Swann Galleries Presents Luxe in the Time of Crisis

According to Nicholas Lowry, the president of New York’s Swann Galleries, when times get tough, the filthy rich get bidding. Because most Americans have found their pocketbooks losing weight faster than Jenny Craig over the past few months, auctioneers are ridding themselves of desirable swag for smaller price tags. I suppose we’ll see tomorrow morning at 10, when the bidding starts on rare—not to mention exorbitant—photographic literature and photographs at Swann.

In addition to a number of nightstand collectibles ranging from signed limited-editions, from Lee Friedlander ($7,000–$10,000), William Eggleston ($6,000–$9,000) and Man Ray ($14,000–$18,000), the big get seems to be a copy of Hans Bellmer’s La Poupée ($25,000–$35,000), only one of 100 copies featuring 10 silver prints of the famous stuffed Lolita. One of the most comprehensive investments comes in the form of Visionaire’s entire collection of 50 opulent fashion and art periodicals. Since 1991, Creative Director Stephen Gan has overseen the creation of these ingenious sartorial bibles, covering one issue in Hermes leather, adorning another with the iconic Louis Vuitton monogram, and wrapping yet another in a Tiffany blue box. For more information on how to deplete your savings and take home some truly amazing literary finds, click here. After all, there’s no better escape from reality than a $75,000 doll displayed in a series of provocative poses.