Monday, 23 August 2021

Look what turned up on eBay


Why would someone who lives in Reykjavik, Iceland, think that someone else would want to buy a 28 year-old photo of me preparing some huge Ionic pillars ready for sale at a Christies auction in Hertfordshire all that time ago? This came from The Daily Telegraph archives, but I was not aware at the time that they showed any interest.

I remember the job well. I stayed close-by in a small hotel with an Italian restaurant beneath. I used to love working away from home. The biggest challenge was to get them dead plumb so they didn't fall over and kill the punters. How to avoid this can be answered for a fee.

I am still confused, but you could have bought this historical item for a mere $17.99 (plus $7 postage) if you had been a bit quicker off the mark. I wouldn't have, but there is no catering for taste.

Let me think... no, I am still confused.
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44 comments:

  1. gz23 August 2021 at 12:36

    Not confusing..good to see evidence of skills being used!

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    1. Tom Stephenson23 August 2021 at 12:49

      I am confused as to its provenance, not the subject matter!

      Delete
  2. Tom Stephenson23 August 2021 at 12:48

    An alternative title for this post could have been, 'A Young Man and his Multiple Erections'.

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  3. The bike shed23 August 2021 at 13:21

    So much of what I write turns up in unexpected places - my old paintings too. It is part of the joy of it I think.

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  4. Iris23 August 2021 at 14:18

    "...If you had been a bit quicker." Sooooo, somebody bought it already? And, how on earth did you become aware of the ebay posting? And how did the photo end up in Iceland? Ohhhh, this is an even bigger mystery than the opening in the church tower which you had posted about!!!

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    Replies
    1. Tom Stephenson23 August 2021 at 14:22

      I was alerted to it by my American client, who seems to have been checking up on my minuscule online presence. They say, 'item no longer available due to an error in the listing', which may either mean my solicitors have been in touch, or my client has already bought it and is going to spring a surprise party on me. It gets nowhere near the little hatch in the church, though.

      Delete
    2. Iris23 August 2021 at 18:32

      Still, very intriguing!

      Delete
  5. Rachel Phillips23 August 2021 at 14:24

    Why would anybody want to buy it? I don't understand.

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    1. Tom Stephenson23 August 2021 at 14:28

      Neither do I, which I believe I have already said, but thanks for the reassurance.

      Delete
    2. Rachel Phillips23 August 2021 at 14:52

      The seller is in Latvia.

      Delete
    3. Rachel Phillips23 August 2021 at 14:53

      Oh, i see you say Iceland. I say Latvia.

      Delete
    4. Tom Stephenson23 August 2021 at 15:09

      Why do you say Latvia when it clearly says Iceland? Is this the full moon again?

      Delete
    5. Tom Stephenson23 August 2021 at 15:13

      I have just - for some reason - re-checked to see if I am going mad, but no, it says ICELAND. Why do you say LATVIA?

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    6. Tom Stephenson23 August 2021 at 15:14

      Christ, you are hard work at the moment.

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    7. Rachel Phillips23 August 2021 at 15:21

      The vintage photos originate from a press archive seller in Latvia.

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    8. Rachel Phillips23 August 2021 at 15:28

      Oh, they have two bases, one in Iceland and one in Latvia.

      Delete
    9. Rachel Phillips23 August 2021 at 15:41

      If the customer code is a post code it is going to a company a few miles up the road from me.

      Delete
    10. Rachel Phillips23 August 2021 at 16:37

      I can see why they would want it.

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    11. Tom Stephenson24 August 2021 at 00:33

      Can you? Why would they? I haven't seen anything about any customer. They just say that it is no longer available.

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    12. Rachel Phillips24 August 2021 at 00:43

      Blogger won't let me comment now. I'll tell you later.

      Delete
    13. Tom Stephenson24 August 2021 at 12:27

      It gets starnger and starnger.

      Delete
  6. Debby23 August 2021 at 15:00

    Wow. What an amazing discovery!

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  7. Hillybean23 August 2021 at 16:28

    You were very gorgeous, have always loved your hair.

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  8. Susan23 August 2021 at 16:42

    This is a very interesting turn of events. Let us know the outcome. Yes, royalties would be great.

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    Replies
    1. Tom Stephenson24 August 2021 at 12:22

      Rachel is looking into it deeper than I am. She has unearthed some even stranger stuff about it.

      Delete
  9. Pipistrello23 August 2021 at 16:46

    What an extraordinary story! Was there a good bit of copy to go with the ad? Was it framed? Who charges $17.99 when $18 is the sensible choice? So many questions.

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    1. Tom Stephenson24 August 2021 at 12:23

      There was the basic press info on the back of the photo.

      Delete
  10. Jacqueline @ HOME24 August 2021 at 01:19

    I’d like to know where the hotel with the Italian restaurant was in Hertfordshire ? People do sell the strangest things but everything is interesting to somebody. XXXX

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  11. The Weaver of Grass24 August 2021 at 01:50

    I amlooking for a statue for my patio - I suppose I could buy one column for that purpose.

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    Replies
    1. Tom Stephenson24 August 2021 at 12:24

      I could make you your own Nelson's Column Weave.

      Delete
  12. thelma24 August 2021 at 02:46

    Well apart from the silliness of it all, perhaps it is something to do with crouching on a bench and working - health and safety ;)

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    1. Tom Stephenson24 August 2021 at 12:25

      That's a palette. The crane behind is more dangerous. I was up a tower scaffold, trying to control swinging half-ton lumps of stone.

      Delete
  13. John Going Gently24 August 2021 at 03:22

    Make them an offer

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  14. Ellen D.24 August 2021 at 06:28

    Your curly hair is lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  15. MrsC (Maryanne)25 August 2021 at 03:12

    Iceland the country or Iceland the supermarket? heehee

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