Alice Announces New York Inaugural Auction.

Art Business News, Nov, 2000

NEW YORK--Alice (International), the newly-established international auction company specializing exclusively in 19th and 20th century fine art, has announced that its inaugural sale will be held in New York on Nov. 14 at 4:30 p.m. The sale will be held at Peterson Hall, located at 50 East 68th Street at Park Ave. The company announced highlights of its New York sale in September and held preview sale exhibitions in Zurich (Sept. 30 to Oct. 1), Paris (Oct. 24 to 27) and New York (Nov. 10 to 13).

According to Alice Founder and President, Francis Simon, "We are entering the auction world at a time of considerable change. With our innovative business model, guiding principles and specialized auctions of 19th and 20th century fine art, we will deliver an auction experience of exceptional quality and service."

According to officials, the company's new approach to the auction model ensures that Alice (International) will offer the following: competitive commissions on all transactions; immediate payment to sellers through an escrow account managed by an independent trustee; and extended guarantees on authenticity of all art sold through Alice. The company will also publish (in its signature yellow) a scholarly auction catalogue, which will be available in three formats--printed, CD-rom and online at www.alice-auction.com.

Simon has more than 20 years of auction house and business expertise, including 10 years as managing director of Sotheby's France. The establishment of Alice (International) in 1999 was in many ways a result of Simon's persistent lobbying (on behalf of Sotheby's) for the French government and the European Commission to dissolve the 400-year-old monopoly of French auctioneers. Since leaving Sotheby's, Simon has gathered a group of like-minded art professionals and collectors throughout Europe, North and South America and Asia who have helped make Alice a reality. Through this professional network, Alice has been able to raise the necessary capital, has developed an advisory board, and is attracting consignments of 19th and 20th century fine art from around the world.

Simon has recruited art world and auction house professionals worldwide in the development of this service-driven company. Based in Paris, Stephanie Manardo-Tiar, managing director of Alice (International), formerly at Deloitte & Touche New York, brings years of American and European business and art world acumen. Similarly, Elisabeth Hahn, managing director of Alice (USA), is based in New York and brings more than 20 years of international art and business experience, serving for 10 years as expert and then vice president and director of Christie's Print Department in New York. Alice also benefits from the expertise of Hermine Chivian-Cobb, a 19th and 20th century specialist and appraiser who was formerly at Sotheby's New-York, and Florence Lahmani, who has worked with some of Europe's most prestigious art dealers and auctioneers. These professionals, along with a cadre of other fine art specialists, advisors, art consultants and representatives, strengthen Alice's new position as the only auction company specializing in 19th and 20th century fine art.

Alice's private investors are from Europe, North and South America and Asia, and all share a personal interest in fine art. The controlling interest of the company is and will be held by the principals.

In addition to the New York sale at Peterson Hall, Alice will hold a sale in Paris at the Hotel d'Evreux in the spring of 2001. Four sales will be held each year: two in Paris and two in New York.