More idea about the Signature and Sotheby's Old Masters Auction

1. Signified of the Signature

signature |ˈsɪɡnətʃə| 
noun

1. a person’s name written in a distinctive way as a form of identification in authorising a cheque or document or concluding a letter: the signature of a senior manager.

  •  [mass noun] the action of signing a document: the licence was sent to the customer for signature.
  •  a distinctive pattern, product, or characteristic by which someone or something can be identified: the chef produced the pâté that was his signature | [as modifier]:  his signature dish.

mid 16th century (as a Scots legal term, denoting a document presented by a writer to the Signet): from medieval Latin signatura ‘sign manual’ (in late Latin denoting a marking on sheep), from Latin signare ‘to sign, mark’.

1700 – 1806

1807 – 1925

Chambers, E. (1728). Cyclopædia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences. 1st ed. London: [Printed for James and John Knapton, John Darby, Daniel Midwinter, Arthur Bettesworth, John Senex [and 13 others in London].

Walter, H. (1830). A History of England: Extending from the signature of Magna Charta to the death of Edward IV. 1st ed. London, p.331.

First of all, I started with three functions of Signature, Identification, Authorship, and Devotion followed historical uses of Signature at Greece. However, as I found and started an idea, which is signature during the Industrial Revolution era’s ( roughly 19 century ) painting’s Signature changed its function dramatically, but still I need some evidence to defend my position.

 Nevertheless, it was clear that identification feature on the painting had slowly dimmed and moved out to Authorship. The Signified Signature itself became an image/sign. Through the evidence on between late 18 century and start 19 century, Signature became the name for whom creator rather than owner. It was once identification of the proprietor and shifted Authorship of the artist. It also can be said that it was the purpose of the document, and became to sign of the origin. 

 Secondly, one question raised in my mind. Why has it happened? What is this shifting meaning? No doubt 19 century’s Industry Revolution impact the culture of consumption. Bourgeois’s consuming pattern changed the whole form of cultural consumption. Like it or not, the Art is closely related to consumers. Only one thing which didn’t change is the goal of purchase, to satisfy emotionally.

? Questions ?

 Then, what is the role of the artist? Formerly, their name was hiding behind the style of painting. Their representation was the style of artwork. And now, their name became the value through the signature. The signature is now a representation of worth, not of an artist, but the signified. 

2. Picture Frame/The place of the Signifier.

 I found at the gallery which has a denoted name owner in the painting and on the frame. So, I tried another point of view which is the Place of the signature at the Auction.

3. Price tag

“One Price And Goods Returnable”

In the classical form we know and love today, the first “Fixed Price” retail Price Tag appeared in 1861 at Oak Hall, at Sixth and Market Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  This was the invention of John Wanamaker

The invention Of Retail Fixed Pricing System

John Wanamaker was far ahead of his time, prior to his “One Price And Goods Returnable” concept, the haggling system was at play at most retail establishments.  One could argue that the Sumerian culture established some of the concepts of Fixed Pricing along with perhaps Bennetts Of Irongate in Derby, United Kingdom, however these are not the systemwide retail Fixed Pricing systems and Tags we know in a modern context. 

John Wanamaker created a number of Price Tags that were very prominently displayed on the products along with the very first retail Point Of Sale displays promoting the products and the value of the price. 

The Fixed Retail pricing system invented by Wanamaker was actually based on a philosophical construct, even a perhaps a religious construct.  As a devout Christian, Wanamaker believed “if everyone was equal before God, then everyone should be equal before price”.  The concept was very well received by a vast majority of consumers as haggling for your goods is a tiering process.  Even in this epoch, there were a number of observers that applied rudimentary forms of game theory to the problem and concluded that Wanamaker’s price theory was more then sound and actually caused lower uniform prices. 

The Birth And Death Of The Price Tag

The Birth And Death Of The Price Taghttp://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=415287577

Isn’t it look so similar to each other? Of course. “The frame” starts with artwork and then a photo frame. Still, the figure of the frames is related to each other. is it that they are relative?