August, 6th 2009 [faa] - Up to 700 calls per lot and doubled turnover in the first six months of this year speak clearly for themselves: the art auction platform www.fine-art-auctions.com is developing splendidly. Small wonder, under such terms ...

In the first half of the year 2009, the auction platform scored a result totalling 148 200 euros - about twice as much as last year. Nonetheless, the half-year’s result of the previous year of 74 900 euros was nothing to sneeze at. Bear in mind that the Art Directory GmbH auction portal was brand-new then: Fine Art Auctions did not go online until the beginning of 2008 without any clientele at all. By now there is one. Far more than 1000 users from currently 31 countries have registered to bid at the auctions, which always end on a Monday and a Wednesday.

At www.fine-art-auctions.com at least 250 objects by internationally acclaimed artists from five centuries are ready for bidding every day. In the past half year, the following work generated the most excitement: 'Hirsch auf dem Urschlitten' ['Stag on the Primeval Sledge'] by Joseph Beuys. A total of 700 visitors called up that object. A similar number of clicks received the color silk-screen prints by Tom Wesselmann, Friedensreich Hundertwasser and Joerg Immendorff as well as aquatint etchings by Emil Nolde. Fierce bidding skirmishes broke out when Max Pechstein’s 'Stillende Mutter' ['Mother Breast-Feeding Her Child'], Bridget Riley’s 'Red Dominance' and Christo’s 'Wrapped Reichstag Building' were put online for sale.

The concept of offering for sale only objects by famous artists in the segment below 5000 euros is working. Many an art history student is both astonished and overjoyed to find that even among the offers for less than 100 euros there is a large selection of lithographs, etchings, offset prints and drawings, some of which are even hand-signed. The prices for lots sold at auction of course tend to be lower than gallery prices. And for anyone who doesn’t want to spend any money at all, it is recommended to try entering the art sweepstakes at www.fine-art-auctions.com. Once a month there is a draw for an original work by a distinguished artist.

Until quite recently, many art lovers have shied away from buying art online. However, the company 'online, safe, no risks' policy makes a point: never before have buyers been provided with such guarantees. Not only do selling partners of www.fine-art-auctions.com who offer art works for sale via this platform offer a completely unconditional, one-month right of return on any works of art sold. They also commit themselves to a five-year authenticity guarantee. The crucial point: only auction houses, experienced galleries and reputable art dealers are permitted to consign objects. Private individuals are not permitted to offer for sale what they have 'found in the basement' via this platform.