Thanks for saving and posting these here Michael. The main lot I was interested in does not have any price next to it, so I am guessing that it means it either did not meet the reserve, was pulled, or just didn't even get any bids because the right crowd for it was not there (I certainly did not know about it until this posting). Unfortunate, but their estimate was way off anyways, so unlikely to have gotten anywhere with it.
They started each at the reserve then dropped the price by 5-30k yen if nobody was bidding. There was someone in person bidding on lots as well.
I'm torn. I'm finding that for things like Nags, I do appreciate a really nicely done bootleg to the bazillion dollar real-thing that I can't afford--and may never even have the opportunity to "politely decline"--at the same time, i know it's uncool to rip work. Still, there's a charm to knowing it's just a replica. I don't know if I could "enjoy" a toy that I paid thousands of dollars for. anyway, I think when it might pass as the real thing and ends up getting people played on auctions, it stings a bit. Use for good--not evil! Maybe if they just changed the footmark to make it clear that its a boot--i would find that kinda charming to see "Boot" on the foot instead of the artist's stamp. make it plain. embrace the reality of it. I was tempted to go for a bootleg big 4-eye. I just don't know. Maybe if I sit tight, the toy gods will smile on me...or maybe they are with affordable bootlegs that look the part? BLAH.
Boots are always part of the dynamic. It's a recognition of the art (and the price people will pay). You get successful enough at anything and you will be bootlegged. I think about getting a decent kaws boot every couple of years. I'm simply never going to pay for the real thing. Hopefully you find one that looks nice in the house, enjoy.
I'm the opposite. I like the extra shitty super obvious bootlegs. I have a kaws astroboy that has really terrible paint and the fleshy parts look kinda blow mold. It is fantastic.
This is interesting! Normally, I'd frown upon the idea of bootlegs cutting into a makers profits. But with the specific toys being discussed here, it hardly seems like KAWS, HxS, Nag, etc. would be all that effected whatsoever. It's mostly about insuring somebody isn't trying to pass off something as legit and charging someone likewise. So, it's more like the traditional idea of bootlegs, not at all mattering as the only one being cut out is a massive corporate entity. The rebellion is totally part of the charm. Sorta pulling over a bit of the discussion from the HxS thread (about newer collectors only latching on to trendy things they know will attract attention, while likely not authentically knowing what makes it desirable or even having developed personal tastes of their own). I think it might speak to how much you like a toy, just for what it is, if you would happily adopt a bootleg fully knowing it wasn't the real deal and couldn't be used to show off. I naively fell for HxS toys before understanding... the insanity. And since I'll never afford one, or likely even feel comfortable owning something worth so much, I would totally pick up a bootleg if it was cheap, and made from a cast of an original (sorry Shameless Toys). So if anyone knows a guy who made some booties of those Stretch Aliens, hook a guy up
Kaws, as far as I remember, has the largest collection of his own bootleg toys. We have threads on this board dedicated to bootlegs from all over the world. There’s collectors that *only* collect bootlegs. I think the only thing that soiled what’s been bootlegged by this dude is his shitty attitude(and obvious begrudging from loyal supporters, justly). I don’t even disagree with why he started doing it, but digging his heels into being hated for it just made him a fuckboy. I’ve been gifted Kaws bootlegs and it’s funny as hell to me. I’d own a bootleg Nag for the bit alone. @Vombie I say get down, dude.
I remember when I started collecting, finding all kinds of weird bootlegs on eBay of early Asian designer toys, like Tokyo guns. I got a bootleg sick boy Billy off the bay. Years and years later I told Ken about it and sent him a picture of the figure and he had no idea bootlegs had been made but didn’t seem to care.
I have a few Kaws bootleg 8”companions. Lev let me into his office in the gallery downstairs at TT during an NYCC event and he had tons of bootleg Kaws, I asked him why, he said why not, he also said he bought stuff for Brian for his bootleg collection. and yes the stuff in that room is out of hand. Lev really needs to just put in a gallery show of his collection. I know there are a few people, maybe even some on here that have been granted access to the floors above TT that house a lot of his collection. I’ve been told it’s out of hand.
