Of the next h prints each goes Lor the minimum bid. The bidders Are satisfied evidenced by the grins on their faces. Iwlew has auctioned off $1,630 Worth of prints a forgettable take limited by the vagaries of the weather. Bui he goes through with the auction to Honor his commitment regardless of the turnout or profit. We re doing something right Iwlew says. We re pleasing our customers. We get invited Back year alter year. The prices Are unbeatable. We Don t Chintz on our  tuesday july 15, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 17