Dan's Papers - April 4, 2008 - When In Manhattan with Christian McLean

I once overheard a conversation between two gents at a sophisticated restaurant in Southampton. The older of the two said to the younger, "Honestly, if you've never been to a Sotheby's auction, you don't belong at a Sotheby's auction." The two laughed in agreement and I continued eating my salad, knowing full well that these two men couldn't have been more wrong. The truth is if you've never been to a Sotheby's auction, you must go to a Sotheby's auction.

I've had several friends who've worked at the 264-year-old auction house and I've even gotten to see a little of the behind-the-scenes action that goes on. It's an incredible place, housing monumental pieces of art, furniture, literature and the like. This week, the Quillan Collection of 19th and 20th century photographs goes on the block.

In the late 1980s, The Quillan Company, an investment firm based out of the British Virgin Islands, contracted New York art dealer Jill Quasha to assemble a collection of no more than 70 photographs, only one per artist. This collection was to uniquely capture the life of photography, spanning its existence as a medium. Acquiring the work of some big names, as well as lesser-known photographers, Quasha spent two years and almost $2 million finding the perfect 69 photographs. Her outlook on choosing the proper pieces was atypical. "There could be no grand plans, no schematic outline of history and none of the customary trappings of seriousness or ambition - no critical or political stance, no aesthetic theory, no dogma," she said. "And no categories. We would leave classifications of style, eras, artistic movements, and genres - landscapes, portraits, and still lifes - -to those who deal best with such things..."

While most prior photography collections sought culturally iconic images, Quasha's search led her to less publicly regaled, yet clearly remarkable pieces. Ansel Adams' vast landscapes were passed over for "Boards and Thistles," a seminal photograph from his early years as a member of Group f.64. "Nature Morte Chez Mondrian," an early still life by André Kertész, reflecting his early success, was selected instead of one of the cityscapes of Budapest, Paris and New York for which he is now recognized.

However, to say this collection is completely free of iconic images would be leading you astray. For example, Richard Avadon's "Marilyn Monroe, May 6, 1957, New York City," Edward Curtis' "Chief Joseph Nez Percé, Idaho" and Hans Bellmer's "La Poupée" are recognizable, exemplary photographs by these masters.

From a historical context, photographers range from Henry Peach Robinson and Lewis Carroll to Cindy Sherman and Patrick Faigenbaum, with artists like Alfred Stieglitz, Paul Strand and Walker Evans in between. From a technical standpoint, the photos encompass albumen or albumen silver prints, platinum prints, Schadographs and photograms. For any serious collector, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, but novices should not be scared away, because if you are looking to begin a collection, the Quillan Collection is a shining example of who and what to look for when building a portfolio.

For those who have never been to an auction, everyone's seen sitcoms and movies where people accidentally buy million dollar paintings because they accidentally sneeze or wave at a fly. But in the real world, that doesn't happen. You are only recognized as a bidder if you raise the numbered paddle assigned to you. If you want to bid, you need to bring a valid ID and provide a bank reference.

And New York auctions don't accept credit cards. So maybe Visa isn't everywhere you want to be, but they do accept checks, money orders, wire transfers and a certain amount of cash. The price of these photographs starts around $10,000, so maybe cash isn't the best option.

Also worth noting: If you are a fan of Edward Weston, an auction of his photography will be held on April 8. Another incredible photography auction will be held that same day, with 183 works from dynamic photographers, including many in the Quillan Collection. Visit sothebys.com for auction times.

No matter which auction you attend, enjoy the action and intensity of heated bidding wars, the razzle-dazzle of dollar signs and the sheer beauty of the art. And this summer, if anyone tells you that you don't belong at a Sotheby's auction, you'll be able to say, "I've already been to a Sotheby's auction."

Sotheby's is located at 1334 York Ave. at 72nd St. The Quillan Collection will be on display from April 2 through the noon on the 7, with the auction being held later that day at 6 p.m.