By now we have all heard of the Emperors Club VIP, the high-class house of prostitution that brought down New York Governor Eliot Spitzer in March 2008. But the Emperors Club not only sells time with high-end prostitutes, the Club also sells high-end contemporary fine art such as the paintings of Andrew Wyeth, David Hockney, Jeff Koons and David Salle. The Emperors Club also sells the fine art photographs of Larry Fink, Harold Edgerton, Olivo Barbieri and Axel Hutte. A pretty tame list of artists, really. Continuing the sexy and sensual theme of theEmporers Club's other business venture, you’d think The Club might consider selling the photographic prints of Robert Mapplethorpe, or the paintings and prints of Georgia O’Keefe.
A quote from the Emperors Club website reveals, “When considering contemporary art as an investment, in addition to potential financial appreciation, the greatest gain is how a beautiful painting always evokes a sense of miraculous reward in your parlor.”
The Club Philosophy
The Emperors Club statement refers to the art as a monetary investment, and as a point of pride on a public wall in your house. The Club statement makes all art sound like “trophy art”, art that is bought for the financial investment and because it’s nice to show off. While both of these things are true, the only reason you should ever purchase a work of art is because you enjoy looking at it, and you are moved in some way by the artwork. Think of purchasing art as a long-term investment in your visual mental health.
No Surprise, Sex Sells
Of course, why should the Emperors Club sell fine art any differently than it did its fine ladies for hire? Perhaps there's not a lot of investment value in prostitutes, but the ladies looked pretty good in the parlor, I’m sure. The Emperor’s Club is merely co-branding by adding art sales to sex sales. The Club has a small but very wealthy clientele, allegedly, and can utilize that same clientele to offer another luxury product for sale, contemporary fine art.
What is unusual about the Emperors Club Contemporary Art website is that they include a link to Sotheby’s Fine Art. I wonder if Sotheby's would be as eager to provide a reciprocal link?
A quote from the Emperors Club website reveals, “When considering contemporary art as an investment, in addition to potential financial appreciation, the greatest gain is how a beautiful painting always evokes a sense of miraculous reward in your parlor.”
The Club Philosophy
The Emperors Club statement refers to the art as a monetary investment, and as a point of pride on a public wall in your house. The Club statement makes all art sound like “trophy art”, art that is bought for the financial investment and because it’s nice to show off. While both of these things are true, the only reason you should ever purchase a work of art is because you enjoy looking at it, and you are moved in some way by the artwork. Think of purchasing art as a long-term investment in your visual mental health.
No Surprise, Sex Sells
Of course, why should the Emperors Club sell fine art any differently than it did its fine ladies for hire? Perhaps there's not a lot of investment value in prostitutes, but the ladies looked pretty good in the parlor, I’m sure. The Emperor’s Club is merely co-branding by adding art sales to sex sales. The Club has a small but very wealthy clientele, allegedly, and can utilize that same clientele to offer another luxury product for sale, contemporary fine art.
What is unusual about the Emperors Club Contemporary Art website is that they include a link to Sotheby’s Fine Art. I wonder if Sotheby's would be as eager to provide a reciprocal link?
